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How to Develop a Strong Faith 9/17/00

Psalm 27

JESUS CHRIST wants to enable you to stretch yourself spiritually and expand the circumference of your faith.

On His Earthly walk He greatly admired faith. After a woman had exercised admirable faith, He said to her “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Luke 7:50).

Genuine faith begins when a person finally decides he or she isn’t God and happily acknowledges submission to the living God.

Such faith is assuring, insuring, and enduring.

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.

Faith helps us walk fearlessly, run confidently, and live victoriously.

Is yours a growing faith? If not the reason may be the same as the little boy who fell out of bed. When asked why he said, “I don’t know. I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.”

Have you stayed too close to where you got into the Christian faith? We are exhorted in God’s Word:

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

“As new born babes (we are to) desire the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow…” (I Peter 2:2).

Are you growing in your faith walk with Christ? Pick a time in the not-to-distant past. One, two, or three years ago. Now, inventory yourself related to these questions:

How does my prayer life compare now to then?

Has my systematic giving to the cause of Christ changed?

“The Living Bible” translation of Deuteronomy 14: 23 sets God’s standard and explains why He set it: “The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives.”

Consider the act of giving. First, you write the date on the check. That reminds you that you are a time bound creature with a limited amount of time in which to act.

Next, you write the name of the recipient. When giving to God you use a pseudonym for God, the name of His church.

Here is where the challenge comes. You now write the amount. At this moment you are more than a person with a checkbook in hand. You are a Moses with a rod in your hand. Will you yield it to God. You are a David selecting a stone for your sling. You are a little child with a sack lunch Jesus needs to feed 5,000. You are a Simon Peter with one foot in the boat and one on the water. Will you step out by faith?

When you make an entry on that check you are not just entering an amount to be given you are acknowledging God as the owner of everything.

In the left hand lower corner of the check you now enter what it is for. Perhaps it is to help child grow spiritually. Maybe, it is to help reach the lost. It might be to pay operating expenses that the church might continue to operate. It might be for an expression of thanks for what the church has done for you and your family. In that lower left
hand corner might note it is to benefit you. Giving it shows you have cut yet another cord that binds you to the things of this world.

Are you growing in your faith? Don’t stay too close to where you got in.

Has your loyalty to the bride of Christ, the local church, improved?

Faith is the basis of life. Some persons think it is a sign of weakness. It is rather an indication of strength. Thomas Edison said he never conducted an experiment that did not begin with faith.

Have you ever driven on one of America’s freeways in a major metropolitan area at peak driving time? You have faith.

Have you ever gone shopping when there is a mall-wide sale? You have faith.

Have you ever gone on a date, taken a mate, driven in the rain, flown on a plane, bought or sold an item on credit? You have faith.

Have you ever eaten in a fast-food outlet where you don’t even know the cook, see its preparation, or know its source? You have faith.

Have you ever gone through a bank drive- through, teller window where they have that smoked glass behind which you can see only blurred images and put your pay check in a pneumatic tube that sucked it out of sight? You have faith.

Have you ever gone to a doctor you didn’t know, been given a prescription you couldn’t read, taken it to a pharmacist you couldn’t see, and taken the medicine provided? You have faith.

Faith is merely confidence in God’s character.

In our uncertain times stabilizing faith is needed. An uncertain economy and an international crisis coupled with all your personal challenges makes a strong faith all the more important.

Faith gives us the courage to face the present with confidence, and the future with expectancy.

Compacted in the 27th Psalm are found sequential steps involved in developing a strong faith. Let’s dig them out like a miner who has just struck a major pay-load vein or rich ore. Each is essential to the other and none are possible without the first.

I. SALVATION “The Lord is my light and my salvation, Whom shall I fear?” (Verse 1)

“The Lord” is a reference to Jesus Christ. For us it is a clear prophetic reference to Immanuel, God with us. It identifies the virgin born, sinless God incarnate who shed His blood for our sins on Calvary. Whose substitutionary work was honored by God the Father Who granted Him a victorious resurrection and valedictory ascension back into heaven.

The Scripture says “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved…” (Acts 16:31).

It is further asserted: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life…” (John 3:36).

As a young professor at Oxford in England, C.S. Lewis was an outstanding author and one of the greatest literary geniuses in literary criticism in the world. By any standard he was an outstanding scholar. He was also an atheist.

That is, he was until he went to Tinturn Abbey, immortalized by the great poet William Wordsworth. The Abbey stands on the banks of the river Wye. The walls are in tact, but it has no roof, windows or floor. The floor is a carpet of green grass growing as it can only in Britain.

The genius, C. S. Lewis said it was there in Tinturn Abbey one day with the sunlight falling through the arches onto the green grass he experienced inexpressible joy and “All of a sudden I found the essence of the universe in Jesus Christ.” Is Jesus the center of your universe?

Ephesians 2: 8 – 10 gives the steps regarding forgiveness and salvation. It is God’s grace that initiates the act to which we respond by faith. It is not of works.

Even in spite of this clear insight from God’s Word there are those who want to try to work and deserve their salvation. It can’t be done. Let me illustrate.

Suppose a person were to go to Washington D.C. and become captivated by the impressive Washington Monument which is made of marble from Georgia. Assume that this wealthy visitor were to ask a government representative about buying the monument. The rep would instantly state that it couldn’t be done. Why? For three reasons. One, it is not for sale. Two, you don’t have enough resources to purchase it, if it were for sale. Three, as a citizen it is already yours for the taking.

Those who would seek to work and earn their salvation need to realize the same. Salvation isn’t for sale. If it were, none of us could do enough good works to earn it. Likewise, it is already ours for the taking.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He removed every charge the Father had against us and every claim Satan made of us. Salvation is available to all who by faith trust Christ.

Salvation is actually a person. Note, “The Lord is my salvation.” Can you insert that personal pronoun “my.”

A SUPPLY OF SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH
“The Lord is the strength of my life…” (Vs. 1b)

This has to do with eternal security. All stability in time has to do with security in eternity.

