Hub Sunday: “Let Them See You” by Mike Lewis

So, I compare this to the time about 2.5 years ago when we went to Andy and Susan’s house to look at pictures from Africa. Almost before Andy got it out of his mouth, I told him that I was going to Kenya when he decided to go back. When Andy called to see if I wanted to preach today, I said yes pretty quickly. Then, when I got off of the phone, I thought, “What are you thinking? You can’t preach!!!” So here I am...don’t expect an Andy, Reggie or Rick!!!!

Today is HUB Sunday. A day where we traditionally look at the places that we have ministered to, the possibilities that might be coming up and the opportunities that we have sitting before us. I want to dig a little deeper into the why and maybe show you how this goes farther than we can even comprehend.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So what this tells me is that we were made with a purpose. A purpose to serve Him by serving people. He didn’t make us to serve ourselves. He designed us with a purpose. We were made to be a blessing to others. It’s his plan for us, all of us, not just some of us.

In other words, He has given to us, certain people that we are supposed to help. Some that we can serve, some that we can care for and some who we can lead to Him.

For those that were here a couple of weeks ago and heard Andy tell about the gentleman that asked him a question about scripture, did this bring up any certain event that made you think? Should I have helped that person? Should I have done whatever was necessary? Was this one of the people that He sent to us, that we were supposed to help? I know it did for me.

We all have God-given talents that we can utilize to help people. We need to be faithful in doing just that. He made us all different and all of our talents different for a reason. We can use our talents to complement each other. What I can do is probably different than what Roger can do, our Leon can do...but together, we can accomplish what God planned for us. In 1 Peter 4:10 it says “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” A perfect example of this is our upcoming Wounded Warrior Guide Service waterfowl hunt. I’m not the best waterfowl hunter that there is but I know people that are pretty good at it. They are willing to use those talents to help. If these veterans coming to hunt had to eat my cooking, they would probably lose weight while they are here. If any of you have eaten Robin’s cooking, you know that she’s a pretty good cook. I know for a fact that they go home with a belly full of great food and a few extra pounds because she utilizes one of her many talents to serve others. These people are fulfilling God’s plan. Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 that we are to serve others “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...”

So what happens if we choose not to serve? I want to give you an example. Imagine a pond. Just your little run of the mill pond. The only water it gets is rain water. It gets a little water in to it every once in a while but it has no outlet. The water just sits in this pond. What happens to the water? It becomes stagnant, right? It’s the same with us as Christians. We get knowledge of the Bible coming in...through Church service, Bible study, reading the Word. If that all comes in and there is no outlet, we become stagnant. Our spiritual life become stagnant. God expects us to fulfill His plans for us. We need to be doers of the Word. The Bible says in James 2:20 that “Faith without deeds is useless.” God didn’t design us, before we were born, to be useless. Admittedly, it’s easy to know what needs done but not do it. It’s comfortable...for a little bit. God, or your conscience, will eventually push you to do good works...or, at least, He has me.

God puts people in front of us, all of the time, that need help. It may seem like a burden at the time but maybe, just maybe, He is giving us the opportunity to be like Jesus or at least the opportunity to practice being like Jesus. Even Jesus took a towel and a bowl of water and washed His disciple’s feet because the need was obvious.

I know there are some of us that think, “What can I do? Even if I can do something, it’s not that big of a deal.” I’m here to tell you that all good deeds are important. God doesn’t keep track of how big or important they are. Just like a sin is a sin, one is not bigger than the other...the same applies for the blessings that you give out. The work that you do is important, no matter how big or how small. Proof of this is in Mark 9:41. It reads, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward.”

We are to be faithful in the things that God has for us, we need recognize these opportunities.

I want to take a look at the maps that Reggie made for us. We see here all of the places that we have served. Whether in person or by sending supplies, we have served. Let me tap in to your imagination a little bit with something my wife said to me about a year ago. Imagine, if you will, that this person that we helped here in Fairfax, helped someone else in Wyoming. We in essence could put a sticker here. Or this person that we helped in St. Louis, helped someone in Texas. I know for a fact, that we don’t, or can’t, have a clue how far reaching our Good Works go. These people, if they see God in our works, will pass the blessing forward. It is His design for us and for them. In reality, we could cover most of Missouri with stickers. We could color a lot of states in stickers and we could eventually put more stickers into other countries. Andy just got back from Honduras...there’s a sticker and because of his work, those people will bless others. How cool is that? It’s the perfect pyramid scheme!!!!!

I read a story this week as I was preparing the sermon. It’s about a pencil. I’d like to share it with you:

“The pencil maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box and said, ‘There are 5 things you need to know, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.’

• ‘You will do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.’
• ‘You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.’
• ‘You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.’
• ‘The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.’
• ‘On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.’

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in his heart.”

Just like the pencil, we need to remember these five things in order to be the best person we can be:

• You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other people to access you for the many gifts that you possess.
• You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through numerous trials, but you’ll need them to become a stronger person.
• You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
• The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
• On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark.

