Right Call, Wrong Voice

Can we hear the right calling and listen to the wrong voice?

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Two weeks ago we started our winter series and we started off by studying our opponent and what our opponents goal is. How the devil will use scriptures to lead us astray and betray God. Today we are going to look into what happens when we have a calling, accept that calling, how to protect that calling, and how the devil can intercept, lead astray, and even kill our calling. We will look at what the devil does to us after we fall for His voice instead of God’s. To do that I can think of no better person to study than Judas, someone who was literally called by Jesus to follow him and be one of His disciples. Fun fact we are all called to be disciples, disciples are those who follow Jesus, which we are all called to do.

So who is Judas? Well as mentioned before Judas was one of the 12 Apostles. Judas was in charge of the money bag for the group, Judas was filled with covetousness and he often stole from that bag although he was never confronted. Which makes sense why he betrayed Jesus for money. Let’s look further though. Jesus knew who was going to betray him. John 6:64 “But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)” This shows that Jesus knew who was going to betray him and John 6:70 “Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”” This confirms that Jesus knew who was going to betray him. Jesus knew but He still choose to have Judas follow Him and Judas choose to follow Jesus.

Jesus knows who is going to follow Him and is going to live for Him in eternity. Romans 8:29–30 “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” We are all called to follow Jesus, we all have that calling, that phone is always ringing with that call.

Jesus gives us each the option to follow Him just as He did the original 12. Judas accepted that call, one that was literally from God. Judas was a sheep that followed Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the shepherd in our lives also.

Judas followed Jesus for three years and during that time Judas started to become corrupted by greed and started to focus on himself instead of Jesus. He became distracted by earthly things such as money, acts, and notoriety. We see his greed start to show in John 12:1–8 “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.””

Judas was more concerned on the earthly thing of money and what that perfume was worth than actually the act that Mary was performing with the perfume. Martha wiped Jesus feet with her hair after anointing Him with a perfume that cost a years wages. I mean think about that. Imagine walking around in a desert all day in sandals. Imagine just how dirty Jesus’ feet were. Look at your shoes and how dirty they are and we don’t even live in a desert. Then imagine spending your yearly salary on a perfume, anoint Jesus with it, and then wipe His feet with your hair. That is what you call a good and faithful servant. How many of us would be like Judas in that situation? Questioning why that money was spent on perfume instead of the poor. Saying that the money should have gone elsewhere all while taking money from others and spending it on ourselves. Focusing so much on budgeting and planning with a bad heart allowing the enemy to work within you all while serving with the Messiah. Focusing so much on finances and money Judas was overcome with greed and that is where the enemy came in with a stronghold and used that stronghold to take over the line that was between Judas and God.

Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He looked for the instant satisfaction of money. He sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver which in that time was about 4 months of labor. He sold Jesus for not even half a year of labor. He spent three years with Jesus but valued Him and His teachings at 4 months of labor. Those coins today are worth only 100-200 dollars. They say the modern day equivalent of purchasing power of 30 silver coins is $25,000-$30,000. Now that is a decent amount of money until you stop and think about it. That might get you a used car. That would pay your bills for a few months and groceries. One thing is for sure though, that money will not last more than a few months. Again it comes back to instant gratification that earthly things give us and that we often go after. The next race, the next win light, the next new part, the next raise, the next earthly possession. All to satisfy our flesh. We talked about how the devil studied Adam and Eve. What was recorded right before Eve ate the fruit? It was pleasing to look at. The flesh desired it, that satisfaction. That same temptation is also what Judas fell to and allowed the devil into his life and to eventually guide and control his actions with temptations. How many of us have an earthly temptation that provides instant gratification but leads to immediate regret?

Jesus knew what was going on with Judas as we see at the last supper. He knew what was going to happen. He knew that Judas had fallen away from Him. If Jesus knew that Judas was either possessed or was being led astray by the temptation of the flesh why didn’t Jesus cast the demon out, cast out Judas, or pull Judas aside and recenter Him. I believe that Jesus, while this was pointed towards the pheresis I believe that was also directed towards Judas, with the parable of the shrewd manager found in Luke 16:1–8 “Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’ “So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ “ ‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’ “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.”

