Sermon Select
What Is Your Spiritual Self-Image? 6/11/00
II Corinthians 5:17
Jesus Christ has a perfect will for your life. Regardless of how distorted His original plan for your life He is able to do reconstructive work on you. He is that kind of a loving God. He has an image in mind for your life because He loves you.
If He had a refrigerator you picture would be on its door.
If He had a wallet your photo would be in it.
He sends you sunshine every day and flowers each spring.
Whenever you want to talk He is willing to listen.
He can live anywhere He wants and has chosen to live in your heart.
Don’t forget that wonderful Christmas gift or that surprise gift on the Sunday after His hardest Friday.
He is crazy about you. What do you think about Him?
Presently what is your self-image? We all have one. Much is written about our self-image. Public education today is framed around the issue. Some have an inflated self-image. They are about to burn out their tires on their ego trip. Others go to the other extreme and devalue themselves to the point they have a poor self-image. Most of us fall in between those extremes.
Starting in infancy many things work together to shape our self-image. We grow up playing mental games that impact our self-image.
Do you remember when you use to play: YOU ARE?
It usually starts with parents saying such things as, “You are a good little boy (or girl). Or, the opposite, “You are a bad girl (or boy)! We are programmed with “You are” comments. You are: smart, dumb, pretty, ugly, rude, polite or other tags. Hearing the same thing over and over we grow to accept and believe it. Next, we start playing: I WISH.
I played this a lot as an adolescent. “I wish I were as fast as Reggie, as smart as Sam, as rich as Carl, as popular as Pete. I wish…”
That is a cruel game to play with yourself. You never have a sense of worth.
Some people play these two games all their lives. It is a liberating day when you start to play:
I AM!
This is when we begin to accept reality and resolve to become all we have the capacity to be. We unconsciously inventory our capacity and assets and conclude: I AM.
Enough about your self-image from a psychological or physical stand point. What is your spiritual self-image?
A poor self-image may prevent a person from achieving all they have the potential for in life. The same thing is true in the spiritual realm. If you are a Christian God has dramatically changed who you are in Christ. He has given you an incredible untapped spiritual potential. However, unless our spiritual self-perception changes we will not experience our full potential.
Many Christians have the spiritual perception based on a popular bumper sticker that shapes their self-image. Your have seen it: “CHRISTIANS AREN’T PERFECT, JUST FORGIVEN.”
Thank God for the last part of that. It is a demand that non-Christians understand our imperfections and accept that we are forgiven. With this in mind some Christian drivers go out to prove they aren’t perfect and respond as though it is OK to show off their imperfections. It is as though some blow-off their imperfections and appear casual about their forgiveness. If that is your spiritual self-image you have a very poor self-image.
Because of a failure to realize who we are and what spiritual assets we have at our disposal we often live spiritually defeated lives. This has led a Boston College professor to state there is “a state of spiritual impoverishment: in our country leading to a “shrunken aspiration.”
That is, many people think are spiritually bankrupt without an awareness they have at their disposal richest untold.
At the moment of salvation a radical change occurs. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
Some get so enamored with the things that pass away they fail to comprehend the superior worth of all that is new. Fluffy and Legs illustrate this for us. They are two caterpillars crawling along in conversation. Legs says, “You know Fluffy, I feel a compulsion to build a cocoon and crawl in it.” “Yeah,” says Fluffy, “me too, but I don’t want to do
it.” They reason for a while as to why not and reach this conclusion: “You know, when we come out things will be different. We won’t be able to crawl around in the dirt like this. We’ll have wings like those butterflies over there.”
“Right,” says Fluffy, “and we won’t be able to eat weeds and leaves. We’ll have to flit around flowers and eat that sweet nectar. Gee, I’m gonna miss the weeds and dirt.”
Which is the higher form of life, the caterpillar or the butterfly. The freedom and beauty of the butterfly is to be preserved.
When a person repentantly comes to Christ they spiritually give up the weeds and dirt for the freedom and flowers. The new creature in Christ is to be preferred. Don’t give going back to weeds and dirt a second thought. You have a new nature.
This new nature results in a renewed mind-set and outlook on life. We develop a Biblical world view as we see life through the mind of Christ.
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you might prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God for you” (Romans 12:2).
The Scripture appeals to us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Colossians 2:5). When you look at an issue and consider it look at it in the way you believe Christ would look at it were He in your position. The more and better you know Scripture the fuller comprehension you have of how Christ looked at life. Recall, repentance means to change our mind.
With this new mind set you develop a Biblical self-image. Some aspects of it are:
I. I AM A CHILD OF GOD
“To as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12).
Here is cause for dignity. The same God who created the universe has adopted you as His child. If your dad were the most virtuous, important, powerful and rich man in the world would that change you in any way? Sure it would. Well, as a child of God He is your Heavenly Father and has all those qualities. Do you ever think of yourself as a child of God? Do!
II. I AM A FORGIVEN SAINT
“God made you alive in Christ. He forgave us all our sins…” (Colossians 2:13).
God no longer sees you as a sinner. The righteousness of Christ is applied to the believer at the moment of salvation.
