Jeff Garrett's Sermon Manuscripts

Sabbatical from this sermon blog (visit my other blog at http://jgarrett.blogspot.com/)

2009-02-15T23:48:00.002-05:00

I am taking a sabbatical from this sermon blog because I do not have the time to keep it updated.

You can listen to my sermons free on Itunes (just search Itunes for "Norway Avenue Church of Christ Podcast").

If you would like a free copy of my sermon manuscripts in a word doc you can email Jeanie Meadows at secretary@norwayave.org.

Thanks to all who have used this blog as a resource for strengthening their relationship with Christ. I have receieved many encouraging emails from pastors and Christians from all over the country who have read my manuscripts and I appreciate every email - it means a lot to me.

Please visit my blog at http://jgarrett.blogspot.com/ - I will be updating that blog a couple of times a week.

Grace and peace,
Jeff Garrett
jgarrett@norwayave.org
Norway Ave Church of Christ
http://norwayave.org/

Ephesians 6:10-24 - Spiritual Warfare

2009-02-15T23:42:00.001-05:00

Belonging to God’s Family (Part 8)
Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:10-24
Jeff Garrett

Claudia Berlin reads Ephesians 6:10-24

6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Your strength is “in the Lord” – it’s his mighty power” – not your own. Like Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).

Joshua 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand “Put on” means is “to clothe”- “sinking into” God’s armor. God provided the armor but you have to put it on – the full armor – the whole armor.

God supplies you with his armor but you’ve got to put it on and leave it on permanently. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Struggle refers to “wrestling” or “hand-to-hand combat”. Our enemies are not human – they are demonic. And the devil is their chief prince. The Devil – The Bible refers to the devil as …
· “the anointed cherub (Ezek 28:14)
· “the god of this world” (Luke 11:15)
· “the prince of this world” (John 16:11)
· “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2)

Fifty-two times he is called Satan which means adversary and 39 times he is called the devil which means “slanderer”. He is a fallen archangel and the angels who followed him became demons.

Paul gives us four characteristics of demons.

They are powerful – Paul called them “the powers of this dark world – John said “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The devil claimed to be able to give Jesus all the kingdoms of this world (Matt. 4:8-9). No human being can match their strength.

They are wicked – Paul called them “spiritual forces of evil” (v.12) –They are wicked – they have no moral principals, no code of honor, no feelings, no sympathy – they recognized on Geneva Convention to - they are ruthless world rulers. They operate in the heavenly realms – the air the surrounds the earth – the sphere of invisible reality in this dark world.

They are cunning – “the devil’s scheming – trickery, deceitful methods. The devil is dangerous wolf but he disguises himself is sheep’s clothing. Sometimes he roars like a lion but more often he’s a crafty serpent. They can attack with open force or they can quietly seduce you into compromise.

They appear to be organized – He mentions many different categories or ranks. The demonic categories are not explained but he mentions several – the devil, the rulers, the authorities, the powers and the spiritual forces. All of these describe the different strata and rankings of the demons and the evil, supernatural empire in which they operate and the devil his networking his schemes through the principalities and powers. A principality a state that falls within a larger state such as an empire (e.g. Daniel 10:12 the prince of the Persian kingdom; Daniel 10:20 Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.)

The armor of God (6:13-20)
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes [a time of intense pressure, a crisis], you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, [To “stand firm” means to “hold a critical position while under attack”] with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Paul details six main pieces of a soldier’s equipment – the belt, the breastplate, the boots, the shield, the helmet, and the sword – and uses them as pictures of the truth, righteousness, good news of peace, faith, salvation and word of God which equip us in our fight against the enemy.

1. The belt of truth – soldiers wore a heavy leather belt that girded his under garments together – the belt represents God’s truth and our own integrity.

2. The breastplate of righteousness – soldiers wore a tough sleeveless piece of armor that covered their full torso. It was often made of leather , onto which were sewn overlapping pieces of metal. Some were made of large pieces of metal molded or hammered to conform to the body. It protected vital organs (e.g. heart). Our spiritual breastplate represents God’s impute righteousness and our righteous deeds.

3. Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace –

4. The shield of faith - soldiers commonly used two types of shield. The first was small and round (about 2 feet in diameter) that was secured to the arm by two leather straps. It was light weight and used in hand-to-hand combat. The second type of shield is what Paul was referring to here. It was about 2 ½ wide and about 4 ½ feet high – it was designed to protect the entire body of the soldier. It was mad of a solid piece of wood and covered with metal. Soldiers carried these shields in the front of the battle line – side by side forming a huge phalanx that extended a mile or more. The enemy dipped their arrows in pitch and lit them so that they became fiery missiles. The shield of faith protects us from the fiery missiles of the devil.

5. The helmet of salvation – soldiers word a helmet made of tough metal like bronze or iron – the inside was lined with felt or sponge or leather and nothing short of an ax or a hammer could pierce the heavy helmet.

6. The sword of the Spirit – soldiers carried a short sword for hand-to-hand combat. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

1 Samuel 17:41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"

45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Prayer Time

Ephesians 5:21-6:9 - Forever and Ever Amen! (Marriage and Family Jesus Style)

2009-02-15T23:30:00.004-05:00

Belonging to God’s Family (Part 7)
Forever and Ever Amen!
Ephesians 5:21-6:9
Jeff Garrett

Forever and Ever Amen (Jeff, Matt, Bobby and Praise Band)

(written by Randy Travis)

You may think that I'm talking foolish
You've heard that I'm wild & I'm free
You may wonder how I can promise you now
This love that I feel for you always will be
But you're not just time that I'm killing
I'm no longer one of those guys
As sure as I live this love that I give
Is gonna be yours until the day that I die -- Oh baby

CHORUS...
I'm gonna love you forever, forever & ever amen
As long as old men sit & talk about the weather
As long as the women sit & talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
I'll be happy to tell you again
I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen

BREAK (Bobby Maynard – Fiddle)

They say that time takes it's toll on a body
Makes the young girl's brown hair turn grey
But honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair
And if it all fell out well I'd love you anyway

They say time can play tricks on a memory
make people forget things that they knew
Well, it's easy to see it's happening to me
I've already forgotten every woman but you --- Oh darlin'

CHORUS...
I'm gonna love you forever, forever & ever amen
As long as old men sit & talk about the weather
As long as the women sit & talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
Just listen to how this song ends
I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen
I'm gonna love you forever & ever forever & ever
Forever & ever Forever & ever Amen

______________________________________

Claudia Berlin reads Ephesians 5:21-6:9

I like Randy Travis’ song: If you wonder how long I'll be faithful, Just listen to how this song ends, I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen. That’s what we say when we take our wedding vows. I take you to be my wife/husband to have and to hold from this day forward – for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish – as long as we both shall live – this is my solemn vow. But it doesn’t always work out that way.

MARRIAGE STATISTICS FOR 2006
PREPARE-ENRICH Newsletter
October 10, 2007

- There were 2.3 million marriages in 2006.
- The average cost of a wedding was $27,500
- 25th Wedding Anniversary becoming more rare

Divorce Rates
- Overall divorce rate continues about 50%.
- 40% for first marriage
- 60% for second marriages
- 73% for third marriages.

The seven year itch continues.
- Couples separate on the average 7 years after marriage
- Divorce after eight.
- Over 90% of people get married once.
- Waiting until they are older
- Less likely to remarry following a divorce.

Rate of Cohabitation Escalates.
- 1970 - 500,000 unmarried couples living together
- 2006 - Over 6 million unmarried couples living together
- The risk of divorce is 50% higher for cohabitors than non-cohabitors.
- In western European countries, it is estimated to be 80% higher.
(Bumpass & Sweet, 1995; Hall & Zhao, 1995; Bracher, Santow, Morgan & Trussell, 1993; DeMaris & Rao, 1992; Glenn, 1990) Journal of Marriage and Family.

Top Nine Reasons for Divorce (2006) (The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers)
1. Poor communication
2. Financial problems
3. Lack of commitment to the marriage
4. Dramatic change in priorities
5. Infidelity
6. Failed expectations or unmet needs
7. Addictions and substance abuse
8. Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
9. Lack of conflict resolution skills

The Primary Principle – SubmissionEphesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Submitting to one another is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit – The Greek verb is a present participle (“submitting”) – just like the three present participles that precede it. “Speaking” (5:19), “singing and making melody” (5:19), “giving thanks” (5:20), and now he adds “submitting to one another” – all four participles depend on the command “be filled with the Holy Spirit” (5:18). Submitting is mutual and voluntary. Submission is mutual – “submit to one another”. Second submission is voluntary – This does not mean to subjugate or coerce or to force someone into submission. The command is personal. The motivation for mutual submission is the fear of God – “out of reverence for Christ.” The word “reverence” means alarm, exceeding fearful. The reason I am to submit to you is because I fear Christ, who modeled submission. Jesus himself was the most humble servant of all (e.g. washing feet, dying on the cross).

Submission is the spiritual principle -- Verse 21 is the bridge between purity (4:17-5:20) and family (5:21-6:9). The three paragraphs that follow are examples of Christian submission. Paul focuses on three pairs of relationships: 1) Husbands and wives 5:22-33; 2) Parents and children 6:1-4; and Masters and slaves 6:5-9. Submission is illustrated at home (wife-husband / parent-child) and work (slave-master or employee-employer)

Each pair of relationships have reciprocal duties. When Paul describes the duties of husbands, parents and masters – he does not emphasize the exercise of authority – he warns them against the improper use of their authority. He forbids them to exploit their position.

The first responsibilities Paul elaborates are those of the husbands and wives. The essence of his teaching is clear. Wives are to “submit” and husbands are to “love”.

Husband and Wife Responsibilities (5:22-33)
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Submit to your husband as if he were Jesus because your husband is your head (not your boss). To understand “headship” you have to look at Jesus. Remember Ephesians 4:15 “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” The image is a body. Like Christ made Jew and Gentile one new man or one body. You and your husband are not two but one. His headship expresses care rather than control, responsibility rather than rule. So in you say, in the spirit of Ruth 1:16 Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Submission is an expression of love.

If the word that characterizes the wife’s relationship to the husband is to “submit”, the word that characterizes the husband’s is “love”. There are four Greek words for love: “eros” is erotic love, “storge” is family love, “philia” is “brotherly love” but “agape” is the highest level of love. “Agape” means “steadfast sacrificial love.” “Agape” is used six times (5:25-33).

Paul used two analogies: 1) The bride of Christ (5:25-27) and 2) The body of Christ (5:28-33)

The Bride of Christ - 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Paul used five verbs that trace his relationship to his bride from the past to the future. He loved her (5:25) – looks back to his pre-incarnate state – he set his love on his bride and that’s why he came to earth. He gave himself up for her (5:25) – when he died on the cross. To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word (5:26) – This may be a reference to a pre-wedding ritual Jewish brides performed prior to the wedding day. They would immerse in a “mikvah” i.e. bath in running water with scented soaps and perfumes. The bridal bath was followed by a small party for women. To present her to himself – as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. “Radiant” means “glorious” or “gorgeous”. John described her in Revelation 21:2 … prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband

The Body of Christ 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Verse 33 is a succinct summary of the fuller teaching Paul has been giving husbands and wives. 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. The dominant need of the wife is love and affection and the dominant need for the husband is respect – he wants you to be proud of him.

Child and Parent Responsibilities (6:1-4)
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

The key word for wives was “submission” (or respect), the key word for husband was “love” and the key word for children is obedience. When you disobey your parents it makes their hair turn white – at least that’s what some parents tell their children. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, “Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?” Her mother replied, “Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.” The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, “Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?”

Paul addressed children directly and gives three reasons to obey. The first has to do with their personal relationship with the Lord – 6:1 Children, obey your parents “in the Lord”. The second is because it is the right thing to do 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. The third related to the law which has a general promise connected to it. 6:2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Paul enforced God’s commandment with a promise, not a threat (rebellious children were put to death under the law).

6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The instruction to children presupposes parental authority but when Paul gave instructions to parents, it is not the exercise, but the restraint of their authority. Negatively – “do not exasperate your children” – “exasperate” means to “provoke to anger” or “irritate”, or “humiliate”. Don’t make unreasonable demands or humiliate them with the vindictive weapons of sarcasm and ridicule – don’t crush them.

While you nag and ridicule your children they see your faults and others will soon learn about them. I heard about a wife who had invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" I wouldn't know what to say," she replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," So the little girl bowed her head and said: "Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Negatively – “do not exasperate your children”. Positively – bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord – rear them tenderly, fondly cherish them, deal gently with them.

Slave and Master Responsibilities (6:5-8)
6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

This principle translates into our culture as employee-employer relationships. Wherever you work – treat your supervisor with respect and fear. Be sincere and obey them just like you obey Christ. Serve them wholeheartedly. Work hard when no body else is watching and the Lord will reward. Because you are not really serving them, you’re serving Christ.

Suppose you are a teenager working for a grocery store and you have an unreasonable boss – do you job as if Jesus were your supervisor. If you’re a housewife cook meals as if you were fixing food for Jesus. It is possible for teachers to educate children, for doctors to treat patients and nurses to care for them, for the person in sales to do their best, for accountants to serve their clients, industry workers and mechanics and lawyers and professors – to serve and work hard for their employer as if they were working for Jesus.

6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Conclusion
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Relationships are transformed when we practice the spiritual principle of submission. When husbands and wives can sing “Forever and ever Amen” and mean it, when we love each other deeply and permanently – like Christ loves us – we will enjoy stable and satisfying marriages, provide happy homes for our children. And when there’s harmony and peace in the home positively affects our work outside the home.

Prayer Time

Ephesians 4:17-5:20 - Children of Light

2009-02-15T23:24:00.002-05:00

Belonging to God’s Family (Part 6)
Children of Light
Ephesians 4:17-5:20
Jeff Garrett

The second half of Ephesians begins with Paul’s appeal - Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received – Paul focuses on four key areas of a worthy life.

Unity (4:1-16)
Purity (4:17-5:20)
Family (5:21-6:9)
Spiritual Warfare (6:10-24)

Paul begins this the section on purity by contrasting the old life of sin with the new life purity. Paul tells them to put off the old self and put on the new.

4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Paul described three important dimensions of the old life: spiritually, intellectually, and morally.

Spiritually – They were separated from the life of God (cf. Eph 2:1-3 - dead in sin).

Intellectually –Their thinking was futile (pointless, meaningless – no sense of identity or destiny e.g. Solomon said “it’s like chasing the wind”), their understanding was darkened, and their ignorance was due to the hardening of their hearts.

Morally –they had lost all sensitivity. They can participate in gross immorality. They can get arrested for drunk driving, embarrass their family, endanger their career, and turn around later and do it again. They can parade without clothing in front of the camera and not be self-conscious. They can leave their wife and children at home and take off with a fantasy and never look back. Some are so insensitive that they can kill their own children and take off to a party and act like nothing happened. Jeremiah 6:15 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. Dr. Albert Einstein, in a lecture given in 1948, spoke of the sinful nature of man. He said “The true problem lies in the hearts and thoughts of men. It is not a physical but an ethical one. What terrifies us is not the explosive force of the atomic bomb but the power of the wickedness of the human heart.”

Their thinking is futile, their hearts are hard and their behavior becomes increasingly wicked. Ephesians 4:19. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. “Continual” means recurrent and frequent. For them, the purpose of life is immediate gratification of base instincts but they are never satisfied. Sin creates a continual lust for more. The television show Dateline features a show where officials catch pedophiles. The police set up set up internet stings and video tape men coming to a location to have sex with children. They caught 50 men in three days who wanted to have sex with a minor. One man saw the sheriff’s car sitting out front and still entered from the back. He was so consumed with desire that he lost all sense of reason and was arrested. There is a continual hunger and lust for more and it is insatiable. That’s what Jesus said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

The next paragraph contrast the old life with the new. 4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Notice the contrast between the world’s mindset and the Christian’s. The world’s thinking is futile but the Christian’s thinking is meaningful because their thoughts are fixed on Christ. Verse 20-21 mention Jesus four times – 1) you “come to know Christ”, 2) “you heard of him”, 3) “you were taught in him” and 4) you were taught “in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus”. Jesus is the subject, the sphere and the substance of truth – Jesus embodies truth.

Now, what was this truth they were taught with regard to their former way of life? The truth was that they must put off the old self and put on the new self. There are to important points here. First, the old self and new self are incompatible. They old self is corrupt and deceitful. The new self is described as true righteous and holiness - corresponding opposites - one is true, the other is deceitful. One is corrupt and the other is holy. They are incompatible polarities.

Second, the putting off and the putting on is an ongoing process. The phrase “to be made new” in v.23 does not indicate a one time event but a continual everyday process. The Amplified renders v.23 “be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], I don’t know about you but I have to take off my clothes at the end of each day and put on clean clothes every morning. That’s the idea here. Paul illustrates this principle of putting on the old self and putting on the new with seven concrete examples.

1. Put off lying, put on honesty. (4:25) 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

2. Put off anger, put on self control (v. 26-27) 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. …. 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

I did an Anger Management workshop for the students at Marshall – the fraternities. There were 125 young men in the room. They asked me to do the workshop because, on several occasions, their anger had escalated into violence between the fraternities. Some of them had to go to the hospital because of their injuries. As I studied v.31 (Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice) I thought about them and I thought about you. They had let their anger turn into rage and brawling and after it was over I believe most of them regretted it and wanted to change. One of those young men that was in the room emailed me Friday night and asked for my power point presentation – he is going to review it with his fraternity brothers. I thought about the contrast. I doubt most of you would ever let your anger escalate into rage or a barroom brawl. But we can sure let the devil get a foothold by harboring bitterness and malice and we can sure gossip and slander. It’s a little more tamed than the feuds between the fraternities on campus, but our problems may be worse than theirs. They get mad, explode and regret it. But we live with it for years. We need to be kind and compassionate and forgive each other like Jesus forgave us.

3. Put off stealing, put on a good work ethic and generosity (v.28) 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

4. Put off unwholesome talk, put on wholesome speech (v. 29-30; 5:4) 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,… 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving …4:29 speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

5. Put off sexual immorality, put on holiness (5:3) 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. .

6. Put off the fruitless deeds of darkness, live as children of light (5:8-14) 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light … 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

7. Put off drunkenness, be filled with the Spirit (5:18) 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

My sobriety date is today (October 19th). Today, by the grace of God, I am six years sober. Do you know what it feels like? It feels like putting off the old life and put on the new. It feels like I came out of darkness and now I am walking in the light. Some people, when they read the parts of the Bible that say “Don’t do this or that” they view it as a list of rules and are turned off. But when I read parts I know it is only for my good – it’s because he knows me and loves me. He knows and loves you too. He wants a relationship with you. Did you notice all three members of the Godhead are mentioned?

4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. … Ephesians 5: 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Psalm 139 because it expresses what a close personal relationship is like.

Video – Psalm 139 - I purchased at http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/2196/Amena_Brown_Psalm_139_HD_Available_/f=s1&s=psalm%20139

Prayer Time

Ephesians 4:1-16 - Maintaining Unity in God’s Family

2009-02-15T23:06:00.006-05:00

Belonging to God’s Family (Part 5)
Maintaining Unity in God’s Family
Ephesians 4:1-16
Jeff Garrett

For three chapters Paul has explained God’s eternal purpose and now we come to …

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Earlier (3:1) Paul referred to himself as a “prisoner of the Lord for the sake of you Gentiles” (as if he were a prisoner of Jesus, not Rome) and now he refers to himself as a “prisoner for the Lord” (for the sake of Jesus and his passionate conviction for a united Jew-Gentile church). The word “urge” means “to call near”, “to invoke”, “to impel by force and vigor.” His urgent appeal is to live a life worthy of the high calling you have received. You’ve received a high calling (chosen and predestined, sealed and seated with Christ) – so now, live up to your calling in four areas. To live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received …

• Unity (4:1-16)
• Purity (4:17-5:20)
• Family (5:21-6:9)
• Spiritual Warfare (6:10-24)

Paul’s first concern is the unity of the church. In 4:1-16 he shows three ways to maintain unity.

1. The attitude of unity (4:2-3)

4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Paul lists five qualities of a Christ-like attitude which enable us to maintain unity.
Be completely humble – “completely” means thoroughly, totally, always humble. Humility is means “lowliness”– the humble recognition of the worth and value of other people. Prior to Jesus the Greeks and Romans viewed humility as a character deficit. But Jesus exalted humility as a virtue and taught us to be like little children, to wash each others feet to think of others as better than ourselves.
Gentleness means to be kind and tenderhearted and meek (not weak but strength under control. Patience means to be longsuffering with people (especially those who aggravate you). Bearing with one another refers to mutual forbearance and love embraces the preceding four).

These five qualities describe the attitude of unity. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Paul did not say “make some effort” or “make a good effort” – he said “make ever effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We do not create unity by believing identically. The Holy Spirit created unity and we must be eager to keep the unity the Spirit created

2. The foundation of unity (4:4-6)

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

These three verses contain the seven “ones” of Christian unity, three refer to the unity of the Godhead (One Spirit v.4, one Lord v.5, and one God and Father of all v.6), the remaining four refer to our relationship with God. Our unity is related to the unity of the unit of the Godhead. There is only one body, one hope, one faith and one baptism because there is only one God – Father, Son and Spirit. You can no more multiply churches than you can multiply Gods. You cannot split the church anymore than you can split the Godhead. Is Christ divided? If you cannot divide Christ, you cannot divide his body. Somebody says, “If that’s true, how do you explain all the split churches?” In the mind of God the church is not divided. When God looks at the church he sees one big family. When we get to heaven we are not going to be divided by denomination. Our church has a history of being exclusive.

There was a joke that made the rounds years ago and it went like this. Peter was taking people on a tour of heaven and he showed happy of people (e.g. the Baptists and Methodists and the Lutherins and the Catholics and Presbyterians) but then he came to a door and they could hear people on the other side of the door. But Peter said “sssshhh be quiet. This is the church of Christ. They think they are the only ones up here.

Now the sad thing about that joke is that it was true. That’s exactly what I believed. On Sunday mornings I would see people gathering at different churches and as I drove by I thought how sad it is that all these people think their Christians but they’re not – their all deceived. What was wrong with me? Well, there were many things wrong with me but I want to highlight two. First, I didn’t have the attitude of unity (I was proud, not humble. I was judgmental, not gentle). Second, I added to the foundation of unity. I counted things that were not essential as though the were. Then I learned about Jesus and the grace of God and I begin to change. I learned a little motto that helped me maintain unity and I use it often, hoping to weave it into the fabric of teaching and our church.

Repeat after me: In essentials we have unity (echo). In nonessentials we have liberty (echo). In all things we have love.

What are the essentials? We just read them in Ephesians 4:4-6 (One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of all).

What are the nonessentials? The nonessentials are things that fall outside the realm of the seven ones of Ephesians 4. Romans 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. In Romans 14 Paul illustrates the principle of accepting people without passing judgment using three disputable matters: diet, drink, and days – and he says in Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand Let me give you a little test. I am going to list some issues and I want you to respond and tell me whether they are essential or non-essential.

One Lord
Mixed swimming
Instrumental music
Organizational structure
One body
Smoking
Celebrating Christmas
One Spirit
Using different Bible translations
Watching soap operas
One hope
Praise teams
One baptism
Dancing
One faith
Sunday school
Frequency of the Communion
Women’s role
The name of the church
One God and Father of all

Now, don’t get caught up in these issues and miss the point. The point is clear. We have to be mature enough to differentiate between nonessential (disputable) matters and the essentials. That’s why I like the motto: In essentials we have unity. In nonessentials we have liberty. And it all things we have love.

You’ve got to have the attitude of unity. You’ve got to stand on the foundation of unity. And third you need to discover and use your spiritual gifts.

Discover and use your spiritual gifts

4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. In v.7 Paul said “to each one of us” grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. He’s not taking about “saving grace” here – he’s talking about “service grace” – he’s talking about spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a God-given skill or ability that enables Christians to be fruitful and fulfilled as they build up the body of Christ. Some people confuse the gifts of the Spirit with the gift of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. These three are not synonymous. The gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38) is the Holy Spirit himself, who indwells every Christian. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) are the Christ-like qualities that the Holy Spirit produces in us such as love, joy, peace, patience, etc. But the gifts of the Spirit are God-given skills or abilities that enable every Christian to be fruitful and fulfilled as they edify the body of Christ. And that is what Paul is referring to in Eph 4:7-11.

8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers ...

Christ descended from heaven, died on the cross and God raised him from the dead – then Christ ascended higher than all the heavens and sent the Holy Spirit who distributed spiritual gifts to each one of us. He mentions five here. We no longer have apostles and prophets like the 12 and Paul and the inspired prophets who served as the foundation of the church. Eph. 2:20 says that church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets who gave us the Bible (although both gifts are used in a general since e.g. missionaries sent forth and people still exercise the prophetic gift in a general since i.e. not giving more revelation but giving us greater insight into what has already be established). But the three remaining gifts “evangelists, pastors, and teachers” remain along with all the other gifts that are mentioned in the Bible.

If you would like to discover your spiritual gifts pick up the “Unwrapping Your Gift Inventory” at the Welcome Center after the assembly or check your email and download the attachment I will send this afternoon.

The point I want to make is that Jesus has given each one of us spiritual gifts and we nee to discover what they are and use them. A common mistake is to view hired staff and volunteer leaders as ministers who are responsible for the work of service.

How many ministers do we have in our church? Somebody says “The ministers are the hired staff and the elders.” No, every member is a minister. Look closely at Eph 4:11-12. The role of the evangelists, pastors and teachers is 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

How can we maintain unity? We’ve got to have the attitude of unity and stand on the foundation of unity and each one of us need to discover and use your spiritual gifts.

Prayer Time

_____________________________________________

Small Group Questions

Maintaining Unity In God’s Family
Oct. 12, 2007

Ice Breakers

As a child, did you play well with others? When and how did you learn that basic skill?
Are most of your friends like you or different from you?

Text - Read Ephesians 4:1-6

1. What kind of life is worthy of your calling (vs. 1)? Do you view your life as a calling?
2. Having urged the Ephesians to live worthily, Paul then begins to list characteristics which are important in the Christian life. First on the list is “humility”, coupled with “gentleness”. How would you define humility? Gentleness? Why are these two characteristics important in the church? Isn’t there a danger of Christians who are humble and gentle to also be weak?
3. Can you recognize ‘false humility’ when you see it?
4. Next, Paul lists “patience” and “bearing with one another in love”. How do these two work together? Why are they important?
5. How do you develop the ability to ‘put up with others’?
6. These virtues together have been called ‘the four graces of unity’. How do these graces foster unity?
7. What are the opposites of these four traits?
8. What is the foundation of unity in the church? What causes a lack of unity? If the church lacks unity, what is the result? What are the symptoms of the disease and how can the damage be repaired?
9. Why does unity require so much effort? What has caused the church to be sidetracked from its true calling?
10. Read verse 11-13, Unity does not mean that we are carbon copies of one another….from these passages in what ways are we different and how can people who are essentially different become unified?
11. How is maturity measured? How can you tell the difference between a mature Christian and immature Christian?
12. What are some ‘winds of teaching’ and cunning and craftiness’ and ‘deceitful scheming’ which are prevalent today, which may be traps for immature Christians? How can you help someone who is caught in one of these forms of false teaching?
13. When it comes to ‘speaking the truth in love’ which is more important: the truth or love?What is your role in Christ’s body, that is, what body part are you?

Ephesians 2:11-3:21 - One Big Family

2008-10-09T01:42:00.000-04:00

Belonging to God’s Family (Part 4)
One Big Family
Ephesians 2:11-3:21
Jeff Garrett

What we were by birth – (2:11-12)

Double alienation
• Alienated from God (Eph 2:1-3)
• Alienated from Israel (Eph 2:11-12)

Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men). “Remember” means to recollect, to rehearse, to be mindful of it. There are a lot of things that are good to forget but this is not one of them. Remember what you were – “Gentile by birth”. Remember you were called “uncircumcised” … it is as if Paul is declaring the unimportance of the names and labels, in comparison with the reality behind them (e.g. the circumcision of the heart) which was available to Jews and Gentiles alike.

In v.12 he drops the business of what Jews and Gentiles called each other and explains the serious reality of Gentile alienation. 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

Five Gentile Disabilities (Eph 2:12)

Christless – “separate from Christ”

Stateless – “excluded from citizenship in Israel”

Friendless – “foreigners to the covenants of the promise”

Hopeless – “without hope”

Godless – “without God in the world”

Nine Jewish Privileges (Rom 3:1 & 9:4-5)
They were entrusted with the word of God
Theirs is the adoption as sons
Theirs the divine glory
The covenants
They received of the law
The temple worship
The promises
The patriarchs
From them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen

Paul sums up his list of Gentile disabilities with two words – “far away” (2:13). As Gentiles we didn’t have peace with God or Israel. It was a double alienation – First, we were alienated from God (Eph 2:1-3 dead in transgressions and sins and objects of wrath) and second we were alienated from Israel (Eph 2:12 Christless, stateless, friendless, hopeless and Godless). Remember that. Don’t forget it. If you forget it you will begin to take it for granted and you will not appreciate what Christ has achieved. And that’s the second point.

