I Have A Job For You

Acts 6:1-8:1

This block of scripture starts with an internal view of things happening inside the church. We are starting with the Beginning of Chapter 6 because it provides us with some details that help us with the big picture.

It starts with a complaint. The Grecian Jews, also called Hellenistic, think that the Widows that are in that group are being slighted or perhaps even ignored.

I want to make a guess as to the nature of what is happening. The scripture specifically mentions Grecian…Which means they were from outside of Israel. They had come to town and stayed.. perhaps made a pilgrimage and wanted to remain in the home land.

The real problem is that they probably don’t speak Hebrew or Aramaic. They can’t read the flyers about the help that the church offers and perhaps they even live too far to just come and check it out. Since they are not from around there, they have trouble getting connected, to the resources offered.

A couple of weeks ago, we learned that the believers were sharing everything in common, and some were so generous that they sold land and houses and gave the money to the apostles to help out thoes in need.

But there is some kind of a problem, Some age being neglected, the Whole group is called together, I take it to be all of them….and they decide that their call is to teach and preach and that someone else should be selected to serve in this other ministry.

I don’t think that are avoiding getting their hands dirty. They are figuring out that as the church grows, they can’t do all the jobs needed to help the community of faith…

They empower others to serve in ministry.

Seven men are chosen. The text gives us some names: “They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.”

Stephen is set apart with a few characteristics, Full of Faith, and the Holy Spirit. It names Philip who we will hear more about later. Luke has a tendency to give us names of people that will hear more about. Stephen is about to be like some of the fire works that some of you may have wittiness last week.

He is like one of thoes shells that rise way up in the sky and make a huge impression and suddenly fade into black.

You would think that we will hear about how great he meals on wheels program comes together under his leadership. Perhaps some other accounts of the great job this group does..

But no, we will never hear about the ministry again. I suppose that means that it all worked out. Except, I am afraid it will be a fairly short lived program.

What we do hear about Stephen is very different.

Let me read Verses 8-12

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

So what is Stephen doing? The description of being full of God’s grace and power, is nice but doing great wonders and miraculous signs.

Doesn’t that sound like he is some how doing the same thing as the apostles. Miracles, that is their department. So while, the apostles choose him to serve the community he is endowed by God with the A list powers and graces.

It talks about opposition from the synagogue…..They say tat there is evidence that during this time that there were between two and fie synagogues operating in Jerusalem. They were led by the Pharisees and cam together to pray and to read and hear teaching about scripture. But the Temple was less than a mile across town, why start synagogues?
The temple services were preformed in Hebrew. The daily services might have been a mystery. The synagogues would have offered teaching and prayers in a language that the Jews that were borne and raised else ware could understand.

The synagogue of the Freedmen, was probably Greek speaking and Stephen goes there and preaches and teaches, signs and wonders happen.

While the people argue with him, they never win. The trump up charges.

So, Stephen, is not just running meals on wheels. He is gong out and doing the work of the Apostles. He is preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. And has the powers that they yield.

One point for you to carry with you today, The apostles had responsibility of every ministry within the church…They request a group to take on primary responsibility of part of the ministry….However, in reality, while they and others in the church have specialized functions … they are all responsible for the ministries of the church.

Stephen is doing his assigned role and still giving his testimony as to his knowledge of the messiah.

Stephen goes to court, just like Peter and John and others. But he goes on trumped up charges. The Synagogue leaders are ranting and raving, they produce false witnesses that miss-quote Stephen.

Then Verse 15 says, “All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

What do you think that means? When babies sleep that idea comes to mind. But a young man….Sounds a little strange.

Could it be is was a cute guy, perhaps but , I doubt that this would be flattering. Perhaps, it means innocent looking. But most of the time people are afraid of angels.

I found on person that suggested that his face was like Moses when he came down from the mountain. That it glowed, with a Shekinah Glory. Their suggestion comes from the speech that Stephen gives.

I think it is very strange that his accusers fail to be influenced by what is described to us.

In Chapter 7 Stephen starts his sermon, He starts by telling the story of Abraham.
The group he is speaking too, change everything they know on Moses and the Law that comes from God. Stephen is baking up to the older covenant. A covenant made by God, for the descendants of Abraham…the promise or contract guaranteed by God himself.

Here is another point to consider. The promises made to Abraham did not come to reality until long after Abraham’s death.

Stephen says in 7:4-6
"God sent him to this land where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.

God’s covenant offered him no physical land the farm or live on, and for a long time, not even a child as a sign of fulfillment. Yet Abraham responded.

Then Stephen goes into a brief history where points out the actions of God, modes and the prophets and how Israel rejects every advance. He compares the Temple to the Tabernacle.

The tabernacle was designed by God as a mobile worship center. That traveled where the people were to remind them of the presence of God. Then Stephen points out that God never asked for a temple. That He allowed its construction but that nothing that man could build could ever contain God.

Stephen says starting in 7:48-53
"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: " ’Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?
Has not my hand made all these things?’
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

Do you think that Stephen is talking like a person that is worried about what the Sanhedrin will do to him?

I am pretty sure he knows about the rock pile not to far away. But he uses fighting words.
As a fire work he has traveled up, and up and burst into the colorful display, with a bang, he blatantly tells them they are just like their fathers, resisting the Holy Sprit, ignoring the signs and wonders and even Murdering the Righteous One.

Then the biggest attack, he flat tells them that the Law that they want to protect, they have never obeyed.

The scripture tells us their response. (54)
“When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.”

The word furious, is only used twice in the New Testament, means sawn in half, a couple of weeks ago I suggested that it meant so man they were beside themselves. Can you picture this group of pious religious leaders geeing so upset that they grit their teeth.

They ignore the telling of scripture, they are not angry because he told it wrong ….. they are upset because he is pointing out truth.

Truth can hurt. Truth can damage relationships. When the police man points to the radar and starts writing a ticket. Truth can ruin our day.

It is so easy to get angry when confronted with truth.


But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8
1And Saul was there, giving approval to his death

This huge chunk of information is not so large because I think it can be gone thought quickly because there is not much for us. In fact I think there is a lot God says in this section. It is this large because it is one story and in our time in the Book of Acts we are trying to stand back and look at the life of the early church and not just moments and situation but events.

In the story of Stephen we find the largest sermon in acts, the detail and theology far exceeds what we learn form Peter. Stephen is a bright guy called by God to do both church work and the work of the church.

He has a ministry to feed the Widows and to preach the gospel in the Greek community. God calls him to a job and he responds. His daily actions make what we know about him to be like that fire work that is burning full and bright the suddenly after this one fiery sermon he is snuffed out.

Makes you wonder what kind of disciple he would have been of he had not been stoned by the Sanhedrin.

So what are we as readers of the word and especially as Christians today need to find in Stephen’s story.

Don’t talk about Jesus or you might Die? No Definitely not…Stephen was not afraid to die.

None of us should be afraid to die.

The quick answer is that God calls all of us to serve in the ministry of the church. Each of us will have a specialty which we will do and almost no one will even notice. The Grass gets cut, People are visited, the Light bulbs get changed, the communion table gets set. Our ministry to the church itself goes on with minimum notice and attention.

However we are all called to minister to people outside the church. We are called to preach the Gospel and sometimes that means with words.

We are called to a live of service inside and outside the church. We are called to be fire works that bring people’s attention to the good news. We are called as the body of Christ to live in the world, to love the sinners, to reach the lost.

We are called to live a life that includes at least a little risk, so that others will notice the brilliance and beauty the infilling of the Sprit gives each of us.

Are we burning for Christ or are we a dud.

He Comes By The Back Door

2 Peter 3:8-14

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (NIV)

Christmas was the day that God snuck in the back door. You see, he seldom comes in the front door, where everything is neet and clean. He comes in the back door, where the screen door needs painting, where the shoes clutter the floor, where the garbage on its way out has been dumped until someone takes the initiative to take it where it belongs.

God slips in the back door.

And he seldom does it with warning. He makes no telephone calls saying that he will be here at 4:30 Am Christmas morning, He isn't polite in that way. He comes unexpectedly, in the way I least want, in the hour I least expect and I might find one day, that he has arrived, and I was not ready.

That's how he arrived two thousand years ago Christmas day.

That's how he arrives today - in our lives in his desire to make his presence and his victory known.

That's how he will arrive, at the end of time, when he dissolves this earth and all that is not holy and blameless will not stand.

God - he comes by the back door - like a thief.

Two Thousand years ago, he snuck in the back door of human history through a feeding trough. Jerusalem had its front door open, it was waiting for him. All was prepared; the pharisees wore their robes, the people came to the temple and gave their ritual tithes, the system of religion was well in place for a triumphant royal king to come marching in and usher Israel into her glory.

