The Mystery of Extremes: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:00 So today we’re going to look at ii Thessalonians 3 2 may we be delivered from unreasonable men irrational illogical men people Ecclesiastes 7 and 7 18. He who fears God avoids all extremes. And the verses before that says don’t be over righteous and don’t be over wicked then he says he who fears God avoids all these extremes. And so there’s extremes in the church. And there is unreasonable men in the church people they won’t listen to the simplicity of Christ so we’re going to. Open up our understanding to that this morning we’re going to deal with six truths.

▶ 0:53 That distract. From the Bible’s priority goal six truths these are real things these are good things but when we use them unreasonably when we take them to extremes they actually distract from the purposes and goals that God has in his scripture and in his plans and purposes. First Corinthians. 13 verse 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love I’m become a sounding brass and a clanging cymbal you’re just an irritating person. Okay. Now first of all we see that there is languages tongues as languages it’s not some kind of weird word it’s languages.

▶ 1:49 Both of men on earth that speak japanese chinese english spanish and so forth and of angels. You see there’s an angelic language the angelic language is usually has to be interpreted that’s why the Bible says let there be interpretation. Okay men’s languages like in the day of Pentecost acts chapter 1 when the holy church ii when the Holy Spirit came down they were filled and they spoke in 15 different languages and they didn’t need an interpretation because the people from all those nations were there to hear. And these people didn’t know how to speak those languages. But the Holy Spirit gave the apostle 120 people the ability to speak in these languages and so they understood the mighty works of God because they spoke of the mighty works of God now the extreme is this.

▶ 2:54 I am a spirit-filled believer. I did speak in tongues when I got filled with the Holy Spirit. So I can talk from that end. The extreme from the spirit-filled churches is they said you have to speak in tongues that’s the only sign of having the Holy Ghost it doesn’t say that in the Bible. And the Bible says do all speak in tongues meaning not everybody’s going to speak in languages. You see so they went extreme this way but the fundamentalists said Holy Ghost isn’t for today in tongues of the Devil and all this stuff they went the other way and that’s the problem in the church world we we’re like America in the civil area so divided in little groups in the church we’re so divided we can’t come together as a unit and have a powerful force in the earth because we go from one extreme to the other is that clear.

▶ 3:57 Hallelujah. Uh spirit-filled people would get so emotionally involved and uh extreme that they left. The scriptures of doing everything decently in order you know like Paul said they’re going to think you’re mad and a lot of times those spirit-filled people we behaved in a manner people thought we were nuts. You’ve got to keep. The clarity of the truth and remember this on the day of Pentecost they spoke the languages 15 different languages as the spirit gave them utterance you can’t just speak in tongues because you feel like it you can only speak in a language other than the one you know because the spirit gives you the utterance.

▶ 4:49 And I used to speak in tongues a lot more especially in my prayer life and I have in the last few years and I’ve told you this before but you can’t manufacture it it has to be there and it has to be real amen. And so we have extremes and they distract us from what. One of these this tongue extreme whether you don’t believe in it or whether you go to extreme with your using it what does it distract us from. Love. Are tongues Bible yes they are I don’t care what other people say just because they have never experienced tongues doesn’t mean it’s not Bible it is Bible it’s a truth in the Bible all right and the interpretation of them is a truth in the Bible and so though it is a good thing we got unreasonable people on both sides.

▶ 5:44 We got extremes on both sides and we need to get rid of it could that be an amen. Next. 13 2. If I have the gift of prophecy if I understand all mysteries. And I understand all knowledge and all faith to remove mountains and have not loved charity I am nothing. You see tongues you’re irritable here you’re nothing I don’t care how kind of ministry you think you got [unclear]. Why because you have let these things. Get on top of and become the priority when love is the priority. Prophecy. There is the office of the prophet where they prophesy something’s going to happen and it happens that’s the office of a prophet there’s not very many of them I did see this in action in the 50s and early 60s where there were some people that had this office of a prophet and they were accurate.

