BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE -3

HAVE EVERYONE TURN TO PSALM 16- (NOT ON THE SCREEN NOW - I WANT YOU TO SEE IT)

THE STAND FOR THE READING OF THE WORD (READ EZRA THIS WEEK - THEY STOOD)

SO LET US BEGIN THE PRACTICE OF REVERENCING THE WORD OF GOD BY STANDING AS IT IS READ BEFORE IT IS PREACHED

Psalm 16:1 ESV

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Psalm 16:2 ESV

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

Psalm 16:3 ESV

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

Psalm 16:4 ESV

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

Psalm 16:5 ESV

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

Psalm 16:6 ESV

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Psalm 16:7 ESV

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

Psalm 16:8 ESV

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 16:9 ESV

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

Psalm 16:10 ESV

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

TODAY’S MESSAGE

BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE: “Kingdom Ambassadors on Mission to Reflect and Restore Joy In the Lord”

LET ME HAVE YOU PONDER SOME “WHAT IF’S:

WHAT IF

1. I TOLD YOU THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COUD DO IN AND WITH YOUR LIFE IS TO PURSUE YOUR JOY?

WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

2. WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT GOD WANTED YOU TO HAVE AND EXPERIENCE JOY

HOW WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

3. BUT WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT THE JOY YOU WANT AND THE JOY GOD WANTS FOR YOU IS NOT A PURSUIT… BUT A GIFT FROM GOD WHO IS IN RELENTLESS AND PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF GIFTING YOU JOY?

WOULD YOU RECEIVE IT?

HERE IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN CHRIST: THEY WERE MADE FOR JOY!

BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE is The active and aggressive push of the church’s modeling and messaging of the love of God against the advancement and spread of the schemes of the enemy

WE LEARNED IN THE LAST MESSAGE:

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

THE WORD APPEAL CONVEYS THE IDEA OF CONSOLATION OR TO CONSOLE

YOU CONSOLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED LOSS, AND OR WHO ARE IN DISTRESS

THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST

HAVE SUFFERED LOSS AND ARE DISTRESSED - THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

WHAT THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST NEED - WHAT THEIR SOUL’S ARE DEMANDING, IS THE CHURCH TO BE CALLING THEM TO THE PLACE OF TRUE JOY - A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST

BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE IS NEEDED BECAUSE JOY IS ABSENT

SO WE MUST BE “Kingdom Ambassadors on Mission to Reflect and Restore Joy In the Lord”

1. UNBELIEVERS NEED TO BE RESCUED FROM THE PERPETUAL PURSUIT OF SORROW (FAKE JOY)

Psalm 16:4 ESV

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

SORROW: PAIN…WORRY

FALSE JOY CAUSES YOU TO

Mask pain

Manage worry

1. EMOTIONAL, RELATIONAL PAIN

Psalm 30:5 ESV

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

2. WORRY/ANXIETY

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Jeremiah 2:11 ESV

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

Jeremiah 2:12 ESV

Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord,

Jeremiah 2:13 ESV

for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

THIS IS SAID BY GOD ABOUT HIS PEOPLE. BUT IT IS TRUE OF US WHEN WE CHOOSE OTHER THAN THE LORD

FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST ALL THEY HAVE BEFORE THEM ARE BRKEN CISTERNS THAT CANNOT HOLD WATER

HERE IS WHY THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST NEED TO BE CONSOLED”

THEY KEEP GOING TO THE SAME WELLS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SEE CHRIST THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER -CHRIST

THEY ARE CONSTANTLY SETTLING FOR DECEPTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE SUBSTITUTES

ONE MAN WROTE THESE WORDS ABOUT THE PURSUIT OF SUBSTITUTES:

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

THEY ARE REJECTING JESUS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SEE HIM

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

BUT,

WE HAVE THEIR CONSOLATION

WE HAVE THEIR COMFORT; WE HAVE THEIR JOY

WE MUST BEHOLD JESUS MORE AND MORE THAT WE MIGHT BECOME MORE AND MORE:

WE MUST ACT IN BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE:

We must be active and aggressive in modeling and messaging of the love of God against the advancement and spread of the schemes of the enemy

WE MUST, DAILY, JOIN WITH CHRIST AND BE:

“Kingdom Ambassadors on Mission to Reflect and Restore Joy In the Lord”

I WAS CONVICTED THIS WEEK BY THIS WORD IN PS 119:136-

Psalm 119:136 ESV

My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

HOW THAT HIT ME?

