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Nadab & Abihu – Strange Fire

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

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INTRODUCTION

For the summer here at WPA we’ve been doing a series called, “The Bible’s Biggest Losers”. We’ve been highlighting different people or groups of people in the Bible who we might consider losers because of the bad choices they made and/or actions they took. Really, it’s been a revealing series because, I don’t know about you, but there are many times through this series where I’ve identified with one of these choices or actions and realized that I’ve been acting or choosing as a loser would. The good news, is that God doesn’t want to leave us in our loser choices or actions and directs us to wisdom and right choices if we’ll willingly listen. So for me, this series has been valuable. I don’t want to be a loser. I don’t think any of you do either. If you’ve missed any of the messages in this series you can catch up by tuning in on our website at waterlooassembly.org/section/sermons.

Today we’re actually going to look at two people, a pair of brothers in fact. Their names are Nadab and Abihu and when I first came across their names they sounded a little bit like the kind of names that Disney writers would come up for characters in one of their movies. These two guys have much to teach us about what can happen if you don’t take God seriously!

We first come across Nadab and Abihu in Exodus 6:23;

Exodus 6:23 (NIV)
23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

There we learn that Nadab and Abihu are sons of Aaron, the brother of Moses and they have two brothers, Eleazar and Ithamar. Nadab’s name means “noble”. Abihu’s name means “my father he is”. Nadab and Abihu were born into slavery. The first mention of them is located smack dab in the middle of story of Moses coming before Pharaoh of Egypt to communicate God’s command to let his people go. We can assume then that Nadab and Abihu were very much experienced with the slight(!) discomfort of slavery!

We also learn from Numbers 3:2 that Nadab is the firstborn and Abihu the second born – aside from that we don’t know anything about how old they are or their differences in age. However, due to the fact that every time they are mentioned in the Bible they are mentioned together we can assume that they probably were fairly close in age.

The Bible doesn’t say very much about these two men but what it does say proves to be very interesting. For instance, the next mention of Nadab and Abihu is found in Exodus 24.

Exodus 24:1 (NIV)
1 Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance,

The Israelites are camped at Mount Sinai and God tells Moses to come up to Him on the mountain. Notice here, that Nadab and Abihu are included on the list of people privileged to attend Moses. We also find that everyone coming up to the mountain is given explicit instructions to worship from a distance except Moses. He alone is to draw near to the Lord.

But listen to this, a little bit later in verses 9-11 you’ll find that they set out to do as the Lord told Moses…

Exodus 24:9-11 (NIV)
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Did you hear that correctly? They saw God and lived to tell of it. Nadab and Abihu were among the privileged few to actually see God! Surely this is an honor that was imprinted in Nadab and Abihu’s mind, something they wouldn’t easily forget.

A short time later Moses records in Exodus 28:1-5 God’s plan to institute His priesthood through Aaron and his Sons.

Exodus 28:1-5 (NIV)

1 “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

So Nadab and Abihu have a quite a history of not only seeing and witnessing the miracles of God from the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the providence of God while journeying in the desert. They not only witnessed the tremendous power and majesty of God on Mount Sinai when God gave the ten commandments to the Israelites. But, Nadab and Abihu also had the tremendous honor of actually seeing God Himself! Then we read that they are blessed with being God’s chosen priests. Surely Nadab and Abihu appear to have a very privileged and special life. Especially with being able to know and be in God’s presence.

However this isn’t all that the Bible tells us about Nadab and Abihu. For in Leviticus 10:1-11 their lives take an unfortunate turn…

Leviticus 10:1-11 (NIV)

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.

Leviticus 10:1 (KJV)1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent. 4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered. 6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the house of Israel, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said. 8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.”

This is one of the instances in the Bible where people faced physical death due to their rebellion against God.

There is also Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who in the wilderness rose up against the authority of Moses and Aaron. Their rebellion flew in the face of God’s provision and lordship so God opened up the earth and swallowed Korah and his followers (Numbers 16,17).

In the New Testament, there was Annias and Saphira, who lied to the Holy Spirit and faced sudden death as a result. (Acts 5:1-10).

It is a serious matter to tamper in a wrong way with the holy things of a Holy God. When God lays out orders for something to be done in a certain way, that is exactly the way IT SHOULD BE DONE.

In this passage of scripture we find one of the most tragic scenes of the Bible. Here we have two brothers who have experienced God in such a privileged way and are truly blessed to have seen His majesty and His glory. And yet here we learn that their reckless and careless attitude about spiritual things provoked their death at the hands of God. They made the terrible mistake of thinking that if they wanted to offer the fire of their own making, it would be alright, and that God would do nothing about it! HOW DREADFULLY WRONG THEY WERE!

Fire through the Bible

a. Associated with the divine presence.

Moses first encountered God in the midst of a “burning bush”, the Israelites were guided through the desert by a pillar of fire by night, God revealed himself to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai in a display of fire.

When Solomon’s temple was dedicated in 2 Chronicles 7:1, there was fire that fell out of heaven

2 Chronicles 7:1 (NIV)

1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

And finally, when the disciples were meeting in prayer and waiting as Jesus commanded them to when departing into heaven the Holy Spirit came on them appearing as fire.

Acts 2:2-4 (NIV)

2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

b. Associated with divine wrath.

If you recall from when I spoke on the man, Lot, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by fire (Genesis 19) and according to 2 Peter 3:12, fire will dissolve the world when the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

2 Peter 3:12 (NIV)

12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

Some of the events that are yet to occur, that are described in the Book of Revelation will involve fire.

And in this particular story notice what happened to Nadab and Abihu –

Leviticus 10:2 (NIV)

2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

“Strange Fire” is something we see even today.

I think there is a definite contrast here between the “strange fire” that Nadab and Abihu brought into the Lord’s presence and the consuming fire that executed God’s holy judgement on the pair. What they brought before the Lord was “unauthorized” fire, something that wasn’t in keeping with the instructions of God for proper priestly service.

There are all types of “strange things” in the church today. There are strange doctrines, strange practices, and strange thinking.

The NIV translates the word “strange” in Leviticus 10:1 as “unauthorized”. In other words, the fire that Nadab and Abihu brought before the Lord did not have his stamp of approval upon. Well, there are a lot of doctrines, thinking, and practices in the church today that God would never put His Divine approval upon!

What makes strange fire so dangerous is that left unchecked it can lead to something far different then what God wants and knows is best for us. It can even lead to getting a different picture of what God is really all about.

At the heart of Nadab and Abihu’s disastrous mistake was this “strange fire” they brought before the Lord. But this fire was merely the product of some very wrong actions that Nadab and Abihu demonstrated in coming before the presence of God.

wrong timing

It does not appear that Nadab and Abihu had any orders to burn incense at all at this time. It is true that their consecration was completed the day before, and it was part of their work, as priests, to serve at the altar of incense; but thought it appears that while this would be their duty at this particular time it actually was Aaron who is supposed to perform the service in inaugurating the new tabernacle. Aaron slew the sacrifices (ch. 9:8,15,18), and his sons were only to attend him (v. 8,12,18); therefore only Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle, v. 23. But Nadab and Abihu were so proud of the honor they were newly advanced to, and so ambitious of doing the highest and most honourable part, that though the service of this day was extraordinary, and done by particular direction from Moses, yet without receiving orders, or so much as asking leave from him, they took their censers, and they entered into the door of which they thought they had attended long enough, and would burn incense. At this particular moment, it was something that they were not supposed to do.

You see, Nadab and Abihu were so excited and proud about the honour they had that they wanted to rush something that God did not want rushed.

Friend’s, God’s timing is always perfect. Sometimes we want to help God along a little bit and try to speed things up but in doing so we are affronting the holiness and majesty of God. In doing so we’re bringing strange fire before the Lord.

wrong authority

As I mentioned briefly already, they did not consult with their leader Moses or their father the high priest. Moses had received a word from God, but this clearly did not matter to the young men. They were ready to act on their own and did not follow the leadership that God gave them.

This happens so often in churches today. If a person wants to do anything that affects the church in any way, then leadership should be consulted. Those in authority should be consulted. That is God’s way of doing things from the earliest times.

Some of you may be thinking – yeah that’s fine, but what if I know God has spoken to me about something and the leadership just doesn’t agree with me. My answer to you is this – if God spoke to you and wants to use you for a particular task then HE will bring it about – even if the leadership is not responsive – eventually God will put someone in authority who will listen to His voice and recognize what He is speaking into your life! But don’t try to RUSH God and don’t go ahead on your own authority!!! Is this scriptural? Sure it is…

Look what David did! David was anointed as the next King of Israel while the current king, Saul, was still in power. And there was no doubt that David’s anointing was from God! After all, it was the prophet Samuel who did the anointing. Yet if you read the story in 1 Samuel you find that Saul didn’t recognize David’s kingship. In fact, Saul set out to kill David. David was forced to flee for his life and he became a man in exile – on the run. There were a few men that joined David on the run and they became fugitives, hiding and running from Saul and those who would kill them if they were found.