▶ 6:52 Then you had the imitators. The other prophecy is edification exhortation and comfort and anybody can do that as the spirit gives you the utterance. See you can speak a word edification exhortation and comfort to the body of Christ build up the church and the Bible says in first Corinthians 14 that that is the top gift prophecy. Because it builds the church. Understanding all mysteries and all knowledge we’re helping you to understand the mysteries of God so you know the Bible. And you know the scriptures but if you don’t have love. You’re what. Nothing so what so you know the scriptures. That isn’t the priority of the Bible the priority of Bible is love.

▶ 7:47 And I have faith to remove mountains the faith camp is one of the biggest disasters. In my generation. It started in the 40s and it’s going strong today. You know God wants me to be prosperous. That’s faith. Uh God wants to heal me if I’m sick in fact I don’t have to take medicine uh you know if I take medicine that’s an act of unbelief and so I can’t take medicine and I just got to believe and I only have to pray once because if I pray more than once then I’m not believing. All these extremes all this irrational thing Jesus prayed more than once good grief. And who’s our example.

▶ 8:39 Jesus. First Corinthians 13:3. If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and give my body to be burned but have not love it profits me nothing I hear. Wasn’t irritating God. Then I’m nothing and now. I get no benefit out of given to the poor. Or being mistreated for Christ. If I don’t have love. And here is where the American church is really extreme. This helping the poor thing if you help the poor you’re a great Christian in America you can be shacking up with somebody you can be you know using profanity getting drunk and everything but boy if you’re given to the poor if you’re helping the poor you are a super Christian.

▶ 9:38 Where is our mentality in America it’s governed by this political correct thing. And America’s bought into it. And we’ve basically thrown out the scripture if you don’t work you don’t eat and how can Christians do that. Are you there see we get extreme. And it’s so extreme in America that they really don’t they think they’re loving. And they’re not. They’re just building up their ego. Especially when they go around telling people I gave them oh yeah I hope that yeah yeah you’re just building up your ego because the Bible says when you give alms don’t let anybody know what you’re doing keep it quiet. And and Jesus said the poor you always have with you and you can do whatever you want you know that’s a private thing if I want to help the poor that’s an individual has nothing to do with my spiritual life or my church life.

▶ 10:43 It is an individual decision. Giving my body to be burned. You know the Davidians. Back there a few years ago in Waco Texas. They burned the place down. Martyred themself for their religion. The Bible says it profited them nothing because that’s not love. You see when you’re having sex with your congregation and you’re teaching them extreme things and you’re isolating them from the rest of the world that is not love and when you ask them to kill themselves. That’s not love that’s harm. So let’s look at love.

▶ 11:35 If love is the priority. In first John 4:16 God is love wow. So back there if I don’t have God I’m irritating. If I don’t have God. I am nothing if I don’t have God it profits me nothing because God is what love so you substitute the word and it makes sense. He who abides in love abides in God. And God abides in him so how do I know God is abiding in me because of love working in my life. Not the faith thing where I’m the temple of God so God’s in me yeah it’s true but it shows by your behavior of love.

▶ 12:31 4 8 he who does not love does not know God well that’s just plain english. If you’re not loving you don’t know God you’re just saying you know God. God is love. In 4 7 beloved love one another for love is of God. And everyone who loves is what. Born we talk about being born again what is the evidence of being born again some feeling. Yeah the feeling’s there I felt it but that’s not the end thing. It is he turns me from my evil way to right ways and my right ways show the love of God. Amen.

▶ 13:26 And he knows God first John 4:12 no one has seen God at any time if we love one another God abides in us we’ve heard that before and his love has been what. Perfected in us completed in us that love is Christian maturity. It’s not being able to quote a lot of scriptures and and speak in tongues or prophesy or heal the sick or whatever. Love is Christian maturity and everybody can have it so maturity is love Proverbs 15:17 better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted calf with hatred. So better is the person that’s poor doesn’t have all the fancy foods to eat but they have love.

