Sermon Central
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The Cost Of Living
Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 4, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus’ determination to go to Jerusalem became a springboard to helping His followers count the cost of their preconceived notions. What is lost when we live by our preconceived notions? 3 costs of living with preconceived notions of Jesus’ Kingdom.
THE COST OF LIVING w/Preconceived notions—Luke 9:51-56
Preconceived ideas....
American Indians—Lost land
England’s 1st attempt at colonizing America—Lost Colony
Blacks in Africa—Lost freedom
Southerners in civil War—Lost productivity
Vietnam—Lost victory
Twin Towers—Lost security
Took Bible & Prayer out of school—Lost foundation
Jesus’ determination to go to Jerusalem became a springboard to helping His followers count the cost of preconceived notions.
The preconceived notions of religious people can keep them losers.
What is lost when we refuse Jesus’ direction/destiny?
3 costs of living with pre-conceived notions of Jesus’ Kingdom.
1—The cost of living with preconceived notions is
LOST OPPORTUNITY(:51-53)
—Explanation:(:51-53)Message
:51—“And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem;”
“His ascension”—
Up to Jerusalem
OR Upon the Cross
OR Into Heaven
“Resolutely set His face”—sthrizw—Stable, Firm, Set fast
Absolutely determined despite hardship/persecution/ridicule
“To Jerusalem”—Center & hotbed of Pharisaical establishment—Religiosity. the source of Jesus’ trouble.
:52—“& He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went, & entered a village of the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him.”
“Sent Messengers”—apesteilen aggelouV— ‘Apostleized Angels’ as it were—His disciples—the 12.
“Samaritans”—Assyrian exile of Israel in 722BC replaced nobles with foreigners thus compromising the worship of Israel’s God.
“Make arrangements”—Lodging & food.
:53—“And they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem.”
—National(Samaritan) prejudices/pride was their undoing!
Jn. 4:20-22—“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain[Mt. Gerazim], & you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. “You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.”
—Argumentation:
Mat. 21:19—“And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it, & found nothing on it except leaves only; & He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.”
—Illustration:
Space shuttle break up—Sat. 2/01/03/ ABC Dan Rather—Breaking story of fallen debris/Prank caller found a ’foot’ of one of the crew/People screening calls failed/ABC LOST OPPORTUNITY with truth
Application:
?You LOST OPPORTUNITY with Jesus?
“Because...”—?What is your ‘because’?!
?What have you lost due to preconceived notions of Jesus?
2—The cost of living with preconceived notions is
LOST DIRECTION(:54)
—Explanation:(:54) Purpose
:54—“And when His disciples James & John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven & consume them?”
2Kngs. 1:9-10—“Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, & behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” And Elijah answered & said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven & consume you & your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven & consumed him & his fifty.”
They sought the answer with their own solution in mind!... Permission to act out their own fleshly desires.
Js. 1:19-20—“This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak & slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
—Argumentation:
Jer. 10:23—“I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.”
Prov. 3:6—“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Js. 1:5—“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously & without reproach, & it will be given to him.”
Isa. 53:6—“All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”
Mat. 9:36—“And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed & downcast like sheep without a shepherd.”
—Illustration:
Miller driving her Momma to Wake Forest(E) from Salisbury(W)/Got on beltline around Raleigh & went completely around 4 times before taking right exit onto US64!/Assumed they knew the way/LOST DIRECTION
—Application:
?You LOST DIRECTION with Jesus?
?What have you lost due to preconceived notions of Jesus?
3—The cost of living with preconceived notions is
LOST SOULS(:55-56)
—Explanation:(:55-56)
:55—“But He turned & rebuked them, [& said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;”
[& said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;”
1Jn. 4:1—“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
