LOOKING FOR SIGNS?

LUKE 22:31-34, 54-62

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. STOP - LISTEN TO JESUS

1. STOP - Jesus Knows Us Better than we know ourselves  [v. 31-34, Jer. 17:9, Psalm 103:14]

-The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

- For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

2. STOP - Jesus Loves Us Better than we love ourselves [Deuteronomy 6:24]

And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

3. STOP - Jesus prays for Us More than We Pray for Ourselves [v. 32, 45-46]

 

II. YIELD - LOOK TO JESUS

1. YIELD - Jesus has Plans for Us [v. 32a, 1 Jn. 1:3-9] fellowship with Him

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. YIELD - Jesus has a Purpose for Us [v. 32b, 2 Peter 3:18] being a blessing to others

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

3. YIELD - Jesus has Protection for Us [v. 40, 46, 1 Cor. 10:13] fervency in prayer

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

III. PROCEED WITH CAUTION - LEAN ON JESUS

1. The Way Back is NOT a Begging Road [Lk. 15:18-20]

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

2. The Way Back is NOT a Bargaining Road [Lk. 15:18-20]

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

3. The Way Back is a Better Road [Proverbs 13:15, 14:12]

- … the way of transgressors is hard.]

-There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.