International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
This Sunday, November 14th, is set aside as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. While we may find this hard to believe as Christians living in the freest nation in the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to be persecuted and many live in daily fear for their lives.
The nations that we are most concerned about with in 2004 are North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Laos. These nations continually violate the human rights of both Christians and their citizens. Christians are routinely arrested and placed in prison for no crime other than worshiping God. They are tortured and may serve years without any hope of parole or even a trial. Recently in China, a crackdown on house churches ended up with hundreds of Christians being arrested and with the death of at least one house pastor in police hands. I saw a picture last week of believers in China huddled in an alleyway for a worship service because their house church had been closed. And, of course, we are all familiar with the horrific persecution of Christians in the Sudan, persecution which includes crucifixion, torture, and the sale of children into slavery.
As you go about your daily life this week and especially as you freely enter a sanctuary to worship God, remember your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who daily suffer persecution for Christ's sake. Pray for their strength and that they would stand firm in the face of persecution. And pray that God would change their nations through them, just as He changed the Roman empire from a persecutor of Christians into a Christian nation. And pray for the day when Christ will return in His glory and when peace will finally reign in our world.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Thoughts on the Election
As I write this, the presidential election is over. Senator John Kerry has conceded the race and President Bush has been re-elected for another four years. The Republicans maintained and increased control of both the house and senate. And in my home state of Georgia, the Republicans gained both congressional senate seats and tightened their hold on the state general assembly.
In the aftermath of this election, there are several take-home messages that I would like to share with you:
1. Religion Matters! Religion matters to most of the people in the United States. It was the religious vote that propelled President Bush to victory this year. In a race with two markedly different candidates promoting markedly different world views, the Christian world view came out the victor, both in the electoral college and in the popular vote. Senator Kerry tried to court the religious vote in the waning days of the election, but his attempts seemed contrived and false. It was obvious that he did not share the core values or the core beliefs of the evangelical Christians, and that was what drove them to the polls in record numbers.
2. Voter Turnout! For once, the American public was not apathetic. Even here in Georgia, which ranked 49th in voter turnout in the last presidential election, we saw astonishing numbers of voters turn out to exercise their right to vote. Cathy Cox, our Secretary of State, estimated early on Tuesday that voter turnout would exceed 79%. Final numbers should be out in a few days.
3. Chaos in the Streets! Earlier today, when the outcome of the election was still uncertain and the threat of lawsuits and controversy loomed large, we did not have chaos in our streets. Our democratic process worked once again. In other nations, close races end up with tanks in the street and angry mobs looting and rioting. But not here. We may argue in court. We may take it to the home stretch. But we trust in our governmental system enough to let it work.
4. Terrorism! Regardless of the unveiled threats by Osama bin Laden, American voters showed up at the polls in record numbers, participating in the governmental process even though it would define them as political enemies in the eyes of Al Quaida. Most strikingly, there were absolutely no terrorist threats or actions, either here or abroad. I believe that the prayers of the saints kept the terrorists at bay and that God has protected our nation once again. We have not had a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9-11. Terrorists have struck in Spain, in Egypt, in Israel, in Bali, in Idonesia -- but they have not succeeded in striking here. Let's pray that God continues to protect our nation.
5. Same-Sex Marriages! Eleven states resoundingly affirmed that marriage was between one man and one woman. All eleven measures passed with 2/3 majority or better, showing that this nation is firmly rooted in traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and values. While the media may proclaim that most American support same-sex unions and while the courts may strike down these laws, the people of this nation have stood firm and voiced their opinion.
As I write this, the presidential election is over. Senator John Kerry has conceded the race and President Bush has been re-elected for another four years. The Republicans maintained and increased control of both the house and senate. And in my home state of Georgia, the Republicans gained both congressional senate seats and tightened their hold on the state general assembly.
In the aftermath of this election, there are several take-home messages that I would like to share with you:
1. Religion Matters! Religion matters to most of the people in the United States. It was the religious vote that propelled President Bush to victory this year. In a race with two markedly different candidates promoting markedly different world views, the Christian world view came out the victor, both in the electoral college and in the popular vote. Senator Kerry tried to court the religious vote in the waning days of the election, but his attempts seemed contrived and false. It was obvious that he did not share the core values or the core beliefs of the evangelical Christians, and that was what drove them to the polls in record numbers.
2. Voter Turnout! For once, the American public was not apathetic. Even here in Georgia, which ranked 49th in voter turnout in the last presidential election, we saw astonishing numbers of voters turn out to exercise their right to vote. Cathy Cox, our Secretary of State, estimated early on Tuesday that voter turnout would exceed 79%. Final numbers should be out in a few days.
3. Chaos in the Streets! Earlier today, when the outcome of the election was still uncertain and the threat of lawsuits and controversy loomed large, we did not have chaos in our streets. Our democratic process worked once again. In other nations, close races end up with tanks in the street and angry mobs looting and rioting. But not here. We may argue in court. We may take it to the home stretch. But we trust in our governmental system enough to let it work.
4. Terrorism! Regardless of the unveiled threats by Osama bin Laden, American voters showed up at the polls in record numbers, participating in the governmental process even though it would define them as political enemies in the eyes of Al Quaida. Most strikingly, there were absolutely no terrorist threats or actions, either here or abroad. I believe that the prayers of the saints kept the terrorists at bay and that God has protected our nation once again. We have not had a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9-11. Terrorists have struck in Spain, in Egypt, in Israel, in Bali, in Idonesia -- but they have not succeeded in striking here. Let's pray that God continues to protect our nation.
5. Same-Sex Marriages! Eleven states resoundingly affirmed that marriage was between one man and one woman. All eleven measures passed with 2/3 majority or better, showing that this nation is firmly rooted in traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and values. While the media may proclaim that most American support same-sex unions and while the courts may strike down these laws, the people of this nation have stood firm and voiced their opinion.
DO YOU WANT A REVIVAL?
Preached 31 October 2004
Gregory W. Lee
The Passionate Election
-- Well, here we are at the cusp of a major presidential election -- I can tell you, I'm getting a little burned out by all the rheteric and campaign ads and calls for this election -- both from the presidential candidates as well as local and state candidates
-- I know I've not been involved in a lot of elections, but I have never -- in my life -- seen an election like this -- I have never seen so many people so passionate about their candidates and so passionate about keeping the other person out of office -- and that holds whether you're talking about Kerry or Bush or any of the other candidates
-- their supporters are making it sound like that if the other one gets in office, our country is headed right to hell and that the only way we will survive is to elect their candidate -- and I think they really believe that
-- but when you step back and you get past all the rhetoric and all the lies and all the campaign ads and all the debates, you can clearly see that all the people want the same thing -- they want to see America made strong -- they want to see America made prosperous -- they want to see Americans protected from terrorism and protected from financial catastrophe -- they want to see Americans taken care of
-- they may have different paths to get there -- they may think only their candidate can do it -- but both sides firmly believe that we must restore America
The Need for Revival
-- as I was thinking about this this week, it struck me what the nation is really calling for -- the nation is calling for revival -- they may not call it revival -- they may not even know that's what they are wanting -- but that's exactly what they are desiring in their heart of heart
-- when revival comes to a nation, not only is there a renewing of the spiritual, but there is a renewing of everything about a nation -- its morals, its ethics, its justice, its mercy, and its grace
-- if there is one thing this election has clearly shown, it is that America desperately needs a revival of heart and soul and body if we are going to survive and fulfill God's will for this nation
-- we talk about revival a lot in the church -- we schedule revivals and homecomings and come together claiming to seek a revival in our lives -- but are we truly seeking a real revival
-- in the Bible, there are two meanings to the word revival -- the first is from the Old Testament -- in the context of the Hebrew Scriptures, the word revival conveyed the idea of breathing -- breathing with the breath of God -- living in such a way that God's presence was manifested through us -- not only at church -- not only in our individual lives -- but in the lives of the community and the nation as well
-- revival was a means by which God restored and preserved and healed the nations -- it was a means by which God prospered the nations -- and I think that is exactly what we are seeking in this election
-- in the New Testament, the word Revival takes on a slightly different meaning -- it becomes more personal and it means to bring back to life -- to live again -- and as Jesus taught, true revival begins first at home -- in your heart and in my heart -- and then spreads out to the church and to the community and to the nation
-- Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter defined a New Testament revival as an extraordinary work of God in which Christians repent of their sins as they become intensely aware of the presence of God in their midst -- they say that a true evangelical revival is characterized by a deepening of their individual and corporate experience with God and an increased concern to win others to Christ
Real Revivals?
-- we have had scheduled revivals every year since I've been here -- how many of you really came expecting to see God work in that way -- how many of you really came expecting to see this nation changed through our revival?
-- I can confess to you -- I didn't -- and I expect you didn't -- you probably came to hear a good preacher -- to hear good singing -- to share in the fellowship -- to experience God outside of a normal Sunday morning worship service -- but you didn't really come expecting revival
-- let me get one thing straight with you this morning -- revival will not come on November 2nd when the polls close -- revival will not come just because we set aside a fifth Sunday or three-days in the fall or spring and bring in a guest preacher -- revival will only come when we seek it in accordance with God's word
-- in 2 Chr. 7:14, God gives us the requirements of revival -- He tells us how to bring it about -- we've been over these verses -- I've preached on these verses -- even Brooke has memorized these verses -- but yet we still haven't seen revival
-- why? -- it's because we have just read about it and believed in revival but we have done absolutely nothing on our part to take action and bring it about
-- if you want to see revival -- don't depend on Kerry or Bush or any of the elected officials -- don't depend on guest preachers or on me -- don't depend on it just happening -- if you don't take the steps on your own to bring about revival in your life, it will never happen
-- listen to me -- look at me as I proclaim this verse to you -- 2 Chronicles 7:14 -- "if my people, who are called by my name -- will humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land"
-- don't miss the order there -- God says if we do all of that -- if we humble ourselves -- if we seek His face -- if we turn from our wicked ways -- then and only then will He hear from heaven
-- how many of you did that before the last revival we had -- how many of you did that in preparation for Homecoming?
-- and catch what the rest of this verse is saying -- if we do that -- then God will hear from heaven and will forgive our sins -- He will forgive our sins first before He heals our land -- before America is made strong -- before America is made righteous and full of God's justice and mercy and grace -- before we see a spiritual and a physical and a material revival in America, we must first seek forgiveness of our own sins
-- revival doesn't start with elections -- revival doesn't start with democrats or republicans -- revival starts in your own heart and in your own household and in your own life -- and from there, revival will spread through this church and this community and this state and this nation
-- how do you know if you are seeing a true revival? -- you will know, because you will experience it starting in your heart and flowing out to the church like a living river and then flowing outside the church -- changing lives and society as it goes
-- when we talk about revival, we are talking about nothing less than the manifest presence of God in our lives -- forgiving our sins and healing our hearts and changing our very existence
A True Spiritual Revival (Luke 18:9-14)
-- I want us to take a few minutes and look at one of the greatest revivals in the word of God -- and I'm not talking about Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost -- I'm not talking Joshua leading the nation of Israel to repentance beside the Jordan River -- I'm not talking about Ninevah's revival under the preaching of Jonah -- I'm not talking about the restoration of Israel under Elijah at Mt. Carmel -- no, I'm talking about a different revival
-- look with me at Luke 18:9 -- we are told this is a parable of Jesus, but there is no reason to believe that it didn't actually happen -- as God, Jesus would have known of this situation, but He presented it to his listeners as a parable -- as a story -- so they would relate it to their own lives
-- verse 9. "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:"
Jesus told this parable to a group of people who were convinced of their own righteousness -- these were the upstanding church members of His day -- they looked at their lives and at their service to God and at their attendance at religious services -- and they believed that they were as holy as they needed to be -- they served as examples to others -- those people who were out there living a sinful life just needed to be like them to be saved
-- verse 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
-- Jesus is contrasting here two people on the opposite extremes of the spectrum -- one was a Pharisee -- a leader in the church -- the other, a tax collector -- or, as the King James says, a publican -- a sinner -- someone who was despised by the church because of the life that he was living
-- you want to put this in modern day words -- two men went up to church to pray -- one was a committee chair -- the other a good ole boy who liked to hang out at CJ's Pub and shoot pool in the evenings
-- verses 11-12 -- 11. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: `God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.
12. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
-- it was common in that day for the people who were praying to stand up and to raise their head and their hands to heaven -- they would pray to God with their eyes open -- so Jesus may mean that this Pharisee took that position -- or He may mean that the Pharisee took it a step further -- he separated himself from the others in the temple and prayed in the open so all would see him
-- and, honestly, this Pharisee was a great man of God -- he did above and beyond what the law required -- we would be excited to have such a person in our midst -- this was a man who didn't have obvious sin in his life -- he wasn't a hypocrite -- proclaiming to be holy and then going out sinning in the eyes of the world -- no, he says here he wasn't a robber or an evildoer or an adulterer
-- in fact, he fasted twice a week -- the law only required him to fast once a year -- this man fasted every Monday and Thursday -- 100 times a year -- 100 times what God required
-- he gave a tithe -- a tenth of everything that he received -- the law didn't demand that -- God didn't demand that -- the law only required that this man give a tithe from the corn and wine and oil and cattle, but this Pharisee gave a tenth of everything -- even the herbs of his garden
-- but look how he approached God -- Jesus tells us that he came and prayed about himself -- his prayer is more a boast than an expression of worship -- he gave thanks to God, but really didn't give God the credit for the goodness in his life -- he doesn't say "by the grace of God I am what I am" like Paul does -- he just talks about himself and his works
-- and he seems to want to show God just how righteous he is by comparing himself to the lowly tax collector standing there with him
-- we don't ever do that, do we? -- we don't ever look down on somebody -- we don't ever see someone with an obvious sin problem -- maybe alcoholism or drug use or adultery -- and think to ourselves, "at least I'm better than them" -- we don't ever compare ourselves with others, do we? -- we don't compare our church to other churches, do we?
-- look at how different the tax collector was -- vs. 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
-- Jesus tells us that this tax collector stood at a distance -- he stood far off -- he wouldn't look up at heaven -- he just stood there, head bowed -- eyes down -- beating himself on his chest -- too sinful to approach God -- too sinful to even stand next to the Pharisee
-- he had no deeds to express -- he had no good works to put up -- he had nothing -- no righteousness in his life at all -- all he could do was stand before the holiness of God and cry out with the heart of a sinner, "God, have mercy on me"
-- when was the last time you approached God like this tax collector? -- when was the last time that you were made aware of the sin in your life to the point where you just stood before God and cried out, "God, have mercy on me?" -- when was the last time you looked at the holiness of God and the sinfulness of your life and cried out to Him in brokenness for forgiveness?
-- every one of you -- whether you are a Christian or not -- is a sinner -- every one of you is no better than that tax collector -- 1 Jn 1:8 says "if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us"
-- that Pharisee was deceived -- he was a sinner -- and when he approached the throne of grace he should have done it just like the tax collected -- with humbleness of spirit and with true repentance in his heart
-- the passage in 1 John goes on to say in verse 9, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"
-- look back at verse 14 in this passage -- "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
-- both men entered the presence of God -- but only one man went home justified -- only one man went home with his sins forgiven and purified from all unrighteousness
-- this was the man who sought a revival in his own heart -- who did what 2 Chronicles 7:14 commands -- he humbled himself -- in body and in spirit -- he sought the face of God through prayer -- and he turned from all his wicked ways -- he repented of his sin and cried out to God for mercy and grace -- and God brought revival -- God brought healing -- God brought restoration
Do You Want a Revival?
