GIVE IT TO GOD

Luke 6:6-10

If you want to see God work in this generation we are going to have to get back to being real. Not hiding who we are; not living incognito any longer. We have to go out there and let the walls of our prideful protection down and serve the Lord.

Far too often we are worried about what people think of us; how we are perceived; whether or not we are respected. These things are not important to Christ.

He was the example to us - not trying to be made known.

Never did Christ self-promote. Never did Christ worry about how many followers he had. Do you know when he had a lot of followers, when he gave them what they wanted. But as soon as He said something that was not agreeable they sought to cancel Him.

Luke 6:10 (AV)

And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

There are only two miracles in all four gospels, the feeding of 5000 and the feeding of the 4,000.

This story of the withered hand is shared in 3 gospels.

Sometimes a miracle is needed.If we who knew the men of God don’t become the men of God, the next generation won’t know God.

I. Lessons in the Context

In every Bible story there is not only the interpretation of the story line but also many applications and take aways from context and the surrounding back story. This is true in this passage. Not just the direction teaching of Christ, but those things that were in story are often worth mentioning.

A. We see the importance of the house of God

In verse 6, notice where Christ was, he was in the local house of God. In Verse 1, the week before He was there.

As a matter in the book of Luke alone, he was in the synagogue or the Sabbath in chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 14; and chapter 23. I submit to you that I believe that Christ was at the Temple or a synagogue every Sabbath of his life unless he was traveling somewhere and could not attend such as when his father and mother fled to Egypt with him.

If Christ did that, the God of heaven, who became a man - perfects, holy, sinless, and pure. Who also was all omniscient and omnipotent though perhaps for his years on earth not omnipresent. He still set an example of being at church and being accountable.

I want to be that consistent example for my spouse; for my family; for my brothers and sisters in Christ - for all to see that they guy goes to church when the doors are open. When he travels he doesn’t miss church - or now we have the benefit of participating online - a less than adequate replacement but it still allows us to be a part of the service and be blessed and encouraged thereby.

B. Christ always has something to teach you at the house of God

Think about that one time what you might miss out on.

He was teaching here in Luke 6. No doubt that God teaches us something at home, but every time I come to church, God teaches me something through His Word and the preaching that I would not have seen otherwise. We need to go to church to hear from the Lord. God has something for you

C. The Lord sees our condition

Christ was such alway such that when He looks on one He also looks on all. He saw everyone in the synagogue that day, He knew their heart. He knew their sin, their motives, good or bad. There was nothing that was outside of not only His physical sight but His complete understanding.

In this He knew exactly who the neediest people were as well. Isn’t a blessing how the Lord centered his attention on the neediest ones there. He could see the need that was there.

When you come to the house of God, the Lord centers his attention on the most needy person as well - you. You are that needy person - as am I.

D. The Lord seeks to meet our individual needs

As I mentioned the Lord did see the need in the synagogue that day, but it was more than just the need of the man with the withered hand, everyone had a need as did the Pharisees. He wanted to meet the need of the hour in each life.

Sometimes we need, healing, sometimes we need rebuke. There are times we need to get our toes stepped on and times when we need to challenged and motivated. The Lord does all of that at the same time.

II. The Watchers

Sometimes we thing the man with the withered hand was the neediest, but I believe it was the Pharisees that were. Really this whole passage was to teach the Pharisees something in particular and the man with the withered hand something as well - but the Pharisees were the key target.

The Pharisees weren’t looking to learn v.7

They weren’t interested in getting or learning a lesson.

Their question found here was on their hearts and it was critical question - one to try to pull apart and divide. One that had the intention of pulling Christ down and lifting themselves up.

Their goal was to find an accusation they were hoping to find fault.

Is it lawful to practice good? The question is asked allowed as well as Christ’s answer in a parallel passage:

Matthew 12:10–12 AV

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Mark 3:5 AV

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

I can tell you this, Christ never minds a sincere genuine question, but one thing that he does not like a critcal spirit and in this passage Christ looked on critical spirits with anger

He knew there thoughts - he knew their attitudes and motives.

III. When the Lord Speaks vv.8-9

Remember, God is not mysterious to us - He is actually quite direct in most all ways in the New Testament

A. Christ speaks directly to each person

V.10 – he saw them all, but spoke to the individual

For a miracle to happen, the Lord needs to speak to our heart - to each of us. He is a very personal God. He will touch and reach us if will humble ourselves before Him.

B. Christ gives basic Instructions

The word seek is used 260 times.

Hear 589 times.

Stand 329 times.

Pray Over 550 times

The word go is used 1610 times in the Bible.

It is not complicated, and the instructions for the man with the withered hand were simple as well - first the Lord said:

1. Rise Up

Rising up gives the idea of the giving ones attention to something - to be ready to receive and act upon the instruction given.

The first big and likely most common obstacle people face today in our generation about coming to Christ is being able to hear and listen to what God has for them - so the Lord says: RISE UP - and then:

2. Stand forth

Present and be counted - present yourself to God, allow Him to have control - put your faith in Him. This man didn’t know what the Lord wanted, but when the Lord called - He responded to that call.

If God is calling you to salvation r, I’m listening and attentive.

3. Turn it over to me

Trust me with it, I won’t waste or misuse what is given to me.

IV. Give it to God and let Him restore all

When the man gave the Lord the worst part of himself and God changed everything for him.

The teaching and application is clear.

One person gave God the worst thing about them- while the group of Pharisees refused to admit or show they had any error.

Notice He said stretch forth thy hand -

Jesus never told him which hand to stretch forth.

If someone before this told him to stretch forth his hand he would offer his good hand.

But he knew to offer to Christ, his bad hand.

It is because, God wants to take the that which is defile, that which is rejected, that which is sinful, that which is hurtful and make it to something that is wonderful.

1. God wants your painful things

2. God wants the things you don’t want to let go of

Your protected things

Your private things

Things that are embarrassed of

The past

3. God wants the things that have withered away

Your Joy may be withered

Your purpose is withered

Your heart may be withered

As the Psalmist said in:

Psalm 102:11 (AV)

My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

But -

Psalm 102:12–13 AV

But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

4. The prideful things

God only gives grace to the humble.

5. God wants the things that you have hidden from the world that are not hidden to Him

6. God wants to do something for us that cannot be done otherwise

You’ve been doing things with your good hand too long and hiding the other.One person went away restored and whole while the group of Pharisees departed more wretched than ever.