The Spirit, the Word, and Wisdom -- 5/26/13

Sunday, May 26, 2013

THE SPIRIT, THE WORD, AND WISDOM

            Jesus said to each of the seven churches in Rev. 2-3, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  It is essential that every believer hear from the Spirit of God.  And how do we hear from the Spirit?  How does the Spirit speak to us?  A few weeks ago we found the Spirit telling the leaders of the Antioch church to separate Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for a special missionary work.  Later, when Paul and Silas were seeking to preach the gospel in places where it had never been heard, the Spirit directly communicated to them that they were not to preach in either Asia or Bithynia.  I suggested that there is nothing in the scripture which tells us that the Spirit will not speak to us directly today.  Then more recently we looked at one of the reasons we might not hear the Spirit when He speaks, whether directly or through the Bible.  If we are not obedient to the voice of the Spirit, we not only displease the Father, but we hinder our ability to hear Him the next time He speaks.  Why give us further instructions, if we give little or no evidence that we have a heart to obey?

            We have talked a good bit about the Spirit and the Word of God.  There are those who try to force us into making a choice between the Spirit speaking to us through the Word and the Spirit speaking directly to the believer.  I don't believe we have to make that choice.  Having said that, I need to be very clear on something this morning.  The foundation of the Spirit's message to us is in the Word of God.  Not only will the Spirit never tell us anything that contradicts the written Word, but we should not expect the Spirit to speak to us any other way, if we are not saturated by the Word.  Direct revelation from the Spirit will never be a substitute for the Spirit speaking through the Bible.  The one who can expect to hear the still, small voice of the Spirit is the one who is expecting Him to speak continually and consistently through the written Word.  The best preparation for hearing the Spirit's voice in any form is to prayerfully and humbly come to the Word again and again and again.

            Some would say that the Spirit speaks ONLY through the Word, and by no other means.  I don't believe you can find that in the scripture.  However, for those who have free access to the Word, it seems that the Spirit's PRIMARY communication is through that Word itself.

            Please be turning to the first chapter of Colossians.  I want to read some brief passages from the apostle Paul which talk about the will of God.  Who doesn't want to know the will of God?  Well, Paul speaks about knowing that will.  Let's read Col. 1:9-11...

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

            Paul desired the Christians in Colossae to be filled with the knowledge of God's will; He wanted them to truly know the will of God.  Why?  So they could walk worthy of the Lord by pleasing Him, bearing the fruit of good works, and by coming to know Him more and more.  And how were they to know the will of God?  "In all wisdom and spiritual understanding."  And where can a believer find such wisdom and spiritual understanding?  Let's go to the next chapter and read Col. 2:1-3...

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Knowing the will of God is vitally connected to Christ, to abiding in Him.  And, as we have seen, Jesus said the Spirit would glorify Him.  Wisdom and spiritual understanding are centered in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is revealed in the Word through the Spirit.

            Someone has read from this passage the two Sundays, but let's look again at Rom. 12:1-2...

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

            The goal is to prove or demonstrate what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God, but how do we do that?  Not by being conformed to the world, but by being transformed by the renewing of the mind.  And how is your mind renewed?  The Spirit does the renewing, but the tool He uses is the written Word.  As many of us read in Francis Chan's little book:  "When we read the Bible, we are approaching the mind of God" (Multiply, p. 102).  That is a powerful thought.  Our minds will be renewed as we humbly approach the mind of God again and again.

            Then come to Eph. 5:15-18...

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

            We are to live our lives with the utmost care, because we are living in evil days.  As some translations put it, we are to take advantage of every opportunity (redeem the time).  How can we do that?  Not by living as fools, but as wise.  We must understand that this is the will of God, living in wisdom while being filled with the Spirit.  Wisdom and the will of God go together, and the work of the Spirit is right in the middle of that connection.

            Now let's read that familiar passage from James 1:2-8...

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

            Oh that this patience, this steadfast endurance, might do its perfect work in us, that we might be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  That is our goal.  But how does it happen?  "If any of you lack the wisdom to achieve this, especially in difficult circumstances, ask of God and He will give it."  And as we trust Him to do this, without doubting, He will make us wise to handle the most difficult situations, even to rejoice in the midst of them. 

            Do you see this emphasis on wisdom, as it relates to the will of God and to coming to completion in Christ?  There is no shortcut.  Wisdom is essential.  And what we find in the New Testament is built upon the foundation in the Old Testament.  In the Old Testament we have an entire book that is devoted to wisdom.  It is the book of Proverbs.  We are not going to try to read all of the book of Proverbs this morning, but let me just say that the emphasis on seeking wisdom in the first three chapters, as well as chapter 8, is absolutely amazing.  Please pay close attention to a few of the verses from the first three chapters of Proverbs...

Prov. 1:7...  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and

         instruction...

            Here we find the foundation of knowledge and wisdom from God; it is the fear of the Lord. 

Prov. 1:20-23... Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: 22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

                 Now we find wisdom personified, as if it were a woman crying in the city square.  Understand that the term "simple" is not used as we most often use it.  It refers to a person who has not yet found the wisdom of God.  If that person doesn't find the Lord's wisdom, he will become a fool.  The fool is the one who has had opportunity to find wisdom, but he has rejected it.  He goes on in the rest of the chapter to focus on those who do indeed resist the voice of wisdom.  We find the end of those people in verse 31, "Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way and be filled to the full with their own fancies."  If we don't come to the wisdom of the Lord, we are left to our own resources, which equals foolishness.  Paul tells us that God's foolishness [if there were such a thing] is wiser than men (I Cor. 1:25).

Prov. 2:1-9...  My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

                I want to focus a moment on this passage.  Notice the tenacity of this search for wisdom.  The treasure hunter stops at nothing to find that treasure.  So we must stop at nothing to find the wisdom of God.  That search is centered in the Word, for it is there that God has revealed Himself most clearly.  Now listen to what he says in verses 10-12...

Prov. 2:10-12...  When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things...

                     Not only does that wisdom deliver us from the way of the evil man, but also from the immoral woman (vs. 16).  In a positive light it equips us to walk in the way of goodness (vs. 20).

Prov. 3:13-18... Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.

