Sunday Morning IBC. 6/29/2014. Luke 11:1-4. Prayer.

How to Pray. Luke 11:1-4.

Pastor Nam Park.

Introducing the Issue of Prayer.

Prayer is like "Spiritual Breathing."

Survival Skills Class: Best Zoe Class "EVER", taught by Nam and Wayne S.
3 hours without shelter.
3 days without water.
3 weeks without food.
Breathing doesn't fit in the rule of 3's. Without oxygen, you can't survive.
Prayer is thus likened to breathing.

Luke 11:1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.

3 ‘Give us each day our daily bread.

4 ‘And forgive us our sins,

For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

This passage in Luke 11 is somewhat of a truncated version of what is found in Matthew 6. Nam is under the opinion that these two prayers are two separate occasions of teaching on prayer. This teaching in Luke 11 is occasioned by a request...

Luke 11:1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”
- It was a common practice of Jesus to pray. 
- Request: Lord, please model for us a "cool pray" that we can say over and over.
- Response: It's not one prayer, but it's a pattern layout. 

BREATHE IN: The desire to give glory to God.
Luke 11:2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
- Father is translated "Abba"
- The "inhaling" of the reality that God is our "dad"
- How tremendous is our relationship with our God, that we could call him "Father"
- "Hallowed": the negation of sin; more importantly God is "set apart" and "categorically different" and "exalted" and "sanctified"
- "Kingdom Come": the end-game of reality; the Glory of God's will PERFECTLY accomplished; the will of God fully realized.
- Gain energy from the fact that the Kingdom is coming.
- There are really just two days: Today and THAT Day. - CS Lewis.
- Regardless of how bad things get now, there will always be THAT Day. 
- Future Hope fuels our present purpose. When we start running low on why we're doing what we're doing; fighting agains injustice; getting tired of the junk that is in this world. How do we refuel this spiritual energy? Remember who God is and who we are in Christ, with our Heavenly Father. And then, we remember the future plan. We remember that all things will come under His actual will, realized in this planet in the new Heavens and the new Earth. Future Hope Fuels our current purposes.

Mission: It's His Will that must be done. His kingdom must come, and I will do what I can to be a part of that.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

TO PROVIDE

Luke 11:3 ‘Give us each day our daily bread.

- "Give us food." Yet curiously is the word "daily."
- "daily" aka "regular" portion that fits us right now. Likened to how Manna was provided to the people in Exodus 16.
Exodus 16:15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.’” 17 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat. 19 Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.”
- The point was to look for the provision of God on a DAILY basis.
- We are not just to ask the Lord for EVERYTHING all at once, but for the daily need. And to trust Him for this daily need. Not just the BIG things abut also the LITTLE things can be taken to the Lord.
- Look to the ultimate provider.

TO FORGIVE.
Luke 11:4 ‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.’”

- Anyone who prays this prayer must be ready to forgive when others have personally offended us. Else they would be called a liar.
- Augustine called this "the Terrible Petition"
- "Unless you have forgiven others, you read your own death warrant when you repeat the Lord's prayer." - Charles Spurgeon

- If you are unforgiving towards others, you are asking the Lord to be unforgiving towards you.
- "A man can go to hell just as well for not forgiving as for not believing." - Thomas Watson
- Having a character of forgiveness. 
- The problem is that we all sin. There will be ample opportunity for forgiving others if we understand that there is an intense connectedness between our forgiving and our willingness to forgive.
- We are not just a redeemed people, we should be a people willing to redeem. We are not just a reconciled people, we should be a people willing to reconcile. If that graciousness is not in us, you've got to wonder about the key component in our Christian lives. 
- Forgiveness is good for our souls. Bitterness hurts us. Modern medicine proves that bitterness will hurt us physically.
- If non-believers can't see forgiveness within our churches, why would they care?
- As a non-believer, Nam found this singular thing appealing: The recognition of my own sin, and the fact that God would actually forgive me. Cancel the debt against me. You feel like you have to earn it. But that in His grace, He would forgive you of your sins, that is what is so majestic about this Christian faith.
- For a Christian community not to replicate this forgiveness, UTTERLY FOOLISH.