The modern image of a saint is a person whose oil portrait has a halo above the head. Not so. A young child visited a large cathedral with stained glass windows with human images in each made brilliant by the sun shining outside. When she asked who those people were she was told they were saints.
On another occasion in Sunday School the teacher asked who knew what a saint was. That little girl held up her hand and when asked said, “A saint is a person the light shines through.”
In reality saints are people who make it easier to believe in Christ. They are persons who are committed to Christ’s: PERSON, PRIORITIES, PURPOSE, AND PRINCIPLES.
There was a godly servant of our Lord who came to be known as Saint Nicholas of Flue. We would do well to pray the prayer he offered often. “My God and my Lord, take me away from my own self, and let me belong completely to thee. My God and my Lord, take away from me everything that keeps me apart from you. My God and my Lord, grant me everything that draws me closer to you.”
If you were convinced that every wrong you ever did were forgiven and that you have been given a new nature that abhors evil, how would that change how you see yourself?
From antiquity comes the story of Damon and Pythias. Dyonisius of Syracuse was a cruel despot of a ruler. He condemned Pythias to death. When Pythias begged leave to visit his aged parents before being crucified, his friend Damon offered to be held as a hostage to be executed if Pythias did not return. For some reason, the hard heart of Dyonisius was touched, and he consented to the arrangement. After delays resulting along his long and arduous overseas journey Pythias returned at the last moment to spare his friend Damon, his substitute. The hard heart of Dyonisius was so moved by this devotion he said, “Let me become a party to this friendship, and I will free both of you.”
Our Lord Jesus came to earth to take our place as a hostage to sin and face the cross for us. When we come to Him our Heavenly Father becomes a partner to this friendship.
III. I AM A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
“Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).
What does this do for your self-image? You have been given all the rights and privileges that belong to citizens of Christ’s eternal kingdom. The kingdom of darkness no longer has any rights over you. Furthermore, Jesus has named you as His ambassador of His invincible kingdom to planet earth.
God wants you to live a supernatural life that reflects your new identity in Christ. That only happens if you develop a correct spiritual self-image and begin seeing yourself as Christ sees you.
IV. I AM AN AMBASSADOR OF THE KING
As a child of the King I am under divine appointment to serve Him as an ambassador.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…” (II Cor. 5:20).
The initial recipients of this letter knew more about ambassadors than we generally do.
There were two types of Roman provinces. Senatorial provinces were those where there was peace. Imperial provinces were those where there was still hostility and soldiers were on duty. When the Roman senate decided a country should become a province they sent ten of their members to the region to establish the terms of the peace, mark the boundaries, and establish the oversight.
Ambassadors lived in alien lands where a different language was spoken, the people had a different life-style and world-view. While there the honor of his own country were his responsibility. Others could look at an ambassador and thing; “So this is how people from your country think, look, dress, speak, and act!” People look at us in that same manner.
Living in an alien society we are to help people understand how citizens of the kingdom are taught by our King to think:
ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE DRUG ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE, SEXUALITY, PORNOGRAPHY, THE SANCTITY OF LIFE.
Ambassadors were those who brought people into the family of the Roman Empire. As Christ’s ambassadors that is our role. We are to bring people into the family of God.
REVIEW: YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM, A SAINT, AND AMBASSADOR.
As an ambassador you can help people come into the family of the King of Kings. The book of Acts gives insight into the process.
In the Book of Acts when persons heard the gospel and the urge to make a change more dynamic than that which occurs in a cocoon came over them they asked, “What shall we do?”
In other words how do we become a child of God, a citizen of the kingdom, a saint?
Peter gave them the same instruction persons need to respond to today. He said:
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Let’s take this verse in a series of slow progressive steps. First, repent.
“Repent” comes from the Greek word (METANOEO) which means to change ones mind after comprehending a mind-changing truth is understood. If you have never received Christ as Savior it means to change your mind regarding Him and yield your will to His.
Following in the text is a big rock in the road to truth over which many stumble. The text says, “and be baptized in the name of Christ for the remissions of sins…”
A superficial reading has led some to believe baptism is essential to salvation. Not so! The Greek word EIS translated “for” can and should be translated “because of.” In other words, repent and because of the remission of your sins be baptized.
It is Christ who saves us the moment our faith results in repentance. When we change our mind regarding Him He changes our lives and gives us a new self-image. Then we are baptized not in order to be saved, but because we have been saved.
Our new nature prompts us to want to please Christ by obeying Him. He instructed us to be baptized (Matthew 28: 19, 20) after having repented.
The Millennial Reign of Christ-Part 1 1/30/00
Revelation 20:1-4
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. Two angelic messengers in human form addressed the enthralled observers and said: “…why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
As He literally ascended He will likewise literally descend to reign on earth for one thousand years. The period is known as the millennium. Preceding this He will have come in the air for His saints who will be raptured, taken up to be with Him.
Immediately following this will be a period known as the Tribulation. Daniel, the prophet, identifies this as a seven year period during which the anti-Christ will conduct a reign of terror on earth. To end this prolonged holocaust Christ will descend to the earth with His saints to reign for 1000 years.
First, He comes in the air for His saints.
Then, He comes to the earth with His saints.
Satan will be bound and cast from earth.
This thousand years will feature His actual rule on earth.
