How To Please God

What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking book of the Bible and then studying it from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what it means in our lives today.

With that said, we are currently walking through the Gospel of Mark, a gospel written to tell us who Jesus is, what He came to do, and what it means for you and I to follow Him.

As we come back to our study today, we are in the final section of this Gospel. A section commonly known as the “Passion of the Christ”. A section that will lead us to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

And what we’ve learned so far is the first part of this section consists of seven combative rounds between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day. Seven verbal encounters where Jesus’s opponents are working to discredit and disqualify the teachings of Jesus.

To date, we’ve looked at five of the seven encounters. Today, however, we will be taking a break as Jesus is approached not so much by an opponent, but by someone who has a genuine question and interest in Jesus.

So, in order to set up what we are about to read, I want to begin by asking you this question:

Question: Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were trying to please or impress someone? In other words, there was somebody in your life that you desired affirmation from, somebody you wanted to impress, or maybe even someone you wanted show your appreciation to. And so as a result you found yourself exerting a lot of effort and energy trying to figure out what it takes and what you’d need to do in order to gain their attention, affirmation, respect, or acceptance.

I think we’ve all had somebody like that in our lives.

Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, that’s an odd question. I’m not sure I’ve ever thought that way.”

I think you have. In fact, I think a lot of people spend most of their life trying to find that one thing. Trying to accomplish that one thing that will set them apart. Trying to accomplish that one thing that will give them a name. Trying to

Maybe for you it is or was a parent. For example, I’ve met a lot of men who have spent a life time seeking affirmation from their father. Everything they’ve done. Every decision they’ve made. Has been an attempt to gain their father’s respect and approval. And so with every promotion, every purchase, and every accomplishment they find themselves hoping this will be the moment their father says, “I’m proud of you.”

Maybe for you some of you it’s a mentor. Someone you look up to. Someone you want to impress. I know for me, for many years there was a mentor in my life that I sought approval from and wanted to impress. If I’m honest, many of my decisions and choices were made in an attempt to gain his attention and approval.

Maybe for you it’s your boss. You want him or her to notice your abilities and what you have to offer. And so as a result you find yourself looking for ways to impress them. Looking for ways to get their attention. Looking for ways to set yourself apart from the other employees. Looking for that one decision, that one sale, that one idea, that one moment where they recognize your potential.

Maybe for you it’s a girl, a boy, or your spouse. Somebody of the opposite sex that you want to impress or please. So as a result, you find yourself looking for ways to show your love and affection. So you send flowers, you plan a perfect date, you clean the house, you do the dishes, trying to find that one thing that will gain their heart, their love, their attention, or their desire for you.

I think if we’re all honest we’ve had people like that in our lives. People who we desire to impress, please, or gain attention from. People we want to be close to.

So, let me ask you this. When it comes to your relationship with God, have you ever found yourself seeking His approval in the same way. In other words, have you ever given any thought to what it takes to please and know God? Have you ever found yourself looking for ways to impress him and gain his attention and approval.

Again, I think if we’re all honest, we’ve all been down that road.

In fact, that’s why some of you are maybe even here today. You’re at church because you want to show God your really serious about knowing Him. After all, you got out of bed, got the kids ready, and came to church.

That’s why some of you perform good deeds and good works. . That’s why you put money in the bucket. That’s why you help that person in need. You want to show God that your the kind of person he’s looking for.

That’s why some of you religiously read your Bible. That’s why you post scriptures on Facebook. You want to show God and the world just how spiritual you are.

That’s’ why some of you raise your hands in worship. You want to show God that you’re serious about worshiping Him.

That’s why some of you don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or go with girls that do. You want to show God that you’re above the rest.

In fact, I would go as far to say, that much of American Christianity is based on performance Christianity. The idea that when it comes to God, our goal is in some way to prove ourselves worthy and show God just how deserving of his approval we are. And what’s interesting is we have a way of categorizing that approval. We base it on church attendance, good deeds, the language we use, the choices we make, the way we worship, the friendships we make, and the list goes on and on. Each of us trying to climb the spiritual ladder of approval.

