His Face Was Set

 This is a sermon that was based on Luke 9:51, 53 which describes Jesus' determination to go to Jerusalem in spite of all the opposition and eventual crucifixion He would be facing at Jerusalem. The message was accompanied with the sacrament of communion. 

Written Excerpts:

Luke 9:51, 53 ^(NKJV) Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem… But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

Isaiah 50:7 ^(NKJV) "For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.

Introduction:

Have you ever seen or known anyone that was resolutely determined to go someplace or accomplish some feat that it seemed like it took priority over every other matter in their life? How about a child that has made up his/her mind to do something that is just a little above their ability? We could take a few lessons from them, couldn’t we?

I hesitate to even mention this personal example because someone might get the mistaken idea that I’m really intelligent, but I remember my first day of NT Greek class in college. The professor flat-out stated, “This class will divide the men from the boys.” I made up my mind that first day that I was going to finish the semester, and the entire year, standing with the “Men!” (Please don’t ask me too many Greek vocab words now!)

“As Abraham Lincoln prepared to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, he took his pen, moved it to the signature line, paused for a moment, and then dropped the pen. When asked why, the president replied, "If my name goes into history, it will be for this act, and if my hand trembles when I sign it, there will be some who will say, 'he hesitated.'" Lincoln then turned to the table, took up the pen, and boldly signed his name.” Today in the Word, July, 1990, p. 8. (sermonillustrations.com/a-z/d/determination) It sounds like President Lincoln had experience with the media of his day also. i.e., Those who would focus on such a minor detail as a trembling hand rather than the significance of the document.

These are just a few examples of situations in which various people felt compelled to go forward and felt committed or determined to achieve a desired goal. The message I want to bring to you today is based on a text in the Gospels about Jesus that gives us some insight into the mind and life of our Lord. Luke, a physician, gives us a description of the Lord that none of the other Gospels record. There are portions of these last verses of Luke chapter 9 that appear in other Gospels, but this particular story doesn’t.

The title of my sermon today is, “His Face Was Set,” which is taken from verse 51 in Lk. 9. It is another way of saying he was determined, or he was committed. Let us examine these closing verses of Luke 9 in order to understand more fully what is involved in our Lord’s commitment and what that means for His followers.

I.          Jesus was committed to the Father’s will.

Luke 9:51 (NKJV) Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

The Father’s will for the Son, while he was on earth, ultimately concluded with the return of the Son to be with Him in glory.

“time… to be received up” – (Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) The expression “to be received up” is unusual. It is actually a noun (‘the days of his receiving up’), which occurs here only in the New Testament. The corresponding verb is used a number of times in Acts, sometimes of Jesus’ ascension. … Luke will have in mind the consummation of Jesus’ work in the crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and session at God’s right hand (cf. 22:69). But first in this sequence is the cross, and there is courage accordingly in the fact that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

Luke is explaining that it is important to understand the setting and context in which these events take place. The context is this: Jesus knows that soon he will be put to death (v. 44), rise again, and ascend into heaven. There is some debate among Bible scholars whether this present journey takes him directly to Jerusalem or if there are other stops and events leading him on a much longer and indirect route before reaching the final destination. In any case, it is implied by Luke’s words that the real motivation behind His determination and commitment is the “receiving up” at the end of His earthly ministry.

(R.C.H. Lenski, New Testament Commentary) "He set his face firmly," therefore, does not mean that he faced death with brave resolve, but that he looked forward to his return to the Father with full comprehension…

However, Jesus understood that the “receiving up” cannot happen until the death, burial, and resurrection have occurred.

What is the motivation for you following Jesus? Isn’t it ultimately to go be with Him? As His disciple, we certainly want to accomplish His will in our lives here on earth, but the ultimate goal and motivation for us is the hope of getting to be united face-to-face with our Lord for all of eternity. If we lose sight of that, we will lose our commitment to be true and faithful. On the other hand, we cannot lose sight of our responsibilities in Kingdom work here because we’re longing to leave this mess and go be with Him.

II.        Commitment sometimes results in rejection.

Luke 9:52-53 (NKJV) ⁵² and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. ⁵³ But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

We are not told how many “disciples” were with Jesus at this time. It could have been just the 12, or it could have been a much larger group. In either case, we are told that some kind of advanced preparation would have been necessary in order to feed and house them overnight. But… the Samaritans “did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

What does this mean? What is it all about?

(R.C.H. Lenski, New Testament Commentary) It is not the size of the party that led to the refusal of the Samaritans of the village to receive Jesus, nor the fact that this party was headed for Jerusalem. [cf. Josephus, et.al.] Even larger parties that were going and coming to and from the festivals found entertainment among the Samaritans enroute even as Jesus and his party now thought feasible. It is Jesus to whom these Samaritans object. They have heard of his miracles and know all about him. He is now proceeding to Jerusalem, there to display his powers, is passing right through their land, right past their sanctuary on Mt. Gerizim, and acting as if their worship amounted to nothing.

Their rejection did not deter Him from His journey.

What about us? Can people see that our “face is set?” Can they see our determination?

