Posted by David on February 14, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Tongue problems are not new in God’s family! That is evident in the context of the above scripture. These people, converted from an idolatrous lifestyle, did not “learn Christ this way” (Ephesians 4:20). They deceived, they acted in anger, they stole, they used words to tear down people, and they grieved God’s Spirit. Their sense of spiritual community was grossly immature! To address their problem, Paul suggested that they allow God’s forgiveness in Christ to be their model. Tongue problems are ancient, and (sorrowfully) each generation renews them by adding new vigor to them.
Consider a prayer:
God, grant us, as a community and as individuals, spiritual maturity’s courage to see and take responsibility for our tongue problems. May we refuse as individuals to allow our personal anxieties to infect the community of believers, and may we not as a community of believers encourage the abusive use of the tongue. May we be forgiving instead of bitter. May we be encouragers instead of being wrath-filled Christians. May confusion diminish because of the way we speak and our words. May we be quick to extol good and slow to destroy reputations. Instead of acting in the hate and spite of malice, give us faith’s courage to understand that evil is destroyed by doing good.
May we be as kind to each other as You are to us in Your perfect knowledge of us. May we be as tender-hearted to each other in our community as we are to one rising from baptism. May Your forgiveness be our model to forgive.
May we have faith’s courage to expect more of self because we know You. May others be attracted to Your community because our words evidence Your wisdom. Because of our words, attitudes, and emotions, may those who do not believe in Jesus not dismiss Your love. May our mouths and the actions our words produce advertise Your greatness. May our words make it obvious You live in us. May the way we treat each other declare the value of Your living in a person. May we understand the privilege of approaching You through Your son as we understand the privilege of being Your child.
Congregations too often are more discredited by Christians’ treatment of each other than by beliefs. May that awareness make each of us fear self. May we be quick to repent, and slow at self-justification. May we feel sorrow rapidly, and feel resentment slowly. May we not say things about each other that we would not repeat to God-for we shall!
May we each aspire to spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ. May we have the courage to be an example that challenges and encourages. May a godless society’s regulations never be the rules of godly spirituality. May God’s people find the direction in Jesus Christ to transform our world instead of letting the world reduce us to its level. May God in Jesus Christ form our holy manners. May the Savior teach us how to behave with the courage that transforms the immature and challenges the unformed in Christ to rise to God’s standards as His people. May our manners in our words be in His hands alone!
Posted by David on February 7, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
One of the distinctions between God and us is seen in the use of words. God takes care about what He says; we often fail to be careful about what we say. While emotions exist in God, God’s words are not chosen by His emotions; too often our emotions choose our words. God uses His words wisely; we often use our words regretfully. God knows the full context of what is said; we too often are deceived by adding or imagining context. God knows both the motives and actions produced by words; we do not. God is not deceived by words; we are.
On one occasion, those who led people religiously were certain that Jesus’ miracles could be “explained” as acts of evil. They accused Jesus of obtaining his power from Satan. Jesus declared the inconsistency between who they said they were and their acts. Jesus’ concluding observation is still chilling: “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36, 37).
Many years ago, I heard an illustration that focused on a dying man who had multiple sons. The sons could not get along. Just before death, the man asked all his sons to come to his bedside with a wooden board, a nail, and a hammer. The sons gathered around their father’s bed with the board, nail, and hammer. He asked the oldest to drive the nail through the board. He asked the middle son to pull it out. He asked the youngest son to pull the hole out. Then the father, looking at his sons, said, “Be careful what you say about each other.” Upon saying that, he died.
Too many times I have exerted every effort known to me trying unsuccessfully to unsay something I said in great confidence. Too many times I have been forced to watch the destructive impact of something I said. To say with heartfelt meaning, “I am sorry!” does not remove the hole left by what I said. God, deliver me from trying to fill the hole with self-justification, emotions I failed to control, or excuses!
Perhaps most painful of all is to discover years later (with greater spiritual maturity) the destruction caused by something I said. There are times in my study today at specific moments that I say to myself, “I said what?” There is little so foolish as the self-assurance of partial knowledge prancing in the deceptive costume of total understanding. If we could limit to ourselves the hurt done, that would be awful, but when that hurt envelops the blameless-that is horrible!
Why would Jesus include our words in our judgment? In the same incident, Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34).
“But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:8-10).
