“Recalibrating Our Values 2”
Review
The Bible warns against three deadly viruses that threaten the effectiveness of the church of Jesus Christ.
? Guard against failing to appropriate God’s amazing enabling grace; available and sufficient.
? Guard against bitter roots; pervasive and destructive.
? Guard against living according to temporal values.
Failure to daily appropriate God’s enabling grace results in a lack of spiritual power.
Failure to prevent and eradicate bitter roots of negativity results in a lack of inner peace.
Failure to pursue Christ above everything else results in a lack of eternal purpose.
INTRODUCTION
We ALL live and make decisions about life according to a personal philosophy. We live our life by our beliefs. We decide how we will live based on what we believe is most important. What is worth living for? Why are we here? We will invest our treasured resources like our time, physical and emotional energy, money and possessions based on our philosophy of life.
We put a value on the attainment of possessions, power, prestige, physical looks, achievement, money, friends, home, recognition, fame, ability, sports, experiences, travel, being loved and accepted, heritage, good marriage, meaningful relationships, well behaved kids, perfect job, entertainment, feeling good, escaping pain, avoiding conflict, relationship with God and the pursuit of spiritual purposes. Most people did not consciously sit down one day and adopt a personal philosophy. It developed over time. The bottom line? We live by that philosophy nonetheless. It would be beneficial to take some time to try to discover what actually directs our decisions. It all boils down to what we believe will bring pleasure, possessions and prominence.
Feel good, acquire things, and feel important. These are actually God-ingrained longings. We run into trouble when we pursue these things through the wrong means. The Bible is clear that the ultimate fulfillment of our God-designed longings comes through our pursuit of and connection with God Himself.
In His right hand are pleasures evermore.
He gives us all things to enjoy.
He exalts us when we humble ourselves in His presence.
Ask yourself, “Do I live by pleasure or principle.” Are my choices based on what feels right or is right?
Our present passage from Hebrews 12:16 refers to Esau’s choice to live by temporal pleasure rather than eternal principle.
Seeing to it that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
I. Be carefully guarded
A. Guard against self-centered sensuality
“Immoral” (pornos)
Esau was a man driven by his senses. He is what we would call a “hedonist”. Immediate pleasure or whatever is pleasing to the senses carried the highest value. He sacrificed his eternal birthright for a momentary satisfaction of physical hunger. So often we pass over spiritual opportunity for physical satisfaction whether it be food, sexual stimulation, good feelings, adrenaline rush or new and exciting experiences. We are a sensualized and sexualized culture always looking for that fresh stirring of excitement. Esau focused on the sensual. He sacrificed the important for the immediate. For the hedonist, life revolves around attaining the next pleasure be it a pleasing taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing through sex, drugs, entertainment, activities, food, drink. Everything has to do with appealing to the senses. Just consider what the commercials actually appeal to. Paul warned Timothy that in the last days there would arise those who would be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. If God satisfies my senses I will pursue Him. If I don’t feel all warm and fuzzy, I ignore Him. If church makes me feel good then I am interested. If not, I will go somewhere that does.
How many of our decisions have to do with how it makes us feel?
It is not about right or wrong actions but pleasing or non-pleasing feelings.
Addictions are all about feeling better. Comfort eating. Numbing negative feelings with substance abuse. Sexual addiction. Entertainment to distract from the reality of life. Amusement (no thinking).
God is not opposed to feeling good. It becomes a problem when feeling good takes center stage; when feeling good becomes more important than living right; when pleasure violates principle.
We must continually be on guard against a sensually driven life.
B. Guard against man-centered materialism
The close cousin to hedonism is materialism. A materialist considers the acquisition of possessions the highest value. Scripture labeled Esau “godless.” This term describes a person who lives a “life without God”. We consider earthly things more important than spiritual things. Esau found little use for his godly heritage. He despised a most precious gift of God (his birthright) to satisfy his immediate physical appetite. The Hebrew birthright was a God-given heritage awarding a double portion of earthly inheritance and blessing along with God’s spiritual blessing in order to be the channel of God’s blessing to the rest of the family. It carried both a material and spiritual component. Esau flippantly forfeited this special divine privilege and responsibility for a moment of physical relief. God confers this eternal birthright to be a glorious channel of His blessing to every Christian. God gives us great privilege and responsibility to disseminate His valuable spiritual treasure to the world around us.
But we have this treasure (Christ) in earthen vessels (clay pots), so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 2 Corinthians 4:7
Such a responsibility can only be effectively carried out by those who view relationship with Christ as the absolute number one priority and value in life; those fully devoted to Him. We want the blessing of being completely devoted to Christ without the cost of such devotion.
John warned the church not to love the world or the things in it.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Those who spend their life and resources pursuing these things instead of Christ will in the end lose them all. The things of this earth have no lasting value apart from our connection with Christ. Only those who actually lose their life in pursuit of Christ will in the end experience true life. Jesus warned about spending your life in pursuit of the temporal.
And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21
Application
Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:33-34
We spend our life accumulating for retirement. We spend our life pursuing things that cannot satisfy. We give our energies to the pursuit of things that simply cannot deliver what they promise.
The tragedy of an immoral godless life
1. A miserable life
A life dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure ends in miserable frustration because the flesh is never satisfied. The pursuit of pleasure without self-control ends in addiction.
It is a flesh-driven life plagued with disappointment, anger, bitterness, broken relationships, depression and emptiness. A life dedicated to the pursuit of “stuff” is equally miserable because the eye is never satisfied.
