Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
A Study in Luke Week 17
Luke Chapter 17
Verses 1-2 – There are things that cause people to reject God: people killed in earthquakes; tsunamis; war, etc. That happens because of our sense of fairness. It is important to know that these things happen not because God caused them, but because of the fallen, sinful nature of the world.
That said, it is really dispicable when we are personally the cause of someone turning from God.
Verses 3-4 – If your brother sins (against you), rebuke him. “Rebuke” is an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism. Here is is from the Greek eptimao, to set a weight on. The idea here is to explain to your brother that what he is doing is contrary to God’s will.
We are to forgive the same way God has forgiven us: totally and completely; as though the sin against us had never happened.
Verses 5-6 – This is an interesting take on the “faith the size of a mustard seed” idea. What Jesus is really telling them is that they don’t need more faith. They just need to exercise the faith they have. God will provide the faith they need, if they need more.
Verses 7-10 – When we do what we are expected to do, we do not need to be thanked. It was what we were supposed to do in the first place. When we do what we do for the recognition or the thanks, the recognition or thanks is all the reward we will ever get for that deed. When we do what we do at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, expecting no recognition, God blesses us.
Verses 11-19 – Jesuss sent the ten men with leprosy tot he priests. The priests were the “experts” who would recognize whether or not these men had really been cleansed. Sort of like a doctor examining the results of a so-called “faith healer.”
Only one of the ten came back to thank Jesus for healing him. Notice that he praised God “in a loud voice.” He was not reserved about it, he was excited!
All ten men had shown faith, but the Samaritan’s faith had led him to praise. He had both a healthy body and a healthy spirit.
Verses 20-37 – The Pharisees were up to the old tricks again. They asked when this “kingdom of God” would come. (Remember, they had already been told that they were experiencing that very kingdom in front of their own eyes).
Verse 23 tells us that many will point to the “time and date” of the kingdom, but they should not be believed.
Jesus knew that He would be executed. He knew that this was God’s purpose for having sent Him in the first place.
How much like the days of Noah are we today? People go about their daily routines with no thought of God. When Jesus returns, people will be thinking only of their ordinary lives.
In verses 34-35 we learn that Jesus could return at night, when two people are sleeping in the same bed. He could return in the day, when two people are working together. Jesus will take to heaven the person who has believed in him. The other person will remain behind and God will judge him. Each person’s attitude to Jesus will decide what happens to him or her.
The issue of who is and who is not a Christian, and which “Christians” are real and which are cults is totally determined by what they do with Jesus.
If in their doctrine He is the Son of God, one with God and part of the Godhead Trinity, they are for real. If He is anything else, they are a cult and are an abomination.
See…it is, in the end, all about Him.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
A Study in Luke Week 16
Luke Chapter 16
Verses 1-9 – This is the parable of the manager (steward) who used his position to further
his selfish ends is another parable by contrast. The children of this world are clever and crooked in the use of money. They do it for their own selfish purposes. In contrast, the children of light do not exercise the same wisdom in the use of money for the cause of Christ in the world.
The master praised the manager. He knew that the manager was not honest. He did not praise him for that reason. But he praised him because he had thought about his future and made plans.
As Christians, we should exercise care, plan effectively, be responsible in the details of our planning, using Scriptural principles as our guide for planning (the building of the temple in I Kings, the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 2-6, the laying out of the tents in Numbers 2).
Verses 10-12 – People who want to be trusted in large matters must demonstrate that they can be trusted in the details.
Verse 13 – We cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve God and the government. We cannot serve God and our own climg to wealth. We cannot serve God and money.
Verses 14-18 – The Pharisees believed that wealth was God’s reward for their goodness. Jesus irritated the Pharisees again by telling them they were wrong. He made it clear that the Law has not lost its meaning, but rather is about to be fulfilled by and in Him.
Jesus deals with the Law’s approach to divorce. In this He is setting the Pharasees up to be shown that Christ will NEVER divorce His Bride (the church). The reference to marriage as a permanent relationship demonstrates this truth.
Verses 19-31 – I believe this is a real event. The people are real.
The name “Lazarus” means “God is my help.”
Lazarus was poor, yet went to Heaven.
Dives (the traditional name of the rich man), was rich and went to Hell. Neither went where they went based on their position in life, but on their willingness to forsake the things of this world for God.
The rich man was “religious,” naming Abraham as his father (ancestor). To him, a person’s life after death depended on what he did with his life.
Jesus was pointing out that his selfishness, or self-centeredness, was his downfall. He did not consider the needs of the poor man, nor did he understand the role God should have had in his life.
Verse 31 illustrates how difficult it is for “religious” people to establish a relationship with God through Christ. Religion has a way of getting in the way of salvation.