Posted by David on February 6, 2008 under Sermons
1 Timothy 5:1-8, "Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are widows indeed; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
If you expect me to talk about how to treat older men in this assembly, you will be disappointed. If you expect me to talk about how to treat younger men, older women, or younger women in this assembly, you will be disappointed. If you expect a discourse on widows indeed, you will be disappointed.
Has that not been a common approach to scripture in the past? Have we not been guilty of thinking we have "restored the true meaning of scripture" if we define the roles scripture mentions? A common premise has been: "If we supply the correct definitions, we by that determine proper applications."
We can become so involved in details that we miss the passage’s focus. There were people in these groupings in the early church. However, determining today’s applications simply by knowing the identity of those groups produces invalid applications. For example, the focus is NOT on rebuking the right people by determining their age! Paul’s concern is not determined by accurately deciding what your category should be!
"What was Paul’s concern?" Paul’s concern: being a Christian expresses itself in respect for people. Relationships lie at the core of having proper faith in God. It is no exaggeration to declare that if we cannot treat people with respect, we cannot treat God with respect.
- I am amazed at how often we fail to make the obvious applications of Paul’s concern.
- If anyone should be blessed by Christian respect for people, it should be those who are closest to us.
- Because I have faith in God, my spouse should be blessed because of my faith in God.
- Because I have faith in God, my children should be blessed because of my faith in God.
- Because I have faith in God, my friends should be blessed because of my faith in God.
- Because I have faith in God, my daily associations should be blessed because of my faith in God.
- Because I have faith in God, those who trust Christ should be blessed because of my faith in God.
- The people closest to us should never be afraid of us because we have faith in God.
- Faith does not require me to hurt my spouse; it requires me to help my spouse.
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them (Colossians 3:18,19).
- Faith does not require me to abuse my children; it requires me to encourage my children
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart (Colossians 3:21).
- Faith does not require me to ignore my friends, but to be a source of guidance to my friends.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
- Faith does not require me to pretend the people who associate with me daily are not there, but to be an encouraging example to them.
As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful (James 5:10,11).
- Faith does not require me to make other Christians fearful of me, but to look to me as a source of kindness.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:31,32).
- Faith in God blesses my relationships, it does not curse them.
- The blessing of my faith to my relationships constantly declares the benefits of belonging to the Lord.
- Somewhere in the past we transformed the basic concept of worship.
- First, we made worship the key expression of faith in God.
- If you doubt that statement, think of all the people who are convinced that being able to say, "I go to church every Sunday," is the # 1 proof they have faith in God.
- Reflect on all the members of a congregation who are convinced they are saved if they are in the correct building at the correct time on the correct day.
- Think of all the families who are deeply relieved if a family member consents to baptism without any evidence of repentance.
- Second, we made worship about us instead of about God.
- We made the occasion of worship the occasion to prove we are "good people."
- It is the occasion for proving we are correct as a person.
- It is the way of saying, "I do not need a visit from the preacher, the elders, or any other religious fanatics in the congregation."
- It is the way to say, "I am okay, so look at me as being okay, and do not trouble yourself with me."
- It is the accepted way to say, "I am religious! I do my spiritual duty! I am here! I give some money! I do not cause any trouble!"
- If we are not careful, worship is all about me, what I am proving about me, and how I want ‘the church’ to look at me.
- Worship at its core has never been about me and what I want to declare about me.
- At its core, worship always has been about God.
- It always has been a declaration of gratitude for what God has done and continues to do for me.
- It is a remembrance, a reminder of my indebtedness to God.
- want to be a spiritual person, not just a material person, and only God can help me achieve spirituality.
- It is an affirmation of my relationship with all those who place their confidence in God.
- Christian worship is an opportunity for three things.
- I gratefully remember what God has done for me, and honor Him for doing those things.
- I declare my appreciative commitment to God.
- I affirm my commitment to those who place their confidence in God.
- Knowing what God did and does for me in Christ is the vehicle for those three things happening.
- There are some situations we all should find deeply disturbing.
- I am disturbed by the number of Christians who neglect their spouses and still regard themselves as deeply spiritual people.
- I ask you to realize there are a number of Christians you know who think that the way they treat their husband or wife has nothing to do with being a spiritual person.
- Does being godly urge me to learn how to be a better husband or wife?
- Or, can I be a godly person and have little or no concern for my husband or wife?
- I am deeply concerned by people who think they can neglect or abuse their children and still be a deeply spiritual person.
- I am not talking about people who are trying and are constantly concerned.
- I am talking about people who do not care.
- They, at best, tolerate their children.
- To those people, loving God has nothing to do with loving their children.
