"And He was also saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to examine the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not examine this present time?
"And why do you not even judge for yourselves what is right? For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the last lepton."
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us today, whether it's your first time or you are a faithful member of our family in Christ, your presence is both noticed and appreciated. If you have recently received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we'd love to hear from you, so please reach out and let us know so that we can be in prayer for you. Praying with and for others is a foundational practice of the Christian faith, shifting the focus from self to others through the act of intercession as often modeled by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. If you're not certain about whether or not you want to embrace Jesus Christ, I pray there will be something in our message today that will point you toward Christ. It's one of the few decisions I've made in my life that I don't regret, so I can confidently assure you, you won't either. I also wanted to let you know how grateful I am for all of you who have been sharing the ministry website, and social media platforms with your family and friends. God has continued to significantly bless your efforts in reaching the lost in places I've never imagined be able to reach. God is so good! Please join us in praying for our new brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as keeping those who have been part of our family for sometime.
Our Lord Jesus Christ wept over the city of Jerusalem, expressing profound sorrow over the people's failure to recognize their opportunity for peace with God through Him. The significance of the Greek word used for His weeping, "klaio," is a deep, loud sobbing, intense emotional anguish, stemming from the heart of Savior, deeply invested in the destiny of His people, not just silent tears while longing for their repentance. Similarly, the apostles having witnessed Christ’s sorrow and sacrifice, understood the weight of the responsibility which they had been entrusted with. They understood that proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was not just a message of reconciliation and peace, also a call to self-sacrifice and faithfulness, even in the face of persecution. A hardship, they, like their Lord, willingly endured to spread the message of salvation for the sake of the Kingdom, no matter the cost, their self-sacrificial love would ultimately lead to their own deaths, as they poured themselves out for the lost.
In 2 Timothy 3, Paul warned Timothy to be alert of the moral and spiritual decline that "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come." Well, those days have come. We are living in the "last days" the era characterized between Christ’s first and second coming, a time marked by both gospel advancement and increasing apostasy. Paul then detailed a list of nineteen moral and spiritual vices, which are generally considered morally wrong, that will become increasingly prevalent in society. What are the characteristics of these dangerous men, they are "lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power."
Heretical liars masquerading as angels of light, spiritual frauds disguised as Christian leaders, have already come into the church and they are endeavoring to deceive God's people and destroy the work of God by teaching the damning lies of Satan. They function like a spiritual cancer, undermining the vitality of the body of Christ. Much like cancerous cells attack the human body, spreading rapidly throughout the body, to destroy the healthy normal cells that are supposed to fight against invaders. Any disease that attacks the healthy white blood cells is the most devastating thing that can happen to the human body. In speaking about the attacks on the church from the outside, Jesus said, "The gates of hell will not prevail against the church." He was unthreatened by external attacks on the church. The problem as I see it, is not outside the church, but from within it. It's as if those who were given the responsibility to protect the church against these spiritual invaders, have shirked their duty and these dangerous people have been allowed to run rampant in the church. That's the subtlety of Satan. We just grow an apathetic church. If you don't think it can happen in your church, you better do a little examination. Pastors have become willing to do anything and everything grow the church except powerfully, unashamedly preach the Word of God as if the very life of the church depended upon it. Sure, the churches are growing, but I have to wonder where the hearts are if they have abandoned their first love. It's time we stop living in denial and face the truth, and recognize the honeymoon phase has ended—now we must confront reality head-on of what is really going on and take decisive action. I want to borrow from the familiar words of Martha, the sister of Lazarus in John 11:39, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." Nothing is more challenging than attempting to live a godly life when you're failing to confront the Truth. As Christians, we have come out of the grave, we have been raised to walk in newness of life, (Romans 6:4) yet we are still prisoners by the remnants of our former life, the filthy stench of rotting flesh that remains from the grave. In the simplest of terms, it means being able to walk past our desires for personal experiences and emotional highs into obedience, discipline, and trust God's plan, not just when things "feel right," but even when we're confused, struggling, or God just feels distant. It's consciously choosing to keep walking forward, pressing toward the finish line and trusting God, even when the path is dark and we have no idea where God is leading us.
True faith isn't based on our emotions or feelings, but on our trust—believing in God’s unchanging character and faithfulness, even when our circumstances might suggest otherwise. Real faith results in obedience, perseverance, and reliance on God, not just a fleeting emotional experience. I believe the church today must learn to cultivate the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in Daniel 3:18, whose trust was not found in a favorable outcome, but in the goodness and sovereignty of God, by meditating on Scripture and remembering His past faithfulness. As prominent theologian and author R.C. Sproul was quoted as saying in his book Knowing Scripture, "The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in."
