What God has Done for America
Psalm 33:12

[Please note that the historical information is from secondary sources.]

A Brief history of Christianity in America:

***** Jamestown, Virginia’s first community building was a church.

***** Puritans first act at Plymouth Rock was to kneel, praise and dedicate the new colony. The purpose of their journey was religious freedom.

***** Roger Williams (Baptist minister) founded Rhode Island.

***** Lord Baltimore held church service in establishing Maryland.

***** William Penn founded Pennsylvania seeking a safe haven for Quakers.


Historical Perspective of Christianity in America:

***** Twelve of the original 13 colonies incorporated the entire Ten Commandments into their civil and criminal codes.

***** President John Adams stated, "The law given from Sinai was a civil and municipal code as well as a moral and religious code. These are laws essential to the existence of men in society and most of which have been enacted by every Nation which ever professed any code of laws. Vain indeed would be the search among the writings of secular history to find so broad, so complete and so solid a basis of morality as the Ten Commandments lay down."

***** The American Bible Society was started by an act of Congress. John Adams, our second president, served as its first leader.

***** Supreme Court building, built 1935, features a Moses and Ten Commandments.

***** In the House of Representatives, across from the speakers’ seat, is a sculpture of Moses.

***** William Penn, in writing government policies for Pennsylvania, made sure “all treasurers, judges, and all elected officials professed faith in Christ.”

***** President George Washington said, "It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible. Of all dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are indispensable supporters."

***** 1/3 of George Washington’s inaugural address was dedicated to asking God for help.

***** Henry Laurens, fourth president of the Continental Congress, stated, "I had the honor of being one who framed the Constitution. In order effectually to accomplish these great constitutional ends, it is especially the duty of those who bear rule to promote and encourage respect for God and virtue."

***** Patrick Henry, first governor of Virginia and a member of the Continental Congress, stated, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

***** French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”

***** Our nation’s motto: “In God we trust”


Christianity in the courts:

***** In 1853 a group petitioned congress for the separation of Christian principles from government, a “separation of church and state.” For nearly one year the Senate and House Judiciary committees reviewed and studied the petition to see if it would be possible to separate Christian principles from our civil government. Both returned almost identical reports.

The House Judiciary Committee report on March 27, 1854, said, "Had the (founding fathers), during the revolution, a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle.... At the time of the adoption of the constitution and its amendments, the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged, but not any one sect (denomination)."

It also said, "In this age, there is no substitute for Christianity... That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants."

Two months later, the Senate Judiciary Committee added this declaration, "The great vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrine and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

***** At one point the Supreme Court ruled that America was a Christian nation.

***** In 1878 in a case called Reynolds vs. the United States, a group tried to take Jefferson’s “separation of church and state” statement to prove a separation of Christianity and government. In it’s response, the court quoted a lengthy section of the Jefferson letter and used it as a basis to prove that it was permissible to retain Christian values, practices and principles as official policies of the government. Jefferson’s letter was used to prove the inclusion of Christian practice and religion in government. When these debates had been settled the letter went basically unused for the next 75 years until 1947.

***** In the case of Everson vs. the Board of Education the court, for the first time, did not sight Jefferson’s letter in its entirety but instead they selected eight words from the Jefferson letter, "a wall of separation between church and state" and then declared “that wall must kept high and impregnable,” and used it, for the first time, against Christianity.

This started a redefinition of what “church” meant. It became common to think that "separation of Church and State" applied to any religious activity. This definition is now assumed, without attempting to understand the shift in meaning. Dr. William James (father of modern psychology and father of modern education), echoing Carl Marx might explain it this way: "there is nothing so absurd but that if you repeat it often enough people will believe it"

***** It got so bad that in 1958 in a case called Baer vs. Kolmorgen a dissenting judge warned that continuing to talk about the "Separation of church and state" would make people think it was part of the constitution.

***** In June 25, 1962 the case, Engel vs. Vitale was based on the misrepresentation of that phrase, the Supreme Court for the first time separated Christian principles from education when it struck down a prayer in schools. [The prayer was: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country.”]

The court went so far as to determine what percent of the population believed in God. The court itself reported that 97% of the nation believed in religion and in God. Only 3% did not, in effect they made the philosophy of the few the binding (and blinding) guide for the many.


A brief history of Christianity in Education:

***** The New England Primer was the first textbook ever printed in America. It was introduced in Boston in 1690, and for the next 210 years it was THE textbook in our schools. If you went to school in America, you learned to read from the New England Primer.

It was a simple book that taught alphabet, and after the alphabet was learned it went back and attached sentences to those letters to be memorized. These are the phrases that were memorized in our schools for over 200 years.

A - A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
B - Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith
C - Come unto Christ all ye that labor and are heavy laden and He will give you rest.
D - Do not the abominable thing which I hate saith the Lord.
etc...

[Did you notice these are all from the bible?]

***** In 1782, the U.S. Congress voted in favor of a resolution recommending and approving the Bible for use in the schools.


A History lesson from Judah:

[32] The people of Israel and Judah have provoked me by all the evil they have done--they, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem. [33] They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline. [34] They set up their abominable idols in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. [35] They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin. [Jeremiah 32:32 – 35]

What was the worship of Baal:

Baal is geographically identified with Palestine. He is the local god. Archaeological evidence puts Baal worship predating Abraham. Literary evidence both in the Bible and in outside sources indicate that Baal worship has been around “indefinitely.” The modern word Belezebub, a synonym for Satan or the Devil, is actually a form of Baal-zebub.

It was believed that Baal died every winter and then was born every spring. With his birth comes the spring harvest and blossoms. Then he thrives through summer and ages in fall only to die in winter. It was believed that public and perverted sex would bring his rebirth every spring. Baal worship included female and male prostitutes along with homosexual acts.

Baal worship also emphasized the environment. Many tenants of modern environmentalism trace back to the worship of Baal.

Baal was tangible. One could taste the crops yielded. People could feel the pleasure of sex. It felt like the right thing to do.

What was the worship of Molech:

He is probably Phoenicians. You’ll remember the Phoenicians from your world history because of their two famous wars. The Trojan wars with Greece and three wars with Rome. The great military strategists Hannibal was from Phoenicia. Their great city was named Carthage.

The Romans hated the worship of Molech. Most of our information about Molech comes from them. The name of Molech appears early in the Bible. He is in the book of Leviticus as worship to him is strictly forbidden. This means that he was in Canaan before the Exodus. Molech was a fire god who demanded human sacrifice. Moloch had a human shape with a bull’s head. His arms were outstretched and a fire was built within the idol to a great heat. Then the parents would come with their baby and place the baby on the outstretched arms of Moloch and watch: they had to watch without emotion or tear to convince this angry demon god that sacrificing their baby was voluntary.

The worship of Molech, in the valley of Hinnom included priest that tossed infants back and forth across fires until the children roasted to death. It was the same valley Jesus referred to as a picture of hell. It is suspected that these two false gods were once considered the same god.

The real problem was that they were worshiped along-side of the one true God. In other words, the same people that indulged in sexual orgies and sacrificed their children in fires would also observe in Passover.


Conclusion:

Ask yourself, could this be happening today? We would like to think not... Why do 1/3 of all children in America die in abortion chambers? Is that not a sacrifice for our own benefit? Why is suicide and homicide leading causes of death among America’s children?

Can we not find, even in a small town like ours awful sexual perversions? If you don’t believe me walk down Ashmun street toward Portage avenue. Do you know were our city has set up a real idol? I’ll give you a hint, it’s beside the locks.

What about our church? Do we have idols such as control and gossip? Do we try to hold on to the things of God and the things of this world.

There is a scene in the film “Master and Commander” where the captain proposes a toast. He holds his glass in the air and says with all appropriate seriousness, “To our wives and our sweethearts.” All the men at the table, the officers say dutifully, “here, here.” Then Crowe says, “may they never meet!” Possibly we also have divided our love between the world and the Lord. Possibly we hope that one will not interfere with the other.

Today we have a choice. On one side is the blessing of Almighty God, while on the other side judgement. It pains us to see our country sliding into moral chaos and into a religious free fall. Some say we do not need a Savior but God hears the cries of need every day. Will we begin to see our lives and our world through our proclaimed Heavenly Father’s eyes? All that needed to happen for Judah to slide down it’s path was for true believers to be silent, to NOT bear witness, to NOT be involved. Each day, by its own behavior, our country forges it’s chains of tyranny and slavery to sin.

