Luke 17:20-37  

The Pharisees questioned Jesus about the coming of God's Kingdom.  They were still looking for signs.. they were still wanting proof that Jesus was Who He claimed He was. They still had a narrow definition of God's Sovereignty and Greatness.  They still had no clue what God's Kingdom was. 

Jesus answered the Pharisees, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed." In fact, He tells them, it is not something they could see or point to.. "Look, here it is!"  The truth, Jesus tells them, is that "the kingdom of God is in your midst."  The Kingdom of God was right there in front of them. They just couldn't see it. Their spiritual eyes were blind. They rejected the One who will bring the Kingdom to earth. 

Jesus preached continually about God's Kingdom.. it was His theme and His greatest desire.  He taught His disciples to pray, "Thy Kingdom Come".  He now gives them some more teaching about the Kingdom coming.. 

First, He tells His disciples that they would long for the Kingdom.. "the days of the Son of Man".. but they would not see it.  They wouldn't have to run here and there when others try to point them in a different direction. But.. when the Kingdom does come to earth.. when Christ returns "in His day".. there will be no doubt that it has come.. the whole world will know. 

Secondly, He tells them that before the Kingdom comes.. before He can return.. He will suffer. 

Jesus compares the coming of His Kingdom to the days of Noah and the days of Lot.  Life was going on ...In both cases people were just doing what they do.. eating, drinking, getting married.. building, planting, selling and buying. But, when Noah entered the ark with his family and when Lot left the city of Sodom with his family.. all those left behind were judged and destroyed. 

Those "taken" and those "left" in the next few verses represent those who are ready for the Kingdom and those who are not.  This is not arbitrary.  If a person seeks to "keep his life ".. if he is holding on to the things of this world and rejecting God's salvation.. they will lose everything.  But, those who "lose" their lives.. for the sake of the Kingdom..will live. 

The Kingdom of God is so near.. Christ has invited us in  and paved the way for us by His own death on the cross.  But.. some still choose their own way.. and no matter how good we think we are.. it is not enough.  Only Jesus saves and cleanses us from the thing that blocks our way to the Father.. sin.  Big sins, little sins,, unknown sins.. it doesn't matter. We are all in the same boat.. or if we think of Noah.. we are all outside the boat and only Jesus can open the door and let us in.  

Father in heaven,  Let Your Kingdom Come and let us be ready!  Open blind eyes today, Lord Jesus, so that the lost will call upon Your Name and be saved.  We know there is a Day coming when You will come again and reign on this earth.. and we pray that we will be ready!  We pray for the lost ones in our families.. those working beside us, those sharing our homes, those who are our neighbors ...will receive the Good News that You are able to save them and bring them into the Kingdom if they will just humble themselves and give their lives to You.  Our prayer lists are long, Lord. We bring each one to You right now and ask in the Name of Jesus.. in agreement with Your Will,  that many more will be saved. Amen

 Luke 17:11-18  There is an interlude from  teaching as Jesus continues heading towards Jerusalem.  They are passing "between Samaria and Galilee" when 10 men, all with leprosy call out to Him. "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"   Jesus does not hesitate to send all ten men to go show themselves to the priests... to be examined and declared clean.  They obey and head towards the tabernacle. But.. only one turns back to glorify God when he realizes that he has been healed. 

How could the others not turn around and praise the Lord? They were all cleansed. They were all obedient to the command to go show themselves.  But.. nine missed an opportunity to give glory to God and to receive another word from Jesus.  "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." 

How would we react to such a situation?  To be in great need.. facing an impossible trial.. a disease so horrible that you cannot recover on your own...  and then.. miracle of miracles you come within shouting distance of the Healer!  Would we fall on our knees and worship the God who showed mercy?  I hope so!  

In fact, we have all been in that situation.. covered with the disease of sin.. unable to cleanse ourselves. And we are all in shouting distance.. and even closer.. to the only One who can cleanse us and make us whole. He is willing to answer our cry.. and we can go our way rejoicing.. But, let us not miss the opportunity to turn around and give glory to God! We can never praise Him enough for what He has done!

Father, I want to be one who recognizes Your grace and mercy and who falls on my knees and gives You glory.  Don't let me miss any opportunity to give You glory!  I  will glorify Your Name in the everyday blessings and in the trials and struggles of this life. You are so good and ready to forgive!  You are abundant in lovingkindness and there is none like You.  You are the Healer, Jesus, and we need Your healing touch today.  Make our faith great, Lord and help us to always give praise and glory to God!  Thank You!  Amen. 

 Luke 17:5-10

The apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith... and His answer is "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.' " A mustard seed, as we know is very, very small.  If it is not the quantity of faith that matters, then could it be the quality of the disciple's faith that needs to grow? 

What kind of faith do we have?  Do we have the kind of faith that  cares so much about others that we are on our guard to help them?  Are we careful to not put stumbling blocks that would keep people from coming to Jesus?  Are we careful to speak up when our friend or brother sins?  Do we have faith that will forgive and forgive and forgive again when someone sins against us? Do we have the kind of faith that obeys the Master.. keeping His commandments and recognizing His worth and our own unworthiness?