Our church doesn't have drama. "Get over it" with each other. Be easy with each other. Learn to be gracious and not to develop bitterness. Learn to model this prayer. Become a gracious people.

EXHALING: Provide for us, Forgive us, Protect us.
TO PROTECT.

Luke 11:4 ‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.’”

Some mistakenly use this verse to say God tempts us. But James says:
James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
- God doesn't directly tempt us with any evil.
- God also don't block out ALL TEMPTATION.
- He gives us opportunities to grow stronger. ie. When exercising, muscles break and rebuild stronger.
- Christian Character is grown through trials.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
- Not that temptation is necessary, but trials are necessary.
- Constantly pray for protection from the things that could make us falter.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Jesus has modeled the HOW we should pray, but also the WHY we should pray.
- We don't pray for His Kingdom to come unless we understand what that means.
- We don't pray for provision, forgiveness, and protection if that isn't something that we are seeking to model and something we adore.
- It's a modeling of spiritual living.
- Fundamental and deeper than anything else we might do spiritually... For the Glory of God.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/22/2014. Luke 10:38-42. Martha Mary.

Duty and Devotion. Luke 10:38-42.
Pastor Nam Park.

Sometimes the responsibilities we have become drudgery. Something we have to do rather than something we want to do. ie. Be a cheerful giver. Moms taking care of babies without joy. Students having to do assignments. Drudgery. Christians that go to church without joy, doing.

It's the BOTH/AND of "Duty" and "Devotion" that we're seeking.
The Lord cares about our heart and motives.

Martha and Mary

Luke 10:38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her,“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Let us not be pre-occupied with responsibility, to the exclusion of our delight of You. Thank you for Your Word. We Praise You and ask for your Holy Spirit to instruct us now. Amen.

We do things we're supposed to, not necessarily because we want to do things.

Jesus taught during the day. At night, most likely he would stay in Bethany, in the home of Mary, Martha, & Lazarus. Luke chooses to put this story here, even if it doesn't fit the chronologically order. It's a thematic placing of this story. Training the disciples that we are to love our God in worshipful service. This story falls right after the story of the Samaritan being a good neighbor, and the disciples might error on the "doing." To prevent against just "doing," we have this story here.

Martha is probably the oldest. She is the most assertive. 
Mary is known for using perfume to wash Jesus' feet with her hair. No words of Mary recorded in Scripture.
Martha wanted to impress. It's an elaborate meal. She also just wanted to be nice.

Luke 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 
- She takes initiative to dialogue with Jesus and to be His disciple.
- It's unusual for women to become disciples.
- She was intentional of being an intense learner.
- Mary is more interested in being a learner.

Martha and Mary are BOTH disciples of Christ.

John 11:21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

- Martha's confession is on level with Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ.

The Distraction that Duty might Bring.
Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 
- Martha is distracted by her preparation.
- In the midst of her ministry, she was sidetracked in making this more about herself than serving a meal.
- Distracted by becoming "too busy" 
- The 20th Century is defined by busyness.

The older generation imagined that as technology increased, we would have increased leisure. The exact opposite. We are "busy" trying to be productive. Our "busyness" is our badge of honor.

"People expect us to be busy and over-worked. It's become a status symbol in our society. If we're busy, we're important, if we're not busy, we're embarrassed to admit it. Busyness is where we get our security. It's validating, popular, and pleasing. It's also a good excuse for not dealing with the first things in our lives." - Steven Convey, book: "First things first"

Old Friends: How are things?
Nam: It's been busy...
Old Friends: I thought you just went on vacation.
Nam: Oh, yes, busy vacation. Busy relaxing. Busy, busy, busy.

Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
- When it's all about drudgery, we start to doubt the goodness of our God for us.
- ie. Studying for that test that you don't want to take. Drudgery.
- When it's drudgery, we feel disappointment in God, Himself.
- We also become grumbling in our own spirits. (Mary left her all alone). Transforms to a critical spirit. Command that girl to HELP ME. The heart is distracted. The critical spirit is developed in a sense of urgency. 

