What a finely polished small mirror of self-examination we find in the gospel of Luke chapter 14! Once again we find the Lord Jesus Christ giving us yet another chance to look through His eyes at His people! Can you “see” what he “sees”? Better yet, the Lord states it more clearly in verse 35… “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” You DO have the revelation that not everything you “spiritually see” is “seen through your physical eyes” don’t you? Take a moment to define what it is to “see though your mind’s eye”. How often do you really see whats going on by what you hear? Futhermore, can you “hear” with more than your ears yet? Feel without a physical touch? Even taste a thing without using your tongue? Our mind’s eye must be exercised in that way!

When we learn how to communicate with God through our five senses (you know, touch, taste, sight, hearing and smelling) and varied combinations thereof as spoken in the paragraph above), We will experience more discernement, understanding, leading and sensitivity to His spirit and a greater sense of being “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” as 2 Timothy 2:21 says. The Lord Jesus poses this challenge to you in Luke chapter 14! Along with the challenge comes the blessing of the revelation of knowing what hinders “seeing, hearing” and the spirit of God’s word.

The Lord knew how His people get when they lack maturity in His word combined with a little spiritual authority. You know, thinking that they are all that with that ” holier than thou” attitude (of which only God himself has right to, as spoken in Isaiah 65:5), acting as if God owes THEM and making others feel that they are “owed” something by them. Having the limited capacity of selective obedience to the the letter of the law and not perceiving the true spirit of it. These conditions, or “symptoms” greatly hinder one’s ability to “see and hear” the Word and power of God in action as God intends it to be in our lives! The four Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John quoted the Lord’s classification of this type of “religious person”, He called them “Pharisees”. How appropriate was the sickness the Lord encountered in their midst! “The dropsy”, among the Pharisees as spoken in verse 2! The “dropsy defined is: “Excess water causing swelling in the body” – of which in itself is caused by something else and affects many other bodily functions.

Even a doctor’s practice is based on the operation of “seeing the root causes of many symptoms”! This ability can only come from God! Thank God that even on the Sabbath Day He will still heal someone among the “pharisees” with so many “spiritual symptoms” and their “root causes”! Jesus, our ultimate doctor and healer, diagnoses, heals and instructs us in “Spiritual pro-activity” to remain “spiritually healthy”! Again, I say thank you Lord for being better to us than we are to ourselves! Symptoms denied or not recognized can hide or mask significant root problems and causes. The word of God allows us to properly discern causes and symptoms of “spiritual infirmity”. In this article, only a few will be addressed.

The causes (the true discernment) of the symptoms which reflect the true state of his people is disclosed throughout the chapter. A major condition is stated at the end of verses 26, 27 and 33. Certain thoughts, expressions and actions by the saints of God openly confirm the words of our Lord Jesus as he notes that they “cannot be my disciple.” The sad part of this revelation is that his people respond with nothing but excuses and EXCUSES! Which indeed are the symptoms masking His plain truth from our revelation! In verse 6, we see that the immature (self-confident and arrogant) Pharisees had no answer to the questioning of their spiritual priorities! Jesus has the answer to such dilemma, ” But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33;“ And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Matthews 19:29, ” So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33. Excuses arise when self gets in the way! Excuses are the symptom, the flesh is the root cause. Are your priorities “self-serving”? Just what is the true treasure of your heart? ” For where YOUR treasure is, THERE will YOUR heart be also.” Matthew 6:2.

So let me encourage you to re-read this article, and face what you “see” in God’s mirror truthfully! Remember Revelation 3:20? “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” The gentleman that he is, he “knocks” at a door that He already knows what lies behind! He is kindly asking entry into the area he knows you would like to clean up be fore you consciously invite him to “sup” with you in. Its not that he doesn’t know what is really going on with you, in actuallity, he wants us to KNOW what is going on with ourselves in spirit and in truth! The Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t need our excuses, he desires our submissive obedience! ” And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22. Excuses are a form of sel-serving sacrifice. A lame attempt at self- justification. ” And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” 1 Kings 18:21. Excuses let God know of our true opinion of Him. This life is your practice run, make the best of for the honor and glory of God!

May God help you to know that you know where your relationship stands with Him!

Pastor Greg