The Real Problem

1 Kings 18:1-40; Mark 7:14-23 / Psalm 49:1-20

I. First Locate the Problem

A. Life’s problems come either from Providence in which case they are actually opportunities or they originate in the human heart and express sin. “And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” (Mark 7:14-15)

1. The failure to trace sin to its source leaves a person or a culture limping between incompatible visions of realty, morally stalled. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)

2. People who look in the wrong places cannot find their way to the godly life. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17)

B. The crisis of the times is not skin deep, economic, political, or environmental; it is the corruption of one’s own heart. “For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.” (Matthew 26:11) “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 7:16)

II. Perhaps My Case Is the Exception

A. On the surface Jesus seems to be wrong; why does Jesus dismiss the possibility that in my case someone else is at fault? “And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.” (Mark 7:17)

B. Nothing will improve until people learn to distinguish between problem and opportunity. “And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?” (Mark 7:18-19)

C. There are no exceptions; God keeps teaching the same lessons to those He loves until they learn. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (Isaiah 28:9-10)

D. Jeremiah succinctly explained why self-justification inevitably fails. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

III. Take Responsibility

A. Jesus traced sin to the human heart. “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.” (Mark 7:20)

1. If the mind is the problem, the path to holiness must begin with the mind. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

2. The struggles and opportunities of life will unfold to God’s glory when the heart is right with God; without that focus everything will go wrong. “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15)

B. All the forms of evil behavior begin in the mind as it processes life. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,” (Mark 7:21) “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26)

C. God encourages believers to entrust their hearts to Him. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

D. Jesus leaves no exceptions. “All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:23)

Why Worry?

Psalm 46 -- Luther’s A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

I. God Takes Care of His Own

A. Here is the psalm of holy confidence which Luther turned into the national anthem of German Protestantism. “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

B. God’s people have no reason to fear difficult times. “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;” (Psalm 46:2)

C. No matter how great the problem, God remains faithful to provide for His own people. “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” (Psalm 46:3)

II. God Takes Sides in Life’s Struggles

A. The world has violent storms and floods, but the City of God has refreshing streams. “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.” (Psalm 46:4)

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isaiah 55:1-2)

B. God owns and resides in the house He provides to shelter His people. “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” (Psalm 46:5) “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

C. Life’s great forces and terrors melt at God’s command; might is a matter of perspective. “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.” (Psalm 46:6)

D. God brings overwhelming assets to direct Providence. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46:7) “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;” (Proverbs 30:26)

III. Watch God at Work

A. God made an inescapable point about His own power when He turned Sodom into the Dead Sea; the lowest point on earth remains a constant testimony to what God can do when people behave improperly. “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.” (Psalm 46:8)

B. God sets limits for the terrible armies which bring death and disorder. “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.” (Psalm 46:9)

1. Neglect of this doctrine kept Israel out of the Promised Land and obedience to it gave the land to Joshua. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.” (Joshua 11:6)

2. Eventually everyone must declare for God or for some weak substitute; in whom do you put your trust? “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

C. God is in charge and eventually all reality will recognize His government over all things; God’s works of providence are, His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions. “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) “Either by terror or love God will subdue all hearts to himself.” Spurgeon

D. The ultimate force protects the church of God. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46:11)

What Your Neighbor Believes Matters

I. Not Believing Anything Is Foolish

A. Whatever a person may say, down inside a person with no concept of God opens the heart to corruption; picture surfing the Internet without virus protection. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)

B. People with no conviction of God correspond to mice collecting trap loads of cheese without consideration of the danger implicit in the “cheese trays” they amass. “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3)

C. People who do not respect God have no capacity to discern what actually is in their best interest; people who cannot learn are dangerous to everyone around them. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

D. Remember what life was like without God; does anyone deserve that? “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12)

E. The fool does not have the capacity to evangelize himself; someone must perform a spiritual Heimlich maneuver. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)

II. Believing the Wrong Thing Is Dangerous

A. Man-made gods are not substantially superior to atheism. “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” (Psalm 115:4-8)

B. Idolatry may seem like a good idea at the time but it misleads; a chauffeur faithfully following a corrupt map will trouble passengers more than one with no map. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (Romans 1:20-23)

C. What appears to be pious faithfulness actually compounds evil for idolaters, polluting society; the abortion industry is an old and disgusting form of idolatry. “Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,” (Psalm 106:37)