"Tension and frustration mount when we are performing the wrong tasks or trying to cram too many of the right activities into a given period. The critical spirit begins to develop and we begin to judge and condemn others for what they do or don't do. Any time you feel a wave of criticism gaining in your spirit, remember that it's completely out-of-line as God is concerned." - Charles Hummel, book: Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent.

If anyone has right to complain, it would be Jesus. He skips meals, preaches, has little time to sleep. But He is the last to complain.

Luke 10:41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 
- Jesus is to help her prioritize devotion.
- "Martha, Martha": a sign of tender emotion/affection. It's not "Satan, get behind me." This reproach is for a woman who doesn't realize that she has become so distracted.
- She is inwardly worried, outwardly bothered.
- Service is important. But it can become drudgery and stress.
- Don't forget why we do ministry: Devotion to God. 
- Being connected in fellowship is greater than service.

Psalms 51: 1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,

And my sin is ever before me.

4 Against You, You only, I have sinned

And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,

And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness,

Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins

And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

And sustain me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners will be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;

Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

That my mouth may declare Your praise.

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;

You are not pleased with burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

18 By Your favor do good to Zion;

Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,

In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.

- In OT times, if you sinned, you would offer sacrifices.
- David taps into something more: God wants a contrite heart.
- Isn't that why you became a Christian? It's not about escaping hell-fire. It's about repairing the relationship we have with God.
- It's easy to do stuff without caring about stuff.
- You must redeem the things that you do. Why do you do what you do... for the Lord.
Luke 10:42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
- Martha is not rebuked for sinful service. She's not sinning.
- Martha is missing a singular element that makes ALL THINGS GREAT.
- ie. Salt is like that. Sea Salt Coffee at 85 Degrees. It tastes like ice cream.
- The one thing: Communion with God. The one thing is connected to our Savior. The nearness of God that help us to know that the Lord is good.
- Taste and see that the Lord is good. We understand "taste" very well, like the things we eat.
- DEVOTION. To love and to enjoy Him. It makes all things GOOD.
- "good portion": everything that is delightful, the Lord.

Mary chose the good part. She is there to learn, meditate, glorify (what the Son has come to do). Communion transforms our giving and service into JOY. It's the difficult balance of communion with the duty. Choosing the nearness of God is good at ALL TIMES. Duty without devotion is likened to a mom serving her family meals but hating them on the inside. Duty can turn into drudgery.

Text messaging/emailing continually decreases IQ by 5 points in women, 15 points in men. That's the equivalent of missing a night of sleep or smoking marijuana.

Sometimes we go on Sunday because we have to.
But we are actually going to worship our God. Redeem the reason why you do the things you do.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/15/2014. Luke 10:25-37. Good Neighbor.

The Meaning of loving your Neighbor. Luke 10:25-37.
Pastor Nam Park.

When we talk about loving our neighbor, it's not understanding the concept, but the genuine-ness and willingness to apply Jesus' teaching of it.

Luke 10:25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

The Good Samaritan

30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

May we learn to love one another, so that You would be praised. Amen.

We would think that a lawyer is an expert in secular law. Yet, a lawyer in Luke's mind is closer to a scribe/scholar that studies the Word of God.

Luke 10:25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 
- Our mind naturally focus on "eternal life"
- "Inherit": is curious, thinking he is promised this.
- Sandwich: Prayer - Love the Lord with all my Heart Soul Being - Prayer

Luke 10:26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read [recite] to you?” 
- "recite": almost suggesting that this man already knows the answer to this.

Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
- Love the Lord with all of your being. Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Love for God must be the primary.
- Make this a common thing. Make it an action. Love God, Love People and you will live.

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Luke 10:28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 
- This journey was usually treacherous. Surrounded by caves which made good hideouts for bandits.
- They stripped him, beat him, robbed (implied by robbers) him. The man was left fighting for life.

