"WARNINGS, BELIEVER BEWARE!!"
TEXT: LUKE 12
INTRODUCTION
Several weeks back when we studied Luke chapter 9 and we answered the question, WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM -- And as that great chapter closes Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem.. towards the cross and His death. And we said that from this point on in Luke’s Gospel we were reading the words and acts of a dying man -- as we watch Jesus’ ministry begin to take a turn from popularity to opposition and rejection, we said that things were going to begin to heat up and they do...
In Luke chapter 11, Jesus hits His opposition head on -- He doesn’t run from it - He runs to it... chapter 11 ends with Jesus rebuking the scribes and Pharisees; telling them THE INSIDE OF THEIR CUP WAS FULL OF GREED AND WICKEDNESS -- THAT THEY HAD NEGLECTED JUSTICE AND THE LOVE OF GOD -- HOW THEY WANT THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACES IN THE MARKET PLACE -- HE CALLED THEM UNMARKED GRAVES -- TO WHICH AN EXPERT IN THE LAW SAID, "TEACHER WHEN YOU SAY THESE THINGS YOU INSULT US...."
AND JESUS RESPONDED TO HIM "AND YOU EXPERTS IN THE LAW WOE TO YOU -- BECAUSE YOU LOAD THE PEOPLE DOWN WITH BURDENS THEY CAN HARDLY CARRY AND YOU YOURSELVES WILL NOT LIFT ONE FINGER TO HELP THEM.."
AND WHEN THIS REBUKING WAS OVER -- LUKE RECORDS THE FOLLOWING, "WHEN JESUS LEFT THERE, THE PHARISEES AND THE TEACHER OF THE LAW BEGAN TO OPPOSE HIM FIERCELY AND TO BESIEGE HIM WITH QUESTIONS WAITING TO CATCH HIM IN SOMETHING HE MIGHT SAY.."
This brings us to Luke chapter 12. And as Luke chapter 12 opens up, Jesus is surrounded by a large crowd (in the thousands). And as it always was when Jesus spoke, there was much pushing and jockeying for position. Can you feel the energy and sense the excitement of the crowd gathering to hear Jesus (picture it in your mid).
But before Jesus even addresses this crowd, He turns and tells something to the 12.
Everyone here who has a drivers license has taken a written test, and part of that written test has to do with being able to recognize signs. Blue signs mean something -- so do red, white and brown also means something... And a yellow sign, informs us of potential danger, it cautions us -- it warns us. For example; slippery when wet; sharp curve ahead, bridge out, and some signs warns us that bridges will ice over before the road does.
Luke records for us in the passage we will study today 7 warning signs that Believers need to beware of -- Jesus wants to make us fully aware of the very real dangers that await us -- if we choose to travel down these roads..
So let’s listen to Jesus warnings today -- because these dangers are still real and they are still out there... And many in the church have ignored the warning.
I. BEWARE OF HYPOCRISY (12:1-7)
READ VERSE 1
The word hypocrite comes from a Greek word that means "an actor," "one who plays a part." There are hypocrites in every walk of life, people who try to impress others in order to hide their real selves. In the Christian Life a hypocrite is somebody who tries to appear more spiritual than he or she really is. These people know that they are pretending, and they hope they will not be found out. Their Christian life is merely a shallow masquerade. It is easy to see why Jesus gave this warning at this particular time. You see, very soon the disciples would begin their own ministry -- and they might be tempted either to gain popularity by pleasing the crowds, or avoid trouble by pleasing the scribes and Pharisees.
All of us want people to like us , and it seems like such an easy thing to "act the part" that we feel others want to see.
The Pharisees were big time hypocrites -- that is why Jesus said they were unmarked graves and that the inside of their cups were dirty. They were not at all what they appear to be on the outside.
SINCE HYPOCRISY IS SOMETHING JESUS CONDEMNS -- HOW CAN WE KEEP HYPOCRISY OUT OF OUR LIVES?
1. First, by recognizing what hypocrisy is -- Jesus compared it to yeast or leaven -- something every Jew would associate with sin & evil. The Apostle Paul also used leaven to symbolize sin when in I Corinthian 5 he talked about church Discipline and how if sin is not dealt with, it will work through the whole batch of doe.
Like yeast hypocrisy starts very small but grows very quickly. And once a person begins to pretend who he or she is -- the pretending increases to a point where the person does not even know whom they are anymore/they are always putting on a mask and being someone else....
