30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 20 41-47 Christ, the Son of David 08 Luke 20 42-43 Surrendered to God in the inner man
📖 Luke 20:41-47
16Apr2021 - *Surrendered to God in the inner man* - _Luke 20:41-47_ - CHRIST, THE SON OF DAVID (8) – Bible reading: _Luke 12:1-3_
Jesus was King in the lineage of David. He will make His enemies His footstool.
*Luke 20:42-43 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, " SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, (43) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL."*
We are here to be kings and priests in the lineage of David. We must always allow the Holy Spirit to break us, cleanse us, shape us and mould us to be kings and priests.
We need to be cautious since we can become enemies of God. We are, therefore, looking at some of the reasons how we can become enemies of God and be warned.
We have seen some of the reasons for how we can become enemies of God. We have considered the matter of (1) Doing our will and not the will of God (2) Looking at our circumstances and complaining and not looking at our circumstances through the eyes of God. (3) Desiring positions, status, importance, name, title and not being content to serve God and His people.
We will now look at another issue that will cause us to be enemies of God.
_Acts 4:36-37 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, (37) having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet._
We see recorded here, the action of Barnabas. We must stay with the text and understand what is revealed to us. We now come to the next, immediate incident that takes place.
_Acts 5:1-2 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. (2) And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet._
Externally, taking the text as it is recorded, what Barnabas did and what Ananias and Sapphira did, were the same. Nevertheless, the matter here is not what took place externally but what happened internally, in the inner man. There was a difference between the actions of the two, in the inner person.
Peter, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, was able to discern the difference.
_Acts 5:3-5 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart *to lie to the Holy Spirit* and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (4) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? *You have not lied to men but to God*." (5) Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things._
_Acts 5:9-10 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." (10) Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband._
The judgement of God on Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, was instantaneous and severe. The matter of the inner person is of grave concern for God. *Since there was a failure in Ananias and Sapphira, in their heart, they became enemies of God and the wrath of God fell on both of them*.
God sees the heart. *God is not impressed with who we are external, in the eyes of people, but who we are in the heart, before His eyes*.
_Luke 12:1-3 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "*Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy*. (2) For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. (3) Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops._
Our kingship as priests and kings before God is not to be like the religious leaders. Their leadership was all about external compliances. God is warning us not to fall into this trap of outward performances.
We see this leaven of the Pharisees so obnoxiously, at our face, in our Christian circles today. We see the flaunting of our spirituality in so many different ways and people consider this as the norm. We are expected to market, promote, build a brand name for ourselves and for our ministry. We endorse ourselves openly as well as subtly. It is all the same for God sees the heart.
Relationship with God is about who we are in the inner man. It is in the inner man that we need to be surrendered to God. We need to be seeking God’s healing in our inner man.
_Isaiah 29:15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, And their works are in the dark; They say, "Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?" Psalms 94:7-9 Yet they say, "The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand." (8) Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise? (9) *He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?* Jeremiah 23:24 *Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the LORD*; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD._
We will look deeper into the issue of the inner man for this is such a serious matter before God and it is here that we can become enemies of God. We must be surrendered to God in the inner man.
*Thought to ponder*
```Character is who you are in the dark. D L Moody.```