Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

On Being Teachable Part 1

Luke 11:1-13

Long Creek Baptist Church 

August 30, 2020

Introduction 

In Chapter 10 Jesus pends his prayer with a focus on how to get to know the Father. This is a greater revelation of who he is as a prophet (messenger from God) and a focus on his purpose for the Kingdom of God on earth. The disciples are clearly listening, so when the see him in prayer again, they are beginning to understand the value and importance of prayer in the life of Jesus and the results of his time spent in prayer.  Now they are eager to grow in their prayer life as well! Quote Luke 10:21-24 NASB

Read Text

The Request to learn to pray is answered in three parts:

Part one is the prayer of Jesus

Part two is the parable of persistence

Part 3 is the offer of the Holy Spirit

The Prayer of Jesus – the focus of prayer

1. Significant differences to The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew
2. The setting is different
3. The focus is both more concise and clear
4. It addresses two main topics: The Father and our needs
5. The address of Father is very personal, and very different to the religious leaders of the day who thought the name of God to be so holy, you could not write it.
6. Differences to Matthew – parts missing?
7. The Power of the name is now attainable, and available
8. The importance of the Kingdom coming here and now
9. “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 NASB
10. In the Kingdom the will of God is done!
11. Three things “we” need: notice the focus on “us” and the need for inclusive community (neighbors as in previous chapter with Good Samaritan)
12. Physical nourishment (continual daily needs)
13. Forgiveness of sins (forgiving debts)
14. Overcoming tests (Jesus in wilderness)

The Persistent Prayer

1. The aspect of desperation, endurance and overcoming for the sake of others!
2. Desperation in the process of learning
3. Why is answered
4. When is answered
5. Who is answered
6. Purpose is clear (what)
7. Where – in prayer! Not in the action, the Father works!
8. What about our future?  How keen are we to know what God wants of us, or are we complacent with the way things are?
9. Endurance in prayer, do we quit too soon and just say, it must be the will of God?
10. Overcoming – victory in prayer, praying through, trusting that God has the answers!
11. What is your prayer life like?

Introduction

I find it interesting to note that we seem to learn more about Jesus in times of conflict and trials and struggles than when everything runs smoothly? In a sense that is comforting and even encouraging to know that in my trials, Jesus is there to help us through our own difficulties, and prepare us for the future. This appears to be true in the follow up encounter that Jesus has after his conversation with the hostile lawyer.

Read Text

An interesting comparison between the lawyer who tries to test Jesus and the devotion of Mary. Indeed there are similarities between Martha and the lawyer.  The conflict in this passage which confronts Jesus has to do with a difference in understanding the culture of hospitality: Focus on, pay attention to the guest.

