BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 50

Victory in Prayer
Luke 18:1-17

Many years ago I first heard of the term aggressive-patience. The idea itself seemed to be a dichotomy. How could being aggressive fit in with patience. The more I thought about it the more it made sense to me. It carried with it the concept if you keep saying something long enough that eventually someone will begin claim it as their own idea. In his book “Outliers” Malcomn Gladwell talks about the overnight successes ten years in the making. According to him it takes about ten years for someone to become successful in their endeavors. He used people like Bill Gates who worked at learning about programming all during his teenage years. When the opportunity presented itself he became what so many people call overnight successes.

There are areas in my own life that have been example of aggressive-patience. For years I felt that the group in which I worked was in the wrong place in the organization. After my retirement they put the people with whom I had worked under a vp in the president’s office. There they could support the whole organization without the hindrances place on them under the finance division.

One of the dangers of change is the lack of aggressive-patience. Whenever a new minister comes to a church he may see things that in his mind may need to be fixed. The older the congregation the more difficult it is to accept change of any kind. It has been said, it is much more difficult and takes more time to turn around an ocean liner than it does a row boat. Someone wrote that for changes to be effective it takes about seven years. In our paced society we are not usually inclined to wait that long. Most of us want the latest and greatest and we want it now. The problem is that the one place that does not go along with that concept is the church. We love to hold on to our traditions and programs.

Sadly in most denominations the normal tenure of pastors and teaching elders is shorter than three years. For youth and children’s ministers it is even shorter. What happens then is that a church is left with half-baked ideas that need a longer period of time to come to fruition. Statistics tell us that the greatest period of growth and health for church comes during the seven to fourteenth year of the leadership of a pastor or teaching elder. He and the whole church needs to practice aggressive-patience. The whole idea of vision is to keep promoting it until it becomes the idea of the whole congregation and then to reap the benefits of all working together.

Luke 18:1

One important aspect of prayer is to not give up until an answer comes. There have been many stories of parents who have prayed for the salvation of their children for years before they were actually saved. Jesus told His disciples to never lose heart. He was telling them not to become discouraged when God did not respond according to their timetable.

1. Why did Jesus tell His disciples to never lose hope when praying? (We cannot know the timeing of God’s answer.)

2. Why do people often stop praying for someone or something?

3. What is the danger in doing so?

4. When has there been a time when you received an answer to prayer only because you prayed until it came?

1

Luke 18:2-5

Jesus then told a parable about a widow who needed protection from an opponent. The judge to whom she brought her case was a man who did not care about anyone nor did he fear God. She won the case because she was persistent. He finally agreed to give her protection because she had worn him down with her constant pleas. From the Greek it appears that what is actually meant by her wearing down was his fear that she might give him a literal black eye. It is obvious that his decision was subjective and emotional and not based on the facts or the merits of the case but was subjective

The widow represents all of those who face the adversary, the devil and his continual opposition to man. It is interesting that it appears that she must face him alone before a judge who has no interest in helping her. Job sought an advocate (Job 16:19). After the resurrection John wrote that “We have an advocate with the Father.” (1 John 2:1) What a difference the work on the cross made for mankind in his relationship to the Father.

1. Why did the woman continue to plea her case? (Because she felt it was justified.)

2. Why did the judge continue to listen to her? (She was not going to stop until the situation was rectified.)

3. How do we often face a situation like this? (When someone says no the first time we give up.)

4. When should we be as persistent as the woman? (When we seek to have God’s will done in our life or a situation needs to be rectified.)

5. Why did the judge finally give in to her?

6. On what occasions have you been determined not to take no for an answer?

Luke 18:6

It was important that the disciples understood what Jesus was trying to teach them about prayer. It really is a task for the strong in spirit. The point He was trying to get across was found in the words of the judge that basically said that he listened to the women because she would not relent in her efforts. Her persistence brought about a resolution of her dilemma.

1. Why was the words of the judge important? (It showed the reason for his judgment in her favor.)

2. What does it take for God to listen to you in prayer? (To come before Him in sincerity and humility believing He will answer our prayers.)

3. How does her example reflect your own prayer life?

4. How does it affect your belief in God’s ability to answer prayers?

Luke 18:7-8a

It must be understood that this parable is not about comparisons but contrasts. If mere men will listen and give judgment grudgingly based on human emotions in the favor of those who present their case, then it can be expected that God who loves His people will heed the call from a desperate heart. Those who cry out day and night will be heard and will find relief. Luke said God will not delay in responding to a request from one of His children. Although to man it may seem long coming the answer comes in God’s perfect timing.

1. In what ways is God like the godless judge? (Both give an answer to our pleas.)

2. In what ways is He different? (He does not hear our request begrudgingly but with a loving heart and decide on them in a capricious way.)

2

3. What did Jesus mean by the words crying out to God day and night? (Prayer takes time and must be from the heart broken before God.)

