The Wishful Word

God as we quiet ourselves this morning; as we pause from our busy lives and busy schedules; as we collectively come together and focus our attention on you; may we be reminded that “you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask; Lord hear our collective prayers this morning; receive our collective worship as an outpouring of our response to your goodness! Amen

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

WELCOME… 1st time; return guests

Started this series last week; connects with our discipleship series; at the heart of discipleship must be the Word of God; last week asked question - have we lost the Awe & Wonder of God’s Word? Are they simply words on a page? Is it just a book? Or is it the inspired message of the creator of all things to his creation?

I don’t know that I need to verbalize this, but as a people, we want things to work out in our favor! Like, it’s our desire that everything in life works out to our advantage.

If there’s a mistake at the bank - our hope is that it means more money in our account

If there’s a problem with grading an assignment at school - it better mean that C goes to a C+ & not a C-

Even in our conversations with one another, we have a natural tendency to paint things in our favor, right. We tell the story from our perspective; the way we see it; with an emphasis on the facts that make us look good

Top Golf - took 4 golf clubs - I know I left with 4 clubs, but I couldn’t find my 5 iron - emailed the staff at Top Golf - Responded that they couldn’t locate it - I knew they were wrong because that’s the only logical thing that could have happened - They even sent me a survey about how they handled my email inquiry - I was close to giving them a poor review because I knew they really didn’t even look, or someone found my 5 iron and was going to sell it for like $10 - After about a week I decided to look under the seat in my vehicle and there it was.

I completely convinced myself that the lie I was telling myself was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But it doesn’t make it true, just because I’m convinced.

Sometimes I wonder if we do this as we approach the Scriptures. I’m not saying we intentionally try to misinterpret God’s Word. Like I said last week, I do believe part of it is just the fact that we’ve never really been taught how to correctly interpret the Scriptures. The other part is that we just don’t know any better. It makes sense to us, so let’s go with it. Or, we’ve had someone tell us something; Or, we’ve heard someone say something somewhere and it stuck.

Let me share a few examples of what I’m talking about...

Example#1

For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

Phill Collins - “There must be some misunderstanding; There must be some kind of mistake”

There must be some misunderstanding; There must be some kind of mistake

Have you ever been misunderstood?

Had the best of intentions & motives

Entered a situation desiring a certain outcome

Said all the right things; Said all the right things in the right way; Said all the right things, in the right way, and at the right time

Walked away from the conversation feeling pretty good about everything, only to find out later that what you said, and what you meant to say, was totally misunderstood by someone.

We’ve seen this on bumper stickers; Associated with sports teams and players; Used to help motivate people to run a marathon (or some maybe a 5k); Used to help the underdog team win against the powerhouse; Used to encourage someone to succeed in business.

It’s easy and wishful to cut this verse out of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi and forget what was going on in Paul’s life at the time. We can’t divorce the content from the context. We can’t take the words in this sentence and proclaim them as truth in any and all circumstances without a better understanding of Paul’s original meaning.

This verse isn’t so much about achievement as it is about enduring.

Paul wasn’t saying; “You can earn a million dollars and retire early...through Christ who gives you the strength to do it!”

“You can score 40 points; pull down 10 boards; & have 12 assists against Warsaw…through Christ who gives you strength.”

Or…We can dig a little deeper; consider the immediate context by reading the verses and chapters around this verse

But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

and the broader context by reading other writings of Paul; and conclude that what he is communicating is much bigger than a slogan to achieve something great.

Or…The broader context by reading other writings of Paul; and conclude that what he is communicating is much bigger than a slogan to achieve something great

and the broader context by reading other writings of Paul; and conclude that what he is communicating is much bigger than a slogan to achieve something great.

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.

6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.

Now… Do I believe that followers of Jesus can claim the promise that he gives in the end of the book of I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Yes, but take it in context with the Great Commission - “Go and make disciples of all nations...”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

I wonder if God ever feels this way?

