According To Luke: Happily Ever After

According To Luke: Happily Ever After

Opening Illustration: Running For Him

Chariots of Fire is the true story of two British runners competing in the 1924 Olympics. Eric Liddell is a devout Christian and one of the finest runners in the world. Eric's sister, Jennie, wants him to leave competitive running to join the family on the mission field in China. Jennie feels Eric is putting running ahead of serving God, and she questions his commitment.

In one scene, Eric attempts to help his sister see his point of view. Eric announces with a smile, "I've decided I'm going back to China. The missionary service has accepted—"

Jennie interrupts him. "Oh, Eric, I'm so pleased."

Eric continues, "But I've got a lot of running to do first. Jennie, you've got to understand. I believe that God made me for a purpose, for China. He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure. To give it up would be to hold him in contempt. You were right; it's not just fun. To win is to honor him."

Point:

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves, who am I doing all this for anyway? Is this for my pleasure, for others, or for God? 

Point:

I confess, I am a people pleaser. It is a burden and something that I really battle. I just want everyone happy. Sadly, the day I stepped into this role I discovered that would not be possible. You just can make everyone happy. So, I have to ask myself, why am I doing this? Am I just trying to please myself, please the congregation or honor God? I my desire to be happy or holy?

Is Our Desire For Happiness Greater Than Our Desire For Holiness?

Background:

Have you ever had a time when your mentor gathered you and several others around, looked you in the eyes, and said, "There's something you need to understand...."? This is one of those times for Jesus' disciples.

A large crowd is crammed together to listen to an increasingly famous teacher -- people all the way from Judea and Jerusalem in the south, as well as hearers from the Gentile lands along the coasts of Tyre and Sidon to the north, present-day Lebanon. Jesus is healing the sick with great power, and many, many are being healed.

But at this moment he is speaking to his disciples. The word "disciples" in vs. 20 is broader than just the Twelve. These disciples are Jesus' followers, his adherents, but they are distinguished from the multitudes who are present on this occasion. Still, there is a "large crowd" (6:17) of disciples. Jesus is speaking to followers.

This morning we are looking at the last “woe” of Jesus. This woe relates to how we engage other people. More specific to Jesus’ point is how we react when other people, worldly people, speak to us. Let’s read together. 

Scripture:

Luke 6:26 ESV

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Jesus Teaches About Real Happiness!

I. Live Prayerfully

Luke 6:26 ESV

“Woe to you…”

Point:

A few weeks ago we talked about the meaning of the word “woe”. In this instance it is Jesus warning for misery. You will be miserable if you choose to walk down this road. When I think of the word “Woe” I cannot help but think of the command that we give to a horse when we want it to stop or pause. We say “Whoah”! It seems that that word is a universal code to stop most anything. Just the other day I was walking down the halls of our VBS and there was a young person running and I said “Whoah” and the student stopped and started walking.   

Sometimes a good “woe” is in order to get us to “whoah”. We need to heed Jesus’ warning of harm and misery so that we can pause and more importantly pray. 

Illustration:

On Wednesday I was teaching in our VBS. I had two rowdy students in the class. Kids right? No big deal. I kept teaching until finally these boys were becoming a distraction. I stopped the class right there and asked them to step outside with me. I asked them in my Dad voice so they knew that this was serious and that I meant business.  

When we walked outside them I asked them if they really wanted to continue down this road of distraction. I told them that if they continued to make that choice there would be consequences. They would sit outside and not participate. I would speak to their parents. I told them that they may not be able to return if they didn’t get their act together. 

They agreed that they were being a problem and promised to do better. I smiled at them and said that the best thing to do was to stop and say a short prayer. We did and we reentered the room. 

For the rest to the class, these boys who were causing the most problems became model students. At the end fo the class, they both came and gave me a big hug. 

Point:

Isn’t it great that God gives us these moments not just when we are kids but also when we are adults. Sometimes we need to stop, pause, and pray to question our direction in life. Are we traveling down paths of righteousness that glorify God, or are we traveling down paths of destruction?

We Should Pray Because It Is…

A. Essential

B. Elemental

C. Engaging 

Point:

Here are a few things that Ive discovered about prayer. Prayer is essential to effective life with God. I have yet to find evidence in the Bible where people who were effective in living for God did not pray. People who are most awake, alive, and effective spiritually are that way because for them, prayer is life and life is prayer.

Next prayer is affirms that we live before God. Prayer is elemental to who and what we are. Spiritual beings needed to connect with our creator. We are not alone in the world. We are not on our own. We are not moral orphans. Prayer affirms that we suffer before God, struggle before God, love before God, sin before God, doubt before God, work and pray before God, love and hate before God, age and die before God, and belong to God! Prayer is our life because prayer is how we live—before God.

Lastly. prayer is a part fo the warfare of faith. Prayer is how we engage the enemy. The Message Bible renders Ephesians 6:18-19 in these words: In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all.