4. What did Jesus mean by saying that God would not delay long? (God answers in His perfect timing.)

5. If that is true why do answers to prayer seem so long coming? (Because we want immediate results.)

Luke 18:8b

The question Jesus asked His disciples was a rhetorical one. There was no doubt that when He returned He would find those who had remained faithful in spite of the persecution and opposition they as well as those alive today face. There are examples all over the world of men/women and children remaining faithful to Christ to the death. There is a book out right now that speaks to this very question. It is “The Insanity of God” which tells the stories of those in places like Russia and China who refuse to be defeated by the devil. The writer’s of the New Testament were so sure that there would be Followers of Christ that they spoke a great deal of what happens at the end of time. Without faith there would be no rapture of believers or the images of heaven painted by Paul in Corinthians and John in “The Revelation.”

1. How do we know that this was a rhetorical question?

2. What evidences do we have today that He will find Followers of Christ when He returns?

3. What evidences do the Scriptures provide for us that He will find believers? (Paul’s writings about the rapture and John’s picture of heaven.)

4. How does John 14:1-6 speak to question Jesus asked?

Luke 18:9

Although this parable does not appear, at the offset, to be about prayer it does give a picture of the attitude one must have to come before God. He begins by speaking directly to the pharisaic mindset. This would include the pharisees and those who thought like them. His words were a warning to the disciples to watch out for those who thought highly of themselves an held everyone else in contempt. Today words like self-centered, proud, arrogant, and elitist might be used to describe them.

1. Why did Jesus find it necessary to speak about the attitudes of those like the Pharisees?

2. What barrier does this kind of mindset erect between them and God? (There is no room in the heart of the proud for God.)

3. What terms might we use to describe such men today?

4. In what ways is this a struggle that each of us face?

Luke 18:10-12

There were two men who found themselves in the temple at the same time. The first one that Jesus described was the Pharisee. It is very revealing of the man’s character that he was praying to himself. Although Jesus called it a prayer is was more an example of telling God what the Pharisee thought of himself. Like many today he was building himself up by comparing himself with those he regarded as the worse of sinners, including “swindlers, unjust, adulterers” and of course the tax collector who was there at the same time. He went on to inform God that not only was he not like others but his actions indicated how righteous he was. He fasted twice a week and tithed.

3

1. What was the content of the Pharisee’s prayer?

2. What was he really doing?

3. How much are your prayers like or not like that of the Pharisees?

4. What did his proclamation show about his concern for others?

5. If he was genuine in his faith what should he have been doing? (Praying for others rather than holding them in contempt.)

6. How often do you pray for the spiritual welfare of others?

Luke 18:13

Without further comment about the Pharisee at that moment, Jesus then turned His attention to the tax collector. Rather than being at the center of the temple the publican stood off to one side by himself as if he was almost ashamed of even being in the place of worship. His words were much different from those of the Pharisee and showed a humble heart broken by his sin. He cried out to God with every thing that was in him seeking God’s mercy upon his life. Unlike the Pharisee, he readily admitted that he was a sinner and the only relief he could get from his condition had to come from God.

1. In what ways was the tax collector different from the Pharisee? (He admitted to be sinful while the Pharisee was self-righteous in all aspects of his life?

2. How did his prayer differ from that of the Pharisee?

3. What can we tell about his heart from what Jesus shared in this parable?

4. How does what he prayed compare with the words of David in Psalm 51?

5. When you pray which are you more like the tax collector or the Pharisee?

6. Do you proclaim your righteousness or throw yourselves on the mercy of God?

Luke 18:14

Jesus then rendered a judgment on the actions of the two men beginning with the tax collector. He said that he went home forgiven of his sin. The word He was justified which in a way would indicate that the slate of that man’s sinful life was wiped clean. Isaiah spoke to the nature of God’s forgiveness when he wrote, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) There would be no evidence that the man had ever sinned because he repented of those things that kept him apart from God.

On the other hand the man who had proclaimed to God how righteous he was returned home with the guilt of sin remaining upon his life. The attitude that man is to have before God is summed up in the next statement by Jesus.

• To exalt oneself will lead to his downfall, being humbled.

• The one who approaches God with total humility will be lifted up and receive the praise of His Father.

1. What does it take to be completely forgiven of your sins?

2. What does it take for a person to be assured of eternal life? (More about this in next week’s lesson.)

3. How different was the judgment rendered to each man?

4. What does it mean to be justified before God?

5. How does Isaiah 1:18 speak to the life the tax collector possessed?

4

6. Why was the Pharisee not justified? (He had confessed or repented of any of his actions or attitudes.)

7. How do you think God views your prayers?

8. Why does it sometimes seems that He does not answer them?

Luke 18:15-17

In this incident can be seen both the attitudes of the Pharisees in the actions of the disciples resulting in condemnation of that behavior. They may have been trying to protect Jesus from the crowds or felt He

should be spending time with them or only adults. The words of Jesus also pictured the heart

of the tax collector. He was humble, vulnerable and disliked by others because of his occupation.

