Responding to Jesus' Words

Introduction

Our moon, the one that we see every night, does not have it’s own light source. It reflects the light of something else.

If we did not have the sun, we would not have the moon in the capacity that it currently holds.

In the same way, we are called to reflect the light of God to others. That light is a borrowed light. It is a light that comes from the Word of God.

We are going to move begin today in Luke 8:16-18. Kevin preached the parable of the sower and the seed, and he did such a great job that I didn’t feel the need to rehash it.

Here is a quick overview of the parable. People respond to the word in different ways. Some don’t believe. Some think they believe. Some believe in a way that is ineffective for the kingdom. Some believe and produce much fruit.

In this text, Jesus continues the discussion about His word and how we should relate to it.

Jesus shows what good soil looks like in the life of his disciples.

Read Luke 8:16-21

Luke 8:16–21 ESV

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Explanation

The text gives us four tests for evaluating our life as it relates to the Word of God.

Firstly, the in-working of the Word of God in a disciple of Jesus produces an outworking of obedience in the life of a Christian. (v. 16)

If you are investing the Word INTO your life, then your life will be changed. Your external life will reflect the inner reality of your heart.

If your external life does not reflect your internal reality, you need to be watchful against several things.

Idolatry - Idolatry chokes our our desire to follow Jesus. As worship conforms us to God, so false worship conforms us to something else.

G. K. Beale, “What people revere, they resemble, either for ruin or restoration.

G. K. Beale, “People will always reflect something, whether it be God’s character or some feature of the world. If people are committed to God, they will become like Him; if they are committed to something other than God, they will become like that thing, always spiritually inanimate and empty like the lifeless and vain aspect of creation to which they have committed themselves.

If you know Jesus and look less and less like Him, as yourself, “What do I look like?”

Secret Sin - Secret sin keeps God at arms length to us.

See your secret sin as a fire extinguisher in your heart. The longer you let it douse the flames of your heart for Jesus, the less likely the flame will come back OR the more likely the flame will get smaller and smaller.

People will up and quit Christianity sometimes. We wonder what happened. Many times, they have struggled with a secret sin for a long time that has doused the fire of their heart over and over and over.

Your life is supposed to shine so that others will see Jesus and give themselves to Him.

Lighthouses are fun to admire when you are on the shore.

Lighthouses are life and death for those who are at sea at night.

Secondly, the Word of God exposes the heart. (v 17)

There is an eternal ring to verse 17. “Everything comes out in the wash,” as we stand before the throne of God.

But, in relation to hearing the word, we also see that the text is talking about how the word lays bear the heart of man.

Sin hides in the darkness of your heart. That is why the word is so important. The light of the word exposes the darkness of our hearts so that the Lord can clean it up.

Embrace conviction. Embrace it. Conviction is for your good. We spend all of our time running from conviction. Embrace it and change in it.

Sometimes, I pray, “God forgive me for my sin, and through your word, reveal to me the sin I do not know.

Thirdly, the Christ follower must be careful concerning his he/she listens to the word and responds to it.

We have to be careful about how we hear the Word of God. When we read the word or hear it preached, it is supposed to change our lives.

We have to be careful about how we respond to what we have been given in God’s Word.

I talk often about the next step. Take the next step. Because the next step is important.

Maybe it is to be baptized.

Maybe it is to join the church.

Maybe it is to serve in a local ministry.

Maybe it is to have a hard conversation that you have needed to have for awhile.

Maybe, it is to take action against that secret sin that you have held for so long.

Maybe it is to begin to give to the local church.

Maybe it is to reconcile with a family member that you haven’t talk to in years.

I have found that we often pour over our Bibles, and we look for the next big think that we need to learn from the Lord instead of responding to what God has already revealed to us.

Fourthly, the measure of Christ’s intimate relationship with someone stems from their obedience to the word of GOd.

We are not close to Jesus because of the family we are born into or the job that we have or the money we make.

We are close to God because we are obedience to His word.

I heard a pastor say something once, “Our God does not have favorites, but He does have intimates.”

God does not have favorites. That is a GOOD thing. God doesn’t look at some people as better or greater than others based from some inherent trait.

But, God does have people who spend more time with him.

Invest your time, instead of trying to be impressive to God, with attempts to know God.

Invitation

Know God by knowing His Word.