Lectionary Calendar

Thursday, April 18th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter

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Luke 11

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Verses 1-4

Intro:
1. I’ve been asked to give a Prophecy Update: (here it is)
  1. This World is going to Hell in a hand basket!
  2. But His Children are going to Heaven in a twinkling of an eye!
  3. God has a different ending for any who will:
    1. Live a life filled with His precious Holy Spirit!
    2. Accept His Sons free gift of salvation.
    3. Repent to the Father for all sins committed against Him.
2. May our AIM be the Glory of God; our PATH be the Will of God; & our PASSION be the Love of God…until He comes! J
3. Illustration: Zach & I (w/Justin & Alan Burton) in Alaska Kayaking heard blow hole go off prob 100 yrds away!
  1. Certain marine creatures like whales & dolphins are called cetaceans.
  2. They are not fish, nor fowl, & they never go ashore, yet even from ocean depths they must rise at intervals to breathe so as to live!
  3. Even so, it is necessary for man to mount into a higher region if he is to obtain spiritual life & grace for living it.
  4. And this, the Christian does in prayer! More prayer, more power!
  5. Title of message: Coming Up For Air!
4. Q: Ever feel inadequate to pray? Ever think that the ability to pray is natural to some & lacking in others?
  1. The disciples also felt inadequate in prayer. - But they were on the right track in supposing that Yeshua could teach them how to pray.
5. Q: Do you have any desire this morning for Jesus to teach you how to pray right? better?
  1. Why did he redeem us again? Oh yeah, so we might have fellowship with Him! J
THE DISCIPLES PRAYER! (1-4)
1. As He was praying –
  1. Again we are introduced to Jesus’ habitual prayerfulness!
  2. Yet, they dare not break in upon His sweet communion with His Father…but waited till He ceased praying!
2. Teach us to pray – The prompting of this question was incited by His example, & their observing & examining.
  1. How else do we have communion with Him?
  2. Only by prayer do we draw close to His heart & unlock all His treasures!
3. As John also taught his disciples – Religious teachers were expected to teach their disciples how to pray.
  1. What did John’s include??? hmmm
4. We don’t hear the Disciples asking the Lord to Teach them to: Preach, Prophesy, Cast out demons, Worship, Witness, Find their ministry, Start up home fellowships, Grow a church, How to be a user friendly church, but How To Pray!
  1. Why? They must have noted, He did this often, & this was the key for strength, wisdom, leading, Instruction, communion, & fellowship.
  2. Was there something they saw in Jesus prayer life that seemed too infinitely above them, that they desired to learn?
5. Q: How is your prayer life? Is there anything you’d like to learn about prayer?
  1. Consider what aspects & themes of prayer are selected as the most essential. [No lesson was more vital!]
6. This is a pattern prayer that helps us to organize our prayer burdens so that they comply with the will of God.
  1. How does your prayer match up to this pattern?
  2. We see 4-Elements of Prayer: Worship; Petition; Confession; Dependence.
  3. It contains the components & attitudes that we should exhibit & incorporate into our lives!
7. There are many instructions in Scripture on How to pray:
  1. Pray w/o ceasing; come boldly to the throne of grace; let our words be few; let not your heart utter anything hastily before God; ask in faith, nothing wavering; ask anything in my name, I will do it; etc.
  2. You may be ignorant of many things…but you know your way to the throne of grace! You may have little learning, but you know the language of heaven! You may be unnoticed by others, but your fellowship is w/the Father & w/His Son J.C.!
8. Little kids have problems when coloring “staying in the lines”! - But what’s understandable as a child is unacceptable as an Adult!
  1. Let us move more toward Adulthood in our prayer life! “Let’s stay in the lines”! (God’s guidelines!)
  2. This is the kind of prayer God honors & hears!
9. This prayer is only 61 words long - & takes about 15 seconds to pray!
  1. Some people’s prayers need to be cut short on both sides & set on fire in the middle!
10. Here Jesus explains “How to come to the throne of Grace relationally!” As: A Son; A Saint; A Subject; A Servant; A Suppliant; A Sinner; & A Soldier.
11. [1^st] A SON! Our Father in heaven
12. Old Testament saints hardly ever addressed God as Father!
  1. I only know of Is.63:16 “You, O LORD, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.”
  2. And Deut 32:6 in the song of Moses “Is He not your Father, who bought you?”
13. Our Father - not Omniscient one(thou He is), not Elohim(strong one, thou He is), not the Mighty One, or the I am, but Father!
  1. Did God change? No, but we did!
  2. Jn.1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
  3. There are only 2 people on this planet that can call me Father!(Zach & Mical)
