Eternal Perspective (Luke 17:20-39)

Have you ever been looking for something that has been right there all along? Take for example ministry, I once was so busy trying to make an impact for God frustrated that nothing really was happening, when the greatest impact I could make was with my family who were right there with me all along.  

The Kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world, it is spiritual not natural.  Meaning it is beyond what meets the eye.  First of all only those born again, who receive the Holy Spirit can enter into this spiritual Kingdom.  The Holy Spirit opens our blind eyes to spiritual reality much like the blue pill did in the movie Matrix.  The King having domain in the natural realm depends on born-again Christians willingness to allow Him access to their hearts and lives. 

So here in Luke 17:20-37 the Pharisees were asking Jesus a natural minded question, they were blinded by religion and could not understand spiritual truth, they were puppets of the state and most likely were asking the question so they could report it to the Roman leaders.  Jesus answered that the "Kingdom will not come visibly for it is already amongst them."  It does not come by force it comes by the choice of our will following His ways.

Too often people are looking outward instead of upward regarding the Kingdom.  We get caught up complaining and criticizing the church rather than praying and being simply obedient.  We are too often limiting God's grace because we are conducting ourself in the flesh rather than being led by the Spirit.  In the Spirit we have an unlimited supply of grace for we have an open heaven, in the flesh we are cut off from grace still under the curse that befell Adam and Eve when they were cut off from the Garden after refusing to repent.  One's perspective means everything!  We cannot advance the Kingdom of Heaven with an earthly perspective! 

Christians are judging the return of the King from natural circumstances but the bible clearly says the world will be as it always was, people will be going about their daily duties, yes their is a sign of the times, but History is full of these signs, each generation since Christ left the earth thought they saw the signs of the times.  So instead of spending endless hours being concerned with the end of the world, how about we be concerned with hearing His voice and following His commands.  His Kingdom is amongst us waiting to expand through our daily walk of faith.  When He comes those who know Him will be the first to know, what matters now is while He is away, how are we preparing for His return?  We must be like the virgins carrying enough oil so our light does not flicker off on the way.  

We are in the age of Grace, everything is not yet in all it's fullness, many things are in part, shadows of what is to come, but yet we can still be in communion with the God who was and is and is to come.  He is not far off, His Spirit is within us, so we should not grow weary, we just must make sure we daily wait on Him so that He can renew our strength and we c mount up on wings like Eagles and soar into Heavenly places (Is. 40:31).  It is like being apart from your family though you long for their physical presence and you easily get down, but one call, and it is as if they are their.  Our Father is a prayer away, as soon as we draw near to Him though we don't see Him physically, we know He is there!

Appreciation Returned!

Appreciation Returned!
(Luke 17:11-19)

Have you ever helped someone and have no appreciation returned. Yes, we are to help people not for their response but simply out of kindness, but it is expected, out of just mere human decency that appreciation is returned. Some people act as if we owe them something. Where does this spoiled nature come from? Thankfulness is taught from home. So our family structure or lack thereof plays a huge part in our character development.

For some, life has been so tough, that there identity is found in misery, so they can't even see something good when it's present. They might have it in them as the lepers did in Luke 17:13 to cry out for mercy, but when mercy is given, their attitude is more like "well, it's about time, and not even show thanks.

People can also feel obligated to return the favor when helped so they run before any type of commitment is made.  People like to do their own thing which is why they need help in the first place and it usually takes a lot more misery to finally realize how much they need God.  

People want to feel like they are Christians and that God has their back so they will make a level of commitment like coming to church and God in the richness of His mercy still responds to their cries for healing, deliverance, provision, etc., but for one to really experience abundant life it takes full commitment, which goes beyond coming to church, to seeking His face, following His path daily.   

Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters,t I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

The Domino Effect (Luke 17:1-10)

The Domino Effect

• Luke 17:1

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Our choices effect more people than just ourselves, it is called the domino effect.

Have you ever been in a multi-car collision, or tripped and caused others to stumble? If you are close enough to others when you mess up or someone in front of you messes up you all get messed up. Look at the corporate world a fallen leader usually takes their whole business down with them. Or a religious leader brings down an entire church with them, this is the domino effect. The devil does not mind us influencing others for if he knows he still has a hold on us, then when he chooses to take us out, he will take many others out with us.