Paul realized that the issues of life are ultimately moral and spiritual, and that humans exist in a spiritual war zone. Human strength, intelligence, and cunning are not enough to withstand the hellish powers responsible for evil, oppression, injustice, and hate. We cannot out-run those powers. We cannot wish them away. We cannot out-smart the powers responsible for all the deceitfulness in life. We cannot out-gun all the powers responsible for violence and cruelty.

Point:

So the first step of living happily ever after is to pray. Pray hard. Pray often. 

I Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

Pray without ceasing…

Jesus Teaches About Real Happiness!

I. Live Prayerfully

II. Live Decisively 

Luke 6:26 ESV

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you…

Quote:

Frank Borham said, "We make our decisions and then our decisions make us."

Point:

Everyday we are making decisions, some big and some small, that could effect the outcome of our eternity. Some choices we will make for God and others against Him. Jesus wants to live a decisive life that leads others to him and leads us down a path of righteousness. Any decision outside of those options is leading others to hell and us down paths of destruction. 

Illustration: Im Not A Role Model

Many of you I’m sure remember Charles Barkley, the NBA Basketball star who didn’t want people watching him too closely. People were disappointed with his actions and attitude on and off the court and challenged him to be a better role model. His response was basically, “Hey, I’m a basketball player. I didn’t ask to be anyone’s role model and I don’t need that added responsibility.” As an NBA star, Barkley didn’t have the option to choose whether or not he wanted to be a role model. That decision had already been made for him when he signed a contract to play in the highly publicized NBA.

The same is true for those of us who call ourselves Christians. Once we make that decision to follow Christ, people are watching. Whether you like it or not or whether or not you think it’s fair, you’ve become an example for the family of God.

Charles, at that point in his life, wanted all the praise of man with none of the accountability to God. That is where many of us are today and that is why our culture is collapsing all around us. 

Point:

Jesus draws a clear line between two groups of people, so that you must identify yourself with one group or the other. You can’t straddle the line. On the one hand are those who are poor, who hunger now, who weep now, and who are despised by men because of their identification with Jesus. These folks are blessed because of both present, but mainly future, rewards. On the other hand are those who are rich, who are well-fed now, who laugh now, and who are acclaimed by men. These are under woe because of what awaits them.

Point:

When Jesus blesses those who are hated, ostracized, insulted, and spurned for His sake, He compares their treatment to that of the godly prophets. The reason for their ill treatment is that they have stood for God’s truth and righteousness, which sinners, especially religious hypocrites, hate. Jesus’ disciples who are so mistreated should rejoice and leap for joy, because they have great reward in heaven. But Jesus compares those who are well-spoken of to the false prophets. It’s never hard to gain a following: Just flatter people and tell them how wonderful they are. They will flock to hear you and buy your books. You will be famous and successful on earth, but rejected in heaven.

Point:

One reason Jesus paints with these broad strokes of black and white, with no gray, is to draw the line and make us examine ourselves. Which side are you on? I immediately want to say, “Lord, how about someone who isn’t poor or rich? I’m just kind of middle class! How about someone who isn’t starving, but I’m not a glutton? I’m not going around weeping, but neither am I a comedian. People aren’t throwing rotten eggs at me, but neither am I Mr. Popular. Isn’t there room for a guy like me in the middle?” Jesus replies, “No, you’re either decidedly for Me or you are decidedly against Me. There’s no middle ground.” He forces us to get off the fence and decide: Are we living for this life and its temporary pleasures or are we living for Jesus and His eternal kingdom?

Point:

Following Christ means that we can no longer sit on the fence. We have to lay aside our feelings, our emotions, our Facebook posts and actually do what the Bible says. A friend of mine and fellow pastor, Robby Gallaty says it like this, “perhaps it is time to stop reading the Bible and start doing the Bible.”

James 1:8 NLT

Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Jesus Teaches About Real Happiness!

I. Live Prayerfully

II. Live Decisively 

III. Live Biblically

Luke 6:26 ESV

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Point:

Jesus states that there was a time where false prophets were applauded by men but received the wrath of the Father. For a time, these men and women received praise and adulation from the thousands. Sadly for them, the praise would not last long. On the day of judgement, their teachers were found lacking. Listen to Peter’s words.

2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Point:

Ok, so here is the deal. If you want to live happily in this world, say things that everyone wants to hear. Give them the God of mercy, but remove His judgement. Give them God’s charity as long as it does not conflict with nationalism. Give them generosity as long as it does not conflict with materialism. 

Give the people their pie and let them eat it to. Tell them that God loves them just they way they are and that there is no need for change. Give them salvation with no obedience. Give them church without attendance. Give them healing while letting them bleed. 

Point:

Remember, living Biblically will alway be in conflict with the world. If our lives, our thoughts, our actions and our teachings are not hated by the world, then they are not Biblical lives, thoughts, actions and teachings. The world hates everything about God, Jesus and the Bible. 

When we live Biblically, we live happily ever after. Not here on physical earth, but on the spiritual plain of heaven. 

Point:

Living Biblically means to live courageously. 

Psalm 119:1-176

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! ...

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