After seven years of manipulative rule the charismatic anti-christ will maneuver the nations of the world to come against Israel in a grand final battle known as the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).
He gathers them together in a vast valley at a place called in Hebrew har megiddo, “the valley of Megiddo,” which is also known as Esdraelon. Here Barak and Deborah fought Sisera. Gideon battled the Midianites. Jehu clashed with and defeated Ahaziah. Saul was slain here by the Philistines. Pharaoh Necho killed the good young King Josiah. The Druids, Turks, Mamolukes, Persians, Babylonians, and Medes waged war here. The battles fought in this lovely valley by armies of the Pharaohs, Caesars, Napoleon, and the British are but a harbinger of the great day of the battle of God Almighty.
The Revelation depicts a rendezvous of the armies of the world poised to strike Israel. Just one of the several armies arrayed to strike has 200,000,000 men (Revelation 9:16). Parenthetically, it is estimated the Chinese army currently has that many men in arms. It appears the destruction of the Third Temple is at hand and the people cry out, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” At that moment Jesus intervenes. “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all” (Jude 1:14, 15).
The battle that ensues is ghastly. The field of conflict is 200 miles long and blood let is as deep as a horses bridle (Revelation 14:20). When it appears all is lost to the dominant forces under the command of the anti-christ the sky burst open:
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white
horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and
True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head
were many crowns. He had a name written that no one
knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe
dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of
God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean, followed Him on white
horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword,
that with it He should strike the nations. And He
Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He
Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on
His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).
The battle ends swiftly:
“Then the beast was captured, and with him the
false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by
which he deceived those who received the mark of the
beast and those who worshiped his image. These two
were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with
brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword
which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the
horse. And all the birds were filled with their
flesh. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven,
having the key to the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that
serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and
bound him for a thousand years;” (Revelation 19:20-20:2).
Thus ends the era know as the Great Tribulation. It ushers in a 1,000 year reign on earth by Jesus Christ known as the Millennium. He will return as the Conquering King. He will create a world environment as it should be.
A review of the 1991 film “Grand Canyon” an immigration attorney breaks out of a traffic jam and tries to bypass it by taking another route. His new route takes him along a route that seems progressively more deserted and darker. Then the predictable nightmare. The driver’s shiny sports car stalls in an alarming inner-city neighborhood whose streets are controlled by an armed teenage gang. He uses his cell phone to call for a tow truck. Before the tow truck arrives the lawyer’s car us surrounded by five menacing street thugs who threaten him. Just in time the tow truck shows up. Its driver, Simon, begins to hook up to the sports car. The young thugs begin to complain to Simon that he is interrupting their payday. Simon takes the gang leader aside and tries to introduce him to morality.
“Man,” Simon says, the world ain’t suppose to work like this. Maybe you don’t know that, but this ain’t the way it suppose to be. I’m suppose to be able to do my job without asking you if I can. And that dude is suppose to be able to wait with his car without you ripping him off. Everything’s suppose to be different than what it is here.”
Revelation 20, reveals a time when Christ will come on earth and things will be as they are suppose to be.
Imagine! Have you ever wanted to visit the Bible Land. In that day people can go to the Bible land and worship Christ in person. The King will have come. Unparalleled peace and prosperity will reign. Joy and praise are the prevalent moods. Messiah will reign and Satan is bound.
Isaac Watts was inspired by reading Psalm 98 when he wrote of the atmosphere of that hour. We sing his famous hymn at Christmas, but he wrote it with the millennial reign of Christ in mind:
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow,
Far as the curse is found.
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.”
There is more written in God’s Word about this future golden age than almost any subject. In the first seven verses of Revelation the thousand-year reign of Christ is mentioned six times. Let’s explore what the Millennial Kingdom will be like. It involves many startling aspects and one above the others at which most are sure to be amazed. In it we will see the reason for the various Biblical ages such as: the age of nationalism, the church age, the rapture, the tribulation, as well as the Millennium.
– Consider the environment in general. The curse placed on nature at the time of the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:17-19) will be removed. The earth will be abundantly productive and the animal kingdom will be harmonious. The lamb and the lion will lay down together.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The
leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf
and the young lion and the fatling together; And a
little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear
shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down
together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,
And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all
My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6-9).
– The Millennium Kingdom will be the answer of the prayers of God’s people through the ages: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” It will be a time when His is “the kingdom, the power, and the glory” on earth (Isaiah 4:2).
“In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be
beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth
shall be excellent and appealing …” (Isaiah 4:2).
– Those subject to the King will have fuller knowledge than at any time in history. The Holy Spirit will have an even greater teaching ministry in that era.
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of
Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The
Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit
of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel
and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear
of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:1, 2).
There will be no sickness or deformity and a
supernatural means of preserving life during this
time. (Isaiah 3:24;29:17-19).
An often asked question is who will be the people living in the Millennium. Only believers will enter the Millennium. To end the Tribulation the beast and false prophet who have deceived the masses during the Tribulation, “These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Then observe: “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the
horse” (Revelation 19: 20c, 21).
Only persons saved during the Tribulation will survive on earth and move into the Millennium. They will be joined by two other groups who will return to earth with Christ. These three groups will provide the population that ushers in the Millennium.
