Author: missionspaul

It will all come out in the wash.

I love these sayings that are found all over the world. This one means the truth will be known soon.

Luke 12: 1-3

Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

Hypocrisy tries to hide who you really are not what you have really done.

There are things that we have done which actually no one will ever know.

No one knows that for the first 6 months of me being a minister I preached a whole box of my dad’s sermons verbatim, well, the ones I could decipher his hand-writing!

No one knows of when I got caught speeding at 96 mph up the A6 heading to a suicide bid and was taken to Penrith court and fined £100. No one knows because my case was first in court and the journalist hadn’t arrived by then!

No one knows that on one of my first Mission trips overseas on filling in an immigration form, not knowing where exactly I would be staying, I panicked and made up a complete false address and telephone number.

No one will ever know things I have done! (With the exception of God of course!)

But hiding who I really am is not that simple. It seeps through eventually.

The truth is I get nervous if in an awkward silence, so I will make inappropriate jokes if I can. I have been accused publicly of being frivolous.

The truth is I desperately want to succeed in what I do, so I will work long hours. I have been accused publicly of being a workaholic.

The truth is I long to know God more than I do and I love the Bible more than any other book, so I will get up very early in the morning to read it. I have been accused of living an unsustainable life.

There are things I have done that no one will ever know, but who I am keeps coming through time and again and people either read or misread my actions.

But if I pretend to be someone who I am not then eventually it will catch up with me.

At some point the make-up will run (not that I wear it; that will never be a confession!).

It will all come out in the wash. Who I am will surface.

Discipleship is first

Do you know those crazy days when you feel bombarded by many things, tasks, people and your ‘to-do’ list looks impossible? How can you accomplish all that is demanding your attention? How many times do end the day wishing the day was longer because we haven’t done what we thought was most pressing? Never think that days with Jesus on earth were quiet ones.

Look at these verses:

Luke 11:54-12:1

When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say. Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples …

Can you picture the scene?

Jesus leaves the house of the Pharisee having offended the religious who come chasing after him. Fiercely, besieging him with question after question. Luke writes skilfully helping us to see the pressure Jesus was under. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were hoping Jesus might respond but he didn’t. They wanted to catch him out so these questions were as difficult as they could muster. Confrontation was demanding his attention but Jesus kept going.

At the same time as that, ‘meanwhile’ a crowd gathered, not a small one either, Luke says thousands and in fact it was becoming unruly and dangerous, people were getting hurt. The confrontation with the Pharisees and the experts would have to wait for surely the fact that people were in danger was far more pressing? The hysteria was filled with many hidden agendas, for example, one man would shout out later from the crowd about an argument with his brother over finances. History only repeats itself in telling us how self-centred people are.

So what is on your to-do list today? Some loud voices demanding attention and you know they are not going away? Is it the success of your life wanting more time from you? Are things needing to be done because they are getting out of hand?

Jesus began to speak first to his disciples …

1. Choose that which follows God. You might need to see past the religious and the crowd for that.
2. Choose who has a greater investment in you. The disciples had left everything for Jesus.
3. Choose to disciple ‘on the hoof’ (meaning without proper preparation) in the chaos of life and not only in the classroom. Discipleship doesn’t need you to carry a flip chart of principles around with you.
4. Choose discipleship first in your own life. This whole section from Luke starts with “One day Jesus was prayingin a certain place” 11:1 and will end at the end of chapter 13 with Jesus focused on Jerusalem “Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” 13:35. Jesus pursued His Father and the will of His Father. That is discipleship at its core.
5. Choose what comes second and third etc. If it’s not discipleship it may be important and it will get done, but it will be so that discipleship is further encouraged and built.

Be generous in the pursuit of God.

Luke 11 v 52-54 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say.”

Be generous in the pursuit of God.

The Pharisees knew their Scriptures. Well, they had memorised huge chunks of the Old Testament, if not all of it. Yet in this 6^th and final woe Jesus says they lacked knowledge. He says to the so-called experts in the Law of Moses that what they have memorised they have failed to understand. Worse than that, with all their man-made rules surrounding the Law, they have prevented others pursuing that understanding.

