Counterfeit Contentment.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Turn in your Bibles to Judges chapter 17. [0:03] Judges chapter 17. [0:05] Last week we started a new series called [0:07] The Greener Grass Conspiracy. [0:09] Kind of this thought that sometimes we think [0:12] our life would be better if we could just have something else.

[0:16] If maybe we were on the other side [0:17] where someone else has more than I do [0:19] or someone else has the dream job that I want, [0:22] then our lives would be better. [0:23] And we talked about the reality of discontentment [0:27] and that only God can actually fill that void.

[0:30] But I realized that there were probably some of you [0:33] that walked away thinking, [0:36] I’m okay, I’m not discontent. [0:39] I’ve got the life that I want. [0:42] I’m living the way that I feel good about. [0:45] And so the lack of discontentment in my life

[0:49] must then obviously serve as a sign [0:51] that everything’s good. [0:54] But there is a flip side [0:56] and that is the reality that we can sometimes be content [1:01] in an ungodly way. [1:04] That there is such a thing as counterfeit contentment.

[1:08] And the reality that you may have walked away last week [1:11] saying, I’m okay, I’m not discontent. [1:14] That didn’t speak to me. [1:16] So clearly my life’s good. [1:18] That is not necessarily an indicator [1:20] that everything’s okay.

[1:24] Feeling fine doesn’t mean that you are fine.

[1:30] Thinking in your heart that, [1:31] well everything’s okay in my life. [1:33] I’ve got the job that I want. [1:34] I’ve got the number of kids that I want. [1:36] I’ve got the spouse that I want. [1:38] I’ve reached everything that I’ve ever wanted to reach

[1:40] and I really don’t feel the need to have any other dreams. [1:46] I’m already doing it. [1:48] So I’m good. [1:49] Leave me be.

[1:52] The reality is that it is possible [1:55] to convince yourself that you are content [1:58] and not have the presence of God in your life whatsoever. [2:03] And that is what counterfeit contentment is. [2:06] In Judges chapter 17, [2:08] we have such an instance of counterfeit contentment.

[2:13] Judges 17 just kind of tells us a story of a man [2:16] that we don’t see ever again in scripture. [2:19] This is the only story about him [2:21] and we don’t know much about him. [2:22] His name’s Micah and he steals a very large sum of money [2:27] from his mother.

[2:28] It says it was around 1,100 shekels of silver [2:30] which in that day and age was a large sum of money. [2:34] Steals it from his mother. [2:35] His mother finds out about it [2:36] and the scripture just kind of tells us in it. [2:39] We come on the scene as he’s been caught in his crime

[2:43] and he gives the money back to his mother [2:45] and they have a celebration. [2:48] He doesn’t go to prison or anything. [2:49] They just celebrate. [2:50] And to celebrate Micah goes [2:52] and he has 200 of the shekels melted down

[2:56] and they make an idol for their family. [3:01] And because of this great turn of events [3:03] where the mother and the son reconcile,

[3:08] they come back together, make this family God [3:12] and Micah creates his own religion.

[3:16] Then there’s another man that comes on the scene. [3:19] This guy’s a Levite priest. [3:22] If you know anything about the history of Israel, [3:24] there were 12 tribes and one of those tribes [3:26] was the tribe of Levi. [3:28] The tribe of Levi were set apart by God to be priests

[3:32] that led the entire nation of Israel in worship of God. [3:38] And these priests would teach Israel. [3:42] Well, in the book of Judges, [3:44] it’s a time when people in Israel aren’t following God. [3:47] And one of the commands that God gave [3:49] the nation of Israel was that they were to,

[3:51] as the Levites were leading them in worship, [3:55] they were to supply the needs. [3:57] They were to pay the priest, provide for them food. [4:02] And during this time in the book of Judges, [4:04] no one’s really worshiping God [4:06] the way that God has commanded them to worship.

[4:08] And we see this theme throughout the entire book of Judges [4:11] that everyone does that which is right in their own eyes, [4:14] which is they don’t follow God. [4:16] And so you can imagine if you are a Levite, [4:20] then they’re not really caring [4:22] that you’re gonna lead them in worship,

[4:24] so they’re not supplying your needs.

[4:27] And so it says that a man of the tribe of Levi [4:31] leaves Bethlehem and he basically goes to find [4:37] a lifestyle that will supply his earthly needs. [4:41] And he meets Micah. [4:43] And Micah recruits this Levite. [4:47] And Micah sells him on the reality

[4:49] that if you will be the priest for my new religion, [4:54] I’ll supply all your needs. [4:57] And then the Levite’s mine, this is great. [4:59] I’ll do that, I was serving like a whole nation, [5:02] now I just got one guy. [5:03] So that’s gonna be way easier.