-- do you want a revival -- do you really want to see an extraordinary work of God in your life and in this church and in this nation -- then it has to start at the same place it started with this tax collector -- it has to start with your own heart
-- revival only comes through repentance -- through humbleness -- and through praying and seeking God's face
-- if we want a revival in this nation -- and I think the people are crying out for such a revival -- then we need to repent of all known sin -- we need to do everything that we are supposed to do -- and then we'll experience revival
-- can God work in a mighty way in our church? -- can God work in a mighty way in our nation? -- I believe and I know that He can
-- I want to close by telling you about a mighty work of God that happened last week -- that was brought about through prayer and through repentance
-- last week, a friend of mine went into the state prison at Autrey as part of the Kairos team -- almost half of the inmates -- 11 people -- were not Christians -- two of those were muslims, who were participating in the Kairos so they could fix the Christians and show them the error of their ways
-- one of the guys on the team sent out an emergency e-mail on Saturday night -- the last night of the event -- requesting prayer for the 11 people by name -- within two hours, he had received over 1,200 responses back and counting -- the team prayed for these 11 men all evening and through the next morning
-- the next day, as the inmates were coming back into the conference room and being hugged and greeted by the Kairos team, the first of the 11 people they were praying for entered the line
-- he made it past the fifth person in the Kairos team line and then fell to the ground, weeping and repenting of his sins and asking Jesus into his life
-- then two more fell down and did the same -- when the first Muslim came in, he made it to the 10th person in line and fell to his knees, asking Jesus to forgive him for turning his back on Him
-- the other Muslim came in and immediately fell to the ground prostrate, crying and asking Jesus into his life
-- while the team was praying with these men, a black female guard rounded the corner, crying and asking if someone could help her -- she said she needed Jesus in her life too -- out of the 11 prisoners they prayed for, 10 of them accepted Christ
-- the other inmates in the prison refused to walk past the building where the Kairos was going on because they said they got a tingling feeling as they walked past -- they asked the guards for permission to go a different way to the chow hall -- the power of God was so strong in that place that it was spilling outside the walls and into the prison itself
Closing
-- revival will happen anywhere that people humble themselves and seek God's face and turn from their wicked ways -- it happened in the heart of a tax collector -- it happened in Autrey prison -- and it can happen in your life and in this church too -- but, it's up to you
-- will you this morning seek revival in your life -- will you go home justified -- or will you go home like the Pharisee?
-- as we sing this last hymn, the altar is open -- God is here -- and if you want to experience a revival, then you need to respond
-- let's pray
Preached 31 October 2004
Gregory W. Lee
The Passionate Election
-- Well, here we are at the cusp of a major presidential election -- I can tell you, I'm getting a little burned out by all the rheteric and campaign ads and calls for this election -- both from the presidential candidates as well as local and state candidates
-- I know I've not been involved in a lot of elections, but I have never -- in my life -- seen an election like this -- I have never seen so many people so passionate about their candidates and so passionate about keeping the other person out of office -- and that holds whether you're talking about Kerry or Bush or any of the other candidates
-- their supporters are making it sound like that if the other one gets in office, our country is headed right to hell and that the only way we will survive is to elect their candidate -- and I think they really believe that
-- but when you step back and you get past all the rhetoric and all the lies and all the campaign ads and all the debates, you can clearly see that all the people want the same thing -- they want to see America made strong -- they want to see America made prosperous -- they want to see Americans protected from terrorism and protected from financial catastrophe -- they want to see Americans taken care of
-- they may have different paths to get there -- they may think only their candidate can do it -- but both sides firmly believe that we must restore America
The Need for Revival
-- as I was thinking about this this week, it struck me what the nation is really calling for -- the nation is calling for revival -- they may not call it revival -- they may not even know that's what they are wanting -- but that's exactly what they are desiring in their heart of heart
-- when revival comes to a nation, not only is there a renewing of the spiritual, but there is a renewing of everything about a nation -- its morals, its ethics, its justice, its mercy, and its grace
-- if there is one thing this election has clearly shown, it is that America desperately needs a revival of heart and soul and body if we are going to survive and fulfill God's will for this nation
-- we talk about revival a lot in the church -- we schedule revivals and homecomings and come together claiming to seek a revival in our lives -- but are we truly seeking a real revival
-- in the Bible, there are two meanings to the word revival -- the first is from the Old Testament -- in the context of the Hebrew Scriptures, the word revival conveyed the idea of breathing -- breathing with the breath of God -- living in such a way that God's presence was manifested through us -- not only at church -- not only in our individual lives -- but in the lives of the community and the nation as well
-- revival was a means by which God restored and preserved and healed the nations -- it was a means by which God prospered the nations -- and I think that is exactly what we are seeking in this election
-- in the New Testament, the word Revival takes on a slightly different meaning -- it becomes more personal and it means to bring back to life -- to live again -- and as Jesus taught, true revival begins first at home -- in your heart and in my heart -- and then spreads out to the church and to the community and to the nation
-- Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter defined a New Testament revival as an extraordinary work of God in which Christians repent of their sins as they become intensely aware of the presence of God in their midst -- they say that a true evangelical revival is characterized by a deepening of their individual and corporate experience with God and an increased concern to win others to Christ
Real Revivals?
-- we have had scheduled revivals every year since I've been here -- how many of you really came expecting to see God work in that way -- how many of you really came expecting to see this nation changed through our revival?
-- I can confess to you -- I didn't -- and I expect you didn't -- you probably came to hear a good preacher -- to hear good singing -- to share in the fellowship -- to experience God outside of a normal Sunday morning worship service -- but you didn't really come expecting revival
-- let me get one thing straight with you this morning -- revival will not come on November 2nd when the polls close -- revival will not come just because we set aside a fifth Sunday or three-days in the fall or spring and bring in a guest preacher -- revival will only come when we seek it in accordance with God's word
-- in 2 Chr. 7:14, God gives us the requirements of revival -- He tells us how to bring it about -- we've been over these verses -- I've preached on these verses -- even Brooke has memorized these verses -- but yet we still haven't seen revival
-- why? -- it's because we have just read about it and believed in revival but we have done absolutely nothing on our part to take action and bring it about
-- if you want to see revival -- don't depend on Kerry or Bush or any of the elected officials -- don't depend on guest preachers or on me -- don't depend on it just happening -- if you don't take the steps on your own to bring about revival in your life, it will never happen
-- listen to me -- look at me as I proclaim this verse to you -- 2 Chronicles 7:14 -- "if my people, who are called by my name -- will humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land"
-- don't miss the order there -- God says if we do all of that -- if we humble ourselves -- if we seek His face -- if we turn from our wicked ways -- then and only then will He hear from heaven
-- how many of you did that before the last revival we had -- how many of you did that in preparation for Homecoming?
-- and catch what the rest of this verse is saying -- if we do that -- then God will hear from heaven and will forgive our sins -- He will forgive our sins first before He heals our land -- before America is made strong -- before America is made righteous and full of God's justice and mercy and grace -- before we see a spiritual and a physical and a material revival in America, we must first seek forgiveness of our own sins
-- revival doesn't start with elections -- revival doesn't start with democrats or republicans -- revival starts in your own heart and in your own household and in your own life -- and from there, revival will spread through this church and this community and this state and this nation
-- how do you know if you are seeing a true revival? -- you will know, because you will experience it starting in your heart and flowing out to the church like a living river and then flowing outside the church -- changing lives and society as it goes
-- when we talk about revival, we are talking about nothing less than the manifest presence of God in our lives -- forgiving our sins and healing our hearts and changing our very existence
A True Spiritual Revival (Luke 18:9-14)
-- I want us to take a few minutes and look at one of the greatest revivals in the word of God -- and I'm not talking about Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost -- I'm not talking Joshua leading the nation of Israel to repentance beside the Jordan River -- I'm not talking about Ninevah's revival under the preaching of Jonah -- I'm not talking about the restoration of Israel under Elijah at Mt. Carmel -- no, I'm talking about a different revival
-- look with me at Luke 18:9 -- we are told this is a parable of Jesus, but there is no reason to believe that it didn't actually happen -- as God, Jesus would have known of this situation, but He presented it to his listeners as a parable -- as a story -- so they would relate it to their own lives
-- verse 9. "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:"
Jesus told this parable to a group of people who were convinced of their own righteousness -- these were the upstanding church members of His day -- they looked at their lives and at their service to God and at their attendance at religious services -- and they believed that they were as holy as they needed to be -- they served as examples to others -- those people who were out there living a sinful life just needed to be like them to be saved
-- verse 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
-- Jesus is contrasting here two people on the opposite extremes of the spectrum -- one was a Pharisee -- a leader in the church -- the other, a tax collector -- or, as the King James says, a publican -- a sinner -- someone who was despised by the church because of the life that he was living
-- you want to put this in modern day words -- two men went up to church to pray -- one was a committee chair -- the other a good ole boy who liked to hang out at CJ's Pub and shoot pool in the evenings
-- verses 11-12 -- 11. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: `God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.
12. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
-- it was common in that day for the people who were praying to stand up and to raise their head and their hands to heaven -- they would pray to God with their eyes open -- so Jesus may mean that this Pharisee took that position -- or He may mean that the Pharisee took it a step further -- he separated himself from the others in the temple and prayed in the open so all would see him
-- and, honestly, this Pharisee was a great man of God -- he did above and beyond what the law required -- we would be excited to have such a person in our midst -- this was a man who didn't have obvious sin in his life -- he wasn't a hypocrite -- proclaiming to be holy and then going out sinning in the eyes of the world -- no, he says here he wasn't a robber or an evildoer or an adulterer
-- in fact, he fasted twice a week -- the law only required him to fast once a year -- this man fasted every Monday and Thursday -- 100 times a year -- 100 times what God required
-- he gave a tithe -- a tenth of everything that he received -- the law didn't demand that -- God didn't demand that -- the law only required that this man give a tithe from the corn and wine and oil and cattle, but this Pharisee gave a tenth of everything -- even the herbs of his garden
-- but look how he approached God -- Jesus tells us that he came and prayed about himself -- his prayer is more a boast than an expression of worship -- he gave thanks to God, but really didn't give God the credit for the goodness in his life -- he doesn't say "by the grace of God I am what I am" like Paul does -- he just talks about himself and his works
-- and he seems to want to show God just how righteous he is by comparing himself to the lowly tax collector standing there with him
-- we don't ever do that, do we? -- we don't ever look down on somebody -- we don't ever see someone with an obvious sin problem -- maybe alcoholism or drug use or adultery -- and think to ourselves, "at least I'm better than them" -- we don't ever compare ourselves with others, do we? -- we don't compare our church to other churches, do we?
-- look at how different the tax collector was -- vs. 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
-- Jesus tells us that this tax collector stood at a distance -- he stood far off -- he wouldn't look up at heaven -- he just stood there, head bowed -- eyes down -- beating himself on his chest -- too sinful to approach God -- too sinful to even stand next to the Pharisee
-- he had no deeds to express -- he had no good works to put up -- he had nothing -- no righteousness in his life at all -- all he could do was stand before the holiness of God and cry out with the heart of a sinner, "God, have mercy on me"
-- when was the last time you approached God like this tax collector? -- when was the last time that you were made aware of the sin in your life to the point where you just stood before God and cried out, "God, have mercy on me?" -- when was the last time you looked at the holiness of God and the sinfulness of your life and cried out to Him in brokenness for forgiveness?
-- every one of you -- whether you are a Christian or not -- is a sinner -- every one of you is no better than that tax collector -- 1 Jn 1:8 says "if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us"
-- that Pharisee was deceived -- he was a sinner -- and when he approached the throne of grace he should have done it just like the tax collected -- with humbleness of spirit and with true repentance in his heart
-- the passage in 1 John goes on to say in verse 9, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"
-- look back at verse 14 in this passage -- "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
-- both men entered the presence of God -- but only one man went home justified -- only one man went home with his sins forgiven and purified from all unrighteousness
-- this was the man who sought a revival in his own heart -- who did what 2 Chronicles 7:14 commands -- he humbled himself -- in body and in spirit -- he sought the face of God through prayer -- and he turned from all his wicked ways -- he repented of his sin and cried out to God for mercy and grace -- and God brought revival -- God brought healing -- God brought restoration
Do You Want a Revival?
-- do you want a revival -- do you really want to see an extraordinary work of God in your life and in this church and in this nation -- then it has to start at the same place it started with this tax collector -- it has to start with your own heart
-- revival only comes through repentance -- through humbleness -- and through praying and seeking God's face
-- if we want a revival in this nation -- and I think the people are crying out for such a revival -- then we need to repent of all known sin -- we need to do everything that we are supposed to do -- and then we'll experience revival
-- can God work in a mighty way in our church? -- can God work in a mighty way in our nation? -- I believe and I know that He can
-- I want to close by telling you about a mighty work of God that happened last week -- that was brought about through prayer and through repentance
-- last week, a friend of mine went into the state prison at Autrey as part of the Kairos team -- almost half of the inmates -- 11 people -- were not Christians -- two of those were muslims, who were participating in the Kairos so they could fix the Christians and show them the error of their ways
-- one of the guys on the team sent out an emergency e-mail on Saturday night -- the last night of the event -- requesting prayer for the 11 people by name -- within two hours, he had received over 1,200 responses back and counting -- the team prayed for these 11 men all evening and through the next morning
-- the next day, as the inmates were coming back into the conference room and being hugged and greeted by the Kairos team, the first of the 11 people they were praying for entered the line
-- he made it past the fifth person in the Kairos team line and then fell to the ground, weeping and repenting of his sins and asking Jesus into his life
-- then two more fell down and did the same -- when the first Muslim came in, he made it to the 10th person in line and fell to his knees, asking Jesus to forgive him for turning his back on Him
-- the other Muslim came in and immediately fell to the ground prostrate, crying and asking Jesus into his life
-- while the team was praying with these men, a black female guard rounded the corner, crying and asking if someone could help her -- she said she needed Jesus in her life too -- out of the 11 prisoners they prayed for, 10 of them accepted Christ
-- the other inmates in the prison refused to walk past the building where the Kairos was going on because they said they got a tingling feeling as they walked past -- they asked the guards for permission to go a different way to the chow hall -- the power of God was so strong in that place that it was spilling outside the walls and into the prison itself
Closing
-- revival will happen anywhere that people humble themselves and seek God's face and turn from their wicked ways -- it happened in the heart of a tax collector -- it happened in Autrey prison -- and it can happen in your life and in this church too -- but, it's up to you
-- will you this morning seek revival in your life -- will you go home justified -- or will you go home like the Pharisee?
-- as we sing this last hymn, the altar is open -- God is here -- and if you want to experience a revival, then you need to respond
-- let's pray
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
European Union
Just a short note about the signing of the European Union (EU) Constitution. This confederacy of European nations has agreed on a constitution that establishes a secular background for the fledgling group. Pope John Paul II has strongly criticized the group for failing to acknowledge and recognize the historical contributions religion has played in the creation of these nations. I bring this up merely to point out a growing trend in certain regions of the world -- not separation of church and state but complete severing of church from all aspects of governmental and social life. You can read a news article on the signing of the constitution by clicking on the link here.
Just a short note about the signing of the European Union (EU) Constitution. This confederacy of European nations has agreed on a constitution that establishes a secular background for the fledgling group. Pope John Paul II has strongly criticized the group for failing to acknowledge and recognize the historical contributions religion has played in the creation of these nations. I bring this up merely to point out a growing trend in certain regions of the world -- not separation of church and state but complete severing of church from all aspects of governmental and social life. You can read a news article on the signing of the constitution by clicking on the link here.
Friday, October 29, 2004
On Religion, the Female Divine, and a Return to Orthodoxy
In case you haven't been keeping up with the news, there has been a flurry of activity recently with the Episcopal Church in America in regards to syncretism, the creeping in of other religions and pagan practices into the church. Most recently, Christianity Today documented that the Episcopal Church was promoting pagan idol worship on its website as a new form of Eucharist liturgy (click here for the Christianity Today link). The site has since removed this liturgy from the web and is spinning this issue for all its worth (click here for continuing coverage on the issue from Christianity Today).
I bring this up to point out some changes that are taking place in the Christian communities.
1. Homosexuality: Our denomination, as well as the Episcopals and the Presbyterians, have struggled over the past several years with the issue of homosexuality on several fronts (i.e. ordination of homosexual pastors; same-sex marriages/unions; etc.).
2. Feminine Divine: The current controversy in the Episcopal Church is related to this trend to "rediscover" the feminine divine. If you read Brown's "Da Vinci Code," you will readily recognize the claims of this crowd, which lead from worshiping the female side of God to worshiping the "mother goddess" to making exaggerated claims about Mary Magdalene.
3. Experiential Worship: There is a trend, especially in the more contemporary churches, to make worship more experiential. A news article on the New York Times today suggested that this changing worship style would probably lead to the end of the normal pastoral sermon, to be replaced by meditation, liturgical dance, or other elements. The sermon might remain, but it would not be a 20-minute expository sermon based on scripture, but shorter sound-bites interrupted with other worship experiences.
So, what is going on? What does this mean for us in the Christian Church who identify ourselves as evangelical conservatives? I think it shows that we should get back to the basics of our faith and stand firm on the Word of God, not on experiences, not on feelings, but on what God tells us in His Word and what has been expressed throughout the Body of Christ over 2000 years.
