02 04 02 01-12 - Just Do It

Just Do ItJohn 2:1-12

Intro:

·         @ I’ve been coaching Taylor’s basketball team the last month.

o    Made of 5 boys and 1 girl – most never played on a team before

o    They practice once a week with another coach

o    During the game my job is to try to get them to improve on their skills and understanding of the game

o    First few games

§  The opposition would line up at half court and try to steal the ball as our team brought it down

·         no one went all the way down court

§  I yelled to one and then another player to go down court

·         But it didn’t make sense to them

o    The ball’s up here – why do I want to go all the way down there?!?!

§  Finally in the second game, I got the girl to make it her aim to run all the way down and jump for the pass

·         Then I had to spend some time getting the guys to throw it to her

o    It didn’t make sense “She’s a girl.”

·         Eventually I got them to throw it to her

§  Through all that, I kept saying, “Just do it!”

·         IOW – forget your own ideas; forget the excuses; forget the worries and fears

·         Just do it!

·         How many times have you instructed a child or an employee or a student, etc – to Just do it!

o    Too much time is wasted on arguing

o    In the end – because you know better – when they just do it – the task succeeds

·         Just do it!

o    Been used by parents – coaches – advertisers – motivators

o    In this passage – we see perhaps the first time this slogan was used——Verse 5

·         Background

o    A wedding ceremony Jesus was invited to

o    wedding feasts often lasted seven days.

o     hosts invited as many people as possible

o    To run out of wine at a wedding was a social faux pas that would seriously hurt the reputation of the host

·         In those days – women were in charge in the house

o    Mary – somehow involved asked Jesus to help with the situation

§  Probably asking to help provide money

o    Jesus responded with what sounds harsh to us

§   “Woman” was a respectful address (like “Ma’am”)

·         Not usually used for one’s mother.

o    Jesus’ statement here establishes polite distance

o    I must now take my direction from my heavenly Father.

§   “Once I begin doing miracles, I begin the road to the cross.”

·         Mary’s response and the chain of events she began gives us the truth from this passage

o    “Whatever he says to you, do it.”

·         Just do it – should be our motto for following our Lord

I.          The Problem of Just do it                                                                                6-8

Sometimes God’s Instructions Seem Strange

A.       Then

1.         Following the instructions didn’t make sense

a.        What was the need?  WINE

b.       What was the instruction?  Fill with WATER

c.        How is that going to help?

2.        Following the instructions were difficult

a.        Verse 6 – 450-680 litres of water!

b.       Enough to fill a baptistry

c.        A lot of work

(1)     Producing a lot of sweat

(2)    Producing a spectacle

(a)    Confused looks – whispers – etc.

3.        Following the instructions would cause problems

a.        Servants were responsible to make the master of the feast look good

b.       Imagine how embarrassing it would be to bring water!

B.       Now

1.         Obeying God doesn’t always make sense

a.        Luke 22:26 - Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. (NLT)

b.       Matthew 5:43-44 - 43You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (NLT)

2.        Obeying God is sometimes difficult

a.        Matthew 18:21-22 - 21Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! (NLT)

b.       Hebrews 11:6 - And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (NLT)

3.        Obeying God sometimes causes problems

a.        Ephesians 4:25 - Stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth  (NLT)

b.       Acts 5:28-29 - 28“Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” 29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (NLT)

(1)     When God and authority are clearly and directly opposed – we are to obey God

(2)    The apostles were beaten at this time – later killed

II.       THe Principle of Just Do it                                                                                7-8

Obedience Must be According to God’s Standards

A.       Then

1.         They obeyed completely

a.        They filled the pots to the BRIM

b.       No half-way attempt by them

2.        They obeyed immediately

a.        The short terse statements in the verse show they did this

b.       No arguments – excuses – discussion – no waiting to feel like it

3.        They obeyed without prior experience

a.        11 – this was the first miracle Jesus did

(1)     They hadn’t yet seen him feed the 5,000 – walk on water – heal the sick – raise the dead

b.       They didn’t wait for proof that this would work – they just did it!

c.        They didn’t wait until it made sense or until they had worked out a contingency plan – they just did it!

B.       Now

1.         We Must Obey Completely

a.        Anything now you know God wants you to do, but you’re not?

