"Be Watchful Over Temptations That Cause You to Sin"(Luke 17:1-4)

Be Watchful Over Temptations That Cause You to Sin 

Luke 17:1-4 

Several time Jesus had warned his disciples about falling into sin or missing out in heaven because of the cares of the world. In Luke 12 Jesus warns against blaspheming against Holy Spirit.

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 

Luke 12:10 ESV 

In today's sermon, Pastor Donald explains how Jesus is warning us of falling into sin and leading others into sin. Temptations are a normal part of life and we need to face, flee or fight these tempations.   In Luke 17, Jesus identifies two sources of temptations. The first sources is from outside of the believers while the second source is from believers.

A  Temptations from the outside the body of believers are inevitable (Luke 17:1)

The world hates us because we operate on a different value system.  We are of Heaven but in the world, and Satan wants us to lose and fall. 

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 

1 Peter 4:12 ESV 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

1 Peter 5:8 ESV 

It is also important to note that Jesus is not addressing outsiders but rather believers to be careful of temptations. This includes me and you. Temptations to sin will happen. We are not exempt from sin. There is an extra caution which indicates people who cause others to sin are more deserving of punishment. 

B Temptations from within the body of believers are prone to come (Luke 17:3) 

This is an area which we can control because it involves the body of believers. Jesus commands us to rebuke our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to reach out to our brothers and sisters to get them back on the straight and narrow. When we do reach out to others, we must do in this love. We also must remember that no believer is perfect, and we are going through a sanctification process. All of us need to tolerate each other. 

C Temptations from within one self are possible (Luke 17:3-4) 

We must forgive our brothers and sisters when they ask. The disciples responded with "Lord, increase our faith" because this is a difficult thing to do. When we have offended someone and feel that we need to ask forgiveness, we are uncomfortable. Only when we forgive them, we take away the guilt and pain they are suffering. In fact, we can actually bind people spiritually by not forgiving them and thus further torment them. 

 Some believers make things worse in the body of Christ by 

1. 1. Opting for unhealthy pacifism (Luke 17:3) Jesus tells us to go to those believers who are sinning and say that they are erring. By not telling them, we allow them to sink further into sin and farther from God.
2. 
   
3. 2.Embracing the hollier than thou syndrome (Luke 17:3) We make sure they feel the pain of their offense before we forgive them. Then we make them feel either unforgiven or less than others because or our arrogant attitude. 
4. 
   

"Dying the Only Way to Live"(John 12:20-26)

Dying the Only Way to Live 

  

Pastor Donald sets the context for John 12 for this Palm Sunday service and explains why Jesus has to die..

Jesus has just walked back to Jerusalem. The crowds great him with palm fronds as they are expecting a king. People have gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The Passover is a celebration because the Israelites had put blood of a sacraficed lamb over the door posts, the angel of death had spared them. 

In John 12:20-26, we read that there were some Greeks who came to eat during festival. Some Greeks wanted to see Jesus. It should be noted that the Greeks are not necessarily from Greece. Non-Jews were called Greeks sometimes, and we know that some Gentiles helped the Jews and were friends of the Jews as found in Luke chapter 7. 

And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue." 

Luke 7:4‭-‬5 ESV 

The scriptures does not indicate if the Greeks actually see Jesus. We do read that Jesus brings up the death he must face. His death will be like a seed that must die so it will grow and produce more. Jesus was meant to be a sacrifice. But Jesus also had to suffer and die to bring salvation. 

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

Isaiah 53:4‭-‬6 ESV 

Jesus gave it all that we can be imputed His righteousness. 

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV 

 The growing of the seed can show us how we gain:

By willingly yielding to die we can become righteous, but we must be willing to die everyday. As we sin, we feel guilty. This guilt reminds us not to sin. As the righteousness grows in you, the old self dies. 

We also gain by serving Jesus. Serving the Lord is the only way we can glorify the Lord. The reason God allows us to stay on Earth is to bring glory to God. We have the purpose to bring glory to God. By serving intentionally, we glorify God. Yet, we need to be careful. Often we serve God and hope that people will show us appreciation. This is not the true goal.  

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 

John 12:26 ESV 

We have to die daily. It does not come naturally. It is done actively.