The Judgement of God
Romans 2:1 – 16

What is the basis for God’s judgement?

It is according to the truth, to mercy, to works, to the Law, to the gospel.

“Judgement gives value to life.”

– It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement – Hebrews 9:27

I. According to the truth [vv 1 – 3].

A. As opposed to our hypocrisy.

1. You judge others for certain things. Ever wonder why you notice the things you notice? It is called “projection” where you read yourself into the things other people do.

2. You do the same things.... We judge others by our sins.

3. You condemn yourself and are without excuse. Condemnation is different than judgement.

B. Based on actuality.

1. God is the one worthy to judge. It is not our place.

2. God judges on truth not on a projection/interpretation.

C. Application.

1. V 3 is an rhetorical question, it implies an emphatic negative answer.

2. Jesus said, “BUT if you do not forgive men their sins, you Father WILL NOT forgive your sins.” [Matthew 6:15, emphasis is mine]

II. According to mercy [vv 4 – 5].

A. God’s design for us is based on His riches – abundance – magnitude.

1. It is called goodness (which includes forbearance and longsuffering).

2. It is called kindness (which includes our idea of patience).
“despise” – to underestimate the significance of something; scorn; contemp.

B. It’s purpose.

1. [v 4] “not knowing” – failure to understand/realize is inexcusable because God’s goodness was so patience with us.

2. [v 5] wrath and punishment (righteous judgement) reflects on the kindness, tolerance, and patience of God.

C. It’s key is repentance.

1. Repentance means to change the mind – transformation of where our lives, minds, and feelings turn from sin and God.

2. Repentance means to change the behavior – transformation of how our lives are lived and our feelings are used.

III. According to works [vv 6 – 11].

***** There is certainty (“will render”), universality (“to each one”), criteria (“works”) of judgement.

A. OF THE RIGHTEOUS... [v 7]

1. Those who seek “glory.”

a. “glory” refers to the believer’s expectation.

b. “glory” points to the transformation that is effected when believers are conformed to the image of God’s son.

2. Those who seek “honor.”

a. This is the reward God gives believers.

b. Not talking about selfish things.

3. Those who seek “immortality” (KJV = “incorruption”)

a. This is the eternal life God promised.

b. This is finalized at the resurrection. (Matthew 24:13, Hebrews 3:14)

***** Works without redemption is dead: redemption without follow through is presumption.

B. OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS... [v 8]

1. Those who are contentious (self-seeking).

a. This is active rebellion against God.

b. Contention comes from pride. [see Proverbs 13:10]

2. Those who choose unrighteousness (see 1:18 )

a. This is active disobedience in unbelief.

b. Unrighteousness comes from the deliberate rejection of truth.

3. Wrath and indignation/anger is the result.

a. The difference between “punish” and “retribution:”

1.) Punishment involves correction.

2.) Retribution is “pay back” (no redemptive/corrective value).

IV. According to the Law [vv 12 – 15]

A. The Law’s presence:

1. It demands good works. [v 13]

a. “doers shall be justified.” (Paul has already stated that the just shall live by faith.)

b. The criteria is DOING not HEARING (or saying).

2. Obviously this is impossible, which is why we need the gospel (see chapter 3).

B. The Law’s absence: (the Law/Old Testament was “special revelation.”)

1. God is not a respecter of persons (all will be judged equally). [v 11]

2. Judgment is exercised according what knowledge/law is possessed. [v 14]

a. Knowledge of the law is NOT a precondition to sin. [v 12]

b. Those “ignorant” sinners will perish just like enlightened/educated sinners will. [v 12]

3. Nature (internal as contrasted to external sources) demand obedience to God.

a. Man is a “law unto himself.” (Moral code = v 14]

b. The law (moral code) is written in their hearts. [v 15]

c. The conscience of the person functions in the area of moral discrimination (it is a witness of the law in the heart).

V. According to the gospel.

***** How can Paul teach a judgement according to works that is compatible with salvation by grace? *****

A. Judgement outside “special revelation.” must be according to works.

1. There is a universal knowledge of God [1:20].

2. When a person acts correctly, they are a law unto themselves [vv 14, 15].

3. Thus, they prove there is something within their hearts.

4. At issue us the existence of conscious (internal moral compass). Yet all these add up to a “guilty” verdict.

B. Judgement of those who have the special revelation.

1. There is a universal law.

2. There is a special law (Old Testament).

3. There is the gospel (New Testament).

C. What’s the answer?

1. The idea that if we are judged by works then we will be saved by works is contrary to the gospel Paul preached. No work/s is good enough or possible to gain salvation (see Romans 3:10, 23).

2. Believers are justified through FAITH alone, and saved by GRACE alone.

a. We are never justified by a faith that is empty, a grace that is cheap, a profession that has no life change.

b. Salvation itself means we are saved TO as well as saved FROM.

3. “Good works” are the natural progression of faith (and proof of faith).

Hebrews 11:11 – 19
Faith of a Father

The official Father’s day flower is the dandelion – the more it gets trampled the better it grows!

I. The promise of faith.

A. It was “impossible.”

1. In other words, it was beyond possible.

a. Abraham was “past age.” [v 11] (100 years old)

b. Sarah was “barren.” [v 11] (90 years old)

2. Abraham was “as good as dead.” [v 12]

B. The key to faith.

1. God is faithful. (It depends on God not you.)

a. God promised Abraham.

1.) God promised that Abraham would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. [Genesis 15:5]

2.) These descendants would be from Sarah not Hagar. [Genesis 17:19]

b. Abraham had already seen...

1.) His call to leave country, people, and family. [Genesis 12:1 – 4]

2.) His defeat of the conquering kings, when he rescued Lot. [Genesis 14]

3.) His covenant with God. [Genesis 15]

4.) The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and his attempt to intercede for those cities. [Genesis 18]

5.) God’s continual protection and blessing.

2 THE promise was through Isaac.

a. Abraham considered/reckoned that God was/is faithful, that God would do what He said.

b. Abraham was willing to trust God for “impossible” things.

***** Faith looks at who God is – not at the situation. Faith sees God as faithful – not situations as “impossible.” Faith holds to the promise of God.

II. What is faith?

A. What it does.

1. Faith carries us through life.

a. It is permanent – it doesn’t just come and go.

b. Wesley’s concept of “assurance of salvation.” (Absolute certainty.)

2. Faith shows us a vision.

a. They saw what the did not have.

1.) They were “never” disappointed they didn’t have it.

2.) The “always” remained faithful to the vision.

(Reality, as humans we struggle.)

b. They welcomed it from a distance. [v 13]

1.) They understood/accepted that they would not see these things in the natural frame of life.

2.) The looked beyond the boundaries of life to what God says is real.

3. Faith removes the madness.

a. They admitted they were aliens. [v 13]

1.) James Dobson’s “5 lies of the 60's” (which built our society.)


a.) “God is dead.” (The rest of the quote: “for we have killed him.”

b.) “Drugs are a legitimate form of entertainment.”

c.) “Pre/extra/perverted sexual freedom.”

d.) “Divorce is an acceptable/easy way out.”

e.) “Man is ok, we can fix ourselves.”

2.) We are not condemned to be part of this madness.

b. They lived as strangers on earth. [v 13]

1.) EVERYTHING we stand for and believe, the world opposes/hates.

2.) They had opportunity to return but they did not.

B. God’s role in faith.

1. He is not ashamed to be called their God. [v 16]

2. He is p preparing a city for them (the same one He’s preparing for us). [v 16]

***** Faith carries us through life and shows us what God can, wants to, and will do in our lives. Faith challenges us with the vision to look at God and be satisfied with the heavenly vision – knowing that God will work in His time. Faith allows us to go beyond the madness and not get trapped in what will destroy us. *****

III. Faith will ALWAYS be tested.

A. Faith is action not thought.

1. Action reinforces knowledge.

2. Faith is the practical outcome of knowledge.

3. Faith gives us a chance to know God’s faithfulness.

B. Abraham’s trial: [v 17 – 19]

1. Abraham had a promise

2. Abraham was told to take the promise and sacrifice it... give it up.

C. Abraham “reasoned” (“considered”)...

1. That God could raise the dead.

2. Abraham held to the promise.

3. Abraham held to the faithfulness of God.

***** What “impossible” thing do you face today? The great part about “impossible” is the only way it will happen is because God does something special. How about trusting God in the “little” or “easy” things as well? *****

June 4, 2006

Romans 1:18 – 32
The “I”s of sin.

