Sunday Worship Service (August 23rd, 2020)
FORSAKE THE FOOLISH AND FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS
Psalms 14; 53; Proverbs 9:6; 1 Timothy 6:11; Psalm 15
The Lord wants those who desire a happy, healthy and satisfactory life on earth to forsake the foolish who “hath said in his heart, There is no God” and “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness”. It is essential that we forsake the foolish and follow after righteousness if we hope to experience the joy, blessing and privilege of living forever with God and Christ our Redeemer in heaven.
Point 1: RECOGNISING THE FOOLS IN THEIR EMPTINESS
Psalm 14:1-7
We recognise fools by the emptiness of their utterances, lives and profession. There are three things to consider in Psalm 14.
(i). Living like a Fool in Evil
Psalms 14:1-5; 10:4,7,11; Isaiah 44:20; Romans 3:10-19
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God”. Fools do not think about God, His law and the necessity of having a relationship with Him. They live recklessly, dangerously, purposelessly, lawlessly, gracelessly, godlessly, carelessly and senselessly. They are self-centred and forgetful of the reckoning day. They do not know Christ, our Peace. They do not know the way of repentance and how to inherit eternal life. As such, “There is no fear of God before their eyes”.
(ii). Labouring as Fools in Error
Psalm 14:1; Ecclesiastes 10:15; Job 39:13-17; Ecclesiastes 5:16; Habakkuk 2:13; John 6:27
The foolish labours purposelessly “because he knoweth not how to go to the city”. Although they are religious, they do not know the way to heaven. The people who are foolish labour for the wind without thinking of how to stop it. What we labour for today should not be things that would have no value in a few years to come. The Lord wants us to “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life”. We must labour to get the salvation, sanctification, grace and sufficiency that come from Christ.
(iii). Lamenting with Other Fools at the End
2 Samuel 3:33; Proverbs 5:13,23; Jeremiah 17:5,6,11; 2 Timothy 3:7-9; Romans 1:21,22,28,32
People who live and labour like fools will eventually lament at the end. Since they do not obey “the voice of [their] teachers”, they “shall die without instruction”. The Lord instructs us to live and die peacefully in grace, righteousness and hope of getting to heaven. It will amount to foolishness if we hear God’s word but fail to prepare ourselves to be with Him in eternity.
Point 2: REVEALING THE FOOLS’ FUTURE AFTER THE EARTH
Psalm 53:1-6
No one will live on earth forever. Everyone will leave this world and face the future. Man is not like animals whose existence stop at death; they have no place in paradise. Everyone will live forever, either with or without God. Though God created heaven for human beings, His habitation is only for those who have repented of their sins and whose names are written in the book of life.
(i). The Defilement of Fools on Earth
Psalm 53:1-5; Isaiah 24:5,6; Mark 7:21-23; Ephesians 5:3-7,15; Revelation 21:27
Fools defile themselves because of their disbelief of God’s existence. This defilement of the heart is caused by their foolishness.
(ii). The Destruction of Fools at Ease
Psalm 73:3,6-9,18,19; Proverbs 23:34; Isaiah 32:9-11; Amos 6:1,3; Luke 12:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Fools are always at ease and do not worry about anything. Some people in the church do not take anything serious. They mistakenly fall into sin and still live at ease. But the Scripture says, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came”. Those who forsake or neglect the teachings on salvation and holiness will face the destruction that will eventually come upon fools. We must constantly prepare and be ready for eternity to escape the judgment that will come upon careless and unrepentant sinners.
(iii). The Damnation of Fools in Eternity
Psalm 53:1,5; Proverbs 7:22,23,26,27; 26:10,11; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Daniel 5:22-28
The future is very important. Therefore, before we rush into any action, friendship or relationship, we should think about the future.
Point 3: RUNNING THE RACE IN ALL FAITHFULNESS WITHOUT ENTANGLEMENTS
Psalms 14:7; 15:1-5; 53:6; 2 Timothy 2:4
To get to the holy habitation of the Lord like Moses, Elijah, Enoch, Daniel, Stephen and other saints, we must do the following:
(i). Abandon the Righteousness of Fools
Matthew 23:17,19,23,28,33; 5:20; Luke 18:9-14; Romans 9:31,32; 10:1-3; Philippians 3:6; Galatians 2:21
Many profess to be righteous but only display fake, external righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. Before the Lord met Paul the apostle, he had this kind of righteousness. To make heaven, we must abandon the righteousness of fools. Our certificate of righteousness must be recognised and have the stamp of the authority in heaven. It must have the watermark of the Word and blood of the Lamb. It must also have the registration number of our Redeemer.
(ii). Accept the Righteousness of Faith
Romans 10:8-10; 3:22-25; 4:11,22-25; 1:17; Hebrews 11:4,6; Philippians 3:7-9; Galatians 5:5,6
To get to heaven, we must accept and embrace “the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe”.
(iii). Abide, Abound in Righteousness as Fruit
Romans 6:18,22; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:9-11; Philippians 1:10,11; James 3:17,18; 1 John 2:28,29; Psalm 15:1-5
The fruit we bear because of our reconciliation with God and redemption in Christ is righteousness. It makes us allow the Spirit and grace of God to work in us. We then live to please Christ, the Truth personified and speak the truth in our heart. As believers, we should not allow persecution, affliction, suffering or misunderstanding to take us away from the righteousness of faith.
GHS: 133, 208 & 34