Many years ago I attended a meeting that was only for a few certain Pastors that had been invited by another Pastor. There were around 7 Pastors sat with this Pastor listening as he described a new model of Church that he had discovered and had entered into the revelation of. (The sooner we realise there isn’t anything new under the sun the better!).

As we sat around the table, the said Pastor described a little of this model/revelation of Church, but he said that we were not ready to understand the full revelation of it. I said, ‘Give us everything, get it all on the table, because this doesn’t sound all that special, what’s the missing treasure?’ He became offended that I had asked such a question and this served to show him that what he had learned which was that the mainstream church would never accept what he had now become a follower of. His response was, “I have it all. It is right here in my briefcase. But I won’t show you. Because you are not ready yet. Your heart isn’t right.” We did plague him a bit for having something in his briefcase. It sounded rather spooky to the rest of us.

He wasn’t very generous in the pursuit of God.

Being generous means this. I am on the way to finding God and understanding what this life on earth is about. I haven’t got there yet. As I get older I seem to know less and want Him more. Join me. Together is better.

The experts still exist. They outwardly proclaim special revelation and look down on those who don’t see things the way they do or they wrap it up in complexities that no one would ever truly understand.

That day we left the table and went home. We never got to see what was in his briefcase.

Luke describes how Jesus left the table and went outside. He leaves the meal.

Hostility will always rise when Jesus leaves the table. If we lose His presence we have lost it all.

Be generous in your response to what God is doing

Luke 11: 47-51 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.”

That generation were more responsible than all simply because the prophets all spoke of this moment when the Messiah would be standing in front of them. But they did not recognise Jesus and would be instrumental in his crucifixion. Further they had elaborate tombs for these prophets and yet do not speak about how those prophets were killed.

The prophet Zechariah was killed by stoning because he spoke against the rebellion of God’s people (2 Chronicles 24). Their ancestors did this. Zechariah not only prophesied Jesus would come but he even prophesied his betrayal by the 30 silver coins (Zechariah 11).

Be generous in your response to what God is doing.

It is easy to be generous towards the past when the past has proven the prophet correct.

But when the prophet is moving in the present and speaking of the future then we are tempted to be less so. We become sceptical, we are dismissive; if God was going to speak He would do it through a different person, through me, right? I wonder how many messages we have missed and how many acts of power we have ignored simply because we were not generous to what He was doing right in front of our eyes?

When I was a young minister I would drive miles to the other end of the country if I heard that God was doing something. People would say to me back then that no one should have to do that. If God was wanting to do something He would do it right here without any need to travel. They were not generous to what He was doing. I hope as I get older that I never lose that generosity for the things of God. I will fight cynicism that kills generosity.

Be generous in grace

Luke 11: 45-46 “One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.”

V41 “… be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”

Be generous in grace

If we see a burden as something that is a heavy weight which is too much for any one person to carry (hence Paul saying we should carry one another’s) and a load as a responsibility (which Paul said we should carry on our own) then we see what the Pharisees were doing.

The heavy weight was the failure of not reaching the expectations of pleasing God.

There are 613 do’s and don’ts in the Law of Moses.

But then the Mishnah contains more commandments. This was a commentary on those 613 laws which had further man-made rules which served to help people not even come close to breaking the Law of Moses. At the time of Christ these were passed down the generations verbally, it would not be till the 3^rd century were they written down. They were not laws, the intention was to train in thinking through the law. So the Mishnah tries to help the questions regarding: Can cheese and meat be on the same table? How much water is needed for a ritual bath? The punishment of a rebellious son is clearly in the Law however, what are the behaviours that actually make a son rebellious? That’s what the Mishnah helps with. They served as oral laws and Jesus denounced the Pharisees who were more interested in having the appearance of keeping the Law of Moses rather than understanding the message behind the Law.

Without going any further, we can already see that trying to accomplish all this would easily create burdens.

The ordinary Jew failed and continued to fail in pleasing God and there was no one to help them.

Let us be different.

Let us be generous in our grace towards people. Maybe we need to tear up our own rule book? Cultural norms that may have the intention of good can do more harm to those who do not meet them. Tear them up. Be gracious. Relationship with Jesus not the rules of Jesus is the most important thing. We don’t get married and then ask what are the rules of marriage? The order of marriage comes out of relationship and so with Jesus.