Prov. 3:21-26... My son, let them not depart from your eyes;  Keep sound wisdom and discretion; 22 So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

Prov. 8:1-11...  Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. 3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: 4 "To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; 7 For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. 9 They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

            In chapter 9 wisdom is pictured as a wise woman.  She is contrasted with a foolish woman.  Who is this foolish woman?  She is everything that the wise woman is not.  Yes, she is foolish, but be careful here.  This is foolishness that is highly attractive.  Go back and read chapters 5 and 7.  It is absolute foolishness for a young man to follow an adulteress woman.  So why does he do it?  Because she is very attractive and seductive.  So it is here with the foolish woman.  Human wisdom appears very attractive, but it is in reality absolute foolishness.  What this woman advertises is the best of man's wisdom, anything that is less than the wisdom of God.  Let's read it in...

Prov. 9:1-6...  Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; 2 She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city, 4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 5 "Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

Prov. 9:13-18...  A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. 14 For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, 15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way: 16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here"; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 17 "Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant." 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell.

            Please hear me.  This quest for the wisdom of God is a life and death situation.  Some of us want to say, "No, the issue isn't the wisdom of God.  The issue is Jesus Christ and how we respond to Him."  Don't try to separate  the wisdom of God from Jesus.  I remind you of that little parable in Matt. 13:44, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."  Does that not remind you of what we read in Prov. 2:4 about seeking wisdom as silver and searching for her as hidden treasure?  Remember that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Col. 2:3).  And let me remind you of what Paul says in 1 Cor. 1:30, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption..."

            Don't ever make Jesus a substitute for the wisdom of God; Jesus is the wisdom of God.  The problem is the modern tendency to think something like this:  "Seeking wisdom requires diligence.  It means getting into the Word and spending time with God.  I'm so glad that there is a better way, the way of Jesus.   I just become a child of God through Jesus and there is no longer the necessity for that diligent seeking of God's wisdom."  Listen to me.  If the Jesus you know doesn't drive you to spend time with God and His Word, you are likely following a false Jesus in whom there is no salvation. 

            We could read much more, but that should be sufficient to demonstrate both the value of wisdom and the need to give ourselves diligently to seek it.  God's wisdom is not something that will be received by the half-hearted.  It is for those who will seek Him with their whole heart.  It's that simple.  Sometimes we will talk to someone about the Word of God and receive this response, "Well, I never have been much of reader."  So what?  Once we understand that God reveals Himself through the Word, we become a reader.  If you can read at all, you can read the Word.  Do you realize that missionaries go to primitive tribes and teach the people to read for one purpose -- so they can read the Word of God.  And everyone knows we live in a world of technology.  These modern technological devices can be trained to give us the Word as well as they give us music and movies.  It's all about the desire of the heart.  "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23).

Conclusion

            Let's conclude by coming to I Corinthians 2.  While you are turning there, let me speak to you.  The Word of God and the Spirit of God go together.  I have been emphasizing seeking wisdom, but I want to give you a warning.  We can read the Word of God and study it, but apart from the Spirit of God, it means nothing.

            I want to give you an illustration.  I have given some of you men that little book by A. W. Tozer.  I like Tozer because he writes lots of short little essays.  I have been listening to an audio book which is a biography of A. W. Tozer.  I find it very interesting.  When he was 19 or 20 years old, he had experience with the Spirit of God.  He spoke later spoke of definitely being filled with the Spirit on that occasion.  He sometimes said that if God did anything good in his life, he had to trace it back to that day when the Spirit of God got hold of his life.  There are those who label him a "mystic."  We might be led to believe that when Tozer got the Spirit, he threw his Bible away and just listened to the Holy Spirit.  That was not the case.  It was the Spirit of God who led him to be in the Word and to meditate on the Word.  He had insights that few men had, and he attributed to the work of the Spirit.

            So now let's read I Cor. 2:1-16...

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

            The word "natural" in verse 14 is literally "soulish."  The one who is unaided by the Spirit does not receive the things of the Spirit.  No man can study enough to know the things of the Spirit of God.  Praise God that we have the Spirit, but apart from the work of the Spirit within us, we cannot understand the things God has freely given us.

            Let me put it as drastically as I can.  Let's suppose you have to make a choice.  On the one hand, you can take all the study tools you can find -- concordance, commentaries, dictionaries, etc.  Or, you can lay the Bible before you and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you.  I realize that we don't have to make this choice, but suppose we did.  Most of modern evangelicalism will take the first choice.  I am speaking from experience; I have been there.  When I became a pastor, I would come to my office on Monday morning and lay out all my books beside my Bible.  How much better to come humbly to the Word and cry out to God for the guidance of the Spirit.  I am not saying we should not study the Word, but I am saying that our first resource is the Spirit of God.  We must come humbly to Him and say, "I am dependent on you."

            Some of you may say, "I'm just not a scholar."  Don't excuse yourself.  Study diligently.  But understand that this is not about how smart you are.  This is about coming to God and refusing to rely upon your own resources.  IQ is not the secret.  The key is in the work of the Spirit, as He enlightens the Word of God.  Oh, it's easy to say that we are dependent upon the Spirit to understand the Word, but do we really know what that means?  If we are dependent upon Him, then do we demonstrate it by asking Him to guide us and trusting Him to do so? 

            So how does the Spirit do this?  I don't know, but He does it.  This morning we have talked about answered prayer.  Is this an important prayer to pray?  Absolutely.  This Bible can become an academic pursuit, but it doesn't have to.  God's Word requires more than a keen intellect.  Yes, use all your Bible study tools, but make sure that the Spirit is your first resource. 

            Someone might say, "This is dangerous.  We will get the idea that we can just open the Bible haphazardly and neglect careful study of it."  Yes, there is a danger there, but the far greater danger for us is that we will rely upon our mental capacity and human resources and neglect the work of the Spirit.  Praise God that the Spirit can and will guide us in understanding the written Word.

            Don't oppose the Spirit of God to the Word of God.  I remind you that the Holy Spirit is the author of the written Word.  "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (II Pet. 1:21).  Literally, they were "carried along" by the Spirit.  Surely if the Spirit dwells in you, He will direct you to the Word He authored.  Certainly He is able to help us understand what He has written.  To think we are longing for the Spirit to work in our lives, while not hungering for the Word, is to deceive ourselves. 

            Brothers and sisters, if you want to walk in the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit, to hear the voice of the Spirit, then get in the Word.  Let the Word get in you.  We spent plenty of time looking at Luke 11:1-13, where Jesus' concluding words read:  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13).  Hang on to that, but you must read it light of what Jesus also said in John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it will be done for you."  The abiding of Jesus' words in us and the ministry of His Spirit go hand in hand.  You can't separate them.