[5:07] And we find the story in Judges chapter 17, verse 11. [5:13] And this really sums up the entire story.

[5:17] Verse 11, it says, and the Levite was content

[5:24] to dwell with him there.

[5:27] And the young man became to him like one of his sons. [5:32] And Micah ordained the Levite [5:34] and the young man became his priest [5:36] and was in the house of Micah. [5:38] Then Micah said, now I know that the Lord will prosper me [5:44] because I have a Levite as priest.

[5:49] Micah’s mindset was so warped that he said, [5:54] I’m gonna do everything that God commanded me not to do, [5:58] but since I’ve got a Levite that will agree [6:01] with what I’m doing with my life, [6:03] God’s gonna have to bless me [6:04] because I’ve got a good luck charm.

[6:06] It’s kinda like going to church on Christmas and Easter [6:09] and you’re like, I gave him two times a year, [6:11] clearly my year’s gonna be great. [6:13] It doesn’t really work that way. [6:15] There are no good luck charms with God. [6:18] There’s no quid pro quo between him and you.

[6:22] There’s obeying God and there’s disobeying God. [6:24] Those are the two realities that you have in your life. [6:28] But we see this man who’s of the Levitical priesthood [6:30] and if he was of the Levitical priesthood, [6:32] then clearly he knew what God would have him [6:35] to do with his life.

[6:35] Clearly he knew the path that God would make for him, [6:38] but the scripture records that he went away from God, [6:44] yet he found contentment away from God.

[6:50] So much so that him and Micah thought, [6:54] since everything that we want in this life, [6:58] every comfort, every necessity, every want, [7:05] since it’s all being provided, we’re good. [7:09] We’re good. [7:11] And that’s all we know about these guys.

[7:13] That’s it.

[7:16] But the reality is that even though they thought [7:20] everything was okay, not everything was okay. [7:24] Because their contentment was kind of in spite [7:27] of everything scripture had led them to believe. [7:30] And the one thing that I want us to understand [7:32] is that just because your life seems fine,

[7:36] you are comfortable in what you’re doing, you feel okay. [7:42] Contentment apart from God is idolatry.

[7:48] That if you’re living a life in which you think [7:52] that your dreams are coming true [7:54] and you’re not living the style, the fashion, [7:57] you’re not on the path that God has unveiled [8:00] for us to be on in scripture, [8:02] then you are an idol worshiper.

[8:06] God is not blessing you. [8:10] In Romans chapter one, we see this reality last week [8:13] where man exchanged the worship of God [8:16] for the worship of creation. [8:18] Well, in that text between 22 and 26, [8:20] we also see the reality that it says

[8:22] that God gave them up to those desires. [8:27] God gave them up to those passions. [8:30] So what that means is that God has clearly [8:34] given over humanity into a mindset [8:37] where we can convince ourselves in that hardening [8:41] of the heart that we talked about last week,

[8:43] that we are okay without him so long as [8:48] we are not experiencing any suffering whatsoever.

[8:53] That if we’re comfortable, if we have a paycheck, [8:56] if all the bills are getting paid, [8:57] if we got a nice bed to sleep in at night, [8:59] if we got a nice roof over our head [9:01] and all things are going our way, [9:03] maybe at your job, you’re getting promoted

[9:05] right up the ladder.

[9:08] That just because you have material comforts, [9:13] that does not mean God is blessing you. [9:18] And the reality is, is that in the culture [9:21] that we have now within the church sometimes, [9:24] that we can live in a theology in which we think [9:28] that if we have material gain, God is blessing us.

[9:35] Scripture actually says the flip side. [9:38] Scripture says sometimes material gain is a curse [9:42] because God has given us over to a God [9:45] that we were never meant to worship or follow.

[9:51] And your comfort can be the judgment of God on your life.

[10:02] In Jeremiah chapter two, we get a little bit [10:04] of a different viewpoint of what’s going on in Israel. [10:11] And this is years after the book of Judges [10:14] because in the book of Judges, Israel doesn’t have a king [10:16] and they want a king because everybody else has a king. [10:19] And after a while, God gives them over into this

[10:23] and he says, okay, fine, you want a king? [10:25] Well, I’ll let you follow a king. [10:26] In reality, God’s saying, I’m the king, you follow me. [10:29] I’ve revealed myself, follow me. [10:31] But they don’t, so he gives them King Saul [10:33] and then there’s just a series of king after king

[10:36] after king and then in the book of Jeremiah chapter two, [10:39] we find Israel under a king who has kind of set them up [10:43] as a world power but they’re beginning to lose [10:46] a little bit of their influence in the world. [10:48] They’re beginning to lose a little bit of the power [10:50] that they have in the world and in Jeremiah chapter two,

[10:53] God tells them, this is the mindset that you have. [10:58] I have given you everlasting water [11:03] yet you haven’t wanted it. [11:04] So here’s what he says, he says, [11:06] be appalled, oh heavens, at this. [11:07] Be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord,

[11:10] for my people have committed two evils. [11:13] They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters [11:17] and hewed out cisterns for themselves, [11:20] broken cisterns that can hold no water.

