Monday, November 4, 2024

Jesus Sowing In My Life - Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

 

Jesus Sowing In My Life

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

 

Introduction: Several gardeners in our church. Gardeners speak the same language when we speak of gardens. Let me give you an example, If I asked a gardiner, like Brother Harry if he was having any problems with “squash bugs” this year. He would know exactly what I was talking about and would probably fill me in for several minutes on just how much of a problem squash bugs were that year. He would also probably know that squash bugs get their name for two reasons, first because they eat up your squash plants and secondly because the best way to deal with a squash but is to get to bricks and squash them between them. They are that tough and you want revenge. Today we will be looking at Matthew 13 and the parable of the Sower. Jesus used parables in the way gardeners talk about gardening or mechanics talk about cars, or hunters talk about guns. He was speaking the truth in the same language as those who were listening to Him. When he talked of sowing the seed they didn’t need any explanations they knew exactly what He was talking about.

Background

So, today we will listen as the Lord tells this, one of His most famous parables in Matthew 13. The same parable is also found in Mark 4 and Luke 8. This teaching takes place in the 2nd year of Jesus public ministry. The ministry of Christ while He was on the earth can be seen in three stages, that roughly correspond with the years he preached and ministered. The first year is the year of obscurity or preparation, the 2nd the year of popularity and the 3rd  the year of opposition. The Parable of the Sower takes place during the 2nd year at the beginning of the year of popularity. Jesus would have been about 32 years old as he preached this message and his disciples probably younger.

The parable of the Sower is part of a large group of parables taught that day and Jesus taught them just after the scribes and Pharisees had accused Jesus of doing miracles by the power of Satan in Matthew 12:22-24 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Then later that same day perhaps they asked Him for a sign in Matthew 12:38-39 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Jesus condemns them for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which cannot be forgiven and then he also condemns those seeking a sign, telling them they are evil and adulterous generation. Now blasphemy against the Holy Spirit isn’t possible today, the so called unpardonable sin. It’s not possible because Jesus is not on the earth doing the miracles that only He could do, and the Pharisees are not here seeing those miracles, know that they are being done by the power of the Spirit of God and then contributing them to Satan. That is unforgiveable, but its not possible today as those people and events are not taking place today. The second condemnation Jesus pronounced that day, is not only possible it is even more widespread today than it was back in Jesus time upon the earth. We walk by faith not by sight, God’s word says. If you seek after signs and miracles to believe, then Jesus says that is evil and adulterous. Instead of giving them a sign, on the day we are talking about, Jesus gave them parables. Isn’t that interesting.  

Matthew 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables…

Of all the ways and styles of teaching in the Bible, Jesus used parables more than any other manner of speech to teach truth to his disciple and to separate the believers from the pretenders.

When the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke to the crowds in parables, he told them in, Matthew 13:10-17 Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

How did a parable separate disciples and seekers from pretenders and hypocrites? It came down to this simple act, if you heard a parable and did not understand it, as most people then and now would not, then a true disciple would go to the Lord and seek understanding. Those who were only pretenders would not take the time to understand or they would walk away. Seeking the Lord and His truth is what makes you a disciple. In the same way that simply hearing a sermon does not make you a child of God.  

Disciples spend as much time with the Lord as they can and they are always seeking answers from and about God’s word. Pretenders and pew fillers just go through the motions.

The parable of the Sower or the parable of the Soil

Matthew 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.  9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

Wayside Soil - Matthew 13:3-4

 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

What Is A Parable?

Before we can grasp the meaning of the Lord’s parable in Matthew 13, we need to understand what a parable is.

The parable was a very familiar teaching device in Jesus’ day. He did not invent it, but he so perfected it that no one else but Jesus comes to mind when we talk about parables. 

AT Robertson’s New Testament Word Pictures tells us that the parable is a transliteration of the Greek word, paraballô. It means to place alongside for measurement or comparison like a yardstick. It is an objective illustration of spiritual or moral truth.

A simpler definition is “A parable is an earthly story that tells heavenly truth.”

