Do It Right Now, Right Here!

Posted by David on August 10, 2003 under Sermons

What is your dream? If you reach for the stars and grasp them, what will you catch? If you make your greatest ambition in life come true, what would happen? If you could give the person you love the most anything, what would you give them? If you could make one big change in our society, what would you change?

I very much need for you to listen to me in context. What I share with you this morning is not an anti-missions statement. It is not an anti-campus ministry statement. It is not an anti-C.U.R.E. statement. It is not an anti-“touch our world” statement.

I find great personal joy in our activities that reach out to other nations and other cultures. I find great personal joy in the potential of a campus ministry work. I find great personal joy in the many things resulting from C.U.R.E.’s outreach. I think it is good to stimulate all of us to dream, to think, to hope.

But sometimes we are content to do little but dream. Sometimes we think that if we dream big dreams, right here and now does not matter. Sometimes we think if we have wonderful desires that come from big dreams, that is all that matters. When that happens, we are deceived. We think we can impress God if we do something big, something important. We are deceived because we think that what impresses humans impresses God.

I surely urge you to dream big dreams for God and for God’s purposes, but I urge you to begin those dreams doing what you can do in your life right now, right here.

Jesus stressed the importance of serving God in the “right now” moment of life with what we have.
1. Jesus’ ministry was conducted in a very poor nation, and most of it was conducted among very poor people.
  1. Most of us are impressed with physical things that affect lifestyle, so let me challenge you to visualize Jesus’ world in terms real to us that illustrate the poverty of that time.
    1. Among the majority that lived in Palestine, many things did not exist that you and I take for granted.
    2. There was no electricity, not street lights, no electric or gas stoves, no refrigerators, no magazines, no newspapers, no pictures, no mail service, no grocery stores, no theaters, no malls, no gas powered vehicles.
    3. There was no indoor plumbing, no indoor running water, no sinks with hot water, no showers, no bath tubs.
    4. I do not want to be gross and I am not trying to offend anyone, but I want you to realize how crude you would regard their lives–there were no feminine hygiene products of any kind, no toilet paper, no flush commodes, no under arm deodorant, no gel foam shaving cream, no tooth brushes as we have them, no tooth paste, no anti-fungal medicines, no odor eater inserts for shoes, no nail clippers, no watches, no eye glasses, no hearing aids, and none of our specialized medications.
    5. Get the picture?
  2. If you “get the picture,” I want you to listen to some statements Jesus made and place those statements in the context of the situation.
    1. The first is a statement he made to his disciples in Matthew 10:40-42.
      “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
    2. Jesus made a very similar statement to his disciples in Mark 9:38-41.
      John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”
  3. Here is my understanding of Jesus’ statement to his disciples as they participated with him in his ministry among very poor people.
    1. “Do not dream of grandeur.”
    2. “Do not focus on what wealthy people will do for you.”
    3. “Do not think in terms of position and or being part of ‘the power crowd.'”
  4. “Why should I not think from those perspectives, Jesus?”
    1. “Because those are not the things that impress God.”
    2. “God is not impressed because people say, “He/she is really important. Look at who he/she is! Look at where he/she is!” That does not impress God!
    3. “God is not impressed with wealth or the lifestyle that wealth provides.”
    4. “God is not impressed with human power”
  5. “Well, what is God impressed with?”
    1. “God is impressed with the person who demonstrates his or her faith in Him by doing what he/she can with what they have at that moment.”
    2. “If they are so poor, so powerless that all they have is a cup of cold water to give a thirsty person, God notices–and does not forget!”
2. Did his disciples get Jesus’ point? Did they understand God’s priorities? No.
  1. There are a lot of ways to illustrate that they did not “get it.”
    1. The disciples argued all the time about which one of them was the most important.
    2. They dreamed of Jesus becoming King of Palestine so they could be his administrators as he ruled–they did not want Jesus to go back to Lazarus’ sisters near Jerusalem because they were sure the authorities would kill Jesus.
    3. Even the last night prior to Jesus’ betrayal, they would not wash each others’ feet–assuming such a lowly position doing such a distasteful task was not a very impressive deed to put on your resume for administrator!
  2. Sure, they heard Jesus tell them over and over that the greatest in the kingdom was the person who served everybody, but that was for others–not for them!
Allow me to illustrate the “cup of cold water principle” in two ways from scripture.
1. The shortest of all Paul’s writings in the New Testament is his letter to Philemon.
  1. Background:
    1. In the original, this letter had less than 150 words in it.
    2. It has no doctrine in it as most people understand doctrine.
    3. It has no theology in it as most people understand theology.
    4. In fact, a number of people even wonder why it was included in the New Testament–when was the last time you studied Philemon?
  2. To me, it serves one purpose powerfully–it illustrates the cup of cold water principle.
2. It is about a man named Onesimus who was a slave and Philemon, his master.
  1. At first Onesimus was not a Christian; his owner, Philemon, was.
  2. In some way Onesimus the slave really irritated Philemon his Christian owner–in some way the slave seriously failed the master.
    1. There is some evidence that Onesimus went all the way to Rome to ask Paul to intercede in his behalf–to do so was not regarded by Roman law as running away.
    2. While he was with Paul, Paul converted him to Jesus Christ.
    3. Then Paul wrote him a letter of intercession which he carried back to Philemon.
  3. There are many worthwhile lessons in this short letter, but I want to call your attention to just one thing.
    1. There was a congregation of Christians meeting in Philemon’s home.
    2. Paul obviously had a special relationship with Philemon.
    3. He wrote in verse 5, “Even in jail I hear about your reputation for love and for faith in Christ and Christians.”
    4. Verse 9–“On the basis of love, not authority, I make an appeal to you.”
    5. Verses 10-16–“Use your love as a Christian to receive Onesimus back as more than a slave, as a Christian brother, and treat him like a brother instead of a slave who irritated you.”
  4. I have no doubt that Philemon, as a prosperous man, could do a lot of things.
    1. Paul did not ask Philemon to use his power.
    2. He did not ask him to use his prestige.
    3. He did not ask him to do something that society would think was a huge thing.
    4. He asked him to love and forgive a slave–for a cup of cold water.
    5. “Philemon, you are a man of love–just open your heart to Onesimus as a Christian.”
3. The second illustration comes from a parable Jesus told not long before his death (Matthew 25:31-46).
  1. He spoke about the judgment (and his audience likely thought, “That’s good!”)
  2. He spoke about the separation at judgment (and his audience likely thought, “That’s good!”)
  3. Then he talked about the basis of separation (and the subject quickly became controversial).
    1. “I was hungry and you fed me.”
    2. “I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.”
    3. “I was a stranger and you let me stay with you.”
    4. “I did not have any clothes to wear and you clothed me.”
    5. “I was sick and you came to see me.”
    6. “I was in prison and you did not desert me.”
  4. Just one thing to note: they did what they could when need arose.
  5. When asked when all this happened, Jesus said, “To the extent you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me (25:40).
Allow me to get very personal with each of us for a moment.
1. What are your spiritual plans for the next several months?
  1. “David, I plan to do something big for God in the next few months.”
    1. Good! I hope you succeed!
    2. How are you serving God right now?
  2. “David, I plan to go to Guyana next summer.”
    1. Good! I hope you can go and help a lot of people!
    2. How are you serving God right now?
  3. “David, I plan to go to the City of Children next summer.”
    1. Good! I hope you go and are a powerful blessing there.
    2. How are you serving God right now?
2. It is easier to plan to do great things for God “way out there” and “way off” than it is to serve God’s purposes right here in my life right now.
  1. Kids, how for God are you showing your parents love and respect right now?
  2. Parents, how for God are you showing your kids love and respect right now?
  3. Husbands, how for God are you showing your wife love and respect right now?
  4. Wives, how for God are you showing your husband love and respect right now?
  5. Step children, how for God are you showing your step parents love and respect right now.
  6. Step parents, how for God are you showing your step children love and respect right now.
3. An observation: it is a whole lot easier to show God’s love and your love for people “way out there” that you do not know than it is to show God’s love to people right here that you do know.
  1. If we are going to let God shine in our lives, we start by letting God influence our lives right here right now with people who are part of our lives.
  2. If all you have to help those people is a cup of cold water, give the thirsty a cup of water.

