Questions We Ask Jesus
29th June 2008
This is a bonus week – you get two messages for the price of one!
Last week we looked at – “Why could we not cast out that demon” – or why does it seem that God doesn’t answer our prayers – but I wanted to finish up a passage from last week – but first, let’s pray:
Lord, we thank You- and want to humble ourselves before You – without You we have no ability in and of ourselves. You are the one who makes us able and willing with the strength and grace to accomplish Your will. We need to depend on You completely – we can do nothing of our own – it is only Your cross that gives us the ability to stand before You forgiven – that is our boast and hope and all in all. Help us to focus our attention on You – You love us deeply. We are the sheep that went astray – not the 99 – the one – and You have searched and found us. In Your name we pray.
I was at the Pastors’ Conference this week – and one of the pastors spoke on this section from last week – where the disciples couldn’t cast out the demon…
The reality balance – life is not always perfect.
BUT the other side – there is a great hope we have in Christ.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 And He ^said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.
God wants to answer our prayers. Sometimes He has to rearrange our prayers. But God really does long and wish to answer our prayers. Their faith was too small. Often, throughout the gospels – Jesus points to the issue of faith
We tend to, in our relationships – to point to our behavior or character, or actions, or lack of doing something – not having long enough quiet times, etc – but Jesus just goes back to faith. There is nothing you can do to get God to work in your life. Does a person do anything except believe? Why do we think, that in living our lives, that we can do it any differently – it is only by faith.
Jesus says their faith is too small – but even more – He tells them how small their faith is – not even as big as a mustard seed – the smallest of the seeds. Even the slightest faith – if it is really faith in Him, - it is about Him – it is about applying it to GOD – even the slightest faith put in Christ has tremendous power.
Jesus uses the metaphor of moving a mountain – this isn’t about dirt – it is about faith.
For us, when He talks about mountains, it is about obstacles and barriers – things that get in the way of us receiving what God wants to give us. Whatever God wants for you – if you have faith and put that faith, through prayer, in Christ, then those obstacles – no matter how large – the size of mountains – can be moved. God wants that to be part of our lives – moving the barriers – to experiencing His blessings. There is nothing wrong with that – more than the message – the conference – Herschel is turning 80 this summer – the message is always about faith. Marriage – family – in honesty, let me say this – it all comes down to trusting in God and believing in God – if that is not first, it will not work – but at the same time, rather than just focusing on the Christian disciplines, Jesus wanted the disciples to focus on faith. Not to move physical mountains – but barriers…
A couple of quick examples.
Finances – with Gas prices soaring and housing markets slumping – this is an issue for everyone. Many Christians will be at a point where they need to trust God for their financial situation.
Remember last week – give us this day our daily bread… God longs to meet our needs. The Lord’s Prayer gives us a definition of need – daily bread – that which is required to survive. That is what He promises – to take care of those basic needs in our lives. If that is what we are believing God for – we can trust Him – no matter how big the mountain, God is able to move it.
Character – we know from Scripture – We are given the authority, but the reality is that there are barriers that we seem unable to move or change. It comes in many forms. It may have been there all your life – that mountain can be moved from your life. That barrier that is preventing you from being patient – that can be removed. Whether you are twenty, twelve or 55, you can be a different person.
It starts, begins, and ends with faith.
One final thing – the salvation of those we love. Carol mentioned the 99 sheep – like having 100 kids on the playground and leaving the 99 to find the one. We need to believe that God can and will move mountains in people’s lives.
The people that we love – that they might come to Christ – he is able to move mountains to make that happen.
THAT is teaching one!
Now teaching two!
Matt. 22: 15 Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap Him in what He said. 16 And they ^sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 "Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 "Show Me the coin [used] for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He ^said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They ^said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He ^said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." 22 And hearing [this,] they marveled, and leaving Him, they went away.
The question today – is it right to pay taxes? Is there any way, God, that we can get around this one?!
Now, the question coming from the Pharisees is a lot bigger than April 15, sending in your tax form! They are plotting to trap Jesus.
