022000 Unworthy Slave

Unworthy Slave

Vcfss 2/20/00

Luke 17:7-10

I. Introduction

A.        Are you enjoying exploring the disciplines

1.         It’s a journey not a race

2.         Not competing with anyone

B.         Meditation

1.    Move on to meditating on scripture

2.    Don’t be afraid to just sit and listen even if you hear nothing

C.       Fasting

1.    Did the spoiled child act up?

2.    Journal your experience.

D.       Slave

1.    The very word is repulsive to us

2.    Ugly mark on our past

3.    Every nation has at one time or another embraced slavery

4.    What place does it have in the Bible?

II. Jesus as King

A.   What is the concept of King Jesus?

1.    Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God (rule and reign)

2.    Jesus referred to as the Lord of lords and the King of kings Rev 19:16

3.    People of Jesus time understood Lord and King

a.      When the king gave an order it wasn’t up for debate

b.     It wasn’t just a good idea, a suggestion, an invitation

c.     The king commanded and disobedience meant death

d.     Jesus commanded us to repent. It wasn’t an invitation.

1)      You can’t punish people for refusing an invitation

2)      Will you come to my party? You say no. I beat you up.

e.      He commanded Peter to follow him it wasn’t an invitation

B.     You become a citizen of the KOG

1.    Come under the jurisdiction of Jesus

2.         Come under his protection

3.         The Rich young man Mt 19:16

a.      What if, it’s ok come with your money

b.     What kind of a disciple would he have been

1)      People who only want salvation from hell make poor disciples

2)      They interpret every command as an invitation

c.     Life in the kingdom isn’t something we negotiate

d.     Kingdoms aren’t democracies

C.   Two kingdoms

1.    You are in one of two kingdoms, God’s or Satan’s good or evil

2.    Juan Carlos Ortiz illustration.

a.      Captain says drink, eat all you want

b.     Those in 2nd class can come up to first class

c.     You can play soccer in the dining room, don’t worry if you break anything

d.     You see something you like, take it.

e.      We say, what a nice captain

f.       He doesn’t care because you will be dead in a few minutes

3.    That’s how it is in the kingdom of darkness, you   are a slave to sin

a.      You can have all the drugs, lust, sex you want

b.     You can cheat, lie, extort, kill and you are commended for it

c.     But you are still lost

d.     Heb 11:12 “pleasures of sin for a short time”

III. Unworthy slave read text

A.   The repulsive part

1.    My meditation on this scripture

a.      Angry at the master

b.     This is not fair, what kind of a monster would do that

c.     Fairness is a big deal to us but not to God

2.    Where were the unions?

a.      What about my contract

b.     What about my wages

3.    First century slave was a bond slave

a.      Lost, freedom, name

b.     Sold in the market place, price hung around his neck

c.     People bid for him

d.     Hole bored in his ear and a ring placed in the hole

e.      He now belonged to Mr. Ezra his master

4.    The word slave, (doulos) means to subject ones will to another this is distasteful, humiliating for us.

a.      We are big into our rights

b.     We have advocates for everything

c.     People complain and congress passes laws

5.    People who referred to themselves as bond slaves in the Bible, Mary the mother of Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, James and Jude the half brothers of Jesus, Simeon, and Jesus

6.    Mistaken to think that coming to Jesus means we are free

a.      Yes we are free from sin

b.     You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.  Rom 6:18

B.     Unworthy slave vs. 10

1.    “so you also”

2.    No pat on the back

3.    No reward, no compensation

4.    Like little kids

a.      Jesus didn’t I do good today I read the Bible for 5 minutes

b.     I prayed for 15 minutes

c.     I forgave that evil wicked person who hurt me

d.     I gave money to the church

5.     You won’t become a true disciple until you learn to give, to let go, not to hold on, grasp

C.   Jesus our example

1.    He came as a servant, he only did what the father told him to do.

2.    John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

3.    Jesus didn’t use his position  to get his way, to get respect

a.      Hey, do you know where I came from?

b.     You know I created the world

4.    A slave has no rights

5.    You can’t just do what you want anymore.

IV. Application

A.   Are you ready to give up, surrender to his Lordship?

B.     It’s the only way to peace and power

C.   The unworthy slave is the happiest person because they have nothing.

D.   A church of unworthy slaves strikes fear in the heart of Satan. They have nothing to lose.