When My Cry Was Heard

(Audio recording of this sermon is not available due to technical difficulties.)

This is a sermon that was given with the purpose of providing encouragement to those who are going through trials and tribulations in their lives. It is based on Ps. 3:4 ^(NKJV) I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction: I’m sure I don’t need to ask if anyone here has ever felt like they were getting beat down by the circumstances of life. I’m sure that most, if not all of us, could answer “yes” to that question. I know for a fact that any day or any week of the year there is a percentage of our congregation that is going through difficult circumstances or severe adversity. It often involves physical suffering, but in some cases it involves other kinds of trouble.

In light of this fact, I try to make sure I periodically bring a message of encouragement and hope, so we do not lose heart and get overcome with discouragement. The passage of Scripture that was read earlier is the reference I would like to focus our attention on this morning as we seek encouragement from the Lord for our challenges and adversities.

What does King David have to say about trouble and strife in his life? As we examine this Psalm, it appears that David presents a realistic picture of his troubles followed by an equally realistic description of his God. Then he concludes with a renewed cry for divine intervention.

I.      The true picture of troubles and adversity.

David starts out this psalm by accurately describing the situation he faces. If you notice the title given to the psalm, it says that this was a psalm he wrote when he was being pursued by his son, Absalom.

Interesting note: “Absalom” means, “father is peace.” King David no doubt gave him this name in recognition of how God was establishing his kingdom in peace and all his enemies were systematically being defeated. Ironically, now this son named in honor of peace is overseeing a campaign of intrigue and insurrection.

So David begins writing about the situation he finds himself in, and he doesn’t “pull any punches” or sugar-coat the details.

A.    His enemies are myriad.

¹ LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

I’ve just recently read the account of this uprising in my personal Bible reading. It is striking to realize how murderous these people were in trying to take away the kingdom from David. Almost every king, if not everyone, would literally kill all potential rivals to the throne. (This is a practice that continues today.) So David was rightfully fearful of what might happen to him.

There are times when it seems like we are literally surrounded with trouble. It seems like every direction we turn there is suffering, heartache, trouble or conflict. We don’t accomplish anything by trying to minimize the threats or by ignoring the way things really are. The secret is, to not allow the conditions of the trouble to obscure our perception and sight of our deliverance.

B.     They expect God to abandon him.

² Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah

One writer suggested that this might have been their assumption because of David’s own sins and failures. God won’t save him, because David has had times of unfaithfulness himself. However, they do not take into consideration that God is a loving God and a forgiving God towards anyone who demonstrates an attitude of humility and repentance.

II.    A true record of God’s direct aid.

In the Present

³  But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

“for me” – lit. “about me or around me” Instead of abandoning His servant/worshiper, God actually shields him on every side from the attacks of the enemies.

“my glory” – “glory” comes from a Hebrew word that literally means “heavy” and is only used a couple of times in its literal meaning in the OT. It portrays the idea of “weightiness” and signifies worthiness, impressive or noteworthy. It seems to indicate that David admits and affirms that the only worthiness he possesses comes because of his ties to God.

“One who lifts…” – KJV, “lifter of my head.” This phrase is sometimes used in a negative sense to indicate pride and arrogance. For example: Psalm 83:2 ^(KJV) For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

However, in a more positive sense, it gives the idea of confidence and dignity. Psalm 27:6 ^(KJV) And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. So David is acknowledging that, in spite of the enemies and what they think/do, God gives David the ability to hold his head up in dignity and confident in God’s provision of safety for him.

In the Past

⁴ I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah ⁵ I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

The reason David can feel confidence in the present is based on his experience of God’s faithful aid in the past. If we take the time to reflect on the past, we can recall various times when we have gone through trials and situations that seemed unbearable at the time.

There are those experiences in the past when we desperately cried out to God and He responded with help just in the “nick of time.” It hasn’t always happened just like we wish or as soon as we hoped. David experienced the same disappointments. There were times recorded in other psalms when David asked the Lord, “Why have you forsaken me?” But, he has experienced enough times when God came to his rescue, that he still has faith He will do it again.

In the Future

Because of what God is to me now, and what God has been for me in the past, I know I can trust Him to be all that I need for the future. That is one of the blessed truths the people of God know and can rely on.

⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.

Even though the number of enemies have increased (v.1), even up to ten thousands of people, I will not resort to paralyzing fear, because I know God is real and He has the help I need.

III.   A renewed cry for divine intervention.

So, since I have confidence in God, I am going to cry out to Him for His deliverance from all my enemies now. Since He has heard my cry before, I’m going to cry out again.

⁷ Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

This phrase, “Arise, O Lord” derives from an old prayer of Moses when the Ark of the Covenant was taken up to lead the people of Israel against their enemies. Numbers 10:35 ^(NKJV) So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: "Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You."

⁸ Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

Salvation = deliverance – With God alone are all resources of help, and how they shall be bestowed rests exclusively with Him. (Leupold)

Conclusion:

Based on what we have been reminded of about God, what is the appropriate response? It is appropriate for each one of us to relax and rest in the assurance that God is going to see us through the crisis. We know we can trust the Lord to be faithful to us every day that lies ahead. We can “be still and know that He is God.”

Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Let us be encouraged and uplifted with the closing song: Be Still My Soul

Power for What?

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen now, click on the play button of the audio player shown.)