            I am aware that tomorrow is Memorial Day, a holiday where Americans celebrate freedom and honor those who died to defend it.  I would like to say something about that next week.  I know I am a week late, but that is okay.  That will give us time to ponder.  Lord willing, I would like to speak to you about Freedom in America, with a twist. 

Commissioning Service: Tracy & Lindsay Tyson -- 5/19/13

Sunday, May 19, 2013

            Charge to Tracy and Lindsay Tyson   /     Our Commitment to Them

 
     *Tracy preached during the service, but we have no notes.

            Tracy and Lindsay, you know well that the Spirit of God spoke to the leaders of the church at Antioch, telling them to set apart Barnabas and Paul for the work to which He had called them.   Some of us have known for a long time that this day would come, when the Lord would send you out from here to some place in this world.  Tracy, we watched you go to Thailand last summer, and we prayed for you and with you, as you sought the Lord's will for you and your family.  We have confidence that what you are doing is not an ambitious personal undertaking, but rather your  willing and eager response to the Spirit's leading.  Though we will miss you terribly, we are excited that you are going.  And we believe that there is a sense in which we are going with you.

            This is not a light undertaking.  You and Lindsay must not expect things to be smooth.  No doubt, the enemy will see to that.  But praise God that He will take everything and work it together for good, as He conforms you to the image of His Son.  Though we are sending you out, we are well aware that it is the Lord Himself who must empower you to minister the gospel with effectiveness.  As you seek to make disciples of all nations, remember His promise -- "And, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  When things are difficult, He will never leave you nor forsake you.

            Tracy, I know you.  I have watched God work in you through the years.  Remember, "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (I Thes. 5:24).  I challenge you to "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," for "no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier" (II Tim. 2:3-4).  You are still pretty young, "but let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (I Tim. 4:12). 

            As you get settled and pour yourself into learning the language, temptations will come your way.  Often they will be so subtle, were it not for the work of the Spirit, you would not recognize them.  One of your greatest temp-tations will likely be to neglect your family for the sake of the work.  When that temptation comes, may the Spirit of the Lord speak firmly and may you have ears to hear.  The Lord has given you a faithful wife and four precious children and will soon add a fifth.  You must not sacrifice them for what appears to be a greater work.  It may well be that Lindsay recognizes the temptation before you do; don't forget that.

            Lindsay, God has not only blessed you with children, but He has also blessed you with a love and devotion to those children.  No doubt, you will face new challenges in Thailand.  As you do, remember that ultimately there is only One whom you must please, and He is the One who loves you with an everlasting love.  May you be as gentle as a dove and as wise as a serpent, as you continue to guide your children in the Lord's ways.  "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised" (Prov. 31:30).  Lindsay, you are a woman who fears the Lord; may it ever be so.

            Elia, though this move is not easy, know that you are being given a great privilege.  As you have trusted the Lord to this point, continue to trust Him; He will not fail you.  In all the excitement of being a part of a missionary family, remember that your one great need is to know Him.  Cultivate that relationship with Him day in and day out.  Jude, you have asked us to pray that God will save you.  That's what we are doing.  If He doesn't save you before you leave, you can rest assured that we will continue to pray for you until you belong to Him.  God's saving grace reaches Thailand as surely as it reaches La Luz.  Timothy and Xili, you are loved by the Lord, by your parents, and by the people in this church.

             Tracy and Lindsay, today we send you forth in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We urge you by the power of God's Spirit to be faithful to Him who has called you.  Though there are many good deeds you may perform, even good works which you will do in the name of our Lord Jesus, your primary goal is to share the message of the gospel with those who have no hope and are without God in the world.  Never forget the blessing:  "How beautiful are the feet of them who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things" (Rom. 10:15).  Quite a number of people will go to Thailand to give physical aid to the people there, but who will preach the message of repentance and faith unto salvation, if you don't?  Nevertheless, even before you preach the gospel, you must remember what a young man told us less than a year ago.  He said about Christian work in Thailand:  "There are many workers, but few worshippers."  Tracy, you were that young man.  Tracy and Lindsay, as you worship our Lord in spirit and in truth, surely He will empower you with His Spirit to pour forth those rivers of living water that our Lord promised.  Because He is with you, there is no need to fear.  Yes, your troubles He will bless, and sanctify to you your deepest distress.  If God is for you, who can be against you?  He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give you all things?

            I close this charge with the words of the song "So Send I You."  This is the second set of words Margaret Clarkson penned to this title.  As intended in the song, please receive these words from our Lord Jesus...

SO SEND I YOU by grace made strong to triumph
O’er hosts of hell, o’er darkness, death and sin,
My name to bear, and in that name to conquer-
So send I you, my victory to win.

SO SEND I YOU to take to souls in bondage
The Word of Truth that sets the captives free; 
To break the bonds of sin, to loose death’s fetters,
So send I you to bring the lost to me.

SO SEND I YOU My strength to know in weakness,
My joy in grief, My perfect peace in pain;
To prove My power, My Grace, My promised presence,
So send I you, eternal fruit to gain.

SO SEND I YOU to bear My cross with patience,
And then one day with joy to lay it down;
To hear My voice, “Well done, my faithful servant.
Come share My throne, My kingdom, and My crown.

                                    As the Father hath sent me, so send I you.

            People of God, these are God's missionaries, but they are also "our" missionaries.  It is our privilege to send them out, but it also involves responsibility.  As a church, we will be sending them financial support each month.  As individuals, some of us will add to that.  Praise God that He enables us to do that, but it is even more important that we support them in prayer.  It's easy to say, "We will pray for you;" actually praying is not so easy.  My prayer is that we will exercise our responsibility until it increasingly becomes our privilege and our joy to pray for them.  We are not only praying for Tracy and Lindsay and their family, but we are praying for the Thai people.  As we pray, the Lord will work not only in them, but also in us.  May we increasingly be a missionary church and a praying church.

             

Joe Myers will read...

            We, God's people at La Luz Bible Church, joined by a chorus of other brothers and sisters from the body of Christ, desire to love you, support you, and pray faithfully for you.  We realize that the Lord is taking part of our body and transplanting it to Thailand.  It is our desire to ignore the miles that separate us, as we rejoice with you when you rejoice and weep with you when you weep.  We joyfully bind our hearts with yours, as we together seek to reach the Thai people for God's glory.  [The congregation will respond with a hearty AMEN.]

