Pastor Mark Mikels – July 13, 2008<\/p>\n
“EVENT #2 – QUESTION HANDLING!”<\/p>\n
“Becoming Spiritual Decathletes”<\/p>\n
(“Connecting With Christ” Series – Part 42)<\/p>\n
Mark 11:27-12:44<\/p>\n
Intro … “Becoming Spiritual Decathletes” … that’s the theme that I
\nhave chosen for our final weeks in the Gospel of Mark.<\/p>\n
During these weeks, which cover the final 8 days of Jesus’ earthly life
\n(and the final 6 chapters of Mark’s account of His life) we will see
\nJesus engaging in ten incredibly challenging tasks – a virtual
\nDecathlon of Spiritual Activity!<\/p>\n
Now the particular thrust of this brief “series within a series” is
\nthat in his participation in these challenging tasks, Jesus was not
\nonly demonstrating his own prowess but he was establishing a pattern of
\nperformance that all who would follow him.<\/p>\n
This Decathlon is laid out before all who have joined his team – thus
\nthe theme of these weeks is not “watching a spiritual decathlete” or
\n“enjoying a spiritual decathlete” or even “cheering on a spiritual
\ndecathlete” but “becoming a spiritual decathlete”!<\/p>\n
It’s with a sense of deep personal involvement that we say in the
\npresence of the watching heavenly hosts … “Let the Games – let these
\nGames, let the Games in which I am personally participating – Begin!”<\/p>\n
Last week we began our Spiritual Decathlon with Event #1-Temple
\nCleansing.<\/p>\n
We saw last week that Temple Cleansing commences with careful
\nexamination and continues with a period of contemplation and culminates
\nwith actions of purification … it’s an event that keeps God’s temples
\non earth fit for His Sacred Use. (Text available).<\/p>\n
Temple Cleansing is an arduous task and one that could fully occupy any
\nbeliever’s attention. But, for those who would follow Christ as
\nspiritual decathletes, it’s only the first of the ten incredible
\nchallenges he undertook during the final eight days of his earthly
\nlife.<\/p>\n
Today we come to Event #2 … a most mentally and emotionally draining
\nevent … the event that I have labeled “Question Handling”.<\/p>\n
It grows out of Today’s Key Reality …<\/p>\n
Today’s Key Reality…<\/p>\n
“Any serious follower of Jesus will be CALLED into<\/p>\n
QUESTION just as JESUS Himself was.<\/p>\n
The reporting of this event begins at the 27^th verse of chapter 11 and
\ncontinues all the way through chapter 12.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it would help if we were to picture Jesus standing behind a
\npodium with a slew of microphones and T.V. cameras pointed in his
\ndirection. It’s a hostile environment – not one of the questioners is
\nsympathetic to his cause – in fact, it’s a set-up all the way.<\/p>\n
The questions have been carefully worded to challenge and to expose
\nhim. He is on the spot and he must choose the words of his answers as
\ncarefully as his questioners have chosen theirs.<\/p>\n
Now, to change our mental picture back to that of the Decathlon itself,
\nthis event is no sprint – this is the mile run … four laps of ever
\nincreasing intensity. To stay ahead of the pack and finish strong will
\nrequire not only strength but mental and emotional staying power.<\/p>\n
And so as the gun sounds and the race begins we see Jesus<\/p>\n
first of all …<\/p>\n
1. HANDLING THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY<\/p>\n
“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked.<\/p>\n
“And who gave you authority to do this?”<\/p>\n
Mark 11:28<\/p>\n
They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the
\ntemple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the
\nelders came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?”