It doesn’t matter what situation we find ourselves in, we must continue to do our part. Use our gifts. Bless others lives. And maybe, just maybe, they will see God through our good works and be led to Him through us.

There are many people that you see during your daily routines that need our love. There are people here that need our love. There are innumerous people that need to hear about Jesus. We need to focus on these people. We need to do the good works that God prepared for us to do. We need to diligent and deliberate in doing these things. Be the good that people want and need.

One of my favorite songs is, “Let Them See You in Me”. Let the people see Him in you and all of the things that you do. Let them see Him in the gifts that you intentionally use to help others.

The Christian and the False Prophet by Samuel Hood

There are many tests we can use to determine the freshness of produce: the smell test, the squeeze test, the color test, the surface test, the weight test, and the sound test. We examine produce because we want it to taste good and we do not want to get sick. In the same way, Christians are called to examine the fruit of teachers. Jesus addresses this in this week’s Sermon on the Mount passage – Matthew 7:15-23.

I have derived three points from my study of this text. First, we will see that Christians are on guard against false teachers. Second, we will see that Christians possess the fruit of the Spirit. And third, we will see that Christians are not condemned. 

1. Christians are on guard against false teachers (v. 15-16).

Christ’s warning against false teachers is not a new warning to those who follow God. Rather, Christ is reminding Israel of their past and the covenant they have with God. Deuteronomy 13 and 18 are two places where God spoke his commandments for Israel concerning false prophets. Deuteronomy 13 presents the idea that if someone has a prophetic dream or proclamation that does not come to pass, the false prophet should be killed. Deuteronomy 18 promises that the Lord will raise up a prophet who will speak for him. With this, anyone who decides to speak on God’s behalf without his command to do so must die. These passages are frightening due to the authority that is associated with proclaiming a message from God. And yet, throughout the course of Israel’s history, false prophets still existed.

Around the time of Jeremiah false prophets were virtually everywhere. These false prophets declared that peace would come to reign in the land, yet no peace would actually come for them. See this passage from Jeremiah 23:21-22, 25-26, 32: “I did not send out these prophets, yet they ran. I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. If they had really stood in my council, they would have enabled my people to hear my words and would have turned them from their evil ways and their evil deeds. “I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in my name have said: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds? I am against those who prophesy false dreams”—the Lord’s declaration—“telling them and leading my people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people”—this is the Lord’s declaration.”

These prophets had a message that was contrary to God’s message. They were not sent by the Lord. Contrast this with Jeremiah. He was called from birth to be a prophet, as testified to in Jeremiah 1. The Lord told him to declare the coming destruction of Judah if they did not repent. Sadly, Judah did not repent and destruction came upon them. Jeremiah’s word from the Lord came true. Jeremiah contrasts with the false prophets from the verses above: he was called by the Lord to proclaim his message and they were not, declaring falsehood and distorting God’s message.

False prophets still existed in Jesus’ time. They declared that the people needed to clean up their act and follow the Law outwardly. Jesus had to correct the work of false teachers in previous parts of the Sermon on the Mount. He often said, “You have heard it said...but I say to you...” This language signals that the people had heard false teaching.

False teachers are subtle and dangerous. That is why Jesus said they look like sheep; they are hard to recognize. It is easy to read, “You shall not murder,” and believe that you are fine if you do not murder. Yet Jesus reminds the listener that anger cast on a brother or sister deserves a judgment equal to murder. God has always been about the heart, never about outward appearances. False teachers fail to teach us what God has actually revealed. Wolves can proclaim, “God has commanded us to abstain from murdering,” but a sheep will proclaim that murder begins with the heart. They look like God’s sheep outwardly, but inwardly there is a wolf seeking the destruction of souls.

Jesus used this wolf imagery, rotten fruit, and thorns and thistles to depict false teachers. If you have not seen a thorn bush or a thistle, Google them now. A thorn bush is self-descriptive – a bush with tightly-grouped thorns on its branches. A thistle has a pretty, purple flower with a stem that is prickly. Jesus illustrated that good fruit does not come from places that harm you. Listening to a false teacher can be described as this: pursuing an attractive teaching while having your soul cut to pieces. It is dangerous and will leave you broken in the end.

Our current culture is a breeding ground for false teachers. Our culture encourages private faith, rather than public faith. People believe what they want and do not want others influencing their beliefs. This goes against the Christian perspective. Christians come together in community to build one another up in the faith. We have a standard outside of ourselves, the Word of God. The Word of God instructs us how to live according to godliness. We come alongside each other to speak the gospel into the lives of our fellow sisters and brothers. It looks like rebuking sin, fixing our gaze on Jesus, and living on mission. Yes, faith has private matters, but it is to be displayed in public. False teachers destroy this view of Christian community but, believers, I encourage you to be in pursuit of one another constantly proclaiming the gospel to one another.