Once a person enters into union with Christ as Savior they are in eternal union with Him and nothing can get them out of that union. Don’t take my word for this important principle. God has said it. (READ: Romans 8: 1 & 38, 39).

One might draw a wrong conclusion from this correct principle and say, “If I have a lock on heaven, that is, it’s a sure thing, then I can do anything I want.” Such a person overlooks the principle of the loving discipline given by our gracious God to His disobedient children in time as described in Hebrews 12: 6.

The correct conclusion to be reached regarding eternal security is that if I am heaven bound but God has left me here, there must be a purpose in me being here. Life thus takes on meaning.

My strength is not in myself but “the Lord.” According to Jude 24 He is able to keep me “from falling and will present me faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

II. STUDY “One thing have I desired of the Lord” (Vs.4)

The house of the Lord to which he made reference was the tabernacle. People in that era could not read. Therefore, the Lord devised symbols to teach them great doctrinal truths. Every item in the house of the Lord, the tabernacle, symbolized some great truth. Today we can read; and the Lord teaches us these truths through His written Word, the Bible.

His “desire” is comparable to our hunger for a better understanding of God’s Word. This requires study.

The expression “To behold the beauty of the Lord” means to meditate on His graciousness. To meditate on means to fill your mind with the thoughts of God’s grace.

The Psalmist then says he wants to “inquire in His temple.” The word “inquire” meant to investigate. It is a further reference to searching God’s Word.

If you want faith to face today’s tests, you must study God’s Word.

III. SECURITY “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion” (Vs. 5)

The “pavilion” was the outer court in the tabernacle. To enter it was to have the potential of what was ahead. For our application it is analogous of the promises of God. The expression “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion” is comparable to saying, “The Word of God comforts me.”

To say he wanted to “dwell in the house of the Lord” (vs. 4) was the same as our saying, “I want to study God’s Word.”

The tabernacle was built in an era when few people could read. Therefore, symbols were used to communicate great truths. In front of our worship center is a lovely fountain. It is a composite of several symbols intended to communicate certain truths. In the outer court of the tabernacle were several very special items used to communicate some basic principles we read of in the Bible. The items in the “house of the Lord” taught them basic doctrines.

There was one door indicating there was one way to God. We now know that to be Christ.

There was a veil between the holy of holies and the court. The holy of holies symbolized the place God dwelt. The court where human beings gathered. This speaks of the incarnation of Christ, the God/man.

The golden altar was where incense was burned signifying prayer going up to God. It’s primary purpose was to depict the intercessory work to be done by Christ. It was an encouragement to prayer.

The brazen altar was the place of sacrifice. Every Old Testament sacrifice was intended to depict the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

The mercy seat silently spoke of the propitiation by Christ. There is a big theological term, propitiation. It meant to satisfy the standards of God and thereby make peace between God and man. When there was a lack of rain native Americans did a rain dance. It was suppose to be a propitiation that appeased the gods and result in rain. In old Tarzan movies when native tribes were in trouble they would sacrifice a chicken or goat, or something. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the earth to serve as our propitiation. He made peace between us and our God.

To develop faith for our hour of crisis memorize His Word.

“The battle is the Lord’s” (I Sam. 17: 47).

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

Further reason is given for casting your cares on Him in I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you.”

IV. SPIRIT GUIDANCE “The Lord is my Light” (Vs. 1)

Christ is our illuminating source. He indwells the believer in the person of His Holy Spirit. Thus our stability is within us. It is not dependent upon externals. Money is an external. Friends are admirable externals.

Many people try to find their stability in externals. For these reasons their emotions ride a roller coaster with more ups and downs than the Georgia Mind Bender.

V. SUFFERING
Verses 2, 3 and 6 refer to suffering caused by people.

Verses 7 and 9 inform us there are sufferings caused by discipline.

Verse 10 speaks of suffering caused by loved ones.

Verse 12 notes even another form of suffering. It is verbal abuse.

I Peter 1:7 (READ)

What can be done with our misfortunes?

DON’T: CURSE THEM, REHEARSE THEM

DO: DISPERSE THEM (PRAY) REVERSE THEM

VI. STANDARD
Have you ever been where the Psalmist was when he wrote: “I would have lost heart…”? This means I would have fallen apart, I couldn’t otherwise cope. The thing that stabilized him was preoccupation with the Lord not circumstances.

“When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, will I seek’ … I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27: 8, 13).

Keep focused on Christ. Make Him your standard.

VII. SEASONING Verse 14
“Wait” translates the Hebrew KIWAH. It is a word that draws a picture for us. It describes starting with one thread and weaving a rope. Every experience with the Lord is a thread in the tie that binds you closer to Him.

Land of the Pilgrims Pride 7/2/00

Ezra 8:21, 22

Jesus Christ had a band of loyalists who lovingly followed and served Him. Unfortunately there were others who were detractors, defectors, and disloyal. It has always been true. It is today. In love He appeals for repentance and renewal. He desires for His followers to enjoy “abundant life.”

Not only is this true among individuals but with churches also. There is a such a need in a broad segment of America and American churches. At one point in history He achieved this through a band of devotees known as Pilgrims. This very day we have sung of the land that was the “Pilgrims Pride.”

In the early 1600s the church in England had become corrupt. They were absorbed in doctrinal error, encumbered with ceremony, bound by tradition, and consequently spiritually anemic. Two groups sought spiritual renewal.

One wanted to bring about reform by staying in the church and purifying it from within. Seeing their efforts to be futile they left England for the new world. They are known as Puritans.

A second group saw the church as beyond renewal and withdrew. In and around the region of Scrooby they were bullied, hounded, imprisoned on trumped up charges, and driven underground. They left England and settled in Holland where they enjoyed religious freedom. Unfortunately they lost most of their physical possessions in their quest for religious freedom. Their jobs in Holland were menial requiring 15 hour work days. Their children suffered because of materialism in their adopted homeland.

They heard of the new land called America and determined it to be the place God was guiding them.

