Our church just started a wonderful new ministry based on an idea originating from Cordele (GA) First United Methodist Church. We are passing out prayer pagers to persons in need of special, concerted prayer.
These pagers are set to vibrate everytime someone calls the unique number of the pager. As people in our church and on our prayer chain lift someone up in prayer, they dial the pager number, punch in "111" to represent the Trinity, and the pager vibrates to let the recipient know that someone has prayed for them.
While we all know that prayer works, there may be long periods of time between lifting up a prayer and seeing an answer to that prayer. With the prayer pager ministry, the person with the pager immediately knows that someone is praying for them and the person who is praying can also receive the tangible benefit of knowing that their prayers on behalf of that person caused the pager to vibrate. We have found that it actually breathes new life into a prayer ministry when the person praying knows that the recipient will be aware of their prayers and that if they don't pray, the pager stays silent.
We have given out two of these pagers so far in our church, and already it has caused a flurry of prayers through the prayer chain and the membership as a whole. I am praying that this ministry might spark a revival in our church as we begin to pray earnestly, not only for those with the pagers, but for all those in need in our church family. Everyone is waiting and watching to see how God is going to move in response to our prayers.
Mrs. Georgianne Hughes from Cordele First UMC, who first was given this vision of the prayer pager ministry, spoke at our church last Sunday and shared with us stories about how this ministry has affected their church and the individuals that were prayed for. She told about one case where a young man got in trouble with the law and had to go to court for the first time in his life. He was given a prayer pager, and as he stood before the judge, it just kept going off and off again. The judge asked him about it, and he told him it was a prayer pager and that each time it went off, that it was a member of his church praying specifically for him. The judge was silent and finally released him with no penalty. He said that if that young man had so many people willing to stand for him at this time and to support him and hold him accountable, then he was going to release the young man back to the care of his church. When the man turned the pager back in to the prayer committee, he wept as he said that before he got the pager, "he didn't know anyone cared." God is using this ministry to touch lives and revive prayer ministries throughout the U.S.
If anyone is interested in this pager ministry, they can contact Netlink Avenue in Cordele, GA, and they will send you prayer pagers at no cost. The only cost to the church is the monthly fee for the service. Netlink will UPS the pagers to you, no matter where you are, and will set the coverage area and numbers for where you are located. This ministry is so successful that they now have one person whose sole job is to handle the prayer pager ministry. You can reach them at 229-273-2090.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
WORKING YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
29 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Phillipians 3:1-11
1. Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
2. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
3. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--
4. though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5. circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
6. as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11. and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
-- the other day, a friend of mine came to me and work and started talking about a book that she had read on faith and works -- she asked me, "Have you ever heard of the 'Parable of the Bicycle?'" -- and then she shared with me this parable
-- there once was this little girl -- about 6 or 7 years old -- who decided that she wanted a bicycle really bad -- so she went to her father and told him, "I want a bicycle and I'm going to earn it all on my own" -- so he told her that when she thought she had enough money to buy a bicycle to let him know, and he'd taker to the store to pick it out
-- so she started doing jobs around the house -- unloading the dishwasher -- taking out the trash -- things like that -- and every time she did something, her parents would give her some change -- a quarter here -- a dime there -- until finally, she felt that she had enough money to get her dream
-- so her father carried her down to the store and they hunted and hunted and finally found the perfect bicycle -- she walked up to it, looked at the price tag, and her face fell -- there was no way she could ever buy that bicycle -- it cost way too much and she had only earned $0.67 -- but then her father stepped in and paid the rest and she got her bicycle
-- the point of the parable -- my friend said -- is that you do all you can and then Jesus steps in and makes up the difference
-- when she finished I replied, "That was a great and noble sentiment, but it is patently false -- it's not true -- the parable is flawed"
II. Thoughts on the Parable of the Bicycle
-- as I have reflected on this parable and done some studying in the Bible this week, I have decided that this parable illustrates two problems that a lot of us have in understanding salvation and the role of works in salvation
-- the first problem that we have is thinking that we have to do something to get saved -- that we have to do good things or good works -- go to church -- be nice to people -- help people out -- read our Bible -- go to Sunday School -- something -- anything -- to be saved
-- we understand that the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose on the third day proving victory over sin and death -- we understand that we receive salvation when we accept Him as Lord and Savior through faith
-- but if we're honest with ourselves, there is some place deep in our hearts that believes it can't be enough to simply believe in Jesus and be saved -- that is too easy -- we have to do something to make up for all the bad things that we did in our lives -- we have to do all we can -- and then, just like the parable of the bicycle says, Jesus will step in and make up the difference and pour out His grace and save us
-- what's wrong with that way of thinking? -- aren't works part of the Christian life? -- doesn't Jesus expect us to go out and serve Him and do good things and come to church?
-- hold your place here in Philippians and turn over to James 2
14. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15. Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
-- James says that faith without works is dead -- that you are justified by what you do and not by faith alone -- isn't that exactly what this parable teaches? -- isn't this what we really believe in our heart of hearts? -- that simply trusting in the death and resurrection of Jesus is not enough to be saved?
-- all of us -- to some extent or the other -- tend to believe that we need works in our life in order to be saved -- we may disparage those other religions who put an emphasis on works as the way to salvation -- but we do it too
-- in our minds, we have this little checklist that we carry with us through the day -- and as we do good things, we kind of mentally check them off in one column -- and when we do bad things, we check them off in the other column -- and then at the end of the day, we compare our good things with our bad things and then decide how our day was -- was I good enough to be saved today?
-- but, is that biblical? -- is that what James is really talking about in this passage?
-- turn over to Ephesians 2:8-9 and let's get a different perspective
8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
9. not by works, so that no one can boast.
-- Paul tells us quite plainly in these verses that it is by grace that we are saved -- not by works -- not by anything that we did or anything that we might do in the future -- we are saved merely by the grace of God -- received through faith -- and works has absolutely nothing to do with it
-- sounds like James and Paul are on different pages here, doesn't it? -- so, what's the truth? -- is the parable of the bicycle right? -- do we have to do all that we can -- do we have to do all the good works we can -- and then Jesus will step in and make up the difference? -- or is the parable of the bicycle wrong?
-- Paul was quite adamant in his teaching that you are saved merely based on the blood of Jesus -- on the death and resurrection of Christ -- and nothing more -- in Rom 11:5-6, Paul said that we were chosen and saved based on grace and not on works -- he said that if it were by works, then grace would no longer be grace
-- now we know that grace is God giving us something that we don't deserve and can't earn on our own -- grace is a gift from God freely given -- so what Paul is saying is that God has offered us the grace of salvation through Jesus Christ -- and that if we try to pay Him for that offer of salvation by doing works, then God's gift is no longer a gift -- grace is no longer grace
-- it would be like this -- what if I were to invite you over to my house for dinner -- and you came and accepted my offer of a free meal -- and then, after the meal, you wrote out a check to cover your portion and left it on the table -- that meal is no longer a gift -- Paul is saying that it is the same way with salvation
-- in Galatians 2:16, Paul writes, "We, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." -- Paul is very consistent in his teachings and in his understanding of salvation -- salvation is a free gift of God -- it comes by grace and it is received through faith -- not by works -- in fact, if you try to earn your salvation through works, then you have negated the grace of God and are not truly saved
-- that is why Paul is so incensed in this passage we read from Philippians -- at this time, there were a group of Jewish believers called Judaizers who had come into the church of Philippi and were telling the Gentile believers there that they weren't really saved because they hadn't done enough -- these Judaizers were saying that you had to do more than just believe in Jesus through faith -- you had to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law
-- these men were setting up a qualification for grace -- they were trying to say that you can only attain salvation through human efforts -- you have to do what you can and then God will step in and make up the difference -- and that was opposed to what Jesus had taught and what Paul was teaching
-- so Paul called them dogs -- men who do evil -- mutilators of the flesh -- men who added to the gospel -- who said that the blood of Christ was insufficient for salvation and that you had to do good works in order to be saved
-- so Paul went back to the beginning -- he wrote the same things to them again so that they would be clear -- you are saved by grace -- through faith -- and this not from yourselves -- it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one may boast
-- Paul said that if anyone had reason to boast -- if anyone had reason to trust in their own good works -- then it was him -- because he had more reasons to put confidence in the flesh and in the works of the flesh than anyone else -- but Paul didn't put his confidence in the flesh or in the works of the flesh -- he put his confidence in the grace of God that was shown through the death and resurrection of Christ
-- so, according to Paul, the parable of the bicycle is wrong -- you don't have to go out and earn your $0.67 first so that God will step in and make up the difference -- you don't have to be circumcised or be Jewish or be a Pharisee or follow all of the Law -- God -- through His grace -- would just carry us to the store and buy us the bicycle without us having to do anything in the first place
-- so, what about James? -- is James teaching something different than Paul? -- it seems like Paul and James are in a heated argument -- each disapproving of the other's gospel -- but, that is not really the case
-- Paul and James are using similar language but they are addressing two different questions -- Paul is addressing the question of how one becomes a part of God's people -- how one becomes saved -- and he is quite clear in saying that you are saved by grace through faith and not by works
-- James, on the other hand, is not addressing salvation in his discourse but is addressing a different question -- how do you know if your faith is real or not? -- James says that if you are saved -- if you have been transformed into a new creation by trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior -- then you demonstrate your faith through your works -- through your actions
-- there were many in the church in James' day that claimed to be Christians, but who were not showing evidence of a transformed life -- James was calling them to discipleship -- to living up to the name they claimed -- "faith without works is dead," he wrote -- in other words, if you claim to be a Christian, then you need to show the fruit of your salvation through your works -- for both James and Paul, works come after faith as evidence of a transformed life
-- so, on this point, the parable of the bicycle is wrong -- works are not required for salvation -- you don't need to show Jesus $0.67 so He will forgive your sins
-- now, let's look at the other problem this parable brings out
-- the second problem -- which is related to the first -- is in thinking that we could actually do something that was of any value to God in the first place -- in other words, this parable assumes that when we go to church or when we help someone else or when we do something good, God counts it on the plus side of His ledger -- but does He?
-- look back at verse 7
7. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
-- Paul says that everything that we do is considered a loss in the eyes of God -- he says that they are considered "rubbish" -- the KJV goes even further and calls them "dung" -- absolutely worthless -- of no value at all
-- so, going back to our parable of the bicycle, what Paul is saying is that this little girl might go out and work and work and work trying to earn money for her bicycle, but that everything she does has no value at all and won't amount to one penny in real money -- in other words, there is nothing that we can do on our own that is worth anything to God
-- in John 15:5, Jesus said "apart from Me, you can do nothing" -- apart from God, our works and our acts of service and goodness are nothing -- they are rubbish -- they are dung
-- in an illustration on the radio this week, Allistair Begg gave a great illustration of this point -- he likened it to a person who goes into a bank several times during the month to make deposits -- you actually go in the bank -- you hand the teller your deposit slip with your money attached -- and you know they received it so you have a pretty good idea of what your account balance should be
-- but then, at the end of the month, when the statement comes in, you are shocked to find that you have no money at all -- it turns out that instead of crediting your account every time you made the deposit, they actually subtracted those amounts from your account -- so everything you did trying to build up your account actually ended up going in the negative column
-- Paul is trying to make that point here -- you can't be saved through works because your works have no value -- no matter how much you try -- no matter what good things you do -- they have no value to God at all -- in Romans 7:18 it says, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature" -- because of that, we can't do anything good for God -- try as hard as we might, we can't even earn the $0.67 that the little girl supposedly earned in this parable
-- which brings us back to the entire point of my message -- you cannot be saved by works -- you cannot add anything to your salvation through works -- you cannot, in any way, contribute anything to the forgiveness of your sins -- there is absolutely no way on earth for you to be saved -- as Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "with man, this is impossible"
-- but, thanks be to God, there is a way by the grace of God -- through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus -- through faith and trust and confidence that Jesus did everything that was required for our salvation -- "with God, all things are possible" -- even the redemption of sinners who can do nothing on their own but believe in God's only Son
III. Closing
-- so, in closing, let me ask you this question -- what about works? -- if works have nothing to do with our salvation, then what value is there in works?
-- as James so eloquently points out, works should naturally flow from a transformed heart -- works won't save you -- we're clear on that -- but works are evidence of your salvation -- if you are saved, then you should be working for God -- not for anything that you might get -- but out of a changed heart and out of gratitude for what He has done for you through Christ Jesus
-- works are important for Christians -- but they don't help non-Christians gain salvation
-- I pray that this discussion today has helped clear up some misconceptions that you might have had concerning faith and works and I pray that this message might lead you to even greater praise of the One who has saved you by His grace
29 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Phillipians 3:1-11
1. Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
2. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
3. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--
4. though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5. circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
6. as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11. and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
-- the other day, a friend of mine came to me and work and started talking about a book that she had read on faith and works -- she asked me, "Have you ever heard of the 'Parable of the Bicycle?'" -- and then she shared with me this parable
-- there once was this little girl -- about 6 or 7 years old -- who decided that she wanted a bicycle really bad -- so she went to her father and told him, "I want a bicycle and I'm going to earn it all on my own" -- so he told her that when she thought she had enough money to buy a bicycle to let him know, and he'd taker to the store to pick it out
-- so she started doing jobs around the house -- unloading the dishwasher -- taking out the trash -- things like that -- and every time she did something, her parents would give her some change -- a quarter here -- a dime there -- until finally, she felt that she had enough money to get her dream
-- so her father carried her down to the store and they hunted and hunted and finally found the perfect bicycle -- she walked up to it, looked at the price tag, and her face fell -- there was no way she could ever buy that bicycle -- it cost way too much and she had only earned $0.67 -- but then her father stepped in and paid the rest and she got her bicycle
-- the point of the parable -- my friend said -- is that you do all you can and then Jesus steps in and makes up the difference
-- when she finished I replied, "That was a great and noble sentiment, but it is patently false -- it's not true -- the parable is flawed"
II. Thoughts on the Parable of the Bicycle
-- as I have reflected on this parable and done some studying in the Bible this week, I have decided that this parable illustrates two problems that a lot of us have in understanding salvation and the role of works in salvation
-- the first problem that we have is thinking that we have to do something to get saved -- that we have to do good things or good works -- go to church -- be nice to people -- help people out -- read our Bible -- go to Sunday School -- something -- anything -- to be saved
-- we understand that the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose on the third day proving victory over sin and death -- we understand that we receive salvation when we accept Him as Lord and Savior through faith
-- but if we're honest with ourselves, there is some place deep in our hearts that believes it can't be enough to simply believe in Jesus and be saved -- that is too easy -- we have to do something to make up for all the bad things that we did in our lives -- we have to do all we can -- and then, just like the parable of the bicycle says, Jesus will step in and make up the difference and pour out His grace and save us
-- what's wrong with that way of thinking? -- aren't works part of the Christian life? -- doesn't Jesus expect us to go out and serve Him and do good things and come to church?
-- hold your place here in Philippians and turn over to James 2
14. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15. Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
-- James says that faith without works is dead -- that you are justified by what you do and not by faith alone -- isn't that exactly what this parable teaches? -- isn't this what we really believe in our heart of hearts? -- that simply trusting in the death and resurrection of Jesus is not enough to be saved?
-- all of us -- to some extent or the other -- tend to believe that we need works in our life in order to be saved -- we may disparage those other religions who put an emphasis on works as the way to salvation -- but we do it too
-- in our minds, we have this little checklist that we carry with us through the day -- and as we do good things, we kind of mentally check them off in one column -- and when we do bad things, we check them off in the other column -- and then at the end of the day, we compare our good things with our bad things and then decide how our day was -- was I good enough to be saved today?