For those who feel they have failed, give them a generous hand, they understand condemnation so we don’t need to teach them that, they don’t understand grace.

If you are in leadership, be generous, open your fist, nail your hand to the cross, lay your life down generously so that others can thrive from the failure. Be generous in grace and it will go well for you.

Be generous with your mouth

Luke 11: 44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

V41  But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Be generous with your mouth

Our experience of following Jesus is often filled with wonderful moments of revelation, of worship and wonder at who He is! His love and care for our lives overwhelms us. But there are times when we wonder just who it is we invited to dinner tonight! Jesus seems anything but polite. Offensive, challenging, he is anything but a fun guest. If our Jesus is not challenging to us like this then what Lordship is truly over us?

You are an unmarked grave!

The Law of Moses said that if anyone touched a grave in any way they were deemed ‘unclean’. The Pharisees would white wash tombs so that people could see them and not go anywhere near them.

Jesus’ accusation is that they are unwashed, unmarked graves. When the ordinary Jew hears from them it is like they have come into contact with the deceased and they become unclean. The influence of the Pharisee is hugely negative on the ordinary Jew. That’s what Jesus is saying.

Have you ever come away from that conversation and felt worse than going into it? Have you ever come away feeling small, shrunk in vision and hope? If so then that person is not generous in their heart nor their mouth. Be careful for you may just be walking over an unmarked grave and you may need the cleansing from Jesus.

But you can be different especially to those who are in need. You can be generous with your words and be a huge influence. Many can walk away from you better for being with you. Many can want to return. What comes out of your mouth is a huge factor in this.

Be generous and come second.

Luke 11 v 43  “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.”

They wanted to be noticed.

Maybe the important seats had special padding, maybe a nice back to them, maybe even their names printed on them. Maybe when you bumped into a Pharisee you bowed and went into some long-winded greeting of praise for who they were and what they had done. The other gospels of Matthew and Mark indicate how they loved their titles.

We need to remind ourselves who has the best seat, who deserves the greatest greeting and who has the better title!

Philippians 2: 9-11 “God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Pharisees would first see Jesus sacrifice his place on earth and be slandered on the cross, the Lamb of God slain for the sin of the world.

Be generous and give up your seat.

We had just taken a bumper offering for new chairs in the Church. I had advertised it as ‘buy a chair’. What I hadn’t anticipated was that for one of the members they heard ‘buy your chair’. It wasn’t long before that person was causing problems when a visitor unassumingly sat in ‘my chair’.

Be generous and don’t use your title.

I was just about to join the singing with the congregation as the evening service began when I was handed a business card by a new person who had begun attending the Church. I knew it was coming and I was glad to receive it so that I had their full name and address. What I hadn’t anticipated was the number of titles under their name: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. I got the hint that they were looking for a position in the Church however, with all those titles I wondered at what grandiose a position I could create for them!

Jesus didn’t flaunt his titles and He has all the titles. He came to fulfil a mission not a position.

Be generous and give a true blessing.

Over the last 20 years of travelling around the world the one thing I have had garlands of flowers, head dresses, cloths placed over my shoulders even offered a powder from a plant (I think it was a drug!). All these and many more were given to bless and to honour me. I live in a culture where even with our close friends we playfully plague and belittle each other. We seem incapable of honour unless it is on a big stage. We must bless more in private. We need to start by being generous with our words in honouring one another. Bless their days. Ephesians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Jesus said in v41 “But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”

Do you like to be first? Today purposely come second in everything. Be generous. Especially to those who have less than you. Be generous, don’t be first.

Be generous

Luke 11: 39-42 “Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Be Generous with love

The outside can look perfect but inside your heart it can be tight, stingy and impoverished.

We need to learn to be generous in our hearts.

I was a Pastor for 21 years and led 2 churches. In all that time I never got involved in the banking of the church offerings except for one occasion in the early years when on one occasion the treasurer was unable to go because of illness. As I was depositing the money I noticed one of the cheques had a strange amount registered. It wasn’t the size of the amount that was of concern. It was how the amount was so exact. In fact all that is etched in my memory is that the cheque ended in .33 pence. This was a member’s tithe cheque and I was amazed that they had not thought of at least rounding it up or even down! It was so exact!

