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Part 30 of 44
Wisdom & Wonder Season 5 Premiere
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Before diving into Scripture, I want to acknowledge that today may bring mixed emotions for some of you—whether Father's Day is joyous or difficult. The God of all comfort meets us in our places of need, sorrow, and trouble. Everything we do should be informed by God's Word.
I also want to honor those who have spiritually enriched my life, particularly Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell and his wife Lena. When I needed help, Pastor Philip opened his doors and his heart without hesitation. That's the kind of love that reflects Jesus—not self-serving, but fully surrendered to God's work. I'm grateful for leaders who invest in younger ministers and for my wife's honesty and support.
"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came and to test him, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. And he answered them, 'When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red, and in the morning it will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, seeks for a sign, but not a sign, but no sign will be given to you except the sign of Jonah.' So he left and departed."
These were the religious leaders—the elite—of Jesus' day. The Pharisees were well-known experts and interpreters of the law. They had power over the people through religious authority. The Sadducees, by contrast, didn't believe in the supernatural—no miracles, signs, wonders, or resurrection. They aligned with the Roman government and held political power.
When these two groups came to Jesus, they came to test him. They asked, "Show us a sign from heaven." But notice the wisdom of Jesus: they were trying to tempt him to use his power outside the will of God.
I want to speak to everyone here who feels anointed or empowered by God. Just because you have power doesn't mean you're authorized to use it however you wish. Just because God downloads a dream or vision to you doesn't mean you have authorization to speak it without wisdom.
Jesus is the epitome of power under control. He has the authority to do anything, yet he refuses to perform on demand. This teaches us something crucial: having ability and having authorization are not the same thing.
Let me ask you: Are you influenced by pressure? When people push you, when circumstances demand something of you, do your convictions change? Jesus faced the same demand in Matthew 12 and gave the same answer. His answer didn't change because of pressure.
Some of us have been wounded by legalism or control, and we've swung to the opposite extreme—we live by our feelings instead of our convictions. We tell ourselves, "God said this, but I don't feel like doing it," and we think that gives us authorization to disobey. But if Jesus is truly your Lord and Savior, you follow him wherever he leads, regardless of what you feel.
Here's something vital: the Pharisees were asking Jesus to prove himself. But Jesus didn't need to prove who he was. He knew his identity.
I want to speak to those of you who know your identity is cemented in Christ. When the cares of life come, you don't have to prove who you are to anybody. Jesus didn't allow external influence to shake his identity.
Think of it this way: "It is not the water on the outside of the boat that sinks the boat. It's the water that gets inside the boat that sinks the ship." Have you allowed external pressures to move internally and affect your identity in Christ? Are the pressures of life causing you to crumble—not because God isn't real, but because you're not rooted in your identity in him?
One of the worst things you can do is have your identity in everything except Christ.
Jesus didn't object to the sign itself. What he saw was their motive. And here's the principle: People may know your what, but God always sees your why.
You can be doing good things, but not godly things. It might be good to pursue a certain relationship, but is it God? It might be good for your career, but is this where God is leading you? It might be good financially, but does God approve?
This is why we need discernment. And let me be clear: discernment isn't primarily for exposing other people. Look at Jesus—he had complete discernment about the Pharisees' motives, yet he handled them with care. We can have prophetic gifting and knowledge, but if we're not careful, we'll use it to tear down rather than build up.
Jesus says, "Take up your cross and follow me." That's not just an experience—it's a mirror. We're supposed to reflect him in everything we do.
Jesus responds: "You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."
He's saying: You're great meteorologists. You can look at a red sky and predict the weather. But you can't see what's right in front of you.
Why? Because if they had truly studied the Old Testament, they would have seen glimpses of Jesus everywhere. They would have recognized him. But they couldn't see it. Just because you're around the things of God doesn't mean you actually have sight to see Jesus.
This is why we need the Holy Spirit. Without him, the Bible becomes just intellectual content. It becomes notes and messages—not life change. It becomes transformation. And this is one of the problems killing the American church. We're full of sermons. We have no shortage of messages. You can find teaching anywhere—YouTube, social media, everywhere. But our problem is that we know, and we don't apply. We know, and we don't do.
James says we're "hearers of the word, but not doers." We're like a man looking in a mirror who forgets what he looks like. We hear the Word and forget who we are in Christ. If we're not careful, we walk in self-deception. And the worst deception is not deceiving others—it's deceiving yourself, telling yourself you're okay when you're not.
Jesus says: "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign."
What does he mean? Their motive was evil—their hearts weren't satisfied with God alone. They wanted God plus something else. We have what I call "Jesus plusers"—people who only come to God for what he can do, not for who he is.
We hear preachers saying, "God's about to... God's about to... Shout three times and this will happen." We create adulterous hearts by giving ourselves over to other gospels instead of the gospel of the Bible.
This is why believers must have discernment. Our pastor opens the text and says, "Just come up for air and see if what you're hearing matches what God is saying." We can enjoy good preaching, good music, good emotion—and it's wonderful—but does it bring transformation? Does it change lives? Or does it just arouse our emotions?
