That’s Not Right
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Introduction:
Introduction:
This is rather an Atypical Sunday. Rather than jumping right into the next book of the Bible, which is going to be the Gospel of Mark. We are going to have sort of a palate cleanser.
There are 66 books in our Bible, with 1,189 chapters, and about 770,430 words. With so many books, chapters, and words it is somewhat understandable that we don’t always get correct. And we are bound to have some misconceptions, misunderstandings, and misinterpretations.
We thought it would be both fun and helpful for us to go over some of the most misunderstood or misconceptions people have pertaining to the Word of God.
But first, how do we come to have misconceptions of Scripture?
But first, how do we come to have misconceptions of Scripture?
This is a really important question to answer. There are several factors but lets examine only a couple briefly.
I feel that I need to preface before we look at these factors. That if you have held a misconception that you are not a wicked person nor are you a complete and utter fool for believing something that isn’t right. We all get things wrong, we just need to remain humble and correctable and allow the Word of God to set the foundations for our lives and our thoughts.
1st: Not being a student of the Word.
If you have been attending our church for any amount of time you that you have picked up the dire need of being in the Word of God. The Bible has been given to us, by God, to better understand Him and His ways. To learn what His plan is for our lives and to learn what is the purpose of our existences.
Ohana, we need to understand that if you are not willing to read the Word of God, you are inevitably going to be misinformed on who God is, what He desires of you, and the drama of redemption. What this causes us is to be spiritually malnourished. You don’t feed yourselves once a week, why would we spiritually starve ourselves?
2nd: Not being a Berean.
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
“And searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
I love you all, but you shouldn’t take my word as being final. You need to study and examine the Word of God for yourselves to see if what I am teaching and preaching is truly what the Word of God states.
Family, even if it sounds good… we have to be careful. How many of you have heard “Pride comes before the fall?” Does the Bible actually say that? NO!
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Our sermon title this morning comes from a recent event.
[Story] “That’s not right.”
1st Misconception: “I can do all things through a verse taken out of context”
1st Misconception: “I can do all things through a verse taken out of context”
This just might be the most prominent misused or misinterpreted verse. The infamous:
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
We are probably aware of how prevalent this verse is in our Christian culture. It is on people social media bio’s, sport’s team jerseys, and has become a motivational/inspirational saying.
Essentially Christians, some really welling meaning Christians at that, are affirming that they are supposed to be able to accomplish anything, attain anything, and do anything with the help of Christ.
It has become very popular saying for athletes as if they believe and look to Christ, he will help them win their game. Or used by the motivational speaker to support that business venture thinking that now that Christ is behind it, it could never fail.
The problem we face with this verse in our culture is that it completely disregards the surrounding context of that passage. Believe it or not, but, context matters when it pertains to Scripture.
Paul is writing while awaiting trial in prison and during his imprisonment he had experienced a wide variety of conditions, circumstances, and challenges that range from being well-fed and comfortable to being hungry ad in distress.
He tells the Philippian church that he is glad they have revived their concern for him and have found an opportunity to show it. He goes on to tell them that he has learned to be content with whatever he has.
Paul has learned the secret of being content when well-fed and when hungry. Also how to cope with his ever-changing and never-certain living conditions, and that is: as he puts it “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
So this verse isn’t about if you set your mind to something and you love Christ you will attain it. but.. if all hell breaks loose in your life and you are struggling; you can find contentment and joy in your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To those who rejoice in Christ, He gives the believer power to be sustained in persecution, oppression, and affliction, during all the ups and down that come with standing for Him, with rest, freedom from anxiety, and:
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2nd Misconception: “God helps those who help themselves”
2nd Misconception: “God helps those who help themselves”
This saying is usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin but actually comes from Algernon Sydney nearly 60 years earlier. Whoever stated the infamous “God helps those who help themselves, the Bible teaches the opposite.
That God helps the helpless:
4 For You have been a strength to the poor,
A strength to the needy in his distress,
A refuge from the storm,
A shade from the heat;
For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Especially in dealing with salvation, we are completely helpless. We have been placed under the curse of sin, and all of mankind has fallen short of the glory of God… because of sin. And our sin’s wage is death. There is absolutely nothing we can do in this situation to remedy it.
