Committing Family

by Jeff Strite

I looked up every reference I could find that used the words “commit”, “committed”, & “commitment” and I was surprised at what I DID’T find. I never found the Bible teaching that we should put our family first! Why?

Author and speaker Zig Ziggler loved golf and once took his son with him out to the golf course. His son was still relatively new to the game, so Zig was very impressed by his son’s performance on one of the par 4 holes.

At the tee, the boy lifted the ball straight and true down the fairway. A second shot got him onto the green within 14 feet of the cup. Wanting his son to succeed, he went to great trouble in sighting the shot for him and gauging the lie of putt and then told his son just how he ought to play it. His son stepped up to the ball and putted the ball perfectly into the cup just as his father had taught him. His first birdie.

Then it was Zig’s turn. He also had made the green in 2 shots but his putt was far easier. For a moment he considered flubbing the shot so that he would not overshadow his son’s achievement, but then he decided against it because it would go against everything he had taught his son about doing his best. He sank the putt easily and also birdied the hole.

As they were walking away to the next tee, Zig casually asked his son “Well, son, were you rooting for me on that last shot.”

“Dad,” the boy replied, “I always root for you.”

I always root for you… that is the kind of commitment you find in the best families. It’s a commitment that always seeks the best for our spouses, children and parents. It is always seeking a way that they can succeed. Always wanting them to get ahead and win at life. And that’s the kind of commitment God wants His people’s families to have for each other.

And so, in Deuteronomy 6, God says to Israel: If you want your families to succeed in life… if you’re truly committed to your household – then here’s what you have to do: LOOK THERE WITH ME starting with verse 5

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.”

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you— a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant— then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

“Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.”

This is the formula for success: put God first in your family.

Put God 1st in what you teach your children

Put God 1st in how you live your life

1. Now, as I prepared for today’s sermon, I looked up every reference I could find that used the words “commit”, “committed”, or “commitment” and I was surprised at what I DID’T find

I never found the Bible teaching that we should put our family first! In fact Jesus Himself taught us that we dare not do that.

In Matthew 10:37 Jesus said: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me”

But, now wait a minute…

I thought the church would be a great place to raise my children

I thought it would be a great place to strengthen my family

I thought if I went to church, I’d have a stronger marriage

Well, yes you will… but not if your commitment first is to your family. You will have the kind of family you want only if your commitment comes to God first. In fact, you have a promise to that effect:

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)

Why would that be?

Well… this is how it works:

God knows that WHO I’m committed to will determine WHO sets the rules.

1. If I’m committed to my family first… then if they’re not happy, then I won’t obey God

For example, I know of one family where little Johnny couldn’t do anything wrong. And being a precocious little boy, little Johnny would periodically misbehave in Sunday School. One day when he was corrected for behaving badly in Sunday School one day, the parents didn’t talk to the Sunday School teacher to find out what had happened (she had acted properly, by the way) … they simply didn’t bring him back to church. Why? Because little Johnny is their priority… not God. They ended up divorcing themselves from God because little Johnny wasn’t happy.

2. If I’m committed to my family first… then I’ll do what I (rather than God) THINK is right

I once met a man who told me of the great movies he and his grade school sons had watched together. Now, this man wasn’t a Christian, but I was appalled at what he allowed into his house. I knew these movies were PG-13 fare I wouldn’t watch if it were just me at home.

Granted, I’d never seen these movies, but from the advertising and the nature of the actors in those movies, I knew they displayed disrespect for authority and were loaded with profanity.

I tried to be tactful (because I was trying to win this man to Christ) and I noted that I would be worried about bringing that kind of movie – so filled with cursing – into my house with my two kids.

He scoffed and replied: “They’re going to hear that kind of language eventually, they may as well hear it here in my house with me.”

To him this made sense. These were his boys and he wanted to share the movies he liked to watch with them. AND because he wasn’t a Christian – God standards were not a priority to him.

It is a firm principle of Christian life if you and I put our families first… then sooner or later, God will come 2nd

But when I put God 1st then my family will benefit BECAUSE THEN God will then set the rules on how I should treat my family.

In 1 Peter 3:7 tells us Husbands to “be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

What God is saying is that if we husbands mistreat our wives – He won’t listen to us. He won’t hear our prayers.

In Ephesians 5:33 Husbands are told we “must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

Wives are commanded by God to respect their husbands. To not put them down or belittle them.

Then in Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”— which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

God is telling our kids that if they want to survive in this world, they need to learn to honor their parents. If they don’t, they’ll suffer and live lives that won’t be what they’d hoped for.

And Fathers are told, “do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

Notice… all these are commands from the Lord. We MAY NOT ALWAYS WANT to do these things, but even if we don’t want to do them – if God is our 1st priority/ if we’re committed to pleasing God above all else in life – then we’ll follow them because this is what God wants us to.

You see… if I’m totally committed to God, then I understand that once I became a Christian I signed my entire life over to Him. I don’t own anything. I don’t own my home, my car, even the clothes on my back. AND, I don’t own my wife or husband or my children. They all belong to the Lord. And God tells me that He thus hold me accountable for the things that are now His. He holds me accountable for how I treat my wife or discipline my kids. They are His, not mine.

II. Now… that’s only PART of the idea of building our families on the foundation of commitment

Why is that only ONE part? Because what I’ve just discussed is MY part of this commitment thing. We haven’t yet talked about GOD’S part

God says in Psalms 37:5-6: “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and HE WILL DO THIS: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

In other words: You put God first… God will put you first

Now, there are people who believe the pagan concept of “God helps those who help themselves”

This is a false doctrine. It is not Biblical.

God has NEVER said that and has NEVER endorsed that

God does not help those who help themselves.

God helps those who honor Him and put Him first in their lives.

NOW I don’t care if someone is a Christian or not: every parent… every child… every grandparent…. really want what’s best for their family. And sometimes those who are not Christians will do by instinct what God commands us to do as Christians. Perhaps their parents modeled this lifestyle for them. Perhaps they’ve seen Christians who’ve treated their families Biblically and have copied that… or perhaps they intuitively know that this is the right thing to do.

Thus, we all (Christians and non-Christian alike) try to make sure our family is well provided for.

Our children to have the best education

The best health care

The best opportunities for a good job when they graduate

We want them to marry well

We want them to raise children/grandchildren that we be proud of

If it’s WITHIN OUR POWER, we want them to have a financial help they may need to get ahead…

If it’s within OUR power…

Many families will do much of what they do “within their OWN power”. And by extension… they teach their children to rely upon THEIR OWN power

One day a small boy tried to lift a heavy stone, but couldn’t budge it. His father, watching him, finally said, “Are you using all your strength?”

“Yes, I am!” cried the boy.

“No, you’re not,” said the father. “You haven’t asked me to help you.”

What God is saying here in Deut. 6 is: teach your kids to ask me for help. And you will teach them this by helping them to remember that God helped YOU in the past.

If you and I make it a constant part of my life to REMEMBER what God has done for us in the past (when we have been faced difficulties and obstacles in our lives) we’ll be more inclined to look to God for help when we encounter problems a 2nd and 3rd and 4th time in life.

And if that’s true in our lives… then our kids will be more inclined to look to God when life gets difficult for them.

This type of mindset should almost be “missionary” for us. We should be as consumed with this as we are with any other aspect of life we consider vital to the health of our family.

For example: my kids are still in grade school and when they get ready for bed Diana yells up at them: “Don’t forget to brush your teeth!” Every night she does this.

Then, in the morning, before the kids leave for school, she’ll shout to them “Did you remember to brush your teeth?”

Every morning and every night, my wife pursues this with a missionary zeal. Why? Because she wants to make sure our kids have the same teeth they have now til they die!

Likewise, we should deliberately pursue teaching our family about God’s power in our lives.

Years ago in Reader’s Digest, one young black woman told of how her dad used to teach God’s providence to his kids. She said she remembered this story from her youth:

Her dad said: “Seems like some of our neighbors expect to be sharecropping forever. But it doesn’t have to be that way, now does it? Look at the boy Joseph there in the Bible.”

She said that then her dad wove the wondrous story about a young man thrown into a dark slimy pit.

Then he said: “Joseph didn’t stay in that hole. Joseph expected to be a leader, not a forgotten young man at the bottom of a pit. And do you know what happened to him? One day…” and then he told of how God worked in Joseph’s life to pull him out of that pit and raise him up to be the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt.

It was such a powerful lesson that she remembered it even when she became an adult.

I personally like these “Chicken Soup For the Soul” books. I read them to Jonathan when he was growing up and they taught him that God really does work in people’s lives. He’s not just a distant God talked about in an old book that’s 100’s of years old. God works in people’s lives today.

The book has made such an impression on him that he took it to school with him just last week.

And I’ll tell him and Naomi stories of what God has done in my life and Diana’s life and how we’ve learned to depend upon Him for everything we have.

Deuteronomy 6 tells us we need to teach our children/ grandchildren – with a missionary zeal. It should be an all-consuming passion to get our kids to know that

God is good…

and God cares

and God acts in our lives

If we believe that God can act in our lives… if we’re convinced that God has acted in our lives… and if we’re committed to putting God as the central force in our lives… then our kids/ grandkids will pick that up. They’ll learn to trust in our heavenly Father because they’ve seen that we have learned to trust in our Father.

The story’s told of a stuntman who – years ago – pulled a tightrope across Niagara falls. He had announced that he was going to walk across both ways and a large crowd gathered for the event.

He started across the water on that tightrope and made it to the other side and the crowd applauded.

Then he started to walk back; he made it again and every body applauded. People who said it couldn’t be done suddenly became believers.

Then he took a wheelbarrow and walked the wheelbarrow across. By this time everyone was a believer where some had been scoffers before.

Then he asked, “Now before I take the wheelbarrow back once more, and I’m going to ask for a volunteer. Who will ride in the wheelbarrow?”

The applauding believers suddenly drew back. But one young child came forward, and climbed into the wheelbarrow. As he made his way back and forth across the falls with this young girl in the wheelbarrow, someone in the crowd asked “how could she be so trusting of this man?”

Another in the crowd responded: “Oh, didn’t you know? That’s her father.”

She believed it could be done… because she believed in her father. Likewise, our children should know how much we’re willing to trust God… because He is our Father.

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MY LORD AND MY GOD

by Simon Rundell

 
Thomas as Everyman: Doubting Thomas or Believing Thomas?

Thomas must have felt that he had a bit of a raw deal. For he really missed out on that first Easter Sunday. Thomas must be the definitive everyman, for there is a little bit of him in each of us, and what he missed has much to teach us.

Firstly, Peace.

“Peace” Jesus said to the disciples in the locked room. What a relief for them, a frightened, persecuted, and bewildered group, hidden away in a locked room “for fear of the Jews”. It could conceivably have been the same upper room that was the site of Christ’s final, most significant teaching: triumph become disaster within only a few days. His first words were “Shalom” – “Peace”. He could have spoken first of his disappointment, of his anger at them for their denial, abandonment, misunderstanding and betrayal. However, Peace is what he bestows on his disciples, and in saying this he echoes what he had said in that same room on the last night he had been with them: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid”

And Thomas missed the peace.

Next, Pardon.

Our Lord had already forgiven or pardoned the disciples when he bestowed peace upon them; but he spoke explicitly of pardon when he spoke of forgiving and retaining sins. What Christ empowered the apostles to do, his Church continues…

The pardon of our Saviour can be available to us, only if we make some concessions: God cannot fill our cup with forgiveness if it is already filled to the brim with bitterness.

God cannot embrace us with forgiveness if our arms are carrying the heavy burden of resentment.

God cannot take our hand in forgiveness, if our fists are clenched in anger.

God cannot forgive the malevolent, shadowy side of our spirits if our minds are darkened by revenge and hate.

In his cry of doubt, Thomas shows his own unwillingness to make concessions to Our Lord, expecting Christ to come to him and show even his most intimate wounds, associated with the world’s greatest humiliation, with nothing given in return.

So Thomas missed out on the pardon of Christ.

Finally, Presence.

The real, concrete, Glorious Presence of God came to those disciples. Woody Allen said that “95% of life is just ‘showing up’” Thomas had simply failed to ‘show up’.

And so Thomas missed the presence.

He missed out, and that must have hurt; especially for one so previously intimate with our Lord. Peace, Pardon and Presence, Thomas missed them all. In their place he demanded a substitute for them, something which our cynical society constantly craves, and which we, in our inmost, darkest times before the dawn hanker after, another “P” – “Proof”

And this is why I must conclude that Thomas must be the definitive everyman, because although graced with apostolic sainthood, he is shown to be above all like us. In our struggle to maintain the Christian life, we too miss out on Peace, Pardon and the Presence of Christ, and in return we torture ourselves over Proof.

Despite being promised how blessed we would be if we believe without physical proof, the burden of rationality rests upon our faith like a cumbersome weight – `Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe’. Thomas craves certainty, clarity, proof: an empty tomb and the reports of his colleagues are simply not enough. And these things have not changed: the quest for proof to bridge the gap between us and the living Godhead remains constant through the ages: from the Upper Room, past the Enlightenment and into our present age.

Thomas. How like the rest of us, Thomas manages to be; unwilling to commit to faith, I imagine him being borne by the tide of apostleship: to join the band, caught up but not caught in.

How often we treat our membership of the Church like this: caught up, but not caught in. A central part, a leader of worship and a focus of ministry even, but without having that final act of faith.

So, was Thomas just going through the motions of discipleship? Was he incapable of commitment to faith beyond proof? I think not, for he learns in his shame that his Lord was indeed his God: a shame almost comparable to the remorse felt by Peter when he had denied Christ. Both are forgiven, both are justified by the risen Christ, and they are used as examples to us, we the less immediate disciples: learn from Thomas and believe without having to put your hand into his side.

Recall in your mind that great painting by Carravaggio, where Jesus lets Thomas get right up close to see his wounds. Thomas is bent over – at eye-level with his pierced side, and Jesus is guiding his hand so that he might feel the wound for himself. Most graphically, Thomas’ finger is buried in the gaping hole in Our Lord’s side, all the way up to the knuckle.

We do not have that privilege; but how much we would all like to swap places with Thomas, and to be able to quench those nagging doubts once and for all with a little physicality.

When Thomas was given the opportunity to experience the risen Christ, the Presence of Christ in his life, he was also able to experience the Pardon, a blessing even, and through that he is able to experience the Peace; a true peace which can only come from an intimate, life-changing encounter with the risen Lord. Thomas therefore was ultimately able to catch up with those special events, and through this, to be able to conclude that he was faced by “My Lord and My God”. He did not miss out.

‘Blessed are those who believe when they have not seen’ .  John the Evangelist speaks directly to us at the end of this Gospel passage, a ‘direct-to-camera’ piece which reminds us of the purpose of his gospel, the purpose of all the gospels, which is to enable us, nearly 2000 years after these marvelous events, to be able to believe. He says to us that “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book” , events which may have been trivial: encounters, comforts, healings even, which the risen Christ took part in during those heady days between Easter and the Glorious Ascension, proof which existed, but which we do not need.

The other passages we have learnt from this afternoon speak of another “P” – Permanence. Through the resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ he has demonstrated the undisputable permanence of God: more than simply a prophet, more than simply a teacher, more than even a King of Israel like David, who was as corruptible in the body if not the soul as the rest of us. Not merely content with being seen on earth, the incarnation of Christ, and the resurrected Lord offers us an incorruptible place, the route to which can only be found by faith. This was the faith that Thomas was able, at last, to capture. Peter also speaks of permanence, an enduring faith which becomes so real to those experiencing it that it becomes the purest they can imagine: a faith as precious as highly refined gold.

As Thomas discovered, faith is therefore not something which can be scientifically rationalized, and all such rationalizations have been ultimately disappointing in their conclusions. Thomas thought to begin with that he needed a concrete solution, and failed to realize that he ignored the qualitative, the abstract, the core that makes up Faith; for this he nearly missed out, and the danger is that we too may miss out.

Look beyond the Proof – and there is proof out there, if you really want to fruitlessly search hard enough for it – and seek the faith that is found behind this account; a faith that is as pure as gold that has been tested by fire.

We will always remember Thomas as the one who dared to question the reports of his fellow apostles – “doubting Thomas”. However, his one definitive statement is the finest example of New Testament Christology – “My Lord and My God”. How dare we call him doubting Thomas after that: “professing Thomas”, perhaps, “confessing Thomas”, and now, most undoubtedly, “believing Thomas”

“My Lord and My God”. We declare. We bear witness. We believe.
Amen.

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WORSHIP

by James Capps

Worship is one of the purposes of the church. Worship is the main thing the church has been called to.

WHY IS WORSHIP SO IMPORTANT?

Worship has always been the main thing for the church to be involved in….Actually this began long before Jesus came on the scene…Worship was central to the lives of the folks in the Old Testament…and most of our understanding of worship comes from them…

Originally worship was a relationship with God as the two humans, Adam and Eve, walked with God in the Garden…PERFECT RELATIONSHIP WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THERE WAS THE ABSENCE OF SIN

HOWEVER, after the fall…after sin entered, in things changed…now worship became a thing of sacrifice to cleanse us so we might can enter into the presence of God

YOU SEE THE MAIN THING THAT WAS LOST IN THE FALL WAS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…THE REST OF THE O.T. IS THE STORY OF HOW GOD WAS WORKING TOWARD RESTORATION OF RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM….

IT IS IN WORSHIP THAT WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE….IT’S WHAT MAKES A RELATIONSHIP POSSIBLE…WORSHIP IS THE KEY

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Worship isn’t just something we do at church…it should encompass our whole lives putting God at the center of our lives. We do this as submit to Jesus’ Lordship…WHEN WE DO THIS WE ARE WORSHIPPING GOD

WORSHIP isn’t just following an order in a bulletin or being a watcher of the leadership…IT IS ENTERING INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD…hopefully those things we do usher you into God’s presence

WORSHIP YOU SEE ISN’T A CEREBRAL EXERCISE…IT’S EXPERIENCING THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD

Matt. 15:8-9 “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ ”

JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WORSHIP HAPPENING THE “RIGHT WAY”…THAT IS THE RIGHT WORDS, THE RIGHT ORDER…BUT IT WAS EMPTY…WHAT THEY WERE LACKING WAS REAL LIFE…THE SPIRIT OF GOD WASN’T EXPECTED BECAUSE THEY HAD IT ALL DOWN PAT

But isn’t this what it becomes so many times…just another Sunday…another service….we leave the same way we came in…

Worship magnifies God

Do you remember what Mary said after learning she was going to be carrying the Son of God?

Luke 1:46-50 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

The Psalmist said… Ps. 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

To magnify means to make larger or greater…to Magnify God doesn’t mean we make Him any bigger than He already is…EXCEPT IN OUR LIVES…AND BEFORE OTHERS!!  THE WORD MAGNIFY HERE TALKS OF NAME AND REPUTATION, IT IS OUR JOB, OUR JOY, TO LET OTHERS KNOW OF HIS GREATNESS IN OUR LIVES…THAT’S HOW WE MAGNIFY HIM

GOD IS LOOKING FOR REAL WORSHIPPERS!

John 4:2224 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

WHAT JESUS WAS TELLING THE WOMAN WAS “YOU KNOW WHO TO WORSHIP, BUT YOU DON’T KNOW HIM!”

Think about your greatest hero (someone you don’t personally know) you can know all about them, without knowing them.  The same thing happens with God, we can know all about Him without having a relationship

LOOK WHAT JESUS TELLS US TRUE WORSHIPPERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO…

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

1. WE ARE TO WORSHIP IN SPIRIT, this word in Greek is PNUEMATI…which refers to a human’s regenerated spirit so to be a true worshipper we must

a. Be in a relationship with God…

b. our mind, our will, our emotions are used to express ourselves…you know that’s one of the main reasons God gave them to us

2. WE ARE TO WORSHIP IN TRUTH… John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

TRUTH MEANS –

a. knowing what God requires and do it

b. having a revelation of who God is and making it part of our lives

c. living in a way that becomes the truth for others

we are to worship according to the Word, the scriptures..it is to be God centered..centered in on Jesus and what he had done for you

3. WE ARE TO WORSHIP IN FREEDOM!

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HURT US IS WHEN WE GOT DIGNIFIED

Now I like order and we are to worship in order…but sometimes our notion of order is to be as boring as we can possibly be.  Sometimes that orderliness just runs God right out of the mix of our worship

We need to be free to express ourselves without fear of what someone else might be thinking

I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THAT WORSHIP IS ONE OF THE PURPOSES GOD HAS ORDAINED THE CHURCH TO BE PART OF…THAT IT’S MORE THAN JUST SHOWING UP AND FOLLOWING THE ORDER IN THE BULLETIN, BUT IT FOLLOWS US OUT OF HERE AND INTO OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES IN THE WORLD…FOR WORSHIP IS THAT THING THAT THE CHURCH HAS BEEN CALLED TO DO…AND TO BECOME…LET’S WORSHIP THE LORD OUR GOD.

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THE BIBLE

by George Rennau

I have found that in times when I lacked wisdom God’s word answered my questions, and gave me direction.

The political convention was in chaos. Each delegation wanted something different. Some favored states rights, others wanted a stronger central government. Larger states wanted greater representation, and small states wanted an equal voice.

Debate dragged on and on. Finally the committee chairman admitted the situation was hopeless.

After weeks of fruitless effort, the oldest delegate rose. Addressing the chairman, he said, ”The small progress we have made after four or five weeks is melancholy proof of the imperfections of human understanding.

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs the affairs of men”.

Citing the Bible he added, “And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

We have been assured sir in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in political building no better than the builders of Babel.

The speaker? Benjamin Franklin.

It is ironic that Ben Franklin, who for most of his life was not considered devout, turned to the scriptures in a time of crises.

At 81 years of age, using the Bible for his examples, Benjamin Franklin brought a clear vision to the convention, that eventually brought the delegates together, and a great document was produced, the constitution of the united states of America.

I have found…

That in times of crisis Gods word has been there for me faithfully holding forth hope, and encouragement.

I have found…

That in times when I lacked wisdom Gods word answered my questions, and gave me direction, and

I have found…

That in times when I am not sure what is right God’s word helps me discern the truth

Benjamin Franklin turned to God’s word in a time of Americas crisis, and in so doing he found help, and direction

Where do you turn in time of trouble?

Where do you turn for encouragement?

What is your source of truth?

My message today is that God has given us His word, let us turn to it to find what we need for life.

I.  In times of crises God word faithfully holds forth hope, and encouragement.

John Jay was a delegate at that first continental congress. At a very young age JAY was one of the smartest and most respected lawyers in the colonies. You may have never heard of John Jay before, but in the early history of U.S. government, Jay was responsible for single handedly averting a war with England through his diplomacy.  It seemed that everything Jay touched turned to success.

Then in May 1802 after 28 years of marriage his wife Sarah became very ill.  As her condition became more serious, John and their children gathered at her bedside.

When death came the famous and powerful father felt weak and defeated.  With his children by his side he turned to the Bible for strength. and began reading I Corinthians 15, which concludes with this verse.

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true. Death has been swallowed up in victory, where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting?”

When he closed the Bible, with tears in his eyes he spokes to his children and assured them from God’s word, of the promised reunion they would all someday have with his Sarah.

In times of crisis God’s word is the only hope that can bring true peace to our souls.

God’s word has the answer if you are:

Discouraged…

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Worried…

I Peter 5:7″cast all your cares upon him for he careth for you”

Lonely…

John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you”

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”.

Depressed…

Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles”.

Confused…

I Cor. 14:33 God is not the author of confusion

Psalm 32: 8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go”

A young Christian family moved into town and rented the only house that was available. The house was in a run down section of town and the closest neighbors lived in a terrible poverty stricken condition.

In an effort to love their neighbors the couple went over to their neighbors house. They were invited inside to discover that conditions were worse then they first expected. As they were leaving the home the husband noticed a dust covered Bible under a rickety table in the house.

As he left he said “there’s a treasure in this house which if discovered and believed would make you all rich”.

The family began to search their house.  They wondered could it be a jewel or a pot of Gold.  After searching and searching they found nothing.

Not long after that the mother picked up the old Bible, and began to look through it.  As it happened on the inside cover of the bible was written these words: “Thy testimonies are better to me than thousands of Gold and silver” (Psalm 119:72).

She thought to herself “is this the treasure our neighbor spoke of”.  She and the other members of the family began to read the Bible, and a change took place in their hearts that were formerly filled with sin, pain and discouragement.

The next time the neighbors came for a visit to their surprise they found a completely changed family.  They said “we found the treasure and we received it, and we received the savior.”

The Bible is the power that changes lives, and when you are in a crisis it is the power that will strengthen and encourage you a second thing.

II. I have found that in times when I lacked wisdom Gods word answered my questions, and gave me direction.

The Word of God has the answer for me–for everyone living throughout the world.  The Bible is universal in its appeal because it isn’t just a book.  It is God’s living word.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Isaiah 55:11 “And it will not return void it will accomplish that which it is sent forth to do”

It was applicable in the 1st century in the 1700’s, in the 1950’s and it will be in the future not because its well written, but because it is alive.

An American missionary was traveling across Korea by train. At a busy station an old man boarded and sat across from Him. The man was Korean and he addressed the American in his native tongue.

The Missionary responded in the only Korean phrase that he knew which was “I DON’T UNDERSTAND”.

A few minutes later the Korean tried again, but the missionary could only say ” I DON’T UNDERSTAND”

The Korean then tried a third question, only this time the American recognized a familiar word YESU which means JESUS.  The American pointed to himself and said YESU.  The Old man did the same thing with a smile of delight on His face.

The Korean then unwrapped the bundle he was carrying . It was a large Korean a Bible.  He turned to a page and pointed to a place that he wanted the American to read.  Remembering that oriental Bible are written from back to front . The clergy men took his own Bible and counted the number of books and chapters from the back to the place that the old man had pointed to.  The old man had pointed to Mark 3:35 “Whoever does the will of God is my brother”

The American searched for a suitable reply. He counted out and pointed to it in the Korean Bible. It was Psalm 133:1 “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” The Korean man read it and smiled in agreement and for the rest of the journey, these two men, ages apart in culture were brought together in a remarkable friendship as they pointed first to one verse and then to another. Their separate Bibles had a common language of the Spirit.

The word of God is a universal appeal and it can direct you as it has directed me,

It directs us in our job

It directs us in our finances

It directs us in our Character

It directs us in our lifestyle

It will direct you in your relationships

and it directs us to CHRIST…

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all”

Lastly

III. I have found that when I was not certain what was right God’s word helped me to both understand and do what is right.  The truth of the word of God doesn’t stand in my life as a rule book of do’s and don’ts.  The Bible never says and you shall know the rules and by them you shall be bound.  It says, “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.  By allowing Gods word to guide me into truth it allows me to be free.

The world is filled with delusion and false ideas all trying to bring us under bondage.  But Gods word brings real freedom.

A few years ago at USC there was a professor of philosophy who was a deeply committed atheist.  His primary goal for one required class was spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God did not exist.  His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic.

For twenty years he had taught the class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him.  No one would go against him because he had a reputation, at the end of every semester on the last day of class

He would say to his class of 300 students,  “If there is anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!”  In twenty years no one had ever stood up.  They knew what he was going to do next.

He would say, “Because anyone who does believe in God is a fool.  If God existed he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking.  Such a simple task to prove that his God and yet he can’t do it.

And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom, and it would shatter into 100’s of pieces.  All of the students could do nothing but stop and stare.  Most of the students were convinced that God couldn’t exist.  Certainly a number of Christians had slipped through, but for twenty years they had been to afraid to stand up.

A few years ago there was a freshman who happened to get enrolled in the class.  He was a christian and had heard the stories of the professor.

For three months that semester he read the Bible and prayed that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or no matter what the class thought.

Finally the day came. The professor said, if there is anyone who still believes in God , stand up.  The professor and the class of 300 looked at him shocked as he stood up.

“You Fool!” “If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!”

He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off His shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away, unbroken.

The professors jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk.  He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall.

