Why? Why? Why?

Speaker: Rich Gartman

Series:

Scripture:

Main Idea:

Intro

Over my few years in life I have found that children, as great as they are, can aggravate the mess out of you at sometimes. This evening I want to talk about the time in a child’s life when this happens the most. I know some of you are probably thinking different things. Some might think, “it’s when they are young and wont sleep.” Or teenages, “enough said?” Maybe those terrible twos? No No No I got it, multiple children back seat of a vehicle, and going on a long trip.

Actually I want to talk about when they start asking the question why

Inquisitive Child: 'Why do my teeth wobble?' Dad: 'Because they need to come out.' IC:'Why?' Dad: 'To make room for new ones.' IC: 'What's wrong with the old ones?' Dad: 'They're not big enough for when you're grown up.' IC: 'Why?' Dad (getting a bit rattled): 'Because your mouth will be bigger.' IC: 'Why don't I just get more teeth the same?' Dad (really frustrated now): 'Oh, go and ask Mom!'

I love this age. It so cute for the fist ten thousand Whys? But it can get old, Quickly

Bible Verse

Acts 26:12-18 English Standard Version

12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Why do I do the things I do?

Explanation – Point 1

At some point we stop asking ourselves the Question why.

We as adult have come to the answer “that’s just the way it is” or “because so-in-so said so”

We as Christians need to often ask ourselves why we do things. Without this great question we will become stagnant

Paul here is asked by Christ “Why do you persecute me?”

Paul was raised Jewish. This is the thing many Jews especially in leadership were doing at the time, killing and or imprisoning christians.

He probably thought he was even doing it for the Lord. He thought himself a zealous man. But he never stopped to truly ask God if this is What he desired. He never stopped to ask God, Why am I doing this? Becase I know if he had he would have thing would have been very different.

But it takes God blinding him and calling to him to bring up the question and answer in such a way that it was obvious he wasnt doing right.

He ask why are you persecuting me. It becomes obvious Paul is in the wrong and that Christ is taking this sin as something against him. Which is actually all sin. Its why God told the OT prophets that the mean things being said and done to them was actully to God. All sin is towards God.

But not only are you persecuting me, you are resisting my direction with aggression.

A goad is a pointed stick used with cattle to prod them in the right direction. Often the animal would get mad at the sharp pokes and kick with its hind legs. This would just cause the animal more damage then the prodding would.

Illustration – Point 1

On January 1, 1929, a young man named Roy Riegels was playing football for Georgia Tech against UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In the second half of that game UCLA fumbled or lost the ball and Roy picked it up. He quickly ran down the field as fast as he could, all the way to the goal line for a touch down. There was just one problem. He had been running the wrong way and it was the UCLA goal line and not that of Georgia Tech. The game ended with UCLA the winner because Roy Riegels ran the wrong way. (A story told by Evangelist Bobby Murr)

Application – Point 1

The good news is God doesnt lose, but Paul was running the wrong way. Have you ever thought you was doing the right thing only to find that you never actually asked God?

Preacher in Loxley? or Missionary in China saving thousands

Job you took (really it was money not God)

Movie you saw (Teacher at UM)

Church you attend?

Bible Verse – Point 2

Colossians 3:23 -English Standard Version

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Always Ask Why

Explanation – Point 2

There are 5 different areas we need to start asking ourselves why in.

Church – This is a huge groups of Why’s

from why do I go to this church or that church why should I be involved in this ministry or that ministry Why do I sing this and Why do I read that

Work – This one hits home for me

why work here or there why should I advance or not Why should I quit Why should I stay

Friends

Why should this one be my friend Why shouldn’t this one Why should I spend less time with this friend Why should I spend more time with this one

Media

Why should I see or not see this movie? Why should I listen or not listen to that music Why should I read or not read that book

Beliefs

Why do I believe this or that Why do I believe it is truth Why do I understand scripture as do Why why why why why

Illustration – Point 2

A friend once asked Isidor I. Rabi, a Nobel prize winner in science, how he became a scientist. Rabi replied that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day.  She wasn’t so much interested in what he had learned that day, but she always inquired, “Did you ask a good question today?” “Asking good questions,” Rabi said, “made me become a scientist.” (Source unknown).

Application – Point 2

We have to start lining ourselves up with God and not our desires. This is hard. I struggle with this at times. but we have to do this through prayer and bible reading. Through patience and love. To often people line themselves up with themselves and the problem is Paul himself, after becoming a christian, says this

Romans 7:15-20 - English Standard Version 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Did you choose your Job on pay, availbilty, desire, interest, or did you go before God to help lead you. Well God opened the door. I have served at churches that I believe now the door was open but not the direction God wanted me.

Friends - Hard to love people? Weird? Faulkner vollyball

Movies - Its less bad, This one gets me too by the way

Beliefs - I wasnt raised Baptist

I have often had to ask the question to many a person when they tell me what they believe, I would ask Why? I get responces like because that’s what the bible says. Then I ask where? I don’t know

Or that’s what the pastor says.

Or that’s what we have always done.

Conclusion

Many Times as parents we end with answers like because I said so or that’s just the way it is. Sometimes we have to take this answer from God, but never should we just accept it from man.