Are You A Fool?

Psalm 53:1-11

ARE YOU A FOOL? Before you can answer that question we need to define what it mean to be a fool? Because to be called one doesn't seem to be a compliment or an encouraging word! The definition of a “fool” is simply someone who is S. T.U. P. I .D The word “fool” is used to describe a senseless act or someone who is wicked. The word “fool” is used 569 times throughout the Old and the New Testament. The book of Proverbs where “fool” is used denotes a person who is morally and spiritually deficient (which means lacking). MANY TIMES JESUS, HIMSELF CONTRASTED THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH PERSON! In Matt 7:24-27 Jesus said "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."  Remember what Paul said when he preached about the Cross? That is was “foolishness to those who are perishing” But he goes on to say in the same portion of his letter! “but for the wise (believer) it is the power of God and wisdom of God.” 1 Cor 1:23-24. This is a very powerful word that really hits the core of the human heart! Why? Many good intentional people including my own family are fools according to the Word of God. SO LET ME ASK YOU AGAIN! ARE YOU A FOOL?

THE BIBLE DECLARES A FOOL TO BE:

1. Someone who clings to their S.T.U.P.I.D.I.T.Y “as a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” Prov 26:11

2. Makes a light of sin all the time “fools mock sin” Prov 14:9

3. Hates knowledge and instruction “a fool despises his father’s instruction” Prov 15:5

4. They walk in darkness “the wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness” Eccl 2:14

5. They never want to depart from evil “....but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.” Prov 13:19

6. They think they are self sufficient “the ways of a fool is right in his own eyes.” Prov 12:15

7. They are unconcerned or lazy “the fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.” Eccl 4:5

8. They are always angry “...for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” Eccl 7:9

9. They grieve their parents “a foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.” Prov 17:25

10. There mouth destroys them “wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” Prov 10:14

We come to a Psalm 53 and I think this is were it all begins when a person becomes a fool (v1) “the fool says in his heart there is no God!.” Many people during that time and more so today .......hold to this destructive view of God. This seem to be a growing trend in our postmodern......everything tolerant society! There are more fools then you think. I’m not speaking on an academic level even though those statistics are not looking very promising for future generations! I’m talking about that person that says there is no such thing as God! SOMEONE WHO DENIES THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE. Richard Dawkins said “One of the things that is wrong with religion is that it teaches us to be satisfied with answers which are not really answers at all." Albert Einstein said "I do not believe in the immortality of the individual, and I consider ethics to be an exclusively human concern with no superhuman authority behind it." A scientist and active evolutionist said “Religion is a virus of the mind, and thinks teaching children about Hell fire is nothing short of psychological child abuse”.  I TYPED THIS QUESTION ON GOGGLE "Why do people deny the existence of God?" There were 1.5 million hits on this very question! One gentleman who's call name Friar Tuck said “Because, based on the evidence, I (for one - can't speak for others) do not think god (or gods or goddesses) exist outside our own minds.” Another one said “Because his/her/its/their existence is not proven, and too many people don’t even have the slightest shred of evidence - in fact in many cases the evidence directly contradicts the notion that there is a God (it certainly contradicts specific teachings made by them).” And Another one "I can only speak for myself but I deny it because I think it's malarkey ... Some people choose logic over faith" But listen to the evidence found in Paul’s writing to the Romans in chapter 1! In Rom 1:18-25 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” This is why David penned these words in the remainder of (v1b) “Corrupt and have done abominable” which means: there whole body is utter waste (flesh) is stained and this is detestable in the eyes of a holy God. But God who is merciful and slow to anger does something amazing (Look at v2) He searches everywhere......He looks for anyone who has their hearts directed towards Him and glory! He looks for people who are worshipping His wonderful name! Sadly we see the answer in the next sentence (Look at v3) What does God find? NO ONE IS SEEKING AFTER GOD!