What Jesus did for us (2:13-18)

Double reconciliation
· Peace between us and God
· Peace between Jews and Gentile

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, … We’ve been brought near by the “blood of Christ” – He made peace by the blood he shed on the cross. The “he himself” is strongly emphatic i.e. Jesus doesn’t give us peace, he is our peace. Jesus is our peacemaker. Jesus achieved a double reconciliation (a double union) – between us and God and between Jew and Gentile.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ... “destroy” means “to tear down” – “to dissolve” - “to melt”. The word “barrier” means “middle wall” or wall in the middle between Jew and Gentile. It means “fence” or “partition” that separate Jew from Gentile. At the time Paul was writing the wall was still in place at Herod’s temple. There was a sign on that wall which said “Trespassers will be executed (not prosecuted).

Example of Temple worship and the barrier - Jeff a Gentile – Jon is a priest. Janet and Bruce are Jews.

Paul was very familiar with that wall because while he was in Jerusalem he had been falsely accused of taking Trophimus (interestingly Luke tells us in Acts 21:28-29 Trophimus was a Gentile from Ephesus) in the temple and they tried to kill Paul.

Acts 21:27b … some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Paul was arrested. Acts 21:37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" “Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?" 39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people." 40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic (or Hebrew) and they listened to him tell the story of his conversion but when he said in Acts 22:21"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" 23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a Roman citizen." 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered. 28 Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

It had become a dividing wall of hostility and Paul had been caught in the middle of that hostility. Jews hated Gentiles and Gentiles hated Jews. But Paul Jesus made the two one.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. Jesus did not destroy the law or the prophets, he fulfilled it (Matt 5:17-20). But Jesus did destroy, in his body, the ceremonial law and the condemnation of moral law. Both were divisive because it separated men from God and Jew from Gentile. Both were put aside at the cross to accomplish his purpose which is explained in v.15-16. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. And after he achieved reconciliation between God and men and between Jew and Gentile he announced it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. And look at what we have become.

What we have become (2:19-22)

God’s Kingdom - 2:19a Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people … We no longer live on a passport, but … we really have our birth certificates … we really belong.

God’s Family - 2:19b … and members of God's household,… “household” refers to “family – relative – brothers-sisters in Christ.

God’s Temple 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. In the past Gentiles were excluded from the temple, but now both Jews and Gentiles are God’s temple (cf. 1 Peter 2:5 … “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood”).

So Jesus destroyed the God-man barriers and the Jew-Gentile barriers to create one big family. Multicultural, international, universal church.

The cross breaks down walls of hostility
Race
Ethnicity
Families
Churches

Read history – Black balconies, black water fountains, Black-White Church.
Racism still alive
White privilege – culturally encapsulated

If we reduced the world population to a village of 100, with all existing ratios still the same
59 people would be Asian
12 people would be Europeans
5 people would be American/Canadian
8 people would be Latin American
14 people would be African
1 person would be from the South Pacific
52 females and 48 males
30 children and 70 adults
82 non-white and 18 whites
80 people would live in substandard housing
24 people would not have any electricity
67 people would be unable to read
Only 1 person would have a college education
50 people would be malnourished
1 person would be dying of starvation

That’s the mystery God revealed - Eph 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. The mystery is that through the gospel both Jews and Gentiles are fellow-heirs of the same blessing, fellow-members of the same body and fellow-partakers of the same promise.

Paul made it known not only to Gentiles (3:8) but to everyone (3:9), even the cosmic powers (3:10).

3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Paul’s prayer - 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Paul prayed for three things. 1) Strengthened with power, 2) Rooted in love, 3) Full of God.

Video

Prayer Time

Benediction

3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 2:1-10 - Amazing Grace

2008-10-09T01:32:00.000-04:00

Belonging to God’s Family
Amazing Grace
Ephesians 2:1-10
Jeff Garrett

Special thanks to Grady for preaching for me last week

Claudia Berlin Reads Ephesians 2:1-10

I want to show you two things from these ten verses:
1) What we were by nature (2:1-3)
2) What we have become by grace (2:4-10).

What we are by nature (2:1-3)

2: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins – Paul does not say you were suffering from low self-esteem or a psychological disorder or that you were sick or dying. Paul said you were dead. You can be physically fit, mentally alert, socially connected but spiritually dead in your transgressions and sins. We were as responsive as a corpse.

The word “transgression” means to trespass, to cross a boundary or deviate from the right path. The word “sin” means “to miss the mark” or “to fall short of the standard.” Both words are plural and indicate our natural tendency to continue to sin. The reason we continue to sin is because we are enslaved to three things.

2: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.

We were dead in our transgressions and sins because we were enslaved by the world, the devil, and our own sinful nature.

The world – 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world …The Bible uses the word “world” two basic ways. Positively, “For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son …” (John 3:16-17). Negatively, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world … (1 John 2:15-17). In Ephesians 2:2 Paul used the negative form – “you followed the ways of this world” i.e. the world system (cf. Rom 12:1-2).

The Devil – 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Paul is referring to the Devil.

He has many names. The Bible calls him …

The names of Satan
Beelzebub (Mark 3:22), the prince of demons (Matt 12:24), the Devil (Matt 4:1), the dragon (Rev 12:7), the enemy (Matt 13:39), the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), a murderer (John 8:44) and the father of all lies (John 8:44), Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12), the old serpent (Rev. 12:8; 20:2), the power of darkness (Col. 1:13), the prince of this world (John 12:31), the tempter (Matt 4:3), and the wicked one (Matt 13:19, 38).

Here (Eph 2:2) Paul called him … the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Satan is not “a ruler”, he is “the ruler” of the kingdom of the air because he commands principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places (which we will study in chapter 6). The word “air” could be translated “foggy atmosphere” indicating darkness which is what Satan prefers. The “air” is the air the surrounds the earth. In Job 1:6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." The ruler of the kingdom of the air is also the spirit at work in those who are disobedient. The defiant disposition is energized and maintained by the devil. When Satan and the spirit or mood (i.e. the mental disposition) that he inspires is at work in us we are enslaved and Jesus is our only hope for freedom.

Our sinful nature - 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts – “All of us” – not “some of us” or “the worst of us” but “all of us”. Paul is not giving us a portrait of some degraded segment of society. This is the Biblical diagnosis of fallen humanity. It is a description of everybody, including Paul himself. “All of us” lived among them at one time … gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts…. Paul personifies out sinful nature
in three ways – he said: 1) our sinful nature has cravings, 2) our sinful nature has desires, and 3) our sinful nature has thoughts. The Bible says a lot about our sinful nature.

Sinful Nature (Flesh = “Sarx”)
• Controlled by the sinful nature (Rom 7:5).
• The law aroused sinful passions (Rom 7:5).
• Nothing good lives my sinful nature (Rom 7:18).
• A slave to the law of sin (Rom 7:25).
• Minds set on what that nature desires (Rom 8:5).
• Hostile to God (Rom 8:7).
• Cannot submit to God’s law (Rom 8:7).
• The sinful nature cannot please God (Rom 8:8).
• According to the sinful nature, you will die (Rom 8:13).
• the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit (Gal 5:17).
• The acts of the sinful nature are obvious (Gal 5:19).

Paul’s diagnosis – Here’s what we were by nature. We were dead in trespasses and sins. We were enslaved by this world, the devil and our flesh and then Paul said

2:3b … Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. God’s wrath is not like man’s – it’s not a bad temper so that he may fly off the handle at any moment – its not spite or malice – it is his righteous reaction and hostility to evil which he cannot compromise – his resolve is to condemn it.

God’s wrath is not incompatible with his love. Paul moves from talking about the wrath of God in v.3 to the mercy and love of God in v.4 without any problem. Paul held them all together in his mind because they are held together in God’s character. But Paul draws a deliberate contrast between what we were `by nature' (2:3) and what we have become “by grace” (2:5).

What we have become by grace (2:4-10)

2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

What did God the Father do for Jesus when he was dead?

Eph 1 - As for Jesus … 1:20 he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms

What did God do for us when we were dead?
Eph 2 - As for you … 2: 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

1. God made us alive and raised us up with Christ (2:5-6a)
2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ

These two verses remind me of an Old Testament story where Ezekiel said …
Ezekiel 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "

That’s what God did for us. He made us alive and raised us up and put his Spirit in us. But that’s not all he did for us. God also …

2. God seated us with Christ (2:6b)

2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

We are like a “post turtle”. Do you know what a post turtle is? It’s when you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top of the fence post. That's a post turtle. You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there and you just want to help him down.

We were dead but God made us alive and raised us up and seated us with Christ – enthroned in the heavenly realms! I love the way Watchman Nee outlined Ephesians.

Sit with Jesus (Ephesians 1-3) - 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms

Walk with Jesus (Ephesians 4:1-6:9) 4:1 I, … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ... 4:17 … you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, ... 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us … 5:8 Walk as children of light …

Stand with Jesus (Ephesians 6:10ff) - Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. …13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, …

But right now all we’re doing is sitting. Thus far (1:1-2:10) there is not command for us to obey. God has done everything!

A couple of weeks ago Mike and Becky Shepherd invited the ministry leaders to their house for a fellowship. I called Mike and ask if he needed any help and he said “No we’ve got everything ready. That’s what God has done for us. He has done all the work and you don’t need to bring anything. Why did he do this for us?

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The words “God’s workmanship” means “God’s work of art, his masterpiece – and we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Good works are the ground of our salvation – they are the consequence and evidence of our salvation.

Prayer Time

Ephesians 1 - The Blessings of Belonging

2008-10-09T01:27:00.000-04:00

Belonging to God’s Family (Part 2)
The Blessings of Belonging
Ephesians 1
Jeff Garrett

In Ephesians 1 Paul teaches us to overcome pride with humility, rejection with love, guilt with grace and insecurity with the hope. Then we can know the blessings of belonging to God’s family.

Paul’s humility

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You can see Paul’s humility in v.1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. Paul never ceased to be amazed by the fact that it was “by the will of God” that he was an apostle. Paul described himself in 1 Timothy 1:13 … I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man…. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus he was not going to church. He was going to persecute the church.

A.D. 55 Paul wrote - 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

A.D. 60 Paul wrote - Ephesians 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

A.D. 64 Paul wrote - 1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

God opposes the proud but gives grace and peace to the humble. Look at verse 2.

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace always comes before peace. God gives us peace through grace. Notice three blessings in v.3-14.

The Father Chose Us (1:3-6): we are loved and accepted.

1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

God the Father is the source of every spiritual blessing.
v.3 He blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
v.4 He chose us and loves us
v.5 He predestined us
v.5 He adopted us
v.8 He lavished us with grace
v.9 He made known the mystery of his will.
v.9 He put it in effect when times reached their fulfillment
v.10 He brought all things under one head, even Christ
v.11 He planned it and work out everything in conformity to his will.

It is his love, his grace, his will, his plan, his purpose, and his good pleasure. You are not rejected or unwanted. God chose you before you were born.

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you
apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Psalm 139:16 says “… All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Galatians 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles

You say, “OK. I am humbled and amazed that God chose me but I still feel guilty because I am so sinful. How does God deal with my sin?” God forgave all your sins by the blood of Jesus who is “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev 13:8)

The Son Redeemed You (1:7-12): we are forgiven.

1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

“Redemption” means to “purchase back something that was lost, to pay a ransom. In the OT God told Hosea to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. They had two children. They named the girl “not loved” and the boy “not my people” (Hosea 1:6,9). Hosea loved Gomer but she was unfaithful to him. She returned to prostitution and even paid men to be with her. When she hit bottom she sold herself as a slave. Then God told Hosea in Hosea 3:1 The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods. Hosea bought her back by paying 15 shekels and some barley. And then in Hosea 3:3 Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you."

That’s what Jesus did for us. We have redemption through is blood the forgiveness of sins.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or how guilty you feel, God will redeem you and forgive and wash away all your sins by the blood of Jesus. You say, “But how can I be sure?”

The Spirited Sealed Us (1:13-14): we are guaranteed and that takes care of insecurity.

1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Paul’s Prayer for enlightenment

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints ...

If God breaks through our dull minds and enlightens us to the fact that he has given us every conceivable blessing – the barriers to belonging would disappear and we would understand 19 … his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart because I have overcome the world!”

Video

The Father chose us. The Son redeemed us. And the Spirit sealed us. I love to read the story of the baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

I love that passage because when Jesus was baptized you all three members of the Godhead participated. When Jenn and Amanda were baptized last week they were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. The love between the Father, Son and Spirit is so perfect that they are one. Jesus said I love you like my Father loves me and here’s a new command that you love one another as I have loved you. Talk about gaining a sense of belonging! Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus and now Jesus is in us and we are in him.

Stop beating yourself up - there is a difference between humility and humiliation. Some people say “I know God has forgiven me, but I cannot forgive myself.” Well, I have a liberating word from God for you this morning. God said in Hebrews 8:12 says “I will forgive your wickedness and remember your sins no more.” If God Almighty does refuses to remember it why do you keep dwelling on it?

Repeat after me:
Our Father in heaven.
I trust your grace and forgiveness.
Deliver me from self-condemnation.
Set me free so I can feel like I belong.
In Jesus name, Amen!

Prayer Time

Acts 18:18-28; 19:1-41; 20:13-38 Building Up God’s Family

2008-10-09T01:26:00.000-04:00

Belonging to God’s Family (Part 1)
Building Up God’s Family
Acts 18:18-28; 19:1-41; 20:13-38
Jeff Garrett

Today we begin a new series from the book of Ephesians called “Belonging to God’s Family”. I chose this title from Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

This prayer contains four goals for our series. I pray …

1. That you would belong to God’s family (and make Norway your home church).
2. That you will be strengthened (so that Christ would dwell in your hearts by faith).
3. That you will know God’s love (how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ).
4. That God would be glorified in Christ and in our church in every generation.

Paul spent 3 years (Acts 20:31) in Ephesus. He taught publically (in the lecture hall of Tyrannus Acts 19:9) and from house to house (in small groups). Acts 20:20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

We have adopted Paul’s method. We teach publically in the assembly and from house to house. I want you to listen to Allen as he interviews Claudia, Mike and Dave about their experience in small groups.

Interview
Allen will conduct the interviews.
Mike’s Question – “What do you and Becky gain from your small group?”
Dave’s Question – “Given your recent move, how has your small group helped your family?
Claudia’s Question – “Why should people join a small group?”
Then Allen will explain how to join a small group

I hope you will join a small group. Just see Allen after church and he will help you. When you join a small group you will build a strong relationship with Jesus and with other people who love Jesus. That’s what the book of Ephesians is all about. I want to introduce the book this morning. I am going to organize an overview of the book by using Watchman Nee’s outline. The three words are: sit, walk, stand.

Sit with Jesus

1:19 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

· God chose you, predestined you, adopted you and loved you before creation
· God made you holy and blameless in his sight.
· God redeemed you through the blood of Christ.
· You didn’t do anything to deserve it - You were dead in trespasses and sin
· God said you by grace through faith in Christ.
· You don’t have do anything, just sit down with Jesus and look at what God has done for you!
· 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Walk with Jesus

4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

5:8 Walk as children of light
Walk in purity
· Walk with integrity
· Walk in the light of his wonderful love!

Stand with Jesus

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

· Stand against the devil’s schemes
· Stand your ground.
· Stand firm and make sure you have on the armor of God.
· Stand together.

Sit with Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Stand with Jesus.

And we do it together as the family of God. It’s not confined to Sunday morning assemblies. I want to end this sermon with a video which shows what life is like when you belong to God’s family means.

We serve together – like the back to school carnival that Kim George and Elizabeth Lallenthin led and gave 70 children from the community schools supplies.
We worship together –
We travel together – like when Jon took our teenagers to Master in the Mountains
We play together -
We eat together -
We love each other because we belong to God’s family

Video

Prayer Time

Deuteronomy 29-34 - A New Covenant, a New Song and a Great Blessing

2008-10-09T01:23:00.000-04:00

Obeying God’s Law, Trusting God’s Grace (Part 5)
Promise and Adventure for a New Generation
A New Covenant, a New Song and a Great Blessing
Deuteronomy 29-34
Jeff Garrett

From God’s perspective you are right here [Pic of Norway] on 1400 Norway Ave. But we are going to step into the time machine and we’re going to travel back 3,400 and we are going to travel around the globe via satellites linked to Google Earth. Here is a picture of [pic of Horeb]. And here is where Israel was standing – on the plains of Moab [pic of Moab] as Moses preach his third and final sermon. In Deuteronomy 29-34 Moses gave Israel three things before he died: a covenant, a song and a blessing.

Covenant - 29:1 These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb. 2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: … 9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. …

Please stand as I read the terms of the old covenant.

12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God, a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, 13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God [remember that – you’re going to hear it again at the end when I read Rev 21] as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you 15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God but also with those who are not here today.

30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. … 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Please be seated. Do you think they kept it? No. Deuteronomy 31:16 And the LORD said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.

Song - Then the Lord inspired Moses to write a song.

Deut 31:19 "Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.

Now they had two witnesses against them. The book of the law which was in the ark of the covenant (Deut 31:24-25) and the lyrics of a song in (Deut 32) which said “God has been faithful to you but you will not be faithful to him.”

31:27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.

First, Moses gave them a covenant to enter. Second, he gave them a song to sing. Third, he blessed them anyway.

Blessing – His blessing is recorded in Deut 33 he blessed them. This is the blessing Moses gave the people of Israel before his death.

Let the tribe of Reuben live.
Give the tribe of Judah strength.
Let the tribe of Levi guard your covenant and teach your law.
Let the tribe of Benjamin live in safety.
Bless the land of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) with rich harvest and the finest crops.
Make Zebulun and Issachar prosper.
Gad is poised like a lion.
Dan is lion’s cub leaping out from Bashan.
Let Naphtali be rich and full of the Lord’s blessings.
Let Asher be esteemed by his brothers and let him bathe his feet in olive oil.

When your children are disobedient, bless them anyway. Moses was full of grace because he was full of God. 33:26 “There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. … 29 How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!” (NLT)

Moses gave them a covenant to enter, a song to sing and a great blessing from God. And then he climbed Nebo and died when he was 120 years old. God buried him (34:5) and Israel grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab for 30 days. No one knows where God buried Moses but we do know his epitaph which is recorded in Deut 34:10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, … 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

But, 1400 years later, God gave us another prophet like Moses. God told Moses in Deut 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. Peter (Acts 3:33) and Stephen (Acts 7:37) said that Jesus was the prophet like Moses. But he was greater and superior to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6). Like Moses, Jesus gave us three things.

New covenant - Hebrews 7:22 Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 8:6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.

Jesus gave us a new and better covenant sealed with the blood he shed on the cross.

New Song – John saw four living creatures and 24 elders circled around the Lamb and he heard them singing a new song. Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Jesus gave us a new covenant, better than the old one. He gave us a new song, better than the old song. And finally, in the end, Jesus will give us a promise land with greater blessings.

Greater Blessing - Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

When I get to heaven and God gives me a harp (or a guitar) I want to learn the new song but in the mean time I will sing about God’s amazing grace found only in Jesus Christ.

Paul Thomas, after we sing this song will you come and lead our communion time?

Amazing Grace.

Deuteronomy 11-28 - Blessings for Obedience

2008-10-09T01:15:00.000-04:00

Obeying God’s Law, Trusting God’s Grace (Part 4)
Promise and Adventure for a New Generation
Deuteronomy 11-28
Blessings for Obedience
Jeff Garrett

We are currently studying Moses' Second Sermonin Deuteronomy
Review: Sermon #1 – History – this is why you spent the last 38 years in the wilderness.

Sermon #2 – 10 Commandments (ch 5) and the most important commandment.
Ten Commandments
1. Worship God and him only (5:7 "You shall have no other gods before me)
2. Worship God in Spirit (5:8 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything).
3. Honor God’s name (5:11 11 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God)
4. Rest in God’s presence one day a week (5:12 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy)
5. Honor your parents (5:16 "Honor your father and your mother,)
6. Express your anger appropriately (5:17 You shall not murder.
7. Be faithful to your mate (5:18 "You shall not commit adultery).
8. Respect peoples property (5: 19 "You shall not steal).
9. Always tell the truth (5:20 You shall not give false testimony).
10. Be grateful and content with what you have (5:21 You shall not covet).

The most important commandment
Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children.

Moses continues the Shema theme in chapter 11.
11:1 Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. 2 Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the LORD your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; They didn’t witness what God did in Egypt, at the Red Sea, at Mt Sinai, in the wilderness, in the middle of the camp (Reubenites). 7 But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done. Not your children. So you must teach them.
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land…

How to fix God’s words on your hearts and minds (six ideas easy to implement)
1. Pray at least five times a day – wake up, 3 times during meals, bed time.
2. Before your kids start school gather your family together and read Daniel 1 (Four boys enrolled in school, faithful to God, excelled in academics and promoted. After I read the story my kids told us the story of Hosea and Gomer)
3. Take a walk, take a drive – kids talk better when you’re looking straight ahead.
4. Mention the name of Jesus and use scripture in your emails and letters (Psychiatrist friend – email me a church sign message “If we don’t praise God the rocks will).
5. Share the podcast cards Rob made with a friends who doesn’t know Jesus (average 200 people a week – people around the word – Japan, Middle East – 77 sermons including Hebrews, 1 Cor., Heaven, Romans, Philippians, Deut – it’s totally free)
6. Put in a good word for Jesus at every opportunity (e.g. John Daniels).
Do it because you love God with all your heart

11:1 Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.

11:13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-

11:22 If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him

The result of love is obedience
v. 1 Love God and keep his requirements always
v. 13 Love God and serve him with all your heart
v. 22 Love God and walk in all his ways.

The result of obedience is God’s blessing
11:26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God … ; 28 the curse if you disobey … and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, … 29 When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are… to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. …

Now, at this point some people get bored and stop reading. But I think it is an amazing section because no other nation in history has received what the nation of Israel received. It was all revealed by God to one man who lived and died in the wilderness and never entered the land. Moses praised God in Deuteronomy 4:8 … what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? No other nation has. Our nation is governed by laws that were created by 100s of people (not one man) and were adopted over a long period of time.

1788 – U.S. Constitution was ratified. [pic of U.S. Constitution]
1789 – The constitution provided the outline of the judicial branch of government.
1791 -1992– There have been 27 Amendments to the U.S. constitution that were ratified (approved) by conventions. The first 10 Amendments were called the Bill of Rights.
1863 – President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a National Holiday
1870 - President Ulysses S. Grant declared Christmas a legal holiday
1906 – Food and Drug Administration was established [pic of FDA website]

God gave Israel laws to govern the nation because they were nomads with a slave mentality. So he gave them …

Laws for worship (ch 12-13)
12:7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Laws for food (ch 14:1-21)
14:4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. 6 You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.
14:9 Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales.
14:11 You may eat any clean bird.
14:21 Do not eat anything you find already dead.

Laws for the economy (ch. 14:22-15)
14:22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
15: 1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
15:11 … be openhanded toward … the poor and needy in your land.
23:19 Do not charge your brother interest …

Three National Holidays – (ch 16:1-17)
16:14 Be joyful at your Feast [Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles] you, your sons and daughters, … the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.

Laws for Government (16:18-22:12)
Government officials included just courts, impartial judges, and six sanctuaries.
17:18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, … 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life

God gave other laws including …
Laws for Marriage (22:13-30; 24:5)
Laws for hygiene (23:9-14)
Laws for divorce (24:1-4)
Miscellaneous law (23:15-25; 24:6-19)
Laws for first-fruits and tithing (26:1-15)

In Deuteronomy 27 Moses told them … 27:2 When you cross the Jordan River … separate the tribes into two groups so that there are six tribes on each mountain. Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people and Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali will stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses.

14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
16 "Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
17 "Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
20 "Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father's wife, for he dishonors his father's bed." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
21 "Cursed is the man who has sexual relations with any animal." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
26 "Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

Then, in Deuteronomy 28, Moses instructed the priest to pronounce the blessings
3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
7 The LORD will defeat your enemies.
11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity …
12 … You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
13 … you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

But Moses returns to the curses for disobedience and described unimaginable suffering. I’ve grouped them into 8 categories. Let me share a few.

Your Land will be cursed
24 rain will turn to dust and powder
39 worms will eat your vineyards.
42 Swarms of locusts will eat your trees and crops.

You will be poor and helpless
43-44 The alien … He will lend to you, … He will be the head, but you will be the tail.
48 you’ll live in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty

You will suffer physical illnesses
60 the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you.

Your enemies will defeat you
26 Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.

You will become cannibals during the siege
53 during the siege, you will eat the … the flesh of the sons and daughters

You will suffer from mental illness
28 The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind.
34 The sights you see will drive you mad.

You will go into captivity
41 You will have sons and daughters … will go into captivity … 32 … and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand
64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.

To sum it all up – Moses’ second sermon contains the 10 commandments, highlights the most important commandment and provided a comprehensive body of laws to govern the entire nation. He proclaim God’s blessing for obeying and curses for disobeying.

Three Takeaways

1. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law

Galatians 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." … 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

2. The blessings of obedience and consequences of sin remain

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

3. Three Motives for Obeying God

Fear – Deut 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Duty – Eccl 12:13 Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Love – Deut 11:1 Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.

Prayer Time

Deuteronomy 6-9 - The Most Important Commandment

2008-10-09T01:05:00.000-04:00

Obeying God’s Law, Trusting God’s Grace (Part 3)
Promise and Adventure for a New Generation
The Most Important Commandment
Deuteronomy 6-9
Jeff Garrett

Lesson 1 - Chapters 1-3 Moses recapped 38 years.
Lesson 2 - Chapters 4-5 Moses reviewed the 10 Commandments.

[pic of 10 Commandments] Which of the 10 Commandments would you say is the most important? In Matthew 22:35 … an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Jesus didn’t make that up. He was quoted the Old Testament. The second greatest commandment is Lev 19:18 “Love your neighbor as yourself.” James called it “the royal law”. But the greatest commandment is not found in the 10 commandments. It is found in Deuteronomy 6, our passage for today. It was called the “Shema” (hear). It was used as a call to worship. The Shema was recited two times every day – once in the morning and once at night.

Please stand in reverence for God’s word. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. In v.4 the word “LORD” is YHWH or Yahweh (Jehovah) and the word “God” is “eloheem”. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The call to hear - The LORD our God, the importance of relationship (our), the LORD is one - the essence of God’s nature (his oneness, his unity).

6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. This is the greatest commandment because love fulfills the law i.e. it is the primary motive for obedience.

6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. David said I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Paul said in 2 Cor. 3:3 that God has “written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

6:7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

The word “impress” means to “to prick, to pierce, to penetrate” – diligently teach your children God’s law. Talk about them when you lie down and get up and walk and sit at home. Tie them on your body and hang them in your house. The Jews tied phylacteries to their foreheads and left arms. They attached mezuzot (small wooden or metal containers that contained scriptures) to the doorframes of their house and they touched it when they walked through the door. Deut 22:12 They word tassels on the corners of their garments to look at and remember to obey instead of going after their own lusts. We’ve done the same sorts of things with WWJD bracelets, Philippians 2:14 bracelets, tee-shirts, and Joshua 24:15 sign.

God wanted parents to teach their children to love and obey God. And teaching and praying began in infancy. Paul reminded Timothy how his mother and grandmother taught him the scriptures when he was an infant in 2 Timothy 3:14-15 … how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Children cannot raise themselves. They need parents. Ron Meadows sent me an email that explains why boys need parents and I’ll share a couple of them with you.

Boys need parents because they put frogs in their mouth [Pic of a boy with a frog]
Boys need parents because the do crazy stunts and could kill themselves [Pic of a boy on bike]
Boys need parents because the stick butter-knifes in electric sockets [Pic of boy – electric socket]

Boys and girls need moms and dads to teach them. On September 7 we are going begin a class called parenting small children. If you are a parent or grandparent or a couple planning to have children you need to come to this class. After you watch this video Matt and I are going to sing a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song called “Teach Your children Well.”

