CHRISTIANITY 101: ACCEPT OTHERS

 

3/25/2012

1.     PEOPLE NEED CHRIST’S MINISTRY (LUKE 4:31-44)

31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

KJV

• The KJV and some other translations has sabbath days plural and some other translations has it singular.
• If plural this would indicate that Jesus has moved his headquarters from Nazareth to Peter’s home in Capernaum.

Luke 10:13-15

13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 "But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. 15 "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!

NASB

• Even with Jesus as a frequent visitor to Capernaum, it evidently did not increase in faith in Jesus.
• His was the authority of the naked, eternal truth as taught by the perfect man.
• Some of the things that he taught searched the hearts and scorched the hair.
• Things that humanly speaking, we rather did not want to hear, but none the less, we recognize and admit as truth!

1A. IF PEOPLE SEEM ANNOYING… (LUKE 4:31-34)

31 And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. 33 And there was a man in the synagogue possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 "Ha! What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are —  the Holy One of God!"

NASB

1B. THEY DESERVE ACCEPTANCE (LUKE 4:35-37)

35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they began discussing with one another saying, "What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." 37 And the report about Him was getting out into every locality in the surrounding district.

NASB

2.     BELIEVERS NEED TO SERVE JESUS (LUKE 5:1-11)

·         The Lord climbed into Simon Peter's boat and asked him to push the boat out a little from the land.

·         Sometimes the Holy Spirit will ask us to do something that will assist Him in His ministry.

·         In verses 1-3, we see ‘His Practical Wisdom’ as the people gathered around Him to hear Him teach.

·         In verses 4-5, we see ‘His Penetrating Knowledge’ when He told Peter to put out His nets.

·         In verses 6-7, we see ‘The Lord's Lavish Generosity’ in the great catch of fish.

·         In verses 8-10, we see ‘His Inexpressible Majesty’ as Peter fell down at Jesus’ feet.

·         In verses 10-11, we see ‘His Profound Mission-Mindedness’ when He tells Peter that from now on he will catch men.

3. SINNERS NEED FORGIVENESS (LUKE 5:12-32)

·         What is salvation except the forgiveness of sins by the lord?

·         Regardless of whether or not all the people there had faith in the Lord as the Son of God, all those present were made aware that this Physician regarded spiritual blessings above material.

·         He came to provide the one and only solution, namely Divine forgiveness.

·         There were the multitudes that flocked to Jesus for a number of reasons.

·         There were those who came to him to find fault (e.g. the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Doctors of law).

·         This reminds us that some who know that we are Christians and do not share in our faith are watching us.

·         They may not question us directly if we fail; they may only store it up in their heart to give them justification.

2A. IF PEOPLE SEEM UNATTRACTIVE… (LUKE 5:12)

12 And it came about that while He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

NASB

• Leprosy is symbolic of sin in the Bible. 
• It is a most loathsome disease.

• Leprosy renders the person "unclean" and shuts him off from social and religious contact with other people.

2B. THE DESERVE ACCEPTANCE (LUKE 5:13-16)

 13 And He stretched out His hand, and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He ordered him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."  15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and great multitudes were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

NASB

• The leper was sure and confident that Jesus had the power to heal him, but he is unsure Jesus' willingness to do so. 
• He simply and humbly submits himself to Christ's sovereign disposition.
• Jesus did not hold off anyone from coming to Him for being a leper, any more than for being blind, deaf, etc.
• This should be an encouragement to all who are genuinely interested in providing help and care for those most in need. 
• Leprosy is a picture of sin, and this man was covered with leprosy.
• The Scriptures are full of promise to those who come to God seeking forgiveness.

4.     BELIEVERS NEED THE HIGHEST VALUES (LUKE 5:33-6:11)

• This calls for discernment; we must know what God’s word says and be careful not put tradition on an equal footing with it.
• This portion of scripture has to do with breaking with tradition.
• What Christ did was to reset things as they were originally intended by God.
• In turn this would make for the highest values.