Posted by David on August 8, 2004 under Sermons
This evening I want to call your attention to what I personally regard the classic illustration of transformation. Tonight I call your attention to Paul (Saul). I want us to look at him when he was convinced that Jesus was a fraud, that Jesus was not resurrected, and that the myth of Jesus’ resurrection was the greatest single, immediate threat to Judaism’s future.
One point I want you to grasp is this: the person in the New Testament who had the most to say about transformation was the person who experienced/permitted radical transformation. In the terminology of today, “He had been there, done that, and understood what it was.” He knew “what he was talking about” because he experienced transformation. He knew the difficulty of change [he knew it was hard!], but he also knew the importance of change–transformation is not an option Christians can pursue if they want to!
This is the man who said:
To Christians in Rome: Romans 12:1,2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
To Christians in Galatia: Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
To Christians in Ephesus: Ephesians 4:22-24 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
To Christians in Corinth: 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Paul knew that with God’s help transformation could occur and must occur in every man and woman who became a Christian.
- First, I want you to see clearly who this man was when he thought Jesus was not the Christ and was not resurrected from the dead.
- Acts 8:1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
- This statement is made at Stephen’s execution [the first Christian put to death because of his faith in Jesus Christ].
- Paul was not only there, but Acts 7:58 states that the witnesses who testified against Stephen and started his execution by stoning placed their outer garments [robes] at Paul’s feet–he kept their robes safe as they executed Stephen!
- He was fully in agreement with killing Stephen!
- That death began a persecution against Christians, and quickly [if not immediately] Paul was involved in inflicting physical harm on Christians.
- Acts 8:3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
- Pay attention to the words of contempt and hostility describing Paul’s actions:
- “Ravaging the church.”
- “Dragging” men and women out of their homes.
- Putting them in prison.
- Jewish men and women who believed that Jesus was the Christ deserved no respect!
- Jewish Christians as the church deserved no respect!
- Jews who dared believe Jesus was the Christ deserved abuse and pain!
- Jewish men and women who believed Jesus was resurrected deserved to be prisoners!
- Acts 9:1,2 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
- Paul told people who followed Jesus Christ, “I will see you dead!”–and he meant it!
- He did all in his power to destroy those who followed Jesus–his hate for Christians was not restricted to Palestine!
- He must have been highly respected by the Jewish enemies of Jesus.
- He had access to the high priest, and not just anyone could walk into the presence of the high priest.
- He could make a request of the high priest and get a favorable response.
- He could ask for and receive authority to go to Jewish synagogues in a major city of another nation and arrest Jews who followed Jesus.
- He could place such believers under arrest and march these people 4 to 6 days (150 miles) to Jerusalem for trial by the Jerusalem Sanhedrin.
- Can you imagine hating someone so much that you would walk 300 miles to arrest them?
- Listen to Paul’s self description at the point in his life when he hated those who believed in Jesus:
- Paul made this statement as he defended himself before Agrippa in Acts 26:9-11:
So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
- Note Paul did things “hostile” to the “name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
- Note Paul took Christians in Jerusalem to prison with authority received from the high priest.
- Note Paul used his influence to encourage the execution of Christians.
- Note when Paul found Jewish Christians in synagogue, he abused them in an attempt to make them blaspheme Jesus.
- Note Paul was “furiously enraged” at Christians–we would call him a man out of control, a man filled with hate!
- Note Paul hated Jewish Christians so much that he would go to other countries to pursue them.
- Paul made this statement to Christians in the Roman province of Galatia in Galatians 1:13, 14:
For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
- Paul said he used to be an extremist in persecuting the church of God.
- Paul said his intent at that time was to destroy the church of God.
- Paul said at this point in his life he was Israel’s ” rising star”–he was going places! He had a bright future in Judaism!
- Paul said he was “extremely zealous” for Judaism’s ancient traditions–he knew those traditions, he followed those traditions, and he defended those traditions! He was a devoted, committed man!
- Paul made this statement to Timothy in 1 Timothy l:12-14:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
- God through Jesus Christ transformed a blasphemer into a Christian missionary.
- God through Jesus Christ transformed a persecutor of Christians into a Christian missionary.
- God through Jesus Christ transformed a violent aggressor into a Christian missionary.
- How did this happen?
- Let Paul tell us as he defended his Christian actions before Agrippa:
Acts 26:14-18 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect [Aramaic], “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” And I said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
- When Paul understood Jesus’ true identity, everything changed for Paul.
- The pivotal understanding that everything Paul understood depended on the identity of Jesus Christ.
- If Jesus was a fraud, the myth of his resurrection was extremely dangerous.
- If Jesus was God’s resurrected son, Jesus’ resurrection was the hope of all people in all nations.
- When he knew that Jesus was the resurrected son of God, that changed his understanding of everything.
- How much change occurred in this transformation of Paul?
- I want to read some verses from two letters Paul wrote, and I want you to listen for yourselves.
