So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24
Scenario: A group of monkeys were locked in a room with a pole in the center. Some luscious, ripe bananas were placed on the top of the pole. When a monkey would begin to climb the pole, the experimenters would knock him off with a blast of water from a fire hose. Each time a monkey would climb, off he would go, until all the monkeys had been knocked off repeatedly, thus learning that the climb was hopeless. The experimenters then observed that the other primates would pull down any monkey trying to climb. They replaced a single monkey with one who didn’t know the system. As soon as the new guy tried to climb, the others would pull him down and punish him for trying. One by one, each monkey was replaced and the scene repeated until there were no monkeys left in the room that had experienced the fire hose. Still, none of the new guys were allowed to climb. The other monkeys pulled them down. Not one monkey in the room knew why, but none were allowed to get the bananas. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey Pg. 19-20
We certainly are not monkeys, but often we are rather chimp-like! In our spiritual quest we often begin rather innocently and try to climb the “pole” of being on fire for God. By our own devices we fail at times and “learn” that it is futile and hopeless to keep on climbing. Then others around us try to climb and we see their “folly” and pull them down, informing them of the foolishness of climbing. Others try and we begin to “punish” them because it is just down right embarrassing and of course hopeless to try to climb the pole of being on fire for God! It is much safer (although you are starving) to stay down in the pit of complacency or lukewarmness rather than face the other monkeys in their rage and self-proclaimed wisdom. They are in fact much older and more experienced and so must know the answer is to stay off that pole- it is too dangerous!
Futility of their thinking, darkened in their understanding, and ignorance due to the hardening of their hearts… that is how God describes men who do not keep on climbing the pole to have an intimate, radical and life changing relationship with Him. We are created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, not men who settle for the status quo and do not go outside for fear of “the lion in the streets” Proverbs 22:13 or the fear of failure and mistakes like the 10 spies who spread a bad report. “…they spread among the Israelites a bad report…We seem like grasshoppers in their eyes”. Numbers 14:31-33 Fear and bitterness toward past hurts and disappointments is what drives this response- not wisdom. Of course, there is much to be learned from years of experience, but this “wisdom” cannot supersede the scriptures! Jesus simply says, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” Matthew 11:18-19 and in another place, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15-20
“Wisdom” that pays little attention to or gives lip service to the scriptures is not wisdom at all; rather it is fear preached by those knocked off the pole and who have not yet recovered from the bruises. So often after we have been hurt by the past (whether by an individual, ourselves or a group) we REACT and run rather than RESPOND with faith. This is a worldly response and the opposite of a life of victory through surrender. As a non-Christian, I always took things into my own hands when life went south. The old phrase “if you want something done right, do it yourself” came to define me. Rarely would I let God teach me, instead taking my own reactionary path, I would throw out the baby with the bath water and listen to the monkeys! Three areas we must be careful to listen to the scriptures over the monkeys are: Faith, Future and Fruit.
Faith – Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Is your faith producing righteousness and power? Jesus has called each of us to live a life of faith and righteousness. Sadly, many will pull down a man full of faith and cynically claim he is living a pipe-dream. In their “experience” they got hurt believing great things could happen and so now settle for less. Complacency, family first and lukewarmness are accepted and even taught as the “safe” way to be a Christian for the long run…Rather, Jesus teaches- give up everything you have and that true faith is following wherever he leads. He went to the cross and it cost him his life. This is radical and the opposite of Americanized Democratic Majority Rules Christianity. Faith that Jesus lived was radical and on the edge. Where is your faith today?
Future – Acts 13:36 “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…” Also read about David’s heart in 2 Samuel 7:18-24 Some have told me lately about friends that say they feel they are sitting in church waiting to die and just hope they hold on till they go to heaven. These people are only in their 30’s! Yikes! That is not our God’s hope for us. He is dreaming our lives will be useful until our dying breath. Is your future bleak? Have you lost faith in God’s future for you? Are there monkeys around you pulling you down because they have bought into the lie that you must simply survive and that’s ok? David neither believed that, because he knew God! God is the giver of hope and a future! How are you living out your future? Don’t let your past be the glory days, fight off the monkeys and live out a faithful future.
Fruit – Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Fruit of the Spirit cannot be faked. If you have these things coming out of your life- God is working and your faith in Him is paying off! You are being led by the Spirit and God is fired up- NO LAW against these things. That is amazing. Do not be misled- if these “fruits” are not coming from you but from our awesome God working in you. When the Spirit of the Living God is at work- RADICAL change happens. Who you were is no longer who you are. You and I have been “born again” to become like Jesus.
John 15:7-8 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Remember this verse and ask, “What is coming out of my life, my friends and my congregation?” What is being produced- good or bad fruit? Or tragically, no fruit…! God dreams of, looks for and expects good fruit in His children. Colossians 1:5-6 …the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. The gospel bears fruit- period! If fruit is not being born (fruit of the Spirit and fruit of conversions) there is something wrong with the tree. If only a “little” or no fruit is coming out of you or your congregation- get help and do whatever it takes to overcome the plight of the monkeys. Sadly, the monkeys in the study – HAD NO FRUIT. Let us instead “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”. Today, decide to be a man or woman of true faith, see God’s heart for your future and understand real spiritual fruit only comes from our great and awesome God when we are intimately close to Him and led by the Spirit!
Orlando Church – our God is performing miracles here as so many lives have been changed! In just the last 9 weeks we have seen 6 awesome disciples place membership, 3 have been restored and 18 have been baptized as disciples! That is 27 added to our number in just over two months! We are well on our way to seeing 100 added to our congregation in our first year which is our prayer goal. Keep on being sold-out for our God and let’s not “monkey around”!
Our God “stoops down to make us great”,
Matt Sullivan
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