The Answer For Anxiety

Scripture: Luke 12:22-30

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.

23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.

24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds!

25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.

30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.”

31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

INTRODUCTION

In the very beginning of chapter 12, Jesus is teaching some fundamental principles of the Kingdom: integrity, courage, security and He mentions hell and the unpardonable sin. These are very serious issues that Jesus is addressing but go back and look at verse 13…

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Someone in the crowd interrupted Jesus with this question, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

This rude interruption prompts Jesus to tell the Parable of the rich fool found only in Luke’s gospel {12:13-21}. Now, everything that has happened in this chapter is related to Jesus teachings in the verses above. The key is Luke 12:31, “Seek God’s Kingdom first or above all else.” Nothing, in this world, should be more important to you than the KINGDOM OF GOD. Unfortunately, the rich fool, nor the fool who interrupted Jesus gave God’s Kingdom no thought, let alone make it a priority and that is why they were fools.

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When a person understands who he/she is and where they are going, they have the ability to take the high road or higher ground. In John 13:3, the scripture reads… Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. {Jesus knew who He was and where He was going. He had a perfect sense of security} This sense of security gave Him the ability to take the high or noble ground… so Jesus took off his coat and picked up a towel and began washing the disciples feet.

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We understand that we were created in God’s image and redeemed at the highest cost known to man. That fact that Jesus died for us gives us infinite worth. The value of an object is determined by the price people are willing to pay.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I have a glorious future beyond this life and world.

The rich fool did not understand this truth: he thought life consisted in the amount of things that one owns or possesses. He was dead wrong. Property is temporal and so are barns filled with grain or banks filled with money. Some of the things we value most are worthless in the world to come which makes us look pretty foolish in God’s sight.

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Since our time here on earth is so brief and nothing endures other than our soul and that which we do for His kingdom, should we be wasting our time worrying and fretting over these lesser and trivial things that so often occupy our mind. Twice in this passage, Jesus says, “Don’t worry.” He also says, “Don’t be concerned about the temporal things,” and He also said, “Don’t be afraid.” As I stated last week, fear is our greatest problem.

Tonight I want to ask you some probing questions that I hope will stimulate your mind

I.WHAT CAUSES WORRY?

1. Lack of Faith or unbelief. Jesus nicknamed His disciples “Little-faiths”. In the Greek, “men of little faith” is one word. My advice to you is: feed your faith and starve your doubt. Stay in the word of God, not the news paper. The word will feed your faith but the daily news will stir your doubt. How many of you believe every word in the bible is true? How many believe every word in the news paper is true? Feed on the truth.
2. Skewed priorities. The Rich Fool will be our example throughout the message. The fool had the wrong priorities. He was seeking his own personal kingdom. He was an ego maniac, everything was about himself. His chief worry was how to save all his goods for himself. He was worried about maintaining his wealth. If you will get your priorities in order and put the Kingdom of Christ first, the last thing you will be worried about is keeping earthly wealth. People worry because their priorities are not in order. {They are focused on the wrong kingdom}
3. Fear and Insecurity. Years ago, a little 8 year old girl was acting out in our Child Care program. It had become such a problem that the director was considering termination but due to pitiful need she didn’t want to do it so she called and ask if I would help. I sat down with her and begin talking gently, asking questions mostly. It took some time but finally she began telling me the truth. Her mother was very young [middle or late 20’s] and very attractive. The child’s father had abandoned them a couple of years prior and she and her little brother were spending 12 hours a day in our WEE Care. The mother was working hard to provide but she was also lonely and had a man friend who was there for one reason. The children felt threatened. Beth, the little girl, was afraid that her mother would eventually abandon her and her brother just as the father had done. This constant anxiety was strangling Beth and causing her to act out. {Twice in this chapter, Jesus assures us that we are more valuable to God than the birds, and He takes care of them}

These are not all the reasons we worry but these are some. Let’s move on to the second question…

II. WHY IS WORRY A SIN?

1. Worry is a gesture of unbelief–doubting God’s word and benevolence. God is our heavenly Father and primary provider. When we worry, we cast doubt on His character. Do you really want to cast doubt on God’s faithfulness? When has He failed to provide. Remember, Jesus says “Don’t worry,” He does not say “Don’t work”. We will address this later.
2. Worry indicates a preoccupation with this world. What do we worry about? What we are going eat or wear? Maybe or it could be our job, our 401-k, our house payment, etc. We are worrying about the same things that unbelievers worry about. When we worry, we identify with the unbelieving world and our worry is proof that we are preoccupied with this world instead of the world to come. Worry is worldly.
3. Worry is destructive to us. Worry not only does not help, it hurts. Worrying will not add a single minute to your life but it can take time from your life because it is possible for a person to worry themselves to death.
4. Worry robs us of joy. Worry does not change tomorrow but it will rob you of the pleasure of living today.
5. Worry is horrible stewardship. Worry is a waste of time and energy. It gets you absolutely nowhere. Worry carries you in an endless circle. There is no end in sight and no progress. When you are through worrying you are right back where you started. Activity is better than anxiety for this reason.

Now for the most important question…

III. HOW DO WE OVERCOME WORRY?

1. Make God’s Kingdom your highest priority. Simply comply with verse 31, Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. I challenge you to find me a worrier who had put God’s Kingdom first. You cannot do it.
2. Make Jesus Christ your Master. This means, we relegate ourselves to the role of a servant. Servants don’t worry, they serve. It’s the master’s job to worry. A servant only has one thing he must do–obey the master. What is one of the biggest sources of our anxiety? Is it not control? Put Jesus in charge and stop worrying about control. Did you hear about the man who was a chronic worrier. He was so bad his doctor told him that without help, worry was going to kill him. So the man went out and hired a professional worrier. For $100,000 dollars a year, this man did all your worrying for you. His wife ask him immediately, “How are you going to come up with $100,000? He said, “I don’t know, that’s not my worry.” Jesus can handle your anxiety, cast all your care {anxieties] on Him.
3. Make an effort: Apply yourself in every situation. The sin Jesus is forbidding is to worry; To be active, to work, or to prepare are not sin. {STORY} A man who hated work joined a monastery to get out of work. He was devoting himself to meditation and prayer. When the other monks went to fields to work, he stayed in his room. When they ask him for an explanation, he said, “I came here to get away from the world and devote myself to spiritual things.” When meal time came, no one called him to eat. A day or so later, he is getting really hungry and so he ask them “What is going on? Why don’t you all call me for meals?” Their reply was: “We thought if you were too spiritual to work that you would be too spiritual to eat.” There is nothing spiritual about being lazy or irresponsible.
4. Keep your future in mind: set your affections on heaven. Jesus said, For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Wow, what a gift!

 

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Two Kinds Of Sorrow

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-13, NLT

8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while.

9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.

10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

12 My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us.

13 We have been greatly encouraged by this. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease.

INTRODUCTION

I was 21 years old, a senior in college and serving a small church in West Limestone when one of the ministeral students invited me to a party. I was not big on parties plus I worked after school at J.C. Penney’s in Huntsville so I had a full schedule as it was but I did join them after work and my friend introduced me to a young lady who was a senior in high school. I asked her for a date and she invited me to a beauty contest which is not exactly what I had in mind. Long story short, I went to the contest and she was in it but did not win, she came in second but it was still a flash bub experience. I stood in the shadows waiting for all the cameras to cease. That was the first of a number of dates. The girls was talented and ambitious. I was getting ready to settle down. To be honest, I was looking for a wife but she was not looking for a husband. I soon realized that she was encapable of taking interest in my life. She was attractive and I wanted a relationship with her but the feeling was not mutual. After a few weeks of this, I became frustrated and sat down and wrote her a letter telling her exactly how I felt. I was brutally honest in the letter which basicly accused her of being self-centered and too hung up on herself to care about anyone else. I knew the letter was harsh, so I laid it on the night stand next to my bed and did not send it. Actually, I forgot about the letter and a couple of weeks later I called her on the phone and she blessed me out. My mother, thinking she was being a help, sent the letter.

