June 23, 2013
Luke 11:37-54
At the time that
Christ came into the World, men had such a distorted view of God, His Character
& His Heart! Much of that wrong perception was a part of the Religious
establishment. How about today?
FREEDOM starts with inward cleansing.
v.37-41 Jesus
responds - You are EATING W/ AN UNCLEAN
HEART!
They are so concerned about the external actions but neglect
the internal state of their heart
"The way
to clean up a dirty vocabulary is not to brush your teeth but to cleanse your
heart."
Application:
Are we HAVING IT TOGETHER ON THE OUTSIDE / but are Nowhere
on the inside .
Are we merely
going through the motions spiritually so that our worship is in vain – because
our hearts are really far from the Lord.
JESUS’ 6 WOES . A
cry for God's just judgment in light of an action = WATCH OUT – Grief
WILL COME UPON YOU
v.42 1ST WOE-
Majoring on the minors . Freedom
results in right priorities
Two large
relational imperatives were ignored--justice and love for God.
Our tithing would be fine if our heart was right towards
God – you are focused on these minor issues and forgetting the most important
thing
Application: Are we so caught up in our own petty little
convictions – that we are neglecting the essentials of Love for God, Humility
& Mercy
v.43 2nd WOE- Putting
reputation above character. Loving the praise of men. Freedom
from pride.
The Pharisees'
love of position and glory in public places pandered to their pride.
Application:
#3 Do We love & seek after the Praise of Men.
Do we want People to think that we are more spiritual
than we really are?
v.44 3rd WOE- HYPOCRISY Freedom from contaminating others.
Their sins
contaminated the whole nation.(Greed, wickedness, injustice, pride)
Application: Is
our lives marked by a Hypocrisy – to the point that we are having a defiling
affect upon others who hang around us.
Are People
stumbled when they see the way that we live or when they get a chance to view
our private personal life up close. Ex.Family
Is our lifestyle–drawing people to Christ or pushing them
away from Christ ?
v.45 4th WOE - for heaping burdens on God’s people. Freedom from heavy loads.
Application: Are
we laying trips & Burdens on People that we ourselves don’t even keep. Is
our description of Christianity so complex & complicated it is marked by legalism & self righteous
pride ?
vv. 47-51 5th
WOE- For rejecting & killing God’s messenger. Freedom in accepting
Christ’s message & messenger.
THE REASON they
would be GUILTY of the whole history of violence against the prophets is
because they were about to CRUCIFY THE ONE OF WHOM THE PROPHETS SPOKE.
Application: Do we
reject God’s messengers & Kill them / oh not Physically but verbally – by
being critical of their style or approach
v.52 6th WOE- for their assumption that
they know the way to God and hold the key to knowledge . Freedom in entering God’s Kingdom.
Applicatio: #7 Am I Not entering in? Am I hindering
others from entering in by taking away from the simplicity of the word .
Conclusion:
v.53 2 ways to respond to truth – Resist it &
get bitter & angry
Respond/ Repent - Make right
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