- The first is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:5-8:
For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed–God is witness–nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
- How much transformation occurs when you go from being a violent aggressor who dragged men and women out of their homes, put them in prison, and encouraged their execution to a gentle man who lovingly works for the faith he hated?
- How much transformation occurs when you go from being a violent, hate filled man to being a man filled with love who will die for the faith he hated?
- The second statement I want to read to you is found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me–to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness’, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weakness’, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
- How much transformation occurs if you go from willingly inflicting pain on other people to willingly enduring pain inflicted on you?
- How much transformation occurs if you go from being totally self-reliant and self-confident to being totally dependent?
- I want to conclude these thoughts by asking you some questions.
- How has belonging to Jesus Christ changed you as a person?
- Would you be any different if you did not believe Jesus was the resurrected Christ?
- Can someone who has known you for years look at your life and see the ways Christ has changed you as a person?
- Is it very obvious in the way you behave that Christ is in control of your life?
The objective of living as a Christian is to be transformed.
Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles
“Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1, 2).
One of the greatest deceits in the American social/cultural/political perspective: “God wants me to be happy.” Of course, “I” decide what will and will not make “me” happy.
- My feelings define happiness. [I feel sad, not happy!]
- I demand instant gratification. [This is not fun! I want fun now!]
- I want to be where culture says I should be. [Stop wasting yourself!]
- I want to satisfy greedy ambitions. [If I had ___ or did ___, I would be happy!]
- I become a selfish person who places life’s emphasis on “me.” [Nothing is as important as my happiness!]
(Please understand happiness is an extremely difficult, complex discussion. This is a discussion of a general principle, not an unusual situation.)
Consider one point. Begin by noting (and confessing) our arrogance as a culture and a nation. What people are so arrogant as to put in their constitution the right to pursue happiness? (Have you wondered how much that perceived right factors into personal expectations?) What country dares to be so arrogant as to determine its political policies on this basis: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” (We are to determine what is best for a nation on the basis of subjective personal desires?) Thus, if we do not have everything we want, an undefined someone else is to blame.
God’s goal is to move us in His direction. Satan’s goal is to move us further from God. In the beginning God provided for our ultimate desires and needs. Near the beginning Satan deceived us with promises of pleasure. Suffering was not part of God’s provisions. Satan’s deception produced suffering, enormous loss, and pain.
Even though pain was the consequence of deception, our incredible God uses deception’s consequences (pain and suffering) to guide us back to Him. The greatest blessings in our past came through the honesty of pain, not the deceptions of pleasure.
Our most valuable lessons learned from experience are lessons we learned through pain. That does not mean we want to visit those painful circumstances again. It means we learned life’s choice lessons from that pit of suffering. It means our pain and suffering can become God’s constructive tools.
The greatest blessings we have in life (mercy, grace, forgiveness, redemption, purity) were produced by God through suffering — Jesus’ experiences in death. The greatest hopes we have in life (physical death not being “the end” and the joys of a world of righteousness) were produced by God through resurrection — God through Jesus is more powerful than physical death.
The issue in suffering and pain is not, “How can I be happy and endure this?” For the Christian, the issue in pain and suffering is, “How can my pain be God’s helpful tool?”
Posted by David on August 1, 2004 under Sermons
When I was a boy, an old-but-trusted adage said, “Birds of a feather flock together.” It meant, “Be careful who you run with because you will be judged by the company you keep.” People always have had the tendency to judge a person by the company he keeps.
Recently I was in a graduate class with a man who had been converted primarily through his own study. He came from an area of the country quite different from the south or southwest. He obviously was a person who loved to read and loved to think. For a while, prior to graduate studies, he worked as a minister in a small but growing congregation.
He told of one dedicated, mature Christian who made many of his contacts and did much of his work by visiting local bars. This Christian did not drink. He was known by the people in the bars. He had an effective outreach. He was much respected by people in the bars.
Two Questions. (1) Was he letting God’s light shine through by refusing to live in isolation? (2) Was he hiding God’s light by going into a “place of darkness”?
Matthew 11:16-19 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Is it impossible to be God’s lights in the world if we have no contact with the world? Is it possible to be God’s preserving salt in the world if we exist in isolation?
Consider one of Jesus’ prayers the last night of his physical life:
John 17:14-16 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
This evening I would like to continue my recent focus. We began by this emphasis by stressing the fact that we sustained an enormous loss when we made evil a part of human existence. Any attempt to return to what God intended us to be when He made us will involve radical transformation. If we move in the direction of God, there will be radical change in our personal lives. That change will not be understood by those who are not moving toward God. The only explanation for that change is the influence of Jesus Christ on our existence.
The last time I spoke to you I spoke about the Jewish publicans or tax collectors. I used some of them to illustrate transformation. This evening I want to use what the gospels refer to as “the sinners” to illustrate transformation.
- Consider Jewish repayment for wrongful acts.
