Priorities

Here is a great question:
With all the areas we have to deal with in life, from God to kids to marriage to our employment to
family to ministry, how do we deal with it all without becoming overcommitted or burned out?

One could argue that each of our responsibilities would warrant our FULL-TIME attention.

Early in my life, I used to run a kind of relational ambulance most of the time-I would go from one relational 911 call to another:
Spend too much time at work…TENSION FROM SHEER NEGLECT WOULD ARISE BETWEEN GAIL AND ME…SO I’D TAKE OFF IN MY RELATIONAL AMBLANCE TO DO SOME EXTRA STUFF W/HER (things settled) …and then TENSION from sheer neglect would appear between/kids and me…911-RUN AND DO SOME STUFF W/THEM….GOD 911 = RETREAT…TENSION @ WORK 911…

Hopeless cycle.
Why?

I think it’s because I didn’t establish priorities in my life-I just reacted to life.

What is a PRIORITY…it’s something that you believe takes PRECEDENCE over other things…a priority is what’s MOST important.
It is what is able to precede OTHER THINGS

A list of priorities tell you what matters most in your life and will keep a lot of confusion out of your life.

1Cor. 14:33 - KING JAMES VERSION

If your priorities are clearly defined, it will make the daily decisions of your life easier.

Let’s say you’re planning something special with your wife tonight (anniversary dinner) and you told her you’d be home right after work and you know she’s really looking forward to it. BUT your boss approaches you and asks you to work late. You think: “Man, we could really use the extra money. If I’m a “go-to” guy for my boss, my job will be more secure. But my wife has really been counting on this (and I’ve already had to postpone this twice) and we could use a romantic shot in the arm.”

If your priorities are set, the answer will be there before the situation arises:
If your priority is to please the boss…you’ll stay
If your priority is providing an income…you’ll stay
If your priority is to protect and nourish your marriage, you’ll go home.

Let’s say you told your 8-year-old son, Johnny, you would go with him to the batting cages today after school…but Brother Harry calls you up and says he wants your counsel about a situation he has…

If your priority is to do ministry whenever it arises so that you’ll be seen as faithful and be promoted into the full time ministry…you’ll bail on Johnnie and go minister. If your priority is your son who is all jazzed about his dad spending a few minutes with him, you’ll go to the batting cages FIRST.

If priorities are set, decisions are made in advance and your life is simplified. (SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BEND YOUR PRIORITIES …THERE ARE LEGITIMATE EMERGENCIES-SOMETHING BLOWS UP AT WORK…BUT WATCH OUT FOR PATTERNS!!!)

Again, our priorities tell us what’s most important in our life.

So HOW do you establish them?

3 general ways people do it:

#1 - many establish their priorities based on what others do or say

“Dad never let anything get in the way of work…so that’s what I need to do…my family just needs to understand a job is #1 to keep the family secure financially.”

“mom always put the kids first-her and dad never had date-nights…they always hung w/us kids.”

“Pastor says services are never to be missed…so I need to be here every time there is a service.”

“my boss says I should be available whenever he wants me to be”

“my friend Pete is involved with street ministry every night and he has FOUR kids…”

Paul warns believers about figuring out what’s most important by listening to OTHER PEOPLE…

2Cor. 10:12

Another very popular way of establishing priorities is BASING your priorities on HOW YOU FEEL.

We live in a “FEEL-GOOD” culture…do what you want.
Be honest with yourself…be honest with your feelings. Why? They aren’t honest w/you! Sometimes you feel like a nut…sometimes you don’t.

Feelings are like Oklahoma weather…very changeable.

I know people who base their whole lives on feelings, from how they treat their families to whether the keep a job…feelings…DANGEROUS THING.

I think the best thing you can base your priorities on is on what is given to us in Scripture.

2 Co. 3:16

Psa. 17:4 KING JAMES VERSION

Interestingly, the Scriptures iterate what is most important from God’s perspective.
We get to choose…do we want to buy into God’s priority list or determine priorities on our own…

Isa. 55: 8-13

Here is God’s priority list (get these by comparing verses in Scripture…which we don’t have time to prove this a.m.)

Priority #1
You and God

Matt. 22:37-38

Here is the thought…if things are messed up between you and God…your whole life will begin to enter the world of THE SUCK. IT WILL STINK.

Making God #1 in your life will bring order into your whole life!!

Just listen to Galatians 5:22

Gal. 5:22-23

This is the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit within the human heart:
love - referring to the unconditional love of God - which gives us the ability to set value and preciousness on a person irrespective of the way they act
joy - expectation of good things coming
peace - guarantee that NOTHING will stand between you and others in your life
longsuffering -the ability to put up with crud
kindness - a propensity or bend within to do favors for others
goodness - living by a motive other than selfishness
gentleness - helps you not to be an over-reactive critical punk
faithfulness - the ability to stick to your commitments
self-control - helping you control impulses/passions that would otherwise ruin you

KEEPING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS #1 will cause the rest of your life to SHINE AND BE SUCCESSFUL!

1 Timothy 4:8

PRIORITY #2 [may surprise you],
It is you and you

Matt. 22:37-39

YOU WILL NEVER TREAT PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOU DO YOURSELF.
You’re going to have to fall in love w/you!

Psa. 139:13-14

Rom. 5:5

“God don’t make junk.”

Others of you love yourselves too much…repent from that as well.

PRIORITY #3
Is your spouse if you are married (notice it is not ministry, not children, not your job…your spouse)

Over the years…many of us have watched major ministries model the idea that a devoted follower of Jesus is to commit his/her whole lives to ministry…

IT WAS A LIE!
-many have lost their marriages
-lost their kids

We have assumed that God is most concerned about the word being preached. However, ministry is actually #6 in this biblical priority list…

THAT MEANS YOUR Marriage matters in God’s economy.

Eph. 5:21-32

PRIORITY #4
Is you and your CHILDREN [if you have them]!
Note: children are more important than ministry but not more important than your marriage

PRIORITY #5
Is you and your church

Not necessarily the ORGANIZED church…like PC…but your connection w/other believers…LIFE ON LIFE SHARING-I don’t catch all that much about my life: my weaknesses/strengths…God…the devil…I need help to see clearly.