So I went through a couple of phases: first, I regretted that I had wrote the letter and that mother had posted it but some time later, I was glad that I wrote the letter because this relationship was going no where and I didn’t need to waste my time. I’ve seen the woman a half dozen times since and she doesn’t hold a grudge.

Paul sent Corinth a harsh or painful letter. Then the Apostle became worried and anxious wondering if he had done the right thing. After Titus returns with good news about the Corinthians response to the letter, Paul is relieved and no longer regrets sending the letter. All is well that ends well.  Since the final result was positive, Paul moves from regret to rejoicing.

In the dialogue, Paul mentions two kinds of sorrow. There is a Godly sorrow that leads to a change in behavior and an worldly sorrow which leads to regret but no change in behavior. When experts from the treasurer’s department examine money to see if it is counterfiet, they make a judgment based on what the real looks like. Once they are totally familiar with the real, they can spot the false.

So it is with SORROW. Tonight we will study the real so that we can spot the false.

I. GODLY SORROW IS ALWAYS DIRECTED TOWARD GOD

Psalms 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.

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Obviously, David’s sin was against others, especially Uriah and there were social consequences. David is not attempting to escape his responsibility in hurting others but he understood that the primary offense was against God who alone is perfectly holy and offended by all sins. Although David sinned against Bathsheba, I doubt seriously that her moral sensitivities were offended.

All sin in all stages or levels is offensive to God

II. GODLY SORROW LEADS TO REPENTANCE

Repentance and remorse are very similiar in Greek. The word metanoeō means to repent, to change your behavior. The word metamelomai means remorse. Remorse is a deep and painful regret. This is illustrated by Judas in Matthew 27:3…

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!”

• Judas felt remorse, a painful regret that he had made a horrible decision. Note where Judas goes to confess {the corrupt priest}. Why did he not turn to Jesus. Remorse does not lead us to Christ. It may lead to bitter tears and haunting regret but it does not lead us to Christ.
• Cain was sorry for murdering his brother but his sorrow was not toward God. Cain felt sorry for himself. He knew his sin had grave consequences and he was deeply sorrowful about what he had done to himself but he was not concerned about God or his parents. 
• Esau was full of remorse and wept bitterly but he did not repent and never changed his ways. He went to his father Isaac but he did not go to God.
• Saul faked repentance several times but he was feeling remorse, not repentance because he never changes his behavior. Godly sorrow leads to a change in behavior.

All of the above felt remorse, regret and the sorrow that accompanies them but none of them changed their life. They continued to live to please themselves.

III. GODLY SORROW LEADS TO SALVATION

What is the difference between ‘Repentance’ and ‘Salvation?’ Glad you ask, good question. Repentance is a change of mind, behavior and attitude. Salvation is deliverance from the evil one and from the power of sin. When we come across the word Salvation in the N.T. we must always remember it has three tenses:

1. I have been saved from the penalty of sin [regeneration–new birth, instantaneous]
2. I am being saved from the power of sin [sanctification–growth and maturity in the faith, progressive]
3. I will be saved from the presence of sin [glorification, ultimate]

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Godly sorrow does lead to regeneration, the new birth.
• Godly sorrow also leads to sanctification, our daily walk with Christ.
• Godly sorrow which leads to repentance is not a ONCE AND DONE experience, it is a daily experience.

Let’s take your marriage relationship as an example. A Groom cannot tell his bride: “I am a sinner and I will make a lot of mistakes in our life time together so I am going to repent right now for all the mistakes I will make. You just remember this conversation when the time comes. {Would this work in a marriage?}

Although the basic premise is correct, this will not work. We sin daily so we must repent daily. Dr. Bill Bright calls this concept “Spiritual Breathing.” He bases it on I John 1:8-9…. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. Daily confession brings daily cleansing.

To stay rightly related to God, we must live in a state of repentance.

Paul is writing to Christians. Sure, the unbelieving world needs to repent, they must repent said Jesus or they will perish but the church also needs to repent. Four of the seven churches in the Revelation are told to repent.

John the Baptist demanded fruits of repentance and he was simply talking about a change of behavior. We believers are to be in a state of alteration, changes should be a part of our daily walk with Christ.

Zaccheus didn’t have dreams or see visions: he changed the way he was living. He stopped cheating others and began giving to others.

Worldly sorrow does not lead to a changed life. Earthly sorrow leads to regret, self-pity and eventually death simply because it does not lead to repentance.

The Phobia List

Scripture: Luke 12:6-12

4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.

5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, He’s the one to fear.

6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.

7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.

9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

INTRODUCTION

When I study a passage, I always look for a common link. What is the main subject? In this passage, I think it is fear because Jesus gives us a list of things we fear. Jesus said in verse 4, Dear friends, don’t be afraid. Let me remind you of something you already know…Matthew and Luke tell us when the angel appeared to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds, he said the same thing to each “Don’t be afraid.” Jesus says this repeated:

• Peter– “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”
• Jarius–“Don’t be afraid! Just have faith and your daughter will be healed.”
• Disciples–“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
• Disciples in the storm–But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!
• Mount of Transfiguration–Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
• Disciples on the sea of Galilee–They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!
• In Luke 12 “Don’t be afraid” occurs 3 times, verse 4, 7, and 32

There are more verses but the point is made, the disciples {like us} were deeply insecure and prone to fear. Insecurity is our greatest problem and so tonight we are going to study the list that Jesus gives of things we should not fear. So lets talk about the things we humans fear.

#1 WE ARE AFRAID OF DEATH

[VERSE 4] Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.

Jesus began with death because it is our greatest fear. You can pretend that you have no problem with it but you are being dishonest. The fear of death is behind much of our sickness. Again, as I stated this morning, overcoming this fear is a process. The first step to overcoming is confession.

I’m not going to say or pretend that I have no fear of death. I have often wondered what I would do if ISIS captured me and was ready to remove my head. I hope I would be calm, cool and collected but I am afraid either gun or knife would horrify me. Jesus had no fear of death because He knew what was on the other side.

#2 WE ARE AFRAID OF BEING UNLOVED

6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.

7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

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Sparrows are dirty little birds. They are common and plain. They have no beautifully colored feathers; they are not attractive birds. Some of you have birds for pets, do any of you have sparrows? In Jesus day you could buy a sparrow 2 for a penny or 5 for 2 pennies but they have no value today. When did you last buy a sparrow?

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So sparrows are dirty little birds that no one cares for; that is no one except their Creator. Jesus said, “God does not forget a single one of them.” Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without God’s knowledge or consent and “You are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows,” Jesus said.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. So God loves a dirty little bird that makes a mess everywhere it goes. It is as common as dirt: its color is the same as the earth. It has absolutely no value to this world. I don’t care for them and neither do you so what is the message here?

We are like the sparrow. We are dirty birds and we fail at everything we do, at least in terms of motive. We are plain and unattractive and we have no value in the world market but God loves us.

Satan whispered in Eve’s ear, “If God loved you, He would no withhold.” At the base of our insecurity is the fear that God does not love us but this is a lie, God does love us. The fact that bad things happen to us is no indication that God doesn’t love. God loved Job and an avalanche of bad things happened to Job. Do you believe that God loved His Son? Look what happen to Him on the cross. You may feel like a dirty bird but I am here to tell you, GOD LOVES YOU.

