Spiritual Intimidation, Part 2

Your own worship activities. You don't get your own cell style, religion, and you don't take somebody else's experience is authoritative and violates what you know to be the revelation of God and people like him a lot to say. I got this experience and I had this experience and all you have to say is yes, but I have learned from God. You do not need to be intimidated by the people you want to tell you you're missing some experiences broad definitions of marriage or abortion or not being part of the local church. Essentially, they set their own standards for what it means to be a Christian.

Of course, when we trust our own sin tainted thinking the consequences are disastrous. John MacArthur drives that point home today on grace to you is examines the dangers of not taking God's word seriously and with that hears John to continue his study titled complete in Christ first Kings 13. This is a most fascinating story. Remember that after the reign of Solomon.

The kingdom of Israel split into two parts. The northern kingdom with 10 tribes and the southern. The northern kingdom was ruled by Jeroboam the first of the southern kingdom by Rehoboam and there was the splitting of the kingdom. Because of the sin of Solomon and when Jeroboam took the 10 tribes and establish the kingdom in the north. He was afraid that that the northern people would not maintain an allegiance to him if they were always going to the south to the temple to worship. They would keep their roots in the South, so he decided that he have to build a couple of worship places up in the north so he verse 29 of chapter 12 says he sent the one in Bethel and the other in Dan.

The problem with that is God didn't want his worship going on in Bethel and Dan what he wanted in Jerusalem and the Temple in verse 30 says a chapter 12, it became a sin for the people went to worship before the one evening Dan and he made a house of high places build the temple he made priests of the lowest of the people who are not of the sons of Levi just picked out a few poor folks and made them priests. You can't do that. Priests are out of the tribe of Levi worship goes on in Jerusalem. You don't ad lib. it to say, we had a great idea will do our own thing appear if it is unscriptural you don't do it in verse 32 in the middle there says that he did the same thing in Bethel and he was sacrificing the calves. He went to the holder to the whole Jewish deal sacrifices priests alters the whole shot only going on in Bethel and Dan and no business going on there.

So God said I gotta send somebody up there to straighten it all out. Chapter 13 below, there came a man of God and this is a man of God as a prophet is a preacher and he goes all away out of Judah to go to the North because apparently there wasn't a prophet in the north who would do this so he goes out of Judah by the word of the Lord comes to Bethel and he happens to arrive when Jeroboam is in there doing his thing with the older he's in there worshiping God and burning his sacrifice and this is a bold young man. He will sub it says in verse if he cries against the older in the word of the Lord and said all all or all or not is going to get Jeroboam's attention because he's there worshiping this guy by sin and shouts out older owner, says the Lord. Behold, a child shall be borne in the house of David Josiah by name, and upon these shall he offer the priests of the high places who burn incense upon the and men's bones shall be burned on the altar you had it was coming a man, Josiah, and he is going to burn Bolognese on you and the ultimate desecration for a Jew to touch a dead body right and to burn the bones of a dead person on an altar wasn't desecrated and polluted for good in this man of God says your alters Jeroboam that had because 300 years from now man is coming by the name of Josiah was going to dig up dead bones and burn them all over your older want to read second Kings 23 can read the story and just to make sure Jeroboam didn't say how funny joke. Who is this guy get them out.

Verse three says, and he gave assigned the same day saying this is the sign which the Lord is spoken to prove it's going to happen.

Behold, the owner shall be torn down and the ashes that are on it poured out. It always been a fall down the ashes to indicate if Ashley King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God who had cried against the altar and Bethel. He put forth his hand from the altar and said lay hold on him in his hand which he put forth dried up so that he couldn't pull it in again paralyzed and immediately altar was torn down and the ashes poured out exactly according to the sign with the man of God given to the word of the Lord, but you don't invent your own worship, you obey my prescription and the king answered and said to the men of God, and treat. Now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me that my hand may be restored and the men of God besought the Lord in the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before, but I'll take one thing you never forgot in the case of the man of God come along with me were seven and refresh yourself and I'll give you a rule, Lord, I want to be on you. Our team man of God said to the king if you will give me half your house I'm not going to go home with you, I wouldn't eat your bread and I wouldn't drink water in this place because it was told me by the word of the Lord saying eat no bread, drink no water and don't come again by the same way that you went on. I have one commitment in my life, obey the word of God. So when other way and returned not by the way that he came this guy is right on. Now you know it what it would've been an honor to be invited to eat with the king he could've been a hero and he could've fit well you know the king has burden.

He seems to be repented.