But church relationships ARE less important than your relationship w/God, spouse, kids…but more important than job, ministry or extended family (parents, siblings)…

PRIORITY #6
Work/ministry

PRIORITY #7
Your extended family

PRIORITY #8
The world-at-large

How do priorities work?
NOT TIME ORIENTED…RELATIONALLY ORIENTED
Wake up disconnected w/God…wife is mad…kids are screaming…out of relationship w/other believers…in trouble at work and your mom is mad at you…
RUN TO GOD FIRST…

IF OK W/ GOD AND REST OF THE WORLD…BUT YOUR SPOUSE IS MAD…OPEN THE DOOR FOR RESTORATION ON YOUR WAY OUT THE DOOR…

PILOT FRIENDS…CHECKLIST…
IF OK…SPEND MOST OF THE TIME IN AIR….

#1 RULE WHEN TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIES:
TENSION DEMANDS ATTENTION!

Any priority out of line = a god.
ONE MORE THING:
Add more priorities = will determine what God speaks to you
STEVE CLOUSE…6 KIDS…BUSINESS OWNER-ATTORNEY-POLITICIAN…

Moms 2006

We want to honor the women and mothers in this place this morning!

Ever since the Fall of man there has been a kind of battle of the sexes going on where the men try to one-up women and vice-versa. God never intended that to be. He intended that there be a mutual respect and honor for each other.

SO let’s start some controversy with the question:
We always call God Father, but could we call him mother?

Theologically, yes.
God is not male or female, he is God and male and female came out of him.

Is. 49:14
Is. 49:15
Is. 49:16

God totally gets the “nurturing” “mothering” thing…in fact all the feminine and motherly instincts in women came were first present in and originated with God.

TECHNICALLY: WE COULD PRAY “OUR MOTHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN” -

Whether we like it or not GOD wired men and women DIFFERENT. BUT DIFFERENT DOES NOT MEAN BETTER OR WORSE!

My arms are definitely different from my legs-- but I don’t think one is better than the other -- I wouldn’t want to do without either!

I love what Paul said on this point.

1Cor. 11:11-12
1Cor. 11:12

Before we talk about how men and women are wired differently, we need to say that men and women as husbands, wives and parents are called to work together as co-equals in life.

Watch how Peter talks about this in:
1Pet. 3:7-9
1Pet. 3:8
1Pet. 3:9

To really celebrate this unique part of God’s creation: Let’s talk about moms this morning, but first, as they were created - as women - and then the value God places on them as mothers.

Gen. 2:15-25

Notice the care God had in making woman: formed: squeezed/fashioned: expertly hand crafted! and he brought her to the man. Notice God did not let her roam around until she could figure out a way to approach Adam.
God brought her. She was somebody!

Note Adam’s reaction and prophecy!
Gen. 2:23
Gen. 2:24

HE KNEW THIS BEING WAS WORTH CHANGING HIS WHOLE LIFE FOR.

God created woman to be man’s helper!
Gen. 2:18
1Cor. 11:9

With a western mindset, this sounds fairly dangerous for a woman.
In a sense it implies SLAVERY but nothing could be further from the truth!
The Hebrew word translated “helper” in v. 18 is the word “exer”
It is only used 19 times in the Bible. 14 out of the 19 times it is used in reference to God:
Psa. 46:1

God is our helper!
Does that make Him our slave?
Does that make Him our inferior?

The fact is, God made woman with a little more care so that she could be in a position to HELP man.

IN A NUMBER OF WAYS WOMEN ARE SUPERIOR TO MEN!

One man said it this way:
“if man is dust refined, woman is dust double refined, one step removed from earth and one step closer to the glories of heaven.”

For example, I would rather be friends with a woman in her 60’s who never married than a man in his 60’s who had never married - generally men get weird when they are alone.

Generally women fair better. “It is not good for a man to be alone!” Women are more emotionally astute and connected to what is going on around them than men are. Drive by a field with one flower in the middle: woman will say, o look!
Guy: huh, what, where

From a theological perspective, woman was created to help man - to be man’s strength. The whole “man as the head” thing was NEVER TO BE USED SELFISHLY (anymore than God uses his leadership selfishly) but man was to use his authority to benefit the couple as a unit and to bless humanity at large!
It wasn’t till after the Fall that men began to be the big man on campus.

Adam saw Eve with respect and honor: he said, “This is bone of my bones” -- this gal will give me structure, she will help clarify my purpose, she will keep me from breaking down in life.

Prov. 12:4

Ladies, you have the power to either make or destroy your man!

Now let’s talk about being moms and dads. Though both husbands and wives are challenged in Scripture to be intimately involved with each other and with their children, the reality is men have a harder time raising kids in the rough and tumble of daily life than women do - dads can do it and do it well - it’s just that (with rare exception) we can’t do that plus a lot of other things…

Why?
We see things differently which means: we don’t multitask well. I used to drive Gail crazy when I watched TV.

Gail could always see everything going on around her…
Kid on her hip, laundry, phone conversation and watching a show on tv - all at once.

Throw a woman in a house with kids and she’ll carry on a deeply connecting conversation with another adult while noticing that one of the kids looks a little tired or is not feeling well.

Simply stated (dangerous), a man generally looks at the world in terms of what it can provide for the family and rises to defend against any threats the world brings to the family. He tends to look at the world more in terms of being a provider and a protector. His mind is on his family but his eyes are outward at the world.

Contrarily, a woman generally looks at the family and sees how they are responding to the world around them. She picks up on HOW the world is affecting the family and tends to be involved with the world while constantly balancing HOW that will affect her family. She is more of an empower-er and a nurturer. Her mind is on the world (she’s aware of what is out there) but her eyes are inward at the family.

Because men have abused and trivialized the focus and calling upon women (especially leaders in the western church), many in secular society have worked hard at redefining women.

Instead of women saying to men, you’re confused, there is great value in how women access and approach life. Instead of responding with honoring and celebrating feminine differences, women started tackling traditionally masculine areas just to prove they could do it.

I don’t think anyone should have questioned a woman’s ability to do anything, it is not a question of ability, it’s a question of focus.

Women have proved they can manage businesses, work alongside men in construction jobs, women can fight in the armed service; etc. The one thing women can’t do is play golf at Augusta National-but there is a woman president on the way…

What I am trying to say is there is a new kind of pressure on women that I am not sure is fair, I am not sure it’s biblical, I’m not sure that it isn’t hurting the family: IT’S THE IDEA THAT women and men need to compete with each other.

Dr. Dobson’s quote (years ago).
“Have you noticed, also, that the entertainment industry has created a totally new woman with remarkable capacities? We’ve seen her as Wonder Woman and the Bionic Woman and Spider Woman and Charlie’s Angels and a host of other muscular (but sexy) females.

