Sermon Select

Let Freedom Ring 6/27/99

Leviticus 27:17-19

Jesus Christ said, “… you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

He said this in the context of His disciples of all ages knowing and abiding in His Word. Spiritual and political freedom aren’t always arm locked twins. Spiritual freedom can exist regardless of externals. However, those who enjoy it are best suited to create and cultivate social, political, and moral freedom.

Etched on the rim of our nations revered Liberty Bell are the words of our text: “Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety” (Lev. 25:19).

What a marvelous promise and provision. Globally few nations have ever enjoyed the bounty of the land and freedom from oppression as we. Yet, every civilization is only one generation away from losing such heritage. Let’s not be that generation.

As we rejoice in the promise of our text we must look at the preceding verse to find the reason for such.

“So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety.” (Leviticus 25:18)

These are the conditions for the blessings. How are we doing?

II CHRONICLES 7:14 is an amplification of the text: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Recently Lady Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain spoke in our community. Among the many wise statements she made was this: “For freedom to prevail there must be the honorable and just application of the law.” Her thesis was that freedom is only possible when bordered by protective law and order. Our founding fathers knew this and designed for us a government of law and order.

In our rush for freedom we have broken many of God’s laws and distorted the laws of our predecessors which were based on our Constitution. Our Constitution was emphatically based on Biblical principles. When we violate the laws of God we do not break them, we break ourselves.

Dr. Kyle Yates had two beloved grandchildren who had their tonsils removed at the same time. The loving grandparents gave them a gift of two goldfish. Like creative children they named them in light of their own experience. What else? Tonsils and Adenoids.

When the children went home they took Tonsils and Adenoids with them. A few days later one of the children was looking out the front window when the grandparents came for a visit. He shouted to his brother the good news they were there. One of them picked up the bowl with the two fish and went racing through the house to show their prize pets. And he ran down the sidewalk he tripped. See it in slow motion. The bowl floats through the air with the child reaching for it as water begins to spill. Dramatically it crashes onto the sidewalk and shards of glass scatter as water splashes. There on the hot pavement are Tonsils and Adenoids flopping around. Good news! They are free at last. They are free…. free, free to die.

Individuals and societies that break God’s laws are free, free to die.

I. GOD APPEALS FOR HIS PEOPLE TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES
God’s Word appeals for His people to humble themselves. In light of our public disgrace, our virus of violence, lewd and vulgar entertainment God’s people should find it easy to humble themselves.

Humility does not preclude convictions and courage. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence were humble but brave men. They had the courage of their convictions.

Humility does not imply having an offend no body, tolerate everything, and stand for nothing attitude. It might mean having to face those who shout at you “bigot,” or “radical,” or “reactionary.”

Our word patriotism comes from the Latin root “pater,” which means “father.” Our country is our fatherland. We call those who forged the foundations of our country our Founding Fathers.

As America was being birthed there walked among the Founding Fathers a mousy little wisp of a man. He was about 5’6″ and weighted around 100 pounds. His weak voice didn’t have the resonance of Patrick Henry, nor the dynamism of Ben Franklin. He was brainy and bookish enough to graduate from Princeton in two years. He lacked social skills, never participated in sports, nor distinguished himself in any way. Eleven of the twelve boys in his graduating class had a part in the exercise, he didn’t.

Being shy around girls he didn’t fall in love and become engaged until 31. The engagement lasted six weeks and the girl broke it off. This increased his feeling of inferiority and he didn’t marry until 43.

It wouldn’t appear that such a person could achieve. However, I have only noted his weaknesses. He had two primary strengths his great mind and humble spirit.

At the age of 36 he represented Virginia at the Constitution Convention in Philadelphia. Here he stood with the greats: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, George Mason, and Alexander Hamilton. They physically towered over him. Him being, that mousy little James Madison.

Later when the Virginia Legislature met to ratify the proposed Constitution the big guns opposed ratification. The silver-tongued orator Patrick Henry who had roused the colonies earlier with his “give me liberty or give me death” address thundered against ratification of the Constitution.

The clerk of the Convention wrote, “Mr. Madison responded, but his voice was so low that he could hardly be heard.” Then Henry would roar again. The clerk wrote, “Mr. Madison brought out some facts, but his voice was very weak.”

Who prevailed? That’s right the mousy little weak voiced James Madison. Virginia ratified and James Madison became known as the “Father of our Constitution.”

Later he served for eight years as Secretary of State under President Thomas Jefferson. When he succeeded Jefferson as president, Jefferson said of him he was a man of “pure and spotless virtue.”

In 1821 as President he issued a proclamation which called upon the people to do what God has called on us to do, “humble themselves and pray.” In that proclamation he appealed for people to “acknowledge their transgressions which might provoke Divine displeasure.”

II. PRAY
One of the primary prayers that needs to be offered over and over is a prayer of repentance and confession. Confession is an apology to God that results in happiness. He deserves an apology. It is His law we have broken, His love we have spurned, His purpose we have subverted.

The portion of Scripture on our Liberty Bell states, “the land will yield its fruit…” It speaks of dwelling in the land in “safety.” II Chronicles 7:14 speaks of God healing the land of His repentant people.

Safety is lacking in the land because people having violated God’s standards have little regard for others.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren E. Burger stated, “America is being reduced to the status of an impotent society, whose capability of maintaining elementary security on the streets, in the schools, and for the homes of our people is in doubt.”