- I am deeply concerned by people who think they can use people close to them without having any concern for those people.
- The people surrounding them are a means to an end, and this attitude has no affect on being godly. (Have you not heard people say, "Business is business and church is church," as if the two are totally unrelated?)
- The philosophy of such people seems to be, "I will be nice to you as long as you are or may become useful to me, but once you lose that usefulness, get out of my way and leave me alone."
- Amos used a device to provoke thinking that is still chilling!
- His device in Amos 1 and 2 is this phrase: "For three transgressions, and for four I will not revoke their punishment."
- Amos used those words to declare what was wrong with Israel and Judah’s enemies.
- I can just hear Judah and Israel say, "Amen! Amen! I knew they were horrible people!"
- I can hear them say in glee, "Tell them! They deserve condemnation!"
- Then Amos used the same words to introduce the transgressions of Judah and then Israel.
- In the words of some people, Amos stopped preaching and started meddling.
- It is okay for me to know what is wrong with you, but I do not want you or anyone else to know what is wrong with me.
- In condemning Israel, Amos talks about their greed.
- They are so greedy that they lusted for the dust on the heads of the helpless people (Amos 2:7)
- They were so determined to have the property of the helpless that they resented the dirty hair of helpless people!
- Helplessness in people meant nothing–they just wanted their land.
- We are rapidly becoming a society addicted to disposable spirituality.
- Increasingly there are many things we no longer understand how to do.
- We are losing our ability to commit to people.
- We are losing our ability to sacrifice for people.
- We are losing our ability to be unselfish.
- With those losses are the loss of kindness, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, compassion, and mercy.
- Thus, when we do not know how to care for a relationship or find a relationship troubling, we throw the relationship away.
- Nowhere are these losses more evident than in our relationships with people closest to us–increasingly those relationships are disposable.
- If I am having trouble with my spouse, I get rid of him or her.
- I loved my spouse to pieces when I married–so much so I said I committed to my spouse for life.
- Now I hate my spouse more than I loved him or her at marriage–so much so I want to make my spouse’s life miserable by taking everything I can.
- If I am disappointed with my children, I try to pretend they are not mine.
- Before I had children, I joyfully anticipated the day I had a child.
- Now that I have children, I consider my children an anchor–my children are an obstacle to everything I want to be and everything I want to do.
- I am not suggesting each of these relationships do not involve complex demands and challenges.
- I am suggesting each of these relationships (and all other relationship) are a part of our Christian commitment.
- To me it is frightening to observe how many people today do not know how to be a husband, a wife, or a parent.
- They have not observed success in those relationships.
- They do not even know what a successful marriage or successful parenting is!
- People do not understand that you learn how to fill those roles, that success in those roles does not just happen.
Paul said the person who refuses to accept family responsibility in family relationships is worse than a person who does not even believe God exists and resurrected Jesus. Such a person denies that he or she is a person of faith.
May I issue a challenge to every Christian: see the opportunity! Do not wring your hands and decry how awful situations are! In Christ, be an example of commitment in your relationships. If a relationship is failing in your life, learn. If that relationship fails, do not make its failure the result of a lack of commitment and learning on your part. Commit! Show people that belonging to God is an asset to succeeding in relationships!
In nothing do we have a more relevant message in Christ than the message that God’s values can guide us to success in relationships!
Posted by David on January 31, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
In the Bible’s brief account of God’s creation of the physical world, there is enormous emphasis on the power of speech and the words speech uses. In the creative acts of God, your attention is directed to two declarations: (1) the creation of the physical happened because God spoke; (2) people were made in the image of God.
It would be difficult to exaggerate the power of speech. Through speech people are encouraged, lifted to the heights, challenged to make great sacrifices, and moved to give life itself for a cause. Because of speech, great battles have been fought, the underdog has achieved the impossible, dreams become visions, movements become governments, and governments become empires. Because of speech, people live and people die. Because of speech, literally the direction of lives is changed.
We have words and phrases that acknowledge the power of speech. We acknowledge wordsmiths exist. These are the people who can create concepts and direct thoughts by the use of words. A quality wordsmith can stir our emotions and penetrate our thinking. We acknowledge spin doctors exist. They specialize in transforming undesirable words into worthwhile thoughts. (Surely, both can abuse as well as use words.)
Most of what exists in your life began with words. This is so true that you likely have a great appreciation for someone who can say or write things well. For anyone-man or woman-who can use words to inspire us or to make us think, we have profound respect. Who is your favorite author? Why? To whom do you listen (always) when he or she speaks? Why? To whom will you never read or listen? Why?