“The image of women now being depicted by the media is a ridiculous combination of wide-eyed fantasy and feminist propaganda. Today’s woman is always shown as gorgeous, of course, but she is more -- much more.

“She roars around the countryside in a racy sports car, while her male companion sits on the other side of the front seat anxiously biting his nails. She exudes self-confidence from the very tips of her fingers, and for good reason; she could dismantle any man alive with her karate chops and flying kicks to the teeth.

“She is deadly accurate with a pistol and she plays tennis (or football) like a pro. She speaks in perfectly organized sentences, as though her spontaneous remarks were being panned and written by a team of tiny English professors sitting in the back of her pretty little head.

“She is a sexual gourmet, to be sure, but she wouldn’t be caught dead in a wedding ceremony. She has the grand good fortune of being perpetually young and she never becomes ill, nor does she ever make a mistake or appear foolish.

“In short, she is virtually omniscient, except for a curious inability to do anything traditionally feminine, such as cook, sew, or raise children.

“Truly, today’s screen heroine is a remarkable specimen, standing proud and uncompromising, with side stance and hands to her hips. Oh, yeah! This baby has come a long, long way, no doubt about that!”

Of course WOMEN can be anything THEY want to be, but just make sure you are not trying to prove something.

For that past 12 years I have purposely had discussions with high school and college age students about what they feel about love/marriage/children
most speak disparagingly of marriage and childrearing
some shyly admit that they really would like to get married, but it is just not in vogue to talk or dream about it!

Many young ladies think marriage and child rearing is a stupid thing that people with low IQ’s get involved with - UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN A CAREER AND DO IT IN YOUR MID/LATE 30’S.

My purpose in saying this is NOT to get women back into traditional roles society makes up for her or to push everyone into marriage and child rearing - my purpose is to say that the role of wife/mother has been severely diminished and we should NOT let that continue.

If anything is true, God places the greatest honor on home life and responsibilities!
He doesn’t call himself the great CEO of Creation.
He is a Dad.

At the crown of creation, God did not make the Church w/Adam as the first pastor and eve the first parishioner.
Made a home.

Luke 12:15

Life is about our families, our friends, our God - those things make life rich!

Marriage and family touch us in a way nothing in creation can.

It is not a put down to be a wife and mom! You may have to work outside the home -- Just keep your focus. Don’t take every promotion if it will hurt your family or marriage! (Same is true FOR men!)

Prov. 14:1

Ladies it is an honorable thing to have your marriage and home on the forefront of your mind. You were given to help here primarily!
Your strength, abilities, and perceptions were given to you primarily to help men and children act in a ways that don’t destroy the family.

Again that is not to say you should not be involved with the world-at-large.

Pr. 31:10-31 DISCLAIMER - THIS IS SUPERWOMAN - SHE DOESN’T EXIST - I SEE IT AS MORE OF A DINNER MENU - YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING HERE, BUT NO ONE WOULD TRY TO ORDER AND EAT IT ALL!

The Importance of Conversation

I want to talk w/you this morning about a truth I discovered years ago that was very surprising…it has to do with what we say about God, about others, and ourselves, and about the circumstances we find ourselves in.

I want to talk about our CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I DON’T THINK TALK IS CHEAP, IN FACT, IT CAN BE VERY COSTLY IN OUR LIVES…

What we talk about impacts our lives…AND IMPACTS THOSE AROUND US…
OUR conversation is an important aspect of our faith…just like exercise is an important aspect of health…it’s NOT THE WHOLE SECRET TO HEALTH [exercise fanatics]…BUT IT’S IMP

SOME HAVE MADE TOO BIG A DEAL OUT OF WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT…

Some people go crazy over what people say…as though our words control the universe:
But here’s a news flash…we are not God.
And even though what you and I say is important (the Scriptures will bear that out), what we say is NOT that important…where all of faith hinges on it. God is more GRACIOUS than that!

However, that being said, I think most of us are too lax about what we say…
What we say about ourselves
About our kids
What we say about our circumstances
What we say about the people around us…

I will even go so far as to say that many of us inadvertently curse our lives more than we bless our lives…as far as our conversations go…

How many here have been hurt by words?

“Sticks and stones…” LIE…IT’S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT WORDS KILL THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

CONSIDER THIS:
Prov. 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Here is what this suggests: our homes, our marriages, our life as a single person, our friendships, our whole existence WILL NEVER BE ANY BETTER OR GREATER THAN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT THEM.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT YOUR LIFE?

ARE YOU SPEAKING LIFE OR DEATH into your human experience?

I want to give you SOME thoughts about the power behind HOW WE talk about our lives…our conversation.

1) Our conversations reveal WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN OUR HEART

WHAT we SAY IN UNGUARDED MOMENTS IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT we REALLY THINK/BELIEVE

Jesus:
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

ATKINS DIET AND KETONE STRIPS…
PEE-PEE ON A STICK…

OUR WORDS ARE THE KETONE STRIPS…TELL us WHAT’S GOING ON…

When you are unguarded:
What do you say about yourself? “I’m a loser.” I’ll never get it right…or DO YOU SAY STUFF LIKE:
I’m not alone/GOD IS WITH ME…NEVER LEAVE ME
THINGS ARE TOO FAR GONE, WHAT’S THE USE: OR
IF I COME TO JESUS…OLD THINGS PASS AWAY, EVERYTHING WILL BECOME NEW…I can do better because I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST…

WORDS REVEAL.

About your kids?
KIDS are such a cost…burden…I wish we wouldn’t have had them so soon…that was a mistake
Blessing from God…a joy…an extension into the future of the goodness of God…
About your spouse?
About your money…
About your past…

WHAT YOU SAY UNCOVERS WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON…SOMETIMES IT’S UGLY…

COLLEGE AND CURSING AT THE CHINESE RESTAURANT…

UNGUARDED WORDS REVEAL YOUR HEART…IF YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING ANYTHING THAT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF GOD’S PERSPECTIVE …YOU NEED SOME HOLODECK TIME W/THE PROMISES! [PATHETIC…BUT I’M A TREKKY—WHATEVER YOU IMAGINE CAN BE PROGRAMMED INTO THE HOLODECK TO EXP—IMAGINE THE PROMISES…PROGRAM THEM IN…EXP THEM IN PRAYER/IMAGINATION]

LISTEN…
2Pet. 1:19
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

GOD’S PRESENCE AND MY BASEMENT.

YOUR CONVERSATION IS THE BEST DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO REVEAL WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN YOUR HEART.

