Collision Course – Week 1

Joke:  A magician is doing well with his shows on a cruise ship until the Captain buys a parrot as the ships mascot.

From then on every night the magician does any of his tricks the parrot squawks out “He’s got a card up his sleeve” or “he had the dove in his pocket” or “there were two pieces of string”. Every night the parrot ruins his shows. One night the ship collides with something and all the alarms go off. Luckily the magician had finished his show before and he was on deck when the alarm went off. So he quickly gets in to a lifeboat and drops it down on the sea. Moments later the ship sank with all hands. The magician is the only survivor. The following morning the infamous parrot flies and lands on the edge of the lifeboat. The magician stares and scowls at it. For days their eyes are locked together.

Finally the parrot says “Alright I admit it, it’s a great trick and I don’t know how you did it. So how did you make the whole ship disappear?

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 Collide Week 1: Stand Firm

Since this thing called life began, there have been people who have tried to twist God’s Word.   There have been false teachings about what it means to be the people of God.   About what God is like.

I think about the song we sing that says,”I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think your like.”

Paul warned Christians to be careful what they believed to be true.

We need to stand firm on the simple truths of the Gospel.

Truth is the world tries to water down the Gospel, they go so far as to even spread false truths alongside it. Being aware of this is not enough. We have to make a choice to stand firm on the Truth.

The problem is some of these deceptions are very enticing.

However, they will not provide you and I with the abundant life Christ came to bring.

This week, we are beginning a new sermon series I will call “Collision course.”

Since the beginning, the Christian faith has been on a collision course with the culture it was called to impact.

The values of this world simply do not align with the values of our faith.

The priorities of the world do not align with the priorities of our faith.

The kingdoms man has established is not seeking the same things as the kingdom of God has called us too.

So truth is, we shouldn’t be surprised when we experience conflict and tension. I think the conflict and tension can sometimes show us a confirmation that we are doing the right thing.

Have you ever been out on a hike or a walk and gone through what some might call a “rough patch?”

You know the kind,of place where every time you put your foot down you’re not sure if you’re going to roll an ankle or find solid ground.

It’s like trying to walk through ice covered snow.  Any given step could send you airborne. . .that can be a little scary.

Those types of adventures are much like walking through life trying to depend on worldly wisdom. . .You’re never quite sure you’re going to land on solid ground .

You see, truth is the principles and values of the culture are constantly shifting.

However, we have a book that contains things God has spoken and I know and we can learn from Jesus to trust in the consistent teachings of the scripture.

If you have a Bible with you, a Bible app on your phone, turn to Colossians 2:8 or if you prefer you can just follow along on the screen.

Colossians 2:8 (NIV): See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

In this one verse, Paul warns us about the world’s logic and values. He calls us as believers to stand firm on a different set of values, those of Christ.

But even when we choose to stand firm on the things of God, we will still be faced with the values of this world.  You can not just put hide from what the culture tries to make us think is right.

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV): There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Solomon continues,

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV): In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

And the prophet Isaiah reminds us,

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NIV): 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So, how do we know when something we hear is truth?  How do we know when something we hear is Godly?  How do we know when we are being led astray, or worse yet, being held captive by worldly principles and teachings.

As we get started I’d like to draw your attention back to the illustration I brought up a few minutes ago about going through a “rough patch.”

I said, You’re never quite sure you’re going to land on solid ground because the principles and values are constantly shifting.

That brings me to point number 1.   The world’s s values are inconsistent.

When I mention worldly I’m talking about the culture in which we live.

 Point 1:  The world’s  values are inconsistent

 Let me help illustrate this point with something that we are all familiar with, our culture tells us to follow your. . .(wait for response)

Follow your heart.

We have also been told to, Do whatever makes. . .(wait for response)

Do whatever makes you happy.

These principles sound good enough, but the problem is they’re inconsistent, shaky, and I might add they contradict the teachings of scripture.

The word says in Jeremiah 17:9;

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV): The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

The world tells us, follow your heart, but the Bible warns us that the heart is wicked, deceitful, and then poses the question who can understand it?

Jesus says in Matthew 10:39; “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

 The world says that you need to make sure you’re happy no matter what but Jesus says we should lose our lives for His sake. . .

What does that even mean?  In a nutshell we trade all of the stuff that makes us at best feel “happy” in our little kingdoms for what God is desiring us to find in His kingdom. . .where ultimately when we die to ourself, we find deep abiding joy and a rewarding life.

Remember, His ways are higher than ours?

I think these words sum it up well. . .

Colossians 3:1–3 (NIV): Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Truth is the heart is inconsistent, always changing, falling in and out of love with any number of things.

Happiness is an ever moving target from one day to the next, sometimes an hour at a time depending on the circumstances you find yourself in the moment.

Let’s be honest for a moment, how can you build anything stable off of those principles?

