Climate Change - Pt. 1 - Climate Control Series

Climate Control

I. Introduction

We confuse climate with weather. They are not the same thing. Climate is in fact defined as "a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years." So this is more than weather! Climate is in fact what sets weather into motion. Climate controls weather. Climate dictates what the weather will be like. Climate can be a great destabilizing force. So some of you are fighting storms, trouble, difficulties and you only seem to get temporary relief or respite. Then those same challenges show up on the horizon again! We expend all of our energy on fighting weather when if we would spend the same efforts on controlling the climate the storms, patterns, cycles would change! We have a tendency to react to the patterns and never do anything to address the climate that is causing those patterns. Some of you have been fighting the same fight new versions for 10 years, 20 years, 30 years and you rail against the weather but never deal with the root which is the climate that produces the weather.

Let me see if I can show you what I am talking about from an instance in Jesus' life!

II. Climate Control

Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25

While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd (the disorderly crowd) and people playing pipes (one version says these are people who make music for funerals), he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him (KJV says they laughed him to scorn). After the crowd had been put outside (this is too docile in English - in the original it has "forcibly thrown" out feel), he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

Matthew 9:23-24 By now they had arrived at the house of the town official, and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and the neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: “Clear out! This girl isn’t dead. She’s sleeping.” They told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.

Jesus didn't mess around. He was abrupt. He instantly, intentionally and yes even forcibly took control of the climate. We would have dealt first with the weather ... the storm ... the death. But Jesus goes straight for and first for climate.

From this backdrop may I mention a few things quickly about Climate Control?

a. Climate Control must precede Climate Change

Jesus dramatically shows us that in order for there to be climate change there must first be climate control!

He controlled climate rather than allowing climate to control him.

Jesus cleared the house! He didn't wait for it to clear. He didn't wait for people to wander out that needed to be kicked out!

Jesus recognized instantly that before there could be any change and before the climate would be conducive for a miracle He had to deal with the doubters, the haters, the scoffers, the unbelievers. Healing can't enter until haters exit.

Some of you need to hear that. You are asking for climate change but you are unwilling to control the climate so the climate dictates no change.

There are things in your life that are dead and seem to be past recovery that if you would take control of the climate would come back to life.

Elijah dealt with climate before dealing with weather. He killed false prophets so that the entire nation turns back to God. Then he prays and asks for rain (weather) to end drought.

You can't expect to have a climate change to focus if you won't deal with the distractors in your life. You want a change to righteousness but won't control the climate of filth around you.

Many of you are dealing with patterns that will continue until you take control of the climate!

Debt - but won't deal with the climate of overspending, lack of tithing, trying to change the weather to blessing but won't address climate of disobedience and rebellion.

Broken relationships - but won't address the climate of physical intimacy before marriage, won't address your own climate of brokenness, anger, sharp tongue, selfishness, etc.

Job - won't address climate of laziness.

Purity - won't manage what you listen to or watch.

Constant turmoil - won't deal with your double-mindedness.

Loneliness- but won't deal with climate of standoffishness, suspicion, etc.

Jesus was decisive about this. He knew if there was going to be change He had to first deal with the climate. The climate was disorderly and He is a God that operates in order. The climate was chaos and He is a God that doesn't operate in confusion. He knew that He could not call something sleep if everyone else in the room was calling it death! So He steps in controls the climate.