Becoming the First Call #9

Rolling back a bit to catch up, the notes will continue normally next week. Sermon audio is here. (Right click to save the file)

Lord, Lord 

Why do you call on Jesus without doing anything He tells you to?

17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. 27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." 39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. 43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:17 - 49

A starting point for further study is Matthew chapters 5 - 7 is the parallel passage to this section.


People who are regularly calling on Jesus as, "Lord" and appear outwardly devoted are being talked about here.

22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'  Matthew 7:22-23

These people here have quite the resume - prophets, mighty works, casting out demons in the name of Jesus.

What is on your Christian "resume"? Are there mighty works on there? Do they even come close to these people that he is talking about? Have you cast out demons? Have you had anyone come back from the dead?

Why do you call on Jesus without doing anything He tells you to?

Would Jesus say to you "depart from me because I don't know you"?
Do you do enough "good" things? Does this show your faith?

Is your faith bearing "good" fruit?

Jesus, James, and Paul warn us that faith without works is dead.

BUT -

Do not fall into the trap of giving lip service to Jesus and keeping up a false hope of entering the kingdom eternal only to miss the mark.

Do not fall into the trap of being legalistic or of the pharisees.

Allow the Holy Spirit to refine you into the pure expression of faith that Jesus calls you to.

vv. 20 - 23

Blessed are those - these seem to be weak and pathetic people

vv. 24 - 26

Woe to those who are rich - why is Jesus calling out seemingly successful people?

How is Your Posture?

What is the posture of these two groups of people in verses 20 - 26?

1. Needy - the needy acknowledge this fact. In the US, we are very spoiled and we have been given much; therefore, our need is not very visible. In this group of people, God blesses those who admit they are in need.


2. Prideful - Those that have much, are full, and outwardly happy may put their focus on the blessings instead of the one who blesses.

vv. 36 - 37 

Do not pass judgement? - What is the context of judgement? This is about one's posture, it's not wrong to be rich, or full, or happy. Sometimes we need to fast from these things to realize where our abundance comes from. We misplace out hope is we focus on our abundance instead of our need.

Consider the context of the following regarding judging others:

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud--even your own brothers! 1 Corinthians 6:1 - 8


What is the context of judgement? 

v. 38

Think about the concept of lending to others with no expectation of getting anything in return. Do we admit that all things are God's and it does not matter to us if we ever get a return on our investments on earth.

When we give to the poor, to those in need - it is like lending to the Lord. When you give something to someone in their place of need, you are giving to the Lord. You are investing in Jesus, you are nurishing Him and your faith.

v. 43

No good tree bears bad fruit and no bad tree bears good fruit...

Fruit - John 15 - Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches"... If you abide in Jesus, there will be abundant fruit. He promises that if we abide in Jesus, we will bear abundant fruit.

If we find that our life is not fruitful, maybe we should examine ourselves and ask Jesus to reveal where we are not abiding in Him.

v. 46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', but do not do as I tell you?..."

The ruin of the house built on the sand IS great:

Does this passage convict you? Do you feel the need to fix yourself??? STOP!!! You cannot fix yourself!! Jesus is the chief cornerstone, only he can do the work that needs to be done in you. We are more like the rich, the full, the prideful than we want to admit. It takes being poor, hungry, humble to get back to the foundation of abiding in Jesus.

Be willing to be challenged

Be willing to be patient and wait on the Lord

Be continually asking Jesus to reveal where we are giving him lip service and turn to him.

Do not be dependent on the ministries, financial stability, adequate food, house, work, or any of the things of this life. Be dependent on Jesus. Dig deep and build your faith's foundation on the Rock of Salvation. Be willing to be tested. Be willing to suffer along side Christ. Be willing to focus your attention on God. Be willing to be unconfortable in order for Jesus to work in your life.

He does not desire our intellectualism, He desires us to be with Him and be made new every day. He does not desire our works, He desires our faith.

PRAYER -

"Jesus, where are the places, what are the ways in which I say, 'Lord, Lord', but I don't do the things you say. Where are the outwardly looking things that have no fruit? Where have I said that I follow Jesus and am not obedient?"


ATTRIBUTION - The scriptures and sermon content first appeared at The Bridge, Big Flats, NY where Alex Ruffer is the Senior Pastor. These notes are mearly my thoughts and transcriptions during the sermon itself. Scriptures are quoted from the ESV unless noted otherwise.