This sermon was given in recognition of Pentecost Sunday and is based on Acts 1:8. It emphasizes the power for witnessing that is imparted to believers when they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Witnessing not only involves verbal testimony but also righteous conduct as well.

Written Excerpts:

Acts 1:8 ^(NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

John Oswalt – This statement by Jesus is one of the few times that the disciples did not “need” to ask Jesus what He meant by what He said. They apparently already knew from the OT that the Messiah was “supposed” to initiate the gift/ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Introduction:

I imagine that most of us in this service today have seen and been impressed by some kind of awesome display of power. 

I’ve seen my grandfather do some pretty heavy jobs with any one of his teams of Percheron draft horses.

I’ve seen the aftermath of destructive storms. 

I’ve read about the power of atomic bombs or even the power of a volcanic eruption.

No matter what power we may think of, there is nothing that compares to the power of Almighty God.

Theologians refer to the unlimited power of God as His omnipotence. 

There is nothing too hard for thee [God]. (Jer. 32:17)

With God, all things are possible. (Matt. 19:26)

In this passage of Scripture we have read from Acts 1:8, Jesus speaks about a type of power that is available to His disciples. It is a power that originates from God (Holy Ghost).

Jesus is speaking to His disciples some final words of instruction and admonition before He returns to heaven. He reminds them of a power source available to them that would provide exactly what they needed for the future. It is related to a promise he had given earlier in his ministry:

Luke 24:49 ^(NKJV) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." 

The “power from on high” is none other than the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. On the Christian calendar, last Sunday was designated as “Pentecost Sunday.” Since I wasn’t here, I felt impressed to focus on the subject this Sunday.

I have preached from this passage in Acts 1 before, but I want to return to it again today and focus on one specific part of the passage by asking the question, “The Holy Ghost will provide power for what?”

Previously, we have discussed the kind of power that Jesus is speaking about here. It was not “authority” to control others, but it was a supernatural ability to accomplish a specific task. As you can see in the verse, the power provided by the Holy Spirit is for the task of witnessing. For a little while this morning I want to focus our attention on the promise of the Holy Spirit’s power to make us witnesses.

I.    Witnessing is part of the promise.

Some authors point out the fact that the structure of this sentence does not indicate or emphasize a command AND a promise, but rather the whole statement is a promise. The point is not – I command you to be witnesses, and in order to accomplish that I’ll baptize you with the Holy Spirit. But rather – I promise to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and witnessing will be the natural result of that experience.

(Lenski N. T. Commentary) – … the future tense reads as though being witnesses is a continuation of the promise. This is not an admonition, but only a glorious future fact: "you shall be my witnesses" even as Jesus designated them already in Luke 24:48 – (You are witnesses of these things). 

When people are truly born again and their lives have been changed; when they are filled with the very presence of God Himself in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, they can’t help but be witnesses. They may not always say the right words, or know exactly how to address certain questions, but they witness or testify to the transforming grace of God in their lives anyway.

II.  Witnessing includes specific content.

A witness has a specific task – to convey the facts / truth about something he/she has experienced.

I’ve said this before, but in court a witness is not allowed to tell what he/she thinks or heard someone else describe, etc. A witness can only provide what they know to be a fact because they have seen it with their own eyes, etc.

On an internet website, Attorney Ellen Harman gives this answer to the question, “What does a witness do in court?” A witness is anyone who has firsthand knowledge of something, who perceived it, can remember what he perceived and can retell it. I use perceive because a witness can testify to what he heard under some circumstances, what he smelled, tasted, how something felt when he touched or lifted it, etc as well as what he may have seen. (https://www.quora.com/What-does-a-witness-do-in-court)

The same basic concept applies to Christian disciples.

Jesus said, “You shall be witnesses to me…” Some translations of this verse simply translate it as: “my witnesses.”

But… (Lenski) – "My" witnesses = called to witness by me, for me, about me, yea, all about me.

The emphasis seems to be not only that witnesses belong to Jesus (my witnesses), but that Jesus is the content of their witness.

 (Philip Bence, Wesleyan Bible Commentary) – What would they do with that power? They would be witnesses. Those who are witnesses need not be clever or articulate. Witnesses merely describe what they have seen and heard.

 (Lenski, Con’t) They are to be more than heralds (preachers) who proclaim only what they are ordered to proclaim; they are to be … "witnesses" in the sense of 1^st John 1:1, men who have themselves seen, heard, touched, experienced, and are qualified, even called, to testify accordingly.

Those first century disciples and apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and immediately began to tell everyone what they had seen, heard, and experienced firsthand. We 21^st century disciples were not there to see Jesus, hear Jesus and experience the power of Jesus, but we still have the privilege of discovering all of those things based on the witness of others. When we do, it is our responsibility to continue the chain of testimony, but we won’t be able or effective without the filling of the Holy Spirit with power from above.

III. Witnessing includes various means.

There are many ways to witness through the power of the Spirit.

1. Speaking – The Christians in Acts, boldly spoke/proclaimed the message of salvation through faith in Jesus.

2. Actions – They faithfully ministered the grace of Jesus to the sick, the oppressed and the needy by their actions.

Their lives and attitudes were such that, in Acts 4:13, it states that some people “took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.” 

What do people “perceive” about us when they’ve been around us for a while?

What do our words communicate to others about Jesus?

What do our actions and choices communicate to others about Jesus?

