Sermon

Sermon from May 23rd 2010:
The Hope of the Gospel is Christ.

www.faithwf.com

Just a few simple words...
The gospel is not something that once responded to suddenly becomes for others. The same gospel that SAVED you is meant transform you into the likeness of Christ. Don't confuse the bible as something for others. When you read of sinners count yourself the same. I far to often gloss over texts and assume them for someone else.

Jesus said in Luke 15,"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
He also says in chapter 5 of Luke," It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

These are just two of the MANY instances where Jesus makes it clear he didnt come for those who think they are ok, those that are in no need of saving. To accept the good news means that you must first have accepted the bad news..That you and I are sinners in need of saving. Salvation can only come if you need to be rescued from something. Once saved to live a life that says you are fine and have 'fire insurance" is to yet again miss the point of the gospel. Accepting the truth daily that you are still in need of a savior rather than taking his gift and purchase of your sins as license to feel good about yourself is not the gospel. The gospel is the power of God to save and to transform broken lives that are in constant need. To consider yourself one of the ninety-nine is to simply say, "I dont need Jesus". To say I am healthy is to say,"The gospel is no longer for me but for sinners."

Neglect the gospel, christians and you will neglect people. I am so guilty of doing this so often. Look at yourself and see what God has done and what he is and wants to continue doing.

Sanctification is not becoming a better you, its becoming more aware of the One who is better and serving him. The gospel is not about me and what it does for me.

God is the gospel and it is simply all about what HE IS DOING.

Count yourself a sinner and the grace of God takes its rightful place. It will stretch you and you will no longer have to live a life of attempting to please. You can rest in the fact that no matter how sinful you or I are he has made a way where we couldnt.

HE MUST BECOME GREATER I MUST BECOME LESS-John 3:30

Sometimes I fail to use this thing in my head called a brain. Im highly frustrated at my inability to be the man God explicitly calls me to be. I so often entertain and fuel simple yet immature thoughts and ideas that lead to headaches. No it isn't as if any of these are fatal, but in my failing to be proactive in protecting myself and others from confusion people get hurt. Sure these are small wounds and most would say why are you overanalyzing minute details, but the truth is God wants all of us. Down to the very last minute detail God wants our heart and our obedience. This isnt to be a dictator but to give us wholeness and fullness. In my overthinking and inactivity towards firmly standing for or against things I fail to tell people the truth that would so easily save weeks of confusion." Each of you should not only look to your own interest but also to the interest of others!"!!Philippians 2;4. In this 'me' based society it is so easy to look past what others need and feel and only look for what meets your wants and needs. God may you give us a heart for others, Im so tired of living for me, it is empty, dry, and painful.

john 3;30

He must become greater; I must become less.

This statement made by John the Baptist in light of his disciples and jews arguing over purification. He basically said you are missing the point. It is not your actions God desires but the heart behind those actions. To give your heart to something it must be very important. This is why in most of the things we do our heart is given to only one thing. Ourselves. me. Its always about me. To give your heart up and be vulnerable is hard, which is why it is much easier to give our hands or actions to God rather than actually give him our heart. Giving up our heart can leave us deeply wounded by finding out what is truly in there. In a world with such an outward focus what is it inside of you screaming for more, screaming for truth. it is your heart. We all long to be accepted but most of the time coming clean leaves us feeling like we wont be accepted. jesus says He came so that we may have life and abundantly. In his kingdom there is no one who is undesirable. We are all welcome..when he becomes greater we can lay ourselves bare and be accepted. That's the only true hope well ever have. Eternal significance in a temporary world. Accept the grace again and let go. Embrace that when he becomes greater and we become less we are no longer slaves to ourselves but slaves to Christ who receive life and fullness and joy. Its the paradox for the ages, but its real. Thank you jesus for accepting ones like me...

