Chardon church of Christ

New Year - A Time For Change

New Years - A Change For the Better
Philippians 3:10-14

Years ago, a man hired an experienced guide to lead him on a hike into the Swiss Alps. After some hours of climbing they came to a high mountain pass. To the man’s dismay, he saw the path had almost been washed away.
What could he do? On the left was a sheer rock cliff, to his right, a precipice that dropped nearly 1000 feet. Looking down, he felt his head growing faint & his knees beginning to buckle.
At that moment his guide shouted, "Don’t look down or you’re a dead man. Keep your eyes on me. And where I put my feet, put yours there as well." The man did as he was told & soon passed out of danger to safety.
That is good advice for the beginning of a new year. No one knows what lies ahead for any of us. We all have plans & dreams but the times & seasons of our life are in God’s hands.
A little boy and his mother were crossing a river…
Mother: Please hold my hand
Boy: No mom, you hold my hand.
Mother: What’s the difference?
Boy: If I hold your hand and something happens to me ….
Chances are that I will let your hand go, BUT
If you hold my hand … I KNOW FOR SURE, YOU
Will NEVER let MY hand go!

Sooner or later we will find ourselves in a place where the way ahead will seem almost impossible. When that happens, we can panic & fall,
OR we can fix our eyes on Jesus & mark carefully his steps before us. If we will follow him, we’ll find at the end of this year that we have been kept safe by His amazing grace.
Someone once wrote:
I wish that there were some wonderful place called the land of Beginning Again,
Where all our mistakes,
& all our heartaches,
& all of our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door,
& never be put on again.

Sometimes I feel that way about New Year's resolutions.
I tell myself, "This year I'm going to exercise regularly & lose weight.
I'm going to do all kinds of things to improve myself physically & spiritually."
But then SOMEHOW I forget. 😊

Maybe you have that problem, too. 😊

So I have a suggestion for a New Year's resolution that we ought to be able to remember.
It is kind of broad & very general, but here it is …
LET'S PROMISE OURSELVES & GOD
THAT WE WILL MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

In 2023 … as God's people … let's make this one simple resolution we're going to make a change for the better.
And to help us do that, let me suggest some ways in which we can make a change for the better.
FIRST OF ALL, each of us can make a change for the better by developing a better attitude toward life.

Ask yourself each morning whether the way you plan to spend your day is how you would spend it if this was the last day of your life.

I'm told that there was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, & noticed she had only three hairs left on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I’ll braid my hair today." So she did, & she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror & saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-m-m, " she said, "I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today." So she did, & she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror & noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I’m going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did, & she had a fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror & noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head. "YEA" she exclaimed, "I don’t have to fix my hair today"

That story may sound ridiculous, but how do you feel about your life? Is it worthwhile?
Or, let's change the question. What would it take for you to feel that your life is worthwhile? What would it take for you to feel better about your life?

That is the reason I have selected Philippians 3:12-14 as our text this morning. But before I read it to you, you need to realize that Paul is in prison, chained to a Roman guard, and living under horrible conditions.

Yet despite that, he writes these words, “I do not consider myself to have ”arrived” spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ Jesus grasped me.
“My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal…”

Now ask yourself, "What is Paul’s goal?" He answered that in vs’s 10-11, “Now I long to know Christ and the power shown by His resurrection: now I long to share His sufferings, even to die as He died, so that I may perhaps attain as He did, the resurrection from the dead.”
What is Paul’s goal? His goal is "the resurrection from the dead." His goal is eternal life with Jesus. That is what he is striving for every day. His goal is heaven.
Now here is the point. If our goal in life is heaven, then all these setbacks are but stepping stones getting us closer to the time when we will be with Him.

Philippians 4:8and 9
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

There will be trials & disappointments, but every day that passes is one day closer to when we will be with Jesus. If that is our goal, then Romans 8:28 is true.
"All things" do "work together for good to those who love God & are called according to his purpose."

The world says that the way to feel good about yourself is by climbing the ladder of success by making a lot of money by having influential friends by belonging to the right circles. Those are the things that we are told make you feel good about yourself. But the Bible teaches that we should feel good about ourselves because God loves us. You are such a treasured person in God's sight that He gave His only Begotten Son for you. That makes you valuable, & you can feel good about yourself.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

THEN IN Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,

SECONDLY, we are to be a fruitful part of the family of God, His church.
Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:15, 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and [a]ground of the truth."

And again, he says to the Christians in Ephesus in Ephesians 2:19, 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

The Bible does not speak of Christians isolated from other believers. In God's family we are connected to every other believer. Romans 12:5 says, "In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

As Christians, the Bible says that we are “put together, joined together, built together, heirs together, fitted together, held together" & also that we "will be caught up together in the air."
The Bible calls the church "The body of Christ," & to Paul, being a "member" of the church meant being a part, a vital organ of a living body, the Body of Christ.

Romans 12:4-5 tells us, 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

"Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people.
"Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of His body.

If an organ is severed from its body, it will shrivel & die. Cut off & disconnected from the life of Christ’s church, our spiritual life will wither & eventually cease to exist.

That is why the first symptom of spiritual decline is usually inconsistent attendance at worship services, bible studies & other gatherings of believers. Whenever we become careless about fellowship, everything else spiritual begins to slide, too.

It is written that: "A Christian without a church home is like an heart without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state."
Membership in the family of God is neither unimportant nor something to be casually ignored. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." Matthew 16:18
The person who says, "I don't need the church," is either arrogant or ignorant. The church itself is so significant that Jesus died on the cross for it. In fact, Ephesians 5:25 says, "Christ loved the church and gave His life for it.”

So do you want to have a better life in 2023? Then become more active in the church - which Jesus loved & for which He gave His life.
Realize too, that as Christians, it is not good enough for us just to lift our voices in praise & prayer to God above.

And that brings us to OUR THIRD POINT:
we must take advantage of the time that we have.

The Bible teaches us that life is uncertain. Time is like a valuable commodity in a very precious & delicate vessel. It might break at any moment & we might lose it all.
So we have this moment. We don’t know anything about the future, but we have this moment & that is all that we really have.

Because of the uncertainty of life, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation."
and Hebrews 3:15 tells us, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Because life is uncertain, we must take advantage of the time that we have.

CONCLSION. Maybe more than any other new year’s resolution we may make is the commitment that this year
1) "I'm going to develop a better attitude toward life.
2) I'll be a more fruitful part of the family of God - His church.
3) And I'll take full advantage of the time I have."

May I remind you that we are a year closer to heaven than we were this time last year? Everything is on course, folks. We need to trust the Lord & love Him to place our lives in His hands & allow Him to use us to His glory.
Happy New Year to you and your family…
Our hope he is not in the new year
but in the ONE who makes all things new!
Whatever your need is this morning we ask that you respond by coming forward as we stand & sing the song of invitation.
INVITATION:

 

Sermon Contributor: Melvin Newland

Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 8:11 – 9:7

The year was 1809.

The world was in an upheaval. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria and soldiers from many countries were dying on the battlefield. The fate of entire kingdoms and nations hung in the balance and the world seemed on the very edge of collapse

It was 1809...

And in that same year several significant people were born.
In Britain, there was William Gladstone - destined to become one of England’s finest statesmen. And Alfred Lord Tennyson, one of the great authors of his day, was born to an obscure preacher and wife.
In the US - Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Not far away in Boston, Edgar Allen Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life.
It was also in that same year the wife of a physician named Darwin gave birth to their child and named him Charles Robert.
And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged cabin in Kentucky. The baby’s name? Abraham Lincoln.
If there had been a news broadcast at that back in 1809 these words would have been heard: “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.”
But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America.

Every age has its dangers.
Eventually every nation faces difficulties.
Even today in the US - one of the greatest nations that has ever existed on the face of the earth - even in the US, we’re concerned with financial troubles, international terrorism, and political uncertainty.

Every nation, sooner or later, will face threats and perils that will make them believe that the destiny of the world is being shaped by that day’s events. And they will see their future as bleak, dark, and hopeless.

And yet, in every age, the birth of a child can make a significant impact on their destiny.
Back in the days of Isaiah, the world looked dark, and bleak, and hopeless. The nation of Israel had turned their back on God and God, in His turn, had turned His back on them.
To punish them, God was bringing a nation from the north (named Assyria) and that nation was going to sweep down upon them like a flood tide and they wash over them in vengeance.
Isaiah said that God told Him (and any other person who will listen)

11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Isaiah 8:11-14

It was going to be a time of darkness. A time of hopelessness.
But… just a few verses later, God said there will be a time of hope and light - hope and light brought by the birth of a child.

Look at Isaiah 9:2
2c The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Yes, Israel, you have walked in darkness.
Yes, Israel you have been living in the land of the shadow of death.
But there will be hope.

And then in verse 6 He tells them why.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A counselor is someone you listen to.
Someone who gives you guidance or advice on things you think are important, that person is your “counselor”.

People will listen to the advice of all kinds of counselors.
Some listen to talk show hosts: Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Oprah Winfrey, or Dan Rather. Folks will listen to political analysts, religious leaders, comedians, actors, singers, and the list goes on and on.
If those people (whom they listen to) say it - it’s got to be true. These individuals are so influential that many will form their opinions based upon what these so-called "counselors" say.
Whoever you listen to is your counselor.

Newspaper columnist and counselor George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me." Dr. Crane thought about that for a couple of moments and then suggested an ingenious plan.
"Go home and act as if you really loved your husband,” He told her. “Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind and considerate and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him… then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him."
With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!"
And she did it with enthusiasm. For two months she acted "as if," she loved him. She was kind to him, she listened to him. She was constantly giving, reinforcing, sharing.
Two months went by… and she didn’t return to her counselor, so Crane called her. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?" "Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him."

A counselor is someone you listen to.
Someone you accept advice from.
The problem for Israel is that they had gotten into the habit of listening to the wrong counselors.

Look with me to Isaiah 9:19
19Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares his brother.

There were men in Israel who were giving the people bad advice.
These men were advising Israelites to listen to someone other than God – mediums and spiritists and folks that said they talked to the dead. Apparently these men were trusted enough by the people to be taken seriously.
And because Israel listened to these counselors, their nation was going to suffer terribly.
And so, God was telling His people:
You’re walking in darkness, in the shadow of death, because you’ve listened to the wrong counselors.
BUT REJOICE because unto you a child is born, unto you a son is given and He’s going to be a wonderful counselor. He’s going to be someone you can listen to and know His advice is right. You’ll be able to stake your life on what He tells you.
No mortal man or woman is going to be able to be capable of giving you advice that will be anywhere as good as His.
Now, I don’t want you to get the impression that I’m saying we are not to take advice.
Proverbs 15:22 tells me 2Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
A wise person is someone who listens to many counselors.
A wise person heeds the advice of people he can trust.
A wise Christian seeks the advice of his elders.
A wise child looks to his parents for advice.
A wise husband talks things over with his wife
And a wise women listens to the counsel of her husband.
There are many skilled and trained counselors that can help you with your finances, marriage, guilt, etc.. No matter what issue you need help with there are people out there who are trained to help you. Counselors who sincerely want to help you.
But no matter how good the advice these folks might give you they are still only mortals.
Their counsel can only accomplish so much.
A rehabilitation counselor took an early retirement to spend the rest of his life preaching. One day, while addressing an audience, he told of how - early in his career - he found a young boy with several birth defects.
He arranged financial and medical help.
Skilled surgeons restored the child’s facial appearance.
Trained therapists taught him to speak and walk.
By his teens, the boy was able to take part in all the activities of other young people.
Addressing his crowd the retired counselor asked: “What do you think has become of this young man?”
One guessed that since this young man had overcome such physical deformities, he may have dedicated himself to becoming a great athlete. Someone else thought that – since his life had been changed by medical doctors that he had become a skilled surgeon.
“No, none of these,” the retired counselor said sadly. “The young man is a prisoner, serving a life sentence for murder. We were able to restore his physical features and his ability to walk and act but we failed to teach him where to walk and how to act.
I was successful in helping the boy physically, but I failed to help him spiritually. From that day on, I have determined to use the rest of my life to help people direct their steps and actions toward glorifying God.”
You see there are many “Good” counselors in this world.
But none can compare with the “Wonderful counselor.
That’s because - when Jesus came - He came fully understanding the basic problem we face.
Matthew 1:21 says “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS."
One of the repeated pieces of advice Jesus gave people during his ministry was this:
“Go and sin no more” (John 5:14; 8:11)
Don’t make excuses for it.
Don’t try to ignore it or explain it away.
Sin isn’t going to go away on its own.
We must deal with it.
We must confront it.
And the only way we can deal effectively with sin is to realize that only the Wonderful counselor can help us remove sin’s power and guilt.
Paul said it this way: “we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." -- 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
Jesus is the wonderful counselor because He IS the power and the wisdom of God.
Jesus is the one who can give us the power to help us overcome sin… and the wisdom to know how to deal with our sins when we fall prey to them.
The counselors of this world CAN help you with your problems.
But they can only help you so much.
By contrast, Jesus (the Wonderful Counselor) has the ability to help us deal with the root cause of our problems. As Hebrews tells us:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
You see: Jesus understands our problems. He’s sympathetic to our failure.
But He’s too good a counselor to just let us do what we want and ignore the consequences.
He knows our problems and He has counsel to help us deal with our sins.
The key of course is this: listen to… and follow His advice.
So, have you done that?
Have you let Jesus be your counselor?
Have you asked for His guidance and His advice in your problems?