If we are going to declare to the world how God has changed our lives, nowhere should it be more obvious than in the way we love and respect the people closest to us.

August, Frantic August!

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

How can August appropriately be described? Oh, yes, indeed! August needs describing! We might accurately describe it as HOT. Everything (including us!) wilts in the hot August heat. It is hard to water flowers enough to keep them from withering or turning brown. And my yard? Don’t ask my neighbors! As a good friend says, “Brown is a color, too!” People start looking forward to Fall’s cooler days. In August, not having the benefit of air conditioning is not an option!

We might accurately describe August as FRANTIC. School starts this month–a “marker” moment! July was VBS. June was mission trips. From mid-May to July 31 were countless efforts. Summer’s sports camps and special program activities are at an end (unless you are in a tournament). Football practice is in full swing. Days are obviously shorter as summer break nears its end. So, when August 1 arrives, those with children in school have only 18 days to make summer’s final trips. The rush is on! The “code word” every weekend is scatter, and do it quickly!

We might accurately describe August as EXPENSIVE. School clothes! School supplies! School fees! Tuition! By August 1, it seems a huge “wallet vacuum cleaner” turns on to hasten the too rapid outward cash flow.

For me, August is a difficult month. It is difficult to “begin” anything. It is difficult to maintain any sense of continuity. The “stress and strain” are obvious. “Where did the summer go?” “I cannot believe my child is (a) starting to school; (b) is in X grade; (c) is leaving home.” “I thought our problems and struggles would be better by the end of summer.” “Time passes too quickly!” In many ways, August is a “marker month.” It reminds us of realities we rather not consider.

Though many “August reminders of change” exist, some things are changeless. Among them are: (1) Our need to be children of the holy God; (2) Our need to make faith and faithfulness to our Lord and Savior a life priority; (3) Our need to fill our lives with God’s presence so we can be His light in a dark world; (4) Our need to continue our journey to eternity; (5) Our need to hunger and thirst for righteousness; (6) Our dependence on God’s mercy and forgiveness.

1 Peter 1:13-19 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

God’s Chosen, part 1

Posted by David on August 3, 2003 under Sermons

This evening I want us to look at a biblical teaching that we too often ignore. We often ignore it because we find the subject confusing. As we look at this subject, instead of running in different directions and reacting to today’s concerns, I want us to note what scripture says.

In any serious study of any biblical concept, the beginning point must always be the same. A student must always open his or her mind and allow God to teach us His perspective and position on the topic. We must never begin with “what I believe” or “what other people believe.” We always must begin with “what has God revealed.” To come to an accurate understanding of what God has revealed, we must always study in context.

Most of us agree generally with that perspective if what God has revealed and what we always have been taught are in agreement. For example, if the subject is baptism, most of us would say, “That is exactly what everyone should do! Let’s just go back to the text and see what God says. Let’s listen to God’s spokesmen in scripture before we form personal conclusions.”

However, we get very nervous if two situations are true. If (a) our ignorance on the subject places us in “the dark” regarding God’s revelation or if (b) the position I believe and trust does not agree with all that God has revealed on the subject, we tend to get extremely nervous.

For example, if we discuss God’s choosing or election, many of us get quite nervous. While many of us can give people a comprehensive biblical perspective on baptism, many of us are unlikely to give people a comprehensive biblical perspective on election.

In regard to such subjects, we are more likely to begin by (a) declaring what we regard to be the “correct” position, or (b) declaring what we believe, or (c) forcing statements in scripture to agree with our conclusion.

Scripture clearly states that God always has “chosen” after sin became reality in our world and human lives. A lot of questions immediately arise. What did God’s choosing mean in the past? What does God’s choosing mean today? On what basis did God’s choosing occur?

