These sermons are made available by Dr. Bob Bender, Stewardship and Cooperative Program Consultant for Colorado Baptist General Convention. If you have any questions, please contact Bob at bbender@fbccbf.org
Preparing for Eternity Series
FATTENING YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
FATTENING YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
(1-10-09)
I received one of my annual investment summary sheets this week from an account that my financial advisor son, Zack, had encouraged me to invest in. It showed that my investment of $4,000 had grown to $5,100 last year--a return of 27%. When I initially invested in this account, I had to fill out a questionnaire at the outset. One of the questions was, "Do you have an investment portfolio?" An investment portfolio consists of financial investments with the expectation of some return. Indeed I do have an investment portfolio--and so do you. Of course, in the words of Charles Lowrey, my 401K has dropped to a 101F. All of us are given a certain amount of resources. The way we invest or spend our money and even our time and energy is our investment portfolio.
We begin our annual Life Commitment Emphasis with this year’s theme of “Investing In Eternity” from passages in Matthew’s gospel. I make no apologies for preaching on money. Money comprises 15% of all that Jesus talked about in the gospels. He preached more about money than heaven and hell combined, prayer, or faith. If I were to preach the red letter verses of the gospels, I would be preaching on money one of every 6 or 7 Sundays. By God’s grace and for His glory, I have had the privilege of helping to raise $35 million through the three local churches I have pastored since 1980, which have given over $2.5 million to the CP—our denomination’s international missions ministry; and an additional $7 million as a consultant for other Baptist causes. C. H. Spurgeon says it for me—“I am beyond measure greedy on behalf of God’s Kingdom.” I am convinced that push back to messages on money is due to the disobedience of God’s people regarding their finances.
Today we consider Jesus’ statement in Matthew 6 that we skipped when we went through the Sermon on the Mount last fall so we could engage it now. Consider with me these verses as Jesus shares an investment portfolio that guarantees great returns on your investment. Here’s the deal: the way we fatten our investment portfolio is through financial freedom. This message is to help you to have more money in your hands to fatten your investment portfolio both in this life and the next.
I. YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO SHOULD REFLECT JESUS' PROHIBITION (V. 19).
Money—it seems the farther we get ahead, the farther we get behind. A fellow bumped his head and went into a 20-year coma awakening in 2030. The first thing he did was call to see how his investments were doing. The broker said his investments were now worth $21 million. “I’m rich!” he said. Then the telephone operator came on the line and said, “Your 3 minutes are up. Please deposit a million dollars.” The Wall Street Journal says money is “an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider for everything except happiness.” Brad Pitt said, “Once you got everything, then you’re just left with yourself. It doesn’t help you sleep any better, and you don’t wake up any better because of it.” Someone else said, “I find myself spending money I don’t have buying things I don’t need to impress people I don’t even like!”
Jesus begins by telling us what not to invest in. Have you ever invested in something you later regretted? Don't make the same mistake again. Jesus is literally saying, "Do not treasure up treasures for yourselves." Do not keep gathering earthly treasures with yourself in mind. Quit stockpiling possessions for personal satisfaction and use. The main reason why we cannot obey verse 20 is that we are disobeying verse 19. For many of us it’s not that we don‘t want to invest in eternal things; we can’t because we are in bondage to temporal things.
We lay up treasures on earth by being in financial bondage. Financial bondage is indebtedness over depreciating items, preoccupation with money and possessions, a desire to get rich quick; financial worries, and an unwillingness or inability to give as God leads. We Americans are laying up treasures for ourselves at an alarming rate. In fact, we are making the old “lay away plan” look like a Sunday School picnic. The average household credit card debt in the US is now $10,300. That’s more than triple the $3,000 average for households in 1990. Americans now owe $600 billion in credit card debt alone. 40% of American families spend more than they earn each year. Financial analyst, Sam Keene, said in a Bill Moyers interview, "The purpose of credit cards is to stimulate the economy by tempting the consumer to purchase items with money they don't have." What makes you think that “tomorrow’s Bob” will pay for it, when “today’s Bob” cannot? Credit card users spend 250% more than non-credit card users. There are enough credit cards in the US for every man, woman and child in America. Do you know what one of the fastest growing businesses in the US is? Storage buildings! We don’t have enough garage space to store our stuff so we go out and rent space to store it. A Focus on the Family survey showed that the #1 source of dissatisfaction in Christians’ lives is finances. Approximately 20% of abortions in the US are married white church-going women with financial problems. What difference is Christ making on these astounding and disturbing statistics? None, as these statistics are the same for Christians as non-Christians alike. Don’t tell me we are not disobeying Christ’s prohibition.
Jesus' main point here does not concern how much a person has, but his attitude toward what he or she has. Our lives should not be focused on material or temporal things, be they many or few. Jesus here forbids the selfish accumulation of possessions. Jesus gives the reason why we are not to lay up treasures for ourselves: they are subject to the destructive forces on earth. What does not decay, we soon disdain. How quickly new things cease to satisfy. By February we are already tired of our Christmas gifts. What we do not disdain decreases in value.
A wealthy man died and one person asked another, "I wonder how much he left behind." Another said astutely, "All of it." Howard Hughes died in the early 1980’s worth billions. How much did he leave behind? All of it. He owned one 7000 acre tract of land in Las Vegas worth around $2B. However, once the land holding company went bankrupt combined with the recession, that property is worth only a fraction of what it once was—another example of how earthly treasures are destroyed and stolen as Jesus states here.
Do you desire to fatten your investment portfolio by being? Jesus now moves from the negative aspect of financial bondage to the positive aspect of financial freedom in addressing your investment portfolio.
II. YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO SHOULD REFLECT JESUS' PROPOSAL (V. 20).
Jesus says, "I have a better deal for you" as He shares His foolproof proposal. What do we look for in investments? We look for low risk and high yield—if there is such a thing. Jesus' proposal is of the lowest risk and has the highest yield. He makes us an offer we simply must not refuse. What kind of interest would you consider acceptable? Investments that yield 10% are considered excellent. What kind of interest does God promise? Jesus' words in Mark 10:29-30 promise a hundred fold return or 10,000%! We are to invest in the eternal not only because we are commanded to, but because the returns are out of this world! Are you building up your balance in heaven? We must get to the place of financial freedom so we can obey Jesus’ command here.
What do I mean when I refer to financial freedom? Financial freedom is not how much money a person makes, but wise management of the money a person has. Financial freedom is freedom from irresponsible indebtedness; freedom from worry over money; and freedom to give as God leads. Romans 13:8 says "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another." Does this mean that I cannot borrow money for a house or an automobile or a church cannot borrow money to build a building? The Bible’s position on debt is this: indebtedness is allowed in Scripture because there are too many regulations concerning it. However, we must be very careful not to borrow above its resell value. If you were to resell that house, car or appliance, could you get what you are paying for it by going into debt?
How can I fatten my investment portfolio and be financially free? Following these easy 7 steps will help to fatten your investment portfolio. Now let me be clear--I am not asking you to do something that Beverly and I are not doing ourselves. I am going to lead the way in this for you. The number one reason why pastors do not preach on financial freedom is not because they are afraid of push back. The main reason is that they are not financially free themselves and cannot preach it with integrity and moral authority. Beverly and I have tithed to the local ministry budget of our church all of our married life. We give to three parachurch organizations in addition to our church. 10% of our estate goes to our church upon our deaths. We owe nothing on our possessions except our home. We have never spent more than $13K on purchasing a vehicle. The last new automobile I bought was when I was a single in college. I can’t remember the last time we have had to pay interest on a credit card. We pay ours off fully at the end of each month. There was a time, however, when we were consumed with consumer debt. We arrived where we are today by applying the following 7 steps to financial freedom.
1. Declare war on debt because its worse than you think (Proverbs 22:7)--“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower will become the lender’s slave.” The kind of war that we are declaring on debt is not the kind of Desert Storm that lasts only for a little while. It is more like the Enduring Freedom war against the constant threat of terrorism that takes a long time, effort, discipline, and energy. T
he world’s greatest humorist was probably the man who called “installments” “easy payments.” The longest a Jew could be in debt according to God’s Word was seven years which shows that God did not tolerate oppressive debt and provided that His children would not be in bondage to it. What per cent do you think most credit card holders are being assessed—2.9%; 13.9% or 21.9%? Would you believe it is 96%?! The reason is that 80% of Americans only send in the minimum monthly required. By doing so you are paying compounded interest that amounts to 96% annually.
2. Set up a budget and stay within it (Proverbs 24:3-4)—“By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Beverly and I have been using a budgeting method since shortly after we were married. Here’s how it works. Simply purchase a ledger book and use tabs and create the various dividers related to where your money goes. These tab dividers might include grocery, giving, taxes, auto expenses, house, utilities, etc. The front page would include your monthly budget and how much you are depositing in each one of these accounts during that time. Then when you swipe your debit card at Safeway for instance, you come home and record that amount in the grocery tab. When the amount of that check is subtracted from the total that you have in that account, then you know how much money you have left during that time period to spend on groceries. This plan controls where your money is coming from and where it goes. One tab should be debt retirement, and a budgeted amount should be placed there for rapid, urgent, aggressive debt pay off. Using wisdom and setting up your budget will build a strong home. The rooms (each tab divider) then become filled with all precious and pleasant riches in order to be dispersed as needed. In fact the word budget comes to us from the French language meaning “purse” or place to put money. Each tab then becomes a separate purse to be protected.
Regarding staying within your budget, it is important that you get on the same page with your spouse (
Amos 3:3) says, “How can two walk together except they are agreed?” 60% of marriages are negatively affected by money. I guarantee you that the subject of the last marital conflict in your home was money. The wife will nickel and dime you to death and the husband will come home with the big ticket items. Usually the non-check balancer is the most liberal spender. Both spouses need to exercise the same discipline regarding spending. If you do not, then you are unequally yoked like two oxen plowing in the field out of step and instead are pulling against one another.
3. Stop borrowing (Proverbs 27:12) says, “A prudent man sees evil and hides himself; the naive proceed and pay the penalty.” Those who continue to borrow will pay the penalty. When I grew up in Germany, we had a ski slope beside our home. It had no lift so an old army truck took us skiers back up the mountain. If you wanted to ski clear down to the very bottom of the slope, you had to walk back up that portion of the mountain. Skiing down the mountain was an exhilarating experience. But then sooner or later you had to stop, turn around and make that difficult journey up the mountain on skis. Now going into debt is like skiing. It is fun to spend on plastic--like skiing down the mountain. But a triple financial reversal is needed to get out of debt. You must first stop spending more than you make (stop skiing); then you must repay the debt (turn around); then you have to pay the interest (climbing back up the mountain).
4. Pay off your debts (Psalm 37:21)--“The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.” In order to get to the place where you have more resources to give, pay off your debts as soon as possible. Again, rapid, urgent, aggressive debt pay off is imperative. All extra money should go to pay off your debts. The way we paid off ours was we attacked the lowest balance first, then we paid off the next lowest balance, and so forth and so on. The reason why we took this approach was this began to put some “wins” under our belt and also provided more cash to pay off the next highest debt.
5. Create positive cash flow by tightening your belt (I Tim. 6:17-18). Paul tells Timothy what one of God’s purposes is for us: “To fix their hope on God who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” God wants us to enjoy the possessions of life, but it is hard to enjoy life when we are so debt-ridden. We need to create as much cash flow as possible to pay off our debts. Cash flow is created by garage sales, selling stuff on EBay, taking a second job, a working wife (if this does not mitigate against the raising of your children), cutting down on your lunch expenses, cashing in dividends for a life insurance policy and keeping the corpus intact, or requesting the excessive escrow balance on your home mortgage. Beverly and I quit the YMCA and Curves so we can use some of that additional $70 a month income to give to missions.
6. Start giving now (Mal. 3:10)—“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this says the Lord of hosts if I will no open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” How can you expect God to bless your efforts to get out of debt if you live in disobedience to His word? Almost every Christian financial freedom outfit from Crown to Financial Peace says to start giving immediately no matter how serious your situation is.
7. Save at least one day’s income a month and move toward 10% (Proverbs 21:20 NLT)—“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.” You need to hedge your bets against an unforeseen future. Having at least 3 months income in savings is the goal. When our son was laid off unexpectedly last fall, he had enough money in savings to carry him over to this summer. Financial freedom is simple: Save 10%; give at least 10% away and spend the rest responsibly. I didn’t say it was easy, but I did say it was simple.
How much are your investments in heaven? Heavenly security is your only absolute security. There are many earthly millionaires who will be eternally poor. There are many earthly poor who will be eternal millionaires. How do we lay up treasures in heaven? We lay up treasures in heaven by being financially free so that we can give as God leads. These are treasures in heaven--money, time and talents invested in the kingdom of God. While our earthly treasures are accompanied by decay, disdain, and depreciation, God Himself preserves and reserves our heavenly treasures. Jesus has shared with us what not to invest in and what to invest in. Now He shares the principle that has guided His comments.
III. YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO THEN REFLECTS JESUS' PRINCIPLE (V. 21, 24).
Jesus is saying that where you put your treasures, there your heart will be. Jesus is not saying to put your treasures in the right place so that your heart will be right; He is saying that we put our money where our heart is. And once our money is in a place, that place captures our heart’s attention. Your investments reveal your priorities.
Let's say that I invest a large sum of this money in the stock market. You know what I would do then? The most important page in the newspaper and icon on my iphone is the stock market page. All of a sudden the market starts running my life as I worry about its returns. My heart would be filled with matters concerning the market because that is where my treasure is. But if I make an eternal investment in say our church ministry budget, building program, an African child, poor widows of retired pastors, SBC missions, or the Navigators; then guess what? Those ministries now have my attention because Beverly and I have a vested interest in them. That’s where our hearts are. Where your treasure is, is where your heart is, so lay up treasures in heaven.
