Why is Disobedience Bad?

This morning, we come to the end of Luke 6.  In the past several Sundays, we have been looking at one of Jesus’ sermons.

 

It may be Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount.  There certainly are some similarities with Matthew 5-7. However, there are more differences.  Therefore, it is most likely another sermon with similar material.

 

This sermon began with 4 blessings and 4 corresponding woes.  Next, Jesus articulated the Golden Rule in positive terms.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

 

In a lost world, live unnaturally with your deeds, your words, and your prayers.  In other words, love your enemies.

 

Finally, last week, we looked at some of House of Faith Rules.  Because our relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ is based on our relationship with Jesus, we should treat them differently…differently in a good way. 

 

Today, we come to the invitation of this sermon.  Jesus will give us two choices.

 

BTW, Every biblical sermon must have an invitation.  However, an invitation is not the same as an alter call. 

 

Sometimes, people say to me that a church they visited didn’t offer an invitation.  What they mean is that the church didn’t offer a “walk the aisle” alter call or come to the front alter call.

 

Every sermon must have an invitation, an opportunity to respond.  However, every sermon doesn’t have to have an alter call.

 

 

Exposition

Today’s text begins in verse 46, and Jesus asked a question.  It’s one you probably remember as it was our verse of the year for 2023, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I say?”

 

This congregation included the Twelve Disciples.  It included the Pharisees, Jewish Religious Leaders.  It included those who said they were followers of Jesus, but didn’t live like it.  I would presume our congregation today is made up of similar groups.

 

The term Lord means master and boss.  A person’s Lord is the one who calls the shots, make decisions, who is in authority.  It makes no sense to address someone as such and not treat him as such.

 

Beginning in verse 47, Jesus told a parable.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning.  This first century congregation would have identified personally with this story.

 

The one who comes to Jesus and hears what Jesus is saying and then does what Jesus says is like a man who built a house.  In building this house, the man dug deep into the ground and laid a secure and firm foundation on the rock.

 

Consequently, when this house was subject to rain and flooding and torrential storms that beat vehemently on the house, it withstood the storm.  Why?  It withstood the storm because of the foundation that was dug deep and on the rock.

 

However, this parable included another man.  He also built a house.  The parable implies in the same area because this house also experienced the same rain and the same flood and the same storm.

 

It also beat vehemently against the house, but the result was different.  This house fell and fell immediately.  Why?  It fell because this man built his house without a foundation. 

 

Verse 49 says he just built his house on the earth.  We there this today, and his folly is obvious to us.

 

What is the spiritual and or heavenly meaning here?  The first builder is like a man who comes and hears and is obedient to Jesus.  Today, you are invited to come to Jesus and hear Jesus. 

 

BTW, Can I give you some tips when it comes to hearing Jesus on Sunday mornings here at Emory Baptist Church?

 

First, be intentional.  Come ready to hear.  Come committed to listening.  Come with your Bible. 

 

Second, pray for yourself.  You hear me pray this most Sunday mornings, but pray for eyes to see and ears to hear.  The Bible says those are gifts from God, and pray for a heart that is receptive. 

 

Also, pray for no internal distractions and no external distractions. Internal would be worries or concerns that occupy your thoughts.  External would be within our Sanctuary with the noises or sounds or folks getting up and down in the service.

 

Third, take notes.  We provide for you a notes sheet in each bulletin.  They don’t have to be exhaustive or comprehensive, but I usually try to give you three main points or so.

 

This first builder is like the one who comes to Jesus and hears Jesus and is obedient to Jesus.  The second builder may come to Jesus and hear Jesus but isn’t obedient. 

 

 

Application

Now, let’s move to why disobedience is bad.

 

First, it is illogical.  We see that back in verse 46.  It is makes no sense to call Jesus Lord, your boss, the one who calls the shots in your life and then not obey?  Is He Lord or isn’t He?

 

BTW, The idea that you can have Jesus as your Savior and not surrender to Him as Lord is foreign to the New Testament.  That idea is a misnomer.

 

Second, disobedience for the follower of Christ is unwise.  Whether you are a Christian or not, you will experience the storms of life.  They will happen, and they will be severe, and they will beat on you.

 

It may be death or disease.  It may be financial loss or an unfaithful spouse. It may be prodigal children or caring for aging and elderly parents. 

 

The only way to survive is with Jesus as your foundation.  You will not survive otherwise. 

 

Third, and related to the second, disobedience in the life of a Christian is unsafe.  Verse 49 says the second house fell, and the ruin of the house was great. 

 

A common consequence of disobedience in the life of a Christian is God removing His protection from you.  You expose your health.  You expose your marriage.  You expose your family.  You expose your finances. 

 

 

Conclusion

As I conclude, for the Christian living in disobedience, repent.  Don’t be like this description from Arthur Pink:

 

They bring their bodies to the house of prayer but not their souls; they worship with their mouths, but not “in spirit and in truth.”  They are sticklers for immersion or early morning communion, yet take no thought about keeping their hearts with all diligence.  They boast of their orthodoxy; but disregard the precepts of Christ.  Multitudes of professing Christian abstain from external acts of violence, yet hesitate not to rob their neighbors of a good name by spreading evil reports against them.  They contribute regularly to the “pastor’s salary,” but shrink not from misrepresenting their goods and cheating customers, persuading themselves that “business is business.”  They have more regard for the laws of man than those of God, for His fear is not before their eyes.

 

However, for others this morning, you have heard Jesus’ words to repent and believe and you have not.  Storms are coming, and your greatest storm will be the storm of judgment in Revelation 20:11-15.

 

Revelation 20:11-15, 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Will you repent and believe today?  The decision is yours, but you only two options.  One option takes you heaven.  The other sends you to hell.