Sermon Transcript — December 2, 2002
One of the interesting and inspiring aspects of studying the bible that I find, and I’m sure you do as well is that there is often more than one lesson to be learned from any given passage or any given narrative. Of course those lessons are often intertwined, often related, but as we study a given story in the bible, a part of the history, there’s often more than one principle to be learned.
Just by way of example, we have the story of the two trees in the Garden of Eden. Obviously the main lesson in that is that we should listen to God, a secondary lesson of course is that we shouldn’t listen to our wives! And so…oh, did I say that? I’m joking of course, for the record and for this video that I’m being taped. All joking aside though, we realize that the bible has in any given passage has often multiple lessons for us to learn. With that in mind, what would you say is a secondary related lesson to be found in the parable of the Good Samaritan? If you want to turn over there you can, I won’t read it, it’s Luke 10:25-37, all of us are familiar with this parable and again, you may want to look it up as I’m speaking here. Obviously the main direct lesson at the end of the parable that is clear to see is that showing love for our neighbor means giving practical help in a person’s time of need. That comes across very clearly and very directly at the end of the story. I would offer to you though that there is a related and perhaps a broader lesson that we can glean from this parable and that is, knowledge is of no value unless put to use. We have an interesting comparison in the characters that Christ chose for this parable. He chose to use a Samaritan, a priest, and a Levite. The comparison would have been very stark, very clear in the minds of the audience of that time. Now He could have simply picked three people with roughly the same level of education and I think a clear related lesson to glean out of that is, it doesn’t matter how much knowledge we have, but how much knowledge we put to use. It’s not as important how much knowledge we have but how much we put to use. Clearly the Levite and the priest would have had greater formal instruction in God’s word than the Samaritan, yet they produced little deeds in that scenario, or few deeds. The Samaritan had, by comparison, probably little knowledge or only a little knowledge, but in the eyes of Christ, he had the deeds, he had the action. Who fulfilled, in this passage, in this story, the will of God? Who was pleasing to God? Obviously the one who performed the action, who put his knowledge to use.
Goethe said, "Knowledge is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do." And another quote, "Real intelligence is a creative use of knowledge, not merely an accumulation of facts. The slow thinker who can finally come up with an idea of his own is more important to the world than a walking encyclopedia who hasn’t learned how to use the information productively."
Turn with me if you would to Matthew 7. There are of course numerous passages we could turn to, we’ll turn to a few today about action, about deeds, about works, if you will. Sometimes, in fact often, it’s very clear and very direct. Such a case is in Matthew 7:21. It says:
Matt. 7:21 – "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
V. 22 – "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, done many wonders in Your name?’"
Now I don’t know about you, I have yet to be able to prophesy as far as the meaning of this scripture, or cast out demons or do some of these miracles. Christ is saying that’s not that important by comparison. He goes on to say:
V. 23 – "Then I will declare to you, ‘I never knew you.’ Interesting what Christ says here, He says, "I never knew you." "Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness. Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew…in other words, the various problems and trials of life came upon this individual…yet the house did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." The rock of Jesus Christ, the rock of the Word.
V. 26 – "Now everyone who hears these things of Mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the rain descended, the floods came, the wind blew…again, the trials of life that we all experience…and it fell." It fell because it wasn’t founded on a rock. How do you found it on the rock? By doing.
Turn with me if you would to James 1. We see in that narrative from Matthew that to begin and to know God requires doing what God says. To make sure that we are unshakeable in times of trial means we do what He says, that is what is going to provide the strength. James 1, remember James can bring things across also rather directly, rather clearly.
James 1:21 – Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness…with humility, with teachability…the implanted word which is able to save your souls.
We’ll come back to that concept of the implanted word. In other words, God’s word, not just before our eyes or coming into our ears, but that it is actually a part of our hearts, the implanted word. Then he goes on though to say what we need to do:
V. 22 – Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself and goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
V. 25 – But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one shall be blessed in what he does.
Here is what God regards as religion; here is what He regards as living a religious way of life.