Jesus would have no part in their actions. He commanded them to bring the children to Him for they were examples of those who were “poor in spirit.” The kingdom would belong to the downtrodden, those who did not add anything to society, dependent on others, weak and vulnerable. All of this added up to a humility expressed by the tax collector and children alike.

Finally, He struck at the heart of the prideful who looked in contempt on those they considered as less worthy than themselves. Those who were not willing to humble themselves before God would find there was no place in God’s kingdom.

1. Why did the disciples try to keep the children from Jesus? (To protect Him from being overwhelmed or wanted all the time for themselves.)

2. Why did Jesus condemn such actions and attitudes?

3. How close was what they did to what the Pharisees did in the parable? (Discounted the value of the children.

4. What was the general attitude towards children? (Not valuable to society.)

5. Who in the words of Jesus is going to be a part of God’s kingdom?

6. What is your attitude towards those who are babes in the faith?

• In your prayer life come before God in all humility.

• Do not tout your attributes before God as if you are doing Him a favor by even talking to Him.

• Understand that you are to pray until you and God are of the same mindset.

• Wait patiently for answers while at the same time to not stop praying until you understand the answer God is giving you.

• Give thanks when He answers your prayers. Quite often we go on our way once we have received an answer and never praise Him for what He has done.

One of the reasons that quite often exciting things do not happen in our midst is because we try to do them without the affirmation of God that only comes through fervent prayer. God wants to do so much in our lives yet we shortchange ourselves and disappoint Him when we go our own way. Jesus never made an important decision without prayer. He spent a night praying for His disciples before selecting the twelve who would be closest too Him. Even on the night before He went to the cross Jesus spent time before His Father. Let us be a church that perseveres in prayer like the widow. Our time before God should be with the same heart attitude as the tax-collector. We need to always be aware that we are to be like the children who are totally dependent on Him. If we do all of these things we will be a part of God’s kingdom both in this world and the next.

5

Lesson 49

Is the End Near?

Luke 17:22-37

Prophecy is fascinating. It also can become addictive. Many years ago I got caught up in reading about the end times, especially through the writings of Hal Lindsey and others. At that time they had the whole rest of history mapped out in easy to understand steps. They very carefully explained the role modern weapons played in the end time events. While I still have an interest in knowing what the Bible has to say, I have come to the point where I can accept the words out of the mouth of Jesus in Matthew 25:36 where He speaks of the fact that the only being in the whole universe who knows when it will all come to a climax is God the Father. Jesus emphasized this in the Acts 1 when He told the disciples not to worry about what was to come but to get on with the task of sharing the gospel once they had received power from the Holy Spirit.

What in a way brought me back to reality was a radio broadcast that I heard. In that message the announcer was explaining how the Pope was going to fulfill prophecy by the things he was planning to do. The only problem with what program presented was that the pope had been dead about six weeks when that particular installment was aired. Having said all of this I do believe that there signs all around us pointing to the possibility that the time is very short until the return of Christ.

Even though Christ may not return in our life time, it is important for the Church to always be prepared as if this is the last day. Because people are dying without Jesus Christ every moment there needs to be a sense of urgency in the sharing of the gospel. Sadly, we often act as the people to whom Peter was writing who said that nothing is changed over all these years so what is the rush. If Jesus has not returned in all this time many have the attitude that He is not coming at all. This is dangerous position for the church to take. We are called to be watchmen warning people of the impending disaster.

Luke 17:20-21

The passage in Luke 17 beginning in verse 20 is a panorama is the rest of history from the time of Christ to His return. His discourse begins in response to a question put to Him by the Pharisees. They had no interest in the coming kingdom but trying to demean Jesus. What they actually meant was, why should we believe that you are the coming Messiah when all you have is a lowly group of followers who would not be able to defeat if the smallest force of the Roman army. His response was to indicate that those who were hostile towards Him as they were would never have the experience of having the kingdom of God within them. They had rejected the opportunity to know Him or His Father by their total disregard for His teachings.

The second point He made went against all they believed the Messiah would be. They were expecting a king who come and sit on the throne of David and release them from the oppression they felt under the rule of the Romans. Jesus indicated that the kingdom that He was setting up was to be a spiritual one in which God was to rule in the hearts of men.

1. What were the Pharisees seeking with their question? (To destroy Jesus’ credibility with the people.)

2. Why would the question be valid one concerning the coming kingdom? (It did not appear that Jesus had much of an army.)

3. What kind of kingdom did they expect? (A descendant of David restoring the kingdom.)

1

4. What had Jesus done to give an indication He might be the Messiah? (He had done just the opposite of what they expected.)

