Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Wisdom of the Wise Men
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ’Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ’Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.’ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way." Matthew 2:1-12 (NKJV)
Now you may be asking, “Why is he doing a Christmas lesson on New Year’s Day – Christmas is past.” Well, as most of you are aware the “wise men” didn’t show up until sometime after the birth of Jesus. So today we will discuss the wisdom of the wise men “after” Christmas after His birth!
The story of the wise men is a story that is really a mystery. From “tradition” we seem to know all the facts and details. But as we study the scripture we find that there are a lot of questions we can not answer about the wise men from the Biblical text. For example:
How many were there? We don’t know.
Where did they come from? We don’t know.
How long did their journey take? We don’t know.
They seem to just show up mysteriously – and just as mysteriously they are gone. But one thing we can be certain about is that the number of wise men and women increases in every generation as people continue to seek the Christ. Let’s look at three facts that we can learn from the story of the wise men.
1. A wise man’s journey is one of FAITH.
"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East.”
What would prompt someone to leave the comfort of their homes to go on a dangerous journey? Romance? Yes. Wealth? Most definitely. But faith? Yes – faith. “Where is He who has been born the King of the Jews?” What a probing question – there is no doubt in their language that He had been born – the question is “Where is He?” They had seen the star – the evidence was real – now where is He? They had faith that He was alive – that He existed – now all they needed to do was to find Him. Their purpose was established – find Him. And so they were willing to risk everything to find Him. They were willing to leave the safety of their homes – to risk a dangerous journey to seek a King.
Can you imagine their neighbor’s reaction? “Are you going on a journey?” “Yes.” “Where are you going?” “We don’t know for sure.” “How far is it?” “Well we don’t know that either.” How long are you going to be gone?” Well were not quite sure on that either.” “Boy for wise men you sure don’t much do you?”
But you know they must have said the same things to Abraham when he left his home for the Promised Land. They must have said the same things to Noah who was building an ark – even though it had never rained in the history of the earth up till that point. They must have said the same kind of things to Peter, Andrew, John and James when they left the fishing nets to become fishers of men. What are you crazy? Are you insane? Are you out of your minds? No not crazy – not insane – not out of their minds – they were men of faith.
FACT:
God’s journeys always involve FAITH.
It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (MSG)
People of faith have been willing to respond to the challenges of the unknown over and over again down through history.
2. A wise man’s journey is one of WORSHIP.
When the wise men came on their journey it was for the purpose of worship. They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts have a lot of symbolism associated with them. Gold represents wealth. It is a gift fit for a king. (Jesus was the King of Kings) Frankincense is the sap of a tree that was dried and hardened and used as incense to worship God. Thus we see a gift for his deity. (Jesus was the Son of God) Myrrh is a fragrant perfume that was used to anoint the dead – to embalm and preserve them. (Jesus was The Sacrificial Lamb)
But there is more to worship then gold, frankincense, or myrrh isn’t there.
FACT
Worship always involves SACRIFICE.
Was there a price to be paid for the wise men’s worship? You bet. They had given themselves to a journey. Travel in those days was not very comfortable – in fact it could be down right dangerous. The wise men had sacrificed their own comfort to find the king and worship Him. Listen to what David said about sacrifice: “I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” 2 Samuel 24:24
Romans says it this way: "I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1
To truly worship requires sacrifice.
The greatest gift – the greatest sacrifice – you can give to God is yourself. You say but I have given nothing to Him today. I say yes you have! Even today you have given Him something of yourself. You have given Him your time by being here. You prepared for a journey this morning by getting up and getting dressed and ready to seek a King. You got into your cars – used your gas and came to church. Some of you when the offering plate comes around will put money into the plate to help pay kingdom expenses of maintaining the church building – heat, water, electricity all have to be paid for. When you came today you came as a living sacrifice – even though you may not view it as that – even though you may not have realized it. The efforts you make to worship God is your sacrifice to Him. But here is a fact that we all need to remember today:
FACT:
What God wants most of all – above every thing else is ME.
He wants your heart – He wants your attention – 24/7 – the question to ask is: What am I willing to give Him? Am I willing to give Him my best? Am I willing to go on a spiritual journey to worship Him? Am I willing to give up my comfort zone to follow Christ? The wise men were – are you?
3. A wise man’s journey is one of CHANGE.
Look at verse twelve: "Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way."
Isn’t it interesting that after they worshiped Jesus that they could not go back the same way that they had come? I find that to be a fact even today. Once you have met God you will never be the same. An encounter with God changes things – it changes you – doesn’t it? It’s always been that way.
Jacob wrestled with God and never walked the same the rest of his life.
Isaiah stepped into the presence of God and proclaimed “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." Isaiah 6:5 (NKJV) He was never the same again.
Job questions God over and over again concerning his suffering and when God shows up Job says. "I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen." Job 40:4-5 (MSG)
Job met God and became a changed man.
That is what happens when we walk into the presence of God. We become changed. That is what happened to the wise men when they encountered Christ – they were changed. That is what happens when we encounter Christ – things become different.
It’s the Christmas “season” and we hear the story of the wisemen. They were wise because they had faith, they were wise because they worshiped and they were changed forever – all because of a child. How about you? Are you looking for a change in your life? Find Christ this New Year and I can guarantee that you will be changed. Things will be different. Step out in faith and seek Him as the wisemen did.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Live Sacrilegiously... Like Jesus
Before y’all run me out of the class or report me to Bro. Jerry let’s look at the “meaning” of sacrilege: an act of great disrespect shown to God OR to sacred ideas, people, or things. The lesson today will focus on the “OR”.
If Jesus were walking around on Earth today, He might be reprimanded by some Christians, or even asked to leave a church. Why? Jesus didn’t live the kind of life that the Christian culture now considers to be a good Christian lifestyle. His words and actions can seem shocking – and even sacrilegious. Jesus may just be the least religious person you could ever meet. His non-churchy ways and his absolute sacrilege with the Pharisees' traditions which were not taught in God's law, and which they bound as essential on others, his teachings about sin, sinners, and a host of other kingpin issues, were exactly why people were drawn to him.
Let’s look at something Jesus said or did that might have been thought as un-orthodox or “even” Sacrilegious in His day:
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are! (Matthew 23:13-15)
The Message Translation puts this a little more bluntly: "I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either. You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned." (Matthew 23:13-15)
And Matthew wrote that “for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.” Matthew 7:29
And in Matthew 15:9, Jesus said, “Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”
It’s crucial to follow Jesus Himself rather than just a certain lifestyle, since it’s a living relationship with Jesus that truly connects us to God. What we believe about Jesus and how we choose to follow Him are the most important factors determining what kind of person we become and how we experience God.
So we don’t want to lose sight of the real Jesus underneath all the religious rules that supposedly make us a good Christian – and we don’t be afraid to be sacrilegious in order to follow where Jesus leads us. Here’s how:
• Distinguish between being sacrilegious in a negative and positive way. When Jesus asks you to be sacrilegious, it’s never for a negative purpose, such as to defile something that is holy. Instead, it’s for a positive purpose: to clear away religious confusion so you can see the purity of the Gospel message. Keep in mind that when Jesus spoke and acted in sacrilegious ways, He influenced people’s lives in good ways, not bad. Choose to learn from Jesus’ example and pattern your life after His life.
• Ask Jesus to clarify your image of Him. Reflect on how you view Jesus right now, and consider how you got your current image of Him. Then pray for Jesus to clear away any religious haze that has distorted how you see Him, and show you more clearly what He is really like.
• Follow Jesus as an apprentice. Following Jesus isn’t just a matter of what you do (even good activities, like attending church and serving people in need). Instead, following Jesus is about who you are. Jesus wants you to be an apprentice – someone who becomes more like Him by learning from Him. Rather than aiming to follow a certain lifestyle, make it your goal to grow to become the person that Jesus wants you to be.
