Whose Fool are You

This recording is from Christ Kingdom Church in Waterford Lakes, East Orlando. Visit us online at ChristKingdom.org for our calendar, driving directions, and more audio recordings. Well, good morning. Hi, I'm Scott. I'm the pastor here at Christ Kingdom Church, and if this is your first Sunday with us, special welcome to you. A lot of people are vacationing, so we're small, but strong and faith is warning. Glad that you're here with us. This passage here is one that has struck me over the years about it, because of its canonist, because it answers, I think, some questions, and not only were being asked back in the first century, but some questions that continue to be asked even today. Ask yourself this. How many times have you heard, or have you thought, maybe somewhere in your mind, is Christianity really the one true religion? Imagine just by the fact that you're here at a Christian church that you would be one who's at least favorable or has a positive feeling towards Christianity, perhaps, more than likely. Have you ever thought a question like that? Have you ever asked yourself a question like this? Is Jesus Christ really the only way to God? As Jesus says in John 146, I'm the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through me. Have you ever asked yourself, or thought, or heard, others say, is Jesus Christ really the only way to heaven, or are there not many roads and paths that lead to the same top of the same mountain? Is Jesus Christ really the only way to be saved from the consequence of sins? Can so many people, if so many other religions, all be wrong that say, yes, there is another way. Can good people who don't believe in Jesus really face a final judgment in an eternal damnation as the scriptures teach? I didn't pick that catechism question that we read earlier, but how, provinentially, that's the one we would read here that reminds us of the historical Christian faith of what happens and what is indeed in store for those that did not place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus in the Bible both proclaim that they are lost forever. Is that really true? Is that really the case? Is that Christian propaganda? Is that spin on it in order to keep Christianity moving forward and making sure that you still have members coming in? There's lots of questions like that, and I think if we're all honest, we've all asked them and wondered about them and thought about them many, many, many times. And here's another question, have you not thought in some way or certainly heard in recent years that perhaps tolerance is the answer. You know, why can't we just all get along? Why can't Muslims do what they want to do and practice the way they want to practice? Christians do what they want to do, practice the way they want to practice. Hindus do what they do, what they want to practice. Secular humanists, we have their own world philosophy, do what they want to do and do what they want to practice. Buddhists, Mormons, you can add the list on. Hundreds of different beliefs and values, thousands probably. Some say that yes, tolerance is the answer. I remember reading about Stephen Fry, English actor, and writer. This is a quote by him. This is his viewpoint of tolerance. He says, I'm a lover of truth. A worship for a freedom, a celebrant at the altar of language, impurity, and tolerance. Tolerance is often raised in recent years certainly as a high standard. Many are honest enough to say to place an idealism that they worship. Well, some say no tolerance just the opposite is not the answer. G.K. Chesterton, the old late English writer and lecturer, says this, tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions. So is tolerance the answer or is it not the answer? I think if we're honest, we all have to admit that there is something about tolerance that is at least a little bit appealing to all of us. There is something that would be very comforting to think that can't we all be right? Can't we all ever just sincere if we just have the best intentions? If we really just deep down, really want what's best for everybody, maybe that is okay. Maybe that would be all right. Maybe that's a tolerance that we all could sign up for and be a part of. G.K. Chesterton, how many times have there been wars and conflicts fought throughout history because of differences and religious thought or philosophical thinking. There's been so much good and bad done in the name of religion and values and philosophy. But while we advocate tolerance certainly all of us would advocate a tolerance of mutual respect and the right for everyone to hold their own religious views, especially in this country, most would say that. We have a problem and let me explain to you if you haven't already guessed what the problem is. It's this. Religious views are not supplemental beliefs that we hold like hobbies in our garage or in our backyard that our neighbors may observe or they may not. Maybe unless they can remember and got to know you and you show them around. No religious views, whether they are theistic or atheistic, form part of the very DNA of our souls. They form the DNA of our values, our decisions, our viewpoints. And while we may worship privately or in our own religious places of worship or choose not to worship at all, our daily choices are always visible to all. Following from in us and out of us and affecting everything of who we are and what we do. In other words, we are always living outwardly what we believe inwardly, every single one of us. Your theology in other words or lack of theology or what are your view of God is best demonstrated by your life choice and actions and it is about how you would even say it verbally. And that's