Christ Is the Focus of Christian Existence

Posted by David on August 24, 2003 under Sermons

I want to begin by reading the statement made in John 6:59-69:
These things He [Jesus] said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Human life is a mess. It has been since people allowed evil to be an active force in human life. There are two overriding realities in human existence. One is what I would call the “reality of right now.” The other is the “reality of eternity.”

We humans make an enormous mess out of the “reality of right now.” Then we make a bad situation worse. Most humans do not even deal with the “reality of eternity.”

In the reading we just looked at, I focus your attention on this fact: Jesus was talking to disciples. He had just finished telling them that he was the bread of life. “Just as your forefathers ate manna in the wilderness and lived, you can live if you eat me.”

The disciples who heard this statement said (my paraphrase) , “Whoa! What is he talking about? That is a hard thing (impossible?) to understand. That statement is totally unreasonable. We cannot continue to follow a man who says those things?!”

As a result, many disciples left him and did not follow him any more. The exodus from following Jesus was so great that Jesus asked the twelve if they, too, were leaving. Peter responded, “Where would we go? Only you can tell us about eternal life. Only you are God’s holy one.”

The one thing I want you to notice: the catastrophe of following Jesus only as long as we consider what Jesus says as reasonable and understandable. If a person accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that person allows Jesus to teach him or her everything about living–Jesus becomes the focus of that person’s life, and nothing is “off limits,” nothing is unreasonable because Jesus is my guide as I deal with the “reality of eternity.”

1. Read with me Colossians 3:15-4:1.
   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven
   1. Notice these things as we carefully examine this scripture from an overall perspective.
      1. If the Christians at Colossae understood what it meant to give yourself to Jesus Christ, three things would result.
         1. The peace of Christ would rule their hearts.
            1. Why?
            2. Two reasons: as the redeemed, they had God’s forgiveness; and as the forgiven, they were existing for the “reality of eternity.”
         2. The word of Christ would live in them.
            1. Why?
            2. Jesus was the only one who could tell them how to live in “the reality of now” for the “reality of eternity.”
         3. The result: everything they did was influenced by Jesus Christ.
            1. They were thankful to be the redeemed.
            2. They acted like the redeemed.
            3. They thanked God for the opportunity to be the redeemed.
      2. Then Paul gave them some specific, real, every day examples of the meaning of letting the peace of Christ rule you, the word of Christ living in you, and letting everything in your life be influenced by Jesus Christ.
         1. Christian wives would honor their husbands “because it was fitting in the Lord.”
         2. Christian husbands would love their wives taking care not to make them resent them.
         3. Christian children would honor the directives of their parents because “this is well pleasing to the Lord.”
         4. Christian fathers would not exasperate their children causing the child to lose heart.
         5. Christian slaves would obey their masters, their owners.
            1. Not just externally obey them to make them happy.
            2. But sincerely obey them in reverence for the Lord.
            3. No matter what job they did, they worked for their master as if they were working for the Lord.
            4. Why? Because they really belonged to the Lord; they were his servants; he would reward them with an inheritance (the “eternal reality” rather than the “now reality.”)
         6. Christian master would treat their slaves with justice and fairness.
            1. A slave would be much more than just some “property” they owned.
            2. The Christian master must never forget the eternal reality–he, too, has a master.
      3. Pay careful attention to Paul’s emphasis.
         1. Ask and answer the question “WHY.”
            1. Did Christian wives treat their husbands with respect because all husbands deserve such treatment?
            2. Do Christian husbands love their wives because all wives deserve it?
            3. Do Christian children respect their parents because all parents deserve it?
            4. Do Christian fathers give great consideration to how they treat their children because children are deserving?
            5. Do Christian slaves work hard for their masters because all masters are deserving of such effort?
            6. Do Christian masters deal with their slaves as persons instead of property because all slaves are deserving?
         2. NO!
            1. They did it because everything they did in their total lives was done in the name of (to the benefit of) the Lord Jesus.
            2. Christians had the privilege of representing the Lord Jesus in every aspect of every relationship in their lives.
            3. It is the Christians’ commitment to represent the Lord well every single day in every single matter.
   2. Let me predict the reaction of at least some of us who are Christians: “That is the most ridiculous thing I every heard of! Everyone understands that religion should have its place in every man or woman’s life, but that idea is taking religion much to far.”
      1. Really? That depends on how the Christian deals with the eternal reality.
      2. If you think that is my emphasis and not Paul’s, allow me to call a couple of Paul’s statements to your attention.
         1 Corinthians 10:31-33 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
         1. First, focus on the context of this statement.
            1. Paul told the Christians who were not Jews to avoid the mistakes that Israel made.
            2. He told them that in every consideration they needed to run from idolatry because it is their spiritual enemy.
            3. These people had some religious and social problems that many of us do not have.
            4. Religious occasions were sacrifice and eating occasions–in both Judaism and in paganism.
            5. Social occasions were often a combination of a religious occasion and a social occasion.
            6. Christians often found themselves in circumstances that demanded they make choices–even in something as simple as food and drink.
         2. Listen carefully to Paul’s instructions.
            1. Notice he did not give them a long list of rules.
            2. He gave them instead two simple principles to always be aware of as they make difficult choices.
            3. First, be certain that God is glorified (not compromised!) in everything you do.
            4. Second, show genuine consideration for the people you are with–Jews, people who are not Jews, the church.
            5. He said that is what I do–I do not seek my benefit, but other’s salvation.
            6. So even what a Christians eats or drinks, he wants God to be honored and others be respected.
               1 Corinthians 7:21-24 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
         3. Paul answered a question the Christians at Corinth sent him concerning marriage.
            1. In Corinth at that time Paul said my encouragement is this: whatever was your situation when you came to Christ, stay in that situation.
            2. Singles, stay single; married, stay married; circumcised (Jews) stay as circumcised; uncircumcised (non-Jews) stay as uncircumcised.
            3. Whatever you were when you became a Christian, remain in that situation as a Christian.
         4. In the reading I think Paul carried that fact to its ultimate situation.
            1. When you became a Christian were you a slave? Then be a Christian slave.
            2. When you became a Christian were you a master (slave owner)? Then be a Christian slave owner knowing that you, too, have a Master.

Bottom line, what is the spiritual reality for every man or woman who is a Christian any place on earth? No matter what situation a person is in, he or she can be a Christian in that situation. The Christian objective is not to find the “ideal situation”; the objective is to represent God well in the way I live where I am. Why? Because I have finally understood the “eternal reality,” and in Christ I devote my life to that reality.

“On That Day …”

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

Matthew 7:21-23, Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

In every generation God’s people fall to this enormous temptation: substituting “being technically correct” for faith in God, His son [Jesus Christ], and His presence in our lives [the Holy Spirit]. Once we fall to that temptation, we quickly surrender to another: placing faith in our acts of “technical correctness” instead of placing faith in God.

In a lesson [Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7], Jesus contrasted the emphasis in his teachings with the emphasis in the Pharisees’ teachings. Before we “trash the Pharisees,” recognize the good things to say about them: their faith in God was enormous; they promoted spiritual cleanness and meticulous keeping of the Sabbath; they were experts in scripture [as Jesus acknowledged in Matthew 23:2,3]; to them scripture was a living expression of God’s self-revelation, God inspired; they thought scripture must regulate all of life; they thought scripture should be protected.

We agree with them in all those matters. Unfortunately, too many of us agree with them on another matter. They believed “technical correctness was the essential evidence proving people belonged to God.” Thus, a faith in God that changed life was insignificant if the person was not “technically correct.” Of course, they determined what was and was not “technically correct.”

Near the close of Matthew 5-7, Jesus included a judgment scene lesson. On that day some were excluded who were certain they should be included. “What an injustice! Do you know who we are? Do you know what we did? We prophesied in Your name! [Jesus prophesied.] We cast out demons in Your name! [Jesus cast demons out.] We performed numerous miracles in Your name! [Jesus performed numerous miracles.]”

In Jesus’ day, these great evidences proved God sent the person: being a prophet with power over demons who could perform many miracles. To do this in “Your name” irrefutably proved the person represented Jesus with “technical correctness.”

Jesus, the judge on that day, ordered these people to depart from him. Why? Carefully note the reason. They were ordered to depart from Jesus on that day because of the way they lived. “You mean a person can do what is ‘technically correct’ and still be rejected by Jesus on that day?” Jesus said it would happen.

Should we seek correctness before God? Yes! Is “correctness” a substitute for godly living? Never! We cannot earn salvation, but we can show by our lives how deeply we appreciate salvation. We will not regret godly lives on that day. Be as well as know!

God’s Chosen, part 3

Posted by David on August 17, 2003 under Sermons

Tonight I want to discuss with you the third lesson which focuses on God’s Chosen. In the first lesson we noted that it is inherently a part of God’s nature to chose. In the second lesson we noted God’s choices focus in God’s nature, not in human approval. We also noted the people always have tended to trust themselves rather than God.

Tonight I want to begin by asking you to react to a statement. When you hear the word “election,” or the word “elect,” or the words “God’s elect,” do those words have an initial negative impact on you or a positive impact on you?

For many people in the Churches of Christ, such words have an immediate, initial negative impact. When they begin their study of God’s election, they begin conditioned to think negative thoughts. Very often they begin with a negative perspective created by negative thoughts that is more concerned about explaining away scripture rather than understanding scripture.

That is very unfortunate. One of the most encouraging teachings given to Christians by scripture is the teaching of election. To reject scripture’s concept of election is to reject one of the greatest encouragements God gives us in Christ.

1. I want us to begin this evening by focusing on a part of God’s nature: God’s sovereignty.
   1. The fact that God is sovereign basically means that God is so superior to any human or any group of humans that God does what He chooses to do.
      1. God does not have to acquire or seek human approval for His choices or His actions.
      2. God made us; we did not make God.
      3. In every way God is superior to us and commonly in His superiority He is above our understanding.
      4. The Christian understands that fact to be a good thing, not a bad thing.
         1. God is by His divine nature a just God, so [no matter how things might appear to some human perspectives] God will never act in injustice.
         2. God is by His divine nature a faithful God [trustworthy, will not fail those who place their confidence in Him, will not fail to keep His promises].
         3. Even when we do not understand Him or His actions, He is just and faithful.
      5. What does that mean?
         1. It means that from the human perspective, He is deserving of confidence, but He is not predictable as humans understand predictability.
         2. For example, we can always trust God to keep His promises, but He often keeps His promises by taking an unpredictable route–consider His selection of Jacob, and His sending Jesus to become the Christ.
         3. It means He is consistent, but not always from the human concept of consistency–consider David’s forgiveness when he was guilty of adultery and murder; consider God’s dedication to opposing evil.
         4. There will always be more involved in God’s decisions and choices than the most intelligent human or group of humans will conceive or grasp.
      6. That is a good thing, not a bad thing. That is a blessing to humans, not a curse to humans.
         1. From the perspective of human reasoning, divine mercy is unjust–God is kind to us when we do not deserve His kindness.
         2. From the perspective of human reasoning, divine grace is unjust–God is good to us when we do not deserve His goodness.
         3. From the perspective of human reasoning, divine forgiveness is unjust–God forgives us when we do not deserve His forgiveness.
   2. Godly people [those who were close to God and allowed God to rule their lives] always understood the sovereignty of God surpassed human understanding.
      1. Consider some of the declarations found in scripture.
         Psalm 8:3-9 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
         Psalm 139:1-6 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
         Psalm 145:1-3 I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.
         Isaiah 55:6-9 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
         Romans 11:33,34 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
         1 Corinthians 2:6-8 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
      2. God is just, trustworthy, and praise worthy, but God exceeds our understanding.

2. The basis of God’s choosing, of God’s election is placing confidence in Jesus Christ.
   1. Permit me to state that fact in ways that many challenge your thinking.
      1. It is confidence in what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection that gives power and meaning to baptism, not baptism that gives meaning to Jesus Christ.
      2. It is confidence in what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection that gives power and meaning to the church, not the church that gives power and meaning to Jesus Christ.
      3. It is confidence in what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection that gives power and meaning to human repentance, not human repentance that gives power and meaning to Jesus Christ.
      4. It is confidence in what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection that gives power and meaning to human obedience, not human obedience that gives power and meaning to Jesus Christ.
   2. Let me illustrate these statements by Paul’s teaching found in his letter to Christians at Colossae.
      1. The congregation [group of Christians associating in] Colossae had quite a distorted understanding of what it meant to be spiritual.
         1. Some of them thought a synthesis of pagan beliefs and Christian emphases was the key to being spiritual.
         2. Some of them thought practices of physical self denial was the key to being spiritual.
         3. Some of them thought the teachings and practices of Judaism was the key to being spiritual.
      2. Paul said the key to understanding the mysteries of God was Jesus Christ.
         1. The key to understanding God’s mystery of salvation for people who are not Jews is not pagan thoughts.
         2. The key to understanding God’s mystery of salvation for people who are not Jews is not ascetic practices.
         3. The key to understanding God’s mystery of salvation for people who are not Jews is not Jewish traditions.
      3. The key is this: Christ in you, the hope of glory (1:27).
         1. Having Christ in you will provide you salvation–that is the mystery!
         2. The full riches of God’s glory are found in Christ.
         3. All you need in order to have every blessing God gives is to have Jesus Christ living in your life.
   3. I call your attention to Paul’s emphasis on Christ to Christians at Colossae.
      Colossians 2:1-3 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
      Colossians 2:8-12 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
      Colossians 2:20-23 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)–in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
      Colossians 3:1-3 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
      Colossians 3:9-11 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him–a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
      Colossians 3:12-17 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

3. God chooses those who place their confidence in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
   Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
   1. God chooses those who place their confidence in Christ.
   2. It is not an individual election, but a corporate election.
      1. It is not an individual “you are in and you are out.”
      2. It is a “anyone who places his/her confidence in Jesus Christ is in.”
   3. In our society we commonly practice that form of election frequently.
      1. When a teacher predetermines a grading system, that is a form of corporate election.
      2. When someone uses a job description as the basis of hiring, that is a form of corporate election.

The concept of God’s choosing is frightening only if a person is terrified of God because he/she loves evil. It is a comforting, encouraging, reassuring concept to the person who, by desire, comes to God. God is bigger than people. Because we are God’s elect, God will not fail us.

The Gift and the Response

Posted by David on under Sermons

This morning I want to begin with a question. I want you keep this question in your thoughts as we discuss a specific situation. The question:

Now consider the situation. I want to use a situation that everyone of us, without exception, has experienced. Each of us has been a child. Not one single person here, regardless of your age, has not been a child. Our childhood experiences were not alike, but all of us were born to someone and all of us had a childhood. No one’s childhood was perfect. No one had perfect parents. No one grew up in a flawless environment.

Think for a moment about an exceptional childhood experience. In an exceptional experience: (please remember that we are talking about the exceptional experience–there is no intent or desire to dredge up horrible memories or stir regrets)

1. The child has a nurturing mother and a nurturing father and is allowed to grow up in a two parent family.

2. The child has a mother and father who love each other, and the child is the product of that love and a recipient of that love. Thus the child grows up in a love environment created by a father and mother.

3. The child is never emotionally or physically abused, never victimized by the parents’ anger, never emotionally or physically neglected, never emotionally or physically exploited.

4. The child is only expected to be, not expected to prove.

5. Therefore the child is encouraged, challenged, guided in helpful directions, provided with good examples.

Now ask the question. If any child is fortunate enough to have that exceptional experience for eighteen years, how can he or she pay his or her parents back for that exceptional experience? The child cannot pay his or her parents back for an exceptional childhood. The child can only allow that exceptional experience contribute to who he or she is and what he or she becomes.

Sometime ago I was talking to my daughter who is in California. She was thanking Joyce and me. That week she was with a group of girl friends, and they were discussing in specifics their horrible experiences they had in their homes as children. She said, “I could not relate to what they said. I never had those experiences.”

My point is not that Joyce and I were ideal parents. I will not presume to speak for Joyce, but it surely would have been wonderful if I understood forty years ago what I understand now. My point: some experiences are gifts to be appreciated. All we can do is appreciate them. We can never pay them back.

I would be surprised if anyone did not understand that truth in his/her heart of hearts.

1. With that question and that understanding in mind, allow me to direct your attention to salvation and judgment.
   1. Allow me to give you some contrasts regarding salvation and judgment.
      1. Salvation is a gift that flows from God’s mercy and grace; godly living is our response to God’s gift.
      2. Salvation is God’s gift; judgment is an evaluation of our lives as the saved.
      3. Forgiveness is the gift of God’s mercy; obedience is expressed appreciation for forgiveness.
      4. Redemption focuses on God’s gift; judgment focuses on the redeemed’s life.
   2. There is nothing we can do to deserve the mercy in God’s forgiveness.
      1. Nobody deserves to be saved from his or her sins.
      2. The only response we can give to this gift is a godly life.
      3. We can appreciate salvation and show our appreciation by obedience.
      4. We cannot pay God back for what He does for us in saving us.

2. I do not ask you to take my word for what I have just said. Instead, I ask you to listen from your heart as we read Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:1-10.
   And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
   1. As Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus, note these things in your full awareness that Paul spoke to Christians who were converted from idolatry.
      1. “First, you need to understand that you had no life in you.”
         1. “You were dead.”
         2. “You were a bunch of lifeless corpses.”
         3. I seriously doubt that any people any where at any time would respond to Paul’s observation with, “Yes, indeed! Are you ever right, Paul!
         4. You would not! I would not! In fact, we would fight Paul’s description.
      2. “Paul, what ever do you mean? We were religious! We believed in some form of deity! Why would you ever say we were corpses back then?”
         1. “I would say that because of the way you lived and what you allowed to control your lives.”
         2. “What are you talking about?”
            1. “You allowed ungodly influences in society to determine what you thought and how you acted.”
            2. “How you behaved was controlled by Satan, not by God–and Satan specializes in spiritually killing people, not in giving them life.”
            3. “In fact, if anyone looked inside you and looked inside people who defied God, he or she would not see anything different.”
         3. “Just look at how you lived and acted:”
            1. “Your passions determined your behavior.”
            2. “You indulged your body and your emotions on the basis of desire.”
            3. “The way you lived and acted insulted God and rightly filled Him with wrath toward your ungodliness.”
      3. Paul: “All the credit for your salvation goes to God, not to you.”
         1. “You were saved because of God’s great love.”
         2. “You were saved because of God’s mercy.”
         3. “God through Jesus Christ gave our dead bodies life.”
         4. “Never forget that this life came from God’s grace.”
         5. “Just like He resurrected Jesus from the grave, God resurrected you.”
      4. “The most astounding act of God’s grace goes far beyond God giving our dead bodies life through Jesus Christ–the most astounding thing God gives us through grace are the gifts He provides us when we are in Jesus Christ.”
      5. “There are two things I want you to understand:”
         1. “I want you to understand your salvation comes from God, not yourselves.”
         2. “You have no reason or right to brag because salvation is produced by God’s kindness, not your achievements.”
         3. “BUT YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST UNDERSTAND SOMETHING:”
            1. “God is the master craftsman who brought you into existence–you are God-made, God-designed as Christians.”
            2. “The master designer had a specific reason, a specific purpose for creating you in Jesus Christ.”
            3. “God created you in order for you to do good works” (understanding that God defines what is good).”
            4. “God designed your purpose before He designed you–before Jesus came, before Christianity existed, God determined that those who accepted salvation in Christ would live their lives doing good works.”
   2. Today we must not miss the over-all point Paul made to these Christians.
      1. It matters how the man or woman who has received life in Christ lives!
      2. Christians cannot and must not live like people who do not even know God!
      3. When a Christian appreciates the salvation that God’s mercy and grace provided, he or she will show that appreciation in the way he or she lives!
      4. We cannot live and behave like godless people and appreciate our salvation!