So, I guess a good question would be, “What does it take to please God?” In other words, what specific deed, accomplishment, or action will it take to finally gain God’s ultimate approval?”

The reason I ask you to consider that question, is because as we come back to our study today, that’s the question on the table. But as I said, this question isn’t coming from one of the opponents of Jesus. It’s coming from a man who genuinely wants to know. Somebody who genuinely wants to please God. I think, somebody like you and me.

So, if you’re here today, and you’ve always wondered what it takes to please and know God, then today’s message is for you. So, with that as our basis, let’s pick back up in chapter 12 as Mark introduce us to this next encounter. Beginning in verse 28 Mark writes:

28 “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Mark begins by introducing us to a new religious sect, a sect known as “Scribes”. So, maybe a good question to begin with would be, “What’s a Scribe?”

Simply put, the Scribes were a class of scholars who taught, copied, and interpreted Jewish scriptures and law. In other words, they were the scriptural theologians of their day.

Today they would be the scholars who translate the Bible from one language into another. In our case, the ones who take the Greek text of the NT and translate it into English. The ones who take the Hebrew text of the OT and translate it into English. Meaning, these are highly educated and extremely intelligent individuals.

And what’s interesting is, for the most part, the Scribes had been adversaries of Jesus. Throughout the Gospels, when the Pharisees showed up to challenge Jesus, the Scribes were right there with them.

But as we’re going to see, this Scribe is different. Apparently this Scribe comes alone, and is genuinely interested and impressed by the words of Jesus. How do we know? We know from what Mark tells us. Mark says, “…and hearing them disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered well...”

In other words, as this Scribe matches Jesus win these debates and verbally defeat his opponents, he is becoming more and more impressed by what he is hearing Jesus say. And so instead of attacking Jesus, he asks Jesus a genuine question.

So what’s the question? It’s the same question many of us ask today. Mark says he wants to know, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

In other words, “Jesus, when it comes to the law, when it comes to keeping the rules, when it comes to pleasing God, when it comes to being the kind of person God wants us to be, which commandment is the most important?”

This guy is no different than you and I. He wants to know what he needs to do to please God. So he says, “Which one?”

So, what does he mean by which one? In other words, from what list is he pulling? Because apparently when he says, “Which commandment?”, he’s referring to a specific list of commandments.

Is he referring to the ten commandments? Is he referring to specific commandments from the Bible? What commandments is he talking about?

So, when he says, “Which one?”, is he referring to the ten commandments? Is he referring to specific commandments from the Bible? What commandments is he talking about?

Well, to some degree he is referring to commandments from the Bible. But what we need to understand is, from the Scribes study and interpretation of scripture, there weren’t just 10 commandments. In fact, the scribes had identified 613 commandments in the scriptures that needed to be kept in order to please God. And of those 613, 365 were negative and 248 were positive. In other words, 356 that were “Thou Shall Not”, and 248 that were “Thou Shall”.

And to make it even more complicated they had divided them up into “heavy” and “light” commandments. The “heavy” commands representing the most important and the “light” commands the least important.

So, for example, the commandment, “Thou Shall not Kill”, one of the 10, you know, the one we aren’t allowed to post in our public schools any longer, that would be a “heavy” commandment. Somebody who maliciously murders another person would not be considered a good person and such an act would not pleasing to God. People who make it a habit to murder probably aren’t going to make it into heaven.

But let’s say another one of the commands revolves around the idea of gluttony. And of the 613, it was command number 169. It states this, “Not to eat or drink like a glutton or a drunkard”. In other words, “Thou shall not eat to much”.

However,

Now, no pun intended, that probably wouldn’t be a “heavy” commandment. That would be more of a “light” command. I mean compared to murder, eating to much ice cream doesn’t really compare. So, that’s how they viewed and differentiated the commandments.

