Take Your Faith Personally

Our Theme for 2025 is “Live Like Jesus”

It comes out of a simple desire to follow Jesus - and to learn better what that means.

We are spending the entire year in the Gospel of Matthew.

Over the last several weeks we talked about divine healing, deliverance, forgiveness and being a disciple of Jesus.

Last week we talked about repentance and I dared you to hear Jesus’ message of change as a message to you - not just to other people.

This week Jesus is going to continue to challenge us as disciples - followers of Jesus - to practice our faith.

Remember that faith is not just believing in Jesus - that’s just the beginning.

It is following Jesus and becoming like Jesus.

That’s why we call this series “Live Like Jesus”

If you really have faith, you need to take it personally.

A few weeks ago, Karie and I were clicking through the channels looking for a movie and we happened upon a chic-flick, and old favorite of hers - and yes, I watched it too.

You’ve Got mail is a movie from 1998 starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Its about two book store owners who meet over the internet and of course they fall in love. Except in real life they are rivals who can’t stand each other. This is only possible because of the anonymity afforded by the internet - a new thing at the time. They have agreed not to share details about their personal lives which would betray their true identity.

At one point she is asking him for advice her business, him not knowing what sort of business she is in. He doesn’t know it, but he is the primary source of her frustration. And He gives her the advice that, “it’s not personal, it’s just business.” Which seems to be good advice until he finds out that his rival is the one he is talking to.

Then he has to go through the process of slowly opening his heart toward her so that they can eventually get together at the end of the movie. Sorry if I spoiled it for you. It’s not just business when you are in a relationship. It really is personal!

Faith is entering into a personal relationship with God.

It is not just a business transaction - it is very personal!

As we read through Matthew chapter 12, let us view the text through the lens of taking our faith personally.

Jesus compares and contrasts religion with relationship.

We do not just take steps, but we grow in understanding.

It is not just following rules, but understanding the principles behind the rules.

It is not just worshipping God, but understanding the heart of God.

It is not just doing what is good and right, but understanding God’s good purpose and your place in it.

This is a long chapter, so we will just be hitting the highlights.

Try to view it, not just as information, but as an invitation to take your faith personally.

Understand the principle behind the rules.

God cares about people.

Matthew 12:1–8 ESV

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Most of us are familiar with the ten commandments and the rule about keeping the sabbath - which for most American Christians is observed on Sunday.

Perhaps you can remember a time, as I do, when everything was shut down on Sunday.

Stores were closed, even gas stations, most restaurants - you wouldn’t go out to eat after church because that was making someone else work.

Orthodox Jews take Sabbath very seriously, even today if you go to Israel the elevators are put into “Sabbath mode” from Friday sundown through Saturday. They will literally stop at every floor and open the doors so that nobody has to push the buttons and violate the Sabbath.

So Jesus’ disciples are picking heads of grain, rubbing them between their hands and eating the kernels for a quick and easy snack.

The Pharisees call that “threshing grain” too much work for the Sabbath.

Jesus responds by citing how David broke the law by eating the consecrated bread when he was fleeing from Saul. - Nobody faults David for that.

Or what about the Priest in the temple - they work on the Sabbath - how is that not a problem?

When God led Israel out of Egypt and entered into covenant with them as His people He gave them laws and commandments so that they would know How to be in relationship with a Holy God.

Remember, God wanted to meet with the people, but they were afraid to meet with God.

Exodus 20:18–21 NLT

18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. 19 And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” 20 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” 21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.

The people are scared of God - and rightly so!

But God loves people!

He has gone to great lengths to reach out to us and to reveal Himself to us.

The rules are there for our benefit, to protect us from what might otherwise harm us.

People focus on rules, but God focuses on people.

Just like Israel at Sinai who said to Moses - “You talk to God - we will stand back here.”

Just tell us what to do and we will do it, but don’t expect us to understand why we are doing it.

Just let me live my life and go through the motions - this “God stuff is weird, scary and confusing”

Not to mention that rules are a better way to control people.