I I take off I go in there I'll compromise along God's word, no list of the king always is. I'm not interested in witnessing to you. I'm an innocent doing anything with you.

God told me not to mess around with you just to get out of here and get out of here a different way.

I got here by now. On the way verse 11, he ran into another preacher for a lot of people. This is a problem for a lot of preachers around to other preachers and that's very intimidating you know, we who are preachers get intimidated by other preachers. Watch what happens there was an old prophet Joel preacher Liam preacher's sons came and told him all the works of the man of God done that they invest a little prophet boy you know. Yet he was a true prophet.

Both of them were he was a trooper he was. Those not wonderful.

What a bold young man all how marvelous he would do that. Why didn't I have the courage to do that. Why didn't God call me at that young man. What I am like to meet that guy boy would like this and fellowship with that young man of God and so he sent for the citizens go getting settle, he asked me sadly as he rode out in verse 14 he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak is just resting on his way back to June. Are you the man of God came from. Judy said I am he said him come along with me and eat bread or even walk in a while hungry and thirsty place to rest. He said I may not return with you, nor go in with you neither will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place sounds like a record the same line he gave before God told him got don't know what to do. I'm doing what God told me to do. I'm not going to discuss it any longer. You might say Wohl we've got to fellowship with everybody know God drew some lines for what could it hurt doesn't want him to create his own ministry wants them to obey the one God gave them, but watch how he's intimidated. It was said to be verse 17 by the word of the Lord that settles it and he said to him, the old man.

I am a prophet. Also like you know I'm a trooper preacher. I watched this intimidation and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, bring them back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. Is that ever intimidating come to my house I can't, God said not to, but an angel came to me and told me that you're supposed to is very intimidating. Somebody will say to you all I know the Bible doesn't talk about that but I had a vision I had a direct word from the Lord. An angel came to me and just remind yourself of Galatians 1. If an angel comes and preaches anything other than what you know to be the word of God letting me what a curse that is a devil dressed up as an angel of light. What happens is this young prophet is now in the dilemma of accepting though no word of God revealed or believing that God is speaking through somebody else's experience. You see what they do.

Verse 19 he went with him and ate bread in his house and drink water but he acted in direct violation of God's word because he was intimidated by an older prophet, was also a preacher, a true prophet who probably had a wonderful ministry who said an angel told him this and he forsook what he knew he was the truth of God and opted out for experience. Beloved. That's exactly what's going on today people are turning away from the word of God that is clear and they are buying everybody's vision and everybody's experience as a criteria will know what happened.

Verse 23 skipping some thoughts but verse 23 came to pass after eight and bread after he drunk. He settled for him the asked. That is for the prophet whom he had brought back, and when he was gonna lion met him in the way and sloughing rap of the young man got centerline aligned children. So why did God do his carcass was thrown away. I want to see the music in the asked stood by and the lion stood by 10 summed the line didn't eat the body and the line didn't attack the ass. You know why God wanted you to know that because that was not a hungry lion that was a divine agent of judgment. God took the life of that profit that fast.

Why because he set somebody else's experience over what he knew was the word of God. That's a dangerous thing to do. You see that's not the criteria you don't invent your own worship activities. You don't invent your own self-styled religion and you don't take somebody else's experience is authoritative if it violates what you know to be the revelation of God and people they come along to say I've had this experience I've had this experience and I had this experience and all you have to say is yes, but I have this word from God that satisfies you do not need to be intimidated by the people who want to tell you you're missing some experiences or you've got to step out and believe God for these things. My Bible tells me clearly that these things that people are claiming are not for the day and I'm not going let their experience intimidate me because I'm not about to walk out here getting byline to take care my wife and kids and all you people and how did it happen. Verse 26 and the prophet who brought him back from the way heard it.

He said it is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the Lord.

Therefore the Lord is delivered into the line, which is toward him and selenium were here some interesting God seemingly did not hold the old prophets ignorance nearly as accountable as the young prophets knowledge somebody was reared and that they don't know anything about it. There's less of a chastening from God, perhaps, than for somebody who knows better and opt out turning his back on God's truth for somebody's experience. Very serious truth seek Christian. You don't need to be intimidated by human religion. You just bank on the word of God, to obey, it is better than your own self-styled kind of sacrifice or self-made religion were not looking for spectaculars were looking for obedience. We've already experienced the radical change in our lives so radical that I can imagine anything more radical. We've entered a new life and everything we need is already ours and what is Paul saying and I'll tie this in with Colossians will believe it. But I will what is Paul saying he saying look, you don't need to be intimidated you except what the word tells you, you have and what is the word tell you have in Christ you have what everything but my God said Paul is lipids shall supply what all your needs according to his riches by Christ Jesus by Christ Jesus. All his riches are your your completed him such a powerful truth.