I DON’T GUARD WHAT I SAY AS MUCH AS I LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY AND TRY TO KEEP MY HEART IN THE PLACE WHERE IT SAYS THE RIGHT THINGS…

THE SECOND thing about our conversation is that it actually DIRECTS OUR LIVES…

Here’s a scary text:
James 3:2-6
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue [bit/rudder] is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

He is claiming that the course of our lives are impacted by words that are said…

FOR EXAMPLE…you can keep your faith encouraged by what you talk about:

1 Sam. 30:6 AMPLIFIED VERSION
David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

HOW DID HE DO THAT?
WE SEE IT IN ACTION:
Psa. 42:11
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

HE TALKED TO HIMSELF.

I DARE YOU TO TALK TO YOURSELF AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!

SPIRITUAL AMNESIA: WHO’S WHO
DNA—read from book

I DARE YOU TO TRY TALKING TO YOURSELF FROM THE SCRIPTURES…

YOU WILL STEER YOUR LIFE INTO GRACE…
YOU WILL OVERCOME YOUR FEELINGS OF
-GUILT
-SHAME
-WORTHLESSNESS
-FEAR

GOD’S WORD WILL TRANSFORM YOU.

At first the promises will seem UNDERWHELMING…BORING…SOMETIMES FAKE

BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE SCRIPTURES…JESUS COMPARED THE PROMISES TO SEED!
TAKES TIME TO BE PLANTED AND GROW!
STRAWBERRYS---YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED…

LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CONVERSATION HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT TRUST IS SOMEHOW CARRIED TO GOD IN WHAT WE SAY…

2Cor. 4:13
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,

IF WE BELIEVE…WE WILL SPEAK…

FAITH AND TALKING ARE INEXORABLY CONNECTED:
Mark 11:22-23
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. [HOW DO WE HAVE FAITH IN GOD?] 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Jesus is saying, don’t have conversations with God where you say one thing and then conversations with others where you say something completely different.

Don’t say, “Lord I am trusting you to give me direction for my life”
And walk out telling everyone else, “I never know what to do with my life.”
Instead say, “I never seem to know what to do with my life, but I’ve made it a prayer project and I believe God’s going to help me out.”

Don’t have a conversation with God saying, “Lord, please help my spouse and I to have more open, loving conversations…”
And then have a conversation with your mother: “I don’t think he’ll ever change…he is so closed and cold…”

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING LIKE?
ARE YOUR WORDS REFLECTING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHAT YOU’RE TRUSTING GOD TO DO…

LISTEN TO YOURSELF
TAKE STOCK
GET YOUR HEART INTO THE HOLODECK UNTIL YOU ARE TALKING RIGHT.
UNTIL YOUR HEART IS SO CHOCK FULL OF FAITH THAT YOU ARE TALKING YOUR FAITH.

HERE’S ONE MORE SCARY TEXT:
James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE LITTLE POWER, VERY LITTLE SPIRITUAL DYNAMIC GOING ON…
THIS CONVERSATIONG THING WE’RE DISCUSSING ISN’T A CURE ALL, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF IT…(EXERCISE)

BE LIKE THE PSAMIST (WE PRAY THIS EVERY WEEK)

Psa. 19:14 KING JAMES VERSION
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

I’m not suggesting you can’t say what is going on in your life…
AND I’M NOT SUGGESTING YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN!
LAMENT (COMPLAINING PRAYER) has great reception from God…The Bible guys and gals were full of lament—especially in the psalms:
Psa. 22:1-2
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

Ps. 73:13-14
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.

SISTER JOSEPHE – “why don’t you treat me like a woman!”

BUT…LIKE THE BIBLE FOLK, ALWAYS REMBER THE PROMISE AFTER YOU LAMENT…remember to add what it is your are trusting God to do…
ADD GRACE TO YOUR CONVERSATION:
Col. 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,

Also LAMENT JUST TO GOD, NOT OTHERS—LAMENTING TO OTHERS IS NEVER GOOD!

HERE’S WHAT I’M SAYINT TO YOU:
WHAT YOU SAY IS IMPORTANT
Words are powerful!
Words are what God used to create the earth!
PAUL SAID:
Eph. 4:29 KING JAMES VERSION
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
I’M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR CONVERSATION THIS WEEK…
PRAY FOR US: CHICAGO/S B/GR—GO TO STORES!

When I Fail

As a kid: “I wish God would fix me…” If it were possible, I would have taken the BAT!

When a person crosses the threshold of faith there is a change of heart about sin…we no longer want to…not deep inside!

Heb. 11:25 KING JAMES VERSION
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Sin is only pleasurable for a season…and, as a follower of Jesus, your season is over!

This is why Paul mused about his internal struggle…his inner contradiction (and we can ALL identify with it):

Rom. 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

A couple weeks ago we were talking about the freedom that is promised to us as believers…but our freedom in the arena of sinfulness is not some MAGIC moment…where God gets a hold of you in such a way that you always act right…

Like Peter Parker got BITTEN by that spider…one interaction…SPIDER MAN
I wanted some magic interaction (A BITE AT THE ALTAR) to turn into GODLY MAN.

BUT IT DIDN’T HAPPEN!

This is how it works:
Heb. 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

There will always be an area that easily entangles us!
We need Jesus and we will never RETIRE from needing him.

Which means, when you fail, you ought to recognize that is the best you can do apart from the direct working of God in your soul.
(BROTHER LAWRENCE…17TH CENTURY MONK)

Paul said it this way:
2 Co. 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

THIS IS THE WAY STRENGTH FROM GOD WORKS…HE DOESN’T GIVE US STRENGTH…
LIKE A WATCH—IF I HAVE ONE…BUT IF I AM ONE?

We hardly ADMIT our weaknesses, much less boast of them!

That’s one of the great powers of the 12 step programs…”I’m an alcoholic or I’m a drug addict or I’m a control freak or gambler or WHATEVER!

THEY ADMIT STUFF IF BIGGER THAN THEM!

That is biblical!

BUT HERE IS WHAT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THIS A.M.

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WHEN WE FAIL?

CHANCES ARE, SOME OF US MIGHT fail…
ESPECIALLY as you learn how to connect with Jesus in your weakness…and YOU TRY TO figure out WHY you keep getting triggered into sin…there is a time between struggling poorly and struggling well.

The message this morning is about what to do when you are struggling poorly…when you fall down in sin.

A few suggestions (and by the by, I’m not an expert at much, but I am an expert here):

Thought #1
1) RUN to God, not from him!

There is something about sin that makes us think God is mad at us!

