Sermon Title: The Fool.
Scripture Text: Ephesians 5: 15-20
ILLUSTRATION:
It was a cold and silent night. The weather was freezing cold. A group of monkeys were on a tree. They were clinging to its branches. One of the monkeys said, “I wish we could find some fire. It will help us to keep warm.”
Suddenly they noticed a flock of fireflies. One of the young monkeys thought it was fire. He caught a firefly. He put it under a dry leaf and started blowing at it. Some other monkeys also joined in his efforts.
In the meanwhile, a sparrow came flying to its nest which was on the same tree the monkeys were sitting on. She noticed what they were doing. The sparrow laughed. She said, “Hey silly monkeys, that is a firefly, not real fire. I think all of you should take shelter in a cave.”
The monkeys did not listen to the sparrow. They continued to blow at the poor firefly for hours. Cradled in her warm nest the sparrow sat watching from the other limb.
The firefly finally escaped the monkeys. The monkeys never went to the cave. They sat in the tree all night during the terrible storm and nearly froze to death.
The poor sparrow felt for the monkeys. Finally she thought, “Fools never value good advice. It is better not to advise them."
Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE WORD OF GOD
FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Sermon:
Way back in history rulers used to keep an entertainer on call in their great households to provide casual entertainment. They would dress in bold colors and wear motley caps, bells, and flash a scepter. They would dance foolishly but being a fool with no cause or destination kept everyone laughing and entertained.
I don't really think that any of us would want to be a “fool” like this fellow. But you know sometimes we see them in real life. But without the bold clothes and jumping around. I hate to say it but sometimes they are elected officials, some times we see them as they are “fools” trying to impress their bosses. We can spot them anywhere and everywhere.
A fool can be understood in the progression of rebellion that is reflected in the Bible’s description of fools.
-Some have worked digging gold in mines only to find out it was fools gold.
-The simple fool opens his mind to any passing thought and opens his arms to any passing stranger.
---Yes sometimes we can dig so deep that we end up muddy murky water where we can’t see. Seeking truth we have to open our minds to discover what the LORD has for us to live by.
-When things go wrong for a fool, he becomes angry, resulting in more damage.
---We have talked about anger but this is anger when things don’t go our way.
---I have found out that anger comes when someone is repeating what someone told them but they can’t explain it so we can understand it. Stating something doesn't make it so.
-A fool doesn’t have a mental deficiency, but rather rejects the wisdom of God.
---He glories in things he should be ashamed according to God.
-A fool is unreasonable.
---Trying to impose their way of thinking and doing upon individuals that don’t think the way they do.
-The fool turns a deaf ear to rebuke
---Proverbs 9:7-8 NLT
7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
In a great hall in the old USSR an atheist government official had talked to a full hall about atheism and Christianity. He about about a hours of this atheist talking about how good atheism was. Then he was silent looking around the great hall. In a loud voice he asked if anyone had any questions? Way in the back, up in the balcony, one man rose to his feet and as loud as he could said:
CHRIST HAS DIED
CHRIST HAS RISEN
CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN
Repeat after me:
CHRIST HAS DIED
CHRIST HAS RISEN
CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN
again:
CHRIST HAS DIED
CHRIST HAS RISEN
CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN
