CONTRADICTIONS
LESSON III
SURRENDER IS NOT LOSING
October 22, 2006
DEFINITION SLIDE
CONTRADICTION: TO EXPRESS OR ASSERT THE OPPOSITE OF . . .
WE CAN ALSO SAY A CONTRADICTION IS SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.
FOR EXAMPLE.
ONLY IN AMERICA DO PEOPLE ORDER DOUBLE CHEESEBURGERS, LARGE FRIES . . . AND A DIET COKE.
ONLY IN AMERICA DO HOME OWNERS LEAVE CARS WORTH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE DRIVEWAY . . . AND PUT THEIR JUNK IN THE GARAGE.
WE ARE IN OUR THIRD WEEK IN A SERIES CALLED CONTRADICTIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN SCRIPTURE AND SEEING THAT THEY REALLY AREN’T CONTRADICTIONS AT ALL.
ROMANS 6 TELLS US THAT TRUE FREEDOM COMES BY BECOMING A SLAVE.
FREEDOM FROM SIN IS SLAVERY TO CHRIST – WHAT A GREAT TRADE.
MATTHEW 20 TELLS US IN ORDER TO BE FIRST I MUST LEARN TO SERVE OTHERS.
AS HARD AS THIS IS WE SAW THERE ARE FANTASTIC BENEFITS TO FOLLOWING THIS BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE.
I’LL BEGIN TODAY’S LESSON BY DRAWING YOUR ATTENTION TO A COMMONALITY IN ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
EVERY HUMAN BEING IS BORN WITH A CONSCIENCE.
IT’S TRUE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP A SEARED CONSCIENCE, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY WERE NOT BORN WITH ONE.
WHEN I SAY “CONSCIENCE” I’M REFERRING TO THAT INNER SENSE OF WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.
I’M TALKING ABOUT THAT PART OF US THAT DRIVES US TO DO OR NOT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
IT’S THAT INNER VOICE THAT DRIVES YOU NUTS WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG AND YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
MAYBE WE STOLE SOMETHING OR LIED ABOUT SOMETHING OR MISREPRESENTED SOMETHING AND KNOTS START FORMING IN OUR STOMACH BECAUSE WE KNOW WE’RE WRONG.
AGAIN, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED TO IGNORE THEIR CONSCIENCE AND OTHERS APPEAR TO HAVE COMPLETELY SHUT IT OFF, BUT IT’S STILL SOMETHING HUMANITY IS BORN WITH.
OKAY NOW PLEASE KEEP ALL THIS IN MIND AS WE GO THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES – WE’LL TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER IN A MINUTE.
ACTS 26:12-14
THE CONTEXT IS THIS . . .
PAUL IS STANDING BEFORE KING AGRIPPA AND THE GOVERNOR FESTUS.
PAUL HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE BY PREACHING THE GOSPEL.
AS HE STANDS BEFORE THESE MEN IN AUTHORITY PAUL RELAYS THE STORY OF HIS CONVERSION TO CHRIST.
HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE PERSECUTED THE CHURCH BUT THEN BECAME A FOLLOWER OF JESUS HIMSELF.
THE ACTUAL EVENT TAKES PLACE BACK IN CHAPTER 9.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS VERSION OF THE STORY IS THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL ADDS A PIECE TO THE PUZZLE THAT WE DON’T HAVE IN CHAPTER 9.
HERE IN V. 14 THE APOSTLE PAUL TELLS US JESUS SAID. . .
SAUL, (PAUL) “IT IS HARD FOR YOU TO KICK AGAINST THE GOADS.”
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS A GOAD?
A GOAD IS A LONG STICK WITH A POINTED END.
IT’S USED TO DRIVE CATTLE AND OTHER LIVESTOCK.
ACTUALLY, TODAY IT’S AN ELECTRONIC CATTLE PROD.
IT’S A MOTIVATOR. IT’S A TOOL TO GET LIVESTOCK FROM POINT “A” TO POINT “B.”
IT’S SOMETHING THAT PRICKS, STINGS, EVEN POTENTIALLY BREAKS THE SKIN AND DRAWS BLOOD AS IT’S POKED.
JESUS SAYS TO PAUL, DUDE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT HURTS TO KICK AGAINST A SHARP STICK.”
PAUL, I SEE THE PRICKS IN THE SKIN OF YOUR CONSCIENCE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
FOLKS, THIS WHOLE THING FASCINATES ME – HERE’S WHY.
EXTERNALLY PAUL WAS CONFIDENT, DETERMINED, UNWAVERING.
HE WAS FULL BLOWN AGAINST THE CHURCH. HE WAS PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL AND KILLING THEM FOR BEING FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.
EXTERNALLY HE WAS ZEALOUS FOR THE PURITY OF OLD TESTAMENT LAW AND THE JEWISH TRADITIONS.
EXTERNALLY HE WAS FULFILLING THE DESIRES OF HIS SUPERIORS, THE JEWISH COUNCIL IN JERUSALEM.
BUT INSIDE . . . INSIDE THE FEET AND LEGS OF HIS CONSCIENCE WAS FULL OF BLOODY DOTS BECAUSE HE WAS KICKING AGAINST A SHARP STICK.
EVERY TIME HE PUT SOMEONE IN JAIL HE KICKED THE STICK OF HIS CONSCIENCE.
EVERY TIME SOMEONE DIED HIS CONSCIENCE GAVE HIM ANOTHER TWINGE OF PAIN.