How Jesus twists the story is the heart of the message.
***A priest is a son of Aaron, he's the assumed good guy. Leaving Jerusalem, headed towards Jericho. How would this minister respond to this man, clinging for life? As he crosses the street, we assume that his motive is to be ceremonially clean. But he is leaving Jerusalem, so he could afford to be unclean for a while.
***A Levite, the tribe that takes care of temple service (yet not a son of Aaron), aka assistant priest. He also crosses the street.
***Thus, Israel's finest have just crossed the street.
The crowd at this point would then assume that the normal average Jewish person would be the hero, an average-Joe, would care for this man. This would make sense. 
***Of all the things that Jesus could do to twist the story, He uses the word "Samaritan." And the Jewish people hated Samaritans and vice versa.
And Jesus gives a clear indication of why the Samaritan stops (he felt compassion for him) and, being moved to a point of compassion to do something about it.

Luke 10:33 But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 
- Bandaged up wounds, pouring oil on it... using the provisions he brought for the trip.
- Put him on his own beast, meaning that the Samaritan would now be walking.
- Approximately 24 days of room and wage.

The Q and A is now reversed.
Luke 10:36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
- "proved": meaning "came to be"
- The lawyer answered honestly: "The one who showed mercy toward him."
- The command is to go and DO THE SAME.

We live in a time when doing good can be dangerous.

Loving our neighbor is not a simple formula. Are you willing to love the way that the Lord expects us to love. Total obedience is much more difficult than total comprehension. It's about application. It's not the hearing and understanding, it's about the movement to DO.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/8/2014. Philippians 2. Pride.

Pending.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/1/2014. Luke 10:21-24.

The Enjoyment of Salvation. Luke 10:21-24.
Pastor Nam Park.

Title: "The Enjoyment of Salvation". Jesus training His disciples, with the anticipation of His ascension. He will ascend and leave the disciples to carry the ministry on, without Him. He goes over the enjoyment that is salvation. The difference between seeing the picture of a dish of food, and enjoying it. Enjoying the thrill of having salvation in Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
23 Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”

What are we saved from?
First we say we're saved from our sin. We're saved also from the consequences of sin. Yet the consequences stems from the fact that God is Holy. The most primary/basic reality, that we are saved from the wrath of God.

Why should anyone desire to be saved?
There is an eternal consequence on this side of Heaven. Yet, where is that source of eternal life? The most primary/basic answer, it's the enjoyment of God, Himself.
Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 
- Sounds strange? But this appeals to something that we understand: TASTE.
- A delighting that is experiential and excellent.
- Salvation goes beyond being saved from brimstone and fire.

Three facets of enjoyment.

[[1. JOY of God in His Salvation.]]

Luke 10:20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Luke 10:21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 
- Jesus is ecstatic, rejoicing greatly. Something about Salvation that brings delight to our Savior.
- Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- There is delight in the Son. He praises the Father.
- "praise You": confessing in public the goodness of our God.
- "wise and intelligent": those that knew the scriptures well.
- "infants": babbling (this is us!)
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.
- Jesus exalts in Salvation, because it's not for the "have's"... any other religion is about being and getting more access to it. We must come to an end of ourselves and realize that we are at the infant stage, babbling... hoping salvation would come unto us.

The Pharisees were blind because they were the legalist.
The Scribes were blind because they were too technical.
The Saducees were blind because they were the philosophers.
v.21b Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
- This is what God delights in. God delights in demonstrating His grace to those that recognize their absolute un-worth.
- God does not take delight in sin and punishment. But He DELIGHTS in the salvation of sinners.

[[2. The Facet of Relationship.]]
Luke 10:22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
- Jesus has the authority to rescue souls, and this is how it is described.
- Jesus describes salvation within the terms of relationship with the Father.
- Salvation isn't just a "good deal"... But our God is not that calculating. What is offered in salvation is a relationship with God. Savor that. An intimate knowledge of the relationship between a Father and a Son. 
- "anyone to whom the Son wills": we are not saved to slavery; but a spirit of adoption.
- Remember the Prodigal Son. The Young man rehearses his speech, but his father comes running down main street to embrace his son.
- Taste and see that our Heavenly Father is good.

[[3. The Facet of Privilege.]]
Luke 10:23 Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”
- Jesus turns to us now. This is a beatitude. A statement that proclaims that you are already in that state.
- These people are blessed because they are witnesses to salvation.

