Proverbs 15:13,15

 

When we understand the heart we can gain access to these interesting verses.

>The heart is the key<

 

v I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self. à Martin Luther

 

v Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God. àMartin Luther

 

v Thou hast created us for thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee. àSaint Augustine

 

v You change your life by changing your heart. àMax Lucato

 

Ø What we have are our hearts, unsaved and saved—immature and mature. Our lives display that.

o   Matthew 15: 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person

 

What is a heart?

 

HEART, n. [L. cor, cordis, and allied to Eng.core, or named from motion, pulsation.]

 

1. A muscular viscus, which is the primary organ of the blood's motion in an animal body, situated in the thorax. From this organ all the arteries arise, and in it all the veins terminate. By its alternate dilatation and contraction, the blood is received from the veins, and returned through the arteries, by which means the circulation is carried on and life preserved.

2. The inner part of any thing; the middle part or interior; as the heart of a country, kingdom or empire; the heart of a town; the heart of a tree.

3. The chief part; the vital part; the vigorous or efficacious part.

4. The seat of the affections and passions, as of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleasure &c.

The heart is deceitful above all things. Every imagination of the thoughts of the heart is evil continually. We read of an honest and good heart, and an evil heart of unbelief, a willing heart, a heavy heart, sorrow of heart, a hard heart, a proud heart, a pure heart. The heart faints in adversity, or under discouragement, that is, courage fails; the heart is deceived, enlarged, reproved, lifted up, fixed, established, moved, &c.

 

5. By a metonymy, heart is used for an affection or passion, and particularly for love.

The king's heart was towards Absalom. 2 Sam 14.

6. The seat of the understanding; as an understanding heart.

We read of men wise in heart, and slow of heart.

7. The seat of the will; hence, secret purposes, intentions or designs. There are many devices in a man's heart. The heart of kings is unsearchable. The Lord tries and searches the heart. David had it in his heart to build a house of rest for the ark.

Sometimes heart is used for the will, or determined purpose.

The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Eccles 8.

 

 

    I.            The Antithesis - contrasting two opposing points in order to draw out more clarity.

a.     Light/Darkness  - Flesh/Spirit – Joy/Sorrow – the contrasting differences adds more value.

 

Antithetical parallelism is the contrasting of two ideas. The second line is often introduced by the word “but,” which contrasts the idea of the first line with that in the second:

 

--Not just emotional abstracts of reality with no mechanistic purpose.

 

Proverbs

a.     13A glad (joyful) heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

 

Strengthens and brings healing to the body –

          Weakens the physical body

– What’s the attitude or disposition of your heart?

 

b.    15 All the days of the afflicted are evil (bad), but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

 

          *Perception or perspective is key

                  

c.     Proverbs 12:25

     Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

 

d.    Proverbs 14:30

      A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. – The life is in the blood which is made in the bones.

 

e.     Proverbs 18:14

      A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

f.      This great contrast from one to the other as a normal part of life is Gods design for life to have life, interest and purpose. Think of it; no joy and no sorrow- what do you have? Nihilism! = the seeking of destruction and death.

a.     Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.--God wants both

b.    Taking away consequences for bad moral decisions as well as the benefits for them creates a lifeless culture that is self-destructive; this is what’s wrong with Socialistic concepts.

 

II.            The Value

a.     It is health to you – good or bad

                                                             i.      Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

a.     People who are married live longer -He who finds a wife finds a good thing. Proverbs 18:22

a.     A new study by Duke University Medical Center found that Baby Boomers with permanent partners or spouses had a decreased risk of premature death during midlife years, Science Daily reports. Individuals who were never married were more than twice as likely to die early than individuals who had been in a long-term, stable relationship.

b.    heard of people dying of a broken heart

a.     Broken heart syndrome, also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, can strike even if you’re healthy. (Tako tsubo, by the way, are octopus traps that resemble the pot-like shape of the stricken heart.) In broken heart syndrome, a part of your heart temporarily enlarges and doesn’t pump well, while the rest of your heart functions normally or with even more forceful contractions. Researchers are just starting to learn the causes, and how to diagnose and treat it.