The young man who had stood up, proceeded to walk to the front of the room, and share his faith in Jesus for the next half hour.  300 students stayed and listened, as he told of God’s love for them and his power through Jesus Christ

How has Gods word impacted your life?

Do you turn to it in time of trouble for encouragement?

Do you turn to it when you need direction?

Has it become your source of truth?

Or is it down the line in your priority list of things to do?

God’s word contains the things we need to make our life fulfilling.

Let us commit to turning to its pages for our lives.

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Moral Issues: Sex

by Rob Harbison

When sex is about intimacy in marriage it is beautiful. When it is about lust and lewdness it is tarnished.

Many people who are unfamiliar with the Bible think that it presents sex as an ugly—although necessary—thing for the purpose of procreation. Many Christians who are unfamiliar with the Bible think the same thing.

Both are wrong. And both of those misguided perspectives have caused problems for people regarding their sexuality.

SEX IS GOD’S IDEA

God Created Sex. Whoever thinks there is something dirty about sex itself doesn’t understand God’s perspective on it. When He created man and woman He provided them with the ability to procreate—then encouraged it (Genesis 1:27-28). The Bible says this of all God’s work, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31).

God Recognized Man’s Need For Companionship And Intimacy. “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” (Genesis 2:18). He created woman. Then man was complete.

Marriage And The Marriage Bed Are A Special Thing. Sexual relations between a husband and wife are not just a concession in order to achieve procreation. They are also designed for a couple to share love, acceptance, intimacy, emotional bonding and satisfaction (Hebrews 13:4).

Sex In Marriage Is For Rendering Affection. Actually, what some people might consider “dirty” is a beautiful expression of love between two people who are committed to one another in marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Sensuality and sexuality in marriage are applauded, “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you are all times; and always be enraptured with her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19).

What a beautiful expression of love! Some of the problems we experience today with adultery come because we are not developing such an intimate union with our spouse. If you are enraptured by the love of your wife, someone else’s wife isn’t going to be able to attract you nearly as strongly, “For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress?” (Proverbs 5:20). Keep it at home where God intends for it to be.

The Bible Is Not Responsible For Sexual Repression. Sin is the cause of irresponsible sexual expression. Anyone who uses the Bible to stifle sexuality in marriage, doesn’t understand either the Bible or sexuality.

SEXUAL SINS ARE MAN’S IDEA

Man Invents Abuses Of Human Sexuality. There’s the rub. We are not advocating some old-fashioned, puritanical sexual suppression. We are trying to identify those things that GOD says are an abuse of human sexuality—things that are not a diversity of sexual expression but a perversity of it!

How Much Sexual Freedom Do We Have? Some people say that no one has the right to say what can and cannot happen in someone’s bedroom. God does! Make no mistake about it! He says, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4).

Fornication. It is the sin of sexual contact with anyone besides your spouse—anyone! Or maybe we should say anything too (Hebrews 13:4; Galatians 5:19-21)!

Adultery. It is the sin of sexual contact with another married person. Lack of fulfillment in a marriage, loss of love, marital difficulties—none of these are acceptable reasons for having an adulterous affair (Hebrews 13:4; Mark 7:20-23).

Homosexuality. The gay and lesbian lifestyle is gaining more popularity as we throw off moral restraints. Nevertheless, as expressions of our sexuality, they are condemned by the Bible (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Multiple Expressions of Sexuality. Incest. Bestiality. Phone sex. Fisting. Voyeurism. Sexual abuse. Pedophilia. Multiple partners. Unmarried cohabitation. Orgies. Do we need to continue? We cannot list them all.

Our Obsession With Sex Is Disturbing. According to a weekly report from Webtracker (which tracks the most popular search engine queries), of the top 500 keyword queries on popular search engines, 20% to 25% of the searches are pornographic.

God made sex a beautiful thing between a husband and wife. One Old Testament book—the Song of Solomon—is very sensuous. It shows the beauty and intimacy of married love.

When sex is about that intimacy, it is beautiful. When it is about lust and lewdness, it is tarnished.

God’s instructions for our sex lives will lead us to the greatest fulfillment. Those guidelines give us something that sinning against our own bodies—through some of these other outlets—can never give us (1 Corinthians 6:15-18). They give us physical and emotional satisfaction.

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A Recipe For Successful Parenting

by John Hamby

 I made a startling discovery soon after our child was born, they do not come with an instruction manual. The way that we dealt with this emergency was to call our moms, with questions that went something like this, “Mom she doing so and so, is she suppose to do that?

Most parents feel a little like the story I heard about a young student of child behavior who frequently delivered a lecture called “Ten Commandments for Parents.” He married and became a father. The title of the lecture was altered to “Ten Hints for Parents.” Another child arrived. The lecture became ‘Some Suggestions for Parents.” A third child was born. The lecturer – so the story goes – stopped lecturing. [Paul Lee Tan. Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations. (Rockville: Maryland: Assurance Pub., 1979. # 635] The truth is that we never have more opinions about child rearing than when we do not have any ourselves. We say things like, “MY, children will never do that!” Those words can sure come back to haunt you.

Mark Twain, the humorist, had these words of advise on raising children. He said, “When they become teenagers put them in a barrel and fed them through the knot hole. When they turn sixteen stop up the knot hole!”

Two children were heard discussing their parents. The first said, “I’m really worried. Dad slaves away at his job so that I have everything I need, so I’ll be able to go to college some day. Mom works hard washing and ironing, cleaning up after me, taking care of me when I am sick, driving me everywhere I want to go. They spend every day of their lives working for me. But I’m worried.” His friend asked, “What have you got to worry about?’ The first little guy replied, “I’m afraid they’re going to try to escape some day.”

James Dobson in his book “The Strong Willed Child” said, “ Child rearing is like baking a cake. You don’t realize you have a disaster until its too late.” But success in both child rearing and cake baking is best achieved by following the recipe, so this morning I would like to offer you “A Recipe for Success for Parenting.

The first Ingredient in our Recipe for Successful Parenting is the Recognition that Your Child is a Gift from God. If we are going to survive the challenges of parenting, we must remember that your child is a gift from God. Psalm 127:3-5 “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. (4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. (5) Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; …”. (NKJV)

If you want to survive parenthood remember that your child or children are worth the struggle and are a gift from God even if they sometimes act like the devil.

The Second Ingredient of our Recipe for Successful Parenting is Unconditional love. Deal with your child as God, your heavenly father, deals with you, that is with patience, grace and unconditional love. Never allow your child to think that your love is conditional to his behavior.

The Third Ingredient of our Recipe for Successful Parenting is Recognize and Work with our Childs Natural Bents.

If you want to survive parenting we absolutely must realize we have a duty to “train up our children.” There is nothing anymore challenging or rewarding than the privilege and responsibility given by God to parents to raise their children. Scripture says in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NKJV) Training children in the way they should go has always been a huge and vital task in every generation because of all this is involved in the process, however, there has never been a time when the challenges were greater than now.

Sometime this verse is taken as a guarantee that if we are good parents we will always produce good children. That is not what this verse says. So what does it say? Well I am glad you asked! A paraphrase might read something like this, “Adapt the training of your child so that it is in keeping with his God-given characteristics and tendencies; when he comes to maturity, he will not depart from the training he has received.”

Every child has natural bents both good and bad, these are the basic tendencies unique to this child. You might be surprise to learn that the root word of “train up” in the Hebrew is a word used to describe the palate or the roof of the mouth. It was used to describe the actions of a Hebrew mid-wife who after helping to deliver a baby would dip her finger in a paste made of dates and rub it on the gums of the new baby to create thirst and start the baby’s feeding instinct. (Charles Swindoll. You and Your Child. ( Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1977)

The parent is in like manner to create a thirst in their child for the right things. What is your favorite food, my guess would be that it is what you grew up enjoying. The Christian parents job is to create such a thirst in our children for the things of God. Deut. 6:5-7 says , “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (6) And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (NKJV)

The Fourth Ingredient of our Recipe for Successful Parenting is Consistent Discipline. Perhaps the greatest responsibility we are given is to discipline our children. We are reminded in the book of Proverbs 29:15 “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” And again in verse 17, “Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.” (NKJV) These Proverbs clearly remind us that godly discipline of children will bring delight and rest to your soul, but failure to do so will bring shame and heartache.

Some years ago the city of Houston Texas waged an ad campaign to deter juvenile crime, the Houston Police Depart-ment came up with “Twelve Rules for Raising Juvenile Delinquent Children.”

1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.

2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think that it is cute.

3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is twenty-one and then let him “decide for himself.’

4. Avoid use of the word “wrong.” It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.

5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.

6. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful, that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.

7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they won’t be shocked when the home is broken up later.

8. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own.

9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified.

10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.

11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, “I never could do anything with him.

12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will likely have it. [Quoted by Charles Swindoll. You and Your Child. (Nashville, Nelson Pub., 1977) pp. 63-64.]

Ephesians 6:4 has two words which describe the responsibilities and methods that we are to use in child rearing.

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (NKJV).

The first word translated, “training” (paideia) it is the word we get pedagogy from. It can refer to discipline but normally contains the broader meaning of education , the entire training particularly of the very young.

The second word, “admonition” (nouthesia) comes from the combination of two Greek words one meaning “mind” and the other “to place” and involves the idea of reasoning and gentle or friendly reproof. It is more appropriate to the child as he gets older when they can have a better understanding of the spiritual and moral issues of their own behavior.

We must recognize the necessity of discipline. Five simple reminders about discipline:

1. Never discipline in anger.

2. Pick your battles, not everything is worthy of a battle.

3. Realize that even children need to express anger from time to time.

4. Choose the best time and place to discipline. Never discipline in anger. Always discipline in private.

5. Choose your words carefully and speak in a soft tone of voice.

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” (NKJV) Discipline of course, means conflict and far to often parents attempt to resolve conflict with a yelling session with their children. This does no good and may do a lot of harm.

The Fifth Ingredient of our Recipe for Successful Parenting is Be willing to admit when you are wrong.

Every parent is also a human and all humans make mistakes. When you make a mistake with your children admit it. It may come as a shock to you but, your children all ready know that you are not perfect, seeing and hearing you admit your mistakes will make it easier for them to recognize and admit their own mistakes in life.

You may be thinking well my children are all grown. Then invest your wisdom and experience in a young couple with children. Be a mentor. And if you have the privilege of grandchildren be a godly influence in their lives.

The idea that good parents always produce good children and bad parents always produce bad children is just not true. We all know families were the parents were a walking disaster, yet their children turned out to be very decent people, good citizens and responsible adults. By the same token we’ve all seen godly parents who sought to raise their children up to know the Lord, yet one or more or those children ended up in serious trouble.

Scripture give us governing principles for training our children, not guarantees. Parents who apply these principles are far more likely to produce godly children than those who do not. The bottom line is to know God’s word, use it, trust it, pray consistently for your ability as a parent and for your children, love them deeply, take nothing for granted and cling to the Lord.

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Commitment To Trust

by Steve Shepherd

 
Two partners from a small law firm were having lunch when suddenly one of them looked alarmed. He announced, “I have to go back to the office right away! I forgot to lock the safe!”
“What are you worried about?” asked the other lawyer. “We’re both here.”

Do lawyers trust lawyers? Does anyone trust a lawyer? Can you trust anyone these days? If not, we’re all in deep trouble. Trust is a real problem in our society.

I have watched with some interest the TV reality show, “Survivors.” Every week they have a different contest to see who will win immunity and keep them from getting kicked off the show. The survivor contestants talk to one another in small groups, trying to gain support from one another. It’s a matter of trusting one another, but the truth is…no one trusts anyone else! Why? Because the last remaining survivor will win a million dollars! And when you’re talking about the possibility of winning money, no one trusts anyone!

In fact, when it comes to money, most people won’t trust anybody. Would you mind loaning me a $1000 bucks? Well, then what about $100? See what I mean?

This is pretty much the way it is in life. It’s a dog eat dog world and it’s every man, woman and child for themselves. This is why many people are not trustworthy. We are self-centered, self-absorbed, etc. We’re out to take care of number one!

Here’s another story of distrust, dated Nov. 17, 2005. Calling her actions “a new low,” a federal judge today imposed a five-year prison term for a former Shreveport, LA, woman who lied and told people she had an inoperable, malignant brain tumor in order to get thousands of dollars from them.

“You have breaded distrust where there was no distrust before,” Judge Maurice Hicks told Tina Larry as he sentenced her in federal court in Shreveport. Larry, he said, “Was trying to create a perpetual money machine. It is, indeed, a new low.”

Tina’s ex-husband, former Shreveport police officer Tony Larry, was sentenced along with her and received a three-year, five-month sentence.

The Larry’s, both 38, were both convicted of conspiracy charges earlier this year. She had pleaded guilty earlier to health care fraud and also to filing bogus claims on the city’s dental insurance plans.

The same jury acquitted the Larry’s of charges they conspired to burn their rental home to collect insurance money. That jury also acquitted Tony Larry — who insisted he knew nothing of his wife’s scheme — of the fraud charges against him.

Tina Larry cried as she spoke to the judge about leaving her children behind and told of “a lie that snowballed.”

“I just got caught up in something I created,” she said. “I’m not as smart as you guys have given me credit for. I am sorry to every person I hurt, I feel like a fool and I’m embarrassed. I don’t have a criminal heart. I don’t have a criminal mind.”

Afterward, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mignonette Griffin replied, “Well, she’s good. I’ll give her that, your honor.”

I DON’T HAVE A CRIMINAL HEART. Well, what kind of a heart and mind do you have, lady? Greed is good to many people and they’ll lie in every conceivable way to get money.

Is there anybody out there we can trust?

The famous preacher Dwight L. Moody once said, “Trust in yourself and you are doomed to disappointment. Trust in your friends and they will die and leave you. Trust in money and you may have it taken from you. Trust in your reputation and some slanderous tongue may blast it. But trust in God and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Ps. 118:8 “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.”

Ps. 146:3 “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.”

Don Dwelt of Ozark Christian College was one of my favorite professors and preachers. In fact, his oldest son, Dan, baptized me into Christ about 40 years ago. I never once saw Don falter and fail when it came to the Christian faith. I am sure that he knew when he faltered, but I never saw it in him. I always considered him a man who could be trusted, no matter what. He never once failed me. However, as great as Don was to me or in my eyes, he could save no one. He could only tell people how to be saved.

At other times I have put my trust or faith in some people whom I knew were very human but I thought, also faithful. But I found out I was wrong. I have discovered that some people will not only fail you but also deceive or betray you, just as Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss.

It’s sad to think that there are some people you can’t trust BUT if there is one person we can trust, it is the Lord! He remains trustworthy even when human beings are not.

II Tim. 2:13 “If we are faithless (or untrustworthy), He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”

Deut. 7:9 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”

I Cor. 1:9 “God, who has called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

I Cor. 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

Heb. 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

God can be trusted even when we don’t understand all His dealings with mankind. He is the Mt. Everest of trust.

In this message let’s consider some of the benefits or blessings of putting our trust in the Lord and not man.

1-Delivery from evil

2-Delight in the spirit

DELIVERY FROM EVIL

Remember the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves”? Where is that in the Bible? It’s not. And it’s not a Biblical truth. The Biblical truth is this: God helps those who can’t help themselves!

Want proof of this? Will your righteousness take you to heaven?

Is. 64:6 “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

II Cor. 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Christ is our righteousness. We are unrighteous. Without His righteousness there is no salvation. God helps those who can’t help themselves.

Ps. 22:8 “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

From what does the Lord deliver us? From all kinds of evil that can happen in our lives. I think many times we have been spared, protected and/or delivered and we never knew it. Or perhaps we saw it sometime later, after the fact.

In the early winter of 1968 I was headed out of Joplin, MO, in my new Pontiac Firebird. I was going to some small town in Iowa to preach a trial sermon at a church. I didn’t get 10 miles out of Joplin when suddenly I hit a patch of what many people call “black ice.” I was only traveling about 50 mph and immediately I lost control of my car and started going in circles. It made a couple circles while I was clinging to the steering wheel (because that’s all I could do) and suddenly slid sideways off the highway, jumped a ditch and ended up in a farm field. I got out, looked the car over and decided there was nothing visibly wrong with it.

I got back in, put it in gear and drove out of that farm field at the nearest entrance. I then proceeded to drive on to Iowa so I could preach. When I returned home I discovered that both of my front tires were badly worn to one side. Consequently, I had to buy two new tires and get the front end of that car aligned.

Brothers and sisters, I considered that incident to be a kind of deliverance or protection even though I had to buy new tires. My car could have flipped over and I could have been killed. God is our deliverer from evil!

Ps. 22:8 “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Prov. 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”

Ps. 56:11 “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me.”

Ps. 91:2 “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

Matt. 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Someone wrote: All I will ever need to know I learned from Noah.

1- Don’t miss the boat.

2- Remember that we are all in the same boat.

3- Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark .

4- Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old someone may ask you to do something really big.

5- Don’t listen to critics, just get on with the job that needs to be done.

6- Build your future on high ground.

7- Speed isn’t everything. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

8- When you’re stressed, float awhile.

9- Remember the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

10- No matter what the storm, when you are with God there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Noah was a man of faith. Noah trusted God and what did God do for him and his family? Obviously, he saved them. God saved Noah and his family from certain destruction.

God can be trusted to do that for us as well. He can deliver us from certain destruction and/or all evil.

Perhaps you’ve read the book or seen the movie, “The Cross and the Switchblade.” The story of David Wilkerson’s first five years in New York is told in The Cross and the Switchblade, a book he co-authored in 1963. The book became a best-selling phenomenon and more than 15 million copies have been distributed in over 30 languages.

In 1969, a motion picture of The Cross and the Switchblade was released, starring Pat Boone as David Wilkerson and Erik Estrada as Nicky Cruz, the teen gang member whose life was dramatically transformed by Christ.

Nicky was only 3-1/2 years old when his heart turned to stone. As one of 18 children born to witchcraft-practicing parents from Puerto Rico, bloodshed and mayhem were common occurrences in his life. He suffered severe physical and mental abuse at their hands, at one time being declared the “Son of Satan” by his mother while she was in a spiritual trance.

When he was 15, Nicky’s father sent him to visit an older brother in New York. Nicky didn’t stay with his brother long. Instead, full of anger and rage, he chose to make it on his own.

Tough, but lonely, by age 16 he became a member of the notorious Brooklyn street gang known as the Mau Maus (named after a bloodthirsty African tribe). Within six months he became their president. Cruz fearlessly ruled the streets as warlord of one of the gangs most dreaded by rivals and police.

Lost in the cycle of drugs, alcohol, and brutal violence, his life took a tragic turn for the worse after a friend and fellow gang member was horribly stabbed and beaten and died in Nicky’s arms.

As Cruz’ reputation grew, so did his haunting nightmares. Arrested countless times, a court-ordered psychiatrist pronounced Nicky’s fate as “headed to prison, the electric chair, and hell.”

No authority figure could reach Cruz – until he met a skinny street-preacher named David Wilkerson. He disarmed Nicky – showing him something he’d never known before: Relentless love. His interest in the young thug was persistent. Nicky beat him up, spit on him and, on one occasion, seriously threatened his life. Yet the love of God remained – stronger than any adversary Nicky had ever encountered.

Brothers and sisters, the story of David Wilkerson and the salvation of Nicky Cruz could only have happened because of the faithfulness of God and His power to deliver people from evil.

What God did for David Wilkerson and what He did for Nicky Cruz, He can do for us too! God can be trusted to deliver us from evil!

II. DELIGHT IN THE SPIRIT

Ps. 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY. That sounds like delight to me. When we learn to trust Him fully He brings joy into our lives and spirit.

Rom. 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Richard Wethersfield, at age 22, having studied piano, violin, and voice, got his first chance to conduct an orchestra. “The moment I picked up the baton, I knew this was what I wanted to do.” His parents however, urged him to be more practical. So he got a master’s degree in business and took a well-paid position in international investment banking.

But Richards’s passion for music never ebbed. After putting in 12-hour days on Wall Street, he’d stay up nights writing music scores. His vacations were spent guest conducting for orchestras around the country. One year he got his big break when a famous European conductor (Erich Leinsdorf) had to bow out of 5 guest appearances with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Westerfield, who was his understudy, took over to critical acclaim.

On the last night of the Philharmonic, Richard learned that his father had terminal cancer. “I realized then that life is too short not to do what’s really important to you.” He quit his job and started fulfilling his passion– full time conducting. Today he earns half of his old salary, he’s had to simplify his life, but he has finally found the joy he never knew in business.

Brothers and sisters, there are many people who are not happy and it’s simply because they have followed the wrong pursuit in life. No matter what we do in life and no matter how much money we make, there will never be any great joy or delight until we are linked up with the Lord.

Why is this true? Because deep in the heart of every person looms the certainty of death. And when death is on the horizon and you are not sure of what is going to happen to you, how can anyone find joy or delight in this life? However, on the other hand, if you know where you are going when this life is over and you are certain of eternal life, HOW CAN YOU NOT EXPERIENCE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF JOY?

Ps. 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

One day when George MacDonald, the great Scottish preacher and writer, was talking with his son, the conversation turned to heaven. “It seems too good to be true,” the son said at one point. A smile crossed MacDonald’s whiskered face. “Nay,” he replied, “It is just so good it must be true!” IT IS TRUE. We must believe God’s Word. We must trust Him. He can be trusted.

Col. 3:1-3 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

If we are ever going to find any happiness in this life then we must realize there is more to life than this life. We must focus on that which is eternal! We need to change our focus from earth to eternity. We must anticipate, not dread what is going to happen. We must glory in it. Prepare for it. Sing about it. Dream about it. Live for it.

C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity wrote, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

To find some happiness in this life and be effective as a Christian, we must set our focus on eternity and heaven!

There is more to come. More life to come, especially to the follower of Christ. There is good to come. The greatest good of all! And this great good brings delight to our souls!

Charles H. Spurgeon was England’s best-known preacher in the 1800’s. He often preached to audiences of 10,000 without a PA system. He said one time, “I would recommend you either believe God to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the two.”

BELIEVE GOD TO THE HILT. Believe Christ to the hilt. We must trust the Lord and nothing but good will come from it. Make a commitment to trust Him more!

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BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN

by Wayne Lawson

Genesis 27:19-24 & 1 Samuel 17:37-50

I want to spend a few minutes this morning building this message about the importance of being you. As we continue to grow this ministry and define various leadership roles, I believe that it will be important for us to understand the value of simply being yourself and not focus upon anyone else, or attempt to be something that we are not. I challenge us this morning to understand the gifting that God has placed in you and operate in your gifting, simply be yourself, everyone else is taken. We run into many problems not only in Church but also in life in general when we never become comfortable with whom we are, and the great value we have to offer. We each have a treasure hidden in our lives that we take for granted and if we aren’t careful, we allow the enemy to rob us of the very thing God has entrusted to us. We have then, in essence, under-priced God’s precious gift to us.

I believe that God is calling us to take an assessment today and see if we have placed too low a price on the gifting that God has provided for us as Christians. Perhaps there is even a second question here – Have you short-changed your gift by trying to be like someone else? I have often heard over the years many Christians say they don’t have a gift or unsure as to the gift they have and how to operate in it. Let’s try to address all of these issues this morning.

Let’s run over and visit our initial text read in our hearing. As writer Frederick Beuchner pointed out in The Magnificent Defeat, “This was not a blessing in our sense of the word, a vague expression of goodwill that we might use when someone is going on a journey and we say, ‘God bless you.’ For Jacob the blessing is a word of great power. It conveys the very energy and vitality of the blesser’s soul into the one blessed. Just like Elijah when he was carried into heaven by chariots of fire. As he was taken up he dropped his mantle on his successor by the name of Elisha who then received a Double Portion of the Anointing. From that point Elisha would go out and do extraordinary things for God. So, this final blessing by Isaac of his son is to be the most powerful of all blessings. Let us also remember that once it is given it can never be taken back.

There was a rivalry between these twin brothers. The boys mother, Rebecca, would tell you it could be traced back right to the womb. When she was pregnant with them it was like WWF wrestling match going on inside her. It was so intense that she feared for her life and prayed to God about it. God said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.” In other words, God was pronouncing blessing upon the youngest child in her womb. Now, that’s not the way it works in Hebrew culture – everyone knows that the first born is the preferred child, not the youngest! But God decreed it would be otherwise and Rebecca heard it.

In our text, we find the twins father, Isaac is advanced or old in age and his eyes have begun to dim. Old Man Isaac waits now for his eldest son, Esau, to appear. After awhile, he hears someone enter the tent and say, ‘my father’. “Who are you, my son?” The boy Jacob lies and says that he is Esau. He says it boldly. Isaac almost believes, but not completely. The weak-eyed father asks, ‘Are you really my son, Esau?’ The boy Jacob lies a second time. In the silence of that black, goatskin tent, Isaac reaches out both of his arms and says, ‘Come near and kiss me, my son.’ Let’s identify the first problem – Jacob’s hands are smooth. His brother’s hands are hairy. But the boys’ mother Rebecca is in on the whole thing with Jacob. She has covered the backs of Jacob’s hands with the hair of animals. Jacob stretches his hands into Isaac’s and Isaac is fully deceived. He blesses him saying, ‘See, the smell of my son is the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed.’ Then Isaac gave Jacob the great blessing. Jacob is now the recipient of the blessing that belongs to his brother and takes advantage of his own father’s blindness. Right here he has broken three of the Ten Commandments – “You shall not steal.” “You shall honor your father and mother,” “You shall not bear false witness.” Yes, I agree with you studious Bible readers, there was a fourth commandment violated as well – the one against coveting – however, this one had gone by the wayside years before.

Lest we be too harsh on Jacob, I have heard many Bible teachers and others claim that Jacob was a thief. But the Bible in the New Testament – HEBREWS 12:16 tells us plainly that Esau “FOR ONE MORSEL OF MEAT SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT” and in the Old Testament record GENESIS 25: 29-34 it states clearly that he “SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT UNTO JACOB” and bound the sale with an oath, for “ESAU DESPISED HIS BIRTHRIGHT.” The real Jacob is not the schemer – trickster nor is he perfect. Rather it is the journey of a man to become his best self. Jacob is our patriarch because of his journey, not despite it. When we consider our lot in life or our current position or status it is because of our Journey, not Despite it. Jacob is not many figures, but one – one with an intricate and complex character, but one, nonetheless. For us to understand who we are, we must understand Jacob’s struggle and how important it is that we can all identify with it.

• We all struggle with life choices

• We all regret some of the choices we have made

• We have all been on a journey, away from the name we feel we sometimes deserve, and towards the name we wish to deserve

• Inside each of us is Israel: the one who struggles with God

As did Jacob, we too, can become Israel if we grow and learn from our mistakes, and journey to be our best selves

So we see in Jacob a tragic flaw from the offset. He believed if he was going to get ahead in this life he was going to have to hustle and strive and be knifing – even if it meant hustling his own brother. And the strange irony of it all is that Jacob didn’t need to hustle. God had already promised him this blessing. While he was still in the womb God proclaimed to Rebeccah that the younger one would be the blessed one. And when you have God’s blessing what more do you need? The problem was that Jacob didn’t believe it – even though he must have heard it many times from his mother while working alongside her, but he still didn’t believe it.

• All he could see was Esau – the strong one

• All he could see was Esau — the popular one

• All he could see was Esau — the first born

• All he could see was Esau — the skilled hunter

• All he could see was Esau — the preferred one of his father and the rest of the world

• He figured the only way he’d ever be blessed would be to steal it from Esau

I wonder how many of us are like Jacob, always watching somebody else, coveting their gift in spite of the gift God has given us. Esau is pictured as a self-centered, irresponsible man, caring far more for sports than for the responsibilities that come with being an adult. He did not want to be saddled with the responsibility of family affairs and business. Jacob was the exact opposite of Esau. Jacob was a mature, quiet, settled man who looked after the affairs and responsibilities of the family. He stayed right with the tents, the workers, herds, and affairs of the family. It is unfortunate that they were not able to embrace their differences and work together. This is how it is within the church at times. If we are not careful we begin to watch what everybody else is doing and then desire to be like them instead of embracing what God has given us. I am always concerned when I travel and visit smaller churches and they have 50 members and 20 of them are in the pulpit. It is usually a clear indication of a church that does not understand the importance of embracing the various giftings that operate within each of us – I like to encourage them to be yourself, everyone else is taken.

