Me (my dilemma or question / Key Question)
In a recent NCAA cross-country championship held in Riverside, California, 123 of the 128 runners missed a turn. One competitor, Mike Delcavo, stayed on the 10,000 meter course and began waving for fellow runners to follow him. Delcavo was able to convince only four other runners to go with him. Asked what his competitors thought of his mid-race decision not to follow the crowd, Delcavo responded, "They thought it was funny that I went the right way." Delcavo was one who ran correctly.
Citation: Kent Lenard, www.sermoncentral.com
There is way of living and talking that is applauded by the majority but it missed a turn and is headed the wrong way. There is a kind of religion that looks good on the outside but really is not. It is socially acceptable faith rooted in what you know, what family you belong to, what religious things you do and say.
This cloak of socially respectable religion is so easy to slip into. I find that I’ve put it on without realizing it. Like those runners who missed the turn in their race, somewhere I started down a rabbit trail and stopped following Jesus.
We (our common ground on this)
This is a problem for all of us. Americans like us are fairly religious. Many of our friends and neighbors will happily join us in saying they believe in Jesus as long as we act like they do the rest of the time.
We can easily slip on the cloak of respectable religion because we know something about Jesus. We can recite a few Bible truths. We even give and participate in ministry to the less fortunate.
And all the while we are not genuine followers of Jesus. The scary reality is that all across our country this morning churches are filled with people who have enough religion to be socially respectable but not enough to experience a true life-changing relationship with Jesus yet. We can maintain the outward appearance of religion and still be strangers to its life-changing power (2 Timothy 3:5). It is a sobering reality that we must carefully consider. Not everyone who claims to be a believer really is. Not even in this room.
God (what the Bible says about this)
Jesus came into a world much like ours. The majority thought they were running God’s race but they’d missed a turn. Jesus came to show them how to get back on track with God.
He ends the Sermon on the Mount with the passage we’re looking at this morning. He closes with a call to choose. Jesus finishes his sermon with a crystal clear call to think carefully about the choice that we all need to make.
He starts with the Golden Rule which summarizes the morality of his Sermon.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
This summary is a reminder about what is the heart of true religion: a changed heart leading to a changed life. Real religion and a summary of the Law and Prophets are to treat others the way that you want to be treated. Loving your neighbor is the fulfillment of all God’s requirements (Gal 5:14).
That means if we claim to be religious but we are not filled with love for others, then we are not really connected to Jesus. If we claim to believe in Jesus but we don’t do what he says, we really don’t know him. We can claim to believe the right things but if our actions, attitudes, choices, and our lives don’t line up, then there is a problem. Actions reveal who we really are – no matter what we post on Facebook or forward in our emails.
Jesus draws all of this to a close with three warnings and their implied questions.
The Narrow Gate – What path are you on? Who are your trusting?
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Like the 123 runners who missed the same turn and lost that cross country race, many people follow the crowd to the wide gate that leads to destruction.
Jesus is warning us and inviting us to choose the narrow one. The narrow gate is Jesus. He is the only way that leads to life. He is calling you to make a decisive decision about the path you are going to be on. A decision to follow him and him alone leads to life.
There is only one way: trusting in Jesus Christ. This means that you understand who you are as sinner and who he is as Lord. To enter the narrow gate means that you understand who Jesus is and it effects on your life. His call is to believe on him and follow him. The gate and the path are linked.
So, are you wearing the cloak of respectable religion on the easy path? Or, are you following Jesus on the hard path?
The Tree and Its Fruit – Who are you, really?
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
The second warning relates to who you really are. It is one thing to claim to believe in Jesus; it is another thing to live like it. Jesus is attacking words and statements that sound good but cannot be backed up.
The way that you distinguish a true prophet from a false prophet is not by what the prophet says, but by how the prophet lives. Words alone are not sufficient. Actions must follow.
Jesus aims to show you that the test of whether or not something is real is by what kind of life it produces. Words and talk are cheap; anyone can claim to believe anything. A changed life is the only evidence that you really are who you claim to be. Words and religious activity are not enough. Jesus is looking for the life-changing fruit that springs from a personal relationship with Him.
Jesus is not done with this issue. He presses it even further toward those who would think that their religious activity is their fruit. Jesus imagines someone saying, “Well, I’m okay. I know that you are Lord; I’ve even called you that. I’ve spoken boldly in your name, cast out demons in your name, and even done mighty works in your name.”