perhaps why hypocrisy is something that rubs us all wrong. When we hear people saying one thing and living another because it's your life that dictates what you really believe. And every single one of us lives out of a core belief of your view of God in some way should perform. That's the reality. That's the problem. When the views of one group collide with the views of another group, we have problems. When Nazi Germany views collided with Jewish views, we had a problem. When El Qaeda views collide with Western American values, we have a problem or at least I hope you think we have a problem. Tolerance cannot be the answer. At least by defining that as saying all truths, all proclaim truths have same equal standing and are deserving at the same respect for their veracity, their truthfulness. Not that we don't respect people for having an opinion and the right to an opinion but that we would hold them as they are indeed true. So reason why we fought World Wars is a reason why we try to learn from our history. See his Lewis writes he says, if you look for truth, you may find comfort but if you look for comfort, you will not find either. And I think he's right. We must look for truth with love and compassion of others but we must set our eyes on truth. We need to ask hard questions to find the truth even it comes with hard answers. Paul is dealing with this very issue here in Corinthians and he writes to the church here in Corinth because it was relevant then just like it's relevant now. And I think this text teaches us at least two primary things that we need to take home here today that want to communicate to us. So if you're following along that sermon insert in your bulletin, that little outline that might be helpful. But here's the first one. Number one is this. God uses foolish power. God uses foolish power. Verse 18 says this for 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. Well, how can the power of God be foolishness both at the same time? That seems to be contradictory but here Paul was writing it says actually it's not its reality simply put God's way of salvation is considered foolishness to the world. And on the contrary likewise to the world the world's idea of what salvation or success looks like is contrary and foolishness to God the two do not agree and cannot agree because we live in a sinful broken world both claim the other viewpoint is foolishness. So the question I want you to ask yourselves repeatedly this morning is this whose full are you? It's not a question of will you be you will choose and you by the way are you have chosen currently whose full you're living with and for the world's view or God's view. Well, let's look at two dominant world views that offer power. Let's look at them in two different categories here. These are two dominant world views that I think that exist. I'm going to kind of move over the side here a little bit on the ground so you can clearly see this as we look through this chart here. One, we have the world's way and the world's way looks something like this. They would say power is found inside you Tony Robbins famous self help guru says this there is there is a powerful driving force inside every human being that once unleashed can make any vision dream or desire a reality. And in case you think not many people buy into that well his net worth in 2012 was 508 million Tony Robbins people are buying that people and why are you buying it because deep down we want to believe that is true. It's the world's way power is found inside you and who wouldn't want to think that that you mean I got everything right here. Who wouldn't want to believe that. The next thing they would believe is trust your heart you can trust your heart how many my goodness how many Disney movies have not said in some way shape or form trust your heart who you are and what you're to be not to mention probably most movies in some way. Your dreams your hopes your passions your motives all that comes from what we kind of call this deep area of heart trusted. Really if I'm honest looking back on my 45 years of life I can't tell you how many motives I have looked back and can vary if I'm honest and humble look back and go you know I did not have any good intention with that motive. I went with it went for it hurt myself hurt lots of other people in the course of 45 years you really want to trust your heart well we do we so often do and we think leading from that think intentionally this is part of the world's view where power comes from begin with the end in mine. Stephen Covey tells us and reminds us so what is the end that you have in mind for yourself if that is what then this is the guy that wrote seven habits of highly successful people it's successful people are all about beginning with the end in mind setting goals desires and dreams if you just focus enough and work hard enough which is the next one you can find that I mean it was Walt Disney and we all can appreciate that living here Orlando if you can dream it you can do it. I mean advertisers have picked up on it right some of the most popular brand motto's just do it be all you can be work hard play hard the list goes on. And what can you expect next according to the world's way expect earthly blessings good things happened to those that work hard I mean are there any other country on this planet. That waves that flag you can do it pull yourself up by your bootstraps in America. You might have heard of the law of attraction was made popular in the book called the secret Oprah was big and into it had it on her TV shows and so on here but it's this law of attraction many others have picked on it what is the law of attraction what is this popular new not new viewpoint the