The Falling and Rising of Many

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12.6.09

young Christian named Alan
read the Sermon on the Mount
it made him feel depressed
because he knew that he fell far short of what was described there

he told his pastor
his pastor told him to attend a class
advice on how to live the Christian life
The pastor said he needed some better explanations of Jesus’ teaching
he needed more knowledge
the class gave him much advice and principles

they also told him that living life Jesus’ way was a happy life, a great life
so if he could learn these principles and apply them Alan would find happiness
and abundant life in Jesus

he went to the class
he learned the more in depth teaching
but he didn’t get better
and he still felt terrible every time he read the SOM or any commandments in the Bible
he was so far away from what was taught

so he went to an older Christian in the church to seek his counsel
told him about his problem
this mentor told him
to seek the Holy Spirit in private prayer
the Spirit must be accessed or connected with
this would sweep him into a new life of spiritual power

he did just this
he prayed and even fasted
but it did not work
he never felt like he was living Jesus’ way
or living by the SOM

so what is the answer to Alan‘s problem?

“You are so much worse than you think”
SOM is just doing its job

The SOM and commands are a mirror to see yourself in, to see your sin
and this is true for Christians as well
every day we should see ourselves and despair of what we are

the mirror does not lie
shows you who you are
you are fat or bald, skin blemishes, wrinkles

the commands
1) show you your wrong actions but much more
2) also show your failure to do so many good things
3) and even shows you the evil in your desires, your attitudes, your motivations, your thoughts

Luke 2.21-35 (34)
Jesus came to cause the falling of many
he came to tear down many

the first thing Jesus did was preach against sin
to make everyone fall, to bring them down
to show everyone their sin
to tear down everyone

Lloyd-Jones in a sermon on joy made the remarkable assertion that the reason so many people lack joy
is they don’t see how bad they really are
one must fall, be torn down by the commands
you must see your sin every day even as a Christian

but we want to get past that
but what Alan was experiencing when he read the SOM was what he should have been experiencing
The pastor gave him bad counsel
because the answer to sin is not more commands and more principles
the answer is not more advice on what we need to do

the gospel answer is not what we must do, but what Christ has done
the advent: Christ came and Christ died

1 John 1:10-2:2
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

if you tell people the answer is principles and rules for a better life
you will produce two kinds of people
1) deluded and self-righteous and proud
2) depressed and in despair because more commands and principles don’t help

this reminds me of when we tell little girls
it is not important to be beautiful on the outside but instead they should be beautiful on the inside
that is a cruel thing to say to a little girl
it sets an impossible goal
is anyone beautiful on the inside?
can any little girl become beautiful on the inside?
even by following principles and rules for improving

The mentor also gave him bad counsel, telling him to seek the Holy Spirit
the answer is not some inner spiritual experience
the answer is the gospel of Jesus Christ
what Christ has done for you

The Holy Spirit cannot give glory now
God has only promised glory after a life of suffering

Jesus came for the falling and rising of many
first the falling
his commands tell us that God says NO to us
because we are sinners (even Christians)

second the rising
the gospel that Jesus came and died for us
tells us that God says YES to us

even as a Christian now we need this gospel
this is what Alan needed
he needed his pastor to proclaim the gospel to him

what is central to the faith is not what you do but what Christ did

Colossians 1:19-22 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation

Luke IX: Make Friends

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9.20.09

Luke 16:1-7
last week: most familiar parable
this week: the most difficult

1a, verse 14
speaking to his disciples
but also the Pharisees (verse 14) who loved money

1-2
a steward had a position of trust
in a rich household
he had authority over other slaves
and over the money and possessions
the manager had wasted his master’s possessions
so he is about to lose his job
about to be kicked out because of his mismanagement

3-4
he is about to be kicked out
and he is too old to do manual labor
worried about his future
needs to secure his future

5-7
this is a crime
this is financial fraud
if this was discovered such a man would have been convicted of a crime by his master and punished

they are changing the records
it is done quickly
and in secret
trying to do it before the master finds out

he does favors for people who owe his master money
he makes friends with these debtors so when he is out in the cold he will be welcomed by these new friends
verse 8
instead of punishing the manager
the master commends the manager

this was supposed to shock the hearers
because in an ordinary situation the master would punish the man

