“Lord, Help Me Accept What ‘I Cannot Handle'”

Posted by David on September 21, 2003 under Sermons

For every single one of us in this room and for every single person outside this room, there is at least one thing (and likely many things) that we just cannot handle. Whatever that thing is, we are “handled” by it instead of “handling” it.

For some, that thing is money. For others, it is credit. For others, it is power. For others, it is control. For others, it is popularity. For others, it is pleasure.

For everyone, it is knowledge. May I anticipate the response of many people? “David, that is absolutely ridiculous! Knowledge is basic to existence! Knowledge is highly valued in this culture! We seek to educate all our children because knowledge is important. We stress knowledge on our jobs and careers. We even have Bible classes because we want children and adults to have Bible knowledge.”

I definitely agree that knowledge is basic to existence. I understand the value of an education. I realize how essential knowledge is on jobs and in careers. I totally endorse the pursuit of knowledge in seeking to be a godly person.

Listen to me carefully. I did not say knowledge was unimportant. I said people cannot handle possessing knowledge. The most ungodly problems each of us have are created by what we know.

I challenge you to think about that truth. When are you powerfully tempted to feel superior to someone? Is it not when you know something they do not know? When are you powerfully tempted to “look down” on another person? Is it not when you regard them to be incredibly ignorant? More than money, more than power, more than control, more than popularity, knowledge creates an arrogance that makes self big and important and makes others small and insignificant.

Consider a specific illustration. All I ask you to do is be honest with yourself as you answer to you silently. Do you personally “look down on” many people in the Middle East? If you do, why do you? See if any of these statements sound familiar. “I do not understand how anyone could be a suicide bomber!” “I do not understand how people can hate people so intensely just because of their nationality.” “I do not understand how people can attack jeeps and guns by throwing stones!”

You do not understand those things? “NO!” Why do you not understand those things? “Bottom line, those are stupid acts!” Would you do any of those things? “NO!” Why? “I know better!” So, what you know makes you superior?

Please pray with me: “God, teach us how to have minds and hearts filled with the love that comes from you. In our love for You and others, never let us use our knowledge to destroy those for whom You sacrificed the Jesus.”

1. Both Christianity and Judaism traces the root of all our personal problems and all the world’s problems to humanity’s inability to handle knowledge.
   1. The first book in the Bible makes two bold declarations.
      1. The first temptation was based on the human inability to handle knowledge.
      2. The first act of evil was based on the human inability to handle knowledge.
   2. Read with me from Genesis 3:1-10.
      Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
      1. We could spend a lot of time focusing on talking snakes and eating a fruit that provides knowledge–but if we did, I fear we would miss the lessons.
      2. “What lessons?”
         1. In contrast to God, humanity has never been able to “handle” the knowledge of evil.
            1. In contrast to God, the knowledge of evil deceives us–not God, but us.
            2. In contrast to God, the knowledge of evil tempts us–not God, but us.
            3. God can handle the knowledge of evil because He cannot be deceived (Galatians 6:7) or tempted (James 1:13).
         2. Before humanity had the knowledge of evil, there were some basic problems we did not have.
            1. It was the knowledge of evil that produced shame.
            2. It was the knowledge of evil that produced a sense of guilt.
            3. It was the knowledge of evil that produced fear.
            4. How different would your life be if you never felt shame, never knew guilt, and were never afraid?
         3. Nothing good resulted from the human knowledge of evil.
            1. Why?
            2. We could not handle knowing what evil was!
            3. Evil deceives; God does not; and we are easy prey for skillful deception!
      3. The highest form of deception is an addiction.
         1. I am speaking of any form of addiction: to alcohol, to drugs, to sex, to power, to money, to control, to pleasure.
         2. Either an addict denies an addiction, or an addict abandons himself or herself to an addiction.
         3. Basically an addiction is any form of destructive escape–the attempt to flee rather than face or endure.
         4. The addict often becomes a powerful advocate for his or her addiction.
         5. He or she often does so with the words, “If you only knew. . .”

2. If as a Christian you really doubt the fact that humans cannot handle knowledge, I ask you to consider a couple of statements.
   1. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul discussed the most important and enduring qualities of human existence.
      1. He named three: faith, hope, and love.
      2. He declared that the greatest of the three is love, which he discussed in detail.
      3. Would you please note that knowledge was not one of the three.
   2. Please read with me as we look at 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.
      Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
      1. For us, nothing is more black and white than idolatry–there is only one God or there is not, and there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
      2. Those who had knowledge and were quite correct in their knowledge knew there was only one God.
         1. They knew that an idol did not represent an existing, living god, and they were correct in their knowledge.
         2. They knew that a sacrifice offered to an idol was offered to nothing, and they were correct in their knowledge.
      3. And Paul said that correct knowledge was the foundation of arrogance.
         1. Knowledge was the foundation of arrogance.
         2. Love built people up.
         3. Paul said if you are going to know something, know the importance of love.
      4. Then Paul said something else that was most strange to the people to whom he wrote and is incredibly strange to us.
         1. Not every Christian knows there is just one God and idols are nothing.
         2. Some Christians know that, but all Christians do not know that.
      5. So Paul said that he would not wound their consciences by eating a food given in sacrifice to a nonexistent god.
         1. “Why, Paul? If you have correct knowledge and they are the victims of ignorance, why would you let their ignorance control your behavior?”
         2. Bottom line: he understood how much God paid in Jesus’ blood for their salvation, and he would not allow knowledge to destroy the saving work of God by destroying someone for whom Christ died.
         3. Love is the ultimate, in God, and in those who follow God.

3. I want to share a couple of things with you and I have a very specific purpose in my sharing: I want your thoughts to penetrate to the inner core of your being.
   1. I want to begin by stating that I take confidences very seriously.
      1. Unless I have permission from the person, I do not even share confidences with my wife.
      2. The first thing I want to share with you I have permission to share.
   2. When I returned from vacation, a lady I deeply respect told me that while I was gone she acquired a specific set of knowledge.
      1. I have worked with, encouraged, and tried to help people for decades.
      2. I can assure you that the knowledge she learned would have devastated most Christians.
      3. The knowledge she acquired had the potential of bringing major devastation to her life.
         1. There was zero question about the authenticity of her knowledge.
         2. Her new knowledge was based on unquestionable fact.
      4. But in her situation, her love is greater than her knowledge.
         1. So instead of her new knowledge bringing devastation,
         2. Her love is growing in spite of that knowledge.
   3. The greatest challenge that we Christians have is allowing God’s love to become the most powerful influence in our lives.
      1. It is extremely challenging to let God’s love teach us how to love.
      2. In no situation or in no relationship will any of us be as forgiving just one time as God already has forgiven each of us in Christ.
      3. Never will being compassionate to others cost us as much as God’s compassion toward us cost Him–it cost Him the life of his only son WHEN HE COULD HAVE STOPPED IT!

Please do not let this happen to you on judgment day.

Us: “Lord, that Christian who was baptized into Christ was doing something the wrong way–so I stopped him!”

God: “You do realize that I gave Jesus to die for him. Did you love him as much as I do, or did you destroy someone that I sent Jesus to die for?”

1 Corinthians 8:11,12 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

Do not let your spiritual knowledge destroy you–or any one else!

Salt and Light

Posted by Chris on September 7, 2003 under Sermons

The Sermon on the Mount = Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

• What Jesus proclaims is a vision for the people of God, the kingdom people, and it reveals what we must be for the sake of the Lord’s mission. What Jesus declares though is not an idea that will simply change the church, it is an way of life that seeks to transform all the world.

• Jesus tells us that those whoreceive his teaching and "put it into practice" are like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. His teaching is the foundation of a blessed, kingdom way of living.
• This is a way of life that goes beyond rule-keeping. This is more than regulations on what to do and not do. He is calling us to BE salt and light – to let our light shine so that the good things we do glorify God. What does it mean to BE salt and light? …

1. [The NATURE of Salt and Light]
   • Salt is a seasoning and a preservative. The presence of salt in food makes a difference. It creates zest and prevents decay.
     • Contradictions of language: jumbo shrimp, late advance registration, mild hot sauce.
     • Unsalty salt is just as much of a foolish contradiction.
     • It is the nature of salt to be salty!
   • Light overcomes darkness and illuminates. It reveals dangers and shows the way to safety.
     • It is ridiculous to light a lamp and then cover it. The purpose is for the lamp to shine.
     • It is the nature of light to shine!
   • "Salt and Light" say something about the nature of God’s kingdom people. Notice also that Jesus declares these as true! Without reservation or qualification he declares that WE ARE salt and light.
     • Salt and Light are not projects or programs that we undertake; this statement is not meant to describe an achievement or a goal, it describes our character as the people of God!
     • Jesus is saying that this is our being! The nature of salt is saltiness. The nature of light is illumination. When a city is placed on a hill, it is not hidden.What we do emerges from who we are!

