Point of View

Conventional Wisdom Often interferes with God’s Intentions.

I often wonder what could happen in my life if I really believed all that I preach. I am not saying that I don’t believe in what I am preaching but the truth is that sometimes even for me it is hard to believe what I often feel like God has put in my heart.

The reason I struggle at times is that God puts things in my mind and heart that no one else sees as a possibility. In fact there are times that God puts things in my heart and mind that no one believes is really possible at all.

I get all kinds of push back for that like....The Idea is too grande, The idea is too expensive, The idea is not proven, The idea is not conventional, or the time is not right…these are the things that others say but more often than we want to believe these are the things we say to ourselves.

When we hear these things we have a question to ask... Am I going to agree with the pushback? Or am I going to choose the believe in the idea? The answer to this question makes all the difference.

This is just me being honest…Sometimes it is easier not to believe in something becuase the cost seems too high.

I think we all have these moments in our lives. There are always more voices telling us what won’t work, or what is not realistic or that is not from God...than voices that encourage us to risk and work to make something a reality.

Doing great things or being great does not depend so much on what is rational or conventional as it does on what we believe is possible.

This is the difference between Conventional thinking and Kingdom thinking.

Matthew 16: 21-28 NLT

Matthew 16:21–28 NLT

21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Jesus was telling Peter that Conventional wisdom does not apply in the Kingdom of God.

In fact the same thinking that makes us successful in the “Real World” can lead us to losing it all instead of gaining it all.

Peter has just come from being told that He got it....That he would be called a rock on which the future Church would be built.... to being told in so uncertain terms that he did not get it.

Jesus was a bit harsh but I think only becuase He knew this was the language that Peter understood. Nuance was lost on Peter so a parable or metaphor would be useless here.

Jesus just said Peter if you don’t stop looking at what I am here for through the conventional lens you grew up with you will do more harm than good.

The accepted ideas and practices of this world that lead to power will lead to failure when it comes to the mission of God. (Repeat)

Jesus did not not remove the previous blessing from Peter he just said you have to to learn to think differently you have to accept my wisdom in order to live the Kingdom of God here on Earth.

If we want eternal life we must often embrace the opposite of what the world embraces;

New Living Translation Chapter 16

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

The way of power influence and comfort are often traps not freedom for a follower of Jesus.

This is true not becuase we as people are bad for seeking them out…they are bad becuase if we are not careful the pursuit of these ideals can replace the pursuit of Holiness.

This is why we see so many prominent Christians lose their way. They start out with the greatest of intentions. The run for office becuase they want to expand the gospel, they make money because they want to fund more ministries, they get involved in social causes becuase they are seeking Justice and mercy for the downtrodden.

As they become for successful more powerful and altruistic they unintentionally fall in love with the systems they started out to transform. They slowly begin to lose their original identity as an authentic disciple of Jesus and slowly allow it to be replaced with a desire to be influencers of people, kingmakers and Activists.

They forget the call to carry their cross and in so doing become part of the problem at best and at worst a cautionary tale of a Christian thats lost their way.

This does not have to be the case for any of us!

It is possible to remain focused on The Kingdom of God in the midst of everything around us.

You can experience miracles, you can live every moment in the felt presence of God and you can do the unconventional. You do not have to do it the way everyone else does.

Create the reality in your mind and in your everyday life that God has already made possible.

HOW?

Focus more on who God is and where God is taking you....Give God more voice in your mind.

1Pet. 1:13-14   Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. 14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.

What we focus on becomes our idol…good and bad things....Jobs, relationships, good deeds, fame, fortune, family, physical health, all of these things can become idols…but all of these things under the Lordship of Jesus are good things....When we are aware that these things have taken too prominent a place in our lives we must see them for what they are…Traps…obstacles to the sacred…idols...

Repent of the traps that keep you from God’s will in your life.....

New Living Translation Chapter 7

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

There is no renewal in the Church without repentance…--Chuck Millhuff--

As we move to communion may we come to the table in an attitude to repentance and Thanksgiving that even though we like Peter struggle at times with the thinking of the world Jesus still allows us in his goodness into his presence.

Our salvation our holiness is not subject to conditions they are gifts that Jesus wants to nurture in us if we will remain open.

Let us take a few moments before we come to the table and ask:

What do I need to repent from to experience your presence in my life?

How can I hear your voice over the worlds this week?

Communion