Jesus is also saying, “Quit trying to serve two gods—God and money (v. 24). It is an exercise in futility. Make up your mind. Choose this day which god you are going to serve. Martin Luther said that there are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, the conversion of the mind, and the conversion of the wallet. Right before Texan Sam Houston was baptized, he noticed he still had his wallet on his person. When asked if he would like to leave it behind while being baptized, he responded, "No; my pocketbook needs to be baptized also." Has your checkbook been baptized? Does your spending reflect this principle--where your treasure is there your heart will be also? Giving is far more a condition of the heart than a condition of the economy. Be sure you invest in heaven, because where your treasure is that is where your heart is going to be.
Where are the eternal investments you have made in the Kingdom of God through your tithes, time and talents? Would you take Jesus up on His proposal? It is an investment in eternity. Fill your investment portfolio with your gifts to the Lord, time spent investing your life in others through prayer and service, and using your talents for the glory of God. It is an investment in heaven, and the interest God pays on His investments is astronomical and eternal. It is an offer that is low risk and high yield that simply must not be refused. Allow God to work in your life so that you are better equipped to possess a fattened portfolio with a wonderful investment in eternity.
PREPARING FOR ETERNITY
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF BY PASTOR BOB BENDER ON JANUARY 17, 2010
“PREPARING FOR ETERNITY” FROM MATTHEW 25:1-13
I love Jewish customs especially weddings because they point to Christ. Our oldest daughter and future husband incorporated some Jewish elements into their Christian wedding ceremony that took place in our Baptist church. For instance, they used a chuppah or canopy covering the platform and rather than our daughter coming down the aisle to meet Thomas, he went and brought her down the aisle depicting Christ coming back for His bride, the church. The wedding was so Jewish that a couple of church members later asked me how my daughter was doing with that fine Jewish young man. “He’s doing great. He’s pastoring an evangelical church now.”
Picture this common wedding scene from an Israeli village. The bride and groom are betrothed by the parents making them legally married for a time before the wedding ceremony. On a certain evening, the groom and his friends proceed from his house to get her to consummate the marriage. Awaiting the groom’s arrival are the female friends of the bride. Since the groom’s coming is unannounced, they are always to be ready for him to take his bride. They accompany the groom to his house where the invited guests celebrate the marriage festivities.
Jesus uses this backdrop to make His point here. When the groom brings the bride out of her house, the maidens join the procession with their lighted lamps en route to the groom's home. These lamps were vessels that contained oil and a wick. All ten maidens began to nod off like some of you are doing here today. At midnight when sleep is deepest and to be awakened most unwelcomed, there is a shout, "Behold, the bridegroom. Come out to meet him!" Aroused out of their sleep, the maidens light their lamps. Knowing that the torch would only burn for a short time, the wise ones purchased extra oil, but the foolish had no oil because it had burned up. They then say to the wise, "Give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out” (as if it was the lamps’ fault). The wise refuse saying they have enough oil only for themselves--“Go purchase some oil like we did.” So the foolish leave to purchase the needed oil. While they are away, the groom and those who were ready depart to his home, and the wedding feast begins. The door to the celebration is closed to refuse entrance to uninvited and tardy guests. The five foolish maidens arrive with oil beating on the door saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us." But the master of the house refuses as their opportunity had vanished. Jesus gives the moral of the story: "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour of the Son of Man is coming." This tragic story depicts Christ's coming for His bride, the church with this message to us: We must be preparing for eternity.
Three guys were discussing their potential funerals. One asked, “What would you like folks to say at your funeral?” One said, "I’d like them to say ‘He was a great humanitarian.’" The other fellow replied, "I’d like them to say ‘He was a great husband and father.’" The two looked to the third buddy. Without hesitation he said, "I’d like them to say ‘Look, he’s moving!’" What do you want others to say about you after you’re gone?
Our life commitment theme this year is “Investing for Eternity.” We will never invest our time, talents, tithes or testimonies in eternity unless we have an eternal perspective. A church that does not emphasize eternity focuses only on the here and now—how to have our needs met and be entertained. There is no rationale or motivation for serving and sacrificing; only being satisfied. As individuals we also need to be reminded that we live between two worlds. This earth-bound existence hits home to you and me. My problem is that I do not think of eternity enough. I am so earth-bound that hours go by without my giving serious thought to eternity and I am paid to be good! Things like pride, pleasures, possessions and position tend to pull us down. Only as we live in light of eternity can we not only make sense of this world but also be a blessing to others we encounter along our journey.
Peggy Noonan, former CBS News correspondent and speech-writer for presidents, Reagan and the first Bush, writes, “Our ancestors believed in two worlds, and understood this to be the solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short one. We are the fist generation of man that actually expected to find happiness here on earth, and our search for it has caused such unhappiness. If you believe that this is your only chance at happiness, then you are not disappointed when the world does not give you a good measure of its riches, you are despairing” (“You’d Cry Too,” Forbes, 14 Sept. 1992, p. 65). Paul says in I Corinthians 15:19, “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most miserable.”
A. J. Conyers likens our loss of the eternal as our ultimate point of reference to the following experience (show 3 pictures of solar eclipse from partial to total). In an eclipse, the sun is gradually hidden by the moon. Our world becomes slowly and eerily duller. Then before you know it, we live in a darkened world. As children of the light, we know better than to dwell in darkness, but we allow the light of the Son to be diminished by things that may even be good in their own right—like the moon. The moon is not intended to block the sun but to reflect it—just like the stuff in our lives that we allow to get in the Son’s way. Satan knows better than to tempt us to deny the existence of heaven, but he is successful in minimizing its impact on our lives.
Joseph Stowell in his book, Eternity (p. 55), which I read over the holidays says it well, “I have been impressed afresh with the truth that all of life here is but a preparation for, a pilgrimage toward, and an investment in heaven.” Until this statement captures us, we will not change. Instead we give preference to material and temporal things and become more affluent and as a result, eternal values become less compelling. In preparing for eternity, not only do we need to have our house in order so to speak, we also need to be filling that house with all kinds of furnishings making our eternal stay as meaningful as possible—laying up eternal treasures for ourselves. Matthew 25 reminds us that in light of the imminent return of our Lord, we need to be preparing ourselves and others for eternity. We are to be on the alert or be prepared, because we do not know the hour the Son of Man comes. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "Dig the well before you get thirsty."
American business in the early 1990’s was confronted with a new concept called re-engineering. Structures and processes needed to be re-evaluated and reformed if American business was to compete in an ever more challenging global marketplace. Like these businesses, our church and its members need to be re-engineered to compete with ever-increasing competition for our time and treasures. This reminds me of a story of another generation when Henry Ford was advised to hire a consultant to solve some the problems the growth of the auto industry was causing. Ford was a minimalist and hated to spend money, but he reluctantly hired a consultant named Steinmetz. When Steinmetz’s work was completed, he sent a bill to Henry for $10,000. Ford responded with shock and disappointment at the huge cost of his time and requested that Steinmetz send him an itemized invoice detailing his activities. Steinmetz responded with an invoice that stated $10 for tinkering around and $9,990 for knowing where to tinker. Our problem is that we are not tinkering around in the right areas of our Christian lives. We need to allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to tinker around in the hidden recesses of our soul. The result will be a more efficient productivity (Eternity, pp. 25-26).
Surely those of us who have our heavenly passport need to allow the eternal to become more prevalent in and relevant to our lives. We need a new perspective. Do you know what these are (put on 3-D glasses)? These are 3-D glasses needed to view special 3-D movies. You may watch that movie without these glasses, but things are out of focus. To put them on is to enjoy the movie as the characters and objects leap from the screen and seemingly land in your lap. I am using these to illustrate the need for us to see into the fourth dimension—the spiritual and eternal one. We need special spiritual glasses to see reality in light of eternity. To go through life without these spiritual glasses on or eternal perspective is to see things blurry and to greatly depreciate our experience of life as God meant it for us. May the Holy Spirit and the word of God open our eyes to another world so we can enjoy all the Lord has for us as we prepare ourselves for eternity (which by the way is a very long time).
I. PREPARE FOR ETERNITY BY POSSESSING THE OIL OF SALVATION.
The first and obvious application of this parable regards our salvation. The lamp of church membership alone will not do. The lamp of baptism alone will not do. The lamp of good works alone will not do. The lamp of walking down the aisle alone will not do. Even the lamp of praying a prayer will not do. Many profess but do not possess; have outward form without inward function; have faith without repentance; have words without works; and many have a form of godliness denying the power thereof. Only the oil of God's grace and the righteousness of Jesus Christ will do in the Day of Judgment. Only the lamp or the life possessing the oil of salvation will allow us into the marriage supper of the Lamb. Romans 11 states that through the grace of Jesus, we Gentiles as olive oil producing branches have been grafted into the olive tree of God’s salvation. Paul in the previous chapter told us how to possess this oil of salvation (read Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Golfer Paul Azinger was named the PGA player of the year in 1987. Six years later he won the coveted PGA championship. At age 33 he had a remarkable ten tournament victories to his credit and had won almost $1.5M. Then he was diagnosed with cancer. He wrote, "A feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then another reality hit me. I’m going to die anyway. It’s just a question of when. Golf suddenly became meaningless to me. All I wanted to do was live." As Azinger faced the possibility of his own death, he remembered something that Golf Chaplain Larry Moody said to him. "We’re not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We’re in the land of the dying trying to get to the land of the living." Azinger beat the cancer and returned to the PGA tour. But his close call with death changed his perspective. He wrote, "I’ve made a lot of money since I’ve been on the tour. I’ve won a lot of tournaments. But that happiness is always temporary. The only way I have ever found true contentment is in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I’ve found the answer—the answer to the six-foot hole." Have you?
II. PREPARE FOR ETERNITY BY POSSESSING THE OIL OF SANCTIFICATION.
Oil in the Bible also represents a setting apart as holy for God’s glory and usefulness. This experience is called sanctification or a holy setting apart of God’s children for Himself. When you put on these special 4-D glasses so to speak, you see something else. Those with a spiritual vision and eternal perspective see what others do not (2 Cor. 4:18). When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the enemy in 2 Kings 6, his servant was beside himself—“Alas what shall we do?” Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened to see that the spiritual army numerically outnumbered the enemy. His eyes were indeed opened to see the mountain full of chariots of fire. How soon we forget that we have a loving heavenly Father in heaven who is reigning over the affairs of men. He is intensely concerned about us and is actively conforming us into Christ’s image.
Please turn with me to I Thessalonians 5:23 <read>. Would you see God, His angels and His Spirit working on your behalf to make you like Jesus? Martin Luther saw this present fallen world clearly when he wrote in “A Mighty Fortress is our God”--“This world with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us.” We not only have to deal with our internal adversary--the flesh and the external adversary--the world, but also our infernal adversary--the devil. This evil triumvirate seeks to keep us earth-bound. Instead we need to allow the eternal to influence our daily walk. We are to live separate from this world and its pull upon us.
Lamps without oil illustrate the Christian life without the substance. They are reputations without character. They are spiritual gifts without spiritual fruit. They are spiritual work without a faithful walk. Many Christians possess lamps with perhaps a few drops of oil left in them from a former burning but no oil for today. Yesterday’s victories will not suffice for today.
Does anyone know what this is? (show picture of Old Faithful). This is Yellowstone National Park's most featured attraction--Old Faithful. Our mission team went to this site last summer to view the old geyser that earned its name by consistently erupting like clockwork. Ironically, however, Old Faithful is losing its faithfulness. In the 1960's, it erupted once every 65 minutes. Now it kicks up steam about every 90 minutes. Its name hasn't changed, but its behavior has. Christians and churches can do the same thing. Like the manna of old, we cannot live on yesterday's supply. Old Faithful may more clearly define what we used to be rather than what we are now.
Do you publicly serve God but neglect your family? Do you demand virtue from others while hiding your own vices? Do you support missions overseas but do nothing at home? Are you more concerned about your public reputation than your private character? Do you work for God but fail to walk with Him?
How much of the oil of sanctification do you possess? If Jesus were to come today, would you welcome His coming or shrink back from His coming? One of the first songs I learned in church was the little tune taken from this story, “Give me oil in my lamp; keep me burning, burning, burning. Give me oil in my lamp I pray. Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning burning, burning. Keep me burning ‘til the judgment day.” Let us neither burn out or rust out, but possess a passion and practice be like Jesus when He comes.
III. PREPARE FOR ETERNITY BY POSSESSING THE OIL OF SERVICE.
A child went to Disney World and while experiencing all that this fantasyland had to offer said, “This is heaven!” Some of us look at heaven as if it is all meant to be an eternal Disney World experience for the chosen few. Eternity must not be seen as only for us; it must transform the way we look at others we come across.
To put these special glasses on reveals something else or better said someone else. In the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, only he saw the needy man beside the road as you remember the priest and Levite looked but did not see. They were too consumed with their own agendas. Only the Samaritan saw the man in his needy state. The Samaritan then took oil from his possessions along with wine and ministered to his needs. The Samaritan did not have to go and buy or borrow oil, he already possessed it. In Mark 6:13, the twelve anointed the sick with oil and healed them. Oil was not only a symbol of the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, it had medicinal healing qualities in and of itself (Js. 5:16).
Jesus makes the connection to having an eternal view to what we must do to be prepared for His coming in Luke 12:31-38. These verses along with John 12:26 tell us that as we serve others in time, we ourselves will be rewarded by being served in eternity. What goes around comes around. It’s called preparing for eternity by laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
During the Roman persecution, some Roman soldiers broke into a Christian place of worship, asking one of the deacons, "Show me your treasures." The deacon quietly led the Roman commander to a back room. There some Christians were taking care of sick people, feeding hungry people, telling them about Jesus and teaching them the Word of God. The deacon turned to the Roman commander and said, "There are our treasures." How many treasures will you be presenting before the King of kings in the form of serving others?
Do we possess the oil of service to others? So we see those around us who are broken, beat up, hopeless and helpless? They need the oil of healing that comes when we serve them. This oil could come in the form of money, time, an encouraging word, a smile, a visit, a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, or volunteering to serve on a leadership team or ministry area in FBCBF.