We love to sing of the “Sweet Land of Liberty.” We need to revive the concept that only “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

If the Spirit of the Lord isn’t in control liberty becomes licence. A person without the controlling dynamic of the Holy Spirit may be uninhibited but liberty is lost.

Jefferson’s voice cracks like a whip across the face of disrespect and disobedience in these words inscribed in the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.:
“Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are a gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, That this justice cannot sleep forever.”

Our culture has lost its sense of awe and awareness of the blessings of God inherent in His will. A German theologian, Martin Buber, wrote a book, the thesis of which is the “I – it” relation. He stated we have things we love and speak of loving “it.” Things are loved.

He then broadened his thought to include an “I – thou” relationship. This speaks of interpersonal relationships. We are to love “thous” not “its.” Having dehumanized human life from the moment of conception we have degenerative regard for it at any stage. Considering people as “its” violence has erupted. In this sea of violence there needs to be islands of love, harbors of concern and the people of God must provide them.

If God’s people, His remnant, regardless of how few will do as He has commanded they can still be the salt, the preservative of our society. God has saved America more than once and can do it again. A classic example involved General George Washington. On the west end of Long Island in the area now known as Brookline, General Washington’s army of 8,000 was trapped by the 32,000 man army of the British General Howe. Cut off by the mile wide East River the final blow to the emerging union was poised. Unexplainably, General Howe, poised and ready to strike, delayed anticipating the final assault at the next dawn.

All around the people in their homes and churches prayed. Repentant hearts and saintly souls called upon the Lord.

In his diary Major Ben Tolmedge described what happened. In small boats and on rafts the army of Washington rushed to attempt a withdrawal during the night. It soon became apparent the night would not be long enough to effect the withdrawal. Then a weather phenomenon uncharacteristic of that season occurred. During the night a “Peculiar fog rose from the ground and river and settled over both camps until the last boat containing General Washington evacuated.”

God let the people dwell in the land in safety. No less a miracle is needed today.

III. AND SEEK MY FACE
Facial expressions are a dead give away of ones thoughts. This reality is employed to appeal to us to seek to understand God’s will.

God’s will is no more clearly revealed than in His written word, the Bible.

Of it Andrew Jackson said, “That Book, Sirs, is the rock upon which our Republic rests.”

Daniel Webster noted, “If we go on abiding by the truths taught in the Bible we will go on prospering, but if we do not, catastrophe may suddenly overwhelm us.”

It is not that we do not know God’s will it is that many have chosen to disregard it.

Not only is our nation in general failing to seek God’s face there is a concerted effort to exclude His face from every public place under the misunderstanding of the term “separation of church and state.” Ten Baptists got the principle included in the Bill of Rights. Now it appears 10,000,000 Baptists and their allies can’t keep it there. The principle was fostered to prevent there from being favoritism paid to any one denomination as was being done in England and Europe at the time.

Evidence of how far we have come is seen in that Thomas Jefferson, as chairman of the school board in Washington D.C., led the body to purchase Bibles for distribution in the public schools. They established the chaplaincy and authorized prayer in the Congress.

James Madison had no intention to exclude God from the public forum. He was a primary figure in writing the First Amendment with the intent to insure religious freedom.

History records that Madison was to run for public office against a Baptist preacher, John Leland. Surveys indicated Leland would win 5 to 1. However, he didn’t want to run. The two met under a tree on the corner of what is now Madison and Leland Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. There Leland educated Madison on separation of church and state. He assured Madison he would not oppose him in the election if Madison would include the principle of separation of church and state in the Bill of Rights. Leland didn’t run, Madison was elected, and the Bill of Rights was written. The purpose was not to expel God from government and society, but simply to insure no one denomination would be given preference over any other.

We must return to the God of our fathers and seek His face.

Living without God’s plan in our lives is like sewing without thread. It is like writing our name in water.

It is God’s plan that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. That is His will. Have you ever aligned your will with His at this point of conjunction?

Preparation for a New Millennium 1/3/99

Exodus 14:13-16
(Page 102 Come Alive Bible)

JESUS CHRIST said to His followers: “Go into all the world and make disciples…” God’s people have always been under orders. His orders often involve the little word “go.” A vivid illustration of this is found in our text.

It detracts a bit from the story when you know the end from the beginning. To understand something of the emotion of the people involved in the epoch recorded in Exodus, remember they did not know the end from the beginning. They knew only that Moses had promised to lead them as Jehovah directed him. Their confidence was, at the point we pick up the story, at an all time low. They knew only that the moaning sea was before them and a raging army behind them.

They were right where God wanted them.

They were bivouacked between Pi-Hahiroth and Baal-Zephon. They were in a hopeless situation.

We see ourselves mirrored in them. God had blessed and cared for them up to this point. He had promised to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. However, many past blessings are forgotten in light of one present perplexity.

Pharaoh’s army had them hemmed-up in a narrow plain with mountains on one side, an expansive marsh on the other, and the Red Sea before them. Now note:

I. DELAY WHY DO YOU CRY TO ME? (VS. 15)
Moses and the people had been crying out to God. Mixed with their prayers for deliverance were cries of despair and derision. This added to their paralysis of fear.

In effect God said, “It is time to stop praying and start acting.” Christians today need to pray frequently and earnestly but there is a time to stop praying and start acting.

Moses had come to that time.

II. DANGER
The sea would engulf them. The army would annihilate them. Neither posed as their greatest threat. Their greatest danger was to give in to the temptation to go back. They appealed to Moses to let them go back and serve the Egyptians voluntarily as slaves.