    1. To everyone else I’m, “Brian, Pastor Brian, Mr. Bell,…or something else probably not so pleasant???”
  4. But, if I opened up the opportunity & adopted other children, then there would be others who could call me Father.
    1. But in this, I wouldn’t change, they would!
    2. God didn’t change - We did, we became His sons/daughters!
      1. Or maybe you haven’t yet???
14. It was Jesus who revealed His Fatherhood! (including adoption)
  1. And not only Fatherhood, but Fatherliness! (See vs.11-13)
15. [2^nd] A SAINT! Hallowed be Your name
16. The 1^st petition asks God to cause His name to be hallowed or glorified!
  1. A petition that people would reverence God.
17. Name = God’s reputation & thus His honor!
18. [3^rd] A SUBJECT! Your kingdom come
19. Although the kingdom had already come in Jesus’ ministry, its final consummation will be in the future.
20. [4^th] A SERVANT! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
21. Your either saying: “Your will be done”, or “my will be done!”
22. You can either: “be still & know that He is God”, or “tell God to be still & know that you are you!”
23. “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth!” [Robert Law]
24. When we pray we must put God’s concern 1^st before we come with our requests.
25. [5^th] A SUPPLIANT! Give us day by day our daily bread
26. Sup·pli·ant [súpplee ənt] Entreating: expressing a humble but heart-felt appeal to somebody who has the power to grant a request. [Latin “to bend under”]
27. Day by day – Oh, He wants to hear from us at least daily!
  1. How does he get our attention when He misses us, & wants us to come to Him?
    1. I believe when we won’t seek Him, He will teach us to pray!
  2. Example: Absalom & Joab story in 2 Sam.14:28-33.
    1. When we are lifeless in prayer, backwards in our exercise of it, & we disregard His invitation to “seek His face” don’t be surprised if He lovingly sets your Barley on fire!
    2. Don’t make God set your barley on fire to get your attention!
28. Bread – a figure of speech called a synecdoche[sin-ect-a-key] “in which a part(bread) represents the whole(food).”
  1. Bread, therefore, is a request for the basic necessities of life.
29. Give us - Not give me! [no singular pronouns in the Lord’s prayer]
30. Oh that we’d be content w/our daily bread & quit looking at your neighbors slice!
31. [6^th] A SINNER! And forgive us our sins For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
32. This is a prayer for believers so this isn’t for salvation, but it assumes a regular need for confessing sin, even as 1 Jn.1:8,9 does, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
33. If we do not forgive others we are not in a condition to receive forgiveness ourselves!
  1. Could it ever read? “Lord, Forgive me my debts, even if I won’t forgive any debtors!” or, “Forgive me my debts, but don’t you dare think I’m forgiving my debtors!”
34. [7^th] A SOLDIER! do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one
35. Lead us not into temptation/testings! - But I thought testing’s were good for us? Yes! But let us not say, “Lord test me! I’m ready!” [This is a pray of humility!]
36. We are engaged in warfare!
  1. You don’t have to convince anyone in Israel or Lebanon…they’re at war! – But though we can’t see our enemies weapons, they are as deadly as a poisonous gas, which can’t be seen either!
37. “Do not permit the foes of our soul to catch us in their net.” [LKGNT](Arndt)
  1. If we avoid temptation & walk very guarded in the path of obedience then we won’t tempt the Devil to tempt us!
  2. Don’t enter the thicket in search for the lion! [relate to wild bore hunting!]
    1. Pray that you are spared that encounter Christian!
  3. “Do as we will…we shall be tempted, but we surely don’t need to add to it by a careless walk!”
38. This shows Dependence on God! - from Latin dependere, literally “to hang”.
  1. [I accidentally 1^st typed “deependence in my notes.”] – Oh, that we would have a Deep-Dependance on Him!
39. END:
40. Spurgeon said some pray as “a mere exercise of memory, simply using the organs of noise-making; & it is absurd to imagine that such a parrot exercise can be pleasing to the living God!” (approx quote)
41. I think all of us have one “Routine Prayer” in our system: Once we get rid of it, then we can really start to pray!
  1. This week are you willing to break that habit?
42. Q: Are you praying w/your mind on hold, & your mouth on automatic?
  1. Make sure your mind is engaged, & your heart sensitized!
43. Relative to body size, whale lungs are proportionally somewhat smaller than human lungs. But whale lungs are far more efficient: While human lungs exchange about 15 to 20% of their contents with each breath, whale lungs exchange about 90% with each breath. This means that whales can take up oxygen and dispose of carbon dioxide much faster than humans, enabling them to hold their breath underwater for long periods.
  1. Man wasn’t designed to “stay down” as long as whales!
  2. So we must rise at more frequent intervals to breathe so as to live!
  3. Oh Christian, we must rise at more frequent intervals to Come Up For Air, so as to live!!!

