The Past Is the Past

Posted by David on October 19, 2003 under Bulletin Articles

This past weekend Joyce and I were part of the homecoming in a former congregation in Oxford, MS. It was an enjoyable, encouraging, uplifting experience. That congregation fashions its homecoming around its campus ministry. They plan their homecoming to coincide with homecoming at the University of Mississippi. The result is the return of some former students. We not only saw many friends who continue living in Oxford, but we also unexpectedly saw some friends who attended the university.

Every homecoming is filled with memories of the past. All such occasions are filled with memories, reminders, and lessons. For thirty-six hours, I had a heavy dose of all three.

Some were light-hearted and humorous. Several told me that humorous “lie”: “You haven’t aged a bit!” Because I look in the mirror daily as I shave, I know better! I suspect the problem is more one of “eyesight” than of a “fountain of youth”!

Some existed in the silence of my heart. Mark Parker (of Harding Graduate School of Religion) coordinated an auditorium Bible class devotional. Along with the songs and readings, he requested sharing centered in realizations of past blessings received through that congregation. As some shared, I quietly thought of those now dead but who profoundly touched and blessed me and my family. Though dead, they still speak to me.

There were many lessons! They included reminders of lives blessed by God through His use of you; reminders of your own humanity and weakness; reminders that God can use you but does not depend on you; reminders of the incredible ways your life was blessed; and reminders that one’s influence continues to live in one’s absence.

The past is the past. One cannot live in it–either in its successes or failures–without wasting the present. No matter how appreciative one is of the past’s good and blessings, it is never (ever!) a substitute for the present. Allow the past to bless the present, but never allow it to place a curse on the present. Be grateful, remember blessings, and be encouraged, but keep moving forward. Always be certain to do this: let your memories from the past clear a pathway to humility, not to arrogance.

Philippians 3:13,14 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Pray for Chris and Karen Benjamin and sons. Chris hopes to arrive November 3.

Let Him Guide You!

Posted by David on October 12, 2003 under Bulletin Articles

Acts 10:38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Peter made this statement to Cornelius in awkward, difficult, uncomfortable circumstances. He did something unique. “And he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean'” (Acts 10:28). God did a lot to convince Peter this was the right thing to do. Peter’s past said this was not what God wanted because Cornelius was the wrong kind of people.

The crucified Jesus changed everything! Peter needed to understand the change! No longer was an “Israelite” determined by birth, but by faith in God’s work in Jesus’ resurrection. As Paul explained to non-Jewish Christians in Galatia, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).

It took a lot for God to convince Peter to see His concern for all people. Even after a vision [seen three times] (Acts 10:9-16), vocal instructions from the Spirit (Acts 10:17-20), and an encouraging report about Cornelius (Acts 10:22), Peter did not know why he went to Cornelius’s home. He did not understand why Cornelius wanted him to come (Acts 10:28, 29). He had no idea about what to say in that situation!

Then he understood! “Opening his mouth, Peter said: ‘I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him'” (Acts 10:34,35).

Please note: (1) Peter told Cornelius about Jesus. (2) He confirmed Jesus’ identity. (3) He wanted Cornelius to understand that “Jesus went about doing good,” that he provided healing to those oppressed by the devil, and that God was with him.

Do people ever need to hear this message: (1) Jesus used His life and abilities to do good. (2) He has the power to heal those oppressed by the devil. (3) God was (and is!) with Him in what he did and does.

Who needs to hear this message? Those who conclude there is only evil in the world. Those who think there is no hope. Those oppressed by the devil. Why? They need to know Jesus can be their source of goodness and hope. They need to understand that God Himself is behind the good Jesus does and the hope Jesus gives.

If you belong to Jesus, use your life to do good. End your oppression to the devil. Depend on God who sent us Jesus. Share the freedom and the hope.

Great Parallels, Part 2: Exodus and Jesus

Posted by David on October 5, 2003 under Sermons

There are many mistakes people commonly make in life that are just plain inexcusable. There is no reason for these mistakes. These mistakes are made because we just do not think. In our thoughtlessness, we do not take the time to reflect on what we know. Then when consequences come crashing down upon us, we commonly are thoroughly disgusted with ourselves.

I would classify as one such mistake our failure to learn from other people’s experiences. When for hundreds of years the same decisions and directions of life result in the similar sufferings and consequences, we need to learn from other people’s mistakes. When for hundreds of years the same decisions and directions of life result in the same benefits and blessings, we need to learn from other people’s wisdom.

When generations before us made the common bad choices of every generation and suffered consequences, we need to learn from their bad choices. When generations before us made the uncommon good choices facing each generation and received blessings, we need to learn from their wisdom.

This evening I want you to focus on a second parallel between Exodus and Jesus.

