Proper 14
7 August 2016
Luke 12:22–34
Luke 12:32-40
"Your Faith is Showing!"
In this sinful, troubled world. It
is altogether too easy to succumb to the cares of the world and become anxious.
But your heavenly Father, who desires only what is best for you, provides not
only for your earthly needs, but also, more importantly, has provided for you
eternally. You can rest secure in the fact that you have a loving and gracious
Father who knows your needs and provides for them.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of
Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing
in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit
that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally come to life
everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
If it is
true faith. It will show! No one can hide it. If one has it, one
would not want to hide it. As the old g song sings, "hide it under a bushel NO! I'm gonna let it shine…" Some are not sure that they have faith. They
know they should have it. Would like to be sure they have it. They feel the
need for even more faith. As for you. It is self- evident. Your faith is
showing.
1. Your faith is showing when you receive the kingdom v. 32 -… Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom.
The
Kingdom of God is not earned. As if, it was the result of some reward. It is
not payment for services rendered. It is certainly not a commodity or a
service. Which can be bought or purchased at a store or business? It is
received as a gift. Jesus said, "It
is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!"
The
Kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer. It comes in the form of a gift.
It comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His
grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in
eternity. This gift is received by faith. It is the Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom. This is a true sign that your faith is showing when you
know that all that you have comes from the Father’s hand. As Christians, we
believe and confess that Christ’s present yet hidden reign as king is being
extended by the Spirit through the Gospel. It will be fully revealed when
Christ returns in glory.
2. Your faith is showing when you seek spiritual values - vv. 33-34 – “Sell
your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that
do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no
thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also. ”
Last
Sunday's lesson focused on the values, which we hold that make up the ingredients
of our life. Jesus continues on this theme. He reminds us. Your chief focus
must be on spiritual values as your chief priority.
It takes
faith to be less concerned about accumulating earthly goods then spiritual
treasures. Jesus reminds us; your heart will always be where your
riches are. What if you lost everything - what if it was all stolen or taken away?
- Would your life be over?
Lay-up
treasure - spiritual treasure - treasures in heaven. Where they will never
decrease; because no thief can get to them and no moth can destroy them. When
you seek spiritual values as your first priority, your faith will certainly be
showing
3. Your faith is showing as you watch and wait for
Christ's return - vv.35-40 – “ Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps
burning, and be like men who are waiting
for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the
door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master
finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for
service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the
third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if
the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would
not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is
coming at an hour you do not expect. “
Christ is coming soon. Are you ready to leave this world to meet the Savior in glory?
Are you ready for a Son rise? Are you ready to meet the Savior face to face?
Before you can be prepared, according to Jesus' own words, you must first
believe Christ is returning and coming soon. Could Christ return
tonight? Do you really believe this? If so, your faith is showing!
Your faith is showing! It
is showing as you've been received into the kingdom as you continue to seek
spiritual values; as you patiently watch and wait for Christ's return. Come
Lord Jesus - come even today! Amen!
Words – 896
Passive sentences – 11%
Readability –83.4%
Reading level –4.5
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