Christian, although false teachers abound, there is good news. By the aid of the Spirit we will be on guard against false teachers. The Spirit will aid us by giving us discernment. We will be able to see the truth within the teachings we encounter. We have the Word of God, the fount of truth. We must know this Word, for without it we do not have a standard of truth to guard. The Spirit graciously gives us understanding of the Word of God and allows us to not be deceived by false teachers. You know a false teacher by their fruit and by their teachings. Often their teachings sound good, satisfying that which the flesh wants to hear. But the Spirit aides us in killing the flesh. We are dead to sin and our fleshly desires are subsided by the power of the Spirit working within us. This leads us to our second point.

2. Christians possess the fruit of the Spirit (v. 17-20).

The fundamental truth of this passage is that the fruit of our lives reveals our identity. The Christian’s fruit changes upon salvation. We begin to detest the things of the flesh. We are aware of our sin. We find joy in Christ. Inwardly, the Spirit takes residence and brings to life what once was dead. We are grafted in to the family of God.

Jesus is clearly warning against false teachers in the analogy about bad trees. He equated them to thorn bushes and thistles. False prophets produce bad fruit. There is no alternative. Jesus even says that good fruit cannot come from a bad tree. How often do you eat bad fruit? Hopefully never. In the same way, Jesus does not want us to partake in fruit that is bad. He wants us to enjoy good fruit. So why do we not exercise discernment in what we use to feed our soul? We often proclaim that the Word of God is our daily bread but how many of us are ruining our spirits by eating the rotten fruit of false teachers?

Galatians 5:19-26 is our friend in this regard. Jesus said we shall know false teachers by their fruit and Paul gives us a list of good fruit and bad fruit. He lists the bad fruit in 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

This is an all-inclusive list of private and public sins. Some sins in this list are corporate while others are individual. This is how we know false teachers. These are the works of the flesh and ravenous wolves practice these things. Jesus warned that every tree that does not produce good fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire. Paul mentioned that those who practice the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. It is obvious then that false teachers are condemnable. Not only is their teaching condemnable, but they are condemned.

Jesus contrasts bad fruit and good fruit. Paul lists these in Galatians 5:22-26: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

It is important to notice that the fruit of the Spirit is a description of character and not of acts. That is because the Spirit changes us, making us into a new creation. These characteristics of believers direct our lives and our actions should be based on them. The good tree is Christ. When we are in Christ we produce good fruit and we look Christ-like. False teachers do not have these characteristic changes. Rather, they practice the works of the flesh because they are not truly believers. They are in step with the flesh, the bad tree that produces rotten fruit.

As Christians, we need to focus on practicing the good fruit. I want to mention here that this is not a “do better, try harder” message. I am not saying that if you just try more or try harder that you can produce good works. This is actually a common, yet subtle false teaching found in church culture today: work for your salvation. Many minds may go to Catholicism but this teaching even creeps into Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches. We are told that we must make an effort in our salvation by doing that which Christ has done. We must do good things for others, for the community, and for the world and then we will be saved. Many have tried this but still end up in Hell because those who work for their salvation will perish.

So, what does salvation look like? It looks like placing faith in the one that has died the death you could not, atoning for sin. We rest in the salvation he has provided for us. Rest, you may ask? Yes, rest. You might be thinking, but what about focusing and practicing the good fruit? Our faith is a rest in the finished work of Christ; we no longer work for our salvation for it is secure in Christ. Rather, we practice the good fruit because we possess the Spirit. When the Spirit of God lives within us we possess supernatural power. This supernatural power overrides the fleshly tendencies to do evil and malice. We do good works because we have faith in Jesus Christ. We do not have a performance-based faith, but a grace-based faith. This leads us to our third point.

3. Christians are not condemned (v. 21-23).

People are often terrified when they read these verses. Who wouldn’t be when they hear, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” But this is not the thrust of the text. Keep in mind we are still talking about false teachers. This becomes evident as we continue to read: “Did we not prophesy, drive out demons, and perform miracles in your name?” Clearly this is language associated with the false prophets. They thought they were doing great things for God and extending his name throughout the earth. But they were not, for God said, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

Jesus showed another implied contrast here. The false prophet burns in the fire, but the Christian does not. Jesus said that those who do the will of his Father shall inherit the kingdom of God. I just unpacked what it means to do good works and produce good fruit as Christians. This is living in the will of the Father. There is no reason for those who are in Christ Jesus to fear death, to fear as if they might go to Hell. Scripture is full of promises that believers will be brought to the kingdom.

Make no mistake that anyone who places their faith in anyone or anything other than Christ is condemned. It was Christ that paved the way to salvation. It is Christ who is our joy in the midst of our suffering in this life. Anyone who says that this is your best life now is mistaken. The Christian’s best life is yet to come. An eternity of being with Christ is still to come for those who have placed their faith in him. A believer still has hope and joy even if they were to lose everything in this life. Our gaze should not be fixed on the things of earth or self, but rather on Jesus Christ. Ray Ortlund, a Nashville pastor, has a great quote, “Stare at the glory of God until you see it.”