Video – Parenting small children

Jeff and Matt sing - Teach Your Children Well (Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young)

You who are on the road - Must have a code that you can live by - And so become yourself - Because the past is just a good bye. - Teach your children well - Their father's hell - did slowly go by - And feed them on your dreams - The one they picked, the one you'll know by - Don't you ever ask them why - if they told you, you would cry - So just look at them and sigh and know they love you - And you, of tender years - Can't know the fears that your elders grew by - And so please help them with your youth - They seek the truth before they can die - Teach your parents well - Their children's hell will slowly go by - And feed them on your dreams - The one they picked - the one you'll know by - Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry - So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

God wants us to teach our children well so that his blessings can flow from generation to generation. Deut 6:1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

When Rodney and Susie May gave their life to Jesus Christ they passed the blessing on to their children and their children passed the blessing to their children [pic of Rodney and Susie with their children]. Bonnie & Will Edwards their children Garrett, Jake and Emerson; .Jinnie and Tim Holmes and their children Brennan, Clay and Ryan; and Lee and soon to be his wife ‘Michele’; and Katie & Curtis Collins and their child Kenyan and one that is due in a few months.

In Deut 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

In chapter 8 Moses described how God was going to bless them – He described the Promised Land. 8:6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Then Moses gave them this warning. 8:11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God

In chapter 9 Moses explained they had no reason to be proud.

9:4 After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. 5 It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. 9:7 Remember this and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God to anger in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the LORD.

9:8 At Horeb you aroused the LORD's wrath so that he was angry enough to destroy you.
9:22 You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, at Massah and at Kibroth Hattaavah. 23 And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh Barnea,

Each of these places are associated with their sin – when they provoked the Lord’s anger.

Horeb (9:8) where they made golden calf – Both Moses and God were angry. Moses was so angry 9:17 So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, breaking them to pieces before your eyes. God was so angry 9:19 I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the LORD listened to me. 20 And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too.

Taberah (9:22) complained about their hardships - cf. Number 11:1-3 the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down. 3 o that place was called Taberah, [1] because fire from the LORD had burned among them.

Massah (9:22 cf. 6:16) they tested the Lord saying "Is the LORD among us or not?" - Exodus 17 Quarreled with Moses – “give us water to drink” - "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" God brought water from a rock - Exodus 17:7 but he called the place Massah [1] and Meribah [2] because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

Kibroth Hattaavah (9:22) where they craved other food Numbers 11:4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" … 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, [6] because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

Kadesh Barnea (9:23) where they did not trust him or obey him – 9:23 And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh Barnea, he said, "Go up and take possession of the land I have given you." But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him or obey him. 9:24 You have been rebellious against the LORD ever since I have known you. 25 I lay prostrate before the LORD those forty days and forty nights because the LORD had said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed to the LORD and said, "O Sovereign LORD, do not destroy your people, your own inheritance that you redeemed by your great power and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Overlook the stubbornness of this people, their wickedness and their sin. 28 Otherwise, the country from which you brought us will say, 'Because the LORD was not able to take them into the land he had promised them, and because he hated them, he brought them out to put them to death in the desert.' 29 But they are your people, your inheritance that you brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm."

I went back and reread each story and realize each story happened at a place. A place where they sinned and aroused God’s anger and sometimes the renamed the place because of what happened there. All Moses had to do is mention the place and they remembered the story of how the sinned and aroused God’s anger.

Then the office phone rang. It was a collect call from a man, we’ll call him Jim. “Where are you at?” He said “I’m in jail in Columbus. Do you know where it is?” “I sure do. I’ve been in jail in Columbus Ohio.” As soon as he said the name of the place I remembered and it made me think of other places. I’ve been in the Athens County jail too. God saved me from slavery. God brought me out of Eygpt but I sinned at Kadesh Barnea? Do you have a Kadesh Barnea? Where is your Massah?

9:7 Remember this and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God to anger in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the LORD. God did not save you because of your righteous. He saved you because he loves you and because he made a covenant with his Son Jesus Christ.

So love the Lord your God with all heart. Get his word in your heart and impress it on your children. When you love God you will obey his laws. When you build fine house and drive nice cars and you are blessed with wealth and prosperity – give thanks to the Lord. Don’t be proud and arrogant and think “I did it myself.” You don’t have any reason to be proud because you don’t have any righteousness and the Lord loves you anyway.

Prayer Time

Deuteronomy 4-5 Learning How to Relate to God and People

2008-10-08T23:03:00.000-04:00

Obeying God’s Law, Trusting God’s Grace (Part 2)
Promise and Adventure for a New Generation
Learning How to Relate to God and People
Deuteronomy 4-5
Jeff Garrett

Deuteronomy begins with a recap of the last forty years. Chapter 4 contains the end of the first sermon and the beginning of the second. The first sermon ends with a call to obedience, a warning against idolatry, a declaration that the Lord is God and there is no other, and a parenthetical statement about the cities of Refuge on the east side of the Jordon. The second sermon begins in 4:44. The second sermon contains the law Moses set before the Israelites (v.44). Moses’ second sermon is longest of the three.

His first sermon was only four chapters. And his third sermon was four chapters also. But his second sermon was over 22 chapters long … which means I have to preach till 3 o clock. Just kidding.

Moses begins his second sermon with the 10 Commandments. The title of the sermon is “Learning How to Relate to God and People.” The message Moses preached to the new generation was this: God is going to give you the Promised Land. But before you enter it you must make a covenant with God. In v.3 It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. The entire law is summed up in two commands 1) Love God with all your heart 2) Love each other like God loves you.

You are not going to live like the people who now live in Canaan. What good is Promised Land if you are just as wicked as the nations already living there? God is going to empower you to clean it out and create a new environment where people love God and each other.

5:1 Moses summoned all Israel … To summon means to call for. When I was 21 years old I preached for a little country church in Aetna TN 60 miles outside of Nashville. They had a church bell and we would ring that bell before every assembly. That’s what summoned means. It means to call for. And look who he called for – “all Israel”. Not some of them or most of them but all of them. I doubt that anybody in Israel thought “I don’t think I will go to this assembly. I want to watch TV.” I doubt that anybody left early to get a seat at Shoney’s. No! They all came and that’s what you need to do when the church bell rings.

Look at what Moses said 1 Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. Notice three words: hear, learn, and follow. Be eager to hear. Listen eagerly, listen attentively. Many Christians have spiritual ADD. That’s why Jesus repeatedly said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” That’s why Charles Stanley punctuates his sermons with dozens of “Listen-to-me”. That’s why James said “be quick to listen and slow to speak.” I love the story of the revival at the Watergate in Nehemiah 8. Nehemiah 8: 1 all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. I love that attitude. Bring out the Book! We want to hear what God has to say. We want to hear what the Lord has commanded. I love that attitude! I love to witness the reverent silence that falls over an assembly when the Word of God is read publically. But something dies inside of me when I witness an audience that doesn’t is appears bored or non-responsive.

God expects his people to participate and respond so they can learn. Don’t consistently drag in late. Be on time. Get here before the church bell rings. Fellowship and visit. Then when Matt gives a call to worship join in and participate. Moses gave them a song to sing and told them to say amen. God instructed Moses 31:19 "Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it … I doubt anybody said “I’m not going to sing that new song. I like the old ones better.” Can you imagine anybody who crossed the Red Sea complaining because Miriam led a dance with the tambourines? … I’m not dancing. I don’t like those tambourines. I don’t like those guitars … I like organs. I don’t like any of it. What would Moses say about that kind of attitude.

That’s what the new generation does. Look at how responsive this new generation was in Deut 27: 9 Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, "Be silent, O Israel, and listen! I doubt that anybody kept talking. Why did they get silent? Because God was about to speak! These people had seen him. 4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. 5 (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) If you don’t respond I don’t think you’ve seen him. You don’t know who you are dealing with. He is a consuming fire. He is a blinding so powerful you cannot approach him. He is so awesome and powerful that when you are in his physical presence you don’t choose to respond you have to respond. When God says “Be silent, O Israel and listen” you respond.

When you are instructed to say “Amen” you say “Amen!” That’s what Moses said in 27:14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: … 15 Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" I doubt anybody in the new generation said “I’m not going to say amen.
Not some of the people or some of the people but all of the people said “Amen!” “Right on Moses!” “I agree!”

Something wonderful happens when everybody participates. People hear and learn and are motivated to follow the law of God which is encapsulated in the Ten Commandments. The first four teach us how to relate to God. The last six teach us how to relate to each other.

1. Worship God alone - 5:6 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 7 "You shall have no other gods before me. Some may think "That’s not very nice. That’s not tolerant. I want to choose my own god - the God of my understanding. That’s exclusive." Yes it is exclusive but it’s true. 4:32 Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. And you will find v.35 that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. …39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Jesus made the same exclusive claims. In John 14:6 Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me." There are not many ways to God there is only one way … Jesus Christ.

Somebody says “I don’t understand that. Why does he have to be so exclusive?” Suppose I met a woman and had an affair and brought her into my home before Kim and my girls and said “This is Jill she is going to move in today.” What would Kim and the say. You can’t do that. I am your wife.” What if I responded “I love you but doesn’t mean can’t love her.” What would my family do? Throw me in the Ohio River. I am the Lord Your God and you will have no other gods but me.

2. Worship God in spirit - 5:8 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

3. Honor God’s name - 5:11 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Have you ever heard that Montgomery Gentry sing “Back When I Knew it All”. Back when the world was flat and mama and daddy didn't have a clue. Back when a pitcher of beer and a couple shots made me bulletproof. Back when god was a name I used in vain to get a point across when
I got ticked off. Why do we do that? You hear it all the time. Cursing. Swearing. O my God! Jesus Christ. Why do we do that? Did you know the Jews had so much reverence for God’s name that they refrained from spelling? They took the vowels out and spelled it YHWH. Do you know what that means “I am”. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses ask for his name so that he could tell Pharaoh who sent him. God said “I am who I am. Tell him “I am” sent you. Jesus taught us to pray “Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name.” In John 8:58 Jesus claimed to be the great “I am” and they tried to stone him.

4. Rest in God presence one day a week - 5:12 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.

The first four commands teach us how to relate to God. The last six teach us how to relate to each other. The last six teach us how to relate to one another.

5. Honor your parents - 5:16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

6. Express your anger appropriately - 5:17 "You shall not murder.

7. Be faithful to your mate - 5:18 "You shall not commit adultery."

8. Respect people’s property - 5:19 "You shall not steal."

9. Always tell the truth - 5:20 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

10. Be grateful and content with what you have - 5:21 "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Video

Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Some people think love and law are incompatible but it’s not true. We need both. Law without love is cold legalism and love without law is antinomianism which is no love at all. You cannot love if you are a law unto yourself.

We obey God’s law, not because it saves us, but because God loves us. No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Law reveals our sin and points us to Jesus. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ apart from law. Paul said, we are not under law, we are under grace. Grace does not reject God’s law, it upholds it.

Let me illustrate the difference between law and grace with a story about a woman who had two husbands. Her first husband was demanding and emotionally abusive. Every morning, before he went to work, he left a daily list of chores for her. And every evening, when he returned home from work, he read the chore list aloud as he walked from room to room inspecting her work. If she had not completed the entire list his temper flared. So great was her fear of his complaints and criticisms, she felt forced to comply with all his angry demands. But she could never do enough to please him. She felt unloved, inadequate and worthless. She was coerced into obedience. For ten long years she endured this miserable marriage - until her first husband died.

She lived as a widow for three years until one day, out of the blue, she met another man who loved her like she had never been loved before. He finally proposed marriage and she accepted. The difference between her first and second husband was so great. Her second husband was not demanding -he never left chore lists. He adored her. He was eager to serve her and willing to sacrifice everything for her. He loved her like Jesus loves his bride. One day while she was cleaning out the attic she came across a dusty old box full of the old chore lists from her first husband. Through tears of grief mixed with anger she read one list after another. Then, she suddenly stopped crying and began to smile because she realized that she was doing all these things for her second husband and more. But her motivation was totally different. She did them because her second husband loved her like Jesus.

Some of you are trying to relate to God like the first marriage because you don't understand him. You view the Bible like a list of laws or chores. You must obey them all or he will be angry with you. Your image of Christ is distorted and that's why you feel like you live under his constant frown. You feel unlovable, unacceptable and condemned because you have misunderstood the purpose of law. God did not give you laws and commands as a means for salvation. He gave law so reveal you sin and point you to Jesus. Jesus is not like the first husband, he's like the second. When you realize how much Jesus loves you - how he sacrificed everything by dying on the cross for your sins - you will begin to relate to him differently and obey him naturally - not out of compulsion but out of love. You are not under law, you're under grace. Living by grace does not make you want to sin. Grace motivates you to obey God because he loves you so much!

We obey God’s law, not because it saves us, but because God loves us. Why should pledge exclusive devotion to Jehovah, worship him in spirit, honor his name, and rest in his presense one day a week (commandments 1-4)? Because God loves us and we love him. Why should we honor our parents, express anger appropriately, be faithful to our mate, respect people's property, always tell the truth, and be grateful and content with what we have (commandments 5-10)? Because God loves us and we love him. That's why Jesus said that loving God and people are the two greatest commandments.

Love and law are not incompatable. We need both. Law without love results in cold legalism. Love without law results in a selfish sinful lifestyle that destroys our relationship with God and each other. But God's love guided by his law teaches us how to relate to Jesus and each other.

Prayer Time

Deuteronomy 1-3 - Promise and Adventure for a New Generation

2008-07-28T23:45:00.002-04:00

Obeying God’s Law and Trusting God’s Grace
Promise and Adventure for a New Generation
Deut 1-3
Jeff Garrett

Why Study Deuteronomy? The real question is “Why have we neglected it?” Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

· It was important to Israel. God commanded that Deuteronomy to be read publically at the Feast of Tabernacles at the close of each Sabbatical Year (Deut 31:10-13).
· It was important to the NT Writers - Deuteronomy is quoted in the NT nearly 100 times in the New Testament. My dad said “We would have a NT if it wasn’t for the OT.
· It was important to Jesus - Jesus quoted more from Deuteronomy than from any other Old Testament book. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law (Matt 5:17-20) and if we are going to understand Jesus we have to understand the law that he fulfilled.

Henrietta Mears was a famous Christian leader. Billy Graham wrote the forward to her book and said that no other woman, besides his mother and wife, had a greater influence on him than Henrietta Mears. Listen what Henrietta Mears wrote about Deuteronomy. "Nothing in literature matches the majesty of [Deuteronomy's] eloquence; nothing in the Old Testament has any more powerful appeal for the spiritual life. No book in all the Word of God pictures better the life which is lived according to God's will, and the blessings showered upon the soul who comes into the richness and fullness of spiritual living along the rugged pathway of simple obedience. Jesus often quoted from Deuteronomy. In fact, it is almost invariably from this book that He quotes. He took Deuteronomy as His code of conduct (Luke 4:4, 8, 12). He answered the devil in the hour of temptation from its writings."- H. Mears, pp. 74-75.

So let’s begin with Deut. 1:1 These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan … 2 (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.) … 3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them. … 5 East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law …

The first five verses are a perfect introduction.

The content - 1 These are the words – The name "Deuteronomy" literally means "second law." It’s not a book of new laws given to Israel. Rather, it is a repetition of the law given by God through Moses. It is a "second giving of the law" in the form of three sermons: Sermon #1 – Remembering God’s Story (1:5-4:43); Sermon #2 – Reviewing God’s Law (4:44-26:19); Sermon #3 – Renewing God’s Covenant (27-30:20); Chapters 31-34 contain the last acts of Moses including appointing Joshua as the new leader (chapter 31), the prophetic song of Moses (chapter 32), the blessing of the tribes of Israel (chapter 33), and finally Moses climbs Mount Nebo and dies. God attended his funeral and buried him in a secret place.

Although no human knows Moses' grave site, the archangel Michael had a dispute with Satan over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). Perhaps Michael, for some reason, was protecting his body which would eventually be raised at the second coming of Christ. Though Moses' body was buried, his spirit returned to the Lord and about 1400 years later Moses appeared with Eijah on another mount where Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17:1-4). Three apostles, Peter, James and John, witness them talking with each other. What Jesus and Moses and Elijah talked about is unknown. Perhaps Jesus explained how he was going to fulfill the law (that Moses gave) and the prophets (which Elijah represented) by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. This is only speculation. We simply do not know what they talked about. What we know is that Father God honored Jesus above Moses and Elijah. When Peter, overwhelmed by the scene, suggested building three tabernacles God corrected him by saying ""This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17-18).

The author - 1 … Moses spoke – Moses is the author. He spoke these words when he was 120 years old. Moses’ life can be divided into three parts. The first 40 years he was an adopted son of Pharoah's daughter in Egypt. The second 40 he was a shepherd in wilderness. And the last 40 years he led God’s people out of slavery to edge of the Promised Land. Although Moses was 120 years old, Deuteronomy 34:7 says that his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.

The audience - 1 … to all Israel - The audience was comprised of the new generation of Israel. With the exception of three (Moses, Joshua and Caleb), everyone in the audience was under the age of 60. Their parents and grandparents died in the wilderness because of unbelief, disobedience and rebellion.

The setting - 1… the desert east of the Jordan; v.5 East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab. The google earth map shows the geographical location of these events. You can see the north Africa where Israel left Eygpt and cross the Red Sea and headed for Horeb where Sinai is located. After receiving the law Israel headed north toward Canaan. The first generation rebelled at Kadesh-Barnia and wondered through that vast desert until they died. Thirty-eight years later the new generation headed further north and camped in the desert of the Jordan in the Pains of Moab, which is located northeast of the Dead Sea (If you study the satilite photo carefully at you can see the Dead Sea) where Moses' preach the first of his three sermons.

The date - 3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month. The events of Deuteronomy in less than a month. It began on the 1st day of the 11th month the 40th year after the exodus (1:3). It apparently ended in the 12th month because 34:8 says that Israel spent 30 days mourning the death of Moses in the Plains of Moab. Then, on the 10th day of the 1st month Joshua led the new generation across the Jordan River on dry ground (Josh 4:19). These time statements seem to indicate the the events of Deuteronomy took place in a brief span of a few weeks. During the 11th month Moses preached. During the 12th month Israel mourned his death. And during the the 1st month of the 41st year Joshua began to conquest Canaan and claim possession of the Promised Land.

Knowing the background of this book helps us understand the context of the events and the message of Deuteronomy. In the first five verses we have learned the occassion, the author, the audience, the setting and the date. Today we are going to discuss part of the first sermon.

Sermon #1 begins with Moses reviewing 38 years of history.

1:5 East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying: 6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites … 8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them."

Moses began the story at Horeb or Sinai (not Egypt). They camped at the base of Sinai almost a year. At Sinai they received the law, the tabernacle, instructions for worship, and Moses delegated leadership roles. Moses was eager to delegate leadership responsibility. 1:9 At that time I said to you, "You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. …12 … how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? The burden was so great in Numbers 11:10-15 that Moses wanted to die.

When was the last time you were stressed out? How did you handle it? Moses handled it by praying to God and delegating responsibility. He told them in 1:13 to "Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you." They chose them and Moses appointed the. He said in 1:15 So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. 16 And I charged your judges … 17 Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike.

These verses are relevant to elders, ministry leaders, small group leaders, teachers, and any other kind of leader. Our Canaan, of course, is not a geographical location. You cannot find our Promised Land using Google Earth. Our conquest is spiritual. We are fighting for God's glory, God's fame, God's purpose which will culminate in the redemption of sinful humanity, the elect of God chosen before creation and the restoration of all creation under the Lordship of one King, Jesus Christ. In the end, Jesus is not going to rule over a little piece of real estate in the Middle East. Jesus will rule heaven and earth.

Four major areas that we are working on this fall.

· Strengthen our existing small groups and plant more.
· Improve our ministry to children.
· Community outreaches like Trick or Trunkin and a back to school outreach.
· Thanksgiving outreach and Christmas celebration.

The challenge we face as leaders is balancing response to crises without neglecting the work that will build relationships. We have to do both things well. We have to respond to crises but we cannot neglect the ministry of prayer and building relationships with Jesus and people in ministry. And the key is to follow the example of Moses and delegate. There are four things I want to say about delegating:

First, they have to have a relationship with Jesus.

Second, the have to be people of integrity i.e. v.13 wise, understanding, respected, impartial

Third, you have to delegate responsibility with authority. If you delegate responsibility without authority to act people will come back to you for every decision made. They will get tired of it and so will you. Give them the authority to make decisions. Moses gave the judges the authority to decide on small and great cases.

Fourth, every leader needs to remember that when you face a fire you have two buckets in your hand. One has gas in it and the other as water. You get to decide which to use.

So, at Sinai, they received the law, the tabernacle, instructions for worship, and leadership. Then God said “You’ve been here long enough. Break camp and advance to the Promised Land.” They had everything they needed. But when the came to Kadesh Barnea they sent sent out 12 spies and 10 gave a bad report.

Would you make a good spy? Are your eyes of faith bigger than your stomach of fear? What do you do when you face giant size problems and sky-high walls? How do you typically perceive giant size problems? Do you typically have a “God-can-do-anything” attitude or a “there-is-no-way-we-can-do-it” attitude? Do you tend to spread good reports or bad reports? The bad news spread through the congregation and Moses said 1:24 …you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. 27 You grumbled in your tents and said, "The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart. They say, 'The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.'" There are giants in the land. We can’t do it. They will kill all the men and take all the women and children.

1:34 When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: 35 "Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, … 39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. 40 But as for you, turn around and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea."

2:15 The LORD's hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.

Numbers 32:11 says that “not one of the men 20 years or older would enter the Promised Land. If you are 19 or younger please raise your hand. Think of it. Only you would be able to enter the Promised Land. All the rest of would die in the wilderness. You would be the new generation.

Which generation do you belong to? Remember, today this has nothing to do with age. It has everything to do with faith. Are you driven by faith or fear? Do you want to spend 40 years in the wilderness? Why did it take Israel 40 years to reach the Promised Land? Deuteronomy 1:2 said that it was just an 11 day journey? Why did it take so long? It wasn’t the distance that stood between them and the Promised Land. It was the condition of their hearts.

God’s purpose was deeper than simply transporting a huge group of people to the Promised Land. He was preparing them to live in obedience to him and love each other once they arrived. What good was the Promised Land if the Israelites were just as wicked as the nations already living there? The journey was a painful but necessary part of their preparation. The wilderness taught them how to relate to God and each other.

Where are you in your spiritual journey? Egypt? Horeb (Sinai)? Wilderness? On the banks of the Jordan? Or in the Promised Land fighting giants and resting in the power of God? Is it time for you to move on in your spiritual journey? Where to? With whom? What for? What is your next step? Moses told the New Generation three things.

1. God will take care of you

2:7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

When they needed bread he made it rain down from heaven.

When they wanted meat he sent quail. When I read about the birds they ate I thought of Mike Shepherd [pic]. Mike is on of the best marksman in the world. I think he killed all those birds and the rest of them posed for the picture. I’m telling you, Mike can shoot a gun. But think of this. They didn’t need guns. The quail flew in, driven by wind, and died (I guess).

When they were thirsty he brought water out of rock and 1 Cor. 10:3 says that rock was Christ.

Deut 8:4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

They were grilling quail they didn’t hunt, eating bread they didn’t bake, and drinking water out from a rock and their clothes never wore out. God takes care of his people when they are in the wilderness. Your journey may be long and your life may be painful, discouraging and difficult, but God will take care of you. You need to remember that God isn’t just trying to keep you alive. He wants to prepare you for a relationship with himself and other people.

2. Do not fight your family, fight the enemy

In chapter 2: God warned the Israelites to avoid conflict with the descendents of Esau and Lot. 2:4 Give the people these orders: 'You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. Don’t fight the Edomites, the Moabites or the Ammonites. The same is true today. If we start fighting people in your family or people in the church or people in other churches, we will not gain an inch of ground – not even enough to put our foot on.

In chapter 2 and 3 God told them to fight the real enemy and they did. 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you." In chapter 2 they defeated Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon and in chapter 3 they defeated Og King of Bashan and he must have been a giant because 3:11 says His bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide. The point is that that this new generation killed the giants their parents were afraid of because they were driven by faith rather than fear.

3:21 At that time I commanded Joshua: "You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22 Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you."

Three tribes settled on the east side with the understanding that they would fight to conquest Canaan before they finally settled on the east side of the Jordan.

3. God will forgive all your sins, but you still may face the consequences

3: 26 But because of you the LORD was angry with me and would not listen to me. "That is enough," the LORD said. "Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. 28 But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see."

Prayer Time

__________________________________________________
Small Group (Deut 1-3)

Ice Breaker
Explain this statement: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"?
Who has been like Moses to you, reminding you of God’s faithfulness (past and future)?

Please read this text aloud – Deut. 1:5-10
· Where are you in your spiritual journey? Egypt? Horeb (Sinai)? Wilderness? At the Jordan? Or in the Promised Land?
· What does the Promised Land mean to you?
· Have you ever been stuck at Sinai or in the wilderness? What was it like?
· Is it time for you to move on in your spiritual journey?
· Where to? With whom? What for? What is your next step?

Please read this text aloud – Deut 1:9-18
· Why was Moses eager to share leadership?
· When was the last time you were stressed out? What happened? How did you get relief?
· Why is it difficult for some people to delegate responsibility?
· What have you delegated lately? What happened? Any good results?

Please read this text aloud – Deut 1:19-28 and Deut 1:34-36
· Would you make a good spy?
· Are your eyes of faith bigger than your stomach of fear? How so?
· How do you typically perceive things? Do you typically have a “God-can-do-anything” attitude or a “We-can’t-do-it” attitude?
· Do you tend to spread good reports or bad reports?
· Which spreads more quickly, good news or bad news? Why?
· Why was God so angry at the first Generation? Do you think their punishment was too harsh?

Please read this text aloud – Deut 2:4-6, 7, 9, 19; 24-25 and 3:1-2
· Regarding 2:4-6 – Why were the Israelites to avoid conflict with the descendents of Esua?
· Regarding 2:9 & 19 – Why were the Israelites to avoid conflict with the Moabites and the Ammonites (the descendents of Lot)?
· Why is there so much infighting in God’s family today? Who is the real enemy?
· Regarding 2:7 - How did God take care of you when you were enduring your wilderness experience?
· Regarding 2:24-25 and 3:1-2 – How does the conquest of Heshbon and Bashan begin to fulfill God’s promise (see 2:25)?

Please read this text aloud – Deut 2:23-29
· Do you think Moses’ punishment was too much? Why? Why not?
· How would you explain this statement to a friend: “Jesus will forgive all sin, but you may still face consequences”?
· Which generation do you belong to? [Note: this has nothing to do with age but everything to do with faith] Are you driven by faith or fear?

Philippians 4:10-23 - Be Content and Grateful in Every Circumstance

2008-07-21T14:51:00.000-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 10)
Be Content and Grateful in Every Circumstance
Philippians 4:10-23
Jeff Garrett

Philippians 4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Let’s begin with v.10. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. Paul said, “I hadn’t heard from you in a while. I never doubted your support. I knew the reason I hadn’t heard from you was because you didn’t have a opportunity - it’s a long way from Philippi to Rome. But when I received the message you sent along with the gifts I rejoiced greatly in the Lord.

Not that I was in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I'm just as happy and joyful with little as I am with much. I know who to live when I have nothing. And I know how to live when all my needs are met. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every circumstance. He reveals the secret is in v.13. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

That’s the secret Paul learned. Paul said I can cope … I can do anything because Jesus gives me strength. That’s the secret I’ve learned to be content in any and every situation e.g. 2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Paul was content with …

· His age - Philemon 1:9 I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

· His inadequacies - 2 Corinthians 10:10 For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."

The Acts of Paul and Thecla gives a picture of Paul's physical features - “a man small in size, with a bald head and crooked legs, with eyebrows that met and a rather prominent nose.” He wasn’t very handsome but he wasn’t discontent - he was full of grace and confidence.

2 Corinthians 11:6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

· His rented house - Acts 28:30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ

· His chronic pain - 2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

That illustrates Philippians 4:13 perfectly. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Colossians 1:9 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

I didn’t need anything because I was content with what I had. But I was so happy to hear from you and praised God for your gift.

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Paul said “I don’t need any more money. I am not looking for another gift. I am looking for what may be credited to your account. Let this letter be your receipt. Paid in full! Overpaid! It was way too much. I have more than I need since you sent this gift.” And look at what Paul called their gift. v.18 the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Then Paul ends the letter with greetings sandwiched between a doxology and a benediction.

20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

What can we takeaway? How can we be content and grateful in every circumstance? We could begin by understanding that there are many factors that influence.

There are so many factors that influence discontent
· Weak relationships with people and God.
· Low frustration tolerance.
· The myth of entitlement.
· Distorted perceptions.
· Misplace priorities.
· Self-reliance.

