A Different Angle on Valentine’s Day

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and [because] everyone who loves has born of God and knows God.  8 He who does not love has not come to know God, because God is love.  9 In this way God’s love is made evident in our midst, in that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world in order that we might live through Him.  10 In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the propitiation [atoning sacrifice] for our sins.  11 Beloved, if [in fact] God loved us like this, [then] we also are obligated to love one another.  12 No one has ever seen God.  [But] if we love one another, God lives in us and His love has accomplished its goal in us.” (author's translation)

“Love is of God,” (4:7).  With these four short words, the apostle John makes a very powerful and quite provocative statement both about love and about God.

For the countless people who are looking for love in all the wrong places (and in all the wrong forms), John says simply that “love is of God.”  He is its Source.

But then, take note that John also informs us that “God is love,” (4:8).  In other words, whatever He is, it is.  However, so that we do not misunderstand, the point is not that love defines God, but that He defines it.  Simply put, knowing God is the way to know [real, lasting] love because He is love.

Next, the apostle indicates that God’s love (the fact that He loves and, especially the way He loves) is both revelatory and redemptive.  God’s love is revelatory in that, when He loves, He does not merely say it, He shows it.  It is a love that He ‘makes evident’ to the objects of His love (4:9; John 3:14 - 17) in and through the cross – the atoning death of His Son.

But, then, take note that the reason for the revelation of God’s love is redemption.  God’s love is redemptive, in that, when He loves He gives so as to address the huge issue of sin in all of our lives (4:10).  But also, when God loves His love is redemptive, in that, in dealing with our sin (and sins), we are changed and our relationship to Him is changed (we come to be His children – ‘born of Him’ – 4:7).  In loving us redemptively, we are no longer [spiritually] dead, but are given [eternal] life through Jesus Christ (4:9; Ephesians 2:1, 4 - 5).  In loving us redemptively, God makes us His beloved children even though we were formerly His enemies (4:7; Romans 5:6 – 11).

So what?  ‘Well, God, I am really glad you are that way . . . All of that is really great . . . Time to move on to the next thing . . . Right?’

Wrong!  If we claim to be God’s children – loved by God – begotten by His love – able to relate to Him because of that love – then, what?  Then, we are obligated (the idea is that of being ‘indebted’) to love not just Him, but every other child of God.  And, in responding to His love for us in this way, we make Him known.  The Unseen One is made visible through us (4:12).  His love accomplishes the goal He had in mind for it from the very beginning (4:12).  Amazing!

Video - Marriage is Sacred

Military Success in the New Year

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 8, 2012

Genesis 39:1-23, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.  Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”  But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”  So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.  But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”  So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”  So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

The end of the year and the beginning of a New Year is one of those critical cross-roads in life, isn’t it?  As we flip over the calendar, month-by-month, marking off each of the 365 days on it, we might not think that much about it.  However, when the time comes to change calendars, and, perhaps to do like we do at our house, to transfer from the old calendar to the new calendar, all the birth dates and anniversary dates, each of the highlights and lowlights of the previous year, when that time comes, we often find ourselves stopping to evaluate, don’t we?  Was I successful last year?  And, if so, how successful was I?  And in what areas of my life did I succeed?  And, what about this New Year?  Will it be a year full of prosperity and success for me, for my family, and for those I love? 

Last week we discussed the fact that prosperity or success is something that most everyone years for, and many go to great strides to achieve.  We also observed that different people’s definitions of success look and sound different.  Profit – did I make a profit?  Product – is this year’s product going to be better than last year’s?  Progress – how far did we move from where we began during the last 12 months?  A lot of people use words like profit, product and progress to define and measure success.  But, what did we learn?  What must we always keep in mind?  We, who call ourselves the people of God, set apart by Him, set apart to Him, set apart for Him and for His purposes, we must remember that our God has given us a different definition of success than profit, product or progress.  We must always keep in mind that success, prosperity, blessing, is always patterned according to His will for our lives, His goals, His Word.  That’s why we are opening up this Book today.  That’s why we open it every Lord’s Day, to see how our God defines success, to keep coming back to the simply but powerful truths He’s given us on the subject.  Truths such as the ones laid up for us in this text. 

Last week, we began our look at Joseph’s life, and at the fact that he was successful, very, very successful.  And, we asked ourselves, ‘What would it take to be more materially prosperous in this new year?’  Our text tells us that the “Lord blessed [Potiphar] the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and [that] the blessing of the Lord was on all that Potiphar had [both] in the house and in the field.”  Joseph’s success spilled over, reverberated, into the life of his master, Potiphar.  God blessed Joseph, yes.  But, God also used Joseph to BE a blessing!  In a nutshell, that’s what success is all about from God’s perspective. 