Its easier to just tell people what to do and what not to do than to explain everything to them.

God has spent a lot of time explaining Himself all throughout the Bible -

He doesn’t just say- “because I said so!”

So why should we?

What Jesus was saying to the Pharisees is essentially - you know the rules but you don’t know God.

God gave us the Sabbath for our benefit - but you are turning into something that doesn’t benefit anybody - except those who enforce the rules.

You are taking boundaries that are supposes to be helpful to people and making them ridiculously difficult.

You want to play this game of “gotcha!” - but to you its all a game.

You don’t understand why God gave us these rules

Or why God gave us the temple.

Or what any of this points to.

Jesus says, “If you understood any of this, you would know why I am here.”

God’s goal is restoration.

Matthew 12:9–14 ESV

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Here’s another example - Jesus heals a man whose hand doesn’t work properly - and they are worried about the fact that he didn’t do it during business hours.

Nobody ever said that you can’t heal on the Sabbath.

Believe me, if it ever occurred to them that such a healing could happen - they would have made a rule about it.

On the other hand, rules get set aside when there is an emergency.

First responders don’t take a day off - if someone is in trouble, they are on call - even on Sundays - or for Jews, even on Saturdays.

Trouble doesn’t take a day off, and when it doesn’t, neither can we.

I grew up on a farm. We were very particular about not working on Sundays, but the cows don’t milk themselves. We still had to do some work just to keep our animals healthy. And yes, sometimes that meant tending to an injured animal - even on a Sunday.

In our system of laws we also have what is called “legal principles.”

Legal principles are foundational documents which guide how we interpret and apply the law to various situation.

Example of legal principles are the articles of the constitution or the bill of rights.

And there are tens of thousands of cases which may be similar in some way to the one being decided and can be used to establish a legal precedent.

The idea is that legal principles serve to help judges be consistent in how they rule.

They are not supposed to just rule however they want to but to demonstrate a comprehensible and cohesive purpose to their ruling understanding that the founding documents have a goal in mind.

When God gave us the law, He also had a goal in mind.

And that goal was the restoration of the world and reconciliation of people to Himself.

The problem is that until Jesus came, we didn’t really understand God’s goal.

The Jews thought that God chose them just so they could be special.

There were many prophets who understood that God was bringing justice to the world, but they mostly saw justice as punishment for their enemies.

Only a few ever realized how much God wanted relationship with His creation.

Micah 6:8 CSB

8 Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

If you ever feel like being a follower of Jesus is just too hard - I would ask whether perhaps you have become to focused on the expectations of others rather than on walking with God?

Last week we talked about repentance and the chapter concluded with this reminder from Jesus.

Matthew 11:29–30 CEV

29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 30 This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

Life is hard enough without putting undue expectation on ourselves.

And Jesus is with you and He is for you.

And that is just the beginning of what it means to know God’s heart for you.

Understand the heart of God.

Matthew 12:15–21 ESV

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Matthew quotes Isaiah to show that Jesus’ heart and attitude toward people may not be what the religious leaders expected but it is consistent with the One that was prophesied.

Jesus showed them the heart of Father God.

And He shows us the heart of Father God.

God is not mad at you - He’s mad at sin and the way the world has twisted the truth.

God wants what is right and good but sometimes we don’t even know what that is.

We just have to trust Him, that He is good and He knows what He is doing.

God’s heart is for justice with mercy.

Matthew 12:22–32 ESV

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

This isn’t the first time we read about the Pharisees accusing Jesus of being in league with the devil.

Matthew seems to repeat this extraordinary detail unusually often because -

repetition in the Bible means emphasis!

Isn’t it unusual that Jesus is God in the flesh and yet the mistake Him for a demon?!

That’s just how twisted the truth had become.

Jesus came to set the record straight!

The only way God is going to overlook this is on the presupposition that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

God’s heart is for good and not evil.

Matthew 12:33–37 ESV

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Ok, so lets get this straight.

God is good.

Sin is bad.

Do you get that? (lets try it again.)