- In our last lesson I mentioned the commitment Zaccheus made to repay anyone he had wronged.
- He declared he would repay “four fold” or “four times as much” to those he wronged.
- That is 400%.
- The Jewish repayment for wrongful acts was a Jewish response to acts of injustice.
- From early history in Israel, restitution must include more than the full amount.
- Exodus 22:1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.”
- Leviticus 6:5 “…anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering.”
- Numbers 5:7 “then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.”
- The classic case is Nathan’s confrontation of King David about the incident of Uriah and Bathsheba.
- When David heard the parable about the rich man who stole the lamb, he was consumed with anger.
- David said the man deserved to die for what he did, but he would make a “four fold” restitution.
- To me, the point to be understood about Zaccheus is seen in his seriousness–he would give of everything he owned to the poor and make “four fold” restitution to anyone he defrauded. (Luke 19:8)
- He would not be a hard hearted Jewish tax collector.
- He would be a compassionate man.
- Following Jesus would make an visible change in who he was.
- May I now call your attention to people in the gospels that were called “the sinners” by many first century Jewish people, including Jewish leadership.
- By Jewish standards, these were irreligious Jews.
- If in your thinking, you see all first century Jewish people as being devout Israelites who are dedicated to Israel’s religious ways, I challenge you to change your thinking.
- In every religious society, there are people who do not wish to follow God.
- First century Israel was not an exception.
- I surely hope that we understand as a church we are not an exception.
- Because you live in a religious society does not mean you are a religious person.
- First century Israel had a segment of their society who rejected the religious standards of society.
- Those people had a number of motives for not being religious.
- Some thought the religious standards were ridiculous foolishness, the religious people were fake, and Jewish society needed to join the progress of the rest of the world.
- Some wanted the pleasurable lifestyle forbade by Jewish law and Jewish tradition.
- Some wanted the money Jewish standards forbade.
- Some resented religious people and wanted no part of their ways.
- Some turned to “taboo” practices because they felt forced into those practices by economic realities in their lives.
- Whatever their motivation, these people were clearly known by the religious society as being non-compliant, rebellious Jews.
- “Sinners” as a visible part of society included a lot of different people–the word was used in reference to “Jewish religious outcasts” and to gentiles.
- To be classified as a “sinner” in first century Jewish society was not a good thing! You were regarded as a social misfit who did not belong–religious people did not want you in their home!
- It included tax collectors.
- It included prostitutes.
- It included people who did not worship at the synagogue on Saturday or at the temple on special holy days.
- It included all people who were not Jewish or proselytes [thus it included all the people Jews called gentiles].
- It definitely included people who did not live by and practice the Jewish “holiness code.”
- For a moment, let me discuss the “holiness code.”
- In the first century, there are certain things devout Jews always did.
- Let’s begin by focusing on their concept of “cleanliness” or purity.
- A person could become spiritually unclean just by touching something spiritually unclean.
- Therefore you limited your physical contact with anything that was considered impure or unclean.
- There were certain people you did not have in your home–like Samaritans, idol worshippers, or sexually immoral people.
- You did not touch the dead bodies of people or animals.
- You did not touch anything people with leprosy touched.
- You ate kosher food prepared in the approved manner. (Leviticus 11 contained a list of things Jewish people could and could not eat.)
- You kept the holy days in the approved ways at the approved times–that included offering proper sacrifices and eating the proper feasts.
- If you did not do those things, you were unclean.
- Remember: all these things were done for religious reasons, not for hygiene reasons.
- When I grew up, we had and practiced a form of the holiness code (as expressions of religious dedication).
- You did not drink.
- You did not cuss.
- Men and women did not swim together.
- You went to the church building every time the doors were open (there were times when Sunday evening attendance exceeded Sunday morning attendance).
- You did not attend movies.
- There were certain words you did not use–like pregnant.
- There were certain kinds of clothing you did not wear–you must never expose your body in public (I even remember a discussion about women wearing jeans).
- In either Israel of the first century or in my youth, were those “bad things”?
- No!
- However, neither were those things a substitute for having the faith of dependence on God.
- The true issue is far deeper than merely yielding to authority.
- The basic issue is having a faith that depends on God.
- A person must not put his or her confidence in what he or she does.
- A person must put his or her confidence in God.
- One is not holy because he or she follows the proper “code;” one is holy because he or she places his or her faith in God, that faith is a faith that depends, and that faith is in control of one’s lifestyle.
- Often it is the unholy person who turns to God who deeply appreciates God’s mercy and kindness.
- With the things I have said as a background, I want to read three scriptures to you, and I ask you to listen to hear what is going on.
- Mark 7:1-8 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
- Matthew 15:1-9 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ “
- Luke 7:36-50 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
- If a “sinner” was a “sinner” because he or she used self or body for ungodly purpose, when the “sinner” turned to Jesus, would the “sinner” continue to do ungodly things?
- No!