       • In the film, Weapons of the Spirit, Pierre Sauvage tells the story of a village in Nazi-occupied France, Le Chambon. 5000 Jewish refugees were saved from the terrors of the Holocaust by the 5000 people of Le Chambon. Sauvage was born in that city and he had to know why this village of Christian people would risk their lives and the fate of their village to shelter Jewish refugees. Sauvage found that the people of Le Chambon had a strong sense of self and history – they knew who they were. The villagers of Le Chambon did not consider themselves heroic, they did not agonize over the decision to help the refugees. They simply did what was natural! What they did emerged from who they were!
   • Our good works emerge from our identity as the blessed children of God. When people see those sort of good works, God will be glorified because the light than shines from us is reflected from our God who is light.

     • Mars is one of the brightest objects in the sky right now, but it has no light of its own.
   • God is described as light and in him is no darkness (1 John 1:5). Jesus calls himself the light of the world (John 9:5). These describe the character of the God and Christ. In the kingdom we share in that divine character. Kingdom people are like their king …

2. [The Higher Righteousness of the Kingdom]
   • But that can seem so intimidating! When Jesus tells us to "be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect" (Mt. 5:48) – is that even possible?
   • Jesus must have believed that such righteousness was possible for he makes it essential to being a part of God’s reign. He insisted that our righteousness had to surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees … (Matthew 5:20)
   • The problem of the scribes and Pharisees was that they used the law and prophets as binding legislation to react to situations. We do the same thing when all we strive to do is find the legislative bond or loophole that justifies or confirms our actions. But this sort of rule-keeping does not generate godliness or holiness.
     • The external image is met, but the internal character of BEING a disciple is weak. Col. 2:23 – "Such regulations look good, but lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."
     • The law and the prophets were not regulations given so we could make distinctions among people. The intent of the law and the prophets was to shape the character of a people – a people with godly character would by nature be distinctive!
   • That’s why Jesus declares (5:21-48 – Class material) that it isn’t enough to say, "I’ve never killed anyone." You need to overcome anger. It isn’t enough to say "I’ve never committed adultery." Maybe so, but is your heart pure or is it corrupted with lust? Have we just kept the rules, or are we reflecting the nature of our Father? That’s the test of kingdom righteousness …

3. HOW exactly does our righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees? Kingdom righteousness differs from the righteousness of scribes and Pharisees (ancient or modern) in two important ways:

   1. First, kingdom righteousness is for the sake of others; not simply for our select group and certainly not to earn a reward. Notice that we are the salt of the EARTH and the light of the WORLD. In his declaration, Jesus declares that the presence of the kingdom is for the world!

      • April 1912 – Lifeboat 14 did what no other life boat did – They went back to save others. They knew that a lifeboat was for much more than the safety of the saved, it is for the rescue of the dying.
      • As righteous people, we are called out – not in contempt for the world, but for the sake of the world!
      • We overcome anger, lust, lying, and revenge, because like our Father we love others – including those who hate us. We do this not because he told us to; we do this because he told us who we are!

   2. Second, it emerges from our being and not just our doing. When we ARE salt and light our righteousness becomes a reflex and a discipline. It is our nature to be salty. It is our nature to shine.
      • We live in response to God’s grace and mercy. Our good works are not an attempt to claim salvation or earn God’s favor. The Holy Spirit is a gift. Those who have been baptized are new creation – and their good works, their righteousness, flows from who we have become in Christ.