Jesus is holding up this white-collar criminal as an illustration of a principle
something about the behavior of this white-collar criminal is worthy of imitation

he is commended “for his shrewdness”
this means: wisdom, foresight, prudence

he showed great foresight in making friends for himself before he was on the street
friends who would take him in
once he was kicked out

verse 9
here Jesus explains what it means

1. all that we have belongs to God and we are stewards or managers of it
we are responsible to God for how we use everything we have

2. we are to make friends with these resources
(mammon: possessions, wealth)
what does this mean?
you make friends by helping the needy with the resources you have

they can’t help us in this life
but we will be welcomed into an eternal kingdom
we should be investing in the kingdom
by investing the resources God has given us to manage in the needy and hurting

we are not going behind the Master’s back to do this
or committing a crime
but delighting the Master
he wants us to use his resources for the benefit of others

being shrewd with your money
does not mean hoarding it and investing it
it means invest it in the needy
this is an investment in the kingdom

9b
when the kingdom of God comes and topples this world and everything we know
and all money fails

you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings

you have invested your money in something eternal

10

what we do with these resources shows what we really are

11-12
we must be faithful with the resources given to us by God
faithful means helping the needy

to neglect the needy
is to mismanage and waste God’s resources that he has entrusted to you

we must be faithful with earthly riches
in order to be entrusted with real riches
that is the kingdom of God

*
Jesus is trying to show to disciples and the Pharisees their sin
they have mismanaged the possessions and resources God has entrusted to them
they have neglected the needy

if your response to this message
is to justify yourself
I do help the needy,
I do give my money and time
then you do not know the gospel
or you have forgotten it

if your response is to point at other people
that is him and that is her
then you do not know the gospel

if your response is if I try harder
I can do this
then you do not know the gospel

if your response is anything but to confess your sin to God
then you do not know the gospel

we all neglect the needy
we all mismanage the resources that God has placed in our care
we are all unrighteous stewards

Luke 18:9-14

the gospel is that we can come to Jesus
and be honest and confess that sin
we find forgiveness for these sins
and justification

and he gives us his Spirit to do new things
we have done before
to make friends with the needy

1. give to mercy ministry fund
2. visit sick and shut-ins
3. help with refugee ministry: Shonda

Luke VIII: Rejoice and Celebrate

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9.13.09

Luke 15:1-2
this is the context for the telling of the parable
Pharisees and Scribes complain

11-12
his share would have been one third of the estate (the older brother’s two third)

Kenneth Bailey asked hundreds of people
in the Middle East
anyone ever made such a request in your village? Never
if anyone did, what would happen?
His father would beat him
Why? the request means he wants his father to die

this is not simply wasteful behavior
this is a rejection of the father
as all sin is a rejection of God
he divides it to them– they both receive
the oldest should refuse the inheritance as wrong, insulting to his father

13
the son is allowed to sell his inheritance
land and cattle, converts into cash
destroys the inheritance
wastefully spends the money

14
a lone Jew in a far country would be vulnerable without family and friends

15
feeding pigs would have been offensive work for a Jew

16
two different kinds of carob pods
one that is sweet and good, another bitter
he was not allowed to eat it
no one gave him any food

17-18
his suffering brings him to his senses
realizes he has not only sinned against his Father but against God

19
I am not worthy– admits his guilt

hired servant would be independent
live in the village
not be part of the family or estate
not a bondservant but a day laborer

he could support himself with his work
and make his way in the world outside the family, feed himself
does not think he can be in the family

everything on the estate is now legally his brother’s– he sold his
he is not asking for anything that belongs to his brother’s

20
the father has the right to live and eat from the estate

the father running was considered humiliating in their culture
undignified, shames himself

compassion “moved by his pain”

not told what the father says but what the father does
signs of reconciliation and forgiveness

the son does not have to kiss his father’s feet
but instead is kissed by the father

Do you believe that God rejoices like this over you when you repent?
Do you believe he rejoices over others who repent?

but God wouldn’t humiliate himself…
this is just what he did in sending Jesus Christ– Jesus came into the world in humiliation to welcome sinners

21
he no longer talks of being a hired man and earning his way
but instead accepts the father’s grace and forgiveness

he never expected to be pardoned of his sin of insult to his father
but to be treated as unworthy

22
tells the servants to dress the son like a king
the father’s own robe
Is 61:10 the garment of salvation

he was full son in the house again

23-24
fatted calf: the village will celebrate
everyone would be invited
a hundred people in attendance
receives son as a highly honored guest

remember he was starving
and now he feasts!