- In fact, if you knew that person had been a sinner and you saw him or her after they turned to Jesus, you likely would say, “Didn’t they use to …?” Following Jesus changes who you are.
It is true that our world needs to hear more about godly existence. But that is not enough. Our world needs to see lives that have been transformed in Jesus. Until the world can see the impact Jesus has on the way we live, the world had no reason to listen to what we say.
Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles
It is down right unnerving! We are in a society that overwhelmingly is composed of people who chase the American dream. As a society, we believe in the American dream without questioning. We are sure the keys to the “good life” are on the American dream’s key ring. Thus, achieving the American dream makes life good!
The American dream gives us the right to pursue happiness. The keys to happiness are wealth, a superb lifestyle, many possessions, limited responsibility, and lots of personal pleasure (as defined by each person).
So we work ourselves to death pursuing the American dream. Why? We are convinced it is essential for the pursuit of happiness. We get money, but we are not happy. The conclusion: we do not have enough money. We purchase the equipment for a superb lifestyle (wonderful homes, “bells and whistles” automobiles, recreational equipment), but we are not happy. The conclusion: “We need something else.” Most of us have difficulty listing everything we own (or does it own us?), but we are not happy. The conclusion: “Let’s be super consumers who live to possess.” We work hard to reach a time when we have little responsibility, but we are not happy (we are bored!). We indulge our pursuits of pleasures only to find devoting life to pleasure is meaningless. The conclusion: we are confused and feel betrayed!
Think! Is it not amazing that so many who pursue the American dream never find happiness? Many (the greater majority) commit to the journey. Yet before “the goal” is achieved, there is a death; there is an illness requiring all one’s strength and endurance; there is a divorce; there is a child causing agony; there are dismal detours to “nowhere;” there is financial collapse; or there is the unexpected (and it is horrible!).
We live in an unredeemed world as an unredeemed people. We can become redeemed people, but that does not make the world a redeemed world. What is the nature of an unredeemed world? Injustice. Exploitation. Deceit. Failed relationships. Grief. Suffering. Sorrow. Death. Does the fact that we accept redemption in Jesus Christ protect us from an unredeemed world? No! It did not protect Paul, or Peter, or the twelve, or the Christian martyrs!
Could it be that there is something more important to live for than the American dream? Could it be that Satan has deceived us by getting us to blame God for Satan’s work in an unredeemed world?
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Romans 8:20,21).
Posted by David on July 25, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:9)
All of us “have been there.” We helped, and helped, and helped until it seemed there was nothing left in us to be helpful. Or, we gave, and gave, and gave until it seemed obvious our giving changed little. Or, we sacrificed, and sacrificed, and sacrificed until something occurred that made past sacrifices meaningless. Or, we worked, and worked, and worked and changed nothing. Or, our behavior set the example of God’s light; we did “the right thing” constantly; and we were conscious of our influence, but even our family preferred the darkness. Or, we understood scripture, and understood scripture, and understood scripture only to confront (again) our ignorance “face to face.”
To follow Jesus Christ to God is to swim against the tide! Swimming against the tide of culture and society is hard! Tiring! Exhausting! To help 24/7 is demanding! To give 7 days a week is relentless! A lifestyle of sacrifice is numbing! Serving God constantly winds us! To be God’s influence daily is overwhelming! To seek to understand scripture only to discover how little you know is disillusioning!
The apostle Paul knew the feeling! He took a mission journey into the province of Galatia (a Roman Empire province). Most of the converts to Christ were Gentiles. Paul established many Gentile (non-Jewish) congregations. As soon as he left that area, some Jewish Christians (known as Judiazers) came to those congregations insisting that Paul deceived them. Unless new converts followed Jewish customs and traditions, their baptism was meaningless. These Jewish Christians were so convincing that many Gentile Christians believed them, let them be teachers, and did as they were told!
Paul was astounded and heart-broken! He could not believe these Gentiles received Christ’s freedom, then turned from that freedom. In response to the crisis, Paul wrote Galatians. He was so upset that he did not begin his letter (as was his practice) with encouraging statements. In essence, he said, “I cannot believe what you did and continue to do!” (Galatians 1:6-9.) Paul was so disturbed by their situation that he feared he wasted his time and effort (Galatians 4:11). Swimming against the tide was one thing! Doing it while dragging an anchor was quite another!
Was Paul discouraged? Yes! Did the Gentile converts’ decisions upset him? Absolutely! Did Jewish Christians’ teachings and actions distress him! Mightily! Did he quit swimming against the tide? No! He could not be who he was in Jesus Christ if he quit.
If you belong to God through Christ, do not let weariness stop you from swimming against the tide! Weariness is a “when,” not an “if.” You will get tired if you allow Christ to lead you toward God! Anyone daring to move toward God swims against the culture’s values and society’s norms. Christian lifestyle begins as a wondrous challenge, continues as a grueling marathon, and ends as a matter of endurance. So why “hang in there”? God’s promise will not fail! The reward far exceeds the demands! The harvest is unquestionable! Only fainting can rob us of God’s blessing!
