CONTRADICTIONS
LESSON V
GIVE AND YOU WILL RECEIVE
Mk. 10:28-31
Nov. 5, 2006
FOR THE LAST TIME LET’S BE REMINDED OF THE DEFINITION OF A CONTRADICTION.
TO ASSERT OR EXPRESS THE OPPOSITE OF . . .
A CONTRADICTION IS SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.
FOR EXAMPLE . . . .
– ONLY IN AMERICA DO SHOPPERS BUY HOT DOGS IN PACKAGES OF TEN . . . AND BUNS IN PACKAGES OF EIGHT.
– ONLY IN AMERICA DO BANKS HAVE BOTH DOORS TO THE VAULT OPEN . . . AND THEN CHAIN THE PENS TO THE COUNTERS.
– ONLY IN AMERICA DO PEOPLE USE ANSWERING MACHINES TO SCREEN CALLS . . . AND THEN HAVE CALL WAITING SO THEY WON’T MISS A CALL FROM SOMEONE THEY DIDN’T WANT TO TALK TO IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE HAVE BEEN ON QUITE A RIDE WITH THIS SERIES.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN SCRIPTURE, BUT WE’VE SEEN THEY ARE NOT CONTRADICTIONS AT ALL – THEY ARE INCREDIBLE TRUTHS.
FREEDOM FROM SIN IS SLAVERY TO CHRIST.
THE LAST WILL BE FIRST
SURRENDER IS NOT LOSING
SERVANT LEADERSHIP
AND NOW OUR LAST APPARENT CONTRADICTION . . .
GIVE AND YOU WILL RECEIVE.
PLEASE TURN WITH ME TO MK. 10:28-31.
THE CONTEXT IS, JESUS HAD JUST GOT DONE TALKING TO THE RICH YOUNG RULER AND THE RULER DECIDED HE COULDN’T BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS BECAUSE THE COST WAS TOO HIGH.
JESUS THEN EXPLAINS THE WHOLE SCENE TO THE DISCIPLES AND THEN PETER SAYS . . .
“WELL JESUS, WE’VE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING. WHAT’S IN IT FOR US.”
“THE RICH YOUNG RULER COULDN’T HANDLE THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, BUT HERE WE ARE, WE SAID YES TO YOU.
FOLKS, THIS MESSAGE IS SO HARD TO PREACH.
IT’S HARD TO PREACH ON A FEW LEVELS.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO SHUT DOWN WHENEVER THEY HEAR ABOUT GIVING AND SACRIFICE.
THEY IMMEDIATELY THINK THE CHURCH IS TALKING ABOUT MONEY AGAIN AND THEY SHUT DOWN.
THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SOME MONEY, SOME TIME OR SOME ENERGY SO THEY CONVINCED THEMSELVES THEY’RE GENEROUS AND SO THEY DON’T NEED TO HEAR MESSAGES LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE A HARD TIME WITH WHERE MESSAGES LIKE THESE END UP.
WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT GIVING THEY STRUGGLE WITH THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF RECEIVING.
SOME HAVE A HARD TIME RECEIVING THE BLESSING OF THE LORD AND OTHERS CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHY THEY DON’T RECEIVE THE SAME BLESSING AS SOMEONE ELSE.
IT’S TWO ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM, BUT BOTH STRUGGLE WITH THE RECEIVING PART.
AND THEN . . . HERE IS THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE WITH THIS MESSAGE.
THE SCRIPTURE ITSELF.
TALK ABOUT CONTRADICTIONS.
V. 30 IS MESSED UP.
YOU WILL RECEIVE ALL THESE THINGS IN ABUNDANCE, BUT YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE PERSECUTIONS.
BLESSING, BLESSING, BLESSING AND BY THE WAY PERSECUTIONS TOO.
HOW DOES ALL OF THIS MAKE SENSE?
THIS IS A TOUGH MESSAGE TO PREACH.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE I CONTINUE.
I WANT TO PRAY. I WANT TO ASK GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP EACH OF US RECEIVE WHAT IT IS HE HAS FOR US THIS MORNING.
THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOWS OUR HEARTS AND PERSONAL STRUGGLES.
HE KNOWS OUR TENDENCIES AND PERSONAL BIAS.
HE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR MIND AT THIS VERY MOMENT.
IF YOU’RE WILLING TO SIMPLY AGREE THAT ALL WE WANT IS TO HEAR FROM GOD TODAY I WANT TO PRAY THAT NOTHING WOULD HINDER OUR RECEIVING FROM HIM.
IN SPITE OF YOUR PERSONAL STRUGGLES WITH THESE TYPES OF MESSAGES IF YOU’RE WILLING TO SAY, “LORD, LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICE” I WILL ASK YOU TO STAND WHILE I PRAY.
PRAYER
OKAY, LET’S LOOK AT THIS PORTION OF SCRIPTURE.
PETER SAYS TO JESUS, WE’VE GIVEN ALL TO YOU AND FOR YOU.”
LET’S LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAYS.
HE SAYS THERE IS A PRESENT EFFECT OF GIVING ALL AND THERE IS A FUTURE EFFECT OF GIVING ALL.
YOU WILL RECEIVE . . . IN THIS PRESENT AGE – TODAY, WHILE I’M ALIVE ON EARTH.
AND IN THE AGE TO COME – ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH CHRIST.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THERE ARE IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE DIVIDENDS TO INVESTING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
GIVE, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. A GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER AND RUNNING OVER, WILL BE POURED INTO YOUR LAP. FOR WITH THE MEASURE YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU." (LK. 6:38)
BRING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE. TEST ME IN THIS," SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY, "AND SEE IF I WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT. (MALACHI 3:10)
THERE ARE PRESENT DAY PROMISES.
BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO PERSEVERES UNDER TRIAL, BECAUSE WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST, HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. (JAMES 1:12)
AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF GLORY THAT WILL NEVER FADE AWAY. (I PETER 5:4)
THESE ARE FUTURE PROMISES.
WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED OVER AND OVER THAT LIFE IS NOT ALL ABOUT TODAY.
IN A MINUTE WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE BLESSING OF TODAY, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE.
JESUS IS COMING AND HEAVEN IS OUR REWARD AND IN HEAVEN THE BLESSINGS OF OUR SAVIOR ARE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
BECAUSE JESUS SAID, EVEN THOSE WHO GIVE ALL WILL STILL FACE PERSECUTIONS.
EVEN THOSE WHO DO THE RIGHT THING WILL BE MISTREATED AND UNAPPRECIATED.
EVEN THOSE WHO SURRENDER LIFE, LIBERTY, FINANCES, DREAMS AND DESIRES WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS THAT ARE UNPLEASANT, HURTFUL AND MAYBE HARMFUL.
THE WORLD IS NOT A NICE PLACE. THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH NOT NICE PEOPLE.
THE WORLD WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU AND TRY TO HURT YOU.
THOSE WHO FOLLOW CHRIST ARE THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE WE’RE TAUGHT TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES AND TURN OUR CHEEK AND GO THE EXTRA MILE.
BUT WE HAVE A 3-FOLD PROMISE.
1. JESUS APPRECIATES OUR GIVING, EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE DOES.
2. THERE IS AN AGE TO COME.
3. AND JESUS WILL REWARD ME IN THAT AGE TO COME.
IF I LIVE JUST FOR TODAY, I LIVE A VERY SHALLOW LIFE.
LIVE FOR TODAY, AND RECEIVE ONLY TODAY’S BLESSING.
LIVE FOR ETERNITY AND REAP REWARDS BEYOND COMPREHENSION.
“WHEN WE’VE BEEN THERE 10,000 YEARS BRIGHT SHINING AS THE SUN. WE’VE NO LESS DAYS TO SING YOUR PRAISE THEN WHEN WE FIRST BEGUN.”
I DON’T LOOK FORWARD TO PERSECUTIONS AND STRUGGLE, BUT THEY ARE NOT FOREVER – I WILL ONE DAY BE WITH JESUS – IN THE AGE TO COME.