The REFORMS say, “God loves some of you,” but bible says that God loves all of you.

Don’t be afraid folks, God loves you.

# 3 WE ARE AFRAID TO CONFESS CHRIST IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.

9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

We all lack courage when it comes to confessing Christ openly in public. I don’t know exactly why this is so, only that it is so. Peter was the boldest of the Twelve. It was Peter who drew his sword to defend Christ but Peter did something he did not think he was capable of doing, “He denied knowing Jesus not once, not twice but three times.”

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The world we live in hates Jesus and we are afraid of persecution. We lay low, we don’t want to draw fire. It is our human nature…its call “Self-preservation.” J.W. MacGorman says, “The Gospel is always grace and demand. Without demand, grace becomes cheap. Without grace, demand leads to despair.” For those of us who have done exactly what Peter did, we need a word of grace but that very word of grace will bring us right back to Jesus demand…. anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

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Christ wants us to confess Him openly: He demands it. Remember the story of the women in Luke 8 who had constant bleeding. She slipped up behind Jesus and touched the hem of His garment. Jesus stopped and ask, “Who touched Me?” The disciples were stunned because the crowd was pushing and shoving trying to get near. They thought it was a foolish question but Jesus knew who touched Him, He demanded that the women confess Him then an there. Overcoming this fear is a process and we begin by confessing Christ before the church.

#4 WE ARE AFRAID WE HAVE COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN

10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

You would be shocked at the number of people who have confessed to me over the years that they were afraid they had committed the unpardonable sin. The Pharisees and Jewish Religious Leaders accused Jesus of being of the devil. They even attributed the power of His miracles to the work of the devil. How is it that people who have studied the scripture and profess to love God, not recognized Him when He stands in their midst.

If you or I decided to put our left arm in a sling and leave it there; never using it for anything, the muscles in the arm would atrophy and eventually the arm would be useless. Miners in the old days brought out the mules at least on Sunday to keep them from going blind. If we don’t use our God given faculties, we lose them. This is true of the human brain. The Jews had turned a deaf ear to God for so long, they could no longer hear. They were not listening to Jesus but as Jesus points out, the unpardonable sin is to offend the Holy Spirit who speaks in Christ behalf. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity but He is the first agent in the work of salvation. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin and makes us see our need for Christ. In other words, He is the one knocking on the door. If you don’t hear HIM or recognize HIM, there is no hope of you being forgiven.

People who have committed this sin are dead to the Holy Spirit, their human spirit has atrophied. They no longer know right from wrong. They cannot distinguish good from evil. They are not conscious of their sin or their need for repentance. More than likely, you would not be here today if you had committed this sin. You certainly would not be worried about it.

#5 WE ARE AFRAID OF EARTHLY AUTHORITIES [GOVERNMENT]

11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

We are to respect the government but not fear it. This is a huge problem in America. Those who say they believe in Christ will not take a stand. Last week at the REPUBLICAN convention, Cleveland was invaded with Bikers. They rolled in by the thousands and I imagine some of these guys were believers. They were there to let the Anarchist who have been shooting policemen, rioting and looting that they were not going to put up with it and we heard nothing out of this group of paid trouble makers.

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I was thrilled to see the Biker’s roll in and they have my support but is this not what Christians are supposed to be doing? Why aren’t we? You know why and so do I, we are afraid.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Obama and the all powerful federal government can tax me into poverty, they can even take my freedom and it they so desire, they can take my life but that is as far as they can go. They can’t touch my soul and they can not rob me of my convictions. I will continue to do what I have been doing for the last 30…denouncing the Demon-crats for their part in the murder of the unborn. Hey, I don’t need another issue to know that the Democrats are wrong.

If we preachers had done a better job 40 years ago, some of this stuff we are battling now would not have happened.

• Homosexuality is perverted, evil and destructive.
• Abortion is murder. You can legalize it through corrupt courts but it is still wrong.
• Same sex marriage is right out of the pits of hell and so is the trans-gender movement.
• Muslims worship the devil the father of hate and deception.

• Political correctness is for dupes, dummies and drug heads.

Fear God

Luke 12:4-5, NLT

4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.

5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, He’s the one to fear.

6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.

7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.

9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

Introduction

June and I had the pleasure of seeing the Niagria Falls in person some twenty years ago. It is an awesome sight and I highly recommend that you save your beach money and go see the falls.  I have not had the priviledge of seeing the Grand Canyon from the ground, only by air and from 35,000 feet, it looks line a line in the sand. I have loaded us a picture and I understand that from the observation tower to the bottom of the canyon is 6,000 feet. I have been told by those who have seen it in person that it is an awesome breath taking sight.

King David said, “Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.” {Psalm 33:8} 

In an infinitesimal way, the Grand Canyon is like God: by that I mean it is awesome in its presence but it must be feared. An average of 6 people die at the Canyon each year. No mere human can survive a 6,000 foot fall, not even if they land in the Colorado River below. It is an awesome breath taking sight that could rob you of speech but it must be respected.

David wisely puts these two words–Awe and fear together in relationship to God. Just as it is foolish to disrepect the danger of the Canyon, so it is exceedingly more foolish to disrespect the power of God. Abraham feared God, Job feared God and hated evil, so I too fear God.

I can only imagine what my eyes will see when His face is before me. Surrounded by His glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for Jesus, or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in His presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah or will I be able to sing at all. I can only imagine but if I had to guess, I would say His presence will leave me in stunned silence and amazement.

TODAY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU FOR A MOMENT ABOUT FEARING GOD

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I. FIRST OF ALL: LET ME SAY, WE ARE NOT TO FEAR MEN {or women}

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. {Proverbs 29:25}

Insecurity is really our biggest problem

• If we crave comfort–we will fear discomfort
• If we crave approval–we will fear criticism
• If we crave acceptance–we will fear rejection
• If we crave admiration for our attractiveness–we will fear getting old and fat

Let me put it another way

• Why don’t we share our faith?
• Why don’t we confess our sins?
• Why don’t we put passion into our worship?

The answer to all these questions is we have a man fearing spirit and Jesus tells us not to fear man.

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Today, I am going to tell you how to overcome your man fearing spirit.

ONE: Admit your fear of man–confss it.

The first step to recovery is heonesty. You cannot hope to get better unless you are willing to confess there is a problem. Some of you men are as henpecked as all get out and you will sit here today and deny you have a problem. Come on, get real!

TWO: Ask the LORD to help you begin to grow in your fear of God.

{Psalms 34:11–Come, my children, and listen to me,and I will teach you to fear the LORD} Fearing the LORD is a learning process and there has to be a starting point. That starting point could be today.

THREE: Assess your motives and goals.

What do you want most from life and who do you want to please most?

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. {John 12:42-43}

FOUR: Act today and begin small.

Don’t put this off, begin today working on your man fearing spirit. Worship is a good place to start. Sing with all your heart no matter who is sitting near you. Move to the front if that makes it easier. Don’t start with the firing squad or a martyrs heroic death. Start small and grow big. {Peter is a good example}

FIVE: Acknowlege that your fear of man is driven by your selfish desires.

As Ed Welch and Geoffrey Kirland have said, “Exchange your Need for others for a passion to love others more.” In other words, stop focusing on your needs and begin to focus on the needs of others. [All five points came from the insights of Geoffrey Kirland, [http://thecripplegate.com/the-fear-of-man-how-to-destroy-it/]

Jesus said, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. Perhaps you are thinking, this doesn’t comfort me but think about this way, beyond physical death, man has no power over you. Yes, Obama could have the CIA eliminate me but that is in this world. In the next world, he has absolutely no power. I am comforted to know that ultimately, no man has power over my eternal destiny other than Jesus.

