December 29, 2013
Morning Service

Luke 17:1-4

 

The Lord taught us in chapter 16 to be careful how we distribute the wealth that He has allowed us to accumulate.   Are we rich toward God, and His work?  Are we laying up treasures in Heaven?

He closed chapter 16 with the parable of the rich man and Lazareth, using some of the most fearful examples in a parable that He ever uses.  The Lord is the One that gives us all that we have, and He just wants us to not forget Him in all our wealth.

Let’s begin with chapter 17 of the Book of Luke:

Luk 17:1-10  Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 

·         This is one thing I have tried to make plain in our teachings, offences are going to come.

·         The important thing is how we handle them, and the way you will handle them, is according to what you have inside you.  Whether you are still carnal, or whether you are filled with the Spirit of God.

·         If you are still filled with carnality, then you will want to strike back, or say hurtful things, or do spiteful things.  You will respond as did Cain, when he killed his brother.

·         If you are filled with God’s Spirit, then you will seek ways to reconcile the situation.  You will handle the offence in a Godly manner.  Love, mercy, and forgiveness.  We will see this in just a moment.

·         THEN JESUS SAYS;  but woe to him that makes the offence.  Why is that Lord?

(2)  It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

·         Who are these little ones Jesus is referring too? 

***Paul spoke to the church at Ephesus;  Eph 5:1  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

***Listen to John;  1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

I submit to you that the little ones Jesus is referring to are all of His disciples. 

***Paul presents us as foolish, and weak;  1Co 1:26-27  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  (27)  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

***Jesus Himself said; Luk 18:17  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

·         Here the Lord uses a very serious example of punishment for someone that offends another.

·         It is an area in our walk with God that we should always be on guard, and try not to offend.

·         And if we are prayed up, continually seeking more of God’s Spirit we will be less apt to commit offences.

·         No doubt one of the most common ways of committing offences is in our speech.  James says this; 

Jas 3:2  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Jas 3:5-10  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  (6)  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  (7)  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:  (8)  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  (9)  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  (10)  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

 

NOW NOTICE WHAT JESUS SAYS:

·         Mat 15:10-11  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  (11)  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

·         Now Jesus said this in response to the Pharisees criticizing His disciples for not washing their hands before they ate.  Jesus goes on to say.

·         Mat 15:16-20  And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?  (17)  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?  (18)  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  (19)  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  (20)  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Now notice what He says:

(3)  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  (4)  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

·         Luke says it this way, “rebuke him”.  Matthew goes a bit further.

·         Matthew’s gospel says it like this:

·         Mat 18:15-17  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  (16)  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  (17)  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

·         Mat 18:21-22  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

STILL IN THE IDEA OF FORGIVENESS:

·         Mat 18:23-35  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  (24)  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  (25)  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  (26)  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  (27)  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.  (28)  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.  (29)  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  (30)  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  (31)  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  (32)  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  (34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  (35)  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

·         It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

·         Will I be ready?  How have I dealt with offences in the past?  How will I deal with them in the future?

·         They are going to come, and we must be ready, and it is very important how we handle them.

·         Am I determined to not be the offender?   Am I seeking for more of God’s Spirit?

Almighty God, we would ask for an abundant supply of Your Holy Spirit, that we might be able to handle not only offences, but every day temptations that would rob us of our victory in Christ.  Amen.