G o s s i p e r s
II. Gossipers destroy friendships:
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
A wound caused by words is more painful than a wound caused by an arrow.
Arabian Proverb
Gossip can estrange the closest friends.
III. Gossipers can not keep a secret:
Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
A secret between two is a secret of God; a secret among three is everybody’s secret.
IV. Gossipers cause strife everywhere they go:
Proverbs 26:20 where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
V. God will judge Gossipers harshly:
Psalm 101:4-5 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.
VI. Gossipers are unrighteous and debased:
Romans 1:28- And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents
A gossip usually makes a mountain out of a molehill by adding some dirt.
VII. Gossipers have too much time on their hands:
1 Timothy 5:13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
VIII. Gossipers are disorderly and lazy:
2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
Busy people have no time to be busybodies.
IX. Do not gossip. Don’t spread stories. Don’t rationalize having to disseminate "information" so that people can "pray properly" How many times our mouths get us in trouble. How many things can you think of that you wish you could take back? How desensitized we have become to this scourge of "informing" each other. As one dog can start all the dogs to barking, so one person can start a whole group to gossiping.
X. What should we be "gossiping" about?
Philippians 4: . 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things
HE HAD WALKED HUNDREDS OF MILES WITH THEM AND SAT TALKING AROUND THE FIRES AT NIGHT WITH THEM AND SLEPT OUT UNDER THE STARS WITH THEM.
JUDAS WAS THERE AT THE WEDDING IN CANA WHEN JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE AND HE WAS THERE WHEN 5,000 PEOPLE WERE FED WITH FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH.
HE SAW THE LAME MAN PICK UP HIS BED AND WALK AND HE WATCHED THE BLIND MAN’S EYES FOCUS FOR THE FIRST TIME. HE WAS THERE WHEN JESUS SHOUTED FOR LAZARUS TO COME OUT OF HIS TOMB. HE WAS THERE IN THE UPPER ROOM AND HE WAS ONE WHO HAD HIS FEET WASHED BY JESUS.
BETRAYAL BY STRANGERS IS HARD ENOUGH, BUT BETRAYAL BY THOSE CLOSEST TO US CAN BE A KILLER. IT DESTROYS TRUST, IT ROBS THE PAST, AND IT CAN EVEN DEADEN THE HEART TOWARDS EVER TRUSTING AGAIN.
BUT WHY DO WE REMEMBER JUDAS SO WELL? HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE THE REST OF THE DISCIPLES BETRAYED JESUS BY RUNNING AWAY AFTER HIS ARREST?
HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LAID PALM BRANCHES IN FRONT OF HIM WHEN HE ENTERED JERUSALEM AND SHOUTED "HOSANNA" WOULD LATER BETRAY HIM WITH SHOUTS OF "GIVE US BARABBAS?"
PHYSICAL PAIN IS ONE THING, BUT FOR JESUS TO EXPERIENCE THE PAIN OF BEING ABANDONED BY THOSE WHO WERE CLOSEST TO HIM, TO BE STABBED IN THE BACK BY THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST -- NO WONDER THE NAILS THAT WERE DRIVEN THROUGH HIS HANDS AND FEET WERE SO EXCRUCIATING.
EVEN WITH THE PAIN, JESUS KNEW HOW TO RESPOND TO THOSE WHO INFLICTED IT UPON HIM. WHEN IT CAME TO JUDAS, JESUS COULD HAVE TOLD HIM TO LEAVE THE UPPER ROOM, BUT INSTEAD JESUS NOT ONLY LET HIM IN, BUT HE WASHED HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM THE FOOD OF THE PASSOVER TO EAT.
BY BATHING HIS FEET AND FEEDING HIM, JESUS SHOWS US THAT JUDAS IS NOT EXCLUDED FROM BEING HIS FRIEND. JESUS INCLUDES JUDAS UNTIL JUDAS DECIDED TO EXCLUDE HIMSELF FROM JESUS. THAT IS THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST!
JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH, WHO WASHED HIS FRIEND’S FEET - KNOWING FULL WELL ONE OF THEM WOULD BETRAY HIM - AND WHO FED THEM THEIR SUPPER - KNOWING FULL WELL ONE OF THEM WOULD BETRAY HIM.
HE WAS THE LORD, WHO WENT ON GIVING HIMSELF AWAY TO THE ONES WHO WOULD GIVE HIM AWAY, BECAUSE HIS FAITHFULNESS DID NOT DEPEND ON THEIRS!
WHEN JESUS DIPPED THE PIECE OF BREAD IN HIS CUP AND HANDED IT TO JUDAS, HE NOT ONLY REVEALED WHO JUDAS WAS, HE ALSO REVEALED WHO HE WAS. THE ONE WHO FEEDS HIS ENEMIES - WHO GOES ON TREATING THEM AS FRIENDS - LOVING THEM TO THE VERY END!
JESUS CHRIST, WHOSE DEATH-DEFYING LOVE KNOWS NO END, SHOWS US THAT HE IS THE FOOD ANDDRINK THAT SAVES OUR LIVES. HE IS THE ONE WHO CAN THAW-OUT OUR FROZEN HEARTS BY TAKING THEM INTO HIS OWN.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE BROKEN, POURED-OUT ONE WHO GIVES HIMSELF TO US, OFFERING TO FEED US AGAIN AND AGAIN DESPITE HOW MANY TIMES WE BETRAY HIM.
JESUS WANTS US TO LEARN FROM HIM FROM THIS NIGHT IN THE UPPER ROOM. ALTHOUGH BETRAYED BY ONE HE LOVED JESUS RESPONDED WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION. HE WANTS US TO RESPOND THE SAME WAY. HOW DO WE RESPOND?
FIRST, BY UNDERSTANDING THAT SHOCK AND ANGER IS A NORMAL RESPONSE TO BETRAYAL. IN JOHN 13:21, IT SAYS THAT "JESUS WAS TROUBLED IN SPIRIT." THE GREEK WORD FOR "TROUBLED" MEANS "STIRRED TO ANGER OR AGITATED."
JESUS KNEW THAT JUDAS WOULD BETRAY HIM LATER THAT NIGHT. KNOWING THIS, JESUS WAS SHOCKED AND ANGERED…NOT AT JUDAS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE VICTORY EVIL HAD IN THE SOUL OF JUDAS. THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE TO PROVE THAT JESUS LOVES THE SINNER BUT HATES THE SIN!
WHAT JESUS SHOWS US HERE IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING ANGRY AS LONG AS WE DON’T STAY ANGRY AND LET IT CONSUME US.
EPHESIANS 4:26-7, "AND DON’T SIN BY LETTING ANGER GAIN CONTROL OVER YOU. DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN WHILE YOU ARE STILL ANGRY, FOR ANGER GIVES A MIGHTY FOOTHOLD TO THE DEVIL." THE FIRST WAY WE RESPOND TO BETRAYAL IS KNOWING THAT SHOCK AND ANGER IS A NORMAL REACTION.
THE SECOND WAY WE RESPOND TO BETRAYAL IS TO TURN THE SHOCK AND ANGER INTO LOVE AND COMPASSION. JESUS DIDN’T LET HIS ANGER AT SIN BECOME ANGER TOWARDS THE SINNER.
JESUS STILL WASHED THE FEET OF JUDAS. JESUS STILL SERVED JUDAS THE PASSOVER MEAL. JESUS STILL DIED ON THE CROSS FOR JUDAS.
ROMANS 12:20, "IF YOUR ENEMIES ARE HUNGRY, FEED THEM. IF THEY ARE THIRSTY, GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DRINK, AND THEY WILL BE ASHAMED OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YOU.
AFTER JUDAS LEFT THE UPPER ROOM, JESUS TAUGHT THE REMAINING DISCIPLES A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON. JOHN 13:34-35, "SO NOW I AM GIVING YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT: LOVE EACH OTHER. JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER. YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER WILL PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES."
WHEN WE ARE BETRAYED INSTEAD OF RETURNING ANGER FOR ANGER, CURSE FOR CURSE OR CALCULATING OUR REVENGE, JESUS SAID WE MUST RESPOND WITH HIS FORM OF LOVE.
JESUS SAID THIS IN MATTHEW 5:43-48, "YOU HAVE HEARD THAT THE LAW OF MOSES SAYS, "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HATE YOUR ENEMY. BUT I SAY, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU! IN THAT WAY, YOU WILL BE ACTING AS TRUE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. FOR HE GIVES HIS SUNLIGHT TO BOTH THE EVIL AND THE GOOD, AND HE SENDS RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST, TOO. IF YOU LOVE ONLY THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT GOOD IS THAT? EVEN CORRUPT TAX COLLECTORS DO THAT MUCH. IF YOU ARE KIND ONLY TO YOUR FRIENDS, HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE? EVEN PAGANS DO THAT. BUT YOU ARE TO BE PERFECT, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT."
BEING PERFECT IS TO RESPOND PERFECTLY TO BETRAYAL WHICH IS TO SHOW YOUR ENEMY THE LOVE OF CHRIST. THE SECOND WAY WE RESPOND TO BETRAYAL IS TO TURN THE SHOCK AND ANGER INTO LOVE AND COMPASSION.
WHEN SOMEONE BETRAYS US WE MUST NOT ALSO BETRAY OURSELVES BY GIVING IN TO ANGER, REVENGE, HATE OR DESPAIR THAT BETRAYAL CAN PRODUCE IN OUR HEARTS.
WE WILL BETRAY OURSELVES IF WE GIVE IN AND GIVE UP. ALTHOUGH THE STING OF BETRAYAL STILL HURTS WE TAKE OUR PAIN TO JESUS CHRIST WHO ALREADY KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE HOW EXCRUCIATING
2. Nebuchadnezzar, in changing their names, was trying to change their identities as well. That’s exactly what Satan desires to do with you this morning, change your identity as a child of God, to becoming a child of the world. When you compromise your integrity, that’s exactly what happens, you loose your identity. That’s why so many today don’t really understand what Christianity is all about, because they have yet to see a true Christian.
7. We wonder sometimes why God is not more involved in our lives. Maybe it’s because we’ve not fully decided that we’re going to follow His plan. When we are outside of the will of God, so often we’re on our own, but if we are committed to His plan, then He is committed to us. If we won’t commit ourselves to the Lord, God will search until He finds someone else that He can used for His glory. , I challenge you to make the decision of integrity, “I’m going to serve God”.
3. Daniel lived in Babylon, while certainly a beautiful city, it was also a wicked city. The city was filled with idols and sorcerers. Many of the so called wise men of Babylon were simply enchanters. However, for over seventy years, Daniel lived in Babylon.
Compromise
Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. KJV
Jude 16-19
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit
Phil 3:17-19
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Balaamism)
Trying to please the world by worldly activities in the church is like putting earrings on a hog. They may look prettier but they are still sow’s ear and not silk purses.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. KJV
When we seek the truth we must take great care to not seek to compromise with the World or false brethren or even true brethren who are in doctrinal errors or lifestyle sins. We must understand that the truth will separate, divide and polarize but we must not allow undue polarization based on premises and practices that are not supported by Scripture. We must practice personal and ecclesiastical separation but nor sensual or heretical separation. Balance is achieved by molding the circumstances and our lives to the Word not by rewriting or reinterpreting the Word to our circumstances or desires.
Mat 23:4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them..
And as we will see, by placing these burdens or traditions on others, they fail to let others see what following Jesus is really all
4. Complainers Are Always Looking For Someone To Blame!...
5. Complainers Are Never Satisfied With What They Are Given
Beginning in verse 13 we find out how God provided for Israel’s needs. “So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. (14) And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. (15) So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.
Psalm 78 call’s manna “angel food.” Every morning the angels brought down this heavenly food and literally spread it before them. They did not have to work for it. They did not have to prepare it. All they had to do was eat it, but they still did not like it.
The manna was described as having appeared in flakes or small round grains. It is described in Exodus 16:31 as being “like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Numbers 11:5-6, records the feelings of the children of Israel towards this manna, “We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; (6) but now our whole being is dried up (that is that they have lost their appetites) ; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” You can almost hear the “yech” in their voices! Even when the people of God are being fed in abundance they grumble. Why? Because the food God provides is not what they would have preferred. We want steak and God provides bologna.
6. Complainers Are Never Satisfied With How Much They Are Given
In verse sixteen the children of Israel are given specific instructions about how to gather the manna. “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’” (17) Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. …… (19) And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” (20) Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.”
Having run out of food in the wilderness, so that the Israelites feared that they would starve to death,... one can only imagine the zeal with which they harvested the first provision of manna. There was enough manna, it would seem, for every Israelite to have filled his tent. But the efforts to hoard the manna were direct disobedience to the God’s instructions. It would seem that Israel was guilty of two sins; greed and grumbling.
“Now a Conservative estimate of the total number of Israelites who came out of Egypt would be two million for they had six hundred thousand men able to go forth to war (Numbers 1:45-46). An “omer” was to be gathered for every one of these two million souls and an “omer” is the equivalent of six pints. There would be twelve million pints, or nine thousand pounds gathered daily, which was four thousand five hundred tons. Hence, ten trains, each having thirty cars and each car having fifteen tons would be needed for a single day’s supply. Over a million tons of manna were gathered annually by Israel.”