                                                          ii.      Life is in the Spirit

a.     Luke 8:52-55 52And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.

                                                       iii.      Gods hand is on those who are his

a.     Blessing- Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

b.    Chastening-Proverbs 3:11-12 f My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Hebrews 12:6

c.      Hebrews 5:8 although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

d.    Proverbs 20:30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

III.            The Purpose -in the right context

The gift of grace – redemption and hope àCheerful Christian contentment

 

a.     Gods mighty hand – a new heart

Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.    

 

                                                             i.      Key definition-Contentment = Recognizing the sovereignty of God and being happy with it. –Maturity-

a.     Foundation of one supports the other- sovereignty – gratefulness- contentment – joy -maturity

b.    God loves it --Genesis 1:20-31 life multiplication jurisdiction work and then rest- Is this not maturity?

 

                                                          ii.      You play a part – why- for his glory

 

a.     Your job to protect your heart Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

a.     Personal life

b.    Home life

c.     Church life

b.    You are what you think-- Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to you; but his heart is not with you. KJV

a.     John 14: 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him

                                                                                                                                     i.      Remember- contemplate hold dear- refer to- reference- relationship

 

b.    Continual feast of a cheerful heart – the power of Gratitude

                                                             i.      Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

a.     How do you say that?-Faith in a sovereign God who loves you

                                                          ii.       Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

c.     Live with purpose – Blesses others

                                                             i.      Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

                                                          ii.      Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

 

IV.            Conclusion – The Vision

a.     Eternal Sorrow

                                                             i.      By their fruit you shall know them –Matthew 7:16

a.     What they do- what you do

b.    Acts good or bad

c.     Is it an act or fruit how you handle joy or sorrow?

                                                          ii.      Philippians 3:19 17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

a.     Minds set on earthly things- Then all our days are afflicted

b.    Everything that comes has a sour taste unless we see the sovereign hand of God.

b.    Eternal Joy

a.     Galatians 5:22 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  

a.     The work of God in you, so everything that comes is not about you but the God who saved you and dwells with you.

b.    Luke 10:20 nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

a.     Not doing the work that he has given you but in the gift you could not earn.

c.     Revelation 14:2-3 2And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

d.    1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Acts 22

I am unworthy to Preach and you are unworthy to hear the truths of God and I pray Gods mercy on us as we enter into this Holy thing.

 

1. Christ is the holy standard of true religion which men must look to for salvation.
   
   1. Lifted up as the snake on the pole of Moses Numbers 21:8
      
   2. Noun/Nominative/feminine/Singular.
      
   1. The Way
      
   2. The Truth
      
   3. The Life
      
      1. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou shouldst pursue; the truth which thou shouldst believe; the life which thou shouldst hope for" (Thomas a Kempis, "Imitation of Christ," iii., 56)
         
      2. Colossians 3:12 12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
         
      3. 2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds.
         
      1. What are these weapons?
         
         1. humility
            
         2. gentleness
            
         3. forgiveness
            
         4. Beauty
            
         5. Sacrifice
            
         6. Service
            
         7. submission
            
   1. Christ is our only defense Acts 22:1
      

      If he is not yours before God then you have none- self-defense is a self-righteous action. 1 John 2:1b But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
      

      1. Defense-
         
         1. True – protects truth
            
         1. Legal sense- Paul before the crowd
            
            1. Witness against him
               
            2. His people who he loves
               
               1. Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
                  
         2. For the purpose of preserving his life
            
            1. The Jewish system was not a religious institution separated from legal systems of justice. It includes all of them in one. "Under Roman law they were restricted from executing"
               
