Our Perfect Father

[The following is the manuscript of my sermon delivered as Pastor of Pilgrim Reformed Church in Lexington, NC on Sunday, June 15, 2014.  (Our service on June 8th was filled and blessed with the joyful sounds of The LeBeaus, a father and son duet singing Southern gospel music throughout our land.)]

Today I’d like to read from Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia, from the fourth chapter, verses 1 through 7:

1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

 --Galatians 4:1-7  (NASB)

Let us pray...  Happy Father’s Day, Father!  On this day when we celebrate, recognize, and commemorate our earthly fathers, it is certainly fitting that we celebrate our heavenly Father as well.  May our worship of You this hour be a pleasing gift, and may we continue this worship throughout the week ahead.  Speak through me, Lord Jesus, that we might hear Your message.  In the glorious name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.  Amen.

Let me read a little story to you…  A family talked Mother into getting a hamster as long as they took care of the creature.  Two months later, when Mother was caring for Danny the hamster, she made some phone calls and found a new home for him.  She broke the news to the children, and they took it quite well; but they did offer some comments.  One of the children remarked, “He’s been around here a long time – we’ll miss him.”  Mom agreed, saying, “Yes, but he’s too much work for one person, and since I’m that one person, I say he goes.”  Another child offered, “Well, maybe if he wouldn’t eat so much and wouldn’t be so messy, we could keep him.”  But Mom was firm.  “It’s time to take Danny to his new home now,” she insisted.  “Go and get his cage.”  With one voice and in tearful outrage the children shouted, “Danny?  We thought you said ‘Daddy’!”    [“Getting Rid of Daddy”, #371 on page 151 in 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking.]


Paul tells us that as children, even as heirs to whatever fortune we might inherit, we are still subject to those who are in authority over us.  We still have to answer to our parents or whoever they or the law appoint over us.  We’re pretty much like slaves even though we will eventually own all that will be handed down to us.  In a sense we’re held in bondage to man and to man’s law, just because of our smaller size, our relative weakness, and mainly our inexperience.

Paul is using this talk of our childhood experiences to show how not much changes when we grow into adulthood.  We are still subject to those in authority over us; we are still in bondage to man’s law.  Have you ever heard the term “wage slave”?  Well, Paul is using this little analogy to say that we are little more than children, little more than slaves to the whims and powers of this world.

From that Paul goes on to proclaim that in God’s timing, when the time was just right, God sent His Son into the world.  Jesus was born of woman, just like us.  He was born under and subject to same laws as us while He walked this earth.  But He was born so that He could redeem us and save us from the tyranny of that law.

By Jesus’ day, Jewish religious leaders had added so much to the original Ten Commandments and Moses’ law that no man could ever keep it all.  Because of this, no man born subject to that law could ever hope to gain salvation.  No man except the Son of Man – Jesus.  God knew no man could ever save himself by his works, by complete obedience to the law, so He sent Jesus to save us from the law and to redeem us.  In doing so, He adopts us and makes us His very own children.

We’ve seen before, when I did my trial sermon here, where Paul talked about adoption, in Romans 8:15…

15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

 --Romans 8:15  (NASB)

We’ve been adopted, and once adopted, always adopted.  You can’t unadopt someone, neither under the laws of God nor the laws of man.  As His children, God wants us to be close to Him, to be intimate with Him, to call Him Daddy.  That’s what ‘Abba’ means.  It is a very familiar term for one’s father, what we would say as ‘Daddy’.

Now our Bible gives us many examples of fathers.  There’s Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, to name just a few.  Many, maybe most, of our Biblical father figures were scallywags or scoundrels, or worse.  Yet God used them to do incredible things for His kingdom.

Look at David, a man after God’s own heart.  He committed adultery.  He had the woman’s husband sent on a suicide mission after she became pregnant.  His own sons, Absalom and Adonijah, tried to have him killed so they could be king.  He doesn’t exactly sound like father-of-the-year material, does he?

And remember Lot, Abraham’s nephew, from the story about Sodom and Gomorrah?  After his wife turned into a pillar of salt, he had incestuous relations with both his daughters.  To his credit, though, they instigated it all and got him drunk with wine so he didn’t know what he was doing.

And for a New Testament picture of a father, look at King Herod.  He killed two of his sons, along with his wife.  He thought they were plotting against him, scheming to kill him, and they probably were.

Of course, not every father mentioned in the Bible is a good example of a bad example.  Jesus is quite clear and very careful to point this out as recorded by Matthew in chapter 7 of his Gospel, verses 9 through 11, when He says…

9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

 --Matthew 7:9-11  (NASB)

But right there’s the problem.  Jesus is talking to us, fathers, when He says, “If you then, being evil…”  “Evil” is a pretty strong word.  I don’t think any of us Dads here are evil.  But we are imperfect, each and every one of us – we’re flawed.

Now just because we’ve been looking at fathers in ancient times doesn’t mean that these scriptures have no meaning for us today.  Our news is full of reports about child abuse, both physical and worse, about fathers killing sons and sons killing fathers.  We are still living through many of the same problems as our Old and New Testament counterparts.

Even the best of us are imperfect.  But God knows that – He understands.  The best of us fathers, at least in His eyes, are those who follow Paul’s instructions in chapter 5 of Ephesians to be the spiritual head of our family.  The Apostle is quite specific in Ephesians 6:4 when he says…

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

 --Ephesians 6:4  (NASB)

The world would tell us we need to be friends with our children – their best buds, their pals.  We should let them have their way so they can grow and learn on their own.  We should not do anything that might upset them or hurt their fragile egos.

Paul agrees with that to the extent that we should not purposely irritate our kids, not set out with the intent to make them mad, which might cause them to turn from the Lord.  Instead we are to lovingly raise them with Christian teaching, instilling Christian discipline.

Here’s a little tidbit of information that I find disappointing, even though it doesn’t really surprise me.  A friend and fellow pastor reports that by the time the average American child is 17 years old, he or she has watched 63,000 hours of mass media (such as TV, movies, the Internet), has spent 11,000 hours in school, but has gone to church for only 800 hours.  That’s 3700 hours per year, or 70 hours a week, staring at a TV or some other screen.  Compare that to 47 hours a year, or less than one hour a week, in church.  In my opinion, this indicates that the average American Dad is failing the average American child when it comes to being the spiritual head of the family.

Instilling Christian discipline…  I believe the most effective form of discipline is self-discipline.  We need to teach our kids how to be self-disciplined.  And we do that best, Dads, by example, by showing and exercising self-discipline in all things by our very actions.

Oh, and kids…  Don’t think you’re getting off too light.  Before he delivers that little lecture to fathers in verse 4, Paul has something for you in verse 1…

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

 --Ephesians 6:1  (NASB)

The last verse of our message text today tells us that the spirit of adoption by God makes us cry out to Him from our hearts, “Daddy!  Father!”  And then in the last verse from that scripture in Matthew, Jesus says that if we consider the fact that even we imperfect fathers know how to give good gifts to our children, just think of how much more of what is good our heavenly Father will give us!  Our Daddy in heaven, the Creator and Owner of everything there is, can give us anything we could possibly want, more than we can even imagine.