What is true spirituality. True spirituality just to concentrate on Christ. Christ consciousness focus on here. It's all there. It's all you words and don't let anybody intimidate you with any man-made experiences or man-made rules or self-styled religion. This is a call to true spirituality and true spirituality means you look up and you see Christ. Second Corinthians 318 II would just draw your attention segment is 318 says this, but we all, we all with unveiled face, the veil is removed and Christ beholding as in a glass or a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord now that verse might tangle you will retain what it means as a believer you have one preoccupation. Just focus on Christ and as you focus on Christ and are lost in his glory. Imperceptibly, the spirit of God begins to transform you into his image from one level of glory to the next level of glory to the next level of glory to the next level of glory. That's true growth true maturity true spirituality.

That's the only contemplation. A Christian needs a Christian doesn't need to contemplate human philosophy.

A Christian doesn't need to become a legal lesson and sit around looking at all kinds of lists of rules.

Christian doesn't have to be a mistaken and sit in the corner contemplate his naval till something's ecstatic happens.

Christian doesn't need to be an ascetic Christian needs to concentrate on Jesus Christ and as we concentrate on Christ. Imperceptibly, the spirit of God does his work, and that's what the verse is saying we are changed into the same image by the Holy Spirit saber John how do you concentrate on Christ.

You have to lift your mind out of the world and set it on the things above. Colossians chapter 3 verse 16. How do you do it say how do I because you're not Christ.

Here's how. Let the word of Christ. Do what dwell in you richly, you want to contemplate Christ in the book and the more you study the word and the more your saturated by the word and the more the word controls your thinking more the word dominate your thoughts the more Christ is in the front of your mind, your old Isa if he had been pouring over the word, and he knew the word in the world governed his life when the emotion started to react toward that thing he was stopped, and there are Christians today who, if they were really saturated by the word of God and really knew God's word when their emotions tend to reach out for something and stop nor do what they know the Bible teaches to not with their emotions would charge them to do even though their motives might seem at the time so good. So you let the word of Christ dwell in and as you study the Bible and as you work through the word of God and as you read and assess saturate your own life, then Christ moves up into the conscious mind, and you begin to get your head into the heavenly's and you just your sort of suspended.

That's what Paul meant when he said in the Ephesians we are blessed with all spiritual blessings where in the heavenly some Christians watching over all blessings are you know why you're mowing around in the muck. You need to get yourself in heaven. Stay there, get up there and out sadism once once you've taken that step in what you really made that commitment to think Christ and to concentrate on Jesus Christ and a poor your thoughts into Christ and allow Christ to be the center of your life, then you're going to see some things in your life you never saw before your Krista say we will accept the more long time ago but never really getting and then what I'd I heard this guy or I may discover seven boy though since then said what happened while they got up and I have the lease. They entered the throne room and they started town around Jesus.

They got out of the gutter. They got their mind off material things and they put their thoughts in heaven told me used to teach at the center of the solar system was the earth and everything revolved around it never Ptolemaic theory. The earth is the center of the universe and everything revolves around you. 1300 years. It lasted you believe that 1300 years will believe Bonnie Copernicus came along and said no. The sun is the center of our solar system and everything goes around that was the center of your solar system.

The earth of the sun, the earth of the sun. A righteous was your focus. One of the three things you love the most. Think about the most and want the most. You know what the one thing you need is Christ, the focus on him to concentrate on.

That's all you sufficient. Don't be intimidated by anybody else's self-made religion.

Christ is all you need and you have all of him. There is and I really believe I know my own life isn't just that you you know it's not like were saying as a second great work and also you get zapped and you have this, but there is a time in your life when you come to the point.

I think what you say I'm ready live in a heavily I'm tired of fill around the mud. I want to get up there where I belong. Enjoy some of the blessings are up there for me and once you get a taste of it from thereon.

Life begins to mean something is Dr. Barnhouse used to tell stories on the mission field visiting some young couple and they were sitting around having tea and they were at it were just newlyweds and they went right to the mission field. They were discussing what their engagement was like in the courtship and all that stuff you know and that the young man said well he said you know she would never let me kiss her until we were married and they got a chuckle about that. Well, that's what Buddy said after we got married and I got the first kiss.