Let’s pick up the story in 1 Samuel 24,

After returning with his men from battling with the Philistines one day Saul heard that David’s location had been found. He was hiding in a place called the desert of Engedi. It’s not your typical desert with blowing sand dunes. Rather, it’s a stretch of land adjacent to the coast of the Dead Sea, where the valley is lush and green, while the mountains are rocky and treacherous.

Without wasting any time, Saul gathers up his men, and announces that they are moving out to get David. Saul was focused in finding and killing David. After a long forced march, “He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself” (v3) Translation, Saul had to go to the potty.

Saul got off of his mule and scanned the terrain for a place to have some royal privacy. Picking a random cave from the many caves in the area, he walked over with a couple of his bodyguards positioned them at the entrance , and stepped inside to do his business. But of all the places to stop, and of all the caves to choose, Saul “coincidentally” picked the very cave where David and his men were hiding….{continue telling the story, emphasizing what David’s men must have been telling him – i.e. “this is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you” (v.4NKJV)…David ended up just cutting a piece off of Saul’s robe). When Saul had left the cave with his guards…

1 Samuel 24:8-13 (NIV)

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.

David recognized the authority in Saul’s leadership – as faulty as it was. Instead of rushing things along David was waiting for God’s timing and obeying His authority.

wrong motive

Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent.

Leviticus 10:3 (NIV)

Nadab and Abihu were not seeking to glorify God alone. In Leviticus 10:3 God spoke to Aaron about being glorified. The two young men did not have the glory of God in mind at all. We offer strange fire when our motive in what we do fails in desire to give God glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

We do not fully know the hearts of Nadab and Abihu, but it appears their hearts were full of sinful pride. They wanted to look important in the eyes of Israel and seemingly did not have in mind at all, the glory of the Lord. They wanted to promote themselves and look important. That seems to be what motivated them in the tragic thing they did.

CONCLUSION

Folks what are the lessons we can learn from Nadab and Abihu?

1. The holiness of God is not to be trifled with!!

The question that nagged at the back of my mind through all my study of Nadab and Abihu and this terrible incident in their lives was, “Why did God have to kill them?” I mean, surely God could have used a little bit less of a deadly approach in discipline? And the only answer I have been able to reconcile with is the nature of Nadab and Abihu’s behavior. Remember that they had seen God and they knew what it was like to be in God’s presence. Remember also that they were not oblivious to the power and majesty and glory of God. They knew all this and yet they acted presumptuously despite that knowledge. In this moment, believe they took God for granted and ignored his holiness. Notice that the first words spoken to their father after their death as God spoke through Moses,

Leviticus 10:3 (NIV)

3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’”

Among those who approach me I will show myself holy. Our God is a Holy God and this cannot be forgotten. God set up certain regulations and laws and procedures regarding the tabernacle and the priesthood for the protection of those in his presence. For He is a holy God and sin is consumed in his midst!

In the church today there are many people who are seeking the presence of God – pressing into his glory. And that is good. But do you know what would happen if on any given Sunday God were to honor our pursuit and show up in all his glory? If there is anybody here with an unrepentant heart and who does not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour I believe that they would die!! Friend’s God’s holiness is not to be trifled with! Yes He is loving, yes He is full of grace and mercy, but He is also HOLY, JUST, and RIGHTEOUS – and holy won’t mix with unholy… never forget that.

2. Strange Fire dishonors God.

Also found in Lev. 10:3 is God’s words, “in the sight of all the people I will be honored.” Another reason for God’s swift justice was the dishonor Nadab and Abihu were bringing to God by their “strange fire”. What they were doing flew in the face of everything God had painstakingly spoken through Moses and demonstrated their disregard for God’s word.

3. Strange Fire is destroyed by Holy Fire

Notice that the words used to describe the fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu are the same words used to describe the fire that consumed the sacrifice made earlier.

Leviticus 9:24 (NIV)

24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Leviticus 10:2 (NIV)

2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

I don’t think this is coincidence. For you see in the first instance the sacrifice was consumed by the Lord indicating God’s acceptance of the offering as a substitution for the sins of Israel. This fire which consumed the Nadab and Abihu came the same way with that which had consumed the sacrifice and showed what justice would have done to all the guilty people if infinite mercy had not found and accepted a ransom; and, if that fire struck such an awe upon the people, then so much more would this. This then would make sense out of why Aaron and Eleazar and Ithamar were instructed by God through Moses not to mourn or show any grief for their loss. You see, they as priests were to understand their loved ones death as an atonement for sin.

Leviticus 10:6 (NIV)

6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the house of Israel, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire.

The point I want to make here however is that the Holy Fire of God will destroy or consume any strange fire that is brought into his presence.

When we insist on our timing with the things of God rather than his timing, when we resist His authority and the authority He has placed on those over us, when we act out of the wrong motives in our hearts then anything we bring to God is “strange fire”. What does this mean?

  • Salvation without the cross of Christ is strange fire.
  • Attendance without worship is strange fire
  • Service without the Spirit is strange fire
  • Testimony without personal experience is strange fire
  • Teaching without study is strange fire
  • Prayer without practice is strange fire

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How To Fail as a Father

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

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INTRODUCTION

Today I’m going to continue the message series that we are doing here at WPA for the summer entitled, “The Bible’s Biggest Losers”.

One of the things I love about the Bible is that it doesn’t paint all the heroes in the stories as infallible or perfect. In fact, the Holy Spirit is careful to include the “losing” moments as well. It gives hope to all of us who read the Bible who know full well that we’re not perfect people that maybe, just maybe God can use us too!

With it being Father’s day I thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at a father from the Bible and I was drawn to talk about King David. Now, we know David as a great king of Israel and he’s even described as a “man after God’s own heart”. We know the story of David and Goliath, and the incredible odds he overcame to fulfill the anointing God placed on his life as a King of God’s people. David was so great that one of the titles for the Messiah, Jesus Christ is “Son of David” tying the human lineage of Jesus to David himself. What an honor.

However, those familiar with King David also know that there are some tragic stories in David’s life where he failed dramatically and it cost him dearly. If you want to read up on the incredible story of David and his reign over Israel you can find it in 1 Samuel 16-31, all of 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-2, and 1 Chronicles 11-29. You can also get a feel for David’s passions and artistry by reading many of the Psalms he wrote.

Today, we’re going to zero in on a particularly tragic moment in David’s life in 2 Samuel 18,

5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. 6 The army marched into the field to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There the army of Israel was defeated by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great–twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword. 9 Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going. 10 When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.” 11 Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt.” 12 But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lift my hand against the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 13 And if I had put my life in jeopardy–and nothing is hidden from the king–you would have kept your distance from me.” 14 Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15 And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him. 16 Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them..
2 Samuel 18:5-18 (NIV)

In this snapshot of David’s life I chose to begin with the words of David instructing 3 of his generals to be gentle with his son Absalom. Yet dramatically, we discover that they are far from gentle. In fact, Absalom’s life is brutally taken. How did things get to this point? How did things get to the point where Absalom is leading the army of Israel against his father King David? How did things get to the point where David’s generals would kill his son?

To understand the answer to that question I did some reading over the story of David’s life and I’m going to give you a quick rundown of some things I discovered about his children:

  • The Bible names for us 19 sons and 1 daughter that David had but there is the suggestion that he had many more that were born to his concubines.
  • Of those children we gain greater insight into the lives of five: Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah, Solomon and Tamar:
    • Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar
    • Tamar is Absalom’s full-sister and when he hears of Amnon’s deed he is furious and plots revenge. He rigs up a celebratory party and invites all his brothers including Amnon to the party where he has his people murder Amnon
    • Absalom is banished from the kingdom for two years to his grandfather’s (on his mother’s side) land and when is returned to Israel he plots to take the kingdom from his father David. Absalom ends up heading up this conspiracy against King David that hit its peak when he had himself crowned King in Hebron and David fled Jerusalem.
    • Absalom raped his father’s concubines when he arrived in Jerusalem.
    • Absalom leads Israel’s armies out to battle David and his men and they lose (as we’ve already read)
    • Adonijah follows in Absalom’s footsteps and plots to undermine David’s authority and steal the kingdom from him but is kept from doing so when King David is informed by the plot and accelerates the crowning of Solomon as King.

It is clear as you read the story of David and his family that David had some faults. From the example of David and the teaching of scripture I’d like to spend a few minutes today answering the question, “How to fail as a father”. Some of you men here today are fathers. Some of you are going to be a father in the coming months. Some of you know someone who is a father or who is going to be a father. Listen up, because I think God has something to say to you today. For the rest of you I also want you to listen carefully because I’m going to share with you how God as our father doesn’t fail!