You can easily tell what some people have “their faces set” for. I’m talking about those things for which everything else gets shoved aside. If you want to know my opinion, I’ll tell you why so many child and youth sports are held on Sundays these days. It’s because “sports” is what their parents have their “faces set for.” Let me offer another illustration. My parents and Kris’ parents had their “faces set” for going to church every Sunday. If we ever got company on Sunday, our parents’ words to the company went something like this, “We’re going to church. You’re welcome to go with us, but if you don’t wish to go, we’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

III.       Commitment does not include revenge.

Luke 9:54 (NKJV)  And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"

The disciples were truly committed. They had been following Him for over two years now and they were “all in.” Luke had just reported earlier in the chapter about the meeting with Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration, so apparently James and John thought it would be okay to call down judgment on these people just like Elijah had done in his day.

Luke 9:55 (NKJV)  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

Being a disciple entails much more than defending the Lord’s reputation. It demands imitating His spirit, His motivation, and His conduct to carry out the Father’s plan of redemption, rather than condemnation. Unsanctified zeal can cause disciples to stray outside of God’s will and divine purposes.

IV.       Commitment outweighs all competing interests.

We do not have enough time to thoroughly discuss these three examples that Luke provides in verses 57-62, but I’ll try to summarize them.

A. Glamorous Participation

Luke 9:57 (NKJV) Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."

This man pledges to follow Christ wherever He goes without really counting the cost of such a pledge.

Luke 14:28 (NKJV) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--

B. Family Crisis or affection

Luke 9:59, 61 (NKJV) Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." ⁶¹ And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."

Next two examples relate to family responsibilities. In both cases, the Lord’s answer seems harsh and unrealistic, even contrary to other biblical passages requiring loving care for our families.

The first man’s father either wasn’t dead yet and he wanted to wait until he passes, or some think it might relate to a practice called “secondary burial” in which the corpse was buried first in a cave, then after 1 year the bones would be placed with other ancestors. (Liefeld and Pao, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Revised)

Luke 9:62 (NKJV) But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

“looking back” – “… not an occasional glance, but a constant looking to the rear.” (Lenski)

There is always the potential for legitimate duties and pursuits to distract us and deter us from following God’s will and keep us from being a true disciple. We can’t keep looking back.

Conclusion:

•      The disciple must be like the Master.

•      If the Master is so committed, disciples should be also.

•      How committed are you? What is your face set toward?

As we share communion this morning, let us meditate on the example of our Lord who “set His face to go to Jerusalem” so He could complete the mission for which He was sent.

Our closing song leads us into the sacrament of communion:

The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power

Clothed with Salvation

 This sermon is based on various Scripture passages that speak about "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ," "putting on the new man," or being "clothed with the garments of salvation." These Scriptures present the analogy of being clothed as a way to represent the transformation that takes place in those who have been born again and are trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation. A video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed here.

Written Excerpts:

Isaiah 61:10 ^(NKJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Introduction:

I don’t know how many of you ever think about how we preachers decide what messages to preach. I’ve heard some preachers, particularly traveling evangelists, speak as though God audibly tells them what text and what message to give. It does appear as though that might have been the case with many of the biblical prophets. However, in 40+ years of ministry, I can’t say God ever spoke audibly to me with the Scripture text or theme He wanted me to preach on any given Sunday!

For me, the ideas for sermons often come through the things I read, or occasionally, something I hear/watch. I have a file folder that is stuffed with short articles, sermon outlines or quotes from other preachers that I have saved because when I heard it or read it, it struck me as something I might want to develop into a sermon sometime. Every now and then I get that folder and flip through the papers to see if God is leading me to pursue any of the themes. Sometimes I sense, what I believe is the Holy Spirit, impressing me to pursue a series of messages on a particular topic or a series of messages through a book of the Bible. I am telling you this because the idea for today’s sermon came from a recent daily devotional I read by the well-known author, Max Lucado. I started through this devotional book this year after having it in my library for many years.

Allow me to read for you what I read earlier this month:

(These comments were taken from Lucado’s book, When Christ Comes)

“[Does] Jesus care what clothes we wear?

“Apparently so. In fact, the Bible tells us exactly the wardrobe God desires.

“’But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and forget about satisfying your sinful self’ (Rom. 13:14).

“’You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This means that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus’ (Gal. 3:26-27).

“This clothing has nothing to do with dresses and jeans and suits. God’s concern is with our spiritual garment. He offers a heavenly robe that only heaven can see and only heaven can give….”

Lucado also quoted the passage in Isaiah 61 that I read a few minutes ago and was also read in our responsive reading earlier in the service.

With the help of the Holy Spirit (because I know I cannot speak for God without His anointing), I want to speak to you today about being clothed with salvation. I’ll start off by asking the question, “How well dressed are you today?” 

The Bible teaches us that there are several important things we are to “put on” as we walk with Christ and seek to pattern our lives after Him in our Christian lives. Here are some clear principles that need to guide our minds and actions in this regard.

I.          We must first be clothed with salvation.

When I first read verse 10 in Isaiah 61 without considering the context, I figured that the use of the first-person pronoun, “I,” was directly referring to the prophet Isaiah. However, after checking with a few different commentaries, I discovered that more than one believed that the speaker is to be understood as the same one speaking in verses 1-4. If you look at those, you will immediately realize that these are the verses that Jesus read in the Synagogue one Sabbath and specifically applied them to Himself. Commentators say that it is the Servant of Yahweh (Jehovah) who is speaking. It is the same “Servant” that is described in chapters 52:13 – 53:12.