Laying on of Hands / Prayer

What About Mary? (Mother's Day) -- 5/12/13

Sunday, May 12, 2013

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

            I don't often alter my preaching because of holidays.  One of the reasons is because now we have holidays for everything.  I don't always preach about mothers on Mother's Day, but my desire is to be led by the Spirit.  Today I would like to address us along the lines of Mother's Day.  So let me start by asking you a question:  "Who is the greatest mother in the Bible?"  Let me broaden that question:  "Who is the greatest saint to ever walk the earth?"  I will make it multiple choice...

              a.  Moses

              b.  David

              c.  Mary, the mother of Jesus

              d.  The apostle Paul

              e.  Some saint who lived between the time of Jesus and the present (such as Hudson Taylor)

              f.  Some saint who is living today

              g.  You aren't sure

            This morning I want us to think about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Am I saying she is the greatest saint who ever lived?  No, I am not saying that, but many people would strongly affirm that.  Obviously, Mary was a mother; she was the mother of the Messiah, Jesus our Lord.  What do you think about Mary?  Most of us are aware that opinions vary greatly.  Was Mary chosen to be the mother of Jesus because she was the most spiritual woman on earth at the time?  Was she just like any other woman who loved the Lord her God?  Does Mary deserve special reverence above other women of God? 

            It is not difficult to find and read what the New Testament says about Mary.  It is possible that I might have missed a passage or two, but to the best of my knowledge I have listed all the New Testament passages that refer to Mary.  You can find the list in your bulletin.  This morning we are going to take time to read through all of these passages, with the exception that we won't read all of Luke 2, because most of the verse 20 verses are very familiar to us.  As we do, let's think about what we can learn from Mary.  While that may have some special relevance to mothers, it certainly applies to us.  As women can learn from Peter and Paul's example, so men can learn from Mary's example.  While we learn from Mary, it is also impossible not to consider some of the claims that are made about Mary, particularly by the Roman Catholic Church.  Are these claims valid from a scriptural viewpoint.

            Let me be very clear at this point.  There are a number of you that come from a Catholic background.  More of you have relatives and/or close friends that are Catholic.  Our purpose is never to condemn Catholicism, as there are true believers among Catholics.  On the other hand, the beliefs of all groups must stand the test of scripture, and that includes our beliefs as a church and as individuals.  My purpose is to help us understand what the scripture says and how that relates to other claims about Mary.

            Let's begin by simply reading what the Word says about Mary.  That will take some time, but I believe it is important for us to understand exactly what the Bible says concerning Mary.

I.  What the New Testament Says

Luke 1:26-56 NKJV 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 "But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 "For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." 46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever." 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Luke 2:21-24 NKJV 21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Luke 2:33-35 NKJV 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Luke 2:48-51 NKJV 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

John 2:1-11 NKJV 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" 11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

John 2:12 NKJV 12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.

Matthew 12:46-50 NKJV 46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

PARALLEL:  Mark 3:31-35;  Luke 8:19-21

Matthew 13:54-58 NKJV   54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

PARALLEL:  Mark 6:1-6

John 6:42 NKJV 42 And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, 'I have come down from heaven'?"

Luke 11:27-28 NKJV 27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" 28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

John 19:25-27 NKJV 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Acts 1:14 NKJV 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

II.  What Can We Learn from Mary?

            As we look at this brief sketch of Mary, one thing is clear -- the New Testament casts her in the best light possible.  No one can find fault with Mary.  God chose her to be the mother of Jesus.  She faithfully fulfilled this assignment, though it could not have been an easy one.  After Jesus died, rose, and ascended back to heaven, we find Mary together with the other believers, as they waited to be clothed with power from on high.

           

A.  Mary was thoughtful and humble.

            I find the first chapter of Luke to be the passage which reveals the most about Mary.  That makes sense, because that is where the most is written about her (along with chapter 2).  When the angel Gabriel came to her and said, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women," Mary "was troubled at the saying and considered what manner of greeting this was" (Luke 1:28-29).  Mary had never seen an angel before, much less heard such alarming news from heaven.  No wonder she was troubled.  But notice that we are not told that she did anything outwardly.  Rather, the writer informs us that she considered the words of the angel.  The word translated "considered" literally means "to think through."  Other translations include:  KJV -- cast in her mind; NASV -- kept pondering; Young -- was reasoning.  Concerning all the things which happened at the birth of Jesus, we read these words of Mary in Luke 2:19, "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."  Later after Jesus said to her, "Didn't you know I must be about my Father's business," Mary kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).  In later situations, we do not find Mary reacting.  She remained quiet and thoughtful.

            Closely related to this idea of being thoughtful is her obvious humility.  Though we never read any statement saying, "Mary was humble," I cannot escape that conclusion.  After Mary considered the nature of the angel's greeting, she then heard Gabriel say, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:30-33).  Wow!  He dumped the whole load on her.  At that point Mary asked the question:  "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" (34).  Mary is not doubting the word spoken to her; she simply seeks to understand how it is going to happen.  Surely she speaks with the utmost humility. 

            Consider her encounters with Jesus during His ministry, when He was over 30 years old.  When they were at the wedding feast in Cana, she brought it to Jesus' attention that they had run out of wine.  Jesus immediately said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with me.  My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4).  We don't want to accuse Jesus of being harsh, but his mother could certainly have taken it that way.  But she did not scold Him in any way.  There is no record of a reaction.  Instead, she simply said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it" (5).  We see her humility.

            Later on she and Jesus' brothers found Jesus and tried to speak to Him.  The problem was that Jesus was surrounded by crowds of people whom He was teaching.  The message came to Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers want to talk to you" (Matt. 12:47).   Jesus responded with these words:  "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"

 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother" (12:48-50).  Moms, could you possibly be offended, if your son spoke to you like that?  There is no record that Mary took offense.  Behold her humility.

B.  Mary was submissive and obedient.

           

            Come back again to Luke 1.  After the angel Gabriel gave her the astounding news that she would bear the Son of the Highest, who would inherit the throne of His father David, Mary asked how it could be, since she didn't know a man.  Gabriel responded:  "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible" (Luke 1:35-37).  He added the part about Elizabeth's pregnancy to encourage her.  If Elizabeth, who was old and barren, could conceive a child, then Mary could conceive without a man, for nothing is impossible with God.  Notice that Mary asked no further question.  She offered no excuses as to why this could happen.  She did not declare her unworthiness.  Mary simply said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word" (38).  She submitted completely to the will of her God. 