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Verses 5-13

Intro:
1. I’ve been asked to give a Prophecy Update: (here it is)
  1. This World is going to Hell in a hand basket!
  2. But His Children are going to Heaven in a twinkling of an eye!
  3. God has a different ending for any who will:
    1. Repent to the Father for all sins committed against Him.
    2. Accept His Sons free gift of salvation.
    3. Live a life filled with His precious Holy Spirit!
2. May our AIM be the Glory of God; our PATH be the Will of God; & our PASSION be the Love of God…until He comes! J
3. Illustration: Zach & I (w/Justin & Alan Burton) in Alaska Kayaking heard blow hole go off prob 100 yrds away!
  1. Certain marine creatures like whales & dolphins are called cetaceans.
  2. They are not fish, nor fowl, & they never go ashore, yet even from ocean depths they must rise at intervals to breathe so as to live!
  3. Even so, it is necessary for man to mount into a higher region if he is to obtain spiritual life & grace for living it.
  4. And this, the Christian does in prayer! More prayer, more power!
  5. Title of message: Coming Up For Air!
4. Q: Ever feel inadequate to pray? Ever think that the ability to pray is natural to some & lacking in others?
  1. The disciples also felt inadequate in prayer. - But they were on the right track in supposing that Yeshua could teach them how to pray.
5. Q: Do you have any desire this morning for Jesus to teach you how to pray right? better?
  1. Why did he redeem us again? Oh yeah, so we might have fellowship with Him! J
THE DISCIPLES PRAYER! (1-4)
1. As He was praying –
  1. Again we are introduced to Jesus’ habitual prayerfulness!
  2. Yet, they dare not break in upon His sweet communion with His Father…but waited till He ceased praying!
2. Teach us to pray – The prompting of this question was incited by His example, & their observing & examining.
  1. How else do we have communion with Him?
  2. Only by prayer do we draw close to His heart & unlock all His treasures!
3. As John also taught his disciples – Religious teachers were expected to teach their disciples how to pray.
  1. What did John’s include??? hmmm
4. We don’t hear the Disciples asking the Lord to Teach them to: Preach, Prophesy, Cast out demons, Worship, Witness, Find their ministry, Start up home fellowships, Grow a church, How to be a user friendly church, but How To Pray!
  1. Why? They must have noted, He did this often, & this was the key for strength, wisdom, leading, Instruction, communion, & fellowship.
  2. Was there something they saw in Jesus prayer life that seemed too infinitely above them, that they desired to learn?
5. Q: How is your prayer life? Is there anything you’d like to learn about prayer?
  1. Consider what aspects & themes of prayer are selected as the most essential. [No lesson was more vital!]
6. This is a pattern prayer that helps us to organize our prayer burdens so that they comply with the will of God.
  1. How does your prayer match up to this pattern?
  2. We see 4-Elements of Prayer: Worship; Petition; Confession; Dependence.
  3. It contains the components & attitudes that we should exhibit & incorporate into our lives!
7. There are many instructions in Scripture on How to pray:
  1. Pray w/o ceasing; come boldly to the throne of grace; let our words be few; let not your heart utter anything hastily before God; ask in faith, nothing wavering; ask anything in my name, I will do it; etc.
  2. You may be ignorant of many things…but you know your way to the throne of grace! You may have little learning, but you know the language of heaven! You may be unnoticed by others, but your fellowship is w/the Father & w/His Son J.C.!
8. Little kids have problems when coloring “staying in the lines”! - But what’s understandable as a child is unacceptable as an Adult!
  1. Let us move more toward Adulthood in our prayer life! “Let’s stay in the lines”! (God’s guidelines!)
  2. This is the kind of prayer God honors & hears!
9. This prayer is only 61 words long - & takes about 15 seconds to pray!
  1. Some people’s prayers need to be cut short on both sides & set on fire in the middle!
10. Here Jesus explains “How to come to the throne of Grace relationally!” As: A Son; A Saint; A Subject; A Servant; A Suppliant; A Sinner; & A Soldier.
11. [1^st] A SON! Our Father in heaven
12. Old Testament saints hardly ever addressed God as Father!
  1. I only know of Is.63:16 “You, O LORD, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.”
  2. And Deut 32:6 in the song of Moses “Is He not your Father, who bought you?”
13. Our Father - not Omniscient one(thou He is), not Elohim(strong one, thou He is), not the Mighty One, or the I am, but Father!
  1. Did God change? No, but we did!
  2. Jn.1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
  3. There are only 2 people on this planet that can call me Father!(Zach & Mical)
    1. To everyone else I’m, “Brian, Pastor Brian, Mr. Bell,…or something else probably not so pleasant???”