The core of sIn is “I.” Paul lists the “slippery slope of sin” in this section and explains how humans descend into the absolute corruption of sin. In essence, “God gave them over.” However, we are “without excuse” because at the root we have “suppressed the truth.” Let’s look at the steps of our decline.

I. Idle worship (doing nothing).

A. Idle in worship... [v 12]

1. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God..”

a. “glorify” means to worship/honor, give credit too...

b. When we stop the basic things like church attendance, daily prayer, and daily personal Bible study, we are in trouble.

2. “For although they knew God, ... nor gave thanks to Him.”

a. The lack of thankfulness is symptom of pride. [see Deuteronomy 8]

b. When we are not thankful, we rebel and complain. [see Hebrews 3:7 – 19]

3. The result of becoming idle in worship is: “their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

***** This is possibly the most dangerous of the steps of the “I”s of sin because there is no pain. Yet it is the most critical step toward becoming ultimately selfish and uncontrollably sinful. *****

II. Idol worship.

A. Exchange God for stuff.

1. In a modern world (America) we cannot understand how anyone would worship a rock, piece of wood, etc...

2. However, we can exchange God for stuff.

a. “And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” [v 23]

b. The verse is about EXCHANGING not about the specific image.

3. We have images of stuff (TV adds create desire), we have the pursuit of stuff (desire that is acted upon at the cost of important things), we desire the tangible (easy to believe).

B. Exchange the truth for a lie.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.” [v 25]

1. Notice that this exchange results in bondage/slavery.

2. The lie is

a. That worship is easy/feel good. (This comes from a perverted image of God... that God is our servant.)

b. That service is fruitful at our whim. (This comes from humanism.)

c. That self-sacrifice is unnecessary. (This comes from survival of the fittest mentality.)

d. That Christianity is possible without Christ. (This comes from political correctness.)

III. Immorality (worship of the flesh)

A. Notice the role of “sinful desire.”

1. “God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts...” [v 24] “God gave them over to shameful lusts.” [v 26] “He gave them over to a depraved mind... [v 28]

a. Desire can be a real problem when it controls us.

“But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” [James 1:14 – 15]
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For everything in the world--the CRAVINGS OF SINFUL MAN, THE LUST OF HIS EYES AND THE BOASTING OF WHAT HE HAS AND DOES--comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” [1 John 2:15 – 17] (EMPHASIS mine)

b. We would never admit to “lust” (KJV) but the reality is that our desires are out of control.

2. Notice it was the individual’s desire! (God did not cause this to happen.)

a. The direction of thought.

b. The direction of affections/heart.

c. The direction of the spiritual momentum.

B. Notice the degrading of their bodies.

1. It reduces the person to an object/victim.

2. It reduces the user to the used/victim.

“For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread...” Proverbs 6:26a (A loaf of bread was the price of a prostitute. When a man paid that price, he was reducing his self-worth/image to that price. When a man buys anything for sexual gratification, that is the price he puts on himself.)

3. Today, we still sell ourselves...

a. ...pornography, abortion, commercialism

b. Our marketing creates dissatisfaction, generates desires, reduces you to a price.

IV. Ignominy (celebrating the disgraceful/shameful)

A. Here is the idea of exchange again: “exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.” [v 26b], “abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.” [v 27b]

1. The “natural” is exchanged for the “unnatural.”

2. There is a redefinition of the words “good” and “natural” in our society.

3. Strong social an political pressure is put on those who do not go along with these new definitions.

a. Nasty name calling... “hatemonger” etc...

b. Unconstitutional laws... “hate speech” laws.

B. Unfortunately the target is missed by those stereotypers and ill-conceived laws.

1. The real problem is not the social/political/emotional. (a.k.a. people)

a. It is physical: “Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”

1.) AIDS/HIV is not new (even though it was “discovered” in the 1980's).

2.) Other physical ramifications...

b. It is emotional.

1.) Psychologists used to talk about “self-hatred” among the homosexual population.

2.) Average life expectancy of a male homosexual in the USA is 41 with suicide being a huge problem.

c. It is spiritual:

1.) Anyone who lives outside the laws of God (not just this subject) are subject to “the wrath of God.”

2.) Everyone (including this subject) is invited, through Jesus, into a right relationship with God.

2. The difficult part is that all sexual sins are against the persons own body.

a. In other words, the sinner becomes the emotional, physical, and spiritual victim of their own action.

b. God does not want anyone to suffer the eternal consequences of their sin! [2 Peter 3:9] That is why Jesus paid the price for our sins, so we could be forgiven and healed. So we could escape the slavery of sin (whatever its name).

3. Irony: some issues make the one who loathes the sin as ugly of a monster as they perceive the sinner to be.... (Wesley said, “We sin under the guise of merely hating sin.”)

V. Insanity (KJV = “reprobate” NIV = “depraved”)

(Ill.) The idea is “rejected.” Take King Saul. When he was rejected and the spirit of the Lord left him, he was afflicted by an “evil” spirit... went insane.

A. “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.” [v 29]

1. Not with good things... with very painful things.

2. NOTICE THAT “envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; [31] they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” [vv 29 – 31] IS THE NEXT STEP DOWN. Not at the top of the list but the BOTTOM of the slippery slope.

a. As destructive and perverted as some may try to paint homosexuality, the progression in the text is clear. Things such as gossip and disobedience to parents (so natural in our culture) are much more destructive.

b. Caution about creating a “sin hierarchy” where some things are “worse” spiritually. There is no such thing. All sin is sin (equal in guilt and consequences, separating us from God). However, some things have more devastating social consequences.

3. The pursuit of sin becomes so intense that we have to “invent ways of doing evil.” [see v 30]

a. There is a reason: sin only has pleasure for a season/short time. [see Hebrews 11:25]

b. We are obliged to run from sin to sin to anesthetize the pain.

c. In other words, sin is the ultimate boredom with no lasting satisfaction or fulfillment.

B. “They are senseless.”

1. The goal of evil is not just to corrupt and destroy... it is to make us stupid.

a. (ill) Beer commercials featuring people acting in stupid ways are ironically truthful at this point.

b. Sin does the same thing to us. We become stupid... senseless... not understanding what we do.

2. Another goal of evil is to reproduce itself.

a. We set up a cheering section. Any sin you can imagine has its encouragers.

b. “They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” [v 32b]

Conclusion: Much of the track into the dirges of sin traces back the power of desire. What should our response to unbridled desire be and how do we avoid the slipper slope of sin?

1. Be disciplined, live holy lives: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. [14] As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. [15] But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” [1 Peter 1:13 – 15]

2. Be disciplined, be ruthless in abstention: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” [1 Peter 2:11]

3. Be disciplined, live for the will of God: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. [2] As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” [1 Peter 4:2]

4. Be disciplined, but the power of God at work in our lives: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” [2 Peter 1:3 - 4]

May 21, 2006

Romans 1:8 – 17
“Impact Faith”

Paul is impressed by the Roman church. He says [v 8] that their faith is reported all over the world. This is “impact faith.” It is a faith that makes a difference. The root of this kind of faith is in the gospel.

What is this gospel that causes Christians to have “impact faith.”

I. Its source of life changing power is God.

A. The gospel is God’s chosen METHOD.

1. It is spoken.

a. The Bible says, “How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” [Romans 10:14]

b. The Bible says, “Consequently, faith comes from HEARING the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” [Romans 10:17]

***** If someone speaks then you must listen. Problem, we attach to much importance to the person and the delivery method... when we should be listening to the message. *****

2. It must be accepted.

a. The Bible says, “Yet to all who RECEIVED him, to those who BELIEVED in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” [John 1:10]

b. The Bible says, “He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household.” [Acts 16:30 – 31]

B. The gospel is God’s chosen ABILITY of change.
1. It works:

a.Without God intervening in human history, we would be hopelessly lost.

b. Without God’s power at work, life would be staggering because of the weight and consequences of sin.