            We must understand that this was no easy thing for Mary.  What would people think when it became obvious that she was pregnant?  Could she still marry Joseph?  Would he believe her?  What about her own parents and family?  How could she possibly explain this to anyone?  It is hard for us to put ourselves in her position, because we live in a society where having children out of wedlock is commonplace.  Though many still know it is wrong, we can't possibly imagine what this was like for Mary.  Nevertheless, she submitted completely to the will of the Lord.  She was His obedient servant.

C.  Mary was trusting and faithful.

            The faith of Mary is obvious.  The only way she could fulfill this role was to simply trust God.  From her viewpoint at that time, there might not be anyone else on her side except the Lord.  She did not receive any divine promise that Joseph would understand.  We know that an angel would also appear to Joseph, but Mary didn't know it.  What she knew was that her God could be trusted, and she did trust Him.

            Now come to chapter 2.  Mary and Joseph encountered Simeon in the temple.  Listen again to his words in Luke 2:33-35,  "And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  Simeon tells Mary clearly that a sword will pierce through her own soul also.  Later, when Jesus was hung on that cross, a soul did pierce through her own soul.  Mothers, can you imagine anything worse than watching your son die unjustly as a criminal?  And that wasn't the half of it, because Mary had so much more to ponder in her heart.  But praise God, even that didn't destroy Mary.  Even as Jesus hung on that cross, He spoke to her and to His apostle John, committing the care of Mary into his hands.  When we come to the gathering of the disciples in the upper room a month and a half later, Mary is there with them.  Through it all, she remained faithful.

            Finally, come to those powerful words spoken by Mary, as recorded in Luke 1:46-55  We won't take time to read it again, but those words are worthy of our meditation.  Notice especially those opening words:  "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (46-47).  She has heard words of congratulations and praise from Elizabeth, but she immediately turns and give the praise to Him who alone is worthy.

            Yes, we can learn much from Mary.  Praise God for her example.

III.  What About the Exalted Claims Made for Mary?

            When I speak about the exalted claims made for Mary, I am not talking about the virgin birth.  The scripture is absolutely clear that Jesus was born of a virgin.  After the angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because her conception was of the Holy Spirit, we then read:  "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us'" (Matt. 1:22-23).  Jesus was born of a virgin, and Mary was that virgin.

            However, that isn't the end of the story.  Down through the centuries many have claimed for Mary what is termed "Perpetual Virginity."  That simply means that Mary never had sexual relations with any man, including her husband Joseph.  While Protestants generally don't believe that today, some of the leading Reformers did.

            We have read what the Bible says about Mary.  Is this a scriptural claim?  We must say that the scripture does not emphatically claim that Mary did continue as a virgin or did not.  However, there are some scriptural statements that must be considered.  First of all, consider the last two verses of Matthew 1:  "Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS" (Matt. 1:24-25).  The phrase "till she had brought forth her firstborn Son," though it does not categorically state it, it certainly implies that Joseph and Mary had normal marital relations after the birth of Jesus.  (John Calvin concluded that this statement alone cannot settle the case either way).

            Along with that we must consider the statement in Luke 2:7, "And she brought forth her firstborn son..."  It has been pointed out that in the Old Testament God commanded the firstborn to be consecrated to Him (see Ex. 13:1-2).  When the parents obeyed that command, they had no other children, nor were they guaranteed that other children would be born.  Though they might never have another child, that was still considered their firstborn at the time of his birth.  On the other hand, the most natural way to read this statement is with the idea that Luke is looking back and seeing Jesus as the firstborn of the sons born to Mary.  But again, by itself, this is far from conclusive.

            The other factor is the brothers of Jesus.  These brothers are mentioned in Mt 12:46; 13:55; Mk 3:31; 6:3; Lk 8:19; Jn 2:12; 7:3; 20:17; Acts 1:14; 1 Co 9:5; Gal 1:19.  If we eliminate the parallels, brothers of Jesus are mentioned eight times.  The most natural way to understand them is to assume they were the later children of Mary and Joseph.  However, those who contend for the perpetual virginity of Mary have made various suggestions:  that they are step-children from a previous marriage of Joseph, that they are cousins rather than literal brothers.  It is true that the word translated "brother" can sometimes have a looser meaning.  However, in four of the eight occurrences of Jesus' brothers, Mary is present with them.  That would certainly imply that they were her sons. 

            Let's leave this concept for a moment and come to another -- The Immaculate Conception of Mary.  The Roman Catholic Church teaches that unlike every other human being except Jesus, Mary did not have original sin.  In practical terms, Mary was sinless from the time of her conception.  What does the Word of God say?  Again, there is no direct statement which tells us that Mary sinned, and there is no assertion that she did not sin.  Of course, it must also be stated that the same could be said of many biblical saints.  While there is mention of the sins of David, Peter, and even Paul, there is nothing said about the sins of many other godly men and women in the Bible.  Do we conclude that they are sinless?  No.  Why?  Because it is clearly stated in Rom. 3:10-12, "As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."  Again in verse 23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  While that seems clear enough, Catholicism views Mary as the lone exception.  There is a great danger in this.  If Mary is an exception, who is to say there are not other exceptions. 

            The key biblical support for this teaching is found in Luke 1, especially Luke 1:28, "And having come in, the angel said to her, 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.'"  [Some texts don't include "Blessed are you among women," but it is in all texts of 1:42].  Following the Latin Vulgate, the Douay-Rheims Bible, which was once the recognized Bible among most Catholics, reads, "Hail, full of grace."  The word our translations render "highly favored" is built upon the root word that means "grace."  Out of that, Catholic theologians emphasize the perfect tense and take it to mean "full of grace" or "perfection of grace."  From there it is concluded that Mary this fullness of grace means sinlessness.  One apologist then concludes that "blessed among women" means "holiest of all." 

            The third Roman Catholic doctrine we will consider concerning Mary is the Assumption of Mary.  This is the teaching that Mary did not suffer death, but was taken up into heaven as was Enoch and Elijah.  The proclamation of Pope Pius XII that made this official church dogma in 1950 reads like this:  "by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."  Basically, it has no direct biblical support, except that if Mary is indeed sinless, then it might be reasonable for God to take her to heaven without death (though our Lord Jesus was subject to the worst of death).