Material prosperity, monetary success.  We’d all like to be a little more, maybe a lot more successful in those ways this year, wouldn’t we?  But, how about this?  Would you, do you also want to succeed, be more prosperous, militarily this year? 

Military power and success.  Most of us likely don’t have that category of prosperity even listed on our goals for 2012.  But, if I may, I’d like to suggest it be written in near the top.  Military success; what do you mean, ‘Military Success’?!  Are we talking bombs and guns and combat boots?  What do we mean when we say, ‘In 2012, we ought to be striving for military success, greater levels of military success?’ 

We read through the passage rather rapidly a moment ago, so perhaps you didn’t catch it.  But, take a look again.  The 39^th chapter of Genesis begins and ends with the same refrain: “the Lord was with Joseph” – remember?  The Emmanuel Principle?  The ‘God-with-us’ principle that is at the heart of real success from this Book’s vantage point.  This chapter begins AND ends with the same refrain: “the Lord was with Joseph, and whatever he did, whatever Joseph put his hand to, the Lord made it to prosper.” 

Joseph was a successful man as God poured His blessings on and funneled His blessings through His servant, this man, Joseph.  We notice those parts of the passage, don’t we?  We want those parts of the passage to be true in our lives, also, don’t we?  But, here’s what we must not overlook: Joseph’s success was not without its battles!  Joseph’s prosperity was not a result of God’s putting him in some kind of protective bubble where there would be no wars and skirmishes!  Rather, at the heart of what we need to see and learn about success, as it is measured and defined by God, is what we discover in the middle verses of this passage, the section dealing with Joseph’s war, his battle with a woman, a wistful woman and agent of the Tempter, who wanted him to give into lust! 

The section we’re talking about here, the portion of the passage that deals with military success, begins in the sixth verse with the words, “Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”  A blessing of God – physical beauty – a beauty that, I believe, in Joseph’s case, flowed from the inside out, that was more than skin deep, this gift of God upon his life could have been his Achilles’ heel.  ‘Aw, come on Joseph… You’re young, you’re handsome, you’re single and unattached.  And, remember, I am your master’s wife, I could get you fired!’ 

Can you imagine the enticement all of that must have been to Joseph?  I mean, who would know?  His parents wouldn’t know.  They were in another country.  He hadn’t seen or heard from them in years!  His master wouldn’t know.  Surely, she wouldn’t tell on him.  Who would know? 

It’s not written there in some many words, the phrase that is so prominent in the first and last halves of the chapter, “The Lord was with Joseph”, that phrase that encapsulates the Emmanuel principle, is not written there in black and white, but, listen.  It’s there!  Believe me, it’s there! 

How can you tell?  Two things, two indicators that the Lord was with Joseph as he walked through this landmine.  Number one, his words, what Joseph said shows that the Lord was with him.  And, secondly, his deeds, what Joseph did shows that the Lord was with him there on that battlefield.  Take a look: I mentioned it to the Sunday School class last Lord’s Day, but I want all of you to see it today.  This woman, Potiphar’s Wife, who is in many ways like the strange woman, the immoral woman, that Solomon warned his sons against in the Book of Proverbs, notice how she uses her words.  Take a look at what she does.  Verse 7 – Prompted by longing eyes of lust and an empty, wicked heart, this woman doesn’t waste time with small talk: she just blurts it out: “Come to bed with me, you, handsome devil, you!” 

Sounds like a proposition from a street walker in the red light district, doesn’t it, fellows?  And, who wouldn’t be flattered by it, right?  That, by the way, is an appeal not only to the fleshly lust, but to pride!  “Come to bed with me…”  That’s what Mrs. Potiphar says with her words.  “Come to bed with me…”  “Come to bed with me…”  “Come to bed with me…”  It’s what I call the ‘broken record’ approach.  Take a look at verse 10 and you’ll get the picture.  “Come to bed with me…”  That’s what this audacious flirt says with her mouth.  Those were her words.  But notice the words Joseph uses in reply.  Unlike the foolish Israelites, who several hundred years later said to Moses, “We will go up to the place which the Lord has promised,” (Numbers 14:40).  We will go up and fight this battle and win.  We will…  And, sadly, Israel lost, was soundly defeated at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites – why?  Because “the Lord was not with them…”  (Numbers 14:42-43). 