And the truth is, we do this as well. Whether you realize it or not, you and I have heavy and light commandments. In other words, when it comes to being a good Christian or pleasing God, we all have a way of viewing and ranking our actions and sin.

For example, like the Jews of Jesus’s day, we would probably all rank murder up there as a heavy command. At least I hope you would.

But then there are others that are a little lighter and not as heavy. In other words, commands that we may view as not holding the same weight.

For example, in Paul says we should watch what comes out of our mouth. Listen to what he says, “ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” (ESV)

So, if we were going to take what Paul just said, and put it in command form, it would be a negative command and it would go something like this, “Thou shall not tell dirty jokes”. Or “Thou shall not use the ‘F’ word”.

Now, while none of us have physically murdered someone, most of us have probably told a dirty joke or at some point used a four letter word, like the 'F’ word. Now, you might be thinking, “Oh, not me pastor. I wouldn’t do that.” Well, then you just broke another commandment that says, “Thou Shall not lie”.

And here’s the deal, the reason we’ve told a dirty joke or used the “F” word isn’t because we don’t think it’s wrong or inappropriate, it’s because we weigh it differently than other commandments. In our minds it’s not as big a deal as murder. In our minds, we’re like, “Yeah, maybe I’ve told a couple dirty jokes, but at least I haven’t murdered somebody. So, I’m doing pretty good.”

That’s true, right? That’s how we process our actions and our sin. “Yeah, I just ate a whole tub of ice cream, but it’s not like I slept with my neighbors wife or something. I mean come on, I’m not that bad.” That’s what we do, right?

The point is, we are no different that than the people of Jesus’s day. Based on the Bible or our upbringing, we have a number of religious rules we live by and we have rankings for those rules.

So, that’s what’s going on in this passage. The Jews have 613 commandments, some heavier, some lighter, and this Scribe is asking Jesus, of the 613 commandments, which is the most important. In other words, “When it comes to the rules, which rule is the most important rule. Which one above all should we strive to keep in order to please God?” It’s a great question. And if we’re honest, we’d all like to know the answer to that question, wouldn’t we?

So, what does Jesus think? What commandment, what rule, rises above all others? Mark tells us. Listen to what Jesus says:

“Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (ESV)

Now, that’s interesting. Notice what Jesus doesn’t do. He doesn’t quote one of the 613 commandments. He doesn’t say, “Thou Shall not Murder.” He doesn’t say, “Thou shall not commit adultery.” He doesn’t say, “Thou shall not use the “F” word or eat to much ice cream.” He doesn’t quote one of the 613. Instead he quotes a passage of scripture. A passage known as the “Shema”. So, what’s the “Shema”?

The “Shema” comes from a passage found in , and it had become a prayer of sorts that religious Jews recited up to three times a day as a part of their devotional life. It would be similar to what some traditions do today with the “Lord’s Prayer”. For example, in a Catholic service it is common to recite the Lord’s Prayer.

And so, instead of pointing to one of the 613 commands, Jesus points to the “Shema”. Why the Shema? Well, let’s read it in the context of and see what we can discover. Listen to what Moses says to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (ESV)

Jesus says, “Listen, if you want to please God, here’s the most important thing you can do. Here’s the number one thing to focus on. Focus on loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.”

(ESV)

Jesus says, “Don’t just let this be something you quote. Let it be something you actually do. This is the key. This is what is most important to God.”

So, based on that, what I want to do this morning is spend the remainder of our time discovering what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, and might. Because apparently, above any commandment, this is the one that Jesus says is primary. And I don’t know about you, but If Jesus says, “This is the one”, I want to make sure I understand what that means.

So, a good question might be, “How do you live out the Shema” Thankfully Jesus tells us, and he says it starts with our motivation and perspective. And Jesus says the motivation to please God is based off of one word. It’s the word “love”.