It’s not that hard - God created the world good.

God is the very definition of good.

We would even know what good is apart from God.

And therein lies the problem.

When we start to live and think apart from God - we start to get the two mixed up.

Isaiah 5:20 CSB

20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

How are we ever going to straighten out this mess!?

I don’t think that WE are going to accomplish any such thing.

It is only as we draw close to God that HE unravels the mess.

Understand your place in God’s plan.

Matthew 12:38–42 ESV

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

The Pharisees are not completely oblivious to the claims that Jesus is making - but acceptance comes with a huge risk - no one wants to take that risk.

So they ask for more proof - a sign!

They wanted Him do do another miracle.

First they tell Him not to do miracles, then they tell Him to do miracles - Oy Veh!

You want a miracle - God already gave you one - Jonah!

If you would just learn the lesson that Jonah learned you would understand.

Or how about the Queen of Sheba - she was an earnest seeker of truth.

And she was a complete foreigner!

If you would just earnestly seek the truth you would find it.

Search for the truth.

Matthew 12:43–45 ESV

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

So we know these verse have to do with deliverance but let’s consider what they say in this context.

A few verses ago they accused Jesus of using the devil’s power to cast out demons.

And now they are asking for more miracles because they seem to not understand the ones that they already have.

They know Jesus is an extraordinary teacher but they can’t comprehend what he is saying because they are starting from the premise that they already know more than Him.

After all, they are the religious leaders - the experts on God!

They could know the truth is they could just humble themselves enough to accept the truth.

It’s not that the truth about Jesus is too hard - its too simple.

And it means that they have to give up the idea that they already know it all.

So what Jesus says here is not just a teaching about demons -its actually a kind of parable.

A parable is a story with a specific point.

When a demon goes out of a person - where do they go?

The common knowledge of the day was that demons inhabit the wastelands.

They grew up as children being told not to go too far into the desert because that’s where the demons hang out.

So the demons go out into the desert and then what...

They get bored and start to miss the place that they left.

When they come back, they find and empty house and they move back in - with even more of their friends that they met hanging out in the desert!

So what is the point of the parable?

Don’t leave your house empty!

Let God fill you.

Just a few verses ago Jesus was warning the Pharisees not to blaspheme (speak evil of or offend) the Holy Spirit.

Why is that important? Because you need the Holy Spirit more than life itself!

They are so focused on doing everything right.

They want to make sure that they keep not just the commandments, but the commandments about the commandments - all 613 of them!

They want to totally get rid of and disassociate themselves from any kind of evil.

All this is good - but they forgot something!

You left the house empty - who or what is going to fill it?

The Holy Spirit? You just called me a demon -

How is that going to play out?

Now would be a good time to go back and listen to last weeks sermon on repentance.

They don’t know what they don’t know.

And it is time to turn around.

Matthew 12:46–50 ESV

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

A house is made for family - I believe these verses are still about filling the house.

Who are your family?

are they just the people who are related to you?

or are they the people who are in the house with you.

The people you do life with.

Notice the imagery - Jesus is in the house.

His family are outside the house.

He speaks to those who are inside the house with Him

And says, You are my family!

The question for us then is - who is inside your house?

I hope you kicked the devil out

But have you invited Jesus in?

Are you learning to know God?

Are you doing life with God?

Are you working with Him and not against Him.

It’s not just about rules and religion.

It’s personal...

It’s about having a relationship with God who cares for you and wants you to join Him in restoring the world to Himself.

Questions for reflection:

Are you taking your faith personally? Which bothers you more, that you messed up or that you broke God’s heart? Is your Christianity more about keeping rules or maintaining a relationship?

Lets try this another way. Is your understanding of the gospel focused primarily on avoiding sin and judgement? Or does God have a goal beyond just saving you? What happens to your faith when you consider God’s ultimate goal of restoration?

What is the condition of your metaphorical house today? Who is in there with you? Have you kicked the devil out? Have you invited the Holy Spirit in? Are you getting along like family?