“Salvation” is a term that encompasses many aspects of God’s work in the lives of His people. It generally means deliverance and would include deliverance from anything and everything that keeps one from being like Christ and doing the work of Christ. It also, more specifically, refers to the spiritual transformation from death to life that takes place in the heart and life of everyone who puts faith in the sacrifice of Christ for them. (Eph. 2:8-9)

Anyone who wants to be clothed in a way that pleases God must first of all be clothed with salvation. They must know they have been born again, forgiven of all sin, and walking in obedience to the spiritual light God shines on their life’s pathway. Without a spiritual birth that produces a transformation in us, all of our efforts to conform to a set of rules will be nothing more than a set of clothes that appear quite different than we think.

Isaiah 64:6 ^(NKJV) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags….

The Servant of Jehovah in Isaiah 61 declares that this clothing of salvation and righteousness is figuratively like a bride and groom all decked out for their wedding day. Without the clothing of salvation, we appear naked in the eyes of God.

Revelation 3:17 ^(NKJV) Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

II.        The clothing of salvation includes right attitudes.

Colossians 3:12 ^(NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

The Apostle had just written in the preceding verses (see vv. 8, 9) that there were specific things they were to “put off” or “get rid of” or, to be “stripped off” regarding the previous attitudes and actions prior to their life in Christ. Just as they needed to strip off the things pertaining to the world and deeds of evil, they also needed to “put on” the things that emulated Christ and His attitudes.

v. 12 mentions: tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering.

These are attitudes and motives of the heart that will, in turn, motivate the actions that are pleasing to the Lord. Rather than anger, hatred, and arrogance, they were to “put on” or become clothed with tender mercies, kindness, humility and love. It truly teaches us that God is not only concerned with outward deeds or performance, but He is ultimately concerned about the inner attitudes and motives of our hearts.

Jesus said… Matthew 15:19 ^(NKJV) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

The heart matters must be changed by the Holy Spirit Himself. We cannot do it on our own. That is why we must be clothed with salvation before we can “put on” any of the other “garments” related to it. The kind of attitudes I portray indicate the kind of “garment” I’m wearing. So, the question is, “Do I portray the garment of salvation or the garment of sin?”

The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter both bring up the matter of outward clothing and how that should not be a distraction away from the inner attitudes of the heart that ought to be shining through our lives. For example…

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV) Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

The structure of this sentence probably doesn’t completely prohibit everything resembling these descriptions, but it is clearly saying that however we dress outwardly, it should not block or distract from the “gentle, quiet spirit” that is inside. If I am known more for the way I dress (or undress) than for my love for Jesus and possession of His attitudes, then I need to “put on Christ.”

If I am known more for anything than my love for Jesus and demonstrating His character, then my life needs new “salvation clothing.” (Mike Reece) “If I am known more for my anger about politics than my love for Jesus, I must revisit [readjust] my priorities.” So, it is a legitimate question to ask myself whether anything in my life, including the way I dress or behave, prevents people from being able to see a spirit and an attitude that glorifies Christ?

III.       The clothing of salvation includes righteous conduct.

The Apostle Paul makes it very clear in all of His letters that having salvation is more than a mere spiritual transaction between God and me, that clears my record of sin and says I now can be admitted to heave. It is something that really has a transforming effect on my life.

A. Verbal conduct

In the Colossians passage we mentioned a few minutes ago, the items Paul urged them to “put off” or “strip off” included verbal conduct such as blasphemy (slander), filthy language, and lying.

Colossians 3:8-9 ^(NKJV) But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

I am troubled by the number of professing Christians I’ve run into over the years that still reveal by their language and speech that they haven’t taken off the old garments of sin. I realize that the transformation isn’t always instantaneous. In some cases, it takes time. But there is no reason for a Christian to simply excuse his/her unholy speech – gossip, slander, filthy language, and lying. God can and will deliver us if we faithfully seek His grace and submit to His Spirit.

B. Physical conduct

Romans 13:12-14 ^(NKJV) … Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The message is clear. Cast off the works of sin and darkness and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Get rid of the clothing of sin and take on the clothing of Christ. What is the foundational reason?

Galatians 3:27 ^(NKJV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Everyone who has been baptized into Christ has also “put on” Christ or has been clothed with Christ. When we live in the world and people see us, they should see Christ because we are “clothed with Christ.” I don’t know about you but I feel as though I barely know what it really means to be “clothed with Christ.”

Conclusion:

I have been talking about putting off; stripping away; and casting off the garments of sin that are exhibited in all the kinds of attitudes and behaviors described in the words of Jesus and the letters of the Apostles. We have described the need to put on or clothe ourselves with Christ and the garments of salvation that are demonstrated in the kinds of attitudes and actions that are holy and Christlike.

Neither one of these (putting off or putting on) can be done by our own power or ability. We must have the power of the Holy Spirit. We must have God’s Spirit descend upon us and transform us into the image of Christ. That is why I have selected the closing song we have for today. I realize that it is probably a new song for many of us (at least it is for me). But it has an excellent message.

Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart

Renewing the Mind - #6

This is the sixth and final sermon in a series of messages focusing on the importance of having a Christian/biblical worldview of life. We are bombarded every day with the philosophies and values of the secular, godless world in which we live. Far too often, Christians have accepted the views and assumptions of the secular world rather than applying biblical truth to every area of life. This sermon addresses the topic of history. 