Notice, the words of Joseph as he stood toe-to-toe with this temptation and this enemy.  There were no boastful forecasts of what he was going to do, on his own!   No!  Look!  Instead, with is words, Joseph draws a line in the sand.  He marks off the moral boundaries which governed his life.  He says,

“But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:8-9)

When the heat was on and the hormones could have been also, Joseph glorified God.  With his words, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin – SIN – against God?”  With his words, Joseph honored God.  But, words, you know, are a dime a dozen.  ‘Talk is cheap’ is how my mother puts it.  In other words, character, the kind of moral character and strength it takes to win battles, to succeed militarily, must be more – way more – than hot air!  It must be backed up, followed up, by what?  Actions! 

Take a look at verse 10, would you, please?  A lot of people, when they are pummeled with a continuing barrage of verbal assaults like Mrs. Potiphar used - that day-after-day, morning-after-morning, noon-and-night, ‘broken record’ approach – a lot of people give way and cave in when attacked like that.  How come?  Because they run out of air!  Because they get tired of the talk, the arguments, the verbal volleys back-and-forth.  And so, they lose the war! 

But, we’re wanting to know how to win the war, aren’t we?  We’re in need of guidance, THIS lamp for our feet, and light for our path (the Bible), to succeed militarily, aren’t we?  And, what is that guidance?

The Emmanuel principle, Joseph lived by the ‘God-is-with-me’ principle.  How do we know that?  We know that by what he said.  Verse 8 and 9, on the battlefield of lust and pride, he glorified God with his words!  “How can I do such a wicked thing, and sin against God?!”  But, that’s not all!  Joseph also demonstrated what it means to live by the Emmanuel ‘God-is-with-me’ principle, by what he did!  Verses 11 through 15 – to put it bluntly, he ran!  When the temptress tried to grab him, he remembered, “I must honor God now!  I am a vessel of honor, sanctified and fit for His use – here – today.  So, I must run!”  And ran he did! 

Military success, to win battles of the mind, body and spirit.  To honor God and allow the Emmanuel, God-with-me principle, to guide what you do with your mind, your body, and with your spirit, that’s what it means to succeed!  That is what our God is calling us to, when He says, “Set your hearts, your minds, your affections, on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God…”  (Colossians 3:1-3)  That’s what He intends to be worked out in our lives, when He says, “Flee sexual immorality…”  “You are not your own!  You’re not!  No!  You have been bought with a price!  Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s!”  (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, June 12, 2011

Ephesians 3:14-21, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

This morning, as we open our Bibles to study the Word of God together, I want to thank my daughter, Phoebe, for playing the piano for our worship service this morning. Thank you, Phoebe, you did very well. But, I also want to thank her for the songs she selected for the praise medley portion of our service. I don't know if you noticed it or not, but all three of the songs she picked for the praise medley were songs that related to the person and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians. “Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me...”, “Spirit of God, descend upon my heart...”, and “Come, Holy Spirit, I need you...” Three songs, really, like this passage here in Ephesians chapter three, three prayers that God intends for Christians to pray, in order that they might be strengthened and supported and yes, even shaped in and through the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit.

This morning, having paved the way through the use of these songs, these prayerful hymns, I'd like to take God up on His offer. I'd like to take God at His Word and allow Him to teach us in the way in which we should go, and to guide us with His eye. Psalm 32:8 – What does the Word of God teach us regarding the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit?

There are many important truths to be learned about the Holy Spirit, many ways for God to teach us and guide us in knowing more about His Spirit, but listen, allow me to say this right up front, God's plan, His desire and will for you and me, if we are indeed His children, is not so much that we know ABOUT the Holy Spirit, but that through the Spirit's good and gracious work in us, we come to know HIM, we come to know God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ!

Look again at this incredible prayer penned by Paul the apostle. He says, “for this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [and on my knees in prayer, I'm asking that] according to the riches of His glory, He would strengthen you with might by His Spirit in your inner being...” But why? What outcome does Paul look forward to as he watches and waits for God's answer?

He prays, he pleads, he beseeches God to answer His prayer for “Christ to dwell in our hearts by faith” and for God's people to be “rooted and grounded in love...” Why? Verses 18 & 19, “[So that we] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height [and] to know – to KNOW – the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God...” Let's meditate on all of that for a while, shall we? Wow! What a prayer! And, what an amazing BLESSING the Lord gives us when He answers a prayer like that! Come back to our original question with me for a moment, will you please? What does this Book, God's Holy Word, have to teach us regarding the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit?

Well, without being simplistic or redundant, let me say, first off, that He is a Person. False groups and false teachers would have us to believe that He is not a Person, the third Person of the Triune God, but an 'it, a 'force', the IMpersonal 'power' of God. But, if I may, allow me to remind you quickly, that FORCES, IMpersonal 'its' cannot be grieved, as Ephesians 4:30 says the Holy Spirit can. And, IMpersonal 'forces', 'its' cannot be vexed, as Isaiah 63:10 says He can. Furthermore, IMpersonal 'its', sheer 'forces' that have no personal qualities and characteristics, cannot be tempted as Acts 5:9 says the Holy Spirit can. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, He is a Peron. He is not an 'it.”