The rest came easy but I really think that in a sense, if a Christian ever really begins to experience what God has for him by living in a heavenly's and getting his mind off the world, and his mind on the sun that the rest comes easy because you begin to see what's there. That's tragic to see so many Christians fiddling around in the world and try to reach out for the world's definition of a religious experience to make them happy.

Well they to do is drop all that stuff concentrate on Jesus Christ and is there lost in him. And as they gaze on him and are transformed into his image from one level of glory to the next, they begin to experience what God intended when he said you will be blessed with all the blessings in heaven, but spring thank you father for just the opportunity to begin to think about some great things I'm thankful to you that we will need to be intimidated. I'm thankful to you that we don't have to wander around trying to figure out whose experience is valid and what we can do this legitimate and who's right and who's wrong but that we can just hold of the word of God. We can just hang on and know it's true. Help us to be like that young man of God say no God's word said to do and I want to do it.

Help us never to come to the place where we let anybody intimidate us with a vision or with anything else. Help us to realize that we cling to the book and the fishing allowed for in the word of God the Word of God is clear in word and obey.

We thank you father that you've told us to be obedient to your word, and not to follow our own fancy our own experience our own self designed worship make us biblical. May we, as Spurgeon said, have been bleeding, blood May the word pulse right through us and we know that as we study the word Christ becomes real is Christ becomes real. We begin to know what is fellowship means in the partake of his riches, we come to be in his image. Work your work in us by the spirit. Help us to be satisfied that Christ is all, Christ is all and all word is enough to reveal all that he is satisfied with that rejoicing growing to revel in it and share it with great Christ name, amen sees Grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us for 53 years now. John has been the pastor of Grace Community Church. He's also Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary and is titled our current study complete in Christ, John, many Christians believe that they're missing something, that if they just read the right book or hear the right sermon their spiritual life will take off but what you have said throughout this study is that God has already provided us with everything we need for fruitful joyous Christian living and any Christian can know a life of peace and contentment and intimacy with Christ. Right now yeah I think that something it took a long time for me to learn because even as a kid there was this notion that you pray a prayer and you become a believer in Jesus as your Savior but you know maybe is not your Lord, yet are maybe you need to dedicate yourself or rededicate our member as a kid going to camps and conferences and having revivalist always asking for rededication consecration and recommitment and that kind of dog my footsteps.

This notion that that your you're a true Christian because you believe, but there are some pieces of this thing that are missing and we tried to address that in this entire series on completing Christ, you are complete in Christ, in the sense that you have everything that pertains to life and godliness.

You have all the available power of God.

Everything that the believer needs to live fullness out to live the very fullness of Christ or even what Paul calls the fullness of God is deposited in the believer. At the time of his regeneration. You become a new creation in the spirit takes up residence in your heart and the spirit fills you and moves you and directs you to the degree that Ephesians 3 says you're able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to the power that works in you so as a new believer, you have enough power to do beyond what you can even imagine in terms of the spiritual impact of your life could have so it's very important to understand that everything we need is ours in Christ all things pertaining to life and godliness.

We are complete in him, so we need to do is develop that intimate relationship with the person of Jesus Christ that comes through his word and it prayer and in worship, so that we can see those things begin to appear sometimes in very routine ways in our lives and sometimes in very dramatic ways. This been a wonderful series complete in Christ where were so thankful we had you with us at least for today and I hope you are with us for the rest of the series. If not, you can download all eight messages on the series completing Christ from our website Jide TY.org and also remember all of this is in a complete in Christ study guide. The ideal complement to the series as well. Affordably priced and available. That's right and friend both study guide and the audio series cover a lot of material that we just didn't have time to get into in our radio study.

So I encourage you to review the full audio series and pick up the study guide the title again complete in Christ. Contact us today. You can call toll-free 855 Grace or go to the website Jide TY.org the complete in Christ. Study guide costs $10.50 and shipping is free to purchase a copy or maybe several for your Bible study group call us at 855 Grace or go to GT.org.

Also, as John said download all eight messages from lead in Christ free of charge in MP3 and transcript format that TY.org if you prefer the HCD album. We also have that available now as we close a reminder that if you're regularly finding encouragement from this broadcast.

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Send your email to letters@TTY.once more. That's letters TTY.org and thank you especially for your prayers. That's really the most important ministry you can have for now for John MacArthur. I'm Phil Johnson reminding you to watch Grace to you television this Sunday and then be here next week when John looks at the crucifixion and resurrection from God's perspective. John is starting a study called Easter through the eyes of God, with another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on Grace to you