After 12 years in Holland, driven by great hope and inward zeal, they resolved to come to America for a specific purpose. That purpose was “to propagate and advance the gospel of the kingdom of Christ,” wrote William Bradford, their governor for 35 years.

They were not without one last major temptation. Satan uses one of his post attractive allures. Sir Walter Raleigh had returned from South America with stories of gold and great riches. They resolved to follow the goal set before them by the Lord and not the gold promised by Sir Walter Raleigh.

In 1620 they set sail for America on two ships, the Speedwell and the Mayflower. Soon after setting sail the Speedwell developed problems and the two ships returned to England. There all passengers boarded the Mayflower. Among the 104 on the Mayflower were 16 men, 11 women, and 14 children known as Pilgrims. Others who were on board that were not believers were known as “Strangers.”

What they were to endure required great faith to tolerate. Think of these conditions when you are next inconvenienced. These 104 persons were crowded below deck in a space the size of a volleyball court for over 6 weeks. The stench of an foul bilge, a diet of dried peas, dried pork, and dried fish made for poor appetites. Sea sick, virtually starving, and storm tossed they braved their conditions to achieve their purpose. They did it because of the Christian faith. They believed God had a plan for America and if He did the Dark Prince of this planet could not circumvent it. Likewise, they had faith in His care for them and desired to serve Him. Even in their deprived state they joyfully endured.

In addition to the misery suffered because of their physical condition, they had to endure the taunts of the tormenting crew and antagonistic Strangers.

Several of the crew mocked them unmercifully. The self-appointed leader of this group so despised the Pilgrims for their faith he gloated over their seasickness and delighted in telling them how much he looked forward to feeding their bodies to the fish. Death was a common shipmate among landlubbers.

At the height of this taunting this crewman came down with a fever and died in a single day. No other person contracted the mysterious fever. It was he who was buried at sea not the Pilgrims.

For nearly three months they endured praying all the while. They considered their adversity a call to further repentance and personal spiritual purity. They questioned God. Their question was not the “why” so often heard today. When things are less than ideal we complain to God and in a whiny voice ask, “Why me God?” Yes, they questioned and we should learn to ask their questions. Not “why” but “how.”

“Now that this has happened to me God HOW can you use it in my life?”

Our second question should be one they also asked.

“God what would you like to do in my life because of this?”

They came to America because they wanted to be “light bearers.” They wanted to create a society that would be equivalent to “a city set on a hill” to show forth God’s glory. They spoke of themselves as the stones out of which the Lord might build a new Jerusalem. They had a spiritual purpose in their lives and it gave them meaning.

Their ambition was to settle in northern Virginia, but the many storms they endured blew them off course.

November 9, 1620 the cry was heard, “Land Ho.”

They had begun their journey by kneeling on the dock at Delftshaven to ask God’s blessings: they ended it on the sand of Cape Cod, kneeling to thank Him for His blessings.

A scouting party returned to the ship having found a large iron pot of 36 ears of corn. This was their first taste of the staple that would save the lives of many.

God had not immuned them from adversity but He had blessed them in it and strengthened them because of it.

Their crossing was complete but their journey was not over. They had come ashore near Cape Cod. Finding this an unsuitable place they sailed further to what is known as Provincetown. Realizing their London charter did not extend as far north as Cape Cod, they concluded they were under no authority. Anchored off shore and on November 21, 1620, they drafted what is known as The Mayflower Compact. It was the covenant by which they were to be governed. It was the first such covenant of settlers on these shored. It contained principles our Founding Fathers would later incorporate in our nation’s Constitution. It contained the principle of “natural law” which is so despised today by liberal legal minds. It is a reference to the Creator of all natural law. It spoke of “just and equal laws,” that
is, equal justice under law. Meaning no person is above the law. It opens with these lines:

“In the name of God, amen. Having undertaken
for the glory of God, and advancement of the
Christian faith … a voyage to plant the first
colony in the northern parts of Virginia…”

They settled in a good harbor and called the place Plymouth because that was the name of the last town they left in their home land.

The gentle snow that began to fall did not hint of the devastation and death winter was to bring. Nearly half their number did not survive their first winter. In 1621, 35 more Pilgrims arrived and in 1623, 90 others. The drought that had gripped the land left their greeting party looking like skeletons clad in rage. Yet, they prevailed because they had purpose.

Six weeks of hell on an ill-lighted, rolling, pitching, stinking inferno stirred their emotions. Rather than complain they confessed. It brought to the surface unconfessed sins in their lives. Sins such as self-pity, anger, bitterness, vindictiveness, jealousy, and despair. An instant replay of those sins might make some today mindful of them in their lives:

Self-pity, anger, bitterness, vindictiveness, jealousy, and despair. If any of them are in your life confess and repent of them.

Throughout their voyage regardless of how grim their plight they prayed themselves through their despair and into peace and thanksgiving.

Mercy they sought and mercy they found. They found it because they sought it. Their adversity motivated them to evaluate their lives and confess their sins. Will our gratitude for God’s blessings stimulate us to do the same? Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? If so it is blocking God’s best for your life. As individuals and a nation corporate confession and cleansing is needed. We appropriately pray: “God bless America.” He has. We would do well now to pray: “God cleanse America.” He will.

In addition to our sins of spousal and child abuse, sexual immorality, promiscuity, pornography, and a legion of other outward sins the same ones confessed by the Pilgrims need to be confessed.

Aboard the Mayflower on July 21, Pastor John Robinson preached from Ezra 8: 21, 22:

“Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river
Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before God,
to seek from Him the right way for us and our little
ones and all our possessions….The hand of the Lord
is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His
power and His wrath are against all those who
forsake Him.”

In that message is contained the confession of John Robinson which might well be acknowledged by many of us:
“Had not the truth been in my heart as a
burning fire shut up in my bones I had suffered
(would have let) the light of God to have been put
out on mine own unthankful heart by other men’s
darkness.”

Do you need to confess and beg His mercy?

It was Jesus who was the Pilgrims pride.