One of the greatest threats to the average Christian’s progress is the allurement to go back. A search for security and conformity defeats the cause of Christ.

We are one year from a new millennium. Do you suppose the calendar knows the difference in December 31, 1999, and January 1, 2000? Will the animal world and all of nature be able to tell the difference? Likely not.

There are persons capitalizing on the dawning of a new era. Scare sells and therefore it is being marketed. Some speculate it will mark the end of the world. Others declare it will be the occasion of the second coming of Christ. The last millennium resulted in the emergence of a number of cults proclaiming dooms day. Already they are emerging. In the next months expect to hear all sorts of scare stories that would make great science fiction movies.

There is however one new element in the mix of this millennium known as Y2K. It refers to computer crashes resulting from an encoded date preventing the computer from reading the year 2000. Alarmist say it will result in bank failures, loss of investment records, disruption of medical services, traffic gridlock, food shortages, utility failures, missiles misfiring of nuclear war heads, and many other dramatic disasters. It is a matter deserving serious consideration.

“Newsweek” carried a cover story stating, “The day the world shuts down.” The article called it “The event that could paralyze the world.”

“Computer World” stated, “The problem is far worse than even the pessimists believe.”

Senator Stephen Horn, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology reported on behalf of the committee that of 7,300 mission critical systems in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government only 50% are Y2K compliant.

It is estimated it will cost over $600 billion to fix the problem. That is one reason Greenspan has been lowering interest rates. It provides funds to make the repairs.

The Federal Reserve has already ordered the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to print and store $50 billion extra cash in the event misled or panicky people rush ATM’s or conventional banks.

However, there are optimists. Federal Reserve Governor, Edward W. Kelley, Jr. noted: “I would expect Y2K shock to our information and electronic control infrastructure is most likely to be short- lived and fully reversed.” Kelley said the greatest problem is likely the fear of the bug itself.

The impact is likely to be lessened because people who were warned appreciated the warning and have responded positively.

With such mixed signals what should a person do? Be prepared. Some are suggesting some practical steps that are good under any circumstance. Things such as: Get hard copies of vital records, such as, birth certificates, insurance policies, title deeds, investments, store several days of food and water in case there is an interruption of these services. The main thing is don’t panic.

III. DETERRENTS
A. Fear. Vs. 13, “Do not be afraid.” The expression actually means stop being afraid. Don’t ever take counsel of your fears. We should never fear to do God’s will.

B. Self-Assertion. Vs. 14, “The Lord will fight for you, and you should hold your peace.” Note, there is a two- fold involvement including God and man. God “will fight for you” conditioned upon you holding “your peace.” We are to confidently rely upon the Lord.

This expression is an encouragement to have faith.

C. Reluctance to Venture. We must venture or vegetate.

-Don’t let obscurities and enigmas stop you.

-Don’t ever think little steps are not important. We are to: “grow in grace” “add to your faith virtue” “change from glory to glory.”

IV. DUTY “GO”
This demands decision and energy. This is dependent upon Him. God is not a God who says “Go forward” without giving strength with which to go.

If we do what we know to do, He will then reveal what next we ought to do.

V. DIRECTION “FORWARD”
“When in trouble, when in doubt, Run in circles, scream and shout.” Going isn’t enough. Direction is critical. Many people go back or around and feel that motion is momentum. Spiritually we are to follow our beloved Lord forward.

Why were they to go forward? Was there less danger? Was it the path of least resistance? No! It was the path of duty in compliance with God’s command. All of nature goes forward. Rivers run forward, the wind blows forward, and the earth itself goes forward in its orbit. Philosophy, science, art, music and time go forward. It is presumption to think that Christians should not progress in their spiritual growth. We have an appointment in eternity; an engagement at the judgement seat. Therefore, we must move on toward it.

Our motto should be: “Excelsior,” or “Aundiamo,” that is “Forward.”

Missionary David Livingston wrote that He was willing to go anywhere his mission society sent him for God, “provided it be forward.”

VI. DECISION
God used the wind to plow a furrow through the sea once He saw their willingness to obey.

Indecision is decision. If they had demurred and delayed until tomorrow, they would have been defeated.

Be prepared. In light of the Y2K potential persons are being warned to be prepared. Most such encouragement has to do with physical planning. Be prepared spiritually by making the decision to let Christ be Savior AND Lord of our life.

VII. DELIGHT
God enabled them to emerge victoriously. The Book of Revelation speaks of the “song of Moses and the Lamb.” Moses’ song was a song of victory.

Epaphroditus: A Confident Plodder 8/29/99

Philippians 2:25-26

Jesus Christ said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

In an agricultural society this is better understood. A person plowing a field wants to have straight rows. However, if he keeps looking back he can see where he has been but can’t see where he is going and the row gets crooked quickly. The idea is full steam straight ahead for there to be progress. It is an appeal to make a valid decision and murder the alternatives. Go for it! Keep on keeping on.

A plodder is a person who persistently progresses in pursuit of a purpose. They set their objective and consistently pay the price to achieve their objective. Many of life’s most productive persons have been admirable plodders.

The most dramatic and popular iron man race in the world is the Hawaii Iron Man. Contestants swim 2.4 miles, ride a bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles. Thomas Hellgrin is a world class iron man contestant with a number of victories. In the Hawaii race he was a favorite. In the swimming he did extremely well, in the bike portion he floundered a bit. In the last segment as he set out on the 26 miles running his body reacted on him as never before. He slowed to a trot, finally a walk. Eventually had to be taken to an emergency station. Thereafter they made him stop at every medical check point to be sure he wasn’t risking his life. As he staggered the last miles of the race many of his friends and competitors passed him as he plodded along. Seeing his agony every one of them simply said, “Finish the course.” As one of the last competitors he crossed the finish line having finished the course.