Posted by David on July 11, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
“How do I help?” Likely that is a question we each ask ourselves many times. That question does not focus on the desire to help–the desire is there! The question focuses on being helpful to the need and the situation–“I want to help, but what do I do to be helpful?” The issue is not the desire. The issue is the what.
In the early 70’s, Deborah Wilson, Joyce, and I worked as part of a mission group in a country in West Africa about the size of California. Deborah Brown Wilson had not yet met Jim. She, as a single lady, worked as a nurse with the mission group’s mobile clinic. She also taught numerous ladies’ Bible classes. Joyce and I, with our children, worked as a family unit in the teaching and evangelizing portion of the mission group. Much of my work focused on stabilizing newer congregations–those were times of rapid growth for the church in that country.
Those were also turbulent times in that work. Within the first two years of our time there, for numerous reasons the number of known congregations grew to be almost 100. Most of the congregations were small in size and rural in nature. In this same period of rapid growth there were few national preachers/teachers. At its full strength, the mission group numbered no more than six families. If fully staffed, we had only two single nurses. The need for teachers and preachers far exceeded the available preachers and teachers within the mission group.
For that reason plus other reasons, the mission group began a preachers’ training school. Most (not all) of the students were teenagers. One of those teens was Eugene Elangwe.
It has been over 30 years since that school started. Eugene finished his training, and some time later moved to a remote area of the country–where he continues to work today. He has a large family, serves numerous congregations (at times his circuit takes a month to visit, and he walks), and has little resources available for the work. Yet, he has begun a school to train others to help teach and preach.
The question I face is the same one you face. The desire to help is there, but what do we do to help? With the aid of the C.U.R.E. program and the help of Bob Fisher, we plan to send a large container of medical supplies (greatly needed!) to the medical clinic in Eugene’s remote area. With those supplies we plan to send Eugene some Bibles and some basic reference books. In this way we hope to (1) increase meaningful opportunities for Eugene’s work, (2) address some urgent medical needs, and (3) supply some basic Bible study aids to those studying with Eugene.
As plans come to conclusion, we will seek the help of anyone interested. Everything supplied will be a gift. Our costs for shipping and for a few of the medical supplies must be raised. We will keep you informed of the situation as needs in collecting the gift become specific. I would much appreciate you putting this effort and Eugene in your prayers.
Posted by David on July 4, 2004 under Sermons
This is the fourth lesson in an emphasis that challenges you to deepen your understanding of transformation. In the first two lessons we dealt with the fact that what humans became after rebelling against God in no way compared with what God intended when He created us. We are nothing like what God intended for us to be.
In the third lesson I focused your attention on the fact that the objective of transformation in Christ is on radically changing ourselves as persons. The goal of Christians is to journey toward the intentions of God when God made us. Jesus Christ is our guide. We know we are journeying to the highest good known to humans.
For two or three weeks I want us to focus on specific illustrations from scripture that reveal and stress the nature of transformation. Tonight I want to illustrate the meaning and nature of transformation by focusing on the tax collectors.
- Let’s begin by going back to the first century world of tax collecting in Jewish society in Jewish Palestine.
- In the world of right now, today, most people do not like to pay taxes.
- I had my truck worked on recently, and $63 of the bill was taxes.
- That was not the business’s fault–they had to charge the $63.
- That was not the mechanic’s fault–it cost what it cost to do the work.
- It merely was the cost of living in Fort Smith and in this nation.
- Though I greatly enjoy living in Fort Smith and cherish living in this nation, I do not enjoy paying taxes.
- My Dad hated paying taxes–he almost regarded it as something dishonest which was trying to steal his money.
- He died of complications created by Alzheimer’s about a decade ago.
- One of the last things he forgot was the quarterly due date for paying his taxes.
- Even sick, he would get so upset around the time to pay quarterly taxes that we feared he might have a heart attack.
- He really, really hated to pay taxes, and his dislike of taxes grew after he retired.
- The first thing we need to understand is the Jewish attitude toward tax collectors in first century Jewish society had little to do with a general dislike of taxes today.
- With us, we do not like giving our money to our government.
- With Jewish society in Palestine, there was much more involved.
- Why did the Jews in Palestine dislike paying taxes so much?
- The first thing is that the tax collectors mentioned in the gospels were not collecting taxes for the Jewish state, but for the Roman Empire.
- Their taxes were not going to support a Jewish cause, or Jewish society, or to help the nation of Israel–they were supporting a gentile government and occupation force.
- It is very difficult for us to understand how offensive it was to Jewish people to support a gentile empire.
- Their intense desire was for Rome to leave them alone, to get their troops out of their country, and to let them govern Israel as they wished.
- Jewish law always had been very generous in Jews helping Jews, and in Jewish society taking care of its own.
- Consider just the first 11 verses of Deuteronomy 15.