As we reflect on our lives, most of us would agree that we have been living life with a focus on this temporal world rather than a focus on the eternal one. We have tried to fill our buckets with the things of this world and have found it to be bottomless even in light of all that we attain and possess. We get to the other side of life and when we will be asked by the Lord God Almighty to show Him our treasures. We pour out our bucket and it is empty as we have brought nothing of eternal worth. Think of looking into the face of Jesus with nothing in our hands to show for 70 years of life given to us by Him on this planet. Let not our eternal hearts echo the words of John Greenleaf Whittier, “For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been’”
Even after Jesus had spent 3 years with His disciples they still didn’t get it as they asked Him in Acts 1:6, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” They were as temporally focused and earth-bound as we are. It wasn’t until the words of the angels (v. 11) gripped their hearts that they were changed. Now they were gripped by a vision of the eternal. They would never return to business as usual. Once the vision of the eternal captured their imaginations and the power of the Holy Spirit (often depicted as oil) anointed their lives and lips, they were never the same. Oh God would you today capture our imaginations with a glimpse of the eternal and anoint us by the oil of your Holy Spirit here and now so that we will leave with a vision of investing in an eternity that is as real or even more so than the very air we breath!
Again Jesus says in Luke 12:35, “Be dressed in readiness and keep your lamps burning.” Are you prepared for eternity with plenty of oil—the oil of salvation, the oil of sanctification and the oil of service? “Be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect” (Luke 12:40).
A college student who had been enjoying his first semester a little too much wrote his mother before coming home for Christmas, “I made a D in English and an F in Math. Prepare dad.” He received this note in response, “Dad prepared. Prepare yourself!” Are you prepared? Let’s always be preparing for eternity.
Which will you be most like—the five wise maidens or the five foolish ones? Are you preparing yourself for eternity? Make the decision now to get some oil for your lamps. There’s plenty of it right here. Better to get it now before it is eternally too late.
YOUR LOVE OFFERING TO JESUS
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON FEBRUARY 7, 2009 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“YOUR LOVE OFFERING TO JESUS” FROM MATTHEW 26:1-13
What is it like to read a 900 year old love letter? Russian archeologist, Valentine Yanin knows. He unearthed Russia's oldest known love letter in a dig at the medieval city of Novgorod. The letter was written by a young woman to her estranged lover around 1100 A.D. I would read part of it to you but my Russian is a little rusty. Today we have read of one older than that; one almost 2000 years old written not in ink but in perfume.
The scene is Bethany, a sleepy little village next to Jerusalem. It is the last week in Jesus' life. While the Jerusalem religious establishment is plotting against Jesus, He is a few miles away in the home of Simon, the leper whom He had rescued from that horrible fate, about to be honored in a beautiful way by another whom He had saved. With the ominous shadow of the cross looming on the horizon, Jesus, His disciples and His second family--Lazarus, Martha and Mary--accept a dinner invitation at Simon’s house. Quiet conversations and the pleasant smell of food fill the home. Lazarus is seated next to Jesus and Martha is serving the evening meal.
The time had come; the moment was perfect for the fulfillment of a dream Mary had kept in her heart for some time. Quietly she slips away and returns with what is perhaps her most precious possession--an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. As she carries it carefully to the Master's side, she unknowingly sets in motion an incident that forever engraves her devotion to Christ on the pages of Biblical history and becomes an example to millions of a love offering to Jesus and investment in eternity.
Suddenly the sound of breaking glass turns heads as they notice Mary kneeling beside the honored guest. Here she worships at His feet soon to express in a tangible way her love for Him. Her trembling hands clutch the alabaster jar which has just been broken at the top. From its rough opening she pours the contents onto Jesus' head then His feet. Immediately the sweet smelling odor of perfume fills the air. Mary then lets her hair down and with it wipes the fragrant liquid from the feet of Jesus. In total abandonment and extravagance, Mary expresses her undying love for Jesus in this one act of devotion. This episode lingers in the hearts of Simon’s guests as the fragrance wafts from room to room.
Eyes, at first wide with excitement and curiosity, now glare with disapproval. Accusations of waste and inappropriateness first from Judas then the rest of the disciples pierce the woman's heart like an arrow. For a moment it seems as though the entire room is bearing down upon her with crushing contempt, and she lowers her head in humiliation. Perhaps she had acted inappropriately, although with a pure motive. But the honored guest rises to her defense. He rebukes the critics and speaks to the small crowd congratulating Mary for her actions.
Judas was initially critical of this act (John 12:5) and then the other disciples join in being indignant about this extravagance. Judas' critical spirit was contagious and influenced the other disciples (see Hebrews 12:15). What a person is determines what he sees (Titus 1:15). Like the poor, the critical we have with us always. Don't listen to them and be sucked into their negative approach to everything. We are tempted to lock them up in a room and let them breathe death on one another. There is more of the spirit of Judas in a critical outlook on life than the spirit of Mary.
Painting the broad brush, every Christian has three ministries. We have a ministry to the lost of evangelism, a ministry to the saved of encouragement/edification, and a ministry to the Lord of exaltation. Mary’s anointing of Jesus as recorded here in Matthew 26 and also in John 12 and Mark 14 is one of the greatest biblical examples of our ministry to Jesus. This act of worship was a love offering to Jesus, as our offerings today and every Sunday are. Like Mary, we must first offer ourselves, then our resources to Jesus as a love offering. Jesus said, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me" (v. 10). Jesus highly approved of her offering. What was it about Mary's offering that met with Jesus' approval? How can we find application to our lives from this—one of my favorites stories in the entire Bible--so that our offerings will be approved by Jesus as well?
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given lovingly (v. 7). Mary loved Jesus. How do we know Mary loved Jesus? Every time you read about Mary in the gospels, she is at Jesus' feet. In Luke 10, she is listening at His feet; in John 11 she is falling at His feet begging for the life of her brother Lazarus; and here she is worshipping at His feet. She had been at Jesus' feet hearing and heeding His prediction of His coming crucifixion. One heart realized what Jesus had said though all heard over and over again. Love for Jesus hears and heeds Jesus' words (John 14:21). Out of love and gratitude she gave. She loved Jesus for who He was--Her Lord. Hers was an offering of love to Jesus. This offering was motivated by love and given in love. This was just as much a love offering as we would give a visiting preacher.
Love gives. The Bible says that Mary emptied it all on Jesus--all 12 ounces of it. At Christmas, who do you give your most expensive gifts to? To those you love the most. The greatest expression of love is in giving--of our time, talents, tithes and testimonies—for those we love the most. Paul speaks of the Philippians (and others of Macedonia) in their sacrificial giving in 2 Corinthians 8:5: "They first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God." We are to give ourselves first to the Lord and then our resources to Him and His church as indicated by the options we have on your Life Commitment Card.
Cyrus the Great was conqueror of the Persian Empire. At the end of one conquest, he brought in a vanquished general, his wife and children. Cyrus said, "I have defeated you. You are a prisoner and we kill prisoners. But what would you do if I set you free?" "Oh king, I would lead my armies for you on the field of battle." “What would you do if I set your children free?" "Oh king, I would be your slave and serve you the rest of my life," he said. "And what would you do if I set your wife free?" "Oh king, I would die for you." Cyrus was so impressed that he set all of them free. As they waked away rejoicing, the general said to his wife, "Did you see that magnificent marble stairway?" She said, "No. I didn't see that." "Did you see his majestic robe?" "No, I didn't see that either." "Well, what were you looking at?" "I did not see any of those things because I was looking into the face of the man who would die for me."
Mary was looking into the face of the man who was going to die for her. A Christian poster asks a question, "I asked the Lord, 'How much do you love me?'" He said, "This much" (with arms outstretched as on a cross). Our love for Jesus is to be extravagant in return, because of His great love for us. Love's concern is not how much can I keep but how much can I give. Love regrets that there is no more to give. Does your giving today reflect your love for Jesus?
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given thankfully. John records this event in John 12 which follows John 11. I know that doesn't sound very profound, but it does when you consider the contents of these two chapters in their divine order. In John 11, Jesus raises Lazarus, Mary's brother, from the grave. In John 12, Mary anoints Jesus. Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to imagine what was going on in Mary's mind as she anointed Jesus. Undoubtedly, she was deeply grateful to Jesus for resurrecting her brother. In fact, John mentions Lazarus’ presence at the dinner to prove that he is healthy after his resurrection. Mary's offering was not only a love offering; it was a thank offering. Charles Spurgeon once said, "When God becomes a donor, all men become debtors."
A peasant woman in West Africa had been wonderfully saved for about 50 years. She had always longed to do something great for Jesus. At this time, people were bringing gifts such as a bowl of corn to an evangelistic crusade, but this woman was so poor that she had nothing to offer. Yet later in the week, she went forward and placed a silver coin upon the altar. Although it was worth only a dollar, at that time it represented a large sum. Thinking she might have gotten it dishonestly, the missionary hesitated to receive it. But he didn't want to make a scene, so he said nothing. Following the service, he found the woman and questioned her about the money. She said that because the Lord Jesus had freed her from the bondage of her sins, she wanted to serve Him completely. So she had gone to a nearby plantation and had sold herself as a slave for life for $1. That was the gift she laid on the altar that night. Like Mary, her gift was a thank offering to Jesus. Does your giving reflect your thankfulness?
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given resourcefully (Mark 14:8). Following her act of service and love, Jesus commends her by saying of her, "She has done what she could." Mary couldn't preach, sing, teach, serve as a missionary, or play a musical instrument as far as we know. As she reflected on her abilities and resources, a thought crosses her mind as she ponders what she could do for Jesus. "There is something I can do for Jesus!" she thinks excitedly, "I can anoint Him!" Love always finds a way to give. Are you doing what you can for Jesus--praying, loving, and serving? She gave what she had. She was resourceful in her giving. We must each do what we can.
As German bombs rained down upon London during WW II, a strange thing happened. Some of the bombs hit the London streets unexploded. As one of the bombs was dismantled, inside there was found a note written in Czechoslovakian. It read, "Sorry; this is all we can do for now." Czechs under German occupation forced to make bombs did what they could to save human lives by short circuiting some of them. Give what you can, be it little or much, and God will bless it and you. “Where there’s a will; there’s a way.” Does your giving reflect resourcefulness?
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given boldly (v. 6). Mary took a bold step in front of others and publicly gave a love offering to Jesus. Others in Scripture gave boldly—Barnabas, David, and the widow and her mite. Today is such a day for us to boldly declare our commitment to our ministry budget when the plate is passed. Angel Martinez tells the story of a big hunter, strong and stout, who had an illustrious career. A little fellow came up to him and said, "If I was as big and strong as you, I'd go into the woods and I'd kill the biggest bear I could find." The hunter responded, "There are some little bears in the woods, too." Be bold for Jesus in the giving of your time, talents, tithes and testimony this year. Does your giving reflect boldness?
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given humbly (John 12:3). Mary’s humility is seen in using her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet. But this act means more than humility in the case of a Jewish woman. To unbind and loosen the hair in the presence of outsiders was considered an indecent act; it was the sign of a prostitute. Her action was unselfish. There is no hint of any self-consciousness or self-protection. She did not call attention to herself. This act was humble, pure and natural.
Since a woman's hair is her glory (I Corinthians 11:15), Mary was laying her glory at the feet of Jesus. Lay your glory--your pride, your resources at Jesus' feet. You cannot be proud and also give sacrificially to Jesus. You cannot at the same time think, "How wonderful He is," and "How great I am." Jesus tells us: Do not make a big deal of your giving. After we have given we are to say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17:10).
How is humility gained? One way humility is gained is through brokenness. Mark's gospel adds that she broke the flask carrying the perfume in order to lavish its contents upon Jesus. Not only was the flask broken, but Mary was broken before her Lord. Broken people are not proud. Mary lost herself in Jesus--humble and broken before her Lord. People who have truly surrendered their all to Jesus and who at the same time full of pride are rare indeed. Would you humble yourself before your Lord? Is your giving given humbly with thoughts only of your Lord? We give humbly by recognizing that all we have is God’s and we are giving from His hand. We have nothing to be proud about—it’s all God’s anyway. He has made our giving possible.
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given sacrificially (John 12:5). This gift of costly spikenard ointment was worth 300 denarii or about $150. Now most of us in this room have given $150 at one point in time, so how could that be sacrificial? It was sacrificial because 300 denarii was about a year’s wages for the common worker in that day and place. How many of us in this room have ever given a year’s income at one time, because that is what $150 was worth. It was a sacrificial gift to Jesus. It was an extravagant gift, but nothing is too extravagant for Jesus. Anyone can give that which costs little to nothing. However, that which costs nothing is worth nothing. David said in I Chronicles 21:24, "I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing." Do we know what true sacrificial giving is?
In Thailand there is a very unusual church. It is a church of about 400 members. All of them are tithers--giving 10% of their income. Each member receives a weekly wage of less than a dollar and their rice. On this meager existence, each gives a tenth each week. Because of this, they have done more for Christ in Thailand than any other church. They pay their own preacher and have sent two missionary families to spread the gospel in a community cut off from the outside world. They are intensely interested in all forms of Christian work, especially work for unfortunates of every kind; and their gifts for this kind of work are large. Oh, by the way, this church of all tithers is also a church of all lepers--every person has leprosy. Is your gift sacrificial? If so, then it is approved by Jesus.
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given purposefully (v. 12). Mary had kept this ointment or perfume for a very specific purpose--to anoint Jesus (John 12:7). Mary had been saving this precious incense for an occasion of this kind, spending her money freely out of her love for Jesus. She came to Jesus that day to fulfill her purpose. She did not come to hear a sermon or even to preach one, to sing a song, to make a request, to fellowship with the saints, or to do any of those things we do. She came to church that day with one thing on her heart--to give to Jesus. Jesus only filled her soul. Women love perfume. Their desire is to use it upon themselves, which is of course appropriate. But Mary has a more noble purpose--to use it on the one she loved, Jesus.
