Developing A Cause Mentality
Text: Luke 9:57-62
Developing A Cause Mentality
Text: Luke 9:57-62
Introduction: (Senator John McCain was held as a prisoner of war in a North Vietnamese camp for several years. He relays this story about his interment.) In the final years of our imprisonment, our captors moved us from small cells with one or two prisoners to large rooms with as many as 30-40 men. We preferred this situation for the companionship and strength we could draw from one another. In addition to moving us to new quarters, the North Vietnamese let us receive packages and letters from home. Many of us heard from our families for the first time in years. In our cell was a Navy officer, Lt. Commander Mike Christian. Over a period of time he managed to gather bits and pieces of red and white cloth from some of the packages. Using a piece of bamboo as a needle, Mike sewed a U.S. flag on the inside of his blue prison shirt. Every night in our cell, Mike would put his shirt on the wall and we would say the pledge of allegiance. I know that the pledge of allegiance may not be the most important aspect of our day now, but I can tell you that at the time, it was the most important aspect of our lives. This had been going on for some time when the guards came in as we were reciting the pledge. The ripped the flag from the wall and dragged Mike out. He was beaten for several hours and thrown back into the cell. Later that night, as we were settling down to sleep on the concrete slabs that were our beds, I noticed Mike, still bloody and swollen from his terrible beating, gathering bits and pieces of cloth together. He was sowing a new American flag. This is the same kind of dogged determination that Jesus expects from His followers.
Theme: Kingdom Ministry Requires a Kingdom Mentality.
I. Christ warns against impulsive commitments (See Luke 9: 57-58).
A. Impulsive commitments wither with rejection (See Luke 9:51-56)
1. Samaritans rejected Jerusalem-centered salvation history (Their worship focused on Mt. Gerizim – John 4:20). Samaritans had competing views of Scripture, messianic expectation and what constitutes authentic faith in God.
2. Jesus was rejected by them. James and John did not take it well. Their commitment to follow Christ was based on the assumption, like John the Baptist, the Christ would judge the world, not redeem it. Jesus rebuked them saying, “You know not what manner of spirit you are of (KJV).”
B. Impulsive commitments wither with hardship. The scribe thought he was paying a high price as he volunteered to follow in that it would cost him popularity and time. Though He was the Son of Man, Christ responded that He would enjoy fewer creature comforts than foxes and birds. Luke 9:22 puts the two together. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (See I Peter 2:20,21)
Illus: When Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, a group of friends wrote him: "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?" According to a member of his family, Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."
II. Christ warns against inadequate commitments (See Luke 9: 59-60).
A. Following Christ takes priority over family obligations. The man’s request to bury his father meant one of two things:
1. He had not died yet. The son wished to be with him for whatever time he had left.
2. He had already died. It was the custom to wait one year and then enter the tomb of one who had died, recollect the bones, place them in a bone box and rebury them as a way to signify the end of mourning.
B. Following Christ takes priority over religious obligations. Christ words seem to be a violation of the 5th commandment to ‘honor your father and mother’. For some Jews, honoring mother and father was considered the most important commandment (contrasted with Deut. 13:6). Jesus insists on honoring parents (See 15:4-6), yet demands greater affection towards Himself.
Illus: Chrysostom says, “While it is a good deed to bury the dead, it is a better one to preach Christ.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spoken with a Christian man or woman who is involved in a dating relationship with another and has convinced themselves that the purpose of the relationship is to share the love of Christ.
III. Christ warns against insincere commitments (See Luke 9: 61,62).
A. Insincere commitments produce inconsequential change. The desire to hang onto the old life overwhelmes the desire to live as a new creation in Christ. (Luke 8:14 – Parable of the sower)
B. Insincere commitments produce ineffective ministry. Bogged down in the concerns of the world, this person is incapable of bearing fruit.
Application:
I. Our decision to build the kingdom of God must be deliberate. Jesus wants us to be His disciples, but only after we have considered the difficulties associated with the decision.
II. Our decision to build the kingdom of God must be comprehensive. Jesus wants us to be His disciples, but only after we have understood the scope of our decision.
III. Our decision to build the kingdom of God must be firm. Jesus wants us to be His disciples, but only after we have grasped the permanence of our decision.
Illus: A man was killed at a railroad crossing one summer evening in 1891. His relatives sued the railroad, claiming negligence on the part of the watchman. During the ensuing trial, the watchman was called to the witness stand. The prosecuting attorney asked him several questions. "Were you on duty at the crossing at the time of the accident?" "Yes sir, I was." "Did you have a lantern?" "Yes sir, I did." "Did you wave your lantern in warning?" "Yes sir, several times." Having answered in the affirmative to every question, the watchman helped the railroad win its case. An officer of the railroad came to see the watchman later to thank him for giving evidence in favor of the railroad. The officer inquired, "Tell me, Mr. Jarvis, were you nervous during the questioning at the trial?" The watchman replied, "Yes, I feared every moment that he would ask, ’Was the lantern lit?’"
Anyone can go through the motions of outward religiosity. We can wave our lanterns wildly, but it accomplishes nothing if we do not light them! The night is dark. Many lost souls have no hope but us. Are our lights shining?