2. It frees:

a. It frees the believer from the consequences of sin: eternal damnation/hell.

b. It frees the believer from the dominion of sin: we don’t have to be slaves to sin anymore.

C. The gospel is God’s chosen PURPOSE of change.

1. We need powerful and effective help to deal with the problem of sin. Because we can not free ourselves.

2. The PURPOSE is “for salvation.”

3. “We are equally miserable without a savior, equally welcome to the Savior.”

4. Notice salvation is NOT unconditional or universal. There is a condition.... It is “TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES.”

II. Its source of life changing righteous is God.

A. If the product of sin in misery and damnation then salvation must get us out of sin.

1. This makes no sense until we admit that we are totally, completely, helplessly, lost.

2. The product of salvation is righteousness (a state of being “right” before God and growing in knowledge and obedience).

3. We tend to think/preach: God is good, people are not, try harder.

B. This is “righteousness FROM God is revealed.”

1. In other words, this righteousness is independent of our efforts. It is GIVEN to everyone who believes.

2. “Awakening” is an old Holiness expression. The image of a person being dead in sin, unable to respond. The Bible says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.” [Ephesians 2:1]

a. The Holy Spirit “wakes” the person...

b. ...so that the person can respond.

The Bible says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. [Ephesians 2:4 – 5]

The Bible says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.” [Colossians 2:13]

3. Righteousness is divine property given to sustain us in a close relationship with God.

a. It meets God’s requirements.

b. It meets God’s expectations.

III. The key concept is “faith.”

A. Faith is both a noun and a verb. (Something we have and something we do.)

1. Faith is the expected reaction and outcome to grace.

a. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast.” [Ephesians 2:8 – 9]

b. It begins in the heart and works outwardly and constantly.

c. In other words, It is not a momentary break through, it is a continual response to God’s grace.

2. God is at work.

a. Salvation is offered by has no reality or validity apart from faith.

b. Faith is the link between us and God. It accepts the gift of God’s grace.

B. Faith produces “fruit.”

1. Fruit is the proof of the relationship, the Bible tells us, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” [Luke 3:8]

b. Fruit is the result of the relationship, the Bible says, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4

c. Fruit is the result of continuing in that relationship, the Bible says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” [Galatians 5:22 – 24]

2. Faith change the individual.

a. If you have not been changed....

b. If you have are not different than the world...

IV. The result is a “lifestyle.”

A. “The righteous will live by faith.”

1. The Bible says, “We live by faith, not by sight.” [2 Corinthians 5:7]

2. The Bible says, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” [1 John 2:6]

3. The Bible says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” [Galatians 5:25]

B. Faith is the beginning and the fuel of a life long process.

1. The “dirty” word is obedience.

a. You walk by faith when you obey when everything indicates your actions do not make sense.

b. You walk by faith when you obey when you want to do your own thing.

c. Living this way, you will not make sense to people who do not have faith.

2. Obedience ultimately comes from trust.

a. If yo do not trust someone, you will not listen to or obey them.

b. It is why children don’t obey their parents, and churches obey their pastors (see Hebrews 13:17). It’s your internal/spiritual problem not the other persons...

***** If you can not place yourself under the authority God has given you, which you can see, then you can not place yourself under His authority (you can not see God). *****
Conclusion:

1. Have you ever experienced the life changing power of God? You know you have if you share the gospel with others.

2. Have you experienced a righteousness that is not yours? You know you have when you say “no” to what you want and “yes” to what you know God wants you to do.

3. Have you experienced faith? You know you have when you are willing to do what is not comfortable to do what God wants you to do.

Mother's Day, 2006

2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15
A Mother’s Solution

Today’s world has left women in dire straits. Divorce rates continue to rise, leaving an unprecedented number of women and children in poverty. Violence against women seems to be rocketing out of control. Women are being reduced to objects due to pornography and the sex industry. Evidence is surfacing that an alarming number of women are being trafficked as slaves around the world.

Even the church seems to be caught in this pandemonium. It is said that the divorce rate inside the church is as high as it is outside the church. Recent studies have shown this is not the fact. These studies are showing a remarkable utopia for women who live outside the garbage dump of sin. Socially it can be proven that God’s ways are the best ways.

(Ill.) Susannah Wesley is said to have prayed one hour every day for her children. She was strict. But she was unselfishly faithful. She had six rules for teaching her children the priority of the Savior:
1. Subdue self-will in a child.2. Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak.3. Give him nothing he cries for, and only what is good for him when he asks politely.4. Punish no fault confessed, but let no sinful act to go unnoticed.5. Reward good behavior.6. Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child.

Yet in the free-fall of sin, women face many pressures and fears. This morning lets look a few of them.

I. The fear that the children will not grow up right.

A. Men tend to take credit while women take blame.

1. Proverbs 10:1 “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.”

(Ill.) Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. Well, on one Mother’s Day, Calvin is pictured standing by his mother’s bed. "Hey, Mom! Wake up. I made you a Mother’s Day card." "My, how sweet of you." she says. "I did it all by myself. Go ahead and read it."

She begins to read: "I was going to buy a card with hearts of pink and red. But then I thought I’d rather spend the money on me instead. It’s awfully hard to buy things when one’s allowance is so small. So I guess you’re pretty lucky I got you anything at all. Happy Mother’s Day. There, I’ve said it. Now I’m done. So how about getting out of bed and fixing breakfast for your son." Signed, "Calvin."

"I’m deeply moved." said his mother.

"Did you notice the part about my allowance?" He asks.

a. Ever hear, “that’s my child...”? It is generally in the context of taking credit, being rightfully proud.

b. Ever hear, “your child...”? It is generally in the context of assigning blame when the child does something unacceptable.

2. Somehow the foolishness of a child effects Mom deeply, while Dad seems to continue without much regrets.

a. It seems that women are “hard-wired” to emotionally attach themselves personally to their children.

b. It may be a nurturing instinct. When the child acts foolishly the Mom accepts blame while the Dad figures that the child made their own decision.

3. Accept credit and blame CAREFULLY!

a. You are not the only influence. In fact your good influence may be the only one the child has. (Spoken like a man...)

b. The love of a Mother is extremely powerful but there may be some things it can not overcome.

B. Matthew 15:21 – 28 tells this story:

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." [23] Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." [24] He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." [25] The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. [26] He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." [27] "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." [28] Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

1. The daughter was suffering from an outside influence: “My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

a. This shattered the loving heart of a Mom.

b. It drove her to desperation...

2. Faith is easier when there are no alternatives.

a. “Beggars can’t be choosy.” Crumbs would be enough!

b. Yet this woman is rewarded with two things:

1.) Her daughter is healed.

2.) Jesus sums up her character in four words, “you have great faith!” (As opposed to the disciples who had “little faith.”)

II. The fear of being a single Mom.

A. With the climbing divorce rate, more women are becoming single Moms.

1. Some think that being a single Mom is better than the alternative.

a. Then they must be coming out of very bad situations.

b. Possibly this may be an excuse (self-justification) for making the choice.

c. Fact is that many times the situation is forced on the woman. Society allows women to become the victim again... of our “no fault” divorce laws.

2. Married women can be “single” Moms too... It’s called an emotionally distant father. [the following is from the 2006 May/June issue of Light and Life, pp 15 – 17]

a. Father’s don’t necessarily connect with children.

b. Father’s just want to have fun... (Ever see a man with children? He becomes one himself! It’s cute for a baby sitter but useless for a father.)

(Ill.) By the time a child reaches 18, a mother has had to handle some extra 18,000 hours of child-generated work. In fact, women who never have children enjoy the equivalent of an extra three months a year in leisure time!

c. Father’s can suffer from domestic life burnout. (Men do not place as high a value on family as women do... generally speaking.)

(Ill.) Aparently, Billy Graham says his favorite story is of a husband who was not very attentive to his wife. But one day he started feeling guilty about that, and decided to change. So on his way home from work he bought a box of candy and some flowers to surprise his wife.He walks up to the door and rings the doorbell. She opens it, and there he stands, candy in one hand, flowers in the other, singing, "I love you truly, truly, Dear." Instantly she starts crying, big old tears just gushing out of her eyes. She sobs, "Oh, Harry! Everything went wrong today. We had a leak in the plumbing. The kids were terrible. The house is a wreck. And now you come home drunk!"

d. Ultimately it may be a problem with our theology of children... (that they are not fully human)

(Ill.) Mothers are the first to get up in the morning, and often the last to get to sleep due to restless children that won’t take bed time seriously….

