Recognizing God's Love Amidst Human Contempt
Summary
In our journey through life, we often overlook the profound manifestations of God's love and wisdom, dismissing them with contempt. This is the devastating effect of sin—it blinds us to the divine actions and provisions that God has graciously extended to us. The Israelites, despite witnessing God's miraculous provision of manna, regarded it with disdain, longing instead for the familiar comforts of Egypt. This contempt is not just a historical account but a reflection of the human condition, where we often prioritize worldly pleasures over divine gifts.
Contempt for God's actions can manifest in various ways. Some openly mock and ridicule the faith, while others, more subtly, ignore it altogether, living as if God's interventions never occurred. This silent contempt is perhaps more insidious, as it often comes from those who lead respectable lives yet dismiss the divine with indifference. The parable of the great feast illustrates this well—those invited made excuses, showing their preference for worldly matters over the king's invitation.
Throughout history, this contempt has been evident. From Cain's disregard for God's instructions to the Israelites' idolatry, and even in the New Testament, where Jesus and his apostles faced ridicule and rejection. The world has consistently failed to recognize the miraculous in the mundane, the divine in the ordinary. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, was dismissed as a mere carpenter, his crucifixion seen as folly, and his resurrection as incredulous.
Today, many still regard the core tenets of Christianity with skepticism. The cross, the resurrection, and the call to a holy life are often met with scorn. Yet, these are the very manifestations of God's love and power. The challenge for us is to recognize the miracle in the manna, the divine in the everyday, and to respond not with contempt but with faith and gratitude.
Key Takeaways:
- Sin blinds us to God's miraculous actions, leading us to regard them with contempt. This is evident in how the Israelites dismissed the manna, a divine provision, longing instead for the comforts of Egypt. We must be vigilant not to let sin cloud our perception of God's gifts. [09:16]
- Contempt for God can be blatant or subtle. While some openly mock the faith, others ignore it, living as if God's interventions never occurred. This silent contempt is often more insidious, as it comes from those who lead respectable lives yet dismiss the divine with indifference. [13:31]
- Throughout history, God's messengers have faced ridicule and rejection. From the prophets to Jesus and the apostles, the world has consistently failed to recognize the divine in the ordinary. This pattern continues today, challenging us to see beyond the surface and recognize God's hand in our lives. [20:04]
- The cross, resurrection, and call to holiness are often met with skepticism. Yet, these are the manifestations of God's love and power. We must embrace these truths, recognizing them as the foundation of our faith and the path to eternal life. [40:18]
- Our attitude towards God's gifts reflects our spiritual state. To dismiss or ignore them is to treat them with contempt. Instead, we are called to respond with faith, gratitude, and a willingness to follow Christ, recognizing the eternal significance of his sacrifice and teachings. [51:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [09:16] - The Effect of Sin
- [10:28] - Expressions of Contempt
- [11:29] - Modern Disdain for Christianity
- [13:31] - Silent Contempt
- [15:28] - Parable of the Great Feast
- [18:04] - Historical Contempt for God
- [20:04] - Rejection of Apostles
- [22:49] - The Miracle of Manna
- [26:56] - New Testament Contempt
- [29:05] - Jesus' Rejection
- [35:43] - Missing the Miracle
- [39:50] - Contempt for the Cross
- [45:57] - Ridicule of Christian Life
- [51:10] - Our Attitude Towards the Gospel
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Numbers 11:4-6
2. Luke 14:16-24
3. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
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Observation Questions:
1. In Numbers 11:4-6, how did the Israelites express their contempt for God's provision of manna? What does this reveal about their desires and priorities? [09:16]
2. According to Luke 14:16-24, what excuses did the invited guests give for not attending the great feast? How do these excuses reflect their priorities? [15:28]
3. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, how does Paul describe the world's perception of the message of the cross? What terms does he use to convey this perception? [40:18]
4. How does the sermon describe the different ways people express contempt for God's actions and provisions? What are some examples given? [13:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the Israelites' longing for the comforts of Egypt, despite God's miraculous provision, suggest about human nature and our tendency to overlook divine gifts? [09:16]
2. How does the parable of the great feast in Luke 14:16-24 illustrate the concept of silent contempt for God's invitation? What might this look like in modern life? [15:28]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the world's rejection of Jesus and the apostles is a continuation of the historical pattern of contempt for God's messengers? [20:04]
4. How does the sermon challenge us to see beyond the surface and recognize God's hand in our lives, particularly in the ordinary and mundane? [26:56]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you might have overlooked or dismissed a blessing in your life. How can you cultivate a habit of gratitude for God's provisions, even when they seem ordinary? [09:16]
2. Consider the excuses you might make for not prioritizing your spiritual life. What steps can you take to ensure that God's invitation to a deeper relationship is not met with excuses? [15:28]
3. How do you respond to skepticism or ridicule about your faith from others? What strategies can you use to remain steadfast in your beliefs despite external contempt? [40:18]
4. Identify an area in your life where you might be showing silent contempt for God's gifts. How can you shift your perspective to one of appreciation and faith? [13:31]
5. Think about the ways you might prioritize worldly pleasures over spiritual growth. What changes can you make to align your priorities with God's call to holiness? [47:45]
6. How can you actively seek to recognize the miraculous in the mundane aspects of your daily life? What practices can help you become more aware of God's presence and actions? [26:56]
7. Reflect on the significance of the cross and resurrection in your personal faith journey. How can you deepen your understanding and appreciation of these core tenets of Christianity? [40:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Sin's Blinding Effect
Sin has a profound impact on our perception, often blinding us to the miraculous actions of God in our lives. The Israelites, despite experiencing the divine provision of manna, longed for the comforts of Egypt, illustrating how sin can lead us to dismiss God's gifts with contempt. This is a reminder to be vigilant and not allow sin to cloud our perception of God's blessings. We must strive to see the divine in the everyday and respond with gratitude rather than disdain. [09:16]
Numbers 11:4-6 (ESV): "Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, 'Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life have you allowed sin to blind you to God's blessings? How can you begin to cultivate a heart of gratitude today?
Day 2: The Insidious Nature of Silent Contempt
Contempt for God can manifest in both blatant and subtle ways. While some openly mock the faith, others live as if God's interventions never occurred, leading respectable lives yet dismissing the divine with indifference. This silent contempt is often more insidious, as it reflects a deeper disregard for God's presence. We are challenged to recognize and address this indifference, choosing instead to live with awareness and appreciation of God's work in our lives. [13:31]
Matthew 22:5 (ESV): "But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. Are there moments where you might be ignoring God's presence or interventions? How can you become more aware and appreciative of His work in your life today?
Day 3: Historical Patterns of Rejection
Throughout history, God's messengers have faced ridicule and rejection. From the prophets to Jesus and the apostles, the world has consistently failed to recognize the divine in the ordinary. This pattern continues today, challenging us to see beyond the surface and recognize God's hand in our lives. We are called to look past the mundane and acknowledge the miraculous, embracing the divine presence in our everyday experiences. [20:04]
Acts 7:51-52 (ESV): "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?"
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you might have overlooked God's presence. How can you train yourself to see the divine in the ordinary moments of your life?
Day 4: Embracing the Core Tenets of Faith
The cross, resurrection, and call to holiness are often met with skepticism, yet they are the manifestations of God's love and power. These truths form the foundation of our faith and the path to eternal life. We must embrace them wholeheartedly, recognizing their significance and allowing them to transform our lives. This involves a commitment to living out these truths daily, reflecting God's love and power in our actions and attitudes. [40:18]
1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV): "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Reflection: How do you perceive the core tenets of Christianity in your life? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding and commitment to these truths today?
Day 5: Our Attitude Towards God's Gifts
Our attitude towards God's gifts reflects our spiritual state. To dismiss or ignore them is to treat them with contempt. Instead, we are called to respond with faith, gratitude, and a willingness to follow Christ, recognizing the eternal significance of His sacrifice and teachings. This involves a conscious effort to appreciate and utilize the gifts God has given us, aligning our lives with His purpose and calling. [51:10]
James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Reflection: Consider the gifts God has given you. How can you show gratitude and make the most of these gifts in your daily life? What changes can you make to align your actions with God's purpose?
Quotes
now the biblical teaching is that that is the final effect of sin upon men that it makes him regard with contempt God's most amazing action God's perfect provision God's final manifestation of his love and of his wisdom and of his power that is typical and characteristic of men in sin [00:08:52]
there are many ways of expressing contempt one way of expressing contempt of a personnal of anything is the open way the way that was adopted here by these children of Israel they put it into words and they put it into their faces in their whole attitude and expression it was their blatant and open their Manor [00:10:23]
sometimes the most eloquent way of expressing contempt is just as there nothing you don't to let yourself girls it well and produce your expletives and denounce tricked and spit about it you just turn away from it will supreme contempt you haven't said a word just bitter biting silence and sarcasm [00:12:58]
there are large numbers of people in the world tonight who regard Christianity with unutterable disdain they regard it as something which is an insult to immense intelligence Christianity they say are you still interested in that my word how outmoded you are surely you want to Rael as you're living in 1957 not in 1857 or previous centuries [00:11:33]
here is a king who makes a great feast he'd sent out his invitations and the people had accepted the invitations well then the time came when the feast was actually to be held so the king sent out his servant to let the people know whom he'd invite him and who had accepted the invitation but that all things were now ready would they come at once to the feast [00:15:20]
Cain was probably the first to do it no doubt you see he'd had the same instruction as his brother Abel as to the kind of offering that was to be given to God but he ignored it and he did what he thought she thereby showing his contempt for God's Way all these children of Israel here they are doing it here you see this manner [00:18:14]
the manner was a miracle the manner was bread sent from heaven manna didn't grow naturally manner was not some kind of indigenous product in that land God sent the manner six days of the week from him by a miracle a miracle repeated six days of every week there it was God acting in his own mightiness in his unusual way [00:24:10]
the natural man that's to say man as he is left to himself without God doing anything to him and natural men with all his cleverness and all his ability and all his worldly wisdom and all his cuteness and all his understand natural men receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God why for they are foolishness unto him foolishness [00:27:38]
if ever a person is met with contempt in this world it was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ listen to the evidence isn't it almost incredible that men and women should have treated him as they did and should have said about him the things they said that they did at the very beginning they said can any good come out of Nazareth [00:29:10]
they crucified him and there he is nailed to a tree suffering agony not only physical but suffering at this sin this vileness this blindness this fungus and as he's hanging there helpless and suffering such agony they walk past you remember wagging their heads and mocking and jeering him and saying if thou be the Son of God come down save thyself [00:34:06]
we preach Christ crucified to the Jews a stumbling-block and to the Greeks foolishness the cross of Christ the death of Christ the Jews hated it was a stumbling block to they were infuriated by it our Messiah this dying in weakness upon a cross the Messiah we've looked forward to for centuries coming as a carpenter [00:40:03]
it's God's Way of saving men if that blood had not been shed not one of us would be forgiven we'd all be consigned to perdition and to hell the blood of the Son of God the most amazing manifestation of God love and mercy and compassion that he spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all to the death of the cross [00:43:20]
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