Secondly, allow me to remind you or inform you that the Holy Spirit, God's Spirit, has a 'job', in fact, He has many 'jobs', and unlike some folks we may know, He is busily at work carrying out the tasks and responsibilities of those 'jobs'. What does the Bible have to say about the PERSON and WORK of the Holy Spirit?

First of all, allow me to tell you that when we're dealing with the PERSON of the Infinite and Eternal Spirit of God, we're entering into a study that could very well take us the rest of our lives, and even then, not be fully thorough and complete. Don't let that discourage you or dissuade you from such a study, but just know that going in, okay?

Secondly, please remember that what we know for sure, for certain, about the Holy Spirit, is what we have - right here – in this Book, given to us through the Agency of God's Holy Spirit. Remember the passage? 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired of God”, literally, God, through His breath, His Spirit, breathes out His Word to make Himself know to us. So, whatever men, like this man, tell you or try to teach you about the Spirit of God, always, ALWAYS, check it out here, in the Book!

Earlier, I gave you some indication of how we know that the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus is a Person. He can be grieved. When we, the people of God, persist in patterns, sinful behavior, things like lying, stealing, evil speaking, unrighteous anger, and sexual impurity, we grieve Him. We make He sad. We break the heart of the One God gave us to seal us unto the day of redemption. And, Isaiah 63:10 tells us that when God's people – that's you and me – rebel against God's Spirit, He is vexed, He is angered and frustrated, because we are resisting His will, rather than submitting to it. Furthermore, as Acts 5:9 shows us, like Ananias and Sapphira, we can try to lie to the Spirit of God, but listen! Don't do it! Because to do so is to tempt Him, to test Him in ways, as Ananias and Sapphira found out, you don't want to be testing Him! What does the Bible have to say about the PERSON and WORK of the Holy Spirit?

If I were to try to summarize for you what the Bible has to say about the WORK of the Holy Spirit, I think I would have to boil it down to three main aspects for you to know and understand. Here goes:

What is the Holy Spirit's work, His 'job' so-to-speak? Number one, His job is to EDIFY, to build up the saved. The Holy Spirit, right no, is at work endeavoring to EDIFY the saved! Are you saved? Then know that the Holy Spirit is at work in you to “strengthen you with might, with power, in the inner being.” Secondly, in the way of a quick summary, I urge you to know that as this message draws to a close in a few minutes, and you perhaps begin to sense a strong tug at your heart, convincing you of what God's Word has said, and convicting you of your sin and your need for a Savior, know this, that the second major job of God's Holy Spirit is to EVANGELIZE the lost! That strong, almost irresistible tug, that deep felt, gnawing feeling in your heart, is not there because you ate spicy food before you came, but because God's Spirit is at work in you, to lead you the the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Then, thirdly, and I believe most importantly, please know that the Holy Spirit's job, His persistent and patient work in the church and in the world is that of EXALTING, lifting up the Savior! Jesus said it this way, in John 16:12-15. Read it with me, will you?

John 16:12-15, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

I'm looking at the clock, and realizing that we won't be able to explore all three of these aspects of the Work of God's Holy Spirit, but before we close, allow me to take a few moments to focus on at least one of them, the Spirit's Work in edifying the saved. How does the Holy Spirit edify? How does He build up the people of God, the saved? Romans 5:5, please find that passage with me, will you? In a section of Scripture where the apostle Paul depicts of the numerous benefits of being justified through faith in Jesus Christ, blessings like peace with God, access by faith into God's grace, joyful expectation to see God's glory, even glory, joy in tribulations because of what God does in us through those trials. In this section that actually begins back at chapter 4, verse 24, notice where the section ends: with this powerful insight into the Peron and Work of the Holy Spirit: God gives us His Holy Spirit, He actually pours out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit – why? To validate our hope! To make certain, to help us know for sure that the hope we have, the eager expectation that we have to one day see and take part in God's glory, God's given us His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God works in God's children, to solidify that hope and to solidify them IN that hope, when tribulation, tests and trials might otherwise shake and even shatter that hope!

God's Holy Spirit in God's child to solidify him or her in the hope of the glory of God, Romans 5:5.

Secondly, Romans 8:26-27 – How may of you have ever been so confused, so discouraged, so distressed that you simply COULD NOT pray, that you simply didn't know what to say to God? Romans 8:26-27 – Look at what this passage has to say about the job of the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Psalm 46 begins with these words: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present HELP in trouble..” Ever wondered how God fulfills that portion of His Word in your life? He does so, Romans 8:26-27 tells us, by way of His Holy Spirit! The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, is the One God gives to us, to make good on His promise to be our ever present help in trouble!