Change is fine, provided it is in keeping with orthodox biblical principles. We can change worship styles without watering down the message. We can reach out to sinners in a loving way without accepting their sinful lifestyle. Allowing pagan and unbiblical practices into our churches is a dangerous practice that needs to be stopped. This means we need to be more vocal, as individuals and local church bodies, to stand up for Christ against these trends.
One example of a group doing this is are the African Christian Community. Both in our denomination and in the Episcopcal church, the African Christians have been the voice of reason, proclaiming a call back to orthodoxy and traditional biblical principles. Let's pray that this trend continues.
In case you haven't been keeping up with the news, there has been a flurry of activity recently with the Episcopal Church in America in regards to syncretism, the creeping in of other religions and pagan practices into the church. Most recently, Christianity Today documented that the Episcopal Church was promoting pagan idol worship on its website as a new form of Eucharist liturgy (click here for the Christianity Today link). The site has since removed this liturgy from the web and is spinning this issue for all its worth (click here for continuing coverage on the issue from Christianity Today).
I bring this up to point out some changes that are taking place in the Christian communities.
1. Homosexuality: Our denomination, as well as the Episcopals and the Presbyterians, have struggled over the past several years with the issue of homosexuality on several fronts (i.e. ordination of homosexual pastors; same-sex marriages/unions; etc.).
2. Feminine Divine: The current controversy in the Episcopal Church is related to this trend to "rediscover" the feminine divine. If you read Brown's "Da Vinci Code," you will readily recognize the claims of this crowd, which lead from worshiping the female side of God to worshiping the "mother goddess" to making exaggerated claims about Mary Magdalene.
3. Experiential Worship: There is a trend, especially in the more contemporary churches, to make worship more experiential. A news article on the New York Times today suggested that this changing worship style would probably lead to the end of the normal pastoral sermon, to be replaced by meditation, liturgical dance, or other elements. The sermon might remain, but it would not be a 20-minute expository sermon based on scripture, but shorter sound-bites interrupted with other worship experiences.
So, what is going on? What does this mean for us in the Christian Church who identify ourselves as evangelical conservatives? I think it shows that we should get back to the basics of our faith and stand firm on the Word of God, not on experiences, not on feelings, but on what God tells us in His Word and what has been expressed throughout the Body of Christ over 2000 years.
Change is fine, provided it is in keeping with orthodox biblical principles. We can change worship styles without watering down the message. We can reach out to sinners in a loving way without accepting their sinful lifestyle. Allowing pagan and unbiblical practices into our churches is a dangerous practice that needs to be stopped. This means we need to be more vocal, as individuals and local church bodies, to stand up for Christ against these trends.
One example of a group doing this is are the African Christian Community. Both in our denomination and in the Episcopcal church, the African Christians have been the voice of reason, proclaiming a call back to orthodoxy and traditional biblical principles. Let's pray that this trend continues.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Is Religion Shaping World Politics?
After discussing the upcoming presidential election with folks in my office at work and with others in church and other social situations, I am beginning to sense that religion is becoming more and more a force in shaping the views of others and the ultimate outcome of elections.
Historically, of course, religion played a large part in politics and world events. The Catholic Church was instrumental in shaping the direction of the world through its papal directives. Differences between Catholics and Protestants redefined royalty in England and determined who would sit on the throne. And people fleeing religious persecution fled Europe for the new land to start a new nation founded on religious freedom.
More recently, we have seen the overt influence of religion on world events, including the events of 9-11, brought about by the religious beliefs of radical muslim terrorists. Similarly, we see conflicts in Ireland continuing today between Catholics and Protestants. We see Christians attacked by Hindu traditionalists in India, and those same traditionalists setting policy for their country.
These events bring up the question, "Is religion currently influencing politics and world events to a greater extent?" I would have to answer, "Yes." Case in point -- the current U.S. Presidential Election.
I have been dumb-founded by the views of some that President Bush is the worst President that has ever walked the face of the earth. I have friends that would vote for anyone that was running, just to keep President Bush out of office. They honestly hate President Bush.
As I was reflecting on their views, I reflected on my own views of John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. Like my friends and their view of Bush, I strongly disagree with the politics of Kerry and Clinton. Of course, I would have to say that I don't "hate" them, but I do not think they are what America needs. But, why? I pondered my views and I pondered my friend's views and have come up with this conclusion.
I propose that our support, or non-support, of candidates is based largely on our religious world-view. I support Bush because I see him as belonging to my religious world-view. While I may not agree with all of his policies, he bases his decisions and his policies on the same principles that I use to make decisions in my daily life. Similarly, because my friends do not share this world-view but tend to look at life from a secular, humanist world-view, they support candidates who make decisions from this perspective. Ergo, like produces like; religion or non-religion, produces candidates for each world-view.
As someone who looks at daily life and politics from a Christian world-view, I can no more vote for candidates like John Kerry or Hillary Clinton than my friends could vote for Bush. And, apparently, this is the case for the rest of our nation and the world. Consider this...
Catholics supported John F. Kennedy in 1960 by an overwhelming margin, simply because he was a Catholic -- he was one of them. However, because John Kerry appears to many to be CINO (Catholic in name only), the majority of Catholics are supporting Bush in this presidential election. They are basing their vote on the candidate most in line with their Christian world-view.
Similarly, most non-religious liberals are strong supporters of John Kerry. The Hollywood crowd, MTV, major media and the like favor Kerry, simply because his policies mirror their own particular world-view.
France, a largely secular non-religious nation, supports Kerry and simply loathes Bush. Britain, ruled by Prime Minister Tony Blair, a devout Christian, is a strong supporter of Bush.
Religion is shaping this Presidential Election.
Understand that this is a general theorem. I know there are evangelical Christians who are going to vote for Kerry. I know that there are secular humanists who will vote for Bush. But generally, our election this year is divided based on religion. What does this bode for the future? We can only wait and see....
After discussing the upcoming presidential election with folks in my office at work and with others in church and other social situations, I am beginning to sense that religion is becoming more and more a force in shaping the views of others and the ultimate outcome of elections.
Historically, of course, religion played a large part in politics and world events. The Catholic Church was instrumental in shaping the direction of the world through its papal directives. Differences between Catholics and Protestants redefined royalty in England and determined who would sit on the throne. And people fleeing religious persecution fled Europe for the new land to start a new nation founded on religious freedom.
More recently, we have seen the overt influence of religion on world events, including the events of 9-11, brought about by the religious beliefs of radical muslim terrorists. Similarly, we see conflicts in Ireland continuing today between Catholics and Protestants. We see Christians attacked by Hindu traditionalists in India, and those same traditionalists setting policy for their country.
These events bring up the question, "Is religion currently influencing politics and world events to a greater extent?" I would have to answer, "Yes." Case in point -- the current U.S. Presidential Election.
I have been dumb-founded by the views of some that President Bush is the worst President that has ever walked the face of the earth. I have friends that would vote for anyone that was running, just to keep President Bush out of office. They honestly hate President Bush.
As I was reflecting on their views, I reflected on my own views of John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. Like my friends and their view of Bush, I strongly disagree with the politics of Kerry and Clinton. Of course, I would have to say that I don't "hate" them, but I do not think they are what America needs. But, why? I pondered my views and I pondered my friend's views and have come up with this conclusion.
I propose that our support, or non-support, of candidates is based largely on our religious world-view. I support Bush because I see him as belonging to my religious world-view. While I may not agree with all of his policies, he bases his decisions and his policies on the same principles that I use to make decisions in my daily life. Similarly, because my friends do not share this world-view but tend to look at life from a secular, humanist world-view, they support candidates who make decisions from this perspective. Ergo, like produces like; religion or non-religion, produces candidates for each world-view.
As someone who looks at daily life and politics from a Christian world-view, I can no more vote for candidates like John Kerry or Hillary Clinton than my friends could vote for Bush. And, apparently, this is the case for the rest of our nation and the world. Consider this...
Catholics supported John F. Kennedy in 1960 by an overwhelming margin, simply because he was a Catholic -- he was one of them. However, because John Kerry appears to many to be CINO (Catholic in name only), the majority of Catholics are supporting Bush in this presidential election. They are basing their vote on the candidate most in line with their Christian world-view.
Similarly, most non-religious liberals are strong supporters of John Kerry. The Hollywood crowd, MTV, major media and the like favor Kerry, simply because his policies mirror their own particular world-view.
France, a largely secular non-religious nation, supports Kerry and simply loathes Bush. Britain, ruled by Prime Minister Tony Blair, a devout Christian, is a strong supporter of Bush.
Religion is shaping this Presidential Election.
Understand that this is a general theorem. I know there are evangelical Christians who are going to vote for Kerry. I know that there are secular humanists who will vote for Bush. But generally, our election this year is divided based on religion. What does this bode for the future? We can only wait and see....
Sunday, October 17, 2004
GREAT IS OUR FAITHFULNESS?
Sermon by Gregory W. Lee
Preached 17 October 2004
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 25
-- last week my sermon title was "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" -- reflecting on the faithfulness of God to us -- how we can trust in God and in His purposes and His promises and His plan for our lives
-- well, the concept of faithfulness goes both ways -- my sermon title today is a question to you as a person and as a church -- "Great is our faithfulness?" -- you see, just as God is faithful to us, we are called to be faithful to Him
-- this means that we are committed to God -- that when He gives us an assignment we will be trustworthy -- that we will be loyal and dependable and totally faithful to our God and our Savior
-- What does it mean to be faithful -- to be committed -- to God? -- it means that we are committed to His work -- to His body -- and to becoming like Him
-- that is a hard thing -- it's easy for us to show up at church on Sundays and call ourselves Christians -- but it's a hard thing for us to actually show up and be committed to the Lord with all of our lives
-- because of our fallen human nature -- because of the sinful heart that is in us -- we are just not good at being faithful to God or to any institution -- that is why we constantly sin against God -- even those of us who are saved and who have been forgiven for our sins -- we still fail in our commitment to remaining pure in God's eyes
-- if you have any questions about the level of committment and faithfulness in our society today, just take a look around us -- here in America we have a divorce rate of over 50% -- over half of the people who have pledged to be committed to another person for life end up breaking that promise
-- we are not loyal to our jobs -- very seldom will you find someone who starts a job out of school and remains in that job until retirement -- the average worker in America changes jobs 9 times in the course of their adult life
-- we're not even loyal to our sports teams -- this year everybody was following the Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs -- but after last weekend, most of the same people who were touting them all year were booing them as they left the field
-- what has happened to loyalty? -- committment? -- faithfulness?
-- consider the story of 72-year old Kamarudin Mohammed -- married last Sunday for a record-making 53 times -- this is a man with a committment problem -- he said, "if I like a girl, I'll ask for her hand in marriage -- I don't like flings -- I also don't believe in marrying more than one woman at a time" -- I would have to ask what he does believe in
-- Mohammed went on to say that he had nearly as many jobs in his life as he had wives -- let's say he took his first job and his first wife when he was 19 years old -- that means that he had a new job and a new wife every single year of his adult life
-- Mohammed is the poster child for unfaithfulness -- but before you cast a stone at him, look at your own life -- how many times have you broken promises in your life -- how many times have you committed to do something and then either backed out or not prepared as you should have -- how many times have you failed to be faithful to another person, much less your God?
-- I want you to turn with me now to Matthew 25 and let's look at the parable of the talents and let's see what Jesus has to say about being faithful to God
II. Scripture Lesson -- Matthew 25:14-30
-- verses 14-17
14. "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
-- here we see the Master getting ready to go on a journey -- the passage said that he called his servants in and entrusted his property to them -- he entrusted it to them -- he trusted them to be faithful with what he gave them -- Jesus gave us this parable to help us see what it meant to be a faithful servant of God
-- to each of the servants he gave a different amount of money -- to one he gave five talents -- which is about $5 thousand dollars -- to another two talents -- about $2 thousand dollars -- and to the third one talent -- about $1 thousand dollars
-- the amount he gave them was based on their individual abilities -- but while the proportion of the amounts was different -- the same commitment was required of all of them
-- after a little while, the master came back to see whether his servants were faithful with what he had given them
-- verses 18-30
18. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19. "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22. "The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23. "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24. "Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26. "His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27. Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28. "`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
-- these verses point out the difference in faithfulness between the servants -- the first two servants were called "good and faithful" -- in the Bible, when you see two adjectives separated like this, the first adjective applies to the second adjective -- in other words, the first two servants were good because they were faithful -- being faithful was the criteria on which their goodness was measured
-- similarly, the third servant was called wicked and lazy -- he was wicked because he was lazy -- he was not faithful -- he had not done what the master asked him to do, so he was called wicked by the master
-- now there's several things in this passage that I want to point out to you that contrasts the good and faithful servants to the wicked and lazy servant
A. Good and Faithful Servants
1) good and faithful servants were committed to doing what their Master called them to do -- they knew what was expected and did it even during His absence
2) good and faithful servants worked as part of the Master's kingdom -- they didn't take the money and go out and earn a reward for themselves -- they worked to get results for the overall good of the kingdom
3) good and faithful servants recognized that their resources and skills came from their master -- they had been shaped by years of service -- they knew their SHAPE (from Rick Warren) and kept themselves ready for work
-- example -- football player sitting on the bench called into the game to win
B. Wicked and Lazy Servant
1) wicked and lazy servant didn't do a thing while the master was gone -- buried his money
2) wicked and lazy servant didn't work with the others or work to futher his master's kingdom
3) wicked and lazy servant wasn't prepared to work -- he didn't trust in the resources and skills the master had given him and hadn't done anything to increase his skills and talents -- he didn't know the master like the first two servants -- the good and faithful servants obviously knew the master and knew what he required and what he was really like -- they strived to serve him to the best of their ability -- but this servant didn't seem to know what the master was like -- he was scared of the master and didn't do anything with the money that was entrusted to him
III. Application
-- so, what can we learn about faithfulness from this passage about the good and faithful servants and the wicked and lazy servant?
-- first, as Christians, we are called to be committed to the work of Christ -- Christ is just like the master in this parable -- he has gone off on a journey to heaven -- we know He's coming back, but in the meantime, He has entrusted to us resources to put to work -- spiritual gifts and talents and abilities -- and He's given us specific orders on what to do
-- great commission and great commandment
-- secondly, we see that we need to be commited to the body of Christ -- that means that we are committed to church -- not to religion -- not to a denomination -- not to an institution -- but to the living body of Christ
-- membership means being a part, not warming a pew -- members of football teams work during practice -- they support the team -- they do what they are called to do -- they don't just show up for the games and occupy a space -- they are there to do what needs to be done
-- Rick Warren says that there are circles of committment in every church:
a. community -- pool of lost within driving distance of church -- unchurched;
b. crowd -- regular attendees -- saved and unsaved -- committed to attending worship service but necessarily to joining church;
c. congregation -- official members of church -- committed to purpose of fellowship;
d. committed -- maturing members of church -- growing spiritually -- committed to three spiritual habits: 1) daily quiet time; 2) tithing; 3) small group activity;
e. core -- smallest group -- committed to doing ministry -- Sunday school teachers, deacons, musicians, etc.
-- which circle of committment are you in?
-- finally, we learn from this passage that we need to be commited to becoming Holy -- commited to expressing the spiritual disciplines in our lives so that we can become more like Jesus -- committed to prayer and Bible reading and the other spiritual disciplines -- hearing the Word -- mutual encouragement -- focusing on Jesus (worship)
IV. Closing
-- Mark Wheeler tells the story of a Roman sentinel who guarded the city of Pompeii -- when the city was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, many people were buried in the ruins -- some were found in deep vaults, fleeing in vain from the encroaching destruction -- others were found hiding in lofty chambers -- but the Roman sentinel was found at the city gate where he had been placed by the captain, his hands still grasping his weapon. While the earth shook beneath him, while the floods of ashes and cinders overwhelmed him, he stood at his post -- and it was there that he was found a thousand years later
We are called to be faithful -- to be committed to God -- just like this Roman sentinel
-- as Mark Wheeler says, if you volunteer to serve in the Sunday school program or in the Bible study, you will not be expected to stand still and be buried by volcanic ash -- but you will be expected to be trustworthy and faithful -- you will be expected to prepare and be ready to carry out your assignment
-- if you join a servant evangelism team or a visitation team, you will be expected to do the homework and to be prepard to go out each week and share the gospel
-- if you volunteer to do ministry for someone -- help fix things in their house or take someone shopping or run errands for the elderly -- you will be expected to be on time and do what you said to do
-- you must be faithful -- you must be trustworthy -- you must be committed
-- want to close with this exhortation that I got off the internet -- I want you to put your Bibles down and look at me and listen to these words
I AM A SOLDIER!