4. WHY exactly must our righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees?
   • The first teaching in Matthew anticipates the final teaching. In Matthew, Jesus leaves his disciples with a mission and a promise. He promises that he will always be with them, and their mission is to make disciples. [“Making Disciples Eager to Serve Others”]
   • But how can we make disciples if we are not disciples ourselves? We can only share the joy of the gospel and the blessings of the kingdom if that is who we are. This is why Jesus declares that we ARE salt of the earth and light of the world.
   • The Point Bolivar Lighthouse [Texas]. It has the structure, form, and the appearance and the history of a grand lighthouse that has saved many. But it has no light! We need good form, solid structure and thank God for healthy heritage – but we need His Spirit to ignite our light!

I think a lighthouse is needed in Western Arkansas even though we are not on the coast. Good news! Jesus says – We Are that Lighthouse!

God’s Chosen, part 5

Posted by David on August 31, 2003 under Sermons

God does some incredibly special things for those He has chosen in Christ. These things are available to anyone who will place his or her confidence (a) in Jesus Christ and (b) in the things God accomplished in Jesus’ death. Being a part of God’s chosen is a matter of entering and living in God’s mercy.

If we choose Christ, God chooses us. On neither side is that choosing irresponsible or inconsiderate. God is very committed in the promises He made to those who are in Christ. Those who are in Christ must be very committed to being God’s people.

This evening I want to focus your attention on one of the most incredible gifts God gives to His chosen. I would like for you to read with me 1 John 1:5-10.
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1. This is my understanding of the content of 1 John.
   1. The author, John, is writing to Christians (the letter’s emphasis and challenge’s indicate the writing was first written to those who were in Christ).
   2. He wrote as a self-declared eye witness and personal associate of the physical Jesus in his ministry.
   3. He wrote to encourage Christians to embrace Christian morality as they lived among deceitful, discouraging circumstances.
   4. He began his letter by noting a blessing that should be of profound encouragement to every man and woman who was (and is) a Christian.

2. An overview of the promise involved in God’s forgiveness of the man or woman who is in Christ.
   1. A person comes to God with an understanding and acceptance of the fact that there is no evil in God.
      1. Jesus was clear about this truth.
      2. No matter what God expects of a person or requests of a person, there is no injustice in God (even if He requests death on a cross).
      3. Even when God’s requests require physical suffering, God seeks the person’s best interest.
      4. Therefore anyone who wishes to move away from the blackness of evil and toward to light of God will consciously move toward God.
   2. The very first understanding these Christians needed to grasp and accept was an understanding of the forgiveness of God.
      1. Without an understanding of God’s forgiveness in the life of a person who belongs to God by coming to Him through Christ, they would not understanding the meaning or significance of the lesson they were to follow.
      2. Basic understanding: a person who is in Christ cannot continue fellowship with God and deliberately, by conscious, continuous choice live a lifestyle of evil.
      3. When a Christian attempts to do that (which is impossible!), he or she is not practicing the truth.
         1. It is not enough to know that God’s holy people should not live an evil lifestyle!
         2. It is not enough to condemn evil lifestyles in others!
         3. The commitment of being in Christ involves knowing and doing.
   3. This understanding is based on an incredible promise from God.
      1. To the man or woman who is committed to coming to God, committed to a lifestyle of holiness, is obviously committed to a lifestyle consistent with God’s holiness.
         1. In this commitment, the person who is committed to being God’s holy person associates with and encourages others who are committed to a lifestyle of holiness.
         2. God’s promise to such people is that He will continuously cleanse them from all sin.
      2. John gave this caution to those Christians: “Do not say you have no need for God’s continuous forgiveness, continuous cleansing from all sin.”
         1. If a Christian says, “I do not need to be forgiven; I do not have any sins,” these two things are true of him or her.
            1. That person is self deceived.
            2. That person does not have the truth in him or her.
         2. This person knows he or she is dependent on God’s forgiveness every moment of life.
            1. Instead of denying sin exists in his or her life, he or she confesses sins.
            2. If we as Christians are willing to admit our sins as they occur, God will do two things: He will forgive the sins we confess, and He will cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
   4. Special consequences await the Christian who denies his own sinfulness (is blind to his own evil).
      1. Instead of being a person on a journey to God and holiness, he becomes a person who makes God a liar (in his or her arrogance, he or she is a self-righteous person who says, “I do not need what God says I need”).
      2. He or she makes it impossible for God’s words to dwell (live) in his or her life.