Then one more, as we prepare to close, what is the Holy Spirit up to as He works in the saved? Ephesians 5 & 6 – Take a look beginning at verse 15 of chapter 5. In that text, the apostle Paul urges Christians to walk circumspectly, to be careful how they live, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time! Now here's a question I want you to consider: How? How are folks like you and me, God's people, yes, but weak in the flesh, how are we to live carefully, to act wisely, to walk circumspectly? More specifically, Men, how are you and I to love our wives as Christ loved the church, how are we to learn to love them as much as we love our own bodies? And, Ladies, how are you to submit to us, your husbands, as the Church submits to Christ? And you, young ones, how are you to obey your parents in the Lord? How are you to go about honoring your Mom and Dad? And, Dads (and Moms), how are we to bring up those precious little ones in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and not provoke them to wrath?

The answer for all of these questions is one and the same:

Ephesians 5:18, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

“Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me, melt me, mold me, fill me, use me, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me...”

What Are You Going to Do with Jesus?

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, April 17, 2011

1 Corinthians 1:18-31, “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. For it is written:

“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

I don’t want to be, I don’t want you or anyone else I know and care about to be, an April fool! Have you had that thought on your minds the last several days?

Listen, my friends, as we live day-by-day, in a world where fools and foolishness seem to be the name of the game, and, as we who wear the name of Christ, who claim to belong to God through faith in His Son and who more and more are marginalized and even vilified in an increasingly hostile culture, to be or not to be an ‘April fool’ is a significant question indeed!

This week, as we mark another anniversary of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, where will we stand in respect to those monumental events? Among the soldiers carrying out gruesome orders, perhaps with a bit of disdain for this stupid Jew who actually thought He could do battle with the Roman empire and win?! Among the Jewish leaders, laughing triumphantly, scoffing arrogantly, daring God to rescue Him, if He really is His Son?! Among the passers-by, caught up in this scene of great human agony and yet, perhaps also caught up in the tide of opposition, the swirling tsunami of scorn and hatred toward the Man on the middle cross? Among the frightened and confused friends and followers of the One over Whose head are the words, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”?! Though we will not fully arrive there today in our study, the Lord-willing, that’s where we will end up next Lord’s Day, on Resurrection Day. Where do we stand, where do YOU stand, where do I stand as far as Jesus is concerned? To put it simply, and straightforwardly, our eternal destiny - not just our momentary ‘happiness’ or our ‘success in life’ – but our ETERNAL DESTINY hinges upon that question, “where do you stand with respect to Jesus? What will you do with Jesus?”

April fools, August fools, November fools, as the passages in the psalms that we looked at previously indicated to us, sadly, but truly, they are all the same!! They reject God! Through the pride of their countenance, they will not seek after God! In fact, all their thoughts are, ‘There is no God!’ (Psalm 10:4, 14:1) Flattering themselves in their own eyes, mouthing words of iniquity, and deceit, devising mischief upon their beds, refusing to abhor evil, CEASING TO BE WISE, and do good, rejecting the fear of God, who do they do? Where do they stand on ‘Good Friday’ and ‘Resurrection Day’? Psalm 36:1-4 indicates that they transgress against God; that’s what they do! And their place, the spot where they stand this week, is that place in that dark and distant place where those who have rejected God stand. The ‘April fool’ - is that an appropriate description for anybody you know? Is it a name that fits you or me?

The ‘April fool’ – the first thing I believe, the first sad and tragic thing we learn about him or her is that he rejects God! And, then, as you would expect, if he continues in that path of folly, where those who lack real understanding walk, where those who have turned aside to corruption have turned (see Psalm 14:2-3), if he continues in that foolish way, where do his feet take him next? 1 Corinthians 2:14. Take a look at what the Word of God says about the April fool’s next destination.

1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Speaking to us from the larger context of the passage we read at the outset this morning, the apostle Paul, our Divinely-inspired teacher, instructs us to this effect: the April fool, if he continues on the path of rejecting God, refusing to fear Him, turning aside to prideful thoughts like, ‘I know as much as He does! I don’t need !’ – the apostle Paul informs us that if the April fools continues on the path that he – Paul the apostle – once traveled, when he was known by the name ‘Saul of Tarsus’; if our foolish friend or loved one stays the course and continues to steer his feet into that path – where does he end up next? What does he do next? 1 Corinthians 2:14 – Looking at the things of God (the Bible, and the Cross, etc.), trying to wrap his mind around these things, he simply will not, cannot do it! The ‘April fool’, the ‘natural man’ as Paul describes him, he “does not receive”, he does not take, welcome or accept the things of God, these things. Why? Because as far as he’s concerned what are they? They are “foolishness to him” and he is unable to know or understand them, since he lack the spiritual discernment necessary – required – to grasp them!