Now I need to make a couple things clear.

One, there is the reality that each person is responsible for the actions he/she takes in life. Just because a father fails doesn’t necessarily guarantee that his children will do terrible things or live fruitless lives. Just because a father succeeds doesn’t necessarily guarantee that his children will live exemplary lives and be Godly individuals. But a good father will increase the positive potential for their children.

Two, as you listen to this message you may discover some areas where you may be failing as a father or have failed. Don’t allow this discovery to discourage you but instead take it as a challenge to do something about it. Placed before you is the opportunity to make changes so that what you discover is no longer true in your life as a father. Even as I was preparing this message there were some things the Holy Spirit nudged me about that I need to work on in my own life as the father to my children. Being a father is hard work, and no father is perfect. The biggest losers are not those who fail, but those who let their failure define their future actions and decisions because they become comfortable with that failure.

How to fail as a father…

1. Don’t spend time with your children.

This is obvious but so easily forgotten. You want to decrease the positive potential in your children then don’t spend time with them. The next few points I make are dependent on the time that you invest in your kids.

King David teaches us that it doesn’t matter how important of a role you play in the world – your most important role is the one you have in your family as father. If you don’t spend time with your kids then you are abdicating that role.

In King David’s story it is revealing that when Absalom was plotting to get revenge on his brother Amnon for raping his sister he went to his father…well let’s just read it:

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?” 25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing.
2 Samuel 13:23-25 (NIV)

Now why would Absalom even bother to invite his father to come to the celebration knowing full well that if David accepted he wouldn’t be able to pull off what he had planned? Here’s the thing. Absalom had to give the appearance to David that nothing was up by inviting him but Absalom knew that David probably wouldn’t accept. How would Absalom know that? Because of the pattern David had set in his life of not spending time with his children.

Not only that but did you catch the excuse David gave for not attending? “I don’t think I should come, I don’t want to be a burden to you”. What kind of lame excuse is that? I wonder how many lame excuses like that David had given in to his sons when they wanted to go riding horses with him, or have him teach them how to throw a spear, tuck them in at night, or be at their birthday parties?

What are the lame excuses you give your kids for backing out of spending time with them?

I remember once my daughter Jenna came to me and gave me a hug after I spent some time wrestling with her and my other three children (getting to be more dangerous the older they get!) and she said, “Thanks Daddy”. I asked her, “Thanks for what?” “Thanks for spending time with us Daddy” and I said, “Daddy always has time for you guys” Then Jenna floored me, “Sometimes Daddy, but you’re always on your blackberry or the ‘puter”.

BAM! What a gut-wrenching thing to hear from Jenna. I realized I was failing as a father because my daughter was seeing me on the computer and the blackberry more than she was seeing me with her. Which brings me to an important point,

The amount of time is secondary to the quality of your time.

Paul writes to the fathers in the Ephesian church, “Don’t provoke to anger (or exasperate) your children” (Eph. 6:4). Do you know one of the easiest ways to exasperate your children? When you’re in the same room or the same house, or around you’re kids but you’re not really there. When you are present in body but not present in any other way. Kids pick up on that, they know when you’re around but not really present. That is what affects the quality of the time you spend with your children.

As I said earlier spending time with your children is foundational for any of the other things you do as a father with your children…let’s continue (How to fail as a father…)

2. Don’t discipline your kids (or forgive them either).

Listen to this revealing statement about David’s failure as a father,

6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” (1 Kings 1:6)

The context of this sentence is that Adonijah had begun boasting that he will make himself king and got some chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Yet, it appears as though David is oblivious to this.

What about the rape of David’s daughter Tamar by his son Amnon? All scripture records for us is that David got really angry….um with nothing else. It appears that he didn’t even tend to his daughter for scripture records that Tamar retreated to the home of her brother Abasalom a “desolate woman”. I wonder what seeds of resentment were born in Absalom’s heart towards his father because of the lack action by David in disciplining Amnon?

Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Proverbs 13:24 (NLT)

Those words were written by David’s son Solomon. I wonder, if Solomon was thinking of the things he saw as a child as a result of the lack of disciplining in his brothers lives?

Where does spending time come in with discipline? If you don’t spend time with your kids then you won’t know what discipline is effective in instructing your kids on the right and wrong in life. (share about how my children differ in what discipline works best in reinforcing boundaries). If you don’t spend time with your children then how will you know WHAT needs to receive discipline?

3. Don’t pass on any spiritual heritage (don’t let you kids know how much you love Jesus) – oh, and don’t pray for your kids either!

Scripture teaches us that David had a rich relationship with God and spent time with Him. But how much of that relationship did David pass on to his sons? Very little it seems because of his not spending time with them.

Want to fail as a father? Don’t pass on any spiritual heritage…let’s think about his…

To begin with, obviously, you can’t pass on any spiritual heritage if you don’t have any. If you don’t cultivate any relationship with God your self then you’re definitely not going to pass anything to your kids.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)

Second, if you don’t spend any time with your kids and let them observe how much Jesus means to you and guides you in your daily life then you aren’t going to pass on any spiritual heritage.

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)

Third, passing on a spiritual heritage doesn’t mean that you have a game face for when you around your kids and a hang loose face when you are not. You need to be authentic with your children. They need to know what living as a Christian is really like. They need to know what to do when they mess up from learning by what you do when you mess up. They need to see you live out authentically what you are learning together as you read God’s word and as you make decisions.

This brings me to the next point – to fail as a father…

4. Don’t recognize and value the influence you have in your children’s lives. In other words, don’t fight for your kids.

The reality is, especially in today’s world – there are many things competing for the influence of your children. The saddest thing is that there are many fathers abdicating their role as the primary influence in their child’s life. The amount of positive influence you have in your children’s lives is proportional to the amount of quality time you spend with them.

David had tremendous influence as the God’s anointed king of Israel and he had tremendous influence as a mighty warrior but his influence as a father in his children’s lives was withered because of the limited time he spent with them, his poor discipline of them, and the limited spiritual heritage he passed on to many of them.

Listen carefully Fathers and this applies to mothers as well – parents ARE the primary influencers in their children’s lives. You influence them even when you don’t engage with them. If you fail to recognize the affect of your influence in their lives then you are missing the greatest opportunity God has given you to build positive potential into your children’s lives.

Here’s an important question when it comes to influence…Can you say to your children, ‘Live like I do with NO exceptions? In other words, do you have exceptions to following Christ, like “except for my anger” or “except for my looking at other women”? Don’t think for a minute that David’s sons behaviors weren’t influenced in any way by the activities they saw in their father’s life (David and Bathsheba for example).

When it comes to the important stuff in life don’t leave it to what their peers say, what the school says, or what they read or see. Be on the constant look out for opportunities to be a positive influence in your child’s life!

CONCLUSION

So what are you going to do about it the answers to, “how to fail as a father”? Are you going to get hung up on how you failed as a father or are you going to pursue the responsibility God has given you and be a good father to your children?

I want to finish off with the reinforcement this morning that one of the ways God wants us to relate to Him is to see Him as our Father. Why? Because as our Father God is forever working to build within us increasing positive potential to be better, to do better, and to live the better life He wants for all of us WITH HIM! Do you realize how much he cares about you?

  • God has unlimited time to spend with you and is ALWAYS available. Do you seize the opportunity to spend time with him? Even more He is fully present when you are fully present. Even more, He understands everything you go through, everything you think about, everything about who you are…even more than you understand
  • God cares enough to discipline when necessary. Do you receive or reject that discipline? Do you understand His desire that you would achiever your POTENTIAL?
  • Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.
    • Deuteronomy 8:5 (NLT)
    • God is perfect but He never expects us to be perfect. He requires it, yes, because He is holy, but He made it possible for us to attain perfection via the willing sacrifice He himself made as Jesus Christ. God wants us to be like him. He wants us to be like Jesus. He wants us to be better and KNOWS OUR POTENTIAL. In some ways, God knows that we fail, and He knows that we fall short of the mark – which IS WHY HE IS READY TO PICK US UP AGAIN AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. (
  • He cares enough to make possible incredible spiritual resources in the scriptures, in the church, and in the investment of Himself as the Holy Spirit.
  • Finally, know that God as our Father FIGHTS for you. Not in the sense that He always takes on your battles but that HE makes sure you have every possibility to know Him as the primary influence in your life. HE paid the ULTIMATE price so you could know Him as YOUR Father. Maybe you’ve lived a life where no one has fought for you. Maybe you are even feeling that way right now. You need to know this morning that God fights for you – HE wants you as His child, He DOESN’T WANT YOU to know the pain of hell, the pain of eternal separation from Him. HE’S made it possible for you to know HIM. Once you understand the wooing nature of God’s GRACE there is an irresistible pull to answer His invitation….
  • As our Father God has ALWAYS initiated communication on the important stuff. From the Dawn of creation He has done so. Creation itself is God’s initiation. Of course, nothing speaks louder than the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf – what more could God do to demonstrate His love for us (and the price that must be paid for sin).