Being who you are is the most natural thing there is and takes less effort than trying to be someone that you are not. I may never preach like T.D. Jakes, but that is okay, I am not T.D. Jakes, I may never teach like Creflo Dollar, but that’s okay, I am not Creflo Dollar. I many never speak before tens of thousands like Billy Graham, but that is okay, I am not Billy Graham. All too often, in the church, we spend too much time trying to be like somebody else. I am glad I am who I am, and there is no one else just like me.

Jacob wasted 20 years of his life hiding from his brother – simply because he wanted to be like his brother. In spite of what God had already promised him while he was still in the womb, Jacob could not take his eyes off of being like his brother. It would ultimately cost him years of frustration. He would never see his mother alive again, not even able to attend her funeral in an attempt to add closure. You see my brothers and sisters; it is not worth it in the long run – be yourself, everyone else is taken.

David understood this at a very early age. When we consider the life of King David, we can really understand the value of Being Yourself. David would become the most loved and respected King that ruled over God’s people. Here it is thousands of years later and we are still talking about his life and what he accomplished. Unlike Jacob, David had more than just one brother to contend with. David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse from the kingly tribe of Judah.

The biblical King David of Israel was known for his diverse skills as both a warrior and a writer of psalms. In his 40 years as ruler, between approximately 1010 and 970 B.C.E., he united the people of Israel, led them to victory in battle, conquered land and paved the way for his son, Solomon, to build the Holy Temple. But most of us really don’t understand what it was that bought David before King Saul. We don’t know what his gifting was that moved him to become the most prominent King in history. His first interaction with Saul came when the king was looking for someone to play music for him, and the king’s attendant summoned the skilled David to play for him. Saul was pleased with David and kept him in his service as a musician.

It was not his courage or his leadership that bought him before the King. David was gifted as a skilled musician. Apparently someone had heard David play various instruments and it was that Gift that bought him before the King. Could you imagine if David had been more concerned about trying to be like his brothers. David appreciated what God had placed in him. My brothers and sisters, I really think that is key – we must learn how to appreciate what God has imparted unto us. When we learn how to appreciate our gift, it is only then that God will be able to move us into another realm – just be yourself, everyone else is taken. We all know that David would come to prominence because of the battle that was brewing between the Israelites and the Philistines. There was a giant in the land by the name of Goliath. The Philistine Army was the most feared of any in the Ancient Near East. Their superior armaments during the middle of the eleventh century, BCE, enabled them to threaten Judea. They had already colonized areas along the coastline. So, here we have Goliath the Philistine of Gath, a giant, who is nine feet tall and a champion warrior. No one in the army of Israel really wants to face up to such a giant. The entire Israelite army, including King Saul, was filled full of fear and felt defeated before they even considered facing such a giant. It didn’t help matters much when Goliath took advantage of every opportunity to verbally insult them and the LORD God. What were they to do?

David the musician shows up and stands before King Saul. After a conversation King Saul sends this boy David out to fight against the giant. He then attempts to equip David for his encounter with the giant. Saul clothes David with his own armor. He puts a bronze helmet on David’s head and clothes David with his own big coat of mail. David straps Saul’s sword over the armor. Then David tries to take a step. He quickly realizes that he had not earned any of that equipment. He quickly remembers the Gift that he has – the gift beyond being a Musician. David remembers that he is good at throwing rocks. That is the gift that David had which ultimately would bring him before the King and set him on the path of his destiny. We know the rest of the story; he would be victorious over the giant.

What would cause David to walk in his Destiny is the fact that he understood his gift was Throwing Rocks. What a strange gift to have. We must identify the Gift that God has given us and understand no matter how big or small we think that gifting is — to simply operate in it. We read in PROVERBS 18:16 A MAN’S GIFT MAKETH ROOM FOR HIM, AND BRINGETH HIM BEFORE GREAT MEN. This strange gift of throwing rocks would usher David into his destiny – it would bring him face to face before King Saul because he was Gifted at Throwing Rocks. I don’t know about you but I am glad today that David was comfortable with who he was, he understood how important it was to be yourself, everyone else is taken.

• If my gift is throwing rocks – I’ll throw Rocks in Jesus name

• If my gift is Playing Instruments – I’ll play in Jesus name

• If my gift is serving on the Usher Board – I’ll serve in Jesus name

Whatever my gift is, I’ll wait, because God promised my gift will make room for me and take me to great places.

Paul understood this when he talked and counseled with a young preacher by the name of Timothy. Paul would go on to tell Timothy that he would grow to be a great preacher one day and then gave him sound advise according to I TIMOTHY 4:14 NEGLECT NOT THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH WAS GIVEN THEE BY PROPHECY, WITH THE LAYING ON OF HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY.

— Your gift will take you to places you never dreamed

— Your gift will elevate you in due season

— Don’t neglect the gift that God has given you

— Don’t set your sight on what others have and are doing

— Allow God to continue to grow the gift that He has placed with you

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LOVE-LOVE-LOVE

by Jerry Morrissey

Jesus appears to his disciples. At his word they catch a huge amount of fish. They share a meal that Jesus prepared. Then Jesus commissions Peter as pastor of his Church and prophesies his martyrdom.

Although the Gospel seems to have ended with chapter twenty, especially verses thirty and thirty-one. Chapter twenty-one, has been appended and gives more resurrection appearances, now in Galilee, and yet another conclusion in verses twenty-four and twenty-five. There are two scenes here. The first one is about fish, catching them as a symbol for missionary success.

The second scene is about sheep, leading them as a symbol of Peter being not only a missionary apostle fisherman, but a model for pastoral care shepherd.

In verses one to fourteen, the Miraculous Catch of Fish reveals Peter the Fisher of Men.

In verse one, Jesus revealed himself again: This is the third appearance to his disciples according to John. It takes place in Galilee. The disciples have apparently returned to their former occupation of fishing. Jesus appears to them in the course of their daily work.

In verse three, that night they caught nothing; night was considered the best time for fishing and the fish would be fresh for the market in the morning. Night is also a symbol for spiritual distress and need.

In verse four, 4 Jesus was standing; Jesus simply materializes suddenly as he does in several of the post-resurrectional narratives.

Disciples did not realize that it was Jesus: On one level, the physical, they do not recognize Jesus because his glorified body has changed his outward appearance to some degree. On another level, the spiritual, Jesus can only be truly seen with the eyes of faith. Gradual recognition of Jesus is an important theme in John.

In verse five, children; this word, like “kids” in our language, implies the master-disciple, teacher-student relationship.

In verse six, they cast the net; the success of the fisherman on level one, that is, the earthly and physical, there is the catch of fish and on level two, missionary success is entirely dependent on their obedience to Jesus’ word.

In verse seven, it is the Lord; as in chapter twenty verses one to ten, the Beloved Disciple is the first to recognize Jesus because of his love for him. Peter, on the other hand, literally “jumps in the lake” to hasten to shore. There he will learn the lesson of love from Jesus himself.

In verse nine, fish and bread; as the story goes Jesus already had some fish on the fire before the disciples could bring the freshly caught ones. This meal is a quasi-Eucharist. Jesus takes the initiative because he is the giver of spiritual food, which is Himself. Fish was a frequent symbol of the Eucharist along with bread, of course.

In verses eleven to thirteen, 153 large fish; the catch of fish symbolizes the mission of the Church. The un-torn net symbolizes the unity of the Church and the 153 represents totality. It is not possible to trace the exact meaning to which the number 153 refers, perhaps it was well known to the disciples, but we are not told.

In verse thirteen, “Come, have breakfast.” The breakfast is an act of communion with the Lord who is known by faith. It also sets the precedent for celebrating the Eucharist outside the supper context, even early in the morning.

In verse fourteen, this is now the third time, the reference is to chapter twenty verses nineteen and twenty six.

In verses fifteen to seventeen, Peter the Shepherd.

In chapter ten, Jesus was the one good shepherd. Now, he transfers that function to Peter. The scene has been prepared for by the theme of feeding in verses one to fourteen. Jesus puts three questions to Peter, corresponding to his triple denial. He had claimed he had sacrificial love for Jesus. He had not. In the Greek there are two different words for “love” being used. In the first question Jesus asks Peter if he has agape, sacrificial love, “laying down one’s life for the sheep” love. Peter honestly answers that he has philia, affectionate, human, friendship love. In the second question Jesus drops “more than these,” a boastful claim Peter made at the Last Supper. Any agape at all will do. It need not be more than others. Peter admits again the human and limited quality of his love. The third question “distresses” Peter because Jesus changes verbs and asks him if he has philia love for him. Peter says that Jesus really knows him, “knows everything,” and that he certainly has that kind of love. Having broken through Peter’s conceit and gotten him to admit the true quality of his love, Jesus gives him pastoral authority of the Good Shepherd. Peter did not need to start out perfect. He would get there, but his honesty about his motivations would be enough for Jesus. It would open the way for grace to empower Peter to one day die a martyr’s death, lay down his life in agape love. Agape love was the distinguishing characteristic of the Beloved, Greek agapetos, Disciple throughout his life with Jesus. Peter would end up that way, but begin with only philia love.

In verses eighteen to nineteen, Peter the Martyr.

In verse eighteen, this saying of Jesus is probably based on a proverb that goes something like “in youth a man goes freely, wherever he likes; in old age, a man must let himself be taken where he does not wish to go.” The point is that the decision to go, that is, to follow Jesus, must be taken while there is freedom of action; if left until later, it may be too late. It also means that Peter will die a martyr’s death at the hands of enemies, as did Jesus.

In verse nineteen, follow me, at last the real point of the narrative is reached. Peter is to live and die just as Jesus did, in imitation of him, reproducing the act by which Jesus most fully revealed the Father’s glory and character. True discipleship continues Jesus’ mission and is based on agape love. Peter will feed the flock in the same way Jesus did, ultimately by laying down his life-freely-for them. In that respect Peter will have to catch up to the Beloved Disciple. However, Jesus will go on to point out that bloody martyrdom is not the only martyrdom. The Beloved Disciple will die a natural death, but live a life of supernatural love. That is martyrdom too.

Although Peter appears too be the “star” of today’s gospel lesson, the Beloved Disciple, the hero of the author of this gospel, is the model to be imitated. The author recognizes Peter’s authority and leadership role, but he admires and wants all to emulate the Beloved Disciple. In the end, even Peter, the symbol of authority in the Church, must emulate the love of the Beloved Disciple. As the author develops the relationship between Peter who represents, authority, and the Beloved Disciple who represents, love, authority is always behind love and must always catch up. Love is much more sensitive to the presence of Jesus than is authority and structural leadership. The leadership of love is something all Christians should exercise. It is broader and will be longer lasting, more pervasive and penetrating than any authoritative stance, teaching, posture or position. It may not seem so at times, but this is still Christ’s Church. He set it up and he knows what makes it work and last. It is love. Authority has its legitimate place and is to be honored, but love is to be imitated. Authority, at least, structural authority, is a necessary component of Christ’s Church, but not the only one, nor is it the central one.

There is no hint that Peter abused the legitimate authority entrusted to him by Christ. Certainly in this text, Peter is showing no signs of being an overlord or being overbearing. So, the primacy of love over the primacy of authority does not just apply to authoritarianism, but also to those exercising authority legitimately and properly.

We do not need to hold a church office as Pastor or congregational president, in order to exercise authority. We all exercise authority over our own lives. We are, after all, in charge of ourselves, though not in control of ourselves. And we are, in most cases, in charge, though not in control, of others. It might only be baby-sitting. It might be parenting or teaching or managing. It might be at home, at work, or even at play, as when we are coaching. One minute I might be the one in charge, example, driving the grandchildren around; the next minute I might be in a more subservient position, example, sitting at a meeting with the Bishop presiding. In whatever situation we are challenged to balance authority with love. Authority wants to get it right and do it correctly. This only makes sense. Doing things right results in progress and peace. Love, however, wants to do the right thing. That is really leadership, whereas doing things right is really just good management. Doing things right need not take into account the human being or human beings involved, their feelings, their preferences and abilities and their disabilities. Love tempers authority and shapes its exercise. Authority is based on knowledge, or should be, knowing what and knowing that. Love is based on wisdom, knowing when and knowing how, when to act and when not to, knowing how to relate to a person and how not to. Even the legitimate and proper exercise of our authority can violate the sanctity of another person unnecessarily. Love prevents that.

When Jesus called Peter aside to speak with him privately, he gave us all an example of how we pass on the gospel in one-on-one situations. Indeed, most of our preaching, teaching, and counseling is one-on-one. The duly authorized preachers and teachers find themselves speaking to groups, but most of us spread the gospel much more informally and privately. We might have expected Jesus to read Peter the riot act, berate him for denying him, threatening him that if it happens again he would be fired as an apostle. Instead, Jesus forgives him and promotes him to chief shepherd! However, his forgiveness is preceded by teaching, teaching him, albeit gently, where he went wrong, how he overestimated the quality and purity of his love for Jesus. Peter needed to learn humility, honesty really, if he was going to become open to the grace of forgiveness Jesus was prepared to give. Like tough love, this was tough forgiveness, not the blanket, namby-pamby kind that passes for the real thing.

Like Peter, we too are warned not to be so fast in claiming the purity of our love. Honestly admitting to ourselves, to the Lord, and to others that we do not love Jesus for who he is, for himself, but only for what he has done and can do for us opens us to his grace, the grace to love him for himself. When that happens we can rise above our limited ability to love and love unconditionally and risk our lives unconditionally, indeed live our lives in daily martyrdom.

Recognition of the risen Lord’s presence in our midst requires eyes of faith and hearts of love.

Trusting in the Lord enhances success in work and in love.

Every meal is an opportunity to recall the Eucharist and the Lord as its provider and presider.

Being right is important; doing right is even more so.

The Lord forgives where others would not.

If we learn from our sins the Lord trusts us with greater responsibilities.

Being a Missionary: All Christians have the same mission; all are missionaries. We think of people going off to foreign lands and preaching the gospel. Of course, they are Christian missionaries. However, so are we. We see Jesus preaching to large groups, both in his home region and Galilee as well as in the region of the Ten Cities and in the southern part of the country. He preached both home and abroad. We see him teaching smaller groups at greater length, especially his disciples. However, we also see him talking to, counseling, one person at a time. That is what he is doing to Peter in this text. All Christians do this one-on-one preaching, teaching, counseling, conversing and thus all are missionaries. We always bring Christ into our conversations, even if we do not specifically mention his name. He is always the guide and gauge of our words, our “sermons,” if you will. Jesus did not preach at Peter. He conversed with him. Christians who talk to others in a “one-on-one” about Christ as though there were a whole crowd of people there are using the wrong model for communicating. And they may be coming across to the other person more like a pompous Bishop rather than a humble fisherman or shepherd. The authority of the message may be shouted so loudly that the love within it can be drowned out. Being a missionary of Christ’s and for Christ requires no letter of authorization other than Baptism and no program or procedure other than Christian love.

Love, Love and Love: There are three different words in Greek that are translated into English as the same word, “love.” The Greek eros, “love,” stands for romantic, erotic, sexual love. God created that kind of love. It is good. However, Jesus does not command we all be “in love” with everyone else. In fact, that is impossible. The Greek philia, “love” stands for friendship love. We can be friends with a whole lot more people than we will ever be “in love” with. However, Jesus does not command that we be friends with everyone either. Peter admitted he was a friend of Jesus, but that is as far as he could or would go after he had denied even knowing him three times in public. Like “in love” love, friendship love is mutual, we cannot really be in love or friends with someone who is not also in love with us or also our friend, reciprocal being in love or friends involves a reciprocity of actions, and affective, we feel good about our beloved or friend. The Greek agape, love,” stands for God’s kind of loving. It differs from “in love” love and friendship love in that it is one-way, that is, God loves us whether we love him back, it does not require that we reciprocate. That is the kind of love Jesus commands. Good feeling love cannot be commanded. This text and others make it clear that Jesus has nothing against emotional love, be it friendship love or “in love” love, both created by God and quite often blessed by God. Indeed, both can exist along with divine agape love. Moreover, divine love, love for God and the love of God for others, does have that emotional element within it, though it is not primary or required. It is when it is stripped down, like Peter was, and seen all by itself, separated from the clothing of friendship or romantic love, that its presence and strength is revealed or it is absence. Peter had to admit that his love for Jesus was of the garden-variety human kind and was not strong enough to allow him to risk, lay down, his life for Jesus’ and integrity sake. He could only receive, never acquire on his own, that love from Jesus, THE lover, who gives it when the person is humble enough to admit that he or she does not have it. Then Jesus will enter and work miracles, transforming the fear into courage, the hatred into love, the sadness into joy.

We are taught that honesty is enough for Jesus. If we honestly admit that we love Jesus for the good things he does for us and not for him alone, we can begin to grow by his grace into that pure love which will empower us to lay down our lives. That power-to lay down one’s life-does not only kick in at death as a sort of proof, but it plays out in life. To have this kind of love is to be free beyond the limits of death, torture, suffering and certainly inconvenience. It frees us to be truly missionary in the sense taught in the beginning of this text.

In the midst of our daily occupations, especially when experiencing failure, we can sense-through love, like the Beloved Disciple did-the presence of Jesus. He just materializes before our very, faith, eyes. We listen to him. We do what he says, no matter how seemingly absurd or impossible, and we experience success. We let him feed us at breakfast, lunch and or supper, both materially and sacramentally, and we grow step by step from selfish love to selfless love. We move from the authoritarian mode-the mode of lording it over others, controlling them, manipulating them-to the loving mode-letting Jesus act in us to free them and us, to save them and us, to be with them and us. Yes, in the midst of daily occupations and life we find the Lord, we feel the Lord’s presence and love, and we love the Lord and others. This is following him through life and through death to life again in eternity.

Salvation, experience of Jesus, does not happen by being transported into the clouds or entrance into an ethereal realm. It happens by Jesus entering into our fleshly lives, lives lived in the dailiness of routine. Then, amidst ordinariness, we experience the abundance of a 153 fish-catch, the joy of camaraderie with Jesus and our fellow believers and the impulse to go forth and bring in others. The resurrected Lord is found in our lives just as he was found in theirs-on the edges and shores, in the seas, at meals, alone in conversation and personal teaching and on the crosses of life.

People in authority must grapple with what Peter faced. He had to learn the hard way that his love of Christ was on the human plane alone. That is fine as far as it goes, but it will not go far enough. It took Peter to the courtyard of denial. Love, agape love, laying down one’s life love, sacrificial love took him to the graveyard of self-denial. In the courtyard he temporarily escaped judgment, the judgment of humans. In the graveyard of martyrdom he escaped real death. His story is told not just to throw cold water on the conceits of those in church authority, but to challenge all of us, as to the quality of our love for Christ.  Amen.

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BE THE CHURCH!

by Scott R. Bayles

A mega-church in Vista, California made headlines when they canceled all of their worship services over the weekend. Rather then meeting together in an air-conditioned sanctuary, North Coast Church closed its doors for what they called a “Weekend of Service,” providing churchgoers the opportunity to actually show the love of Jesus in their community.

Of the 7,000 believers who attend North Coast Church, over 5,500 of them showed up Sunday morning to live out their commitment as they tackled 139 community service projects at 70 different sites all throughout North San Diego County.

The senior pastor of the church, said, “Our weekly service projects and our Weekend of Service is simply one more way to help our members understand that church is what we are, not just something we go to… What we tell people is—this week, we’re going to be the church instead of just going to church.”

Now, there is a congregation that understands what church is all about.

There are simply far too many Christians out there who have this mistaken belief that church is just something that you go to for sixty minutes on Sunday morning (assuming the preacher doesn’t go over-time). The truth is—you don’t go to church; you are the church! The church isn’t a place; it’s people! Jesus said…

“You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13)

“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

“You are…a city set on a hill.” (Matthew 5:14)

You are the church! It’s up to us (you and me) to be the mouth, the hands, and the feet of Jesus—to be the church! Of course, getting involved in the community and doing service projects—like the folks at North Coast Church—is only part of what it means to be the church. Being the church also means being like Jesus, being a part of God’s family and giving of ourselves and our means.

I don’t believe there is anybody in all of Scripture that exemplifies what it means to be the church more clearly or concisely than an often-over-looked woman named Phoebe. While there are no examples in the Bible of the perfect Christian—because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)—there is this one woman, mentioned briefly in Romans 16:1-2, that I believe gives us some insight into what God wants from us and what it means to be the church. Let’s read these two short verses together:

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.” (Romans 16:1-2 NIV)

We know very little about this godly woman who carried Paul’s letter to the Romans. We just have the brief mention of her name and service. She was named after the Moon-Goddess of the Greeks. The goddess Artemis, known commonly as Phoebe, was supposedly identified with the light of the moon. But the Phoebe whom Paul so highly commended shone as a light for Jesus, the “Light of the World”! In a fifty-three-word parade of praise, Paul gives a beautiful cameo to this saintly servant of Jesus. But what can we learn from someone mentioned only so briefly? We can learn a lot—especially about what it means to “be the church.” Paul, in these two verses, uses three powerful words to describe Phoebe. The first description he bestows on her is “sister.”

• SISTER:

Paul began by saying, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe.” First and foremost, being the church means being a part of God’s family. We may not all be sisters, but we are all spiritual siblings. The Bible says, “Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11 NCV). Take a moment to let the amazing truth sink in. You are part of God’s family. When you place your faith in Jesus, God becomes your Father, you become his child, other believers become your brothers and sisters, and the church becomes your spiritual family. The red-letter words of Jesus are unmistakable: “Pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, ‘Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:49-50 GWT).

I’ve said it so many times before—church is about family. It’s about having brothers and sisters who love you, who can come along next to you and see you through life’s trying times. Being included in God’s family is the highest honor and the greatest privilege you will ever receive. Whenever you feel unimportant, unloved, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.

That’s what family is, isn’t it—a place to belong? Even in the perfect paradise of Eden, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We are not meant to live lone-ranger lives; rather, we are created for communion and community. One of the classic hymns and a favorite in many churches still is Lanny Wolfe’s “God’s Family”:

We’re part of the family that’s been born again;

Part of the family whose love knows no end;

For Jesus has saved us, and makes us His own,

Now we’re part of the family that’s on it’s way home.

And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry;

Sometimes we share together, heart-aches and sighs;

Sometimes we dream together of how it will be

When we all get to Heaven, God’s family.

That’s what God’s family is all about—laughing together, crying together, and dreaming together. In fact, the Bible says that Christians are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, held together, and will be caught up together. There’s a lot of togetherness in God’s family! Being the church means experiencing life together. And what do we do together? Well, there’s another Bible phrase that answers that question—one another:

“Love one another” (John 13:34).

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10).

“Honor one another” (Romans 12:10).

“Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16).

“Let us not judge one another” (Romans 14:13).

“Accept one another” (Romans 15:7).

“Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16).

“Teach one another” (Romans 15:14).

“Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).

“Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Ephesians 4:32).

“Encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25).

“Offer hospitality to one another” (2 Peter 4:9).

“Love one another” (1 John 3:23, 4:7, 4:11 and so many more).

It takes both God’s power and our effort to produce a loving Christian community. Being the church meaning being a family and living out these “one another” verses on a daily basis. Let’s make that our goal as God’s family.

Additionally, Paul goes on to describe Phoebe in yet another way. Paul calls Phoebe a saint.

• SAINT:

Paul told the Roman Christians to “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints.” In other words, roll out the red carpet, bring on the confetti, throw your arms wide open and wrap them around her when she gets there! Why? A saint is coming to town. Despite popular opinion, you don’t have to perform any miracles or be canonized in order to become a saint. Every one of us are saints from the time we are born again. At that moment God sanctifies us; he makes us holy. A saint is any person who has been sanctified by God. In fact, Paul addressed this letter “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Romans 1:7).

If you are in God’s family, then you are a saint. Of course, that doesn’t mean you will always act like a saint. Sainthood, or being sanctified, is an ongoing lifelong process. Put very simply, sanctification is the process of becoming like Christ. The Bible says, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB). Both being the church and being a saint mean becoming like Jesus. God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. You were created to become like Christ. But the thing is—you cannot reproduce the character of Jesus on your own strength. New Year’s resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives.

Do you sometimes wonder why you aren’t more like Jesus? Let me answer that with another question. Have you ever noticed how couples who’ve been married for a long time start to look alike? After so many years or decades of togetherness, they start to have the same mannerisms, the same inflection in their voice, even the same facial expressions. The more time you spend with someone the more you become like that person. So, how much time do you spend with Jesus? How much time to you spend praying and talking with God about life’s failures and successes? How often do you open your Bible and just listen to what he has to say? More than anything else, I think the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make you more like the Son of God.

But we have to open to it, we have to want it, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit. How does that happen in real life? Through spending time in prayer, through reading our Bibles, through personal and public worship, but also through the choices and decisions we make. I know it sounds cliché, but ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”

What if, for one day, Jesus lived your life for you?

What if, for twenty-four hours, Jesus wakes up in your bed, walks in your shoes, lives in your house, and assumes your schedule? Your boss becomes his boss, your kids become his kids, and your headaches become his headaches. Your health doesn’t change. Your circumstances don’t change. Your schedule isn’t altered. Your problems aren’t solved. Only one thing changes.

What if, for one day and night, Jesus lives your life with his heart? Your heart gets the day off and your life is led by the heart of Christ. What would you be like? Would people notice a difference? Your family—would they see something new? Your co-workers—would they sense a change? And how about you? What alterations would this heart transplant have on your stress levels? Your mood swings? Your temper? Would you sleep better? Would you see sunsets differently?

Adjust the lens of your imagination until you have a clear picture of Jesus leading your life, then snap the shutter and frame the picture. What you see is what God wants. The Bible says, “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NCV). The heart of Christ-likeness is having a heart like Christ. God’s plan for you is nothing short of a new heart. Long before Jesus walked the streets of Galilee, God promised, “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT).

God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. He wants you to have a heart like his. That’s what it means to be the church. But we’re not quite done. Paul had one last adjective for Phoebe. He calls her a servant.

• SERVANT:

Once again, Paul says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church.” The word used here for “servant” is the Greek word diakonos, which is usually translated “deacon” or “minister.” The point, however, is not that she held a special position or title, but that she served her local church in a variety of ways. In the next verse, Paul says, “Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me” (vs. 2 TLB). Being the church means helping out; it means being a servant.

North Coast Church is a wonderful example of a service orientated church, but they aren’t the only ones. Could churches everywhere will be canceling their regularly scheduled meetings, in order to “be the church,” to participate in local community service projects all across the country?  But you don’t have to engage in a major community project in order to be a servant. You don’t even have to leave the building. There are ample opportunities for you to be a “servant of the church” right here in your church.

A list could literally go on and on. But listen, the point is—being the church requires us to help out in what ever way we’re needed. I know that most of you haven’t been a part of our church family for very long, others may feel like they aren’t qualified to teach a class, or your afraid to speak in public, or your life is already so busy, but it all goes back to that same question: “What would Jesus do?” Or rather, “What would Jesus have me do?” Choose to do what God wants you to do and then trust his Spirit to give you the power, love, courage or wisdom you need to do it.

Robert J. Morgan once told the story of a preacher who was approached by a man who wanted to join the church. “But,” the man said, “I have a very busy schedule. I can’t be called on for any service, like committee work, teaching, or other such things. I just won’t be available for special projects or to help with setting up chairs or things like that. I just want to sit through Sunday worship and then go on about my business.”

The minister thought for a moment, and then replied, “I believe you’re at the wrong church. The church you’re looking for is three blocks down the street, on the right.” The man followed the preacher’s directions and soon came to an abandoned, boarded up closed down church building. It was a dead church—gone out of business.