V. 27 – Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans and the widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
How many of us look in our mirrors at home to see how pretty the mirror is? I don’t see too many hands going up! Now maybe if you have a really nice decorated mirror at home, maybe you do that. No! We don’t do that. Well, let’s make sure that with God’s word we don’t fall into the same temptation. God’s word is wonderful, it is wonderful to look at. But he’s saying the purpose of God’s word is to see our reflection and how it compares with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Another quote I have: "Christians do not earn becoming sons of God by their works, but it is by their works alone that they show themselves to be sons of God."
What does it take to ensure that we are doers of the word and not hearers only? That’s what I’d like to discuss in the time I have remaining. What I’d like to do today is focus on Matthew 25, we’ll go back and forth to a few other scriptures but there are three main parables there in Matthew 25 that I would like to take a look at, so if you want, please go ahead and turn over there. Now we are familiar with both Matthew 24 and Matthew 25. Matthew 24 of course, Christ is giving numerous warnings about the end time, what is going to happen, how the disciples need to be prepared. Well Matthew 25 is in that same sermon, it’s a part of that same message, it’s a part of the same context, part of the same theme that Christ is discussing. In Matthew 25 we find critical spiritual instruction we need to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ and each part of that is crucial to being a doer of the Word and each part of it, we’ll see as we go through the parables, is also crucial to be doing in order to enter God’s kingdom.
So let’s go ahead and begin. I’m not going to read every word of every parable; again, you’re familiar with these. But the first parable is about the ten virgins, five were wise, five were foolish. This aspect of being a doer of the Word, I simply call, the gather phase or the renewal phase. We’re familiar that in this particular parable, five prepared wisely, they renewed themselves with their oil, in other words, they renewed themselves in God’s holy spirit, they were ready. The others were not ready. We cannot produce with an empty fuel tank. There is clearly a time to learn and gather knowledge. For those of you coming to ABC or have come to ABC, that time is now; it’s a very important time. But all of us have that time, need to take that time, to gather and be renewing ourselves in God’s holy spirit, in God’s word.
Turn with me if you would to Romans 12:2. Of course we know the outcome of the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins. Those who were wise, who continually renewed themselves in God’s holy spirit, they were ready, they were ready for when the bridegroom came. The other spiritual virgins, and it’s interesting the description that is used for all of them – all of them are regarded as virgins, spiritual virgins, righteous in that regard. But the other five just simply had not continually prepared themselves. I think all of us are familiar with the Boy Scout motto, "Always be prepared." Part of being a doer of the Word is learning, to take that knowledge in. Now if that’s all we do, obviously that’s not enough and we’ll go on and discuss that a little bit more in a minute. But at the same time if we are not studying God’s Word, then we won’t have anything to base our actions on.
Rom. 12:1 – I 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.
V. 2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
So Paul writes here, the only way to know that is that we are diligent in our study. Let’s turn over to Philippians 2, we see what the mind of Christ is, we see what kind of mind we should be renewing, should be developing, should be putting on.
Phil. 2:3-4 – Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others.
V. 5 – Let this mind…the mind that was just described…be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
So when we are studying, when we pray, in asking God for help, we meditate on His Word. I think all of us know that studying alone, if we don’t actually take time to think about it, to analyze it – O.K., how can I be applying that for myself, what do I need to do- it will not go in as deeply as we need to have it go. And it’s saying here, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. A major goal for why we study, why we pray is to have the mind of Jesus Christ. Turn with me if you would to II Timothy 2. Jesus Christ did give us that example of being a servant, did give us that example of being a shepherd, He’s called the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd. In fact two of the most important and righteous leaders of Israel, Moses and David, had first their training as shepherds, later on they were made rulers. We’re going to see that applied in the next parable in Matthew 25. In II Tim. 2:15 we read here that Paul gives various instructions to Timothy about making sure what he is teaching is sound, is solid, is right and to be aware of various items of false teachings that were coming in even during that time. So he’s saying here:
II Tim. 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker…notice what he says here…a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
So again, the focus is on being a worker. We won’t read it, but over in II Tim. 3:17 it talks about the purpose of study is that the man of God is equipped for every good work. So again, the first phase of being a doer of the Word is the gathering phase, is the regular renewal phase that we need to be practicing in our lives on a daily basis, because without that we will not have the fuel to do the work that God has asked us to do.
