Advancing the Gospel

When I tell others my testimony, I love to watch their reactions. Most people who know who I am after Christ, are shocked to hear about who I was preChrist. Perhaps you have a story like that where the change is drastic. Or perhaps you are like some of my friends who have always known Christ and can share with the hardships they faced for being in Christ. For some of you the hardship and trials of life is occurring now. The common thread in all of these situations is that we all have stories about our lives and how God has worked in them. 

I find it interesting when I look at the life of Paul. Paul was a Pharisee, a Jew among Jews, who knew scripture (Galatians 1:14). However, Paul was called to suffer for God, and to be a light to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15-16). I find this remarkable, that God knew that Paul would suffer. Perhaps there is a lesson here, that sometimes we need to suffer, or have heartaches, that there is a purpose, we are to learn something. Paul demonstrates to us a great principle in Philippians 1:12-18. In these six verses we find that Paul gives credit for all that has happened to him was to advance the gospel and because of what has happened to him many are coming to Christ. That is so important for us to remember. 

I had a friend who said after she lost her leg to illness, “why not me.” Her attitude greatly helped those who were struggling with issues with illness, and why would God allow that suffering. By hearing her perspective, it made people realize who they are in relation to who God is.  God has brought each of us from somewhere to be a blessing to others. So rejoice that God will use what ever situation we are in to help the gospel advance. God is faithful. He will stay true to his purpose, and guidance.  May the God who guides, protects, calms, and encourages, continue to encourage and give us peace as we realize that what has happened to us, serves to advance the gospel. 

Dealing with Disappointment

Sermon for 09/18/2011

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Be Angry Do not Sin

Recently, I have been talking more and more about not letting things build up inside. Do not let the devil get a foothold in our lives by dwelling on grudges or things that keep us angry.   Paul reminds us that we are “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV). There is some great wisdom in this. It is okay to be angry. Lets be honest, there are thing out there that upset us. Sometimes it is people who are rude, or have offended us. Sometimes people who hurt us or anger us, have no realization that they are doing it. 

So how does one be angry without sinning? First, one must make sure that they put their anger in context, is it with cause or without? If someone has caused the issue, confront them, but do not seek retaliation. Confront them calmly, and clearly. Tell them what hurt and why. Sometimes, one need to realize that the anger, is more imagined then needed. I have been married for a while now, and there are times where I can get so upset over the littlest thing. I have learned that most of the time, it is not what my spouse did that made me angry, but how I dwelt on it that made me angry. I am often reminded of what John Eldredge talked about in Wild at Heart, there are times when I go from angry to wanting a divorce, and realize that the devil is at work.

I find it sad, when I hear about brothers who have not spoken in years because of an offense that occurred in the past. I find it even more unsettling when I talked to one of brothers, and they said they cannot even remember what the original cause was. They have just been holding on to the grudge. My own family has that, my aunts and uncles are divided almost like two separate families because they took sides on a grudge that started twenty years ago. 

I know that I could easily fall into the trap of letting issues build up to where I sin. I know that I must keep myself rooted in God’s word, and prayer. I ask you though, are you in sin because of a grudge, do you need to let go of something. Perhaps you have wronged someone and need to make amends. I earnestly urge you to remember to be angry but do not sin. Do not let the devil get a foothold in your life.

Innocent Bystander

I have been a huge M.A.S.H. fan since I was young boy. I watched the reruns on TV everyday. It was one of the few programs I looked forward to. Even as an adult now, I still love to sit down and watch the episodes over again. Recently, I was able to get the entire series on DVD. One of the episodes,War is Hell, had an interesting discussion on war and hell. It was between a Catholic priest (Father Mulcahy) and a Doctor (Capt. Hawkeye).

Hawkeye: War isn't Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse. 

Father Mulcahy: How do you figure, Hawkeye? 

Hawkeye: Easy, Father. Tell me, who goes to Hell? 

Father Mulcahy: Sinners, I believe. 

Hawkeye: Exactly. There are no innocent bystanders in Hell. War is chock full of them - little kids, cripples, old ladies. In fact, except for some of the brass, almost everybody involved is an innocent bystander. 

As I was thinking about this quote, I realized that Hawkeye, was close to something, but not quite right. In war many innocent people are casualties. But what about his view of Hell. Yes it is true that sinners go to Hell, but how many of those sinners are people who never heard the gospel? Innocent children, teens, and adults, who have never been reached out to?  How many people do we have in our lives that could be considered innocent bystanders? Do we have those in our lives that we don’t know for sure if they are going to Heaven or Hell? Are we sharing the gospel with them?  After all, there is a spiritual war going on, and we, God’s people are called to share with those who don’t know the gospel. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as thogh God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). It is up to us to make sure that Hawkeye’s statement is true, “There are no bystanders in Hell.”

Envy

Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

Surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

(Proverbs 23:17-18 ESV)

Envy is a powerful thing. We can often find ourselves wanting others job’s, possessions, and family. A person can become so focused on what others have that it becomes their motivation for existing. They work, save, and channel all of their energy and resources into getting what they feel someone else has. Two phrases come to mind about this subject, “keeping up with the Jones” and “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Most of the time, envy produces one to want to keep up with current trends, or what others around them have. However, no matter how nice something looks, or feels, there are still problems. One can look another’s family, and say, I wish my wife was like her, not knowing the she is a shopaholic. Or perhaps, they look at the new car in the neighbors drive, not realizing that it has several little recalls and issues that will cost the neighbor time and money to fix. When someone looks and covets what he sees like that it can lead to envy, and eventually to a point where keeping up appearances becomes priority number one.