Time came for the Mayflower to return to England. Captain Jones, fearing for the lives of the Pilgrims to return with the ship. For good cause the offer was tempting. Only four couples that arrived still had one another. Many had lost children. Yet, not one returned. Amidst their dying something had been born because of their shared love for Christ. It was a willingness to suffer together for a cause bigger than they.

Pentecost: Obedience at Any Cost 6/4/00

Acts 2:1-8

JESUS CHRIST established heaven’s beachhead on the shores of time and space when He was born in Bethlehem. Forty days after His resurrection, as the feast of Pentecost was being celebrated, a new beachhead was established. On that day the Holy Spirt Holy secured His beachhead. After His resurrection Jesus went to Heaven. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came from heaven as Christ’s vice regent.

The Holy Spirit filled life is one of the least understood aspects of being a Christian. It summarily means being controlled by Christ’s Spirit.

Our misconception of ourselves adds to this confusion. We think of ourselves as human beings having a spiritual experience. In reality we are spirit beings having a human experience.

The Jews of the era celebrated the first of their three great holidays, Passover, to commemorate the deliverance of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. The second holiday commemorated the end of the harvest. It was celebrated each year 50 days after Passover and was called Pentecost. PENTE meaning 50 days.

Over a period of 40 days after Christ’s resurrection He made a number of appearances to His followers. It had now been 10 days since an appearance and 120 of His anxious followers assembled. They were united in their belief and spirit, HOMOTHUADON,”one accord.”

As they were praying a once in all history happening occurred. “CLOVEN TONGUES OF FIRE,” means tongues of flames accompanied by a mighty rushing wind settled over them (Vs. 3). Our concept of such flames is like candle lights. Instead of going up, individual flames came down over 120 heads. There was one fire and 120 extensions. The one large flame first let down individual extensions above the head of each believer.

WIND was the audible evidence of the Spirit.

FIRE was the visual evidence.

“FILLED WITH,” is third person plural, passive voice. Thus, it is revealed “they”, the 120, were being acted upon. A force from outside themselves was invading.

That great philosopher\theologian, Winnie-the Pooh, speaking of “poetry and hums” made a comment that is applicable. Pooh said, “Poetry and hums aren’t things which you get, they are things which get you. And all you do is go where they find you.”

The active force was the HOLY SPIRIT, He is the Spirit of Christ (II Cor. 3:17). “The Lord is the Spirit.”

Jesus said He would send the Comforter. He referred to Him as “another”, meaning One of the same kind.

THEY BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES.
There has been much confusion among Christians about this experience for years. That confusion has led to certain Christian groups going to extremes and others ignoring this happening all together. Neither is right.

We have a tendency to misread or to read in more than we should. We are like the child whose mother saw him opening a pack of animal crackers, pour them out, and start sorting through them. She inquired what he was doing. He replied, “I am looking for the seal.” “Why?” she asked. “Because it says right on the box ‘Do not eat if the seal is broken.’”

The expression “Other Tongues” translates the Greek HETERAIS GLOSSAIS meaning dialects or languages other than their own. Thus, these untutored and unsophisticated Galileans miraculously spoke languages they had never studied. Acts 2: 9 – 11 even lists the languages.

There were 17 nationalities noted as being present (Vss. 9-11). The Jewish community scattered by Alexander the Great had returned to celebrate Pentecost. They had learned the language of the countries of their exile.

What the foreigners heard amazed them and they said, “are not these that speak Galileans?” (Vs. 7). If we confuse the issue by thinking the gift of speaking in unlearned languages was the event of the day, we miss the meaning of all this. The gift that made them charismatic was not tongues but the Spirit Himself. To think otherwise is to miss the importance of the event.

“UTTERANCE” comes from a verb meaning to speak or proclaim. They began to share the good news of Christ’s resurrection to all nationalities present.

WHY THIS PHENOMENON? I Cor. 14:22 explains, “…for a sign…to them that believe not.”

The early church was just getting started. The 120 were all Jews from the region. For the gospel to be spread it had to be communicated in different languages. For this reason the gift.

The Holy Spirit can only fill empty places and people. Christ’s execution had excavated an empty place in their lives. For 40 days after Christ’s resurrection He had made appearances to His followers. Now 10 days had passed since His ascension. It is a terrible thing to have a passion without power. They qualified.

Four words express the emptiness of Christ’s followers prior to Pentecost:

A. Discouraged. Ten days is a long time to wait when the frail thread of hope is about to break. Discouragement causes emptiness. Are you discouraged? I had the joy of sharing with our school children recently. Using a visual I wrote the word “courage” on the board. Then using a different color marker I added the prefix “dis” making it discourage. Explaining God has a big eraser I removed the prefix “dis” and added a new one “en,” changing the word to “encourage.” That is what God did in their lives and what He wants to do in ours. Be encouraged by His Holy Spirit being available to you right now to help.

B. Dejected. Life was limp. They had form without force. Too many Christians are thus described. They live between Passover and Pentecost. A realization of Christ’s Spirit with us projects us to do our duty with delight.

C. Disability. A vision without vitality reveals and ridicules our disability. They had a challenge but no capacity. The Holy Spirit bridges that enormous gap between what we can do and what the Lord wants to do through us.

D. Depression. This grew out of a desperate feeling that they could not be what they were called to be.

We become Christians when we trust Christ as Savior. We become Christ-like Christians when out of a sense of our own inability, brokenness, and failure we realize our emptiness. Then we realize the truth in Christ’s words, “Without me you can do nothing.” It is at this point one becomes ready to say, “Christ, I surrender, I want you to live your life through me. I am your empty vessel to be filled as you will.”

When a believer reaches this point and it may occur many times in life then certain things happen.
The Holy Spirit:

1. PURIFIES. What happens to each believer is described by Matthew: “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12)

This passage not only describes what happens to non-believers, but what happens IN believers. The gathering of the wheat is a depiction of salvation. The burning out of the chaff is a description of getting out the impurities. He burns out the chaff in our lives. Spiritual chaff is any ungodly thing. It is things such as false loyalty, habits that make slaves of us, memories of past failures, and principally self-centeredness.

