It�s not our detours or
decisions that lead to our direction. Our DIRECTION (love relationship)
leads to decisions. Our direction leads to our DESTINY. That�s what
Heb 12:14 means.
I. I was reading a book on theology the other night, that kind of reading prescribed for insomnia. The author gave an illustration I had to question. He was telling how important it is to get our thinking exactly right on the basic doctrines of our faith, like Jesus, the Bible, sin.
A. I ABSOLUTELY agree doctrine is important. We SHOULD base our actions on what we believe. It�s an important foundation. But it�s also VERY important what we PRACTICE.
1. One of the dangers that can happen in holiness teaching, or any doctrinal teaching, is we try so hard to get the facts straight we miss the practice of holiness. We work so hard to get our belief right, but we don�t get our life right, which is a life of love toward God and man (Mk 12:29-31).
2. What did Paul say? "Knowledge [only] puffs up, but love builds up (I Cor 8:1). He was trying to address this exact problem.
3. One of my favorite Bible commentators and preachers is G Campbell Morgan. He was very biblical and conservative doctrinally. He lived in a time, like can happen in all ages, when many conservatives had grown to love doctrine more than people; knowing what�s right more than living it right. Ironically they were called "fundamentalists in his day. He was once asked if he agreed with the fundamentalists. He said "I agree with their doctrine, but I abhor their spirit. God save us from just knowing this stuff and not living it out in love.
B. I ABSOLUTELY agree doctrine, what we believe, is important. It�s like true north on the compass. If we don�t believe right, we won�t live right.
The theology book I was reading used the illustration of a rocket launched from earth. Unless it�s exactly on target when launched, by the time it reaches the moon it will be way off its mark.
1. But here�s one problem with that illustration; the rockets that are launched today have internal guidance and correction systems in them that are constantly correcting them as they fly toward their target [I�ve figured out those systems have something to do with gyroscopes, magnets, mirrors and a squirrel running in a wheel times the value of pi squared. Aren�t you glad I don�t work in missile defense?]
2. It�s like the trip we were on with a GPS. If you go the wrong direction the woman�s (we named her Betty) voice says "recalculating. You can almost hear her give a big sigh, like "What didn�t you understand about turn in 30 feet? a. That�s what the Holy Spirit does when He lives inside us. He comes when we invite Jesus to be our life leader. Right when we start to go the wrong way, He says "Dude, you need to recalculate! Wrong way. Whether we listen is our choice. We were just in the car with some friends and I said "I�ve been following signs for longer than GPSs have been around. The sign says straight. Ignore that voice. They being more hip and techno trusting than I said "Sorry, we love you, but we�re going with Betty. b. Oh that we went with Betty, the Holy Spirit�s voice when He corrects and tells us the way to go to find real life.
3. Remember Lebron in game 3 of the Wizards series. I�m not saying his spiritual life is in order, because I don�t know much about it. I know he�s very generous and courteous off the court.
a. But he got what could have been a career ending shove by Brendan Haywood of the Wizards. He popped up to the relief of all Cavs fans and looked like he might attack Haywood. Instead, as if immediately checked, he turned and walked away.
b. That�s how quickly the Holy Spirit CAN and WILL correct us to change our attitudes or actions IF we will hear and heed His voice. Because He�s talking to us, like a GPS or whatever little voice is in Lebron�s head to keep opposing players from getting into his head, that voice that says cool down. Retaliate by scoring 40. That�s what I do.
II. Which brings us to a key verse of this series (Heb 12:14).
A. Now one of the things we�re hearing is how holiness teaching can make us feel inadequate: "I just can�t live up to that talk of a "perfect heart, holiness, and being able to choose NOT to sin.
B. Then we chew on this little morsel, and many start to choke: "Without holiness no one will see the Lord. We don�t JUST feel inadequate; we feel downright HOPELESS. It�s holiness or hell!
C. But what is God saying here? He�s saying it�s our DIRECTION. Holiness describes our love relationship with the Lord Jesus, our desire to obey Him out of love. It�s not focused on our everyday performance as much as it�s the relationship, the direction of our lives.
D. Now our direction, our love relationship with Jesus, does determine what we do, our actions and attitudes. But the direction, the relationship is the key. And DIRECTION DETERMINES DESTINY. That�s (Heb 12:14).
E. Let me put in marriage terms. I need to focus on my love for Joyce. Detours, bad decisions I make toward her, even bad attitudes I may have one day (or more) don�t end the relationship. Our love, our relationship, is MUCH more secure than that. It�s not the daily decisions that define our relationship, or those "relational detours that happen in any relationship. It�s our direction, our love for each other that is solid and sure.
1. The big issue is: Am I in love with her and is that love growing? That�s the foundation from which actions and attitudes should naturally flow.
If our relationship is solid and growing it will show up in those little daily actions and attitudes. But it�s the relationship that determines the decisions, not vice versa.
2. Likewise it�s the love relationship that determines the direction, not the detours. Will I make mistakes and errors in judgment toward her?
