No man having put his hand to the plough ...

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 22 AUGUST 2021 - MR JOHN BROOKS

LUKE 9

Text: "No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." verse 62

Why did Jesus end up making this statement?  Jesus often spoke in parables and picture form to help us understand what he was saying.  The plough Jesus was referring to here was probably pulled by oxen, horses, animals, an animal of some sort.  The person came holding onto the plough.  Jesus spoke to a large multitude of people at this time.  The parable states there were 5000 men, women and children. When the plough went deep into the earth you can see the determination and commitment that is required.  Spiritually Jesus is saying no-one who has sought the Lord as their personal Saviour putting their hand on the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.  Consider 10 w's in this chapter - why did Jesus make such a statement? 

The witness of this chapter - verses 1 and 2.  This chapter is taken over a number of days in the ministry of the Lord Jesus.  The first thing he gave them was power and then authority.  In the evangelical church have we lost the power and authority today?  A very challenging and sobering thought.

The welfare of this chapter - verses 13 - 17.  The account of the feeding of the 500 men but more likely women and children present there too.  Jesus told his disciples to give them something to eat.  The disciples wanted to send them away.  When he told them to give them something to eat they responded "we have no more than 5 loaves and  fishes".  Jesus responded by saying "make them sit down by fifties in a company".  The disciples were looking at the physical needs but Jesus' priority was their spiritual.  His disciples failed the test.  The little chorus comes to me "little is much when God is in it".  The 5 loaves and 2 fishes were all that was needed.  Jesus took the loaves and fishes, looked up to heaven, blessed the food and broke it and then gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.  The disciples failed to see that little is much when God is in something.  We often think we have little to give to the Lord and his work.

The whosoever of this chapter - verse 23 "if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."  This is not easy.  We all find this hard.  We are living in a very changing society today.  In the evangelical church a lot of Christians want the cross but they don't want the cost.  It is costly to follow Christ.  Not just Sunday taking up the cross but daily. The cross is symbolic of salvation and forgiveness, getting a right relationship with God and being on the road to heaven.  We want that, desire it but along with that comes the cost.  We are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Christ.  Whe have lost the desire of the cost of the cross.

The wonder of this chapter - verse 28.  The account of the transfiguration.  We have moved forward 8 more days in Jesus' ministry.  Put yourself in the disciples shoes.  Often we can be critical of them.  Maybe though we might not have done anything different.  Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus was transformed. Moses and Elijah came into their midst.  What an amazing experience.  Do we witness the wonder of God coming down in our midst or have we lost it?  Verse 28 "went up into a mountain to pray".  the greatest and most powerful weapon we have as Christians is prayer yet we neglect it.  The least attended meeting is the prayer meeting.  No church is different.  Is it any reason we are not seeing the wonder of God coming down in our midst?  We are not where we ought to be in the place of prayer.

The weariness of this chapter - verses 32 and 35.  Peter and James and John were heavy with sleep  Not experiencing anything of this transfiguration.  Peter when we woke up decided they needed tabernacles for each of these men.  In verse 35 we read that a voice came from heaven "this is my beloved son hear him."  Here we see Peter, James and John who should have experienced the full wonder of the transfiguration but missed it through weariness, lack of enthusiasm and dedication.  That is why the church is not seeing the moving of God as they ought to - because we are half sleeping.  Weary.  Not really where we ought to be.  Galatians 6 verse 9 "let us not be weary in well doing if we faint not."

The weakness of this chapter - verse 40 and 41.  Now we have stepped into the account of a father who brought his son to Jesus.  The son was demon possessed, it was destroying his life up to this point.  This man had heard of Jesus, he came to the right place for help but the disciples were not able to help.  In the first verses of this chapter we read that Jesus called his 12 disciples and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure all diseases.  However with this son they were not able to deliver him from his demons.  The church today has lost its power and authority.  Why - because they always are looking back.  Good to do that but the present matters.

The wisdom of this chapter - verse 48.  Moving on a few days Jesus took a child and said "whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me for he that is least among you all the same shall be great."  A little child, just one.  A cup of water given in my name.  Have we the vision for one chil?.  We miss one generation we have a pagan nation.

The warning of this chapter - verses 49 and 50.  Earlier the disciples were not able to cast out demons themselves.  Now they met someone who was able to do it and they told this man to stop but what did Jesus say "forbid him not for he that is not against us is for us."  Spiritual sectarianism is what is happening in the church today.  Certain people will not go into a certain church if they are not belonging to their denomination.  If we are born again believers, washed in Jesus' blood we should not allow that to happen.  We need to check our hearts.  We all know what sectarianism is in our province - bitterness, hatred, anger, everything contrary to the word of God.  We put more effort into divisions today than bringing people together.

The willingness of this chapter - verses 57 and 58.  Someone said to Jesus "Lord I will follow thee withersoever thou goest"  Jesus gave a tremendous answer to this man "foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the son of man hath no where to lay his head."  What was the Lord trying to say to him - this world is not your home.  If you are going to follow me take up your cross and follow me.  You have to leave the world behind you.

The worst of this chapter - verses 59 - 62  "Then he said unto another Follow me" but he wanted to go and bury his father.  Verse 61 another person said he would follow Jesus but he waned to go back and say farewell to those at home.  A very reasonable request want to bury father or say farewell to friends at home.  Notice in verses 59 and 61 the words "let me first go."  Jesus was not put first - that is what we need to do - put Jesus first.  Jesus would not take second best.  Reasonable request but then Jesus told him "no man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God."  Paraphrase this phrase - no-one having put his hand on the plan and purpose on his life then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.  Here we have everything we need to be born again but we are not exercising it.  Not committed, not dedicated, not putting what we need into it.  Recently in the Olympics  we witnesssed athletes putting there all into their chosen sport and as a result won the medals.  Let us be committed wholly and solely to the word of God, to the things of God, to the place of prayer that we might know the plan and purpose of God.  So that one day we might hear "well done thou good and faithful servant enter into the kingdom of God." Matthew 25 verse 21.