With our eyes transfixed on Jesus we shall not waver when false teachers throw their deception at us. When we have seen the glory of God we are focused on accomplishing God’s will in our life. Christ holds on to us with a steadfast love. We will not perish. We shall live. With a gaze fixed on Christ we will not be looking for fire insurance, that is an escape from hell. We will desire to know and be known by Christ. For those in Christ, Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation.” What a great Savior that he would rescue us from condemnation. 

Four Ways to Keep Our Gaze Fixed on Christ

1. Read the Word of God for without it you have no way of guarding against false teachers. God gave us his Word so we would know him. It is the way he has revealed himself, therefore, it makes no sense to never pick it up. If we never study the Bible we will not know the difference between false teachers and true teachers.
2. Live in step with the Spirit. The Spirit is the one who conforms us to the image of Christ. With the Spirit we will produce good fruit and possess discernment. Study Galatians 5 further to learn how to live in step with the Spirit.
3. Be part of a gospel-centered community with members from your church. Seek to live out your church covenant with one another and hold each other accountable. If one strays from biblical teaching, help them gain a biblical understanding again and do this with patience and kindness. It is the community of believers that will keep us from straying into false teaching. Walk alongside your fellow church members, encouraging them with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Read good books. Books help us see Christianity from a different perspective, not a wrong perspective. Reading books can help us understand God and his Word better. There are bad authors out there so talk to your pastor for recommendations.

The Love God Hates (Love of “The World”) by Reggie Koop

1 John 2.12-17:
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

This passage is a warning from John. It is about a “wrong” kind of love that God hates. This love is a love for “the world.” There are four reasons why Christians should not love the world.
1. Because of what the world is.
2. Because of what the world does to us. (1 John 2:15-16)
3. Because of what a Christian is. (1 John 2:12-14)
4. Because of where the world is going. (1 John 2:17)

Let’s break these down one by one.

1. Because of What the WORLD Is
The New Testament word for world has three different meanings:
a. Physical world – (i.e. earth, Acts 17:24, “God made the world and all things therein.”)
b. Mankind – (John 3.16, “For God so loved the world”)
c. Both meanings together – (John 1:10, “He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world (mankind) knew Him not.”)

This warning, “love not the world” is about not loving the world of men. The world here is our enemy – and invisible, spiritual system opposed to God and Christ.

Six Ways This World is Our Enemy:

a. The world is Satan’s system of opposing the work of Christ on earth.

b. The world is opposite of what is godly and holy and spiritual.

Consider these four points about Satan and this world.
1) 1 John 2:16: “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
2) 1 John 5:19: “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
3) John 12.31: Jesus called Satan “The prince of this world”
4) Ephesians 6:11-12: The devil has an organization of evils spirits working with him and influencing the affairs of this world.

c. Two opposite approaches for people

1) The Holy Spirit uses people to accomplish God’s will on earth.
2) Satan uses people to fulfill his evil purposes.

Unsaved people, whether they realize it or not, are energized by “the prince of the power of the air, that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:1-2

d. Unsaved people belong to this world. Jesus called them “the children of this world.”

“And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8

When Jesus was here on earth, the people of “this world” did not understand Him, not do they now understand those of us who trust Him. 

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19

e. A believer’s citizenship is in heaven. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ...” Philippians 3:20

f. If it were not for the Holy Spirit living in us and the spiritual resources we have – prayer, Christian fellowship and the Word – we could never “make it” here on earth.

2. Because of What the World Does to Us (1 John 2:15-16)

Worldliness

1 John 2:15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Worldliness is not so much a matter of activity but of attitude.  It is possible for a Christian to stay away from questionable amusements and doubtful places and still love the world, for worldliness is a matter of the heart.  To the extent that a Christian loves the world system and the things in it, he does not love the Father.

1 John 2:17: “and the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

Worldliness not only affects your response to the love of God, it also affects your response to the will of God.  Doing the will of God is a joy for those living in the love of God. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” But when a believer loses his enjoyment of the Father’s love, he finds it hard to obey the Father’s will.

Worldly Devices

The world uses three devices to trap Christians. 1 John 2:16: “for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world.”

a. The Lust (Desires) of the Flesh
b. The Lust of the Eyes
c. The Pride of Life

These same three devices trapped Eve in the garden.

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was pleasant to the eyes (lusts of the eyes), and a tree to be desired to make one wise (pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof,” (Genesis 3:6)

The Lust of the Flesh
The lust of the flesh applies to anything that appeals to man’s fallen nature.  The flesh does not mean “the body,” but the basic nature of man that makes him blind to spiritual truth. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “but the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

The flesh is the nature we receive in our physical birth.  Spirit is the nature we receive in the second birth. Jesus words to in John 3:5-6 show this clearly. “Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Galatians 5:17-23 shows the battle between these to two natures:
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

God has given man certain desires, and these desires are good: hunger, thirst, weariness, and sex.  Nothing is wrong with eating, drinking, sleeping, and having children. But when the flesh controls them, they become sinful lusts.

