September 25, 2012
Luke 20:2 - "What authority do you have?"
Luke 20:2 - "Who gave you this authority?"
Jesus is in the Temple. He is teaching people the Good News of Salvation and many are listening and surrendering. Yet there are those who just refuse to accept the truth and believe—and Jesus becomes a stumbling block and a crushing stone instead of a cornerstone to build upon.
"The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone." (Jesus quoting Psalm 118:22.) "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, and the person on whom it falls, that person will be crushed!" (Luke 20:17-18)
Strong words—Jesus' words. The leading priests (Sadducees) and the Pharisees (religious unbelievers) KNEW He was talking about them, but still they would not surrender. Instead, it made them all the more determined to prove they were right and all the more determined to prove Him wrong. And Jesus says, "Beware of the Pharisees (religious unbelievers). They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts. But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. They will receive a greater punishment." (Luke 20:46–47)
There will come a time when enough is enough. The God of Achan; Eli's sons; Sodom and Gomorrah; Aaron's sons; and Lots' wife of the Old Testament, is the same God of Ananias and Sapphira and Romans 1 of the New Testament. And there will come a day when enough is enough.
God's Grace, so freely given, is described in Acts 4.
While there is still time, before God removes His Spirit, please—repent! There will come a time when enough is enough and time will have ran out.
II Chronicles 7:14 - "Then if my people, who are called by my name, are sorry for what they have done, if they pray and obey me and stop their evil ways, THEN I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land."
IF—THEN. It's up to you. It's up to me.
Next Entry: Luke 21:1 – 22:71
Luke 20:2 - "What authority do you have?"
Luke 20:2 - "Who gave you this authority?"
Jesus is in the Temple. He is teaching people the Good News of Salvation and many are listening and surrendering. Yet there are those who just refuse to accept the truth and believe—and Jesus becomes a stumbling block and a crushing stone instead of a cornerstone to build upon.
"The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone." (Jesus quoting Psalm 118:22.) "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, and the person on whom it falls, that person will be crushed!" (Luke 20:17-18)
Strong words—Jesus' words. The leading priests (Sadducees) and the Pharisees (religious unbelievers) KNEW He was talking about them, but still they would not surrender. Instead, it made them all the more determined to prove they were right and all the more determined to prove Him wrong. And Jesus says, "Beware of the Pharisees (religious unbelievers). They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts. But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. They will receive a greater punishment." (Luke 20:46–47)
There will come a time when enough is enough. The God of Achan; Eli's sons; Sodom and Gomorrah; Aaron's sons; and Lots' wife of the Old Testament, is the same God of Ananias and Sapphira and Romans 1 of the New Testament. And there will come a day when enough is enough.
God's Grace, so freely given, is described in Acts 4.
- Prevenient (a pulling towards)
- Saving
- Sanctifying
- Dying
- Sustaining
- Living
- Never underestimate the awfulness of sin
- Hold in one hand the beauty of Grace and in the other hand the awfulness of sin
"Ananias and Sapphira were not so much misers as they were thieves. They wanted the credit and prestige for sacrificial giving without the inconvenience of it. So in order to gain the reputation they had no right to, they told a brazen lie." ~ John Stott
- God desires to protect his people
- God desires to keep pure and healthy that which is his
"The act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of God's people." ~ F.F. Bruce
- Grace removes the deadly infection that could destroy the body (God's people)
- God removed Ananias and Sapphira—BUT what he really did was SAVE THE CHURCH!!
- God reaches a point where he says, "Enough is enough!"
While there is still time, before God removes His Spirit, please—repent! There will come a time when enough is enough and time will have ran out.
II Chronicles 7:14 - "Then if my people, who are called by my name, are sorry for what they have done, if they pray and obey me and stop their evil ways, THEN I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land."
IF—THEN. It's up to you. It's up to me.
Next Entry: Luke 21:1 – 22:71
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