The Christian life can also be that way. Often people can get so wrapped up in doing things, because they want to keep up their hearts become burdened. Some even look at the carefree lifestyles of nonbelievers. They see nonbelievers, drinking, partying, living for self, so easily, that it can lead believers astray. Christians can start believing that they have put themselves under a yoke. When they do this they want to rebel, so that they can have the fun they feel the unbelievers are having. This is not a new concept. Ancient Israelites had to deal with envy. That is why is says continue in the LORD. It is tempting to just want to give up on God, and live life for self. However, since we know Christ, and know how the story ends; Christ wins. We should remember, that we do not work to earn our future, but because we know that the future will be so much better than the present. No matter what hardships, frustrations, and heartaches one can suffer in this life, we know that there will be a time, when we are with Christ, and there will be no more tears or suffering. So, if you are a believer in Christ, carry Proverbs 23:17-18 in your hearts, it is a reminder that there is a future, with Christ.   

Warnings from Paul.

Those Corinthians, they seem to be so foolish, needing Paul to come to them three times, with charges of open sin. Now we are not talking little white lie sin, we are talking,  worshiping pagan gods, sexual immorality, and lawsuits. The Corinthians never seemed to get the picture. Paul came to them twice and gave warning, and punishment. He gives fair warning that he is coming again in 1 Corinthians 13:2. Yet Paul was not trying to punish the Corinthians out of anger, or revenge. No, he wanted them to grow, in Christ and faith. His warnings are serving to let people know, examine yourself before I come. Now the letters to Corinth end at this point, but looking at past history, it could be easy to say they didn’t change.  It is also real easy to sit back and point fingers and say that they were so foolish, they had Paul to teach them. 

It would be easy to read Paul’s warning, and just continue on. After all, we live in the time of Grace. In Christ there is no condemnation. However, if that is the case, if there is no need for warning, then why did Paul give a warning? What was the purpose. Perhaps it is because we were created and saved for a reason. Paul tells, us that we were in darkness and therefore useless to the Lord (Eph 5:1-11). That is why in Colossians 3 we are to to take off the old self, and put on the new self. We are to act as Christ would have us to act. The reason for this is simple, we are no longer in sin, flesh, or world. But instead we are a new creation, paid for, by the blood of Christ. We shame him, when we live a life for self, and yet try to claim it for him. Now, it does not mean that we get extra blessings or punishment based on behavior. Instead it means that when we do what God want to us to do, we know that he is there with us in all things and we can trust and rely on him. However, if we know we are walking in darkness than God is not with us, and trouble will eventually find us. 

That is why Paul is giving us warnings. We know the truth but often want go our own way.  But we have been warned. We can choose what we do in our lives, and what kind of witness we produce. But there are always consequences to our actions. It is time now fur us to be like the Corinthians and examine ourselves. Who are we living for? Can others see Christ in us, or have we jumped on the sin wagon and enjoying the ride? Only you can answer that question.

Inadequate--who me?

Today I while reading, Our Daily Journey, the verses were 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. The author pointed out that in verse 14 Paul addresses two major problems within the church; insignificance and an independent spirit. However in the brief space he had, he did not explore those terms, which got me to thinking. 

Several of us in church have a tendency to feel insignificant when we think of ourselves in light of all of creation. Even the psalmist wrote:

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?” 

Psalm 8:2-4

 Feeling insignificant has been around since the fall, rightly so. God lets us know that we are individually are insignificant in the book of Job. 

         With the above in mind, perhaps the better word to describe the problem of insignificance would be “inadequate”. Too often it seems we judge ourselves based on what others are doing in the church. We find people who seem to be able to do it all, great musicians, speakers, prayers, etc. We look at them and say “I can’t do that” and give up, or don’t even try at all. This is the problem. We ( and I am including myself in this) struggle with the notion that God wants perfection, he wants those who are best. However, that is not the case. We need to remember that God calls us where we are at, to serve where we are at. I am reminded of Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15, he tells us that he is the greatest sinner, yet God chose him. That is all of us, we are all sinners, yet God chooses us. Each of us for different reasons and with different opportunities. We are one body, and each of us has a part. Some of us may become great evangelist, some are teachers. Perhaps God has called someone to be the next musical praise leader. Those are all great callings. However, perhaps, you were called to simply be a mother or a father and raise your children in the knowledge and love of Christ. Perhaps you calling is lead a small group. Perhaps your calling is to pray in secret. We need to remember, that God chose us because he loves us. 

There are also some out there who are independent spirits. You know who you are. Paul reminds us that we are ALL part of one body, in spirit baptized to one body (1 Corinthians 12:13). That is why he says that the eye cannot get rid of the hand. We need each other. Common wisdom says no man is an island, and that is true. We affect, and are affected by one another. Think of how a simple smile from someone can brighten your day. 

Perhaps the best example of a group working together, can be found among the Amish. Watch how they raise a barn, or work on a house. Many people, with a single purpose. That is what the Body of Christ was called to be. Imagine what the world would look like, if we could all start working together, using our talents, instead of hiding in the woodwork feeling inadequate, or thinking we can we can do it all on our own.