3. Would you allow Paul to illustrate this truth in this letter in Ephesians 4:25-32?
   1. Read with me.
      Ephesians 4:25-32 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
   2. The reason Paul mentioned these things: they were happening among Christians right there in Ephesus in God’s family.
      1. Some Christians were liars.
         1. They were liars before they became Christians.
         2. They kept on lying after they became Christians.
         3. Christians speak truth to others because they now belong to the God of truth.
      2. Some Christians were angry people.
         1. They were angry people before they became Christians.
         2. They were the same angry people after they became Christians.
         3. Because they nursed their anger, they did all kinds of ungodly things.
         4. Paul said give anger a short life instead of letting your anger create opportunity for Satan.
      3. Some Christians were thieves–they existed by the selfishness of stealing.
         1. They were thieves before they became Christians.
         2. They continued to be thieves after they became Christians.
         3. Paul said because becoming a Christian changes you, you cannot continue to steal.
         4. Instead:
            1. They work instead of steal.
            2. They do what is good instead of what is evil.
            3. Their motivation was not to be selfish–their motivation was to help those who had needs (a total reversal of stealing!).
      4. Some Christians just said anything–they did not care who was hurt or offended.
         1. They had an evil tongue before they became a Christian.
         2. They had the same evil tongue after they became a Christian.
         3. Paul said Christians do not have evil tongues!
         4. They are encouragers who give grace to listeners–they care, and what they say shows it.
      5. Some Christians were working against God’s influence in their lives and gave the Holy Spirit which lived in them grief.
         1. Paul said the existence of the Holy Spirit in your lives is the mark that identifies you as a person who belongs to God.
         2. The seal Paul spoke of is a mark of identity.
         3. “Don’t make it hard for God’s presence in your life to encourage you to be closer to God.”
      6. “Purposely get rid of negative, ungodly emotions in your life.”
      7. “Give your life to kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness–and allow God’s forgiveness to be your example.”

The person who accepts God’s salvation shows his or her appreciation to God by living like a person who belongs to God.

Who or What Determines Who I Am?

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

Too often I get that “overwhelmed” feeling. I am certain you do, too. I feel it. I see others as they feel it. I watch our society glorify the choices and the forms of indulgence that guarantee the disasters of crumbling lives and empty existences. I see our world shutter as the majority is forced to drink the bitterness of hate and greed. Whether seen in persons, families, society, or the world, the effect is the same: we helplessly reel under the onslaught of so many forms of evil. We are overwhelmed!

Evil thoughts, deeds, and values are not without consequence. Even when we repent, we cannot and do not escape the consequences of evil. Without fail, God forgives us if we repent. Yet, even with God’s forgiveness, the consequences of poor decisions, poorly used lives, or past ungodly character are not escaped.

Perhaps the tragedy created by evil results from plain, simple ignorance. How often we say or think, “I had no idea this would happen!” Or, “When I made that decision I was not bargaining for this!” Or, “I never thought that would lead me to this place (situation, condition, struggle, conflict).” Or, “I just wanted to have a good time.” Or, “I was looking for fun–not making a forever decision!”

Temptation lies to us. It depends on deceit to make its lies effective. The devil does not possess the enormous, overwhelming power that forces us humans to fall to the father of lies. Satan deceived Eve. Satan deceived those responsible for Jesus’ death. Satan deceives those who conclude “here and now” is all there is. Satan deceives us when he leads us to believe, if we can classify something as “desirable,” it has no consequences. We are so foolish that we fail to grasp a truth: temptation’s deception is effective because it gets us to work against ourselves! We are betrayed by our own desires!

Nothing has changed. People’s evil desires betray them in every age. It is not the “evil out there” that is our greatest threat. It is the evil inside us that is our greatest threat. Hundreds of years ago Isaiah tried to awaken the deceived with this truth in Isaiah 5:20,21: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!”

The bottom line, “big cost item” in life has not changed in any generation. The question confronting each person always has been the same. All “glitter” and “advancements” aside, the fundamental question is (and always has been!) simply this: Who or what do we allow decide who we are? Or who do we allow to shape our values, determine our priorities, decide what is “good for us,” form our character, and guide our integrity? What forces in your life do you allow to make you you?

Ephesians 4:23,24 “… be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

God’s Chosen, part 2

Posted by David on August 10, 2003 under Sermons

This evening I want to begin with a lengthy reading. I truly want you to read with me. Pay close attention to Paul’s thoughts. After we read Romans 9, I want to call some things to your attention. Read with me.

Romans 9:1-33

When understood in context, this is one of the most frightening scriptures in the New Testament for Christians. When you focus on Paul’s concepts and take your meaning from Paul’s meaning, we Christians should be terrified.

1. Background and context:
   1. Paul endured major problems as he fulfilled his God given mission because the vast majority of Israelites of his day who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, actively opposed him.
      1. They resented him, hated him for becoming a Christian.
      2. Right after his conversion, a significant group of Jewish people created a plot to kill him because the man who was supposed to come arrest Christians was now defending Christ (Acts 9:23-25).
         1. They watched for him to leave the city so they could kill him.
         2. If it had not been for Christian Jews lowering him over the Damascus wall so he could escape, his enemies well may have succeeded.
      3. On his first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion, Jewish Christians again had to come to his rescue (Acts 9:28-30).
         1. Paul was going freely among the Jewish people who rejected Jesus as the Messiah boldly declaring Jesus was the Christ.
         2. The Hellenistic Jews (Jews who adopted the Greek language and some of the Greek culture) resented what Paul said with such fervency that they were determined to kill him.
         3. When some of the Jewish Christians understood the serious intent of some of the unbelieving Jews, they escorted Paul to the sea coast city of Caesarea (also the center for Roman authority in Palestine) and sent him home to Tarsus.
   2. It was not just the Israelites who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, but also many of the Jewish Christians who did accept Jesus who hated Paul and his message.
      1. Many Jews who became Christians fervently believed that the Messiah belonged to Israel.
         1. God loved them more than He loved anyone else.
         2. It was okay for people who were not Jews to convert to Jewish tradition first, and then become Christians.
            1. It was not all right to become Christians without first becoming Jews.
            2. They deeply resented Paul teaching non-Jews that they could be Christians without becoming Jews!
      2. There are two profound evidences of how deeply some Christians resented Paul’s message about Jesus to non-Jews.
         1. The first evidence is found in the Judaizing teachers that followed after Paul when he left a new congregation.
            1. This was a group of Jewish Christians who followed Paul and told new converts, new churches that they were not saved.
            2. The writing we call Galatians speaks about the work of these Jewish Christians who opposed Paul and his message.
            3. They told new converts that Paul did not tell them the whole truth.
            4. They told new converts that their baptism was meaningless unless they adopted Jewish teachings and customs.
         2. The second evidence is found in the false rumor they spread about Paul and his message.
            1. We are introduced to this rumor in Acts 21:19-26.
            2. The rumor: Paul (on his mission trips) was teaching Jewish people that they had to abandon Jewish practices: do not listen to Moses; do not circumcise your children; do not follow Jewish traditions.
            3. There were thousands of these Jewish Christians in Jerusalem who heard this false rumor.
            4. Paul never stopped being Jewish; he just did not bind Jewishness on non-Jews.
            5. In his mission work he did not teach Jews they had to stop being Jewish in order to be Christian.
            6. In an attempt to demonstrate the truth to Jewish Christians who believed the rumor, the church leaders asked Paul to sponsor at the Jewish temple some Jewish Christian men who had taken a Jewish vow (likely a Nazarite vow).
            7. All of this happened because of Jewish Christian’s opposition to Paul.
         3. If you are tempted to think this Jewish Christian opposition was not strong, consider Galatians 2:6-10.
            1. Paul went to Jerusalem to talk to church leaders, and that included at least some of the apostles.
            2. He wanted them to understand that God sent him as apostle to the Gentiles (people who were not Jews) in the same way that God sent Peter to the Jews as an apostle.
            3. The leaders of the church in Jerusalem agreed God did this, agreed with the gospel Paul taught non-Jews, and gave Paul the right hand of fellowship.

