December 13, 2015
Evening Service

Luke 14:15-35

 

This morning we discussed humility, and pride, and expecting nothing back when we do someone a good turn.  Our reward will be in the resurrection of the just.

This evening we will finish chapter 14 of the book of Luke.

 

Luk 14:15-35  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 

·         Remembering it was lawyers, and Pharisees at this dinner.

(16)  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  (17)  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  (18)  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.  (19)  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.  (20)  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  (21)  So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  (22)  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  (23)  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  (24)  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. 

·         This is another parable that is not difficult for us to understand.

1.       The certain man is God.

2.      The many He invited to His great supper ( the plan of salvation ), were the jews.  Of course the main excuse for the jews was we believe Moses, not this Jesus.

·         People of today, well, they just make so many lame excuses that it would take a long time to name them all.  And if you caught it, when the Jews rejected His invitation, He was angry.  How do you think He feels when people make such lame excuses today?

·         But notice;  because the Jews rejected the invitation, He now opens the invitation to everyone.  Including us Gentiles, the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind.  Everyone.

·         And His servants did and they tell him, yet there is room. 

·         This tells me that all the people that have accepted this wonderful plan of salvation, yet there is still room in God’s house for more.

 

So now He has left the dinner, and is traveling again.

(25)  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,  (26)  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 

·         He just means, you can’t put them before Me.  I’ve got to come first.  Sometimes we might think this rash, or very hard, and it may be, but that’s the way it has to be. Total surrender.

(27)  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 

·         denoting that we must endure whatever is burdensome, or is trying, or is considered disgraceful, in following Christ.  it is doing just what is required of us in the Scriptures, let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may. This every follower of Jesus is required to do.  Then we will be taking up our cross, and following our Lord.

 

 

(28)  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  (29)  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  (30)  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 

·         This would indicate that one should consider the consequences, before making the decision to follow Christ.  Many, including myself, have been converted in the heat of a good ole Holy Ghost revival, and we didn’t have time to consider it.  This also would go along with the sower of the seed.  Seed sown, and received without considering the cost, well, sometimes it just doesn’t take.  When the heat of the walk comes on us, we decide then we can’t do it, and fall away from following the Lord.

·         This is what happened when Jesus described the eating of His body, and the drinking of His blood, in chapter 6 of St. Jn.  After hearing this teaching many of His disciples left Him.  Too much for them.

Then another example of the same principle:

(31)  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  (32)  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 

·         Just good sound reasoning.

·         God said, Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 

(33)  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.  (34)  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?  (35)  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

·         And that says it all.  If we can’t do, or are willing to make an effort to give up all for Jesus, then we cannot be His disciples.  He takes all, or nothing.  No other way.

·         So once you decide to become a follower of Jesus Christ, there will be no lame excuses, for not doing your best to adhere to His commandments.

 

LORD, WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES ALL WE GOT TO BE A GOOD DISCIPLE OF YOURS.  SO WE ASK FOR STRENGTH IN ORDER TO BE THAT GOOD AND FAITHFUL DISCIPLE.  AMEN