3. We need to spend a few moments on the application of these statements to Christians’ lives right now.
   1. The first understanding: forgiveness is what Jesus’ blood is all about.
      1. Redemption is in Jesus’ blood (that is the only way we can be bought back from evil).
      2. Atonement is in Jesus’ blood (that is the only way our sins can be paid for).
      3. Cleansing is in Jesus’ blood (that is God’s sacrifice for our sins).
   2. The second understanding: the cleansing blood of Jesus flows in the Christian’s life on a continuous basis.
      1. There is no “in and out” situation that daily, at each moment, places us in and takes us out of God’s forgiveness.
      2. One is not forgiven when he or she because of faith in Jesus and repentance of sins is baptized into Christ because he or she has a perfect understanding and a total recognition of all evil in his or her life.
         1. That is impossible!
         2. He or she knows and accepts the fact that he or she is a sinner who needs to be forgiven.
         3. At the moment of baptism God does not merely forgive the sins he or she realizes, but forgives all his or her sins.
         4. God’s forgiveness of His children, of those who are in Christ, is not dependent on perfect knowledge and understanding of every form of personal evil.
         5. That forgiveness is dependent on Jesus’ blood and God’s promise to forgive.
         6. Forgiveness begins when one is baptized into Christ and continues as long as the person chooses to remain in Christ–it is a lifetime promise!
   3. Third understanding: does that mean the person who is in Christ can live irresponsibly by ignoring God’s call to holiness and living as he or she pleases? No!
      1. Continuous forgiveness of the person in Christ that is based on the person’s willingness to acknowledge his or her need to be forgiven occurs in the person committed to learning and living a lifestyle of holiness (godliness).
      2. This Christian so appreciates the incredible thing God does for him or her on a daily basis that he or she moves toward God’s holiness in a hatred of evil within self.
      3. He or she cannot be both godlessly irresponsible and appreciative at the same time!
      4. He or she cannot meaningfully say, “Thank you, God!” and deliberately, knowingly live in a way that insults God.
      5. Continuous forgiveness moves the person in Christ to a higher level of commitment, not a lower level of commitment.
   4. The fourth understanding: God’s promise of continuous forgiveness is the perfect solution for the human reality.
      1. No Christian can live with the stress and discouragement of the impossible, of constant failure, of constant agony and frustration.
      2. It is impossible for a human to be sinless–there are constantly failures to temptations, failures that are behavioral, failures that are mental, failures that are emotional.
      3. To impose the responsibility of sinless existence is to impose the impossible!
         1. It is suggesting that it is possible for a Christian to know all evil in every form, and to never be deceived or mistaken in his or her identification.
         2. Spiritual maturity involves the constant discovery of how evil we are.
         3. That discovery only deepens our appreciation of God’s forgiveness.
      4. God’s forgiveness is not based on achieving absolute sinlessness.
         1. It is based on a genuine, continual, committed effort to move toward God’s light.
         2. It is based on continuously trying, and God knows both my heart and my effort.
         3. Every Christian can live with that!
      5. God’s solution is perfect for my need!

This incredible blessing is promised by God to those who are in Christ! We cannot earn it! We must trust it!

To be a part of God’s chosen is to benefit from some incredible blessings!

The New Person Requires a Beginning

Posted by David on under Sermons

There are many times we wish we could start over, make different decisions, go in different directions. Most commonly we encounter these desires in marriage, in parenting, in careers, and in focusing life. Too often we feel powerless, resigned, and defeated. Too often we say to ourselves, “Things could have been different if I made different choices, but it is too late now.” Too often we continue on our journey of self destruction because we convinced ourselves nothing can change.

What we are incapable of doing in our lives, God can do in our lives.

Read with me as we focus on John 1:1-15.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”

Right now I want Jesus to focus us in this statement.