2. In the text we read, Romans 9, I call your attention to some things.
   1. Why did many Israelites, both Christian and non-Christian, resent Paul’s message so much?
      1. They believed they were special just because of their physical heritage–they were special because the were the descendants of Abraham through Isaac.
      2. If what Paul said was true, they were not special in the way they considered themselves special.
      3. In their thinking, if Paul’s message to the non-Jews was correct that had to mean that God had not kept His promises to Israel.
      4. They placed their faith in their commitment to their system and its functions, not their God and His purposes–they were special because of who they were and what they did, not because of what their God had done.
   2. Paul said Jewish Christians cannot “explain away” Paul’s message to people who were not Jews by saying that “Paul does not love Israel.”
      1. Paul said, “I love Israel as a nation and the Israelites as people–so much that I would be willing to be condemned to hell if it would result in their accepting Christ.”
      2. The realization that Israel rejected God’s son and all the blessings that God wished to give to them caused Paul constant sorrow and grief.
      3. Israelites, of which Paul was one, needed to realize something that could not be changed, not even if Paul went to hell for them: being an Israelite was no longer determined by physical lineage, but by faith in what God did in Jesus Christ.
   3. Paul said to Israelites, including Christian Israelite opponents, “YOU DO NOT HAVE GOD FIGURED OUT, AND YOU SURELY DO NOT OWN HIM!”
      1. They thought their past relationship with God made them special.
         1. They thought because they had scripture and the prophets for hundreds of years, they had God figured out.
         2. They did not just think it; they were sure of it.
      2. Paul said you are so focused on your system, on your procedures, that you have developed a completely mistaken view of God.
         1. God has given you some powerful insights into the way He always does things.
            1. In your earliest ancestors, Jacob and Esau, He did things the exact opposite of what society did–and Jacob and Esau had nothing to do with God’s choice because God made His choice before they were born.
            2. Moses understood that was a key part of God’s nature. Moses said in God’s voice: Romans 9:15, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
            3. God placed Pharaoh in the position Pharaoh occupied for God’s purposes: Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” (Exodus 9:16)
            4. The prophet Hosea said this is precisely what God had in mind: Romans 9:25,26 “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’ And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”
            5. Isaiah lso understood God’s intention: Romans 9:27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved.”
      3. According to Paul, why did Israel have such a huge misunderstanding of the way God works?
         1. They placed their faith that they were righteous in what they did or were doing.
         2. They did not have faith in the fact that they were righteous because of what God did for them.
         3. Their faith was misplaced; they placed their confidence in what they did instead of placing their faith in God.

3. “David, why do you regard this as such a frightening scripture as far as we are concerned?”
   1. Too many of us make the same mistake–we think we are special to God because we place confidence in what we do.
   2. Too many of us think that God chooses us because of what we do, not because of who He is.
      1. “We were baptized for the right reason, we worship in the right ways, we follow scripture.”
      2. Israel of Paul’s day said the same thing: “We were cleaned the way God said to be cleansed, we worship in the temple exactly as God told us too, we follow the scripture–and they were given to us!”
      3. They thought they were righteous because of what they did, not because of what God did.
      4. It is too easy for us to decide we are righteous because of what we do instead of because of what God did in Jesus’ death.
   3. There is a lot of difference in believing, “We are righteous because we have been baptized for the right reason and do the right things in worship,” and saying, “We are righteous because God redeemed us and atoned for us in Jesus’ blood.”

Israel of Paul’s day misplaced their faith and trusted the wrong thing because they misunderstood God. It is very easy for us to make the same mistake.

Do It Right Now, Right Here!

Posted by David on under Sermons

What is your dream? If you reach for the stars and grasp them, what will you catch? If you make your greatest ambition in life come true, what would happen? If you could give the person you love the most anything, what would you give them? If you could make one big change in our society, what would you change?

I very much need for you to listen to me in context. What I share with you this morning is not an anti-missions statement. It is not an anti-campus ministry statement. It is not an anti-C.U.R.E. statement. It is not an anti-“touch our world” statement.

I find great personal joy in our activities that reach out to other nations and other cultures. I find great personal joy in the potential of a campus ministry work. I find great personal joy in the many things resulting from C.U.R.E.’s outreach. I think it is good to stimulate all of us to dream, to think, to hope.

But sometimes we are content to do little but dream. Sometimes we think that if we dream big dreams, right here and now does not matter. Sometimes we think if we have wonderful desires that come from big dreams, that is all that matters. When that happens, we are deceived. We think we can impress God if we do something big, something important. We are deceived because we think that what impresses humans impresses God.

I surely urge you to dream big dreams for God and for God’s purposes, but I urge you to begin those dreams doing what you can do in your life right now, right here.

1. Jesus stressed the importance of serving God in the “right now” moment of life with what we have.
   1. Jesus’ ministry was conducted in a very poor nation, and most of it was conducted among very poor people.
      1. Most of us are impressed with physical things that affect lifestyle, so let me challenge you to visualize Jesus’ world in terms real to us that illustrate the poverty of that time.
         1. Among the majority that lived in Palestine, many things did not exist that you and I take for granted.
         2. There was no electricity, not street lights, no electric or gas stoves, no refrigerators, no magazines, no newspapers, no pictures, no mail service, no grocery stores, no theaters, no malls, no gas powered vehicles.
         3. There was no indoor plumbing, no indoor running water, no sinks with hot water, no showers, no bath tubs.
         4. I do not want to be gross and I am not trying to offend anyone, but I want you to realize how crude you would regard their lives–there were no feminine hygiene products of any kind, no toilet paper, no flush commodes, no under arm deodorant, no gel foam shaving cream, no tooth brushes as we have them, no tooth paste, no anti-fungal medicines, no odor eater inserts for shoes, no nail clippers, no watches, no eye glasses, no hearing aids, and none of our specialized medications.
         5. Get the picture?
      2. If you “get the picture,” I want you to listen to some statements Jesus made and place those statements in the context of the situation.
         1. The first is a statement he made to his disciples in Matthew 10:40-42.
            “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
         2. Jesus made a very similar statement to his disciples in Mark 9:38-41.
            John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”
      3. Here is my understanding of Jesus’ statement to his disciples as they participated with him in his ministry among very poor people.
         1. “Do not dream of grandeur.”
         2. “Do not focus on what wealthy people will do for you.”
         3. “Do not think in terms of position and or being part of ‘the power crowd.'”
      4. “Why should I not think from those perspectives, Jesus?”
         1. “Because those are not the things that impress God.”
         2. “God is not impressed because people say, “He/she is really important. Look at who he/she is! Look at where he/she is!” That does not impress God!
         3. “God is not impressed with wealth or the lifestyle that wealth provides.”
         4. “God is not impressed with human power”
      5. “Well, what is God impressed with?”
         1. “God is impressed with the person who demonstrates his or her faith in Him by doing what he/she can with what they have at that moment.”
         2. “If they are so poor, so powerless that all they have is a cup of cold water to give a thirsty person, God notices–and does not forget!”
   2. Did his disciples get Jesus’ point? Did they understand God’s priorities? No.
      1. There are a lot of ways to illustrate that they did not “get it.”
         1. The disciples argued all the time about which one of them was the most important.
         2. They dreamed of Jesus becoming King of Palestine so they could be his administrators as he ruled–they did not want Jesus to go back to Lazarus’ sisters near Jerusalem because they were sure the authorities would kill Jesus.
         3. Even the last night prior to Jesus’ betrayal, they would not wash each others’ feet–assuming such a lowly position doing such a distasteful task was not a very impressive deed to put on your resume for administrator!
      2. Sure, they heard Jesus tell them over and over that the greatest in the kingdom was the person who served everybody, but that was for others–not for them!

