SERMON: LIVING UP TO THE NAME

29 April 2012

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in your Bibles to Exodus 20:1-7

Exodus 20:1-7 (NIV)

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

            -- my routine when I get to work every morning is always the same -- I generally grab a cup of coffee and sit down at the computer -- and while my e-mail is downloading, I jump on the internet and scan the headlines just to see what is going on in the world
            -- well, you can imagine my surprise when I opened up the Drudge Report on Wednesday morning of last week and I read the lead headline: "NBA Suspends World Peace"
            -- my initial thought was, "Wow! I didn't know the NBA was that powerful.  How can they stop the world from having peace? Have they declared war on the world?"
            -- I'm not a basketball fan -- I had no idea what was going on, so I clicked on the article to find out what the headline was all about
            -- World Peace is actually the name of a pro basketball player -- last September, Ron Artest legally changed his name to Metta World Peace -- "Metta" is his first name and "World Peace" is his last name
            -- in a statement on the day his name was changed, Artest said, "Changing my name is meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world"
            -- he chose "Metta" as his first name because it is a traditional Buddhist word that means "loving kindness and friendliness to all" -- and he chose "World Peace" as his last name because it represented the direction he wanted to inspire youth to try to attain in their own lives
            -- which makes that headline from last Wednesday all the more ironic -- World Peace was suspended for fighting -- for viciously elbowing another player in the head in last Sunday's game
            -- and this was not just a one-time event -- according to the article, this is the 10th time that World Peace has been suspended since 2003 -- World Peace evidently has a history of fighting and not getting along with other players

II.  The Importance of Names

            -- I was telling Kim about this headline later in the week -- and we both agreed that if you're going to change your name to something like "World Peace," then you've got an obligation to live up to that name

            -- you just can't call yourself "World Peace" and then keep getting suspended for fighting

            -- in our day, names are just not considered that important -- I guess it's because most of us were given our names as infants and we had no say in what we were going to be called the rest of our lives

            -- some parents spend a lot of time thinking about what they are going to name their child -- trying to be sure that the name they give them is a good name -- a name that they will have to grow into
            -- other parents don't spend a lot of time thinking about names but just choose whatever the most popular name is for that particular year -- I remember a few years ago there was a short-lived sitcom about a family in the suburb -- the father was coaching a girl's softball team, and in one episode he was giving the batting order to his players -- he said, "Okay, Heather, you're up next -- and then Heather you're after her and then Heather, you're batting third"
            -- rather than spending time picking out a name, their parents had all just named their daughters with the most popular name that year -- so, don't be surprised if you run across a lot of Ethan's and Emma's in a few years, because those are the most popular names for this year

            -- I wish we placed greater importance on our names -- I kind of like the tradition in the black Muslim community here in America where they change their name after they come to faith in Islam -- their new name is supposed to reflect their faith and who they hope to become as they grow in their faith -- that's why Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali

            -- the Bible recognizes the importance of names -- all the way back to the book of Genesis, we see God changing the names of people to reflect who it was He was calling them to be -- a name to fulfill -- Abram was changed to Abraham -- Sarai to Sara -- Jacob to Israel -- Simon to Peter
            -- God didn't just do this on a whim -- He did this for a reason -- He gave each of these people a name to live up to -- and He's done the same for us

            -- when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God gave us a new name -- He gave us the name of His Son -- no longer were we to be known by the names that our parents gave us, but we were to be known by the name of Christ -- we are the people of Christ -- we are the people known as Christians and He expects us to live up to that name

            -- several times in the New Testament we are admonished to do just that -- in Philippians 1:27, we read "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." and in Ephesians 4:1 we read, "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." -- we are to live in a manner worthy of the Name by which we have been saved

            -- God's pretty serious about this, because our lives should reflect His presence -- and if we do not live up to our high calling, then we bring shame and disgrace -- not only to ourselves -- but to Him and His name, as well
            -- a lot of people don't realize it, but this emphasis on living up to the name of God goes all the way back to the Ten Commandments, especially the third commandment
            -- let's look at this passage in Exodus again

III.  Scripture Lesson (Exodus 20:1-7)

            -- look back at verse 1-3

Exodus 20:1-3 (NIV)

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

            -- here in the first commandment, we see that the most important thing is to recognize God and to exalt Him and Him alone

            -- He makes it clear -- He is our God -- we are His people -- and we are to have no other gods but Him
            -- this commandment is calling for us to worship God -- to make Him the center of our lives -- and to proclaim with the angels that all praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength is to be to our God for ever and ever (Rev 7:12)

            -- the next two commandments give specific ways that we are to do this

            -- look at verse 4-6

Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

            -- in this second commandment, we are told to honor God and give glory to Him by staying away from idols -- God says we will not bow down to them or worship them -- all honor and glory is His -- He alone is who we worship -- He alone is who we exalt

            -- our God is a jealous God -- He does not share His glory with anyone -- and so He commands that we turn away from the worship of idols -- from anything that we might place higher and greater importance on than God
            -- I know that we're not putting statues in our backyards and bowing down to them -- but we do make idols of things in our lives -- money -- work -- family -- entertainment -- hobbies -- clubs -- all of these things can be idols if you let them become more important than God
            -- God says we are to worship Him and Him alone and we are not to let any idols into our lives

            -- but, the commandment I really want you to think about this morning is the third commandment -- look at verse 7

Exodus 20:7 (NIV)

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

            -- most of us grew up knowing this third commandment from the King James Version -- "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"

            -- what does it mean to misuse the name of the Lord -- to take the name of the Lord in vain?

            -- if you're like me, when you learned this commandment, you probably thought it was only about speaking God's name in wrong ways -- I was taught growing up that the worst thing you could do was to use a cuss word with God's name in it

            -- now, I'm sad to say, but we live in a society where cussing has turned into a way of speech -- we hear it in the movies and even on our primetime TV shows -- we hear it in the stores -- we hear it public -- I hear it a lot among the younger military members out at Moody
            -- and, sad to say, I've gotten somewhat jaded about it -- I've gotten used to it -- I don't cuss, but I generally don't take offense at it the way I used to, except when they use the name of the Lord as part of a cuss word
            -- I'll say something then, because that's what I was taught -- that is taboo -- that is not something that you do
            -- that's what it says right here in this verse -- don't take the name of the Lord your God in vain -- don't misuse His name -- that's typically what we think of when we read this commandment, right?

            -- actually, this is not what this verse is referring to -- while it's certainly applicable to us, this passage was written to instruct the early Israelites, and they would never think to use the name of the Lord in this manner

            -- in fact, the Israelites recognized the great importance of a deities' name -- keep in mind that they were still heavily influenced by the pagan Egyptian culture that they had been living in for over 400 years -- these pagan religions would call on the name of their god to manipulate them -- it was believed that if you invoked a god's name, in connection with wanting something to happen, it was possible to make it happen
            -- they respected the names of the deities around them -- that's one reason why, when Moses was speaking with God at the burning bush, he asked God what His name was so he could tell the Israelites who had sent him
            --in this commandment God was trying to stop the Israelites from using His name like the pagans used the names of their gods -- He was trying to make them understand that this was a vain or empty use of His name
             -- by doing this, it was an attempt to use His power without submitting to Him or living in trusting relation with Him -- in other words, it would be like using God's name as an incantation or spell to make something happen -- like saying "abracadabra" before you did a magic trick

-- so, this was one of the main intents of this commandment -- to keep the Israelites from using the Lord's name in a vain manner and treating Him like a god who could be ordered to do their bidding

-- Another way the Israelites were being tempted to misuse the Lord's name was in the matter of swearing oaths, either to God or to others -- today, we tend to put less importance on the term "I swear" than the people living in biblical times did

            -- in those days, the term "I swear" meant to give one's sacred, unbreakable promise as a testimony that they would keep their word on a certain matter -- it was a common practice in the O.T. times to make these binding oaths using God's name
              - God's name was misused when people would make an oath using His name and then break that oath -- this showed disrespect to God's name -- if the people really respected God and His name, then they would keep their promises sworn in His name -- the fear of the Lord would keep them honest -- however, by breaking their promises, they were showing that they really didn't put much stock in God or His name

-- when you used to testify in court, what would they have you do? -- put your hand on the Bible and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, so help me God -- that was an oath that the person was making using God's name

             -- did you know they don't do that any more? -- when you testify in a court now, you don't swear an oath on God's name -- Why? -- Because a lot of people either don't believe in God or don't put much importance on keeping oaths made in God's name
             -- it just became a meaningless type of oath -- people would make that oath and then misuse God's name by breaking that oath by lying on the stand
             -- this is exactly the situation that God was trying to prevent in the Israelites and that He is trying to prevent in us

-- but I really want you to focus this morning on the third way that God's name can be misused -- this is the one that is most applicable to us -- we misuse God's name when we commit the sin of hypocrisy -- by making a profession of God's name but not living up to that profession

            -- we have many people in the world today who profess the name of God but don't live up to it -- we have many people in the world today who call themselves Christians but who don't live up to that name -- who don't act in a Christian manner -- just like World Peace didn't live up to his name but got suspended for fighting

-- right now we are engaged in a war with Muslim extremist terrorists who have justified their actions because we are infidels -- those not of the faith or the worship of the true God

-- but, as Dean Snyder pointed out in an article in the Wesleyan Advocate several years ago, if you were to look at the American church through the eyes of a deeply committed fundamentalist Muslim, our lives would appear to be very ungodly

             -- while we claim the name of Christ and profess to be Christians, we are extremely materialistic and unreligious in our daily lives -- alcohol is freely available -- drugs are illegal but still accessible -- we allow sacrilege in our art galleries and theaters
              -- many marriages end in divorce -- we have state-sponsored gambling with the lottery -- even the most religious of us do not pray publicly five times a day like the Muslims -- honestly, we're doing good if we pray before our meals and before we go to bed -- less than 30 percent of the U.S. population regularly goes to church

-- and while we do not adhere to the tenets of Islam and we are not trying to live the Muslim life, you can how the world would look on us as hypocritical -- we are claiming to be one thing while living a life that is different from what we proclaim

            -- by doing so, we violate this commandment -- we are misusing the name of the Lord our God

-- I saw a bumper sticker one time that said, "Lord, Deliver Me from Your Followers" -- that bumper sticker was put on that car because a Christian didn't live up to his name -- we have to be mindful of who we are and of who we are called to be

-- by coming here this morning, you are identifying yourself as a Christian -- by putting religious bumper stickers or fish symbols on your car, you are identifying yourself as a Christian -- and what is a Christian -- a Christian is someone who has identified their life by the name of their God....Christ -- a Christian is supposed to be a "little Christ"

-- so, when you call yourself a Christian but engage in worldly activities, you are misusing the name of God

            -- when you call yourself a Christian but walk past the homeless person needing help, you are misusing the name of God

-- when you call yourself a Christian but bend the tax laws, you are misusing the name of God

            -- anytime you call yourself a Christian and knowingly act in disobedience to God in a way that others will see, you are misusing the name of God
            -- basically, this third commandment calls us to lift up the name of God through our public actions -- this commandment calls us to holy living -- to character and integrity
             -- we should live up to the name by which we are known

IV.  Closing

-- thinking about World Peace this week and his failure to live up to his name got me to thinking about myself -- do I live up to my name? -- do I live up to the Name that I profess?

-- when people look at me -- when they hear me proclaim the gospel with my life -- do they see a life that reflects holiness and virtue and deliverance from sin? -- are they drawn to Christ because of what they see in me?

-- or does my life cause them to reject the God I claim? -- am I guilty of violating this third commandment? -- am I misusing the name of God through my actions?

-- when we call ourselves a Christian, then we have a responsibility to live up to that name -- God wants our lives and our behavior and our character to be worthy of the gospel and the name of Christ -- He wants others to be drawn to Him because they see Him in us

-- Jesus said we are to be the light of the world -- a city set on a hill -- a people who proclaim His name and who lead other into the Kingdom because they are drawn by our love and our lives

-- so let me ask you this today -- are you living up to the Name that you proclaim?

            -- Warren Wiersbe shares the a story about a church member who came to his pastor and said, "We have some neighbors who believe a false gospel? -- Do you have some literature I can give them?"

            -- the pastor opened his Bible to 2 Corinthians 3:2 and read these words, "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody."

            -- the pastor told his member, "The best literature in the world is no substitute for your own life -- Let them see Christ in your behavior and this will open up opportunities to share Christ’s Gospel with them."

            -- You've probably all heard the old quip -- "You may be the only Bible that someone else reads"

            -- I want to live up to my name -- I want to live a life worthy of the gospel -- a life worthy of the Name of Christ -- I want my life to be a Bible that others can read and that leads them to salvation and deliverance from sin

            -- I don't want to be known as a hypocrite --I don't want someone to look at me and reject Jesus because of the life I am living -- I don't want to be a person who lives their life in violation of the third commandment

            -- I want to be a person that Jesus is proud to call His own

            -- as we close today, I want to ask you to just take a moment and think about your name -- not the name that your parents called you at birth -- not any nickname that your friends call you -- but the name that your God gave you when you turned to Him for salvation through faith

            -- are you living up to that name? -- what do people see when they look at you? -- what do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror?

-- let us pray

SERMON: RESIST THE MOLD

22 April 2012

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

            -- when I think back on my life, my earliest memories revolve around watermelons -- you see, Daddy worked watermelons up and down the eastern seaboard -- he would head down to south Florida in late spring and begin buying fields of watermelons to ship to the markets up north -- and as the various fields of melons progressively ripened up the seaboard, Daddy would move up with them -- finally ending the season in Virginia as the last watermelons of the year ripened and were shipped

            -- when I was little, we would join him on the road -- at least for a few weeks a year -- as soon as school let out and my mother no longer had to teach, we would head to join Daddy wherever he happened to be at the time
            -- so, I grew up knowing melons -- and, over time, I came to realize just how important and how respected my father was in the watermelon business -- you see, Daddy wasn't just a buyer of melons -- he was also a packer
            -- watermelon packers were held in special regard by farmers and growers and shippers everywhere -- the job of a watermelon packer was to load a semi-truck trailer or a railroad box car with melons -- to stack them in and pack the trailer so that the melons did not shift in transit
            -- have you ever tried to stack watermelons? -- as the people on this season's Amazing Race found out, it's next to impossible to stack round objects without having them crash down around your knees -- that's why watermelon packers were in such high demand and why they got paid a premium for each trailer they loaded -- you could make more money packing one watermelon trailer per day than you could picking watermelons in the field for a week
            -- but, it seems that the days of the watermelon packer are passing because the Japanese have come up with something that allows anyone to be a watermelon packer -- they have invented square watermelons

            -- they did this for a couple of reasons -- first, by producing smaller, square watermelons, it makes it much easier for someone to put the melon in their refrigerator -- and, secondly, it makes it much easier to transport melons -- no longer do they need someone who is specially gifted in packing round melons on trailers -- now anyone can stack a melon because they are square

            -- the Japanese came up with this idea of growing square watermelons by exploiting a well-known principle in nature -- namely, that objects tend to conform to the shape of their environment
            -- that's how we make cakes in different shapes by using different molds -- that's how we can make candles in various configurations -- and while we've really not done that to any great extent with living objects, the Japanese figured out how to do it with watermelons
            -- they made clear glass cubes with hinges on the top and the bottom -- and when the melon is still very small, they put it inside this cube, and as it grows, it conforms to the shape of the box, producing a square watermelon
            -- when the melon gets ripe, they simply open the glass cube and pull out their melons -- easy to stack and ready to be put in the consumer's refrigerators

            -- square watermelons in a round watermelon world -- who would have thought it possible?

            -- the Apostle Paul probably would have believed it -- he didn't know anything about square watermelons, but he knew people -- and he knew the principle of conformity -- the fact that people tend to conform to the environment where they are found -- simply put, people tend to be shaped by the world around them

            -- that's what the Book of Romans is all about -- in this letter to the church at Rome, Paul has been trying to show the Romans how to break free of the mold that this world had put them in by leading them into the Kingdom of God
            -- the basic premise of the book is that the Romans had been born one way, and that's why they looked and acted the way they did -- but now, through the Holy Spirit, they had been born again, so they could develop into the people that God had called them to be

            -- as we look at these verses together this morning, it's important to know that Paul had never been to visit the church at Rome, but he knew about them -- he had heard about their faith -- and he knew of their struggles to form the first blended church -- a church that wasn't just Jews or just Gentiles but a mixture of the two -- two cultures -- two people from different spiritual backgrounds -- coming together to form a new creation -- a new body with Christ as their head

            -- he wrote this letter from Corinth around 57 AD while he was on his third missionary journey to prepare them for his visit -- and for several chapters now, Paul has been teaching theology -- he's been giving them spiritual principles -- but, now Paul shifts gears -- now Paul moves into application and says, this is how you do what I've been telling you -- this is how you change your life -- this is how you break free from the mold of the world

            -- so, let's spend a few moments looking at these verses in a little greater depth as we  try to understand how we can become square watermelons in a round watermelon world

II.  Scripture Lesson (Romans 12:1-2)

            -- look back with me at verse 1

            -- "therefore"

            -- that's the point that I was trying to make -- Paul has been making all these spiritual arguments -- he's been laying out the groundwork of theology and the basics of Christianity to the church for eleven chapters now -- but, he's reached the place where the rubber meets the road -- it's time to put into application the spiritual principles that he had been teaching in this letter

            -- that's the point of discipleship -- it does you no good to come to church or to come to Bible study or to read the Bible on your own if all you are doing is learning about God -- there is little benefit in memorizing scripture or knowing the Bible inside and out if all you've received is knowledge
            -- you have to reach the point where you begin to live it out -- you have to start applying the truths of scripture to your own heart and your own life -- that's what Paul's saying here when he starts off Chapter 12 with that word, "therefore" -- "therefore," it's time to start putting these principles into practice -- it's time to be a disciple of Christ

            -- "therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy"

            -- the KJV says, "I beseech you brothers" -- other versions say, "I appeal to you"

            -- this is more than Paul just saying, "guys, this is a good idea" -- no, Paul understands that this is the only way to discipleship -- this is the only way to living out the principles that God has called each and every one of us to
            -- Paul says, "this is important -- I urge you -- I beseech you -- I beg you -- do this -- you have to do this if you want to be the person that God called you to be -- if you want to grow in grace -- if you want to be a true disciple of Christ, you have to put this into practice"

            -- don't do this simply because I'm asking you to -- do this in light of God's mercy -- think about what God did for us by sending Jesus to be our atoning sacrifice on the cross -- think about the fact that God didn't give us what we deserved but poured out His wrath and mercy on His only Son

            -- if God did that for us, can't we respond by doing what He has called us to do?

            -- "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."

            -- the Gentiles and the Jews understood sacrifices -- in both of their cultures, the sacrifice of animals was the basis of their religion -- and when Paul tells them here to offer their bodies as living sacrifices to God, they understood what Paul was calling them to do

            -- you see, anytime a sacrifice was made, something had to die -- and when Paul is calling on the Romans to offer themselves as a living sacrifice, they understand that he is calling them to die -- not to die physically -- Christ already died for us -- but he's calling us to die to this world so that we might live for Christ
            -- when Paul is calling for us to offer our bodies up to God, he's talking about our behavior -- he's talking about making a decision, once and for all, to put to death sin in our lives -- to choose to live our lives for Christ
            -- this is not about going through the motions of Christianity -- this is not about a ritual -- it's not about going to church -- it's about being the church -- it's about living out your faith in your daily life
            -- Paul says that we are to be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- that very word, "holy," means separated -- it means set apart -- it means different from those around us
            -- it means living for God and not for ourselves or for this world -- it means living righteous, obedient lives -- it means living sin-free lives
            -- Paul is calling on us to make a decision on who we want to be and how we want to live -- he is calling us to be a true disciple of Christ

            -- this call to make a stand and live for Christ reminds me of the story of the Alamo -- as you might remember, the Texans in the Alamo were surrounded by the Mexican Army led by General Santa Anna --  they were defending their homes -- they were defending their land

            -- The fighting raged on for days until it was obvious that the 15 men in the Alamo could not hold the Mexicans off any longer -- They knew the wall would be breached -- and they knew that if that happened, they would be killed
            --  So, Colonel Travis took his sword and drew a line on the ground, and he issued a call -- he said everyone who is willing to fight for Texas, come and stand with me behind this line, knowing that it may cost you your very life -- the rest could leave and surrender to the Mexicans and save their lives -- there was a moment of silence as each man pondered the decision in their hearts -- and then, as one, every single man took a step and crossed that line and made their choice -- they chose to do what was right, despite the personal cost -- they chose to stand up for what they believed in, despite the fact it could cost them their life -- and, in the end, every Texan in the Alamo that day was killed
            -- that's exactly what Paul is trying to get us to do here -- He's trying to get us to draw a line in the sand and say, "I don't care what happens to me -- from this point on, I am going to live for Christ -- I am going to make Him the most important thing in my life -- I am going to die to self and live for Him"
       
                 -- verse 2a

                 -- "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world"

                 -- a few moments ago, we talked about the principle of conformity -- from the moment that we are born, our lives begin to conform to the pattern of this world -- it's like we are poured into a mold, and our bodies begin to take the shape of this mold -- not physically -- but behaviorally

                 -- and because of this, we act like this world -- we talk like this world -- we long after the things of this world -- our thoughts and hopes and dreams and desires are shaped by this world
                 -- what does Paul mean here when he talks about the world? -- to paraphrase Richard Trench, the world is "all of that floating mass of thought, opinions, maxims, speculations, hopes, impulses, aims, and aspirations" that swirl around us -- these worldly ideas are powerful -- they can grip our hearts -- they can shape who we are and what we want and what we do
                 -- if you want to get an idea of what Paul means by the world, just look at the advertisements that surround us every day -- these advertisements are designed to catch our attention -- to sway us and get us to purchase their products by appealing to our desires and our wants and our wishes
                 -- this is the world -- and if you live in this world, you will be shaped by the power of the world -- you will be conformed to its mold and your life will resemble the lives of all those around you
                 -- but, remember that Paul said we were to be different -- we were to be holy -- set apart -- separated from the world -- how do we do that? -- how do we break free from the world's grip? -- how do we resist the world's mold?

                 -- look back at verse 2b

                 -- be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

                 -- it all starts with your mind -- as we read in James 1:14, sin begins when we are tempted by the evil desires of our minds

                 -- if we are going to break free of the world's grip and no longer be conformed to the pattern of the world, we have to change our mind
                 -- that's what we tell our disciples -- it's not about outward behavior -- it's not about trying to live out the Christian life through a series of laws and rules -- it's about your beliefs, first and foremost -- Paul knew that -- that's why he writes as he does here

                 -- as Alan McCann put it, "Paul understood that in the spiritual life of every believer the battle for control of the mind would ultimately lead to either victory or defeat in daily living. -- what you believe ultimately decides how you live"

                 -- if you believe that success is based upon wealth and possessions, then you will spend your whole life trying to gain both -- if you believe that success is based upon eternal treasure, then you will spend your life living for Christ -- "what you think dictates how you live"

            -- one night at a campfire, an old native American was teaching the younger generation about the inner struggles that he had dealt with in his life -- he told them that inside of him were two dogs -- one of the dogs was mean and evil -- the other dog was good -- and they fought constantly for control of his life

            -- when the young men around the campfire asked him which dog wins, the old man paused a moment and said, “the one I feed the most”

                 -- Paul says here that if we are to truly be a disciple of Christ, we have to be transformed by the renewing of our minds -- we need a new mind -- we need a new belief system on which to base our lives

                 -- so, how do that? -- how do we renew our minds?

                 -- "Psychologists tell us there are two simple rules to do with the mind:

The Law of Concentration and the Law of Substitution.

            -- "In the Law of Concentration they tell us that whatever we dwell on grows in our life experience and becomes part of us.

            -- "In the Law of Substitution they tell us that our conscious mind can only hold one thought at a time and you can substitute a positive thought for a negative thought and vice versa."

[Alan McCann -- http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/in-my-right-mind-alan-mccann-sermon-on-call-of-the-disciples-83359.asp?page=0]

                 -- the renewing of our mind begins when we choose to die to the thoughts and desires of this world and begin to believe in the truth of God's word

            -- we do that by applying both of these rules -- the Law of Concentration and the Law of Substitution
            -- first, we concentrate on the things of God -- we focus on God's word and let it become a part of us -- we follow the commands of God that we read of in Deuteronomy 11:18-21

-- ¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,
²¹ so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

            -- to break free of the mold of this world and to be transformed into new creations, we begin by focusing on the word of God -- by letting it become a part of us

            -- this means not only reading the Bible and studying God's word, but applying it in our lives as we offer up our bodies as living sacrifices

            -- secondly, we apply the Law of Substitution -- in 2 Corinthians 10:5, it says that we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ

            -- this means that when negative thoughts enter our heads -- when evil desires tempt us -- we take them captive through the power of Christ -- we don't dwell on them, but we put them out of our mind and focus on the things of God

            -- in Philippians 4:8, Paul gave us this advice, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

            -- when the world starts putting ungodly thoughts in your mind -- when you find yourself starting to think like the world again and letting negative thoughts in -- ask Jesus to take them from you and focus your mind on what is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable -- focus on the word of God and on the things of God and the negative thoughts and beliefs will go away

            -- look back at the end of verse 2b

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

            -- there's a great spiritual truth here -- the natural man -- the man of the world -- cannot understand spiritual things -- they cannot perceive them -- they cannot believe them -- they cannot live by them

            -- it is only the person who has been touched by Christ -- who has been saved through God's grace and mercy and whose mind has been transformed and renewed -- who can understand spiritual things

            -- it is only after we have allowed the Spirit to renew our minds that we can begin grasping and understanding the will of God for us as Christians and as His church

            -- it is only after we stop believing the lies of the world and starting living on the truth of God's word that we will truly see how good and pleasing and perfect God's will and His plans are for our lives

III.  Closing

            -- In Yorkshire, England, during the early 1800s, two sons were born to a family named Taylor.

            -- The older son listened to the siren call of the world and set out to make a name for himself by entering Parliament and gaining public prestige. -- he was successful in his endeavors and well-known throughout England in his day
            -- But the younger son chose a different path -- he drew a line in the sand and said, "I will not follow this world."  -- instead, he chose to give his life to Christ.
            -- He later recalled, “Well do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, my life, my friends, my all, upon the altar. I felt I was in the presence of God, entering into covenant with the Almighty.”
            -- With that commitment, Hudson Taylor turned his face toward China and obscurity.
            -- As a result of his choice to shun the ways of the world and to offer his life as a living sacrifice to God, Hudson Taylor is known and honored on every continent as a faithful missionary and the founder of the China Inland Mission (now known as Overseas Missionary Fellowship).

            -- For the other son who chose the way of the world, however, there is no lasting monument. When you look in the encyclopedia to see what the other son has done, you find these words, “the brother of Hudson Taylor.”

            -- in these verses, God is calling us to make a stand for Him in this world -- He is calling us to put to the death the way of this world -- to put to death all that we are and all that the world says is important so that we might reap eternal treasures

            -- people who live only for this life will never achieve lasting success -- their accomplishments will follow them to the grave and will never bear eternal fruit
            -- but those who choose to die to self -- to offer themselves to God as a living sacrifice and let Him renew their mind and transform their lives -- will reap a harvest of good works that will never end
            -- as we close in prayer, I want to encourage you to choose the path of the true disciple -- choose to live for God -- make a stand -- be His disciple

            -- let us pray

JUST AN ORDINARY DAY

15 April 2012

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to Luke 5:1-11 

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,

2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."

11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

            -- I want to share with you a story that I heard this week on Focus on the Family  

            -- Lysa TerKeurst -- the founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries -- was getting on an airplane to head back home after a week of teaching and ministering to women -- just like she had done hundreds of times before

            -- she was tired and worn out from all of the ministry and prayed that God would just grant her one request -- that He would let her have the airplane row all to herself so she could stretch out and relax on the way home

            -- and it looked like God was going to do that -- the flight attendants were making their final checks, and no one else had come to claim the two empty seats on her row -- but, right before the doors closed, two more people came on board and took those seats -- an Indian woman took the seat next to the window and a large man sat down in the middle seat next to Lysa

            -- Lysa just sighed and decided to make the best of it and to try to get some work done as they were flying since it was obvious she wasn't going to get any rest -- she pulled out a manuscript that she had been working on and began revising it when, all of a sudden, the man next to her said, "I couldn't help but notice the word, 'God,' all over your paper there -- That's a curious thing to be in a paper."

            -- Lysa turned to the man and realized, in that moment, what was going on -- for you see, it was no accident that God said, "No," to her prayer for an empty row -- it was not chance or dumb luck that this man happened to sit down next to her on that plane -- this was a divine appointment from God -- and as Lysa began to share with this man the good news of salvation and her own story of faith through a lifetime of abuse and rejection, God touched both his heart and the heart of the Indian woman who was sitting next to them listening -- and before the plane landed, both of them had received Jesus as their Lord and Savior and their lives had been changed forever

            -- Lysa closed her account of this experience by thanking God for helping her to have a heart that is open to His presence and to the opportunities for ministry that He places in all of our paths

            -- now I had heard this story before -- I am a fan of Lysa TerKeurst and her ministry -- but, this time, as I listened to the podcast again on the way to work -- not paying a lot of attention because I already knew how the story was going to end -- I heard God speak to me -- it was almost an audible voice -- and I heard Him say "It was just an ordinary day"

            -- I have been thinking about that phrase all week and pondering just what God meant when He gave those words to me -- "It was just an ordinary day"

            -- what was He trying to get me to see? -- what was He trying to get me to understand?

            -- I mean, aren't all our days pretty much ordinary days? -- at the end of the day, when someone comes up and asks you how your day was, how many times do you say, "It was fine -- it was just an ordinary day"

            -- that's exactly the type of day that Simon Peter was having in this passage here in Luke -- it was just an ordinary day in the life of an ordinary fisherman

II.  Scripture Lesson (Luke 5:1-11)

            -- look back with me at verse 1 if you would and let's see what happened on this ordinary day

            -- verse 1-3

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,

2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

            -- I want you to notice what is not said in these verses -- Luke opens up verse 1 by saying, "One day..."

            -- it was not a special day -- it wasn't a holiday -- it wasn't a feast day -- it wasn't even a Sabbath -- it was just one ordinary day in the middle of the week -- and everybody was going about and doing what they normally did

            -- Jesus was just standing there by the lake teaching -- just like any Jewish rabbi would do -- and a group of people had gathered around to hear Him teach on the kingdom of God

            -- right down the beach from Jesus, a handful of fishermen were sitting there next to their boats -- washing their nets after a long night of fishing -- just doing what they did every day -- just going about their normal, ordinary way of life on just another normal, ordinary day

            -- Luke says that the people began to crowd around Jesus -- I guess that more and more people were coming to see what was going on and they were jostling each other trying to get close enough to hear -- it obviously was making it difficult for Jesus to speak to the crowd effectively

            -- so, He got into the boat that belonged to Simon Peter and He asked Simon to put out a little way from the shore -- and then He sat down and continued to teach the people

            -- that was the perfect place to speak from -- sitting there like that would have been liking sitting in an amphitheater -- Jesus would have been able to project His voice out and it would have carried out across the water and up the sloping beach and through the crowd so everyone could hear -- and it also kept Him from getting mobbed and jostled by the people He was trying to speak to

            -- verse 4-5

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

            -- so far, it's just a normal, ordinary day, but things are about to change

            -- when Jesus finished speaking, He told Simon to take the boat out into the deep water and to put his nets out for a catch -- and you can tell from Simon's response he really didn't want to do what Jesus was asking him to do

            -- he had already spent the whole night out there on the lake fishing and hadn't caught anything -- and he and his partners had already come back and washed their nets and gotten everything cleaned up -- I'm sure they were tired and they probably just wanted to go home and get some rest before they had to go back out on the lake to fish again

      -- and, to top it off, I'm sure Simon was sitting there thinking, "This man may be a good rabbi, but He doesn't anything about fishing"

      -- fishermen at that time on the Sea of Galilee fished at night, in the shallows, not in the deep -- they would attach their net to the shore, and then they'd go out just a little ways into the shallow water where the fish congregated, letting the net out as they went -- then, they'd make a wide semi-circle and head back to shore, trapping fish in the net

      -- this was the way it was done -- this was the normal, ordinary way to fish -- this was how everybody did it

      -- and now this rabbi -- this carpenter -- is trying to tell Simon, an experienced, professional fisherman -- how to fish -- and He's telling Him to put out into the deep waters and let down his net

      -- so, Simon says, "I really don't want to do that -- I think it's a waste of time -- but, just to be nice, I'll do what you say" -- and so Simon heads into the deep water and lets his nets down

      -- verse 6-7

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

      -- Simon did what Jesus told him to do -- in spite of the fact that it went against everything that he had been taught and against the way things were normally done -- and the results were miraculous

      -- even though they were in the deep -- even though it was the wrong time of day -- they caught so many fish that their nets began to break -- and Simon had to call his partners to come and help

      -- verse 8-10

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."

      -- when Simon tells Jesus to go away from him, he's not trying to get rid of Him -- what he's trying to say is, "I am too sinful for you to look at -- I am too sinful for you to be with -- you are too holy and I am afraid"

      -- being in the presence of God and hearing His voice and responding to His word is a humbling event -- it reminds us of who we are and of who God really is

      -- Simon's words here reminds me of the words of Isaiah when he was brought before God's throne and saw Him face-to-face -- in Isaiah 6:5,  Isaiah cried out, "Woe to me -- I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

      -- that's what Simon is saying here as he realizes who this man is in the boat with him -- "Woe to me -- for I am a sinner and I am in the presence of God"

      -- but look at how Jesus responds, "Don't be afraid -- for you have finally seen Me -- you have finally heard My voice -- now come with Me and you will catch men just like you caught these fish -- if you stay with Me, then you will catch souls for the kingdom"

      -- verse 11

11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

      -- it had been just a normal, ordinary day, but it didn't stay that way -- it had been just a normal, ordinary life, but in an instant the ordinary became extraordinary

      -- what made the difference?

      -- it wasn't a willing heart -- Simon certainly didn't want to do what Jesus had told him to do

      -- it wasn't faith -- Simon had no faith in Jesus' fishing ability -- Simon didn't expect to catch a thing when he dropped his nets into the deep water -- and, at this point, Simon is not Peter -- he is not the rock -- he has not yet put his faith into Jesus as his Lord and Savior

      -- so, what made the difference between it being just another ordinary day and a day that Simon would never forget?

      -- it's simple -- it was Jesus -- Jesus stepped into Simon's normal, ordinary day and made it extraordinary -- and He wants to do the same for us

      -- when I was listening to Lysa TerKeurst's story and God spoke to me and told me, "It was just an ordinary day," I think He was trying to get me to understand that every day with Him is extraordinary -- that there is no such a thing in God's kingdom as just an ordinary day -- and that He wants to do amazing things in our lives and in the lives of those around us -- if we will only see Him and listen to Him and respond to Him when He calls

III.  Closing

      -- so, how can we make our ordinary days extraordinary?

      -- first, we have to reach the same point Simon reached that morning -- Simon had God in the boat all morning, but he really didn't see Him -- Simon had listened to God all morning, but he really never heard Him -- it was only after the nets filled with fish to the point of breaking that Simon realized Who was in his boat

      -- we have to know Who is in our boat -- we have to know Who is in our day

      -- I think everybody here is probably familiar with the "Where's Waldo?" books -- -- the pages are filled with drawings of normal, ordinary people doing normal, ordinary things -- they're just doing the things of life -- they're going to work -- they're going to school -- they're going to beach or to the mountains or somewhere else

      -- but somewhere in the midst of all those normal, ordinary people is Waldo -- wearing his distinctive red-and-white striped shirt and his bobble hat and his glasses -- and the goal is to find him in the midst of everything else that is going on

      -- that's kind of like Jesus -- as we go through our normal, ordinary days doing our normal, ordinary things, Jesus is right there -- He's in the midst of everything that is going on -- but, a lot of times, we just don't pay any attention to Him -- and if we're not aware of Him -- if we're not hearing Him -- and if we're not seeing Him -- then we're not experiencing Him

      -- we have to experience Jesus in order for our ordinary days to become extraordinary

      -- Lysa TerKeurst gives us a good picture of how we need to do that -- when she got on that plane, it was just a normal, ordinary day -- and even when that man sat down next to her, nothing changed -- she could have gone the whole flight and never said a word to that man

      -- but, when she heard him ask about God, she realized that there was something greater going on -- that this was not just a normal, ordinary occurrence, but a divine appointment -- and that Jesus wanted her to tell this man her story

      -- Lysa was open to God's presence -- she looked for Him on that plane -- she listened for His voice -- and when she saw Him and heard Him and responded to His command, God did an extraordinary thing through her

      --  He'll do it through us, too, if we remember to look for Him during our normal, ordinary days

      -- the second thing that has to happen in order for our ordinary days to become extraordinary is to be open to whatever God tells us to do -- you don't do extraordinary things in ordinary ways

      -- as Albert Einstein once said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

      -- God is a God of creativity -- and while He never changes, the ways He uses us and the ways He reaches out through us change all the time

      -- when God wants to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary, He will ask us to do things we don't normally do -- He will ask us to break from tradition and do things in a completely new way -- ways the world may think are wrong

      -- think about how Jesus asked Simon to put out in the deep water and to drop his nets in the middle of the day -- what do you think Simon's partners thought as they saw his boat heading into the middle of the lake?

      -- in order to see extraordinary results, you sometimes have to give an extraordinary effort

      -- the final thing that has to happen in order for our ordinary days to become extraordinary is that we actually have to respond and do what He tells us to do -- no matter how crazy or strange it may be

      -- we don't have to want to do it -- Simon didn't want to go out fishing again that morning -- Lysa didn't want to spend her flight ministering -- she just wanted to rest -- we don't have to have a willing spirit -- we just have to have an obedient heart

      -- we don't even need faith -- like I said, Simon didn't have faith in Jesus that day, but it didn't stop Jesus from doing a miracle -- God has called me to do things that I didn't believe were possible

      -- He had me pray for healing for this man in the hospital and I didn't have any faith -- I didn't believe this man was going to get better -- I walked out of there and thought to myself that man was going to die -- but God healed him and that man walked out of that hospital on his own two feet and he came back to our church the very next Sunday

      -- our faith -- or our lack of faith -- is not a hindrance to God's ability to work in us and through us

      -- we need to learn to just do what He says and leave the rest up to Him

      -- when Simon and his partners washed their nets by the Sea of Galilee on that day, it started out as a normal, ordinary day -- but it quickly into something that changed their lives forever

      -- as you leave here today, remember that there is no such a thing as normal and ordinary in the Kingdom of God -- but that every day can be a day of wonder and miracle if we only seek God's face and listen for His voice and respond in obedience to His call

      -- let us pray

SERMON: THE SOUNDS OF EASTER

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE

8 April 2012 (Modified from 12 April 2009)

I.  Introduction

            -- if you have your Bibles with you, invite you to turn with me to Luke 23 -- I’m going to read verses 50-56 this morning as we begin our Easter sunrise service together

Luke 23:50-56 (NIV)

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,

51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.

52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

           

II.  The Sounds of Easter

            -- I want everyone here to do something for me -- in just a second, I want you to close your eyes and take just a moment and listen to the world around you -- I’ll tell you when to open your eyes again -- but for just 15 seconds, I want you to pause and to listen -- ready? -- close your eyes and let’s start

            -- what did you hear? -- what sounds caught your ear this morning?

            -- we’ve gathered here at sunrise on this Easter morning just like Jesus’ disciples did over 2000 years ago -- have you ever stopped to think about what they heard as they stood there that first Easter? -- have you ever stopped to think about what Jesus heard that last week of His life?  -- have you ever stopped to wonder about the sounds of Easter?

            -- that first Easter week started when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey on Palm Sunday -- what was it like riding down the Mount of Olives into the Kidron Valley? -- what noises filled His ears? -- the sound of the donkey plodding along? -- the sound of sandals slapping against the hard earth? -- the sound of His disciples quietly talking amongst themselves?

            -- we do know what happened as He neared Jerusalem -- the Bible tells us that the air was filled with the sound of the crowd -- with the people shouting joyfully, “Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord -- Hosanna in the highest”

                       

            -- What about on Maundy Thursday -- the night of the Last Supper? -- What sounds surrounded Jesus then? -- probably the sound of the temple -- of the people gathering to sacrifice the paschal lamb -- lambs bleating -- people talking and singing -- babies crying

            -- What about later that night, as He reclined at the table with His closest disciples and shared the Passover Meal? -- perhaps the sound of a fire crackling in the stove? -- dishes clattering -- glasses clinking -- the sound of friends enjoying each other’s company over a meal -- the sound of conversation and laughter

            -- What about when He washed their feet? -- what do you think the disciples heard then? -- the rustle of cloth as Jesus bent before them? -- the sound of water dripping as He washed their feet -- the sound of cloth against skin as He dried them -- the words of Peter saying that Jesus would never wash his feet and then changing his mind and saying, “not just my feet -- but my heads and my hands, as well”

            -- What other noises did Jesus hear? -- did He hear the clink of the 30 pieces of silver as the priests gave them to Judas for betraying Him? -- did He hear the sounds of the temple guards approaching -- of the clatter of their swords bouncing against their armor? -- did He hear the sound of the torches and the crowds gathered to judge? -- did He hear the rooster crow as Peter denied Him? -- did He listen as the demons rejoiced at the sight of His capture and trial?