When we come to church, how many of us purpose in our hearts what to give to God? (See 2 Corinthanians 9:7). God wants us to hear from Him and give purposefully. We do so because God's Word teaches planned giving rather than "holy hunch" giving. We are to purpose in our hearts how much to give to God. Some of us would be shocked how much we give on a percentage basis if we calculated it. Does your giving reflect your purpose of honoring the Lord? Your giving will reach and minister to many throughout this year.
Our love offering to Jesus is to be given timely (v. 12). Only Mary anointed Jesus before His burial. She was doing what she would not have an opportunity to do later. On Easter morning two other “Marys” went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, but they were unable to do so because it was too late--He was already resurrected. At this point in Jesus' life, He had only a few more days to live. Mary with great sensitivity and wonderful timing, anoints Jesus' head and feet. She made the best of the opportunity that was hers while there was time.
William Jennings Bryan was being driven across Chicago shortly before his death. They passed the coliseum where Bryan delivered the great speech at the Democratic Convention of 1896, the speech which made him 3 times the candidate of his party for the presidency. "Mr. Bryan," the driver said, "I suppose that many times before, you had made just as able a speech as that, and was never heard of." "Yes," he said, "I suppose that is true. But that convention was my opportunity, and I made the most of it." Then he was silent for a moment, as his great head rested against the cushion of the taxicab, and the light of reminiscence and retrospection came into his eyes. After a moment he broke the silence with these words, "And that's about all we do in this world--lose or use opportunity." Would you make good use of this opportunity in the life of your church? Now is the time to give, as we will never pass this way again. Do so now. Make your gift a timely one. Seize the day.
A young man who had tremendous difficulty getting a date sought help through counseling and by enrolling in various seminars on demeanor and self-esteem. When about to lose all hope, he embarked on an impromptu vacation and sat on an airplane next to an attractive young woman without a wedding ring on her finger. After an encouraging conservation prior to landing, he volunteered a personal question: "What kind of men do you prefer?" She replied, "Well, I enjoy Native Americans, Jewish men, and also good-old-boys. What's your name anyway?" Realizing this was the climactic moment of opportunity, he replied, "Geronimo Bernstein, but all of my friends call me Bubba." Seize the day.
God spoke to me this week through 2 Samuel 5:24—“And it shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” God is blessing our church. I can hear the sound of the marching of God’s troops in the tops of our pine trees. We must act promptly. We have just ended the greatest year in our church’s history and this one looks to be even better. We must give, serve, pray and share now while the Lord is working; for our Lord Himself told us to work while there is time for the night comes when no man can work. Today is the only opportunity we have to give toward our Miracle Offering budget Goal of $30,000. Our 2010 ministry budget is 2.5% more than our 2009 receipts and so this offering gives us a big jump start on having budget reserves for this year’s needs.
Someone wrote, "Remember the day I dented your brand new car? I thought you would kill me, but you didn't. Remember the time I dragged you to the beach, and you said it would rain and it did? I thought you'd say, 'I told you so.' but you didn't. Remember the time I spilled strawberry pie in your car? I thought you'd get upset with me, but you didn't. Yes, there were a lot of things you didn't do. But you put up with me, and you loved me, and you protected me. There were a lot of things I wanted to make up to you when you came back from Viet Nam. But you didn't." Love gives while there is time.
Notice the results of Mary's love offering. John 12:3 says, "And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment." Her gift was known throughout the house, as its sweet aroma went from room to room. Would that our house of worship today also be filled with the fragrance of a love offering to Jesus. God desires to manifest through us the sweet aroma of Jesus in every place (2 Corinthanians 2:14). Paul said that the Philippian offering they gave to him was “a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God” (Phillipians 4:18). Would our lives and our church be known as a generous church--manifesting His sweet aroma in every place? Does your giving reflect that sweet aroma?
Another result of Mary's love offering is shared in verse 13 where Jesus says, "And truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her." Today this prophecy is fulfilled in our ears. Would our gifts also be an eternal message of sacrifice to those who follow us? May those who come behind us find us faithful.
The one thing you do have is a heart. A Michigan man has a new life, thanks to a heart transplant. The donor: his 22 year old daughter. Chester Szuber of Berkley, Michigan, made a full recovery--news that must make Patti Szuber "the happiest little angel in heaven," said her brother, Bob. Patti died after being injured in a car wreck while vacationing in the Tennessee's Smokey Mountains. Her father had three open-heart surgeries, and had been on Michigan's transplant list for nearly four years. The family knew Patti, a nursing student, had signed an organ donor card. After long discussion, they decided donating her heart to her father "was what Patti would have wanted, beyond a shadow of a doubt." After Patti was declared brain dead, her heart was stopped, packed in ice and flown to the hospital where her father was in surgery. It was then restarted in her father's body. Bob Szuber acknowledged "there will be some tough times" for the family. But his dad feels it's "a joy to have Patti's heart" and strives to life a life worthy of her gift. For those of us who follow Christ, it’s a joy to have Jesus’ heart. As believers in Christ we are able to give away our hearts and our lives in love because He gave His heart for us.
Take the Risk-Invest Series
TAKE THE RISK--INVEST!
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 24, 2010 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“TAKE THE RISK--INVEST!” FROM MATTHEW 25:14-30
On one occasion Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like. . ." and then He shares the parable of the talents that we just read. Here He tells us what we are to be doing in this day to give evidence that we are children of the kingdom. Jesus, our Master has gone on a journey and has delayed His return but return He shall. In the meantime, He has given every one of His servants at least one talent (which is worth about $30,000) that He wants invested in eternity. Each of us must stand before Him in judgment to take a final exam. Here Jesus is giving us the answers to the final before we take it. It would do us well to heed Jesus’ words so we might pass the final.
We do not really interpret Jesus' parables; they interpret us. The parables do not need illuminating as much as we do. The parables are windows on the Kingdom of God as well as mirrors reflecting who we really are in relation to that kingdom. All of us in this room find ourselves in this parable in either the five talent person, two talent person or one talent person. This parable of the talents has been subjected to so much lameness, tameness and sameness it's almost become the story of the bland leading the bland. However, today I want you to see a new twist.
What is this twist? What is Jesus’ point of the story? His point is this: We are to risk what God has entrusted to us by investing it in eternity. The one factor that determines which of these in this parable you are is in answer to the question: Are you a risk taker or security seeker? Are you a pioneer or a settler? Are you a doer or a sitter? Dr. Frank Farley, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, spent twenty years studying risk taking personalities. His research has identified what he calls the "T" factor. Those who have this "T" factor are those who are willing to risk. It's amazing what these people will do--like the 150,000 people a year risking their lives shooting down the rapids of the Colorado River, or the 45,000 people having taken up hang-gliding, or the 4,000 new people a day entering the stock market. Some people love the adrenaline rush of risk.
What Jesus is looking for is the “SRT” factor--the "spiritual risk taking" factor. This factor made the difference between the servants Jesus commended and the one He condemned. Jesus advocates risk taking. After all, He took the ultimate risk by giving up His life so that we might live. T. S. Elliott writes, “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” All of us ought to possess the "SRT" factor if we are going to pass Jesus' final exam. Albert Russell writes, "But most of us are not risk-takers. Most of us are security-seekers committed to a lifestyle of playing it safe. We hedge our bets, cover our tracks, and touch all the bases. From being over-insured to eating low-fat diets, most of us want to minimize the risks. We don't mind the idea of taking risks as long as there's somebody else doing it." Jesus challenges us today to take the risk--invest or risk His condemnation.
While obviously the one talent person was an unbeliever (v. 30), there is application to all of us from this one talent man as Jesus was speaking primarily to believers (ie. His disciples--Mt. 24:3).
I. TAKE THE RISK--INVEST TO AVOID THE LORD’S CONDEMNATION OF WICKEDNESS (V. 26).
In this story, the five talent servant and the two talent servant are essentially window dressing. They are stage props to set off more starkly the real star of this story—the one given one talent and did nothing with it. Jesus calls him wicked. Frank Pollard has entitled this parable, "How to be Wicked Without Really Trying." This man was not a bad man. He did not squander his talent on riotous living. He simply did nothing. This word wicked in verse 26 is a word used not only for evil but for the devil himself. Our English word malignant comes from this word.
The last will and testament of an unbelieving farmer shocked all at its hearing. When reflecting on his wish that his farm be given to the devil, the executors of the will wondered—how do you give a farm to the devil? They finally decided to do nothing--no one paints the barns and the house, tends the fields or looks after the machinery. Soon rotting barns and house, eroding and weed infested fields and rusting machinery were evident that the man's wishes had been fulfilled. His farm had gone to the devil by default.
Many a life goes to the devil in the same way--by just doing nothing. Failure, defeat and hell itself belong to those who do nothing. “There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction” (John F. Kennedy). “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do” (Mark Twain). Take the risk today by investing your heart and life in things eternal by giving your heart to Christ and so avoid our Lord’s condemnation.
Failure, defeat and hell itself belong to those who do nothing.
"He made no mistakes, took no wrong road, He never fumbled the ball. He never went down 'neath the weight of a load,
He simply did nothing at all.
He lost no hard fight in defense of the right. Never bled with his back to the wall. He never fell faint in his climb to the light;
He simply did nothing at all.
So death came one night, for life slipped by, And he feared for the Judgment Hall. When they asked him, Why? He said with a sigh, I simply did nothing at all.
Oh, God will pardon your blunder, my friend, Or regard with pity your fall. But the one big sell that surely means helll
Is simply to do nothing at all." Anonymous
If you think this poem is too harsh on the do-nothings, listen to what Jesus had to say to this one talent man who did nothing (read v. 30).
II. TAKE THE RISK--INVEST TO AVOID THE LORD’S CONDEMNATION OF LAZINESS (V. 26).
Again, the third servant observes but does not participate. This word, lazy, means one who hesitates or one who makes no effort to improve. This man did not really take the master seriously or he would have done something. This slothful, lazy servant did nothing. Perhaps he had heard a rabbinic version of this story told by the rabbis of their day. A certain man went on a long journey and divided his goods among his servants. When the lord returned, he rewarded the one who did nothing with the money. The servant who risked his share in exchange and lost it all was also rewarded . . . with capital punishment! To our cautious minds, perhaps the rabbis’ story makes more sense. However, Jesus is saying, “If you are following Me and want to major on seeking security, then don’t follow Me at all. But if you are willing to risk it all, then you’re my kind of man or woman. Your investment will be rewarded.”
There is more honesty in the atheist, Nietzsche, who curses God than in the so-called servant of God who does nothing. This servant seemed paralyzed and immobilized with fear. Like so many of us today, he was the typical spectator and pew sitter on the sidelines seldom participating in what the Lord is doing. Many of us are not much different than this one talent servant, are we? Our detached view has blinded us to the true nature of our Lord. He slowly begins to look like a hard task master rather than a loving Heavenly Father, because we have become watchers rather than doers. The sorriest perspective from which to view life is that of the spectator.
This lazy servant attempts to shift responsibility for his fruitless life (vv. 24-25). He indicts his master--"You are a hard man." He indicts himself--"I was afraid." He indicts life itself as if it were against him--"I hid your talent in the ground." This slave tries to defend his tactics, but it's just an attempt to cover up his irresponsibility. He did not intend to put the talent to work for his master but to control it. His self-interest is apparent, and now he is trying to blame others. Friend, when are you going to quit playing the blame game as it concerns your taking risks for the kingdom of God? When are you going to quit blaming others or circumstances for your own failure to invest your one talent in the work of the Lord? The Master has left you with a talent. He has gone to the far country, but soon He will return, and you will stand before Him to give an account of what you have done with what the Lord has given you. All of your blaming will be for naught as you stand or fall alone before the Lord God.
Have you noticed yourself griping and grumbling lately about what God is or is not doing or the state of your Christian life or even your church? Could it be that you have become a watcher rather than an active, eager participant in God's work? This parable has a challenge for you: are you willing to take the risk of involvement and be open to change? Risk is deciding to involve yourself and invest your resources in ways you have never done before, asking what the need is and how you can fill it. To our cautious way of thinking, this one talent person's punishment doesn't fit the crime and yet in another sense it does because of his failure to involve himself in God's work. Many in the church have become too comfortable to consider change and the risk of involvement. We gripe and complain so much that we miss present action and also will be held accountable in the future for our laziness.
III. TAKE THE RISK--INVEST TO AVOID THE LORD’S CONDEMNATION OF WORTHLESSNESS (V. 30).
This parable is primarily about money, as a talent was a measure of money. Jesus is asking, "How do you make five talents become ten and how do you make two talents become four?" To do this you have to risk investing it. The first two servants put their money to work immediately. They invested it perhaps in real estate, sheep or spices. The first two took risks and doubled their money. The third fellow took no risk at all. Notice Jesus refers to him as "worthless"--a word that gives the idea that the man had simply become a gap, a blank space on the horizon of life, a cipher--all because he was simply unwilling to risk anything for the sake of the Lord's kingdom. Learning to take proper risks with our money is one of the most needed lessons that security-conscious Christians need to learn.
Usually God affirms and protects the person who has very little. However, in this story He condemns him as being worthless among other things because he gave no evidence of being a kingdom person. He simply did not invest what he had in the kingdom of God. He took the money that he had been given with its opportunities to expand his horizon and virtually acted like a yard dog and said, "I'm going to dig a hole and hide it there, and I'm going to guard that spot in the yard." Every time someone came along and says, "Why don't you get involved?" or the Spirit of God nudges his conscience concerning the giving of his talent, he says, "No, I've got to stay here and passionately guard what I have." So he develops a worthless watchdog mentality. Isn't it strange when opportunities lead to a defensive, watchdog mentality? Guarding that buried bone becomes the most important thing in life. They stand around their very important spot and they growl and they grab at anyone who they think might be attacking it—including their master. They become like a watchdog while others become fox hounds who are out enjoying the hunt because they have given themselves away.
