Untitled Sermon (6)

Opening Illustration

God sends no one away EMPTY except those who are FULL of THEMSELVES .. D L Moody

Good summary of … and the warning ISRAEL needs to hear coz they are in great danger of going away from God EMPTY … they are strutting around so full of themselves .. calling attention to their giving away to the needy .. parading their righteousness .. their prayers .. their fasting .. their wealth

But time is running out .. the KINGDOM is near .. they need to repent for it is the POOR in Spirit .. the HUMBLE .. those who feel the weight of their rebellion and disobedience

So Jesus is preaching to a people that have to think again .. are they really seeking FIRST the KINGDOM .. if they are then it’s going to be changing their thought processes .. how they think of people … what they REALLY WANT

It’s a very interesting passage .. confusing? .. especially trying to work out how it goes together .. we talk about specks and planks in eyes .. then dogs and pigs and pearls .. and then knocking on doors .. and dads giving their kids snakes

We have to remember : God sends no one away EMPTY except those who are FULL of THEMSELVES

ASK … SEEK … KNOCK

Lets start at v.7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Now .. obviously .. this is not a BLANK CHEQUE .. ask for anything you like and God will give it .. a round the world trip sounds enticing?!

What’s the context … Jesus saying to Israel .. Repent .. the KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR

The logic is .. ASK for the KINGDOM of Heaven and it will be given to you .. Israel .. the KINGDOM is here .. SEEK IT! For goodness sake .. KNOCK ON THE DOOR of the KINGDOM OF GOD and the Father will open it to you

Y’see Jesus has come with a clear direction from His Father .. and He is not trying to HIDE things from people .. not looking for reasons to kick people out of the kingdom .. there are warnings to those who are on the wrong track .. warnings that this is something IMPOSSIBLE to do for ourselves

Jesus gives warnings to a nation that He loves .. just like a parent who warns his children about eating too many lollies .. or not playing on the main road .. which is EXACTLY where Jesus goes in v.9-10  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

And we’d say .. of course

11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Here we are … sinful parents .. but with a desire to give good things to our children.. WE KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR THEIR HEALTH .. well how much more our GOOD GOD

The New International Version Chapter 7

11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

The Father isn’t picking on them .. trying to make their life difficult .. but really, their righteousness has to exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees .. and Jesus is ENTHUSIASTIC for them to have the kingdom .. SEEK FIRST the KINGDOM .. just KNOCK .. He’ll let you in .. all you have to do is ASK .. and then listen to Him

You might be a long way off .. it might be a faint knock .. it might be a hesitant voice BUT the Father will respond

If you are serious about your soul .. if you are not sure .. go to HIM, coz it’s NOT about overcoming God’s RELUCTANCE .. it’s actually grabbing hold of His WILLINGNESS

It is NOT in God’s nature to send people away EMPTY .. He says COME!

BUT .. of course .. He will send people away EMPTY … because they are FULL of themselves .. have a look at the opening verses

To Judge or NOT to Judge

Gets a bit confusing .. what does it mean to NOT JUDGE .. is their no need for law courts? .. no need for discerning those who are doing right and wrong? No thats not it .. he’s talking about being JUDGEMENTAL .. it’s the HYPOCRISY of judging others for my own faults “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A bit of good old Middle Eastern humour .. people staggering with planks in their eyes ... pretty ridiculous, exaggerated image .. some bloke with a telegraph pole in his eye trying to take out a speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye

Great carpenter’s illustration .. really annoying having a speck of sawdust in your eye .. and really irritating seeing the faults and flaws of others .. but what is Jesus getting at? How do we read this ? What’s the CONTEXT?

Y’see .. this is EXACTLY what the Pharisees and the teachers of the law have been doing .. they are SMUGLY STRUTTING AROUND with their holier than thou attitude .. scanning and identifying the faults of others .. but lets be honest .. there is a bit of Pharisee in all of us … we can be so blind to OUR faults but so quick to see and point our the sins of others

Wouldn’t be the first time someone has said to me .. “I wish so and so was hear to hear that” or the husband giving his wife a nudge during the Bible talk .. some refer to this as SERMON UMBRELLA’S .. y’know .. you but up your sermon umbrella when the sermon starts so that you stay dry but people around you get dripped on .. they are the ones who need to hear this!

Well that what Jesus is saying .. the Pharisees are FULL of themselves .. everyone else has the problem .. but .. where does v.6 fit?  “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Some take this verse to mean that we shouldn’t share spiritual things .. gospel pearls .. before those who will opening ridicule it .. those who time and time again have made a mockery of Jesus .. now that sorta fits .. there is truth to that idea but is that what Jesus is doing here .. there seems to be a clash of gears to interpret this verse that way .. doesn’t really connect thoughts

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

It makes more sense in context to see Jesus as warning Israel .. if they continue to be so judgemental and dismissive .. they will be effectively throwing away the KINGDOM of heaven .. pearl is the kingdom in Ch.13 .. where the stress is doing everything you can to obtain it .. these Pharisees are so full of their OWN righteousness they have no interest in this precious pearl .. and if you throw this sacred treasure to these “dogs” and “pigs” (names more reserved for GENTILES .. your enemies) .. these TELEGRAPH POLE TOTING Pharisees, they will disregard it .. trample all over it .. and turn on you

Isn’t that EXACTLY what the Pharisees did with Jesus .. time and time again .. the pearls of the gospel spoken by Jesus … Jesus who speaks with great authority … people who come in repentance and become disciples of Jesus but as He does that these dogs pass judgement on Jesus .. He is a BLASPHEMER .. His works are done by the power of the Devil .. ultimately they can stand it no more and disregard the WISDOM of the Son of God … they deny that the KINGDOM has come and they destroy the King of Glory .. His back torn to pieces and then this blasphemer gets what He deserves .. CRUCIFY HIM!

You see what Jesus says .. you want to fault find in others .. God will fault find in you … and that’s very easy to find in all of us .. and there is a judgement to come regarding how we have treated Jesus and His word

Israel .. you need to repent .. especially from being so smug and full of yourselves .. so SELF RIGHTEOUS .. you will not escape God’s JUDGEMENT relying on yourself to be righteous enough

AND .. instead of being so CRITICAL of others … they should deal with their own sin .. deal with your OWN issues .. your OWN flawed character .. their own plank … and they should be more CARING about others .. love them

NB that the verse is saying ...first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Your brother needs the speck taken out of his eye .. our disobedience needs to be dealt with BUT not by SELF RIGHTEOUS types .. but those who have your best interests at heart .. someone who is HUMBLY concerned for their brother or sister .. isn’t that the sense of v.12  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Remember Jesus is summarising the LAW and the PROPHETS which has a lot to do with our ability to love God and love your neighbour .. love the Lord with all your heart

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

There’s an interesting questions .. Do you want to HONOUR GOD? .. Do you want to have your sins that hinder you honouring God, addressed? Want to be HOLY as God is Holy? Do you give permission to some trusted friends to keep you accountable? .. Read lately .. vv.23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

Most of us don’t like having sins pointed out .. and our natural reaction is ..... Yep .. “Who are you to talk !” .. “Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself!”

Gets tricky doesn’t it .. our motives for coming to a brother or sister .. not always pure

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Sometimes a brother or sisters sins are affecting others .. and need to be dealt with .. is helpful but again, HOW we go about that is important

Sometimes there are annoying little things but still .. off putting .. ever been trying to have a conversation but the other person just dominates .. not listening or interested in you .. and .. etc etc

And then there are those who are perhaps drifting away .. not there in your Growth Group any more .. noticed they missed a number of Sundays when they used to be very regular .. oh well .. that’s the ministers job!

Friends we have to look after each other .. encourage each other as we live out the KINGDOM

Genuine love is treating people as YOU want to be treated .. the GOLDEN RULE .. even the pagans like this .. there is just GENIUS written all over this simple statement .. coz this week .. when you are in a difficult situation .. difficult relationship .. have to speak to someone eg your children / spouse / boss / other students / the Telstra lady on the other end of the phone .. the centre-link person .. maybe when you are talking about someone ..would I be happy if someone was talking to ME in this way … maybe you have to interact with someone this week .. there’s this ONE simple question … HOW WOULD I LIKE TO BE TREATED

And as we go to morning tea .. as we go about anything we do .. if we follow this principle it will stop us from being judgemental of each other … hopefully stop us from jumping to negative conclusions about each other

Chuck Swindoll .. guy with cancer

Conclusion

We’d do well to meditate on the passage a bit longed .. some very practical insights into how to live as people of the KINGDOM

We might not be the people that Jesus had in mind as he preaches this day on the mountain .. but I’m sure you’d agreed that it has a lot of clout for each of us who’s striving to be godly … here’s a window into what God desires of us .. may the Lord keep humbling us as we learn to be faithful followers of Jesus

There is no doubt that God will keep being our guide as we seek first the kingdom .. all we have to do is ask .. seek .. knock .. we know that God sends no one away EMPTY except those who are FULL of THEMSELVES

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.