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December 15, 2021 7:00 am
The gospel is completely contrary to worldly wisdom, God deliberately manifested Christ in weakness, he deliberately chose weak and foolish things to advance his purpose so they would be clear to everyone that the glory belongs to him.
If you have to plan out redemptive history on your own wouldn't come close to resembling God's sovereign plan steeped in humility scourging and death on the cross. Of course not. That's what proves the gospel is no invention of humankind high on bill right and this is the truth. Pulpit pastor Don Greene is presenting a series for the season, titled the most blessed birth. Today's message is appropriately titled. Is this really a good idea as Christmas approaches, we should be more focused than ever on the true meaning of the incarnation God entered history in human form in order to rescue his people from sin and a dark and dying world.
So for the next half hour. Turn your attention away from shopping and other worldly concerns and join us in opening God's word. I was done green in the truth.
Pulpit most Americans realize that our president is protected by an agency known as the secret service according to its official website Secret Service.gov. The Secret Service and I quote the Secret Service is recognized for the physical protection it provides to the nation's highest elected leaders visiting foreign dignitaries, facilities, and major events in order to ensure a secure environment for protecting these. The Secret Service integrates a variety of innovative technologies and maintains a highly skilled and motivated workforce continuing the quote using advanced countermeasures. The Secret Service executes security operations that deter, minimize and decisively respond to identified threats and vulnerabilities. The protective environment is enhanced by specialized resources within the Secret Service including the aerospace security branch.
The counter sniper team. The emergency response team. The counter surveillance unit. The counter assault team.
The hazardous agent mitigation and medical emergency response team and the magnetometer operations unit. Other specialized resources also serve to provide protection from threats including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials and explosive devices."
That is a formidable degree of protection to bring to the president and two other important people. Isn't it I mean just the sound of those units is enough to intimidate you not to have any evil thoughts toward anyone now. To be clear, I'm all in favor. The Secret Service, I'm all in favor of them using every possible device that they can to protect whoever our elected leaders might be.
We should protect them, it is our duty to protect them as representatives of our nation.
The logic of the Secret Service reduced to its most fundamental premise is this important people need increased security and, as the president is at the pinnacle of the most important people in our society. He deserves the highest security that we can provide to him.
Fair enough. Has it ever occurred to you that God advances his plan of redemption in a completely different way. Has it ever occurred to you that Jesus Christ is infinitely more important than any world leader could ever be the eternal son of God, compared to a man of passing human flesh. The only Redeemer of mankind, and that when he came to earth.
He was the only being in the universe who was capable of saving men from eternal hell he was tasked with the fulfillment of God's eternal plan, which was established before the beginning of time. Yet, what do we know about his birth. He was born in a in an obscure place in a comparatively obscure time to obscure parents in an obscure location which may have been as simple as a cave. This supremely important person was a vulnerable infant kept in an animal trough. Is this really a good idea. Is this the way to do things one way word check of a donkey and the whole plan goes down one mortal illness contracted in the elements and the plan is undone to see the human vulnerability of what's at stake you realize of someone far more important than a US president had no security forces around him that tells us an awfully lot. If we think about it you know the truth of the matter is, is that for his impressive as the resources of the Secret Service are in the resources that are brought to bear to protect the president when he's out and about in one sense it projects strength. Why is all of that strength necessary because the supremely vulnerable. We've had multiple presidents assassinated haven't fully over the course of our nation's history. We've had multiple men die in office want assassinated the truth of the matter is the truth of the matter is, is that all of this force of protection simply shows that this is a man of week vulnerable human flesh and the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ needed none of that when he came showed who was in supreme charge and who was really strong, who was really powerful but according to human wisdom measured by the logic of the Secret Service.