• Open your mind. Ask God to help you recognize when your ideas are simply personal preferences (such as what political party to support, whether or not to drink alcohol, and what Bible translation to read) and when your ideas are truly essential to the Gospel message (such as beliefs in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross to pay for sin, and in His resurrection). Get rid of your preconceived personal preferences about what it means to be a Christian, and pray for the humility and teachable spirit you need to learn fresh insights from God. Gain a fresh perspective on the Bible by choosing a portion where Jesus asks you to do something, and then practice doing that regularly so you can get a clearer idea of why that’s important.
• Draw people closer to God through meekness. Choose to imitate the meekness through which Jesus won over people: He was incredibly strong, yet He didn’t express that power in the form of arrogant control. Instead, Jesus chose to direct His power toward humble service to others so that people could see real love in action. Rather than trying to force religious “rules” on people, choose to meekly show them God’s powerful love in action. Humbly listen to others, learn about their lives, and serve them without taking a morally superior stance toward them. Keep in mind that you need God’s grace just as much as others do. Ask God to help you become a person who is accessible, approachable, and inspiring to spiritual seekers.
• Find Jesus where ever go. Rather than just looking for Jesus only in church, start to notice Him with you wherever you go – at work, at home, while you’re out with friends or running errands, etc. Pray for a better ability to recognize Jesus with you in every situation you encounter. Reach out to people who don’t currently attend church, doing your best to be the church to them by loving them and inspiring them to seek Jesus.
• Show mercy to sinners. Since God is constantly showing mercy to you even though you sin regularly, ask Him to help you show mercy to the people around you who sin (which will encourage them seek God more because of His love flowing through you), rather than judging and condemning them (which will only alienate them). Rely on God’s help to obey His command to forgive the people who hurt you. When you see people celebrate Communion in church, don’t judge them as unworthy if you know about sin in their lives; remember that God is the only one who can correctly judge people.
• Become a peacemaker. Help the people around you find peace with God, within themselves, and with other people. Ask God to show you the specific ways in which He wants you to use your resources (time, energy, money, talents, skills, etc.) to bring peace to people who need more peace (from people you see regularly, like your family members and coworkers, to people you happen to meet, like people who are waiting in line with you at Wal-Mart). As you help bring God’s peace into other people’s lives, God will break down religious barriers and help them get to know Jesus in new ways that will change their lives for the better.
For archive of lessons check out the WhoSoEver “blog”:
http://thewhosoevers.blogspot.com/
If Jesus were walking around on Earth today, He might be reprimanded by some Christians, or even asked to leave a church. Why? Jesus didn’t live the kind of life that the Christian culture now considers to be a good Christian lifestyle. His words and actions can seem shocking – and even sacrilegious. Jesus may just be the least religious person you could ever meet. His non-churchy ways and his absolute sacrilege with the Pharisees' traditions which were not taught in God's law, and which they bound as essential on others, his teachings about sin, sinners, and a host of other kingpin issues, were exactly why people were drawn to him.
Let’s look at something Jesus said or did that might have been thought as un-orthodox or “even” Sacrilegious in His day:
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are! (Matthew 23:13-15)
The Message Translation puts this a little more bluntly: "I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either. You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned." (Matthew 23:13-15)
And Matthew wrote that “for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.” Matthew 7:29
And in Matthew 15:9, Jesus said, “Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”
It’s crucial to follow Jesus Himself rather than just a certain lifestyle, since it’s a living relationship with Jesus that truly connects us to God. What we believe about Jesus and how we choose to follow Him are the most important factors determining what kind of person we become and how we experience God.
So we don’t want to lose sight of the real Jesus underneath all the religious rules that supposedly make us a good Christian – and we don’t be afraid to be sacrilegious in order to follow where Jesus leads us. Here’s how:
• Distinguish between being sacrilegious in a negative and positive way. When Jesus asks you to be sacrilegious, it’s never for a negative purpose, such as to defile something that is holy. Instead, it’s for a positive purpose: to clear away religious confusion so you can see the purity of the Gospel message. Keep in mind that when Jesus spoke and acted in sacrilegious ways, He influenced people’s lives in good ways, not bad. Choose to learn from Jesus’ example and pattern your life after His life.
• Ask Jesus to clarify your image of Him. Reflect on how you view Jesus right now, and consider how you got your current image of Him. Then pray for Jesus to clear away any religious haze that has distorted how you see Him, and show you more clearly what He is really like.
• Follow Jesus as an apprentice. Following Jesus isn’t just a matter of what you do (even good activities, like attending church and serving people in need). Instead, following Jesus is about who you are. Jesus wants you to be an apprentice – someone who becomes more like Him by learning from Him. Rather than aiming to follow a certain lifestyle, make it your goal to grow to become the person that Jesus wants you to be.
• Open your mind. Ask God to help you recognize when your ideas are simply personal preferences (such as what political party to support, whether or not to drink alcohol, and what Bible translation to read) and when your ideas are truly essential to the Gospel message (such as beliefs in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross to pay for sin, and in His resurrection). Get rid of your preconceived personal preferences about what it means to be a Christian, and pray for the humility and teachable spirit you need to learn fresh insights from God. Gain a fresh perspective on the Bible by choosing a portion where Jesus asks you to do something, and then practice doing that regularly so you can get a clearer idea of why that’s important.
• Draw people closer to God through meekness. Choose to imitate the meekness through which Jesus won over people: He was incredibly strong, yet He didn’t express that power in the form of arrogant control. Instead, Jesus chose to direct His power toward humble service to others so that people could see real love in action. Rather than trying to force religious “rules” on people, choose to meekly show them God’s powerful love in action. Humbly listen to others, learn about their lives, and serve them without taking a morally superior stance toward them. Keep in mind that you need God’s grace just as much as others do. Ask God to help you become a person who is accessible, approachable, and inspiring to spiritual seekers.
• Find Jesus where ever go. Rather than just looking for Jesus only in church, start to notice Him with you wherever you go – at work, at home, while you’re out with friends or running errands, etc. Pray for a better ability to recognize Jesus with you in every situation you encounter. Reach out to people who don’t currently attend church, doing your best to be the church to them by loving them and inspiring them to seek Jesus.
• Show mercy to sinners. Since God is constantly showing mercy to you even though you sin regularly, ask Him to help you show mercy to the people around you who sin (which will encourage them seek God more because of His love flowing through you), rather than judging and condemning them (which will only alienate them). Rely on God’s help to obey His command to forgive the people who hurt you. When you see people celebrate Communion in church, don’t judge them as unworthy if you know about sin in their lives; remember that God is the only one who can correctly judge people.
• Become a peacemaker. Help the people around you find peace with God, within themselves, and with other people. Ask God to show you the specific ways in which He wants you to use your resources (time, energy, money, talents, skills, etc.) to bring peace to people who need more peace (from people you see regularly, like your family members and coworkers, to people you happen to meet, like people who are waiting in line with you at Wal-Mart). As you help bring God’s peace into other people’s lives, God will break down religious barriers and help them get to know Jesus in new ways that will change their lives for the better.
For archive of lessons check out the WhoSoEver “blog”:
http://thewhosoevers.blogspot.com/
Sunday, December 11, 2011
"Christmas Is..."
Not really part of lesson but what do y’all think was the first Christmas gift?
How do you explain the meaning of Christmas in just a few words? Well the best way I know is this:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
No one could outdo what God has done. No one could give a greater gift than God has already given. Let us consider the meaning of Christmas this morning - what it should mean to each and every one of us assembled here today.
Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of different people. To some it is-
-a time of shopping and spending
-a time of drinking and carousing
-a time of traveling and entertaining
But, what is the real meaning of Christmas? What message should it convey to every one of us?
To Believers, Christmas is...
I. A TIME OF REMEMBERING
-remembering the great love that God had for each and every one of us. He loved us so much that He sent and gave His only Son that we might be saved.