This evening I want to make one point and from that one point make one observation.
1. The point: God always has been a God who chooses.
  1. That is God’s nature.
  2. That is the way God functions.
  3. He chooses the type of people He will establish a relationship with and will nurture in that relationship.
2. The observation: the fact that God chooses does not mean the chosen can manipulate or exploit God.
  1. It is too easy for the chosen to feel “special,” “unique,” or “privileged.”
  2. When the chosen feel this privileged status, they try to exploit God by exploiting the fact they were chosen.
  3. It is too easy for the chosen to feel like they are judges instead of slaves.
I want to begin by calling your attention to the fact that God has always chosen.
1. I want to begin at a point that you might disagree with, but it is okay for you to disagree as long as you think about the full revelation of scripture: I want to begin with Cain and Abel.
  1. Most of you know that in Genesis 4 Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God.
    1. Let me share with you the interpretation of those offerings that I heard and likely taught for years.
    2. First part of the Interpretation: God told Cain and Abel what to offer.
    3. Second part of the interpretation: Abel obeyed God and offered the correct sacrifice, and Cain disobeyed God and knowingly offered the wrong sacrifice.
    4. Third part of the interpretation: if Cain had just offered the right sacrifice, everything would have been okay.
    5. Fourth part of the interpretation: because Cain did not offer the right sacrifice, he sinned.
    6. At this point in my understanding, I do not agree with that interpretation of the Bible’s revelation of what happened.
  2. “Why do you not agree with that approach?”
    1. The basis of the problem did not lie in the form of the sacrifice, but in Cain’s attitude.
      1. If Cain had offered the same thing in sacrifice in the same way that Abel offered his sacrifice, but Cain gave that offering in the same attitude and heart, Cain’s offering still would have been unacceptable.
      2. The basic problem was a heart issue, not a form issue.
  3. Consider a scripture containing two statements, and note that God Himself made both statements after Cain offered his sacrifice.
    1. When God “had no regard” for Cain’s offering, Cain was angry and depressed (Genesis 4:5).
      1. God asked Cain why he had that reaction (Genesis 4:6).
      2. God then said:
        Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.
    2. Here is what I call to your attention.
      1. God is not filled with rage and wrath because He is offended by Cain’s offering.
      2. In fact, God asks Cain why he is reacting as he does–Cain is the one offended and upset, not God.
      3. In fact, God does not accuse Cain of being sinful, but cautions him against sinfulness.
      4. Sin is crouching at Cain’s door; it has not entered Cain’s door.
      5. Sin has a desire for Cain–the issue is not that it has devoured him; the issue is this: will Cain yield to sin’s desire?
      6. Cain has a responsibility: he must master sin instead of allowing sin to master him.
  4. I call two things to your attention:
    1. The first thing: Cain’s problem was produced by the fact that Cain was a very selfish, self-centered person who refused to accept any responsibility.
    2. The second thing: God chose.
2. The second illustration I call to your attention is Noah in Genesis 6.
  1. In Genesis 6:5-7 the writer made this statement.
    Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
    1. People had become totally corrupt, totally opposite what God made them when He created them in His own image, His own likeness.
    2. People exercised their choice to become something God never intended them to be.
    3. When God saw people were totally in the image of evil instead of any part of them being in His image, He was grieved and regretful.
  2. Now note what Genesis 6:8,9 stated:
    But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
    1. I understand this to be a comparative statement, not a declaration that Noah was not a sinful person (except for the physical Jesus, no knowledgeable adult has ever existed as a sinless person).
    2. Noah found favor with God, not Noah deserved God’s recognition.
    3. Noah was a righteous man (just instead of violent in his treatment of others), blameless (a man who had some sense of integrity in that age), “walked with God” (had a lifestyle that would listen to God when God spoke to him–which it seems no one else would do).
  3. The point I want you to see is quite clear: God chose.
3. The third illustration I want you to consider is Old Testament Israel.
  1. I would like to begin by calling your attention to several scriptures.
    Deuteronomy 7:5-8 But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
    Deuteronomy 14:1,2 “You are the sons of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
    1 Chronicles 16:12,13 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
    Psalm 105:5,6 Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
  2. God clearly chose Israel and blessed them because they were the chosen.
  3. However, God did not choose them because they were outstanding or superior to everyone else who lived.
    Deuteronomy 7:7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
    Deuteronomy 9:4-6 Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.
4. Pay careful attention to what were and were not God’s reasons for choosing them to be His people, releasing them from slavery, and giving them Canaan.
  1. It was not because:
    1. They were a huge nation.
    2. They were righteous.
    3. They were “upright of heart.”
  2. It was because:
    1. The nations in Canaan were wicked beyond God’s ability to tolerate wickedness.
    2. God made a promise to their ancestors, and God keeps His promises.
    3. They did not deserve what God was doing; God loved them in spite of their unrighteousness and stubbornness.
5. This is the part of God’s choosing we do not like, do not understand, and do not like to think about.
  1. Moses told the second generation of Israelites that left slavery that God’s love for them and choosing them had nothing to do with them.
  2. It was no commentary on their goodness.
  3. It was no commentary on their deservedness.
  4. It was certainly no commentary on the fact that they were “special.”
  5. It was a commentary on God’s trustworthiness and nature.
    1. God keeps His promises!
    2. If that means loving a stubborn people, He will love a stubborn people!

Therein lies our struggle and our downfall. We think God’s choice means that in some unique way “I am special.” God says, “My choice of you does not have to do with the fact that you are ‘special,’ but the fact that I am ‘special.’ So be thankful, not arrogant!”

Parenting: An Exhausting Challenge

Posted by David on under Sermons

All of us know what we individually classify as being a difficult struggle in life. Hopefully, everyone in the auditorium this morning was handed a sheet of paper. First, I want you to listen very carefully to my encouragement. (1) You will not be asked to turn anything in. [I do ask you to take your paper with you when you leave.] (2) You will not be asked to share what you write on the paper with anyone. You are only speaking to yourself when you write.

“Okay, David. I understand. I have ‘got it.’ So what do you want me to write to myself on the paper?”

What I want you to write down is the answer to just one question: what do you regard to be life’s greatest struggle for the majority of people? You might answer with one word. You might answer with a short sentence. You might answer with a long sentence. [I doubt you will answer with a paragraph!] The wonderful thing: there are no wrong answers!

For the majority of people in our society, what do you think is people’s greatest struggle? By greatest, I mean hardest, or most difficult, or most challenging, or most complicated, or most demanding.

Have you written something down? Good! Now immediately under what you wrote down, I want you to write one word: parenting. Does what you wrote down naturally “fit” some part of parenting as a struggle?

