03.20.2011 SotMount - I Got a Rock! That's not a Rock!

03.20.2011 Grace Summit Sermon -I got a rock! That's not a ROCK! from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

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Matt. 7: 7 "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! 12 "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Lord, thank You that You love us with a love we can’t comprehend – it goes beyond our ability to understand. Your love is deep, wide, strong – it can never be lost – it will never end. Lord, we know we stand because of Your love and we live because of Your love. Help us to understand how much You care about all the things we face in life – that You cared enough to die on the cross that we might have life – you demonstrated Your love that while we were yet sinners, You died for us. In Your name we pray.
When you look at this passage, it is in the Sermon on the Mount – and this is an odd place to put it. Last week we talked about not judging – and then he jumps right into prayer. Some say it is because this is about asking for wisdom and judging good and bad, right and wrong. I think this is the conclusion of what it means to live the Kingdom life. Remember last week we talked about the bookends of 5:17 and 7:12 – and then how to live in between. This is not easy – blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Give to everyone who asks of you. And the list goes on and on.
I think He is, in this section on prayer – focused on the center part – particularly about not giving a rock to his child – God is concerned with our every need. I think God wants us to live the sermon on the mount – we can excuse it – have other thoughts on it – but He is saying this because this is how He expects us to live.
Prayer is a necessity if we wish to live this way. And praying to a God we are convinced loves us – is critical.
7 "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.
This is prayer – some translations say keep seeking, keep asking – keep knocking – it is about persistence. It needs to be something that is part of our daily routine – not something we would just do in a crisis. It is okay to pray when something goes wrong.
Someone said, The dirty little secret about Christianity is how little time Christians pray. How is it with you? Are you continually asking, seeking, knocking? Ask, receive; seek, find; knock, opened – Each comes with a promise – I want you to ask because I want you to receive.
HE WANTS YOU TO ASK FOR THINGS – BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GIVE – to answer. He is a Father. Our Father… Your Father knows that you need all these things… How much more will your heavenly Father do for you…
If we don’t grasp that God cares about every need, you can’t live like this.
Why don’t we ask?
If we really believe this, how much would you pray? I think you would pray a lot.
Why? First, sometimes – some may relate to you, some not – sometimes we think our problem is too small for God. We think – God’s got…the tsunami, and the situation in Libya – but that is not true.
Pride – we think we should be self-sufficient.
A bigger issue – the fear of being disappointed. A lot of times we don’t ask because we are afraid that God might not answer. Sometimes that comes from past experience. “I prayed for this and it didn’t happen” = and that makes us a little cautious the next time. And often, we don’t pray because we have a wrong view of God.
9 "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
Do you think God would do this? Of course, we’ll say no – but in reality a lot of times we think that God WOULD give us rocks – like Charlie Brown – and it prevents us from really going to Him and understanding who He is.
The verse in the story of the prodigal son – you know the story – the prodigal goes off, wastes the money – comes back, the father throws a party…
Luke 15:29 "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you, and I have never neglected a command of yours; and [yet] you have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my friends;
“never neglected a command of yours” – the relationship was distorted – the son saw the father as a slave driver and commander.
But God can’t wait to give – to lavish His love on us.
30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
When they would kill the fatted calf, it was the biggest of parties. A kid would be scrawny and not much meat. He had a wrong view of the father… The father’s response –
31 "And he said to him, ['My] child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 'But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and [has begun] to live, and [was] lost and has been found.' "
This is the view God wants us to have – He is always with us – we are always with Him – and everything He has is ours. This son could have had it all – and I think partly what God is saying – everything there is available to you – you just need to ask.
Before you get too excited about that – let me bring you back to reality! There is a type of promotion of prayer that encourages a materialistic lifestyle – and Jesus is not doing that here – He is talking about our needs – Bread and fish – God will gladly give to you – and if you have genuine needs – He is not going to give you a rock.
Here is the conflict – oftentimes in life we mistake stones or rocks for bread. God gives us bread and we think it is a rock.
The loaves of bread – were small little loaves that could look like rocks – God gives us bread and we think it is a rock. Here is how – let me show you a couple of verses: Blessed are those who mourn – that feels like a rock – when God gives you something to mourn – that feels like a rock – but it is bread.
Blessed are you when men persecute you… does that sound like bread, or a rock? REJOICE AND BE GLAD!
All of these things can feel like rocks if we don’t understand that they are part of the calling to live this Christian life Jesus is talking about.
Persecution and mistreatment – that is not a rock. Absence of earthly treasure – that is not a rock.
The absence of recognition and approval and acceptance – (go to the inner room to pray) – that is not a rock.
Phil. 1: 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me.
That is a gift – not a rock.