a). Whiners - "The disciples woke Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38) Jesus said, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)
b). Dictators & Controllers - "The chief priests and elders of the people came to Jesus demanding, "By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?" (Matt. 21:23) Jesus said, "John's baptism - where did it come from? Was if from heaven, or from men? We don't know, the Pharisees answered. Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Matt. 21:27)
c). Irritators, Agitators & Blockers - "The Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating food with 'unclean' hands?" (Mark 7:5) Jesus said, "Isaiah was right about you hypocrites: as it is written: 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.' They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught men." (Mark 7:6,7)
d). Skeptics & Analyzers- "Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:5,6)
e). Cynics - Nathaniel said, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph? Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching he said, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." (John 1:45-47)
f). Martyrs - But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Jesus said, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." (Matt. 26:35,36)
g). People Pleasers - Jesus said, "Everything the Pharisees do is done for men to see; they love the place of honour at banquets and they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi'. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt 23;5,7,12)
h). Perfectionists - The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Jesus in his words. 'Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth_ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus, knowing their evil intent said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? _ Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Matt 22;15,16,18,21)
i). Hesitators - The disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables? Jesus said, In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: For this people's heart has become callused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes." (Matt 13;10,15)
j). Self-promoters- The mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and asked a favor of him, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." You don't know what you are asking_ Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?_ The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:20-28)
k). Questioners & Problem Finders - The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (John 4:9,10)
l). Misery Loves Company People - Martha said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40,41)
m). Easily Offended People - One of the experts in the law answered Jesus, 'Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.' Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." (Luke 11:45,46)
n). Peace at Any Price People - Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but division_. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt. 10:34-37)
o). Half-hearted & Lazy People- Jesus explained to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer, die and be on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, 'Never, Lord! Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matt 16:21-23)
p). Accusers - "All the people saw Jesus going to the house of Zacchaeus and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.' But Zacchaeus stood up and said, to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said, "Today, salvation has come to this house, For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:7-10)
q). Fearful People - "Sir, here is your talent; ;I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow. The Master said, "Take his talent away from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. Everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." (Luke 19:21-26)
r). Angry People - "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servants of the high priest, cutting off his right ear." But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him." Am I leading a rebellion? (Luke 22:49-52)
s). Suspicious People - Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Jesus objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. Jesus said, "Leave her alone_ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." (John 11:5-8)
t). Jealous People - The Pharisees said to one another about Christ's triumphant entry to Jerusalem, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him." (John 1:19)
u). Ignorant People - The Jews who had believed in Jesus said to Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Everyone who sins habitually is a slave of sin. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)
v). Stubborn People - The Pharisees said this man (Jesus) is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath. The man who was just healed of his blindness said, "Whether he (Jesus) is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:16-25)
w). Insulting People - The Pharisees hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's (Jesus) disciples! We are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from. The healed man said, "Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (John 9:28-33)
x). Legalists & Traditionalists- Some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't' wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, "Honor your father and mother_. But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God, he is not to honor his father with it. Thus us you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites." (Matt. 15:1-7)
C o
m p r o m i s e r s
C o
m p l a i n e r s
Can
not Reach the Kingdom of God
Philippians 4
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and
long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
Exhortations
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche
to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow,[a] help these women who have
contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the
rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it
again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever
is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
GOSSIPERS
Gossipers can not be trusted:
Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
Gossip: Something that goes in one ear and out the mouth.
The difference between gossip and news is whether you hear it or tell it.
Many people are wise until they open their mouth.
Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
Gossip: Something that goes in one ear and out the mouth.
The difference between gossip and news is whether you hear it or tell it.
Many people are wise until they open their mouth.
II. Gossipers destroy friendships:
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
A wound caused by words is more painful than a wound caused by an arrow.
Arabian Proverb
Gossip can estrange the closest friends.
III. Gossipers can not keep a secret:
Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
A secret between two is a secret of God; a secret among three is everybody’s secret.
IV. Gossipers cause strife everywhere they go:
Proverbs 26:20 where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
V. God will judge Gossipers harshly:
Psalm 101:4-5 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.
VI. Gossipers are unrighteous and debased:
Romans 1:28- And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents
A gossip usually makes a mountain out of a molehill by adding some dirt.
VII. Gossipers have too much time on their hands:
1 Timothy 5:13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
VIII. Gossipers are disorderly and lazy:
2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
Busy people have no time to be busybodies.
Be
busy, but not a busybody!
IX. Do not gossip. Don’t spread stories. Don’t rationalize having to disseminate "information" so that people can "pray properly" How many times our mouths get us in trouble. How many things can you think of that you wish you could take back? How desensitized we have become to this scourge of "informing" each other. As one dog can start all the dogs to barking, so one person can start a whole group to gossiping.
X. What should we be "gossiping" about?
Philippians 4: . 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things
Meditate on these things. Think about these things. Talk
concerning these things. Tell stories of these things. "Gossip" about
these things. To successfully combat gossip, ignore it.
Go and tell the Good News, shout it from the rooftops, tell it over the fence, tell it in the streets. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
We should tell of Jesus and what He means to us? Why? Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Go and tell the Good News, shout it from the rooftops, tell it over the fence, tell it in the streets. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
We should tell of Jesus and what He means to us? Why? Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Betrayal
John 13
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in
spirit and testified, "I
tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a
loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved,
was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and
said, "Ask him which one he means."
26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will
give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of
bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan
entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do
quickly," Jesus
told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus
said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some
thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give
something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went
out. And it was night.
Jesus Predicts
Peter's Denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified
and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[a] God will glorify the Son in
himself, and will glorify him at once.33 "My children, I will be with you only a
little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you
now: Where I am going, you cannot come.34 "A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another."
WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF BETRAYAL THE
FIRST THING THAT USUALLY COMES TO MIND IS JUDAS. IN FACT, JUDAS’S "KISS OF
BETRAYAL" MAY BE THE MOST FAMOUS ONE IN ALL OF HISTORY.
WHAT MAKES THIS ONE BETRAYAL SO FAMOUS? WAS IT BECAUSE OF WHOM HE BETRAYED? NO! JUDAS MADE HISTORY BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS…A FOLLOWER AND CLOSE FRIEND OF THE ONE HE BETRAYED.
USUALLY, MOST BETRAYERS COME AS AN ENEMY OUTSIDER. SO WHEN THE TRAITOR IS FOUND TO BE ONE FROM THE INSIDE WHO HAS BEEN WITH JESUS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THE WORLD TOOK NOTICE!
NOTHING COULD BE WORSE THAN TO BE TURNED OVER TO YOUR ENEMIES BY ONE OF YOUR OWN. NOT ONLY WAS JUDAS ONE OF THE DISCIPLES HE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST TRUSTED ONE OF THE BUNCH.
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS? JUDAS WAS THE TREASURER…HE WAS TRUSTED WITH THE MONEY AND WITH MANAGING ALL THEIR RESOURCES. BETTER YET, HE WAS THEIR FRIEND…HE WAS "ONE OF THEM."
WHAT MAKES THIS ONE BETRAYAL SO FAMOUS? WAS IT BECAUSE OF WHOM HE BETRAYED? NO! JUDAS MADE HISTORY BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS…A FOLLOWER AND CLOSE FRIEND OF THE ONE HE BETRAYED.
USUALLY, MOST BETRAYERS COME AS AN ENEMY OUTSIDER. SO WHEN THE TRAITOR IS FOUND TO BE ONE FROM THE INSIDE WHO HAS BEEN WITH JESUS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THE WORLD TOOK NOTICE!
NOTHING COULD BE WORSE THAN TO BE TURNED OVER TO YOUR ENEMIES BY ONE OF YOUR OWN. NOT ONLY WAS JUDAS ONE OF THE DISCIPLES HE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST TRUSTED ONE OF THE BUNCH.
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS? JUDAS WAS THE TREASURER…HE WAS TRUSTED WITH THE MONEY AND WITH MANAGING ALL THEIR RESOURCES. BETTER YET, HE WAS THEIR FRIEND…HE WAS "ONE OF THEM."