One way to keep hypocrisy out is for us not to gloss over it, but to uncover Hypocrisy for what it really is -- to pretend is to lie -- and to lie is to sin. And according to Rev 21:8 the eventual home of habitual liars will be the fiery lake of burning sulfur, the 2nd death.
2. The second way to keep hypocrisy out of our lives -- is for us to realize that Hypocrisy is foolish and it is futile....
Listen to verses 2 and 3............
No one can pretend forever, Truth cannot long be forced into hiding -- the mask will eventually come off. Scripture says the lies of the hypocrite will one day be laid open for all to see. "THERE IS NOTHING CONCEALED THAT WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED, OR HIDDEN THAT WILL NOT BE MADE KNOWN..."
And we must never forget that there is someone who is not fooled at all by our Oscar winning performances.... The Bible says, "NOTHING IN ALL CREATION IS HIDDEN FORM GOD’S SIGHT. EVERYTHING IS UNCOVERED AND LAID BARE BEFORE THE EYES OF HIM TO WHOM WE MUST GIVE AN ACCOUNT..." -- HEB 4:13
Pretending to be something you are not may fool some, but it never fools God -- He knows exactly who you are.
3. A 3rd way to keep hypocrisy out of our lives is for us to realize the root cause of hypocrisy.
READ VERSE 4-7
Jesus mentions fear 5 times in these verse, and what He is teaching us is that the basic cause of hypocrisy is the fear of men. When we are afraid of what others may say about us or do to us -- we pretend we are something else to gain their approval. The Pharisees and Scribes in Jesus’ day were more concerned about reputation -- then character and they were more concerned about what people thought about them then -- what God knew about them. The fear of man as Proverbs 29:25 says, "will prove to be a snare" and Jesus wants His followers to avoid that snare.
He says that the remedy for hypocrisy is to forget what people may say, think or do and fear God alone! The fear of God cures all fears -- BECAUSE HE WHO FEARS GOD FEARS NOTHING ELSE. The worst that man can do is kill the body and after that can do no more -- God can condemn the soul to hell -- He is the final judge. He can do us the most harm -- Therefore in the word’s of the great Vulcan Mr Spock it only logical then to fear God more. God care for us more than He cares for the sparrows -- we are of greater value to Him -- so we need not fear man.
Beware my friends of hypocrisy -- remember that it is sin -- remember that one day the mask will come off and the real you will be exposed -- remember who knows and sees all can do you the most harm -- fear God more >>> This will keep hypocrisy out of our lives.
II. THE 2ND WARNING JESUS GIVES IS, BEWARE OF GREED (13-21)
READ 13,14
AT THIS POINT SOMEONE IN THE CROWD RECOGNIZING JESUS’ AUTHORITY -- INTERRUPTED JESUS AND ASKED HIM TO SOLVE A FAMILY PROBLEM. YOU SEE, RABBIS IN THAT DAY WERE EXPECTED SOLVE LEGAL MATTERS. BUT JESUS REFUSED TO GET INVOLVED, WHY? BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT ANY ANSWER HE WOULD GIVE WOULD NOT SOLVE THE REAL PROBLEM, WHICH WAS GREED LIVING IN THE HEARTS OF THE 2 BROTHERS. AND AS LONG AS THESE 2 MEN WERE GREEDY THERE COULD BE NO SOLUTION THAT WOULD BE SATISFACTORY TO EITHER OF THEM. THEIR GREATEST NEED WAS NOT TO HAVE THEIR DISAGREEMENT SETTLED BUT THEIR HEARTS CHANGED -- BUT LIKE MANY PEOPLE TODAY THEY WANTED JESUS TO SERVE THEM AND MET THEIR NEEDS -- THEY DID REALLY WANT JESUS TO SAVE THEM AND TRANSFORM THEM...
GREED IS AN UNQUENCHABLE THIRST FOR MORE AND MORE OF THIS EARTH’S GOODS. WE LIVE IN A GREEDY SOCIETY... EVERYDAY AND IN MANY WAYS THIS SOCIETY TELLS US YOU HAVE TO HAVE THINGS TO BE SOMEBODY/TO BE HAPPY.
Listen to verse 15, "THE HE SAID, `WATCH OUT! BE ON GUARD (BE CONTINUALLY ON THE LOOKOUT) AGAINST ALL KINDS OF GREED; A MAN’S LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS POSSESSIONS..."