5. What kind of kingdom was Jesus talking about? (The reign of God in the hearts of the people.)

6. How had the Pharisees missed the working of God in their hearts?

Luke 17:22

The Pharisees were not alone in thinking that Jesus was about to establish an earthly kingdom. In Acts 1:6 they asked Him, “Lord is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel? Jesus had to remind them once again it was not for them to know when the final events were going to occur. They were to wait for empowering of the Holy Spirit and then they were to preach the gospel in all places. Acts 1:7-8. As He had told them in John, He was going away.

In His absence they were going to face difficult times in their lifetime. There would be times when they would long for the days of having Him leading, teaching and protecting them from the perils to come. He indicated to them that physically He would no longer be their for them.

1. What did the disciples expect to happen?

2. Why was it important for Jesus to once again as He had done in John 13:33 share that He was not going to be with them much longer? (It would destroy in notion that He was about to set up an earthly kingdom?

3. How does this verse in Luke compare with what was said in Acts 1:7-8?

4. What would make the disciples long for the days when Jesus had walked with them on this earth?

Luke 17:23-24

Jesus told the disciples that between the time of His departure and His return there would be false messiahs deceiving many people. The disciples were warned they would come and to follow them. They of all people should have been able to spot those teaching false doctrine. Unlike the false teachers, Jesus will return when least expected. In the same way that the lightning is seen over a wide area everyone will know when He returns.

1. What was the warning Jesus gave to His disciples?

2. What do false messiahs try to do?

3. What makes a man or woman a false prophet?

4. What will show the prophet for who He is? (Jesus proclamation concerning His own return.)

5. How can you be careful that you do not be deceived by false prophets? (By knowing the teachings of Jesus.)

Luke 17:25

Jesus then returned to the present. Once again He spoke of suffering at the hands of His enemies and the rejection He would experience by those who had followed Him around and had benefited from His ministry. They would turn their backs on Him and be part of the crowd that demanded His death.

1. Why did Jesus again speak of His suffering and rejection? (To keep the disciples focused on the events that were about to take place right before their eyes. After all was over they would remember that Jesus had told them everything that would occur.)

2

2. How could those who seemed to receive what Jesus said and watched Him heal many people turn against Him?

3. Why is the generation in which we are living rejecting Jesus?

4. If they art not on what are they turning their backs and why? (It is more about the church rather than Jesus.)

Luke 17:26-27

It is interesting that Jesus used two different examples to show what was happening at the time God brought judgment on them. The first described conditions existing during the one hundred twenty years that God waited on the people to repent before He brought the flood on them. He did not talk about how evil they were but the fact that they were living a life wrapped up in their own interests.

There is no indication that they worshipped God during that whole time. Because they were totally living a godless life they did not heed the warning that Noah gave them of impending doom. When disaster came upon them it was sudden and unexpected in the same way that there will be many who will be caught by surprise by the coming of Christ.

1. Why did Jesus use the time of Noah as an example of His own return? (The same conditions will be in existence when He returns.)

2. What was wrong with what was taking place in during the time of Noah? (On the surface nothing. These practices on their own are not evil. The problem was all of their activities were done excluding God.)

3. In what ways do we go about our lives excluding God?

4. What can we expect by living that way?

Luke 17:28-29

The second example of judgment came during the time of Lot to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Luke only Sodom was mentioned because it was the home of Lot. Although the narrative found in Genesis 18 and 19 is familiar Ezekiel provided some of the underlying reasons that Sodom was destroyed which fit in with the words of Jesus. He said, “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom; she and her daughter had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me.” (Ezekiel 16:49-50)

Because of their sins, the day Lot left God brought judgment upon them in the form of fire and brim-stone.

1. How much was the climate in which Lot found himself like that of Noah’s day?

2. What was the normal day of a Sodomite like? (See Ezekiel 16:49-50)

3. What was similar in the way that God dealt with both of them? (It was sudden.)

4. In what way were the people without excuse? (Both had been warned of the impending doom.)

5. In what ways has God warned us of those who continue to reject Him?

6. Why was both Noah and Sodom spared? (They were righteous men.)

Luke 17:30-32

Jesus said that His coming would be just like what happened to the people described above. When Jesus comes man is not to think about the things of this life. He needs to be ready for the arrival of Christ. At that time everything else is meaningless. Jesus gave the example of Lot’s wife who was unable to turn loose of the way of life found in Sodom and paid for that attraction to the past that she paid for it with her life.

3

1. Why had Jesus told the stories? (His return would be just as sudden.)

2. Why did He talk of not going to retrieve things?

3. Who did not follow the advice given by Jesus?

4. What was the consequences of her actions?

5. What do you think you would do if given warning that you had a short time to remain on this earth?

Luke 17:33

If this life is more important than one’s relationship with Father then eventually he will face judgment and loss of eternal life. Conversely, those who only live to please God will have eternal life. Paul said best in Galatians 2:20 when he wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I live , but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1. In what ways do we live that would show others that this world is more important to me than the next?