Jesus then follows it up with a warning and a lesson. Luke 16:10–15 ““If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.”

Jesus did try to get Judas to answer His call after Judas disconnected. Just as Jesus does for all of us. Just like Judas though we have a choice. We can either listen to Jesus and follow Him resisting temptation, or we can fall to temptation and betray the Lord. Doesn’t Jesus love us though and want to save every one of us? Yes, that is why He died on the cross. True love is allowing us to choose what path we want to go down. You ever hear the saying if you really love someone let them go? That is what Jesus is willing to do if we do not choose to follow Him and resist temptation. We are able to choose to love Jesus because He first choose to love us. Now the Bible does say that He knows who will and won’t be saved because God is all knowing after all. We still have a choice to make in who we follow, God just knows what our choice will be.

What if we fall to temptation or go against Jesus? Good question, we will continue to look to Judas on this but will also look at another disciple. We will look at Peter first as an example of someone who also followed Jesus but then fell short in the face of earthly circumstances.

At the last supper Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crows three times that he would deny that he even know Jesus three times. After Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives and is arrested Peter follows Jesus to the high priest's home. That is where a servant girl recognized him and said that he is one of Jesus’ followers. Peter denies this saying he doesn’t know Him. He is recognized two more times and both times he denies Jesus all before the rooster crows. He left the court yard weeping. Not that long ago Peter told Jesus he would be willing to be jailed for Jesus then when it actually became a possibility Peter became fearful and choose to avoid earthly punishment. What he did next though is what matters. He left weeping and was overcome with shame and regret. Think about how you would feel in that moment. You tell someone but not just someone the Son of god that you are ready to be jailed for knowing him and whatever may come. Then at the first sign of trouble you deny that you know Him and on the final time Jesus looks at you eye to eye. Imagine the shame and betrayal you would be feeling. After he finished weeping and Jesus was killed, Peter went into hiding with the others.

Jesus then rose from then dead and then appeared to them three times. On the third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. John 21:15–17 “After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”

Peter denied Jesus, recognized the wrong he committed and repented. He hung up the wrong line he picked up by denying Jesus and reestablished the line with God. Jesus knew this and each time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him it was a restoration and affirmation of who Peter was. Jesus forgave Peter and was commissioned by Jesus later to go to Rome where he was eventually crucified upside down because he refused to be crucified the same way that Jesus was.

So Peter fell short, wept for forgiveness and repented, Jesus met him where he was and forgave him, then continued to use Him. Let’s compare that to Judas and what he did. I want to go back to the last supper and highlight something. Matthew 26:21–25 “While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.””

While eleven of the twelve said is it I Lord, one said rabbi is it me. Judas didn’t call Jesus Lord but instead called Him rabbi showing us where his heart and mind was. While the other eleven knew who he was. This could be because the devil and greed had blinded Judas. Some also believe that Judas thought the Messiah would come in and over through Rome and free the Israelites. He thought that Jesus was the one who was going to do this and became resentful when Jesus did not do this and was peaceful instead of a rage filled soldier striking down God’s enemies. Scripture predicted Jesus’ first coming and His betrayal. Scripture also predicts His second coming and that is the one will be the one that Judas was expecting. Either way Judas came to believe that Jesus was not Lord or if he did still believe that Jesus was Lord that maybe Jesus would finally have to fight back if He was being crucified by the Romans. No one knows the true reason why Judas did what he did but that verse with him saying is it I rabbi instead of Lord and being filled with greed shows that Judas was no longer a true follower.

What happens afterwards though? What happens after the betrayal? Judas realized what he has done and the sin that he committed. Instead of turning to God though, he turned to the religious leaders who paid him to begin with. Judas said that he betrayed an innocent man, not that he betrayed God, but betrayed an innocent man. Judas then went and in the pg way as to not get in trouble, used a rope to longer be on this earth. The money he threw down in the temple the priests used to buy potters field which to this day is called the field of blood. This fulfilled another prophecy that Jeremiah recorded.