(1)     Getting right with someone else

(2)    Fixing that lie

(3)    Controlling your thought life

(4)    Actually sharing the Gospel with someone

b.       We can be good at making excuses

(1)     “But I’m doing the right things over here.”

c.        @ When I come home I want the dishes done and the clothes hung out.”

(1)     You come home – some of the clothes made it to the line and the dirty dishes were actually added to

(a)    The excuse – “But I hung up some of the clothes, and I did get the dish soap out.  Plus, I didn’t have a drunken party in the house.”

(2)    Is that obedience?

d.       “God, I thought about making some changes. Plus, I didn’t gossip today about that guy I hate.”

e.       Just do it!

(1)     If the Holy Spirit has worked in your heart about something, just do it!  Be glad He loves you enough to point out what could be better.

2.        We Must Obey Immediately

a.        Delayed obedience is disobedience

b.       People want to follow the Lord...but on their own time

c.        Luke 9:59-62 - 59He [Jesus] said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” 61Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” 62But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (NLT)

d.       Compare that to :

(1)     Mark 1:16-18 - 16And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18They immediately left their nets and followed Him. (NKJV)

e.       Which two of the four became followers of the Lord?

f.         No arguments—no excuses—no waiting for the perfect time

g.       Just do it!

3.        We Must Obey In Faith

a.        Remember the problems of obeying the Lord?

(1)     Making sense — difficult — causing problems

(2)    This is where faith in the Lord is so important

b.       @ Train based on Philippians 4:9 - 9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (NKJV)

(1)     Fact – Word of God (Paul was directed by the Lord to give Scripture) we now have that completed

(2)    Faith – You just do it

(a)    God said it – He is a good God – I’ll do it

(3)    Feelings – they come usually after obedience

(a)    Sometimes they aren’t what you expect

(b)    Peter and the apostles

i.         Jesus had told them to preach

ii.        Counsel said no

iii.      They obeyed the Lord

iv.      They were beaten

·         Probably didn’t feel too good

·         Acts 5:41 - The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. (NLT)

c.        Obey in faith – Just Do it!

III.     The Product of Just Do It                                                                                 9-11

Christ is Exalted

A.       Then

1.         He was found to be trustworthy  (9)

a.        They did what He said to do—and they were not disappointed

b.       They were not disciplined by their master for bringing water

c.        The need was completely met – baptistry full of wine

2.        He was shown to be superior  (10)

a.        He didn’t just meet the need

b.       He went far higher than anyone’s expectations

c.        The quality of what He made was far better than the best stuff that had been brought out on the first day

3.        He was revealed as One to follow (11)

a.        The disciples – those who were beginning to listen to his teaching – realized he was no mere man.

b.       He wasn’t’ just a good teaching -- He was one to be believed in

B.       Now

1.         Christ is found to be trustworthy

a.        Matthew 6:33 - Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (NLT)

b.       2 Timothy 2:13 - If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (NKJV)

c.        You know how it is – when you just simply obey the Lord – you find that He really does keep His promises.

(1)     He never leaves or forsakes

(2)    He gives wisdom

(3)    He works things out for good

d.       @ Taylor on the fridge when he was very young.  I’d tell him to jump and I would catch him.  It made me feel very good when he would just do it.  He was saying, “I do trust you.”

(1)     When you and I obey, we are telling God, “I trust you!”

(2)    And we find He is trustworthy

2.        Christ is shown to be superior

a.        Trying to get through life with your own rules – philosophy – goals – you find it all empty over and over

b.       When you live your life for the Lord – you find the things we were talking about last time – Purpose, joy, confidence, love, etc.

c.        You don’t go through life asking, “What else is there?  I must be missing something.”

3.        Christ is revealed as the One to follow

a.        By the change in your life, you demonstrate that following the Lord is worthwhile.

b.       Your life then backs up what your words say.

Conc.:

·         @ On Taylor’s basketball team – this girl has scored quite a few points because she has just done what I told her to do

o    She runs down the court – the guys throw the ball to her – she has quite a bit of time to score points

o    Points she wouldn’t make otherwise

o    She’s found there is success to living by the motto: Just Do It

·         Throughout the rest of this Gospel we will see people who followed the maxim: Just do it.

o    They obeyed the Lord – followed the Lord – trusted the Lord

o    Never disappointed

·         Will you also choose to live by this motto when it comes to obeying God?

·         Let’s not make excuses – argue – justify inaction

·         Let’s Just Do it!