one that's been around that's gotten traction again it's this and this is a quote from from them by focusing on positive things one can bring about positive results. And if you focus on positive things a through D you can expect positive results and there are testimonies of people that will say yeah it worked for me it can work for you. And then the ultimate one is that they expect heavenly blessings eternal life in heaven will be your reward you know that 89% this corner ABC news 89% of Americans believe in heaven. And others 89% 85% of those believe they will go there just about everybody thinks there is some type of an afterlife that they would call or describe as heaven something that's good and you know what they're on their way and that's what awaits them. That's the world's way let me point out a couple observations most people on the planet believe this way in some way shape or form yeah you can interchange out different things and elements but in some way shape or form that's often what's believed here and it could be under the banner of atheism could be under the banner religion. Solomon the wise king called the wisest of all kings meal testman he writes in Proverbs 14 12 there is a way that appears right to a man but in the end it leads to death that's either a foolish statement or that's a very wise statement. David the father of Solomon the one who is considered by God a man after his own heart wrote in Psalms 14 verses one through three the fool says in his heart there is no God they are corrupt their deeds are vow there is no one who does good the Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand any who seek God all have turned away all have become corrupt there's no one who does good not even one. God says you are full if you trust yourself in your understanding rather than trusting his as God creator of all. God reveals a power very contrary to this what you see here and the world thinks it's foolish but God looks at this and says this is foolish so my question again for you this morning is who's fool are you well. Let's go to the other side God's way contrast to the world's way. God's way is this is power is found outside of you not inside you Ephesians 2 8 3 9 says this which is by grace you can say through faith and this is not from yourselves it is a gift of God why not by works so that no one can boast. God says if you're looking for power in yourself you're looking the wrong spot to begin with don't look for it there you won't find it there are you will find a fake. A pseudo power that will make lots of promises and declarations that will not deliver. The world of course sees this and goes are you kidding me you really believe that you really want to believe that you're dependent on a power outside of you that's kind of humiliating. That's kind of anti-humanistic that's kind of humbling world doesn't like this it's foolishness to the world next God would say in his plan generally speaking trust him trust God not yourself especially not your heart. The prophet Jeremiah writing in 17 chapter 17 verse 9 says the heart is deceitful where above all things and beyond cure who can understand it. Proverbs 3 5 again Solomon the wisest of all says trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding the world looks at this and says that's foolishness. Because what God are you going to trust. And how do you know he's even there in the first place you're really going to trust him the world whispers that in our year God goes on says in his teaching letter see their let him renew your mind. Romans 12 to says this do not conform to the pattern of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind the world calls it foolishness. And then God's plan calls us to walk in faith in his strength not our own flippians 413 I can do all things through him who gives me strength. He possible rights and he writes again in chapter 12 of Corinthians 2 Corinthians but he said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness. And then God's promise is that you can expect earthly blessings he comes to live in us and through us by his Holy Spirit he doesn't leave us he says I will come to you and not leave you as orphans. He promises to come not giving you prosperity in a worldly sense but giving you himself. Acts 1 8 says this but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria into the ends of the earth. God said you want to be blessed here on earth trust in me and I'll come to you and live inside you by my spirit as you place your faith in my son Jesus Christ and you'll be my witnesses. And then of course God promises a heavenly reward but you know what the heavenly reward is God God is your reward. You know for honest most people in the world when they think about heaven God's kind of you know God can be there or not. Most people when they think about heaven think about seeing lost loved ones think about being cured from an illness or disease think about evil being out of this world and wars and oppression. Think about all kinds of nice environmental things and living in a beautiful world that's unscathed by by sin and destruction any kind of way. Oh yeah yeah yeah God's there that's good too God with me there that's fine. God says look you're missing the point if you don't realize what this is all about well let me just read it to you Revelation chapter 21 the second in the last chapter. That John his apostle his beloved comes and given a vision he says this then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any see. I saw the holy city the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying look that's a loud voice. Look God's dwelling place is now among his people and he will deal with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. That's