The message, preached on October 17th, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. As men and women, we’re called to understand God’s design for the way we relate to others so that we can live God’s design for us, exactly as we are. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Showing posts with label understanding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label understanding. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Which Came First? Unbelief or Rebellion?
ALL – Psalm 84:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 25:15
OT – Jeremiah 23:21-25:38
NT – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Interesting passage for the day: He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said “no” to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it, and let it save them, so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts… – 2 Thess. 2:10-11, The Living Bible
Thought: We like to think we’re pretty decent people, not rebels-at-heart. God wants to bust that myth. So here’s an issue of myth-busters for us:
Myth: We disobey God because we don’t know any better and haven’t been given a chance to believe Him.
Truth: The reason we disobey God is not that we don’t believe God; the reason we don’t believe God is that we disobey God and rebel against Him.
At least, that’s what this passage teaches. A deceiver is coming who will fool a bunch of people. But what people will he fool? He will fool people who are “on their way to hell because they have said ‘no’ to the Truth.” They heard the Truth, but they rejected it. They “refused to believe it and love it.”
Do you see? The problem people have with the Truth is not that they can’t understand it. It’s not even that they can’t believe it. It’s that they don’t want it. They rebel against it. They refuse it and reject it and hate it.
The result of this willful rebellion against the Truth? “God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts.” Deception. Deception is made complete as God permits them to believe the lies they themselves have chosen to prefer over His Truth. The rebellion comes first, and then the unbelief.
Isn’t that how it was with Eve, when you really think about it? She HAD the truth. God had made it plain to her that she was free to eat from every tree except one. When the serpent questioned her on the limitations God had set up, she made it clear that she knew exactly which tree was off limits. And then the serpent lied to her. At that point she had a choice to make between obeying God’s instructions and following the serpent’s suggestion. How did she make her choice? “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it” (Gen. 3:6, NIV). She chose to go with her desires and the serpent’s lie rather than to trust God’s words. She had believed God up to that point, but then she rejected His words and rebelled against them. Before she could believe Satan’s deception, she had to willfully reject God’s Truth. Rebellion came first in her heart, then unbelief and outward disobedience.
Every human being on earth is the same. We have all rejected God’s Truth before falling into disbelief. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20, NIV).
What came first? The disbelief or the rebellion? The answer is clear: the rebellion. In my heart and yours. The gospel is God’s power for saving those who believe—who stop rebelling and instead bow humbly before His Truth. As a former rebel, I beg everyone out there to stop choosing to be fooled by deceivers and instead to submit to God’s Truth. Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. You know the Truth. Why reject it?
Question: If you reject the Truth, I would be interested in knowing why you want to reject it. What is it that you want to have or to do that you think you would lose if you believed and submitted to God’s Word?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 25:15
OT – Jeremiah 23:21-25:38
NT – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Interesting passage for the day: He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said “no” to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it, and let it save them, so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts… – 2 Thess. 2:10-11, The Living Bible
Thought: We like to think we’re pretty decent people, not rebels-at-heart. God wants to bust that myth. So here’s an issue of myth-busters for us:
Myth: We disobey God because we don’t know any better and haven’t been given a chance to believe Him.
Truth: The reason we disobey God is not that we don’t believe God; the reason we don’t believe God is that we disobey God and rebel against Him.
At least, that’s what this passage teaches. A deceiver is coming who will fool a bunch of people. But what people will he fool? He will fool people who are “on their way to hell because they have said ‘no’ to the Truth.” They heard the Truth, but they rejected it. They “refused to believe it and love it.”
Do you see? The problem people have with the Truth is not that they can’t understand it. It’s not even that they can’t believe it. It’s that they don’t want it. They rebel against it. They refuse it and reject it and hate it.
The result of this willful rebellion against the Truth? “God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts.” Deception. Deception is made complete as God permits them to believe the lies they themselves have chosen to prefer over His Truth. The rebellion comes first, and then the unbelief.
Isn’t that how it was with Eve, when you really think about it? She HAD the truth. God had made it plain to her that she was free to eat from every tree except one. When the serpent questioned her on the limitations God had set up, she made it clear that she knew exactly which tree was off limits. And then the serpent lied to her. At that point she had a choice to make between obeying God’s instructions and following the serpent’s suggestion. How did she make her choice? “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it” (Gen. 3:6, NIV). She chose to go with her desires and the serpent’s lie rather than to trust God’s words. She had believed God up to that point, but then she rejected His words and rebelled against them. Before she could believe Satan’s deception, she had to willfully reject God’s Truth. Rebellion came first in her heart, then unbelief and outward disobedience.