  4. But, if I opened up the opportunity & adopted other children, then there would be others who could call me Father.
    1. But in this, I wouldn’t change, they would!
    2. God didn’t change - We did, we became His sons/daughters!
      1. Or maybe you haven’t yet???
14. It was Jesus who revealed His Fatherhood! (including adoption)
  1. And not only Fatherhood, but Fatherliness! (See vs.11-13)
15. [2^nd] A SAINT! Hallowed be Your name
16. The 1^st petition asks God to cause His name to be hallowed or glorified!
  1. A petition that people would reverence God.
17. Name = God’s reputation & thus His honor!
18. [3^rd] A SUBJECT! Your kingdom come
19. Although the kingdom had already come in Jesus’ ministry, its final consummation will be in the future.
20. [4^th] A SERVANT! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
21. Your either saying: “Your will be done”, or “my will be done!”
22. You can either: “be still & know that He is God”, or “tell God to be still & know that you are you!”
23. “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth!” [Robert Law]
24. When we pray we must put God’s concern 1^st before we come with our requests.
25. [5^th] A SUPPLIANT! Give us day by day our daily bread
26. Sup·pli·ant [súpplee ənt] Entreating: expressing a humble but heart-felt appeal to somebody who has the power to grant a request. [Latin “to bend under”]
27. Day by day – Oh, He wants to hear from us at least daily!
  1. How does he get our attention when He misses us, & wants us to come to Him?
    1. I believe when we won’t seek Him, He will teach us to pray!
  2. Example: Absalom & Joab story in 2 Sam.14:28-33.
    1. When we are lifeless in prayer, backwards in our exercise of it, & we disregard His invitation to “seek His face” don’t be surprised if He lovingly sets your Barley on fire!
    2. Don’t make God set your barley on fire to get your attention!
28. Bread – a figure of speech called a synecdoche[sin-ect-a-key] “in which a part(bread) represents the whole(food).”
  1. Bread, therefore, is a request for the basic necessities of life.
29. Give us - Not give me! [no singular pronouns in the Lord’s prayer]
30. Oh that we’d be content w/our daily bread & quit looking at your neighbors slice!
31. [6^th] A SINNER! And forgive us our sins For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
32. This is a prayer for believers so this isn’t for salvation, but it assumes a regular need for confessing sin, even as 1 Jn.1:8,9 does, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
33. If we do not forgive others we are not in a condition to receive forgiveness ourselves!
  1. Could it ever read? “Lord, Forgive me my debts, even if I won’t forgive any debtors!” or, “Forgive me my debts, but don’t you dare think I’m forgiving my debtors!”
34. [7^th] A SOLDIER! do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one
35. Lead us not into temptation/testings! - But I thought testing’s were good for us? Yes! But let us not say, “Lord test me! I’m ready!” [This is a pray of humility!]
36. We are engaged in warfare!
  1. You don’t have to convince anyone in Israel or Lebanon…they’re at war! – But though we can’t see our enemies weapons, they are as deadly as a poisonous gas, which can’t be seen either!
37. “Do not permit the foes of our soul to catch us in their net.” [LKGNT](Arndt)
  1. If we avoid temptation & walk very guarded in the path of obedience then we won’t tempt the Devil to tempt us!
  2. Don’t enter the thicket in search for the lion! [relate to wild bore hunting!]
    1. Pray that you are spared that encounter Christian!
  3. “Do as we will…we shall be tempted, but we surely don’t need to add to it by a careless walk!”
38. This shows Dependence on God! - from Latin dependere, literally “to hang”.
  1. [I accidentally 1^st typed “deependence in my notes.”] – Oh, that we would have a Deep-Dependance on Him!
39. END:
40. Spurgeon said some pray as “a mere exercise of memory, simply using the organs of noise-making; & it is absurd to imagine that such a parrot exercise can be pleasing to the living God!” (approx quote)
41. I think all of us have one “Routine Prayer” in our system: Once we get rid of it, then we can really start to pray!
  1. This week are you willing to break that habit?
42. Q: Are you praying w/your mind on hold, & your mouth on automatic?
  1. Make sure your mind is engaged, & your heart sensitized!
43. Relative to body size, whale lungs are proportionally somewhat smaller than human lungs. But whale lungs are far more efficient: While human lungs exchange about 15 to 20% of their contents with each breath, whale lungs exchange about 90% with each breath. This means that whales can take up oxygen and dispose of carbon dioxide much faster than humans, enabling them to hold their breath underwater for long periods.
  1. Man wasn’t designed to “stay down” as long as whales!
  2. So we must rise at more frequent intervals to breathe so as to live!
  3. Oh Christian, we must rise at more frequent intervals to Come Up For Air, so as to live!!!