The front door and the living room was in order. Each chair, each candle in its place.

The spot light, the focus, the national interest was Jerusalem, always Jerusalem! It was the front door where the King of Glory would come in.

He seemed to be taking his time, delaying some might say. The prophets of old had cried out

"He is coming Emmanuel, He is coming

Repent, Oh Jerusalem, Repent"

Jerusalem did not repent, though the front room remained clean the back room remained a mess. Besides, Messiah, he did not come. They waited, and waited and waited.

There was one crying in the wilderness

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

Jerusalem heard that voice in the wilderness. But most heard as another passing fanatic that would turn into a whimper with opposition and die with age. Besides their front room was ready and spotless, their front door was open, they would welcome his high and mighty majesty.

Then He came, but in the back door, in a feed trough with a camel and an ass as his bed partners, a baby with nothing to boast, not born of royalty, rather born of a virgin whose reputation was questioned by some . He came in the back door, into the back porch, where the clutter and mess of Israel's culture left no room for him to lay his head. There was no national attention, there was no royal welcome, simply a silent, mostly unnoticed, night.

That was the day he first snuck in the back door.

On that day the angels rejoiced and called out "Glory to God in the Highest," as the pharisees slept in their comfortable beds awaiting that future day when the King would come.

On that day a young virgin magnified the Lord her God because He had looked upon her delivery room misery in mercy - now all generations would call her blessed.

At the same time, the inn keepers hustled to keep their guests satisfied. Caesar Augustus had filled their inns and their pockets. In the excitement there was no room left for God.

The day he came, the proud, the mighty, the rulers slept uncomfortably, something unsettling had happened. But the uneducated shepherds working the graveyard shift, and the pagan gentile wise men from the east saw the wonder of a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

Some heard the back door slam, and they knew what it meant. Others were only watching the front door, they knew nothing of his first coming.

That was when he first snuck in the back door.

Today, he is no different, he still comes as a thief in the back door.

My home has both a front and a back door. The front door of my home leads immediately to my living room where a guest is welcome, the atmosphere is pleasant, it is pretty consistently neat, and if my little family makes a mess, we are quick to clean it up. And we have a ringer on the front door, it tells us that a person has arrived, a guest, and if there is any straightening up to do, it is done within the thirty seconds before we answer the door.

The front door is our welcoming door

We also have a back door, with a squeaky hinge and torn screen. It leads to the back porch. There I lay to rest my unfinished business until the day that I get the time to clean it up. Junk lays there, broken toys, tools, treasures of junk I value to much to throw away but value to little to display, one on top of another piled in confusion - incomplete projects,gadgets in sore need of repair are laid side by side. Dog food and sawdust . Mud covered boots and a dogs muddy footprints. That's my back porch. It's a mess, something like a manger.

If you came to my back door, I would quickly usher you to the front door. I hide my back porch, its my private place. I would rather keep it in the dark, keep it closed from company and myself . You see, I have a lot of work to do.

My life, your life has a back door and a front door.

My front door is the entrance to where I do my public living. You will see there, my house is clean. I'm a nice person. My living room wears smiles, humour and kindness. My living room is decorated with love and conformity. My living room is the acceptable side of me, where hospitality is the furniture.

But I also have a back door, a back porch where I dump things I don't want to deal with relationships that have turned sour. I have chosen not to repair them, to forgive or seek another's forgiveness. There is dirt from a lifetime of being exposed to a muddy world and a cruddy culture, and I always forget to wipe my feet before I enter the porch. There is a garbage bag filled with anger, it could explode any minute for the fumes increase in silence, and my unhealed wounds continue to fester. And treasures that I value too much to throw away, yet I must keep them to myself for fear that another will recognize my idols and corruption.

This is my back room, the hidden part of my life hidden from myself, from you, and from God. But he that comes as a Christmas Savior comes in by the squeaky door with the tattered screen. He comes to the back room as a thief, to see if the way is prepared in the messy room. He doesn't come to see if the room is spotless for he knows the mess and he knows that we ourselves cannot clean it up. The only soap we have leaves stains worse than before.

He comes to the room to see if there is a person who will welcome him, and let him clean up the mess. A soul that thirsts for him, that will let him take away the junk, the garbage, the treasures, as painful as the loss may be. He comes to see a heart that is repentant, that sees the ugliness of sin, and is willing by his help to hate it with every once of human effort. There He comes to clean, to make holy, pure and blameless. He carries load upon load to a cross, each one crushing upon his shoulders. He cleanses that person, that room, by the washing of his blood - His own life poured out for the redemption of a soul.

When he births there, in that back room manger, he births as a King. All other thrones will shake at his coming. They will collapse, bow down or be crushed. Before him every mountain will be brought low. But in his grace, that which is low, the valleys, he himself will lift up. He will reveal his glory, the glory of the Lord as he comes bringing peace among men and fills the hungry with good things.

Sometimes he tarries, he waits. It is because a heart holds onto useless treasures or a throne will not be emptied to make room for his majesty, the Holy one of Israel. He is not slow about his promises as some count slowness, rather he is forbearing, patient, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance.

That's how he comes today. He waits, until we see our sin. He waits until we are willing to expose it to him so that he might take it away. He waits until he can reign and reign alone.

He came in the back door, in a Christmas manger. He tarried a long time, Israel would not repent!

He comes to our back door. Sometimes there to, he tarries, waiting till we become humble and repent.

He will come again, at the end of history without ringing the door bell! He will steal into the back room. Yet there to, he tarries, waits, forbears just a ittle longer desiring...

But this time, when he comes, the birth pangs of the earth will be tribulation, nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines and earthquakes will be over the earth, the sun will be darkened, the moon will loose its light, the stars will fall from the heavens, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. For when he comes, he will not come as a baby! He will come as a conquering King. They will tremble at his coming for this time he will come, not to cleanse and forgive.

No! In majesty, he will come to judge the nations with justice! The heavens will pass away and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works on it will be burned up!

The time for turning to the lord will be past. Some will weep. Others will gnash their teeth for they ignored the Christmas baby, the one who brought salvation through the back room.

When he comes again, he will bring only judgement for those who ignored the prophet's call - prepare, repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Yet, again, even now, he tarries, he forbears, he waits, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Even now he stands at the door and knocks, real quiet like a still small voice to see if there is anyone quietly weeping in that back room to hear him, to open the door and welcome him, so that he might enter and eat with you and you with him. He will satisfy you with good things. He will turn your mourning into dancing. Still he tarries, waits and quietly knocks, but how long...

The thief is coming in judgement!

Is your back room simply a dirty ugly stable, or has it become a manger in which the Christ is born?