1. Martha sees the scope of the task to care for Jesus, (and his entourage).  It’s a big deal, not just one guest, but many to feed and show hospitality to.  Her understanding of hospitality is to meet her perception of the needs of the guest. (Her assumption was to meet physical needs:  Food, lodging, etc. remember, a couple may have already visited this home earlier, so they knew what to expect)
2. Leads to her being overworked 
3. Critical attitude towards her sister who ought to help, but appears to be lazy
4. Asks Jesus to interfere with a family dispute
5. Mary ought to know her place as a “woman”, 
6. Who else will do the work?
   By asking Jesus, the guest to intervene, she breaks ne of the main cultural rules of hospitality
7. Mary perceives that Jesus is a prophet.  A prophet brings God’s Word, so she perceives that his need is to speak the Words of God to those who will receive it. 
8. She places Jesus in a position of authority, “sitting at his feet”.
9. Wish we knew what he said to her and those who are also listening. 
10. Mary is teachable, keen to understand, not hostile and not distracted from promoting the guest from doing what he came to do- bring the Word.
11. Jesus responds contrary to Martha’s expectations
12. “You are worried and troubled about many things” troubled, is a word that would describe the noise from a large gathering of people taking at the same time.
13. Focusing on all of your tasks.( Eg. Yesterday I had a list of things I wanted to get done but didn’t finish. Sometimes, I think I did a lot of things just to prove I wasn’t lazy in life, and was worth something. Today I wonder if I just manufactured work that had no eternal value.) 
14. “Only one thing is necessary”, and Mary has discovered it: the Word of God.
15. Here we see a trap many fall into:  Doing things for Jesus as opposed to getting to know Jesus and allowing him to live through us. Where do we place our priority?  John Wesley claimed he had so much to do, he needed to pray more!
16. How do we respond to this challenge?  Do we understand the value and importance of God’s Word? Do we allow God to speak to us through his Word? Especially through the words of Jesus?  The word here is Logos, the same as in John 1:1,14
17. Review of some benefits of spending time in the Word:
18. Direction: Psalm 119:105 - “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
19. Eternal Life: Jn 6:63,68 - “…the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”
20. Dwelling Place: “Receive the Word Implanted” James 1:21 and Col 3:16: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
21. Answered Prayers: John 17:7 - “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
22. Endurance: 1 Peter 1:25 – (quoting Isaiah 40:8) “For, “A LL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, A ND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. T HE GRASS WITHERS, A ND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, B UT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you.”
23. Love: John 14:23 -“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
24. Faith: Rom 10:8-10 “But what does it say? “T HE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART ”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,”
25. Truth: John 17:17 - “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”
26. Healing: Psalm 107:20 - “He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.”
27. Freedom from sin: Psalm 119:11 - “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
28. Strength: Psalm 119:28 - “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
29. Comfort: Psalm 119:76 - “O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, According to Your word to Your servant.”
30. Joy: Psalm 119:162 - “I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great spoil.”
31. Wisdom and understanding: Prov 4:5 - “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”
32. Gladness: Proverbs 12:25 - “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.”
33. Eternal Value: Luke 21:33 - “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” And, John 8:51 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.””
34. Do you see the Value of sitting at the feet of Jesus?

Read Text Luke 10:25-37

The Big Question:  What must I do to inherit eternal life?  

First the question:  how would you respond? Confess, repent, believe, and accept? 

This story revolves around two things: the big question, and the lawyer’s attitude.

1. The lawyer is in a critical mood.  
2. As are other religious leaders the closer they get to Jerusalem.  
3. And so are the Samaritans from chapter 9.

The reply from Jesus focuses on God’s law for the lawyer!

1. The dialogue centers around two Bible verses from the law of Moses: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.  
2. Two verses from two different places that show the study of the law was careful and the man was intelligent.  
3. As the two face each other, Jesus commends him and tells him to do that to live: 
4. in other words he ought to be treating Jesus as he himself wished to be treated and not be taking a superior position. He fails to love his neighbor standing in front of him

So not wanting to give in to the compassionate shaming, he tries to justify himself, by asking who his neighbor is.  

1. The parable is among the best known, but only appears in Luke. 
2. He describes loving your neighbor as being a merciful attitude, not keeping a set of rules and laws, 
3. Such as purity laws of not touching unclean things
4. Priority of status and position among the people
5. The powerful impact of this story is the rejection that the Samaritans have for Jesus from 9:53
6. The care comes from compassion, not regulation. 
7. It is a loving rebuke when he asks, who showed mercy?
8. See Matthew 9:17 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.””
9. Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
10. The loving of neighbor is closely related to loving God
11. 1 John 4:20,21 “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”
12. How do we show mercy?  Serve others
13. Pray for, get to know, affirm, encourage, help, hospitality
14. “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.” 1 Samuel12:23NASB
15. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians2:3-4NASB
16. “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews10:24-25NASB

This is how to love God

Repetition of main points

1. Disciples returned with joy at Demons going out
2. Jesus corrects them, I saw something even greater, but it’s not about that, it’s about the Kingdom and your place in it!

Jesus Rejoices

1. After the Woes in the sending part, now come great blessing
2. His joy is “in the Holy Spirit”.
3. His Joy is in His Father, God’s purposes being made known, and the relationships being restored, ie. In the results of God at work in others, not his own accomplishments

True Joy!

1. Hidden – Revealed to Babes
2. Rejoicing in the Father’s good pleasure!
3. Who does the Son choose to reveal himself to?  The repentant, the broken, the nobodies.  Those who choose to cast all their burdens onto Jesus!  That way they experience the pleasure of God (grace, forgiveness, acceptance) and all through no effort on their part. As opposed to the wise and learned who think they know best through their efforts

The position of the 70 in the following revelation:

1. They are honored above what they deserved – just told off and get the best prize?
2. Both seeing and hearing.

Application for today:  Compare them to us

1. We see and hear by faith as well – just as they did back then, even with Jesus visible!
2. We need to make the same decision to follow Jesus forsaking all else
3. We get the same revelation when we trust him, both in prayer and in the reading of his Word
4. Repentance says we cannot do it on our own or our efforts. Cannot legislate morality, it only clarifies sin. Repentance is the answer for us all!