heaven 101 that's what it's all about. Will you have a new body and illness be gone and will you wipe away return from your eye and will you see lost loved ones absolutely but don't miss the point of what heavens all about. The world's way will lead you to completely miss the point. God's way brings you to that climax so look at this chart will you honestly ask yourself some questions here this morning. I know they're very different they're similar in some ways they're opposite in some respects someone is going to thank you a fool. Either the world is going to think you are a fool or God's going to say your fool which one do you identify with most if you're honest here this morning which plan do you more consistently follow. What would others who observe your life say that you follow more now let's let's get specific about that but what if you not only ask yourself this question what if you ask your next or neighbor who you maybe live with or next to for several years maybe even longer. What would he or she say what if you ask your spouse which one of these world views do you follow most what if you ask your coworker who sits behind you for eight hours a day maybe or near you what if you ask your parents parents what if you ask your children kids what if you ask your classmates what if you ask the person who who awaits on you your favorite restaurant every week. People that are able to just observe your life what would they say and then let me ask you maybe even a more important question which one do you want to represent and be true of you which one do you want to that's really the indicator of whose fool you are here this morning because none of us follow the right side God's way perfectly none of us Jesus did and that's why we're trusting in him. Not ourselves not our own works that's why we boast in him not on ourselves but really which one do you want to this morning if you're honest Paul who had been once persecuting Christians and hated Jesus which we need to not forget that Paul hated Jesus at one time and he killed anybody or had them persecuted that stood as a follower Jesus he had had done that until he became a fool himself until he trusted in the very one he had been persecuting and he writes in the same passage let me start reading in verse 19 this is Paul writing the guy who hated Christians and hated Jews at one time he says for just written and he's quoting from the Old Testament I will destroy the wisdom of the wise the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate where is the wise person where is the teacher of the law where is the philosopher of this age has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world for since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom didn't exist. The world through its wisdom did not know him God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom but we preach Christ crucified it's something block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles but to those whom God is called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength so the most important question you can ask yourself is whose glory you will be a fool just a question of who's once you understand that God uses foolish power only then can you understand the God uses foolish people let me pick that up where I left off first 26 Paul speaking says brothers and sisters think of what you were when you were called now let me stop every second let me put you in the story here thank for those of you who are followers of Christ here this morning I think about who you were before you made that choice before you set your heart in your mind to serve and follow Jesus Christ think about yourself then he goes on says not many of you were wise by human standards not many of you were influential not many of you were many were of noble birth but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him if God's power is foolishness of the world and the people who come to follow Jesus are also foolish in the world's eyes only makes sense right if they think the ideas foolish and you're following the idea or the person of Jesus Christ they're going to think you're foolish but the question again is who's fool are you notice the different things that are mentioned here by Paul himself he says not many of you were wise by human standards you know followers of Jesus are not necessarily the smartest or most educated are they they might even be very ignorant or an uneducated you know one of the things the comments that was pointed out we studied access past year is that they looked at Peter and some of the other followers of Jesus and other disciples and they said these they were ordinary uneducated men but they knew that they had been with Jesus those are the kind of people that Jesus had fallen out you know what this should give us hope this morning that does not require wisdom by human standards for you to come and trust the living God secondly Paul says not many were influential followers of Jesus are not necessarily strong leaders or influential or powerful they might even be timid leaders they might be weak in many aspects but God still uses them God and this should give us hope this morning as well Paul goes on says not many were of noble birth followers of Jesus are not necessarily of a great pedigree or great heritage might even be from a despised pedigree or shameful heritage or you might be embarrassed to share your story because your story is messy God uses those and he calls those so who's full are you so why does God choose foolish people in the world's eyes we're told to shame the world in this scene that no one can boast before God it is by grace you've been saved through faith so somebody