Learning Our Lines- Jeremiah 10:23, Proverbs 7:1-3, Matthew 4:1-13 - BREAKAWAY WEDNESDAY

How important, would you say, is it for an actor or an actress to learn their lines if they are going to be in a movie?  What would it be like on the set if they hadn’t learned what they were supposed to say or do?  I want to push us a little beyond just whether the folks starring in a movie have memorized their lines, but actually whether they truly know their lines.  Do you think there is a difference?  How many of you have ever watched a movie and thought, “the acting in this movie is just sorry.”  You know, those kind of movies where it is obvious that the folks in the movie have learned their lines, after all they are saying them, but they seem to just be regurgitating them from memory without appropriate emotion behind them—maybe even as far to their actions not even matching up with what they are saying.  Maybe something like this...(pick someone from the congregation and have them stand there)…supposed we were filming a movie entitled The Joy of Breakaway Reunion about how great it is to get back together with friends we have made here at Breakaway, and I simply said, (in a droning voice, not even looking at _________): “Hey  ___________, it is so good to see you.  I have missed you.  What have you been doing since last year?”
On the other hand, what about those movies we have watched where the actor or actress has learned their lines so well, they truly know their lines.  As they are acting, the way their character comes across is so real, so true that we might have trouble separating the character from the actor.  Their lines become part of who they are.  Their acting is so believable that we begin to just associate that actor and character together automatically. For instance, I cannot hear Johnny Depp’s name without automatically thinking Captain Jack Sparrow.  The acting is so full of energy, emotion, and action that it comes across as real.  Take for instance our Breakaway Reunion movie, if the actor did this, (full of emotion and engaging ______): “Hey _________, it is so good to see you.  I’m glad you’re here.  I’ve missed you.  What have you been doing since last year?”  Is there a difference?
We hear from Proverbs, the wisdom of Solomon in these words, “My child, keep my words and store up my commandments with you, keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings and store up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.”  In these words we here Solomon encouraging his son, and through God’s Word, God encourages each of us, to make the Scriptures that which we treasure above all else and that which becomes such a part of us that it courses through our veins, filling us completely, and is visible in everything we touch and do.  This it is such a part of us that we don’t just repeat a Bible Verse to earn a star or a prize, but that God’s Word becomes so much a part of us, that our complete lives reflect that we haven’t only learned it, but it is an inseparable part of who we are.
What I would like to do now is for us to find out just how well we know the Scriptures—it’s time for the Breakaway Bible Challenge.  I will offer you several quotes.  After each quote, you will have to tell me whether it is from the Bible, or from somewhere else.
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”  Jeremiah 8:20
“If you vote for me, it will be summer all year round.” Summer Wheatley (Haylie Duff) from Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
“Whatever life holds in store for me, I will not forget these words: ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’” Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) – Spiderman
“Casting the lot puts an end to disputes between powerful contenders.” Proverbs 18:18
“…the badgers are a people without power, yet they make their homes in the rocks…”  Proverbs 30:26
“Tell me something, my friend.  You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?”  The Joker (Jack Nicholson) Batman (1989)
“David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod.”  2nd Samuel 6:14  Please understand, though, my gentleman friends that this is not a dress suggestion, it would clearly be a violation of our Breakaway dress code to wear an ephod to the dance.
“Dancing—a series of movements involving two partners, where speed and rhythm match harmoniously with music.”  Ship’s Computer (Sigourney Weaver) WALL-E (2008)
“Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance…” Jeremiah 31:13
“God helps those who help themselves.” Benjamin Franklin
“God won’t give us more than we can bear.”  How many of you have heard that before?  Who said it?  Lots of people—but not the Bible.  What the Bible actually says (in 1st Corinthians 10:13) is, “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”  There is a big difference between saying that “God is not going to put so many burdens in our lives that it will break us,” and saying that “God is not going to allow us to be tested or tempted beyond what we can endure, and that when we are tested or tempted, God is always going to provide us with a way out.”
Does that mean that God is going to pile so many burdens on us that we may break, that we might collapse, have a breakdown, or die?  No!  In knowing God’s Word, we remember to “Cast your burden upon the Lord and he will sustain you…” (Psalm 55:22) and “Come to me, all you that are wearing and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).
However, what that often misquoted verse does mean is that we will not be tempted beyond what we can truly endure, that God is going to give us the strength to overcome those temptations…and that strength comes in knowing God’s Word and letting it be a part of us.
Nothing makes that more clearer that the scene of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan.  Jesus had just come from being baptized and hearing God’s voice say, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”  After hearing those words, though, Jesus is confronted by Satan whose temptations are to make Jesus question who He is:
The first temptation:  “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”  If you are who you think you are, you don’t have to be out here hungry, use some of that power you supposedly have and turn these rocks into food.  Jesus’ reply comes from knowing God’s Word, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The second temptation, taking Jesus up on the top of the temple: “If you are the Son of God, through yourself down because God’s Word says that he will command the angels to protect you.”  Jesus, not just quoting Scripture like Satan was, but truly knowing it comes back with, God’s Word says, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
The third temptation, taking Jesus to a high mountain, Satan points to all the world and says, “I will give you all of this if you will worship me” tempting Jesus to forget that as the Son of God, it already all belonged to Him.  Jesus responded again with god’s Word, “it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”
We face temptations every day…Satan is constantly trying to make us forget that we are Children of the One True King.
Satan tells us when someone wrongs us, “A Child of the King shouldn’t be treated that way, get even, put them in their place.”  God’s Word reminds us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
Satan tells us, “It’s your body, do whatever you want to with it.  Feel good, whatever it takes.”  God’s Word reminds us, “…do you not know that your body is a temple…and that you are not your own…therefore glorify God in your body.”  (1st Corinthians 6:19-20)
Satan tells us, “You can’t be a Child of the King, storms and troubles surround you, people make fun of you, you are alone.”  God’s Word reminds us, “In the world you will face persecution.  But take courage; I have conquered the world.” (John 16:22) and “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
My friends, we need to learn our lines…we need to know our lines…God’s Word needs to become such a part of our lives…so that whatever temptations we encounter we can hold true to who we are, and remember that we are not acting, but truly are a Child of the King.
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


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