Missions Paul

Don’t give up on people

 

Luke 13: 6-9 “Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

 

Every year for 3 years there was hope of fruit but none came.

How disappointing!

Do you know that disappointment?

Do you know the feelings of failed hope and promise? The thoughts that things will change but they don’t.

Do you know those times when people let you down? They told you they would be there but when it came to it they weren’t.

What it said on the tin wasn’t what you were getting inside.

What do you do?

I am sure you want to get rid of those relationships, walk away from that place, cut it down and start again. It is a waste of your time.

However, the parable says, give it more time and don’t rush into it. Instead work on it, dig around it and fertilize it. Create some space and pour into the good it is needing. Pour grace on it.

Some will call it a waste of time. If after 3 years there is no fruit then it is not going to start now. But Grace waits. Grace hopes. Grace goes again and again.

How easy it is for us to pass judgement on others. Maybe those struck by tragedy, killed at the altar or killed by a wall crashing down on them. How easy to look at those people who are not living our life, bearing the same fruit as us, who are producing nothing in our eyes, to root them out. How many times have we given up on people? Let’s get the axe and chop it all down. How many of us are glad that Jesus didn’t do that with us?

No. He springs into action and gets down into the dirt and he works for our salvation. He pours out his life. He gives of Himself that we might live.

Yes there will come a time for judgment but it doesn’t come quickly. It waits. And we are so pleased it did. So how about us waiting on a few people? Let’s not get rid just yet. Why not pour manure on them and help them to grow?

The blame game

 

Luke 13: 1-5 “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

 

Many years ago I went to speak to a group of Christians from different Church backgrounds on the subject of suffering. After my talk an old man came to me who clearly hadn’t heard much of my talk and said, “They should be forced not to have more than one child and then they wouldn’t have so many mouths to feed.” I was appalled at his understanding of why there is famine today.

We continually live our lives surrounded by blame. Whose fault is it? That’s what we want to know.

When sharing of what someone has gone through, do you know that awkward feeling of needing to hide what they may have done wrong because you know the listener is going to pick up on that and exploit it? Maybe the person over-reacted. Maybe they didn’t respond in the best way. Maybe they made mistakes. Maybe they angered Pilate? Were those 18 building the tower of Siloam? Were they lousy builders?

“Ah I see! They had it coming to them. They made it worse. They are to blame.”

People can go further in their judgment, “God judged them. That’s why they suffered.”

“Is that what you think?” Jesus asked. “If that is the wise judgment you use, then it will be used on you too. If failure, suffering and death is based on sin then you are as guilty as those you point at.”

Using this measure: Jesus was asking them if they thought they were so good they wouldn’t die.

Clearly, it is nonsense. In fact Jesus says unless you repent you will perish.

We may look down at people thinking they had it coming to them. But in the same way, so do we.

This same Pilate would sacrifice another Galilean: Jesus of Nazareth!

Therefore, was Jesus a worse sinner than us?

Ironically yes. He became sin for the world, all the sin was heaped on Jesus who had no sin so that we might be righteous. The judgment wall fell on Jesus that we might walk free in our repentance.

Therefore, if bad things happen to you now it is not because God is judging you. Even if you die, you die in Christ, you will not perish and you will rise again.

 

Don’t be so sure.

Luke 12: 54-59 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?  As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

 

We are so right aren’t we?!

We know what is right and wrong.

We know what is going to happen

Even today when I see a red sky I ask myself morning or evening? We know a certain prose, “Red sky at night shepherds delight; red sky in the morning shepherds warning.” Well, the Jews had something similar and Jesus quotes it.

We are so sure.

But maybe we are wrong. Perhaps there are times we cannot see what is right in front of us. Jesus had opened blind eyes and he had raised the dead. What more did they need to know he was indeed the Messiah?

I wonder what has been missed by us simply because we wouldn’t see.

Today as then we have time to make things well.

Today is the day when we can acknowledge our failure.

Before we move into new futures and who doesn’t want to start again? But before we do that this may be the time to say sorry, to send an apology. To say you were wrong.

Jesus is the adversary and you are heading to the magistrate. Will you get right with him?

Do it now whilst there is time.

Don’t be so sure.

This is tough

Luke 12: 49-53 ““I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

 

Remember what John the Baptist said of Jesus: I baptise with water; he will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Fire purifies. It judges. It separates.  Similarly Jesus’ baptism is a fire that separates us from sin. It is because of this separation that causes more disturbance than peace. The Gospel divides when it encourages conversion and calls for people to be living differently.