Christianity is about a God that DELIGHTS in saving people.
- It's the difference between having an idea of what marriage is, and actually being married. Marriage is delightful.
- Whatever theoretical knowledge you have about being forgiven; MUCH BETTER to just be forgiven. MUCH BETTER to be adopted into the family of God. 
- O Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Plato's allegory of the Cave.
- We have a concept of love. But it's just a shadow of what is true.
- Imagine a man chained to a cave that is open above and behind him. What he would see is a shadow of trees and animals. He thought the shadows wondrous. Yet, when he is set free, the real world would blow his mind.
- The full image of salvation begins today.

Don't reduce your salvation to a religious experience.

Sunday Morning IBC. 5/18/2014. Luke 9:51-62.

The Cost of Following Christ.  Luke 9:51-62.
Pastor Nam Park.

If I asked you, "What is the cost of Salvation?"
I would hope you would respond, "Nothing, our salvation costs us nothing."
We are incapable of bringing anything to the table that would insinuate that we are worthy of salvation. We can't earn salvation. Yet, although we come by faith alone, there is a reality that settles (after we're believers) that it costs us everything. 
Once you are made a child of God, there is nothing you would keep in order to follow Him. You would easily count all other things as loss compared to knowing Christ, Jesus.  Nothing you wouldn't sacrifice for our Lord.

Jesus begins with instruction on what it costs to follow Him.

Luke 9:51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. 54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”55 But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

Exacting Discipleship

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night.” - John Piper, Hunger for God.

Luke 9:51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; 

- Luke reminds us of Jesus' task.
- "He set His face toward Jerusalem."

Samaritans and Jews hate one another.
Reason: Nationalistic Pride.
Samaritans were intermarried with foreigners. Israel is commanded not to marry with foreigners. In Luke Samaritans is only mentioned 3 times. Thus, it was just a point of reality.

Luke 9:54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
- Sons of Thunder. Thunderous in their personality. Wonderful zeal and faith... but misguided.
- Possibly similar to story of Elijah commanding fire to consume the messenger and 50 of his men.

2 Kings1:9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10 Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11 So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, “O man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’” 12 Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. 14 Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.” 15 The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. 16 Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’”

Luke 9:55 But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.
- Why Brackets? A: Sometimes, it's uncertain whether this portion belongs in the original text.
- The word of God is inerrant. A good student of the Word would just bracket these words so that at least we have it. 
- These words may not have been included in the earliest text, but did appear in others.
- In God's wisdom, there were many copies of Scripture, everywhere. No one could just go in and change one set of manuscripts. We have preserved the full Word of God.
- New portions of scriptures found just validate what we already have.

MAN #1: TOO EAGER.
Luke 9:57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
- Said eagerly, without thoughtfulness.
- They wanted to share in His power. But what about sharing in His suffering.
- Jesus recommends to come into this with "eyes wide open."
- Foxes and birds of the air are wild/undomesticated, but the Son of Man is REJECTED. It's not about comforts. It's about not having a place.

A committed heart knows the discomfort of loving uncomfortable people.
"I love the life I'm given now, but I would easily give it up if the Lord called me somewhere else."
- Discomfort of being disliked.
- It costs nothing to come to Christ. Yet after, He is the pearl of GREAT VALUE. You would give up everything. It's not a standard of earning your way.
- Make sure you make Christ the number 1 thing.

MAN #2: HE WANTS TO DELAY.
Luke 9:59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”
- Jewish Culture: They usually bury the dead first. Immediate, top priority; over service at the temple.
- Most likely this guys father is not dead yet, but in-firmed.

Jesus isn't demanding this of everyone. 
We're listening in on these commands. Jesus hints that we must be ready to give these up.
- If we consider the gifts more important than the giver, it becomes idolatry.
- God wants us to love our families, but we must remember to make Christ the most important thing.

MAN #3: HE WANTS TO SAY GOODBYE TO THOSE AT HOME.
Elisha requests this to Elijah.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

If He asked you; would you, could you... abandon all?

William W. Bourdin (Bourdin Cheese).
Son of a wealthy Chicago family. Traveled around the world at age 18. 
Education at Yale then Princeton Seminary. Committed to seek the salvation of Muslims in China. Before leaving, he gave away 500,000 (Equivalent to $15 million today). Helped to establish Moody Bible Institute. He then left for Egypt for the final year of his life. As he lay dying, he scribbled, "No reserve, no retreat, no regrets."
It's not about fulfilling a task, it's about following Jesus.
William Bourdin didn't allow anything to come between him and following Jesus Christ.