HE HAD WALKED HUNDREDS OF MILES WITH THEM AND SAT TALKING AROUND THE FIRES AT NIGHT WITH THEM AND SLEPT OUT UNDER THE STARS WITH THEM.
JUDAS WAS THERE AT THE WEDDING IN CANA WHEN JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE AND HE WAS THERE WHEN 5,000 PEOPLE WERE FED WITH FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH.
HE SAW THE LAME MAN PICK UP HIS BED AND WALK AND HE WATCHED THE BLIND MAN’S EYES FOCUS FOR THE FIRST TIME. HE WAS THERE WHEN JESUS SHOUTED FOR LAZARUS TO COME OUT OF HIS TOMB. HE WAS THERE IN THE UPPER ROOM AND HE WAS ONE WHO HAD HIS FEET WASHED BY JESUS.
BETRAYAL BY STRANGERS IS HARD ENOUGH, BUT BETRAYAL BY THOSE CLOSEST TO US CAN BE A KILLER. IT DESTROYS TRUST, IT ROBS THE PAST, AND IT CAN EVEN DEADEN THE HEART TOWARDS EVER TRUSTING AGAIN.
BUT WHY DO WE REMEMBER JUDAS SO WELL? HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE THE REST OF THE DISCIPLES BETRAYED JESUS BY RUNNING AWAY AFTER HIS ARREST?
HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LAID PALM BRANCHES IN FRONT OF HIM WHEN HE ENTERED JERUSALEM AND SHOUTED "HOSANNA" WOULD LATER BETRAY HIM WITH SHOUTS OF "GIVE US BARABBAS?"
PHYSICAL PAIN IS ONE THING, BUT FOR JESUS TO EXPERIENCE THE PAIN OF BEING ABANDONED BY THOSE WHO WERE CLOSEST TO HIM, TO BE STABBED IN THE BACK BY THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST -- NO WONDER THE NAILS THAT WERE DRIVEN THROUGH HIS HANDS AND FEET WERE SO EXCRUCIATING.
EVEN WITH THE PAIN, JESUS KNEW HOW TO RESPOND TO THOSE WHO INFLICTED IT UPON HIM. WHEN IT CAME TO JUDAS, JESUS COULD HAVE TOLD HIM TO LEAVE THE UPPER ROOM, BUT INSTEAD JESUS NOT ONLY LET HIM IN, BUT HE WASHED HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM THE FOOD OF THE PASSOVER TO EAT.
BY BATHING HIS FEET AND FEEDING HIM, JESUS SHOWS US THAT JUDAS IS NOT EXCLUDED FROM BEING HIS FRIEND. JESUS INCLUDES JUDAS UNTIL JUDAS DECIDED TO EXCLUDE HIMSELF FROM JESUS. THAT IS THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST!
JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH, WHO WASHED HIS FRIEND’S FEET - KNOWING FULL WELL ONE OF THEM WOULD BETRAY HIM - AND WHO FED THEM THEIR SUPPER - KNOWING FULL WELL ONE OF THEM WOULD BETRAY HIM.
HE WAS THE LORD, WHO WENT ON GIVING HIMSELF AWAY TO THE ONES WHO WOULD GIVE HIM AWAY, BECAUSE HIS FAITHFULNESS DID NOT DEPEND ON THEIRS!
WHEN JESUS DIPPED THE PIECE OF BREAD IN HIS CUP AND HANDED IT TO JUDAS, HE NOT ONLY REVEALED WHO JUDAS WAS, HE ALSO REVEALED WHO HE WAS. THE ONE WHO FEEDS HIS ENEMIES - WHO GOES ON TREATING THEM AS FRIENDS - LOVING THEM TO THE VERY END!
JESUS CHRIST, WHOSE DEATH-DEFYING LOVE KNOWS NO END, SHOWS US THAT HE IS THE FOOD ANDDRINK THAT SAVES OUR LIVES. HE IS THE ONE WHO CAN THAW-OUT OUR FROZEN HEARTS BY TAKING THEM INTO HIS OWN.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE BROKEN, POURED-OUT ONE WHO GIVES HIMSELF TO US, OFFERING TO FEED US AGAIN AND AGAIN DESPITE HOW MANY TIMES WE BETRAY HIM.
JESUS WANTS US TO LEARN FROM HIM FROM THIS NIGHT IN THE UPPER ROOM. ALTHOUGH BETRAYED BY ONE HE LOVED JESUS RESPONDED WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION. HE WANTS US TO RESPOND THE SAME WAY. HOW DO WE RESPOND?
FIRST, BY UNDERSTANDING THAT SHOCK AND ANGER IS A NORMAL RESPONSE TO BETRAYAL. IN JOHN 13:21, IT SAYS THAT "JESUS WAS TROUBLED IN SPIRIT." THE GREEK WORD FOR "TROUBLED" MEANS "STIRRED TO ANGER OR AGITATED."
JESUS KNEW THAT JUDAS WOULD BETRAY HIM LATER THAT NIGHT. KNOWING THIS, JESUS WAS SHOCKED AND ANGERED…NOT AT JUDAS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE VICTORY EVIL HAD IN THE SOUL OF JUDAS. THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE TO PROVE THAT JESUS LOVES THE SINNER BUT HATES THE SIN!
WHAT JESUS SHOWS US HERE IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING ANGRY AS LONG AS WE DON’T STAY ANGRY AND LET IT CONSUME US.
EPHESIANS 4:26-7, "AND DON’T SIN BY LETTING ANGER GAIN CONTROL OVER YOU. DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN WHILE YOU ARE STILL ANGRY, FOR ANGER GIVES A MIGHTY FOOTHOLD TO THE DEVIL." THE FIRST WAY WE RESPOND TO BETRAYAL IS KNOWING THAT SHOCK AND ANGER IS A NORMAL REACTION.
THE SECOND WAY WE RESPOND TO BETRAYAL IS TO TURN THE SHOCK AND ANGER INTO LOVE AND COMPASSION. JESUS DIDN’T LET HIS ANGER AT SIN BECOME ANGER TOWARDS THE SINNER.
JESUS STILL WASHED THE FEET OF JUDAS. JESUS STILL SERVED JUDAS THE PASSOVER MEAL. JESUS STILL DIED ON THE CROSS FOR JUDAS.
ROMANS 12:20, "IF YOUR ENEMIES ARE HUNGRY, FEED THEM. IF THEY ARE THIRSTY, GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DRINK, AND THEY WILL BE ASHAMED OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YOU.
AFTER JUDAS LEFT THE UPPER ROOM, JESUS TAUGHT THE REMAINING DISCIPLES A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON. JOHN 13:34-35, "SO NOW I AM GIVING YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT: LOVE EACH OTHER. JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER. YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER WILL PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES."
WHEN WE ARE BETRAYED INSTEAD OF RETURNING ANGER FOR ANGER, CURSE FOR CURSE OR CALCULATING OUR REVENGE, JESUS SAID WE MUST RESPOND WITH HIS FORM OF LOVE.