I am a soldier in the army of my God! The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer! The Bible is my code of conduct! Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare!
I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity! I will either retire from this army at the Rapture or die in this army, but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out! I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire!
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable! If my God needs me, I am there! If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School, to work with youth, help adults, or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I am there!
I am a soldier! I am not a baby! I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up! I am a soldier! No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me!
I am a soldier! I am not a wimp! I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts! I don't need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to!
I am committed! I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around! I can not be discouraged enough to turn me aside! I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit! When Jesus called me into His army, I had nothing, I will still break even!I will win! My God will supply all my needs! I am more than a conqueror! I will always triumph! I can do all things through Christ! Devils cannot defeat me! People cannot disillusion me! Weather cannot weary me; sickness cannot stop me; battles cannot beat me! Money cannot buy me! Governments cannot silence me! And hell cannot handle me!
I am a soldier! Even death cannot destroy me, for when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to captain and then bring me back to rule this world with Him! I am a soldier in God's army, I will never surrender to the Enemy! I will never turn back! I am a soldier, marching heavenward, claiming victory as I go!
Here I stand! Will you stand with me?
Guess what? If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you're already enlisted!
Question is, which part of the service are you in:
1. ACTIVE DUTY: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7?
2. GUARD STATUS: Backing up the Active Duty group?
3. RESERVE STATUS: Serving only when called upon or twice a year: Christmas and Easter? or4. AWOL! Absent with out the Lord?Let us pray!
Sermon by Gregory W. Lee
Preached 17 October 2004
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 25
-- last week my sermon title was "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" -- reflecting on the faithfulness of God to us -- how we can trust in God and in His purposes and His promises and His plan for our lives
-- well, the concept of faithfulness goes both ways -- my sermon title today is a question to you as a person and as a church -- "Great is our faithfulness?" -- you see, just as God is faithful to us, we are called to be faithful to Him
-- this means that we are committed to God -- that when He gives us an assignment we will be trustworthy -- that we will be loyal and dependable and totally faithful to our God and our Savior
-- What does it mean to be faithful -- to be committed -- to God? -- it means that we are committed to His work -- to His body -- and to becoming like Him
-- that is a hard thing -- it's easy for us to show up at church on Sundays and call ourselves Christians -- but it's a hard thing for us to actually show up and be committed to the Lord with all of our lives
-- because of our fallen human nature -- because of the sinful heart that is in us -- we are just not good at being faithful to God or to any institution -- that is why we constantly sin against God -- even those of us who are saved and who have been forgiven for our sins -- we still fail in our commitment to remaining pure in God's eyes
-- if you have any questions about the level of committment and faithfulness in our society today, just take a look around us -- here in America we have a divorce rate of over 50% -- over half of the people who have pledged to be committed to another person for life end up breaking that promise
-- we are not loyal to our jobs -- very seldom will you find someone who starts a job out of school and remains in that job until retirement -- the average worker in America changes jobs 9 times in the course of their adult life
-- we're not even loyal to our sports teams -- this year everybody was following the Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs -- but after last weekend, most of the same people who were touting them all year were booing them as they left the field
-- what has happened to loyalty? -- committment? -- faithfulness?
-- consider the story of 72-year old Kamarudin Mohammed -- married last Sunday for a record-making 53 times -- this is a man with a committment problem -- he said, "if I like a girl, I'll ask for her hand in marriage -- I don't like flings -- I also don't believe in marrying more than one woman at a time" -- I would have to ask what he does believe in
-- Mohammed went on to say that he had nearly as many jobs in his life as he had wives -- let's say he took his first job and his first wife when he was 19 years old -- that means that he had a new job and a new wife every single year of his adult life
-- Mohammed is the poster child for unfaithfulness -- but before you cast a stone at him, look at your own life -- how many times have you broken promises in your life -- how many times have you committed to do something and then either backed out or not prepared as you should have -- how many times have you failed to be faithful to another person, much less your God?
-- I want you to turn with me now to Matthew 25 and let's look at the parable of the talents and let's see what Jesus has to say about being faithful to God
II. Scripture Lesson -- Matthew 25:14-30
-- verses 14-17
14. "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
-- here we see the Master getting ready to go on a journey -- the passage said that he called his servants in and entrusted his property to them -- he entrusted it to them -- he trusted them to be faithful with what he gave them -- Jesus gave us this parable to help us see what it meant to be a faithful servant of God
-- to each of the servants he gave a different amount of money -- to one he gave five talents -- which is about $5 thousand dollars -- to another two talents -- about $2 thousand dollars -- and to the third one talent -- about $1 thousand dollars
-- the amount he gave them was based on their individual abilities -- but while the proportion of the amounts was different -- the same commitment was required of all of them
-- after a little while, the master came back to see whether his servants were faithful with what he had given them
-- verses 18-30
18. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19. "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22. "The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23. "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24. "Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26. "His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27. Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28. "`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
-- these verses point out the difference in faithfulness between the servants -- the first two servants were called "good and faithful" -- in the Bible, when you see two adjectives separated like this, the first adjective applies to the second adjective -- in other words, the first two servants were good because they were faithful -- being faithful was the criteria on which their goodness was measured
-- similarly, the third servant was called wicked and lazy -- he was wicked because he was lazy -- he was not faithful -- he had not done what the master asked him to do, so he was called wicked by the master
-- now there's several things in this passage that I want to point out to you that contrasts the good and faithful servants to the wicked and lazy servant
A. Good and Faithful Servants
1) good and faithful servants were committed to doing what their Master called them to do -- they knew what was expected and did it even during His absence
2) good and faithful servants worked as part of the Master's kingdom -- they didn't take the money and go out and earn a reward for themselves -- they worked to get results for the overall good of the kingdom
3) good and faithful servants recognized that their resources and skills came from their master -- they had been shaped by years of service -- they knew their SHAPE (from Rick Warren) and kept themselves ready for work
-- example -- football player sitting on the bench called into the game to win
B. Wicked and Lazy Servant
1) wicked and lazy servant didn't do a thing while the master was gone -- buried his money
2) wicked and lazy servant didn't work with the others or work to futher his master's kingdom
3) wicked and lazy servant wasn't prepared to work -- he didn't trust in the resources and skills the master had given him and hadn't done anything to increase his skills and talents -- he didn't know the master like the first two servants -- the good and faithful servants obviously knew the master and knew what he required and what he was really like -- they strived to serve him to the best of their ability -- but this servant didn't seem to know what the master was like -- he was scared of the master and didn't do anything with the money that was entrusted to him
III. Application
-- so, what can we learn about faithfulness from this passage about the good and faithful servants and the wicked and lazy servant?
-- first, as Christians, we are called to be committed to the work of Christ -- Christ is just like the master in this parable -- he has gone off on a journey to heaven -- we know He's coming back, but in the meantime, He has entrusted to us resources to put to work -- spiritual gifts and talents and abilities -- and He's given us specific orders on what to do
-- great commission and great commandment
-- secondly, we see that we need to be commited to the body of Christ -- that means that we are committed to church -- not to religion -- not to a denomination -- not to an institution -- but to the living body of Christ
-- membership means being a part, not warming a pew -- members of football teams work during practice -- they support the team -- they do what they are called to do -- they don't just show up for the games and occupy a space -- they are there to do what needs to be done
-- Rick Warren says that there are circles of committment in every church:
a. community -- pool of lost within driving distance of church -- unchurched;
b. crowd -- regular attendees -- saved and unsaved -- committed to attending worship service but necessarily to joining church;
c. congregation -- official members of church -- committed to purpose of fellowship;
d. committed -- maturing members of church -- growing spiritually -- committed to three spiritual habits: 1) daily quiet time; 2) tithing; 3) small group activity;
e. core -- smallest group -- committed to doing ministry -- Sunday school teachers, deacons, musicians, etc.
-- which circle of committment are you in?
-- finally, we learn from this passage that we need to be commited to becoming Holy -- commited to expressing the spiritual disciplines in our lives so that we can become more like Jesus -- committed to prayer and Bible reading and the other spiritual disciplines -- hearing the Word -- mutual encouragement -- focusing on Jesus (worship)
IV. Closing
-- Mark Wheeler tells the story of a Roman sentinel who guarded the city of Pompeii -- when the city was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, many people were buried in the ruins -- some were found in deep vaults, fleeing in vain from the encroaching destruction -- others were found hiding in lofty chambers -- but the Roman sentinel was found at the city gate where he had been placed by the captain, his hands still grasping his weapon. While the earth shook beneath him, while the floods of ashes and cinders overwhelmed him, he stood at his post -- and it was there that he was found a thousand years later
We are called to be faithful -- to be committed to God -- just like this Roman sentinel
-- as Mark Wheeler says, if you volunteer to serve in the Sunday school program or in the Bible study, you will not be expected to stand still and be buried by volcanic ash -- but you will be expected to be trustworthy and faithful -- you will be expected to prepare and be ready to carry out your assignment
-- if you join a servant evangelism team or a visitation team, you will be expected to do the homework and to be prepard to go out each week and share the gospel
-- if you volunteer to do ministry for someone -- help fix things in their house or take someone shopping or run errands for the elderly -- you will be expected to be on time and do what you said to do
-- you must be faithful -- you must be trustworthy -- you must be committed
-- want to close with this exhortation that I got off the internet -- I want you to put your Bibles down and look at me and listen to these words
I AM A SOLDIER!
I am a soldier in the army of my God! The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer! The Bible is my code of conduct! Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare!
I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity! I will either retire from this army at the Rapture or die in this army, but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out! I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire!
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable! If my God needs me, I am there! If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School, to work with youth, help adults, or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I am there!
I am a soldier! I am not a baby! I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up! I am a soldier! No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me!
I am a soldier! I am not a wimp! I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts! I don't need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to!
I am committed! I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around! I can not be discouraged enough to turn me aside! I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit! When Jesus called me into His army, I had nothing, I will still break even!I will win! My God will supply all my needs! I am more than a conqueror! I will always triumph! I can do all things through Christ! Devils cannot defeat me! People cannot disillusion me! Weather cannot weary me; sickness cannot stop me; battles cannot beat me! Money cannot buy me! Governments cannot silence me! And hell cannot handle me!
I am a soldier! Even death cannot destroy me, for when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to captain and then bring me back to rule this world with Him! I am a soldier in God's army, I will never surrender to the Enemy! I will never turn back! I am a soldier, marching heavenward, claiming victory as I go!
Here I stand! Will you stand with me?
Guess what? If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you're already enlisted!
Question is, which part of the service are you in:
1. ACTIVE DUTY: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7?
2. GUARD STATUS: Backing up the Active Duty group?
3. RESERVE STATUS: Serving only when called upon or twice a year: Christmas and Easter? or4. AWOL! Absent with out the Lord?Let us pray!
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
10 October 2004
Focus: Because God is faithful, we can stand on His promises.
Function: To help people struggling through hard times in their life see that God's faithfulness leads to hope
I. Introduction/Struggling Through Hard Times
-- turn in Bibles to Psalm 77
-- the other day, I was watching the Lord of the Rings again -- one of the best movies ever made -- it epitomizes the struggle between good and evil -- in this story, the main characters -- the heroes -- are involved in this great struggle against the evil Lord Sauron -- things are really looking bad -- and the only way they are going to be able to survive is by destroying the ring that gives Sauron control over the whole world
-- in the part of the movie that I was watching, the two main heroes -- Frodo and Sam -- were on the edge of Lord Sauron's country of Mordor -- they were having to carry the ring into the heart of evil in order to destroy it -- it was a hopeless situation -- and they were alone, with no one to help -- it would be like us standing on the edge of Hell and having to sneak in and drop something off right next to Satan's throne -- there was no chance of success and all seemed impossible
-- as I was watching that part of the movie play out, I could really relate with the two characters -- there have been times in my life where I have felt like I was in hopeless situations -- there have been times in my life -- and I'm sure in yours -- where we have stood on what felt like the border of Hell -- without hope -- without courage -- without strength -- feeling lost and alone
-- maybe it was during the loss of a loved one -- maybe it was during a financial crisis -- maybe it was during a sickness or death or divorce or just a heartbreak -- whatever the situation was, it felt like we were standing in a pit with no way out and no one available to lift us out -- totally without hope
-- there was a time in my life when I suffered from clinical depression -- I had gone to the University of Florida for a couple of semesters -- and I had struggled mightily -- I was in a major I didn't want to be in -- I had no friends -- I was trying to balance a full-time college load with a full-time job -- and finally, I just had to punt -- I had to call it quits and come home and start over again
-- but when I got home, I went into a serious depression -- I felt like a failure -- I had never failed at anything in my life -- I had never quit anything in my life -- I felt like I would never make anything of my life -- I felt like I had let down my family and my friends -- I felt like I was worthless -- I remember walking through the day like a zombie -- feeling hopeless -- just walking around in a brown cloud of doom and despair -- it was a dark time in my life -- and I honestly felt like I was in hell -- maybe you know what I'm talking about -- I'm sure that you have experienced times in your life just like this
-- we call these the storms of life and when we're in the middle of one we look at the storm -- we look at the driving rain and the whipping wind and the ferocious waves, and we think to ourselves, "There is nothing I can do -- my end is near" -- we've all had these storms in our lives -- maybe you're going through one right now
-- so, what do we do when we're going through a storm in our life? -- who do we turn to? -- what do we do when it seems as if God Himself has abandoned us and we have no one else to turn to?
-- this morning I want to look at Psalm 77, because the Psalmist here is going through a very similar situation -- and I want us to look at how he handled the situation in his life because it will help us see how we should face our own storms in our lives
-- look with me now at verse 1
1. I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.
-- in this opening verse we see the state of the Psalmist -- he is in the middle of a bad situation -- all looks hopeless to him -- so he does the only thing he can think of -- he calls out to God -- he called out with all of his heart and his soul for God to hear him and help him -- but nothing happens
-- that seems to be the case a lot, doesn't it -- when we're in the middle of a storm it just seems like God is distant -- we cry out and it seems like no one is answering -- we pray for help and it seems like our prayers never go past the ceiling -- it seems like we are alone
-- think about Job for a moment -- as you know, when Job was afflicted by Satan he called out to God for answers, but the heavens were silent -- what do we do when the heavens are silent? -- when God appears to not care?
-- look at verse 2
2. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. 3. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah 4. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.
-- how many times have you been in the place where this Psalmist is right now -- how many times have you been sleepless in the middle of the night because of your troubles -- how many times have you lain awake at night and cried out to God, not believing that He would hear or do anything -- that's exactly what is going on with the Psalmist in this passage
-- I like the way Eugene Patterson parapharased this in the Message -- he said "I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord -- my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal -- when friends said, "Everything will turn out all right" -- I didn't believe a word they said -- I remember God -- and shake my head -- I bow my head -- then wring my hands -- I'm awake all night -- not a wink of sleep -- I can't even say what's bothering me"
-- problems seem worse at night, don't they
-- verse 5
5. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; 6. I remembered my songs in the night.
