this link goes to the revelation song. may want to listen to it again after reading the chapter. seems to put things in perspective... at least for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_3W8XI7W2w
Additudes of the heart.
Luke 12:1 NKJV
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of theleaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
This is an un-countable group of people that are coming to Jesus like its black Friday and He has the only Wii. As they are coming to Him for all the wrong reasons He turns to His disciples and gives a warning about acting Godly. In chapter 11 Jesus confronted such actions by the Pharisees by saying u need to first cleanser the inside of the cup. What is it that God desires of us? Certainly not to put on an act and be hypocritical so that others Think you are more spiritual than you really are. GOD is concerned with the heart. Think about it this way, have you ever had another Christian brother or sister say something like, " hey you know this verse" and you agree and act like you know it as they quote it but u r actually hoping they don't ask u the reference because you don't really know it and you just wanted to look like you were knowledgeable? That’s hypocrisy and it helps no one grow in a genuine relationship with the Lord… Least of all you.
Luke 12:2-3 NKJV
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Think about it as if your secrets were suddenly on the front page of the springs gazette or on the super bowl commercials. Instead of having a heart attack as you think about that, choose to live in a way that hides no secrets from others so that you will not be horrified on the day that the Lord lays everything out to be seen.
Luke 12:4-5 NKJV
“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
We spend to much of our lives with our fears misplaced in this world. Jesus is saying here to walk boldly. Think about it... What's the worst thing the world could do to you? Kill you? And thus send you to your home in heaven with your beloved Savior? Not too shabby if ya ask me. And definitely nothing to fear. I’ve heard it put like this before, “if you fear God, there is nothing else to fear”. Keeps it pretty simple.
Proverbs 29:25 NKJV
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
We respect and value some people far too much in that we have made too much of them and now fear them. That needs only be given to God. We are living our lives for an audience of one. We are bond servants of but one Master.
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
We grow up often with a fear of what our parents can do to us on the consequences side, but then there is also a respectful fear that is out of love in that you do not want to do wrong against them and thus hurt their hearts. This is that fear of God we are to have. Not just a trembling of what His hands can do in wrath, but a fear of hurting our Heavenly Father's heart and the respect for Him in that light as well.
Luke 12:6-7 NKJV
“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
In Genesis we learn that we are the most prescious of His creation. Here we are told He knows even the number of hairs on our heads. The average number BTW is 108,000 strands. What we are learning in this chapter is that God is concerned with us and loves us so much we have nothing to fear.
Luke 12:8-9 NKJV
“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
Romans 10:9 shows us the importance of confession for it is the way to salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Remove the fear of man.. onfess and grasp the cross.
Luke 12:10 NKJV
“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
To blasphemy is to reject the work of the Holy Spirit. It can be reversed but this is talking about a lifetime spent living against the Holy Spirit (denial of salvation). That is unforgivable. If however, you blasphemed the Holy Spirit, yelled at in anger, flipped off, turned away from, cursed God in your life and think that you cannot be forgiven for that, you are wrong. You can be forgiven and confess and turn away from that sin. You can confess Jesus as your Lord today and invite Him to come in through His Holy Spirit and begin molding you as clay in the potter’s hands. You can be saved today regardless of anything and everything you did before this very moment.
Luke 12:11-12 NKJV
“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Now that is more the opposite of blasphemy. The not only acknowledgement of the Holy Spirit living in you, but the use of your vessel by the Holy Spirit for the work of God. Now we look at covetous.
Luke 12:13 NKJV
Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Yea, cuz a family fighting over an inheritance has never happened. Right! Well, I’m sure Jesus is just gunna jump right in and fix this problem between the two. Lol. wow. Why does this earthly concept matter so much to people? Why is greed so gripping? Such a stronghold of the heart.
Luke 12:14 NKJV
But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
He's not interested in being judge Judy here. He wants to get them/us to the heart of the issue. Covetousness. This has seemingly just become something that is now part of the norm. Everyone in society seems to be infected with this covetousness disease. You see it in business regardless of where you work (even in the church…. Don’t think so pastor? Then ask your ushers, deacons, the band, etc which of them feel they could do a better job in someone else’s higher paying position then the person currently in that position.).
1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Luke 12:15 NKJV
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
So here we are being told the opposite of what society tells us. Our items and finances don't make us successful. Ask yourself," do I possess my possessions or do my possessions possess me?" Or "do you own your house or does your house own you?". Think about it. Our life is to be in Christ but if you get a scratch on your new car is your reaction reflecting that belief or do you in anger and shock throw a temper tantrum and show that you value your possessions far too much? God owns it all.
Luke 12:16-18 NKJV
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
In this parable the man doesn't ask God what to do, doesn't share his great wealth, doesn't have proper motivation as he stores away his treasure and lives to eat, drink, and be merry. You can look throughout Scripture and you will not fnd this type of self endulging retirement. You will however find many verses that support that instead of kicking up your feet you should serve Him in bringing the kingdom nearer with your extra time.
Luke 12:19-20 NKJV
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
The foolishness of this man is that he spent all the time he had preparing to eat, drink, and be merry but spent no time seeking richness in God.
Luke 12:21 NKJV
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
1 Timothy 6:3-4, 6-9 NKJV
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Luke 12:22-23 NKJV
Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
We/ I have a daily choice to make in my unemployment stint here. I choose not to worry. Its not foolishness, its reliance on my God regardless of the state of economy. I know that He will take care of me and my family and otherwise would call us home. Either outcome in faith is wonderful.
Luke 12:24 NKJV
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
This doesn't mean we aren't to work and put forth effort in life. That's not the point. ;-) The point is to not be anxious about your life or worry. It doesn't do anything to spend time worrying. Trust Him and truly live. May I testify that my life is truly abundant despite heavy persecution and unemployment. HE IS TAKING CARE OF ME AND IF YOU ARE BREATHING THUS FAR THEN YOU ALSO ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD.
Luke 12:25-31 NKJV
And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
What are u concerned about in life?
Don't take this verse out of context. We are talking about needs here. You don't get a Fararri for seeking first the kingdoms of God but your needs are met. Prioritize that you should first concern yourself with the state of the heart; the eternal well being of other people's souls as well and then all these things will follow.
Luke 12:32-34 NKJV
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Verse 34 there is a good wrap up of several previous verses. If you have stock in a company you are thus concerned heavily with that company and you put value in it’s success. I encourage you to instead be a giver and invest your wealth in the Lord that there will be your concern and you will become passionate about the kingdom of God being drawn nearer. Your heart will follow where your treasures are. But don't do this service out of hypocrisy in your heart. Do it for proper motivation that it may be blessed.
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