Yet Lackest Thou One Thing...the Wayfarer 3/2/13

 Yet Lackest Thou One Thing

3/2/13

“Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me”

(Luke 18:22)

Today we go to the 18^th chapter of Luke for our message. There are several lessons to be learned from this particular chapter, and rather than begin with the verse I opened with, I’d like to begin at the 1^st verse and cover the chapter in full.

It is not a long chapter, with a total of 43 verses, but oh how rich those verses are in guiding us toward the goals set for us by our Lord!

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.

 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on earth?”

(Luke 18: 1-8)

This is the first of two parables that Jesus used to teach the disciples the importance of prayer, a lesson much needed today!

 The example given of the judge that didn’t fear God or regard man also shows that our Savior had a sense of humor in much of his teachings!

 This judge settled the poor woman’s affairs simply because he didn’t want to have to listen to her bellyache constantly and distract his attention from other things.

 I t was a bad reason to do a good thing, but it was a decision that he had to make if he wanted any peace.

The wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the grease! If this lady had simply given up after going to the judge the first time, he never would have decided in her favor and she never would have gotten justice.

Although God knows our needs before we even ask him for his help, he still expects us to ask.

We should be praying daily, and at least times several times a day. Unlike the unjust judge, God wants to hear our prayers.

 Jesus goes on to tell us that the elect will be speedily avenged. This does not mean that you may expect an immediate answer to your prayer, though sometimes there is immediate result.

He goes on to ask if when he returns if he will find faith still on earth.

Faith is a difficult thing to maintain, and impossible to maintain without prayer.

Paul tells us,

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

(Hebrews 11-1)  

We are to hope and have that faith even when we can’t see immediate result. Patience is a large part of faith. Waiting is hard, but waiting is demanded of us until Jesus’ return!

The second parable begins with the 9^th verse:

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Luke 18:9-14

I dearly love this parable for several reasons.

First and foremost it exemplifies the difference in how to pray as opposed to how to be self-righteous.

 Far too often have I attended services that included those who fought to be the loudest and longest at the prayer bench.

 Prayer need not be lengthy or loud. The example of the publican’s prayer is perfect in teaching that we are to be humble, and that Jesus hears us even if we don’t use fifty dollar words, or go on for hours. prior to getting to the point!

 Talking to Jesus is talking to your best friend in this world and the next.

 When we pray to the Father, we pray through Jesus, or we are not heard. That is why we should always close in his name.

 Jesus tells us that the publican went down to his house justified.

 God heard that simple prayer! Keep your prayers simple and to the point and God will hear them.

 Luke continues on with Jesus receiving children:

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but, when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

(Luke 18:15-17)

Here Jesus tells us that if we are to see the kingdom of God, we have to have the same faith that a small child has.

Small children are innocent. They are totally without sin, because they have no understanding of what sin is.

 It is that innocence that we must have to be a child of the King.

The only way to be that innocent again is to trust in Jesus for our salvation.

 That was the entire purpose of his coming to us to be sacrificed, so that if we believe on him we may be presented to the Father with that innocence.

 That is also why we should continually pray for forgiveness even after accepting him as our Savior, remember, even Christians are human and therefore sin!

“And a certain ruler asked him saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? None is good save one, that is God.

Thou knowest the commandments, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,DO NOT KILL, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.

And he said, All these things have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.

 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And when Jesus saw that he was sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

And they that heard it said Who then can be saved?

 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

(Luke 18:18-27)

This meeting is significant to us in teaching us that the riches of this world are hard to give up, and that unless we are willing to give up worldly things, we can’t truly follow Jesus.

This doesn’t mean to give everything you own away and be destitute, it means that we are to seek righteousness through Jesus no matter how little or how much we have.

Note that Jesus answered, who then can be saved, by stating that all things are possible through God!

 We need to be diligent in our faith, following Jesus’ example in every way we can and be constantly in prayer when we fail.

 We’re not quite finished yet! This part of the message continues with Peter questioning Jesus and telling him that they gave up everything for him!

“Then Peter said Lo, we have left all and followed thee.

And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

(Luke18:28-30)

What a beautiful promise! Jesus tells us that what we think we are sacrificing is in fact no sacrifice at all.

 We should never question our earthly wealth, only our worth to Jesus.

We shall be taken care of if we seek him and the path he would have us follow.

“Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them,

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

And it came to pass, as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way begging:

And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

 And he cried saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought near, he asked him,

 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said Lord, that I may receive my sight.

 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

(Luke 18:31-43)

Jesus told his disciples of his coming arrest, and eventual crucifixion and resurrection. They still did not understand, still looking for Jesus to establish the kingdom here on this earth.

The chapter finishes aptly with the miracle of the blind man having his sight given to him.

Note that he followed them and gave the glory to God, and that all those gathered also glorified God for this miracle.

Jesus told him that his faith healed him. That little five letter word has power unimaginable!

The lessons today is to pray, have faith, look for the answer to your prayers, and don’t give up.

  It is by grace that we are saved, through faith in Christ Jesus.

We need to maintain that faith not only in spite of our problems, but particularly when they are there.

 God hears those prayers and answers, just be still and listen to what you are being told. Follow my Lord and Savior in all that you do!

I close as always with the love of a fellow sinner,  but one who is undoubtably forever saved by grace through faith in Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:12 ¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

AMEN and AMEN!
the Wayfarer