That’s what happens to churches that don’t have servants. Being the church means being a servant. Phoebe was a servant of the church, she had a servant heart. We would all do well to live by her example.

Conclusion:

Church isn’t something that opens or closes with a prayer. Church isn’t just something you attend; it’s something you are. Church isn’t a place; it’s people. What does it mean to “be the church”? Well, if Phoebe give us anything to go by, it means being a sister—a vital part of God’s household, fashioned for God’s family, a saint—created to become like Christ and learning to have a heart like his, and a servant—made for ministry and willing to help out. So whatever you do, wherever you go, whether it’s Sunday, Saturday or any day in-between—remember to be the church.

Invitation:

This is going to be a broad invitation. If you want to be a part of our church family or if you aren’t sure whether or not you are a part of it yet and you you’d like to know, then this invitation is for you. If you need some help developing a Christ-like heart, then this invitation is for you. Or if you are willing to be a servant rather than a spectator—meaning if you want to volunteer to help out in any capacity (giving communion talks, leading songs at a song service, you want to learn how to prepare a sermon, you want to help with the children’s program, fixing pipes, cleaning floors, laying tile, or any other kind service what-so-ever)—I want to invite you to take a step of faith.

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FORGIVENESS

by Johanna Radelfinger

Forgiveness defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is to give up resentment of or claim to requital for (forgive an insult) or to grant relief from payment of (forgive a debt); to cease to feel resentment against (an offender).

When the first missionaries came to Alberta, Canada, a young chief of the Cree Indians named Maskepetoon savagely opposed them. But he responded to the gospel and accepted Christ. Shortly afterward, a member of the Blackfoot tribe killed his father. Maskepetoon rode into the village where the murderer lived and demanded that he be brought before him.

Confronting the guilty man, he said, “You have killed my father, so now you must be my father. You shall ride my best horse and wear my best clothes.”

In utter amazement and remorse his enemy exclaimed, “My son, now you have killed me!” He meant, of course, that the hate in his own heart had been completely erased by the forgiveness and kindness of the Indian chief.

Why should we forgive anyway? First of all because God forgave us. Look up 1 John 1:9 (I¡¦m reading from the Clear Word). Now look up Luke 6:37. If God condemned us every time we sin; we would all be lost. Instead He sent his son to take that penalty for you and me. So if God forgives us, is it too much to ask for us to forgive each other. Go to Eph. 4:31,32. Another reason to forgive is because God told us to. He knows what is best for us.

According to the latest medical and psychological research, forgiving is good for our soul and our bodies. People who forgive:

a. benefit from better immune functioning and lower blood pressure.

b. have better mental health than people who do not forgive.

c. feel better physically.

d. have lower amounts of anger and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.

e. maintain more satisfying and long-lasting relationships.

“When we allow ourselves to feel like victims or sit around dreaming up how to retaliate against people who have hurt us, these thought patterns take a toll on our minds and bodies,” says Michael McCullough, director of research for the National Institute for Healthcare Research.

The last reason I’d like to point out to you is because Christ forgave when he was on this earth. Turn to Luke 23:34. Jesus forgave the people that hammered nails into his hands, spit at him and eventually killed him. Take note that He asked His Father to forgive them. He loved them (his enemies) enough to ask his Father to pardon them. For some reason that thought gives me the chills.

But what if I don’t want to forgive? Does anything happen? Yes something does happen. Not forgiving and holding a grudge can be tragic like this next story.

There was a merchant who had identical twin sons. The boys worked for their father in the department store he owned and, when he died, they took over the store. Everything went well until the day a dollar bill disappeared. One of the brothers had left the bill on the cash register and walked outside with a customer. When he returned, the money was gone.

He asked his brother, “Did you see that dollar bill on the cash register?”

His brother replied that he had not. But the young man kept probing and questioning. He would not let it alone.

“Dollar bills just don’t get up and walk away! Surely you must have seen it!” There was subtle accusation in his voice. Tempers began to rise. Resentment set in. Before long, a deep and bitter chasm divided the young men. They refused to speak. They finally decided they could no longer work together and a dividing wall was built down the center of the store. For twenty years hostility and bitterness grew, spreading to their families and to the community.

Then one day a man in a car stopped in front of the store. He walked in and asked the clerk, “How long have you been here?”

The clerk replied that he’d been there all his life.

The customer said, “I must share something with you. Twenty years ago I was ’riding the rails’ and came into this town in a boxcar. I hadn’t eaten for three days. I came into this store from the back door and saw a dollar bill on the cash register. I put it in my pocket and walked out. All these years I haven’t been able to forget that. I know it wasn’t much money, but I had to come back and ask your forgiveness.”

The stranger was amazed to see tears well up in the eyes of this middle-aged man. “Would you please go next door and tell that same story to the man in the store?” he said. Then the man was even more amazed to see two middle-aged men, who looked very much alike, embracing each other and weeping together in the front of the store. After twenty years, the brokenness was mended. The wall of resentment that divided them came down.

This story may sound silly but it actually happened. It is the little things that divide people. And the solution, of course, is to let them go. There is really nothing particularly profound about it. But for fulfilling and lasting relationships, letting them go is a must. Refuse to carry around bitterness and you may be surprised at how much energy you have left for building bonds with those you love.

Turn to 1 Cor. 2:10, 11. Paul says that forgiving each other is important. If we don’t, Satan can gain a foothold. Forgiveness is hard. But not forgiving leads to hurt bitterness, anger, resentment and self-destruction. It tears up families, ruins friendships and worst of all it can divide up a church. I think Satan’s trickiest and strongest tactic is to get Christians to not forgive. It doesn’t pay to keep records of “wrongs” or to hold grudges.

The pastor of an evangelical church near Orlando, Florida had been leading the same flock for more than twelve years. Things were running smoothly except for the fact that one member, an influential banker, was constantly questioning his authority on business matters. When the banker was nominated to become a deacon, the pastor stood before the congregation and said, “I don’t believe this man is qualified to be elected.” Then he read a long list of instances where the man had questioned his decisions. The congregation didn’t agree with him and voted the banker in. Soon everyone in his church thought lower of him. Eventually he resigned within six months. Don¡¦t be like this pastor. Letting anger take control of you.

Did you know that being angry (not forgiving) is a sin? I didn’t know that until I found a verse while doing this sermon. Turn back to Eph. 4:26.

It is all right to be angry. God gave you that emotion when something wrong or unfair happens to you or someone else. But don¡¦t sin by not forgiving and letting your angry take control.

Another reason to forgive is to help you. Not forgiving and holding a grudge against a person can eat at you like cancer.

A man awoke out of sound sleep one night, due to a recurring dream. The dream was always the same. He was swimming in a lake, and although a good swimmer, his arms and legs grew increasingly weary, and he feared he might not make it back to shore. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, an elderly man who looked identical to his deceased father passed by in a rowboat. He stopped, held out his hand, but recalling how poorly his father treated him as a child, he smiled dryly and said,” No thank you, Dad. I’ll be OK.”

The man continued to frantically splash his way back to shore. Looking to the side, he saw yet another form in the distance. It was his daughter, swimming quickly toward him with a life preserver. “Here, dad! Put this on!” Remembering the many times his daughter disobeyed him as a rebellious teen, the man shook his head and waved his daughter on.

Upon finally making it to shore, the man collapsed from exhaustion in the wet sand. Conscious, yet unable to move, the man spied a large group of people around him. All the people looked familiar – faces of the many friends and relations he had come in contact with during his life. They offered to take him to the hospital, to bring him some warm clothes, or towel, but as each person spoke, the man recalled the many times that person did him wrong. “No thank you,” he said, “I will be fine.” The man stood up, brushed off his sandy, wet clothes, and walked wearily into the sunset.

After the third night of dreaming this same dream, the man sought the opinion of the only person he felt he could trust to not hurt him, his wise, old grandmother.

“What does the dream mean, gram?” He asked. The wrinkled and wise- looking woman sat in silence for several moments, and then finally spoke. “I’m no ‘dream-readin’ expert, sonny, but I’d say that someone is trying to tell you that you are holding in a lot of bitterness, due to an unforgiving attitude.”

The man pounded his fists on the table in indignation. “Bitter? Unforgiving? That is absurd! I should have known better than come to an uneducated woman like you!”

The old woman sat very still and calmly said, “There is more. I’m guessin’ that the struggle you encountered in the water is the same sort of struggle that you often feel inside. You WANT to reach out and take hold of a warm and caring hand, but no hand is good enough for you. You made it to the shore THIS time, but what about next time?” Red-faced and exasperated, the man stormed out of the room muttering to himself.

Forgiveness is not something we do for others; it is something we do for our SELF. Those who do not forgive others, who do not forgive easily, or who forgive on a conditional basis, slowly build up bitterness inside themselves.

Did you know that angels would never think of accusing us before God? Check out 2 Peter 2:11. When I discovered this verse it hit me hard. The angels watch us and protect us. Wouldn’t they know us better than humans would? But still they would cringe to even think of accusing us before God.

We on the other hand especially in our church families forget we are all under Jesus¡¦ blood. Humans make mistakes. None of us are above another. We should all forgive no matter how bad someone hurt us.

I know from personal experience that forgiving is very hard. The other day a friend hurt me. I didn’t know if I could trust him again. He apologized and I said I forgave him. But I still felt hurt. Then I got to thinking that everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we forget that very fact. Satan wants us to be hurt and hold grudges against people. But God wants to remind us that humans aren¡¦t perfect. This story helped me.

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.” They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.” The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied: “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Learn to forgive the bad and hold on to the good things that people do for you.

Lets say you have decided that forgiving is a good idea. But how do you really forgive someone? Go to Matthew 18:15. Forgiveness is an action.

Leonardo Da Vinci, just before starting on the “Last Supper” had a violent argument with a fellow painter. Leonardo was so bitter that he determined to paint the face of his enemy, the other artist, into the face of Judas, and thus take his revenge. In fact the face of Judas was one of the first faces he finished. The worst thing about it was that everyone could easily recognize it as the face of the painter with whom he had quarreled.

But when he came to paint the face of Christ, he could make no progress. Something seemed to be baffling him, holding him back, frustrating his best efforts. Finally he came to the conclusion that the thing that was frustrating him was that he had painted the face of his enemy onto the face of Judas. He decided to forgive and not take revenge. So he painted out the face of Judas and was then able to resume his work on the face of Jesus. This time though he painted Jesus face with the success that the ages have acclaimed.

When DaVinci moved past his right to take revenge and made the right response instead, he broke the power of hatred and allowed the love of Christ to have the last word….

There is another step in forgiveness called Reconciliation. This word means to restore a friendship. Sometimes though you can only forgive and it isn¡¦t possible to reconcile with someone. For example a Jew in a concentration camp can¡¦t go to the officer that beat her and try to reconcile. Because he is her enemy. But in a church family Christ urges us to reconcile. Turn to Matthew 18:15-17. If it is possible God wants us to reconcile. But He always wants us to forgive.

Why does God want us to forgive and reconcile with one another? Because forgiving and loving go together. Go to I Cor. 13:5. Notice love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. God has told us many times to love one another. That also means to forgive too. Go to 1 John 4:7,8. If love comes from God then how can we possible love and forgive each other on our own. Forgiving by ourselves is impossible! The good news is in Luke 1:37. Check it out! If you don’t feel like forgiving, God can help you forgive that person completely.

God wants you to forgive. I have learned it is better to forgive. It improves your health to forgive. But it is YOUR choice to forgive.

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Wishing you all a most meaningful and joyous Easter celebration!
Greg and Eric for This Day’s Thought from The Ranch

EASTER

by James Wilson

John 15:13

Back in the 1880’s Nietzsche declared that “God is dead,” and before the turn of the Twentieth Century, Shaw and Wells chimed in saying the 20th Century would mark the end of the world’s “religious phase.”

Yet, today a church now meets in Russia’s Museum of Religion and Atheism-the former center of atheism. Nearly half of the United States’ population attend Worship on a regular basis while revival is sweeping through Latin America and Christianity grows behind China’s iron curtain. (From Fresh Illustrations http://www.freshministry.org/illustrations.html )

Nietzsche, Shaw and Wells have long since decayed in their graves, and God continues to live! That’s the message of Easter. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!

Why do we believe? Recently an African Muslim was converted to Christ. When someone asked him why he had become a Christian, he answered. “Well, it’s like this. Suppose you were going down a road when suddenly it forked in two directions, you didn’t know which way to take. There at the fork in the road you could see two persons, one dead and one alive. Of which one would you inquire the way?” This is a supreme difference between Islam and the gospel. The Muslim regards both Muhammad and Christ as prophets of God. But whereas Muhammad lived and died and passed from the scene of history, Jesus lived, died, and arose!. (John T. Seamonds)

Muhammad died, and was buried. His faithful followers take pilgrimages to visit his remains, the same is true of Buddha and other religious leaders. But it is not true of Jesus. You cannot visit His remains, you can only visit his empty grave, because He isn’t there. He Arose!

This side of history, we understand that Jesus’ death was necessary. Without His death, there could be no resurrection. At the cross, He laid down His life for us. He willingly gave His all. But how did his friends that He laid His life down for view the cross?

One answer to that question would be, “from a distance.” Except for John, they weren’t there. The cross was the ultimate symbol of shame. It was reserved for vile criminals. The disciple’s teacher, the one they left home to follow, was hung on a cross, and when He was, they turned their back on Him. No doubt they viewed the cross as shameful. Perhaps they even began to question the wisdom of their decision to follow Him.

Disillusioned? Disappointed? Certainly. Afraid? Perhaps. The crowd was out of control. Did they know if they were safe? Could the soldiers come and take them away as they took Jesus away?

Then it happened! Jesus broke through the chains of death and arose from the grave. He appeared to the woman at the empty tomb and gave them the word to tell the disciples. Later, he appeared before the disciples, but Thomas wasn’t there.

The disciples found Thomas and told him the good news. Jesus had risen!

But Thomas doubts the apostles testimony. Let’s read John 20:24-25 “Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’”

He’d heard about the vicious way they’d driven the nails in his hands instead of tying them to the cross, and he’d heard the way the soldiers stabbed him in the side with a spear, like a piece of meat. His anger and his doubt blended to become a toxic cocktail of bitterness, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” Do you blame him? His hopes and dreams dashed, Thomas was drowning in depression and doubt-no way he could believe the unbelievable, not without proof. In the next verse, Jesus challenges Thomas to believe. “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'” (John 20:26-27 )

Without touching the nail scars or putting his hand in Jesus’ side, Thomas believes. Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28

Thomas, by his actions said, seeing is believing, but we know that “Believing is seeing.” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:29

That’s you and me! We’ve not seen, and yet we believe.

We believe, because He loved us. The scripture says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 KJV)

A volunteer at Stanford Hospital, was present when a little boy decided to give the ultimate sacrifice because he loved his sister Liza. The volunteer says the little girl was dying of a rare disease, with only one chance for survival–a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother. After the doctor explained what would happen during the transfusion, the little boy agreed to give his blood to save his sister.

He peacefully laid still during the transfusion. After a while, he asked the doctor a question that gave great insight into his character, “Will I start to die right away?” Apparently, the boy thought he would have to give all his blood, but was willing to do so to save his sister. (From Fresh Illustrations http://www.freshministry.org/illustrations.html)

Jesus laid down His life for you. There is room at the cross for you. Will you come to Him today?

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Palm Sunday

by Kevin Litchfield

A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch.

The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do you have that palm branch, dad?”

“You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved Palm Branches to honor him, so we got Palm Branches today.”

The little boy replied, ” Aw Shucks! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!”

This morning as many of you know today is Palm Sunday- The day, taken from the Gospels, where a whole city threw a parade for Jesus. As Jesus rode into the city, the people threw Palm branches in anticipation of his coming.- Thus we get our word Palm Sunday. – This day marked a time of celebration where Jesus was the worshipped and praised.

This day is Bittersweet for us because even as we read of the celebration we know that Friday is coming- The cross is coming. We know that many in this same crowd will within a few short days exchange words of praise to words of death. Shouting Hosanna, Hosanna and then later shouting Crucify Him, Crucify Him.

This morning I want to focus our attention on two services both which focused upon Jesus, but with two different results.

If you have your bibles this morning turn with me to two passages one from the Gospel of Matthew and the other from the gospel of Luke. Turn first to Matthew chapter 27 beginning in verse 15. Place your finger there and then turn to Luke chapter 19 beginning in verse 36.

The great evangelist, Billy Graham, has been quoted many times as saying that the greatest mission field in our country to today is in our local church- the people sitting already in our churches. Now I am not sure whether this statement is true or not, but one thing that I do know is that many people know what to say, How to say it, even how to act in it, but when the rubber truly meets that road, there is no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. No salvation- just empty words.

We see a perfect example of this in our two passages this morning. On Sunday Jesus rode into the city with the people shouting praises and praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

On Friday they are shouting give us Barabas, We want him, Crucify Jesus Crucify Him. Why the change?

Well there are many possible reasons, but one simple reason is that their words did not match their heart. They possessed a casual not a committed faith. They had religion but they missed the person Jesus… So how can we have a committed faith… How can we be real and sincere? Consistent in all that we do… Well this morning I want to offer you some keys to just such a faith.

The first Key is that a committed faith is not self-centered it is Christ-Centered.

This sounds obvious, but we often miss it . In America, we tend to say to God, “ Hey God, here is my calendar, here is my agenda… Now I can squeeze you in here or here. Pulling God out or turning to God only when it is convenient or useful.

In our passage, The people praised Jesus as He passed by, but many of them praised him for two reasons. First, because of his miracles. He had healed the sick, raised the dead…They praised Him because he was serving them and Second, because they saw in Jesus a way to be politically delivered from the Romans- To be set free from Rome as Israel was set free from Egypt. Their praise was tempered with the attitude of Jesus what can you do for me.

A few days later at the trial they saw a beaten and disfigured Jesus- A man who no longer looked like a deliverer or a conqueror. And as words were said about him, they bought into all the lies and quickly changed their position. For them it was all about Me, Me, Me.

There is a legend about an ancient village in Spain. The villagers learned that the king would pay a visit! In a thousand years, a king had never come to that village. Excitement grew! “We must throw a big celebration,” The villagers all agreed. But, it was a poor village, and there weren’t many resources. Someone came up with a classic idea. Since many of the villagers made their own wines, the idea was for everyone in the village bring a large cup of their choice wine to the town square, “We’ll pour it into a large vat and offer it to the king for his pleasure! When the king draws wine to drink, it will be the very best he’s ever tasted!”

The day before the king’s arrival, hundreds of people lined up to make their offering to the honored guest. They climbed a small stairway, and poured their gift through a small opening at the top. Finally, the vat was full! The King arrived, was escorted to the square, given a silver cup and was told to draw some wine, which represented the best the villagers had.

He placed the cup under the spigot, turned the handle, and then drank the wine, but it was nothing more than water. You see every villager reasoned, “I’ll withhold my best wine and substitute water, what with so many cups of wine in the vat, the king will never know the difference!” The problem was, everyone thought the same thing, and the king was greatly dishonored.

Today, Palm Sunday, choose to honor our great King, Jesus Christ by giving him our very best. Withholding nothing… Giving him our all.

A second key is that a committed faith is relationship driven.

Many of those who gathered to throw their coats and palm branches onto the street and who shouted praises did so because it was the popular thing to do at the time. At that one brief moment it became trendy. Perhaps some began doing it with sincere motives, but others soon did it because others were doing it. Later at the trial, shouting crucify Him was the thing to do… In fact for a brief moment it was the trendy thing to do to make a mass murderer and criminal their hero when they shouted we want Barabas.

In our own lives a committed faith comes only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One where every day is fresh and new as he personally directs our steps.

In order to have a committed faith we must develop an maintain a personal relationship with Jesus.

A third Key is that committed faith is not swayed or blocked by our personal trials and crises.

At the parade it was trendy to offer praise… Everyone was doing it.. But At the trial to speak out for Jesus was risky…Possibly even life threatening.

Many of us come to Jesus expecting everything to go Good… Maybe some slight bad but not too much of it… So when the bottom drops out for us… we often ask God Why? Thinking it is not supposed to happen this way.

If our faith is based on our situations or circumstances it will never be committed… It will always be casual. In my life I have gone to many big Christian events. Many packed large stadiums… Where the praises for God rock the entire arena… Where everyone is praising…

When returning home while everyone is still glowing from the worship, I say guys it is easy to do that here, but tomorrow you face the hard task, can you do that in a world that is not all praising in fact a world that is mocking laughing and is often angry.

A committed faith takes the good with the bad. Knowing that all we are ever promised is that in the midst of both our good and bad; Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. He will stand with us.

A story is told of A little girl who while walking in a garden noticed a particularly beautiful flower. She admired its beauty and enjoyed its fragrance. “It’s so pretty!” she exclaimed. As she gazed on it, her eyes followed the stem down to the soil in which it grew. “This flower is too pretty to be planted in such dirt!” she cried. So she pulled it up by its roots and ran to the water faucet to wash away the soil. It wasn’t long until the flower wilted and died.

When the gardener saw what the little girl had done, he exclaimed, “You have destroyed my finest plant!”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t like it in that dirt,” she said. The gardener replied, “I chose that spot and mixed the soil because I knew that only there could it grow to be a beautiful flower.”

God has placed us exactly where we are. We must trust him. In the trusting We eventually see that He is using our pressures, trials, and difficulties to bring us to a new degree of spiritual beauty. True Contentment comes when we accept what God is doing and thank Him for it.

This morning is your faith casual or committed. As we approach this week where our Jesus suffered incredibly for us. In A week where our sins, past, present, and future were the nails that hung him on that cross doesn’t Jesus deserve a second look. Doesn’t he deserve total control of your life? Doesn’t he deserve a personal relationship with You? This week consider it all… and choose to give it all to him.

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Glory And Majesty!

by Melvin Newland

I want to read a passage of Scripture that I imagine is familiar to most of you. It is where Matthew tells about the transfiguration of Jesus, & it is found in Matthew 17:1-8.

“After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James & John the brother of James, & led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, & His clothes became as white as the light.

“Just then there appeared before them Moses & Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, `Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses & one for Elijah.’

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, & a voice from the cloud said, `This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came & touched them. `Get up,’ He said. `Don’t be afraid.’ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.”

This Transfiguration scene must have been one of the most exciting events in the life of Peter, James, & John – & maybe even for Moses & Elijah as well. And I am convinced that it can mean a great deal to us, too.

The Greek word translated as “transfiguration” is the word “metamor-phothe,” from which we get “metamorphosis.” As any student of biology knows, a “metamorphosis” is “a transformation, a complete change of appearance & form.” (Example: Caterpillar into a butterfly.)

Jesus certainly went through a metamorphosis – & more than once. First, He left the glories of heaven to come to earth in human form – to live with us – to share our pain & suffering, our hungers & temptations. For 33 & 1/2 years He lived upon the face of this earth in human form.

But at the time of this scripture that we have read, Jesus coming to the end of His ministry upon this earth, & for a few minutes on a mountainside in Galilee, Peter, James, & John are privileged to see another metamorphosis, as Jesus is once again clothed in His glory, the glory of Almighty God.

This morning I want us to look at the transfiguration through the eyes of the apostle John, & behold what he beheld. So what did John see? As John stood on that mountain & saw the transfiguration of Jesus, what did he see?

I. JOHN SAW HIS GLORY!

Years later, in the 1st chapter of his Gospel, vs. 14, John says, “The Word became flesh, & made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One & Only, who came from the Father, full of grace & truth.”

John knew what he was talking about, for on that mountainside they had seen Jesus transfigured, His appearance changing dramatically, His face & clothing shining like the light of the sun. And just as that happened, Moses & Elijah appeared & began talking with Jesus. So awed was Peter by this sight that he said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses & one for Elijah.”

But that obviously wasn’t God’s plan, for “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, & a voice from the cloud said, `This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’”

About a week before the transfiguration Jesus had asked His apostles this question, “Who do people say that I am?” They replied, “Some think that you are Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Some even think that you might be John the Baptist come back from the dead.”

Then Jesus asked them, “But what about you?…Who do you say that I am?” It was Peter who answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” [Matthew 16:16].

I have always wondered how the other apostles reacted when Peter said that. Did they all join in, saying, “He’s right, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter is absolutely right!” Or did they look at one another in confusion? Did they turn to Peter & ask, “Why did you say that? Are you really convinced that He is the Messiah?”

I think that there must have been some late conversations around the campfire as they discussed what Jesus had said. They re-examined His miracles, & talked about the people who had come to Him. “Is He really the Christ, the Messiah we long for, whose coming we have prayed for again & again?” There must have been many lingering questions until, on this mountainside, Peter & James & John saw the glory of God.

Suddenly, like the rushing of a mighty river, John was convinced that what Peter had said is true. “Jesus is the Christ!” And that is important.

You see, it is one thing to recognize that there is a God who has put the sun & the moon & the stars in place. It is one thing to recognize that there is a God who made us & who appreciates beauty, & who gives us morality & helps us feel bad when we are bad, & good when we are good.

It is one thing to recognize that there is a God of order who is in control, but it is another thing to recognize that God became one of us.

To John that must have been an overwhelming revelation. “This Jesus who patted me on the shoulder when I was discouraged – this Jesus who prayed with me – this Jesus who dried my tears – this Jesus who is concerned about my family – this Jesus who is concerned about my feelings when I am lonely & tired – this Jesus is God! He is actually God in human flesh!”

Years ago I visited an old & very famous church & was able to attend one of its Sunday morning services. The minister was an orator. He preached a masterpiece of a sermon about the philosophy, the teachings, of Jesus, & he showed how to apply them to our lives.

But as I listened to him, I became more & more aware that he evidently considered Jesus just a master teacher, much like some other master teachers of ages gone by. Not once did he suggest, or even hint, that Jesus was more than a man – that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Do you realize how blessed we are week after week to be able to come & share our faith together that Jesus is the Christ? I pray that you will never grow tired of that. I pray that you will proclaim it with all your power. He is the Christ, the Lord of all. John realized that as he saw the glory of Almighty God, & we need to realize that too.

II. WE NEED TO SEE THE GLORY OF GOD

You know, I think most of us are very much like the apostle Philip. Do you remember? After 3 years of being with Jesus, seeing all the miracles, listening to His teachings – & just a short time before His crucifixion – Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, & that will be enough for us.”

“Jesus answered: `Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” [John 14:8-9]. When we see Jesus we know what God is like, for Jesus came to reflect & reveal God to us.

We need to see God. We need to listen to His word. When we don’t, there are frantic attempts, I think, to reach out & find something to believe in.

A few years ago a housewife in New Mexico was frying tortillas on her stove. One of them burned, & it just so happened that the burn formed the shape of a face. She decided that the image was the face of Jesus.

She took it to her priest & asked him, “Do you think it looks like Jesus?” He thought that it looked like Jesus, too. And he blessed it. He had never blessed a tortilla before, but he blessed that tortilla.

She took it home & put it in a little box, surrounded with white cotton so that it would look like it was floating on a cloud. Then she & her husband built an altar & began to pray before it. The news spread, & soon thousands of people were coming to see & pray before this burned tortilla.

Well, it has happened here, too, hasn’t it? In the past few years crowds of people have seen what they believe to be sacred images on tree trunks & car fenders. And they have prayed devoutly before them.

Several years ago, some people in Poland discovered a tree with a strange shape in the bark. The one who discovered it was a crippled man & he decided that it was an image of the Virgin Mary. Later he claimed that he was healed while there, & he tied his crutches to the tree.

Sixty miles away another tree was discovered that seemingly had the same image on it.

So, in Poland, thousands of people are buying train tickets to go out to the countryside & kneel before two trees – to leave their money at the foot of the trees – to ask the blessing of the Virgin Mary on their lives. Why? Because they want so desperately to see & feel the glory & power of God.

We all want that in our lives. We search for it & when it is not there, somehow we try to create it. We try to put it there in one way or another.