         3. Our only real defense is our testimony- What we have seen and heard
            
            1. Acts 4:20
               
            2. 1 john 1:33 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
               
            1. False = protects self
               
         4. Self-justification- (self-righteous) what we do in pride defending our honor and name.
            
         5. Discounting others
            
         6. Sidestepping responsibility
            
         7. "Judging others by their actions but myself by motivations"
            
         8. Philippians 2:5-8 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
            
      2. Religion
         
         1. Flesh-superiority, I'm better than someone.(driven by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) dominion over others, I'm better than you. 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
            
         1. Lineage/Pedigree; Acts 22:3 I'm made of the right stuff
            
            1. John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies-
               
         2. Education; Acts 22:3.b =I know more than you
            
            1. Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness."
               
               1. Scribes- lawyers/teachers of law
                  
               2. Pharisee- Holy separatists who tended to lean more on tradition.
                  
         3. Commitment –Zealous; Acts 22:3-4 I care more than you do
            
            1. Matthew 23:13 "Scribes and Pharisees" "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
               
            1. Spirit - Be fruitful and multiply subduing the earth- dominion over self(self-control) For all have sinned and fallen short/there is none righteous no not one/
               
         4. you are better than no one.
            
            1. All we like sheep have gone astray Isaiah 53:6
               
            2. The heart of man is desperately wicked Jeremiah 17:9
               
            3. There is none righteous no not one Romans 3:10
               
            4. What do you have that you did not receive 1Corinthians4:7
               
         5. Initiated by God; Acts 22:6
            
            1. John 6: 37,44,65
               
               1. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
                  
               2. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day
                  
               3. 65 And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
                  
            2. What do you have before God
               
               1. This is an unspeakable gift, It is holy ground
                  
               2. Do you stand here ok, because your dressed right?
                  
               3. Because you have the right beliefs?
                  
               4. Because you do the right things?
                  
               5. No a thousand times no!, you are prone to blindness and ignorance. Delighting in fabricated realities and the àTHE LORD OF ALL calls you!
                  

                  
                   

            3. Titus 3:5 He saved meà
               he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life
               
         6. Broken by God; Acts 22:10 "What shall I do"
            
            1. We don't get this.
               
               1. Not a calm conversation
                  
                  1. Reality shaken
                     
                  2. Blind
                     
                  3. In the dirt
                     
                  4. A desperate plea, realizing that before God he is completely upside down, the fabric of his life is undone- Praise God
                     
            2. Peter to the crowd= Acts 2:36-41 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." 40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
               

               
                

            3. Peter to the Jailer= Acts 16: 30Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." –
               

 

1. Does this jailer respond, believe? – cleans, feeds, baptized, rejoices
   

1. Context of God= (Jesus had just fed the 5,000)
   

   John 6:25-29 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." 28Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
   

   1. Was Paul believing?
      

1. Confirmed by God; Acts 22:6-14
   
   1. Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
      
   2. God changes your affections
      
      1. (this is recreation) 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.-
         
         1. You can't do this
            
         2. He does this in you
            
         3. Do you see it? You can live for Him
            
      2. Titus 3:5 by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
         

 

1. Where does the church get Legitimacyà where do you get it?
   
   1. If we say the wrong things we go terribly wrong. It's the motivating factor for falsehood in culture
      
   1. Government- an eye towards favor and empowerment for personal gain
      
   2. Friends- peer influence, fear of man
      
   3. Family – ancestor worship
      
   4. Academia- compromising with theories and destroying the foundations
      
      1. There are themes of secret knowledge, superiority, Insider-ism
         
      1. We are Legitimate in Christ alone. Sanctification gives Christians a taste for the things of God.
         
   5. Idioms and do you want heaven?
      
      1. They don't have the stomach for it – can't stand it
         
      2. Having a taste for it. It's your desire
         
   6. Seal of the Holy Spirit
      
      1. Touched by God ones
         
      2. Brothers of the mark of God
         
      3. Recreated and righteous
         
         1. 2 Corinthians 1:22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
            
         2. Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
            
         3. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
            
         1. The intended outcomes are LIFE
            
      4. Why do you matter in life
         
         1. The son of God shed his blood for you
            
            1. Sweat at the garden,(luke22:44) flogged and crown(John 19:1-2)
               

               "They crucified him"(Luke23:33)
               

