1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,320 Well, like I said before my name is Greg Hampton. I'm one of the pastors here. We've never met I would love to meet you 2 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:08,140 I enjoy coffee and the like 3 00:00:08,140 --> 00:00:10,660 So if you would like to grab a beverage sometime 4 00:00:10,660 --> 00:00:17,240 I'd be happy to buy that for you and get to know you hear your story learn a little bit about you last week 5 00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:21,960 We finished up a three-week series called the Trinity and we ended on 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:29,640 The subject of the Holy Spirit. It's a common idea in the scriptures that wisdom comes from God 7 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:37,240 But more specifically the Holy Spirit is regularly credited with giving wisdom 8 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:39,880 to all those 9 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,240 That seek for it. We're actually gonna as far as I know right now 10 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:44,920 We're gonna go through the book of James this summer 11 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,860 So we're gonna find our way back to the subject of wisdom again 12 00:00:47,860 --> 00:00:52,160 And in the beginning of James it talks about God gives wisdom to all those who ask of it 13 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:58,400 So I thought since we ended with the the Trinity last week that we would jump into a series called 14 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,120 wisdom lit that we would dive into 15 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:08,340 Wisdom, I've been having this feeling maybe you're having this feeling as well that we're gonna need wisdom now more 16 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,800 than ever as individuals as a society as 17 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,560 neighbors as well as as a church 18 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,320 Last week we had our our lead team with all the different leaders of the different 19 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,920 Volunteer teams here at the church last Sunday 20 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:28,920 And I was talking to them a little bit about some future ideas or opportunities the church might have but I said we don't just need 21 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:30,920 good opportunities we need wisdom 22 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:35,160 Because not every opportunity is the thing you're supposed to do even if it looks 23 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:37,960 Good and so for the next six weeks 24 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:43,960 We're gonna be in a series about the wisdom that we find in the scriptures called wisdom 25 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:48,160 Lit they might already know this but there are different categories of 26 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:54,600 scriptures like the law and the prophets like poetry and the epistles 27 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,400 The category of wisdom literature includes books like Job Psalms 28 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:01,360 Proverbs 29 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:07,440 Ecclesiastes in while the Gospels are not technically in the category of wisdom literature 30 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,440 They are category of their own 31 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:14,480 Last week we talked about how one of the works of the Holy Spirit is to remind us of 32 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:20,080 Everything that Jesus taught and so it seems to me if we're talking about wisdom 33 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:25,720 There's no better place to start than with the wisdom of Jesus in the Gospels 34 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,360 And so if you'll grab your Bible, let's go ahead and jump in we're gonna go to Luke 35 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:34,720 Chapter 6 if you don't have a Bible there are Bibles on the table 36 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,720 There's also Bibles out in the lobby 37 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,720 On the bookshelf you can take one of those and I'll take it home with you if you'd like you can download a Bible from 38 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:43,720 any of the digital 39 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,720 App stores we're gonna be in Luke chapter 6 it goes Matthew Mark Luke John acts 40 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,720 So you see any of those you're in the right neighborhood 41 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:50,720 Okay 42 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:56,720 We have a tradition of giving the scriptures our full attention as they are read during the sermon and you can do that any 43 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,720 Number of ways you can sit as we read or you can join me in standing now 44 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,720 As we read Luke chapter 6 45 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,720 starting in verse 27 46 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,720 It says this but I say to you who are listening 47 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,720 Love your enemies do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you 48 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:22,720 Pray for those who mistreat you if anyone strikes you on the cheek offer the other also 49 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:28,720 And from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt 50 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:35,720 Give to everyone who asks of you and if anyone takes away what is yours do not ask for it back again 51 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:40,720 Do to others as you would have them do to you 52 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:46,720 If you love those who love you what credit is that to you for even sinners love those who love them 53 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:52,720 If you do good to those who do good to you what credit is that to you for even sinners do the same if you 54 00:03:52,720 --> 00:04:01,720 Lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment what credit is that to you even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much again 55 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:09,720 Instead love your enemies do good and lend expecting nothing in return your reward will be great 56 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:17,720 And you will be children of the most high for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked 57 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:26,720 And you will be children of the most high for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked 58 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:34,720 Be merciful just as your father is merciful let us pray 59 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:40,720 God of every tribe every tongue every color and every nation we thank you for your word 60 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,720 Thank you for the scriptures that they have persisted throughout the millennia 61 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:54,720 That it would become a part of the framework of our faith that our faith would become stronger as we become more like your son Jesus 62 00:04:54,720 --> 00:05:00,720 Amen. Amen. You can all have a seat. Thank you. 63 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:11,720 Alright. Here's the first thing wisdom is not just being smart 64 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:21,720 Wisdom is not just being smart sometimes wisdom feels like the exact opposite 65 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:31,720 Doesn't sound smart to love your enemies to do good things for people that hate you but it is somehow wise 66 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:41,720 Doesn't sound like a smart idea to bless people that curse you or to turn your other cheek and yet somehow it is wise 67 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:53,720 If someone steals your coat and you know who stole it it doesn't feel smart to just let it go but somehow it is wise 68 00:05:53,720 --> 00:06:00,720 Wisdom as described by Jesus actually sounds foolish 69 