20080907 - The two houses Luke 6

Sunday 7 September 2008

Luke 6:46-49

Aim: If you consider yourself a Christian, are you being obedient to your Lord?

Introduction:

Vs 46 Jesus says "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

What does the word “Lord” mean?

·        Referring to someone as “Lord” means that we accept their rule.

·        The old “Lord of the manor” ruled absolutely in his domain.

·        It’s where the saying “lord it over you” comes from

·        Calling someone “Lord” means accepting their rule over you

·        We say in the “Lord’s prayer” “your kingdom come…” We accept Jesus as Lord and king and so invite his rule in our lives, and so we are followers of Jesus.

·        It was in Antioch that they were first called Christians (Acts 11:26)

So, what is a Christian?

·        The word “CHRISTian” refers to a follower of Christ – that is Jesus

·        In Acts, it says that followers are disciples

·        A disciple is someone who disciplined in following their teachers instructions

·        Vs 46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

·        Jesus had just been telling those listening to him to love their enemies (vs 27) and not to judge others (37)

However, some had not been doing that.

Are there some here today who bear grudges against our “enemies”?

Are there some here today who are quick to judge others? Look at that guy, he deserves to be shot! We often judge others.

·        Others looking at us sometimes say “if that is being a Christian, I don’t want any part of it…”

We are being watched – swearing…

A Christian is a follower or disciple of Jesus Christ

We do what we hear Jesus telling us

So, if we accept that Jesus is God, how do we “hear” his word today?

Vs 47 starts by saying “as for those who come to me and hear my words…” Hearing his “word” seems to be quite important.

•         What is his “word”? The message brought by Jesus

•         How do we hear Jesus message? By reading the Bible.

•         Who has read through the Bible?

•         How often do we read the Bible?

•         Do you rely solely upon sermons to hear God’s word. It says in Acts that “the Bereans …received the message with eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (17:11)

•         Go and check to see if what I’m saying is true…

If we consider Jesus as our Lord, is his word important enough to read it and put into practise?

So, Are you being obedient?

When Jesus was asked what the most important command was he replied:…(Mat 22:34 ff)…love the Lord your God…second is this, to love your neighbour as yourself.

On these two commands hang all the law and the prophets

•         These commands reflect a relationship with God and a relationship with our neighbours

The person who puts Jesus’ words into practise is a true disciple…the one who does not do so, is not a disciple.

Conclusion:

So, if you accept that Jesus is God and consider yourself one of his disciples, ask yourself, am I hearing Jesus message and is it important enough to putt into practice?