Deuteronomy 15:1-11, “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed. From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother. However, there will be no poor among you, since the Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, if only you listen obediently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today. For the Lord your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’ “
- Note: that was to be the Jewish attitude toward Jewish people in the society.
- To give support to gentiles who are hostile toward the Jewish people of Palestine was quite another matter!
- Second, there was a radical sect within first century Jewish people who regarded any kind of support to a government other that Israel as an act of treason toward God.
- They were known as Zealots.
- In their view, the only One who has the right to rule Israel was God.
- To support an idolatrous empire to supplant God’s rule in Israel was a rejection of God, an act of treason against Israel!
- They were so convinced this was absolute truth that they felt it was an act of faith in God to kill a tax collector!
- To them, giving money to tax collectors was a religious issue to be dealt with through an act of faith in God!
- They realized that the average Jew was helpless when he was assessed by a tax collector.
- They also realized that their responsibility was to express contempt when they were convinced they could escape.
- Third, the Roman system for collecting taxes lent itself to excess, exploitation, and corruption.
- Consider the structure.
- The Roman government “bid out” the right to collect taxes in a region of the empire.
- The Roman government would say, “We need X revenue from this region of the empire.”
- Wealthy people would bid on the right to collect taxes in that region.
- Anything they collected above the government’s demand was their profit.
- These regional collectors often would hire managers in specific districts of the region (like Zacchaeus).
- The man would have a specific sum he must collect in the district.
- Anything he collected above that sum was his.
- Often these managers would hire local people in the district to do the actual collecting.
- It was their job actually to collect the amount assigned by their manager.
- If they collected more than the manager requested, the amount they collected above what was required was theirs.
- It does not take a genius to see that the system lent itself to opportunity for abuse.
- This is not to suggest that every tax collector was dishonest, but it acknowledges that tax collectors were commonly associated with dishonesty.
- First, they were considered “unclean” by the “faithful” in Jewish society because they had unacceptable forms of contact with gentile people.
- Second, they were regarded to be thieves because they were often fraudulent and extortioners.
- The common attitude toward tax collectors easily is seen in the way they are referred to.
- Often in the gospels the Pharisees associated them with sinners: “Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (see Matthew 9:10-13)
- At times the chief priests and elders denounced them by associating them with prostitutes: Jesus noted that tax collectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom before the chief priests and elders did. (See Matthew 21:31)
- Keeping in mind the contempt that faithful Jewish society had toward local Jews who collect taxes for the Roman Empire, consider these matters.
- Consider the “unthinkable lesson” Jesus gave in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.
- Briefly review this “prayer story.”
- The Pharisee would symbolize the ultimate righteous man in their society.
- The tax collector would symbolize the ultimate unrighteous man in their society.
- The end result was the exact opposite of what that religious society expected: God heard the prayer of the tax collector, not the Pharisee; God forgave the tax collector, not the Pharisee.
- Jesus’ point was incredible!
- Consider the “unthinkable lesson” Jesus taught in his visit to the home of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10).
- Briefly relate the story about Jesus’ visit.
- Of all the homes in Jericho to visit, why go to the chief tax collector’s home?
- To bring salvation to Zacchaeus!
- As a Jew, he had every right to hear Jesus!
- Jesus desire to “seek and save the lost” was incredible!
- Jesus had contact with Jewish tax collectors, which was forbidden!
- Jesus called Matthew (a personal invitation!) to follow him and selected him to be one of the twelve (Matthew 9:9).
- Jesus ate and drank with tax collectors (Luke 5:29-32).
- Jesus used a tax collector to teach a God value (Luke 18:9-14).
- Jesus visited Zacchaeus (19:1-10)
- When tax collectors followed Jesus as a disciple, did they continue to be fraudulent people who extorted others?
- No! Jesus pursued them as the lost!
- Accepting him meant transformation, a commitment to change!
- His love for them changed them!
- That is a difficult, hard lesson for us to learn.
- We are more prone to seek people we like instead of seeking people Jesus died to save.
- We find it hard to believe people can redirect their lives.
- We find it difficult to call people to change by leading the way in changing our lives.
May our attitudes not be kindred to the attitudes of the Pharisees. May our attitudes be committed to transformation, and may our willingness to change give hope to those who need Jesus!
Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles
Matthew 7:24, 25 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”
Jesus’ coming into this world involved numerous hard decisions. Either he would or he would not be a human being. That cannot be a maybe decision. (See Philippians 2:6, 7.) To say “No!” to the rule of Satan was an “either/or” decision, not a perhaps decision. (See Matthew 4:1-11). To assume the role of a poor servant in his ministry involved a definite commitment, not a “wait and see” attitude. (See Matthew 20:28.)
Jesus’ commitment involved being misunderstood by his own followers, rejection by the people he came to help, resentment from those he tried to redirect, and criticism from those who were certain “we know God better than you do.” When we carefully consider his Gethsemane prayers, his suffering prior to and during death, and his willingness to become a cold, dead body, we know those involved hard decisions.