Three Ways to be Content and Grateful in Every Circumstance

1. Give a gift – 2 Corinthians 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

There is currently $41,000 in savings and $11,000 in checking and $60,000 is CDs. That may sound like a lot but it takes a lot to run our church family. Our operating cost is about $24,000 a month. That’s why it’s important for us to give generously.

One of my favorite stories is in Mark 12 about the widow. Mark 12:41-44 Jesus was in the area of the temple called the Court of the Women. The treasury was located there or in an adjoining walkway. In this area were seven boxes for people to deposit their temple tax. Six boxes were for freewill offerings like the woman gave. Not only was she poor; as a widow she had few resources for making money. Her small gift was a sacrifice, but she gave it willingly. This widow gave all she had, in stark contrast to the way most of us handle money. Jesus admired her sacrificial giving. Luke 19:3 Jesus said “Really this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them combined. 4 For they have given a little of what they didn’t need, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Living Bible) Who are like? Are you more like the widow or more like the others? Jesus is still watching and when you give generously and joyfully, like the widow and the Philippians, your gifts are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

2. Write a letter - that’s what Paul did. He used the words “joy”, “rejoice”, and “glad” 17 times and he used the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 51 times. Write a letter to a friend like that.

3. Change your perspective (move closer to Jesus and people) - Paul was in prison but he was the freest man in Rome. He lived close to the Lord and people.

There were two men in the same hospital room which had one window. One of the men, as a part of his treatment, was allowed to sit up in bed for an hour in the afternoon and his bed was next to the window. But the other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. Neither of them were able to do much, no reading, no radio, no television. So they talked for hours about their wives, their children, their homes, their jobs, their hobbies, their childhood and where they had been on vacations. And every afternoon, the man next to the window was propped up for his hour a treatment (so the fluid would drain from his lungs), he would pass the time by describing what he could see outside. And the other man began to live for those hours. The window apparently overlooked a park with a lake – where there were ducks and children throwing them bread and sailing little boats, and young lovers walking hand in hand beneath the trees and there were flowers and green grass and games of softball and sunbathers and in the distance there was a beautiful view of the city skyline.

The man on his back would listen to all this – how a child nearly fell into the water, how beautiful girls were in their summer dresses, and an exciting ballgame or a boy playing with his puppy. The man on his back got to the place where he could almost see what was happening outside. Then one afternoon, when there was some sort of parade, the thought struck him – “Why should the man next to the window have all the pleasure of seeing what was going on? Why shouldn’t he get the bed next to the window?” He felt ashamed and he tried not to think like that but the more he tried the worse it became and he would do anything to see out the window. In a few days he turned sour and thought he should be by the window and he brooded and couldn’t sleep and became more seriously ill.

One night, as he stared at the ceiling the other man suddenly woke up coughing and choking. The fluid congesting in his lungs and his hands were groping for the button to call the night nurse. But the man in the other bed watched without moving and never reached for his button. Finally, the coughing stopped and the man died and he continued to stare at the ceiling.

In the morning the day nurse came in with water for their baths and found the other man dead. They took away his body quietly. As soon as it seemed decent the man ask if he could be moved to the bed next to the window. And they moved him, tucked him in and made him comfortable. The minute they had gone, he propped himself up on one elbow and looked out the window and discovered that it faced a blank wall.

Which man do you identify with? Do you lie on your bed and envy others who seem to have a better view. Or are you more like the man who can find reasons to rejoice even if you are looking at a blank wall?

Prayer Time

Philippians 4:4-9 - Replacing Worry and Anxiety with Joy and Peace

2008-07-09T06:42:00.000-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 9)
Replacing Worry and Anxiety with Joy and Peace
Philippians 4:4-9
Jeff Garrett

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Let's begin with v.4.

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

“Rejoice” means “be glad”. Proverbs 17:22 says that a cheerful heart is good medicine. I heard Joyce Meyer read the following paragraph which describes the benefits of laughter. She did not name the source but I thought it was a wonderful description of the benefits of laughing.

"Laughter is good medicine because causes the release of body chemicals called endorphins. These substances help to relieve pain and create a sense of well-being within us. Laughter is able to raise your energy level and pull you out of the pit of depression. It actually releases tension, anxiety, anger, fear, shame and guilt and can completely change a person’s attitude. Like a massage, a good belly laugh is able to stimulate all your major organs. It’s like internal jogging. Laughter strengthens your immune system. It increases antibodies. It is believed to have a protective capacity against viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms. It’s like an internal aerobic exercise because you inhale more oxygen when you laugh. Laughter stimulates your heart and blood circulation and is equivalent to any other standard aerobic exercise."

That's amazing! I had no idea laughter did so much for us. Laughter is an expression of the spiritual fruit of joy. Some of you don't laugh enough. I have met a few Christians that resist laughing in the assembly on Sunday morning because they think it is not spiritual. For them, laughing and clapping and dancing for joy is not reverant, its disrespectful. But the Bible tells stories about people dancing for joy. One time Nehemiah and Ezra stage a parade on top of Jerusalem's rebuilt walls. They put a band in front of the parade with singers and the people were so excite and so loud that the sound of joy could be heard far away. And what about the celebration that happened with the prodigal some returned home. When the older brother came near the house he heard music and saw people dancing. He stead out in the field and pouted but his father explained "We had to celebrate because your brother came back home".

Sometimes you have to celebrate! Don't suppress it or hold back. Sometimes that best and most appropriate thing is laughter. That's what Abraham did. Sarah got in trouble for laughing only because she thought God was joking, she didn't believe him. She was laughing out of unbelief. But at Isaacs birth she laughed in faith. The Bible says that Abraham and Sarah laughed with joy and they even named their son Isaac, which means laughter.

But laughter is not the only expression of joy. It might help to view joy on a continuum. At one extreem is celebration and laughter. At the other extreme is calm quiet peace, even in the mist of pain. And between those two extremes are various expressions of joy. But regardless of the level or intensity, joy is the predominant mood of the Christian. It is a spiritual fruit produced by the Spirit. Jesus himself is the sourse of joy. He doesn't give us joy, he is our joy.

The key to joy is the little phrase in v.4 “in the Lord”. He didn’t say to rejoice in your self you rejoice in the Lord. That’s your position. All spiritual blessings are in Christ and since you are in Christ you always have a reason to be joyful. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1). Nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8).

The word “always” means “all the time.” It’s easy to be joyful in good times but we can be joyful even in difficult times. James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. The word “gentleness” means “moderation” or “appropriate” – not excessive. It means to be in tune with the feelings of others and relate to them appropriately and sensitively with gentleness. That’s why the Bible says to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Don’t be harsh or rude or impatient or emotionally reactive or overbearing to anyone. Always be thoughtful and considerate so that it is evident to all. Contrast - Jeanie and Dana and Billy.

The motivation for being gentle is living with a keen awareness that the Lord is near. He is near spiritually because he lives in you. And he is near physically i.e. he could show up any minute.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything. This is what Jesus taught in Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.

Matthew 6:28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus gave us three reasons not to worry. First, it’s unreasonable - if God takes care of birds and flowers he will take care of you. Second, it’s unproductive - it will not add a single hour to your life. Third, it’s ungodly - when you worry you are acting like pagans, like you are not God’s children. Your heavenly Father knows what you need so you don’t have to worry. Just seek his Kingdom first, and he will give you all the rest. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Live one day at a time. Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything.

Paul tells us how to approach God in v.6 by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. You approach him with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. That’s different than the way a lot of people pray. They skip the praise and worship and go straight to the shoping list. I think God is saying begin with praise, which simply means to brag on God. Then mix your petition (supplication) with thanksgiving for what you already have. The next verse contains the promise.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul was chained to a Roman soldier, guarded day and night. In the same way, when you are not worried about anything and you pray about everything, God’s peace which is beyond your comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Fix your thoughts on what is …
True – factual (Dr. Cavart’s – only 8% legitimate concerns 92% imaginary.
Noble - honorable, dignified, gracious
Right - righteous, correct, accurate, realistic
Pure - morally wholesome, unmixed,
Lovely - virtuous, beautiful, wonderful
Admirable - inspiring
Excellent - outstanding, exceptional,
Praiseworthy - worthy of praise, commendable

Don’t waste mind power on things that are untrue, inaccurate, unrealistic, …

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Five Takeaways (If you are going to replace worry and anxiety with joy and peace …)

1. Pray about everything - Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

2. Guard your heart and renew your mind - Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. AND Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

3. Change your attitude - Phil 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus

4. Use the Philippians 4:8 Filter – 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

5. Obey God even when you don’t feel like it – 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Prayer Time

Philippians 3:12-4:3 - Let Go of the Past and Press On

2008-06-30T17:01:00.000-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 8)
Let Go of the Past and Press On
Philippians 3:12-4:3
Jeff Garrett

The title of my message today is “Let Go of the Past and Press On.” Philippians 3 is basically Paul’s autobiography. Verses 1- 11 deals with his past and v.12ff deals with his present and future. Paul shared his five life goals in v.10-11. 1) I want to know Christ intimately. 2) I want to know the power of his resurrection. 3) I want to know the fellowship of his sufferings. 4) I want to become like him in his death. 5) I want to attain the resurrection from the dead i.e. one way or another I want to experience the resurrection from the dead. He compared the Christian life to a race and as you run the race you have to give it your all and press on and endure hardships and focus on the goal i.e. to be like Jesus Christ. As you run the Christian race there are five things you need to do.

1. Face your faults (3:12-13a)

3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. The legalist may have taught perfection was possible with circumcision and law-keeping but three times Paul said he hadn’t achieved it. Perfection it is not possible this side of heaven. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. When you face your faults you become authentic and attractive. God loves humility and authenticity and people are attracted to you (not repelled by your honest admission that you don’t have it all together).

2. Forget the former (3:13b)

3:13b But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind … What was “behind” Paul?

His goodness
His religious credentials and his legalistic righteousness (3:4-8) - puffed up (example: Balloon -3:4 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But then Paul met Christ and his life was totally changed. v.7 … whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ … “Rubbish” is an interesting word. It could mean waste or manure. It could also mean dog food - which is a play on his words in v.2 where he called the legalists “dogs.”

His guilt
1 Timothy 1:13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

His grudges
2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.

Forget your goodness, your guilt and your grudges. Forgetting doesn’t mean amnesia or memory loss. I am trying to drink less diet Pepsi. I used to drink regular Coke but the older I got the more I struggled with weight. I walked 11 miles yesterday. I changed to diet Pepsi and it took awhile but I acquired a taste for it and started drinking more diet Pepsi. And I thought I can drink all the diet Pepsi I want. And I began to drink way too much diet Pepsi. During the 40 days lent I drank no diet Pepsi and it was difficult. Now I’m trying to cut back. I don’t know whether you knew this but there has been a recent study that suggested a possible link between diet sodas and short term memory loss – which is not good for a preacher I could end up repeating myself and not even knowing it. And there have been other studies that have suggested a possible link between artificial sweeteners and some kind of cancers. And there is no way all that carbonation and caffeine in my body everyday can be good for me. And I don’t know if you heard about this but there has been a recent study that suggested a possible link between diet sodas and short term memory loss – which is not good for a preacher or teacher I could end up repeating myself and not even knowing it.

The point is … forgetting does not mean amnesia or memory loss. Just stop dwelling on it on your goodness or your guilt or your grudges.

3. Fight to the finish (3:13b-15)

3:13b But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

“Straining toward” and “pressing on” means to give it all you got! Like a runner straining every muscle and fiber in her body as she advances toward the finish line. Give it your all. All mature Christians view agree that you need to strain press on toward the prize. And if you have something less than total commitment in mind God will clear up your blurred vision but until that happens let’s live up that want we have attained – hold on to the progress we’ve made and don’t let anybody pull you down. Go for it.

I read about an experimental study that involved monkeys. They started with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage was a pole and they hung bananas at the top of the pole. Before long, a monkey started to climb the pole towards the banana. As soon as he touched the pole, they sprayed all of the monkeys with cold water. After awhile, another monkey made an attempt with the same result – all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when any monkey tried to climb the pole, the other monkeys attacked him.

Then they put away the cold water and removed one monkey from the cage and replaced it with a new one. As soon as the new monkey saw the bananas and started to climb the pole, to his surprise, all of the other monkeys attacked him. Every time he went for went for the bananas he was assaulted.

Then they removed another of the original five monkeys and replaced it with a new one. Who saw the bananas and started to climb the pole but was attacked. The previous newcomer took part in the punishment with enthusiasm!

Then they replaced a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey tried to climb the pole, he was attacked. The monkeys that beat him have no idea why they weren’t permitted to climb the pole or why they’re participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the pole to try for the banana.

Who are the monkeys in your life that are pulling you down? It’s time for you to press on Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What’s the prize? The prize is the five life goals in v.10-11. 1) I want to know Christ intimately. 2) I want to know the power of his resurrection. 3) I want to know the fellowship of his sufferings. 4) I want to become like him in his death. 5) I want to attain the resurrection from the dead.

4. Follow godly examples (3:17-21)

3:17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. We need godly examples to follow. Paul told them to join with others who were following his example and to avoid bad examples. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Who are these “enemies”? They could be the legalist he warned them about in 3:2.

But I think, based on v.19, that this is another group - the libertines.

I heard about a father who tested his 21 year old son to see what he would become. He went into his bedroom and placed four items on his dresser. A Bible. A $100 bill. A bottle whiskey. Playboy Magazine. If he picked up the Bible it meant that he was going to be a preacher. If he picked up the money he was going to be a business man. If we picked up the whiskey he was going to be a drunk. And if he picked up the Playboy he was going to be a womanizer. His hid behind the door and waited for him. As soon as he walked in the room he picked up the Bible and the father thought “He’s going to be a preacher.” But when he put the money in his pocket and took a swig of whiskey and started looking at the magazine his father thought - “He’s going to be a libertine.”

That’s what a libertine is. They are the opposite of legalists. They believe in justification but they are not concerned about sanctification. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

5. Forgive and love each other (4:2-3)

4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Have you ever wished your name was in the Bible? It would be far better to have your name in the Bible than in the paper. We’ve had a number of members whose pictures and stories have recently been in the paper which is great but can you imagine having your name and story record in the Bible? If you ever had such a wish you probably want your name mentioned in a positive way. But you probably wouldn’t want your name mentioned the way these two godly women in Philippians 4:2 are mentioned. That is, to rebuke you because you are having a fight with one another. Can you imagine how it must feel to be known for 2000 years as the two women in Philippi whose argument disrupted the church?

This argument was so bad and widely known that Paul mentioned them by name. Let’s say Susie May and Janet Johnson were arguing and it continued for weeks and caused such a disruption that I called them by name and ask you to help them settle their disagreement. That’s basically what happened. Can you imagine how they felt the first time this letter was read aloud in church?

But Paul knew that he had to deal the with problem openly and directly because these women should not be arguing, they should “agree in the Lord” and love each other. Paul modeled this love in the verse preceded it by saying 1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! Look at all these terms of affection – my brothers, I love you, I long for you, you are my joy and crown, stand firm together. Take up for each other. Protect each other.

Come with me to a third grade classroom..... There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives. The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, 'Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat.'

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered. As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, 'Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!' Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!'

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, 'You did that on purpose, didn't you?' Susie whispers back, 'I wet my pants once too.'
What do you do when someone messes up? Do you run to their rescue or ridicule. We need to face our faults, forget our failures, fight to the finish, follow good examples, and forgive and love each other.

Prayer Time

____________________________
Small Group
Let Go Of The Past And Press On

Ice Breaker
In your dream of an ‘ideal lifestyle’, are you more like the pioneer (always pushing on) or the settler (fixin’ to settle down)?

Text - Philippians 3:12-4:3

Discussion Questions
Paul uses the imagery of a track race, where does he picture himself in his spiritual life?
How is he going to reach his goal?
After repeating the fact that Paul has not yet laid hold of the goal, we read, “…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are ahead and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” Discuss the meaning and application of this text?
Twice the apostle says “…I press on…” what thought does this phrase convey?
Why does Paul press on….what makes him let go of the past and focus on what is ahead?
If the Philippians imitated this attitude how would that contribute to their unity?
In verse 15 what mind set does Paul call on the mature to have?
Paul acknowledges that people differ in their level of maturity as Christians. What is the instruction for all in verse 16?
Paul identifies enemies of Christ in descriptive ways:
………whose end is destruction
……….whose god is their belly
……….whose glory is their shame
………..who set their minds on earthly things
Why do you believe Paul reminds them of these views?
Discuss the transformation which will occur at the Lord’s coming in 3:20-21?
Compare your spiritual life to a race… are you:
Sitting out due to an injury
At the starting blocks
Going full tilt
Ready to give up

Discuss what we can learn from this study about letting go of the past and pressing on?
Last week we discussed v.1-11 where Paul said to rejoice in the Lord and to v.2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. He was talking about the legalists who require circumcision and put confidence in the flesh.

Paul said, after my conversion to Christ I just want to v.9 be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Philippians 3:1-11 The Joy of Knowing Jesus

2008-06-26T13:42:00.000-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 7)
The Joy of Knowing Jesus
Philippians 3:1-11
Jeff Garrett

Rejoice in the Lord.

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. "Finally" could mean "furthermore". Or it could be that Paul intended to end the letter here but the the Spirit prompted him to right more. The final "Finally" does not occure until 4:8.

"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things
to you again …". Paul is patient. He didn’t say “How many times do I have to repeat myself? Why don’t you listen? When are you ever going to learn?” Paul said, “it’s no trouble for me … its not a problem” because repetition is the mother of learning.

But what is he repeating? Perhaps he’s look back to chapter 2 (at the themes of humility and unity) or may he was looking forward to his warning about false teachers (3:1-11).

Perhaps he was referring to his repeated call to “rejoice in the Lord” Paul repeats the words "joy" or "rejoice" or "be glad" are used 17 times. Why did Paul repeat the call to rejoice? This week I thought of beneifits of "rejoicing in the Lord."

Seven Benefits of Rejoicing in the Lord
1. Strength –Nehemiah 8:10 the joy of the LORD is your strength
2. Thankful – 1 Thess. 5:16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus..
3. Peace - Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Hope - Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
5. Endurance – Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
6. Freedom – because you don’t wrap my emotional life around problems.
7. Productive - joy makes you creative and improves your ability to solve problems.

Joy is the predominant mood of the Christian. It’s not something you manufacture. It’s not determined by circumstance. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. And the source of joy for the Christian is Jesus. Jesus said in John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Our joy is incomplete until it is mixed with his joy. Jesus also said in John 17:13 I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. The source of joy is Jesus. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). So the source of joy is Jesus and joy is a fruit produced by the Spirit independent of your circumstance or situation.

Joy does not mean that you go through life giggling. It means that your predominant mood is joy. God doesn’t expect you to suppress other emotions. Paul said in 2:26 that Epaphroditus “longs for all of you and is distressed”. In 2:27 he said that “God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow” which means wave after wave of grief. In 2:28 Paul said “I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.” There is a wide range of emotion in those three verses including “longing”, “distress”, “sorrow”, and anxiety.

When something bad happens God wants you to express emotion appropriate to the circumstance. An impression without an expression leads to depression. So express your longing, stress, sorrow, grief and anxiety but don’t get stuck in it. The predominant mood of a Christian is joy. If your normal mood is something other than joy you need to change the way you think. Get your mind off your problems. You don’t have to keep thinking about them. It’s a choice. And if you choose to focus on Jesus you will rejoice in the Lord because we move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts.

Reject Legalism

2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus,

Paul used three names for these legalists. First, he said “Beware of dogs”. Dogs were not cute little family pets but mangy wild dogs that eat garbage. Second, he called them “men who do evil.” Third, he referred to them as “those mutilators of the flesh” because they taught that "unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1). That’s why they are dogs, evil men, and mutilators. Jesus called false teachers snakes, vipers, sons of Satan, white washed tombs full of dead men’s bones and hypocrites. He just couldn’t say enough bad things about them. Beware of them!

Then Paul described the Christians at Philippi four ways. Three are stated positively and one is stated negatively. All four statements are keyed by the phrase “it is we” implying the opposite of the false teachers. v.3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus and who put no confidence in the flesh.

Paul said “the next time you confront a legalist remember my testimony.” 3:4 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Paul’s resume is impressive! None of the false teachers could match him. If legalist received awards Paul would have won the Grammy, the Emmy, the Heisman, and the Pulitzer Prize! There were five outstanding characteristics on his legalistic resume.

Five outstanding characteristics of Paul's legalistic resume.

1. Paul relied on rituals - v. 5 circumcised on the eighth day
2. Paul relied on his religious affiliation - v. 5 ... of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews
3. Paul relied on rules - v.5 ... in regard to the law, a Pharisee. When Paul made his defense in Jerusalem, he spoke the Jews in Aramaic and they became silent. Paul said Acts 22:3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
4. Paul relied on being right and persecuted others who were wrong - v.6 as for zeal, persecuting the church;
5. Paul relied on his own righteousness - v.6 as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

If you want to know how to spot a legalist just check that list. That list described my own life. I am a recovering legalist. I relied on rituals (primarily baptism and communion). I relied on my religious affiliation (Church of Christ). I relied on keeping rules and being right and condemned people who I thought were wrong. I relied on my own righteousness but I knew in my heart I was not faultless. My sins of the flesh wore me out and I despaired.

Paul’s conversion was miraculous. He was blinded by Christ on the road to Damascus. After his conversion he went to Arabia. What did he do in Arabia? Maybe he lived in solitude to meditate. Can you imagine the guilt he felt as he thought of all the Christians he persecuted and condemned? Can you imagine his sorrow when he connected those thoughts with the words of Christ “Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me? No wonder he disappeared. He had to reexamine the scriptures and adjust his thinking.

It takes time to recover from legalism. You have to spend time in Arabia. You have to pray and mediate and reexamine the scriptures to readjust your thinking. When you leave Arabia you will want three things.

Relationship with Christ - 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Righteousness from God - 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Resurrection Power - 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Prayer Time

Philippians 2:17-30 - Father’s Day: Characteristics of Godly Men

2008-06-16T10:03:00.006-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 6)
Father’s Day: Characteristics of Godly Men
Philippians 2:17-30
Jeff Garrett

Bluefish.com Video – Dad’s duck tape (http://www.bluefishtv.com/ProductDetails.aspx?cid=1005&id=1605&f=s1m&cc=&csc=&ldr=&s=duck%20tape)

Ten Philippian Precepts (for Dads)
1. Conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (1:27)
2. Do not be frightened by those who oppose you (1:28-30)
3. Be like-minded, have the same love, be one spirit and purpose (2:1-2)
4. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (2:3)
5. In humility consider others better than yourself (2:3)
6. Be considerate of the interest of others (2:4).
7. Have the attitude of Christ (2:5-11)
8. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (2:12-13)
9. Do everything without complaining or arguing (2:14)
10. Be pure and blameless and shine like stars as you hold out the word of life (2:14 -16)

God’s precepts are wonderful principles for living but Paul knew that we needed more than precepts. We need examples and models. Today Paul gives three examples which illustrate all ten precepts I listed above.

Characteristics of Godly Men
· Paul (v.17-18)
· Timothy (v.19-24)
· Epaphroditus (v.25-30)

We need examples who model God's precepts. Thomas Brook said "Example is the most powerful rhetoric." After Paul laid down God's precepts he said "Imitate me as I follow Christ." We are sometimes reluctant to point to ourselves as examples because we think if others really knew us they would not want to follow our example. Well, I hope we can overcome our reluctance. People don't expect perfection. They don't expect you to be a spiritual giant. They just need a model. Especially children. Fathers need to model godly characteristics and teach their children by example. Values are caught as well as taught. Being aware of this fact is sobering and provides motivation for dads to live a godly life.

Fathers, you are an example to your children. Your children tend to follow in your steps. Bruce Johnson shared a story about a father who slipped out the back door one snowy day and walked to a neighborhood bar for a drink. He often visited this bar and was known to drink excessively. Soon after ordering his drink the tavern door opened and in walked his 10 year old son. The father asked "How did you know I was here?" The boy explained "It was easy. I just followed your footprints in the snow."

Sons and daughters often follow the footprints of the fathers. That is one good reason dads should be faithful to Jesus Christ and display the characteristics of godly men like Paul.

Paul (v.17-18)

2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul sacrificed humbly - Paul used vivid imagery. Imagine that you and I are priests. You sacrifice a big bull. You kill it, gut it, cut it and put it on the altar to burn it. As it is being burned I make an additional offering to top it off. You offered the real sacrifice and I make a drink offering (called a libation) which is a cup of wine. Because the altar is so hot, when I pour my drink offering on your sacrifice my offering goes up in a puff of steam. Paul's humility is demonstrated in the fact that he view their gifts and service (cf. 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God) as the main sacrifice and his gift as an accompanying drink offering.

Paul sacrificed continually - Notice the tense of the verb he use, it is present tense. He did not say “I have been poured out” or “One day I will be poured out”. Paul said "I am being poured out like a drink offering … Paul's entire life was a living sacrifice as day by day he was being poured out.

Paul sacrificed joyfully - Paul said in v.18 I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. This was it’s not joy in spite of. Paul was joyful because he was being poured out. Great sacrifice for Christ creates great joy.

I remember how hard dad worked. He delivered the mail for the U.S. Postal Service. When he got home he delivered the paper. After that he worked in his garden or worked on our cars or worked to repair his rental properties. When the sun went down he would study the Bible and prepare sermons. He took a break to eat and rest while he watched the Price is Right. But all week long he worked and studied the Bible and every night I heard him pray. His alarm went off at 2am on Saturday morning and he delivered papers from 2:30am-5:30am and then he drove 45 minutes to preach on Williams Mountain and he would let me lead the singing and lead prayer. I would sing and he would preach. When I grew up we reversed roles. He would lead singing and I would preach. And when he got home on Sunday afternoon he was tired. So he took a little nap and got up to review his sermon notes and drove 45 minutes to preach another sermon. Then, on Monday morning, he would get up and do it all over again. Hard work and holy living all for the glory of God and I cannot remember him complaining about it. He just poured out his drink offering day after day and he was happy. He did it with joy.

Would you be poured out like wine upon the altar for Me?
Would you be broken like bread to feed the hungry?
Would you be so one with Me that you would do just as I willed?
Would you be light, and life, and love, My word fulfilled?
Yes, I'll be poured out like wine upon the altar for You….

Godly dads pour out their sacrifice day by day as they serve Christ, their family and others.

Timothy (v.19-24)

2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

Paul and Timothy had a father-son relationship. They spent a lot of time together. He was with Paul when he planted the church in Philippi (Acts 16), he was with him in Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, Ephesus, and he was with him here in Rome as he wrote this letter to Philippi. He was associated with Paul in the writing of many of epistles including 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Colossians, Philippians, and Romans.

Not all of their time together was spent in preaching and teaching and writing. They spent of a lot of time doing routine things. They traveled, shopped, sit quietly by campfires, and fixed meals. Timothy remember little things about Paul only a child would know. My dad died in November 2000. But I still remember little things about my dad because we spent time together. I remember the way he fixed oat meal he fixed for breakfast and the funny way he sneezed. Dad sneezed loud and always said "a-bush-hopper!" I have still have no idea why he said "a-bush-hopper" but it makes me smile, even as I write this sermon. I remember our long walks through the woods while deer hunting and the day we both killed a deer. I still have video of that day. I remember his deep voice - he was a great singer. I remember his smile and his laugh and a thousand other little things. As I recall these little things about my father, you are are probably recalling little things about your dad. I imagine that Timothy knew Paul intimately just like you and I knew our fathers. It is little things like these that make father-child relationships unique and special.

I loved preparing for this lesson. I loved thinking about the father-son relationship between Paul and Timothy. I reviewed all the Bible passage regarding their relationship and it touched my heart. The father-son bond between the Paul and Timothy was wonderful. The only sad part in their story was the absence of Timothy's father. Apparently Timothy's father, who was Greek, was not a Christian. Timothy's mother and grandmother were Christians but Timothy's dad was not and if I could rewrite this story I would include Timothy's dad who missed out on the adventure.

Today many fathers are absent from their children's lives when it comes to faith in Christ. Many fathers encourage their children to go to church and support their wives decision to raise them up in the instruction of the Lord. These men require their children to go to church and participate in church youth group activities. All this is good, but you need to understand that the void they feel by your absence. We commend you for supporting your wife but what about you? Please understand, that your most important responsibility as a father is to be faithful to Jesus Christ while you are on earth and to get your family to heaven where you can live eternally in His presence. Stop hesitating. Stop resisting. If you are a dad who has not yet made Jesus Christ your Lord, do it today. Repent of your sins and confess his good name. Be baptized on Father's Day! Wow! What a great time to make a decision for Jesus. It would be the best Father's Day gift you have ever received. Forgiveness. Eternal life. And all the spiritual blessings found in Christ would be yours. Furthermore, it would open up a whole new dimension in your relationships with your wife and children. You could begin relating to them as their spiritual father. It's never too late to start. Do it today.

