Follow Jesus Series #5

Our True Source of Clarity

Text: Matthew 7:6-20

Introduction

At the end or your life, how many of you who are believers would like to be able to say that you did nothing short of treat every one of God’s children with a sacrificial love?

How many of you would love to be able to say that you ended life with confidence of being on the path of life?

How many of you would love to say with confidence that you were able to tell the difference between “true” and “false” teaching?

If you will listen to Jesus today, you can very well make all three declarations.

1) God Provides Wisdom

Verses 7-12

Walking with God is a walk of prayer, fellowship and faith.

These three things GROW as you gain a deeper understanding of God.

It has been said, “It is better to have a small faith in a great God than a great faith in a small God.”

The primary purpose for Jesus teaching this principal of continuing to petition the Father, is for us to gain the best clarity for our judgement of others.

You and I are always able to make mistakes.

However, God judges PERFECTLY!

James 1:5 “5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Jesus presses the disciple to never stop seeking the Father for wisdom.

Spiritual discernment is something that has grown weak in the Christian’s mind.

When you settle for weak discernment, you separate yourself from a greater work for God.

When you understand the goodness of God, you apply Jesus’ teaching.

A particular wise guiding principal Jesus gives us is found in verse 12

There are several parallels to this statement:

Rabbi Hillel said, “Whatever is displeasing to you do not do to your neighbor.”

Book of Tobit it reads, “What thou thyself hatest, to no man do.”

Confucius said, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”

Jesus is the only one who words this in a positive and sacrificial form.

If you practise this, you will refuse to say or do anything that would bring harm to another believer.

This principal prevents us from becoming proud and critical.

Applying this principal helps us release Jesus love; a love that will cost you something.

2) Two Ways & Two Teachings

Verses 13-20

A. Lets first look at the “two ways”

I am so thankful Jesus turns down the noise of the worlds wisdom and teaches us the truth!

Let’s establish what is at stake here: LIFE & DESTRUCTION.

Why is it so difficult to enter the gate Jesus is pointing you too?

It don’t meet the criterial to make the top 10 destinations of the world.

The path to reach that gate is not a path the majority takes.

You can’t go “as you are.”

Entering LIFE is a way that is narrow, lonely and costly.

Narrow??? — Jesus is the only way

Lonely??? — The world will hate you

Costly??? — Can’t keep your sin and worldliness

What is a good indicator that you entered the right gate?

Did your past profession lead you to sacrifice?

A true profession to follow Jesus will always cost you.

Too many who “trust” Jesus never leave the sins and appetites of the broad road behind.

They mistakenly think they have chosen the “easy christianity” road.....it doesn’t exist!!!

YOU CAN’T WALK TWO ROADS AT THE SAME TIME.

A true believer is never done making decisions that are consistent with his/her commitment to discipleship.

Quote: (describing those who are mediocre) “We are like people all suited out in deep-sea diving gear marching bravely to pull out plugs in bath tubs” — Peter Marshall

Bishop Fulton Sheen said, “The difference between a river and a swamp is that the river has borders and the swamp has none.”

When one says yes to Christ he must also say no to other things so that he can be true to the yes. Myron S. Augsburger and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Matthew, vol. 24, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982), 18.

B. Secondly, the two trees

DON’T MISS the level of danger Jesus is speaking of regarding false teaching.

This is particular to those who are within the church.

Quote: “More harm has been done to the church by termites on the inside than by woodpeckers on the outside!” — Vance Havner

Jesus gives us direction on how to differentiate between false and true teaching.

Their fruit will always give them away.

Remember, it takes a tree time to produce it’s fruit. When it does, the tree is unmistable!

A false teacher is often spotted when watching his character.

They magnify themselves and exploit people.

They teach a saving grace that is separate from God

They teach a salvation based on “ethics” and not on a work of the Holy Spirit.

For a believer and/or teacher to be a “narrow gate” (genuine Christian), their life will be changed.

Those who teach or follow false teaching will never experience a changed life.