Luke 15:2-3, 25-30 NKJV

Luke 15:2 NKJV

And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 15:3

So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

Jesus then goes on to tell three separate parables all with a common thread of things lost.  The lost sheep was lost naturally, the lost coin was lost accidentally and the lost son (parable for our series) was lost willfully. Jesus by design takes the accusation of the religious folks and creates a crises of faith.

The lost son is the pinnacle of all the stories because it is this scenario that started their complaining in the first place.

Luke 15:25 NKJV

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luke 15:26

So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

Luke 15:27

And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

Luke 15:28

“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

Luke 15:29

So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

Luke 15:30

But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

Revealing the attitude of religion

The attitude of of religion;

1. 1. Complains (vs. 2 & 30). Not just a casual complaint but an anger and emotional passion rising when you do not get what you want.  This chapter opens and ends with complainers!  We see this culturally as we watch various criminal activities – emotion is not a real good compass for judgment.  While there is a “biblical way to addres concerns, complaining is NEVER viewed in Scripture as a positive  (complaining is about your attitude and motive)

1. 2. Compares people (vs. 29) cannot overlook here that he NEVER showed any regret for the loss of his brother or joy for his return. He felt a sense of superiority; you cannot forgive as long as you feel superior!

• Good vs. Bad
• Generation vs. Generation
• Insiders vs. Outsiders
• Haves vs. Have Not
• Churched vs. Un-churched
• Class vs. Class

My heart as a pastor is to see this room filled with 1/3

Mature believers, beginning believers and pagans!

1. 3. Connects behaviors with blessing. A sense of entitlement due to your good behavior… “ lo these many years”, I have been here a long time, I have made this place happen. His tenure and work efforts provides and implied priority.

1. 4. Challenges priorities (in short summary, all three parables are about the issue of priority).  The opening criticism was that Jesus was talking to a “lost” people “ sinners”. Christ responds with a three parables about lost things – clearly He is making a point!

Another time that Jesus priority was questioned – story of Zacchaeus

Luke 19:9 NKJV

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

Luke 19:10

for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

You see what was wrong with the elder brother when you contrast him with the father (just like the younger brother)

Questions about the father –

1. 1. Which son did he love more?
2. 2. Which son treated the father wrong?
3. 3. Which son needed to repent?
4. Which sons condition was harder to see? (like Jonah and Ninevah, which one had a wrong heart)

Warning for all of us in this story- (and for those he was talking to). Listen close!

1. The elder brother was as far from the heart of the father as the younger ( elder brother was much like the prophet Jonah in the OT – who complained and criticized God for accepting the repentance of Ninevah (Irony)
2. The elder brothers condition was harder to recognize because it was buried below the surface of self –righteousness
3. The longer you have been home or away from prodigal living the easier become and elder brother

Removing the attitude of religion

Mover now from the father in this story to our Heavenly Father

1. 1. See what the father sees- the father had compassion on the younger – meaning he saw himself in him.
2. 2. Love like the father loves – know the heart of our Father and love what He loves
3. 3. Want what He wants

Peter 3:9  NKJV The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance

1. 4. Celebrate that you have always had the Father’s heart, and now another feels the same joy you feel.

5 29 11 HT AM

John 4:19-24 NKJV

We began the 30DC with the message of LORDSHIP – today we conclude with the topic of WORSHIP – in particular our corporate/ congregational singing unto the Lord. By definition we know that worship includes various things from our lifestyle, serving, giving and even the songs from the heart.  For today we are going to focus on Worship within the corporate congregation and singing – something we give nearly half of every service to, our PUBLIC PRAISE.

Psalm 22:3 KJV But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

inhabitest

• to sit, sit down
• to be set
• to remain, stay
• to dwell, have one’s abode

praises

praise, song or hymn of praise

• praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God)
• act of general or public praise
• praise-song (as title)
• praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God)
• renown, fame, glory

When you sing – God stops and sits down!

