Spiritual Climate Change

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Matt. 9:18-25

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: LOOK WHO’S CAUGHT

1. A Pastor had a dinner at the house of a couple in his church. After he left, the wife noticed his spoon was missing and it bothered her. “I think the Pastor stole our spoon!” she told her husband.

2. A year went by and the couple had the Pastor to dinner again. Unable to resist, the wife said, “Pastor, did you take one of our spoons last year?” The Pastor said, “No, I put it inside your Bible!”

B. CLIMATE VERSUS WEATHER

1. We confuse climate with weather. They’re not the same thing. Climate is defined as "the change in the weather patterns over decades to millions of years." Weather is what is happening right now.

2. Climate is, in fact, what controls weather. Climate dictates what the weather will be like. There is also a “climate” in our human lives, that affects our daily weather.

3. Some of you are fighting storms, trouble, difficulties and you only seem to get temporary relief. Then those same challenges show up on the horizon again! We spend a lot of energy fighting WEATHER when we should be working on controlling the CLIMATE!

C. EXAMPLE: MT. PINATUBO ERUPTION, 1991, Philippines. “The very large stratospheric injection (15M tons of SO2, Sulfur dioxide) of dust, ash & aerosols resulted in a volcanic winter, a reduction in the sunlight reaching the Earth's surface by roughly 10%. This led to a decrease in Northern Hemisphere average temperatures of 1 °F and caused the "Summer that Wasn't" in 1992. [Wikipedia] Mt. Pinatubo reset the climate and affected the weather for years! We’re going to see this contrast in the N.T.

D. TEXT & TITLE

1. “While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, ‘Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.” Mt. 9:18-19,23-25

2. The title is “Spiritual Climate Change.”

I. JESUS PRACTICED CLIMATE CONTROL

A. JESUS AT JAIRUS’ HOUSE

1. When Jesus arrived at the synagogue leader’s house, they pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and the neighbors bringing in casseroles.

2. Jesus was abrupt: “Clear out! This girl isn’t dead. She’s sleeping.” They told him he didn’t know what he was talking about. Jesus didn't mess around. He was abrupt. He instantly, intentionally and yes, even forcibly, took control of the climate.

3. We would have dealt first with the weather – the event of the death. But Jesus went straight for the climate.

4. Jesus dramatically shows us that things in our lives – unforgiveness, destructive habits or emotions, and people who tempt or bring us down, etc. – need to be removed from our lives before we can see positive change.

5. Jesus cleared the house! He didn't wait for people to wander out! Jesus recognized that He had to deal with the doubters and scoffers. Healing couldn't come until the bad neighbors exited. Some of those people present were PAID MOURNERS!

B. RECOGNIZING OUR NEED FOR CHANGE

1. There are some people who are banking on your brokenness; who would be negatively impacted if you got a healing! They’ll try to convince you that your dream is dead when it’s only asleep. They’d rather you be sick or your marriage be dead, or whatever makes you dependent on them!

2. Some of us need to hear that. We need to FACE OUR FEARS so the climate can change! Just like at Jairus’ house, there are some things in your life that are dead and need to be brought back to life. Maybe your HOPE, your FAITH, or your DREAMS!

3. ELIJAH also changed the climate at Mt. Carmel. First, he brought miraculous fire to people’s faith. Then he “took out” the false prophets. Lastly, he prayed for rain to end the drought. The climate change allowed for a weather-change!

4. What’s driving your life? Is your weather affected by a negative climate? Take control of the climate! EXAMPLES:

a. DEBT – you may have a climate of overspending or a lack of tithing.

b. BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS – you may have a climate of anger, a sharp tongue, selfishness, etc.

c. JOB – you may have a bad climate on your job.

d. IMPURITY – we MUST manage what we listen to or watch.

e. LONELINESS- you may have a climate of insecurity, unwarranted shyness, or even rejection.