James 4:4
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

He’s NOT saying God thinks of us this way…it is the way we feel when we sin.

BUT NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!

1 John 2:1-2 THE MESSAGE BIBLE
I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. 2When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good--not only ours, but the whole world's.

Remember the Garden story…humans run to the bushes and hide when we sin…God sought them out…NOTHING’S CHANGED!

YOU WILL WANT TO RUN FROM GOD…SEW SOME FIG-FASHION TOGETHER AND COVER-UP…BUT GOD IS ALWAYS IN PURSUIT OF US!
YOU MATTER!
HE IS NOT THROWN BY OUR FAILURE!

PSA 103:10-14
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
RUN TO GOD

• WALKING OUT TO THE CAR ONE SNOW DUSTY MORNING IN WI
• GUY AT DALLAS MALL IN 80’s (tall, good-looking African-American in an all white suit and wide brimmed white hat).

Don’t waste time…run to God.

2) Thought #2—SIMPLY CONFESS YOUR SIN

-you don’t have to feel sorrow yet
-you don’t have to make promises to do better
-just honestly and openly confess you did wrong!

1John 1:8-9
If we claim to be without sin [when we have sinned], we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Don’t try to justify what you have done or are doing…
Don’t try to punish yourself
Don’t try to do penance
Just confess the fact you have sinned and do it quickly.

Don’t spend one MINUTE in shame or guilt.
If your sin has involved another…ask forgiveness of them too.
If restitution is appropriate, do it (don’t steal $20 from me and ask me to forgive you unless you bring a 20 dollar bill w/you)

HERE IS where you do, what the old-timers called, PLEADING THE BLOOD.

Recognize that what Jesus did means more than what you can do.
And realize God is more faithful than you!

Matt. 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Another place, Jesus adds: “a day”

If God asks us to forgive this often…how much more often will he forgive us?

Think of your sin frequency…have you ever committed the same sin 77 times in one day?

3) THOUGHT #3 Recognize that God sins with FORGETFULNESS!

This is amazing…
BASICALLY WE MARK UP OUR LIVES WITH [ERASE A SLATE]:

Lies, we cheat, we’re mean, we’re nasty, we do evil things…and 1 JOHN 1:9…POW.

4) THOUGHT #4 [last one] WHEN you are free from guilt, fear, shame, and self-hatred for your failure (plead the blood), then turn to God and ask…”WHY DO I DO ALWAYS DO THAT?” ASK FOR WISDOM!

THIS IS WHERE YOU TELL GOD, YOU DON’T WANT TO BE BACK WHERE YOU WERE…
SIN DESTROYS STUFF
IT UN-GOODS THINGS
IT DOESN’T MAKE GOD HATE US, BUT IT DOES DESTROY OUR PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE ON THIS PLANET.

PROV 13:15 NEW LIFE VERSION
Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the sinful is hard.

Pray about THE TRIGGERS
-BOREDOM
-loneliness
-self-hatred
-misdirected passion
-external circumstances (rejection, delay, promotion)

Psa. 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Pray about what role the enemy plays
Pray about someone with whom you can be honest.
Pray about empty places (ACHES) inside and how God can help fill them.

STYROFOAM BALL

Realize a day will come when you really will be able to STRUGGLE WELL!

DEFINITION OF A SUCCESS/FAILURE—ONE MORE TIME!

THANK YOU, SARAH KELLY -- CDS

RESURRECTION 2006

1Cor. 15:13-19
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

The RESURRECTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH…no resurrection – our faith is in vain.

Why?
To find out we need to go back to the beginning…

Gen. 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED!

Gal. 1:3-4 KING JAMES VERSION:
Gal. 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal. 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

The idea is that, because of sin, DEATH crept into a world meant only for LIFE.

Somehow the world that God created to be VERY GOOD lost its goodness, thereby becoming EVIL.

This is called a biblical theodicy – A THEODICY is an explanation for all the pain that is present and all the evil that is present on this planet.

The biblical theodicy is that God did not create evil.
He created good.
Evil is simply PULVERIZED GOOD.

SIN is the great pulverizer.
It takes the good in us and deconstructs it.

A good marriage can be pulverized into a relationship of indifference and hatred—into something evil.
A great lifelong friendship can be pulverized into one filled with contempt and mistrust.
In the beginning two brothers, Cain and Able, had their brotherhood pulverized into fratricide = brother murdering brother.

Sin (lit means: missing the mark) diminishes God’s created good.
It pales it.
In sin, the good is perverted.

According to Christian catechism, sin was first FOUND in Satan – it was FOUND – NOT CREATED – Satan doesn’t create ANYTHING – he can only destroy things that were created.

Sin is NOT a created thing.

Satan simply took good and pulverized it = A PERFECTLY GOOD PEN GONE EVIL?

Satan is a deconstructionist—hence, he is EVIL.

The apostle Paul claimed that everyone on this planet has a problem with evil and the evil one:
Eph. 2:1-3
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins [we all miss the mark],
Eph. 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Eph. 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

As a result of SIN – we miss the mark – we pulverize things – the good we do isn’t that good.

We’re like soda that’s gone flat, or curdled milk.

Rob sprained his ankle the other day…same ‘ol Rob, but he’s not getting around all that well…

Sin kind of does that to us…
It’s not that we can’t do anything good…we can…
But we always have a sprain in it…something ungood is in the mix:

Whether we are talking about our self-identities, our friendships, our marriages, our families, managing our money, our public policy, caring for the poor/disenfranchised, caring for our planet…whatever…sometimes we do pretty good, but we also have a lot of Un-good in the mix (remember the OTHER word for Ungood is EVIL).

The GOSPEL is a story of God sending Jesus to RESTORE our lives or to re-good our lives—LITERALLY THE GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS.

Acts 10:36-38
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace {gospel is news of “good”} through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Acts 10:37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached —
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Paul tells us the POWER of doing GOOD:
Rom. 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL.

As Jesus came into the world, he declared war on EVIL or the lack of good – and he went around doing good—HE RE-GOODS THE WORLD AND THE HUMAN LIFE.

And the Bible says,
Heb. 13:8
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

He’s still in the DOING “GOOD!”

AND here is the wonderful part…people don’t have to be perfect to connect with the “good” Jesus came to bring – they don’t even have to be religiously smart…

EVERYBODY CAN GET GOOD FROM JESUS…
Talking about himself, Jesus said,
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

ANY WHOEVER, can get in on this!