Moms are the ones who wake the children, feed the children, clothe the children, keep the children occupied, run the children every place they need to go, feed the children again, try to get a least one task accomplished in spite of the children, bathe the children, settle down the children and try to get the children to fall asleep, only to start the process again the next day.

Mothers are the ones who are charged with making their children happy, their husband happy, (if they work outside the home) bosses happy, and if there’s any time left then and only then can they be happy…

Mothers are the ones who are excellent first aid givers. When dad says “you’ll live” mom grabs the Band-Aid for non-existent scrape, and with a simple hug and kiss is always able to make the pain go away….

Mothers are the ones put up with what seems like everyone telling them that they aren’t doing it right, that they should be doing something else, and that, even though their children are well-adjusted, content, and happy, if they don’t change today, their children will become juvenile hoodlums….

Mothers are the ones who, although they’ve completed high school and maybe some college, find their vocabulary slipping away from with short phrases like, “Let mommy fix the boo-boo.” and find themselves repeated phrases constantly like “Don’t do that!” “I said no.” “Get back here.” Get over here.” “Get out of there.” and the like…

Mothers also know a lovely arrangement of Barney, Bob the Builder, Sesame Street, and Clifford the Big Red Dog tunes replacing anything that had learnt previous to motherhood that may be more sophisticated. [Greg Buchner]

B. Genesis 21:14 – 19 tells the story of a single Mom:

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.

GE 21:15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. [16] Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob.

GE 21:17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. [18] Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation."

GE 21:19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

1. This situation was forced on Hagar by “the other woman.” (From Hagar’s perspective.)

a. Sarah suggested the arrangement that Abraham take Hagar as a wife.

b. Hagar and Sarah did not get along prompting intense jealousy after Isaac was born.

c. “Irreconcilable differences.” [Good people can be in conflict that turns ugly... e.g. Paul and Barnabas.]

2. Even though Isaac is the child of the promise, God is still concerned about the life and welfare of Hagar and Ishmael.

a. God is still deeply concerned about the life and welfare of the single Mom and her children.

b. Does it seem like the church isn’t?

III. The fear of having to let go.

A. Reality: we are not “raising children” we are raising adults.

1. You do not want you child to age and remain a child.

a. Our society has correctly identified childish behavior in adults as being unacceptable (or ill).

b. The key issue to raising a health adult is the ability to recognize things from a view point that is not their own.

1.) Selfishness and self-centered behavior causes trouble and bring hurt.

2.) The ability to recognize and admit our mistakes is mature behavior.

3.) The key to all this is to train the child to understand they are not the center of the universe.

2. Other-centered adults are focused on service.

a. There is a balance where a certain amount of our time, energy, resources must be focused on others.

b. The most important other-centered focus is on God. [God asks for a tenth (tithe) of our resources and a seventh of our time (sabbath)].

3. The hardest thing maybe to let go and give the child to the Lord!

B. 1 Samuel 1:24 – 28 tells of a Mom who was able to let go...

After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. [25] When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, [26] and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. [27] I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. [28] So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.

1. At one point (before Samuel’s birth) she made a promise.

a. She was still involved in Samuel’s life...

b. BUT there was a critical point where she had to let go.

2. At one point almost every Christian Mom (and Dad) has promised their child to the Lord (baptism or dedication).

a. There is only one way to do this: SET AN EXAMPLE!

(Ill.) A California mother of 10 with the 11th child on the way. One day her 3 year old son was making even the simplest chores difficult to accomplish as she said, "Len . . . was on my heals no matter where I went. Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him." Several times she patiently suggested he find fun things to do until he said, "Oh, that’s alright Mommy, I’d rather be in here with you." After several other frustrating incidents she asked him why he was acting this way. She said, ". . . he looked up at me with green eyes and said, ‘Well, Mommy, in Primary my teacher told me to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. But I can’t see Him, so I’m walking in yours.’" [Unknown]

b. Trust God.

3. At some point it is time to for the child to pack up and make a life of their own.

IV. So how should women face these fears and pressures? [2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15]

A. Point your children to Jesus.

B. Teach your children Scripture.

C. Encourage you children to service.

April 30, 2006

Romans 1:1 – 7
Really?

Wayne Harbor from Bedford IA challenged “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” for 26 years at least once a day to disprove Ripley. When Ripley found out, he asked for proof. Mr. Harbor sent him 100 scrap books with letters, weighing 773 pounds. None of Ripley’s claims were proven wrong.

Imagine having a track record like that? Well the Bible has one even better, stronger, with more proof. Paul begins the book of Romans with his “proofs.” Paul begins with who he is and why he is doing and saying what he is about to teach us. Paul continues with Jesus and the reasons for faith. Paul is even going to describe the Romans.

We are starting an adventure that will challenge us to the very core of what we think we believe in contrast to our culture and in light of the truth of Scripture.

I. What animates Paul?

A. Paul sees himself as a “servant.” [v 1]

1. “Servant” literally means “slave.” There is an illustration of this from the Old Testament.

"But if the servant declares, `I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,' [6] then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life. [Exodus 21:5 – 6]

a. As a servant, Paul acted in another’s interests, not his own.

b. As a servant, Paul spoke the message given to him, not his own ideas.

***** One reason the world and some people inside the church no longer take the message seriously is because they don’t believe the messenger is under orders or serving the King of Kings. *****

2. Jesus set the example of being a “servant leader.”

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [John 13:5]

The greatest among you will be your servant. [Matthew 23:11]

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." [Mark 9:35]

Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. [25] Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. [26] But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. [27] For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. [Luke 22:24 – 27]

B. Paul sees himself as “called.” [v 1]

1. Paul understood that God had chosen him to do something specific.

a. It was not Paul’s choice. No true minister of God has ever chosen be one.

b. It was Paul’s choice to be obedient, available, and willing.

2. Paul understood himself to be a “sent one” (the literal meaning of “apostle”).

a. Paul was on a mission, with appropriate authority and power to accomplish the mission.

b. Paul understood that he was “set apart” from everything else to focus on one thing: “for the gospel of God.”

***** Another reason the world and some people inside the church no longer take the message seriously is because they don’t believe the messenger is “called” into the service of the King of Kings. Even many messengers do not believe in the “call.” *****

II. What is the appeal of the Gospel?

A. The Gospel (‘good news’) is about Jesus.

1. God kept His promise in Jesus. [“promised beforehand” v 2]

2. Unique to world religions is the historical precedent set by prophecy in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

3. “According to Scripture” has become both a means of speaking truth and referring to prophecy.

***** It seems that some would like to reduce the Bible to human-made words equal with all other human words. The problem with this reasoning is that it does not account for how the various writers of the Bible knew and described in great detail future events. It could not have come out of the human imagination or evolution in religious belief. The only explanation is the existence of God who revealed future events to the writers. If God also revealed events to the writers then God also revealed the various aspects of the message and it’s meaning. *****

B. The focus is on Jesus.

1. Jesus is fully human (not “half” human) [v 3]

2. Jesus is fully God [v 4]

3. The critical issue is Jesus resurrection [v 4].

***** Many of our problems trace back to our understanding or mental picture of God. For instance, if we believe that God knows everything then we won’t try to hide stuff from Him. If we believe that God is all powerful, then we will act like God will actually do something. If we believe that God is holy, then we will have an “obedience that comes from faith.” [v 5] Maybe we really do not believe. *****

C. The fact is “grace.”

1. Grace is God’s desire for us what we cannot do for ourselves. It is the “divine want-to.”

a. You do not have to be “good enough.” Nobody is.

b. You do not have to work hard for God’s favor because it’s already yours.

c. You do not have to jump through hoops to get it or keep it. Jesus already jumped through those hoops for you.

2. It is terrifying to realize you are helpless and have no choice but to depend on someone else.

a. Someone has said, “Fearless are those who are helpless.” Possibly so fearless that we would dare approach the almighty, infinitely holy God in desperation for salvation.

b. Recognizing that we are damaged by sin gives hope because we see the need for someone to heal that damage. This causes us to turn to the only one who can heal our sin sick hearts and lives.