1. Nicodemus came to Jesus for a private conversation between the two of them.
   1. This is one of a very few prestigious persons who wanted to have a serious conversation with Jesus.
      1. Nicodemus was a member of the Jerusalem Sanhedrin.
      2. In our terminology, he was on the Supreme Court of the nation of Israel.
         1. He was recognized as one of the 70 men in that nation who had the kind of knowledge and insight that qualified him to make tough decisions.
         2. The fact that he held that position probably meant that he was politically connected with the most powerful politicians in Israel’s government.
         3. He helped make the most difficult religious and social decisions made in the nation at that time.
         4. This is a man who would be listed in first century Israel’s book of “Who’s Who”–this is a powerful, prominent man.
   2. I want you to notice something about this man.
      1. First, this prominent, powerful man who is known as an expert in the law of Moses and its applications to then current situations called Jesus Rabbi.
         1. This is an incredible declaration of respect.
         2. People in his position did not quickly declare someone to be a teacher deserving of respect.
      2. Second, this man was honest enough to see the obvious.
         1. He knew and admitted to Jesus that God sent him–Jesus was God’s teacher.
         2. He knew no one could do the miracles Jesus did unless God was with that person.
   3. I want you to notice Jesus’ first response to Nicodemus.
      1. It was not, “Thank you! I am honored that a man of your position sees those things.”
      2. It was, “The key to being in God’s kingdom is being born again.”
   4. Note this prominent man, this recognized expert in the law of Moses, this man who was part of the nation’s group who solved hard problems, this man did not have a clue of what Jesus was talking about.
      1. Jesus said, “You are supposed to be Israel’s teacher, and you do not understand the new birth?”
      2. Then Jesus said, “You must understand much more about me, beyond your present understanding. Believing in me is the key to eternal life.”

2. Focus your attention on the new birth.
   1. A birth in humans brings a being to life who never existed before.
      1. By virtue of birth, someone now exists who never existed before.
      2. From the moment of birth, the objective is much more than being born–the objective is to nurture the newborn to maturity.
   2. If you are tempted to be hard on Nicodemus by condemning his ignorance, don’t!
      1. Jesus introduced Nicodemus to a concept he never heard before, never thought about before.
      2. For Nicodemus, being in God’s kingdom was a matter of physical heritage.
         1. Being born an Israelite made you a part of God’s chosen people–it was an automatic!
         2. Jesus said being a part of God’s kingdom involves a new birth, a being born again.
         3. It is not a matter of heritage.
         4. It is a matter of entering a new relationship with God through me.
         5. It is a matter of becoming someone you have never been.

3. If it were not for what Jesus did for us, we could not be born again.
   1. Because of Jesus’ death, we can come to God.
   2. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can allow God to remake us.
   3. Because of Jesus Christ, we can begin again.

   Let’s focus our minds on Jesus Christ, God’s gift of the son, and the son’s gift of atoning blood as we take the Lord’s Supper together.

   [At this time the congregation took communion.]

   I want you to think about two things.

4. The first thing I want you to think about is God’s involvement in the new birth, the spiritual beginning again, for every man and every woman who comes to God through Jesus the Christ.
   1. There is great concern today regarding church growth or increasing the number of those who are born again because they see Jesus Christ for who he is.
      1. There are all kinds of theories, ideas, and suggestions made.
         1. Some say, “If we could just emphasize what we emphasized 50 years ago in the same way we emphasized it then, we would grow.”
            1. I find it interesting that this suggestion only wants to go back 50 years ago, not 2000 years ago.
            2. I find it interesting that some decide that the best way to glorify God is to glorify the recent past.
         2. Some say, “If we would just allow people’s wants to determine what we do, then we would grow.”
            1. We need to ask, “Shall those who have little or no spiritual interests be the guides of those who seek to be spiritual?”
            2. The objective is not human pleasure.
            3. The objective is to move closer and closer to God.
         3. Some say, “The preference of the vocal majority must demand the conformity of everyone.”
            1. People being different have never bothered God–it just bothers humans.
            2. Humans are emotionally impressed with externals; God is impressed with hearts.
            3. God knows when a human is or is not praising Him.
            4. God knows motivations–humans are the ones who need to get 2 x 4s out of their eyes before they remove specks from others’ eyes.
      2. In all our concerns about church growth, two things stand out to me. [And I surely recognize it is an extremely complex problem.]
         1. Solutions are usually focused in us–it is frequently about us, not about God.
         2. Solutions are frequently focused on procedures–if we could just find the “proper way” to do things, we would grow.
   2. May I make an observation?
      1. The most important element in church growth is God.
         1. It is not the past.
         2. It is not pleasure.
         3. It is not preference.
         4. It is God.
      2. God will entrust us with people He knows are seeking Him when He knows they will find God at the center of who we are and what we are about.
      3. Have we not heard Jesus?
         John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