John 4:19 NKJV

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

John 4:20

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

John 4:21

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

John 4:22

You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

John 4:24

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

IN THIS – JESUS GIVES US THE #1 KEY TO WORSHIP – IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH – NOT CONCERNED AS MUCH WITH FORM – LOCATION – BUT HEART – - MATTER OF FACT IN MT 15:8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,  but their hearts are far from me.⁹ They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules

Lets talk about worship today (context is PUBLIC WORSHIP – words, songs, etc)

WORSHIP

1. 1st. Its not about the mountain – its about the Maker. Its not about how we worship, where we worship or even when, its about WHO we worship!

True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how the worship looks. Focusing on these things completely misses the point. Music is worship and worship is music / music has always shifted based on culture, language, technology, and even decade.

(Deron “I surrender all” – “Arms open wide”)

Regretfully worship has also created dividing lines. Lines between style and even generations – some will attend a church or even leave a church based upon worship preferences – while this is certainly understandable, you have a right to decide what you like – but not a right to decide what God likes. His worship preferences are not about what’s heard but what is in the heart. – He will bask in the cries of the rocks!

1. 2nd. Worship is about a humble heart

James 4:6 NKJV

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.” ◙

James 4:7

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Worship draws God in a pushes the Devil away!  It was worship and the desire to be exalted above God that caused Satan to rebel in the first place! You want the enemy to flee SING! He can’t stay it when you sing to God, because its praise that he is after!!

A. Worship Expression in Scripture;

• YADAH – TO EXTEND THE HAND – BASICALLY – TO LIFT THE HAND – THE OPPOSITE IS TO WRING YOUR HANDS – PS 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands

IN VICTORY WAY – CLOSELY TIED TO TOWDAH

• TOWDAH  – EXTENSION OF THE HAND IN ADORATION – PS 50:14 OFFER UNTO GOD PRAISE (TOWDAH) AND PAY THY VOWS TO THE MOST HIGH

***INTIMACY – HANDS TO PARENT  —

• HALAL –  TO BOAST – WE GET OUR WORD HALELEUJAH FROM THIS – MEANS TO BE CLEAR, TO SHINE, TO BAOST, TO RAVE, TO CELEBRATE,

PS 113:1Praise the LORD.^[a]Praise the LORD, you his servants;  praise the name of the LORD.

*** HAVE A PROBLEM W/ THIS – NOT VOCAL – YES YOU ARE – SPORTS – CULTURE HAS TOLD US NO – if you have ever called the hogs/ sung the sooner fight song or sang about your pride and joy with Stevie Ray– then you can WORSHIP YOUR CREATOR!

• SHABACH – TO ADDRESS IN A LOUD TONE, TO COMMAND TO TRIUMPH, GLORY, SHOUT. HEAVEN WILL NOT BE QUIET! OUR CHURCHES MISS IT HERE.

PS 145:4 One Generation shall praise (Shabach) they works to another and declare thy mighty acts.

***LETS KEEP OUR SHOUTS IN AT THE RIGHT TIME

*** Keep in mind corporate vs. private worship – there is a difference! DON’T LET YOUR WORSHIP BE AN OFFENSE. TWIRLY BIRD!!!

• BARAK – “TO KNEEL DOWN, TO BLESS GOD AS AN ACT OF ADORATION.” WE DON’T DO THIS A LOT.

PS 95:6 O Come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel (barak) before the Lord our maker.”

• ZAMAR – “TO TOUCH THE STRINGS” TO PLAY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC,

PS 150:3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

• TEHILLAH – “TO SING, TO LAUD” PUBLICLY!

PS 22:3 God is enthroned or inhabits the praises (tehillah) of Israel.

Psalm 149:1 NKJV

Praise the Lord!

Sing to the Lord a new song,

And His praise in the assembly of saints.

1. 3rd. Praise and worship is your moment to BRAG on GOD!