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Verses 14-32

Intro:
1. Did you know that if you have a milk cow it isn’t more considerate to milk her less! - The only thing that happens is the less that is demanded of her, the less milk she provides. The more milk you take the more that is produced.
  1. It is also true of the Christian life! – If you only turn to God when in need, you’ll miss the real joy that flows from a daily infilling of His Spirit.
2. Intro: The saw/heard Jesus pray; they asked how to do it; they were taught a model; Jesus ended with the most important prayer point (H.S. vs.13)
  1. We learned we should of course pray for material things, health, & finances; but this isn’t the highest form of praying.
  2. We must graduate to the highest level of praying, asking for the blessings of the Spirit of God that result in Christian Character & conduct that glorify the Lord.
THE SECRET OF POWER OVER DEMONS! (14-26)
1. THE MIRACLE! (14)
2. Miracles do not convict people of sin or give them faith for salvation. (Warren Wiersbe; Outlines on the N.T.)
  1. Even here some marveled(14), & some accused Jesus of being in league w/the devil(15).
3. THE PROBLEM! (15-20)
4. 2 Attacks on Jesus: (15,16)
  1. 1^st Attack – “You get your power from Satan!”
    1. Van Halen’s song “Running with the devil” comes to mind. Yeah, that’s what they were accusing Him of!
  2. 2^nd Attack – “We want a sign from you.”
    1. 1^st is answered in vs.17-26.
    2. 2^nd is answered down in vs.29-32.
5. A false statement of the secret of His power.
  1. Beelzebub (Lord of the flies; from 2 Kings 1:1-3)
  2. Beelzebul (Lord of the house) [better translation here]
    1. Lord of the house relates to vs.18-26.
6. (17-19) Jesus shows how illogical it would be for Satan to fight against himself.
  1. Satan does have a kingdom, & Jesus has invaded it & conquered it.
    1. Eph.2:1,2 “you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (NIV)
  2. Col.2:15 “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”(cuz Cross)
7. (20) With the finger of God –
  1. Matthew’s account gives different wording, “by the Spirit of God”.[12:28]
  2. By using this synonymous term, Jesus says he is in league with the Holy Spirit of God.
8. THE ANALOGY! (21,22)
9. The strong man is the Devil; & Jesus is stronger than he!
  1. And this is how He is able to cast the demon out.
  2. And what was the secret of His superior power? The Spirit of God, the finger of God!
10. This is Jesus complete mastery over Satan.
11. INDECISION! (23)
12. More dangerous than open hostility is attempted neutrality.
13. You can receive Christ, or reject Him, but you can’t ignore Him!
  1. “The same sun melts ice & hardens clay, though it merely shines on both.”
14. PART WAY IS NO WAY! (24-26)
15. The imperfect cures of the Jewish Exorcists.
  1. If you expel a demon, you must replace it w/a more powerful source of strength.
16. Reformation is not Regeneration!
  1. A pig that cleans himself up a bit is still a pig!
    1. He needs a new nature to no longer be a pig.
  2. We are all born with a corrupt nature(it is corrupt in its thoughts, affections, & its will)
    1. So the spiritual rebirth gives a new nature, a new mind, a new intellectual nature that is no longer blind to the truth of God.
  3. We get new tastes, new loves, instead of loving the things that displease God, we now love what pleases God.
    1. God imparts His own nature into man.
17. Again, it’s a Spirit issue.
THE SECRET OF KINSHIP WITH GOD! (27-28)
1. PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP VS. SPIRITUAL!
2. Blessed, or “oh how happy” is your mom! – Yes she is, but more than that how happy is anyone who hears Gods words & puts them into practice!