Let's look at some of the ways a spiritual father relates to his children. Here are some things Paul did for Timothy. Just follow the text because all these things come straight from scripture.

He trusted him with responsibility – 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.

Paul trusted Timothy with important responsibility. He dispatched him to churches to check on their progress. In v.19 Paul was optimistic that if he had sent Timothy to Philippi he would have returned with a good report on the state of the church. The church of Philippi was healthy relative to other churches which had more serious problems. But even when churches were embroiled in controversy and plagued with serious problems, Paul often delegated the responsibility by sending Timothy to assess, evaluate, and resolve difficult problems.

For instance, when there was serious trouble in the church at Corinth Paul sent Timothy to help them. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus. Paul urged the Christians at Corinth to imitate him. Since he could not personally visit Corinth at that time, he sent Timothy because Timothy, more than anyone else, could remind them of his "way of life in Christ Jesus." No one was more qualified to remind the Corinthians of Paul's way of life than Timothy. Timothy was Paul’s protégé. Can you imagine how good Timothy felt knowing that Paul trusted him with important responsibility?

He praised him - 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. That is an amazing statement when you consider the caliber of Paul’s friends such as Silas and Titus and even the physician Luke who wrote most of the New Testament. But Paul said “I have no one else like him. Timothy stands head and shoulders above all the rest. He is peerless.” Paul gave Timothy high praise.

Paul also spoke highly of Timothy's mother. 2 Timothy 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. Later Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

On mistake dads often make is criticizing their children's mother. When a father criticizes and puts down his wife in front of his children it is always a huge mistake. Withhold your criticism. Don't argue in front of your children. Wait and plan to discuss your disagreements in private. Speak highly of your children's mother and they will speak highly of your efforts to provide a peaceful and stable home.

He openly expressed his love - 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Paul called him his “son in the Lord”, “his son in the faith”, his “true child in the faith” and his "son whom he loved". Notice v.22 , because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. The word “son” is not the generic word for son, it is actually the word child. … because you know as a child with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. He served along side Paul as if he were a submissive little boy and he related to Paul was his spiritual father. It is a marvelous picture of a father-child relationship. Timothy looked up to him and admired him. But Paul did not relate to him as inferior but as equals. Paul did not say that he served me or that he served under me. He said “he served with me”. Timothy was his fellow servant in the work of the gospel.

He depended on him - 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

Paul planned to send Epaphroditus right away but he was going to keep Timothy by his side until he learn the outcome of his imprisonment. Paul expressed his need for young Timothy. The last letter Paul wrote was to his beloved son Timothy. At that time Paul's conditions were much different because he was in a dungeon in Rome (not in a rented house). His time was short. He would soon be executed. In his final letter he wrote these touching words.

2 Timothy 4:9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

When your dad is old and near death he needs two things from you. He needs his coat to warm his body and his Bible to warm his heart.

Epaphroditus (v.25-30)

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

There are five titles in verse 25, three of them look at Epaphroditus in relation to Paul. Two of them look at him in relation to the Philippian church. The first three are key by the word "my." Paul called him "my brother" which spoke of their friendship; "fellow worker" which spoke of his zeal for the work; and "fellow soldier" which spoke of his courage. In relation to the church at Philippi Paul referred to him as "your messenger" i.e., your apostle (i.e., "apostle" in the general sense - not one of the Twelve or an Apostle like Paul - but one "sent forth" like in Acts 14:14 where the word "apostle" is used of Barnabas), the one you sent forth. In relation to the church at Philippi Paul also referred to him as the one "whom you sent to take care of my needs".

But while Epaphroditus was in route or after he arrived he became sick. Have you ever been ill while you were away from home? This week I spoke at a conference on Mackinac Island in Michigan. On the plane ride to Detroit a sitting man beside be vomited and I could not escape the smell because I had the window seat. I held my nose and dry-heaved so loud that people were looking at me. The man next to me had quietly vomited in the floor but the loud noise I made drew all the attention. The smell and the images it created in my mind because my brief case was stowed on the floor just inches away from his vomit) were too much for me to stomach and I could not get off the plane soon enough.

When you are sick you want to be home. But this is not why Epaphroditus wanted to be home. He was so sick he almost died but that is not why he wanted to go home. He wanted to be home because this church family HEARD he was ill.

26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. The word distressed means “grieved” and it is the same word used in Matthew 26 when Jesus in verse 38 says in the Garden, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death." It's a very heavy, heavy distress. Why is upset? because you heard he was ill. He’s not upset because he was ill. He’s upset because you heard about it. That’s amazing. When was the last time you were distressed. because somebody was worried about you? That shows you the depth of his love. Many people are concerned about this self and they don’t even think about the feelings of others.

The bond between these men and the church is so great that when he gets distressed about their worry and concern, Paul couldn’t handle it and was eager to send him home. The whole scene is one of affection and love and sympathy and unselfish concern and seeking to comfort somebody else and saying my needs aren't as important as yours (cf. 2:3).

So, because of all that Paul said 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him. To “welcome” means to receive, to open your arms and embrace him with great joy because is not only back home but he is healthy. I want welcome him with great joy AND honor. Don't just be happy, be respectful. Don’t think that his return is an indication of failure. Don’t say...Well, it's obvious he failed. No, hold him in high regard and show him honor. Why? 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

We need to honor men who risk their life for the gospel of Christ. And today we we honor fathers who, like Paul, pour out their life as a sacrifice to Christ on behalf of their family and church. Honor. Respect. Appreciation. That's what Father's Day is all about.

You're view of dad changes over time. When you're little you say "My dad can do anything." When you reach your teens you say "My dad can't do much - he's old fashion." When you reach your 30s and 40s you can't make a major decision without his counsel and you say "My dad knows a lot". Then, in later life, especially after your dad has died your view of dad is almost like it was when you were little and you say "My dad could do anything." Watch this video and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Video – What Dad’s can’t Do (http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/sea/singles/628/What-Dads-Cant-Do)

Prayer Time

________________________

Small Group Questions

Philippians 2:17-30

Ice Breaker
How has your Father affected your view of God? How has your experience as a parent affected your understanding of God?

Discussion Questions
1. In verse 17 Paul uses the example of “being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice”, have you ever experienced this kind of sacrifice for the Lord? Do you know anyone who has experienced this kind of sacrifice?
2. What are you sacrificing in service for Christ?
3. What amount of treasure or time do you put into ministry or what have you given up in your life in order to say “yes” to God? Sports, TV, Pleasure Trips,
4. Paul’s love for the Philippians shines in vs. 19-22 as he sends Timothy to do his work. Why do you think he chose Timothy? What does this say about his relationship with Timothy?
5. Have you ever turned a project that was important to you over to someone you trusted? Has anyone trusted you with a project or job that was important to them? What was the outcome?
6. What was the character reference Paul gave Timothy or Epaphroditus?
7. What is the relationship that Paul and the Philippians have with Epaphroditus? Vv. 25-30
8. What would your character reference be if Paul was referring you to a body of believers?
9. How has ‘men of integrity’ whether it be your own Father or a ‘Father in the Faith’ affected your leadership ability?
10. If you are a Father, what are you doing to bring your sons and daughters into your heart so you can raise them in the Lord?

What changes must you make by God’s grace so that you can become a better father to your children or a better leader and example for the brothers and sisters in your faith community?

__________________

Resources - I borrowed and used the same title for my sermon series in Philippians as Rick Warren: "How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life". The resources I used in preparation for this series include: Rick Warren; Ray Stedman's expository studies; Rick Atchley's sermon series "To Live is Christ"; Tyndale's commentary "Life Application Bible Commentary"; James Montgomery Boice's commentary; and John MacArthur's commentary. Jeanie Meadows wrote the discussion guide for small groups and her resources included Serendipity Bible and other internet resources.

Philippians 2:14-18 - Joy Shines in Dark Places

2008-06-16T09:52:00.004-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 5)
Joy Shines in Dark Places
Philippians 2:14-18
Jeff Garrett

Welcome home Chris LeMaster!!

Philippians 2:15 says "you shine like stars in the universe." Several of our shining stars have been in the news paper over the past couple of years. Allen Meadows for his achievements at Marshall University. Pat Chambers for her leadership role as the Director of Volunteer Services (DVS) at St Mary’s and as President of the Southeastern DVS Association representing 13 states. John Sammons for his company “Second Creek Technologies” which is on the cutting edge of computer forensics and electronic discovery. Amy Wright for her mission work from a trip to China. Larry Murray for developing tracking systems for coal mines to help save miner’s lives. Jordan Wehmeier for her academic achievements at Covenant School and for her awards for gold metals at a recent Latin exam. Cameron Knight and Kailey Imlay for their achievements on the Huntington High Debate Team where they placed 1st in the state. And Elliot Imlay is truly a star performer and recognized for his musical abilities and talent as an actor.

Jesus said to “let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” It's sometimes difficult to let your light shine in dark places but that's where the light is needed most.

Dark days were upon the apostle Paul. He was chained to Roman guards waiting for the slow-moving Roman courts to try his case but Paul's joy continued to shine.

Victor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who was arrested by the Nazi's during WWII and sent to a death camp. Once when he was standing naked with his head shaved before SS troops as they were performing terrible experiments on his body, he had a liberating thought. Frankl thought "You've taken away my wife, my parents, my home, my practice ... you've taken everything from me but one thing. The one thing you cannot take away is my choice of how I will respond to you." He called it the last of the human freedoms. The freedom to respond despite external factors. From this idea was born his theory and approach which he called Logo-Therapy.

Like Frankl many, other humanistic, existential psychotherapist have proposed theories that emphasize freedom and responsibility. I teach 11 different types of psychological theories at Marshall and it is amazing how resilient people can become in the face of tragedy.

But the message of Philippians is not based on existential philosophy or humanistic psychology. The message of Philippians is focused on the Lord Jesus Christ who is our joy. He doesn't merely give us joy, he is our joy. He doesn't merely give us peace, Jesus himself is our peace. Something wonderful has happened to you. Someone very powerful lives inside you. What you have cannot be obtained or maintained by reason or logic. Jesus Christ lives in you. You don't need more joy or peace, you simply need faith in Christ to release it. Jesus is completely sovereign and sufficient to help you cope through dark times. In fact, his joy shines brighter in dark places. And that's why Paul could write these amazing words ...

2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Do everything – not some things or fun things, but everything but do everything without complaining [grumbling, emotional bellyaching] or arguing [intellectual debate] v.15 so that you may become blameless and pure. Blameless does not mean sinless perfection. It means that no justifiable criticism can be brought against you. Pursue moral excellence and live a life of integrity so that if an enemy tries to discredit you or say something bad against you they will have to lie to do it.

Pure means “innocent”. It can also mean “unmixed” like to undiluted wine or liquor - 80 proof means 40% alcohol, a 100 proof means 50% alcohol – but we want to be 200 proof which means we are 100% pure Jesus. The word “pure” was also used to describe metal that had no weakening alloys. So be blameless (before God and men) so that you will not be discredited. Be pure and strong so that your faith in Christ endures and shines to dispel the darkness.

The contrast between the children of God and the people of this world is stark. Paul described unbelievers “a crooked and depraved generation”. This is similar to the way Moses described Israel when she went astray. Peter used similar language to describe his generation in Acts 2. “Crooked” means “bent out of shape” or “warped” (this is where the word “crooks” originates]. “Depraved” means “immoral”, “corrupt”, “evil”, or “wicked”.

We don’t like to view our generation like this. We tend to view our own generation as better than others. A famous Rock and Roll Band called “The Who” wrote a popular song called “My Generation”. Pete Townsend sang “People try to put us down. (talkin’ bout my generation). Just because we get around (talkin’ bout my generation). The things they say are awful cold (talkin’ bout my generation). I hope I die before I get old (talkin’ bout my generation).” That song captures our tendency to be defensive of our generation. But the Bible teaches that every generation is crooked and depraved because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3). God saved us from our generation so that we would be pure and blameless, children of God without fault. The contrast between the children of God and the crooked and depraved generation they live in is like night and day.

The empty blackness of the night sky represents the crooked and depraved world in which you live. And you are like the stars of the universe that shine out of the darkness v.16 as you hold out the word of life. The “word of life” means the word of God or the message of Jesus or, even better, Jesus himself because Jesus is the living Word. The words “hold out” can also mean “hold on” (see the footnote in your Bible). I like to think of it both ways because you can’t hold out if you don’t hold on. And the more you hold on the more you will have to hold out to a lost generation so that God can recue them from the darkness just like he rescued you.

Willard Tate said that there are basically two types of Christians: candle glowers and candle blowers. Candle glowers have the humble attitude of Christ, stubbornly refuse to complain or argue, live a life of integrity, and sacrificially serve others. Candle blowers have a bad attitude, constantly complain and argue and live a self-absorbed life of duplicity. Some people light up the room when the enter it. Others light up the room when they leave it. The church cannot be blameless when you live sinfully. The church cannot be pure and strong if you undermine its strength with needless arguments that disrupts her unity. It’s easy, even for a crooked and depraved generation, to find fault with the church when its members constantly complain and argue. Ongoing arguments and persistent complaints blow out the light so that others who live in darkness cannot see or find their way to Jesus. God wants you to shine like stars and illuminate the way for others to find Christ.

So 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

That’s not Paul’s pride speaking – that’s his faith speaking. Paul wanted them to live in such a way that he could boast about them like a father does his children. He had invested so much and he didn’t want it to be for nothing. Paul boasted about the Philippians to other Christians and he wanted to boast about their faith to God "on the day of Christ." I love Paul's passion for Christ. It enabled him to say things we would never dream or even think. What church leader would ever be so free as to think about boasting to God about a church he or she helped build? Again, this is not "vain conceit" or "selfish ambition" (2:3). This was Paul's passionate concern to build a church that would last. Jesus said "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." In the spirit of Jesus Paul wanted to build churches that would stand strong.

Paul had laid a foundation as an expert builder (cf. 2 Cor. 3:10) and did not want his work at Philippi to end up like wood, hay or straw, burned up in the fire of church politics, pride, complaints and arguments. Paul appealed to the Philippians' love for him. He told them "Do it for me! Let me enjoy the privilege of boasting about you on the day of Christ. Let me receive my full reward." Following Jesus and Paul, every Christian needs to burn with a passion to build a church that will last. We need to care enough to give our all as we build on the foundation stone of Jesus Christ using gold, silver and costly stones.

Build with a humble attitude but, for the sake of Christ, take pride in your work (cf. Gal. 6:4). And when people who are driven by selfish ambition and vain concete threaten the integrity and strength of our church by their constant complaining and arguing, we need to care enough to speak up! We need to be bold enough to stop the mouth of the gainsayer. To protect it with the same zeal that drove us to build it. Remembering at all times that the zeal and passion that drives us comes directly from God who is at work in us to will and act according to his good purpose.

17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

In the Old Testament drink offerings (or libations) of wine were poured out on the altar as a sacrifice. Paul regarded his life blood as a suitable libation to complete the Philippians’ sacrifice. One day Paul would be executed. Tradition says that at a later date (after writing 2 Timothy from a dungeon in Rome) Paul was beheaded. His blood was be poured out on a chopping block. But even now, at the time Paul wrote Philippians, he viewed his blood being poured out as a drink offering.

If you read v.17 carefully you will see two offerings: Paul’s sacrifice and the Philippians’ sacrifice. Paul’s sacrifice was his execution. The Philippians’ “sacrifice and service” probably referred to the gift of money they sent, as well as their partnership in the gospel. And notice, Paul pinpoints the source of their sacrifice and service with the phrase “coming from your faith". Their sincere faith in Christ was Paul’s reason for being “glad”. Their genuine faith caused him rejoice with “all” the Christians at Philippi.

When you understand the significance of how Paul viewed the interaction of these two sacrifices it makes v.17 even more meaningful. Paul seemed to assign more value to the sacrifice and service coming from their faith than he assigned his own. They gave money and support. Paul gave his life and died as a martyr. In reality, Paul’s sacrifice was far greater. But in Paul’s humble mind he viewed what they offered as the real sacrifice and he pictured his blood as only a drink offering being poured on their sacrifice. His blook was merely the accompanying libation. This vivid word picture gives us great insight into Paul’s humble heart and it beautifully illustrates the humble attitude of Christ he had just encouraged the Philippians to adopt a few verses earlier in 2:5-11.

Because of their great love for Paul the Philippians undoubtedly read v.17 with tears. Paul, knowing how they would respond with sadness to the mention of his blood being spilled immediately called for gladness and rejoicing. Paul said “since I am glad and rejoice with all of you – you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Amazing! Faith in Christ enables you to shine with joy in the darkest hour. Some of you are living in dark places. You are worried about your health or your job or your children or you feel so guilty over a recent moral failure or you are grieving over some significant loss. Depression, guilt and anxiety can sap your joy and leave you feeling hopeless and weak. But David said the Lord can restore joy. Nehemiah said “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” So here is how we can apply what we’ve learned.

Four Ways to Let Your Joy Shine

Here are four ways to “let” your joy shine, even in dark times. I want to emphasize the word “let” because it communicates the idea that the joy you experience and show others is not something you manufacture. The source of your joy is Jesus who lives in you by his Spirit. Your job is to “let” or permit Jesus to shine. The light that shines within you is the light that comes from him. If you have a bad attitude, complain and argue, live a life of duplicity and become self-absorb you will not be joyful, you will be miserable, especially in dark places. But if you apply these four points which come from the passage we just studied, you can let your joy shine no matter how dark life becomes.

1. Change your attitude

2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

An attitude is more than a thought. It's your disposition. Your thoughts flow out of your attitude. Your attitude influences, to a large degree, how you interpret events, and how you view yourself and others. Your attitude influences the way you process information, evaluate situations, and assign meaning to circumstance. If you have a bad attitude you will likely assign negative meanings to circumstances and have a negative outlook. If you have a proud attitude you tend to be more argumentative and self-centered. But if you have the attitude of Christ you will view yourself as a humble servant. You will not only look out for your interests but also for the interest of others. You will lower yourself and become a slave. You will be secure in your identity and won't grasp for equality and argue for your rights. You'll give them to become a servant. When you humble yourself like Jesus did, God will exalt you. So humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up. But it begins by changing your attitude.

You can change your attitude if you want to. "Let" it happen. That's how the KJV translates 2:5 i.e. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ ...". The word "let" means "to permit". You don't have to strain to make it happen. "Let" it happen.

Last week, while we were out of town on vacation, I could not receive calls on my cell phone because the settings in my phone were set to avoid roaming. I didn't realize it at the time. I discovered it after our vacation when I was in Columbus and I immediately changed the settings in my cell phone so that it would pick up signals even when I was roaming outside my home calling area. This is analogous to changing the attitude settings in our heart. When you roam too far away from God in your thought life and your disposition is proud, complaining and argumentative - change the settings. Change your attitude so that the signals you receive from the indwelling Holy Spirit are not blocked. Remember, the signals are constantly there but your attitude has to be right before you can pick up on them. Let’s be like the old man who bought a radio, tuned it to 650 AM so that he could listen to the Grand Ole Opry and he took off the knobs. Let’s tune in to God and take the knobs off.

2. Stubbornly refuse to complain or argue

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, … Last week my family took a vacation in New York City and I want to show you some pictures of our trip. Here is Amber waiting on the subway [pic] which allowed use to tour the city, here’s a picture of Tori [pic] in Time Square. This is a picture of Shayna [pic] as we were shopping street vender carts. This is a picture of Kim [pic] in front of the New York Stock Exchange as we were walking down Wall Street. Here’s a picture of my family [pic] at Central Park. We had a great vacation but I still had to change my complaint bracelet several times. If the kids heard me complain the were quick to tell me I needed to put it on my other arm.

Paul was in the NYC of his day. He was in Rome, the most important city in the world at that time. He was not able to move about freely through the subways of Rome because he was a prisoner. Paul had dreamed of visiting Rome and preaching through that great city. His plan was to visit Rome, impart spiritual gifts and gain support from Roman Christians as he traveled on to Spain. But he arrived in chains. He could have complained but he didn’t. Instead, Luke said in Acts 28:30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul stubbornly refused to complain or argue. He continued to preach the word of God and let his joy shine in dark places.

3. Live a life of integrity as you hold out the word of life

15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life

4. Keep your mind off yourself and onto the needs of other people

17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me

When we keep our mind on our own interest we can be very self-centered and feel entitled. Carol decided she wanted to do something nice for her neighbor Mrs. Smith, so she baked a pie and carried it next door. When Mrs. Smith opened up her door, she was surprised to see her holding a pie. She replied, "For me? Oh, thank you so much! You just don't know how much I appreciate it! You are so thoughtful for doing this! Thank you!" Because Mrs. Smith liked the pie so much, Carol decided the next week to bake another one. When she took it over, Mrs. Smith opened the door and said, "Try using a little more sugar and don't bake it quite as long. The crust has been a little bit hard lately. And I'd like cherry instead of apple filling next time." The next week Carol was so busy, she was unable to cook for her neighbor. When Carol passed by her house on the way to the store, Mrs. Smith looked through the window and noticed she wasn't carrying a pie. She then stuck her head out the window and yelled, "Where's my pie?!"

When you keep your mind on yourself instead of others you begin to feel entitled to special treatment. You become less grateful and more demanding. You become weak because your motives are selfish and impure. It is impossible to live a blameless life when you are busy blaming other people. Instead of being “faultless”, you find fault with everyone and everything. Our whole mindset and attitude becomes negative and faithless and selfish. It's a process that occurs so slowly, we don't even realize it's happening. (Kent Crockett, The 911 Handbook, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003, 157-158)

Why do we continue to make ourselves miserable with egotism? Perhaps we fear that if we don’t demand our rights or voice our displeasure others will forget about us. Some people think “If I focus on others, who will focus on me? I don’t want people to forget about me. But this passage says that if you forget yourself for others they will never forget you. God knows that the best way to deal with fear and anxiety is to help other people.

Charles H Spurgeon was a great preacher in London England. His classic sermons can be obtained free on the internet. He was an amazing expositor and effective leader who delivered messages to his congregation which grew to over 5,000 members. In spite of his great success Spurgeon often suffered with bouts of depression and high levels of anxiety with panic like symptoms. Once Spurgeon was crossing a busy street in London and had a panic attacked which immobilized him. The horses and buggies were moving fast in all directions but he could not move out of the dangerous street because he was paralyzed by panic. As he was standing in the middle of the street in danger of being ran over, a blind man bumped into him and ask “Will you lead me to the other side?” Spurgeon's anxiety dissipated and he guided the blind man safely across the street. Later, as he reflected on this experience, he concluded that God sometimes sends needy people into our life so that we can help them get where they’re going. In the process, the action of helping others, calms our own anxiety so that God can get us to were we need to be.

Prayer Time
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Small Group Questions
Joy Shines in Dark Places
Philippians 2:14-18

When does your joy shine brighter – in places where light is abundant or in dark places? Text - Philippians 2:14-18 Discussion questions

1. How are you doing with the 21 day challenge (i.e. 21 complaint-free days)? Share your progress. (v.14)
2. What affect does complaining and arguing have on you and others around you (v.14)?
3. What does a “pure and blameless” life look like? Explain what it is and what it’s not (v.15)?4. Why is the contrast between the “children of God who are without fault” and the “crooked and depraved generation” so great (v.15)? What (or who) makes the difference?
5. Who have your shining stars been (v.15)? What impressed you?
6. Where do you need to shine more?
7. How can you “hold on” to the word of life? How can we “hold out” the word of life (v.16)? Who are we holding it out to?8. Is boasting always wrong? What did Paul want to boast about (v.17)?
9. Is your life more like a drink offering or a fellowship offering or a thanksgiving offering or a burnt offering (v.17)?
10. Paul rejoiced even when he faced death (v.17-18). How can your joy shine during dark times?

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Resources - I borrowed and used the same title for my sermon series in Philippians as Rick Warren: "How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life". The resources I used in preparation for this series include: Rick Warren; Ray Stedman's expository studies; Rick Atchley's sermon series "To Live is Christ"; Tyndale's commentary "Life Application Bible Commentary"; James Montgomery Boice's commentary; and John MacArthur's commentary. Jeanie Meadows wrote the discussion guide for small groups and her resources included Serendipity Bible and other internet resources.

Philippians 2:12-15 - Do Everything without Complaining or Arguing

2008-05-25T16:58:00.003-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 4)
Do Everything without Complaining or Arguing
Philippians 2:12-15
Jeff Garrett

This is the fourth in a series of sermons through Philippians called “How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life”

Lesson 1 – Enjoy the people in your life
Lesson 2 – Choose joy no matter what
Lesson 3 – Enjoy unity
Lesson 4 – Do everything without complaining or arguing

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, …

“Complaining” means “grumbling” or “murmuring” – it’s an expression of discontent. “Arguing” means “disputing, questionings, and criticizing”. The first word “complaining” is more like an emotional bellyache and the second word “arguing” is more like an intellectual debate with God or other people.

The context of the challenge is – to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (not complaining and arguing) for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose. Don’t have a complaining attitude as you work out what God works in.

I want to give you a challenge to stop complaining and arguing for 21 days. You have received a little bracelet which has Philippians 2:14-15 on it which says “Do everything without complaining or arguing …”. Deuteronomy 6 says to love God with all your heart and keep his commandments upon your heart and to tie them as symbols around on your hands. That’s what we’re going to do. If you catch yourself complaining take it off and switch it to the opposite wrist and start counting the days from scratch. It may take you a while to put 21 complaint-free days together. If that seems impossible then wear it for 21 days and try to significantly reduce complaining and arguing. I’ve been wearing one for a week and it’s a helpful tool.

Why do we complain so much? Some Sociologists believe that we are breeding a generation of complainers. John MacArthur summarized the thesis of a sociologist (who he did not name), - basically his thesis was that in many ways this discontented generation of young people is a product of small families i.e., small families in a materialistic society breed selfish, self-indulgent children. He illustrated it with a common scenario – kids get up in the morning and mom asked “What do you want for breakfast?” One says bacon and eggs and the other says pancakes so she fixes both. When they get home from school they ask for two different meals and she fixes them while they complain about their cell phone reception or the high speed internet or the fact that their 2 gigabit ipod is too small to watch movies on.

Now, if you were raised in my father’s family of 14 [two pics of Dad’s family] those kinds of conversations would never take place. You just learned to be content with what you had.

In large parent-centered families the child bends to the system. But in small child-centered families the system bends to the child and the children get about anything they want until they grow up and get a job and the system doesn’t bend to them so they complain because they are over‑indulged and used to be in an environment that they control. They don't like being controlled so they become restless, irritable and discontent and they constantly complain.

That’s an interesting thesis but I don’t believe totally supported because I know some senior citizens who grew up in large families during the depression and they seem to complain just as much as overindulged kids from small families. They complain about doctors and preachers and politicians and family members and they really get down on the spoiled younger generation. What they don’t realize is that they sound just like them!

Complaining is like bad breath, you notice it when it comes out of somebody else's mouth, but not your own.

I believe the problem runs deeper than sociologists theorize. Social factors may influence individual attitudes but I believe to root problem is sin. And we see how God responded to it in the Old Testament. Do you know how long it takes to get from Horeb (Mt Sinai) to the Promise Land? 11 Days. Deuteronomy 1:2 It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road. Why did Israel 40 years to enter the promise land? Because they complained and argued with God.

Numbers 14:26 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27 "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb… and Joshua ….

If we grumble and complain about our circumstances God made discipline us by making us wonder in the wilderness. God expects three simple things from us.

1. Obey God

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— Stop complaining and arguing and start obeying God especially when no one else around. If we did more obeying and less complaining we would be better of. Our oldest daughter Amber now has her driver's permit which allows her to drive an automobile while Kim or are in the car. She is doing a great job obeying all the laws of the highway but we have to be present during this six-month period. In a few months she will have her driver's license and she will be able to drive on her own with no one in the car. We trust that she will continue to obey the rules of the highway - not only in our presence, but then much more in our absence.

Paul had been with the Philippians (Acts 16) during the birth and early period of the church but now he is not able to be with them because he is a prisoner in Rome. So he told them to obey God in his absense. We must also obey God when no one else is looking.

2. Work out what God works in

2:12b …- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Underline the words "work out" in v.12 and the words "works in" in v.13. “Work out” is your part. “Works in” is God's part. We are to work out what God works in. Notice that it doesn't say "work for" your salvation. It says "work out". Ephesians 2:9 says that salvation is … “not by works, so that no one can boast.

What do you do in a physical workout? You develop muscles you already have. When you workout your salvation you are developing something God has already given you.