5. The second thing I want you to think about is this: those who belong to God specialize in mending broken people who want to be mended.
   1. Let me stress no one can be mended in Christ except the person who wants to be mended.
      1. A person must acknowledge brokenness.
      2. A person must accept responsibility rather than playing the blame game.
      3. A person must repent, find redirection, new birth in Christ.
   2. I want you to ask yourself two questions:
      1. Question one: would God send a broken person to this congregation to find new birth in Christ? [Would God trust such a person to us?]
      2. Question two: ask yourself, would God send a broken person to this congregation because I am here, and God knows I would help the person mend his or her brokenness?

If we want to grow so we can “feel proud” of who we are and what we do, it will never happen.

If we want to grow because we have a passion to help people discover a new beginning in Jesus Christ so that God can be praised and glorified, nothing can prevent it from happening.

God’s Chosen, part 4

Posted by David on August 24, 2003 under Sermons

This evening I want to begin with a brief review. I want to begin that review by reading 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.

Please notice in this reading:

1. In some sense God chose the Christians at Ephesus (and us) before the foundation of the world–prior to creation.
2. This “choosing by God” is based on Jesus Christ.
   1. Every spiritual blessing from God is in Christ.
   2. God chose them “in Christ.”
   3. Our adoption as sons of God was predetermined in Christ.
   4. God’s grace is freely bestowed on them (and us) in Christ.
3. God’s objective in Christians: to make us a holy people who are serious about being God’s people, who exist to praise God’s glory.

My understanding is this: this is a statement of corporate election. God chose everyone who chooses Christ by placing his or her faith in Christ and allows Christ to teach him or her how to live like a person who belongs to God. God does not choose Christians in order for them to live as they please, but He chooses them to learn to live as a person who belongs to God.

1. Teachers use the concept of corporate election when they grade.
2. Employers use the concept of corporate election when they use job descriptions to determine hiring.

We accept God’s adoption by placing ourselves and our confidence in Jesus Christ. Paul is not talking about placing confidence in a system, but placing confidence in a Savior.

1. This evening I want you as Christians to see what a blessing that election (being one who is chosen of God) is. In the past we spend a lot of effort trying to declare what election is not, and too little effort declaring what election is.
   1. There are two foundation questions, and we have done a poor job of (a) separating those questions and (b) separating our answers to those questions (we too often interchange our answers as if there is one question).
      1. Question one: how does a person become a part of God’s chosen?
      2. Question two: how does a person continue within God’s chosen?
      3. Question one has to do with how does a person become a Christian.
      4. Question two has to do with how does a person continue being a Christian.
      5. This evening my focus is on question two.
   2. Consider some critical contrasts:
      1. This is not the situation: a person who was enslaved to evil suddenly becomes a person who has no evil in his or her life.
      2. This is the situation: an unforgiven person enslaved to evil becomes a forgiven person enslaved to God (we are the servants of the one we obey).
      3. This is not the attitude of God’s chosen: “I am forgiven so I can continue living any way I wish.”
      4. This is the attitude of God’s chosen: “God in His forgiveness constantly helps me discover how much evil there is in me, but assures me His forgiveness will continue as I grow more and more like Him.”
      5. This is the irony: the closer I come to God, the more I see my evil; the further I am removed from God, the more blind I am to my evil.”