2. GALVANIZES – The word means to shock into action. The filling of Christ’s Spirit shocks us into an attitude of praise.

We have come to think of praise principally as singing and shouting, even bopping around. That may or may not be praise. Praise is a seasoning that isn’t an end in itself but a flavoring for all things in life. It gives savoriness to all of life like salt does to all food.

Praise is the antidote for pride. It causes us to focus on someone other than our self, Christ.

Praise unlocks further power. If we praise God for His blessings, the Spirit heightens our joy.

Praise is surrender. The Holy Spirit can’t be contained. He will always break out in praise.

We overlook much for which we should praise Him. A husband and wife were getting ready to go to a memorial service for the son of a friend killed in the war. The parents of the deceased had given $50,000 for a stained glass to memorialize their son. As they dressed the wife said to her husband, “What are we going to give?” Astonished the husband said, “Give, what do you mean? We don’t need to give anything our son came home alive.” “That’s what I mean,” she said. “They lost a son, and they gave a gift of thanks, a memorial to his life. We got our son back, and we don’t give anything.”

We have received so much we often forget to praise the Lord.

3. EVANGELIZES – Joel prophesied 400 years before this that God would “…pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” This was to happen “in the last days.” The result was to be “they shall prophesy.” They did. The word translated prophecy does not mean to foretell future events. It means to foretell, that is, clearly proclaim truth, to witness.

Having been instructed by our Lord to be fishers of men we have instead become keepers of the aquarium adapt at swapping fish.

70% of Southern Baptist churches have plateaued or are declining. Of all churches the percent is even higher: 81%.

Christianity is now in one of its most critical times in history. It is a time of both hostility and harvest. We are good about telling of overcoming some personal emotional crisis, but fail to tell people where there is still water, green pastures, and the path of righteousness.

Have we quit praying for spiritual awakening in America or even a great movement of the Spirit in our life and this church.

In 1930 folks around Charlotte, North Carolina wanted to have an area revival but the pastors weren’t interested. Vernon Patterson got a group of 30 men to commit to gather and pray. He asked his friend Franklin if they could meet at his farm and pray. They gathered in his hay field and prayed for God to send forth a man who would speak to the nation and world for Christ.

In 1934 they invited evangelist Mordecai Fowler Hamm to preach a revival. During that meeting the son of Franklin Graham, Billy Graham, was called by God in answer to that prayer. Let’s not quit praying. That is what was happening in the upper room when the 120 were visited by the Holy Spirit.

When He fills us we bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). This second chapter of Acts ends triumphantly. As a result of sharing in the resurrection victory it is recorded:

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

They so loved and shared the love of Christ that by the time the Book of Romans was written Paul sent greetings to those in the household of Caesar. They had put out the altar fires in the temples of Diana and lit the gospel torch in the palace of Caesar.

The same is needed in America today. Many individuals and our culture in general needs saving today. Political proficiency can’t save us or Rome would not have fallen.

Commerce can’t save us or ancient Tyre would not have fallen.

Military might can’t save us or Germany would not have fallen.

Treachery can’t save us or Japan would not have fallen.

Religious ceremony can’t save us or ancient Israel would not have fallen.

Our Lord offers us our only hope and it is quite sufficient.

They had to be empty before they could be filled. The same is true of us. Reflect on their condition that left them empty. They were: DISCOURAGED, DEJECTED, DISABLED, AND DEPRESSED. Is that the emptying process now going on in your life?

A SPIRIT-FILLED BELIEVER IS A WITNESS

We human beings have a mind, will, emotions, and a physical body. To be filled means for the Holy Spirit to take control of every facet, function, and facility of our being. The Spirit’s entry was through their conscious self. When that happened the tissues of their brains were empowered, which made possible the proper emotional response, and energized their entire bodies, producing a physical radiance and energetic action.

They were infused with the power of God.

Jesus said the purpose of the Spirit’s coming was to bear witness of Him:

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (John 15: 26, 27).

Follow the Leader 4/16/00

Luke 19:28-38

Jesus Christ relates to real people. People like those who comprised His entourage in the last days of His life on earth. People like us. Let’s be very personal —- people like you. Not just like you, but you. He wants to lead us.

Let’s mentally slip into the band of followers around Christ who were in Jericho days before His execution. Let’s join the crowd. They have dozens of unanswered questions. Their future was uncertain. Rumors were Jesus was soon to leave them.

It was the time of festival in Jerusalem and they were to go there, but hearsay persisted that the religious leaders had conspired against Christ and desired Him dead. What were they to do?

As the guest in the home of Zacchaeus in Jericho, Jesus taught a parable regarding obedient servanthood. It is profound. Scholars still dissect and analyze the teaching. However, God is so good. Right in the middle of this profound passage God inspired the writer to include a simple bite size statement even I can digest. Notice it in Luke 19:28: “He went on ahead…”

What are we to do Jesus? Which way are we to go? Shall we retreat to our comfort zone in Galilee or the isolation of the Wilderness of Judea? The choice is not ours, it’s His.

FOLLOW THE LEADER!

There embedded like a jewel in a most unlikely setting is the answer. “He went on ahead.”

Follow the leader. He always goes on ahead. He who foresees the future won’t forsake you in the present.

We can say as it was said of the Good Shepherd “He leads me.”

Ingrained in hymnals for years are these words:

“He leadeth me, he leadeth me, By His own hand
He leadeth me:
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.”

Count on it.

Adults did you ever play “follow the leader?” Children do you play it? It involves doing what ever the leader does. The object is to be and do like the leader. If the leader walks backwards you walk backwards. If the leader hops on one foot you hop on one foot.

A version of this game is played under the title “Peer Pressure.” It too involves being and doing like the leader.

In the Christian arena it involves choosing Jesus as your Leader and asking Him to help you be and do as He. It soon becomes a lifestyle.

As they left Jericho on their way to Jerusalem and the awaiting cross, Mark in his gospel tells us of the trip: “…they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid” (Mark 10:32).

Jesus walked alone that we like they might never have to walk alone.

