Preached by Gregory W. Lee
27 November 2005
I. Introduction-- turn in Bibles to Col 1:21-29
21. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
22. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--
23. if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
24. Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
25. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--
26. the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.
27. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
-- have you ever been in a hopeless situation? -- have you ever faced a situation in your life where you looked around and saw no way out? -- I'm sure we all have -- right now, we have a lot of our brothers and sisters here in the southeast who are facing a situation after Hurricane Katrina that they regard as hopeless -- homes destroyed -- jobs lost -- all of their financial security gone in an instant -- there seems to be nothing they can do to make things right again in their lives
-- I can empathize with their situation -- as I have mentioned before, there was one time in my life when I suffered from clinical depression -- I had transferred down to the University of Florida and struggled there in that situation -- it was my first time away from home -- I was in a large school unprepared for the academic load -- trying to work full-time to help pay my way -- and I just didn't do well down there -- for the first time in my life, I was failing in school and overwhelmed with life -- I dropped out of school and came home in failure -- and then the depression hit
-- those were dark days -- I remember feeling like things would never get better -- like I was in a dark place with no light in sight -- like there was no hope
-- maybe you've never suffered from depression, but you can probably identify with this feeling of hopelessness -- in our lives, we sometimes go through storms that test our perserverance and that test our faith -- we have problems in our home lives -- in our work lives -- in our spiritual lives -- and we find ourselves in situations that seem without hope -- in situations where we cannot imagine that we will ever be all right again
-- hopelessness can come about in many different ways:
1) it can be caused internally -- it can come from within us -- caused by depression or other factors that cause us to lose hope in our lives
2) it can be caused by external conditions -- caused by people and circumstances outside of ourselves that cause us to lose hope -- maybe we have difficulties in our marriages -- maybe we have financial problems -- family stresses -- all of those pressures and storms of life that come in and lead us into situations that go from bad to worse and that cause us to lose all hope in the future
-- when I think about hopeless situations caused by external conditions, I think of the story of Job in the Old Testament -- where in a single instance he lost his way of life -- his children -- his home -- and his health -- also, I think of those affected by all of the natural disasters that we have had in our world this year -- the hurricanes and the tornados and the earthquakes and the tsunami
-- sometimes our governments promote doctrines that can lead to a feeling of hopelessness -- for instance, in the communist nations, these governments promoted the group over the individual and, as a result, they destroyed the hope of individuals and of families for better lives in the future -- everything was for the good of the nation and a lot of people and families were forced into poverty and poor jobs with no hope for the future
-- this loss of hope -- this feeling of hopelessness by those who lived in these countries -- was intentional -- because it forced the citizens of these countries to depend on the government to survive
3) the third source of hopelessness is spiritual -- in this passage in Colossians, verse 21 describes a time when all of us seemed to be without hope
21. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
-- the Bible says that all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God -- as a result, we were all alienated from God -- separated from Him by our sin -- sentenced to eternal death through our own evil behaviors
-- on Martha Stewart's show, she always comes up with something new to help celebrate the holidays or to make your home a better place -- and after she shows it to you, she says, "and that's a good thing" -- well, living without hope is not a good thing -- it means that there is nothing to celebrate -- it means that there is no rescue -- no relief -- no promise of better days or better ways -- hopelessness means that you are in a darkness in which no light will ever shine -- you are on a journey that will never end -- hopelessness means that nothing will -- or can -- change in your life or in your circumstances -- hopelessness means that all is lost
II. Advent
-- however, the message of the Bible is that you are never in a place of true hopelessness -- no matter how dark the days -- no matter how bad the situation -- no matter the shape of your soul or the seriousness of your sins, hope shines brightly -- especially at this time of the year
-- today we begin the season of Advent -- the time of preparation for Christmas -- Advent is a season that is characterized by hope -- as Romans 8:25 says, hope is the eager anticipation -- the eager waiting -- for something that has not yet happened but that will come to pass to change our situation -- to change our circumstances -- to change our lives
-- two thousand years ago, the Jewish nation lived in bondage to the Romans in their own country -- With their way of life oppressed and dominated by foreigners, they longed for the coming of the Messiah -- the One who God promised would come and restore Israel to its glory and who would rule over the nation forever -- the One who would bring healing and restoration and salvation to both Israel and the world
-- however, for over 400 years, God had been silent and had not spoken to the Israelites -- His prophets were silent -- and for hundreds of years the nation of Israel had been under the rule of foreigners -- first Greeks and now Romans -- two thousand years ago, the Israelites couldn't see how anything would change in the near future
-- still, in the middle of what seemed to be a hopeless situation, they waited with expection -- they lived with the hope that this year would be the year that the Messiah would come and restore Israel -- they waited for the fulfillment of the promise that their God had made to them -- that Messiah would come
-- this is what the season of Advent is all about -- waiting expectantly -- hoping -- anticipating -- for God's promises to come to pass
-- and even though most of the Jews did not recognize Him when He came, at Christmas we recognize and celebrate the fact that our Savior -- the Messiah -- did come into the world as promised over 2000 years ago -- because of this, we know that everything else that God has promised will come to pass -- because of this, we can have faith and trust in God's word and in all His promises and have hope in the midst of what seems like hopeless situations in our own lives
-- one of the greatest books in Christianity is an allegory written by John Bunyan called "The Pilgrim's Progress" -- during his journey to the celestial city, the main character in the story -- Christian -- visits the house of Interpreter -- while he is there he sees a wall against which a fire blazes brightly -- there is a man standing near the wall, pouring water on the flames, but no matter how much water he pours on the fire, the fire does not go out -- instead, the fire burns higher and hotter and grows bigger and bigger
-- Christian watches for a little while trying to understand what was going on -- suddenly it hits him -- the flames represent hope and the man who is pouring water on the fire represents all those things in our life and all those situations in our life that try to take away all of our hope -- a marriage starts to fail, a bucket of water is thrown on the fire -- a wayward child, another bucket of water -- a sin that alienates us from God, more water -- but, yet, the fire doesn't go out -- and not only does it not go out, it burns brighter and bigger
-- you see, on the other side of the wall there is another man -- and at the same time the first man is pouring water on the fire, this man is pouring oil onto the flames, causing the fire to roar and blaze with increasing power
-- no matter how much water is thrown on the fire -- no matter how the storms of life try to dampen our spirits and wash away hope -- they never can succeed because of the man pouring oil on the fire -- because of Jesus Christ, who pours into our lives reconciliation with the Father, the forgiveness of sin, the promise of eternal life, and His very own Spirit
-- the situation descibed in verse 21 seemed like a hopeless situation -- before we were saved, we were alienated from God -- enemies of Him in our own minds because of our evil behavior -- sentenced to death because of our unrighteous acts
-- yet, in the midst of that hopeless situation, hope came alive -- the Savior was born in a manger on Christmas morning two thousand years ago and died on a cross for our sins -- in that atoning act on the cross, Jesus poured oil onto the fire and fanned into flames the hope that lay hidden deep within us
III. Hope in Christ
-- in 1 Peter 1:3 we read that through His death and resurrection, Christ gave us new birth into a living hope
-- what does it mean to have a living hope in Christ?
-- a living hope in Christ is based on God and on His grace -- everything in the Christian life -- from salvation to growing in faith to serving Jesus -- has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him -- a living hope in Christ means that we live life based on the promises that God has given us in Christ -- with the expectation that they will come to pass as He promised
-- our hope, first, is in salvation and eternal life with Christ -- look again at verse 22
22. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--
23. if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
-- Paul tells us here that it is through Christ we have been reconciled with God and been made holy in His sight -- because of His death on the cross, we are without blemish and free from accusation -- we have received salvation and eternal life
-- Romans 3:22-25 says that "righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood."--
-- it is our faith in Christ's atoning death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead on the third day that gives us hope -- that causes us to expectantly wait -- for the promised salvation and eternal life in Christ that is to come
-- all we have to do is to recognize our need for a Savior and ask Jesus to forgive us for our sins and to accept, through faith, His death on the cross in our place and His resurrection from the dead, and we will step into this hope of eternal life through Him
-- secondly, with a living hope we hope in sanctification -- in growing in faith in Christ -- we believe that we have been indwelt with the very presence of Christ -- the Holy Spirit -- who leads us and guides us down the path of holiness and righteousness -- that is why Paul writes in verse 23 that we shoudl continue in our faith -- established and firm -- not moved from the hope held out in the gospel
-- through the Holy Spirit we grow in our faith and in our trust in the ability of Christ to meet all of our needs -- to be our strength in times of trial and tribulations -- to bring hope in the midst of seeminlgy hopeless situations
-- through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our life we come to truly trust and believe that in Christ we can do all things -- that in Christ we are more than conquerors -- that through Him, there is no situation that cannot be redeemed and there is no life that cannot be touched for His glory
-- in other words, we acknowledge that we might occasionally face storms in our lives -- we may occasionally find ourselves tossed about on the waves of despair -- but our faith is in Christ and we hope -- we wait expectantly -- for His deliverance in our lives
-- finally, with a living hope we hope in the promise of serving Jesus here on earth -- look back at vs. 28
28. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
-- Paul tells us that we are called to proclaim the gospel of Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ
-- this means two things -- this means that we serve Jesus through evangelism -- by telling others of the good news of Christ -- by telling them of the hope that we have of eternal life through Jesus' death and resurrection and how they can have it in their own lives
-- and it also means that we demonstrate the grace of Christ to others through our actions -- as it says in 1 Peter 4:10, we administer -- we demonstrate God's grace in various forms by serving our neighbors -- what better way to proclaim the gospel of Christ than by being the hands and feet of Christ in your community? -- what better way to proclaim the gospel of Christ than by demonstrating God's love by meeting the physical needs of those around you?