[11:25] God had clearly told Israel, [11:27] you are to be set apart from the world, [11:28] you are to trust in me. [11:31] You are to follow me no matter what the cost.

[11:36] And I will satisfy you, I will be your God. [11:41] I am eternal, I will command your life. [11:44] And Israel’s response at this particular point [11:48] in their history was that they thought [11:51] that they were going to be taken into captivity. [11:54] So they actually went to Egypt

[11:58] and asked them to protect them. [12:02] An idol worshiping nation, a nation that was far from God, [12:05] they didn’t go to reach them with God, [12:08] instead they said, we need you to kind of become like God [12:11] and protect us, because we don’t think [12:13] he’s doing a very good job right now.

[12:17] The reality is, is that through a series of events [12:19] after this text, exactly what God says [12:21] is going to unfold does unfold. [12:24] Because God has said, depend on me, [12:25] don’t depend on anything else, [12:27] and he says, but what you’re actually gonna do

[12:29] is you’re gonna actually go away [12:30] from the well of living water, which I am, [12:32] and you’re gonna try to dig yourself a new well. [12:35] And you’re gonna drink from that well. [12:37] But the thing you don’t understand about that well [12:39] is that it’s got a hole in the bottom.

[12:41] It’s not eternal, it’s gonna drain, [12:44] it’s gonna fall out someday.

[12:48] And so they go after it, and then, [12:50] after they’ve been under Egypt, [12:51] they go into captivity to another nation, [12:53] and they actually begin to worship idols just like Micah. [12:58] But the problem is, is that they did not become [13:01] idol worshipers once they were worshiping these statues.

[13:06] They became idol worshipers the moment [13:08] they did not trust God. [13:11] For everything that he said he would do for them.

[13:16] The Levite did not become a guy [13:20] who was the priest over a false religion. [13:23] He did not begin idolatry once he met Micah.

[13:28] He became an idol worshiper the moment [13:31] that he trusted his circumstances [13:33] more than he trusted God.

[13:36] The reality is that only God can be your God. [13:41] There’s no substitute for him.

[13:45] The Levite was not being respected in Israel [13:49] the way that he thought he should be respected. [13:52] So he left. [13:54] He said, I’m just gonna leave. [13:55] I’m gonna go find somebody else. [13:57] And so he finds Micah.

[13:59] But his problems didn’t start once he found Micah. [14:02] His problems started when he disobeyed [14:05] because someone else was disobeying. [14:09] He became an idol worshiper at that very moment. [14:14] And then when his material needs began to be met [14:17] he said, I’m okay now.

[14:21] I must be good because everything’s all right. [14:25] So the reality is that some of you, [14:28] some of us are at a place in life where everything’s okay. [14:33] And we think that in the future we’re gonna be okay too [14:38] and we’re not gonna commit any heinous sin. [14:40] We’re not gonna go into any real idolatry.

[14:42] We’re not gonna have any real problems. [14:44] But the reality is that you’re just kind of banking [14:47] on your future without looking at what’s going on [14:49] in your present.

[14:52] If you’re not fully following God right now [14:55] and you’re following all these other things in your life [14:58] and you’re saying, but I’m content, everything’s okay. [15:01] Maybe a little later I can get more serious [15:03] but I’ve got other commitments in my life [15:05] that are keeping me content.

[15:07] So I’m gonna follow those and then maybe later [15:10] when they’re a little less burdensome on me [15:12] and I don’t need to keep this contentment up [15:14] I can then kind of obey God and go after him. [15:18] By the time that comes you will be so consumed [15:21] by the false gods in your life

[15:23] that you are never going to follow the life [15:27] that God has for you. [15:30] Because the feeling that you’re okay right now [15:32] is just gonna manifest itself into, [15:35] well I’m not gonna be okay if I leave this later. [15:40] Feeling okay doesn’t necessarily mean that you are okay.

[15:44] You’re just beginning the process of digging a well [15:47] to give you satisfaction that God wants to be. [15:51] And because you found some type of kind of counterfeit [15:55] contentment in the life that you have right now, [15:59] you think that you’re okay without God.