2. I want to focus you on the benefits of being God’s chosen by calling your attention to Romans 6-9.
   1. Lets begin with a brief review of those chapters.
      1. Romans 6:
         1. The whole purpose of baptism into Christ was to give God control of our lives.
         2. In each of our lives, we belong to the one we obey–Satan or God.
      2. Romans 7:
         1. Christ is our salvation.
         2. We cannot save ourselves through practicing self-control.
      3. Romans 8:
         1. We must become a person whose life is controlled by God’s Spirit.
         2. We cannot be a person whose life is controlled by the physical.
         3. Then there is an enumeration of some of the blessings given to people who are ruled by the Spirit.
      4. Romans 9:
         1. God always has functioned in human relationships by choice or election.
         2. Specific examples are Jacob, Moses, Pharaoh, the potter, and statements from Hosea and Isaiah.
         3. The fact God chooses is the specific reason that He can include people who are not Jews among His chosen.
   2. I want to focus your attention on the blessings God gives the chosen or elect by calling to your attention to several promises in Romans 8.
      1. Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
         1. Remember that we added the chapter and verse divisions for our convenience in citing and finding places.
         2. I suggest to you that there is a direct connection between the person in despair in the last of chapter 7 and the assurance that there is no condemnation in Christ in 8:1.
         3. When we are in Christ God does not “count sins” as we struggle in our weakness, but notes our faith in Jesus as we seek to grow in spirituality.
         4. The Christian is not burdened with an oppressive sense of guilt but with the assurance of God’s forgiveness in Christ.
         5. Is there no condemnation to the Christian because he or she has committed no evil in his or her mind, emotions, or body? No!
         6. There is no condemnation because of what God did for him or her in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
         7. That is an enormous blessing given the redeemed, the chosen, the elect–no condemnation!
         8. Jesus affirmed this is the reason God sent him into this world: John 3:17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
      2. Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
         1. For the man or woman who dares to be a Christian, a spiritual person, in an evil world, there will be severe struggles.
         2. Sometimes the war between Satan and God involves matters beyond our comprehension, and when we are caught up in those struggles we, in our confusion, do not even know what to pray.
         3. We are assured that God’s Spirit, which lives in us, which God gave us at the same moment forgiveness began in our lives, at the moment of baptism because of faith and repentance, intercedes for us.
         4. The Spirit can communicate the heart concerns of the Christian to God in ways that are clear and understandable to God–even when the Christian cannot put into words his or her concerns!
         5. There is no experience we can have as a human that God cannot understand!
         6. That is an enormous blessing given to the redeemed, the chosen, the elect!
      3. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
         1. God can use any struggle, any horrible circumstance, any undesirable situation to bring the Christian closer to Him!
         2. There is nothing Satan can cause to happen to the Christian that God cannot use to the Christian’s eternal benefit!
         3. There are two conditions the Christian must maintain within himself or herself for this to happen: (a) love for God and (b) commitment to God’s will.
         4. That is an enormous blessing given to the redeemed, the chosen, the elect!
      4. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
         1. The superior force in all creation supports the Christian.
         2. Nothing bigger than God (or even equal to God!) will ever oppose the Christian.
         3. The proof that God “is in our corner”? His willingness to sacrifice His son!
         4. God’s commitment to us is unquestionable–He is our constant Encourager!
         5. That is an enormous blessing given to the redeemed, the chosen, the elect.
      5. Romans 8:33,34 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
         1. If my understanding is correct, Paul declared that Satan cannot accuse the Christian before God as Satan accused Job before God.
         2. God won’t hear the accusation! He justified! If God, the superior force, justifies, Satan, the inferior force, cannot accuse.
         3. The enthronement of Jesus assures us that God will listen to Jesus’ pleas for us, not Satan’s accusations against us.
            1. The resurrected Jesus is enthroned at the right hand of God.
            2. The resurrected Jesus who is enthroned at God’s right hand intercedes for the Christian.
            3. God listens to Jesus’ intercession and refuses to hear Satan’s accusations!
            4. That is an enormous blessing given to the redeemed, the chosen, the elect!
      6. Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
         1. Nothing external of ourselves can force God to stop loving us as His chosen people!
         2. We cannot be kidnapped from God’s love!
         3. We not only can endure in God’s love, but we can be victorious in God’s love!
         4. Why? Because we are so special? We are so strong? No!
         5. It is because of what God’s love in Christ Jesus does for us!
         6. That is an enormous blessing given to the redeemed, the chosen, the elect!

You want to be a part of the redeemed, the chosen, the elect! It is our choice to be one of God’s chosen! Only the elect have the promises of (1) no condemnation, (2) the Spirit interceding for us, (3) the assurance the God can use anything Satan does to us for our eternal blessing, (4) having the superior force nurturing us, (5) being in a condition where we cannot be charged before God, (6) being in a situation where nothing eternal of ourselves can separate us from God’s love, (7) being assured that overcoming is absolutely possible.

These are some of the promises to God’s chosen, His elect.

Christ Is the Focus of Christian Existence

Posted by David on 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.

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.

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.