Let me make some observations about being a parent.
1. Once you become a parent, you are a parent until you die.
  1. When you have a preschool child, you are a nurturing parent.
  2. When your child starts to school and is in school for those first years, you are a guiding/teaching parent.
  3. When your child enters adolescents, your are a terrified parent.
  4. When your child goes to college, you are a hopeful parent.
  5. When your child begins independent adult life, you are a concerned parent, and you never stop being a concerned parent.
2. At each stage of your child’s life, the struggle constantly changes, but it is always there.
  1. When your child is a preschooler, at some point of personal weariness, you will say:
    1. “I will be so glad when my child no longer needs diapers!”
    2. “I will be so glad when my child can tie his or her shoes!”
    3. “I will be so glad when my child can dress himself or herself!”
  2. When your child begins his or her early years of school, at some point you will worry about:
    1. Him or her learning what he or she should.
    2. Him or her NOT learning things he or she should not learn.
    3. Personal development.
    4. His or her interaction with other children.
  3. In adolescence, at some point you will be deeply concerned about:
    1. Your child’s values.
    2. Your child’s priorities.
    3. Your child’s sense of responsibility.
    4. Your child’s choices.
  4. When your child leaves home for college or some type of training:
    1. You will wonder about how they will handle being completely free.
    2. You wonder if they understand the consequences of choices.
    3. You wonder if they will play all the time.
    4. You wonder who will “keep them on track” since you are not there.
  5. Then when your child begins adult life, you are concerned.
    1. You are concerned about how much debt they acquire.
    2. You are concerned about the choices they make that will affect them morally.
    3. You are concerned because you either know too much or too little.
    4. You always want to help, to “be there for them,” but you dread requests that you cannot fill.
3. In the entire process, you always want to do what is best for your child.
  1. That does not mean your always know what is best for the child.
  2. That does not mean that what you decide to do is always best for the child.
  3. It just means that is what you want.
God has children, too, and hopefully you are one of them.
1. There are some similarities in God being our Father.
  1. He loves us.
  2. In that love, He can be extremely kind.
  3. He KNOWS when we are making bad choices that will produce horrible consequences.
2. Consider a statement made in Hebrews 12.
  Hebrews 12:4-11 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
  1. The context:
    1. Those to whom this statement was written were enduring some really tough times.
    2. Consider some of the past struggles these Christians endured.
      Hebrews 10:32-34 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
  2. Did you hear all the things that happened to them before the writer sent them this message?
    1. They were made a public spectacle by verbal and physical abuse.
    2. They were not ashamed of Christians who received the same abuse.
    3. They were not ashamed of Christians who were put in jail.
    4. When their property was confiscated because they were Christians, they accepted the confiscation with joy.
  3. I do not know what happened, but something happened that was just too much.
    1. Whatever happened, they blamed Jesus Christ.
    2. They decided that if they left Jesus Christ, the suffering would stop.
    3. Throughout the entire book, the author is explaining to them why they must not do that.
One of the last challenges he gave them was this: understand God’s discipline.
1. “Wait a minute. You mean that God practices discipline?” Discipline, yes. Abuse, no.
  1. “Are you sure that God practices discipline?”
  2. Yes, I am sure–for two reasons.
    1. If a parent loves his or her children, love demands that the parent discipline the children because the parent’s love cares.
    2. We have a lot of lessons we need to learn for our own good, and we will not learn some of those lessons unless we are disciplined.
2. Is that not the same reason that you discipline your children?
  1. Please note that I said discipline, not abuse.
  2. As parents, why do you discipline your children?
    1. Because you love them.
    2. Because you want to teach them lessons they need to learn.
3. God’s our parent! We commonly call Him our Father! We are supposed to look to Him as our Father!
  1. He knows when we are making horrible choices.
  2. He knows when we are following awful values.
  3. He knows when the consequences will be terrible.
  4. He knows when we are going in the wrong direction.
  5. And He cares! He always has cared about His children!
4. If you doubt how deeply He cares, consider this illustration.
  1. When Moses explained the wilderness experience that lasted 40 years to the second generation Israelites, he made this statement:
    Deuteronomy 8:5 Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
  2. Israel had a lesson they desperately needed to learn if God was going to be able to help them: they desperately needed to trust God first.
    1. They did not learn that lesson from the ten plagues in Egypt.
    2. They did not learn that lesson from the exodus from Egypt.
    3. They did not learn that lesson at Mount Sinai.
    4. God tried to teach them to trust Him, but they did not learn to trust Him–they had so much idolatry in them they would not learn what they needed to learn.
  3. They left a caring God no choice.
    1. The only hope they had of learning the lesson they desperately needed to learn was discipline.
    2. So God used the discipline of 40 years in the wilderness to seek to teach them.
The writer of Hebrews declared that his recipients of his message should understand divine discipline because they understood basic truths about fathers disciplining their sons.
1. The truths:
  1. God disciplines, and His discipline is not to be considered insignificant.
  2. God disciplines because He loves–the absence of discipline is the absence of love.
  3. The purpose of God’s discipline is to produce endurance and respect that are essential to life.
  4. God without fail disciplines us for our good.
  5. At the time of discipline, it hurts, but the results produce the joy of appreciation.
2. What do you want God to do when He knows that as a Christian you are making a horrible choice or a terrible mistake?
  1. Do you want God to ignore the situation and let you do as you please to your own hurt and destruction?
  2. Do you want God to stand by and let you destroy yourself?
  3. Do you want God to lie to you [He won’t!] and make you think everything is fine when it isn’t?
  4. Do you want God to ignore you and just let whatever happens happen?
3. To these very same people, the writer wrote:
  Hebrews 10:29-31 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Those who have been saved by God’s grace will be judged by the way they live as God’s chosen, God’s redeemed. When that moment comes [and it will come for all of us!], will you thank God or curse God for His discipline? I want God to do anything necessary to help me be His person!

What An Encouragement!

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

At times the world surrounds us with discouraging happenings. Death of a loved one, incurable disease, loss of job, bankruptcy, divorce, unfaithfulness, injustices, acts of war, acts of terrorism, international intrigue, inhumanity, and such like things scream at us daily. As alarm clocks ring, many “steel” themselves for the day with this thought: “If things can go wrong today, they will.” Unfortunately, we are conditioned to expect bad things. It is as though our world exists in the “desert of bad happenings.”

Suddenly, an oasis appears with its water of life bringing hope and relief. An incredible vacation Bible school is fashioned by the volunteer efforts of countless adults. Volunteers serve in an education program that constantly evaluates the spiritual needs of students. A growing Hispanic outreach celebrates its first year of existence with joy and interaction. An inner city outreach touches lives that a few years ago were regarded unreachable. A new opportunity to begin a campus ministry work arises with the potential of touching many lives. Ministries to evangelistic and medical needs are directed to several places in our world. The widows and elderly are served. Those in need are fed. Transportation to worship is provided. Quilts are made for gifts. Projectionists illustrate sermons. Tapes are reproduced and mailed. Short term mission trips occur. Congregational fellowships are monthly occasions. Small groups gather. Elders seek “feedback” from the congregation. Men and women in jail are taught. Individuals quietly respond to needs they see with a fervent desire to extend hope.