15 Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap Him in what He said. 16 And they ^sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any…
You can see it coming – they are setting Him up.
. 17 "Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"
They probably thought for months – the way the question is asked, it demands a yes or no answer. Not maybe, or sometimes. The reason is this – the poll tax was a tribute to Caesar – by paying it, you are submitting to Rome – giving them authority over you. If they could get Jesus to say yes – pay the tax – then all the Herodians would leave. If he said no, then they had him, because He would be in trouble with Rome. Whether He answered Yes or No, He was in trouble.
This was the Boston Tea Party. Cindy and I watched John Adams. There was a lot of conflict among the colonies – How do we deal with it – it seems like He is lost.
18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
He knew exactly what was going on -
19 "Show Me the coin [used] for the poll-tax." And they brouught Him a denarius.
He doesn’t side-step or avoid the question – he answers on his own terms. A hint – it is always good, when asked a question – to wait a little…
Paying this tax was an act of idolatry. He was in trouble whether he answered Yes or No.
20 And He ^said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They ^said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He ^said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." 22 And hearing [this,] they marveled, and leaving Him, they went away.
This was brilliant! The government has some legitimate claim on the believer’s life. This was not the US, where we are free - this was ROME, where 70% or more were slaves and it was no problem to just kill them if the master was not happy – but even that Government, as corrupt as it was, has a partial claim to the believer’s life. It doesn’t belong to you – it belongs to Him. To the extent we use the benefits of the government, we have obligation to that government. If you make no money nor spend no money – you don’t have to pay taxes. But when you earn or use money, you have a responsibility to the government that issues that money. If you use the roads that the government made – you have responsibilities to the government. We have responsibilities based on what we use.
God has a higher claim on your life – your first and primary obligation is to God. Not to Caesar. If, in anything, Caesar asks you to do something that goes against your obligation to God – you are not required/obligated to do that. You cannot worship Caesar.
We can fulfill all obligations to the government that do not infringe upon our obligations to God. God has the ultimate claim – both on you and the government. The government ultimately is obligated to God – He has set them up and given them authority – and they will give account to God for all they did.
There is a second answer in this – a second part – He wanted to reveal something of the nature of the kingdom. The Jews, remember, believed that the Messiah would do what? Get rid of the Roman Rule. They thought, when the Messiah came, that would be their independence day. But His kingdom isn’t of this earth. He is telling them – it is not of this world – we are to be faithful citizens of two kingdoms. We have a responsibility for this kingdom, but also God’s kingdom. You need to be IN the world, but not OF it. You need to be salt and light – to have influence – a transformational agent – to partake of the world’s system – to not be conformed to it – but transforming the system of the world. We are to be transformational.
This is an election year – here are a few things that are really important. This election is historic – To have an African American – and a woman running for the democratic primary – but this election is perilous for Christianity. There is a large group of Christians who will vote for Ba rack Obama. If he wins, they will praise God – and if he loses, they will see it as a passing of judgment on this nation. There is a large group of Christians who will vote for John McCain. If he wins, they will praise God – and if he loses, they will see it as a passing of judgment on this nation. There is a large group of Christians who will not vote in this election. And they will see it as a passing of judgment on this nation.
Promise Keepers made a great number of strides in race relations. But in a few months – we can lose all that progress that has been made.
What can we do? Be a good citizen and vote according to your conviction – it is okay to be involved.
Avoid completely the attacks and media frenzy that will go on. That has no part in the church. There are many who are doing the wrong thing – that is not what the church is here for.
Understand this – look – Governments do not influence the advancement of the Kingdom of God. If we got all Christians in all seats of congress what would that do? Zero. Where is the Kingdom growing the most? China! And their government has done nothing for that growth.
We have a responsibility as good citizens - but our priority is the Kingdom of God!
Render to Caesar – but more importantly – Render to GOD! What does that mean? Love one another. When it comes to the church – with our brothers and sisters voting either Democrat or Republican or whatever, by THIS shall all men know you are my disciples – Your love for one another.
Let’s pray.