And you see it in the Gospels – everybody who was even a nobody was cared for by Jesus (ever feel like a nobody?):

Luke 5:12-13
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5:13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

This guy was part of the “untouchable club”

Jesus got down and “goods” him. He mattered. Everybody matters to God.

Another e.g.
Luke 7:36-39
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
Luke 7:37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
Luke 7:38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is — that she is a sinner.”

Jesus KNEW he would be judged for this…yet he didn’t care…she mattered.

JESUS RAN INTO THE LIVES OF THE VERY PEOPLE THAT OTHERS RAN FROM:
Luke 15:1-7
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.
Luke 15:2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
IN RESPONSE:
Luke 15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
Luke 15:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Luke 15:5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
Luke 15:6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

LOST PEOPLE – PEOPLE WITH LITTLE GOOD – ARE WORTH HUNTING DOWN AND GOOD-ING.

Luke 15:8-10
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
Luke 15:9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

JESUS GOES RIGHT INTO THE FAMOUS PRODIGAL = waster…the un-good guy…
Luke 15:11-24
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
Luke 15:12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
Luke 15:13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
Luke 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
Luke 15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. [TO THE JEW, THIS WAS EVIDENCE THAT THIS GUY WAS A LOST CAUSE]
Luke 15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
Luke 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Luke 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
JESUS IS AN ICONOCLAST HERE…THE FATHER GOD IS NOT WHO YOU THINK HE IS…HE IS A LOVER! AND HE IS THE INCAUTIOUS, RECKLESS FORGIVER OF HUMANITY!
Luke 15:21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Luke 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
Luke 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ THE FATHER DOESN’T EVEN LISTEN TO THE REPENTANCE…DOESN’T NEED TO – HE SAW HIS HEART…So they began to celebrate.

To top it all off, listen to this:
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
Luke 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This story created a lot of trouble for the early church – ancient world thought it was a crock…

How could a criminal going to his death be pardoned?
Ancient world was full of Aristotelian thought.
Aristotle preached VIRTUE – something that took a lifetime to develop – and it was the “good” that people needed to have.

Tradition says this guys name was Dismas – called him St. Dismas.

HOW COULD GOD MAKE HIS WASTED LIFE MATTER MOMENTS BEFORE DEATH?

Because God is so good, HE conquers the lack of good in our lives.

Theologically we understand this to be true for us today because of what Jesus’ sacrifice, burial and resurrection:

Because of what Jesus did, there is hope for everyone….no matter how badly their lives have been pulverized and seem ungood!

NOW a heart that is chock full of evil…can be made good.
A life that has been hurt and stolen from…made right.
A childhood destroyed, restored.
A train-wrecked career can get back on track
A home gone bad can be made good.
A marriage ravaged by horrible betrayal, can be restored with trust, hope and love….
A person who has lost everything and is bound by horrible debilitating vices CAN HAVE A HOPE AND A FUTURE!

In ISRAEL’S darkest hour – in Babylonian captivity…lost…
Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It doesn’t matter WHO you are OR WHAT you’ve done OR HOW badly you’ve trashed your life…Jesus Christ will never turn you away…
you may not be very religious at all
but He is after you!
I LOVE THIS…I LOVE FAITH. I LOVE THAT THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

“DON’T GIVE UP…SOMEONE REALLY LOVES YOU…”

GET THIS:
This whole “re-gooding” thing has its crowning glory in the resurrection of Jesus.

ON THE CROSS JESUS took all the evil of the world…all the un-good; and then he took it to the grave.

When he came out in the resurrection…the theological reality is – THERE IS NO WAY UN-GOOD CAN STAY IN OUR LIVES – JESUS OVERCAME IT.

THE RESURRECTION IS THE GUARANTEE THAT ONLY GOOD WILL PREVAIL IN THE LIFE OF A PERSON WHO FOLLOWS JESUS!

ERGO
Rom. 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Everything that gets broken in our lives can be reconstructed because of the resurrection. Every evil thing becomes a seed for new life. – BULB.

No ‘EASY’ button…not simple…but what if that is true?
We believe around here that it is!

ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO START THE PROCESS—SAY “YES”

Living Sin Free

We were talking about SIN a couple of weeks ago…
Rom. 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

The wonderful news for all of us is that God has made a way for human beings to be free from destructive beliefs and behaviors—we do not have to live our lives bound up and out of control.

Last time, I was iterating 5 perspectives that will help a person walk out from the influence of prevailing sin:

1) Recognize SIN has been conquered in Jesus Christ

Paul writes:
Rom. 8:2
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

If patterns of sin are going to lose dominion or power over us…we have to RECOGNIZE that, legally, SIN HAS BEEN CONQUERED (even if it seems very alive in your life)

JESUS made a way for the monkeys on your back to get off your back…so you can be free to choose wisely and righteously…

2) The second key perspective is that the defeat of sin is only possible through a vital, living relationship w/Jesus Christ (each of us has to work through what that means for us…how do YOU connect w/Jesus with your personality and background and experience), WE MUST CONNECT WITH JESUS BECAUSE SIN IS BIGGER than us (in our human effort alone)

Heb 2:18 Because he [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
We need help in this.

God isn’t looking for US to decide to just stop sinning…there is no easy button!

THE HARD, COLD FACT is: All of us have AREAS OF WEAKNESS (addictions) that are bigger than us…

Heb. 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

I TOLD YOU THAT something in me doesn’t want to accept this. As far back as I can remember (15)…something in me has always thought…I can beat sin in my life…just a little more commitment…just a little more time in prayer or in the Word of God…
And then, when I found myself stumbling…I would think, “I should have been able to avoid this…” and then back to, “I could, if…”

The “shoulds” and “coulds” defined my relationship w/God.
But you never walk free from sin’s power with shoulds/coulds.

Some people get stuck in some pretty horrible things.
Things that others snub at.
i. Sins like
1. Anger
2. Alcoholism
3. Chemical dependency
4. Eating disorders
5. Lust
6. Envy
7. Embezzlement

OTHERS GET STUCK IN SINS THAT DON’T SEEM LIKE SINS.
HOLY SINS.

ii. Like:
1. Addicted to Pride – better than everyone else and you know it
2. Addicted to Perfectionism = looks like discipleship or being a good mom
3. Addicted to Worry = looks like concern and compassion
4. Judgmentalism = discernment
5. Favoritism

But the truth is everybody gets stuck.

Wherever we find ourselves, we have to recognize that there is an “area” of wrong that is BIGGER than us—stronger than our ability to manage.

So, if you are going to walk free from sin, recognize (NUMBER ONE) that SIN HAS BEEN CONQUERED
TWO – SIN IS BIGGER THAN US—WE NEED JESUS!