Do you know anybody who fits into that category? It’s a sad state in which to be located! For instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to teach him, instead of receiving the marvelous gift of the mind of Christ, formed and fashioned in all who believe His Word and make it their Daily Bread, the natural man, the ‘April fool’ is satisfied with his own ‘wisdom’, which really is foolishness as far as God is concerned.

I don’t want to be an April fool, do you?! I don’t want anybody I know and care about to be one either, do you?! Yet, sadly and very, very tragically, some are, some, apparently, want to be…

So, what’s their final destination? If the ‘April fool’ continues on the path of rejecting God and rejecting and refusing the things of God, where will he ultimately end up?

1 Corinthians 1 – We read it earlier; would you come back to it with me now, please?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25, “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. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

You see it, don’t you? The very sad and tragic truth that details the ultimate end of the April fool is this, if he continues to reject God – “I don’t need Him! I know as much as He does!” – if he refuses the things of God – “this doesn’t make sense to me! I mean, it’s stupid!” – thinking that his wisdom, his HUMAN wisdom, is superior to God’s ‘wisdom’, then, where will he end up, ultimately? What will be the last things and WORST thing he will choose to do? He will choose to reject the MESSAGE, the saving message about the Savior who came to be his from-God gift of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (see 1 Corinthians 1:30-31), and in doing so, he will lose, for eternity, his only hope of salvation and deliverance. He will perish in an eternal hell!

My friends, my dear friends, do you see it? Do you see and perceive the sad and desperate situation of those who choose man’s ‘wisdom’, man’s folly in place of God’s wisdom and saving power? As I told you when we began this series of messages a few weeks ago, our target, our ultimate aim in this series is to take our stand at the foot of the cross. April fools can become heaven's servants, vessels of honor in the hands of God, if they will bow down at the foot of the cross. But, how? How is an April fool to get there? Ultimately, he or she gets there, as Paul says here in 1 Corinthians 1, by faith. By trusting in the One whose cross-centered salvation message is God's means to transform April fools...

Yes, ultimately, the gospel of Christ is God's power to save everyone who believes! But, how does someone who has been walking this foolish way turn from it? And, for our sakes, perhaps, how are we to avoid being April fools?

Would you go with me to the epitome of Old Testament wisdom books, the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 4:14-27, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”

I don't want to be an April fool. So, what am I to do to carry that out in my life?

Number one, I must avoid the path of the wicked. Those who food and drink, and even sleep, is all about wickedness, those who could influence me to join them in that foolish way, I must avoid, I must turn away from their path!

Secondly, I must attend to wisdom's instruction! Using a military metaphor, when it comes to this Book's instruction, when it comes to God teaching you His wisdom, you don't want to be A-W-O-L! Pay attention, be in ATTENDANCE, when God calls His 'class' to order!

By the way, that 'class room' of Divine instruction is located anywhere God is and anywhere you are, and this Book is the 'curriculum'.

Thirdly, aim – take careful aim – at another path, a different path to which the Lord is pointing you, the path of the righteous, that path, verse 18 tells us, that is like the shining sun, growing brighter, brighter BRIGHTER, unto the perfect day! Yes, be careful of your eyes (verse 25), your ears (verse 20), your feet (verse 26) and most of all, your heart (verse 23) – why?

Number four, so that you can keep away - I mean, far, far away - from your mouth and your lips the deceitful things, the perverse things, the evil things that are on the lips and in the mouths of April fools!

Yes, wisdom – God's wisdom – and His power to give you light, and health and LIFE – real, eternal life – is to be found here, in His Book, and there, in His Son!

I don't want to be an April fool! And thank God, by His infinite mercy and grace in Christ, I won't be! Instead, my prayer, my aim, is higher ground. “The path of the righteous that is like the shining sun; shining ever brighter unto the perfect day”, that day when I see my Savior face-to-face...

Shall we pray?

“Father in heaven, I thank You that You made a way for April fools to be rescued. You have set forth another path for them to walk; a path to which Jesus has called all who belong to Him; the path of taking up our own crosses, humbling ourselves before Him, denying ourselves and following Him. O Father, I pray, that beginning today, there will be many more, because of this hour of worship, and this series of messages, that will choose to walk in the path of the righteous. And that they will know – that we will know - that increasing brightness of the S-O-N of God in our lives. And God, I pray, that as a result, then who see His light giving light and life to us, that they would be called to turn away from the April fool pathway, to Jesus Who gave His life for them. Father we ask that You would answer this prayer, in a mighty way, even in our midst, beginning today. In Jesus' name, Amen.”