-remembering the uniqueness of
His life
His teachings
His miracles
His prophesies
His death
His resurrection
-remembering all those humble but great people surrounding the Christmas story. People like Joseph & Mary, Zacharias & Elizabeth, Anna, Simeon, the shepherds, the wise men, etc.
II. Secondly, Christmas is...
A TIME OF LOVING
People make a special effort to be a little kinder, a little more considerate of others, and a little more generous during the Christmas season. They get involved in such things as Christmas caroling, toys for the needy, meals for the misfortunate, etc.
It is a time for reaching out to others with love and concern.
For God so loved the world – let us never forget that!!! In all of our preaching, teaching, evangelizing, etc. let us always remember that the motivation for all this is the love of God for lost sinners. He really cares about us. So we should care as He cares. So we should love, as He loves.
Just a side note: As I was working on this lesson, I took a Facebook “break and on the side someone “liked” a comment on the sidebar called “ticker”, by a person I don’t know and shall remain nameless. The comment was: “Wal-Mart always reminds me that I sit near the top of the gene pool.” Now what kind of love is that showing toward those that are not always people like us? And being a fan at Wal-Mart, I know that there are folks who are not "like us", but does that make us better? Who knows but maybe this person saw me in my worn, faded and torn jeans, t-shirt, “tractor cap” and work boots. Who knows exactly what triggered the comment but I don’t think it was very Christ-like. To quote Tiffany – just sayin’.
III. A TIME OF GIVING
For God so loved the world, that He gave...
Love cannot look with indifference on the hungry, and the sick, and the lonely, lost souls of this world. Love must give.
God gave all He could give. He gave His only begotten Son, or as other versions translates, His one and only son. This gift was freely given, lovingly given, graciously given to all of us, who were undeserving sinners.
Christ shared our human nature that we might receive His divine nature. Day by day, those who truly receive Him are being transformed into His image, until we all come into the full stature of the perfected children of God, washed in the blood of the Lamb.
IV. A TIME OF FORGIVING
God was willing to forgive us. He was willing to show mercy to a sinful, lost, and dying world. Do we possess His forgiving spirit? Or, is our spirit a judgmental one, one that looks down upon others? Is there someone we need to forgive today?
V. A TIME OF RESCUING
God rescued us by His love and mercy. He saved us from perishing. Jesus said “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.”Without Christ we are without life, and headed for an eternity without God - forever separated from the God who made us and longs to save us. But with Christ we “have everlasting life."
He wants us to inherit eternal life. We are all descendents of a dying race. But for the grace of God, we would all likewise perish.
VI. A TIME OF CHANGING
The Christ of Christmas changes us. He makes us a new person (“anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor. 5:17). All things become new for us. We have new goals, new ideas, new direction, new hope. Christ changes people for the better.
VII. A TIME OF REJOICING
-rejoicing in God’s unmerited grace
-rejoicing in the release of forgiveness
-rejoicing in a new life with a new mission
This lesson is an attempt to share with you this morning what Christmas should mean to us as Believers. What does the coming of Christ into this world really mean to you?
How do you explain the meaning of Christmas in just a few words? Well the best way I know is this:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
No one could outdo what God has done. No one could give a greater gift than God has already given. Let us consider the meaning of Christmas this morning - what it should mean to each and every one of us assembled here today.
Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of different people. To some it is-
-a time of shopping and spending
-a time of drinking and carousing
-a time of traveling and entertaining
But, what is the real meaning of Christmas? What message should it convey to every one of us?
To Believers, Christmas is...
I. A TIME OF REMEMBERING
-remembering the great love that God had for each and every one of us. He loved us so much that He sent and gave His only Son that we might be saved.
-remembering the uniqueness of
His life
His teachings
His miracles
His prophesies
His death
His resurrection
-remembering all those humble but great people surrounding the Christmas story. People like Joseph & Mary, Zacharias & Elizabeth, Anna, Simeon, the shepherds, the wise men, etc.
II. Secondly, Christmas is...
A TIME OF LOVING
People make a special effort to be a little kinder, a little more considerate of others, and a little more generous during the Christmas season. They get involved in such things as Christmas caroling, toys for the needy, meals for the misfortunate, etc.
It is a time for reaching out to others with love and concern.
For God so loved the world – let us never forget that!!! In all of our preaching, teaching, evangelizing, etc. let us always remember that the motivation for all this is the love of God for lost sinners. He really cares about us. So we should care as He cares. So we should love, as He loves.
Just a side note: As I was working on this lesson, I took a Facebook “break and on the side someone “liked” a comment on the sidebar called “ticker”, by a person I don’t know and shall remain nameless. The comment was: “Wal-Mart always reminds me that I sit near the top of the gene pool.” Now what kind of love is that showing toward those that are not always people like us? And being a fan at Wal-Mart, I know that there are folks who are not "like us", but does that make us better? Who knows but maybe this person saw me in my worn, faded and torn jeans, t-shirt, “tractor cap” and work boots. Who knows exactly what triggered the comment but I don’t think it was very Christ-like. To quote Tiffany – just sayin’.
III. A TIME OF GIVING
For God so loved the world, that He gave...
Love cannot look with indifference on the hungry, and the sick, and the lonely, lost souls of this world. Love must give.
God gave all He could give. He gave His only begotten Son, or as other versions translates, His one and only son. This gift was freely given, lovingly given, graciously given to all of us, who were undeserving sinners.
Christ shared our human nature that we might receive His divine nature. Day by day, those who truly receive Him are being transformed into His image, until we all come into the full stature of the perfected children of God, washed in the blood of the Lamb.
IV. A TIME OF FORGIVING
God was willing to forgive us. He was willing to show mercy to a sinful, lost, and dying world. Do we possess His forgiving spirit? Or, is our spirit a judgmental one, one that looks down upon others? Is there someone we need to forgive today?
V. A TIME OF RESCUING
God rescued us by His love and mercy. He saved us from perishing. Jesus said “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.”Without Christ we are without life, and headed for an eternity without God - forever separated from the God who made us and longs to save us. But with Christ we “have everlasting life."
He wants us to inherit eternal life. We are all descendents of a dying race. But for the grace of God, we would all likewise perish.
VI. A TIME OF CHANGING
The Christ of Christmas changes us. He makes us a new person (“anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor. 5:17). All things become new for us. We have new goals, new ideas, new direction, new hope. Christ changes people for the better.
VII. A TIME OF REJOICING
-rejoicing in God’s unmerited grace
-rejoicing in the release of forgiveness
-rejoicing in a new life with a new mission
This lesson is an attempt to share with you this morning what Christmas should mean to us as Believers. What does the coming of Christ into this world really mean to you?
Monday, December 5, 2011
From War to Joy on Christmas
As the Christmas season is getting into “high” gear, I have noticed that there is so much discussion, anger, etc. about the political correct way to handle Christmas. And I got it in my heart that I should do a lesson on this. I actually started working on one myself but, as most of you know, my ministry is recognizing good lessons by others, editing and using them. Then on Friday I got a devotional/lesson on just this subject via email which will be the basis of the lesson. But first, some of my own thoughts.
So much “hype” about Happy Holidays, Holiday Trees (by the way the first definition of the word holiday in Merriam-Webster dictionary is Holy Day), no manager scenes in public places and other things that upset us as Christians. A friend even got an e-mail about sending “Merry Christmas” cards to the American Civil Liberties Union to bring home the point about the “holiday” issue. To what purpose? We need to be reminded that as Believers, Jesus lives “in us”. Where I agree that all this is so disappointing, we need to know that that nothing can “take us out of God’s hands”. No one can keep us from worshipping Him whenever we please. We don’t have to be in a church building to do this. We may not be able to pray in public or school but no one can keep us from praying to our Father.
But I believe that we spend too much time worrying and getting angry about this since NO ONE can take Christ "out of us" as Believers. And we let this "stuff" steal the "reason for season" from us. Steal the REAL Joy of Christmas the birth of our Savior. Now to the lesson: From War to Joy on Christmas.
