Jesus, I thought I knew you?

Excited to hang with New Hope Community…and continue to partner with Churches on the East side… we at New Hope HK have been praying for you

Introduction: I thought I knew what hard work was...

Until Mr. Sakamoto made me do cartwheels for 3 months straight

Until Mr. Sakamoto put 45 LB Plates on my back so that I could get my splits

I thought I knew my sport…but I realized I am only just beginning...

In the most important relationships in my life, I don’t want say, “I thought I knew but I didn’t”

The problem: People think they know God but they don’t

The god that is just like any other gods — Pluralism

The god that wants me to just be happy — Hedonism

The god that I ask for help when I need it — Escapism

The god that makes me a nicer person overall — Moralism

The Answer: Follow through

Jesus even said, “Why do you call me Lord, but you don’t do what I say?”

Jesus speaks to this reality in Matthew 7

Matthew 7:21–23 NLT

21 “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. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Let’s take it one verse at a time...

Matthew 7:21 NLT

21 “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.

1. Faith may start with passion but it will only grow with obedience

...Faith born out of emotion can only be nurtured through endurance

Eugene Peterson called describes faith as ‘Long obedience in the same direction’

Jesus is saying that OBEDIENCE is the Key.

Then Jesus continues..

Matthew 7:22 NLT

22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’

2. There is no gift or strength that will supply a lack of genuine obedience

There will be a judgement day

…there is no performance that can disguise a lack of true presence

It is possible to perform signs and wonders and be completely disconnected from Jesus

“They kept saying ‘lord, lord...’ but they didn’t respond to him as ‘lord’

Saul had this very problem

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT

22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

ILLUSTRATION: No success at work will replace MY presence with my kids

* No provision will replace my presence

What is Jesus’ response?

Matthew 7:23 NLT

23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

3. You can’t fake true intimacy

Jesus uses comparison/repetition: Good/Bad Fruit—Wide/Narrow Road—True/False Prophets

3 Comparisons to make the same point about discipleship

Notice:

“Lord, Lord” 2X—

“in your name...” 3X — They assumed on a relationship that they never had

Jesus is saying: I NEVER (at any point in time) KNEW ‘ginosko’ or experienced you

You may have had plenty of ‘experiences’ but not the ONE that counted.

STORY: Making plays w/out putting in the effort

Simple steps of pursuit and intimacy towards Tarah “Lord!.....HER: I never knew you”

Now what?

1. Slow down

Why? So that you can hear him!

The general words for obedience in Hebrew and Greek refer to HEARING

2. Check my Heart

Motives…desires…commitment

Our prayer life will often reveal the state of our relationship: Is it 1 way (talking) or 2 Way (listening)?

Show me my sins? Motives? (Listen)

How do I love my spouse Lord? (Listen)

Use my gifts and passions? God check my agenda (Listen)

QUESTION: What was the last thing that God told you to do?

Why don’t I sense God? Feel God’s presence?

1 Samuel 15:19 NLT

19 Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

Saul says he did obey the Lord — He just altered the plan just a tad

He didn’t want to wait—got anxious?—got arrogant?—he acted out of presumption not faith

1 Samuel 15:23 NLT

23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

My ‘delayed obedience’ — my terms— is on the same level as witchcraft

Maybe he isn’t showing you what to do in the future b/c you haven’t done what he gave you to do in the past.

Obedience to what God said is FIRST prepares me for what’s next

3. Take one step

Step of humility

Step of forgiveness

Step of Follow through:

Step of We come to our families with stale conversations and connections because we’ve spent our best energy and focus on too many of the least important things in our lives.

So what’s left over?

Entitlement: I just need to relax — my exhausting myself on mediocre pursuits

Anxiety: I’m not doing enough or why isn’t what I’m doing working?

Step of genuine repentance

Jesus I need you

Salvation Prayer and Close