Spiritually our Lord is pulling for you to stay the course and finish the course. Every Christian should be a living exhortation to every other one — FINISH THE COURSE.

NO failure is final until you accept it as such. There is no failure other than within. There is no failure except in no longer trying. Only passion with a purpose can elevate a person to great things.

When driven by a definite desire the body, mind, and will are focused and working together. They are plodding toward one objective. When your overarching desire is to please the Lord in all you do that colors all of life as tea in a bag permeates the whole cup.

In the evolving history of the American military there was a day when persons were given a rank depending upon how many men they enlisted. In the Black Hawk War a young man from Illinois was made a Captain in the army. One day he was drilling his men and they came to a gate in a fence. So inept was he that he didn’t know the command to give to cause the men to march through the gate single file. He simply commanded the company to halt, fall out, and reassemble on the other side of the gate. This young captain was so deficient they soon made him a private. BUT, he was a plodder. His name was Abraham. He knew many failures in life.

1832 he lost his job and failed in his race for state legislature.
1833 his newly founded business failed.
1834 he enjoyed the success of being elected to the Illinois legislature.
1836 he had a nervous breakdown.
1838 he was defeated as speaker.
1843 he was defeated in the nomination for Congress.
1846 he was elected to Congress.
1848 he lost his bid for reelection.
1854 he was defeated for U.S. Senate.
1856 he was defeated in his bid for Vice President.
1856 he was again defeated for the U.S. Senate.
1860 he, Abraham Lincoln, was elected President of the United States.
He was a plodder.

Journey with me now into the ranks of obscure Bible characters and let’s learn from a productive plodder. His name isn’t a household name: EPAPHRODITUS.

He was a trusted courier sent by the church in Philippi to share their financial support for Paul and encourage him.

EPAPHRODITUS would not have been Exhibit A of the prototype of a helper to be sent. However, we should rejoice that our Lord is accustomed to using unlikely people who are willing.

In the novel by Alexander Irvine entitled, “My Lady of the Chimney Corner” a lady went to comfort a neighbor whose child had died. Irvine writes of the moment:
“As gently as falls an autumn leaf, she laid her hand on Eliza’s head: ‘Ah, woman, God isn’t a printed book to be carried aroun’ by a man in fine clothes, nor a cross danglin’ at the watch chain of a priest. God takes the hand wherever he can find it, and just does what He likes with it. Sometimes He takes a Bishop’s hand and lays it on a child’s head in benediction, and then He takes the hand of a doctor to relieve pain, the hand of a mother to guide a child, and sometimes He takes the hand of a poor old man like me to give comfort to a neighbor. But they’re all hands touched by His Spirit, and His Spirit is everywhere lukin’ for hands to use.’”

Plodders like EPAPHRODITUS make their hands available and the world stands amazed at their use. Four fabulous compliments are paid this man in one brief statement.

“MY BROTHER”
The meaning of this expression is they shared a spiritual life. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Spiritual life requires a new birth. Jesus stated it three times when the inquiring Nicodemus probed Him: “You must be born again…”

When two persons trust Christ as Savior they both become the children of God. They have the same Heavenly Father. That means they are brother or sisters in Christ. This is blood kin that last beyond this earthly life.

The Gospel of John uses an expression repetitiously that explains how this process begins. “Believe in His name.” In the Gospel of John the word “believe” is always used to emphasize an activity, something to be done. The New English Bible translation of this verse makes it clear what is to be done: “To those who yield to Him their allegiance, he gave the right to become the child of God” (John 1: 12).

You can drive to heaven in a go-cart easier than you can get to heaven without believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. It would be easier to put the North Georgia mountains in an aspirin box, easier to put the Pacific Ocean in a Coke bottle than to get to heaven without believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John makes it clear how this process of new birth is accomplished.

It is “not of blood,” that is, it is not of GENERATION. It isn’t inherited as a result of being born of Christian parents.

It is “not of the will of the flesh,” that is, it is not of REFORMATION. It isn’t by simply gritting your teeth and determining to change your nature by reforming your habits.

It is “not of the will of man,” that is, it is not of CONFIRMATION. Man-centered planning can achieve it.

It is “of God,” that is, it is by REGENERATION. When we yield our allegiance to Jesus Christ God the Father adopts us as His born again children.

Epaphroditus was a —
FELLOW WORKER

The word “fellow” translates the Greek SYNERGON. In that word can be heard our word synergy which means to work together.

The church always needs additional workers. I am reminded of the pastor who said he spent most of the week looking for a teacher for the “Willing Workers” Sunday School class.

We can learn much from the world of sports. In sports a team isn’t successful unless it has a unified vision. It doesn’t matter how talented the members of a team are they don’t win championships if they have different agendas.

FELLOW SOLDIER
These two are examples of all who share in the dangers involved in standing for Jesus Christ. Biblically we are warned we are in spiritual warfare.

To be spiritually victorious we must have a warrior mentality.

Of all the secret intelligence forces of the cold war the most effective was the East German STASI.

They had a technique for cultivating and recruiting traitors who would become undercover agents for them within our military. They used an acrostic for the four things used to recruit American spies: MICE. How do you catch a mouse?

