2 September 2012
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Titus 2:11-14
Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
-- this morning, we are finishing up our series on pursuing holiness -- for the last eight weeks, we have looked at the fruit of the Spirit that Paul listed for us in Galatians 5:22-23 -- it's kind of like we were given this wonderful fruit basket, filled with fruit of all different kinds just for us to take out and enjoy -- and we've gone through the basket -- pulling out a different fruit every week
-- but now we're at the bottom of the basket, and the only thing left is that one fruit that we really don't want -- that one fruit that we wish God had never put in the basket to start with -- of course, I'm talking about self-control
-- you know, we've enjoyed the other fruit -- we've liked taking them out and partaking of them -- who doesn't want more joy and peace in their lives -- no one has a problem with being more kind or gentle or good -- more loving -- more patient -- more faithful -- but self-control? -- that doesn't even look like it belongs in the basket to start with
-- in the Spirit's fruit basket, self-control is the lemon -- it's that fruit that people put in because it looks good in the basket -- it adds color -- it adds variety -- but no one really expects you to eat it, do they? -- no one really expects you to take it out and do something with it, do they?
-- at first glance, self-control seems like bitter fruit in the Spirit's basket -- but out of all the fruit that we have looked at, this is the one that determines our success as men and women of Christ -- this is the one that determines whether we will become mature Christians -- this is the one that determines if we will truly become holy as God is holy
II. The Problem with a Lack of Self-Control
-- we have a problem with self-control in our culture today -- we just can't seem to control ourselves or our actions -- we just don't seem capable of saying the word, "No"
-- it's a disease -- an epidemic -- that is insidious and infectious
-- for instance, because of our inability to control ourselves and our actions -- because of our inability to say "No" to anyone or anything, we find ourselves busier than ever before -- we find every minute of every day planned out in our lives so much that we don't have time for ourselves or our God -- we run around from place to place -- staying busy and doing things -- running the rat-race without ever considering the cost
-- because of microwaves and gas grills that cook our food in a fraction of the time -- because of instant news and movies on demand -- because of fast food drive-thru's and 24-hour megastores, we've become accustomed to getting what we want at the moment we want it -- instant gratification for all our wants and desires -- but, it's left us wounded and weary
-- everyone here knows about our country's current economic condition -- many of us have been affected by it in one way or the other -- you can blame the last administration -- you can blame the current administration -- you can blame your politician of choice -- you can blame the war or global warming or whatever you choose -- but, the bottom-line is that this crisis was initially caused because of a lack of self-control -- it was caused because we just couldn't say, "No."
-- we wanted bigger and more expensive houses, but we didn't want to wait -- so when our banks offered us sub-prime mortgages and dangled the keys in front of us, we said "Yes," instead of "No"
-- when we were faced with a plethora of choices and new technologies lining the shelves of our stores, we didn't want to wait to get them, and so we said, "Yes," to higher and higher interest rates on credit cards -- it was always "Yes" and never "No"
-- "Yes" to car loans for cars we couldn't afford -- "Yes" to new and bigger homes -- "Yes" to that next appointment that over-filled our calendar -- "Yes" to that coworker that flirted just a little too much -- "Yes" to that extra drink -- "Yes" to that recreational drug -- "Yes" to that e-mail that promised sexual gratification without any strings -- "Yes" to that extra dessert -- "Yes" to just one more helping -- "Yes, Yes, Yes"
-- and so we talk today in our culture and in our media about the mortgage crisis -- the marriage crisis -- the credit crisis -- the obesity crisis -- the pornography crisis -- all because we refuse to exert any self-control over our actions -- all because we refuse to say "No"
-- actually, when you think about it, it's kind of ironic that we live our lives like this -- our culture is so focused on success -- we are so focused on getting ahead and being successful in life that you would think we'd do whatever it took to get there -- and do you know what experts say the key indicator of future success is? -- self-control
-- anyone in here ever heard of the marshmallow test? -- back in the 1960s, Walter Mischel tested a group of four-year-old children for self control -- he gave each kid a marshmallow and he told them that they could eat it anytime they want -- but if they didn't eat it right away and waited 15 minutes for him to come back, they would get another marshmallow when he came -- so Mischel left the room and left the kids alone at the table with their marshmallow
-- and they tried so hard -- they fidgeted -- they looked at the marshmallow -- they looked at the clock -- and some of them just couldn't stand it -- they said, "Yes" and just dove in and ate it right away -- others made it the whole 15 minutes and then got their reward of another marshmallow when Mischel came back
-- Mischel then followed this group of kids for the next few decades -- and what he discovered was that the kids who said, "No" -- the kids who exerted self-control and accepted delayed gratification in this marshmallow test did better in life -- they were more successful -- as a whole, their SAT scores were higher -- the boys had fewer problems with authorities and with getting in trouble -- the girls were less likely to get pregnant
-- a few years ago, Dr. Roy Baumeister of Case Western Reserve University repeated this study -- and his results were the same -- he concluded that self-control predicts success in life over a very long time -- in an interview on 20-20, he said, "If we're concerned about raising children to be successful and healthy and happy, forget about self-esteem. Concentrate on self-control."