One of the thoughts that has been going through my mind lately is this: “What do the people living near our church know about Jesus because of us?” “What have we communicated to them about Jesus by our actions?” That’s part of the reason I have been burdened to attempt the outreach we’ve been talking about lately. We’re going to start making an effort to connect with our neighbors and demonstrate love and compassion like Jesus would.

3. There is a third way the Christians witnessed. They laid down their lives for what they believed.

The word “witness” in Greek is actually the same word that is sometimes translated “martyr.” Dying for the sake of arrogance or pride has no value. But dying for the testimony and witness of Jesus Christ had a tremendous impact. All through history, there have been remarkable stories not only of those who were willing to die for their faith, but also how their willingness to do so has impacted others to the point they also gave their hearts to Jesus.

You’ve heard me say this before but… I once read a cartoon where a young man was bragging to a friend, “I’d be willing to die for my faith!” The friend replied, “I just wish you would live for it!”

Conclusion:

I read this account I wanted to share before we close today.

One New Year's Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas. 

Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance, and though they are "clothed with power" (Luke 24:49) find themselves out of gas.  (Steve Blankenship in God Came Near by Max Lucado, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 95. Quoted at: www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/p/power.htm)

Far too often the Christians parade under the banner of Salvation and holiness, but they don’t have the power to live it out before a world that is watching and searching for authenticity and integrity in those who profess faith.

Jesus has provided all that is necessary for us to be effective witnesses for Him and about Him. But it’s up to us to take advantage of what He has provided by surrendering ourselves to be completely filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit. I hope each one of us here today will truly seek more and more of the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit and will live out our witness for Christ every day.

Let’s close the service by standing and singing the closing hymn: I Would Be True 

The Work Is Done

(Audio recording of this sermon is not available.)

This is a sermon that was given during a worship service in which the sacrament of communion was celebrated. It is based on the words of Jesus as He hung on the cross, "It is finished." The message focuses on the various things Jesus stated He came into the world to do, and how He completed the tasks He was "assigned."

Written Excerpts:

John 19:30 ^(NKJV) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Introduction:

I’m sure that I am talking to people who in one form or another have experienced the sheer joy and relief of finishing a difficult project, job or assignment. I remember various kinds of jobs or assignments that initiated huge sighs of relief when I finally finished them.

·     Research papers in college

·     Graduation from college

·     Master’s Thesis

·     Graduation from seminary

·     Building a large deck on our house in Ohio

Some of you are already aware that Kris and I will be traveling to Ohio in two weeks to watch our son Andy graduate from law school. What a relief for us – but how much more relief for him!

What comes to your mind?

In the account of the crucifixion that was read for our Scripture lesson today, we heard the reading of the gospel in which it is recorded, “when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

What was Jesus speaking about when He said, “It is finished.”?

The answer to this question is not really difficult. There are a few different answers that have been proposed, but there seems to be one answer that stands out as the accepted one by most Bible teachers and scholars.

We are told that there is just one word in Greek that is translated, “It is finished.” The word “tetelestai” τετελεσται means to bring to an end or finish.

Jesus is saying that all He came into the world to do and to bear has come to an end, has been accomplished or is finished. There are a number of things that Jesus came into this world to do, and everything has been accomplished. What are the things He finished? Well, the answer can be found by looking at Scriptures where Jesus himself or other writers of Scripture tell why He came.

Listen to these Scriptures in which Jesus talks about what He came to do, and ask yourself if each one has been completed and finished.

Matthew 5:17 ^(NKJV) "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 

Lived a perfect life, thus fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law. Provided Himself as the perfect Lamb of God as a sacrifice for sin.

Matthew 10:34 ^(NKJV) "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

Matthew 10:35 ^(NKJV) For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 

Luke 12:51 ^(NKJV) Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 

As perfect as Jesus was; as loving and kind as He was; as wise and sensitive as He was; He still became a “polarizing figure.” Not everyone was happy to know Him or to hear His message.

Luke 12:49 ^(NKJV) "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  

Luke 5:32 ^(NKJV) I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

John 10:10 ^(NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 12:46 ^(NKJV) I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

1 John 3:8b ^(NKJV) For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

Over and above all that we have said so far, Jesus came to provide eternal redemption for all of mankind. He came to rescue humanity and bring us back into relationship with our heavenly Father.

John 6:38 ^(NKJV) For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 

The will of the Father from before the foundation of the world was the redemption of humanity.

Hebrews 9:12 ^(NKJV) Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 

As Jesus hung there on the cross, there are a number of “assignments” that he could say had been completed, as we have already explained… But, the single-most important assignment given to the Son by the Father was the purchase of humanity by His own blood; His own sacrifice of His own life. This was the plan from before the creation of the world, and now it is finished.

Hebrews 1:3b ^(NKJV) … when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Many Bible scholars have indicated that the “posture” of the Lord indicates His work is done, and He has entered His ministry of reigning in a position of high honor.

Over and over the phrase “once for all” has been used in connection with Christ’s sacrifice. His work of redemption is done, and every person who accepts it by faith for himself or herself is promised the benefits of His sacrifice in forgiveness of sins.

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Love Your Neighbor

(Audio recording of this message is not available.)

This is a sermon that is based on Matthew 22:39 in which Jesus describes the 2nd greatest commandment as "love your neighbor as yourself." The sermon attempts to explain what it means to love others as ourselves, and how love for God is inevitably linked to our love for others.