If God made things happen by speaking, and we each were made in God’s image, do you realize the power found in your speech, in the words you use? Do you realize the power your words have to challenge a life to rise to its finest efforts or to dismantle a life so that it crumbles?
If we as Christians represent the God who is so powerful that He said and it existed, always be aware of what you say and the words you use. One of the powers you have because you are in God’s image is found in your speech. In that understanding, those who seek to reflect God are quite careful about what they say.
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:6).
Posted by David on January 24, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
In a simple yet straightforward way, Genesis states our beginning. While this could be a deeply theological discussion about the origin of humanity, I prefer here and now to direct your attention to other understandings. (1) Human origin is in God. In our origin, we have great privilege and great responsibility. (2) Our privilege: humanity has a unique ability to reflect God. (3) Our responsibility: reflect Him accurately.
What a blessing for people to be able to reflect God! God’s calling: be the best human we are capable of being. We are not urged to look to our concerns, desires, or self-indulgence as we seek to be our best. We are not even urged to look at the good things around us to determine “good.” “Good” is found in reflecting the God who brought human life into existence. That is the dedication that challenges us to be unselfishly dedicated to His character, filled with grace, and compassionate. Those who first belonged to God failed miserably because they allowed greed, mistrust, and selfishness to conquer them. By submitting to characteristics unworthy of God, they alienated themselves from God. May those who belong to Him now not make Adam and Eve’s mistake! Our blessing is found in reflecting Him!
Our responsibility is seen in our willingness to reflect Him accurately. Realizing He made us (not we Him), we seek to ask the proper question. It is not, “What seems ?good’ to me?” It is, “What does the Holy God say is good?” At times we are so consumed with self-interest as we seek to endure in an ungodly situation, we are severely tempted to define good for God instead of allowing Him to show us good (“this is surely what God would say and do”). We claim to reflect Him when we actually reflect our own concerns. The end result: as we seek to do good, evil results. Perhaps the greater damage is done when we who are supposed to reflect God actually discredit God. Those who do not know God look at us who are supposed to know God and say, “If that is the way Christians act, I want no part of it.”
The wonderful news is that God is patient if we are willing to learn and act on our new understanding. He commonly is nicer to us than we are to others. He shows us how to act by using Jesus, and patiently waits for us to learn.
The weighty news involves us. We individually are responsible for our decisions and acts. It is not an “anything goes” life. It is a life devoted to learning (1) how to be responsible and (2) how appropriately to reflect God in our decisions and actions.
After 50 years of preaching, the principle thing I learned in my life and His word is this: the necessity of combining His patience with an understanding of Him. “Lord, thank you for being so patient with us! Help us learn compassion from You!”
Posted by David on January 17, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Recently, I watched a group of scientists seeking the site of a huge sea battle occurring about 400 years ago. During that battle, a huge fleet representing European commercial interests confronted a huge Ottoman fleet. Both fleets were determined to control commerce on the Mediterranean Sea. An important by-product of the battle was the direction of world civilization.
The scientists painstakingly researched ancient records. Then they took a ship outfitted with the latest technology to the area of the battle in the Mediterranean Sea. Lastly they used divers to perform “hands on, actual sight” investigations and recovery.
It astounded me that part of the site was located after being under water for 400 years. Shorelines change! It astounded me even more that they recognized metal objects covered with the rust and corrosion of 400 years in salt water. For example, a diver recognized and recovered a sword handle. It was so corroded it did not look like a sword handle. It looked like a worthless part of the sea bed. However, the diver knew what he was looking for and recognized a valuable find when he saw it-in spite of enormous corrosion! To recognize a metal object after 400 years of rust is unthinkable!
Consider something more astounding. God recognized in us something of value after centuries of rust and corrosion through sin. He did not merely remove the corrosion so an ancient, flawed object became apparent. He removed the rust and restored us to a form that reflects His image, as He intended in creation. He has the power to remove the corrosion, restore the object, and allow the object to reflect Him! Incredibly, God sees through the corrosion of sin!
If we could see one human adult untouched by sin and compare that person to human adults submerged in centuries of sin, we would be astounded! What would astound us? We would be astounded (1) by the amount of corrosion, (2) the amount of distortion created by moral rust, (3) and by the fact God recognized anything. However, God knows what He is looking for and recognizes it when He sees it-in spite of the amount of rust and distortion.
