Persistence For the Right Things by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we are going to go to the book of Matthew chapter 19. We will begin reading starting at verse 1. Our focus this morning is an interaction in this book, which also is recorded in two other gospels. 

        And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan;

        2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

        3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

        In the time of Jesus' ministry, it was not uncommon for men to marry multiple times in the course of his life. Polygamy was still very much a thing in this age.

        4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female.

        Let's look at that question again; Have ye not read? That question can be used still today for all of us on many different subjects. There are two types of people that both profess to be of the faith. There are those who pray, intercede, fast for loved ones, to have a continual and deep relationship with God. The other type is the "I trust God" type. They're indecisive, lazy and undisciplined in their relationship with God. They display the most basic understanding of the Bible in retelling stories, yet are willfully ignorant in prayer, intercession, and fasting. Their the type of person who will be in a trial or even a crisis and tell you "If it's in God's will..." You know this type of person. Let's read on into the scripture with verse 5.

        5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

        6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

        7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

        8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: from the beginning it was not so.

        In this discussion the Pharisees were having with Jesus, trying to get him to say the wrong thing, they bring up Moses. In the wilderness Moses was already aware of the Israelites and their stubbornness. Jesus pointed out that Yes, Moses did give that command but it was not to be so.

        9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marries her which is put away doth commit adultery.

        10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

        If you get the opportunity this week, look into Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church. He was an advocate of staying single in your relationship with Jesus.

        11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

        12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born form their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

        13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

        14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

        15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

        16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

        Beginning with verse 16 we are getting into the heart of the message. The story of Jesus and the rich young ruler. Now, we know that the young ruler was a Jew by his first words to Jesus as Good Master.

        17 And he said unto him, Why call thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, and keep the commandments. 

        This young man has wealth and status in life, but he is spiritually dead. Jesus points this out.

        18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

        19 Honor thy father and thy mother: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

        20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

        Why is this man so persistent to Jesus in this story? He had approached Jesus as a good man, a rabbi, a master. He had only seen the physical aspects of Jesus and not the spiritual. Sometimes we get the terms self control and temperance mixed up or define them wrong. They are not the same thing. They are different. The difference between self control and temperance is where you are raging over something on your inside and stay quiet, that's self control. Temperance is being in a trial or high pressure situation and not being affected by things at all. 

        The man pressed Jesus. Most of us do not go to him and press. Why did the man press? It was conviction he was feeling. Conviction is not an ugly thing. Your flesh will view it as ugly though. You can walk through life believing your perfect with that lack of conviction and be in ignorance.

        21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasures in heaven: and come and follow me.

        22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

        Now, reading this outcome makes you wonder of the man was serious in being a disciple or merely possessing eternal life. None of the gospels accounting of this meeting say what this man's outcome was afterward. 

        23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

        24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

        25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

        26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

        Verse 26 is the root as to why the rich young ruler could make it into heaven as well as you and I. We can accumulate wealth, land, rights, things here on earth, but we still will not get close to the other side. You take the same amount of time and effort you put to what you have here and apply it to God. 

        If you would like to read other accounts of this meeting, read Mark 10: 17-27 and Luke 18: 18-30. Both retell the events in our scripture reading but with added context. 

        A question to ask you this morning. Are you a victim of circumstances? What you were born into, has it affected your life or your walk? We are exposed to the same sins out in the world, yet why do we pick up what we pick up? Is it a generational curse? Is it the devil's fault? God is not hard to follow. It is our flesh which is stubborn in our ways and thinking. You pick up what entices and draws you in, what you like. You choose a multitude of things every day. God did not and will not take your sins from you.

        Jesus articulates what the rich young ruler needed to do in Mark 10:21. Take up the cross and follow me. It's not enough to merely follow commandments and not have a continual relationship with God. In fact it's pretty well impossible to get an eternal outcome with a legalistic mindset. It's hard to get rid of sin and iniquity from your life when you're operating under your own thinking because you don't detect the spirits attached to choices you make and things you pick up.

        Our perspective can be shaped by our environment, circumstances, and walk but the answers to gaining and maintaining a righteous life are the same in the scripture. You cannot make others do the right thing, make their choices for them or lead them to the truth. You have a harder time keeping yourself bearing your own cross and walking your own walk. Be a light, walk in truth, and your fruits born will attract those who are still seeking the truth.

        This week listen how many times you hear the word perfect just in basic conversation. Do not pray to God and ask for what you lack in life. Remember the victories you have had where some things no longer bother you. God wants you to choose him. Keep digging deeper in the word, working in your faith.