I want us to begin with the tenth plague God brought upon Egypt which resulted in Israel’s release from slavery.
1. I call your attention to Exodus 12. Please read with me verses 1-14.
  Now the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household. Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb. Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails. And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire. Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste–it is the Lord’s Passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments–I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance.
2. God told Moses and Aaron how He wanted Israel to observe the Passover when it occurred.
  1. This is a brand new observance, and brand new feast, and it was unlike anything that had ever occurred before in the history of these people.
  2. To say it was different I think is an understatement!
  3. To observe this occasion would take a lot of faith because some of the requirements were quite different.
    1. Every family was to acquire a lamb or kid (it could be either a sheep or goat) for this occasion–every family would participate in this event. (If a family was too small to eat a lamb or kid, they were to combine with another family.)
    2. The lamb or kid was to be a year old and without any defect.
    3. On the afternoon of the 14th day of the month they all were to slaughter their lamb or kid at twilight.
    4. Part of the blood was to be taken and smeared on the door posts and lintel of the houses in which people would eat.
    5. The lamb or kid was to be roasted in its entirety, not boiled, and eaten with bitter vegetables and unleavened bread, and the leftovers were to be burned before morning.
    6. As they ate, they were to be fully clothed (including sandals on their feet and staff in their hand), and they were to eat quickly.
    7. That evening I (God, not a “death angel”) will pass over Egypt killing every firstborn male in both families and animals.
      1. I, the Lord, will execute judgment against the gods of Egypt.
      2. I will see the blood you placed on your doors and pass over you–none of you will die.
    8. This memorial was to be a perpetual ordinance in Israel that in future generations would be celebrated as a feast to God.
3. Now read with me Exodus 12:29-36.
  Now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the Lord, as you have said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.” The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders. Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
  1. About midnight God caused all the firstborn Egyptians (from the king’s family to the criminal’s family) and all the first born livestock to die.
    1. There was massive death in Egypt.
    2. There was massive mourning and grief in Egypt.
    3. The sound of mourning could be heard everywhere.
    4. Someone was dead in every home.
  2. The king called Moses and Aaron and ordered all Israel out of the country.
    1. Every Egyptian was so afraid that they hurried them on their way.
    2. Earlier they had given the Israelites gifts of whatever was requested–gold, silver, clothing.
  3. Can you imagine the enormous inconvenience of leaving in the middle of the night without vehicles and electrical power? I know they were guided by God’s fiery cloud which provided them light, but I doubt that it was an easy, simple matter.
There are many obvious parallels we could consider.
1. We could think about parallels between Passover and the Lord’s supper.
  1. Both involved a sacrifice of flesh and of blood.
  2. Both were to be a feast.
  3. Both were to be a continual memorial.
  4. Both involved death.
  5. Both provided the seemingly impossible opportunity for a new existence.
2. We could think about the parallels between participation.
  1. Passover was to involve directly all the people of Israel
  2. The Lord’s Supper is to involve directly the entire Christian family.
3. We could think about the parallels between each being a beginning.
  1. The first Passover marked the beginning promise of the nation of Israel.
  2. The first Lord’s Supper marked the beginning promise of Christianity.
  3. Each beginning was a fulfillment of God’s purpose and intent–neither was an accident!
As interesting as all those parallels are, I choose for our focus another reality illustrated by both.
1. The first fundamental parallel is this: deliverance is always from God.
  1. The people of Israel were slaves in Egypt, and they of themselves were powerless to change things.
  2. We were slaves to sin, and we of ourselves were powerless to change things.
  3. Were it not for God’s actions, we both would have remained slaves.
  4. Only God could end the slavery.
2. The second fundamental parallel is this: the price of deliverance always includes blood.
  1. For God to pass over an Israelite family, there had to be blood on the door posts and lintel–that blood was essential if God was to pass over.
  2. For God to justify us, to forgive us of our sins, Jesus’ blood must be on our hearts.

Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians in Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

Conclusions:

Seek deliverance in God, and praise God for deliverance.
Never forget we cannot save ourselves.
Show your appreciation for Jesus’ blood in service to God.
Rejoice in Jesus’ blood, but never abuse it!

My God Can Save!

Posted by David on under Sermons

We live among lots of forces that actively discourage discovering spirituality in the resurrected Jesus Christ. First, we live among voices that constantly say, “You don’t want to be spiritual! You don’t want to go in that direction! Think about all you can’t do and all you can’t have!” Second, if we get past those voices, we encounter all kinds of ungodly powers that discourage us. Third, if we refuse to let ungodly powers control us, we endure all the discouragement that occur when Christians oppose Christians. Fourth, if we get past those discouragement, we deepen our discovery of evil within ourselves. Fifth, when we move to the depths of spirituality in Christ, we discover our total unworthiness.

That is quite a journey! It is especially quite a journey for many American Christians! As a people, we are not deeply familiar with true humility, or repentance, or dependence, or unworthiness. One of the hardest things we must confront on our journey to spirituality is our personal nothingness and God’s deserved worthiness.