The best gifts, of course, are forgiveness and salvation.  How good is our Father that He would allow us to live forever with Him in His great mansion, where we will want for nothing, where there will be no more crying, no more sorrow, no more pain.

So while our Bible gives us many examples of flawed Dads, just like us, it also paints this picture of a perfect father, our perfect Father.  This level of perfection is a position even the best of us imperfect earthly fathers can never reach.  The good thing for us is we don’t have to.  Jesus made all the arrangements for us to be adopted.  And now we have the perfect Father.  All thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord, our Brother.

Amen.

Let us pray…  O perfect Father in heaven, thank You so much for adopting us.  Thank You for accepting us into Your great family.  May we celebrate each day as Father’s Day as we worship You.  Father, we pray in the blessed name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and our Brother.  Amen.

Reconciled

[The following is the manuscript of my sermon delivered as Pastor of Pilgrim Reformed Church in Lexington, NC on Sunday, June 1, 2014.]

Today we are reading from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, the fifth chapter, verses 1 through 11:

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

 --Romans 5:1-11  (NASB)

Let us pray...  Father, we come together this morning to worship You, to hear Your word and the message Your Holy Spirit speaks to us, to grow ever closer to Your Son, Jesus.  Grant us the wisdom, please Lord, to heed what You whisper into our hearts.  In the holy name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.  Amen.

A man was hiking along the Appalachian Trail when he came upon a huge grizzly bear trying to scoop honey from a hollow tree trunk.  Startled, the bear turned and started chasing the man.  Through the woods they both ran, the bear slowly gaining ground as the man kept tripping and stumbling over the rocks and tree roots.  Nearly exhausted, the man’s feet got all tangled up and he went down in a heap.  The man reconciled to his fate this bear represented as it drew nearer now, huffing and puffing from all the exertion.  Grasping for that last straw, the man closed his eyes and prayed, “Oh God, please make this bear a Christian!” Immediately the bear stopped in its tracks and fell to its knees.  Bringing its forepaws together, the bear bowed its head and said, “Father, thank you for this meal which I am about to receive.”


The word “reconciled” can have a number of meanings.  That little joke just spoke of one:  accepting or being resigned to something that is not really desired.  The man didn’t want to die, but the bear was almost on top of him, he had fallen and was just too tired to get up; the end looked certain and near.  He was becoming reconciled to his envisioned fate when he had the last gasp idea to pray to God for help.  Maybe he should have thought of that first.

Another meaning for reconciled is one we don’t hear very often, if at all: to re-consecrate something, such as a building or grounds that have been desecrated, so as to set it apart once again for the use of our Lord.  But neither of those are what Paul is referring to when he says we are reconciled to God through the death of His Son.


Paul did not start up every church he wrote a letter to; he didn’t even visit all of them.  The church in Rome was one such exception.  Paul did not plant it nor had he even visited it when he wrote this letter.  In fact, the church was thriving and widely known at this point in time.  Paul was writing to them because he wanted to go there to minister to them.  That makes this letter sort of an application for employment.  And believe me, it is a lot better than the one I wrote in hopes of coming here.

Maybe this is why this letter is so much more formal sounding than those Paul sent to other churches. Maybe he wanted to impress the church in Rome so they would call him.  Whatever the reason, Paul uses this letter to establish the doctrine of justification by faith, and the ramifications of justification.

The section we are looking at today was subtitled in a couple of bibles I referenced as “the Benefits of Righteousness” and “the Results of Justification”.  Justification would be a great subject to discuss because it is a wonderful gift from God, His declared purpose for mankind, where He would treat those sinners who believe in Christ Jesus as if they had never sinned, based purely on the grounds of the actions and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus.  We who believe are justified by the precious blood of our risen Lord, shed on our behalf. Being justified, God will look at us through Jesus’ eyes when we stand before Him for judgment.  Paul lays that all out for us right there in verse 9.

Justification is definitely a benefit of righteousness, isn’t it?  King David affirms this in his 103rd Psalm, verses 1-4…

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.

 --Psalm 103:1-4  (NASB)

Both David and Paul want to make sure we don’t forget the benefits of God, the benefits of righteousness.  God pardons our sins, and then some: that’s justification.  He heals our diseases, especially those of the soul.  He redeems us from the pit, from the lake of fire, from eternal damnation, and crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion.  Justification is a beautiful message in and of itself.

But the Holy Spirit kept whispering “you are reconciled” as I pondered over what to focus on today.  You are reconciled…  Yes, we’re justified, because we believe.  We’re also reconciled to God, because Jesus loves us so much.

Let’s look at those definitions again, because I left one out, on purpose.  To be reconciled is to be brought into harmony, made compatible or consistent.  Hmmm…  by that definition, I guess our choir is doubly reconciled – brought into harmony in God and in song.

This is what Paul means; this is what he is trying to tell us.  By the same act of justification, Jesus reconciled us to the Father.  And unlike being eaten by a bear, this is a fate we truly want to be reconciled to!

Paul declares that while we were still sinners, while we were enemies to God, Jesus sacrificed His own flesh and blood to reconcile us to God, to save us.  While we were helpless, at just the right time, Jesus died for us, for mankind, the ungodly.  Remember that Paul started this discussion by noting that since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God?  Well, we would not have that peace had we not been reconciled.

And with this peace we have hope in the glory of God.  We exult in that hope, and more than that, we rejoice in our tribulations!  He says so, right there in verse 3.  What possible excuse could Paul give for expecting us to exult in our tribulations, to rejoice when everything is going bad for us?  Look in verse 5:  because of that hope - the hope resulting from the peace of God, the hope building from persevering through the tough times; because that hope does not disappoint.

But getting through really challenging times can be scary, especially when the bear is closing in and we keep tripping over the stumbling blocks Satan places along our path.  Fortunately for us, Isaiah has a remedy for being scared, in the 41st chapter of his book, verse 10…

10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

 --Isaiah 41:10  (NASB)

That was God speaking to Isaiah, instructing him what to tell the children of Israel.  God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you.  Do not be anxious, for I am your God.”  The same God that Jesus reconciled us to is with us.  He doesn’t want us to be afraid or anxious, ever again.  We have been brought into harmony with Him and He will strengthen us with His righteous right hand.

Paul echoes this and adds a little to it, in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 6…

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 --Philippians 4:6  (NASB)

Be anxious about nothing, do not fear.  Not only is God with us, He is ever ready to answer our prayers.

Why would God protect us?  Why would He even consider answering our prayers?  After all, we’re just sinners, right?  Why?  Because we have been made compatible with Him.  When He looks at us now, He sees us as being consistent with His will for us.  And it’s all because Jesus reconciled us to Him.  His Son, our Brother, brought us back into harmony with our Father.

So before we think we’re justified to do anything we want, we need to remember the price Jesus paid to give us that justification, the debt we owe Him for our reconciliation.  There’s no way we can ever repay that debt.  Nothing we’ve ever done or can ever hope to do will allow us to justify ourselves.  The good thing is, we don’t have to.  Jesus did it for us.  Jesus covered the cost.

So let us rejoice in our trials and tribulations.  Let us humbly pray, and always with thanksgiving, knowing our Father will hear; for we are at peace with God.

We are reconciled.

Amen.