Around this time every year, some Christians get heated about the "War on Christmas." Political organizations churn out sharply worded press releases about a perceived attempt by the left to strip Christ out of Christmas. Bill O'Reilly will highlight one story every night, something like the town council in Podunk, USA that removed a cross from a water tower. The Drudge Report will take the most obscure case of Christmas secularizing and highlight as if it’s a dangerous national epidemic. And of course, the American Family Association will create its "Naughty and Nice" list of retailers who don't explicitly mention the story of Christmas in their promotions.
This is not to suggest that there isn't a cultural push back against Christianity. Gospel-centered Christianity is increasingly being shown as less important in our society and politics. This is a given. But when it comes to Christmas, a lot of the outrage expressed by Christians is misguided at best and manufactured at worst. Especially when Christians in places like Sudan, China and the Middle East are beaten, separated from their families, and often killed for expressing the name of Christ. We cry foul because the tired and overworked greeter at Target doesn't say "Merry Christmas"?
Honestly.
It is quite possible that this outrage is manufactured in that it gives activist organizations a bit of relevance during a time of year when most of the world shifts their eyes away from partisan politics. It preys on fear, fear that somehow our traditions and all that we hold dear is being snatched away. It's a “tacky” way to inject politics into every area of life, as if everything is explained by the bogeymen of left and right. Frankly, it’s often a great fundraising tool. Help us stop the War on Christmas, contribute $5, $10, $25 dollars to this urgent cause!
Even if there is some truth to the War on Christmas--and there might be—do you wonder if force is the best way to advance the real meaning of this holiday? Is a stern rebuke to the Wal-Mart cashier the best presentation of God in the flesh? Are we so fragile in our faith that we need the GAP to articulate the Christ-centeredness of the holiday?
When you read the gospel accounts of the Incarnation, you find that it is way above the tired political debates of today. Jesus himself said that the Kingdom wouldn't advance by force. He didn't come so that his followers could pursue power, so that Christianity would be the dominant, powerful force in society. So that everyone would like us and affirm our holiday.
The story of Christmas is about gospel joy. The angelic choir rang perfect melodies through the heavens, worshipping in awe at the mystery and glory of God coming to earth in human form, of the Son born to a virgin in a lowly cattle trough.
And we, who were lost in our sins and have now been transformed by the regenerating power of Jesus, bear this joy of Christmas. So the best declaration of the gospel on this holiday is not angry shouting about perceived slights. It's not a persistent whining about the end of civilization. Its’ a heart of overflowing joy at the Savior's birth.
Imagine if we stopped sending angry emails and press releases about "naughty and nice" retailers and instead really focus on displaying the joy of the season? Consider this: even in a world ravaged by sin, in a country increasingly given to false ideologies and the worship of plastic gods, we stop and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Like it or not, December 25th is the one time of year when the world peers in on Luke's narrative about the baby in the manger. This is when the entire world is filled with gospel truth, when Joy to the World and the First Noel and Silent Night breathe the wonder of the Incarnation (Jesus coming to earth as a human) into the darkest places in our culture.
So those of us who've been the object of Jesus' love, whose hearts have been transformed by Christ, let us be the most joyous members of the human race when the calendar flips to December. Imagine what the culture would look like if every Christian stopped complaining about war on their holiday, stopped whining about commercialism and stress and bust forth with joy at the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus, Savior of the world?
Maybe, just maybe, the tired retail workers at the checkout line would say "Merry Christmas," not because cranky Christians demanded it, but because the joy of our hearts at this season so overflowed that the gospel spilled over.
The real war on Christmas isn't being fought on Madison Avenue or in the White House or on Wall Street. It's being fought every day in the hearts of Believers who can choose to either celebrate in the miracle of the Incarnation or allow themselves to be slaves of the enemy who seeks to rob God's people of their joy.
This holiday is our holiday. We get an entire month to rejoice at the unfolding of God's salvation plan. So, let's go forth this Christmas, with generosity towards those we love, charity toward those who don't celebrate as they ought, and gospel gladness in a culture that desperately needs the good news.
I would like to close with quote from a good friend: “I, as a Christian, choose to celebrate His Holy Birth. Those of other religions do not. That is their LOSS and I as a BELIEVER receive JOY from my BELIEF that the “Holy Day” is based on Biblical TRUTH. No one can steal my JOY through political shenanigans.”
So much “hype” about Happy Holidays, Holiday Trees (by the way the first definition of the word holiday in Merriam-Webster dictionary is Holy Day), no manager scenes in public places and other things that upset us as Christians. A friend even got an e-mail about sending “Merry Christmas” cards to the American Civil Liberties Union to bring home the point about the “holiday” issue. To what purpose? We need to be reminded that as Believers, Jesus lives “in us”. Where I agree that all this is so disappointing, we need to know that that nothing can “take us out of God’s hands”. No one can keep us from worshipping Him whenever we please. We don’t have to be in a church building to do this. We may not be able to pray in public or school but no one can keep us from praying to our Father.
But I believe that we spend too much time worrying and getting angry about this since NO ONE can take Christ "out of us" as Believers. And we let this "stuff" steal the "reason for season" from us. Steal the REAL Joy of Christmas the birth of our Savior. Now to the lesson: From War to Joy on Christmas.
Around this time every year, some Christians get heated about the "War on Christmas." Political organizations churn out sharply worded press releases about a perceived attempt by the left to strip Christ out of Christmas. Bill O'Reilly will highlight one story every night, something like the town council in Podunk, USA that removed a cross from a water tower. The Drudge Report will take the most obscure case of Christmas secularizing and highlight as if it’s a dangerous national epidemic. And of course, the American Family Association will create its "Naughty and Nice" list of retailers who don't explicitly mention the story of Christmas in their promotions.
This is not to suggest that there isn't a cultural push back against Christianity. Gospel-centered Christianity is increasingly being shown as less important in our society and politics. This is a given. But when it comes to Christmas, a lot of the outrage expressed by Christians is misguided at best and manufactured at worst. Especially when Christians in places like Sudan, China and the Middle East are beaten, separated from their families, and often killed for expressing the name of Christ. We cry foul because the tired and overworked greeter at Target doesn't say "Merry Christmas"?
Honestly.
It is quite possible that this outrage is manufactured in that it gives activist organizations a bit of relevance during a time of year when most of the world shifts their eyes away from partisan politics. It preys on fear, fear that somehow our traditions and all that we hold dear is being snatched away. It's a “tacky” way to inject politics into every area of life, as if everything is explained by the bogeymen of left and right. Frankly, it’s often a great fundraising tool. Help us stop the War on Christmas, contribute $5, $10, $25 dollars to this urgent cause!
Even if there is some truth to the War on Christmas--and there might be—do you wonder if force is the best way to advance the real meaning of this holiday? Is a stern rebuke to the Wal-Mart cashier the best presentation of God in the flesh? Are we so fragile in our faith that we need the GAP to articulate the Christ-centeredness of the holiday?
When you read the gospel accounts of the Incarnation, you find that it is way above the tired political debates of today. Jesus himself said that the Kingdom wouldn't advance by force. He didn't come so that his followers could pursue power, so that Christianity would be the dominant, powerful force in society. So that everyone would like us and affirm our holiday.
The story of Christmas is about gospel joy. The angelic choir rang perfect melodies through the heavens, worshipping in awe at the mystery and glory of God coming to earth in human form, of the Son born to a virgin in a lowly cattle trough.
And we, who were lost in our sins and have now been transformed by the regenerating power of Jesus, bear this joy of Christmas. So the best declaration of the gospel on this holiday is not angry shouting about perceived slights. It's not a persistent whining about the end of civilization. Its’ a heart of overflowing joy at the Savior's birth.
Imagine if we stopped sending angry emails and press releases about "naughty and nice" retailers and instead really focus on displaying the joy of the season? Consider this: even in a world ravaged by sin, in a country increasingly given to false ideologies and the worship of plastic gods, we stop and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Like it or not, December 25th is the one time of year when the world peers in on Luke's narrative about the baby in the manger. This is when the entire world is filled with gospel truth, when Joy to the World and the First Noel and Silent Night breathe the wonder of the Incarnation (Jesus coming to earth as a human) into the darkest places in our culture.