▶ 14:19 Then over here they got everything they got the rolls royce and the house on the hill and all kinds of caviar and whatever they want to eat but they got hatred. But let me reverse this what if you do are eating herbs and you don’t have love. It’s the same problem isn’t it and you can be poor and hate just like you can be rich in hate and you can be rich and love. Just like you can be poor in love. And again he confirms that Proverbs 17:1 better is a dry morsel still bread still food with peace Romans 13:9 love does no harm to a neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law there are four kinds of laws in the Bible there’s the civil law so if you love and you don’t harm people you will fulfill the civil law you won’t be robbing people you won’t be beating up people because you’re loving that’s the civil law.

▶ 15:26 Then you’ve got the shadow laws the lamb sacrifice for the sins of the world you know lamb sacrifice for sin which was an illustration of Christ being sacrificed for the sins of the world shadow laws you fulfill the shadow law. You fulfill the spiritual laws because God says to pray and so when I pray it’s not I’m not if I don’t pray I’m not breaking the law that’s going to send me to hell if I don’t worship I’m not breaking a law that will send me to hell I’m breaking a spiritual law that will stunt my growth and then there’s. You know the spiritual law confessing my sins he is willing to forgive me in my sin that’s a spiritual law and if you don’t admit you’re wrong and ask him to forgive you he has no duty to forgive you cleanse you and deliver you you got to use the spiritual law and so you’ll be using that law all your life because you’re going to say something you’re going to do something stupid you’ve got to go God I’m wrong forgive me is that an amen yeah and then you’ve got wise laws you see the Bible says the wise man.

▶ 16:39 Saves up for the disaster that’s coming but the fool spends all he has. See the fool don’t save anything just get it and spend it get and spend in fact they do worse than that they go into debt. I can’t afford it but I’ll buy it on my credit card. And then I’ll file bankruptcy and let the merchant suffer. Are you there that’s what Christians do see unreasonable. Extremes. And so. Wise laws are important the Bible says the wise person doesn’t even look at the wine when it’s red in the cup. The fool gives themself to wine and strong drink see it is not wise can people drink yes they can but it is violating a wise law of the Bible.

▶ 17:41 If God is love then love is God is means equal okay so love is God and God is what good. God is wise. God saves. God execute judgment on the guilty. You say God is faithful. God is no respecter of persons. So love. Is God. And when I act in love I am acting what my God is. Hallelujah see when you’re unfaithful to your spouse that’s not love. When you’re unfaithful to your children that’s not love because God is what faithful. When you don’t discipline your children that’s not love.

▶ 18:38 Because God disciplines us. Amen you make a judgment you don’t want to make judgments the Bible says God makes judgments. And he makes right judgments. Remember love is Christian maturity how many want to be mature Christians. All right you got a lot of work to do. It ain’t going to come sitting around on your rear end. Got to get into prayer got to get into Bible studies and you got to apply. Line upon line precept on precept little here and a little there you’re not going to be a mature person overnight so. Get over it you go you’re going to be there you’re going to get there by applying. What God teaches you and you’re going to get taught as you get into Bible studies and seek him.

▶ 19:33 And press toward the mark of the high calling of God. The mark the goal is love. The high calling of God is love let’s look at the strength and the worth of love okay. Song of Solomon 8 6. Love is as strong as death. What a statement. How many you know dead people are that’s it it’s over. I know you’re saying well at the resurrection we were going to come back yeah at the resurrection. And then you were going to say well Jesus rose people from the dead yes he did but the rest of them were dead. Death doesn’t let go. The Bible says when the spirit leaves the body you are dead it’s not the heart stopping beating it’s not the brain waves stopping when the spirit is taken from the body the Bible says you are dead.