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Today I intend to conclude the series of messages I have been giving on the subject “Renewing the Mind.” This has been a series intended to remind us of the importance of living with a biblical view of life and the world rather than an atheistic or secular view of life. We refer to that as having a “biblical/Christian worldview.”

I have talked about a number of general topics trying to explain some of the differences between the way a Christian understands the subject and the way it is viewed by someone who doesn’t believe in God or the Bible. Our final topic in the series is the subject of history.

History – (dictionary.com)

1.      the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.

2.      a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account …

3.      the aggregate of past events.

4.      the record of past events and times, especially in connection with the human race.

How important is it to have a biblical worldview in regard to history?

Some of you may remember a story I shared a few weeks ago regarding Attorney David Gibbs (Christian Law Association) and his conversation with Pastor Levi Whisner who was in court fighting for his church’s right to operate a Christian school. (Studied world history in school and completely missed the first man and woman.)

For the remainder of our time this morning I want to speak to you about the topic of history. With God’s help I intend to consider:

I.          Foundational Principle for Recording History

II.        Secular Assumptions about Understanding History

III.       Thoughts about Bible History

I.          Foundational Principle for Recording History

Truth

At the beginning of this series, I preached a sermon in which I tried to emphasize the importance of truth. In that message I started out sharing some thoughts from various authors regarding the definition of truth. We also tried to explain the difference between “subjective truth” and “objective truth.”

Subjective truth is based on personal experience/opinion, changes – e.g. “It is hot!” “church is boring.”

Objective truth is based on an objective standard of reality, doesn’t change – e.g. “It is 95 degrees Fahrenheit.” “church is the body of Christ.”

Finally, we discussed truths from the Bible: God is a God of truth. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the Life. God’s Word is truth.

What does all this have to do with history? It ought to be universally accepted that recorded history must be based upon and grounded in truth, or it is simply meaningless. We probably already know that some historians do not always stick to the truth when recording events. When we discover a historian, who does not adhere to the truth, we generally lose interest in what he/she has to say or has written.

When we read about history by any author, we expect the author to portray the facts accurately – not worse than they are; not better than they are. (Just like the Bible; “bad” with the “good.”) It seems logical to assume that all people would cherish the truth in regard to history whether they are secular or Christian. But, sadly, that doesn’t always seem to be the case. Regardless of what non-Christians may think, a Christian worldview of history certainly must include the principle of truth as one of the most crucial characteristics. 

Many people are extremely disturbed, and rightly so, over the ways that our nation’s history has been revised to fit a politically correct framework of thought. Historical record that is based in truth does not need to be revised in order to conform to any particular framework. If you have been paying attention to current events over the last few decades, you know that certain elements of our society are trying to completely erase all historical reference to the kinds of spiritual and religious values many Americans hold dear.

Why does it disturb us? There are many reasons, no doubt, but one reason is because it simply is not based in truth.

II.        Secular Assumptions for Understanding History

When I worked at New Destiny Treatment Center, I taught a class we called “Spiritual Formation.” One of the topics I presented every year was called, “Evidence for Faith,” and was based on a video series with the same title recorded by Josh McDowell. In that video series McDowell addresses five misconceptions held by some people about Christianity. One of those misconceptions included this allegation: “The Christian’s faith has no historical basis.”

As Josh tries to defend the historical basis of the Christian faith, he takes time to describe the assumptions that atheists and other non-Christians make regarding history. (These are assumptions used to interpret or understand history.)

A. There is no God.

For secular historians, all references to God are “categorized” as religious opinions that are not verifiable, so they do not belong in any discussion of history. “History only deals with humanly verifiable facts.” It almost seems as though they think, “Since God’s existence cannot be proven, we’ll just assume He’s not real.”

B. We live in a closed, self-caused system.

Since “there is no God,” then it can be assumed that we live in a world/universe which is not impacted in any way by anything outside the universe.

C. There is nothing supernatural.

If we live in a system (universe/world) that is closed off from any type of outside intervention, then everything exists due to natural causes, and all events are to be understood as naturally generated (by/within this closed world system).

D. There are no miracles.

If every event is generated by natural causes rather than supernatural causes, then there can be no “miracles.”

There may be other assumptions that secularists hold, or there may be other ways of expressing them, but these four are the ones I discovered as presented by Josh McDowell. I think we can all understand how secular assumptions like these would totally affect one’s view of history and interpretation of historical data. Assumptions, such as these four I’ve mentioned, provide the basis for non-Christian historians to claim large portions of the Bible are fiction or mythological.

III.       Thoughts about Bible History

The third point I want to explore today relates to Bible history.

A. The Bible is not a history textbook.

There are many details regarding the history of the world that are not included in the Bible. However, whatever the Bible records about historical events is reliable.