Father in heaven, we ask for this kind of faith that yields completely to Your will.. so that we might  live as Your servants in humble, loving obedience.. Fill us  Holy Spirit, so that we might grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus.  Jesus,  You are the One who has authored our faith and You are the One who completes it.. to the glory of Your Name and to the praise of the Father in heaven.  May the love of God and the steadfastness of Jesus be ours today we pray,  asking all things in Your Mighty Name. Amen. 

 Luke 17:1-5   Jesus taught His disciples some important lessons that are included here as He heads towards Jerusalem. 

The first lesson is about "stumbling blocks".  This is also translated as "offences."  It can mean a trap or a snare.. or something that draws a person into error or sin. Jesus warns that these snares will come, but the one through whom it comes is the one who will be judged.  "It would be better if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble." 

Then the Lord tells His disciples to "Be on your guard!"  The lesson is about looking our for your brother. If they sin, rebuke him.. if they repent.. forgive him and keep on forgiving him as much as necessary .. 

In reply to these 2 lessons, the disciples ask the Lord ,  "Increase our faith". 

Shepherd, help us to have ears to hear what You are teaching us today. 

I don't want to be a stumbling block to anyone and I don't want anyone to cause me to stumble.. do you?  The judgement of God is terrifying... as the Word reminds us.. "Our God is a consuming fire! The truth is that we have all stumbled or been offended.. or have been drawn into sin by someone during our life time. Someone has sinned against us.. and he or she has to make a decision how to deal with that guilt.. either they repent and we forgive them.  Or they don't repent and face the judgment of the Lord. 

If I am the one who has offended someone or caused them to sin, then it is up to me to repent and seek forgiveness  or face the judgement of the Lord. Let me be the one who repents Lord God!

Oh how we need faith too!  Help us Lord Jesus to humble ourselves and seek Your grace.. forgive us our sins and trespasses and help us to forgive those who have sinned against us.  May we not cause anyone to stumble and may we not stumble our own selves.  We need You Lord Jesus! Fill us with Your wisdom and love and lead us is Your ways. Increase our faith and help us to trust and obey in every situation.  You are our help and our salvation O God! Thank You. amen. 

Luke 16  The next parable that Jesus teaches His disciples is about the rich man with the "unrighteous steward". This steward was accused of "squandering"  the possessions of the rich boss.  The boss called in the steward and asked for an accounting before being let go from his position. The steward quickly made a plan for his own future. He called in those who were in debt to the master and forgave some of what they owed. His hope was that they would help him out after he lost his job.  The master "praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly".  

Was Jesus using this example to glorify the wisdom or shrewdness of the servant?  No.. He clarified His point to this disciples.. " And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness that when it fails, they may receive you into eternal dwellings."  And it will fail.  Worldly "mammon" .. riches, treasures, money.. have a usefulness.. but it is nothing in the light of eternity. Jesus illustrates this truth with the story of the rich man and Lazarus. When they both died it is the poor man, Lazarus who suffered in this life.. who rests in paradise at the side of Abraham.  It is the man who had more treasures than he ever needed who suffered greatly in the fire of Hades. 

Jesus taught that we cannot serve two masters.  We cannot pursue and serve riches and serve God at the same time. If God is not first.. we are not His.  The Pharisees "who were lovers of money".. scoffed.  Jesus  warned them once again that God knew their hearts. They justified themselves but that did not mean that they were justified before God.  They manipulated even the Law that they claimed to love and obey.. to justify their own sinfulness.  They called divorce a good thing.. but Jesus called it adultery.  They were ignorant of the Truth of God's Word. 

The rich man considered himself blessed.. until he found himself in Hades. What do we need to learn from this?  Are we being wise and faithful with what God has given to us?  Jesus said, " he who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very  little thing is unrighteous also in much."  Are we faithful to use what belongs to God for His glory?  Not just worldly goods, but spiritual treasures too?  Jesus will address this again in the parable of the talents. It is something He really wants us to hear! 

Lord, open our ears and eyes to see Your wonderful works and to know Your will in all things. Fill us, Spirit of God, that we might be faithful in the little and in the great.. in all that You have provided.. for we want to glorify You in every good work. Come, Lord Jesus, and cleanse our hearts from all unfaithfulness ... we surrender all to you..  as we pray in Your Name..  uniting our hearts with Yours. Amen. 

 Luke 15   Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees and scribes because the tax-gatherers and  sinners came to Him and He received them.  This is the context of three parables:  the lost sheep; the lost coin; and the lost son. 

The lost sheep:  The man had 100 sheep and 1 was lost. This shepherd loved all his sheep, so he left the 99 in a safe place and went himself to find the one that was lost.  When he found it, he carried it home, rejoicing.  He even called his friends and neighbors together to celebrate with him. 

The lost coin:  The woman only had 10 silver coins. When she lost one she lit a lamp, swept the house and searched carefully until she found it.  Again, she rejoiced and celebrated with her friends and neighbors. 