Fight The Good Fight

1 Timothy 6:6-16

This morning, Paul encouraged Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith”, to join in hand to hand combat against sin. It’s interesting to note that in the Greek the idea is of a continuous struggle, to constantly be fighting that good fight. In fact, Paul tells Timothy that our struggle in this good fight of faith will last until the “appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” in the end of the world. We don’t know when that day will be. We only know that it will be a long and difficult struggle.
Well, this morning we are going to talk about our constant struggle, our good fight of faith. In our text for this morning Paul gives us three important components of our good fight: 1) that we hold on to the eternal life that we have received, 2) that we seek godliness and 3) that we be content.
I. Hold on to eternal life
Paul tells Timothy in verse 12: “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made you good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Good confession? Many witnesses? What on earth is Paul talking about? He’s making reference here to Timothy’s baptism. You see, Timothy was baptized as an adult. As is still our custom today, Timothy made confession of his faith before being baptized. An interesting note: the confessions that those early Christians made at their baptisms formed the basis of the Apostle’s Creed. Every time we say the Apostle’s Creed, we are confessing that faith into which we were baptized.
So, Paul is telling Timothy and us to take hold of the eternal life which we received in our baptism. Through water and the Word, we are “born again”. We who by nature are dead in our transgressions and sins, are spiritually made alive through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. And now through that faith in Jesus which we receive in Baptism, we also have eternal life in heaven. We have been adopted by the King of kings and Lord of lords to be heirs of heaven. God is truly the “life-giver” as we see in verse 13.
But now, a part of our constant struggle in this world, a part of our good fight, is holding on to that salvation, not letting it go. I’d like to tell you a little story. It’s about a three year old boy from Minnesota. Has anybody here ever been to Minnesota? In the wintertime it gets pretty cold, doesn’t it? Roads and sidewalks become iced over. Well, as I said, there was a little boy about three years old who went for a walk with his father. His father asked, “Would you like me to take your hand so that you don’t slip on the ice?” The little boy said, “No.” He could do it himself. Guess what happened? He fell, right? So the little boy looked up at his father and said, “OK. I’ll take your hand.” He reached up and grabbed his father’s hand and tried to hold on tight. But having such small hands, he soon lost his grip, slipped and fell again. This time he said sheepishly, “Daddy, can you take my hand?” And with his big, strong hand the father took hold of his son’s tiny hand and never let it go.
Because we are sinners, because we are weak, we cannot hold on very well to that salvation which has been given us. Paul warned the Corinthians, “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall.” So how do we hold on to that salvation that has been given us? Well, Paul told the Philippians that we can do all things through God who gives us strength. And how does God give us strength? Through Word and Sacrament, right? In the end of the book of Ephesians, Paul encourages us to put on our “spiritual armor” when we fight the good fight of faith. And our sword in this battle is God’s Word. He is the one that gives us the strength. He is the one that protects us. He is the one that holds on to us. He keeps us in the true faith through his Word and Sacraments. Make constant use of them and God will give you the strength to hold on to your salvation even in the middle of the fiercest battles.
And now that we have received salvation in our baptisms, now that we have the confidence that we are sons of God and heirs of eternal life, out of thanks to him we fight against sin. We fight against our enemies the devil, the world and our sinful nature who want to take away our salvation. Simply put, we seek godliness.
II. Seeking godliness
After speaking of the dangers of greed, Paul tells Timothy in verse 11, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” Our struggle is a struggle to be imitators of God. To thank him for his love, we seek to be like him. We seek to be godly.
We seek righteousness, i.e., we seek to keep his law perfectly. And again, not because we have to in order not to be punished, but gladly, out of thanks for the salvation that he has given. We seek faith. If a soldier hasn’t eaten for days, will he have the strength to fight? Obviously no, right? God’s Word is the food that nourishes our faith. How can we expect to fight the good fight of faith without constantly being in God’s Word? We seek to show love. That one word which summarizes all of God’s commands. Our struggle is to show love to God and to our neighbor, even to those who treat us wrongly. We seek endurance. The word in Greek literally means “remaining under”. In this long, difficult struggle we seek patience and endurance under the strain. The load at times is heavy. Sickness and death are all around us. We walk in danger all the way. But we press on with patient endurance knowing that this is only for a short time and that heaven is waiting for us on the other side. And finally, we seek gentleness. We seek to be loving and understanding in all that we do.
That is our struggle. Out of thanks for the eternal life that he has given us, we struggle to be like God.
III. Being content
And Paul here in our text focuses on one aspect in particular of our spiritual struggle. He tells us in verse 6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Who wants to be a millionaire? Now as we talk about being content, we must be clear on one thing. Money and possessions are gifts of God. They are blessings. We can gladly receive them. God wants us to work hard for them. God wants us to ask him for all that our heart desires.
So what is Paul talking about here? It’s really a question of attitude. It’s a question of priorities. What’s most important to you? Well, since he has given us eternal life, since he is the King of kings and Lord of lords, God wants to be number one in our lives. But is he? We work so hard, focus all our energy on having nice homes, new cars, on giving our children everything that we never had. But it’s a trap. Having these things doesn’t bring true happiness.
Let’s read verses nine and ten again: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money (not money, but the love of money) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” It’s a trap. In the end we can’t take it with us. The rich man from our Gospel reading this morning found that out too late. Even while we’re here it doesn’t bring real happiness. What family doesn’t suffer when the parents are always working and don’t spend time with each other or with their families? What children don’t suffer from being spoiled and not learning how to work and fend for themselves? If we have food and clothing, let us be content with that. God always provides what we need. We don’t need cable, a Mercedes, a big house, super-nintendo, or a high-paying, high-profile job to be happy.
Let me tell you a little story about an American businessman that was visiting Mexico. He was at the pier of a tiny costal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.” The American then asked why he didn’t stay out and catch more fish? The Mexican said that he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?” The fisherman replied, “Well, I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, sir.”
The American scoffed, “I have a Harvard MBA and I can help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat, with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You could control the product, processing and distribution. You would then need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But sir, how long will all this take?” To which the American replied, “About 15 to 20 years.”
“But then what, sir?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”
“Millions, sir? Then what?” The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll into the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
The point is that money and possessions don’t bring true happiness. They are a blessing from God to be enjoyed, but they can also be a trap, a temptation. We should not be so obsessed with getting rich, “making it” in this world, that we don’t have time for what’s important: for God and his Word. Our struggle as Christians is not to get rich. Our struggle is to be imitators of God. If God decides to bless our work with physical blessings, let’s be thankful. But that shouldn’t be our main goal in this life.
Because as Christians we are already richer than Donald Trump or even Bill Gates. We have the treasures of heaven waiting for us. Our struggle is to hold tight to that. If our hands are full holding on tightly to the things of this world, how can we hold on to that salvation?
My friends, God has given us heaven. We have forgiveness for the many times that our priorities have been messed up. So with thankful hearts, let’s take up that sword which is God’s Word. Let’s seek to be imitators of him. Let’s seek to be content. Let’s fight the good fight of faith. Amen.

One Lord, One Spirit, One Body for All Time and All Peoples

Ephesians 4:1-6

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love. being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Why do you think Paul starts this section by calling attention to the fact that he is a prisoner? "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord." I think the answer is that he wants them to feel the truth that it is worth it. Walking worthy of our Christian calling (the calling to glory and everlasting joy with Christ) is worth being imprisoned for and worth dying for.

Writing from prison means that what he writes is dangerous. It is not a nice, middle class way to solve your problems and be comfortable. Real, radical Christianity is risky and unpopular and dangerous. Jesus had given many warnings that following him was safe in the long run and dangerous in the short run. For example, he said,

They will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. (Luke 21:12-13)

There is something very powerful about a testimony from prison where your life is at stake. That's the power Paul wants to put behind these words. The power we feel when we hear Richard Wurmbrand tell us of Tahir Iqbal, a Muslim convert to Christianity who was imprisoned December 7, 1990 in Lahore, Pakistan, and died in prison July 19 this year. He was a paraplegic and confined to a wheel chair. When asked about the possibility of being hanged he said, "I will kiss my rope, but will never deny my faith."¹

That kind of talk from prison is like a stiff wakening winter wind in the face of our drowsy, television-soaked, self-pitying kind of Christianity. It wakes us up and makes us dress spiritually for the winter battles. That's what Paul wants to happen when we read his testimony from prison.

He pleads with the church to walk worthy of our calling. Specifically, the way he wants to emphasize is that we be "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (v.3). We walk unworthily of our calling in Christ if we disregard the unity of the body and don't expend any effort to safeguard what Christ died to obtain. "Be diligent," Paul says, "Be eager, be earnest" to keep the unity given by the Spirit of God and obtained with the blood of Christ (2:16).

This is Paul's prison burden for the church at Ephesus. If we have any empathy for a suffering saint, it should make us say, Yes, that is utterly crucial. How, brother Paul? How shall we do this?

His answer is found in verse 2. The character traits that will preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace are humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and love. So he says that a life worthy of our calling and leading to unity of Spirit is "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love." If you are humble you will be gentle, and if you are patient you will be forbearing or enduring. And if you are gentle and forbearing in love, you will be a peacemaker and a unity preserver. So be diligent and eager to be a humble and patient person by the power of Christ.

But beware of a modern mistake here. Humble does not mean wishy-washy when it comes to truth. Forbearing does not mean saying: truth doesn't matter. It is a great mistake to confuse humility with uncertainty. But many today do confuse them. They think that the only humble demeanor is the uncertain, vague, iffy demeanor.

Is that what Paul meant? The only way to preserve the unity of the Spirit is to be vague, uncertain in your grasp of truth? He didn't seem to be that way. I think G.K. Chesterton put his finger on our problem fifty years ago in a little book called Orthodoxy:

What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert--himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt--the Divine Reason. (G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, p.55)

I think that's right because later in this chapter Paul says he wants Christians to not be babes any longer blown about by winds of doctrine but to come to the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God (4:13-14). The humility that leads to unity is not uncertainty and doubt and vagueness and confusion. It is the demeanor that says: I am not the center; truth is the center and I submit to the truth and go where it leads. I am not king; God is king. My will is not the law; God's word is the law. I don't tell God how many faiths are acceptable to him; he tells me. I don't define the foundation of the unity of the Spirit; God does.

That is what he is doing in verses 4-6. Here he gives the objective ground in reality for the subjective experience of unity that we are to pursue. The unity of the Spirit that we should be so diligent for is based on a given, objective unity outside ourselves that we have nothing to do with creating or defining. It is there and we are humbly to recognize it and submit to it and rejoice in it and live it out.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Father. This is the objective foundation of our diligent efforts to preserve the unity of the Spirit. It is not a fragile or ultimately vulnerable thing. It rests on the oneness of God, the oneness of faith, the oneness of baptism and the oneness of the body. Those things are one, no matter what you or I do. They are fixed realities. Our task is to walk worthily of them.