When Ethel & I were in Israel, & then again in Greece, we visited some magnificent church buildings, hundreds of years old. We saw stained glass windows, & statues. I think of all the years of labor put in to build these wonderful monuments to God, but none of them even touch the hem of the garment of what John saw on the Mt. of Transfiguration when he beheld the glory of Jesus. We need to see that glory too.

III. WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A SHARE IN HIS GLORY

In John 17, Jesus prays that very wonderful prayer which he prayed just before Judas betrayed Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed for Himself, & for the apostles, & for all who would believe on Him because of the witness of the apostles.

In that prayer He mentions the glory of God 8 times. His prayer goes something like this, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you…I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” [John 17:1,4,5].

Then, a little bit later on, He prays for us, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.”

It is a shared glory. That glory is something that we share because we are Christians – because we are born anew – because God works a change in each of our lives. Then we can share in the glory that John saw on that mountain.

But we need to watch out. There is a danger that the change might be a counterfeit change – not a transfiguration – not a transformation – but simply a masquerade that fools most of the world & maybe even ourselves.

I know that most of you know who Erma Bombeck was. In one article she wrote these words:

“Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything? My answer was `No.’ But then I thought about it & I’ve changed my mind. If I had my life to live over again I would wax less & listen more. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased & sprayed.

“I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained & the sofa faded. I would have eaten popcorn in the good living room & worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

“I would have taken time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have sat cross legged on the lawn with my children & never worried about the grass stains. I would have cried & laughed less while watching TV, & more while watching real life.

“I would have eaten less cottage cheese & more ice cream. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, or would not show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

“When my child kissed me impetuously I would never have said, `Later. Now go & wash up for dinner.’ There would have been more `I love you’s; more `I’m sorry’s; more `I’m listening’s.

“But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it. Look at it & really see. Try it on. Live it. Exhaust it. And never give the minute back until there was nothing more left of it.”

It is not with great trumpets – or magnificent choirs – but in simple acts of service that we reflect & reveal the glory of God. Maybe it is while washing dishes at home, or vacuuming the carpet, or changing diapers, or caring for crying babies.

Maybe it is while driving on the highway, or when you display a different attitude than any of your coworkers at work. Maybe it is out there in a world that seems so alienated from God that you can just consistently day after day witness, share, reflect, & reveal the glory of God.

When Peter blurted out, “Let’s stay here on the mountain & build 3 tabernacles,” Jesus answered, “No, we’re not going to stay on the mountain. Down at the foot of the mountain there is a boy possessed with a demon, & a concerned father who has brought him. The boy is sick, & we need to be there more than we need to be here.”

So they went down from the mountain to heal a sick boy. They went out into the world to feed the hungry, save the lost, & bring the sheep back into the fold again, & to reveal His glory. We who are His disciples are called to do the same thing.

Maybe there are people here who need to make a decision for Jesus this morning. We would have you behold His glory & know that He wants to be your savior. We invite you to accept Him as Lord & master of your life, too.

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Surrender It

by Jim Twamley

There was a Church where the preacher and the song leader were not getting along. This began to spill over into the worship service. One week the preacher preached on commitment, and how we should dedicate ourselves to service. The song leader then led the song, “I shall Not Be Moved.”

The next Sunday, the preacher preached on giving and how we should gladly give to the work of the Lord. The song leader then led the song, “Jesus Paid It All.”

The next Sunday, the preacher preached on gossiping and how we should watch our tongues. The song leader then led the song, “I love To Tell The Story.”

The preacher became very disgusted over the situation, and the next Sunday he told the congregation he was considering resigning. The song leader then led the song, “Oh, Why Not Tonight.”

As it came to pass, the preacher resigned and the next week informed the church that it was Jesus that led him there and it was Jesus that was taking him away. The song leader then led the song, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”

Matt 16:24-26

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Ex 1:6-2:10

6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. 8 Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.

15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” 20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. 22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”

Exodus 2

2:1 Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

8 “Yes, go,” she answered. And the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

This is a story of a mother desperate to save her child from certain death. She struggled to figure out a way to save her infant son. She took a huge risk and set him adrift in the Nile river – hoping against hope for a miracle. God intervened and brought life when death was knocking at the door.

Many people struggle to find themselves.  They think they are full of life and vitality yet they keep searching for meaning for their lives.

They try careers, toys, vacations, physical fitness, new age hocus pokus, volunteerism, Eastern religions, drugs and alcohol, pornography, anything – anything that will bring them temporary satisfaction. They look alive on the outside but they are dead on the inside.

You and I know they won’t find joy until they surrender their lives to Jesus.  It’s a God thing – I call it the “surrender principle.”  It’s only when they lose their lives and surrender to Christ that they find eternal life.  But the “surrender principle” isn’t just for new Christians. It’s for mature Christians as well.

Our enemy, the Devil, works overtime to provide Christians with new opportunities to get distracted. Satan knows your weaknesses and will exploit them. He will set you up and take you down.

Most Christians are on their guard for obvious temptations. So the Devil doesn’t need to tempt you with the big sins. No, he is more subtle than that. He is crafty and sneaks up on you. He doesn’t just call you over to the trap and push you in. No, he leads you there one crumb at a time.

Most Christians have sin in their lives that they are unaware of. It’s like dirt on the bottom of your shoes.

The altar is the place to clean your shoes – leave your dirt at the altar.  We need to have a season of prayer and ask God to reveal to us the dirt on our feet. Then we need to repent and surrender to Him.  What are the things that are hindering your walk with God?  What kind of mess have you tracked into God’s house today?  We can’t stand before God with muddy feet.

You’ve got to lose whatever you’re hanging onto that stands between you and God. It must be surrendered. Otherwise you run the risk of losing everything.

What are some of the things that stand between Christians and God?

Jobs – Some Christians allow greed to creep into their lives. They work more and more hours, including when they should be in church, just so they can have more money to buy more things. They’re often too tired to even attend, much less help out.

Unwholesome Entertainment – What kind of filth do you bring into your home in the form of music, video games, movie rentals, romance novels, and soap operas? What kind of filth do you allow your children to see, read, or play?

Wholesome Entertainment – Entertainment can be good for the soul, but it becomes destructive when it takes center stage in your life. We must be careful that we don’t make an idol out of our entertainment interests. Too much time spent on even wholesome entertainment squeezes out God.

Relationships – Some Christians allow their relationships with other people, including family members, to interfere with their walk with God.

Laziness – Some Christians choose to be “Sunday only” Christians. They come to Church and are “spiritual consumers.” They don’t spend time in the Word or in prayer during the week. They only attend on Sunday morning unless there’s something in it for them… like food.

Do you ever wonder why it is that so many more people show up for a Sunday night potluck than a regular Sunday night service?

Lazy Christians don’t help out at the church. What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it your age? My 87 year old grandmother helps with Missionettes and my wife’s 91 year old grandfather helps with rest home ministries twice a month and is a greeter at his church. They both have lost their spouses, both are hard of hearing, and one no longer drives, yet they continue working for the Lord.

What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it that you work and don’t have time to spare? We have Sunday School teachers, youth workers and others who work full time, yet have made time in their busy schedules to serve the Lord here at this Church.

What’s your excuse for not helping? Is it that you help with your kid’s basketball team, you attend PTA and go on all your child’s field trips and are just too busy with school activities to help out at church?

Being involved with your children IS important but it’s also important that they see you involved in working for the Lord. If you’re too busy to work for the Lord, you’re just plain too busy.

Let me tell you about the needs here at our church. Right now we need a Children’s Church teacher, a Children’s Church assistant, a Missionette leader and two Royal Ranger leaders.

We shouldn’t have to beg to fill these jobs. We have enough adults that these positions should be easily filled. Instead, we have no program at all available for the young boys of this church. We have families who have attended on Wednesday night with their sons, who haven’t returned. We have boys who ride the van with their older siblings, who are attending youth group instead of Royal Rangers, because we don’t have an age appropriate class for them. We have another boy who rides the van who is in the Rainbows class – he’s too old for Rainbows but we don’t have anyone to teach the Royal Rangers class he should be in. We have a Missionettes class to offer one child on Wednesday night, but nothing for her brother. We have a class for one child on Wednesday night, but nothing for her cousin. Next year one child will be old enough for Royal Rangers, but we don’t have a class for him to graduate into.

Listen, if we’re going to minister to kids who come here on the church van, we are all going to have to pitch in to provide Christian education for them. They don’t have parents attending – WE have to fill those roles. Yes, even if you were involved ten or 20 years ago when your kids were young. Let’s put the excuses aside, and figure out where God wants us to be involved! Surrender your time and talents to God.

Money – Some Christians don’t tithe. Their hard-earned money is more important than obedience to God. Money has a choke hold on them and they can’t let go. It hurts them to give. They can’t give with a cheerful heart because they have no joy. If that’s you, then you need to surrender your money to God. Don’t lose your soul over money!

Pride and Dignity – Some Christians can’t worship God with exuberant praise and worship. Many of us can’t dance before the Lord because we’re hung up on dignity. Some of us can’t raise our hands to the Lord or kneel before the Lord because of what others might think. Does it really matter what anybody else thinks? They aren’t the audience … God is! If your pride is standing between you and God, you need to surrender it.

Anger and Bitterness – If you are angry with another person, you need to surrender it. If bitterness keeps you up at night, then you need to surrender it.

Fear – You can’t share Jesus with your neighbor because you’re afraid of rejection and ridicule. You can’t go to the altar because you’re afraid people might think you’re less than perfect. You need to surrender your fear and need for perfection!

Hurt and Pain – Past hurts and emotional scars keep you from getting close to God. You’re afraid of being hurt. Feelings of abandonment and panic haunt your soul. Surrender it!

The name Moses means “drew him out of the water.” God has a purpose in everything He does, and your life is no different. God drew Moses out because He had a purpose for his life. We know that Moses was to be the instrument through which God brought deliverance to His people.

Listen Church, WHATEVER stands between you and God –

Surrender it!

Many of us don’t even realize we have dirty feet. We don’t know what it is that separates us from a closer walk with God. It’s time we find out and take care of business.

I want each of us to get on our knees before God and ask, “God, what is it that separates me from a closer walk with You?” That’s an honest prayer. That’s a prayer that God will answer.

I don’t want anyone to leave today before you know what it is God wants you to surrender. Once you know what it is, I want you to write it on a piece of paper. It is symbolic of surrender. This is a private matter between you and God.

Let the Holy Spirit search your heart this morning and show you what it is He wants you to surrender to Him.

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JUST AS LOST
Luke 15

by Grant Stauter

Click here to LISTEN to this message: “Just As Lost”

Today we are going to continue to look at the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, in particular the elder brother.

Last week, we heard about the reckless-living younger brother, and now this week, I am preaching on the elder brother, who turns out was “just as lost,” but in a different way–a more subtle and even more dangerous way, according to Jesus.

To remind you where we are within Luke 15, we need to look at verse 1, where the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus.

Jesus is beginning to attract a crowd, and the Pharisees and scribes (the religious teachers of their day) grumble against Jesus saying that this man eats with sinners, receives them, and hangs out with them.  This has been the case all throughout Luke.

In response, Jesus then tells them three parables. The first one is about the lost sheep, where the shepherd leaves the 99 to go find the one. The second is about a woman who searches all over to find a lost coin. The third is about a son who leaves his Father’s, house but then comes back and is found.

So you see the pattern: lost then found, followed by joy; lost then found, followed by joy; lost then found, followed by joy. What a powerful picture this third parable gives us.  And if you missed last week’s sermon, I highly recommend you read or listen to it at this link, called “Welcome Home.”

A verse that I thought of last week as I was listening to the sermon was Luke 10:22:

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

I rejoiced, that of all they ways God could relate to us, of all the different voices in the world telling us what God is like, no one knows God the Father like God the Son, and here Jesus is telling us that He is like a Father who goes running to son when he returns home.  He is telling us here that the Father receives sinners and all of heaven celebrates.  It’s a celebration of extravagant, over-the-top unprecendented grace.  Grace beyond what any of us can imagine.  Grace that shocked the prodigal, the father’s servants, and the tax collectors and sinners who were listening.

But that grace also infuriated others because it violated their sense of justice.  For some who were listening in the crowd, the Pharisees couldn’t imagine how such a holy God would show such grace to wretches.  Law-breakers.  That is what we are going to see today in the elder brother.

Let’s read verses 25-32:

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

” ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 

“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Now this story shifts all of a sudden, and the pattern of “lost then found, followed by joy” stops.  The older son comes in from the field and hears music playing, people are busting out their best moves, and they bring out the finest meat in all the land. I imagine there is probably some nice wine flowing, and one of the servants tells the older brother that his little brother is back safe and sound.  This infuriates him.  It’s the first time there is anger in this chapter, except for the Pharisees in the beginning.

Many of you here have been in this situation as the father, maybe at a birthday party or a Christmas celebration.  Friends and family are gathering and you are at the dinner table and a seat is visibly empty.  Everyone knows who it is. It’s one of your children.   He is upstairs in his room and refuses to come down. What do you do?  Do you go up to his room and say, “What do you think you are doing?  You get downstairs right now.”  Do you grab his arm and pull him into the party, saying, “You better change your attitude right now.”  Do you send a messenger up there to tell him that if he doesn’t come downstairs there is going to be a consequence that he won’t like or do you just leave him up there and say, “I don’t care”?

Look at verse 28.  His father came out and entreated him.  It means the father pleaded, begged, and appealed to him.  Again, what a picture that Jesus is giving us here of God the Father.  Again, at great expense to himself the father is the one who is being humiliated, who is leaving the party, and who is going to his other son.  He pursues him.  This is one of the most wonderful truths in all the Bible. We see it after the very first sin in Genesis 3. Did Adam seek out God? No, God came and sought Adam.  In the Old Testament we see it over and over that God continually pursued his people, as in Malachi 3:7:

“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.”

And then finally, at just the right time, God sends His very own Son to invite us to come back home to God.  Our God is a pursuing God.  Hence, why we as a church body and as individuals should imitate God in this way and pursue those who refuse to come into the Father’s party.

Now what does the elder bother say in response to the father’s gracious request (verses 29 and 30)?  There are three characteristics that I want to point out in the elder brother.

1) His first characteristic is that he has a distorted view of the father-son relationship. Even though he shared the last name and lived in the same house as the father, he viewed himself as a slave.  He didn’t view his father as the provider, protector, nurturer, mentor, and friend that his father was. No, he saw himself as more of a employee and his dad as the boss.  It was a work relationship and that’s it.  He says it there in the beginning.  “Look, here I have slaved, I have served you all these years.  I have never disobeyed you. I have worked and worked and worked.”

In the church it can be very easy for elder-brother types to appear like they are flourishing. Elder brothers thrive on the fact that the homework is always done, they’ve never gotten a detention, they always have work projects done, they show up to meetings 5 minutes early; they are accomplishers, do it yourselfers, go getters, hard workers; they have good reputations in the community, they serve on every team in the church, and they have only missed a few Sundays in the past 20 years. They are, by all outward appearances, in the faith.  But to be a Christian is more than just following the laws of God and keeping your nose out of the dirt. The Christian faith is one of being a son or daughter of God and having that father-child relationship with Him.

J.I. Packer asks the question in his book Knowing God: “What is a Christian?  The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who knows God as Father… If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. “

Amen.  It’s possible to have your life put together and do many spiritual disciplines and fool everyone in the church and the community for years and still not know God as Father.  That is exactly what this parable is teaching us, but we also have testimonies throughout church history of this exact situation.

John Wesley, an influential preacher in the 18^th century, was probably most well known for starting a movement that ended up becoming the Methodist denomination.  He grew up in Christian home, was an honor graduate at Oxford University, an ordained pastor, visited prisoners, gave generously to orphans, fasted for up to 40 days at a time, went to multiple worship services on Sunday and throughout the week, and even served as a missionary to the colony of Georgia to the native Americans there.

Yet on his way home from the trip, he wrote in his journal:

“I, who went to America to convert others, was never myself converted to God. I had, even then, the faith of a servant, though not of a son.”

I don’t want to ask if you are connected in the church or what fruit have can you show in your life, but do you have a real relationship with God?  Is He your Father where it’s a joy to be able to serve Dad?

You want people to see and know how great your Father is.  Does the thought of being a son or daughter make you want to worship?  Does it affect your prayer life and Bible reading, or are all those disciplines just something you have to do?  To a son, those disciplines are something that, yes, we may not always feel like doing, but we know this is how we learn about our Father more than the one who has a slave’s faith and thinks, “This is what I have to do to be good in the faith.”  Do you find in your heart crying out to God saying, “Abba Father”?  This elder brother doesn’t understand the father-son relationship, and it’s the first clue that he is just as lost as the younger brother was.

2) The second characteristic with this elder brother is that he has an “I” problem.  Look at verse 29 with me.

“I have always done everything right.  I have never disobeyed you.”  You can just hear the self-righteous prideful arrogance coming out of this brother’s mouth.  Throughout the book of Luke, Luke has shown us how the Pharisees are continually grumbling against Jesus for being around younger brother types.  They couldn’t understand why Jesus would want to hang out with these sinners when they were the ones who followed God’s law.  Blamelessly.   In Luke, chapter 7, we read that they rejected John the Baptist’s baptism. Why?  Because it was a baptism of repentance. They believed that they had nothing to repent of. They are good.  They meticulously followed the law.  They dotted the I’s and crossed the t’s. The only problem was that they misspelled the word.  They didn’t understand grace.

Pride is absolutely one of the most dangerous and deadly sins out there.  It’s in a class by itself.  It makes God oppose you. James 4:6 says that God opposes the proud.  It blinds us and causes us to see a distorted reality and is particularly disgusting to the Lord. Because pride contends for supremacy with God.  While the prodigal’s sins may have led him farther away from the father, pride elevates the elder brother over the father.  You can see it in his response.  It is accusatory that the father doesn’t know what he is doing.  On the surface, we would just say that it is a sin of the mouth, but it comes from pride of the heart.  Pride is a mother sin, and it gives birth to other sins.  Pride is what’s at the root of so many of our sins.

Pride gives us the amazing ability to find faults in everyone else, but is often blind to our own faults.  We may never go as far as the elder brother and say, “I have never disobeyed,” but when we can more easily find other’s faults than our own, then you know that pride is blinding you somewhat.  How often do you confess and repent after hearing a sermon compared to how often you think that so and so really needs to hear this sermon?

Pride will give us a harsh spirit and a feeling of superiority.  The elder brother even refuses to acknowledge that his younger brother is his brother.  In Luke 18, Jesus tells another parable very similar to the prodigal son.  It says that He told it to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt.  Of course, it’s the parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector.  They go up to the temple and pray and the Pharisee says, “God I thank you, that I am not like those sinners. I tithe, I fast” and yada yada.  His prayer is all about what he does.  What kind of maniac goes to the Lord in prayer and just recites how awesome he is?  Then the tax collector doesn’t even look up, but says, “God, be merciful to me.”

Elder brothers will base their image on being hardworking, or moral, or members of the elite, or smart, which inevitably leads to feeling superior over those who don’t possess those qualities.  The elder brother liked it that his younger brother struggled because it made him look better.  It made him feel superior.  How many of you like it when someone tries to do something you do, but just doesn’t do it quite as well or you get somewhat adjitated when they do it better?  Here is one for you: what about when your child does better than other people’s kids and so you think, “I am such a good parent. If only other parents would work with their kids like I have.” Or how many of you parents get defensive when other kids perform better than your child and the thoughts just start coming into your head, “Well, of course their child is better at volleyball. They devote their lives to it.  Our family keeps it in its proper place.”  We get defensive when our pride is hurt.  I am willing to bet that the elder brother thought to himself, “Pffff! I bet you he’ll go and pawn that ring that dad just gave him and run off again.”  Would people describe you as a compassionate person?  You should probably ask someone else if you are compassionate, because of course you will say, “I am a compassionate person.”

Or would people say that you have an unforgiving and judgmental spirit?   Elder brothers lack compassion because they would NEVER do such a thing as that younger brother.  Elder brothers lack the ability to forgive because they think that they have never been forgiven of that much.  Even though I personally resonate with the younger brother, I think that if we are all being honest, it seems like the older you get, the easier it is to say, “You need to lie in the bed you made.  You reap what you sow,” and just have a crusty, hard heart towards people and not have any compassion.  Remember verse 20. The father felt compassion.

I love what Jonathan Edwards says about the way we should treat each other:

“Christians who are but fellow-worms ought at least to treat one another with as much humility and gentleness as Christ treats them.” 

3) The third and final characteristic of the elder brother is that there is no love for the father.  Why does he want a young goat?  To celebrate with his friends.  He doesn’t care if his father is there.  He doesn’t care about his father’s joy of a lost son returning home.  He doesn’t care that he has been able to work alongside his father for all these years. That’s no reward to him.

In 2007, there was a movie that came out called American Gangster. It was about a guy by the name of Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington in the movie).  He was a drug lord who ruled the streets of Harlem.  He would brag that he was making a million dollars a day and this was in the 1970’s.  They could never catch him, but one day, when they raided his apartment, they couldn’t find anything. But his wife panicked and started dumping cash out the window–over 500,000 dollars.  After he got arrested, he then gave up the names of all the people that he paid off and worked with to get his sentencing reduced.  Which resulted in three quarters of the New York drug enforcement agency that he had paid off.  Now isn’t that an interesting picture, that on the outside, you have two completely different people: one is a drug lord and the other is a police officer.  One says he is going to live however he wants and the other says he will uphold the law, and yet greed corrupted both of them.  Their hearts were exactly the same.

BOTH of these sons were lost, and both wanted the same thing: the father’s inheritance.  One decides he is just going to ask for it and live however he wants, and the other decides that he is going to follow all the rules so that the father owes him.  Both of them are forgetting the most obvious command to LOVE their father. Jesus says something interesting about the Pharisees’ hearts in Luke 11:29. He says that their hearts were full of greed.  They were filled with worldliness.  They wanted the fattened calves and parties and glory and power and wealth.

Let me ask you this: if you could go to heaven and there was no sickness, no death, all sin would be gone and you would live with friends and family for all of eternity, but God would not be there, would you be ok with that?  What gets you excited about heaven?  An eternity of pleasure or finally seeing the One who suffered and died in your place so that you could be cleansed from your sin and live with God for all of eternity?

Just this past Tuesday, I was reading Exodus 33 and Moses was asked a similar question by God.  God was upset:

“Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

And Moses said to Him:

“If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not in Your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and Your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Moses doesn’t want anything to do with the promised land if God is not going to be with them.  It’s easy for us to fall into a state where we just want the good life, the American dream, an enjoyable retirement of just travelling and good health, or maybe it’s just good friends, or that significant other, more than a relationship with the Father.  Even in the church world, I wonder how many would prefer growing numbers or success in our ministry over the presence of God.

Jesus is teaching us here that there is a more subtle and even more dangerous way to be lost than the prodigal younger brother.  All throughout the gospels we see that there are people whose lives are externally put together, and yet they are lost.  This is one of the ways that the Christian faith is distinct from all other faiths.  Everyone in the world who has any kind of moral fiber would say that the younger brother is living in sin and is lost. But Jesus is saying, no, even those who live a good moral life and have all the appearances of being a good person need to repent and accept the grace of God.  That is offensive to elder brothers to have to say, “God I am just like my younger brother. I am in need of your saving grace.”  How many, though, will refuse to repent of their pride and all of their good works and refuse to accept the grace that is found in Jesus Christ.

You see at the end of this parable again the tender heart of the father.  Even after this other son has spoken so disrespectfully to him, he says to him, “Son.”  I imagine Jesus is looking at the Pharisees at this point.  “Son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours.  We had to celebrate for your brother was dead and is now alive.”  Then the story just ends.  Jesus stops the parable. We don’t know whether the elder brother came to himself and went in to the party of grace and celebrated his brother’s repentance or if he continued to stay outside in his bitterness refusing to embrace his brother.  Jesus is leaving the door open to the elder brother to come and join the party.

The offer still stands for us today.  If you are in here and the Lord has convicted you and you are thinking, “I am that elder brother,” then remember that God is entreating you to come on in.  To repent of your pride, of your righteousness that you find in yourself.   Humble yourself and say to God, “Be merciful to me, a sinner in need of grace.”  If you have done that, come talk to one of the elders after the worship service.  God can do miraculous transformations with elder brothers, for the apostle Paul an author of most of the New Testament was a typical elder brother.

This parable also  leaves us wanting and wishing for an elder brother who embraces his younger brother.

It’s in our hearts. We yearn for stories where families are reconciled, forgiveness is given, and in the end, they live happily ever after. But in reality, we are part of a story that is far greater than if the elder brother goes into this party.

Which leads us to Jesus.  In Romans 8, it says that Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers.  Jesus is our true Elder Brother who cares for us.  Jesus is not just the brother who will travel to the far country to come and find us, but He travels all the way from heaven to earth to bring us home.

Jesus doesn’t just pay for a fattened calf and an expensive party, so that we would be welcomed into the family.  Our debt is greater.  He is the Elder Brother who is willing to be stripped naked on the cross so that we would be clothed in His robe of righteousness.

Jesus was treated as an outcast so that we would be welcomed into God’s family. Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath so that we could drink the cup of God’s grace.  For it is only by our Elder Brother, Jesus, that we can come home to our heavenly Father–and be embraced as a son who was lost and is now found.

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WELCOME HOME
Luke 15:11-32
by Andy Huette

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I invite you to open to Luke chapter 15.

The first words that Luke records of Jesus in his Gospel are in Luke chapter 4 when he visits a synagogue.  Jesus picks the scroll of Isaiah, and he reads Isaiah 61 which says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor: he has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And with these words, Jesus gives us his mission for the rest of Luke.  He’s going to preach good news, and give hope to the poor, and deliverance to captives, liberty to the oppressed.  Jesus is the BRINGER OF GOOD NEWS.  We see this all throughout Luke’s Gospel:  In Luke 5 he’s good news when he touches a leper and makes him clean, In Luke 7 he brings good news to a prostitute who is ashamed and weeping at his feet but he pardons her sin, in Luke 8 he gives liberty to a demon-possessed man by freeing him from oppression, Jesus is the bringer of GOOD NEWS.

And in Luke 15, Jesus tells a story that is INDEED very GOOD NEWS.  In fact, out of the whole entire Bible, Luke 15 may be the most vivid picture of the Good NEWS of God’s Love.   It’s the story that has become known as the Prodigal Son.  Prodigal means “lavish”—it’s a story about a son who wastes his father’s money on “lavish living” but as we will see, the story is not so much about Son’s lavish life, as it is about the Lavish Love of God.

If you’ve been raised in church, you’ve likely heard this story before, and as a result, you may have lost some of your awe for just how astonishingly Good this story is.  I was reminded of the beauty of this story last Sunday.

Each month, on the first Sunday of the month, our church gets to lead the church service at the Livingston County jail.  And last week, it was our turn, and I was scheduled to lead the teaching, and the first group that came in the room was a group of six women.  And they came in the room and sat down and I invited them to open to Luke 15, and I said, “I have a question for you: Have you ever done something stupid in your life that you really, really regret?” And they all kind of smirked, looked at me and were like “HELLO!  We’re in jail!  Of course we have!” and I said, “Well, today we’re going to look at a story in the Bible about a man who did something stupid, it was shameful and he regretted it, it’s the story of that’s called the Prodigal Son—have you ever heard of it?”  And the six women sitting there all shook their heads.

None of them had heard this story before.

And I’m telling you, I saw with my own eyes, that these words of Jesus from Luke 15—this story of God’s love that they heard for the FIRST TIME was and is TRULY GOOD NEWS.  I saw, right in front my eyes, Luke 4 happening.  That Jesus Christ, has good news for Captives.  Jesus Christ has good news for the poor in spirit. I saw that this message, right here in Luke 15, the message of God’s Love is the best message there is.  And as we walked through this story together, one woman in particular would begin to cry, and then she’d gather herself, and then she’d begin to cry some more as we kept unpacking the story.  For the first time in her life, she heard the story of the Prodigal Son, and it was Good News—it showed her a picture of God, who is a Father, who rejoices, REJOICES, CELEBRATES SHAMELESSLY, when sinners turn and come home to him in repentance.