Yes. Will I act selfishly on occasion? She would say no, but I�ll say yes (or is that the other way?) But does that end the relationship? No! It�s not the detours that determine our relationship, it�s my direction of loving and growing. And direction leads to destiny. Holiness, love, the right DIRECTION, is required for us to see the Lord.
3. If the direction of our marriage turns and goes south consistently, that could lead to an end of the relationship. How long does that take? How many bad decisions, bad detours, bad attitudes or actions? I don�t know, but I don�t want to find out, because I love her. I want to be with her. I know that�s God�s plan for us and I know His way is best. That�s our direction. That leads to destiny. That�s the holiness that leads to seeing the Lord.
4. There are great parallels in our relationship with Jesus. We should not just focus and fixate on what you�re going to do, what you�re not going to do, what you can do, can�t do, how far can you go, what you can get away with, how many times will He forgive you, if He�s going to leave you, punish you, if he�s just waiting to catch you doing wrong, etc. What kind of relationship is that? What kind of love is that, and what kind of life is that?
5. That kind of focus leads to a fear and insecurity that�s not really living and not really love. So focus on the love: the love He has for you.
Then love Him back (I Jn 4:16-19).
6. Focus on His way being best. He made us. His way is real life, which means joy (Dt 30:16 MESS; Jn 10:10).
III. One more of those doctrinal truths that goes back to the inadequacy struggle. The enemy of our soul would love for you to believe you have to sin. No way to avoid it. Even if you avoid the big sins, you won�t be able to avoid the small ones, or the secret ones.
A. What if I were your captain about to lead you into a big battle and I said. You don�t have to have major hits, no major organs have to get hit i.e. you don�t have to sin big, but you won�t be able to avoid getting hit a little i.e. non-lethal ways. Just follow me and I�ll make sure you only lose one eye, or you�ll only get knee-capped. Would you follow that captain?
B. Or would you follow the leader who said: "Follow me and you won�t get hit. It�s possible to come out without getting hit and whole (holy). I know which I�m going with.
C. Jesus says: The way of consistently choosing to follow me, consistently choosing to do what�s right, the way of holiness is POSSIBLE, PRACTICAL, PREFERABLE AND POWERFUL (Mt 3:11; 5:6, 8, 48; Mk 12:30-31). It�s life. All other ways are lies; lies we need to take captive to the truth of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 10:3-5 P ).
D. Jesus didn�t say: "My way or the highway; He said My way IS the HIGH way (Jn 10:10; 14:6). Closing song(s)
I. I was reading a book on theology the other night, that kind of reading prescribed for insomnia. The author gave an illustration I had to question. He was telling how important it is to get our thinking exactly right on the basic doctrines of our faith, like Jesus, the Bible, sin.
A. I ABSOLUTELY agree doctrine is important. We SHOULD base our actions on what we believe. It�s an important foundation. But it�s also VERY important what we PRACTICE.
1. One of the dangers that can happen in holiness teaching, or any doctrinal teaching, is we try so hard to get the facts straight we miss the practice of holiness. We work so hard to get our belief right, but we don�t get our life right, which is a life of love toward God and man (Mk 12:29-31).
2. What did Paul say? "Knowledge [only] puffs up, but love builds up (I Cor 8:1). He was trying to address this exact problem.
3. One of my favorite Bible commentators and preachers is G Campbell Morgan. He was very biblical and conservative doctrinally. He lived in a time, like can happen in all ages, when many conservatives had grown to love doctrine more than people; knowing what�s right more than living it right. Ironically they were called "fundamentalists in his day. He was once asked if he agreed with the fundamentalists. He said "I agree with their doctrine, but I abhor their spirit. God save us from just knowing this stuff and not living it out in love.
B. I ABSOLUTELY agree doctrine, what we believe, is important. It�s like true north on the compass. If we don�t believe right, we won�t live right.
The theology book I was reading used the illustration of a rocket launched from earth. Unless it�s exactly on target when launched, by the time it reaches the moon it will be way off its mark.
1. But here�s one problem with that illustration; the rockets that are launched today have internal guidance and correction systems in them that are constantly correcting them as they fly toward their target [I�ve figured out those systems have something to do with gyroscopes, magnets, mirrors and a squirrel running in a wheel times the value of pi squared. Aren�t you glad I don�t work in missile defense?]
2. It�s like the trip we were on with a GPS. If you go the wrong direction the woman�s (we named her Betty) voice says "recalculating. You can almost hear her give a big sigh, like "What didn�t you understand about turn in 30 feet? a. That�s what the Holy Spirit does when He lives inside us. He comes when we invite Jesus to be our life leader. Right when we start to go the wrong way, He says "Dude, you need to recalculate! Wrong way. Whether we listen is our choice. We were just in the car with some friends and I said "I�ve been following signs for longer than GPSs have been around. The sign says straight. Ignore that voice. They being more hip and techno trusting than I said "Sorry, we love you, but we�re going with Betty. b. Oh that we went with Betty, the Holy Spirit�s voice when He corrects and tells us the way to go to find real life.