***** It is humbling to be absolutely dependent on someone else. Which keeps many people from the joy’s of the abundant and full life Jesus offers now, and eternal life. *****


III. What is the anticipation for the believer?

A. We are “loved by God.” [v 7]

1. God’s love is unconditional... undeserved, etc.

2. God’s love is ultimate commitment.

B. We are called to be “saints.” [v 7]

1. The word “saints” is ALWAYS plural, never singular. Being holy is a GROUP effort not an individual effort. Being holy never happens in isolation.

2. Traditionally “sainthood” is defined in terms of service

IV. So what?

A. History demonstrates the importance of understanding Romans.

1. Augustine (4th century theologian and “church father”) was converted while reading Romans.

2. Marin Luther (1500's) read “justified by faith” and took it to mean “alone.” Thus, began the Reformation.

3. On May 24, 1738 a discouraged missionary went to a religious meeting where Luther’s comments on this passage was being read. Later he wrote in his journal, “About a quarter before nine, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was give me that He had taken away sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” That missionary was John Wesley.

B. Today, we can study the same words and come to the same understanding.

1. Maybe someone today needs to be saved.

2. Maybe someone today needs to give up their hope in everything else and trust Jesus.

3. Maybe someone today needs to have their heart of stone exchanged for a heart of flesh. And know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Jesus has taken away their sins.

April 23, 2006

1 Corinthians 13:13
Basic Christianity: A Solid Foundation

When all is said and done, you can boil Christianity into three basic principles that are the solid foundation of life. These are Paul’s “three-legged stool.” For Paul, theological truth lead to them and they in turn became the compass of life. You may have your belief system correct but if you do not have your life systems in line with these then your belief system is worthless.

(Ill.) "This is a football."

I. Faith is the future lived now.
[1 Corinthians 15:1 – 11]

A. Faith brings salvation: “Christ died for sins...” (v 3)

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. [1 Timothy 3:15]

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. [John 3:16 – 18]
Who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. [Galatians 1:4]

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. [1 Peter 2:24]

B. Faith brings power: “that He was raised on the third day.” (v 4)

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. [Philippians 3:10]

C. Faith changes relationships: “His death... was not in vain.” (v 10)

II. Hope is confidence changing now.

A. Hope brings endurance.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. [Romans 5:3 – 5]

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Thessalonians 1:3]

B. Hope brings encouragement.

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. [Thessalonians 4:13]

C. Hope motivates moral excellence.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. [3] Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. [1 John 3:2 – 3]

III. Love is living the Christ-life now.

A. God’s love for us claims our loyalty.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:8]
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:35 – 39 ]

Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." [Matthew 22:23 – 40]

B. Our love for God is lived through obedience.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. [2] This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. [3] This is love for God: to obey his commands. [1 John 5:1 – 3a]

C. Our love for God is demonstrated in relationship to others.

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. [1 John 3:11]
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. [1 John 3:18]
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God [1 John 4:7]

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. [1 John 4:11 – 12]

(Ill.) "This is a football."

April 16

John 20:24 – 27
Remembering Jesus: What Happened?

It has become fashionable to follow and create theories denying the death and resurrection of Jesus. So what really happened? We are going to follow the testimony of the witnesses. One of them, John was an eye witness to the events. Mark, a teenager at the time, recalls what he and Peter knew of the events. Matthew, tells us what he knows. Luke was the investigator who questioned witnesses and examined the medical evidence, C. S. I. like.

1. On Tuesday night, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

Mark, who barely escaped that night testifies, “Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” [Mark 14:44]

The thing about Judas was that he was a close follower of Jesus. In fact, he was numbered as one of the special group known as “disciples” and later to become the authoritative “Apostles.” Why did he do it? Nobody knows. John tells us he was a thief [John 12:6], so maybe it was for the 30 pieces of silver. Church mythology has theorized it was to force Jesus to begin a rebellion.

2. On Friday before dawn Jesus is illegally tried twice.

The first trial was before Annas who was the Father-in-law of Caiaphas, the current High Priest. At this trial Caiaphas prophesied, “that it would be good if one man died for the people.” [John 18:14]

The second trial was the formal trial before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of that time, made up mostly of religious leaders. This trial was held at Caiaphas’ home [Luke 22:54]. MANY false witness were brought against Jesus [Mark 14:55 – 56, Matthew 26:59 – 60] but they were not able to convict Him. In fact, He was convicted on his confession: Matthew tells us, “But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." “Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark witnessed, “The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.” [Mark 14:63 – 64]

It is here that Jesus is first beaten, “Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.” [Mark 14:65]

Peter is present at this trial, but has his own problems. In fact, Peter ends up denying knowing Jesus, not once, not twice, but three times. It was a sad night for Jesus’ followers. One disciple betrays – leads a mob – to arrest Jesus. Another, one of the leaders, denies knowing Jesus. It sure looks like the enemy is winning the war at this point.

3. Friday, just after dawn.

Jesus is formally condemned by the Sanhedrin [Luke 22:66 – 71]. It appears to be an attempt to put a legal stamp on the events of the night.

Seeing the conviction, it appears that Judas repents. Matthew tells us, “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. [4] "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility.” [Matthew 27:3 – 4] Now that’s cold. Judas is “seized with remorse” and he admits to having “sinned.” The religious leaders of the day respond with “that’s your responsibility.”
People do not have the power to pardon sin. Judas went to the wrong place, to the wrong people, when he should have gone to the only source of forgiveness... Jesus. That is really hard to do after you’ve betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

After the formal trial, Jesus is then sent to Pilate. [John 18:28 – 38] Pilate is the Roman governor. The Jews were allowed all forms of punishment, except the one the religious leaders wanted this time – death [John 18:31]. Before Pilate, Jesus is accused of “perverting” the country, opposing paying taxes, and claiming to be King [Luke 23:2]. Pilate finds Jesus innocent [Luke 23:4, John 18:34].

Pilate sends Jesus to King Herod Antipas [Luke 23:6 – 12] because Jesus is from Galilee. Luke, the historian, notes that day, two bitter enemies became friends [Luke23:12]. Sadly enemies join in a common cause, against Jesus.

Jesus, failing to provide entertainment for King Herod, is shuffled back to Pilate and sentenced to death [John 19:14]. Apparently this was not done without considerable stress on Pilate. For instance Matthew relates this detail, “While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” [Matthew 27:19].

In what may have been a cruel piece of amusement or an attempt to free Jesus, Pilate puts the crowd to a vote. Mark gives us this detail, “Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.” [Mark 15:6 – 8]. Here is an “insurrectionist” and “murder” who is placed next to Jesus. To put this in modern context, Barabbas is a terrorist who has viciously murdered innocent people. He’s not a soldier, he’s not a freedom fighter, he is a simple terrorist.

Before the vote, Jesus is “flogged.” John, who was there said it went down this way, “With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. [39] But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release `the king of the Jews'?" They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. [John 18:38b – 19:1] After the flogging, Pilate has another vote: Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." [5] When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" [John 19:4 – 5]

Flogging is very brutal. Typically the victim was whipped 39 times with a whip that included stones and sharp objects. The idea was for the stones to bruise and tenderize the skin and cause bleeding. The sharp objects were there to tear away the flesh. A crown of thorns was put on Jesus head [John 19:2] and a purple robe was added for the mocking effect of royalty [John 19:2].

John observes that Pilate is struggling with his role in the matter. “From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha)” [John 19:12 – 13]

After the sentence of death Jesus is handed over to the soldiers who administer the third beating of the day. The crown was then crushed down with a staff [Matthew 27:30] and the purple robe is ripped off Jesus’ raw back [Matthew 27:31].

4. Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Jesus is lead away to be crucified. This becomes a circus of sorts. The soldiers “cast lots” to see who got Jesus clothes [Mark 15:24 – 32]. Pilate put an inscription on the cross that was in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The inscription? “King of the Jews.” [John 19:19 – 20]. Jesus is mocked by the crowd [Mark 15:29], mocked by the religious leaders [Mark 15:31], mocked by the soldiers [Luke 23:36].

An interesting turn of events hints at the victory the cross would bring. In Matthew [27:44] we are told the two thieves, being crucified with Jesus, railed on Jesus. However, Luke discovered that one of the thieves had a change of heart. Luke writes, “But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” [Luke 23:40 – 43]

This criminal recognizes who Jesus is, asks for salvation, and gets it.