Matthew 13 contains the largest collection of Jesus parables and perhaps His most famous, the Sower and the Seed. It may be that more people in the world have heard the parable of the Prodigal Son but both stand out as true masterpieces of literature and examples of parables. The Sower and the Seed has the more classic form of a parable while the Prodigal Son, with its emotional relationship of the son to his father is more in a story form.

Rules For Interpreting A Parable: Now along with a definition of a parable we need to know the rules for interpreting them.

Rule 1: Never make a parable walk on all fours. A parable is meant to teach only one point, one truth, don’t get lost in the details.

Rule 2: Interpret according to context. Who is speaking, why, who is the audience, what is the time period.

Rule 3: Interpret according to proper time frame. Is this a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven, the church age, the second coming or a parable teaching a general truth.

The main point, the central truth, of Matthew 13:1-9 is not who is saved or not saved but the kinds of reception in people’s hearts to the Word of God, to truth to the Gospel during the church age. It is to prepare the disciples, then and us now, of what to expect doing our work for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus began with the wayside soil or heart.

Wayside Soil

Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

He explained the parable to the disciples in Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

 “Wayside soil” is the ground that has been compressed and hardened by the walking to and from in the field.

Because of the hard soil the seed falling on it cannot penetrate and take root. Jesus said, the wicked one comes and snatches it away.

For us wayside soil is a description of a wayside soul.

Wayside Soul

A wayside soul or heart is one that has been compressed and hardened by the busyness and stress of life. It has been compacted by circumstances, difficulties or the pain and suffering that come with living in a sin filled world under control of Satan. When this soul hears the Gospel, the Word or experiences the kindness of God’s touch it does not respond.

These hearts cannot see how the Word of God can have any affect upon their life's situation, their life is too hard to be fixed by simplistic principles of an ancient book or by the story of a man who lived thousands of years ago.

The stresses of job, family, finances, troubles result in a life that won’t let God’s Word penetrate to their heart. It can’t begin to root and then Satan like an evil black crow swoops in and snatches away the seed.

The man who asked Christ how to earn eternal life

Jesus encountered a wayside heart in Mark 10: 21-22 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

What a terrible, eternal sadness, to know that Jesus loved him, but his possessions had hardened his heart and even the love of Jesus could not penetrate that hardness.

Transition:

The first soil, or first heart is hardened by the stress of life and the sin of this world. The truth of the Gospel cannot penetrate and then Satan makes sure it is soon snatched away. Let’s move on, to the Stony soil, and its not what you and I think of as stony or rocky ground.

Stony Soil - Matthew 13:5-6

Matthew 13:5-6 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Matthew 13:20-21
 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Stony Soil

The sower, who is Jesus, broadcasts the good news. The word broadcast is now associated with radio, TV and shows on the internet, but it comes from the way seed was sown in ancient days. A farmer would plant his field in wheat or barley by walking through that field with a bag tied round his shoulder, take a handful of seeds and “broad cast” throw them widely, broadly out onto the soil of the field.

 When the truth, the gospel, is broadcast in this second example, it falls on “stony places.” This is shallow soil that has a rocky ledge underneath that fertile soil on top. The seeds that fall in this soil, spring up quickly before the other seeds have germinated, because the sun is heating the rock underneath this portion of the field. As Jesus says “they anon,” at once, immediately, with joy they accept the truth.

But Jesus says it is not what it seems because the truth can’t take root in this heart. And because there is no deep root, when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by they fall away. The phrase by and by is actually one word and it is the same word euthys which was translated anon, at once, earlier. When trouble comes then these hearts, these people immediately fall away, just as fast as they received the word it withers away.

Stony Soul

This is a person’s heart with no depth and without that depth the roots of the word of God cannot grow. When the disciples then, and you and I today, spread the truth of Jesus Christ, we will encounter people just like this, who jump at the first mention of salvation, or forgiveness, or fellowship with a church. Today there are people responding to Christian Praise concerts with a little bit of the Bible thrown in so they can call it church. There are so called churches in our area that feature the Bible as told by Star Wars or Church with a rodeo arena on the side. People get excited but there is no depth in their life for the truth to take deep root.

