ONCE WE ARE COMMITTED TO CHRIST THERE IS NO TURNING BACK

Proclamation:

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’”  Luke 9:62 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Luke begins this chapter by recounting when Jesus sent His twelve disciples out to the surrounding towns to proclaim the gospel, heal the sick, and to cast out demons. (Luke 9:1-6)  Luke also reports that Jesus fed five thousand men, not counting the women and children who were also in the crowd, with two small fish and five barley loaves of bread. (Luke 9:10-17)  He said that then Jesus predicted His death twice. (Luke 9:21-27 and 43-45)  Luke then presents the transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Him. (Luke 9:28-36)  Later Jesus healed a demon possessed boy who the disciples could not heal. (Luke 9:37-43)  Luke end this chapter by explaining the cost that men bear for following Jesus. (Luke 9:57-62)

Application:

Nothing on earth is more important than following Jesus, The Christ.  That includes taking care of and burying a family member (Luke 9:59-61) or delaying following Him to go and say goodbye to your family. (Luke 9:61-62)  The Apostle Paul made it clear that he feels nothing is more important than following Christ. (Philippians 3:13-14)  Once we have committed to following Him, we cannot look back on our past life and long for any of it.  After being warned not to look back, (Genesis 19:17) looking back and longing for what she left behind is what cost Lot’s wife her life. (Genesis 19:26)  Wanting things from our past life after committing to follow Christ makes us unfit for service. (Luke 9:62)  Our worldly concerns should not interfere with our heavenly focus.  However, there are some Bible scholars (like John Gill) who think that this last section refers to preachers and their ministry.

NON-BELIEF IN JESUS THE CHRIST IS A PROBLEM OF THE HEART

Proclamation:

“… Jesus … told this parable: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path … some fell on rocky ground … Other seed fell among thorns … Still other seed fell on good soil …’”  Luke 8:4-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter Luke begins by stating that as Jesus was travelling one town and village to another, a large crowd was gathering (Luke 8:1) and Jesus told them this parable, the parable of the sower.  Afterwards His disciples asked Him what this parable meant and He explained it to them. (Luke 8:9-15)  Later in this chapter Luke records the events around the calming of the storm by Jesus, (Luke 8:22-25) His healing and  restoring a demon-possessed man containing a Legion of demons, (Luke 8:26-38) His healing of a woman who had a twelve-year-long bleeding disorder, and raising the twelve year old daughter of Jarius from the dead. (Luke 8:40-53)

Application:

The “seed” here is The Word of God.  The “path,” the hard packed ground represents the hard hearts of the non-believers who hear The Word of God but refuse to accept it.  The “rocky ground” represents the hearts of those superficial folk who receive The Word of God with joy but it does not take root in their lives and they quickly fall away.  The “thorns” represents the hearts of those who receive The Word of God but are so caught up in and chocked by their concerns for things of this world that they produce no fruit.  The “good soil” represents the hearts of those who hear The Word of God, retain it, live it, and produce fruit because of it.  All of us fall into one of these groups.  Group one, the hard-hearted folk, believe in anything but Jesus.  Group two, the fair-weather folk, celebrate during the worship service but there is no evidence of Christ in their life outside of church.  Group three, the worldly concerned folk, care more about everything else than they do The Word of God and they cannot be productive Christians because of their outside influences, cares, and pleasures.  Group four, the productive believers, these are the ones who hear The Word of God, believe it, keep it in their hearts, live by it, and who let their light shine for the glory of God.  

WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR FAITH IN THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“… A centurion’s servant … was sick and about to die … The centurion sent some elders … asking Him to come and heal his servant … ‘Lord … I do not deserve to have You come under my roof … But say the word, and my servant will be healed’ … When Jesus heard this … He said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’”  Luke 7:1-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Luke begins this chapter by presenting the great faith of a humble centurion whose valued servant was very sick.  He asked some Jewish elders to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant, then sent some of his friends to ask Jesus not to come to his house but to speak the word and heal his servant. (Luke 7:1-10)  After this Luke recounts how Jesus spoke and raised up the widow’s dead son who was being carried to his grave. (Luke 7:11-17)  Luke then presents the discussion which occurred between Jesus and some of the disciples of John, the baptizer. (Luke 7:18-35)  The chapter ends with the discussion that Jesus had with the Pharisee about the sinful woman who anointed His feet while He was having dinner at the Pharisee’s house. (Luke 7:36-50)   

Application:

Most believers only have a little faith in The Lord God. (Matthew 6:30, 8:26, and 16:8)  Our faith is smaller than a grain of mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20 and Luke 17:6)  We say that we have faith in Him but our actions and our behavior say otherwise.  This centurion had such great faith that it even impressed Jesus. (Luke 7:9)  He was humble.  He wanted Jesus to help him by healing his servant but he did not feel that he was worthy enough to approach Jesus himself so he asked others to go to Jesus for him. (Luke 7:3-7)  He believed that Jesus could speak the word and heal his servant.  The Word of God is powerful.  He spoke and created something out of nothing. (Genesis 1:3-14)  He spoke and controlled the wind and the sea. (Mark 4:39)  On three separate occasions Jesus spoke and raised the dead. (Luke 7:14, Luke 8:52, and John 11:43)  We ought to increase our faith in Him and exercise our faith more often.