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, we have been justified by the grace You gave us, redeemed by Your one true Son, through whom we have received reconciliation by His sacrifice, by His blood.  You have asked so little in return, simply that we love You, love one another, and believe in Jesus.  Forgive us, please Lord, when we fall short of what You would have us be and do.  Father, we pray in the most glorious name of Jesus Christ, our Strength and our Redeemer.  Amen.

Our Gift, Our Duty

[The following is the manuscript of my sermon delivered as Pastor of Pilgrim Reformed Church in Lexington, NC on Sunday, May 25, 2014.]

Today we are reading from Paul’s second letter to Timothy, the first chapter, verses 7 through 12:

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.  8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

 --2 Timothy 1:7-12  (NASB)

Let us pray...  Father, thank You so much for preserving Your word for all these years, and for providing it to us so that we might know You better and might use Your word to seek Your will for our lives.  Open our ears, our minds, and our hearts so that we may absorb Your word and hear Your message.  In the beautiful name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.  Amen.

Let me tell you a little story about a gift exchange with Jesus…

It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco.  The pastor of the church was looking over the crèche when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures.  He hurried outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant Jesus.  So he walked up to the boy and said, “Well, where did you get your passenger, my fine friend?”  The little boy replied, “I got him from the church.”  “And why did you take him?” the pastor asked.  The boy said, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus and I told Him if He would bring me a red wagon for Christmas I would give Him a ride around the block in it.”  [From “Gift Exchange with Jesus”, #409 on p. 163 in 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking by Michael Hodgin.]

I think this short story speaks well to our message title for today: “Our Gift, Our Duty”.  The little boy received the gift he had prayed for, so he fulfilled his promise to take Jesus for a ride.  He did his duty that he had promised to do.  He may not have understood that we can’t really make deals with God, but he certainly knew how to keep a promise.

Paul’s second letter to his young friend and protégé Timothy was the last he would write.  Imprisoned in Rome under Nero’s persecution, Paul realized his death was near as he penned this intensely personal note to the one he considered his son in the faith.  Tradition has it that he was beheaded shortly thereafter.

I can very easily identify with Paul, and for so many reasons.  He experienced two almost separate lives.  In the first, he was a good and faithful Pharisee, carrying on the rules and traditions of the Jewish faith.  His zeal in these endeavors saw him doing everything he could to disrupt and halt this New Way, this new faith associated with the Man named Jesus who hailed from the area around the Sea of Galilee.  Paul hunted down those who followed Jesus, carrying them off in chains to be jailed and sometimes executed.  He was on his way to Damascus bearing a letter from the Temple that would allow him to arrest more Christians, when he was struck down by a blinding light.  Thus ended his first life.

After that miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul completely turned his life around to one of service to Jesus.  He saw pretty much everything as a gift from God - all the challenges, all the hardships, even the “thorn in his flesh”.  What Paul tells us about that thorn, in his second letter to the church in Corinth, also sums up today’s message.  Looking at 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me -- to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

 --2 Corinthians 12:7-10  (NASB)

Satan placed that thorn in Paul’s side, but God left it there on purpose.  Paul saw that reason to be so he would stay humble and not exalt himself above God and Jesus.  And he saw that as a gift, just as he saw God’s grace which was sufficient for Paul.  He even saw his weakness as a gift because it showed the perfection of God’s power, and it allowed the power of Christ Jesus to live within him, something far more important to him than suffering discomfort or pain.

And in receiving these gifts Paul does not complain or ask for more, but instead does what he sees as his duty to God.  He remains content with all that most folk would consider problems: weakness, insults from others, distresses, persecutions, and difficulties.  He gladly accepts all that as part of fulfilling his duty for Christ’s sake, even considering these as gifts.  For instance, he declares that when he is weak, then he is strong.  How many of us look at our frailties like this?

This attitude is reflected in Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18…

16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  (NASB)

I am a big advocate of prayer and its power, so praying without ceasing appeals to me.  This is not to say that we should pray every single second of every day, but that we maintain a constant conversation with God, just like we do with our best friends.

Rejoice always?  That’s kind of tough to do sometimes, isn’t it?  Bad things happen in this world, making it hard to rejoice all the time.  And giving thanks in all things sounds almost as impossible.  But Paul doesn’t say give thanks for everything, just in everything.  He tells us that no matter what happens, no matter what mess we find ourselves in, we need to look for something, anything, to be thankful for.  Implementing this simple process will gradually change our attitude to being more positive.  We can’t keep focusing on the negative, on the bad junk, if we are truly trying to find good in any situation, looking for that silver lining in the storm clouds.  And if we do this, if we look for stuff to give thanks for, the rejoicing part becomes easier too.

Of course the last part of that snippet of scripture goes back to the fact that Paul sees this as his duty, for it is God’s will for him to do it and he must do God’s will because Christ Jesus is in him.  Notice that Paul doesn’t consider any of this to be a chore.  Performing a duty, especially a labor of love, need not be a chore at all!

Looking back at our message text, what other gifts does Paul describe?  Right at the beginning, in verse 7, he states that God has given us a spirit of power and love and self-control.  And continuing in verse 9, God has saved us.  He has called us with a holy calling.  I’m sure you’ve heard it said that God calls preachers.  You affirmed His calling me here.  But do you know He has also called you?  We each have a holy calling, and not according to anything we can do, our works, but according to His own purpose.

God gives us the great benefit of His mercy and grace, granted to us for eternity in Jesus.  Through Jesus He abolished death and offers us life and immortality.  And He gives us the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

So what does Paul give in return?  What duty does he perform?  First off, since he was not given a spirit of timidity or fear, he is not at all ashamed or afraid to testify for our Lord, and he compels us to do likewise.  I don’t think “timid” is a word that could ever be applied to Paul.  That man was courageous beyond measure.  We’ve examined him a little in our Bible Study lessons and know he was not a very imposing man in stature.  But could he ever captivate and command an audience!

The next duty Paul so often completed involved suffering for the Gospel.  Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, left for dead, persecuted, imprisoned, time after time after time.  That man really suffered!  But he never considered it a curse or a chore.  He never complained.  He gladly suffered because he loved the Lord and wanted nothing more but to serve Him.

In verse 11 Paul lists some more of his duties.  He was a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.  A preacher is also an evangelist, and an evangelist is simply a person who shares the Gospel, often with great zeal.  Anyone can be an evangelist, even me, even you.

An apostle is someone who is sent out, in this case sent out to spread the Gospel.  Paul was sent out to evangelize.  We can do that too, can’t we?

And in a teacher role, Paul certainly tried to instruct both Jews and Gentiles about Christ and the Good News of salvation He offers.  Can we be teachers, helping others understand, bringing children up to know Jesus personally?  Sure we can, if we’re willing to try.

In verse 12 Paul mentions suffering again and reaffirms he bears no shame in carrying out these duties.  For Paul knows who he believes in, he knows Jesus even though he never met Him face to face.  And he is sure that Jesus will guard what Paul has entrusted to Him until the Day of Judgment.  So what has he entrusted to the Lord?  Paul has placed all his faith, all his hopes, all his trust in Christ Jesus, firmly believing that his salvation is assured

Let’s look at one last example of Paul’s sense of duty, this time from his letter to the church in Rome, the first chapter of Romans, verses 14 through 17…

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.  16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

 --Romans 1:14-17  (NASB)

That last – “the righteous man shall live by faith” – proved to be the light-bulb moment for Martin Luther, the epiphany that ultimately led to the great Reformation he began.  That phrase actually comes from the book of the prophet Habakkuk, chapter 2, verse 4.  But it was Paul’s treatment, and Paul’s example, that inspired Luther.