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, as always, we thank You for Your Word which comes to us with such clarity and power. We confess that we are occasionally reckless in the pursuit of the fulfillment of our passions. We lose sight of our mission, treating those around with contempt as we seek to fulfill our own goals. May this be the day we shift our focus from self to selflessness, living up to the responsibility of faithfully serving You by serving others. Lord, make us sorrowful unto genuine repentance for anything that we have done to offend You. Help to be set apart, to be lovers of You and not lovers of this fallen world, so that we might taste the sweetness of that which is promised to us in the future. Work in the hearts of those who do not yet know Christ as the Lord and Savior, that’s our prayer, and we ask and pray this in His name.
Amen.
Jesus isn’t just talking about weather—he’s calling out a deeper spiritual failure by using a metaphor, pointing out that while people can accurately predict rain from a western cloud or heat from a southern wind, yet they fail to understand the significance of the most urgent forecast of all: discerning the spiritual signs of their time. They see the sky but ignore the storm of judgment coming. How can we claim to understand the world when we fail to recognize the divine moment unfolding before us? It’s not just ignorance—it’s a tragic waste of opportunity. Whenever I think about wasted opportunity, I cannot help but to think of Judas Iscariot, being one of only twelve people in the history of the world given the privilege of spending every day and every night for three years with Jesus. It's unimaginable to me that a man could have that kind of opportunity and still end up in Hell, tragically tormented forever. What a waste of an opportunity.
I want to make clear today, everybody who dies without having placed their trust in Christ will be judged and condemned and, according to Scripture, cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Tragically, even many of those who outwardly profess the name of Christ, calling Him Lord, performing religious acts yet do not genuinely submit to His Lordship, continuing to practice lawlessness, living immoral lives, will hear Him declare, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21–23) True discipleship is defined by a life of obedience to the Father’s will, not merely lip service. Profession without submission, leads to eternal separation from God. These aren’t very comforting words, but they are truthful. Friends, I want you to understand the magnitude of what Christ has done for you, having been chosen by God before the foundation of the world, adopted as His children, and given a new identity in Christ, therefore, I encourage you to live your lives worthy of the calling you have received by putting off the old sinful nature and embracing a newly transformed way of life, to walk as Christ Himself walked, in humility, gentleness, patience, and love toward others, maintaining unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace. By living in alignment with our calling, we demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel before a watching world and become a living testimony to the grace, mercy and love of God to all.
Sadly, because many believers had bought into the lies of the false teachers, the testimony of the Church has been significantly damaged. In 2 Peter 2, he warns that God’s wrath will be poured out on false teachers, misleading those who follow them about Jesus Christ and His finished work, emphasizing that though they may appear to be saved these individuals bring destruction upon themselves due to their false teachings and destructive heresies, that ultimately deny the Lord who bought them. Then, Peter cites that God did not spare the angels who sinned, casting them into chains of darkness, nor did He spare the ancient world during the flood, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, along with seven others nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which He turned to ashes as an example of His judgment. Believe or not, God cares how we live, and how we represent Him in the world.
The modern doctrine of salvation promises eternal life to anyone who simply fills out a card and prays a prayer, believing that Jesus died for their sin, yet requires no confession of sin or repentance as Jesus Himself commanded, therefore no commitment to ever deal with your own sinfulness and abandon your sin. This "Just add Jesus" mentality results in no change in one's existing lifestyle, free to flagrantly live in the same sin God supposedly delivered them, with no willingness to submit their life to Him in obedience. In short, the Gospel presentation being espoused today is a corrupted, devoid of everything Jesus Himself taught, deficient of true saving faith and I sincerely fear for the hundreds of millions of deceived people who now fill the pews in these apostate churches on the broad road trying to accommodate sinners, who have fallen prey to the shallow teaching of "justification without sanctification," who will be devastated to discover that they are among those unregenerate professing believers who call Him Lord, but He will turn away, declaring to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." For three years, Jesus preached repentance. The kind of repentance that leads to the forgiveness of sins, turning from sin to God for salvation. Therefore, I believe Scripture is clear, genuine repentance and turning from sin is synonymous with salvation.