None of us are isolated to the point we have no one watching us, even in this age of technology where people can lose themselves in gadgets, somehow, someway we are still somewhat observant of those around us. I was just driving in Times Square and noticed that hardly anyone was looking up the majority of people were looking down at their smart phones while walking and yet were not running into each other. We have adapted to the times and are becoming multi-tasked yet still observant of our surroundings.

Here in Luke 17:1-10, Jesus tells his disciples that temptation can be expected but that it is worse for the one doing the tempting for are nature is prone to sin so if our life leads other believers to fall into sin, judgment wil follow. The bible says to avoid the mere appearance of evil, those young in the faith are not mature enough to understand certain things, we must be cautious even though what we are doing might not be causing us to stumble it may cause someone else to stumble around us.

I once had a coffee liqueur drink with my dinner. It was one drink but the young believer with me told others that I am a drinker and so made it seem drinking was part of my lifestyle. One can drink without excess is my biblical position, but the effect I had on others, made this a sinful act. People who are prone to becoming alcoholics cannot handle even one drink, so it is best that I abstain from drinking all together so I don't cause others to stumble.

While we are trying our best through God's grace to cause no one to stumble those whom are in sin must not be ignored.

Have you ever witnessed someone doing wrong and was afraid to confront them in case they get offended or don't like you anymore?

The bible says in Luke 17:3 "if anyone sins, rebuke them, and if they repent, forgive them." If we care about our own body we would not harm it right? Well, we are the body of Christ, sin harms us, so those in sin need to be confronted with the hope that they will stop, because sin in one effects us all. The bible says to shun those who remain in sin, we are not to compromise our faith by accepting sin as okay, if removing ourselves from fellowship from a believer in sin is necessary for the conviction of God to draw them to repentance, then we must oblige, even at the sake of losing our friendship.

We don't always understand love and forgiveness. Love corrects and showing forgiveness doesn't mean condoning sin. It isn't being judgmental to hold people accountable for their sins, it is choosing to stand by God's righteous standard. We know we are all prone to sin yet we know Jesus is our deliverer. As we forgive others we must lead them to the one who will deliver them from sin, if we just say I forgive you and do not hold them accountable then they might feel they can continue to get away with their wrong behavior.

In Luke 17:5-10, Jesus shifts from teaching on forgiveness to faith. See, the two go together because unforgiveness is the chief contributor in halting our spiritual growth. As far as we are able to forgive others will determine the amount of faith we have. That is why Luke 17:4 says to forgive someone seventy times seven, meaning never stop. Jesus overcame sin and death through the cross forgiving the world of it's transgressions, we cannot expect to minister in His name with unforgiveness in our heart.

The disciples asked Jesus how to grow in faith? His illustrations made the point that with whatever measure of faith we have received we are to respond to His word with obedience. Whenever someone tries anything and it works they believe it the more. Faith works for by it we grab a hold of His promises, taking us from glory to glory in Him. God speaks depending on the level of adherence to His present word. Believing His word by responding by faith is what pleases our heavenly Father and brings peace to our soul.

True Wealth (Luke 16:19-31)

True Wealth!

• Luke 16:19 (NLT)

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We live in a world that has money as it's God, where we idolize the rich. It started with me as a child watching shows like "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", which is comparable with today's "Cribs" on MTV. My childhood dreams were all about becoming famous and having lot's of money. If you watch shows like American Idol, America's Got Talent and the likes you see the desperation that most American's have with the hope of being famous. Thank God for renewing my mind, changing my perspective, and causing me to pursuit what brings eternal value rather than temporal value that is never what it seems to be.

We see what having lot's of money does to most people here in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. The rich man who never offered Lazarus even a crumb now was begging Abraham to have Lazarus cool him down from the fiery flames of Hell and to warn his brothers not to follow in the same. Problem is once death comes it is too late, "we have made our bed, and now have to lie in it." Grace is available only in this life, not in the one to come. God has done everything He can in His Son to give us the chance to choose right, so while it is still today, "let us not harden our hearts."