I share that because this morning, as we dive into Luke 15, I know that many of you have heard it before, but I’d ask you—as far as you able, to consider this story anew, fresh, as though you’re hearing about what God is like for the very first time.

(PRAY)

Beginning in Luke 15:11, we read, “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^[b] 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.”

Let’s stop and consider the situation.

A. Journey to the Far Country

Jesus is telling a parable, which is a fictional story shared to illustrate a point.  This is a story of a Father, who represents God, and two sons.  While all of us have traits of both sons, in general, most of us will relate to one of the sons more than the other.  So we’re actually going to spend this week on the younger son, and another week on the older son we read about in v. 25-32.

The younger son leaves his father.  So the younger son is a metaphor, for a sinner a person who walks away from God the Father. This younger son represents a person who rejects relationship with God and goes off to do his own thing.

The story begins with

1.) Freedom:  The son coming his Father and asks him for his “share of the property.”  The son wants his inheritance early.  His dad is evidently well off, by other indicators we’ll read later in the story, and the son says, “I don’t want to wait until you die to get my share of the inheritance, I want it now.”   And many commentators talk about how offensive this would have been in the first century Patriarchal culture of honor toward the Father of the household.  But my take is that it doesn’t really matter what culture you’re in, this is offensive to any father, at any time.   It’s the son saying, “I wish you were dead.  I just want your money.”  I don’t value our relationship, I don’t really care about living here and being near to you.  You’re rich, I want your money and I want to leave and do my own thing.  I want to do what I want to do, and I don’t even care if that means that I never see you again.” That’s universally hurtful to a Father.

And as audacious as the son’s request is, what is perhaps more astonishing that the Father says, “O.k., you can have your inheritance.”   The Father permits this ridiculous request.  The father, though hurt and ashamed by his son’s request, GRANTS him what he asks for.

And there’s a point to be made here.  In Scripture, we see that God often PERMITS US to have what we want, even when what we want is sin.  Romans 1, talks about how when people worshipped and served, God gave them over to their lusts.  It’s the idea that God, sometimes, perhaps often times, says to us, “O.k. that’s what you want.  I’ll let you have that.  You want to ignore me? You want to ignore my word?  You want to walk away?  Then I’ll give you over to that.  I’ll let you walk down that path.”   That is the case here.  The Son wants to leave, and the Father say,s “O.k., I’m going to honor that—I’m going to give you over to your folly and your sin.”

2.) Selfishness Takes Us Away From Loving Community

A second truth that we see in these verses is one that is often overlooked.  But it is that Selfishness draws us out of loving community. Sin—which is selfishness at the core—fractures our relationship with community.  This parable is about a father and two sons, but it was spoken in a day when most Jewish communities lived inside a walled city, with farmland outside the walls. The average size for a Jewish settlement in the first century was 6 acres.  That’s not very big, that’s the size of our church property perhaps, if you count the spare lots next to the parking lot. And, families lived together in multigenerational housing.  Every family, was like Everybody Loves Raymond.  Everyone’s living all smooshed together; everyone is in everyone else’s business; it’s a community.

And here this guy takes his money, and he leaves to go party—where?  In a FAR COUNTRY.  He abandons his people.  His selfish desires, take him away from the people that know him, and love him.

It’s been like this from the very beginning in Genesis.  Our sin fractures our relationships.  All sin is in some way selfish.  It’s us saying, “ME FIRST.”  Sin is when we say, “I want to do what I want to do.  It’s assertion of our freedom, outside the confines of God’s authority.   And when we say ME FIRST through any sin in our lives, we are not able to love others because love is saying, “You first. Not me, but you first.”  Our selfishness TAKES AWAY FROM LOVING COMMUNITY.

And here’s the other thing about sin—is that when we sin, we love DARKNESS, so the reality is WE DON’T WANT COMMUNITY when we are in sin.  There’s a reason this guy goes to a FAR OFF COUNTRY to party with prostitutes. He doesn’t want anyone in his hometown knowing. When we walk in sin, we love darkness.  Jesus says this in John 3: He says people “loved darkness because their works were evil.”  This is why he goes to a far off country—he exchanges his loving community with God and others, a community who will hold him accountable and speak truth in love to him—he exchanges that for a new group of people in the far country who are walking in darkness with him. Right, I want to be clear on that it’s not that everyone in the far country or everyone in darkness is lonely, they might just be in darkness together.  But the point is, the FAR COUNTRY is where people love to go when they are sin.

I think of a friend of mine back in college, who had an ongoing dating relationship that was Suuuper unhealthy.  It was just bad in a lot of ways, and he knew it was bad, and he’d tell us how bad it was when they broke up, but then a few weeks would go by and he’d start talking on the phone away from us, (this was in ancient times, before texting), and I’d see him on the phone shutting the door, and standing outside away from everyone talking on the phone, and if you asked about the girl, he’d change subject, and he’d just get real shifty and shady—and guess what?  They were back together.  This whole thing happened like 6 times.  On again, off again, and finally he came to me and he said, “Hey man, I know I shouldn’t be with this girl, we’re bad for each other, and I’m not going to get back together with her and I want you to hold me accountable.” And said, “No you don’t.  You don’t want me to hold you accountable.  Because you’ve asked me that before, but every time I try to ask you something about her, you hide, you dodge, you lie, you cover up your relationship.  You don’t want accountability, you want to hide from me.”

When we are in sin, we LOVE the far country.  We love hiding. We love being anonymous.

The Far Country is an appealing place, when we want to live ME FIRST.  But the far country comes at the price of loving community.

3.) Deceptive Power of Sin

There’s a third truth we see here about our sin.  Sin is so DECEPTIVE.  Our selfish desires, our me-first actions, the path of walking away from the Father is SO DECEPTIVE.

It promises fullness, and it leads to emptiness.

It promises freedom, and it leads to captivity.

It promises pleasure, and it leads to pain.

This young son runs off to the far country, and in anonymity, he lives it up.  The text says that he “squandered his property in reckless living.”   Reckless—he was seeking temporary highs.  He sold his father’s land, he had a pocket full of cash, no one to tell him how to live, and lived it up.  He partied hard.  Later in verse 30 his older brother says that he devoured his father’s money by spending it on prostitutes.  This guy went off the deep end.  He just lived for the moment, for temporary pleasure.  Who knows exactly what this guy did with his money, but in two millennia human nature hasn’t changed much.  In the first century they had brothels, they had booze, and they had fine food and fancy possessions.  This guy goes out and parties hard, and he gets his hits of dopamine, he gets the thrill of the moment.  We gotta be honest here that sin is MOMENTARILY thrilling.  Adam and Eve weren’t tempted with leftover Brussels sprouts.  They were tempted with fruit that was “a delight to the eyes.”  Don’t think that every prodigal hates his/her life.  There are a lot of prodigal sons in the far country that would tell you in the moment: “I’m happy.”  Children rebel against their parents all the time while their laughing and smiling, and it’s no different with the prodigal.  Sin is so DECEPTIVE that You can actually feel like you’re having fun, while you trash your life and rebel against God.

Maybe there were some moments when he was in the far country, and he rolled out of bed late with a headache after a hard night of partying, and he wondered, “What am I doing here?”, but away from his community, away from the people who could help him, the thought didn’t last long, and he kept walking the lonely road, and ended up back at the bar, the brothel, or both later that night.

And one night, when he went to close out his tab at the bar, the bartender handed him his VISA card back and said, “the card has been rejected.”  His money had run out.   Verse 14 says he “had spent everything” and “began to be in need.”   Uh oh.  He’s in the far country.  He doesn’t have any connections there.  All his so-called “friends” from the bar—all those tabs he picked up, all those people are no where to be found. Verse 16 says “no one gave him anything.”  He’s looked for help, but he finds himself all alone.  Times get tough, there’s a famine in the land, and people are not in a very generous mood.  He’s stuck.  He needs money, he needs to eat, but there’s no good solution.  He doesn’t have connections in the far country, and he certainly can’t go back home.  After what he’s done, he dead to them.  There’s no way his family, his community would take him back, he thinks.  That’s not an option.  He’s gotta make something work in the far country, and it turns out that his best option is to work for a pig farmer.

There are a few people in the church family who know what it’s like to work with pigs.  In the past or currently, you raise pigs, and you know—your nostrils testify—to the reality that pig farming can be a pretty nasty job.  There are some rough days out there in the pig pen.   There’s a reason that I tell my kids their bedrooms look like a pigsty.  Pigs live in filthy conditions.  And more to the point of this story, Jesus is telling this to a largely Jewish audience.  So here, this Son is in a far away country—GENTILE TERRITORY—and he’s working with PIGS, animals that are unclean by Jewish law, and on top of all that, verse 16 tells us that he was so hungry that he “was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.”

Think about that.  One afternoon when he was out filling up the feeding trough with pods, pig food, pig slop, his stomach growled.  It had been a few days since he had eaten, and he looked over his shoulder; didn’t see one around, and he reached down, and—he didn’t have any other choice.  He had to, he was hungry.

The UNTHINKABLE, had become thinkable.

The UNDESIRABLE, had become desirable.

The foul, the dirty, the disgusting, the abhorrent, all of a sudden didn’t seem so bad anymore.  That’s the definition of PERVERSION. When a bad thing, doesn’t seem so bad anymore.  Sin perverts, distorts, twists our perspective.  Jesus calls it “blindness.” We don’t see how bad things are.

-People who love their families, really truly love them, walk down a road of sin, and before long they’re telling lies and more lies, and unthinkable lies that they never thought they’d tell to people they love.

-Or here’s one: There was a stat that came out a few years back—maybe 6-7 years ago, that something like 90% of home burglaries in Bloomington/Normal were drug related.  The people broke in to get money for drugs.   Do you think that the first time those people ever took a hit to get a temporary high—do you think that they ever imagined that in a few years they’d be breaking into someone’s house to pay for their addiction?   When we walk in sin, the UNTHINKABLE becomes THINKABLE.

We could go on a list a hundred more examples, but we don’t need to because you know from own life or the life of loved ones that THE FAR COUNTRY IS a DANGEROUS PLACE.  It promises one thing, but the promise fades, the fun is temporary, the satisfaction fizzles, and sooner or later, we find ourselves in a pigsty of consequences.  Sooner or later it’s all a lie.  Sin is so DECEPTIVE. Sooner a later, we reap what we sow.

In verse 17, the story continues:

B. He Came to His Senses.

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! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.  And he arose and came to his father.”

1.) He came to himself

It’s a powerful line.  Jesus says, “He came to himself.” He came to his senses. He woke up, he wised up, he came to himself.” He had a moment of clarity, a moment when he realized what he had walked away from and how bitter his life had become.  We don’t know what God used to give him this clarity.  Maybe he woke and remembered it was his dad’s birthday and started about home.  Maybe he was walking down the street and saw a family sitting together at a table, and thought about some of the good times he had had with his family sitting at a table.  Maybe he couldn’t sleep, and he was lying there staring at the ceiling, and the aftertaste of pig pods in his mouth, and he remembered the favorite food that his mom used to make.  Maybe one of his friends from the bar tried to hit him up for money, and he realized, “This guy’s not my friend.  He’s just using me,” and he longed his old community.

We don’t know how, but somehow or another, this guy WOKE UP.  He came to his senses.  His eyes were opened, and I would submit to you that this was God PURSUING HIM.  10 weeks ago, we saw that Luke 15 contains three stories, and each story makes the same point.  The first story is of a shepherd.  One of his sheep is lost, and he leaves 99 behind and goes out and searches for the lost sheep and rescues it.  The next story is a woman who has 10 coins, each worth about a day’s wages, and she loses one coin, and she sweeps all over the house and then find the coin and rejoices, celebrates and has party when she finds it.   This story—the story of the son is the third, climactic story of the three, and the point is the same—God is a God who pursues the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

He is not indifferent to our lostness.  He does not look at this wayward son, and say, “Told him so.”  No, he pursues.  In the words of C.S. Lewis that I mentioned 10 weeks ago, he continues to “Woo” us, to pursue.   And often, the way that God gets our attention, gives us clarity, makes us wake up and come to our senses, often it is through Pain, Suffering, and Despair.  It’s what some have called God’s “violent mercy.”

This guy finds himself in a pigsty longing to eat pig slop, and life is terrible, but from heaven’s perspective that pig slop is God’s violent mercy.  It’s God saying, “Wake up!”

God uses pain to draw us to repentance.   Throughout the prophetic books, time and time again, we read that the Lord sends judgment. He says, “I sent famine to you, “YET, even then you did not repent.”  What was the Lord’s purpose in the famine?  Violent mercy.  To wake people up. To beckon them to return to him.

Here the man came to his senses, and what I’m suggesting is that the famine, the pigsty, the growling stomach, are all demonstrations of violent mercy.  God’s gracious means of drawing this man to repentance.   Sometimes it’s these worst moments in our lives that actually turn out to be some of the best, defining moments of our lives from the perspective of heaven.

This guy is at his worst, and he comes to his senses. He returns to his father.  This return to the Father is a picture of REPENTANCE.

2.) Repentance

Some Bible commentators have questioned whether or not this guy is really, truly repentant or if he’s just plain hungry and wants some food.   There’s not enough information in the parable to tell the motives in this guy’s heart, but given that verse 7 and verse 10 in the previous two parables about the sheep and the coin talk about the God’s response to repentance, it seems that we are supposed to read this third story as one of sincere repentance.

The word “Repent” means to turn away from one thing and to turn toward another.  It’s to do a U-turn.  To turn away from self and sin and turn to him and righteousness.  And from the outset of the Gospels, Jesus calls people to repent and believe the good news.  He’s calling people to turn away from something and turn towards him.  To turn away from self and sin, and turn to him and righteousness.

Notice two aspects of the young son’s repentance.  There is CONFESSION and there is ACTION.

1. Confession

When he comes to his senses, he thinks about what he will say to his father.  Which is that he has sinned against both heaven (God) and his father.  There’s a vertical, or Godward confession, and a horizontal confession to his father.   This is key to confession, because sometimes when a person is in a bad situation in life, they hit proverbial rock bottom and they realize they’ve hurt other people, they may try to mend things with those who they’ve hurt, which is a good thing to do, but it’s not the ultimate problem.

Our sin is first and foremost against our creator.  We hurt others with our sin in this world, but ultimately, our sin separates from God and our primary need for all eternity is to be made right with God.  So repentance is acknowledging sin as transgressing, violating, rebelling against God’s plan for our lives.  We’ve lived independently from him. The Far country is not just far from our family and friends, it’s far from our relationship to God.

And often when we think of repentance, we think of renouncing the bad things we’ve done.  So for this guy, it’s him renouncing sleeping with prostitutes.  And that’s true, certainly he should renounce that, but repentance is EVEN DEEPER THAN THAT.  It’s not just having sorrow for the bad things we’ve done, it’s actually acknowledging that we’ve lived completely for the wrong purpose.  We’ve lived for the kingdom of self, we’ve worshipped the idol of self, of self glory, self fulfillment, self anything, we’ve been all about me, myself and I, and it’s not just that we’ve done a few bad things, it’s that our lives were completely lived for the wrong purpose. We wanted nothing of God.  We had no room for him, we only wanted to fulfill self.  Repentance is confessing these core truths, heart-level realities, that we worshiped self over God.

2. Action

But repentance doesn’t stop with just a few words.  The second half of repentance is ACTION.  The text says that “he arose and went to his father.”  This would not be a story of repentance if he remained in the far country.  In order for repentance to occur, he had to walk away from darkness, he had to act.

And this is where repentance gets really tough because the action of repentance is humbling.  I suppose that many people know they’ve sinned against God and others, but they never arose from their sin, they never owned it and acted because to do so would be humiliating.  Consider this young man.  He is going to travel back home, and walk into a community where everyone knows that he’s the kid who basically told his dad that he wishes he were dead, he cashed out his inheritance—something that you never do—and now here he is walking back into town empty handed after squandering it on prostitutes and booze.

The SHAME of that act—of walking back into town in humility—keeps people from repenting.  There are people drinking alone all over this country who know they’ve done something wrong, that they’ve sinned, but their shame is too great, their pride keeps them from humbly turning and returning to God, to the Church, and to those they’ve hurt.

We can see this guy’s shame right here in verse 18—he’s already rehearsing his speech.  He says that he’ll go to his father and say to him, “Father I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.  Treat me as one of your hired servants.”

Imagine you’re this young son—you’re heading back home, you have a speech in your head about how you’re not worthy and you just want to work as a servant.  You’re going to walk into town, probably you’re going to find the time of day when the least amount of people are going to see you, you’re going to go to your home, and knock on the door, and YOU HAVE NO IDEA what your dad is going to say.  He could literally shut the door in your face.   He could say, “Don’t say a word to me, unless you have every penny that I gave you.”  Keep in mind this is a first century middle eastern culture based on honor and shame. It would not be strange at all for a Father in to open the door and see this prodigal son, and say, “Who do you think you are?  Do you know how many people you’ve hurt?  Don’t you know that the second you walked out of this door, our family disowned you.  You are dead to us.  Get out.  Get out, and don’t you ever show your face in this town again.”

This guy is traveling home, and he doesn’t know what to expect.  He’s only hoping that he can beg for his father to allow him to work as a servant, to make some small little repayment of all that he has lost.

But in verse 20, we begin to see, that this young man, DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS FATHER IS LIKE.  HE DID NOT KNOW HIS FATHER’S CHARACTER.

C. Father

Verse 20 “²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’^[c]22 But the father said to his servants,^[d]‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

If you’re confused about what Christianity is, this is it. This is the filet of Scripture.

Consider what Jesus is saying here.  A son who walked away from his father, his family, his community, he lived it up in reckless partying, squandered everything, who lost a massive amount of money, he is a disgrace to his family, who is full of shame and embarrassment and SHOULD BE, walks back into town absolutely humiliated, but the most humiliating character in the story is no longer this son . . . it’s the FATHER.

The father sees him a long way off, and he takes off running.  Again this is the first century, where Patriarchs, the Fathers, wore robes and were respected and served, and it would be considered undignified to run, but this father starts running toward his son, and he gives him a huge bear hug and kisses him.  And we assume he’s weeping tears of joy and saying, “Son, how I’ve missed you.  Praise God, you are here, I’m so glad you’re here. Praise God.”

And the son begins his speech.  “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven, and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son, just let me be a servant.”  And the Father says, “SHHHHH.  None of that.  You’re my SON!  You were dead and now you’re alive!  You were lost; you’re found!  WELCOME HOME SON!!! Welcome home!  QUICK!” he shouts to his servant, “Tell everyone.  Invite the neighbors.  Slaughter the fattened calf. We are having a party!  Go get this son some clothes.  Give my credit card take him to get a suit, get him a haircut, make him a bedroom, and welcome him home.”

Don’t forget, this Father has reason to be ashamed.  This guy’s own son wished him dead.  This Father has heard neighbors whispering about his son at the coffee shop when his son was in the far country.  This Father sent out a family Christmas card last year and his son wasn’t in the photo.  This Father had to put up a for sale sign on his family land, this guy lived day in and day in the community with people wondering and asking and now: What are they going to think?

How would you handle this situation?  Even a loving, gracious father would at the very least say, “O.k. you’re my son, I’ll let you come home, but you gotta live in the servant’s quarters for a least a year or two until you earn back some of the money you lost.”

That’d seem to be plenty gracious.

But this Father is RIDICULOUSLY GRACIOUS.  I mean that in the most literal sense—his grace and love and acceptance of his son is son immense that he will certainly be ridiculed by others.  There will be people who go, “That guy’s insane.  He’s having a party for that kid?  Are you kidding me?  He gave him a new ring, a new robe, new shoes, and he slaughtered the fattened calf for that kid?  This is ridiculous.

GRACE offends our sense of justice.

GRACE—true GRACE—is scandalous.

Our ingrained sense of justice says people should get what they deserve. And we have a sense of what is deserved. Grace is when God does not treat us as we deserve. At best this guy deserves nothing, at worst he deserves to be rejected by the community he has already rejected.  But Grace is when the loving Father celebrates his return, throws a celebration, and doesn’t hang this over his son’s head.  What matters to the father is not what his son did, but that HIS SON IS HOME.  He was lost and now he is found.

And so he pours out his grace, and celebrates the return of his son.  And God’s grace is so lavish that it is offensive to our sense of justice.

And it’s in this celebration of the returning son that we see the VERY HEART OF GOD.  All throughout Scripture, God’s heart, his character, his nature is that of a Father who has his arms outstretched to those in sin.

-Zechariah 1:3, “Return to me,” says the Lord, “and I will return to you.”

-Isaiah 65, “All day long, I held out my arms to an obstinate and rebellious people.”

-Exodus 34, “The Lord, the LORD, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and ABOUNDING in             steadfast love.”

-Lamentations 3, “The steadfast love of the LORD NEVER ceases.”

-Micah 7 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression.  He does not               retain his anger forever because he DELIGHTS in steadfast love.”

We know this about God, for it’s his nature all over the pages of Scripture, but the shame of sin clouds out the character of God for the prodigal and the scandal of grace clouds out the true nature of God’s love for those who can’t believe the lavish love of the Father.

Many of the people who heard Jesus tell this story just couldn’t quite understand the fact that God welcomes sinners to come home.  They were scandalized by the thought.  You see, if you look at Luke 15:1 with me, we see that these religious folks are the very people to whom Jesus speaks this story of the Prodigal Son.  Luke 15:1-2 says, “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.  And the Pharisees and scribes grumbled saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The religious people in Jesus’ day didn’t understand that God loves sinners.  He rejoices in repentance and that Jesus’ very mission was to seek and save sinners, the lost.

And this is the subtle twist in the story of the Prodigal Son.  The story is a story about God the Father, and his love for the wayward son, but at the end of the story—the Father is eating, feasting, and celebrating with the “sinner,” the returned son.   The twist is that Jesus is not merely talking about God the Father, he’s talking about himself.  Jesus is telling a story about his own heart, and his own mission.  He is the King, who receives sinners.

This is GOOD news.

When we go to the far away country in sin, Jesus is the King who leaves his home to go to the far country to redeem us from sin.

We feel the guilt and shame and humiliation of sin, and Jesus goes to the cross, bears our, rids us of our shame, and is humiliated in our place.

We reject the Father, Jesus is rejected by the Father on the cross in order that we might be received by him.

We hide in the darkness of sin, Jesus enters the darkness as the light of the world to beckon us home to the Father.

We who were dead in sin, are made alive in repentance and faith, because Jesus died for our sin, and rose from the grave, giving life to all who repent and believe.

The Good News is that our Father has sent his Son into this world on a mission to call sinners home to him by repentance and faith.

It doesn’t matter what far country you’ve visited.  The Father not only receives you in repentance, he CELEBRATES YOUR REPENTANCE! Verse 7 says there is “JOY IN HEAVEN” over repentance.  Verse 10 says there’s “Joy before the angels of God” when a sinner repents.  And here we see the image of God is not and image a Father at the door with a glare and his arms crossed, but a father who in his Joy is a foolish sight, a humiliated man as he runs down the road weeping, shouting, hugging, kissing, and declaring “WELCOME HOME MY SON.  Welcome home.”

APPLICATION:

This morning we all sit here with different stories and at different places in life.

1.) (Heading Toward the Far Country)

There may be some here right now, or perhaps someone listening or reading online, or someone who listens to or reads this 3 years down the road, and you know in your heart that you are LIVING IN THE FAR COUNTRY.  Right now, you know that your back is to God the Father, you’re dodging people who love you, you’re living for yourself.  You are me-first, you’re covering over your sin by finding people who celebrate sin with you, and you’re on the run.  You know it.  Maybe you’ve been on the run so long that you’re comfortable with the far country, or maybe you’re not even to the far country yet, but it’s where you want to go—you’re headed toward it.

If that’s you, know for certain today that the Far Country is a dangerous place.  It does not satisfy, it will not last, and you don’t have to go there or stay there.  There are dozens and dozens of people in our church family who have spent a long time in the far country, and every one of them today would stand up here and beg you to return home.  The broad path leads to destruction. The far country leads to pain, and worst of all, it’s away from the Presence of God the Father.  Today, if you are in the far country or headed that way, DO A U-TURN.  I plead with you, RETURN TO THE LORD.  Confess that you have sinned against God and man, and leave your place of sin, and RUN HOME.  Run home. Return to the Lord today.  Zechariah 1, says “Thus says the Lord, “Return to me, and I will return to you.”

2.) (Sons Acting like Servants)

There are others here today—who PRAISE GOD—have fled the Far Country. By the gracious WOO of God, but the violent mercy of God, you’ve come to your senses, and you’ve turned home to God to others.  You’ve confessed your sin, you’ve taken action, you’ve burned bridges in the far country, and you’re rebuilding bridges at home.  Praise God.

And if that’s you today, I want to remind you of one simple truth:  By the grace of God, given to you in Jesus Christ, received by faith, YOU ARE A SON—You’re not a slave.  What I mean is this:  Because of your sin and your shame and pride, you’re not going to feel like you deserve the grace of God and so you’re going to live in the servant’s quarters in your soul and try to work really hard to pay back God and others.  And eventually you might think, “Ok, I’ve done my time, I’m good enough again, All is well.”

But that’s not the Gospel of Grace.  The Gospel of Grace is that WE NEVER DESERVE the FATHER’S   LOVE.

The Gospel of GRACE is that NONE OF US CAN PAY OFF OUR DEBT.

The Gospel of GRACE is that the Father RUNS TO US, we don’t crawl our way back to him.

Our Sins from the Far Country become WHITE AS SNOW, NOT because we log overtime in the servants’ house, but because the Father says to us, “Welcome Home” in the person of Jesus Christ.

By Grace we are Sons and Daughters, not servants, in the Father’s house.

CONCLUSION:

For the past few months I’ve been listening to a song called “At the Table” by Josh Garrels, and it’s the story of the prodigal son.  A wayward son runs from home and the Father is saying “Return to me.  For you will always have a seat at my table.”

This morning before we sing our final song, we’re going to listen to the song At the Table and this is a time for all who are in the far country to hear the call of God saying, “Return home.  There’s a place for you.  Turn back and be received.”  And for everyone here to remember and rejoice in the Lavish Love of our Heavenly Father.

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Peace

by Tim Zingale

Mark 4:35-41
Job 38:1-11

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”

41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

An artist was commissioned by a wealthy man to paint something that would depict peace. After a great deal of thought, the artist painted a beautiful country scene. There were green fields with cows standing in them, birds were flying in the blue sky and a lovely little village lay in a distant valley. The artist gave the picture to the man, but there was a look of disappointment on his face. The man said to the artist, “This isn’t a picture of true peace. It isn’t right. Go back and try again.”

The artist went back to his studio, thought for several hours about peace, then went to his canvas and began to paint. When he was finished, there on the canvas was a beautiful picture of a mother, holding a sleeping baby in her arms, smiling lovingly at the child. He thought, surely, this is true peace, and hurried to give the picture to the wealthy man. But again, the wealthy an refused the painting and asked the painter to try again.

The artist returned again to his studio. He was discouraged, he was tired and he was disappointed. Anger swelled inside him, he felt the rejection of this wealthy man. Again, he thought, he even prayed for inspiration to paint a picture of true peace. Then, all of a sudden an idea came, he rushed to the canvas and began to paint as he had never painted before. When he finished, he hurried to the wealthy man.

He gave the painting to the man. He studied it carefully for several minutes. The artist held his breath. Then the wealthy man said, “Now this is a picture of true peace.” He accepted the painting, paid the artist and everyone was happy.

And what was this picture of true peace?? The picture showed a stormy sea pounding against a cliff. The artist had captured the furry of the wind as it whipped black rain clouds which were laced with streaks of lightening. The sea was roaring in turmoil, waves churning, the dark sky filled with the power of the furious thunderstorm. And in the middle of the picture, under a cliff, the artist had painted a small bird, safe and dry in her nest snuggled safely in the rocks. The bird was at peace midst the storm that raged about her.”