3. Matthew tells us this is the occasion when His mother came, & wanted to persuade Him to go home.
  1. This is probably what prompted this woman to say this about Mary.
4. When debating about Mary with friends, don’t put Mary down, simply raise all believers up, as Jesus does here.
5. Wow, kinship with You is supreme! – No, more important is relationship created by the Spirit.
  1. It is a higher relationship which creates closer ties then even family.
THE SECRET OF INTERPRETATION OF THE SPIRIT! (29-32)
1. SIGN SEEKERS! (29,30)
2. Now He answers vs.16. – And it is a rebuke for asking for a material or spectacular sign which only proves their unbelief & refusal to accept the evidence.
  1. Such seeking proves this generation is evil!
3. One sign – “as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth”Mt.12:40
  1. Why was His death, burial & res such a powerful sign? Better yet, when did this become such a powerful sign?
  2. Actually it wasn’t until after his death, & after His resurrection.
  3. His cross scattered them; His resurrection gathered back again.
  4. But they never really came to a place of complete comprehension until what? - Pentecost, until the Spirit came, did they really understand this sign.
4. Next He challenges His hearers that He is greater than one of their prophets(Jonah) & one of Israel’s most important characters in Jewish history, the monarch under whom their nation had reached its zenith among world powers. “greatest king, smartest man(wrote Prov.1-29), & wealthiest king”.
5. GREATER THAN SOLOMON; GREATER THAN JONAH! (31,32)
6. Solomon & all of his Fame, Wisdom, Wealth, & Influence was not enough.
7. Jonah & all of his preaching was not enough.
8. Queen of Sheba is in 1 Kings 10:1-13.
9. If Gentiles like the Queen of Sheba & the people of Nineveh believed on the basis of the message God gave them…how much more should the Jews of that day repent, having seen all He did & heard His messages.
  1. Nineveh heard, “yet 40 days & Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
    1. Nineveh heard the “bad news” & repented; this generation heard the “good news” & won’t???
  2. Privilege always brings about responsibility.
10. So why should this generation stand condemned? – What was their sin? Indifference. They wouldn’t repent at Jesus’ preaching!
11. END:
12. In all 3 of these incidents the central ingredient is The Holy Spirit.
13. [1] The Spirit is the secret of Jesus’ power!
14. [2] The Spirit is the central ingredient for having relationship with Him!
15. [3] The ultimate sign is given by the interpretation of The Spirit!
16. They saw Him pray & they desired the secret; He gave them the model & showed them that the ultimate in prayer is the reception of the Spirit initially & continuously;The Holy Spirit is the secret of power over demons; the secret of kinship w/God; & the secret of the greatest sign. (G. Campbell Morgan; Luke; pg.145.)
17. You & I, if we have spiritual relationship with God, have the most powerful of Spirits; & also spiritual understanding & illumination into the things of life & godliness!
  1. Paul asked an important question to a dozen disciples in Ephesus, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1-7)
18. Remember the milk cow in the beginning? – Milk away!
  1. The Holy Spirit loves providing all you need for life & godliness.
  2. Be Careful! – He is intensely sensitive against sin (you can grieve Him)
  3. Know! - Every time we read our bible it is possible to have this Divine Person, the author of the book, to interpret it to us, & to teach us its real & innermost meaning.