God works in his righteousness (Phil 3:9) and we work out his righteousness be offering the parts of our bodies as instruments of righteousness (Rom 6:13).

God works in his Spirit (Romans 8) and we work out by bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)

God works in a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) and we work out by loving God and people from the heart (Matt. 22:36-40)

God works in the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and we work out by adopting the attitude of Christ (Phil 2:5)

Paul said “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29). We labor and struggle, not in the strength of our own energy, but with all of his energy which so powerfully works in us. So we work out what God works in.

3. Do everything with a good attitude

2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, ….

Verse 14 is not a narrow isolated command. It is a broad general attitude that is related working out your salvation with fear and trembling because God is working in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

As you are driving through life it will do no good to complain about traffic. I was in line at Burger King when my cell phone rang. I didn’t want the phone call to be interrupted while I was ordering food. So I tried to back up but there was a lady in a truck behind me who was honking her horn. There were no cars behind her and virtually no cars in the parking lot but she would not back up. I put the phone to my chest and said a few things about the lady in the truck that I didn’t want the person on the phone to hear and was barely able to maneuver my car through a narrow place to get out of line. After I finished my conversation I had to move my bracelet from my right arm to my left.

Sometimes you get so frustrate you’d like to smack them. Like this women who had a complaining husband and she wrote this little poem about him.

Complaining Husband
He didn’t like the casserole and he didn’t like my cake.
My biscuits were too hard… not like his mother used to make.
I didn’t perk the coffee right. He didn’t like the stew,
I didn’t mend his socks, the way his mother used to do.
I pondered for an answer, as I was looking for a clue.
Then I turned around and smacked him… like his Mother used to do.

Prayer Time

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Small Group Questions
Philippians 2:12-15

Ice breaker
When are you more likely to complain or argue?

Text: Read Deuteronomy 1:2 and Numbers 14:26
Deuteronomy 1:2 It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.

Numbers 14:26 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27 "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb… and Joshua ….

Discussion Questions

· Why did it take Israel 40 years to make an 11 day journey?
· Do you believe complaining and grumbling is contagious? Explain why or why not?
· Do you believe complaining is addictive or habit forming? Explain why or why not?
· How do people typically respond to constant complaining?
· How did God respond?
· Why did God get so angry?

Text: Read Philippians 2:12-15

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, …

Discussion Questions

· When is it more difficult for you to obey? During good times or hard times? When you are with Christians or when Christian is around?
· When Paul says to work out your salvation – does he mean that salvation is by works? If not, what does he mean?
· How can we “work out” (v.12) what God “works in” (v.13)? What does God “work in”?
· How long can you go without complaining?
· Do you think it’s possible complain and grip and yet be unaware of it? Do you know any people who have a habit of complaining but they seem unaware of their negative attitude or how they negatively affect other people?
· If you took the 21 day challenge and you are wearing the “no-complaint” bracelet – where do you expect to have the most difficulty? What area? What person(s)?
· What would be some positive benefits if you stopped complaining and arguing?

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Resources - I borrowed and used the same title for my sermon series in Philippians as Rick Warren: "How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life". The resources I used in preparation for this series include: Rick Warren; Ray Stedman's expository studies; Rick Atchley's sermon series "To Live is Christ"; Tyndale's commentary "Life Application Bible Commentary"; James Montgomery Boice's commentary; and John MacArthur's commentary. I borrowed the idea of the no complaint bracelet from my friend Buddy Bell who is the minister at the Landmark Church of Christ in MontgomeryAlabama. I think the original idea for the bracelet was popularized by Pastor Will Bowen in Kansas City Missouri. Jeanie Meadows wrote the discussion guide for our small group ministry - her resources included the Serendipity Bible and other internet resources.

Philippians 1:27-2:11 - Enjoy Unity

2008-05-19T07:26:00.004-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 3)
Enjoy Unity
Philippians 1:27-2:11
Jeff Garrett

Before the sermon, I want you to look at the new church website http://www.norwayave.org/ which appears on the screens. Rob Durst built the new church website and he launched it this week. It contains all the information you need including upcoming events, announcements, and the latest bulletin. You will also be able to obtain my sermon manuscripts and, if you miss an assembly, you can listen to the most recent sermon because Rob has an mp3 player on the website. There are links to previous sermons which can be downloaded on itunes.

As always, Rob Durst, has done an outstanding job building this new website and I want to encourage you to visit it often because this is where you will find the information you need to keep up with the exciting things that are happening in our church family.

We are in a series of sermons from the book of Philippians. The theme of our series is “How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life”. In the first lesson (1:1-11) we talked about how to enjoy the people in your life. In the second lesson (1:12-30) we talked about how to choose joy in spite of difficult circumstances. In this third lesson (1:27-2:11) we are going to discussed how to enjoy unity. That’s the title of today’s sermon – “Enjoy Unity”.

Some Christians don’t know how to enjoy unity because the enjoy arguing. I have discovered that “being right” is highly overrated. The cost of proving I am right is frequently too high for me to engage in an argument. In fact, I have discovered that the older I get the less things I am willing to argue about. I used to enjoy arguing about a lot of things in the Bible but over time the list of things I believe are essential to salvation have become smaller and smaller. At this time, I believe the only essential is: “Jesus is Lord.” If you accept Jesus as Lord I believe God is living in you and drawing you to himself and I want to do everything I can to encourage you to strengthen your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and I want enjoy unity with you as we journey through life together. I want to stand with you in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. I want to make every effort to keep the unity that the Spirit created so that we are like-minded, having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose and it all focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look at our text for today.

Philippians 1:27-2:2 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Five times Paul pleads for unity: I want to know that you stand firm in one Spirit (1:27; 2:2); as one man (1:27); with one mind (2:2) and one love (2:2) and one purpose (2:2).

Philippians 1:27 Whatever happens, [whether I am released or remain incarcerated] conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. The word “conduct” literally means “live as citizens.” The Philippians were proud to be citizens of Rome (cf. Acts 16:20-21) but Paul reminded them that they are citizens of heaven – a kingdom far greater than Rome. Citizenship has not only privileges but responsibilities i.e., you are to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. What does it mean to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ? It does not mean perfection i.e., you never sin (1 John 1:8-2:2). It means that your lifestyle gives evidence to your faith in Jesus Christ. Negatively, it means that you do not deliberately, persistently walk in sin – Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them. So negatively, living a life worthy of the gospel of Christ means that you do not walk in high-handed, deliberate persistent sin. Positively, to live a life worthy of the Lord means that you seek to please Christ, to bear fruit, and to grow closer to God and people. Paul put it this way in Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,… So, living in “a manner worthy of the gospel” means that, you turn from sin and walk with Christ so that your behavior is consistent with your beliefs.

Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. As one man, with one voice we contend for the faith of the gospel which is that God became a human being in the person of Jesus, that he died for our sins and was raised from the dead. That Jesus Christ is Lord of all. That’s what we are contending for i.e. the faith of the gospel.

Some Christians contend for the wrong thing because they don’t understand the Bible. Some Christians don’t understand even simple truths. Like this four year old little girl who heard her preacher say with arms extended toward heaven - "Dear Lord, "Without you, we are but dust..." At that moment the little girl leaned over and asked, "Mom, what is butt dust?" We don’t understand. Five weeks ago, after officiating a wedding, I was talking with a guest. He told me that he went to such and such church. I said “That’s great. The most important thing in life is the Lord Jesus Christ – following Christ and the Bible. That’s it!” He responded, “Yes, we believe in Jesus and the King James Bible!” And I thought “What is butt dust?” I didn’t say it, I just politely changed the subject. The problem of elevating non-essential issues (e.g., versions of the Bible) and giving them the same weight as to the identity of Jesus runs across all denominations.

Our denomination (Church of Christ) has been split many times over because of non-essential issues. Just look at the abbreviations in the front cover of the directory for Churches of Christ in the United States. Each abbreviation stands for divisions in our tribe. Below are some examples.

MU – “Mutual Edification” – this split occurred over located preachers. These churches are opposed to hiring located preachers – the male members share in the preaching and teaching.
JO – “Baptizes in the name of Jesus Only” – this split occurred over the issue of a baptismal formula.
NI – “Non-institutional” – this split occurred over the issue of supporting institutions like orphanages, Christian colleges, and missionary associations or societies.
OC – “One cup” – this split occurred over the container used to serve communion. These churches are opposed to serving communion in multiple cups and use only one cup.

The list of abbreviations continues (e.g., OCa, OCb; OCc, OC+c, etc) and each one symbolizes another division over some frivolous, peripheral issue that has nothing to do with “the faith of the gospel.” We’ve divided over versions of the Bible, instrumental music, women’s role in the church, praise teams, etc.

This phenomenon of schisms and division is not unique to our denomination. The same sort of infighting and division has occurred in the Baptist and Methodist and Presbyterian and Lutheran and nearly every tribe of protestant and catholic churches. While some divisions were necessary because orthodox beliefs were compromised i.e., Jesus is not the Son of God, most of these divisions across various denominations should have never occurred because they did not concern core essential truths i.e. faith in Christ alone. But, in nearly every group, people elevate trivial issues and contend for them as if they were essential core doctrines but in reality they were not.

We’re not contending for a denomination. Our identity should not be wrapped up in the doctrinal distinctives of our denomination. Sometimes, because of when we make necessary changes in structure or methodology (e.g., instrumental music, small groups, organizational structure, evangelistic outreaches) people get worried and upset and say things like “We’re loosing our identity” or “I don’t know who we are anymore” or “Who are we?” But the question is not “Who are we?” The question is “Who is he?” Our identity is wrapped up in the wrong things. We are to
“stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel” which is focused on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s all focused on Jesus, as you will see in 2:6-11.

Paul said you’ve got to stand together 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. Don’t be afraid of them. If God is for you who can be against you. You’ve got to be faithful. You’ve got to be focused on Jesus. And you’ve got to be fearless because This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. When see your courage they will eventually realize that they are not fighting against you – their fighting against God who will save you and destroy everyone who persistently opposes the Lord Jesus Christ.

And when you suffer you need to remember how God views it. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Jesus said “Blessed are you when men insult you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad for great is your reward in heaven!” When apostles were beaten (in Acts 5) they left the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name. Paul said you are going through the same struggle I’m going through – counted yourself blessed by God and realize that your present suffering is proof of your authentic faith and your suffering is not worthy to be compared to the glory of heaven.

Just focus on your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ... The word “if” could be translated “since”. Since you have encouragement, comfort, love, fellowship, tenderness, and compassion in Christ – let it spill over into your relationship with your brothers and sisters. One of the reasons people are divided is because they don’t have an intimate relationship with Jesus. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t share what you’ve never experienced. The relationship Jesus has with us is always the model for how we are to relate to other people. Jesus said, forgive each other as I forgiven you and love each other as I have loved you. I keep coming back to Psalm 103.

Psalm 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

I love to think about how compassionate and gracious the Lord has been to me and I want to translate it into my relationships with people. I want to be compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. I want to stop accusing and harboring anger. I want to stop treating people “as their sins deserve”. You see, that’s what Paul’s talking about in 2:1-2. Let the encouragement, comfort, love, fellowship, tenderness and compassion you receive from Jesus flow into your relationships with people - then you will enjoy unity.

2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Being “like-minded” does not mean that you agree on every single issue – it means that you agree on the essential issue that Jesus is Lord. Having the “same love” means that you share the love that comes from God. Being “one in spirit and purpose” means that the overarching goal of your life is focused on God’s eternal purpose in Jesus Christ.

The night before Jesus went to the cross he prayed for the unity of all believers. John 17:13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. … 20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

A couple of weeks ago I was on the phone with Amber and I overheard a conversation between her and Tori as they were saying goodbye. Amber said “Hold on dad, Tori is leaving for the track meet.” I heard them say to each other - “OK. See you later. I love you. I love you too.” And when I heard them telling each other “I love you” it made my joy complete. How good and pleasant it is when a family lives together in unity (Psalm 103:1). But if you’re not getting along and there’s division – it’s not pleasant and you’re joy is not complete. It’s hard to be happy when there is division in the church and your family.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Our selfish ambition and vain conceit can be seen even in the pursuit of good things. We try to outdo one another and it always turns out bad. Bruce Johnson shared a story about a group of country friends from the Cottonwood Church wanted to get together on a regular basis in their small groups to socialize and play games. The lady of the house was to prepare the meal.

When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hosts - Janet wanted to outdo all the others. Janet decided to have mushroom-smothered steak, but, mushrooms are expensive. She then told her husband, "No mushrooms. They are too high."He said, "Why don't you go down in the pasture and pick some of those mushrooms? There are plenty in the creek bed." She said, "No, some wild mushrooms are poison." He said, "Well, I see varmints eating them and they're OK."

So, Janet decided to give it a try. She picked a bunch, washed, sliced, and diced them for her smothered steak. Then she went out on the back porch and gave Ol' Spot (the yard dog) a double handful. Ol' Spot ate every bite. All morning long, Janet watched Ol' Spot and the wild mushrooms didn't seem to affect him, so she decided to use them.

The meal was a great success. After everyone had finished, they relaxed, socialized, and played dominoes. About then, the neighbor lady came in the house and whispered in Janet's ear, "Ol' Spot just died."Janet went into hysterics. She called the doctor and told him what had happened.

The doctor said, "That's bad, but I think we can take care of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quick as possible. We'll give everyone enemas and we will pump out everyone's stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them calm."

Soon they could hear the siren as the ambulance was coming down the road. The EMTs and the doctor had their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump. One by one, they took each person into the bathroom, gave them an enema, and pumped out their stomach. After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, "I think everything will be fine now." Then he left.

They were all looking pretty weak sitting around the living room, and about this time, the neighbor lady came back in the house and said, "You know, that fellow that ran over Ol' Spot never even stopped!"

Selfish ambition and vain conceit always spoils a party and makes everybody sick. Stop trying to outdo one another. Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up.

Do you remember the song “You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you”? I identify with that song because sometimes I am vain and I think everything is about me. I'm trying to change but I still have problems with pride. The Holy Spirit convicted me of vain conceit just this week after I visited Fairland Middle School. I stopped in the school to drop off something for Shayna and I was talking to the principal Mike Whitley and his secretary Debbie. Mike and I usually talk about hunting and school and children and life. But this time I went on and on about myself. I bragged about my speaking engagements in Malibu CA and Birmingham AL and Charlotte NC and I went on to tell them how next month I will be speaking at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island MI. I just went on and on bragging about myself and when I walked out the door the Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks in the parking lot. I did not hear him audibly but I’m almost certain God’s Spirit said to my spirit “I hope your flesh got something about of that – I didn’t. I will not bless you when you brag on yourself like you just did to Mike and Debbie.” It bothered me for two days and I finally called the school and apologized to Debbie. I said “Debbie, I am sorry for bragging on myself like I did. I didn’t even let you or Mike get a word in because I was so busy bragging on myself.” Debbie, laughed and said “I didn’t even notice.” And I said “Well, I did and I am sure God did and I just needed to apologize for that. The next time I’m going to try to have a more humble attitude.”

The Hymn of Christ

2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This passage (2:5-11) is probably an ancient hymn. It is called the "Carmen Christi" or the Hymn of Christ. I have divided the song into four stances.

First, Jesus is God (v.6) - 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped … Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is fully God. He is equal with God.

Second, God became human and died on the cross (v.7-8) - 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! … When God became human he did not cease to be God. Jesus did not empty himself of deity. That’s impossible! Jesus could not empty himself of deity anymore than we could empty ourselves of our humanity. In him the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form. God became human in the person of Jesus. Jesus was a humble servant and he learned obedience by the things he suffered. He was obedient to death – even death on a cross.

Third, Jesus was resurrected and exalted (v.9) - 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,… All authority has been given to Jesus. Jesus has been given a name that is above every name. The name Paul referred to is not “Jesus” but "Lord".

Fourth, everyone will confess “Jesus is Lord” (v.10-11) - 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Every knee will bow including the angels in heaven, the demons in hell, and every human who ever lived – and every one will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The hymn of Christ is more than a great theological statement about the identity of Jesus, it is intended to make us humble and obedient so that we can enjoy unity with our brothers and sisters. The message of the song is capture in the scripture "Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up" (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).

To enjoy unity you’ve got to let your faith rest fully on the Lord Jesus Christ. Not on non-essential issues, but on Christ alone. Then, adopt the humble attitude of Jesus. Like Jesus, humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up. Consider others better than yourself. Stop fighting for your rights and focus on your responsibilties to love others and maintain the unity of the Spirit. Let the attitude of Jesus dominate your thought life and your behavior will naturally follow.

Prayer Time

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Small Group Questions
Philippians 1:27-2:13
“Enjoy Unity”

Churches often divide along denominational, cultural, theological and social lines, what would it mean to apply Phil. 1:27 in our community? What would have to change to make this possible?

1. Reading between the lines, what was wrong with the church in Philippi?
2. Read Phil. 2:1-2 and name 4 motives for living in unity?
3. How is this unity related to humility?
4. How does Jesus exemplify this humility? (What stories from the gospels come to mind)
5. What else stands out about Jesus from this early church hymn? Vv 6-11
6. How would things change if verses 3-8 marked your family life?
7. How would things change if verses 3-8 marked your church life?
8. How would things change if verses 3-8 marked your work life?
9. How does humility differ from ‘being a doormat’?
In verses 2:12-13 what does it mean to “work out your salvation”…what part is up to God and what part is up to you?

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Resources - I borrowed and used the same title for my sermon series in Philippians as Rick Warren: "How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life". The resources I used in preparation for this series include: Rick Warren; Ray Stedman's expository studies; Rick Atchley's sermon series "To Live is Christ"; Tyndale's commentary "Life Application Bible Commentary"; James Montgomery Boice's commentary; and John MacArthur's commentary. In addition, Jeanie Meadows used the Serendipity Bible and other online resources for the small group questions which are used in our small group ministry on Sunday nights.

Godly Mothers (Mothers Day 2008)

2008-05-12T14:57:00.000-04:00

Mothers Day 2008
Godly Mothers
Jeff Garrett

This morning 12 children will be dedicated to the Lord. Will the parents please bring the children who are being dedicated come to the front and face the congregation.

Baby Dedication
Since children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3), it is natural that parents dedicate their children to God. In the Old Testament Hannah dedicated her son to God. Samuel became a great leader. In the New Testament parents brought their little children to Jesus so that he would place his hands on them and bless them. In the same way, these parents are dedicating their children to God.

Listen to what the Lord says about raising children in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on their children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

As these children are dedicated to God, we are going to make two promises. The parents of these children are going to promise to raise their children to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and we are going to make a promise to love and support each of these families. I’m going to ask a question and I want you to respond be saying “we do.”

First, to the parents - Parents, by coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and your children to the Lord? If so, please respond by saying "we do." ("We do.")

Now, I want to invite our entire church family to make a vow. As members of the body of Christ, do you hereby declare that you will support these parents and their children so that they may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers? If so please respond by saying “we do.” (“We do.”)

As Matt and the Praise Team sing, the shepherds are going say a prayer of dedication and blessing for these children and their parents. Each child will receive a Bible so that these families always remember the day that their children were dedicated to God. Listen to Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Shepherds privately prayer with each family and then give them the Bible.

Jeff Prayer – Father, Thank you for these precious children who have just been dedicated to you. Bless these children! Help these parents raise them to be faithful to you and your Son Jesus Christ. Fill them with your Spirit. Teach them to walk according to your word. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen!

Sermon

Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

We have first class mothers here today and they don’t even know it. Some would say I don’t feel like I’m riding first class. First class is the most expensive and luxurious class of accommodation on an airplane. I don’t even feel like I’m in coach. I feel more like a stewardess who serves everybody.

I’ve never ridden in the first class cabin either. But coming back from LA I was sitting one seat away from 1st class. I noticed that the first class passengers already had their refreshments when I walked on the plane. I could peep through the curtain and see that they had their own bathroom. They were served better food. They even looked important—attractive, successful, relaxed.

I was not relaxed because I had missed my flight. The night before I was to leave I checked the departure time and it said my plane left 7:25 but. I was looking at the itinerary from Columbus to Los Angeles. The next morning I couldn’t find that paper so I checked my computer. It was then I realized that it was a 7am flight. So I crammed everything in my suit case, checked out, and ran to the car. I had to get gas so the rental company wouldn’t charge me $10 a gallon.

I forgot the map to Enterprise at the hotel so asked this guy at the gas station… “Can you give me directions to Enterprise?” He said “Follow me, I’m headed that way” but he took me the wrong way. So I called Enterprise and made them stay on the phone until I saw their sign’.

The bus from Enterprise to LAX was full of people. Just as we pulled out a man ran across the parking lot with a suitcase. The driver stopped and took his bags and he “I’ll be right back”. I was just about to say “Where are you going?” when he said … “I’ve got more bags.” He also had a wife & three kids and they also had bags. The door closed and as we were pulling, another man came running up with trolley of suitcases. I was just about to say “Don’t stop!” when bus driver opened the door and said “let me help you.” The bus was now completely full of men, women and little children singing about big airplanes and of course Continental was the last stop.

When I got off the bus the lady said “you missed your flight, you’ll have to fly stand by.” She said ‘Don’t check your heavy suitcase because you don’t know how you will get home…then she said ‘Hurry on down to the gate and see if they will let you on.’

So I lug my bags to security and security had to do a bag search because I had tooth paste in my suitcase. The security man said “Don’t you know that you can’t take this on the plane?” I said “Yes, but I’ve had a bad morning. I planned to check this big bag in but I was late and I just forgot about the stupid toothpaste.” He said “I have to keep it”. I said “I don’t care, I need to go”

So I grab my suit case and brief case and run down the terminal and with the gate in sight I noticed that my brief case seemed very light. I unzipped it and realized that I had left my laptop in the plastic container at the security x-ray machine. So I ran back to security and I say to the guy who took my toothpaste…. ‘have you seen my laptop? When he found my laptop I ran back to the gate but the plane had just pulled away. So I sit down and waited three hours.
Finally I boarded a flight with a layover in Houston TX. The plane was full but I was sitting in a middle seat, squished between 2 men.

I was studying and writing notes on the tray and my elbow was barely touching the man on my right. So he got a magazine and put it between my elbow and his. This crowded me even more. I asked, “What are you doing?” He said “Your elbow is annoying me”. So I grabbed the magazine and hit him in the face. No, I didn’t but I wanted to. I did the Christian thing and said “I’m sorry”….but in my mind I was saying “you are a stupid idiot”.

The man on the left was a student at USC and he started talking about his dissertation research in ‘aerodynamics’ … but I wasn’t in the mood. Finally, we landed in Houston and after a long lay over…that’s when I noticed the first class passengers. They boarded the plane first and they were relaxing with refreshments when I boarded…their leather seats were wide and luxurious, There were only 8 --- elite 8 passengers. Getting special treatment and it made me wonder what it would be like to fly first class.

Some of you mother’s know what I’m talking about. Your day starts early and you’re always in a hurry, running 30 minutes late. A lot can go wrong because your day is so much more than catching a plane. You’re trying to keep up with everybody’s busy schedule as you take them to school, to soccer practice, and somebody forgets their tennis shoes so you run back and get them.

Moms are so busy. I know one mother used to hide in the bathroom just to be alone time. Here is a little sign may want to hang up on the bathroom door.

Mom's Sign
Attention Children: The Bathroom Door is Closed. Please do not stand here and talk, whine, or ask questions. Wait until I get out. Yes, it is locked. I want it that way. It is not broken, I am not trapped. I know I have left it unlocked, and even open at times, since you were born, because I was afraid some horrible tragedy might occur while I was in here, but it's been 10 years and I want some PRIVACY. Do not ask me how long I will be. I will come out when I am done.
Do not bring the phone to the bathroom door. Do not go running back to the phone yelling, "She's in the BATHROOM!" Do not begin to fight as soon as I go in. Do not stick your little fingers under the door and wiggle them. This was funny when you were two, but not now.
Do not slide pennies, Legos, or notes under the door. Even when you were two this got a little tiresome. If you have followed me down the hall talking, and are still talking as you face this closed door, please turn around, walk away, and wait for me in another room. I will be glad to listen to you when I am done.
And yes, I still love you.
Mom

You’re fixing meals and paying bills, taking kids to orthodontist and the pediatrician. You’re cleaning up messes…and no one has a clue as to what you do all day. Then when you finally sit down somebody starts complaining about something little thing that annoys them (e.g., your elbow is annoying me and they do the magazine thing) and you respond like Mothers do…. but you think, “if they even had a clue…if they only knew what it takes to be a Mom and all that you do for them. They would show a little more appreciation.” But they don’t know and won’t know until they have kids of their own.

So you wait on them and help with the homework and do all the chores that moms do but sometimes you wonder “How in the world am I going to raise my family without losing my mind?”

And some days, when your weary and frazzled, you see another mother that you don’t really know but they just seem to have it all together….they dress nice, they live in bigger houses, drive nicer cars…and you think she must go to El Haaj for her manicures, pedicures and I bet she gets a massage once a week. The way she looks and that tan from her recent trip to the beach. And you hear her talking about an expensive family vacation and her children are so excited. And you think, “I’ll bet she never worries about how she’s going to pay her bills.” I’ll bet her husband listens to her and her children obey her and I’ll bet she has no problems. I’ll bet she’s appreciated and loved.

But you can’t remember the last time you felt that good. The only time you get their attention is when they want something. Sometimes you feel like the stewardess who gives safety instructions with animated gestures but no matter how important it is, they don’t even listen.
And you wonder what it’s like to ride first class. But let me share a few things God gave me.

First, you have no idea what problems people have. I’ve been a counselor long enough to learn that everybody has problems. If you only knew what they deal with you might think your life is a picnic compared to theirs. Jesus said in John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Second, you will have first class accommodations in heaven. God has a first class room for you in heaven. John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. If you have to ride in coach to get there---that is not too bad, is it? In fact when you know you’re going to spend eternity in a place far greater than any expensive vacation on earth you can enjoy the trip. This week I spent time at the Presidents House at Pepperdine University, overlooking Malibu Beach (this o’ boy from Boone Co., who knows that Malibu’s nothing compared to the heaven Jesus is preparing. You can even be happy for those who have more and ride in first class.

Third, it might be best for you to be right where you are because if you had more it might not be good for you. Another thing---I think God sometimes sends difficult people into our lives to help us grow. Hebrews 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons [and daughters]. I know God saw that whole ordeal, he saw the man who took me the wrong direction and the bus full of people and the toothpaste and laptop. He saw it all and wondered if he didn’t have an influence on the man who said “your elbow annoys me.” Why would he do this? Because I’m going to face things a whole lot worse than that man on an airplane. I didn’t need to be frustrated about that man. He’s not my problem, he’s God’s problem. When you are faithful in the small things, it equips you for the big things. And mothers, your faithfulness is what makes you so beautiful.

That’s what Peter said in 1 Peter 3:2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, 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. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.

This week I did a study on the holy women of the past and I focused on five outstanding women and what the god-like qualities that they are remember for. I learned about the laughter of Sarah (Genesis 21:6) and the earnest prayer of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:12-15) and the beautiful song of Mary (Luke 1:46-49) and the service of Dorcas (Acts 9:36-39) and how Eunice and Lois taught Timothy the scriptures from infancy. That’s what makes you beautiful and that’s what we remember. We remember that your beauty was not just outward adornment. We remember your inner and unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight and ours because you …

Laugh like Sarah (Genesis 21:6)
Pray like Hannah (1 Samuel 1:12-15)
Worship like Mary (Luke 1:46-49)
Serve like Dorcas (Acts 9:36-39)
Teach like Eunice and Lois (Luke 1:46-49)

And when we read passages like Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching – we think of you and we honor you by being grateful for all you do and by living life as you taught us to live.

Prayer Time
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Small Group Questions
Godly Mothers
May 11, 2008

What TV mom do you most identify with…..The Cosby Mom, Married with Children Mom, 7th Heaven Mom, Marge Simpson, Joy from “my name is Earl”, Elyse Keaton from Family Ties, or the Brady Bunch Mom?

1. How do children bring joy and laughter into your life?
2. Read I Samuel 1:12-21, describe what you think Hannah’s prayer may have been like….have you ever prayed like that?
3. How hard is it when God does not answer your prayers the way you want?
4. Read Mary’s Song in Luke 1:46-55, why do you think Mary was chosen to bare God’s son?
5. In verse 48 how does Mary describe herself after her vision with the angel? What example does she leave for us as parents?
6. Read 2 Tim. 1:5; in light of all the pressures Timothy is under why do you think scriptures reveal that his faith came from his mother and grandmother? What does this say to us about the power of Mothers?
7. Dorcas was used as an example of service. What would happen to our churches today if only men were to serve? Expound on this thought?
8. Turn to Proverbs 31, before you read it….can you think of all the jobs this virtuous women did each day? How is this like the multi tasking that mother’s go through today?

