Mission Possible pt 16
Notes
Transcript
A man was walking through a cemetery when the epithet on a tombstone caught his eye. It read:
“As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, you are sure to be.
So may I say, as now I lie,
Prepare yourself to follow me.”
The man took a piece of chalk out of his pocket… (I don’t know why he was carrying chalk in his pocket, but he was!)… and wrote two more lines:
“To follow you, I’m not content.
Until I know which way you went.”
Our choices in life matter… Not just to us, but to others!
You see, our choices hold the keys to life and death — not just for ourselves — but for others!
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
People are watching… our children are watching… our friends… our co-workers… are watching… What we choose matters!
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
Our choices effect them!
This is why Jesus said:
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
Look at what Wesley said about this:
“It is scarce possible to express or conceive what multitudes of souls run on to destruction, because they would not be persuaded to walk the ‘narrow’ way, even though it were the way to everlasting salvation.” — John Wesley
He goes on to say:
“Thousands of men still rush in the way of hell, only because it is a ‘broad’ way. They walk in it themselves, because others do...”
How sad is that?!
But… how true?
How often do we see so many flock to wrongful teaching… to unbiblical teaching… to a faith that does not bring with it Holiness… only because so many others do? Because it’s popular?
How many people are being lost to the kingdom everyday, because of the “popular” opinion?
Our world breeds… it idolizes… it praises… and adores… “rockstar” preachers!
Even when it leads them away from Christ.
You see… They are so in love with the world, that they will accept anything that allows them to remain comfortable in that love, and they believe that that faith in Christ!
Let me tell you… Love with the world is NOT Faith in Christ!
Yet, so many people believe that we can be in love with the world — with the things and ideas of the world — and still love Christ.
But that is simply not true!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
The difference between life and death… salvation and destruction… is not about what you hear and believe, but about what you do!
It’s about Faith!
James 2:14-26 talks about faith. Look at verse 26:
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
James is not talking about doing things… about works… to prove our faith. He is talking about Faith being the driving force behind our deeds… Faith is the CAUSE of our works!
17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
James is not talking about belief in Christ (believing that He is real)… He is talking about Faith.
Faith is not belief… Faith is foundational… Faith infuses us with Life… Where our Faith lies, what our Faith lies in… will determine HOW we live our lives…
James is saying Faith without resulting works -- Faith without action -- is not Faith at all!
We are not called to belief… We are called to FAITH!
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
That word “believes” is the word “pistenous” (or pistenuo). It means “to put your complete trust and reliance in”.
Christ is supposed to be our anchor!
Everything we do is supposed to result FROM our reliance on Him!
But the world tells us to be “broad minded”… to be tolerant and accepting… to be “woke”… that God loves everyone and therefore everyone is going to heaven… “all roads lead there”… “all religions are bricks in the same pyramid”…
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Our choices have eternal consequences!
And not just for us!
We are called to guard our Faith, not just for ourselves, but for the sake of others!
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
False prophets… False teachers… are dangerous, amen? None of us deny that…
Jesus calls them “ravenous wolves”.
Why?
Because… they bring destruction!
Look at what He says about them:
— They come in “sheep’s clothing”… They often seem harmless… even likable…
— They seem useful… their teaching “sounds” good…
— They appear to be religious… to have strong faith…
— They appear to teach love and grace…
and because of that, they can easily — and often do — lead us away from our Faith in Christ and onto the “wide road”.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
J.C. Ryles says this: “by a passage of heart-pearcing application, He (Jesus) turns from false prophets to false professors...” — J.C. Ryles
R.V.G. Tasker states: “It is not only false teachers who make the narrow way difficult to find and still harder to tread. A man may also be grievously self-deceived.” — R.V.G. Tasker
We must watch for false prophets because we can become self-deceived by believing their teaching!
This is what caused John Wesley to ask the question:
“What if the watchmen themselves fall into the snare against which they are to warn others?”
“What shall be done if they point out as the ‘narrow way’ that which is actually the ‘broad way’?”
We see this happen all the time!
The permissiveness of a lot of doctrine allows us to remain right where we are… to keep on being the broken people we “came to Christ” as… to not make any changes…
Think about it…
“God loves you just the way you are.”
“God is Love, Not Hate, therefore He will not condemn your actions… He loves and accepts you just the way you are...”
or even ideas like:
“Giving your time is a tithe.”
“Giving to missions makes you a missionary.”
“Giving your tithe is serving.”
All of these are partially true, but… they fail to bring change to people’s lives!
These worldly doctrines of permissiveness and acceptance fail to challenge us to Holiness!
16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
God calls us to change!!!
Yes… God loves us, but He does not accept our sin! He accepts who He created us to be!
And He expects us to allow Him to change us into that beautiful creation!
Ask yourself this: Did my decision for Christ change my life?
Let me tell you.... The person who believes false doctrine, or who follows a false prophet, will never experience a changed life!
So, How do we know them? How do we recognize them, and ensure that we aren’t following them?
16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
We will know them by their fruits.
We will know our own Faith by our fruits.
Now, let me tell you… I am NOT talking about numbers… I’m not talking about “how many people they are ministering to,” or “how big their church is”… I’m not even talking about the “fruits of the Spirit”— though those should be evident in their lives…
I’m talking about asking the question: “What are the fruits of their doctrine in themselves?”
What is the effect of it on their lives?
Are they holy and unblamable?
What effect has it had on their hearts?
Do their actions and conversations reveal the Love of God — and neighbor — in them?
Just because the church is popular… Just because the pastor is popular… Just because the message is popular… does not mean that it is true!
We must be on our guard!
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
What does our fruit say about us?
Have we hardened our hearts to the gospel by holding on to false teachings, just because they “feel” good?
Have we refused to allow the Word of God to change us, and chosen instead to hold on to those doctrines that we have always heard, and are comfortable to us?
Have we fallen into the trap of refusing to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us “into all truth”?
We need to heed Wesley’s words:
“My dear brothers and sisters, do not harden your hearts! You have for too long shut your eyes to the light [for the sake of comfort]!”
Good Fruit is about Growth!
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
The Message says:
8 It’s your life that must change, not your skin!
What are we holding on to?!
People need to see us let go of worldly doctrines and cling to Christ!