-- the Psalmist says that in the midst of the storm he looked back and thought about the good times -- why couldn't things be like they used to be? -- life used to be happy -- now look what is going on -- nothing will ever be right again
-- verse 6b
My heart mused and my spirit inquired: 7. "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8. Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9. Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" Selah
-- it's reached the point where the Psalmist begins to doubt about whether God even cares any more or not -- he's reached what we call the crisis of belief
-- this is what the disciples faced when they were in the boat with Jesus in the middle of the storm
-- this is what the nation of Israel faced when they had their backs to the Red Sea with an army of Egyptians coming against them
-- and this is what Paul faced when he faced the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road
-- it is at this point that we have to make a decision -- what do we believe about our God? -- what do we believe about His power in a situation? -- in every storm you walk through, you will face such a crisis of belief, and how you respond will tell you a lot about your faith
III. Facing the Storm with God
-- several years ago, I had to fly out of the Valdosta Airport on a rainy stormy day -- it was horrible -- the winds were blowing -- the rain was coming down -- I was already a little concerned about the flight -- I trusted God, but at the same time I knew that his word said, "Lo, I am with you" -- I wasn't sure if that included being high in an airplane or not
-- but I got on that plane and we took off -- you couldn't even see out the windows for the water streaming down on the glass -- the plane was being rocked back and forth by the wind -- without a doubt this was the worst flight I have ever been on
-- but the pilot kept on guiding the plane upwards -- we started going through the clouds -- and then all of a sudden we broke out through the clouds into bright sunlight and blue skies -- I looked down and I could see the storm below me -- but where I was it was calm and beautiful and safe
-- you see, the pilot knew where safety and security existed and he trusted that if he just endured through the storm for a little while, that we would enter into a safe place
-- well, that's exactly what should be going on in our lives when we are in the midst of a storm -- we need to trust in God -- we need to trust in His person -- and His power -- and His purpose -- God is faithful and can be trusted in all things
-- in the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah is in the midst of complete and utter desolation -- his nation is under siege and the people are being carried off in captivity -- but in the midst of this storm, he has this to say in Lamentations 3:18-22
18. So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD." 19. I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22. Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
-- when Jeremiah was in the middle of his storm -- when he was faced with his crisis of belief -- he remembered that on the other side of the clouds was sunshine -- on the other side of the storm was God
-- look back at verse 10 in Psalm 77
10. Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? 14. You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 15. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16. The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. 17. The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. 18. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. 20. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
-- the Psalmist closes his Psalm by recalling past instances of God's faithfulness in his life and in the life of his people
-- God is faithful -- we can trust in Him -- in His person -- in His power -- in His promises -- and in His presence
-- if you look back in your life like the Psalmist did, then you will see times where God has worked in your life and brought you safely through other storms -- while we may not see God directly, we can see the fingerprints of God in our lives and in the lives of those around us -- that is why we have a time of praise in the morning -- so we can see evidence of how God is working in us and in our family and friends
-- these are spiritual markers -- Ebenezers -- foundations that we can lean on during the hard times -- if God was there in the past, we can trust that He will be there in the present and in the future -- even if we are in the middle of a storm right now, we can trust God is with us because He has been in the past -- God always keeps His word -- He is faithful and just and has said that He will never leave us or forsake us
-- what do we do when we face the storms in our life? -- we need to reflect on God's faithfulness and stand on the promises that He has given us in His word
-- reflecting on God's faithfulness should lead to hope in our lives -- believing in God's faithfulness helps us to trust Him in the midst of anything we are going through -- it gives us endurance -- strength -- God's faithfulness is a rock that we can lean upon
-- in times of desolation -- in the middle of the storm -- we cannot depend on feelings -- we may feel like God has left us (as in the Psalm) -- we may feel like God does not hear our prayers (as in the Psalm)
-- but if we depend on God -- if we believe in His unchanging character and His faithfulness to us -- then we can trust that His presence is with us and His purposes will be worked out through what we are going through
-- we need to navigate by revealed truth rather than feelings, especially in times of crisis
-- God's faithfulness is a like a compass that we can trust to steer us through the storms and into the sunlight
-- the faithfulness of God to the believer is expressed in many ways in the Bible
-- The faithfulness of God to forgive sin -- 1 John 1:9 -- "if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
-- the faithfulness of God in times of pressure -- 1 Cor 10:13 -- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
-- The faithfulness of God in providing for us in His Son Jesus Christ -- 1 Cor 1:9 -- God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
-- The Faithfulness of God in keeping His promises to us -- Heb 10:23 -- Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
-- The faithfulness of God to us in times of suffering -- 1 Peter 4:19 -- So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
-- the Faithfulness of God in providing for the believer's eternal future -- 1 Thess 5:24 -- The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
-- maybe you are in the midst of a storm right now -- maybe you are being buffetted by the winds and the rain and you don't see any hope at all -- maybe you feel like you are all alone and that no one cares
-- regardless of your feelings, you need to stand firm in the knowledge that God is there with you -- He has promised to never leave you or forsake you, and He is there in the midst of the storm
-- He has been with you in the past and He is with you now and will be with you in the future -- If you are in the midst of a storm -- if you feel like you are in a pit with no way out -- look back at the times God has worked in your life and in the lives of those you know and in the lives of those in the Bible, and stand on the Promises that He has given you to be with you and trust that He will calm the storm and lead you safely through to the other side
-- let us pray
10 October 2004
Focus: Because God is faithful, we can stand on His promises.
Function: To help people struggling through hard times in their life see that God's faithfulness leads to hope
I. Introduction/Struggling Through Hard Times
-- turn in Bibles to Psalm 77
-- the other day, I was watching the Lord of the Rings again -- one of the best movies ever made -- it epitomizes the struggle between good and evil -- in this story, the main characters -- the heroes -- are involved in this great struggle against the evil Lord Sauron -- things are really looking bad -- and the only way they are going to be able to survive is by destroying the ring that gives Sauron control over the whole world
-- in the part of the movie that I was watching, the two main heroes -- Frodo and Sam -- were on the edge of Lord Sauron's country of Mordor -- they were having to carry the ring into the heart of evil in order to destroy it -- it was a hopeless situation -- and they were alone, with no one to help -- it would be like us standing on the edge of Hell and having to sneak in and drop something off right next to Satan's throne -- there was no chance of success and all seemed impossible
-- as I was watching that part of the movie play out, I could really relate with the two characters -- there have been times in my life where I have felt like I was in hopeless situations -- there have been times in my life -- and I'm sure in yours -- where we have stood on what felt like the border of Hell -- without hope -- without courage -- without strength -- feeling lost and alone
-- maybe it was during the loss of a loved one -- maybe it was during a financial crisis -- maybe it was during a sickness or death or divorce or just a heartbreak -- whatever the situation was, it felt like we were standing in a pit with no way out and no one available to lift us out -- totally without hope
-- there was a time in my life when I suffered from clinical depression -- I had gone to the University of Florida for a couple of semesters -- and I had struggled mightily -- I was in a major I didn't want to be in -- I had no friends -- I was trying to balance a full-time college load with a full-time job -- and finally, I just had to punt -- I had to call it quits and come home and start over again
-- but when I got home, I went into a serious depression -- I felt like a failure -- I had never failed at anything in my life -- I had never quit anything in my life -- I felt like I would never make anything of my life -- I felt like I had let down my family and my friends -- I felt like I was worthless -- I remember walking through the day like a zombie -- feeling hopeless -- just walking around in a brown cloud of doom and despair -- it was a dark time in my life -- and I honestly felt like I was in hell -- maybe you know what I'm talking about -- I'm sure that you have experienced times in your life just like this
-- we call these the storms of life and when we're in the middle of one we look at the storm -- we look at the driving rain and the whipping wind and the ferocious waves, and we think to ourselves, "There is nothing I can do -- my end is near" -- we've all had these storms in our lives -- maybe you're going through one right now
-- so, what do we do when we're going through a storm in our life? -- who do we turn to? -- what do we do when it seems as if God Himself has abandoned us and we have no one else to turn to?
-- this morning I want to look at Psalm 77, because the Psalmist here is going through a very similar situation -- and I want us to look at how he handled the situation in his life because it will help us see how we should face our own storms in our lives
-- look with me now at verse 1
1. I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.
-- in this opening verse we see the state of the Psalmist -- he is in the middle of a bad situation -- all looks hopeless to him -- so he does the only thing he can think of -- he calls out to God -- he called out with all of his heart and his soul for God to hear him and help him -- but nothing happens
-- that seems to be the case a lot, doesn't it -- when we're in the middle of a storm it just seems like God is distant -- we cry out and it seems like no one is answering -- we pray for help and it seems like our prayers never go past the ceiling -- it seems like we are alone
-- think about Job for a moment -- as you know, when Job was afflicted by Satan he called out to God for answers, but the heavens were silent -- what do we do when the heavens are silent? -- when God appears to not care?
-- look at verse 2
2. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. 3. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah 4. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.
-- how many times have you been in the place where this Psalmist is right now -- how many times have you been sleepless in the middle of the night because of your troubles -- how many times have you lain awake at night and cried out to God, not believing that He would hear or do anything -- that's exactly what is going on with the Psalmist in this passage
-- I like the way Eugene Patterson parapharased this in the Message -- he said "I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord -- my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal -- when friends said, "Everything will turn out all right" -- I didn't believe a word they said -- I remember God -- and shake my head -- I bow my head -- then wring my hands -- I'm awake all night -- not a wink of sleep -- I can't even say what's bothering me"
-- problems seem worse at night, don't they
-- verse 5
5. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; 6. I remembered my songs in the night.
-- the Psalmist says that in the midst of the storm he looked back and thought about the good times -- why couldn't things be like they used to be? -- life used to be happy -- now look what is going on -- nothing will ever be right again
-- verse 6b
My heart mused and my spirit inquired: 7. "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8. Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9. Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" Selah
-- it's reached the point where the Psalmist begins to doubt about whether God even cares any more or not -- he's reached what we call the crisis of belief
-- this is what the disciples faced when they were in the boat with Jesus in the middle of the storm
-- this is what the nation of Israel faced when they had their backs to the Red Sea with an army of Egyptians coming against them
-- and this is what Paul faced when he faced the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road
-- it is at this point that we have to make a decision -- what do we believe about our God? -- what do we believe about His power in a situation? -- in every storm you walk through, you will face such a crisis of belief, and how you respond will tell you a lot about your faith
III. Facing the Storm with God
-- several years ago, I had to fly out of the Valdosta Airport on a rainy stormy day -- it was horrible -- the winds were blowing -- the rain was coming down -- I was already a little concerned about the flight -- I trusted God, but at the same time I knew that his word said, "Lo, I am with you" -- I wasn't sure if that included being high in an airplane or not
-- but I got on that plane and we took off -- you couldn't even see out the windows for the water streaming down on the glass -- the plane was being rocked back and forth by the wind -- without a doubt this was the worst flight I have ever been on
-- but the pilot kept on guiding the plane upwards -- we started going through the clouds -- and then all of a sudden we broke out through the clouds into bright sunlight and blue skies -- I looked down and I could see the storm below me -- but where I was it was calm and beautiful and safe
-- you see, the pilot knew where safety and security existed and he trusted that if he just endured through the storm for a little while, that we would enter into a safe place
-- well, that's exactly what should be going on in our lives when we are in the midst of a storm -- we need to trust in God -- we need to trust in His person -- and His power -- and His purpose -- God is faithful and can be trusted in all things
-- in the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah is in the midst of complete and utter desolation -- his nation is under siege and the people are being carried off in captivity -- but in the midst of this storm, he has this to say in Lamentations 3:18-22
18. So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD." 19. I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22. Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
-- when Jeremiah was in the middle of his storm -- when he was faced with his crisis of belief -- he remembered that on the other side of the clouds was sunshine -- on the other side of the storm was God
-- look back at verse 10 in Psalm 77
10. Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? 14. You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 15. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16. The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. 17. The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. 18. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. 20. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
-- the Psalmist closes his Psalm by recalling past instances of God's faithfulness in his life and in the life of his people
-- God is faithful -- we can trust in Him -- in His person -- in His power -- in His promises -- and in His presence
-- if you look back in your life like the Psalmist did, then you will see times where God has worked in your life and brought you safely through other storms -- while we may not see God directly, we can see the fingerprints of God in our lives and in the lives of those around us -- that is why we have a time of praise in the morning -- so we can see evidence of how God is working in us and in our family and friends
-- these are spiritual markers -- Ebenezers -- foundations that we can lean on during the hard times -- if God was there in the past, we can trust that He will be there in the present and in the future -- even if we are in the middle of a storm right now, we can trust God is with us because He has been in the past -- God always keeps His word -- He is faithful and just and has said that He will never leave us or forsake us
-- what do we do when we face the storms in our life? -- we need to reflect on God's faithfulness and stand on the promises that He has given us in His word
-- reflecting on God's faithfulness should lead to hope in our lives -- believing in God's faithfulness helps us to trust Him in the midst of anything we are going through -- it gives us endurance -- strength -- God's faithfulness is a rock that we can lean upon
-- in times of desolation -- in the middle of the storm -- we cannot depend on feelings -- we may feel like God has left us (as in the Psalm) -- we may feel like God does not hear our prayers (as in the Psalm)
-- but if we depend on God -- if we believe in His unchanging character and His faithfulness to us -- then we can trust that His presence is with us and His purposes will be worked out through what we are going through
-- we need to navigate by revealed truth rather than feelings, especially in times of crisis
-- God's faithfulness is a like a compass that we can trust to steer us through the storms and into the sunlight
-- the faithfulness of God to the believer is expressed in many ways in the Bible
-- The faithfulness of God to forgive sin -- 1 John 1:9 -- "if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
-- the faithfulness of God in times of pressure -- 1 Cor 10:13 -- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
-- The faithfulness of God in providing for us in His Son Jesus Christ -- 1 Cor 1:9 -- God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
-- The Faithfulness of God in keeping His promises to us -- Heb 10:23 -- Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
-- The faithfulness of God to us in times of suffering -- 1 Peter 4:19 -- So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
-- the Faithfulness of God in providing for the believer's eternal future -- 1 Thess 5:24 -- The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
-- maybe you are in the midst of a storm right now -- maybe you are being buffetted by the winds and the rain and you don't see any hope at all -- maybe you feel like you are all alone and that no one cares
-- regardless of your feelings, you need to stand firm in the knowledge that God is there with you -- He has promised to never leave you or forsake you, and He is there in the midst of the storm
-- He has been with you in the past and He is with you now and will be with you in the future -- If you are in the midst of a storm -- if you feel like you are in a pit with no way out -- look back at the times God has worked in your life and in the lives of those you know and in the lives of those in the Bible, and stand on the Promises that He has given you to be with you and trust that He will calm the storm and lead you safely through to the other side
-- let us pray
Friday, October 15, 2004
Conservative Christianity vs. liberalism
I have included a link here for an excellent discussion between a World Magazine blogger (the conservative Christian) and a devout liberal. It is well worth reading, especially right before the election. As I pointed out in an earlier post, this election, more than any other in past memory, is really an election based on worldview. This discussion makes that clear.
I have included a link here for an excellent discussion between a World Magazine blogger (the conservative Christian) and a devout liberal. It is well worth reading, especially right before the election. As I pointed out in an earlier post, this election, more than any other in past memory, is really an election based on worldview. This discussion makes that clear.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Over 70 Christian leaders affirm statement on the Bible and ethical issues
in the election (see names below)
The Bible speaks to several ethical issues in this election:
Many Americans seek guidance from the Bible for important issues of life, while
we recognize that many others do not. With thankfulness for the freedom of all
Americans to believe whatever they think best regarding matters of religion and
ethics, we offer this statement of our personal understanding of the teachings of
the Bible for the thoughtful consideration of all who are interested in how the
Bible might speak to ethical issues in the current election.
1. Supreme Court justices: People don’t often think of the appointment of
Supreme Court Justices as an ethical issue, but it clearly is now because several
decisions of the Supreme Court have imposed on our nation new policies on
major ethical and religious questions.
A small majority of our current Supreme Court, and lower courts that follow their
example, have gone beyond their Constitutionally-defined task of interpreting
laws passed by Congress and state legislatures, and have in effect created new
"laws" that have never been passed by any elected body. By this process they
have imposed on us decrees that allow abortionists to murder unborn babies
(contrary to Exodus 20:13 and Romans 13:9, "you shall not murder"), that protect
pornographers who poison the minds of children and adults (contrary to Exodus
20:17, "You shall not covet ... your neighbor’s wife; see also Matt. 5:28), that
redefine marriage to include homosexual couples (thus giving governmental
encouragement to actions that Romans 1:26-28 says are morally wrong), and
that banish prayer, God’s name and God’s laws from public places (thus
prohibiting free exercise of religion, and violating Romans 13:3 which says that
government should be "not a terror to good conduct, but to bad"). In taking to
itself the right to decree such policies, the Supreme Court has seriously distorted
the system of "checks and balances" intended by the Constitution between the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
It is unlikely that any elected body such as a city council, state legislature, or the
U.S. Congress, would have decreed policies like those mentioned above, for
such groups are accountable to the will of the people. Not so the Supreme Court,
which is appointed for life. And democratically-elected members of Congress
and state legislatures are helpless to change those Court-mandated policies
unless the makeup of the Supreme Court is changed. We believe the ethical
choice is for a President and for U. S. Senators committed to appointing judges
who will follow the original intent of the Constitution and just interpret law and not
make it, rather than for candidates who have often voted to block such judges in
votes in the Senate.
