Lord, I Need You!
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning from the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount just how much we need Jesus!
Text: Luke 6:29-31
Date: 04/03/2022, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 58
Description:
The sweetest words that any person can hear themselves say, when they truly come from the heart, are "Lord, I need you!". It is the realization of how much we need Jesus as our Lord and Savior that drives us to the Cross. In our text for this lesson, Jesus will continue to reveal the ethical standards of the Kingdom of God and how impossible they are to uphold on our own. When Jesus sums up the Law and the Prophets in what has been called the Golden Rule, we will see that the rule itself is a dividing line that separates good and evil, right and wrong, saved and unsaved, and as a result-- heaven and hell. Those honest with themselves will realize this is a rule that cannot possibly be kept by a fallen humanity, and therefore is universally condemning. So ultimately, it is my prayer that all who hear this message will also hear themselves saying these words... "Lord, I need you!"
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 6:29-31.
A. Context
1. A set of imperatives.
2. Four impossible principles.
a. Love your enemies.
b. Do good to those who hate you.
c. Bless those who curse you.
d. Pray for those who abuse you.
B. Examples of extraordinary love, vs. 29-30.
1. Overview
a. The four examples.
b. On aggression and retaliation.
2. On slaps and tunics, vs. 29.
a. Turning the other cheek.
i. A severe insult.
ii. Probing the meaning, Luke 22:36, John 18:22-23.
iii. Probing the reason.
• To stop further aggression.
• Vengeance is the Lord's, Rom. 12:19.
• Exhibiting the love of God.
iv. Real-world examples.
b. Giving up your tunic.
i. Understanding the meaning.
ii. An improbable response.
3. On beggars and thieves, vs. 30.
a. Giving freely to beggars, Prov. 6:6,9-11, Acts 4:34.
b. Giving freely to thieves.
i. Probing the meaning.
• Establishing the tone of the Sermon on the Mount, Luke 6:27, Matt. 5:34, Deut. 6:13.
• Establishing perspective, Gen. 14:14-16, 1Cor. 6:7.
ii. When it is better to "let it go".
• Avoiding idolatry, Matt. 19:22.
• Avoiding distraction from Kingdom work.
• For the love of enemies.
• Vengeance is the Lord's, Rom. 12:19,21.
C. The Golden Rule, vs. 31.
1. Overview of the rule.
a. A rule in the "no-keep-em" zone.
b. An impossible rule, Luke 6:27-28.
2. Putting the rule in perspective.
a. Establishing the Scriptural perspective.
i. Leaning on Matthew, Matt. 7:12.
ii. A summarizing rule, Matt. 22:34-40.
b. The world's perspective.
i. The "Silver Rule".
• Negative counterparts.
• Analyzing the negative.
ii. The profound difference in the positive.
• Comparing some examples.
• The negative is easier to keep.
• The positive is difficult to keep.
3. The impossible rule.
a. The sharp edge of the rule.
i. God's "golden" rule.
ii. An infinitely thin line.
b. Eternal consequences.
i. The simple entry requirement for heaven.
ii. The other side of the line.
III. Application
A. You need Jesus!
1. To the unbeliever.
2. To the believer.
B. Lord, I need you!
IV. Conclusion