So those of us who've been the object of Jesus' love, whose hearts have been transformed by Christ, let us be the most joyous members of the human race when the calendar flips to December. Imagine what the culture would look like if every Christian stopped complaining about war on their holiday, stopped whining about commercialism and stress and bust forth with joy at the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus, Savior of the world?
Maybe, just maybe, the tired retail workers at the checkout line would say "Merry Christmas," not because cranky Christians demanded it, but because the joy of our hearts at this season so overflowed that the gospel spilled over.
The real war on Christmas isn't being fought on Madison Avenue or in the White House or on Wall Street. It's being fought every day in the hearts of Believers who can choose to either celebrate in the miracle of the Incarnation or allow themselves to be slaves of the enemy who seeks to rob God's people of their joy.
This holiday is our holiday. We get an entire month to rejoice at the unfolding of God's salvation plan. So, let's go forth this Christmas, with generosity towards those we love, charity toward those who don't celebrate as they ought, and gospel gladness in a culture that desperately needs the good news.
I would like to close with quote from a good friend: “I, as a Christian, choose to celebrate His Holy Birth. Those of other religions do not. That is their LOSS and I as a BELIEVER receive JOY from my BELIEF that the “Holy Day” is based on Biblical TRUTH. No one can steal my JOY through political shenanigans.”
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Virtual World, Real Friendships
Virtual Meaning- Created, simulated, or carried on by means of a computer or computer network
Technology offers so many options for contacting friends, from texting and social media such as Facebook or Twitter, to talking by cell phone or using video conferencing.
Spending 30 years in the technology, I feel very strong about the use of technology in improving business processes. Plus it paid our bills and still does! However, I would never have believed the impact it would have on our personal lives and how personal communication would change. Most of you know that I am now a FaceBook “junkie”.
Through FB I have found relatives that I hadn’t seen in years and some I had never met. I even organized a family reunion through FB and 51 of us showed up. I have reconnected with friends and classmates I haven’t seen in over 45 years. Made friends I have never even met. Made one friend whom I referred to as the “best friend I have never met”. I knew her husband but not her. Those of you in SS class that go to the “tour” of some old houses in Perry County next Sunday will meet her since one of the houses on tour is her husband’s old family home. One lady that worked for me at SNG is now in Holland and I communicate with her like she was here. And what can I say about all the “prayer requests” that we can get to hundreds of people. Connor Wallace is just one recent example. PTL he is doing well. Also, use email, FB and a “blog” to share our lessons with many people.
Did you know that the average age of a Facebook user is 38 years old? Even more interesting is that 61% of Facebook users are now older than 38 — the company has come a long way since first launching exclusively to an audience of college students.
And Twitter? The average Twitter user is 39, and 64% of tweeters are 35 or older.
So technology can be a great way of communicating.
But connecting with people through technology is much different than interacting with them face to face. If you’d like to enjoy close friendships using virtual communication, you need to be intentional about how you build and maintain your friendships through the use of technology.
Here are just a few things the Bible says about friends:
Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.
John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
Proverbs 18:19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
Proverbs 18:24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Here’s how you can enjoy real friendships in a virtual world:
Make your friendship with God your top priority. Participating regularly in a relationship with God, the source of all love, will empower you to be the very best friend you can be to other people. Look to Jesus as your role model for what kind of friend you should be – someone who loves people unconditionally and reaches out to help when people are in need. Let the friendship you enjoy with God through Jesus serve as the foundation for your friendships with other people.
Focus on the characteristics of good friendships. The qualities that make good friendships are timeless: loyalty, affection, respect, sympathy, empathy, and understanding. Let these characteristics be your goal for the relationships you build with people you interact with virtually. Focus on the content of your friendships rather than the type of technology you’re using to connect with each other.
Take stock of the current state of your friendships. Do you have as many close friends as you’d like? Are your friendships healthy or unhealthy, and why? Are your friendships helping you and your friends grow closer to God together? Are you able to be a good friend to others most of the time? If not, what challenges are threatening that goal for you (not enough free time, difficulty being vulnerable with others, etc.)?
Pray for wisdom. Ask God to show you how He wants you to invest in your friendships going forward, such as how much time you should spend on relationships with friends who live far away and can only communicate via technology versus how much time you should spend visiting friends you can see face to face. Pray to understand God’s purposes for each of your friendships, and what steps you can take to fulfill those purposes.
Focus on content first, and technology second. What matters most is what kind of messages you want to communicate to your friends rather than the kind of technologies you use to convey those messages. Make sure that technology serves your friendships; not the other way around. For instance, if you love spending time on Facebook but some of your friends don’t, then don’t insist that they join Facebook. Be willing to communicate with them in other ways. Consider whether writing or speaking is best at various times. Speaking may offer a more personal touch when you don’t have much time, since you can quickly hear each other’s voices. But writing allows you to reflect on what you have to say, which can make it possible to express deeper thoughts and feelings than you can while speaking.
Let love be the goal of all of your communication. Be careful that you communicate in loving ways whenever you’re using technology. Think before posting comments or photos online; do everything possible to avoid embarrassing your friends. Encourage your friends whenever you can, such as by responding to their posts with positive comments and thoughtful questions, and by letting them know that you’re praying for the concerns they’ve shared with you in messages.
Take initiative. Take responsibility yourself for keeping up your friendships; be willing to reach out to your friends over and over, consistently. Check in with friends when you haven’t heard from them in awhile. Pray for friends’ needs until God’s answers come. Even if some of your friends don’t respond to you as you’d hoped when you reach out to them, it’s still worthwhile to take initiative, because doing so will make you a more loving person who mirrors the way God relates to people: constantly reaching out to them.
Listen, remember, and pray. Let your friends know that you truly care about them and their lives by listening carefully to them when they share their thoughts and feelings with you. Even though a barrage of information comes toward you through multiple technologies every day, do your best to pay attention to what your friends have to say. Ask God to remind you often of what’s going in your friends’ lives, and whenever you remember, follow up in appropriate ways – including praying for them in specific ways as the Holy Spirit leads you to intercede for them.
Ask, give, and thank. Whenever you need something that your friends can help you with, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Keep in mind that when you give your friends opportunities to help you, you’re blessing them by giving them a chance to use their talents and skills to do something positive, and you’re strengthening the bond between you by being honest and vulnerable with them. Be willing to give help to your friends whenever you can, as well. Thank each other for the practical support that you each give each other. The more you continue the cycle of asking, giving, and thanking, the stronger your bond becomes.
Pace and choose both together and apart. Pray for the wisdom to discern how much time to spend engaging in activities with your friends versus discussing your independent activities with them, and be responsive to friends’ concerns about how to best spend your time together. When certain friendships have run their natural course, go ahead and let them go so you can better invest in more active friendships.
Accept and forgive. Rely on God’s help to forgive your friends after they hurt you, ask your friends for forgiveness after you’ve hurt them, and work on reconciling and rebuilding trust after conflicts between you.
Technology offers so many options for contacting friends, from texting and social media such as Facebook or Twitter, to talking by cell phone or using video conferencing.
Spending 30 years in the technology, I feel very strong about the use of technology in improving business processes. Plus it paid our bills and still does! However, I would never have believed the impact it would have on our personal lives and how personal communication would change. Most of you know that I am now a FaceBook “junkie”.
Through FB I have found relatives that I hadn’t seen in years and some I had never met. I even organized a family reunion through FB and 51 of us showed up. I have reconnected with friends and classmates I haven’t seen in over 45 years. Made friends I have never even met. Made one friend whom I referred to as the “best friend I have never met”. I knew her husband but not her. Those of you in SS class that go to the “tour” of some old houses in Perry County next Sunday will meet her since one of the houses on tour is her husband’s old family home. One lady that worked for me at SNG is now in Holland and I communicate with her like she was here. And what can I say about all the “prayer requests” that we can get to hundreds of people. Connor Wallace is just one recent example. PTL he is doing well. Also, use email, FB and a “blog” to share our lessons with many people.