This person seems to immediately and joyfully accept Christ, but they won’t grow or mature as disciples. They may very well be saved, I hope and pray that they are, but if they are, then their relationship with the Lord is stunted and shallow. It is weak and a weak connect to Christ will not get through the difficult, tough times that come in the lives of a disciple of Jesus.

These are people who don't care to go deep into God’s Word. They refuse to be challenged. They avoid risk. They avoid stepping out in real faith upon God. They are truly the definition of a nominal Christians, Christians in name only. My close friend Larry Jones used to call them “professing Christians but functioning Atheists.” They say they are believers but they live like moral atheists.

The word of truth, which begins with the Gospel, by its very nature is meant to take root in us and thereby change us.

Listen to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

You don’t get to grow to that stage of Christian maturity, without a commitment to the deep things of God and His Word. This is the purpose of the truth of God, to take root in my heart, to grow downward and outward. The Gospel is planted in us that we would grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus.

The Stony Heart of Demas - 2 Timothy 4:10

Paul writes to Timothy and says, Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

Can you imagine over the last 2000 years every time someone reads 2 Timothy they read of the weak, shallow, unfaithful Demas, who forsook Paul and chose the world? Was Demas saved? I don’t know and neither do you, we can’t tell from this passage, but we can tell that in this instance Demas had no depth and he withered when Paul and the Lord needed him. We may think, “I’m sure glad Paul didn’t write that about me.” But how sobering to realize that our deeds are recorded in heaven, and we will be rewarded or suffer loss according to what we have done. According to how deep the Gospel took root and grew in us.

There are 2 heart soils left, thorny and fertile.

Thorny Soil - Matthew 13:7, 22

Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Thorny Soil

Thorny soil is soil that is on the fringe of the field, away from the center of the field and the working of the sower. Because it is in the field, it is fertile soil, but because it is on the outer portion of the field it also crowded with weeds and thorns so that it cannot bring forth fruit. The truth that falls there is starved and stunted by the weeds that crowd it out.

Thorny Soul

These are hearts away from the care and protection of God's will and the fellowship of the Lord’s church.

Thorny hearts are fond of the lushness and variety of the world. They don't wish to live the strict, strait and narrow life. They believe they can stay at the edges of Christianity and have a foot or, in this case, a root in both worlds.

Yet by allowing the weeds of the world to grow in their hearts, the word of God, the truth is choked out or stunted, unable to bring forth fruit.

John the last apostle wrote in his epistle 1 John 2:14-16 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever

Samson's Life

To me, Samson was an example of a thorny soil heart. I believe he was God's own but so in love with the world’s pleasures and sin that God had to let the world strip and destroy him before he cried out, Judges 16:28 “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God.”

What a terrible missed opportunity. To have the potential to be a great hero for God but instead wind up being “what could have been.” So also are those who stay of the fringes of their relationship with God. What could have been if only they would have been closer to the sower.

The Lord saved the best till last. It is time for the good soil and just look at what Jesus say can happen in the good soil.

Good Soil - Matthew 13:8, 23

Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Good Soil

This is the rich, fertile soil of the heart that has been lovingly worked deeply and thereby enriched by the care and attention of the sower. This is good soil because it has been turned over, plowed deep and worked often.

Now when the seeds of truth are planted in this rich earth, the purpose of our creation and the purpose of our salvation can take place. The plant that grows from the good soil, the good deeply worked heart, brings forth and abundance of fruit. Jesus says thirty times, or sixty times or even 100 times over.

Good Soul

This soul, this heart is one that is worked by the master husbandman, the master gardener. This heart is plowed deeply by God’s Word and it will bear the marks of the master’s furrow, but unlike the heart hardened by the world and its sin, it is broken-up not todden down. It then receives the Word and in the Word is life. Life for today and life eternal.

Worked by the Father This is very much like what Jesus said in his final talk with the disciple before He was crucified. Look in John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

This purged, trimmed, worked heart draws its nourishment through Jesus Christ, the living Word of God.

Nourished by the Jesus the Word John 15:4-6 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;..