Alright then, that said, open your Bibles with me, if you would to the Gospel of Luke. Luke chapter 12, verses 54-59. In our ongoing study of this tremendous account of the Lord Jesus Christ written by Luke, we come to the end of chapter 12, after nearly two years and we just reached the half way point. What a privilege it is to be able to open up the Word of God, any time we want, without fear of being persecuted for our has to be the most profound blessing that any human being on the planet has ever experienced. Many Christians in Western nations do not recognize the significant privilege they possess in just having unrestricted access to Scripture, while millions of believers worldwide endure imprisonment, horrific acts of violence, and even social ostracization, simply for reading the Bible. We all know what it is to waste an opportunity. What does your religious freedom mean to you? How are you going to use that privilege for the Kingdom of God? As I've always said, "You know that moment you've been waiting your entire life for? That was it!" The good news is, its not too late, there's still hope. I encourage you to follow along closely with an open heart and an open mind, praying for the unmistakable clarity that only the Holy Spirit can provide as I read these words from our Lord in Luke 12:54-59 as He addresses the issue of wasted opportunity. Let's examine them starting in verse 54.
"And He was also saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to examine the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not examine this present time?
"And why do you not even judge for yourselves what is right? For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the last lepton."
Let's examine them starting with verse 54, "And He was also saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens." His message has all been very evangelistic up to this point, Fear God, confesses Me before men, be prepared, don't be consumed with the things of this word, pursue the kingdom to receive the salvation that He offers. And do everything with urgency because you don't know how long you have before He comes. Luke begins verse 54 with "And He was also saying to the crowds," previously He was speaking to the massive crowds in the tens of thousands, those who were still in the process of making up their minds about coming to faith in Him, now it ceases to be an invitation of salvation because they've already made up their mind and now, until the end of this discourse, chapter 13:9, it becomes a blistering indictment and a strong warning aimed at them directly for their unbelief. Jesus begins by using everyday observations about weather to deliver a profound spiritual truth, acknowledging their very unsophisticated way of predicting the weather based on visible signs, but fail to recognize the spiritual significance of His ministry and the arrival of God’s kingdom. A cloud rising in the west, water originates from the Mediterranean Sea, evaporates and collects in a cloud, which is a common source of rainfall over Judea. In other words, with only a minimal amount of evidence, you are able to draw a conclusion with confidence and you're right! Because that's the way it works.
Then, in verse 55, He says "And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it happens." It's the Greek word "kausōn" it's a very dry hot wind or scorching heat referred to as a sirocco or simoom known for its ability to quickly raise temperatures and dry out vegetation, that comes from the hot desert regions and gains heat as it sweeps across the eastern Mediterranean to illustrate how people can accurately predict the weather based on simple and yet accurate signs. It this story seems familiar it's because He used a very similar illustration Jesus in Matthew chapter 16, verses 1-4. Jesus performed many clear "signs and wonders," including healing of the sick, giving sight to the blind and delivering individuals from unclean spirits, yet many remained indifferent or even hostile toward Him, revealing a much deeper issue than a "lack of evidence," but a hardened heart, spiritually blinded to the things of God, unable to perceive spiritual truths, responding in responded with unbelief.
In verse 56, He makes His point, by applying the same simple yet accurate methods to the countless obvious demonstrations of divine power He's displayed right in front of their eyes. "You hypocrites! You know how to examine the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not examine this present time?" "You hypocrites!," cutting right to the heart of their spiritual blindness! It's interesting, if you were to trace how many times Jesus calls them hypocrites, you would probably be surprised. It's quite a lot, in Matthew 23:13-29 alone, where He pronounced eight scathing woes or curses of the scribes and Pharisees. A hypocrite means to deceive somebody by pretending to be something you're really not. The Greek word hypokritēs, meaning "an actor" or "one who interprets from underneath," referring to ancient Greek performers who wore masks. Over time, became a word used to describe a deceiver, someone who feigns beliefs or virtues they do not actually hold, particularly to deceive or gain approval from others. Someone whose profession does not match their practice, portraying himself to be outwardly good, but is in reality is inwardly evil. He called them hypocrites because they were, not only was their entire religious system a phony, their hearts were wicked and evil. Mark it, false religion can never change the heart. It's all external. But more specifically, their hypocrisy was in pretending not to have enough evidence, always asking for an undeniable sign from heaven to prove that He was Who He said He was, God incarnate, which is central to the Christian doctrine. (John 1:14)
The phrase "this present time" is the Greek word "kairon" which refers to time as opportunity, a critical juncture requiring an immediate response to show they failed to discern the threat in the days they're living in. I have to say, there are many professing Christians who are like the unresponsive soil, their hearts have remained hardened, they do not think the Jesus of the Bible is acceptable, so they have created a sin friendly Jesus who is so desperate to gain followers that he will tolerate anything. Jesus Himself warned that some people profess Him with their lips but not with their lives, indicating a superficial faith that does not result in obedience or fruitfulness. In Luke 6:46, "Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"
Verse 57, "And why do you not even judge for yourselves what is right?" This is a rhetorical question, He already knew the answer. He was challenging them to examine their own moral reasoning to determine what is just rather that relying solely on external judgment, emphasizing the need for immediate, thoughtful evaluation of one's actions and priorities, like the approaching judgment and the need for reconciliation with God. What He is saying is, "What's wrong with you? You're in serous danger and you don't even realize it!" Back in Matthew 10:26-27, He said, "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops." And He issued the same warning earlier here in Luke chapter 12 saying "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops."