This was not a good idea – someone that important, so vulnerable and unprotected thing about it further. Though as we kind of just walked down a brief path, remembering the career of our Lord Jesus while he was here on earth thing about it further. This infant somehow survives the bad idea of having him born in vulnerable like that and he grows into a man. Somehow he survives the threats of childhood and infant mortality and comes to maturity. What did he do, he started to teach. He started to attract disciples motley crew lot like you and me at the time, and even in that small circle of the 12 that were closest to him what happened. One of them betrayed him and Judas on the night the Christ before Christ was crucified, brings a Roman army to taken captive rather than being a world leader with forces protecting him.
Jesus was instead faced with an army that was against him and he face them alone they carried him off in weakness and in apparent defeat, although admittedly he spoke a word and they all felt their feet for a moment before him, but rather than this great leader for lack of better term, having an army around him. He has an army against him. Is this really a good idea if this is the plan of God.
Is this a good idea what what mind conceives of such weakness being that which advanced the plan of God.
Take a step further. What happens is tried and condemned under Pontius Pilate. Even though Pilate sees his innocence is taken away. He's crucified in shame and in agony as those who crucified him, mocked him, as his mother watched from a distance helpless to do anything to protect or help the infant that she wants held in her arms. Secular and red religious authorities both arrayed against him and he stands as a war between heaven and earth.
He hangs better stated, hangs between heaven and earth, suspended in midair. Unable to do anything for himself nailed to a wooden cross in the vilest most most wretched form of execution that is been known to the history of man.
This is the son of God.
This is the Savior of the world. This is the idea is this really a good idea.
The power would be's displayed in that kind of weakness, take it further. As it turns out, as you watch this unfold over time. The plan is to preach this rejected and crucified man to the world is the only Savior of mankind in a world that that calculates and comes up with a force like the Secret Service to project power and security is supposed to look on this one. Who was rejected and believe that he's the only Savior of mankind. The only one who can rescue them from eternal judgment. That's the message. Is this really a good idea.
Are you kidding me to go further and read in Scripture and second Corinthians chapter 12 for example how God makes it clear that his followers, including the great apostle Paul would know insults and weaknesses in distresses and persecutions and difficulties. For Christ's sake and would manifest that they and it would display to them their utter weakness and un-utter inability to do anything on their own. God says it is power would be perfected in their weakness. His grace is sufficient.
This is a good idea at every point of redemptive history, you could say there is this weakness being manifested as you look at certain points of emphasis the birth of in Bethlehem, the cross, today's gospel preaching the lives that you and I live that supposedly are fragrance and aroma to the living Christ, manifested in weakness.
Since a cut idea in first Corinthians chapter 1, the apostle Paul addresses this principle of weakness that is inherent in the message of the gospel that is inherent in the life and ministry of Christ and is inherent really in the very nature of the people of God. You know it is not the wealthy and the powerful that are the primary instruments. The primary bearers of the message of the gospel is it.
It's weaklings like you and me and this is how God intends to build his kingdom how Christ intends to build his church. This is the idea in first Corinthians chapter 1 verse 26.
The apostle Paul says, for consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen the things that are not so that he may nullify the things that are so that no man may boast before God. The whole idea of God is contrary to human wisdom. The fact that we would look on these things that the unsaved carnal unregenerate mind would look on these things and declare them foolish is the very point it is the very point that shows that the message of Christ, the incarnation of Christ, the crucifixion of Christ.
The preaching of the gospel of the crucified Christ for the sole salvation of man could not possibly have come from men because men would never come up with this is a very weakness of it that manifest the power of God that manifest the wisdom of God that shows that this does not originate from human thought human ingenuity. Paul went on in chapter 2 verse one of first Corinthians 7 when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling in my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God. Beloved, let me tell you something really vital for your spiritual health.
For that which you would teach your children for you to understand that would give security and stability to your faith, and that which would help explain the philosophy of ministry at this small local church.
We do not do things better stated, God does not do things according to human wisdom God contradicts human wisdom with the way that he operates. The world raises up security security army around its leader. God says I don't need that their security army actually shows that they are not in control of the situation, God shows he's in perfect control of the situation by having nothing around to protect his Christ. Nothing could penetrate. Jesus said there's 12 hours in a day. My day will be fulfilled. My time is appointed inherent that Fox cannot shorten it.