-- with a living hope, we go forth to serve Christ expecting Him to work through us -- we go forth with the knowledge that there is nothing that we cannot do with Christ's power -- that there is no one that we cannot touch -- that there are no situations that we cannot work through -- hope and faith give us the ability to demonstrate the love and the grace of God to hopeless people all around us
IV. Closing
-- in the paraphrase, The Message, we read the following in 1 Cor 1:9, "God, who got you started on this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of His Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that."
-- the message of Advent is that hope in Christ overcomes all -- the message of Advent is that God's promises will always come to pass -- the message of Advent is that we can have hope in seemingly hopeless situations because our Messiah has come -- as long as He is present, there is reason for hope -- hope for salvation and eternal life -- hope for sanctification -- and hope for service in His name
-- let us pray
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
ANNE RICE AND THE STORY OF THE BOY, JESUS
Years ago, I was an avid Anne Rice reader, although her works tended to be rather dark and violent and definitely without a Christian world-view. Knowing her writing style and her background in the occult/supernatural, I was curious about her most recent novel on the life of Jesus as a child. I have yet to read this novel, but I have read some reviews of it and an interview with Rice herself. Evidently, she was recently converted to Christianity and is now a practicing Catholic.
Here is an excellent review written by Ben Witherington on the novel. I will post my own review after I have read the novel.
If you plan on reading this novel by Rice or any other fictional novel, let me be sure and remind you that they are FICTION. They may be based on historical facts, but they are fictional accounts and may have taken liberties with the truth, both historically and theologically.
For instance, the bestseller, "The Davinci Code," is an excellent case where the author took a few scattered historical truths and a couple of rumors and myths and blended them into a compelling mystery story that is absolutely incorrect in its theological presentation. I actually had some friends come to me after the book was published saying that they believed everything in the book and wanting to know where to get these "correct" gospels the book mentioned and wanted to know why the church had suppressed the truth. Let's make sure that fiction stays fiction and is enjoyed as such without taking it in a sense that the author never (I hope) intended. As always, be like the Bereans and test everything against the Word.
Here is an excellent review written by Ben Witherington on the novel. I will post my own review after I have read the novel.
If you plan on reading this novel by Rice or any other fictional novel, let me be sure and remind you that they are FICTION. They may be based on historical facts, but they are fictional accounts and may have taken liberties with the truth, both historically and theologically.
For instance, the bestseller, "The Davinci Code," is an excellent case where the author took a few scattered historical truths and a couple of rumors and myths and blended them into a compelling mystery story that is absolutely incorrect in its theological presentation. I actually had some friends come to me after the book was published saying that they believed everything in the book and wanting to know where to get these "correct" gospels the book mentioned and wanted to know why the church had suppressed the truth. Let's make sure that fiction stays fiction and is enjoyed as such without taking it in a sense that the author never (I hope) intended. As always, be like the Bereans and test everything against the Word.
CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSION
I have a confession to make. For those who have been reading this blog for some time, this probably will not be much of a shock. I am one of those ultra-conservative Christians who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, including the Book of Revelation. That means that I also believe in the concept of the rapture as put forth in the Left Behind books written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
Now, that said, I have no problem with those who think differently from me. As best I can tell, eschatological issues are not a matter of salvation. They are a matter of interpretation. If you choose to believe in the rapture, great. If you choose not to believe in the rapture, fine with me. In my opinion, this is an issue that is not an eternal life or eternal damnation issue. Same with creationism/intelligent design and evolution. Same with many, many other issues. Pick a side, debate your side, support your side through biblical arguments, but walk home hand-in-hand as Christians. There is room in the body of Christ for disagreement over ancillary issues (recognizing, of course, the required foundation of faith in Christ's atoning work for the forgiveness of our sin).
Having this mind-set, I have been confused and saddened by some of the attacks I have seen regarding the concept of the rapture. There appears to be a growing faction of Christians who simply cannot tolerate anyone who holds to this concept. They denigrate this position and castigate adherents in writings and in sermons, some even seeming to make the case that those who hold to this concept are not really Christians.
Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemene that the church would be one as He and the Father were One. He prayed that when the world would look at us, they would see us united under His Lordship and would be drawn to Him through us. Vitrolic infightings over ancillary issues not related to salvation do not unite us. They divide us and cause a watching world to see a divided church. Why can't we disagree on ancillary theological issues but remain brothers and sisters in Christ? Why can't we tolerate those who think differently from us? Are we so narrowly defined that we can't even relate with others of different denominations or even with different beliefs within our own denomination?
In all of these arguments, there appears to be common ground. For instance, a Christian holds that God created life. Whether He did it during a literal 6-day period or whether it was through the process of evolution doesn't really matter in the scheme of things. I don't think we're going to have to answer a quiz when we die to see if we picked the right side on evolution or creationism in order to get into heaven.
In the same vein, whether you believe in the rapture or not, we still all hold to the belief that Jesus is coming again as He states in Scripture. If one day I hear trumpets and the heavens roll back as a scroll and Jesus returns in all His glory, I'm not going to cry because the rapture didn't take place like I believed. I'm going to rejoice in His return. And, I don't think I will be judged by Christ for believing in something that was ancillary to the big issues.
I find clarity in the wisdom of song-writers. Clay Crosse once had a contemporary Christian song that said, "it all comes down to a Man dying on a cross for our sins." Waylon Jennings once sang, "maybe it's time that we get back to the basics of love." Truer words were never spoken (or sung). I think it's time we stopped fighting about ancillary issues, started having amiable disagreements, and came together as one to draw a watching world to the One who is important. We have good news to share. Let's not let the message get drowned out in the midst of our disagreements.
Now, that said, I have no problem with those who think differently from me. As best I can tell, eschatological issues are not a matter of salvation. They are a matter of interpretation. If you choose to believe in the rapture, great. If you choose not to believe in the rapture, fine with me. In my opinion, this is an issue that is not an eternal life or eternal damnation issue. Same with creationism/intelligent design and evolution. Same with many, many other issues. Pick a side, debate your side, support your side through biblical arguments, but walk home hand-in-hand as Christians. There is room in the body of Christ for disagreement over ancillary issues (recognizing, of course, the required foundation of faith in Christ's atoning work for the forgiveness of our sin).
Having this mind-set, I have been confused and saddened by some of the attacks I have seen regarding the concept of the rapture. There appears to be a growing faction of Christians who simply cannot tolerate anyone who holds to this concept. They denigrate this position and castigate adherents in writings and in sermons, some even seeming to make the case that those who hold to this concept are not really Christians.
Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemene that the church would be one as He and the Father were One. He prayed that when the world would look at us, they would see us united under His Lordship and would be drawn to Him through us. Vitrolic infightings over ancillary issues not related to salvation do not unite us. They divide us and cause a watching world to see a divided church. Why can't we disagree on ancillary theological issues but remain brothers and sisters in Christ? Why can't we tolerate those who think differently from us? Are we so narrowly defined that we can't even relate with others of different denominations or even with different beliefs within our own denomination?
In all of these arguments, there appears to be common ground. For instance, a Christian holds that God created life. Whether He did it during a literal 6-day period or whether it was through the process of evolution doesn't really matter in the scheme of things. I don't think we're going to have to answer a quiz when we die to see if we picked the right side on evolution or creationism in order to get into heaven.
In the same vein, whether you believe in the rapture or not, we still all hold to the belief that Jesus is coming again as He states in Scripture. If one day I hear trumpets and the heavens roll back as a scroll and Jesus returns in all His glory, I'm not going to cry because the rapture didn't take place like I believed. I'm going to rejoice in His return. And, I don't think I will be judged by Christ for believing in something that was ancillary to the big issues.
I find clarity in the wisdom of song-writers. Clay Crosse once had a contemporary Christian song that said, "it all comes down to a Man dying on a cross for our sins." Waylon Jennings once sang, "maybe it's time that we get back to the basics of love." Truer words were never spoken (or sung). I think it's time we stopped fighting about ancillary issues, started having amiable disagreements, and came together as one to draw a watching world to the One who is important. We have good news to share. Let's not let the message get drowned out in the midst of our disagreements.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
KEEPING THE FLAMES LIT
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
13 November 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Rev 2:1-7
1. "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
-- in the beginning of the book by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy Pevensie opens the door of a magical wardrobe and enters into the magical land of Narnia -- it happened in this way
-- while exploring the professor's house with her brothers and sister, Lucy discovers a room with nothing in it but a large wardrobe -- since she loves the feel of fur against her skin, she climbs into the wardrobe to let the coats and the cloaks brush against her
-- as she climbs into the wardrobe and makes her way through the coats and the cloaks that hang there, she soon discovers that she was no longer in a wardrobe -- you see, as she searched for the back of the wardrobe, she found that she was standing in the middle of a wood at night-time with snow under her feet and snowflakes falling through the air -- and far ahead -- much farther than where the back of the wardrobe ought to have been, she saw a light
-- as she entered into the land of Narnia and made her way through the forest in the snow towards the light, she soon found that the source of the light was a lamp-post -- as the story of Narnia and the Pevensie children begins, Lewis leaves us with this sentence concerning Lucy's discovery -- "She stood looking at it, wondering why there was a lamp-post in the middle of a wood and wondering what to do next."