In fact, this is the key word here. In the Greek it’s the word “agapao”. And it’s the idea of loving someone based on sincere appreciation and high regard.

For example, this is the kind of love you might show a parent or someone who has sacrificially invested in your well being. Your love for them is a result of your sincere appreciation for what they’ve done for you.

So, what that means is, pleasing God begins with a right understanding and appreciation for who God is and what He’s done for you.

For example, to recognize and remember that He is the creator. To recognize that everything we have, from the clothes we wear, to the cars we drive, to the homes we live in, to the next breath we take comes from Him. To remember that our very existence is because of Him.

To be honest, I think we often lose sight of that. We lose sight of the awesomeness of our God. We lose sight of what He’s given us. We lose sight that He is the creator and that the only reason you woke up today is because he allowed you to. And as a result, we lose an appreciation for who he is. So, Jesus says, “If you want to please God, start with appreciating who God is. Give him the regard that is due him. Show Him your love.”

So, a good question might be, “How do you do that? What does that look like to love God and show him sincere appreciation?” Again, Jesus tells us. And he does it by giving us three specific areas of commitment.

So, what I want to do this morning is spend the remainder of our time discovering what it means to love God. Because apparently, above any commandment, this is the one that Jesus says is primary. And I don’t know about you, but If Jesus says, “This is the one”, I want to make sure I understand what it is and what it means. So, what’ does it mean to love God? Jesus says, the first is this:

The first is this:

1. In order to love God, we have to love him heart and soul.

So, what does that mean?

Well, the Greek words here for heart and soul are “kardia” and “psyches”. We get our words cardio and Psyche from these words. And while each of these words have some unique characteristics, in the context of this passage they are connected and flow together. And when the words are combined together, the idea is that we would love God with our complete inner being. That everything we are; from our desires, our trust, our hopes, our dreams, our will, that everything we are is devoted completely to him.

So, what does that mean?

So, what does that look like?

Think of it like this. Giving God your heart and soul is you giving up yourself. It’s you saying, “God, everything I am, everything I have, everything you desire me to be, I give it to you. Because of who you are. Because you are my creator. Because you know what’s best for me. Because you love me more than anyone ever will or ever could, because of that God, I give my being to you. I am yours heart and soul.”

Think of it like this. It’s very similar to the type of relationship we strive for in a marriage relationship. Because when you get married, to some degree you are committing yourself to that person heart and soul. That’s true, right? We’ve all seen the movies. Heart and soul baby!

But here’s the challenge. When it comes to marriage, heart and soul is usually easier said than done, right? And the proof of that is often seen in how many marriage relationships play out. Because while a man and woman may stand at an altar and commit to one another heart and soul, the truth is, those words are hard to live by.

To be honest, it’s easier said then done. And the proof of that is often seen in our marriage relationships. Because while a man and woman may stand at an altar and commit to one another heart and soul, the truth is, that’s not always the case and not always lasting.

Because if two people were really committed to one another, heart and soul, couples wouldn’t have marriage problems, right? I mean if your whole being is devoted to your spouse, why would you ever have a problem with your spouse? If two people were really committed to one another, heart and soul, divorce would never be an option, right? I mean, why would you want to divorce someone that you’ve given your heart and soul to?

But we all know that’s not true, right. Marriages face severe challenges and discourse. Divorce happens way to often. The whole “heart and soul” commitment is often easier said then done.

Why? For two reasons. First, because we are sinful selfish human beings, and second, because our hearts aren’t as pure as we’d like to think. The prophet Jeremiah puts it like this”

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (ESV)

Jeremiah says, above all things, the heart is deceitful. In other words, the heart says one thing but does another. The heart says, “I’m committed!” But it’s really not.

So, when push comes to shove, when the reality of what heart and soul really means hits us, we jump ship. And in that moment, the selfishness kicks in and we say things like, “I know at the altar I said heart and soul, but you aren’t making me happy anymore. I know at the altar I said heart and soul, but I’ve found somebody that will give me what you can’t. I know at the altar I said heart and soul, but I have dreams and passions that don’t involve you.” And in that moment, we abandon our heart and soul commitment. Why? Because we never really gave ourselves heart and soul. We had good intentions. We might have even believed it ourselves. But the heart tricked us.

So, when it comes to God, while we may say, “Heart and soul baby!”. The reality is, it’s easier said than done. Why?

Because in many ways, giving God your heart and soul is like a marriage. It’s you and I at at the altar, saying, “God, everything I am, everything I have, everything you desire me to be, I give it to you. Because of who you are. Because you are my creator. Because you know what’s best for me. Because you love me more than anyone ever will or ever could, because of that God, I give my being to you. I make this vow to you, I am yours heart and soul.”

But then the challenge comes. When the relationship with God isn’t what we thought. When life throws us a curve ball. When something more appealing comes our way. When sin creeps into our life. In that moment, the selfishness and wickedness of our heart shines through. And our heart and soul commitment is challenged.

That’s exactly what happened in in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve walked with God. They appeared to be devoted to God heart and soul. And then sin presented itself. Something more appealing was offered. And in that moment, heart and soul went out the window.

So, what do we do? How do we give ourselves heart and soul to God? How do we avoid wrecking the relationship?

What if I told you that by yourself, it’s impossible to give yourself heart and soul to God. That if Adam and Eve couldn’t do it, then neither can you.

And the reason we struggle is because this is a radical idea. Because to give yourself heart and soul to God means that your life is now governed by His will, his direction, and his desires. As a result, my decisions are no longer my decisions. My passions are no longer my passions.

Now, you might be thinking, “Wow Pastor, that’s depressing. Glad I came to church.” Listen, I’m not trying to discourage you, I’m just begin honest. The truth is, in our sinful human state, and by our own power, we don’t have the ability to give ourselves heart and soul to God. Why? Because our heart is wicked. Its’ deceitful. It says one thing and often does another.

Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes it in :

“None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (ESV)

Paul says it’s impossible for you and I to give ourselves to God heart and soul. He says we are deceitful, wicked, and without fear of God. So, what do we do? If giving ourselves heart and soul to God is necessary, but we’re not capable of it, then what do we do?

But it doesn’t stop there. Jesus goes on to say:

The good news is, there is one who was and is capable of doing something we are not. Someone who denied himself. Someone who sacrificially gave. Someone who paid a debt he didn’t owe. Someone who on our behalf gave himself heart and soul. Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes it:

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (ESV)

But it doesn’t stop there. Jesus goes on to say:

You see, that’s why Jesus came. To do something we aren’t capable of doing, to give himself to God in a way we couldn’t. To obey God in a way we wouldn’t. To live a life for God, we couldn’t live. And what’s amazing is he did it on our behalf. And the good news of the Gospel is, if you’ll put your faith in Jesus, what was impossible can now become possible. Through faith in Jesus you can give yourself to God heart and soul.

Now, you might be thinking, “That’s great pastor, but how does that work? How can what Jesus did change my relationship with God?” Here’s how this works. When you put your faith in Jesus, and make Him Lord of your life, in that moment, the old you dies and the new is born. And in that supernatural moment, God replaces your wicked heart, with a new heart. Listen to how the prophet Ezekiel describes it:

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (ESV)

What the prophet is describing is your moment of salvation. In the moment you put your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters your body, and he begins a spiritual transformation as your heart is changed. And in that moment, you are given a heart that has the ability to desire, know, and please God. In fact, listen to what the prophet Jeremiah says about this moment:

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (ESV)

Jeremiah says when that moment takes place, not only does God give you a new heart, in that moment he writes his law on your new heart.

So, what does that mean?

What it means is, because you have a new heart, God’s desires now become your desires. What it means is His passions now become your passions. What it means is you don’t have to keep a list of 613 laws anymore because your new heart is now geared to please God.