The devil uses the same things to cause spiritual defectors.
M oney.
I deology
C ompromize
E go

MONEY is still a primary cause for persons defecting. “The love of money is the root of all evil.”

The East Germans believed they could recruit almost any person in our military by offering them only two to three times their annual salary. People still abandon their allegiance to Christ in efforts to get rich quick.

Put a “NOT FOR SALE” sign in the yard of your will.

IDEOLOGY contrary to Scripture dupes some into defection. Humanism, secularism, pluralism, pantheism, and materialism are ideological dark holes into which many are pulled. There is a critical point at which many

Christians stumble. As a child, say ten years of age, they gave Christianity a reading. They were very mature spiritually for a ten year old. Thank God for those who are.

However, along the way they quit reading and studying the meaning of Scripture. The one day as a young adult they pick up a book containing concepts contrary to Scripture. Perhaps it is even occult material. They give this false teaching a mature young adult reading and try to counter it with their ten year old reading of Christianity. In most instances a ten year old reading of Christianity isn’t mature enough to answer the adult reading of false doctrine. All of life though give Christianity a contemporary reading. Keep maturing in your faith. Plod through the desert of dry doctrine to get to the oasis of refreshing and inspiring truth. Remembering all along the doctrine is essential territory to be traversed to truly appreciate the inspirational.

COMPROMISE is a slow and subtle slide away for Christ. It is here those recruiting counter intelligence agents use sex and blackmail to induce persons to forsake their allegiance.

EGO plays a large part. A person who feels under-appreciated, unrecognized, or underpaid seeks acceptance and approval. It is for that reason we must embrace one another.

In talking with persons who have left churches to join a cult they have one thing in common. It is not the ideology of the cult that attracts them. They say of their new support group they accepted me, they treated me like I was somebody, they made me feel welcomed. That is what the church is to do.

Every person has an ego. It is the gift of God. Individuals must control their own ego. We should by common grace and spontaneous love help satisfy that ego.

Epaphroditus was —
A MESSENGER

This plodder made the perilous journey from Philippi to bring a message to Paul. He boldly identified with Paul, a man imprisoned for his belief.

Jesus Christ was a MESSENGER who became a MAN.
Epaphroditus was a MAN who became a MESSENGER.

We are each messengers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are His couriers to convey to the world the good news of His love.

There is an old film entitled, “Missionary to Walkers Garage.” It is the story of a mechanic who was converted and dedicated his profession to the Lord. It is a thrilling account of how the Lord used the mechanic to influence others for Christ. How about your biography? Might it be entitled, “Missionary to ….” where ever you live, go to school, or work.

There are no easy mission posts. Some persons unwisely consider the pastorate a shelter from life’s problems. No pastorate is. My first one is typical in many regards. Most churches have a sign out front and on it written the pastor’s name. My first church was on a dirt road just off a gravel road. On the sign out front was written my name. I was so proud until I noticed it was written in chalk. The chairman of the deacons sat on the front row each Sunday playing with the eraser.

Epaphroditus was —
A SUFFERER

In faithfully leaving his beloved friends and familiar home to go to Paul in Rome Epaphroditus became very ill. In risking his life for Christ he nearly died (Vs. 30).

Epaphroditus was faithfully serving the Lord and suffering. There is a non-Biblical principle being advocated by some ministers today. In summary it is called atonement healing. The concept is that if you are free of sin and serving the Lord you won’t be sick.

Epaphroditus was 800 miles from home, a six weeks trip, serving the Lord and sick. Paul didn’t heal him. His suffering was a witness to the faithfulness of God even in our weakness. Often He doesn’t deliver us in order to develop us.

Epaphroditus should be an encouragement to the many dear Christians who will never enjoy full health, total relief from pain, and a dynamic lifestyle. They are worthy of commendation for bearing witness of the enabling grace of God.

He had more regard for Christ’s mission than his own life. He kept plodding along under the gaze of death itself.

One lovely young furloughing missionary said when you are working among the deprived of third world countries you forget about yourself. It is no longer important how I look in this, how much money I have in the bank or when can I next go shopping. Those things have their place but it isn’t first place.

Co-plodders, be faithful, finish the course.

Knowing that EPAPHRODITUS was sent by the church in Philippi to be Paul’s servant there would be questions about him returning home. Because he nearly died Paul thought it appropriate to send him home. The description given of him in our text is noble. A “brother, fellow worker, and fellow solider, and messenger” are titles conferred on him. Of such a valiant one a message of commendation is appropriate. The church was exhorted to welcome home such a courageous servant of the Lord.

Let’s aspire to live as plodders so some day there will be a commendation awaiting us when our Lord welcomes us home.

Is Your’s An Entry Level Faith? 7/11/99

II Peter 3:17, 18

Jesus Christ offers abundant life. That is a meaningful life with super additives. The new birth, like physical birth, is an event that results in a process. The process is growth.

When we come into the family of God we are spiritual infants. Even the weakest of faith invested in Christ brings us into the kingdom. It is enough to save us. It is not enough to sustain us. We are instructed to “grow in grace and in knowledge.”

When a person trusts Christ as Savior and is born again the challenge of growth awaits. In medical science if a child experiences arrested growth there is concern. Reasons and responses are sought.

While learning a new computer program I felt defeated almost before I began. I knew so little and there was so much to learn. The person instructing me said, “Take your time, you are at the base of a steep learning curve.” That is where we all are spiritually. Being there is wonderful. Staying at the base is tragic.