No unsaved will enter the Millennium. However, those saved during the Tribulation that are alive at Christ’s coming will enter the era with Him. This is group one: the Tribulation saints. These are they who refused to worship the beast.
The Old Testament believers will participate in immortal bodies (Jeremiah 30: 9). This is the second group.
The third group will be Church Age saints (Rev. 20:4-6). All will be given places of service and responsibilities.
– Remember there will be people to survive the Tribulation and live into the Millennium. These Israelite and Gentile survivors will have children during the Millennium. These “kids of the kingdom” will be born in a perfect environment. That environment will be similar to that of the Garden of Eden. However, even they will need to be born again.
As sons and daughters of Adam they too will need a new nature and will have a free will by which to obtain it.
These generations of “kingdom kids” will grow up without knowing fear, experiencing pain, witnessing hatred, taking dope, or seeing a jail.
This is the primary reason for reinstituting the sacrificial system during the Millennium. It will be a reminder of the necessity of the new birth. It will serve as a reminder of the costly price of salvation and an example of the awfulness of sin.
One of the primary reasons for the Millennium is to illustrate the extreme of the depravity of human kind. Millions who will have been reared in this perfect environment will finally rebel against the Christ who loved them and died for their sins (Revelation 20:7 – 10).
The fact Satan will have been bound and cast out and they still rebel indicates the strength of the old sin nature. It is their nature not Satan who entices them to rebel. It is not their environment, it is perfect, it their very own nature. The importance of one’s personal will is underscored. Of the three enticements to sin two will not be present. The two absent are Satan and the corrupt environment. Only ones very own nature remains as the reason for their rebellion. The same is true of many today. Satan and the world are often blamed for what is ones own rebellious nature.
During the seven periods of Biblical history God will have exhausted every possible means to reach people with His love and bring them to salvation. Even today some say, “If only Christ were here on earth and we could see Him everyone would want to be saved.” The Millennial Kingdom proves this is not true. There are no excuses for rejecting Christ.
“For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse” (Romans 1:20).
In the Millennium the promise of the angel to Mary will be fulfilled:
“He will be great, and will be called the Son
of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the
throne of His father David. And He will reign over
the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there
will be no end” (Luke 1:33).
Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek for they
shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
In the Millennium they will receive their inheritance. There will be no U.N. to try to solve problems among nations. This will be a period of Christocracy. He will judge.
“He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke
many people; They shall beat their swords into
plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).
Of this era Isaac Watts also wrote:
Jesus shall reign wher-e’er the sun
Does his successive journey run;
His kingdom spread from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
From north to south the princes meet
To pay their homage at His feet;
While western empires own their Lord,
And savage tribes attend His word.
To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And endless praises crown His head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
Will you be there in that day? I rejoice to know I will. Someone commented, “I have a one way ticket to heaven.” I rejoice to know I have a round trip ticket and will be coming back with our Lord.
What a Mighty God We Serve 8/20/00
Hebrews 13:5-6
Jesus Christ wants you to accept Him as your constant companion and unfailing guide. When I travel to an unknown country I make arrangements in advance for a guide. The first person I look for when I get there is my guide. I then commit myself into his care. This gives me confidence and a sense of security.
When Alexander the Great and his army came to the Khyber Pass he called for his map makers and requested maps of the territory beyond. They informed him all maps stopped at the pass. When he and his army marched through the Khyber Pass, they were literally marching off the map. Our loving Lord often puts us in a position where we are required to march into unknown territory.
At such times we need a good guide.
Our text identifies our constant companion and competent guide. Athletes often use a term we need to apply to our faith. That expression is: “We have got to stay focused.” Keep your eye on your guide.
Have confidence in His – – – –
I. HIS ABIDING PRESENCE VS. 5
Do you ever feel like God is out to lunch. He is no where to be found. Most of us have had those moments when we awoke and could have easily prayed: “Dear God, I don’t feel like you are here. I feel so all alone.” Pray that prayer when you feel like it, BUT don’t stop there. Continue, “Though I don’t feel like you are with me I thank you for the fact you are with me. You said you would never leave me nor forsake me. Thanks for being here even when I don’t feel like it. Now let’s you and me go get ‘um.”
Feelings fluctuate, they are fickle, they fool us. Facts are constant. Your feelings may be temporarily influenced by circumstances, diet, or even climate. Facts don’t change.
To be emphatic regarding His presence the Lord compacts into a single expression five compounding negatives in Hebrews 13:5. This passage consists of what is known as synergistic compounding negatives.
He said: “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU…” This is a forever never that has no exceptions. It literally means, “I will never, no not ever, no never leave you.” Included in forever is NOW. The expression “leave you” means: “I will never, no not ever, no never leave you behind, abandon you, give up on you, or send you back.”
He further says, “NOR FORSAKE YOU” This means, “I will never, no not ever, no never cause you not to survive, or leave you helpless.”
Now let’s string them all together: “I will never, no not ever, no never abandon you, give up on you, send you back, cause you not to survive, or leave you helpless.”
If you feel as though He has called your emotions a liar and God’s Word truth. Let your feelings be converted by the facts. Pretty emphatic isn’t it. It is a fact. Don’t let your feelings argue with this fact. Facts are faithful, feelings are fickle.