What is the difference between this watchdog and the two fox hounds in our parable? The difference was a distorted view of their Master (v. 24). He viewed his master as an evil, greedy, and exacting tyrant--just as envious and self-seeking as himself. Your concept of the Master will either reward you or punish you. Also this one talent individual lost sight of the fact that his master was returning (v. 19). You can hear him say to the others, “It’s been a long time; our master is never coming back!” Daniel Webster was a great individual in part because when asked what was the most awesome thought he ever had responded, “My accountability to God.” Don’t lose sight of your ultimate accountability to God in this season before the Lord returns.
This story is not about getting goods and doing things; this story is about you and me and about what life's opportunity does to us. It is about our concept of God and how it identifies us as risk takers or security seekers. It is a worthless thing when we have a distorted image of our loving Heavenly Father and lose sight of the fact of His soon return and our accountability to Him. Risk takers focus on the opportunities; security seekers focus on the obstacles. Risk takers focus on the rewards; security seekers focus on the risks. Risk takers focus on potential gain; security seekers focus on potential loss. Risk takers are willing to invest in eternity; security seekers keep it for themselves.
What are you going to do with your resources--hide them, horde them and snarl around them? Are you going to shrink yourself to the size of that little spot in the yard where you buried your investments until you have just diminished yourself becoming nothing more than that hole in the yard and wonder why there is a hole in your heart?
"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try at all is to risk failure. But to risk we must. Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The man, the woman, who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing" (Anonymous)
IV. TAKE THE RISK—INVEST AND ENJOY THE LORD’S COMMENDATION OF FAITHFULNESS
(VV. 21, 23).
Let’s end on a positive note. Notice Jesus commended the other two men by saying, “Well done good and faithful servant; you were faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge over many things, enter into the joy of your master” (vv. 21, 23). A faithful investor gives in a faithful dependable manner while displaying faith in God to supply his every need and use it for His glory.
Make no mistake about it; there is a price to be paid. If there was no price to be paid, then all three in this story would have risked their talents. Victor Frankl wrote, “What is to give light must endure burning.” And what is there to gain if we take the risk? The words from our Master should suffice, “Well done good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your master.” I think it is very significant that the one word from God that we have been encouraged to seek after through the centuries is found in the context of stewardship.
Zig Ziglar said, “It’s risky when a plane leaves the runway, but that’s what planes are for. It’s more risky for the plane to just sit there and accumulate rust.” Our Oklahoma backyard was filled with squirrels. It's interesting to watch them scurry around, particularly when our dog was in the backyard. We just would yell “squirrel” and our dog would dash out of the house in search for his prey. He never caught one but treed several. At that point, more often than not the squirrel is not satisfied with remaining in that tree. Unable to traverse on the ground, he then jumps to another tree. It appears that he aims for a limb so far out of reach that it looks like suicide. Often times it seems they miss the limb they were shooting for, but they land on a branch several feet lower. Then they climb to their goal, and all is well. I guess you have to risk a leap of faith, if you don't want to spend your life in one tree.
Some people obviously possess more talent than others. I speak to some five talent people who have the capacity to make money. You are a person who has a unique gift of knowing how to handle money. You have the intelligence and the God-given gift of wise investments. You are the kind of person who knows how to weigh risks versus the rewards. You are no better than a two talent person or a one talent person. You have been given greater gifts; therefore greater responsibility is yours. To whom much is given much is required. Barnabas in Acts 4 was such a person as he invested his money wisely; Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 did not. Five talent people are blessings to the kingdom of God. However, there is the danger of being a five talent person—just ask Tiger Woods. Jerry was making preparations to become a missionary pilot, but then a sad thing happened to him on the way to the mission field. He got rich, turned cool spiritually, married a non-Christian, disavowed the faith, and died a premature death. Five talent people survive prosperity by making wise investments in the kingdom of God. I challenge you as a five talent person to invest your time, talents, tithes and testimony in eternity and enter into the joy of your master.
Then there are some two talent people. I can relate to two talent people because that’s probably what I am at best. Two talent people have the dual responsibility of not resenting five talent people and of not thinking they are better than one talent people. If you are a two talent person, you have the responsibility to invest what God has given you. Great churches are built on one and two talent people who risk investing in eternity. I challenge you as a two talent person to invest your time, talents, tithes and testimony in eternity and enter into the joy of your master.
Then there is the one talent person. You see, God depends on one talent people to do His work as well as the two and five talent people. We must avoid the mistake of this one talent person who perhaps thought his one talent was of such little value especially in light of the other two that he didn’t even try—“What good is my one talent?” Your talent is just as useful in the Lord’s eyes as the five or two. I challenge you as a one talent person to invest your time, talents, tithes and testimony in eternity and enter into the joy of your master.
We are asking you to take the risk—invest! in four areas of your life especially next Sunday as you fill out the life commitment response card that is in your bulletin today and placing it in the offering plate next Sunday.
Would you risk investing your talents? Now I am using the term talent differently than in the parable. I am using it in its contemporary usage—a natural ability that God has given you to use for His glory. Notice the areas on the other side of the response card in which you could be involved. God builds up His church and ministers to the community through people’s talents or natural abilities they bring with them into the kingdom.” Ralph W. Emerson wrote, “God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.”
Would you risk investing your tithes? All that we have and are is due to the blessing of God upon us. In this story, the talents were given to these men; it wasn’t earned by them. God is the one who makes it possible for us to make money. All He asks from us is to return 10% of what is His anyway back to Him. When it comes to our giving 10% of our income, it’s not an option for the believer to opt out; it’s an opportunity to obey.
Would you risk investing your time especially to pray for our church? Jesus said that His house should be a house of prayer. We are ramping up our FBCBF’s prayer ministry and we need you to be involved in it. Next week we will be providing you a prayer guide for your daily use in praying for our church, city, nation and world.
Would you risk investing your testimony by being prepared to share your faith story as the Lord opens the door for you to do so? When is the last time your have shared your faith story? If you need assistance and opportunities to share your faith, then our FAITH Ministry is for you. Sign up and join us in the choir room.
A reporter visiting the Oakland Raider's football camp had just come from the Jack London Historic Monument. He read a sample of London's prose to then quarterback Ken Stabler: "I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." After reading this to the quarterback he asked, "What does that mean to you?" Stabler replied: "Throw deep."
Jesus says to us: “Throw deep” because that’s where the return on your investment is: the end zone where the touchdowns are. “Throw deep” with your time, talent, tithe and testimony and experience the thrill of victory and words of Jesus, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Take the risk—invest; the rewards are out of this world!
ON TRIAL FOR YOUR LIFE
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 31, 2010 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“ON TRIAL FOR YOUR LIFE” FROM MATTHEW 25:31-46
Last words are lasting words. Matthew 25 records Jesus last and hopefully lasting words to his disciples (24:3). This chapter comprises of three stories, all with the same point: to make sure you are ready for His coming judgment. Jesus is reminding us that our lives must give evidence to what is in our hearts. There must be outward expression of an inward possession. Jesus demands a commitment of life, not just a confession of lips. Right belief leads to right behavior. A profession of faith should lead to a possession of works. A great theologian once said, “Faith must have adequate evidence that it is real; else it is mere superstition.”
As Jesus began His ministry with the Sermon on the Mount focusing on kingdom values at the outset, so He tells these three stories at the end of His ministry again focusing on kingdom values--“the kingdom of heaven is like. . .” (Matthew 25:1). Notice He does not say that the kingdom of heaven is like praying a little prayer, getting baptized, sitting in a pew and coming when you want to. He says that in the kingdom of heaven faith works. All three stories all have the same element of surprise as the five unprepared maidens were surprised that they were barred entrance into the party (a picture of the kingdom); the one talented man was surprised that he was sent to hell, and these “goats” are surprised that they too are assigned to hell. “Pastor, you are scaring me with these messages.” Well, better a little scare now than a big surprise later when it is too late! Jesus is using shock language to wake us up. In the Apostle Paul’s words of 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves; that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test.” Jesus is giving us His answer to the final exam before we take it so we won’t fail. I would encourage you not to cram for this one, but begin to be ready today. He is telling us that as children of the King has sufficient oil in our lamps to light our way, sufficient investment of our resources to yield an eternal dividend, and sufficient love in our hearts that treats others rightly.
These verses serve as a window into the final judgment. This passage is not a parable as in the other two stories in this chapter, but reality. As one sheep to some others, let’s hear what our Great Shepherd has to say to us today. As we consider our life commitments this month, these verses remind us who it is we are committing ourselves to minister to. If you think last week’s message was convicting, buckle your seat belts!
When you think of trials, perhaps you think of the O. J. Simpson trial or the upcoming trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the 9/11 attacks
. Even these historic trials pale into insignificance when compared to the trial I am going to mention this morning. Perhaps you are like me in that you have never been involved in a trial—especially your own. However, that will come to an abrupt halt one day when you will find yourself on trial for your life.
I. THE TRIAL
This trial takes place at the end of time when Jesus Christ ends human history as we know it and begins eternity. The place is the heavenly courtroom. At stake is your eternal state--heaven or hell in addition to the rewards you will or will not receive there. All of us have a permanent forwarding address—either heaven or hell.
II. THE JUDGE
The Lord is sitting on the Mount of Olives looking across the Kidron valley upon the holy city of Jerusalem and the temple which He had just left for the last time. The shadow of the cross is falling on Him. In three days would come that awful agony. However, His thoughts are not on His own well being but on the implications of His cross and how it will affect every human being for all time. He knows the sign above His cross will read sarcastically, "The King of the Jews." Only here does He speak of Himself as King, for that He truly will be when He comes again.
This king is also our judge. When this judge comes in all His glory, all His angels will accompany Him. The judge will enter the heavenly court room and take His seat upon His glorious throne, and you can bet every person in this courtroom will rise and wait to be seated until the judge takes His seat. "Your honor" hardly does justice to this judge of all nations--the one to whom God has delivered all judgment. And you think Judge Judy is tough!
Jesus is the judge and we are not. How often we take this position that does not belong to us and how easily we sit in judgment on others (Mt. 7:1). However, that is not our job. We are to encourage one another to holy living (Gal. 6:1). Leave the final judgment to the only one who has all the facts and the authority to render judgment.
III. THE DEFENDANTS
"And all the nations will be gathered before Him" (v. 32). The billions of persons who have ever lived will be there. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in this body whether good or bad. Jews and Gentiles will be there. Black and white, young and old, rich and poor, intelligent and unintelligent, and the great and small will be there. You and I will be there.
IV. THE VERDICT
At this point the trial takes an unusual twist. The verdict is rendered before the evidence is admitted. Judge Jesus separates the billions of humanity into two groups. He uses the analogy of sheep for one group and goats for the other. Sheep--docile, profitable, innocent, and good are placed on the right hand--a place of favor, honor and blessing. Goats on the other hand--sometimes mean and seemingly worthless-are placed on his left. Sheep and goats—especially young ones which is what this word for goat implies--often mingled together during the day only to be separated at night. Notice what the King says to those on His right in verse 34, "Come, ye who are blessed of My Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Notice Jesus says to the sheep that we are to inherit the kingdom. Now what do you have to do to gain an inheritance? Absolutely nothing. An inheritance is given to those on the basis of relationship, not works. In this story Jesus is not saying that we gain salvation by doing good works. Good works do not create faith, but they are a result of it. Faith works.
Then on His left will be the goats to whom He will say, "Depart from Me accursed ones into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (v. 41). Instead of "come", He says "depart." Instead of "blessed of My Father", they are the "cursed ones." Instead of "inherit the kingdom, it is "into the eternal fire." Instead of "a kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," hell has been "prepared for the devil and his angels." One of the most difficult things to hear is "depart; get out of here; get lost; leave!" I have never heard those words, but to hear them from the judge when my eternal state is at stake is sobering indeed. Those goats to whom Jesus had so often said, "Come," now He says, "Depart." Their lives betrayed them; there was no outward evidence of an inward faith. They are cursed to an eternal hell which wasn't even prepared for them, but for the devil and his angels. The verdict is pronounced; now Jesus moves to His rationalization for His judgment.
V. THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT
And what will Jesus use as the basis of His divine discrimination? What makes a sheep a sheep and a goat a goat? What standard does Jesus use to separate them? Baptism? A profession of faith? Praying a little prayer in a booklet? Walking down the aisle? Church membership? Adherence to a doctrinal statement? The answer will surprise you. Simply put it is this--how much of your faith in Jesus has been translated to love for others. Here Jesus says that there is one way to tell whether you are a Christian—how you treat others, especially the least of humanity. How we treat people is as important as what we teach people. How we behave is as important if not more so than what we believe. And one day we are all going to have to answer to the Judge of all mankind how we treated others, and for some of us, it’s not going to be a pretty sight. “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (I John. 4:8, 20). Don’t tell me you love God and treat people like trash.
To the sheep on the right He will say. . . (vv. 35-36). The righteous sheep will answer Jesus with a question in verse 37, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you to drink, a stranger and invite you in, naked and clothe you, sick and visit you, and in prison come to you?" And the King will answer them, "As you have done it to the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me" (v. 40). The sheep had not yet understood that ministry to others on earth is ministry to Jesus in heaven. They are surprised that Christ of all people, should have been hungry, a stranger, thirsty, sick, naked or in prison. The standard of judgment is the outward evidence of an inward faith in Jesus--namely the works which faith alone is able to produce through love. "Faith works through love" (Galatians. 5:6). These are works of love--a love that is a product of faith. These humble acts of kindness in the Christian's life are in glaring contrast to the spectacular claims of miracles, exorcisms and sermons made by those goats in Matthew 7:22. Notice the people Jesus singles out as needing our care and whom they might represent today. The hungry and thirsty represent those who have little. The stranger represents those whom we do not know and we do not care to know them because they can do little or nothing in return for our attention. The naked or those without clothing were often in that condition in Jewish culture because they were enslaved doing hard labor. These were most unlike the others. They could represent those of a different color, nationality or socio-economic group. The sick represent those who are in pain, with chronic illnesses, contagious or hospitalized. The imprisoned represent those who are there due to their own poor choices and do not deserve our attention because they are paying for their crimes. These are indeed the least—the least important; the least worthy of our attention; the least with anything in common with us; and many of whom are on the lowest rung of the social ladder. The least are all around us; we just don’t care to see them.