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Verses 33-54

Intro:
1. Story - A man was driving through a mining region one Sunday when he noticed a large number of mules in an open field. When he inquired about this unusual sight, he was told that the work animals had been brought up from the dark passages below to preserve their eyesight. Unless they were regularly exposed to the sunlight, they would eventually go blind. The Christian needs similar experiences to keep him from losing his spiritual vision.
2. Recap ch.11 - They saw Him pray & they desired the secret; He gave them the model & showed them that the ultimate in prayer is the reception of the Spirit initially & continuously; The Holy Spirit is the secret of power over demons; the secret of kinship w/God; & the secret of the greatest sign (i.e. death, burial, & res revealed at Pentecost when H.S. gave understanding).
A LIT LAMP! (33-54)
1. The function of a lit lamp is?…so others might see the light.
2. God’s word often uses the eye to represent the attitudes of the mind, because an eyeball in itself can’t be bad morally! (it is “amoral” = outside the scope of morality)
  1. Pr 28:22 “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.”
3. Jesus has used this popular proverb once already in 8:16.
  1. In 8:16 He taught them their responsibility concerning others.
  2. Here in 11:33 their responsibility concerning personal life.
4. The lamp of the body is the eye –
  1. He didn’t say that the eye is the light of the body.
  2. Eyes are no good for seeing unless there is light.
  3. Equally true, that light is no good for seeing, unless we have eyes.
  4. A man with no eyesight & plenty of light around him can’t see; and neither can a man with perfect eyesight with no light.
  5. The eye then is the instrument of light!
    1. Why do our eyes dilate? (let more light in) [L. dilatare, to expand]
    2. Good eyes(clear/healthy) - focuses properly & truly.
    3. Bad eyes(evil/unhealthy) – might have a visual defect, blurred vision, or shortsightedness.
  6. An evil eye distorts the light that is trying to enter.
  7. A clear eye becomes a lamp permitting the light to shine w/in us.
  8. The light is the Spirit of God.
    1. 1 Cor.2:9,10 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.”
  9. The eye then is the instrument through which light becomes effective.
5. Camera Illustration – A camera lens is all about letting light in a controlled way.
  1. Photography – phos/light & graphis/drawing; “drawing with light”.
  2. Shutter speed – Time shutter holds open.
  3. Aperture – Diameter shutter opens to. (hands in large ‘O’ position, then collapse)
  4. In Photography - It’s all about light…& I’m in control!
  5. In my spiritual life - It’s all about light…& I’m in control!
  6. When we sin we hinder God’s light from shining in our hearts!
  7. The eye is the lamp of the body; & our actions are guided by the fact.
    1. “Have no part dark”
6. The function of a lit lamp was?…so others might see the light(33). Thus the importance of Spiritual light allowed into our bodies(or lives) is so we might have spiritual perception & that others may see.
  1. Opposite of “that generation” who had no spiritual perception! (31,32)
7. Recommended Action?
8. Q: Is your lens cap on? Q: Is your lens dirty?
  Q: Can you identify what’s hindering you from letting in more light into your life?
  Q: Do you find yourself in places where the light level is too dim?
9. PHARISEES! (37-44)
  1. A MESSY MESSIAH? (37,38)
  2. Jesus, you didn’t wash your hands…“our way!”
  3. Was He invited to a luncheon or a lynchin`?
  4. EXTERNALISM! (39-41)
  5. Here was their supreme fault & failure: Attention to Externalism, to the neglect of the Internal condition of their life.
    1. Their inward part is full of greed(extortion) & wickedness.
  6. Clean surface…dirty underneath!
    1. Ex: Like my doghouse carpet(explain).
  7. (41) Give alms(charity) of what is inside, or from your heart –
  8. “Dedicate to God what was within” & then everything else would be right.
    1. It’s a heart matter for you this morning also!
10. WOE #1- Inversion of Values! (42)
11. Woe? – It infers grief & deep regret. [Anguish, not anger]
  1. It is rendered “alas” (to express sorrow or pity).
  2. “Jesus’ purpose for these woes was to expose the sins of the Pharisees & Lawyers to try to help them & the people adversely influenced by them.” (Shepherd’s Notes; Luke 11.)
