NOTES OF KNOWLEDGE

LUKE 6.20-49

Monday, July 29, 2013

7:32 AM

Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord,"

and do not do what I say?

Luke 6.46

 

I have taken notes since October of 1956.

I am a good note-taker. 

It is much easier to take notes

than to translate notes

into understanding and wisdom.

 

I have often taken notes without considering their meaning to my life.

I have been good at listening and taking notes.

I have volumes of notes. 

I have sought knowledge and made lots of notes.

I do know a lot from all my notes. 

I have wanted to know.

Lots of things.

Especially about the Bible.

 

Knowledge produces a sense of power. 

Authority. 

And arrogance. 

Knowledge puffeth up.  (KJV) 

But while knowledge makes us feel important,

it is love that strengthens the church.  (NLT) 

Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.  NIV

1 Corinthians 8.1 

Charity envieth not…vaunteth not…is not puffed up…KJV

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud.    NLT

Love…does not envy…boast…not proud.    NIV

1 Corinthians 13.4

 

This word for "puff" occurs in seven verse; six are in 1 Corinthians.

Its primary idea is "arrogance." 

I think I know something--too much!- of being puffed up, proud, arrogant.

"Oh, wretched man that I am!

Who shall deliver me from this body of arrogant pride? 
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus our Lord!

Romans 7.24-25
 

How will Jesus save me?

1.  By giving me directions from Scripture, like

 

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather in humility value others above yourselves...Looking...to the interests of the others...In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Phil 2.3-5

 

I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...

Phil 4.11-12

 

Be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Heb.13.5

 

2.  By wise application of these verses to my attitude.

Accept who I am instead of comparing myself with others, to their disadvantage.

Refuse to seek fame and fortune for myself.

Honor and respect the achievements of others. 

I must "love" those I make out to be my "enemies," "competitors," whom I silently criticize. 

 

It is easy to create imaginary enemies and then condemn them.

 

The second half of Luke 6 is Jesus' application for correcting my attitude toward others.

 

The simple answer is,

 

"Love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you,

pray for those who mistreat you." 

Luke 6.27-28

Speak well of them.

Do good  to them.

Pray for them. 

Prayer will change my attitude.

Prayer about my attitude will show the good God wants for them, of which I can then speak.

Such prayer will be answered with Scripture that will direct me to do good to others as God would have me do for them.  v.31

This prayer and Scripture will let me become merciful as our Father is merciful.  v.36

It will remove the beams out of my own eyes.  v.42