               --John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (7times)
               

            2. Romans 3:25 Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood
               
            3. Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
               

               
                

      5. Why should you try in life
         
         1. God's gift to you is your talents and abilities
            
         2. Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
            
         3. Matthew 25 – parable of the talents- the sovereign hand of God
            
            1. Mind, strength, spirit, abilities
               
      6. What is at stake in life
         
         1. All Your jurisdictions entrusted to you by God
            
            1. Jurisdiction =simply areas of responsibility, influence, control
               
            2. Sluggard – proverbs He who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys (18:9)
               
            3. Father- Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children
               
         2. Family, friends, co-workers, talents, abilities, possessions…the future culture of this earth.
            
         3. A world changing influence on culture and people – relationally.
            
      7. What is the risk of life
         
         1. IT WILL COST YOU ALL=no problem; your focus is Christ
            
            1. Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
               

 

Conclusion

John 6:16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

à When your seas of life are rough, remember Jesus says "it is I do not be afraid."

The religious fervor was about pedigree, status, and lineage. Not about the God of creation. Who is he? The Jews were not afraid of hurting outcasts who threatened the foundation laid by tradition as opposed to Christ. God had other plans and he shakes the world of Saul. Blinding him Jesus gives him sight, humbling him Jesus raises Saul up. Jesus reaches into the life of a man and chooses to shake him loose from the social construct that held him, this prisoner and property of Satan has been purchased and given a job to do. That job would cost him everything. You could say a lot to a Jew but apparently gentile was just too much.

 

This book is a smorgasbord of life! Of freedom and atonement, it is about propitiation, Jesus paid it all. It's about imputation Jesus the Christ took all your filth and placed it on himself not as a garment but as his own and now dear children of god, he places what was his, and that perfect pure precious thing is yours, you can never add to it, anything you place on it hides it's beauty!

 

What's your religion? Snappy saying and quotes! "It's not religion it's relationship" then we strangle our brother with a man centered doctrine based on the traditions of men. You say not me. Many things are in a man's jurisdiction but not a churches law. The church of god is not specific it's broad, love God love your neighbor was the law and you are not saved by following them, you are free in Christ to live in them with a tornado of grateful joy in your soul, Christ died to set you ablaze with the fire of the spirit that can never be put out, then we in our religious zealousness spend our time pouring cold water on our brother. In the name of love we quench their flame and bind their conscience. If we get nothing from this passage it is that we are born man centered and only the miracle of God can set us free. Most of church history is one bucket of cold water after another. Satan does not mind our churches but he cannot stand that holy flame.

 

Instead of critiquing, condemning and crucifying one another, let's be crucified with Christ, no longer living that we might love one another.

Acts 14:21-

I, not being the ideal was raised in a godless home; it wasn't that we hated God but that He was not part of our daily lives. He made no difference in how we lived. We did what seemed right in our own eyes; riding the cultures moral wave that is now dissipating on the beach of careless self-indulgence. I am a son with no family vision, no historical value handed down to me from my father. No sense of this is where we've been and that is where were going. At the same time I missed Church life for kids, the sweet stuff like hymn's and memory verses as well as the way we do church. I am not so committed to the traditions of well-meaning men. That said I may step a little harder on the neck your favorite tradition without realizing the amount of affection you have for it.

Object lessonà Everyone make a list of what is important about Church life and Christianity. No real wrong or right answers. Say 5 or so- could be greeters, pianos and choir or putting on your Sunday best, or systematic preaching, some says Calvinism others Arminianism, What do you love about church, what matters for church life?