[16:03] Comfort isn’t always a blessing. [16:07] There are times in our lives where we mistake [16:09] happiness for blessing.

[16:14] Ever been in a moment in your life [16:15] where you knew you weren’t following God? [16:20] You knew you weren’t being obedient to him [16:23] yet you were still happy?

[16:27] Maybe you’re in that moment right now. [16:30] You come here week in and week out [16:31] and I yell at you for a while [16:33] and then you walk out and you go back to your life [16:35] and you’re like I’m gonna get everything okay [16:37] and then Monday morning you just go back to life as usual

[16:40] and you’re like well I’m happy [16:41] so clearly everything’s fine. [16:43] I must be blessed by God. [16:47] Remember last week when we talked about [16:48] how the heart is deceitful because it’s sinful?

[16:53] If our happiness is happening in spite of following God, [17:00] can we say then that it’s a blessing from God? [17:06] Do you really think God is blessing you [17:09] when you are not following him? [17:13] No he’s not.

[17:15] Not at all. [17:17] Contentment will command your worship. [17:21] Affection reveals worship. [17:23] What are you passionate about? [17:25] What is it in life that excites you [17:27] or commands your time?

[17:29] What topic comes to mind that gets you excited? [17:33] Is there a certain lifestyle, activity or thing [17:36] that just makes you feel at home and satisfied? [17:39] Whatever that is is what you are either [17:41] offering worship towards or you will be tempted [17:44] to offer worship towards.

[17:47] Whatever it is that gets you the most passionate [17:50] in your life is where you are finding contentment. [17:54] I’m gonna pick on the guys for a minute [17:56] because if you follow Twitter on Saturday, [18:00] especially Saturday evening, [18:01] or you follow the Facebook updates for men,

[18:04] most men, especially guys in their 30s and 40s, [18:08] maybe sometimes in your 50s,

[18:11] college football makes you really content.

[18:17] I’ve seen grown men cry when their team loses. [18:23] I have never seen a sadder display in my life.

[18:29] It kinda just, it confuses me. [18:31] Probably because I went to a college [18:33] that isn’t known for football. [18:35] So we didn’t really have a culture of serious devotion.

[18:41] So it just didn’t touch me at all. [18:43] I never got really excited. [18:44] We were like two and 15 my sophomore year. [18:48] So they were trying to give tickets away [18:50] and we just said no. [18:51] We’ve really got better things to do with our time

[18:54] than go watch our team lose again. [18:56] The two teams we won that year, [18:58] I think they were like junior colleges [19:00] in like division 16 or something. [19:02] It was like they were so bad [19:03] they couldn’t even get into the NCAA or something.

[19:07] So I didn’t really follow it. [19:08] I wasn’t really passionate about it. [19:10] But this is an example of sometimes [19:12] we are willing to sacrifice anything [19:15] and our affection can get so big [19:18] and we can get so drawn in to the culture of contentment,

[19:23] of just giving everything that we have to that thing. [19:26] And then we come up and it’s like [19:28] let’s get excited about something else. [19:30] Maybe something that’s gospel centered. [19:32] And it’s like yeah, but that doesn’t get me [19:33] anywhere near as excited as football.

[19:37] As 20 year old men throwing a leather ball down a field. [19:42] Nothing gets me that hyped up.

[19:47] Friend, I tell you this because I love you. [19:51] I think you may have a worship problem.

[19:54] I think you may have a worship problem. [19:55] Now I just use college football as an example.

[19:59] Thursday night, a couple of friends and I, [20:02] we like to go out and do a sociology experiment. [20:05] It’s called Black Friday.

[20:09] And we like to go out and just watch people. [20:13] You should do this at some point. [20:15] We went to Walmart Thursday night. [20:18] Just started to take a look at what was happening.

[20:24] Joey was with me. [20:27] Joey, the worship leader today, [20:29] he went up to this pallet that had these sound bars on it [20:32] and he picked it up and he wasn’t trying to buy it. [20:34] He was just looking at it. [20:35] Well little did he know there was a line of people

[20:37] waiting to get it. [20:39] We feared for our lives once people started yelling.

[20:43] We feared. [20:43] I’ve never seen people so passionate [20:45] about an audio speaker in my life.

[20:52] Maybe that’s it for you. [20:54] Maybe it’s material gain. [20:57] Maybe it’s your career.

[21:00] Whatever it is that you have in your life [21:04] that identifies what you call comfort, [21:07] whatever makes you the most content,

[21:13] that’s what you’re worshiping with your life.