II. The Church at Ephesus
-- now, you might be sitting there wondering what a children's book has to do with this passage from the Book of Revelation, but it has everything to do with it
-- you see, in this passage in Revelation we read Jesus' message to the church at Ephesus -- the church at Ephesus was an extraordinary church in an extraordinary place
-- the city of Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Mediterranean world at the time this letter was written -- it boasted a population of over 250,000 people and was a center of trade for the Roman Empire -- second only to Rome in importance in both trade and political influence -- but, more importantly, Ephesus was the center for the religion of the worship of Diana -- it was there that the temple of Diana was built -- one of the seven wonders of the ancient world -- the largest Greek temple ever constructed -- and it was there that all of her worshipers gathered
-- and it was there -- in the midst of this important city -- in the midst of the trade and the politics and the center of pagan worship -- that the church of Ephesus not only existed but thrived -- reaching people for the Kingdom of God and leading pagans from the darkness into the light
-- the Apostle Paul spent more time living and teaching in Ephesus than in any other church he visited -- and both Timothy and the Apostle John pastored the church at various times during its history -- and the fruit borne by these great men of God was evident
-- it was a strong church thriving in very difficult circumstances -- that is why Jesus commended the church in verses 2-3, saying that He knew of their deeds -- of their hard work -- of their perseverance -- the church at Ephesus did not tolerate wicked men or wicked doctrines in their midst -- and they had perservered and endured hardships in the name of Christ without growing weary
-- but, this church had a problem -- in verse 4 Jesus rebukes the church -- look with me as we read again verses 4-5
4. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
-- in the midst of their struggles -- in the midst of their hardships -- this church took a wrong turn -- they didn't forget their first love -- they didn't lose their first love -- Jesus says that they had forsaken their first love -- they chose to turn away from the love upon which the church had been established and they chose to press on in their own strength and in their own power -- oh, they still lived with Christ -- they still claimed the name of Christ -- they just didn't love Him like they used to
-- think about it this way -- the first love that Jesus describes here is like the love of a newly married couple -- in fact, the Bible describes our relationship with God in just this way -- in Jeremiah 2:2, God says, "I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert" -- when you are in the midst of a new relationship, your love is new -- alive -- passionate -- powerful -- your life revolves around your partner -- you want to be where they are and you follow them where they lead -- together you become one heart and one soul -- they are your breath -- your food -- your very reason for living
-- but later, the pressures of life comes in and the honeymoon ends -- I like the way Steven Lawson describes it -- he says, "The children come. The career takes off. The business expands. The activities increase. The stresses multiply. And suddenly two people wake up complete strangers."
-- this is what has happened to the church at Ephesus -- they were still living with Christ -- still serving Christ -- they were still coming to church -- they were still believing all the right things and teaching all the right things -- they just were not loving Christ as they first had -- their relationship had become routine -- they were just not in love with Him anymore
-- this would be the same as a husband coming to his wife and saying, "you know, I just don't love you anymore, but I don't want to leave you with the kids alone -- so, I'll stay here -- I'll help you take care of the kids -- I'll provide for you and for our family -- we'll still do things together -- we'll still sit together and sleep together and go out in public together -- we'll do all the things that a married couple does -- but, I am just not going to love you like I used to" -- would that be good enough for you? -- would that be the type of relationship you would want for a lifetime?
-- probably not -- and that's exactly what Christ was saying in this passage -- so, He warned the church at Ephesus to repent of their sins -- to come back to the first love that they had forsaken -- or else, He warned, He would remove their lampstand from its place
-- which brings us back to the story of Narnia and of Lucy standing next to a lamp-post in the middle of a forest, wondering why it was there and what she should do next
III. Narnia and Ephesus
-- C.S. Lewis was a master of the English language, and there is nothing in his books on Narnia that is not there for a reason -- while not a true allegory, his books are filled with symbols of our Christian faith, most famously Aslan the lion as symbolic of Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah
-- after studying this passage in Revelation and recently reading the Chronicles of Narnia, I believe that Lewis put the lamp-post in the middle of the forest to symbolize the condition that existed in the church at Ephesus when Jesus sent this message to them
-- you see, when Lucy stumbles through the wardrobe and into the land of Narnia, the land has been overtaken by the evil White Witch and is gripped in the hand of deadly winter year-round -- there is not spring -- there is no new life -- and the sun shines weakly -- but, yet, in the middle of this winter wasteland, Lucy is drawn to a light -- the lamp-post -- that is shining brightly in the gloom brought on by the power of the White Witch
-- the lamp-post in the Chronicles of Narnia represents exactly what the lampstand in this passage represents -- the very presence of the living God and the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst -- the light of the lamp-post shining in the winter wilderness told the citizens of Narnia that Aslan had not forgotten them -- that He was still with them -- and that He would one day redeem them from the evil that gripped them
-- for the nation of Israel and for the people of God, the lampstand had special significance
-- in the temple -- in the holy place -- there were only three items of significance -- there was the table of the showbread, there was the altar of incense, and there was the holy lampstand
-- the lampstand was the only source of light in the holy place and it was kept burning continuously by the priests -- it signified to the nation of Israel the presence of God with them and it provided light and hope to them as they lived in the midst of dark pagan lands
-- in the same way, the lampstand of God in the church at Ephesus represented the presence of God with them -- it represented the blessing of God in their lives -- living in the middle of a pagan land, it was a beacon of light that illuminated their path -- it gave them comfort and hope in the midst of all their trials and their tribulations -- it signified the love that God had for them and its light reflected the quality of their relationship with God
-- as long as the lampstand was burning, there was hope -- as long as the lampstand was burning, there was life -- as long as the lampstand was burning, there was God
IV. The Loss of the Lampstand
-- but the church at Ephesus had chosen to turn away from the light of God to the darkness around -- they had chosen to turn away from the presence of God and to depend on their own strength and their own power -- and Jesus warned them that if they did not repent -- if they did not turn back tothe light and to living with the presence and power of God in their lives -- then He would remove His lampstand -- He would remove His presence from them -- and leave them to their own devices
-- in the book of Romans, we see a similar situation -- in Chapter 1, Paul tells us about the godlessness and the wickedness of all those who had turned away from the light of God given to them -- who had turned away from the truth that God had put in their hearts -- and, as a result, it says that God "gave them over" to the sinful desires of their hearts and His wrath was poured out on them -- in other words, God removed His lampstand -- His blessing and His protection -- from their lives and they suffered from their own actions
-- for a church or an individual to have their lampstand removed is a horrific event -- we can argue and debate about "once saved, always saved" and whether you can fall from grace or not -- we can argue and debate about correct doctrine and about which denomination or which group within a denomination has it right -- we can argue and debate about the meaning of church membership and church life
-- we can correctly interpret the Word of God and apply its doctrines in our life -- we can have hundreds of people joining our churches on an annual basis -- we can send money to missionaries and pay all our apportionments on time every year -- but if we have turned from our first love -- if we have forsaken the very reason we exist -- then we stand in danger of having the lampstand of God removed from our midst
-- and, if that happens, it won't matter whether our doctrines are right or not -- because we will cease to exist -- we will be nothing and we will gain nothing except the wrath of God
-- listen as I read 1 Corithians 13:1-3, which speaks on this same subject
1. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
-- forsaking your first love -- turning away from the love of God and trying to make a life in our own strength and in our own power -- leads to destruction
-- God is love and to have God in our life, we must have love as well -- love for God and love for our neighbor
V. Closing
-- I want you to take a moment now and search your heart and answer these questions, "How are you doing? -- How is our church doing? -- How is our denomination doing?" -- is our lampstand in its place? -- or have we forsaken our first love and seen God remove His presence from our midst?
-- Nancy Lee DeMoss onced asked a question that has continued to concern me as I look at our churches in America today -- she asked, "If God was to remove His Spirit -- [in other words -- if God was to remove His lampstand] -- from our churches, would we even know?" -- If God was to remove His Spirit from our churches, how many of our programs would continue without missing a beat? -- how much of what we are attempting in our churches today is devoid of the presence and power of God -- how much is devoid of the love of God?
-- these are questions that we need to ask and answer -- did you know that every year, hundreds and thousands of churches are closing their doors -- never to open them again?
-- did you know that in our own denomination, not only have we been experiencing membership declines for 40 years, but we have been closing the doors of churches all over this nation? -- I did an internet search for "Methodist Church Closings" yesterday, and had over 50,000 hits -- granted, some of them were for weather-related closings, but a great number of them were of local congregations being closed and their churches being locked up forever
-- why is this? -- could it be that the lampstands of our churches are being removed as we turn away from the love and the presence of God?
-- it is very possible for us to be like the church of Ephesus -- to rightly teach the truth -- to hold to all the right doctrines -- but to try to live it under our own power -- to have a form of religion that denies the power of God
-- we need to heed the words of Jesus in this passage and keep our lampstands lit -- we need to return to our first love and fan our smoldering flames into raging fires of love for God and for our neighbors
-- the good news is that our God is long-suffering and faithful -- if there is the slightest flicker of light, God will leave our lampstand in place, charging us to return to Him and to rekindle its flame -- where God is, there is love -- where God is, there is hope -- where God is, churches that have forsaken their first love can come home again
-- I want to close now with atrue story of just such a situation -- in Brie, Belgium, there once stood a vibrant Catholic church with a convent and a school -- during the Nazi occupation in World War II, the church was closed -- and, even after the war ended and the Nazis left, the church remained closed except for the few nuns who remained to take care of the buildings
-- across the street from the church lived an American military family serving in Belgium -- when their daughter was born, they went to the church to have their daughter baptized, but the nuns at first refused -- it had been too long -- there was no one left to carry on the faith -- the church was closed
-- but, the family insisted, and their daughter was baptized and in that moment, the light of God's lampstand burst into flame -- the love of God and the presence of God returned -- and as the news of the first baptism in that church since World War II spread, the flames of God's presence went out through that community -- reigniting in the people there a passion for God and a passion for God's work
-- today, that church is a vibrant part of the body of Christ here on earth -- touching hearts and lives through the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit
-- a lampstand, once in danger of being removed forever, shines brightly today in a Catholic Church in Brie, Belgium
-- Lucy Pevensie found herself in the middle of a wood standing next to a lamp-post wondering what it was there for and what she should do next
-- this morning, we find ourselves standing next to the lampstand of God -- its flame may be flickering -- some may thing it is going out -- but, unlike Lucy, we know why it is there and we know what we should do to keep it lit -- the final question before you today is, "Will you do what is necessary to keep the lampstand of God in its place in your life and in this church?"