As you think about that question flip over with me to Matthew 7:24-27. In this passage, Jesus is teaching His Sermon on the Mount. This is what He has to say about building our lives;

Matthew 7:24–27 (NIV):  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 Did you catch that? Jesus Himself is commanding us to listen and obey His teachings. When we do, we will be standing on a firm foundation.

I can tell you from personal experience that out of the many values the world throws our way, none will allow you or I to stand firm when the going gets tough. They are shifting sands of inconsistency.

Which brings me to point number two.

Why are they so attractive?  Why does it sound so appealing to follow my heart, seek out whatever makes me happy, as we have been told.

Here’s why. . .

Point 2: Worldly values are seductive

Another word for seductive could be “enticing.”

The truth is, no matter which of the two words you use, many things and plenty of the words the world tries to give us and tell us can look and sound very attractive when we see and hear them.

Believe it or not, the Bible talks about this as well. Turn with me to 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NIV): For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

 Paul knew many people would spend their entire lives searching for a truth that lined up with their lifestyle. He was also aware that  some people would reject the truth found in scripture because well,  honestly, it contradicts their lifestyle.

They receive something meant to bring conviction and change and they shrug it off as useless.

So, what that does, is it causes some people to continuously fill their ears and minds with the truth that is found in this world system, when all along the truth can be found in the pages of scripture.

The Bible is full of practical life principles that enable us to live the abundant life Jesus came to bring us.

In John 10:10, Jesus specifically tells us. . .

John 10:10 (NIV): The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

God desires his kids live in abundant life.

 Truth is, what the devil can’t fully destroy, he will seek to distract.

Wow that was good let me say that again, what the devil can’t fully destroy, he will seek to distract.

He will try to steal your time, your treasure, and your attention.

That’s why we have to stand firm on the word of God. That’s why we have to abide in Christ.

That’s why we need to have daily time in God’s word.  Not just Sunday in church.

And as you learn to discern the values that don’t align with the kingdom of God, you spend some of your energy pursuing the values that do align with His kingdom.

Which brings me to point number three. . .

Point 3: Allow the Spirit to guide

 It’s not enough to simply say “no” to the things and values of this world. We have to take it a step further and say “yes” to the things of God.

There’s a song which I just love, listen to the lyrics it’s called Spirit lead me and it goes like this. . .

This is my worship
This is my offering
In every moment
I withhold nothing
I’m learning to trust You
Even when I can’t see it
And even in suffering
I have to believe it

[Chorus]
If You say “it’s wrong”, then I’ll say “no”
If You say “release”, I’m letting go
If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin
And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
If You say “be still”, then I will wait
If You say to trust, I will obey

I don’t wanna follow my own ways

I’m done chasing feelings.
Spirit lead me

[Verse 2]
It felt like a burden
But once I could grasp it
You took me further
Further than I was asking
And simply to see You
It’s worth it all
My life is an altar
Let Your fire fall

Christ gave us the Holy Spirit to be a guide and a strength to accomplish that very thing. Turn with me to John 14:17;

John 14:15–17 (NIV): 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

 Jesus invites us to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us “into all truth.”

Once we begin to follow God’s lead, we will be able to experience the best life possible. We will be constantly coming back to the only truth worth standing on at all, one that will never lead us astray.

Listen church there has been so many times that I needed guidance on a situation and so I went to God’s word and talk with some of God’s people.

And the advise I received from those sources was much different then those who trust in this cultures wisdom,  I had to block out all the noise from the world around me to fully experience God’s truth.

It takes devotion and effort to learn to walk in step with the Spirit as you follow the teachings of scripture. There will always be temptations to veer off the path and go adventuring through the “rough patches.”

But understand this, those temptations are only temporary, and so are the rewards they promise.

Abundant life is found in the kingdom of God. And the Holy Spirit was given as a gift to help lead and guide us along in the way.

 The world is trying to draw you into values that are inconsistent, seductive, destructive even

But today, as we begin this new series, we all have the opportunity to invite the Spirit of God to guide us into truth. . . It’s the one thing we can stand on, knowing it will remain firm.

The first step is to call out and recognize any false truths or principles you may believe in.

I gave a couple of examples earlier, but let me share a few more

• Follow your heart.
• Do whatever makes you happy.
• You are an army of one.
• You can become anything you set your mind to. This one a find interesting because I am well aware of the fact that no matter how much I want it, set my mind to it, I will never be the next quarterback for the Detroit Lions.

The next step is admitting how enticing and attractive some of these principles are or have been.

I have learned that a lie believed long enough becomes our truth.

It does you no good. . .but we must be willing to stand up for the truth of God’s Word in spite of it all.

And finally, we must trust in the Spirit to lead us and guide us into and through truth.

Will you choose to take that stand today, every day going forward?

Will you choose to trust the leading of the Spirit?

Will you make a daily commitment to read scripture?

Let’s pray together.

Play Spirit Lead me.

Join us next week as we continue this series and talk about being transformed.