2. Allow me to illustrate the “cup of cold water principle” in two ways from scripture.
   1. The shortest of all Paul’s writings in the New Testament is his letter to Philemon.
      1. Background:
         1. In the original, this letter had less than 150 words in it.
         2. It has no doctrine in it as most people understand doctrine.
         3. It has no theology in it as most people understand theology.
         4. In fact, a number of people even wonder why it was included in the New Testament–when was the last time you studied Philemon?
      2. To me, it serves one purpose powerfully–it illustrates the cup of cold water principle.
   2. It is about a man named Onesimus who was a slave and Philemon, his master.
      1. At first Onesimus was not a Christian; his owner, Philemon, was.
      2. In some way Onesimus the slave really irritated Philemon his Christian owner–in some way the slave seriously failed the master.
         1. There is some evidence that Onesimus went all the way to Rome to ask Paul to intercede in his behalf–to do so was not regarded by Roman law as running away.
         2. While he was with Paul, Paul converted him to Jesus Christ.
         3. Then Paul wrote him a letter of intercession which he carried back to Philemon.
      3. There are many worthwhile lessons in this short letter, but I want to call your attention to just one thing.
         1. There was a congregation of Christians meeting in Philemon’s home.
         2. Paul obviously had a special relationship with Philemon.
         3. He wrote in verse 5, “Even in jail I hear about your reputation for love and for faith in Christ and Christians.”
         4. Verse 9–“On the basis of love, not authority, I make an appeal to you.”
         5. Verses 10-16–“Use your love as a Christian to receive Onesimus back as more than a slave, as a Christian brother, and treat him like a brother instead of a slave who irritated you.”
      4. I have no doubt that Philemon, as a prosperous man, could do a lot of things.
         1. Paul did not ask Philemon to use his power.
         2. He did not ask him to use his prestige.
         3. He did not ask him to do something that society would think was a huge thing.
         4. He asked him to love and forgive a slave–for a cup of cold water.
         5. “Philemon, you are a man of love–just open your heart to Onesimus as a Christian.”
   3. The second illustration comes from a parable Jesus told not long before his death (Matthew 25:31-46).
      1. He spoke about the judgment (and his audience likely thought, “That’s good!”)
      2. He spoke about the separation at judgment (and his audience likely thought, “That’s good!”)
      3. Then he talked about the basis of separation (and the subject quickly became controversial).
         1. “I was hungry and you fed me.”
         2. “I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.”
         3. “I was a stranger and you let me stay with you.”
         4. “I did not have any clothes to wear and you clothed me.”
         5. “I was sick and you came to see me.”
         6. “I was in prison and you did not desert me.”
      4. Just one thing to note: they did what they could when need arose.
      5. When asked when all this happened, Jesus said, “To the extent you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me (25:40).

3. Allow me to get very personal with each of us for a moment.
   1. What are your spiritual plans for the next several months?
      1. “David, I plan to do something big for God in the next few months.”
         1. Good! I hope you succeed!
         2. How are you serving God right now?
      2. “David, I plan to go to Guyana next summer.”
         1. Good! I hope you can go and help a lot of people!
         2. How are you serving God right now?
      3. “David, I plan to go to the City of Children next summer.”
         1. Good! I hope you go and are a powerful blessing there.
         2. How are you serving God right now?
   2. It is easier to plan to do great things for God “way out there” and “way off” than it is to serve God’s purposes right here in my life right now.
      1. Kids, how for God are you showing your parents love and respect right now?
      2. Parents, how for God are you showing your kids love and respect right now?
      3. Husbands, how for God are you showing your wife love and respect right now?
      4. Wives, how for God are you showing your husband love and respect right now?
      5. Step children, how for God are you showing your step parents love and respect right now.
      6. Step parents, how for God are you showing your step children love and respect right now.
   3. An observation: it is a whole lot easier to show God’s love and your love for people “way out there” that you do not know than it is to show God’s love to people right here that you do know.
      1. If we are going to let God shine in our lives, we start by letting God influence our lives right here right now with people who are part of our lives.
      2. If all you have to help those people is a cup of cold water, give the thirsty a cup of water.

If we are going to declare to the world how God has changed our lives, nowhere should it be more obvious than in the way we love and respect the people closest to us.

August, Frantic August!

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

How can August appropriately be described? Oh, yes, indeed! August needs describing! We might accurately describe it as HOT. Everything (including us!) wilts in the hot August heat. It is hard to water flowers enough to keep them from withering or turning brown. And my yard? Don’t ask my neighbors! As a good friend says, “Brown is a color, too!” People start looking forward to Fall’s cooler days. In August, not having the benefit of air conditioning is not an option!

We might accurately describe August as FRANTIC. School starts this month–a “marker” moment! July was VBS. June was mission trips. From mid-May to July 31 were countless efforts. Summer’s sports camps and special program activities are at an end (unless you are in a tournament). Football practice is in full swing. Days are obviously shorter as summer break nears its end. So, when August 1 arrives, those with children in school have only 18 days to make summer’s final trips. The rush is on! The “code word” every weekend is scatter, and do it quickly!

We might accurately describe August as EXPENSIVE. School clothes! School supplies! School fees! Tuition! By August 1, it seems a huge “wallet vacuum cleaner” turns on to hasten the too rapid outward cash flow.

For me, August is a difficult month. It is difficult to “begin” anything. It is difficult to maintain any sense of continuity. The “stress and strain” are obvious. “Where did the summer go?” “I cannot believe my child is (a) starting to school; (b) is in X grade; (c) is leaving home.” “I thought our problems and struggles would be better by the end of summer.” “Time passes too quickly!” In many ways, August is a “marker month.” It reminds us of realities we rather not consider.

Though many “August reminders of change” exist, some things are changeless. Among them are: (1) Our need to be children of the holy God; (2) Our need to make faith and faithfulness to our Lord and Savior a life priority; (3) Our need to fill our lives with God’s presence so we can be His light in a dark world; (4) Our need to continue our journey to eternity; (5) Our need to hunger and thirst for righteousness; (6) Our dependence on God’s mercy and forgiveness.

1 Peter 1:13-19 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

God’s Chosen, part 1

Posted by David on August 3, 2003 under Sermons

This evening I want us to look at a biblical teaching that we too often ignore. We often ignore it because we find the subject confusing. As we look at this subject, instead of running in different directions and reacting to today’s concerns, I want us to note what scripture says.

