Untitled Sermon (6)

They say a good way to check and see if noodles are done cooking is to throw them against a wall and see if they stick

If you want to check a starter on a vehicle or a tractor you just need to jump the poles.

You can check if an egg is good by placing it in a cup of cold water.

And when I played guitar in a band we would check guitar batteries by putting them on our tongue.

It is always nice when we have ways to check things we are unsure of. You can take a lot of the guess work of life out of the equation if you know checks and use them. One of the questions I get asked a lot as a pastor is about “checking” the will of God. Sure, it would be nice if God’s will was as easy to check as a battery or an egg, but it is not. In fact, God’s will can be quite tricky to discern and understand.

But, tells us that we are to test the Spirits and see if they are from God. Unfortunately we live in a time when acceptance is a buzz word. We are encouraged to be tolerant and accept all sorts of things. Honestly, I think this may be to the determent of the church. Many Christians and ministries have lost their way. We are not told to accept all teachings, or all teachings that sound good or make us feel good, or even all teachers that come from a pastor or leader- we are told to test the Spirits.

Today I want to look at and see how John lays out a basic 4 question formula to begin to test if something is ordained by the Spirit of God. The end of chapter 3 gives us the framework and the beginning of 4 gives us the motivation.

Does it cause me to love?

Does it bring me condemnation?

Does it cause me to believe?

Does it call me to obey?

Let’s check them out-

Does it call me to love? says that the message of Christ from the beginning has been this- LOVE ONE ANOTHER. says that GOD IS LOVE. Because God is love the will of God will ALWAYS propels us to love. Think about what we learn about love in - it is patient, kind, it does not boast or anger, it is not arrogant or rude, overbearing, resentful or irritable- and it rejoices in the truth. That means that the will of God pushes us to these characteristics and traits.

If a decision emboldens you anger, or rudeness it cannot be from the Spirit of God. If a teaching drives you to be rude or arrogant it cannot be from the Spirit of God. This is one of the easiest way to recognize the false teachings that many religious zealots follow. They take these teachings and they commit acts of terror or other heinous crimes. If only they took to heart they would have known that the teachings that they were embracing to cause them to harm or kill others are not from the Spirit of God!

The problem is that those actions are blatantly evil- there are many actions Christians get involved in that are not as blatant, but just as hurtful to others.

Does it bring me condemnation- tells us that God is greater than the condemnation that comes from our own hearts. Also tells us that anyone who believes in Jesus is not condemned. Finally, tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Because condemnation is such a BIG feeling it can often feel like the voice of God. However, the Bible is quite clear, God’s voice does not condemn us. Now, conviction and condemnation are different.

John Piper notes that condemnation is “hazy, hateful and hopeless” and conviction is “clear, loving, and hopeful.” The Spirit of God always directs us towards clarity, love, and hope.

I was sharing with someone the other day that sometimes when I am writing a sermon condemnation will attack me. “You have no business teaching on that” it will say “You are not getting this right” I will feel so low, but then I remember that the voice of God is not one of condemnation. And you know, almost every time it is a sermon that has a significant impact on a group of people. Some of the most fruitful sermons I have ever preached were almost sabotaged by the voice of condemnation. I wonder if there are things in your life you have missed out on by accepting the voice of condemnation as the voice of God.

Does it call me to believe? tells us that God wants us to believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. This is one that I feel passionately about- let me say it bluntly- any teaching or practice that lowers the opinion, authority, or importance of Jesus Christ is against the will of God.

A few years ago I attended a series of seminars with some colleagues. One of the speakers shared a talk that was full of encouragement for us to work harder, do better, and love more- and his last thought was “the world depends on you, Christians.” He was a wonderful speaker who was lively and engaging. On the way home we were reviewing the seminar and a few of the people in the back of the car were commenting on how great he was- I was silent. Someone asked what I thought and my comment was “wonderful speaker- horrible theologian” and they asked me why I felt that way and my answer was that the only thing his presentation did was lower the world’s need for Jesus and elevate the world’s need for sinful people, and that is completely opposite of the teachings of the Bible. Again, anything that lowers our need or belief in Christ is not from the will of God.

Do you know what is worse than books, movies, and media that outright alienate God? Those that subtly downplay our need for Him. It is much more dangerous and realistic that Satan lower our belief and dependence on God one fraction at a time rather than all in one swift movement. As I have said before, it is much more likely that Satan will get you to turn 180degrees one degree at a time than in one moment.

Does it call me to obey- -