"JESUS, YOU MEAN THAT IT IS NOT TRUE THAT IN THIS LIFE HE WHO HAS THE MOST TOYS WINS?
LET ME ASK YOU --- DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WHAT JESUS SAID IS TRUE -- LIFE DOESN’T’ CONSIST OF WHAT AND HOW MANY THINGS WE HAVE?
THEN WHY DO SO MANY EVEN WITHIN THE CHURCH SPEND MORE TIME, EFFORT AND ENERGY SEEKING THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THEN THINGS OF GOD. THEY MAY AGREE WITH JESUS STATEMENT IN THEORY -- BUT IN PRACTICE MANY WITHIN THE CHURCH ARE LIVING JUST THE OPPOSITE -- FAR TOO MANY HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE LIE THAT LIFT CONSISTS IN/OR CAN BE HELD TOGETHER, BY MATERIAL THINGS.
THEY BELIEVE THAT MARRIAGES ARE HELD TOGETHER BY MATERIAL THINGS ALONE --
THAT FAMILIES ARE HELD TOGETHER BY MATERIAL THINGS ALONE
BUT LIVES ARE NOT HELD TOGETHER BY MATERIAL THINGS ALONE (IN FACT MATERIAL THINGS MAKE A PRETTY LOUSY CEMENT) -- THAT IS WHY MANY MATERIALLY WEALTHY PEOPLE ARE MISERABLE, UNHAPPY, AND THEIR LIVE AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE FALLING APART..
TO ILLUSTRATE THE FOLLY OF GREED, JESUS TOLD A PARABLE -- ABOUT A MAN WHO WAS RICH -- A MAN WHO WAS VERY SELF CENTERED (12 TIMES IN 5 VERSES THE MAN USES "I, MY AND MINE" -- HE FIT RIGHT INTO 20TH CENTURY AMERICA) -- HE WAS A MAN WHO SOUGHT LIFE IN THINGS" SOMEONE HAS RIGHTLY SAID, "THIS PARABLE SHOWS AN HONEST MAN BEING EXECUTED BY HIS OWN ESTATE," LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF YOUR KING -- HEED THE WARNING OF THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL...
LK 12:16-21
WHY DOES GOD CALL THIS MAN A FOOL? -- BECAUSE; HE WAS RICH IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, BUT HE WAS NOT RICH IN THE THINGS OF GOD. BECAUSE; HE HAD INVESTED ALL OF HIS TIME AND ENERGY INTO THINGS THAT WILL NOT LAST. BECAUSE; HE BUILT HIS KINGDOM IN THE TEMPORARY AND HAD COMPLETELY NEGLECTED THE ETERNITY. THEREFORE WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR HIM TO MET GOD, HE WAS NOT READY AND ALL THAT HE COLLECTED WAS LEFT BEHIND -- IT COULD NOT HELP HIM... AND ACCORDING TO JESUS, HIS END WILL BE THE END OF ANYONE "WHO STORES UP THINGS FOR HIMSELF BUT IS NOT RICH TOWARDS GOD..."
ARE YOU RICH IN THE THINGS OF THE WORLD OR ARE YOU RICH IN THE THINGS OF GOD? BE HONEST ARE YOU WISE OR ARE YOU A FOOL?
WE NEED TO BEWARE OF HYPOCRISY AND WE NEED TO BEWARE OF GREED...
III. IN VERSES 22-31 JESUS TELLS US, WE NEED TO BEWARE OF WORRY
READ 22-31
Our English word for worry come from an Anglo Saxon word that means "to strangle." "Worry does not empty tomorrow of it’s sorrow" said Corrie Ten Boom, "it empties today of it’s strength."
ACCORDING TO THE GRAMMAR HERE, Jesus is not suggesting that we should not worry he is commanding us not to worry! YOU SEE, Jesus knows that worry is a very dangerous things.
1. Worry robs life of it’s joy
2. And at worry’s root is a lack of trust in God
3. And many times our pursuit to soothe worry we commit
acts of sin.
4. Worry has adverse physical effects; Many physicians believe that worry causes or contributes to: ulcers, colitis, asthma, migraine, stroke, paralysis, arthritis, fatigue, hypertension and diabetes. Researchers have stated that more than 1/2 of all hospital beds are occupied by anxious-ridden patients.
In verse 29 (READ IT) the phrase "do not worry about it," is a Greek word that is used nowhere else in the NT and it means "tossed up and down, or suspended like a boat in a stormy sea." Christians must not be tossed up and down and in suspense about life like the ungodly are.