Jesus identifies these humblest of mankind--those human beings least likely and able to repay--and identifies Himself with them. Jesus identifies with all who are afflicted as Jesus Himself suffered sorrows. He makes their sorrows and sufferings His own. "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul wasn't persecuting Jesus; he was persecuting Christians, but not so from the Lord's perspective. Each of us as believers will be judged on how we have treated others—especially our own, for judgment begins at the house of God. The standard of judgment will not be a profession of faith, performing of acts of worship, or adhering to doctrinal correctness, but to how we treat others.
Once our youngest daughter wished to witness to a friend in her middle school and she knew I had some little booklets entitled, “Eternal Life.” So she came up to me an asked, “Dad, do you have one of those ‘External Life’ booklets I can use?” Here Jesus is emphasizing our external life. How’s yours?
“And Jesus went about doing good" and so must we. In fact, Jesus tells us specifically what we can do—give, invite, clothe and visit. These are not difficult things to do. He is not asking us to heal the sick or imprisoned—just visit them. Anyone can do that. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). When is the last time you just visited someone in need? I appreciate those in our church like the Jack Patterson's, the Larry Lynche's and the Larry Kauffman's who usually have already been there before me when I visit folks.
If Jesus came to our church office and asked me to take a trip with Him, this is what He would do. He would take me through our church pictorial directory and point to each family and say, “As . . .” He would take me by the Marion House and He would say, "As . . ." Then He would take me by Memorial or Penrose Hospital and say, "As . . ." Then we would take me by the city and the county jails and He would say, "As . . ." Then to the homeless tent city, He would say, "As . . ." He would show me pictures of the Haiti earthquake victims and He would say, “As . . .” He would look at our family’s missions giving and He would say, “As …”
There is another world out there that is most unlike 10915 Black Forest Road. If the 6 billion people in the world were reduced to this room (400 persons), then 50% of the world’s wealth would be in the hands of 24 of us U.S. citizens; 280 of us would be illiterate; 200 would be malnourished; 320 would live in substandard housing and only 4 of us would have a college education. We will be judged by how we treat others, particularly those who are the least among us (I Jn. 3:17-18). This is more than mere humanitarian service or philanthropy; this is real Christianity.
How you treat others has a way of coming back to you, doesn't it? Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. This is true in time and in eternity. "He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord and He will repay him for his good deed" (Proverbs 19:17). One stormy night an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel and asked for a room. The clerk said they were full, as were all the hotels in town. "But I can't send a fine couple like you out in the rain," he said. "Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The couple hesitated, but the clerk insisted. The next morning when the man paid his bill, he said, "You're the kind of man who should be managing the best hotel in the United States. Someday I'll build you one." The clerk smiled politely. A few years later the clerk received a letter from the elderly man, recalling that stormy night and asking him to come to New York City. A round-trip ticket was enclosed. When the clerk arrived, his host took him to the corner of 5th Avenue and 34th Street, where stood a magnificent new building. "That," explained the man, "is the hotel I have built for you to manage." The man was William Waldorf Astor, and that hotel was the original Waldorf-Astoria. The young clerk, George C. Boldt, became its first manager.
How are you treating others? How are you treating others at work? The way you treat them is the way you are treating Jesus and is the way Jesus will treat you. How are you treating your spouse? The way . . . How are you treating your children? The way . . . How are you treating your fellow church member? The way . . . How are you treating the least in our community? The way . . . How are you treating that waitress or waiter? I am so proud of our students who went to a restaurant last Wednesday evening and left a $250 tip to their waiter and waitress. The way. . .
George MacCleod put it this way, "I simply argue that the cross be raised again-At the center of the marketplace-As well as on the steeple of the church, I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral-Between two candles: But on a cross between two thieves; On a town garbage heap; At a crossroads of politics so cosmopolitan; That they had to write his title in/Hebrew and Latin and Greek. . . At the kind of place where cynics talk smut, And thieves curse and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died, And that is what He died about, That is where Christ's men ought to be, And what Christ's people ought to be about."
Beverly and I were recently visiting with a member of a mega church on the East Coast. He cited how his church was involved in meeting people’s needs and said, “I am more excited about my church than at any time since I have been a member there. We used to be known as a praise and worship church; now we are known as a helping people church.” I thought to myself, “Lord, may that be said of FBCBF.”
I have asked Dr. Ed Souza to join me at this time and share with us his vision for our church as it relates to a new ministry called the James Team Ministry that we have asked him to head up. Ed, what is the James Team Ministry and how can we be involved?
In September, 1985, a party was given at a New Orleans municipal pool to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at any of their city pools. Two hundred people gathered, including one hundred certified lifeguards. As the party was breaking up, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, thirty-one, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season. I wonder how many visitors and strangers are among us drowning in loneliness, hurt, doubt, and sin while we, who could help them, don't even realize it. We, Christians, have reason to celebrate, but our mission is to "rescue the perishing," and often they are right next to us. Sheep minister as evidence of their "sheep-ness!"
Then Jesus renders His judgment on the goats. He tells them. . .(vv. 42-43). Their sins of omission are obvious to them, but they can't figure when they did not do these things to Jesus. He will say to them, "Truly I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it to the least of these My brethren you did it unto Me." How the lost treat Jesus is how Jesus is going to treat them, then how the lost treat others who represent Jesus is how Jesus is going to treat them. This is a message to every unrepentant racist, pedophile, child abuser, spouse abuser, thief, and abortionist.
Jesus renders the verdict according to how faith has been translated into love for others. How is it going to be in the trial of your life? Which group are you going to be in--the sheep or the goats? How great a reward will you receive in the coming kingdom because of the way you have treated others, particularly those are unable to repay--the hungry you give something to eat to, the thirsty you give to drink, the stranger you invite in, the naked you have clothed, the sick you visit, and the imprisoned you come and see. How will it be in the trial of your life?
I believe that there needs to be some attitude changes this week. I believe there needs to be some phone calls made and apologies given this week. I believe there needs to be a paradigm shift in our church. I believe that there needs to be some repenting and renewing of service in the Lord's work this year in order to take seriously Jesus’ words here and make this year truly a year of ministry. I believe we need to put feet to our faith. Let’s get involved in other’s lives this year. Let’s bless somebody beginning today and in so doing we will be eternally blessed.
Now Is The Time Series
A TIME FOR REFLECTION
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 4, 2009 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“A TIME FOR REFLECTION” FROM HAGGAI 1:1-12
"Minor" has such an insignificant sound to it. No one enjoys staying in the minor league; a minor in age is too young to vote; a minor degree matters little on the job; and a member of a minority race or political party has its disadvantages.
However, there is a major exception. The Minor Prophets still speak to major issues of our day. The Minor Prophets--the books following Daniel until the end of the Old Testament--are called that because of their length not their influence.
We begin each year here at FBCBF with an emphasis on life commitment. It is at this time of year that most of us consider the significance of our lives in light of the year we just have lived and a new unlived one before us. It is a time for New Year’s resolutions.
This year’s life commitment emphasis is “Now is the Time” which is the theme of Haggai. Haggai’s message is simple, practical and straight forward. Haggai is the James of the OT, focusing on the practical working out of our faith. Sometimes they are hard-hitting as in today’s message, but are needed nonetheless if we are serious about putting our faith to work.
The book contains five messages from Haggai who delivered them six centuries before Christ between September 1 and December 24 (with two on that day—that being Christmas Eve and all!). Haggai is the most successful OT prophet seeing immediate results to his preaching. The message of Haggai was well-received by his hearers and bore immediate fruit. Within 24 days after his first message challenging the people to renew their efforts in rebuilding the temple they began work on it again. May his words to our church be as warmly received and as quickly obeyed.
Haggai is known as the prophet of encouragement. He is encouraging the Jews to rebuild the temple, but his message is more about priorities than rebuilding the temple. God’s word through Haggai is to get our priorities right and when we do He will bless. His message was, “Put God first and He will take care of your other needs.” As often with the OT, it demonstrates a NT principle of life: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt. 6:33).
Haggai 1:1-12, though written long ago to different people, has a contemporary ring to it. I speak to your heart today concerning a time for reflection. Here’s the deal: Haggai challenges us to reflect on our involvement and investment in the Lord’s work hopefully resulting in changes in our priorities. He does so by first of all challenging us to . . .
I. CONSIDER THE TIME (VV. 1-4)
What time was it? It is 520 B. C. 50,000 of God's people had returned to Jerusalem 18 years ago from Babylon where they had been in captivity for 70 years. They had vigorously begun to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, but soon were met with opposition from without and within. Their initial enthusiasm and motivation had waned. As a result, the people became discouraged. They turned their attention upon surviving. Once they had met the basic necessities of life, they began looking toward the luxuries, and in the process became apathetic toward the temple’s rebuilding. Discouragement reigned. They were sluggish and unresponsive to the call to finish what they had begun because their concern for their own well-being impeded God’s work.
When things were going poorly in captivity, they cried out to God. Now that things were going better, they grew careless and materialistic. That's just like us. When things are going great, we get careless and forgetful. When things are difficult and times are hard, we complain to God.
They had begun to make excuses for their actions. Now is not the time to rebuild the temple because that takes money as they were saying, "Look, I'm having a hard enough time making it at home, and you want me to be concerned about God's house and God's work?"
God interrupts the people's own selfish and materialistic agendas. The timing of God's voice is often unexpected and always appropriate. God says, "What a lame excuse; you have plenty of time and resources to spend on yourselves" (v. 4). Notice God's contempt and rejection of His own people in verse 2: "This people" (not "My people"). These weren’t bad people; they were the remnant that returned from Babylon. Hundreds of thousands of people went into the Babylonian captivity and only these 50,000 returned. These who did were the most committed to the restoration of the temple. They had just gotten their priorities all fouled up.
God saw through to the reality of the situation. Their homes were inlaid with wood on the walls or wainscoting. This is significant since wood was scarce in the Holy Land. They spent plenty of money on themselves while God's house and God's work lacked support.
There was external opposition to the building of the temple as well. The annoying Samaritans opposed the work of building the temple. However, no enterprise worth anything will lack opposition and naysayers. Nothing great is ever accomplished without difficulties--resistance without and within.
Consider our time. Consider the challenges to the work of the Lord in our day that are similar to those in Haggai’s day. Never before have there been so many competitors for non-profit contributions. When things get tough financially, it is so easy for us to focus on the reality of our needs and forget the needs of God’s work which are just as real. What begins with challenges to how we spend our money ends with a materialistic mindset. Soon we find that our needs trump God’s work. Never before has God’s work seen so many competitors. However, Matthew 6:33 is still true, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
Timing is everything. A salesman from Chicago was in Miami when he called his manager saying: "I'm stuck here in the middle of a hurricane. All of the airports are closed; the highways are flooded; the buses aren’t running and the trains are all full. What do I do?" The boss came back immediately with: "Start your two-week vacation as of this morning."
Timing is important in dating, engagement and marriage. Timing is important in an athletic contest or in a career move. Timing is important spiritually as seen in taking the gospel to Russia today. Timing is important in spiritual involvement and investment. Now is the time at the beginning of this new year to consider the time and to reflect on your involvement and investment in the life of your church.
After the beginning, man began. And man said, "Let there be wheels," and man invented vehicles. And man said, "Let there be factories." And man brought forth microwave ovens, frost-free refrigerators, washing machines, VCR's and other automatic conveniences of every kind. And man said, "Let us communicate," and he invented telephones, TV, and satellites. And man said, "Let us build machines in our own image," and man developed computers. And he said unto them, "Be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over our lives." And it was so. And man said, "Let us rest!" But there was no rest in spite of his marvelous achievements. Even with all of his high technology, man continued to want more things--a bigger house, a more expensive car, a TV in every room, a DVD player and a cell phone for every family member. And the materialism of selfishly wanting more and more brought discontentment, divorce, and drug dependency. Man's continuing quest for a better life takes him farther away from his Creator. And man saw what he created and said that it was not good (adapted from Pastor Ken Wilson, Vineyard Church, Ann Arbor MI).
What about you? How would you assess your spiritual involvement and investment? Are you supporting God's work here in this place? How can you sacrifice time and money for your homes while God's house goes unrepaired and God's work goes unsupported because of lack of financial and personal resources? The Word of the Lord through Haggai says that this lack of support is even more poignant when we say we have no money to support God’s work while spending it on ourselves.
The people said, “The time has not come.” God counters with “It is time.” Consider the time. Consider your opportunity at the beginning of this year to make commitments that please and glorify the Lord. Now is the time to give. Now is the time to serve. Now is the time to pray. Now is the time for God's work to be rebuilt in this place.
Remember that Haggai is challenging us to reflect on our involvement and investment in the Lord’s work hopefully resulting in changes in our priorities. To do so not only do you need to consider the time, you need to . . .
II. CONSIDER YOUR WAYS (VV. 5-7, 9-11)
Twice God says through Haggai to His people, "Consider your ways" (vv. 5, 7). Consider is the translation of a Hebrew phrase that literally means to set one’s heart upon something. The Lord is not calling for a casual evaluation; He wants His people to engage in some serious soul searching. They must carefully evaluate their lifestyle as we do today. God challenges them to consider why things aren't going as well as they could be.
These people said it was not time to overcome difficulties to build the Lord’s house but it sure was time to overcome these same difficulties to build their own to the detriment of God’s work. Haggai exposes their wrong priorities as he had heard their excuses: “We aren’t getting much done at the temple, and I’m tired of living in a wreck. It is time to start the remodel at home.” “I would contribute to the construction of the temple but all my money is tied up with my home renovation.” “I’m not living extravagantly; look at the other houses in my neighborhood! Why one of my neighbors has two chariots!” “Someone should get to work on the temple. I hope someone steps up to the job, meanwhile I’ve got to finish paneling my living room.” “This isn’t the right time; later will be better.”