If we got spiritual growth reviews like many employees reviews would we rate any better than these which actually appeared on reviews:
“This young lady has delusions of adequacy.”
“Since my last report this employee has reached rock bottom and has started digging.”
“Works well under pressure and when cornered like a rat in a trap.”
“He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.”
“He sets low personal standards and constantly fails to reach them.”
“This employee should go far and the sooner the better.”

Is your faith in Christ an entry level faith? There are ways you can answer that for yourself.

I. SYMPTOMS
Certain faith based misconceptions reveal a need to grow.

A. CHRISTIANITY IS A PAIN FREE ZONE
Health, wealth, and prosperity will be mine if I trust Christ as Savior. NOT! That would be a poor motive for coming to Christ and it can’t sustain you. Yet, some new believers are given the impression trusting Christ gives immunity to problems.

Perhaps some mature Christians unintentionally give this impression. Being mature they know how to deal with defeat, survive suffering, overcome obstacles, and enjoy spiritual victories. That doesn’t mean they don’t have problems and often grow through travail to resolve them. It means they look “cool” and new Christians feel it because they have no problems. It is simply because they know their spiritual resources for handling problems.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (Phil. 1:9).

Early followers of Christ left us a heritage that helps explain our suffering. After being ridiculed for Christ ….

“So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (Acts 5:41)

B. GOOD CHRISTIANS ARE ALWAYS STRONG
This is a grin-and-bear-it mentality. It is a big-boys-don’t-cry philosophy. Persons who adhere to this concept can’t acknowledge they are afraid when they are. They are reluctant to be transparent about their problems. Check this text:

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Psalm 56:3).

“Whenever” means there are times we are afraid. Most of the “fear not” passages in Scripture are in such a verb tense as to mean “stop being afraid.” Some of the Lord’s strongest servants had moments of apprehension, tension, and uncertainty that tested their strength. Such tests are comparable to weight lifting. It is not to produce failure but to develop more strength.

C. IF GOD DOESN’T ANSWER “YES” TO MY PRAYERS HE DOESN’T ANSWER
A child might ask, “Did you ask you mom if we could go? What did she say?” “She said, no!” We need to learn “no” is an answer. God responds to every prayer in one of several ways:

YES, NO, WAIT A WHILE, YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD NEVER ASK. All are answers.

Paul had an unidentified “thorn in the flesh” which he prayed on three occasions would be removed. It wasn’t. Did God answer His prayer? Yes, He said, “My grace is sufficient for you” (II Corinthians 12:8, 9).

Every answer is predicated on two things: 1] God’s love, and 2] God’s knowledge and it is intended to make us all the more reliant upon Him.

D. GOD DOESN’T LOVE ME UNLESS I AM GOOD
God likes for you to be good, but He loves you even when you aren’t. We are not saved by works:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:9).

Ours is not a performance or perfection lifestyle. God likes for us to be good because He knows that’s best for us. However, when we aren’t good He still loves us. Don’t go loosie goosie because of that. When we aren’t obedient He loves us with a tough love. He disciplines us as a process of discipling us.

Some Christians who still have an entry level faith tend to withdraw from Christian friends and the church when in a state of rebellion. They feel unworthy. That is the very time they need the church.

Obedience is for our good!

A little child had the words to a Christian song wrong but his theology right when he sang, “Trust and OK, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and OK.”

Whatever our Lord says do our response should be “OK, Jesus.”

II. SOLUTIONS (To the problem of an entry level faith.)
Take the initiative in three ways.

A. REMEMBER WHAT YOU KNOW
Most don’t need to know any more than they know, they just need to do it.

Make deposits in your memory bank that you can draw interest from for the rest of your life.

If we become forgetful of Biblical precepts we are in a danger zone.

B. BEWARE LEST YOU FAIL TO BE STEADFAST (VS. 17)
This is an appeal to be stable in the Christian faith.

Having withstood the persecutions of Nero from without, an appeal to be alert to deception from within the church is given.

Under the persecution inflicted upon Christians by Nero one of the worst was to be sent to work in the mines of New Media in Africa. The prisoners were brutally whipped, burned by the sun, branded on their brow by a hot iron, forced to work long hours, and endure unimaginable suffering. When Roman persecution ended and those mines were opened to tourists they found the prisoners had left carvings on the mine walls. The one word that appeared most was “Christ,” the second most frequent word was “life.”

Jesus is the Christ that comes to make abundant life possible.

Consistency in Christ is needed today.

To be steadfast means to have a set of core values not for sale. It is to establish your own credo based on Scripture, a personal “This I believe and stand for.”

I believe Sunday is God’s day and I will respect it as such and devote it primarily to my spiritual development and bodily renewal.

I believe the Bible to be God’s divine revelation and I will not be ignorant of it.

I believe in the stewardship of all my possessions and will give, spend, and save them in a Christ honoring way.

I believe in the dignity of human beings and will treat all with courtesy and respect seeking to be a friend to all.

I believe my body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and will not pollute it with alcohol or any other drug.

I believe Christ’s church to be His body and will serve Him through it. I will give it a place in my priorities.

I will attend those events designed for my spiritual growth.

I believe in the efficacy of prayer and will spend time each day alone with the Lord.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).

To be able to REMEMBER and be STEADFAST we must —

C. GROW IN GRACE AND IN KNOWLEDGE (VS. 18)
To have something to remember we must grow in knowledge.

To remain steadfast we must have grace.

“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2).