JESUS SAID THIS IN MATTHEW 5:43-48, "YOU HAVE HEARD THAT THE LAW OF MOSES SAYS, "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HATE YOUR ENEMY. BUT I SAY, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU! IN THAT WAY, YOU WILL BE ACTING AS TRUE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. FOR HE GIVES HIS SUNLIGHT TO BOTH THE EVIL AND THE GOOD, AND HE SENDS RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST, TOO. IF YOU LOVE ONLY THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT GOOD IS THAT? EVEN CORRUPT TAX COLLECTORS DO THAT MUCH. IF YOU ARE KIND ONLY TO YOUR FRIENDS, HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE? EVEN PAGANS DO THAT. BUT YOU ARE TO BE PERFECT, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT."
BEING PERFECT IS TO RESPOND PERFECTLY TO BETRAYAL WHICH IS TO SHOW YOUR ENEMY THE LOVE OF CHRIST. THE SECOND WAY WE RESPOND TO BETRAYAL IS TO TURN THE SHOCK AND ANGER INTO LOVE AND COMPASSION.
WHEN SOMEONE BETRAYS US WE MUST NOT ALSO BETRAY OURSELVES BY GIVING IN TO ANGER, REVENGE, HATE OR DESPAIR THAT BETRAYAL CAN PRODUCE IN OUR HEARTS.
WE WILL BETRAY OURSELVES IF WE GIVE IN AND GIVE UP. ALTHOUGH THE STING OF BETRAYAL STILL HURTS WE TAKE OUR PAIN TO JESUS CHRIST WHO ALREADY KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE HOW EXCRUCIATING
THIS PAIN REALLY IS.
ROMANS 12:21, "DON’T LET EVIL GET THE BEST OF YOU, BUT CONQUER EVIL BY DOING GOOD."
ROMANS 12:21, "DON’T LET EVIL GET THE BEST OF YOU, BUT CONQUER EVIL BY DOING GOOD."
COMPROMISER
COMPROMISER – CANT REACH THE KINGDOM
OF GOD –ARE YOU A COMPROMISER ?
Dan 1:1-20 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim
king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged
it. .........
In other
words, the entire world system. Notice what Jesus said of the kosmos and His
disciples. John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
In John
12:31 and in John 14:30, the devil is called the “prince of this world”, or of
the kosmos. One of the more famous verses containing this word is Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God. Again the emphasis is that this world is ungodly, and if the child
of God is not careful, he/she will be pulled down by it. Therefore there is the
challenge for the believer to stay godly in an ungodly world, and I believe the
key to that is something called integrity.
Remember
that integrity is being real, or genuine. Are you real? Are you the same at
work on Monday morning as you are in church on Sunday morning? That’s
integrity.
I believe that God wants to speak to His people from the book of Daniel on this subject of integrity. If ever there was a dark period of history, it had to be in the time of Daniel. The people of God were taken captive by an ungodly, pagan nation, their temple destroyed and their priesthood held hostage
I believe that God wants to speak to His people from the book of Daniel on this subject of integrity. If ever there was a dark period of history, it had to be in the time of Daniel. The people of God were taken captive by an ungodly, pagan nation, their temple destroyed and their priesthood held hostage
NOTE
INTEGRITY’S DECISION.
1. These four youth were along way from home, with no parents around and brought to one of the most beautiful cities in the world at that time. Someone wrote that the strategy of the king was to get them accustomed to the good life by offering them the food and wine of the royal household so that they would become so accustomed to the good life that they would not be tempted to return to their old lives. On top of this, Nebuchadnezzar even changed their names. Now you know that names were very important in Jewish culture. Names often displayed a characteristic of that individual. Note the Hebrew names of these four young men and what they meant. Daniel = God is my judge, Hananiah = God has favoured, Mishael = who is what God is or who is like God? Azariah = Jehovah has helped
1. These four youth were along way from home, with no parents around and brought to one of the most beautiful cities in the world at that time. Someone wrote that the strategy of the king was to get them accustomed to the good life by offering them the food and wine of the royal household so that they would become so accustomed to the good life that they would not be tempted to return to their old lives. On top of this, Nebuchadnezzar even changed their names. Now you know that names were very important in Jewish culture. Names often displayed a characteristic of that individual. Note the Hebrew names of these four young men and what they meant. Daniel = God is my judge, Hananiah = God has favoured, Mishael = who is what God is or who is like God? Azariah = Jehovah has helped
2. Nebuchadnezzar, in changing their names, was trying to change their identities as well. That’s exactly what Satan desires to do with you this morning, change your identity as a child of God, to becoming a child of the world. When you compromise your integrity, that’s exactly what happens, you loose your identity. That’s why so many today don’t really understand what Christianity is all about, because they have yet to see a true Christian.
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in
his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat,
nor with the wine which he drank. Daniel had made a decision, he had determined
that he would not loose his integrity.
3. Did you know that there are some battles you can either win before you ever fight them? If you purpose that you are going to maintain your integrity, young person, you won’t be in the back seat of that car on Saturday night, you won’t be hanging around the wrong crowd, you won’t be stealing from work, or cheating on your taxes or going to the bar Friday night. Daniel decided that he would not take off the king’s table, there was something more important to him.
Proverbs 11:3 the integrity of the upright ...shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4. Why will the integrity of the upright guide them? Because they won’t be in those places where integrity is compromised or the decision is already made before they get there. Those who are wavering are the ones who struggle with temptation the most, they’re the ones who have a hard time saying no. Daniel decided that he was going to do what was right and serve the Lord.
5. What a decision it was! It is a reminder to us that we don’t have to bend the rules to be blessed of God. Every time you see a compromise struck in the Bible, you also see a loss. Adam compromised in the garden of Eden, and lost paradise. Abraham compromised the truth and lost his testimony in Egypt and almost lost his wife. Sarah compromised her faith and sent Hagar to Abraham and even today peace is lost in the Middle East. Aaron compromised with idolatry and lost the privilege of seeing the promised land. Samson compromised his devotion as a Nazarite and lost his hair, his strength and his victory. David compromised his moral standards and committed adultery and lost his children. On and on it goes, but compromise always results in a loss.
6. Daniel purposed he was not going to compromise and everything that follows in this book is a result of that decision. You never hear anything about the other youths that came out of Jerusalem that Nebuchadnezzar selected. We don’t know how many but there surely was a lot. They lost their success by their compromise.
3. Did you know that there are some battles you can either win before you ever fight them? If you purpose that you are going to maintain your integrity, young person, you won’t be in the back seat of that car on Saturday night, you won’t be hanging around the wrong crowd, you won’t be stealing from work, or cheating on your taxes or going to the bar Friday night. Daniel decided that he would not take off the king’s table, there was something more important to him.
Proverbs 11:3 the integrity of the upright ...shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4. Why will the integrity of the upright guide them? Because they won’t be in those places where integrity is compromised or the decision is already made before they get there. Those who are wavering are the ones who struggle with temptation the most, they’re the ones who have a hard time saying no. Daniel decided that he was going to do what was right and serve the Lord.