Jesus’ mom was at the cross when Jesus died. Also there was, Cleopas’ wife, Mary Magdalene, and John. [John 19:25 – 27]

5. Friday, from noon to 3:00 p.m.

Lots of things happened at this time. Maybe the most ominous was the darkness. [Mark 15:33, Matthew 27:45, Luke 23:44]. This was an unnatural event that has been explained various ways. Certainly, this could not have been part of any human plan.

Mark tells it this way: “At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. [34] And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Mark 15:33 – 34] (A quote from Psalm 22:1)

A thousand years before this event, David, the ancient King of Israel wrote Psalm 22. Psalm 22 described the details of a Roman crucifixion long before there was a Roman empire.

Listen to these remarkable details:

* PS 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, SCORNED by men and DESPISED by the people.
* PS 22:7 – 8 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
* PS 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. [Out of join is consistent with the jolt from dropping the cross into the ground. Heart has turned to wax, would have defined the burning sensation in the chest area as the victim struggled to breath.]
* PS 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. [The intense thirst.]
* PS 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. [“Dogs” would have been the common mispronunciation of the word for “Gentile” and refers to the Roman soldiers. The piercing of the hands and feet the nails that were used in the crucifixion.]
* PS 22:17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. [The humiliating exposure of hanging on the cross.]
* PS 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
* PS 22:30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. [We see the hope found in our Easter celebration.]

John then describes the last moments on the cross with these words, “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." [29] A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. [30] When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” [John 19:28 – 30]

Notice that Jesus laid His life down, it was not taken or stolen. For the mere mortal it would have been the end. But this is Jesus, the Christ, the King of Glory, the son of God. There is more to the story. Much, much more.

6. In Jerusalem at the time of His death.

Matthew describes the scene this way: “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. [52] The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” [Matthew 27:51 – 53]

The veil in the temple is torn from TOP to BOTTOM. The veil had been on thing separating God’s Holy of Holies from the rest of humanity. It was a symbol of the separation between God and Man due to sin. Since it was torn from top to bottom, we can only understand this as God the Father tore it open Himself... it was not the effect of the earthquake. The mass resurrection was also another supernatural event.

These events are beyond what any conspiracy theory can begin to explain away.

7. Friday afternoon before 6:00 p.m.

The body had to be disposed of quickly. John described what happened this way, “Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. [32] The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. [33] But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. [35] The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. [36] These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," [37] and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced.” [John 19:31 – 37]

Remember this was a professional Roman soldier, not an idiot. The Romans were as efficient at their work as any US Marine. They were the best. The knew death when they saw death. This soldier sees that Jesus is dead and makes sure that Jesus is dead. The flow of water and blood would have been consistent with the fluid build up in the lungs of a person who had been crucified.

Joseph of Armathea is given the body to be buried.

8. Friday after 6:00 p.m. before sunset.

Jesus is buried. He is placed in a tomb that is sealed with a sizable stone. The stones were custom cut and put into groove then rolled down-hill in the grove. Each of these stone weighed around 1 ton. They could be moved only with considerable effort.

It is sad that people could think that a man who had lost the kind of blood Jesus would have in his beatings and crucifixion, not had any water for this long, had spike size nails run through his hands and feet, and had a spear puncture a lung and major artery (if not heart) could recover enough to escape the tomb by rolling away a 1 ton stone and beating 4 Roman soldiers. It’s not going to happen.

The women begin a watch of the tomb. [Matthew 27:61] Around sunset they returned to prepare spices and ointments. [Luke 23:56]

9. Saturday morning.

The religious leaders when to Pilate and demanded a guard. [Matthew 27:62 – 66] You see they remembered Jesus saying He would rise from the dead. Oddly enough, the disciples seemed to have forgotten. So they sealed the stone with a Roman seal and set a guard. Again these were the finest soldiers in the world who would have forfeited their lives if their charge escaped. They would not have sealed an empty tomb, nor would they have moved the body. If they did, then they would have produced it when rumors of the resurrection began to fly.

10. Sunday before sunrise.

Matthew gives us these details: “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. [Matthew 28:2 – 4]

By the time the women are able to return to the tomb, the stone is rolled away so that everyone could see that it is empty!

Jesus has died Friday, probably around 3:00 p.m. and was buried before sunset. He laid, dead, in the tomb all of Saturday and about 10 hours of Sunday. That makes 3 days, and counting the supernatural night of Friday, 3 nights.

11. Sunday just after sunrise.

The women didn’t find the body. Instead they found a stone that had been rolled away, an empty tomb, and an angel announcing Jesus’ resurrection. Matthew tells this part of the story like this: “The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” [Matthew 28:5 – 9]
Jesus made 5 appearances that day. To Mary Madgalene [John 20:11 – 18, Mark 16:9 – 11], to the women [Matthew 28:9 – 10], to the two on the road to Emmaus [Mark 16:12 – 13, Luke 24:13 – 32], to Peter [Luke 24:34], then to the 10 other disciples [Mark 16:14, Luke 24:36 – 43, John 20:19 — 25]. In the next 40 days, Jesus would make 5 more appearances and be seen by more than 500 people.

12. Finally we get to Thomas.

How many of us have said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” [John 20:25b]?

Ok, we haven’t said it out loud. But do you really believe?
* Is it believing when you don’t say something to someone who needs to hear about the life changing encounter with a living Jesus Christ?
* Is it believing when you knowingly and deliberately do something you know is wrong or avoid doing something you know is right?
* Is it believing when you find other things to do than come to the place God has chosen to meet His people at the appointed time?
* Is it believing when you don’t experience the life changing resurrection of Jesus Christ for yourself?
Today is the day for you to end your doubt and declare, along with Thomas: “My Lord and my God!” Will you do so now?

April 9, 2006

Luke 19:28 – 44
Remembering Jesus: King of Kings (part 6)

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
[Zechariah 9:9]

This may have been the most unusual event in Jesus’ life. Jesus was publically announcing the He is the Messiah - “the anointed one,” who was to be King.

I. The MAJESTY of the King.

A. The King is gentle.

1. “Greatness is the ability to condescend.”

a. Jesus came riding a donkey (commoner), not a horse (military, royal).

b. Philippians 2:6 – 11 (read)

1.) “Made Himself nothing...”

2.) “Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place.”

c. Revelation 5:1 – 10 (read)

1.) “Lion of the tribe of Judah.”

2.) “Lamb, looking as if it had been slain.”

3.) “You are worthy... because you were slain...”

2. Man aspires to rule and achieve... Jesus humbled Himself to serve and provide.

B. The King is righteous.

1. Jesus was “so righteous” that even the experts of the Law could not find a valid accusation against Him.

a. They had watched Him carefully.

b. They set traps for Him.

c. They used false witnesses.

d. Even Judas, who betrayed Jesus said, “I have betrayed innocent blood.” [Matthew 27:4]

2. Jesus was/is the “sinless”/perfect lamb.

a. What we call “Palm Sunday” was the 10th day of the month... according to O.T. Law, that was the day the Passover Lamb was chosen.

b. Jesus became that perfect Passover lamb.

c. Jesus was... “tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.” [Hebrews 4:5b]

II. The MASTERY of the King.

A. Jesus calmed a donkey.

1. Nobody questioned Jesus’ claim to use the donkey.

2. It was a “small” demonstration of Jesus’ lordship.

a. Jesus had commanded devils to leave.

b. Jesus had calmed the sea.

c. Jesus had healed the sick.

d. Jesus had walked on water.

e. Jesus had known the thoughts of people.

f. Jesus had changed the physical elements (water into wine).

g. Jesus had forgiven sin.

h. Jesus had fed 5,000+ with 5 loaves and 2 fish (and had left overs).

B. The King tamed a donkey.

1. It takes 8 weeks to “break” a donkey.

2. It takes even longer to train a donkey to behave in a crowd of shouting people.

III. The MINISTRY of the King.

A. The King brings righteousness.

1. We need righteousness.

a. Look at the sins running/driving our country.

b. Our church leaders have confessed to an ungodly obsession with numbers and pragmatism.

c. Our own lives are full of inconsistences.