Example #2

Jeremiah 29:11–13 NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Some translations say, “plans to prosper you...”

We like to stop right there and hang out on that “prosper” word. There’s a whole gospel predicated on this word. God wants to prosper you! He wants to provide you a big house; a high paying job; a nice car; maybe a boat, jet ski, camper - there’s nothing wrong with nice things (please hear that I’m not advocating that you should feel bad for having these things).

But what I am saying is that this verse in has nothing to do with God predetermining and desiring to prosper you with nice things.

This

As we look at the immediate context of this verse and surrounding verses we find that it’s written to the nation of Israel. in 597 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Judah and rounded up thousands of the best citizens Jerusalem had to offer and transplanted them in Babylon, some 500 miles from home. Begin reading in verse 1. Continue reading past verse 11 - “when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

And we find God’s promise here to them through the prophet

Now…Even though this wasn’t written directly to us, there are things we can learn about the desires of God and how He works.

Example #3

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

The error heard quite frequently is “Do not judge others.” Don’t judge me bro! That we shouldn’t judge anyone. Now…That’s partly true. We shouldn’t judge those outside the church. We shouldn’t place Christian expectations and values on those who are not follows of Jesus.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Matthew 7:1-6

Matthew 7:1–6 NLT

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

“The standard you use in judging...” So it seems that there is allowance made in the gospels for make judgments towards those who proclaim the name of Jesus. How crazy would that be if we were simply to turn a blind eye whenever we saw something sinful in a brother or sister in Christ. Let’s just throw out the section of that addresses how we deal with correcting another believer.

But here’s the difference - finding correction in other believers should be pursued with prayer, Godly discernment, and caution.

The error quite often is not in the diagnosis so much as it is in the failure to apply to ourselves the same criticism so meticulously applied to someone else.

The error then is not in the diagnosis so much as it is in the failure to apply to ourselves the same criticism so meticulously applied to someone else.

Often times the motivation doesn’t come from concern, but contempt (deplore, hate, lack of respect)

Jesus uses some strong language here in this teaching.

“Hypocrite!”

Your vision isn’t all that good because you have something clouding it

The desire is not for the sake of growth, but criticism

Here the motivation doesn’t come from concern, but contempt (despise, hatred, lack of respect)

The desire is not for the sake of growth, but criticism

Criticism minus self-criticism; correction without self-correction is prideful!

We can become so spiteful in being able to find the smallest of things wrong in others that we can become careless with our own affairs that need attention

Why did Jesus use the example as something being wrong with the eye? Because this type of spirit and attitude will cloud our vision and not allow us to see clearly.

The error then is not in the diagnosis so much as it is in the failure to apply to ourselves the same criticism so meticulously applied to someone else.

Practically speaking - we don’t know the whole story! 20% above water 80% underneath. Proceed with prayer; proceed with Godly discernment; proceed with caution

Why did Jesus use the example as something being wrong with the eye? Because this type of spirit and attitude will cloud our vision and not allow us to see clearly.

Philippians 4:13 NLT

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:

I don’t share all of this to scare you out of reading the Bible. I share it so we can better understand what it means and apply it to our lives today in an accurate manner.

I want to end with this Tweet - “I believe the Gospel. Some of my theology is wrong. Some of my theology will be wrong at death. The Bible doesn’t indicate that God is in a constant state of annoyance with, anxiety over, or suspicion of me. He patiently loves and teaches me.”

Communion

But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!

Jeremiah 29:11–13 NLT

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Illustration/Story of when someone was misunderstood...

Offertory

Have you ever been misunderstood?

Dr Dave Smith - Oct 27 9am-2pm (lunch provided); Sunday morning also

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Had the best of intentions & motives

Wyatt family offering

Entered a situation desiring a certain outcome

Said all the right things; Said all the right things in the right way; Said all the right things, in the right way, and at the right time

Walked away from the conversation feeling pretty good about everything, only to find out later that what you said, and what you meant to say, was totally misunderstood by someone.