I DO NOT WEEP OVER THE DESTINATION OF THOSE WHO KEEP REJECTING THE DEMONSTRATED LOVE OF GOD IN THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN

THEY ARE SEEKING IT, BUT PAUL TELLS US, THEIR COMFORT IS IN THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST

2. UNBELIEVERS CAN ONLY FIND JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE JESUS CHRIST

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

HERE IS WHAT DAVID IS TEACHING

WHEN ONE IS IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD - CLOSE TO HIM (IN HIS PRESENCE AND AT HIS RIGHT HAND) THERE IS FULL JOY AND PLEASURES FOREVERMORE

THERE IS THE TRUE AND ABIDING ENJOYMENT IN AND OF GOD IN THIS LIFE - AND ALSO THE LIFE TO COME.

IT IS NOT POINTING TO ONLY HEAVEN - DAVID IS TEACHING US THAT THE DESIGN AND PURPOSE AND INTENTION OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES IS THAT WE HAVE AND EXPERIENCE JOY

PRESENCE MEANS “FACE”: SPEAKS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD

PAUL TEACHES US THIS TRUTH

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

JESUS AND JOY

John 15:11 ESV

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 17:13 ESV

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD: IS CHRIST, ANNNNND - NOW THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS US.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

GOD’S APPEAL COMES THROUGH US

WHEN WE COME TO MEET PEOPLE THE AIM IS THAT THEY SHOULD MEET CHRIST

THIS EXISTS, FIRST, IN THE HOME

IT EXISTS, NEXT, AMONG THE BODY OF BELIEVERS (LOCAL AND GLOBAL)

IT MUST EXTEND TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST

SO DAVID SAYS THIS:

PSALM 16-8-

Psalm 16:8 ESV

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

I PUT BEFORE ME AS OFTEN AS I CAN, THE TRUTH OF WHO JESUS IS FOR ME: MY SAVIOR FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN; THEY ONE WHO HAS FORGIVEN ME OF ALL OF MY SIN AND SHAME

THIS IS WHAT WE PUT BEFORE UNBELIEVERS WHO WANT JOY, ARE SEEKING JOY BUT ARE IN THE PROVERBIAL RAT RACE OF MENTAL, MORAL, RELATIONAL INSANITY

JOY AND PLEASURE PUT THESE IN THE TITLE SOMEWHERE

QUESTION: DOES JESUS MAKE YOU HAPPY?

we cannot give what we do not possess

OR BETTER SAID THIS WAY

We cannot give the emotions which we have not experienced and do not have

SO TO BE KINDOM AMBASSADORS ON MISSION WITH CHRIST TO REFLECT AND RESTORE JOY IN THE LORD

WE MUST SET HIS FACE BEFORE US, DAILY, TO BE REMINDED OF HOW INCREDIBLY LOVED WE ARE AND HOW INCREDIBLY NEEDY SO MANY ARE TO HAVE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIFTED

People will perish and be eternally separated from God because they have rejected the CONTINUOUS offer of His love that was demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

I HIGHLIGHT THE WORD CONTINUOUS BECAUSE SIN IS NOT EASY TO GIVE UP BECAUSE SIN WILL NOT EASILY GIVE US UP

PLEASE HEAR THAT POINT.

PAUL SAYS

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

BLIND MEANS YOU CANNOT SEE! BUT SEEING IS A PROCESS

MARK 8/22-25

Mark 8:22 ESV

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.

Mark 8:23 ESV

And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”

Mark 8:24 ESV

And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”

Mark 8:25 ESV

Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

SO BEING BLIND IS NOT THE END OF THEIR STORY AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THEIR END

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

THEY ARE BLIND TO JESUS AND, THEREFORE, THEY ARE BLIND TO JOY!

BUT KNOW THIS TRUTH

IN THIS SERIES WITHIN THE SERIES WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A WAY TO SEE HOW THE CHURCH MUST VIEW ITS ROLE IN SOCIETY -

LUKE 2-25

2 COR 5-20

CONSOLATION (COMFORT)

Simeon was waiting for the CONSOLATION

WE ARE THE VISIBLE SIGNS THAT COMFORT HAS COME

WE HAVE TO SPEAK CONSOLATION (COMFORT)

ANY AND EVERYTHING IS IRRELEVANT UNTIL WE SEE ITS RELEVANCE

WHEN PEOPLE HEAR YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE GOSPEL IS IT LOVE THAT THEY ARE REJECTING? OR IS IT WORDS OF CONDEMNATION THEY ARE REJECTING?

LUKE 2-25

2 COR 5-20

CONSOLATION (COMFORT)

Simeon was waiting for the CONSOLATION

WE ARE THE VISIBLE SIGNS THAT COMFORT HAS COME

WE HAVE TO SPEAK CONSOLATION (COMFORT)

LAST SERMON

WE ARE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST

PAUL TEACHES US: 2 COR 5:19-21-

2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV

that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, GOD MAKING HIS APPEAL THROUGH US. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

WE ARE NOT AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST BUT “FOR” CHRIST.