Consider this test that a very wise preacher once gave his congregation:
SELF-EVALUATION: I listen to and follow the counsel and advice of Jesus Christ as I make the daily decisions in the affairs of my life.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
If you don’t listen hardly at all to Jesus’ advice, then mentally circle 1, 2, or 3
If you listen “sometimes” circle one of the numbers between 4 and 7.
If you listen “most of the time” or “all the time” circle 8, 9 or 10.
CLOSE:
We have a counselor who is able to deal gently with us.
One who is sympathetic to our weaknesses.
But we need to first listen to His advice.
As Christians we need to listen to Him everyday. But if you’re not a Christian today then you need to hear what He advises you in Mark 16:16. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Have you made that decision yet?
INVITATION

The Faith of Rahab

Hebrews 11:31

INTRO: Good morning church.
In Bible class we have been studying the book of Hebrews and recently chapter 11. In this chapter the writer uses examples of faithful people to help his readers understand faith. Two women are mentioned by name in the list of the faithful. The ladies class is studying the Women of the Bible and there are many more then two. I wondered how these two happened to be selected by the Hebrews writer.

The first one that's mentioned, in Hebrews 11:11, is Sarah, the wife of Abraham. She was the wife of the one who is many times called the father of the faithful, and she was with him throughout his journeys and throughout his events of faith. She received the fulfillment of God’s promise that she would bear a son. There's a sense in which when we think about faith, we would expect that Sarah would be included. “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

The other woman that's named in Hebrews chapter 11 may come as a bit of a surprise. If we compared her to Sarah we would see some differences. Hebrews 11:31 – “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”

Some people in the Bible are mentioned in connection with their occupation: Abel was a shepherd; Matthew was a tax-collector; Peter was a fisherman; Saul was a tentmaker. What was Rahab? Five times in the scriptures we are told that Rahab was a harlot, or prostitute. When we meet her, from our point of view it seems like Rahab’s character is the polar opposite of Sarah.

What I want to do today is take a look at Rahab and her faith. It is true that there's not a lot about Rahab in the Old Testament. We meet her in Joshua 2, we leave her in Joshua 6. Except for some references to her in the New Testament, like the one we find in Hebrews, we don't know a lot about her later life.

I. Rahab’s Story: I am sure you all recall the fall of the city of Jericho. Israel’s first conquest upon entering the land of Canaan was God’s work, not theirs. The fall of Jericho came about through faith when Israel closely followed God’s unusual instructions. Israel’s faith was not the only faith that God honored in the fall of this city. It is here that we meet Rahab.

A. Rahab was not an Israelite. She is an outsider in heritage and certainly character, or at least her morality is not what we would expect in someone mentioned in the book of Hebrews. The fact that this woman Rahab is included in this list, I believe is significant. It's significant to our understanding not only of her and the character of her faith, but I believe we also learn some things about God. Let's take a look at Rahab and consider her story.
B. We start reading in Joshua 2:1-3 – “Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho.'' So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.'' So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.''”. We see the situation quickly outlined here with the introduction to Rahab, the spies sent by Joshua, and the danger to them.
C. When we looked at the individuals in Hebrews chapter eleven, there has been clear indication that they had faith. Not only that, but in the context of explaining their faith, we have seen how their faith was tested. They exercised their faith in a practical, outward way so that not only do we recognize their faith, but that faith produced obedience. That's also what we find here in terms of the faith of Rahab. We quickly see that Rahab was put on the spot by the King of Jericho to make known those who had come to her house.

1. I wondered how these men ended up in Rahab's house. Why were the spies, who were sent by Joshua, at the house of a prostitute? The Bible doesn't tell us how they got there or why they were there. Scholars have expounded on this question and one of the most common ideas is that Rahab ran something akin to an Inn, or house of convenience, which provided accommodations.
2. God knew her heart and her budding faith. There was, in the confines of the city of Jericho, living on the walls of the city, a woman who could be touched by the knowledge of God and by the proclamation of what God was going to do to that city. Her faith would be tested.
3. We notice that Rahab is the only person who is named in all the city of Jericho. When God gives us the account of the fall of this great fortified city, it mentions the king, but doesn't tell us who he was. There are no statesmen, no warriors, nobody else in the city of Jericho that God sees fit to name except, Rahab.
4. What would possibly entice this Canaanite woman to help these enemy spies who were in the very process of spying out the land? I believe there's only one answer to that…the biblical answer. The biblical answer is faith. That's what we've seen about all of these people in Hebrews chapter eleven. Why they did what they did, was because of faith.

II. The response of her faith: She answered the request of the king. We are now at Joshua 2:4-6 – “Then the woman took the two men and hid them; and she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. "And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.'' (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)”

A. She answered the request of the King and said, yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from, and as the gate was being shut at dark they left, I don’t know where they went. Then she suggests perhaps the spies could be overtaken if the king’s men went after them right away.

1. Interestingly the king's representatives were very easily deceived by Rahab, perhaps indicating that the king himself considered her to be dependable. We recognize immediately that Rahab lied when she said she didn't know where the men were. After all she hid them.
2. Of course, that immediately raises the question, does God condone her lie? Does the situation justify what she did? Is that what's being taught? Is it okay to lie as long as there is a greater good that will come as a result of it? Does God not care that she lied because she was able to save the spies? An interesting question… but for now remember that Rahab is commended in the Word of God, not for her immorality, (harlotry and falsehood), but for her FAITH.

B. Her faith is what we will focus on this morning. What prompted her to take the position of being on the side of Israel rather than on the side of her countrymen? She expressed her faith in the words of verses 4-6 by her willingness to be on God's side.

1. She was taking enormous risk standing up to the King and the militia and lying to them about where these men were. If she were found out, if those men were discovered where she had put them, she would have been in grave peril.

C. After the men of Jericho had left, Rahab goes to the roof and speaks to the spies. Joshua 2:9-13 “9. … and said to the men: "I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10. "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11. "And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12. "Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, 13. "and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.''”

1. Rahab is not only concerned for the strangers but for herself and her family as well. Her words help us understand the development of her faith.
2. She, as well as others, had heard how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and how He had miraculously sustained them in victory over the Amorites. She is convinced that the God of Israel, is about to conquer her city. She wants to enter into an agreement with these spies and their God. She believes that God can save her and her family and is willing to beg for His mercy.

III. The Nature of her faith: In the text of Hebrews 11 Rahab is contrasted with those who “did not believe” implying that others may have had the opportunity to respond as she did, but were not convinced. She received these spies as the representatives of the God she now believed in, but how difficult was it for Rahab to become a believer?

A. She lived in a great walled city that had stood for hundreds of years. They had an ancient culture and worshipped many gods. How could all this end in just a matter of days? Yet, she did believe that God would prevail.
B. Rahab didn’t just believe in the existence of God, she literally believed what God revealed. That is, she believed it was He who was bringing Israel into the Promised Land. Risking her very life, she had no more evidence to go on than the reports from others, and thus was walking by faith, not sight. John 20:29 – “…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
C. Notice what she says in verse 9 “I know that the Lord has given you the land”. How does she know that? She didn't see the armies nor had opportunity to assess the military prowess of Israel first hand.

1. She says, I know that the Lord has given you the land, not that you're going to take it by your power, but she says; I know that the Lord of Israel, the God of Israel has given you the land.
2. Then she goes on in verse 10, and tells that they had heard how God brought Israel out of Egypt and had given them victory over the two kings of the Amorites. She says, “When we heard these things, our hearts melted.” “For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” Then Rahab asks that they spare her and her family and deliver their lives from death since she protected them.

D. Rahab, as well as others had heard about Israel and what God has done for them. She is absolutely convinced that the God of Israel, can conquer cities, can tear down walls, and can reach the enemy. She's willing to say to these folks, I know that your Lord has already given you this city.

1. That's interesting language because that's precisely what God had told Israel, I've already given you the city. The city of Jericho was a gift to them and though they were going to have to do something, it would be appropriate as a gift to faith.
2. This is the very way that this Canaanite prostitute, a citizen of Jericho, not Israel, expresses her faith in God. When the spies go back to give a report to Joshua they used Rahab’s words to express it. Verse 24 “And they said to Joshua, "Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.''”

E. Here in Joshua we see it is Rahab who really understands what God is doing. Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” It says that she received the spies with peace, not as enemies. This tells us about the nature of her faith. How difficult was it for Rahab to become a believer in God on this occasion? She lived in a great walled city that stood for 400 years. Could she possibly believe that all that was going to be dissolved? That's a test of faith isn't?
F. We are encompassed by and in the world and when we consider where we live, what we have, and who we are, do we truly understand all this will come to an end? Do we believe it is really all going to vanish away through the power of a God that we cannot see with our physical eyes? Peter says “… scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Peter 3:3-4. It's only the true believer who believes that no matter how secure things seem now, God can bring it all down.

1. Rahab believed that God could bring it all down. She believed that the God of the Israelites would prevail. She believed that God was going to bring Israel into the land by His own hand.
2. Risking her life, she was willing to step out on that, on nothing other than what she had heard from other folks. Think about that, she had not witnessed the crossing of the Red Sea or the destruction of the Amorite’s cities. She had not physically been there and seen it with her own eyes.
3. The nature of her faith was that she believed the testimony of others. She believed what others had said about what God, not only had done, but would do in the future.
4. That's precisely the nature of our faith. We were not there, yet we believe. We haven't seen with our eyes, yet we believe the testimony of others. Our faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Our faith, as strong as it may be, is continually tested on the basis of that testimony, of what God has revealed through other individuals. In John chapter 20, after Thomas requested to see the actual physical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

G. Look at the marvelous confession that Rahab makes in verse 11. “… for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” She had replaced what ever she had believed in before; with a true faith, however weak it was it was a true faith that God, the God of Israel, was the true God.
H. In James 2 at the close of the chapter, Rahab is mentioned as an example of faith as a result of what she did. “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

1. This passage characterizes her faith in terms of her actions. James' point is not just that she had faith, but that she evidenced that faith. In discussing the nature of true faith as being that which obeys God, James brings up Rahab as one who showed the nature of her faith not by what she said, but by what she actually did. She risked her life and she was justified by what she did.
2. This characterizes Rahab’s faith and ours as well, recognizing that faith must be evidenced in what we do, not just in what we say or not just in what we believe or hold as conviction. It’s evidenced on whether or not we're willing to step out on that faith and obey God, to take God at His word and trust God enough to do what He says.

IV. I see something else here. Not only did Rahab need to believe that God existed, but she needed to believe that God was the type of God who would show kindness to someone who was a foreigner based upon her kindness to His servants that were there.

A. How could she know? How could she trust that the God of Israel would react that way?

1. We're used to believing in the God revealed in scripture and we know who the true God is. There are those who worship other gods, and many folks still do that today, all of those gods are not kind, loving, forgiving gods, like the true God is. Many of them are vindictive. Many of them have no compassion for human beings and are selfish. I suspect many of the Canaanite gods had that nature.
2. Yet, she had to believe that the God of the Israelites was not only a powerful God capable of the breaking down of walls, but that He was a kind and merciful God and would respond to her kindness with kindness. She pled for that.
3. She also had to recognize that it was all or nothing. She had to completely rely upon the God of Israel and the Israelites following their God for her to be saved. She could not save herself. She truly believed that God could destroy the city and she completely relied upon Him to save her.

B. That's the element of faith. That's the nature of faith as we see it in ourselves. It's not that we do a little and God does the rest. It's that God does it all. We must completely put our trust in God and rely upon Him for everything physically and spiritually that we have.

V. Rahab’s Deliverance: Read with me starting at Joshua 2:14. It says, “14. So the men answered her, "Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.'' 15. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16. And she said to them, "Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.'' 17. Then the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18. "unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home. 19. "So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20. "And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.'' 21. Then she said, "According to your words, so be it.'' And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.”

A. They made a covenant with her for her family’s deliverance. This also helps us to understand the nature of faith. In the context there were things that she had to do to respond, out of faith, in order to receive deliverance. She was now one who had faith in God and she is included in the list in Hebrews 11 because she met those conditions.

1. She, and her family, had to tell no one of the spies’ activities or plans. She had to convince her family to come to her home and remain there throughout the invasion.
2. She had to leave that scarlet cord in her window until it was all over. If she failed to do all of these things, would she have been saved? What does that tell us about faith & obedience?... Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” – That is the voice of faith. That's what people say to God when they recognize they must rely upon Him and they truly believe in Him. Whatever you say, God, so be it. Doesn’t matter what it is I’ll do it. I have faith in you. I trust in you.

B. Turn with me now to Joshua chapter 6. Can you imagine Rahab’s thoughts as she saw the Israelites circling around the city for the six days? She never took down the cord. She never went back on the agreement. She alone understood what was going on outside her city walls, who was really orchestrating this and what was going to happen in the days to come. That's the nature of faith.
C. We live in a world of people that don't understand what's going on. They don't know why they're here, what they're doing, or how it's all going to end. People of faith watch God working every day and realize what's really happening. They never quit trusting God even though others ridicule their faith, and how they live. They are called silly, and naïve. People of faith recognize it's all going to turn out the way God said it's going to turn out.
D. I’m now at Joshua 6:22 - “But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, "Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.'' And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.”
E. Think how happy she was when she saw them at the door and it turned out just the way they said it would. Think how happy we will be when this world is tumbling down and we see Jesus and He says, come, you're coming with me. The reason that will happen is because of our faith.
F. It says in verse 25 “And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” I suspect that tells us that she was not an outsider anymore. She was one in the family of God as much as if she had been born an Israelite… because of her faith.

CONCLUSION:
One thing that stands out to me is that Rahab was saved by grace, through faith. Things that made this outsider an insider had no claim in what she was before, not what she did for an occupation or where she lived or her heritage. Rather it had to do with whether or not she truly believed God at the point of her obedience. The exercise of God's grace was in response to her faith. She was saved just like you and I are saved spiritually today by God's mercy, through our faith.