-- but, is that biblical? -- is that what James is really talking about in this passage?
-- turn over to Ephesians 2:8-9 and let's get a different perspective
8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
9. not by works, so that no one can boast.
-- Paul tells us quite plainly in these verses that it is by grace that we are saved -- not by works -- not by anything that we did or anything that we might do in the future -- we are saved merely by the grace of God -- received through faith -- and works has absolutely nothing to do with it
-- sounds like James and Paul are on different pages here, doesn't it? -- so, what's the truth? -- is the parable of the bicycle right? -- do we have to do all that we can -- do we have to do all the good works we can -- and then Jesus will step in and make up the difference? -- or is the parable of the bicycle wrong?
-- Paul was quite adamant in his teaching that you are saved merely based on the blood of Jesus -- on the death and resurrection of Christ -- and nothing more -- in Rom 11:5-6, Paul said that we were chosen and saved based on grace and not on works -- he said that if it were by works, then grace would no longer be grace
-- now we know that grace is God giving us something that we don't deserve and can't earn on our own -- grace is a gift from God freely given -- so what Paul is saying is that God has offered us the grace of salvation through Jesus Christ -- and that if we try to pay Him for that offer of salvation by doing works, then God's gift is no longer a gift -- grace is no longer grace
-- it would be like this -- what if I were to invite you over to my house for dinner -- and you came and accepted my offer of a free meal -- and then, after the meal, you wrote out a check to cover your portion and left it on the table -- that meal is no longer a gift -- Paul is saying that it is the same way with salvation
-- in Galatians 2:16, Paul writes, "We, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." -- Paul is very consistent in his teachings and in his understanding of salvation -- salvation is a free gift of God -- it comes by grace and it is received through faith -- not by works -- in fact, if you try to earn your salvation through works, then you have negated the grace of God and are not truly saved
-- that is why Paul is so incensed in this passage we read from Philippians -- at this time, there were a group of Jewish believers called Judaizers who had come into the church of Philippi and were telling the Gentile believers there that they weren't really saved because they hadn't done enough -- these Judaizers were saying that you had to do more than just believe in Jesus through faith -- you had to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law
-- these men were setting up a qualification for grace -- they were trying to say that you can only attain salvation through human efforts -- you have to do what you can and then God will step in and make up the difference -- and that was opposed to what Jesus had taught and what Paul was teaching
-- so Paul called them dogs -- men who do evil -- mutilators of the flesh -- men who added to the gospel -- who said that the blood of Christ was insufficient for salvation and that you had to do good works in order to be saved
-- so Paul went back to the beginning -- he wrote the same things to them again so that they would be clear -- you are saved by grace -- through faith -- and this not from yourselves -- it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one may boast
-- Paul said that if anyone had reason to boast -- if anyone had reason to trust in their own good works -- then it was him -- because he had more reasons to put confidence in the flesh and in the works of the flesh than anyone else -- but Paul didn't put his confidence in the flesh or in the works of the flesh -- he put his confidence in the grace of God that was shown through the death and resurrection of Christ
-- so, according to Paul, the parable of the bicycle is wrong -- you don't have to go out and earn your $0.67 first so that God will step in and make up the difference -- you don't have to be circumcised or be Jewish or be a Pharisee or follow all of the Law -- God -- through His grace -- would just carry us to the store and buy us the bicycle without us having to do anything in the first place
-- so, what about James? -- is James teaching something different than Paul? -- it seems like Paul and James are in a heated argument -- each disapproving of the other's gospel -- but, that is not really the case
-- Paul and James are using similar language but they are addressing two different questions -- Paul is addressing the question of how one becomes a part of God's people -- how one becomes saved -- and he is quite clear in saying that you are saved by grace through faith and not by works
-- James, on the other hand, is not addressing salvation in his discourse but is addressing a different question -- how do you know if your faith is real or not? -- James says that if you are saved -- if you have been transformed into a new creation by trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior -- then you demonstrate your faith through your works -- through your actions
-- there were many in the church in James' day that claimed to be Christians, but who were not showing evidence of a transformed life -- James was calling them to discipleship -- to living up to the name they claimed -- "faith without works is dead," he wrote -- in other words, if you claim to be a Christian, then you need to show the fruit of your salvation through your works -- for both James and Paul, works come after faith as evidence of a transformed life
-- so, on this point, the parable of the bicycle is wrong -- works are not required for salvation -- you don't need to show Jesus $0.67 so He will forgive your sins
-- now, let's look at the other problem this parable brings out
-- the second problem -- which is related to the first -- is in thinking that we could actually do something that was of any value to God in the first place -- in other words, this parable assumes that when we go to church or when we help someone else or when we do something good, God counts it on the plus side of His ledger -- but does He?
-- look back at verse 7
7. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
-- Paul says that everything that we do is considered a loss in the eyes of God -- he says that they are considered "rubbish" -- the KJV goes even further and calls them "dung" -- absolutely worthless -- of no value at all
-- so, going back to our parable of the bicycle, what Paul is saying is that this little girl might go out and work and work and work trying to earn money for her bicycle, but that everything she does has no value at all and won't amount to one penny in real money -- in other words, there is nothing that we can do on our own that is worth anything to God
-- in John 15:5, Jesus said "apart from Me, you can do nothing" -- apart from God, our works and our acts of service and goodness are nothing -- they are rubbish -- they are dung
-- in an illustration on the radio this week, Allistair Begg gave a great illustration of this point -- he likened it to a person who goes into a bank several times during the month to make deposits -- you actually go in the bank -- you hand the teller your deposit slip with your money attached -- and you know they received it so you have a pretty good idea of what your account balance should be
-- but then, at the end of the month, when the statement comes in, you are shocked to find that you have no money at all -- it turns out that instead of crediting your account every time you made the deposit, they actually subtracted those amounts from your account -- so everything you did trying to build up your account actually ended up going in the negative column
-- Paul is trying to make that point here -- you can't be saved through works because your works have no value -- no matter how much you try -- no matter what good things you do -- they have no value to God at all -- in Romans 7:18 it says, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature" -- because of that, we can't do anything good for God -- try as hard as we might, we can't even earn the $0.67 that the little girl supposedly earned in this parable
-- which brings us back to the entire point of my message -- you cannot be saved by works -- you cannot add anything to your salvation through works -- you cannot, in any way, contribute anything to the forgiveness of your sins -- there is absolutely no way on earth for you to be saved -- as Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "with man, this is impossible"
-- but, thanks be to God, there is a way by the grace of God -- through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus -- through faith and trust and confidence that Jesus did everything that was required for our salvation -- "with God, all things are possible" -- even the redemption of sinners who can do nothing on their own but believe in God's only Son
III. Closing
-- so, in closing, let me ask you this question -- what about works? -- if works have nothing to do with our salvation, then what value is there in works?
-- as James so eloquently points out, works should naturally flow from a transformed heart -- works won't save you -- we're clear on that -- but works are evidence of your salvation -- if you are saved, then you should be working for God -- not for anything that you might get -- but out of a changed heart and out of gratitude for what He has done for you through Christ Jesus
-- works are important for Christians -- but they don't help non-Christians gain salvation
-- I pray that this discussion today has helped clear up some misconceptions that you might have had concerning faith and works and I pray that this message might lead you to even greater praise of the One who has saved you by His grace
Thursday, January 26, 2006
WHO'S UNDER YOUR BRIDGE?
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
22 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 4
32. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
34. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35. and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
37. sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
-- a couple of years ago in Atlanta, 11-year old Sade Law would get out of school and climb on a bus that would carry her to an after-school program -- as she traveled along Peachtree Street, she looked out her window and watched the city go by -- and one day she noticed a homeless man living under a bridge along her route
-- almost every day she would see him, sitting on a milk crate and reading the newspaper or sleeping -- and something stirred inside her -- God placed a burden for the homeless on her heart and Sade went into action -- at school, when she was told to pick a topic for a class project, she chose the issue of homelessness -- in October of that year, Sade volunteered at both a soup kitchen and with Atlanta Urban Ministries -- and she launched a food and clothing drive at her school to help the homeless in Atlanta
-- but still, the man under the bridge weighed on her heart -- and she continued to see him through her window almost every day as she traveled down Peachtree Road -- the man under the bridge was Billy Watson, a plumber and carpenter who had been homeless and in prison off and on for 14 years -- Billy wound up on the street because he was an alcoholic and couldn't hold onto a job -- by the time Sade spied Billy under the bridge, Billy was living without hope -- he had no family -- no friends -- no job -- no food -- no home -- he lived under the bridge and looked for food in dumpsters
-- despite all she was doing to help the homeless, Sade wanted to do something for the man under the bridge -- her mother didn't want her to approach the man directly, so they found an advocate for the homeless who worked in a ministry in Atlanta and he agreed to carry supplies to Billy -- Sade prepared a care package for Billy with a blanket, a pair of boots, jeans and other clothes -- and, she also included a note from her to the man under the bridge -- the note ended with this thought: "Please take care of yourself and be safe. I will pray every night that God will watch over you and that something will happen good for you. You do deserve good things to happen for you! Please don't give up."
-- Billy read that note and his heart broke -- because of Sade's influence, Billy told the advocate that he wanted to go to a hospital to deal with the alcoholism -- but, he stayed only long enough to get sober and then went back under the bridge again, relapsing with alcohol -- on Thanksgiving of that year, Sade and her mother carried plates of food to the bridge for him -- they got him to agree to go back to the hospital again -- and this time he stayed
-- Billy completed the program and was released to a residential recovery program in Sandy Springs -- he now shares an apartment with three other men who also are recovering alcoholics and he plans to stay in the program as long as needed -- and then he's going to find a job and start his life over
-- Billy has visited Sade and her mother several times -- they talk on the phone and Sade encourages him to continue with the program while he encourages her with her school work
-- Sade's project on homelessness took first place in a DeKalb County Social Studies Fair -- but for Sade, the most important prize is this: She reached out to a man she noticed from a bus, and that man doesn't live under a bridge anymore.
II. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
-- today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday -- this is the one Sunday of the year when churches are encouraged to take a moment to observe the sanctity of human life -- and it should be a day when Christians are motivated and called to take action
-- in 2006 in the United States, we find ourselves increasingly surrounded by a culture of death -- abortion continues to stalk our children like a plague -- calls for physician-assisted euthanasia resound in the papers -- while we find ourselves surrounded by the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the poor
-- for far too long, the church has been a silent witness to a culture that has devalued human life -- that has turned its back on its weakest members -- our unborn children -- our elderly -- our poor -- it should not be this way
-- we berate the Hindu culture of India for creating the caste system that makes some people "untouchables" -- humans who have no value in the eyes of society and whose very touch can make another unclean -- while at the same time creating our own class of untouchables in our very own country
-- where is the church? -- where are the Christians calling for justice for all humans? -- are we merely riding through life without even looking out the window at those we pass who are living under the bridge?
-- in the Book of Acts, we see several powerful pictures of the early church -- of the church that Christ envisioned as He died on the cross and as He communicated to His disciples through three years of intensive teaching on what it means to care for others
-- in Acts 2:42-47, we read how the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to their fellowship -- it says that all the believers were together and had everything in common -- they gave to anyone as he had need and enjoyed the favor of all the people -- and God blessed them by adding to their number daily those who were being saved
-- in this passage in Acts, we see a similar statement -- in verse 32, Luke tells us that all of the believers were one in heart and mind -- they acted in one accord -- they sought the will of God and they put their faith into action -- they weren't satisfied with just getting by -- they didn't spend their time locked up in Bible studies and Sunday School -- but went out and demonstrated their love of Christ through their ministry to the sick and the poor and the elderly
-- look back at verse 32
32. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
34. There were no needy persons among them.
-- oh, how far we have distanced ourself from the early church -- these early Christians shared everything they had, and there were no needy persons among them -- they took care of their own and they took care of those the Lord placed in their path
-- what could the church in America do today if they would only come together in heart and mind -- if all Christians joined together and shared everything they had -- if we actually got intentional about meeting the needs of the people living under the bridge -- about saving the lives of unborn babies -- about demanding respect of our elders and our sick?
-- last year in America, over 250,000 unborn babies were legally killed -- 250,000 souls created and knit together by the Lord God Almighty Himself -- since the passage of Roe vs. Wade, over 40 million babies have been killed in the United States alone -- and yet, by and large, the church is silent
-- sure, we have a few who are active in the pro-life movement -- a few who support crisis pregnancy centers -- a few who protest outside abortion clinics -- but where is the outcry for our children -- for God's children -- in the Christian community as a whole?
-- and it's not just the babies -- Kenneth Connor wrote that other than the unborn, "no single age group in our country suffers more from a diminished view of the value of human life than the elderly" -- just this week, the Supreme Court upheld Oregon's right-to-die law -- a law that takes that first step on the slippery slope to the expected euthanasia of the elderly and the chronically ill
-- in the eyes of many in this country, these souls -- the elderly -- the terminally ill -- the chonically afflicted -- the permanently bed-ridden -- the handicapped -- have lost any meaningful quality of life -- why not dispose of them for their own and society's good? -- isn't this the same argument that we heard during the debates about Terri Schaivo just a few months ago?
-- according to Kenneth Connor, former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm once declared that the elderly had a duty to die and get out of the way -- how long before Governor Lamm's declaration becomes accepted by our society as a whole?
-- and what about those we pass every day who live under bridges in our communities and our cities? -- who is concerned about the plight of the homeless? -- who is reaching out to them?
-- according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness during any given year in the United States alone -- this means that more than one percent of our population this year will be eating out of trash cans and sleeping under bridges -- what happened to the church between verse 34 -- where it says that there were no needy persons among them -- and today?
-- perhaps the answer lies in the rest of this passage and in our hearts
-- look back at verse 34
34. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35. and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
-- money and time -- it all comes down to that, doesn't it? -- every single time, it's these two things that ultimately drive every single one of us -- money and time
-- when I was in school, my professor once said that you could learn everything about an animal by its mouth and feet -- he said that would tell you where it lived and what it ate -- "Food," he said, "and sex, are what drives the lives of the animals you will manage"
-- while I was in college observing those around me, I thought that perhaps that maxim held true for people as well -- but now, many years removed from college and living in the real world -- I know that this is not true for the majority of people -- what primarily drives us is not food and sex -- but time and money
-- ask someone what is important to them and it is one of the two -- oh, they may not come out and say it directly, but if you ask them to help feed the poor or donate to a crisis pregnancy center -- the truth will be told -- "I don't have the time to help" -- "I already give to the church" -- "Aren't there government programs that help those people?" -- "I'm don't feel called to help in this case"
-- in verse 33, Luke tells us that "much grace" was upon this early gathering of Christians -- these men and women who had nothing they did not share -- whether it was food or time or money -- I don't think there is anyone in the Christian community in the United States that will dare tell you that "much grace' is upon our churches in this day and age
-- why is that? -- why do our churches continue to decline in numbers and in power? -- why does the church continue to find itself impotent in cases of injustice and the devaluation of human life in its many forms? -- perhaps its because we have made a god out of time and money and have ceased to live up to the name that we have claimed -- perhaps God has removed His hand from His church because He is trying to get us to be the church we say we are -- the Christians we say we are
-- let me ask you a question -- when is the last time you directly helped in an issue related to the sanctity of human life? -- have you given of your time and money to help the unborn, the elderly, the sick, the homeless? -- have you been the Christian you say you are?
-- in this passage, we read that these early Christians gave all they had to the Lord's service -- we aren't even willing to tithe our firstfruits of money and time to the Lord -- did you know that if every person who claimed the name of Christ was to merely tithe on their income -- not to give all that they have -- but to just give 10% -- the church would have enough income to take over Social Security and Welfare and the Food Stamp Program and still have more money than we have right now?