àActs 14:21-28

My contention is that the church triumphant is being destroyed from within through immaturity.

1. Paul and Barnabas are wrapping up the journey
   
   1. On the way in they break fresh ground
      
      1. Establishing groups of believers
         
      2. Being persecuted as they go
         
         1. Pursued
            
         2. Reviled
            
         3. stoned
            
   2. On the way back they are establishing order with prayer and fasting, appointing elders.
      
2. Who is this persecution coming from?----(Narcissism)
   
   1. The Jews, instead of being a light on a hill became a self-absorbed "we are separate from thee o heathen nations and therefore better. The living God has separated us, delivered us and we are set apart, we must be clean, holy and righteous. These Jews failed to see having eyes; failed to hear having ears. I ask why? Part of our answer lies in human nature and its antithesis with the commands of God.
      
      1. Exercise dominion in Christ– As we move within our jurisdictions Luke 10:17-20 17The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" 18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
         
      2. Deuteronomy 6 "as you go" – law is a delight and constant thought – real love
         
      3. Mature life in Christ
         
         1. Acts 17:28'In him we live and move and have our being
            
         2. John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."
            
      4. Great commission – deeper message
         
         1. The commands of God are about maturity
            
   2. These Jews where trying to protect there status as the people of God, who on the outside looked good but on the inside they were full of self.
      
      1. Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.
         
      2. Matthew 15:8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Quoting Isaiah 29:13
         
      3. Matthew 15:10- What Defiles a Person 10And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." 12Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.14Let them alone; they are blind guides.^c And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." 15But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." 16And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?^d 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
         
3. Do we ever do this?
   
   1. Yes in three ways, they build one on the other and discussing them with someone is like kicking them in the shins. In them we feel safe, content and rest our hope.
      
      1. Subtle Narcissism
         
      2. Misplaced Pietism
         
      3. Reckless Eschatology
         
      1. These 3 harken us back to that old deception were life and purpose are measured not by Christ but how I feel
         
         1. The lust of the flesh
            
         2. The lust of the eyes
            
         3. The pride of life
            
      2. They entice my pride concerning time, measuring its value by my life and understanding rather than the kingdom of God marching on.
         
         1. If a study of history teaches us nothing else, it teaches that when things are bad from our perspective it's because we are seeing national judgment; nations not recognizing the crown rights of Christ.
            
            1. Remember Adams message, he said " The picture of history is this huge mosaic and has as its center Christ"
               
               1. And we come to it and say
                  

                  WIIFM. "What's in it for me?"
                  

               2. That's like standing in front of a speeding locomotive and saying stop! These tracks are mine!!
                  

                  
                   

Ephesians 4:13-16 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,5 to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

 

1. Sing Halleluiah to the LORD – deep soulful worship- life on life
   
   1. Very God and very man came and died for you.
      
   2. He took a bullet for you and you come with a list (Pietism) saying hey you want to get saved? You can be clean like me then we'll throw our list at them and if they get the list and not Jesus they will be white washed sepulchers    Don't get me wrong I like lists. I love the 1.2.3.'s and then when I am finished I can stick my chest out a little bit and I think I'm alrightà NO What if the world loved your list?- what would it look like, what would you see? Perhaps a Jewish culture like the one that crucified Christ and stoned the apostle Paul.
      
      1. John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
         
      2. John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
         
2. But who did Jesus suffer persecution from? Was it not the nation built by his own hands? Was it not the most externally godly people perhaps the world has ever known? If the Pharisees and Sadducees were here they would be our leaders. If the whole world were like them you would not witness to them.
   
   1. You look on the outside –1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
      
3. The Pharisee and the adulterous John 8:2-11
   

   
    

   1. 3 part story àwho are you- pick your part
      
      1. Pharisee –beating every one up with a list of pietism
         
      2. Adulterous –does not measure up to Gods law, (for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23)
         
      3. Jesus –Forgives sin
         
   2. What do list keepers look like; when we read about the wicked Pharisee's trying to corner Jesus to either kill this sinner or condemn the law. This is what we do with our lists, instead of saying oh wicked Pharisee who has led you astray? This should show us how we miss it.
      