Why? Why does all this happen? Does someone force all these people to be involved? Is there some “bribe,” some “coercion,” some “guilting” that masterfully manipulates? No. Those so moved seek citizenship in a world where they belong–and this world is not that place. They see God’s goodness and the grace He lavishes upon us in Jesus Christ. This water of life is not produced through human accomplishments, but through the divine love that revealed God’s seriousness in Jesus’ redemptive, atoning blood. They serve Christ the Lord to the glory of God the Father. They are His children.

“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12)

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. … We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14)

Christ In Us — Our Hope!

Posted by David on July 27, 2003 under Sermons

What impressed you about our world this week? Your spent an entire week living in this world. I doubt that you spent seven days wearing a blind fold. I doubt you spent seven days wearing ear plugs. I doubt you spent the entire seven days interacting with people who make you feel good. So, what are your impressions from this week?

If your response is, “That depends,” I understand. For some it was not a typical seven days. Because of circumstances, some had their time consumed by situations that do not ordinarily consume their week. Some in those special circumstances were impressed by kindness, thoughtfulness, and love. Some in those special circumstances were impressed by grief, pain, and hopelessness.

Others who did have a typical week were impressed with a mixture of things. At moments they were impressed with some very good, encouraging happenings. At moments they were impressed with the rottenness of this world.

“Well, David, what about you? You lived in this world the last seven days, too. What impressed you about this week?” For me, it was a fairly typical week. In a typical week, usually several different things happen in my thinking and my seeing.

It is fairly common for me to stand in awe of God’s mercy and love. That is not a commentary on others, but on me. I have a sense of who I am and am not. I know how I struggle. I know how easily my weakness trip me up. When I see God’s goodness, I know the only goodness in me are the bits and pieces that feebly reflect God’s presence. And I marvel that God could be so patient with me. And I marvel that God could find any reason to even want me.
It is fairly common for me to be touched by the many kindness I see. Christians constantly amaze me with their ability to care, be kind, and love unselfishly.
It is fairly common for me to be distressed by evil. There is so much pain in people’s lives, so much hate in our world, so much violence because people despise people. This world can be a ugly place controlled by the acts of godless, selfish people.
It is fairly common for me to feel a sense of challenge in all the opportunities I see. There is so much need, so much potential, so many ways to show people that there is a way to live that does not involve hate, resentment, or causing suffering.

Let me go to the heart of the matter: evil in this world attacks physical existence.
1. This world has been a place of fear in every generation as far back as there has been recorded history.
  1. The fears have not changed, and I do not think the fears will ever change.
    1. The economic fear–“I won’t have enough to take care of my needs!”
    2. The disease fear–“Sickness will control my life!”
    3. The abandonment fear–“I will have to face a hostile world alone!”
    4. The death fear–“I will die!”
  2. There has never been a time when these fears did not exist prominently.
    1. Poverty has always been a reality.
    2. Sickness has always been a reality.
    3. Loneliness has always been a reality.
    4. Dying has always been a reality.
  3. There will never be a period in this physical world when there is no poverty, no sickness, no abandonment, no dying.
    1. No matter what lifestyle some people attain, those fears will be a daily reality for most people who live in our world.
    2. There always have been “the have and have nots.”
    3. There always will be “the have and have nots.”
    4. The purpose of life involves more than becoming a “have” or avoiding the existence of a “have not.”
2. Your initial reaction may be, “David, that is crazy!” but consider some realities.
  1. On January 8, 1964 in a State of The Union address President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty in this country.
    1. Almost forty years later does this nation still have people struggling in poverty?
    2. I am impressed with the fact that we have proven that poverty is a very complex reality.
    3. You and I know the fear of poverty is a very real fear–right now!
  2. This nation has made incredible medical advancements in the past fifty years.
    1. I find it equally incredible to note the prominent new diseases of today that we had never heard of fifty years ago.
    2. With today’s astounding medical treatments, can you afford them?
    3. Just in this country, does everyone who has genuine need for these medical procedures have access to them?
    4. You and I know the fear of disease is a very real fear–right now!
  3. There are an enormous number of people in this society who deal with abandonment issues–and they include children and elderly people.
    1. Do you know anyone who struggles with a feeling of abandonment?
    2. Do you know anyone who just cannot escape that feeling?
    3. You and I know the fear of being abandoned is a very real fear–right now!
  4. The fear of death is universal.
    1. Accidents cause death.
    2. Violence causes death.
    3. Greed cause death.
    4. War causes death.
    5. Poverty, disease, and abandonment cause death.
    6. Time causes death.
    7. Nobody, absolutely nobody, beats death.
    8. You and I know the fear of death is a very real fear–right now!
People who accepted the challenge to be Christians after Jesus’ death and resurrection confronted bigger fears and struggles than we face.
1. In no way is that an attempt to minimize our fears and struggles.
  1. Our problems and struggles are quite real.
  2. I just want us to realize that there have been many people in many ages who faced greater demands than we face.
2. In every age, people make the same religious mistakes.
  1. In the first century world, commonly people were convinced that there was a religious key to being a person to whom God gave His approval.
    1. They even declared what the key was.
    2. Some said the key was having the right lineage–a person had to be a physical descendant of Abraham through Isaac.
    3. Some said the key was proper religious rites–doing the right thing in the right way (even if you had no understanding of what you did) was the key to gaining God’s approval.
    4. Some said self-denial was key to gaining God’s approval (so make yourself suffer physically for religious reasons).
    5. Some said becoming a fanatic for God was the key to gaining God’s approval–just do weird things for religious reasons.
  2. Paul said there is a key, but none of those are that key.
    1. “Well, Paul, if none of those are the key, what is the key?”
    2. Paul told the Christians at Colossae in Colossians 1:27 this was the key: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
3. I want to illustrate what Paul meant by “Christ in you, the hope of glory” in these ways.
  1. First, in your mind look at a sheet of paper with “Satan,” “God,” and “humans” on the sheet.
    1. “Satan” is on the lower left hand corner of the sheet.
    2. “God” is on the upper right hand corner of the sheet.
    3. “Humans” are in the middle of the sheet with a pull in both directions being exerted on them.
  2. Second, in your mind look at that same sheet of paper, but this time have a continuous line (arrow) drawn from “Satan” to “God.”
    1. Basically Paul told those Christians at Colossae that God was unconcerned where you were on the line.
    2. God’s basic concern was this: which direction are you going? Are you moving toward God or are you moving toward Satan? Are you deliberately becoming more evil in your life, or are you reflecting more and more of God’s goodness in your life?
  3. If you really think about these two illustrations, there is a basic problem.
    1. It is easy for humans to move in the direction of Satan–it is really simple to do evil.
    2. It is hard for humans to move in the direction of God–doing God’s good when you are surrounded by evil is hard.
    3. If it were as easy to move toward God than it is to move toward Satan, there would be many more good people in the world.
    4. People, of themselves, of their own strength, of their own doing have a hard time moving toward God. Let me illustrate this fact in several ways.
      1. It is easier to be a racist than it is to care about people not like me.
      2. It is easier to hate the poor because some of them abuse the system than it is to care about the poor.
      3. It is easier to resent stealing, or adultery, or sexual perversion, or addiction to pornography, or alcoholism, or substance abuse than it is to care, be helpful, and extend forgiveness to such people.
      4. It is easier to ignore the divorced person, the jobless person, the mean person, the insecure person, the abandoned person, the defeated person than it is to care about and help such people.
    5. It is surely easier to live with any problem in my lifestyle than it is to change my life style.
    6. So where does the power to change come from? Where do we find the power to move closer to God? Is it just up to us and our human strength?
      1. Paul said, “No, it is not just up to human strength.”
      2. Paul said the source of your power as a Christian is this, “Christ in you.”
      3. I must move toward God, but I find the strength to move toward God in Jesus Christ.
I want us to read together Paul’s statement to these people, the Colossian Christians.
1. As we read, I want you to notice something–see it, pay attention to it, note it.
  1. “What? What is so important that I should pay that much attention to it?”
  2. Note the two things:
    1. Note what it means for Christ to be in a person.
    2. Note that Christ is the power source.
2. The reading:
  Colossians 3:1-17 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him– a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

