Approaching God
I Will Build My Church: Luke & Acts Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 49:39
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Have you ever felt like losing heart?
You have this GOAL in view, a valid goal in fact yet...
There is a losing of motivation to move forward to accomplish it
You become discouraged in the process
You just want to give up…is it all worth it?
Luke in our text today begins with explaining to us WHY Jesus is about to say what He is going say.
Jesus is equating faithful prayer with not losing heart.
PRAYER: Approaching God directly with Christ as our mediator… entering His throne room!
When we pray the King of Kings hears us!
Our passages as a whole look at Approaching God… and some contrasting views man and God have on this topic.
Luke has recorded for us a parable, several events, and a teaching of His coming purpose as Jesus is making His continued way to Jerusalem.
He has shared with them the coming Kingdom
He has shared sufferings to come
There are those who are already persecuting them and many more that will come… So Luke records this and begins with sharing WHY...Luke 18:1-8
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
Faithful Prayer
Faithful Prayer
Throughout these passages today Christ will make some significant contrast…
Look at the Judge and God:
Did not fear God or respect man… the two greatest commands “Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself”
Compared to a Holy, Righteous, Loving Heavenly Father…vast eds of the spectrum. YET...
We see this judge deliver justice!
HOW MUCH MORE our Holy, Righteous, Heavenly Father for His children not some obscure widow!!!???
God is not looking for repetitious prayers, chanting, BUT rather consistency without ceasing.
This is prayer that is a heart in constant communion with God. Making Him a real part of your life.
He answers justly without delay! As we pray about those who wrong us, persecute us… God works through those prayers and listens! Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
God is working His plan and will… even in the midst of our troubles and God is not slow! 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
This verse is in the context of His return when He will judge! I am so glad He is patient… TOWARD ME! He is also patient towards those who persecute us too! They need Jesus too!
King Ahab came to trust God
King Nebuchadnezzar came to trust God
We see the persecutor Saul come to trust Jesus (who mentored Luke by the way)
Now then… If this is God’s perspective of judgment, patience, and prayer… Should we be seeking vengeance and spite in our prayers? How should we pray as we come before God? Luke 18:9-17
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
A Humble Heart
A Humble Heart
Once again Jesus uses a contrast to get His point across...
The Pharisee:
What the people viewed as being righteous and justified
“Saying to himself”… what our words and our hearts convey can be different!
His whole prayer as he came to God was trying to impress God with what he was doing...
Telling God to look at others and how blessed God was to have him
Tax Collector:
Luke in his gospel continues to draw out that there were sinners and then below that tax collectors.
You see the repentance Christ spoke of last week in our message.
Seeking God’s mercy “NOT getting what you deserve”… We ALL need His Mercy!
Luke illustrates this for his readers as he records an event the disciples would not forget… Children!
Matthew and Mark record this event as well for us… Mark records that Jesus was indignant!
The only other time we see Jesus indignant, by the way, is when He sees those in the temple turning His Father’s House into a den of thieves!
God Cares about the least of these… He cares about you!
Jesus says to come “like a child” NOT childish
Childish is: whining, wanting your way, your desires, pettiness
Childlike is: trusting without reservation, joy in the midst of difficulties, approach in complete trust understanding your limitation! Humility...
Luke records an encounter Jesus has en-rout to Jerusalem that beautifully displays for us that we cannot approach God apart from Christ! Luke 18:18-27
A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. “You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
Only Through Jesus!
Only Through Jesus!
As this ruler seeks Christ to find the answer to eternal life, Jesus does not engage in debating the man’s sins or good life… He goes straight to the heart! Pride not humility...
We see Jesus compare the man’s statement of Jesus being “good” and declares only God is good
Jesus list 5 commandments and the man states he has done these!
Then Jesus addresses his wealth… “Do you trust me?” will you follow me?
The man’s response reveals his heart… we see the first and last command here broken even!
It is difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom… WHY!?
NOT because of the wealth, BUT rather because there is a comfort there...
Wealth offers a false security, makes one not see their NEED for God
Jesus was not taking it away but giving something greater heavenly, eternal Kingdom treasure!!!
Wealth was associated then and even now with God’s blessing… The people in worry declare “then who can be saved?” Luke 18:27
But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
SALVATION!!!
It is ONLY possible with God… Eternal life, ONLY possible with God!
The disciples state they have left this and followed Jesus!
Jesus responds they will find blessing in this life and the life to come! (blessing is not always wealth)
Jesus pulls the twelve aside and explains to them what must occur as the prophets stated as they arrive in Jerusalem...
Handed to the Gentiles
Mocked, Mistreated, Spit upon, whipped
Then killed, only 3 days later will He rise from the dead...
They did not understand...
How can the king go through this
Why is the kingdom going to come this way
How does this fit into the plan they all had for Him and themselves???
Jesus in verse 8 asked a question about when He returns… “will He find faith on the earth?”
We have been learning about approaching God in these verses… it takes humility and letting go of our pride. DO YOU KNOW WHY?
Because this attribute of HUMILITY is an attribute of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!! He humbled Himself, exhibited grace and mercy for you and me! In order to approach Him we must set our pride aside and realize it is ALL about Him.