Hunger is not evil – gluttony is sinful
Thirst is not evil – drunkenness is a sin
Sleep is a gift of God – laziness is shameful
Sex is a precious gift from God used rightly – used wrongly it is immoral

The truth is that the world appeals to the normal appetites and tempts us to satisfy them in forbidden ways.

What does God say about the old nature, the flesh?

Romans 7:18: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

Other references:
John 6:63
Philippians 3:3
Romans 13:14

The Lust of the Eyes
The lust of the eyes are pleasures that gratify the sight and mind. The eyes are a gateway into the mind.  Look at Joshua 7, especially verse 21.

Joshua 7:1 & 21
1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Boastful Pride of Life
God’s glory is rich and full; man’s glory is vain and empty. What is the American dream?  Why do people try to outdo others in their spending and their getting?  Why do we buy things that we can’t afford?

Once the world takes over in one of these areas, a Christian will soon realize it.  They will lose the enjoyment of the Father’s love and the desire to do the Father’s will.  The Bible will become boring and prayer will be a difficult chore. Even Christian fellowship may seem empty and disappointing.  
Becoming worldly doesn’t happen all of a sudden. Worldliness creeps up on a believer.  Three stages are involved.

a. Friendship of the World
James 4:4: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Contrast 1 John 3:13: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

b. The Christian becomes spotted by the world.
James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
Gradually a believer accepts and adopts the ways of the world. When this happens the world ceases to hate the Christian and starts to love him.  Thus, the warning “love not the world.”

c. The believer becomes conformed to the world.
Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
This can lead into being “condemned with the world.”
1 Corinthians 11:32: “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

3. Because of What a Christian Is
1 John 2:12-14: 
12 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

What are the titles referring to?

“Little children” (1 John 2:12) refers to all believers. Literally, it means “born ones.” All Christians have been born into God family through faith in Jesus Christ and their sins have been forgiven. This fact of being in God’s family should discourage us from becoming friendly with the world. We begin as little children (born ones), but as we grow spiritually we overcome the world.

“Fathers” refers to mature believers who have an intimate relationship with God. Because they know God, they know the dangers of the world.  

“Young men” are the conquerors. They have overcome the wicked one (Satan). They overcame through the Word of God. They are not fully mature, but maturing because they use the Word of God effectively. The Word is the only weapon that will defeat Satan (See Ephesians 6:17).

The “little children” in verse 13 are different from verse 12. Two different Greek words are used. Here it refers to “immature ones” or little children under the authority of teachers and tutors. These have not yet grown up in Christ.

Review to This Point: A Christian stays away from the world:
1. Because of what the world is – a satanic system that hates and opposes Christ.
2. Because of what the world does to us – attracts us to live in sin.
3. Because of what the Christian is a child of God.

4. Because of Where the World Is Going (1 John 2:17)

The only sure thing about this world system is that it is not going be here forever. All are passing away. What is going to be left? Only what is part of the will of God!!

a. Spiritual Christians are to keep themselves “loosely attached” to this world. Because they are living for something better. Hebrews 11:13 says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

John is contrasting two ways of life.
1) A worldly person lives for the pleasures of the flesh.
2) A dedicated Christian lives for the joys of the spirit.    
A worldly-person lives for what he can see (lust of the eyes).
A spiritual-believer lives for the unseen realities of God.

2 Corinthians 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

A worldly-minded person lives for the pride of life – what appeals to men. A Christian who does the will of God lives for God’s approval.

b. 1 John 2.17 refers to Christians who dedicate themselves to doing God’s will. Those who obey will abide (remain) forever. After all of this earth and everything therein has been replaced by the new heaven and new earth, God’s faithful will remain, sharing the glory of god for eternity.

This present world system is not a lasting one. 1 Corinthians 7:31 says, “And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.”

The New Testament says a benefit of salvation is to know the will of God.

1) The privilege of knowing God’s will (Acts 22:14). Colossians 1:9 says God wants us to be filled with the knowledge of his will.

2) Understand His will. (Ephesians 5:17) It is important that we understand God’s will for our lives and see purpose he is filling.

3) After we know the will of God, we should do it from the heart. (Ephesians 6:6) We are to walk the talk. (Matthew 7:21) The more we obey, the better we are able to discover and follow God’s will. (Romans 12:2)

4) Mature in God’s will. God’s goal for us is that we will “stand complete in all will of god.”  By standing complete in God’s will, we know what the Lord wants us to do.

5) How does one discover the will of God?
a) Surrender – Romans 12:1-2; John 7:17
b) Revealed through God’s Word – Psalm 119:105.  Read God’s Word daily. Meditate on it. Apply it.
c) Through circumstances, God may open and close doors. Test this leading by the Word.
d) Through prayer and the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.  As we pray about a decision, the Spirit speaks to us. Test this by the Word, not by the flesh or circumstances or feelings, these could be led by Satan to lead us astray.