What one memory of your mother stands out to you?

Easter 2008

2008-05-08T23:10:00.007-04:00

Easter 2008
Easter Changes Everything
Jeff Garrett

Psalm 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

The title of my lesson is "Easter Changes Everything" and I want to make three points.

1) Jesus helps you heal from the pain of the past

Two types of pain: regret and resentment. We regret what we’ve done to others. We resent what others have done to us.

First, Jesus wants to heal the pain of regret. King David knew the pain or regret. After his sin with Bathsheba he wrote in Psalm 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

My first bout with guilt was at age 11. My friends and I were smoking stolen cigarettes under the train trestle at the mouth of Six Mile. I saw dad's truck coming down the road. He parked his truck and started walking down the railroad tracks. I ran to meet him and he asked "What are you boys doing?" I said "We're skipping rocks." He looked at me knowingly, as if he could see right through me. He said, "Be home before dark." He walked back to his truck and drove away. As I walked back to the trestle where my friends were I felt so guilty. I couldn’t play. I felt so heavy with guilt. The one-mile bike ride up to hollow to my home was pure torture as I thought about how I had lied to my dad about smoking cigarettes. I knew I would go to hell now! I kept it a secret for three hours and could stand it no longer - I confessed to mom at a PTA meeting and that night, after dad come home from work, I told him the truth. I thought he was going to punish me and I knew that deserved it. But he was compassionate and gracious. Slow to anger. Abounding in love. He did not treat me as my sins deserve. He was so tender and forgiving. This gave me a little glimpse into the character of my heavenly Father. Look at these character qualities. Think about the character qualities described in the first passage I read. I don't know what your concept of God is but listen to the Bible's description.

Psalm 103:8-14
God is compassionate and gracious,
God is slow to anger,
God is abounding in love.
God will not always accuse or harbor his anger
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
He does no repay us according to our iniquities.
His love is higher than the heavens
He’s removed our sin as far as the east is from the west
He is a compassionate Father
He remembers we are dust

I like to contemplate on that passage. It helps me with guilt. It helps me deal with the pain of the past. You see, my sin developed into something far worse the under-age smoking and lying to my parents. It developed into full-blown alcoholism with all the associated vices and the guilt and shame ate me up. I used to punish myself but then I learned that Jesus took my place.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. I don’t have to punish myself because Jesus was punished for me. He was falsely accused. Beaten. Mocked. Led through the streets and lifted up on skull hill. His face covered in spit and blood. Bruised. Swollen. Lacerations covered his body. Marred beyond human likeness. Gradual asphyxiation. Unimaginable agony. Darkness. Devils. Evil. Wave after wave of human guilt poured into him until he became sin as God’s wrath burned down on him. Vicarious punishment. Substitute sacrifice – for us. God’s glory, a bloody cross. God’s Son, dead on Friday but raised on Sunday and exalted to the highest place. His cross proves that we are loved. Accepted. Justified by faith. Forgiven forever. Praise God for Jesus Christ our Lord who forgives our sin and takes away our guilt and regrets of the past.

Second, Jesus wants to heal the pain of resentment. We regret what we’ve done. We resent what others have done to us. Your loved ones can hurt you and it’s easy to be resentful.

I heard about a married couple. The wife died and when she got to heaven she met Peter at the gate. She could see all her friends were enjoying each other and having a good time and she said “What do I need to do to get in here?” Peter said, “All you have to do is spell one word.” She said “What’s the word?” He said “love.” She said “That’s easy – L O V E.” Peter said “Come on in.”

About ten years later her husband died and she met him at the gate. She said “I really missed you and I’ve been wondering how you spent the rest of your life? Did you miss me?” He said “Yes I did but I got a long just fine. Do you remember that attractive nurse that took care of you before you died? We fell in love and got married. We took the million dollars from your life insurance policy and bought a nice house on the beach.” He looked over her shoulder and saw all their friends enjoying each other and having a good time. He said “What do I have to do to get in here?” She said “All you have to do is spell one word.” He said, “What is the word?” She said “Checkloslavakia”

It’s easy to resent the father who abused you or the mother who criticized you or the brother or sister who deceived you or the husband or wife who betrayed you. You need two things.

First, you need healing. You need to know that Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and He saves those whose spirits have been crushed."

Second, you need a fresh start. You need to hear Isaiah 43:18-19 “The Lord says, ‘Forget about what has happened. Do not think about the past. Instead look at the new thing I am going to do.’”

Don’t be preoccupied with the pain of the past. Don't allow resentment and bitterness take root in your heart. Instead, learn to say with Joseph Genesis 50: 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Easter changes everything. Jesus wants to heal the pain of your past.

2) Jesus helps you deal with the pressure of the present

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me for real rest and you’ll recover your life and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” A lot of you are tired, worn out, and burned out by the pressure of the present. What’s got you stressed out? Your finances? Marriage problems? Your children? Your aged parents? Are you worried about your job? Are you worried about your health? Are you worried about your taxes? What's got you stressed out?

The pressure keeps building. The pressure makes you tired, exhausted, worn down, used up. Like the battery on my cell phone. When my cell phone battery gets low a little red icon appears in the top corner of the screen and the phone makes an annoying beep because the battery is drained and it needs recharged. That’s you! You're drained. Overwhelmed. You’ve got so much on you and you think "know one knows; no one understands; no one really cares."

But there is one who knows and understands and cares. Listen to this beautiful passage from Psalm 139.

Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. … 16 … All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. … 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

When you feel overwhelmed by anxiety, when your feel stressed out by the pressures of life; when you feel like know one knows what you are going pray Psalm 139 aloud. Speak words of faith into your heart and soul. Don't let yourself talk to you, you talk to yourself. Let your faith speak to you and then be very still. Be very quiet and listen for God to speak. You’ve heard the statement “Don’t just stand there, do something.” I like to turn it around and say “Don’t just do something, stand there.” Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

When you get a vision of how awesome and mighty and powerful God is, it will give you a fresh new perspective on your problems and it relieves your pressure. So exalt God over your problems and then be quiet and hear Jesus say “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me for real rest and you’ll recover your life and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28).

Jesus can heal the pain of the past, the pressure of the present and third ...

3) Jesus helps you deal with the pessimism of the future

When you’re haunted by the pain of the past and you're living under the pressure of the present it’s easy to be pessimistic about the future. You can’t enjoy life because you feel hopeless, like you have nothing to live for.

I heard about a older woman who was pessimistic. But she had four sons who went to college and became successful. Two became doctors and and the other two became attorneys. All four were wealthy. One day these four brothers had dinner together and they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who lived far away in another city.

The first said, "I had a big house built for Mama." The second said, "I had a hundred thousand dollar theater with Dolby sound built in the house." The third said, "I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her." And the fourth said, "You know how Mamma loves reading the Bible but she cannot read anymore because of her poor eyesight?" He continued, "I met a preacher who told me about a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty preachers 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute 100,000 a year for twenty years to the church, but it was worth it because all Mamma has to do is name the book, chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it word for word." And the other brothers were impressed.

After the holidays Mom sent out her "thank you" notes. She wrote;

"Milton, the house you built is so huge I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway. Love, Mamma"

"Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home, I have my groceries delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks. Love, Mamma."

"Michael, you gave me an expensive theater with Dolby sound, it could hold 50 people, but all of my friends are dead, I've lost my hearing, and I'm nearly blind. I'll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the same. Love, Mamma."

"Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you. Love, Mama"

We can become so pessimistic that we can't appreciate anything and we end up eating the parrot!

In contrast, last Friday Mildred Lucas came to the building and dropped off Easter gifts. She buys gifts for 18 children. After I put the gifts up I went with her to decorate the grave of her husband. She’s been visiting her husband's grave and her brother’s grave for 23 years. Mildred has many health problems and she is a widow. She deals with a lot but she has such a sweet spirit because she is full of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know what you are struggling with or why you are pessimistic – old age, health, finances, marriage, work, but Jesus gives you hope for the future.

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?... 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Easter changes everything. History is divided into AD and BC by the event i.e., the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every time you write a date, whether you believe in him or not, you’re using Jesus as the reference point. Your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the most important thing in your life. He helps you deal the past, present, and future.

Here’s the conclusion of our Easter message. Jesus is the fountain of every blessing and the stream of blessing runs in all directions to help us heal the pain of the past, the pressure of the present, and the pessimism of the future. We are going to sing a song that celebrates Jesus as the fount of every blessing. Let’s pray over this lesson as the Praise Team takes their places.

Prayer

Praise and Worship - Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King

Benediction

Philippians 1:12-30 - Choose Joy

2008-04-28T23:45:00.004-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 2)
Choose Joy
Philippians 1:12-30
Jeff Garrett

Live like you were dying (Tim McGraw)

He said I was in my early forties with a lot of life before me
and a moment came that stopped me on a dime
I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays
talking ‘bout the options and talkin’ ‘bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in if this might really be the real end
How’s it hit ‘cha when you get that kind of news, man what’cha do

I went skydiving
I went rocky mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter and I gave forgiveness id been denying
and he said some day I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying

He said I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn’t
And I became a friend a friend would like to have
And all of a sudden going fishin’ wasn’t such an imposition
And I went three times that year I lost my dad
Well I finally read the Good Book and I took a good long hard look
at what id do if I could do it all again and then

Paul lived like he was dying. He faced death again and again. In the passage we are going to study today Paul said “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Someone has said, “A man isn’t fit to live until he’s ready to die.” Paul is an old man in chains (Philemon1:9). He’s been in prison four years and he’s on trial for his life. Paul could have been complaining about the slowness of the Roman courts. He could have hated the guards he was chained to because the represent Rome. But Paul had a Jesus-perspective that enabled him to rejoice no matter what.

Philippians 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Notice the repitition of the phrase "What has happened to me". Paul said 1) What has happened to me has really served the advance the gospel. 2) What has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 2) Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel. These are the three points I want to focus on.

That Bible clearly teaches that our reponse to problems is our responsibility. What happens to you is not what disturbs you or upsets you or causes you to behave the way you do. We have a choice as to how we will respond. It depends on what you think about it. How you perceive it. When something bad happens, after the initial shock and the immediate emotional response (whether grief or anger or anxiety or depression) – we have a choice as to how we will respond long-term. Look at how Paul responded.

1. What has happened to you can serve to advance the gospel (v.12-16)

That’s what Paul said in v.12. Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. He’s been a prisoner for four years - two years in Caesarea and now two years in Rome. How could being in chains advance the gospel? Three good things resulted from Paul’s chains. 1) He got to witness to the palace guards. Can you imagine what it would be like to be chained to Paul? It was an automatic Bible study about Jesus. After a while you wouldn’t know who was chained to who - he had a captive audience. And Paul said “the whole palace guard” (v.13) knew that he was in chains for Christ. He must have converted some of those elite guards who had inside connections to the palace because at the end of this letter Paul said 4: 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household. 2) He inspired Christians to speak the word of God more courageously and fearless. 3) He wrote four letters of the New Testament. And that probably would not have happened without being chained.

What are you chained too? A job you hate. Family problems you can’t fix. An ex-husband you can’t stand. Debt you can’t pay. Past abuse you can’t overcome. Addictions you can’t break. A hospital bed with health problems. Did you know that whatever has happened to you (divorce, addiction, cancer, the death of a loved one, loss of a job) can serve to advance the gospel? But you got to view it through the eyes of Jesus and understand that God can use the bad things that have happened to equip you to help others.

We think that everything is about what has happened to us. Your attitude and your thoughts have more influence on you than what has happened. It’s not just the bad thing that happened to you that controls – it’s your attitude towards it and whether you believe that God is greater than you problem and can use it to equip you to advance the gospel. Your critics don’t control your mood – it’s attitude toward your critics.

Look at how viewed his critics (v.15-18). Paul mentioned two groups of preachers. One group was sincere and preached Christ “out of goodwill.” The other group was insincere – driven by envy, rivalry, selfish ambition, hoping they can stir up trouble for Paul while he’s in chains. But I love Paul’s perspective – he said, v.18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,…

How can he say that? How can you rejoice when people are criticizing you? If somebody criticizes us it takes a whole week to recover - like this preacher who was standing at the back door after service and a little boy walked up and said “when I grow up I’m going to give you money.” The preacher said, “That’s nice. But why are you going to give me money.” The little boy said “Because my daddy said that you were the poorest preacher we’ve ever had.” All it takes is a little bit of criticism to rob us of joy and we get angry or worry or become insecure.

But we need to remember it’s we’re not disturbed by what people say, but what we think about it. You got better things to think about than to roll over and over in your mind all day what they just said. It doesn’t matter what they say - if you don’t let it get in you it can’t hurt you. Keep it on the outside and don’t take it in and meditate on it and let it upset you – that’s what does the harm.

2. What has happened to you will ultimately turn out from your good (v.18-26).

1:19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. … For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

No matter how bad it gets, it's all going to eventually turn out for your good. You can't loose when Jesus is your Lord. If you live - Christ! If you die - Christ! Heaven! Forever!

This week I preached Bill Stollings funeral. Lydia and Becky and Dan and their whole family know where Bill is - he is with Jesus in heaven. And then Friday, I was visiting Adalou Lewis at the Hospice Care Center. While Carol (her daughter) and Rob (her Grandson) and I were in the room she died peacefully and she went to heaven. We shed tears but we were comforted knowing that the angels carried her to paradise and now she is with Christ - which is far better.

When your destiny is settled - you can face life's most difficult problems with greater confidence and enjoy experience joy in grief and sorrow. It's the joy that only Jesus can give.

Your perspective makes a difference. I love the story of the little Chinamen was arrested for preach Christ. He gave his testimony at a Billy Graham crusade. He talked about his experience in prison. He was kept in a small prison cell that was crowded with me that he couldn’t sit down. And the only time he left the cell was to shovel human waste in the basement. He said the first time the guards took him to the basement of the prison and open the door to the sewer the stench was overwhelming and he had to shovel human waste into truck. But after a while he began to view it differently. He viewed as his only time to be alone with Christ and he would sing a song. And he told the audience at the Billy Graham crusade, would you like for me to sing it?

I come to the garden alone. While the dew is still on the roses. (Can you see that little Christian man standing knee deep in human waste?) And the voice I hear falling on my ear. The Son of God discloses. (Sing it with me.) And he walks with me and he talks with me. And he tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there. None other has ever known.

The next time you think about the bad things that have happened to you remember that little Chinamen and sing that song.

So, what has happened to you can serve to advance the gospel. What has happened to you will ultimately turn out for your good. And last …

3. Whatever happens conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel (v.27-30).

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.

Behavior that is observed tends to change for the good. If Paul were present their behavior may improve for the better. But Paul is encouraging them to conduct their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ even though he is absent. Your character is defined by who you are and what you do when no one is watching. But we must remember, the Lord is always watching and we must always obey him even when life is difficult.

What problems are you facing this week? Will you take a Jesus-perspective and choose joy in spite of your problems? Your perspective is important!

Sometimes it helps to remember that as bad as things are at this time, they could always be worse. It reminds me of the letter a 15 year old wrote to his father.

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to "Dad." With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am.

But it's not only the passion...Dad she's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it.

Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love,
Your Son,
John

P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to give you some perspective so that you would realize that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer. I love you. Call me when it's safe to come home.

Isn’t that great? If he would have just given his dad the report card his dad would have been very upset. But now he’s thinking, is that all that’s wrong – a bad report card is not the end of the world!

Take a Jesus-perspective when you view your problems: 1) What has happened to me can really serve to advance the gospel. 2) What has happened to me will ultimately turn out for my good. 3) Whatever happens I am going to conduct my life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus.

Prayer Time

___________________________
Resources - I borrowed and used the same title for my sermon series in Philippians as Rick Warren: "How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life". The resourses I used in preparation for this series include: Rick Warren; Ray Stedman's expository studies; Rick Atchley's sermon series "To Live is Christ"; Tyndale's commentary "Life Application Bible Commentary"; James Montgomery Boice's commentary; and John MacArthur's commentary.

Philippians 1:1-11 - Enjoy the People in Your Life

2008-04-21T15:19:00.003-04:00

How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life (Part 1)
Enjoy the People in Your Life
Philippians 1:1-11
Jeff Garrett

Its 61 A.D. and Paul is under house arrest in Rome. This time his living conditions are more comfortable (relative to some prisons). He’s in a rented house and he is able to receive visitors, preach, teach and write letters (Acts 28:11-31). Epaphroditus had brought Paul a gift from the church in Philippi. So Paul wrote this letter to thank them for the gift. He wanted them to know that he was not discouraged even though he was in chains. [Pic of Map] Paul wrote four letters – we call them the prison epistles (Eph, Phil, Col, and Philemon). Philippians is the most positive and upbeat letter Paul wrote. In this short little letter, the words "joy" or "rejoice" or "be glad" are used 17 times. Let me show you …

1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

1:18 Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

2:2 make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose

2:17 I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

2:29 Welcome him (Epaphroditus) in the Lord with great joy

3:1 my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!

4:1 … you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord

It’s easy to see why we are going to study the book of Philippians around the theme “How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life”. But how could he be joyful when his circumstance was so terrible?

When I think of joy I think of things like – when the girls were little. I’d come home and say “Where are my little girls?” And they would hide and I would find them one at a time and turn into a tickle monster and we would laugh hysterically. That was unbridled joy! But I have also experienced joy in the pain and struggles of life. Mom gave me a commentary on Philippians that belong to dad. He was preaching through the book of Philippians at the end of his life. He wanted so much to finish the book but he died before he finished. The last section he highlighted in the commentary was this verse 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. When I read that I thought – how fitting, Dad preached about death and resurrection right before he died. And even though there’s pain because we miss him, there is great joy in knowing that dad is in heaven with Jesus. If you can hear me dad, I am going to finish the book for you. I won’t do as well as you, but I’ll do the best I can.

I have found joy in the pain and struggles of life just this week as I talked to Joe and Virginia Thompson. Joe has been struggling with cancer and all kinds of health problems – But Joe and Virginia both said “Jeff, we can’t believe how good God has been to us. And then I talked to L.D. Handley who just lost his wife and though he misses her so much, there is joy in knowing that she is in heaven and they will see each other again. It’s the joy of Jesus. It’s a joy that nothing can take away. Jesus said in John 16:22 Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. It is the joy that you can know.

The title of today’s lesson is “Enjoy the People in Your life.” If you are going to enjoy the rest of your life the first thing you need to learn is how to enjoy the people in your life. Many times we allow our circumstance to dictate our mood. When we are in a foul mood because our circumstances are difficult we don’t enjoy people, we endure them- tolerate or put up with them.

We can learn a lot from Paul because he knew how to enjoy the people in his life even when life was difficult. If you are going to enjoy the people in your life you need to ….

1. Remember who you are (your identity in Christ) (v.1-2)

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is the author. Timothy is with him. They are servants of Christ. Servants means “slaves”. The letter was addressed to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: The word “saints” which means “holy ones” “morally blameless” or “ceremonially consecrated” and set apart because they were “in Christ.” The overseers are the bishops, the elders or shepherds. And the deacons refer to servants. That’s the writer and the recipients and v.2 contains the blessing - 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace always comes before peace. You can’t have peace until you have grace.

But notice how Paul’s identity and his relationships are all wrapped up in Jesus. Look at how many times he mentions the name of Jesus. Paul said we are servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And that’s just in the first two verses. When I study a book I like to count the number of times the name of Jesus is mentioned. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is used 51 times (and there are only 103 verses in the book). Paul talks about Jesus a lot. He referred to Jesus almost every other sentence.

One little boy stead home from church with his dad on Palm Sunday. When his mom and brother got home he asked about why his little brother had palm branches. And she explained that when Jesus came the people waved palm branches. He said “Great. I miss one Sunday and Jesus shows up!” Another little boy came out of Bible class and his mom asked about his class. He told her the grandmother of Jesus taught the class. She said “How do you know it was Jesus’ grandmother?” He said, “It had to be his grandmother because that’s all she talked about – Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”

About every other verse Paul is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ and the point is clear i.e., the key to enjoying the rest of your life is to live everyday for Jesus. That’s our identity. We are servants of Christ and saints of Christ, not victims of circumstance.

2. Be Thankful for the Good in People (v.3-5)

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

How could Paul be thankful when his circumstances were so terrible? Well he was counting his blessings rather than wallowing in self-pity. Everybody has a good list and a bad list. And your joy is determined by which list you focus on.

Paul's Bad List.
False accused and beaten
Ship-wrecked
Thorn in the flesh
Lived in constant danger
In prison

Paul's Good List
Sins forgiveStoned
He was loved
He had a purpose
He could write and preach Jesus
Churches were growing
He received gifts
The opportunity to witness to elite guard
He was going to heaven

Everybody has a good list and a bad list and your mood depends on which list you focus on. If you have a habit of focusing on the bad list and talking about your problems, you will not enjoy the people in your life and they will not enjoy being around you. So remember the best and don’t dwell on the rest and you will enjoy life and the people around you.

3. Be patient with their progress (v.6)

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Notice the three phases of God’s good work in v.6.

God “began a good work” – by opening your heart to receive the message (Acts 16:14)
God “will carry it on” – by his Holy Spirit (Romans 8)
God will bring it “to completion on the day of Christ Jesus” – (1 John 3:2)

That’s a wonderful promise – it’s God’s work, not yours. We get so impatient with our children and our mate and our family and our friends because they aren’t making the progress we think they should be making. Stop being so impatient – that’s not your job. It’s God’s job to carry it on to completion and God always finishes what he starts. So be patient and remember that song …

“He’s still working on me. To make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars - the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient he must be, cause he’s still working on me. There really out to be a sign upon my heart. Don’t judge me yet there’s an unfinished part. But I’ll be fashioned just according to his plan. Fashioned by the Master’s loving hand. Cause He’s still working on me. To make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars - the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient he must be, cause he’s still working on me.

4. Love them from your heart (v.7-8)

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

The word "affection" is the word for “bowels” or "intestines". That’s why the King James translates this phrase "how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ". The Greeks thought that the seat of the emotions was in your stomach and internal organs. It was a gut level feeling of love. I long for you and I love you so much it hurts. But it was not Paul’s love. He longed for them with the affection of Christ Jesus. I was God’s love channeled through Paul (Romans 5:5). You’ve got to love them from your heart. Say “I have you in my heart.”

I've discovered that if people are not on my heart, it’s easy for them to get on my nerves. If you don't have your kids in your heart, it’s easy for them to get on your nerves. If you don't have your husband in your heart, it’s easy for him to get on your nerves. So get them in your heart and love them with the affection of Christ.

5. Pray they become like Jesus

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ— to the glory and praise of God.

Here’s how to pray for the people in your life. Make six specific request.
- Love - that your love may abound more and more (9)
- Knowledge and insight - more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (9)
- Wisdom - so that you may be able to discern what is best (10)
- Purity may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ (10)
- Righteous - 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ (11)
- Glorify God - to the glory and praise of God (11)

Jay’s announcement about his decision to move to Flordia and Jay and Lacy's video presentation

Prayer Time

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Resources - I borrowed and used the same title for my sermon series in Philippians as Rick Warren: "How to Enjoy the Rest of Your Life". The resources I used in preparation for this series include: Rick Warren; Ray Stedman's expository studies; Rick Atchley's sermon series "To Live is Christ"; Tyndale's commentary "Life Application Bible Commentary"; James Montgomery Boice's commentary; and John MacArthur's commentary.

Building Great Relationships – Jesus Style (Part 2)

2008-04-21T15:17:00.000-04:00

Faith Family and Friends:
Building Great Relationships – Jesus Style (Part 2)
Jeff Garrett

Nobody has perfect relationships. Everybody has trouble. Even Jesus had trouble with his family and friends. Did you know that Jesus was raised in the big family? The people said in Matthew 13:55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Jesus had at least four brothers and we know their names - James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. Notice that “sisters” is plural – we don’t know their names but we know he had more than one. There were at least seven siblings in his family. But at this point his hometown friends and family did not honor him. They were offended by him and thought he was crazy.

Mark 3:21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." 33 "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus did not reject his mother and brothers and sisters. They just couldn’t communicate at this time because they didn’t understand him and his brothers did not believe him.

John 7:2 … when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. … 10 after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. Holidays are important times for families to be together – but Jesus couldn’t be with his family – they thought he was crazy. Jesus didn’t have perfect relationships with his brothers and sisters and friends.

Brothers and sisters can be hard to get along with sometimes. A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "Honor thy father and thy mother," she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

I want to share four things you can do to build great relationships – Jesus style. Get your head in the book, your knee on the floor, your feet with your brothers and sisters, and your eyes on Jesus. Let’s think about the first one.

1. Get your head in the book

Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

The only way to let the word of Christ dwell in your richly is to get your head in the book and it will change the way you think about yourself and other people because you’re going to come across relationship passages that encourage you to be honest, forgiving, loving, serving, patient and faithful. But you got to get your head in the book.

Amber studied for her driver’s exam and I watched her as she took the test and she passed it. She couldn’t pass the test if she didn’t have her head in the book. Jesus is watching you as face trails and test of every kind in all your relationships but you’re not going to pass the test unless you get your head in the book – you’ll get angry or bitter or insecure or jealous and it will ruin your life.

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? What if we gave it to kids as gifts? What if we used it when we travelled? What if we used it in case of emergency? What if we used it to resolve problems and stay in touch?

How many minutes you got on your cell phone? 300? 600? Unlimited? If you spent some time in God’s word it would help you build great relationships – Jesus style. I want to give you a challenge. Read the book of Philippians – that’s what I’m going to be preaching through next week. If you have trouble reading, then listen to Max McLean on biblegateway.com.

2. Get Your Knee on the Floor

Jesus kept his knee on the floor in prayer.

Luke 5:16 … Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

When he was with a crowd of people he said little short little prayers. When with his friends he said medium prayers. And when he was by himself he prayed all night.

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,…"

Say the Lord’s Prayer with me – This is how the Lord taught us to pray.

Our Father in heaven, hollowed by thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever – Amen.

I want to challenge you to pray five times a day. Does that sound like a lot? It isn’t. This will be easy because you can build it into your daily routine. Just remember to pray every morning when you rise, before every meal, and at bedtime. If you do that you will pray at least five times a day. Then it will grow so that you are talking to God all day long. You’ll wake up in the morning and say “Father in heaven” and you talk to God all day long and when you go to bed you’ll say “In Jesus name, Amen.”

So, get your head in the book. Get your knee on the floor. And #3 …

3. Get your feet with your brothers and sisters

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We have a motto in AA and it is “Meeting makers make it”. What that means is – if you want to stay sober then go to meetings. But when you stop going the chance of relapse is greater because meeting makers make it. That used to be a motto in the church. If you didn’t come every time the doors were open then weren’t going to make it i.e., you’re not going to heaven. Then we changed – we’re saved by grace not by church attendance. We even told jokes about how Wednesday nights don’t count. And very few people show up on Wednesday nights, except the youth. Wednesday nights are like their Sunday mornings. But I want to encourage you and challenge you to do two things that will help get your feet with brothers and sisters. First, come to church every Sunday. Second, join a small group. Meeting makers make it. I’m not talking about heaven – I’m talking about life and relationships and your walk with Jesus. You need to be here to worship and fellowship and give and commune and hear God’s word.

Show up and don’t be late. A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!" While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!"

Let it become your custom. It was a custom for Jesus. Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. Paul did the same thing. Acts 17:2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, Paul did the same thing as Jesus, do you? I have actually met some people who take pride in the fact that they don’t attend assemblies. Like they are so spiritual they’ve out grown it. Don’t fool yourself. Remember Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

You need to get your head in the book, your knee on the floor, your feet with your brothers …

4. Keep your eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What are your eyes fix on? Your work? Your hobbies? You money? Your possessions?

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered : "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

It refreshes your perspective and appreciation on family and friends. Enjoy every minute with them. You don’t have to be poor to have great relationships. You just have to keep your eyes on Jesus and build great relationships – Jesus style. But you’ve got to get your head in the book, your knee on the floor, your feet with your brothers, and keep your eyes on Jesus.