He lays out these demands that seem unattainable – but He is telling us the opposite. But we are not trained to think that way. – Struggling – persecution – and all of these things – could actually be blessings and good for us.
I want to challenge us to consider – we are really supposed to live this way! IT is not in the Bible for nothing – and it is not easy – But that is the point – as we do this – there is a love relationship with God we can’t discover any other way. Live the life the way He has called us to live. I tis a whole different lifestyle –
If you don’t understand the difference between rocks and bread – giving a warped view of God and will keep you from asking and receiving.
When we understand this – it directs our prayer life to be in line with these kingdom priorities. He wants our prayers to be directed to this line of living. Thy Kingdom come… - if you pray that – He will not give you a rock on that prayer.
If you keep asking, seeking, knocking – God will answer.
His will be done – if you pray that – you will get bread! Give us this day – forgive our debt – if you pray and keep praying – you will experience forgiveness. Do not judge – lest you be judged – God will answer that prayer.
God – keep me from temptation – persistent in prayer – God won’t give you a rock, He’ll give you break. Too often you prayer life is about us – instead it should be focused on the kingdom.
This is a reality – when it comes to prayer – God is on His timetable – God determines the time of the answer – and He determines what our needs are! He knows more than we know what we need.
We need to be able to leave these things in His hands – in His timetable.
He is more concerned about the work He needs to do in you – and He is doing a work around you.
Matt Chandler – Theology of Suffering – google this – suffering is intimately connected with Kingdom Living and Kingdom Growth – as we understand that – to live like the King – then it comes back to our prayer life and it lines our prayer life up with His Kingdom purposes. “Thy Kingdom come… Your will be done” – if you pray consistently – in your life – in this day – God’s will will be done – and His kingdom will come in the circumstances you are in – you will get bread and not rocks.
Through the time of patience, God is involved in our lives – setting things up to bring about His ultimate purpose. So – finally, in closing – he sums everything up.
12 "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Love your neighbor as yourself – the golden rule – how you live this (remember the 613 laws the Jews had?) Love your neighbor – Love God.
In context, he attaches this to prayer. If you believe God only gives stones – you will not be able to give generously – to give to everyone who asks of you. Our perception of how and what God gives will shape how we treat others. God is a loving father – who knows that if we don’t get that - we won’t give to others.
31 "And he said to him, ['My] child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 'But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and [has begun] to live, and [was] lost and has been found.' "
I encourage you to believe that today in your relationship with God.

Matt. 7: 7 "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! 12 "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Lord, thank You that You love us with a love we can’t comprehend – it goes beyond our ability to understand. Your love is deep, wide, strong – it can never be lost – it will never end. Lord, we know we stand because of Your love and we live because of Your love. Help us to understand how much You care about all the things we face in life – that You cared enough to die on the cross that we might have life – you demonstrated Your love that while we were yet sinners, You died for us. In Your name we pray.
When you look at this passage, it is in the Sermon on the Mount – and this is an odd place to put it. Last week we talked about not judging – and then he jumps right into prayer. Some say it is because this is about asking for wisdom and judging good and bad, right and wrong. I think this is the conclusion of what it means to live the Kingdom life. Remember last week we talked about the bookends of 5:17 and 7:12 – and then how to live in between. This is not easy – blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Give to everyone who asks of you. And the list goes on and on.
I think He is, in this section on prayer – focused on the center part – particularly about not giving a rock to his child – God is concerned with our every need. I think God wants us to live the sermon on the mount – we can excuse it – have other thoughts on it – but He is saying this because this is how He expects us to live.
Prayer is a necessity if we wish to live this way. And praying to a God we are convinced loves us – is critical.
7 "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.
This is prayer – some translations say keep seeking, keep asking – keep knocking – it is about persistence. It needs to be something that is part of our daily routine – not something we would just do in a crisis. It is okay to pray when something goes wrong.
Someone said, The dirty little secret about Christianity is how little time Christians pray. How is it with you? Are you continually asking, seeking, knocking? Ask, receive; seek, find; knock, opened – Each comes with a promise – I want you to ask because I want you to receive.
HE WANTS YOU TO ASK FOR THINGS – BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GIVE – to answer. He is a Father. Our Father… Your Father knows that you need all these things… How much more will your heavenly Father do for you…
If we don’t grasp that God cares about every need, you can’t live like this.
Why don’t we ask?
If we really believe this, how much would you pray? I think you would pray a lot.
Why? First, sometimes – some may relate to you, some not – sometimes we think our problem is too small for God. We think – God’s got…the tsunami, and the situation in Libya – but that is not true.
Pride – we think we should be self-sufficient.