Notice Paul’s choice of words that he is under obligation to teach the Gospel to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish alike.  The first declaration points to Paul’s sense of duty, his obligation.  But then in the very next sentence he says he is eager to preach the Gospel.  He wants to make sure we understand this duty is in no way a chore; it is something he looks forward to and enjoys.

And then note that his assignment is to carry the Gospel to both the wise and the foolish, to those who will understand and accept the truth as well as those who will scoff and rebuke him and his message.  God does not play favorites.  It is His will and desire that all mankind hear the Good News, whether they are willing to receive it or not.  This was Paul’s mission, his assignment, his duty – and he accepted it willingly, eagerly, even joyfully.

Each and every one of us knows what wonderful and bountiful gifts God has showered upon us.  We may have different gifts and talents, but God has been very generous to us all.  We recommit part of those gifts back to the Lord when we give our offering.  This is part of our duty and we should be cheerful while accomplishing it, for it is a pleasure to give back to our Lord.

Like Paul we also have a duty to help spread the Gospel, to share the Good News of what Jesus has done in our lives and the great hope we place in Him.  We don’t have to be preachers or teachers per se to do this.  We can engage others in casual conversation.  We can proclaim the glory of our Lord simply by how we live our lives.  No matter how we choose to give our testimony, we should never be ashamed to witness to Christ, by our words, by our life, by our love.

We have been given great gifts, and with that comes an awesome responsibility.  We have a duty to carry out: to love our Lord and Savior with all our heart and all our soul, and to serve Him with all that is within us.  This is not a chore, not something to be looked at with dread.  This is a wonderful chance to show God our love.

Let us cheerfully fulfill our duty, rejoicing always and in everything giving thanks.

Amen.

Let us pray…  Father, we know You have given us so many gifts, and You did so out of Your great mercy and boundless generosity.  Thank You, Lord, and please forgive us when we take those gifts for granted.  We feel a responsibility, Lord, to acknowledge all you have given us, so please accept our worship and our service as part of our offering back to you.  In the name of that most precious gift of all, Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray.  Amen.

Something New

[The following is the manuscript of my second sermon delivered as Pastor at Pilgrim Reformed Church in Lexington, NC on Sunday, May 18, 2014.]

I will be reading to you today from the book of Isaiah, chapter 43, verses 18 through 21.  This section of scripture begins with the words “Thus says the Lord,”…

18 “Do not call to mind the former things,

Or ponder things of the past.

19 “Behold, I will do something new,

Now it will spring forth;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.

20 “The beasts of the field will glorify Me,

The jackals and the ostriches,

Because I have given waters in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert,

To give drink to My chosen people.

21 “The people whom I formed for Myself

Will declare My praise.

 --Isaiah 43:18-21  (NASB)

Let us pray...  Heavenly Father, help us to better understand Your word so that we can discern Your will for us.  Move us by You Holy Spirit to then do Your will once You have shown it to us.  Use us, Lord, to carry on the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world just as those we recognize later today did for us.  Let our history of serving You be as rich as theirs.  In the glorious name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.  Amen.

“I will do something new…”  God said “I will do something new.” This afternoon we will be dedicating something new to commemorate something old.  In doing so, we will be setting apart for the Lord something which He has already given us.  And we rejoice that He has given us the ability, the opportunity to do so.

Around 260 years ago, a German immigrant stood with his neighbors, looked at this spot of ground and declared that God intended it as a place of worship.  God gave them an opportunity and they took full advantage of it.  Otherwise we would not be here today.  God has a perfect plan that He entrusts to imperfect man to work.  He gives us opportunities, and sometimes only one shot to get it right.  One of those unique chances came within the first 20 years of our church’s life – the chance to take a stand and oppose tyranny and fight for the freedoms our Lord grants us.  Many took that stand, in that American Revolution, and some lie resting here in these grounds.

Even though Jesus was speaking of the end of days, His words certainly apply to that war when He told Peter, Andrew, James and John what was recorded by Mark in his Gospel chapter 13 verse 20:

20 Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

 --Mark 13:20  (NASB)

Although out-numbered, out-armed, and out-supplied, our forefathers prevailed in that conflict, but only through their great faith and God’s aid, and our liberties were secured.

Throughout the last 257 years, far-reaching decisions have been made, and great chances were taken.  God has given us opportunities and our members took advantage of them.  And that is why our family is alive and well today, able to honor all those who went before us with our ceremony this afternoon.

I’ve read of an old cemetery in Indiana, not as old as ours but with a tombstone that is over a hundred years old.  On that weather-worn stone is chiseled this epitaph:  “Pause Stranger, when you pass me by.  As you are now, so once was I.  As I am now, so you will be.  So prepare for death and follow me.”  Some unknown visitor to this grave scratched a reply underneath those sage words:  “To follow you I’m not content, until I know which way you went.”    [From 1001 Humorous Illustrations, “Eternal Epitaph” by J. M. Kennedy,  #328, page 135]

I think that little story helps illustrate a point I am fond of making:  we can’t know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’re coming from.  Philosopher George Santayana, looking through the eyes of historical experience, noted that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  Irish statesman Edmund Burke once observed that “People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.”  These two gentlemen and I all point out that our past is important in helping us walk into the future.  But we need to be mindful of not dwelling too much on, or especially in the past.

In our message text today, right there at the beginning, God cautions us not to call to mind former things or ponder things of the past.  In last week’s message text from Ecclesiastes, we read that God has appointed a time for every event under heaven.  For instance we saw there is a time to keep and a time to throw away.  God wants us to keep an understanding of our past, to be mindful of where we came from, but to throw away anything that might detract from our journey through today and into tomorrow.

Let’s take a moment and look at what Paul thought of his past, from his letter to the church in Philippi, chapter 3 verses 7 through 9…

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

 --Philippians 3:7-9  (NASB)

Paul basically said that all the things from my past that I treasured so much I now consider nothing more than rubbish, because now I have the one true treasure of salvation through Christ Jesus.  He didn’t lose sight of his past; in fact it probably haunted him, just like our pasts haunt some of us.  But instead of dwelling on how bad he was, he used that experience to make himself a better servant.  It’s kind of like folks who work hard to lose a lot of weight so they keep an old picture of themselves on the fridge or some very large old clothes in their closet, just to remind themselves of what they don’t want to ever let happen again.  This is how Paul made use of his past.

Now today we will be celebrating an important part of our past, a huge piece of our family history, this family of Pilgrim Reformed Church.  We are making a dedication to history, setting it apart as special.  We want to rest in the memory of what God has given us, and in the newness of what He has yet in store.  God is still doing great works in us and through us.

Let’s look back at our message text, at the second half of verse 19 and at verse 20.  This passage describes things that would be absolutely impossible for us.  But with God, all things are possible, He can do anything.  And He can do anything in us and through us if we just open ourselves up and allow Him to.  His Holy Spirit will make a roadway through the wilderness of our lives.  He will cause rivers to flow in the desert of our times.  He will make us a blessing to others.

