November 14, 2021
Morning Service

Along our journey with Jesus, we have learned that He is calling us to a life that is different than the one the world around us is striving for.  The teaching began way back upon the Mount where He showed us the “Beatitudes” revealing to us that He was calling us to a new radical perspective.  To follow Him meant you would have to be more than just a “rule follower” announcing that He was not here to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it.  He began to reveal the real meanings and depths of the Law and show us that He was not only after our actions, but He wants our heart.  He is not pleased with only obedience in our actions, but He wants to own your inner self that motivates those actions; your heart.  He has been teaching us that our faith in who He is (the Christ the Son of the living God) is the foundation that our lives should be built upon.  Every part of our life is to be built on that foundation.  This foundation was established way back in the OT when God gave Moses the ten commandments and the first one is this:

 Exo 20:2-3   "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  (3)  "You shall have no other gods before Me.

            This commandment is quite clear, nothing should stand between our us and our Lord.  Jesus made it even clearer for us as He said this again in the Sermon on the Mount.

 

Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

            Today in our journey with Jesus, we see this commandment being put to the test.  I also want to change things up a little today.  We have been on this journey as the 13^th disciple experiencing all that Jesus has done and said building our faith further that He is who He says He is.  Today I want us to switch roles.  I want each of you to place yourself in the sandals of this rich young ruler we meet along the road who has questions about his salvation.  I warn you that this may be a painful experience, but a needed one.

 

Mat 19:16-19 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  (17)  So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."  (18)  He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' (19) 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' and, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "

            By coming to Jesus, it shows that you are seeking.  You absolutely want to be sure that the path you are walking is the one that He intends you to and your intentions are good.  Jesus does not tell you anything here that you don’t already know.  There are rules to be followed, ways that you are to treat others; things to NOT do and things also TO do.  These are Commandments 5-10 which instruct us how to deal with others.  You realize the answer He has given you is not what you are seeking for, so you dig deeper.

 

Mat 19:20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"

 

 

 

            You know deep down in your heart that there has to be more.  You seek to be pleasing to God and had hoped to be content and happy with that lifestyle, but there is something missing.  Have you been there?  Are you there right now?  You want to follow Jesus and impact the world around you, but it all seems like there is a missing piece to the puzzle you are putting together; there has to be more.  God is part of your life, as your attendance here this morning tells me, but what part is the question.  Jesus reveals this to you with a test that opens your eyes to that missing piece.

 

Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

            Jesus’ words hit you in the face like a cup of cold water as He reveals to you that though you are seeking, you are not “Seeking Him first!”  You are going through the motions, but when it comes right down to the “nitty gritty” it is a difficult choice that lies before you.  It is simply a choice on whether to be obedient to the First Commandment to “have no other gods before Me.”  This is the part that could be painful this morning, but the truth must be told.  Your lack of that deep settled contentment and happiness you are seeking for is caused by how you are lining up the priorities in your life.  In this case, wealth is the god that is in first place causing the uncontentment.  Each of us MUST be honest with ourselves and examine our priorities to be sure that nothing stands between you and your Lord.  It could be your kids, spouse, house, career, worldly pleasure, your image or any of a number of things that has rooted itself so strongly in your heart that it is a difficult choice when we are confronted with the reality that we must choose between it and serving the Lord.  He draws a line in the sand for you and says; “you must choose your _____ or Me.”  This particular story has a very sad ending for you.

 

Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

            Here we are in front of our spiritual mirror again this morning.  If through this story you realize there is a god between you and the Lord, a change is needed.  To faithfully follow Jesus, He must be first; we are called to deny ourselves pick up our cross and follow Him.  Is there an idol in your life that you are placing before your relationship with Jesus?  Have you allowed the world to creep in on your priorities this morning?  Are the things you are seeking most and the people you admire on the broad path or the narrow one?

 

Mat 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

            This morning I want to give each of us a chance to reset our priorities, individually and as a church family.  I want to reset my GPS and have no doubt that I am on that narrow path.  Just as this young man came to Jesus seeking, I want us to do the same.  However, I don’t want to leave here “sorrowful,” I want to leave here revived and empowered to make the needed changes and focus on Jesus as my “Promised Land,” not this world and its pleasures.  We are going to play some music and I am going to pray here at the altar and confess to the Lord my many shortcomings and the idols that are creeping into my life.  I will ask the Holy Spirit to move in my life to enable me to “have no other gods before my Lord.”  Feel free to join me or to pray in your seat.  Be honest with God and honest with yourself.  I don’t apologize if this makes you uncomfortable this morning, God is preparing us for something and I want to be ready and I hope you join me on this journey to revival.

 

 

 

            Jesus knows what stands between you and Him and asks you to make changes; “sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.”  “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him take up His cross and follow Me.”  There is a cost to being a faithful follower.   Don’t make the same mistake the you in this story did.  You don’t have to go “away sorrowful,” you can choose wisely and lay that god upon the altar today.  He may not be asking you to “sell everything you have” but to just set your priorities straight and place Him first, moving other things down the list.  I have found when I realign my priorities, God honors His promise and fills that void with something better.  This choice takes courage, more than you possess yourself, you will need some help.  Jesus saw this very thing in the eyes of His disciples and shares with the truth.

 

Mat 19:23-26 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  (24)  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  (25)  When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"  (26)  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

            Nothing is impossible with God and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.  He is not asking you to do this alone, He will be with you and will greatly reward you for diligently seeking Him this morning.  If there is an uneasiness in your gut this morning, then you know the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.  We are at a fork in the road this morning and we must choose; stick to the narrow path!