A bigger issue – the fear of being disappointed. A lot of times we don’t ask because we are afraid that God might not answer. Sometimes that comes from past experience. “I prayed for this and it didn’t happen” = and that makes us a little cautious the next time. And often, we don’t pray because we have a wrong view of God.
9 "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
Do you think God would do this? Of course, we’ll say no – but in reality a lot of times we think that God WOULD give us rocks – like Charlie Brown – and it prevents us from really going to Him and understanding who He is.
The verse in the story of the prodigal son – you know the story – the prodigal goes off, wastes the money – comes back, the father throws a party…
Luke 15:29 "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you, and I have never neglected a command of yours; and [yet] you have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my friends;
“never neglected a command of yours” – the relationship was distorted – the son saw the father as a slave driver and commander.
But God can’t wait to give – to lavish His love on us.
30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
When they would kill the fatted calf, it was the biggest of parties. A kid would be scrawny and not much meat. He had a wrong view of the father… The father’s response –
31 "And he said to him, ['My] child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 'But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and [has begun] to live, and [was] lost and has been found.' "
This is the view God wants us to have – He is always with us – we are always with Him – and everything He has is ours. This son could have had it all – and I think partly what God is saying – everything there is available to you – you just need to ask.
Before you get too excited about that – let me bring you back to reality! There is a type of promotion of prayer that encourages a materialistic lifestyle – and Jesus is not doing that here – He is talking about our needs – Bread and fish – God will gladly give to you – and if you have genuine needs – He is not going to give you a rock.
Here is the conflict – oftentimes in life we mistake stones or rocks for bread. God gives us bread and we think it is a rock.
The loaves of bread – were small little loaves that could look like rocks – God gives us bread and we think it is a rock. Here is how – let me show you a couple of verses: Blessed are those who mourn – that feels like a rock – when God gives you something to mourn – that feels like a rock – but it is bread.
Blessed are you when men persecute you… does that sound like bread, or a rock? REJOICE AND BE GLAD!
All of these things can feel like rocks if we don’t understand that they are part of the calling to live this Christian life Jesus is talking about.
Persecution and mistreatment – that is not a rock. Absence of earthly treasure – that is not a rock.
The absence of recognition and approval and acceptance – (go to the inner room to pray) – that is not a rock.
Phil. 1: 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me.
That is a gift – not a rock.
He lays out these demands that seem unattainable – but He is telling us the opposite. But we are not trained to think that way. – Struggling – persecution – and all of these things – could actually be blessings and good for us.
I want to challenge us to consider – we are really supposed to live this way! IT is not in the Bible for nothing – and it is not easy – But that is the point – as we do this – there is a love relationship with God we can’t discover any other way. Live the life the way He has called us to live. I tis a whole different lifestyle –
If you don’t understand the difference between rocks and bread – giving a warped view of God and will keep you from asking and receiving.
When we understand this – it directs our prayer life to be in line with these kingdom priorities. He wants our prayers to be directed to this line of living. Thy Kingdom come… - if you pray that – He will not give you a rock on that prayer.
If you keep asking, seeking, knocking – God will answer.
His will be done – if you pray that – you will get bread! Give us this day – forgive our debt – if you pray and keep praying – you will experience forgiveness. Do not judge – lest you be judged – God will answer that prayer.
God – keep me from temptation – persistent in prayer – God won’t give you a rock, He’ll give you break. Too often you prayer life is about us – instead it should be focused on the kingdom.
This is a reality – when it comes to prayer – God is on His timetable – God determines the time of the answer – and He determines what our needs are! He knows more than we know what we need.
We need to be able to leave these things in His hands – in His timetable.
He is more concerned about the work He needs to do in you – and He is doing a work around you.
Matt Chandler – Theology of Suffering – google this – suffering is intimately connected with Kingdom Living and Kingdom Growth – as we understand that – to live like the King – then it comes back to our prayer life and it lines our prayer life up with His Kingdom purposes. “Thy Kingdom come… Your will be done” – if you pray consistently – in your life – in this day – God’s will will be done – and His kingdom will come in the circumstances you are in – you will get bread and not rocks.
Through the time of patience, God is involved in our lives – setting things up to bring about His ultimate purpose. So – finally, in closing – he sums everything up.
12 "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Love your neighbor as yourself – the golden rule – how you live this (remember the 613 laws the Jews had?) Love your neighbor – Love God.
In context, he attaches this to prayer. If you believe God only gives stones – you will not be able to give generously – to give to everyone who asks of you. Our perception of how and what God gives will shape how we treat others. God is a loving father – who knows that if we don’t get that - we won’t give to others.
31 "And he said to him, ['My] child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 'But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and [has begun] to live, and [was] lost and has been found.' "
I encourage you to believe that today in your relationship with God.