The eastern sky gave a hint of the coming new day on that morning that will forever be known as Palm Sunday.Jesus having gone before His followers awakes in Bethany on the back side of the Mount of Olives no more than five miles from Jerusalem. Having arranged to borrow a donkey and her colt Jesus leads His entourage to the summit of the Mount of Olives.

Jesus had a full view of the walled city of Jerusalem in all of its splendor. Historian Josephus wrote of Jerusalem:

“The outward face of the temple in its front wanted nothing that was likely to surprise either men’s minds or their eyes; for it was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first rising of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendor, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn away their eyes, just as they would have done at its own rays.”

The Mount of Olives was second only to the Sea of Galilee as a favorite retreat spot for Jesus and His disciples. Compassionately He had viewed the Golden City of Jerusalem from here and wept. His gaze focused on the 1,000 square foot temple plateau on the summit of Mt. Zion. Some stones used to construct the temple were 20 by 40. feet and weighed 100 tons. Pillars supporting Solomon’s Porch were 37 feet high and of such circumference that three men could not reach around them. An ornate bridge from the lower city to the upper spanned the Tyropoeon Valley. This is what He saw but what He beheld was the need of the people.

No modern rock star has ever entered a stage to greater acclaim. At this moment He was a celebrated celebrity. Mystics and militants, the local populace and loyal pilgrims wanted Him to assert His leadership. Only the hard core pious religious leaders were fearful of Him. Here on the Mount of Olives Jesus was among His people.

When pilgrims came to the various festivals in Jerusalem those from different regions always camped in the same area. The southern end of the Mount was where those from Galilee always camped. Going from Bethany to Jerusalem the route crossed the southern end where the Galileans were camped. Galilee was His home territory. He had grown up there, performed miracles there, and taught there. They knew Him.

From these rural friends arose shouts of “Hosanna” and other praises.

Across the Kedron Valley inside the walls of Jerusalem the people heard the shouts and many came outside to see what was happening on the Mount of Olives. These were the wealthy who had learned to accommodate and appease the conquering Romans in order to prosper. They were comfortable and confident.

As Jesus began to ascent from the Mount of Olives on His way into Jerusalem a drama prophesied long before was playing out.

Behind Him were His sermons; ahead, His suffering.

Behind Him were His parables; ahead, His passion.

Behind Him were His suppers of fellowship; ahead, His last supper of betrayal.

Behind Him were the delights of Galilee; ahead, dark Gethsemane.

Prophecy was now to become practice.

Let’s set the stage and walk the Palm Sunday road with Him.

That grand day was a fulfillment of prophecy. Daniel had stated the time (Daniel 9: 24 – 26). A careful calculation reveals it was to be 173,880 days after being foretold. Passover was always celebrated on the 15th of Nisan, mid April. Jesus came to Bethany six days before Passover and entered Jerusalem the next day, April 6, 32 A.D. That was precisely 173,880 days after the prophecy of Daniel. Thus, the Father had further validated the Son as Messiah.

In retrospect it was written of Him: “Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God Lo, I come to do thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10: 7 & 9).

Not only was the Old Testament His Bible it was His biography written in advance. For Him to accomplish His mission His life must be the lake of fulfillment into which ALL the rivers of prophecy flow. At any moment He could have disobeyed the authority of God’s Word. He had come to do the will of the Father.

What does that say about the one who goes on ahead? He knows where and when He is going long before the time arrives. He is worthy to be followed.

Get this and you have a good perspective of life.
All that the Son was to the Father
We are to be to the Son.
All that the Father was to the Son
The Son will be to us.
It should be our purpose to do His will.

As Jesus nears and enters Jerusalem He leaves behind His legion of loyalists and is enveloped in a throng of hostile antagonists. Soon the “Hosannas” fade and the cry begins to reverberate through the old city: “Crucify Him.”

There is a strategic oversight by most modern readers of Scripture. We equate those who shouted hosanna with the crowd that cried “Crucify Him.” They were not. Those from Galilee camped on the Mount of Olives, His proponents, shouted His praise. Those within Jerusalem, alienated from Him by formal, creedal religious bigotry cried for His execution.

In which crowd would you have postured yourself? Please don’t give an answer you know would be acceptable in this setting. Don’t even try to pretend your allegiance if there is no lifestyle of loyalty. If you are going to Talk the Talk then Walk the Walk. Follow the Leader.

A moment of decision charts our course. Standing on the beautiful Bernina Pass in Switzerland, the enchanting Engadine is on one side and on the other the vast expanse of Italy. Nearby are two small lakes separated by only a narrow watershed. Though close in their points of origin, the water from one flows into the Adriatic Sea and that from the other into the Black Sea. Every person has his own Bernina Pass, a time when the flow of the course of life is determined. A choice to obey is a choice favoring a fulfilled life.

Flashback a moment to Jericho and the home of Zacchaeus where Jesus was teaching about obedience. He told the story of three persons being given a sum of money and how each used it. Two of the three were good stewards and used their portion wisely. The unfaithful one tried to excuse himself and explain away his dereliction. Jesus exposed it instead.

Three characteristics of this fraud were made evident by Christ.

• The unfaithful man was presumptuous. He thought he could deceive his master who would not be back for a long time. Delayed accountability gave energy to disobedience.
• He was peremptory. Acting coercively he abused others. Arrogance caused him haughtily to impose on others. His dominant will was sadistically imposed.
• He was profligate. He indulged himself. Dissipation typifies disobedience.

The issue in following the leader is the authority of the one leading and the obedience of those following.

Once I was called into the Oval Office of the President of the United States and given an assignment by the President. As I left he did not go with me. My execution of that responsibility was no less diligent than if he had been my companion in performing it. I was under his authority, inspired by his confidence, ennobled by the nature of the task. Being on mission for the president was my motivation. My preoccupation was not with his ability, but his authority. I knew he stood behind what I did because he considered it a worthy task. That made me esteem it all the more worthy of my best. I was at his service even in his absence. So our Leader should inspire us to obedience. His authority deserves compliance with His will.