2. What does it mean to lose your life to gain it?

3. How do you interpret Gal. 2:20?

4. How does it parallel what Jesus said in Luke 17:33?

5. What are you willing to give up to gain eternal life?

Luke 17:34-36

Jesus presents three scenarios showing what will happen at the end of time that reinforce what He had just said. When He returns there will be:

• Two in bed one will be taken the other left behind.

• Two women grinding and one will be taken the other left.

• Two men in the field one will be taken

The term used for what has just been said is the “Rapture” It is the point when all followers will be taken off the earth to meet Jesus when He appears the first time. The second will be when He begins His thousand year reign on the earth.

1. What picture is painted by the three incidences?

2. What is the term now used to described that event?

3. What does the word rapture mean?

4. What are you doing to guarantee that you will be part of the “Being taken away?”

5. Why is important to understand what going to happen at the end of time?

Luke 17:37

The disciples wanted to know where all of this was going to occur. They were probably as they would later want to know when. Jesus responded by quoting a proverb which meant that when everything was ready then the events would come to fruition.

4

1. Why were the disciples concerned? (They still believed that the kingdom would come into being in their lifetime.)

2. How did Jesus answer them?

3. What did He mean by using the proverb? (When everything was accomplished then the events described would occur.

4. What is to be our concern? (Living a life for Christ and not worrying what is God’s perview.)

• Remember that “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs are the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 5:3)

• Study Galatians 2:20 to see if it fits who you are.

• Be careful not to get caught up in prophecies contrary to what the Bible says.

• Be on guard so that no matter when the day of the rapture you will not be left behind.

Many today live as if there will be judgment day ahead. They continue going about working, marrying etc. ignoring God. It is the responsibility of the church to teach the Scriptures so people will have a clear understanding of the relationship they need to have with God. If we become true followers of Christ we will not have to worry about what the future may hold for us. We can be assured that if the Lord were to return this night that we would be received into our eternal home with Him.

The Bible is full of warnings of what is to come. It is also full of promises of the hope that God has for all of us. Let us heed the warnings as real. This should give us a sense of urgency to reach out to those who are lost.

Lesson 48

Power of Faith

Luke 17:1-11

 

There is a story that for all practical purposes has been proven to be untrue. It does however paints a picture of real faith and how a person recognizes and deals with the stumbling blocks in his life.  The story goes that there was a professor at USC who was an atheist.  Every year for over twenty years he would begin the year proclaiming that by the end of the semester he would destroy the faith of any Christian in his class. His main tact came at the end of the semester when he would ask if anyone still believed in God.  No one ever stood up.  

In one of his philosophy classes there was a young man who took the required course.  For the whole semester he prayed every morning that when the time came he would remain true to his faith.  As was his practice the professor asked the question.  To his surprise the young man rose up from the back of the room.  The professor then called him a fool and said that there was as much a chance of there being a God as it was for him to drop a piece of chalk to floor and God keeping it from being broken.  As he dropped the chalk it accidentally caught the cuff of his shirt then got caught in the pleats in his pants sliding down his pants leg and rolled off his shoe intact.  The professor fled from the room.  This opened the opportunity for the young man to share his faith with his classmates.  Although just a story it does show the power of faith. 

There is always a danger that we in the church could easily have the attributes of the professor in the story.  I do not mean that we are so blatant in our opposition of the God of the Scriptures.  The problem is our willingness to water down God’s word and compromise with the world.  When we teach anything contrary to the Bible we possibly mislead others and may even be guilty of driving people away from the church.  We should be like the young man who stood by his faith even in the face of ridicule and persecution he expected to experience. As was true with him each day of our lives should have prayer as integral part of it.  The tools are in our hands what are we going to do with them?

Luke 17:1-2

Jesus made it clear that there would always be those who would make it difficult for others to believe the message of the gospel.  The Pharisees had proven to be stumbling blocks to the Jews having any hope of salvation with all their oral traditions and self-serving interpretations of the Law.  

There was destiny for those individuals.  It would have been better for them to have been cast into the sea and died before they misled one single person. 

1. Why is so important to understand God’s word? (So we will never cause anyone to stumble.)
2. What does it take for one to be judged as someone who causes others to stumble?
3. What have you done in your life that may have caused someone to stumble?
4. In what ways did the religious leaders reflect the characteristics of one who causes others to stumble?
5. What can you do to make sure that you do not cause anyone to stumble?

 

Luke 17:3-4

Everyone sins.  Jesus knew that no man is perfect.  Paul wrote, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).  It was not a case of if a man sinned but when.  Why was it so important to have a brother around to get him or her back on track?  Jesus used a pretty powerful word in describing how to deal with one’s sins.  He told His disciples to rebuke the person who had committed a rebellious act towards God.  To rebuke is to reprimand someone for his actions.  Notice it was sin in general not one done against the person reprimanding his brother in Christ.  It is the person who repents when confronted who is to be forgiven seven times a day.  