The first half of verse 19 says God is doing something new.  In the book of Revelation, chapter 21, verse 5, we see Him perfecting that newness…

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

 --Revelation 21:5  (NASB)

He is making all things new.  These words are indeed faithful and true.  From day 1 up to today, our church has a history.  Today we will be writing on our page in history this beautiful dedication.  And then, when we turn that page we will see a clean, blank sheet awaiting us.  Together, we are starting a new page in our family history.  Together we are looking toward what God is giving us, and ahead to what He will give us next.  Together we are working on what will be dedicated in the future.

Those who went before us, who we commemorate this afternoon, laid a foundation for generations to follow. We are sealing that foundation for who we are.  Today we begin adding our stones to that foundation, building upon it for posterity.  So that our children and their children will know where they’re going because they’ll know where they came from.

Today we are doing something new.

Amen.

A New Day

[The following is the manuscript of my first sermon delivered as Pastor at Pilgrim Reformed Church in Lexington, NC on Sunday, May 11, 2014.]


Happy Mother’s Day!  Do you remember the little book I mentioned a few weeks ago, that my dearest friend gave me?  I’d like to read to you from it “The Ten Commandments for Mothers”:

• Thou shalt drive the car pool to the ends of the earth.
• Thou shalt find the missing sock.
• Thou shalt cut both pieces of cake EXACTLY the same size.
• Thou shalt NOT get sick when the kids do.
• Thou shalt answer questions about geography, long division, and where babies come from.
• Thou shalt walk slowly and carry a big purse.
• Thou shalt stop on the highway to rescue the turtle… and give the kids raw hot dogs to feed it.
• Thou shalt smile through a zillion recitals and ball games.
• Thou shalt not admit thou art related to – much less kiss – thine adolescent in public.
• Thou shalt give thyself time to relax and enjoy life.

Now let’s turn to today’s message text.  I’ll be reading to you from the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verses 1 through 8:

1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven —
2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

 --Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  (NASB)

As I think on this section of Ecclesiastes, I keep wanting to sing the Byrds hit from the ‘60s, “Turn, Turn, Turn”.

Now this may seem a strange choice for Mother’s Day, but let’s quickly take another look at it.  A time to give birth certainly applies and a time to die could refer to what happened to that carefree life you enjoyed before childbirth.  As a mother you definitely have a time to plant seeds for good living and a time to uproot bad habits as they form.  And there is a time to kill that scary spider and to heal all those cuts and scrapes. A time to tear down any obstacles that get in the way of your child’s development and to build up that special relationship you have with them.  Sadly there is a time to weep, especially when they get hurt, and joyfully a time to laugh at all the crazy things they do.  There’ll be a time to be silent, even when you really want to say something but know you should just hold your tongue, and a time to speak what you know is right and true, even if it hurts to do so.  As a mother you know a time to dance, a time to embrace, a time to love, and on and on and on.  And any mother with two or more children knows full well that sibling warring did not end when Cain slew Abel.  So yes, I think this message from Ecclesiastes applies to mothers quite well.

The wise king Solomon is widely held as the author of Ecclesiastes and in today’s message he provides a glimpse into God’s design for life, God’s order of events for life on a grand scale, looking at humankind in general and as a whole.  But I believe this applies to us today, as a church.  And I can now say “us” because you have so lovingly accepted and adopted me into your family.

Today marks a new day, a fresh beginning, a chance to hit the reset button and start out on a new journey together.  It brings to mind what the prophet Jeremiah said in Lamentations, chapter 3, verses 21 through 25:

21 This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I have hope in Him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

To the person who seeks Him.

 --Lamentations 3:21-25  (NASB)

Our Lord’s lovingkindnesses never cease, they are new every morning.  Every morning we have new blessings poured out upon us, we have a new opportunity, a new start.  And this gives us our hope as we seek Him, as we follow Him.

So why is this a new day?  Let’s look at our message scripture to see what yesterday may have held and tomorrow may bring.  First we see that God has appointed a time for everything, for every event under heaven.  That means we will experience, are experiencing, or have already experienced these events.

A time to give birth and a time to die:  Well, as individuals none of us here today have yet died, but we certainly will someday.  As a church, as a family, we have experienced death among our members, among our loved ones, and we will continue to do so.  Dying is an inescapable necessity.  This physical form must pass away so that the new glorified form can take its place, just as the seed must die before the plant can spring from the earth, or the caterpillar must pass before the butterfly can emerge.  But I would rather we put to death some of the bad experiences and memories of days now past.  Bad things have happened to this family, to you - things that broke God’s heart as well as yours.  Let’s put the memory of those bad things to death and give birth to this new day, to this new opportunity to seek and serve our Lord together, to grow as a family and in our relationship to Him.

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted:  Over the last many years, seeds of doubt, distrust, disappointment, and even hatred were planted.  Promises implied were not kept, confidences were broken.  Today we can begin to uproot the weeds that grew from those bad seeds.  We can plant new seeds, tended by the Holy Spirit, nourished with our love inspired by God’s love for us.

A time to kill and a time to heal:  You have already begun to heal.  My dear brothers John Bigelow and Steve Disher and others have been instrumental and invaluable in that.  But there are those out there who are still hurting.  There are those we loved and once counted as family who left us for whatever reasons they felt justified.  We must kill the beast that drove them away, wherever it lives.  We must put to rest any ill will we may have for them and help slay any resentment they may have for us.  As God does for us, we must forgive and forget what went before.  We are gifted with a time to heal and reunite our family.

A time to tear down and a time to build up:  This so clearly follows next.  With this new day we can tear down any obstacles that still stand between us and those who left us, or even that might exist among ourselves.  We can remove any barriers to others who may want to be a part of this beautiful family.  We can build up our family, not only in numbers but more importantly in spirit.  We can take this foundation and build upon it.  We can uphold each other whenever needed.  We can share and support and uplift everyone we come into contact with.  We can grow our relationship with Jesus and with one another.

A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance:  Family members at times hurt one another, no matter the size or make up of the family.  And families suffer losses, withstand injuries, endure troubles.  We have wept and we are certain to weep again, just as we have mourned and are sure to mourn again.  Life can be cruel.  Paul, when trying to encourage new converts to the faith, tells us in Acts 14:22 that “…Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  So I’m sure we have some weeping and mourning yet to come.  But right now, today, it is a time to laugh.  We’ve laughed in our yesterdays; we’ll laugh in our tomorrows.  Today we can catch our breath and smile; we can dance with the joy the Holy Spirit has placed in our hearts.  Haven’t you just been so overjoyed that you can’t sit still, so filled with the Spirit that your body can’t contain it?

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones:  Well, stones have definitely been thrown in the past, and maybe not all undeserved.  But now is the time to stop throwing rocks at anyone else and especially not at each other.  It’s that forgive and forget thing again.  It’s time to gather stones, and not to amass an arsenal for throwing later.  No, we can gather stones to increase our foundation upon which to build up our Lord’s church on earth.  Jesus wants us to go into the world to make disciples of all nations.  We’ll need a larger foundation and many stones to make that happen.