-- let us pray
13 November 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Rev 2:1-7
1. "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
-- in the beginning of the book by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy Pevensie opens the door of a magical wardrobe and enters into the magical land of Narnia -- it happened in this way
-- while exploring the professor's house with her brothers and sister, Lucy discovers a room with nothing in it but a large wardrobe -- since she loves the feel of fur against her skin, she climbs into the wardrobe to let the coats and the cloaks brush against her
-- as she climbs into the wardrobe and makes her way through the coats and the cloaks that hang there, she soon discovers that she was no longer in a wardrobe -- you see, as she searched for the back of the wardrobe, she found that she was standing in the middle of a wood at night-time with snow under her feet and snowflakes falling through the air -- and far ahead -- much farther than where the back of the wardrobe ought to have been, she saw a light
-- as she entered into the land of Narnia and made her way through the forest in the snow towards the light, she soon found that the source of the light was a lamp-post -- as the story of Narnia and the Pevensie children begins, Lewis leaves us with this sentence concerning Lucy's discovery -- "She stood looking at it, wondering why there was a lamp-post in the middle of a wood and wondering what to do next."
II. The Church at Ephesus
-- now, you might be sitting there wondering what a children's book has to do with this passage from the Book of Revelation, but it has everything to do with it
-- you see, in this passage in Revelation we read Jesus' message to the church at Ephesus -- the church at Ephesus was an extraordinary church in an extraordinary place
-- the city of Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Mediterranean world at the time this letter was written -- it boasted a population of over 250,000 people and was a center of trade for the Roman Empire -- second only to Rome in importance in both trade and political influence -- but, more importantly, Ephesus was the center for the religion of the worship of Diana -- it was there that the temple of Diana was built -- one of the seven wonders of the ancient world -- the largest Greek temple ever constructed -- and it was there that all of her worshipers gathered
-- and it was there -- in the midst of this important city -- in the midst of the trade and the politics and the center of pagan worship -- that the church of Ephesus not only existed but thrived -- reaching people for the Kingdom of God and leading pagans from the darkness into the light
-- the Apostle Paul spent more time living and teaching in Ephesus than in any other church he visited -- and both Timothy and the Apostle John pastored the church at various times during its history -- and the fruit borne by these great men of God was evident
-- it was a strong church thriving in very difficult circumstances -- that is why Jesus commended the church in verses 2-3, saying that He knew of their deeds -- of their hard work -- of their perseverance -- the church at Ephesus did not tolerate wicked men or wicked doctrines in their midst -- and they had perservered and endured hardships in the name of Christ without growing weary
-- but, this church had a problem -- in verse 4 Jesus rebukes the church -- look with me as we read again verses 4-5
4. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
-- in the midst of their struggles -- in the midst of their hardships -- this church took a wrong turn -- they didn't forget their first love -- they didn't lose their first love -- Jesus says that they had forsaken their first love -- they chose to turn away from the love upon which the church had been established and they chose to press on in their own strength and in their own power -- oh, they still lived with Christ -- they still claimed the name of Christ -- they just didn't love Him like they used to
-- think about it this way -- the first love that Jesus describes here is like the love of a newly married couple -- in fact, the Bible describes our relationship with God in just this way -- in Jeremiah 2:2, God says, "I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert" -- when you are in the midst of a new relationship, your love is new -- alive -- passionate -- powerful -- your life revolves around your partner -- you want to be where they are and you follow them where they lead -- together you become one heart and one soul -- they are your breath -- your food -- your very reason for living
-- but later, the pressures of life comes in and the honeymoon ends -- I like the way Steven Lawson describes it -- he says, "The children come. The career takes off. The business expands. The activities increase. The stresses multiply. And suddenly two people wake up complete strangers."
-- this is what has happened to the church at Ephesus -- they were still living with Christ -- still serving Christ -- they were still coming to church -- they were still believing all the right things and teaching all the right things -- they just were not loving Christ as they first had -- their relationship had become routine -- they were just not in love with Him anymore
-- this would be the same as a husband coming to his wife and saying, "you know, I just don't love you anymore, but I don't want to leave you with the kids alone -- so, I'll stay here -- I'll help you take care of the kids -- I'll provide for you and for our family -- we'll still do things together -- we'll still sit together and sleep together and go out in public together -- we'll do all the things that a married couple does -- but, I am just not going to love you like I used to" -- would that be good enough for you? -- would that be the type of relationship you would want for a lifetime?
-- probably not -- and that's exactly what Christ was saying in this passage -- so, He warned the church at Ephesus to repent of their sins -- to come back to the first love that they had forsaken -- or else, He warned, He would remove their lampstand from its place
-- which brings us back to the story of Narnia and of Lucy standing next to a lamp-post in the middle of a forest, wondering why it was there and what she should do next
III. Narnia and Ephesus
-- C.S. Lewis was a master of the English language, and there is nothing in his books on Narnia that is not there for a reason -- while not a true allegory, his books are filled with symbols of our Christian faith, most famously Aslan the lion as symbolic of Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah
-- after studying this passage in Revelation and recently reading the Chronicles of Narnia, I believe that Lewis put the lamp-post in the middle of the forest to symbolize the condition that existed in the church at Ephesus when Jesus sent this message to them
-- you see, when Lucy stumbles through the wardrobe and into the land of Narnia, the land has been overtaken by the evil White Witch and is gripped in the hand of deadly winter year-round -- there is not spring -- there is no new life -- and the sun shines weakly -- but, yet, in the middle of this winter wasteland, Lucy is drawn to a light -- the lamp-post -- that is shining brightly in the gloom brought on by the power of the White Witch
-- the lamp-post in the Chronicles of Narnia represents exactly what the lampstand in this passage represents -- the very presence of the living God and the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst -- the light of the lamp-post shining in the winter wilderness told the citizens of Narnia that Aslan had not forgotten them -- that He was still with them -- and that He would one day redeem them from the evil that gripped them
-- for the nation of Israel and for the people of God, the lampstand had special significance
-- in the temple -- in the holy place -- there were only three items of significance -- there was the table of the showbread, there was the altar of incense, and there was the holy lampstand
-- the lampstand was the only source of light in the holy place and it was kept burning continuously by the priests -- it signified to the nation of Israel the presence of God with them and it provided light and hope to them as they lived in the midst of dark pagan lands
-- in the same way, the lampstand of God in the church at Ephesus represented the presence of God with them -- it represented the blessing of God in their lives -- living in the middle of a pagan land, it was a beacon of light that illuminated their path -- it gave them comfort and hope in the midst of all their trials and their tribulations -- it signified the love that God had for them and its light reflected the quality of their relationship with God
-- as long as the lampstand was burning, there was hope -- as long as the lampstand was burning, there was life -- as long as the lampstand was burning, there was God
IV. The Loss of the Lampstand
-- but the church at Ephesus had chosen to turn away from the light of God to the darkness around -- they had chosen to turn away from the presence of God and to depend on their own strength and their own power -- and Jesus warned them that if they did not repent -- if they did not turn back tothe light and to living with the presence and power of God in their lives -- then He would remove His lampstand -- He would remove His presence from them -- and leave them to their own devices
-- in the book of Romans, we see a similar situation -- in Chapter 1, Paul tells us about the godlessness and the wickedness of all those who had turned away from the light of God given to them -- who had turned away from the truth that God had put in their hearts -- and, as a result, it says that God "gave them over" to the sinful desires of their hearts and His wrath was poured out on them -- in other words, God removed His lampstand -- His blessing and His protection -- from their lives and they suffered from their own actions
-- for a church or an individual to have their lampstand removed is a horrific event -- we can argue and debate about "once saved, always saved" and whether you can fall from grace or not -- we can argue and debate about correct doctrine and about which denomination or which group within a denomination has it right -- we can argue and debate about the meaning of church membership and church life
-- we can correctly interpret the Word of God and apply its doctrines in our life -- we can have hundreds of people joining our churches on an annual basis -- we can send money to missionaries and pay all our apportionments on time every year -- but if we have turned from our first love -- if we have forsaken the very reason we exist -- then we stand in danger of having the lampstand of God removed from our midst
-- and, if that happens, it won't matter whether our doctrines are right or not -- because we will cease to exist -- we will be nothing and we will gain nothing except the wrath of God
-- listen as I read 1 Corithians 13:1-3, which speaks on this same subject
1. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
-- forsaking your first love -- turning away from the love of God and trying to make a life in our own strength and in our own power -- leads to destruction
-- God is love and to have God in our life, we must have love as well -- love for God and love for our neighbor
V. Closing
-- I want you to take a moment now and search your heart and answer these questions, "How are you doing? -- How is our church doing? -- How is our denomination doing?" -- is our lampstand in its place? -- or have we forsaken our first love and seen God remove His presence from our midst?
-- Nancy Lee DeMoss onced asked a question that has continued to concern me as I look at our churches in America today -- she asked, "If God was to remove His Spirit -- [in other words -- if God was to remove His lampstand] -- from our churches, would we even know?" -- If God was to remove His Spirit from our churches, how many of our programs would continue without missing a beat? -- how much of what we are attempting in our churches today is devoid of the presence and power of God -- how much is devoid of the love of God?
-- these are questions that we need to ask and answer -- did you know that every year, hundreds and thousands of churches are closing their doors -- never to open them again?
-- did you know that in our own denomination, not only have we been experiencing membership declines for 40 years, but we have been closing the doors of churches all over this nation? -- I did an internet search for "Methodist Church Closings" yesterday, and had over 50,000 hits -- granted, some of them were for weather-related closings, but a great number of them were of local congregations being closed and their churches being locked up forever
-- why is this? -- could it be that the lampstands of our churches are being removed as we turn away from the love and the presence of God?
