What am I Missing Here?
Steps to Recovering Your Joy
August 22, 2010
Calvary Baptist Church
Ephesians 5:14
SERMON 3: The Folly of Incomplete Obedience
NOTE: This sermon is based in part on a sermon by F.B. Meyer entitled, “Where am I Wrong?” This sermon appears as chapter 2 in two of his books, Some Secrets of Christian Living and The Secret of Guidance. Portions also from Gerald Flury, “Following Your Feelings.”
What am I missing here? What is wrong with me? Why am I not finding joy in the Lord?
• First, may I say to you, that it is good that you have noticed this.
• It is only by the Holy Spirit’s work in your life that you even care.
• Furthermore, it is a good sign of genuine conversion.
• For the lost man or woman, there is no thought of this.
• To them, they are just fine and see no need of the question.
• But to you, whose spirits resonate with this preacher’s question, you know that something is missing.
• You see in the faces, in the lives of others, a light, a joy, a power.
• And as you honestly evaluate yourself, you must admit that you do not have this light, this joy, this power!
• Here the words of the Apostle:
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
REVIEW
1) Dispositions differ
2) Emotions are not the test of our spiritual state.
• In our first sermon, we considered that a lack of joy may be traced to one’s …
• FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HIS STANDING (OR POSITION IN CHRIST) AND HIS CIRCUMSTANCES.
• My circumstances will always change with the weather.
• But my standing in Christ is constant and steady!
• In study 2, we considered another possible robber of your joy:
• PERHAPS YOU LIVE TOO MUCH IN YOUR FEELINGS, TOO LITTLE IN YOUR WILL.
• We learned that the Bible term for feelings is often the word “heart.”
• Jeremiah declared that the heart is deceitful.
• We learned to live in our faith, in the facts of the word of God, and not in our feelings.
• We learned that if we do not control our feelings, they WILL control us.
• Today, we look at another possible reason for loss of joy and victory …
• PERHAPS YOU HAVE DISOBEYED SOME CLEAR COMMAND
I. Identifying the Sin of Omission (Ps. 36:1-4; Luke 16:10; John 14:15)
SIN (OMISSION) Neglecting to do what is required.
Psalm 36:1–4 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, That there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, Until his iniquity be found to be hateful [or that his sin will not be found out to be despised]. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; He setteth himself in a way that is not good; He abhorreth not evil.
QUOTE: The Bible is Not a Buffet!
• Jesus taught the importance of faithfulness in the small things.
Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
QUOTE FROM F.B. MEYER
Sometimes a soul comes to its spiritual adviser, speaking thus: "I have no conscious joy, and have had but little for years." "Did you once have it?" "Yes, for some time after my conversion to God." "Are you conscious of having refused obedience to some distinct command, which came into your life, but from which you shrank?" Then the face is cast down, and the eyes film with tears and the answer comes with difficulty: "Yes, years ago I used to think that God required a certain thing of me; but I felt I could not do what He wished, was uneasy for some time about it, but after a while it seemed to fade from my mind, and now it does not often trouble me." "Ah, soul, that is where you went wrong!”
Is not this the cause of depression to thousands of Christian people? They are God’s children, but they are disobedient children. The Bible rings with one long demand for obedience. The key-word of the Book of Deuteronomy is, Observe and Do. The burden of Christ’s Farewell Discourse is, If ye love me, keep My commandments (John 14:15). We must not question or reply or excuse ourselves. We must not pick and choose our way. We must not take some commands and reject others. We must not think that obedience in other directions will compensate for disobedience in some one particular. God gives one command at a time, borne in upon us, not in one way only, but in many; by this He tests us. If we obey in this, He will flood our soul with blessing, and lead us forward into new paths and pastures. But if we refuse in this we shall remain stagnant and waterlogged, make no progress in Christian experience, and lack both power and joy.
ILLUS: We see sad events transpiring today: Mothers smothering children and fathers shaking babies. But if one did not do this and if they said, “I didn’t strike the baby, I just never fed the baby, I never changed a diaper. I never placed a warm blanket over the baby. I didn’t DO anything wrong. Would you buy the argument? A thousand times, no! Nor will God excuse our sins of omission.