Now the question I want to ask this morning is: What does this have to do with missions? What does it have to do with the task of the church to evangelize the unreached peoples of the world?

The answer is that since there is only one God (the Father of all who believe, Eph. 2:12) and only one Lord (the Lord Jesus Christ, Eph. 1:2f), and only one Spirit (the Holy Spirit poured out from the Father by the Son, Acts 2:33) and only one faith (faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Eph. 1:13,15) and only one baptism (into Christ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Matt. 28:19f), and only one body (the church of God gathered with Jesus as the head, Eph. 4:15)--since there is only one God and one faith, we must take the news of this God and this faith to the nations. "There is no other name under heaven," Peter said, "given among men by which we must be said" (Acts 4:12). Other religions and other lords will not save.

You might think that this text is about church unity, not about missions. But think again. The issue at Ephesus, as we saw back in chapter two was the issue of whether Gentiles could be full fellow heirs with Jews in the body of Christ. The answer was that Christ reconciled both in ONE body to God through the cross (2:16). Both have access in ONE Spirit to the Father (2:18). Those who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ and made into ONE new man (2:15). So the issue of unity for Paul is created by the mission of the church to "those who were far off"--the Gentiles, the Nations--far off spiritually and far off culturally and sometimes geographically.

In other words, the uniqueness of Christ--the fact that there is only one Christ, and only one God, and only one faith--is the foundation for mission outside the church and the foundation of unity inside the church.

If there were many true gods, and many Saviors, and many valid faiths, and many baptismal entrances into many genuine body's of redeemed people, there would be little need for missions the way Paul sees the need. But there is only one God and one Lord and one faith and one baptism. And so this salvation truth must be proclaimed to all creation--to all the peoples.

You can see in Romans 10:12-15 how the singularity and uniqueness of the Lordship of Christ connects the unity of church and mission of the church.

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all abounding in riches for all who call upon him. 13 For, "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!"

So the truth that there is one Lord one faith one baptism is a truth for inside the church and outside the church. It is the foundation for unity inside and the foundation for missions outside. Since there is one Lord we should be diligent to maintain the unity of the Spirit under that unifying lordship. And since there is one Lord among all the religions of the world, we should be diligent to spread the news to Muslims and Hindus and Buddhists and Tribal religions and atheists.

I want you to believe this, but I want you to believe it with your eyes open and to count the cost. It is has never been a popular stance--that there is one Lord in all the universe whom all humans must deal with, and that this Lord is the God-Man Jesus Christ who lived and died and rose once for all 2000 years ago in Palestine; and knowing and trusting him alone is the only way to escape the just judgment of God. The particularity and singularity and uniqueness of Jesus as man's only hope has never been popular, and it is increasingly unpopular today.

If you believe it you will be called arrogant, and intolerant and ignorant. You will be opposed by powerful people like British theologian John Hick who argues that different religions are "equals, though they each may have different emphases." Christianity, he says, is not superior, but one partner in the quest for salvation. We are not to seek one world religion but rather we look to the day when "the ecumenical spirit which has so largely transformed Christianity will increasingly affect relations between the world faiths." He likes to quote from the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, iv, 11, "However man may approach me, even so do I accept them; for, on all sides, whatever path they may choose is mine."

But if it is true that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that knowing and trusting him is the only way to heaven--if it is true, then believing it is not arrogant, but a humble submission to reality. And teaching it is not intolerant except in the sense that doctors are intolerant of poison and tolerant of medicine.

And does it mean that you are ignorant when you say that there is only one way to God--One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism? Well, every person in the world is ignorant of millions of facts. So yes we are ignorant. But when you are trying to find your way out of the woods, the important thing is not that you know all the trees and streams and birds and rocks and paths. The important thing is that you know one thing--the path that leads to other side.

This is what Jesus came to do--make a path to heaven for rebellious sinners; and there is only one path. If you know Jesus, (if the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ has shone in your heart) you know the way. The one Lord, the one Faith, the one Baptism.

My prayer is that each of us would feel what Paul felt when he discovered this--that he was a debtor to the Greeks and Barbarians, the wise and the foolish--to all those who had not yet named the name of Christ. To know this truth is to be a debtor to all the nations.

Being Jesus In The Quicksand Of Culture

Nehemiah 1:4-4:6

I use the term quicksand because it has a scary connotation of being caught in something that I have no control over. Yet I have always heard that the best thing to do if your caught in it is to stay calm because all the flailing around we tend to due when we’re scared just causes us to sink faster.

What is a Paradigm? A way of looking at your world or at your God.
1. The Ancient Period - A.D. 100-600 was dominated by a Platonic paradigm.
a. Truth was found in mystery.
b. The true world was in the shadows of what we could see.
2. The Medieval Period – A.D. 600-1500 shifted the paradigm toward an Aristotelian point of view.
a. Truth was in the created order of things.
b. Structure was our guide to enlightenment and salvation.
3. The reformation Period – 1500-1750 was preceded by a new philosophy called Nominalism, which insisted truth was not found in an “objective institution” but in the mind of the individual.
a. This philosophy working through the culture weakened the strangle hold that the Roman Catholic church had and allowed the rise of the reformation in Christian thought.
4. The Modern Period – 1750-1980 was shaped by the philosophy of Descartes, which placed its hope on the reason of man. Which gave birth to all this confusion we call denominationalism. (divisions in Christian thought)
a. Most of the roots of the Church of Christ can be traced to men like Descartes and his disciple John Locke, which in turn had a great influence on the Campbell’s and their contemporaries.
5. And now we are in the Postmodern Period – 1980-Present.
a. This new area is marked by more knowledge than ever before but the realization that we still don’t have the answers for societies ills.
b. Science states that we are in an ever expanding universe.
c. Philosophy states that we are in an interrelationship with all things.
d. Which is in turn causing man to realize that the answers are not in himself and allowing a rise of the “New Platonic Thought”, which says that perhaps the answers are out there but cloaked in the mysterious.
e. Therefore the search is on.

So the real question is how does all that affect us today? I really don’t think much has changed in the way we should respond. I think we should respond:
1. The same way Ezra & Nehemiah did.
2. The same way Jesus did.
3. The same way the Reformers did.
4. The same way the restoration preachers did.

Ultimately our best examples of a response to a world of confusion and darkness are found in scripture so that is where will focus our time.

Lets start where Nehemiah did.
1. He was in essence a slave in the service of a foreign king.
2. What was his view of a God that would leave His people in captivity?
3. Couldn’t God have gotten them out when ever He wanted?
4. Why didn’t He?
5. Would all these answers be as easy if you were in Nehemiah’s shoes?
6. Would you feel the same way if you were the one in His situation?

Having considered all of these questions lets ask some tough ones of ourselves.
1. What are we a slave to?
2. How long have we been held captive?
3. What changes do we want to see made?
4. Can you afford to wait any longer?

We can pray the world into changing traditions and lives or anything else that is in the will of God.
But first we must: (all of these things are also examples of the way the reformers of the new testament church behaved.)
1. Rethink real nourishment.
He spent four months fasting. This was a sign that he realized that if God people weren’t returned to their right relationship with Him and their place in the Kingdom that it did not matter if he lived or died.
(Neh 1:4 NIV) When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
(John 4:34-35 NIV) “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. {35} Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
2. Repent of lethargy.
He took responsibility for his sin as well as theirs.
(Neh 1:5-7 NIV) Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, {6} let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. {7} We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
3. Renew our spirit with His spirit.
When his spirit was weak or scared he threw up a prayer and kept going.
(Neh 2:1-5 NIV) In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; {2} so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, {3} but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” {4} The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, {5} and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
4. Recommit ourselves to whatever it takes.
Nehemiah risked his life.
He set the example of commitment for his people. Chapter 2 is replete with him staying committed.
5. Refer to God’s word continually.
When confronted with trouble he reminded his enemies and his advocates that the hand of God had been with him all along and that it still was.
(Neh 1:8-9 NIV) “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, {9} but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
(Neh 2:18-20 NIV) I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. {19} But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?” {20} I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
6. Relinquishing fear to its rightful place and motivation.
He feared the result of not obeying God more than he did the reaction of the:
a. King.
b. Governors
c. Israelites

(Neh 4:1-6 NIV) When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, {2} and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” {3} Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” {4} Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. {5} Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. {6} So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

Fear and frustration should always bring us to our knees. God is strong enough to lift us back up to a position of strength.

***An example of Changing your paradigm to a more Theo centric world view.

(Matthew 3:17) And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

(Matthew 4:1-11) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. {2} After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. {3} The tempter came to him and said,
1. "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." {4} Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"
a. “If you are?”
b. Go ahead and have some freshly baked bread. (Hot Donuts)
i. Bread is not my greatest need.
ii. Doing the will of the Father is!


2. {5} Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. {6} "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "’He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" {7} Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ’Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’"
a. “If you are?”
b. Go ahead God says its okay.


3. {8} Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. {9} "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." {10} Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ’Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’" {11} Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
a. “I will give you”
b. Go ahead and take it since your Father won’t give you your rightful glory is the implication.
i. That is just like us. We “will get the glory” one way or another.

*What did the Angels do?
*I don’t know but they’ll do it for you if you will trust God.

Notice that in all of Jesus’ responses he goes back to a view of the world that places God at the center of it and not what he or satan might desire. It is also worth noting that Jesus was casually quoting scripture here but He was making a passionate refutation of satan’s argument out of a heart that could not even think to worship anyone but Jehovah Jira the nurturer and provider of life.

I don’t have all the answers for a “postmodern world” but I know who does. It may however demand that we open our eyes wider than they ever have been before.

It will most assuredly demand that we not try to always cram the present or the future in the mold of the past and arbitrarily cut off anything that hangs over the edges.

In every past paradigm shift there have been those who were schooled in the philosophy of the past that tried to hold back the changes were being thrust upon them, but that is like trying to use a tissue to hold back the waters of the Hoover dam.

What we must do is find a boat sturdy enough keep us above the waterline while we find a way to be relevant with a timeless message in a changing culture.

Oddly enough the church is always a few years behind the culture instead of seeing the changes occurring and trying to provide guidance to scared and lost world during the time of transition so as to maximize its potential in every generation.

A Happy Heart Makes The Face Cheerful

Proverbs 15:13

One sunny Sunday morning, Henry Jones awoke to find his wife standing over him,shaking him by the shoulder.
"You have to get up," she urged. "We have to get ready for church.” "I don’t want to go to church," he replied. "I want to stay in bed.” Crossing her arms over her chest, his wife demanded,
"Give me three good reasons why you should stay in bed and not go to church."
"OK," he answered. "First, I don’t get anything out of the service. Second, I don’t like the people there. And third, no one there likes me.

Now can you give me three good reasons why I should go to church?"

His wife responded, "First, it will do you some good.
Second, there are people who really do like you, and they’ll miss you if you aren’t there. And third, you’re the minister!"

1. A Happy Heart Makes The Face Cheerful

Prov 15:13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
Prov 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.

2. The Cheerful Heart Has A Continual Feast

Prov 15:15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Dr. Smiley Blanton, eminent psychiatrist, once said,
"I’ve seldom been called on to help a person who had a sense of the ridiculous and I’ve never had to treat anyone who could really laugh at himself."

It is said that as Benjamin Franklin concluded a stirring speech on the guarantees of the Constitution, a heckler shouted, "Aw, them words don’t mean nothin’ at all. Where’s all the happiness you say it guarantees us?" Franklin smiled and replied, "My friend, the Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness; you have to catch it yourself."


3. A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine

Prov 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Prov 18:14 A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?


Jeff Walling tells the story of an alien that sees a church building and peeks in and asked “what are they doing in there?” “They are worshiping”, His guide told him.

“Why are they worshipping?”, asked the alien. “Because they have been saved by the grace of God and they are going to go to heaven and live in paradise with God forever.” To which the Alien replied, “Do they know that?!”

Garrison Keillor, said in a presentation at Goshen College:
Some people think its difficult to be
a Christian and to laugh,
but I think its the other way around.
God writes a lot of comedy,
it’s just that he has so many bad actors.

****What Do I Have To Rejoice About?****
a. He Has Blessed You Beyond The Scope Of Your Imagination!
Deu 12:7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

This is most likely the scripture that most of us point to for why we say grace before we eat dinner.

Everything you have put your hand to is like saying what you have put your shoulder to.

****What Do I Have To Rejoice About?****
b. He Is My Protector!
Psa 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Ultimately this is the only protection we have. My family learned this very vividly this week. It does not matter what neighborhood you live in. It doesn’t matter hose good of a security system you have. It doesn’t matter who you are.

If the Lord is not your watchman then those who watch labor in vain.

(Psalms 127:1-2) "A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. {2} In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves."

****What Do I Have To Rejoice About?****
c. Because Of Who He Is!
Psa 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Think about all that He is and all that He has done for you up to this point.

This is the Philippians 4:8 principal.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

****What Do I Have To Rejoice About?****
d. For How He Loves Me!
Psa 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

This is a wonderful verse because it explains that God not only loves us, but He loves in the particular way that benefits us the most. He sees your particular affliction and responds to the anguish of your soul. A psychologist or even a preacher may try to respond to your need but most often all they can do is respond to what they think your need is or how they have been able to interpret the need of others in the past.

But He knows each of individually and can respond the needs of our soul individually as well.

****What Do I Have To Rejoice About?****
e. He Has Changed My Heart!
Psa 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psa 32:11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

In the midst of David’s worst sin and the time that according to Psalms 32 he was so depressed that he felt like his bones were wasting away inside his body he acknowledges his sin and depression and then he asks the Lord to restore a steadfast spirit within him and then he rejoices in response to his faith that God will give him what he needs including a clan heart.

Rejoice Because
1. He Has Blessed You
2. He Is My Protector
3. Of Who He Is
4. Of How He Loves Me
5. He Has Changed My Heart

We have so much to rejoice over but some tend to focus on that which brings us down. Why is that? I guess because misery loves company. Because it seems more sensational. Perhaps it feels more real to us than knowledge we have of God’s blessings.

You can buy a thousand different books on keeping a Positive Mental Attitude as your key to success. Or you can just read your Bible and learn that the way to
a Positive Mental Attitude is by filling your life with the joy of cheerful heart because you know the God who has done so much for you.

Then you can experience success in life without having to waste all your time reading all those books.

- An anonymous friar in a Nebraska monastery wrote the following late in life:
If I had my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take more trips. I would be crazier. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. If I had to do it over again I would go places, do things, and travel lighter. If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I’d pick more daisies.

Spiritual Leadership

Acts 20:28-31

Why have elders and deacons as the spiritual leaders in the church? When Paul addressed Timothy on the subject of elders and deacons, he concluded his remarks with the assertion: "...I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth" (I Tim. 3:15). The clear inference is that the way to "conduct" or discharge the duties of the church is through the ministry of elders and deacons. This is really a remarkable passage and one that sheds much light on the whole question of spiritual leadership. Paul's concern with Timothy was to give him clear instructions on the functioning of the church. He dealt with the matter of prayer and worship in chapter 2, as well as questions about women which Timothy had probably asked. He deals with the ministry of teaching, reading of Scripture in the public worship, and warning the church of deceivers. He addresses the matter of the church's responsibility toward widows. He even gives a word on compensating those involved in spiritual leadership as well as how they are to be dealt with in the case of open sin.

But central to the whole matter of discharging duties in the church is the functioning of elders and deacons. Though this text does not address the broad spectrum of elders' and deacons' work, it does address their qualifications. Evidently, their function was unquestioned at this point in the early church. Paul was concerned to ensure that the men who served in these two noble offices were qualified. Interestingly, his letter to Timothy was delivered to help Timothy as he pastored the church at Ephesus.

Most of us with Baptist backgrounds acknowledge the office of deacon without question. But when it comes to the office of elder we may balk at the consideration of it! Yet, the teaching of God's Word, as we have seen, is that elders serve to guard and lead the church, while the deacons come alongside them to serve the church. Normally, elders are relegated simply to the office of pastor or modern-day church staff. While I agree that the pastor is an elder I would disagree with the assessment that elders are only the "paid professionals." I believe the church loses some of its greatest leadership assets when we neglect to place qualified men as elders from the congregation at large. Proper functioning of elders only serves to strengthen the pastoral ministry of the church.

The Apostle Paul understood this great need for godly leaders. On his second missionary journey Paul came to the famous Greek city of Ephesus. It was an important cultural and economic center in the Roman empire. It was also an important center of pagan worship. There Paul preached and a riot ensued! But God gave fruit for his labors so that there was a church raised up in that city. The apostle stayed for three years, preaching and teaching the Word. During this period he evidently appointed elders to serve this church.

On his third missionary journey Paul came near Ephesus but because he was set on heading to Jerusalem he did not land in Ephesus. Instead, he sailed past it, landing at Miletus, and from there called the Ephesian elders to come to see him. It was to be his last encounter with these men and it breathes with love and passion as the apostle gives final instructions for this church. We see an unmistakable need for elders in the message of Paul to the Ephesian elders. It is important for us to see the heart of this text and recognize this same need in our midst.