John Oswalt – The Bible doesn’t exist to give us a history of Israel. It gives us enough data about [such events as] the Exodus that we can say it really occurred, but it has no interest in giving us all the data so we can reconstruct the event. [The Bible is] not interested in reconstructing an event. It is interested in [helping] us know God, who was revealed in the event.        (YouTube, AdventNext Theological Podcast)

B. The Bible is not filled with myths and fables.

In regard to the OT, Dr. John Oswalt does an excellent job of arguing how the OT is drastically different than other ancient literature and myths. (The Bible Among the Myths)

Speaking about the NT, (especially about the resurrection), Josh McDowell stated, “Even though similar things, such as rising from the dead, are attributed to the mythological characters, the readers (or hearers) knew it was in reference to a mythological character. However, in biblical Christianity, the … events occurred in time and space (or history) in the person of Jesus Christ, an event that was witnessed and verified by hundreds of individuals who were still living when the testimony/record was written. (Evidence for Faith Video Series)

C. The Bible is very clear about the reliability of the written record.

In our Scripture reading earlier in the service, we heard a number of verses that describe various individuals writing down what the Lord instructed them to write and inspired them to write. (For those able to see the screen, here is a list of those references again.)

Notice these additional passages:

John 21:24 (NKJV)  This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

1 John 1:1-3 (NKJV) ¹  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- ²  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- ³  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

D. Jesus Christ is the focal point of all human history.

When looking at Christianity and history, Christians view history through the concepts of creation, fall, and redemption… God’s ultimate plan for divine intervention, redemption, and restoration. (Allaboutworldview.com)

Conclusion:

• A Christian worldview of history places a high value on truth. The study and recording of history should be solidly based on the truth.
• A Christian worldview of history places a high value on the biblical record. Historical data in the Bible needs to be interwoven in the history of the world.
• A Christian worldview accepts supernatural intervention as a normal phenomenon in this world.
• A Christian worldview looks at Jesus Christ as the central figure of all history. When time is no more and history is complete, Jesus Christ will stand as the central figure receiving worship from all creation and every creature. Hallelujah!

If all of this is true, then Christians need to be serious about telling the story. People in this world will not get the whole story from the secularists. If they get it, they’ll get it first from a believer.

Closing Song:

Tell the Blessed Story

Renewing the Mind - #5

This is the fifth sermon in a series of messages focusing on the importance of having a Christian/biblical worldview of life. We are bombarded every day with the philosophies and values of the secular, godless world in which we live. Far too often, Christians have accepted the views and assumptions of the secular world rather than applying biblical truth to every area of life. This sermon addresses the topic of economics. You may view a video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was delivered by clicking here. 

1 Corinthians 1:20 ^(NKJV) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Introduction:

We have been working our way through a series of messages about the importance of having a Christian worldview – a biblical way of looking at life and making important life decisions. I have repeated the assessment that many Christians have assumed that the Christian faith is only about asking God to forgive my sins so that I can go to heaven. However, the Bible is clear that following Christ as His disciple means that we are not only forgiven, but we are endeavoring to think and behave in a way that is consistent with the principles and values of His Word. Logically, that means Christians will have viewpoints, opinions, values and lifestyles that are often contradictory to those commonly held by non-Christians. Sadly, that is not always the case.

There have always been Christians who rejoice that their sins are forgiven, and they have hope of going to heaven, but their viewpoints and opinions about life are not all that different from other people who make no profession of faith. (Having said that, I must honestly admit that there are non-believers who think and act in ways that are consistent with biblical truth, not because they care about what the Bible says, but only because they’ve learned that it works.)

When the Apostle Paul says to the Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world, by be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” he is implying that there is such a “thing” as “worldly thinking,” or a “worldly mindset.” When Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” He is clearly showing that the thoughts and ways of God are contrary to the ways and thoughts of the world.

We have been trying to examine several topics or areas of study in which the biblical viewpoint differs from that which is commonly approved and accepted in the world. Today we are going to continue our discussion by looking at another field of study – the topic of economics.

Economics

In preparing for this message, I thought it might be nice to see what I could find by looking for some jokes about economics to lighten up our spirits a little here at the beginning. These are some I found:

·         What do plumbers, garbagemen, and economists all have in common? They all deal with gross domestic product.

·         Banker - The fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain. (Mark Twain)

·         Economist - An expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today. (https://upjoke.com/economist-jokes)

·         Why was astrology invented? So economics would seem [more] like an accurate science. (https://www.equities.com/news/a-look-at-some-of-the-best-jokes-about-economists)

·         The same people who laugh at fortune tellers take economists seriously. (https://www.johns-jokes.com/economic-one-liners)

What is economics anyway?

Miriam-Webster.com - a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Ronald Nash – (adds this) Economics covers a much larger territory. Economics studies the choices human beings make with regard to scarce [limited?] resources.

Today, I will attempt to name some important biblical principles that may be applied to the field of economics and, in doing so, will include some of the errors of a secular/atheistic approach.

Let me begin by sharing a quote from Ronald Nash (former professor of philosophy at Western KY Univ., and later at Reformed Theological Seminary): “I make no effort to deduce a system of economics from the Bible. Such an activity strikes me as muddle-headed as an attempt to deduce a theory of the solar system from the Bible.” (p. 12, Poverty and Wealth)

So, it might be accurate to say that there is no such thing as “Christian Economics.” However, I believe that there are some basic biblical principles that can impact the economies of any nation for good or ill depending on whether they are followed or ignored.

I.          The Principle of Freedom

A number of years ago I preached a sermon with the title, “Liberty is God’s Idea.” In that message I tried to show from Scripture that the very concept of freedom and liberty comes from God Himself. Liberty was woven into the very fabric of creation.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

One of the essential characteristics of the “image of God” is free-will.

2:15-17 ¹⁵Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

God spelled out the boundaries and the consequences, but He did not coerce their obedience. They had the freedom/free-will to make whichever choice they wanted.