-- it is very possible for us to be like the church of Ephesus -- to rightly teach the truth -- to hold to all the right doctrines -- but to try to live it under our own power -- to have a form of religion that denies the power of God
-- we need to heed the words of Jesus in this passage and keep our lampstands lit -- we need to return to our first love and fan our smoldering flames into raging fires of love for God and for our neighbors
-- the good news is that our God is long-suffering and faithful -- if there is the slightest flicker of light, God will leave our lampstand in place, charging us to return to Him and to rekindle its flame -- where God is, there is love -- where God is, there is hope -- where God is, churches that have forsaken their first love can come home again
-- I want to close now with atrue story of just such a situation -- in Brie, Belgium, there once stood a vibrant Catholic church with a convent and a school -- during the Nazi occupation in World War II, the church was closed -- and, even after the war ended and the Nazis left, the church remained closed except for the few nuns who remained to take care of the buildings
-- across the street from the church lived an American military family serving in Belgium -- when their daughter was born, they went to the church to have their daughter baptized, but the nuns at first refused -- it had been too long -- there was no one left to carry on the faith -- the church was closed
-- but, the family insisted, and their daughter was baptized and in that moment, the light of God's lampstand burst into flame -- the love of God and the presence of God returned -- and as the news of the first baptism in that church since World War II spread, the flames of God's presence went out through that community -- reigniting in the people there a passion for God and a passion for God's work
-- today, that church is a vibrant part of the body of Christ here on earth -- touching hearts and lives through the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit
-- a lampstand, once in danger of being removed forever, shines brightly today in a Catholic Church in Brie, Belgium
-- Lucy Pevensie found herself in the middle of a wood standing next to a lamp-post wondering what it was there for and what she should do next
-- this morning, we find ourselves standing next to the lampstand of God -- its flame may be flickering -- some may thing it is going out -- but, unlike Lucy, we know why it is there and we know what we should do to keep it lit -- the final question before you today is, "Will you do what is necessary to keep the lampstand of God in its place in your life and in this church?"
-- let us pray
Saturday, November 12, 2005
THE PARABLE OF THE BIG GREEN VAN
We had been having problems with my wife's van. We had purchased it used, and it ran good for several years. But then, things started to fall apart. It just wouldn't run good. It took several tries to crank it, and when you pulled up to a red light or stop sign, it would die and you would have to recrank it. Despite how it looked on the outside, there was a problem with the van. It was an internal problem. There was something wrong with the heart of the machine -- with the engine. Something was missing. Something was wrong.
A friend of ours said he had the answer. We just weren't getting enough fuel. We just needed more power. So he came over and changed out the fuel filter and the air filter. "This will do it," he said. "You won't have any problems now." And we didn't, at least on the way home. But the next morning, the same thing happened again. Something just wasn't right. We knew it, but just didn't know what we needed.
Our friends and I tried everything we could to fix the problem, but to no avail. The fuel filter didn't work. The air filter didn't work. Fixing the exhaust leak -- no help. Fuel additives -- still nothing. There was absolutely nothing that we could do to fix the problem. Finally, we faced the fact that there was no other option -- we went forward and found a professional to look at it.
The mechanic immediately hooked up his diagnostic computer and compared our engine to the model standard in the machine. There was a problem. We weren't firing on all cylinders. And, if we didn't do something quick, we were facing the death of our engine. "Do whatever you have to," we pleaded. "Fix our engine."
The mechanic searched out the problem and discovered what was wrong. A rock -- as amazing as it might sound -- a rock had somehow gotten kicked up from the road and lodged itself between a sparkplug and the electronic fuel system, causing the engine to misfire. With all his skill, it took him over three hours to chip away at that rock. It seemed like the engine just wouldn't let it go. Chip after agonizing chip, but three hours later, the rock was gone and a brand new, bright and shiny sparkplug and repaired boot were in place. The engine hummed and purred like new.
What was damaged had been restored. What was missing had been replaced. All it took was a little humbleness and confession on our part that we knew something was wrong and that we were incapable of fixing it. And the loving and skillful hands of a great physician (mechanic) cured our van and brought new life out of an engine that many had written off as lost for good.
A friend of ours said he had the answer. We just weren't getting enough fuel. We just needed more power. So he came over and changed out the fuel filter and the air filter. "This will do it," he said. "You won't have any problems now." And we didn't, at least on the way home. But the next morning, the same thing happened again. Something just wasn't right. We knew it, but just didn't know what we needed.
Our friends and I tried everything we could to fix the problem, but to no avail. The fuel filter didn't work. The air filter didn't work. Fixing the exhaust leak -- no help. Fuel additives -- still nothing. There was absolutely nothing that we could do to fix the problem. Finally, we faced the fact that there was no other option -- we went forward and found a professional to look at it.
The mechanic immediately hooked up his diagnostic computer and compared our engine to the model standard in the machine. There was a problem. We weren't firing on all cylinders. And, if we didn't do something quick, we were facing the death of our engine. "Do whatever you have to," we pleaded. "Fix our engine."
The mechanic searched out the problem and discovered what was wrong. A rock -- as amazing as it might sound -- a rock had somehow gotten kicked up from the road and lodged itself between a sparkplug and the electronic fuel system, causing the engine to misfire. With all his skill, it took him over three hours to chip away at that rock. It seemed like the engine just wouldn't let it go. Chip after agonizing chip, but three hours later, the rock was gone and a brand new, bright and shiny sparkplug and repaired boot were in place. The engine hummed and purred like new.
What was damaged had been restored. What was missing had been replaced. All it took was a little humbleness and confession on our part that we knew something was wrong and that we were incapable of fixing it. And the loving and skillful hands of a great physician (mechanic) cured our van and brought new life out of an engine that many had written off as lost for good.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
THE END OF AN ERA
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has just announced that the Crusade held last June in New York was Rev. Graham's last preaching event. In the world of evangelists, Rev. Graham stands head and shoulders above the rest. His name will be remembered alongside other great heroes of the faith, including John Wesley, George Whitfield, D.L. Moody, Charles Finney, and Bill Bright.
Over the last 100 years, no single person that I can think of has done more to impact this world for Christ through evangelism than Rev. Graham. Rev. Graham has probably preached to more people in his evangelistic career than any other evangelist in history. I read his autobiography, "Just as I am," several years ago, and was amazed at how God had used Rev. Graham through out his life.
I have attended several Promise Keeper's events throughout the southeast, and I have always been amazed that 40,000 men would gather together to praise God in one place like that. But, during the early years of Rev. Graham's ministry, he preached a revival/crusade in Los Angeles to 100,000 people nightly -- for six months!!! I simply cannot fathom how that is possible. It is obvious that God chose Rev. Graham to reap a harvest here on earth that none will ever surpass.
Growing up in the 70's and 80's, we regularly saw Billy Graham Crusades on the t.v. We didn't think much of it. Sometimes we'd watch but, more than often, we'd just find something else. It saddens me to think of how much I missed over the years by not listening to Rev. Graham more than I did. God used him to touch so many lives, and I can't help but think that my life might have been richer if I had only listened to his teaching more often and applied it to my life at an earlier age.
So, as we watch the passing of an era, all we can do is say, "Thanks, Billy, for the lives that you have touched for Christ. You were an inspiration to us and heaven will be a little brighter because of the souls that were introduced to Christ through you."
Over the last 100 years, no single person that I can think of has done more to impact this world for Christ through evangelism than Rev. Graham. Rev. Graham has probably preached to more people in his evangelistic career than any other evangelist in history. I read his autobiography, "Just as I am," several years ago, and was amazed at how God had used Rev. Graham through out his life.
I have attended several Promise Keeper's events throughout the southeast, and I have always been amazed that 40,000 men would gather together to praise God in one place like that. But, during the early years of Rev. Graham's ministry, he preached a revival/crusade in Los Angeles to 100,000 people nightly -- for six months!!! I simply cannot fathom how that is possible. It is obvious that God chose Rev. Graham to reap a harvest here on earth that none will ever surpass.
Growing up in the 70's and 80's, we regularly saw Billy Graham Crusades on the t.v. We didn't think much of it. Sometimes we'd watch but, more than often, we'd just find something else. It saddens me to think of how much I missed over the years by not listening to Rev. Graham more than I did. God used him to touch so many lives, and I can't help but think that my life might have been richer if I had only listened to his teaching more often and applied it to my life at an earlier age.
So, as we watch the passing of an era, all we can do is say, "Thanks, Billy, for the lives that you have touched for Christ. You were an inspiration to us and heaven will be a little brighter because of the souls that were introduced to Christ through you."
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
WHERE IS THE OUTCRY?
My wife and I are big fans of the Fox show "24." This is the show that stars Kiefer Sutherland as a special agent of the U.S. Government serving for an agency called C.T.U. -- Counter-Terrorism Unit. The show takes its name from the premise that one season shows you what happens to Kiefer during one 24-hour day.
The show is well-written and generally revolves around the spectre of terrorism -- both domestic and imported. Recent seasons have seen Kiefer involved in thwarting drug lords bent on terrorizing the country to Muslim terrorists attacking nuclear plants and threatening U.S. cities with nuclear weapons. Sadly, in our day, the plots could be real and they highlight the violent age that we live in.
The one issue that I have with the show is that, invariable, Kiefer's character is called upon to torture suspects in order to obtain the information that our country needs to save lives. This has raised numerous discussions between my wife and myself on the issue of the morality of torture. The show displays the horror of torture and then makes the case that it is better for one to suffer -- especially if they are suspected of being a terrorist -- than for many hundred or thousands or even millions of Americans be harmed.
Now, it appears, that life is imitating art. This week we have read in the news of the White House's threats to veto the Defense Spending Bill because it contained an amendment by Senator John McCain outlawing the use of torture of suspected terrorists. Senator McCain's amendment passed the Senate with a vote of 90 to 9, indicating the overwhelming opinion of the Senate on the issue of U.S.-sanctioned torture. Senator McCain, if you remember, was a POW during Viet Nam, so he is well versed in this subject.