-- what would happen if every Christian in America donated just 4 hours a week -- just 10% of a work week -- to minister directly in sanctity of human life causes? -- what would happen if every Christian in America were simply to write one letter a week to their elected officials, asking for action on the behalf of the unborn, the elderly, the homeless and the sick? -- what would we see happen in America? -- what would we see happen in the church?
-- what would happen if you would make a commitment right now to do something -- to give something -- to someone in need? -- What would happen if you would rise up and actually become the Christian that you say you are?
III. CLOSING
-- several years ago, The Sunday School Times carried the account of a Christian school in India that was created for the children of "untouchables" prior to World War II -- each year the "untouchable" children in that school received Christmas presents from children in England -- the girls got a doll, and the boys got another toy
-- on one occasion, the doctor from a nearby mission hospital was asked to distribute the Christmas gifts to the children in that school -- during his visit, he told the youngsters about a village in India where the boys and girls had never even heard of Jesus -- he suggested to them that maybe they would like to give them some of their old toys as presents to these kids to show the love of Jesus to them -- they liked the idea and they all readily agreed
-- a week later, the doctor returned to the school to collect the gifts of old toys from the children -- the sight was unforgettable -- one by one the children filed by and handed the doctor a doll or toy -- to his great surprise, they all gave the new presents they had just received several days earlier -- when he asked why, a girl spoke up, "Think what God did by giving us His only Son. Could we give Him less than our very best?"
-- for too long, the church in America has been giving less than our very best to those God has called us to minister to -- the unborn, the elderly, the homeless, the sick -- we go about our way every day -- living our lives while passing those in need of our touch -- those God has placed in our path
-- the church in America is guilty of a great sin -- I am guilty of a great sin -- and, there is a good chance that you are guilty of a great sin as well
-- today has been set apart as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday -- may this be the day when the church wakes up -- when we become one in heart and mind -- when we put aside our god of time and money and start to worship the one true God -- the One who calls us to share our lives with those most in need -- may this be the day when much grace once again falls on the church
-- I pray that this would be the last time such a day is needed because the church would be mobilized to go forth in the name of Christ -- sharing everything we have so that there would be no needy persons among us
-- perhaps this is the day that God is calling you to increase your giving to the ministries in this church or to ministries that directly serve the unborn, the elderly, the homeless, and the sick -- perhaps this is the day that God is calling you to give of your time to ministries who reach out to these sacred souls that God has created
-- as I close in prayer, may we all remember that every life created by God has value, and may you respond to His word as you feel called
-- let us pray
22 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 4
32. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
34. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35. and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
37. sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
-- a couple of years ago in Atlanta, 11-year old Sade Law would get out of school and climb on a bus that would carry her to an after-school program -- as she traveled along Peachtree Street, she looked out her window and watched the city go by -- and one day she noticed a homeless man living under a bridge along her route
-- almost every day she would see him, sitting on a milk crate and reading the newspaper or sleeping -- and something stirred inside her -- God placed a burden for the homeless on her heart and Sade went into action -- at school, when she was told to pick a topic for a class project, she chose the issue of homelessness -- in October of that year, Sade volunteered at both a soup kitchen and with Atlanta Urban Ministries -- and she launched a food and clothing drive at her school to help the homeless in Atlanta
-- but still, the man under the bridge weighed on her heart -- and she continued to see him through her window almost every day as she traveled down Peachtree Road -- the man under the bridge was Billy Watson, a plumber and carpenter who had been homeless and in prison off and on for 14 years -- Billy wound up on the street because he was an alcoholic and couldn't hold onto a job -- by the time Sade spied Billy under the bridge, Billy was living without hope -- he had no family -- no friends -- no job -- no food -- no home -- he lived under the bridge and looked for food in dumpsters
-- despite all she was doing to help the homeless, Sade wanted to do something for the man under the bridge -- her mother didn't want her to approach the man directly, so they found an advocate for the homeless who worked in a ministry in Atlanta and he agreed to carry supplies to Billy -- Sade prepared a care package for Billy with a blanket, a pair of boots, jeans and other clothes -- and, she also included a note from her to the man under the bridge -- the note ended with this thought: "Please take care of yourself and be safe. I will pray every night that God will watch over you and that something will happen good for you. You do deserve good things to happen for you! Please don't give up."
-- Billy read that note and his heart broke -- because of Sade's influence, Billy told the advocate that he wanted to go to a hospital to deal with the alcoholism -- but, he stayed only long enough to get sober and then went back under the bridge again, relapsing with alcohol -- on Thanksgiving of that year, Sade and her mother carried plates of food to the bridge for him -- they got him to agree to go back to the hospital again -- and this time he stayed
-- Billy completed the program and was released to a residential recovery program in Sandy Springs -- he now shares an apartment with three other men who also are recovering alcoholics and he plans to stay in the program as long as needed -- and then he's going to find a job and start his life over
-- Billy has visited Sade and her mother several times -- they talk on the phone and Sade encourages him to continue with the program while he encourages her with her school work
-- Sade's project on homelessness took first place in a DeKalb County Social Studies Fair -- but for Sade, the most important prize is this: She reached out to a man she noticed from a bus, and that man doesn't live under a bridge anymore.
II. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
-- today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday -- this is the one Sunday of the year when churches are encouraged to take a moment to observe the sanctity of human life -- and it should be a day when Christians are motivated and called to take action
-- in 2006 in the United States, we find ourselves increasingly surrounded by a culture of death -- abortion continues to stalk our children like a plague -- calls for physician-assisted euthanasia resound in the papers -- while we find ourselves surrounded by the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the poor
-- for far too long, the church has been a silent witness to a culture that has devalued human life -- that has turned its back on its weakest members -- our unborn children -- our elderly -- our poor -- it should not be this way
-- we berate the Hindu culture of India for creating the caste system that makes some people "untouchables" -- humans who have no value in the eyes of society and whose very touch can make another unclean -- while at the same time creating our own class of untouchables in our very own country
-- where is the church? -- where are the Christians calling for justice for all humans? -- are we merely riding through life without even looking out the window at those we pass who are living under the bridge?
-- in the Book of Acts, we see several powerful pictures of the early church -- of the church that Christ envisioned as He died on the cross and as He communicated to His disciples through three years of intensive teaching on what it means to care for others
-- in Acts 2:42-47, we read how the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to their fellowship -- it says that all the believers were together and had everything in common -- they gave to anyone as he had need and enjoyed the favor of all the people -- and God blessed them by adding to their number daily those who were being saved
-- in this passage in Acts, we see a similar statement -- in verse 32, Luke tells us that all of the believers were one in heart and mind -- they acted in one accord -- they sought the will of God and they put their faith into action -- they weren't satisfied with just getting by -- they didn't spend their time locked up in Bible studies and Sunday School -- but went out and demonstrated their love of Christ through their ministry to the sick and the poor and the elderly
-- look back at verse 32
32. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
34. There were no needy persons among them.
-- oh, how far we have distanced ourself from the early church -- these early Christians shared everything they had, and there were no needy persons among them -- they took care of their own and they took care of those the Lord placed in their path
-- what could the church in America do today if they would only come together in heart and mind -- if all Christians joined together and shared everything they had -- if we actually got intentional about meeting the needs of the people living under the bridge -- about saving the lives of unborn babies -- about demanding respect of our elders and our sick?
-- last year in America, over 250,000 unborn babies were legally killed -- 250,000 souls created and knit together by the Lord God Almighty Himself -- since the passage of Roe vs. Wade, over 40 million babies have been killed in the United States alone -- and yet, by and large, the church is silent
-- sure, we have a few who are active in the pro-life movement -- a few who support crisis pregnancy centers -- a few who protest outside abortion clinics -- but where is the outcry for our children -- for God's children -- in the Christian community as a whole?
-- and it's not just the babies -- Kenneth Connor wrote that other than the unborn, "no single age group in our country suffers more from a diminished view of the value of human life than the elderly" -- just this week, the Supreme Court upheld Oregon's right-to-die law -- a law that takes that first step on the slippery slope to the expected euthanasia of the elderly and the chronically ill
-- in the eyes of many in this country, these souls -- the elderly -- the terminally ill -- the chonically afflicted -- the permanently bed-ridden -- the handicapped -- have lost any meaningful quality of life -- why not dispose of them for their own and society's good? -- isn't this the same argument that we heard during the debates about Terri Schaivo just a few months ago?
-- according to Kenneth Connor, former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm once declared that the elderly had a duty to die and get out of the way -- how long before Governor Lamm's declaration becomes accepted by our society as a whole?
-- and what about those we pass every day who live under bridges in our communities and our cities? -- who is concerned about the plight of the homeless? -- who is reaching out to them?
-- according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness during any given year in the United States alone -- this means that more than one percent of our population this year will be eating out of trash cans and sleeping under bridges -- what happened to the church between verse 34 -- where it says that there were no needy persons among them -- and today?
-- perhaps the answer lies in the rest of this passage and in our hearts
-- look back at verse 34
34. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35. and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
-- money and time -- it all comes down to that, doesn't it? -- every single time, it's these two things that ultimately drive every single one of us -- money and time
-- when I was in school, my professor once said that you could learn everything about an animal by its mouth and feet -- he said that would tell you where it lived and what it ate -- "Food," he said, "and sex, are what drives the lives of the animals you will manage"
-- while I was in college observing those around me, I thought that perhaps that maxim held true for people as well -- but now, many years removed from college and living in the real world -- I know that this is not true for the majority of people -- what primarily drives us is not food and sex -- but time and money
-- ask someone what is important to them and it is one of the two -- oh, they may not come out and say it directly, but if you ask them to help feed the poor or donate to a crisis pregnancy center -- the truth will be told -- "I don't have the time to help" -- "I already give to the church" -- "Aren't there government programs that help those people?" -- "I'm don't feel called to help in this case"
-- in verse 33, Luke tells us that "much grace" was upon this early gathering of Christians -- these men and women who had nothing they did not share -- whether it was food or time or money -- I don't think there is anyone in the Christian community in the United States that will dare tell you that "much grace' is upon our churches in this day and age
-- why is that? -- why do our churches continue to decline in numbers and in power? -- why does the church continue to find itself impotent in cases of injustice and the devaluation of human life in its many forms? -- perhaps its because we have made a god out of time and money and have ceased to live up to the name that we have claimed -- perhaps God has removed His hand from His church because He is trying to get us to be the church we say we are -- the Christians we say we are
-- let me ask you a question -- when is the last time you directly helped in an issue related to the sanctity of human life? -- have you given of your time and money to help the unborn, the elderly, the sick, the homeless? -- have you been the Christian you say you are?
-- in this passage, we read that these early Christians gave all they had to the Lord's service -- we aren't even willing to tithe our firstfruits of money and time to the Lord -- did you know that if every person who claimed the name of Christ was to merely tithe on their income -- not to give all that they have -- but to just give 10% -- the church would have enough income to take over Social Security and Welfare and the Food Stamp Program and still have more money than we have right now?
-- what would happen if every Christian in America donated just 4 hours a week -- just 10% of a work week -- to minister directly in sanctity of human life causes? -- what would happen if every Christian in America were simply to write one letter a week to their elected officials, asking for action on the behalf of the unborn, the elderly, the homeless and the sick? -- what would we see happen in America? -- what would we see happen in the church?
-- what would happen if you would make a commitment right now to do something -- to give something -- to someone in need? -- What would happen if you would rise up and actually become the Christian that you say you are?
III. CLOSING
-- several years ago, The Sunday School Times carried the account of a Christian school in India that was created for the children of "untouchables" prior to World War II -- each year the "untouchable" children in that school received Christmas presents from children in England -- the girls got a doll, and the boys got another toy
-- on one occasion, the doctor from a nearby mission hospital was asked to distribute the Christmas gifts to the children in that school -- during his visit, he told the youngsters about a village in India where the boys and girls had never even heard of Jesus -- he suggested to them that maybe they would like to give them some of their old toys as presents to these kids to show the love of Jesus to them -- they liked the idea and they all readily agreed
-- a week later, the doctor returned to the school to collect the gifts of old toys from the children -- the sight was unforgettable -- one by one the children filed by and handed the doctor a doll or toy -- to his great surprise, they all gave the new presents they had just received several days earlier -- when he asked why, a girl spoke up, "Think what God did by giving us His only Son. Could we give Him less than our very best?"
-- for too long, the church in America has been giving less than our very best to those God has called us to minister to -- the unborn, the elderly, the homeless, the sick -- we go about our way every day -- living our lives while passing those in need of our touch -- those God has placed in our path
-- the church in America is guilty of a great sin -- I am guilty of a great sin -- and, there is a good chance that you are guilty of a great sin as well
-- today has been set apart as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday -- may this be the day when the church wakes up -- when we become one in heart and mind -- when we put aside our god of time and money and start to worship the one true God -- the One who calls us to share our lives with those most in need -- may this be the day when much grace once again falls on the church
-- I pray that this would be the last time such a day is needed because the church would be mobilized to go forth in the name of Christ -- sharing everything we have so that there would be no needy persons among us
-- perhaps this is the day that God is calling you to increase your giving to the ministries in this church or to ministries that directly serve the unborn, the elderly, the homeless, and the sick -- perhaps this is the day that God is calling you to give of your time to ministries who reach out to these sacred souls that God has created
-- as I close in prayer, may we all remember that every life created by God has value, and may you respond to His word as you feel called
-- let us pray
Monday, January 16, 2006
THOUGHTS ON THE "BOOK OF DANIEL"
Because of my busy schedule lately, I have not had much time to blog or to read the blogs of others on the net. But, I became aware of the controversy surrounding NBC's new dramatic show, "The Book of Daniel," while listening to an American Family Radio broadcast calling for a national boycott of NBC and any sponsors to the show. The American Family Association (AFA) said that the show was blasphemous and showed Christians in a poor light and that all Christians should avoid watching the show. Then, our local NBC affiliate did a special news segement preceding the show's airing, where they showed the entire show to local ministers and asked their opinions of the show -- a move I thought was fair and balanced. The ministers who watched the show were split between liking it and disliking it, but only one or two went so far as to call it blasphemous.
I suspected that members of my church would have questions about this show because of the controversy, so I took it upon myself to watch it when it aired over the past two Friday nights. (This has been the stance I have taken when any of these calls to ban movies or t.v. shows or music or books has come up in recent years. I refuse to support such bans unless I have reviewed the item myself and sought the opinion of those in the Christian community I respect.)
So, without knowing what any other bloggers or pastors are thinking about this show, I am going out on a limb and stating that, for the most part, I thought the show was well-written, well-conceived, and challenging for people of faith. The premise of the show revolves around an Episcopalian pastor, Daniel, his family, and their interactions with the leadership in the Episcopal church.
Daniel is the son of an Episcopal Bishop and is under the oversight of a female Bishop. His son is a homosexual and his daughter has just been arrested for selling marijuana. His adopted son is promiscuous and is having a sexual liaison with the daughter of a church leader in Daniel's church. And, to cope with all that is going on, Daniel's wife turns to alcohol and he turns to pills. In the middle of this, Daniel sees visions of Jesus who talks with him and guides him through decisions that he has to make.
Here are my thoughts based on the areas that could possible be viewed as objectionable:
1. Acceptance of Homosexuality. As most of us know, the Episcopal church is very liberal, in cultural issues and in theology, and accept homosexuality as normal behavior in both parishioners and in clergy (as evidenced by the recent affirmation of a professing homosexual as Bishop). This is objectionable to me, but that is not something that NBC put in the show. Whether we like it or not, this is part of the Christian community in America. This is real life as lived out by our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Episcopal church and in other denominations throughout the country. This is something that most of the major mainline denominations in the U.S. have had to deal with or are in the midst of dealing with at this time. Boycotting it and sweeping it under the rug does not take away the problem in the church.