motives

Ive been thinking through the concept of intentions. I think identity breeds intentionality. Wherever your identity lies you will be intentional in doing whatever it takes for your identity to be strengthened. Before I go further with this post I must specify that what we say our identity is found in and what it really is are not typically the same thing...Proverbs 20:5 says the purposes of a mans heart are deep waters; but a man of understanding draws them out. This being said i cant believe that very often we pursue drawing out our motives often. We typically just do. That said if my identity is found in how others perceive me I will stop at nothing until i promote a perception I deem worthy. If your identity is found in a boy or a girl you will stop at nothing to have a relationship you deem worthy enough to strengthen your idea of yourself. If my identity is found in Christ I would stop at nothing to know him more. The more I know what defines me the clearer the definition. Does my life reflect Christ inside and out? If not it is hard to say that I am truly found in him. If i worry and fret constantly about tests and school I can confidently say my idea of myself is wrapped up in my ability to perform. Identity breeds intentionality. What are you intentional about and why? On the surface the intentions may seem good but maybe we should find out the underlying cause for seeking out certain things. Proverbs 16:2 says all a mans ways seem innocent to him but the Lord sees the motive. I know often I want people to know how strong my walk with Christ is which plays into the way i seek out knowledge and wisdom when in reality if I were truly rooted in love I would seek God always bc he is worthy. Plain and simple he is worthy...WE often worship the things of God and forget that HE alone satisfies..May you check your heart. Test your motives. and Seek the Lord for he is good.

Man Card revoked

Ill admit it. I watched maybe 45 minutes of the Super Bowl, and the majority of that was out of obligation rather than a true desire. I actually love football and spent most of my life even in college playing this game. The truth is, though, that it is merely a game. It is an event of entertainment. I had just returned home from a Dnow weekend excited about what Christ had done in the lives of some high school kids. Did i want to be excited about the Super Bowl? Yes part of me did, but something was missing. It seemed that seeing Christ change lives was far greater than any event of entertainment and I knew that if I devoted my night to watching a game. I knew that forsaking what had just happened was not what I was created for. My life is to become a reflection of the Creators. I know people will read this and possibly say that I am putting on a front of holiness but the truth is I wrestled with the thoughts I fought comfort and not so I could wake up today and tell people about it. The struggle was so Christ would become more real to me in all things. I think the community that can be had at Super Bowl parties is incredible and a good thing. Im certainly not condemning the Super bowl I am just urging myself and my friends to not forsake the miracles God performs daily in our lives. We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 ...I think Ill watch next years super bowl for the community and the funny commercial and for the enjoyment of an incredible game, but I know that today God says fix your eyes on me, and when i perform miracles you have a few options:
1. receive it and be changed.
2. see it, acknowledge it, be excited about it and quickly let it go and return to what it is that satisfies for a moment.
Don't stiff arm the gospel today... Receive it and be changed...

Why not be wronged?

But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!

7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. 1 Cortinthians 6

As i read this passage I was struck harshly by these verses. We have been defeated so often by the desire to win an argument or be right. We so often have the right opinion or the right words or this or that to win an argument but we so often lose sight of our true purpose. It isnt to have all the right political ideas, or the best theological positioning. It is to just as Christ did humble ourselves and become servants. Why not be wronged? Why not be cheated? Is it because its not fair? Its not Just? Our views of justice are so short sided and arrogant. They typical only meet our idea of what turns out most beneficial towards our particular way of thinking. Could Jesus have risen in power and defeated all those who opposed him? Yes. Why didnt he? It would have defeated the point. It is not through position or power that love is accomplished. It is not through manipulation or coersion that love is seen. It is through vulnerability and weakness that true love is accomplished. True Love bore death on a cross, all that sin and the scorn so that we might know our God who is love. God was willing to romance us again, to woo us back to him as opposed to forcing worship. How beautiful is that? What then should we do in response? Should we push and bully and always be right? Perfect theology leads to death but the grace of God saves. Why not be wronged? Why not be abused for the sake of his glory? Let us not walk in the defeat that comes through the idea of power yet walk in the freedom Christ offers when he says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light". Stop striving to be right because if that is our aim weve already lost. Mercy triumphs over judgement(james)