(Christian Living Sermon) Dumas 4/90, Hillside 12/95
Filename: I Am Simple

I AM SIMPLE, AND SO IS THE GOSPEL

INTRODUCTION-- There are two kinds of teachers of spiritual truths. The first takes some hard things and makes them simple. The second takes simple things and makes them hard. I have sat at the feet of both kinds of teachers, and I prefer the first.

LESSON--

1. Two areas of simplicity need to be noticed.
   
   1. Our simplicity toward Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:1-3 "Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ."
      
   2. The simplicity of God's message. Matthew 11:25-30 "At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: 26 yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. 27 All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
      
2. God makes his message simple, in order to make the simple wise.
   
   1. Psalm 19:7 "The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple."
      
   2. Psalm 119:130 "The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple."
      
   3. Isaiah 35:8 "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein."
      
3. To be called of God, it is smart to be simple.
   
   1. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 "For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: 29 that no flesh should glory before God. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
      
   2. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 "Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness: 20 and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain."
      
4. It is not smart to love simplicity. Proverbs 1:20-29 "Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places; 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words: 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah."
   
5. It is also not smart to be "wise in your own eyes."
   
   1. Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil."
      
   2. Romans 12:16 "Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits."
      
6. Therefore, the alternative of perpetual simplicity is "prudence" rather than "conceit." Proverbs 14:15, 18 "The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.......The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge."

APPLICATION-- The Pharisees, Chief Priests and Elders of Israel in Christ's day were the religious "sophisticates" of that society, yet they often missed opportunities for simple reception of the teaching of Jesus, because of their conceit. Matthew 21:23-32 "And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? 26 But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 28 But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. 29 And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him."

1. If you are simple, are you too much in love with simplicity to accept the simple truths of the Gospel? Or unwilling, because you think of yourself as too simple, to try to study and understand?

2. If you are wise, are you "wise in your own conceits," or worldly-wise, so that you are not wise enough to seek God's truth and obey it? 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 "Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness: 20 and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain."

3. Be prudent, and save your soul! Proverbs 14:8 "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit."