Humanity (2)

How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worm, begins in the heart and works out through a person's thoughts, words, and actions.

It is interesting how we think that much of what is sinful today are things around us, in front of us, behind us. All resulting from what is happening to us. All of that stuff that cause us to do something... my brother made we do it, the government forced me to do this, the devil made me do it. Could it be that we did it to ourselves? From the inside out. Where does rebellion come from? Where does treachery, deception, betrayal come from? For us, even Christians, have the problem of remaining consistent sin boiling up within us and it does come to overflow from out of the heart. Do we recognize this constant reality? If we do, then we will come to see the beauty of what Christ has done for us in his humanity. Because, even though the flesh remains, the word made flesh not only consistently dwells among us but sought and constantly saves us.

In today's passage, we will see a common place illustration of this. Once again we find a troublemaker going against God's ordained king. Sheba is out there with his picket signs protesting David and his kingship. Chanting: Dynasty of David getting flatter. Son of Jesse doesn't matter. Back to your homes, leave him alone, Israel let him go splatter... as he marched. One of the first accounts of a strike. And we see here, another instance of rebellion. Israel deserted David once again, but this time Judah stayed with him. Once David got back to Jerusalem, the sadness of human sin was brought to the forefront. The 10 concubines that were violated by Absalom would be provided for, but would live out the rest of their lives like widows. Then David commanded that the army of Judah be mobilized for Sheba would bring more trouble than Absalom did. David commanded his men to hunt down Sheba. Then another unfortunate event transpired... Human treachery. Joab deceives and kills Amasa, Absalom's captain now newly appointed to David, with what seemed to be a kiss.

Meanwhile Sheba sought refuge in his own hometown, but soon David's men surrounded the city and began to overthrow it. But a woman came out to negotiate with Joab. Why do you want to destroy this city? I do not want to destroy the city we just want Sheba. If we give you Sheba will you draw back. Yes. So, the people took Sheba's head and threw it out to Joab. David's army drew back and Joab was now once again the acting captain of David's Army. Hear the Word of the Lord.

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2 Samuel 20:9–10 NLT

“How are you, my cousin?” Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him. Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

Today as we explore this passage, we will first look at the constant of human rebellion and its effects. Second we will look at the constant of human treachery and its effects. Finally, we will rejoice in seeing how the humanity of Christ actually accomplishes the exact opposite.

Thesis: Though the deceptions and patterns of this world continue to cause the flesh to consistently reveal itself, it is the constant love of the Lord, the Word made flesh, who gives us the strength and motivation to obedience instead of rebellion; faithfulness instead of treachery by the power of the Spirit.

I. Constant Human Rebellion

Constant Human Rebellion

- Rebellion against the Lord in many different ways but all the same at the same time.

A. We see it now manifest in Sheba. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, which we all know was King Saul's tribe. (As we see Saul continues to be a pain in the neck for David). We really do not need to guess as to what kind of man he was. The Hebrew Belly-ya-all. A troublemaker with the sense of a "worthless man." He is rebelling against David.

B. What we should also see here is that in rejecting David he is also rejecting his Lord. David is the Lord's choice to be the one who is to rule over His people. He is breaking the covenant that the Lord has made with His people. He thinks he is only sinning against David but he is sinning against the Lord. This is why we should understand that when we sin, even if it is directly against another, it is ultimately rebellion against God.

C. David sinned directly against Uriah, but he recognized this truth...

Psalm 51:4 NLT

Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

D. He not only has this in his heart, but he is not encouraging others to do the same. He made a commotion by blowing a horn and starts to chant with earnest zeal and passion like those today who march to the capital to protest; chanting. Let us not have anything to do with David. Don't listen to him, who cares what he says or what he does, he has no more to do with us. Essentially singing... I don't care what you say anymore this is my life. Go ahead with your own life leave me alone.

E. Have you noticed over these years... Once again, we see rebellion against God's ordained king. It has now been happening so much in this story, it is almost getting boring. Not just in this story, but from the beginning ...constant rebellion constant rebellion constant rebellion. Sin in the world started with rebellion. It is just constant human rebellion. Another uprising.

F. Is it not this way today? Constant sins of the same kinds consistently with the same kinds of churches with the same kinds of people. Rebellion against the Lord in many different ways but all the same at the same time. Divorce, Adultery, theft, addictions, strife, betrayal, deceptions, treachery all in the church, even conservative bible believing ones. Even when pastors fall, the response is tiresome... it’s the same song. The same Sheba’s.

G. Davis writes, there are Sheba’s in the church; some of them are evangelicals of the stricter sort. They rebel against rightful authority; they are determined to go their own way, to call their own shots; they lift up their hand against the King.

H. There are Sheba’s now, there were Sheba’s before and I guarantee there will be more in the future. Many of us would say that when we look in the mirror we would see a sheba. But there is something we can hold onto with this constant rebellion. The Bible affirms this. The Bible tells us this and the fact that we see constant sin in us, it is confirming the truth of the scriptures. Look at this...

Journalists miss the point when they keep asking, after each new church scandal, if a preacher's fall has shaken the believers' faith. Sin rather confirms than challenges a faith that proclaims human corruption. The drama of salvation is played out against the constant backdrop of original sin.

Gary Wills in Under God. Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 12.