This good heart seeks the refreshing of the Holy Spirit. As water is to the soil so the Holy Spirit of God is to our thirsty soul.

Watered by the Spirit John 16:13-14 when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you.

Conclusion

The Lesson of the Sower and the Seed

The parable of the sower speaks not so much of who is lost or saved as it does of our hearts and our willingness to be touched and used of God. We as disciple must understand that we will encounter all these times of heart soils as we act in the authority of the Great Sower Jesus Christ through the Great Commission sew the see and make disciples. Don’t be discouraged by the hard hearts, don’t feel betrayed by the stony hearts, don’t feel forsaken by the thorny hearts because when the seed of the Gospel finds one good heart. It is worth it all. Nor is it our calling to judge the hearts around us. Our calling is to broad cast the truth. Shout out the Gospel or whisper to one with a broken heart. Jesus has called us to step into the field of the world and there to spread the glorious goodness of the Gospel. Let’s do it. Broadcast on Facebook, Twitter or any other channel of communication. Broadcast it to our new movers. Broadcast it those who come to Trunk or Treat, or Resurrection Sunday or our Christmas Services. Broadcast it with a tract, a pen or a prayer for those hurting. Step into the field and spread the truth of God’s Word. That is what this parable is about.

But there is also another lesson here because Jesus said “he who has an ear let him hear.” This parable also applies to us any individual who hears it, as well a church.

This parable makes us look inside as ask, “What kind of soil is my heart? Has it been made hard by sin, sorrow or stress of this world? Have I been hurt by someone or something and my heart is now hardened against the word of God? Or is my heart shallow, and I won’t let the word take root and grow in me?  Or is my heart crowded with the weeds of this world and possessions and the pleasures are distracting me from the truth of God? 

The only thing that can change our hard hearts, our shallow lives and our choked spirits is for them to be broken-up by the Sower, Jesus Christ. Am I willing to let Him work in my heart?

The Prodigal Son’s Heart.

I mentioned that the two best known parable of the Lord are the sower and the Prodigal son and as I thought about the parable of the Sower and its different hearts. The thought struck me that the prodigal son is an example of one of the hearts that needed to be turned over and broken so that he would return to the love of his father. You remember the story.

Here is the return of the son after his hard heart has been broken.

Luke 15:20-24 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

If you’re here today and your heart is hard, or your life crowded by the world’s distraction or you just know its time to take deeper root in your relationship with God then know He is watching and waiting, willing to forgive and to bless you with truth that you may have a fruitful and full life now and eternal life when this one is ended.

 

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Jesus Rejected In My Life - Luke 9:57-62

 

Jesus Rejected In My Life

Text: Luke 9:57-62

And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 Introduction: Crazy Consumer warnings that don’t make sense. Let me share with you some things that don’t make sense.

ON A KITCHEN KNIFE - Warning: keep out of children

ON AN AIRLINE'S PACKET OF NUTS - Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.

ON A CHAINSAW - Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands.

• On a bottle of shampoo for dogs. Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish."
• On a curling iron "For external use only!"
• On a hair dryer "Do not use in shower."
• On an electric rotary tool "This product not intended for use as a dental drill."
• On a sunshield that keeps the sun off the dashboard. "Do not drive with sunshield in place."
• On an "Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter. "Do not use near fire, flame, or sparks."
• On a toner cartridge for a laser printer" Do not eat toner."
• On a coffee cup. "Caution: Hot beverages are hot!"
• On a toilet bowl cleaning brush" Do not use orally."
• On a butcher knife" Please keep out of children."
• In the manual for a microwave oven. "Do not use for drying pets."
• On a can of air freshener "For use by trained personnel only."
• On a motorcycle helmet-mounted rear-view mirror. "Remember, objects in the mirror are actually behind you."
• A label inside a protective bag (for fragile objects), which measures 9" x 9" x 5", "Warning: Do not climb inside this bag and zip it up. Doing so will cause injury and death."
• On a package of silly putty. "Do not use as ear plugs."
• On a bag of fresh grapes "Please store in the cold section of the refrigerator."
• On the packaging of a whet stone "Warning: knives are sharp!"
• On a box of rat poison. "Warning: Has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice."
• Posted on a Boeing 757. "Fragile. Do not drop."
• On a portable stroller "Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage."
• On packaging for a Rowenta iron "Do not iron clothes on body."
• On Boot's children's cough medicine "Do not drive car or operate machinery.
• On a Superman costume. "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly."
• On a sign at a railroad station. "Beware! To touch these wires is instant death. Anyone found doing so will be prosecuted."
• On a package of dice. "Not for human consumption."
• On a shipment of hammers "May be harmful if swallowed."
• In the manual for a Swedish chainsaw. "Do not attempt to stop the blade with your hand."
• In a manual for a computer. "Do not dangle the mouse by its cable or throw the mouse at co-workers."