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing:  The first part of that is easy, and something we already do quite readily.  We embrace each other, with the love we share in our Lord.  We embrace the tenets and principles and beliefs that spring from our faith.  We embrace and acknowledge the firm belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master.  And today we can rededicate ourselves to embracing the whole world, beginning in our own neighborhood, spreading the Gospel and sharing our love and the love of God.  But we can also shun embracing long held bitterness and hatred and fear and distrust.  Sometimes we hold on to things we really should let go of.  I tend to be a bit of a pack rat, keeping something around just in case I might find some use for it again someday.  Sometimes we hoard thoughts and emotions and feelings that we really should just let go of, that end up poisoning us in the long run.  We just need to let go of any bad feelings we still harbor.

A time to search and a time to give up as lost:  In John’s Gospel, Jesus spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd, who would leave behind 99 sheep to go in search of the one that was lost.  He commissioned us to go out and spread the Gospel and make disciples.  That carries with it a sense of searching, doesn’t it?  Beginning today we can make a stronger commitment to seek out the lost and help them find the path to righteousness.  As for giving up the lost, I’d rather we give up those bad feelings we may still hold, and not give up on anyone who needs to know Jesus as Lord.  We are tasked with spreading the Gospel, not with judging who might accept it.  The Holy Spirit will accomplish God’s will, sometimes in spite of our best efforts to resist it.  So let’s not really give up on anyone as lost, but continue to pray for them that they be found.  Instead, let’s give up our former life, the old person we were before we accepted Jesus -let’s give up that person as lost.

A time to keep and a time to throw away:  Today provides us a great opportunity to throw away any bad memories, any harsh feelings, any misgivings we still harbor.  Instead let’s hold tight to the joy the Holy Spirit has placed in our hearts.  Let’s keep our eyes uplifted upon the One who died on that cross so that we can live forever.  Let’s throw away all ill will and keep love in our hearts and in everything we do.

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together:  We can look at this one quite literally, can’t we?  In the past, actions were taken by some that indeed tore this family apart, ripping off big chunks of it.  Well, beginning today, let’s strive to sew it back together.  I know efforts have been made to do so, but let’s redouble those efforts.  And while we’re at it, let’s stitch on some additional material and make our family larger.  I can’t help but think of our ladies working on their quilt, patiently and painstakingly sewing on patches stitch by stitch, removing a bad stitch only when absolutely necessary.  There may come a time when we, as a family, have to repair a seam that threatens to ruin the whole quilt of our church.  But for now, let’s keep sewing together, perfecting our quilt.

A time to be silent and a time to speak:  This is a tough one, isn’t it?  Sometimes we just feel so strongly about something that we want to say our mind and let the chips fall where they may.  And often it is crucially important that we stand up and speak the truth in the face of lies and deception.  But sometimes it is best that we bite our tongues and let our thoughts go unsaid, especially if they are hurtful.  Remember that old saying:  It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open our mouth and remove all doubt.  Let us always seek God’s discernment on when to speak and when to remain silent.

A time to love and a time to hate:  OK, let’s clear this one up quickly.  The time for hatred is long past, with one exception.  Let’s hate nothing or no one other than the source of all evil in this world: Satan.  Let us take the love we have for one another, the love we so easily express here each Sunday, and carry it through every day of the week and into every heart we meet.  Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart and all our soul, and second to this is to love one another as we love ourselves, as Jesus loves us.  You have shown such wonderful and warm love to me, and I hope you feel my love for you.  Let’s see if we can make others feel our and Jesus’ love for them.

A time for war and a time for peace:  I know this family has experienced war within itself, resulting in casualties on all sides.  And I am pretty sure a few skirmishes are still being fought.  But now is the time for peace among ourselves.  Now is the time to bury the hatchet and break out the peace pipe.  Now is the time to embrace those we once perceived as enemies, no matter from what war.  Now is the time to welcome those who once walked away and earnestly seek their return.  Some of the folks who left the family for whatever reason may want to come back but are embarrassed to do so.  We need to make peace with ourselves first, in our own hearts, so we can make sure if those folks come back we will hold nothing against them and show no sign outwardly that would make them feel embarrassed or ashamed.  We must remember what Paul tells us in his letter to the church in Ephesus, in the sixth chapter of Ephesians, verse 12:  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  Our war, as a church, is against Satan.  Our only enemy is the devil.  The Pilgrim family already has a great reputation in the community, for loving and for giving and for great food.  Let’s also be a beacon of peace, a symbol of peace for the greater community.

There was a day when the Lord took hold of my life and made me new.  The Psalmist must have had me in mind when in the 40th Psalm, verses 2 through 4, he said…

2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,

And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;

Many will see and fear

And will trust in the Lord.

4 How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,

And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. 

 --Psalm 40:2-4  (NASB)

Today, the Lord has put a new song in our mouths, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and will trust in the Lord, and will be blessed.

It’s a new day!  Do you feel it?  Will you say it with me?

It’s a new day!

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Amen.

We've Got the Power!

[The following is the manuscript of my trial sermon delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church in Lexington, NC on Sunday, April 27, 2014.]


Have you heard the news?  That man Jesus, the Romans crucified Him, He was dead and buried.  But now some of those who traveled with Him, His closest friends, swear that He's come back to life, that He's visited them!  The word on the street is that He's supposed to get together with them again, up in Galilee.  A bunch of us are going up to see if it's true.  You ought to come along - this could be big.  This could be really big...


I often like to put myself in the place of those who lived so long ago, to try to get a sense of what they might have been feeling.  This little docu-drama is how I envision folks may have reacted to what Matthew saved for us in his Gospel, chapter 28, verses 7, 10, and 16.  But now I'd like to read from Paul's letter to the church in Rome.  Paul wrote this letter as a way to introduce himself, in large part because he intended to go to that church and hope to be their pastor for a while.  Kind of similar to my being here today.  From the book of Romans, chapter 8, verses 10 through 18, we read:

10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 --Romans 8:10-18  (NASB)

Let us pray...  Father, please open our hearts to hear Your message, to receive Your word.  Touch each of us with Your most Holy Spirit that we might be moved to serve You.  In the precious name of Christ Jesus we gather here and we pray.  Amen.

Let's step back to just after Jesus was crucified.  The 11 were in hiding, Jesus' closest friends.  Just a week ago they had paraded through the streets of Jerusalem.  Crowds gathered, shouted "Hosanna", laid their cloaks and palm branches for Jesus and the throng with Him to walk on.  This was indeed a triumphal entry fit for a king, their King, their Master, their friend.  Then the crowd turned against them.  Jesus was taken, beaten, crucified, executed, buried.  Can you imagine the emotional roller-coaster ride this would have been for His followers?  From the top of the world to the bottom of the pit in the span of five short days.

Now Satan, on the other hand, must have been absolutely delighted that day when the sun disappeared, the ground shook, the temple veil tore in two, and all of heaven wept.  I can just see Him rubbing his hands together and laughing in unbridled glee, like some mad scientist or evil genius, gloating over the doom of his victim.  He had beaten God!  He knew all along he could do it.  Jesus was dead and he had won!

But then two women went to annoint the body of their Master with oil and found the tomb empty.  The greatest power in all creation had been unleashed, decisively stripping that momentary victory from Satan's grasp.  A power like none other...