You don’t need to be told, “Thou shall not” because why would you want to do it in the first place. You don’t need to be told “Thou Shall” because now it’s just natural to do what God would want. You now have a heart geared for God. A heart that has been transformed. A heart that isn’t sick anymore but instead a heart that gets sickened when sin presents itself. A heart that says, “Why would I want to tell that dirty joke. That doesn’t honor God.” A heart that says, “Why would I ever cheat on my spouse. That doesn’t honor God.” A heart that is committed heart and soul to pleasing God.

Illustration - Years ago I led a young man to faith in Jesus. And to be honest, there was a lot of baggage in his life. A lot of stuff that needed to be cleaned up. And it would have been easy that night for me to give him a list of rules to follow. I could have said, “Now that you’re a Christian, you need to quit saying the “F” word. You need to stop smoking. You need to quit drinking. You need to quit having premarital sex.” I could have given him a list of “Thou shall not” and “Thou shall”. But I didn’t. I didn’t because I knew that wasn’t my job, that was the Holy Spirit’s job. Now that God’s Spirit was living in my friend, he would begin the process of cleaning stuff up. And you know what. In the weeks and months that followed, my friend changed the way he talked. He let go of the bad habits. He quit having sex with his girlfriend.” Why? Was it because somebody gave him a list of Christian do’s and don’ts? No. It’s because he had a new heart. A heart with God’s law written on it. With the help of the Holy Spirit, a heart designed to honor God.

That’s what Jesus provides us. That’s what his sacrifice gives us. That’s what he gives you. The ability to love God heart and soul. To literally become a different person. The Apostle Paul writes:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” (ESV)

What that means is, if you put your faith in Jesus, it’s no longer about what rules you need to keep. That’s what the old you did. The old you had a list of rules. Don’t smoke, drink, or chew, or go with girls that do. The old you lived a life of bondage trying to please God in a way that you could never please him. Trying to be good enough but never measuring up.

But because of Jesus, you don’t have to live like that anymore. Jesus provides you a new heart with a new perspective. A heart that has God’s law written on it. A heart that is designed to honor God.

Now, at this point, you might be thinking, “Pastor, does that mean I won’t have to deal with sin and temptation any longer? Does that mean now that I have a new heart that sin won’t be an issue for me? That I’ll always do the right thing now?”

You know, I wish it was that easy. But the reality is, while Jesus has provided us with a new heart, we still live in a fallen world full of sin. A world that still has an affect on us. And so while Jesus provides us with a new heart, new desires, and the ability to live for him. Sin is still at our door trying to get in. Trying to destroy the work that God has done. That’s why what Jesus says next is so important. Because not only does it require our heart and soul, Jesus says:

2. In order to love God, we have to love him with our mind.

Jesus says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...” (ESV)

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...” (ESV)

So, what does that mean? What does it mean to love God with your mind?

The word for mind here is the Greek word “dianoia”. It’s the idea of giving God your understanding, reasoning, thinking, and decision making.

In other words, to give God your mind means you want God, and His will, to be the window from which you live and view life.

Let me explain it like this: I’m sure all of us at some point watch the news. Anybody watch the news? And isn’t it true, depending on what cable news station you watch, the world and the events taking place in the world are always presented from a certain perceptive?

For example, if you watch Fox News the world is going to be presented through a conservative lens with conservative views. As a result, through the Fox News lens President Trump is typically presented as a confident and competent leader. As a result, the direction of our country and the recent decisions of our President are typically painted as logical and right. In other words, after watching Fox News, you love Donald Trump more and typically have less respect for the democrats.

On the other hand, if you watch CNN, you’re going to get more of a liberal perspective. If you watch CNN President Trump is going to be presented as a an egomaniac who doesn’t know what he’s doing. A mad man who is a racist and a bigot. As a result, the direction of our country and the recent decisions of our President are going to be painted in a very illogical and dangerous manner. In other words, after watching CNN you’re going to think the sky is falling down.