(Deron – I will BOAST)

Like a woman showing off an anniversary band – or a man showing off a new car – or a child showing off a new video game or shoes – as children of God we have so much to brag about our God to our God and in the company of others!!!

Psalm 150:1 NKJV

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Psalm 150:2

Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Psalm 150:3

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;

Praise Him with the lute and harp!

Psalm 150:4

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

Psalm 150:5

Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Psalm 150:6

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

The word Praise here is the word “Halal” – it means to

BOAST! Our praise and worship is a time to BOAST about

our God! We boast corporately for both practical reasons

and supernatural reasons

(God stops and takes a seat -when we sing)

If worship exists because of WORTH it is our obligation as believers to bring our best worship each time we come to the house of God!

5 15 11 HT AM

Luke 9:10-17 NKJV

Luke 9:10 NKJV

And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

Luke 9:11

But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.

Luke 9:12

When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

Luke 9:13

But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

Luke 9:14

For there were about five thousand men.

Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.”

Luke 9:15

And they did so, and made them all sit down.

Luke 9:16

Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Luke 9:17

So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

WRITE DOWN OUR TITLE – money – blessed and multiplied

This AM we will build on TWO tracks regarding money.

1. Money that is blessed

2. Money that multiplies

Think of it this way – the tithe is the foundation (slide here) while the offering is the elevation

Tithe and Offering. The Tithe is the foundation and FIRST thing we give.

1. Tithe is blessed (it must be blessed before it can multiply –TITHE)

When we give our tithe – (Hebrews 7) Jesus Himself receives them.  We know based on the story of the widows mite – that He watches the offering. He knows everything about each of us, including finances.

The Tithe removes our finance out from the earth systems that are under a curse. REUBUKE THE DEVOURER

Malachi 3:10 NKJV

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,”

Says the Lord of hosts,

“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 3:11

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,

So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,

Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”

Says the Lord of hosts;

Malachi 3:12

And all nations will call you blessed,

For you will be a delightful land,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

God will bless the tithe!

The tithe is NOT giving – it’s returning! It’s already HIS – All you can do with the tithe is return it or steal it J

Leviticus 27:30 NKJV

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’S. It is holy to the Lord.

God can only bless what you put in His hand – God can only bless what is FIRST – it’s about first fruits not LAST remains.  Why first fruits, because first fruits establish FAITH!

Proverbs 3:9 MSG

Honor God with everything you own;

give him the first and the best.

Proverbs 3:10

Your barns will burst,

your wine vats will brim over.

2. Giving is multiplied (offering) (only what is given away can be multiplied – OFFERING)

Had the disciples NOT given it away it would not have multiplied.  Only what leaves your hand can grow – giving is over and above the tithe (God speaks to His sheep)

Our lives today –

1. 1. The conversation -stewardship vs. ownership

.

Psalm 24:1 NKJV

The earth is the Lord’S, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell therein.

Matthew 25:14 NKJV

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

Matthew 25:15

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

Matthew 25:16

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

Matthew 25:17

And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

Matthew 25:18

But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

1. 2. The contest – mammon vs. God

Some have been in a battle the entire time I have been speaking.  Your heart is very turned against the church and any conversations about money.

Mammon Says “ buy and sell” God says “sow and reap”, mammon says “cheat and steal” God says “give and receive”

God is looking for people who He can trust to multiply their loaves and fish

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

• Mammon (god of money) will try to take the place of God in your life.
• If you do not honor God with the tithe and offering – money has already taken the place of God in your life!

CLOSING MINISTRY –

OT and Solomon – God told Solomon to ask what he wanted and God would give it – why did God tell him this… It was tradition for the King to sacrifice one bull upon His inauguration – how many did Solomon Sacrifice?

1 Kings 3:4 NKJV

Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

1 Kings 3:5

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

Your life right now… ministry/close and offering

Today some of you God is telling you to start tithing, some He is telling you to start giving, some He is telling you to start giving extravagantly