Prayer Time

Building Great Relationships – Jesus Style (Part 1)

2008-04-21T15:10:00.000-04:00

Faith Family and Friends:
Building Great Relationships – Jesus Style (Part 1)
Jeff Garrett

Your Gonna Miss This (Trace Adkins)

She was starin' out the window of that SUV
Complainin' sayin' I can't wait to turn 18
She said I'll make my own money and I'll make my own rules
Mama put the car in park out there in front of the school
and she kissed her head and said I was just like you

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In her one bedroom apartment and her daddy stops by
He tells her it's a nice place, she says it'll do for now
Starts talkin' about babies and buyin' a house
Daddy shakes his head and says Baby just slow down

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plummer workin' on the water heater,
Dogs barkin' phones ringin' one kid's cryin' one kid's screamin',
And she keeps apologizing, he says they don't bother me
I got 2 babies of my own one's 36 one's 23 ... it's hard to believe

But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times so take a good look around
You may not know it now
You're gonna miss this

I love that Trace Adkins song. Today I begin a two part mini-series called “Faith, Family and Friends: Building Great Relationships – Jesus Style.” Jesus is the model and the key to building great relationships. I’ll preach this sermon today and I’m so excited about next Sunday because Jeff Stevenson and his family will be here and Jeff will preaching! Today, I want share four simple things that will help you build great relationships with your family and friends. Don’t walk away thinking that was too simple. Walk away thinking, I need to do these simple things if I’m going to build great relationships – Jesus style.

Jesus lived one day at a time

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Jesus lived one day at a time – do you?
When you’re in high school you say “I’ll be happy when I get out of high school and go to college.” When you are in college you say “I’ll be happy when I graduate and get a job.” When you are single – “I’ll be happy when I get married.” When you married – “I’ll be happy when we have some kids.” After you have kids you say “I’ll be happy when their grown and gone” and then “I’ll be happy when I get some grandchildren” and then “I’ll be happy when I retire and move to Florida.” And then you look back and realize it all happened so fast. Rather than enjoying your loved ones at each stage you were postponing happiness to the next. You plan to be happy somewhere in the future but you missed out on life today. "Life is what happens to us while we're planning something else." It’s like always planning for what's going to happen in January and you miss Christmas.

Today is the Good Old Days you're going to talk about in 15 years. Enjoy now. Every day is a gift from God. Life is brief. You get about 70 to 80 years if you’re blessed with good health. Psalm 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 70-80 years sounds like a long time. At least we get to live longer than many animals. Do you know why we live longer than dogs, monkeys and cows?

You see, on the first day God created the dog and said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this I will give you a life span of twenty years." The dog said, "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?" So God agreed. On the second day God created the monkey and said, "Entertain people, do tricks and make them laugh. For this I'll give you a twenty year life span." The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?" And God agreed. On the third day God created the cow and said, "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this I will give you a life span of sixty years." The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the forty?" And God agreed. On the fourth day God created man and said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this I will give you twenty years." But the man said, "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"
"Okay," said God, 'You asked for it." So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to spend the last part of my life barking at everyone. I want to live like Jesus, enjoying my family and friends one day at a time.

Jesus was content

Paul said in Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Where did he learn contentment? From Jesus.
Jesus said in Luke 9:58 Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Jesus is the greatest man who ever lived. Yet he never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never went to college. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of those things that usually accompany greatness but he was greatest man who ever lived. If Jesus left the throne in heaven to be born in a barn – surely I can be content in my house. There was love and happiness among Jesus’ family and friends as they sit around campfires and walked along the beach.

I want to live like Jesus and be able to say 1 Timothy 6:8 if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that …. I’d like to have more but if I can’t afford it and can’t get it – I stubbornly refuse to ruin my relationships being discontent. I’ll just enjoy my family and friends around this little campfire and we will walk together and be happy. That’s all that really matters anyway.
When Kim and I got married we lived in a little one bedroom house that cost $150 a month. I did yard work, worked on a loading dock at UPS in the evening, and preached on the weekend for a little church outside Nashville. Kim worked part-time at one of those old fashion drug-stores on Granny White Pike. We didn’t have much but we were happy. I remember the little things like going for walks around observatory drive and watching Kim work in the drug-store – I was so attracted to her. One time I was watching her, admiring her beauty while I was filling my 69 mustang up with gas – I didn’t realize that I was filling up the tank with diesel fuel! That was really frustrating and expensive to fix – but I just take my eyes off of her. You ought to have read the letters I wrote – she kept those letters and they were embarrassing to read because they were so mushy. Many of you have had similar experiences and some of your best memories come from times when you had very little.

I’m not denying the fact that it was hard and you struggled. I’m just saying that while you are through hard times it’s easy to forget that you’re going to miss this – you’re going to want this back. You’re going to wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast. These are some good times. So take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you’re going to miss this.

I wrote a new song and I want to share it with you. Most of the songs I’ve written came from my childhood and adolescents. Shayna said, “Dad when are you going to write a song about us?” So I wrote one and I want to sing it for you. It’s called “Kim and the Girls”

Kim and the Girls (Jeff Garrett)

The treasure in my heart is something better than gold
It’s Amber and Tori and Shayna Nicole
Kim and the girls you know they’re my whole world
With all my heart I love my family

I met her in Nashville Tennessee
I got down on my knee, Kim won’t you marry me
A brick house near the university
That’s where I started my family

Little baby girls dancing round my feet
Upstairs, downstairs hide and go seek.
A romp in the park, a ride around the block
I love it daddy when you play with me

Sledding down the hill just as fast as we can
Cold hands, warm heart, a big snow man
Plant some Cheerios and make those donuts grow
I’m tired, daddy won’t you tuck me in

Bridge
Every night when we said our prayers
They’d snuggle up their little teddy bears
My heart is full of love and God only knows
How I love to watch them grow.

They say “Ipod, cell phone, I want it daddy can I?
Sitting on the couch watching Hannah Montana
Kim and the girls you know they’re my whole world
With all my heart I love my family

Jesus made time for his family and friends.

Jesus went fishing (Luke 5:1-11),
fixed breakfast (John 21:1-14),
he took long walks (Luke 24:13-35),
he shared meals (John 13:1-17),
he washed their feet (John 13:1-17),
he prayed with them (Matthew 6:9-15),
he spent time teaching (Matthew 5-7),
he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16),
he went to weddings (John 2:1-11) and funerals (Luke 7:11-17),
he attended the holiday festivals in Jerusalem (John 7:14-24).

Jesus spent time with his family and friends in all sorts of settings.

Some of us are workaholics - it’s like we walk around with a big sign that says “do not disturb” – I’m busy. Unavailable! There are going to be times when you have to work a lot (e.g., Mk 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.") but if you do it all the time you’ll miss out – you’ll regret it. Children need you to make time.
There are 56 million kids in public schools and 80% don’t have a church affiliation. 30% of children drop out of school between the 9th and 12th grade. 14 million teenagers have contracted an STD. The fastest growing group dying of AIDS is young people between the ages of 14-22. The second leading cause of death for teenagers is suicide. There are 100 youth suicides per week. There were 17,600 deaths caused by DUIs and 5,000 of those deaths were due to underage drinking. Kids need parents who follow Jesus, along extended family and a church family that loves them.

I love to look at family photo albums and reminisce. It reminds me about what’s most important in life i.e., our relationship with Jesus Christ and your relationship with family and friends. As you watch this presentation you are going to see families evolve through different stages of life and it will remind you of how precious each stage is.

Video Presentation – You’re Gonna Miss This

It’s amazing to see those pictures from the past – it makes you think about your family and friends and all the good times you’ve had in the past. But I want you to think about the future and one more thing Jesus did for his family and friends.

Jesus prepared a place in heaven

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus prepared a place in heaven – the word place literally means “a space”, “a spot” - Jesus prepared “a room” for you. If I get to heaven before Kim and the girls, I’m going to asked Jesus to show me the place he has prepared for them. I’m going to ask permission to put something special like a little note saying “I’ve been waiting for you.” And I want to be there when they enter the place Jesus has prepared. I want to walk and talk and visit and worship together with my family in heaven. How about you?

You have a choice to make. Remember Joshua 24:15… if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, …. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

What will you choose? If you want to build great relationships with your family do it Jesus style - live one day at a time, be content with what you have, make time for them, and prepare a place in heaven so that you can live forever together.

If you want to pray for your family – come forward at this time.

Prayer Time

2 Corinthians 12:11-13:14 - Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 9)

2008-04-21T15:01:00.000-04:00

Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 9)
Friends for Life
2 Corinthians 12:11-13:14
Jeff Garrett

After this long section of boasting (chapters 11-12) Paul said, “Well I’ve done it! I’ve made a complete fool of myself, but you drove me too it. You should have been commending me, defending me – I’m not inferior to the “super-apostles” i.e., the false apostles. All the marks of an apostle are evident in my ministry – signs, wonders, and miracles – I did it all! But it feels like you’re ashamed of me, like you’re an inferior church because you are associated with me. How are you inferior, except that I didn’t take your money? Would you feel better if I would have allowed you to pay me? That’s crazy!

I’m ready to visit you again but I’m not coming for your money. I’m coming for you! v.14 After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Do you still believe the lies about me being a crafty fellow who’s after you’re money? Or that Titus and the other brother I sent conspired with me to take your possessions? Surely you don’t believe that! We’ve never exploited you. I wish we didn’t have to defend ourselves against such ridiculous accusations. We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

But 12:20b I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
I’m on my way and this will be my third visit. I warned you when I was with you during my second visit and now I’m warning you again in this letter. 13:2b On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.

So you better … 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Example – going through security at the airport. Examine your thoughts, attitudes and behavior. Paul said, regardless of what you think of me I pray that you will always do what is right. I pray you’re your perfection i.e., your maturity. You need to grow up so that I won’t be as harsh with you as I will be with the “super-apostles.”

And so Paul ends the letter with these words. 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints send their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Five Lessons from 2 Corinthians on maintaining health relationships

1. Jesus must be in the center of your relationships in order for them to be healthy. Paul mentioned God 84 times, Father 5 times, Jesus 18 times, Lord 30 times, Christ 48 times, Spirit 16 times. Then I added it up and that that it equaled that Paul mentioned the name of God 201 times. Then I counted all the verses in the book and found that there are 257 verses in 2 Corinthians which means that Paul mentions the name of God every 1.3 verses (without the personal pronouns).

2. Openness and transparency are essential to maintain healthy relationships – this is Paul’s most personal and autobiographical letter.

3. Sometimes stern confrontation is necessary to maintain your relationships. Paul confronted the trouble makes and called them false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. …

We may not have any false apostles but others can interfere with our relationships and I’ve listed a few Toxic Relationships below.

Toxi People
• The Two-Faced Foe
• The Mean Manipulator
• The Laid-Back Liar
• The Negative Pessimist
• The Amoral Abomination
• The Best Buddy Backstabber
• The Mad, Angry Hatter
• The Demeaning Devil
• The Jealous Joker
• The Cowardly Creep
• The Superior Sick-O
• The Expert in Everything

We can take a lesson from Paul. Self-disclose. Confront. Call for repentance. Forgive and give them another chance. But if they don’t repent – it may be best to avoid them.

4. Generosity enhances our relationship with God and each other – chapters 8-9
5. The foundation of healthy relationships is grace, love and fellowship. This is what I want to focus on as I end this series of sermons on 2 Corinthians. I to share three essentials for life-long friendships with God and people – it’s in v.14. Grace, love and fellowship.

Three Final Points

1. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
We are saved by grace and no sin will be counted against us. You have nothing on your record. Last Friday I was pulled over by the police on 3rd Avenue. When I saw those blue lights I thought I’ve lost my license because I thought I had 10 points on my record. He gave me a warning because I had a headlight out and he gave me citations the restriction on my license – no glasses and I didn’t have a copy of my current registration. So I had to park my car and Kim had to come and get me. I got the light fixed and I got a current copy of my registration and I went to the eye doctor and bought two pair of glasses and contacts.

On Tuesday I went to the DMV and ask how many points I had on my driving record. The lady printed my record and she said you have no points. [pic of my driving record] I said that can’t be right – Five years ago when my license I lost my license and when I got my privileges back I had 10 points against me. She said “Sir, there is nothing on your record because your record goes back only three years and when I went the magistrate they dismissed the citations and I have no points against me.

When I walked out of the court house I thought that’s what its like when Jesus forgives you but you don’t have to wait three years. You’re not on probation. You are not on parole. You are completely pardoned. Some of you drive through life thinking you’ve got 10 points against you but there is nothing on your record because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. As friends we remind each other that our sins are forgiven.

2. The Love of God
13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
12: 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
13: 11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints send their greetings.

He calls him the God of love and he talks about the love of God e.g., 1 Cor 13:4-8. Sometimes we’ve tried to beat the love of God into people – e.g., you better evangelize.

That’s not approach we are using. Jesus said all people will know you are my disciples if you love one another. Demonstrate your love for each other and invite a friend to Invisible Children and to Friend Day.

3. Fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The Holy Spirit is your counselor and comforter. The Holy Spirit draws you to Jesus and transforms you into his image. He intercedes for you when you prayer. He gives you spiritual gifts. He is the deposit and seal guaranteeing your salvation. He illuminates God’s word and gives you insight. That’s what Paul means by the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. And when we have fellowship with the Spirit we have fellowship with one another so that we can be friends forever. It is our goal to create environments that connect us with Jesus and other people. We want everybody to find significant friendships and significant ministry so that we can be friends for life.

Prayer is a great example – it demonstrates the interplay between fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit and each other.

Example – Kim’s email to me.

Last week I was speaking in Williamsburg VA and I asked Kim to pray for me and she sent this email. "Lord, please give Jeff the energy and creativity he needs for this speaking engagement. He drives himself very hard to do a good job and I thank you for his good health that enables him to do so. Please move your spirit over him now to feel refreshed and full of the message that he will be presenting, and give him restful sleep on this trip also.

Lord, please grant him travel mercies. You really are so good to us and we love you. AMEN

I love you sweetheart.
Kim

Here is my response to Kim's email - Kim,
Thank you honey! I just got this. I felt your prayer yesterday but I didn’t see it till this morning – God really listens to you baby. Keep praying for me today so that I carry out well what he’s helped me do so far.
I love you,
Jeff

Here's a challenge four this week– Set your cell phone alarm for 3:16 (for John 3:16) and name the alarm – pray for family and friends.

Prayer – Praise Team comes to front.

Watch this video. It illustrates the love we have for each other i.e., friends are friends forever when the Lord’s the Lord of them.

Show “Friend’s are Friends for Ever Video” as Praise Team sings.

Benediction

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 - Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 8)

2008-04-21T14:59:00.001-04:00

Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 8)
When We’re Weak We are Strong
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Jeff Garrett

Skit – Ron John and Jay

12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

Why must he go on boasting when there’s nothing to be gained? - because he was trying to win them back from the influence of the false apostles.

12:11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

“Super-apostles” is a sarcastic reference to the false apostles [pic of superman]. Paul did not brag about his academic degrees or his famous converts. He didn’t boast about the great crowds he has preached to or the remarkable miracles he had performed. All of these things were true, but Paul did not say one word about them, in sharp contrast to the Corinthians and the false apostles.

The Corinthians boasted – “I follow Paul. I follow Apollos. I follow Cephas. I follow Christ.” They bragged about who baptized them. They bragged about their spiritual gifts e.g., “I can do miracles. I can speak in tongues. I have the gift of healing.” And the false apostles boasted e.g., “I am a Hebrew. I’m an Israelite. I’m a descendent of Abraham. I have visions and revelation from the Lord.” So Paul said 11:18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. … What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more.

At this point Paul breaks away from his strengths to brag about his weaknesses i.e., I have been in prison more frequently, I have been flogged five times, I have been beaten with rod three times, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I’ve been in danger in every imaginable situation. I know what it’s like to be hungry and cold and naked.” This not a normal “list brag” list This list of hardships is the very thing the false apostles used to discredit him. But Paul said 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

But, Paul said, I know you are not impressed with weakness. So … 12: 1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

Notice in v.2-3 that twice he referred to himself in third person pronouns with almost identical phrases. You can see his discomfort, embarrassment, shyness – but we know he’s talking about himself because he identifies the man as himself in v. 6-7. He’s just so reluctant and he tells the story like it happened to someone he knows but he’s talking about himself.

Notice that this happened “14 years ago” – about A.D. 42 – probably it was somewhere around the time when he came out to Tarsus, back to Antioch (about ten years after his conversion and before his first missionary tour).

Paul was “caught up to the third heaven”(v.2). The first heaven is the atmosphere. The second heaven is the place of the stars. And the third heaven is the abode of God. He called it paradise. It’s the word used to refer to Eden in the Septuagint – the Greek translation of the OT. It is also used two other places in the NT. Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." And Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Paul was caught up into the third heaven – into paradise. He didn’t know if his body was involved but the the experience was real. And while he was there 12:4 [he] was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

Notice two things: First, he heard “inexpressible things” i.e., indescribable things. Sort of like the prophets, who had visions but were never able to quite adequately describe what they saw because of the limitations of human language and experience - so they put it in symbols e.g., Ezekiel's wheels within wheels and strange animals with four faces. Daniel and John’s descriptions are similar. It was difficult to describe exactly what they saw because it is so far beyond what we presently know. Paul also heard “inexpressible things”.

Second, he heard things man was not permitted to tell – God had forbidden him to speak of it.

Now, apart from John’s revelation there is nothing in the NT to compare with it. You might expect, after telling about this great vision, Paul would put down the false apostles and say “Can you top that?” But he does not do that. In v.5 he goes on to say …5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

If he did boast about it, it would be true. But he refrained. Most people, if they had experienced this could hardly contain themselves. They wouldn’t have waited 14 years. They would have written a best-selling book “To Heaven and Back” and would have appeared on Larry King Live.

But Paul refrained from talking about it for 14 years and even now he was reluctant about sharing it now because he did not want people to think too much of he so he focused on practical things like conduct and speech.

Paul warns us about people like this in Colossians 2:18 Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. Paul was not puffed up. In fact, Paul said in …

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. What was his thorn? Some people speculate that he had a speech impediment. Some people think it was malaria – which cause severe headaches and affects the optic nerve and eyesight – because he commended the Galatians in Galatians 4:15 I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. And he closed that letter by saying Galatians 6:11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! We don’t know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was and it’s probably good that we don’t because people may get proud if they suffered from the same ailment. Whatever it was it appeared to be “in his flesh” – a physical problem.

Paul’s thorn came after the revelation and in consequence of it. It was given to humble him. Notice that the Lord and Satan are involved in this. “A messenger of Satan” was the instrument that the Lord used (e.g., Job). Satan’s purpose was to harass and torment but God’s purpose was to strengthen him. There’s a lesson here for us: When Satan attacks you, the Lord will strengthen you.

Paul apparently needed the thorn so that he wouldn’t become conceited. Paul turned the argument of his critics on its head. They said Paul’s thorn proved that God was not with him, but Paul explained that his thorn was proof of his superior experience. He prayed that God would relieve him.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. Paul’s three prayers parallels Jesus’ three prayers in the garden of Gethsemane. God answered him even though the cup (or thorn) was not taken away. The answer was not negative – it was positive and resulted in blessings.

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
This statement is the summit, the mountain peak – the one-sentence-summary of the book. Power in weakness is the thread woven throughout the entire letter (e.g., 1:8-9; 4:7-10; 6:4-10).

12:9b … Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. No shyness here – he boast all the more gladly (i.e., with pleasure). Why? So that Christ’s power may “rest on me”. That’s the vocabulary used for the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34 The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. It is also the language used of Jesus when the “Word became flesh and dwelt (literally, pitched his tent) among us and we beheld his glory (John 1:14). That’s the entire point of the lesson – God pitches his tent in the weakness of his people.

10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

That’s the paradox of power. God may use your strengths but he pitches his tent on you weakness. God wants your weakness, your sufferings, your inadequacies, your fears, and your failures.

Isaac Watts wrote “Forbid it Lord that I should boast save in the death of Christ my God. All the vain things that charm the most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

Three Challenges

1. Refrain from boasting – If you find yourself wanting to boast, find some area of weakness where the Lord has helped you and talk about it.

2. Remember to pray (about your thorn) – If God takes it away praise him. If he chooses not to, remember that his grace is sufficient. Remember that God will work more through your weakness than he will your strength.

3. Reveal your weakness (to a trusted friend) – 2 Corinthians 1:8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered

Prayer Time

2 Corinthians 10-11 - Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 7)

2008-04-21T14:42:00.000-04:00

Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 7)
Triangles
2 Corinthians 10-11
Jeff Garrett

Announcement - During the dinner we will have display tables of church bulletins, pictures and directories dating back to the 1920s. The construction of our current building and a book about the history of you church will be available to order. The cost is $15. We ask that you pay when placing your order. The packages will be ready for pickup next Sunday.

The concept of “triangles” is easy to understand. The perfect triangle is the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Another triangle is clearly seen in marriage. The husband and wife form the lower corners and Christ stands in the center. The closer the couple gets to Jesus the closer the get to one another.

Anytime there is stress between two lower corners of a triangle there’s a tendency to triangulate someone else in to relieve the tension. I’ve seen it happen in marriage. A married couple has conflict and a third person is triangulated in and an affair begins. The more conflict there is between the married couple the stronger the attachment grows between the mate and the mistress. And the mistress can strengthen the unhealthy attachment by sympathizing with her lover and criticizing his mate. It creates a false sense of attachment and security.

That’s what’s happening in 2 Corinthians 10-11. Let me show you the triangle. 2 Corinthians 11: 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. The original triangle looked like this

But there was conflict between Paul and the Corinthian Church because of their disobedience and this made them vulnerable to the false apostles who tried to take the place of Jesus.

The false apostles tried to take the place of Jesus. There was tension and conflict between Paul and it strengthened the unhealthy relationship between the Corinthians and the false apostles.

Ten Accusations Against Paul
His boldness
His letters
His looks
His speech
His training
His character
His sincere love
His refusal of payment
His apostleship
His suffering

This created a false sense of attachment and security. I want you to notice how Paul dealt with it.

1 Corinthians 10:1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! You see the irony. He appealed to them in the spirit of Jesus who said in Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. But the false apostles turned his humility into a weakness (“timid”) – he’s a wimp in person and bold only when he’s away. His letters are paper bullets but in person he’s a weakling.

2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. The majority had repented (7:7) but “some people” – a very vocal minority who were led by the false apostles had not repented and acted like Paul and his associates (Titus, the famous brother, and the zealous brother from chapter 8) lived according to the standards of this world. Paul said “I hope that I don’t have to be as bold with you as I will be with them. Because when I come to Corinth I will be armed with weapons.

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. We will come back to these verses at the end of the lesson. But now notice v.6.

6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. The majority have repented but the rest will be punished? How would be punish the unrepentant? Excommunication (1 Cor 5)? Or worse –Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. Or maybe it would be like Ananias in Acts 5:4-10 You have not lied to men but to God." 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." 9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11
Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

When Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:6 that he was going to punish every act of disobedience great fear should have seized the church. But they were not fearful of Paul they were mesmerized by the false apostles because v.7 You are looking only on the surface of things.

You’re impressed with their resume’, their education, eloquent speech and swayed by their criticism of me. 10 For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."

Noticed – they criticized the way he looked and the way he talked. I wish we had a picture of Paul. Among the descriptions of Paul that have come down to us, the only one that has any possibility of being based on early tradition is the famous paragraph from The Acts of Paul and Thekla, which the classical scholar and archaeologist Sir William Ramsey assigned to the first century. The description in the Syriac version reads: "A man of middling size, and his hair was scanty, and his legs were a little crooked, and his knees were projecting (or far apart); and he had large eyes, and his eyebrows met, and his nose was somewhat long.'"

Pau certainly did not appear like a Greek-god-statue with handsome features and bulging muscles. They said “Paul’s a weakling! He’s a wimp! And when you hear him speak you can tell he’s not trained like us. And they bragged about themselves (v.12) and compared themselves to each other and measured their successes against the accomplishments of others and took credit for work they did not accomplish and in 11:1 Paul “you put up with their foolishness (11:1) and it makes me jealous for you – it’s not a sinful jealousy. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

Here Paul views himself as their spiritual father who has promised his daughter to one husband, to Christ, so that he might present them a pure virgin. He wasn’t jealous for himself, he was jealous for Jesus. But just like the first bride Eve was deceived by the devil 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Notice they were deceived – led astray from Christ because the false apostles preached a different Jesus, received a different Spirit, and preached a different gospel.
5 But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." 6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. I believe Paul was a dynamic speaker but he intentionally avoided using wise and persuasive words so that their faith would rest on Christ and not on him. He even refused payment for his ministry and the criticized him for that.

7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

Then Paul pulls the gloves off and calls a spade a spade.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

These men are not just false apostles they are deceitful servants of Satan. What do I have to do to keep you from following them? Do I have to make a fool out of myself by comparing myself to them. OK. I’ll do it.

21 … What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
If you lay my resume beside their resume’ mine looks better! I’m acting like a fool when I do this but drove me to it. I’m not jealous of them. I jealous for Jesus because I promised to present you as a pure virgin on his wedding day and you are ruining everything because you are being led astray by false apostles!

Three Takeaways

1. Don’t wrap your emotional life around your critics

2. Put Christ at the Center of Your Thoughts – 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Arrest each though with Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.

3. And the God of peace will be with you.
Put Christ at the Center of your Triangles – Example – Lee May baptized last night. I want to make a commitment to Christ before I make a commitment to my wife.
When there is conflict between you and someone you love don’t triangulate someone or something else (work, hobbies) into your relationship to relieve the tension. If you are going to maintain health relationships – take the problem to the Lord and ask him to help you resolve it.

Prayer Time

2 Corinthians 8-9 - Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 6)

2008-04-21T14:39:00.000-04:00

Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Part 6)
Generosity and integrity produces unity
2 Corinthians 8-9
Jeff Garrett

Susie May – 2 Corinthians 8-9

Video – The Offering Plate (from Bluefish video)

This section of Scripture is not really about tithing to the local church. It is about a onetime special gift to the first century church in Jerusalem. This passage, however, is relevant to us. I can summarize the entire sermon in one sentence: Generosity and integrity produces unity.

Generosity

The original call to give - 1 Corinthians 16:1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. – was disrupted by Paul’s opponents who falsely accused him of stealing money. But after Paul received the good report from Titus (7:5-7) he reasserted his call to give. The grace of giving is what this section is about. The word “grace” (charis) appears 8 times in chapters 8-9. Paul begins with two inspiring examples that motivate believers to excel in the grace of giving.
The Grace of the Macedonians - 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
Two things made the gift from the Macedonians special: First, they were suffering severe hardships. Second, they were extremely poor. So their generosity welled up out of severe trials (troubles) and extreme poverty. They actually begged (“urgently pleaded”) for the privilege of giving to the effort in order help the poor saints in Jerusalem. No sob stories or arm twisting from Paul - it was totally spontaneous and entirely their own initiative.

Paul said in 8:5 … they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. It's easy to surrender part when we've already given the whole. God doesn’t want your money without your heart. When you give your heart to the Lord your money will follow.

Paul said in 8:8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ - 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

So, in view of the grace of the Macedonians and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul said in 8:10 … here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: and in v.10-15 Paul advices them to do three things.

1) Finish what you started – 8:10 Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it,

2) Give according to your means – 8:10b … according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

3) Let the sacrifice be equal – 8:13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. Paul said I am not trying to make life easier for others by making life harder for you. But it is only fair for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share.

So first, in 8:1-15, Paul encouraged generosity. The second part of this passage focuses on handling money given with integrity.

Integrity

Paul’s enemies had falsely accused him of stealing money. They said the reason Paul didn't accept payment for his services was that he had other ways of fleecing the flock (see 12:14-18; cf. 2:17; 7:2; 11:7-12). So demonstrated his integrity in handling the money they gave. He distanced himself from the money by sending three brothers who were trusted by the church.

His Soul Brother – 8:16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.

His Famous Brother - 8:18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. Perhaps this famous brother was Luke.

His Zealous Brother – 8:22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.

The purpose behind the plan- 8:20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

Generosity and integrity produces unity, which is my final point from chapter 9.

Unity

Let me show you two ways generosity and integrity produced unity.
First, it unity between the Macedonians and Corinthians – 9:1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.

In v. 3-5 Paul said if the Macedonians find you unprepared – it’s going to be embarrassing for both of us. But, if we find you ready with generous gift that you’ve been accumulating through weekly offerings (1 Cor 16:1-4) it will produce unity because it was your enthusiasm that stirred them into action.

Second, produced unity between Jews and Gentiles - 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people [the Jews in Jerusalem] but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. … 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Can you imagine the poor Jewish believers learning about the generosity of Gentile believers? When they sat down for a meal they thanked God for the generosity of their Gentile brothers and sisters. Generosity and integrity produces unity.

Three Action Points

1. Give generously – 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2. Give cheerfully – 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

3. And God will bless your abundantly – 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. … 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Offering – Grady Starky

Song

Benediction

Announcement

Next Sunday during our anniversary luncheon we will pictures and directories from the last 96 years on display for everyone to look at. We will also be selling a DVD of this building’s construction from start to finish. This package will include a booklet explaining the history of our church back to when we began in 1912. You may sign up for the package during the luncheon. The cost will be $12 and they will be available for pickup in the beginning of March.