SUMMARY:
1. A Christian is in the world physically. (John 17:11)
2. A Christian is not of the world spiritually. John 17:14
3. We have been sent into the world to bear witness. John 17:18
4. The world gets into a Christian through the heart.
5. A Christian must decide – Will I live for the present only or will I live for the will of God and abide forever? (Consider Jesus’ words Matthew 7:24-27. Also see Paul’s words on two kinds of building – temporary or permanent in I Corinthians 3:11-15.)

APPLICATION:
1. Proper type of love: 2 Greatest Commandments
2. How can you show love toward others? This week?
3. What ways can you stay loosely attached to this world?
4. Tell others about Jesus.

Love for the world is the love God hates.  It is the love a Christian must shun at all costs.

“Grace Freely Given”, Guest Post by Sam Hood

A message based upon Isaiah 55.1-7
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I love getting invited to weddings. At weddings you watch a beautiful covenant form between two people, and after there is free food! Invitations come in the mail and all you have to do is RSVP and you’re set! Of course the main event of a wedding is the male and the female becoming one, but we celebrate around food, drink, fellowship, traditions, and dancing–depending on whether or not you view dancing as sinful. Nicole and I only had cupcakes at our wedding, but a few months later we attended a wedding with a buffet. Next month I will be attending my sister’s wedding where we will feast. The celebration of the marriage leads to feasting. As we dive into Scripture we will examine an invitation to feast found in Isaiah 55:1-7. Before we begin I’d like to give you a roadmap to what we will be seeing. First, we will take a look at an invitation to a feast. Second, we will take a look at a promise of an everlasting covenant. Third, we will take a look at a proper response to the invitation and the promise of an everlasting covenant.

The Invitation (v. 1-3a)

Are you thirsty? Come! Are you hungry? Come! Echoing into every human heart is the call to be satisfied. Even our bodies long to be satisfied by water and by food. We have hunger and we have thirst causing us to have three meals a day typically. We are also driven by hunger and by thirst that doesn’t relate to food or water. Some hunger for the day when our bills are paid, yet others hunger for the day when marital and familial strife has ceased. We are thirsty for our lifelong goals, dreams, and longings to be met and achieved. At times, we waste our efforts and our resources in pursuit of these goals. Other times we are satisfied in our accomplishments, but later we realize it wasn’t enough to keep us satisfied. I toil at work to be one of the best employees my store has to offer. This is my goal and aspiration at work, and others also have this goal. Working at a Christian bookstore means the majority of your employees have an excellent work ethic. I work my hardest to try and get a positive survey with my name in it, yet every time I do someone within the next couple of days will get a positive survey mentioning their name as well. Satisfaction will only last for a couple of days at my job. Others come along working just as hard as me to also be known as one of the great employees of LifeWay. You also have goals and aspirations in your life that you chase after hoping that it will bring you satisfaction, yet it won’t last. Why do you long after things that won’t last and won’t satisfy? Why do spend money hoping for satisfaction in material things?

In the passage, the question is posed, “Why do you spend silver on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy?” During the time of Isaiah coins were not yet used. Every payment had to be weighed out, and generally the form of payment was precious metals. The weighing out of these precious metals conveys the idea that it’s not only the precious metals the people barter, but their labor as well. They worked for these earnings and then they spend their earnings. In the same, we work for our paycheck and we go out and spend it on what we please. We labor and labor, yet it never feels as if our labor is properly rewarded. With our paychecks we try to satisfy ourselves by bartering our labor for things in the end that either don’t satisfy or only momentarily satisfy.

Notice was is written next. “Eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.” The choicest of foods in Hebrew means to, literally, enjoy fatness. Fats and oils were precious to the Israelites for their diet was poor. They didn’t have a means of obtaining all the foods that our bodies need. Ingesting fats and oils would sustain them giving them extra energy for their day. How often to do we avoid doing that which is good? I’m not speaking of helping move someone’s furniture, or doing good for the community, or even purchasing someone’s groceries. I’m speaking of obeying the Lord. We slop around in our sin on a daily basis hoping our good deeds outnumber our bad deeds. Boldly, we tell God that we have everything we need to be satisfied. This isn’t something that needs to be done verbally either. God hears us by our actions as we spend our efforts chasing that which we believe will satisfy. We create idols in our hearts worshipping them rather than the true God, Yahweh, who made us. John Calvin says, “Man’s nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols.” Much like Israel we have abandoned God and sinned against Him. We have chosen to forsake our obedience to Him to hold on to momentary satisfaction.

The beginning part of verse three contains some very important words, “Pay attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live,” and how foolish it would be not to listen. One of my pastors, Sam Beirig, has been known to say, “You are listening for your life!” Your life is utterly dependent on how close you listen to these words. Pay attention, live, come to me, these are all phrases that we should be listening to. COME TO THE WATER YOU WHO THIRST! We aren’t talking about mere food and water, we are talking about how our spirits are thirsting for more. Our spirits thirst for God and He has just given an invitation of grace to every single human being. How foolish we would be not to come to Him, not to heed these words!