What is said is important. Who says it is even more important. Consider the source. God Almighty authored that statement for Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Observe, “He Himself” said it. Who is He?
He is all powerful. To use the theological term He is omnipotent meaning, all powerful. He has the power to do what He says He will do. He is all present. Again the theological term is omnipresent meaning, all present. He is present to perform.
He is all knowing. Once again a theological term is omniscient meaning, he is all knowing. He has the knowledge to know what to do.
Do you ever feel like you just don’t have strength to go on? Do you ever feel like you are all alone?
Do you ever feel like you don’t know what to do?
When you feel like you don’t have the strength to go on? Remember it is the all POWERFUL, the omnipotent, God who said, “I will never, no not ever, no never abandon you, give up on you, send you back, cause you not to survive, or leave you helpless.”
When you feel all alone remember it is the OMNIPRESENT, all present God who said, “I will never, no not ever, no never abandon you, give up on you, send you back, cause you not to survive, or leave you helpless.
When you simply don’t know what to do remember it is the OMNISCIENT, the all knowing God who said, “I will never, no not ever, no never abandon you, give up on you, send you back, cause you not to survive, or leave you helpless.”
WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!
When David was instructing Solomon on building the temple he said to him: “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you” (I Chronicles 28:20).
Practice the presence behind the promise.
This portion of verse 5 begins with “I” and ends with “you.” Ours is an “I-you” relationship. It is to be relied on in times of crisis.
It was when Arthur Ray Ebersol drowned. Paramedics were working over him with a sense of urgency. His dad was pleading with his son to start breathing. Then in the background could be heard a voice singing. It was the mother of Arthur sitting in the paramedics van singing:
“I’ve seen the lightening flashing
I’ve heard the thunder roll,
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing.
Trying to conquer my soul.
I heard the voice of Jesus
Telling me still to fight on
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
No never alone.
No! Never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.”
II. HIS AMAZING PRE-EMINENCE VS. 6
“The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
This we can say “boldly.” The word “boldly” means “to say with confidence.” It is the opposite of the word “fear” used in the last part of this verse.
We don’t need to fear because we can say, “The Lord is my helper…”
The word “helper” depicts one ready to run to the aid of a friend at the earliest sign of need. The Greek word translated “helper” is BOETHOS. Used as a naval term it meant the tightening of a tackle to hold something secure against a storm. As our helper He holds all secure against the storms of life.
God is our “helper.” As such He expects and deserves our very best personal efforts.
This shows HIS WILLING READINESS AND DESERVES OUR READY WILLINGNESS.
I have a beloved friend, Claude McBride, who for many years has served as chaplain for the University of Georgia football teams. Dr. McBride is a master of homespun humor. As a banquet speaker he assumes the role of a character called “Happy.” Happy is a rather unrefined exponent of sage wisdom. Using language of the old south Happy shares with his pastor in Possum Gap and the newly organized church choir. The choir consists of a completely inexperienced group of non-musicians. In explaining the dynamics involved in singing a “CAN-ta-ta,” Happy defines three terms.
“Pianissimo, y’all, means sing out so ever’body can hear ya, but jus’ barely.
“Crescendo, hear’, means sing out a li’l more, but keep holdin’ back some.”
“Fortissimo! means gimme everythang you got right now!”
Jesus Christ wants you to live a Fortissimo life. He appeals to us, “gimme everythang you got right now!”
“I will not fear. What can man do to me.”
Courage against man consequents from confidence in God.
We live in a frightful and frightening world. Secular circumstances will scare you witless unless you have a stabilizing faith in Christ. There are numerous waves of fright that periodically roll across our society like tidal waves.
Have the numerous public panic parties taught us anything?
In 1979 NASA warned of potential danger resulting from the deterioration in space of the Skylab satellite. The FAA closed airspace, state and local governments went on alert; companies sold helmets. Skylab burned up July 11, 1979, over the Indian Ocean. All that fear for nothing.
New Mexico scientist Iben Browning projected a major earthquake would devastate much of the mid-U.S. Many people prepared for the worst. Schools in parts of five states dismissed. Disaster drills were conducted. Sales of bottled water, canned food, and earthquake insurance soared. There was no earthquake. All that fear was unnecessary.
New Age astrologers warned of a harmonic convergence that would produce chaos all over the world on August 16, 1987. Nothing happened.
For several years fear virtually choked many Americans as the year 2000 approached. Regrettably much of the Y2K bug fear was fostered by members of the Christian community. The stroke of midnight came and was virtually insignificant. Again, mass fear was wasted.
“What can man do to me?” A lot! This does not say we will not suffer. It means we have no cause to fear. Biblically we have been forewarned in this world we are going to have tribulation. But Christ who has overcome gives cause for good cheer.
III. HIS ASSURING PERMANENCE VS. 8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”
Prior to chapter 13 of Hebrews comes a passage pregnant with illustrations of individuals who through the years had found God faithful. They are described as a “great cloud of witnesses.” By being witnesses we tend to think of them as observers of us. Actually as witnesses it means their life examples witness to us of the faithfulness of our consistent God.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That means He is ever the same, constantly true to Himself.
It has another application also.