Thank God! He doesn’t help those who help themselves… because again we are completely helpless.
The adage should be “God helps those who cannot help themselves.”
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Apart from salvation, there is perhaps a way that the concept "God helps those who help themselves" is correct. As an example, if you asked me to help you move a piece of furniture, but then just watched me as I moved the furniture for you, I was not actually helping you. I would be doing the work for you. Many Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. Many Christians ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. They excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. However, this is not a reason for inactivity. As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you!
3rd Misconception: “God will not give you more than you can handle”
3rd Misconception: “God will not give you more than you can handle”
While this sounds so nice, it is not found anywhere in Scripture. The verse that is being quoted is actually:
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
There will absolutely things in our lives that we will not be able to handle. But what this verse teaches us is this wonderful principle that if we belong to Christ, God will not allow and temptation to come into our lives that we are not capable of bearing in the power of Christ.
This verse is dealing with sin, not the tribulations and difficult situations you might find yourself in. This verse gives us the beautiful promise that we do not have to give in to sin. We can obey God in every circumstance.
So, we have divine encouragement in our Christian walk. The prayer “Deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13) will be answered. However, these promises do not mean we will never face trouble; on the contrary, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33a). The key is found in Jesus’ next words, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).
Paul and his companions were sorely tried as they took the gospel into new areas. This is his testimony: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death” (2 Corinthians 1:8–9). It sounds like Paul was tempted beyond what he could bear—“far beyond.” This fact leads us to another truth: our strength to endure testing and temptation does not come from ourselves; it comes from God. That’s exactly what Paul says next: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God” (2 Corinthians 1:9). Paul continues with praise to the Lord for His deliverance (verse 10) and an emphasis on the efficacy of the prayers of the church (verse 11).
Anything that comes our way, temptation, tragedy, tribulation, even self-caused hardship, we are capable, in God’s power, of overcoming. In all things we can achieve spiritual victory, through Christ. Life is not easy, you need a helmet. But understand that the storms and trials of this life are fleeting in comparison to eternity, and the storms are teaching you reliance on Christ.
4th Misconception: “ God wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and happy”
4th Misconception: “ God wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and happy”
This ideology as many of you know is what we would call a prosperity gospel. Or as the Joel Osteen book title puts it, “Your Best Life Now.”
The Bible does state:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
As true believers we are made righteous in God’s sight, freed from slavery to sin, given the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, adopted into the family of God, and ultimately given eternal life.
But what about physical health and wealth? Does God promise those things to Christians… No!
The NT promises that in this life Christians will experience tribulation,
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
suffering,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
and even persecution
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
No where in Scripture does God promise to make Christians rich and healthy. Any teaching that claims that Jesus’ saving work includes giving us wealth and health is a satanic deception.
In the OT, and specifically for the Jews one of the ways God revealed Himself to be there God to the nations was to financially bless His people and to allow them to prosper. That however doesn’t transfer to us gentile believers under the New Covenant.
Note carefully that the NT doesn’t promise us those things. When God raises us from the dead, Christians will be given glorified bodies and will dwell in perfect fellowship with God in the new earth. At that time:
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
In the meantime, however, Christians are called to endure:
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
What about being happy? Does God truly want you to be happy?
The answer is a loaded one but the simple answer is yes. However, happiness is a fleeting emotion. What God truly wants for you is to experience His joy.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
You could be going through the most horrific events life could throw at you, and you definitely are not happy… But you should be filled with the joy of the Lord.
Bonus: Misconception: “God is only love, and loving”
Bonus: Misconception: “God is only love, and loving”
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
We have all probably heard this to some extent, that God is love and therefore cannot or will not judge or demonstrate some other aspect of His divine characteristics. Or and loving God would do this or that.
Again what has happened is a misconception of the context. In 1 John 4 John returns to one of his favorite subjects—love. The idea that love is of God can also be expressed as love is from God and love comes from God.
“Had the apostle declared that love is what God is, we would be forced to infer that God is what love is. If literally God is love, then literally love is God, and we are in all duty bound to worship love as the only God there is.
If love is equal to God then God is only equal to love, and God and love are identical. Thus we destroy the concept of personality in God and deny outright all His attributes save one, and that one we substitute for God.”– Tozer