Written Excerpts:

Matthew 22:39 ^(NKJV) And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

Introduction:

I remember reading a joke many years ago that went something like this:

The new pastor in town was walking down the street and happened to meet up with a young boy.

Pastor: “Are you afraid of the devil?”

Boy: “I wouldn’t be afraid of a little devil like me, but I’d be afraid of a big devil like you!”

When it comes to “loving our neighbor,” most of us, if we’re honest, would admit that it is pretty easy to love a neighbor like me, but not necessarily a neighbor like you!

Last Sunday I spoke to you from a previous verse in Matt. 22, regarding the “greatest commandment” – love God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. That statement was the answer Jesus gave to the question, “What is the greatest commandment of all?” Jesus did not stop after giving the greatest commandment, however. He continues to give the inquirers the 2^nd greatest commandment – love your neighbor as yourself.

(Lenski NT Commentary) – The point in quoting this commandment in addition to the other is in this instance not the fact that love to God includes love to our neighbor, which is true enough; but that the quality and the high character of both commandments are "alike." 

Lit. – “like to this;” in quality it is like the love we have toward God. (Lenski)

The Scripture reading provided a short time ago was taken from the Gospel of Luke and it addresses the same question, but from a little different perspective. In this account in Luke, Jesus gives the story of the “Good Samaritan” in order to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The story has many excellent teaching points in it, but overall, Jesus uses the illustration to show that being a true neighbor means helping out anyone that is in need.

There have various times over the past several years that I’ve come to this conclusion: There really isn’t a difficult answer to the question, “How does God want me to reach others for him?” The simple answer is: “Show them the love of Christ.”

That is not always easy for a couple of reasons:

1) People are often not very likeable and therefore it’s not easy to offer them love.

2) Sometimes it is not easy to determine what course of action is the best way to demonstrate genuine love.

This morning I want to speak to you about the Lord’s expectation of His children to “love their neighbors.”

I.      Our love for others should match our love for self.

Jesus is quoting the OT passage and reminds us that we must give the same love, respect, care and concern for others as we would give ourselves. This was readily understood by many Jews to be fitting for those who were your friends or those who did the same for you, but…

Jesus, expands the meaning in other passages by saying: “Love your enemies.” Why? Well, partly because your enemy still qualifies as your “neighbor.”

Self-centeredness is an obstacle to loving your neighbor, but…

Self-interest is necessary in order to love your neighbor.

When we are instructed to love our neighbor as ourselves, it is understood and assumed that we actually do love ourselves.

Ephesians 5:28-29 ^(NKJV) So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

(Wm. Klein, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) – A basic, human self-love is a given; it is understandable, and it is valid. Self-hatred is a pathology; healthy people do not hate themselves. Paul states that no one does.

It is not that self-hatred does not occur, but it is not normal. Paul’s statement here is speaking of the norm. So, there is a sense in which we must love ourselves in order to love others properly. That is, we must see ourselves as products of God’s divine love, design and purpose, not some cosmic mistake that evolved from slime billions of years ago. We must see ourselves as individuals created in the image of God and thus able to see our neighbors in the same light.

If we understand that we deserve love and respect, then so does our “neighbor.”

II.    Our love for others is inseparably tied to our love for God.

I quoted Lenski a little earlier who said, the quality and the high character of both commandments are "alike."

The Apostle John clearly declares that it is not possible to love God and not love one another or “our brother.”

1 John 4:7 ^(NKJV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

1 John 4:11 ^(NKJV) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

1 John 4:20 ^(NKJV) If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 

As I already alluded to a few moments ago, we must love others, because every one of them are created in God’s image. No matter how marred and scarred the “image” may be, they are still made in the image of God. You can’t really, genuinely love God with all of your being and yet have disdain for God’s highest creation.

In addition,

According to Scripture, our love for God is the motivation for “doing all we do for the glory of God.” When we love Him, we want to exalt Him and glorify Him. We want God to be applauded. We want our lives and actions to draw attention to Him. It naturally follows that we would want other humans that were created with the same purpose to also be involved in glorifying God. Part of loving God means doing whatever we can to enlist more and more people into giving glory to God.

III.   Our love for others is not primarily a feeling.

The Greek word used for love in these commands is not the word that conveys feelings of admiration, or affection. Rather, it is the word that conveys intelligence and purpose (Lenski), along with commitment and sacrifice.

As such, it isn’t about “warm, fuzzy feelings.” It has more to do with actions that convey concern, empathy, and demonstration of God’s love for them. It has often been said, “Love is a verb.” Meaning it is more often about what you do than what you feel.

If we had time, there are plenty of stories we could share about ways people have demonstrated love for others. “Loving our neighbor” isn’t always about doing really big things. Sometimes it is being sensitive enough and willing to just pause and do the little things. I don’t know where this event happened, but I read about it several months ago.

Here is a story I read on the internet several months ago: After her grandson's tennis lesson, Joyce took her grandson to Rita's Italian Ice for a treat. As they were about to leave, she noticed a sweet family all enjoying ice cream together and she stopped. "Something urged me to ask them if I could take their picture, which they did not hesitate to agree," she shared on Facebook. "I took this picture and then handed my phone to the young daughter and told her to go ahead and text the picture to their cell phone."

