God does not see things as we see them...We need to start
seeing things as God sees them.
I Samuel 16:7 - 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not
look at his appearance or at the height of his stature,
because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as
man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the
Lord looks at the heart.”
A. Sometimes “common sense” will mislead us.
1. Whenever spiritual sense and common sense
agree...seek no other sense.
a. But what about when “common sense”
and “spiritual sense” are at loggerheads?
This is when we have what is called, “a paradox”.
WEBSTER DEFINES: Paradox - 1. A statement
contrary to common belief. 2. A statement that
seems contradictory, unbelievable, or absurd, but that
may actually be true, in fact.
Jesus and the writers of the Word of God, gave forth many
paradoxes.
1. Many times the paradox is explained in the
context that it is in.
a. Even though some of these things that are
placed before us may be hard to understand...
especially in the light of our, so called,
“common sense”...we need to accept them for
the truth that they are, by our faith in the
Word of God.
Let me share some of these truths with you this morning.
I. “Something” and “nothing” need redefining.
A. God’s thoughts concerning these two words are
quite different from the common understanding.
1. We understand that we have something, by
looking and seeing and counting.
2. God understands that we have something
when we possess the spiritual things that will
make and keep us “joint heirs” with Jesus
Christ.
a. In other words, “Something” isn’t found
in what we own, but in where we will be
and what we shall spiritually possess for
for eternity.
Prov. 13:7 - 7 There is one who makes
himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who
makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Mark 8:36-37 - 36“For what will it profit a man if he
gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37“Or what
will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Rev. 3:17-18 - 17“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have
become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not
know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and
naked— 18“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in
the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you
may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not
be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you
may see.
Luke 12:15 - 15And He said to them, “Take heed and
beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in
the abundance of the things he possesses.”
3. All of this is a paradox.
a. The world measures “success” by what
you have and who you are.
Ex. - The world says that the one who dies with the most
“toys”.....wins...........God says you won’t take any
“toys” with you and you will be lost.
1.) God measures success by WHAT
YOU WILL BE AND WHO’S
YOU ARE.]
II. Persecution, rejection, false accusations, and evil
speaking about you should bring a joy and contentment
into your heart.
A. The reason for our contentment is the company
that we are keeping.
1. Jesus Christ was persecuted, rejected, falsely
accused, spoken evil of...and much, much,
more.
2. The prophets were treated in a most
deplorable way.
3. The Apostles and the men and women of the
New Testament Church were despicably
abused, by men.
a. We know that we are not buying our
salvation by our mistreatment...we are
simply standing in the company of those
who have righteously walked before us.
Matt. 10:24-25 - 24“A disciple is not above his teacher,
nor a servant above his master. 25“It is enough for a
disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his
master. If they have called the master of the house
Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his
household!
Heb. 11:33-38 - 33who through faith subdued kingdoms,
worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the
mouths of lions, 34quenched the violence of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the
aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again.
And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that
they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Still others had
trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and
imprisonment.
37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted,
were slain with the sword. They wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted,
tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of
the earth.
Matt. 5:11-12 - 11“Blessed are you when they revile and
persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely
for My sake. 12“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great
is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.
Rom. 12:14 - 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and
do not curse.
** Our joy and contentment come from doing the will of
God.
1. It isn’t what God protects us from that gives us joy,
but rather...it is what God sees in us...that we are
strong enough to bear up under the trials of this
life that gives us our joy and contentment.
III. Eternal life or self-control of our temporal life...that
is the choice...we cannot have both.
A. This can come in two forms...we may be subjected
to one or the other, and possibly both.
1. We may be faced with standing firm in our
faith and for this, we may face physical torture
and death....certainly ridicule and persecution.
a. Many in the past have sacrificed to this
degree.
1.) Even though we are not threatened
with this kind of trial...it is not
out of the realm of possibility.
a.) We, as Christians, should be
prepared to give of our very
lives for the cause of Christ.
2. The second sacrifice of our lives may be in a
more spiritual sense.
a. Self-will and self-sacrifice cannot
co-exist.
1.) Our lives are not our own...we have
been bought with a price.
2.) Our lives...our time...our talents...
our hopes...our wishes...our
dreams...are all turned over to the
will of God.
** Either way...our lives must be forfeited here on this
Earth, if we wish to enjoy life for eternity.
I Cor. 6:20 - 20For you were bought at a price; therefore
glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are
God’s.
Matt. 10:39 - 39“He who finds his life will lose it, and he
who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matt. 16:25 - 25“For whoever desires to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Mark 8:35 - 35“For whoever desires to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the
gospel’s will save it.
Luke 17:32-33 - 32“Remember Lot’s wife. 33“Whoever
seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life
will preserve it.
John 12:25 - 25“He who loves his life will lose it, and he
who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Romans 12:1 - 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service.
IV. The wise things of God will appear to be foolish to a
person who has not been born again, into the family
of God
A. They will seem futile...empty...of no visible
or tangible benefit.
1. They are right...some of the things of God
will have no physical or tangible benefits.
a. That is because spiritual things carry
spiritual rewards.
1.) Some spiritual things have a
secondary physical benefit...but
that is only secondary.
B. People of this world will apply empirical
evidences in an attempt to prove spiritual things.
1. Empirical evidence will only prove physical
things...and then, sometimes, it can’t even
prove that.
ILLUSTRATION: Prove pain by empirical evidence.
** To a lost and unregenerated world, spiritual things
cannot be discerned, understood, or appreciated.
1. To them everything spiritual is a fake and a fraud.
a. This is because these things must be discerned
by faith...not by sight.....with a spiritual mind
and spiritual eyes.
I Cor. 1:18-25 - 18For the message of the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are
being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the
prudent.”
20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the
disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom
of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the
world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God
through the foolishness of the message preached to save
those who believe. 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks
seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to the
Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of
God is stronger than men.
I Cor. 3:18-21 - 18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone
among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a
fool that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this
world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches
the wise in their own craftiness”; 20and again, “The Lord
knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
21Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are
yours:
V. The power of God will only be effective when we
acknowledge our weakness and our need for Him.
A. Pride and self-sufficiency will defeat any person
who will not turn away from them.
1. Instead of being in distress in times of
reproaches...in times of need...in times of
danger and trouble...the Christian is buoyed
up with the thought that God works His
best in these times.
II Cor. 12:9-10 - 9And He said to me, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For
when I am weak, then I am strong.
** There are so many other paradoxes found in scripture.
Heb. 12:2; James 1:2-3; Phil. 3:7; Matt. 5:3-5; Matt.
11:28-30; Eph. 3:17-19.
CONCLUSION:
The fact is...Christians should not be limited by the scope
of this physical world.
A. We, as Christians, see things on a different plane.
1. Important to the world does not especially
mean “important” to us...and vice-versa.
We cannot limit ourselves to just, so called, “common
sense”
A. When “common sense” flies in the face of
“spiritual sense”, we have to reject the common
understanding for the spiritual discernment.
Far too many justify themselves with human reason and
common sense.
A. Let us make sure that what we believe and the way
that we live is based and built upon the solid
foundation of God’s Word...first and formost.
