Three men were laying stone and someone passing by asked them one by one, “What are you doing?” The first man didn’t even look up but said, “I’m laying stone!” The second man looked up and said, “I’m working to feed my family and pay my bills.” The third stone layer looked up and smiled and said, “I’m building a cathedral to the glory of God!”
Three men doing the same thing answering the same question but with three different perspectives… All three answer the same question, but each one saw in his heart something very different.
I need three volunteers. (Select one youth, one young adult and one older member). Would each of you come up here please? Look around you. What do you see? (Allow them each to answer in the mic). Thank-you! You may return to be seated now.
Turn to Luke 10:23-24 and listen carefully to Jesus and what he says here. Jesus told his disciples something here that we need to pay attention to and consider today as we look at chapter 10 of Luke.
23 And turning to the disciples, He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,
24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."
Just imagine Jesus here with a crowd around him and he calls the disciples close and says to them privately: Listen! Blessed are your eyes to see what you see! Blessed are your ears to hear what you hear! Many prophets and kings wanted to be in your shoes! They desired to see and hear what you see and hear, but… they didn’t!
Now think about this. Every Sunday we come together here. Every week we go through a similar pattern. We have Bible classes and then we all come to gather here, sitting in the same pew, in the same general place. We have announcements and opening prayer. We sing songs together. We share the Lord’s Supper together. We hear the scripture reading and prayer. We consider a message from the scripture and then we have an invitation for anyone who may want to become a Christian or for any Christian who desires to make confession or asks for prayer. We have a blessing. Finally, we sing a closing song and have a closing prayer. Then some of us leave to beat the church across the street to the restaurants and others hang out and visit.
Same ole, same ole… right???
Why are you here? What do you see in all this?
Perhaps some are here just to punch their clock for Christ so that they can say they’ve done their religious duty for the week.
Perhaps some are here hoping to get something for their family, some encouragement to stay faithful through the coming week, or looking for some spiritual food.
But some of you see something else. Some of your eyes catch a glimpse behind the veil of flesh and by faith you see the very presence of the Lord! You see him! You know he is here. You, by faith, worship him in Spirit and truth… that’s what you see because that’s why you came!
For you this is not just the “same ole, same ole.” In fact, when your eyes see what you see and you hear what you hear, there’s a joy that fills you. Sometimes it even overflows in tears. For you, this is not old at all, No! This is spiritual fellowship with Jesus Christ in the midst of we who are brothers and sisters made righteous, saved, through his blood. You know, don’t you, that the kingdom of God has come near!
Some people can come to church and if Jesus Christ himself were preaching, they would be bored and go away empty! Why? Because they would never see him and know who he is! Others realizing that Jesus is here rejoice in his presence and don’t want to leave.
What are you looking for here? Whatever it is, that’s probably what you will see. If you don’t see the Lord’s presence here with the eyes of faith, maybe it’s because you didn’t really come for that. You came here for something else, and you tend to get what you came for.
Listen to what Jesus tells these 72 disciples who he sends out. Look at the first 12 verses of Luke 10. (Read)
Did you get all that? Jesus gives these disciples several instructions about what to DO. But their message involves two very short statements: 1. A blessing of peace on the house of their host. 2. These words: “The Kingdom of God has come near you!”
Now, what did the people see who observed these missionaries? Jesus gave them power to heal the sick, and later we also see that they cast out demons. But they didn’t talk much, they just do the work of ministry, bless the host’s house and preach that the Kingdom is near. If they are rejected, they dust off their feet and say why they are leaving, but also these words: “The Kingdom of God has come near!”
Did you get that? They are inviting everyone to see the unseen! They are proclaiming a vision of God, that God’s very Kingdom presence is within the reach of all! Cursed are those that do not see it because they reject the King’s messengers.
They go out and in verse 17 they come back all excited and full of joy! They report to the Lord how it went saying, “Even the demons are subject to us in your name!” Wow! What is happening here??? What are they experiencing and seeing? The nearness of the Kingdom of God! The eternal Kingdom! It is breaking into time and space, erupting into the world of Jesus and these disciples in power! It is interrupting Satan’s domain and Jesus… get this, Jesus SEES IT. What does he say? Look at verses 18-20.
18 And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.
20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
Where did all this spiritual authority come from? A better question is this: In whose name do the demons submit? Jesus! This Name is the same name we meet in today. This is the same Name we pray in, worship in and live in. Colossians 3 points us up and tells us to set our minds on things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. We are to fix our minds on things in heaven and not on earthly things! Whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him!
But back to Luke 10… You must admit that what Jesus did here is phenomenal! Jesus is revealing God to them and Jesus LOVES to SEE it!
These verses are very important. This is a glimpse. These disciples see and experience God’s power in an exceptional and personal way. But… and here’s the part that we also MUST NOT MISS. They can’t seem to hold on to the vision. It fades from view for them soon and they struggle to know and understand and maintain the vision of the Kingdom of God.
(Hold up a cell phone) Look at this. I’ve been on the road a few times when I’ve failed to charge the batteries in this thing and do you know what happens? It stops working! Everything is there, but the power is gone and the communications cease! Does anyone know what I mean? I’ve learned to bring a charger in the car with me now.
That illustrates our vision of the Lord. We need spiritual energy to maintain the vision of the Kingdom and the joy of the Lord’s presence. We are so much like Israel. They saw God come upon Mount Sinai, they heard God speak and they fell down in fear and worship and told Moses, “You go and get the words of God, we will do whatever He says to you!” They have seen the vision!!! 40 days later, without spiritual leadership, they turn to a substitute god and want to follow a substitute vision of the world!!!
Why are we here week after week? Why do we do what we do every week? Why take the Communion, sing the songs, pray the prayers, hear the sermons, give the offerings… Why??? WE HAVE TO! WE QUICKLY LOSE SIGHT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IF WE DON’T! We have a terrible problem with short term spiritual memory.
Gathering for worship and fellowship helps us keep our eyes open to see the nearness of the Kingdom of God.
But another thing: We need to leave here on a mission from God. We need to take the vision with us and proclaim it to others and practice what God teaches us or we quickly go blind. 2 Peter 1 tells us to add to our faith and grow in the Christian virtues. If we do not, listen to what he says happens. Are you listening? Here it is:
2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
John Maxwell has a great illustration of how many Christians are bloated with biblical knowledge but never put it to work for the Lord. He takes out his handkerchief and tucks it in his collar as a napkin for a meal. Then he looks up and says: Feed me preacher… feed me. Then he says, after another huge spiritual meal you get your overstuffed body out of the pew and head for the door and say, “burp… good sermon preacher! See you tonight.” As if you need another sermon! Maxwell asks, “How many times before it takes?”
We need to be fed and then put to ministry for the Master for the Kingdom of God! Brothers and sisters… the Kingdom of God is near! It is here! Let us see it and let us share it and let us rejoice in knowing that by God’s grace we are transferred from the dominion of Darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son! Colossians 1:13.
Two stories follow this in Luke that help apply the vision to life. First is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus shows us that when we’ve seen the Lord and his Kingdom our eyes are also open to see our neighbor. What do the priest and Levite see on the road? What did the Samaritan see?
Second is the story of Martha and Mary. Jesus shows us again that seeing the Lord and his Kingdom helps us set our priorities where they belong. What does Martha see when Jesus came to her house? What did Mary see?
May God open our eyes to see a vision of the Kingdom and rejoice and live in the presence of the Lord.