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND

Proclamation:

“As for everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.  They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.  When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”  Luke 6:47-48 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Luke begins this chapter by presenting what Jesus, The Christ, did on two separate Sabbath days which upset the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. (Luke 6:1-11)  Then he recounts how Jesus repeated the Sermon on the Mount to a large crowd which had gathered on the level plain who had come to hear Him speak, the Sermon on the Plain, and be healed. (Luke 6:17-26)  Jesus taught them to love their enemies, (Luke 6:27-36) not to judge others, (Luke 6:37-42) and that like a tree, a man is known by the fruit he produces. (Luke 6:43-45)  He ends this chapter with the example which Jesus gives of those who come to Him, hear His words, and applies them to their life as opposed to those who don’t. (Luke 6:46-49)

Application:

Those of us who believe, who have heard The Word of God and applied it in our lives, are like the man who built his house on a solid foundation.  When the storms of life came up against the house, it was able to stand strong and was not shaken.  The solid rock of our foundation is Jesus.  Those who do not have Jesus in their lives are like the man who built his house on sinking sand. (Matthew 7:26-27)  They have no foundation to their house.  When the storms of life come up against them, they will collapse and be completely destroyed. (Luke 6:49)  These “storms” include the trials, tribulations, and temptations of Satan, the persecutions of the world, the corruptions of men’s heart, and the errors of false teachers.  Where are you building your house?  As for me and my house, like the song says, “On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

THE SIN-SICK PEOPLE OF THE WORLD NEED THE WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”  Luke 5:31-32 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter he begins by presenting the events around the calling of the first disciples of Jesus, The Christ.  After He had finished teaching the people while sitting in Simon Peter’s boat at the edge of the lake, He told him to push out into the deep water and cast his nets.  Although he was reluctant, Simon Peter did as he was instructed and caught such a large load of fish that his nets broke and he had to get help from his partners. (Luke 5:1-7)  Seeing this, he worshiped Jesus, who told him that He would make him fishers of men. (Luke 5:8-11)  After this Jesus healed a man with leprosy (Luke 5:12-14) and a paralyzed man (Luke 5:17-25) before He saw Levi, the tax collector, and told him, “Follow me.” (Luke 5:27-28)  It was at a banquet at Levi’s house that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to question Jesus about the company that He was keeping.  Jesus defended Himself and His disciples and told them that the sick people need a doctor, not the healthy. (Luke 5:29-39)

Application:

Jesus, The Christ, spent time with outcasts and sinners because they were the people who needed to be saved.  He changed them, they did not change Him.  If we are going to spend time with the unsaved people of this world, then we need to be strong enough in The Lord and The Word of God that we can help them out and not get pulled down into their sins.  If our purpose is not to take The Word of God to them, then we do not need to be where they are.  However, if the sinners are in our homes or our place of employment, then we need to stay “prayed up” and walk and talk in such a way that they can see The Christ in us.  Remember, only those who recognize that they have a problem will seek assistance.

JESUS THE CHRIST READ AND TAUGHT FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Proclamation:

“He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom.  He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.  Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of The Lord is on Me because He has anointed Me …’ Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down … He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”  Luke 4:16-21 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Luke begins this chapter with the temptation of Jesus, The Christ, by the devil. (Luke 4:1-12)  After being tempted He returned to Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, before going to Nazareth. (Luke 4:14-15)  There Jesus read from The Old Testament Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2) and then told them that Isaiah’s prophesy would be fulfilled in front of them that day.  They wanted Him to repeat the miracles which He had performed in Capernaum, and when He would not do so they became furious with Him, turned on Him and wanted to kill Him. (Luke 4:23-29)  Jesus left there and went back to Capernaum, taught in their synagogues, cast out demons, and healed all of people that were brought to Him. (Luke 4:31-41)

Application:

There are many believers who feel that because today we under grace and not the law that The Old Testament is not relevant.  Jesus, The Christ, read from The Old Testament and taught from it.  He also said that He did not come to destroy the law or what the prophets had taught but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17)  We no longer have to perform the various sacrifices mentioned in The Old Testament because Jesus was the ultimate sacrificial lamb who paid it all once and for all of us.  However, there is much to be learned from The Old Testament and the prophesies contained therein.  The whole Bible is the inspired Word of God and it would be good for us to read it, study it, (2 Timothy 2:15) and apply it to our lives. (James 1:22)

THE WORD OF GOD CAME TO JOHN THE BAPTIZER AND TO US

Proclamation:

“… The Word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.  He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way for The Lord …’”  Luke 3:2-4 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter Luke presents the beginning of ministry of John, the baptizer.  Luke identifies the time period by naming the leaders who were ruling at the time. (Luke 3:1-2)  Then he states that when The Word of God came to John while he was in the wilderness, that he got busy working for The Lord. (Luke 3:3)  His message was clear, “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)  Luke noted that John’s preaching in the wilderness fulfilled the prophesy which was written by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 40:3)  John not only baptized people but he also told them what they must do to produce good fruit in keeping with repentance. (Luke 3:7-14)  Many thought that he was the Messiah but he made it clear that he was not Him. (Luke 3:15-17)  Luke ends this chapter by recounting the lineage or genealogy of Jesus, The Christ, back to David, and continuing back to Abraham, and then all the way back to Adam.

Application:

Unfortunately, today too many believers are just “bench members” in church.  We pray when we get up, when we go to bed, and before we eat, and we attend worship services on Sunday.  The Lord God has kingdom building work for each of us to do.  Who did we share The Word of God with this past week?  What good work did we do that men might see and give God glory? (Matthew 5:16)  The Lord God has given each one of us a gift (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) which we are to use for His glory.  When The Word of God came to John, the baptizer, he got busy working for The Lord.  What did you do when The Word of God came to you?  Kingdom building is not just for preachers, all of us have work to do.