That's why we have inspired people but not disciplined people.
Jesus says: "No sign will be given except the sign of Jonah."
What is the sign of Jonah? God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. But instead, Jonah ran. When you're in sin, you don't run toward what God says—you run away from it. And notice: Jonah paid a price to board that ship. Sin always comes with a price. It might feel good now, but you will pay.
A storm comes, the sailors panic, and finally Jonah confesses: "I'm in conflict with the God of heaven. I can't hide from him." They throw him overboard. God sends a great fish, and Jonah is swallowed for three days.
After three days, Jonah repents and obeys God. The fish vomits him onto dry land, and he goes to Nineveh. When he preaches repentance, the entire city—Israel's enemies—repents. Jonah is shocked because he knows God's character, but he also knows these people are his enemies. What happens when God calls you to do something inconvenient for you? What happens when he sends you on assignment that doesn't match your preferences?
Here's what's beautiful: If you read the Old Testament carefully, you see glimpses of Jesus. The sign of Jonah—three days in the fish—points to Jesus rising on the third day.
But more importantly, notice the attribute of God displayed in Jonah: his compassion. Jonah wasn't sent to preach to Israel. He was sent to preach to a gentile people. The gospel reaches beyond God's covenant people. God has compassion on all people, not just his chosen remnant.
I'm grateful that God didn't just stay focused on Israel. He came for me and you. How did you find God? Did you search him out? No—he found you. Through his sovereignty and love, he orchestrated circumstances. Maybe he drew you to a church. Maybe he sent a person your way. Maybe you encountered him in an unexpected place. Are you grateful that he came for you?
Here's another principle from Jonah: God doesn't want us just to experience his compassion; he wants us to be conduits for others to experience it. We can sit in church, experience God, and never display him to anyone. Not just to outsiders, but to the people sitting right next to us.
When was the last time someone felt and saw the compassion of Jesus in your life? When did someone encounter the love of God through you?
Notice something: In Matthew 12, the Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus for a sign. In Matthew 16, it's the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus's answer doesn't change. He's consistent.
I want to challenge the men here, especially on Father's Day. Not every man is in gospel ministry, but if God is your Father and you love him, why not be consistent—not just showing up, but getting involved?
My challenge: Don't just be in authority; be under authority. Jesus was God, yet he was submitted to the Father. Are you truly submitted, or are you still trying to hold on and say, "I got this"? How's that working out?
If you call 2819 your home, I challenge you: go outside these doors and sign up to serve. Don't just talk about building legacy—be a display of what legacy looks like. Be involved in something greater than yourself.
First: It's okay to have questions for God without questioning God. God isn't afraid of your questions. But he has revealed his character through his Word, and he is consistent. The Bible doesn't describe what he does; it declares who he is. He is faithful.
Second: Evaluate your motives this week. Why are you doing what you're doing? We like to pick the fruit of our lives, but we don't address the root causes. God isn't after fruit-picking—he's after root work. He wants to change what's inside.
I want to speak to those who are weary of the assignment God has given you. I know you're tired. I know you're worn out. The Bible doesn't tell us how Jonah felt—whether he was weary during his journey from disobedience to obedience. But I'm talking to some of you right now who are weary.
Humble yourself. Don't abandon the assignment. Yes, you're tired. Yes, you're weary. But strength is coming. Strength is coming.
If that's you, come to the altar. Come now. The prayer team is here. If you're in your seat, I'm praying for these brothers and sisters that they don't abandon what God has given them.
If you're here or online and you don't know Jesus—the Jesus we've been talking about—I want to read something to you:
"Too often people do not see they're in real danger. They often see they have an uncanny sense of evil—that evil is real and that some sort of hell or punishment exists. But they do not believe that it will ever affect their reality. They think, 'Hell is real, punishment is real, but just not for me.'"
But if you're apart from Jesus, I'm telling you: it will affect you. Hell will find you. There is no escape. The only way to God is through Jesus.
If you need to give your heart to him today, lift your hand. It doesn't matter if you're down here or in your seat. Just lift your hand. You already know who you are.
[Hands lifted]
If you gave your heart to Jesus today, after we're done, there's a tent outside with resources for your next steps. My encouragement: get involved in community. Find a Bible-teaching church. If you're in Atlanta, you don't have to look further than here.
Father, in the name of Jesus, we cover every individual. Thank you that they will not abandon the assignment you've given them. Bring a resurgence of strength to your sons and daughters. Strengthen every feeble knee, every bowed head. Touch their hearts. Help them gaze upon you more than their circumstances. May your word come true, and may they see your strength at work in them—an internal work, an internal work, an internal work.
Strength is coming. You won't quit. You won't give up. In the name of Jesus.
Continue to be faithful. Show up. The gospel isn't chained to one man's mouth. Pastor Philip has placed powerful people in place to share God's Word. Be faithful in giving. Be generous. Continue this great work. God bless you.