Let’s go to the second aspect, let’s jump back to Matthew 25 and while we’re doing that, I’ll let the second speaker know that I have taken water out of the right glass and he can take it out of the left glass, or if he wants to me to switch, we can do that too!! Dr. Levy and I discussed our messages today to make sure that we weren’t overlapping; I can assure you that they are completely different except in those aspects where they’re the same! That’s my Yogi Berra saying for the day! Matt. 25:14, we come now to the parable of the talents, we have the example in the first parable about making sure we are renewed in God’s spirit, now we come to some action. We have the parable of the talents, we have three servants who are called to their master. One is given five talents, another two, and another one, each according to his ability, according to God’s will, He does the same for us, he went and traveled. Afterwards he called them back to see what had happened. Beginning in verse 20:
V. 20 – "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents, look, I have gained five more talents besides that.’"
He said, Look, I took what you gave me and I grew and that’s the second phase in terms of making sure that we are doers of the Word, is after the renewal or the gathering part, the gathering of knowledge, the renewing of our mind in Christ, the second phase is growth. He had stepped out on faith, used what he had been given and grew in that. And he said, Look I gained five more.
V. 21 – "And his lord said to him, "Well done good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’"
So at that time he was a servant after he had shown himself faithful as a servant, he was made a ruler. Our future is to be kings and priests, right now we are servants, we are here to serve God and to fulfill His will. Turn with me if you would to Hebrews 5. You know it does sometimes take courage to do what God says to do. I mean let’s just be realistic about it, this world is not God’s world, Satan is against God, his society is against God and sometimes it takes courage, but nevertheless that is what we need to do, that is what we have been called to do, to step out on faith. But sometimes we don’t always do it perfectly, in fact I would guess a lot of times, we don’t do it perfectly, nevertheless, we need to keep at it. My dad always told me as I was practicing my music, "Practice makes perfect." Now one thing he had perfected was that saying, "Practice makes perfect!" He had that saying down, he said it perfectly! But it’s true, practice does make perfect, practice makes perfect in Christianity. We have an interesting passage here in Heb. 5:12-14 and we have discussed for decades in the Church of God that one of our responsibilities in the future is to become teachers and it says here, and Paul said:
Heb. 5:12 – For though by this time you ought to be teachers…Paul is saying to the audience, he’s trying to, by now you should be in the position, have the ability to be teachers, but he’s saying you’re not quite there yet…you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; you have come to need milk and not solid food.
V. 13 – For everyone who partakes of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. Obviously the natural question is, how do we become skilled in the word of righteousness? It says right here:
V. 14 – Solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is…here is the definition…those who by reason of use have their sense exercised to discern good and evil.
It is by use, it is by practice, it is by growth that we deepen our understanding of God’s Word. We have to read, we have to study, but the depth of understanding comes actually in putting it into practice. Sometimes we slip and fall, we take two steps forward, one step back, that happens, but it is true through use we become perfected in that. Turn please to Luke 17. One aspect of that and just one of many aspects has to do with our conduct and I simply call it "conduct without compromise" and that’s a battle that all of us fight, is that our conduct is without compromise. Another quote I managed to find and dig up, it says "When a Christian ceases to grow, he begins to decay." Luke 17 gives us a strategy, a principle about growth, about how we can grow.
Luke 17:5 – And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." And the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea and it would obey you.’" But then He goes on to describe, O.K., how is growth possible? And here is one way, one of many various strategies.
V. 7 – "Which of you, having a servant plowing or tending his sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once, sit down to eat’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, gird yourself and serve me til I have eaten and drunk and afterwards you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things which were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. WE have done what is our duty to do.’"
Growth comes when we go above and beyond, when we are seeking the perfection of our Father rather than asking ourselves, "OK, what is the minimum standard to meet?" The Christian approach is the perfection of God our Father, not a minimum standard and that is what He is talking about here.