The general slant of the media is against the White House's overtures, but that is not surprising. The majority of the media is going to be against anything that comes out of the Bush administration. But, what is surprising, is the lack of moral outcry on this issue from the general public or from the Christian community.
Granted, I did not perform an exhaustive search, but I did check a few of the major evangelical websites to see what was being mentioned on the issue. Focus on the Family had nothing. Chuck Colson (Breakpoint) had a commentary on the issue, but seemed more concern with torture for entertainment as portrayed by the show "Fear Factor" (have to agree with Chuck on this one). Samaritan's Purse (Franklin Graham) -- nothing. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website had information on the torture of Christians around the world, but nothing on the issue at hand in the U.S.
This is not a television show. This is not going to wrap itself up nicely at the end of the hour or at the end of the season. We are talking about real men here. Maybe they are terrorists. Maybe they have conducted crimes against humanity. But what are we doing if we follow in their footsteps? What are we becoming if we follow in their footsteps?
Chuck Colson, in the article I cited above, states, "Most commentators believe that torture is something in which no civilized people should engage. That includes the torture of terrorists or kidnappers for information." I agree.
Our country was founded on the principle of freedom, primarily religious freedom, but freedom none-the-less. We are the spokesman for freedom for this world. A light shining in the darkness. Our constitution stands as one of the greatest documents ever crafted, and the protections and rights it affords men and women are still the greatest ever provided. What message are we sending to the world when we even contemplate the spectre of government-sanctioned torture? With the horrors of Abu Ghraib fresh in our collective consciousness, how can we even be debating the issue of torture?
Torture may be the best and most expedient way to gather information from enemies. But, our God calls us to a higher standard. God calls us to stand up for justice and to speak out against injustice. Torture is not justice. Torture, especially the torture of another for personal gain (even to save American lives), is injustice. The argument, "it is better for one to suffer (or die) so that others might live" was the same argument that Caiaphus used when justifying the death of Jesus (John 18:14). It is one thing to willingly accept persecution and suffering on yourself, but it is quite a different thing to inflict it upon another, no matter how deserved. The ends do not justify the means, if those means are injust and immoral.
It is time the Christian community stood together as one and spoke out against the proposed injustice of torture by our country. I urge you to first of all pray to God about this issue facing our nation, and then I urge you to speak out on this issue in your churches and to your friends and to our elected officials.
The show is well-written and generally revolves around the spectre of terrorism -- both domestic and imported. Recent seasons have seen Kiefer involved in thwarting drug lords bent on terrorizing the country to Muslim terrorists attacking nuclear plants and threatening U.S. cities with nuclear weapons. Sadly, in our day, the plots could be real and they highlight the violent age that we live in.
The one issue that I have with the show is that, invariable, Kiefer's character is called upon to torture suspects in order to obtain the information that our country needs to save lives. This has raised numerous discussions between my wife and myself on the issue of the morality of torture. The show displays the horror of torture and then makes the case that it is better for one to suffer -- especially if they are suspected of being a terrorist -- than for many hundred or thousands or even millions of Americans be harmed.
Now, it appears, that life is imitating art. This week we have read in the news of the White House's threats to veto the Defense Spending Bill because it contained an amendment by Senator John McCain outlawing the use of torture of suspected terrorists. Senator McCain's amendment passed the Senate with a vote of 90 to 9, indicating the overwhelming opinion of the Senate on the issue of U.S.-sanctioned torture. Senator McCain, if you remember, was a POW during Viet Nam, so he is well versed in this subject.
The general slant of the media is against the White House's overtures, but that is not surprising. The majority of the media is going to be against anything that comes out of the Bush administration. But, what is surprising, is the lack of moral outcry on this issue from the general public or from the Christian community.
Granted, I did not perform an exhaustive search, but I did check a few of the major evangelical websites to see what was being mentioned on the issue. Focus on the Family had nothing. Chuck Colson (Breakpoint) had a commentary on the issue, but seemed more concern with torture for entertainment as portrayed by the show "Fear Factor" (have to agree with Chuck on this one). Samaritan's Purse (Franklin Graham) -- nothing. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website had information on the torture of Christians around the world, but nothing on the issue at hand in the U.S.
This is not a television show. This is not going to wrap itself up nicely at the end of the hour or at the end of the season. We are talking about real men here. Maybe they are terrorists. Maybe they have conducted crimes against humanity. But what are we doing if we follow in their footsteps? What are we becoming if we follow in their footsteps?
Chuck Colson, in the article I cited above, states, "Most commentators believe that torture is something in which no civilized people should engage. That includes the torture of terrorists or kidnappers for information." I agree.
Our country was founded on the principle of freedom, primarily religious freedom, but freedom none-the-less. We are the spokesman for freedom for this world. A light shining in the darkness. Our constitution stands as one of the greatest documents ever crafted, and the protections and rights it affords men and women are still the greatest ever provided. What message are we sending to the world when we even contemplate the spectre of government-sanctioned torture? With the horrors of Abu Ghraib fresh in our collective consciousness, how can we even be debating the issue of torture?
Torture may be the best and most expedient way to gather information from enemies. But, our God calls us to a higher standard. God calls us to stand up for justice and to speak out against injustice. Torture is not justice. Torture, especially the torture of another for personal gain (even to save American lives), is injustice. The argument, "it is better for one to suffer (or die) so that others might live" was the same argument that Caiaphus used when justifying the death of Jesus (John 18:14). It is one thing to willingly accept persecution and suffering on yourself, but it is quite a different thing to inflict it upon another, no matter how deserved. The ends do not justify the means, if those means are injust and immoral.
It is time the Christian community stood together as one and spoke out against the proposed injustice of torture by our country. I urge you to first of all pray to God about this issue facing our nation, and then I urge you to speak out on this issue in your churches and to your friends and to our elected officials.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
THOUGHTS ON A CHRISTIAN CONCERT
O.K. I have a confession to make. I like contemporary Christian music. In fact, since a new contemporary Christian radio station finally made it's way into south Georgia about three years ago, I have (almost) completely switched over to the genre.
I know. I've heard the critics. First there's those who say the music lacks depth, it lacks integrity, it lacks style. It is just a cheap imitation of secular pop and rock music with the lyrics changed to talk about Jesus instead of love. And I have to admit, there may be some truth in that charge, at least for a few bands. And, there are a few bands out there that seem to be in it only for the money. But, the majority of the Christian groups out there are producing their own style of music, built around the truth of the gospel, which brings up the second major complaint of the critics.
Some say that the music on the Christian stations waters down the gospel to make it palatable for secular audiences. And, if you listen to a lot of Christian radio, you would have to agree that a large majority of the bands out there do that. They seem to steer away from actually mentioning Jesus by name or by really getting the message of the gospel across to those who are listening. But then, there are some who are.
Last night I went to a Casting Crowns concert here in Valdosta. Casting Crowns is a Georgia-based band that burst on the contemporary Christian scene about 2 years ago and who have been making waves ever since. The members of the band are youth pastors or are involved in other ministries, and their songs reach out and touch our younger generations in a way that few other bands do. Their songs not only mention Jesus by name, but they are very "in-your-face" in regards to the way that we do church.
For instance, in their song "If We Are the Body," the group tells the story of a girl who comes to church but is teased by the other girls and leaves. The chorus says, "If we are the body, then why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, why aren't His words teaching? If we are the body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way?" Last night in the concert, Mark Hall, the lead singer, said that this song was written about a real girl who came to his youth group one night and who was teased by other girls in the group. On their current album, they continue to raise questions that challenge us as Christians and the Church. In "Stained Glass Masquerade" they raise the question of hypocrisy and ask if the church is just full of painted plastic people hiding behind our masks, and in another song they ask if we even notice the people in the shadow of our steeples who need our help.
I was very impressed with the concert last night. It was more than a concert -- it was a worship event. They discussed why their songs were written -- the stories behind the music and the events that had shaped their lives and their ministry. And, a first for me, they had an intermission where an evangelist came out and spoke to the (primarily) teen-aged crowd in the place. Several hundred people were saved last night at the altar call following the message.
So, despite what all the critics say, contemporary Christian music is touching people and God is using it to change lives. Maybe it's not for everyone. Maybe it's not for you. But let's not criticize something that God is using to reach teens for the kingdom.
I know. I've heard the critics. First there's those who say the music lacks depth, it lacks integrity, it lacks style. It is just a cheap imitation of secular pop and rock music with the lyrics changed to talk about Jesus instead of love. And I have to admit, there may be some truth in that charge, at least for a few bands. And, there are a few bands out there that seem to be in it only for the money. But, the majority of the Christian groups out there are producing their own style of music, built around the truth of the gospel, which brings up the second major complaint of the critics.
Some say that the music on the Christian stations waters down the gospel to make it palatable for secular audiences. And, if you listen to a lot of Christian radio, you would have to agree that a large majority of the bands out there do that. They seem to steer away from actually mentioning Jesus by name or by really getting the message of the gospel across to those who are listening. But then, there are some who are.
Last night I went to a Casting Crowns concert here in Valdosta. Casting Crowns is a Georgia-based band that burst on the contemporary Christian scene about 2 years ago and who have been making waves ever since. The members of the band are youth pastors or are involved in other ministries, and their songs reach out and touch our younger generations in a way that few other bands do. Their songs not only mention Jesus by name, but they are very "in-your-face" in regards to the way that we do church.
For instance, in their song "If We Are the Body," the group tells the story of a girl who comes to church but is teased by the other girls and leaves. The chorus says, "If we are the body, then why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, why aren't His words teaching? If we are the body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way?" Last night in the concert, Mark Hall, the lead singer, said that this song was written about a real girl who came to his youth group one night and who was teased by other girls in the group. On their current album, they continue to raise questions that challenge us as Christians and the Church. In "Stained Glass Masquerade" they raise the question of hypocrisy and ask if the church is just full of painted plastic people hiding behind our masks, and in another song they ask if we even notice the people in the shadow of our steeples who need our help.
