Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Luke 17. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- In our text our Lord speaks of several very important things. First, temptations. He has warnings for us. Secondly, Jesus speaks of our ministry to our fellow Christians – brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a ministry and responsibility to one another.
- He also addresses the issues of faith and of duty, and especially our attitude toward doing our duty. He warns against thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to. It is a lot to think about!
- We being first with the issue of temptations.
I. Jesus Warns Against Temptations, And Unfaithfulness
A. We Will Surely Have To Face Temptations
Text: “Temptations to sin are sure to come.”
B. We Also Cause Temptations For Others
Text: “But woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves!”
C. So We Must Pay Attention At All Times
1. So that we do not lead others astray and into sin
Text: “Woe to [anyone] who causes one of these littles ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves.”
2. To faithfully, lovingly, admonish and forgive others
Text: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Statement: Temptations, of course, come in a huge variety of ways. There are common temptations to common sins. There are temptations to despair, temptations to give up, and temptations to unbelief. All of these can come to us, and our words and actions can cause such temptations to come to others. So we must take great care and caution! There are also temptations not to care when a brother or sister is caught in some serious sin. It is a horrible sin of omission not to say something to help the brother return to repentance. And we may become hard-hearted when others sin against us, and may decide never to forgive them again. This too is a grievous temptation we face from time to time.
Application: Now, although Jesus indicates the dire jeopardy we place ourselves in when we are unfaithful in causing others to sin, He means to bring us back to repentance. He would not urge us to do something that He Himself would not do. We are to forgive those who sin against us and repent. God surely does likewise, and has promised to do so over and over again! So let us also be assured that no matter how many times we sin, even if it is grievous and egregious sin! God is eager to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!
Transition: And this is critical – as the disciples seemed to understand, for:
II. Faith Is Essential And Powerful In Making Us Faithful, So the Disciples Prayed For Increased Faith
A. Even A Little Faith Is Powerful
Text: “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
B. Faith Enables Us To Remain Faithful
1. Grateful for God’s forgiveness, and eager to serve Him faithfully
2. Understanding our calling in life, the privilege God has bestowed upon us that we might serve Him – so that we do our duty humbly, and as a matter of course
Text: “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
Statement: It is not the nature or strength of our faith that enables and empowers us to do remarkable things for the kingdom of God. Rather, it is faith itself, which is the gift of God. Faith only the size of a mustard seed suffices. Faith grasps and taps into the great love of God and His almighty power. Such faith also grasps the gracious and merciful nature of God, and makes us so appreciative of God’s provision for all our needs. So faith also enables us to see the great privilege granted us to serve God faithfully! This keeps us humble, as is fitting.
Application: So let us also take care to remain keenly aware of our need to repent – for the times we are led into sin, and for the times when we lead others into sin. Let us also be wary of thinking that we have inherent power to do good. It is always faith through which God moves us powerfully to accomplish His will. Let us remain humble in our service to God – proclaiming also that “we are only unworthy servants who have only done what was our duty.”
Conclusion: I suppose that these truly are weighty and important things for us to contemplate, to know, and to do. Thankfully, all our service to the Lord is under His gracious mercy and forgiveness. So let us pray for greater faith, and faithfulness to God, that our lives might truly be blessed, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.