On and Off the Mountain
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Basic Training. Prepares you for service in the military. Crazy videos of soldiers doing radical things to prepare for the task ahead of them. Scripture calls us to prepare ourselves for the work ahead of us. The church is called to seek communion with God for that person.
Need: We see communion with God as a obligation. Only ever defeated by not doing it enough. If I ask you about your prayer life or Scripture time, you’d just say not enough. Our understanding of it’s purpose is wrong. Communion with God prepares you for life and ministry.
Main Idea: Communion with God prepares you for life and ministry
After he heals the man with the withered hand, he goes up to a mountain. Not sure which mountain. Those following come with him.
Luke 6:12-19
Truth #1: Communion with God occurs on the mountain (12-16)
Exp. Jesus is going to go out to the mountain and spend time with the father. Verse 12. Jesus spent all night praying with God. Why significant. Mountain tops were for communing with God.
Moses on Mt. Sinai. Separate from everyone.
David choosing Jerusalem as capital. Closer to God.
Elijah on Mt. Horeb. Running from everyone.
Ill. Why we call them mountaintop experiences. Mission trip. Conference. Sin intervention. Energy and we know what we are going to do.
Exp. Moses and Elijah knew what they were supposed to do. Jesus chooses his disciples. Verse 13-16. More than the 12 at first. Why 12? Ties them to Israelite salvation history. 12 tribes used as the fulfillment of God’s plan in the OT. 12 sons to Jacob. Names them apostles. Apostle = sent one. Term used by Paul as one who is sent and an office of first church. Jesus’ use is specifically for function - messengers who are sent.
Christ - Jesus withdrew to be with the father. He provides a way for us to commune with the father. Because of his sacrifice, we don’t have to go to the temple. We can commune right here. He also sends out his disciples. We carry that same torch. Sent people with the Great Commission. Seeing the gospel of Jesus to the world! Begins with being on the mountain.
App. What do we do?
Withdraw for intimacy with God. Be alone with him.
Withdraw to hear from God. Distractions will keep you from hearing him.
Go because you are sent. Discipleship Pathway. Go!
We can’t live on the mountain.
Truth #2: Life and ministry occurs off the mountain (17-19)
Exp. Jesus and the disciples have to come off the mountain. Verse 17a. Reality is: life happens off the mountain. We can spend so much time chasing that feeling, spiritual high. We wonder why it eventually wears off. Because life and ministry happen in the valley. Jesus came down to teach and heal. Verse 17-18. Judea and Jerusalem = Jewish. Tyre and Sidon = Gentiles. Historian, Josephus, claims they are the “bitterest enemies.” Sets tone for loving your enemies. Why have they come?
Verse 18, to hear him. Hear teaching.
Healed.
Freed from evil spirits.
Exp. Jesus has done all of these things already. They’ve heard and so they want it!
Ill. If I told you Taco Bill cured your migraine, you would go eat.
Arg. Nobody struggles on the mountain. We struggle in the wilderness. In the valley. Psalm 23:4
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
Arg. It’s off the mountain where the struggles occur. You don’t struggle in church. You don’t struggle at a youth rally. Don’t struggle on a mission trip. You struggle on Tuesday night by yourself. You struggle in a meeting at work where you are mistreated. You struggle when you receive a health diagnosis you weren’t expecting. Communion with God doesn’t prevent the struggle, it prepares us for it.
Christ - Jesus left the mountain to do the work of ministry with his disciples. Why is that important? God didn’t wait for us to ascend the mountain to him. He descended from the mountain to us. Jesus was crucified for us.
App. What do we do? Learn to live in the valley.
Daily communion with God. This prepares you for the struggle. Give him your first and best.
Memorize Scripture. Meditate on it all day. Chew on it.
Do the work of ministry. Our call is the Great Commission. Why? Gets you out of your own head. Prioritizes God’s mission over your worries.
Conclusion
Imagine Lakewood Church full of people who live the Great Commission everyday.