The Gospel is not a nice message of peace. It disturbs. It is a message that shakes us from complacency. It divides even families.

The other day some parents told me with sadness how their daughter no longer walks with the Lord and how they feel estranged from her.

The Gospel is a tough message.

Until Jesus returns the gospel will cause division between believers and non-believers.

That’s how it is. If there is no difference then there is no gospel.

Spiritual leaders care.

Luke 12: 42-48

“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

 

Who is the master?

The master gives authority and responsibility.

The master has concerns for people who He calls His servants.

Though the master is away He wants to care for them until he returns.

If they are cared for when he returns then he will give an increased responsibility to the manager.

Who is he? He is Jesus!

 

Who is the manager?

He is a servant but he is also a leader, a manager of people, the Master’s people.

The manager will be tempted to think the master is not coming because the delay is long, he will think he is free to treat the servants not as belonging to the manager but just as people and people he can abuse.

The manager will begin to act like someone who does not belong to the master. He will begin to act as if he was the master.

He will be surprised when the master returns and if he has fallen into the temptation of being ruthless, vile, abuser of people then he will be dealt with heavily. He will actually be dealt with worse than the leaders and managers who do not know the master.

Who is the manager? Spiritual leaders of the Church.

When the Master returns the Managers will be judged the most and they will be judged on how they treated people, the servants.

Think carefully if you desire spiritual leadership in the Church.

Consider your ways. Love people. Take care of them. Show that you are ready and waiting.

 

The Church is ready … surely?

Luke 12: 41 “Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

Jesus doesn’t answer the question. Peter had wanted to know who Jesus was teaching. Them or the crowd? Maybe he had wanted to know whether he should pay attention or not!

Peter wants to know:

Who are the servants waiting for their master’s return from the wedding banquet?

Who will be reclining at the table when the master serves them?

Who needs to be ready?

Surely the disciples are ready for His return because they follow him?

Surely it is those people who don’t know Jesus who need to be careful, it is the crowd who need to get ready?

In a world which has no thought for Jesus, surely it is to them who run the risk of failing in service and not having their lamps burning.

Surely Jesus is not thinking we are not ready for His return?

Surely we do not need teaching on His return?

Surely we know that this truth is for everybody else, not us?

We are ready aren’t we?!

Surely our vision and mission statements prove that?

Surely our programmes, plans and purposes reveal we are ready?

The Church … not ready? That can’t be, can it?

Surely, not us, not I?

What’s in you diary today?

Luke 12: 35-40 ““Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

 

On my Facebook newsfeed this morning I woke to a headline: FILM DISTRIBUTOR DROPS JOSH HARRIS DOCUMENTARY AFTER AUTHOR ANNOUNCES HE’S NO LONGER A CHRISTIAN.

The article goes on to explain how Josh Harris who had written a book in 1997 called ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’ had been working with Exploration Films on a documentary based on the book but had not disclosed his battle with the faith. On Instagram he wrote, “By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian.”

Sad news.

Josh Harris no longer dressed ready for service and whose lamps are no longer burning.

Today the whole world will do the same thing, we will get dressed and get ready for whatever today holds.

We understand this process.

Having told them not to worry about things Jesus is running ahead of his thoughts and is not only thinking of when he leaves them but when he comes back. He wanted them to be ready for His return. He doesn’t want anyone to fall away.

It will be good if we have not fallen away when Jesus comes back (v37). If we are waiting for Him and He comes to a brightly lit house it will show Him that not only are we desiring Him but we are living for Him, we are indeed seeking His kingdom as He asked us to do.

How much do you long to see Jesus?

Why will it be good for us if we are ready when Jesus come back?

In a most unusual twist to the scenario, the master of the house becomes the servant.

Can you imagine your boss arriving into the office today and says “Listen, I would like to do your emails today. I would like to answer your phone calls. Don’t do my diary, let me help you with your diary. Can I make you a cup of tea?” Now who would like their Boss to do that today?!

The master dresses down, gets ready to serve to wait on them as he makes sure they sit around the table relaxing.

Whatever this is actually going to be. It may well be the best feast we have ever had. It will certainly be a table-turner. When Jesus comes back he will turn everything upside down. Remarkably He will honour us.

However, we will never know when this is, we just need to be ready/

So along with how much do I long to see Jesus, the questions also is, am I ready to meet Him?