      1. What we understand, they should get what's coming to them- if someone hurts you that's what you say.
         
      2. What we don't understand "Father forgive them they know not what they do" Luke 23 – "Lay not this sin to their charge"
         
4. The Gospel is so simple a child can understand it, be saved and follow after the savior but also so deep and wide that aged men loose themselves in it.
   
   1. The Gospel, the power of God revealed in his word
      
      1. The Gospel is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.
         
      2. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The Gospel is what we are to preach. The gospel is "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". Matthew 3:2
         

         
          

      3. The real list is the law of GOD. You can't keep the list! It's not in the fabric of your being. à
         Changing the list to any substandard level only lets you justify yourself and condemn others.
         

         
          

   2. The rich young ruler- Matthew 19:16 "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"
      
      1. What do we see- he keeps the list- I've done all these from my youth
         
      2. Jesus says go sell all that you have and give to the poor –Why? if you really love your neighbor as yourself your heart would be for your neighbor as much as for you.
         
      3. As soon as I say that you, like me want to cheapen it by believing in your heart that we can do this.
         
         1. Small problem à You Can't
            
         2. Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness comes by the flesh then Christ died for nothing.
            

• The real powerful and efficacious Grace of God is working in you, don't stand in its way.
  

1. When we walk by the list we frustrate the grace of God! And then we walk in self-righteousness and not Christ's righteousness.
   
2. Are you Christ righteous?
   
3. He is our hope
   
4. is our peace
   
5. He is our wisdom
   
6. Our righteousness
   
7. He is our faith
   
8. Our desire
   
9. He is our truth
   
10. HE IS and you are not- take your list and crush it! Throw it on the ground! Your list is an abomination to God!!
    
11. Let us say like the apostle Paul " I know nothing else but Jesus and him crucified" 1 Corinthians 2:2
    

1. If we look at the most righteous person here – Isaiah 64:6 your righteousness is like filthy rags – away with your stench and then what about US. That's the story of the rich young ruler – that's the message of this saga between the established accepted church and Jesus who is God.
   
   1. Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
      
      1. If there is no hope for the scribes and Pharisees and our most righteous person then what about the rest of us?
         
         1. Our hope is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
            

            But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.
            

   2. This is the problem
      
      1. Our only hope is in Christ à He is universal
         
         1. One hope for the whole world
            
         2. Our list is cultural
            
      2. The Gospel is dangerous
         
         1. It sets the world ablaze
            
         2. Our list makes us comfortable
            
   3. Most of how we do church is a comfortable cultural expression and not biblical
      
      1. Pastor/shepherd- biblical word, but the idea of one man doing all the work is a cold lifeless religious form.
         
      2. Piano- not in the bible- you can do church without them – certainly not wrong to have one but for example the church in Africa has mostly brass instruments – which I found lively.
         
      3. Biblical prayer meetings – in the bible prayer meetings usually meant fasting and then a gospel outreach to people who may kill you. à I'm guessing that would liven it up a bit!
         
         1. If we want to fix this we can repent and pray for the big three that cripple the modern church.
            
            1. Gluttony
               
            2. Apathy
               
            3. Self-righteousness
               

1. Our eschatology has become a source of division. This grieves the Holy Spirit whose work is unity. Ephesians 4.
   
   1. It is to the churches much like the evolution debate. The beginning and the end are under attack. It is exclusive and if you're not onboard then you're not in the conversation.
      
      1. The eschatology conversation has been dominated by The Scofield bible and his system of study. Since 1909
         
      2. These systems like evolution change with the next news-event. That means new books and more money.
         
      3. A sense of elitism, (which plays to our pride) if you don't believe in futurism then we must part ways, I'm not even sure that guys saved.
         