Paul's exhortation to the Ephesian elders answers the question, "Why elders?" Let's take a look.

I. A need we cannot dismiss

It is important to note the terms Luke uses in recording Paul's exhortation. In verse 17, he calls this leadership body at Ephesus, "the elders of the church," i.e., a plurality of elders serving one church. Then in verse 28, Paul states that the Holy "has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God...." The term "overseers" is the same term Paul uses in I Timothy 3:1 which the KJV translates as "bishops" and the NASB translates as "overseers." It is the Greek term episkopas, while the term "elder" is the Greek word presbuteros. The word "shepherd" is a verb which means "to pastor." It is the Greek word poimaino from which the noun "pastor" has its roots as used in Ephesians 4:11. The point is that all three of these words are interchangeable. They do not refer to separate hierarchies, but to the same office or function within the local church. Peter does the same interchanging of terms in I Peter 5:1-2.

As a distinction, "elder" points to the character of the man since it was used of men of maturity in the Jewish community. "Overseer" or "bishop" points to his function of spiritual leadership which is evident from the way it was used in the Greek culture for commissioners or administrators of cities. The use of "pastor" stresses how he ministers as a shepherd of the flock, which had abundant imagery throughout that part of the world. Now with this in mind, why was there a need for elders to serve in the church? Paul points to a need which we cannot dismiss.

1. Assault upon the body v. 29

The early church lived under external assault until about the 4th century. For three hundred years there was opposition, attacks, persecution upon the church, right up to the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine. Those attacks came at various intervals in efforts to catch the church off-guard. "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock."

As long as Paul was among the Ephesian flock, he could easily recognize the attacks of the adversary and address them. He had the courage and authority to stand against whatever forces sought to attack the church. But Paul's presence among the Ephesian believers was coming to a close. Now they would face whatever came without the great apostle deflecting the blows. So Paul charges the Ephesian elders and all who follow in their pattern to take on this task of guarding the flock against assaults from without.

Paul uses strong terms to describe these attacks. He calls the perpetrators "savage wolves." The picture is that of the Ephesian church as a flock of helpless sheep which finds itself under the deadly attack of wolves. This was the same imagery used by our Lord in Matthew 7:15. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

One recurring theme found in the epistles is the warning against false teachers. Some would claim to be "the Christ," others would have a new revelation, still others would teach a false gospel. The sad thing is that many were duped by such false preachers. If you recall, the Ephesian church was part of the seven churches of Asia Minor which our Lord addressed in Revelation. Most of those churches had fallen prey to spiritual lethargy, while some had given way to tolerating false teachers in their midst. Paul later warned the Ephesian church of false teachers through his epistles to Timothy (I Tim. 4:1-3; 6:3-5; II Tim. 3).

When you consider that warnings of false teachers came from our Lord and from the pens of the New Testament writers, Paul, John, Peter, and Jude, it ought to awaken us to the fact that false teaching is still a grave danger! Churches and individual Christians can fall prey to this attack from "without" the body. If the church at Ephesus needed to have men guarding them from false teaching, I would say that the church in Memphis needs the same! What do you look for in such false teaching? I would offer a few questions for any teaching which you hear:

(1) Does it in any way deny the deity of Christ or the co-equality of the Trinity?

(2) Does it substitute anything for the work of the death of Christ in atoning for our sins?

(3) Does it deny the need for God's justice being satisfied in order for sinners to be saved?

(4) Does it rob God of glory by insisting that salvation is not totally a work of God's grace?

(5) Does it deny the bodily resurrection of Christ?

(6) Does it claim to have revelations which are not contained in the canons of the Old and New Testaments?

(7) Does it insist upon some kind of work or self-denial or ascetic practice to improve your standing before God rather than simply resting upon the merits of Christ?

Does this sort of thing take place today? Indeed it does! My good friend, Joe Nesom, sent me a note just this week that illustrates it well.

Yesterday I received E-mail from a young man (Erick-Woods Erickson) who is a member of our church. He is also a student at Mercer University. It seems that the president of Mercer, Dr. Godsey, has published a book in which he denies: 1. The authority of Scripture, 2. The virgin birth, 3. The necessity of the cross, 4. That human beings need salvation, and 5. The divinity of Christ.

The unfortunate thing is that some of our Baptist churches will allow this man in their pulpit simply because he claims to be a Baptist!

While we can add to this "test-list" and examples, I would remind you that the elders of the church have the task of constantly scrutinizing the "wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14) which blows through the church. They are to be vigilant (Heb. 13:17) in recognizing false teaching, warning the body, and guarding the flock from falling prey.

2. Deceit within the body v. 30

But Paul's concern was not only with the attacks from outside the body but also the deceit arising from within the body. "And from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." Just as there was a Judas among the Twelve Apostles, there are Judases in the church today. These are people whose motives for being in the church are self-centered. They want to use the church for personal aggrandizement. They will do whatever they can to improve their sense of power or their materialism by drawing disciples after them.

Paul describes their pattern as "speaking perverse things," all with the goal of alienating (so, the Greek on this verb 'draw away') some of the believers from the rest of the church. We can easily get the idea by our common use of the term "perverse" that they would be teaching immoral ideas, the sort of things that even children would recognize. But the word actually means something that is 'twisted or distorted'. It was a perversion of the truth or a slight alteration of the truth. It was taking that which was true but re-shaping its meaning or giving it a false application or manipulating it to say something other than its intended meaning. While the teaching of the "ravenous wolves" is rather brazen and easy to recognize, the kind of teaching or "speaking" to which Paul refers here is deceitful and hard to recognize. It takes discernment in knowing people and understanding the Word of God to see the subtle shading of God's Word to give it alternative meanings, meanings which God did not intend. Once a Christian latches on to such distorted ideas of biblical truth he is easy prey for being alienated from the rest of the church. He may view the remainder of the church as unenlightened and then he follows the deceitful teaching to his own shame.

Quite frankly, I do not think we face any greater danger as evangelicals than this very thing of deceit within the church. Evangelicals have been duped by nice smiles, charming words, and a little razzle-dazzle which comes from deceivers. The great need of the hour is for godly men within our churches to be so sensitive to God's Word and the Holy Spirit that they recognize deceit and have courage to deal with it.

Both assaults upon the body and deceit from within the body remind us of a need that we cannot dismiss. The church has always faced grave dangers of false teachers and deceivers who would lure people from the fold. Elders must stand in the gap against such threats and dangers. If elders were needed 1900 years ago for this task, they are just as needed today.

II. A duty we dare not neglect v. 28, 31

The duties of elders are outlined in simple fashion in this text. While our deacons are to carry out the role of service in both physical and spiritual realms, the elders are to guard, shepherd, and be on the alert for the church. Because we face such constant threat on the doctrinal posture and the discipline of the church, elders have an unceasing role of protecting the church from the adversary's attempts to divide and destroy it.

1. Be on guard

"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock." The idea of being on guard means that the elders are to "take heed" or "pay attention" to what is being taught, to the trends in the culture, to the actions and behavior in the body, etc., so that the church might go forth unhindered in its mission. The guarding actually takes on two aspects according to our text.

First, elders must guard their own spiritual lives. They must personally and corporately give attention to their walks with Christ. They are not to take on the job of a ministerial professional who is good at telling others what to do, but short on the practice of his preaching. "For they cannot care adequately for others if they neglect the care and culture of their own souls" [Stott, 327].

In a chapter entitled "The Oversight of Ourselves," Richard Baxter's The Reformed Pastor, identifies a number of things the elder must guard.

(1) We are exhorted to take heed to ourselves, lest we should be void of that saving grace of God which we are offering to others.

(2) We are exhorted to take heed to ourselves, lest we live with those actual sins which we may preach against in others. Let us see that we are not guilty of that which we may daily condemn.

(3) We need to take heed to ourselves that we may not be unfit for the great tasks which we have undertaken to complete. He must not be a babe in knowledge who will teach men all those mysterious things that are to be known in order to be assured of salvation.

(4) Take heed to yourselves, lest you exemplify contradictory doctrine. Beware, lest you lay such stumbling blocks before the blind that you occasion their ruin. Beware, lest you undo with your lives, what you say with your tongues. Beware, lest you become the greatest hindrance to the success of your own labors. [pp. 27-32]

Second, the elder must be on guard for all the flock. Paul uses "pastoral" terms to express this truth. It is best illustrated by thinking of a group of shepherds gathered on the back of a Judean mountain with their flock of sheep. The sheep munch on the grass and herb on the mountainside in a rather carefree fashion, while the shepherds are constantly watching for thieves who would rob the flock, wolves who would devour the flock, and dangers which would threaten the flock. The job of the shepherd never ends. He is constantly watching, constantly checking the health of his flock, constantly making sure that his flock is fed and secure. He knows his sheep and recognizes their needs.