OF = POSSESSION, BELONG TO

FOR = PURPOSE AND REASON WHY

WE ONLY ACT LIKE WE BELONG TO HIM AND NOT LIKE WE ARE FOR HIM (ON PURPOSE WITH HIM)

SO THE PURPOSE OF BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST IS TO JOIN HIM IN HIS PURPOSE BY BEING LIKE HIM TO THE WORLD

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE: BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE

SEE IT AS … JOY

DEFINE JOY FROM A SALVATION POINT OF VIEW

PS 16-4-

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

GOD MAKING HIS APPEAL

WHAT IS THAT APPEAL?

TO ADMONISH AND CONSOLE

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament II. Comforters.

But comfort is also given to the dying,37 the elderly,38 those left behind at separation,39 exiles, for whom a special genre of consolatory literature arose,40 the victims of injustice,41 and those afflicted by all kinds of misfortunes (blindness, defeat, the overthrow of their country, slavery etc.).

IN OTHER WORDS - THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST, ARE NOT IN NEED OF A CONDEMNING WORD, BUT A WORD OF CONSOLATION

TO CONSOILE IS TO FEEL BAD FOR THE OTHER BECASUE OF THEIR PREDICAMENT, EXPERIENCE OR THEIR LOSS.

HERE IS THE REAL PROBLEM OF THE WORLD - NOT SINNERS - BUT SAINTS WHO FEEL NO CONSOLATION FOR THOSE GRIPPED BY AND HELD HOSTAGE BY SIN

JESUS DID - THAT IS WHY HE CAME; HE IS CALLED

When Mary and Joseph went to the temple in Jerusalem to follow the requirements of the law after the birth of Jesus, they met Simeon. THE SCRIPTURE THIS ABOUT HIM:

Luke 2:25 ESV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

In days when the nation was oppressed the faithful looked all the more intensely for the Deliverer who would solve their problems.

HERE IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE ABOUT THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST.

THEY ARE HURTING

THEY ARE DISTRESSED

THEY ARE

THE GOAL OF CONSOLING SOMEONE IS SEEKING TO MAKE THEM FEEL “BETTER”; TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN BE HAPPY…WHERE THEY CAN SEE THAT THIS MOMENT IS JUST A MOMENT.

WE JOIN IS AND SHARE THEIR GRIEF AND THEN, FROM THAT VANTAGE POINT, WE SHOW THEM A PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR PAIN THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO SEE AT THAT MOMENT

THEY CAN FIND A JOY THAT LIFTNS THEM ABOVE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES TO

END:

HERE IS WHY THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST ARE MISERABLE

YES, IT IS BECAUSE THEY KEEP DRINKING FOR CISTERNS THAT CANNOT HOLD WATER

BUT

HERE IS WHAT I KNOW TO BE THE REAL REASON WHY THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST ARE NOT EXPERIENCING BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE:

WE KEEP DRINKING FROM THE SAME BROKEN CISTERNS

THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN CHRIST ARE NOT HAPPY IN HIM. THOSE OF US IN CHRIST DO NOT BANK OUR HAPPINESS IN HIM. AND YET WE SHOULD BE THE MOST HAPPY/JOYFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. OUR SINS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY FORGIVEN!!!!

BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE- Kingdom Agents on Mission to Reform Worship And Restore Joy

ps 16. Also see her 2:11f

If I gave you 10k and told you that you were go to go and to bless 2 families you love that we’re struggling with $5k for their bills and that whatever was left over they could keep. WOULD YOU NOT BE EXCITED TO BLESS THEM?

Of course you would because you love them.

It would be a mission you would do because you would want them to have the joy they have been missing.

It WOULD BE A MISSION OF JOY TO SEE THEIR JOY!

The Pealmost says read Psalm 16

Restoring joy will not feel joyful to many because restoring joy means that worship must be reformed

ECOMING BY BEHOLDING: CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY OF CHRIST CENTERED WORSHIPERS

BASED ON THE MESSAGE FOR THIS MORNING I WILL ADD A WORD TO THAT TITLE THAT WE WILL KEEP

BECOMING BY BEHOLDING: CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY OF CHRIST CENTERED JOY-FILLED WORSHIPERS

I BELIEVE THAT AS WE GROW IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LOVED BY GOD OUR JOY INCREASES.

JOY IS INFECTIOUS AND INVITING

SERIES WITHIN THE SERIES:

Benevolent Sabotage exists because worship does not

WORSHIP: A life that increases in glad and joyful surrender to God and His purposes in the world because it’s heart and mind is continually overwhelmed by the sin crushing and sin erasing love of Christ.

LET’S REMEMBER WHAT WE MEAN BY BENEVOLENT SABOTAGE: A WORKING DEFINITION