[21:19] We all have worship problems. [21:23] But the problem is, and I look, [21:25] no one really writes or speaks on the reality [21:28] of ungodly contentment because I think it’s a God, [21:31] it’s an idol that we are afraid to confront ourselves with. [21:37] It’s something I have to confront myself with.

[21:41] Maybe you’re content with just being a mother. [21:45] Maybe you’re content with just finding your identity [21:47] and being a father. [21:49] Maybe you’re content in finding your identity [21:52] or your comfort in education. [21:54] Maybe it’s like a girlfriend or a boyfriend

[21:56] or some type of hobby or a lifestyle. [21:59] I don’t know what it is, [22:01] but what is it that gets you passionate? [22:03] What topic can I come up to you this afternoon [22:06] and start to talk about? [22:07] And I can just see it in your eyes

[22:09] that you’re like, oh man, I am glad [22:11] we started talking about this [22:12] because I’ve got 150 opinions and they’re all true.

[22:19] But then, what if we turn the topic of conversation [22:23] or what if we turn the topic of how we’re living [22:26] over to following and obeying God?

[22:31] How passionate are we then?

[22:35] Or is it something that we’re mostly guilt-ridden about [22:37] so we try to avoid it? [22:40] Or is it something that we’ve avoided [22:42] because we’re afraid of what God’s gonna take away from us [22:45] if we really try to follow Him?

[22:49] We just say, no, no, no, let’s avoid that. [22:52] Let’s avoid that.

[22:57] The reality is that we can do this to a level [23:01] where we aren’t finding contentment [23:03] where God has commanded us to, [23:04] which is what He’s revealed in Scripture.

[23:09] It will ultimately lead to something far worse [23:14] than earthly discontentment.

[23:17] Because last week, I think that conversation was easy. [23:21] If you find yourself in a period of discontentment, [23:23] I think you want out of that. [23:26] You’re like, I’d rather not be discontent.

[23:31] But my biggest fear, especially in the suburbs, [23:34] especially in Village Church, [23:36] is not so much the people that know their discontent. [23:39] My greatest fear this morning is for those of you [23:41] that are perfectly content [23:42] yet you’re not doing anything for God.

[23:46] There’s nothing in your life that you’re trusting Him for [23:48] or that you really need Him for.

[23:52] My greatest fear is for you because you’ve been deceived [23:55] far more than the discontented person. [23:58] You’ve truly been deceived into thinking [24:00] that everything’s okay, [24:01] and that’s gonna be a far greater task to draw you out of.

[24:08] Stephen Altrogue, who wrote the book, [24:10] Greener Grass Conspiracy, he puts it this way. [24:13] Discontentment is the result of misplaced worship. [24:16] It’s the result of giving your heart to someone [24:19] or something that should never have it. [24:22] When we worship something other than God,

[24:24] we’re out of sync with the universe.

[24:29] The book of Isaiah records that everyone that exists [24:33] and everything that exists, [24:36] exists to bring glory to God. [24:41] Jesus once told a crowd that if you will not worship God, [24:45] He will make the rocks cry out to Him [24:48] because everything in the universe

[24:50] was spoken into existence in order to proclaim His glory. [24:57] The book of Hebrews says that Jesus spoke everything [25:00] into creation, that everything was created for Him [25:03] by Him. [25:05] Colossians echoes this exact same thought [25:07] in chapters one and two.

[25:11] So when we follow these counterfeit gods, [25:13] when we exist and find contentment in them, [25:16] we’re not just out of sync with the way [25:18] in which we were supposed to live. [25:20] We’re out of sync with everything [25:23] because the entire universe was created to be in sync

[25:27] and in rhythm with the God who created it. [25:31] You were not created simply to be in sync [25:36] with other things that were created.

[25:41] What’s interesting is that the scripture records [25:43] that man was the utmost of God’s creation [25:47] because he put His image in us, [25:48] He breathed life into us.

[25:52] But what’s so sad about the way [25:53] that we actually live most of the time,

[25:57] we worship things that were created [26:00] to be lower than we were.

[26:09] Good things can become God things.

[26:14] Sometimes when we talk about this type of subject [26:16] like idolatry, our reaction is that we’ve gotta get [26:19] all this stuff out of our lives.

[26:22] You know, maybe, well, guess I need to quit my job. [26:26] Well, maybe I should just get rid of my kids or something [26:27] because they’re where I find my significance in. [26:31] No, those things are good things. [26:33] I’m glad you have a job. [26:36] I don’t want you to find your identity in it,

[26:37] but I’m glad you have one. [26:39] Talk to someone that doesn’t have one. [26:40] It’s good to have one.

