Adapted from a Greg Nance sermon https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/10-having-a-heavenly-head-on-your-shoulders-greg-nance-sermon-on-kingdom-of-god-66708?ref=SermonSeriesDetails

2. Jesus gets tough on hypocrisy and worldly
desires. All that stands in the way of the
kingdom of God must go!
Does Jesus ever say things that make you mad?
Sometimes when we get close to someone and
there are disagreements, we get mad at each
other. Does that ever happen in your family?
Some things have to be said and done even
when it makes for an angry response.

3. Jesus knew when to be soft and when to be as
hard as nails.
When it came to things that stood in the way of
the kingdom of God or things that violated the
cause of heaven, Jesus rose up and went to
war.
Here in chapter He prepared His
disciples for that same warfare.

4. One of the most helpful things for
understanding what Jesus said in His teachings
is to discover the context in which He said
them.
The Gospel accounts don’t just give us a
collection of doctrinal statements that we
memorize and obey.
We have a story of the life and times in which
Jesus spoke a living word.

5. There were a few times of relative peace.
Today’s lesson from was not taken from
one of those peaceful times.
In fact, Jesus has entered into a kind of war that
He knows full well is going to culminate in His
own death on the cross.

6. NIV “I tell you, my friends, do not be
afraid of those who kill the body and after that
can do no more. But I will show you whom you
should fear: Fear him who, after your body has
been killed, has authority to throw you into hell.
Yes, I tell you, fear him.

7. He is not speaking from an armchair as a
philosopher looking at life with cool
detachment.
Jesus speaks in the acute awareness of what is
happening all around Him and what is going to
come in His own life.
He knows His days are numbered and He even
knows the number.

8. He also knows who those are who will finally
arrest Him and put Him to death.
But Jesus has a heavenly head on His
shoulders.
He’s got a priority system that provides Him
with ability to look past unimportant things and
focus on what counts in the midst of confusing
emotions and activities.
Would you like to be like that today? I know I
would! Emotions and distractions of this world
are all around us begging for attention.

9. In today’s lesson Luke records Jesus’ teaching
that reveal some of that priority system.
Jesus wants us to have heavenly heads on our
shoulders too.
In His message we hear His passionate
instruction.
Jesus is no cool detached and distant
philosopher doling out deep mysteries.

10. He’s as real and contemporary as today’s
newspaper.
Jesus is fully aware of all that is happening in
His life and He understands what’s happening in
ours.
But while Jesus is fully connected with life on
earth, He is also connected with what is
happening in His Heavenly Father’s heart.

11. He never loses touch with either connection.
You can know that when you hear the words of
Jesus Christ, you are hearing words that echo
here on earth but have their origin in the halls of
heaven.

12. Look at the list that Jesus addresses:
hypocrisy, fear, confession, the Holy Spirit’s
dignity and help, greed about too much, worry
about not enough, readiness for Christ’s return,
division that faith in Him causes, even in a
family, and reading the signs of the times.

13. We have covered most, if not all, of those in
previous lessons. If you can’t recall those, study
yourself to refresh your memory and see what
Jesus teaches.
Let’s hit a few of the high spots and make some
applications and the lesson will be yours.

14. The first item on Jesus’ agenda here is handling
hypocrisy. How do you have a heavenly head
when facing hypocritical hostility?
It’s hard to like a hypocrite!
Of all the names you could call someone, this
one cuts mighty deep.
By the way, Jesus uses this word coming and
going in this chapter. It’s the first item and the
last one on the list of .

15. NIV Meanwhile, when a crowd of
many thousands had gathered, so that they
were trampling on one another, Jesus began to
speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your
guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which
is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that
will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be
made known. What you have said in the dark
will be heard in the daylight, and what you have
whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be
proclaimed from the roofs.

16. What does Jesus mean by, "Be on your guard
against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is
hypocrisy.?”
What are the Pharisees being hypocritical
about?
Everything!
It has spread throughout their entire system of
religious thinking and behaviors.
So much so that they can’t even see it.
The light of truth hurts their eyes!

17. They prefer the darkness of secrecy and
whispers. Hypocrisy depends on secrecy.
Jesus bright light of truth brings their secrets to
an end as He publicly proclaims their condition.
But what happens when you expose a
hypocrite, and especially a religious hypocrite
with a lot of authority?
Watch out! Your life may be on the line!
But Jesus tells us not to let that get in our way.
Here’s a heavenly priority to help.

18. “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of
those who kill the body and after that can do no
more. But I will show you whom you should
fear: Fear him who, after your body has been
killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I
tell you, fear him.

19. Notice that Jesus doesn’t just tell us not to be
afraid. He knows we will have fears.
Jesus therefore directs our fears in a heavenly
direction.
He basically tells us here to fear God, who has
authority to kill and cast into hell.
Then Jesus reminds us of God’s care so that
our fears are cast out by God’s love.

20. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more
than many sparrows.
Throughout this chapter are statements of
Jesus to remind us of God’s concern for us.
One of my favorites is verse : “Do not be
afraid, little flock, for your Father has been
pleased to give you the kingdom.

21. What does God really want for me and you?
The Kingdom!
The Kingdom is here on earth when Jesus is the
Lord of your life & will culminate in the glories of
eternal life in heaven!
Isn’t that great?
Jesus reminds us that God clothes the grass and
feeds the birds, so will He not take care of us?
We can live carefree of having our needs supplied
if we will focus our faith and follow and confess
Jesus the Christ!

22. “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me
before others, the Son of Man will also
acknowledge before the angels of God. But
whoever disowns me before others will be
disowned before the angels of God.

23. Who is confessing Jesus and who is denying
Him in this context?
Are not His disciples confessing Him and are
not the hypocritical Pharisees denying Him?
Who is going to pay the highest price for their
choices?
Jesus even gives them a way of escape with
this next verse, but a clear warning in the
previous verse of where they are headed if they
do not repent.

24. And everyone who speaks a word against the
Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who
blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven.
But whoever disowns me before others will be
disowned before the angels of God.

25. Who is speaking against the Holy Spirit in this
context?
Is it not the hypocrites that accuse Jesus of
performing signs by the power of the Devil?
NIV Jesus was driving out a demon
that was mute. When the demon left, the man
who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was
amazed. But some of them said, “By
Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving
out demons.”

26. These hypocrites will either turn or burn, they
will become disciples or harden and try to stop
all who stand for Jesus Christ.
“When you are brought before synagogues,
rulers and authorities, do not worry about how
you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time
what you should say.”

27. Here and in Chapter Jesus speaks of the Holy
Spirit. First, He says God gives the Holy Spirit to
those that ask.
NIV If you then, though you are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

28. Second, He says that he who blasphemes
against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven.
And finally, He says that the Holy Spirit will
teach you what to say when you are
interrogated for your faith.

29. There are three basic interpretations for how to
handle these statements.
1. They do not mean what they say.
2. They meant what they said in the first century,
but today they do not apply.
3. They mean what they say for all time.
I happen to believe the third interpretation.
What Jesus says applies to all time unless He
says otherwise.

30. The rest of this chapter covers greed (with a
parable about the rich fool), and worry (with
illustrations about God’s care for the birds and
flowers), readiness for Christ’s return (with
another parable that applies to anyone that
hears), division Christ brings even in families,
and a call to interpret the signs of the times.

31. In all of these the overarching principle He
points to is a kingdom mindset.
Simply put, Jesus reminds us over and over that
this world is temporary, eternity is on the other
side, and following Him makes all the difference.

32. The world is full of distractions and diversions.
There are so many voices calling for our
attention besides the call of Christ for our
commitment to the kingdom.
We need ears that hear and eyes that see the
eternal heavenly voice and vision.

33. When I drive long distances I listen to NIV LIVE
CDs. Last weekend on my drive down to the old
home place in South-East Oklahoma,
, , , , &
played & on the entire return trip the
were playing.
Anyway, as I rode along I kept losing focus on
what was being said. The dramatized Scriptures
were coming out of the speakers, but I was
constantly drifting in thought to other things.

34. For the 6 or so hours each way I just kept trying
to listen.
It was really hard!
It took effort to stay tuned in.
I imagine it was kind of like what some of you
are going through right now!
But I just kept at it, and the message began to
get through.
We’re going to sing a song in a few minutes that
talks about all the things around becoming
shadows in the light of His Love.

35. It dawns on me that it is so easy to get lazy and
expect to be entertained into heaven.
It’s as if God has to compete with the flesh in
order to deserve our attention.
I try as hard as I can to prepare and preach.
I know that my skills and talents are no match
for the gravity of this world.

36. If God doesn’t speak through me, my words are
nothing but empty noises.
But if in some way, the Holy Spirit gives life to
the words spoken, sung and prayed here today,
then the witness of Christ has been proclaimed.
The sounds here are echoes from the halls of
heaven itself!

37. The ears of those who are tuned into heaven will
hear it.
The eyes of those who are looking for life in
Christ will see it.
The hearts and minds of those who are seeking
The Kingdom will be encouraged by it.

38. God is calling you and me today to listen to His
voice and hear Him with a heavenly head on
your shoulders.
Through the words of Christ we are reminded of
God’s love, reminded of our responsibility to be
always ready, and reminded that we live in a
world that is hostile toward all who faithfully
follow Jesus Christ and speak loud and clear
about the values of the King of kings and Lord
of lords.

39. Can you see it coming?
Can you interpret the times?
When we see what is happening in our country
today, can we not see the enemy rising?
Arm yourselves Christians!

40. NIV Because of the increase of
wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
but the one who stands firm to the end will be
saved.
NIV Do not be afraid of what you
are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put
some of you in prison to test you, and you will
suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even
to the point of death, and I will give you life as
your victor’s crown.