Invitation to the altar.

PRAY

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The Presence of Worship

Sunday, March 29th, 2009

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INTRODUCTION

Last week Pastor Marshall began a series on worship, entitled “Worship is Essential”. He began with the first message in the series dealing with the Priority of Worship if you didn’t get a chance to hear the first message in this series then I encourage you to get a copy of this message either online via our website or you can request a CD a the welcome desk on your way out.

Today I’m going to be sharing the second message in this series.

Looking in Webster’s dictionary you’ll find this first definition for worship, “reverence, homage or honor paid to God” Then it goes on to say that the word is also used to refer to a place where this reverence, homage, etc. paid to God is given.

If you were to ask people what the word worship meant you would get a large variety of responses. Some might agree with Webster, some might say it is when you sing songs to God, some might say it is going to church, some might say it is when you place money in the offering plate. The reason why you would get such a large number of different answers is because the word “worship” is used in so many different contexts. While preparing this message I tried to think of all the ways in which I’ve used worship. I’ve said, “Let’s worship God together now” (in reference to singing praises); “Let’s worship God with our tithes and offerings”; “I worship you Lord”; “Why don’t you come and worship God with us” (while inviting someone to our church).

While looking closely at the contexts in which the word worship is often used I found that we often use this word to refer to an action we do – whether it is singing a chorus, going to church, placing money in an offering plate, raising our hands – etc. However I believe that scripture teaches us that worship is so much more than these things. In fact, you can be doing all these things and still not be entering into the place of true worship

I like what Robert Webber wrote about worship,

ILLUSTRATION:
We need to let go of our intellectual idea of worship and realize there is more to worship than a sermon; we have to let go of our evangelistic notion of worship and reckon with the fact that worship is not primarily directed toward the sinners who need to be converted; we must let go of our entertainment expectations and remind ourselves that we are not in church to watch a Christian variety show. We have gathered together in worship to be met by God the Almighty. God, the Creator of the universe, the One who sustains our lives, our Redeemer and King, is present through proclamation and remembrance. He wants to communicate to us, to penetrate our inner self, to take up residence within us. And, as we go through the experience of meeting with him in this mystical moment of public worship, we are to respond. But response is not just singing a hymn, not just saying a creed, not just saying a prayer. Response, from the very beginning of worship to the end, must be a powerful inner experience of actually being in the presence of God. When we sing a hymn or say a confession or prayer, we are not singing or saying words, but expressing a feeling, bringing our souls, truly responding and communicating to the living and active presence of a loving and merciful God. (Worship is a Verb, by Robert Webber, pg.114)

Today I want to talk about the presence of Worship. Worship really is about presence.

WORSHIP IS ABOUT PRESENCE

 acknowledging and reverent of the presence of God (Worship recognizes God’s presence)
 your presence before Him…. (Worship itself is a presence…)

For our text today I want to take another close look at a scripture that Pastor Marshall referenced last week. I believe we have here a story that has much to teach us about the presence of worship.

36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50 (NIV)

PRAY

The presence of worship is BIRTHED from the RECOGNITION OF who JESUS is (who the Father is, who the Holy Spirit is).

There is an incredible contrast in this Luke’s account of this event in Jesus’ life. A contrast between a guy named Simon (who happened to be a religious leader) and this unnamed woman (who is described as “immoral” a “sinner”).

• Something interesting: The Pharisee is said to have invited Jesus to his house for dinner…
 He didn’t wash Jesus feet (a basic form of hospitality)
 He didn’t anoint Jesus’ head with oil (a basic form of hospitality)
 He considered that Jesus’ may be a prophet or at most a teacher…but certainly not who Jesus claimed to be. Evidence is in how the Pharisee received Jesus.
• The woman was uninvited yet…
 She washed Jesus feet with her own hair
 She anointed his feet with not any oil but a COSTLY oil.
 She considered Jesus her Saviour. Evidence is in how Jesus received her.

When first looking at this scene, it’s easy to ask, why did the woman come to Jesus? Sure, she heard about him being at the Pharisee’s house and so she made the effort to go there and do her act of worship….but what really prompted her decision to make that effort? A clue is the story of two debtors that Jesus shared with Simon. Something had happened in this woman’s life, or she had witnessed something that opened her eyes to who Jesus is and she believed it. This faith, this understanding birthed the presence of Worship in her heart which resulted in this extravagant expression of her worship.

Listen to me, the presence of true worship is birthed in the recognition of who Jesus is – everything else is idolatry or pseudo-worship. True worship is all about Him. Idolatry or pseudo worship is all about what we can get out of it. True worship is all about God, all about recognizing who Christ is, the God of love, the God of mercy, the majestic God, God of grace, God of justice.

This presence of worship can be expressed in many different ways because it’s based in the heart of recognizing who God is. But remember, that whatever the expression of worship is it always, always, always points to Him!

Here in this story we have Simon inviting Jesus’ with the goal of discovering what this Jesus might be able to do for him, or perhaps what kind of danger this Jesus’ might pose to his position. The Pharisee was more concerned about what Jesus might do then who He is. Contrast the response of Jesus to this uninvited woman who is extravagant in washing Jesus with her hair her tears and anointing Him with the expensive perfume. An expression of what was birthed in her heart, true worship – because she saw who Jesus is! Friends, when you understand, recognize who Jesus is – you can’t help but worship Him!

{show “That’s My King” video)

Listen to me, sometimes, most times, worship isn’t really about ushering the presence of God into the sanctuary or the place where we are but more about ushering us into the presence of God…the woman, she didn’t usher Jesus’ into her presence via the expression of her worship…in honoring Him she was ushered into His presence.

The presence of worship COMPELS us to GIVE SOMETHING of OURSELVES

Worship always involves to some degree the giving of something as an expression of worship – a contribution of who you are, your life for the one you worship. What is significant in reading this story is that when this woman came to express her love for Christ, she not only poured out this expensive perfume but she had also come into this hostile territory, the home of a religious leader who knew her background, who knew her immorality and no doubt had reminded her of her failings many times. This woman faced the risk of being shut out, the risk of being rejected to humble herself and not only wash the feet of Jesus (and bring honor to Him who had been dishonored), but she humbled herself in washing His feet with her own hair, with her own tears. What an INCREDIBLE picture of the sacrifice made in Worship.

The thing about this giving in worship is that is not something giving unwillingly, or begrudgingly, or in agony. It is a willing gift because of the recognition of WHO you are giving to and what He has already given.

This means then, that the expression of our Worship isn’t confined to place or position. We may express this worship when we give…

• in singing praise to Him on Sunday’s
• in praying for someone in need
• in doing our job through the week to the best of our ability as if we were working for the King
• in the giving of our time to serve where He gives us passion to serve.
• In loving our spouse, our kids, our family as He loves us.
• In directing our resources where we see the need (because He has shown us that need)
• In being a friend to someone who doesn’t have a friend.

Really, every day presents us with opportunities to worship our king. It is entirely possible for our lives to be an expression of worship to Him. And it is when we truly recognize who God is. In fact, this is exactly what Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) wrote to the church in Rome in Romans 12:1,

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Romans 12:1 (NLT)

You know what’s interesting? Paul chose to introduce himself to the Roman church at the beginning of this letter as “a slave of Christ”. This follower of Jesus wasn’t just preaching to the church He was living what He taught.

The other thing we learn about the presence of worship from this woman at the feet of Jesus is…

The Presence of true worship brings a TRANSFORMATION

Among the transformation that happens in one worshipping is ….

…a transformation of perspective
True worship transforms your perspective on who Jesus is. It transforms your perspective on who you are (this woman knew she was a sinner, she realized what wasn’t right in her life but she also knew the only one who could do something about that was Christ)
• transforms your perspective on the future
• transforms your perspective of your problems.
• transforms your perspective of your pleasures.

...a transformation of position.
• the presence of worship changes your position from being someone far from God to being someone close to God.
• Interesting that Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace”. Her position was changed from being someone outside the kingdom, to being a citizen of the Kingdom of God – from being ungodly, to a daughter of the King.
• What I said earlier about worship doesn’t usher the presence of God into the sanctuary or where we are but rather we are ushered into His presence!

…a transformation of purpose (from death to life).
• not concerned about what you get out it, but the Glory He gets.
• Your very life becomes an instrument of worship. There is purpose to everything you do.
• Invest in His kingdom rather than Your kingdom.