When our faith leads us to total surrender to the resurrected Jesus, two incredible things happen to us–both as acts of God.
1. First, I ask you to read with me as we consider Acts 2:37-40.
  Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
  1. If we do not note the context of Peter’s words in this sermon, we will miss a critical point.
    1. Peter spoke to a Jewish audience in the holy city of Jerusalem–those listening to him were either born Jews or were converted to Judaism.
    2. He is not speaking to people who are ignorant of God or ignorant of righteousness.
    3. These people knew what God did when He led their ancestors from Egypt, when He spoke through Moses, when He gave their ancestors Canaan, when He ruled through David, when He challenged Israel through the prophets.
  2. The heart of the sermon Peter just shared with these people focused on Jesus.
    1. He is God’s promised Christ.
    2. He is the keeping of God’s promise.
    3. He is the resurrected Christ or Messiah.
  3. If they really believed Jesus was the Christ, if they really believed that Jesus’ execution was a rejection of God, they would respond in two ways.
    1. They would repent.
      1. That was far more than being sorry for their mistake of rejecting Jesus and opposing God.
      2. That was redirecting their lives, that was working with God in Christ instead of opposing Christ and thereby opposing God.
      3. Their repentance would be obvious; it would be reflected in the way they lived.
    2. They would be baptized.
      1. This was far more than just a ritual, just a requirement.
      2. It was their commitment to God who committed to them in Jesus’ death.
      3. It was their statement that they did believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that they were committed to redirecting their lives.
  4. If they had the kind of faith that would lead them to repentance and baptism, two things assuredly would happen by an act of God.
    1. God would forgive them. Even of being guilty of encouraging Jesus’ execution, God would forgive them!
    2. God would give them as a gift the Holy Spirit.
  5. This promise was not just to them, but to their children, and to those who were far off.
2. Expressing faith in repentance and baptism is just the beginning, not the conclusion.
  1. Life still has to be directed.
  2. The person still has to learn how to cooperate with God’s presence in him/her instead of frustrating God’s presence in him/her.
  3. The focus of the person’s life still has to change.
  4. He or she has made the commitment to change, but now he or she has to carry through by changing the way he or she lives.
  5. He or she was alone, without God, before faith moved him or her to commit.
  6. Now he or she must understand how to cooperate with God in his or her life.
What should occur in the lives of the men and women whose faith in Jesus Christ moved them to redirect their lives and be baptized into Christ?
1. I invite you to read with me from Romans 8:18-30.
  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 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. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
2. In the first part of Romans 8, Paul described the great war that is ongoing in the lives of Christians.
  1. As a Christian, there are two powerful influences pulling on us in opposite directions.
    1. The first powerful influence is the evil influence that challenges us to be people who are concerned only about the physical.
    2. The second powerful influence is the righteous influence that challenges us to keep the focus of our lives on God.
  2. These two influences are constantly pulling at the Christian to the point of tearing us apart.
    1. Every day we have to decide again who we are.
    2. Every day we have to decide again what the purpose of our life is.
    3. Every day we have to decide again our focus.
3. The chapter ends with an emphasis on the incredible things God does for us as we wage this war.
  1. God is always for the person in Christ.
  2. God justifies the person in Christ.
  3. God gives the victory to the person who is in Christ.
4. The statements we just read couple together the experience of fighting the inner war and trusting God’s incredible help.
  1. First, Paul said I want you to realize beyond doubt that the sufferings caused by the war are worth the pain caused by the war.
  2. Second, Paul said I want you to understand that it is not just you struggling–evil’s perversion places the whole creation in sorrow and pain.
  3. Third, Paul said I want you to understand that your placing yourself in Christ just started a process that will not be completed until you live with God.
  4. Four, Paul said I never want you to feel abandoned because the Spirit God gave you as a gift when you were baptized will pray for you in God’s language when you are so weak you do not even know what to ask–and the Spirit will pray for you with a perfect awareness of your needs.
5. Then Paul said the most astounding thing!
  1. “Nothing can happen in your life that God cannot use for your salvation.”
  2. The ultimate good that can occur in you is for you to live eternally with God.
  3. No matter what happens to you in this physical existence, no matter what suffering Satan causes you to endure, God can use every bit of it to draw you closer and closer to Him.
6. When our faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ by God moves us to repent and be baptized, that sets in motion an unbelievable process for every person who enters Christ.
  1. God in his foreknowledge has determined that He will assist that person to be more and more like Jesus.
  2. As that person matures in faith, God will intentionally make that person more and more like His son.
  3. God will constantly call that person closer and closer to Him.
  4. God will justify that person–He will continually make that person’s mistakes meaningless.
  5. And the end result will be that God will glorify that person.
If you are a Christian, I hope you will mature in your understanding of how incredible God is.
1. You are caught in the middle of a war, but you are never on your own!
2. When you were baptized into Christ, God gave you a gift.
  1. That gift is His Spirit.
  2. That gift is God’s mark of possession–you belong to Him!
  3. That gift will pray for you when you are too weak to pray for yourself.
3. Because of all God does for us, there is no reason for us to fail.
  1. We do not succeed because we are so wonderful, successful, and adequate.
  2. We succeed for one reason alone–what God makes happen.

For us to succeed as Christians, two things are required of us. We must love God. Our lives must be focused on God’s purposes. We cannot do what God does for us–God does not ask us to do what we cannot do. God asks us as Christians to do what we can do: love Him, and focus our lives on His purposes.

Faith’s Benefits Depend on Jesus’ Resurrection

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 “Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”

What are the benefits of trusting the living God Who: (1) sent His son to earth; (2) allowed His son to stress His priorities and purposes during the son’s ministry; (3) sacrificed His son through execution; and (4) raised His son from death?