I was very impressed with the concert last night. It was more than a concert -- it was a worship event. They discussed why their songs were written -- the stories behind the music and the events that had shaped their lives and their ministry. And, a first for me, they had an intermission where an evangelist came out and spoke to the (primarily) teen-aged crowd in the place. Several hundred people were saved last night at the altar call following the message.
So, despite what all the critics say, contemporary Christian music is touching people and God is using it to change lives. Maybe it's not for everyone. Maybe it's not for you. But let's not criticize something that God is using to reach teens for the kingdom.
THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
6 November 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 3 [read 3:1-8; 4:1-13]
-- have you ever come to church on a Sunday morning and left thinking, "That's it?" -- have you ever come to church on a Sunday morning and left thinking that there should just be more -- more to life -- more to God -- more of God's power
-- I have -- you know, I read in the Bibles the stories of the great heroes of the faith -- about David standing before a giant with just five stones and sling and trusting God will give him the victory -- or the story of Daniel being thrown into a lion's den for refusing to deny his faith and trusting that God will deliver him -- or the story of Elijah standing on Mount Carmel, calling down fire to light the drenched wood on the altar in the presence of the entire nation of Israel
-- and I think, "Why isn't God doing that now?"
-- I read the stories of the great heroes of the faith -- John Wesley and his part in the Great Awakening that brought revival to England and America -- Billy Graham preaching to hundreds of thousands of people and bringing revival to Los Angeles -- Charles Finney and D.L. Moody and Corrie Ten Boom and all the others who preached and prayed and watched God work through them in such powerful ways
-- and I think, "Why isn't God doing that now?"
-- and I can't help but think, "Maybe it's me" -- maybe I'm just not smart enough -- maybe my faith is not strong enough -- maybe I don't know the Bible well enough -- maybe I can't pray eloquent prayers and tell others about God like those men and women in our Bibles and those great men and women of faith that we read about -- maybe I'm the reason why we aren't seeing revival or seeing miracles happen in our midst -- maybe it's me -- I mean, what can I do? -- I'm just an ordinary man -- why should I expect God to work through me? -- why should you expect God to work through you? -- we're just ordinary folks -- we're not spiritual giants
-- but the message of the Bible is quite clear -- God doesn't wait for extraordinary men and women to be born before He accomplishes His work -- He uses ordinary men and women -- people like us -- to shake nations to their knees and to turn worlds upside down
-- David was just an ordinary shepherd boy when he stood up to Goliath with nothing more than five stones and a sling -- Daniel was just an ordinary government employee when he stood up for God in the workplace -- and James 5:17 tells us that Elijah was an ordinary man -- just like us -- when God worked mightily through him
-- in fact, you could make the case that God always chooses the ordinary to demonstrate His power -- in 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul writes, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" -- in other words, God chooses ordinary, everyday Christians as the ones He will use to further His kingdom here on earth
-- think about the disciples that Jesus chose when He started His ministry here on earth -- they were all regular, ordinary people -- fishermen and tax collectors and blue collar workers -- when he called them, there wasn't a single spiritual giant in the bunch -- they definitely were part of the foolish and weak things of the world
-- but God did great things through them -- think about Peter and John -- this passage tells us that they were unschooled, ordinary men -- nothing special about them at all -- but one day, as they were entering the temple in Jerusalem, they saw a man standing by the gate who was crippled from birth -- and even though they were ordinary -- even though they were unschooled -- even though they didn't know the Bible very well and couldn't pray like the Pharisees -- they healed the man in the name of Jesus and immediately his feet and ankles became strong and his legs became strong and he got up and started to jump for joy
-- God's power flowed through them and resulted in a great miracle -- how was that possible? -- and why isn't it happening in our lives and in our churches today? -- why do our prayer lists stay filled with names week after week after week?
-- is it me? -- is it you? -- is it because we're just a small country church?
-- why do we leave church on Sundays wishing there was more? -- why do we go through life without seeing God's power being made manifest in our lives and in our churches and in the lives of those around us?
-- many years ago, Watchman Nee, the great Chinese evangelist, wrote a book called, "The Normal Christian Life" -- and in this book he makes the case that what we are seeing in our churches today is not the normal Christian life -- it is not normal for us to come to church on Sunday and not see God work -- it is not normal for us to pray for people on our prayer list and to not see them touched by God -- it is not normal for us to see the morals of our country continue to take a downward spiral while the church continues to decline
-- the normal Christian life should be exemplified by God's power -- by His presence in His people -- working in the world to accomplish His purposes -- Peter and John were not spiritual giants -- they were unschooled, ordinary men -- they were normal Christians living the normal Christian life -- unfortunately, most of us in our churches today are not living the normal Christian life but are living abnormal lives devoid of God's power
-- so, what is the secret to unlocking the mysteries of the normal Christian life? -- we see it right here in Acts 4:13 -- look at it again with me [read 4:13]
-- the first criteria for living the normal Christian life is to be normal -- to be everyday, ordinary folk -- just like Peter and John -- just like David -- just like Daniel -- and just like Elijah
-- this means that you don't have to know the Bible frontwards and backwards -- this means that you don't have to know the four Spiritual laws and be able to say them without fail to every person you meet -- this means that you don't have to have a prayer life where you are praying for eight hours a day -- sure, if you can do that, God can still use you -- but He prefers to use normal, ordinary folk because it more clearly demonstrates His power to a watching world
-- I like to use myself as an example in this regard -- I didn't grow up going to church and Sunday School every week -- I didn't read the Bible every day or have this great prayer life -- I certainly didn't have any plans to ever be a pastor -- I was the last person anyone would think would be a pastor -- but after I was saved, God called me into the ministry -- and if God can use me, then He can use anyone
-- so, if you are just a normal, ordinary person this morning, then you have already met the first requirement for living the normal Christian life
-- the second criteria for living the normal Christian life is to be in a relationship with Jesus -- this verse says that the priests noted nothing out of the ordinary about Peter and John except that they had been with Jesus
-- what was the one thing that was common among all the heroes of the faith I mentioned earlier? -- what was the one thing that was common among all those great men and women mentioned in the Bible? -- they knew God -- they were in a relationship with God
-- and, if you are going to live the normal Christian life, then you are going to have to be in a relationship with God, too -- this means more than just coming to church on Sunday -- this means more than just knowing the Bible inside and out -- this means more than having your name on the membership roll with the Methodist Church
-- to be in a relationship with God means, first, that you have recognized that you are a sinner and that the only way for you to be saved is by turning away from your sins and asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins by washing you in His blood which was shed for you -- by accepting through faith His death on the cross and believing in your heart that He is the Son of God and that He rose on the third day
-- but, to be in a relationship with God also means that you keep short accounts with Him -- that you are growing in your faith and that you are spending time with God on a daily basis through prayer and through His word -- that you are constantly repenting of your sins and seeking God's grace and forgiveness in your life
-- God can't work through you unless you are in a relationship with Him
-- the final criteria for living the normal Christian life is that you have courage -- this means that you have faith in Christ -- not only are you in a relationship with Him, but you are trusting Him with your life and with everything in your life
-- to have courage in Christ means that you trust that God is going to work in you and through you in power -- it took courage for Peter and John to grab the hand of the crippled man next to the gate and trust that God would heal him -- it took courage for David to stand before a giant and trust that God would give him the victory -- it took courage for Daniel to stand up to an evil decree and be cast into the lion's den, trusting that God would deliver him
-- and it will take courage for you to put aside your doubt and your fears and start trusting God to work in your life and in this church on a regular basis
-- in John 14, Jesus said that we would do what He had been doing -- in fact, He said, we would even do greater things than He had been doing
-- having courage in Christ means that you trust that what Jesus said is true and then you step forward in faith to do the things that He did
-- think for a moment about what Jesus did when He was here on earth -- He ministered to those in need -- He took care of the poor and the oppressed -- He healed the sick -- He taught the Word of God -- and He led people to salvation
-- these things characterize the life of a normal Christian -- these things characterize the life of a normal church -- when you leave here on a Sunday morning longing for more, this is what you are longing for
-- if you would, flip over to James 5 and we'll close there -- James, the brother of Jesus, was great for giving us practical examples and applications of the normal Christian life -- look with me at James 5:13 and let's see how James saw us living out the ministry of Jesus in our daily lives [read James 5:13-20]
-- in each of the examples that James gave, he told us to have courage in Christ to take care of them -- if someone is sick, then we should pray and trust that they will be healed -- if they are in need, then we should pray and take care of them and trust that God will work through us to meet their needs -- if someone is in need of the Savior, then we are to pray and to lead them to Christ, trusting that He will give us the words to say and will convict them of their sin
-- in each case -- whether it's in ministry or in worship -- James says that we are to have courage in Christ -- to trust Christ -- to work in us and through us to change the world around us
Closing
-- there should be passion and power in the life of a normal Christian -- we should not be satisfied with just coming to church and not seeing anything happen -- we should not be satisfied with our prayers hitting the ceiling and coming back -- we should not be satisfied with living a life devoid of the power and presence of God
-- the normal Christian life should be one of adventure -- the normal Christian life should be one where miracles are experienced daily
-- the normal Christian should be a person who knows God and who is in a relationship with God -- who expects the power of the Holy Spirit to be made manifest in their life and who won't settle for anything less than having their lives transformed through His life-changing grace
-- what does it take to experience the normal Christian life? -- first, we need to get serious about repentence from sin and seeking God's forgiveness for our sin -- and, secondly, we need to live with courage in Christ -- trusting and expecting Him to work in each and every circumstance that we are confronted with -- whether that's a person who needs healing or a person who needs to know Jesus as their Savior
-- the normal Christian life is summed up by Phillipians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" -- if you are not willing to step out in faith and start living the normal Christian life with the power and presence of Christ in you -- then we need to remove that verse from our Bible and stop wasting time coming to church on Sunday morning
-- the normal Christian life trusts that we can do all things through Christ -- to believe anything else is abnormal -- which are you?