Sometimes this transformation in the life of a worshipper of Jesus occurs over a period of time, sometimes it is instantaneous – complete in that moment. But here’s the cool thing, sometimes the transformation brought about by the presence of worship happens even to those not worshipping! This is one of the reasons why I believe corporate worship is so incredible…when the presence of worship is birthed in our hearts and it is expressed in the gathering of God’s people – those who are present, who don’t know who God His, who are not yet Christ-followers, may be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the midst of worshippers! That is so AWESOME!!

Why does this transformation take place? Because true worshippers are ushered into the presence of God and sometimes a few people will get brought along with them…

(If time reference the story of Paul and Silas in Jail – Acts 16)

CONCLUSION

So why are we teaching on worship? Why this focus on worship? Because I think sometimes we get trapped in this wrong idea of what worship is all about and stuck in the routine and familiarity of tradition and behavior where we’ve allowed our “worship’ to become nothing but a cheerleading club. The only way we break free from that mentality and that behavior is to be reminded, to open our eyes, to unlock our hearts and RECOGNIZE who Jesus is, to ACKNOWLEDGE who He is! To respond with the gift of ourselves and allow His life and His presence to transform us!

I think it’s awesome how things have worked out so that we are having communion this morning. Communion serves as a great reminder of who CHRIST IS! Those distributing the emblems of communion can make they’re way up to the front now to do so. As the emblems of communion are being passed out I want us to watch this video clip called, “the gift of Worship”

PRAY

BLESSING (from Hebrews 13:20-21)
20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

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Holy Desperation

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

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This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series Holy Desperation

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INTRODUCTION

Today I want to talk about desperation. Do you know what it’s like to be desperate? Have you ever been in the place where you could say you are really desperate for something?

Let’s play the “what if?” game…

What if…

…You didn’t have any food and were starving? Would you be desperate?

  • Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger and ¾ are children under the age of 5.
  • It is estimated that some 854 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
  • About one third of all children in the world under five suffer from malnutrition.

…You didn’t have a job and were penniless? Would you be desperate?

  • Statistics Canada reports the unemployment rate for January of this year at 7.2%. That means roughly 7 out of every 100 people are without a job. Of course the safety net in Canada helps a lot of those people out. With welfare and employment insurance a lot of the unemployed don’t have reason to be desperate.
  • Still what if you were in the place where you had absolutely no income coming in would you be desperate?
  • Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion – a majority of humanity – live on less than $1 per day, while the world’s 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with 45 percent of the world’s people. UNICEF

…You didn’t have clean water and were thirsty? Would you be desperate?

…Your child got accidentally locked in your car along with the keys with all the windows up on a hot day? Would you be desperate?

This “what if?” game helps to put a bit of a picture on what leads to desperation. Desperate people display an extreme urgency or intensity because of great need or desire.

I wonder how many of us have experienced desperation? The reason why I’m talking about desperation today is because I think it helps us to understanding something Jesus said while delivering what’s known as the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus understood the power of an image connected with an idea. The cross, a mustard seed, a lamp on a stand, a pearl are powerful images that reveal something even greater about Christ and His purposes for our life.

One day, early in His ministry, there was a crowd of people following Jesus around and Jesus went up on a nearby mountain. As his disciples gathered around, Jesus spoke and began to teach – delivering what is commonly known as the “be-attitudes” because they are things Jesus encourages His hearers to “be”. I want to focus in on a particular saying of Jesus that Matthew records,

Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Unless we know what it is to be desperate – I don’t think we’d understand this verse. Friend’s I want to present to you today my belief that to truly walk in the full blessing of God there must be a holy desperation for Him. Jesus attaches the image of someone who is hungry and thirsty for righteousness to the reward of God’s presence and blessing.

The one that God rewards hungers and thirsts for righteousness. It is not that he wants to be a little more righteous. The intensity with which Jesus states this pictures desperation. Jesus is saying such a person can’t get along without righteousness; it is as important to him as food and water. He is describing the kind of hunger we have when we say we are starving – the problem is few of us really know what that is. We really don’t know what it is to be desperately hungry or desperately thirsty. For many of us the food we eat and the water we drink is so readily available and so easily obtainable that we take it for granted. Sadly, that’s exactly how we approach our relationship with God and righteousness. If that’s the case then how are we going to cultivate this holy desperation? We need a picture of what that looks like.

What about Moses? Moses’ first encounter with God was at a bush that was on fire, but it wasn’t consumed. He took off his shoes and got on his face before God. Later he sees God perform ten plagues on Egypt, and Moses leads the Hebrews out of bondage without a single arrow being fired. Moses raised the rod of God into the air and saw the Red Sea split and a million plus people crossover on dry land. He saw the glory of God’s presence represented in a pillar of fire at night and a cloud during the day. He drank water that came from a rock and ate manna that came from heaven’s ovens. After all that, do you know what Moses said to the Lord? “Lord, I know I’ve seen all those miracles but would you show me Your glory?” (Exodus 33:18) Now wait a minute, Moses? I think you’ve seen enough, haven’t you? Not for Moses. His hunger and thirst for God were insatiable.

Then there’s the story of the prodigal son that Jesus shared one day. A son who got his inheritance from his father and squandered it away until he had nothing. In the lowest of lows when the Prodigal Son was hungry he sought to satisfy his hunger with the husks fed to the hogs. But it wasn’t until he began to starve that he decided to go back to his father.

Desperation is birthed from desire – the more empty the need the more desire to fill it.

The prodigal son remembered what it was like to eat at his father’s table. In fact he specifically remembered that the servants at his father’s house were a whole lot better off than he was at that moment.

The starting point in all achievement is desire. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat. The key to will power is want power. People who want something badly enough can usually find the will power to achieve it. Apathy isn’t a state of mind; it is a state of the heart. Just look at the word. It’s formed with the prefix “a,” which means “without.” The root word is pathos, passion. No love. Apathetic people are not people who don’t know; they are people who don’t care. They have lost their hunger and thirst. The desperation is just not there.

But here’s another important point. Desperation is multiplied when something we want is something we need but don’t have.

Jesus said we are to be desperate for righteousness. The Bible speaks of righteousness in three ways. There is positional, public and pure righteousness.

Positional righteousness.

Refers to our relationship to God based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. When a sinner repents of his sin and surrenders to Jesus as his God he goes from being separated from God to being a child of God. Everything has been made right between him and God because of the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Public Righteousness

Refers to the will and standards of God being practiced in society. God wants society to be just and merciful. God wants people to live at peace with one another. Christians work to see that laws and social standards reflect God’s will. That’s public righteousness.

Pure righteousness

Refers to the individual Christian living a holy life, a life of purity. This is to live a life being set free from the power of sin. They want to be set free from selfishness and empowered to live selflessly like Jesus. They want to be free from revenge taking and be big-hearted people of forgiveness like Jesus. They want to stop disbelieving God and start growing in faith in god. Sin and its consequences are progressively being removed from their lives.

Is Jesus telling us in this beatitude we are to be parched for positional, public and purity of righteousness? I think that is part of it. But one way to understand what Jesus means is to see how He used the word in the context of the rest of His message. Look at v. 10-11.

Matthew 5:10-11 (NIV)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Jesus is saying, the reason Christian’s are persecuted is because of righteous living and identification with Him.

This reminds me of the distinction between Christianity and all other religions. At the heart of every religion there is a major figure. With Buddhism it is Buddha. With Islam there is Mohammed. With Hinduism it is Krishna. And with Christianity it is Jesus Christ. That’s where the comparison ends. If you ask adherents of these other faiths where you find salvation, they point to a way of living. A Muslim will not point you to Mohammed. He will point you to the Koran. It is not Buddha who delivers you, it is his “noble Truths” that instruct you.

By contrast, Jesus not only taught the truth, He said He is the Truth. He didn’t just point the way to salvation; He said He is the Way. That’s why for a Christian it is not a way of living, it is Him living in and through us!

Ultimately, the Bible teaches that Jesus is righteousness. So Jesus is saying that a blessed life is found when we are desperate for HIM. This is holy desperation.

When people are desperate:

Masks are shattered – there’s no time for pretense.

We live in a world where people wear masks. Now I’m not talking about actual physical masks that cover your face – I’m talking about the invisible masks we place between people and who we really are. We wear masks to promote who we want to be, or we wear masks to protect us from pain, or we wear masks because we are ashamed of something in who we are. But whatever the reason, all of us wear masks to some degree. The purpose of masks is present something different than what’s really present.

Now there are different situations where some of those masks come off. One example is when we learn to trust someone enough and they see us without our mask. A time of trial or difficulty will sometimes lead to the mask slipping off. Then there’s the desperate. When someone is desperate – their masks are shattered.