5. What a decision it was! It is a reminder to us that we don’t have to bend the rules to be blessed of God. Every time you see a compromise struck in the Bible, you also see a loss. Adam compromised in the garden of Eden, and lost paradise. Abraham compromised the truth and lost his testimony in Egypt and almost lost his wife. Sarah compromised her faith and sent Hagar to Abraham and even today peace is lost in the Middle East. Aaron compromised with idolatry and lost the privilege of seeing the promised land. Samson compromised his devotion as a Nazarite and lost his hair, his strength and his victory. David compromised his moral standards and committed adultery and lost his children. On and on it goes, but compromise always results in a loss.
6. Daniel purposed he was not going to compromise and everything that follows in this book is a result of that decision. You never hear anything about the other youths that came out of Jerusalem that Nebuchadnezzar selected. We don’t know how many but there surely was a lot. They lost their success by their compromise.
7. We wonder sometimes why God is not more involved in our lives. Maybe it’s because we’ve not fully decided that we’re going to follow His plan. When we are outside of the will of God, so often we’re on our own, but if we are committed to His plan, then He is committed to us. If we won’t commit ourselves to the Lord, God will search until He finds someone else that He can used for His glory. , I challenge you to make the decision of integrity, “I’m going to serve God”.
II. NOTE INTEGRITY’S DEDICATION.
1. Remember that Daniel’s name means “God is my judge”. I firmly believe that this truth literally permeated Daniel’s being, for he was totally dedicated to serving the Lord. He lived knowing he was accountable to the Lord.
2. There is a great truth here. We must have dedication in order to live for God and have integrity. The only way to have that type of dedication is to remember that you are accountable to God, God is your judge.
1. Remember that Daniel’s name means “God is my judge”. I firmly believe that this truth literally permeated Daniel’s being, for he was totally dedicated to serving the Lord. He lived knowing he was accountable to the Lord.
2. There is a great truth here. We must have dedication in order to live for God and have integrity. The only way to have that type of dedication is to remember that you are accountable to God, God is your judge.
3. Daniel lived in Babylon, while certainly a beautiful city, it was also a wicked city. The city was filled with idols and sorcerers. Many of the so called wise men of Babylon were simply enchanters. However, for over seventy years, Daniel lived in Babylon.
NOTE INTEGRITY’S DEPENDENCE
Just as his name said, God was his
judge, he was accountable to God. There was a greater than Nebuchadnezzar
there. As a matter of fact, one of the things that Daniel warned the king about
and Nebuchadnezzar refused to listen at first was that even he, was accountable
to God, that God would judge him and we find that God did just exactly that,
reducing the king to the life of an animal.
Daniel knew who he was and also who God was. Integrity, or holy living, will always bring faith.
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Daniel knew who he was and also who God was. Integrity, or holy living, will always bring faith.
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Light and Darkness
Christ with Belial
Idols with Temple of god
2 Cor 6:14-18
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Thess 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh
disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
Tradition is not always a bad word. If their doctrine is not
biblical you should not walk with them. Paul says that you admonish a heretic
no more than twice and then you have nothing to do with him. A heretic is one
who causes division. Most of the time it is by false doctrine but it can be
because of other issues of sin and we are to mark those who cause division, not
hang with them.
Doctrine is not the only reason to withdraw from those who call themselves Christians.
2 Thess 3:11-15
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Doctrine is not the only reason to withdraw from those who call themselves Christians.
2 Thess 3:11-15
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Compromise
Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. KJV
Jude 16-19
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit
Phil 3:17-19
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Balaamism)
Trying to please the world by worldly activities in the church is like putting earrings on a hog. They may look prettier but they are still sow’s ear and not silk purses.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. KJV
When we seek the truth we must take great care to not seek to compromise with the World or false brethren or even true brethren who are in doctrinal errors or lifestyle sins. We must understand that the truth will separate, divide and polarize but we must not allow undue polarization based on premises and practices that are not supported by Scripture. We must practice personal and ecclesiastical separation but nor sensual or heretical separation. Balance is achieved by molding the circumstances and our lives to the Word not by rewriting or reinterpreting the Word to our circumstances or desires.
TRADITION
Matthew
15
Clean
and Unclean
1 Then some Pharisees and
teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples
break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they
eat!"
3 Jesus replied, "And
why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, 'Honor your
father and mother'[a] and 'Anyone who curses his
father or mother must be put to death.'[b] 5 But you say that if a man
says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received
from me is a gift devoted to God,' 6 he is not to 'honor his
father[c] ' with it. Thus you nullify
the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was
right when he prophesied about you: 8 " 'These people honor me
with their lips,but their hearts are far from
me. 9 They worship me in vain;their teachings are but rules taught by men.'[d]" 10 Jesus called the crowd to him
and said, "Listen and understand. 11 What
goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his
mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "12 Then the disciples came to
him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they
heard this?" 13 He replied, "Every
plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the
roots. 14Leave them; they are blind guides.[e] If a
blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." 15 Peter said, "Explain the
parable to us."
16 "Are
you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17 "Don't you see that
whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out
of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19 For out of the heart come
evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony,
slander. 20 These
are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him
'unclean.' "
Jesus begins his
response.
"And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?"
Jesus makes it clear that there is a difference between their tradition and the command or law of God. We sin when we equate man-made rules with God’s law. When we add to God’s word.
"And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?"
Jesus makes it clear that there is a difference between their tradition and the command or law of God. We sin when we equate man-made rules with God’s law. When we add to God’s word.
Mat 23:4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them..
And as we will see, by placing these burdens or traditions on others, they fail to let others see what following Jesus is really all
Are their traditions we have that cause us to break the law
of God through sins of omission or commission?
Tradition can become a meaningless activity. It can become
that religiosity that is based on believing certain things and doing the things
we are supposed to do. A set of rules and ways of acting. We can worship God
with our lips but our hearts can be far from Him.
Tradition can be a hindrance to having a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Even our worship can be sinful if we simply go through the motions. Our worship is to be carried out not because that is what we always do on Sunday morning, but because we want to experience the presence of God. We want to speak to God and hear Him speak to us. And we want to express our love for Him that is within our hearts.
Do we worship God with our hearts? Or is it something done with only our lips?
Tradition can be a hindrance to having a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Even our worship can be sinful if we simply go through the motions. Our worship is to be carried out not because that is what we always do on Sunday morning, but because we want to experience the presence of God. We want to speak to God and hear Him speak to us. And we want to express our love for Him that is within our hearts.
Do we worship God with our hearts? Or is it something done with only our lips?
In other words, tradition is about doing the right things.
Jesus says:
"Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'"
14. Tradition can be doing things because we are expected to. But what is important is doing things because of the desire of our hearts. We want to do what is right, even if it means going against tradition
In vs. 20 Jesus says that eating with unclean hands does not make us unclean. Doing the right things is not what makes us clean. What is important is what comes out of our hearts. Our attitudes.
And the danger is that we think that if we do the right things we are alright. But God does not say that. He aks why you do what you do? Because of tradition or acceptance by man?
"Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'"
14. Tradition can be doing things because we are expected to. But what is important is doing things because of the desire of our hearts. We want to do what is right, even if it means going against tradition
In vs. 20 Jesus says that eating with unclean hands does not make us unclean. Doing the right things is not what makes us clean. What is important is what comes out of our hearts. Our attitudes.