1. What is the one thing that we know about sin? (Everyone sins.)
2. How do we know this fact? (Romans 3:23)
3. What is our responsibility when a brother sins?
4. What gives us the right? (We are to point the person back to God’s word.)
5. Why did Jesus say that we are to forgive seven times a day? (We are not picture as the one to judge another.)

Luke 17:5-6

It is interesting that Luke called the men apostles in verse 5.  These were the men who would eventually be sent out in the name Christ.  At this point they were not acting like men who would be responsible for the future sharing of the gospel with the world. They came to Jesus asking that their faith be increased.  Rather than answering them He told them a short parable.  Their faith did not have to great they just had to have it even if as small as a mustard seed.  God use the smallest amount of faith to accomplish those things that would glorify Him.  The point was not to use what faith they had for frivolous acts.  

 

1. Why did Luke call the men apostles at this point in the ministry of Jesus? (This is what they were to become.)
2. Why did they believe that they would need more faith? (They saw the task ahead of them as overwhelming.  To accomplish what Jesus was doing was more than they thought they could do.)
3. Why did He use the example of the mustard seed? (It is not how much faith one has but what God can do with what we have.)
4. What was the point Jesus was making? (Not to use our faith unwisely but for the glory of God.)
5. How can we show that we trust God?

Luke 17:7-10

Following up on the apostles’ request, He told another story about how they could grow.  A slave had the responsibility of taking care of his master’s needs.  He was not to provide for himself before he finished the tasks to which he had been assigned.  To grow in one’s faith use the gifts and abilities God has given to carry out the tasks that God has called one to carry out.  By serving a person grows. Faith like other aspects of one’s life will either be strengthened by constant use or atrophy by neglecting them.  Man’s only responsibility is to do the work of God with gladness.

1. Why did Jesus follow the story of the mustard seed with the one about the slave? (We are not  to concentrate on growing our faith but in serving.)
2. When do we realize that we trust God more? (Looking back on the experiences through which He has brought us.)
3. How are you using the gifts and abilities God has given you?
4. What is the danger of not using them?
5. What happens to a slave who is no longer able to carry out the responsibilities assigned to him?

Luke 17:11-19

Jesus was continuing in His journey toward Jerusalem.  On His way He entered a village between Samaria and Galilee.  The first people to greet him were ten lepers who cried out to Him to a have mercy on them. Although they did not ask for healing, Jesus understood their need.  From a distance He gave one command. They were to go and present themselves to the priest as one’s who had been cleansed from leprosy.  It took faith to believe that something was about to change in their lives.  They had yet been cured but began to do as Jesus commanded.  In the act of going they were healed.  

Out of the ten only one of them turned around and came back to Jesus glorifying God for what just occurred.  The others continued on their way.  They were doing what the Law demanded. The one who returned to give thanks turned out to be a Samaritan.  While the other nine had their religious tradition to follow, the one who returned only had Jesus.  Jesus wondered at the actions of the other nine.  Why had the other not returned?  The other nine men received physical healing but did not give God the glory.  They were headed back into their old way of following a dead religion.  The Samaritan received much more.  His faith brought about a healing of both body and spirit.  His one act of coming back to Jesus was enough to set him completely free.

1. Why was Jesus willing to stop and honor the request of the ten lepers?
2. What did the disease do? (Broke down cultural barriers?
3. What did the men request of Jesus?
4. What was the true need of each man?
5. What were the nine men concerned about? (Being clean in the eyes of the religious leaders so they could once again be accepted into the Jewish society.)
6. Why did the Samaritan return to Jesus? (He was not bound by the Law being an outsider.)
7. What did he show that the others were missing? (Real thanksgiving for what he had received?
8. What did he gain that the others missed? (Healing of both body and spirit?
9. For what are you most thankful in your life?
10. How is all of chapter 17 so far a picture of faith and its power?

     

• Look at Matthew 10:19 for encouragement to stand up for your faith when facing opposition.
• Take inventory of your own life to see if any way you have been or are a stumbling block to others.
• Follow Jesus’ instruction of reprimanding those who sin.
• Take care that when rebuking someone that you base it on God’s word.
• Concentrate on Serving God and not trying to increase your faith.  The more you understand what God is doing for you and through you will cause your trust to grow.
• Like Jesus take time to take care of the needs of others even when it means you have to stop what you were previously doing.
• Understand it is imperative to give Christ all the glory for the mercy he has shown to us.
• Remember before Christ we are all equal.

This lesson is full of a variety of teachings that are important in the life of the church. One way to protect ourselves from be a stumbling block is to spend time each date learning the truth from God’s word.  This kind of dedication will provide us with the tools to disciple others in a Christ-like way.  We are to be on the alert to keep our fellow believers from falling going down and errant path.  Those who are mature in the faith are to correct them when they stray.  Of course this is to be done with all humility realizing that each of us is a sinner saved by grace.

Finally the healing of the ten lepers shows the dangers of getter caught up in religious traditions.  We are all the recipients of God’s grace. It is He before whom we are to fall down in worship.    