asked a question here this morning so it's got against smart people is he against intelligent people educated the rich the powerful the strong leaders the people of noble birth does God have something out against them no but he is against the proud James and first Peter both site the quote God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble he's against the proud and without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives every one of us will naturally boast in our own efforts and achievements the thing that breaks us from pride it gives us true humility is a work of the Holy Spirit let me illustrate here a little bit how many of you familiar with the the dov real beauty sketches you might see in the videos the dov real beauty sketches some of you are waking back up in a sermon now because we're talking YouTube and things like that that's okay that will that came out April I think 15th or so of 2013 just a few months ago and it got incredible response the fact of the experiment was that people did describe themselves as less attractive than a complete stranger did in case some of you have totally missed us what they did is they had a sketch artist who actually like work for the police who could draw a thing figures of people and they would have somebody come in and a stranger who had just met you describe you he would draw a picture of that and then he would have you come in without seeing you describe yourself and he would draw that and they compare the two pictures and it was amazing that you would describe yourself almost everybody did as much less attractive than what a stranger did and the conclusion was you are more beautiful than you think this is this is dov's campaign you're more beautiful than you think and while many of us would applaud that effort to think that the fact is it's simply not true Eplea University of Chicago in white shirts another professor in University of Virginia experimented and listen to their experiment they took pictures and digitally enhanced they took pictures of a person let's say and they digitally enhanced some and they digitally diminished others it's like let's just say they took a picture of me and they had that they're the original but then they kind of went in and tweaked it made it made one look better and then tweaked another one to make it look much worse and then they went in and they showed the individual the set of pictures the one original one in there and the ones that have been modified to your advantage way to your advantage the ones that have been modified to your disadvantage with that and consistently people continue to pick not the original they couldn't pick the original out they would pick the one that was digitally enhanced and say that was the original because they didn't know what always going on the experiment consistently are you more beautiful than you think no what do they find in fact in fact they begin to call this the above average effect that was actually what they begin to call it in the experiment the interesting thing does is when a stranger did it when a stranger looked at the person and then looked at your digital pictures they could almost without exception pick out the original and you could do it for others but you always pick the nicer one when you're doing it for yourself here was their conclusion you're not more beautiful than you think of yourself and again they call it the above average effects they found it in many other areas did you know that 93% of drivers rate themselves as above average 93% okay how many of you drove at all the last week okay 93% really all right okay until I read this I was thinking I was in the above average category probably not 94% of college professors think they do above average work how many of you been to college would you say 94% of your professors did above average work I only think of a few that I think did did great work pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than we should and guess what we all do it every single one of us God opposed of the proud but shows favor to the humble and Paul sites himself by the way as an example of this why do you think Paul mentioned wise in the world standards influential you know of noble birth why do you think Paul just picked those random ones because they're not so random Paul himself was wise by the world standard he had studied and grown up as a Pharisee which at that time was a religious expert in that area it's been countless hours years preparing for it why to Paul say not many of you were influential because Paul was Paul was the one that was chosen by the Pharisees to go hey you go hunt down these Christians these followers of Christ bring them to justice give them if you have to Paul was the one given that honor and responsibility why do you say not many of you are noble birth because Paul was Paul was not only Jewish but Paul had a Roman citizenship which was a big deal in that day what is Paul trying to say well he says it in chapter two verses one through five let me read it and so it was with me brothers and sisters when I came to you I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God for I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ in him crucified I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling my message and my preaching were not with wise persuasive words but with a demonstration of the spirit's power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God's power Paul had the list that he needed to do it in the power of the world but in coming to faith and following Jesus Christ Paul abandoned that to walk in God's path and weakness and reliance upon him and counting all those things he has as lost compared to knowing Jesus