The challenge for us as Christians is to recognize (as individuals and congregations) objects of value in people who are covered and distorted by sinfulness’ rust. The reason this challenge gives Christians so much trouble lies in our failure to see our own rustiness. Whatever has been removed from us, God removed. The goal of our obedience is merely to express our gratitude.
He or she who takes credit for the process of his or her own rust removal is sadly lacking in an understanding of God’s work in Jesus’ death and resurrection! The ultimate expression of gratitude is to see others’ need for rust removal and bring them to God. Only by removing rust can anyone reflect God.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Posted by David on January 10, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
These were Paul’s instructions to Timothy-father to adopted son, preacher to preacher, mentor to trainee. From the beginning, it was difficult to be a godly man who deeply cared about God, God’s people, and be an elder. Elders were humans who made mistakes. They, too, lived with temptation. They, too, could be victims of bias.
Little has changed. Members’ expectations often exceed an elder’s time or training. Situations increasingly are complex. Demands are relentless. Critics rarely have the information elders have. What appears to be simple is never simple. In crisis moments, elders frequently are in “no win” situations they did not produce. While caring, they can be accused of not caring. They protect confidences as if no confidences exist. Also:
- They serve an all volunteer organization as if they were paid C.E.O.’s of a profitable company.
- Members appoint them for spiritual maturity, but treat them as immature if they “do not agree with my view.”
- They are expected to study, but keep quiet if what they learn conflicts with typical conclusions.
- They are expected to produce money to fund anyone’s passionate cause.
- They are expected to have and use people skills no one possesses.
- They are expected to understand those who misunderstand them.
- Their families silently endure grief and pay prices few know.
So why would any man agree to be an elder? For the same reason a godly person agrees to be a deacon, a business management team participant, a leader of a program, a teacher, or an involved member. (1) They love God. (2) They love people. (3) They understand God’s purposes are bigger than the physical realities of right now. (4) They seek to use their gifts to serve God rather than themselves.
If Christians are to benefit from selfless, capable leadership, we consciously need to produce the joys of leading rather than the pain of discontentment. Respond to godly leadership. Get involved. Have a servant heart rather than a controller’s mind. May godly people never decline leadership because of unnecessary heartache.
Posted by David on January 9, 2008 under Sermons
My Webster’s Dictionary defines healing by using the following concepts. To heal means to make sound or whole, to restore, to patch up, to remedy, to return to a sound state. These concepts commonly refer to health where physical health has been lost. However, these concepts can and do have a broader application.
Today, I want all of us to think in terms of broader applications.
I have spent most of my life and most of my ministry helping and encouraging those who are broken seek soundness. Spiritually, that often includes the need for repentance and the need to trust God’s forgiveness. Physically, that commonly includes making sick or ruptured human relationships sound again. It always includes the need to find and support a sense of peace.
I have spent decades in numerous contexts urging people to find soundness rather than to live in brokenness, to live in peace instead of promoting conflict. Because of long-term exposure, please permit me to make some observations.
Observation 1: Soundness is easily destroyed, but restoration of health requires great energy and even greater commitment. I never cease to be amazed at how easily one word or one act can become "the straw that broke the camel’s back," but how challenging (not impossible!) it is to "heal the camel." It is amazing how much love can endure until one thing is just too much. It is equally amazing to see how big a void is created once love is destroyed. I never cease to be amazed at how one thing is "too much" for trust to handle, and how incredibly difficult (not impossible!) it is to restore trust once it has been destroyed.
Observation 2: Spiritual maturity will not develop in a climate of turmoil and spite. For whatever reasons, hurt, suffering Christians seek relief from their pain by attacking others. Where there is an environment of turmoil and spite, those who suffer tear down those who do not suffer. When local Christians emotionally react to their pain, the local Christians as a group tend to sink to their lowest spiritual level. Instead of the community at large seeing those Christians as a productive force of usefulness, those Christians acquire the appearance of pettiness and shallowness. Christian credibility becomes a casualty.
Observation 3: Widespread spiritual conflict misdirects the energies of every form and level of Christian leadership. Gossip finds encouragement. Slander finds support. Accusations find credibility. Internal conflict finds justification. Christians angrily accuse Christians. Schisms develop. Sides are formed. Commitment to Christ and God is questioned. Elders do too much or not enough, depending on who speaks. Deacons fail to take a stand. Teachers refuse to deal with "the obvious." Opinion leaders are pressured. Neutrality is considered weakness. Fires begin spontaneously.