 

Lesson 47

Not Seen or Heard

Luke 16:19-31

 

One of the things of which I am sometimes guilty is becoming so engrossed in what I am doing that I do not see someone that might walk right past me.  There is an experiment that I have seen that illustrates our ability to shut people out of our lives.  A group of people are brought together and begin to have a conversation.  While they are talking someone in a gorilla costume will walk right through the group and never be notice.  When asked if any of them saw the gorilla they all stated that they had not seen it.  Some months ago my wife went to the funeral home to pay our respects to the family of a neighbor who had passed away.  We walked in and went to the front of the room, looked at some pictures turned around and left.  There was not a single person who even cast a look in our direction.  I can only imagine how others have felt in my presence when I have done the same thing.  

It is possible for a person to come into the church and feel like the gorilla in the room.  No one even makes the effort to greet them.  They come and go without an acknowledgment that they have been present.  There have probably been many people searching for a church home who have stated they would never go back to whatever church they had attended on Sunday because they believed that it was the most unfriendly place they had ever been. Jesus always made it His business to notice people.  The number of times He stopped as He was traveling from place showed His compassion and interest in people.  People come to church for a number of different reasons.  One of those is fellowship with others.  They want to be part of a community of people who truly care for others.  Our lesson is about the lack of concern for others and the result of a self-centered life.

Luke 16:19

Jesus continues sharing with His disciples by sharing another parable which speaks to the attitudes of those among whom they will carry on His ministry.  As He had done before He gives a character sketch of the main actors in the drama.  He begins with a rich man of whom it was written that He:

• Dressed continually in the finest clothes money could buy. It was the clothing worn by the priests.
• Did not deny himself of anything which would make him happy.  Notice that his self-indulgence went on seven days a week, which meant that he did not observe the Sabbath day which was a day of rest for all Jews. 

1. How did Jesus describe the rich man?
2. What was the problem with the way he lived?
3. Who was Jesus describing?
4. When does having any kind of possession become a sin?
5. What are the indications that this man was not a godly man?

Luke 16:20-21

In stark contrast to the wealthy man in the previous verse, Jesus describes a man who was the poorest of the poorest.  His name was Lazarus which was the Latin equivalent of Eleazar.  Eleazar was used a number of times in the Old Testament and means God is my help.  Lazarus was in a place just outside the gate of the rich man’s house.  The man called by some Dives would have passed by him many times but completely ignored his presence there.  

At that point in life all Lazarus desired was to be able to eat of the scraps left over from the sumptuous meals of the rich man.  Those leftovers would have consisted of pieces of bread that had been used as napkins to wipe off a person’s face and hands.  There were no knives, forks or napkins in those days even in the wealthiest homes. 

Added to the man’s economic woes he was covered with sores, which the dogs licked.  He was too weak to even chase them away.

1. Why would the rich man have ignored Lazarus?
2. How did Jesus contrast the rich man to Lazarus?
3. In what way would it seem that Lazarus was misnamed?
4. What would appear to be the man’s future?
5. What would indicate his desperate state in life?
6. How many people do we ignore as we go about our daily tasks?
7. What are some indications that we truly do not care for them?

Luke 16:22

Both men died.  Their destinations were totally different.  The poor man who had suffered much in his lifetime was escorted by angels into heaven.  Jesus continues to contrast the two men even in death. The physical body was probably without fanfare thrown on the garbage heap having no one to claim it. 

It is said of the wealthy man that he was buried. There was probably a nice funeral possession carrying him to his final resting place.  He could have been in all likelihood been placed in a tomb carved out of rock with a stone to place over its opening to keep animals and thieves out of the grave.

1. In what ways were the two men alike? (Like all people they died.)
2. What was different about what happened after their death? (Lazarus went to heaven and the rich man was buried.)
3. What was the reason Lazarus went to heaven? (We are not told anything of Lazarus’s spiritual condition. We have to be careful not equate poverty as a guarantee of entrance, any more than wealth determining whether he goes to heaven or hell.)
4. What is it important to understand about what took place here? (Our future is determined by our relationship with God and subsequently with other people.

Luke 16:23

The grave was not the end of the man who had been rich.  He found himself in hell be tormented.   Like Lazarus, there is no indication that he was not a man who probably thought of himself as good because of the wealth he possessed.  Jesus does not go into a lot of detail about the reason the man found himself in hell.  The only sin that he seems to have committed was not loving his fellow man enough to at least give him something to eat and providing a means by which his sores would be healed. 

 

Another point that proves that one has a consciousness beyond this world is the fact that the man could actually see into heaven and recognized the man he had ignored all those years with the founder of the Hebrew nation. This seems to indicate an increased awareness in the afterlife.

1. What was the man’s sin that condemned to hell? (Not loving his fellow man who he could see and thus rejecting God.)
2. How many sins condemn us to eternal punishment?
3. What does this verse tell us of what takes place after death?
4. Based on this verse what do you tell people who said that when you die that is the end of a person?
5. What assurances does this give you?
6. How was the man able to recognize Lazarus after having ignored him for years?