2. Righteousness can only be when Jesus is King!

B. The King brings salvation.

1. “The blood of the covenant.”

a. [Matthew 26:28] “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

b. freedom to prisoners (to sin).

Proverbs 5:22 – 23, “The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.”

2. The sacrifice on the cross brings salvation...

a. ...from the penalty of our sin.

b. ...from the guilt of our sin.

c. ...from the power of our sin.

d. ...from the presence of sin.

1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

IV. The MANDATE of the King.

A. You must answer the question: “Who is this?”

1. Is Jesus someone who lived a good life and gives good advice?

2. Is Jesus some sort of deceiver? (A con, liar, or insane person)

3. Is Jesus truly King?

B. You must answer the question: “What now?”

1. Will you walk away and say...

a. “Not for me.”

b. “Not today, I’ll think about it.”

c. “I need time.”

2. Will you bend your knee to King Jesus?

April 2, 2006 P.M.

Mark 9:2 – 8
“What now?”

***** What if what you thought you knew about Christianity was wrong? *****

Background – Jesus has just feed the 5,000, He’s taught them to take up the cross and follow Him.
Experience of the transfiguration is powerful, spiritually, visually, and emotionally. It begs the question: WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR?

I. Are you searching for the supernatural?

A. The transfiguration was a powerful even.

1. Visually:

a. Jesus’ clothes shined, in Matthew’s account, His face shined like the sun.

b. Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus. (These were hero’s of the faith.)

2. Emotionally:

a. “for they were greatly afraid.” They did not understand what was happening.

b. There was connection between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. It was an extreme honor to be in the presence of these three heros.

B. This was a miraculous event.

1. The power of God was plain.

a. The disciples got to see Jesus’ glory (partially)

b. The disciples got to hear about Jesus death (Luke) and resurrection.

2. Elijah was the one who had not died.

3. Moses was the one who had died yet was alive.

III. Are you looking for the spectacular?

A. The feeling:

1. This was a privilege, only 3 of the disciples were there.

2. They heard God the Father speak directly to them!

B. The blessing:

1. Witnessing this event would boost their emotional and spiritual state (if not status).

2. Maybe this was a reason James and John fought over who was the greatest...

III. Are you looking for the super-spiritual?

A. The planning.

1. This was a great event.

a. After great events we tend to want to build momentum.

b. After great events we want to cherish and relive instead of moving on (let’s build...)

2. The desire/expectation was to make this a permanent state.

a. After all, wasn’t this the coming of the kingdom?

b. Events seemed to be building to this climax?

***** If they had stayed on the mountain top, they would have missed the best events that were still to come. *****

B. The constant asking:

1. The disciples had their own ideas.

a. They were always asking questions, but not for the right reasons.

b. They were trying to make sense of Jesus, make Him fit into their understanding.

2. The request seemed to be triggered by anxiety.

a. Peter felt he had to say something... anything.

b. Peter said a lot of interesting things... incurable?

3. They were listening to everyone and everything except Jesus.

a. Their beliefs (background, traditions) did not allow them to consider Jesus dying.

b. The physical world did not allow them to understand “rising from the dead.”

IV. How about you?

A. What are you seeking?

1. Are you seeking a powerful event?

a. Is that why you come to church?

b. Is that why you pray for revival?

2. Are you seeking the miraculous event?

a. Maybe you want healing.

b. Maybe you want to feel the presence of God.

Churches do a lot to inspire the FEELING of the presence of God, through incense, lighting, music, etc..

3. Are you seeking the special feeling?

a. Nothing compares to being in the presence of God.

b. When we “feel” that we “feel” that we are special to God.

4. Are you seeking the blessing?

a. We want our souls and spirits lifted and filled.

b. We want to be honored by God’s working through our lives.

5. Are you planning?

a. Because we feel like planning the next step is the right response.

b. Because we want the critical mountain top experience to last.

6. Are you anxious?

a. We spend a lot of time listening to what is not true instead of Jesus.

b. We doubt and do not know what to do.

7. Are you constantly asking:

a. for what is good BUT mostly temporary?

b. for what we want?

Can you join Habakkuk when he says: (Hab 3:17 – 18)

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
[18] yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

***** Is God enough? *****

Paul learned this: (2 Cornithians 12:9 – 10)

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

***** Is God enough? *****

Notice that when the transfiguration was over: “they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.”
It seems that when we WANT we are trying to use God and we labor for ourselves. If the only thing that happened was that God would to save you and you lived the rest of your spiritual life without all the extras and frills, would God’s grace be enough?

You see we’ve lied to ourselves, thinking all these other things were necessary. In reality we’ve replaced Jesus with a weak idol of an event.

[For further thought see A. B. Simpson’s song “Himself.”]

April 2, 2006

1 Corinthians 11:23 – 25
Remembering Jesus: the new covenant.

Jesus set aside the first to establish a new covenant [Hebrews 10:9]. This new covenant gives us God’s love which sparks fire, life, and newness.

I. God’s love sparks the fire.

A. In the “Old” we learn that we are not “good enough.”

1. We try to behave thinking:

a. if we are only “good enough” then God will let us in.

b. if we are only “good enough” God will do something good for us.

c. if we are only “good enough” God will keep bad stuff from happening to us.

d. if we are only “good enough” God will, like Santa Clause, show up with good stuff.

2. The old covenant, “the Law,” made it clear:

a. you could do everything right but not be right with God.

b. you could never bring enough sacrifices.

c. the sacrifices had to be endlessly repeated because they could not free you from sin’s guilt or control.

B. Before the Old Covenant there was a principle = FAITH

1. Abraham was justified BEFORE there was “the Law.”

Genesis 15:6 says “Abram BELIEVED the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
James 2:23 says, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.”
Again in Galatians 3:6 we read, “Consider Abraham: He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

a. “Believe” is an action verb. It is something you do. James 2:24 states, “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”

b. Belief goes beyond trying to be good. Galatians 3:7 tells us, “Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.” and Galatians 3:9 says, “So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

2. Faith (“belief”) is the rule of life.

a. Habakkuk 2:4b states: “but the righteous will live by his faith”

Galatians 3:11 – 12a, “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." [12] The law is not based on faith.”

b. Romans 1:17 emphasizes, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

***** In other words it is not our merit, it’s Jesus righteousness. *****

II. God’s love sparks the life.

A. The image of the temple sacrifices in the Old covenant:

1. Temple layout:

a. There was only one entrance.

b. To get in you had to pass the alter.

1.) It was large and elevated.

2.) It was polished to act like a mirror.

2. The priest would cut the sacrifice’s throat.

a. Blood would pour out of the animal.

1.) The blood was sprinkled on the alter (probably splatter on the people).

2.) The rest of the blood would go in a drainage ditch.

b. Blood, smoke, and ash was everywhere... it was required to enter the presence of God.

2. These sacrifices had to be offered for every offense.

B. The heart issue was REPENTANCE.

1. A costly penalty had to be paid for sin.

a. God knows that it is easy to get good at being bad.

b. The “uncanny valley” is when the work becomes so good it seems almost real... it becomes creepy.

1.) The more “almost” the deeper and more important the distinction between life and lifeless.

2.) We can get used to being “almost” alive and harden our heart.

2. The hard heart is a serious problem and a real promise.

a. Ezeliel 36:26 tells us, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

b. God wants to exchange the lifelike and lifeless with real life.

***** This makes us completely new. *****

III. God’s love sparks the newness.

A. The old is a matter of the past.

1. We start life condemned..

a. It’s why we are looking for something/someone.

b. It’s why we have a nagging sense of fear.

c. It’s why there is a pit of emptiness that we can not permanently fill.

2. God wants to change that and take it away.

a. Jesus paid the penalty for the possibility.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

b. In the most brutal, unfair even of human history, Jesus took the whipping for us. Jesus took the nails for us. Jesus took the bleeding for us. Jesus took the mocking for us. Jesus took the grave for us.

B. Are you tired, hurting, lonely, weighted down with guilt?

1. God WANTS to trade you:

a. God WANTS to trade the good things He has for the bad things you have.

b. Why? Because you are valuable to Him – not for anything you can do – but simply BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.

2. God wants to be your God.

a. God wants to give you a heart of flesh, a new life.

b. God wants to show those other things that drive you will leave you empty and broken and used up. God wants to make you new.