12. They put the emphasis upon the trivial & neglected the essentials.
  1. Q: Have you ever majored in trifles but ignored what was really important?
  2. I picture them laid out in their gardens, making sure they counted every little herb leaf,…but never heard the neighbors cry for help next door.
13. Way before Tina Turner, the Pharisees were the 1^st to sing “What’s Love got to do with it?”
  1. Justice is rendering to every one that which is his due.
    1. Still do the right thing….but love is at the top!
  2. The Love of God – such & sweet & simple phrase.
    1. How do we do it?…w/all of our heart, soul, & mind. With all that we are. With every part of our being. With all of our attitudes.
14. Christians don’t confuse what is surface Christianity with what is plunging the depths.
  1. Surface = doing the basics, coming to church, tithing, etc.
  2. Depths = the love of God!!!
    1. To find out if one is a genuine Christian, shouldn’t it be geared around whether they love God, & not what they’re doin for Him?
15. WOE #2 – Evil Motives! (43)
16. Woe to those who expect box seats at church, & people to fawn all over you in town!
  1. Bottom line…their motive was self-centered, self-promoting.
17. When Ptolemy, outstanding astronomer and mathematician of the second century, decided to build the Pharos, he chose Sostratus to design that mammoth lighthouse which later became one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Ptolemy insisted that the structure should bear his inscription as a personal memorial; however, Sostratus didn't think the king should get all the credit. He therefore put the title of Ptolemy on the front of the lighthouse in a thick plaster which would be eye catching at first, but later would be worn away by the elements. Secretly he had cut his own name in the granite underneath. For decades the sea dashed against the inscription and gradually eroded it. Though it lasted the lifetime of that earthly monarch, it finally was obliterated, leaving the name "Sostratus" standing in bold relief! In like manner, worldly fame often disappears before the relentless waves of time.
18. WOE #3 – Corrupting Influence! (44)
19. They were unconsciously exerting a corrupt influence to all who were following their lead.
  1. Contact with a grave caused defilement. Contact with these Pharisees did likewise!
SCRIBES! (45-54)
1. Scribe or Lawyer - After the Captivity, the scribes turned their attention to the law, gaining for themselves distinction by their intimate acquaintance with its contents. [Torah Teachers]
2. On them devolved the duty of multiplying copies of the law and of teaching it to others.
3. In NT times the scribes belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, who supplemented the ancient written law by their traditions, thereby obscuring it and rendering it of none effect.
4. WOE #1 – Denunciation of Insincerity! (45,46)
5. (45) Hey…that sounds like us too!...“Well, if the sandal fits…”
6. They crushed men with their heavy load of legalism
7. They trampled them with their godless traditions.
  1. And they weren’t even living by their own code!
8. WOE #2 - Hypocrisy! (47-51)
9. This was satire(irony, sarcasm)
  1. “Their fathers killed the prophets, & they put monuments up to killed prophets, & went on w/the same business of killing prophets.” (G. Campbell Morgan; pg.150)
10. Abel & Zachariah - Chronicles was last book in Hebrew Old Testament.
  1. See 2 Chron.24:20,21.
  2. The whole range of OT history is thus indicated.
11. WOE #3! (52-54)
12. They key was the insignia of their office.
  1. Lawyers/Scribes – interpreters of the moral Law.
  2. You’ve hid the key your “office” loaned you, & now won’t even let others in.
13. I sure hope our friends & neighbors don’t see our religion the same way, when they look at ours!
14. End: The secret is the Spirit as light; & the spirit of my own life single in its devotion.

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Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Luke 11". "Bell's Commentary". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/luke-11.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesLuke 11

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-4

Verses 5-13

Verses 14-32

Verses 33-54

Bible Commentaries
Luke 11