In any serious study of any biblical concept, the beginning point must always be the same. A student must always open his or her mind and allow God to teach us His perspective and position on the topic. We must never begin with “what I believe” or “what other people believe.” We always must begin with “what has God revealed.” To come to an accurate understanding of what God has revealed, we must always study in context.

Most of us agree generally with that perspective if what God has revealed and what we always have been taught are in agreement. For example, if the subject is baptism, most of us would say, “That is exactly what everyone should do! Let’s just go back to the text and see what God says. Let’s listen to God’s spokesmen in scripture before we form personal conclusions.”

However, we get very nervous if two situations are true. If (a) our ignorance on the subject places us in “the dark” regarding God’s revelation or if (b) the position I believe and trust does not agree with all that God has revealed on the subject, we tend to get extremely nervous.

For example, if we discuss God’s choosing or election, many of us get quite nervous. While many of us can give people a comprehensive biblical perspective on baptism, many of us are unlikely to give people a comprehensive biblical perspective on election.

In regard to such subjects, we are more likely to begin by (a) declaring what we regard to be the “correct” position, or (b) declaring what we believe, or (c) forcing statements in scripture to agree with our conclusion.

Scripture clearly states that God always has “chosen” after sin became reality in our world and human lives. A lot of questions immediately arise. What did God’s choosing mean in the past? What does God’s choosing mean today? On what basis did God’s choosing occur?

1. This evening I want to make one point and from that one point make one observation.
   1. The point: God always has been a God who chooses.
      1. That is God’s nature.
      2. That is the way God functions.
      3. He chooses the type of people He will establish a relationship with and will nurture in that relationship.
   2. The observation: the fact that God chooses does not mean the chosen can manipulate or exploit God.
      1. It is too easy for the chosen to feel “special,” “unique,” or “privileged.”
      2. When the chosen feel this privileged status, they try to exploit God by exploiting the fact they were chosen.
      3. It is too easy for the chosen to feel like they are judges instead of slaves.

2. I want to begin by calling your attention to the fact that God has always chosen.
   1. I want to begin at a point that you might disagree with, but it is okay for you to disagree as long as you think about the full revelation of scripture: I want to begin with Cain and Abel.
      1. Most of you know that in Genesis 4 Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God.
         1. Let me share with you the interpretation of those offerings that I heard and likely taught for years.
         2. First part of the Interpretation: God told Cain and Abel what to offer.
         3. Second part of the interpretation: Abel obeyed God and offered the correct sacrifice, and Cain disobeyed God and knowingly offered the wrong sacrifice.
         4. Third part of the interpretation: if Cain had just offered the right sacrifice, everything would have been okay.
         5. Fourth part of the interpretation: because Cain did not offer the right sacrifice, he sinned.
         6. At this point in my understanding, I do not agree with that interpretation of the Bible’s revelation of what happened.
      2. “Why do you not agree with that approach?”
         1. The basis of the problem did not lie in the form of the sacrifice, but in Cain’s attitude.
            1. If Cain had offered the same thing in sacrifice in the same way that Abel offered his sacrifice, but Cain gave that offering in the same attitude and heart, Cain’s offering still would have been unacceptable.
            2. The basic problem was a heart issue, not a form issue.
      3. Consider a scripture containing two statements, and note that God Himself made both statements after Cain offered his sacrifice.
         1. When God “had no regard” for Cain’s offering, Cain was angry and depressed (Genesis 4:5).
            1. God asked Cain why he had that reaction (Genesis 4:6).
            2. God then said:
               Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.
         2. Here is what I call to your attention.
            1. God is not filled with rage and wrath because He is offended by Cain’s offering.
            2. In fact, God asks Cain why he is reacting as he does–Cain is the one offended and upset, not God.
            3. In fact, God does not accuse Cain of being sinful, but cautions him against sinfulness.
            4. Sin is crouching at Cain’s door; it has not entered Cain’s door.
            5. Sin has a desire for Cain–the issue is not that it has devoured him; the issue is this: will Cain yield to sin’s desire?
            6. Cain has a responsibility: he must master sin instead of allowing sin to master him.
      4. I call two things to your attention:
         1. The first thing: Cain’s problem was produced by the fact that Cain was a very selfish, self-centered person who refused to accept any responsibility.
         2. The second thing: God chose.
   2. The second illustration I call to your attention is Noah in Genesis 6.
      1. In Genesis 6:5-7 the writer made this statement.
         Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
         1. People had become totally corrupt, totally opposite what God made them when He created them in His own image, His own likeness.
         2. People exercised their choice to become something God never intended them to be.
         3. When God saw people were totally in the image of evil instead of any part of them being in His image, He was grieved and regretful.
      2. Now note what Genesis 6:8,9 stated:
         But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
         1. I understand this to be a comparative statement, not a declaration that Noah was not a sinful person (except for the physical Jesus, no knowledgeable adult has ever existed as a sinless person).
         2. Noah found favor with God, not Noah deserved God’s recognition.
         3. Noah was a righteous man (just instead of violent in his treatment of others), blameless (a man who had some sense of integrity in that age), “walked with God” (had a lifestyle that would listen to God when God spoke to him–which it seems no one else would do).
      3. The point I want you to see is quite clear: God chose.
   3. The third illustration I want you to consider is Old Testament Israel.
      1. I would like to begin by calling your attention to several scriptures.
         Deuteronomy 7:5-8 But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
         Deuteronomy 14:1,2 “You are the sons of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
         1 Chronicles 16:12,13 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
         Psalm 105:5,6 Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
      2. God clearly chose Israel and blessed them because they were the chosen.
      3. However, God did not choose them because they were outstanding or superior to everyone else who lived.
         Deuteronomy 7:7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
         Deuteronomy 9:4-6 Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.
   4. Pay careful attention to what were and were not God’s reasons for choosing them to be His people, releasing them from slavery, and giving them Canaan.
      1. It was not because:
         1. They were a huge nation.
         2. They were righteous.
         3. They were “upright of heart.”
      2. It was because:
         1. The nations in Canaan were wicked beyond God’s ability to tolerate wickedness.
         2. God made a promise to their ancestors, and God keeps His promises.
         3. They did not deserve what God was doing; God loved them in spite of their unrighteousness and stubbornness.
   5. This is the part of God’s choosing we do not like, do not understand, and do not like to think about.
      1. Moses told the second generation of Israelites that left slavery that God’s love for them and choosing them had nothing to do with them.
      2. It was no commentary on their goodness.
      3. It was no commentary on their deservedness.
      4. It was certainly no commentary on the fact that they were “special.”
      5. It was a commentary on God’s trustworthiness and nature.
         1. God keeps His promises!
         2. If that means loving a stubborn people, He will love a stubborn people!

Therein lies our struggle and our downfall. We think God’s choice means that in some unique way “I am special.” God says, “My choice of you does not have to do with the fact that you are ‘special,’ but the fact that I am ‘special.’ So be thankful, not arrogant!”