Did you know that the average age of a Facebook user is 38 years old? Even more interesting is that 61% of Facebook users are now older than 38 — the company has come a long way since first launching exclusively to an audience of college students.
And Twitter? The average Twitter user is 39, and 64% of tweeters are 35 or older.
So technology can be a great way of communicating.
But connecting with people through technology is much different than interacting with them face to face. If you’d like to enjoy close friendships using virtual communication, you need to be intentional about how you build and maintain your friendships through the use of technology.
Here are just a few things the Bible says about friends:
Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.
John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
Proverbs 18:19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
Proverbs 18:24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Here’s how you can enjoy real friendships in a virtual world:
Make your friendship with God your top priority. Participating regularly in a relationship with God, the source of all love, will empower you to be the very best friend you can be to other people. Look to Jesus as your role model for what kind of friend you should be – someone who loves people unconditionally and reaches out to help when people are in need. Let the friendship you enjoy with God through Jesus serve as the foundation for your friendships with other people.
Focus on the characteristics of good friendships. The qualities that make good friendships are timeless: loyalty, affection, respect, sympathy, empathy, and understanding. Let these characteristics be your goal for the relationships you build with people you interact with virtually. Focus on the content of your friendships rather than the type of technology you’re using to connect with each other.
Take stock of the current state of your friendships. Do you have as many close friends as you’d like? Are your friendships healthy or unhealthy, and why? Are your friendships helping you and your friends grow closer to God together? Are you able to be a good friend to others most of the time? If not, what challenges are threatening that goal for you (not enough free time, difficulty being vulnerable with others, etc.)?
Pray for wisdom. Ask God to show you how He wants you to invest in your friendships going forward, such as how much time you should spend on relationships with friends who live far away and can only communicate via technology versus how much time you should spend visiting friends you can see face to face. Pray to understand God’s purposes for each of your friendships, and what steps you can take to fulfill those purposes.
Focus on content first, and technology second. What matters most is what kind of messages you want to communicate to your friends rather than the kind of technologies you use to convey those messages. Make sure that technology serves your friendships; not the other way around. For instance, if you love spending time on Facebook but some of your friends don’t, then don’t insist that they join Facebook. Be willing to communicate with them in other ways. Consider whether writing or speaking is best at various times. Speaking may offer a more personal touch when you don’t have much time, since you can quickly hear each other’s voices. But writing allows you to reflect on what you have to say, which can make it possible to express deeper thoughts and feelings than you can while speaking.
Let love be the goal of all of your communication. Be careful that you communicate in loving ways whenever you’re using technology. Think before posting comments or photos online; do everything possible to avoid embarrassing your friends. Encourage your friends whenever you can, such as by responding to their posts with positive comments and thoughtful questions, and by letting them know that you’re praying for the concerns they’ve shared with you in messages.
Take initiative. Take responsibility yourself for keeping up your friendships; be willing to reach out to your friends over and over, consistently. Check in with friends when you haven’t heard from them in awhile. Pray for friends’ needs until God’s answers come. Even if some of your friends don’t respond to you as you’d hoped when you reach out to them, it’s still worthwhile to take initiative, because doing so will make you a more loving person who mirrors the way God relates to people: constantly reaching out to them.
Listen, remember, and pray. Let your friends know that you truly care about them and their lives by listening carefully to them when they share their thoughts and feelings with you. Even though a barrage of information comes toward you through multiple technologies every day, do your best to pay attention to what your friends have to say. Ask God to remind you often of what’s going in your friends’ lives, and whenever you remember, follow up in appropriate ways – including praying for them in specific ways as the Holy Spirit leads you to intercede for them.
Ask, give, and thank. Whenever you need something that your friends can help you with, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Keep in mind that when you give your friends opportunities to help you, you’re blessing them by giving them a chance to use their talents and skills to do something positive, and you’re strengthening the bond between you by being honest and vulnerable with them. Be willing to give help to your friends whenever you can, as well. Thank each other for the practical support that you each give each other. The more you continue the cycle of asking, giving, and thanking, the stronger your bond becomes.
Pace and choose both together and apart. Pray for the wisdom to discern how much time to spend engaging in activities with your friends versus discussing your independent activities with them, and be responsive to friends’ concerns about how to best spend your time together. When certain friendships have run their natural course, go ahead and let them go so you can better invest in more active friendships.
Accept and forgive. Rely on God’s help to forgive your friends after they hurt you, ask your friends for forgiveness after you’ve hurt them, and work on reconciling and rebuilding trust after conflicts between you.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Building up Treasures
16 Then he (Jesus) told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:16-21
If this story doesn’t sober a materialist up, nothing will. Why did God call this man a fool? Let’s look at 4 reasons in this text:
1. HE WAS A FOOL FOR THINKING HE WAS IN CONTROL OF HIS OWN FUTURE!
When we look at God’s Word, we don’t find that God called this rich man a fool for planning or projecting his future. God praises the lowly ant that gathers in the summer for winter stores and works all day long (Proverbs 6:6-11). God blesses hard work and there is nothing wrong with having money in your hand. Having it in your heart can be deadly! This rich farmer was a fool for believing that he was master of his own destiny.
The book of James also addresses this issue. “13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16
a) THE ARROGANCE OF THIS BELIEF. Vs 13, 16.
The scenario before us is that of businessmen planning ahead and bragging on a future they know nothing about. Their attitude was: "I can make it on my own and I can control the events in my life. I can stand against the winds of circumstance and make it on my own, no problem!" To boast on the future, however is to play God and the Bible calls it evil arrogant pride!
b) THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE. Vs 14a
The only thing we know for sure is that things change. A thousand things can come along to change our well-laid plans. Proverbs 27:1 reminds us: "Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.”The rich man in our story was soon to find out just how uncertain life can be!
c) THE BREVITY OF LIFE. Vs 14b
Life is short and the older WE get, the shorter it is! Look at Psalm 39:5: "You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." d) GOD’S WILL. Vs 15
Everything our hopes and dreams and plans must come under the Lordship of Christ. We can’t see the future nor control it. Only God can. Doesn’t it make a lot of sense to commit your future to Him?
2. HE WAS A FOOL FOR THINKING THAT ACQUISITIONS OF MATERIAL GOODS ARE LIFE’S HIGHEST AIM! “Then he (Jesus) said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15
We can sense that the rich man was a worshipper of the god of materialism. The KJV tells us that he said to his "soul" (And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years) that he had plenty of things stored up and that he could relax and enjoy life for many years to come. "SOUL"? The soul has no interest in the things of this world, but hungers for God to fill our lives, but this man filled that "God-shaped vacuum" with things. He believed that his wealth would bring him ease and for this God calls him a fool! A multitude of things could easily rob him of this ease: loss of his wealth, run-away inflation, loss of his health, family troubles and the list could go on and on.
Someone was asked the question what he would be leaving when he dies. "Everything" was the wise and swift answer. Have you ever seen a U-Haul truck following a hearse out to the cemetery?
It is only half true, however that you can’t take it with you. You can send it on ahead by investing it in the Lord’s work (19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21).
3. HE WAS A FOOL FOR NOT GIVING GOD THE GLORY FOR HIS BLESSINGS!
In all of his considerations, he did not include God in his plans. We see no mention of God coming from his lips even though he enjoyed all of his wealth at the hand of the Lord. There is no offering, no alms giving, no care for those who have nothing, no glory for our Heavenly Father what so ever. Consider this verse from Deuteronomy 8:10, "When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.” We see none of this from him and for this, God calls him a fool!