            These doctrines are fiercely defended by the Roman Catholic Church.  I would say that these doctrines did not grow out of the Bible, and that is why they lack biblical support.  Why is the perpetual virginity of Mary so strongly defended?  It is almost as if continuing as a virgin somehow made her more holy.  This is reflected in the Catholic commitment to the celibate priesthood, which contradicts biblical teaching.  The Assumption of Mary seems to be a corollary to the Immaculate Conception teaching.  And it is this doctrine -- that Mary was free from sin -- that is so dangerous.  If that were true, that would put Mary in a class all by herself, above all other human beings.  Is it any wonder that as a result Catholicism teaches that people can "pray through Mary"?  That is, they can go to Mary and ask her to intercede.  The idea is, "We can ask Mary to pray for us, just as we can ask someone on earth to pray for us."  But the Bible is clear:  "There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5).  We pray through Jesus and no one else, because Jesus and Jesus alone bore our sins.

Conclusion

            So now I come back to the question with which we started:  "Who is the greatest saint who ever lived?"  Is it Mary?  Not necessarily.  The apostle Paul?  Not necessarily.  It isn't about who is the greatest.  We have no means to compare the greatness of the greatest.  We have no way to compare ourselves with others.  The good news is that you can fulfill the role God has given you, just as Mary fulfilled the role that God gave her.  Mary is no more precious in the sight of God that anyone here this morning who is a child of God.  We thank God for her, but she is our sister in Christ, and will be recognized as such when we meet her in heaven.

Don't Disobey the Voice of the Spirit -- 5/5/13

Sunday, May 5, 2013

DON'T DISOBEY THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT

            Last week we saw in the New Testament that the Spirit spoke to people directly.  While it is true that they didn't have as much written revelation as we do in that they had not yet received the written NT, the direct communication they received from the Spirit would not have been affected.  The instructions they received were outside New Testa-ment revelation, but they were in no way contradictory to the New Testament.

            I want you to continue to chew on that.  As you do, I want to say a couple of things in the way of introduction this morning.  Last week I spoke about the Spirit's ability to lead us in making decisions in a more direct way than through the Bible itself.  While that is true, I need to bring some clarity.  In using decision-making as the primary example of the direct communication of the Spirit, I sense that I was misleading.  The Spirit can certainly do that, but surely there are more important things about which the Spirit speaks to us.

            Let's go back and read John 16:13-15...

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

            Jesus said that the Spirit would glorify Him.  Certainly it can be glorifying to God, when the Spirit speaks to us directly concerning decisions.  However, I want to point out again that Jesus' instructions concerning the coming of the Spirit are found in chapter 14 and then at the end of chapter 15 and on into chapter 16.  Between these two series of instructions about the Spirit is the passage about abiding in the Christ.  We cannot view that as just a coincidence.  The greatest way the Spirit can glorify Jesus in our lives is by drawing us into that intimate and abiding fellowship with our Lord Jesus.  Ultimately, that fellowship with Him is far more vital than making specific decisions, though they may be very important decisions.  Many of those decisions will flow out of our abiding fellowship with the Lord Jesus.  Is there any work of the Spirit more vital than drawing us into a closer fellowship with our Lord Jesus?  May we hear the sweet voice of Jesus through the Spirit, saying, "Abide in me, and I in you."

            I also need to emphasize again that the Bible and the Holy Spirit are not opposed to one another.  The person who will hear the communication of the Spirit most clearly is the person who is in the Word deeply and consistently.  Surely we can understand that, because the Spirit is the author of the scriptures.  If we want to know His voice, we need to be continually reading and applying what He has said to us in the Word. 

            Last week I also mentioned that our hearing of the Spirit can be hindered by certain things.  That is true, whether we are talking about the Spirit speaking through the Word or speaking more directly, as in the examples in Acts 13 and Acts 16.  Brothers and sisters, we must hear from the Spirit.  Remember what Jesus said to each one of the churches in Rev. 2-3:  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." 

            This morning I want us to think about disobedience.  Disobedience not only displeases our Heavenly Father, but it also has a great affect upon our ability to hear the Spirit speaking.  It's like the case in which a church called a particular man to be its pastor.  The first week he preached a powerful sermon.  The people of the church took great encouragement in what they heard; surely they were right to call this man to be their pastor.  The second Sunday he preached again.  Literally, "again;" he preached the same sermon he had preached the first week.  The people didn't know what to think.  Was this the only sermon he could preach?  Had he forgotten what he preached the week before?  Then came the third Sunday.  The pastor preached the same sermon for the third time in a row.  Finally, one of the well-respected men of the church approached the pastor and asked him the question that was on the mind of every person in that church.  "Pastor, that was a really good sermon, but are you aware that you have preached it three Sundays in a row?"  The pastor calmly replied, "Yes, I know that."  "But why?"  "Why should I preach another sermon; you haven't obeyed this one yet?"  Why should the Spirit entrust us with further instruction, if we have not yet heeded what He has already said to us?  If we want to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us, immediate joyful obedience is a must. 

            Brothers and sisters, it is possible for us to hear the Spirit (either through the Word or directly) and not obey His voice.  We are constantly tempted to compromise instead of responding with immediate, joyful obedience.  I would like to relate three biblical stories of such compromise and what resulted.  All of them come from the Old Testament, but they have application for us today.  May the Lord use each succeeding story to reinforce the truth from the preceding one.

I.  Israel's Demand for a King

            God called a man to lead His people out of Egypt.  What was his name?  Moses.  After Moses died, God called another man to take his place.  What was his name?  Joshua.  After Joshua died and God's people began to rebel against Him, He used a series of Judges (Deliverers) to lead His people.  After the Judges, the recognized leader of God's people was a man named ___________ -- Samuel.  Now let's pick up the story in I Samuel 8:1-10...

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

            It is clear that God did not want His people to have a king, because He told Samuel, "They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me."  It wasn't enough for them to have God as their king; they wanted a human king, so they could be like the other nations.  Samuel obediently told the people what it was going to be like to have a king, reminding them that it would mean taxation and a military draft.  Now come down to verses 19-12, "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, 'No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.'"  In insisting on having a king, they were disobeying the Lord Himself.  Now come to I Sam. 12:1, "Now Samuel said to all Israel: "Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you."  In the verses that follow Samuel relates how the Lord had always been faithful to meet their needs, even though they had no king.  Now I Samuel 12:16-17, "Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes: 17 Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves."

