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DON'T BE A STUMBLING BLOCK
Luke 17:1-10
DON'T BE A STUMBLING BLOCK
V:1-2. Jesus said to His disciples, "It is inevitable
that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 "It
would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were
thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to
stumble."
A. Jesus was continued His teaching about the rich man and
Lazarus ( the poor man).
The rich man
overlooked Lazarus suffering outside his gate.
1. The rich man refused to lend a helping hand as Lazarus laid dying at his gate.
2. The stumbling
block of the life of the rich man was his wealth.
B. What the story of the rich man and Lazarus points to is the certainty of death.
1. This story
points to two final destinations; heaven
or hell.
2. Your
destination after death is determined by your faith or lack of faith in Jesus.
3. The rich man's
faith was in his wealth, a stumbling block
to heaven.
4. Lazarus lying
outside the rich man's gate had but one hope, Jesus Christ, which
sealed his
destination in heaven.
SIDE TRACKED BY THE WORLD
C. We live in a materialistic world where there a many stumbling
blocks to our faith in
in Jesus.
1. It is easy to
get side tracked and lose sight of what is important in this life.
2. It is easy to
get side tracked in this life and lose sight of heaven.
D. Believers who get caught up in materialism and
selfishness become stumbling blocks
to the faith of others.
1. When someone
weak in the faith see us acting like the world, we become a
stumbling
block to them.
2. When we fail to
act upon our faith, we become a stumbling block to others
weak in the
faith.
E. There is a penalty for those who are stumbling blocks to
others.
1. Believers who
become stumbling blocks pay a price somewhere in their
walk with
Jesus.
2. Jesus is very
protective of children, orphans, widowers and those struggling
in their faith
3. We harm ourselves
when we neglect those who are helpless and need
thoes strong
in faith as their role models.
QUALITY OF LIFE DETERMINED BY FORGIVENESS
F. Believers destination of heaven is secure in Jesus
Christ.
1. Our destination
has been sealed by the Holy Spirit.
2. Our quality of
life on earth is determined by how we treat our neighbors.
3. Our quality of
life has nothing to do with wealth, possessions or education,
but everything
to do with the love we show our neighbors.
FORGIVENESS SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC
V:3-4. "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke
him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 "And if he sins against you seven
times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive
him."
A. The key to not being a stumbling block is forgiveness.
1. The test of our
faith comes when we face adversity at the hands of family, friends
and brothers
and sisters in Christ.
2. When we judge
others by our own standards, we are at risk of becoming a
stumbling
block.
3. When we are not
able to tolerate, the behavior of others, we are at risk of becoming
a stumbling
block.
4. We find it
difficult to forgive for any reason, we are at risk of becoming a
stumbling block.
B. Jesus warns us to
be on guard, because everyday someone, somewhere, will do
something to you that you will consider
wrong and offensive.
1. Daily you need
to be ready to forgive.
2. Forgiveness
should become your trade mark of peace, joy and harmony with
others.
a. The spirit of
forgiveness or un-forgiveness is a mind thing.
b. It can affect
you emotionally, mentally and eventually physically.
c. When you can't
forgive, Satan is attacking your mind.
b. The Spirit of
un-forgiveness allows the thought and the sight of another
person to
control you.
3. To forgive is a
decision you have to make daily.
a. According to
the text you have to be willing to forgive the same person
an unlimited number of times.
b. Jesus recommends that we warn the person
that his/her actions are offensive.
c. If he says
he want do the same thing again, forgive him
d. The person
may, not change, but Jesus says forgive
as if the person
did
change.
THE APLICATION OF FAITH
V:5-6. " The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase
our faith!" 6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard
seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the
sea'; and it would obey you."
A. The disciples, having heard the words of Jesus, prayed
for more faith.
1. They were
trying to shift their burden of un-forgiveness to Jesus by asking
for an
increase in faith.
2. Each of us have
been given a measure of faith. Romans
12:3
B. In His response,
Jesus told His disciple that had enough faith to forgive.
1. It is not the
amount of faith that you have that is the problem, it is the
application of
your faith.
2. In His example,
Jesus said that a very small faith can move mountains.
3. A mustard seed
is one of the smallest seeds.
a. A mustard
seed is an herd planted in a garden.
b. Once
planted, it can grow up to twelve feet in a few months.
4. A mulberry tree
(sycamore) is a very large tree with deep roots that grows in a
field.
5. A very small
faith exercised in the name of Jesus can cause a very large obstacle
to be moved
out of you life.
C. Forgiveness is an
act of love to the offending individual.
1. Forgiveness
frees us from barriers we set up against other individuals.
2. Forgiveness
frees us from the mind control of Satan.
3. Forgiveness
keeps the doors of restored relationships open.
D. The seed of faith
grows when exercised in the name of Jesus.
HUMBLE SERVICE
V:7 "Which of
you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come
in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'? 8 "But will he
not say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself
and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink'? 9
"He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were
commanded, does he? 10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are
commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we
ought to have done.'
A. Pride is another stumbling block to our faith. 1 Cor
4:6
1. In this
example, Jesus uses the relationship
between a land owner and a slave.
2. You could think
of it as the relationship between your boss and you.
3. When you do
what you are paid to do, you are due no praise.
4. If you are paid
an hourly wage, you owe an hour worth of work.
B. It is a privilege to be able to serve Jesus.
1. We were chosen
before the foundation of the earth to be in the Body of Christ.
2. We were all
given spiritual gifts to serve. Romans 12:6
3. We have a
responsibility to serve 1 Cor 1:29-31
4. Serving is not
an option, but a duty.
C. No one is due special praise because of their service. 1 Cor 4:7
1. No one's gift
is more important than another's.
2. No one's work
is more important than another's.
WHAT PRIDE DOES TO YOU
D. Pride sets you up to be offended by another person.
1. When you are
puffed up, you will be easily disappointed when you don't
the pat on
the back that you think you deserve.
2. You can get to
the point where you can't forgive because you didn't get
recognized for
your service.
3. If some one
gets recognized and promoted for same thing that you did
your spirit of
un-forgiveness will be heighten.
4. If pride was
not the issue, you would not be affected by what happens to
another
person.
The reason for our being is to give God praise and glory.
God does not need us, we need Him.
We don't do God a favor by serving Him.
God does us favor by allowing us to serve.
Jesus came down from heaven, took on human flesh, died for
our sins,
to Glorify His Father.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE
TO GLORIFY GOD WITH OUR SERVICE
FORGIVE AND BE BLESSED
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Church
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