we also were dead to God but now alive, lost to God but now found
if you are still lost, return to him today– look how he welcomes in you in Jesus

25-28
the older son would be required by custom to be at the celebration
and honor and welcome the guest

instead he humiliates his father publicly by
refusing to come in
he is rejecting his father’s feast, celebration
this is an insult
the Pharisees are insulting Jesus by refusing to join the celebration of sinners

are you rejecting sinners that God celebrates?

again the father humiliates himself and goes to his son

29
I have slaved for you
never broken any commandments

his attitude is that of a slave not a son
he is bitter toward his father
when I was growing up you never gave me a kid
I am worthy. I am righteous.
resented his father while staying in the house and keeping his commandments

31-32
the father’s speech is gracious

you still have everything that you did have
the whole property is yours

rejoice in your brother’s return
invitation to join the feast

the Lord’s Supper is where we celebrate Jesus’ death for sinners
you are invited to eat at that table
and rejoice and celebrate your own salvation
but also the salvation of others

Luke VII: Count the Cost

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9.6.09

Luke 14

1-6
eating with Pharisees and experts of the law
the leadership on a Sabbath, day of rest
this is who he is speaking with

7-11

this relates to a cultural practice at that time that we no longer have
Jesus is not simply giving them advice about how to behave at parties
he is saying that they should humble themselves before others (not just God)
or they will be humbled at the judgment

for us?
we are used to thinking that Christians are disciples and Jews are Pharisees

but I think we can only learn from this if we see that Christians call fall into the sin of the Pharisees
they were the religious people

do we act superior to other people who are not Christians? do we put ourselves above others because of our religion?

12-14
this is not just about parties
or forbidding people to have their own friends over for dinner
he was criticizing the way the leaders only socialized with their own level of society
and ignored those underneath them

he tells them to eat with those beneath them
eating meant acceptance
and hosting was generosity

in the next parable he uses this image to show us God’s grace and generosity

Us? we who are prosperous
should not cut ourselves off from the needy
and just live at our level of society
entertaining and hanging out with people like us, helping out our friends at our level

we must socialize with and be generous with those society (not God) tells us are beneath us

verse 15
responds to Jesus’ mention of resurrection
The man makes a theological statement
a statement that is true
he is talking about the future kingdom

Jesus then tells a parable to make the point
that not all of those who think they will be at the feast will be at the feast

16-17
Jesus has come to issue invitations to the feast of the kingdom of God
the generous table of God
invitations that they must respond to now
if they reject Jesus they are rejecting the feast

18-20
the people are disinterested in the feast
distracted by other things going on in their lives, immediate concerns,
legitimate excuses
Jewish law provided for new grooms to be free of community responsibility

the Pharisees, religious leaders
were not accepting his invitation

21-22
Jesus is inviting the Jewish poor, the sinners, the outcasts

23
this is the invitation of outsiders, Gentiles

24
here is Jesus pronouncement
those who have been invited by Jesus
the Pharisees, leaders, scribes
have refused Jesus’ invitation
and will not taste the feast of the resurrection and kingdom of God

for us:
have you accepted the invitation to the feast?
or are you still making excuses?
are you still eating at your own table and doing what you want to do with your life?
are you distracted from Jesus by your daily concerns?

verses 25-26
these crowds are traveling with Jesus to Jerusalem
he is on his way to Jerusalem to face the leaders and be killed by them

Jesus is telling those crowds, who are not disciples, what it means to be a disciple

hate does not mean hate, loathe, despise
but it means to love less

the statement seems to be aimed at young men (suggesting young men were attracted to Jesus’ ministry)
parents and wife mentioned

many of these men had to choose Christ over their parents, obedience to parents
both Jewish and Greco-Roman culture preached a morality of obedience to parents
so Jesus is undercutting that
demanding obedience to him
obligation to Jesus
was even to be placed over obligation to your bride and little children

Us: is your life for your family?
or is your life for Jesus?