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:06,720 That's because wisdom is not just being smart 70 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,720 I've talked about this in the past but I think it was worth putting it up here again 71 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,720 Claire will you put up that first white graphic that I have in there 72 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:22,720 This is how we tend to think of wisdom these three lines you have good and bad you got right and wrong 73 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:30,720 You've got mature and immature these are the three things that kind of give dimension to how we think of wisdom in our life 74 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:36,720 When you're just small you're taught the stove is hot bad don't touch 75 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,720 Some of us have done that with our kids right bad hot don't touch 76 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,720 Of course the stove is not actually bad right 77 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:50,720 There's just good and bad times and ways to use the stove especially if you're a little kid 78 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:57,720 Then you learn not only is the stove good you find out that there's right and wrong ways to use the stove 79 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,720 You cook food and boil water right 80 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:07,720 Storing Tupperware inside of it forgetting and then preheating 81 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,720 It's on the wrong end of the spectrum 82 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:16,720 And then after you learn the difference between bad and good wrong right 83 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:23,720 You start to move into the area of life where you start to go okay things are mature or they are immature 84 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:29,720 With the stove you learn that this is the right way to use it this is the right time to use it 85 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:35,720 But maturity is using the stove for something good in the right way and then cleaning the stove when you're done 86 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:41,720 Any resemblance to anyone you know is a coincidence and unintentional 87 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:53,720 Good bad right wrong mature immature doesn't make us wise it makes us smart makes us sensible 88 00:07:53,720 --> 00:08:05,720 When we follow Jesus we find out that the smartest thing isn't always wise according to us it might even feel foolish 89 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:14,720 But what is actually foolish causes life to cave in this next graphic shows the idea that when we add the Holy Spirit 90 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:23,720 When we are filled with the Holy Spirit it gives us a dimension to all of these things when we are filled with the Spirit 91 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:31,720 It can count like a test or act it can push everything out and grow everything all at once but when we are foolish 92 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:37,720 It can collapse everything so when we are convinced. Oh, this is the right thing to do, but it's actually foolish 93 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:44,720 We end up having negative consequences, and we wonder why it's because we made that decision based on what we thought was right or wrong 94 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:52,720 Or good and bad not necessarily on what was truly wise or foolish where it felt foolish to turn the other cheek 95 00:08:52,720 --> 00:09:00,720 We find that retaliation or returning violence for violence actually shrinks our life 96 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:15,720 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said returning violence for violence multiplies violence adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars 97 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:22,720 Where it felt foolish to love our enemies we find that hate is what shrivels our hearts 98 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:32,720 Coretta Scott King the wife of the assassinated Dr. King said hate is too great a burden to bear 99 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:39,720 It injures the hater more than it injures the hated 100 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:47,720 Wisdom isn't just being smart by the world's standards it isn't just knowing good from bad right from wrong mature from immature 101 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:58,720 Wisdom is letting the teachings of Jesus fill us to the full by the power of the spirit and expanding our entire life because of it 102 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:07,720 Instead of limiting our love to only those that love us 103 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,720 Thanks, Claire, you can clear that 104 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:24,720 This is where I want to remind us including myself I'm reminding myself following Jesus living from a position of wisdom isn't easy 105 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,720 But I think that Jesus tells us how to at least get started 106 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,720 Let me read that verse again those first two verses 107 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:44,720 But I say to you who are listening love your enemies do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you pray for those who mistreat you 108 00:10:44,720 --> 00:11:01,720 Love your enemies do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you pray for those who mistreat you love do good bless pray 109 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:11,720 When we find ourselves in a difficult situation maybe instead of just filtering what we should do through good bad right wrong mature immature 110 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:16,720 Maybe we can filter our next steps through those four things 111 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:22,720 Is my next decision motivated and shaped by love 112 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,720 Is it doing good 113 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,720 Is it a blessing is their prayer involved 114 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,720 Because the scripture goes on 115 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:37,720 He says if you love those who love you what credit is that to you 116 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,720 This is hard for us to hear 117 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:46,720 If you do good to only those who do good to you what credit is that to you 118 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:56,720 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment what credit is that to you he says instead love your enemies 119 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,720 Do good 120 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,720 And lend expecting nothing in return 121 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,720 He ends by saying be merciful 122 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:14,720 Just as your father is merciful I guess what it all amounts to is that wisdom is somehow grace and mercy combined 123 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:19,720 Grace is when you give the gift that someone did not deserve 124 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:26,720 We are grateful for the grace that we receive from God because there's this concept that we don't deserve the love forgiveness 125 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,720 The goodness that he offers us that's grace 126 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:37,720 But mercy is when you do not give the retribution that is deserved 127 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:43,720 Mercy is when you do not strike back when you could 128 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,720 Mercy is when you withhold the slap 129 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:52,720 The curse the violence or the punishment 130 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:57,720 That by the world standards would be deserved 131 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:03,720 They all get lost in mercy 132 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:08,720 And so I'm reminded of the words of James the brother of Jesus 133 