            -- What about on Friday? -- as Jesus was passed around between Pontius Pilate and King Herod -- as He was paraded before the crowd -- what did He hear? -- what noises caught His attention?

            -- the noise of the whip as it whistled in the air before striking His flesh? -- the angry cries of the crowd -- the same voices that shouted “Hosanna” just five days before now shouting “Crucify?”

            -- the noise of His own feet as He trod along the Via Dolorosa toward Calvary -- the sound of His cross dragging along behind Him -- the muttering of the crowd that lined the street -- the cries of His family and friends?

            -- What about at Calvary? -- what then? -- did He hear the sound of the hammer striking the nail as it punctured His hands and His feet? -- the sound of the cross being lifted, with ropes straining to seat it into the hole carved in the hill? -- the moans of pain and the cries of derision from the thieves surrounding Him on the other two crosses? -- the jeers and taunts from the Pharisees and the priests and the others gathered to watch? -- the sobs from His mother and the other women?

            -- we don’t know exactly what Jesus heard that week -- the noises that filled His ears -- but we do know one thing that He listened for with all His heart -- straining to hear it, even from the cross -- especially from the cross

            -- He longed to hear the sound of His Father -- He longed to hear His Father’s voice -- but He didn’t -- He couldn’t

            -- Matthew and Mark tell us that right before Jesus died, He cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" -- Why have You left me? -- Why aren’t You here? -- Why can’t I hear You?

            -- In 1 Kings Chapter 19, we read about Elijah following his showdown with Jezebel’s priests on Mount Carmel -- like Jesus, Elijah longed to hear the voice of God -- like Jesus, Elijah longed to know, just for a moment, that God had not abandoned him -- that he was not alone -- that God was still there and things were still o.k.

            -- and the Bible says that Elijah went out of the cave where he was hiding and listened for the Lord -- as he listened, a strong and powerful wind blew over him, tearing the mountain apart and shattering the rocks, but the Lord wasn’t in the wind

            -- After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the quake -- After the quake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire -- And after the fire -- after the chaos -- after it was all over -- in the stillness and the silence -- there came a gentle whisper -- and it was in the quiet of the whisper that Elijah heard God

            -- in this passage that we opened with, it’s all over -- the betrayal and the capture are done -- the trial and the beating is over -- the crucifixion has ended -- the darkness that had covered the land for three hours has lifted -- the veil in the temple has been torn in two, exposing the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant to all for the first time in over 2000 years -- Jesus has proclaimed, “It is finished” -- and He has died

            -- the show’s over -- and the crowd leaves -- looking over their shoulders one more time at the three men left there on the crosses at Calvary -- only a handful of people remain at the foot of their Master -- at the foot of the cross holding Jesus

            -- let me read this passage again, starting at verse 50

Luke 23:50-56 (NIV)

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,

51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.

52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

            -- as always happens after a funeral, the crowd begins to leave first-- and the family is left there to mourn alone in silence -- Joseph took Jesus’ body -- and, as John tells it, he and Nicodemus carried Jesus together to the garden, where there was a new tomb where no one had ever been lain before

            -- and Jesus’ mother and Mary Magdalene and a few other faithful women followers of Jesus watched as Joseph and Nicodemus prepared the body for burial -- and then they all left the garden together

            -- think for a moment what that place sounded like as the sun started to set on Good Friday -- as the Sabbath was beginning -- as Joseph and Nicodemus and the women had just left

            -- the garden would have been quiet -- peaceful -- still -- like the calm before a storm

            -- you’d almost think no one was there -- you’d almost think that Jesus had finally been abandoned by everyone -- but in the silence of that place, God was there and He finally spoke the words that Jesus had longed to hear

            -- you would have expected to hear God’s voice earlier in the week -- when the crowd shouted “crucify” -- when the guards flogged the Son of God -- when the crowds jeered as Jesus carried the cross -- when the sound of the hammer reverberated from Golgotha

            -- but just like with Elijah after Mount Carmel -- God’s voice was not heard in the chaos of that week -- His voice wasn’t in the wind of the crowd’s shouts of “Crucify” -- His voice wasn’t in the quake of the hammer’s blow on the cross -- His voice wasn’t even in the fire of the judgment and wrath being poured out on Jesus on the cross for our sake

            -- His voice was in the whisper that echoed in the walls of the tomb -- “Yes, Jesus, You are right -- It is finished” -- and with that whisper, Jesus rose from the dead -- in the quiet of that place, God spoke and Jesus heard and eternity was never the same

            -- sometimes we get caught up in the action -- we get swept up in the chaos of life -- and, try as we might, we just can’t hear God speak -- we call out for Him in the wind -- in the quake -- and in the fire -- but we can’t hear His voice

            -- sometimes we can only hear Him after the crowds have gone home and we are left in silence and we listen with ears of faith

            -- this morning, as we are gathered here as God's people to remember the empty tomb -- and the risen Christ -- and the whisper of victory -- let’s take a moment and listen again for God’s voice to speak to us

            -- let’s take a moment to listen in the stillness of this place -- and let Him whisper to our hearts -- and let Him remind us that He is our God and we are His people -- and this day is all about what He did for us

            -- as we close, let’s remember that it is not the sounds of Easter -- it is not the sounds of the chaos -- of the excitement -- of the action -- that we need to be focusing on -- but on the quiet whisper that changed eternity forever -- on that still small voice that continues to speak today, “It is finished -- sin and death have been destroyed -- I live -- and because I live, so can you”

            -- let’s pray