With that understanding lets engage in a practical activity. Check yourself regarding obedience to our Lord’s Word in these areas:

Have you presented your body to the Lord as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), or are you continuing to walk according to the flesh (Romans 8: 5 – 7) as if you still do not belong to your Lord?

Do you think of yourself more highly than you ought (Romans 12: 3) and allow fits of hypocrisy to pervert the love you profess (Romans 12: 9)?

Is your loyalty divided between God and mammon (Matthew 6:24)?

Are you neglecting your prayer life (Luke 18: 1, 2) and Bible study (II Timothy 2: 15)?

Are you living in a state of anxiety or discontent (Philippians 4: 6, 11)?

Do you by exercising malice and envy stir up strife (Romans 13: 13)?

Are you fulfilling your role as an ambassador (II Corinthians 5: 19, 20) and witness (Matthew 28: 19, 20)?

Are you seeking first the kingdom, the rule of God, in your life (Matthew 6: 33)?

In fulfillment of the authoritative command to “seek first” the kingdom do you:
Give God the first part of the first hour of the day?
Give Him the first day of the week for public worship?
Give Him a tithe as the first fruit of your labor?
Give Him first place in decision making?
Give Him the position of Lord in your home and work?

Put a mental book mark in your thoughts there on the Mount of Olives and jump ahead a few days in the story with me. After the resurrection the angel appealed to the women and this was his message:
“He goes before you…”

What a wonderful comfortable zone in which to live …. and die.

Strut as we might the time comes. Death takes even the strongest and proudest. I hope it is years before regent death looks you in the eyes, points his boney finger and say, “Your turn.”

How will we do? You who follow Jesus will do just fine. Remember, He goes before you —- and He has. Like Him, we too will do just fine. Follow the leader. Follow the leader today in preparation for that day.

Times get tough. Circumstances get troublesome. Money gets tight and here comes the Easter Angel to tell it like it is: “He goes before you.”

Follow the Leader.

Life Is a Game: Play It for All You Are Worth 9/24/00

I Corinthians 9:24-27

JESUS CHRIST should be our primary source of motivation.

Coach Grant Teaff, one of the most successful football coaches in the history of Baylor University, the only coach to beat the University of Texas ten times, told me he made an on going study of the crucifixion of Christ because it was the ultimate sacrifice. He acknowledged that if he was going to ask his players to sacrifice for the good of the team he should have an understanding of what sacrifice really way. He used this example of Christ to motivate his teams. Christ’s example in life and death is a matchless motivating factor.

Last week a dear friend asked me what motivates me. I have thought a lot about that this week and resorted to our text for a fuller explanation. Nothing motivates like a good example.

Sixteen years ago a little eight year old girl named Brooke Bennett watched the American swimmer Janet Evans win a gold medal. Right then she was motivated and resolved to strive for the same. This week Brooke Bennett won her gold medal in Sydney and no one was more proud than her model Janet Evans.

Mike Marsh, Barcelona Gold Medalist in the 200 meters, tells of a friend who was a coach urging him to participate in track without success. He finally motivated him to watch one of the world’s greatest athletes run on TV. Mike watched Carl Lewis and was fired with excitement. He was motivated by Carl’s example as no one had ever been able to motivate him. That motivation created an Olympic Gold Medalist in the person of Mike Marsh.

You may lack motivation for life. You may be without motivation to achieve your best in life. If you study the life of Christ you will find inexhaustible motivation in Him. He then can create in you the best “you,” you have the capacity of becoming. Contained in that “best you” is the most happiness and contentment for which you have the capacity.

Will it make you a Gold Medalist? Likely not, but there are other benefits. There is an old TV ad that will illustrate this.

A famous athlete is depicted as using a certain deodorant. An aspiring younger athlete holds up a container of the deodorant and asks, “If I use “Ban” will it make doors open for me?”

A voice comes from nowhere saying, “No, but it will make windows open.”

Turning to Christ in faith and trusting Him as Savior might not make you a Gold Medalist but it will make you the best “you,” you can be. Trust Him and see! He will motivate you
to strive to be your best at everything you do.

Our text is a vivid summary of the drive and dynamic resulting from following Christ. The letter is addressed to Christians in Corinth. This great city with a population of 500,000 was the “Vanity Fair” of the Roman Empire. It was one of the most famous “good time cities” of all times. It was an athletic crazed city. The Isthmus Games, which were larger than the Olympic Games, were held in Corinth.

In considering what was required to participate in the games we can gain insight into what is involved in serving our Lord Jesus. To participate you had to – – –

I. BE A CITIZEN
Athletes represented various Greek City States. To represent a city the athlete had to prove he was a citizen of that city.

To represent Jesus Christ you must be able to prove you belong to Him. That is, that you have by faith trusted Him in the forgiveness of sin. It is as simple as A, B, C.

A. – ACKNOWLEDGE you are a sinner.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That’s us.

B. – BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness…”

C. – CONFESS Christ as Savior.
“…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).

If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you. How about last night? Some have established their citizenship but failed to become competitors.

II. BE CONTROLLED
One common characteristic of every great athlete is self- control. To participate in the Isthmus Games every athlete had to check into the training facility nine months before the games. When they checked-in they checked-out of society. They went into isolation from the public and were completely cut off from everything and everyone outside.

The Greek word describing this experience is AGONIZOMAI. Various translations of the Greek New Testament make its meaning more understandable. Some are:
“Every man who strives for the matches trains himself by all manner of self-restraint.”

Josh Davis, the swimmer who won three gold medals, spoke of his twelve years of training that resulted in a few moments of glory. Our life time of discipline will result in an eternity of glory.

“Anyone who enters a contest goes into strict training.”

The many splendid athletes competing in the Olympics have done so. There is an English word that has come from the Greek word describing this intensive training. It can be heard in the Greek word AGONIZOMAI. Our word is “agony.”

If you are going to follow Christ submit to the self-discipline required to be obedient to Him.

III. BE COACHABLE
Each participant in the Isthmus Games was given a personal trainer. He was the athlete’s master. What he said the athlete did. If we are going to be spiritual victors we must submit to Christ as our master\trainer.