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10
We also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. Titus 3:3
2. A missed opportunity to touch eternity
Only later did Esau understand the gravity of his actions.
For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. Hebrews 12:12-17
Once he forfeited the birthright to Jacob there was no turning back. There is only one chance to fulfill our birthright. There is only one chance to know the glory of being a channel of God’s blessing. Once an opportunity passes, it is gone forever. There may be other opportunities but that one is GONE. Those opportunities for blessing pass us by every time we trade them for the immediate. I didn’t give when He asked me to. I failed to speak when He promoted me to.
I wasted 5 hours with video games or television rather than deepening my relationship with God. Rather than developing my soul I have actually deadened my soul to spiritual things.
How dangerous it is to seek relief from stress by turning to the world! Making provision for the flesh naturally means to provide for its sustenance, to keep it alive and healthy. For example, this is what the believer who watches television does to himself. Let's face it; most TV programming nowadays is the enactment of all the deeds of the flesh and does far more to corrupt than to edify. What may begin as a means to relax, entertained or unwind will almost inevitably lead to a quenching of God's Spirit and a downward spiral spiritually.
How many times have we traded rich moments waiting on God for a moment of diversion?
How many times have we allowed a soul-deadening image to dull our spiritual sensitivities?
How many times have we opted for exposure to images that enflame the flesh rather than stir the soul? How many times have we traded ripe opportunities to partner with God in things that count for eternity for a bowl of soup? How many times have we laid up treasures on earth rather than invest in the bank of heaven? That is what the writer of Hebrews warns us to guard against.
II. Be completely devoted
He calls us to lay aside EVERY encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race that is set before us. Respond to God’s training so that you may share in His holiness.
? Pursue healing for the body of Christ. (Guard against falling short of grace).
? Pursue Peace. (Guard against bitter roots)
? Pursue purity. (Guard against temporal values).
Jesus left it all.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Mary understood what was most important and Jesus affirmed her choice.
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42
Paul considered everything but the pursuit of holiness as worthless.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philip 3:7-11
What was Paul’s value scale? The value of knowing Christ far surpassed anything else this world had to offer. So valuable, he was willing to lose everything to pursue it and he did lose it all. Even after he lost it all, he had absolutely no regrets. He still considered it an insignificant loss. Loosing everything brought no more grief than someone stealing trash from a garbage can. His identity and purpose in life was completely tied to His relationship with Christ.
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory(boast) in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (personal achievement)…Philippians 3:2-3
I will rejoice…according to my earnest expectation and hope…Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:18-21
He gave his life to passionately pursuing in God’s eternal purposes.
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Philippians 3:12-16
He encouraged others to imitate his example of absolute surrender.
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:17-21
Notice Paul’s appeal to future glory as the motivation for present faithfulness. At any given hour, jets full of people streak across the sky to destinations all over the world. People from all walks of life jammed into a flying tube. Rich, poor, sick, healthy, famous, obscure, smart, not so smart, young, old, talented, not so talented, gifted, ordinary, those with family, those without, married, unmarried.
There is one thing that every one of these people has in common. Should that plane plummet into the ocean and everyone perish every single one of those people frequent flyers will stand before God with only what was in their hearts. At that moment in time the only thing that will matter will be their identity with Jesus Christ. At that moment in time their degrees will be useless, their money will gain them nothing, their fun filled vacations, their days by the pool, their parties, their lavish dinners, their house, their families will all fade in comparison to the one in front of whom they now stand. None of it will matter.
Only one life will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
So guard over your heart with all diligence because from the heart flow the springs of life. (Pro 4.23)
What eternal glories are we forfeiting for a bowl of broth today?
What do we consider more valuable than knowing Christ?
What will you sacrifice today for true and ultimate satisfaction tomorrow?
Jesus was brutally blunt.
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:23-25
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:37-39
After the church had been established for some time yet still early in their development Jesus already had to address serious problems among the various churches through John.
To the angel of the church in Ephesus(first of seven) write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.' Revelation 2:1-7
Even though they stood strong against false teaching they lost their passion for Christ. What is a “first love”? That is the fresh love and passion that initially propelled their relationship. Fiery, exclusive, all-consuming, engaged, sacrificial, focused, creative, spontaneous, constant. Jesus called the church to action. He calls us to action today.
1. Remember! Can you remember when your passion for God was greater than it is now?
2. Repent!
3. Return! Do what you did at first!
The consequences for failure to repent and return are a lost witness. We will no longer be a witness for the Light of the World. Hebrews 12 fervently warns against falling short of His grace, allowing bitter roots to proliferate, and living by temporal values. His warning?
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling."
You are surrounded by a spiritual reality more awesome than the physical manifestation of Mt Sinai.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
So what are we urged to do?
See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. (Listen!) For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:18-29
God calls us to attentively listen and gratefully serve. How acceptable has your service to God been? A passion for a life of comfort or a passion for a life of commitment to His eternal purposes? We have allowed so much stuff get in the way of our pursuit of God. We have pursued other things to fill our cup. Pleasures or possessions or prominence. Test it! Try eliminating them for a period of time. Like an addict, we think we can stop any time but when we try to quit there is excruciating withdrawal. Are you willing to go on a week-long fast?
AW Tozer penned this most candid prayer.
Father, I want to know You, but my cowardly heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from You the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that You may enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shall You make the place of Your feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need for the sun to shine in it, for You Yourself will be the light of it, and there shall be no night there.
David expressed His all-consuming passion for God.
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. Psalms 63:1-5