When Christians (individually, as groups, or congregationally) remain in a mindset of conflict, there are no victories, only losses. If those who seek to lead on any level dedicate themselves to putting out fires, they dedicate themselves to increasing internal demands that become deeply disheartening. If they do what is seen as too much, some people say, "They know where there is smoke there is fire." If they do what some people see as too little, these people ask, "What are they trying to hide?" Usually, different people are saying both things at the same time.
Paul admonished hostile Christians in Galatians 5:13-15, "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another."
If you disagree with my observations, you surely can do so. The only request I make is to consider what I now share.
- It took God thousands of years to generate the possibility of undoing in His son what Eve and Adam did in one defiant bite.
- As a direct result of defiantly eating a fruit, God’s creation went from:
Genesis 1:31, God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
TO:
Genesis 6:5,6 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
- They ate and were not even hungry or in physical need!
- They wanted what they did not have in complete ignorance of the fact that what they wanted would destroy them.
- God’s physical creation became so infused with evil that a physical world without evil is beyond human imagination.
- Some people question if such a physical world ever existed.
- Some even question if a physical world without evil would be a desirable happening.
- The possibility of redemption in Christ exists because God refused to give up in the face of great evil.
- Even though the period of the judges was a time of great, repeated idolatry and wickedness among God’s people, God persisted.
- Even though Israelite kings were an enormous failure, God persisted.
- When the Israelites asked for a king, they misidentified their problem and rejected God as their leader.
- Their problem was a lack of trust in God, and having a king would not solve their "trust in God" problem.
- That is why God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:7, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them."
- Israelite kings were a spiritual disaster.
- Israel was united as a nation for only 120 years after the first appointment of a king–King Saul was arrogant in his insecurity; King David committed adultery and murder; and King Solomon reverted to idolatry to please his wives.
- The rest of the time the Israelite kingdom was divided until the northern kingdom went into Assyrian captivity and the southern kingdom went into Babylonian captivity.
- Things went from bad to worse in the times of the prophets. Those who were supposed to be God’s people refused to listen to any message from God.
- Consider the situation of Gods’ people (these were supposed to be the best of the best!) when Isaiah wrote.
- Isaiah 1:4-6, Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him. Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing sound in it, only bruises, welts and raw wounds, not pressed out or bandaged, nor softened with oil.
- They were so full of wounds and bruises there was no place left for God to afflict them.
- They were so accustomed to their suffering they did not even recognize they were sick.
- Isaiah 3:8-12, For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, to rebel against His glorious presence. The expression of their faces bears witness against them, and they display their sin like Sodom; they do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves. Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their actions. Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him, for what he deserves will be done to him. O My people! Their oppressors are children, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray and confuse the direction of your paths.
- Their problems were much worse than "well-intentioned mistakes;" their problems arose from character flaws.
- Their sins became witnesses against them.
- Those who they allowed to lead them, led them astray and confused their direction.
- Isaiah 5:3-7, “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My vineyard. “What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones? “So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground. I will lay it waste; it will not be pruned or hoed, but briars and thorns will come up. I will also charge the clouds to rain no rain on it.” For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant. Thus He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress.
- God would do more than abandon His people; He would destroy them.
- God looked for people who reflected Him, and He was disappointed.
- Isaiah 5:20-23, Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!
- They were horribly confused about the correct concept of good and bad, of right and wrong.
- They were so wise in their own estimation that they justified horribly wicked actions.
- Consider the extremely difficult task God gave Jeremiah in taking God’s messages to His own people (people who should have been touched and responded!).
- After commissioning Jeremiah and rejecting his objections, God gives Jeremiah an extremely difficult message to deliver to His people.
- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, that they went far from Me and walked after emptiness and became empty? “They did not say, ?Where is the Lord Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of deep darkness, through a land that no one crossed and where no man dwelt?" I brought you into the fruitful land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, and My inheritance you made an abomination. The priests did not say, "Where is the Lord?" And those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that did not profit. “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And with your sons’ sons I will contend. “For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, and send to Kedar and observe closely and see if there has been such a thing as this! “Has a nation changed gods ahen they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. “Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord. “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
- God said, "The time has come for you to pay the consequences for your evil."
- "You did the unthinkable in rejecting Me, now the unthinkable will happen to you."
- Jeremiah 5:1-3, “Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and look now and take note. And seek in her open squares, if you can find a man, if there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, Then I will pardon her. “And although they say, ?As the Lord lives,’ surely they swear falsely.” O Lord, do not Your eyes look for truth? You have smitten them, but they did not weaken; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent."