• We have all fallen short (doesn’t matter if it’s a mile or a millimetre).
• We all have missed the mark.
• We all seek our own lustful desires and passions.
• We are all in pursuit of the American dream.
• We are all in pursuit for what I can get out of life.
• We have all turns away or turned back to what we love the most! SELF.
• We were all FOOLS once!

THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID “for we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” Titus 3:3. THE QUESTION AGAIN IS! ARE YOU A FOOL? Why do you keep asking me this question? Because do you know what it means to be gripped by the glory of God? That a holy, perfect, righteous, all powerful God who would take a person who was once a fool that hated or said in his or her heart “there is no God” and bring salvation to that person! So that He could declare that child to a wise righteous son of the living God. That’s what it means to be gripped by God’s love! Too look past our selfishness and S.T.U.P.I.D life and say “today I have declared you to be my child”. To know that the Bible declared me (Mike Andrews) to be foolish and blind to His truth! That God would seek this wretched man that I am and save me from my road of destruction through His precious Son. That’s what the glory of God looks like in my salvation........but not just in my salvation some 10 years ago, but every day He allows me to breathe! He saved me from what I was! Paul Washer says it best in his testimony! “Let me tell you about my Jesus? He has saved me! When I was a wretch you would not have wanted to run me down with your car. But my Jesus, he brought me with His blood. And my Jesus, he came to me and my Jesus took away my sin, and my Jesus took away my shame! All hail the power of Jesus name let angel’s prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all.......that’s my Jesus.” There is only one Rescuer for foolish people like us! Jesus Christ. There are only two ways that God’s justice can be satisfied with respect to your sin and foolish state. It will either be satisfied in you! Or it will be satisfied in Christ! You can satisfy it by being banished from God’s presence forever as you bare the wrath of God for all eternity for your sin and disbelief! Or You can accept the satisfaction that Jesus Christ has made for sinful. As God had to go to the cross Himself to pay the price for foolish people like you and me...........Leonard Ravenhill said “the greatest sin in the world is I can manage my life without God....that’s the great sin a person could ever commit.” WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE GRIPPED BY THE GLORY GOD? To know that He loves this imperfect body and the soul that lives in it! To know that He changed this heart of a fool into a heart that desires Christ and His righteousness. This is the beauty of the Gospel! God didn’t leave us to ourselves because that’s how the fool wants to live today. (Look at v6) there were those in the Old Testament times that looked and hoped, that prayed and waited, for this redemption. Just as God is not finished with the nation of Israel in His providential plan..... He is not finished with our generation of fools as well. God is calling in the streets to the fools of this generation and the generations to come before He returns to come and dine with Him.....through His Son and His Gospel.  But in order to dine with Him you must die to self! As Matthew Henry said in his commentary “He will save all believers from their own iniquities, that they may not be led captive by them, which will be everlasting matter of joy to them. From this work the Redeemer had his name - Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins” To be a fool is to be lost and in the end of this life, you will face the full wrath of God for all eternity! (Look at v5) But for those who are being saved its joy, peace, rest and protection for all eternity with Jehovah our great God and protector. As Charles Swindoll so boldly said “God is holy. Exalted. He is the only wise God, the Creator, the Maker, the sovereign Lord. He is the Master. He tells me what to do, and I have no safe option but to do it. He offers no alternative, no multiple choice. We have but one directive, and that is to do His will.” WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE GRIPPED BY THE GLORY OF GOD? Be called faithful and true! Not a fool! As Jesus said to the man who built bigger barns. “But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you,..' Luke 12:20. THE QUESTION YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF IS: Am I a fool or not? Do you truly believe or does your heart say “there is no God” ONLY YOU CAN TRULY ANSWER THAT QUESTION. BUT REMEMBER God will either get glory in your damnation and your denial and disobedience or in your adoration and salvation through Jesus Christ. SO YOU MUST CHOOSE THIS DAY! Who will you serve the god of the fool (which is you) or the Living God of the Bible?