The history of our world begins simply, as recorded in Genesis 1:1-3...

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.  The Holy Spirit was active, even before the earth had form.  "Moving over the surface" also embodies a protective attitude.  So the Holy Spirit was participating in the act of creation and protecting what was being created.  Could it be that when God said "Let there be light", that He was talking to the Holy Spirit, for Him to carry out the task?

Look at the events leading up to Jesus coming to earth, as reported by Luke in his Gospel, chapter 1, verses 34 and 35:

34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

The angel Gabriel told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that God would overshadow her, would shelter and protect her.  There's that word "protect" again.  And Matthew 1:20 tells us that Gabriel also came to Joseph, after Mary was found to be with child, and told him the child within her had been conceived by the Holy Spirit.

And do you remember the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?  Mary and her sister Martha sent an urgent message to Jesus.  "Come quickly - our brother Lazarus is dying."  But Jesus tarried for two days before setting out, so He could show the full glory of God.  Upon arrival, Lazarus was already dead and buried.  Martha met Jesus before He got to the home and questioned why He had delayed.  John 11:25-26 contains Jesus' response to their brief conversation:

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

After spending a moment with Mary, Jesus went to the tomb and shouted so all could hear, "Lazarus, come forth!"  And indeed, Lazarus emerged from his tomb.  This is the Holy Spirit, responding to our Lord's voice.

Getting back to our little view of Satan basking in his short-lived, self-proclaimed, synthetic glory..  The Mary's (according to Matthew and Mark) found the tomb empty, the burial wrappings left behind.  Piecing the four Gospels together we see that the risen Jesus appeared first to the women, and then to the 11 hiding back in the house in Jerusalem, then to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  Not just a couple of people, not even a dozen, witnessed the results of that awesome resurrection power.  In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul tells us that hundreds saw the risen Jesus in Galilee:

4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

That's from 1 Corinthians 15:4-8.  And it confirms the truth of the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit.

So what does all this mean for us?  The same Spirit of God that helped create and protect the universe, that conceived the Holy Child, that awakened Lazarus from the sleep of death, that raised our Lord and Savior from the grave...  That same Holy Spirit lives within us!  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Master, He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.  We have that incomparable resurrection power right here within us.

Let's at our message text again, at Romans 8:11-16.  If we live in the Spirit and are led by the Spirit then we are children of God.  We have not been given a spirit of fear and slavery to sin but instead have received a spirit of adoption as God's children.  How powerful is that - to be adopted by God?!  We are heirs of Gods, fellow heirs with Jesus.

Paul talks about suffering with Christ in verse 17, but assures us in his letter to the church in Philippi, in Philippians 4:13, that...

13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

And by "I" and "me" he means "we" and "us".  We are strengthened by Christ and by the Holy Spirit within us so that we can do all things, endure all things.

The Gospel according to Matthew in chapter 4 verses 1 through 11 tells us that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness on purpose, so that our Lord could be tempted by Satan.  But the Holy Spirit never left Him and Jesus was able to resist Satan's temptations.  That same Spirit gives us the strength to resist temptation also, if we just call upon Him for help.

Let's conclude by first noting that none of this is to say life will be easy for us thanks to the Holy Spirit.  Paul succinctly affirms this toward the end of his first missionary journey, as noted in the book of Acts, chapter 14, at the end of verse 22 when he says:

22 ... “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

 In a nutshell, we will face many trials and tribulations before entering the kingdom of God.  But in verse 18 of our message text he tells us that any troubles we suffer today will not even compare to the glory that is to come.  I believe heaven with God and Jesus will be so wonderful we won't even remember the hard times we endured before getting there, before coming home.  And God, in His great grace and mercy and through the intervention of Christ Jesus our Lord has given us the means to hold on until that glorious day.

We can get a glimpse of that today, a hint of what is to come.  When the Holy Spirit moves among us, absolutely amazing and marvelous things happen.  Have you seen it?  Have you felt Him stirring?  I sure have, and more than once right here among you.

That same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us, is available to us, will help us withstand the world until the day we stand at Jesus' side.

We've got the power!  We've got the very Spirit of God right here in our hearts, in our house.  Jesus gave Him to us.  Jesus asked Martha, "Do you believe this?"

Well, do you?

We've got the power!  Believe it!

Amen.

Let us pray...

Heavenly Father, thank You so very much for giving us the same power You gave Your own Son Jesus, the power of Your most Holy Spirit living right here within us.  Thank You for showing us so many examples of that power at work throughout mankind's history.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for moving in our lives, for whispering in our ears, for nudging us in the way we should go.  As we go from here today, may we use that power to brighten our lives and the lives of those around us and to expand Your great kingdom.  In the holy name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Something to Offer

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.

 --Hebrews 8:3  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on September 29, 2013 of Proverbs 8:22-31; Hebrews 8; Isaiah 28-29.

Continuing with his proof that Jesus is superior in His person and as our true High Priest over Mosaic Law (please see "Our Sympathetic High Priest"), the author of the letter to the Hebrews paints a brief portrait of Melchizedek and the preeminence of his priesthood. Melchizedek was the King of Salem (and here "Salem" translates "Peace"). He was also a "priest of the Most High God" (please see Hebrews 7:1), appointed directly by God. He blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him one tenth of the spoils from his recent battle (Genesis 14:18-20). This recognition from Abraham, our author notes, shows just how important Melchizedek was considered. This act foreshadows Mosaic Law where all descendants of Abraham (except those of the house of Levi) are required to tithe to the Levite priests so they could serve God. Even though his genealogy could not in any way be traced to the house of Levi, Melchizedek received a tithe from the father of the entire nation of Israel.

Our author then takes the authority and legitimacy of the priesthood of Melchizedek and combines it with Psalm 110, in which David relates a conversation God has with the One accepted as the Christ, with Jesus. In this, God recognizes the Son as being "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4). Jesus, born of the house of Judah, could never be of the Mosaic priesthood of Levi. Instead, like Melchizedek, He was appointed directly by God into a greater, more superior priesthood, just as exhibited by Melchizedek over Abraham.

Our author notes in today's focus verse that every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices for the remission of their own sins and the sins of the people. So if Jesus is to be considered a legitimate high priest, it is necessary that He also have something to offer. And indeed He does, on both counts.

Jesus, who was Himself without sin, had no need to atone for anything on His part, but He definitely could and did atone for the sins of the people. And not just for the descendants of Abraham but for all people throughout all time. Jesus made one great sacrifice, for once and for all, one time for everyone. He sacrificed Himself, the Spotless Lamb, shedding His own blood upon the altar for the atonement of all mankind's sin. And what He has to offer is the greatest gift of all, the gift of eternal life through the grace of God, our belief in Jesus as His Son, our acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Master, and our willingness to live a Spirit-led life. The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the greatest High Priest of all is our Christ Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus, God Almighty, the Creator of everything, appointed You as High Priest over all mankind. You made the ultimate sacrifice of Your own blood on our behalf, as remission for our sins. And You offer us  the gift of eternal life with You and our Father. There is no way mere words could ever thank You, so may we ever strive to show our thanks through the life we live, following You. In Your most holy name, dearest Jesus our Redeemer we pray. Amen.