Every human being on earth is the same. We have all rejected God’s Truth before falling into disbelief. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20, NIV).
What came first? The disbelief or the rebellion? The answer is clear: the rebellion. In my heart and yours. The gospel is God’s power for saving those who believe—who stop rebelling and instead bow humbly before His Truth. As a former rebel, I beg everyone out there to stop choosing to be fooled by deceivers and instead to submit to God’s Truth. Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. You know the Truth. Why reject it?
Question: If you reject the Truth, I would be interested in knowing why you want to reject it. What is it that you want to have or to do that you think you would lose if you believed and submitted to God’s Word?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Friday, August 20, 2010
I Can’t Understand You!
ALL – Psalm 37:12-28
ALL – Proverbs 21:25-26
OT – Job 1:1-3:26
NT – 1 Corinthians 14:1-17
Interesting passage for the day: I suppose that there are hundreds of different languages in the world, and all are excellent for those who understand them, but to me they mean nothing. A person talking to me in one of these languages will be a stranger to me and I will be a stranger to him. – 1 Corinthians 14:10-11, The Living Bible
Thought: During my recent trip to Brazil, I learned a few words in Portuguese. I learned more Portuguese words than many people expected me to learn, and it was very enjoyable. But I have to be honest: if our hosts had not been able to communicate at least a bit in English, or to share praise songs with us that have the same tunes and meanings in both English and Portuguese, it would have been impossible to develop the relationships that blossomed during our time there. Understanding binds people together; mutual meaninglessness creates strangers and, sometimes, even enemies.
The first goal of a missionary in a foreign culture is understanding the language. Without that understanding, he/she will be a stranger to the host nation forever.
The first goal of a teacher in a classroom is to explain ideas clearly and to carefully define the meaning of any technical words as they come along. Using technical language without defining its meaning for the students would leave the teacher alone in understanding his lesson.
The first goal of a pastor in his assigned church is to help people hear God’s Word clearly. Without understanding God’s Word, no one would have a reason to zealously love and serve Jesus Christ.
And the first goal of a Christian with other believers or with neighbors and co-workers is to be plain about the basis for his hope of eternal life—to be able to say, “The God who created life plans to give me life forever, even if I die first, because the crimes that separated me from Him have already been punished. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died the death I deserved. And I know that God can raise me to life, because God raised Jesus to life again. I’ve entrusted my life into Jesus’ hands, and I’m following His teachings until God brings me home forever.”
Can we be clear? Jesus is alive, even though He died. He invites us to be His people. And I’ve accepted the invitation.
Question: Do you have the kind of hope I have? What would happen if we all expressed our hope clearly to the people in our lives? If you don’t have this hope yet, would you want it?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 21:25-26
OT – Job 1:1-3:26
NT – 1 Corinthians 14:1-17
Interesting passage for the day: I suppose that there are hundreds of different languages in the world, and all are excellent for those who understand them, but to me they mean nothing. A person talking to me in one of these languages will be a stranger to me and I will be a stranger to him. – 1 Corinthians 14:10-11, The Living Bible
Thought: During my recent trip to Brazil, I learned a few words in Portuguese. I learned more Portuguese words than many people expected me to learn, and it was very enjoyable. But I have to be honest: if our hosts had not been able to communicate at least a bit in English, or to share praise songs with us that have the same tunes and meanings in both English and Portuguese, it would have been impossible to develop the relationships that blossomed during our time there. Understanding binds people together; mutual meaninglessness creates strangers and, sometimes, even enemies.
The first goal of a missionary in a foreign culture is understanding the language. Without that understanding, he/she will be a stranger to the host nation forever.
The first goal of a teacher in a classroom is to explain ideas clearly and to carefully define the meaning of any technical words as they come along. Using technical language without defining its meaning for the students would leave the teacher alone in understanding his lesson.
The first goal of a pastor in his assigned church is to help people hear God’s Word clearly. Without understanding God’s Word, no one would have a reason to zealously love and serve Jesus Christ.
And the first goal of a Christian with other believers or with neighbors and co-workers is to be plain about the basis for his hope of eternal life—to be able to say, “The God who created life plans to give me life forever, even if I die first, because the crimes that separated me from Him have already been punished. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died the death I deserved. And I know that God can raise me to life, because God raised Jesus to life again. I’ve entrusted my life into Jesus’ hands, and I’m following His teachings until God brings me home forever.”
Can we be clear? Jesus is alive, even though He died. He invites us to be His people. And I’ve accepted the invitation.
Question: Do you have the kind of hope I have? What would happen if we all expressed our hope clearly to the people in our lives? If you don’t have this hope yet, would you want it?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
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