NOW THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONCERN & WORRY
CONCERNS CAUSES A CHRISTIAN TO TAKE HIS PROBLEMS TO GOD AND LEAVE THE BURDEN THEIR... CONCERN CAUSES US TO DO OUR BEST AND LEAVE GOD THE REST. ON THE OTHER HAND WORRY CAUSES US TO ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM ON OUR OWN... WE KEEP THE BURDEN WE NEVER GIVE IT TO GOD.
SINCE WE ARE COMMANDED NOT TO WORRY HOW DO WE OVERCOME WORRY
1. THE FIRST STEP IS TO REMEMBER THAT "THE ALL KNOWING, ALL POWERFUL, ALL PRESENT AND ALL LOVING" GOD KNOWS OUR NEEDS AND WE CAN TRUST HIM TO MEET THEM.
We are sheep in His flock... Children in His family... Servants in His Kingdom. He is God and our needs have not escaped His notice. And our God will see to it, that our needs (and He knows our real needs) are fully meet.
God has promised to take care of us. He has promised to give us good gifts; Jesus taught in Luke 11
"WHICH OF YOU FATHERS, IF YOUR SON ASKED FOR A FISH WOULD GIVE HIM A SNAKE INSTEAD? OR IF HE ASKS FOR AN EGG, WILL GIVE HIM A SCORPION? IF YOU THEN THOUGH YOU ARE EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN HOW MUCH MORE WILL THE FATHER GIVE TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM..."
When problems come rolling into our lives that cause us concern (AND BELIEVE THEY WILL ROLL IN) -- we do not have to worry because God has promised that "HE CAUSES ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE."
"IF GOD IS FOR US WHO (WHAT) CAN BE AGAINST US? HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS SON, BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL -- HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO, ALONG WITH HIM, GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL THINGS..."
THE FIRST STEP IN OVERCOMING WORRY IS TO TRUST GOD.....
2. THE NEXT STEP IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE... IF OUR HEART IS ON THE TEMPORARY AND TRANSIENT THINGS OF THIS EARTHLY LIFE.... WE WILL ALWAYS WORRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT WHENEVER YOU AND I WORRY IT IS A RED FLAG THAT IS INDICATING OUR FOCUS IS CENTERED TOO MUCH ON THIS WORLD... THAT OUR HEART IS MORE ANCHORED HERE, THAN IN HEAVEN.
HEAR ME, IT IS ONLY WHEN WE UNDERSTAND/REALIZE/ BELIEVE & ACCEPT THAT PERFECT LIFE BEGINS ONLY WHEN WE LEAVE THIS EARTH THAT WE WILL SUCCESSFULLY KEEP WORRY AT BAY...WORRY CAN NOT REACH US WHEN WE ARE NOT STRIVING TO BUILD OUR OWN "PERFECT" CITY HERE ON EARTH -- BUT RATHER LONG INTENSELY TO BE IN THE CITY WHO BUILDER AND DESIGNER IS GOD...
WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT GOD KNOWS OUR EVERY NEED AND THAT HE WILL DO WHAT IS BEST -- AND WHEN OUR HEART IS ANCHORED IN HEAVEN WE WILL OVERCOME WORRY.
IV. NEXT JESUS TELLS US TO BEWARE OF IDLENESS, HE WARNS US ABOUT SLACKING OFF. LUKE 12:35-40
Have you ever had someone surprise you by dropping in unexpectantly. So that you didn’t even want to open the door for them and let them in immediately? I think we all have had that experience at one time or another -- it’s embarrassing isn’t it?
I mean if they had only let us know they were coming -- we would of gotten ready -- we may even baked them a cake.
Jewish weddings at that time were held at night and a bridegrooms servants would have to wait for their master to come home with HIS bride. And the new husband would certainly not want to be kept waiting at the door with his bride! Therefore his servants needed to always be ready.
Let me ask you some questions:
Do you want to be ready when Jesus returns? What would you like him to find you doing? If comes on Sunday morning where would you like Him to find you? (church? beach? Disney? golf? bowling? asleep?) Are you ever doing or not doing something -- that would make you embarrassed if he came right then?
Who wants to be found ready when Jesus comes? raise your hands
Now let me ask you this question, Do you believe the bible when it says that Jesus will come at anytime like a thief in the night?