III. Scripture Lesson (Titus 2:11-14)
-- while Dr. Baumeister was talking about secular success, we could say the same thing about the spiritual realm -- if we want our spiritual lives to be successful, healthy, and happy -- if we want to be mature in our walk with Christ -- then we must concentrate on self-control -- we have to learn to say "No" to some things so that we can say "Yes" to better things
-- that's exactly the message that Paul was giving to his disciple Titus in this passage -- look back at verse 11 with me and let's see what we can learn from Paul's instructions to Titus
-- verse 11
Titus 2:11 (NIV)
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
-- the word salvation literally means saved -- we tend to think of it in the context of being saved from our sins -- but it means more than that -- it also means being saved from the control of sin and death -- being saved from this world and the kingdom of the world -- and being saved to live out our lives as members of God's kingdom
-- that's the thing we need to keep in mind as we look at self-control -- this is a fruit of the Spirit -- this is a God thing
-- as the Bible uses this term, self-control does not mean will-power -- the word "self" here doesn't refer to our own will or our own power -- it refers to the flesh -- to what Paul calls in Romans, "the old man"
-- so, the word self-control is a little misleading in today's context -- self-control isn't our ability to control ourselves -- it's not something we can do on our own
-- in a literal sense, self-control means surrender - it means allowing the grace of God to control us -- to control our self -- our flesh -- so that we live for the Spirit and not for us
-- in other words, on our own we just seem incapable of saying "No" -- we just don't have the power to do that -- but as we develop and grow this fruit of the Spirit in our lives -- as we let the Holy Spirit work within us -- God gives us the ability to say "No" to the things of the world -- He gives us the power and He expects us to use this power to exert control over our self
-- verse 12-13
12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
-- "for the grace of God" -- God's gift -- God's power and blessing given to us so that we might experience salvation
-- it's the divine marshmallow test
-- God's grace -- His Spirit within us -- teaches us to say "No" to the world -- to say "No" to ungodliness -- to say "No" to sin -- because we are waiting for a greater reward
-- God's grace teaches us that if we wait just a short while that we will be rewarded with an even greater blessing
-- notice what Paul says here to Titus -- he's not telling Titus to say "No" to everything -- that's not what God wants -- Jesus said that He came that we might have life and have it to the full -- but having a mortgage or a car payment that we can't pay -- having a calendar that's busting at the seams -- having sin and ungodliness running rampant is not what Jesus meant by having a full life
-- Jesus meant a life filled with the goodness that comes only from Him -- with the things that yield eternal value
-- ask yourself this question: what is truly important? -- at the end of your life -- when you stop and take account of all that you have -- of all that you have done -- of all that you have experienced -- what is going to be the most important? -- what are you going to take with you?
-- when you're lying on your death bed, having that expensive house is just not going to mean a whole lot -- having that shiny new car in the drive isn't going to matter -- having the latest gadgets or having just seen the hottest new movie or the hottest new show isn't going to count for much
-- the most important things of life aren't really things at all -- they are family and friends that you love and who love you -- they are the lives of people that you have touched along the way -- they are the way you lived and carried yourself in this world -- your character -- your integrity -- your legacy
-- so, Paul says here, "Say 'No,' to worldly passions -- say 'no' to ungodliness -- say 'no' to things that are keeping you from the important things of life"
-- self-control isn't just about saying "no" -- it's more about saying "Yes" to the right things
-- verse 14
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good
-- Paul reminds us again right here that this is the reason Jesus came -- this is the reason Jesus died on the cross -- He died to redeem us -- to buy us back from the world and from the broken system and value of the world -- to give us His power to say "No" to the things that lead to death -- to purify us and make us holy -- to separate us out from the world and to make us part of His kingdom -- a people who are eager to do good
-- I really like the KJV translation of this verse -- it says that Jesus came to "purify unto himself a peculiar people" -- as Christians, we are nothing if we're not peculiar -- that means we're different from those around us
-- we don't follow their pattern -- we don't follow their lead -- we don't have to give in to the rat-race -- we don't have to trade our clunkers for new cars -- we don't have to go in debt up to our ears to keep up with the Jones' -- we don't have to trade our integrity and character for instant gratification that never really satisfies
-- I'm a big Dave Ramsey fan -- the Christian financial guru -- and I like what Dave tells people when he's trying to get them to change the way they're living their lives financially -- he says, "We live different from everybody else now so that we can live different from everybody else later"
-- that is wise advise -- not just financially, but spiritually, as well -- in other words, we don't follow the world because their path leads to destruction -- we follow Christ and live for Him because His path leads to a different and better life
IV. Closing
-- self-control -- the lemon in the Spirit's fruit basket -- but, you know what you can do with lemons, don't you? -- make lemonade
-- we need to learn to develop self-control in our lives -- we all do -- there are certainly areas in your life, just like mine, where we need to rely on the Spirit's power to control our appetites and our desires
-- for some of us it may be time management -- for others it might be our spending -- for others, our diet -- perhaps for some, it is a nagging sin or other ungodly behavior that is controlling your life
-- perhaps you've tried to gain control of your life in the past -- that's really what we do every New Year's Day when we make resolutions -- but, if you're like most of us, you probably failed -- because you were relying on your own strength -- your self -- instead of God's strength
--- the good thing about self-control is that it can be learned and applied in everyone's life -- studies have shown that kids can be taught patience -- they can be taught to wait for a reward -- they can be taught to say "No" now so they can say "Yes" to something better later
-- so, how do we develop self-control in our lives?
-- well, since this is a fruit of the Spirit, the first thing we have to do is plant the seed and water it and let it start to grow -- remember, the Bible tells us to trust and obey -- obedience follows faith -- what we do is always a reflection of what we believe
-- we start by believing that saying "No" is possible -- if we can get in our head the idea that "No" is the right answer most of the time, then we have won the battle
-- the first step, then, is to examine our wants and our wishes -- is this something that is Godly? -- is this something that will build us up and help us be more like Christ? -- or is this something that will take away from our relationship with Him or our relationship with our family?
-- for instance, ask yourself, "If I buy this car -- this CD -- this stereo -- this whatever -- what will it take to pay the price? -- Will I have to work more and longer to pay for it? -- Will it take time away from my family? -- Will it take time away from my God? -- Will this become the focus of my life, at least for a little while?
-- simply asking those questions is the first step in self-control -- if you don't get anything else from this sermon, get this -- "Yes" is not always the answer
-- next, acknowledge that you are responsible for your choice -- we have free will -- God is not going to make the choice for us -- we can choose to say "Yes" and follow the world or we can choose to say "No" and follow God -- that choice is up to us and no one else
-- Flip Wilson's Geraldine used to say, "The devil made me do it" -- but that's not true -- yes, the devil and the world and our own flesh influence us and lead us to make the wrong choice, but ultimately, it is you and me that make that decision -- acknowledge that you are responsible for the choices you make
-- third, once you have decided that "No" is possible and that "No" is your choice, don't go it alone -- ask God to give you His strength to move forward with the right choice -- this is where a lot of us fail -- we try to move forward in our own strength -- we try to use will-power and self-force -- but the Bible says self-control is a fruit of the Spirit -- it only comes through the power of God manifested in our lives -- we have to ask God to give us His grace and the power to say "No" and mean it
-- finally, we have to learn to take baby steps -- you can't overcome a lifetime of saying "Yes" in one moment -- just like you learned to walk -- taking just one step at a time and picking yourself up when you fell -- you have to do the same thing with self-control
-- and know this, you are going to fall and fail -- you're going to find yourself giving again and again to the same old want and wish -- but, as you learn to rely on the Holy Spirit -- as you learn to say "No" in His strength -- you should experience more and more victories in your life
-- remember that holiness is a process -- it's not an instantaneous event -- it is something that you have to work at -- the goal is to move forward towards Christ rather than moving backwards towards the world -- it's o.k. to fall and fail so long as you pick yourself up and move forward again -- and over a lifetime of trusting God in this way, you will see His image reflected in your own
-- in the movie, "The Family Man" with Nicolas Cage there's this scene where Nicolas Cage walks into a store to get a cup of coffee -- the girl in front of him buys something that costs ninety-nine cents -- she hands the clerk a dollar
-- the clerk takes nine dollars out of the cash register and counts it out to her -- giving her way too much change -- she sees that he is handing her too much money, yet she picks it up and puts it in her pocket without saying a word
-- as she is walking out the door, the clerk stops her to give her another chance -- he asks her if there is anything else she needs -- she pauses for a moment and shakes her head no and walks out
-- the clerk looks over at Nicolas Cage, and says, 'Did you see that? She was willing to sell her character for nine dollars. Nine dollars!'"
-- what is the price of your character? -- is it saying "Yes" to every sin and worldly passion that comes your way? -- is it having an overflowing day planner -- a stack of unpaid bills -- secret sins that you hide from the world?
-- every day, the Holy Spirit gives us the chance to turn around and do the right thing -- every day, the Holy Spirit tells us, "If you'll just say 'No,' I'll give you the power to move on" -- every day, God calls us control our selves so that we might live for Him
-- the choice is up to us -- the marshmallow is sitting on the table in front of us -- we can have it now, but God has told us that if we wait just a little while longer, that an even greater reward awaits
-- what are you going to do?
-- let's pray
26 August 2012
I. Introduction -- turn in Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 2:1-121 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV) 1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. -- have you ever thought about how the meaning of common words has changed over time? -- not long ago I began a quest to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning novels -- and, as I have been going through that challenge, I have had occasion to read writers who were popular back in the 1920s and 1930s -- and, as I have read their novels, it struck me how words that we use today have totally different meanings for us than they did for our parents and grandparents -- for instance, when I read William Faulkner's novel about World War I, I noticed he described a military officer in the book as a "gay old gentlemen" -- when I mentioned that part of the book to my friends at work, they were shocked because the word "gay" now means something entirely different -- back then it mean light and happy and carefree -- but now it refers almost exclusively to homosexuals -- the words "wicked" and "bad" used to describe things that were evil or not good -- but when you hear a young person use them today, they're usually referring to something that is outstanding -- something that is really great or desirable -- years ago, the word "silly" used to mean "blessed" -- it used to be a virtue -- now, silly means ludicrous and foolish -- "gaudy" used to refer to joyful praying -- but now it's definition has been changed to mean tasteless or tacky ornamentation -- we could go on and on with words like this -- words that had one meaning for the person who wrote them down but have an entirely different meaning for us today -- well, this morning, we're going to look at a word that has changed meaning over time just like this -- we're continuing in our sermon series on pursuing holiness through the fruit of the Spirit -- and this morning, we're looking at the characteristic of gentleness or meekness -- this is a word that has definitely changed meaning over time -- the Bible tells us that gentleness is a virtue -- it describes Jesus Himself as meek and gentle -- but, when we read that now we tend to think of someone who is mild and weak -- someone who is a push-over -- someone who could never stand up for themselves -- whenever I hear Jesus called "gentle" in the Bible, I instantly think of the hymn, "In the Garden" -- it brings to mind a sense of peace and calm and softness -- it doesn't have a strong connotation -- it's not something that you would associate with masculinity or the image of a strong leader -- but, that is not what this word means in a biblical sense -- contrary to our image of gentleness or meekness as being mild and weak, the biblical meaning is actually "strength under control" -- the Greek word for this is praiotes -- it was commonly used in Jesus' day by doctors to refer to soothing medicines or by sailors as a gentle breeze or by farmers as a colt that had been broken -- each of these cases is describing a situation where a great power is under control -- whether it's the power of disease or the power of the wind or the power of a horse -- I think most of us remember President Theodore Roosevelt's great proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." -- that is exactly what we're talking about here -- during Roosevelt's tenure, America was able to work its will among the nations of the world, not because we bullied them into submission, but because we could speak to them gently -- putting forth a soft face -- because in back of the softness was the strength and power of the U.S. military -- When Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek -- blessed are the gentle -- for they shall inherit the earth," he was not speaking of armies and foreign policy, but the principles are the same -- Jesus was telling us how to relate to those around us -- He was pointing out that in back of the softness that we portray -- in back of the gentleness and meekness that we put forth -- we have within us the strength and power of God -- and so we shouldn't bluster and try to force our will on others -- we shouldn't be forceful and domineering -- instead, as Roosevelt said, we should speak softly -- we should be gentle and humble as we relate to those around us -- even those who oppose us or who are persecuting us -- we see a good example of gentleness and meekness in action here in this passage in 1 Thessalonians 2 in how Paul handled sharing the message of Christ to a sometimes hostile crowd -- let's look at this in a little more detail and let's see what we can learn about being gentle and meek in our own lives -- look back at verse 1 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV) 1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. -- here we are reminded of the difficulties that Paul faced in his call to be the evangelist to the Gentiles -- Paul faced a tough road -- he suffered from the natural hardships of traveling thousands of miles in desolate areas -- but, more importantly, he suffered at the hands of men -- Paul was persecuted by both the Jews and the Gentiles -- he was followed from town to town and harassed and insulted by those who opposed him and his message -- how do you respond when others insult you? -- what do you do when someone opposes you or belittles you in front of someone else? -- do you get in their face? -- do you yell back? -- do you just walk off? -- what do you do? -- what does God expect you to do? -- when Paul experienced suffering and insults in Philippi -- when he faced strong opposition to his preaching and teaching -- he had a choice to make -- he could react strongly and harshly -- he could push back at his opponents and beat them with his big stick -- he could just keep quiet and leave and not do what God called him to do, letting the bullies win -- or he could respond with grace and gentleness -- displaying in his meekness the true character and nature of God -- never forget that Christianity is more about relationship than anything else -- relationship with God, of course -- but also relationship with others -- that's why we like to say that the cross has two components -- it has the vertical component that reminds us, first and foremost, that we are to be in a right relationship with God -- but, secondly, it has this horizontal component -- that reminds us that Christ also came to restore our relationships with others -- remember what Paul's mission was -- he came as an emissary of Christ -- he came as a representative of Jesus -- and how he acted -- how he responded -- would translate into how the people around him would view Jesus -- I think that's one reason for Paul's statement in Ephesians 6:12 when he reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil -- in other words, we're not supposed to struggle and fight against people -- but against the spiritual forces that are engaging these people -- when it comes to people, we are to approach them with humbleness and meekness and gentleness -- and that is what Paul did -- verse 4 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. -- here we see a working definition of gentleness -- being gentle or meek towards someone doesn't mean that we give them what they want -- it doesn't mean that we just roll over and let them have their way -- it doesn't mean that we flatter them and tell them what they want to hear -- no, responding to someone with gentleness and meekness means you tell them what they need to hear -- you just do it with grace and love -- responding to someone with gentleness and meekness means that you give someone what they need -- not necessarily what they want -- Paul uses the analogy of a mother caring for her little children here -- anyone in here who has had kids or been around little children know what horrible creatures they can be from time to time -- the most selfish person on earth is a new-born baby -- little children demand their own way -- they demand that their needs be met -- they demand all the attention -- and if they don't get their way, they get upset and throw fits and tantrums -- well, a good mother doesn't give in to the fit -- she doesn't let the toddler have their way -- she stands firm and disciplines them -- gently instructing them and giving them what they need rather than what they want -- telling them how to act rather than letting them get away with murder -- and she does it just like Teddy Roosevelt said, she speaks softly and carries a big stick -- I remember when I was a child, I learned early on just how big a stick my mother carried -- I didn't get spanked much, but just like all kids, I did get spanked from time to time when I demanded my own way or did something wrong or threw a fit -- and after that, I learned -- when I started cutting up in a store, my mother didn't have to raise her voice -- all she had to do was softly say, "You need to stop now" -- and I knew what that meant -- I knew the power that she had -- and I knew that if I didn't stop, that I would get it when I got home -- Paul says here that he was gentle with the Thessalonians just like a mother caring for her little children -- Paul had a big stick -- he had the power of God with him -- he had been called and anointed by God and had been entrusted to carry the message of God to the Gentiles -- and that was what he was going to do -- when people opposed him -- when they insulted him and harassed him -- Paul didn't use flattery to win them over -- he didn't put on a mask and become what they wanted him to be -- Paul remained true to his word and to his calling -- he spoke the truth in love and pointed to Christ instead of himself -- he gave himself for them -- in verse 8 he says that he shared his life with them -- he gave of all he had so that the Thessalonians would get what they really needed -- this is the essence of gentleness and meekness -- humbling yourself so that Christ can be exalted -- not responding to suffering and insults in kind -- but putting aside your discomfort so that Christ's message can go forth -- verse 9 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. -- even though Paul possessed a great power within, he always responded to others -- even to those who opposed him, with gentleness and humbleness and meekness -- his power was under control -- rather than exalting himself as an apostle, Paul lived with the Thessalonians -- working with them night and day -- letting them see holiness in action -- letting them see how a man of God truly lives and carries himself in the work place and at home -- through his example, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to turn to Christ -- he exhorted them and charged them to live lives worthy of God and of the calling they had received -- and he reminded them of the power that they had within them -- such is the power of gentleness -- gentleness is not a bonus that we give to the deserving -- it is a debt that we owe everyone -- even people who oppose us -- as Maxie Dunnam said, "The gentle are courteous and kind -- they exercise restraint -- they practice reticence in speech, knowing that words can wound and silence may be more affirming than chatter -- they do not intrude into another's life but are available to and responsive to other's needs." -- gentleness takes incredible inner strength, self-control, and resilience -- In the Bible, we are told to combat harshness, violence, insults, suffering, and severity with gentleness and meekness -- to be gentle means that you understand human frailty and that you support, help, encourage, exhort and counsel others with patience until they become strong and mature, just like Paul did with the Thessalonians -- to be gentle means that you are aware of the power that you have but you choose to wield it in a way that will build up rather than destroy -- a great illustration of gentleness as power under control is the alligator -- a few years ago, I stumbled on an alligator nest while I was cruising timber -- all the baby alligators that were in the water scrambled for the far bank as I came up on the pond and they started grunting -- moments later, mama showed up -- and she opened up her mouth and the babies crawled in and she carried them off -- the crushing power of an alligator's jaw is immense -- an alligator can exert up to 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch -- it can easily break bone -- I have seen alligators bite through truck fenders -- but this mother alligator -- rather than wielding her power -- kept it in control and gently took care of her young -- that is what we are called to do as Christians -- we have this great power within us, but we have to take care how we use it -- Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, "You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership" -- as Christians, we are not to hit people over the head with the gospel message -- we are not to hit people over the head with our religion -- instead, we are to respond to them with gentleness and meekness just as Jesus did and just as Paul did -- instead of responding to hostility and opposition and persecution with similar actions, we are to respond from a point of power with humility and gentleness -- as Chuck Swindoll reminds us -- gentleness is not weakness -- it is not being soft -- it not being virtually spineless -- "Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control -- being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere -- emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves -- and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity" -- gentleness or meekness is a virtue that can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit within us -- gentleness is the wise application of power in the life of someone else to help them become more like Christ -- it is willingly removing ourselves from a situation so that Christ can be exalted -- in a very real sense, gentleness combines and applies all of the other fruits of the Spirit so that others can come to a saving knowledge of Christ -- let's pray
19 August 2012
I. Introduction -- turn in Bibles to 1 Corinthians 4:1-51 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NIV)
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. -- the story is told about the great missionary, Hudson Taylor, who founded the China Inland Mission in the 1800's -- one stormy night in Birmingham, England, Taylor was supposed to speak at a meeting at the Seven Street schoolroom -- but, because the storm was so fierce and so strong, his hostess told him there was no need to go out -- nobody would attend on such a stormy night -- but Taylor insisted on going -- “I must go even if there is no one but the doorkeeper.” -- As it turned out, less than a dozen people showed up, but the meeting was marked with unusual spiritual power -- God moved within that small crowd of dedicated and committed believers, and half of those present either became missionaries themselves or dedicated their children as missionaries -- all of them became faithful supporters of the China Inland Mission for years to come -- that night, Hudson Taylor demonstrated the quality and depth of character that has made him a continuing inspiration for Christians for almost 200 years now -- Taylor was committed to serving God "regardless of names (who showed up) or numbers (how many showed) or the nature of the situation (stormy conditions)"1 -- he was faithful to God and God honored and rewarded that faithfulness by increasing the ministry of the China Inland MissionII. The Faithful and the Summer Sermon Series -- we are continuing in our sermon series on pursuing holiness through the fruit of the Spirit -- and today, we are discussing the fruit of faithfulness -- in my opinion, faithfulness is an aspect of Christianity in much demand in our churches today -- when Kim and I joined Morven Methodist Church and became active in their ministries, I began to realize for the first time in my life that churches are not homogenous groups but are actually comprised of different groups of people depending on the season and the day -- and when I started pastoring a few years ago, I really began to see the difference -- as Rick Warren points out in his book, "The Purpose Driven Church," if you were to look at the people who attend established churches, you'll quickly see that they fall into one of three groups -- first, there's the crowd -- the group of people who only come to church on the major holidays -- Christmas -- Easter -- and Mother's Day -- when we would gather to worship on these days, the churches I used to pastor would be overflowing -- just filled with people who I never saw except on these holidays -- then, there's the congregation -- this is the group of people who come to worship on a regular basis -- they may miss a few Sundays here or there, but they are usually at church most Sunday mornings -- these are the people who make up the bulk of the church -- the majority of the people who fill the pews each Sunday -- and, finally, there's the committed -- this is the core of a church -- this is the group of people who are serious about their faith and about their God -- these are the people who are there every time the door is open -- by and large, and this is generalizing of course, but these are the ones who carry the ministry of the church -- the rest of the congregation may join in, but it is this group who has the vision and the drive to develop and implement ministries in the church -- these are the people who are the like the ones Hudson Taylor spoke to on that stormy night in England -- who come regardless of the season -- who come regardless of the weather -- who come regardless of what else may be going on in their lives -- these are the ones who are bearing the fruit of the Spirit called faithfulness -- now I know that we're not at the point yet where our church is divided into these three groups -- we're certainly never going to be called a crowd -- I've got friends whose Sunday School classes are larger than our entire church -- but, to be honest, I hope and pray that we never get to that point where we see these three groups -- the crowd, the congregation, and the committed -- represented -- our vision for Koinonia all along has not been to focus on numbers but on depth and maturity -- our vision has been to grow closer to one another and to God through focused discipleship so that we might express the faithfulness and commitment that is commanded through this fruit of the Spirit -- that is the basis of our ministries here at Koinonia -- that's why we emphasize Bible studies and one-on-one discipleship -- that's why I try to make my messages a little deeper and a little more challenging than I used to when I preached to larger congregations in the Methodist Church -- we are not trying to build a church here like all the others around us -- we are trying to build a church here that is filled with committed believers -- we are trying to become a people who are more mature in our relationships with God and who are actively pursuing