II. SECONDLY AND IN CONCLUSION: WE ARE TO FEAR GOD

Jesus said, I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, He’s the one to fear.

Man has the power to murder, to kill to execute but man has no power after death. They can kill us but that is as much as they can do. God has the power to take life and to cast us into hell. He is the One we should fear.

Let me tell you briefly how hell or gehenna got its name. It was a narrow ravine located Southwest of Jerusalem and was known first as the valley of Hinnon, meaning it belonged to someone in the family of Hinnon. Then Solomon brought in Molech and Chemosh and it became a place where the charred bodies of innocent babies were disposed. By the time of the incarnation, it was the city dump where the fire burned day and night. 

I have just described to you a hideous and horrible place where no one would want to go but the real hell is infinitely worse. We cannot imagine the horror of hell. It is far worse than any movie or picture you have seen. Hell was not created for you: it was created for the devil and his followers.

God does not want you to go to hell. 2 Peter 3:9 clearly states…The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

There can be no heaven without a hell, just as there can be no freedom without prisons. Lucifer destroyed any hope of that in eternity past. God is going to encarserate evil someday and confine it to this awful place called hell. I can promise you, there will be no jokes in hell, no laughter, no fun, no merriment. It will be the ultimate horror movie, worse than anyone can imagine.

So today in Christ behalf, I beg you to repent of your sins, turn from your selfish ways and interest and turned to Christ. He is our only hope. I don’t know exactly where heaven is so I cannot know the way. Some think it is beyond space, others think it could be as near as our atomosphere but I know Jesus and He is the way.

Turn from self and sin and turn to Jesus, today! Hell is for those who demand their way.

Encouragement

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1-7, NLT

1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

2 Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone.

3 I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you.

4 I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.

5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.

6 But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.

7 His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!

INTRODUCTION

Life on this earth is beset with problems. Moses stated it well in Psalms 90, “Seventy years is about all we have, perhaps eighty if you are healthy, yet these days upon earth are filled with trouble and sorrow, then life is over and we are gone.” {Psalm 90:10, JEV} We all have problems, there is no exception. It is true that some seem to have far less problems.

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In Psalm 73, David confesses, “I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening? Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.” The key word is ‘seem.’

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Corinth had problems and Paul wanted to help them.

When we attempt to help others with their problems: we must first examine our hearts and motives. In verse 1 Paul says, “Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” In helping others, we need to ask ourselves some questions:

1. What are my motives?

2. Where is this leading? To benefit me or the other person?

3. Who am I trying to please? Is this what God wants me to do?

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If our motives are pure, our help will be blessed

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So…I want to talk about Encouragement

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#1…We all Need Encouragement

Let me do a little background [2 Corinthians 2].  Paul is in Troas where Christ has opened a door of opportunity but Paul can not rest. He is filled with anxiety, worried about the situation at Corinth. When the problem arose [made sleeping with his step-mother], Paul made a brief and painful visit, rebuking the man and the church. His rebuke was ineffective so later he writes a painful letter. Now he is on a Mission Trip but he cannot get the problem at Corinth off his mind. He has sent Titus to find out what is going on but Titus is on the other side of the Aegean Sea. Paul is so restless and frustrated that he is dysfunctional so he leaves Troas and sails to Macedonia where he meets Titus.

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Paul says in verses 4-5

4 I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.

5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.

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NOTE:

1. Paul troubles–You made me happy despite all our troubles.

2. Restlessness–There was no rest for us

3. Struggles–conflict from every direction…Battles on the outside

4. Anxiety– fear on the inside.

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   Paul was an outstanding Christian but sometimes we paint him larger than life. We think of him as being perfect and he was not. There are times when we think that outstanding people like Paul have no problems, at least none that get them down but this is mythical thinking. Paul had the same kind of troubles and struggles that you and I have. The great apostle was so anxious that he couldn’t function. He left a place of ministry due to this extreme anxiety.

There are times when it is encouraging to think about the imperfection of the Saints:

• Abraham lied to protect his own hyde.
• Jacob conned his own father.
• Joseph was a fascist.
• Moses had a bad temper and even killed a man in rage.
• Samuel judged Saul by his appearance.
• Elijah ran from Jezebel.
• Jeremiah got discouraged often.
• Jonah was a bigot.
• Hosea wife was a harlot.
• David had an affair.
• John the Baptist wrestled with doubt.
• Peter denied Christ.

There is only one perfect person and that is Christ Himself. We all have problems, we all have struggles and anxieties. You are not riding a white horse; you are not alone–we all share your pain so be encouraged.

#2…We all need to be Encouragers

Notice the chain of events: Paul sends Titus to encourage Corinth and Corinth surprizely encourages Titus who relays the good news to Paul which encourages Paul. When everyone is an encourager, everyone gets encouraged. The Corinthians church repented–how encouraging. Titus delivered a message. Paul sits down an writes a letter. There are many ways that we can encourage others…let think about some of them.

1. Titus encourages Paul with his PRESENCE. Look at verse 7….His presence was a joy. Wow, do you realize that you can encourage people with your ‘presence’. I love to study and to preach and your presence here tonight encourages me. Hebrewss 10:25 is one of my favorite verses….And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Again, here is this concept of mutual encouragement. One of the first things I did when I got right with God was move to the front. I’ve been sitting on the front pew since I was 17 years old and most of that time I have spent alone. I tell people, I have my own pew. One of my motivations for moving up front was so I could encourage my pastor. Baptist fight over the back seats, not the front. How encouraging would it be if the front pews filled first! I’m not complaining, I am dreaming…What if 50% of our members came to the GATHERING. You know that our Wednesday night music is great but what an encouragement it would be to see the house filled on Wednesday night. I don’t know if you have noticed or not but fewer and fewer people are attending night services, even leaders. Do you know what that is for me and you? It is discouraging. We would be encouraged if people just showed up. YOUR PRESENCE CAN BE ENCOURAGING.
2. Paul was encouraged by Titus presence but also by his “WORDS,” Titus brought good news. Words are powerful which is why we are to be careful and not careless is our use of words. I have learned over the years that kind words have to be crafted, we have to think before we speak. Many of us have the tendency to approach things from a negative point of view and our words discourage others. In my first pastorate out of seminary I discouraged a new convert without realizing what I had done. I rained on this man’s parade because he suggested something that was not Baptistic. The principle behind my words was correct but I didn’t think it through before I spoke. Looking back, I could have handled it in a positive way and perhaps the man would not have gotten discouraged. God will use us to encourage others if we will let Him but the devil will use us to discourage if we are not careful. As a young preacher [19] I wanted and needed affirmation especially from family. A great uncle came to hear me preach and I couldn’t wait to hear his appraisal, this is what he said, “Boy you don’t know how to preach. You never rolled up your sleeves. A real preacher leaves the pulpit hoarse and soaking wet from sweat.” I stood there stunned but thank God my mother was eave dropping. She waited for him to walk away and then she said, “Don’t pay any attention to him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about and if you ever preach to please him, I will not come and hear you.” Words can hurt, they can sting to the bone and the devil knows it. We must be careful to encourage with our words, not discourage.
3. Paul was encouraged by the Corinthians LOYALTY and LOVE. I witnessed something last week that encouraged me. I saw my Son-in-law and his sister stay by their daddy’s bed side day and night. They talked him into coming home one day for a few hours but he went right back, he was by his daddy’s side when he passed away. It reminded me of the movie “Where The Red Fern Grows.” There were two coon dogs, Dan and Ann. If memory serves me right, Old Dan died first from the injuries of a mountain lion. Ann lays by Dan’s grave and grieves herself to death. When it comes to loyalty, dogs are our teacher. Dogs are loyal to the death, literally. Paul started the church at Corinth: he was their spiritual father but they had been influenced by preachers who had no use for Paul. This hurt Paul deeply but Titus news assured Paul that Corinth still loved him and longed to see him. This was music to Paul’s ears. I was in my mid-thirties with four children and living on what income I could generate working as a pastor and a jack-leg contractor when out of the blue, two friends [deacons] asks me to meet them at the church. They said, “There is a petition out asking for your dismissal and we want you to hear it from us. We don’t think it will suceed but we are here to tell you, “You have are support and we will do whatever you feel God is leading you to do.” This was over 30 years ago and I am still here thanks to God’s grace and their loyalty. Loyalty is no longer a core value for most but for me, it is huge.