2. Acceptance of Promiscuous Behavior. In this show, the pastor's son is very promiscuous, but his behavior is not condoned or approved of by Daniel or his wife. It is recognized as a problem that their son has, and the family is working to change his behavior. Once again, like it or not, this is real life and it is in our churches. I know a pastor whose high-school daughter became pregnant out of wedlock, and it happens to our church members every single day. Look at the statistics and you will clearly see that church youth as just as sexually active as non-churched youth. Maybe if the church would quit hiding this issue but bring it out and take proactive steps to teach our young men and women to abstain until marriage, we would see something change.
3. Acceptance of Addictions. Both Daniel and his wife use drugs -- alcohol and pills -- to cope with the problems of their life. Once again, this is real life. People in our churches struggle with addictions to alcohol and drugs and hide it behind their Sunday faces. Is this the way to handle problems? No. But it is common, and our churches should be at the forefront of helping people deal with these addictions in a non-judgemental way.
4. Churches Run as a Business. This was one of the most eye-opening events that happened when I moved into church leadership and then into pastoral ministry. I had no idea that churches operated as businesses, and I still have the biggest problem with this. Instead of relying on God or trusting in His providence and leadership in the church, finances are our real god. Every Methodist pastor is judged based on whether apportionments are paid. And the most influential and powerful committee in any church is the financial committee. Is this right? NO. Is it real? Yes. I pray every day that God would break the stronghold that finances have on our churches and open us up to following His leadership and His principles rather than those of the world. This show very clearly shows the secular-mindedness of the bishops and how that affects the way Pastor Daniel does ministry in his local church. This is a fact of life that needs to be recognized and fixed.
5. The Appearance of Jesus to Daniel. This was the big problem that AFA had with the show. When they are alone, Jesus would appear with Daniel and talk with him one on one. As I watched this show for the first time, I was reminded of the CBS show, "Joan of Arcadia," in which God would appear to a teen-aged girl and send her on missions to help herself or her family and friends. Very similar premise. Do I find it objectionable? No. And here's why: first, while we may not actually see Jesus when we pray, aren't we supposed to be having a conversation with Him when we pray to Him -- not just speaking but also listening. I took the show's portrayal of Jesus as nothing more than a physical reminder that Daniel still spoke with God on a regular basis. At one point in the show, Daniel asked Jesus if He spoke with Daniel's father. Jesus replied, "I used to, but not much anymore." Wow! What a telling statement. Secondly, when was the last time you saw a television show portray Jesus in a positive light? Sure, in this show Jesus has a somewhat liberal theological bent, but that is how our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal church relate to Him. In "Joan of Arcadia" God appeared to Joan, but never as Jesus. In "Touched by an Angel," angels appeared, but never Jesus. Jesus does appear in this show and I can't see this as bad. Perhaps it will cause some unchurched and unsaved people to seek out Jesus in their lives when they have problems of their own.
Bottom-line: What I found objectionable:
Actually, I didn't find this show objectionable. Yes, its theology is a little too liberal for me, but that's about it. Contrary to what AFA and others reported, NBC did not set out to make a blasphemous show belittling Christians. It is not immoral and unethical and blasphemous because it shows the church and pastor's families as they really are.
Why are people objecting to this show? Because it is too close to home. The issues it raises in the show are real and can be found in all of our churches to some extent or the other. Granted, NBC lumped all of this into one family and one church to make a show out of it, but the issues are there. And, maybe it's time the church took off its mask and owned up to the fact that we are just like the rest of the world -- we are sinners just as they. We are not holy and righteous and perfect in all we do. Our families are not like the Cleavers and our churches are not ideallic sanctuaries where all are saved, no one has problems and we only live life according to God's principles and commands. Casting Crowns has a song called "Stained Glass Masquerade," which relates the story of a man with a problem coming to church but seeing only perfect faces. He asks the question, "Am I the only one here with a problem?" And so, because of fear of being judged, he doesn't get up and go to God for healing.
While we may object to this show, we may be doing so only because we are refusing to take off our mask and admit who we really are. If we refuse to acknowledge the sin that is so evident to the world around us, how can we expect to lead them to the Christ that we claim saves us from our sin? We are sinners just like the rest of the world. The only difference between us and the world is that we are sinners saved by grace, and when we do sin, we have a Savior who forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
I pray that Christians will not boycott this show, but that they will watch it and use it as a starting point for open dialogue and for healing and restoration in our communities of faith. This show identifies real issues in the church that we need to address and that we need to acknowledge and that we need to seek God's help with. Unless we acknowledge our sins and our need for a Savior, revival will never come.
I suspected that members of my church would have questions about this show because of the controversy, so I took it upon myself to watch it when it aired over the past two Friday nights. (This has been the stance I have taken when any of these calls to ban movies or t.v. shows or music or books has come up in recent years. I refuse to support such bans unless I have reviewed the item myself and sought the opinion of those in the Christian community I respect.)
So, without knowing what any other bloggers or pastors are thinking about this show, I am going out on a limb and stating that, for the most part, I thought the show was well-written, well-conceived, and challenging for people of faith. The premise of the show revolves around an Episcopalian pastor, Daniel, his family, and their interactions with the leadership in the Episcopal church.
Daniel is the son of an Episcopal Bishop and is under the oversight of a female Bishop. His son is a homosexual and his daughter has just been arrested for selling marijuana. His adopted son is promiscuous and is having a sexual liaison with the daughter of a church leader in Daniel's church. And, to cope with all that is going on, Daniel's wife turns to alcohol and he turns to pills. In the middle of this, Daniel sees visions of Jesus who talks with him and guides him through decisions that he has to make.
Here are my thoughts based on the areas that could possible be viewed as objectionable:
1. Acceptance of Homosexuality. As most of us know, the Episcopal church is very liberal, in cultural issues and in theology, and accept homosexuality as normal behavior in both parishioners and in clergy (as evidenced by the recent affirmation of a professing homosexual as Bishop). This is objectionable to me, but that is not something that NBC put in the show. Whether we like it or not, this is part of the Christian community in America. This is real life as lived out by our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Episcopal church and in other denominations throughout the country. This is something that most of the major mainline denominations in the U.S. have had to deal with or are in the midst of dealing with at this time. Boycotting it and sweeping it under the rug does not take away the problem in the church.
2. Acceptance of Promiscuous Behavior. In this show, the pastor's son is very promiscuous, but his behavior is not condoned or approved of by Daniel or his wife. It is recognized as a problem that their son has, and the family is working to change his behavior. Once again, like it or not, this is real life and it is in our churches. I know a pastor whose high-school daughter became pregnant out of wedlock, and it happens to our church members every single day. Look at the statistics and you will clearly see that church youth as just as sexually active as non-churched youth. Maybe if the church would quit hiding this issue but bring it out and take proactive steps to teach our young men and women to abstain until marriage, we would see something change.
3. Acceptance of Addictions. Both Daniel and his wife use drugs -- alcohol and pills -- to cope with the problems of their life. Once again, this is real life. People in our churches struggle with addictions to alcohol and drugs and hide it behind their Sunday faces. Is this the way to handle problems? No. But it is common, and our churches should be at the forefront of helping people deal with these addictions in a non-judgemental way.
4. Churches Run as a Business. This was one of the most eye-opening events that happened when I moved into church leadership and then into pastoral ministry. I had no idea that churches operated as businesses, and I still have the biggest problem with this. Instead of relying on God or trusting in His providence and leadership in the church, finances are our real god. Every Methodist pastor is judged based on whether apportionments are paid. And the most influential and powerful committee in any church is the financial committee. Is this right? NO. Is it real? Yes. I pray every day that God would break the stronghold that finances have on our churches and open us up to following His leadership and His principles rather than those of the world. This show very clearly shows the secular-mindedness of the bishops and how that affects the way Pastor Daniel does ministry in his local church. This is a fact of life that needs to be recognized and fixed.
5. The Appearance of Jesus to Daniel. This was the big problem that AFA had with the show. When they are alone, Jesus would appear with Daniel and talk with him one on one. As I watched this show for the first time, I was reminded of the CBS show, "Joan of Arcadia," in which God would appear to a teen-aged girl and send her on missions to help herself or her family and friends. Very similar premise. Do I find it objectionable? No. And here's why: first, while we may not actually see Jesus when we pray, aren't we supposed to be having a conversation with Him when we pray to Him -- not just speaking but also listening. I took the show's portrayal of Jesus as nothing more than a physical reminder that Daniel still spoke with God on a regular basis. At one point in the show, Daniel asked Jesus if He spoke with Daniel's father. Jesus replied, "I used to, but not much anymore." Wow! What a telling statement. Secondly, when was the last time you saw a television show portray Jesus in a positive light? Sure, in this show Jesus has a somewhat liberal theological bent, but that is how our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal church relate to Him. In "Joan of Arcadia" God appeared to Joan, but never as Jesus. In "Touched by an Angel," angels appeared, but never Jesus. Jesus does appear in this show and I can't see this as bad. Perhaps it will cause some unchurched and unsaved people to seek out Jesus in their lives when they have problems of their own.
Bottom-line: What I found objectionable:
Actually, I didn't find this show objectionable. Yes, its theology is a little too liberal for me, but that's about it. Contrary to what AFA and others reported, NBC did not set out to make a blasphemous show belittling Christians. It is not immoral and unethical and blasphemous because it shows the church and pastor's families as they really are.
Why are people objecting to this show? Because it is too close to home. The issues it raises in the show are real and can be found in all of our churches to some extent or the other. Granted, NBC lumped all of this into one family and one church to make a show out of it, but the issues are there. And, maybe it's time the church took off its mask and owned up to the fact that we are just like the rest of the world -- we are sinners just as they. We are not holy and righteous and perfect in all we do. Our families are not like the Cleavers and our churches are not ideallic sanctuaries where all are saved, no one has problems and we only live life according to God's principles and commands. Casting Crowns has a song called "Stained Glass Masquerade," which relates the story of a man with a problem coming to church but seeing only perfect faces. He asks the question, "Am I the only one here with a problem?" And so, because of fear of being judged, he doesn't get up and go to God for healing.
While we may object to this show, we may be doing so only because we are refusing to take off our mask and admit who we really are. If we refuse to acknowledge the sin that is so evident to the world around us, how can we expect to lead them to the Christ that we claim saves us from our sin? We are sinners just like the rest of the world. The only difference between us and the world is that we are sinners saved by grace, and when we do sin, we have a Savior who forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
I pray that Christians will not boycott this show, but that they will watch it and use it as a starting point for open dialogue and for healing and restoration in our communities of faith. This show identifies real issues in the church that we need to address and that we need to acknowledge and that we need to seek God's help with. Unless we acknowledge our sins and our need for a Savior, revival will never come.
SURPRISES IN THE NEW YEAR
After finally getting a moment to catch my breath after Advent, Christmas, and the start of the New Year, I wanted to share with you a few of my surprises that I have experienced in this new year:
1. There's Never Enough Time. All through Advent and Christmas I kept saying to my family and myself, "If we can only get through Christmas, then things will slow down." I should have known better. Things never slow down. Especially if you have targeted the start of the New Year as the time to start new ministries and Bible studies. I find myself busier than ever, teaching two Bible studies and a class on personal evangelism, and participating in a Chyrsalis Journey and a Walk to Emmaus Event. But, God is good, and He continues to bless me with time and energy and the ability to accomplish all that He has placed on me in this new year.
2. God Still Does Miracles. This past week was one of the most challenging in my short pastoral career, with a major family crisis in a church that has directly affected the lives of three separate families. Yet, in the midst of the ashes of this event, God has brought out beauty. Lives are being restored, marriages are being restored, faith is being stretched -- all in the midst of a situation that looked as hopeless as any I have ever seen. I am continually amazed at how the power of God can come into any situation and into any life and transform it and change it for the better.
3. Personal Witnessing Is Not That Hard. As a pastor, I have found myself somewhat slack in the area of personal witnessing. Simply put, I did not share my faith with others in a direct way. I had come up with many reasons and excuses to justify this sin in my life: I invite people to church; As the pastor, I am responsible for sharing the gospel only from the pulpit; As the pastor, my job is not to go out and save others but to build up the body of Christ so they can go forth and save others; and so on and so on. But this week I had the opportunity to share my faith on two separate occasions, and in both cases, God gave me the words to share and the will to continue and both of these men accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. It takes a lot more time and energy to come up with the excuses why we can't and won't witness than it takes to actually share our faith with someone else.
4. Harvests Always Follow Planting. For the past six years, I have pastored two small Methodist churches in south-central Georgia. And, while we have seen great growth in spiritual maturity and in biblical knowledge among the members, there has literally been no growth in the churches, other than family members rejoining after years of attendance. I began to think that I would never see any fruit from the sowing that we had been doing in the churches. However, God has blessed us since the new year with the start of a harvest that I pray continues for years. Since the new year, one church has had a new member join and I had someone approach me about joining the other church. Additionally, as I noted above, we shared in the salvation of two men, who may eventually join the church as members. God is faithful and harvests will always follow obedient planting and cultivation.
1. There's Never Enough Time. All through Advent and Christmas I kept saying to my family and myself, "If we can only get through Christmas, then things will slow down." I should have known better. Things never slow down. Especially if you have targeted the start of the New Year as the time to start new ministries and Bible studies. I find myself busier than ever, teaching two Bible studies and a class on personal evangelism, and participating in a Chyrsalis Journey and a Walk to Emmaus Event. But, God is good, and He continues to bless me with time and energy and the ability to accomplish all that He has placed on me in this new year.
2. God Still Does Miracles. This past week was one of the most challenging in my short pastoral career, with a major family crisis in a church that has directly affected the lives of three separate families. Yet, in the midst of the ashes of this event, God has brought out beauty. Lives are being restored, marriages are being restored, faith is being stretched -- all in the midst of a situation that looked as hopeless as any I have ever seen. I am continually amazed at how the power of God can come into any situation and into any life and transform it and change it for the better.
3. Personal Witnessing Is Not That Hard. As a pastor, I have found myself somewhat slack in the area of personal witnessing. Simply put, I did not share my faith with others in a direct way. I had come up with many reasons and excuses to justify this sin in my life: I invite people to church; As the pastor, I am responsible for sharing the gospel only from the pulpit; As the pastor, my job is not to go out and save others but to build up the body of Christ so they can go forth and save others; and so on and so on. But this week I had the opportunity to share my faith on two separate occasions, and in both cases, God gave me the words to share and the will to continue and both of these men accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. It takes a lot more time and energy to come up with the excuses why we can't and won't witness than it takes to actually share our faith with someone else.
4. Harvests Always Follow Planting. For the past six years, I have pastored two small Methodist churches in south-central Georgia. And, while we have seen great growth in spiritual maturity and in biblical knowledge among the members, there has literally been no growth in the churches, other than family members rejoining after years of attendance. I began to think that I would never see any fruit from the sowing that we had been doing in the churches. However, God has blessed us since the new year with the start of a harvest that I pray continues for years. Since the new year, one church has had a new member join and I had someone approach me about joining the other church. Additionally, as I noted above, we shared in the salvation of two men, who may eventually join the church as members. God is faithful and harvests will always follow obedient planting and cultivation.
