01-31-16 Three Steps to Cynicism

Scripture:  Psalm 1:1-6

PRELUDE TO “MY REDEEMER LIVES”

Psalm 1 (The MESSAGE)

How well God must like you —

          you don't hang out at Sin Saloon,

          you don't slink along Dead-End Road,

          you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.

Instead you thrill to God's Word,

          you chew on Scripture day and night.

                   You're a tree replanted in Eden,

                             bearing fresh fruit every month,

                             Never dropping a leaf,

                             always in blossom.

You're not at all like the wicked,

          who are mere windblown dust — 

          Without defense in court,

          unfit company for innocent people.

God charts the road you take.

          The road they take is Skid Row.

PRELUDE TO “TRADING MY SORROWS”

Psalm 1 (KJV)

          Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

          But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

          The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

          Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

         For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

SERMON PRELUDE

Psalm 1 (NIV)

          Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

          4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

          6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

          Think of a time you experienced joy before you graduated high school. A person – an event – a season of life – an object – a revelation. Something other than birth or your Christian journey.

          I basically just asked you to describe a time you experienced joy outside of direct impact from God. However, joy has its source in only one place – GOD!

          The opposite of joy is not being “glum” The opposite of joy in fact is a SIN – even in its name – the opposite of joy and an epidemic among Christians is Cynicism – Spelled SINicism.

Lloyd Ogilvie – STORY of a friend who went from joy to cynicism

          His wife was going to leave him unless he changed. He thought it had come from life’s disappointments and not fulfilling earlier dreams. The truth was, he was surrounded by other cynics and he slowly drifted to their side. “Misery loves company” – so does cynicism. Complainers and negative attitudes hate to be alone and work diligently to drag others into their den of critical attitudes.

3 steps to Cynicism

1)    Take eyes off Jesus and walk in the counsel of the wicked (rasha) ungodly – people who live life horizontally with no consideration for God’s way of living.

2)    Change direction and stand in the way (path) of sinners (hatta) worse than the ungodly – these choose to live by wrong values and conduct. If walking with the ungodly affects our thinking – standing with sinners affects our behavior.

3)    Give into society and sit in the seat of mockers (letsim) Worst form of cynicism – those who oppose the ways of God – or mock His way. Every negative event is further proof that God does not care so why should we.

Cure for Cynicism

1)    SLAP VIDEO or the next two possibilities

2)    Read and study the bible: vs.2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3)    God provides all the resources you need: vs.3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

          Living in His word brings joy – living water to a parched soul – that produces JOY!

          There is even a scripture and a song about his word turning into JOY!

Isaiah 55:10-12

          As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Trees of the field #211

You shall go out with joy

And be let forth with peace, And the mountains and the hills will break forth before you.
There'll be shouts of joy and the trees of the fields will clap, will clap their hands.

And the trees of the fields will clap their hands, And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,
And the trees of the fields will clap their hands, While you go out with joy.

Do you struggle with Cynicism?

          Jesus’ response is: Matthew 7:1-5  "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” 

DO you know JOY is coming?

John 16:19-22

          Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”