Both of these parables end with  a similar statement from Jesus, "I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." 

The lost son:  This final parable is a bit more complicated.  The younger son of a "certain man" asked his father to give him his inheritance and let him go away.  In the Jewish law, the older son would get the majority of the inheritance.. so 2/3s and the younger would get 1/3. So the young man takes 1/3 of all his father has and basically throws it away on "loose living".  We know the story.. a famine comes to the land where he is, he takes a job feeding pigs; and he is starving to death.  He finally wakes up enough to remember his father's house and that even the servants in his father's house had food to eat. So, he humbles himself and heads home, willing to be a slave .. He knew he deserved nothing.  But.. when the father saw him coming he was overjoyed!  He "embraced him and kissed him".  He had a feast prepared to rejoice over his son who had been lost, but was now found. 

Then.. the older son came home from work.  He was not happy to see the younger son restored to his father. Even though the father loved him too.. even though he had stayed and worked for the father and would receive all that was the father's.. he had no love for the brother who had come home.  

This is the picture of the Pharisees and scribes. They had no love for "tax-gatherers and sinners".  They had no compassion, no mercy, no patience, and no joy that the lost were now found.  They wouldn't come to the party where there was rejoicing over those now back where they should have been the whole time - in the Father's Home.. in the Kingdom of God. 

Father in heaven, we have all been lost at some point in our lives, for we have all sinned and come short of Your glory.  Yet, You have made a way for us to return to You.. we belong to You.. and You came looking for us and have carried us home. Thank You Good Shepherd!  You sent the Light of the World to sweep through the whole earth to find those of us who were lost and You found us!  Thank You Lord! You rejoiced when we recognized the depths of our sin and hopelessness.. when You reminded us that we were made by You and belong to You and we returned to You... with repentance and humility.  Jesus, You came to save the lost and we praise Your holy name.  Thank You for the wonderful work of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord, in whose name we pray.   Father, we ask now in the mighty name of Jesus that You would send workers into Your harvest field.. to bring the lost sheep back to the Shepherd.  We pray that Your Light would shine through every believer so that the lost will be found and that heaven would rejoice. Father, speak to the hearts of the prodigal sons and daughters who have left their homes and squandered their lives.. and bring them back home. We give thanks and praise to You Father, for You hear our heart's prayers and the prayers of Jesus at Your right Hand even now. Amen. 

 Luke 14:25-35     As Jesus left the Pharisee's home and once again headed towards Jerusalem, He spoke to the multitude that was following Him.  

This is a hard message.. it is perhaps the hardest test of discipleship that must be considered if one will be a true follower of Christ. If we do not do this.. how would we be able to face the persecution that is to come? How can we be ready to die for our Savior? How can we be counted as His disciple?

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."  We try to soften this statement by explaining that Jesus just means we must love Him more than anyone else or more than ourselves.  But.. He doesn't give us that option. He is calling His followers to become disciples.. to learn from Him the most vital lesson of all.  If we want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ we must count the cost.. 

Jesus gives three examples of counting the cost:

Verse 27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."  His listeners knew what carrying a cross meant.  A cross was carried by someone guilty of a crime.  They were the basest, the lowest, the worst of the worse.  Jesus had just taught about being humble.. there is nothing more humbling than baring your sin and guilt and shame to the world.  Jesus would bear a cross for the sins of the whole world.. but He only asks His disciples to bear their own cross for His sake. This is the cost of discipleship.. 

Verses 28-30 talk about a man wanting to build a tower. Would that man not stop first and see how much it would cost and if he had enough money to build it?  He would not want to start the project without being ready to finish it. That would be foolish and he would face "ridicule".  Likewise, to be a true disciple of Jesus we need to be ready to persevere to the end.  Do we have the resources to do that?  Only if we have Jesus as our Master to strengthen us and complete us by His own power and grace. This is the cost of discipleship.. 

Verses 31-32 talk about a king who wants to go to war.  Before he even starts out he will consider the strength of his army and the strength of the enemy's army.  If he is outnumbered he will sent out ambassadors to "ask for terms of peace."  In other words, that king must not let his pride lead him into a war he cannot win, but must humble himself before the one more powerful. This is the cost of discipleship.. 

Jesus concludes this message with "So therefore, no one of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."  

We are absolutely unable to save ourselves and we need Jesus. We come to Him only by admitting our sin and guilt, humbling ourselves before Him, trusting on His provision to complete His work in our lives, submitting to His rule and reign over us, and giving Him our whole selves.  Complete surrender of our lives, our possessions, our families, our work, and our futures. 

Only then are we "good" salt.. otherwise we are without flavor, without worth, and without life. 

Father in heaven, we have no hope without Jesus Christ. He is the King, the Master, the Savior and we surrender our whole lives to follow Him. We cannot do anything on our own, Lord. He is first in all things according to Your will and word.  Teach us, Lord, what we need to hear. Open our ears and our eyes to Your Truth.  Fill us Spirit of God with understanding we pray, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.