FOUR FOOLS Matthew 5:22 Introduction: 1. Have you ever been called a fool? Have you ever called anyone a fool? 2.Jesus said: “But I say to you that whoever is angry with His brother ! without a cause shall be in danger of the Judgment. And whoever says to ! his brother ʻRacaʼ shall be in anger of the council. But whoever says, ʻYou ! foolʼ shall be in danger of Hell fireʼ” (Matt. 5:22). 3. “Raca” is an Aramaic word of contempt suggesting one is empty-headed. 4.“Fool” is a word of contempt which means that one is not only ! empty-headed but lacks character as well. 5. We should be very careful about using such contemptuous words to ! describe others. 6. However, if God calls one a fool, there is no doubt he is. 7.We shall look at four times in the Bible people are called fools. Discussion: I.! ONE WHO DENIES THERE IS A GOD IS A FOOL. ! A.! God Himself twice called the atheist a fool (Psa. 14:1; 53:1). ! B.! Why does God call the atheist a fool? ! ! 1.! An atheist goes contrary to simple common sense. ! ! ! a.! Does a nest create a bird to sit in it, or does the bird ! ! ! ! create the nest? ! ! ! b.! Does a car create a man to drive it, or does the man ! ! ! ! create the car? ! ! ! c.! Does the universe invent a God to rule over it, or does ! ! ! ! God create the universe? ! ! ! d.! Non-living matter cannot create anything, but a living, ! ! ! ! intelligent Being can. ! ! 2.! An atheist is a fool for he denies the evidence for Godʼs ! ! ! existence which is all around him.! ! ! ! “For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ! ! ! ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the ! ! ! truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God ! ! ! is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since ! ! ! the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly ! ! ! seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His ! ! ! eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ! ! ! because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as ! ! ! God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, ! ! ! and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, ! ! ! they became fools” (Rom.1:18-22). II.! ONE WHO LEAVES GOD OUT OF HIS PLANNING IS A FOOL. ! A.! Jesus warned of the danger of greed in the parable of the Rich Fool ! ! (Luke 12:13-21). ! ! 1.! Jesus was interrupted by a man who was not satisfied ! ! ! with his share of an inheritance. ! ! 2.! Jesus warned: “Take heed and beware of covetousness for ! ! ! a manʼs life does not consist in the abundance of the things ! ! ! he possesses.” ! ! 3.! Jesus told of a man whose ground yielded so much he did ! ! ! not know what to do with it. ! ! 4.! He decided to tear down his barns and builder larger ones to ! ! ! contain his wealth. ! ! 5.! Then he decided to retire: “I will say to my soul, ʻSoul, you ! ! ! have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, ! ! ! drink, and be merry.” ! ! 6.! God called him a fool for that very night he was going to die. ! B.! Why was this man a fool? ! ! 1.! He had a short range view - he lived only for this life. ! ! 2.! He did not give credit to God for the blessings he had. ! ! 3.! He was selfish - he never once considered using his goods ! ! ! to help others. ! ! 4.! He simply left God out of his planning; therefore he was a fool! III.! ONE WHO IS NOT PREPARED FOR THE LORDʼS RETURN IS A FOOL. ! A.! Jesus taught the certainty and unexpectedness of His return in the ! ! parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). ! ! 1.! These were special guests who were part of a wedding. ! ! 2.! Customarily, the groom went to the brideʼs home to bring ! ! ! her to his home where the wedding took place at night. ! ! 3.! Special unmarried friends would wait along the way to light ! ! ! their way and accompany them to the groomʼs home. ! ! 4.! They waited but the wedding party was delayed and they slept. ! ! 5.! A midnight, the cry was heard, “The bridegroom comes!” ! ! 6.! They arose to trim their lamps but five had run out of oil. ! ! 7.! The others could not lend them oil lest they also run out. ! ! 8.! While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came and they ! ! ! were refused entrance to the wedding feast. ! B.! Why were these virgins foolish? ! ! 1.! They did not make preparation when they had time (2 Cor. 6:2). ! ! 2.! Since they did not know the time of the bridegroomʼs coming ! ! ! they should have prepared in case of a delay (Matt. 25:44). ! ! 3.! They could not borrow othersʼ preparation (Phil. 2:12). IV.! THE APOSTLES WERE “FOOLS FOR CHRISTʼS SAKE.” ! A.! Paul speaks of the sacrifice and mistreatment the apostles had ! ! to endure for the Cause of Christ. ! ! “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men ! ! condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the ! ! world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christʼs sake, but ! ! you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are ! ! distinguished, but we are dishonored” (1 Cor. 4:9,10). ! B.! According to the world, the apostles were fools. ! ! 1.! They gave up worldly wealth, ease and position. ! ! 2.! The suffered abuse, ridicule, ill treatment and persecution. ! ! 3.! They struggled to survive while preaching the Gospel. ! ! 4.! The worldly-wise Corinthians elevated men, compromised ! ! ! with worldly philosophy and made the Gospel non-offensive. ! C.! It is good to be a “fool” (in the eyes of the world and worldly ! ! brethren) for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. Conclusion: 1.! One is a fool if he: ! a.! Denies the existence of God. ! b.! Leaves God out of his plans. ! c.! Does not prepare for the second coming of Christ. 2.! One must be a fool for Christʼs sake to have eternal life (1 Cor. 1:18; 21-5).
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 19:56:55 +0000
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