3) [THIS ONE SEEMS ODD AT FIRST] SIN isn’t the major issue with God—IT IS AN ISSUE…HE DOESN’T WANT US LIVING IN SIN BECAUSE IT DESTROYS US….BUT IT ISN’T THE MAJOR ISSUE. WHY?

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED THAT MAKES OUR SIN SEEM LIKE NOTHING in the eyes of God. THE CROSS. The Cross is bigger

2 CO. 5:19 NEW LIFE VERSION
God was in Christ. He was working through Christ to bring the whole world back to Himself. God no longer held men's sins against them. And He gave us the work of telling and showing men this.

1John 2:1-2
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Through the cross God’s mercy is stronger than our sin (like a dad/mom—God sees potential)

PSA 103:10-14
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion (mercy) on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

For sin to no longer dominate your life, recognize:
ONE – SIN HAS BEEN CONQUERED
TWO – SIN IS BIGGER THAN US!
Three—Sin is not the major issue w/God

4) The major issue w/God is the issue of BELIEF—BELIEF is what God is after

This is a tad hard to grasp, but Christianity is NOT a human development deal…

We are not supposed to pray to make ourselves better OR TO STOP SINNING, we need to pray to know God better.

Eph. 1:17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Phil. 3:10-11
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Knowing JESUS is the ticket...not fixing ourselves!

WHY?
There is a law of LIKENESS espoused in the Scripture:
1 John 3:2
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

OLD COUPLE IN MILWAUKEE AIRPORT…

Psa. 17:15 And I — in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Faith is NOT a self-development mission, it is NOT about us living in self-analysis and beating ourselves into looking like Jesus…it’s about GETTING TO KNOW GOD…looking for God.
When we see him THERE IS TRANSFORMATION!

2 Co. 3:17-18 NEW AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Here is the skinny:
Gal. 3:1-4 THE MESSAGE VERSION
You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.
2Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? 3Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? 4Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE TO BELIEVE:
a. Believe that Sin has been conquered (hard when you are stuck)
b. Believe that SIN is bigger than me (I’m a loser)—If I just try harder…pray more…cultivate a stronger commitment
c. Believe that SIN is not the major issue w/God==that the Cross is bigger” in God’s view than YOU

DARE TO BELIEVE THIS:
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

i. This Obviates shame
ii. Obviates guilt

You and I have no right to be full of shame and guilt…
IF WE DO…WE ARE SAYING THAT WE BELIEVE what WE do is greater than what Jesus did—

I’ve lost my way in my faith before…it about destroyed my whole life…the hardest thing to believe when you fail is that this isn’t ABOUT YOU…that the cross is bigger!

For sin to no longer dominate your life, recognize:
ONE – SIN HAS BEEN CONQUERED
TWO – SIN IS BIGGER THAN US!
Three—Sin is not the major issue w/God
Four-Belief is the issue!

5) There is a way of escape designed by God UNIQUE to you

1 Co. 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

This often involves some complexity

IT IS TRUE THAT SOMETIMES freedom from compulsive things comes instantly:
DARYL BURDICK…SMOKING!
VS.
JOYCE MEYER
Vs.
Chip Acker (came to me…there is a way out…)

I know some who have been deeply helped by AA.
Others don’t get it that way…
Pastor friend told me of a lady w/rocking horses…

I don’t know what your way out is, but there is one!

It may not be instant for you:
1-800-DELIVERANCE

1) It may involve God showing you how you are triggered towards that inappropriate behavior and how to redirect at those trigger points…

2) IT may involve the discovery of THE ACHE…

Psa. 63:1 (captures this)
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

SOMETHING IN US ACHES FOR EDEN…FOR PERFECTION…WE WERE DESIGNED FOR A PERFECT WORLD…

sin is a medication of THE ACHE
WE MEDICATE…

HERE IS ONE MORE COMPLEXITY…this one will make you nervous…

The Bible talks very explicitly about the idea that there is a literal devil and that he has this army-like group of demons.

Paul TALKS about the devil and the demonic and says there is some kind of structure they work within:
Eph. 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against [here is their hierarchical structure] the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms [devil/demons].

Paul also says the demonic seeks to influence and control people.

We see this in a simple way with a wrong influence during a conversation:

Matt. 16:22-23
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

TO WILD, WILD WEST DEVILS:
Luke 8:26-37
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” [these things have names!—THIS IS ON THE LIST OF THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO BBBBBHBBHHHHHH]
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

Demonic beings are TALKING in this story…does anyone else think that is weird????
These beings have PERSONHOOD.
And they influence in various ways…

So, what are demons?
We don’t know exactly.
The Bible talks about them as being actual spiritual entities.
It talks about them as having various characteristics. Pretty eerie.

The Bible talks about:
• Unclean Spirits
• Foul Spirits
• Lying Spirits
• Seducing Spirits
• Religious spirits
• An antichrist Spirit
• Perverse Spirits
• Familiar Spirits
• Etc.

And these spirits or demons messed w/people:
1Sam. 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

ARE THERE STILL ANY OF THESE TORMENTING DEMONS ON THE EARTH TODAY?
WHAT IF SOME FOLKS WHO ARE BOUND DEEPLY IN SIN HAVE THE AID OF THE DEMONIC IN THEIR BONDAGE?
THERE ARE UNCLEAN SPIRITS
SEDUCING SPIRITS
LYING SPIRITS

ARE THERE COMPULSIVE SPIRITS?

NRB in Dallas and the Baptist guy talking to me [Wes]…
JAMES ROBISON—BAPTIST EVANGELIST AND LUSTFUL THOUGHTS WHILE HE WAS PREACHING…GETTING WORSE…

I’m not trying to freak you out here…I’m trying to say there is some complexity in all this spiritual stuff.

The Bible is clear that even believers can give place to the demonic in their lives…

1Tim. 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Eph. 4:27
And do not give the devil a foothold.

2Tim. 2:26
And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

I don’t’ think a Christian can be demon possessed but he/she can certainly be oppressed!

In all fairness, there are many committed followers of Jesus who think talk of a literal devil and demons is too fantastical and that they are not real personalities but metaphorical descriptions of how our brains and bodies go crazy in a fallen world…they believe that because Jesus was in a pre-scientific world he used the metaphors and analogies of the demonic so that he would be understood those people.
Even if that is how you view this… it’s obvious that something bigger than us influences us negatively and we need Jesus’ presence and activity in the human life to help clear up whatever it is, demons or chemicals or whatever.