Perhaps we think there is a greater chance of us dying and then meeting Him than meeting Him when we are still alive. If that is true then we need to be more ready. For it could certainly happen, even today. Jesus will return when we least expect it and for many of us we are not expecting it today, we actually don’t have any room for the return of Christ in our diary today!

Don’t worry we have a good Father

Luke 12 v 32-34 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 

Continuing with the theme of not worrying, there is a further fear and one perhaps that is greater than that of gain. It is this: the fear that God somehow is not pleased with you. He might bless us but it is for His purpose not for His pleasure, not because He really wants to.

This morning Jesus calls God ‘your Father’. Pause.

We have already read Jesus’ words, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (11:13)

How much more will your Father …

Growing up in the Salvation Army I was always moved by a hymn that the songsters would sing:

If human hearts are often tender,
And human minds can pity know,
If human love is touched with splendour,
And human hands compassion show,

Then how much more shall God our Father
In love forgive, in love forgive!
Then how much more shall God our Father
Our wants supply, and none deny!

How much more!

Jesus calls his disciples little flock. He is painting a picture to them that not only are they small, weak sheep but that the Father is their Shepherd God and He is pleased to give them this overwhelming, all-powerful, authoritative Kingly rule. This kingdom power which has put the stars in place and holds everything together that can be seen and not seen has been given to them with pleasure!

We know that Jesus has already said to the Pharisees “But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.” (11:41).

Here is our Father being incredibly generous, massively good-hearted to us lesser created beings. He demonstrated gracious generosity to us.

Jesus then calls the disciples and us to live in the light of that.

He is not telling us not to have possessions but He is telling us to not to be afraid to give to those who have less than us. If we have truly understood the Father’s pleasure in giving us His kingdom then we will not be afraid to live a simpler life so that we can give more.

The possessions we have or desire can all come to nothing.

They get old and wear out, moths can destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. The maintenance on what you possess is constant. But there is a treasure in heaven that will not tire or get old. What is that treasure? It has to be people.

Last night I sat with a group of elders and one of them was telling me how she was helping 4 new converts to Christ. She was so excited as she described the discipleship process they were on. Her excitement was infectious. This was treasure.

Heaven is a real place and laying up treasure is to invest in people so that they get there. Be generous, gracious, big-hearted to those who have less than you, to the poor, that they may find the pearl of great price, the finest treasure, heaven!

Don’t worry it is inside you

Luke 12: 22-31 “Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[b]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

 

Consider the Ravens, does God actually feed them?

A quick research shows this: As intelligent as dolphins, in tests of logic a raven had to get a hanging piece of food by pulling up a bit of string anchoring it with its claw. Ravens have pushed rocks on people to keep them from climbing to their nests, stolen fish by pulling a fishermen’s line out of ice holes, and played dead beside a beaver carcass to scare other ravens away from a delicious feast.

Consider the wildflower meadow: does God paint each flower beautiful? A wildflower is any flower that is not planted by intentional human intervention. They can be seen in deserts, forests, meadows and fields. They are so beautiful here in the UK most gardeners actually sow a wildflower patch.

No, God doesn’t hand-feed the Ravens or paint each and every flower. But within them both is the ability to do what they need to do and be the best they are created to be. Survive and be beautiful.

So do not worry about stuff.

What you will get and what you will look like. Stop fussing over those things. Stop making life all about worrying whether you will have enough and look your best.

Just like the Raven and the Wildflower you have built into you what you need. The ability and the creativity to live and the beauty inside that is more important than any make-up or designer clothes to wear.

Our focus is His kingdom, His rule, His Lordship over our lives then all will be well.

anapauó

Luke 12: 16-21 “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’  “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Jesus tells this parable after ignoring the man who wanted justice from his brother and to gain from an inheritance.

In the centre of all that Jesus says are 3 words, well 1 word actually, anapauó which is translated ‘take life easy’.

The ground of a rich man gives him an abundant harvest – take life easy.

The barns of this now abundantly rich man were too small, so he worked only because he wanted to take life easy.

He built bigger barns to take life easy.

But he was a fool to take life easy.

That night his life was taken from him too easily.

Anapauó

This man actually was a poor man.

Those who have most usually appear to have the least.

Those who are powerful struggle to get on the floor.

Those who have done it all don’t usually do it now.

Those who treat others harshly have lost grace for their own lives.

Death is closer to life than we realise.

Live for self and there is no legacy when life is soon over.

Instead of taking life easy make life easy for someone else and you will know what it is to be truly rich.