      4. There are unintended consequencesàPre-tribulation rapture- the concept of being saved out of trouble.
         
         1. Let's eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we're raptured.-escapism
            
            1. Leaves us with a disenfranchised view of life.
               
         2. Israel and the church have suffered more than we can fathom, but we have a get out of persecution free doctrine.-inconsistent.
            
            1. In Acts God uses persecution to spread the Gospel.
               
            2. In Rome God used martyrdom to turn a culture.
               
         3. This makes us spectators --Let's watch this train wreck; cause were getting out of here. Escapist.
            
            1. We have a ministry of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:18
               
            2. We are the ambassadors of Christ –the way the truth and the life 2 Corinthians 5:20
               
            3. We are the light of the world – Matthew 5:14
               
            4. You have a personal relationship with the author of reality and must display that to your culture with maturity and wisdom.
               
               1. Murder is evilàkilling in self-defense is righteous.
                  
               2. Discriminating against others for unchangeable is wrong à discriminating against the immoral is right.
                  
               3. Adultery and immorality are evil à The sacraments of marriage are beautiful and life giving.
                  
         4. How many false prophetic books can be written before we suspect the theology?
            
         5. Why are you so worried about your skin after all, it is that skin that was pursuing hell.
            
         6. With things getting worse and worse, should we bring kids into this world? à Who is your God? Acts 14:15"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. àThey would have just sacrificed a cow and we would sacrifice our posterity. Be fruitful and multiply is Gods answer to our biggest problems. – Laborers for the harvest to name 1
            
         7. "The rapture will not be secret but open and manifest. Its purpose will not be to whisk the elect away from the earth for a while until Christ returns for a 'second' Second Coming. The purpose of the rapture is to allow the saints to meet Jesus in the air as He returns and be included in His entourage during His triumphal descent from Heaven. His coming in this manner will be attended by the general resurrection, the final judgment, and the end of the world." ~ R.C. Sproul, "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith," p. 275.
            

1. Final thoughts
   
   1. Rule#1 satan does not fool us with lies so much as half-truths and miss-direction.
      
   2. Rule#2 The flesh is an idol making factoryàbecause it satisfies our emotions
      
   3. Rule#3 our knee jerk response to most scrutiny is self-justificationà I look around I'm keeping my list- I'm ok.
      
   4. Immaturity is having a disposition of self-worship "WIIFM = what's in it for me" (sales)
      
      1. Subtle Narcissism – starting my thoughts on life and reality with me myself and I instead of Father son and Holy Spirit.
         
      2. Misplaced Pietism – I can be clean before God – Feeling good about life because me and mine are doing so good at keeping my list. Smack of expectations which is a form of manipulation (getting what I want) not love (serving others). Instead of igniting each other with submission, confession and testimony about the Savior.
         
      3. Reckless Eschatology – coming to the bible with a crystal ball mentality – What do you see in my future? Not focused on the crown rights of Jesus Christ. - Divination= pursuing the secret knowledge of God. – Futurism.
         
         1. Leviticus 19:26 You shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall you use divination, nor witchcraft.
            
         2. Deuteronomy 18: 10There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.
            
            1. God is sovereign and Christ has dominionà do you trust him?
               
            2. Trust is a simple selfless vulnerability.
               
   5. God Loves Maturity à it's that simple
      
      1. Its Natural- everything God made has a maturing process
         
         1. The earth1-night and day 2-heaven and earth 3-land and sea plant 4-sun moon and stars 5-fish and birds 6-animal and man 7-rest—a fruitful garden
            
         2. Plants – seed-sprout-roots-stem-leaf-flower-pollination.-many seeds
            
         3. Animals –egg-chick-chicken- many eggs
            
         4. Men – baby-toddler-child-adult-many kids
            
         5. Physical Maturity is the natural process of life.
            
   6. 2 development aspects of maturity – you play a part.
      