[26:43] But here’s the reality, sometimes in our lives, [26:45] we have this great ambition because of sin, [26:48] that we take something that God created as good [26:51] and we make it ultimate. [26:54] And at that point, it becomes a God thing [26:59] and we then turn it into an idol.

[27:03] There’s a story in scripture that I think really unpacks [27:06] what godly contentment and where it’s really supposed [27:09] to start and how we can really start to root out [27:12] those idols because God doesn’t want us just to remove them. [27:15] He wants us to replace them. [27:18] There’s a story of a guy that most of you’ve probably

[27:20] heard of and his name’s Abraham. [27:23] Abraham and his wife didn’t have any kids [27:25] and they had reached an older age [27:28] when they were past their childbearing years.

[27:33] God sent a messenger to them and he told them [27:35] the great vision that I’m gonna give you children.

[27:40] And they thought it was a preposterous notion. [27:43] But God said, I’m gonna give you a child. [27:47] And he did. [27:49] After a period of time, Abraham’s wife [27:52] had a child named Isaac.

[27:55] Abraham loved Isaac as he should have. [28:00] Abraham was content because finally he had become a father. [28:08] If you’re a father in here, maybe you know what that’s like. [28:10] I can empathize with Abraham. [28:13] The moment I laid eyes on my son, that was a happy moment. [28:16] That was a good moment.

[28:18] I was like, yes, this feels right.

[28:24] But as he begins to raise Isaac [28:26] and Isaac begins to mature as his son, [28:30] God does something devastating to Abraham. [28:35] God comes to Abraham and says, Abraham, [28:38] I want you to sacrifice your son to me. [28:42] That literally meant, I want you to kill your son.

[28:47] This is one of those moments in Abraham’s life [28:51] that I can’t imagine being in his shoes.

[28:55] But Abraham was a man of faith in this moment. [28:57] There were moments he wasn’t. [28:59] But in this moment, he was a man of faith.

[29:02] So he obeys God.

[29:06] And God says, bring him up to this mountain. [29:09] Make an altar and sacrifice Isaac to me on that altar.

[29:17] So Abraham takes that long walk with Isaac.

[29:25] I can’t imagine that walk.

[29:28] Can’t imagine waiting so many years for a child.

[29:33] God says, I need him back now.

[29:37] You’ll never see him grow old. [29:39] You’ll never see him mature to manhood. [29:41] You’ll never be able to leave anything to him. [29:45] But Abraham takes that walk.

[29:50] Abraham gets to that mountaintop and tells Isaac,

[29:55] go get some wood for the altar.

[29:59] Up to this point, Abraham hasn’t told Isaac [30:01] the way the story’s gonna unfold.

[30:05] So Isaac goes and he gathers the wood [30:07] and he brings it back to the altar. [30:10] Abraham tells his son to get up on the altar. [30:13] He does. [30:13]

[30:16] The story records this amazing moment [30:20] where Abraham is on the brink. [30:23] He’s obeying God and he actually has the knife in his hand. [30:29] God stops him.

[30:32] Says, look over there. [30:34] I’ve provided a substitute. [30:37] I’ll not take your son. [30:40] I’ve provided a ram for you to sacrifice instead.

[30:46] So at this point in the story, [30:47] it’s like, I mean, you can’t believe it. [30:49] I was like eight years old and we’re in Sunday school [30:51] and we’re telling the story. [30:52] Looking back, I was far too young. [30:54] This is like rated R.

[30:55] But it’s like, what were they thinking?

[30:59] But it’s like, oh my gosh.

[31:02] But God provides a substitute.

[31:07] I can’t imagine the relief Abraham must have felt. [31:13] But here’s what I want you to understand [31:14] about this story of contentment. [31:19] It’s that in order to worship God the way that God intended, [31:25] Abraham had to obey God.

[31:30] But I can’t believe that obedience felt good.

[31:36] I don’t think when Abraham’s walking down the road [31:39] with his son, he’s smiling.

[31:44] I don’t think that when Abraham’s walking down the road, [31:47] he’s thinking, everything’s okay. [31:50] I’m gonna be great. [31:51] This is what God wants. [31:53] It feels so good.

[31:58] I think that every inch he got closer [32:02] to where he was supposed to be. [32:04] To build that altar. [32:05] I think every step was more painful than the last step.

[32:14] I even imagine as a father, [32:17] there were tears in his eyes as he made that journey.

[32:21] Maybe Isaac said, Dad was wrong.

[32:25] The story doesn’t tell us that Abraham told him [32:27] while he’s on the way up there.

[32:31] Friends, here’s the reality.