Are they seen in an ideal physical life? Christ’s cross says, “No!” The apostles’ deaths say, “No!” Christian martyrs say, “No!” Poverty stricken Christians say, “No!”

Are they seen in material advantages? Jesus’ teachings said, “No!” (See Matthew 6:19-34.) Paul said, “No!” (See Ephesians 4:28.) James said, “No!” (See James 5:1-6.)

Are they seen in incredible housing, unimaginable vehicles, secure retirements, or lavish inheritances? Everything above says, “No!”

Are they seen in a wonderful spiritual insurance policy that protects physical life? Death from natural causes, devastating disease, horrible accidents, random acts of murder, the enterprise of war, the terrorists’ merciless acts, and the ravages of poverty all say, “No!” Christians die, are diseased, experience accidents, physically suffer when war occurs around them, are victims of violence, and can lose material security.

Then what possibly are the benefits of faith in the living God? Consider some biblical understandings. We understand: (1) evil perverted all God’s intentions in physical existence; (2) the physical realm is so tainted by evil that God can never achieve His complete purposes in physical existence; (3) God will achieve His purposes and we will have our fulfillment when we live with Him; (4) physical death is not an end to life, but a transition to life as God intended it. Therefore, we confidently use this life for God in the expectation of experiencing life with God.

Why? We trust God’s resurrection of Jesus. If there was no resurrection, there is no reason to be a Christian, no benefits of faith in God. If that is the case, Paul said we are pitiful people who were deceived by lies.

The peace, joy, hope, and strength Christians have now are built on the foundation of Jesus’ resurrection. His resurrection is the foundation of our resurrection.

Worship Assemblies Worship

Posted by David on September 28, 2003 under Sermons

[The morning assembly began with the audience standing and reading aloud together Psalm 96 from the overhead projection.]

What is worship? “David, that is a ridiculous question! Every adult and most children here this morning know what worship is!” Since that is such a ridiculous question and the answer is such common knowledge to the vast majority of those in this assembly, quietly answer that question to yourself. If you were to answer the question, “What is worship?” what would your answer be?

The New Testament does very little to either define or describe worship. In fact, the Old Testament does more to define and describe worship than does the New Testament. Jesus talked very little about worship. The book of Acts describes the beginning of Christianity, but does not describe Christian worship in detail. The epistles do not contain major sections on worship. The New Testament book that says more about worship than any other New Testament writing is the book of Revelation. It in symbolic terms makes several statements about worship in heaven.

I ask you to do two things.
1. The first thing I ask you to do is to call to mind your definition of worship.
  1. I am quite serious.
  2. Think about your definition of worship.
  3. I want you to consciously hold on to that definition.
2. The second thing I want you to do is this:
  1. While you keep your definition of worship firmly in your awareness,
  2. I want you to read with me several worship scenes from the book of Revelation.
  3. So I want you to do two things at one time: stay constantly aware of your personal definition of worship and listen to what Revelation says about worship.
3. Read with me.
  Note the stress on God’s holiness.
  Note the stress on God’s worthiness.
  Note the first two passages involved the worship of God, Who is the central figure in heaven. Note the shift in this passage: the worship of the resurrected Jesus, God’s sacrificial Lamb. Note the emphasis is on the worthiness of Jesus because he accomplished God’s basic objective.
  The Lamb is still the focus of worship here. Note again the stress is still on worthiness.
  Now the focus is both on God and the Lamb. The stress is on their praise worthiness.
  The focus of worship is now back on God. Again, note God is praised for His worthiness.
  The focus is still on God. Note the stress is on thanksgiving. There was an outpouring of gratitude because God has used His power to rescue them from all that tried to destroy them.
  The focus is still on God. The stress is on reverencing (fear) God by giving Him glory as the source of judgment and creation.
  The focus in still on God. They sang. God’s greatness and holiness is honored.
  The focus is still on God. It is a scene of praise. Four times God’s throne rings with the sound of creatures declaring, “Hallelujah!” [Literally, “Praise the Lord,” a joyful expression of thanksgiving.] God won! He did what He intended to do! He defeated even the strongest centers of wickedness and evil, and He rescued all who would turn to Him! The result was an incredible outpouring of gratitude to Him.
4. Do a little comparing.
  1. Do you still have your definition of worship clearly in your mind?
  2. How does your definition of worship compare to what happened in heaven in worship of God and of the Lamb (Jesus Christ)?
  3. Where in your definition of worship do these things fit in?
    1. The holiness of God.
    2. The worthiness of God.
    3. The praise worthiness of God and the Lamb.
    4. Reverencing God for His holiness.
    5. Glorifying God.
    6. Saying, “Amen,” and declaring, “Hallelujah” with joy.
Let me make some personal observations–you do not have to agree with me, but I surely hope that I challenge you to think.
1. My first observation is that there is not a whole lot that occurs in our worship assemblies that prepares us for heavenly worship.
  1. There are not many “Amens.”
  2. Too rarely is there this powerful sense of gratitude because our God of power has forgiven us and rescued us.
  3. Too rarely is there this powerful sense of joy that flows from the gratitude of what God has done.
  4. There are almost no hallelujahs, or obvious expressions and declarations of praise because of God’s great worthiness and holiness.
  5. There is little evidence that we who belong to God feel compelled to fall before God.
2. My second observation is that we have through the centuries changed worship.
  1. We have made worship assemblies primarily about education instead of primarily about praising God.
    1. We are so busy there is no time for spiritual education.
    2. There is not convenient time to study–individually or with a group.
    3. I wonder if for some of you the only time you seriously think about the Bible is when you come here on Sunday morning.
  2. The core of our worship focuses on the sermon, a human accomplishment, rather than the Lord’s Supper, a divine accomplishment.
    1. If you are typical, you are more likely to react to your opinion of the sermon than your opinion of what God did in Jesus Christ.
    2. Your faith is more likely to be affected by what is said in a sermon than what God did in the death of Jesus.
3. My third observation: one of the key reasons [not all the reasons, but one of the significant reasons] that we are losing so many people is this: we have made too much effort to convert people to the church and too little effort to convert people to Christ.
  1. We are the church–the church is not some institution that exists apart from us.
  2. If a man or a woman is in Christ, he or she by an act of God is part of God and Christ’s church.
  3. The power of God and the glory of God will be seen in the church when the power of God and the glory of God is seen in our lives.
The basic objective of worship is simple.
1. First, worship should call all who are in Christ closer to God.
2. Second, worship should fill those who belong to God through Christ with a sense of joy and gratitude.
3. Third, worship should make every Christian feel closer to every other Christian because the one thing we all have in common, the unifying element, is that we are in Christ Jesus.