#3…Our Source of Encouragement is Christ

But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.

Often times God uses others to encourage us but always, He is the source of encouragement. Encouragement begins with Christ, my divine Encourager. I love to read and study His word because it is the source of my encouragement.

I stood in front of a hurting family just yesterday. These kids have lost mother and daddy in a span of four years and the oldest of the group is 42. That’s awful young to lose your parents. There were extenuating circumstances that made the service hard and I went to bed Monday night with no idea what I would say. In my morning quiet time, God spoke gently through His word and I knew in a heartbeat that He was giving me the message. My heart was flooded with thanksgiving. It is an agonizing thought to stand before people without a message: it is a reoccuring nightmare for me. 

I spoke to the family what God spoke to me. I pray that it encouraged them; I know it encouraged me. We are God’s instrument of encouragement but He is the Source.

CONCLUSION

1. Is there someone in your circle of influence that needs your encouragement? Could be your spouse, a son or daughter.
2. Would you commit to being an encourager? Would you be willing to pray and ask God to use you as an encourager?
3. You may have to begin with an appology: are you willing to do that if necessary?
4. There are many ways to encourage: a visit, a phone call, a text, a card or letter. Would you give serious thought about encouraging someone today, tomorrow?

 

Jesus Wept

Scripture: John 11:20-34

20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.

22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.”

29 So Mary immediately went to him.

30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him.

31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there.

32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and He was deeply troubled.

34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Then Jesus wept.

INTRODUCTION

Let me say in passing, that Jesus heard Mary and Martha’s prayer sent while Lazarus was still alive but He delayed His coming. To Jesus, the end was always in view whereas Mary and Martha were locked into the present moment {like we are today}. This is a reminder: Jesus always hears our prayers but He answers them with the end in mind which may mean a delay for us. It is a testimony to His infinite wisdom and love.

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I want to call your attention to verse 35, two word translation, “Jesus wept.” Thus the question, “Why did Jesus weep?”

1. Jesus wept because He loved Mary and Martha. Tears are an expression of grief and grief is an expression of love. He who loves deeply, grieves deeply. He who loves little, grieves little.
2. Jesus wept because He cared. He was not indifferent to their grief. He knew what was going on and He stood with them, even weeping with them. Sorrowing along side them. Sharing their grief.
3. Jesus wept because He empathized, He actually felt their pain. So family, treasure these three thoughts: [1] Jesus loves you [2] He cares about you this very moment [3] He feels your pain. He is invested in you. He shares your sorrow.

As I was reading this passage this very morning, it was the different responses to Jesus presence and person that struck me.

Response # 1: Mary and Martha ‘blamed’ Jesus…If you had been here, our brother would not have died. [v. 21 & 32]

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They knew without doubt that Jesus could heal a sick body but He did not arrive in time to heal Lazarus so they blamed Jesus for his death. Jesus could have prevented him from dying. Why wasn’t you here? You could have kept this from happening.

Response #2…Martha doubted Jesus…”But LORD” [v.39]

“But LORD,” said Martha, “by this time there is an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus had just told Martha that HE WAS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. The resurrection is more than a day or an event, Jesus is the resurrection. “He that believes in Me,” Jesus said, “will live even if he dies. ” Martha had faith but not perfect faith, she believed that Jesus was the Messiah but she was having trouble believing that He could raise the dead. She believed that He was greater than sickness but she was struggling with death. All of us struggle with death. Death can create a lot of doubt. Death has a frightening face, it appears grim and final but it is neither. Jesus can take the sting out of death. Actually He has done it already.

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What about your faith? You say, “I don’t have any faith.” Are you sure? Do you believe that Jesus lived on this earth? Do you believe that He is the Son of God? Do you believe that He died on a cross? See, you do have some faith. You are like Martha and me, you have faith, just not perfect faith. What you need to embrace today is the fact that JESUS LOVES YOU PERSONALLY and that He died on the cross in your behalf because He loves you that much.

Response # 3… MANY BELIEVED IN HIM. [v.45]

It took the death of Lazarus to open the eyes of many of Mary and Martha’s friends. When they saw Jesus love at the grave side…and His power over death…they believed. Would you open your eyes today and see Jesus standing beside you weeping with you because He loves you. If His love does not move you, there is little hope. I assure you, JESUS LOVES YOU and I beg you to put your faith in HIM.

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Don’t put any faith in me. I am less than nothing. In math, we can’t go lower than zero but I am telling you, I am less than zero. I love you…I sympathize with you…I empathize with you…I feel some of your pain but my puny love and sympathy is not even a scratch on the surface of HIS INFINITE LOVE for you. That word infinite means that the gap is so big, it cannot be measured. If my love were a 1, HIS LOVE would not be a zillion times greater, it would be more. We don’t have a number big enough to describe His love for you.

Response # 4….Some plotted to take HIS life [v. 53]

The Pharisees, the leading Jews {elites} began from this day, to conspire against Jesus and plot His death. They became JESUS HATERS.

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Our world is filled with Jesus haters but you don’t want to be one of them.

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In the end, we will all stand before God in judgment and everything will be determined by how we related to Jesus. The one thing you want to get right today is your relationship with Jesus. Don’t blame HIM, don’t doubt Him, don’t hate HIM…put your faith and trust in HIM.

The Baptism Of Shame

SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:1-3, NLT

1 So many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each other. Jesus spoke first to his followers, saying, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, because they are hypocrites.

2 Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.

3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an inner room will be shouted from the housetops.”

INTRODUCTION

I want to make several observations in introducing this message. Actually, the introduction will be the message.

1. I would feel more comfortable if this verse and others like it were not in the bible. It is a disconcerting verse to me personally.

   • By disconcerting, I mean this verse makes me worry and wonder. Will all my thoughts, words, and deeds be played back before me and a watching world or believing church on the day of judgment?
   • I have not only done a lot of dumb, stupid, sorry, low down things, I continue to say and do things that I should not. I don’t even want last week played back, let alone my entire life.
   • Lets face it, we all have a secret life and according to Jesus, we have no right to privacy. He is going to hold us accountable for every impure thought, every unkind word and every devilish deed. 
   • I cannot get excited about my secret life being made public. What about you? Do you have anything in your life or past in which you are ashamed? So, this is a jolting verse, a sobering thought.