[32:35] That for Abraham to see both the power of God [32:40] and the good nature of God, [32:44] he had to be willing to obey God [32:48] to the point of losing that which was most important [32:52] to him in this world. [32:57] If Abraham had not taken that painful journey,

[33:03] that may have lost every bit of earthly comfort [33:08] that he had ever had, [33:10] he would not have seen God move [33:14] to display his great love and goodness towards Abraham. [33:22] Abraham had to be willing to lose everything [33:26] that he found contentment and comfort in,

[33:29] in this world to truly know what it was [33:35] to worship God with all of his heart.

[33:43] That story is not just about the substitute. [33:50] It is about that. [33:51] But it’s also about the willingness of Abraham [33:56] to experience less comfort in this world [34:01] in order to see God move in all of his power.

[34:08] Do you imagine the radical trust that Abraham had to have [34:12] in order to take that walk with his son?

[34:18] Abraham had to believe that it is better to obey God [34:23] than to trust my feelings. [34:28] But here’s the next step. [34:31] Abraham had to believe that it is better [34:35] to believe God than to follow the wisdom [34:42] of those around him.

[34:46] Do you imagine if Abraham had gone [34:47] to his next door neighbor and say, [34:49] hey, can you watch my dog this afternoon? [34:51] God told me I have to go kill my son now.

[34:57] If your neighbor does come to you and say that, [34:58] call the police.

[35:01] But in this moment, Abraham had to truly believe God. [35:08] Abraham had to totally trust the goodness of God.

[35:14] And because he did, he was able to see the goodness [35:20] of God on full display. [35:25] See, God never intended to kill Isaac.

[35:28] He intended to show his power.

[35:32] The reality is that God never intends your bad.

[35:40] God always intends your good.

[35:45] But most of us aren’t willing to risk [35:48] what we think is good to get to what God knows is good.

[35:57] See, the reality this morning is is that that story [36:00] was a foreshadowing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[36:05] See, Jesus took a walk similar to the walk [36:09] that Abraham took with Isaac, and he took it to the cross.

[36:13] It wasn’t just that Jesus experienced a lack of comfort [36:18] in this world. [36:20] Jesus left eternal glory to become a human being [36:30] and surround himself with those creatures [36:34] that were living in direct rebellion [36:37] to what he had created them to be in.

[36:43] Jesus walked in this world for years.

[36:49] Experiencing all the problems, all the discomforts, [36:53] all the ills that we experience in this life, [36:56] all the hardships that we experience in this life, [36:59] all the discouragements that we experience in this life, [37:02] and a little bit more, because all those discouragements [37:05] typically were about people not obeying him.

[37:11] And then Jesus did more than that. [37:13] Jesus took a walk up a hill, and he got on a cross, [37:15] and he died. [37:18] And the reality is that he died [37:19] so that you and I won’t have to. [37:24] He died for those false gods

[37:27] that we are obsessed with worshiping. [37:32] He died for all of those good things [37:34] that we take and make God things. [37:37] All those moments of comfort that we say, [37:40] God, I’m busy, I can’t obey you right now. [37:43] I’ve got other things that my life depends on going on.

[37:48] I can’t risk those things for you.

[37:55] The reality this morning is is that [37:57] because of our absolute refusal [38:02] to risk those earthly comforts, [38:05] we will probably never see God put his power [38:09] and goodness on display the way that he did for Abraham.

[38:17] Our contentment needs to be changed [38:21] by the life of Jesus.

[38:26] Think about this. [38:28] As painful as Abraham’s walk up that mountain was,

[38:35] could you imagine how great the walk back down it was?

[38:42] Can you imagine the joy that Abraham had in his life [38:47] as he’s walking hand in hand with Isaac down that hill? [38:51] Because as he walked down that hill, [38:53] he didn’t just have his son back.

[38:58] He had a renewed faith, a renewed trust, [39:03] a renewed worship, and let me tell you, [39:07] in the history of the world, [39:08] I don’t think you’ve probably seen a more joyful man [39:10] than Abraham on the way back down that mountain.

[39:15] Because he was able to walk down that mountain and say, [39:19] I worship a good God.

[39:25] I think sometimes we say we worship a good God, [39:27] but have you ever seen him at the moment [39:29] where you’re risking it all to further his glory [39:32] and then he shows up and he shows his goodness [39:35] that much more, and you’re saying, [39:37] I thought he was good, now I know he’s good.

[39:42] It’s like that moment in the Psalms [39:43] where David writes, taste and see that the Lord is good.

[39:49] I ask you this morning, have you tasted and seen?

[39:55] Have you risked anything in this life for God?

[40:01] When Jesus walked up that mountain, [40:03] the scripture records that it was the most painful thing [40:07] anyone in this world’s ever endured.