Question: how often to you leave a worship assembly without worshipping?

Question: how often do you leave a worship assembly feeling joy and gratitude because you feel much closer to God?

Question: have you felt joy and gratitude toward God this week? How did you express it?

Worship on earth should prepare us for worship in heaven! Because we have been a part of praising God on earth, praising God in heaven should be a natural joy.

Meet Chris and Karen Benjamin

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

The first thing you must know is this: Chris and Karen were content where they were. The elders recruited Chris. Chris and Karen responded to their approach. The Benjamins hope to move to Fort Smith as a part of this congregation and its staff in late October. They are working diligently toward that objective as they prepare their house in Lake Jackson, TX, to be placed on the market this week. When they arrive in Fort Smith, they plan to rent for a while.

Chris and Karen met in Razorbacks for Christ at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, as sophomores. Chris attended UA all four years. Karen spent a freshman year at Harding University and three years at UA. As a freshman, Chris participated in a mission trip to Scotland as an outreach in Razorbacks for Christ.

Though Chris graduated as an outstanding student with a degree in art, he and Karen [then married] moved to Abilene after graduation. Chris spent the next four years in the ACU graduate program acquiring a Master of Divinity degree. With that degree, he, Karen, and Wyatt moved to Russellville, AR. There he worked for three years with the West Side congregation as a campus minister at Arkansas Tech University. In late 1997 they moved to Lake Jackson, TX, where Chris has worked the past 6 years as their pulpit minister. He is close to finishing his Doctor of Ministry degree at ACU. [Classwork is finished.] In addition to his class and congregational work, Chris has served in a leadership capacity on several boards and has spoken at several lectureships.

Chris and Karen’s roots are in Arkansas. Chris was introduced to the church through Center Street’s bus ministry in Fayetteville. Home is Winslow, AR, where his parents live and his father is an elder. Karen’s parents live in Hot Springs, AR, where she spent some of her pre-teen years and all of her teen years.

Karen is quite involved also. Besides encouraging Chris in his work and studies, she is active as a leader in women’s and children’s ministries [including church pre-school and women’s prayer ministries]. She is primarily a homemaker for Chris, Wyatt, and Ethan.

A significant comment was made by one of his elders to one of our elders. He declared that the congregation at Lake Jackson regarded themselves to be part of the universal church. If God’s purposes are better served by using Chris and Karen’s talents here, God’s will be done. While that congregation deeply regrets their leaving, they obviously continue to love and appreciate Chris and Karen.

The transition for the Benjamins will not be small! Keep them in your prayers and give them your encouragement. It is our blessing to have them. May we all live and work together to bless God. Help them move from love to love!

Great Parallels, Part 1: Exodus and Jesus

Posted by David on September 21, 2003 under Sermons

This evening I want to share with you the first of a few lessons. These lessons basically will call your attention to parallels with what God did for Israel in the book of Exodus and what God does for the Christian in Jesus Christ. Each lesson will be independent. While it should be insightful to consider all the lessons together, we should be able to understand each lesson in and of itself.

I would like to begin by asking God to open our hearts and bless our understanding. Would you please pray with me?

