Sermon #48 Luke Sermons

Title: Everybody Ought To Know

Text: Luke 8:16-21

Subject: The Right Use of Gospel Knowledge

Date: Sunday Evening -- 2001

Tape # W-35a

Readings: Bob Poncer and James Jordan

Introduction:
I recall hearing and singing a chorus when I attended Sunday School as a boy. I had not heard it sung in years until just a few weeks ago.

Everybody ought to know,

Everybody ought to know,

Every body ought to know

Who Jesus is!

He’s the Lily of the Valley!

He’s the Bright and Morning Star!

He’s the Fairest of ten thousand!

Everybody ought to know.

That is exactly what our Savior tells us in Luke 8:16-21.

[Luke 8:16-21] "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. [17] For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. [18] Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. [19] Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. [20] And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. [21] And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."

If we would interpret these verses properly we must keep them in their context. Our Lord has just given and explained the parable of the sower. Here he is making a very practical application of that parable to us. The things here written for our learning and admonition are intended to nail down and fix in our minds this mighty lesson.---

Proposition: That which God teaches us by his grace we are to proclaim to others.

There are three great, weighty, important things taught in these short, simple verses of Holy Scripture. May God the Holy Spirit, whose Word we have before us, write these things upon our hearts by his grace.

  1. First, our Master here teaches us that it is our responsibility to proclaim abroad the gospel we have learned by divine revelation.


[Luke 8:16-17] "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. [17] For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad."

No one lights a candle to hide it. The reason for lighting the candle is that it may be held forth to diffuse its light.

  1. Whenever we read or hear these words from the lips of our Savior, we ought first to think of ourselves.


God has revealed the gospel to us for the saving of our souls. How we ought to rejoice in that and thank him for it! But he has also given us the gospel as a trust. He has put the light of divine truth into our hands so that we might carry it forth into this world of darkness for the salvation of other chosen, redeemed sinners.

God did not give us the knowledge of his Son, his grace, and his salvation, so that we might simply profess it, admire it, and discuss it, but that we might proclaim it.

The gospel is a talent committed to our hands, with which we have been entrusted. That trust brings with it a great weight of responsibility.

  • Preachers

  • Local Churches

  • Individual Believer


[Matthew 28:18-20] "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

[1 Corinthians 9:16] "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"

[Ephesians 3:8] "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;"

[John 20:21] "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."

  1. When we hear or read these words, we ought to also think of others.

    2. We live in a world of darkness. The multitudes around us, in our homes, in our communities, around the nation, and around the worlds, are perishing for want of knowledge. Behold the peoples of the world. Get them fixed in your heart. They are without God, without Christ, without hope!

    Is there nothing we can do for them? Indeed there is something we can and must do for them. We must hold forth the light, with fervency, earnestness, and zeal.

    [Romans 9:1-3] "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. [3] For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh."

    [Romans 10:1] "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."

    [2 Corinthians 5:10-14] "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. [12] For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. [13] For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. [14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead."

    I fully agree with J. C. Ryle, who wrote, "The highest form of selfishness is that of a man who is content to go to heaven alone. The truest charity is to endeavor to share with others every spark of religious (gospel) light we possess ourselves, and so hold forth our own candle that it may give light to everyone around us."

    God never lights a candle that it may burn alone!

  2. In verse 17 our Lord is declaring that the gospel must and shall be preached in all the world.


Remember the context. Though in the day of judgment all things shall be brought to light, in the sense that God will cause all men to see clearly what he has done, this is not a declaration that God is going to show the world all our inmost secret thoughts. Our Lord is here telling his disciples that the things then hidden and spoken in parables would be openly proclaimed in this gospel day by his them, by his church, and by faithful gospel preachers in all succeeding ages.

[Matthew 24:14] "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

  1. Second, our Lord teaches us in verse 18 that we must take heed how we hear the gospel.


[Luke 8:18] "Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have."

I have dealt with this a good bit in recent weeks. So I will not spend much time here tonight. But we must not fail to heed this word of instruction. The degree to which we will benefit from the ministry of the Word depends greatly upon the way we hear it. Going to church and hearing sermons will do us no good, unless we hear right. If we would hear the Word of God right, we must lay to heart these four simple rules for hearing it.

  1. Be sure that what you hear is the Gospel. – Like the noble Bereans, search the Scriptures and see for yourself that the things you hear from the pulpit and the things written in the Book of God are the same.

  2. Hear the Word of God as the Word of God, with reverence.

  3. Be sure you hear the gospel with implicit faith, not as the word of man, but as the Word of God.

    4. [Hebrews 4:1-2] "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."


  4. Hear the Word with prayer, praying for God to bless it to your own soul, making personal application of it to yourself.


  1. Third, in verses 19-21, we are taught that those, and those only, who hear and obey the gospel are the family of God.


[Luke 8:19-21] "Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. [20] And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. [21] And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."

What blessed privileges are ours in Christ!

  1. The person who hears the Word of God and does it is the sinner who hearing the gospel call comes to Christ.

    • The Master says, "believe on me," and we believe.

    • He says, "repent," and we repent.

    • He says, "follow me," and we follow.


    1. Without question, to obey the gospel will bring a man or woman great trouble.

      2. To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to take up your cross and follow him. It is to enlist in an army, to engage in combat with…

      • The World.

      • The Flesh.

      • The Devil.


      1. But the privileges far outweigh, infinitely outweigh, the costs.


      [Romans 8:17-18] "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. [18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

      [2 Corinthians 4:16-18] "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

      [2 Corinthians 5:1] "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

      [2 Timothy 2:11-13] "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: [13] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."

      [1 Peter 1:3-9] "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

      Application:


        1. Let us each make it our business to do what we can in this our day for the furtherance of the gospel and the salvation of God’s elect.

        2. Let us ever take heed how we hear the Word of God.

        3. Let us ever hold before our hearts and minds the great privileges that are ours in Christ.


      Amen.
      Don Fortner