Desperate people don’t worry about what other people think. They don’t worry about how they look and a lot of times they aren’t even really thinking about what they are doing. There’s no pretending when someone is desperate.

That’s why Jesus wants us to hunger and thirst for Him. The masks have to come off – the pretense needs to disappear. The artificial behaviour and halfhearted apathetic conduct has got to go. Holy Desperation helps us to come to Christ on the most intimate level – heart to heart, spirit to spirit. It prompts us to cry, “Abba Father”.

When people are desperate…

True character is shown – their foundation is exposed.

The core of a person’s being is revealed when they are desperate. Because the mask is shattered and there’s no time for pretense the character of who you really are is painted on the outside. The truth is, desperation is the crucible of your inner being. It brings out the best and worst of people.

Take for example the “what if” scenario I posed at the beginning of the message with your child accidentally locked in the car. Desperation will bring out the best and worst of the loving mother wanting to get her child out of the car. The best is she will do everything she can to get those doors open. The worst is she might scream at a few people in the process.

That’s just a small example but friends, the core of who you are is revealed by desperation.

There’s a cyclical quality to holy desperation. Those who are desperate for Christ (hunger and thirst after righteousness) have their true character exposed – in the midst of their pursuit after Him all kinds of character flaws, and rotten behaviour will be revealed. As this happens it can fuel an increasing awareness of our lostness and depravity without Christ. This in turn fires the furnace of Holy Desperation for the only one who can build the solid foundation of life in our being.

It’s interesting that Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount with a parable about a man who built his house on rock vs. the man who built his house on sand. The point of the parable is that hearing the words of Christ and putting them into practice is like building your house on rock vs. those who hear but don’t put into practice which is like building a house on sand. The wind, rain, and floods slamming against the construction will reveal the foundation. The difference between those who hear and put into practice and those who hear and don’t is this – holy desperation. That’s why Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled!”

When people are desperate

Focus is sharpened – thoughts and activity are pinpointed.

Things begin to take on incredible clarity with desperate people. Desperation crowds out the irrelevant and the insignificant. The desperate person’s world becomes defined by what they are desperate for. Priorities, timetables, and resources are funneled towards the object of their desperation.

Those who are hunger and thirst after righteousness are marked by lives of purity, purpose, and power. Prayer isn’t an option – its connection. Reading the Word of God isn’t a chore, it’s feasting. Worship isn’t a song – it’s living. Witnessing isn’t sharing – it’s infecting.

There’s nothing that brings clarity of purpose, and focuses your priorities more than when you are desperate for something. That’s why I believe Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. Why? Because the desperate lose the baggage and pursue the things that help them reach the object of their desire.

Finally, when people are desperate…

Obstacles are shrunk – the truly desperate will look for and push away any obstacle in their way.

When the object of a person’s desperation is before them the obstacle that appear in front of them are endangered. You don’t want to get in the way of a desperate person! A desperately hungry person looking at a full-course dinner across a crocodile infested river will eventually cross that river (or be eaten on the attempt across). Seemingly superhuman feats are often accomplished by the desperate.

Yet, on the other side of the coin is the fact that incredibly foolish things have been done as well. The point is, however, that a desperate person weighs the consequences of not obtaining their need or desire greater than the obstacles in their path to obtain it.

When it comes to this be-attitude – the greatest obstacle to the pursuit of Christ is ourselves.

C.S. Lewis pictured this craving for God and our resistance to it in an episode from The Silver Chair. The lion is symbolic of Christ and Jill is a picture of us.

When Jill stopped, she found she was dreadfully thirsty…She listened carefully and felt almost sure she heard the sound of running water. Jill…looked around her very carefully. There was no sign of the Lion; so she plucked up her courage to …look for running water.

…she came to an open glade and saw the stream, bright as glass…[A]lthough the sight of the water made her feel ten times thirstier than before, she didn’t rush forward and drink. She stood still as if she had been turned to stone, with her mouth wide open. And she had a very good reason: just this side of the stream lay the Lion…

“Are you thirsty?” said the Lion.
“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.
“Then drink,” said the Lion.
“May I – could I – would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.

The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

“Will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I do come?” said Jill.

“I make no promise,” said the Lion.

Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.

“Do you eat girls?” she said.

“I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,” said the Lion.

“I dare not come and drink,” said Jill.

“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.

“Oh, dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”

“There is no other stream,” said the Lion.

CONCLUSION

There is no other stream. And yet the world is full of thirsty people looking for water to quench their thirst – but are either unaware of the stream that will quench it or refusing to drink out of fear or pride.

Then there may be some of you who are here today who are thirsty for God. Maybe you are not interested in just a sip. You want the whole glass. What grace He has bestowed on you this morning. This passage beckons you to come to Him and to be filled. Don’t let fear turn you away. You will only go away thirsty.

Jesus says those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. It means completely. You don’t just get a taste of bread but the whole loaf. You don’t just get a sip of water you get the whole bucket.

This is written in the passive voice, which means it is not something we do. It is something that God does. It is limited to those who hunger and thirst for Christ. Our responsibility is not to pursue satisfaction but the Saviour. Jesus reinforced this later in this message to the people gathered around Him on the mountain when He said,

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

One other thing – hunger and thirst are written in the present tense, which describes a continuing, on-going activity. Just like physical hunger and thirst can be satisfied, if you are healthy it will break out anew. In fact, as in the example of Moses and the Prodigal son it will break out with greater intensity. As long as you feed it, it will grow until it is fully met in God’s presence (tonight I’m going to spend some more time talking about cultivating Holy Desperation).

Folks, our community needs individuals with holy desperation, a church with holy desperation. Our country needs a church with holy desperation. Our world needs a church with holy desperation!

Are you desperate? Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled”. This offer was made on a hillside in the backwater country of Judea. It’s the same offer made her this morning, today in this church in Waterloo. A mother raising small children can know this filling. Working folks and retired folks can know this filling. It can happen to anyone, anywhere and at anytime. The offer is good today. If you are hungry or thirsty that’s good. If you’re desperate that’s good. You can be filled. You can know Him. Come to Jesus.

This Book (point to Bible) is not primarily about the desire of people to be with God. The Bible is about God’s desire to be with you. The most frequent promise in the Bible is not “I forgive you”. It is “I will be with you”

God so wanted to be with you that He left heaven to come to earth as a man. He so wanted you to be with Him He died on the cross for your sin and rose from the dead as proof that you can be forgiven – that He has conquered sin, satan, and death. But you must desire and repent of sin. You must accept Him as your God. If you want to be with Him, know that He already wants to be with you!

Let’s get desperate folks! PRAY

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What Roof is In Your Way?

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

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INTRODUCTION

They finally made it. It had taken a while. By the time they had prepared the stretcher for their friend and gathered the necessary items for the journey the morning had nearly passed. They had hurried as fast as they could but their speed was hampered somewhat by the condition of their friend. As the four men hoisted their friend laying on the stretcher onto their shoulders each one of them could see the look of hope in his eyes. How could anyone resist that look? Indeed as they began walking each one of them was filled with their own version of that hope.

They passed others on the way: a blind man, someone with a bandage around his head, and there was a woman carrying a child with open infected sores on its arms. As they got closer to the house, more and more people were walking beside them. Finally they got to a point where they could go on no more because of the size of the crowd. They set down their friend on a shaded place by the steps of a porch. One of the friends got on the shoulders of another and looked over the heads to see what was happening. As he got down the man on the stretcher looked up with a questioning look.

“Sorry, I don’t know if we’re going to get in there – there’s just too many people surrounding the house. We’ll have to try and get to Jesus another day.”

The men looked at their friend on the mat and he shrugged his shoulders, “oh well, thanks guys for making the effort!” Valiant words, but they could see the disappointment in his eyes. Something seized them in that moment and they looked at each other while their friend lay down on the mat. One of men peered down the alleyway behind the stretcher and noticed that there was a ladder leaning against the wall that reached the roof. He stepped out into street a bit and gauged the distance between the houses lining the street leading up to the house where the master was. He quickly gathered the rest of the men together and began pointing as he explained his plan. They nodded in agreement, it was worth a try.

Their paralytic friend was startled out of his rest as the men picked up the mat and moved toward the ladder. It wasn’t easy getting up the ladder and required some rather uncomfortable positions. There were a couple moments where the paralytic man almost slid out of his stretcher – but his friends were careful and they made it to the roof safely. One of the men pulled up the ladder and it became a makeshift bridge between the roofs of the remaining houses. As the men moved from rooftop to rooftop people in the streets began pointing and murmuring among themselves, wondering what these men were up to and what kind of predicament they were putting their friend in.

As the group of men and their paralytic friend approached their destination they began to hear the voice of the one they sought. They could hear Him speaking and teaching and the closer they got the more they began to make out what He was saying.