Introduction:  The purpose of signs

            Show direction, help us arrive at the correct location

            They are not the destination.  You do not stand and stare at signs, but you are grateful for them!

            In Mark 16:17 it says, these signs will follow those who believe: like the wake of a boat.  But the wake is not the destination of the boat!  Ferry to Southport and the birds!

Read Text

Who is being sent?

1. not those with degrees, power, influence, riches, or fame, but but those who spent time spent getting to know Jesus
2. 35 Teams to 35 places Jesus is coming to

The instructions for being sent: 

1. Time is of the essence to reach these areas, they are on their way to Jerusalem
2. Abide by customs, go where invited
3. Give peace, and stay there
4. Trust me for your provisions
5. Heal the sick
6. Announce the arrival of the King
7. Leave the Preparation and the Results up to God

The Results of being sent, especially if not received

1. The Woes and the Judgement (hades and hell as opposed to heaven – all as a different dimension in eternity)
2. The Signs are intended to lead to REPENTANCE!!!
3. More bearable for ignorant foreigners than for those who ignored the signs!
4. Being granted authority – amazing authority!
5. Question to them and us, do we believe that?

The Return of the 70

1. Rejoicing over the defeat of the enemy – giving Jesus the credit by using his name, but at the same time risking pride in the doing of the signs.
2. No shaking the dust off, but the results of preparing the way for Jesus was successful!
3. The power of defeating Satan, and the removal of all fear, both actual and metaphorical (Paul and the snake) more like the snake description in the Garden
4. The object of rejoicing is in the destination, and not in the signs!

Conclusion

1. The clarity of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God brings results: 
2. The effects (signs) are the result of God’s action - not by us but for us
3. The defeat of Satan is a complete matter, both excluded from heaven and soon banished forever after this trip to Jerusalem. see Romans 16:20: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. 
4. The eternal effects of believing the Gospel far outweigh any persecution in the temporal world we may face in the proclaiming and faith stance we must take.

1. The instructions are not just for a few, as in Chapter 9      
2. The 70 or 72 others 
3. Specific instructions for general application
4. The casting out principle
5. Not just because we are comfortable, complacent, ignorant, or disobedient, but a demonstration of power
6. Meekness is not weakness, but power under control
7. Knowing what others do not
8. Exercising in kindness and love and clarity
9. Do not be concerned about rejection
10. Focus on your tasks: eat what they give you, heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom
11. A glimpse of what happened later? 
12. Luke 19:1-10 the story of Zacchaeus
13. The two who prepared this visit
14. Excitement at the crowd assembled, remembering their encounter in the city
15. Initial disappointment leads to great rejoicing
16. Meeting the needs of a city with the salvation of sinners
17. Response?
18. Who do we go to?
19. Who is Jesus drawing to himself?
20. How do we pray and speak with others?
21. Change me first
22. Save them
23. Use me

Topsy Turvy – upside down, confused, inside out, wrong way around, doesn’t fit my perceptions, a paradox, not the way things are done or understood. 

Topsy Turvy theology is how I would describe today’s lesson
Coming off the mountain to discover we are still not up to par

1. Complaint, or comfort? 
   Taking time 
   End result is to glorify God as opposed to anger and disappointment
2. Second time of preparing disciples for what is to come 
   No understanding though it is plain English. How do our preconceptions interfere with the clarity of our communication? 
   Death brings life? Doesn’t life preceded death? 
   It’s all upside down, back to front. Most confusing. 
3. Vying for position: power and authority based on accomplishments 
   Children have no power or authority or experience 
   They are not concerned with financial situation, taxes, provisions 
   They have no major responsibilities  
   They are free to dream imagine and play, unaware of lurking dangers
4. The last one is even more confusing:  how do we know who belongs to the Father?  Do they meet the right criteria? 
   Who is responsible for what went wrong, judging and punishing 
   Leaving up to God what is God’s responsibility 
   Caring for proper order
5. Conclusion:  the church needs a revival of faith in God, a revival in prayer and a revival in spiritual power. All of this comes from a love of God and Jesus resulting in a love of those he created. 
6. Prayer for all who hear this message.  
   Take comfort in the words of Jesus 
   Death to self and pride leads to life and hope beyond our control 
   Trust Jesus as children trust their parents – in Christ there is power and authority 
   Who is with us? Be careful haw we judge the ones Jesus loves. 