Verse 57, "And why do you not even judge for yourselves what is right?" This is a rhetorical question, He already knew the answer. He was challenging them to examine their own moral reasoning to determine what is just rather that relying solely on external judgment, emphasizing the need for immediate, thoughtful evaluation of one's actions and priorities, like the approaching judgment and the need for reconciliation with God. What He is saying is, "What's wrong with you? You're in serous danger and you don't even realize it!" Back in Matthew 10:26-27, He said, "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops." And He issued the same warning earlier here in Luke chapter 12 saying "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops."
Do not be deceived into believing that you can continue living on the edge of Hell thinking it'll all work out when you're standing before the throne of God. Listen, who wouldn't love to have a salvation that didn’t cause you to have to change your sinful lifestyle and you still get to go heaven? Churches would have a line around the block. Oh sure, there'll be some people who will run, because they think they can control their own destiny with "good vibes" and positive thinking. It's not our perfection that proves the reality of our salvation, because you're never going to be perfect, it's our reaction to our imperfection. Do you love your sin or do you hate when you sin? True saving faith has a Romans 7 attitude, "When I sin it’s not what I want to do and when I do it I hate it, because my desire is to do God's will!
Examine your life. Do you love your sin? Or do you hate it? Are you at war with your sin when you find yourself sinning? Or have you bought into Satan's lie that says, "I get to keep my sin and still get into heaven." Oh beloved don't be deceived! Your sin is what kept you out of heaven in the first place, right? That's why you needed Jesus. Don't base your salvation on your religious activity, a person can have a lot of religious activity and still have a hardened heart. So, base it on what your heart desires.
Verse 58, "For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison." When somebody commits a crime, he appears before the judge. If the offended person wants to settle out of court, he arranges to appear before the magistrate. This imagery here is not intended to suggest that salvation can be earned through financial or legal payment, but to highlight one's absolute accountability before God. Rich people tend to rely on being able to solve all their own problems with their own resources, whereas the poor, are in their desperation so often cry out to a source of supply greater and beyond themselves. If you haven't settled your debt with God, your guilt is going to be exposed when you appear before the Righteous Judge, at the Great White Throne Judgment, He's going to cast you into Hell, and you're never going to get out. Because the wages of sin is death. Every word, every thought, and every sin will be accounted for in divine judgment, and there is no partial or incomplete reconciliation possible. Once your guilt is revealed, your record will speak for itself, you will not be permitted to speak in your defense. Your guilt has already been declared, you're only there for the sentencing. Jesus does not call us to clean up our former life, the ways we used to live, He demands complete regeneration! Every message I write is an urgent warning is deeply rooted in love, it's a call to repentance and to embrace the forgiveness Jesus offers to be reconciled with God before the Day of Judgment while the door of grace and mercy remains open, because once judgment begins, all sentences are final. God is willing to reconcile because He's a reconciling God. Put your trust in Jesus Christ, the One who went to the cross and bore the penalty for your sin before it's too late. There's nothing more tragic than a wasted opportunity.
That brings us to verse 59, "I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the last lepton." "I say to you," emphasizes the certainty and gravity of the inescapable consequences of what follows. The Greek word lepton means small one, it was the smallest Jewish coin in circulation during the time of Jesus. It had minimal worth approximately 1/128th of a denarius, which equaled a days wage for a laborer. Often referred to as a "mite" in older English translations like the King James Version. In first-century Judea, debtor’s prisons were real. Failure to pay even minor debts could result in incarceration until full payment was made. His audience would have understood the imagery Jesus was using to illustrate the thoroughness of divine justice, stressing that no sin—no matter how small—will go unpunished, and that full payment of every "penny" is required before release from judgment, underscoring the impossibility of human self-justification, as no one can claim to have fully settled their moral obligations before a holy God. What Jesus is saying is not complicated, you'd better settle your issues with God or you're going to receive His full wrath. God is a reconciling God, He has provided a way for every human being to settle his debt and make peace with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, whom God made sin for us so that we might be made the righteous of God in Him. Today is the day of salvation. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. Don't waste this opportunity to be reconciled with God for you do not know the day or the hour of Christ's imminent return. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:20, "We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." Be reconciled to God.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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