And the danger is that we think that if we do the right things we are alright. But God does not say that. He aks why you do what you do? Because of tradition or acceptance by man?
Mat 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and
cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice,
mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without
neglecting the former.
Mat 12:7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
Tradition can allow us to overlook the more importance things. Important things as dealing with each other with mercy rather than condemning each other and judging each other. How merciful have we been?
Mat 12:7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
Tradition can allow us to overlook the more importance things. Important things as dealing with each other with mercy rather than condemning each other and judging each other. How merciful have we been?
COMPLAINERS
A Study of the Life of Moses; “Complainers Never Win”
Exodus 16:1-36
Exodus 16:1-36
1. Complainers
Always Find Something To Complain About!
Verses one through four of Chapter sixteen reveals, “And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt. (2) Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. (3) And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Amazingly enough the children of Israel have seemed to learn nothing from their past experience of God’s faithfulness and care and again give into self-pity, grumbling and complain-ing. Yet we have to admit that all to often when faced with difficulties and problems we cannot personally solve we give in to despair and complaint.
The truth is that some of us make grumbling an art form. We grumble habitually, only taking off for Sunday’s, some-times that is. We grumble if we are caught in slow moving traffic, if our meal at the restaurant is not delivered in a timely manner, lots of things make us grumble and grouse.
I want you to notice with me some of the characteristics of complaining or grumbling.
1.Grumbling is gratitude problem. Grumbling comes as a response to pain or problems in life. We grumble because we think that we should experience pleasure rather than pain and prosperity rather than adversity.
Whenever we are tempted to murmur and complain we need to review the past and remember how the LORD has blessed us! Many of us are like the person who said,
“My car broke down and it cost me $400 to get it fixed…. $400 that I did not have. Why me Lord? After all, I’ve been better than most. Why are you treating me this way? Why are you punishing me this way? Then the TV went on the blink, and so did the dishwasher, and the clothes dryer and the lawn mower, and even the iron! Why me, Lord? Besides that, why, at my age, should I still be having financial problems? Why am I not “set” financially like some others I know? Why have you denied me opportunities for fame and fortune that you have given to others? Why me, Lord?
When I find myself starting to think like this, it sometimes helps for me to ask the same questions about the other aspects of my life. Lord, ...
Verses one through four of Chapter sixteen reveals, “And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt. (2) Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. (3) And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Amazingly enough the children of Israel have seemed to learn nothing from their past experience of God’s faithfulness and care and again give into self-pity, grumbling and complain-ing. Yet we have to admit that all to often when faced with difficulties and problems we cannot personally solve we give in to despair and complaint.
The truth is that some of us make grumbling an art form. We grumble habitually, only taking off for Sunday’s, some-times that is. We grumble if we are caught in slow moving traffic, if our meal at the restaurant is not delivered in a timely manner, lots of things make us grumble and grouse.
I want you to notice with me some of the characteristics of complaining or grumbling.
1.Grumbling is gratitude problem. Grumbling comes as a response to pain or problems in life. We grumble because we think that we should experience pleasure rather than pain and prosperity rather than adversity.
Whenever we are tempted to murmur and complain we need to review the past and remember how the LORD has blessed us! Many of us are like the person who said,
“My car broke down and it cost me $400 to get it fixed…. $400 that I did not have. Why me Lord? After all, I’ve been better than most. Why are you treating me this way? Why are you punishing me this way? Then the TV went on the blink, and so did the dishwasher, and the clothes dryer and the lawn mower, and even the iron! Why me, Lord? Besides that, why, at my age, should I still be having financial problems? Why am I not “set” financially like some others I know? Why have you denied me opportunities for fame and fortune that you have given to others? Why me, Lord?
When I find myself starting to think like this, it sometimes helps for me to ask the same questions about the other aspects of my life. Lord, ...
what have I done that is so
grand that you should have blessed me with a car, a TV set, a clothes- dryer, a
lawn mower, and an iron? Why did you give me all these things anyway?
Why me, Lord?
Lord, why did you permit me to be born in this World with all its plenty?
Lord, why did you permit me to be born in this World with all its plenty?
I could have been born in
poverty-stricken country instead of rich
America. Why me, Lord?
Lord, why did you give me the opportunity to
have a job when so many, who are as deserving as I, are without work? Why me, Lord?
Lord, why did you give me good health? Others have died at my age of heart attacks or are crippled by accidents or disease. Why should I escape ill health when other religious people do not? Why me, Lord? Lord, why have you spared me from the sorrows that strike so many other families? Others, wonderful people, have lost close relatives, but I haven’t. Why me, Lord?
When I think of all the ways the Lord has blessed me, though I don’t deserve it. I wonder how I could possibly complain about the relatively insignificant things that go wrong in my life from time to time. If I could only learn to count my blessings.” “Why Me Lord?”
Lord, why did you give me good health? Others have died at my age of heart attacks or are crippled by accidents or disease. Why should I escape ill health when other religious people do not? Why me, Lord? Lord, why have you spared me from the sorrows that strike so many other families? Others, wonderful people, have lost close relatives, but I haven’t. Why me, Lord?
When I think of all the ways the Lord has blessed me, though I don’t deserve it. I wonder how I could possibly complain about the relatively insignificant things that go wrong in my life from time to time. If I could only learn to count my blessings.” “Why Me Lord?”
Grumbling is a perception problem. The
problem is that when we grumble our perception is faulty. Grumbling invariably
causes us to distort the facts. (a) There is exaggerated memory of the past.
The children of Israel exaggerated in their minds the benefits of Egypt. They
said they “sat” by their flesh pots and
ate “all they wanted” of a great variety of foods and meats. As slaves this could hardly be true. They conveniently forgot about the lash of the taskmaster and the anguish of their hearts to be free as they did the backbreaking work of the Pharaoh. (b) Their perception of the imminent danger of starvation was also greatly exaggerated.
2. Grumbling is a contagious problem. According to verse 2, “Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained…” What had begun with only a few now had contaminated the whole congregation.
3. Complainers Have Already Failed The Test!
God responds gently and graciously to the grumblings of the Israelites. Verse four says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.”
“What an interesting announcement. ‘I will meet your need for hunger, but the meeting of that need will bring another test.’ Have you found that to be true? I have. We find ourselves in the midst of some predicament that we cannot escape. So God says. ‘I’ll provide the way out: I’ll show you the way.’ We accept his answer, His new direction, which introduces us to a whole new set of tests and trials of a different kind. So while we are relieved of one wilderness problem, we gain a new one.”
ate “all they wanted” of a great variety of foods and meats. As slaves this could hardly be true. They conveniently forgot about the lash of the taskmaster and the anguish of their hearts to be free as they did the backbreaking work of the Pharaoh. (b) Their perception of the imminent danger of starvation was also greatly exaggerated.
2. Grumbling is a contagious problem. According to verse 2, “Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained…” What had begun with only a few now had contaminated the whole congregation.
3. Complainers Have Already Failed The Test!
God responds gently and graciously to the grumblings of the Israelites. Verse four says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.”
