Without A Care In The World
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Worry Warts Series
Luke 12:22-31 Wasting Time on Worry- I Couldn't Care Less
Luke 12:32-34 Faith over Fear- Takin' Care of Business
Luke 12:13-21 Worrying about Wealth....... see Psalm 39.6 and Prov 15:16- Don't Worry Be Happy
Luke 12:8-12 Worrying About My Witness- Without A Care In The World
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
How cynical is Jesus?
1.believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity."her cynical attitude"2.concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted or appropriate standards in order to achieve them.
Have you noticed how self serving and self centered our society has become?
Or is it just i am getting too cynical the longer time goes on. I am cynical about the world, government, politics. I suppose that’s ok.
The older I get, the more cynical I get in ministry. And why have I gotten cynical about ministry?
In my office, I have a stack of cards that I have received across the time I have been your pastor. They are encouragements. They are thank you’s. They are encouraging words that someone wrote to tell me they appreciate my work as the pastor. Not thank you’s for anything I did- thank you’s for who I am. And occasionally, I will slide that drawer open and see them, and I will pull them out and look at several of them, and put them back.
I have another stack. It’s in my garage. It is not as large as the other stack, but it’s large enough. They used to be in my desk drawer. But for whatever reason they are in my garage. I stumble on them from time to time, depending on how much time I spend in my garage cleaning a car or motorcycle. Eventually they will make their way to the trash, but for now they are there and I look at them occasionally.
These cards are from people just like the ones in my desk drawer, except I am no longer their pastor. They left, and when they left some of them totally negated what they had written with harsh words spoken from a hard heart. A heart that had decided that I no longer did what they expected me to do, what they apparently thought they were encouraging me to do. therefore I could no longer be their pastor.
I have on occasion met those people in public places. Some avoid me, some will give a shallow “hello”, but then quickly move one aisle over and verbally negate any card they ever sent or words they ever before spoke as they rehash their distaste for me and my ministry.
I think what makes these things particularly hard is that I’ve prayed with them, walked with some of them through heart attacks and cancer and the death of someone they loved- and I’ve celebrated good and great things with them… and at the time it felt like God was in it.
But now, things are different. And I wonder about that. I wonder when were they sincere about Jesus- if ever they were. I wonder if they were sincere about us, if ever they were.
When Beau the wonderdog does what I want him to do he gets praise, affection, and a treat. When he doesn’t do what I want him to do, he gets no praise, no rubs, and no treats.
And so, well I think you see that parallel.
So yes, I am cynical. I’ve arrived at the place where I question motives. I am not distrustful, I’m cynical. I know that the self serving want to believe they are serving Jesus- even when they are serving their own needs and wants and preferences. And I can’t judge rightly which is which- so I am cynical.
Not with everyone, but it’s there.
It’s there.
I think one of the most cynical moments in the Bible is in the book of John, chapter 6. John 6:66-71
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
“Do you want to go away as well?” Wow, Jesus, really?
But the irony is that Peter speaks up and says, “To who else shall we go?” While Peter’s words were so much like a thank you card in Jesus’ desk drawer, Jesus knew that Peter had a stack of them that would wind up in the garage eventually. Remember, Peter denies Jesus not once but three times. And there is no three strike rule, so Peter gets welcomed back but it is pretty ironic, right?
But then Jesus says, “I personally handpicked you gentlemen, and one of you is a devil.” So think about it, Joel. The Son of God hand picked his posse and before it was over there were no cards in his desk drawer left- because they all fled him in his darkest hour.
So, my question remains. How cynical is Jesus?
Because he says this, Luke 12.8-9
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
Jesus is saying, “If you know me now, I’ll know you then. If you know me here, I’ll know you there.” If you are truly excited about me here, I will be incredibly excited about you there.
Why does Jesus do this? Why does he say this thing?
I think it’s because he hopes our motives are right. I think it’s because he really knows the best in people, but there’s that little bit of reality he must deal with.
I mean there’s Peter… there’s Judas.... there’s the twelve disappearing. There’s us. there’s all that.
And then in Luke 18:8, Jesus asks this question:
8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Wow. I mean we are the church. the keepers of the faith. And we are closer than ever to his return.... so just what is Jesus saying about us?
Know, we live in an era when being a Christian is seen as extremely questionable. Our society looks at us, whether you realize it or not, and thinks, “You believe what?” It is not what it once was to be known as a Christian.
And it’s going to get worse.
And some will walk.
And some will run.
And God already knows this. Don’t think he doesnt. But for those who may walk or run from Jesus know this- he had your number from the start anyway.
NT Wright said the following about these verses we have read today:
With trust in God on the one hand, and the desperate nature of the battle on the other, Jesus’ followers must stand by him. Loyalty must be total. Whatever happens on earth has its counterpart in heaven, and those who think to gain temporary earthly advantage by short-term disloyalty may find that whispered denials are broadcast far and wide. However, those who trust God will find that even if they are put on trial for their allegiance to Jesus they will be given words to say. God’s own Spirit will teach them as and when they need it—which is not, of course, an excuse for poor preparation in a regular teaching ministry, but a sure promise for those who find themselves in sudden danger because of their loyalty to the kingdom.
8–9 Jesus underscores the seriousness of the issues by referring to the ultimate issue—whether or not one sides with him (v. 8).
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
So, what do you think about most? Here? Or there? Yourself? or Him?
We’ve been talking for four weeks about Worry Warts.
Worry Warts Series
Luke 12:22-31 Wasting Time on Worry- I Couldn't Care Less
Luke 12:32-34 Faith over Fear- Takin' Care of Business
Luke 12:13-21 Worrying about Wealth....... see Psalm 39.6 and Prov 15:16- Don't Worry Be Happy
Luke 12:8-12 Worrying About My Witness- Without A Care In The World
Our Deepest Concerns Reveal Our Highest Hopes.
Our Deepest Concerns Reveal Our Highest Hopes.
It’s a faith issue. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. What are you hoping for most? A new job? A promotion? A raise in the cola adjustment.
Or are you hoping in bigger, more eternal terms?
Colossians 3.1-2 says:
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
What are you thinking about most?
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Philippians 3.18-21 says
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
1 John 2:15-17 says
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Our Deepest Concerns Reveal Our Highest Hopes.
Our Deepest Concerns Reveal Our Highest Hopes.