Parenting: An Exhausting Challenge

Posted by David on under Sermons

All of us know what we individually classify as being a difficult struggle in life. Hopefully, everyone in the auditorium this morning was handed a sheet of paper. First, I want you to listen very carefully to my encouragement. (1) You will not be asked to turn anything in. [I do ask you to take your paper with you when you leave.] (2) You will not be asked to share what you write on the paper with anyone. You are only speaking to yourself when you write.

“Okay, David. I understand. I have ‘got it.’ So what do you want me to write to myself on the paper?”

What I want you to write down is the answer to just one question: what do you regard to be life’s greatest struggle for the majority of people? You might answer with one word. You might answer with a short sentence. You might answer with a long sentence. [I doubt you will answer with a paragraph!] The wonderful thing: there are no wrong answers!

For the majority of people in our society, what do you think is people’s greatest struggle? By greatest, I mean hardest, or most difficult, or most challenging, or most complicated, or most demanding.

Have you written something down? Good! Now immediately under what you wrote down, I want you to write one word: parenting. Does what you wrote down naturally “fit” some part of parenting as a struggle?

1. Let me make some observations about being a parent.
   1. Once you become a parent, you are a parent until you die.
      1. When you have a preschool child, you are a nurturing parent.
      2. When your child starts to school and is in school for those first years, you are a guiding/teaching parent.
      3. When your child enters adolescents, your are a terrified parent.
      4. When your child goes to college, you are a hopeful parent.
      5. When your child begins independent adult life, you are a concerned parent, and you never stop being a concerned parent.
   2. At each stage of your child’s life, the struggle constantly changes, but it is always there.
      1. When your child is a preschooler, at some point of personal weariness, you will say:
         1. “I will be so glad when my child no longer needs diapers!”
         2. “I will be so glad when my child can tie his or her shoes!”
         3. “I will be so glad when my child can dress himself or herself!”
      2. When your child begins his or her early years of school, at some point you will worry about:
         1. Him or her learning what he or she should.
         2. Him or her NOT learning things he or she should not learn.
         3. Personal development.
         4. His or her interaction with other children.
      3. In adolescence, at some point you will be deeply concerned about:
         1. Your child’s values.
         2. Your child’s priorities.
         3. Your child’s sense of responsibility.
         4. Your child’s choices.
      4. When your child leaves home for college or some type of training:
         1. You will wonder about how they will handle being completely free.
         2. You wonder if they understand the consequences of choices.
         3. You wonder if they will play all the time.
         4. You wonder who will “keep them on track” since you are not there.
      5. Then when your child begins adult life, you are concerned.
         1. You are concerned about how much debt they acquire.
         2. You are concerned about the choices they make that will affect them morally.
         3. You are concerned because you either know too much or too little.
         4. You always want to help, to “be there for them,” but you dread requests that you cannot fill.
   3. In the entire process, you always want to do what is best for your child.
      1. That does not mean your always know what is best for the child.
      2. That does not mean that what you decide to do is always best for the child.
      3. It just means that is what you want.

2. God has children, too, and hopefully you are one of them.
   1. There are some similarities in God being our Father.
      1. He loves us.
      2. In that love, He can be extremely kind.
      3. He KNOWS when we are making bad choices that will produce horrible consequences.
   2. Consider a statement made in Hebrews 12.
      Hebrews 12:4-11 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
      1. The context:
         1. Those to whom this statement was written were enduring some really tough times.
         2. Consider some of the past struggles these Christians endured.
            Hebrews 10:32-34 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
      2. Did you hear all the things that happened to them before the writer sent them this message?
         1. They were made a public spectacle by verbal and physical abuse.
         2. They were not ashamed of Christians who received the same abuse.
         3. They were not ashamed of Christians who were put in jail.
         4. When their property was confiscated because they were Christians, they accepted the confiscation with joy.
      3. I do not know what happened, but something happened that was just too much.
         1. Whatever happened, they blamed Jesus Christ.
         2. They decided that if they left Jesus Christ, the suffering would stop.
         3. Throughout the entire book, the author is explaining to them why they must not do that.

3. One of the last challenges he gave them was this: understand God’s discipline.
   1. “Wait a minute. You mean that God practices discipline?” Discipline, yes. Abuse, no.
      1. “Are you sure that God practices discipline?”
      2. Yes, I am sure–for two reasons.
         1. If a parent loves his or her children, love demands that the parent discipline the children because the parent’s love cares.
         2. We have a lot of lessons we need to learn for our own good, and we will not learn some of those lessons unless we are disciplined.
   2. Is that not the same reason that you discipline your children?
      1. Please note that I said discipline, not abuse.
      2. As parents, why do you discipline your children?
         1. Because you love them.
         2. Because you want to teach them lessons they need to learn.
   3. God’s our parent! We commonly call Him our Father! We are supposed to look to Him as our Father!
      1. He knows when we are making horrible choices.
      2. He knows when we are following awful values.
      3. He knows when the consequences will be terrible.
      4. He knows when we are going in the wrong direction.
      5. And He cares! He always has cared about His children!
   4. If you doubt how deeply He cares, consider this illustration.
      1. When Moses explained the wilderness experience that lasted 40 years to the second generation Israelites, he made this statement:
         Deuteronomy 8:5 Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
      2. Israel had a lesson they desperately needed to learn if God was going to be able to help them: they desperately needed to trust God first.
         1. They did not learn that lesson from the ten plagues in Egypt.
         2. They did not learn that lesson from the exodus from Egypt.
         3. They did not learn that lesson at Mount Sinai.
         4. God tried to teach them to trust Him, but they did not learn to trust Him–they had so much idolatry in them they would not learn what they needed to learn.
      3. They left a caring God no choice.
         1. The only hope they had of learning the lesson they desperately needed to learn was discipline.
         2. So God used the discipline of 40 years in the wilderness to seek to teach them.

4. The writer of Hebrews declared that his recipients of his message should understand divine discipline because they understood basic truths about fathers disciplining their sons.
   1. The truths:
      1. God disciplines, and His discipline is not to be considered insignificant.
      2. God disciplines because He loves–the absence of discipline is the absence of love.
      3. The purpose of God’s discipline is to produce endurance and respect that are essential to life.
      4. God without fail disciplines us for our good.
      5. At the time of discipline, it hurts, but the results produce the joy of appreciation.
   2. What do you want God to do when He knows that as a Christian you are making a horrible choice or a terrible mistake?
      1. Do you want God to ignore the situation and let you do as you please to your own hurt and destruction?
      2. Do you want God to stand by and let you destroy yourself?
      3. Do you want God to lie to you [He won’t!] and make you think everything is fine when it isn’t?
      4. Do you want God to ignore you and just let whatever happens happen?
   3. To these very same people, the writer wrote:
      Hebrews 10:29-31 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Those who have been saved by God’s grace will be judged by the way they live as God’s chosen, God’s redeemed. When that moment comes [and it will come for all of us!], will you thank God or curse God for His discipline? I want God to do anything necessary to help me be His person!