Luke 18

Luke 18:9-14 - The Pharisee and the tax collector

• Luke 18:13 - The tax collector demonstrated modesty here in the humble posture and attitude he showed. Modesty involves more than just clothing.

Luke 18:18-30 - The rich young ruler

• Luke 18:24 - It may not be love of money that separates us from God, but whatever it is, we must let it go. We must tear down our idols.

Luke 18:15-17 - Jesus and the children

• Luke 18:17 - What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a child?
  • Innocence
  • Purity
  • Honesty
  • Awe

Luke 18:35-43 - Jesus heals a blind man

• Luke 18:39 - Sometimes the one we try to push away or ignore is the one Jesus wants to reach the most.

Introduction

• Philippians 2:3-8 - You’ll never find a more selfless person than Jesus!

First, the hard part: diagnosing selfishness in myself.

• Proverbs 21:2

Take a look at your budget.

• Matthew 6:19-21

Take a look at your calendar.

• Psalms 90:1-12
• Where is your time being spent?
• Am I almost exclusively focused on me?

Imagine how your spiritual résumé would look.

• Acts 9:36 - Dorcas had a great spiritual résumé!
• Galatians 6:1-2

Surround yourself with selfless people.

• Proverbs 13:20
• For better or worse, we rub off on each other.
• Proverbs 22:24-25
• Proverbs 27:17
• Mark 6:34
• When you spend time with spiritually mature people, it influences your world view.
• John 1:29; 3:29-30 - Would John have been a good person to hang out with?
• John 12:1-9 - Counter-example: the Pharisees.
• If you want to become selfless, learn from the masters.
• Philippians 3:17

Get busy serving others.

• Luke 9:1-2, 22-24, 28-31, 44, 46 - Jesus sent them to serve others.
• Mark 3:17 - Jesus had a nickname for James and John!
• I John 1:9-10 - Is this the same John?!
• I John 4:7-8, 11
• III John 1:4

Any sin is beatable! (continued)

Overcoming the lust of the eyes will require sacrifice.

• Matthew 5:29
• We may have to cut certain things ouf of our life. There may be a social cost.

I must be sincere in my desire to stop.

• II Corinthians 7:8

Sin enslaves us, and we get addicted to the lust of the eyes.

• John 8:34
• Romans 6:12-13, 16-17 - “Do not let sin reign”
• Romans 7:14-25
• II Timothy 2:26
• Titus 3:3
• Pornography elevates dopamine production to more than 250% of normal and keeps it there for hours.
• Cocaine provides a sharper spike, but it fades faster.
• Eating raises dopamine to 150% of normal.
• Nicotine raises dopamine to 200% of normal.
• Sexual activity raises dopamine to 250% of normal.
• God designed our brains and bodies to grow and adapt.
  • II Peter 1:5-8 - We can adapt to good.
  • Genesis 6:5 - We can also adapt to sin.
  • Ephesians 2:1-3

“Make no provision for the flesh.”

• Romans 13:11-14
• You must starve out this sin!

Introduction

• Acts 5:1-11

God holds us personally responsible.

• Acts 5:3-4, 9
• Satan didn’t take contorl and remove their power of choice. He influenced them, but they had the power to decide.
• II Corinthians 5:10

Good doesn’t cancel out bad.

• Acts 5:2
• Bad in the midst of good taints the good.
• Romans 4:7-8
• God describes forgiveness - not some ledger of good deeds versus bad deeds.

The fear of God is good and healthy.

• Acts 5:5
• Proverbs 1:7; 3:7; 8:12-13
• Matthew 10:28
• Proverbs 14:26-27
• Genesis 39:9 - Joseph showed reverance for God in a time of temptation.
• Hebrews 10:26
• Acts 5:5, 11-14
• I Corinthians 5:6-7

Don’t expect perfection.

• Acts 4:32-37
• Galatians 6:9

Luke 17

• Luke 17:11 - Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to be crucified.
• Luke 17:14 - Jesus is commanding them to do what was required under the Law of Moses. It would have been a big problem if they showed up to the priests and were unclean. These ten showed great faith in immediately turning to go see the priests.
• Luke 17:17-18 - Jesus remarked that the others did not return to give glory to God - not that they did not turn and thank Him. Also, note that the Samaritan was the one who returned to worship Jesus.
• Luke 17:20 - The kingdom would not come in some physically observable way.
• Luke 17:22-37 - It seems likely this was talking about the destruction of Jerusalem.
  • Luke 17:36 - This verse is omitted in some modern translations, like the ESV. Some manuscripts have it, but the ones considered most reliable do not.