[40:10] But Hebrews chapter 12 gives us this great picture [40:13] of why he endured it. [40:16] In verse two it says that in our lives, [40:18] we’re to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter [40:23] of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him [40:26] endured the cross, despising the shame,

[40:31] and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [40:33] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility [40:37] against himself so that you may not grow weary [40:41] or faint-hearted.

[40:46] Jesus didn’t go to the cross because the walk towards it [40:50] was so good.

[40:53] Scripture says right there, he despised the shame [40:55] of the cross, but because of the joy that was on [40:58] the other side of that cross.

[41:01] He endured it. [41:03] Jesus endured the cross for the joy of the resurrection

[41:09] because he knew that the cross wasn’t the end.

[41:18] Friend, I think sometimes in our lives, [41:19] we’re not willing to risk the ungodly contentment [41:23] that we might have or those good things [41:25] that have become God things. [41:26] And if you’re not willing to risk it, it’s a God thing.

[41:30] We’re not willing to risk it because we don’t trust God [41:34] that the walk down the other side of that mountain [41:37] is gonna be joyful.

[41:40] That’s the difference between real faith and phony faith.

[41:46] Real faith is that God is who he says he is, [41:51] and I’ll take joy in the promise that he says [41:54] is on the other side of that mountain. [41:57] Because God has promised that there will be a day [42:02] when he will deliver us over into his kingdom. [42:06] But he says the legitimacy of our belief in that promise

[42:11] is shown by the life we live in this kingdom.

[42:18] And that’s the kingdom that says that it’s better [42:21] to be comfortable in this life. [42:23] It’s better to not risk anything. [42:25] It’s better to pad our bank accounts. [42:27] It’s better to do everything that’s not necessarily [42:30] for the kingdom of God, everything that protects us

[42:34] from having to risk anything for the kingdom of God. [42:36] It’s better to have all of that. [42:41] But don’t risk it for the gospel.

[42:44] Because you’re not sure that’s gonna pay as much. [42:49] You’re not sure that’s gonna be as comfortable. [42:51] So, friend, if you’re not sure, do you really believe?

[42:59] Do you really trust him today?

[43:04] Or are you just going to be going through your life saying, [43:09] I’m okay, I’m content?

[43:15] So was the Levite priest.

[43:21] Abraham risked his contentment.

[43:25] Jesus threw eternal contentment to the side.

[43:31] Now Jesus says, trust in me with your all.

[43:38] That is godly contentment.

[43:43] As the band comes up, every week at the village [43:48] we observe the Lord’s Supper.

[43:56] The bread represents the broken body. [43:58] The cup represents the shed blood of Jesus.

[44:04] When we reflect on this, we’re reflecting on that Jesus

[44:13] who took our lack of faith to the cross [44:18] with him. [44:21] Jesus didn’t go to the cross because we were so faithful.

[44:26] Jesus went to the cross because we are unfaithful.

[44:33] But through his sacrifice,

[44:39] he doesn’t just say it’s okay.

[44:42] He says, I’ll give you faith. [44:44] Because I earned it on the cross. [44:46] I’ll give you my spirit. [44:48] Because I earned it on the cross.

[44:53] I will deliver you from your false gods.

[45:01] I will deliver you to the one true God.

[45:07] I will deliver you to my kingdom.

[45:13] Maybe you find yourself at a moment this morning [45:15] where you know that you’ve had some counterfeit contentment. [45:19] Maybe you’re experiencing counterfeit contentment. [45:22] Maybe God has been urging you to sacrifice something [45:26] in your life so that your relationship with him can grow. [45:29] But you’ve been hesitant to do it.

[45:33] Because you really trust what you’ve got going on.

[45:41] Jesus died so that you’d stop trusting yourself. [45:45] And you’d start trusting him.

[45:49] This morning, the attitude that I think we should go into this communion with [45:54] if you’re a follower of Jesus, is an attitude of God.

[46:00] If you want me to do it, if you want me to risk, [46:03] if you want me to sacrifice something in this life that has become a God to me, [46:07] I’ll do it.

[46:09] But you’re not just going to remove it. [46:12] You’re going to replace it with faith and trust in Jesus Christ today.

[46:18] Maybe you’re not a follower of Jesus or you’ve come to realize today that you don’t know him. [46:23] Before you come to this table, I want you to understand that today is the day of salvation for you. [46:29] Today is the day that you can trust him with your life. [46:34] You can know God for the first time. [46:38] If that’s you this morning, I’m going to be right over here. [46:40] There will be some in the back.

[46:43] I’d love to talk to you about that.

[46:46] And then I’d love for you to reflect on communion for the first time where it means something. [46:52] When you’re ready, come.