2. It is not an isolated thought or principle, it is taught in Old and New Testament and repeated again and again.

   • Eccl. 12:14–God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
   • Luke 8:17–“For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.”
   • Matt. 10:26–“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.”
   • Mark 4:22–“For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.”
   • Romans 2:16–And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
   • 1 Cor. 4:5–So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
   • 2 Cor. 5:10–For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

3. How do we explain this verse or How do we reconcile it with the doctrine of GRACE?

   • Is it a bad translation? No, same message in all translations. Luke 12:2, KJV–For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. I have checked every English translation available and they all state the same exact principle.
   • Is it in the original manuscripts? Yes, Jesus actually said this. It is not something that a Scribe inserted later.
   • There is no cut and dried explanation of this verse. It is one of those verses that remains a mystery. I do not believe, actually, I know that we humans with a finite mind cannot reconcile everything that is taught in the bible which was inspired by the Infinite.
   • In all my research and study, the only explanation that has ever given me any satisfaction is the idea proposed by C. S. Lewis in the GREAT DIVORCE. Lewis views this judgment before Christ as a BAPTISM OF SHAME were we for a moment are immersed in the shame of our earthy conduct and totally humiliated before God and man. This baptism of shame has nothing to do with the forgiveness of our sins, that has already been taken care of by Christ. It is merely an initiation rite for heaven. I think Lewis is on to something. We know that there will be no pride in heaven. This baptism of shame would be our final act of cleansing. After are evil deeds are made public, we will have no strut in us, none. We will crawl into heaven on our face. We will be like the woman caught in adultery, we will not look up until Jesus touches us on the shoulder and speaks gently to us. I don’t look forward to this baptism, but I see its necessity. It will be a refining fire that will purge us from all pride which is the very thing that got Satan kicked out. We must keep in mind, our security is not in the heaven the place but Christ the person. The devil was in heaven but he got expelled because of pride. I am glad that God will not allow our pride into heaven: if would not be a safe and secure place if pride were there.

CONCLUSION

This verse or verses– Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.  What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an inner room will be shouted from the housetops.” [Luke 12:2-3] do not nullify grace, they substantiate the need for Grace. In light of our sin and evil, we must have grace.

NOTICE:

The warning Jesus gives is about hypocrisy…“Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, because they are hypocrites.” The Pharisees were play actors, pretenders. The word hypocrite means to act, to play a part, to dissimulate, to deceive, to impersonate. The word was used in reference to actor on the stage. We have the same thing in today’s culture. Remember Sylvester Stallone in FIRST BLOOD where he played John Rambow, Vietnam vet. Stallone was a draft dodger who fled to Canada during the Vietnam war.

What if the movie people had shown a 30 minute documentary on Stallone’s real life prior to the movie, how well would that have gone over? Do you think any real Vietnam vets would have watched or their families. To a child or someone who is ignorant of Hollywood’s hypocrisy, Stallone would be very convincing as a real Vietnam vet. So the warning given here by Jesus is to be as REAL as possible. When was the last time you told some one how sorry you really are? I know, you can’t give details without hurting others but just as a reminder, you can confess that you deserve death and hell. You don’t dare name the women, but you can confess lust or you can pretend to be pure and holy. This is the point: for all pretenders, let it be known, “The truth will come out.”

The BOTTOM LINE: Jesus doesn’t want us to be pretentious period. Stop pretending to be better than you actually are and begin working on being real. Really, your play acting is in vain and the longer you pretend, the more your stock goes down. We are not prefect and we should pretend that we are. In time, actually eternity, Jesus will make us perfect and a part of that process will be our baptism of shame.

 

 

Jesus Verses The Bar

SCRIPTURE: Luke 11:45-54, NLT

45“Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”

46 “Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.

47 What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago.

48 But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments!

49 This is what God in his wisdom said about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’

50 “As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world—

51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.

52 “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”

53 As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions.

54 They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

INTRODUCTION

Jesus leveled three hard blows to the Pharisees and then a Lawyer comes to their defense, “Teacher, you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.” No apology from Jesus, instead He g turns on the Lawyers with three more denunciations or woes to them. The Pharisees viewed themselves as being ‘clean’ but Jesus exposed their ‘uncleanness.’ The lawyers viewed themselves as wise and educated but Jesus exposes their folly and ignorance.

These guys are slow learners. If you don’t want the unvarnished truth, you need to stay away from Jesus. He literally tells it like it is.

There are three jolting accusations:

I. WOE TO THE LAWYERS WHO LACK COMPASSION–those who increase the burden

“What sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.”

• Being called to teach or preach God’s word is an awesome responsibility and one that I do not take lightly. Matter of fact, the older I become the more serious I take this responsibility. There is an old saying, “Simply because the water is muddy, it does not mean that it is deep.” The Jewish Scribes/Lawyers had the gift of muddying the water. When they finished teaching, you knew less than you did before they began. This is one reason Jesus drew such huge crowds. He told simple stories to illustrate the truths of scripture. Jesus cleared the murky water so that ordinary people could understand the truth. On the other hand, the Scribes made things too complicated to understand; they actually obscured the truth.

• God made it crystal clear what He expects through the O.T. prophets. Micah sums God’s requirements up in chapter 6:8, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. {NLT} I also like the GNT…The Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God. GNT The Hebrew word translated mercy by most is khä·sad’ and is one of the few words I remember from seminary. It is love displayed in kindness and mercy. This comes out in the NCV. The Lord has told you, human, what is good; He has told you what He wants from you: to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God. 

• So, God requires three basic things:

1. To do what is right–practice justice.

2. To show kindness and mercy to other.

3. To walk humbly with God.

• What is complicated about these requirements? Is there anyone in the audience that does not understand to some degree what the LORD is communicating through His prophet?
• The Scribes had taken the simple and clear teachings of Moses and had added detail upon detail until the laws didn’t even resemble the ones that Moses gave and were light years away from the original intent of the law.
• Take the Sabbath law. The Scribes had over 350 laws to govern the Sabbath day and they were so complicated that it took a Scribe to interpret them. Example: Jews were not to walk more than 1,000 feet from their home on the Sabbath. The Scribes had engineered sub-laws, addendum’s that permitted you to walk farther under certain conditions. These laws were like the fine print in a contract, they were confusing.
• I’ll give you a good example: don’t you hate it when there is an Amendment on the voting ballot. These amendments are never simple, they are not easy to understand. In most cases, we have to call a lawyer or a State House person to get clarification.
• The same thing is going on today that was taking place in Jesus day, our Congress makes laws that we can’t understand and they so construct them in such a way that life becomes more difficult for us but not for themselves because they inserted loopholes in the fine print that we don’t know are there. The exact same thing was happening in Jesus day.

• Should our purpose in life be to make things more difficult for others? Shouldn’t our goal be to lighten the load, to ease the burden. How many Congressmen in Washington DC have given serious thought to lightening our huge tax burden. Do you think Robert Aderholt or Richard Shelby cares about the burden we are carrying or that it is getting heavier by the day due to all the entitlements and the fact that more than 50% of our population contributes nothing but demands everything. Trust me folks, they don’t care about the burden we carry and they have no intention of making it lighter.

• If it seems that Jesus was angry with the Scribes, this is the reason: they made life more difficult for common people who were trying very hard to meet the demands of the law.

II. WOE TO THOSE WHO PERSECUTE THE PROPHETS: those who build monuments to the past

What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago. But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments!

• This one seems a little vague until you understand what they were doing. This generation that Jesus is addressing honored prophets if they were dead. They honored Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah and all those of the O.T. but they did not honor John the Baptist, the last of the OT prophets. The dead prophets did not disturb them or threaten their way of life. Clearly they rejected John and they were rejecting Christ THE PROPHET prophesied by Moses whom they idolize.