Are You An April Fool?

The Canterbury Tales

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, April 3, 2011

Psalm 14:1-7, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the LORD? There they are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You shame the counsel of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Psalm 36:1-12, “An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, when he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil. Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the workers of iniquity have fallen; they have been cast down and are not able to rise.

How many of you this past week had a friend or acquaintance tell you something that sounded interesting, a bit amazing, yes, but certainly believable; and after having you thinking for a minute or two that what he or she said was true, your friend exclaims, ‘Got ya! April fools!’?

I did a little research into the origin of the term and the marking of what we call, ‘April Fools Day,’ and I discovered that a 15^th century English poet by the name of Geoffrey Chaucer was the first one to mention this concept, as he penned his famous Canterbury Tales.

Well, I have to tell you that, though I’m not much of a literary expert, I do enjoy a riddle, good clean joke and a heart laugh. But, listen, I have to tell you – something for you to think about also – I don’t want to be an April fool! In fact, I don’t want to be a May, June or July one either!

The passage of Scripture we opened with a moment ago makes this very interesting and startling statement: listen to it one more time as I read it, will you? Psalm 14:1, the Word of God says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God.’” As we begin this month, the month of April, the month when we who belong to Christ mark the most important events of all history: the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; as we move steadily toward our celebration of the empty tomb and our risen Lord and Savior, I don’t want to be classified as a fool! Whether we are looking at it from this Old Testament point of view - these passages from the psalms that supply the background – or, whether we are over at the other end of the Bible, examining such texts as 1 Corinthians chapters one through four, I don’t want you to be a fool! I don’t ever want you to think, believe, say or act upon the thought, “there is no God! There is no God.”

Now, before we go any further with this discussion, allow me to point out to you some basic information about fools and foolishness as provided here in God’s Book.

First of all, please note that the concept – the idea of folly – Biblically-speaking, is not simply an academic or intellectual concept. Rather, God’s Word always presents the idea of foolishness in practical and, I must say, behavioral terms. In other words, folly is not merely something to look up and study in a dictionary. Instead, sadly, it is something that is readily observable in many people’s day-to-day lives!

Secondly, if you are unsure, unclear or maybe even uninformed, from a Biblical stand-point, on the subject of fools and foolishness, there is really no better place to go for information – crisp, concise, clear, even convicting information – on the subject than to the Wisdom Books. The Wisdom Books of the Old Testament and New Testament. That makes sense, doesn’t it? To learn about foolishness, as it stands apart from and in contrast to wisdom – God – the ultimate Source of all true wisdom has provided us with a wealth of information on these subjects in His Word, His Book. By the way, which Books in the Book are the ‘Wisdom Books’? That’s right, in the Old Testament, we often call them the ‘Books of Poetry’: Jobe, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, those five books are the OLD Testament books of wisdom. But what about the New Testament? Is there a book or group of books that would be labeled the ‘New Testament Wisdom Books’?

Perhaps the best answer to that question is that, though there are elements of similarity to the Old Testament books found in several New Testament books, the one New Testament book that seems to have the most in common with Jobe, Psalms, Proverbs, etc., is the book of James. If you want to begin to grasp God’s perspective on wisdom and foolishness, read the wisdom books. Study, memorize and meditate upon the great truths God has set forth for you in those six books.

One more thing that I must let you in on before we go any further in our study. As I said, I enjoy a good riddle, or a good, clean joke that doesn’t belittle sacred things like marriage, but I don’t want to be, nor do I want you to be, a fool! And why is that? Well, before I answer that question, allow me to point out to you that – in the Bible – there are actually four different words translated ‘fool’, each of them with slightly different shade of meaning. To summarize what I mean here, just know this: when it comes to folly, God’s Word covers the entirety of the landscape, from the simply-minded, naïve, usually young person who is teachable – that’s good – but who is also easily deceived and seduced – that’s not good – all the way around to the know-it-all, whose lack of godly humility if it isn’t repented of and forsake, eventually will lead him or her to say in his heart, ‘I know MORE than God knows and ‘there is no God’ as far as I’m concerned!’

As I said a few moments ago, whether we’re talking about April or August or any other month or day, for that matter, I don’t want to be a fool. I don’t want God, my ultimate Judge, to label me or any of you, a fool! Now, why is that? I mean, David, what’s the big deal about wisdom and foolishness? Is it really that important?