Back to Judas though, like Peter he was convicted of his actions and felt deep remorse and guilt. What did he do instead of Peter. he went to humans who were already corrupt instead of going to God for forgiveness. The devil used Judas. He studied Judas, found a weakness and exposed it. Judas was played like a fiddle. Once he committed the ultimate sin of betraying Jesus, satan then uses what my dad calls the three ugly stepsisters guilt, shame, and condemnation. Judas and Peter felt shame, they both felt guilt, yet only one of them was condemned before God. Jesus said that it would be better for the one who betrays Him to not even be born. Judas was condemned for his actions. The final step sister that the devil uses if you allow the first two to keep you away from God.

We will all sin and fall short. We will all cave to temptation. We will fall for the instant gratification. We can have a line of communication with God and be following the calling of God for our lives but have our line hijacked and have the devil try to interject acting like he is God. Judas followed Jesus, accepted Jesus’ calling for his life, fell away, and let the devil control his mind and ruin his spirit. The devil will always be on the hunt to steal, kill, and destroy. He will look to steal our joy, destroy our calling, and kill our lives. We are God’s sons and daughters, God’s chosen children. We have a choice on who we listen to, who we follow, and what we do when we fall short of what God has called us to be. We have a choice what to do when we fall short. Are we going to be like Paul and turn to God for forgiveness or are we going to turn to a priest or something of this world for forgiveness. I can tell you this the world does not care if you are forgiven or not or that you even ask for it, but God does. We see that the priests who wanted Jesus gone were corrupt. They were false teachers, the led people astray, and they are what Jesus warned about. Be wary of false teachers because they have had their line of communication interceded and no longer teach the truth. I listened to a discussion last week where someone in seminary stated that if Jesus was crucified than God is a child abuser and that Jesus’ death does not cover our sins. Be cautious of those teachers. Be cautious of the ways of the devil. If you do fall to the flesh or have your line of communication with God disrupted it is not too late. The guilt and shame telling you it is too late is lying. Be like Peter and not like Judas when it comes to asking for forgiveness go to God and not to people especially those who do not care about you. If you go to a pastor do not ask for the pastors forgiveness rather ask them for help in fixing your line of communication with God. Ask them for help with your temptations. Ask them for help in asking God for forgiveness. The wages of our sin is death. Because of Jesus our sins have been paid for. That is why His final words were in Greek tetelestai meaning it is finished. That was spoken at the end of a transaction or a fulfillment of a mission. Jesus fulfilled His mission of what He was sent to this earth to do. Payment for our sins. He is the good shepherd and we are to follow Him and His teachings.

As we close I want to encourage you to be like Peter with your sins. The weight of you sins, the guilt, and shame you might feel. Cry out to God for forgiveness of those sins. When it comes to our cars, house, or even our bodies we do things to help them. With our cars it is changing the oil regularly. With our house it could be painting the walls. With our bodies it could be a yearly check up. We do this to keep everything nice, help find, and help prevent any major break down. The same goes for our spiritual health. Allow the Holy Spirit to come into your life and repair what is broken and work through you. Ask God for forgiveness and lay down your sins, guilt, shame, and even condemnation at the foot of the cross. If you have not done this yet or if you have not prayed in awhile and don’t know where to start lets all join together in prayer right now.

Dear Heavenly Father, Hollowed be your name. Lord I come before you tonight like Peter did. Full of guilt and shame. I have wronged you and have been led astray. I want you back Lord. I want our line of communication back. Lord I need Jesus in my life. I claim Jesus as my Lord and savior. I ask for the Holy Spirit to come into my life and to overflow through me. Let my life show your love. I lay my sins down at the foot of the cross and am made pure again by the blood of Christ who died for me. Just as Jesus has forgiven me I ask for help in forgiving those who have sinned against me. Lord I thank you for allowing me to choose to love you. I choose you Lord over all earthly things. It is in your name I pray Amen.

With that we will wrap up tonight. I want to thank you all for joining and hope you all have a blessed week with the Lord. We will meet again next week as we continue this series on who is on the other line.