This means that we must be ready at all times -- because Jesus could come at any moment... He will come Jesus said, "at an hour you do not expect Him..." Will you be ready? Well are you ready now? Will you be doing something that is sinful? Will Jesus find you be putting His Kingdom and His Church at the bottom of the list and yourself at the top....
LET ME ASK YOU THIS WHAT DO YOU THINK CHURCH ATTENDANCE WOULD BE IF WE KNEW FOR SURE JESUS WAS COMING TODAY AT 10:30? HOW ABOUT IF WE KNEW HE WAS COMING AT 9:30 WOULD SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE INCREASE? AND WHAT IF JESUS HAD THE AUDACITY TO RETURN AT THE MID WEEK BIBLE STUDY HOUR -- WOULD WE SEE MORE FACES THERE THEN USUAL? AND WHAT IF JESUS RETURNED WHEN WE ARE AT HOME OR AT WORK WOULD YOU ACT AN DIFFERENTLY THEN USUAL?
WHEN PETER HEARD THIS PARABLE HE SAID, "LORD, ARE YOU TELLING THIS PARABLE TO US OR TO EVERYONE.."
LUKE 12:42=45; ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE LIKE THAT UNFAITHFUL SERVANT -- THINKING THAT JESUS IS NOT COMING BACK ANYTIME SOON SO I CAN DO, OR NOT DO, WHATEVER I WANT.... NOW I DON’T IF PEOPLE ARE THINKING THIS CONSCIOUSLY OR NOT, BUT I DO SEE MANY WHO ARE OBVIOUSLY LIVING LIKE THAT.. INDIFFERENT TO CONSISTENT CHURCH ATTENDANCE, TITHING, SERVING, PRAYING, BIBLE STUDY, SHARING CHRIST, BE A GODLY MAN OR WOMAN... IF YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IF YOU KNEW FOR SURE JESUS WAS COMING YOU ARE NOT LIVING RIGHT.
JESUS CONTINUES 46-48...
WE NEED TO BEWARE OF IDLENESS -- HE WILL COME UNEXPECTANTLY AND FIND YOU JUST AS YOU ARE.
V. IN VERSES 49-53 JESUS TELLS US TO BEWARE OF PEACE....
READ THE VERSES
JESUS DID COME TO BRING PEACE, BUT HE HIMSELF SAID THE PEACE HE BRINGS IS NOT LIKE THE PEACE THE WORLD BRINGS..
THE WORLD’S PEACE MEANS ABSENCE OF CONFLICT ("CAN’T WE ALL GET ALONG" "ALL WE ARE SAYING GIVE PEACE A CHANCE") -- AND WHAT THIS ABSENCE OF CONFLICT USUALLY MEANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE COMPROMISED IN ORDER TO REACH AN AGREEMENT... THE WORLD’S PEACE IS COMPROMISE, COVER UPS AND WATERED DOWN TRUTHS.
BUT JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY THERE IS NO COMPROMISE! HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT -- IT IS JESUS’ WAY OR NO WAY.... YOU SEE, TRUTH AND LIGHT BY THEIR VERY NATURE DIVIDE -- THEY CAUSE PEOPLE TO MAKE A CHOICE.. AND THAT CHOICE WILL EITHER BE WRONG OR RIGHT.
WE MUST BEWARE OF THE WORLD’S KIND OF PEACE "MERE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT." GOD’S PEACE DIVIDES BECAUSE WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A CHRISTIAN AND WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE -- SOME ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT -- (AFTER ALL A LOT PEOPLE DIDN’T LIKE WHAT JESUS HAD TO SAY DID THEY?) MANY WILL GET MAD.....BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT ANYONE TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO...
"WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME HOW TO LIVE" "WELL WE ARE NO ONE, BUT GOD IS SOMEONE --- AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAYS."
WE MUST BEWARE OF PEACE (MERE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT) BECAUSE IT MAY MEAN WE HAVE COMPROMISED THE TRUTH AND AVOIDED NECESSARY CONFRONTATIONS. WE MAY NOT HAVE SPOKEN OR TICKLED MORE THAN A FEW EARS.
VI. NEXT JESUS SAYS WE ARE TO BEWARE OF SPIRITUAL DULNESS
LUKE 12:54-56
Our society is so intelligent -- there have been some amazing technological advances... What they can do in the Medical field is amazing. And scientist and engineers perform math functions that can’t even read let alone understand. Yet, this same "smart" society can not add 1 + 1 and get 2.