2. Defense against terrorists: A fundamental responsibility of government is to
"punish those who do evil" (1 Pet. 2:14) and thus to protect its citizens. We now
face a unique challenge, because terrorists who will sacrifice their own lives in
killing others cannot be deterred by the usual threat of punishing a criminal after
he commits a crime. While Jesus instructed individuals not to seek personal
revenge but to turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39), the Bible teaches that
governments are responsible to "bear the sword" (Rom. 13:4) and thus to use
force to oppose violent evil. We believe the ethical choice is for a candidate who
will pursue terrorists and, when necessary, use force to stop them before they
strike us, not for a candidate who only promises to respond if we are attacked
again.
3. Abortion: The Bible views the unborn child as a human person who should
be protected, since David said to God, "You knitted me together in my mother's
womb" (Psalm 139:13; see also Psalm 51:5; 139:13; Luke 1:44), and strong
penalties were imposed for endangering or harming the life of an unborn child
(Exod. 21:22-23). We believe the ethical choice is for candidates who believe
government should give protection to the lives of unborn children, not ones who
believe government should allow people to choose to murder their unborn
children if they wish.
4. Homosexual marriage: The Bible views marriage as between one man and
one woman, for "a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his
wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31). Because our
courts have shown a troubling tendency to overturn the laws that have already
been passed concerning marriage, we believe the ethical choice is for candidates
who support a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man
and one woman.
5. Embryonic stem cell research: Creating more human embryos for their stem
cells is making the beginnings of little babies for the purpose of harvesting their
parts, contrary to the command, "You shall not murder" (Exod. 20:13). There is a
good alternative: using adult stem cells for medical research, because this does
not destroy the life of the adult whose cells are used. We believe the ethical
choice is for a candidate who has decided he will not allow government funds to
be spent to create more human embryos just to take their stem cells.
6. Natural resources: God put human beings on the earth to "subdue it" and to
"have dominion" over the animals (Gen. 1:28). We value the beauty of the natural
world which God created, and we believe that we are called to be responsible
stewards who protect God’s creation while we use it wisely and also seek to
safeguard its usefulness for future generations. The Bible does not view
"untouched nature" as the ideal state of the earth, but expects human beings to
develop and use the earth’s resources wisely for mankind’s needs (Gen. 1:28;
2:15; 9:3; 1 Tim. 4:4). In fact, we believe that public policy based on the idealism
of "untouched nature" hinders wise development of the earth’s resources and
thus contributes to famine, starvation, disease, and death among the poor. We
believe the ethical choice is for candidates who will allow resources to be
developed and used wisely, not for candidates indebted to environmental
theories that oppose nearly all economic development in our nation and around
the world.
7. Should Christians speak out and try to influence our nation on these
issues? God’s people in the Bible often spoke about ethical issues to
government rulers. Daniel told the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar to practice
"righteousness" and to show "mercy to the oppressed" (Dan. 4:27); several Old
Testament prophets speak to foreign nations about their sins (Isaiah 13-23;
Ezekiel 25-32, Amos 1-2, Obadiah (to Edom), Jonah (to Nineveh), Nahum (to
Nineveh), Habakkuk 2, Zephaniah 2); and Paul spoke to the Roman governor
Felix "about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment" (Acts
24:25).
As Christian leaders we agree that the primary message of the New Testament is
the good news about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. But the primary
message is not the whole message, and another significant part of the New
Testament teaches us how people should live. With respect to issues like these
we have mentioned, the Bible also teaches us about what kinds of laws
governments should have.
The laws of a nation have a significant influence on the nation’s moral climate, for
good or for ill. This is because laws can either restrain evil or encourage it, and
because laws also have a teaching function as they inform people about what a
government thinks to be right and wrong conduct.
Therefore we urge pastors and Bible study leaders to teach on these crucial
ethical issues facing our nation. We urge all Christians that they have a moral
obligation to learn about the candidates’ positions, to be informed, and to vote.
We urge all Christians to pray that truthful speech and right conduct on both
sides would prevail in this election. We also encourage Christians to consider
doing even more for the good of our nation, such as giving time or money, or
talking to friends and neighbors, or even serving in office themselves. Such
influence for good on the direction of our country is one important way of fulfilling
Jesus’ command, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:19).
[The signatures below represent only the personal views of those signing
and not the views of their churches or institutions, which are added for
identification purposes only. Permission is hereby given to reproduce and
circulate this statement]
Pastors and Christian Leaders
Dr. Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Randy Alcorn, Director, Eternal Perspective Ministries, Gresham, OR
Kerby Anderson, National Director, Probe Ministries and host, Point of View
radio, Dallas, TX
Dr. Neil T. Anderson, Founder and President Emeritus, Freedom in Christ
Ministries
Jack and Kay Arthur, CEO and Founders, Precepts Ministries International
Dr. Barry Asmus, Senior Economist, National Center for Policy Analysis, Dallas,
TX
Ted Baehr, Chairman, Christian Film & Television Commission, Camarillo, CA
Dr. Mark Bailey, President, Dallas Theological Seminary
Gary Bauer, President, American Values
Joel Belz, Founder and Publisher, World Magazine
Tal Brooke, President/Chairman, Spiritual Counterfeits Project Inc.
Dr. E. Ray Clendenen, Executive editor, Bibles and Reference Books,
Broadman & Holman Publishers
Rev. Eugene Clingman, Executive Administrator, International Church Council
Project, Hathaway Pines, CA
Dr. Darryl DelHousaye, President, Phoenix Seminary and Senior Pastor,
Scottsdale Bible Church, Scottsdale, AZ
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Author, Host of Revive our Hearts radio
Dr. Lane T. Dennis, President and Publisher, Good News Publishers/ Crossway
Books and Bibles, Wheaton, IL
Dr. James Dobson, Chairman, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO
Dr. Bert Downs, President, Western Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. Tom Elliff, Pastor, First Southern Baptist Church, Del City, Oklahoma, and
past president, Southern Baptist Convention
Dr. Steve Farrar, Founder and Chairman, Men’s Leadership Ministries, Frisco,
TX
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church – Springdale, AR and The
Church at Pinnacle Hills – Rogers, AR
Dr. Tom Fortson, President, Promise Keepers
Dr. Jack Hayford, Chancellor, The King’s College and Seminary, Van Nuys, CA
Dr. Jim Henry, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando, FL, and past
president, Southern Baptist Convention
Dr. R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor, College Church in Wheaton, Wheaton, IL
Susan Hunt, Author
The Hon. Don Hodel, President, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO
Charles W. Jarvis, Chairman, USA Next-United Seniors Association
Dr. David Jeremiah, Founder, Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and
Senior Pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, CA
Dr. D. James Kennedy, Chancellor, Knox Theological Seminary, Fort
Lauderdale, FL
Dr. Gary Kinnaman, Senior Minister, Word of Grace Church, Mesa, Arizona
Dr. R. T. Kendall, Bible teacher, Author
Bob Lepine, Co-Host, FamilyLife Today
Dr. Robert Lewis, Pastor at Large, Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock, AR
Dr. Crawford W. Loritts, Jr., Author, Speaker, Radio Host, Atlanta, GA
H.B. London Jr., Vice President, Church, Clergy & Medical Outreach; Focus on
the Family
Dr. James MacDonald, Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows,
IL
Josh McDowell, President, Josh McDowell Ministries
Len Munsil, President, Center for Arizona Policy
Dr. Joel Nederhood, Director of Ministries Emeritus, Back to God Hour,
Christian Reformed Church
Dr. Marvin Olasky, Editor-in-chief, World Magazine
Rod Parsley, Founder, Center for Moral Clarity
Dr. Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft.
Worth, TX, and past president, Southern Baptist Convention
Ron Prentice, Executive Director, California Family Council
Dr. Dennis Rainey, President, FamilyLife, Little Rock, AR
Dr. Phil Roberts, President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas
City, MO
Jeff Schulte, Teaching Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church, Nashville, TN
Alan E. Sears, President, Alliance Defense Fund, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Joseph M. Stowell III, President, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL
Dr. Joseph Wasmond, President, Freedom in Christ Ministries, Knoxville, TN
Dr. Stu Weber, Senior Pastor, Good Shepherd Community Church, Gresham,
OR
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman, American Family Association
Professors at Christian colleges and theological seminaries
Dr. Gregg R. Allison, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
Dr. James A. Borland, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Dr. Gerry Breshears, Western Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. Harold O. J. Brown, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC
Dr. L. Russ Bush, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Dr. Fred Chay, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Richard C. Chewning, Baylor University (Emeritus), and John Brown
University, Siloam Springs, AR
Dr. Jack Cottrell, Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Cincinnati, OH
Dr. Kendell Easley, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Germantown,
TN
Dr. Wayne Grudem, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX
Dr. George W. Knight, III, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary,
Taylors, SC
Dr. J. Carl Laney, Western Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. David E. Lanier, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Dr. Steve Lemke, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA
Dr. Daniel R. Heimbach, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Mark Daniel Liederbach, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Tom J. Nettles, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
Dr. Dorothy Kelley Patterson, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft.
Worth, TX
Dr. Alvin L. Reid, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. Leland Ryken, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
Dr. Wayne G. Strickland, Multnomah Bible College and Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. Steven R Tracy, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Bruce Ware, The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, KY
Dr. Paul Wegner, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Robert W. Yarbrough, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL
Additional Signers
Dr. Brent Aucoin, Southeastern College at Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. William E. Brown, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Emir Caner, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. Gerald Cowen, Southeastern College at Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. Allan Moseley, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Dr. Waylan Owens, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Stephen R. Prescott, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Additional note: The following legal opinion regarding this statement has been
given by a prominent, highly knowledgeable tax attorney:
It is the opinion of an Arizona tax lawyer of long experience, that the
enclosed statements, if made from the pulpit or by a church
representative, do not violate the prohibition against political advocacy by
a tax-exempt organization. The reason is that this memorandum deals with
issues rather than candidates or parties. Tax-exempt organizations,
including churches, are not prohibited from expressing views on moral and
other issues. This paper deals with issues.
in the election (see names below)
The Bible speaks to several ethical issues in this election:
Many Americans seek guidance from the Bible for important issues of life, while
we recognize that many others do not. With thankfulness for the freedom of all
Americans to believe whatever they think best regarding matters of religion and
ethics, we offer this statement of our personal understanding of the teachings of
the Bible for the thoughtful consideration of all who are interested in how the
Bible might speak to ethical issues in the current election.
1. Supreme Court justices: People don’t often think of the appointment of
Supreme Court Justices as an ethical issue, but it clearly is now because several
decisions of the Supreme Court have imposed on our nation new policies on
major ethical and religious questions.
A small majority of our current Supreme Court, and lower courts that follow their
example, have gone beyond their Constitutionally-defined task of interpreting
laws passed by Congress and state legislatures, and have in effect created new
"laws" that have never been passed by any elected body. By this process they
have imposed on us decrees that allow abortionists to murder unborn babies
(contrary to Exodus 20:13 and Romans 13:9, "you shall not murder"), that protect
pornographers who poison the minds of children and adults (contrary to Exodus
20:17, "You shall not covet ... your neighbor’s wife; see also Matt. 5:28), that
redefine marriage to include homosexual couples (thus giving governmental
encouragement to actions that Romans 1:26-28 says are morally wrong), and
that banish prayer, God’s name and God’s laws from public places (thus
prohibiting free exercise of religion, and violating Romans 13:3 which says that
government should be "not a terror to good conduct, but to bad"). In taking to
itself the right to decree such policies, the Supreme Court has seriously distorted
the system of "checks and balances" intended by the Constitution between the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
It is unlikely that any elected body such as a city council, state legislature, or the
U.S. Congress, would have decreed policies like those mentioned above, for
such groups are accountable to the will of the people. Not so the Supreme Court,
which is appointed for life. And democratically-elected members of Congress
and state legislatures are helpless to change those Court-mandated policies
unless the makeup of the Supreme Court is changed. We believe the ethical
choice is for a President and for U. S. Senators committed to appointing judges
who will follow the original intent of the Constitution and just interpret law and not
make it, rather than for candidates who have often voted to block such judges in
votes in the Senate.
2. Defense against terrorists: A fundamental responsibility of government is to
"punish those who do evil" (1 Pet. 2:14) and thus to protect its citizens. We now
face a unique challenge, because terrorists who will sacrifice their own lives in
killing others cannot be deterred by the usual threat of punishing a criminal after
he commits a crime. While Jesus instructed individuals not to seek personal
revenge but to turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39), the Bible teaches that
governments are responsible to "bear the sword" (Rom. 13:4) and thus to use
force to oppose violent evil. We believe the ethical choice is for a candidate who
will pursue terrorists and, when necessary, use force to stop them before they
strike us, not for a candidate who only promises to respond if we are attacked
again.
3. Abortion: The Bible views the unborn child as a human person who should
be protected, since David said to God, "You knitted me together in my mother's
womb" (Psalm 139:13; see also Psalm 51:5; 139:13; Luke 1:44), and strong
penalties were imposed for endangering or harming the life of an unborn child
(Exod. 21:22-23). We believe the ethical choice is for candidates who believe
government should give protection to the lives of unborn children, not ones who
believe government should allow people to choose to murder their unborn
children if they wish.
4. Homosexual marriage: The Bible views marriage as between one man and
one woman, for "a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his
wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31). Because our
courts have shown a troubling tendency to overturn the laws that have already
been passed concerning marriage, we believe the ethical choice is for candidates
who support a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man
and one woman.
5. Embryonic stem cell research: Creating more human embryos for their stem
cells is making the beginnings of little babies for the purpose of harvesting their
parts, contrary to the command, "You shall not murder" (Exod. 20:13). There is a
good alternative: using adult stem cells for medical research, because this does
not destroy the life of the adult whose cells are used. We believe the ethical
choice is for a candidate who has decided he will not allow government funds to
be spent to create more human embryos just to take their stem cells.
6. Natural resources: God put human beings on the earth to "subdue it" and to
"have dominion" over the animals (Gen. 1:28). We value the beauty of the natural
world which God created, and we believe that we are called to be responsible
stewards who protect God’s creation while we use it wisely and also seek to
safeguard its usefulness for future generations. The Bible does not view
"untouched nature" as the ideal state of the earth, but expects human beings to
develop and use the earth’s resources wisely for mankind’s needs (Gen. 1:28;
2:15; 9:3; 1 Tim. 4:4). In fact, we believe that public policy based on the idealism
of "untouched nature" hinders wise development of the earth’s resources and
thus contributes to famine, starvation, disease, and death among the poor. We
believe the ethical choice is for candidates who will allow resources to be
developed and used wisely, not for candidates indebted to environmental
theories that oppose nearly all economic development in our nation and around
the world.
7. Should Christians speak out and try to influence our nation on these
issues? God’s people in the Bible often spoke about ethical issues to
government rulers. Daniel told the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar to practice
"righteousness" and to show "mercy to the oppressed" (Dan. 4:27); several Old
Testament prophets speak to foreign nations about their sins (Isaiah 13-23;
Ezekiel 25-32, Amos 1-2, Obadiah (to Edom), Jonah (to Nineveh), Nahum (to
Nineveh), Habakkuk 2, Zephaniah 2); and Paul spoke to the Roman governor
Felix "about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment" (Acts
24:25).
As Christian leaders we agree that the primary message of the New Testament is
the good news about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. But the primary
message is not the whole message, and another significant part of the New
Testament teaches us how people should live. With respect to issues like these
we have mentioned, the Bible also teaches us about what kinds of laws
governments should have.
The laws of a nation have a significant influence on the nation’s moral climate, for
good or for ill. This is because laws can either restrain evil or encourage it, and
because laws also have a teaching function as they inform people about what a
government thinks to be right and wrong conduct.
Therefore we urge pastors and Bible study leaders to teach on these crucial
ethical issues facing our nation. We urge all Christians that they have a moral
obligation to learn about the candidates’ positions, to be informed, and to vote.
We urge all Christians to pray that truthful speech and right conduct on both
sides would prevail in this election. We also encourage Christians to consider
doing even more for the good of our nation, such as giving time or money, or
talking to friends and neighbors, or even serving in office themselves. Such
influence for good on the direction of our country is one important way of fulfilling
Jesus’ command, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:19).