I. Family... if the truth of scripture is confirmed with constant human rebellion, then we can rejoice in the truth of what the constant obedience of Christ was brought to us found in the scriptures.

Romans 5:19 NLT

Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

J. The Lord knows of our constant rebellion, but I want us to know today of His constant compassion, constant mercy, constant grace, constant love that never ends. For this we can rest not in constant sadness, but constant joy. Constant sin confirms the constant truth of the scriptures; if the scriptures are true, then the Gospel is true. Rejoice today.

II. Constant Human Treachery

Constant Human Treachery

- All of the constant human treachery in the world is commonplace, but the sad thing is we see it in the church as well.

A. We would define treachery as the violation of faith; betrayal of trust; treason.

B. David did not want this rebellion to grow, so he immediately sent out his newly appointed captain from Absalom's army, over Joab, to hunt down Sheba and end it. He gave him three days, but because he did not return in time, he sent Abishai, over Joab once again, to go get Sheba. Joab was obviously upset about this.

C. Just like the treachery in the past, he betrays again. He once took Abner and pretended that they were going to have a private conversation, but instead he killed him. He killed Absalom against the wishes of David. And here, he betrays Amasa and the author was detailed. Joab pretended to greet Amasa with a kiss but with a hidden blade he slashed Amasa so brutally that he did not need to be stabbed again. The constant treachery of Joab. Betrayed by a would be kiss? Like Christ was betrayed by a kiss. Is it like this today?

D. I hear a story that might make illustrate the lengths of human deception.

E. An Oklahoma man went to extreme measures to impress his wife in 2004. Trent Spencer, a 27-year-old high school teacher, paid two teenagers $100 each to break into his house and tie up his wife. After she was bound with duct tape, Spencer raced in and "fought off" the "intruders." He even pre-cut a board so it would break when he hit one of them with it.

The police were called and began an investigation. The plan might have worked—except that one of the teenagers blabbed to his parents. Surprisingly, when the police found out, they didn't arrest Spencer. Instead, they slapped him with the bill for the investigation.

F. Um… WHAT??? Constant treachery in the human condition. With Joab We see how obviously wrong it is to do such a thing, but he was doing it for David was he not to impress him? On the surface, maybe, but deep down inside no. The husband did not rescue to wife for her benefit. He did it for his. This is the same for us today in the church when we use treachery for what we believe to be in the best interest of the church. The reality is that it is for ourselves. Did we do what we did for Christ or did we do it for ourselves? For our benefit. To gain favor with Christ. It will come to the light... it did for Joab in the end and it will for us as well.

Matthew 7:21 NLT

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

G. Did we not do this, this, and this...all work done for the benefit of the kingdom of Christ. Many in the church acknowledging the Lordship of Christ, but in the end shown to have been in it for ourselves. The response from Christ is... depart from me I never knew you.

H. Davis writes, there is such a thing as acknowledging the king’s sovereignty and disregarding his will. Such folk will have no place in the kingdom at the last. There are scores of Joabs on our church membership rolls.

I. Family do we have Joabs on the membership rolls of Central Baptist Church? Unfaithfulness rampant in the church today, I have no doubt. Repentance is at a premium these days. All of the constant human treachery in the world is commonplace, but the sad thing is we see it in the church as well. Hidden by work and commitment to the church.

J. But, as we are constantly shown to be treacherous in the church our Lord is constantly shown to be faithful to the church. The more constant our sin, the more constant His grace. In our flesh, we exhibit constant treason. The Word made flesh constantly exhibits grace. Grace upon grace. But once again our constant human treachery confirms the truth of the scriptures.

J

Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

K. And as the scriptures are shown to be true, we can rest in all of its truth.

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 9:31 NLT

But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!

L. This is what we rest in and hold on to today. This is the reason why I am passionate about preaching the reality of the law. The reality of sin confirms the truth of the scriptures which is a good thing. Because the truths of the scriptures give us the most wonderful news ever told. Now this does not mean by all means keep sinning… we still gotta try, but when we fail, there is forgiveness and strength to overcome.

III. The Constant Grace

- They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.

A. If the scriptures are true, then the gospel is true. And this is good news about the good news. Yes, in our lives if we are honest with ourselves, we are consistent in rebellion and treachery and deserving of judgement. We can still have hope.

Romans 6:23 NLT

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. Yes, we find hope in Christ the Lord. In his humanity. The Word became flesh. We see constant rebellion and treachery in human nature in our flesh, but with Christ the Word made flesh we find constant obedience and faithfulness. Therefore, we can have hope. This is the difference with our flesh and that of the Lord. We fail in the flesh, yet the Word made flesh succeeds in every way. This is why we can rejoice today.

C. Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died and gave to us all the reward He was given. Yes the gospel is the power of God for salvation. Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures... the saying is trust worthy... He became sin who knew no sin...

D. It is the constant love and compassion of the Lord that we will find real hope and joy. It is the constant grace and mercy of the Christ that brings us life and life more abundant. It is the faithfulness of the Lord that will cause us to know Christ and be known by Christ.

E. Constant sin means constant grace...

Romans 5:20 NLT

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.

F. This is the beauty of the Gospel. This is the constant of the Word made flesh. Grace upon Grace. Rejoice for today family the Word was made flesh and He is among us.