Well, to answer that question, allow me to remind you of something I mentioned a moment ago; wisdom, is it really that big a deal? 6 books, 6 books of 66. If numbers of books are any indication, the sheer number of books that address those subjects of wisdom and foolishness, indicates how important these subjects are to God! Secondly, throughout the Scriptures what do we read about the nature and character of God? 6 books are specifically oriented this direction, and other 60 that are more generally focused this way also, what do they teach us about God? They teach us that HE is wise, infinitely wise and that He is, that His Word, as the expression of His nature and character, is the Source of all true wisdom!

Thirdly, is wisdom and foolishness really that significant? Consider this: in Colossians 2:2-3 we read that in Christ - who is Christ? He is our Savior, right? Our Lord, right? Our Example and Guide, right? Is wisdom and folly really that big a deal? The Scripture answers that with this powerful declaration, Colossians 2:2-3, “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden, stored away, to be found, in Jesus Christ! I don’t want to be, nor do I want any of you to be an April, August or December fool – why? Because of al of what this Book says about the importance of wisdom! Because I want to be, yearn for you to be, like God and like Jesus Christ! But, listen – there are other reasons also: go back to our first passages of Scripture with me, will you please?

Why don’t I want to be, or, anyone else to be, a fool?

The first thing, indeed, a very startling thing to learn about the ultimate direction to which folly leads, is that it leads to rejection of God! Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1, the same, identical verses. In both places God’s Word says of the fool, that he arrogantly declares in his puffed up heart, “[as far as I’m concerned] there is no God!”

Hold your place right there for a moment, and go to Psalm 10:3-4, and pay attention to the connection between these two different passages of Scripture.

Psalm 10:3-4, “For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; he blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD. The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.”

What’s the connection between the verses here in Psalm 10, and the first verse of Psalm 14? You see it, don’t you? In both places the psalmist describes people who, as far as their arrogant hearts and their prideful minds are concerned, they have rejected God! But, look further, will you? In the one passage, the person who rejects God is described as a fool; but, in the other passage, the Psalm 10 passage, how is he or she labeled? He is labeled, she is described ‘wicked’. Wicked!

I don’t want God to view me as a fool because, simply because I don’t want God to judge and reject me as wicked! How about you?

Now, move across to the other Psalm passage we read from at the beginning – Psalm 36. Take a look: the theme as introduced in the very first verse is similar, isn’t it? David, the psalmist, tells us: God has given me a song, a word to share, an oracle, and it has to do with the sinful ways of the wicked. There’s that word again! What is it that marks a man, a woman, a young person, as wicked?

The starting point for wickedness, isn’t it interesting - yes, convicting - to know that the jumping-off point for wickedness is the very same starting point for wisdom. You remember the verse, don’t you? Proverbs 9:10. Listen as I read it, and compare it to Psalm 36:1.

Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Wickedness and wisdom begin at the very same place, though they end up at very different destinations. The fear of God is the crux of the matter!

Psalm 36:2-4 – Take a look at these verses and ask yourself, “Do I want these verses to be true of me? Do I want them to be true of my children, my grandchildren or anyone else I love and care about?”

Folly, rejection of God, and wickedness; it’s all related. Do you see it, my Loved Ones?

Having chosen not to fear God, having removed God from his thoughts - in New Testament terms, having seared his conscience - after repeatedly hardening it and hardening it and hardening it; what is it that fills the mind of the foolish, wicked man, woman or young person?

Verse two: HIMSELF! Himself! “There is no fear of God before his eyes…” So, what is before his eyes? Verse two: himself. “He flatters HIMSELF in his own eyes…”

His eyes, then what about his mouth? Verse 3, “The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit…” And his mind and feet, where do they go? “He devises wickedness on his bed, sets himself in a way that is not good, and chooses not to hate what God hates…” How come? I mean, how did he get this way? We skipped over it, in verse three; but zero in on it now, and notice how it all comes back around to where we started this morning. The man, the woman, the young person whose eyes have rejected the fear of God; the man, the woman, the young person who sets HIMSELF, and only himself, before his eyes; the man, the woman, the young person whose mouth, mind and motivations are all on one path: the path of wickedness, how did he or she get that way? Psalm 36:3 - He got that way, she got that way by ceasing to think and act wisely and righteously!

I’ve got two questions for you and me this morning: “Is that where we are?” And, “do we want to be, to continue to be April fools?”

One more time, Psalm 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God.’”

You see it, don’t you? The change, the transformation from wickedness and folly to wisdom, is a matter of the heart…

Well, listen, I’ve got good news for you: that’s what April, Good Friday month, Resurrection month, is all about! That’s what Jesus, God’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption – incarnate – is all about! Amen. Praise God!