[The signatures below represent only the personal views of those signing
and not the views of their churches or institutions, which are added for
identification purposes only. Permission is hereby given to reproduce and
circulate this statement]
Pastors and Christian Leaders
Dr. Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Randy Alcorn, Director, Eternal Perspective Ministries, Gresham, OR
Kerby Anderson, National Director, Probe Ministries and host, Point of View
radio, Dallas, TX
Dr. Neil T. Anderson, Founder and President Emeritus, Freedom in Christ
Ministries
Jack and Kay Arthur, CEO and Founders, Precepts Ministries International
Dr. Barry Asmus, Senior Economist, National Center for Policy Analysis, Dallas,
TX
Ted Baehr, Chairman, Christian Film & Television Commission, Camarillo, CA
Dr. Mark Bailey, President, Dallas Theological Seminary
Gary Bauer, President, American Values
Joel Belz, Founder and Publisher, World Magazine
Tal Brooke, President/Chairman, Spiritual Counterfeits Project Inc.
Dr. E. Ray Clendenen, Executive editor, Bibles and Reference Books,
Broadman & Holman Publishers
Rev. Eugene Clingman, Executive Administrator, International Church Council
Project, Hathaway Pines, CA
Dr. Darryl DelHousaye, President, Phoenix Seminary and Senior Pastor,
Scottsdale Bible Church, Scottsdale, AZ
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Author, Host of Revive our Hearts radio
Dr. Lane T. Dennis, President and Publisher, Good News Publishers/ Crossway
Books and Bibles, Wheaton, IL
Dr. James Dobson, Chairman, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO
Dr. Bert Downs, President, Western Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. Tom Elliff, Pastor, First Southern Baptist Church, Del City, Oklahoma, and
past president, Southern Baptist Convention
Dr. Steve Farrar, Founder and Chairman, Men’s Leadership Ministries, Frisco,
TX
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church – Springdale, AR and The
Church at Pinnacle Hills – Rogers, AR
Dr. Tom Fortson, President, Promise Keepers
Dr. Jack Hayford, Chancellor, The King’s College and Seminary, Van Nuys, CA
Dr. Jim Henry, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando, FL, and past
president, Southern Baptist Convention
Dr. R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor, College Church in Wheaton, Wheaton, IL
Susan Hunt, Author
The Hon. Don Hodel, President, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO
Charles W. Jarvis, Chairman, USA Next-United Seniors Association
Dr. David Jeremiah, Founder, Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and
Senior Pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, CA
Dr. D. James Kennedy, Chancellor, Knox Theological Seminary, Fort
Lauderdale, FL
Dr. Gary Kinnaman, Senior Minister, Word of Grace Church, Mesa, Arizona
Dr. R. T. Kendall, Bible teacher, Author
Bob Lepine, Co-Host, FamilyLife Today
Dr. Robert Lewis, Pastor at Large, Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock, AR
Dr. Crawford W. Loritts, Jr., Author, Speaker, Radio Host, Atlanta, GA
H.B. London Jr., Vice President, Church, Clergy & Medical Outreach; Focus on
the Family
Dr. James MacDonald, Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows,
IL
Josh McDowell, President, Josh McDowell Ministries
Len Munsil, President, Center for Arizona Policy
Dr. Joel Nederhood, Director of Ministries Emeritus, Back to God Hour,
Christian Reformed Church
Dr. Marvin Olasky, Editor-in-chief, World Magazine
Rod Parsley, Founder, Center for Moral Clarity
Dr. Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft.
Worth, TX, and past president, Southern Baptist Convention
Ron Prentice, Executive Director, California Family Council
Dr. Dennis Rainey, President, FamilyLife, Little Rock, AR
Dr. Phil Roberts, President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas
City, MO
Jeff Schulte, Teaching Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church, Nashville, TN
Alan E. Sears, President, Alliance Defense Fund, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Joseph M. Stowell III, President, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL
Dr. Joseph Wasmond, President, Freedom in Christ Ministries, Knoxville, TN
Dr. Stu Weber, Senior Pastor, Good Shepherd Community Church, Gresham,
OR
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman, American Family Association
Professors at Christian colleges and theological seminaries
Dr. Gregg R. Allison, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
Dr. James A. Borland, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Dr. Gerry Breshears, Western Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. Harold O. J. Brown, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC
Dr. L. Russ Bush, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Dr. Fred Chay, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Richard C. Chewning, Baylor University (Emeritus), and John Brown
University, Siloam Springs, AR
Dr. Jack Cottrell, Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Cincinnati, OH
Dr. Kendell Easley, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Germantown,
TN
Dr. Wayne Grudem, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX
Dr. George W. Knight, III, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary,
Taylors, SC
Dr. J. Carl Laney, Western Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. David E. Lanier, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Dr. Steve Lemke, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA
Dr. Daniel R. Heimbach, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Mark Daniel Liederbach, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Tom J. Nettles, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
Dr. Dorothy Kelley Patterson, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft.
Worth, TX
Dr. Alvin L. Reid, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. Leland Ryken, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
Dr. Wayne G. Strickland, Multnomah Bible College and Seminary, Portland, OR
Dr. Steven R Tracy, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Bruce Ware, The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, KY
Dr. Paul Wegner, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Robert W. Yarbrough, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL
Additional Signers
Dr. Brent Aucoin, Southeastern College at Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. William E. Brown, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake
Forest, NC
Dr. Emir Caner, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. Gerald Cowen, Southeastern College at Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC
Dr. Allan Moseley, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Dr. Waylan Owens, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Stephen R. Prescott, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC
Additional note: The following legal opinion regarding this statement has been
given by a prominent, highly knowledgeable tax attorney:
It is the opinion of an Arizona tax lawyer of long experience, that the
enclosed statements, if made from the pulpit or by a church
representative, do not violate the prohibition against political advocacy by
a tax-exempt organization. The reason is that this memorandum deals with
issues rather than candidates or parties. Tax-exempt organizations,
including churches, are not prohibited from expressing views on moral and
other issues. This paper deals with issues.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Thoughts on the Presidential Debates and the Upcoming Elections
Having watched all three presidential debates and the single vice presidential debate, I remain firm in my commitment to the candidate I have chosen. Speaking solely for myself, I support President Bush in the upcoming election. However, I would like to share some thoughts on the debates and the elections.
1. I have not been pleased at the way both candidates have resorted to denigrating the other candidates. Regardless of what we have heard during the debates and in the campaign ads, I do not believe that either Kerry or Bush are evil incarnate. I do not believe that either candidate is set to ruin our great nation. I would have preferred to see the candidates focus more on what they propose to do rather than on how the other candidate is wrong.
2. I think that the one thing that has come from the debates is that America can clearly see a difference between the two candidates in regards to their world view and vision for this nation. President Bush clearly comes across as a candidate influenced by a conservative Christian world view. He appears to see his administration's actions as attempts at implementing the social justice principles in the Bible. Senator Kerry clearly comes across as a candidate influenced by liberal policies and not by any religious world view. With this view, he promotes a more tolerant view of religion overall and bases his administrative proposals on how society and government should act in a civilized world. Which is right? It would depend on your own personal world view.
3. The Environment. If there is one area that I have to fault President Bush, it is in this area. While I understand that his main concern since taking office has been to reverse the recession that has impacted the nation, I feel that more could have been done to promote environmental policies that were compatible with business practices.
4. The Economy. There is a clear difference between the two candidates in this area. President Bush is focusing on less government and more economic incentives to businesses to grow the economy. Senator Kerry believes that the economy should be handled by increased Government programs designed to spur economic growth. Clear cut conservative economics vs. liberal economic policies. Generally, the same holds true for healthcare and jobs.
5. The War on Terror. Once again we see a clear difference between the two candidates in this area. President Bush tends to view the war on terror as America's responsibility, and if the world wants to help, great. If the world doesn't want to help, we'll do it on our own. Senator Kerry tends to take the more liberal approach of building a consensus with other nations and approaching the war on terror as a global problem. If we do not have the support of the other countries, then we should respect their opinions and not engage unilaterally. [The funny thing here is that on the issue of Korea, the two candidates flip-flop views.] I think both candidates have still failed to recognize the spiritual aspects of the war on terror, and until they do so, we will continue to fail in winning the war. We may win battles, such as in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the war will continue to be in doubt. Another area of concern I have is that we continue to approach the war on terror with a western perspective. Until we recognize and realize that we are fighting an enemy with a different world view and with a different perspective, we cannot win. That is why WWI and WWII were so decisive, but wars with Asian and Middle Eastern countries (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.) remain difficult.
So, how should a Christian vote? What would Jesus do in regards to this upcoming election? WWJVF (Who Would Jesus Vote For?)? This is not a question that is easy to answer, but let me give you some principles that I use to guide my vote:
I try to hold up a candidate's view of issues to my own interpretation of the Bible, knowing that I approach the Bible from a literal conservative Methodist perspective. In that regards, I tend to vote for candidates that are pro-life, pro-family, and pro-civil justice. I tend to vote against candidates that support abortion and same-sex marriages.
I do not believe that Christians should base their vote solely on economic issues. Christ told us that we cannot serve two masters -- money being one of the masters that He mentioned. Whenever we use economics, even our own financial security, as the sole factor in deciding who to vote for, we may end up compromising our integrity in other areas.
I personally do not favor Government welfare or social security programs. I contend that the existence of these programs demonstrates the failure of the church. Jesus gave us the responsibility to care for widows, orphans, elderly, and the outcast. He did not give that responsibility to the Government. I would rather see fewer Government programs and more faith-based programs that originate from the church with church funds. I tend to vote for candidates that support fewer Government programs.
That said, let me make one more final point. I believe it is a God-given responsibility for Christians to vote. God has placed us in this great nation and has given us the right to elect our leaders. His word tells us to submit to the authorities placed over us, and I think that means exercising our right to vote. Christians should vote their conscience, basing their vote on biblical principles and not on political or solely economic principles, and certainly not along party lines. God is neither a Republican or a Democrat, and I believe He would have us vote for the person rather than the party.
Having watched all three presidential debates and the single vice presidential debate, I remain firm in my commitment to the candidate I have chosen. Speaking solely for myself, I support President Bush in the upcoming election. However, I would like to share some thoughts on the debates and the elections.
1. I have not been pleased at the way both candidates have resorted to denigrating the other candidates. Regardless of what we have heard during the debates and in the campaign ads, I do not believe that either Kerry or Bush are evil incarnate. I do not believe that either candidate is set to ruin our great nation. I would have preferred to see the candidates focus more on what they propose to do rather than on how the other candidate is wrong.
2. I think that the one thing that has come from the debates is that America can clearly see a difference between the two candidates in regards to their world view and vision for this nation. President Bush clearly comes across as a candidate influenced by a conservative Christian world view. He appears to see his administration's actions as attempts at implementing the social justice principles in the Bible. Senator Kerry clearly comes across as a candidate influenced by liberal policies and not by any religious world view. With this view, he promotes a more tolerant view of religion overall and bases his administrative proposals on how society and government should act in a civilized world. Which is right? It would depend on your own personal world view.
3. The Environment. If there is one area that I have to fault President Bush, it is in this area. While I understand that his main concern since taking office has been to reverse the recession that has impacted the nation, I feel that more could have been done to promote environmental policies that were compatible with business practices.
4. The Economy. There is a clear difference between the two candidates in this area. President Bush is focusing on less government and more economic incentives to businesses to grow the economy. Senator Kerry believes that the economy should be handled by increased Government programs designed to spur economic growth. Clear cut conservative economics vs. liberal economic policies. Generally, the same holds true for healthcare and jobs.
5. The War on Terror. Once again we see a clear difference between the two candidates in this area. President Bush tends to view the war on terror as America's responsibility, and if the world wants to help, great. If the world doesn't want to help, we'll do it on our own. Senator Kerry tends to take the more liberal approach of building a consensus with other nations and approaching the war on terror as a global problem. If we do not have the support of the other countries, then we should respect their opinions and not engage unilaterally. [The funny thing here is that on the issue of Korea, the two candidates flip-flop views.] I think both candidates have still failed to recognize the spiritual aspects of the war on terror, and until they do so, we will continue to fail in winning the war. We may win battles, such as in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the war will continue to be in doubt. Another area of concern I have is that we continue to approach the war on terror with a western perspective. Until we recognize and realize that we are fighting an enemy with a different world view and with a different perspective, we cannot win. That is why WWI and WWII were so decisive, but wars with Asian and Middle Eastern countries (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.) remain difficult.
So, how should a Christian vote? What would Jesus do in regards to this upcoming election? WWJVF (Who Would Jesus Vote For?)? This is not a question that is easy to answer, but let me give you some principles that I use to guide my vote:
I try to hold up a candidate's view of issues to my own interpretation of the Bible, knowing that I approach the Bible from a literal conservative Methodist perspective. In that regards, I tend to vote for candidates that are pro-life, pro-family, and pro-civil justice. I tend to vote against candidates that support abortion and same-sex marriages.
I do not believe that Christians should base their vote solely on economic issues. Christ told us that we cannot serve two masters -- money being one of the masters that He mentioned. Whenever we use economics, even our own financial security, as the sole factor in deciding who to vote for, we may end up compromising our integrity in other areas.
I personally do not favor Government welfare or social security programs. I contend that the existence of these programs demonstrates the failure of the church. Jesus gave us the responsibility to care for widows, orphans, elderly, and the outcast. He did not give that responsibility to the Government. I would rather see fewer Government programs and more faith-based programs that originate from the church with church funds. I tend to vote for candidates that support fewer Government programs.
That said, let me make one more final point. I believe it is a God-given responsibility for Christians to vote. God has placed us in this great nation and has given us the right to elect our leaders. His word tells us to submit to the authorities placed over us, and I think that means exercising our right to vote. Christians should vote their conscience, basing their vote on biblical principles and not on political or solely economic principles, and certainly not along party lines. God is neither a Republican or a Democrat, and I believe He would have us vote for the person rather than the party.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
On Rockets and Spirits
The following article was posted in the Vero Beach Press Journal on Monday of this past week:
"Hurricane Makes Explosive Discovery
Monday, October 04, 2004
Residents of a Florida coastal community found something interesting in the wake of Hurricane Jeanne - a World War II-era missile, complete with live warhead, buried under a driveway.
"We have seen other bombs and depth charges wash up before, but that is unusual to find it underneath the driveway," Pat Schulke, who lives across the street in an unincorporated part of Indian River County, told the Vero Beach Press Journal.
The pounding waves generated by Jeanne washed away most of the beachfront driveway, revealing several feet of a rocket poking out of the sand, tail fins and all.
"[Bombs] have washed up in the past, but not usually found within a community," said Detective Joe Flescher from the county sheriff's office.
Experts from Patrick Air Force Base up the coast identified the rocket as a "Tiny Tim," a 10-foot-long air-to-ground missile carrying a 500-pound bomb.
Flescher explained that 60 years ago, the barrier island opposite Vero Beach was a training ground for the U.S. military.
Ordnance disposal personnel from the Air Force base determined the warhead was live, and moved it elsewhere for detonation.
"It sounded like a large firework going off," said Lt. David Dangerfield of the Indian River County Fire-Rescue department, who was about half a mile away. "Dirt shot right up in the air, and I felt a minimum percussion from it. The bomb was live.""
This is what happens in our life when the storms of life come upon us. God uses these storms to pound away at our flesh and at everything else that hampers us in our walk with Him. The waves and the wind and the surf strip away our pride and our arrogance and our sin until we reach the point where all we can do is trust in Him. It is at that point that the hidden power of God is made manifest in our life, just as the bomb lay hidden for years under a beach-side driveway was exposed following a storm. As the Word of God says, the Holy Spirit inside of us is like dunamis -- dynamite -- power. We just need to reach the point where we allow His power to manifest through us.
The following article was posted in the Vero Beach Press Journal on Monday of this past week:
"Hurricane Makes Explosive Discovery
Monday, October 04, 2004
Residents of a Florida coastal community found something interesting in the wake of Hurricane Jeanne - a World War II-era missile, complete with live warhead, buried under a driveway.
"We have seen other bombs and depth charges wash up before, but that is unusual to find it underneath the driveway," Pat Schulke, who lives across the street in an unincorporated part of Indian River County, told the Vero Beach Press Journal.
The pounding waves generated by Jeanne washed away most of the beachfront driveway, revealing several feet of a rocket poking out of the sand, tail fins and all.