• On a package of peanuts "Warning: May contain nuts."
• On a box with Styrofoam peanut packing, "Do not eat."
• "Warning: May cause drowsiness." -- On a bottle of Nytol, a brand of sleeping pills.
• "Warning: Misuse may cause injury or death." -- on the barrel of a .22 calibre rifle.
• "Do not use orally after using rectally." -- In the instructions for a thermometer.
• "Do not put lit candles on phone." -- On the instructions for a cordless phone.• "Do not put in mouth." -- On a box of bottle rockets.
• "Not dishwasher safe." -- On a remote control for a TV.

Those really don’t make any sense. You know what else doesn’t make sense? People who walk away from the Lord. People who refuse the open invitation of Jesus. Those are the people we are looking at today. People who for all eternity will be know as those who walked away from the best thing that life would ever offer them. We find three of them in Luke 9:57-62, here Luke puts them all together in one chapter, this is a distinction of Luke’s Gospel. He often take event, parables or lessons in the life of Christ and groups them together topically. I suppose the topic here would be almost persuaded or missing heaven by 18 inches. Whatever the topic these are thee people who refused Jesus Christ.

 

The Bible doesn’t tell us their names so I have give them my own names.  We will call them, Secure Sam, Responsible Ron and Unwilling Willy.

This section of Luke's Gospel contains many episodes and parables which are not found anywhere else. The timeline was not as important to Luke as the stories themselves. It this portion of scripture we find the teachings of Jesus in the last year of his ministry, and it shows gives us examples of that year of rejection.

In verse 51 Jesus begins his trip toward Jerusalem, the Bible says, “Luke 9:51
 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,” As he traveled he tried to stay in a Samaritan village something not usually done by Jews on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Samaritan seeing that Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem for the Passover, refuse to let him stay. John and James, nicknamed the sons of Thunder, are so upset at the inhospitality and dishonoring of their Lord, ask Jesus in verse 54, Luke 9:54  Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” Whoa, that sure escalated quickly, from rudeness to annihilation.

Jesus rebukes them with a answer that sums up His entire life’s mission in statement, “Luke 9:55-56 Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” They go to another village rest and then we take up the narrative in vs 57. Where we see more of Luke’s theme of the final rejection of the Savior.

 Secure Sam Luke 9:57-58

And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Unable to anchor in Jesus

 Look at our first lost disciple Secure Sam.

He shows great promise. He comes to Christ. He declares his intent. "I will follow you." And he declares the extent of that desire, "whithersoever thou goest."

 Jesus’ response to Sam, shows us once again that God always is looking upon the heart. What we see is a willing disciple, but what Jesus sees is someone who wants something more secure than Jesus Christ.

With the rejection in Samaria still in His mind, Jesus is telling Sam, to follow me is to be as I am, without security of home, or job. With the things this life offers you as security instead your security, your hope, your guarantee, must be in me.

Jesus' purpose was to reveal the man's heart to the man himself and to instruct his disciples, then and now.

Luke doesn’t tell us what happened to Sam but we are left with the implication that he did not follow Jesus that day. He did not put his hope and security in the Saviour.

Trusting True Security

To be a disciple I must step outside the circle of worldly security, home, job, money in the bank, my education, or my talent, sometimes even the security of my family.