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:14,720 He says mercy triumphs over judgment 134 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:20,720 Last Monday a new president was sworn into office here in the United States 135 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:30,720 And it's true of every president that the decisions that they make have real world consequences and outcomes for the people that you know and love 136 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:32,720 For yourself 137 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:40,720 Some people are very excited about those potential outcomes while others are completely terrified 138 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,720 I think that Jesus has something to say to us here 139 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:51,720 Especially to any of us find that we are feeling we have an enemy in the White House 140 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:59,720 I want us to remember that Jesus is speaking to a crowd full of people that were daily affected by their government 141 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:05,720 They were daily affected by a government that was their literal enemy 142 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:14,720 By the time that Jesus was saying these words in Luke and Matthew Rome had ruled over Israel for about 90 years 143 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:25,720 There was almost no one alive or anyone hearing his words that had ever experienced complete freedom in their lifetime 144 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,720 And in Matthew's version of the same sermon 145 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:35,720 Right in the middle of these verses we find out that Jesus is at least in part talking directly about the government that they were living under 146 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:40,720 Jesus says if anyone forces you to go one mile go with them too 147 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,720 He's talking about the military 148 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:49,720 He's talking about the soldiers from Rome that were occupying their land 149 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:59,720 We know this because there was a law that said if any Roman soldier wanted you to carry their gear for one mile you were required to do so 150 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:05,720 They could ask you anytime, any place to pick up their stuff and carry it for them 151 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:10,720 They could make you go two miles out of the way anytime they wanted 152 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:14,720 One mile to get wherever they wanted to go and one mile for you to get back 153 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:23,720 And now Jesus is saying make it four 154 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:31,720 Think about the last time someone asked you for a ride and be honest 155 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:37,720 How many of you were excited to go out of your way? 156 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:45,720 Now imagine that it's someone that you have a legitimate reason to dislike or distrust 157 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,720 Jesus says do more than you are required 158 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:56,720 Because if you love those who love you what credit is that to us? 159 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,720 He says be merciful just as your father is merciful 160 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:05,720 Now I don't think that this means that we aren't supposed to speak up about injustice 161 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:11,720 I think that Jesus has quite a bit to say about the poor, about the weak, about the least 162 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:17,720 And I don't think that this is Jesus telling someone that they have to stay in an abusive relationship 163 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:23,720 But I do think that we are conditioned to think that if we know something is good, not bad 164 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,720 If we know that something is right, not wrong 165 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,720 If we know something is mature, not immature 166 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,720 That we can be sure of what is wise and not foolish 167 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:39,720 But Jesus flips foolishness on its head and tells us that there is more wisdom in loving our enemies 168 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:44,720 Doing good to those who hate us, blessing those that curse us 169 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,720 And praying for those that mistreat us 170 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:55,720 Than in our own version of wisdom and what it would tell us 171 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,720 So let me end with this 172 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,720 If you don't know how to accept this kind of wisdom 173 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,720 Especially with what is happening in the world 174 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,720 If you do not know how to accept this kind of wisdom 175 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:14,720 If you don't know how to begin by loving your enemy 176 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:19,720 Then start with doing good for someone that has offended you 177 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:25,720 If you don't think that you can start by doing something good for someone that has offended you or hates you 178 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:31,720 Then maybe start with blessing someone that has cursed you 179 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,720 And if you don't think that you can start with blessing someone that has cursed you 180 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:43,720 Maybe start by praying for someone that has mistreated you 181 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,720 But start somewhere 182 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:51,720 Because wisdom is not just being smart 183 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:59,720 Wisdom begins with following the teachings of Jesus 184 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:08,720 Jesus taught that those who follow his teachings can be compared to this 185 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:12,720 There was a person that built a house 186 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:14,720 And they built it on rock 187 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:19,720 And there was another that built their house and built it on sand 188 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:25,720 And when the winds came, when the waves raged, when the storms beat against each house 189 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:30,720 One of those houses stood 190 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:40,720 The house that was built on the teachings of Jesus and following them was the house that survived 191 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,720 I hope that we will be filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit 192 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:47,720 That we will hear the teachings of Jesus 193 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,720 That we will follow these teachings with wisdom 194 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:59,720 In every moment, thinking about how to love, how to do good, how to bless, and how to pray 195 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:07,720 Amen? Amen. Let's pray 196 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,720 Father, we thank you that you are good 197 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,720 Jesus, we thank you that you love 198 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:19,720 Spirit, we thank you that you lead 199 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,720 Help us to be good 200 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,720 Help us to love 201 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:33,720 Help us to lead in a way that is wise 202 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:39,720 And not just by our own standards 203 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,720 In the name of Jesus we pray 204 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:43,720 Amen