We mentioned that she lied in the process, and God does not condone lies. She was also a prostitute at the time. I would suggest that she could not have remained a prostitute and remained a faithful member of God's family. In order to be included in the list in Hebrews 11, something had to change.

God did not condone her immorality or her dishonesty, but He did reward and respond to her faith. This also tells me that God is able to look inward, see faith wherever it can be found, and challenge it on levels that you and I do not.

Who was Rahab? Was what we find here in Joshua chapters 2 and 6 just a side note to the whole history of Israel? No, it's more than that. At one time, she was an obscure prostitute in a doomed city. In the end, after God's deliverance, she became more. Joshua six tells us that she would continue to live in Israel. We find she's mentioned again in Matthew 1:5 - “Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,”. Both Rahab and Ruth were Gentiles and both are mentioned through inspiration in writings of Matthew of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

The story of Rahab is the story of hope. It's the story of someone on the outside who expresses faith and comes inside through the power and the grace of God. It doesn't matter where you're from, it doesn't matter what you've done, or how you're living your life, God can deliver you.
Do we have and exhibit the faith of Rahab? There are a lot of folks who would never sell their bodies for money or involve themselves in such immorality, and yet they do not have the faith of this woman. They're not willing to risk anything based upon faith.

God does not disappoint those who express their faith in obedience to Him. Rahab’s story is really a story of hope. Jesus said, he that believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned. Our obedience to God and the practical aspect of our lives comes as a result of our faith and our confidence that we place within it. It begins in faith. It begins in that confidence. Sadly the person that does not believe has no other destiny than to be condemned by God and to face His judgment.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins… If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have faith like Rahab we urge you to step out, come forward and be baptized. If anyone that need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon by: David Schmidt

Am I One of These

"Am I One Of These?”
Amos 5:21-24, Mark 4:15-19

There is a story told about a mother who was sick in bed with the flu. Her little daughter wanted so badly to be a good nurse to her. She fluffed the pillows & brought a magazine for her to read. Then she even surprised her mother with a cup of tea.
"You're such a sweetheart," the mother said as she drank the tea. "I didn't even know you knew how to make tea." "Oh, yes," the little girl replied. "I learned by watching you. I put the tea leaves in the pot. Then I put in the water & boiled it, & then strained it into a cup. But I couldn't find a strainer, so I used the flyswatter instead."
"You what?" the mother screamed. The little girl said, "Oh, don't worry, Mama, I didn't use the new flyswatter. I used the old one."
Now I felt a little hesitant about telling you that story. But when kids try so hard to do something, & yet get it wrong in spite of themselves, what's a parent to do? You've got to love them for trying, at least!
Some years ago Pres. Kennedy spoke at an awards banquet of the National Football Foundation. In his speech he said:
"It looks as if our great national sport is no longer playing, but watching. We are becoming less & less a nation of athletes, & more & more a nation of spectators.”
What Pres. Kennedy was concerned about for our nation, many of us are concerned about for the church.
There is an interesting passage in the Book of Amos where God is speaking to the Jewish nation, to His people, & He is not speaking very kindly to them.
He had done so much for them. He had freed them from slavery in Egypt. He had delivered the Promised Land into their hands. He had blessed King David & King Solomon & made their reigns the golden age of Jewish history.
But now all that was past, & in Amos 5:21-23 God said to them, "“I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.
22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.

What happened? Why was God so angry with them? The next verse (vs. 24) makes it plain. God says, "But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.
Evidently, the people in Amos' day were faithful in going through all the rituals. They attended the services. They kept the holy feasts. They gave generously of burnt offerings & grain offerings.

They sang their songs of praise to God, & played their harps. But God rejected their worship. Why? Because their lives didn't measure up to what they professed.
They gave lip service to God, but there was no justice or righteousness in their lives. They didn't even try to live the way God wanted them to live.
And that was true in Jesus' day, too. For we hear Him saying in Matt. 23:23, "“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

They went through all the right forms, attended all the services, were very careful to give every bit of their tithes & offerings. But Jesus still cried out to them, "Woe to you!"
My concern this morning is about the possibility that Jesus could say the same thing today. Is there any way in which we might find ourselves in the same condition as the people in Amos' day, or in Jesus' day? I'm afraid so. It appears that there are at least 3 different types of people, or attitudes that are present.

The 1st of these are the "Performers," people who are putting on an act, whose lives just don't match up with what they are trying to get people to believe about them.
Sometimes these people are in positions of leadership & prominence. They are in the limelight, busy, active, there for all the people to see.

A while back a major TV channel featured a story about a preacher accused of trying to kill his wife so that he could marry the woman with whom he was having an affair. They spent almost an hour going over the whole sordid story.

News stories in the past few years exposing the private lives of some religious celebrities have made us sadly aware that they must have been merely performing. Their lives do not seem even to come close to matching up with what they professed.

It's bad enough that they made shipwreck of their own lives, but they also brought disillusionment & dismay into the lives of many who trusted & followed them.
Meanwhile, many in the world clap their hands, convinced more than ever that there is no reason to listen to the message of Jesus.
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
Were they "performers" from the very beginning?
Have they always just been putting on an act? Well, I doubt it.
Do you remember the parable of the sower? Jesus tells us that the sower went forth to sow. As he cast the seed some fell on the hard-packed path, some among the rocks, some fell among the thorns, & some fell on good ground.

Well, in Mark 4:18-19 Jesus explains about the seed that fell among the thorns. He said, "“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Is that what happened to these celebrities? Did they start off full of enthusiasm, but then other things entered in? Did they come to the place where they accepted & desired all the praise they were getting?

Did they see all the riches the world can give, & begin to covet that, too? Did they begin to see their ministry as their empire to control & manipulate? The Apostle John warned about a man named Diotrephes in (3 John vs. 9), "9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

But "performers" are not found only among religious celebrities. It is just as possible for those who are sitting in the pews, who are not in the limelight, to be "performing" too.
You can participate in every part of the service sing & pray & partake of communion. But if there is no noticeable change for good in your life, the world will see the way you live, & come to the conclusion that you're putting on an act, & call you a "hypocrite."

Matthew 7:21 says 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
The father & mother who are merely "performing" soon disillusion their children, their relatives, & many precious souls are lost for all eternity.

But thank God, it is a two way street. Just as one can start out in eager dedication, & end up a "performer", so those who have been "performing" can switch their lives around and turned back to Jesus.

There is a saying that "expressions create impressions." Even as we are "performing," there is a chance that our lives will be touched, that something will sink in, & once again we’ll be what God wants us to be.

Some songs we sing affect me greatly. Whenever we sing "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How Great Thou Art, how great Thou art!" I want to proclaim that He is my Lord & my God, also.

And how about "It Is Well With My Soul?" "Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.'" I love to sing that song, too!

Maybe it will be a sermon you hear, verses in Gods Word you read and discuss in Bible Study. or seeing the lives of others being changed. Maybe you'll catch the vision again, repent of your sins, no longer "performing," but now rededicating yourself to God.

Another group to be found in almost every congregation are the “Spectators." They are present, but they are not really participating.
Some of these could be called "Attenders." They may be present for any number of reasons. Maybe they're there because of social contacts their friends come, so they come too. Their family goes to church, so they go, too.

Maybe the "attenders" are present because they feel it is expected of them they ought to be in church "after all, it's the right thing to do." Whatever the reason, the "attenders" are usually uninterested in what is going on, & unconcerned about others around them.
So the "attender" gets involved in various diversions and the terrible thing is that usually the people around them become painfully aware of these diversions. As a result, their meditation & prayers are disturbed. Their train of thought is broken.
The heart that is being touched by the invitation of Jesus Christ is rudely yanked back to a world of carelessness & callousness.

A minister tells of one of the saddest moments in his life happened one Sunday years ago when 6 teenagers, 5 of them church members, were sitting all together on a pew.
The one who wasn't a Christian was a friend of one of the others on that row. He had been attending church services for several weeks, & was now seriously considering the most important decision of his life, the decision of being baptized for the remission of his sins.
The invitation hymn was being sung. He was at the end of the pew right at the aisle, leaning forward, listening intently & seemingly almost ready to step out to make his decision for Jesus.
When suddenly, one of the kids whispered a joke, & 2 or 3 of them laughed. The young man's concentration was broken.

I saw him turn toward them with an irritated look on his face, & then, when the service was over, he walked out of the church building not to return again for nearly 3 years. Three years! It might have been for all eternity. A soul that was lost!

I want to look again at the parable of the sower. Jesus said, "Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes & takes away the word that was sown in them" (Mark 4:15)

I am so thankful that one of those teenagers realized what had happened, & tried to do something about it. But it took 3 years to undo the harm that was done in just a few moments. It took 3 years to convince that young man once again that Jesus Christ was really worthy of his serious consideration.  But not all "spectators" are uninterested in what is going on, wrapped up in their own little world.

Some are present as "Searchers," hoping to find something that is worthwhile.
They may just be curious, or confused, looking for something that will meet a need in their lives. So they're watching, listening, observing. They look at the people around them, noticing how they treat each other, how they act, & the looks on their faces. Do the people really care about each other? Or about Jesus?

These "searchers" are oftentimes a bit ill at ease. They're unfamiliar with the church service & self conscious about it. They may not know anybody else there, & may feel that people are looking & wondering about them.
"Searchers" are usually very sensitive about what is going on around them &, depending on where they are sitting,

They may be unlucky enough to sit near "attenders" engaged in their own little diversion. And the "searcher" is wondering where on earth his search has led him.
But what an opportunity the "searcher" presents. Not only is their soul precious to God, loved by Jesus, but Paul says in Hebrews 13:2, " Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

If you are a "searcher" here with us today, please realize that we're all sinners, and that we all fall short of what we ought to be. But thanks to Jesus, we can have the forgiveness of our sins.
As the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 40:2, "He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
God does love us!

This morning we have mentioned "Performers" & "Spectators" but there is one more very important group to consider – the “Worshipers.”
Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:23, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Why are we here today? I trust that you're here to worship to show your love for God, for Jesus Christ to be a living witness to others of what Jesus means to you to encourage others by your presence to share what God has given you to be challenged to refuel to arm yourself for the battles of life.
Maybe you're here, too, like the old man who said, "I go to church to let everybody know which side I'm on."
But may I suggest some ways to make the church service really a time of worship for you & for others?

You can worship by putting a smile on your face & in your heart as you make the stranger welcome. You can worship by putting the activities & cares of the day out of your mind, focusing your thoughts on Jesus, especially as you partake of Communion with Him.
You can worship by listening to the preaching of God's Word, despite the limitations of the preacher, knowing that there is power in the Word to change lives, to point us in the right direction, & to make us effective in whatever we seek to do for Him.
You can worship by silently praying for the lost, for those who have decisions to make for Jesus, as we stand and sing the song of invitation.

 

 

Sermon Contributor: Melvin Newland

Buried Treasure

Buried Treasure
Matthew 13:44

Several decades ago, there was something called the "Iron Curtain." It was an imaginary border between the Communist Soviet Union and the rest of the "Free World." It was an iron curtain in the respect that those on the Soviet side had extreme difficulty passing from their region into the Free World. Communism was a vicious and powerful force in the lives controlled by it.

Back in 1955, a farmer in Romania (behind the Iron Curtain) had a problem. Communism had become so demanding that his personal Tractor would soon be taken away from him. What was he to do? Well, he took it apart, packed it in tar-coated cardboard, and buried it in his backyard.

Thirty-five years later (in 1990), the laws changed and he dug it up and put it back together again.

People have been burying their treasures for centuries. Now, granted, burying a tractor in your backyard is a bit unusual, but if something is precious to you… you do what you gotta do!

Back in Bible times, lots of people buried precious things in their backyards. Palestine was a land bridge between Egypt and the great empires of the north and the armies of those nations would often sweep through Israel - rampaging, robbing and pillaging everything in their path.

And, of course common thieves could be a problem too. And because there were no banks - people would bury their treasures in the ground, in walls, in tree trunks, or wherever they could.
Finding those buried treasures again… well… that could be difficult.

There was the occasional earthquake. And sometimes the owners would have to leave home in a hurry and never come back. Or the owners might be captured by invading armies, or die suddenly for any number of reasons. As a result, family treasures could be buried and forgotten for centuries.

A missionary in Palestine told of a few workmen who were digging up a garden, and these workmen found several copper pots of gold which they stole and hid someplace else. But they just couldn’t keep their mouths shut and the governor of the city caught them. Two of the pots containing 8000 pure gold coins were recovered.
That missionary said he’d seen hundreds of persons - all over the country - spending their last penny looking for buried treasure.

So (as you can imagine), many of those in Jesus’ crowd either knew of someone who’d found buried treasure, or maybe THEY had.
That (of course) brings us to our text today.

Matt. 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Since he buys the field now the treasure belongs to him (otherwise it would have been stealing).
A TREASURE? When you think of treasure, you think jewels, or precious stones… you think money. And what’s interesting is that Jesus talked a lot about money and possessions.

It has been said that 15% percent of everything Jesus said related to money and possessions. He spoke about money and possessions more than heaven and hell combined.

It is also noted that nearly half of Jesus’ parables 16 out of 38 dealt with money. Now… that’s a lot. Why would Jesus put such an emphasis on money and possessions?
Well, there’s a couple reasons I can think of. The first is that we need money. We need money to pay bills and supply for your family. That’s kind of obvious. But “there’s also a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.”

Just as an illustration, all you need to do is look back at John the Baptist’s ministry in Luke 3:10-11 tells us . 10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
John’s answer to the crowds (about what they could do to please God) was that everyone should share their food and clothing with the poor, because the spiritual thing was to use their possessions to help people.