The elders' labors at teaching, preaching, instructing, exhorting, and admonishing the flock fulfill this duty that we dare not neglect. He must at times reprove those who are in sin. He must admonish those who are toying with compromise. He must instruct and exhort the church to walk in sound doctrine. He must recognize error and not be afraid to address it.

The elder will not always be popular in what he does, but he must be obedient to the Lord nonetheless. His concern should not be to go with the flow of popular Christianity so that he gets a pat on the back from the church. Instead, he should discern biblical Christianity and lead the flock to walk in it without compromise.

2. Shepherd the church

This duty continues with the command, "Be on guard...to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." We have a rather glamorous view of shepherds in our day, especially with the Christmas carols that refer to them in such glowing terms. But we need to be reminded that when Paul chose this metaphor to describe the work of elders, he was referring to a job that had no status in society. Shepherds were considered the "low-lives" in society. I believe the point is clear, the work of shepherding is not for personal fame or reputation, but is to be humble and loving service as Christ's undershepherd for His flock.

Shepherding is spiritual work. J. Oswald Sanders reminds us, "Spiritual ends can be achieved only by spiritual men who employ spiritual methods" [quoted by MacArthur in Shepherdology, 134]. Much is made today of church leaders being people-pleasers. But spiritual men can focus on pleasing only one person, the Lord God.

Shepherding is hard work. Though there was much time spent watching sheep, that in itself brought on strong mental and emotional strain upon the shepherds. They wandered across mountains and valleys through rugged terrain in all sorts of weather conditions. Similarly, the work of elders goes on in all conditions and situations. He is never off-duty just because he is not at the church. He must attend to his own spiritual life. He must guard his own family from spiritual dangers. He must maintain a godly example for the rest of the church. While others are resting, he will often be toiling on behalf of the church through study, prayer, ministry, counseling, visiting, and watching.

Shepherding is an accountable work. Typically, shepherds worked for someone else. They had the responsibility of giving an account of each sheep before the owner of the sheep. Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of this when he tells them "to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." I would remind all of us, especially those whom God would raise up as spiritual leaders: this is not your church! This is a church which belongs to God through the redemptive price of the blood of Christ. We who serve are merely undershepherds who will one day render an account for our duties with God's flock (Heb. 13:17).

John Murray offers a four-fold challenge on what it means to 'shepherd the church of God'.

(1) A shepherd keeps his flock from going astray. In practice this means instruction and warning.

(2) A shepherd goes after his sheep when they go astray. In practice this means reproof and correction, in many cases the exercise of ecclesiastical discipline.

(3) A shepherd protects his sheep from their enemies....Perhaps there is no more ominous feature of members of the church than the lack of discernment;...here the elders in tending the flock must cultivate for themselves and inculcate in the members of the church, that sensitivity to truth and right, so that they and the people will be able to detect the voice of the enemy.

(4) A shepherd leads his flock to the fold; he pours oil into their wounds and gives them pure water to quench their thirst. I would like to press home the necessity and the blessing of the ministry of consolation. [Collected Writings of John Murray, vol. 1, 265-266]

3. Be on the alert

"Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." Elders are involved in a spiritual warfare, that is why they are called to alertness. The word commands the elders to 'stay awake' and 'to be continually watchful' of those things that would harm the flock. Brethren, I would remind you that the church is a battleground! We are facing the constant opposition of the adversary who seeks to divide and destroy us at every turn. The devil is an opportunist who looks for those times when our guard is down and our tolerance level is high. Then he strikes. Elders must stay at their posts, constantly watching, constantly being vigilant on behalf of the flock of God.

Paul gave the example of vigilance. He said that for three years in that church he served among them, watching and admonishing them with the compassion of tears. For Paul it was not just a job to do. It was truly a ministry or commission given from the Lord which he took seriously. That is the call to elders, to recognize that God has given you a ministry and you are to exercise it as those who are caring for God's own flock.

You will notice that Paul spent time "admonishing each one." The word means to 'lay upon the mind' (noutheton) or to warn or to instruct someone who has gone astray, warning him of the dangers of the folly of his sin. This is where elders by precept and practice are to have an impact upon the church. They are to so live the Christian life that others might see the need to walk daily with Christ. They are to so proclaim the truth of God that the church might be aroused in their understanding and practice of the Christian faith. To admonish someone shows that you care more about their soul than their approval. Admonition can range from instructing by biblical precepts and principles to warning someone through the truth of God that they are going the way of sin.

III. A foundation we must not forget v. 28

I would close this study on spiritual leadership by giving you an important reminder found in our text. "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers." Though Paul and his missionary partners obviously selected the elders and though they may have had the approval of the congregation, the foundation of their authority was that the Holy Spirit had made them elders. Their ability to serve the body sprang from the distinct calling and setting apart which the Holy Spirit worked in their lives.

This is indeed a mysterious element in this whole work of selecting elders. As a congregation we seek to nominate godly men who are confirmed by the qualifications in the Word. The work of the presbytery will be to examine these men and present them to the congregation for their approval. Then as a church we will set these men apart in a solemn service of ordination. Yet behind it all is the invisible work of the Holy Spirit. He is the One who will ultimately appoint them to this office in the church.

I must confess that I do not understand all of this. But I am humbled by the truth that the Holy Spirit who corporately dwells among us (Eph. 2:22) works to set men apart for this noble work of elders. And because the Holy Spirit does this work we must pay heed to its importance in the church, both in terms of the exercise of its ministry and in terms of its followership.

You will notice that the Holy Spirit makes these men to be "overseers" not "overlords." They are not given the role of dictators, but humble, loving servant-leaders in the congregation. They are to exercise their duties in dependence upon the same Spirit who set them apart. They are to recognize that their hands cannot do all that needs to be done in the lives of God's people, but they must trust the Holy Spirit to work in the secret places of men's minds and hearts to accomplish the divine task before them.

Conclusion

The dangers we face in 20th century America may be of different hues than our first century counterparts, but they are of the same nature. The same Lord who directed the apostles to appoint spiritual leaders over the early church gives us clear direction for doing the same in our church. We must lay aside popularity and concentrate upon biblical qualifications in this selection. Every man nominated must examine himself in light of God's Word before accepting the challenge of being examined to serve this body. As God directs us, then we must go forward, trusting Him to work all things according to His good purpose.

Are You Being Saved?

Romans 1:16-30
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Often the question is asked,
"Are you saved?" We may answer, "Yes,
I have been saved?"
I notice the word "saved" in both the question and the answer is in past tense.
It leaves the impression salvation is over and done with. Salvation is something I have already done and now I can get on with my life.
Theology often reduces salvation to a theological formula to be adhered to, which leaves lives devoid of God’s living presence and power.
The question this morning is,
Are you being saved?
Try to imagine trying to sustain your interest in baseball by merely reading the rulebook.
You have a very specific knowledge of how the game is to be played, but you have never observed a game being played.
Or maybe you have never played the game.
Many learn and obey the rules to be saved, but they are not experiencing salvation as an ongoing event.
They have read the Bible, have knowledge of the rules, they have obeyed the gospel in the past tense, but they are not experiencing the joy of God’s presence and power.
Why do you think this is?
The main reason is, that there is no ACTION on your part.
You have the form of Godliness but you deny the power of God in your life!
Without God in your life, you are but a mere vapor!
Salvation becomes an open and shut case.
We have been saved.
Now we are depending upon human reasoning to make our lives what we want them to be.
Too often we come to the Bible to discover the rules to receive salvation and turn to the world for direction for our lives.
We may subconsciously and unconsciously accept the view the Bible is irrelevant to how we live.
We may turn to books on the bestseller list to discover how to live fulfilled lives.
We look to those who have accomplished to learn how to succeed.
We may see many of the principles expounded in those books in harmony with the teaching of the Bible.
But making those principles work without knowing God is hopeless, even though they may be right out of the Bible.
Life Will Fail Without God!
It’s like I said in the sermon last Sunday, Life without God will cause a person to always need to find ones self.
It will cause a person to always want just a little space!
Trying to live by Biblical principles without totally relying on God’s power to salvage our lives is hopeless.
You cannot just go to church on Sunday morning and sit there on the pew and listen to the preacher and then get up and go home and that be the end to it.
There has to be some action on your part!
The world often encourages us to use principles in harmony with Bible teaching to discover our own potential.
But the Bible encourages us to use those same Bible principles to discover God’s potential for our lives.
There is a difference!
God has the ultimate plan for our lives.
God guarantees us that he will use his power to make his plan for our lives work.
God’s plan is not a recipe formula for us to comprehend and follow so we can make life come out right.
It is a plan, which allows God to take responsibility for our lives coming out right as we follow his directions.
In fact, life will not work without God!
It never has worked and it will not work in the future!
Let’s look just a little at what is required to make God’s plan for us work!
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
So the first thing that we need to do is be born again!
And now what does the Bible have to say?
Let’s look at
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
So we see here that we can only be saved by the grace of God, it is His gift to you, it cannot be purchased, there is not a priest in the world that can give it to you, good works don’t do it, it is a free gift from God!
I know that these are scriptures that you have no doubt heard many times before, but I just feel that there might be someone here this morning that might need to hear them one more time.
Let’s look at
John 3:15-21
15 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Let’s look at these scriptures one at a time.
15 That tells us that the first thing that we need to do is to
Believe!

