Rejoice Over the Results Versus the Motivation (Numbers 11:26-29, Mark 9:38-41, Philippians 1:15-18)

We see frequent examples in Scripture of why we should rejoice over the results versus the motivation. When other men began to prophesy Joshua was concerned, but Moses rejoiced (Numbers 11:26-29). When a man was casting out demons, the disciples were concerned, but Jesus said to let him continue (Mark 9:38-41). Paul said some people were preaching the gospel with good motivation and others with bad motivation, but he rejoiced that the gospel was being preached (Philippians 1:15-18). The prodigal son returned to his father because he was hungry (Luke 15:17). We can rejoice he returned home. https://youtu.be/JBuxTUsTIbg We see frequent examples in Scripture of why we should rejoice over the results versus the motivation (Mark 9:38-41 and Philippians 1:15-18). Table of ContentsFamily Worship Guide for Rejoice Over the Results Versus the MotivationSermon Notes for Rejoice Over the Results Versus the MotivationRejoice over people (Lesson One) using their gifts.Rejoice over people (Lesson Two) preaching the gospel.Rejoice over people (Lesson Three) repenting. Family Worship Guide for Rejoice Over the Results Versus the Motivation Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Numbers 11:16-29—Why was Moses so overwhelmed in the wilderness? Why did God tell Moses to appoint elders? What happened with many of the men who were appointed? Why did Joshua object? How did Moses respond to Joshua’s objection? Day 2: Mark 9:38-40 and Philippians 1:15-18—Why did Jesus’s family think He was out of his mind? Why did the disciples try to stop the man casting out demons? How did Jesus respond to their objections? What application does this have for us? What are some good and bad reasons people preach the gospel? How did Paul feel about people preaching the gospel even for bad reasons? Day 3: Luke 15:11-17, John 6:44, 65—Why did the prodigal son want to return home? Do you think this was a good or bad reason for him to return home and why do you feel that way? Why should we consider the results versus the motivations? Can you think of some examples of results you could rejoice over even though the motivation was bad? Sermon Notes for Rejoice Over the Results Versus the Motivation The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Rejoice Over the Results Versus the Motivation” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 15:17. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. Luke 15:11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! You may be seated. Let’s pray. We are working our way through what is commonly called the parable of the prodigal son. I saw something in the account that I wanted to elaborate on, especially with VBS approaching, which is that we should look at the results of what happens, versus the motivation. Instead of jumping right into it, I want to back up and look at some other examples that make the same point. We will turn back to Luke, but for now please turn to Numbers 11. Look with me at verse 11… Numbers 11:11 Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” How does Moses sound? In a word, overwhelmed! He was leading an entire nation – millions of people – and he was crushed beneath their complaining and grumbling. It was so unbearable he even asked God to kill him! He shares with God – in a frustrated way – how he’s feeling. He uses language that makes him sound like a mother to all these children, such as conceive, give them birth, carry them, and nurse. He reminds me of a mother with a bunch of children who are out of control. She might not just get mad at her children. She might also get mad at her husband. I am not saying that has ever happened in our home, but I have heard it happening in other people’s homes. God is the husband who’s in trouble. Look how He responds… Numbers 11:16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. God told Moses to appoint elders. They prefigure elders in the church. God is going to take some of the Holy Spirit He’d given to Moses and give it to these men so they can help him with this load. And then something happened when these men received the Spirit…they started prophesying… Numbers 11:25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. 26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. But not everyone liked them prophesying… Numbers 11:27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” This young man thought Moses was the only one who should be prophesying, so he’s alarmed…and so is someone else… Numbers 11:28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” Now here’s the question… We saw how overwhelmed Moses was. How do you think he’s going to feel about these men prophesying? He’s going to be thrilled! He thinks he finally has some Spirit-filled men to help him. Look at verse 29… Numbers 11:29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” Moses said, “I wish every Israelite prophesied. I’ll take all the help I can get! I want God’s Spirit falling on everyone. I would like to see everyone involved.” Basically, he said rejoice over the results. And this brings us to lesson one… Rejoice over people (Lesson One) using their gifts. There is so much work to be done for God’s kingdom we should rejoice when people use their gifts to serve the Lord. Let me show you another example before I provide more application. Please turn to Mark 3. I’ve told you many times before that much of what took place in the Old Testament prefigures the New Testament, and the Old Testament event with Moses prefigures a similar event with Jesus. Mark 3:20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. The one person in Scripture with a ministry that was more crushing than Moses was Jesus. Think about all the people pulling on Him to ask Him questions or ask Him to heal them or their loved ones. Whenever He turned around there were more needs. He didn’t have time to eat, drink, or sleep. Mark 3:21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” It got so bad his family thought he was crazy. With this in mind please turn to Mark 9. Look at verse 38… Mark 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” There was a man who was not one of the twelve disciples, and it doesn’t say he was TRYING to cast out demons. It says he WAS casting out demons. And there are a few other things I want you to notice about this… First, this account is similar to the account with Moses: instead of Joshua trying to stop people from prophesying, John is trying to stop people from performing exorcisms. But notice the use of the word we: WE saw someone…WE tried to stop him. John is speaking but all the disciples tried to stop this man. And notice it says we TRIED to stop him, versus we STOPPED him. Not even all twelve disciples working together could stop this man. Briefly look at verse 17 to see something that makes this account ironic … Mark 9:17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and THEY WERE NOT ABLE.” A man with a demon possessed son had taken his son to the disciples to cast out the demon, but they were not able to do so.