4. HE WAS A FOOL FOR HAVING NO THOUGHT OF ETERNITY!
Everything was just here and now. Isn’t it interesting that the rich man of this story is not named? It is similar to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Again, the lost soul was not named, as was Lazarus, but only referred to as a rich man. He was nameless, like a non-entity. His name was not found in the Lambs Book of Life. Such is the plight of the lost that ignores God’s invitation to receive His amazing grace. It appears that the man died as he lived, with no regard for his standing with God.
There is a neat little story which is only fiction and yet can be real and it goes like this: The devil called in his four highest ranking lieutenants to confer with them on the best strategy for keeping souls out of heaven. The first lieutenant suggested the lie that there is no God. This idea was quickly shot down, however because they all agreed that such a lie would never stand up. People only need to look around and see how nature itself is like an outstretched finger pointing to the God of creation. God has left too many clues of His existence for such a lie to really hold water.
Lieutenant number two came forward with his suggestion. "Let’s tell the world that there is no heaven!" "Nope. That lie wouldn’t work either. Most people know that there is something beyond their lives on earth. Almost every religion in the world teaches about a heaven of some kind."
Number three had a great idea of his own: "Let’s tell people that there is no hell!" "Wrong again! God put a conscience in people that tells them that sin must be judged. People just wouldn’t truly believe that one enough."
The fourth lieutenant came forward with his suggestion. "Lets tell them that there’s no hurry!" "That’s it! The ultimate lie! Why think about eternity now? After all, the road to hell is paved with good intentions!"
If this story doesn’t sober a materialist up, nothing will. Why did God call this man a fool? Let’s look at 4 reasons in this text:
1. HE WAS A FOOL FOR THINKING HE WAS IN CONTROL OF HIS OWN FUTURE!
When we look at God’s Word, we don’t find that God called this rich man a fool for planning or projecting his future. God praises the lowly ant that gathers in the summer for winter stores and works all day long (Proverbs 6:6-11). God blesses hard work and there is nothing wrong with having money in your hand. Having it in your heart can be deadly! This rich farmer was a fool for believing that he was master of his own destiny.
The book of James also addresses this issue. “13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16
a) THE ARROGANCE OF THIS BELIEF. Vs 13, 16.
The scenario before us is that of businessmen planning ahead and bragging on a future they know nothing about. Their attitude was: "I can make it on my own and I can control the events in my life. I can stand against the winds of circumstance and make it on my own, no problem!" To boast on the future, however is to play God and the Bible calls it evil arrogant pride!
b) THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE. Vs 14a
The only thing we know for sure is that things change. A thousand things can come along to change our well-laid plans. Proverbs 27:1 reminds us: "Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.”The rich man in our story was soon to find out just how uncertain life can be!
c) THE BREVITY OF LIFE. Vs 14b
Life is short and the older WE get, the shorter it is! Look at Psalm 39:5: "You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." d) GOD’S WILL. Vs 15
Everything our hopes and dreams and plans must come under the Lordship of Christ. We can’t see the future nor control it. Only God can. Doesn’t it make a lot of sense to commit your future to Him?
2. HE WAS A FOOL FOR THINKING THAT ACQUISITIONS OF MATERIAL GOODS ARE LIFE’S HIGHEST AIM! “Then he (Jesus) said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15
We can sense that the rich man was a worshipper of the god of materialism. The KJV tells us that he said to his "soul" (And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years) that he had plenty of things stored up and that he could relax and enjoy life for many years to come. "SOUL"? The soul has no interest in the things of this world, but hungers for God to fill our lives, but this man filled that "God-shaped vacuum" with things. He believed that his wealth would bring him ease and for this God calls him a fool! A multitude of things could easily rob him of this ease: loss of his wealth, run-away inflation, loss of his health, family troubles and the list could go on and on.
Someone was asked the question what he would be leaving when he dies. "Everything" was the wise and swift answer. Have you ever seen a U-Haul truck following a hearse out to the cemetery?
It is only half true, however that you can’t take it with you. You can send it on ahead by investing it in the Lord’s work (19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21).
3. HE WAS A FOOL FOR NOT GIVING GOD THE GLORY FOR HIS BLESSINGS!
In all of his considerations, he did not include God in his plans. We see no mention of God coming from his lips even though he enjoyed all of his wealth at the hand of the Lord. There is no offering, no alms giving, no care for those who have nothing, no glory for our Heavenly Father what so ever. Consider this verse from Deuteronomy 8:10, "When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.” We see none of this from him and for this, God calls him a fool!
4. HE WAS A FOOL FOR HAVING NO THOUGHT OF ETERNITY!
Everything was just here and now. Isn’t it interesting that the rich man of this story is not named? It is similar to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Again, the lost soul was not named, as was Lazarus, but only referred to as a rich man. He was nameless, like a non-entity. His name was not found in the Lambs Book of Life. Such is the plight of the lost that ignores God’s invitation to receive His amazing grace. It appears that the man died as he lived, with no regard for his standing with God.
There is a neat little story which is only fiction and yet can be real and it goes like this: The devil called in his four highest ranking lieutenants to confer with them on the best strategy for keeping souls out of heaven. The first lieutenant suggested the lie that there is no God. This idea was quickly shot down, however because they all agreed that such a lie would never stand up. People only need to look around and see how nature itself is like an outstretched finger pointing to the God of creation. God has left too many clues of His existence for such a lie to really hold water.
Lieutenant number two came forward with his suggestion. "Let’s tell the world that there is no heaven!" "Nope. That lie wouldn’t work either. Most people know that there is something beyond their lives on earth. Almost every religion in the world teaches about a heaven of some kind."
Number three had a great idea of his own: "Let’s tell people that there is no hell!" "Wrong again! God put a conscience in people that tells them that sin must be judged. People just wouldn’t truly believe that one enough."
The fourth lieutenant came forward with his suggestion. "Lets tell them that there’s no hurry!" "That’s it! The ultimate lie! Why think about eternity now? After all, the road to hell is paved with good intentions!"
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Having Joy
Paul in Galatians chapter 5, was telling the people that if they live a sinful life and abandon the Spirit of God, that you will be in conflict with God and that one day you would be judged for it;
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22
God desires each one of us to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. By doing so, we will bear fruit in our lives.
Today we looking at joy! Do you have joy in your life? You may think that a silly question, but based on the actions of many believers, sometimes it is difficult to know the answer. A lot of Christians have a reputation of being grumps, gripers, complainers, narrow minded and negative about everything that happens in their lives. There is no way this would of us, but come on, sometimes Christians are even accused of being boring!
A waitress at a local restaurant stumbles and spills a tray of tea all over this guy. Well, he went ballistic! He started shouting and cursing at her. You’re so stupid! I can’t believe you could do such a stupid thing! This is a brand new suit and it cost me $300. I want to see the manager! Thoroughly shaken, she went to get the manager, and the manager came out and asks, is there a problem? The guy replies, is there a problem? She ruined my $300 suit. It’s brand new, and I want a new suit. The manager says, we will be glad to get your suit cleaned. Accidents do happen, and were sorry about this. No, no, he said, I don’t want my suit cleaned. I want a brand new one, and I demand a check be made for $300 now. Well, to avoid a bigger scene, the manager goes back to his office, writes out a check for $300 and brings it to him. Still fuming, the customer leaves.
This happened at noon on a Sunday morning! Why would someone be wearing a suit on Sunday morning? Do you suppose he was just at church? Do you think maybe he heard a story about “love your neighbor”?
A little girl once asked her mother, “If God is bigger than us, and He lives in us, wouldn’t he show through? “
When we are Christians, Jesus ought to show through. The Bible tells us to be Christ-like.
The first thing we need to realize is that there is a difference between joy and happiness.
The Bible mentions joy over 330 times and happiness only 26 times.
Happiness depends upon what happens to us. If the circumstances are right, then we will be happy.
Joy comes from inside. We can possess joy even when we are going through a rough circumstance.
Joy is spiritual practice growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope and love. We invite joy into our life when we invite Jesus to dwell in our life. It is not only about emotions, it is about a relationship.