Then as they crossed over the improvised bridge one last time they set down their friend on the roof. The paralytic looked with love to his friends and said, “Thank you my friends, It is good that at least I can hear His voice and drink in His words.”

His friends simply smiled and said, “We’re not done yet!” Each of them took off their cloaks and their shirts and two of them began weaving them into makeshift ropes while the other two began to remove the thatch from the roof and work their way through the sturdy material. The paralytic man, propped up on an elbow began to wonder if His friends had gone mad, the owner of the house would not be happy or what if the roof of the house gave way?

The people in the house had heard the initial footsteps on the roof but many of them were simply listening too closely to the teacher to give any thought to why there might be that sound. But then, eventually their attention became distracted by the falling debris from the ceiling and the ray of light when the men on the roof poked through. By the time the hole was big enough to accommodate the stretcher the crowd below were watching with puzzled looks. The teacher was watching as well. Having stopped speaking when the first small hole appeared, he now looked, not with a puzzled gaze, like the others, but instead with expectation. He knew what these men were up to.

Then the men on the roof went to their friend on the stretcher and attached their makeshift ropes and lowered him to the feet of the teacher. Peering through the hole in the ceiling with sweat dripping from their faces and their chests heaving, they watched, hoping, waiting to see what Jesus would do. Finally they had made it. Then Jesus spoke…

PRAY

In the gospel according to Mark we find the account of an incredible blessing in the life of a young man who was paralyzed. A blessing that occurred in his life because He had friends who didn’t let a crowd, or a roof get in the way of bringing their friend to Jesus. It is significant that scripture records the first action of Jesus in response to the efforts of these men is to commend them for their faith – a faith that led them to even bring down a roof to get help for their friend.

Now there are a lot of things that stand out in this story, but today I want to ask one question that I believe the Holy Spirit would have us ask this morning. “What roofs is in your way?” I believe that God desires that every single one of us would not only know great blessing in our lives but also be agents of great blessing in other people’s lives.

Jesus himself said once, “I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
John 1:16 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

The thing about God’s blessing is that scripture teaches the principle that living in God’s blessing for your own life involves God blessing others through you. That is what happened in this story.

Blessing is one of those words that can have any one of a dozen meanings depending on your perspective. Generally speaking though, when we think of blessing we think of something that is good – something that is beneficial – and something that is a realized desire.

In scripture, blessing is always connected with God. God is the source of every good blessing – his very presence is a blessing. More specifically the New Testament teaches us that the greatest blessing is life found in Jesus Christ. That’s the significance of the story this morning. What consumed the thoughts and actions of these men was getting their friend to Jesus. Jesus is the source of the blessing.

So if it is God’s desire that we experience His blessing and that He blesses others through us, what are the roofs in your way? What keeps people from living in the blessing of God? There are far too many people (some of you who are sitting here today) who are not living in God’s blessing let alone being a blessing to others.

The thickest roof that stands between man and God is the exaltation of self. That is, when the Almighty “me” is placed on a pedestal of necessity. Friends the Bible doesn’t speak against loving who you are, or loving the way God has made you, or thinking good about yourself. But the Bible does have much to say against those who worship themselves. That is they are consumed with the preservation, the pleasure, and the promotion of themselves.

Jesus, in a conversation one day with a man shared the two greatest commandments. Commandments that shatter this humanistic idolatry of self.

- two greatest commandments Love God with all your heart….
- Love your neighbor as yourself.

What stands out about the paralytic man and his friends is that the roof between them and Jesus was torn apart by a faith carried by selflessness. These men were doing what they did out of a love for their friend and were not thinking of what they could get out of it. And so they entered into the blessing of Christ.

Now I want to help you with answering the question, “what roof is in your way?” this morning. I believe that scripture can help us answer that question. On principle, most of us will vehemently deny we worship ourselves! But then, can you confidently say you are living in the blessing of God? Can you most assuredly say that the full blessing of God is working through you? If so, then that’s awesome! Feel free to tune out and spend some time thinking about what you’re going to do after the service. I suspect, though that some of you are interested in knowing what roofs are in your way this morning.

The worship of self is exhibited in many symptoms but I’m just going to mention a few this morning.

1. The pursuit of comfort

The pursuit of comfort is illustrated by the thought, “I’ll just pass on the pain”. This pursuit is directed by the path of least resistance. Self-worshipers don’t like being uncomfortable, and will avoid any discomfort at all costs and do whatever it takes to remain in the place of comfort. Decisions and choices are made with the consideration of whether it will contribute to their comfort or will make things uncomfortable. These people don’t like feeling uncomfortable let alone being uncomfortable.

Now, don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying that it’s wrong to want a little comfort in your life. After all, it’s nice to have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies, and clothes on our backs. It becomes a problem when an individual sees pain as an enemy and is constantly looking for ways to increase their comfort with the least amount of effort.

What does this lead to?

a. Rebellion and Disobedience

Take the example of Jonah in the Bible. God wanted to bless him and make him a blessing to the people of Nineveh. Because of the evil lifestyle and actions of the people of Nineveh, God was about to pour out the wrath of his judgment on them. But because of God’s grace and mercy He wanted to give them a chance to repent first. So, God decided to send the prophet Jonah. To this preacher God said one word, “GO”! That is a small word, but it carried with it a big blessing. But Jonah’s reply was “NO”! That is a small word, too, but it cut off the blessing.

Jonah didn’t go to Nineveh for two reasons – he didn’t want the Ninevites to be rescued from God’s wrath and it would mean leaving the comfort of His current life. The ironic thing about people who pursue comfort is that they don’t ever reach that place of comfort! There came a time when God conquered Jonah’s rebellious spirit, but the Lord had to send Jonah through a terrible storm, where he was tossed overboard, swallowed by a whale, lived in the belly of a whale for three days, and spit up on dry land before Jonah learned his lesson.

b. Resistance to Change

Another fruit of this pursuit is that there will be a resistance to change. Granted, not all change is good – but healthy growth always involves positive change. And change always means some degree of discomfort as we learn to adapt to that change. A common saying of the self-worshiper is, “but that’s the way it’s always been done.” What they’re really saying is, “that’s all I’m comfortable with”.

c. Indifference

Another fruit of this pursuit and one that is more social in nature is the indifference it creates towards any discomfort among our fellow man. “Well I’m okay, that’s all that matters”. Indifference can not only affect how we care for others but it also can affect our attitude towards opportunity. Opportunities to experience God’s blessing and for God’s blessing to work through you will come and go because of the indifference towards what might bring discomfort into your life.

Dig through the roof…

What roof is in your way? Is it the quest for comfort? Do you think the friends of the paralytic man would have even carried him as far as they did up that street if they were only concerned for their comfort? If comfort was their pursuit, then forget about them carrying their friend to a roof and digging through to get Him to Jesus!

But we know that they did carry their friend to Jesus because of their love for their friend and because they were not worshippers of self. Selfless people don’t see pain or discomfort as something to be avoided but instead as something that contributes to the significance and value of their end goal. Sure those men were dripping sweat and probably had raw hands and sore muscles from carrying their friend and getting Him to Jesus. Then of course there wasn’t only the physical cost of their actions but there is also the discomfort that they probably faced after when the owner of the house sent them the bill for the hole in his roof! But here’s the thing, as those guys were looking down at their friend and Jesus reaching out to Him, were they thinking it was worth it?

If we’re going to dig through the roof of the pursuit of comfort we have to realize that true comfort from this world is an illusion. Such a pursuit will lead to a hollow, meaningless, and yes even comfortless existence. True comfort is only obtained outside of this world and finds it’s source in God.

2. The pursuit of pleasure

A close cousin to the pursuit of comfort is the pursuit of pleasure. Not everyone who is a worshipper of self is in pursuit of comfort. In fact there are many in the world today that practice the mantra of “no pain, no gain”. But everyone who is a worshipper of self is in pursuit of pleasure.

The pursuit of pleasure comes in a myriad of shapes and forms and manifestations but it nearly always is best expressed in the question, “What’s in it for me?” – “What do I get out of this?” The pursuit of pleasure is also one of those insidious symptoms of self-worship that isn’t always easy to spot – especially in the seemingly charitable actions of others. Yet there are many self-worshippers in our world who give money or even volunteer for a “good work” after first evaluating what they will get out of it. How many people in churches today evaluate what the church does in terms of how many people come into the church as a result of that activity? How many people in churches today ask before doing anything, “what’s in it for us?”

Again, like the pursuit of comfort, it’s not wrong to want a little pleasure in your life! But the problem is that when pleasure becomes a driving force in your life you end up cutting yourself off from the blessings of God. Instead of allowing God to grow and lead us to the good pasture of pleasure, a self-worshipper grazes on the putrid ground of rotting thrills.