He did not say to God, “Maybe we will do it your way.” He did not say, “I will suffer some — but I say when enough is enough!” His decision to die was a non-reversible decision! Jesus did not live with “one foot in evil and one foot in godliness” — just to be on the safe side. He decided for God, and he followed through on his decision.
Could it be, in the past, it has been too convenient to be a Christian in this society? There was a time when society’s values commonly were Christian values. Christians often did not have to make a decision! However those days are gone.
Today, society’s values and God’s values often are in contrast-unless we redefine God’s values. It seems we can transpose any ungodly pursuit into godliness if we alter God’s definitions a bit. By altering God’s definitions we can be a little bit sexually active outside of marriage, a little bit dishonest, a little bit untruthful, a little bit greedy, a little bit vulgar, a little bit against God, a little bit selfish, a little bit hypocritical, a little bit …
Often we create the impression that Christians can be converted when conversion suits their immediate desires, serve when it is convenient to serve, make God their priority when it suits the moment’s purposes, honor Christ when it is the thing to do, and live for God when we are surrounded by those who live for God.
Jesus becoming our Savior involved hard decisions. Following Jesus as our Savior involves hard decisions. Just as becoming the Savior involved being misunderstood, rejected, resented, and criticized, being the Savior’s disciple often involves being misunderstood, rejected, resented, and criticized. We follow Christ or we do not.
After washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13:16, 17). The storm is gathering!
Posted by David on June 27, 2004 under Bulletin Articles
John 1:9-13 “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Rarely, if ever, do human beings comprehend Jesus’ courage! Jesus trusted God at every turn in life, in every circumstance. For us to declare that we comprehend how much faith Jesus had in God probably is a commentary on how little we understand faith. To have great faith in God requires enormous courage. Without courage, there is little faith.
Jesus had the courage to be rejected by those who claimed to have the greatest understanding of God. Enduring rejection is traumatic. Enduring rejection by those who hate and despise us is disconcerting. Enduring rejection by those who should understand and encourage us is devastating. Jesus had the courage to endure the rejection of those he could not “amen.” These people mistook faith for rebellion.
Jesus had the courage to renounce injustice. Matthew 8 and 9 reveal he healed lepers, Gentiles, demon-possessed people, paralytics, and the blind. He called a tax collector to follow him and associated with sinners. Those were the wrong kind of people! Either they suffered because of their evil past or they rejected the “known ways of God!” When the religious questioned his priorities and actions, he said, “The sick need the doctor. You need to learn the meaning of Hosea 6:6, ‘I desire compassion, not sacrifice.'”
Jesus had the courage to be lonely. After his “flesh and blood of life” lesson in John 6, many of his disciples deserted him never to follow him again. This withdrawal of disciples was so severe that he asked the twelve if they also were leaving. A following of twelve is not a big following!
Examples could be multiplied: he had the courage to surrender living to God; he had the courage to do what was right when no one understood; he had the courage to suffer for God’s values; he had the courage to die for God’s will; he had the courage to trust God to raise him from the dead. Jesus had great faith which demanded great courage.
What about us? Often we disassociate faith in God from courage. It takes courage to redirect life. It takes courage to leave less accurate understandings and grow toward more accurate understandings. It takes courage to face raging personal problems that control our minds, our actions, or both. It takes courage to help those suffering as a result of injustice. It takes courage to understand and submit to God’s values and priorities. It takes courage to die to self in order to become alive to God.
How is your faith in God? Do we have the courage to live by faith in God?
Posted by David on June 20, 2004 under Sermons
This evening I want to begin with two readings. I deliberately want to make connection with our thoughts from the past two weeks. I want these readings to focus our thinking.
Romans 12:1,2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Philippians 3:17-21 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
In the past two weeks I called your attention to this truth: the way God defines humanity and the way we humans define humanity is different. (1) God’s definition is based God’s intent and purposes for us when He made us. (2) The human definition is typically based on influences that have nothing to do with God, that often even deny God is our origin.
God’s objective in Christ is to change us into what God intended for us to be when He brought us into being.
- Let me begin with a warning.
- Typically the religious world that declares it defines itself by acceptance of Jesus Christ [and that includes far too many in the Church of Christ] does not stress transformation.
- Typically what is stressed is grace to the exclusion of transformation.
- Often it is suggested in one way or another that God’s grace makes transformation unnecessary.
- Often, in some way, this seems to be the current stress: “Because God knows your heart, how you behave is unimportant.”
- Too often we at least create the impression that transformation is the enemy of God’s grace instead of God’s grace being the opportunity for transformation.
- The result is that too often we become addicted to what often is called “cheap grace.”
- What does the term, “cheap grace,” mean?
- It means “I cannot earn salvation” [true], “I cannot deserve salvation” [true], “I cannot place God in my debt” [true], so “How I live and behave is unimportant” [false].