            It was wrong for Israel to ask for a king in the first place.  It was wickedness for them to insist upon it, even when the Lord clearly showed them it was wrong.  So here is the big question:  Why did God go ahead and tell Samuel to let them have their king?  If it wasn't right and if God knew the problems it would cause, why did He allow it?  That is not an easy question to answer, and we are not going to try to give a definite answer.  Rather, let us observe an important principle from scripture:  "If a person or persons insist upon having something from God, God may give it to them, even though it is not His best."  As we will see, this is not an isolated case.

II.  The Sending of the Spies

            Consider the Promised Land.  You will remember that from the time the Lord brought His people out of Egypt, He promised them the land of Canaan.  They left Egypt, spent about a year at Mount Sinai and then came to Kadesh-barnea.  Kadesh-barnea was the gateway to the Promised Land.  The Israelites arrived there, and then what happened?  That's right -- they sent twelve, a representative from each tribe, to spy out the land.  The spied out the land and came back with their report.  The news they brought back was very simple:  "It's a great land, and it does flow with milk and honey, but we can't take that land because there are strong, fortified cities and there are giants in the land."  That was the majority report, agreed to by ten of the twelve spies.  Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, insisted that they should immediately go and take the land, because their God would be with them.

            At this point I want to ask you a couple of questions.  When the people of Israel refused to go into the land, what was their punishment?  Yes, they would have to wander in the wilderness (desert) for 40 years.  But why 40 years?  That's how long it would take for that generation to die off.  But why the specific number 40?  Let's read the answer in Num. 14:29-35...

Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

            The number "40" was very significant.  Their punishment was related to the number of days the spies spent searching out the land -- one year in the desert for each day the twelve spied in the land.  Does that raise any questions in your mind about the mission of the spies?  Why would God base His punishment on the number of days the spies were in the land?

            There is an Old Testament book whose name means "Second Law."  What is it?  That's right -- Deuteronomy.  In Deuteronomy Moses not only gives a review of the law, but he also reviews much of the history of their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.  Moses delivered these messages just before he died and the people entered the land under the command of their new leader Joshua.  Now let me read you a bit of that history from the first chapter of Deuteronomy.  Read Deut. 1:6-8, 19-23...

The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: 7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them...     19 And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea. 20 And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us. 21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. 22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come. 23 And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe...

            That's the rest of the story.  God told them to "go in and possess it" (8).  That was the Lord's direct command, and Moses repeated it to the people (21), but they had another plan.  They said, "We will send men to search out the land and bring us word again."  Of course, they were very crafty about it.  They were only doing it so they would know by what way to go up and into what cities they should go.  The plain fact is that they didn't want to obey God.  Moses thought it was a good idea too; even Moses refused to act upon God's command.  So when we read the actual history in Numbers 13, we find these words:  " And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 'Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them'" (Num. 13:1-2). 

            So did God command Moses to send out spies?  Indeed, He did, but it wasn't his first command.  God's perfect will was for them to simply go in and take the land, trusting the Lord all the way.  After all, what could the spies find out about the land that God didn't already know?  The bottom line is this -- they compromised.  God said, "Go;" they said, "Let us send in spies."  So He said, "Moses, send in spies."  How destructive was it?  As a result of their report, the nation refused to go in at all.  It cost them 38 extra years.

III.  Balaam and His Donkey

            The next story I want to mention comes from the book of Numbers.  Rather than reading this one, please allow me to tell it.  The Israelites have refused to go into the Promised Land and have been sentenced to 40 years of wandering in the desert, as we just read.  The last part of that journey finds them coming up on the east side of the Dead Sea (use "arm map" to illustrate).  In this general area they conquered two great kings and their countries (Sihon and Og) because they refused to let Israel pass through their land.  Finally they came into the plains of Moab.  Moab sometimes occupied more territory than at other times, but at this time they had a position far enough north that they occupied this territory across from Jericho, where the Israelites would soon enter the Promised Land. 

            So our story begins with the people of Israel camping in the plains of Moab.  The King of Moab was named Balak.  He was greatly afraid of Israel because there were so many of them and likely had heard how the Lord had fought for them.  Since he didn't believe he was any match for Israel along conventional lines, he resorted to a different strategy.  Somehow he knew of a prophet named Balaam.  We don't know anything about him, but he must have had a reputation, because King Balak knew of him.  He sent a group of men to Balaam with this basic message:  "A people has come and is settling down next to me.  They are so numerous that they cover the face of the earth.  Please come at once and curse these people for me.  They are too strong for me, but maybe after you curse them, I will be able to defeat them.  I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed."

            When the messengers reached Balaam and delivered their message, Balaam told them to spend the night and that he would bring back the Lord's response the next morning.  Now "the Lord" is none other than Yahweh, Jehovah, the God of Israel.  So Balaam was in some sense a prophet of the Lord.  That night Balaam told the Lord what was going on, and the Lord told him:  "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."  The next morning Balaam said to the messengers, "Go on home, because the Lord will not let me go with you."  They returned to King Balak and gave him the news. 

            Balak did not give up easily.  He sent the messengers back to Balaam, with the promise of honoring him greatly.  Whatever that included, I figure it included wealth, position, etc.  So when they reached Balaam the second time, they said something like this:  "Balaam, don't let anything keep you from going to King Balak.  He will give you great honor and whatever else you ask.  You must come and curse these people."  Balaam immediately responded:  "Even if Balak were to give me all his silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the Lord my God."  But then Balaam added, "Spend the night here, so that I can see if the Lord has anything more to say."  During the night the Lord said to Balaam, "If those men still want you to go with them, go ahead, but speak only what I tell you to speak."

            So in the morning Balaam saddled his donkey and went with these messengers from Moab.  The next words we read are these:  "Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him" (Num. 22:22).  When the donkey saw the Angel and the sword in His hand, she turned aside, ambling out into a field.  Balaam hit the donkey to turn her back into the road.  The Angel then positioned Himself in a narrow part of the road where there was a wall on each side.  The donkey moved closer to one of the walls, crushing Balaam's foot against the wall in the process.  So Balaam hit her again.  The Angel then went a little farther where the road was even more narrow.  There was no way to go down the road without running into the armed Angel.  When the donkey saw this, she lay down under Balaam.  Now Balaam was mad and he smacked the donkey with his rod.  At that point the Lord opened the donkey's mouth and she said, "What have I done to deserve you hitting me these three times."  The talking donkey isn't the most amazing thing.  Balaam answered, "Because you disobeyed me.  If I had a sword right now, I would kill you."  "Haven't you ridden on me ever since you owned me?  Have I ever done anything like this before?"  Balaam had to answer, "No." 