I’LL GET TO THE CONTRADICTION IN A MINUTE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST ADDRESS THOSE HERE TODAY WHO HAVE FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES WHO SEEM SO HARD AND CALLOUSED AGAINST GOD.
PLEASE HEAR THIS . . . EXTERNAL CONFIDENCE AND HARDNESS IS NOT AN INDICATION OF WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE THAT PERSON.
WHEN I STARTED PREPARING THIS LESSON I NEVER INTENDED TO GO DOWN THIS PATH, BUT I BELIEVE IT’S IMPORTANT FOR SOME OF YOU TO HEAR.
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE LOST OR ARE LOSING HOPE YOUR LOVED ONES WILL EVER COME TO CHRIST, JUST REMEMBER WHAT YOU SEE ON THE OUTSIDE DOES NOT ALWAYS REVEAL WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE.
THAT PERSON WAS BORN WITH A CONSCIENCE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALWAYS CALLING, ALWAYS PRODDING, ALWAYS BRINGING BACK TO THEIR MIND THE TRUTH.
IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT THE FEET AND LEGS OF THEIR CONSCIENCE YOU WOULD SEE DOTS OF BLOOD.
LOOK AT PAUL, A WICKED PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH WITH A CONSCIENCE THAT DROVE HIM NUTS.
THE EXTERNAL LOOKS DISCOURAGING. JUST DON’T FORGET THERE IS MORE GOING ON THAN WHAT YOU SEE.
AND IF YOU NEED FURTHER EXAMPLES TAKE A LOOK AROUND YOU.
ALL THOSE WHO KNEW THE TRUTH, BUT DELIBERATELY RESISTED THE TRUTH TO THE POINT OF STANDING AGAINST THE GOSPEL, PLEASE STAND.
ALL OF US WERE PRICKED UNTIL WE FINALLY SURRENDERED.
THE WORD SURRENDER FINALLY GETS ME TO THE APPARENT CONTRADICTION.
I NOW LUMP ALL OF US HERE TODAY INTO ONE BALL.
I SPEAK TO THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST AND THE NON-FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
I SPEAK TO THE TOTALLY DEDICATED AND TO THE BACKSLIDER.
TO ALL OF US I SAY,
SURRENDER IS NOT LOSING.
NOT ONLY ARE WE BORN WITH A CONSCIENCE, BUT WE ARE ALSO BORN WITH A STUBBORN FREE WILL.
OUR CONSCIENCE TELLS US RIGHT FROM WRONG, BUT OUR FREE WILL DOESN’T LIKE TO BE TOLD WE’RE WRONG.
I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING . . . THE LONGER I’M IN THIS BUSINESS THE MORE I REALIZE PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE, DON’T LIKE TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.
THE MEEKEST PERSON WILL GROW FANGS IF THEY’RE TOLD YOU HAVE TO DO THIS OR THAT.
THE STRONG WILLED WILL BLOW UP LIKE A PUFFER FISH AND STING YOU WITH THEIR POISON BARBS IF YOU TELL THEM THEY HAVE TO DO THIS OR THAT.
IT’S IN ALL HUMAN BEINGS, BUT EVEN MORE IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE DON’T SURRENDER, WE FIGHT.
WE DON’T ADMIT DEFEAT, WE THROW BIGGER BOMBS.
DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I’LL DO THE OPPOSITE OR MAYBE I JUST WON’T DO ANYTHING AT ALL – EITHER WAY I’LL SHOW YOU.
YOU SEE, TO US SURRENDER IS LOSING.
GIVING IN IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT MEANS I DON’T WIN.
WELL, ALL THOSE OF THE HUMAN RACE HERE TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR GOD GIVEN CONSCIENCE AND THE CALL OF GOD TO LIFE, SURRENDER IS NOT LOSING.
WHEN IT COMES TO SUBMISSION TO WHAT GOD IS CALLING US TO DO SURRENDER IS TOTAL VICTORY.
THE VERY DEFINITION OF SURRENDER CONTRADICTS THIS POINT.
SURRENDER: TO YIELD, TO GIVE UP, TO ABANDON.
NO, THIS CAN’T BE WRONG, BUT IT IS.
PLEASE HEAR THIS . . .
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS THE PAIN OF SURRENDER IS FAR LESS THAN THE PAIN OF RESISTENCE.
WHY? BECAUSE THE PAIN OF SURRENDER WILL BRING WITH IT HEALING OF THE CONSCIENCE AND PEACE OF MIND.
A HEALED CONSCIENCE AND PEACE OF MIND ALLOWS US TO SLEEP AT NIGHT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE.
I LIKE WHAT PS. 143:10 SAYS.
TEACH ME TO DO YOUR WILL, FOR YOU ARE MY GOD; MAY YOUR GOOD SPIRIT LEAD ME ON LEVEL GROUND.
LORD, I WANT TO WALK ON LEVEL GROUND.
LORD, I WANT YOUR WILL IN MY LIFE SO I DON’T HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEEP INCLINE OF NOT BEING IN YOUR WILL.
IT’S ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF THE SAME POINT.
NOT SURRENDERING IS LIKE CLIMBING THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, BUT NEVER REACHING THE TOP.
LORD, LEVEL GROUND, LET ME WALK ON LEVEL GROUND WITHOUT MY LEGS HURTING FROM ALL THE PRICKS FROM KICKING AGAINST THE GOAD.
SURRENDER IS NOT LOSING.
ALTAR CALL FOR SURRENDER.