• Have you ever met one of these creatures that loves, idolizes and adores the former pastor but they have no use for the one who is present. This doesn’t happen to me that much, matter of fact, it has been years but I have had members come to me bragging on the former pastor…he did this, he did that…and there have been times when I was tempted to say, “If things were so great when he was here, why did he leave? Better still, why didn’t you go with him when he left.”
• Bottom line: the Scribes/Lawyers were hypocrites. They didn’t love prophets at all, their phony memorial services at the tombs of prophets was a forest, totally sham. Had they loved Elijah, they would have loved John the Baptist, he was the spitting image of Elijah, almost a reincarnation of the Phantom Prophet–the weird, austere recluse who had no affinity for fellowships or social interaction. Elijah was a voice, a clear, firm and hard voice proclaiming the truth and John was his spitting image. John ruffled feathers, he rubbed the hair on the cat the wrong way. John was offended the sensitivities of the religious elites: they viewed John as uncivilized, uneducated and unbelievable. In short, they rejected John, just as they rejected Jesus.
• Jesus said, “You folks are hypocrites, you are just like your ancestors. They were prophet haters and so are you. You don’t honor prophets anymore than your ancestors who persecuted and killed them.”

III. WOE TO THOSE WHO PREVENT OTHERS FROM COMING TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH: those who hide the keys

What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”

• Paul states in I Timothy, This is good and pleases God our Savior,who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. {I Tim.2:3-4} Clearly, it is God’s will for people to know the truth. The last thing in the world, we want to do is obscure the truth, hide the truth: it would be like hiding a lamp under the bed so that people who stumble in the dark. Is there a pure motive for wanting to keep people in the dark?  I don’t think so!

• Martin Luther, the reformer, did not want lay people in the dark. He pushed for translating the bible into the common language so everyone could have a bible. William Tyndale died because of his conviction that everyone should have a bible. The very book we take for granted came to us by the blood of martyrs. The church of the middle ages fought profusely to keep us in the dark and of course one of their reason was: they did not want to be held accountable for violating the word themselves, which they were doing. Luther made an extensive list of things the church was doing that were not scriptural.

• The opponents of new English translations don’t want people to know the truth. People don’t like modern versions because they are clear and understandable. Ignorance can no longer be an excuse when you have a clear understanding. Some people prefer a bible that says, “Don’t muzzle the ox that treads out your grain,” to one that states clearly, “Don’t starve your pastor.”

• It’s one thing for you to reject the TRUTH {Jesus} but it is another thing to hinder others from coming to know the TRUTH.

CONCLUSION

I will tell you plain and simple: I am an exponent of the truth. I want to know truth. I want to preach truth. If I am in error, I want to be corrected. If your theology is based on one verse or a dozen, you are not walking in truth. The bible must be interpreted in its context with Jesus Christ as the lens. We interpret everything through His life and teachings. David hated his enemies but Christ teaches us to love ours. We interpret what David said through what Christ teaches. Bottom line is: I am after the truth and Jesus is truth.

• The truth is–we have all sinned and fall exceedingly short of the perfection we see in Jesus.
• The truth is–God is holy and thus our sin has separated us from Him
• The truth is–Our sin must be dealt with if we are to have fellowship with God
• The truth is–Jesus dealt with our sins on Calvary’s Cross
• The truth is–You have a decision to make, you must turn your back on the world or Jesus, which will it be? Jesus said in John 8:51, “I tell you the truth, whoever obeys My word will never see death.”
• How can you obey? Trust Him, Confess Him, Follow Him

Relationships

Scripture Text: II Corinthians 6:11-18

11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.

12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.

13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil ? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD . Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. ”

INTRODUCTION

In previewing tonight text, one subject came to mind immediately and it is RELATIONSHIPS. This passage is about relationships: Pastor to congregation, husband to wife, child to parent and God to man.

Life is about RELATIONSHIPS. All the above are important but of course, no relationship is more important than your relationship to Christ.

I. RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT ON TRUST AND AFFECTION

Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

Let me say in passing, healthy relationships are 50/50 but there are not many healthy relationship. Perhaps one out of ten but that may be a stretch. In most relationship one party dominates the other. One gives more than their share which means the other is taking more than their share.

CAUTION: Most of us here tonight are beyond these instruction but do not take your spouse for granted: it can be a fatal sin when it comes to your relationship. 

It is true that many folks have adjusted to an imbalanced relationship. They do most of the giving but they are content. These are going to the folks our age. Some do not make it to the age of contentment.

Paul was convinced and I have no reason to doubt him, his relationship with Corinth was not 50/50. Paul was open and honest with them but they were restrained. The Greek word that Paul uses is stenochōreō  and it means to be in a narrow place, a strait, or to be compressed, cramped by the narrowness of the situation. In other words, your walking on egg shells in this relationship. There is no freedom for you to be you.

Honesty and openness are vital to intimacy. You cannot achieve intimacy without them. Insecurity is the arch nemesis of honesty. It is for this reason that I counsel those in pre-marital counseling to get profession help if they were abused as a child. Sexual abuse scars a child severely and there is no way they can enter into an adult relationship without the excess bandage creating by the scaring. They cannot forget what happened to them and without proper help, they can’t get beyond it. The number one problem in marriages is lack of intimacy and this is caused by our failure to be honest and open.

Paul was convinced that his relationship with Corinth was one sided: He had great affection for them but they had little for him. He was making all the sacrifices. He was doing the giving. He longed for his love and affection to be reciprocated. It was an unrequited love: a one-sided love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer’s deep and strong romantic affection, or may consciously reject it. Unrequited love is lonely and painful but the beloved doesn’t care.

Paul challenges the Corinthians to OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO HIM.

II. RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT ON COMMON INTEREST

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.

• NKJV–Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
• NIV–Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
• Holman–Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. 
• NASB–Do not be bound together with unbelievers.
• GNT–Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, it cannot be done.

We assume that Paul was talking about marriage but this is probably not the case but the principle can certainly be applied to the marital relationship. Paul is probably referring to any partnership because the context of the passage is SEPARATION, [v.17] Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD . Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. The Greek word translated ‘Partner’ can mean sexual intercourse but it also means participation and fellowship with.

Paul gives us a list of question to reinforce his point:

• How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness?
• How can light live with darkness? 
• What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil ?
• How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?
• And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols?

The Greek word for ‘Harmony’ is the word from which we get symphony. Agreement in sound or sameness is sound. Harmony is being on the same page, on the same song, not necessary the same note.

The core values of a lost person compared to the core values of a saved person are in conflict and so are their world views. Erotic love or romantic love has a way of temporarily overshadowing all other loves but it will not last. “He/she is the one for me, that’s the way it is, I don’t care about all these other things.” This sentiment is not going to last: it will wear off; it is just a matter of time. People fall madly in love and they can’t eat or sleep. This too shall pass, it is temporary. It is infatuation. Eventually, you are going to get hungry.

Because humans are triune beings, body, soul and spirit being joined to another involves the union of body, soul and spirit. When only the bodies are joined, you have a sensual relationship which is driven by lust. It is not only unhealthy, it will not endure. If you have body and soul, that is progress but not ideal, you still do not have full union. Many marriages survive on body and soul but God’s plan is not for you to survive: He wants you the thrive. When two people, both knowing Christ, are joined, they have an opportunity to move to a new dimension because they are joined physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our first needs are physical [food, water, shelter, sex, etc.] but we need more. We want to be loved and appreciated but in time our greatest need is spiritual. Dying people don’t want food. They have no desire for it or need for it. Eventually the SPIRITUAL NEEDS surface as the most important. Young people cannot understand this truth.

Young people are anxious to share a bed but eventually you will take pleasure in sharing a meal, ultimately you will take pleasure in sharing a destiny.

There are some rare exceptions but as far as church work is concerned, your leaders are not going to come from 30 and down because it takes us that long to realize the value of spiritual things. Young people have their face in front of a mirror or cell phone. Old folks don’t do mirrors. I heard a daughter say just last year, “The older my mother gets, the more she reads her bible and she doesn’t even remember what she read yesterday.” This is par for the course. Our values change as we age.

The spiritual dimension gives us a decided advantage because we are endued with agape love; the love from above and it is totally unconditional. It is the way we humans want to be loved.