            Finally the Lord opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the Angel of the Lord with the sword in His hand.  Balaam fell flat on his face before the Angel, who then spoke to him:  "Why have you treated your donkey like this?  I came out to oppose you because your behavior is crooked and perverse.  If it hadn't been for your donkey, I would have killed you by now."  Humbled by the experience, Balaam then responded, "I have sinned, because I didn't know you were standing there with the sword.  If you want me to, I will go back home."  The Angel of the Lord responded, "Go ahead; go with these men, but speak only what I tell you to speak."

            I will summarize the rest of the story.  Balak took Balaam up to a high point where he could see the Israelite camp and urged Balak to curse them.  Balaam heard from the Lord, and spoke the blessing that the Lord pronounced.  Then Balak took up to another viewpoint, but Balaam blessed them again.  And then a third time, and finally a fourth time.  There is actually more to the story, but we don't have time to deal with it now.

            Here's the question:  "Why was God angry with Balaam?  Didn't the Lord tell him to go with the men?"  Yes, but that wasn't God's first word to Balaam.  If Balaam had immediately and joyfully obeyed the Lord, there would have been no need for a second word.  Balaam was like the Israelites who demanded a king.  God told them not to go with them, but when Balaam heard what Balak was promising, he decided it might not hurt to ask the Lord again.  The rest of the Bible confirms that Balaam was a money-hungry prophet.  Though he would bless Israel, he later found a way to collect a reward for leading the people into idolatry.  Had he obeyed the Lord and sent those messengers away once and for all, he could have avoided becoming a negative example even for us.  Balaam compromised.

Conclusion

            Israel knew the will of the Lord, but she compromised in continuing to demand a king.  Moses and the people of Israel heard the clear command of the Lord, but they compromised and refused to enter the land.  Balaam, though he was a prophet, compromised the clear word of the Lord.  

            Contrast those examples of compromise with Abraham, when the Lord told him to take his son Isaac up on the mountain and offer him as a sacrifice.  The cost was much greater than for Israel, Moses, or Balaam, but Abraham responded with immediate obedience.  In so doing, he became our example of faith.

            But an even greater example than Abraham is the Lord Jesus Himself.  As the cross drew nearer, He cried out, "Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, save me from this hour?'  But for this purpose I came to this hour" (John 12:27).  No wonder His soul was troubled; He was about to face what no man had ever endured through the history of the cosmos.  The Father was asking Him to die on behalf of sinful men, to hang there on the cross -- the just for the unjust.  Oh the agony!  How could He agree to take upon Himself the wrath of His own Father, who had loved Him for all eternity?  How could He who knew no sin become sin for the men who would hang Him on that tree?  There has never been a greater temptation to compromise.  Maybe it would be enough to give one last insightful sermon and just forgive them from His heart.  Surely the Father couldn't blame Him for shying away from such an ugly cross.  No one could blame Him.

            Praise God that Jesus didn't disobey His Father, that He didn't compromise for one minute.  Instead, He cried out, "Father, glorify thy name" (12:28).  That was always His attitude, but now it came at a greater price.  Now the cross was upon Him.  When He said, "Father, glorify thy name," He was saying, "Father, this is what you sent me to do, and I know that my cross will be your glory, and mine.  I cannot shrink from what you have sent me to do."  Praise God that He obeyed.  Rom. 5:19, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."

            Do you want to hear the Spirit of God speaking to you through the Word?  Do you want to hear the quiet voice of the Spirit within?  Then joyfully obey Him with urgency.  By the grace of God and the power of that same Spirit, refuse to compromise.  Like our Lord Jesus, be jealous for the glory of God. 

            Don't deceive yourselves.  Let me give you a little illustration of what I mean by deceiving ourselves.  Granny still lived in Tularosa at the time.  I had ridden my bicycle to Tularosa and Rhonda had gone in the van.  Normally, I just put the bike in the van and we came home together after supper.  But on this occasion, I really wanted to ride my bike back home.  Rhonda suggested it would be too dark.  I responded by saying I would just ride it as far as her sister's house.  She still didn't like the idea.  I later added that if I wasn't there, I had decided to ride farther and she could just pick me up on the road.  Finally, we reached the point where she didn't say, "No."  Did she want me to ride my bike?  No.  Did I know she didn't want me to ride it?  Yes.  Was it vitally important that I ride it?  No.  Did I do it anyway?  Yes.  Do you see my point?  I had deceived myself into thinking it was perfectly okay for me to ride my bike, but it wasn't.  It troubled Rhonda, the wife who had loved me for over 25 years, but I insisted on having my own way.  I did ride farther than her sister's house.  As a matter of fact, I rode all the way home.  It was before we had a cell phone.  She kept looking for me, suspecting that I was lying in a ditch somewhere.  I was trying to impress by seeing how far I could get before she picked me up.  She got to a certain point and turned around, concluding that I couldn't possibly have come that far.  My insistence on having my own way caused her a lot of grief.  Of course, I could try to justify my actions by saying, "Well, she didn't say, 'No.'"  She didn't, but I knew her desire, and I ignored it.  Brothers and sisters, we may demand our own way from God and get what we want, but that doesn't mean it is best for us.

            Let me say one other thing with regard to this subject.  What if a person does disobey?  What if you compromise?  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).  We have all disobeyed.  Praise God that He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us.  He is not only faithful, but He is just to do so, because Jesus paid the price.  But maybe you are here this morning and compromise has crippled you.  You disobeyed and continued to disobey.  Compromise led to more compromise.  When you are honest, you have to conclude you are in the grip of compromise.  You aren't sure how to move from the way of compromise to the road of obedience.  Repent!  Yes, confess your sin, but repent.  Yes, agree with God that it is sin, but then by His grace hate that sin.  You convinced yourself that your disobedience wasn't too bad, and that's why you have continued in it.  Now face it squarely and change your mind.  See clearly that this is not the life for you, because you are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  As you do, actively despise that disobedience and compromise.  Ask the Lord to strip it from your life.  As Paul put it in Rom. 13:14, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

            What greater joy in life than to walk with our Lord in the light of His Word, simply trusting and obeying Him?  What foolishness to compromise that joyous walk with Him.  May the delight of His presence ever motivate us to joyously obey Him without compromise.

            Lost sinner, can you continue to refuse Him who loved you and gave Himself for you?  Can you look squarely at Jesus, the Christ, and what He did for you and reject Him?  Fall down before Him; turn to Jesus for the glory of God and for your own salvation.