We must choose whether we want to pursuit Eternal life in Christ or worldly fame? The bible says we cannot serve God and mammon, it is one or the other, the God of Heaven or the God of Earth? Money is just paper but greed is a spirit, so those that worship money really worship the Devil. To know whom we worship all we have to check is how hard or easy is it to give money away. God loves a cheerful giver. He rewards those whom use their resources for the good of others not just the good of themselves. Christ came to the Earth to give His life as a ransom for many so when it is His spirit leading what we now have is available for His will.

There are so many preachers on TV begging people for money, manipulating others in God's name. God promises in His word that He supplies our needs, but it takes faith to access His promises. Faith comes from God, so when we operate in the world's way, we have to use the world's methods to succeed. If we put His kingdom first (which means the King has dominion) and operate in His right way, He promises that all things will be given unto us, therefore we will never have to beg others for bread.

God or Money? (Luke 16:1-18)

Our American currency states, "In God we Trust," but the majority of us influenced by the world system place our trust in the money that statement is on. See, our worth according to the world's standards depends on what we own and what we accomplish. Even good deeds are done with an agenda in mind, as seen in Luke 16:1-7, where the shrewd manager did good to his clients only for the hope that favor will be returned to him.  The point to this parable as stated in verse eight & nine is that the children of the world do more with their resources though with a wrong motive than the children of light.  We may not have wrong motives regarding using our resources but it doesn't matter much if we don't use them for any good.  God has blessed us to be a blessing.  We don't own anything, it is all His to be used for His glory.  Who are we to hoard onto what is not our own.  We are supposed to use His resources to benefit others which goes beyond lip service to true loving kindness.

The majority of us make our decisions not based on if it is God's will but by how much money we have in the bank.  We will walk by faith in so many areas except for trusting Him to be our provider.  We argue over if the tithe is a New Testament principle, well it is not, that's just a portion of the principle now, it's no longer just 10% but 100%.  Meaning, He is to direct us in all we do with what is His.  If we want to have an overflow of provision we must walk by faith.  We can no longer limit our decisions to our earthly means.  God owns everything and as His children we shall never be in lack.  All we have to do is activate our heavenly bank account through faith.  Meaning when God says do something we do it no matter how things seem naturally.  

Our Father increases us depending on our faithfulness, as we step out in faith with whatever little He has given us more is added, our earthly wealth turns to heavenly riches (vs. 10-11).  I expect many of us have felt stagnant before, like their is no forward momentum, where our passion dwindles, and we feel like we are going nowhere in life.  This all comes because God cannot give us further direction and supply if we are not faithful to use what He has given us for His present purposes.  

Whatever we cannot let go of has a hold on us and that is why money is one of the biggest stumbling blocks regarding our spiritual growth.  God must be over our money for us to have unlimited supply.  It is impossible to serve God and serve money, we must choose whom we serve, dead Presidents or the living God (vs. 13)?  The spirit of mammon controls us by limiting our movement to what we have in our pockets.  The spirit of God controls us when we are not limited and move in faith despite what we have in our pockets.  For faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).  

Their are many modern day Pharisees who use God for their own personal gain. Those whom give their ministry only with a price.  This is highway robbery, taking God's power as if it was their own convincing people as if they were actually giving their money to God (vs. 15).  God's law judges us from the intent of our heart.  There are those who have mastered the art of deception.  God sees and knows all, He has a way to expose phonies and frauds.  Let us make sure we daily examine our hearts and repent when He reveals wrong.

Lost, Then Found (Luke 15:8-32)

Lost, then Found

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My wife often panics when something seems to be missing before she even really looks for it. Have you ever done that like totally lose something, panic, act like the world is coming to an end, to later find what you were looking for in an obvious place. I have lost stuff and I know that I know I looked where I thought it was, not finding it, but then looking again and it's there. When something or someone is missing like our own child, it is the worst feeling one can feel, we become overwhelmed with fear and dread inside of the thought that something bad might have happened.

Have you ever lost someone of importance not out of accident but through rejection, either through misunderstanding, believed lies, being disappointed, etc.? This by far the greatest pain people usually experience in life.