IDENTITY THEFT
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
15 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Phillipians 2
1. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2. then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7. but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
9. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13. for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14. Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15. so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16. as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
-- Bronti Kelly was a young man in southern California with a promising future -- recently out of the military and still serving part-time in the Air Force Reserves, Bronti was working for a major department store as a salesman and developing quite a name for himself as a productive and valued employee
-- but one day, his wallet was stolen -- while walking down the street, someone picked his pocket and took his wallet -- Bronti didn't think much of it and when he reported it to the police, they said he was lucky -- he didn't have any credit cards in his wallet and it only had $4 cash at the time -- the only other things in there was his driver's license, social security card, and AF military card -- items that could be easily replaced
-- everything went along like normal for seven months -- and then one day Bronti was ushered into the personnel director's office and told he had been caught shoplifting by security guards in another branch of the store -- Bronti said that that was impossible -- he had been serving in the Reserves at the time -- he even had his reserve commander write a letter stating that Kelly had been serving in the military when the crime occurred -- but it didn't matter -- the store fired him because of his shoplifting conviction
-- Kelly chalked it up to a bad mistake and started applying for new jobs -- but for four long years, no one would hire him for a job -- he handed out his resume full of sales experience to hundreds of store managers in southern Califronia, but he was rejected each time
-- and on those rare occasions when he did get a job, he would be fired within days -- for no reason at all -- along the way, Bronti ended up filing for bankruptcy -- he lost his apartment -- he became homeless -- and he had no idea why
-- it turns out that the thief who stole Bronti's wallet took his driver's license and social security card and military ID card and assumed Bronti's identity -- and when this thief had been arrested for shoplifting and other crimes, he gave Bronti's identity to the authorities -- so, in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of all Bronti's prospective employers, Bronti Kelly was a thief and someone who could not be trusted -- for all intensive purposes, the thief became Bronti Kelly and ruined his life in the process
II. The Gift of Identity Theft (Phillipians 2:5-11)
-- identity theft is something that we should all be aware of and be concerned about -- it is a real and a growing problem in the United States and in the world -- identity theft has turned into a national epidemic -- over 9 million Americans like Bronti Kelly have their identity stolen every year -- and it ends up affecting them for the rest of their life
-- the dictionary defines identity theft as the deliberate assumption of another person's identity -- and, usually, when someone deliberately assumes another person's identity, we regard that as a bad thing
-- but did you know that there are times when the deliberate assumption of another person's identity is actually a good and noble situation?
-- for instance, in the Charles Dicken's book, "A Tale of Two Cities," Sydney Carlton switches places with Charles Darnay and stands before the executioner so that Charles can escape back to England with his wife Lucie -- Sydney was in love with Lucie, and because of his great love for her and his desire for her to be happy, he assumed the identity of Charles Darnay and went to his death with these words, "It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest I go to than I have every known."
-- and, of course, we just finished celebrating the time when our own identity was assumed by another -- when our God and King left His throne on high and humbled Himself and became a baby in a manger -- assuming our identity and taking upon Himself all of our characteristics -- because of His great love for us, Jesus became a man and died in our place so that we might live forever through Him
-- look back at verse 5
5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7. but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
-- have you ever really considered what Christmas is all about? -- have you ever really pondered the significance of the incarnation?
-- God became a man -- God -- the Lord God Almighty -- the One who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence -- left His glory in Heaven and humbled Himself and took on flesh and blood
-- the Creator became the creation -- He assumed our identity so that He might rescue us from bondage to sin and death and save us from the very sins that separated us from Him in the first place
-- Paul writes here that God became nothing -- He took on Himself our nature -- our form -- so that He might share in our humanity and destroy the power of sin and death in our lives
-- every time we light the candles in the sanctuary, we recognize and celebrate the fact that God became man -- the two candles on the altar represent the dual natures of Christ -- Jesus was fully man and fully God
-- hold your place here and turn over to Hebrews 2 and listen as I read verses 14-18
14. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
15. and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
16. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
17. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
18. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
-- the Bible tells us that He was made like us in every way -- He was born of a woman just like all of us -- He grew up and lived life in a community similar to ours -- He ate and He slept and He worked with His hands and He loved His family and His friends and His Father in Heaven -- He became a man and assumed our identity so that He might make atonement for our sins -- so that He could pay the penalty of sin by dying in our place on the cross
-- Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin are death -- so someone has to die in order to pay the penalty for the sins that we committed in our life -- but Romans 8:3 says that God sent Jesus in the likeness of man to be a sin offering in our place
-- He who knew no sin became sin for us -- and He went to the cross and died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins
-- look back at verse 9
9. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-- Christ became a man for a reason -- He assumed our identity so that we might assume His -- and when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior -- when we believe that He was the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins and that He rose on the third day -- and when we ask Him to come into our life and to forgive us of our sins -- we become like Christ -- we assume His righteousness and His holiness and His identity in our own lives -- so that when God looks at us, He no longer sees us and our sins, but He sees His Son standing in our place
III. Our New Identity in Christ (Phillipians 2:1-4, 14-16)
-- so, as Christians, we are called to assume the identity of Christ in our lives here on earth -- in verse 5 Paul says that our attitude -- our mind -- should be the same as that of Christ Jesus -- and 1 Peter 1:14-16 says that just as He who called us is holy, we should be holy in all we do"
-- what does it mean to be holy as God is holy? -- it means that we assume the identity of Christ -- when we are saved by Christ, we should lose our old identity and become a new person -- taking on the personality and attitude and mind of Jesus Himself
-- this is what Jesus means when He tells us that we must deny ourself and pick up our cross and follow Him daily -- this is what Jesus means when He tells us that we have to lose our life in order to save it
-- the Apostle Paul understood this call to assume the identity of Christ well -- after He was saved and turned from a murderer who persecuted Christians, he changed his name from Saul to Paul and wrote these words in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
-- Paul cast away his old identity -- his old ways and his old attitude and his old behaviors -- and he was transformed into a new creation -- into a sinner saved through grace who reflected the mind of Christ in all he did -- the old Saul no longer lived -- that identity was gone -- and the identity of Christ took its place
-- John the Baptist understood this, as well -- as Jesus began His public ministry and began teaching and preaching throughout Judea and Gallilee and people began to flock to listen to Him -- some of John's disciples got jealous -- they came to John and complained but John replied -- "He must become greater; I must become less" -- in other words, John the Baptist realized that he had to give up his ministry and his identity and accept the identity of Christ
-- I think John's words should be our motto for this morning -- in Exodus 33:16, after God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and told Moses that these were His chosen people, Moses asked God what that meant -- what would distinguish God's people from all the other people on the face of the earth?
-- I think the answer is clear -- God's people become like God -- they put aside their wants and desires and wishes and live for Him -- they become less so that He might become more -- assuming His identity and becoming more and more like Jesus with every passing day
-- what should distinguish a person who has assumed the identity of Christ from the rest of the world? -- Paul tells us in this passage -- look back at verse 1
1. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2. then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
-- the first thing we have to do is to come to Jesus as our Lord and Savior through faith in His finished work on the cross -- in Acts 4:12 it says "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." -- in order to assume the identity of Christ, you must first believe in His name and accept Him as your Lord and Savior
-- Paul says that accepting Christ unites us with Him and that from that point on, our attitude should be the same as Him -- we should be like-minded -- we should be like Jesus -- having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose
-- a person who has assumed the identity of Christ is first and foremost characterized by their love -- love for God and love for man -- in John 13:34-35 Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-- love is a rare thing in our world today -- it is easy to love our family and friends -- on the other hand, it is hard to love our enemies -- but that is exactly what Jesus did in His life and that is exactly what we are called to do when we begin to assume the identity of Christ in our lives
-- Jesus expressed His love of all through His life and through His ministry and through His service -- and we are called to do the same -- Paul tells us here that we are to be humble and to consider others better than ouselves -- that we are to look to the interests of others -- in other words, we are to serve others and to minister to them in the Spirit and in the power of Christ
-- there is no way that we could do that on our own -- it is only by becoming like Christ -- by allowing the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and by allowing the power of Christ to give us strength -- that we will be able to love other people in this way
-- that is why Jesus said that others would recognize us as His people if we loved one another just as He had loved us - flip over to verse 14
14. Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15. so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16. as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
-- when we become like Christ -- when we assume His identity and we become less so He can become greater in our lives -- then we will shine like stars in the universe and men and women will be drawn to God through us and through our lives
IV. Closing
-- that is our goal and mission -- to assume the identity of Christ -- to reach the point where the world looks at us and doesn't see us but sees Jesus instead -- to decrease so that He might increase
-- Warren Barfield has a song called "Mistaken" -- let me share with you a few of the lyrics:
-- I shouldn't have to tell you who I am -- Cause who I am should be speaking for itself --
Cause if I am who I want to be -- Then who you see won't even be me -- Oh the more and more I disappear -- The more and more He becomes clear
--Till everyone I talk to hears His voice -- And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand -- Till everyone I meet sees Jesus in me -- This is all I wanna be -- I wanna be mistaken for Jesus -- Oh I wanna be mistaken
-- When the world looks at you and sees Jesus instead, you can know that you have truly assumed the identity of Christ -- Christ came to earth as a man -- He assumed our identity so that He might save us from our sins and so that we might become holy as He is holy -- He became like us and died on the cross in our place so that we might inherit eternal life -- so that we might assume His identity in our own lives and lead others to Him
-- as I close let me ask you a couple of questions: Have you assumed the identity of Christ in your life? -- Have you received Him as your Lord and Savior and is your life reflecting His attitude and mind in all that you do?
-- if not, then God is calling you to make a change in your life this morning -- if this sounds like you, then I would invite you to come forward as the last hymn is played and ask God to help you assume His identity today
-- let us pray
15 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Phillipians 2
1. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2. then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7. but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
9. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13. for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14. Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15. so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16. as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
-- Bronti Kelly was a young man in southern California with a promising future -- recently out of the military and still serving part-time in the Air Force Reserves, Bronti was working for a major department store as a salesman and developing quite a name for himself as a productive and valued employee
-- but one day, his wallet was stolen -- while walking down the street, someone picked his pocket and took his wallet -- Bronti didn't think much of it and when he reported it to the police, they said he was lucky -- he didn't have any credit cards in his wallet and it only had $4 cash at the time -- the only other things in there was his driver's license, social security card, and AF military card -- items that could be easily replaced
-- everything went along like normal for seven months -- and then one day Bronti was ushered into the personnel director's office and told he had been caught shoplifting by security guards in another branch of the store -- Bronti said that that was impossible -- he had been serving in the Reserves at the time -- he even had his reserve commander write a letter stating that Kelly had been serving in the military when the crime occurred -- but it didn't matter -- the store fired him because of his shoplifting conviction
-- Kelly chalked it up to a bad mistake and started applying for new jobs -- but for four long years, no one would hire him for a job -- he handed out his resume full of sales experience to hundreds of store managers in southern Califronia, but he was rejected each time
-- and on those rare occasions when he did get a job, he would be fired within days -- for no reason at all -- along the way, Bronti ended up filing for bankruptcy -- he lost his apartment -- he became homeless -- and he had no idea why
-- it turns out that the thief who stole Bronti's wallet took his driver's license and social security card and military ID card and assumed Bronti's identity -- and when this thief had been arrested for shoplifting and other crimes, he gave Bronti's identity to the authorities -- so, in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of all Bronti's prospective employers, Bronti Kelly was a thief and someone who could not be trusted -- for all intensive purposes, the thief became Bronti Kelly and ruined his life in the process
II. The Gift of Identity Theft (Phillipians 2:5-11)
-- identity theft is something that we should all be aware of and be concerned about -- it is a real and a growing problem in the United States and in the world -- identity theft has turned into a national epidemic -- over 9 million Americans like Bronti Kelly have their identity stolen every year -- and it ends up affecting them for the rest of their life
-- the dictionary defines identity theft as the deliberate assumption of another person's identity -- and, usually, when someone deliberately assumes another person's identity, we regard that as a bad thing
-- but did you know that there are times when the deliberate assumption of another person's identity is actually a good and noble situation?
-- for instance, in the Charles Dicken's book, "A Tale of Two Cities," Sydney Carlton switches places with Charles Darnay and stands before the executioner so that Charles can escape back to England with his wife Lucie -- Sydney was in love with Lucie, and because of his great love for her and his desire for her to be happy, he assumed the identity of Charles Darnay and went to his death with these words, "It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest I go to than I have every known."
-- and, of course, we just finished celebrating the time when our own identity was assumed by another -- when our God and King left His throne on high and humbled Himself and became a baby in a manger -- assuming our identity and taking upon Himself all of our characteristics -- because of His great love for us, Jesus became a man and died in our place so that we might live forever through Him
-- look back at verse 5
5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7. but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
-- have you ever really considered what Christmas is all about? -- have you ever really pondered the significance of the incarnation?
-- God became a man -- God -- the Lord God Almighty -- the One who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence -- left His glory in Heaven and humbled Himself and took on flesh and blood
-- the Creator became the creation -- He assumed our identity so that He might rescue us from bondage to sin and death and save us from the very sins that separated us from Him in the first place
-- Paul writes here that God became nothing -- He took on Himself our nature -- our form -- so that He might share in our humanity and destroy the power of sin and death in our lives
-- every time we light the candles in the sanctuary, we recognize and celebrate the fact that God became man -- the two candles on the altar represent the dual natures of Christ -- Jesus was fully man and fully God
-- hold your place here and turn over to Hebrews 2 and listen as I read verses 14-18
14. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
15. and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
16. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
17. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
18. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
-- the Bible tells us that He was made like us in every way -- He was born of a woman just like all of us -- He grew up and lived life in a community similar to ours -- He ate and He slept and He worked with His hands and He loved His family and His friends and His Father in Heaven -- He became a man and assumed our identity so that He might make atonement for our sins -- so that He could pay the penalty of sin by dying in our place on the cross
-- Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin are death -- so someone has to die in order to pay the penalty for the sins that we committed in our life -- but Romans 8:3 says that God sent Jesus in the likeness of man to be a sin offering in our place
-- He who knew no sin became sin for us -- and He went to the cross and died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins
-- look back at verse 9
9. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-- Christ became a man for a reason -- He assumed our identity so that we might assume His -- and when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior -- when we believe that He was the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins and that He rose on the third day -- and when we ask Him to come into our life and to forgive us of our sins -- we become like Christ -- we assume His righteousness and His holiness and His identity in our own lives -- so that when God looks at us, He no longer sees us and our sins, but He sees His Son standing in our place
III. Our New Identity in Christ (Phillipians 2:1-4, 14-16)
-- so, as Christians, we are called to assume the identity of Christ in our lives here on earth -- in verse 5 Paul says that our attitude -- our mind -- should be the same as that of Christ Jesus -- and 1 Peter 1:14-16 says that just as He who called us is holy, we should be holy in all we do"
-- what does it mean to be holy as God is holy? -- it means that we assume the identity of Christ -- when we are saved by Christ, we should lose our old identity and become a new person -- taking on the personality and attitude and mind of Jesus Himself
-- this is what Jesus means when He tells us that we must deny ourself and pick up our cross and follow Him daily -- this is what Jesus means when He tells us that we have to lose our life in order to save it
-- the Apostle Paul understood this call to assume the identity of Christ well -- after He was saved and turned from a murderer who persecuted Christians, he changed his name from Saul to Paul and wrote these words in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
-- Paul cast away his old identity -- his old ways and his old attitude and his old behaviors -- and he was transformed into a new creation -- into a sinner saved through grace who reflected the mind of Christ in all he did -- the old Saul no longer lived -- that identity was gone -- and the identity of Christ took its place
-- John the Baptist understood this, as well -- as Jesus began His public ministry and began teaching and preaching throughout Judea and Gallilee and people began to flock to listen to Him -- some of John's disciples got jealous -- they came to John and complained but John replied -- "He must become greater; I must become less" -- in other words, John the Baptist realized that he had to give up his ministry and his identity and accept the identity of Christ
-- I think John's words should be our motto for this morning -- in Exodus 33:16, after God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and told Moses that these were His chosen people, Moses asked God what that meant -- what would distinguish God's people from all the other people on the face of the earth?