Peace, tranquility, calmness, these are the emotions which each we seek as we experience the storms of life. We long, we search for peace. We search for the quiet, the calm, the contentment as we experience the storms, the chaos, the uncertainties of life.

As we live with all the brokenness of sin, with all the tension of this sinful world, we cry out, we long for some peace to somehow insulate, or protect us from all the fury around us. We are very much like that wealthy man, searching, dreaming, wanting peace in the middle of the fury of life. We search, we long, for that peace. We even call out as the disciples did to Jesus in that sinking boat, we call out to God for peace, for comfort. We call out to God,, wondering if He is around, wondering if He is sleeping while we are searching.

The question asked more often by human beings is always some variation on this theme,’Where are you, God?” Or “God, are you sleeping?” or “God, are you dead?” or God, do you hear me?” or “God, why don’t you. Answer me?”

And God’s answer, God’s ’s only answer, God’s answer that we can only understand is this: “I am in the midst of you through the crucified Christ” Yes, I am here, I am with you as I was with my Son on the cross of Calvary.”

Our Old Testament Lesson and our gospel lesson focus for us this morning on that question, “Where is God in the tumult of life?” Job asks that question of God as he is suffering, the disciples ask that question of Jesus as they are sinking with their boat into the Sea of Galilee.

“Don’t you care, aren’t you concerned with our plight, why am I suffering like this,” are the questions which beg for an answer in our lessons this morning.

Jesus and the disciples were crossing the sea when a sudden storm broke upon them. The disciples became afraid as the wind blew, and the fury of the storm began to fill the boat with water. These were seasoned fishermen, they had experienced these kinds of storms before, but this one was different, it was worse than they had ever experienced. They used their skills, but still they were sinking.

Then in the middle of the storm, they thought about Jesus, where was he. He was in the stern of the boat sleeping on a pillow. Jesus had that sure confidence in the peace of God which allowed Him to sleep even though the storms of life, even this storm of the sea as it was raging all about him.

But the disciples didn’t have that peace, they were afraid, they wondered if Jesus even cared for them as they awoke Him with this question “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”

They soon saw Jesus’ caring as He awoke and spoke to the wind and the sea saying: “Peace’ Be Still !”’ Then the sea calmed, the winds stopped there was peace.

Then Jesus asked the disciples a question: “Why are you afraid?? Have you no faith?”

Jesus had peace, he was not afraid because He had faith in the Father to protect and provide for Him.

He wanted His disciples to have that same peace. A peace that knows that no matter what circumstances in life we may find ourselves, God ifs in control, so there is peace. Peace does come, peace is equal to faith in the power of God to control, to provide. The disciples saw the power of God in nature as Jesus calmed the storm. That same power is present in all circumstances of life. There is peace to life when we believe in and trust in the power of God to be with us, to guide us, to save us from all the storms of life.

The disciples were afraid because they could only see the storm, their eyes we fixed on that storm. It was difficult for them to have any peace when they were focused on the storm. The problem for the disciples and our problem is not the storms of life but where our attention is placed. It’s hard to see the Christ in the boat when our attention is riveted on the waves outside the boat. When our attention is so consumed by the storms of life so that we cannot see Christ, or turn to Him, or trust in Him, then there is no peace, no contentment, but only worry and despair.

For example: “A story from the days of sailing ships, tell about a ship caught in a sudden and severe storm. The passengers became panicky, rushing here and there as the waves beat upon the ship. There was fear and dread on the faces of all the passengers except one little boy, who remained calm and cheerful. When asked why he was so calm, he said,”Why should I be afraid? My father is at the helm.” In order words, he was not afraid, because e his father was in control.

So, too, with us we face the storms of life. We need not be afraid, or full of despair, because God through His Son Jesus Christ is in control. God is at the helm of life. We need to believe and trust in His power to guide our lives.

Job, in our first lesson, learned of this power of God to be in control of life as God encountered Job in the whirlwind. Job comes to God with his questions of why. Why did he have to suffer? Was there something he did wrong that he deserved this suffering? He came to God, he, in a sense challenged God with his questions.

And what does God do? He comes to Job in a whirlwind and God asks Job questions. God asks if Job had been present at the beginning of time, was Job present at creation, did he have a hand in creating the world? God asked Job if he was the one to control the seas, if he was the one who created the rain and clouds? God came to Job in all of His power and reminded Job of that power, reminded him that humankind cannot understand the mind or the workings of God.

The text doesn’t say Job’s reply, but if we read further we see that the only reply Job had was to fall on his knees in humble subjection. When he finally saw and encountered God, Job saw his own helplessness and lack of wisdom. Job remained faithful to God in all of his trials, but he never came to a point where he didn’t trust or believe in God’s power to deliver or save him.

So, with us, as we face the unanswered questions, as we face the whys, the how comes, as we face suffering, as we face the tragedies of life.

It is not that we disbelieve God’s ability to do anything to save. We all too frequently fail to trust the power He has. We come to God with our human condition of sin. We come to God with our inability to really understand God, so we give up. We question, we ask, we search, but we don’t wait for an answer.

As Pastor Paul Scheidt says in Preaching Helps:

“God calls us to faith, but we prefer to hope for miracles.

“Surely we say, “Our Creator, who supports the earth’s foundations, can arrest the storm in a moment. He has before; perhaps he will again.”

But if our prayer is one-dimensional request for a miraculous calm, we may let ourselves in for a large helping of disappointment and despair if God’s plan dictates some thing different from our request.

The prayer of of faith will include a second dimension that God will help us, hear his voice in the storm. His voice which says loud and clear, I am with you, I am with you.”

As Job found out, as the disciples found out the only answer to our questions about life comes with a simple but powerful answer, “I am with you, period.”

That is all we need to know our God is with us as we face all the why questions of life.

40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”

Amen

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Tithing

by Dean Morgan

Malachi 3:6-12

Let me begin by making three statements about tithing:

1. Tithe means “a tenth” – Genesis 28:22 – “And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” The word tithe in the Hebrew means “a tenth.”

2. The Lord claims the tithe as His – Leviticus 27:30 – “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S, It is holy to the LORD.”

3. Obedience in tithing carries a promise read Malachi 3:10.

I don’t believe for one minute that tithing buys God’s blessing. But I do believe that it opens a door – or better, a “window” – of release for God to bless continually and mightily. The concept underlying this practice and promise is found throughout the Bible, but in the book of Malachi, God most pointedly deals with tithing. There he faces his people with the charge of neglect in the “covenant” practice.

In this passage, the Lord calls for the return of his people. But when they ask, “In what way shall we return” (v. 7), the Lord says something completely foreign to our way of thinking.

• He doesn’t tell them to get on their knees & pray.

• He doesn’t instruct them to read the Bible.

• He doesn’t demand they go to the temple more often.

Rather, He starts by talking to them about their money – about tithing. Notice that it’s His starting place.

First, the Lord contrasts His own changelessness with the unfaithfulness of their fathers.

Though God created us and promised to sustain us, it is a great difficulty for many of us to give God His portion.

Consider this: before the fall of man, God gave Adam and his wife stewardship over all creation. Genesis 1:27, 28 – “(27) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (28) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

After this, God said, in effect, “I only ask one thing of you: that you honor the fact that a certain portion of creation is Mine and Mine alone.” That’s essentially what God said when He told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:16-17 – “(16) And the LORD commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

We usually think of that prohibition as only being “to eat or not to eat.” But the issue was deeper. It was an issue of recognized rights. It involved man understanding and accepting that a small portion of all he had within his reach was reserved – it belonged to the Lord. The Lord said, “Everything else is yours, but this is Mine.”

We are dealing with exactly the same issue when we discuss the tithe – God’s claim on 10% of our income. Again let’s read Leviticus 27:30 – “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.”

Of course, we know so well the events at the beginning. Satan came, tempting the man and woman and saying, in effect, “God knows that if you ever get hold of His portion, too, you’ll be so much better off than you are now” (see Genesis 3:5).

How easily we’re persuaded by the supposition that if we can just have what God says is His, we’ll be better off! And the tempter succeeded, with the bottom line being that man tried to take God’s job into his own hands.

“You will be like God,” the serpent hissed, and man fell for it. The tragedy is that all of God’s likeness that they needed was already theirs, for God had created them marvelously and miraculously, fully in His image. They didn’t need God’s power, only the blessing of His Person imprinted in their nature. They didn’t need God’s position, only the promise of His provision to sustain their every need. But in Adam and Eve’s pursuit of “acquiring,” they took God’s portion, thereby not only losing what they thought they would gain, but what they already had as well.

To see the divine claim on 10% of our income and to surrender it in worship, faithfully, is to find life’s financial starting place and life’s essential beginning point of blessing once we’re in Christ.

His Pattern and Blueprint

All of us understand the concept of a pattern or blueprint. The tailor who designed the clothes you’re wearing had to follow a pattern or the clothing would not fit. It would be too tight in some places, or it would be too loose and would feel uncomfortable in other places if it were not made according to pattern. A building would not be safe, nor would an engine run, if not made according to the blueprint.

It is the same thing with life. We have to start right. His commandments and precepts are blueprints–designs provided so we can build lives that stand strong and tall.

The pattern for godliness that God gave Adam included directions on how mankind is to relate to any portion that God says is His.

Rob God? How?

Malachi’s message pointed back to the beginning–“your fathers.” And so we’ve seen how early the issue of man taking God’s portion became a problem. Then the prophet asks a strange question: “Will a man rob God?” (Malachi 3:8).

It’s important here to say the obvious: God doesn’t have a cash-flow problem! So how is it that the prophet says that the people’s not tithing had “robbed” him? A look at the whole text answers the question: God had been robbed of his opportunity to bless his people! God has been robbed of his opportunity not just to bless you but to bless others since you aren’t paying the tithe.

That’s His heart–his desire. God wants to bless! Notice that when He says that if we’ll return, He’ll open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing we won’t be able to contain, the Lord isn’t merely talking about financial benefit. He’s talking about all His blessings. The “windows of heaven” aren’t a bank, but they are the openings from which all life’s benedictions flow.

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)–“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

• When the windows of heaven are open over your home, there is joy and happiness.

• When the windows of heaven are open over your business, there is fruitfulness and prosperity

• When the windows of heaven are open over your mind, there is peace and confidence.

• When the windows of heaven are open over your body and soul, there is health and contentment.

“The windows of heaven” are the Bible’s words to describe the source from which God blesses, and that’s what God delights to bring about. God’s request for our tithe isn’t an appeal from a hard-pressed deity suffering for cash. It’s a request that we not deprive Him of blessing us in very real ways. It’s also a request that we not deprive Him of blessing others with the money we give. He’s calling us to order our finances on the earth side of things in a way that lines up with the release of special graces waiting to be poured out from the heaven side of things. Tithing starts right–by aligning us under the place where the blessings of God are released: heaven’s windows.

But the decision to tithe is ours.

Just as surely as the Lord Jesus Christ knocks at the doors of our hearts & says, “If you’ll open the door, I’ll come in, and you’ll be saved,” we have that choice. And having received Him as Savior, we can stop there or move ahead as His disciples. The wisest & most sensitive of us choose growing in him, making Him Lord in our life’s daily matters. And nothing says, “Yes, Lord,” any clearer than our obedience and our worship with our tithe.

When I let go, when I give, when I release, I make room for life and abundance to flow into my life according to God’s order.

If I hesitate to start tithing because I’m worried about how I’m going to make it, and in my effort to make ends meet I violate the Lord’s first principle of giving, am I succumbing to a deception luring me to put myself in God’s place? Am I saying that I am better able to make things work out than God is?

I believe I need to mention something here before we go on. Some still raise a tired question: “Isn’t tithing only in the Old Testament?”

The idea in this expressed doubt is that tithing is part of the law and therefore has no meaning to NT believers. This resistance usually projects the notion that teaching tithing will deprive a Christian of his “liberty” or move a believer “into law and out of grace.”

Jesus Himself addressed the issue of tithing. It’s recorded in two NT books – Matthew & Luke.

Jesus was dealing with the Pharisees – a tough breed of religionists who were looking for every way they could to attend to the letter of the law without attending to its spiritual demands.

Read Matthew 23:23 (Also is found in Luke 11:42).

The “woe” on these religious hypocrites was not for their tithing, but for their neglect of “weightier matters”–justice, mercy and faith. Now, the Pharisees were attending to the letter of the law in the presenting of their tithes, and it wasn’t just a matter of bringing one bushel of wheat out of every ten. They were even weighing out the tithe of the tiniest spices – mint & cummin!

If tithing was unimportant to the Savior, if it was meaningless to maintain within the new order He was bringing, then as a part of emphasizing that new order He could well have said, “Take care of justice and mercy, and quit bothering with tithing – mint, cummin or anything else!” But instead Jesus says, “These you ought to have done” – referring to their tithing– “without leaving the others undone”–referring to their attitudes.

He uses the word “ought”. When we acknowledge that something ought to be, we are appealing to a higher order – to the divine will. We are saying, “There are certain laws that should not be violated.” With this “ought,” Jesus is saying of the practice of tithing, “This is a precept that ought not to be violated.” By the affirmation of Jesus our Lord Himself, tithing is thereby made a timeless practice, as important to New Testament believers as to Old.

In tracing the footsteps of Abraham, we find that Scripture says of him: “And he gave him [Melchizedek] a tithe of all” (Genesis 14:20). Abraham is revealed as a man who learned the pathway to promise before the law was ever given! Tithing was established in the Scripture before the Law of Moses. It precedes and transcends the Mosaic code as a principle built into the fabric of the human order of things.

Rebuking the Devourer

To cap off the grand truth of the tithe, God makes an incredible promise. As a part of His response to our worshipping him through the faith-exercise of tithes and offerings, He says, “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes” (Malachi 3:11). It’s another evidence of the fact that how we deal with our money is a spiritual issue touching all of life. These words reveal that when we obey in the material realm, it impacts the spiritual realm.

Who is “the devourer”?

Jesus taught us that we have a common enemy whose animosity is leveled toward all mankind.

John 10:10 – “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”

1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

The thief advances with viciousness and in terms of our finances, devours in some of the most obvious ways. Breakdowns. Repairs needed. An unexplainable onslaught of illness. The dishwasher or the garbage disposal goes “pop,” and there goes $79.50 out the window or $123.52 down the drain. Investments go sour. Money owed us isn’t paid. The devourer often comes in any or all such things that eat up – or devour–our resources.

Now God doesn’t promise that we’ll never have a car breakdown or that mechanical things will never wear out if we tithe. Neither is tithing a formula guarantee that we’ll never have to get flu shots. But the Lord does say, “These things aren’t going to eat you up!”

As we learn the liberty of full, free, let-go obedience to the Lord and His ways, we have an overcoming promise. God says He sill make it His mission to rebuke the oppressive forces that chew up our finances and cause reversal in our situations. Tithing holds no magic promise of trial-free living, but tithing does have a share in the promise that when we face trials of any kind, we have reason to expect God to come against the advances of our adversary.

Cursed?

There is a devourer seeking to curse, to swallow up, to eat through and spit out, if you please. And whether we like it or not, choosing not to tithe is to choose to step out from under God’s umbrella of blessing. Without His protection, you and I are far more vulnerable to life’s “rain” of circumstances–however mild or fierce.

So the Lord calls us to “prove Him,” to give him the opportunity to pour out blessings on us that we cannot contain. He says that He will open the windows of heaven and rebuke the devourer (vv. 10-11). The first is a promise of abundance, and the other is a promise of victory over the adversary.

Money and the Miraculous

When I voluntarily give at least 10% of my budget into His kingdom enterprise, I’m saying, “I can ‘see’ His ability to create enough to make my budget run with less than the unbeliever claims he needs.”

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KINDNESS

by D. Greg Ebie

Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Tony Campolo tells about an incident that happened to him on his way into work. Walking the sidewalk pathways of downtown, Tony would often pass by a number of homeless and transient people. From time to time, they would make requests for money; generally, he ignored them.

One day a bag lady, whom he had seen before in his mad dash to get from point A to B, shuffled out of a donut shop with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Their eyes met and Tony forced a smile. Putting down her coat and bags she called out, “Hey mister, would you like a sip of my coffee?”

Now if you were Tony how would you respond? Keep waking and ignore her? That’s what Tony did, or at least he started to. A half a block away, he turned back around and said, “Hey lady! Yes, yes I would like a taste of your coffee.” She held out the cup with her dirty hand; he took the cup and swallowed what had to be the most delicious cup of coffee he had tasted in a long time.

“Isn’t it good,” she said.

“Yes it IS GOOD! and thank you. By the way, why did you offer me your coffee?”

“Because it was so good, I thought someone might like to share it with me and enjoy it too.”

A small, yet simple act of kindness from a stranger interrupted Tony Campolo’s walk to the office. Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes, yet regardless of how big or small we all appreciate a kind act. This morning we are going to focus on “THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS . . . KINDNESS.”

The fruit of the Spirit is OF THE SPIRIT and not the saints. Kindness is born of the Spirit; human energy or effort does not naturally produced kindness; it comes from God. Yes, people can be kind apart from God, but their kindness is impure and incomplete.

The Kindness of God – What is God’s kindness like?

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Who is it that God is drawing to Him with loving-kindness, the righteous? No! God’s loving kindness is given to those who have rebelled against the Lord and turned away from Him. God is kind to the wicked.

Luke 6:35 (NIV)

Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back . . . because [God] is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Jesus doesn’t tell us to love our friends and treat them nicely. He says love your enemies! Why? Because that is what God is like; we are to follow His example. God is kind to the ungrateful—those who take God’s kindness for granted and don’t give it a second thought—and the wicked—those who turn their back upon God and despise Him.

Notice how Matthew expresses the kindness of God in the parallel passage of Jesus’ teaching.

Matthew 5:45 (NIV)

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The kindness of God does not discriminate! God does not treat His enemies differently than He does His friends. God shows His enemies kindness in order to win their friendship, as Paul told the Romans, “God’s kindness leads to repentance” (Romans 2:4 NIV).

God’s kindness is without limit. Kindness breaks down barriers and boundaries. Kindness opens the door to the fullness of God’s love and fellowship. Kindness takes in the objectionable and critical; it welcome those filled with bitterness and resentment. Kindness even takes in us!

Ephesians 2:7 (NLT)

God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.

We who believe show others the riches of God’s incredible kindness. God offers His kindness to those who do not deserve it and us regardless of how the recipients of His kindness respond.

The fruit of the Spirit is kindness. Jesus said as we are connected to Him we would bear much fruit. Remember that apart from Christ we can do nothing! Separated from Jesus there is no fruit (See John 15:5).

Kindness Illustrated – The Good Samaritan

Jesus show us what the kindness of God looks like as it is expressed in our lives. THE FRUIT OF KINDNESS DEVELOPS AND MATURES TO BE GIVEN TO OTHERS.

Luke 10:30-35 (NIV)

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

The story of the Good Samaritan shows us four different types of people. We encounter people like this everyday; however, today we are not called to be FRUIT INSPECTORS, but FRUIT PRODUCERS. In other words we need to take a look in the mirror and see which of these types of people look back at us. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the condition of our hearts to us so we can be transformed to be the person God would have us to become and produce much fruit.

1. The Selfish and Hostile

The robbers represent the selfish and hostile. These people are only interested in what they want. They will climb the latter of success regardless of whom they have to step on doing what ever it takes to get what they want. Their motto is simply “The end justifies the means.” If I want money and wealth then I can do what ever I want to have it, including taking it from you.

James 4:1 (MsgB)

Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves.

The priest and the Levite represent the next two types of people. Jesus does not tell us why the priest or Levite crossed over to the other side of the road. While one would expect both of these to have offered to help because of their religious standing, they passed by.

2. The Indifferent

The priest and Levite may have just been indifferent. Perhaps they are just overwhelmed by the need and feel that they have nothing to offer those in need. The indifferent lack a heart of compassion.

The indifferent won’t kick you when your down, but they won’t offer you a hand to get up either. They ignore you and just pass by minding their own business.

3. The Legalistic

The priest and Levite may also be legalistic. They justify their lack of compassion in order to remain holy in the eyes of their peers. The legalistic follow their man made rules and ignore God’s higher law to love your neighbor as yourself.

If I stop to get involved, I’ll be late for work.

I can’t give because we have made a commitment to get out of debt.

If I say something nice, then my friends will make fun of me.

4. The Kind and Compassionate

The Samaritan is kind and compassionate. Jesus shows us what Godly kindness is like through the Samaritan. The Holy Spirit will help to bring about these things in our lives so kindness fully develops and matures.

1. Kindness will take action.

The Samaritan did not pass by or ignore the one in need. The Samaritan took action to do what he could to help meet the need.

Kindness is love in action. Kindness is not an attitude we develop in our heart; it is not a new way of thinking about the situations we encounter. Kindness has to get out; kindness held in is not kindness at all.

Remember we have said we are talking about THE FRUIT of the Spirit and not the fruits. Love is the blossom; without love it is impossible for the fruit to be produced in our lives. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us, “Love is kind;” in other words, love takes action and finds expression through kindness.

Kindness is love serving. To serve others requires action!

Kindness will give; it will share.

Kindness will provide for others; it supplies what is lacking or needed.

Sometimes all that is needed is a kind word. An elderly lady always went to the local post office because the employees were so friendly. Once she was waiting in a long line to buy stamps just prior to Christmas. The man in line behind her said, “Mamma there’s no need for you to wait in line; you can buy your stamps at the machine in the lobby.” The old woman said, “I know, but the machine won’t smile or ask about my arthritis.” The only action the machine could provide was to dispense stamps, but the action of the employees dispensed stamps and kindness!

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people . . . clothe yourselves with . . . kindness.

2. Kindness will take a risk.

The Samaritan did not stop to consider if the robbers were still lurking behind the rocks. Or what if it is all a trap and the Samaritan becomes the victim? The Samaritan was willing to put his possessions and even his life in jeopardy to offer kindness to the one who was in need.

What if Jesus had wanted to play it safe? What if He didn’t want to take any chances? We would still be lost in our sin without any hope for salvation.

Philippians 2:6-8 (MsgB)

He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! . . . He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.

Jesus was willing to take a chance and risk everything so He could meet our need. The wages of sin is death (see Romans 6:23); Jesus was not worried about the price. He determined to provide what we needed no matter what. That’s what kindness does; it will take a risk.

3. Kindness will pay the price.

The Good Samaritan didn’t examine the man’s wounds and then calculate the cost. The Samaritan was willing to pay the price and do whatever to took to help the man in need. Wine was poured on the wounds to purify and prevent infection; oil was added to comfort and soothe. The Samaritan paid for the man’s care at the inn; he paid the price!

The price was paid even without the guarantee that the man would recover from his wounds or even that the man would be thankful for his assistance! Jews hated Samaritans, but the Samaritan didn’t let this prejudice keep him from giving to meet a need. Kindness pays the price regardless of the outcome. Paying the price means you assume the risk.

Jesus assures us that while paying the price may come with no guarantees in this world, God will assure us of a surefire dividend that we can’t lose! In other words, paying the price of kindness has its rewards!

Luke 12:33 (MsgB)

Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bank robbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on.

Luke 6:38 (MsgB)

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

Kindness will take action; it takes risk and will pay the price.

4. Kindness will put others first.

The Samaritan didn’t worry about his schedule for the day. He didn’t think about himself but put the needs of the wounded man ahead of himself. Not only did the Samaritan give of his resources, but he also gave of his time. Putting others first often means being willing to give of our time.

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Ephesians 4:28 (NLT)

If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.

Perhaps we could paraphrase what Paul tells us like this: “Have you been living only for yourself? Stop it! Think of others and share with those in need.” Kindness will put others first.

5. Kindness will finish what it starts.

The Samaritan didn’t just bandage the man’s wounds. He didn’t just take the man to a safe place where he could receive more help. He even did more than pay for room and board the man would receive. He also promised to pay whatever else was needed to nurse the man back to health. THE SAMARITAN FINISTHED WHAT HE STARTED!

Philippians 1:6 (GW)

I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.

Quaker, Stephen Grellet wrote: “I expect to pass through this world but once, any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now, let me not defer to neglect it, FOR I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN.” [quoted in Winward, The Fruit of the Spirit page 136]

Kindness will take ACTION. Kindness takes a risk and is willing to pay the price. Kindness puts others first, it finishes what it starts. And finally:

6. Kindness does not seek recognition.

What was the Good Samaritan’s name? Jesus doesn’t tell us. The Good Samaritan does not seek out the priest and the Levite to promote himself over them. The Samaritan is content to remain unknown.

Likewise, our kindness is not to elevate our reputation, or make us look good in the eyes of other people. Real kindness does not seek to find glory for oneself; instead, kindness gives glory to God.

Corinthians 10:31 (MsgB)

As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God’s glory.

KINDNESS DOES NOT SEEK RECOGNITION, INSTEAD THE RECOGNITION AND GLORY GOES TO GOD. The fruit of the Spirit expressed in our lives is like electricity. When you plug something into an outlet it makes a connection to the source, but the electricity will not flow through wires or do anything until the circuit is complete. When you turn on the switch the circuit is then closed; in this way the current runs through your electrical appliance to do the work it is designed to do, and then the power continues to flow back to the source. The electricity that is generated at a power-plant completes a circle through all the electrical things you use in your home and back to where it all started.

Are you going to allow God’s Spirit to produce kindness in your life?

Will you take action?

Are you willing to take a risk?

Will you pay the price?

Are you ready to put others first in your life?

Will you finish what you start?

Are you willing to give the glory back to God and not seek recognition for yourself?

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PEACE

by Russell Brownworth

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20:19 – 31 (NRSV)

I‘m definitely a Thomas kind of guy. Thomas didn’t want to believe what seemed too good to believe until he had seen Jesus like the other disciples had seen Jesus. It’s not that he didn’t have faith; Thomas had stronger faith than the other disciples earlier–before Jesus was arrested. The Pharisees had threatened to stone Jesus to death, and Jesus announced he was going to Jerusalem to confront them. The other disciples protested loudly that it was too dangerous. But Thomas just said, well, let’s go and die with him. That’s faith!

Thomas was no doubter, but he also had no sense of timing. When Jesus appeared to the disciples on the evening of resurrection day Thomas was the only one of the bunch to miss church.

I’ve often wondered just why Thomas missed meeting with the group on that evening. My best guess is that he was pretty resigned to the fact that it was “game-over”. The Pharisees had won, Jesus was dead, and there was nothing left to do but start figuring-out a life beyond following Jesus, because there was no more Jesus to follow.

And then there’s the other wonderment–why did Thomas come back to the group a week later. It had to be that some of the other disciples went and got Thomas…brought him back into the fold. They had seen the resurrected Lord, and they shared the good news with him. Thomas’ faith had flickered, and his friends brought him back. Somewhere in that there’s a sermon for any church with as many inactive members as active ones!

We are waiting like the disciples, door shut, Thomas, the backslider has been reclaimed, and we’re remembering the last time we saw Jesus enter the room. We recall his first words, “Peace be with you”. Jesus said those words three times in our text, and each time they brought a different kind of peace…

I. Saving Peace

There is a peace that rescues. The disciples had shut the doors for fear that what had happened to Jesus would happen to them. When suddenly Jesus was present with them, that fear vanished with the realization of victory.

My family watched the movie “The Passion” with its two grueling and graphic hours depicting the arrest, beating, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Afterwards, when Jesus appeared to the disciples, he had the marks of his suffering, but it was obvious those marks didn’t have him anymore.

There is a peace that is surreal when the darkness of disaster and defeat are replaced by the morning light of victory. When Jesus said, “peace be with you” he was saying, “I am with you–your victory, your peace…I am here to save.” Even the name “Jesus” means “God saves”. Saving Peace, and…

II. Sending Peace

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

This second kind of peace Jesus brought with him is sending peace. The Father sent Jesus into the world to seek and to save that which was lost–us! He told the disciples, and he also tells us, that in the same way the Father sent him to the mission of reconciling all people to him, Jesus sends us to that same mission.