Many economists argue that those nations or societies experiencing the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people are the same ones where people are free to engage as they see fit in the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Freely means they may do so without coercion or violence from fellow citizens or their government. In economies where the citizens are not free, people are generally poorer, services and goods are harder to obtain, and exchange.

Obviously, I do not have personal knowledge of these general statements that I have just made. I haven’t examined the economic practices and living standards of the world’s nations. I have made these statements based on the numerous examples offered by respected authors who have described the benefits of free economies over centrally controlled economies. – e.g., Ronald Nash, Poverty & Wealth; Social Justice and the Christian Church.

II.        The Principle of Property Ownership and Stewardship

Exodus 20:15   Thou shalt not steal.

A. Negative Meaning: Do not take anything that belongs to another person without his/her consent.

B. Positive Principle: Personal property is sacred.

If it is wrong to take anything that belongs to another person, then it seems obvious that God recognizes and endorses the idea of personal ownership of private property. This may seem like a pretty simple point to make, but it is very basic to an orderly and civilized society.

(Keil & Delitzsch) “Property was not to be violated just as the sacredness of marriage was not to be violated.”

If the 7^th commandment prohibits the taking of another person’s spouse, then the 8^th commandment prohibits the taking of another person’s property.

What does this have to do with economics? People cannot exchange personal property for goods and services they desire if they are not permitted to own property. Even in societies where limited property ownership is permitted, the limitations necessarily restrict what choices and decisions people can make in order to obtain goods and services or provide goods and services. The principle of ownership is also applicable to economics because if it’s wrong for one person to steal what belongs to another person, then it is wrong for government to steal from one person in order to give it to another person.

The biblical position not only includes the principle of ownership, but it also promotes the principle of stewardship.

Psalm 24:1 (NKJV) The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

Psalm 50:10 (NKJV) For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV) Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Those who attempt to live by a biblical worldview and biblical standards of conduct recognize that even though the Bible teaches private ownership of property, yet ultimately, everything belongs to God and I will give an account to Him. The government planners in a centrally controlled economy become the “all-knowing” owners of property to which we must give an account.

III.       The Principle of Labor and Reward

Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV) Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

The implication of this verse is that the purpose for stealing was to gain what he needed/wanted. But rather than stealing property that belongs to another, he should work for the rewards he desires, not simply take them. Not only will the labor provide for the necessities desired, but it will also provide the excess necessary to give away for others in need. 

Without the previous principles of freedom and private ownership, this verse makes no sense.

IV.       The Principle of Love

There are all kinds of biblical references about the need for people to care for the less fortunate and to demonstrate love for them. We are admonished to love our neighbor as ourselves.

1 John 3:16-18 (NKJV) ¹⁶ By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Economies cannot express love. Governments cannot express love. People express love. If the economy is centrally controlled causing freedoms and property ownership to be limited, then people will have very little if any means to demonstrate love for others.

Conclusion:

A couple of observations:

1. Ronald Nash and others have adequately argued that the abuses of free enterprise and capitalism that people often point to in order to support their call for socialist/Marxist economies are not faults of the free enterprise/capitalistic system, but failures of intervention methods economic planners have mandated.

2. The classic passage in the Bible that is used to support socialism or “Christian Communism” is Acts 2:44-45 (NKJV) ⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Two things true about this text that are not true in Socialist/Marxist economies: 1) It was property they owned. 2) It was willfully sold and divided, not coerced.

If you have been listening, you can tell that I have presented principles and arguments that favor free market economics rather than government-controlled economics. More thorough arguments and multiple examples of principles at work can be learned through some of the books I’ve studied and would be happy to share information for.

Any fair study of history will reveal that free markets, private ownership, and labor opportunities produce more benefits for the whole society than any other system of economics. These are principles that are firmly rooted in Scripture.

I want to close the service today by singing a hymn that emphasizes the calling we have from Christ to be different than the world.

Jesus Calls Us

Renewing the Mind - #4

 This is the fourth sermon in a series of messages focusing on the importance of having a Christian/biblical worldview of life. We are bombarded every day with the philosophies and values of the secular, godless world in which we live. Far too often, Christians have accepted the views and assumptions of the secular world rather than applying biblical truth to every area of life. This sermon addresses the topics of law and government. You may view a video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was delivered by clicking here. 

Written excerpts:

Introduction:

Wow, here it is already the second Sunday of January in a brand new year! With the cancelation of our services the past two weeks, it seems like “forever” since we worshiped together.

Back in November, I had gotten started in a series of messages that we were calling: “Renewing the Mind.” In those messages we were trying to emphasize the fact that it is not only important for us to confess our sins and put our faith in Jesus Christ to be “Born Again,” but also that this new birth is intended to impact our whole lives. That is, it not only changes our relationship with God, but it changes our patterns of thinking and our manner of living. We tried to explain how our lives will be shaped by the way we view the world around us – either from a biblical perspective or from a secular/atheistic perspective.

Romans 12:2 urges believers to do not be conformed to the world (squeezed into its pattern or mold), but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. i.e., Let God completely change us so that we think and act like Christ rather than thinking and acting like someone who doesn’t even know Christ.

We broke away from that series for a few weeks in order to focus on Advent and the Christmas season. As we prepare to consider a couple more topics or themes today that are included in our study of a Christian Worldview, I wanted to start by looking at a passage of Scripture that I had used about 4 years ago.