We may not always feel happy, but we can still have joy in our heart because Jesus Christ dwells within us.
Now after saying that- we are given two options this morning.
Maintain or receive that kind of joy or not maintain it or receive it and allow all the “joy suckers” to steal it or keep it from us. We have a choice this morning!
Chief justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”
Yes, clergy, even other Christians can steal your joy if you let them. Circumstances can rob us.
“Joy sucker” is defined as anyone or anything that robs us of what God intended us to have. That deep abiding inner peace and joy that Jesus Christ promises when we obey His commandments.
This joy does not depend on circumstances because it rests in God’s sovereign control of our lives.
We have to be careful that we don’t let joy suckers steal our joy
Here are some things to think about:
We don’t have to lose our joy because of trials in our life.
Romans 8:28 says: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
You are probably tired of hearing this scripture in so many lessons but it is very significant in our Christian “walk”.
God is working things out for those who are called according to His purpose. The people that are living obedient and love the Lord. He is working things out!
- You may have lost a job
- You may be in a tough relationship
- You may have pressure at work
- Missed a promotion
- Maybe, even someone at church said a wrong thing…. Don’t let them steal your joy!
Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5
Nehemiah 8:10c tells us – “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms. It is an oxy-moron. Two things that should not go together.
Sometimes the devil steals our joy by unsatisfied expectations.
Most people can never be content where the Lord has us at the moment. Paul says- “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:12) Contentment doesn’t come when we have everything we want. It comes when we want something and we are willing to wait on God for it.
Lost joy can be restored. David writes- “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12) David at this point was a bummed out, depressed believer, where joy was a memory. He cried out to God, and God restored him. He will restore us too, if we let him.
Billy Sunday said: “The trouble with many is that they have just enough religion to make them miserable.”
How do you get joy back if you have lost it?
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:2
Some of us need to realize that we have a broken spirit and only God can fix it.
Here are some keys to joy that God gives:
Gratitude- Thank Him for what He has already given us, instead of complaining about what we don’t have.
Compassion- some of us are so wrapped up in our own lives that we miss opportunities God gives us to make an impact in other people’s lives.
Giving to others- Real joy comes from God as we give back to others.
We cannot be stingy with God’s love. It has to be given away so we can receive more.
Contentment- some of us God can’t bless, because we have not learned to be content where He has us right now.
Selfish, condemning people cannot experience God’s real joy because God’s joy is based upon overflowing love that is poured out and refilled by the Holy Spirit active in our lives.
God is asking us this morning, what is your problem?
I sent my son to die for you.
I have given you a resurrected life,
I have sent the Holy Spirit to be with you and guide you.. What is your problem?
Why don’t you have joy overflowing?
Why don’t more people have the joy of the Lord in their life?
The last one is forgiveness
We cannot forgive and they have stolen our joy. We can’t do that on our own. That is a God thing!.
Cry out like David did “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. Joy suckers do not like to be around Jesus, so stay close to Jesus! “remain in me, and I will remain in you” (John 15:4) that is His promise!
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22
God desires each one of us to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. By doing so, we will bear fruit in our lives.
Today we looking at joy! Do you have joy in your life? You may think that a silly question, but based on the actions of many believers, sometimes it is difficult to know the answer. A lot of Christians have a reputation of being grumps, gripers, complainers, narrow minded and negative about everything that happens in their lives. There is no way this would of us, but come on, sometimes Christians are even accused of being boring!
A waitress at a local restaurant stumbles and spills a tray of tea all over this guy. Well, he went ballistic! He started shouting and cursing at her. You’re so stupid! I can’t believe you could do such a stupid thing! This is a brand new suit and it cost me $300. I want to see the manager! Thoroughly shaken, she went to get the manager, and the manager came out and asks, is there a problem? The guy replies, is there a problem? She ruined my $300 suit. It’s brand new, and I want a new suit. The manager says, we will be glad to get your suit cleaned. Accidents do happen, and were sorry about this. No, no, he said, I don’t want my suit cleaned. I want a brand new one, and I demand a check be made for $300 now. Well, to avoid a bigger scene, the manager goes back to his office, writes out a check for $300 and brings it to him. Still fuming, the customer leaves.
This happened at noon on a Sunday morning! Why would someone be wearing a suit on Sunday morning? Do you suppose he was just at church? Do you think maybe he heard a story about “love your neighbor”?
A little girl once asked her mother, “If God is bigger than us, and He lives in us, wouldn’t he show through? “
When we are Christians, Jesus ought to show through. The Bible tells us to be Christ-like.
The first thing we need to realize is that there is a difference between joy and happiness.
The Bible mentions joy over 330 times and happiness only 26 times.
Happiness depends upon what happens to us. If the circumstances are right, then we will be happy.
Joy comes from inside. We can possess joy even when we are going through a rough circumstance.
Joy is spiritual practice growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope and love. We invite joy into our life when we invite Jesus to dwell in our life. It is not only about emotions, it is about a relationship.
We may not always feel happy, but we can still have joy in our heart because Jesus Christ dwells within us.
Now after saying that- we are given two options this morning.
Maintain or receive that kind of joy or not maintain it or receive it and allow all the “joy suckers” to steal it or keep it from us. We have a choice this morning!
Chief justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”
Yes, clergy, even other Christians can steal your joy if you let them. Circumstances can rob us.
“Joy sucker” is defined as anyone or anything that robs us of what God intended us to have. That deep abiding inner peace and joy that Jesus Christ promises when we obey His commandments.
This joy does not depend on circumstances because it rests in God’s sovereign control of our lives.
We have to be careful that we don’t let joy suckers steal our joy
Here are some things to think about:
We don’t have to lose our joy because of trials in our life.
Romans 8:28 says: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
You are probably tired of hearing this scripture in so many lessons but it is very significant in our Christian “walk”.
God is working things out for those who are called according to His purpose. The people that are living obedient and love the Lord. He is working things out!
- You may have lost a job
- You may be in a tough relationship
- You may have pressure at work
- Missed a promotion
- Maybe, even someone at church said a wrong thing…. Don’t let them steal your joy!
Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5
Nehemiah 8:10c tells us – “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms. It is an oxy-moron. Two things that should not go together.
Sometimes the devil steals our joy by unsatisfied expectations.
Most people can never be content where the Lord has us at the moment. Paul says- “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:12) Contentment doesn’t come when we have everything we want. It comes when we want something and we are willing to wait on God for it.
Lost joy can be restored. David writes- “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12) David at this point was a bummed out, depressed believer, where joy was a memory. He cried out to God, and God restored him. He will restore us too, if we let him.
Billy Sunday said: “The trouble with many is that they have just enough religion to make them miserable.”
How do you get joy back if you have lost it?
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:2
Some of us need to realize that we have a broken spirit and only God can fix it.
Here are some keys to joy that God gives:
Gratitude- Thank Him for what He has already given us, instead of complaining about what we don’t have.
Compassion- some of us are so wrapped up in our own lives that we miss opportunities God gives us to make an impact in other people’s lives.
Giving to others- Real joy comes from God as we give back to others.
We cannot be stingy with God’s love. It has to be given away so we can receive more.
Contentment- some of us God can’t bless, because we have not learned to be content where He has us right now.
Selfish, condemning people cannot experience God’s real joy because God’s joy is based upon overflowing love that is poured out and refilled by the Holy Spirit active in our lives.
God is asking us this morning, what is your problem?
I sent my son to die for you.
I have given you a resurrected life,
I have sent the Holy Spirit to be with you and guide you.. What is your problem?
Why don’t you have joy overflowing?
Why don’t more people have the joy of the Lord in their life?
The last one is forgiveness
We cannot forgive and they have stolen our joy. We can’t do that on our own. That is a God thing!.
Cry out like David did “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. Joy suckers do not like to be around Jesus, so stay close to Jesus! “remain in me, and I will remain in you” (John 15:4) that is His promise!
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