Luke 16:24

The man in his torment began to beg for the very thing he had denied Lazarus as he lay at the man’s gate.  He cried out for mercy.  When he was in torment he wanted God to show favor toward him.  The second thing he sought was relief from the agony he was experiencing as a result of the life he had lived.  The request made by the man would strike at the heart of the religious mindset of the Pharisees.  It was the poor man Lazarus who was to be the bearer of the relief that the man sought.  Abraham was not asked to leave his place in paradise but Lazarus who had been the beggar at his gate.  What a role reversal.  The man who had everything needed a drop of water that he would denied being provided for Lazarus.   

1. What does mercy mean?
2. When can one expect to receive it?
3. When is it too late?
4. In what ways was the man like so many today? (He could live as he pleased not believing that God will judge anyone and send them to hell.)
5. What did mercy mean to the man? (Relief from the fruits of the lifestyle he had lived.)
6. How were roles reversed? (The self-righteous wealthy man who was a metaphor for the Pharisees needed what the Lazarus’s of the world have to offer, a true relationship with the Father.)

Luke 16:25-26

It was Abraham who responded to the man’s request. He reminded the man of his previous life.  He had possessed much in the way of material wealth.  Lazarus who in his lifetime had nothing of any value was now be comforted in heaven.  The man who had much and used it selfishly was suffering the consequences of his lifestyle and was living in torment.  

He went on to say that there was a great divide that could not be crossed either way. It would indicate that all decisions are final and have to be made in this lifetime. There is not anyway to reverse the results of a life lived without God.

 

1. Why was Abraham the one to respond? (The request had been directed to him.)
2. Why did Abraham remind the man of his past life? (The man would understand exactly why he was in hell.)
3. What was Lazarus experiencing that can also be in our future?
4. What example does the life of Lazarus provide for us? (Material possession are not important.  It is our relationship to Christ.)
5. What is the one thing that the man did not request? (To go where Abraham and Lazarus were.  He evidently was aware that he did not deserve to be there.)

Luke 16:27-29

Having failed in his plea to be relieved from his misery, he for the first time thinks about others. It is almost a prayer from his lips as he begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers so they will not wind up in hell like him. Abraham then tells him that the brothers had Moses and the Prophets to show them how to live.  If they wanted to avoid the brother’s fate they needed to heed what the Scripture had said to them.

1. Why did the man want Lazarus to go to his brother’s?
2. What did the brothers have available to them?
3. What does Abraham’s words say to us?
4. Why did Abraham refuse the man’s request? (It was impossible.  They need to heed the worth they already had.  Also man does not return to earth after death.)
5. How will we find ourselves in the same state as the man and his brothers?
6. Why is God’s word so important to us?

Luke 16:30-31

The man tried one last time.  He thought someone returning from the dead would change the minds of the brother’s.  Jesus using the parable spoke directly to the religious leaders.  They had the Law and the Prophets and had turn their backs on the teaching from them.  They had turned from God to a religion based on their own tradition.  He was also telling them that they were turning their back on the One who had come in God’s name.  The words were prophetic for within a short time He would return from the dead and they would not accept the fact.

1. Why did the man think that a man returning from the dead would have any more affect than God’s word?
2. How have the stories that are heard today about those who have died and come back to life affected the general population?
3. To whom was Jesus speaking through this parable?
4. What does it say to us who have not seen the resurrected Savior?  We have to depend God’s word and the work of the Holy Spirit to lead us to faith in Christ.
5. How important is it for our growth to spend time in God’s word? 

• Understand that the blessings God pours out on you whatever they be are to be used for His glory and not just for your own pleasure.
• Do not ignore those less fortunate than you.  Jesus had some strong words for those who do so in Matthew 25:41-46.
• Never take for granted that you will have time to make your life right.  As seen in the parable both Lazarus and the rich man died at about the same time and faced the judgment due to each of them.
• Continue to look to God’s word to reinforce what you believe.  From Genesis to Revelation you have the revealing of God’s Son, Jesus.
• As you study the Scriptures be completely aware that life does not end at physical death and that all of us will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.

The church today is in a battle for its very soul.  There are many who do not believe that there is coming a day of judgment for the church.  Peter wrote of the impending event in 1 Peter 4:17 where he states, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”  God has high expectations for His people.  First we are to love Him with our total being and then to love people like Lazarus as we love ourselves.  This is the mission of the church and we must not fail to carry it out.  The prosperity gospel promotes the mindset of Dives.  Being poor in spirit helps us to understand that we are all failures in the sight of God without His mercy through Jesus Christ.  Let us take care that we wait too long before coming to faith in Him and find ourselves on the outside of His kingdom looking in to the place we can no longer reach.  Today is the day of Salvation.  Today is the time to serve Him with all that He has given us.