Once again, Jesus’ “philosophy” irritates and angers the Pharisees.
We must understand that our relationship to God is established and maintained by, and only by, our trust in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
A Study in Luke Week 15
Luke Chapter 15
This Chapter might be called, “The Parables of God’s Love”
Jesus’ contempt for the Pharisees was thorough. They did not approve of Him because He hung out with the wrong crowd and said the wrong things.
Jesus did not approve of them because their “religious fervor” was fake and misguided. Although they were educated men, they were ignorant of the real things of God.
Verses 1-2 – This group of people was infiltrated with “sinners” (see Romans 3:23). These were people who did not keep the Pharisees “religious rules.” Eating with them implied acceptance of their sinful ways.
Verses 3-7 – In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus illustrates that every individual is supremely important to God, regardless of their “station” in life.
Sheep are not too bright, and they are prone to wander away from their flock. They are analogous to lost people who need to meet Jesus. Like a good shepherd, God will search for them until he finds them.
Jesus’ reference to “good” people was directed at the Pharisees who considered themselves already good enough for God. But they were “good” only in their opinion of themselves.
Verses 8-10 – The Parable of the Lost Coin is interesting. Having 10 coins in a strand around her head indicated that a woman is married. Loosing one would be like a woman today losing her wedding ring.
She will turn her house upside down looking for one coin that falls from her strand. When she finds it, she will be ecstatic.
Although the angels do not understand the concept of salvation, they are happy when one sinner comes to salvation in Christ. God is joyful when a sinner turns to Him.
Verses 11-24 – What can be said of the Parable of the Lost (prodigal) Son that has not already been said?
The younger son was entitled to 1/3 of the father’s property and this one wanted his NOW.
His wallowing with pigs illustrated his total rejection of the spiritual heritage of his father…like us rejecting Christ.
His father stood on his roof daily to see whether his son might be coming back, and when he did, it filled the father with joy; the kind of joy God has when we turn to Him in faith.
When he came home, the son received much more than his “legal” inheritance. He received the best the father had to offer.
So it is with one who turns to Christ.
Verses 25-32 – The older brother was not so happy about his younger brother’s return or the reception given him.
The older brother represented the Pharisees, a comparison not lost on them.
The father emphasized that he loved both of his sons. Like the Pharisees, he should have responded to God’s leadership but refused to do so, even after all of the times God allowed them to return to Him throughout Israel’s history.
God’s joy is un-measurable when one of us turns to Him in repentant faith, trusting in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.
This Chapter might be called, “The Parables of God’s Love”
Jesus’ contempt for the Pharisees was thorough. They did not approve of Him because He hung out with the wrong crowd and said the wrong things.
Jesus did not approve of them because their “religious fervor” was fake and misguided. Although they were educated men, they were ignorant of the real things of God.
Verses 1-2 – This group of people was infiltrated with “sinners” (see Romans 3:23). These were people who did not keep the Pharisees “religious rules.” Eating with them implied acceptance of their sinful ways.
Verses 3-7 – In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus illustrates that every individual is supremely important to God, regardless of their “station” in life.
Sheep are not too bright, and they are prone to wander away from their flock. They are analogous to lost people who need to meet Jesus. Like a good shepherd, God will search for them until he finds them.
Jesus’ reference to “good” people was directed at the Pharisees who considered themselves already good enough for God. But they were “good” only in their opinion of themselves.
Verses 8-10 – The Parable of the Lost Coin is interesting. Having 10 coins in a strand around her head indicated that a woman is married. Loosing one would be like a woman today losing her wedding ring.
She will turn her house upside down looking for one coin that falls from her strand. When she finds it, she will be ecstatic.
Although the angels do not understand the concept of salvation, they are happy when one sinner comes to salvation in Christ. God is joyful when a sinner turns to Him.
Verses 11-24 – What can be said of the Parable of the Lost (prodigal) Son that has not already been said?
The younger son was entitled to 1/3 of the father’s property and this one wanted his NOW.
His wallowing with pigs illustrated his total rejection of the spiritual heritage of his father…like us rejecting Christ.
His father stood on his roof daily to see whether his son might be coming back, and when he did, it filled the father with joy; the kind of joy God has when we turn to Him in faith.
When he came home, the son received much more than his “legal” inheritance. He received the best the father had to offer.
So it is with one who turns to Christ.
Verses 25-32 – The older brother was not so happy about his younger brother’s return or the reception given him.
The older brother represented the Pharisees, a comparison not lost on them.
The father emphasized that he loved both of his sons. Like the Pharisees, he should have responded to God’s leadership but refused to do so, even after all of the times God allowed them to return to Him throughout Israel’s history.