So the second phase of making sure that we remain doers of the Word is to make sure that we are growing, that we are applying God’s Word, we are stepping out on faith, we are striving to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Let’s go to the third and last phase, let’s go back to Matthew 25. We saw again in the first part of Matt. 25, about being constantly renewed through prayer, bible study, meditation, we see the second part of Matt. 25, that we need to be applying, using what God has given us. The third part of Matt. 25 gives us motive, gives us motivation, gives us a reason why or a reason how I should say, better described, how do we use that? For what end, for what purpose, for what direction? Again, we’re familiar with the parable, I won’t take the time to read it but it describes here that when the Son of man comes in His glory and all the holy angels, He will gather all the nations and He will divide the sheep from the goats. The sheep are described as those who helped Jesus Christ, who assisted Jesus Christ in His time of need. And of course the sheep ask, Wait a minute, when did we see You in need? And He said, Whenever you saw somebody who had need and helped them, My brethren, you were helping Me. And of course the contrast we have and we are familiar with as well.
Being a doer of the Word is not complete until our actions become selfless, until we are motivated by the love of God and looking out for others. Turn with me if you would to I John 4. Until we take the mind off ourselves and we are putting it on other people and what we can do for others. You’ve probably noticed by now that we have touched on three different scriptures that talk about that real love is practical. We have the example of the Good Samaritan, we read an example in James, we read the example in Matt. 25, it’s practical, it’s not always showy, it’s not always spectacular, but it is real sincere love as Jesus Christ practiced and does practice.
I John 4:20 – If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar…even John can get pretty direct…for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Again, back in Matt. 25 we see that the practical love that we show to others, that we are actually showing that to Jesus Christ.
V. 21 – And this commandment we have from Him; that he who loves God must love his brother also. Let’s go down to chapter 5:2:
I John 5:2 – By this we know we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. They were coming full circle in a lot of ways, we need to have that love of God first, keeping His commandments, conduct without compromise, we know then that we will be practicing love towards our fellow man.
V. 3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Let’s go over to I Corinthians 12. Another quote I dug up from my file, I thought it was interesting, "The knowledge of God is far from the love of Him." There’s a lot a people who have knowledge from the bible, a lot of knowledge from the bible, but still not the complete picture of what God is looking for. I Cor. 12:28, again the scripture we’re familiar with:
I Cor. 12:28. – God has appointed these in the Church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, gifts of healing, helps, administrations, variety of tongues. Describing here various gifts of the spirit and he goes on:
V. 30 – Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. Paul says there’s no problem with having certain talents and abilities, it’s great to desire the best gifts. He says, Yet I show you a more excellent way.
Now this is where Paul is going to put the "how" in there, the "why" in there. He goes on to say here in the first few verses. Even if I had all these gifts, "I could speak with tongues of men, or I’d have the gift prophecy, even if I would bestow all my goods to feed the poor, but if I did not have that love, it would profit me nothing."
V. 4 – Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek it’s own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
But he goes on to say, these other things, they have their time and they’re right and good, but at some point they will cease. Paul says Love will never cease. So again, the third aspect of being a doer of the Word is that our deeds must take on the self-less nature and we are showing that we are implementing the fruit of the spirit.
Why do we do what we do? Again, out of the pure love as exhibited by Jesus Christ and as He described, as James described and as John described. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows that the followers of Jesus Christ are those who do, those who God looks upon, those who are pleasing to Him are not those necessarily with great knowledge, who just simply have great knowledge but no deeds, but those who have the deeds. Christ’s end-time sermon shows that upon His return, He’ll be looking for people who have renewed themselves; He’ll be looking for people He knows as we read in Matthew 7, He’ll be looking for people who are growing, who have taken what they have been given and grew with it. Then He’ll be looking for people who are using those actions in a selfless way to be giving to other people. Learning of spiritual knowledge is a wonderful and inspiring event and I really do hope for those coming in for ABC that you’ll just have a tremendous year, but, it still remains that knowledge is only as valuable as it is put to use. So I’d like to leave you with one final quote as we go on through the rest of this day and frankly the rest of our lives. "It is not good to know more unless we do more with what we know."