ILLUS: FIREMAN SEEING A CRIPPLED MAN IN A BURNING NURSING HOME AND PASSING BY.
ILLUS: MAN IN DESERT HIDING WATER FROM OTHERS.
II. Illustrations of the Sin of Omission
A. Uzzah and the Ark (2 Sam. 6:1-11)
• The Philistines captured the ark during the time of Eli.
• They returned it because of the curse.
• Yet it had not returned to Shiloh.
2 Samuel 6:1-11 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah [the breaking of Uzzah] to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.
• Uzzah had everything right but one thing.
• That one thing cost him his life!
B. Saul and the bleating of the sheep. (1 Sam. 15)
• Read selections if time allows.
C. The parable of the pounds. (Luke 19:11-27)
What is my pound? It is my treasure, my talents, my time! (Listen to audio for extemporaneous material)
D. The fig tree. (Luke 13:6-9)
Luke 13:6-9 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
FOLLOWING IS A SKETCH OUTLINE TO BE USED IN PRESENTING THIS TEXT. NOT ON HANDOUT.
I. The Privilege
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard.”
• THE PERSON: This tree has been planted by the master himself.
Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
• THE PLACE: It has been placed in a location designed to grow fruit.
• Every advantage has been given.
APPLY: The favorable circumstances given to American Christianity!
II. The Problem
“And he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.”
• A fig tree has very limited use apart from its fruit!
• Fruit is expected!
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
APPLY: How is your life. If you were asked to write down your list of “fruit,” would you be embarrassed?
III. The Pronouncement
“Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?”
• The master declares his patience.
• But there is a limit to God’s patience!
• He gives an order: Cut it down!
• He gives a reason: Why let it take up space, water, resources?
APPLY: God has abundantly blessed us? What are we doing with His resources? How dare we take in God’s good air and then bear no fruit?
IV. The Plea (Of the vinedresser)
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
• We see the intercessory ministry of Christ (Heb. 7:24-25)
• The gardener begs for another year.
• Lord, you have given three, could you make it four?
• It reminds us of Abraham’s intercession for Sodom.
• To dig about it is to allow the water to reach the roots.
• To dung it is to give fertilizer.
• A tree that will not respond to this is a bad tree!
APPLY: We can mistake the blessings of God as reward for our goodness.
V. The Probation
“And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
• God is longsuffering.
• But there is a limit to His patient forbearance.
• Hope is not lost, for there is the opportunity to bear fruit.
• God will provide all that is needed.
• But some will not respond.
• God can cut down the tree of our service, our ministry, our life.
• God can take away the candlestick of this church!
Galatians 6:7-8 * 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
QUOTE: I do not know any subject that so much distresses me, humbles me and lays me in the dust, as the thought of my omissions. It is not what I have done about which I think so much as of what I have not done. C. H. Spurgeon
III. Instructions About the Sin of Omission
A. The Commands
1. We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices. (Rom. 12:1)
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2. We are not to be slothful. (Rom. 12:11; Heb. 6:11-12)
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
3. We are to abound in the Lord’s work. (1 Cor. 15:58)
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
4. We are to be subject to God. (Eph. 5:24; Heb. 12:9; James 4:7)
Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
B. The Criterion
1. Of Discipleship (Luke 9:23)
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
2. Of Love (John 14:21; 1 Jn. 2:3; 5:3; 2 Jn. 1:6)
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2 John 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
3. Of Sonship (Rom. 8:14)
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
4. Of Sheep (John 10:4, 27)
John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
C. The Condemnation
1. Of Letting the Important Things Go Undone (Mt. 23:23)
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
2. Of Failing to Obey Clearly Revealed Truth (James 4:17)
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
D. The Cause (Luke 8:14)
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
E. The Consequences
1. Earthly (Mt. 7:26-27)
Matthew 7:26-27 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
2. Eternal
We must give an account to God. (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10)
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Nehemiah 3:5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
