A Fully Gospel Ministry: 2016 Gospel of Luke
A Fully Gospel Ministry is an exposition of Luke 13:1-9. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 26, 2017.
Intro:
One skeptic defined a pulpit committee as, “A group of people in search of a man who will be totally fearless and uncompromising as he tells them exactly what they want to hear!” I don’t know that that is a fair representation of pulpit committees but it can certainly be said of an increasing number of churches. The apostle Paul warned of a time when men would gather around them teachers who tell them what they want to hear. During such times, the apostle warns, “They will not endure sound doctrine…they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” In my opinion, we’re pretty much there. “You have to be careful,” we are told. “You’ll run folks off with that Hellfire and brimstone preaching.” Today’s Gospel is a kinder, gentler message. Now, hear me. I’m not suggesting that biblical ministry means bludgeoning people with the Gospel. I’m not suggesting that real ministry leaves them licking their wounds. What I am saying is that as I listen to a lot of the preaching that is popular today – I’m left wondering who needs to be saved? I’m all for being kind and gracious. I’m in favor of being positive and upbeat, but in times of danger, love demands an urgent warning. And that is exactly what we find in the ministry of Jesus.
Text: Luke 13:1-9
Our Lord is far from the mild-mannered character that is so popular today.
His teaching often enraged the religious establishment.
It wasn’t that they thought Him a bit of a nuisance – they wanted to kill Him!
In all the accusations made against Him, no one could say, “He played to the crowd.”
At this point in Jesus’ life and ministry momentum is mounting toward the cross.
He has just rebuked the multitude for their hypocrisy.
They can read the skies but they cannot read the times.
They can read the winds but not the Spirit.
Some in the crowd try their hand at “reading current events” only to hear again the sting of rebuke.
Thesis: Faithfulness to the ministry of Jesus demands that we preach the full Gospel.
Our work is His work.
The purpose of the church is to do the work of the Savior.
We our driven by His agenda not ours.
In our text we find two essential elements of the Gospel as Jesus preached it.
Elements that are not popular today.
These are things we’d just as soon not talk about.
- Full Gospel preaching demands a call for genuine repentance. (13:1-5)
- Full Gospel preaching urges repentance now before it is too late. (13:6-9)
Conclusion:
We are purposefully not told what happened. The story is left open. To be told in the lives of those present that day. Let each supply the answer in his own life. God’s judgment is real. Yet God in grace is patient. But His patience will not last forever. One day, God alone knows when, the opportunity to be saved will be withdrawn. The procrastinator will die in his sin and be lost forever.
To die without Christ is to perish.
To leave this life without Christ is to enter the world to come without hope.
What you need to know is that “perishing” is not just the end of the vile and the loathsome. A man may perish in his own bed surrounded by family and friends. He may be well thought of, admired and loved but if he is unrepentant – he is damned.
There is only one way to heaven. One way to life eternal and life abundant and that is through the person of the Lord Jesus. You must come to Him on His terms. That demands repentance.
But listen to God’s promise for those who will repent:
“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7)