August 12, 2007
Morning Worship
Text: Matthew 19:16-26
Subject: Answering the Call
Title: Yes, I Can
When I worked in the maintenance department in a factory way back when, I was always one to come up with great ideas for improvement. I wasn’t always sure how I could get those things done but I had good ideas nonetheless. I remember that there was one guy that I worked with who, whenever I would come up with one of my ideas, would say, “That will never work!” Now I know part of his problem was that what I was suggesting was far different than anything he had ever tried before. For many people change is difficult because change involves – well, change involves “change” and that’s work. There is a tongue in cheek law that is written, “Nothing is ever done until everyone is convinced that it ought to be done, and has been convinced for so long that it is now time to do something else.” So where change is involved the natural response is, “I can’t do that.” When I was a child my mother told me this, “I can’t” really means I don’t want to!” Now I have come to the conclusion over the years that “I can’t” either means just what my Mom told me or else people sincerely believe that they are limited in what they can do so therefore they are physically or emotionally or spiritually unable to perform a task.
I remember when I first trusted Christ how I looked at spiritually mature people and thought, “”I can never be like them.”
Can I share something with you? The one thing that God never wants to hear from you is, “I can’t”! Instead He wants to hear, “Yes, I can!”
I want you to listen closely today to what the Lord is asking you and then be ready to say, “Yes I can.”
I. DOING WHAT IS COMFORTABLE (16-19) 16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
Do you see where this rich man places his emphasis? He is works oriented. He wants to be able to perform some special task to earn God’s favor. There is something in the human psyche that wants us to be able to be good enough. That something is called the “sin nature”. That is where pride stems from and that’s what led to satan’s downfall. Galatians 2:21, “21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” I have a hard time with something. Do you want to hear what it is? I have a difficult time with people who say that they feel like they can never be good enough to be a Christian, and yet they’ll spend the rest of their life trying to be a good person and do good things like it was going to make a difference in the eternal scheme of things. What that is saying is, “God can’t save me so I’ll try to save myself.” 17“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” OK, it looks like Jesus is getting down to the heart of the matter. OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS! This rich young man has always been an enigma to me. On one hand it seems that he really wants to know about eternal life. On the other he wants to know what he can do to receive it. Looking a little closer at the situation I find that he seems to be playing games. Maybe you think I’m being a little hard on him. But look - 18“Which ones?” the man inquired. Do you see that? If he were really serious about his salvation he wouldn’t have asked that question – he would have realized that he couldn’t keep all the commandments – and then repented. But Jesus leads him on a little longer because Jesus knew exactly where this was headed. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” Notice that Jesus responds to him with commandments that deal with interpersonal relationships. Almost everybody tries to get along with others. Everybody likes to be liked. So following these commandments is pretty easy except for the most hardcore criminals. So like most people the rich young ruler is doing what is comfortable. I can do that but don’t ask anything more from me cause I just can’t do it.
II. SEEKING WHAT IS PROFITABLE (20) 20“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Here again is where I kind of get confused about this man. Is he sincere, wanting to know what is lacking or is he asking, “I’ve done all those other things, what else could there be?” was he seeking righteousness through his question, or justification by his actions? I have no doubt that there is something lacking in each one of us here today. Maybe your lack is the same as this unnamed man in this story. Maybe you lack in your ability to trust God for all things. Maybe your lack is in God’s promised power for all believers. Or maybe you lack in obedience to what God is calling you to do for Him. Many Christians suffer from inferiority complexes. We’re not good enough to serve God the way He wants. A man went to a psychiatrist and complained about an inferiority complex. The doctor listened to him for a while, then gave him a good news/bad news diagnosis: "The good news," said the doctor, "Is that you don’t have a complex. The bad news is--you are inferior!" Whether the rich man was sincere or not at least he asked the right question – most likely because he knew there was something missing in his life.
III. KNOWING WHAT IS DESIREABLE (21-22) 21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” John 2:24-25 tells us that Jesus knows each of us and even knows what we are thinking. Jesus is really being pretty upfront with this guy. “I know your good works and your relationships with other people, but it’s your relationship with God that needs work. And it is your possessions that have become your God.” All God wants from you is for you to seek His will for your life. Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Sometimes Jesus even has to say that to the church. Revelation 3:1-2, 1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up!
Often it is the church that gets the rich young ruler mentality. We tend to think of holiness as not being like the world. Don’t drink, don’t do drugs, don’t be greedy, don’t… But didn’t you ever notice a distinct difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? The old says, “THOU SHALL NOT…” The new says, “blessed are they who…” True enough, holiness involves remaining pure by abstaining from the things of the world. But Jesus desires obedience more than sacrifice! So what is desirable in Jesus’ eyes is following Him; doing what He did; being like Him! The word translated as “follow” means to be in union with or to be in the same way as… As who? As Jesus! 22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. OK, Here we go! If you want eternal life go get rid of all your things and follow Jesus? Is that what Jesus is saying? If your possessions have become idols for you yes. But what He is really saying is get rid of your idols. Don’t hold on to anything that will keep you from a right relationship with God.
You want eternal life? Follow Jesus. You want power in your life? Follow Jesus. You want peace in your life? Follow Jesus.
IV. ACCEPTING WHAT IS POSSIBLE (23-26) 23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell 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.”
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
You know, God’s plan of salvation doesn’t make sense to a lot of people. And it is because the god of this world has blinded the eyes of those who are perishing. satan wants mankind to be prideful enough to think they can save themselves. If God were really God then why did He die the death of a criminal? It doesn’t make sense. I would rather be in control of my own destiny. With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
For many in the church, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit doesn’t make sense. Why do we need that? Don’t we receive the Holy Spirit when we are saved? Listen, I don’t preach the baptism in the Holy Spirit because I think it is something cool. I preach it because Jesus said it. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you… You say, I don’t think I could ever receive it. I’m not good enough. With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
For many in the church power is just a passive word. I’ve got it, I just don’t use it. Power was never meant to be passive. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me… With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
I heard a story about a child who had a difficult time doing what his parents told him to do. He would say, “I can’t”. His mom asked him to go and pray about it to see if God could help him. His prayer went like this. “God I need your help to make me do the things I should and not do the things I shouldn’t, but if You can’t help me right away it’s OK, I’m having fun the way the way I am now.”
What is keeping you from being exactly where God wants you to be today?
When you are saying I can’t do you believe you are not able or you are you saying you don’t want to?
Closing:
Who in the congregation today is exactly smack dab in the middle of God’s will? You couldn’t be any better. There is nothing in your life that you need to change. I want you to get up right now and come to the front of church and begin to worship Him and thank Him for your perfection.
Who among you is saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit but you know Jesus is asking you to be bold in your witness for Him. He is leading you to places and people you never before thought of. He is giving you gifts through the Spirit to use to edify one another. And all you can say is, “I can’t!” Jesus today is asking you to come forward and say, “I can and I will!”
Who today would say, "I could never be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Jesus is saying, “I will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” You say, “I can’t” Jesus is saying, “I will!” I want you to come to the front.
Who would say, “I know I need to give my life totally to Jesus today. I know that I haven’t been living for Him. I know I need Him in my life. I know that without Him my life is a mess. But there is something that keeps holding me back. I Just Can’t.” And Jesus is saying, “No you can’t, but I can and I already have! Come follow Me!”
Jesus is waiting for all of you to say, “Yes I can!”
