The Enigma of Man - 7/14/2024 Sunday Sermon

The Tabernacle Today

The Enigma of Man

Enigma – a puzzling or unexplainable occurrence or situation; a person of puzzling or contradictory character.

Philosophers love to ask questions, so they asked - Is man born good but then does bad things because of exposure to a bad environment and/or circumstances, or is man born evil and does good things out of necessity, to make the world a better place.

But why was I offended by other’s actions toward me? A godless view that says we won’t ever be evaluated by God should say, “I acted, you acted, no-one can say what’s right or wrong! To be a consistent atheist, I should have been offended at ever being offended by anybody doing anything.

Matthew 7:7-11

God invites His children to better know Him and His plan - V. 7-8

Ask, seek, and knock are all commands here, and the present tense gives a continual sense; Ask and keep asking – Continually ask; Seek and keep seeking – Continually seek; Knock and keep knocking – Continually knock!

Notice the commands contain promises!

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him. - Hebrews 11:6

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. -James 4:8a

All of this is much more than a prayer passage – it is seeking relationship with God, clarification of life priorities, intercession for self and others.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me, and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. - Jeremiah 29:10-11

Now remember what Matthew 6:33 says, that we are to “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33 regulates the believer’s seeking. The believer wants what their King wants for their lives!

You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:12

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

Jesus tells you the truth – the only sure rock to form your identity around is not “me” or “we”, but “He,” your relationship with God and the timeless truth of the Bible!

I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. - Jeremiah 17:10

Something inside us wants to get things right for our children - V. 9-10

The disciples Jesus was talking to were fighting an internal battle – “If I put Jesus first, if I put God’s kingdom and what He calls right first, will I still be able to get all I need done, do right by my family, etc…”

Can we who are limited in knowledge trust an omniscient, all-knowing God? Can we who aren’t everywhere present trust and omnipresent, everywhere-present God? Can we who are limited in power trust an omnipotent, all- powerful God? Of course we can!

An all-good (Omnibenevolent) God loves us despite our evil natures - V. 11

Our sin nature is why when God saves us we need to continually seek God, knock on His door, enter His presence and ask Him our questions – so He can empower us to live by faith in Him in a sin-stained world.

Our God is not just omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere present), He is also omnibenevolent (all-good). Every command He gives is based on His goodness, and we will always be better off when by faith we choose to do what He asks us to.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? - Luke 11:13