Self-Worshippers get caught in a pursuit that never satisfies them. And the saddest thing? The saddest thing is that there are so many Christians caught in the consumerist mindset arising from this pursuit. A calamity that has left much of the western church with a Christianity that bears little resemblance to the church of Acts and a lifestyle that has little to offer that’s different from the world.

Demas is an illustration of this point. He was a young man who heard Paul preach one day. He was drawn by the Holy Spirit in the truth that God spoke through Paul. Every word was a challenge to this young man’s heart. In a great moment of spiritual ecstasy he cried out, “I will leave everything and go with this man in the service of Jesus Christ”. Such a great decision! There is little greater than someone who will willingly commit themselves to God and God’s work. Demas was right by Paul’s side. He was a joy and a help to him. But they journeyed to the great city, and attraction of the pleasures the world offered him blinded the eyes of Demas (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas deserted Paul and the calling God has placed on his life and cut off every blessing for himself and for others whom he might have served.

There is an article I came across once by George Barna who has been researching the North American church for many decades. In the article, he describes that most Christians and non-Christians have the same values, the same wants and desires. He went on to say that many Christians believe what they want is Biblically accurate, even though what they believe is more in line with what our western culture promotes than what the Bible teaches. Here’s a couple he listed:

i. Acquisitions: Our culture defines happiness in terms of what we have: bank accounts, homes, clothes and cars. Or, happiness is defined by experiences: fine restaurants, sporting events, skiing trips, and tours of Europe.
ii. Merit-based: Our value and position depend in some measure upon our parents status and in great measure upon our accomplishments.

This even happens in the church. When I was a youth pastor I would sometimes receive from well-meaning Christians the question, “So when are you going to become a real pastor?”

Dig through the roof…

What roof is in your way? Is it the pursuit of pleasure? Were the friends of the paralytic man thinking about what was in it for them when they lifted up his stretcher and carried him to the house where Jesus was? Were they really thinking about what benefit they would get when they dug through the bird crap, dirt, mud and thatch to poke a hole through the roof of the house? Here’s the thing, they weren’t doing any of this for their own pleasure and no doubt it wasn’t a very pleasurable experience! But still, they were looking to bless their friend. And in the process they were blessed too.

If we are to break through the roof of self-worship then we need to recognize the symptoms of the pursuit of pleasure and eradicate that pursuit from our life. We need to realize that healthy pleasure isn’t so much a destination as it is the result of a process. When pleasure is viewed merely as a destination it results in an unhealthy pursuit. It results in the accumulation of things or the chasing of experiences to satisfy that lust for pleasure.

When we understand that pleasure is the result of process we discover it in places we never thought of before. How many young people dream of the day they get married. They pursue the ideal mate and that romantic “happily ever after” vision promoted by the fairytales of their childhood. Then they meet the person and complete the ceremony and, well that’s it. They’ve reached the destination – but it doesn’t seem to be all that it’s cracked up to be. The pleasure in great marriages isn’t the destination, it’s the process. So many marriages are falling apart today because marriage is viewed as a destination rather than a process. If you enter marriage thinking you’ve achieved everything you need to make a great marriage work and pleasurable then you are deluded.

Now in saying this, I don’t mean that there is never pleasure in the destination. But what I am saying is that merely pursuing pleasure as a destination will result in a continual dissatisfaction.

Another important thing to remember that will help us dig through this roof is that the pleasure of this world is temporary and fleeting. Christ offers us a pleasure that is eternal and lasting. Jesus himself said,

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)

What are treasures in heaven? They are the things that last beyond this world. The things that bring pleasure on an eternal scale rather than limited to the time we have here on earth.

One of the greatest of these eternal treasures is the pleasure of being a vehicle of blessing to others. In fact, God has wired us so that our greatest pleasure comes from loving and serving others. The path to being fulfilled and satisfied in life is found not in the accumulation of things and the amassing of accolades but is instead in the living out of God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself.

What roof is in your way?

(…the third symptom of those who worship themselves is…)

3. The pursuit of self-righteousness

Self-righteousness is best exemplified in the statement, “I have my rights”. In other words that either there are good things that I deserve because of what I’ve done or by virtue of who I am or there are things that should happen to you because of what you’ve done or by virtue of who you are.

A self-righteous person is also concerned most about appearances. It doesn’t really matter what they are thinking or storing away in their hearts or their minds but they are concerned about what others are thinking about them and how they appear to those of influence and other people who “have it all together”.

The pursuit of self-righteousness is like the pursuit of pleasure in that it is often insidious in character. Nevertheless it will rear it’s ugly head in several noticeable areas.

What does it lead to?

a. Unforgiveness

When offended the self-righteous will grab a hold of that offense, claim it, and nurture it. The offense will grow into bitterness and it becomes an inalienable “right” that they feel this way towards the one who offended them. In this climate of hurt and malicious feelings it is no wonder that forgiveness is far from their mind. This lack of forgiveness will always be a barrier to receiving and passing on blessing from God.

b. Critical Spirit

The pursuit of self-righteousness will also lead to a critical spirit.

A learned man said to D.L. Moody one day, “You made 38 grammatical errors in your sermon today.” Moody replied, “I am quite sure that I must have made even more than that. I have not had the educational advantages that you have had, but I am trying to use all that I have for the glory of God, are you?” (illustration quoted in “Barriers to Blessing” by Ed Wood)

I wonder how much the man got out of Moody’s sermon that day? The man who looks for only the mistakes of others finds little in life with which to enrich himself.

In their critical way, the self-righteous often judge men by what they have seen, when really and truly no one knows another’s heart. We throw self-righteous robes around us, we flash our critical eyes upon others and say, “Thank God, I’m not like these other men.” Yet, we do not know the things that are deep down in their hearts.

Why did Jesus first say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”? Do you really think that’s why his friends went through all that effort to bring him to Jesus? To simply hear that his “sins” are forgiven? I don’t want to minimize the importance of those very words being spoken. For indeed Jesus, does have the authority to speak them and there is a necessity for every single one of us to hear those words. But I believe that Jesus chose those words to be the first out of His mouth because He wanted to call out the self-righteous arrogance in that room – the self-righteous arrogance that would be appalled at the actions of those who dug through the roof and even more so at the way in which this teaching was interrupted; the self-righteous arrogance producing the judgement that this paralytic was responsible for his own condition by his sins – let alone the indignation that Jesus would could forgive them! The self-worshipers in that room were so wrapped up in their self-righteousness that they missed out on the blessing of God’s righteousness in that room that day. Instead of leaving blessed they left condemned.

c. looking for the line of least responsibility and culpability

When looking at their relationship to the world around them, the self-righteous are always looking for the line of least responsibility and culpability. That is, what is the minimum I need to do to keep up appearances and make it. You can apply this to any situation but it is terribly sad when so many Christians live like this. When an unmarried person asks a question like, “How far can I go and still be a virgin?”, or others ask “Have I prayed enough to look spiritual?”, “Should I tithe off my gross income or my net income?”. The Pharisees and Sadducees in Jesus’ day became experts at drawing the line. The thing is, no matter where you draw the line, God sees right through to your heart. And your heart is what matters to God.

What roof is in your way?
My heart aches, when I think of how much of God’s blessing we miss out on because we draw a line of minimum responsibility and effort. When instead, we should be looking at the limitless gifts God has already given us – gifts equipping us to pass on His blessing to others in fulfilling the greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind – and to love your neighbor as yourself.

CONCLUSION

In some ways, the actions of those men taking friend to Jesus is a prelude to the very action of Christ in bringing the lost to his Father. Imagine, God Himself, in Christ choosing to leave the comfort and limitless pleasure of His eternal throne to take on the humble mantle of humanity. Not only that but what was the roof Jesus broke through? Jesus dug through the roof of sin which kept a poor and crippled world from the presence of the Father.

In the ultimate pain of the cross and the ridicule of the very men and women he came to save – in the pain of being rejected by those who called Him master and friend, Jesus clawed his way through that roof and in doing so granted every single one of us access to the great blessings of the Father. Through Him we are blessed and Him through us is the opportunity to be a blessing to others.

This thought brings new meaning to the passage in Hebrews,

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

What was the joy set before Him? I believe it was the same joy set before the men hanging over the edge of the tattered and broken roof, gazing upon their friend who they loved, receiving healing and forgiveness from the lips of the master.

What roof is in your way? Have you detected any self-worship in your life this morning? Have you become aware of the pursuit of comfort, the pursuit of pleasure, or the pursuit of self-righteousness in your life? I invite you to allow the Holy Spirit to help you break through that roof this morning.

As a church, if we are going to fulfill God’s purpose for us – then there are a few roofs that are going to be torn down along the way. There are times where God may ask us to do things that don’t seem to bring any benefit – but it is the doing that matters.

What roof is in your way this morning?

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