“Yesterday” He served as Redeemer on earth.
“Today” He is fulfilling His role as Intercessor in heaven.
“Forever” refers to the eternal Almighty God.
To the artist He is the One altogether lovely (Sol. 5:16).
To the architect He is the Chief Cornerstone (I Pet. 2:6).
To the astronomer He is the Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2).
To the baker He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
To the banker He is the hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).
To the builder He is the sure foundation (Isa. 28:16).
To the carpenter He is the door (John 10:7).
To the doctor He is the Great Physician (Jer. 8:22).
To the educator He is the new and living way (Heb. 10:20).
To the farmer He is the Lord of Harvest (Luke 10:2).
One of the principle roles of our Lord is Savior. He always has been.
Years ago there lived a devout scholar named Jerome. One of his primary accomplishments was to translate the Bible from Greek into Latin. This he did mostly in a cave which interlocked with the cave in which Christ was born. In his later years he had a dream while there. In the dream the Christ child appeared to him. He was so inspired by Christ he offered him money saying, “Here, this is yours.” Christ refused saying, “I don’t want it.”
Jerome brought some of his most cherished possessions and offered them. Again Christ refused them.
Then submissively Jerome said, “If there is anything in the world I can give you, tell me what it is. Tell me! What do you want? What do you want me to give you?” He said that in his dream Christ looked at him and said: “Give me your sin! That is what I came for.”
That is what Christ came for — to take away our sin.
The writer of the Revelation confirms Christ as the one “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8).
Let Us Remember, Relish, and Return on This Memorial Day 5/28/00
Proverbs 14:34
Jesus Christ repetitiously called upon people to “remember.” Knowing the truths spoken and seeing the forgetfulness of the people, He appealed for them to remember statements and standards that would guide them.
Biblically memorials were often established to keep alive the action taken or truths learned. These memorials varied.
DAYS were often set aside as memorials. To keep alive the memory of God delivering His people from slavery in Egypt the Lord established the Passover and said of it: “This day shall be to you a memorial …” (Exodus 12:14).
BOOKS often record memorial deeds and events. Joshua won a remarkable victory over Amalek and the Lord commissioned the people to “Write this for a memorial in a book..” (Exodus 17:14).
PLACES are also set aside as memorials. The Lord declared the Tabernacle should be “A memorial unto the children of Israel” (Exodus 30: 16).
EVENTS are commemorated as memorials. When Joshua led the children of Israel out of the wilderness into the promised land a memorial was established. A stone memorial was established on the banks of the Jordan. It was done so those who came after them and seeing the stones might ask, “What do these stones mean?” This allowed the story to be retold and the memory kept alive (Joshua 4:5 – 7).
Our Lord established the Lord’s Supper and charged us to engage in it “In remembrance …” of Him.
Our predecessors knew of the expediency of our nation remembering, relishing, and returning to virtues and values and long since established a Memorial Day. It was intended to be a day on which the nation would pause and honor those fallen in battle and the precious principles for which they died. Most have forgotten the reason for the holiday and simply enjoy a day off from work. Let us —-
I. REMEMBER THE FALLEN
Rudyard Kipling said, “Lord of host, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget.” It is fitting that our nation should pause to remember the countless sons and daughters who at great sacrifice and many at the greatest sacrifices won and preserved our freedoms.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR 25,324
CIVIL WAR 498,332
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR 1,862
WORLD WAR I 116,710
WORLD WAR II 407,316
KOREAN WAR 54,546
VIETNAM WAR 58,098
PERSIAN GULF WAR 146
As we remember and memorialize those who paid the ultimate price let’s not fail to honor those who also served and sacrificed. In remembering the fallen let us —
II. RELISH THE FREEDOM
We honor those who have gone before by striving to preserve and perpetuate the values and virtues for which they gave of themselves while resisting the vices that erode them. Dare this generation spare itself by not paying the price to champion the good for which others died?
To have a freedom and not exercise it is little better than not having that freedom. For example, much is said about not having the former freedom of prayer in schools once enjoyed. We have the freedom of prayer in our homes. Are we using it? Is there no more prayer in your home than in our schools? What value is a freedom if not exercised?
Let us show our appreciation for our freedoms by using them to the fullest glory of our Lord.
The appeal made to ancient Israel is applicable today:
“Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest; when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the
land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; …then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth … “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth… “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.” (Deuteronomy 8:11-19).
Let us relish the freedom and —-
III. RETURN TO THE FOUNDATION
Judge Robert Bork describes America as “Slouching Toward Gomorrah.”
By no means were all of our Founding Fathers Christians nor did they all always live according to the teaching of the Bible. They did however believe the Bible and establish our nation on Scriptural principles.
Thomas Jefferson noted: “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure, when we have removed their only firm basis — the conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?”
Our predecessors have marked out path with memorials.
E. Stanley Jones observed, “If we lose our sense of being led, we become victims of circumstances.”
Eighty one year old Benjamin Franklin left us this verbal memorial:
“In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine Protection. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor…. Have we forgotten the powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
“I have lived, sir, a long time and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: God governs in the affairs of men….”
Thomas Jefferson left us this verbal memorial: “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure, when we have removed their only firm basis — the conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are the gift of God.”
