Righteous Rituals in the Abundant Life

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

*Who has the full, immeasurable, and unimaginable life?

*Is it a life I even want?

Consider the Bible

Consider Jesus

*How do I get it?

This answer includes a few items:

The work of the Holy Spirit (John 3)

Trials & Temptaitons (2 Corin 4 & 10)

Disciplines — there are many… this year, I’ve encouraged you to focus on 1: reading the Bible.

I want to contend this morning for ‘righteous rituals in the abundant life.’

Some of you have a negative reaction/response to the word “ritual.”

We all have them — morning, evening. They are inescapable.

Rejecting them on the grounds of and isn’t as wise as you might think.

Resisting legalisms is needed.

Resisting rituals is deadly.

ESV:

English Standard Version Chapter 9

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the

English Standard Version Chapter 9

Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.

Vs. 1 — “Regulations for Worship”

Vs. 6 — “Ritual Duties”

These are the same word in the Greek.

Jesus uses the word only one time...

John 16:1–2 NIV

1 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.

Vs. 2 — “Service to God”

Rituals in this way can be quite deadly — in more ways than one.

Deadly to others

Deadly to you

Deadly to your relationship with God

But this isn’t news to you… you have your own deadly rituals. For example — everyone of us have what I might call ‘Rituals of Revenge.’

Spouse, Parent, Kid, Boss… God

Spiteful, Venomous Ruminations

Food

Gossip/Character Asassinations

Over-performing

Lust

Couch Potato

“They” are so stupid… “they” think that fourth piece of pie is about your lack of self control. It isn’t. You are “revenging” them.

And you have a pattern of it… ok, more of ongoing occurences… well, maybe, a habit… it could be an addiction… a lifestyle of “Revenge Rituals.” — all the while you thinking you are “offering a service to God”

John 16:2 NIV

2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.

Actually, a life of walking in the Spirit… of thriving in consuming and offering the grace of God… of abundance has a righteous structure to it.

Romans 12:1–3 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Vs. 1 — “true and proper worship” — same greek word. Ritual.

Consider the structure of Jesus’ life...

Consider the structure of the life of the saints...

Pay attention to shame and guilt...

Seek to walk in the spirit

Galatians 5:16–26 NIV

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Galatians 5

Their spontaneity is famous… their devout, righteous rituals put their lives in the place where their impact for the Kingdom of God would be eternal.