Through inviting the hearers to come to the water, we catch a glimpse of something greater. Earlier I explained how we all thirst; we need water to be satisfied and to maintain life within our bodies. But there are other choice beverages that will help sustain our bodies as well. Having been told to come to the water we also are told there is wine and milk without cost. The water quenches thirst and maintains life, but the wine and milk will continue to grow and sustain the body. Wine–no matter what your thoughts are on consuming alcohol–is known to make the human body “slow down.” Simply put, as one consumes a little alcohol one’s brain will have some neurotransmitters blocked. This causes one to feel less pain, let loose some, and to generally feel happy. In this passage wine simply makes one cheerful. This isn’t an invitation to get drunk, but rather to relax and be happy. Milk is offered to grow and sustain us. There are nutrients in milk that we need to grow and to have energy. The invitation is proclaiming, “Not only will I quench your thirst, but I will make you cheerful, give you sustenance, and I will grow you.” Come and feast on the grace of God! He has offered satisfaction and growth to those who are thirsty. But all of this is offered freely, without cost. How was this accomplished? How can we simply come to God and receive this grace and growth and sustenance without cost? God sent His Son, the God-man Jesus, to come and establish His covenant with not only Israel but all peoples everywhere. This leads me to the second point.

The Covenant (v. 3b-5)

The Lord is establishing an eternal covenant with Israel on the basis of King David. David is the most famous king of Israel. Still, he had his own sins. Even so, Yahweh has promised David that his throne shall be an eternal one. David has also been a witness to Yahweh. King David was a leader of Israel and commander of its army. He faithfully revealed God, the Lord of Israel, to his own people and to the surrounding peoples. Having an intimate relationship with the Lord, he was continuously testifying to the glory, splendor, and majesty of the Lord. His witness was known through his leading and commanding of people. Every march into battle and every victory is a testament to David’s God, Yahweh. This man’s throne would not be emptied, but would rather require another who would lead the people of God and command them. This man would also be a witness to the nations, and it being an eternal throne this would last forevermore.

The promise of an eternal covenant is directly implied to Israel, but then God adds a shocking statement, “so you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you.” How can Israel summon a nation they do not know? How can nations who don’t know of Israel run to Israel? The only clear explanation of what God is promising is to understand this as a prophecy of the Messiah. He is promising a better David. A king that is a better David and one who sits on the throne eternally. The eternal King will be a witness of His God to the nations. The eternal King will lead and command a people, and other peoples will flock to this King to be led by him. He is the Davidic Messiah.

Previously in Isaiah 53, Isaiah describes the Davidic Messiah as a servant. We are told that this man shall suffer. The servant became so disfigured that he did not look like a man, his appearance made him undesirable, and he was despised and rejected. The servant also bore our sicknesses, carried our pains, and was sent to the grave. His life promises of punishment for our sin being put on him for our peace, our healing from his wounds, and our life for his death. The servant is said to sprinkle many nations, be given a portion of many, and intercede for people. This is Jesus. And he came to establish this covenant. Without his establishing of the covenant the prior invitation would not exist! The offer to satisfy would not exist!

But what exactly does this covenant satisfy? This covenant will satisfy multiple things, but I have two important ones to share with you today. God’s Wrath is the first thing this covenant will satisfy. Because of our sin we have been cut off from the Lord. Our sin has tainted the image of God within us. Sin sentences us the wrath of God. Just punishment is due us for the blatant rebellion against the commands of God. Condemnation is looming around the corner ready to strike. But because of this covenant that God is establishing through His Son Christ Jesus this can all be avoided. Jesus lays down his life to pay for our sins, to remove the spiritually dead flesh from us. He makes us alive, removes the wrath of God by his sacrifice, and gives us union with him.

Our longing of grace is the second thing this covenant will satisfy. Mercy is where we will not receive that which we deserve. The reciprocal of mercy is grace. Grace is where we will receive that which we do not deserve. Others have said it to be God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. The effects of sin run deep causing death, pain, and destruction to us. Grace is the reversal of these consequences of sin. The grace of God will take our spiritual and physical death and bring us life in the Spirit and a soon coming glorified body. Awakened by the Spirit, the believer will experience true life with God. This new life brings union with God. To have union with God is much more than obeying his commands and reading the Bible. Having union with God is fundamental to our salvation. It is the believer’s union:

• to Christ’s death that has brought about the death of the believer’s sin.
• to Christ’s resurrection that has brought about the surety of the bodily resurrection where the believer will receive their glorified body.
• to Christ that brings them into sonship with God.
• with Christ’s purity and his bloodshed that declares the believer pure in the sight of God.
• with Christ that sends his Spirit to dwell in the believer allowing them to do good for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
• with Christ that can bring about peace in the believer’s life; peace that will cause us to have a correct understanding of the pain, destruction, and suffering this world has to offer. 
• with Christ that breaks the stronghold of idolization within our heart. 

