December 8, 2013
Morning Service

In chapter 12 the Lord has taught concerning:

1.       Hypocrisy, and warns us that if we don’t confess Him before men He will not confess us before His Father in heaven.  We must openly take our stand for Jesus.

2.      Gave us the parable of the rich fool.  Who left God out of his plans for retirement.

3.      He taught us to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and then everything we NEED, He will take care of.

4.      Then the parable of the expectant servant, or the expectant church.  Being prepared for the return of the Lord.

5.      Then Jesus taught on the faithful steward, or church member.  He was doing the things to show that he was watching for his Lord’s return.

6.      Jesus then warns of the cost of discipleship.  It’s all or nothing.

7.      He closes chapter 12 with a warning:  teaches us to learn to discern the signs of the times.  The sign of Jonah in chapter 11.

***We have looked at the beginning of chapter 13 where Jesus speaks to them of repentance.  Telling us that it is not the magnitude of our sins that causes us to die, but it is what we do with Jesus, that causes us to die.  We are all sinners.  No big sins or little sins.  Do you remember what Jesus told Martha?

Joh 11:25-26  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  (26)  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

***Out of all the above I think we can see that the Lord is teaching us the importance of putting Him first in our lives, and being ready for His return.

·         Then Jesus spoke on the importance of patience and persistance with people we are trying to win to the Lord, and the importance of repentance.

Let us now continue in chapter 13: 

 

JESUS HEALS THE CRIPPLED WOMAN:

Luk 13:10-35  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.  (11)  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  (12)  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.  (13)  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 

·         I always think of Cora Nell’s sister Delphi, when I read this story.  She was bent over like this, and she loved the Lord with all her heart.  I know that one day I will see her again, and she will be walking upright, and in perfect stature.

·         All the wonderful works that Jesus did was to confirm that He had come from God, and had all the authority from God.

·         Does this mean that unless we can do all these wonderful works, and healings that we are not speaking the will of God?  Of course not!  Jesus spoke in the Name of the Father, and we speak in Jesus name.  As long as we speak His words, we are speaking the will of God.

LOOK AT THE ATTITUDE OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS:

(14)  And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.  (15)  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?  (16)  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 

·         Jesus is not taking away the importance of the Sabbath, it was very important.

·         Jesus called them hypocrites because they taught one thing, and did another.

·         Notice, daughter of Abraham, and satan is the one that has caused her problem.

 

(17)  And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

·         Because they knew what He said was correct.  They accepted He was from God.

PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED:

(18)  Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?  (19)  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 

·         The kingdom of God message would begin small, but end up reaching to the end of the world.

PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN:

(20)  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?  (21)  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 

·         The kingdom message, or gospel would be preached in Jerusalem, then throughout the whole world.  It would spread like wildfire.

DO YOU SEE HOW JESUS USES MORE THAN ONE PARABLE TO TEACH ONE TRUTH?

***THE WAY INTO THE KINGDOM:

(22)  And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.  (23)  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?   

And he said unto them,  (24)  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  (25)  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:  (26)  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  (27)  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.  (28)  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.  (29)  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.  (30)  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. 

·         The idea of this teaching is not to say how many will or will not be saved, but to encourage people to strive to enter the kingdom.

·         The plan of salvation has been set forth, and it is for whosoever will, and it is something that should be treasured, and esteemed very highly sought after, striving, if you please to attain.

***JESUS MORNS FOR JERUSALEM:

(31)  The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.  (32)  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.  (33)  Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 

·         Jesus has no fear of Herod, but again tells of His D.B.R.

·         It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.  Then He explains.

(34)  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee;

·         People that were supposed to love God, and their neighbors, and especially the prophets, through jealousy, and envy, killed the ones God sent to help, and instruct them.

***NOW LOOK AT THE LOVE, AND COMPASSION:  THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH.

how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!  (35)  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

·         Upon His last entrance to Jerusalem, commonly known as the triumphant entry, they certainly cried “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.”

We are in the season where there were some that recognized the signs of the times.  The wise men, coming from afar, Mat 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.   

Father help us to worship You in Spirit, and truth.