I always wondered about why this event is recorded in scripture.  And as I studied, why is it that Peter James and John always seem to fall asleep at key moments in their lives? Notice, that it follows a key discourse on the sufferings that Jesus will go through:

Here is the sequence: suffer unjustly, die, rise again and then be in glory with the redeemed. That in itself is a great message! What a thrilling experience and revelation! The highlight of their lives to this point in time. Refer to 2 Peter 1:17,18

Here is the critical lesson that these verses share with us:

1. This is all about the words of Jesus
2. Do not be ashamed of his Words
3. Listen (carefully) to him
4. The focus on the words of Jesus are sealed with this experience. 

Why are these events so critical?

1. We need to hear, which also means to believe and do what we hear
2. We need to receive, not just correction, instruction, encouragement, but life – eternal
3. We need to receive faith, revelation, hope, strength, power and authority! (Under Authority!)
4. The Kingdom comes by creating life out of words! Words that are mixed with the power of the Holy Spirit. 
5. See creation and how God speaks and the Holy Spirit creates.
6. When we stand in the authority of Jesus, we can see how our words, spoken with the power of the Holy Spirit creates:  faith, transformation, hope for eternity, clarity in our relationship. 

Conclusion

What is Jesus saying to you?

Listen to Him!

Introduction: the great confession! Why does Jesus tell them not to tell anyone at this moment in time?  Surely he wants the world to know? And what he tells them next is critical to the love of God being spread around? Two things concerning the two kingdoms:

1. There is a general misconception concerning the messiah; he is greater than a political deliverer
2. They are going to need to be prepared for what is about to happen

First announcement of suffering

1. Leaves the disciples in shock, why would this miracle worker talk about being killed?
2. He speaks of a legal court that will unjustly judge him
3. The court is made up of the religious elite - won’t they see him as the Messiah also?
4. Their understanding of the purpose of the messiah is being challenged, and leaves them wondering what he is talking about.
5. He uses the word “Dei” again

This is a word study that causes minds to be challenged. Dei is the Greek word translated in vs 22 as “must”. It does not appear in vs 23 where Jesus discusses who his real followers are. 

1. “Dei” means “to bind” and refers to a binding obligation upon someone.
2. In the Gospels the term normally occurs in contexts related to salvation
3. It is implied that the binding is the result of God’s decree (18 times in Luke)
4. Luke 2:49 – do the Father’s will
5. Luke 4:43 – preach
6. And now: suffer, die, and rise again
7. Coming up: Scriptures must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44], everyone must believe in Jesus for salvation (Acts 4:12) plus many other key things in NT relating to new birth (John 3:7) and the End Times.
8. This could cause quite a disruption to the normal understanding of the Messiah as a deliverer and a savior if he suffers and dies!
9. This is the heart of the Gospel though, with a much greater deliverance and salvation than they could have imagined 

Jesus now turns his focus away from his purpose to show God’s purpose for his followers

1. Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, follow me. Into suffering?
2. Want to save your life? Then lose it for me and be saved. 
3. Saved from our ego and selfishness, a focus on me and my rights. 
4. Adjusting our focus on the will of God, trusting him that for now and eternity he will care for us.

What do we need to have Jesus change in our thinking?

What do we need to lose?

What do we need to deny?

Participation in the Kingdom 

1. An unsolvable puzzle: you give them to eat.
2. A God solution: Prayer and faith in action, doing what Jesus says
3. The miracle in their hands
4. The command is cemented in their lives: what do I do with people who are hungry for God?  I give them spiritual food while meeting their needs. 
5. Multiply what you have by faith.

Seeking a place of quiet rest

1. The prayer life of Jesus Is not like any other
2. The Question: who am I?
3. The Answer: The Messiah

What is our response?