To be able to say, "If the Lord took me today, I was a follower of Jesus Christ."

IBC Single's Retreat. May 2014. Psalms 23.

IBC Singles Retreat - May 2014. 

Speaker for Retreat: Wayne Hu. Psalms 23.

George’s Friday Night Message.

Colossians 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

v.12 The action that God took: He chose us. 

“elect”: It was a deeply personal choice.

“holy”: Set apart.

The action that we take: put on... 

“tender mercies”: don’t give up praying for unsaved friends/family; remember that you were likewise un-save-able. 

“kindness”: the kindness that leads to repentance

“humility”: deep sense of lowness that is opposite of pride.

“meekness”: aka gentleness; controlling our reactions when others wrong us.

v.13 “bearing with one another”: enduring with one another because we share in Christ’s blood.

“forgiving”: you are never more like Christ than when you forgive.

J.Adams is the founder of Biblical Counseling.

Forgive first and the feelings of forgiveness (fruit of the spirit, Galatians) will come afterwards.

Forgiveness is a choice. 

After forgiving: 1) Don’t bring it up to the person. 2) Don’t discuss it with others. 3) Don’t dwell on it.

God was enthusiastic to forgive us. We should enthusiastically forgive others.

The action God exemplified: Christ forgave you.

v.14 The action you exemplify: put on love.

So, What is the problem of the IBC Singles’ Group?

• Organization... Lack of.
• Identity... People don’t necessarily identify with the singles group.
• Cohesion [Pink Elephant of dating tension; girls and guys keep distance.]
• Worship... This affects worship.

George’s Statement (I couldn’t copy it down verbatim): Living in Reverential fear of God, loving through an accurate understanding of the Scripture.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

Message #2. 

Pastor Wayne Hu.

Psalms 23 is by David; a recounted testimony of God’s hand in his life.

The words “Lord” and “Shepherd” don’t normally go together. 

“God”: Elohim, was God’s formal name.

“LORD”: God’s personal name. YHWH.

In Psalms 23, the Lord’s personal name is used.

Usually the job of shepherd was forced on the youngest son. David was the youngest and therefore commanded to watch the flocks.

Spurgeon: The Lord is my Shepherd? What is this? That God would allow Himself to be low so that He might show His love for us.

Psalms 23 is the first time that this analogy of “Shepherd” is used for the Lord.

John 10:11-18. 11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but Ilay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/19023.htm

David felt that he needed a shepherd. The heart of this Psalm doesn’t connect with the self-sufficient. But those who acutely sense their need - the poor in spirit Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:2) - find great comfort in the idea that God can be a shepherd to them in a personal sense.

Spurgeon said that before a man can truly say, “the Lord is my shepherd” he must first feel himself to be a sheep by nature, “for he cannot know that God is his Shepherd unless he feels in himself that he has the nature of a sheep.” He must relate to a sheep in its foolishness, its dependency, and in the warped nature of its will.

Analogy of Cockroaches. We are like cockroaches, and Christ chose to die for us. We are the creation.

Psalms 23 follows Psalms 22 (Messianic Psalm).

Shepherds are not supposed to die for their sheep. Yet our Savior chose the nails. He chose to die.

Isaiah 53:4-7

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

“MY” is the sweetest word of the whole verse - Spurgeon.

A famous actor was an after dinner speaker at a big fund raising function; and apparently he was well known for his voice because when he stood up to speak, he invited his audience to choose a poem for him to recite. There was a long silence until an older preacher raised his hand and asked for Psalm 23.

The actor was slightly taken back, but agreed to read the Psalm provided the preacher recite it after him; which the old man reluctantly agreed to do. So the actor recited Psalm 23 and received a standing ovation.

Then the preacher recited the Psalm, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Upon seeing this reaction from the crowd, the actor went over to the older preacher and said to the guests “Do you know the difference between his version and mine? I know the 23rd Psalm; but this man knows the Shepherd.”