We belong to a Savior who was resurrected from the dead. God says to us, “If I can raise that Savior from the dead, I can use him to lead you to me.”

So I ask you, which direction are you moving? Toward God? Do you know the impossible frustration of trying alone, or do you let Christ live in you and provide the strength?

“Change? Me Change? In What Ways?”

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

Virtually all the Christians receiving Paul’s letters in our New Testament were first generation Christians. What does that mean? They did not grow up in Christian homes with Christian fathers and mothers. They were the first Christians in their families.

In Jewish families, Christian ethics and morality were quite familiar. [Ethics concern principles for determining right and wrong. Morality applies the principles to lifestyle behavior.] Old Testament Judaism and New Testament Christianity agreed God must be reverenced and people must be treated properly. For the devout Jewish adult, the big issue did not involve basic questions of Jewish/Christian ethics or morality. The big issue involved Jesus’ identity. Was Jesus God’s promised Messiah, the Christ?

For people who grew up in pagan families, it was quite a different matter. Often idolatrous ethics and morality seriously contrasted with Christian ethics and morality. Among pagan people there was a genuine clash with Christianity (a) about right and wrong and (b) about lifestyles [behavior]. For many idol worshippers, becoming a Christian involved major lifestyle changes [not minor lifestyle adjustments!].

Paul’s letters to congregations primarily were to pagan people. Since the resurrected Jesus gave Paul a ministry to non-Jews (Acts 9:15, 16; Galatians 2:8-10), that is understandable. Paul had the God-given mission of reconciling people to God who did not know God.

A common method Paul used to show pagan converts the distinction between the lifestyle of a person who does not know God and the lifestyle of a person who belongs to God can be called the “before and after” method. What is that? Paul often said, “This is who you were and how you lived before you were Christians. This is who you are and how you must live as Christians.”

Consider Ephesians 4:17-32. This is a statement of “you do not live as you used to live, but you now live as people who belong to God”–a clear “before and after” statement.

Some of the pagan “baggage” they injected into Christian lifestyle was lying, anger, stealing, anti-godly speech, bad attitudes, and hate (Ephesians 4:25-32). This lifestyle could not continue. These practices must be replaced with truth, concern for people, helping those in need, encouragement, kindness, and forgiveness. Their new role model for godly lifestyle and Christian behavior: God as reflected in Jesus.

What a change! What power this change involved! Where can this “power to change lifestyles” be found? In God! God always has been the power source for godly lifestyle changes–even for us! How well does your behavior model Paul’s “before and after”?

When God Listens To Prayer

Posted by David on July 20, 2003 under Sermons

It is so simple to misrepresent God. It is so easy to substitute our concerns for God’s concerns. It is so simple to defend our conclusion instead of learning more about God’s nature and purposes.

As always on Sunday evenings, we will look at scripture and let the text speak to us. May God help us have open minds and soft hearts so we all listen to scripture instead of listening to our past conditioning. May we all let God direct our thinking instead of past sincere convictions directing our thinking.

As we study directly from the text, we will study from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. First, we will examine 1 Kings 8 by looking at Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the new temple he built. Then we will look in John 9 at the healing of the man born blind.

