The Reasonable Spirit: Living a Faithful and Composed Life

2. as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (1 Cor. 11:26)

3. (John 19) When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

4. Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced.” After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body

9. Let Your Reasonableness Be Known

10. God’s People Are A Reasonable People • The illogical nature of the children of Israel’s faith – Egypt was better! (Num 14:1-4) • King Saul lost his head when his emotions ran out of control. Consumed by anger & jealousy, hurt loved ones (1 Sam 18:9) • Rehoboam acts unreasonably as king over Judah. New king, yet increases the difficulty of those in his nation. Winds up splitting the nation of Israel (1 Kings 12:13-14)

11. God’s People Are A Reasonable People • Nebuchadnezzar’s view of himself and lack of acknowledgment of God was extremely irrational. See what happened when his “reason” returned to him (Dan 4:34-37) • Pharisees epitomized unreasonableness… In how they responded to Jesus’ miracles, exercise of their religion, their traditions & understanding of God’s law, and in their debates. Living contradictions! (Matt 12:22-29)

12. God’s People Are A Reasonable People • Our Pursuit Of A Reasonable Spirit: • God’s people possess a reasonable spirit in their response to worries, fears, anxieties, and uncertainties (Phil 4:4-7) • Context of statement is getting worked up over troubles in life. Faith controls emotions. Jesus IS coming back. Changes our behavior! • It is unreasonable for a person of faith to be consumed by worry. It’s unreasonable because of WHO we trust. Makes faith look illogical • Reasonable faith rejoices… maintains composure… possesses peace… It makes sense based on what we say we hope and believe in! • Remember what Paul told the Thessalonians… Christians are not to mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4)

13. God’s People Are A Reasonable People • Our Pursuit Of A Reasonable Spirit: • In our relationships with others (James 3:15-18) • Our love should be reasonable – It does not make sense to say we love God and yet not love others. Share blood & likeness! (1 John 4:10) • In conflict, a reasonable person listens, gives benefit of doubt, hears multiple sides, keeps calm, doesn’t make emotional decisions • We have to be purposeful about being reasonable when dealing with an unreasonable man. They try to get us to play their style of game! • Wisdom must govern all of our relationships (Prov 18:13; 30:33; 26:4-5)

14. God’s People Are A Reasonable People • Our Pursuit Of A Reasonable Spirit: • A teachable and receptive spirit to God’s word (James 1:19-25) • Remember the Pharisees – They dismissed anything that conflicted with their preconceived ideas… jumped through theological hoops! • You can’t reason with many – It’s always what their pastor says, parents taught, or what they’ve always believed. When facing a scripture it is always, “I know that says ______ , but…” • Are we any better? God’s word condemns, challenges, conflicts former beliefs, or points to unfulfilled responsibility… Do we reason away? See the illogical nature… What’s our response to the mirror! • Reasonable – Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. Always examining and transforming. Humble view toward self • Unreasonable – Gets mad when corrected, rejects teacher, gets very defensive when opposed, right & won’t restudy, thinking ahead

15. God’s People Are A Reasonable People • Our Pursuit Of A Reasonable Spirit: • In what we believe and pass on to others (I Peter 3:15) • Our faith is reasonable & logical. We don’t have faith due to the absence of evidence. The evidence is convincing! Faith is logical & rational • Is your faith reasonable? Not based on human reasoning, but evidential reasons. Your faith should be defendable and you can defend it. Some will ask about it because it causes you to act reasonably • Be careful what you believe in life. The things we buy into must be rational. Think about email forwards and Facebook posts • Conspiracy theories abound… There is some reasonableness to them, but they often require many assumptions and the absurd to be true. What does it say to the lost about our faith in God if we buy into these things? Prejudices cause us to accept strange things! • Are we like the Pharisees and the miracles and empty tomb?

18. God’s People Are A Reasonable People • Our Pursuit Of A Reasonable Spirit: • In facing temptations and sin in our lives (James 1:13-18) • Remember the great measures God has taken to provide salvation. He is giver of good gifts. The cross testifies! He provides way of escape • We lose the battle with temptation and we blame God? When we sin it’s our fault… we sin in spite of everything God had done for us! • Are we reasonable with our sin? Hide it… reason it away… blame others? Accept responsibility, repent, confess, restitution – David’s sin