Now God is not saying that we shouldn’t build new homes or renovate the ones we have (I Tim. 6:17). His point is that when we do to the neglect of God’s work, it is selfishness and sin. These people were withholding money from God's work and spending it on themselves. They were spending their time on their jobs with no time left for the work of God. However, they were getting further and further behind in their commitments. They were getting less out of keeping and spending their 100% than if they had given God 10% or more and spent the rest.
The problem was not that they were lazy, for they worked hard at sowing seed, making clothing, and earning wages; nevertheless they remained destitute of daily necessities (v. 6). They were harvesting so little and were not being satisfied; they were buying clothes but were still not warm; they were earning good wages, yet it was is if they had holes in their pockets. This verse more than any other describes the futility of the materialism of our age. The faster they went, the behinder they got. They brought home good salaries yet they blew it.
It really wasn't them blowing it as much as the Lord blowing it away. This destitution was no accident; the Lord had withheld the things they worked so hard to obtain in order that He might get their attention. Theirs was a double curse. They brought home little and what they did bring home, God blew it away (v. 9ff). “You are needy financially because you are disobedient. You spend your money on yourselves while My house and work goes unattended and lacks support.”
There was a Roman law entitled, lex talionis or the law of retribution--an eye for an eye etc. God invokes it with His own people. He says, "You have withheld from Me; I withhold from you. You have neglected My work; I will see that your work goes neglected also no matter how much money you bring home.” It is amazing that we do not tolerate conflict of interest in others, and yet that is exactly what we are allowing in our own lives—our interests conflicting with God’s interests. Here God is illustrating a principle of life: disobedience brings discipline; obedience brings blessing.
God is telling you to reflect on your situation. Think about the way things are going. Reflect on the way you are on. There is a way that seems right, but the end is they way of death. Have you ever wondered why your money doesn't go any further than it does? God is asking you, "Why?" Could it be that the reason why your money doesn't go any further than it does is because you are withholding from God His tithe? One pastor was asked how many of his members tithed. He said all of them. "Some tithe to the plumber; some to the banker; some to the car mechanic; but all my members tithe."
Consider your ways. Why aren’t things going as well as they could be? Some of you are walking through a crisis of one form or another. Let me remind you that the Chinese word for crisis is formed by combining the two characters--danger and opportunity. Which will it be in your life--danger or opportunity? It will be dangerous if you continue on your present course without change. Or it could be the greatest opportunity of your life to begin anew with God.
Consider your ways. There is a familiar story in Daniel 5 of the vision of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon. It is the vision of the handwriting on the wall. The words on the wall were words of judgment for the king. Verse 27 says, “You have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.” What if God weighed your spiritual involvement and investment? Would you be found deficient?
Consider your ways. God encourages you to consider your ways this first Sunday of 2009. Think about what is going on in your life. God is allowing things to happen to you to get your attention. When God judges or disciplines us it is for a reason—to get us to consider our ways so we will change our ways. Now don’t get me wrong I am not judging you or your situation; that is between you and the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to be accused of being like Job’s friends. I am just the messenger of God’s Word today. All I am asking you to do is consider your ways.
Consider your ways. Consider the way you spend your money. Consider the fact that we spend more money on dog food than we do on missions. Consider the fact that our nation just spent $450 billion on Christmas in the middle of a recession. Consider the fact that we possess more televisions than bath tubs. Consider the fact that the old clunker just isn't good enough for our children. They've got to have a new car. In the old days the child borrowed dad's car; nowadays, the parent borrows the child's new car.
I believe here is a message to our country as well. God might be saying, “America, I am trying to get your attention.” Perhaps God has brought these national events to pass because we have neglected Him. You would think that Rick Warren was the anti-Christ given the flack Obama has taken for choosing him to pray at his inauguration—talk about the prevalence of Christophobia in the US! We are to remember that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
Remember that Haggai is challenging us to reflect on our involvement and investment in the Lord’s work hopefully resulting in changes in our priorities. To do so not only do you need to consider the time, and consider your ways, you need to . . .
III. CONSIDER YOUR RESPONSE (VV. 8, 12)
How will you respond? God tells them to give of their time and tithes to the work of God so that He would be pleased with it and that He would be glorified (v. 8). The people of God were encouraged to go to the mountain (Jerusalem) and rebuild God's house of worship. They were told to do one simple thing: work. Successful Christians do what unsuccessful ones refuse to do: work. Successful churches do what unsuccessful churches refuse to do: work.
The people of God responded positively and within 24 days work on the temple began after an 18 year layoff. They obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of their prophet. They also showed reverence for the Lord (v. 12). Do you know what our problem is? We don’t fear the Lord God. If we did, we would get our priorities right—God first.
Is God pleased and glorified with your spiritual involvement and investment? Are your priorities right? This passage is more about priorities than anything else. The Lord is after your passion, your heart, your thoughts, your mind, and your worship. Do you revere the Lord your God?
Consider your response to what God has said. Consider your involvement and investment. It never will be convenient. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Consider your response and invest your time and tithes in eternal things.
An investor gave millions to God’s work throughout his life only to later lose all that he had left. He was asked if he now regretted giving all of that money away. He said, “No, because that is best investment I have ever made.”
Today is a time for reflection--consider the time; consider your ways; consider your response. How will you respond? What will you do? It is time for action. It is time for obedience. It is time for sacrifice. God is asking, “If not here, where? If not now, when? If not you, who?”
Reflect on your need for a Saviour. Reflect on your need for a church home. Reflect on your need to put God first in your life. Reflect on God’s call on your life for missions or ministry. Reflect and decide. You will be so glad you did this first Sunday of 2009.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR RENEWAL
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 11, 2009 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“NOW IS THE TIME FOR RENEWAL” FROM HAGGAI 1:12-15
What time is it? If you didn't have a clock or watch, could you tell what time it is? Bill Jenny can guess the correct time within half a minute at any hour of the day or night. Mr. Jenny is a London clock maker and was employed for many years as a clock tender in the Savoy Hotel where there are 1,505 clocks, taking four days to wind. Can you tell time? What time is it? The Bible says in the fullness of time Jesus came into the world. The Bible says there is an appointed time for everything--a time for every event under heaven. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for not knowing the time--"You know how to discern the appearance of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times." May we not receive the same rebuke in this day for not knowing what time it is spiritually.
What time is it on God's clock in the life of FBCBF? The Bible says, "And this do, knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep. The night is almost gone. The day is at hand" (Rom. 13:11-12). Jesus says, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4). What time is it? Now is the time for spiritual renewal in our lives and church.
This year’s life commitment theme is “Now is the Time” taken from Haggai. Last week we saw in Ch. 1:1-11 that it was a time for reflection. The people of God considered their ways. They pondered their spiritual condition. They listened to the voice of God through His prophet. Today in verses 12-15, we see the record of their positive response to God's message through His messenger. Because of this people’s positive response, renewal was their experience. The same can be true for you today as we consider today’s big idea: Spiritual renewal can be ours if we respond positively to God's message today.
As we enter a new year with all of its promise and possibilities, would our hearts be renewed spiritually as well in preparation for all the Lord wants to accomplish in and through us. How did renewal come to these folks and how will it come to us today?
I. RENEWAL: NOW IS THE TIME TO RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL (V. 12)
Renewal always begins with God’s initial call. The way we get in is the way we go on. We got in this deal spiritually by responding to God’s call upon our lives. We move ahead spiritually as God continues to call and lead. Notice what we are to respond to—“the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet.” The voice of God and the words of Haggai were one and the same. My greatest fear is to not speak for God and that my words are not God’s voice. We are to remain open to God’s voice through His word. Notice who responded—all the remnant of the people of God. God always works when there is unity of purpose; mostly with a minority.
God still calls today. How will you answer? When someone calls you on the phone, what is the first thing you do? You first check caller id and see who is calling. Then you make the decision whether or not to take the call depending on what you are doing and who it is who is calling. Then comes the decision whether or not to do what the caller is asking you to do if indeed it is a request. Does what you are engaged in trump the caller or do you drop everything in order to meet the requests of the caller? God is calling you today. How will you respond? Will your own interests trump God or will God’s request trump yours? Three times in Hebrews 3 & 4, God’s word says, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
When I was a youth minister, my pastor whom I worked for had a typewriter he used to communicate with his staff that had a red tape and a black tape on it. Most of the time the communiqués I received from him were in black, but sometimes I received some in red ink. When it was in red ink I knew it meant something real important and I was to make sure that communiqué’s request was met asap, for it normally was time sensitive. Is God calling you today? Is He sending you a red ink communiqué? God is at least saying to you today that now is the time to respond to God’s call upon your life if you are to experience spiritual renewal.
Then notice how they responded in verse 12, "All the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord and the words of Haggai the prophet." The people simply obeyed God’s voice. He speaks through His word; that’s why we call it the Word of God. For God to work, His people must be responsive to God's call through His messenger and message. For 23 days Haggai preached to the people. On the 24th day, God's people responded with obedience to the voice of the Lord their God as preached by Haggai the prophet.
God still speaks today through His word and by His Spirit. He still speaks today through our brothers and sisters in the family. He still speaks today through open doors of opportunity. Would we be ready to go, pray, share, serve, give as we obey the voice of the Lord our God this month, within 24 days of the first hearing of these words.? Are you obedient in your loving and living, giving and going, praying and praising and in your attitude and your actions?
Amschel Mayer Rothschild, the wealthy businessman of Frankfurt, Germany, called to his office one of his employees, told him he was going to start a business in the US and asked him how much time he would need before he could sail for San Francisco to head the work up. The man thought for a while and said, "Ten days." "Very well," said Rothschild, "If I decide to send you, I'll let you know." He called a second man and repeated the words to him. The man said, "I need three days." A third man was called and said, "I am ready at once." "Good," said Rothschild, "Today you are my partner in our new firm in San Francisco and you leave tomorrow." That man was Julius May who became one of San Francisco's richest men. His readiness at his employer's invitation was the beginning of his success. Are you immediately ready to do our Father’s will? Delayed obedience is disobedience and carries with it a painful price (Ps. 119:60).
Then notice why they obeyed--the fear of God (v. 12). There are obviously other motivations for obedience to God, but the fear of God ranks up there as a viable motivator to obey—and an often neglected one in our day. Their fear of God was shown in their positive response to God's message. God's word had brought conviction, then fear, which brought obedience. They saw their neglect, materialism, and selfishness as a sin against God. They feared the judgment of God. You say, “Well, that is kind of an OT deal isn’t it?” No. When Jesus was explaining to His followers the meaning of discipleship, He commands, “Do not fear those who kill the body, but fear rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28). The fear of the Lord was one of the keys to the spiritual and numerical growth of the early church (Acts 9:31). Throughout Scripture we are commanded to fear God. The fear of the Lord motivates us to obey His commandments so He might bless us and through us show His grace.
What is the fear of God? The fear of God means that I am in the presence of a holy God who demands obedience from me because my every thought, word, and action is being judged by Him before whom I will stand one day and give an account.
"Amazing Grace" goes something like this: "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved." As grace teaches us to fear God, grace also relieves our fears of other things. Psalm 34:9 says, "Fear the Lord you His saints for those who fear Him lack nothing." How can this be? Because the fear of the Lord delivers us from the desire of other things. Since the love of the Lord is with those who fear Him (Psalm 103:17), the satisfaction of living in the fear of the Lord teaches us how little we need as long as we have the approval of our Father.
The costliest minute on television is during the Super Bowl, where a 60 second commercial costs $3M. That's a costly minute, but that minute is not as costly as a minute lived in disobedience to the Lord--disobeying God in our living or our giving; our involvement or investment in the kingdom of God.
A young Christian boy was forced to beg on the streets of his village. One day the boy is teased by a wealthy atheist's son, "If God really loves you, why doesn't He take better care of you. Why doesn't He tell someone to send you a pair of shoes?" Sadly the boy replies, "I think God tells people, but they aren't listening." God is speaking, but many of God's people are not listening. Are you listening to His voice today in whatever He is telling you to do?
How I praise the Lord for those of you who listened to the voice of God as we gave over $150,000 to local, state and world missions in 2008 through our budget and special missions offering. I praise the Lord for those of you who listened to the voice of God and gave almost $100,000 to our building fund last year over and above our budget. I praise the Lord for those of you who listened to the voice of God and were watchmen on the wall last year praying for your church. I praise the Lord for some 200 of you who are listening to the voice of God and are serving in some capacity of leadership in our church. I praise the Lord for those of you who have heard the voice and call of God for full-time Christian service--our seminary students, church planters and local missionaries who have committed their lives to the Lord’s service. How I praise the Lord for the 100 plus new church members and the 230 new LIFE Group members joining last year who listened to the voice of God and followed the Holy Spirit’s leading in their lives.
II. RENEWAL: NOW IS THE TIME TO RECOVER GOD’S PRESENCE (VV. 13-14a)
Notice the results of the people’s obedience rooted in their fear of God. God says, "I am with you" (v. 13). God will be with you as you obey Him. “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him” (Ps. 147:11); “Surely His salvation is close to those who fear Him that glory may dwell in our land” (Ps. 85:9); He reveals Himself to the obedient in a special way (Jn. 14:21); He is with us as we obey in worship (Mt. 18:21) and evangelism (Mt. 28:20).
His presence is not some static, dull experience, but rather a dynamic movement. After God’s promise of His presence being with Moses and bringing him rest, Moses said to God, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Ex. 33:15). We dare not move ahead without the powerful presence of our Lord God Almighty. I am asking you to consider what God would have you to do as you move ahead in 2009. Notice what happens as a result of the presence of God in the next verse—verse 14.
The Lord stirred up the spirits of Zerubbabel the governor, of Joshua the high priest, and of all the remnant of the people. God stirred them up! He renewed their spirits. Romans 12:11 says, "Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Apollos was an example of one who was fervent in spirit.