If you have watched gymnasts they listen intently to their coaches just before their event. They then go out and try to do exactly what the coach said do. So must we.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

IV. BE COMPLIANT
Every competitor did the same exercises during this nine months of agony. The boxer, distance runner, weight lifter, jumper, and sprinter all did the same exercises. Today greater knowledge and techniques let it be known various exercises need to be tailored to the sport.

The point this illustrates is there are no favorites with the Lord. We are all alike.

They wore only oil and nothing else. In Scripture oil is used as an illustration of the Holy Spirit. He is often represented as associated with oil.

If we are going to strive for the mastery in spiritual matters we must allow the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to cover and control us.

V. BE CERTAIN “Not as uncertain”
If you want a victorious spiritual life it requires being spiritually focused. The word in verse 26 translated “uncertainty” is ADELOS and it means “I do not run without clarity.”

Every athlete comes to the games with clarity of purpose. Each knows in what he or she is to compete and is focused on that.

What is your goal in life?

Are you a wondering generality or a meaningful specific?

VI. BE COMMITTED
Athletes have to make demands of their bodies.

Your body is a demanding master if it isn’t a good servant.

In the months leading up to the game in which we played the Brazilian Olympic team I trained hard. Training methods were not as defined as now nor was equipment as sophisticated. My personal road work involved running long distances on gravel roads. To toughen myself and build endurance to pain I ran bare footed. When I think of today’s sophisticated shoes I get envious.

It all paid off when we won and I was given the game ball for being the high scorer in the game.

Spiritual victory doesn’t happen without keeping your body under control.

VII. BE A COMPETITOR “Thus I fight …”
The figure of speech now changes from a runner to that of a fighter. In 684 B.C. the Olympic Games were expanded to include boxing.

“Thus I fight not as one who beats the air…”

This is a description of a person shadow boxing — pretending. The Christian life isn’t a pretend world. It is for real.

To gain an understanding of what was involved in boxing in the Isthmus Games let me share these insights.

The boxer wore only oil and a pair of potentially lethal gloves. That’s all. These gloves were known as “Caestus.” They consisted of leather thongs set with metal knobs of lead or iron. Round one began with the competitors towing a line and starting at a given signal. Round one ended when one of the boxers had been knocked out or killed. Round two began when the boxer who had been knocked out was revived. He was then given a certain amount of time to resume the fight. A line was drawn and he had to tow the line within the time limit. When he did round two began. The fight ended when one had either been killed or beaten senseless.

We too have to tow the line for Jesus.

There was a technical term employed in boxing used in the text. The decisive first blow was the “fist blow under the eye” known in the Greek as the HUP-OPIAZO. “Hupo” meaning “under” and “ops” meaning “eye.” It was the term of that era comparable to our term “knock out.” In our text it is used in the Greek and translated “I buffet” or “I discipline my body” (vs. 27).

In verse 27 the word in the AKJ translated “disqualified” and in the AKJ “Castaway” is ADOKIMOS.

It was a word used to describe an heirloom that had become cracked and no longer being usable was put on a shelf.

Do you discipline your body? Is there ever a craving you desire that you know to be wrong and you say “NO,” to your body?

Are there quantities of food your body craves and you discipline your body to abstain. Are there times your body indicates it feels lazy and you discipline it to get the exercise needed? Are there sexual drives you know to be inappropriate and you discipline your body and exercise self-control?

Like such a boxer we must mentally use our spiritual resources to control our bodies if we are to be spiritual victors.

VIII. BE CROWNED
If an athlete didn’t do all this he became disqualified.

If he did strive for the mastery and became a winner there was a reward.

When the Olympics were held in Atlanta Michael Johnson set a new world record in the 200 meter dash. Joe DeLoach, winner of the gold medal in the 200 meters in Barcelona commented: “Michael Johnson didn’t just break my record, he smashed it. That just goes to show how temporary are the earthly things we strive for.” Why would one go through nine months of agony? Why would one be willing to box in such a fight? Because of the award awaiting.

They didn’t give medals. They gave leaf crowns. In verse 25 it is described as a “perishable crown.” That was only part of the award.

The Olympic Games honored Zeus, also known as Jupiter. The wreath was made of olive branches, a tree preferred by Zeus. At the Isthmian Games, which honored the mythical Greek sea god Poseidon, the wreath was made from the god’s sacred tree the spruce.

Before the contests the wreath was placed at the feet of the statue honoring the god of the games. At Olympia it was Zeus. At the Isthmian Games it was Poseidon. This was referred to as “the joy lying before them.” It was a term used of Christ enduring the cross because of the “joy lying before Him.”

There are five different crowns mentioned in the New Testament. The faithful were crowned:
The Victorious Fighter with the wreath of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8).
The Steadfast Runner with the unfading wreath (I Corinthians 9:25, 26).
The One Faithful unto Death with the wreath of life (Revelation 2: 10, James 1:12).
The Unselfish Laborer with the wreath of Honor (I Thessalonians 2:19).
The one who is an Example to Others with the wreath of glory (I Peter 5: 3, 4).

He was then taken back to his home town for a celebration. If the city was walled as most were a hole was cut in the city wall in the profile of the athlete. After he entered through it, once again it was sealed.

A parade followed in which the athlete rode through the city in a chariot. The people celebrating threw flowers in his path. Women splashed perfume on him.

The parade led to the center of the city where he was greeted by the equivalent of the mayor. There the city poet read an ode to him about himself. Next, the mayor presented him a citation which in part gave him a life-time exemption from income tax. Now you know why they were willing to compete!

If they did all that for an corruptible crown how much more we should be willing to strive for an incorruptible crown!
That is a term referring to a heavenly home with our Lord.

The reward awaiting all faithful citizens of the kingdom who go through agony in obedience to the Master is a heavenly home. That will make it all worth while.

In the Book of the Revelation is given another depiction of the honor given a winner. It has a spiritual application.

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

That is the ultimate reward awaiting the person who will spiritually “compete for the prize,” that is, “strive for the mastery.”