holiness in our lives -- it comes down to this concept of faithfulness -- this fruit of the Spirit that we are trying to acquire in our lives -- faithfulness is a commitment to something that we hold important -- I have heard it described as faith in action -- acting in accordance with what you believe and are called to do -- Webster defines faithful as "maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal; marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; conscientious; accurate; reliable; exact." -- The American Heritage Dictionary goes one step farther and defines faithful as, "Consistent with truth or actuality -- [as in:] a faithful reproduction of a portrait.” -- the Greek word that we find translated as "faithful" or "faithfulness" in the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is pistis -- you'll also see it translated in your Bible as "trustworthy," "steadfast," or "loyal" -- in regards to the Christian life, these definitions carry with them two important concepts related to faithfulness -- commitment and copy -- commitment to the message and ministry of Christ -- dedication to completing the task that Christ assigned us -- and copy -- the faithful reproduction of Christ in us -- in other words, becoming more and more like Jesus in our attitude, our motives, our behavior and our lives so that when others look at us, they see the image of ChristIII. Scripture Lesson -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- this idea of commitment and copy can be seen in these verses from the epistle of Paul to the church at Corinth -- Paul was dealing with a church that had divisions because some people were listening to Paul and others would only listen to Peter while others would only listen to the teachings of Apollos -- similar to what we see today as people tend to have their favorite preachers or favorite authors -- the problem with the church at Corinth, though, was that these new Christians were putting their faith into the teachers rather than into the message -- they were becoming faithful and committed to the wrong thing -- they were following men rather than God -- and so Paul reminds them here of their calling as Christians and gently points them back to the only message and only person they should be committed to -- if you would, look back with me at verse 1 in 1 Corinthians 4 [read vs. 1] -- we see here in this first verse the concept of commitment and copy -- like I said, the Corinthians were putting their faith and loyalty behind individual human teachers -- so the first thing Paul does is remind the Corinthians of who these teachers really were -- they were nothing more than servants and ministers of Christ -- yes, they were entrusted with the secret things of God -- yes, they were called to spread the good news of Christ to others -- but they were just men -- they were just servants pointing others to the truth of Jesus Christ -- Paul is telling them, "Stop committing yourself to men -- stop putting your faith and trust in me or Apollos or Peter -- instead, you should be committed -- you should be faithful -- to the One who has appointed you His servant and His minister -- your commitment and your loyalty should be to Christ and Christ alone" -- secondly, Paul points out the concept of copy to the Corinthians -- "You, too, are called to be a servant of Christ just like us -- you, too, are entrusted with the things of God -- so I want you to be so committed to Christ -- I want you to be so faithful to His call and His charge to you that when men look at you -- when they regard you -- they don't see you but they see Jesus" -- what Paul is talking about here is the essence of what we have been going over in this sermon series on holiness -- Paul wanted the Corinthians to imitate Christ -- to copy Christ in their attitude and behavior and motives so that they would become mature believers -- so that they would be holy as Christ is holy -- "Reach the point," Paul is saying, "where people look at you and see Jesus" -- verse 2 [read vs. 2] -- here Paul emphasizes the concept of commitment and faithfulness -- as Christians, we have been given a responsibility -- verse 1 tells us that we are not people who are called to sit on the pews on Sunday morning -- we are not people who are called to just follow other servant leaders -- we are the people who are called by God to be His servants -- or, as the King James Version puts it, His ministers -- this implies that every single one of us has a purpose in our lives -- God has given us a job to do -- just as there can be no Lone Ranger Christians who are not part of a community of faith -- there can be no passive Christians who just sit in the pews and do nothing -- in verse 1, we read that we have been entrusted with the secret things of God -- the King James Version says that we are "stewards of the mysteries of God" -- Paul is referring here to the message of the gospel -- the good news that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that He rose on the third day to prove His victory over sin and death and give us the promise of eternal life -- Paul call this a mystery or a secret thing -- in the Bible, mysteries are things that have been hidden, but are now being revealed through the power of the Holy Spirit -- the Bible tells us the natural man cannot understand the things of God unless they are taught by the Spirit -- and that's where we come in -- Paul is saying that we should be a copy of Christ -- that we should be His hands and His feet and His voice -- that we should be committed -- faithful -- to the trust that we have been given by spreading the message of the gospel to those around us that can't understand it on their own -- that's the purpose of the church -- that's why we exist -- to tell others about Jesus and His message of hope -- we are faithful only to the point that we fulfill this trust that we have been given -- now, this doesn't mean that we have to be successful -- our call is to faithfulness -- not success -- Senator Mark Hatfield tells the story in his book of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called “House of Dying” -- this was the place where sick children were cared for in their last days -- and this was the clinic where hundreds of poor and lower caste people would line up for medical care -- Hatfield spent several days watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die -- he was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily -- “How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?” he asked -- Mother Teresa replied, “My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful.”1 -- to be faithful means that you go where you are sent and you do what you are told regardless of the outcome -- to be faithful means that you go out in a pouring rainstorm to give a message to only 12 people like Hudson Taylor because that is what God calls you to do -- to be faithful means that you minister to the sick and dying like Mother Teresa even though in human eyes it makes no difference -- to be faithful means that you serve God and minister to others where He has placed you -- giving of yourself and your time and your resources to fulfill the calling on your life -- verse 3 [read vs. 3-5] -- real quickly here, let me wrap this up for you -- Paul says, "It doesn't matter what other people think of me -- I don't care how you or any human court view me or judge me -- I don't even care how I view myself or what I think of myself -- the only thing that is important is how God sees me -- how God will judge me -- "at the appointed time -- when the Lord returns -- He will judge not only my actions and my behavior but also the motives of my heart -- it is Jesus that I am serving -- it is the praise of Jesus that I am seeking -- for, in the end, it is the phrase, 'Well done, good and faithful servant,' that I long to hear"IV. Closing -- for the last little while, I have been caught up in the book, "The Game of Thrones" -- if you're not familiar with these books or with the HBO series about them, it is set in an age of knights and chivalry in the fictional land of Westeros -- in this land, there is a great wall of ice that has been built to protect the people from an unspeakable evil that lurks in the north -- this wall is manned by the men of the Night's Watch -- a group of men who sacrifice their lives in defense of their kingdom -- who lay down all allegiance to kings and queens and who give up the rights to have families of their own so they can faithfully fulfill the calling to protect the realm from evil -- to join the Night's Watch, the men take a vow that seals them to their mission and their purpose -- if you would, let me share this vow from the book with you right now: -- "Hear my words and bear witness to my vow -- Night gathers and now my watch begins -- It shall not end until my death -- I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children -- I shall wear no crowns and win no glory -- I shall live and die at my post -- I am the sword in the darkness -- I am the watcher on the walls -- I am the fire that burns against the cold -- the light that brings the dawn -- the horn that wakes the sleepers -- the shield that guards the realms of men -- I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come" [George R.R. Martin, "A Game of Thrones"] -- when I first read those words, I immediately thought of our life with Christ -- in our churches today, we do not make vows such as this when we join our lives to Christ -- at the most, we ask people who are coming to join our churches if they will commit to supporting God and the church through their prayers, presence, gifts, witness, and service -- but experience shows that very few people take this commitment seriously -- I wonder whether we would consider our Christian lives more seriously if we were required to speak words such as these when we stood at the altar or in the baptismal waters -- I wonder if we have not erred in the church today by not asking people to stand up and make a commitment as serious as the vow in this fictional book -- I wonder if that is why most churches are filled with crowds and congregations and not with the committed and faithful -- what if we were to take this vow from this book and rearrange it slightly to make it a Christian vow? -- what if this was something that we spoke every day from the heart as we committed to live faithful lives for Christ? -- would this make a difference in who we were and what we did and how we lived our lives? -- listen to this revised vow that I modified to make this a vow for those seeking to be faithful to Christ: -- "Lord God Almighty, hear my words and bear witness to my vow -- Darkness and evil have gathered and now my watch begins -- It shall not end until my death, until I am home with You -- I shall make no allegiance to this world -- I shall not seek fame or fortune for myself -- I shall wear no crowns except those You give -- I shall win glory only for Your Name -- I shall die to self and pick up my cross and follow You where you lead -- I am the sword who bears the Truth -- I am the city on the hill -- I am the salt of this world -- I am the fire that burns against the cold -- the light that brings the dawn -- the horn that wakes the sleepers -- the shield that guards the realms of men -- I pledge my life and honor to Christ Jesus and Him alone, for this day and all the days to come" [Modified from George R.R. Martin, "A Game of Thrones"] -- regardless of whether we ever actually take a vow like this or not, this is what we have been called to do as servants of Christ -- we have been entrusted with a responsibility from God to be faithful to His word and to minister to others the gospel of Christ Jesus -- we have been called to be His ministers -- to reflect His nature and character -- and to stand firm in the face of opposition and danger as we snatch others from the flames of hell -- this is the essence of what we mean by the term "faithfulness" -- and this is what Christ is calling us to today -- as I close in prayer, I want to encourage you to respond to God's word by rededicating your life to Him -- none of us are as faithful in our walk with Jesus as we should be -- none of us truly copy Him in all of our behavior or attitudes or motives -- none of us are truly committed in all our ways to Him -- so, I want to encourage you to take a moment to commit your life to God again -- to promise to support God and His church through your prayers, presence, gifts, witness, and service -- to promise that you will be His faithful servants in all that you do -- let us prayReferences:1. http://bible.org/seriespage/mark-14-faithfulness -- Mark #14: FaithfulnessBy: J. Hampton Keathley, III, Accessed 1 August 2009