No one is born mature. Tourist in a small beautiful village asked, “Were any great men born here?” The answer, “No, only babies.” We are spiritual infants at the time of salvation in need of growth.

Longfellow wrote: “Great men are not born great. You are born with the capacity of greatness. It is up to you to discover and develop the person God created you to be.” In partnership with the Lord this life-long process is a joy.

We are to grow in knowledge. Not just knowledge about Him but experiential knowledge of Him.

Great athletes don’t necessarily make a good team. It is by practicing and playing together they learn one another’s ability and style. This enables them to bond and become a unit. So our experiences with Christ enable us to experience His grace to acquire His knowledge.

As a result: “To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

The World’s Greatest Comeback 4/4/99

John 20:1-8

Jesus Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

Then He walked through the jaws of death and out the other end of the valley of the shadow death and proved it.

He who was decidedly dead was assuredly alive.

Christ passed through death —- in both directions —- unharmed and thereby declared there is life beyond the grave.

Because He lives you can face life knowing death is behind you and only eternal life awaits you.

Love and wisdom resulted in heaven downloading God the Son in order that He might provide an uplink to heaven for us.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Abruptly Christ’s mission to planet earth ended with Him being crucified. Those performing the execution were schooled and skilled practitioners of death. They knew how to bring a life to the vortex of death and suspend it there to inflict the maximum suffering. They also knew how to push a life over the brink to certain death. Having done both the centurion in charge of the execution squad reported to Pilate. The passionate Pilate asked if He had been dead long. Upon hearing, he released the corpse that it might be disposed of (Mark 15:44, 45).

For the followers of Christ life went into an eclipse. The darkness at midday that darkened the earth mirrored the bleakness hiding their hope. All hope died with Him.

We each can relate to the apostles. There is a pattern applicable to our lives. It is this: ANTICIPATION, FRUSTRATION, REALIZATION.

The apostles had great anticipation. For three years they followed Christ, heard Him talk, and observed His miracles. They anticipated the coming of the kingdom.

Frustration caved in on them. There was no kingdom only crucifixion.

Three days later, marvel of marvel, the resurrection and realization. On that third day God the Father in His own way said: “SURPRISE!”

Life had gone into slow motion for them. In despair on the third day a contingency of those who followed Christ went to His tomb before daylight. Frustration seemed to have triumphed. What they saw and in the next few days experienced changed human history and destiny.

The stone door of the tomb was rolled away a great distance uphill indicating a mighty force had been engaged to move it. Indeed an angel of the Lord had done so. The Roman guards were in a state of shock. The unsuspecting women thinking the body of Christ had been stolen by grave robbers fled to tell the disciples. This set in motion a series of events resulting in thousands in that era believing in the bodily resurrection of Christ and millions through the ages.

He was seen indoors, outdoors, on shadowy roadways and sunny beaches. He was talked with, walked with, and dined with. He was seen by one, by two, by five, by ten, by eleven, and by over 500 people at once. He who was known to be dead was seen to be alive.

One of the most validating evidences of the bodily resurrection is the fact those who believed it were so convinced they would not deny it even under the penalty of their own death. By all fundamental methods used to prove a person to be alive, He who was declared dead by the very ones who extracted life from Him is now seen to be alive by those unsuspecting a resurrection.

If all the stellar bodies of the heaven had personalities and could talk when speaking of the distinctive features of planet earth they would not say that which is unique is our atmosphere, water, or even life. They would say the distinguishing feature of earth is a vacated tomb in Judea.

His earthly mission over it is wise to review the reason for it. Consider – – – –

I. WHY HE CAME JOHN 10:10
Abundant life is the best life.
It is the best life can offer.
It is the fullest satisfaction.
It is the optimum joy.
It is the ideal guidance.
A person in prison has life.
A person having a picnic on a river bank with birds singing, flowers blooming, and the fragrance of jasmine in the air has life more abundant.

What Christ offers is life at its best plus super additives.

Our culture has so corrupted our concepts that most people think that fulfillment and contentment is to be found in material things. As one friend explained it, when I finally got my dream home with all the gadgets and the view I had always envisioned I was still empty inside. Life with Christ, life more abundant is fulfilling with or without a dream home or other material things.

Many people exist but few really live. Many are like a hamster on a wheel living a frantic life. They cover a lot of ground without getting anywhere.

For many life has faded. It isn’t colorfast. The torrential downpour of calamities, crisis, conflicts, and confusion has left life colored a sickly grey. If life is to regain its sparkle and vibrance it must be restored by Christ. Without Him life has lost its song. The song is there but it can’t be sung.

As a child we had canaries. A distinctive trait I noticed of some of the birds was they wouldn’t sing until they had their bath. Our spirit is like that. Until cleansed of doubt, guilt, and fear life’s song is unsung. Once Christ cleanses us life sings because of the abundant life quality He provides.

Christ wants us to get in the spiritual surf of life and let His glorious, invigorating waters of the new life He provides wash over us.

LIVE ALIVE!

II. WHAT HE DID I CORINTHIANS 15:3, 4
A. “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE”

As prophesied in Scripture Christ died in the way it was said Messiah would die.

The efficacy of His death on the cross is seen in that little word “for.” On our behalf He who had no sin died as a substitute for us.

He did not swoon, He died. Tomorrow’s uncertainties attacked Christ’s followers in the midnight of their fear. Death had engulfed another victim.

Faith, veil your eyes in anguish.
Unbelief abides.