“What an interesting announcement. ‘I will meet your need for hunger, but the meeting of that need will bring another test.’ Have you found that to be true? I have. We find ourselves in the midst of some predicament that we cannot escape. So God says. ‘I’ll provide the way out: I’ll show you the way.’ We accept his answer, His new direction, which introduces us to a whole new set of tests and trials of a different kind. So while we are relieved of one wilderness problem, we gain a new one.”
According to verse four the daily gift was
intended as a test. “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the
people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them,
whether they will walk in My law or not.”
Gathering of manna was a test of their obedience.
Gathering of manna was a test of their obedience.
4. Complainers Are Always Looking For Someone To Blame!...
They
accused Moses of leading them into the wilderness to kill them. They thought that
they were only venting their frustrations on a man like themselves, but in
reality they were grumbling against God. In verse six Moses tells the children
of Israel, “… At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out of
the land of Egypt. (7) And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD;
for He hears your complaints against the LORD.
But
what are we, that you complain against us?” (8) Also Moses said, “This shall be
seen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning
bread to the full; for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against
Him. And what are we? Your com-plaints are not against us but against the
LORD.” Moses declares to them “the LORD hears your complaints which you make
against Him.” (v. 8). As Moses clearly pointed out to them grumbling was not a
protest of his leadership, but of God’s.
5. Complainers Are Never Satisfied With What They Are Given
Beginning in verse 13 we find out how God provided for Israel’s needs. “So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. (14) And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. (15) So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.
Psalm 78 call’s manna “angel food.” Every morning the angels brought down this heavenly food and literally spread it before them. They did not have to work for it. They did not have to prepare it. All they had to do was eat it, but they still did not like it.
The manna was described as having appeared in flakes or small round grains. It is described in Exodus 16:31 as being “like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Numbers 11:5-6, records the feelings of the children of Israel towards this manna, “We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; (6) but now our whole being is dried up (that is that they have lost their appetites) ; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” You can almost hear the “yech” in their voices! Even when the people of God are being fed in abundance they grumble. Why? Because the food God provides is not what they would have preferred. We want steak and God provides bologna.
6. Complainers Are Never Satisfied With How Much They Are Given
In verse sixteen the children of Israel are given specific instructions about how to gather the manna. “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’” (17) Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. …… (19) And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” (20) Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.”
Having run out of food in the wilderness, so that the Israelites feared that they would starve to death,... one can only imagine the zeal with which they harvested the first provision of manna. There was enough manna, it would seem, for every Israelite to have filled his tent. But the efforts to hoard the manna were direct disobedience to the God’s instructions. It would seem that Israel was guilty of two sins; greed and grumbling.
“Now a Conservative estimate of the total number of Israelites who came out of Egypt would be two million for they had six hundred thousand men able to go forth to war (Numbers 1:45-46). An “omer” was to be gathered for every one of these two million souls and an “omer” is the equivalent of six pints. There would be twelve million pints, or nine thousand pounds gathered daily, which was four thousand five hundred tons. Hence, ten trains, each having thirty cars and each car having fifteen tons would be needed for a single day’s supply. Over a million tons of manna were gathered annually by Israel.”
Matthew 23
2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they
tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they
preach.
1. Jesus
knew from His experiences with the Pharisees how complainers work to hinder the
growth of the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The Lord always considered
the source of the criticism. Jesus said, "The teachers of the law and the
Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell
you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they
preach." (Matt. 23:2,3) Ask the Lord to help you wisely consider the
credibility of your critics.
2. Jesus knew that there are various types of complainers:
2. Jesus knew that there are various types of complainers:
a). Whiners - "The disciples woke Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38) Jesus said, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)
b). Dictators & Controllers - "The chief priests and elders of the people came to Jesus demanding, "By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?" (Matt. 21:23) Jesus said, "John's baptism - where did it come from? Was if from heaven, or from men? We don't know, the Pharisees answered. Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Matt. 21:27)
c). Irritators, Agitators & Blockers - "The Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating food with 'unclean' hands?" (Mark 7:5) Jesus said, "Isaiah was right about you hypocrites: as it is written: 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.' They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught men." (Mark 7:6,7)
d). Skeptics & Analyzers- "Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:5,6)
e). Cynics - Nathaniel said, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph? Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching he said, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." (John 1:45-47)
f). Martyrs - But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Jesus said, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." (Matt. 26:35,36)
g). People Pleasers - Jesus said, "Everything the Pharisees do is done for men to see; they love the place of honour at banquets and they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi'. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt 23;5,7,12)
h). Perfectionists - The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Jesus in his words. 'Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth_ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus, knowing their evil intent said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? _ Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Matt 22;15,16,18,21)
i). Hesitators - The disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables? Jesus said, In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: For this people's heart has become callused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes." (Matt 13;10,15)
j). Self-promoters- The mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and asked a favor of him, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." You don't know what you are asking_ Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?_ The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:20-28)
k). Questioners & Problem Finders - The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (John 4:9,10)
l). Misery Loves Company People - Martha said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40,41)
m). Easily Offended People - One of the experts in the law answered Jesus, 'Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.' Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." (Luke 11:45,46)
n). Peace at Any Price People - Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but division_. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt. 10:34-37)
o). Half-hearted & Lazy People- Jesus explained to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer, die and be on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, 'Never, Lord! Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matt 16:21-23)
p). Accusers - "All the people saw Jesus going to the house of Zacchaeus and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.' But Zacchaeus stood up and said, to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said, "Today, salvation has come to this house, For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:7-10)
q). Fearful People - "Sir, here is your talent; ;I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow. The Master said, "Take his talent away from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. Everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." (Luke 19:21-26)
r). Angry People - "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servants of the high priest, cutting off his right ear." But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him." Am I leading a rebellion? (Luke 22:49-52)
s). Suspicious People - Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Jesus objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. Jesus said, "Leave her alone_ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." (John 11:5-8)
t). Jealous People - The Pharisees said to one another about Christ's triumphant entry to Jerusalem, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him." (John 1:19)
u). Ignorant People - The Jews who had believed in Jesus said to Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Everyone who sins habitually is a slave of sin. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)
v). Stubborn People - The Pharisees said this man (Jesus) is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath. The man who was just healed of his blindness said, "Whether he (Jesus) is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:16-25)
w). Insulting People - The Pharisees hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's (Jesus) disciples! We are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from. The healed man said, "Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (John 9:28-33)
x). Legalists & Traditionalists- Some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't' wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, "Honor your father and mother_. But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God, he is not to honor his father with it. Thus us you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites." (Matt. 15:1-7)
y). Materialists and Humanists - The rich young
ruler came to Jesus and said, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit
eternal life?_ Teacher, All these commandments I have kept since I was a boy!
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack_ sell everything
you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. At this
the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Mark
10:17-22)
z). Deceitful and Disruptive People - Jesus knew that Paul would warn believers of such when he wrote, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the wind of teaching and by cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Eph. 4:14, 15).
z). Deceitful and Disruptive People - Jesus knew that Paul would warn believers of such when he wrote, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the wind of teaching and by cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Eph. 4:14, 15).
LORD HELP ME NOT TO
BE A GOSSIPER
COMPROMISER
COMPLAINER