Do you know the Shepherd?

Psalms 23 is for believers only. First embrace Psalms 22.

Message #3. 

Pastor Wayne Hu.

We must understand the first 5 verses of this passage.

Psalms 23 

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

v.1 The Lord is my shepherd, “there is nothing I lack” or “how can I lack anything?”

v.2 This verse describes the rest we have in Christ. 

Sheep normally move because they eat up the pastures.

“quiet waters”: where sheep can drink without being rushed.

Sheep worry about fear, friction, flies, and famine. But the shepherd brings trust, peace, deliverance, and pasture (for hunger). Our shepherd knows our needs. Are you resting and setting your gaze on Christ?

http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/19023.htm

Philip Keller (in A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23) writes that sheep do not lie down easily, and will not unless four conditions are met. Because they are timid they will not lie down if they are afraid. Because they are social animals they will not lie down if there is friction among the sheep. If flies or parasites trouble them they will not lie down. Finally, if sheep are anxious about food or hungry they will not lie down. Rest comes because the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies, and famine.

He leads me beside the still waters: The shepherd knows when the sheep needs green pastures, and knows when the sheep needs the still waters. The images are rich with the sense of comfort, care, and rest.

v.3 “He causes my soul to restore”

We are helpless like sheep and we need Christ to come and restore us. We can’t live independently from God’s word.

v.3 Believers in Christ don’t lack guidance.

“paths of righteousness” aka “right paths”. These are morally correct paths. The best paths.

God’s ultimate will is that you’d be Holy. (Book: Just Do Something.)

Not only do we need His word, we need His Spirit.

It’s all about God. 

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

• It’s all about God and we’re just blessed to be a part of His story.
• God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him. True joy comes from making much of God.

v.4 Things will not always go our way. We should expect valleys. 

The greatest valleys in your life are YET to come.

v.4 The Psalmist changes to the “You” pronoun.

It is precisely when he enters into the Valley that the Psalmist cries to the Lord directly. 

We can pray that others draw closer to God when they are in suffering.

We are more prone to talk “about” God when things are going well. But when in the valley, we actually talk to God. In the dark, we cling to God, in the light we cling to our comforts.

We see God more in suffering times. Yet God provides for us even now. Either just as much, or even more NOW.

The main point of this verse is NOT the Valley, but instead, it is the presence of God.

Psalms 56 

Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me;

Fighting all day long he oppresses me.

2 My foes have trampled upon me all day long,

For they are many who fight proudly against me.

3 When I am afraid,

I will put my trust in You.

4 In God, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust;

I shall not be afraid.

What can mere man do to me?

Even Satan is used for God’s glory.

If you focus on fears, they grow. If you focus on God,... Focus on the Attributes of God in trials, the more you will find yourself trusting Him.

The same shepherd is with us in pastures and in the valleys.

Questions asked to someone with Cancer.

1. Can God do Something? (Yes)
2. Did God do Something? (No, didn’t heal cancer.)
3. What do you think that God wants us to do? (Glorify Him with the time I have left.) <--- This is what we can control.

Message #4. 

Pastor Wayne Hu.

What Wayne has gleaned so far.

v.4 Intermingle our theology and our prayers.

v.5 the table: a feast.

v.5 “my head with oil”: olives are highly valued.

v.5 God’s abundant provision. “My cup overflows”. God is going over the top to serve us.

The Shepherd is coming alongside the sheep. Why would a good shepherd lead the sheep through v.4? A: So that the sheep can arrive at v.5

Count the Cost.

Who, in their right mind would choose to follow Christ? A: The person who realizes that following Christ is ultimate gain.

Is Christ YOUR Shepherd and your greatest desire now?

Else, you will not desire heaven.

Ways to Cultivate love for our Savior.

1. Individual Prayer. If you want to get to know someone more, you must spend time with them.
2. Motivations. Don’t do things for other people. Develop your own convictions.
3. Apply the Word for yourself. Application is more than “stopping at 3rd base”, go for home plate. Apply!
4. Dwell on Heaven.
5. Go to the Cross. It is my sins hat put Christ on the cross.