October 26: Luke 12-13

October 26, Luke 12-13

Luke continued…

Luke 12 Pharisees. Jesus was surrounded by literally thousands of people, so much so that people were trampling each other. He was talking to His disciples and warning them about the Pharisees and the fact that they are infectious hypocrites. “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” Short story - if your heart is for Christ and you are pursuing righteousness/holiness, this is not as horrific of news. If you are living in sin, this should be very disturbing. No Secrets.

Luke goes on to explain that Jesus said that we are to have no fear of man - even if they kill us, they cannot touch our soul. What are we to fear? God. He is the only One that can cast us into hell. Fearing God at its simplest explanation is to respect Him and revere Him for the All-Powerful and All-Knowing God that He is. 

Acknowledge Jesus before Man… If you do not, Jesus will not acknowledge you before His Father in heaven - deny Jesus here, Jesus will deny you in heaven. See below for comments. People on earth can talk against Jesus and they could be forgiven, but if you are unrepentant against the works of the Holy Spirit - you will not be forgiven. That is the only unforgivable sin. When you deny the works of the Holy Spirit - you will not be forgiven. Oh, and in light of that - when you have to make a defense for why you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit will guide you and tell you what to say! Fear not, He is real and will be there for you…

The parable of the rich fool.  One of the people standing there asked Jesus some questions and Jesus never wasted an opportunity to teach. Jesus was clearly teaching on abundance of possessions. Is it bad to have stuff? Nope. Is it bad to have so much that you tear down your existing buildings and build bigger better ones to store more stuff because you trust in your stuff and not Jesus? Yes. ‘‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Where is your heart? For yourself or for your Savior? 

Don’t be anxious. This is very practical, as Jesus often was in His teaching. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.” This is all about truly trusting God in your life to provide for your needs. “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” Do you put all your stock in what you can consume or get? Life is so much more than that! “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” God will provide for His people how He sees best for you. Do you trust God with all your needs? If you can trust Him with your soul, do you believe that He can also take care of your needs? Have FAITH in Him!  Don’t put your goal on things but on Jesus and “Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” He will take care of you, its a promise from God. More about the heart… “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Are we supposed to sell everything? I don't know if you are. This is about the heart. If you are not willing to share or you are more concerned about yourself than others, maybe you need to start letting some things go now. Don't give God your leftovers either. Give God your best. Where is your heart???

Stay on the ready. My wife watches this guy on Youtube called Tom Lupshu and he says that all the time, stay on the ready. He was a military guy and he is pushing Americans to ‘stay on the ready’ and always be prepared for action. Jesus is saying something similar to us today. Be prepared for Jesus coming back. Live your life in anticipation of that. Can God trust you with that? If you do not steward what God has entrusted to you it will be taken away. “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more."

Peace or Division and some great practical advice? Jesus did not come to bring peace but division. Remember earlier I wrote about 2 teams… Yup… The Jews were expecting than when the Messiah would come there would be a kingdom on earth with a valiant king. Nope, that is not what Jesus meant. He was building a Heavenly kingdom and they couldn't see it. Oh yeah, also always try to settle your differences out of court. Court is costly…

Luke 13 Wonder why some people hated Jesus? “ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish…” Repent or perish. That is actually a loving thing to say, at least we know where we stand. Jesus then gives a parable of a barren fig tree. Long story - there is a brief opportunity to repent before it is too late and we burn in hell. Time is of the essence, per Jesus. Back to Jesus the healer… He healed a woman on the Sabbath who had a disabling spirit for 18 years. Can you imagine that? He healed her and the Synagogue ruler says this, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Oh yeah - that is real thoughtful of him, more worried about their man mad rules than God. “Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Suck on the eggs! Jesus was not about to take their lies. Then we get a parable about a mustard seed - a very small seed that makes a huge tree for the birds to nest in. God takes the small and does what He wants with it. 

The narrow door. Someone asked him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” His response is incredible… “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” This is about true repentance and full trust in Christ. 

At the end of the chapter, Jesus laments over Jerusalem and their wickedness. They don’t get Jesus, and they will be forsaken…

To sum it all up: 

• No Secrets. There is no such things as keeping secrets, as much as we would like to think that we can. We are better off confessing everything here on earth and living clean instead of thinking that we are fooling our loved ones or God. 
• Truth is - if you are too ashamed to admit and confess that you are a Christ follower, are you one? Probably not. Besides, if you are willing to deny that Jesus is God on earth, why would you want to spend an eternity with Him?
• There are only 2 teams, Jesus’ and the enemies. Let us not be fooled into thinking that we can live how we would like to and pretend to be on Jesus’ team. Let’s live out our lives in the fullest for Christ.
• Jesus knows all of our needs. Trust in Him.He knows your finances. He knows your health. He knows your hurts. He knows your joys. He has got you covered… Let Him!