3. Remember Lebron in game 3 of the Wizards series. I�m not saying his spiritual life is in order, because I don�t know much about it. I know he�s very generous and courteous off the court.
a. But he got what could have been a career ending shove by Brendan Haywood of the Wizards. He popped up to the relief of all Cavs fans and looked like he might attack Haywood. Instead, as if immediately checked, he turned and walked away.
b. That�s how quickly the Holy Spirit CAN and WILL correct us to change our attitudes or actions IF we will hear and heed His voice. Because He�s talking to us, like a GPS or whatever little voice is in Lebron�s head to keep opposing players from getting into his head, that voice that says cool down. Retaliate by scoring 40. That�s what I do.
II. Which brings us to a key verse of this series (Heb 12:14).
A. Now one of the things we�re hearing is how holiness teaching can make us feel inadequate: "I just can�t live up to that talk of a "perfect heart, holiness, and being able to choose NOT to sin.
B. Then we chew on this little morsel, and many start to choke: "Without holiness no one will see the Lord. We don�t JUST feel inadequate; we feel downright HOPELESS. It�s holiness or hell!
C. But what is God saying here? He�s saying it�s our DIRECTION. Holiness describes our love relationship with the Lord Jesus, our desire to obey Him out of love. It�s not focused on our everyday performance as much as it�s the relationship, the direction of our lives.
D. Now our direction, our love relationship with Jesus, does determine what we do, our actions and attitudes. But the direction, the relationship is the key. And DIRECTION DETERMINES DESTINY. That�s (Heb 12:14).
E. Let me put in marriage terms. I need to focus on my love for Joyce. Detours, bad decisions I make toward her, even bad attitudes I may have one day (or more) don�t end the relationship. Our love, our relationship, is MUCH more secure than that. It�s not the daily decisions that define our relationship, or those "relational detours that happen in any relationship. It�s our direction, our love for each other that is solid and sure.
1. The big issue is: Am I in love with her and is that love growing? That�s the foundation from which actions and attitudes should naturally flow.
If our relationship is solid and growing it will show up in those little daily actions and attitudes. But it�s the relationship that determines the decisions, not vice versa.
2. Likewise it�s the love relationship that determines the direction, not the detours. Will I make mistakes and errors in judgment toward her?
Yes. Will I act selfishly on occasion? She would say no, but I�ll say yes (or is that the other way?) But does that end the relationship? No! It�s not the detours that determine our relationship, it�s my direction of loving and growing. And direction leads to destiny. Holiness, love, the right DIRECTION, is required for us to see the Lord.
3. If the direction of our marriage turns and goes south consistently, that could lead to an end of the relationship. How long does that take? How many bad decisions, bad detours, bad attitudes or actions? I don�t know, but I don�t want to find out, because I love her. I want to be with her. I know that�s God�s plan for us and I know His way is best. That�s our direction. That leads to destiny. That�s the holiness that leads to seeing the Lord.
4. There are great parallels in our relationship with Jesus. We should not just focus and fixate on what you�re going to do, what you�re not going to do, what you can do, can�t do, how far can you go, what you can get away with, how many times will He forgive you, if He�s going to leave you, punish you, if he�s just waiting to catch you doing wrong, etc. What kind of relationship is that? What kind of love is that, and what kind of life is that?
5. That kind of focus leads to a fear and insecurity that�s not really living and not really love. So focus on the love: the love He has for you.
Then love Him back (I Jn 4:16-19).
6. Focus on His way being best. He made us. His way is real life, which means joy (Dt 30:16 MESS; Jn 10:10).
III. One more of those doctrinal truths that goes back to the inadequacy struggle. The enemy of our soul would love for you to believe you have to sin. No way to avoid it. Even if you avoid the big sins, you won�t be able to avoid the small ones, or the secret ones.
A. What if I were your captain about to lead you into a big battle and I said. You don�t have to have major hits, no major organs have to get hit i.e. you don�t have to sin big, but you won�t be able to avoid getting hit a little i.e. non-lethal ways. Just follow me and I�ll make sure you only lose one eye, or you�ll only get knee-capped. Would you follow that captain?
B. Or would you follow the leader who said: "Follow me and you won�t get hit. It�s possible to come out without getting hit and whole (holy). I know which I�m going with.
C. Jesus says: The way of consistently choosing to follow me, consistently choosing to do what�s right, the way of holiness is POSSIBLE, PRACTICAL, PREFERABLE AND POWERFUL (Mt 3:11; 5:6, 8, 48; Mk 12:30-31). It�s life. All other ways are lies; lies we need to take captive to the truth of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 10:3-5 P ).
D. Jesus didn�t say: "My way or the highway; He said My way IS the HIGH way (Jn 10:10; 14:6). Closing song(s)
5/4/08 AM Service
"The Pursuit of Happiness
(Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 10:3-4)
Pastor Rick Sams
"The Pursuit of Happiness
(Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 10:3-4)
Pastor Rick Sams
BIG IDEA: It�s not our
detours or decisions that lead to our direction. Our DIRECTION (love
relationship) leads to decisions. Our direction leads to our
DESTINY. That�s what Hebrews 12:14 means. The holy life is POSSIBLE,
PREFERABLE, PRACTICAL AND POWERFUL.