16 Tells us that God gave His Son, His only Begotton Son, not a son that He adopted but His own Son!
Here again we just need to believe.
17 His Son came this time just to die for us so that if we believe in His name we will be saved. There is no condemnation in this coming.

18 He who believes in Him will be saved, he who doesn’t in Him is already condemned.

19 The closer that we get to God the more that we like light.
Look at what go’s on in the dark,

20 Everyone that go’s out in this world to practice evil doesn’t like the light, why? Because people can see what’s going on in the light.

21 Do you know if you are truly a child of God you don’t have to hide from other people what you do in your daily walk with the Lord.

Romans 10:8-13
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

8 Do you know it is not a hard job to receive Salvation, just speak with your lips what you feel in your heart.
9 We have to be proud to be a child of God, we need to always put God first no matter what others say or think.
10 Feeling comes from the heart
11 We will not be put to shame for our feelings or thoughts.
12 It doesn’t matter who we are or from where we came red or yellow black or white we are all the same in the eye’s of God!
13 Is telling us that all we have to do is to believe with our heart!
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
There is not a one of us that is born perfect, we all fall short and we all need to ask God into our hearts!
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Just look around at the condition of the world today. Sin is everywhere you look. The only to come out of that mess and be assured of eternal life is to give our hearts to God!

1 John 5:10-13
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

10 Tells us all that we have to do is to believe, and let me tell you this morning actions speak louder than words. You need to know that God is looking out of His window.
11 God has already proved what He can do. Look at the way Jesus Christ rose up from the grave, Life Eternal!
12 You either have it or you don’t
13 Just as sure as you pay the price for a new car or truck or house here on earth, you get the title to what you bought.
So when we ask Jesus into our lives, God gives us the title to Eternal Life!
John 1:12
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
When you receive Jesus Christ into your heart, you also receive the power of God.
Not that you might receive, but you have it the moment that you believe!
I learn this truth in the first twelve chapters of the Bible.
Adam and Eve are banished from Eden through the rejection of God’s plan.
Cain’s sinful descendants die in the flood; meanwhile the flood saves Seth’s righteous descendants.
Noah’s descendants, after the flood sought to take control of their lives and make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4), as they endeavored to build a tower to heaven, but their lives ended with the confusion of babbling fools.
What we have here is a perfect case of man tying to make it on his own!
And like I have said before
No God in our lives, No peace or happiness!
But when we truly Know God, we truly will Know peace and happiness!
God calls Abraham and God promises to make his name great. Notice this is in contrast to making a name for himself, as those building the tower were seeking to do.
See the difference, God promises to make Abraham’s name great!
You must catch this as you read Genesis chapters 11 &12 --- God makes names great.
It is amazing to read the revealing stories of the Old Testament as God’s will is wrought in the direst of circumstances in the lives those who believe.
In every one of these Old Testament stories it seems as though Satan is in charge of the circumstances, but God’s power is directing the lives of the faithful determining the ultimate outcome.
The bulk of the book of Genesis reveals what God did in the lives of just four people, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
No story is more heart warming than the story of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers at age 17 and spent seven years in an Egyptian prison for refusing to sin against God.
The Egyptians considered Joseph’s race so despicable they would not even be caught eating a meal with him. The irony is that God placed Joseph a slave and ex-con in charge of all of Egypt.
It seemed as though Satan was in charge of Joseph’s circumstances, but God was fully in charge of his circumstances and the outcome.
There is one lesson we must learn from Genesis, there are many others, but this one is absolutely essential.
God is sovereign; this means God is in control and has a plan to salvage our lives. He desires to do that through the salvation our Lord offers.
Joseph’s brothers, after their father’s death, were afraid Joseph would seek retribution for selling him into slavery. However, Joseph saw God providing for others through what God allowed happened to him.
Let’s read what is says in,
Genesis 50:18-21
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.
"We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them, "Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
May God help us realize God’s continued plan in our daily lives. Really this is the message, not only of Genesis but also of the entire Bible. God intends life to work out for good.
Now let us look at,
(Romans 8:27-28)
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God is the only one who can make it happen.
Life Will Fail Without Christ!
We see this happening everyday of the week in different peoples lives!
Just look at what happened at our work place this last week, that will give you a shinning example of what living without God in your life will do for you!
The New Testament wants us to understand in the very outset Christ is part of God’s sovereign plan.
The first five books of the New Testament open using the stories of the Old Testament for a foundation for the good news about Jesus Christ.
The book of Matthew opens tracing Christ to the fulfillment to the seed of Abraham, Mark opens his book declaring Christ as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy,
(Isaiah 40:3),Let’s read it.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Luke opens his book up the story of salvation from Malachi and in the third chapter he traces the genealogy of Christ to Adam,
John opens his book declaring how Christ was involved in creation and Luke also opens the book of Acts, showing how Christ is sitting on the throne of David in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
It is no accident that Paul opens the book of Romans declaring the gospel as God’s powerful message to save.
It is not coincidental that the first five books of the New Testament proclaim Christ reigning as Lord and Christ through the power of God.
You can hardly read 25 verses of Paul’s epistles without running across a reference to the risen Christ.
The writers of the New Testament want us to know who is in charge. It is the same one who has always been in charge.
It is Christ who is preeminent. The miracles of the gospels proclaim Christ’s power to save.
When Peter places Christ on David’s throne, he proclaims his powerful authority to save as he connects Jesus with the promise God made to David in the Old Testament.
As the apostles travel through the New Testament world working miracles, they wanted the people to understand who was in charge. It is absolutely essential that we understand Christ’s power to save. We may not have first century miracles but we have God’s power.
The only reason that we don’t make it on our own is because we don’t have God’s power in our lives.
Paul portrays the whole creation groaning to be reborn.
Romans 8:19-24
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

Paul tells us that no matter how impossible a rebirth of creation may seem to be that it is within God’s power to make it happen.
Romans 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is amazing at how many times the New Testament reminds us of the sovereignty of Christ.
Matthew 28:18-19
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
It tell’s us that He has all authority, He is always with us always
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Notice Christ position and power in the following verses.
Ephesians 1:18-23
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (NIV)
Colossians 1:14-18
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (NIV)
God’s new creation begins in Christ. Paul wants us to know that Christ has the wisdom, power and right to call the shots in our lives.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
Who Is In Charge of Your Life?
Christ came preaching the gospel of his kingdom (Matthew 4:17), which came in the lifetime of his disciples. (Matthew 16:28; Acts 2:21-40) Christ kingdom cannot be shaken.
Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (NIV)
I notice the Hebrew writer says, " . . . we are receiving a kingdom . . ." It is in present tense; it is something happening right now in our lives as we allow Christ to rule our hearts.
Those who are saved are in his kingdom but they are ever receiving his kingdom.
Salvation is not a thing of the past, it is happening in the lives of the saved as we speak.
God continues to be at work salvaging our lives.
It is appalling how the religious world is trying to get people to adhere to a man made doctrine, while leaving lives void of God.
Come and join our church, we have greater entertainment.
Come join our church we have more activities.
Come join our church we have contemporary worship.
Come and join our church we have contemporary and traditional worship.
Come to our church we have a greater performance each Sunday.
We focus people on everything but God.
The reason many churches are focusing their people less and less on Bible is because they do not believe the ancient book is relevant.
Deep down it maybe because we are afraid to focus our lives on God.
Maybe we are afraid of the challenge of seeking God face to face.
I would like to invite you to the alter this morning if you have never given your heart to God, or if you would just like to come and talk to God, you need to know this morning that we have a contemporary God who is the same God who led Noah to build the ark, who called Abraham to step into the unknown, who worked Joseph’s life out for the good of all.
We invite you to focus your life on God who can handle your problems and enable you to accomplish His will in your life.