-- I think the answer is clear -- God's people become like God -- they put aside their wants and desires and wishes and live for Him -- they become less so that He might become more -- assuming His identity and becoming more and more like Jesus with every passing day
-- what should distinguish a person who has assumed the identity of Christ from the rest of the world? -- Paul tells us in this passage -- look back at verse 1
1. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2. then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
-- the first thing we have to do is to come to Jesus as our Lord and Savior through faith in His finished work on the cross -- in Acts 4:12 it says "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." -- in order to assume the identity of Christ, you must first believe in His name and accept Him as your Lord and Savior
-- Paul says that accepting Christ unites us with Him and that from that point on, our attitude should be the same as Him -- we should be like-minded -- we should be like Jesus -- having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose
-- a person who has assumed the identity of Christ is first and foremost characterized by their love -- love for God and love for man -- in John 13:34-35 Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-- love is a rare thing in our world today -- it is easy to love our family and friends -- on the other hand, it is hard to love our enemies -- but that is exactly what Jesus did in His life and that is exactly what we are called to do when we begin to assume the identity of Christ in our lives
-- Jesus expressed His love of all through His life and through His ministry and through His service -- and we are called to do the same -- Paul tells us here that we are to be humble and to consider others better than ouselves -- that we are to look to the interests of others -- in other words, we are to serve others and to minister to them in the Spirit and in the power of Christ
-- there is no way that we could do that on our own -- it is only by becoming like Christ -- by allowing the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and by allowing the power of Christ to give us strength -- that we will be able to love other people in this way
-- that is why Jesus said that others would recognize us as His people if we loved one another just as He had loved us - flip over to verse 14
14. Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15. so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16. as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
-- when we become like Christ -- when we assume His identity and we become less so He can become greater in our lives -- then we will shine like stars in the universe and men and women will be drawn to God through us and through our lives
IV. Closing
-- that is our goal and mission -- to assume the identity of Christ -- to reach the point where the world looks at us and doesn't see us but sees Jesus instead -- to decrease so that He might increase
-- Warren Barfield has a song called "Mistaken" -- let me share with you a few of the lyrics:
-- I shouldn't have to tell you who I am -- Cause who I am should be speaking for itself --
Cause if I am who I want to be -- Then who you see won't even be me -- Oh the more and more I disappear -- The more and more He becomes clear
--Till everyone I talk to hears His voice -- And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand -- Till everyone I meet sees Jesus in me -- This is all I wanna be -- I wanna be mistaken for Jesus -- Oh I wanna be mistaken
-- When the world looks at you and sees Jesus instead, you can know that you have truly assumed the identity of Christ -- Christ came to earth as a man -- He assumed our identity so that He might save us from our sins and so that we might become holy as He is holy -- He became like us and died on the cross in our place so that we might inherit eternal life -- so that we might assume His identity in our own lives and lead others to Him
-- as I close let me ask you a couple of questions: Have you assumed the identity of Christ in your life? -- Have you received Him as your Lord and Savior and is your life reflecting His attitude and mind in all that you do?
-- if not, then God is calling you to make a change in your life this morning -- if this sounds like you, then I would invite you to come forward as the last hymn is played and ask God to help you assume His identity today
-- let us pray
Saturday, January 14, 2006
HAD AN EPIPHANY LATELY?
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
8 January 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 2
1. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2. and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3. When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6. "`But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "
7. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
-- earlier this week, a friend of mine at work was updating her calendar in her daytimer -- as Lori was looking at this week, she saw that on Friday, January 6th, it was already labeled "epiphany" -- she called out to the girl who sits next to her and asked, "Do you know what an epiphany is?" -- Becki said, "Sure, an epiphany is when an idea hits you all of a sudden or when you finally understand something that you have puzzled over" -- Lori was quiet for a minute and then she said, "Well, evidently I'm supposed to have an epiphany this Friday."
-- Lori was not aware that Epiphany is a Christian holiday that has been celebrated all the way back to the fourth century -- this day is the day that the church recognizes the coming of the magi to visit the Christ Child based on the passage that we just read from Matthew
-- epiphany is actually the climax of the Christmas season -- historically, Christmas was not celebrated on just a single day, but was a festival that lasted for a period of almost two weeks -- worship services were held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then the day after Christmas marked the first day of the celebration of the coming of the Messiah -- the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas," refers to this celebration, with the first day of Christmas occuring on December 26th and the last day -- the 12th Day -- being Epiphany -- on this day carolers would go out and sing and people would exchange gifts with one another
-- while we ordinarily exchange gifts on December 25th, a lot of other cultures continue to celebrate Christmas over this two week period -- some even giving gifts each of the 12 days just like the song relates -- others wait until Epiphany, and that is the day they exchange their gifts -- for example, everyone is aware that we have a growing Hispanic community here in south Georgia -- Hispanic Christians in the Americas call Epiphany "el Dia de los Tres Reyes" or "Three Kings Day" -- and they traditionally celebrate Three Kings Day by exchanging gifts and by sharing a King's Cake -- this is also the day that Mexican children would traditionally set out shoes filled with hay for the camels of the magi, expecting the magi to replace the hay with gifts -- very similar to our Christmas tradition involving Santa Claus
-- so, when Lori saw the calendar marked "Epiphany" for last Friday, this is what it was referring to -- but, the word "Epiphany" does have another meaning -- the same one that Becki orginally shared with her -- according to the dictionary, the term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal."
-- maybe a better way to explain it is to say an epiphany is one of those "AHA" moments -- it is one of those moments when you have this flash of inspiration or understanding or insight -- when an idea just jumps out at you -- when all of a sudden you have some great revelation of truth or some great idea that has never occurred to you before
-- a great example of this is in the cartoons -- think about the Roadrunner -- Wile E Coyote is always trying to come up with some way to catch that roadrunner -- and so you're watching as he's trying to come up with some new way to finally catch the roadrunner -- and then that light bulb goes off above his head and he has this great new idea that he's never thought of before -- that's a perfect of an epiphany
-- so, why do we use the word epiphany to recognize the day the Magi came to visit Jesus?
II. Thoughts on Story of Magi
-- well, as we said, an epiphany occurs when something is made known or revealed -- in this case, we see how good news of the coming of Christ was revealed to the Gentile world
-- the story of the Old Testament is largely the story of the nation of Israel -- it tells us how God chose Abraham as the patriarch of a great nation from which the Messiah would come -- the One who would redeem the world of the curse and save us from our sins -- and so the entire Old Testament concerns the revelation of the coming of the Messiah to the nation of Israel
-- for thousands of years, the Jews had been looking for the Christ to come -- that is why the chief priests and the teachers of the law could answer Herod's question about the site of the birth of Christ so quickly in verses 5-6 -- God had revealed to His prophets where and when and how and why the Messiah would come through over 60 individual and specific prophecies given to the nation of Israel -- but, God did not reveal the message of the coming of the Christ to the Gentile world at that time
-- so, when Jesus was born, God sent out a divine notice about the birth of His Son -- to the Jewish people He sent angels -- divine messengers -- because the Jewish people were the people of the covenant -- the fact that the Messiah would come had been revealed to them in the past, so when the time came for Jesus to be born, God pronounced the birth through angels -- in exactly the way the Jews would be expecting
-- the Gentiles, however, did not know God in this special way -- they were aware of Him, because of the great things that He had done among the Israelites and the Egyptians and the Assyrians and the Babylonians -- but, they were still a pagan people by and large -- they did not worship the One God of Israel
-- if God had sent angels to them, they might have mistaken the angels for gods and tried to worship them -- so God reached down and spoke to them in the only way they could understand -- He created a new star in the sky to announce the birth of Christ, and when the magi saw this star in the western sky, they knew it had to be a sign from God
-- Matthew tells us that when the magi saw the strange star in their western sky, they immediately began looking for the one it heralded -- they left their far off land and journeyed all the way to Israel -- making their way across the Jordan River and crossing over to Jerusalem -- to the area where the star was located -- and they began asking all those they saw, "Where is the king of the Jews? We have come to worship Him."
-- they still did not fully understand the truth of Christ -- they recognized the birth of a new King, but they did not recognize why this King was born -- but through the star, God led the Magi to the place where they would have the truth of the gospel made known -- the truth of the gospel revealed to them -- the place where they would have an epiphany that would change the Gentile world forever
-- look back at verse 9
9. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
-- during the process of searching for the newborn King of the Jews, something happened to the Magi -- God revealed to them who Jesus really was -- and when they finally found the child, Matthew tells us that they bowed down and worshiped Him and gave Him their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrhh
-- in Luke 2:32, when Mary and Joseph went to the temple to dedicate Jesus, the prophet Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said that Jesus would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles -- that is exactly what happened when the Magi worshiped Jesus in His house in Bethlehem -- they had a revelation -- an ephiphany -- and they were the first to show and reveal Jesus to the Gentile world as the incarnate Christ -- the worship of the Magi was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people and for all nations and all races and not just for the nation of Israel
-- look back at verse 12
12. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
-- in the New Revised Standard Version, it says that they left for their own country by another "road"
-- obviously, Matthey is talking about the physical route that the Magi took back to their land -- but this statement is also true in a spiritual sense as well -- when the Magi came seeking the newborn King of the Jews, they came as pagans -- as Gentiles -- unaware of the One God of Israel -- unaware of the role of the Messiah in redeeming the whole world -- unaware of the promise of a King who would save the world from its sins
-- they came searching for the King of the Jews by one road -- but when they left, they left by another road -- the road of faith in the Christ who had been sent to save them -- in John 14:6, Jesus told the disciples that He was the Way and the Truth and the Life -- He described Himself as the narrow way and the only gate -- this was the path that the Magis took when they returned to their country -- this was the epiphany of God that showed them and the entire Gentile world the way of salvation through Christ
III. Thoughts on Ongoing Revelation of God
-- so, on this first Sunday after the Epiphany, let me ask you a question -- "Have you had an epiphany lately?" -- Has God been revealing Himself to you as you have studied His Word and worshiped Him and ministered to others in His name over the past year?
-- contrary to what Lori's calendar might say, epiphanies shouldn't only occur on January 6th -- they should occur on a regular basis in your life as you grow with Christ and as you become more and more like Him
-- Have you learned anything new about Jesus lately? -- Have you experienced Jesus in a new way lately?
-- in the Experiencing God Bible Study by Henry Blackaby, Blackaby points out several truths about God that we should always keep in mind -- let me share a couple of these with you
-- first, Blackaby says that God is always at work around us -- God's work did not end when the Bible was written -- it did not end when the apostles all passed away -- God continues to work in the world today through the presence of His Holy Spirit in the church
-- I've had people ask me, "Where was God during 9-11? Where was God during the tsunami? Where was God during Hurricane Katrina?" -- God was there -- God was working in the midst of those events -- touching lives and healing hearts and forgiving sins -- God was there, ministering to people and revealing His love for them in new and wonderful ways
-- one of the signs of a maturing Christian is when we can look at the world and see the fingerprints of God all around us -- the signs of His passage and the signs of His work in the land -- these epiphanies -- these revelations of God working around us -- are invitations by God to join Him in His work
-- just this week I received a brochure from a ministry called "Walton Cares" -- this ministry got started when a Methodist Church in Walton County, FL, had an epiphany and recognized God's hand in the middle of Hurricane Katrina relief and joined Him in His work there
-- when is the last time you had an epiphany and realized a call from God to join Him in His work?
-- another truth that Blackaby points out in his study is that God still speaks to us today -- He still reveals Himself and His ways and His purposes through the Bible, through prayer, through circumstances and through the church
-- 2 Tim 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." -- God continues to reveal Himself and His ways through the Scriptures -- when was the last time you had an "AHA" moment while reading the Bible?
-- I am trying to read through the whole Bible again this year -- and even though I have read the Bible many times, it never fails that God will speak to me and reveal to me new truths as I spend time seeking His presence through the Scriptures -- even when I read familiar passages such as Psalm 23 or John 3:16, God speaks to me and I'll find myself saying, "AHA! I never knew that before -- I never saw that before" -- and I want to rush out and share that experience with others
-- that is why God speaks to us through epiphanies -- that is why He reveals Himself to us in His Word and through prayer and through circumstances and through the church -- that is why He revealed Himself to the Magi -- so that we will go forth and make God known to the world around us
IV. Closing
-- if you get nothing else out of this message this morning, I want you to get this -- God is still in the business of epiphanies -- He is still in the business of revealing Himself and His ways and His purposes to the world
-- as a Christian, you should be having epiphanies on a regular basis -- as you grow in Christ you should be learning new truths about Him and you should be filled with a desire to go forth and share these revelations of God with those around you
-- you can be a source of revelation to people who don't know the gospel -- who have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection -- through the Magi, Christ was revealed to the Gentile world -- and now God is calling us to reveal His message of love and grace and forgiveness to our world today
-- if you have not been having epiphanies -- if God has not been speaking to your heart lately -- if you have not been growing in Christ lately -- then this may be indicative of a spiritual problem
-- maybe you've been on the wrong road lately and He's calling you to leave by another road -- maybe He is calling you today to recommit your life to Him -- to make a change in your life in this new year
-- to commit to reading His Word on a daily basis -- to commit to seeking His face daily in prayer -- to commit to becoming more active in church and in serving others in His name
-- if you do this -- if you seek His face and His presence in these ways -- then God promises to respond to you -- to reveal Himself to you and to make Himself known to you in new and exciting ways
-- let us pray
8 January 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 2
1. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2. and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3. When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6. "`But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "
7. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
-- earlier this week, a friend of mine at work was updating her calendar in her daytimer -- as Lori was looking at this week, she saw that on Friday, January 6th, it was already labeled "epiphany" -- she called out to the girl who sits next to her and asked, "Do you know what an epiphany is?" -- Becki said, "Sure, an epiphany is when an idea hits you all of a sudden or when you finally understand something that you have puzzled over" -- Lori was quiet for a minute and then she said, "Well, evidently I'm supposed to have an epiphany this Friday."
-- Lori was not aware that Epiphany is a Christian holiday that has been celebrated all the way back to the fourth century -- this day is the day that the church recognizes the coming of the magi to visit the Christ Child based on the passage that we just read from Matthew
-- epiphany is actually the climax of the Christmas season -- historically, Christmas was not celebrated on just a single day, but was a festival that lasted for a period of almost two weeks -- worship services were held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then the day after Christmas marked the first day of the celebration of the coming of the Messiah -- the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas," refers to this celebration, with the first day of Christmas occuring on December 26th and the last day -- the 12th Day -- being Epiphany -- on this day carolers would go out and sing and people would exchange gifts with one another
-- while we ordinarily exchange gifts on December 25th, a lot of other cultures continue to celebrate Christmas over this two week period -- some even giving gifts each of the 12 days just like the song relates -- others wait until Epiphany, and that is the day they exchange their gifts -- for example, everyone is aware that we have a growing Hispanic community here in south Georgia -- Hispanic Christians in the Americas call Epiphany "el Dia de los Tres Reyes" or "Three Kings Day" -- and they traditionally celebrate Three Kings Day by exchanging gifts and by sharing a King's Cake -- this is also the day that Mexican children would traditionally set out shoes filled with hay for the camels of the magi, expecting the magi to replace the hay with gifts -- very similar to our Christmas tradition involving Santa Claus
-- so, when Lori saw the calendar marked "Epiphany" for last Friday, this is what it was referring to -- but, the word "Epiphany" does have another meaning -- the same one that Becki orginally shared with her -- according to the dictionary, the term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal."