III. RELATIONSHIPS ARE PARAMOUNT

As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD . Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.  And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. ”

I was 40 years old before this truth hit me but when it did, it stuck like a arrow. I had been invited by a former church to preach at a homecoming or something of that nature. When I left the church, there was some tension. I could have dealt with their problems but I did not get the support I needed so I resigned and left with hurt feelings on both sides. It took me years to process the disappointment and pain that I felt personally but when I walked in the building that day and saw some of those folks who had been less then supportive, it didn’t matter. I was glad to see them and they acted like they were glad to see me. 

On the way home that day some 27 years ago, the LORD spoke clearly, “Jack, relationships are more important than riches.” If you’ve being paying attention, you have heard me quote that many times over the last 27 years.

A former son-in-law told my daughter before their divorce, “I don’t want to end up like your daddy, old and broke.” He was never impressed with my income. I have friends who are worth millions but I was never a good business man and I’ve made a lot of bad decisions. Long story short, I don’t have millions. I’m worth more dead than alive. I can’t remember the last time I lay down at night thinking about wealth, how much money I have or down have. Thoughts of money rarely cross my mind. If you think I’m be dishonest, talk to my wife, she goes behind me trying to clean up the mess because I am prone to spend without thinking. It’s a gift I passed along to one daughter and a grandson.

No one is going to stand at my COLS and talk about Bro. Jack the business man and I’m glad. I have little money but I have things that money cannot buy. There are a lot of bad things about greed but one that bothers me a lot is how it hurts relationships. Some people are so greedy for more that they squander every opportunity to build enduring relationships. I see what they are doing and it breaks my heart.

Relationships are paramount. Family is huge and friends are vitally important. I do go to bed at night thinking about my family and friends because they are important to me. Our heavenly Father wants a relationship with us. It was His desire to come to us in the incarnation and live among us, as John said, “to pitch His tent among us.” God not only desires to be with us, He desires to be in us. “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” [v.16]

Jesus Christ came to this world seeking a relationship with us. The whole idea of redemption is unbelievable, why would the Son of God condescend to our low estate to save a wretch like me? There is no answer to this question. It is a mystery.

However, this relationship is not automatic, it does not happen by default. A choice must be made on our part. The LORD says emphatically, “Come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD . Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. ”

The choice is simple: we turn our backs to this world and move toward Christ. We make a choice between Christ and this world. We can’t embrace both, it is impossible. The world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back. The rich young ruler was presented with this choice and he choose the world. I hope you will not make that same mistake.

From The Inside Out

Scripture: Luke 11:37-44, NLT

37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table.

38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom.

39 Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!

40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?

41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

43 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces.

44 Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”

Introduction

The Pharisees were very devoted people. When it came to externals like tithing, giving alms, attending synagogue, practicing the traditional rituals like hand washing they were front and center and were admired by most people. There is a sharp contrast between a Pharisee and a Sadducee and not just in doctrine. The Sadducees were the upper class filthy rich Jews who were nominal believers in Yahweh. They accepted only the first five books of the bible [Torah] and they interpreted them in light of priestly tradition. The Pharisees accepted the law and the prophets and interpreted the law through Moses. During the time of the incarnation, Josephus estimated the total Pharisee population before the fall of the Temple to be around 6,000. The Pharisees were the middle class. The Sadducees were the elite ruling class and they were not so concerned with public opinion as were the Pharisees.

We know there were some good Pharisees: Paul, Nicodemus, Joseph and Gamaliel but you cannot find a good Sadducee: they were evil and corrupt. Where the Sadducees were invested heavily in politics, the Pharisees were focused on Judaism or religion. Somewhere along the way, the Pharisee’s lost their original focus and evolved into a very sectarian and legalistic group who had very little to no compassion on those they deemed beneath them.

To set tonight story: Jesus is invited into the home of a Pharisee and Jesus did not wash His hands before He ate {ceremonial hand washing}. The Pharisees were on that like ugly on an ape. I don’t know if anything was said, but Jesus knew their thoughts and He unloads of these religious frauds…“You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!  Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?  So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

He pronounces three “woes” on the Pharisees and each is an indictment on a an inverted religious faith.

I. THE FIRST IS IN VERSE 42–WOE TO THOSE WHO MAJOR ON MINORS

“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

There are things, good things and then there are more important things. Some things are more important than others, would you not agree?  Our LCBS lesson dealt with this today. Life is about choosing between what matters most and what is optional. Some things have major significance and some minor. We would be wise to know which is which. The Pharisee’s were into the external things: rituals, ceremonies, alms, customs, traditions. They were obsessed with these things. The goal of Judaism should have been inward purity but the Pharisee’s neglected the inward and the spiritual. Jesus said they were fools full of greed and evil. Their religion wasn’t working: instead of becoming better, they were becoming more depraved by the day. Washing our hands in front of a group does nothing about the problem of the heart.

There is nothing wrong with tithing or doing alms but there are more important things such as loving God and treating your fellowman with kindness. The Pharisees were hung up on the externals, especially things you touch. You couldn’t touch anything related to death, a tomb or a corpse. They would not touch certain foods. They refused to touch certain people, those who were ritually unclean. They would not eat until they had washed their hands. They were more concerned about germs on the finger than sin in the heart. They were obsessed with performance not purity. They had it backward. They needed to be worrying about their hearts not their hands.

II. SECOND WOE, VERSE 43–WOE TO THOSE WHO LIVE FOR MAN’S APPROVAL WHO PUT REPUTATION BEFORE CHARACTER

“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces.

We live to please others when possible, but when there is a conflict between pleasing God and others, we must please God. When Peter and John were forbidden to speak any more in Jesus name, they said, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?  We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

How much have things changed since Jesus ate with this Pharisee? Not much, we are still performers just like the Pharisees. We crave recognition just like they did and we love the point system because it makes us feel entitled, like we deserved this or that. Every denomination out there has an advantage over Baptist because we don’t have a point system. You can’t earn salvation, you cannot merit God’s forgiveness. The only way for you to relate to God is by grace or to each other. The only thing we deserves is death and hell. This kind of rhetoric does not play well in this world where everyone admires an achiever. 

The Pharisees had a point system and the person with the most points sat in the set of honor and from that point, they were ranked. This is contrary to everything Jesus taught. Matter of fact, He said, “Many that are first will be last.” At some point, we have to stop caring what others think and begin to focus on what God thinks. When we get to craving recognition and honor each other’s achievement, we becomes slaves to a point system that invariably produces pride. Pride leads to arrogance and contempt for others.

III. THIRD WOE V.44–WOE TO THOSE WHO ARE SELF-DECEIVED

Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”

Jesus told the Pharisees, “You are like unmarked graves, you defile people without them or you realizing what you have done.” Jesus said, “You are like dead men’s graves.” You are the source of defilement. You defile others. Ironic, that the Pharisees avoided others who they deemed unclean and yet they were defiling others without even knowing what was going on. The Pharisees who prided themselves on doing good where actually doing harm by their bad example. The sad thing is: they were totally unaware of their guilt.

Jesus was hard on the Pharisees because they refused to acknowledge their sin. The sins of others grieved them but not their own sins. One sure way to know if you are a child of God is your attitude toward sin. If your sin does not grieve, bother or burden you, something is wrong.

This morning LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY had a couple of brilliant illustrations. One was about the inverted funnel and the other about sand castles. How many of you have spent hours constructing a sand castle only to have one wave destroy it and it you went to the same spot the next day, you would find no evidence that a sand castle ever existed.

The Pharisees spent their entire life building sand castles. Surely, you do not want to waste your life on trivial pursuits.