and resting the power of his Holy Spirit Paul's life is radically shattered and changed for the better it is pride that it's a foundation of keeping us away from trusting in the power of God through Jesus Christ to heal us from sin's grasp and from its power after all we don't want the world to think we are foolish so we have a dilemma don't we? one will think of us as foolish either God or the world and we cannot choose both to think while of us because both never will so my question again is who's full are you? let me ask you some probing questions okay I'm going to cross the line and I'm going to offend some of you maybe every single one of you but in fact the spirit to search your heart what informs your daily choices more is that the world TV newspaper internet books movies friends or is it God? the scriptures prayer reliance on this Holy Spirit church fellowship with other Christians what dictates the activities on your calendar more the world or God let me give you some examples which are you more likely to skip as parents a child sporting or academic event at school or church and youth group is there if there is a conflict with your weekly church small group and something fun comes up what usually wins out? what are your financial choices serving more the world or God? what's more likely to get skipped the eating out or entertainment budget at home or the church giving and church offering and tithe? when it comes to making hard decisions like moving, taking a job when you're going to get a promotion or take it confronting someone having integrity when it comes to making hard decisions what bears the most influence on your decision making progress or process? personal preference? comfort? or what would honor God most? what does your personal life or family life orbit around more? the principles of the world or the teachings of God? the husbands are your wives around you or your wives around for you to manipulate and gratify you or is she a co-air with Christ for you to humbly serve through self-sacrificial love? wives are your husbands around to manipulating and gratifying you or is he a co-airing Christ for you to humbly serve through partnership and respect? parents is your child there to be your friend and trophy of your investment to those that know you or is your child a treasure of God and trusted to you for a short season for you to mold and encourage to grow in their relationship with God? when the rubber meets the road, we are always living out what we believe and we are always following either the world's plan and way or God's plan and way let me close with reading from 1st John chapter 2 again John, beloved disciple of Jesus, the one who wrote Revelation the one who was there at the cross when Jesus was hanging on the cross and Jesus looked down at him and said son, behold your mother, mother, behold your son the one who took over Jesus's spot to care for Mary this John 1st John 2,15-17 he says this, do not love the world or 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride and possessions is not from the Father but it's from the world and the world is passing away along with its desires but whoever does the will of God abides forever God sending his own son to be born of a baby to grow into a man to share a salvation plan for three years before being gruesomely murdered and apparent failure was foolishness to the world it's still foolishness to the world today I like the words from the Michael Card song it's old now but called God's own fool here's the course when we in our foolishness thought we were wise he played the fool in the open our eyes when we in our weaknesses believe we were strong he became helpless to show we were wrong and so we follow God's own fool for only the foolish can tell believe the unbelievable and come be a fool as well let's pray God just asks this morning that you would come and that you would got exposed the reality of our hearts got the reality of where we trust got the reality of what system what belief what core values we are clean to and longing to and God for those of us this morning that know that we are fully engulfed in the world's viewpoint that we are following the ways of the world that we might know of Jesus and might know of God but we are not following faithfully and seeking to follow you God would you come and bring and grant repentance this morning would you come and bring hope become a minus that for as many as received him your word says to them he gave the right to become children of God that you invite us so God would you come and work in hearts through this morning remind us that for all those who believe in you who trust in you God you promise eternal life and God for those of us here this morning that are just reminded of the struggle between this world to follow and God's way to follow as we all struggle that we would be reminded here this morning God of where our hope lies and God of what is our ultimate inheritance that you promised us and faith that it is you not the things of this world because they can never satisfy but it is you that we long for so God would you continue to feed that and show us that God grant us repentance here today and God we come and we come to your table here just a moment because we worship Jesus the one and only one who followed faithfully God's plan from start to end who continues to reign and sit so the right hand of God and the Father Almighty you poured out your spirit in us and we ask that your spirit would lead and guide us God to walk in faith and obedience to you this morning and this week ahead so God we will be a fool and may we be in the world's eyes foolish, not in yours so come lead us, come guide us and we pray this in Jesus name Amen