Perhaps you’ve seen God do some wonderful things, and you know the name of Jesus is powerful. The problem here is that you can become incredibly busy doing all sorts of things in the name of Jesus, and the spiritual success that you see may lead you to believe that you know Jesus. You can assume that because you are near spiritual things and do spiritual things that you are spiritual. And Jesus says, “Not so fast!”
He says the criteria is “doing the will of my Father” (v 21), and knowing him personally. Those who get this wrong are told, “I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (v 22). Think about that statement because it is stunning. Jesus you and I can do all kinds of good things for others while not knowing him, and the result is that he calls them “workers of lawlessness.”
The warning here should be clear but let me restate it so that no one misses it. True faith in Jesus is determined not by what one says but by who you really are. A real relationship with God is determined not by the spiritual things you’ve done but by the Savior who you know.
Who do you trust? Who are you? Are you changing and growing because of Jesus?
A Solid Foundation – What are you going to do?
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Both houses experienced the same storm and only one was able to stand. Both houses probably looked well built from the outside but only one had the strength to pass the test.
Jesus uses this parable to expose the clear choice you and I must make. What will you do with the words of Jesus? What will you do now that you have heard his words? The issue is not information; it’s obedience.
The storm is the God’s judgment. Jesus says if you merely know what Jesus says and don’t act on it you are in danger of not passing God’s judgment. To know that Jesus is Lord, to know that he calls us to turn from doing your own thing to living God’s way, to know that he encourages you to evaluate who you really are – regardless of what you’ve done for him – is a serious thing. Jesus is warning you that simply knowing about him will result in disaster. Truly knowing Jesus will change the way you think, act and relate to others.
God is speaking! Are you really listening?
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Those people encountered God’s truth when they listened to Jesus. They realized the message that they were hearing was God speaking to each one of them! They felt it. They saw it. They knew it. God was speaking!
And that is what I hope and pray you will sense today –God is speaking to you. I’m praying that you will no longer be passive, or think that you can put this issue off.
You (personal application of biblical principles)
Thesis: If you are ready for more than a casual relationship with Jesus, he is ready too. If you want more than the cloak of acceptable religion and you want a relationship with God based on a change of heart and a lifetime of becoming more like Jesus, then God is ready to give it to you.
REPENTANCE POINT: Are you one of the many persons who settle for the cloak of respectable religion? Do you believe what everyone else believes – no more and no less? But Jesus came to call us into a growing relationship with him. This will make his followers stand out in the crowd.
What path are you on? Do you trust Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins? Do you trust him to lead to the life so few find?
Who are you, really? Has your life been changed by Jesus? I’m not asking if you’re perfect, but is your relationship with Jesus changing the way you think, act and relate? Are you a different person because of Jesus? Is there any evidence that you are really one of his followers?
What are you going to do? Jesus’ words must be heard but that cannot be all. They must be obeyed or you’ve not really listening. Do you feel like God is speaking to you? Do you know what he is asking you to do? Do you sense his wonderful drawing?
We (what we can experience if we all obey God)
Let’s be honest with each other for a moment. If you and I take off the cloak of respectable religion and start to follow Jesus, we will stand out in the crowd. Like the runners who laughed at the one guy who tried to get them back on track, there will be people who think we’re fanatics. They may laugh at us. They may keep going the wrong way, but we must decide to follow Jesus. We must turn around and run to God.
By the way, if you’ve been headed the wrong way, when you turn around you will find God is right there ready to embrace and welcome you. If you are ready for more than the faith of most people, Jesus is ready to change you.
RESPONSE GOAL / INVITATION:
Are you ready for more? Are you ready to trust Jesus completely? Are you ready to obey him? Are you ready to run with him?
Will you bow your heads for a moment?
If you are ready to ask Jesus to not only forgive you but to begin leading you, pray this prayer silently. God will hear your heart.
Jesus, I heard God speaking to me through your words today. I confess to you the wrong things I’ve done. Listen as I list them for you.
Thank you for coming to this world to die for every wrong thing I’ve done. Lead me to make the kinds of decisions that obey your teaching. From this day on I will obey you and follow you. Thank you. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer with me will you raise your hand to declare your commitment to follow Jesus? (Acknowledge)
Basic follow up:
Daily time of talking to Jesus and reading the Bible
Ask for a Bible if you don’t have one
Come back to meet with God and his family next Sunday
Write “Prayed the prayer” on your Communication Card