We continue reading in Luke 3:12-13.
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
In other words: Don’t take money that doesn’t belong to you even if you can get away with it. The spiritual thing in business is not to cheat folks.

Then the Soldiers also asked him in verse 14, 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”  So he said to them, “Do not [a]intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
The spiritual thing to do at the job is not to complain about how much you’re paid, or to steal from people who trust you.

You see, each of these commands (John the Baptist gave) had to do with how people handled possessions and money.  And here’s the point: How you handle your money and your possessions, and how you treat people with your money is a barometer of how close you are to God and how much you trust HIM.

So now here Jesus in telling a parable about a man who found treasure in a field. WHAT TREASURE?
What’s in the treasure chest?
Well, we KNOW that it has to be pretty valuable because the man was willing to sell everything he had to buy the field so that he could take possession of what had been hidden there.

Let me repeat… the man “goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
So, what IS this treasure?
Well, Jesus tells us there are basically two kinds of treasure that people would be willing to give everything they have to attain.

The first is – treasures on earth.
Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves TREASURES ON EARTH, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”
This is the stuff in your bank account, your IRA, your Money Market accounts, etc.
Now, we need to be clear that there’s nothing wrong with having money in the bank.

Lots of bible characters were rich and God did not condemn for that! And… if you’re going to be responsible you should put money in savings to take care of emergencies.
But the question is NOT do you have money?
The question is – does the money have you?
Is the money that you have your “TREASURE?”
Jesus tells the parable of a rich man in Luke 12:16-20:
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

You see, the problem with that rich man was – his money was his treasure. He had stored up EARTHLY TREASURE and his first thought was about his possessions and what they could buy him. His possessions made it so that he had ample goods for many years to eat, drink and be merry, and he could give no thought to tomorrow.

But you know what he really didn’t give any thought to? He gave no thought at all to God. Jesus ended that parable with these words we find in verse 21:
“So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

You see, that rich man’s money had him… but God didn’t.

So Jesus talked about EARTHLY TREASURE and then He compared that earthly treasure with HEAVENLY TREASURE.

Matthew 6:20 “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

What does that mean?
How can I store up my treasure in heaven?
It means that I should bank my treasure in heaven.
I should give my money to God. My money should belong to God. All of “my” money should be His!

When someone asks to be baptized, a longtime minister of the church of Christ says that he goes through the basics:
Do they believe?
Have they repented.
Are they ready to confess Jesus as the Son of God.

When he gets to the “Confess” part he pulls out his wallet and explains that, in the days of Jesus, when you called someone your Lord, that person owned you.
You were the slave, he was the master.
Everything you owned was his.

 

Then he opens his wallet and says that “when he became a Christian, whatever money he had in his wallet, In his savings accounts and in his sock drawer belonged to God.

The minister continues explaining that everything he has including his car, his house and the shirt on his back belongs to God.

He strongly emphasizes the following points:
I own NOTHING. It all belongs to God.
Thus, when I spend money… whose money am I spending?
God’s, right?
That’s what it means to turn your life over to God.

It means turning all your money and possessions over to Him.
He doesn’t really need our money or possessions, but whenever we use them, we are using something that belongs to God.”

There was a meme on FB a few weeks ago.
IT SHOWS 2 DOORS.

The Blue Door has this statement beside it:
“You go back in time and fix all your mistakes.”

And the Red Door simply says:
$10 million in cash.

Choose a door to open.

It’s a mental exercise… and so I played the game.
I chose the RED door = $10 million!

But now, what would I do with $10 million?

Well… I’m probably going to have to pay taxes on it (that’s gonna whittle it down a bit).
Then I’m gonna give God His 10%... of the $10 million.
That’s $1 million to the church, and they can use that for evangelism, mission support, and more help for the poor in the community.

Then I’m going to pay off some bills and maybe get a newer car… and I’d give some to my daughters and grandkids.
Oh, and of course I would need to buy my mom stuff that would be compatible for a 93 year old. 😊

That’s still going to leave me a pretty hefty nest-egg.
What am I going to do with that money?
BUT, WAIT … Remember… this is God’s money.
So, what do you think I should do?

Well, use your imagination! (I’m not gonna to fill in gaps for you).
But now REMEMBER, that $10 million is ONLY IMAGINARY –
it doesn’t exist!

But think about this cute little poem I read years ago:

 

“It’s not what you’d do with a million
if a million were your lot.
It’s what you are doing at present
with the dollar and a quarter you’ve got.”

How are YOU using God’s money you’ve got in your wallet,
your bank account, your IRA… etc.?

What about your example AND influence!
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
But wait… what was the treasure the man found in the field?
Well, Jesus actually tells us:
“The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.
Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44

The Kingdom of Heaven?
What’s the Kingdom of Heaven?
Well… the Kingdom of heaven is salvation;
it’s the promise of forgiveness;
it’s the promise of eternity in heaven itself.
And heaven is just on “the other side.”
What would you give to get to the other side
TO GET TO HEAVEN?

I’ve read that,
if you were sitting in your car at the toll booth of the Golden Gate Bridge,
and there were motorists lining up behind you,
but you didn’t have any money to pay the toll.

Well, if you wish, you can pay with an object (other than cash)
as long as the value of that object exceeds the price of the toll.
And drivers have left all kinds of items:
motor oil,
a frying pan,
a set of silverware,
cassettes and CDs.
One elderly gentleman left his dentures…
and then returned the next day to redeem them.

Another driver left a diamond wristwatch valued at more than $5000…
and never returned to claim it.

What would you give to get to the other side?

What’s interesting is that Jesus tells us the PRICE to get to the other side.
He tells us about a treasure buried in field,
and the only way to get that treasure…
is to buy that field.

And the only way to but that field is to sell everything that you have.
It will cost you everything to get into heaven.

But what do you have that God would want?
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills…
so He doesn’t need your money.

In fact, He owns the all the hills and the valleys… so He doesn’t need your possessions.
So what do you have that he’d want?
What He wants is YOU!
He wants ALL of you.
Why?
Because you are so precious to Him that He gave His only begotten Son…
JOHN 3:16 16 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.

I found it interesting last night that after Glenville High School won their 1st Football State Championship head coach Ted Ginn Sr. ended his post-game interview with this quote:
“If God isn’t in it
Then you can’t win it!

INVITATION

 

 

Sermon Contributor: Jeff Strite

Give Me That Old Time Religion

Give Me That Old Time Religion
Jeremiah 6:16

INTRO: Good morning church.

Working on our Face Book page I noticed our page is listed as a “Religious Organization”. Then I recalled a song I’m sure many of you have heard over the years; “Give me that old time religion.” No worries, I'm not going to sing it, but I did think it might be interesting to take a look at “Old Time Religion”. I suspect most of us understand that the expression relates to religion as it was practiced in times past.

Did you know that a religion may be old, yet not old enough? Is the religion practiced say 100 years ago, “old time religion”? In some ways of course it is. We rarely ever hear of tent meetings anymore or see Bible scenes painted on bed sheets. They used to do it that way, but is that what we mean?

That's probably maybe 100-200 years or so ago, but not old enough. A religion can also be too old. Remember Nebuchadnezzar's image? If that's your idea of “old time religion”, you've gone too far back. You've passed the most important thing, and that's the cross of Christ.

I. God made this statement in Jeremiah 6:16 – “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, `We will not walk in it”. In this text, the ancient ways were the ways of faith, devotion, and honor of the One True God of Israel, as revealed and certified unto the people in the Pentateuch. In our own times the "good way" is the way of the Gospel of Christ.

A. Some religions are too old to be New Testament Christianity. We also want to think about what the Lord has taught us. Each one of us should be vitally concerned about the “old time religion” that pleases God. That's the one we're talking about today.
B. I know that some people are turned off by the word old. They don't like it. We don't even like to think of ourselves as old. We think newer is better and want things that are new and improved. Today, no less than in the times of Jeremiah, people are vainly searching for "something new" in religion. "Give us anything except the way our fathers did it!" is their motto. In that we are like the Athenian idolaters who had no better thing to do than to listen to or to tell some new thing. Acts 17:21. “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” We see their counterparts today.
C. Others are turned off by the very word religion. They think religion is something evil, perhaps because some have practiced false religion and done evil in the name of that false religion.

1. The word religion is a neutral word and by itself it's neither good nor bad. It depends on the religion that you're talking about.
2. James talks about pure religion. In James 1:26 he writes, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.” Some religion is vain, but not all of it is. James 1:27 – “Pure religion (not vain, but pure) and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
3. Religion is human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. It's the thing that you're most devoted to. For example to some, money is a religion.

D. We should understand that the “old time religion” that pleases God is a matter of divine tradition and not human tradition, and it's clearly outlined in God's Word. When we say “give me that old time religion”, we're talking about the “old time religion” that originated in the mind of God. That's what we will look at this morning. Paul informs us that this religion is such that man could not have discovered it on his own, through his own physical senses.

II. It had to be revealed. In First Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.''” These words are usually thought of as suggesting heaven and the glories of the future world; but Paul did not hesitate to apply them to what God has already done for His children.

A. He's talking about the revelation that was hidden but was then made known unto man. Let’s go on to verses 10-13, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things (concepts) with spiritual words.”[para] It's that revelation that came from God that's being spoken of in those passages. Man could not have known that with his own senses. It had to be revealed.
B. God's ways and thoughts are higher than man's ways and thoughts, even as the heaven is higher than the earth. When we consider that, the Bible says we marvel at God's infinite wisdom and knowledge that has been revealed to man for it is so much higher than ours.

1. Consider that God planned man's redemption when man was still in sin and unlovable by everyone but God, and in rebellion to God. Then we are amazed at God's amazing grace and His amazing mercy toward man.
2. We see that described in the Book of Romans 5:8-9 where the apostle Paul says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
3. And John 3:16, which says “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son”. Yes, “give me that old time religion” that originated in the mind and the heart of God. Also give me that “old time religion” that centers in Jesus. He is the central part of the gospel.

C. We learned from Romans 1:1-5 that the gospel originated with God and it centers on Jesus Christ. There we're told that Jesus was born in the lineage of David, and He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.

1. In addition to these facts we are informed that the apostles were commissioned to proclaim that message, the good news, to all nations for the obedience of the faith. There's faith and obedience used together. This is the “old time religion” that should interest us. That's the one we want to advocate all of our days.
2. As we consider further, we want to ask for the “old time religion” that was revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, as we just read, searches all things, yeah, the deep things of God, and that He revealed to the apostles and prophets so we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
3. Some religions stress God the Father, other religions may stress Jesus the Son. Still others put more of their emphasis around the Holy Spirit. We want that “old time religion” from God's word that has all three of them in it. For all three are involved in our salvation and we dare not neglect any of them.

D. Also we want that “old time religion” which is found in the New Testament. The gospel is God's power to save and we're going to be judged by it. Nobody was ever saved without hearing the gospel, even if they testify that they were. Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Then in Romans 2:16 – “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” The gospel is what saves us, but we're also going to be judged by it. The Bible describes it as a two edged sword, doesn’t it? (Hebrews 4:12) It ought to behoove each one of us to seriously say, give me that “old time religion” that's found in the New Testament.

III. Give me that old time faith. That faith is something we need to consider as well. I’m thinking of the Hymn Faith of Our Fathers. We have learned that the word “faith” is used in different ways. It may be your belief in something or it may be that body of truth. We are to contend for the faith. That means we contend for the word of God.

A. The Bible tells us “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. We need to return to that old time faith that comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Notice it comes by hearing and not by feeling. A lot of people get that backwards. Peter said “… "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.” Acts 15:7.
B. How was faith established in the New Testament? Jesus said, “go and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be condemned.” Hearing is of course implied there. Go preach the gospel and here's the response you're supposed to give. A person hears the gospel and they respond to what they hear… it is taught.

1. What happened when people gladly received the Word? The Bible says, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 2:41.
2. What happens when people don't gladly receive the word? They argue against baptism. They think of all the reasons why you don't need to be baptized, never mind that the people who gladly received the word were baptized. There’s a big difference in attitude there.
3. In Acts 8:35 the Bible says concerning Philip and the eunuch – “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” He opened his mouth, so there was speaking, and there was hearing. We've got to hear the Gospel.
4. In the cases of Lydia and the Philippian jailer and others, faith came as a result of preaching. We read that in Romans 10:14 where the apostle Paul, a preacher of righteousness, said, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” There had to be preaching, and there had to be a hearing.

C. If faith were a subjective thing, something that just comes from within by our own experiences, then there could be no unity of the faith, because everybody sees things differently, when apart from the Bible. Paul said, there is one faith, Ephesians 4:5.
D. The only way we can know Jesus is by knowledge of the Bible. Jesus said “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

IV. Not only the old time faith, but give me that old time obedience as well. When old time faith is established in the minds of people today, it ought to produce that same old time obedience that it did in the first century. We saw this is our study in Hebrews chapter 11. The Hebrew writer explained it referencing Old Testament examples. By faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. He did it by faith. He heard what God said.

A. You can't do anything by faith without hearing, because faith comes by hearing. God had said something. We're not told what it was, but God had said something, or else Abel could not have offered it by faith. There's a necessary inference that we have to draw there that God spoke and Abel offered by faith, and Cain did not. One obeyed whatever it was that God said, the other one didn't.

1. By faith Noah, warned by God of things not yet seen was moved with fear, and prepared an ark. Again notice, he did something by faith once he heard what God said.
2. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. Hebrews 11:17. He did it by faith because God told him what to do. James 2:21 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” All acts of conversion that are given in detail, each one of them, climaxed with the act of obedience, produced by faith, which came by hearing.
3. Numerous times we're told to be baptized to be saved, but not by baptism alone. Baptism is the culminating act that is preceded by genuine faith, and real repentance, and a godly confession, and then followed by the obedience of baptism to the Lord's command.
4. Not once in all of those cases where baptism is connected to remission of sins and salvation, not once did anybody ever argue that baptism is not essential to salvation—not once. We do not see anywhere in the Bible where anybody argued that it wasn't essential. There was a difference in attitude of people then and of people now toward the Word.

B. Failure to obey reflects a lack of faith. It's a lack of faith when people argue that obedience is unnecessary. Their problem is not really with baptism is it? It's with faith and their lack of it. They simply don't believe what the Lord said. They don't trust Him.

1. As we try to talk to people about God’s Word we find people that argue there's nothing to do, and they ridicule the idea of what we need to do. Yet the Bible says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14.
2. It is always sad when we see people balk today. We don't see that so much in biblical times when people heard the gospel. Sad because we know “… in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Second Thessalonians 1:8.

V. Give me that old time righteousness. It doesn't end with obedience to the plan of salvation. We need to emphasize the righteousness that God reveals. “The conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and keep His commandments.” Solomon said it plainly and it is still true.

A. That's taught in the New Testament as well. Ephesians 4 tells us of the new man in verse 24, “… that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”

1. Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things.”
2. Righteousness is involved. First Thessalonians 5:22 – “abstain from every form of evil”

B. It makes a difference how we live. There is one book in the Bible that is primarily telling us how to become Christians, and that's the Book of Acts. There are 21 books after that telling us how to live as Christians. It makes a difference how you live after you become a Christian. Otherwise we have just gone through the motions. We need to obey the gospel in view of living a certain way after our obedience. If nothing changes after our conversion, was it really conversion?
C. The popular attitude today seems to be, give me that Showtime religion. There are a lot of people that want that, and there are churches willing to offer it. Various churches are dismantling their pulpits and replacing them with a stage. New churches are starting up that way too. It's happening all over.

1. Today it's about performance and entertainment with religious flavoring thrown in. I suppose the religious flavoring is to salve the conscience or perhaps to give an operational advantage. Newspapers in many places contain advertisements, telling what is going on in some churches. There's a certain musical group that is going to be performing at a certain church here in town. They're not shy about using the word performance. It is a performance. It's entertainment. It ought to embarrass them, but they've lost their ability to blush.
2. I recently came across something called “101 ideas for better worship services”. I will only relate a few of these.

1. Schedule some unusual instrument for the special item--a harmonica, saw, musical bottles, etc. Have the performer tell how he or she happened to learn that instrument.
2. Have an entire family provide the musical item.
3. Try an "illustrated song." An artist can do a chalk drawing or sketch while the song is sung. Or slides can be shown on a screen.
4. Have a group of singers lead a rousing praise service, providing an item or two themselves.
5. Introduce the service with a brass fanfare. It really captures the attention.

D. Will they ever wake up? That’s not what it is all about. Will they ever see where their congregation is going? A lot of people have blinders on, they don't see it, and they'll go wherever it goes. The element of traditional worship and edification in song simply doesn't have a very high entertainment value today.

1. Ponder this, what is the church, the bride of Christ, here for? The church is not here to entertain… but to redeem. While worshippers may indirectly receive enjoyment from traditional worship, these services are largely designed to teach worshippers Bible truths through edification, training and offering homage unto God. I fear we have today a Showtime Religion.
2. Jesus said, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.''” What does that imply? It implies that there are false worshippers. You wouldn't talk about true worshippers if there wasn't such a thing as false worship.
3. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must… not may, not can, but must… worship Him in spirit and in truth.

VI. Today we see mega churches, and there are quite a few of them across the country. How so? Look at how the Willow Creek Community Church got as big as they did—to 23,000 attendees in the 80’s and 90’s giving a blueprint for how to do a mega church. Prior to the founding of the church, Bill Hybels and his associates spent months surveying the neighborhoods around South Barrington, Ill, discovering what people liked and didn’t like about church, music, worship styles, and traditional religion. The result of their survey was a guide for what Willow Creek was going to look like. The plan worked, bringing in thousands of new attendees each week.

A. That's the formula for success, if you're thinking about worldly success. What the Lord wants was not a priority in those surveys. They did not believe they needed Bible authority for anything.
B. When folks want Showtime Religion, they're worshiping themselves and doing what pleases them. Along with that is the cry for what we sometimes call “feel good religion” featuring all sorts of activities trying to draw people in.

1. God only gave us one thing to draw people in, and that is Jesus. He said, “and if I be lifted up will draw all men unto myself”. He was talking about His death and about His manner of death. He was lifted up on the cross. That's the only thing the Lord gave us. Some people only see ugliness when they see the cross. When we sing the hymn The Old Rugged Cross, we see the beauty.
2. Because of that, we proclaim it still today. We're fighting a battle and the next generation is going to have a battle to fight as well. It's already underway. Whether we hold to the old paths, whether we teach the “old time religion” that's sought in the Bible, or whether we follow these new ideas that are unscriptural.

C. Why is the achievement of fun and good feelings a primary goal of modern worshippers? I suggest that one reason is we have not been taught what it really means to worship God. Secondly, I suspect, is that a lot of people today are addicted to entertainment.

1. Entertainment produces emotional stimulation. It's not fully our fault. I'm not saying it is. We just happen to have been born and reared in a society that is over stimulated through constant exposure to entertainment. American TV is devoted entirely to supplying its audience with entertainment. In many cases, it doesn't appeal to the intellect, but it's aimed largely at emotional stimulation. America is not alone in this of course.
2. Boredom with traditional worship becomes a spiritual problem, one that is formed by the modern worshipers’ passionate quest for entertainment. If we're going to give people what they want, we've got to turn worship into entertainment, and the work of the church then becomes entertainment. We end up worshiping ourselves.
3. Instead of viewing worship primarily as an occasion to give honor and glory and praise to God, the modern worshiper tends to view worship largely as an occasion to get something for them selves. It is difficult to get anyone to attend a meeting if the only attraction there is God. One can only conclude then, that God's professed children are bored with Him, for they must be wooed to an assembly with a piece of candy in the form of religious movies, games and refreshments.

D. Preachers point to attendance and say, but we're winning them. Winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross carrying? To self denial? To separation from the world? To holy living? To nobility of character, to loving one another? To a love for God, to total commitment to Christ? Of course, the answer to all of these is no.

1. Modern churches are constructed like theaters. Instead of a pulpit, the focus is on a stage. They are hiring full time media specialists, programming consultants, stage directors, drama coaches, special effects experts and choreographers.
2. I suppose the next title to appear will be Ministry of Programming.

E. And we're confronted today by the health and wealth Gospel, sometimes called the Prosperity Gospel. It's what we see on Primetime. Some people's attitude is, give me that “prime time religion”. This is a gospel which promises to its adherence, health and wealth, and is another gospel than that which was preached by Christ and the apostle. They preach today what they call Christianity, which promises the sick that they will be miraculously healed and the poor that they will be miraculously made rich. They promise that Christians will be the envy of the world because of the riches of God's temporal blessings on His children.

1. Where do they get that message? Certainly not from the Bible. The implication is that accepting their gospel will bring no suffering, no persecution.
2. In contrast, Jesus promised adversity to His saints. He said, “"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. "But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. "And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
3. Christ promised daily blessings, but He didn't promise material wealth or perfect health. He said, seek ye first the kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you. He will take care of us. He will give us enough.

VII. Churches should rethink adopting this contemporary plan that we hear about today because;

A. Number one, it reinforces the modern worshippers’ man-centered, self-serving view of worship. True worship is in its very essence God centered and not man centered.

1. It means that worship must primarily be to God about God and for God, and even when teaching and admonishing one another, it is bringing glory to God in its purpose.
2. This will happen only when a person looks beyond their own personal taste and interest and focuses on God and His holiness and His power and wisdom. Unfortunately, as long as churches continue to emphasize a personal payoff, then they'll be unable to worship God.
3. A lot of churches have abandoned doctrine. They want to keep it light—nothing controversial from the world’s point of view. They want everybody to go home happy… We want people to go home happy too, but going home happy because they're following the Lord, not because they followed a plan that originated in the mind of man.

B. Number two, the contemporary plan tends to diminish the sense of awe and reverence that should be present in an encounter with God. Those who choose to come into His presence must do so with reverence and awe and godly fear. We must not enter the presence of God casually. We conduct ourselves as those who are fit for the gospel. The worship itself is our holy ground.
C. Satan made the argument that man has to be bribed to worship. Job proved him wrong. The contemporary plan generally reflects a lack of confidence in the power of the gospel. If a church believes, the contemporary plan is the only way, the church has clearly lost confidence in the power of the gospel itself. That belief is not simply unbiblical; it is anti biblical.

 

CONCLUSION:
We need to continue to preach that same message that was given to us. I hope you'll go back to the Bible for the plan of salvation and look and see what people did when that first gospel sermon was preached on the day Pentecost, when they said, men and brethren, what shall we do?

Peter didn't say, there's nothing to do. He told them something to do; to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins in the name of Jesus Christ and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who gladly received his word did so.
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I hope you'll be among those people who gladly received the word, and you'll become a New Testament Christian like they did. Then you can truly say you have that “old time religion” that we need and find in the Bible.

If you're subject to our Lord's invitation today, will you please come as we stand and sing the song that's been selected for your encouragement?

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Reference Sermon by: Richard Blackford

The Room Of Death

THE ROOM OF DEATH
Hebrews 2:14 – 15

In the early 1900s there was a famous psychiatrist by the name of Dr. Carl Jung. He developed an intriguing test that psychiatrists/Psychologists will sometimes use to help their patients deal with a specific fear everyone seems to have.
They tell their patients to imagine being in a white room, filled with white furniture. The walls are white, your clothes are white… EVERYTHING is WHITE.
Then (after a few moments) the patient is asked to describe how they feel about being in that room. What emotions did they experience being in that totally white room?
And therapists found that many of their patients would speak of feelings of anxiety, fear… even terror. Then the psychologist explains that the white room represented death. And how the patient felt about that room revealed what they thought about dying.

There have been numerous studies over the years asking what people fear, and one of the most prominent fears that folks have IS this fear of DEATH.
One Philosopher said “No man dares to face death … without fear.”
Sigmund Freud said: “Finally there is the painful riddle of death, for which no remedy at all has yet been found, nor probably will ever be!”

An ancient Chinese philosopher explained it this way: “The birth of a man is the birth of his sorrow. The longer he lives, the more his anxiety to avoid unavoidable death. What bitterness! He lives for what is always out of reach!
His thirst for survival in the future makes him incapable of living in the present.”

Our text today tells us that Jesus came to help us to deal with that fear. Hebrews 2:14-15 tell us 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Or as another version states
14 Since then the children are sharers in [a]flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he [b]might bring to nought him that [c]had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and [d]might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Jesus came to free us from that bondage. To free us from the fear of death.
Now, that doesn’t mean that people haven’t tried coping with that fear without Jesus. Many people have tried to deal with their fear of death… by simply ignoring it. There’s some old sayings concerning death:
 “Every man knows that he must die, but no one believes it.”

 “Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, Love leaves a memory that no one can steal.”
 “Do not resent growing old, many are denied the privilege.”
 “Live your own life for you will die your own death.
 “In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway, there is no death.” —Proverbs 12:28
 “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” —Romans 14:8
 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” —Psalm 73:26
. And there’s lots of folks who tend to ignore any discussion of death. They don’t want to talk about it!

Another approach to deal with the fear of death is to try to POSTPONE death itself. Believe it or not, there was a fad that was very popular about 8 years ago in the Silicon Valley of California. It seems that many of the rich people from Silicon Valley were buying the bags of blood plasma to inject in their veins. And not just any old blood plasma… this blood came from young people (ages 18 to 25).
Now why would these very wealthy individuals do that? Well, these were aging businessmen – very RICH BUT older businessmen.
The theory was that the blood of these young people would extend their lives, and so they could live longer as long as they could afford to buy new plasma every once in a while.
According to one of companies selling this product:
The cost for this “young” blood plasma was $8000 per bag.

A Fox commentator named Greg Gutfeld commented on this fad saying: “I have a theory… these ultra-rich billionaires in Silicon Valley got rich really young. So, they’re in their 30s and they’re billionaires… But the one thing they don’t have is immortality.
They have everything else. And it’s on their brain, and they’re like “ I’m a billionaire!” ‘I don’t want to lose all this, and one day I’m going to die.
They hoped to buy eternal life… and avoid death.

Now there’s another approach that sounds a little more reasonable. There’s a clinical therapist from Canada who speaking about the fear of death said this:
“I think the only way you can combat the fear of death is to live fully...” In other words… he believes you can beat the FEAR (not death itself … but the fear) of death by living a productive and fruitful life that you can be proud of.
Now, he’s not the first guy to come up with that. There’s been a lot of people who have lived determined lives who were motivated to beat death in the same way by trying to do things that would live on long after they’d died. But they all seem to come up a little empty. No matter how many good things they may do, it’s still hard to deal with the fear of dying.

A famous philosopher (Jean-Paul Sartre) once said that Death “removes all meaning from life.”
For men like him, death is the end of everything.
It’s like walking into a dungeon and throwing away the key.
It’s like being trapped in a room from which there’s NO escape. And when men like that face the prospect of entering the grave they know they’re not EVER going to get out of there alive.
A mother was taking her 2 young boys to a funeral, and she tried to prepare them for what they’d experience when they got there. She talked to them for a long time about funerals and death and things like that. But later on - when they got to the gravesite - it was obvious that she hadn’t explained things as well as she’d thought.
Her 4 year old leaned over said, “Mom?” “Yes,” she whispered. He paused and then asked “What’s in the box?”
In the book “Children’s Letters to God”, a little boy named Mike wrote, “Dear God. What happens when you die? Nobody will talk to me about it. I don’t want to do it. I just want to know.”
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
You see, death can be scary, especially for those outside of Christ, because death is the great unknown, and it frightens people.

A minister tells this story of an event that he remembers from his childhood. He states that
“When I was 5 years old, my grandfather died. He was my favorite person in the whole world, and I was his favorite as well. But at 5 years old I didn't understand death. I just knew he was gone and he wasn't coming back. In those days, funerals were different than they are today. For example, the viewing was held in Grandpa’s house. And family and friends would come to the house and pass by his casket in the living room, and then… they’d gather in the kitchen for refreshments. Then later, when we gathered at the cemetery, the grave wasn't covered like it is these days. You could come right up to the grave itself and look right down into the place where the casket was to be lowered. At 5 years old I knew that was where my grandfather’s body was going to be buried. My mother said I spent a great deal of time looking down into that hole. At one point, I looked up at her and I asked a question that only a 5 yr. old would think to ask: “How is grandpa ever going to get out of there?” I didn't understand. I’d never seen anyone die before and it puzzled me.
But as a child, my folks had always taken me to church, and though I didn't know HOW I knew, I knew that grave wasn't gonna hold him. And although I knew that I just couldn't figure out how God would get grandpa out of the grave with all that dirt on top of him.How could I be SURE that grandpa was going to get out of the grave?
And, more than that, how can WE (as Christians” believe so strongly in the idea of being resurrected from the dead?”
Well to answer that question about being resurrected from the dead, we first know that it is promised in the Bible. In the Old Testament (for example) there are several verses that tell us NOT to fear death.
In the book of Job 19:25-27: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
In Hosea 13:14 God promised His people: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! …."
And the 23rd Psalm has these comforting words: “Yea though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW OF DEATH, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” Psalm 23:4

ILLUS: Years ago, I’d be driving my kids down the road and as we approached a bridge they would hold their breath. I asked them why they were doing that, and they said that holding their breath would keep them from dying as they went under the bridge. Now I thought that was “cute” at the time but then… I read about a 19-year-old man who fainted while holding his breath (for the very same reason). He had been driving through a tunnel northwest of Portland, Oregon when he fainted and his car drifted across the center line crashing into a Ford Explorer. Then his car then bounced off the tunnel walls and collided with a pickup. He ended up being cited for reckless driving, 4th-degree assault and 3 counts of reckless endangerment.
WHY? Why had he gotten in that accident? Well, because he believed in a silly superstition.
He was so afraid of the DARKNESS of the tunnel that he felt holding his breath would make him safer! He feared the SHADOW of death!

But we don’t have to be afraid of that shadow because God has promised us that the grave cannot hold us. So, the Old Testament is filled with the belief in a resurrection,
Then, in the New Testament, Jesus adds to these promises. In John 5:24 Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
In John 6:40 He said; “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
And, of course, one of the most famous quotes in Scripture is found in John 3:16
"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.”
Now, the question is this: Why would OUR hope of resurrection be tied to believing in Jesus?
And the answer is: we can believe WE will rise from the grave because Jesus DID IT FIRST.
As Revelation 1:5 says: Jesus Christ… (is) the firstborn from the dead…” Now, granted, there had been others raised by the dead in Scripture, but each and every one of them died again. But when Jesus rose from the dead… He never went back. He was the first one who ever CONQUERED death.
Paul said it this way in I Corinthians 15:14-20
“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless, and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished (they’re not coming back - they have perished – there is no resurrection for them… or for us).
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But IN FACT Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
THE POINT IS THIS: We don’t have to be afraid. Death has no real power over us. Jesus rose from the dead as the FIRST BORN from the dead… the FIRSTFRUITS of those who’ve fallen asleep.
Romans 6 tells us that when we WERE baptized into Christ “We were buried … with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
So, when we’re baptized, God promises us that the grave WON’T hold us. WE WILL RISE FROM THE DEAD!

Conclusion: At the beginning of the sermon, I told you about the “White Room” test that psychiatrists will still sometimes use this test to gauge the fear their patients have of death. When I was at Purdue University, one of my friends tried it on me. He said he’d just learned something in Psych class and wanted to get my opinion of what he’d learned. So, he told all about the white room – the walls, the pictures, the furniture, etc. it was ALL white. He asked me to imagine myself in that room for a few minutes. THEN he asked “what kind of emotions do you feel about being in that room a period of time?”
Now, I’d never heard of this test before, and I had no idea what he was getting at, but I asked him the first thing that came into my mind: “IS THERE A DOOR?” “Yes,” he says… “and it’s white too!” And I responded, “Well, I want to know what’s on the other side of that door.”
You see, for the Christian, death is not a prison from which there is no escape, and the grave is not a box that can never be opened. A poet named Calvin Miller put it this way: “Our graves are merely doorways cut in sod.”
We don’t have to fear death, because Jesus has conquered death.
I Corinthians 15:55-58 tells us
“O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
There is a story told of a young girl who had to go home each night at dark, and she always walked thru a cemetery because it was the shortest route.
Someone asked her why she wasn’t afraid to pass thru the graveyard, and she responded
“Oh I’m not afraid! My home is just on the other side.”
INVITATION

 

 

Sermon Contributor: Jeff Strite

Learning About The Church From Ephesians

Learning About The Church
Ephesians 1:1-2

INTRO: Good morning church.
In my last few lessons we looked at God’s Grace, our Faith, Works and God’s Law. In this lesson I would like to take a look at us as a group, Christians as the body of Christ and learn a little about that.

For our text please turn with me to the book of Ephesians and let’s read Ephesians 1:1-2 – “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we study the New Testament, we can't help but notice that many passages found there have to do with the church in Ephesus. For example, in Acts chapters 18 and 19, Luke tells us about the establishment of the church in that city. The Apostle Paul wrote one of his letters to that particular congregation and we just read the first two verses of it.

Reading the Bible references to the early churches, the way they worshiped, and what the apostles and Christ had to say about them, is a good way to keep in mind how we, as the body of Christ, are to live. Restoration is a continuing process not a one-and-done activity.

There are indeed quite a number of passages in the New Testament that in various ways have to do with the church in the city of Ephesus. All the way to Revelation 2:1-7 where the Lord sent a message to the same congregation. “1. "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, `These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2. "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3. "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.
4. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent.
6. "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.'' '”

In our lesson today, what I would like us to do is examine some information revealed in the Book of Ephesians that has to do with the church.

That is the theme of our lesson, learning about the church from Ephesians. Of course there are many other passages in the Bible that have to do with the church. We can't cover them all in one lesson, but we do want to cover some fundamental principles that are revealed primarily, in the Book of Ephesians.

Let's begin with the identity of the church.

I. From Ephesians, we learn about the church's identity.

A. Since we have already opened our Bibles to Ephesians 1, let's read verses 22 and 23. Here Paul is telling about the power that God demonstrated through Christ. He wrote: “And He put all things under His feet (that is the feet of our Lord), and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Make no mistake about it; the church is the Lord's body.

1. This is not the only verse in the Bible that reveals that very important information. Paul, being an inspired apostle, didn't teach one thing to one group of people, and then something contrary to a different group of people. When he revealed information concerning the church, he always taught the same thing.
2. We just saw what he wrote to the church in Ephesus. What about what he wrote to the church in Colossae on this topic? We find that in Colossians 1:18 – “And He (speaking of Christ) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” The church is the Lord's body. It's important for us to understand that because we will find passages that have to do with the body. We need to understand that this information relates to the church.

B. How many bodies are there? Let's look at Ephesians 4:4-6 – “4. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”. There are seven very important subjects listed that are unique. They are unique in the sense that there's only one of each. First on the list, there is one body. That's not what man indicates though, is it?

1. The same inspired writer went on to say that there's one Lord… there's one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all. If we can understand that there's one Lord, understand that there's one God, certainly we can understand that there is one body.
2. Let's just use a little bit of old fashioned common sense. Since the church is the Lord's body, and it is, and there is one body then how many churches are there? There's only one.
3. I believe even a child can understand that. It just seems to me if a child can understand the concept of “one” then certainly adult people should be able to as well. Paul says that the church is the Lord's body. He said very clearly there is one body. With common sense and we can conclude that from the Lord's perspective, not man's perspective, but from the Lord's perspective, there is one church.
4. I want to point out something else concerning the church. In a prior lesson we read in Galatians 3:28, where Paul writes “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Now let's look at Ephesians 2 for a moment and consider how God has made it possible for both Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled to God in His body. Starting in Ephesians 2:11 – “11. Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands 12. that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. 14. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, 15. having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,”.
5. Here Paul is referring to Jews and Gentiles. The Law of Moses had kept those two groups separated for centuries. Christ, when He died on the cross, fulfilled the law, and took it out of the way. Colossians 2:14 says “… He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” He fulfilled it. He took it out of the way, and then His new covenant went into effect, which is far greater than the old.

C. Let's continue now in Ephesians 2:16 – “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” The Lord made it possible for Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled to God in His body. That's one of the distinct features of the Lord's body. All people, regardless of ethnic background, are reconciled to God AND to one another in the body, which is the church.

II. From Ephesians, we learn about the church's relationship with Christ. We've already read from Ephesians 1:22 that Christ is the head over all things to the church.

A. When the Bible says all things, that's exactly what it means. First, Christ is the “head” (kephalé) of the church, which means He is the ultimate authority over the church. It is His will and His word that governs the life of the church. Christ is the head of the church, AND He has preeminence. Preeminence is “the fact of surpassing all others; superiority”. If Christ has preeminence, and He does, that means He is first, in everything. First in importance, first in honor, first in exaltation. It is not enough that Jesus have prominence in our lives. He must have preeminence in our lives. Jesus cannot simply be on our top-ten list. He must be everything.
B. In addition to being the head of the church, Christ is the savior of the body. Look at Ephesians 5:23 which says “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” We know that He's the head of the church, and we know that He's the savior of the body.
C. Now Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, ” He loves the church and He loved it so much that He gave himself for it. That's the greatest love that anyone could possibly have. Jesus, near the end of His ministry, said “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” This is recorded in John 15:13 Jesus loved the church so much that He gave Himself for it.

1. As we study about the church's relationship with Christ, we learn that Christ is the head over all things to the church. We understand that He's the Savior of the body, and we understand that He loved the church so much that He gave Himself for it.
2. Let's tie in a couple of other verses—Acts 20:28 where Paul was speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus. He met them in Miletus, though they served as elders of the Ephesian Church. This is what he said to them; “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” See how much Christ loves the church? He purchased it with His own blood.

D. To further illustrate the Lord's relationship with the church, let's look at Ephesians 5:29 – “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.” Christ cherishes and nourishes the church. These verses help us understand what the Lord wants us to know about the church's relationship with Him. Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. He loved the church so much that He purchased it with His own blood, and He nourishes and cherishes the church.

III. From Ephesians, we learn about the church's responsibilities to Christ.

A. Let's talk about the church's responsibilities and we will start with what's written in Ephesians 3:21. This is actually the end of a prayer that Paul offered and it's a beautiful prayer. Notice how he concluded it. “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

1. As we think about the church's responsibilities to Christ, notice that God is glorified in the church. The Bible teaches that we're to do everything to the glory of God. We need to think about that. God is to be glorified in the church, and that's a very important responsibility.
2. As we seek to glorify God in the church, we remain subject unto Christ. This also is a very important responsibility. The church is subject to Christ. Ephesians 5:24 – “Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” People get very uncomfortable when you start talking about preeminence and subjection.

B. The Bible teaches that the church is to be in subjection to Christ. How do we accomplish that? That's a good question, and the Bible tells us in Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Everything that we do and say is to be said or done in the name of Christ, that is, by His authority.

1. How do we know what Christ authorizes us to say and do? Also a good question, Colossians 3:16 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” See how these New Testament letters go together and complement one another? Sometimes people want to tell us that they contradict each other, but nothing could be further from the truth.
2. Ephesians makes it very clear that the church is to be subject unto Christ. Again, how do we accomplish that? By doing what the Lord wants us to do and saying the things that the Lord wants us to say. How do we know what He wants us to say and do? By letting His Word dwell in us richly with all wisdom.

C. That brings us to another responsibility that's mentioned in Ephesians 5:27 - “that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” The church is to be holy and without blemish. Rather an important responsibility, isn’t it?

1. And that responsibility is given to each member. Each member is to be holy and without blemish. When the members accomplish this important responsibility, then the church is being holy and without blemish.
2. After all we are the church. When we're baptized into Christ, we're added to the Lord's Church Acts 2:47. At that point we take on some very important responsibilities.

IV. From Ephesians, we learn the church makes known the “manifold wisdom of God”.

A. Let's look at another thing that's addressed in Ephesians Chapter 3. I’m going to read Ephesians 3:1-12 – “1. For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles 2. if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3. how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I wrote before in a few words, 4. by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5. which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6. that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7. of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9. and to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10. to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11. according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12. in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”

B. From verse 10 we learn that the church makes known the manifold wisdom of God. The adjective we translate as “manifold” means “much variegated, marked with a great variety of colors”. Often we understand these verses to mean that the church is responsible for making known the manifold wisdom of God. Indeed we, the church, do have that responsibility, but there is something else I’d like to consider.

1. Perhaps these verses teach us that when men observe God's plan for the church being carried out, they see His manifold wisdom being demonstrated in a powerful way.
2. When people see the church and observe it and examine it, they see something very special. They see God's manifold wisdom at work. That wisdom has been in God's mind for a long time. The church is a demonstration of God's manifold wisdom.