D. Normal Christianity will turn people away from idolatry and its consequences; saved people do not destroy their own children. “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;” (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

E. The common Biblical word for hell derives from the place where the ancient Jews built facilities to destroy their children in the service of man-made wisdom. “And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom [Gehenna], to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.” (Jeremiah 7:31)

III. Silence Isn’t Golden

A. To love God, a Christian must believe in Him totally and care enough about other people to keep them from both atheism and idolatry; a Christian cannot be content to let other people go to hell in their own way. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

B. The proper response to foolishness and corruption is evangelism; silence is sin. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

C. A church which is correct in every doctrinal and formal feature but which does not warn the dying is a beautiful corpse, effectively dead. “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. ” (Revelation 3:1)

D. People with the gospel are called to bear witness to God and to expose idolatry. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10)

E. People who accept the American proposition that religion is a private matter will have a difficult time with Jesus on Judgment Day; evangelism of atheists and idolaters is both possible and obligatory. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The Holy Love Song

Psalm 45

I. A Love Song Follows

A. The psalmist’s heart bubbled with the love story he was about to celebrate with the best skills at his command. “To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psalm 45:1) Shoshannim is a lily or six-string instrument decorated with lilies. Inditing refers to bubbling with enthusiasm.

B. Christ [the Messiah King] is more appealing in every respect than all other people. “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.” (Psalm 45:2)

C. The Book of Hebrews identifies the Lord as the Son of God and King who brings eternal joy. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (Hebrews 1:8-9)

II. The King Appears in Glory

A. Christ cannot be praised too highly; His virtues triumph. “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.” (Psalm 45:3-4)

B. Ultimate power over all opposition appears in King Jesus. “Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.” (Psalm 45:5-6) “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:6)

C. Absolute justice both loves and hates, producing exquisite joy. “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.” (Psalm 45:7-8)

D. The church stands in derivative majesty beside the King. “Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.” (Psalm 45:9)

III. The Bride of Christ Is the Church

A. What awaits the Bride of Christ is far above all that came before; pay attention to Him. “Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;” (Psalm 45:10) A bride must be separated to her husband.

B. Separation to Him makes the bride desirable and attractive to the King. “So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour.” (Psalm 45:11-12) Note the mystical union which exists between Christ and His church.

C. The church which has suffered and been degraded in the world will be grand beyond imagination when brought to the eternal wedding day. “The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.” (Psalm 45:13-15)

1. Believers face the future with the anticipation of an happy bride. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)

2. Christ has made the church His own with all the rights, benefits, and pleasures which accompany the wedding. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)

3. Behold the happy bride in her white dress. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Revelation 19:7-8)

D. The future of the bride of Christ grows progressively more wonderful. “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.” (Psalm 45:16-17) As long as time shall last, the true apostolic succession will flourish.

Tradition

Isaiah 29:1-14; Mark 7:1-13 / Malachi 2:17--3:5

I. Form Can Obscure Purpose

A. The religious leaders of the day noticed that Jesus was not following expected patterns; holiness had become a matter of external practice. “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.” (Mark 7:1-3)

B. Jesus did not compel His followers to observe the traditions added by the historic schools of Jewish thought. “For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.” (Mark 7:3-4)

C. What was Jesus doing? “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?” (Mark 7:5)

D. People living by their own private agendas will do what is necessary to call into question the simple directions of God. “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:4-5)

II. Jesus Was Exposing a Major Religious Flaw

A. When form substitutes for substance, all that remains is hypocrisy. “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mark 7:6)

B. Instead of making people holy, traditions were drawing vacuums in people’s hearts. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7)

C. Human analysis had replaced heaven’s revelation. “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” (Mark 7:8)

D. History is filled with disasters which flow from taking the world rather than the Word as life’s standard. “And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by. Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.” (2 Kings 16:10-16) Ahaz burned his babies and bowed to Baal.

E. Believers must always be on guard against the enemies of sovereign grace. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) “(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:21-23) Transition from Puritan to Presbyterian can carry the same risk; some denominations live by their forms of government rather than by God’s Constitution.

III. Tradition Must Never Cancel Truth

A. The reasoning which leads to the problem is clever but deadly. “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:9)

B. The false teachers started with truth. “For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:” (Mark 7:10)

C. Living trusts had become substitutes for filial piety. “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;” (Mark 7:11-12)

D. Anything which cancels truth is fundamentally wrong. “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:13) “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8)