Are Not You Lovely?
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Illustration: “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
Transition to Body
Transition to Body
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
1 Corinthians 2:6-
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
Body
Body
Jesus is setting out on his journey
A man ran up and knelt before him and asked a question because he has perceived something “good” about Jesus as a teacher
The man identifies Jesus as “Good teacher”
The man comes seeking an answer to what must he do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus responds why do you call me good, no one is good except God alone.
So the the man does not know who Jesus really is?
Jesus Is More Than A “Good” Teacher
Jesus proceeds to state what any “good” teacher would say
The kingdom of God, the gospel, coming to church (Worship, Sunday School, & Bible Study) is not just about getting “good” teaching.
The man wants to go deeper i.e. he gets the basics
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing:
Jesus Speaks the truth in love
The Epistle to the Ephesian Church- book of Unity
Unity is not obtained without truth
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
True Love Hurts
True Love can hurt sometimes
Proverbs 27:5-
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Jesus loves the man, yet Jesus does not lower the standard for total commitment
Following Christ Requires Sacrifice
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing:
The man lacks nothing
This is where you are lacking in your commitment to Jesus Christ
To the external eye, the man appears to lack nothing.
But Jesus can see the internal man and see what we lack spiritually
The man lacks trust
The man lacks compassion for others
“go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Go
Sell
Give to the poor
Have- treasure in heaven
Follow
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Today, who or what has your heart more than Jesus? How does one answer this question?
This is where you are lacking in your commitment to Jesus Christ
Commitment to Jesus will require sacrifice
To the external eye, the man appears to lack nothing.
But Jesus can see the internal man and see what we lack spiritually
Illustration: True Love Waits sexual purity series
True Love Hurts
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Jesus loves the man, yet Jesus does not lower the standard for total commitment
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Salvation Is Not Earned By You
He is the only man in scripture who comes to Jesus joyful and leaves sorrowful
Transition to Conclusion
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Illustration: One Sunday a little boy looked up at his dad and asked, “Daddy, ow does God love us?” HIs father answered, “Son,God loves us with an unconditional love.”
The God of the impossible
The lad thought for a moment and then asked, “Daddy, what kind of love is unconditional love?” After a few minutes of silence his father answered, “Do you remember the two boys who used to live next door to us and the cute little puppy they got last Christmas?” “Yes.” “Do you remember how they used to tease it, throw sticks and even rocks at it?” “Yes.” “Do you also remember how the puppy would always greet them with a wagging tail and would try to lick their faces?” “Yes.” “Well, that puppy had an unconditional love for those two boys. They certainly didn’t deserve his love for them because they were mean to him. But, he loved them anyway.”
The father then made his point: “God’s love for us is also unconditional. Men threw rocks at his Son, Jesus, and hit him with sticks. They even killed him. But, Jesus loved them anyway.”
Conclusion: Is anything impossible for our LORD
The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
Job 42:
The God of the impossible
And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.