I’m not disparaging these things. I pray and how we all have them. In reality these are God's gifts and blessings, but as a disciple of Christ, there comes a time when I must realize that their security must be secondary to my relationship Jesus Christ and to his promises to me.

I must come to understand that these security, important as they are, still are limited. They are temporary and can be lost, but the security promised me by God eternal and can never be lost. 

To be a disciple of Jesus, I must step outside my circle of earthly security and step inside the circle of God's heavenly security. The true disciple learns to trust the absolute, unfailing security of our relationship with God.

Paul who gave up the security of his Jewish education and Pharisee entitlement, wrote in Colossians 2:6-7, 10  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

He also wrote one the most powerful statement on security anywhere in Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Think about the example of Abraham put all his security in the Lord when he went in obedience to sacrifice Isaac.

 Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac.

Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son showed his faith was in God's secure promise of raising up a nation through Isaac, even if Isaac was slain. Isaac, was his family, he represented the security Abraham trusted in this world, but God's promise was spiritual.  And when Abraham raised that knife, he showed his faith, his security was in God.

In our story Secure Sam was challenged to walk away from his comfort zone, his earthly security. So was Paul, and so was Abraham. So also I believe is every child of God. Each of us must understand that Jesus is challenging us to put our security on the altar and look beyond the world we see to the eternity that awaits. There only what we have put in God’s secure keeping will have survived.

 vs. 59 brings us to our next lost disiple, Responsible Ron.

Responsible Ron - Luke 9:59-60

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Unable to see priorities.

This time it is Jesus who takes the initiative, and he calls to a potential disciple, "Follow me." The man answers "let me bury my father."

Now you may think that Jesus was walking by a funeral procession and the man is doing walking along and Jesus calls out to him to follow, but that is not the case. Actually at this time, the man’s father is not dead. Jesus has encountered this man while traveling back to Jerusalem, perhaps a seeker looking for truth. What he finds is a challenge and an invitation from the Messiah. Very bluntly Jesus says, “Follow Me.”

The man’s response is about his duties as the oldest child in his family. He was responsible for the future burial of his parents. This duty was important under Jewish law it         superseded military duties and Temple duties. What Responsible Ron is saying is  "Let me fulfill my duties at home first and then I will follow you."

 Setting Proper Priorities

 Once again, being responsible to your family is a good thing. This is not a matter of abandoning one important thing for another but it is a matter of understanding our priorities. In order to be a disciple we must beyond any question know that God must be my first priority. Too often, as believers, we are lost to Christ as disciples, because we cannot put in order of importance our duties, and responsibilities.

Example When I taught theology at Independent Baptist College, there was a young man in my class.  He was already well educated, he even spoke Russian, his father was a pastor and he was in school to be a missionary to Russia.  He was newly married and before he was out of school he had a new baby and a new job and a new car.  I saw him years later at a missions conference it had been at least 6 years since last I had seen him.  I asked what he was doing.  He told me he was still working at a well paying job in order to pay for his last new car or new child or new home. He was and is a very responsible man, a good man, but he is a lost disciple because he could not get his priorities straight.

Listen to Jesus explain about how you are to set your priorities in Mark 12:29-30, after he is asked what is the first, most important commandment,  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

We see Jesus living this priority throughout his life,

Often misunderstood by his brothers and sisters, and even having to make difficult choices when it came to his mother. He always knew that God must come first, but still he never abandoned his family, never deserted them nor failed them. One of the most heartbreaking scenes at the crucifixion is when Jesus sees his mother and John the apostle closest to him and he tells Mary, Woman, behold thy son!” and to John, “Behold thy mother!” John then took Mary into his own home and fulfilled the duties that Jesus would not be able to.

He fulfilled his duty to God, first but Jesus still fulfilled his duty to his mother aw well. In reality you cannot fully fulfill your duty to your family, without first making God your first priority.

Jesus response to us when we offer up our feeble excuses for not following him, is the same today as it was to Responsible Ron, "Let the dead bury the dead." He is saying, “Let the world take care of itself. Your relationship to me must be first.”