That’s all true, right? And as a result, depending on which news outlet you tune into, your perspective, your understanding, and your beliefs about our country and the world are going to be influenced, shaped, and determined by that lens. Meaning, you either have a Fox News perspective or a CNN perspective.

The same is true for a Christian and what they choose to give or devote their mind to. And to be honest, that’s what many Christians fail to understand. Because the fact of the matter is, the state of a person is often determined by what controls that persons mind. (Repeat)

As a result, what you give your mind to, and the lens you choose to view life through, often determines who you become, what you believe, and the decisions you make.

And as Christians, we only have one of two lenses to choose from. And it’s not Fox News or CNN. Its either God’s View or the world’s view. The Bible calls it the Spirit or the flesh. The Apostle Paul explains it like this in :

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (ESV)

What Paul is saying is, “There are two ways to view and live life. You can either live and view life through the lens of the world. What the world loves. What the world desires. What the world believes. What Hollywood says is true. What your favorite sitcom says is true. What your non-Christian friend at work says is true. Or, you can live and view your life through God’s view and what He says is true and right.”

For example, the other night my son David and I were watching one of our favorite shows, and much to our surprise the opening scene began with two women in bed together. Now, I want to clarify they were clothed and they weren’t doing anything inappropriate, but the imagery and the implication was clear. And as I sat there, I thought to myself, “Wow, Hollywood is doing an amazing job of making same sex relationships seem normal.” And what’s crazy is, the more that our favorite television shows portray same sex relationships as normal, the more normal you’re going to think it is. Because what you give your mind to begins to shape and control what you believe and how you view life.

And here’s the dilemma for you and I as Christians. We can’t give our mind to both. That’s not an option. Why? Because they are opposed to one another. Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes this battle:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (ESV)

Notice what Paul says. He says if you walk by the Spirit, you won’t gratify the desires of the flesh. But if you choose to ignore the Spirit. If you choose to give your mind to the flesh, then guess what the result is going to be. Its’ going to be you gratifying the desires of the flesh.

You see, just like the views of Fox News and CNN are in opposition, just like those differing views shape your worldview, the views of the flesh and Spirit are in direct opposition. And here’s what we need to understand, one of them is gong to win out. One of them is going to control you. And whichever one you give yourself to will become the window through which your worldview is developed.

So yes, you have a new heart. You have the Spirit living in you. But if you give your mind to the flesh. If you choose to gratify its desires. You’ll push the Spirit right out. Listen how Paul describes this battle within.

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. (ESV)

Paul says, “Man this is a real battle for me.” He says, “I find within me the desire to do what is right. I want to please God, and I know what his will is. But that sin is so tempting. Watching that inappropriate movie would be so easy. Sleeping with my boyfriend or my girlfriend would be so amazing. I know it’s wrong. I know it wouldn’t please God. I feel the conviction within me. I hear the Holy Spirit saying, “No, don’t do it.” But if I’m honest, there’s another voice. Theirs another desire saying, “It’s ok. God will understand. It’s not big deal.”

So, what does Paul do? How does he deal with the temptation? How does he win the battle? He tell us.

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” (ESV)

Paul says, “You know what. It’s not in me to overcome this. I need help. I can’t do this on my own. So thank God for Jesus! Thank God for the one I now serve. The one who delivers my mind. The one who can help me overcome the sinful desires of the flesh. To him I give my mind. To him find my strength.”

Church, this is why sin isn’t anything to play with. This is why we have to be very careful what we give our minds to. Because the state of a person is often determined by what controls that persons mind.

So, we do need to be careful what we watch on television. Because those television shows and those movies will shape your mind. And depending on what you watch, they will either shape it for the spirit or the flesh.

That’s why we need to be careful with what we read. Because what you read will shape your mind. For example, if your a woman who loves Romance novels, those novels will shape what you believe about relationships. And they will either shape them for the spirit or the flesh. Better you read what the Bible has to say about relationships. Better you read books that encourage healthy Biblical relationships instead of reading books and watching movies called “Fifty Shades of Grey”.