In Matthew 13:33, Jesus is using a parable to give us a lesson about the Kingdom of God and how it grows.

Matthew 13:33 ^(NKJV) Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

Even though the immediate lesson from this verse is regarding the growth of God’s kingdom in the world, yet I believe it can also be used to illustrate how the message of the gospel and the message of God’s kingdom is meant to permeate our individual lives. Being a Christian and being born again by His Spirit doesn’t simply mean that we have this new little compartment in our lives that will be devoted to God from now on and therefore we will add a few religious activities to give expression of that new compartment of faith. No, being born again means letting the seed of gospel truth get planted in our heart and soul so it can grow and develop and impact every area of our lives. Jesus compares the kingdom to yeast that is mixed into the dough until it has its effect upon the entire amount. The truth of righteousness will have the same effect upon every person that is truly born again.

For our Scripture reading earlier this morning I chose the first chapter of Daniel because of the implications in that story regarding those Hebrew men and how they stood out in stark contrast from the rest of the “wise men” of Babylon. They were educated in all the various fields of study, but they maintained their godly convictions and commitment to divine revelation. (Some scholars have even suggested that these men were largely responsible for the knowledge that the Magi had regarding the birth of Hebrew king.)

After that lengthy introduction, let us pick up our previous discussion of different topics that are impacted when we have a biblical/Christian worldview. The topics or disciplines that we have already discussed are: truth; theology; philosophy; ethics; science; psychology; and sociology. We just briefly defined each area and tried to describe how our understanding of each one is shaped either by a worldly/ secular/ atheistic viewpoint or a Christian and biblical viewpoint. 

With the Lord’s help, I want to speak to you today regarding two more disciplines or fields of study, which I am going to consider together because they are so interrelated.

Law and Government

Our consideration for today is the area of law and government. As with all of the previous topics we have considered, we will merely “scratch the surface” in discussing these two subjects (law & government).

Those who look at the world and at life from a secular perspective, not taking into consideration the existence of God, generally look at law as something that is strictly man-made and continually evolving. If there is no God, then laws are nothing more than the invention of men to provide for a safe and orderly society. And it is the conventional opinions of society that form the basis for laws. This obviously means that there is no absolute standard for the formation of laws and therefore, what is legal not only DOES change from one era to another, but it MUST change in order to reflect the changes in social standards. 

Government comes into the picture as the means of creating the laws and enforcing them. Again, when the basis for government is strictly humanistic and atheistic, then government power and limits of power are constantly changing as public standards change.

I am keenly aware that these statements are very general and broad. But I think we can understand that nothing is certain when the general prevailing view of government and law leaves out any possibility for divine authority and standards.

What are some of the important principles regarding law and government for the person that is a Christian and desires to see a society that functions the way God intended?

A. God is the source of all law.

2 Chronicles 20:6 … "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?

Acts 17:24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

Isaiah 33:22 (For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us);

(Some have suggested that this verse provides the basis for the different branches of government that our forefathers created in the founding of our form of government – judicial, legislative, and executive.)

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

For the Christian, God and His righteous/holy nature is the basis and foundation for all law. He is unchanging and therefore, His law does not change. His nature and His law is the final authority by which all human laws and government rules must be judged.

B. Laws and standards for governing must acknowledge both the dignity and the depravity of mankind.

We have frequently mentioned various passages of Scripture that support these truths.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

The dignity of “man” is rooted in the image of God and must be cherished by the laws of governments to protect human life.

The depravity of “man” is established in scripture and in human history, so left unchecked, humans will abuse power and produce great harm upon each other.

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

This is not only true in individual, interpersonal relations, but it is also true of government entities, which are prone to acquire more and more power that becomes abusive and totalitarian.

(Allaboutworldview.org) Our founding fathers also grappled with the problem of protecting ordinary citizens from the sinful inclinations of those in authority.

From a biblical and Christian perspective, public behavior must never be allowed to destroy the value and dignity of human personhood. It was a belief in a Law and a Law Giver, which superseded human laws, that gave men the moral courage to change laws that were clearly unjust and wrong, e.g., slavery. Many of those who fought against the slave trade appealed to a moral law that was higher than the current laws of the land.

Next Sunday is “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.” Those who continue to appeal for changes in our laws regarding abortion, do so for the same reasons we have already mentioned:

·         There is a higher law and higher moral standard by which we will be judged.

·         Human life should be protected in all stages of life because all humans are formed in the image of God.

C. Laws and government need a permanent, non-changing foundation.

Because we believe that God is the source of all moral laws and He never changes, we believe that the foundation for government should not change. Peripheral laws will change and need to change in order to conform to a higher law that is permanent. But, the foundation must remain the same or there is no restraint from great abuses of power.

Two philosophies regarding those who should serve on the Supreme Court – a) those who believe the Constitution is firm and should be interpreted in light of the creators’ original intent; b) those who believe the Constitution is a living, changing document that must reflect the current standards of the society.

The Christian believes that there is a higher standard or law to which both individuals and government entities must be held accountable to. Because of our national departure away from biblical foundations, we are witnessing more and more abuse of power by those in positions of authority. More and more freedoms are being taken away by authorities who are becoming intoxicated with power.