A story is told of a woman who wanted peace in the world and peace in her heart, but was very frustrated. The world seemed to be falling apart. She would read the papers and get depressed.

One day she decided to go shopping, and she went into a mall and picked a store at random. She walked in and was surprised to see Jesus behind the counter. She knew it was Jesus because he looked just like the pictures she’d seen on holy cards and devotional pictures. She finally got up her nerve and asked, Excuse me, are you Jesus?

I am.

Do you work here? No, I own the store.

Oh, what do you sell here?

Just about everything, Jesus said. Feel free to walk up and down the aisles, make a list, see what it is you want and then come back and we’ll see what we can do for you.

She did just that, walked up and down the aisles. There was [for sale] peace on earth, no more war, no hunger or poverty, peace in families, no more drugs, harmony, clean air, careful use of resources. She wrote furiously. By the time she got back to the counter, she had a long list. Jesus took the list, skimmed through it, looked up at her and smiled. No problem. And then he bent down behind the counter and picked out all sorts of things, stood up and laid out the packets.

She asked, What are these?

Seed packets, Jesus said. This is a catalog store.

She said, You mean I don’t get the finished product?

No, this is a place of dreams. You come and see what it looks like, and I give you the seeds. You plant the seeds. You go home and nurture them and help them to grow and someone else reaps the benefits.

Oh, she said. And she left the store without buying anything.

Sometimes it is easier to dwell on saving peace than on the peace which compels us to “go into all the world” with the good news.

But he said “peace” to them once more…

III. Symbiotic Peace

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

This was the eighth day…a whole week later than the first time Jesus said, “peace” to them. This time he came back when Thomas was there. Thomas may have felt pretty second-class as a disciple. But Jesus came back and spoke the same wonderful word to him…. “Peace”!

We all come to Jesus at different times and in different walk–but his peace is still his peace. Symbiosis is: a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship between two people or groups. [4] To be “symbiotically-peaceful” is to get along with each other in the kind of love God planned for us.

Three times Jesus said “peace” to his followers–

• Saving peace that covers our sins and saves us from hell

• Sending peace that commissions us to go bring people to the fold

• Symbiotic peace that conjoins us and holds us together in a bond of brotherhood and the selfless love of God.

Together this saving, sending and symbiosis-making peace is the whole point of the resurrection. It is what Paul meant when he told us that God was in Christ to reconcile the whole world to himself– and has given us that very same mission.

Peace is the work of reconciliation–first I am reconciled to God with his saving peace, having been rescued from my sins. Then I take part in rescuing others because of his sending peace. And I am taught to live in symbiotic God-love, the peace that passes all understanding.

It is a matter of living in peace.

In Joseph Cardinal Bernardin’s little book, The Gift of Peace….there is a gripping and moving account of his meeting with Steven Cook, the young man who had accused Cardinal Bernardin of sexual abuse….In 1993, the accusation became public, and Cardinal Bernardin had to live in the blare of public curiosity, constant media attention and the deep pain of experiencing his credibility and integrity questioned by many people who simply assume that an accusation is the equivalent of guilt. And then, over time, Mr. Cook acknowledged that the charges were false, and the case was dropped. The Cardinal plunged back into his busy schedule but he kept thinking about Steven Cook, his accuser, now critically ill with AIDS, living alone.

So Cardinal Bernardin did the most remarkable thing. He located Mr. Cook and invited him to meet at a seminary outside Philadelphia.

Cardinal Bernardin explained that his only reason for wanting to see Mr. Cook was to tell him that he, Cardinal Bernardin, harbored no ill feelings. He wanted to pray with Mr. Cook.

Steven Cook accepted that invitation and said that he wanted to apologize for the hurt and embarrassment he had caused. When the meeting happened, Mr. Cook told his story, including his alienation from the church. They talked for awhile. The cardinal said what he had come to say, and he gave Mr. Cook an inscribed Bible and offered to celebrate Mass. Mr. Cook hesitated at first. Cardinal Bernardin took a 100-year-old chalice out of his case. Steven, this is a gift from a man I don’t even know. He asked me to use it to say Mass for you some day. Please, Steven responded tearfully, let’s celebrate Mass now.

Afterward, Steven Cook said, a big burden has been lifted from me today. I feel healed and very much at peace.

Cardinal Bernardin reflected, as we flew back to Chicago that evening, Father Donohue and I felt the lightness of spirit that an afternoon of grace brings to one’s life.

This is the sum total of what saving, sending and symbiotic peace means in the human family.

And so…brothers and sisters….take a moment and pass the peace; take this lifetime and pass the peace!

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Proposing a New Image for Old Age

by Richard Pfeil

II Corinthians 4:7, 16-18

You might find today’s sermon title a little funny. It’s a beautiful Sunday and we’re talking about getting old.

Why should we bother with this subject of aging? Because we can’t help but experience it. Is there anyone growing younger? We all are going to experience aging, and you don’t have to wait until you are retired to experience the effects of aging, am I right? Can you do now what you could when you were 17?

We will all hopefully deal with aging parents. I say hopefully because it is hoped that you will experience having your parents with you that long. Not everyone does. Hopefully, God willing, we too will become old because the alternative is not all that good.

Paul Mays is the administrator of a nursing home who happened to see a lovely, well-groomed 86 year-old woman walking slowly down to the dining room. He said, “Hey, Mavis. How’s it going? How is everything?” Mavis said, “Well, as good as can be expected.” Then she stopped for a moment and thought a bit and said, “You know this growing old stuff is for the birds. But considering the alternative, I’ll take growing old.”

She represents our ambivalence towards aging in that all of us want to live a long time, but none of us want to grow old. I think the reason for this is due to our image of an old man or an old woman. Think about it. What comes to your mind when I say old man or old woman? Is it wrinkles, sickness, weakness, loss, forgetfulness, nursing home, dependence, crotchetiness, incontinence. All these things come to mind and this is fueled by our mass media which depicts old age as a calamity, something to be avoided. In fact, we try to mask it or hide it with dyes and creams and elective surgeries to show people that we are not growing old. We spent $4 billion on these things on a yearly basis.

In our public discourse, senior citizens are referred to as a problem, as a threat to the collapse of our Social Security system, as a siphon of our medical dollars. Sometimes they are referred to as a burden or “the fate of the young.” With all those negative images, who wants to get old? Nobody does. But is this an accurate image. Is this the real picture of aging and of growing old? If it is, should that be our focus? If not, what should our focus be as we age?

Let’s hear from a man in his own culture and his day–the Apostle Paul. He was very old, but he never retired. He experienced what aging is as well as its effects, and he dealt with it very appropriately. He tells us how we can deal with it ourselves. Growing old and aging can be a very satisfying, very fulfilling experience if we follow Paul’s advice. We find this in II Corinthians 4: 7, 16-18.

We need to develop a right mental image of growing old. So much of what we experience and the meaning of it is dependent upon our expectations. If we expect it to be a very bad experience, we are going to think this as we enter into it. If we expect it to be something very good, we will experience this instead.

Have you seen the movie, “Home Alone”? This little boy is told about the crotchet guy who lives next door and that he has murdered his whole family. If the little boy peeks at him through the window and the man sees him, the boy shuts the blinds real quick because he fears him. However, the little boy finds that he is really a kind, elderly gentleman who was a devout Catholic and a loving person.

To develop a positive imaging of aging, we need to take our lives off what is seen. I am not saying that we should deny reality. You will find a very realistic portrayal of aging in Ecclesiastes 11: 8-10. This tells us to enjoy life while we are young because dark days are ahead. Paul himself does not deny the effects of aging. He says that outwardly we are wasting away.

I witnessed the wasting away of my grandparents and their deaths, and we must be very realistic about this. Aging does keep you from doing the things you did when you were young. As you age, you tend to experience more pain in different places and recovery time is a lot longer. Some people experience some sensory loss. As you age, your bones become more brittle and falls can cause us to become disabled or even crippled. As you age, you lose loved ones.

Now, that’s a realistic picture. However, I’ll say this. All these things are true of every period of your life. This is not unique to aging. We experience these things all through our lives, and they are not a hazard of getting old. They are a hazard of being alive. In fact, if you are over 70, you should praise God because you have already beaten the averages. More than half of your classmates are gone. You are the survivor, the lucky one, the fortunate one. We need to praise God for our lives instead of our losses which is why Paul tells us to fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen.

What does it mean to fix our eyes? It means to focus on something as a goal or a target. Like an archer who pulls back the arrow and focuses on the bull’s eye, like a golfer who focuses on the hole and not the hazards, our proper focus is to go for the goal. It is by looking at the goal that we derive our motivation, our energy and our enthusiasm. It’s what makes the game meaningful for us, it’s what makes the struggle and pain worthwhile. No runner focuses on the pain while running. If they do, they lose heart and falter. No golfer stares at the bunker or the lake in fear. If they do, they will lose their game. They look at the goal and at the things that are positive in their lives and try to achieve more than they thought they could.

This is our mistake with aging. We are focusing on the wrong things. We are focusing on the hazards rather than on our goals and dreams. This is probably why we have a very negative view about aging instead of a very positive one. Aging can be a very positive thing. There are a lot of benefits to growing old. One benefit is the fact that you are alive. Another is that you have no more deadlines or schedules, no more performance reviews, no more ladders to climb. You can relax and really enjoy your life. It can be an incredible time of creativity. Some of the best artists and poets painted or wrote during their retirement years. Colonel Sanders of KFC built his business after he retired.

Another nice thing about growing old is that all your life you try to make something of yourself. You try to prove your in-laws or your parents wrong. You try to make something of your life. The wonderful thing about maturity is the fact that you are somebody, and you have always been somebody, and you don’t have to prove it anymore. It’s not something you achieve, it’s simply the gift of being born in the image of God.

Aging actually brings financial stability. People are wealthiest at the end of their lives. I get angry at McDonald’s. Senior citizens can buy a cup of coffee for 25 cents. I’m the one that needs the 25 cent cup of coffee. I have four children. I’m facing three weddings and four college tuitions. My in-laws and most older people are wealthiest at the end of their lives.

Even if we were to focus on the experience of the elderly person, we find that it is not that bad. Here is a realistic picture, despite what our society says, about growing old:

*80% of you who are 55 and older will live and die living independently at home. Only 5% of those 55 and older today will live in a nursing home, and only half of those are there because of the effects of aging. Half of them are there simply because they have outlived everyone and there is no one left at home to take care of them.

*69% of those over 65 say their health is excellent. 85% say they are functionally healthy. Only 15% are unhealthy, and it is not due to the effects of aging. When they study this, it is due to the effects of their former lifestyles. As you get to retirement age, nearly all health problems are preventable and curable. They respond to proper diet and exercise, rest, avoiding alcohol, drugs, smoking and excessive eating. If you do these things, you will reap much benefit as you grow older.

*10% of the population will experience any form of senility of varying degrees. Again, this is not due to aging. This is due more to malnutrition, a tumor, drug use and abuse, depression, boredom, lack of hope, disuse of the mind, or the expectation that you will become forgetful and so you do. The only thing that changes mentally as you grow older is that it takes you longer to process information. Why? Because there is more information to process. Your data banks are very full at that time.

*Only 13% of people 65 and older said that they were lonely. Young people were the largest population group that admitted to loneliness. When asked, 65% of them say that they are lonely.

*45% of people 65 and older said that their lives could be better versus 49% of those who are under 65.

Can you see the real image of aging here? We always focus on the negatives and the reality is that it is much better than we think. Paul tells us that the proper image is not to focus on the hazards of aging, but to focus on the unseen. What is the unseen? For Christians, it means not focusing on the temporary, the material, or the past. It means we focus on the eternal, the spiritual, the purposeful, the dream, what lies ahead, and the possibilities. If we do that, Paul says that we are renewed day by day. We experience an eternal glory that will not fade.

What are some of those things that are unseen? Well, in this text it is the resurrection, eternal life, heaven, God’s kingdom. It is realizing that with every day that passes we are not counting down our lives, we are counting up to our experience of heavenly glory. Paul says that what seem to be unsurmountable problems will be come light and momentary as we focus on heaven. It’s like having an experience of pain and then years later it’s hard to remember the pain. That will be our eternal experience, and that gives us hope now knowing that our wasting away won’t last forever. It is temporary. As we become older, we come closer to the light. If we are going to experience a more satisfying life, one thing we can do is become closer to that unseen world. One of the great gifts we have is time. Spend some time drawing close to the light. As your life is drawn closer to that light, may your heart and soul be drawn as well. As you draw closer to God, his promise is that he will draw closer to you.

Although our bodies are wasting away, our spiritual experience will be a growing satisfaction of being renewed day by day, so much so that in walking with our Lord in our lives, when we hit those shadow times the light of his glory will penetrate that darkness and we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death because he will be with us always.

The unseen represents much more for Paul. Paul did not retire to give up. He kept going, which is an issue I want to raise here. Many children of elderly people attempt to bumper-proof their parents’ lives so that they can squeeze out every ounce of time with them in this life. They limit their parents to such a degree that the parents end their lives watching television and gumming applesauce. That’s unfortunate, because I don’t see Paul doing that. I think it is a shifting of our focus from enjoying and living our lives to making sure we don’t die or that our parents never die or keep from dying. Can you see the shift in focus from something that is positive to something that is negative? I want to keep my parents from dying versus I want to let my parents live and enjoy their lives. We should enjoy our lives and not bumper-proof them to the degree that we squeeze one hundred years out but we don’t live because we died way before. We find that Paul lived his life to the full serving his lord, giving all that he could, until Christ took him home.

What unfulfilled dreams do you have? That’s the unseen. Fulfill them. What places have you always wanted to see but haven’t? See them. What skills have you wanted to develop but didn’t have time for? Develop them. What educational level did you hope to attain? What goals have you left unaccomplished? Accomplish those goals, get your degree. I don’t care what age you are. If you see a need in the community that you have always wanted to fulfill, meet that need. If there is a ministry in the church that you’ve always wanted to start, start it. If you always wanted to be a missionary, become one. If you always wanted to do something positive with your finances, form a trust and do it. If you always wanted to spend time with your kids and grandkids but because you were working so much you didn’t have time, spend time with your children and grandchildren now. Don’t let society, don’t let your kids, and don’t let yourself put you on the sidelines or on a shelf. You are very useful. Make your life count. Finish well.

Think of Paul’s life. All his life he looked over his shoulder because people wanted to kill him. He experienced distress all through his life. He was beaten with rods, he was flogged with 39 lashes five times, he was nearly stoned to death, he was shipwrecked three times, he was lost at sea for a day, he was opposed every-where, he was slandered and maligned and ridiculed inside and outside the church. At the end of his life he was alone. He had no spouse, no home, no major medical insurance, no retirement center, and he was in prison with an incurable disease. Yet, what was his attitude? How does he end his life? Here’s what he says: “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Although outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

How can we have such an attitude? Do what Paul did. Don’t focus on the problems and the hazards. When you see a rosebush, do you see a flower with nasty thorns that prick you, or do you see a thorn bush beautified by flowers? Think of the difference in focus. What is your focus of aging. Our focus should be on the opportunities that we have and things that we can do, the unseen, drawing closer to the Lord, living our lives so that we can walk with him. If we do this, aging can become like an antique car. Think of that image. That could be your image of old age.

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Trust And Obey

by Paul Fritz

God Chose and Guided Abraham (Genesis 11:27-12:20)

Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master”.
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 22.

1. Aim: To lead the people to understand how God chose and guided Abraham because of his faith and obedience

2. Explanation of the Aim: Everyone needs to know that God has specially created them for a unique purpose. God chose and guided Abraham as an example of how He blesses those who trust and obey Him.

God not only calls Abraham out of his familiar surroundings but sets him apart for special service, blessings and future multiplication purposes.

Ask God to help you realize all the ways that Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God. Instead, Abraham chose to grow more mature in faith by going to a land that he knew nothing about.

Let us learn how to give God greater glory through a remarkable faith as demonstrated in our obedience to His promises.

(Gen. 11:27-12:20)

Great people of faith act in such a way that they have a confident expectation that God will do what He says. Abraham experienced some anxious moments, but refused to give in to fear and looked beyond the superficial difficulties to move where God directed him to go.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen and the assurance of things hoped for. As a result, Abraham has been known as the Father of faith. His life is an example of how we should trust God to use us in great ways since the things that are impossible with men are possible with God. (Luke 1:37)

Whenever God tells us to do something we can be assured that even though it may not make human sense at the time, it will always result in our best interests.

Just as God fulfilled all of His promises to Abraham so we can claim all the promises in Christ according to 2 Cor. 1:20 which says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken to us to the glory of God.”

Allow the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s promises to be appropriated in all aspects of your life, relationships and ministries.

Understand some of the difficulties that Abraham faced in leaving his home to a strange land.

How would you feel if you were told that you must prepare to leave everything behind and go to a place they had never heard of before?

The BIBLE STORY focuses on Abraham’s faith and obedience that God blessed in ways that demonstrate the Lord’s complete dependability regardless of outward circumstances.

Concentrate on looking at the trust and obedience that God blessed in the heart of Abraham.

How can we grow in our trust and obedience to God. Even if you have been a Christian for a long time you can mature in your trust and obedience as you seek to be more like Jesus in every way. Perhaps you need to express your faith and willingness to obey God in regards to studying your Bible, witnessing, praying and following the directions of those who are over you in the Lord.

What are some of the things that frighten people about having to go to a new place that is completely strange to them? Why?

What are some of the reasons why a person like Abraham might hesitate to go to a completely strange land when he has everything he needs in his own area?

Why do you think that God often tests our faith? How do you think people are able to grow in their faith?

What are some of the ways that you can determine if a person has great faith in God and in His promises?

One time Abraham was directed by God to go to a strange land and he went, not knowing what was ahead. God rewarded Abraham’s faith and obedience and will do the same for anyone who will take Him at His word.

The Bible Story (Gen. 11:27- 12:20)

1. Abraham’s faith is tested when God directs him to leave the things he loves the most, his land, his security and his dearest friends. But God knew what was best because Abraham’s land had become idolatrous, his family and friends were a constant temptation to him and he could not continue there without being infected by his surroundings.

2. God’s directives are always best even though they may seem difficult to adhere to at the time. Whenever we leave our human dependencies and rely completely on God and His word we will never be disappointed. Learn to replace all the negative human responses of our old sinful nature with the positive aspects of faith, love, and hope that come from the Spirit that empowers us to do whatever God asks of us.

3. God guided Abraham because he was willing to abandon his natural affections for divine grace in determining his future. Only when we are willing to replace the negative desires of our sinful nature with the positive responses given to us by the Holy Spirit are we able to discern God’s best for our relationships, ministries and directions. Jesus said, “Unless a person is willing to love me so much that it would appear that they hate their own Father, Mother, wife etc, they cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:26)

4. God always wants to know if we are willing to be completely yielded to His will before He reveals greater plans for our life. We need to learn how to be faithful in the little things before we can expect God to give us greater responsibilities. Jesus said, “If you have not been faithful in the little things, who will give you responsibilities over much.” (Luke 16:10-12) Whenever our natural affections come into competition with God’s choices we must learn to yield all of our rights to the Lord.

6. God guided Abraham as long as he demonstrated great faith and obedience to His word. When people consistently exhibit a trusting and obedient heart to the scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit, they will enjoy the blessings of being guided in the best paths of life. Jesus said, “If anyone is willing to do my will, they will know of the correct teaching.” (John 7:17) Abraham was willing to abandon the sinful environment of his homeland because God was preparing him to do a new thing in his life and also through his descendants of the faith.

7. God is able to make a way in the wilderness and a stream in the desert for anyone who looks to Him alone for their directives. (Isa. 43:10-13) Let the Lord guide you through His word, through prayer and through godly counselors.

8. God directed Abraham through a special covenant when He said, “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:1-3)

9. God’s promises help us determine what directions the Lord wants us to take in our decisions. Abraham knew that every promise God makes is conditioned on our obedience and trust in His will. Unless he was willing to listen and follow God’s commands he could not expect to receive any more revelation, instruction or illumination about the next best decision to take.

10. The more we obey God, the more He reveals about His will for our life. If you want to know what God wants you to do tomorrow you must be first do everything He asks of you today.

Here are suggestions in growing in your trust and obedience. Ask yourselves these questions:

God’s will is determined by seven main criteria:

1). What the Bible tell us to do?

2). Have we sought out advice from godly counselors? 3). Have we prayed and asked God for directions?

4). Have we consulted with people who are our spiritual mentors?

5). Have we discerned where the Lord gives us the greater peace and joy in our service to Him?

6). Have we understood how we can use our spiritual gifts for God’s kingdom priority purposes

7). What are the ways we can best help the church grow in qualitative and quantitative measures?

Let us explore how Abraham serves as a great example for a person who trusted and obeyed the Lord and was blessed for doing God’s will even though it might not have made sense at the time.

Romans 4:20,21 – “Yet, he did not waver through unbelief, but was strengthened in his faith…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”

“He leadeth me Oh precious thought. Oh words with heavenly comfort fraught. Whatever I do, wherever I be. Still, tis God’s hand that leadeth me.”

Ask the Lord to guide, lead and provide all the wisdom you need to discern God’s best will for your life.

Where our Captain bids us go,

‘Tis not ours to murmur no;

He that gives the sword and shield

Chooses too the battlefield

Where we are to fight the foe.

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TAKING INVENTORY

Psalm 32:1-11

by Joseph Mcculley

Once upon a time, I worked at a grocery store. At another time I worked for a plastics company. At both of these places we would take an inventory every so often. We would count all the items and ensure what was on the books matched with what we actually had on hand. Most businesses do this sort of thing on a regular basis.

Also, at the end of a year most businesses attempt to reconcile all of their accounts. If a customer owes them they may try to collect it. If they owe money, maybe they will try to settle that account. We recently reconciled our bank account and to make sure everything balanced out.

Likewise, I think the end of the year is a good time for us to look back on the past year (or longer if necessary) and take inventory of our lives and ensure we don’t have any open accounts that need our attention.

King David did this in Ps. 32.

David & Bathsheba’s sin; Uriah killed; David attempts to hide his sin by marrying Bathsheba. About 1 year passes and David has been greatly weighed down by his terrible sin. Finally, Nathan, the prophet, comes to confront David. David makes things right between himself and God.

People need to take inventory of their lives and settle any open accounts they have.

The Forms of sin found in our lives (1-2).

As we are taking inventory over this past year, we need to pay special attention to sins in our lives, they come in various forms.

Transgressions = rebellion against a rightful authority whether God or man; a malicious and forcible opposition to God

Sins = “a coming short of the mark”, not doing one’s duty, failing to live up to expectations

Iniquities = moral crookedness, wrong doing, infraction of God’s law

Guile = an insincerity, a cunning, a falseness to self, others or to God.

I spell these out with an attempt to try to get you to think of some ways in which you might have sinned against God or man. However, the first three are often used collectively to refer to all past misdeeds whether against God or man.

The Effects of sin our lives (2-4).

Physical problems (Bones waxed old, v.3) –

See Psalm 6:2

Outward behavior can adversely affect us inwardly. Sin can cause all sorts of health problems. Sin can cause premature aging which is certainly implied here.

Spiritual Anguish (my roaring, v. 3b) – (see Psalm 6:2)

roaring = groaning from terrible suffering (Ps. 22 and Is. 53).

Conviction (God’s heavy hand, v. 4)

Conviction is the reason for the physical problems and the spiritual anguish.

Sapped Vitality (moisture is turned into drought, v.4).

All dried up, dehydrated. Ever been dehydrated? That is the idea here, not moisture, totally sapped of energy and you become lethargic.

David experienced these effects of sin as long as he kept silent about his sin (v.3). This then leads us to see what the remedy for sins committed is.

The Remedy for sins in our lives (v.5).

Acknowledge your sins

acknowledge (yada) = to know, to own up to

Don’t hide your sins

Hide = to conceal by covering over

We must not try to hide our sins from God.

How futile it is to try to hide something from a God who is sees and knows everything. When we quit trying to cover sin ourselves, that is when God, Himself will cover it.

When we cover things, the result is they stay fresh (like food) or they stay hot (like coffee in the mugs the Jenkins gave us).

When God covers it, He remembers them no more.

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Heb. 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

Confess your sins

Make no reservations, no excuses, no attempts to hold fast and hide some small part of your sin. Please compare what was just said with the following verses: Prov. 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.” 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“God is swifter to forgive than we are to confess” (Scroggie, p.187).

All sin is ultimately against God, so we need to confess sin to Him, but at times we may need to go to another person(s) too.

Biblical Principles:

When we know that we have sinned against a person we are to that person and seek forgiveness (Matt. 5).

When others have sinned against us, then we are to go to that person(s) and let them know so that we can have reconciliation (Matt. 18).

One lady told Glenna that she believed Glenna was doing something wrong and that I, as pastor, would not approve, therefore she should stop what she was doing. Glenna, came to me (without mentioning any names) to ensure that she wasn’t doing anything that I disapproved of. I assured her that what she was doing was perfectly alright by me. I commended her for doing the right thing. The only way she could know for sure if I was offended or not was to come and talk to me about it.

A while back, I was joking around and hurt someone by my comment. I was told about how I had hurt the person, so I had to go to them and ask for their forgiveness.

The Results of sins removed in our lives (6-10).

You will encourage others to seek forgiveness too (v.6)

You know the blessedness of having sins forgiven.

You will want other to receive forgiveness too “while He may be found”.

There will be a time when forgiveness will no longer be an option.

Time will run out.

Time to settle differences here on earth will run out. (told not to let the sun go down).

Time to ask for God’s forgiveness will run out too.

You will experience security (v.7).

Sin in a person’s life will cause doubt and insecurity.

Sin will cause a Christian to doubt if he is even saved…..

You will hear God’s instructions and guidance (8).

You will understand God’s Word (instruction, teachings). Sin can certainly hinder/block your understanding of Scripture.

Guidance with the eye is gentle guidance. God will not have to hit you over the head with a 2X4 in order to get your attention.

You will understand why God sometimes allows trials in your life (9).

A bit and bridle do not keep the horse from the rider, but near to the rider.

Likewise, God sometimes uses things in our lives (like a bit & bridle, that we may not like too much) to keep us near to Himself, not to drive us far from Him.

You will see God’s mercy, gladness & joy (10-11).

Today, in Psalm 32 we have seen:

The Forms of sin found in our lives (1-2).

The Effects of sin our lives (2-4).

The Remedy for sins in our lives (v.5).

The Results of sins removed in our lives (6-10).

If you are able to get on your knees and pray to God.

Take inventory of your life.

Ask Him to show you the sins in your life.

When He shows them to you-confess them.

Ask Him if you need to go another person and seek their forgiveness too.

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ST. NICHOLAS: THE BELIEVER
Part 7 of 7

by Eric & Lana Elder

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU! I hope this Christmas is especially meaningful to you this year, as Christ would love to make Himself real to you in a special way. Today, I’m posting the conclusion of our story, St. Nicholas: The Believer. 

While the stories I’ve shared in this book have been selected from the many stories that have been told about Saint Nicholas over the years, these were told so that you might believe–not just in Nicholas, who was indeed a very real person who lived back in the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D, but also in Jesus Christ, his Savior, who was indeed a very real person who inspired Nicholas to do the incredible things he did. The reason I shared these stories in this book is the same reason the Apostle John wrote down the stories he recorded about Jesus in the Bible. John said he wrote his stories:

“…that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).

Nicholas would want the same for you. He would want you to become what he was: a Believer.

If you’ve never done so, put your faith in Jesus Christ today, asking Him to forgive you of your sins and giving you the assurance that you will live with Him forever.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, let this story remind you just how precious your faith really is. Renew your commitment today to serve Christ as Nicholas served Him: with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. God really will work all things together for good. As the Bible says:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

With Love,
Eric Elder

ST. NICHOLAS: THE BELIEVER
A new story for Christmas based on the old story of St. Nicholas
by Eric & Lana Elder