- Jeremiah was asked to find one righteous person in the holiest city on earth.
- He could not find one among God’s own people.
- Jeremiah 7:27, "You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you."
- God’s message deeply grieved Jeremiah.
- Yet, God would not let him even pray for the people.
- Terror was coming, and Jeremiah could do nothing.
- Jeremiah 20:7-11, O Lord, You have deceived me and I was deceived; you have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim violence and destruction, because for me the word of the Lord has resulted In reproach and derision all day long. But if I say, “I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it. For I have heard the whispering of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him!” All my trusted friends, Watching for my fall, say: "Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him and take our revenge on him.” But the Lord is with me like a dread champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.
- Jeremiah’s mission and message brought him nothing but grief and rejection.
- The reaction to his message brought him nothing but agony.
- He hurt so badly that he wished he had never been born–being right and having the Lord vindicate him was a cold comfort.
The point I want you to note is that healing is difficult. It can get to a point of offense against God that it cannot occur. Because we are God’s people does not mean we cannot offend God.
May I make some closing encouragements. (1) Let God’s character and values become your character and values. (2) Oppose evil, but value people. (3) Let God be the judge in the knowledge that no one will do evil and God be ignorant of the evil. (4) Devote yourself to a patient God by devoting yourself to the difficult task of healing. (5) Care about others with the depth of God’s caring!
May God’s patience in giving Jesus Christ commit you to never "giving up" on people!
Posted by David on January 8, 2008 under Sermons
How do Christians deal with disappointment created by other Christians? We live in a society filled with cynicism, ready to criticize anything or anyone. Our society tells us to think the worst and expect it to happen in every situation. A common response: "That is what I expected!" In our democracy, we do not fear finding fault with anyone.
This trait causes people in other governmental systems to shake their heads in disbelief as they marvel. While on the mission field, we informed one of our workers that our Vice President had to resign because he failed to pay his taxes. The worker replied, "Excuse me, but who tells a Vice President to pay taxes?" In his world, telling a Vice President to pay taxes was TROUBLE with unthinkable consequences.
A man or woman assembles with the congregation "every time the door is open." However, he or she lives a double life–one being quite evil, and one being quite good. The details of the double life become common knowledge. A consequence: we interpret all difficult circumstances in all troubled members’ lives as evidence of double lives.
A Bible teacher yields to temptation. A consequence: we decide all Bible teachers are especially prone to temptation.
A deacon has an affair. A consequence: we think all deacons are looking for opportunities for affairs.
A treasurer financially defrauds a congregation. A consequence: we think a quality of all treasurers is a love for money that is greater than a love for people.
An elder abuses his position for personal benefit. A consequence: we assume all elders are elders for "the wrong reason."
Thus, many Christians ask, "What is wrong with us? We seem to be like an army who aims its guns on itself. When we have no pressing enemy, we shoot ourselves. We seem well trained to destroy, but have far too little motive to encourage. Is Christianity by nature destructive? Is it a part of Christianity’s character to find its joy in destroying instead of encouraging?"
There are many reasons for congregations to be internally destructive, not merely one. One of those reasons that cries out for understanding is this: humans are spiritually weak. Trusting humans commonly will lead to disappointment. Our faith always must be in Jesus Christ (the Savior), not in congregations (the saved).
- The New Testament constantly urges people to place their faith in Jesus Christ.
- The examples are literally too numerous to list.
- When Peter and John spoke to people after the healing of a lame adult, Peter said in Acts 3:18-21, "The things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time."
- When Peter spoke to the council after his and John’s arrest, he said in Acts 4:8-12, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
- After his conversion, this is said of Paul in Acts 9:19-22, Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
- This same man wrote this in Romans 7:24-8:1, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
- The writer of the letter called Hebrews said in Hebrews 10:10-14, "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified."
- James cautioned in James 2:1, "My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism."
- Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-5, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
- Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:8-11 concerning what we call the Christian graces, "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."
- John wrote in 1 John 1:1-4, "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete."
- Jude wrote in Jude 17-21, But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
- The message of Revelation closes with these words in Revelation 22:16-17 — I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
- Only Jesus is:
- The promised fulfillment of God’s determination to bring salvation to the world.
- The only one through whom salvation is available.
- The Son of God.
- The only one in whom there is no condemnation.
- The only sacrifice from God for the sins of all.
