Are You Tied Up?

Luke 9:49-50

Theme: Following Christ

Key verse: v.23

Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

62 verses; 1,457 words

Grade level: 4.4

Outline:

Christ and the Commission. Vs. 1-6

Christ and the Confusion. Vs. 7-9

Christ and the Crowd. Vs. 10-17

Christ and the Confession. Vs. 18-22

Christ and the Cross. Vs. 23-27

Christ and the Cloud. Vs.28-36

Christ and the Child. Vs.37-42

Christ and the Confinement. Vs.43-45

Christ and the Contemplation. Vs.46-48

Christ and the Casting. Vs.49-50

Christ and the Correction. Vs.51-56

Christ and the Calling. Vs.57-62

Napoleon Always Led His Troops

One characteristic of the “Little Corporal” (Napoleon) was that he never commanded the common soldiers in his ranks to go where he himself was not willing to lead.

On one occasion Napoleon ordered his army to cross a river. Upon seeing them hesitate, the emperor rode up, and, spurring forward his horse, cried: “Soldiers, follow your general!” He was the first to plunge into the river and the first to reach the other side. Needless to say, his army to a man followed him, cheering as with one voice their plucky leader.

The Bible says of Christ: “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” (John 10:4)

(taken from Encyclopedia of 15,500 Illustrations. This is number 6,840)

Here we observe the ACTIONS that reveal the heart of man.

I. What John Saw. v.49

John and the others reacted to him. v.49a

49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him,

Why would John forbid someone from doing the work of the Lord?

“He was shocked at seeing one who was not of their company doing work which was not always possible for them to do (Luk 9:40).” (PHC Luke)

Was it because of the personal call John had from Christ?

Matthew 4:21

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Jesus did use others to get them to Himself.

John 1:40–42

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

John and the others rejected him. v.49b

because he followeth not with us.

This happened in Moses’ time.

Numbers 11:26–29

26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.

27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

This happened in Paul’s time.

1 Corinthians 3:1–7 (KJV)

1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

The cause of this is:

(1) Pride.

(2) Unforgiveness.

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Paul gave a list of different kinds of preachers and told that he had no problem with them as long as Christ was preached.

Philippians 1:14–18

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Here we observe the ACTIONS that reveal the heart of man.

I. What John Saw. v.49

II. What Jesus Said. v.50

Jesus said to let him continue. v.50a

50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not:

John had not learned to control his tongue with his Bible or his prayer life.

Joshua 9:14

And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

You say if God spoke directly to you that you would listen? He has:

Proverbs 3:5

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Why would the Lord say, “Forbid him not”?

Matthew 13:24-30. Because we do not know who the tares are, He does!

Jesus said he was with them. v.50b

for he that is not against us is for us.

Jesus is accused of casting out devils by Beelzebub. (Luke 11:15-26)

Keep in mind that our Lord said,

Luke 16:13

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Notice what Paul said in:

1 Corinthians 12:3

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

“Jesus is not telling them to compromise with liberals. Rather He is telling them that there are others that preach and practice the same beliefs and Bible that they do.”

Conclusion:

The overreaching sin here in these verses is pride.

Pride is a common sin.

It takes various forms.

Pride of place (Luk 9:46-48).

Pride of party (Luk 9:49-50).

Pride of power (Luk 9:51-56).

Are you tied down with these sins?

The Lord Jesus Christ took these sins upon Himself, shed His blood, died for your redemption to pay for them in His own blood, and rose again the third day that you may be justified from them.

Are you ready to appropriate what is already yours and get victory from these sins?

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.