The framers of our Declaration of Independence left us the legacy of these lines: “With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
For a memorial look at our currency. There you will see the words “In God We Trust.” On the right side of a dollar bill is the great seal of the United States. There is a great pyramid and above a giant eye symbolizing the eye of God. Above the pyramid in Latin are the words “He smiles on our beginnings.” Beneath it in Latin these words: “A new order of the ages.”
Our predecessors labored under the conviction that God was overseeing their efforts in establishing a new order of freedom.
In 1831 the French government sent Alexis de Tocqueville to examine our prisons and penitentiaries. He became so intrigued by our system of government and its institutions that he spent considerable time analyzing life in America. On his return to France he wrote his classic, “Democracy in America.” Many scholars feel it is the greatest of all works on any national policy and culture. In it he wrote: “I sought for the greatness and genius in America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there…I sought for the greatness and genius in America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution and it was not there…
“Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand here genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
Tocqueville like Solomon was right: “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is the reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
Arnold Toynbee, the distinguished historian, numbers nineteen great civilizations that have existed since governments were formed. Ours is one. Toynbee observed spiritual currents running through history. He concluded no major nation has ever been murdered. They have committed suicide. They forgot the true purpose of their being, and rotted on the inside. Let’s learn!
Now let us —-
IV. RENEW THE COMMITMENT
- Let us renew our commitment to the regimen of prayer. As Ben Franklin called the nation to prayer so the call needs to be renewed. When President Eisenhower took the oath of office he focused the nations attention on II Chronicles 7: 14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14). Let’s!
- Let us renew our commitment to the cause of Christ in general. The purpose of our Pilgrim predecessors in coming to America is spelled out in the New England Charter as: “…to advance the enlargement of Christian religion, to the glory of God almighty.” Let’s!
- Let us reexamine our concept of the extent of the truth printed on our currency: “In God We Trust.” Let’s!
Have you invested your trust in His Son as Savior?
The Final Exam 2/20/00
Revelation 20:11-15
Jesus Christ is spoken of as the One who will judge the world: “because He [God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).
This verse attests to the fact every person will someday be involved in a great time of judgement. It reveals:
* A DATE IS DETERMINED
* A STANDARD IS DECIDED
* A SCOPE IS STATED
* A PROOF IS PROCLAIMED
A Date Is Determined when God will judge the world. That means each of us will be involved. There are no exemptions. None!
Does it ever seem the wicked prosper and seem to get away with it? Centuries ago the prophet Jeremiah was puzzled by this and wrote:
“Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?” (Jeremiah 12:1).
They will not in the day of the ultimate judgement. They will face a final judgement. The date is already determined.
A Standard Is Decided and it is the person Jesus Christ. The criterion will not be to find someone you are better than and gain a passing grade by comparison. The standard is Jesus Christ.
There will be no oversight or error in His judgement. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).
The prophet Daniel describes the judge as “the Ancient of Days,” before whom “a river of fire was flowing.” Then Daniel adds: “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9, 10).
Christ sets the standard and is the standard.
“The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgement to the Son …. And has given Him the authority to judge because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:23, 27).
Before British law required warning signals along railways bridge keepers were required to flag down approaching trains and warn them the bridge was out.
One passenger train plunged into the river because of it not being properly warned. At the trial the bridge keeper was asked by the judge if he waved his warning lantern. He responded that he had.
Later the bridge keeper confided to a friend he was glad the judge didn’t ask if his lantern was lit.
The whole truth wasn’t known when the judgement was made. Our Lord will know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
A Scope Is Stated and it is the whole world. All persons of all ages will be involved in a final judgement.
“For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher, said, “What men fear, is not that death is annihilation, but that it is not.”
At the end of World War II Richard Niebuhr reminded readers that the fear of death was chiefly the fear of judgement.
Daniel Webster declared the most significant thought to cross his mind was that of his personal accountability. You too are personally accountable.
A Proof is Presented and it is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. In light of this the Easter celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ might well be the most dreaded holiday of the year.
Having achieved the unachievable, the resurrection, God the Father has demonstrated His ability to fulfill His promises. He has promised there will be a final judgement.
It is wishful thinking to say there was and will be no resurrection. In modern excavations a sealed vase was found in an Egyptian tomb. In it were seed known to be more than three thousand years old. They were hard as stone and shriveled. They were carefully planted and within thirty days sprang to life after having lain dormant in a dusty tomb for centuries.
This is a faint illustration of the fact the mortal body shall put on immortality.
Acts 17 notes the three predictable responses:
* Some mock: “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked…” (Acts 17:32).
* Some delayed: “We will hear you again on this matter” (Acts 17: 32c). The Bible wisely warns: “Boast not yourself of tomorrow” (Proverbs 27:1). This is not an encouragement to take wise forethought. Much progress has been enjoyed as a result of people who wisely planned for tomorrow. Much of the fruit picked today is a result of persons who yesterday planned for it.
The warning is against counting on tomorrow as a given.
Planning for tomorrow is practical. Depending upon it is impractical. The way to plan for tomorrow is to do today what equips you for tomorrow.
Spiritually, the way to plan for tomorrow is to prepare today by aligning your life with Christ. In that way you have prepared for tomorrow and have no cause for anxiety about it.