Here is the good news about the demonic: Lordship of Jesus! Word of God…demons flee!

Here is why this is important to the freedom from sin issue…
EVEN THOUGH FREEDOM IS OURS…THERE IS COMPLEXITY IN GETTING OUT OF SIN…
BECAUSE OF THAT…WE WILL STRUGGLE TO SOME DEGREE TILL DEATH…

Heb. 12:4
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

IN ANY GIVEN WEEK WE WILL BE STRUGGLING WELL OR STRUGGLING POORLY.

The things we’ve talked about this morning will help you struggle well.

AGAIN:
For sin to no longer dominate your life, recognize:
ONE – SIN HAS BEEN CONQUERED
TWO – SIN IS BIGGER THAN US!
Three—Sin is not the major issue w/God
Four-Belief is the issue!
FIVE – there is an escape!

Religiously Transmitted Diseases

When a person crosses the threshold of faith, it is always wonderful. There is a truckload of freedom, energy and hope for the future. But we humans have a way of messing up whatever God gives us. He gave us Eden; we got thrown out. He gives us grace and forgiveness; we flip it into crushing legalism. I remember the hour I first believed. It was sweet. It was innocent. It was charged with life and hope. I don’t think God ever intended that to change. Yet for many it has.

Religiously Transmitted Diseases talks about why I think that is true. It talks about why people get tired in their faith. Why they lose energy. Why they lose their sense of purpose and get jammed with a sense of dread. At one time or another, every one of us has been infected with an RTD—a religiously transmitted disease. Debilitating beliefs and unchecked motives become like viruses to the human soul. These viral maladies always cause rich, vibrant faith to be replaced by a weak anemic kind more fit for the hospital than the church.
These diseases turn what God intended to be innocent and surprising into something sullied and tedious. The good news is RTDs can be cured.

There is always a way back to a healthy spirituality where we recapture the joy, passion, and hope of the hour we first believed.

Sin Free

Rom. 6:14
"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

We have no shot to win over sin IF we think OBEYING LAW is the key!

Rom. 7:7-8
"What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead."

Paul isn’t saying the Law is BAD…he is saying it had a specific purpose:

Rom. 7:13
"Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful."

THE Law POINTS OUT SIN…it doesn’t prevent it. Obeying doesn’t prevent sin because it is impossible to obey the law totally.

Gal. 2:16
"Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified."

SIN or missing the MARK is not failing to fulfill a bunch of rules and performance standards…so, what is it?

The MARK WE MISS is found in:

Gen. 1:26-27
"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

The MARK is the Imago Dei…
Missing the mark is being LESS that that.

Augustine claimed SIN is the human will gone bad.

The human WILL, according to Augustine was designed to be the FACILTATOR OF THE PURPOSE OF GOD. It was always to be a servant…

The force of SIN is an amazing NEGATIVE POWER IN THE HUMAN LIFE—AND IT CONTROLS MOST PEOPLE.

Paul alludes to this:
Rom. 7:14-15-24
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am!"

HOW IN THE WORLD DO WE BREAK UP THAT KIND OF POWER?

5 perspectives that sort of build on each other…

1) Recognize SIN has been conquered in Jesus Christ

Rom. 7:24-25
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Rom. 6:8-14
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

2) Recognize that SIN is conquered ONLY through a vital, living relationship w/Jesus Christ, it is still bigger than us (in our human effort alone)

a. COLD FACT: All of us have AREAS OF WEAKNESS (addictions)

Heb. 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Some people get stuck in some pretty horrible things.
Things that others snub at.
But the truth is everybody gets stuck.

SOME GET STUCK IN SINS THAT DON’T SEEM LIKE SINS.
HOLY SINS.
i.e. Sin to look down on people…
but I look down on people who look down on people…holier sin.

i. Some are stuck in holy sins like:
1. Addicted to Pride – better than everyone else and you know it
2. Addicted to Perfectionism = looks like discipleship or being a good mom
3. Addicted to Worry = looks like concern and compassion
4. Judgmentalism = discernment
5. Favoritism

ii. Others are stuck in less holy sins like
1. Anger
2. Alcoholism
3. Chemical dependency
4. Eating disorders
5. Lust
6. Envy
7. Lust for money/power

Wherever we find ourselves, we have to recognize that there is an “area” of wrong that is BIGGER than us—stronger than our ability to manage.

NO ONE CAN NAVIGATE THROUGH THE FIRE SWAMP OF SIN ON THEIR OWN…

And if you do steer clear, you have to fight the pride of steering clear (another fire hole).

Rom. 3:10
"As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;"

Rom. 3:23
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

IN ORDER TO LIVE ABOVE SIN, YOU AND I MUST ADMIT OUR SIN…

The first step in the effective 12 STEP program for people with addictions:
1) We admit we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives are unmanageable.

Very biblical.

3) [THIS ONE SEEMS ODD AT FIRST] SIN isn’t the major issue with God—IT IS AN ISSUE…HE DOESN’T WANT US LIVING IN SIN BECAUSE IT DESTROYS US….BUT IT ISN’T THE MAJOR ISSUE. WHY?

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED THAT MAKES OUR SIN SEEM LIKE NOTHING. THE CROSS. The Cross is bigger

2 CO. 5:19 NEW LIFE VERSION
"God was in Christ. He was working through Christ to bring the whole world back to Himself. God no longer held men's sins against them. And He gave us the work of telling and showing men this."

1John 2:1-2
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

Through the cross God’s mercy is stronger than our sin (like a dad/mom—God sees potential)

PSA 103:10-14
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion (mercy) on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."

4) Belief is the issue w/God—it’s what God is after
a. Belief that Sin has been conquered (hard when you are stuck)
b. Belief that SIN is bigger than me (I’m a loser)—If I just try harder…pray more…cultivate a stronger commitment
c. Belief that SIN is not the major issue w/God==that the Cross is bigger” in God’s view than YOU

1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

i. This Obviates shame
ii. Obviates guilt

You and I have no right to be full of shame and guilt…equals a statement that what you did is greater than what Jesus did—I’ve lost my way in my faith…about destroyed my whole life…hardest thing…the cross is bigger!

5) There is a way of escape designed by God UNIQUE to you

1 Co. 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

a. Involves complexity (throw up in a bag or magical commitment)
i. Find trigger points/Redirect those trigger points
ii. INVOLVES CONFESSION TO TRUSTWORTH OTHER
b. THE TRUTH IS we will always struggle—till death…but we will either struggle well or struggle poorly