-- maybe a better way to explain it is to say an epiphany is one of those "AHA" moments -- it is one of those moments when you have this flash of inspiration or understanding or insight -- when an idea just jumps out at you -- when all of a sudden you have some great revelation of truth or some great idea that has never occurred to you before
-- a great example of this is in the cartoons -- think about the Roadrunner -- Wile E Coyote is always trying to come up with some way to catch that roadrunner -- and so you're watching as he's trying to come up with some new way to finally catch the roadrunner -- and then that light bulb goes off above his head and he has this great new idea that he's never thought of before -- that's a perfect of an epiphany
-- so, why do we use the word epiphany to recognize the day the Magi came to visit Jesus?
II. Thoughts on Story of Magi
-- well, as we said, an epiphany occurs when something is made known or revealed -- in this case, we see how good news of the coming of Christ was revealed to the Gentile world
-- the story of the Old Testament is largely the story of the nation of Israel -- it tells us how God chose Abraham as the patriarch of a great nation from which the Messiah would come -- the One who would redeem the world of the curse and save us from our sins -- and so the entire Old Testament concerns the revelation of the coming of the Messiah to the nation of Israel
-- for thousands of years, the Jews had been looking for the Christ to come -- that is why the chief priests and the teachers of the law could answer Herod's question about the site of the birth of Christ so quickly in verses 5-6 -- God had revealed to His prophets where and when and how and why the Messiah would come through over 60 individual and specific prophecies given to the nation of Israel -- but, God did not reveal the message of the coming of the Christ to the Gentile world at that time
-- so, when Jesus was born, God sent out a divine notice about the birth of His Son -- to the Jewish people He sent angels -- divine messengers -- because the Jewish people were the people of the covenant -- the fact that the Messiah would come had been revealed to them in the past, so when the time came for Jesus to be born, God pronounced the birth through angels -- in exactly the way the Jews would be expecting
-- the Gentiles, however, did not know God in this special way -- they were aware of Him, because of the great things that He had done among the Israelites and the Egyptians and the Assyrians and the Babylonians -- but, they were still a pagan people by and large -- they did not worship the One God of Israel
-- if God had sent angels to them, they might have mistaken the angels for gods and tried to worship them -- so God reached down and spoke to them in the only way they could understand -- He created a new star in the sky to announce the birth of Christ, and when the magi saw this star in the western sky, they knew it had to be a sign from God
-- Matthew tells us that when the magi saw the strange star in their western sky, they immediately began looking for the one it heralded -- they left their far off land and journeyed all the way to Israel -- making their way across the Jordan River and crossing over to Jerusalem -- to the area where the star was located -- and they began asking all those they saw, "Where is the king of the Jews? We have come to worship Him."
-- they still did not fully understand the truth of Christ -- they recognized the birth of a new King, but they did not recognize why this King was born -- but through the star, God led the Magi to the place where they would have the truth of the gospel made known -- the truth of the gospel revealed to them -- the place where they would have an epiphany that would change the Gentile world forever
-- look back at verse 9
9. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
-- during the process of searching for the newborn King of the Jews, something happened to the Magi -- God revealed to them who Jesus really was -- and when they finally found the child, Matthew tells us that they bowed down and worshiped Him and gave Him their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrhh
-- in Luke 2:32, when Mary and Joseph went to the temple to dedicate Jesus, the prophet Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said that Jesus would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles -- that is exactly what happened when the Magi worshiped Jesus in His house in Bethlehem -- they had a revelation -- an ephiphany -- and they were the first to show and reveal Jesus to the Gentile world as the incarnate Christ -- the worship of the Magi was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people and for all nations and all races and not just for the nation of Israel
-- look back at verse 12
12. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
-- in the New Revised Standard Version, it says that they left for their own country by another "road"
-- obviously, Matthey is talking about the physical route that the Magi took back to their land -- but this statement is also true in a spiritual sense as well -- when the Magi came seeking the newborn King of the Jews, they came as pagans -- as Gentiles -- unaware of the One God of Israel -- unaware of the role of the Messiah in redeeming the whole world -- unaware of the promise of a King who would save the world from its sins
-- they came searching for the King of the Jews by one road -- but when they left, they left by another road -- the road of faith in the Christ who had been sent to save them -- in John 14:6, Jesus told the disciples that He was the Way and the Truth and the Life -- He described Himself as the narrow way and the only gate -- this was the path that the Magis took when they returned to their country -- this was the epiphany of God that showed them and the entire Gentile world the way of salvation through Christ
III. Thoughts on Ongoing Revelation of God
-- so, on this first Sunday after the Epiphany, let me ask you a question -- "Have you had an epiphany lately?" -- Has God been revealing Himself to you as you have studied His Word and worshiped Him and ministered to others in His name over the past year?
-- contrary to what Lori's calendar might say, epiphanies shouldn't only occur on January 6th -- they should occur on a regular basis in your life as you grow with Christ and as you become more and more like Him
-- Have you learned anything new about Jesus lately? -- Have you experienced Jesus in a new way lately?
-- in the Experiencing God Bible Study by Henry Blackaby, Blackaby points out several truths about God that we should always keep in mind -- let me share a couple of these with you
-- first, Blackaby says that God is always at work around us -- God's work did not end when the Bible was written -- it did not end when the apostles all passed away -- God continues to work in the world today through the presence of His Holy Spirit in the church
-- I've had people ask me, "Where was God during 9-11? Where was God during the tsunami? Where was God during Hurricane Katrina?" -- God was there -- God was working in the midst of those events -- touching lives and healing hearts and forgiving sins -- God was there, ministering to people and revealing His love for them in new and wonderful ways
-- one of the signs of a maturing Christian is when we can look at the world and see the fingerprints of God all around us -- the signs of His passage and the signs of His work in the land -- these epiphanies -- these revelations of God working around us -- are invitations by God to join Him in His work
-- just this week I received a brochure from a ministry called "Walton Cares" -- this ministry got started when a Methodist Church in Walton County, FL, had an epiphany and recognized God's hand in the middle of Hurricane Katrina relief and joined Him in His work there
-- when is the last time you had an epiphany and realized a call from God to join Him in His work?
-- another truth that Blackaby points out in his study is that God still speaks to us today -- He still reveals Himself and His ways and His purposes through the Bible, through prayer, through circumstances and through the church
-- 2 Tim 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." -- God continues to reveal Himself and His ways through the Scriptures -- when was the last time you had an "AHA" moment while reading the Bible?
-- I am trying to read through the whole Bible again this year -- and even though I have read the Bible many times, it never fails that God will speak to me and reveal to me new truths as I spend time seeking His presence through the Scriptures -- even when I read familiar passages such as Psalm 23 or John 3:16, God speaks to me and I'll find myself saying, "AHA! I never knew that before -- I never saw that before" -- and I want to rush out and share that experience with others
-- that is why God speaks to us through epiphanies -- that is why He reveals Himself to us in His Word and through prayer and through circumstances and through the church -- that is why He revealed Himself to the Magi -- so that we will go forth and make God known to the world around us
IV. Closing
-- if you get nothing else out of this message this morning, I want you to get this -- God is still in the business of epiphanies -- He is still in the business of revealing Himself and His ways and His purposes to the world
-- as a Christian, you should be having epiphanies on a regular basis -- as you grow in Christ you should be learning new truths about Him and you should be filled with a desire to go forth and share these revelations of God with those around you
-- you can be a source of revelation to people who don't know the gospel -- who have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection -- through the Magi, Christ was revealed to the Gentile world -- and now God is calling us to reveal His message of love and grace and forgiveness to our world today
-- if you have not been having epiphanies -- if God has not been speaking to your heart lately -- if you have not been growing in Christ lately -- then this may be indicative of a spiritual problem
-- maybe you've been on the wrong road lately and He's calling you to leave by another road -- maybe He is calling you today to recommit your life to Him -- to make a change in your life in this new year
-- to commit to reading His Word on a daily basis -- to commit to seeking His face daily in prayer -- to commit to becoming more active in church and in serving others in His name
-- if you do this -- if you seek His face and His presence in these ways -- then God promises to respond to you -- to reveal Himself to you and to make Himself known to you in new and exciting ways
-- let us pray
Monday, January 02, 2006
THE CHRISTMAS LIFE
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
1 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in your Bibles to Luke 4:14-21
14. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
15. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
17. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19. to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21. and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
-- well, Christmas is over and a new year has begun -- if you're like most people, when you got up this morning you probably sighed a sigh of relief -- finally, after weeks of shopping and parties and getting ready for Christmas, things are finally getting back to normal -- all the presents that you rushed around to get before Christmas have been unwrapped -- the trees are coming down -- kids are getting ready to go back to school -- things are getting back to the way they were -- everything is right in the world again
-- over the Christmas holidays, we watched a movie called, "Christmas with the Kranks" based on a book by John Grisham called "Skipping Christmas" -- in this movie, the daughter of the Kranks has joined the Peace Corps, so for the first time in over 20 years, they will be having Christmas all alone -- and after getting all depressed about their daughter not being there, they decide that they just didn't want to put up with all the fuss and bother of Christmas -- they were just going to skip Christmas this year and go on a cruise instead -- and throughout the movie they get criticized for being so selfish and self-centered at Christmas, a time when you should be thinking first about others and last about yourself
-- we really enjoyed that movie, but it got me to thinking -- wouldn't it be nice to not have all that hustle and bustle in our lives during the month of December? -- wouldn't it be nice to just slow down and not feel like we had to rush around during the Christmas season? -- I don't think any of us would ever really skip Christmas, but I can understand why the Kranks did what they did in the movie
-- and, as I was thinking about it, don't we act just like the Kranks when we breathe a sigh of relief after Christmas and rejoice that life is back to normal? -- I know we're not skipping Christmas, but when we put Christmas behind us and forget about it until next year, isn't that being a little selfish on our part? -- isn't that forgetting why we celebrate Christmas in the first place?
-- Christmas -- the coming of the Messiah to earth -- is the hope of salvation and restoration --- and it is something that all of creation has been waiting for and longing for and anticipating since the fall in the Garden of Eden -- C.S. Lewis captured this longing for Christmas in the children's book, "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" -- when Lucy Pevensie meets the faun Tumnus in Narnia and he is telling her about the fun the fauns used to have dancing in the spring, she exclaims, "Why, winter won't last forever -- first there will be Christmas and then spring will come again" -- to which he replies, "Oh no, it's always winter here and never Christmas" -- Tumnus longed for Christmas to come, because it would bring redemption and restoration to the land of Narnia
-- Christmas did just that for us -- Christmas is the time when we celebrate the fact that God loved us so much that He sent His Son -- at great price -- to come to earth and to be born as a baby and to live as a man and to die for us on the cross -- and because of this, the last thing we should is to rejoice that Christmas is over and that life is getting back to normal -- life should never be normal after Christmas -- life should never be normal after Christ comes
-- as Christians, we are called to live a Christmas life 24/7 -- every single day of our lives -- rejoicing in the fact that winter is over, Christmas has come -- Christ has come -- and our sins have been forgiven through His atoning death on the cross
-- and, as Christians, we are called to show the world a new way of living -- we are called to tell others about the good news of the gospel and to lead others in this world out of winter and into the glorious sunlight of the Father's love
II. Scripture Lesson -- Luke 4:14-21
-- in this passage from Luke, we see the start of Jesus' ministry here on earth -- and we are reminded that the story of Christmas didn't end in a manger on December 25th, but continues to this day through the work of Christ in our lives and in the lives of those around us
-- to give you the context of this passage, Jesus has just been baptized by John in the Jordan River and the Spirit of the Lord has descended upon Him like a dove and the Father has proclaimed Jesus as His Son -- Jesus then went into the desert where He was tempted by the devil for 40 days -- and now, He has returned from His battle with the devil and is starting His public ministry -- in other words, He is fulfilling the reason for Christmas
-- look back at verse 14 and let's look at this passage in greater detail
-- 14. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
15. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
-- When the power of God comes, the Word of God spreads through the land -- when Christmas comes, the Word of God should spread through the land
-- after Jesus was born, the angels and the shepherds and the magi heralded the birth of the Savior -- as we read from the Christmas story on Christmas morning, the angels first came and announced to the shepherds the birth of the Messiah -- then, once the shepherds saw Him, they spread the word about the child and all who heard what the shepherds had said were amazed
-- later, when the Magi were making their way to Bethlehem following the star of Christmas to find the Messiah -- they, too, spread the word of the glory of Christmas to all who they came into contact with -- both those in low positions -- such as shepherds and others on the road -- and those in high positions, such as King Herod
-- at Christmas, we sing, "Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ was born" -- that command does not end on Christmas Day -- we are called to go and tell all about the Savior who was born on Christmas and what that means for the world -- we are called to go and tell them that Christmas has come and that means that they can live a new life in Christ
-- every year at Christmas, we make a point of making sure and telling people "Merry Christmas" and making sure that everyone knows the reason for the season -- but, the message of the Bible is that Christmas doesn't end on Christmas day -- therefore, we are called to go and spread the word of Christ throughout the year
-- let me ask you a question: How many people have you told about Jesus since Christmas ended last week? -- for that matter, how many people did you tell about Jesus last year?