The first thing I wish to do is to read from the book Exodus. Please read with me from Exodus 2:11-14.
Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. He went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?” But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”

Moses knew who he was and what his roots were, and he wanted to help his people.
1. The fact that Moses wanted to help his people was a good thing, not a bad thing.
  1. Not wanting to help his people would have been a bad thing.
    1. Becoming such a selfish person that he felt no responsibility to help them would have been bad.
    2. Becoming such an ashamed person that he preferred to be in denial would have been bad.
    3. Becoming such an arrogant person that he would not consider his people’s needs would have been bad.
  2. Wanting to help his people was a good thing.
    1. He knew that he had roots in an enslaved people, and that was good.
    2. He was neither ashamed to help them nor “too good” to help them, and that was good.
    3. Though he had a very privileged life, he could feel the pain and humiliation of their abuse.
2. The problem: Moses viewed himself as the solution; he wanted to help his people.
  1. The solution would arise from him.
  2. He was confident that his people would respond positively to his concern.
  3. He was confident that his people would identify with him without shame just as he identified with them.
3. The situation:
  1. One day he was watching, noting how difficult and inhumane the Israelites’ work was.
    1. He watched as an Egyptian beat a Hebrew brother.
    2. Whatever was occurring, Moses regarded it a gross injustice, a totally unreasonable act.
    3. As he looked around, there was no one within sight except the Egyptian doing the beating and the Hebrew being beaten.
    4. Thus Moses took advantage of the situation–he killed the Egyptian and hid the dead man’s body in the sand.
  2. The next day he went out to observe again.
    1. This time two Hebrews were fighting each other.
    2. He asked the Hebrew who was the attacker, “Why are you striking your companion?”
    3. The response shocked him:
      1. “Who made you a prince over us?”
      2. “Who made you a judge over us?”
      3. “Are you going to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?”
      4. Instead of feeling any sense of gratitude toward him for what he did the day before, they resented him!
  3. And Moses was afraid.
    1. He was afraid because his secret was now an “open secret.”
    2. Instead of quietly appreciating Moses’ help, the delivered Hebrew man told other Hebrews what happened.
    3. If these slaves were talking about what he did, it would just be a matter of time before the Egyptians knew what happened, and then Pharaoh would know what happened.
4. Instead of helping his people, he only brought trouble on himself.
  1. What he did was not enough.
  2. He could not do what he thought he could do.
  3. Moses had some critical lessons to learn, and he had to learn those lessons the hard way.
    1. Before he could be used by God, he had to lose all confidence in himself and his position.
    2. Before he could be used by God, he had to have a much better understanding of who God was and what God willed to do.
    3. Before he could be used by God, he had to learn that power belonged to God, not to himself.
    4. Before he could be used by God, he had to become totally dependent on God.
    5. Before he could be used by God, he had to realize that nothing he could do of himself was enough!
This evening, I want you to compare Moses’ self-reliant efforts in this incident with Jesus’ earthly ministry.
1. It is my impression that many of us conclude that if we saw Jesus’ earthly works and heard Jesus’ earthly teachings, we, collectively, would have reacted positively.
  1. I do not think that is true.
  2. “David, don’t be ridiculous–of course that is true!”
  3. Let me explain why I do not think it is true.
    1. We form our conclusion about our hypothetical response by looking back.
    2. We know about the resurrection.
    3. We know about what God had in mind in creating a universal people.
    4. For us, the New Testament has been in existence for centuries, and some of us have know parts of its message as long as we have been alive.
    5. However:
      1. The Israelites could not look back as we do.
      2. The resurrection had not happened.
      3. Consistently, God had worked through nations in the past, and primarily through the nation of Israel for centuries–they had no concept of the church as we understand it.
      4. The New Testament had not yet been written.
    6. In no way was Jesus or his ministry what they expected.
      1. God had never taken action in precisely the way He acted in Jesus.
      2. Sure there were prophets in their past, but there had never been anyone with the unique relationship with God that Jesus had.
      3. Jesus was extremely different, and what he taught about God was radically different–he simply did not fit expectations and what he said was just too different, too extreme to represent God as they knew him.
  4. As much trouble as we have in reacting to change, as reactionary as we are to things that are different, as upset as we get when spiritual things do not meet our personal expectations, I conclude we would have reacted to Jesus and his ministry in the same way they did.
2. Let me clearly state that Moses and Jesus had one clear difference: Jesus always relied on God and put God’s divine will before his human desires.
  1. Whereas Moses had to learn to rely on God and put God’s will in the forefront, Jesus always relied on God and always kept God in the forefront.
  2. Jesus knew what Moses had to learn.
This is the primary point I want you to consider: Jesus’ ministry was precisely what God wanted it to be, totally focused on God, but Jesus’ ministry was not enough!
1. Jesus lived among, worked among, served among, and taught among the people who knew God better than anyone who was alive at that time.
  1. Though they knew God [and in their thinking knew Him well], they did not [as a nation] recognize Jesus as coming from God.
  2. Though they had heard and studied scripture all their lives, they did not [as a nation] recognize that the source of Jesus’ teachings was God.
  3. Though they were certain they understood the correct meaning of scripture [as a people], they did not recognize Jesus’ emphasis as accurately reflecting God’s emphasis.
2. If anyone in the entire world was teachable in the time of Jesus’ ministry, it should have been the people he lived among.
  1. Yet, he performed all kinds of miracles, and that was not enough.
    1. He healed every form of sickness, including the impossible ones–and that was not enough.
    2. He raised the dead–and that was not enough.
    3. He fed many who were hungry–and that was not enough.
    4. He walked on water, stopped a windy storm, and walked away from angry people unharmed–and that was not enough.
  2. He was an unselfish servant of others.
    1. He did not use his power to make money.
    2. He did not use his power to gain prestige.
    3. He did not force people to listen to him or to follow him.
    4. Yet, his unselfishness was not enough.
3. He wanted so desperately to help the people he taught–and he could have.
  1. But they were jealous.
  2. And they were arrogant.
  3. And they were selfish.
  4. He could help, but they would not let him help.