\nthey asked. “And who gave you authority<\/p>\n
to do this?” (Mark 11:27-28)<\/p>\n
What things? – Things like …<\/p>\n
“Riding into the city as their long-awaited King”<\/p>\n
“Driving the merchants and the money-changers out of the temple”<\/p>\n
“Healing the sick and raising the dead and forgiving sins”<\/p>\n
“Teaching without relying on the wisdom of the elders”<\/p>\n
“Directly challenging the highly respected Pharisees”<\/p>\n
Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to do what you do?<\/p>\n
What gives you the right to tell me what to do?<\/p>\n
Now keep in mind that those questions didn’t die at Jesus’ press
\nconference … They have been asked about him and of his followers ever
\nsince.<\/p>\n
Now also keep in mind that those questions will never come up unless
\nyou are doing something that strikes against the norm, something that
\n(to use today’s terminology) is not “politically correct”, something
\nthat shows that you recognize some “higher authority” than “public
\nopinion”.<\/p>\n
You see, the “public” has always had a “high opinion” of itself. The
\n“public” has always felt that it knows best and is most in tune with
\nwhat “ought to be”. It did in Jesus’ day and it does even more so in
\nour day.<\/p>\n
In our day, the “public” has been granted “constitutional status” …<\/p>\n
Though these words of President Lincoln were eloquently spoken and have
\nbeen faithfully repeated over the years and even warm the hearts of
\nthose who say them, it’s a direct slap in God’s face to say that any
\nnation is a nation “of the people, by the people and for the people”.<\/p>\n
But that’s our country’s official position. And so, in this country
\nanyone who walks out of step with “the people” is walking directly into
\nthe line of fire.<\/p>\n
This seems like as good a time as any for me to comment on a situation
\nthat might well put all of us in that line of fire – that might stick
\nthe microphone (as it were) in front of any one of us.<\/p>\n
We here in California are regularly given opportunity to establish
\n“what the people think” with regard to any number of issues. This fall
\nwe will be given the opportunity to establish “the people’s position”
\nrelative to the term “marriage”.<\/p>\n
Marriage is a God-ordained, God-established, legally recognized,
\nsocially approved union of a man and a woman. To use the term to
\ninclude other kinds of human relationship is an offence to God Himself
\nand to any who concern themselves with His Will and His Ways. In
\ncountries where the term has been so used, the marriage rate has fallen
\nto nearly zero.<\/p>\n
In addition to use the term to legitimize a relationship that God
\nHimself expressly forbids in His Word is incredibly offensive.<\/p>\n
There should not be a single California Christian of voting age who
\ndoes not take the opportunity this Fall to help determine the “people’s
\nopinion” with regard to this issue.<\/p>\n
And I trust that the “people’s position” will in fact be the
\n“Biblically supported one”. But only time will tell which way the
\n“public” will go.<\/p>\n
But keep in mind that the question will come as you\/we express
\nourselves on this topic …<\/p>\n
What gives you the right to do what you do?<\/p>\n
What gives you the right to “tell me what I can or can’t do”?<\/p>\n
Our ultimate answer is “God Himself gives me that right and
\nresponsibility even”.<\/p>\n
Our most immediate answer is “the Constitutions of this nation and
\nstate give me that right to participate in determining social policy”.<\/p>\n
Handling the Question of Authority … Now that’s a daunting challenge
\nin and of itself; but it’s only the first lap of this mile run.<\/p>\n
The Second Lap of this mile run involves …<\/p>\n
2. HANDLING THE QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY<\/p>\n
“Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”<\/p>\n
Mark 12:13-17<\/p>\n
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch
\nhim in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are
\na man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no
\nattention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance
\nwith the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we
\npay or shouldn’t we?”<\/p>\n
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he
\nasked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the
\ncoin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose
\ninscription?”<\/p>\n
“Caesar’s,” they replied.<\/p>\n
Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God
\nwhat is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.<\/p>\n
It’s like Jesus said … It looks like this is Caesar’s money – He made
\nit; he put his own image on it. You should be happy that he allows you
\nto keep any of it – after all, it would appear to be his!<\/p>\n
Note how Jesus then slipped in the corollary principle – “and give to
\nGod what is God’s”.<\/p>\n
He could have said … “Look at yourself – Whose image is stamped on
\nyou? Is it not God’s? Did he not make you – does he not sustain you –
\ndoes he not own you? You should be happy that he allows you freedom to
\ndetermine the course of your life at all. Give to him what rightfully
\nbelongs to Him – which, of course, is everything.<\/p>\n
It’s interesting that this discussion should follow right after the one
\nwe just had.<\/p>\n
The Authority under which we live and function determines the
\nresponsibility we assume as we function. Because we live under the
\nauthority of God, we live responsibly in the society of men.<\/p>\n
Listen to the way the Apostle Paul expressed it in Romans 13:1-7<\/p>\n
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is
\nno authority except that which God has established. The authorities
\nthat exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels
\nagainst the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and
\nthose who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no
\nterror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.<\/p>\n
Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what
\nis right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you
\ngood. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword
\nfor nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment
\non the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the
\nauthorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because
\nof conscience.<\/p>\n
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants,
\nwho give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him:
\nIf you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then
\nrespect; if honor, then honor.<\/p>\n
Living responsibly – handling the question of responsibility – is a
\nchallenging task all by itself …<\/p>\n
Paying what we owe: parents are owed honor; our employer is owed
\nrespect and our best effort … the government is owed our taxes and
\nour prayers. God is, of course, owed our ultimate allegiance.<\/p>\n
Two laps done … and two more to go. Let’s take a deep breath and
\npress on.<\/p>\n
Lap number three of this four lap challenge sees Jesus …<\/p>\n
3. HANDLING THE QUESTION OF ETERNITY<\/p>\n
“Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him …”<\/p>\n
Mark 12:18-27<\/p>\n
Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with
\na question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s
\nbrother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the
\nwidow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers.
