Diving Deeper without doing a Belly Flop

Spiritual Disciplines ~ Part 5

March 25, 2007 AM

Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church

Have you ever tried really hard to do something right and ended up blowing it? 

Or have you started doing something right then slid into a negative pattern?

The Pharisee's had clearly done both.

Their focus became the actions rather than the heart and they were belly flopping into the pool, pretending that is the right way to dive!

We can do the right things for the wrong reason and miss the mark completely. 

If we live that way for very long we'll discover it and we have a choice to make… 

Choose to turn around or choose to hide our problem.

Matthew 23

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and He speaks to us today when it comes to what we are learning about spiritual disciplines…

1.      They say it but don't do it vs. 3

… they were following their own agenda.

They practice the spiritual exercises…

2.      To be seen vs. 5  their lives were perpetual fashion shows.  Dressing spiritual, praying so everyone could hear them…
but missing the meaning.

3.      To be called vs. 7-8 More concerned about what people call them than how they were living.

4.      To exalt self vs. 12. 

When doing something spiritual becomes about you rather than knowing God more, it ceases to be spiritual

If the heart motive is lifting myself up rather than obedience and knowing God more then I am doing a belly flop!

5.      To hold the keys vs. 13  They were missing the mark and they were teaching others to do the same.  Holding others from knowing God

6.      They were superstitious vs 16 - 22  Thinking the building or the altar had special reverence rather than knowing the God who made those places special.

 

7.      They neglected important things vs. 23 They meticulously kept the details and missed the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. 

Basics like: fairness, compassion and commitment

8.      They were dead inside vs. 27  They look good but have no life inside! 

9.      Acted like they were all of that! - vs. 30  you say that if you had lived in the days of your ancestors

10. The law isn't the problem vs. 3, 19 - 22, 26  Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.

Matthew 5:17-18 ~ Jesus doesn't degrade the Law but rather the false application of it!

The laws for the Pharisees and for spiritual training will only help us if we keep our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith! 

Focusing on spiritual disciplines without surrendering to Jesus is like trying to follow the Law without recognizing the law giver! 

Either is a spiritual belly flop!