If you have not realized how deeply Jesus wanted to help these people through his ministry, listen to these words spoken by Jesus near the end of his life:
Matthew 23:37-39 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

I am personally convinced that Moses really wanted to help his people, but it was not in Moses power to help. God could help. The power had to come from God.

I am personally convinced that Jesus really wanted to rescue his people during the period of his earthly ministry, but it was not in Jesus’ power to help. God could help. God could do things in Jesus’ death that Jesus’ could not do in his ministry.

I hope that you, as a Christian, want to help people. Let Jesus and Moses teach you a lesson. You are not the answer. The power is not in you. The power is in God. Connect people to God. God is the power and the source of answers–you are not!

“Lord, Help Me Accept What ‘I Cannot Handle'”

Posted by David on under Sermons

For every single one of us in this room and for every single person outside this room, there is at least one thing (and likely many things) that we just cannot handle. Whatever that thing is, we are “handled” by it instead of “handling” it.

For some, that thing is money. For others, it is credit. For others, it is power. For others, it is control. For others, it is popularity. For others, it is pleasure.

For everyone, it is knowledge. May I anticipate the response of many people? “David, that is absolutely ridiculous! Knowledge is basic to existence! Knowledge is highly valued in this culture! We seek to educate all our children because knowledge is important. We stress knowledge on our jobs and careers. We even have Bible classes because we want children and adults to have Bible knowledge.”

I definitely agree that knowledge is basic to existence. I understand the value of an education. I realize how essential knowledge is on jobs and in careers. I totally endorse the pursuit of knowledge in seeking to be a godly person.

Listen to me carefully. I did not say knowledge was unimportant. I said people cannot handle possessing knowledge. The most ungodly problems each of us have are created by what we know.

I challenge you to think about that truth. When are you powerfully tempted to feel superior to someone? Is it not when you know something they do not know? When are you powerfully tempted to “look down” on another person? Is it not when you regard them to be incredibly ignorant? More than money, more than power, more than control, more than popularity, knowledge creates an arrogance that makes self big and important and makes others small and insignificant.

Consider a specific illustration. All I ask you to do is be honest with yourself as you answer to you silently. Do you personally “look down on” many people in the Middle East? If you do, why do you? See if any of these statements sound familiar. “I do not understand how anyone could be a suicide bomber!” “I do not understand how people can hate people so intensely just because of their nationality.” “I do not understand how people can attack jeeps and guns by throwing stones!”

You do not understand those things? “NO!” Why do you not understand those things? “Bottom line, those are stupid acts!” Would you do any of those things? “NO!” Why? “I know better!” So, what you know makes you superior?

Please pray with me: “God, teach us how to have minds and hearts filled with the love that comes from you. In our love for You and others, never let us use our knowledge to destroy those for whom You sacrificed the Jesus.”

