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Sermon Outline - The Rich Fool, Luke ch.12 vv.17-21

Date07/03/2004
Time18:30
PreacherRev. Maurice Roberts, Inverness
Sermon TitleThe Rich Fool
TextLuke ch.12 vv.17-21
Sermon ID789

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Introduction

  1. This is a Parable of Christ's.
  2. It is a warning to us all.
  1. GOD READS OUR SECRET THOUGHTS

    1. Christ tells us the man's inward thoughts; he is quickly talking to his own soul.
    2. The thoughts are read by God as easily as if they were written in a book:
      Illustration: a TV screen or a computer
    3. The Bible makes this clear:
      1. The way they are described: Genesis 6:5
      2. "The Lord knoweth...": Psalm 94:11
      3. The Psalmist's words: Psalm 19:14
      4. The Prophet's words: Ezekiel 11:5
      DOCTRINE: God knows all our secret thoughts.
    4. This is reflected in different passages:
      ACHAN - WIFE OF JEROBOAM - JUDAS - PHARISEES - ANANIAS + SAPHIRA.

      APPLICATION: We should be thankful other people cannot read our thoughts - but we need to know that God can.
      Q. : What does God see in your mind?

  2. PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS CAN BE DANGEROUS

    1. The popular idea is that 'poverty is bad and wealth is good'.
    2. The Bible shows that wealth can be more dangerous than poverty: 'Take their ease.'
      He was preparing for a long life of worldly ease - without God in his life.
    3. Do you recall Agur's words in Proverbs 30: 7-9?
      "Neither poverty nor riches". His wise fear: "Lest I be full and deny thee...".

      OBSERVE: This is what the man here does - he prepares for happiness without God.

    4. Happiness without God is a lie:
      1. It is stealing God's blessings:
      2. It is abusing God's patience:
      3. It is provoking God's anger.
      ILLUSTRATION: The man who owned grain.
    5. It can take the form of ambition - an urge to 'get on' without God:
      ILLUSTRATION: What Philip de Nerie said to a clever young man (p.91).
  3. GOD MAY CALL US OUT OF THIS LIFE SUDDENLY

    1. What a word this is! "God said unto him, Thou fool...!" Could anything be worse than God calling us "fools"?
    2. It is not allowed to us to call one another "fool", except in a gentle way: See Matthew 5:22 (Explain).
      APPLICATION: Beware of using angry words.
    3. But God does, as Judge, call some people fools:
      1. Psalm 14:1 - of those who deny God.
      2. Proverbs 14:16: "rageth and is confident"
      3. Ecclesiastes 5:3: "a fool's voice is known..."
      OBSERVE: Proverbs speaks often of fools = those who despise God and his ways.
    4. The reason why this man was a fool:
      1. he was not ready to die. Explain.
      2. he was blind to the fact that he was shortly to lose his SOUL.
      3. he imagined his earthly goods would last for a long time.
      OBSERVE: Sudden death, if we are not saved by Christ's blood, is sudden hell.
      APPLICATION: Have you got more wisdom than this man or not?
  4. THE WISE PERSON IS RICH TOWARDS GOD

    1. See what the LESSON is that Christ takes from all this: v.21.
    2. So, we need to be "rich towards God".The meaning is:
      1. It begins when you obey the gospel of Christ: "rich in faith".
      2. The Christian is "laying up treasure in heaven": his good works.
      3. In a word, it is love to God and to Christ.
      DOCTRINE: There are 2 kinds of riches: one kind is earthly; one is heavenly.
      Q. : Which kind do YOU have?

CONCLUSION

Look at Christ: "- thought he was rich - became poor - that we might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:19).


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