D. Government primarily has two main responsibilities: national security and equal justice for all.

In Scripture, the two primary responsibilities of government are these:

1. Provide for the security of its citizens against enemies.

2. Protect the innocent and punish the guilty.

As we all know, there are a myriad of other duties and benefits that our government has determined to be its responsibility, which all require more and more tax revenues.

Conclusion:

I actually had intended to cover more than just this area of law and government for today, but as I worked on it, I could tell that I would not have time for another topic. In closing, I just want to remind us what the Bible says, When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2 NKJV) We need to intercede in prayer for God to raise up more and more godly/righteous people to positions of authority. We have surely seen the damage that the wicked can do to the moral fiber of the nation when they are in power. We need to pray more, not less!

For our closing song today, I chose the hymn:

O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee

Eyes to See His Salvation

 This is a brief message that was recorded and uploaded to our church's YouTube channel due to the illness of Pastor Les and some other church leaders. It is based on the account in Luke 2 about Joseph and Mary taking Jesus to the temple where Simeon declares that he has seen God's salvation and is now ready to depart from this life in peace. Out of all the people who would have been in the temple that day, why is Simeon the only one who was able to see Jesus as God's salvation? To watch a video recording of this message, click here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Good morning, and Happy New Year to all of our Wayside church family. We are coming to you this morning by means of this video because several of our people are still recovering from recent sickness. I want to personally thank all of you for your prayers while I was sick. I am almost back to full strength for which I am very thankful to the Lord.

Well, here it is – the very first Sunday in a brand-new year, 2021.

As I was thinking about what God wanted me to share with you today as a word of encouragement and inspiration, I kept thinking about this phrase that appears in Luke 2:30, “My eyes have seen Your salvation.”

Let’s begin by reading the context to get the whole picture.

Luke 2:22-35 (NKJV) ²²  Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³  (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), ²⁴  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." ²⁵  And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. ²⁷  So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸  he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ²⁹  "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; ³⁰  For my eyes have seen Your salvation ³¹  Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, ³²  A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." ³³  And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. ³⁴  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵  (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Tyndale New Testament Commentaries – Two quite separate ceremonies are involved here, the presentation of the child and the purification of the mother. The attendance of the child was not necessary, but it was natural when they were all so close to Jerusalem. The presentation of the baby follows from the fact that every male that opens the womb (i.e. the first-born of a mother, not necessarily of the father) shall be called holy to the Lord (Luke’s quotation is not exact but gives the sense of several passages: Exod. 13:2, 12, 15; Num. 18:15). Though Luke does not mention it, doubtless the usual five shekels were paid to redeem the first-born (Num. 18:15f.)

The Levitical law provided that after the birth of a son a woman would be unclean for seven days and that for a further thirty-three days she should keep away from all holy things (for a daughter the times were doubled; Lev. 12:1-5). Then she should offer a lamb and a dove or pigeon. If she was too poor for a lamb a second dove or pigeon sufficed instead (Lev. 12:6-13).

There are several things spoken about Jesus by Simeon, but I was struck by the words in v. 30 – “My eyes have seen your salvation.”

These words were spoken by a man who saw the baby Jesus approximately 40 days after his birth. In all likelihood, there were throngs of people in the temple that day when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus with them to the temple. With the exception of Anna, who is mentioned just a few verses later, no one else notices the new baby or recognizes His importance.

I asked myself, “How is it that one man, out of all the people in the temple, can look at a new baby and know that he has just witnessed God’s salvation for his nation?” “How is that man able to be so keenly aware of spiritual realities that he is able to understand the significance of this child?”

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I am struck by the great value in being able to see what God wants me to see this year; maybe even things that most other people will overlook and miss. There were so many people and so many other activities taking place in that temple courtyard that day, and yet this man knows he has just witnessed the Lord’s “salvation” – the “Consolation of Israel” – the Anointed One (Christ). What was his secret? Well, this is what the Bible says about Simeon.

He was just and devout (v. 25)

Tyndale New Testament Commentaries – Righteous shows that he behaved well towards people, while devout (eulabēs; used by Luke alone in the New Testament) signifies ‘careful about religious duties’ (in the classics it means ‘cautious’).

Luke 2:25 (AMP)  …this man was righteous and devout [cautiously and carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

The Holy Spirit was upon him. (v. 25)

One writer indicates that this description implies more than the occasional empowering by the Holy Spirit for some immediate task or event, but an ongoing presence.

We see here how much the Holy Spirit is active in this story. The Holy Spirit revealed that he would see the Christ before his death. (v. 26) The Holy Spirit directs him to go to the temple on the same day that Mary and Joseph go. (v. 27) (It’s implied that the HS pointed out the baby to him too.)

These qualities that describe Simeon may seem to be simple and insignificant, but I believe they give us an important clue as to how he, out of all people in the crowd that day, could testify, “My eyes have seen Your salvation!”

I don’t know about you, but I desire to be the kind of person that can recognize God’s message and God’s work in my life and in my world. I want to continue living my life carefully and intentionally following God’s Word. I want to experience the tender presence of the Holy Spirit in greater measure so I too can be directed by Him to be in the right place at the right time; and so that I can also discern His message that I need when its needed.

Living daily in careful obedience to the Lord requires determination and commitment. Being filled with His Spirit requires constant submission to Him, recognizing that His presence is a divine gift; it cannot be worked up or imitated. He comes when He is truly welcome.

Let us pray.