Fine Gold and Choice Silver

Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.

 --Proverbs 8:18-19  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on September 28, 2013 of Proverbs 8:12-21; Hebrews 7; Isaiah 26-27.

In chapter eight of Proverbs, Solomon personifies wisdom and gives it a feminine voice. "To you, O men, I call," she cries out, "and my voice is to the sons of men." (Please see verse 4.) Wisdom is depicted as standing beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances of doorways. Anywhere that people might pass she makes herself visible and accessible so that her voice might be heard and her advice heeded. She offers only truth and righteousness, no wickedness nor crooked or perverted word will pass through her lips. All the utterances of her mouth are straightforward to them who will understand and right to those who seek knowledge.

Solomon then tries to express the value of wisdom's counsel in terms his readers, including us, may more easily understand. Wisdom is better than precious gems, he says, and not even comparable to anything man might desire. Kings and nobility avail themselves of wisdom's instruction when ruling and dispensing justice, if they are indeed wise. Today's focus verses perhaps more clearly disclose wisdom's worth to us. Great riches and honor come from following wisdom's voice. But not riches of this world, that can tarnish and deteriorate and that we cannot carry with us into the next life. And not necessarily or only honor from men, that will be forgotten not long after we're gone. No, the riches and honor wisdom brings is not of a material or worldly nature, but is more ethereal and everlasting. Wisdom offers enduring riches in our rewards in heaven, the ultimate honor of righteousness in the eyes of God. Better than the choicest silver, worth far more than the finest gold are words of wisdom, fruits hanging right there for us to take.

When we read and digest these words of Solomon, the wise teacher, we may begin to see that the Holy Spirit living within us is the voice of wisdom. He can always be found standing at the gate to our soul, the doorway to our heart, ever speaking to us that we might hear and heed His counsel. This is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us: to guide us, to advise us, to speak words of His wisdom to us. And our rewards for obeying His voice and believing in and following Jesus are far greater and more desirable than any earthly treasure. Through Him we can receive riches and righteousness that will endure forever. Amen.

Father in heaven, Your Son Jesus sent Your Holy Spirit to live within those who believe in Him, to be our Guide and Counselor. In Him You speak Your divine wisdom directly into our hearts. Forgive us, please Father, when we fail to follow His advise, when we ignore Him, when we refuse to hear His voice. Please never take Your Spirit from us. In the beautiful name of Jesus our Savior we pray. Amen.

Wipe Away Our Tears

He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken.

 --Isaiah 25:8  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on September 27, 2013 of Proverbs 8:1-11; Hebrews 5:11-6:20; Isaiah 23-25.

As a prophet, Isaiah made some amazingly accurate predictions about future events. Some included what would occur very close at hand, such as Judah being carried off into captivity by Babylon. Some were a little further out, like the people's return to Jerusalem and the restoration of the nation. Some would not be fulfilled for hundreds of years, including the birth, life, and death of Jesus the Messiah. And some have yet to come to pass, over 2500 years later. Isaiah was used by God to speak His message to man. His prophecies came directly from God, and God knows what will happen yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Since the events foretold by Isaiah that have already come to pass unfolded just as Isaiah said, we have no reason to believe that those events yet to be fulfilled won't also occur just as he says. After all, it's really God doing the talking.

Isaiah spends four chapters, 24 through 27, giving us just such a glimpse into that future, foretelling what is still to occur. We don't know when these events may unfold, nor are we intended to. These predictions may begin to come true within the next few seconds, or maybe not for thousands of more years. We do not know because this sequence starts with the return of Christ, and we are not meant to know just when that will occur. In these four chapters Isaiah shows us the Great Tribulation and even beyond that to Jesus' Millennium Kingdom.

Today's focus verse comes from that vision of Jesus' Thousand Year Reign of peace on earth. It forms the promise that all believers hope for, the basis of that hope as revealed by Jesus to the Apostle John, a time when "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Please see Revelation 21:4.) God, through Isaiah, assures us there will come a time when there will be no more need for tears, when death will be vanquished and cast into the lake of fire. No more pain, no more sorrow, just a thousand years of peace living with Jesus. Who would not want this, hope for this, long for this? Believe in Jesus and receive it. For the Lord has spoken. Amen.

O Father God, You made a promise to us through Isaiah, a promise repeated by Jesus, that there will come a day when all our suffering will come to an end. No pain, no sorrow, just happiness being with Jesus. Our faith and belief will be rewarded by Your grace and Jesus' sanctification to grant us eternal life. Thank You, Father! Thank You, Jesus! In the most precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

Our Sympathetic High Priest

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 --Hebrews 4:15  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on September 26, 2013 of Proverbs 7:24-27; Hebrews 4:14-5:10; Isaiah 21-22.

The author of Hebrews tells us that God extends us an offer to enter into His rest - peace from trouble and woe, relief from pain and suffering, no more grief or distress... to enter heaven - but that some of us may fall short of His grace because of our unbelief. Fortunately there is a cure for unbelief. Our author reassures us that "the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword" (please see verse 12). We know from the Gospel of John that Jesus is that living Word of God (John 1:1), who is described in Revelation as the words from His mouth being like a two-edged sword (Revelation 1:16). He is able to cut through any facade we may raise to get to the truth of our being; we can hide nothing from Him. This Jesus ruled in heaven as God's Son, yet allowed Himself to be made a little lower than the angels (please see "A Little Lower Than the Angels") so that He could come to earth to live among us, as one of us. He came into the world a small baby just as we do. He studied and learned and grew like we do. He walked the same dusty roads we travel. He suffered persecution, beatings, trial, and execution. And He was buried. For most of His life on earth, other than having a divine Father, Jesus lived pretty much like we do and experienced life like us. Of course, what happened after His death and burial makes all the difference in the world, but right now our author is only concerned with Jesus' time on earth.

Jesus is not some distant god sitting in an ivory tower looking down on us from afar. He is the God who came right to where we are to live among us, to eat what we eat, to live as we live, to feel what we feel. Jesus was tempted by Satan just like we are (Matthew 4:1-11). It wasn't that Jesus experienced every temptation that man does, but rather He was tempted in every area that man is tempted: in lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. And these temptations were specially devised by Satan just for Jesus, just to lure Him. Jesus resisted them all and Satan failed. But this trial allowed the Son of Man to know exactly what it is like when Satan entices us, how hard it can be to resist those temptations.

Jesus, our one true High Priest and Redeemer, knows just what it is like to be human. He has felt the physical pain of beatings, the emotional pain of betrayal. He has loved and been loved, been disappointed and been despised. The Holy Spirit helped Him resist Satan, the same Holy Spirit He sent to live within us and that can help us resist as well. And through it all Jesus remained sinless, committing no wrong against God or man. He had to, for otherwise He could not have taken all of our sins upon Himself, sanctifying us before God. This is our High Priest who can sympathize with us because He was one of us. This is Jesus, the Son of God, in whom we can believe. Amen.

Dear Jesus, You came to us to know us, to be one of us, to live like we live and feel like we feel and be tempted like we are tempted. You came to us to offer salvation. In You we have a sympathetic High Priest. In You we have redemption. Thank You, O Lord. In Your glorious name, our Jesus we pray. Amen.