Think of what you are doing!
Luke 8:16-21
By: Rev. Phillip A. Wright
Jewell Baptist Chapel
North Bay, NY.
Introduction: This morning we will look into the Parable of the Revealed Light. Did you ever have something that others would love to have seen or look at and never said anything? Did you hide it from others so they would not know what you know? In my past career, in the U.S. Intelligence community it was my job to help keep our nation’s secrets secure. So in a sense we had knowledge and intentionally kept it from others in the world. However, when I see a Christian in America failing to share the love of Christ; I wonder why that is! In the intelligence community sharing secrets could present a national threat; in sharing the love of Jesus there is no threat – only glorious freedom for that soul and a reward in heaven for the witness.
Today we will look at Luke 8:16-21; Let’s read:
Passage: Luke 8:16-21 16 " No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 "Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." 19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." 21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." (NKJV)
Need: People need realize that everything they have ever said or thought – the true intention of every action – the real meaning behind every glance, smile or word will in fact be made known.
Textual Idea: Our passage is in red letters. Know what that means? These words were spoken by the Lord and he will be true to his word. He said it will all be made known and you can expect that he is true to his word. Some of these words today will smack some of us in different ways. Some may hit hard others may not. So let’s look at all of it.
Transition: Our text this morning suggests four things:
1. Enlightenment brings to mind Correctness.
Explanation: Recall the first verse I read. Some one with a lamp or knowledge does not hide it that others may not benefit from it.
Illustration: What if the chemist, engineers, inventors and statesmen who all had new ideas, formulas and devices kept their successes to themselves. Imagine no lights, no antibiotics, no elevators, no airplanes or cars, no irrigation systems, no entertainment. It makes absolutely no sense to have or develop something and then keep it. The idea of progress is to share new things with others to help mankind and future generations.
Argumentation: I admit there are times that someone gets testy and does not want to hear the gospel. Well that is their right, but you must diligently, lovingly, painstakingly share Christ’s love as if their very soul depended on it. After all – it does.
Application: The believer who brow beats the lost and uses warning or threatening comments to help convict someone of their sin; gives the cause of Christ a bad name. Share what you know expecting that God will use those words to bring glory to himself and let him take care of the conviction of one’s sins. You tell them the good news of Christ.
Transition: Face it most people do not like dirty work anyway. You tell them the good news and let the Holy Spirit do the conviction of sin. So we have “Enlightenment: Brings to mind Correctness” (in the sense of sharing in a proper spirit and manner).
2. Exposure brings to mind Conviction.
Explanation: I want you to see in our second verse that all things will be made known. There are no secrets, every thought, intention, glance, smile, word and deed it will all be shown in living color.
Illustration: I am tired of hearing about men with the "courage of their convictions." Nero and Caligula and Attila and Hitler had the courage of their convictions--but not one had the courage to examine his convictions, or to change them, which is the true test of character. Sydney Harris in Bits & Pieces, October 1991. (taken from sermonillustrations.com)
Argumentation: As we turn to verse 17, we see that as embarrassing as it will surely be, all the hush, hush stuff we have thought or said will be made known. God will make all things known to all parties involved.
Application: Scripture says that we should let our yes be yes and our no be no. Well when we have a secret agenda, it’s difficult for God to carry on his plans when he is getting kicked at by some of his own children. We have to expect that this is coming and that it’s fair. Scripture does not pull any punches; it tells us to be honest and upright. I know that it may be difficult at times but that’s what we are called to do. The foreknowledge that all things will be made known should guide each of us to do that which is right all the time. I know, we are not perfect – but it should be your aim.
Transition: Not only do we see that Enlightenment brings to mind Correctness and Exposure brings to mind Conviction; but we see:
3. Examination brings to mind Charge.
Explanation: The very idea that our acts and works will be the subject of discussion – not outright judgment like unbelievers but there will be a day of reckoning for us as well all this should drive us to take ownership of the charge on our lives to be witnesses in this world.
Illustration: I want you to know that during all the education I have there have been examinations. I do not like them at all due to the anxiety of not doing well. My worst fear is making a dumb mistake, knowing the answer and just not marking it correctly.
Argumentation: Should we share all the time – every moment of the day? Categorically not! You end up with people thinking you are a nut. Remember we are in the world by not of it. You need to systematically invest your time and energy into the lives of others to get to know them and be interested in them. We all need friends. The one who says I do not know any unbelievers is clearly in sin. Where is you field for witnessing?
Application: To be in the world means to talk about baseball, karate, car problems, children and grand children and current events. However, along with those topics the love of Christ, his desire to have a relationship with the lost and other essential elements in witnessing should be put into your list of discussions. Don’t give someone “both barrels” every time you see them. Honestly be interested in them as a person, one who needs to understand what it is about Christ that would lead him to die for them in spite of their sin.
Transition: So we see that Enlightenment brings to mind Correctness and Exposure brings to mind Conviction and Examination brings to mind Charge – next we see:
4. Expansion brings to mind Consistency.
Explanation: I run into people everyday who spend all their time with a closed circle of people, family and very close friends. Notice that Jesus is the son of his mother and he has clearly got others siblings. Notice that he does not seclude himself with just them. Each of us should expand our scope to reach others around us.
Illustration: When I was in seminary, I spent as much time with Richard Wilburn – a good friend and classmate – as I did with my own family for about two academic years. We are both retired military and we have a lot in common. In addition I have blood relatives who will probably never make a decision for Christ.
Argumentation: My point is who do you spend the bulk of your quality time with? You need to make sure that some of it is spent with the lost. Family and friends are nice but your comfort zone is right where Satin wants you to stay. He wants you to be happy with your little circle and to keep your paws off his group.
Application: Recognize the church has no other purpose than to evangelize the lost and to make them disciples. Notice the great commission does not address Holy Clubs and things of that nature. You have your family, friends and support group for your needs, you have your church for spiritual growth and development, and you must expand you horizons so you have a consistent witness field. IN this last part of our passage, it seems that Jesus’ own family may have thought he had lost it and they were coming to get him. I have heard both sides of that story. Jesus is not knocking the family unit but he is setting priorities. Your primary focus should be to evangelize the lost. This does not mean in every conversation but it does mean more than one word in 10,000.
5. Conclusion:
Visualization: Remember the points and apply them to your life and witness today:
1. Enlightenment brings to mind Correctness - With the knowledge of Christ comes the responsibility to share.
2. Exposure brings to mind Conviction - With the knowledge of no secrets comes to goal of having none.
3. Examination brings to mind Charge - With the knowledge that our works will be examined comes the charge to keep on the straight and narrow path.
4. Expansion brings to mind Consistency - With the knowledge that we need to expand our relationships to include the lost so we can develop a solid base for witnessing.
Action: It is essential that we not do these things to fill squares or to achieve numbers, rather than we share out of a true desire to see other’s come to Christ.