Please open your Bibles to 1 Kings 8 and note some specifics about Solomon’s prayer of dedication.
1. Context:
  1. The building of the first Jewish temple was completed and the ark of the covenant was placed in the holy of holies by the priests and Levites (1 Kings 8:4).
  2. It was a time of festival so a pilgrimage to Jerusalem was made to keep a national holy feast. The result: the men of Israel were in the city (1 Kings 8:2).
  3. Solomon assembled the nation’s elders, the leaders of tribes, and the leaders of families (clans) for the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:1).
  4. When the transfer from King David’s holy tent to temple was complete, a cloud filled the temple: the cloud represented the glory of God [this was God’s act of acceptance of the temple] (1 Kings 8:10,11).
  5. First, Solomon faced the temple and pronounced a blessing upon the structure (1 Kings 8:12,13).
  6. Second, Solomon faced the assembly and pronounced an blessing on the Lord (1 Kings 8:14,15).
  7. Solomon’s prayer of dedication began in 1 Kings 8:22.
2. There are some specific things I ask you to notice.
  1. First, Solomon declares the primary function of the temple to be a place of prayer. [Does that increase understanding of Jesus’ anger in Mark 12:15-18 when he said God’s house was a house of prayer, but they made it a den of robbers?]
    1. Solomon stands before the Lord with his hands spread toward heaven.
    2. He asks God to hear Israel’s prayers and forgive them when they pray toward that place (1 Kings 8:30).
  2. Second, I want you to notice the limitations of the first temple.
    1. Verse 27–it is inadequate to contain God.
    2. Verse 30–while the presence of God is in this temple, God’s place to live is in heaven.
    3. However, even with its limitations, listen to the prayers that are directed toward this place.
  3. Third, I want you to notice the request to hear prayers included people who were not Israelites. Note verses 1 Kings 8:41-43:
    Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.
    1. Note the reason the person who is not Jewish has come is for the sake of God’s great name.
    2. Note the reason that God is asked to answer the prayer is to cause others to understand God’s name is great–it is primarily about advancing or spreading God’s greatness!
  4. God not only heard the prayers of people who were not Israelites, He answered them! And Solomon asked Him to do so!
Now turn with me to John 9.
1. The situation:
  1. Jesus and the disciples passed a man born blind.
  2. The disciples asked Jesus if the man had sinned or his parents had sinned.
    1. Physical defects were often considered as evidence of sin.
    2. The defect was a punishment for the sin.
  3. Jesus said neither sinned, but this happened to display God’s works.
  4. Then Jesus healed the man’s blindness.
  5. A serious controversy arose among the neighbors who saw the blind man begging. The controversy: “Who is this seeing man?”
    1. Jesus healed the man on a Sabbath day.
    2. Thus the situation was reported to the Pharisees.
    3. The Pharisees asked the man to explain how he got his sight back, and he told them.
    4. They asked him, “Who do you think this man is?” [“Who” in the sense of whether he was from God or not.]
    5. He replied, “He is a prophet” [God’s spokesman].
  6. The Pharisees did not believe the healed man, so they asked his parents.
    1. The Pharisees asked, “Is this your son? If so, how can he see?
    2. The parents replied, “This is our son, but we do not know how he sees.”
      1. “He is old enough to answer for himself, so ask him.”
      2. They were afraid.
  7. A second time they called the healed man in to be interviewed and demanded that he give God credit for what happened because his healer was a sinner.
    1. He said, “I do not know if he is a sinner or not; all I know is that I was blind and now I see.”
    2. They asked, “How did he give you your sight back?”
    3. He said, “I told you once, why do you want me to tell you again? Do you want to be his disciple?”
  8. With that answer the situation became very ugly.
    1. They begin to verbally abuse the healed man and to declare he is his healer’s disciple, but they are Moses’ disciples.
    2. They know God spoke to Moses, but they know nothing about the man’s healer.
    3. The healed man responded, “That is amazing! He healed me, and you do not know the origin of this man!”
    4. Then the healed man made this statement in verses John 9:31-33:
      We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
  9. Think about this statement:
    1. Who made it? The man healed from his blindness.
    2. What was he doing? Stating the obvious.
    3. What was the obvious? A person does not have the power to heal a blind person unless God gives the healer the power.
    4. Was this a commentary on God hearing prayers? No.
    5. What was it? A commentary on Jesus’ identity as a person from God made by a person who did not even know who Jesus was (see verses 35-39).
Look at Acts 10.
1. Cornelius, who is not a Jew, is praying to God as he frequently does.
  1. He is a devout man who reverences God (with his household), who gave alms to Jewish people, and who prayed to God continually.
  2. He was praying at 3 in the afternoon when an angel appeared to him and made this statement:
    Acts 10:4 “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”
  3. What did Cornelius understand that statement to mean? Scripture tells us the meaning of this statement to Cornelius.
    1. Later he told Peter what that statement meant when he explained why he, a person who was not a Jew nor a Christian, send for Peter who was both a Jew and a Christian.
      Acts 10:30,31 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.'”
    2. We can engage in lots of discussion, but the bottom line from scripture is this:
      1. God listened to the prayers of a person who was not a Christian.
      2. God listened to those prayers before the person became a Christian.
Is there ever a time when God will not listen?
1. Absolutely!
  1. God does not hear when the prayer asks God to serve the purposes of evil rather than the purposes of righteousness.
  2. Is the basic issue who makes the request? No.
  3. The basic issue is serving righteousness as God’s purposes are sought.
2. Listen to a very frightening statement.
  Isaiah 59:1,2 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
  1. Note to whom this statement was made: to people who were God’s chosen people.
  2. Note their position did not provide them the privilege of practicing evil.
  3. In their willing evil behavior, they separated themselves from God, and God stopped hearing their prayers.

Remember: a condition God places on hearing our prayers is this: we must be concerned about godliness, not evil, when we ask.

What Is Your Life About?

Posted by David on under Sermons

For a moment, play a game of “let’s pretend” with me. Let’s pretend that God Himself sent a messenger to your home to interview you and your children about the purpose of life. This messenger’s interview centered on the answers to two questions. Each person in the family would answer these two questions. Each person had to answer with what he or she really believed was true (no “tactful evasions,” no lies). No one in your family could control the interview. Everyone but the person interviewed had to listen quietly without comment. The interview would start with the youngest child. It would go from youngest to oldest until everyone–children and adults–was interviewed.

Here are the two questions:

What are the most important things in life?
What does each specific person in this family think is the most important thing in life?

Each adult, each teenager had to listen quietly as a brother, sister, parent, or spouse stated aloud his or her truthful impression of what you think life is all about, what you think is really important as you live your life in your family. Would you like to hear what your family members think you regard as important in life?