\nThe first one married and died without leaving any children. The second
\none married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the
\nsame with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last
\nof all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be,
\nsince the seven were married to her?”<\/p>\n
Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the
\nScriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither
\nmarry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
\nNow about the dead rising–have you not read in the book of Moses, in
\nthe account of the bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham,
\nthe God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ ? He is not the God of the
\ndead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”<\/p>\n
Hard to believe that there were materialists in Jesus’ day but there
\nwere. These Sadducees believed that death ended all. They had a running
\nbattle with the Pharisees over this point of doctrine.<\/p>\n
They came with their hypothetical story to show just how ridiculous the
\nbelief in a tangible resurrection of the body would be.<\/p>\n
How ironic that they came to ask a question about heaven of one who had
\njust come from there! Of course heaven exists – of course the
\nresurrection of the body is a reality. Jesus himself would demonstrate
\nthat fact in a matter of days!<\/p>\n
Today we, of course, still face the questions of the materialists …
\nthe death ends all people – the secularists and the existentialists –
\nthe philosophies of despair. For them we answer their despair with the
\nGood News of the Gospel. God has provided eternal life through Christ
\nHis Son.<\/p>\n
However, the more dangerous threat today is from the spiritualists who
\nbelieve that heaven is provided for everyone and that no one need fear
\ndeath because life on the other side is pleasant for all.<\/p>\n
These people need to hear the “Bad News of the Gospel” … that death
\ncomes to all men and after death comes judgment and that men in and of
\nthemselves will not be found worthy of heaven but will spend their
\neternity in Hell – a place of continual torment.<\/p>\n
That Bad News must precede the Good News about the Provision that God
\nhas made for us through the Death of Christ.<\/p>\n
Handling the question of eternity is a challenging task in our day and
\nage.<\/p>\n
And now on to the final lap – and as the bell rings announcing the
\nfinal circuit to be run, we see Jesus …<\/p>\n
4. HANDLING THE QUESTION OF PRIORITY – Mark 12:28-34<\/p>\n
“One of the teachers of the law came and … asked him,<\/p>\n
“Of all the Commandments, which is the most important?”<\/p>\n
What is the primary thing that I have built my life around? What is the
\none thing from which everything else I do flows? What is the thing in
\nlight of which I interpret everything else? Is there such a thing?<\/p>\n
This is the question that, more than any of the three previous ones,
\ngets to the heart of the issue. In fact given the response of one
\nparticular “teacher of the law” Jesus said, “You are not far from the
\nKingdom of God” … You are right on target.<\/p>\n
Here’s how their extended conversation went …<\/p>\n
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing
\nthat Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him,<\/p>\n
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”<\/p>\n
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: `Hear, O Israel,
\nthe Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your
\nheart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
\nstrength.’ The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There
\nis no commandment greater than these.”<\/p>\n
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that
\nGod is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your
\nheart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to
\nlove your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt
\nofferings and sacrifices.”<\/p>\n
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are
\nnot far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him
\nany more questions.<\/p>\n
(illustration: Mark: 12:41-44) If anyone had asked her what she was
\ndoing – she would probably have said – “I’m loving God”. She had a
\nhandle on the question of “priority”.<\/p>\n
How easy it is for any of us to mess up in handling this question!<\/p>\n
In fact our answers to the first three questions that we have dealt
\nwith today can cause us to slip up on this one.<\/p>\n
How easy it would be to say … the most important thing in my life is
\nto place myself under the authority of God and his Word and live my
\nlife consistent with His Teachings. Can lead to a critical legalism.<\/p>\n
How easy to say … the most important thing in my life is to live
\nresponsibly … in my home, on my job, within my community – to be seen
\nas a good and wholesome person. Can lead to a works-based
\nself-righteousness.<\/p>\n
How easy to say … the most important thing in my life is to be sure
\nthat I am heaven bound. Can lead to a self-centered consumerism.<\/p>\n
Jesus said that the most important thing – the thing that interestingly
\nwill catapult us into those other three things is – “simply” love God.<\/p>\n
Love God completely and exclusively.<\/p>\n
Love Him with all of your heart (your emotional being – worship), with
\nall of your soul (your spiritual being – communion), (with all of your
\nmind (your intellectual being- understanding) and with all of your
\nstrength (your physical being – deeds of service).<\/p>\n
Love like that will literally bind us to God Himself!<\/p>\n
Love like that will result in us handling all these other questions in
\nGod -Pleasing and Productive ways.<\/p>\n
Love like that will actually cause these other questions to be raised.<\/p>\n
Final Thot … People only ASK the questions that our lives GENERATE!<\/p>\n
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Pastor Mark Mikels – July 13, 2008 “EVENT #2 – QUESTION HANDLING!” “Becoming Spiritual Decathletes” (“Connecting With Christ” Series – Part 42) Mark 11:27-12:44 Intro … “Becoming Spiritual Decathletes” … that’s the theme that I have chosen for our final weeks in the Gospel of Mark. During these weeks, which cover the final 8 days […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[10,3],"archive_item":"http:\/\/archive.org\/details\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com--becoming-spiritual-decathletes--becoming-spiritual-decathletes-part-3","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermons\/198"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermons"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/sp_sermon"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}