On their way home, Joyce explained to her grandson that this isn't the first time she's offered to capture a sweet family moment for complete strangers so that they can have a special memory. Days later, she looked at her phone and noticed a text message from an unsaved number:

Dear Madam, you took our picture in front of Rita's on June 8th. My wife has passed away yesterday and this is the last picture we have together as a family. Please accept my deepest gratitude for your kindness, it means the world to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Joyce continued texting the father and learned that his wife had been sick for the past year. "Never underestimate a simple act of random kindness," she wrote. "My heart is heavy for this sweet family that I don't even know and the tremendous gift that was left to them because I listened to my gut that day. I'm in awe!"

Conclusion:

You might have already guessed that I have brought this message today for a specific reason – We’re getting ready to start an outreach into our neighborhood. I want us to not only be prepared mentally and spiritually in our hearts with the right motives, but I want you to be praying and asking God what part you are going to share.

Here are some of the jobs that will need to be done:

·     People to prepare the packets we’re going to distribute.

·     People to visit the homes on all of the surrounding roads in our general neighborhood.

·     People who will be committed to pray for the people and the literature going out.

·     People who will be willing to follow-up on possible needs we might be able to fill.

·     People who will be willing to be on call to serve needs we discover through our outreach.

o Sit with the lonely

o Transport folk to appointments

o Prepare a meal/clean a house

o Basic home repairs/lawn repair, etc.

So you see, loving our neighbor is more than just saying it. It is more than likely going to require work and sacrifice.

James 2:15-16 ^(NKJV) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

Closing song: The Servant Song  

Loving God

(Audio recording of this sermon is not available.)

This message is based on Matthew 22:37-38 in which Jesus defines the "Greatest Commandment." The sermon attempts to describe what all is involved in truly loving God and the remedy for any obstacles that hinder such love.

Written Excerpts:

Matthew 22:37-38 ^(NKJV) Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

Introduction:

If I asked you to think of a phrase that people use all the time but you get the impression that it has really lost its true meaning for them. You can pretty much tell that they’re just saying it because everyone says it. What would you give as an example?

How about:

“Come and see me sometime.” Or “We need to get together more often.”

“You’re looking good.”

“It’s good to see you!” 

“That was a good sermon!”

I’m sure we can think of many other phrases that people frequently use because they’re so common, but they have really lost their meaning. I hope I don’t offend anyone, because I’m really not thinking of anyone in particular and I don’t even remember if anyone here typically says this, but how about this phrase… “I love the Lord with all my heart.” I’m sure that many people say this phrase with a great deal of sincerity, but I’m also quite sure there are people who may not truly mean it, or even understand its true meaning.

It seems that some people simply learn how to repeat phrases they hear in church without truly having a personal experience of what they say. I have often come to the conclusion that there are many people in our churches these days who have never truly had a genuine conversion through the Holy Spirit, but they’ve learned a fairly sizeable religious vocabulary that allows them to say the “right things” without really experiencing the transforming grace of God in their hearts and lives.

This is why I believe there are those who say they love God with all their hearts, but really do not understand what that means. 

There are two basic questions I want us to ponder this morning:

1.   What does it mean to say, “I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind”?

2.   What are the primary things that prevent us from loving God so supremely?

So let us consider what the Bible has to offer as answers to these questions.

1.   What does it mean to say, “I love God with all my heart, soul and mind”?

Many people have tried to dissect this statement made by Jesus and they emphasize the difference between loving God with the heart vs. the soul or vs. the mind. Some theologians and Bible scholars do not believe that such distinctions are necessary for properly understanding this verse. Rather, it is a common way for referring to the “whole person.” They are not exclusive of each other. For example, the mind might refer more to the intellectual commitment, but the heart also is viewed as having this capacity – “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

In his commentary, D.A. Carson says these are overlapping categories that together emphasize our love for God with our “whole person, our every faculty, and capacity.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Revised)

To love God in this way can mean nothing less than what we mean when we profess to love our spouse or our children with our whole being. It is to passionately desire their greatest good and pleasure, to be totally committed to their joy and happiness, and to be undivided in loyalty and devotion. It includes the keeping of God’s commands (1 Jn. 5:3-This is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.) 

But it is much, much more than mere performance of a lawful duty.

“whole” – the repetition of the word “whole” is purposely used to show great emphasis. “God will have no mere part, allow no division or subtraction.” (Lenski)

Some people believe and preach that it is not possible to love God in this way, because we are flawed human beings. I know as well as anyone how flawed I am and how flawed all of us are. But, how cruel would it be for the Lord to lay this out as our main duty and priority if it isn’t possible? 

As I have said in previous sermons, it may not be possible to be perfect in our performance, but it certainly is possible to be filled with a heart of love for God. The problem we face is the fact that there are too many other obstacles that tend to obstruct our love from being what it ought to be.

2. What are the primary obstacles to loving God in such a manner?

Self – self-will; self-centeredness; self-interest…

Our main problem is that “Self” wants to be on the throne and in control. “Self” wants to be pampered and catered to. We want what we want and when we want it.

It is impossible to serve two masters, Jesus said. It is impossible to love God with all there is in us if self-will and self-centeredness has not been dealt with.

(D.A. Carson, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) – Love in the truest sense demands abandonment of self to God, and God alone is the adequate incentive for such abandonment.

In other words, “we can’t truly, genuinely love God the way we should unless we abandon ourselves to God, and the good news is, God alone is worthy of that kind of surrender.”