I’d even say, t

Do you see where I’m going with this? What you give your mind to will shape what you believe and how you begin to live. And here’s the reality of that truth. At the altar, you might have said, “Heart and soul God”, but if your mind doesn’t follow that. If you commit your heart and soul to God but commit your mind to the things of this world, you’re in for a discouraging and bumpy ride.

To be honest, that’s the problem for a lot of Christians who say they are heart and soul on Sunday, but Monday through Saturday their minds are devoted to this world. To its desires. To its thinking. To its perspective.

And then we wonder why we struggle with sin. We wonder why we can’t shake these bad habits. We wonder why our marriages are in turmoil. We wonder why our kids won’t behave. We wonder why following Jesus seems so hard.

Could it be we’ve made it hard? Could it be we haven’t fully given God everything? What we haven’t given Him our minds? Could it be we are tuned more into the world and what it has to say than what God has to say? Could it be we need to change stations? Could it be we need to start focusing on his view, his desires, and his truth instead of feeding our minds with the trash the world offers us? Could it be we need to make some changes in where our minds are focused?

Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” And then he adds, “And do it with all your strength”. In other words, give yourself fully to this. Give it everything you’ve got. Make giving God your heart, soul, and mind the focus and intention of your life.

Now, you might be thinking, “Wow pastor. That sounds radical. That sounds like you are asking me to be some kind of Jesus freak or something like that. I’m not sure I want to be known as a Jesus freak. People are going to think I’m weird. People are going to think I’m attending that church out by Taco Bell.”

Listen, if you’re worried about people thinking your weird or a Jesus freak, then you really don’t understand what following Jesus is all about. Because the truth of the matter is, following Jesus is a radical calling. It will set you apart. It will cause the world to raise its eyebrows. People will make comments. People will make fun of you. Why? For the same reason a Fox News viewer and a CNN viewer will never get along. Two opposing views. Two opposing perspective. Two opposing ways to live and view life.

The fact of the matter is, if you want to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, it requires a radical change. A change that will forever set you apart from this world. A change that radically transforms your heart, your soul, and your mind.

Jesus says, “What commandment is most important? The most important commandment is for you to love God. To love him with your entire being. To give yourself radically to Him.” The question is, is this something you are willing to choose?

One commentator puts it like this:

The Gospel of . The Question Concerning the Great Commandment. Ch. 12:28–34

Because the whole man is the object of God’s covenant love, the whole man is claimed by God for himself. To love God in the way defined by the great commandment is to seek God for his own sake, to have pleasure in him and to strive impulsively after him. Jesus demands a decision and readiness for God, and for God alone, in an unconditional manner. Clearly this cannot be the subject of legal enactment. It is a matter of the will and action.51 The love which determines the whole disposition of one’s life and places one’s whole personality in the service of God reflects a commitment to God which springs from divine sonship.

The commentator says, “This isn’t something God can require of you. This isn’t something He can force you to do. It’s something you have to choose. Either you’ll love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, or you won’t. Because there is no in-between. You can’t have one foot in heaven and one foot in the world. Jesus calls for a decision, not a set of rules to follow. Jesus invites us to choose.

Would you bow your heads with me?

Questions to consider:

Are you commited heart and soul to God?

Have you put your faith in Jesus? Is Jesus Lord of your life?

What are you giving your mind to? What are you watching? What are you allowing to influence your thoughts and beliefs?

What needs to change?

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him.33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.” (ESV)

God loves you.

The Gospel of Mark 9. The Question Concerning the Great Commandment. Ch. 12:28–34

For Jesus the whole Law is summarized in the will of God which calls for the love which is a whole-hearted response to God and to the neighbor

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (ESV)

The Gospel of Mark 9. The Question Concerning the Great Commandment. Ch. 12:28–34

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