Would you read with me Deuteronomy 8:2-6?
You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear (reverence) Him.
1. Context: Moses spoke to second generation Israel before they entered the territory God promised them.
  1. All the adult men who left Egypt in the exodus are dead but three, and one of those three would be dead before they crossed the Jordan River into Canaan.
  2. Moses would be dead and buried before this nation crossed the river.
  3. In Deuteronomy, Moses emphasized what was important, what must be remembered as being important.
    1. This book centered on a very sobering moment in Israelite history.
      1. A lot of people were dead.
      2. Knowing why they died was extremely important.
      3. All these dead people gave a testimony to a very sobering truth: “If you do not understand what your life is about, you will be as dead as I am.”
    2. This moment could easily become a very materialistic, tragic moment: these people could allow the moment to focus them on the wrong thing.
      1. They could think about getting the finest piece of land in Canaan.
      2. They could think about indulging themselves with pleasures in a settled existence.
      3. They could think about becoming wealthy.
      4. They could think about prestige and power.
    3. It was extremely important that they be focused on life’s correct purpose.
2. Think carefully about the reminder Moses gave them in our reading.
  1. “Do not forget your experiences of the past forty years in the wilderness.”
    1. It was not to be a “Phew! I am glad that is over!” time in their history.
    2. It was to be, “Did I ever learn something from that!” time in their history.
  2. Moses said, “God did three things in your experience of the forty years of your wandering.”
    1. “He humbled you to be certain you knew and understood who was the dependent and who was the sustainer.”
    2. “He tested you: are you like your parents who built the golden calf, or are you a people who trust Me?”
    3. “He provided you an opportunity to show Him your heart: is your heart in obedience to Me or in rebellion against Me?”
  3. “God humbled you by making you totally dependent on Him–you could not even provide yourself food.”
    1. “He let you get hungry–but it was for a reason.”
    2. “He gave you food to eat that neither you nor any of your ancestors had ever seen or eaten–and it was for a reason.
    3. “The reason is found in this understanding: the purpose of life is not found in physical need or desire; the purpose of life is found in listening to God.”
  4. “For forty years God took care of you: your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell.”
  5. “In the core of your being you need to understand that God was discipling you just like you discipline your sons–because they need to learn, and because you seek their best interests.”
  6. “So keep God’s commands, live a godly lifestyle, and reverence God.”
3. Your success, your future, and future generations depend on these two basic truths:
  1. You must trust God’s teachings, not physical desires.
  2. You always must depend on God to determine who you are and how you live.
Now move hundreds of years forward to Matthew 4:1-4 and read with me.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'”
1. Jesus just had the exhilarating experience of being baptized.
  1. God Himself spoke on that occasion: “This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
  2. God’s Spirit came from heaven in the form of a dove and landed on Jesus.
  3. This was a heady experience!
    1. This was the kind of experience that can build evil pride!
    2. We all are pretty much deceived by the compliments and praise of others.
    3. God Himself acted in an extraordinary way when Jesus was baptized!
  4. Soon after this incredible experience at baptism, God’s Spirit led Jesus into a deserted area to be tempted by the devil.
    1. Jesus spent forty days and nights focusing–he fasted for that period.
    2. He had to know who he was and what his life was about.
    3. Was sonship about serving or about position?
    4. Was sonship about obedience or about controlling?
  5. When he concluded this period of focus, he was hungry.
2. The temptation:
  1. “Jesus, are you really God’s son? Are you real sure of who you are?”
  2. “If you are God’s son, you can turn these stones into something to eat.”
  3. “You are hungry, and eating is not a ‘right and wrong’ issue.”
  4. “You are hungry; you have been here for forty days fasting; you are weak; your really need some food; so make these stones into bread, not a royal feast, just a poor man’s meal of bread.”
    1. “It would be stupid for you to die out here from hunger and weakness.”
    2. “You know who you are!”
    3. “You have important things to do!”
    4. “So eat and get on with it!”
  5. Jesus quoted the statement from Deuteronomy 8.
    1. He said there was a bigger issue at stake than being hungry.
    2. The issue: is life fundamentally about physical need/desire or about letting God guide?
    3. Jesus was there to focus on who he was and what he was about, and neither feeling sorry for himself or becoming absorbed in physical need must be allowed to define who he was or what he was about.
When Jesus began his ministry, listen to what he said in Matthew 6:19-34.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
1. Jesus was not talking about “happy go lucky” irresponsibility; he was talking about the purpose of life. Let me try to focus us in this way.
  1. Is your job in jeopardy because of our weak economy?
  2. How much did you lose in the stock market the last year? In certificates of deposits? In investments?
  3. Have you had to adjust your lifestyle?
  4. What can you do to make it all “go away”? Nothing.
  5. If material things define your life, this is a time of high anxiety for you.
2. In Jesus’ statement, allow me to focus your attention on a couple of things.
  1. In verse 32 Jesus said the Gentiles eagerly seek the same things you seek if the focus of your life is food, drink, and clothes.
    1. We miss the central point if we do not understand the context.
    2. Jesus spoke to people who seriously regarded themselves to be God’s people.
    3. In this context, the word “Gentiles” referred to people who did not know God, who did not want to know God, and who were not influenced by God.
    4. Jesus said, “You are the people who claim to know God, who claim to belong to God, who claim to be God’s people.”
    5. “But…you are acting and feeling and thinking just like the people you say do not know God and do not care who God is.”
    6. “There is no difference in what your life is about and what these godless people’s life is about.”
  2. The number one purpose in the lives of God’s people is being ruled by God.
    1. “I want God in control.”
    2. “I want to live the lifestyle of a person who places God in control.”
    3. “I want people quietly to note that the reason I am different, the reason my lifestyle is different can be understood only by knowing this fact: God rules who I am and what I am about.”

In concluding, I want to focus you on three facts that are true for each one of us.

Determining God’s will in your life is a life time journey, not a simple decision.
Physical death is certain; every physical body in this auditorium will die.
While your physical body will die, you as a person won’t die.

“So what does all that mean?” It means there is a whole lot more to life than physical existence. It means only God our Creator can guide us in all of life. It means when you face God after death, you will not present Him a financial report or a list of possessions.

So, in your family, what do your family members think life is about? What do you say by the way you live that life is all about?

What Human Act Does God Find Impressive?

Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles

Suppose an insightful, devout Old Testament Israelite was asked, “How can a person impress God?” He would not make these replies: “Give a million dollars to the tabernacle or temple”; “Offer a thousand sacrificial bulls”; “Observe every tabernacle or temple ritual precisely, correctly”; “Make every Jerusalem pilgrimage on holy days”; or “Attend synagogue services each week without fail.”

First in his reply: “Give God your broken heart.” In more familiar words: “in your brokenness, repent.” In practical terms, nothing is accomplished in the God-human relationship when a human gives God an enormous monetary gift if he does not first give God a broken heart. Giving a thousand sacrificial bulls or keeping all rituals correctly or making every Jerusalem pilgrimage or faithful synagogue attendance meant nothing individually or collectively if the Israelite did not first give God a broken, contrite heart.

Read Psalm 51. David, AFTER committing adultery with Bathsheba, AFTER plotting Uriah’s murder, was confronted by Nathan the prophet (read 2 Samuel 11, 12). God obviously knew everything. Yet, Nathan said, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.”

The Lord took away this adulterer and murderer’s sin? What happened to “an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth”? Note David’s comment prior to Nathan’s declaration: “I have sinned against the Lord.” David was broken before God. Were there consequences? Certainly! Yet, when David realized what he had done, he bowed in penitent brokenness.

Do you realize the arrogance, disrespect, and presumptuousness if David said to God, “Lord, here’s a million dollars (or a thousand sacrifices or faithful rituals or leadership for holy day gatherings or a pledge for synagogue attendance).” All David had to give God was a broken heart that contritely bowed before the God he offended.

We urgently need to learn this lesson! Money, sacrifice, rituals, attendance are meaningful only if they come from broken, contrite hearts. The first offense of all evil deeds, words, and emotions are offenses against our loving, forgiving God. Unthinkable!

Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:9,10: “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

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