They cannot look at our rapidly decaying society and see that the reason for it’s decline is ungodliness.. Oprah, Phil, Dan, Tom, Connie, Hugh, Barbara and the rest, have their shows, discus the problems, but they just don’t get it do they?
They may be smart, but the are idiots as well. Haven’t you at times wanted to shake them and say, "OPEN YOUR EYES -- IT’S SO SIMPLE.."
WHAT ABOUT US... HOW COME PEOPLE TOO CAN INTERPRET THE Signs, EVEN SEE THE ROOT CAUSE OF OUR SOCIETAL WOES
BUT THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASONS THEIR MARRIAGES, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR LIVES -- ARE FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT IN A REAL WAY PUT GOD, HIS SON, HIS KINGDOM AND HIS CHURCH FIRST IN OUR LIVES.
AND PARENTS WE MUST HEED THIS WARNING -- WE MUST SHOW OUR KIDS OUR FAITH IN A VERY REAL WAY. IF WE SAY:
"KIDS GOD IS IMPORTANT," BUT YOU DON’T GO TO CHURCH REGULARLY...
"KIDS IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE TO THE CHURCH," BUT THEY KNOW YOU DON’T...
"KIDS GOD AND HIS CHURCH ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN THINGS," YET THEY DON’T SEE YOU LIVE IT...
"KIDS IT IS IMPORTANT TO SERVE," BUT YOU DON’T ...
"KIDS IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRAY AND STUDY THE WORLD," BUT THEY NEVER SEE YOU GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, HIT YOUR KNEES OR OPEN YOUR BIBLE.
PARENTS - YOUR KIDS WILL DO WHAT YOU DO, NOT WHAT YOU SAY.. YES, MANY PRETEND THEY ARE PUTTING GOD FIRST -- BUT GOD SEES RIGHT THROUGH THEIR MASKS..
AND GOD AT TIMES SENDS CIRCUMSTANCES TO SHAKE THEM TO THEIR SENSE "OPEN YOUR EYES -- IT IS SO SIMPLE -- SEEK FIRST MY KINGDOM AND MY RIGHTEOUS AND ALL THAT YOU NEED IN THIS LIFE WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU.."
BUT MANY HAVE BECOME SPIRITUALLY DULL AND CAN NO LONGER INTERPRET THE THINGS OF GOD...
BEWARE OF SPIRITUAL DULLNESS -- IT LEADS TO A ROAD OF DISASTER.
VII. FINALLY JESUS REMINDS US TO BEWARE OF FRUITLESS REPENTANCE
LUKE 13:1-8
WHAT JESUS IS TEACHING HERE IS THAT REPENTANCE IS NOT SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT IT IS SOMETHING TO DO...
AND UNLESS YOUR REPENTANCE PRODUCES THE FRUIT OF A CHANGED LIFE -- IT IS WORTHLESS.. IT IS NOT WORTH THE SOIL IT IS PLANTED IN...
JESUS SAID "IF IT BEARS NO FRUIT IT WILL BE CUT DOWN.."
If all we do is simply talk about repentance and change -- we are Wasting our time.. we might as well just keep our seat and keep our mouth’s shut..
OUR LORD AND SAVIOR HAS SAID, "UNLESS YOUR REPENTANCE IF A FRUITFUL REPENTANCE YOU TO WILL LIKEWISE PERISH."
AS WE TRAVEL THE ROAD OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE -- THERE ARE MANY DANGEROUS ROADS THAT WE MIGHT GO BE TEMPTED TO GO DOWN -- IN THE CHRISTIANS DRIVERS MANUAL OF LIFE -- OUR LORD HAS WARNED US OF SERIOUS DANGERS
WE CAN NOT SEE THAT THE BRIDGE IS OUT AND THAT IF WE KEEP HEADING THAT WAY WE WILL GET HURT-- BUT JESUS CAN SEE.. AND HE HAS TOLD US TO:
BEWARE OF: HYPOCRISY, GREED, WORRY, IDLENESS, PEACE, SPIRITUAL DULLNESS AND FRUITLESS REPENTANCE...
NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THE WARNING SIGNS ARE -- WHAT WILL YOU DO...
WILL YOU CONTINUE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO YELLOW SIGNS POSTED BY MEN AND CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE WARNING SIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR ALL ETERNITY BY THE SON OF GOD?
WILL YOU HEED HIS WARNINGS
BELIEVERS BEWARE!!!
