Access Denied
Marcus Peters
Midland SDA Church
May 21, 2011
Introduction
Problem facing our Church today is not a lack of information.
· 365 Sermons a year (morning devotions).
· + 52 (Divine service)
· + 52 (Sabbath School)
· + 52 (prayer meeting)
Total = > 520 Sermons per year (not including camp meeting, evangelistic series, 3ABN, etc)
Challenge is not a lack of information but a lack of application.
Matthew 5:20
A couple observations from this passage:
Ø Christ did not discount the Pharisees’ righteousness altogether.
Ø He acknowledges that they do have some form of righteousness. Just not enough!
Ø How we respond to His warning will impact our eternal salvation.
Ø Christ’s warning should be taken as call to study to the life of the scribes and Pharisees – to see what we should avoid and identify areas in our lives that we should being doing much more.
Survey of the Pharisees
Ø It’s a name that conjures up negative images or emotions in the mind so much so that we would consider it a great insult if we were to be called a Pharisee.
Ø This was not always the case.
Ø Paul’s resume. Phil 3:4-5
o It was a badge of honor to be called a Pharisee
Ø Other examples include:
o Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-35)
o Nicodemus (John 3:1)
Their Main Problem – Matthew 23
Ø Matt 23:2, 5-6
Ø They enjoyed attention; loved the public domain.
Ø Not necessarily a bad thing (Matt 5:16).
Ø But they were hypocrites: vs 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29.
Ø Further evidence in Luke 12:1
Ø They were hypocrites in the sense that their public life (the one that everyone saw) was in stark contrast to what was on the inside (the inner man that only God sees). There was a disconnect.
Ø In other words they fared well when the crowd was around, but when alone by themselves their struggles were made manifest e.g Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night.
Ø Experience of many of us today. Bandwagon Christians.
Inspiration Speaks!
“In the estimation of the rabbis it was the sum of religion to be always in a bustle of activity. They depended upon some outward performance to show their superior piety. Thus they separated their souls from God, and built themselves up in self-sufficiency. The same dangers still exist. As activity increases and men become successful in doing any work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans and methods. There is a tendency to pray less, and to have less faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking to make a savior of our activity. We need to look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is His power which does the work. While we are to labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we must also take time for meditation, for prayer, and for the study of the word of God. Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good. {DA 362.2}
Practical areas
I. Secret Prayer – Matthew 6:5-6
Ø The hypocrite (Pharisee) loves prayer.
Ø The problem was the absence of a secret prayer life
Ø Acid Test: when faced with a crisis in your life what’s your initial response?
o Worry and fret
o Complain to a friend
o Update your Facebook status
“Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. No curious ear is to receive the burden of such petitions” SC 98
Ø Not every prayer request should be shared.
Ø Frivolous prayer requests diminishes our concept of God
Ø We're approaching the God of the universe; not a street vendor.
Ø Consider Nehemiah, Daniel, Solomon their payers - for forgiveness victory over sin, Holy Spirit etc
Ø Sometimes we share prayer requests like conversation starters.
Ø It could very well be an indication that we’ve not surrendered our burden to the Lord. Phil 4:4-6
Ø Biblical Examples
o I Samuel 30: 1-8
o Job 1:20-22
Ø Other examples
o Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
o Adventists in 1844 [GC 369]
Ø My own example: Burdens are Lifted at Calvary
Ø If you prayed this morning and got up from your knees with the same burdens that you went to the Lord with you haven’t finished praying.
”The path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy one. But they are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer.” PK 31
II. Experiencing the Word – Matthew 22:23-29
Ø Even though quoted the scriptures [Deut 25:6-7] Jesus accused them of not "knowing" the scriptures.
Ø They had a superficial understanding of the Word of God.
Ø But lacked the power which the scriptures testified of.
Ø Far more than having a love for scripture, Jesus wants us to have an experience with it
Ø God is not a withholder - Psalms 84:11
Ø Discouraged - 1 Peter 5:7
Ø Needing forgiveness - 1 John 1:9
Ø Facing temptation - 1 Cor 10:13
Ø Need deliverance - 2 Chr 16:9
We need new eyes: 2 Cor 1:20
III. Witnessing
Matt 23:13, 15
Ø When we live a double life we hinder others from entering in.
Ø If we've not tasted and seen that the Lord is good then how do we expect others to have that experience.
Ø Salvation needs to be experienced by the Jew first before we can reach the Greek. Romans 1:16
Ø Some of us are busy and excited to win souls but haven’t left the world behind. Still holding on to Babylon. Still want to watch the same ungodly movies and listen to the same ungodly music and other forms of entertainment. No wonder we struggle with our new converts. We’re a bad influence.
Ø “Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire, persistently cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel.” SC 33
Ø If we are to be true witnesses; we ought to bear witness of the power of the gospel in our own lives. Acts 4:13.
Conclusion
Matthew 7:20-22
Much more that being a Pharisee, God wants us to be genuine Christians
Much more that getting on our knees, we need to know what it means to have our burdens lifted at Calvary.
Much more than being able understand God’s word or memorize it, Jesus wants us to experience the power that comes from it.
Much more than seeking the lost, God wants us to be living examples of what it means to have total deliverance from sin.