The world

1 John 2:15 ^(NKJV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

World – κόσμος, kósmos, properly "order," with the suggestion of beauty; thence the material universe, as the great example of such order; then the moral universe, the total system of intelligent creatures, perhaps sometimes including angels (1 Cor. 4:9), but as a rule human beings only; then, in view of the fact of universal human failure, humanity in its sinful aspect, the spirit and forces of fallen humanity regarded as antagonistic to God and to good, "all around us which does not love God." (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

Kosmos is frequently used by John. Paul often uses the word, “aion,” “age” “indefinite time” “with frequent connotations of the content of time, its influences and powers…” Cf. Romans 12:2 – “Be not conformed to this world…”

In John’s context it seems to be emphasizing the placing of affections on all that is material and temporal. In Paul’s usage, it seems to be emphasizing a philosophical way of looking at life. That is, the value system of this age without God or salvation. In either case, it is placing value on things that man values vs. the things that God values. It is allowing our affections and our devotion to be divided and directed toward something other than God.

To view this in light of the Old Testament message, it is truly nothing else but idolatry.

Notice that John says if we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us. He is not allowing for the possibility that we can love God a lot and we can still reserve some love for the world. No, he is saying that when we allow our affections to be attached to this world, then the true love of God is not even in us.

Conclusion:

What is the remedy for the heart, soul and mind that is not truly loving God?

It is the cleansing of the Holy Spirit.

It is the filling of the Holy Spirit.

It is the hot pursuit of the Lord and a complete surrender of self.

God is deserving of all our love. He deserves nothing less.

Let us give ourselves completely and totally to Him.

Stand and sing with me the closing hymn: Something for Thee

What Do We Do Now?

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This is a sermon that was given on April 8, 2018 and it focuses on the actions of the disciples following the resurrection of Jesus. When the disciples decide to go fishing is it a sign that they are going back to their former occupation, or is there another meaning with a lesson for us?

Written excerpts:

John 21:15 ^(NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

Introduction:

Last Sunday we celebrated Easter (or Resurrection Day), but we still gather in joyful celebration today because Jesus is Alive! We will continue to celebrate His resurrection by gathering in His name and praising Him.

In various sermons I’ve preached in the past regarding the resurrection, I have spoken about the ways that Jesus manifested Himself to His disciples in order to verify His identity and His resurrection. So, as we consider the events surrounding the resurrection and the post-resurrection appearances of Christ that are recorded in the Gospels, we understand that the disciples have experienced emotional lows and highs. We understand that they have experienced a lot of things to think about and ponder. 

After the resurrection, there are about 40 days until the ascension of Christ into heaven. We are not given too many details of what took place during those 40 days, but today’s Scripture takes place during that time.

Today, with the help of the Lord, I want to use this passage and this story to share some thoughts that have been going through my mind as I tried to imagine what might have been going through the minds of the disciples in these days after the resurrection.

Let us consider the things we know about the disciples and try to answer a question that could have easily been on their minds following the resurrection: “What do we do now?”

Now that Jesus is alive again, what’s next?

I.     Obey Jesus’ words: Meet me in Galilee

The first point that I notice, and has been noted by some commentaries is the fact that the disciples have obeyed the most recent and direct instruction of Jesus – “Go into Galilee and meet me there.” 

Mark 16:7 ^(NKJV) But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.

Earlier, in chapter 14, Jesus had told the disciples that He would go to Galilee after He was raised from the dead. So here, in the 21^st chapter of John we read that these disciples are by the Sea of Tiberius, which is another name for the Sea of Galilee. They obviously have traveled from Jerusalem up to Galilee because that is what Jesus had instructed. And, I imagine they are expecting Jesus to meet up with them somewhere, but they may not know where or when. (However, it wouldn’t be hard for me to believe that they went to the Seaside purposely to see if they would meet Him there, because so many of His previous meetings had been there.) The important thing is that they have obeyed Him, and now they await the next instruction.

I think the spiritual lesson here is to be reminded we need to make sure we have obeyed what God has already told us, before we seek or expect new instructions.

Go to any section of the Bible and I think you will be able to find verses that emphasize the importance of obedience. From God’s strict requirement of obedience in the OT Law to the examples of faith in Hebrews 11 where obedience is highlighted as proof of faith, the point is inescapable.

Obedience is the major proof of faith.

Obedience is the major prerequisite for God’s blessings.

Obedience to God’s previous assignments will get us to the place where we can discover God’s next assignment for our lives.

For many people:

God says I want you to     (fill in the blank)        . And we respond by our words or by our actions: “I’m not good at that,” “I don’t like that,” “John Doe is better at that than I am,” “What else do you want me to do, Lord?”

What has God commanded you that you haven’t obeyed yet?

What did God tell you a long time ago that you haven’t obeyed yet?

Genuine faith in the resurrection will cause us to obey the Lord’s commands.

II.  Don’t idle time away: Go Fishing

The second lesson for us to learn from this post-resurrection account is this: Get busy doing something. What is really going on in this story that is related in John 21? Why are Peter and the others deciding to go fishing? Isn’t there something else they should be doing? 

Because of previous sermons I’ve heard on this text about Peter, I’ve assumed that Peter was uncertain about the future and had decided he might as well go back to his old occupation of fishing. Is he perhaps disillusioned over the fact that Jesus didn’t set up His earthly kingdom?

Some people have stressed the viewpoint that Peter was disobeying the commission Jesus had just given in the previous chapter: “As the Father has sent Me, so send I you.” Or, perhaps that he was disoriented and confused about what he should do or where he should go.