* Some believed: “However, some men joined him and believed” (Acts 17: 34).
In which category do you belong?
In the Book of the Revelation reference is made to two future resurrections. The first will occur at the next coming of our Lord. It is a resurrection to life. It will happen at a time called the Rapture when Christ shall come in the air for His saints.
However, there is another resurrection spoken of.
It is the resurrection unto judgement and occurs at the end of the period known as the Millennium. After Christ shall have ruled on earth for 1000 years Satan will be released for a short period on earth. Only believers will be on earth at the beginning of the Millennium. All who are born during the Millennium will live in a perfect environment and have believing parents. Even with Christ physically present and ruling on earth the evil hearts of some of those born during the Millennium will covertly be in rebellion against Christ. To expose these Satan is allowed to be released and they overtly follow him. This proves it is an evil heart not heredity of the environment that is responsible for evil acts.
After Satan shall have been released for a short time on earth he is finally cast out into the lake of fire and brimstone, hell. Beginning with Revelation 20: 11 the final exam is noted.
This is called “the great white throne” judgement. The throne of judgement is “great” because of its POWER. It is “white” because of its PURITY.
Those who stand before the great white throne will have rejected “so great salvation” (Hebrews 2;3).
They are those who were not involved in the first resurrection, believers.
This judgement is not to determine the destiny of those involved. That has already been determined by their rejection of Christ while alive. This passage teaches there will be degrees of punishment. This judgement is to determine the severity of persons punishment. This is an often overlooked or actually unknown Bible fact.
Believers have been judged.
^ They were judged at the cross as SINNERS. “There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
^ They are presently being judged as SIBLINGS of the Father. As His children He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. His reputation in part rest on our faithfulness.
^ They will be judged as STEWARDS. Grow not weary in well doing for one “Well done” from Him will make it all worth while. In the first part of verse 12 reference is made to “books,” plural. In the last part of verse 12 reference is made to “the book,” singular. The book is further identified in verses 12 and 15 as “the Book of Life.”
Found revealed in this passage is insight regarding salvation. There are only two schools of thought on how to be saved. One is that you must work for your salvation. A person must earn, merit, or deserve God’s good favor. This is done according to this school of thought by good works.
The other concept of salvation is that it is only by grace, that is, God’s favor. Ephesians 2: 8, 9 make this clear: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Those who are depending upon their good works to save them need to give careful attention to the basis of their judgement revealed in verse 12: “The dead were judged according to their works, by the things written in the books.”
The very works depended upon for salvation become the basis of condemnation. This is true because these person have relied upon their own good works rather than the good work of Christ on the cross.
Works are an unmistakable evidence of the loyalty of the heart. Works will reveal a persons loyalty is not to Christ.
This passage reveals God to be a good bookkeeper. He has a record of our deeds. Whoever you are your biography is kept by God.
Those whose names are not in the Book of Life join the devil in the lake of fire.
Earlier reference was made to the varied response to the news an inevitable judgement awaits every one.
A historical event illustrates types of responses. Years ago the Robert E. Lee was the most palatial boat that plied up and down the Mississippi River between Vicksburg and New Orleans. There were other beautiful boats but this was the favorite of the people of Vicksburg. Every Wednesday afternoon hundreds would gather along the river to watch as the Robert E. Lee cast off and turned her prow down river and headed to New Orleans.
One beautiful Wednesday thousands gathered on the wharf to wave goodby and shout “bon voyage” to friends and family. Passengers hung over the gunwales and shouted such things as, “We will write when we get to our destination.”
The Robert E. Lee backed out, rang its bells as its whistles blew and smoke rolled out its funnels. The river hands sang those wild weird river songs that make the blood tingle and tears roll down cheeks. About a mile down river the Lee turned a bend in the river and disappeared from view.
It was about 2:00 AM when the first telegrams began to arrive in Vicksburg. The vaunted paddle wheeler had caught fire and rapidly burned on the river. About midnight the captain had discovered the boat was on fire. He summonsed the clerk and said, “This boat is on fire and I want you to run down in the saloon and down every corridor and rap on each state-room door and cry, ‘Get up; the boat is on fire!’ He ran around knocking at the doors and screaming, ‘The boats on fire!”
He had no time for an explanation if he was to warn everyone; there was no time to argue. Those few who heard the warning and responded saving their lives tell of the various responses of others who perished.
Upon hearing the knocking some swore and cursed and vowed to respond to a person who would be so alarming. Others laughed at such an idea as this great vessel being on fire saying, “There is no fire.” Some thought it was a joke and rolled over to an eternal sleep. A few were frightened and hid under their beds. Some heard the warning and responded. Those same responses are offered to the idea of a great day of judgement coming. Some curse the messenger. Some laugh at the very idea. Some think it is a prank. Some are frightened and withdraw.
Others believe and respond thereby getting prepared for that inevitable event. What is your response?
The Book of the Revelation contains this urgent warning: “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come” (Revelation 14:6, 7). The Lord God does not desire for persons to be in the Great White Throne Judgement.
* God is not a ghoulish God looking for an opportunity to punish us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:19).
* Christ has gone to extremes to help persons avoid judgement. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24).