REASON, GODS WAY

The human power of reason

Ok, Exactly what is “Reason?” Have any of you ever heard the quote, “Let’s be reasonable?” Or, “I want to be reasonable?” Or, your not being reasonable!!!! Explain. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians........

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Human reason is limited

Have you ever caught yourself questioning your thoughts or a decision you just made?

Job 32:11–12 ESV

“Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say. I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.

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Human reason is far inferior to divine reason

Right when we think we “know it all” God steps in to save us or to make sure we see what’s going on. Sometimes He let’s us make a fool out of ourselves, we heard Him tell us our point us in the right way.

1 Corinthians 1:18–31 ESV

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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Human reason may point people towards God

Romans 2:14–15 ESV

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

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Now lets stop here for a moment. Did you all hear that/ Did you understand what Paul just said to the Romans? He is saying this, “OK, you just made a decision, you just carried out something you felt you wanted to do, or needed to do, not necessarily something that you knew you should have NEVER DONE.

Paul reasons with unbelievers

Acts 17:2–4 ESV

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

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Believers are to give reasons for their faith

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Here we are in church, all of us in our lives have things going on. Trust me, I know. ALL of us I said have issues, circumstances, situations, life, pain, heartache, doubt.............Did I leave anything out? Of course I did. We as “believers” must always be ready to tell others about Jesus. They are watching us every minute. Do you all watch me? Are you observing my voice, my actions, my choices? Do you see my heart is for Jesus? I would like to believe that you do!!!!!!!!!!!

iF YOU ALL TAKE A SECOND TO LOOK BACK THIS PAST WEEK

God reasons with his rebellious people

Isaiah 1:18–19 ESV

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

CLOSE

iF YOU ALL TAKE A SECOND TO LOOK BACK THIS PAST WEEK, HAVE YOU OBSERVED GOD WORKING IN YOUR HEART? HAVE YOU OBSERVED GOD POINTING YOU IN A DIRECTION THAT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE NEEDED TO BE GOING? HAVE YOU FELT GOD’S PULL IN A WAY YOU HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE? ALL THIS TIME, HE IS LOVING YOU AND THOSE AROUND YOU.

PASTOR GREG JAGGERS

SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY CHURCH

OCTOBER 29, 2017