However, when I began to read the comments of different Bible scholars, I discovered that none of them actually held to that view of Peter’s actions. Instead, they all described his words and actions as just an indication that Peter was not content to simply sit around and do nothing while he waited for further instructions from the Lord. Some examples:

(Colin F. Kruse, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – Jesus himself had told them to return to Galilee, and he would see them there. It is natural they would occupy themselves fishing while they waited for him. 

(R.C.H. Lenski New Testament Commentary) – It is entirely like Peter to make the proposition to do a bit of work; he likes activity. Besides, a good catch of fish will not come amiss while they wait for the further directions of their Lord.

(Robert H. Mounce, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) – Peter is sometimes criticized for returning so quickly to his old line of work (Mk 1:16). But was he in fact returning to his former career as a fisherman? Is it not more likely that Peter was simply choosing to use his time profitably rather than to remain idle? 

So what can we learn from this? It is important to be busy. There is a saying that has been around a long time: “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” Have you ever heard it said, “If you want something to get done, find someone that is already busy to do it?” 

There are enough references in Proverbs and other places in the Bible to teach us that wasting time and God-given talents, skills and abilities is not pleasing to God.

Maybe Peter still doesn’t know what God wants him to do, but he’s not going to “just do nothing.” Fishing is not only something he knows how to do, but it will provide livelihood and sustenance until further directions arrive.

There is nothing wrong with rest and recreation, but the danger is to become wasteful of time. (This is an area that I often feel I need to be better at.)

We’ve already mentioned that obedience gets us to the place where Christ can give us our next assignment. And, while we’re waiting on that next assignment from the Lord, stay busy. Do the things we know to do. It is often in the “doing” that we learn the next thing God wants from us. 

III.  Realign your life with purposes of Christ: Feed my sheep

There are other very important lessons to be learned from this conversation between Jesus and Peter, but today I just want to focus on the fact that Peter is finally given his assignment for the future.

We just finished describing Peter as someone who was not content to simply sit around and wait until he received a definite assignment. He likes to be active. He is busy while he’s waiting. 

Now, Jesus appears to the whole group with a prepared breakfast by the lake.

(Ever had breakfast by a lake?)

These men were no doubt very hungry – having toiled all night with the fishing nets.

After the breakfast, Jesus gives Peter his next assignment: “Feed my sheep.”

By all we know, Peter immediately readjusts his life and his priorities to coincide with the Master’s plan. After the resurrection, Peter gets his “marching orders” and he willingly makes the adjustment to obey.

If Jesus is risen, He deserves our worship and adoration.

If Jesus is risen, He deserves the right and authority to call us into His mission and purpose for the world.

If Jesus is risen, and we’re His disciples, then He “calls the shots” for us and we listen; we obey and we engage.

At this point in faith, it is no longer “What do I want to do?” but it is “What does God want me to do?”

Conclusion:

In conclusion, let me refer to the announcement we have put in the bulletin for the past few weeks regarding the upcoming plan to reach out to our neighbors. I don’t know what you’ve been thinking about it, but, just in case you didn’t know, I didn’t place that in the bulletin merely to provide interesting news for you to read. It has been in there for the purpose of sparking interest in your minds and hopefully being open to whatever role God wants you to play in the effort.

I’m pleased to say that there have been a few people who have inquired about the plan, so I know God is speaking to those individuals at least. J Our goal and purpose as Christians is to make an impact for Christ where we live.

A number of months ago I felt convicted over this question: “I wonder how many of the neighbors near this church really know who we are, or have any idea that we even care about them?”

So, in a month or so, we’re going to reach out to all of the households within a mile or two of this church. We’re going to give them a little gift from the church and we’re going to ask them if there is anything we can do to show that we care about them. We’re not going to start out by asking them to come to church. That sounds too self-serving (get more people coming, to get more money in the offering plate, etc.). Isn’t that the way many people think? Well, we’re going to work on trying to show love and concern so they will want to find out more about why we are doing it.

That’s all I’m going to say right now. I’ll be sharing more information as we go from week to week, so you’ll know what kinds of help we need.

The point is this: Let’s get busy Obeying the Lord

Let’s stay busy doing what He presently is leading us to do.

Let’s re-adjust our priorities and our plans and our lives in order to serve the Lord and accomplish His mission.

A really good song that goes along with this theme today is found in the Praise and Worship hymnal: We’ll Work till Jesus Comes 

He's Not Here, But

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player.)

This is a sermon that was preached on Resurrection Sunday. It emphasizes some of the similarities in the messages given by the angels at the empty tomb and the angels at the Mount of Olives when Jesus ascended into heaven. The message of hope is, "You will see Him again!"

Written Excerpts:

Mark 16:6-7 ^(NKJV) But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. ⁷But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."

Introduction:

I saw a cartoon yesterday on Facebook that made me chuckle. It was a cartoon about pastors. The picture showed a man and woman leaving a church and they are standing next to the pastor at the door of the church. The man says, “You’re in a rut, Reverend. Every time I come here you preach on the resurrection!” Well, if you haven’t been here since last Easter, you might have the same impression after today’s message! J

Although, the resurrection message is not a bad message to constantly repeat. The Apostle declares, “If Christ be not risen, your faith is vain and our preaching is vain.” So, hopefully without surprising anyone, we’re going to be talking about the resurrection today.