 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

The Pharisees were not even putting exactly .33 pence in terms of their dealings with people. They had no thoughts towards those who needed help, justice and love. If only they had given such meticulous attention to their cause never mind being like God who is lavish and extravagant.

Their hearts were not seeking justice and love for the people around them. Jesus would soon show that to carry justice and love in your heart is to suffer but is the pathway to resurrection and new life. The Pharisees had a word for this justice in their language, ‘tzedek’ it meant for right relationships with God, mankind, ourselves and the world they lived in. Jesus came to reconcile all 4 of those relationships where love and justice met on the cross.

TODAY let our hearts to be large and loud towards people and our relationships. Let us not be stingy or even exact but let us extravagantly, generously love and help people who are in need.

Kurios

Luke 11:37-39

When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.”

Luke in his gospel stresses the humanity of Jesus (in comparison to John who focuses on his deity). However, Luke does not hold back from using a title for Jesus that actually had the greatest significance for the early church: Kurios, Lord. Luke uses it over 70 times. On some of those occasions it could mean master or owner. But by the time Luke is writing his gospel it was definitely used by the followers of Jesus to express their worship of their risen and ascended Christ. It is the equivalent to the Hebrew word Yahweh or Jehovah. If there was one declaration that a follower of Jesus needs to make throughout history and in every part of the globe it is this: Jesus is Lord. It is a declaration of obedience.

Kurios declares that Jesus has the supreme power, control and authority.

Now look at what Luke does when he writes, “But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. Then the Lord said to him …”

Do you see it?

In the context of Jesus being accused of being a servant of Satan and a talk from him regarding light over darkness and now in this Pharisees home who becomes offended because Jesus doesn’t follow the ritual washing of hands: “Then the Lord said …” He doesn’t use the name Jesus but the title, Lord.

There is a Pharisee in all of us and before Luke goes any further he reminds us that Jesus is Lord.

Maybe today you are anxious about some things in your life. Maybe you are a little surprised or even offended at what God seemingly has permitted to come near you. Maybe you are confused as to what God is doing.

We need reminding not only of the humanity of Jesus but His Lordship. He is supreme. There is no argument. We have no entitlement to being offended. He is God.

LORD, search me and know my heart. Look deep into the very depths of my heart. Into the places I hide so well from others and which I cover with religious and spirituality.

Offence at ‘lifting up the hands’

It seems that it has become a lot easier to offend people now.

We have to be really careful in what we say and what we do.

People get offended by language, appearances, politics, bad habits, affiliations etc. The list goes on and on.

There is a purity that not only isn’t pure it isn’t very happy either.

Can God offend your purity?

Jesus has just finished responding to the Pharisees criticism of him healing a man who was mute. Then this happens:

Luke 11:37-38 “When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.”

(The Message) “When he finished that talk, a Pharisee asked him to dinner. He entered his house and sat right down at the table. The Pharisee was shocked and somewhat offended when he saw that Jesus didn’t wash up before the meal.”

Since I was knee-high I remember the golden rule of washing the dirt off my hands before I ate. It makes sense. This is not that. If Jesus had dirty hands he would have washed them.

The Pharisees adopted a purification rite of washing their hands before a meal because they based it on the instruction given to Aaron and his sons before they brought a Temple sacrificial offering (Exodus 30:20). They were not priests in the Temple (that was left mainly to the Sadducees) so they applied this rule as an attempt to carry a ceremonial standard for their own homes, so that every meal is like a sacrificial meal in the Temple. The practice is called ‘lifting up the hands’ and it is still performed today by the Jews.

Jesus comes in to the Pharisees house for a meal. But he doesn’t perform the ‘lifting up the hands’ and the Pharisee becomes offended.

Jesus will offend our paltry attempt at being pure and righteous especially when it is an interpretation of the Bible handed down by generations and applied to our lives in a way it was never meant to be. They exist in our lives and our churches. Every Sunday there is someone becoming offended in church because it wasn’t done the ‘family way’. The irony is that we can lift our hands up and at the same time be offended with the fact that the leader or someone isn’t performing the ‘lifting up the hands’ or is doing so in a wrong way. Offence arrives unknowingly because we don’t usually believe we are offended for we know it is wrong to be so! We just sit in judgment and the meal becomes awkward (the communion meal perhaps).

Are you easily offended?