So imagine how God who has made us as His prized possession, the only creation made in His image, for the purpose of fellowship, whom redeemed and restored us after the fall through the death and resurrection of Jesus and yet many are still lost in ignorance or simply reject what He has done.

God made feelings so He feels the same things we feel. Imagine how it is when just one of your family members are astray, now God sees the whole world as His own, so He feels the pain of each person that is lost or rejecting Him. So in Luke 15:10 when it describes the joy that Heaven has when just one who is lost is found, you can now imagine the emotional celebration.

In the parable of the Lost Son we see the flight of many believers. We start well but as we understand the commitment of being a citizen of the Kingdom of God we step back a bit or we step away all together. We being selfish beings want our Heavenly Father to serve us rather than we serve Him. We want all the benefits without the commitment. We want to do what we want when we want to do it and when we mess up call on God to fix it.

I was so excited as a young person to go out and live on my own, but like many of us I was spoiled and not ready to handle what life brought me, so I ran home to my Grandma (who raised me) to spoil me once again, and she received me with open arms. We live in a culture that celebrates independence, self accomplishment, yet parenting and education at the same time is usually void of much life training, so few people are ready. We were never intended to live independent from God, we were created for fellowship, a daily partnership with Him of bringing forth His will on Earth as it is in Heaven.

As the popular song by Bob Dylan says "we all serve somebody", so what is it going to take to realize the best person to serve is Jesus Christ. Yes, it costs us our life, but we gain eternal life. It took the prodigal son experiencing complete humiliation before He returned to His Father. Why do we love to learn the hard way? Why do we think we can live separate from God and think things will turn out find? It might not be easy to follow God but it is the only way to experiencing true life.

The Father never rejects us, we run away from Him, but He is always waiting for our return with open arms. He does not condemn us, He already knows that we can't live apart from Him, and He understands that most of us have to realize that for ourselves before we finally fully surrender. It is not an easy thing to see our children suffer but it is sometimes necessary and the only way they will learn. Many kids are spoiled and therefore ungrateful and irresponsible because we fear them getting hurt. Don't we realize the greatest pain for God is His children living separate from Him. When we shelter them they never get a chance to realize how much they need God. So sometime we have to let our children go astray so that they will one day surrender to the Lord not from the traditions we established but truly from their heart. It sometimes takes getting lost before we can truly be found.

"Reaching The Lost" (Luke 15:1-7)

Chapter 48

"Reaching The Lost"

(Luke 15:1-7)

Isn't it amazing that we who were once so lost in sin now turn around and judge those who still are. We look down upon, ridicule, even despise those that don't think and behave like ourselves. Don't we realize that if it wasn't for the grace of God we would be just as messed up as anyone else. Have you ever experienced non-believers feeling completely uncomfortable being around you? 

Here in Luke 15:1-7 "the parable of the lost sheep", it is stated that tax collectors and notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. So why did they not feel uncomfortable around Jesus but actually wanted to listen to Him.

God's love is unconditional. He loves each individual on earth no matter what. He accepts us as we are with the hope that we will accept Him and therefore be transformed. People don't feel comfortable around us because the way we carry ourselves, the negative energy that we produce because of our judgmental thoughts. How can we say we love God and despise those He has created.

Yes, we are called to be holy as God is holy, and holiness means being set apart. But, holiness is a state of being, not a running away from something scared to get contaminated. Holiness comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit. This infilling gives us the power to overcome sin and temptation. It means we can be a bold witness of Jesus Christ in the midst of a lost sinful world. We can shine bright in the midst of the darkness.

Too many Christians live in their own Christian bubble, go to church nearly every night of the week, have their kids in Christian school, have only Christian friends. This is not why we are still here on Earth, we are here to save those that are lost, therefore we must go where they are, and draw them to God by our loving-kindness. We must believe in the power of God not just to save us but to keep us and stop being afraid of the world.

The lost sheep are not usually found in Christian circles we must be willing to say God here I am send me. I will go where ever you call me, I am scared of darkness, for I am the light of the world. The greatest joy in heaven is lost sinners repenting and returning to God. Will we make it our daily business to make Heaven rejoice.