      1. Emotional and Spiritual maturity àthey overlap
         
         1. Immaturity –a predisposition to think and care primary for me, what I want- How I feel --expressed as a need -the unripe fruit is sour.
            
            1. 1 Corinthians 3:3 1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
               
            2. Romans 2:8but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
               
         2. Maturity – being fully developed, able to fulfill its designed purpose. Delighting in Gods design for you. Think of Ripe fruit.
            
         3. Most of our vexations are simply outward displays of an immature self-sensitive heart. Welcome to reality –
            
            1. Confess and Repent- Repeat à it is the power of God for victory over the flesh
               
         4. I'm not who I want to be; but by the power of God I'm not who I was. He is with me every step of the way. Voddie Bauchum
            

            
             

         5. And maturity for what? Malachi 2:15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
            

 

1. If you get this right then home life is a celebration of the power and victory of the cross of Jesus Christ on our behalf.
   

 

1. Emotional Maturity – lost and ignored by the church and culture( a parental perspective)
   
   1. Don't give in to or overlook a child's selfishness- that stunts development
      
   2. It's all about giving your children a taste for it –affections – does your home life give your children an appetite for self or service.
      
      1. Joy shared is multiplied = When you share the joy of others, you gain some and they lose none.
         
      2. Sorrow shared is divided = their burden is lightened when you come and weep with them, showing care and compassion.
         
         1. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
            
      3. Bearing one another's burdens, coming along side and help them shoulder the load. Galatians 6: 1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
         
2. Spiritual maturity- an aspect of our relationship with God
   
   1. Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? à Spiritual growth.
      
   2. Hebrew5:8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Developing maturity?
      
3. Disciplined life    1 Corinthians 9:26-27 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – this is your part
   
   1. Fasting –Matthew 6:16-18"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
      
   2. Hard productive work
      
      1. 2Thessalonians 3: 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
         
      2. Ecclesiastes 2: 24There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,
         
4. Suffering à This is key, if we miss this we miss the sovereign hand of God
   
   1. 2cor 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
      
      1. If we go the distance to confession and repentance we receive the gift of that sin becoming filthy and distasteful to us.
         
      2. Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
         
      3. How many of you have been sick, really sick?
         
         1. Pizza… could not eat for years
            
         2. Raspberry chocolate-still makes me nauseous to think of.
            
   2. James 1: 2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
      
      1. Joy=. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, (Webster's 1828) as opposed to self-pity.
         
      2. Steadfastness-Firmness of standing; fixedness in place. 2. Firmness of mind or purpose; fixedness in principle; constancy; resolution; Faithfulness (Webster's 1828) as opposed to slackness.
         
      3. When you're suffering with some trial, get happy. Recognize that God is working in you
         

 

Acts 14:21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.     Through many Tribulations? Yes-God is not satisfied with them being saved He wants maturity-

So they can move independently and reproduce. The ministry of Paul was like a parent working, correcting encouraging and loving; so in the end you have a growing community of believers.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. àService of others

2 Corinthians 2: 14But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. Christ leads Us! In Triumphal procession!

2 Corinthians 5: 11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live
for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

 

16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. No longer living for ourselves but as his ambassadors.

2 Corinthians 8: 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. That what Christ has for us abundance of joy overflowing

2 Corinthians 10: 3For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. àThis starts in your heart, expanding outward from there.

We have all we need in Christ Jesus; to do what he calls us to.

God is shouting to you again and again and again be mature, walk in maturity. All things are put under His feet and we are his mouth, his hands and his feet. He has dominion over all; demons, nature and flesh of men. Your list is a burden for you to carry that proves to be a weakness. Resting completely in the righteousness of Christ and his faithfulness to mature us; we are strong. If we are pursuing the enemy all the way to his gates and through then we must walk in maturity!

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 4:13

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.