Both Christianity and Judaism traces the root of all our personal problems and all the world’s problems to humanity’s inability to handle knowledge.
1. The first book in the Bible makes two bold declarations.
  1. The first temptation was based on the human inability to handle knowledge.
  2. The first act of evil was based on the human inability to handle knowledge.
2. Read with me from Genesis 3:1-10.
  Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
  1. We could spend a lot of time focusing on talking snakes and eating a fruit that provides knowledge–but if we did, I fear we would miss the lessons.
  2. “What lessons?”
    1. In contrast to God, humanity has never been able to “handle” the knowledge of evil.
      1. In contrast to God, the knowledge of evil deceives us–not God, but us.
      2. In contrast to God, the knowledge of evil tempts us–not God, but us.
      3. God can handle the knowledge of evil because He cannot be deceived (Galatians 6:7) or tempted (James 1:13).
    2. Before humanity had the knowledge of evil, there were some basic problems we did not have.
      1. It was the knowledge of evil that produced shame.
      2. It was the knowledge of evil that produced a sense of guilt.
      3. It was the knowledge of evil that produced fear.
      4. How different would your life be if you never felt shame, never knew guilt, and were never afraid?
    3. Nothing good resulted from the human knowledge of evil.
      1. Why?
      2. We could not handle knowing what evil was!
      3. Evil deceives; God does not; and we are easy prey for skillful deception!
  3. The highest form of deception is an addiction.
    1. I am speaking of any form of addiction: to alcohol, to drugs, to sex, to power, to money, to control, to pleasure.
    2. Either an addict denies an addiction, or an addict abandons himself or herself to an addiction.
    3. Basically an addiction is any form of destructive escape–the attempt to flee rather than face or endure.
    4. The addict often becomes a powerful advocate for his or her addiction.
    5. He or she often does so with the words, “If you only knew. . .”
If as a Christian you really doubt the fact that humans cannot handle knowledge, I ask you to consider a couple of statements.
1. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul discussed the most important and enduring qualities of human existence.
  1. He named three: faith, hope, and love.
  2. He declared that the greatest of the three is love, which he discussed in detail.
  3. Would you please note that knowledge was not one of the three.
2. Please read with me as we look at 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.
  Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
  1. For us, nothing is more black and white than idolatry–there is only one God or there is not, and there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
  2. Those who had knowledge and were quite correct in their knowledge knew there was only one God.
    1. They knew that an idol did not represent an existing, living god, and they were correct in their knowledge.
    2. They knew that a sacrifice offered to an idol was offered to nothing, and they were correct in their knowledge.
  3. And Paul said that correct knowledge was the foundation of arrogance.
    1. Knowledge was the foundation of arrogance.
    2. Love built people up.
    3. Paul said if you are going to know something, know the importance of love.
  4. Then Paul said something else that was most strange to the people to whom he wrote and is incredibly strange to us.
    1. Not every Christian knows there is just one God and idols are nothing.
    2. Some Christians know that, but all Christians do not know that.
  5. So Paul said that he would not wound their consciences by eating a food given in sacrifice to a nonexistent god.
    1. “Why, Paul? If you have correct knowledge and they are the victims of ignorance, why would you let their ignorance control your behavior?”
    2. Bottom line: he understood how much God paid in Jesus’ blood for their salvation, and he would not allow knowledge to destroy the saving work of God by destroying someone for whom Christ died.
    3. Love is the ultimate, in God, and in those who follow God.
I want to share a couple of things with you and I have a very specific purpose in my sharing: I want your thoughts to penetrate to the inner core of your being.
1. I want to begin by stating that I take confidences very seriously.
  1. Unless I have permission from the person, I do not even share confidences with my wife.
  2. The first thing I want to share with you I have permission to share.
2. When I returned from vacation, a lady I deeply respect told me that while I was gone she acquired a specific set of knowledge.
  1. I have worked with, encouraged, and tried to help people for decades.
  2. I can assure you that the knowledge she learned would have devastated most Christians.
  3. The knowledge she acquired had the potential of bringing major devastation to her life.
    1. There was zero question about the authenticity of her knowledge.
    2. Her new knowledge was based on unquestionable fact.
  4. But in her situation, her love is greater than her knowledge.
    1. So instead of her new knowledge bringing devastation,
    2. Her love is growing in spite of that knowledge.
3. The greatest challenge that we Christians have is allowing God’s love to become the most powerful influence in our lives.
  1. It is extremely challenging to let God’s love teach us how to love.
  2. In no situation or in no relationship will any of us be as forgiving just one time as God already has forgiven each of us in Christ.
  3. Never will being compassionate to others cost us as much as God’s compassion toward us cost Him–it cost Him the life of his only son WHEN HE COULD HAVE STOPPED IT!

Please do not let this happen to you on judgment day.

Us: “Lord, that Christian who was baptized into Christ was doing something the wrong way–so I stopped him!”

God: “You do realize that I gave Jesus to die for him. Did you love him as much as I do, or did you destroy someone that I sent Jesus to die for?”

1 Corinthians 8:11,12 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

Do not let your spiritual knowledge destroy you–or any one else!

Searching For Peace

Posted by David on September 14, 2003 under Bulletin Articles

Few things are wanted more by individuals than an inner sense of personal peace. Since so many value and want this sense of personal peace, we might decide that it is commonly experienced. With that reasoning, we might conclude that many want it because they see it in others and “want what they see.” Not so!

Few have the peace for which so many search. It is sought in many, many ways: over-involvement, escapes, pleasures, achievements, addictions, isolation, money, resignation, etc. The search for inner peace is common because the vast majority sense this uncommon inner peace can be found and should be experienced. In their search, most people could finish this statement: “I would have genuine peace of mind and heart IF…”

The IF usually focuses on changing a personal situation or condition believed to be the culprit that destroys inner peace. In this conviction, reasoning often proceeds in this manner. “I would have peace IF I were married” (but many of those who are married do not have peace); “IF I were single” (but many who are single do not have peace); “IF I had children” (but many who have children do not have peace); “IF I had no children” (but many who have no children do not have peace); “IF I had money” (but many who have money have no peace); “IF I had less money” (but many who are poor have no peace); “IF I had health” (but many who have health do not have peace); “IF I lived in America” (but many who live in America have no peace); etc.

All of us frequently are reminded that an inner peace of mind and heart are not dependent on things or external conditions. Two realities frequently remind us of this. (1) Many who have the things or are in the external situation we claim is the “key” to peace live with an enormous emptiness. (2) Some who do not have things or “desirable” external situations do find inner peace. Obviously, the “key” to peace is not a matter of having. One may have much and still possess an empty life, and one may not have much but find peace.

This is not irrelevant! A primary objective of God: provide those alive in His son with an inner peace. One way Christians reflect God’s light in a dark world is through reflecting God’s peace in their lives. Why should anyone become Jesus’ disciple if he or she will experience greater guilt, increased anxiety, and a larger inner emptiness? What attracts people to Jesus Christ more than the assurance of genuine peace of mind and heart?

Consider two statements Jesus made to his twelve disciples less than a day before his death. After reading these statements, reflect on your personal concept of inner peace.

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

(John 16:33) These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

« previous home top next »