When we heard the reading of the two passages of Scripture a little earlier, they were passages that provide details about two different events. The first text was describing the scene at the tomb of Jesus, and the second text was describing the scene at the Mount of Olives when Jesus ascended up into heaven. The message given to Jesus’ followers by the angel at the tomb was this: “He is not here.” But… go tell… you will see Him as He said.

The actual words stated by the angels following the Ascension is a little different from the scene at the tomb, but the emphasis is very similar. The angels mention that Jesus was taken up from them into heaven, so he is essentially saying, “Jesus is not here.” He is no longer with us. He then proceeds to tell the disciples that He will come again in the same manner as you have seen Him go. Just like resurrection morning, the message is: He is not here but you will see Him again.

In both cases, the angel states a present fact, then follows with a promise of future hope.

I.    The Present Fact

Facts are interesting things. Sometimes people have even characterized facts as “pesky” things. Why? Because they are what they are. You can’t change the facts. You can manipulate them, re-interpret them, try to obscure them, but real facts do not change.

1.    At the first scene, the tomb, there are two facts provided by the angel. The first one is: He’s not here in this grave.

The women had arrived expecting to find the body of Jesus still in the tomb, but the angel confirmed what they observed – the body is gone; Jesus is not here.

I can imagine that their immediate passion and desire is to see Him. The fact that He is gone raises all kinds of questions. If they can see Him it will eliminate the questions. For right now, even if they could just see His body, it would no doubt bring some level of relief. But He is not here, and the questions are mounting, especially with the strange words, “He is risen.”

Along with the fact “He is not here,” the angel provides a second fact that stretches the mind. “He is risen.” The first one is easy to comprehend because they can see that there is no body lying in the tomb. But the second statement must be taken on faith that the angel truly is real and is communicating truth. This fact can easily be verified, but not at the immediate moment. They must obey the words of the Lord communicated by the angel in order to verify the fact He is alive.

2.     At the second scene, on the Mount of Olives, there is a fact provided by a different angel: “This Jesus... was taken up from you” (He’s no longer here on this mountain or in this earthly life).

Jesus was gone. They obviously knew this fact already. They had watched Him rise out of sight. But I can imagine that they’re standing there somewhat stunned by what had just happened. According to the previous verses, they were expecting and hoping that Jesus was going to finally establish the Kingdom of God on earth and Israel would be delivered from the hated Roman occupation. But instead of preparations for a military campaign against the Romans, Jesus says a few words and then leaves.

In both of these scenarios, the facts are vivid and stark. In our own lives, sometimes the facts of life leave us stunned, bewildered, and shaken. Right when we may think everything is going great, things can suddenly turn for the worse. In the case of the missing body, this fact only compounded the foregoing fact that the One in whom they had hoped placed so much expectation, had been put to death by crucifixion. It seemingly can’t get any worse, but it does. Now His body is missing.

II.  The Future Hope

Well, the angel does not end with the cold hard facts of despair. He continues speaking to the women with a message of hope.

In the first case at the tomb, the obviously great news of hope to the women is this, “He is risen.” Wow, what wonderful, good news! Every Easter we try to emphasize this message of resurrection from one perspective or another. It was a message of hope. In light of all the emotions they had experienced just a couple of days ago, hearing that He is alive surely must have elicited exuberance in their hearts.

But, how? What really happened? It seems that there still must have been some mixed emotions. Joy? Yes! But still many questions. Their joy over the news of his resurrection was undoubtedly increased when they heard the next words from the angel.

1.     But you will see Him in Galilee.

I can’t imagine the joy and the hope that sprang up in the hearts of these women as the angel proclaims to them that they should go and tell the other disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee, just like He told them before His death. It’s no wonder that the Scripture says that they ran…

He was with us just a few days ago. He was taken away and put through horrible pain and suffering and then killed. He was buried in the garden tomb. But now we have the chance to see Him alive, again. The pain of yesterday can potentially be overcome with the joy of seeing Him again.

Oh my, dear friends, think of what I just said. “The pain of yesterday is overcome when we see Him again.” Easter; the resurrection, is all about getting a brand new view of Jesus. He’s not a helpless victim. He is the victor!

2.     But you will see Him again.

The scene at the Mount of Olives is drastically different, even though it has been just more than a month since Jesus was raised from the grave. Today He has taken His disciples out to the mountainside and offered more instruction. Then, in just moments, He rises off the ground and keeps on going right up through the clouds. He’s gone!

Again, it’s hard to comprehend their emotions. I’m sure there is amazement over what they just witnessed. But I’m also confident that there was a certain amount of distress. He’s gone, Again! Perhaps a very similar feeling as they had felt a month ago when He was buried swept over their minds and hearts.

Right at that moment, two men in white apparel showed up and gave them this message. This same Jesus who was taken up into heaven (He’s no longer here), will come again in the same manner as you have seen Him go. You will see Him again!

Jesus will return!

Conclusion:

This Easter morning in 2018 I have good news for you. The same Jesus who was crucified, buried and raised again, is the same Jesus who was taken up into the heavens, and is the same Jesus who is returning from the heavens someday. I encourage you to take heart. Whatever physical or emotional pain you may be going through, just focus on the future hope we have in seeing Jesus again.

One of the certainties of the resurrection is the return of Christ. Anyone who can keep his promise to rise from the dead can be trusted to return like he said!

Let us stand up and rejoice by singing the closing song: He Rose Triumphantly