▶ 20:42 Amen. That’s it it’s over and you can’t go dig someone up from the grave and bring them back to life. And the Bible says love of God is as strong as death. When God gets a hold of us and we get a hold of God he’s not going to let go. Thank God. Man that’s what I need I need a God that won’t let me go because I’m stupid sometimes can you identify with that I don’t know where my brain goes sometimes especially when I was a younger Christian but he won’t let go love God is as strong as death. Now I like that kind of God. Amen. And listen to this.

▶ 21:36 Love’s jealousy is cruel as the grave. See when you get buried in the ground and if you’re not buried too deep. Immediately when you die your body starts decaying. The microorganism starts eating away you begin to bloat. All the gas is in there these microorganisms just eating you away man they’re just having a feast they couldn’t wait for this day. All right so they put you in the ground and a lot of people get buried without a casket you know caskets are a late day thing. And so what happens. The worms come and start eating you.

▶ 22:30 They’re eating you and the microorganism that’s eating you. And if you’re not buried deep the wolves and the scavengers come and dig you up and start eating you. You see. The grave is cruel. And in a month you are one stinking mess. All that beauty time you put in you know getting your hair done and getting everything just so so no yeah man you are one ugly worthless stinking mess. The grave is cruel. And love’s jealousy is cruel. The Bible says that God is a jealous God.

▶ 23:28 And he told Israel if you disobey me I will send you into captivity I will bring plagues I will bring wars I will bring acts of God. Because I’m jealous I don’t want you loving someone else but me. Amen. And then he turns it the other way. He said these nations that are mistreating you these people that I use to correct you and they’re overdoing it he said I’m a jealous God I am going to get them and I’m going to bring you back to the land I’m going to bring you back to myself and you’re going to know me and you’re going to serve me why because he is a jealous God and he will be cruel to our enemies and he will also.

▶ 24:23 Correct and punish us for our abuse of his relationship amen. It’s flames love’s flames is a the hottest of flames of fire. Many waters cannot quench. Love nor can the floods drowned it you know that water is an enemy of a fire and if you’re out camping you can put water on the fire and it goes out but you get a fire coming down off this mountain spread out flames 50 60 foot high I mean you can’t even get within a hundred feet of that thing I was I was a football field away from those flames and I was getting hot. And when those guys put water on that the flames go down right back up.

▶ 25:18 The flames just vaporize the water. You put water on the sun and it breaks and destroys the water into hydrogen and oxygen. You get the water hot enough it destroys it and God says love. Will destroy every one of your enemies. Hallelujah. Isn’t that powerful. See we can understand that kind of stuff. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house it would be utterly despised. Now let’s read it. In the equation if a man would give for God.

▶ 26:13 All the wealth of his house it would be utterly despised. You can’t buy God. You can’t buy love. God gives it to us freely. By giving us himself. For God so loved the world that he gave his only what begotten son see his act of love was to come down and die for us and if we would believe that we would be forgiven and saved from our sins that’s his love. Our response to him is to worship him accept him and live for him that’s our love that’s our responsibility. Judas Iscariot he healed the sick he preached the gospel people got saved. He did all these things and he was a thief and he betrayed Christ.

▶ 27:10 God using him and others in the Bible had nothing to do with their Christian walk. Their faith it’s just God used them. And Judas Iscariot lacked love. And he went out and hung himself and killed himself after he realized what he did to Christ and so trying to work your way. Into brownie points with God isn’t it. Just have a love relationship with him. Don’t do anything to hurt God don’t do anything to hurt your family don’t do anything to hurt others and if you do admit it correct it and go on.

▶ 28:04 First Corinthians 13:8 love never fails. Love never quits. Now remember he goes on to say there in verse 6 if there’s prophecies. They will fail. If there is tongues. They will cease. And if there is knowledge. They will vanish away. These are six things that distract us from the priority of God. The first commandment is to love God with all your heart soul body and strength second commandment is love your neighbor as yourself so we’re supposed to do no harm to God no harm to our neighbor and no harm to our self say it no harm to God. Said no harm to God no harm to the neighbor no harm to self that’s love don’t get complicated. And when we get extreme and unreasonable. We need to get straightened out.