The very weakness, beloved, manifest the sovereign power of God and so we look at what the messages that this crucified Messiah, who was by the way, raised from the dead resurrected on the third day, showing the supreme power of God manifesting power even over death, which the Secret Service did not list on their website is one of the things is within their power to raise the dead sea beloved the world cannot claim credit for the gospel and I love it that way.
Don't you.
The gospel is completely contrary to worldly wisdom, God deliberately manifested Christ in weakness, he deliberately chose, we can foolish things to advance his purposes so that it would be clear to everyone that the glory belongs to him alone that God advances his kingdom solely by his power, and how does God certify that truth to us. How do you know the gospel is true if you sit here well it's not by worldly means beloved. It's not by worldly arguments either.
We don't build a probability case for Christ and say won't you please believe he's knocking at the door of your heart begging for you to open up and let him in. What a distortion of truth that is no know how does God certify the truth of these things to us. He certifies it to us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, he certifies it to us by the authority of his inspired and inerrant word he certifies it to us by the testimony of the Holy Spirit.
How is it that we can know these things are true, are you looking for truth in a confusing age that has smothered the gospel not only in commercialism and sentimentalism and a whole philosophy of ministry that deliberately caters to the minds of carnal unregenerate men how to find the truth in the midst of a world like that how can you find forgiveness for your guilty soul and rest in the forgiveness of sin. Let me give you a really good idea. Don't look for things that have the approval of men don't look for things that the wisdom of men would approve and applaud. Look for the things that have the approval of God is testified in his own word in first Corinthians chapter 2 verses six and seven Paul says, yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature, a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away, but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory, the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. You look for truth in the pure word of God. The pure milk of the word of God. That's where you find it. As you read the word of God, you look you listen you pay attention for how it testifies to a crucified and risen Christ in you, look and contemplate and you trace it back and you realize that in a human sense in the round of time that this wisdom of God started in a manger with a babe born in completely unprotected circumstances and his very vulnerability, testifying to the certain purposes, and the unconquerable power of an omnipotent God, my friend.
If you're here looking for those things looking for certainty in your confused and uncertain mind looking for relief from your guilty and accusing conscience which knows that you have sinned against God, and that your soul is not right for him and you're looking for an answer that echoes and resonates with truth that you can rest your eternity on the you can stake your existence on that you can steak all of your hope on and abandon everything else. Let one solitary hope be that which captures your heart you look to Christ, the Christ, to alone is revealed in Scripture, who alone is the Christ, who alone is the name given under heaven by which we must be saved look to the Christ who said everyone who beholds the son and believes in him will have eternal life. Christ says I myself will raise him up on the last day, you know, we can't have it both ways. We can't have the approval and applause and praise of men and have Christ you have to let go of one have the other 11 Christ is certified to us by the wisdom of God, certified by the greatness of Scripture, the greatness of the resurrection and the greatness of the Holy Spirit certifies your heart, the truth is God gospel is rooted in wisdom and power.
God not in fainting, wisdom, second-guessing God is always a losing proposition is comforting to know that all things proceed according to his perfect and sovereign plan Pastor Don Greene will bring you more from our series.
The most blessed birth on our next broadcast. Be sure to join is then here on the truth pulpit right now though, here's done with news of a special resource my friends as we wrap up today's broadcast. I just want to say a quick word about the tremendous pressure that our culture is bringing against biblical morality. Even Christian leaders are starting to waffle on these most basic issues of biblical truth and righteousness. But God's word has not changed and I know that you have your familiar listener to this broadcast. You want to stand firm on this issue. Just like I do what we want to do is put into your hands are series titled the Bible and homosexuality is available by CD or by free download and my friend Bill is going to help you find right now.
Just visit us at the truth. Pulpit.com and click on radio offers to learn more until writable. See you next time on the truth pulpit