When Trying Jesus Doesn't Work 7/20/2025 Part 11

Matthew 12:22-32  nkjvMark 10:17-22   nkjv17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. ❓When has there ever been a time when you felt like God was ignoring you? When have you ever asked God for something and you didn’t get what you asked??💥 ****)  Cell phone problems!!!!   Something is wrong with my phone.   (IT’S ME)!!!💥💥(Trying the spirits to see if they are of God or not!  Part 11)

• 1 John 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
• 2 Corinthians 11:14) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

➤   I’ve heard some people over the years bluntly say, “I tried God and it didn’t work” so I said the heck with it.  ➤   I’ve heard others say things like, “ What am I doing wrong?” or “Why do bad things keep happening”? “This God thing isn’t working!”➤   Last but not least, “Why is God mad at me?”   (We’ve all let circumstances lead us to believe that God is mad at us.)

⭐⭐From our story.   Jesus did offer to this man exactly what he was asking!  “What must I do to have eternal life?”

• Jesus gave the rich young ruler his answer, it was just that he didn’t want to do what Jesus told him to do to have his answer!”

➤  We are often unwilling to give up what we have ---- to get what we want or need.

➤  It’s easy to give up the things that are bad and wrong, but what about giving up what we see as good?

• Jesus wasn’t asking this man to give up drugs, alcohol or an outward unhealthy, sinful lifestyle.

➡️   This man was listening to the wrong voiceJohn 16:13)  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.John 10:27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

➡️   Following the wrong spirit.Galatians 5:16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.1 John 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

John 8:12)  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

How can we start following the wrong spirit? What makes us believe we are going the right way when we are not?  How can darkness disguise itself as light?A.  Worldly success.v22b),,,,, for he had great possessions.   He was rich!  Some suppose gain is godliness… that success means we are doing things right.   1 Timothy 6:5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.    👉 ****)  (Rich Mullins, “Our God is an Awesome God”)  Average salary. Give the rest away.

B. Doing good. v19-20)19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”➤  Through the years I have had people say, “BUT they are “good” people.”  If they aren’t Christian, then no one else is!!   ➤  Ephesians 2:8.9)  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. ➤  Matthew 5:20) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.👉 ****)  Good enough isn’t good enough!!!  C.  A religious life.v17) 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”  ➤ Seeking God.  They go to church!  

• Luke 6:46“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
• Matthew 15:8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.  

👉 ****)  Without the Holy Spirit, we will just be religious!

⭐➡️ What can get us moving forward with Christ?

I.    Let go of the things that separate us from being followers of Christ. v21a) 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; Jesus loved HIM!   Never doubt that. No matter our mistakes, sins or bad choices.  

• But that doesn’t mean we can keep doing what we are doing, it just means God is never our enemy!!!! 
• He held on to things that kept him separated from God.

II.   Take up your cross! 21b) take up the cross,  Don’t allow your fleshly desires to stay alive!

• Galatians 2:20) I’m crucified with Christ never the less I live!
• Galatians 5:24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
• 1 Corinthians 15:31) I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!

What attitudes, beliefs, thoughts we do not conform to Christ…..What pride we hold onto. 

III.   The life he wanted to have and not the life God wanted to give him.  21c) ,,,, and follow me.

• Christian life didn’t offer what the worldly life could physically give him.
  • He wanted the best of both worlds. 

Sometimes the life we want robs us of the life we could have.  

• Satan distorts us to see what we think things can give us vs what is truly priceless.
• Commercial!  
• Worldly living comes with a price.    God’s life is priceless!!!!!

Try the spirits.If God’s ways don’t seem to work for you…. it’s not the PHONE, it’s the operator.