OKAY NOW, WHAT ABOUT TODAY’S BLESSING.
JESUS TOLD THE DISCIPLES THEY WOULD RECEIVE 100 TIMES WHAT IT WAS THEY GAVE.
– RELATIONSHIPS – BROTHERS, SISTERS, ETC.
– POSSESSIONS – HOMES
– INCOME – FIELDS (PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOOD)
CAN WE HAVE 100 MOTHERS, 100 CHILDREN, 100 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS?
OF COURSE WE CAN.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN ALL 3 SERVICES WHO HAVE FOLLOWED CHRIST AND THEIR FAMILY HAS REJECTED THEM AND WE HAVE BECOME THEIR FAMILY.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NO ONE WHO TRULY CARES FOR THEM, BUT THEY ARE PART OF THIS CHURCH AND WE LOVE THEM.
LET’S EXPAND THIS THOUGHT TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.
GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND FIND A BIBLE BELIEVING, JESUS PREACHING CHURCH AND YOU WILL FIND ANOTHER MOTHER TO LOVE YOU AND ANOTHER BROTHER TO SUPPORT YOU.
DO YOU NEED A MOTHER? I’LL FIND YOU 100 OF THEM.
WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GO FROM “FRIENDLY TO CARING?”
WHAT ABOUT POSSESSION AND INCOME – HOMES AND FIELDS.
IN MY STUDY FOR THIS MESSAGE I TYPED SOMETHING OUT AND I THINK I WILL JUST READ IT TO YOU.
THERE IS NOTHING WE GIVE UP THAT IS NOT REPLACED WITH SOMETHING SO MUCH BETTER WE DON’T MISS WHAT WAS GIVEN.
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE IN MATERIAL BLESSING FOR MATERIAL OBEDIENCE (WE REAP WHAT WE SOW). HOWEVER, SOME HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THIS.
SO IF SOMEONE CHOOSES THEY CAN APPLY THIS FIGURATIVELY. EITHER WAY, IT’S CLEAR WHAT IS GIVEN IS REPLACED AND IT IS REPLACED WITH ABUNDANT SUPPLY.
BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, YOU CAN NEVER OUT GIVE GOD.
YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN IS HUGE, YOUR BLESSING ON EARTH IS PROMISED.
IT IS TIME TO BE VERY SPECIFIC.
WE ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF OUR MISSION’S CONVENTION AND OUR THANKSGIVING OFFERING.
NEITHER OF WHICH BENEFIT THE CHURCH – IT’S ALL ABOUT REACHING THE LOST.
MY HEART’S CRY IS FOR $10K TO HELP KEEP 91 GIRLS OUT OF PROSTITUTION AND FREE FROM AIDS.
OUR REWARD IS PROMISED HERE ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN IN THE FUTURE.
THERE ARE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT MISSIONS GIVING – MAKING A PLEDGE OF SUPPORT TO SEND MISSIONARIES HOME AND ABROAD TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE DOZENS MORE WHO NEED TO RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF GIVE, THEN YOU WILL RECEIVE.
OUR MISSIONS FUND APPEARS TO BE HIGH, BUT IT’S NOT.
WE GIVE IT OUT AS IT COMES IN AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY FROM THE LOWS IN JUNE-AUGUST WE STILL ARE RUNNING IN THE RED.
I FEEL IN MY HEART GOD WANTS US TO RAISE THE BAR TO A WEEKLY MISSIONS INCOME OF $3,000 PER WEEK.
THIS IS MY DESIRE AND I BELIEVE A DESIRE GIVEN BY GOD.
HOWEVER, IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US SAYING AS PETER DID, LORD HERE IS EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW YOU.”
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE, THERE IS THE REQUIREMENT TO GIVE, BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL TO BLESS.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVING TO MISSIONS, THE BLESSING OF GOD WILL BE UPON YOU – NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN HOLD OF THIS PRINCIPLE, MISSIONS IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.