"[Bombs] have washed up in the past, but not usually found within a community," said Detective Joe Flescher from the county sheriff's office.
Experts from Patrick Air Force Base up the coast identified the rocket as a "Tiny Tim," a 10-foot-long air-to-ground missile carrying a 500-pound bomb.
Flescher explained that 60 years ago, the barrier island opposite Vero Beach was a training ground for the U.S. military.
Ordnance disposal personnel from the Air Force base determined the warhead was live, and moved it elsewhere for detonation.
"It sounded like a large firework going off," said Lt. David Dangerfield of the Indian River County Fire-Rescue department, who was about half a mile away. "Dirt shot right up in the air, and I felt a minimum percussion from it. The bomb was live.""
This is what happens in our life when the storms of life come upon us. God uses these storms to pound away at our flesh and at everything else that hampers us in our walk with Him. The waves and the wind and the surf strip away our pride and our arrogance and our sin until we reach the point where all we can do is trust in Him. It is at that point that the hidden power of God is made manifest in our life, just as the bomb lay hidden for years under a beach-side driveway was exposed following a storm. As the Word of God says, the Holy Spirit inside of us is like dunamis -- dynamite -- power. We just need to reach the point where we allow His power to manifest through us.
I AM A SOLDIER!
I am a soldier in the army of my God! The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer! The Bible is my code of conduct! Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare!
I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity! I will either retire from this army at the Rapture or die in this army, but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out! I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire!
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable! If my God needs me, I am there! If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School, to work with youth, help adults, or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I am there!
I am a soldier! I am not a baby! I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up!
I am a soldier! No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me! I am a soldier! I am not a wimp! I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts! I don't need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to!
I am committed! I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around! I can not be discouraged enough to turn me aside! I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit! When Jesus called me into His army, I had nothing, I will still break even!
I will win! My God will supply all my needs! I am more than a conqueror! I will always triumph! I can do all things through Christ! Devils cannot defeat me! People cannot disillusion me! Weather cannot weary me; sickness cannot stop me; battles cannot beat me! Money cannot buy me! Governments cannot silence me! And hell cannot handle me!
I am a soldier! Even death cannot destroy me, for when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to captain and then bring me back to rule this world with Him! I am a soldier in God's army, I will never surrender to the Enemy! I will never turn back! I am a soldier, marching heavenward, claiming victory as I go!
Here I stand! Will you stand with me?
Guess what? If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you're already enlisted!
Question is, which part of the service are you in:
1. ACTIVE DUTY: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7?
2. GUARD STATUS: Backing up the Active Duty group?
3. RESERVE STATUS: Serving only when called upon or twice a year: Christmas and Easter? or
4. AWOL! Absent with out the Lord?
From: "Schnippert, William A." <5331WAS@jaxsheriff.com>
I am a soldier in the army of my God! The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer! The Bible is my code of conduct! Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare!
I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity! I will either retire from this army at the Rapture or die in this army, but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out! I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire!
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable! If my God needs me, I am there! If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School, to work with youth, help adults, or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I am there!
I am a soldier! I am not a baby! I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up!
I am a soldier! No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me! I am a soldier! I am not a wimp! I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts! I don't need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to!
I am committed! I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around! I can not be discouraged enough to turn me aside! I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit! When Jesus called me into His army, I had nothing, I will still break even!
I will win! My God will supply all my needs! I am more than a conqueror! I will always triumph! I can do all things through Christ! Devils cannot defeat me! People cannot disillusion me! Weather cannot weary me; sickness cannot stop me; battles cannot beat me! Money cannot buy me! Governments cannot silence me! And hell cannot handle me!
I am a soldier! Even death cannot destroy me, for when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to captain and then bring me back to rule this world with Him! I am a soldier in God's army, I will never surrender to the Enemy! I will never turn back! I am a soldier, marching heavenward, claiming victory as I go!
Here I stand! Will you stand with me?
Guess what? If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you're already enlisted!
Question is, which part of the service are you in:
1. ACTIVE DUTY: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7?
2. GUARD STATUS: Backing up the Active Duty group?
3. RESERVE STATUS: Serving only when called upon or twice a year: Christmas and Easter? or
4. AWOL! Absent with out the Lord?
From: "Schnippert, William A." <5331WAS@jaxsheriff.com>
Sunday, September 26, 2004
NEXT STEPS
Preached 26 September 2004
Naylor UMC
Preached 26 September 2004
Naylor UMC
I. Tired
Turn in Bibles to Psalm 46 -- verse 10: "Be still and know that I am God"
I am tired. It has been a busy few weeks. First preparing for Charge Conference and getting together all the forms and having all the meetings and trying to get everything entered into the computer.
And then we had homecoming and revival, and it took a lot of time to prepare for that. I made flyers and called people and spent a lot of time getting prepared.
To top it all off, we are at the end of our fiscal year at Moody AFB, and we are being inundated with a lot of projects because of the end of the year and because of delays associated with the hurricanes. And I've spent several days working in Kim's new business trying to help her build fences and sink fenceposts and create barriers and do any number of other things. So, it has finally just caught up with me.
When I got home yesterday evening, Kim started preparing supper while all I could do was just sit down. I told her I had "heart dropsy" -- I had dropped and didn't have the heart to get back up. I am tired.
So, when God led me to this verse, I just knew it was a blessing from God. Yes, God, I thought, that is just what I need. Be still. Enter into my rest. Take some time and refresh your body and your mind. God, you are so good. You knew I needed to rest and to be still.
But God said, that's not what I'm talking about. You need to look at what I'm telling you in the context of the whole passage. So I went back and looked up Psalm 46 and read it and studied it in context, and I think God was giving me a different meaning for verse 10. Yes, it does mean to be still, to enter God's rest, to just seek refuge in His presence, but it also has a different meaning that you can see if you read the whole passage. Look now with me at verse 1 in Psalm 46 and we will go through this together as I show you what God showed me. As we go through this, keep in mind verse 10, because it is the key verse, the climax verse, of the passage.
Turn in Bibles to Psalm 46 -- verse 10: "Be still and know that I am God"
I am tired. It has been a busy few weeks. First preparing for Charge Conference and getting together all the forms and having all the meetings and trying to get everything entered into the computer.
And then we had homecoming and revival, and it took a lot of time to prepare for that. I made flyers and called people and spent a lot of time getting prepared.
To top it all off, we are at the end of our fiscal year at Moody AFB, and we are being inundated with a lot of projects because of the end of the year and because of delays associated with the hurricanes. And I've spent several days working in Kim's new business trying to help her build fences and sink fenceposts and create barriers and do any number of other things. So, it has finally just caught up with me.
When I got home yesterday evening, Kim started preparing supper while all I could do was just sit down. I told her I had "heart dropsy" -- I had dropped and didn't have the heart to get back up. I am tired.
So, when God led me to this verse, I just knew it was a blessing from God. Yes, God, I thought, that is just what I need. Be still. Enter into my rest. Take some time and refresh your body and your mind. God, you are so good. You knew I needed to rest and to be still.
But God said, that's not what I'm talking about. You need to look at what I'm telling you in the context of the whole passage. So I went back and looked up Psalm 46 and read it and studied it in context, and I think God was giving me a different meaning for verse 10. Yes, it does mean to be still, to enter God's rest, to just seek refuge in His presence, but it also has a different meaning that you can see if you read the whole passage. Look now with me at verse 1 in Psalm 46 and we will go through this together as I show you what God showed me. As we go through this, keep in mind verse 10, because it is the key verse, the climax verse, of the passage.
II. Scripture
Psalm 46
1. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. [This verse fits with our normal understanding of "be still." It means that we can seek refuge in God, rest in His presence. He is our strength and our help in times of trouble, and we can seek sanctuary with Him. Think of all the hurricane evacuees that have been coming into our area. What do we call them? Refugees. People seeking refuge from the storm. God is telling us here to seek refuge in Him. Be still -- seek refuge -- and know that I am God.]
2. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3. though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
[When we seek refuge in God, when we trust in His strength, when we know that God is always there to help us, no matter what our trouble is, then we do not have to fear. The hurricane can come. The storms can come. We can have problems at home or at school or at work and we don't have to fear if we only are still and trust in God and His help in times of trouble.]
4. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
[There is not a river in Jerusalem. There are rivers in all the other major cities that we read about in the Bible -- Babylon, Damascus -- but there is no river in Jerusalem. Here God is referring to His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is a river of living water that wells up within us and restores our soul. Jesus said that if we drank from this river, from this living water, that we would never thirst. If we are still before God, if we trust in Him, then we will be refreshed with the living water that flows from Jesus.]
7. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8. Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
10. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
[Here we see the second meaning of "Be still, and know that I am God." When I read this verse in context, verse 8 just leaped out at me. "Come and see the works of the Lord." God was telling me that I should be still, I should quit striving, I should quit trying to do things in my own strength, and know that He is God through the works that He would do. Too often, we try to do too much in our own strength. We wear ourselves out, not just at our secular jobs, but in our spiritual lives, trying to do God's work for Him.
Think about the revival we had this week. I spent more time preparing for this revival than any other. I prepared flyers and mailed them to all the Methodist churches in Lowndes County and in Homerville. I called several pastors and talked to others personally inviting them and their members to the revival. I made a lot of personal contacts, inviting people to church. I prayed and prayed that a lot of people would come. But on Monday night, I was seriously disappointed. We had a total turnout of 11 people, counting the revival preacher, his wife, and his guest.
But let me ask you a question. Let's say this sanctuary had been filled with people Monday night. Let's say there would have been standing room only. Who would have gotten the glory? I might have given God the glory with my lips, but in my heart I would have been lying. I would have claimed credit for the people coming. After all, it was I who made up and mailed the flyers and invited the people. I was trying to make a revival happen in my own strength.
God showing me that I was trying to make a revival on my own without Him. We can call them revivals but we cannot make it happen until we are still and know and trust that God is going to bring it about. This is what God was trying to show me in Psalm 46.
A lot of times in our lives and in our churches, we try to give God instructions. We come up with our plans and then say, "God bless it." We try to come up with ministry ideas on our own and implement them in our own strength. That's not the way God works. God wants us to be still and let Him work through us. He doesn't need us to work on our own. He wants us to surrender ourselves and trust in His strength.
As I was studying this, God showed me how others had done this. He pointed out to me that the Apostle Paul never saved a single person -- John Wesley never saved a single person -- Billy Graham has never saved a single person. God did it through the. Only God can save a person. Only God can accomplish ministry. We cannot do it on our own. God just wants us to be still and let Him do it through us.
In the Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren starts out, line number one, with the phrase: "It's not about us." And that's true in a couple of senses. Everything in the world should focus on God and not us. But it's also true when we consider ministry and God's work here on earth. It's not about us and what we are going to do for God. It's about God and what He is going to do through us. As it says in the Bible, "not by power nor by might but by My Spirit."
Psalm 46
1. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. [This verse fits with our normal understanding of "be still." It means that we can seek refuge in God, rest in His presence. He is our strength and our help in times of trouble, and we can seek sanctuary with Him. Think of all the hurricane evacuees that have been coming into our area. What do we call them? Refugees. People seeking refuge from the storm. God is telling us here to seek refuge in Him. Be still -- seek refuge -- and know that I am God.]
2. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3. though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
[When we seek refuge in God, when we trust in His strength, when we know that God is always there to help us, no matter what our trouble is, then we do not have to fear. The hurricane can come. The storms can come. We can have problems at home or at school or at work and we don't have to fear if we only are still and trust in God and His help in times of trouble.]
4. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
[There is not a river in Jerusalem. There are rivers in all the other major cities that we read about in the Bible -- Babylon, Damascus -- but there is no river in Jerusalem. Here God is referring to His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is a river of living water that wells up within us and restores our soul. Jesus said that if we drank from this river, from this living water, that we would never thirst. If we are still before God, if we trust in Him, then we will be refreshed with the living water that flows from Jesus.]
7. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8. Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
10. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
[Here we see the second meaning of "Be still, and know that I am God." When I read this verse in context, verse 8 just leaped out at me. "Come and see the works of the Lord." God was telling me that I should be still, I should quit striving, I should quit trying to do things in my own strength, and know that He is God through the works that He would do. Too often, we try to do too much in our own strength. We wear ourselves out, not just at our secular jobs, but in our spiritual lives, trying to do God's work for Him.
Think about the revival we had this week. I spent more time preparing for this revival than any other. I prepared flyers and mailed them to all the Methodist churches in Lowndes County and in Homerville. I called several pastors and talked to others personally inviting them and their members to the revival. I made a lot of personal contacts, inviting people to church. I prayed and prayed that a lot of people would come. But on Monday night, I was seriously disappointed. We had a total turnout of 11 people, counting the revival preacher, his wife, and his guest.
But let me ask you a question. Let's say this sanctuary had been filled with people Monday night. Let's say there would have been standing room only. Who would have gotten the glory? I might have given God the glory with my lips, but in my heart I would have been lying. I would have claimed credit for the people coming. After all, it was I who made up and mailed the flyers and invited the people. I was trying to make a revival happen in my own strength.
God showing me that I was trying to make a revival on my own without Him. We can call them revivals but we cannot make it happen until we are still and know and trust that God is going to bring it about. This is what God was trying to show me in Psalm 46.
A lot of times in our lives and in our churches, we try to give God instructions. We come up with our plans and then say, "God bless it." We try to come up with ministry ideas on our own and implement them in our own strength. That's not the way God works. God wants us to be still and let Him work through us. He doesn't need us to work on our own. He wants us to surrender ourselves and trust in His strength.
As I was studying this, God showed me how others had done this. He pointed out to me that the Apostle Paul never saved a single person -- John Wesley never saved a single person -- Billy Graham has never saved a single person. God did it through the. Only God can save a person. Only God can accomplish ministry. We cannot do it on our own. God just wants us to be still and let Him do it through us.
In the Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren starts out, line number one, with the phrase: "It's not about us." And that's true in a couple of senses. Everything in the world should focus on God and not us. But it's also true when we consider ministry and God's work here on earth. It's not about us and what we are going to do for God. It's about God and what He is going to do through us. As it says in the Bible, "not by power nor by might but by My Spirit."
III. Closing
It's time for us to grow in Christ. It's time for us to be weaned -- to move from milk to meat.
This means we stop trying to do things on our own and let God work through us. Immature Christians think they have to do it all. Mature Christians surrender themselves and let God work through them.
Corrie Ten Boom relates story of paratrooper instructor in one of her books. After he got his men trained and ready for their mission, after he had his men in the plane and they were over the battlefield, he gave four commands. Our Lord gives us the same commands today.
First -- Attention! -- Lift up your eyes (John 4:35)
Second -- Stand in the door! -- Look upon the fields, for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35)
Third -- Hook up! -- Be ye filled with the Holy Spirit (John 20:22)
Fourth -- Follow me! -- I will make you fishers of men (Mark 1:17)
Corrie said in her book that it is not our task to give God instructions. We are to simply report for duty.
Someone once said, "you are not called to convince anyone -- you are simply called to be a channel for the Spirit of God to flow through -- you can never be anything else, even though you may think so at times -- follow the pathway of obedience, let the Word of God do its own work, and you will be used by God far beyond your powers"
Do you want to see God use you and use this church far beyond your powers? Then be still and know that He is God.
Let us pray
It's time for us to grow in Christ. It's time for us to be weaned -- to move from milk to meat.
This means we stop trying to do things on our own and let God work through us. Immature Christians think they have to do it all. Mature Christians surrender themselves and let God work through them.
Corrie Ten Boom relates story of paratrooper instructor in one of her books. After he got his men trained and ready for their mission, after he had his men in the plane and they were over the battlefield, he gave four commands. Our Lord gives us the same commands today.
First -- Attention! -- Lift up your eyes (John 4:35)
Second -- Stand in the door! -- Look upon the fields, for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35)
Third -- Hook up! -- Be ye filled with the Holy Spirit (John 20:22)
Fourth -- Follow me! -- I will make you fishers of men (Mark 1:17)
Corrie said in her book that it is not our task to give God instructions. We are to simply report for duty.
Someone once said, "you are not called to convince anyone -- you are simply called to be a channel for the Spirit of God to flow through -- you can never be anything else, even though you may think so at times -- follow the pathway of obedience, let the Word of God do its own work, and you will be used by God far beyond your powers"
Do you want to see God use you and use this church far beyond your powers? Then be still and know that He is God.
Let us pray
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