- It is the concept, “God’s grace will cover everything, so I can just live as I please because I am in God’s grace.”
- The motive for Christian obedience has nothing to do with earning salvation, deserving salvation, or placing God in my debt.
- Grace gives me the opportunity to make the journey of changing the person I am.
- No matter how evil my past has been, I can be a different person.
- Transformation is my way to say, “Thank you!” to God for the grace that made my forgiveness possible.
- As a Christian, I cannot make transformation’s journey without changing my life.
- My salvation is not all God and it is not all me, it is God and I in partnership–God doing for me what I cannot do for myself [forgiveness, etc.] and me showing my appreciation to God by wanting and agreeing to transformation.
- Let me continue with a question: “Do you like change?”
- Your answer to that question will depend on your environment factors at the moment you hear the question.
- Some would respond, “No! I do not like change! Change is terrible!”
- “I wish gas prices could go back to the levels of 50 years ago!”
- “I wish cars did not cost more than my first house cost!”
- “I wish marriage was like it used to be!”
- “I wish parenting was like it used to be!”
- “I wish you could have a lifetime job or career like we used to!”
- “I wish we could go back to a time when cars did not use computers, when businesses did not use computers, when homes did not have computers, when banks did not use computers–every time you turn around, you have to deal with another computer!”
- “I wish the church was what it was 50 years ago!”
- Some would respond, “Yes! I am glad change can occur! Change brings blessings!”
- “I am glad that you do not have two year olds for life or teens for life.”
- “I like microwaves, hot water “on demand”, tubeless tires, power steering, power breaks, power windows, something beside a coal or wood heaters to heat your home with, air conditioning, and comfortable mattresses.”
- “I like knowing who won a political race immediately after the vote instead of two weeks later.”
- “I like the new medicines and medical procedures that add years to life.”
- “I like cell phones.”
- “I like having variety in what I eat.”
- “I like the availability of college educations.”
- “I am glad we can know so much more about scripture and the will of God today.”
- Whether we realize it or not, life involves change, and it always has.
- Aging is a change process–not just physically, but hopefully in wisdom as well.
- Experience is a change process–only an extremely foolish person refuses to learn from experience.
- The entire process of education is a change process–in mind and understanding that results in changes in life.
- While we all hate death, I hope we realize that the ability to age but the inability to die would be a curse right now in this physical world.
- Conversion to Jesus Christ produces change, a change scripture calls transformation.
- Allow me to call your attention to some statements found in scripture.
- The first is this statement from Peter in 2 Peter 1:2-4 which occurs just before what is typically called the Christian graces.
2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
- Let me point out some things in this reading we really like.
- We like the thought of the multiplication of grace and truth–that is good stuff!
- We like the divine power that grants us everything pertaining to life and godliness–that is good stuff!
- We like precious and magnificent promises–that is good stuff!
- Let me point out a couple of things that strike many as less than desirable.
- God expects us to partake of the divine nature–“if I do that I won’t fit in.”
- God expects us to escape the rottenness produced through ungodly desire—“but I like some of those ungodly desires, and I would debate the idea that such desires cause rottenness.”
- “Oh, David, you are exaggerating!”
- “Partake of the divine nature–that is a stretch!”
- “Ungodly desires do not produce rottenness–they produce pleasure, and I like pleasure.”
- Consider Paul’s statement in Ephesians 4:20-24.
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
- If we put this statement in its fuller context, it is about transformation
- Paul said, “This is the kind of persons you were before you became Christians.”
- “This is the kind of persons you are to become because you accepted Christ.”
- “There is to be a ‘before and after’ because God, with your permission, changed you–your reason for coming to Christ was to put off the old self and put on the new self.”
- “You committed yourself to becoming a person created in the likeness of God, a person created in the righteousness and holiness of truth (Jesus Christ).
- The word Paul used for transformation in Romans 12:2 is the same Greek word that gives us metamorphosis.
- Metamorphosis is the word used to describe what happens when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
- Now, that is change!
- They neither look nor function alike!
- God’s intent with Jesus Christ in you is to change you!
- Not merely a superficial change is a few habits and behaviors that allows you to do the “going to church” thing.
- But a radical change, a change of who you are as a person.
- God wants it to be evident in you that this change occurs as a continuing process because you are in Christ.
- Please note how this change occurs.
- It is a change you want to happen, that you cooperate with God through Christ to make happen–it is not some mysterious happening that occurs against your will!
- First, you change the way you think–God teaches you a new way to think.
- Second, you begin a search, a continuing study to prove what is God’s will–you do not wish to live your life on your assumptions, but you wish to live in an understanding of God’s purposes and priorities.
- The end result:
- You adopt God’s definition and concept of good.
- You change your understanding of what is acceptable.
- You want God to form your concept of perfect or complete.
Is that what is happening in your Christian existence as a man or woman who has, by choice, placed yourself in Jesus Christ?