It is the believer’s union with Christ that satisfies every longing of our hearts.

The Response (v. 6-7)

Arriving to the conclusion that we have been invited to come and feast on the satisfaction found in God and do so eternally, we need to know how to respond. Just as we must respond timely with a wedding invitation, so we must come to the Lord while He is near. The prophet Isaiah uttered these words signifying that the Lord was near for Israel, but we’ve been sent the Son – and God has never been more near to us. Jesus dwelt on the earth as 100% man and 100% God. God in the flesh dwelt among us! Don’t miss this! The Lord didn’t proclaim from the skies, “Hey I have a plan for us to be restored, but I can’t come down there because of your sin.” The Father sent His Son down to redeem us. Jesus didn’t just come down to earth and plant himself in one place hoping people would come to him; Jesus knew they wouldn’t come to him. Jesus went to many people and many different cities forgiving them of their sins on account of their faith, he performed miracles in front of them, he taught them how to know God more intimately, and he did many more wonders as well. God desires to be near to us; that’s why he sent the Davidic Messiah, that’s why he spoke about the Messiah through his prophets, that’s why he sent the Messiah to a cross to pay for the sin that you and I could never pay for. Seek him because He is near.

How exactly are we to seek the Lord? We are to turn away from our wicked ways. The repentance of sin is not just the stopping of sin, it is the abandoning of one’s way. Sinners who just stop sinning don’t progress but rather stay exactly how they were the moment they stopped sinning. This isn’t good enough. Abandon your way you wicked is the command. Abandoning your way is to stop sinning and pursue godliness.  It’s the reversal of our wicked thoughts and ways to seek that of the Lord’s ways and thoughts. Our thoughts must be changed. The gospel must be heard and believed. Our repentance is based on the changing of our thoughts which will produce faith. Faith in Jesus Christ and his work is what saves us. Let us go and be satisfied in him! Let us go to the Lord for there we will find the Lord’s compassion! The forgiveness of the Lord is abundant. Christ’s sacrifice can cover every single sin of yours! He will forgive freely, without cost. For this cost has already been paid by Jesus. Grace will be poured upon you if only you shall come.

Conclusion

Having heard the invitation, the covenant, and the response there is more application for us.

First, let me speak to Christians. Christians, you have heard this invitation and you have come to feast on the all-satisfying free grace of God. Let me remind you that this is a feast. There is spiritual wine and milk to make you cheerful, to give you growth, and the give you sustenance. The grace of God will continue to cover your sin all the days of your life. Because of God’s grace you will see Him more clearly. The Spirit that abides in us believer will reveal to you more of God! You’ll grow to know Him more and He will become your complete satisfaction and joy. Believer’s grace is abundant in your life. Remember, the grace of God is receiving that which we do not deserve. Every good, every spiritual blessing, every mercy in your life is due to the grace of God being present in your life. Savor God’s goodness in your life. Know Him better through prayer, Bible reading, proclaiming the gospel, etc.. Acknowledge the grace He has given you. In His gracious love, He has given us union with Christ. We don’t have to labor and toil for our own salvation because it has been won by Christ! Rest in him!

Secondly, I would like to address those who are not true believers. Many of these people have the impression they are a Christian and have been most of their days. These are the people that desire to go to church because mom and dad raised them right or to maintain their attendance so nobody asks them where they have been; they don’t desire to be with the body to fellowship in unity, worship in song and sermon, seek the Kingdom of God, and seek to make the gospel known in the surrounding communities and to the ends of the earth. These are the people that may have stopped sinning like they once have, but they have never taken the time to pursue godliness and know the Savior. Simply put they have NOT placed their faith in the God and what His Son has accomplished here on earth and repented of their sins. They learn morals and values from the Bible, but never come to know the Lord. To my understanding, Andy will be addressing the assurance of salvation over the next couple of weeks in his sermons; if you are having doubts right now about your salvation listen to his sermons but consider the fact you may not be saved. Examine your heart. If the Spirit has revealed to you that you don’t possess the grace of God then come to the feast! Come and taste of the goodness of God! Have faith in the gospel of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Repent of your sinful ways!

Thirdly, I would like to address those who aren’t believers. Where do you place your hope and satisfaction? In that which does not last? Come to the water, come and eat and without cost! Christ came to this earth to pay for your sin debt. He came and died so that you might be restored to God. God has invited you to come and eat without cost. Will you play the fool and deny his offer? Be satisfied in the One True Triune God, for you will gain eternal satisfaction. At the end of your life you will be responsible for the sin you have committed. Eternal Hell awaits those who have chosen to continue in their sin. Hear the gospel, and respond to it appropriately, for then will your sin be forgiven and your satisfaction be found in God.

Consider the words of Revelation 22.17, “Both the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears, say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.”

Will you come today?