 I was almost a lost disciple.

I had run from the call to preach for 5 years.  I was now married and running my own business in Yuma, Az.  I couldn’t get away from what God had place on my soul, and one night I gave up and said, “I’ll do what you want me to do.”  

I called my grandfather who is a preacher and told him.  “I’ve surrendered to the ministry and I’m coming to school.”  He was very glad and told me he had been praying for years.  A few days later he called and said he had heard of a place to stay and that they were hiring at UPS.  I needed to get to Texas right away.  “Well Granddad, I can’t come right now.  I’ve got to do something about my job down here someone has to take over.  I owe to the people that depend on me being there.”  “Kris, he told me, “Do you remember what Jesus said to the man who wanted to go back and bury his father?”  “I think he told him, ‘Let the dead bury the dead.’”  “Well, Kris that’s what you need to do.”  “Ok, Granddad.  I’ll be there when school starts.”   What I wanted to say was.  “OK, Granddad, I can’t fight you and God.”

Following Him then was the right choice, He has never failed me and He has blessed every step of the way. Lets look at Unwilling Willy our last lost disciple.

 Unwilling Willy - Luke 9:61-62

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 Unable to look forward.

These last two statements of Jesus are considered to be some of the most difficult ones in the Bible, not in understanding what them mean, but in accepting them as true in our lives.

Jesus hears another man say, “I will follow but....

  Unwilling Willy wanted to follow but he was hesitant in his commitment and choice. He wanted to go home and say good-bye. Probably, wanted to get their opinion and input. It reality, this was an one last opportunity to visit the world.

It meant Willy was opening the door to returning to the world and refusing to fully close that door by committing to Jesus now.

Listen to Jesus reply, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 In other words, no man can plow while looking backward over his shoulder.

Notice the tense of the verb, "Looking" its present tense. You cannot plow a field properly while at the same time looking backward.

Jesus seeing the real intent of this man’s desire to go home is saying, “You cannot serve God while continuing to look back at what you are leaving behind.  Your commitment must be to the future not the past. Your eyes must be set on the eternal not the temporal. 

Looking To What Is Ahead

If Jesus were talking to us today, instead of talking about a plow, he would tell us, ‘To be my disciple, You can’t drive a car if you keep looking in the rearview mirror.

To be a disciple I must commit myself to God and quit worrying about anyone else or what around or behind me.

 Buddy the plow horse

  An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area.  Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy.  He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move.

  Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond.

   Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Chester, pull!" Nothing.

Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.  The motorist was most appreciative and very curious.  He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.

   The farmer said, "Well, you see, Ol’ Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, shoot he wouldn't even try."

Instead of being Unwilling Willy or even Buddy the blind horse we need to be like Paul when he wrote - Philippians 3:7-14

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the  fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Discipleship today is often a casualty of today's no deposit-no return, down-loadable, instant gratification, no money down, no deposit society.

Words like loyalty, conviction, fidelity, and steadfastness have lost their meaning to us. There are no commitments in marriage, or family; in our beliefs, our convictions, in our churches or in our discipleship to Jesus Christ.

I’ve always been enthralled by the disciple of the ancient Greek city of Sparta. One story illustrate their commitment to who they were as Spartans.

Conclusion: Spartan Mother's words to her son.

When leaving to go into their first battle the Spartan mother would hand the shield to her son and say, "Return, my son, with this or on this." To the Spartan, it was fight or die. There was no other option but total commitment.

This kind of commitment made Sparta the most powerful city of ancient Greece.  Once when a king from another city visited Sparta and was being show the city by Sparta’s King.  He noticed that there was no wall around the city. When He asked where was Sparta’s wall the king pointed to his soldiers and said, “There is the wall of Sparta.”

When a child of God makes the commitment to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, perhaps we will think of that Spartan mother but instead of a shield it would be the Bible that we are presented with and told by the Lord, “Return my child, with this or on this.” And when Jesus is asked where are the walls of His church?  He would point at you and me and say, “There are the walls of my church erected in the lives of my disciples.”

This morning ask yourself, are your truly willing to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.