The Roots of Restlessness/The Fight of Faith

The Roots of Restlessness

“The Fight of Faith”

 

Larry R Evans

July 17, 2021

 

Introduction

 

As the Apostle Paul was coming to the close of his ministry and life, he shared an important insight.  It is relevant for our study today.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:6,7)

The Greek word used here for a fight means to fervently contend, as it were, with an adversary or a competitor. Paul’s life was not an easy one, but he could say in the end that he had “kept the faith.”  This implies that he had to face attempts to defeat his faith.  This week we have studied four major attempts by our adversary, Satan, to break our faith.  The four attempts are not the only ones, of course, but we must be alert to their attempt to break our relationship with Christ.  They are:

 

1.     Commitment to Jesus

2.    Selfishness

3.    Ambition

4.    Hypocrisy

 

Winston Churchill once said that “The nose of the bulldog is slanted backward so he can continue to breathe without letting go.”  That describes it well doesn’t it.  The battle we are in is so fierce that we must take time to breathe but without letting go!

 

In the Far East, the people plant a tree called the Chinese bamboo.  During the first four years, they water and fertilize the plant with seemingly little or no results.  Then the fifth year they again apply water and fertilizer – and in five weeks’ time, the tree grows ninety feet in height!  The obvious question is:  Did the Chinese bamboo grow ninety feet in five weeks, or did it grow ninety feet in five years?  The answer is: It grew ninety feet in five years.  If at any time during those five years the people had stopped watering and fertilizing the tree, it would have died.

 

In the first five verses of this same chapter in 2 Timothy, Paul counsels young Timothy what should be included in his ministry.  They are:

 

1.     Preach the word

2.    Always be prepared

3.    Correct

4.    Rebuke

5.    Encourage

 

As we look at the four attempts that have been identified for today’s study, I believe all five of these elements of ministry will come through.

 

#1.      Commitment to Jesus

 

Matthew 10:34-39,

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —

a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

In Isaiah 9:6 we are told that “the government will be on his shoulders” and “he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

 

How can Jesus be “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah, and then later He tells us that He did not “come to bring peace” (Mt 10:34)?  Once again, we find Scripture contradicting itself.  Right? 

 

Consider the context of Isaiah 9:6.  Isaiah is making a contrast between the “darkness” created by the “mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter” (8:19) who cause people to be,

Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. (8:21)

Isaiah says there will be no more gloom (9:1) because people will have seen a great light. (2). The Apostle Paul speaks of a similar peace when he explained the kind of peace that Jesus brings.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:1-5).

Jesus recognized in Matthew 10 what Paul recognized in Romans 5.  Suffering may result from our commitment to Jesus, but the ultimate peace that really counts is our peace with God. That is lasting peace in both this earth and in the new earth to come!

 

#2       Selfishness

 

C.S. Lewis once said that “God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man” (Mere Christianity, p.182). Standing in the way of becoming the “new kind of man” is an inherent trait of selfishness. It is found in all of us to some degree. Jesus spoke about this in a story often called, “The Parable of the Rich Fool.”

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Lk 12:13-21)

So, I have a question for you.  What’s wrong with making an investment?  In this case, the man worked. He succeeded. He invested in a barn to house the blessings of his own work.  So, what’s wrong with that?  Why is he accused of being greedy?  Before you answer that, here is another question:  Why does Paul in Colossians 3:5 say that greed is another form of idolatry?  What does idolatry have to do with investing in another barn?

 

The coming of Jesus was to bring people to God, not property to God. C.S. Lewis had it right. God came to transform us from being self-centered creatures into sons and daughters of God.  In the parable of the rich fool, the word “I” or “my” is used seven times.  The blessings of God were not even considered to be used to help others.  They were invested so he might “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (v.19). Selfishness had been adopted from earth’s kingdom builders. Selfishness is not a building material for the kind of kingdom God is creating.  God’s kingdom is found in a people who reflect the image of God found in the life of Jesus. (Philippians 2:5-8)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death —

even death on a cross!

#3.     Ambition

 

Let’s be clear.  Ambition is not a sin, but it can be.  Jesus helped His own disciples learn this. They became the actors and no doubt they reviewed the play many times after He was gone.  We learn about it in Luke 22:14-19.

 

It was Passover time.  The purpose of the Passover feast was to remind God’s people how an innocent lamb’s blood was sprinkled on the doorposts.  It was a simple act but full of meaning. The life of one gave life to another. It was a fitting time for Jesus to layout before his closest friends lessons they must learn if they were to build the kingdom of God in His absence. 

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And he took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there.  What was it that Jesus asked them to remember?  

 

Soon after this experience, an argument broke out among the disciples (Luke 12:24-27)

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

How ironic! The Bread representing the body of Jesus was divided and given to each disciple. Instead of bringing them together, it divided them. Each acted as if their piece of the bread was whole and what Jesus wanted them to learn was that they were only whole when they came together in him.

 

Ambition can divide. Focusing on our rights can divide us. The Christian perspective looks at the last supper and asks, “Jesus had the right to life and the power to protect, so why didn’t He!”  He said it simply. Speaking of symbolic bread, He said, “This is my body given for you.” The ambition for Jesus was our salvation. How does that shape our actions, our attitudes, and our ambitions?

 

#4.     Hypocrisy

 

A hypocrite is someone who play-acts, is not real, and cannot be trusted. Do you agree with that statement?

 

Lou Holtz, a famous Notre Dame football coach, once gave what he called his “Three Rules for Success.”

 

1.     Do what is right.

2.    Do the best you can.

3.    Treat others the way you like to be treated.

 

He then explains why the rules are so successful. They answer three questions people ask about me:

 

1.     Can I trust you?

2.    Are you committed to excellence?

3.    Do you care about me as a person?

 

In Matthew 23:1-13, Jesus described 4 characteristics of what a hypocrite is:

1.     They don’t do what they say will do

2.    They make religion harder on others than on themselves.

3.    They seek applause for their religious endeavors

4.    They require honor and recognition.

 

Why is hypocrisy so detrimental to the kingdom of God? 

 

While hypocrisy is received strong rebukes from Jesus, what was behind his rebuke of the hypocrites:

Divine pity marked the countenance of the Son of God as He cast one lingering look upon the temple and then upon His hearers. In a voice choked by deep anguish of heart and bitter tears He exclaimed, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” This is the separation struggle. In the lamentation of Christ the very heart of God is pouring itself forth. It is the mysterious farewell of the long-suffering love of the Deity. DA 620.1

Why do we learn from Jesus about those who live a falsehood?

 

Conclusion

 

Life is about the choices we make. —Lou Holtz

 

1.     Everyone needs something to do.

2.    Everyone needs someone to love.

3.    Everyone needs someone to believe in them.

4.    Everyone needs something to hope for.

 

(Video of Inspirational Speech)

 

We are all sinners. We are all restless, but that restlessness finds rest in Jesus.  “Come to me . . . and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).