Thank you for stopping by the blog to read the Weekend Sermon. It is the best part of my week when I have the privilege of sharing the Word of the Lord with others. I hope that everyone is having a great week.
I want to thank the Lord that the storms in my area weren't too bad. We did have quite a bit of rain, but there were no flooding issues. Please pray with me that the storms predicted for this weekend won't be too bad. Thank you for your prayers.
This has been a very busy week at work. I have also been working on some projects, and I hope to start on my new book project shortly. As you may know, I am posting chapters of my book on the shortest books in the Bible here on the blog on Tuesdays. That will resume this Tuesday.
In prayer, please pray for those who had storm damage in the southern United States this week. There was a lot of wind and hail damage in places.
Also, please pray for an end to the Zika virus. I heard a report on NPR that this virus is still causing many problems in some countries.
Remember to pray for peace in Syria and Iraq. These two nations need an end to warfare so badly. Pray for those trying to flee the conflicts that they might find safety.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Liberia and Vietnam. Pray that many people in these two nations will hear about the good news of Jesus.
During the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of messages focusing on the parables of Jesus. For this week's message, I would like us to bring our attention to a short parable that Jesus told in Luke 6.
Luke 6:39-40 states, "And he told them a parable, 'Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher, but when fully trained, every disciple will be like the teacher.'"
In this parable, Jesus is not speaking about physical blindness. He is just using an example from the physical world to demonstrate a point about spiritual matters. Of course it is true, if someone is not able to see, that person would not want to rely on someone else who can't see to guide them. Both would more than likely not get where they wanted to go.
In order for someone who can't see to get where they need to go, they need a guide who can see the way ahead clearly. I know this is beside the point, but I think that the work that guide dogs perform is just amazing. I've actually been able to see a guide dog work on several occasions. A woman who used to come into the grocery store where I shop had a guide dog. That dog was able to help that woman go all around the store. Also, a young lady in the church I attended many years ago had a guide dog who helped her to go to Sunday school and children's church. That was the most well-trained dog I'd every seen.
Clearly, we need to see the way before us clearly. If we don't we will go off course.
This principle is also true in the spiritual life. The blind cannot lead the blind. So, what was Jesus teaching us?
First of all, Jesus was directly referring to the religious leaders of His day. On many occasions, Jesus said that the religious leaders were blind guides leading the blind. The religious leaders did not recognize the truth about who Jesus was, so they were unable to lead the people in the way that they needed to go. Jesus also called them hypocrites. They were unable to lead others because they themselves did not practice what they preached. Jesus warned His followers not to follow these religious leaders.
We need to be on guard as to what kind of spiritual teachers we are following. If we follow those who are not teaching true and correct doctrine, we will be led astray and we will go off course in our spiritual lives.
This is what Jesus is saying in verse 40. We will only progress like those we let lead us. If our leaders are spiritually blind, we will end up in the darkness as well. In verse 40, Jesus is not saying that no student ever goes behind his teacher. We see this happening all the time. Many pupils in the arts and music become much more renowned than their teachers. However, if they didn't get the fundamentals right in the first place, odds are, they won't achieve success.
As followers of Jesus, we need to be aware of whose teachings we are following. By this I am speaking about pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. There are many people in this world today who are not teaching the orthodox teachings of the Christian faith. They don't understand the truth themselves, so that cannot explain the truth to others.
There are three ways we can be on guard against being led off course. First of all, we must be students of the Bible. The easiest way to be led off course is if you don't have a thorough understanding of the Bible. I urge you to read and study God's Word thoroughly. If you do this, you will recognize what is not Biblical as soon as you hear it.
Also, we need to look to Jesus. We need to read about what Jesus said and what He did. We need to look to Him as the author and prefector of our faith. By studying the teachings of Jesus and by communicating with Jesus in prayer, we will stay on the narrow path that leads to life. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to led us into all truth and to convict us of what is right and true and good.
The third way we can be kept from being led off course by blind guides is to look at their fruit. Jesus said that we will know them by their fruit. A good tree does not produce bad fruit and a bad tree does not produce good fruit. If you see a spiritual teacher whose life is filled with greed, excess and immoral behavior, don't listen to that person. Find someone who is living out the teachings of Jesus in their life.
The most important thing we can do is to follow Jesus and speak to Him each day. If we have the desire deep within our hearts to know Him and to love Him, He will guide us as the Great Good Shepherd that He is. He will keep us in the path of righteousness for His name's sake.
Next week, we will continue with our series of messages on the parables of Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses. Chapter 3 of the book will posted on Tuesday, and there will be review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
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