-- I want to issue a challenge for you this new year -- make it a point to tell at least one person a month -- just one a month -- just twelve people over the course of an entire year -- about Jesus or about what He is doing in your life -- let them know that a Savior has come to save them from their sins -- let them know that Christmas should be celebrated all year long and not just in December
-- just this week, we had to turn in our evangelism reports to the Conference to let them know how many people joined our church this year on profession of faith -- we had to report that neither church on this charge had a single profession of faith this year -- we need to be more proactive in getting out and sharing the good news of Christ with our friends and family
-- starting next Sunday night, I am going to be teaching classes on evangelism at Naylor at 6:30 pm -- we'll be going over several different techniques and different ways to do evangelism -- I don't want to make sharing your faith a formula, but if you need some help in overcoming any obstacles that you might have in telling others about Jesus, then I would encourage you to attend
-- if not that, then at Wright's Chapel -- starting a new Bible study called Disciple -- it is a journey through the New Testament -- 8 weeks of study -- a lot of people claim that they can't witness to others because they don't know the Bible well enough? -- this is an 8-week class that will help you get an overview of the New Testament so that you can use what you learned to help tell others about Christ
-- look at verse 16
16. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
17. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
-- here we see Jesus, coming back from being tempted in the desert by Satan for 40 days, just starting his ministry on earth -- and he goes home to Nazareth -- apparently, He has already moved to Capernaeum where He is probably living in the house of Peter -- even before He started His ministry, Jesus has been doing miracles in that area -- but when He leaves the desert, freshly anointed by the Holy Spirit, to start His ministry and to start telling people why He came, He starts at home -- in His home church and with His family and friends
-- you don't have to go to foreign lands to witness to others -- I praise God for missionaires who give their lives going to other countries and other cultures and sharing the good news of Christ -- I thank God for the calling on their lives -- but not everyone has is called to be a missionary -- the important thing is to be faithful to Christ's call to tell others about Him where ever you are and at all times of the year
-- when Christ comes into your life, He sends the Holy Spirit to live in your heart -- and the Holy Spirit works through us -- gifting us with spiritual gifts and talents and calling us into ministry -- some people are called to be missionaries in far off lands -- others are called to just witness in the place where they were raised
-- verse 18
18. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19. to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
-- in these two verses, Jesus tells us the meaning of Christmas and how the message of Christmas should continue past Christmas day
-- the first thing He points out is that the Holy Spirit came with Christmas -- at first, the Holy Spirit rested upon Jesus and empowered His ministry on earth -- but later, after His ascension, Christ sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to fill the hearts and lives of His believers with power -- when you are saved and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to tranform your life into the image of Christ -- and this means that you have the power of the risen Christ within you to help you as you spread the news about the Christmas Savior at all times of the year
-- secondly, Christ points out that He came to preach the good news -- the gospel message -- to the poor -- Jesus doesn't mean here the poor financially, but the poor in Spirit -- in other words, to sinners -- the good news that Jesus preached is that through repentance of their sins and through accepting His atoning death on the cross, they would receive forgiveness for their sins and eternal life with Him
-- it is through the preaching and the receiving of the gospel that the prisoners are set free, the eyes of the blind are opened, and the oppressed are liberated -- the Bible tells us that eveyone who is a sinner is held in slavery and bondage to sin and death and that they are blinded to the truth of the gospel -- but, as the word of God is preached and made manifest through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ proclaimed that the eyes of the prisoners would be opened so that they would receive the good news and would be set free from their bondage to sin and death
-- this is the message that we are called to share with others -- not just at Christmas -- but all throughout the year
-- verse 20
20. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21. and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
-- when Jesus finished speaking and handed the scripture roll back to the attendant, every eye in the place was upon him -- can you imagine what it must have been like to have Jesus read the scriptures? -- for Him to proclaim in His own voice the words that He had inspired the prophet Isaiah to write a thousand years before -- the word of God is powerful and it had the attention of all who heard Him speak
-- when we go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and tell others about living a Christmas life -- when we go out and tell them that Christmas doesn't end on December 25th but continues throughout eternity -- then they can't help but be influenced by our message -- even if we can't see a change in them -- even if we can't see any visible response, every time the word of God is spoken -- evey time the testimony of God or the testimony of a life changed by God is given -- power goes forth and people pay attention
-- these verses reminds me of the old E.F. Hutton commercials -- remember the slogan from those commercials -- "when E.F. Hutton speaks, everyone listens" -- that is exactly the picture that we have in this passage -- when Jesus stopped speaking -- every eye was on Him -- every ear was straining to hear what would be said next -- every heart waiting in anticipation for the Messiah to speak
-- and then He makes that definitive statement -- "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." -- Do you understand what He was saying there? -- He said those same words on the cross, just in a different way -- "It is finished" -- the power of sin over man is destroyed -- the curse is lifted from the earth -- the prisoners and the oppressed are set free -- the blind now see -- and the power of the Holy Spirit is upon mankind -- God is with you -- I am here -- the scriptures are fulfilled
-- it is apparent from the context that Jesus had more to say on that day -- the verse says, "he began by saying" -- in that day, much like today, a scripture would be read and then the reader would expound on that passage and would preach and teach as God led him -- so Jesus probably had a lot more to say than what is recorded here -- but neither Luke nor Matthew nor Mark recorded the rest of Jesus' sermon -- I think it is probaby because He had said it all when He said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." -- there was nothing more to say -- there was nothing more that needed to be said
-- what a powerful statement -- what a pronouncement of power and majesty and glory -- "the scripture is fulfilled" -- "it is finished" -- winter is over -- Christmas has come -- now receive the gifts that I have brought and live the life that I have called you to live -- and go and tell others about Me
III. Closing
-- it is o.k. to breathe a sigh of relief that the busy-ness of Christmas is past us -- we can get worn out from the hustle and bustle of Christmas and just need a break -- but it's not o.k. to forget Christmas after the tree is taken down and the presents are unwrapped
-- we need to always remember that Christmas should be never-ending -- that the message of Christmas needs to continue to go forth and bring hope and life and love to a world trapped in the winter of their sin
-- as Christians, we are the bearers of the name of Christ -- as Christians, we are the bearers of the message of Christ -- we need to make an effort this year to go forth and spread the good news of Christmas to our family and friends
-- Christ's work did not end in the manger at Bethlehem -- and our work at spreading the gospel message should not end at Christmas
-- I want to encourage you to take my challenge and tell just one person a month about Jesus and about what He has done in your life -- will you do that this year?
-- let us pray
1 January 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in your Bibles to Luke 4:14-21
14. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
15. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
17. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19. to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21. and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
-- well, Christmas is over and a new year has begun -- if you're like most people, when you got up this morning you probably sighed a sigh of relief -- finally, after weeks of shopping and parties and getting ready for Christmas, things are finally getting back to normal -- all the presents that you rushed around to get before Christmas have been unwrapped -- the trees are coming down -- kids are getting ready to go back to school -- things are getting back to the way they were -- everything is right in the world again
-- over the Christmas holidays, we watched a movie called, "Christmas with the Kranks" based on a book by John Grisham called "Skipping Christmas" -- in this movie, the daughter of the Kranks has joined the Peace Corps, so for the first time in over 20 years, they will be having Christmas all alone -- and after getting all depressed about their daughter not being there, they decide that they just didn't want to put up with all the fuss and bother of Christmas -- they were just going to skip Christmas this year and go on a cruise instead -- and throughout the movie they get criticized for being so selfish and self-centered at Christmas, a time when you should be thinking first about others and last about yourself
-- we really enjoyed that movie, but it got me to thinking -- wouldn't it be nice to not have all that hustle and bustle in our lives during the month of December? -- wouldn't it be nice to just slow down and not feel like we had to rush around during the Christmas season? -- I don't think any of us would ever really skip Christmas, but I can understand why the Kranks did what they did in the movie
-- and, as I was thinking about it, don't we act just like the Kranks when we breathe a sigh of relief after Christmas and rejoice that life is back to normal? -- I know we're not skipping Christmas, but when we put Christmas behind us and forget about it until next year, isn't that being a little selfish on our part? -- isn't that forgetting why we celebrate Christmas in the first place?
-- Christmas -- the coming of the Messiah to earth -- is the hope of salvation and restoration --- and it is something that all of creation has been waiting for and longing for and anticipating since the fall in the Garden of Eden -- C.S. Lewis captured this longing for Christmas in the children's book, "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" -- when Lucy Pevensie meets the faun Tumnus in Narnia and he is telling her about the fun the fauns used to have dancing in the spring, she exclaims, "Why, winter won't last forever -- first there will be Christmas and then spring will come again" -- to which he replies, "Oh no, it's always winter here and never Christmas" -- Tumnus longed for Christmas to come, because it would bring redemption and restoration to the land of Narnia
-- Christmas did just that for us -- Christmas is the time when we celebrate the fact that God loved us so much that He sent His Son -- at great price -- to come to earth and to be born as a baby and to live as a man and to die for us on the cross -- and because of this, the last thing we should is to rejoice that Christmas is over and that life is getting back to normal -- life should never be normal after Christmas -- life should never be normal after Christ comes
-- as Christians, we are called to live a Christmas life 24/7 -- every single day of our lives -- rejoicing in the fact that winter is over, Christmas has come -- Christ has come -- and our sins have been forgiven through His atoning death on the cross
-- and, as Christians, we are called to show the world a new way of living -- we are called to tell others about the good news of the gospel and to lead others in this world out of winter and into the glorious sunlight of the Father's love
II. Scripture Lesson -- Luke 4:14-21
-- in this passage from Luke, we see the start of Jesus' ministry here on earth -- and we are reminded that the story of Christmas didn't end in a manger on December 25th, but continues to this day through the work of Christ in our lives and in the lives of those around us
-- to give you the context of this passage, Jesus has just been baptized by John in the Jordan River and the Spirit of the Lord has descended upon Him like a dove and the Father has proclaimed Jesus as His Son -- Jesus then went into the desert where He was tempted by the devil for 40 days -- and now, He has returned from His battle with the devil and is starting His public ministry -- in other words, He is fulfilling the reason for Christmas
-- look back at verse 14 and let's look at this passage in greater detail
-- 14. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
15. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
-- When the power of God comes, the Word of God spreads through the land -- when Christmas comes, the Word of God should spread through the land
-- after Jesus was born, the angels and the shepherds and the magi heralded the birth of the Savior -- as we read from the Christmas story on Christmas morning, the angels first came and announced to the shepherds the birth of the Messiah -- then, once the shepherds saw Him, they spread the word about the child and all who heard what the shepherds had said were amazed
-- later, when the Magi were making their way to Bethlehem following the star of Christmas to find the Messiah -- they, too, spread the word of the glory of Christmas to all who they came into contact with -- both those in low positions -- such as shepherds and others on the road -- and those in high positions, such as King Herod
-- at Christmas, we sing, "Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ was born" -- that command does not end on Christmas Day -- we are called to go and tell all about the Savior who was born on Christmas and what that means for the world -- we are called to go and tell them that Christmas has come and that means that they can live a new life in Christ
-- every year at Christmas, we make a point of making sure and telling people "Merry Christmas" and making sure that everyone knows the reason for the season -- but, the message of the Bible is that Christmas doesn't end on Christmas day -- therefore, we are called to go and spread the word of Christ throughout the year
-- let me ask you a question: How many people have you told about Jesus since Christmas ended last week? -- for that matter, how many people did you tell about Jesus last year?
-- I want to issue a challenge for you this new year -- make it a point to tell at least one person a month -- just one a month -- just twelve people over the course of an entire year -- about Jesus or about what He is doing in your life -- let them know that a Savior has come to save them from their sins -- let them know that Christmas should be celebrated all year long and not just in December
-- just this week, we had to turn in our evangelism reports to the Conference to let them know how many people joined our church this year on profession of faith -- we had to report that neither church on this charge had a single profession of faith this year -- we need to be more proactive in getting out and sharing the good news of Christ with our friends and family
-- starting next Sunday night, I am going to be teaching classes on evangelism at Naylor at 6:30 pm -- we'll be going over several different techniques and different ways to do evangelism -- I don't want to make sharing your faith a formula, but if you need some help in overcoming any obstacles that you might have in telling others about Jesus, then I would encourage you to attend
-- if not that, then at Wright's Chapel -- starting a new Bible study called Disciple -- it is a journey through the New Testament -- 8 weeks of study -- a lot of people claim that they can't witness to others because they don't know the Bible well enough? -- this is an 8-week class that will help you get an overview of the New Testament so that you can use what you learned to help tell others about Christ
-- look at verse 16
16. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
17. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
-- here we see Jesus, coming back from being tempted in the desert by Satan for 40 days, just starting his ministry on earth -- and he goes home to Nazareth -- apparently, He has already moved to Capernaeum where He is probably living in the house of Peter -- even before He started His ministry, Jesus has been doing miracles in that area -- but when He leaves the desert, freshly anointed by the Holy Spirit, to start His ministry and to start telling people why He came, He starts at home -- in His home church and with His family and friends
-- you don't have to go to foreign lands to witness to others -- I praise God for missionaires who give their lives going to other countries and other cultures and sharing the good news of Christ -- I thank God for the calling on their lives -- but not everyone has is called to be a missionary -- the important thing is to be faithful to Christ's call to tell others about Him where ever you are and at all times of the year
-- when Christ comes into your life, He sends the Holy Spirit to live in your heart -- and the Holy Spirit works through us -- gifting us with spiritual gifts and talents and calling us into ministry -- some people are called to be missionaries in far off lands -- others are called to just witness in the place where they were raised
-- verse 18
18. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19. to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
-- in these two verses, Jesus tells us the meaning of Christmas and how the message of Christmas should continue past Christmas day
-- the first thing He points out is that the Holy Spirit came with Christmas -- at first, the Holy Spirit rested upon Jesus and empowered His ministry on earth -- but later, after His ascension, Christ sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to fill the hearts and lives of His believers with power -- when you are saved and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to tranform your life into the image of Christ -- and this means that you have the power of the risen Christ within you to help you as you spread the news about the Christmas Savior at all times of the year
-- secondly, Christ points out that He came to preach the good news -- the gospel message -- to the poor -- Jesus doesn't mean here the poor financially, but the poor in Spirit -- in other words, to sinners -- the good news that Jesus preached is that through repentance of their sins and through accepting His atoning death on the cross, they would receive forgiveness for their sins and eternal life with Him
-- it is through the preaching and the receiving of the gospel that the prisoners are set free, the eyes of the blind are opened, and the oppressed are liberated -- the Bible tells us that eveyone who is a sinner is held in slavery and bondage to sin and death and that they are blinded to the truth of the gospel -- but, as the word of God is preached and made manifest through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ proclaimed that the eyes of the prisoners would be opened so that they would receive the good news and would be set free from their bondage to sin and death
-- this is the message that we are called to share with others -- not just at Christmas -- but all throughout the year
-- verse 20
20. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21. and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
-- when Jesus finished speaking and handed the scripture roll back to the attendant, every eye in the place was upon him -- can you imagine what it must have been like to have Jesus read the scriptures? -- for Him to proclaim in His own voice the words that He had inspired the prophet Isaiah to write a thousand years before -- the word of God is powerful and it had the attention of all who heard Him speak
-- when we go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and tell others about living a Christmas life -- when we go out and tell them that Christmas doesn't end on December 25th but continues throughout eternity -- then they can't help but be influenced by our message -- even if we can't see a change in them -- even if we can't see any visible response, every time the word of God is spoken -- evey time the testimony of God or the testimony of a life changed by God is given -- power goes forth and people pay attention
-- these verses reminds me of the old E.F. Hutton commercials -- remember the slogan from those commercials -- "when E.F. Hutton speaks, everyone listens" -- that is exactly the picture that we have in this passage -- when Jesus stopped speaking -- every eye was on Him -- every ear was straining to hear what would be said next -- every heart waiting in anticipation for the Messiah to speak
-- and then He makes that definitive statement -- "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." -- Do you understand what He was saying there? -- He said those same words on the cross, just in a different way -- "It is finished" -- the power of sin over man is destroyed -- the curse is lifted from the earth -- the prisoners and the oppressed are set free -- the blind now see -- and the power of the Holy Spirit is upon mankind -- God is with you -- I am here -- the scriptures are fulfilled
-- it is apparent from the context that Jesus had more to say on that day -- the verse says, "he began by saying" -- in that day, much like today, a scripture would be read and then the reader would expound on that passage and would preach and teach as God led him -- so Jesus probably had a lot more to say than what is recorded here -- but neither Luke nor Matthew nor Mark recorded the rest of Jesus' sermon -- I think it is probaby because He had said it all when He said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." -- there was nothing more to say -- there was nothing more that needed to be said
-- what a powerful statement -- what a pronouncement of power and majesty and glory -- "the scripture is fulfilled" -- "it is finished" -- winter is over -- Christmas has come -- now receive the gifts that I have brought and live the life that I have called you to live -- and go and tell others about Me
III. Closing
-- it is o.k. to breathe a sigh of relief that the busy-ness of Christmas is past us -- we can get worn out from the hustle and bustle of Christmas and just need a break -- but it's not o.k. to forget Christmas after the tree is taken down and the presents are unwrapped
-- we need to always remember that Christmas should be never-ending -- that the message of Christmas needs to continue to go forth and bring hope and life and love to a world trapped in the winter of their sin
-- as Christians, we are the bearers of the name of Christ -- as Christians, we are the bearers of the message of Christ -- we need to make an effort this year to go forth and spread the good news of Christmas to our family and friends
-- Christ's work did not end in the manger at Bethlehem -- and our work at spreading the gospel message should not end at Christmas
-- I want to encourage you to take my challenge and tell just one person a month about Jesus and about what He has done in your life -- will you do that this year?
-- let us pray
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)