27
Cross meant death by the Romans
price of death for following Christ

this is a warning of the price of association

28-33
he is warning them what it will cost them to be his disciple
do not make a hasty decision to follow me

not a normal strategy: usually people pressure others, but he tells them to wait

for us?
at the present we are not being killed for allegiance to Christ,
but obeying Christ will always result in the loss of many things

some of you signed up for this
but your never gave it consideration that it would demand all of your life
and you have gone back to your old life
not willing to lose anything

like the giant hotel that sits unfinished because they don’t have the money
like the couple getting married in Las Vegas on a whim and divorced a few months later

come back to Christ
and seek his grace to surrender your whole life in obedience to him

Luke VI: Do Not Be Anxious

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8.30.09

many people do not understand how to read the gospels

they believe that Jesus’ words in the gospels are directly to us

but there is a big difference between the situation Jesus was speaking to
and the situation we are in

let me explain some of the significant differences:
the teaching in the gospels
is before Jesus’ death and resurrection
before the apostles had explained that death and resurrection

Jesus is with them in the flesh
before the giving of the Spirit to the church

Jesus’ teaching is directed at the Jews and Jews only
Jesus speaks to Jews under the law (which we are not) and many of the discussions involve the law
Jesus directed much of his preaching against the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Priests of that day who were about to be judged by God in 40 years (70 AD)

even Jesus instructions to his disciples must be examined carefully and thought about carefully to understand how we should respond today

the gospel Jesus and his disciples proclaimed in Galilee was complete for that moment in history
but incomplete for us

Whenever you are reading the gospels and Jesus’ teaching
you can’t take his words as directed right at you a Gentile 21st century Christian
living in the kingdom of God
in the age of the Spirit
after Jesus has died and been raised
and Jerusalem and Israel has been judged and destroyed in the year 70 AD

FIRST you must ask what did these words mean in Jesus’ context?

then and only then can you ask
SECOND what do these words mean for us now in this day?

you can only get to the second if you have answered the first

Luke 12:22-31

FIRST, what do these words mean in Jesus’ context?

notice he is speaking to his disciples
they were poor working class men who had quit their jobs
to travel around as itinerant preachers

how did they live?
how did they feed their families?
it is in this context that Jesus says
the ravens do not sow or reap
and the lilies do not labor or spin

Jesus says to them if you are seeking the kingdom, preaching the kingdom, you will be taken care of by God
God knows you need to eat and you need clothes and shelter
but providing for yourself is not what you are to spend your time doing
do what I have called you to do and your needs will be met

Our context
now we ask what does this mean for us?

does it mean we should all become missionaries and evangelists and preachers
and quit our jobs
and let God provide for us?
No– not unless you have been called to that work by God

I have heard some say that this means God will never let any Christian be in need
we can see in history that this is not the case

I have heard some say that if someone becomes a Christian and has a good morality and work ethic he will work hard and God will make him successful
this has nothing to do with what Jesus is talking about: people who do not work
hard working Christian people get laid off and lose their jobs
depression or famine hit Christians too
is God promising to shield us from all financial trouble? no

God is sovereign
God is in charge
ultimately everything comes from him
he will provide what he wills to provide
leave it in his hands
trust in him,

some may become poor,
but ultimately when Christ returns we will all be taken care of

12:32

Jesus’ context:
we say that here
his ultimate promise to the disciples is the kingdom will be theirs
when the kingdom comes they will be saved from all the hunger and poverty of this life

our context
if we belong to Christ
no matter what bad befalls
God will give us the kingdom at the end
it is about salvation! not just bread

12:33

Jesus’ context
his disciples had been preaching throughout Galilee
and poor people were coming to hear the gospel
poor people were joining the movement
he was encouraging his disciples to not only preach to these people
but also provide for their needs

despite their wandering with no job
they still had some possessions back home
(for example some still had houses and boats)

when an occasion arose that poor people listened and needed help
they should sell stuff they had to raise the money, not keep their possessions for security– their security is in God

they should preach to these poor and help these poor
this is the kingdom work

they will have a bank account in heaven
and unlike earthly money it can’t be lost
that money will provide for them

our context
I had an African preacher tell me
I don’t have a heart for the poor
I have a heart to preach, I have the gift of prophecy and not the gift of mercy
out of touch with Jesus’ teaching

*assignment for your small groups
THINK about this
what does this mean for our context?
what does it mean for us as a church?

12:34

Jesus’ context: asking disciples
is your treasure in heaven because you are doing my work (preaching/ giving to poor)
and your heart with God?
or are you hoarding earthly possessions and money and your heart with that stuff?

our context
What does this mean for us?