Hope, moan and sob away your enthusiastic anticipation.
Despair gloats.

Love, hand down your blushing head and cower away.
Hate prevails.

From the cross Christ shouted one final word: TETELESTAI, translated “it is finished.” The Greek word means “it is finished as I intended to finish it and it stands perpetually, eternally finished.”

There is no record from that era, secular or sacred, that even suggests that anyone, detractor or devotee, had any thought but that Jesus was dead. Fate de comple!

B. “HE WAS BURIED”
There are many ancient tombs from the period in Israel. For any skeptic who might protest that Christ merely fainted on the cross and was revived in the tomb come inside such a tomb with me. The traditional sights of His burial have been so glamorized and beautified that much of the reality is missed. There are even a few of the unchanged tombs under the dome of the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. On our last visit there we went off the tourist path and into one. The chamber is small with cavities dug into the side walls into which bodies were placed. These claustrophobic tombs were dark, tight, musty, with no circulation.

Here the hope of humanity lay shrouded as a mummy.

The Light of the world was now indeed a candle under a bushel.

The seal of Rome was on the tomb verifying it contained a dead man.

Then God the Father said – – – – SURPRISE!

C. “HE ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE.”
Early on that inaugural Easter morning the women came to the tomb. Their minds were filled with doubt, questions, and fears. All the pastels of life had faded from their sunrise. Not the least of their questions was who will roll the stone away that we may enter the tomb.

When they got there the Lord had sent an angel who had rolled away the stone a great distance uphill. It was God’s little surprise. Isn’t that just like God. He deals with our worries and problems.

As it was prophesied He would, He arose.

To put that miracle in perspective it is no less dramatic than it would be for the sun to rise in the west.

What a difference a day makes. Because of that day no day has ever been the same again.

Because the resurrection doesn’t fit into our realm of familiarity some people have difficulty believing it. It being outside the sphere of normal human happenings it is considered with skepticism by some because they can’t comprehend it.

Suppose you and a friend were having a detail conversation about the most complex topic understood by both of you. In the room with you is your favorite pet: a cat or dog. That believed intelligent dog would not be able to fathom what you were talking about. It would not be able to comprehend what you were saying. It would not be in its realm or normal reasoning. That doesn’t mean what you are talking about isn’t reality. It is in effect a higher reality than the pet’s norm. The resurrection is a higher reality than our normal routine of life.

In the Bible land it is often hard for shepherds to get their flocks to cross rain swollen streams. To encourage them the shepherd often picks up one and takes it across. The others hearing its voice and seeing it follow.

Jesus Christ has enjoyed safe passage across death’s swollen stream. His responsive flock can follow fearlessly.

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).

Having considered WHY HE CAME and WHAT HE DID now note:

III. WHERE HE HAS GONE JOHN 14:3
Having provided for all who would believe in Him in time He has gone to prepare a place for us in eternity.

In that eventful final week with His disciples Jesus went from Jericho to Jerusalem. As they journeyed the Scripture says, “Jesus went before them.” That is the secret of a joyous journey. He went before them and it is said, “they were amazed…” With Him leading the way life is amazing.

Our Lord always keeps a promise before His people. His creativity enables Him to keep a fresh challenge and reward before us. For the infant there is childhood. For the child adolescence. For the adolescent there is adulthood. For the adult there is maturity. For the mature there is age. At any point and inevitably with age there is a question mark as to what is ahead.

All of life we live with an “encore” mentality. More, more of the same. However, God has something more that is different and better. It is called heaven. It is there in part to motivate NOW. To motivate us to excellence and expectation. To challenge us to keep on keeping on.

In the Psychology Department at the University of North Carolina they conducted an experiment. They put two rats in separate containers half full of water. One was sealed with no way out. The rat in it sensing futility gave up and drowned in three minutes. The other rat was in a container only partially sealed. Sensing possible survival this rat swam for over thirty-six hours. An awareness of the possibilities of the future inspires a sense us enabling us to cope an have courage. Heaven isn’t an encore, more of the same, it exceeds our grandest imagination. Our Lord’s resurrection assures us it is there and that makes this life better. It keeps us going.

Our resurrected Lord has gone to prepare a place for us. After the resurrection He sent a message to His followers. The one bearing it with great joy said, “He has gone before you…” (Matthew 28:7).

When our moment of passing comes we’ll do just fine because He has gone before us.

History is full of pseudo-saviors and mock messiahs who have made extravagant claims and promised cure-alls. The renowned historian Arnold Toynbee in his classic work The Study of History, devotes a chapter to the topic of saviors. He groups them in four categories:
the savior with the scepter – the political savior;
the savior with a book – the philosopher, the metaphysician;
the savior with the sword – the military type and tyrants.

He concludes that all these demi-gods of history have come to the same end and been defeated by mankind’s old enemy — death. Then he resolves that when the last civilization comes to its end and stands on the banks of the river of death there on the opposite shore, filling the horizon will be the Savior, Jesus Christ, the resurrected Christ.

He has gone to provide a prepared place for prepared people and He prepares people for the place prepared for them. A vital question is how do you get prepared?

This simple formula bears repeating. Come to the conclusion:

1. God is God.
2. I am not God.
3. I sin when I get number 1 and number 2 reversed.
4. Christ came to help me get number 1 and number 2 in order and to forgive me of number 3.

Christ said, “If any man will come after Me let him take up his cross and follow me.”

Today, and every day our response should be, “You go first, Lord, and I will follow.”

He said, “I GO to prepare a place for you.”