God’s joy is un-measurable when one of us turns to Him in repentant faith, trusting in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.
Friday, October 12, 2012
THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING
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Sunday, October 07, 2012
Saturday, October 06, 2012
A Study in Luke Week 14
Luke Chapter 14
Verses 1-6 – Last week we read that Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath. In this chapter He heals a man on the Sabbath. It seems as though He was deliberately irritating the Pharisees. At that He succeeded. Once again He used the same logic pattern to refute them.
The Pharisees had put the man there on purpose to “see” what Jesus would do. He did not disappoint.
When He asked whether healing on the Sabbath was legal (which it was), they refused to answer, knowing that they would reveal their true intent, which was to trap Jesus.
Verses 7-11 – The parable of the wedding party is about humility. As people of the New Covenant, we are not led to exalt ourselves. We are only to exalt Christ.
Verses 12-14 – Here Jesus is talking about being inclusive. It’s not about forsaking relatives, but about including others as well.
The Sadducees were at odds with the Parisees in that they did not believe in resurrection after death. (That is why they were sad-u-see). Reference Daniel 12:2 and Luke 20:27.
Verses 15-24 I In the parable of the Great Dinner, Jesus was telling about who would and who would not enter the Kingdom of God.
People who make excuses for not serving Christ are most likely not in a saving relationship with God through Him. Each “guest” invited to the dinner made an excuse why he could not come.
Jesus’ first invitation was to the Jews, who did not want to come to His dinner. His second invitation was to those outside of His original invitation.
The Jews cared more about their religious rules than they did about the Messiah, and referred to those who ultimately came to the dinner as “sinners” (which they were). He was saying that the New Covenant was for Gentiles as well as for Jews…again making the Pharisees angry.
Verses 25-33 – Being a true follower of Christ is not cheap. It is free, but not cheap. It cost God everything to provide for our salvation.
This is about priorities. If your family comes first, your priorities are out of order. Jesus must come first. We must be ready to die for our faith. Tens of thousands of Christians die every day around the world today, just for being Christians.
Verses 34-35 – Again Jesus uses the illustration of His followers being “salt.” If salt looses its flavor, it is useless and might as well be thrown out. Some “followers of Jesus” are not carrying out their functions. These so-called “disciples” are of no use to God.
He then used an expression that He often used: “If you have ears to hear, listen.” The ears he is referring to are spiritually discerning ears. They are ears that not only hear the Word of God, but do what it says to do (James 1:22).
Verses 1-6 – Last week we read that Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath. In this chapter He heals a man on the Sabbath. It seems as though He was deliberately irritating the Pharisees. At that He succeeded. Once again He used the same logic pattern to refute them.
The Pharisees had put the man there on purpose to “see” what Jesus would do. He did not disappoint.
When He asked whether healing on the Sabbath was legal (which it was), they refused to answer, knowing that they would reveal their true intent, which was to trap Jesus.
Verses 7-11 – The parable of the wedding party is about humility. As people of the New Covenant, we are not led to exalt ourselves. We are only to exalt Christ.
Verses 12-14 – Here Jesus is talking about being inclusive. It’s not about forsaking relatives, but about including others as well.
The Sadducees were at odds with the Parisees in that they did not believe in resurrection after death. (That is why they were sad-u-see). Reference Daniel 12:2 and Luke 20:27.
Verses 15-24 I In the parable of the Great Dinner, Jesus was telling about who would and who would not enter the Kingdom of God.
People who make excuses for not serving Christ are most likely not in a saving relationship with God through Him. Each “guest” invited to the dinner made an excuse why he could not come.
Jesus’ first invitation was to the Jews, who did not want to come to His dinner. His second invitation was to those outside of His original invitation.
The Jews cared more about their religious rules than they did about the Messiah, and referred to those who ultimately came to the dinner as “sinners” (which they were). He was saying that the New Covenant was for Gentiles as well as for Jews…again making the Pharisees angry.
Verses 25-33 – Being a true follower of Christ is not cheap. It is free, but not cheap. It cost God everything to provide for our salvation.
This is about priorities. If your family comes first, your priorities are out of order. Jesus must come first. We must be ready to die for our faith. Tens of thousands of Christians die every day around the world today, just for being Christians.
Verses 34-35 – Again Jesus uses the illustration of His followers being “salt.” If salt looses its flavor, it is useless and might as well be thrown out. Some “followers of Jesus” are not carrying out their functions. These so-called “disciples” are of no use to God.
He then used an expression that He often used: “If you have ears to hear, listen.” The ears he is referring to are spiritually discerning ears. They are ears that not only hear the Word of God, but do what it says to do (James 1:22).
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