- The only one in whom there is no favoritism.
- The only one who can protect us through the living hope.
- The only one who can grant us entrance into the eternal kingdom.
- The real one sent from God to be Savior.
- The only one who can give us the mercy we must have.
- The only one who can take us to God.
- We can be examples and encouragers who influence people to develop and cling to faith in Jesus Christ, but we can never be the Savior.
- Humans in Christ never stop being humans in this life.
- As humans:
- We always are able to be tempted.
- We always have choices we must make.
- We always are limited in our knowledge.
- We always are capable of being emotional reactors instead of purposeful decision makers.
- Humans make mistakes, and being in Christ does not eliminate our ability to make mistakes.
- So we must set boundaries on humans, even humans in Christ.
- We let humans in Christ encourage us, but we follow Jesus.
- We let humans in Christ provide us examples, but we follow Jesus.
- We let humans in Christ lift us up, but we follow Jesus.
- We let humans in Christ warn us, but we follow Jesus.
- Never give a Christian what belongs to Jesus Christ alone.
- Never give a human the kind of loyalty that belongs only to Jesus.
- Never give a human the kind of devotion that belongs only to Jesus.
- Never give a human the kind of appreciation that belongs only to Jesus.
- We exist as individuals and as congregations to serve Jesus, not to rival Jesus.
- Thousands of years ago, God promised to send His Son. (See Genesis 12:3 with Galatians 3:16 and 29.)
- Abraham’s fear in regard to Sarah did not turn God away.
- Isaac’s impetuousness as an old man did not turn God away.
- Jacob’s deceptiveness did not turn God away.
- The slavery of Israel in Egypt did not prevent God from keeping His promise.
- The utter faithlessness of the adults who left Egypt did not prevent God from keeping His promise.
- Israel’s sins in the period of the Judges did not prevent God from keeping His promise.
- The evil of the Israelite kings did not prevent God from keeping His promise.
- Israel and Judah’s deaf ears in the period of the prophets did not prevent God from keeping His promise.
- The rejection of Jesus and the death of Jesus did not prevent God from keeping His promise.
- What about you?
- Will you allow any person to be bigger than Jesus and make God’s efforts of no benefit in your life?
- Will you let the mistakes of any human be bigger than God?
- Will you let any human blind you to God’s persistence?
- Will you let the failures of any human be bigger than the mercy and forgiveness of God?
No matter how hard we try, we will never be more than the saved. No matter what we know, only Jesus will be the Savior. Always let Jesus be your Savior as you seek to encourage the saved. Never let the saved appear to you as He who saves.
Posted by David on January 3, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Faith is a spiritual journey towards spiritual maturity, not an achieved destination. It is companion to the spiritual maturation process of the individual who commits self to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:1-3). Though faith is constantly “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” each step of the journey, the nature of that assurance or conviction changes as the person matures in Christ.
May I suggest several maturing steps that frequently occur in the life of a person in Jesus Christ. In these steps faith grows as the person spiritually grows.
1. The person comes to the conviction that he/she (a) needs to be saved from sin and (b) God through Jesus Christ can save from the consequence of sin. This level of faith gladly commits to God and Christ through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). However, this is just the beginning.
2. The saved person grows to the conviction that he/she must show his/her gratitude for salvation by making self available to God’s purposes. The result: he/she serves God’s purposes in any way he/she is capable in the full confidence that God rewards (Hebrews 11:6). However, this is only a step, not a destination.
3. Increasingly, there is the awareness that serving His purposes is rightfully God’s expectation, not some special gift the saved person gives God (Ephesians 2:10; the examples of Hebrews 11:7-12). God promised, and people of faith responded by trusting His promise-by building an ark, going to a strange place, or having a child when conception was impossible. Still, this is but a step, not a faith destination.
4. Then the person grasps on a deeper level that salvation is the result of what God did in Jesus’ cross and resurrection, not the result of any personal sacrifice made or service performed. There is a new insight into the declaration, “It is about God, not about me” (Hebrews 11:39, 40). He/she marvels anew at people who trusted God’s promise without receiving the result of the promise. This, too, is merely a step, not a destination.
5. If all this makes you wonder about the nature of faith in God, ask an elderly, dying person who spent life living by faith, “How does faith express itself?” The answers may astound you.
Faith is not the product of human confidence in self or human confidence in “our” deeds. It is the expression of confidence in the God of mercy and grace who saves those who can never make themselves deserving.
Grow in God, and let your faith grow as you spiritually develop!