C. In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul tells us that the Gospel makes it possible for men to be at peace with God. He also showed how the Gospel makes it possible for men to be at peace with other men. Having dealt with that issue rather thoroughly, Paul went on to talk in chapter three about how for a long time that was a mystery, something that was hidden.

1. In God's due time, God revealed that information to certain inspired people, the holy apostles and prophets. They in turn wrote these things down. We can read those things and we can gain an understanding of God.
2. When someone outside the church observes us, what are they seeing demonstrated? The wisdom of God in all it’s glory.
3. We know about man's wisdom and what it does. Often we see that it leads to division, misunderstanding and disagreement even in the body, the church.
4. God's plan is right. God's plan can be understood and God's plan can be followed. When men submit to God's will and follow His plan, God's manifold wisdom that He purposed a long time ago is being demonstrated. I would say that to the Lord, and to His father, the church is very important, wouldn't you?

CONCLUSION:
In looking at the Book of Ephesians we've learned something about the identity of the church, about the church's relationship with Christ and about the church's responsibilities to Christ. We saw that the church makes known the manifold wisdom of God.

Keep in mind what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 – “I will build My church,” and the Lord built His church just as He said that He would. To be the Lord's church today, we must follow His plan. And we learn about the Lord's plan for His church by carefully studying passages in the Bible that relate to it.

So why do we want to do this and why do it more then once? We probably all know the answer. Certainly we are all familiar with how things can change over time. Everything in our lives needs maintenance and at times, if we are going to keep something, it may need to be restored. Restoration is bringing something back to its original condition. We probably have some idea what's involved in restoring a car, or perhaps what's involved in restoring a house and so forth.

In like manner we need to be concerned about restoring the church when needed. It can get to point of needing maintenance of course, but it might need some serious maintenance because in some cases, men have broken the church. There is wear and tear on the body and I’m not talking about the building. Things slip, changes sneak in, the world is constantly applying pressure to what we do, say, and even accept. We need to look at ourselves and do some examination on a regular basis. If something is amiss we need to go to the operator’s manual, the trouble shooting guide. It's probably right there in your hand.

It teaches us all about the various parts of the church that we need to know. If it's not revealed in the Bible, then frankly, we don't need to know it. God has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, if He wants us to know it, it will be in the book.

What do we do when our reality is not matching up to scripture? That which is defective or damaged needs to be eliminated. That which is right needs to be restored, just like those putting new parts in a worn out device. When we do that the church goes back as God wants it to be.

We have just read about some of the fundamentals of the church and there are many, many more revealed in the Bible. All together, they make that wonderful institution. We need to study these fundamental principles on a regular basis and do some examination at times. We might call them preventative maintenance checks. We also are responsible for helping others to see these same things, because there's a lot of confusion today about the nature of the church.

There's no reason for that confusion. We know who's responsible for it. Men are responsible, because God is not the author of confusion. If we will just follow His word, we will know what He wants us to know about the church. We comply with those instructions, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that we're the Lord's Church. That's a great blessing.

Never listen to anyone who would mock the principle of restoring the Lord's Church. If you examine God's people over the centuries, you can't help but see that there's been a constant need for restoration. God revealed His law to the Jewish people through Moses, and as long as they kept it, God blessed His people abundantly. But then they'd start to wander away from God, and even get involved in worshiping idols. Then God would punish His people and that would bring them to their senses. They would repent, and He would bless them once again. That has happened many times in the history of God's people, hasn’t it?

Those principles are valid. As long as we are following the Lord's will, we are pleasing to Him. God help us to be busy at doing that.

One more thing I want to mention. We are the beloved recipients of God’s mercy to be sure; but we are also humble servants, unworthy to be called by His name, sinners saved by grace. That is why, in the wisdom of God, there is nothing that we can ever bring to offer Him for our salvation (Ephesians 2:8–9).

With that in mind, the preeminence of Christ challenges us who call ourselves “Christians” with uncomfortable implications. Do we want to be called a Christian? Or do we want to be a Christian. Do we want to be thought of as yielded to God’s will? Or do we want to yield to God’s will? Do we want it to appear that what matters most to us is Christ? Or do we want Christ to matter most? Are we satisfied with the veneer of Christ-likeness because it is good enough for others, or do we want to be like Christ? Do we want to do and say the kinds of things we would say and do if we were seeking to honor Christ above all others, or do we want to honor Christ above all others? We should pray that the tension in those annoying questions settles down upon our soul, ministering to us and encouraging us toward the true exaltation of the Son as supreme, for that is the position that He alone occupies.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of our sins… If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

If anybody needs to respond, either to dedicate themselves to Christ, be buried with Him in baptism, and become a part of the work He has for us; or if you need to ask for prayers on your behalf, won’t you come forward as we stand and sing our Invitational song.

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Reference Sermon by: Raymond Sieg

What Is The Purpose Of My Life?

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MY LIFE?
TEXT: Nehemiah 1:1-10, 6:1-2; Ecclesiastes 3:11

It was 1940, & a time of great crisis in Europe. The German armies had already conquered most of Eastern Europe. And now the blitzkrieg was sweeping across Western Europe toward England. In less than a week, Netherlands, Luxembourg, & Belgium had fallen, & France was next. Adolph Hitler was boasting that within 2 months he would march at the head of his victorious army into London, itself. With that, Neville Chamberlain, who was Prime Minister of England and had been completely fooled by Hitler, resigned in disgrace.

Winston Churchill, who had long been warning the English people about Hitler, was asked to be the next Prime Minister. From then on it was obvious that the outcome of the war & the future of Europe would largely depend upon Churchill’s leadership.

If I were Churchill, I would have felt the terrible pressure of leadership at that moment. But Churchill wrote: "As I went to bed at about 3 A.M., I was conscious of a profound sense of relief. At last, I had the authority to give directions … I felt as if I were walking with Destiny, & that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour & for this trial..."

What caused Churchill to possess such confidence? He was taking over an unprepared country against the greatest military machine that had ever been created up to that time.
How could he possibly say, "I was conscious of a profound sense of relief"? Evidently, he had an overwhelming sense of "purpose" for his life. Churchill was just one person, but through the efforts of that one person, strategically placed & courageously leading, the spirit of England turned from despair to hope. Gradually the war was won, not only saving England, but some would claim, saving democracy as a form of government in the world.

This morning I'd like to talk about living our lives with a sense of purpose. You & I were put on this earth with gifts, talents, & relationships that are waiting to fulfill God's purpose. Like Churchill, in God's plan, we each have a destiny to fulfill. I know you're probably thinking, "I'm no Churchill." And you're right.

But you are you. And I believe God has a purpose for your life too. There's one individual in Scripture who may illustrate this better than anyone else. His name was Nehemiah. In 586 B.C., the Babylonians invaded the country of Judah & totally destroyed Jerusalem, tearing down its houses & walls, & even the glorious temple that Solomon had built.

And they carried off thousands of Jews as captives to Babylon. But within 70 years, the Babylonians themselves had been conquered by the Persians, & any of the Jews who wanted to do so were allowed to return home. The returnees started to rebuild Jerusalem & the temple, but the task was so overwhelming that they soon gave up in discouragement, & the city remained in ruins. For nearly 100 years conditions continued to deteriorate in Jerusalem.
Sacrifices were no longer being offered, & many Jews were beginning to adopt the lifestyle & culture of the pagan people surrounding them.

But one man, back in Persia, was about to discover & live out God's purpose for his life. His name was Nehemiah.
And from his example I believe we can find a way to answer an important question in our own lives.

And that question is: "What is the purpose of my life?" To answer that, the story of Nehemiah suggests 3 actions that we need to take.

THE 1ST ACTION we need to take is to CULTIVATE A CONCERN. A life of purpose begins with a real concern that God has given you.

Churchill spent years learning & preparing & strategizing. Why? Because God had given him a concern about the safety of his people & his nation. Purpose always begins with a God-given concern.

Listen to Nehemiah 1:1-4: "In late autumn of the 20th year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. "I asked them about the Jews who had survived the captivity & about how things were going in Jerusalem. They said to me, 'Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. 'They are in great trouble & disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, & the gates have been burned.' When I heard this, I sat down & wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, & prayed to the God of heaven."

Nehemiah's concern over Jerusalem consumed him. He couldn't get it out of his mind. He continued faithfully with his duties, but inside, his heart was broken as he mourned & fasted & prayed about the plight of Jerusalem.

God's purpose for you will always begin as a God-given concern. I'm not talking about a temporary concern. I'm talking about something that sticks with you.

Someone once stated that: "You will hear or see something that gets your attention. A thought related to the future will generate an emotion. Something will bother you about the way things are, or the way things are headed. Unlike many passing concerns, these will stick with you.

You will find yourself thinking about them in your free time. You may lose sleep over them. You won't be able to let them go because they won't let you go.” Maybe God is already in the process of developing concerns in the hearts of some of you here this morning. If so, let me make a few observations about those concerns.

First of all, realize that not everyone will share your concern. Did you notice that nobody else seemed to be concerned about the wall? For years, the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down. But no one else seemed to be crying about the broken-down walls. Nehemiah's concern was Nehemiah's alone. But what about us today? It's possible God has given you a concern, but you haven't cultivated it because nobody else seems to share that concern. Stop waiting for others! God has given you that concern for a reason. It's up to you to begin to cultivate & pray about that concern.

Secondly, realize that not everyone who has a concern will do anything about it. Remember, when the people first returned to Jerusalem they had tried to rebuild the walls. But they gave up, & 100 years went by.

During those 100 years do you think that anybody else was concerned about rebuilding the walls? Yes, there must have been some. But they didn't do anything about it. Talking & doing are two different things. You see, not everyone who has a concern will do something about it.

Thirdly, realize that God often gives a concern before He provides a solution. Some of you may have God-given concerns, but you haven't done anything about them. Why not? Because you haven't seen yourself being used by God as a part of the solution.

Nehemiah was a cup-bearer to the king. He was responsible for ensuring the safety of the king's food & drink. Yes, he had become very concerned about the need to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. But he wasn't in a position of authority to do anything about it.

You see, I believe that sometimes God will give us a deep concern, yet it won't be immediately obvious that we can do anything about it. But don't abandon it. Cultivate that concern. Pray about it. Bring it before God.

Somebody has said, "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue those."

The second action is this: "Focus on the eternal."
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has set eternity in the hearts of men." And a life that's seeking God's purpose focuses on making an eternal contribution.

There's a big difference between good ideas & God ideas. God ideas always center on the eternal. What made Nehemiah's concern a God idea?

Nehemiah 1:8-10 tells us. Keep in mind that we're over-hearing Nehemiah's prayer to God. Nehemiah prayed: "Please remember what you told your servant Moses: 'If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me & obey my commands, “even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored. We are your servants, the people you rescued by your great power & might.

“O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me."

Why was Nehemiah concerned about the broken-down walls? God had promised that if His people would return to Him, then He would bring them back from exile & bless them in their own land.

Nehemiah's concern wasn't really about a wall. His concern was about God's people taking their rightful place in God's plan. There's only one thing that will last into eternity.

Your career won't. Your reputation won't. Your bank account won't. Only one thing will last into eternity: people.
Our job is to use our money, time, & abilities to influence people eternally. Nothing else matters.

How do you develop a life of purpose?
Three actions.
1 Cultivate a concern.
2 Focus on the eternal.
And there's one more action you will need to take:

#3, "Concentrate your energy."
I'm going to fast-forward a little in Nehemiah's story. Nehemiah overcame years of discouragement & opposition, & when we pick up the story in Neh. 6, the wall is almost complete. They were only days away from completing the project. But Nehemiah's enemies were stirring up trouble.
Nehemiah 6:1-2 says: "When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, & the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall & that no gaps remained – though we had not yet hung the doors in the gates – Sanballat & Geshem sent me a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono."

Sanballat & company invited Nehemiah to a meeting. Their plan was to get him off the project, Get him away from his supporters, & kill him.

But listen to Nehemiah’s response in Neh. 6:3. It's a verse that everyone ought to underline or highlight in their Bible. His response was this, "I am doing a great work & I cannot come down".

That is a powerful verse. Nehemiah knew that to accomplish his purpose, he would have to watch out for the greatest enemy of purpose. He would have to deal with distractions.

Things have a way of popping up to distract us from the main things God has called us to do. Many of these distractions aren't even bad things. But If we're going to accomplish God's purpose, we have to learn how to say “no” to some good things.

We need to live with this verse etched on our mind: "I am doing a great work & I cannot come down." I wrestle with this as much as anyone. I have the joy of living out my purpose. And yet I'm amazed by how easy it is to get distracted. Some distractions are good. And yet I have to remind myself often of Nehemiah’s thought, "I'm doing a great work & I cannot come down."

You & I were put on this earth for a purpose. God has given us unique contributions to make, & never underestimate the power of just one person.

Centuries ago a woman almost did. She thought things were too far gone. And she certainly didn't think there was anything she could do. It was only a matter of time before all Jews were to be killed. Her name was Esther. She was the Jewish wife of a Persian king, the man who had been tricked into making an irreversible, disastrous decision.

All Jews were to be exterminated. But could the tide be turned by … just ONE person? WITH GOD … of course, the answer is yes.

Esther's adoptive father, Mordecai, realizing that she, alone,
held the key to her husband's heart, appealed to her conscience.

(Esther 4:14) "For if you remain silent at this time . . . you & your father's house will perish…" She listened to his plea. What got her attention was his final line, "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

That did it. She broke long-standing protocol, went into the king's throne room … & rescued the Jews from a holocaust.
One woman – only one voice – saved an entire nation.

Of course, none of us will probably ever be a Churchill,
a Nehemiah or a Esther. And probably many of you are sitting there wondering what purpose God might have for your life. May I suggest one?

Since the only earthly thing that will last for eternity is people, then the greatest purpose you & I can have is to seek to influence someone to become a Christian and to remain FAITHFUL to Jesus throughout of lives.

Who do you know that you love & who may love you, who is not a Christian? Someone in your family? Maybe a close friend? How about making them your purpose in life? Don’t just think that is a lost cause, make them your God-inspired purpose!

Cultivate your concern for them, focus on the fact that the result will be eternal, & then concentrate your energy on reaching that loved one for Jesus. You might be amazed at the help God will give you!

A poet wrote, "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

Having done that, please put aside all excuses & ask yourself, "What should I be doing?" Yes, you can make a difference. The question is, will you? If you don't do your part, who will?

INVITATION

God’s Grace is Sufficient

God's Grace is Sufficient
Second Corinthians 12:7-12

INTRO: Good morning. We covered in recent lessons - God’s Grace, our faith, works and God’s Law. We said that God's Grace represents everything He did to make salvation available for mankind. Today I would like to examine some more aspects of God’s grace.

Please turn in your bibles to 2 Corinthians the 12th chapter and I will read beginning in verse 7 through verse 12. 2 Corinthians 12:7-12 - “7. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 11. I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. 12. Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”

Not long ago while reading this very familiar passage in which the apostle Paul refers to his “thorn in the flesh”, I came to v. 9. I could not get beyond the Lord’s response to Paul’s prayer ... “My grace is sufficient for you.” I wondered to myself could I be comfortable, could I be content, as content as Paul, with that assurance from God? “My grace is sufficient for you.” I wonder, too, just how many times, though knowing those words, might I have responded this way, “Yes Lord, but...” Can I be as accepting, can I be as positive, and can I be as comfortable with that assurance as was the apostle Paul? This morning I’d like to give you some of my thoughts as I reflected on these words “My grace is sufficient for you”. ... with the hope that I am not only able to help you, but also myself.

I. THE GRACE OF GOD – (TITUS 2:11-14). In the book of Titus, in chapter 2, the apostle writes in an interesting way of the grace of God. Go with me there now and let’s read starting in verse 11, “11. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14. who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” There are affirmations about the grace of God here. For example, the grace of God … brings salvation

A. God’s grace brings salvation

1. We find this also in the familiar verse in (Ephesians 2:8) – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
2. The grace of God is what brings salvation. We saw in previous lessons that neither the works of the Law of Moses nor works of merit which you and I might engage in can bring to us that salvation. It is only through the grace of God that salvation comes.

B. The second affirmation in the text in Titus is that - God’s grace has been manifest to humanity (it has “appeared”). If you turn to the gospel of Luke, chapter 2 let’s begin in verse 21 and set the scene Luke 2:21-22 - “And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord''”. This is where Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the temple to do what is required by the law.

1. Next look down to verse 25 and we will begin to read about a man whose name was Simeon. I want to particularly notice what Simeon says about salvation and what his eyes have seen.
2. Luke 2:25-32 – “25. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28. he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29. "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;” now listen to these words – “for my eyes have seen Your salvation 31. which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32. a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.''” The salvation of God has been manifest and it has appeared in the form of Jesus Christ.
3. God’s grace appeared in the form of Jesus, His Son – In John chapter 1, verse 14 (John 1:14) we read “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” We beheld Him.

C. God’s grace is instructive. Third in the affirmation in Titus 2 is that the grace of God is instructive, the grace of God has appeared teaching. In the 20th chapter of the book of Acts, at verse 24, listen to this. –

1. (Acts 20:24) – “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” There it is. God has a message for us!
2. There is a message from God - that message is the gospel - that message is a provision of God’s grace. That message is a gift from Him, His grace extended to humanity. Going back to those words from 2nd Corinthians chapter 12, “My grace is sufficient for you.” There are four things I would like to address about this.

II. THE GRACE OF GOD IS SUFFICIENT...

A. The first is that God’s grace is sufficient to provide our salvation

1. The salvation that is provided by God’s grace is all the salvation there is going to be. It is complete; it is perfect, it is sufficient.
2. Any thought of salvation other than that which God’s grace provides is insufficient, ineffective, it is useless.
3. In the 2nd chapter of the book of Hebrews at verse 9 there is this (Hebrews 2:9) – “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Jesus’ atoning death is not just for one segment of society, or for one race of people. The grace of God, extended toward humanity, offered the atoning death of Jesus, “for every man”. That is the sufficiency of the salvation God’s grace has provided.
4. We, you and I, need to be very comfortable, with the simplicity of the salvation which God offers. 

B. God’s grace is sufficient to provide for our direction

1. The life we have on this earth presents us with so many choices, challenges, and dilemmas.
2. I know that we so often try to meet these things, answer these choices and challenges and dilemmas, with our own knowledge and our own wisdom. All too often the results of these attempts are not satisfying to our needs.
3. I ask you to look at the 20th chapter of the book of Acts again, and I will read from verse 31. (Acts 20:31-34) – “31. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.” Looking at verse 32 again “… I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up… ”
4. God’s grace is sufficient to provide direction for our lives. God’s grace has provided the up building word - and it is sufficient, all we need, it is perfect. We remember from a very familiar passage (2 Timothy 3:16-17) – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
5. God’s grace is sufficient to provide all of the information we need for our lives. So when we come to the perplexing problems of our lives, we go to the word of God, to the word of His grace, for answers, for direction, for instruction.

C. God’s grace is sufficient to provide for our hope

1. The reality is that life is not easy. I mean there are times when we can just roll along but the reality is that life can be very harsh. There are so many people, perhaps even among us here this morning who lack hope for the present or for the future. That said—let’s go back to Titus for just a minute.
2. To chapter 2 and I want you to look there and note verse 13 while I read starting in verse 11. Titus 2:11-13 - “11. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”
3. We recognize that life isn’t easy; life can be very hard for so many of us. Maybe not all the time but there are times when it is most difficult. At those times we find ourselves wondering “what next?” Looking at verse 13 I realize the ultimate hope we have, even if life has been hard, exasperating, is that the Lord is going to come again and receive us to Himself and we will live eternally in heaven, and there won’t be any problems there.
4. I recognize also that we have hope in prayer. Lets read in 1st John chapter 5 verses 14 and 15. (1 John 5:14-15) “14. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him...” We have hope in prayer.
5. And then in Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” There is our hope. God is with us. We are not abandoned or left alone. God’s grace is sufficient to provide us with hope because He is always with us! I may at times feel like that God is distant, but I have to realize that it is not God who is moving. If God feels distant, I am the one who has moved. He is a very present help… I love those words in the King James, a very present help in trouble.

D. God’s grace is sufficient to provide us with comfort

1. Not the “creature comforts”, that is not the comfort I’m speaking of - but comfort in times of anxiety, distress.
2. In Philippians 4:7 remember that verse 6 talks about prayer and we will read that in a bit, but at verse 7: “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – The peace of God, how wonderful it is to be at peace with God and how much we need that in our lives.
3. Peace in this world is certainly a difficult thing. When my day starts I take a moment to catch up on the news on the computer or the radio and the first news of the day is about conflict and turmoil. There was the St Louis school shooter, the homecoming week party shooting in North Carolina, two dead in a shooting in Hamilton Ohio on Tuesday, and the constant death tolls and reports of suffering in the Ukraine and Africa. Then I’m treated to the discouraging news of world leaders in Iran, Russia or North Korea. Not a very comforting picture is it? I sigh and see that this day starts out like so many others in a less then comforting way.
4. These are realities aren’t they? But when I talk about the comfort God’s grace offers, I’m talking about the peace of God which passes all understanding.
5. There is a wonderful passage I would like us to look at now: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” God is called the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, but I want you to particularly look at v. 4. Here I read something I am not sure we emphasize as much as it should be. Note that we are comforted by—God so that we may be able to comfort other people who themselves are in trouble. We understand that Gods comfort may come to us through those who themselves have experienced the comfort of God!
6. Yes, we have the comfort of the scriptures (Romans 15:4) “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”.

a. Yes, and by prayer (Philippians 4:6) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
b. - but the comfort we can receive from faithful, devoted, mature Christian people is so “here, and now”. How wonderful this is that God provides us comfort through the comforting arm and the encouraging word of a brother or sister who has him or herself also been comforted. God’s grace in this way provides with “real time” comfort and encouragement.

III. BUT DO WE WANT MORE THAN THIS?

A. We are so rooted in this world and in this life

1. We are so caught up in things that are urgent and necessary.
2. Our eyes and our lives are so connected to the temporal – the demanding things.
3. We have bills to pay, doctors’ appointments, children to “taxi”, jobs to work - care to give to sick children, spouses, aging parents.
4. These are our realities - and they just will not wait. It is no wonder life can be so overwhelming, even all consuming.

B. The world can tend to become so very consuming in importance

1. The answers we want are; who’ll pay the bills. Who will relieve the pains. Who will taxi the children, etc. Who is going to do that?
2. To suggest to one who is overwhelmed by life’s realities that God’s grace is sufficient for them may not seem terribly satisfying.
3. “We need real answers to today’s problems ... now!”
4. So too, did the apostle Paul when he prayed, “remove this thorn from me”.

C. I know that there must be a reordering of the way we think.

1. That was, in effect, what the Lord told Paul when He answered Paul’s prayer. Paul wanted to be rid of the hurt, of the constant aggravation, whatever it was. God said “my grace is sufficient for thee”. You see the apostle Paul had to begin to think in a different way.
2. Yes, we have our problems in life you and I. Life has its realities - but if we have a deep and abiding relationship with our Lord God, in keeping with His word, I submit to you that that can change our perspective about our realities and our problems. The problems may not go away but we may be able to see them in a different way, perhaps in a different scale, that permits us to deal with them so much more constructively, and in a way that God would have us to deal with them.
3. Contentment in God’s grace takes the edge off of so many dilemmas.

IV. GOD’s GRACE IS MUCH MORE – Not long ago I read the following:

A. Yet, we suffer from a grace too small. We think grace is pleasant to receive. We think it’s ours to give, as if we could ladle raindrops from Niagara Falls.
B. But Grace isn’t safe: it’ll wreck your world. Grace assaults and grace subverts. Grace grabbed one man and knocked him to the ground. It rendered him blind and healed him three days later. Grace put him in danger time and time again: shipwrecked three times or more, beaten with rods and sticks, stoned and left for dead. Grace used him like a ragdoll, overthrew an empire and saved us all—even him, the foremost of sinners.

1. Grace assaults us in so many ways. We seldom see it coming, and after it’s gone we rarely know what, exactly, just happened. Grace whispers and sometimes yells. Grace asks, and it’s the one telling us how it’s going to be. It binds the strongman.
2. Grace is a strong man’s game. Its God’s game. He invented it and plays it full out. Good luck against Him. Grace huddles with the opponent, calls the play and then runs the ball right up the middle. The enemy knows it’s coming, but Grace executes the play—just try to stop it.

C. There’s only one way to deal with Grace. Surrender.

1. Grace is birthed in a stable and though it is homeless, it welcomes all who hear it and do the will of its Father. Grace pulls back the veil between heaven and earth; it turns the night sky into the glory of God. Grace is where shepherds gather and humble young parents play host to perfect strangers.
2. Grace wanders; it does not build a house. Grace searches for welcome. Grace calls at every door, but never trespasses. He stands at the door and knocks, ready to bring a feast inside. Vagabond grace is the beggar bearing treasure. We welcome the wretch into our home; he reaches into his threadbare bag and pulls out gifts more precious than gold. His satchel holds love, joy and peace. He bestows patience and kindness. He fills the room with the fragrance of goodness, and leaves behind a map to the faithfulness, and gentleness and self-control.
3. Grace is the subtle hand of God before our very eyes. Grace gives thanks for a humble meal, and thousands sit and eat. Grace never condemns, yet somehow commands us to go and sin no more. Grace walks the pavement and it turns to gold.
4. Grace supplies our deepest need. We want a deliverer; God sends grace. We want to see power and the glory; God sends grace and truth. We want a king; God sends a Servant. Grace rules the world without title or rank. Grace has legions at his command, and never once calls for their aid.
5. Grace is never a tyrant—but forever a king.

CONCLUSION: So maybe I just need to have those words etched in mind as a response to things which confront me each day - “my grace is sufficient for thee”.
I mentioned awhile ago that the grace of God brought salvation and that it is instructive. The grace of God having brought salvation in the form of Jesus Christ and His atoning death then instructs us in the way in which we receive the benefits of salvation. It instructs us through the written word that we must believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, repent of our sins, that we must confess our faith in Jesus Christ and then be buried with Christ in baptism. If we do this then we are restored to life in God’s view. Raised to walk, as Romans 6 says, in newness of life. It is in the book folks, it is in the book God has provided by His grace to instruct us.
If there are any here this morning that have not been baptized into Jesus Christ you are withholding from your life the blessing of God’s grace. As we sing this beautiful invitation song, I would urge you to come to the front and say I want to be baptized. That same grace that instructs concerning baptism, how one receives that salvation, also teaches Christian people how to live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present world. If we do not - we are quenching the grace of God. I would say to you my Christian friends that if that applies to you, you should repent of your sins and pray for forgiveness. The grace of God has brought salvation. The only question this morning is where you are relative to that salvation. Whatever your needs, we will do what we can to assist you and we encourage you to come while we stand and sing.
Song #644—Trust And Obey

Taken from sermon by Cecil A. Hutson, 06 August 2006, quote from Ray Hollenbach