-- if God has spoken to you this morning and you feel like you need to make a committment to Him, then I would invite you to come to the altar and to get right with Him before you leave
-- let us pray
6 November 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 3 [read 3:1-8; 4:1-13]
-- have you ever come to church on a Sunday morning and left thinking, "That's it?" -- have you ever come to church on a Sunday morning and left thinking that there should just be more -- more to life -- more to God -- more of God's power
-- I have -- you know, I read in the Bibles the stories of the great heroes of the faith -- about David standing before a giant with just five stones and sling and trusting God will give him the victory -- or the story of Daniel being thrown into a lion's den for refusing to deny his faith and trusting that God will deliver him -- or the story of Elijah standing on Mount Carmel, calling down fire to light the drenched wood on the altar in the presence of the entire nation of Israel
-- and I think, "Why isn't God doing that now?"
-- I read the stories of the great heroes of the faith -- John Wesley and his part in the Great Awakening that brought revival to England and America -- Billy Graham preaching to hundreds of thousands of people and bringing revival to Los Angeles -- Charles Finney and D.L. Moody and Corrie Ten Boom and all the others who preached and prayed and watched God work through them in such powerful ways
-- and I think, "Why isn't God doing that now?"
-- and I can't help but think, "Maybe it's me" -- maybe I'm just not smart enough -- maybe my faith is not strong enough -- maybe I don't know the Bible well enough -- maybe I can't pray eloquent prayers and tell others about God like those men and women in our Bibles and those great men and women of faith that we read about -- maybe I'm the reason why we aren't seeing revival or seeing miracles happen in our midst -- maybe it's me -- I mean, what can I do? -- I'm just an ordinary man -- why should I expect God to work through me? -- why should you expect God to work through you? -- we're just ordinary folks -- we're not spiritual giants
-- but the message of the Bible is quite clear -- God doesn't wait for extraordinary men and women to be born before He accomplishes His work -- He uses ordinary men and women -- people like us -- to shake nations to their knees and to turn worlds upside down
-- David was just an ordinary shepherd boy when he stood up to Goliath with nothing more than five stones and a sling -- Daniel was just an ordinary government employee when he stood up for God in the workplace -- and James 5:17 tells us that Elijah was an ordinary man -- just like us -- when God worked mightily through him
-- in fact, you could make the case that God always chooses the ordinary to demonstrate His power -- in 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul writes, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" -- in other words, God chooses ordinary, everyday Christians as the ones He will use to further His kingdom here on earth
-- think about the disciples that Jesus chose when He started His ministry here on earth -- they were all regular, ordinary people -- fishermen and tax collectors and blue collar workers -- when he called them, there wasn't a single spiritual giant in the bunch -- they definitely were part of the foolish and weak things of the world
-- but God did great things through them -- think about Peter and John -- this passage tells us that they were unschooled, ordinary men -- nothing special about them at all -- but one day, as they were entering the temple in Jerusalem, they saw a man standing by the gate who was crippled from birth -- and even though they were ordinary -- even though they were unschooled -- even though they didn't know the Bible very well and couldn't pray like the Pharisees -- they healed the man in the name of Jesus and immediately his feet and ankles became strong and his legs became strong and he got up and started to jump for joy
-- God's power flowed through them and resulted in a great miracle -- how was that possible? -- and why isn't it happening in our lives and in our churches today? -- why do our prayer lists stay filled with names week after week after week?
-- is it me? -- is it you? -- is it because we're just a small country church?
-- why do we leave church on Sundays wishing there was more? -- why do we go through life without seeing God's power being made manifest in our lives and in our churches and in the lives of those around us?
-- many years ago, Watchman Nee, the great Chinese evangelist, wrote a book called, "The Normal Christian Life" -- and in this book he makes the case that what we are seeing in our churches today is not the normal Christian life -- it is not normal for us to come to church on Sunday and not see God work -- it is not normal for us to pray for people on our prayer list and to not see them touched by God -- it is not normal for us to see the morals of our country continue to take a downward spiral while the church continues to decline
-- the normal Christian life should be exemplified by God's power -- by His presence in His people -- working in the world to accomplish His purposes -- Peter and John were not spiritual giants -- they were unschooled, ordinary men -- they were normal Christians living the normal Christian life -- unfortunately, most of us in our churches today are not living the normal Christian life but are living abnormal lives devoid of God's power
-- so, what is the secret to unlocking the mysteries of the normal Christian life? -- we see it right here in Acts 4:13 -- look at it again with me [read 4:13]
-- the first criteria for living the normal Christian life is to be normal -- to be everyday, ordinary folk -- just like Peter and John -- just like David -- just like Daniel -- and just like Elijah
-- this means that you don't have to know the Bible frontwards and backwards -- this means that you don't have to know the four Spiritual laws and be able to say them without fail to every person you meet -- this means that you don't have to have a prayer life where you are praying for eight hours a day -- sure, if you can do that, God can still use you -- but He prefers to use normal, ordinary folk because it more clearly demonstrates His power to a watching world
-- I like to use myself as an example in this regard -- I didn't grow up going to church and Sunday School every week -- I didn't read the Bible every day or have this great prayer life -- I certainly didn't have any plans to ever be a pastor -- I was the last person anyone would think would be a pastor -- but after I was saved, God called me into the ministry -- and if God can use me, then He can use anyone
-- so, if you are just a normal, ordinary person this morning, then you have already met the first requirement for living the normal Christian life
-- the second criteria for living the normal Christian life is to be in a relationship with Jesus -- this verse says that the priests noted nothing out of the ordinary about Peter and John except that they had been with Jesus
-- what was the one thing that was common among all the heroes of the faith I mentioned earlier? -- what was the one thing that was common among all those great men and women mentioned in the Bible? -- they knew God -- they were in a relationship with God
-- and, if you are going to live the normal Christian life, then you are going to have to be in a relationship with God, too -- this means more than just coming to church on Sunday -- this means more than just knowing the Bible inside and out -- this means more than having your name on the membership roll with the Methodist Church
-- to be in a relationship with God means, first, that you have recognized that you are a sinner and that the only way for you to be saved is by turning away from your sins and asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins by washing you in His blood which was shed for you -- by accepting through faith His death on the cross and believing in your heart that He is the Son of God and that He rose on the third day
-- but, to be in a relationship with God also means that you keep short accounts with Him -- that you are growing in your faith and that you are spending time with God on a daily basis through prayer and through His word -- that you are constantly repenting of your sins and seeking God's grace and forgiveness in your life
-- God can't work through you unless you are in a relationship with Him
-- the final criteria for living the normal Christian life is that you have courage -- this means that you have faith in Christ -- not only are you in a relationship with Him, but you are trusting Him with your life and with everything in your life
-- to have courage in Christ means that you trust that God is going to work in you and through you in power -- it took courage for Peter and John to grab the hand of the crippled man next to the gate and trust that God would heal him -- it took courage for David to stand before a giant and trust that God would give him the victory -- it took courage for Daniel to stand up to an evil decree and be cast into the lion's den, trusting that God would deliver him
-- and it will take courage for you to put aside your doubt and your fears and start trusting God to work in your life and in this church on a regular basis
-- in John 14, Jesus said that we would do what He had been doing -- in fact, He said, we would even do greater things than He had been doing
-- having courage in Christ means that you trust that what Jesus said is true and then you step forward in faith to do the things that He did
-- think for a moment about what Jesus did when He was here on earth -- He ministered to those in need -- He took care of the poor and the oppressed -- He healed the sick -- He taught the Word of God -- and He led people to salvation
-- these things characterize the life of a normal Christian -- these things characterize the life of a normal church -- when you leave here on a Sunday morning longing for more, this is what you are longing for
-- if you would, flip over to James 5 and we'll close there -- James, the brother of Jesus, was great for giving us practical examples and applications of the normal Christian life -- look with me at James 5:13 and let's see how James saw us living out the ministry of Jesus in our daily lives [read James 5:13-20]
-- in each of the examples that James gave, he told us to have courage in Christ to take care of them -- if someone is sick, then we should pray and trust that they will be healed -- if they are in need, then we should pray and take care of them and trust that God will work through us to meet their needs -- if someone is in need of the Savior, then we are to pray and to lead them to Christ, trusting that He will give us the words to say and will convict them of their sin
-- in each case -- whether it's in ministry or in worship -- James says that we are to have courage in Christ -- to trust Christ -- to work in us and through us to change the world around us
Closing
-- there should be passion and power in the life of a normal Christian -- we should not be satisfied with just coming to church and not seeing anything happen -- we should not be satisfied with our prayers hitting the ceiling and coming back -- we should not be satisfied with living a life devoid of the power and presence of God
-- the normal Christian life should be one of adventure -- the normal Christian life should be one where miracles are experienced daily
-- the normal Christian should be a person who knows God and who is in a relationship with God -- who expects the power of the Holy Spirit to be made manifest in their life and who won't settle for anything less than having their lives transformed through His life-changing grace
-- what does it take to experience the normal Christian life? -- first, we need to get serious about repentence from sin and seeking God's forgiveness for our sin -- and, secondly, we need to live with courage in Christ -- trusting and expecting Him to work in each and every circumstance that we are confronted with -- whether that's a person who needs healing or a person who needs to know Jesus as their Savior
-- the normal Christian life is summed up by Phillipians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" -- if you are not willing to step out in faith and start living the normal Christian life with the power and presence of Christ in you -- then we need to remove that verse from our Bible and stop wasting time coming to church on Sunday morning
-- the normal Christian life trusts that we can do all things through Christ -- to believe anything else is abnormal -- which are you?
-- if God has spoken to you this morning and you feel like you need to make a committment to Him, then I would invite you to come to the altar and to get right with Him before you leave
-- let us pray
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