The presence of God always stirs things up. God stirred things up when the people of God under Moses gave to build the tabernacle in Exodus 35. God stirred things up in the dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 5 when His presence showed up as His Shekinah glory filled the house of God as a cloud so much so that the priests could not stand to minister. God stirred things up at Pentecost in Acts 2 when His presence showed up and tongues of fire rested on each one of them filling them and loosened their tongues to declare the glory of God and the message of salvation. God stirred things up when Jesus showed up at church one day and turned the money changer’s tables over because their priorities were all fouled up. God’s word to us today is Acts 3:19-20, “Repent therefore and return that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord that He may send Jesus , the Christ.” God’s presence always brings times of refreshing and renewal.
God is a work today renewing His people--stirring them up to action. What time is it? It is time for a stirring; it is time for renewal; it is time for a willingness to carry out the resolutions we have made this new year. Previously these people were indifferent and apathetic, but God's Spirit stirred them up.
Renewal continues today with a stirring of God's people. That's what renewal is--a stirring up. Renewal is internal motivation. We are not coerced or cajoled; we are motivated internally. This solves the problem of too few workers, too few prayers, too few givers, and too few teachers. As God's people are stirred up, renewal comes.
A black church in Kansas City has as its motto, "Wake up, sing up, preach up, pray up and pay up, but never give up, let up, back up, or shut up until the cause of Christ in this church and in the world is built up."
We often hear the expression, "The voice of an angel." What does an angel sound like? What does an angel say? As one studies the Bible, one discovers that an angel's voice sounds remarkable like a person saying, "Hurry up." Many times in Scripture we hear this repeated phrase from the angel, "Get up and hurry." An angel comes to Peter in jail and says, "Rise quickly." An angel says to Gideon, "Arise and go in this thy might." An angel says to Elijah, "Arise and eat." An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and says, "Go quickly." An angel appears to Phillip and says, "Arise and go." Really, the angels are quite monotonous. They are always saying the same thing, "Get up; hurry!" God's word to us through angels is, "I am stirring you up to action."
Can you say with Jehu, "Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord" (II Kings 10:16)? Can you say with Jesus, "Zeal for thy house will consume Me" (John 2:17)? Paul spoke of the Corinthian's zeal for giving as having stirred up most of Macedonia (II Cor. 9:2).
Would we have the zeal to obey of the young MP on duty for the first time. He received orders not to allow any cars onto the military base unless they bore a special identification seal. The first car to pull up without the special seal was carrying the general. When the general testily told his driver to drive on anyway, the soldier poked his head in the window and said politely, "I am new at this, sir. Who do I shoot first--you or the driver?"
Today would you allow the Lord to stir up your spirit--to renew your spirit--to the work of this church in 2009? Would you allow God to do a new work in your heart to stir you up? This is indeed renewal that commences with a respond to God’s call to obedience. Renewal continues with a recovery of the presence of God that stirs us up.
III. RENEWAL: NOW IS THE TIME TO READY OURSELVES FOR ACTION (V. 14b)
Notice the result of their obedience to God, their fear of the Lord and willingness to be stirred up by God’s presence. The last half of verse 14 says, "And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts their God." Who are the “they” here? They are the remnant (v. 14). He always has a remnant of people who remain faithful to Him. God previously called these folks "this people" by the Lord in verse 2, but now He calls them "the remnant" in verses 12 and 14. They no longer are disdained by God, but now are dedicated to God.
God stirs up a remnant--a minority--to do His work. He stirred up Gideon's 300. He stirred up David's few fighting men. He stirred up Joshua and Caleb, only 2 of the 12 spies. Jesus only had 11 men whom God stirred to take up where He left off. God stirred up 120 the day of Pentecost, and the church was born.
God is forming a remnant in this place who will be obedient to Him. Would you be among that number? I am reminded of a personal notice in the Flint, Michigan Weekly Review which read, "Barbershop Quartet Forming; Need Bass, Baritone, and Tenor." Now that's a beginning of a remnant! Would you be among the few whom God uses this year to do His work?
Notice their action focused on what the Lord wanted them to do (vv. 8 & 14). They did not do this for man; they did this for God. An apocryphal story is told about Jesus and the disciples. It seems they were walking along a rocky road one day when Jesus asked each of them to pick up a stone and carry it for him. According to the story, John chose a large stone while Peter chose one that he could easily carry in his pocket. He ignored the stones until, about midday, tired and hungry, one of the disciples asked if there was anything to eat. Jesus told them to pick up the stones they had been carrying for Him. Then He commanded that the stones be made into bread. Each disciple was allowed to eat the bread he held in his hand. Peter's portion of bread was barely a mouthful, so John shared some of his bread with Peter. Later that same day, as they headed down the mountain along the same stony path, Jesus told the disciples to pick up and carry another stone for Him. This time Peter picked up the largest stone he could find. He had trouble carrying it; it was so big. Jesus led the disciples to a river. Then Jesus did a strange thing, he told them to cast their stones into the water. They each did so, but nothing happened--other than subsequent splashes. The disciples were bewildered. Then Jesus turned to them and asked, "For whom did you carry the stone?"
God's word to you today is, "Carry the stone for Me. Give for Me. Serve for Me. Pray in My name." Renewal culminates in action. There is no substitute for obedient action. Daniel 11:32 says, "And those who know their God will display strength and take action." God desires action. Renewal leads to action.
A pastor has combined two popular phrases: "What in the world are you doing?" and "For Heaven's sake!" He suggests that every Christian should respond to this question 5 times as seen in the following slides: WHAT in the world are you doing for Heaven's sake? What IN THE WORLD are you doing for Heaven's sake? What in the world are YOU doing for Heaven's Sake? What in the world are you DOING for Heaven's sake? What in the world are you doing for HEAVEN'S sake?
Notice in verse 15 that the date is recorded—“the 24th day of the 6th month of the 2nd year of Darius the king.” This was such a significant event that it is dated. There are many important dates in our church. Would January 11, 2009 be a significant date in our church, written in the annuls of our church's history, because of a willingness to God's people to be renewed in their spiritand obedient in their serving.
What happens when your magazine subscription runs out? You receive a notice that says, "It's time to renew.” What do you do? You renew it if you want to receive it. What time is it? It is time to renew your spiritual life in order to receive from God. Today is God's notice to you to renew your commitment to Him. What will you do?
In the book Alice In Wonderland, the rabbit continually runs around carrying a clock repeating the phrase, "I'm late; I'm late, for a very important date." Don't be late for this very important date on God's calendar as it relates to our church. What time is it? It's time for renewal. Would you today respond to God’s call; recover His presence and ready yourself for action in 2009.
Remember our big idea for today: Spiritual renewal can be ours if we respond positively to God’s message. John 11:28-29 says, “Martha called Mary her sister saying secretly, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she arose quickly and was coming to Him.” Would that be said of you?
A TIME FOR REBUILDING
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF BY DR. BOB BENDER, PASTOR ON JANUARY 18, 2009
“A TIME FOR REBUILDING” FROM HAGGAI 2:1-9
Webster defines a partner as "one of two or more persons engaged in the same business enterprise." I wonder how many partners we have here today. Even if you've never considered yourself a partner, you probably are. For instance, marriage is partnership. Also, being a Christian is a partnership. You are in partnership with God.
To be reminded of our partnership with God helps us to avoid two extremes: First that God does not need my help; He is going to do what He needs done on this planet in building His kingdom with or without my involvement. As William Carey, the father of the modern missions movement, sought support to take the gospel to unreached people groups, he was told, “Mr. Carey, if God wants to convert the heathen He will do it without your help.” As if God was going to send angels down from heaven to preach the gospel. And then the other extreme is seen in the words to the song, “We’ll work ‘til Jesus comes” as if to say, let’s forget our Bibles and prayer and just work until we get blisters from dawn ‘til setting sun and then worry about what has been left undone--as if it all depended upon us.
We must avoid both extremes and embrace the Biblical approach which is a balance between the two: we are partners with God in His work. What work? Jesus said, "I will build my church." And then He said, “I am with you as you go and make disciples.” God is at work through us building His church and expanding His kingdom.
What time is it? We have experienced a time for reflection, and a time for renewal (ch. 1); now it is time to rebuild (2:1-9). There is "a time to tear down and a time to build up" (Eccl. 3:3). Haggai 2:1-9 refers to the time of rebuilding the temple. In the life of our church, now is the time to rebuild God's work in God's church. We are building a new temple for His glory, not made of physical stones but of living stones (Christians), filled with the glory of the living God. The church body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in which God's glory resides.
When I mention rebuilding, I am thinking more of staying “ahead of the game” in maintaining our structure as opposed to starting all over in our building. If you don’t keep on top of repairing a home or church building, the needed repairs will catch up with you and you are saddled with a major renovation project. Perhaps that is what has happened in your life in 2008—ignoring needed repairs and you need to refocus on the state of your “building.” That is what life commitment month is all about.
Now to build or rebuild takes the cooperation of different people. When you hire a builder to build a home, he subcontracts framers, carpenters, plumbers, etc. to do the work. His reputation is at stake in the workmanship of those he oversees. God's name is at stake in His workmanship. He uses various ones of us to do His work, as each of us have different gifts to be used in the building of God's church; but His name is on the finished product.
In order for God's work to be rebuilt in this place, we must cooperate with God. We work with God meaning it is a divine/human combo plate (see Ph. 2:12-13). Henry Blackaby reminds us that we are to join God in what He is doing, not expecting Him to join us in what we are doing. We see this principle of joining God at work here in Haggai 2 as we are reminded of this big idea: We must cooperate with God in building up His kingdom. Here we see that God makes some commitments to us, and He expects us to make some commitments to Him in order that together we might build and rebuild His kingdom in this place--FBCBF. Notice how we are to cooperate with God in these verses in the building of His church and expansion of his kingdom.
I. TO EXPERIENCE RENEWAL GOD SAYS, "I AM WITH YOU; BE ENCOURAGED AND WORK” (VV. 3-4)
Ezra 3:12 says that when the foundation of the temple was laid, some of the older men wept with a loud voice, because they remembered 67 years ago when the former temple of Solomon stood in all of its glory. As they reflected on the past, they thought and said, "Things will never be the same. We'll never build the great temple we had before. There's no use trying. Let's just quit." Ezra 4 tells us that the people of the land also discouraged the people from building.
Like the poor, the naysayers are always with us. They feel like they have the spiritual gift of discouragement and must use it. Be careful to not kill the vision and dreams of youthful and spiritual enthusiasm. The Lord had stirred up the spirit of the people as they were fired up in chapter one and now in chapter 2, the cold water brigade had come and put out the fire. Paul commands us to be careful and not quench the Spirit. Their negative influence had in filtered the remnant, and now they were discouraged. Why even try? We cannot build a work that even compares to our former temple. And then you have the people who live in the past. “The old days were better. Why can’t we be the church of yesterday? Things were better then. Remember the good old days.” Well, I remember some of those good old days and they weren’t as good as you might imagine. The only thing about this life that is permanent is change.
God says, "So what if this temple is smaller than the former one?" God says, "Do what you can with what you have and I will make it greater." We are encouraged to join God in what He is doing right now in preparation for a blessed future. Shamgar slaughtered 600 Philistines with an ox goad, and he saved Israel (Judges 3:31). Shamgar did what he could with what he had. He joined God in doing what was to turn out to be a great work.
Three times in verse 4 God says, “Take courage” or “Be strong.” First, He says it to the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. Leaders (and everyone is a leader in some way), you are to be strong. Stay focused, be encouraged. The way is hard, but the Lord is near. He is with you in your endeavors. Thirty-seven times in Scripture God tells us to be strong.
Later in the verse the rationale as to why and how we are to be strong or encouraged--“’for I am with you’ declares the Lord of Hosts.” “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Eph. 6:10). Turn with me to Colossians 1:29 for an interesting insight into this principle of cooperating with God in building up His kingdom.
God says, "I am with you. Be encouraged and work”. Jesus' question to you is the same one He asked in Matthew 20:6, "Why do you stand idly by?" That's God's question to you. What are you doing standing idly by while God does a great work in this place? God tells Moses in Exodus 14:15, “Why do you cry to Me; tell the people to go forward!”
I Corinthians 3:9 says, "We are laborers together with God." Paul did not say, "I am a laborer together with God." We are in it together. God is at work. We are at work with Him. Would you join God in His work? This is a message of encouragement for rebuilders. It's so easy to become discouraged in God's work, but God’s prophet encourages us to work saying, "Work, for I am with you."
II. TO EXPERIENCE RENEWAL GOD SAYS, "MY SPIRIT IS IN YOUR MIDST; DO NOT FEAR" (V. 5)
The people of God were discouraged and fearful of the antagonists and the opponents. They were fearful of failure. They were fearful that their feeble efforts would not result in great good, so why even try. The people were overcome with fear, and that fear immobilized them and de-motivated them. So God says, "Look; My Holy Spirit is abiding in your midst. My Holy Spirit is dwelling in the middle of you. My Holy Spirit is at work." As the Holy Spirit brooded over creation, He broods over us. As the Holy Spirit fell on the 120 at Pentecost and filled them with boldness to speak, He wishes to fall on us.
Folks, God's Holy Spirit is at work in our midst. Do you believe it? Do not fear. God is with us. There are 365 "fear nots" in the Bible. That's one per day. Today God says to us, "Do not fear, for My Spirit is abiding in your midst." In fact the reference is to when God promised His presence with them when they first came out of Egypt (see Ex. 19:4-6). The coming out of Egyptian bondage illustrates the believer coming to faith in Jesus in the New Testament. Remember that time when God saved you? Remember those first days? If you were anything like me as a new believer, you were ready to take on the world. Nothing made you fearful for you were keenly aware of God’s presence guiding you and using you. Some of us have lost that zeal and fearlessness and the fear of man rules us silencing our voices and compromising our influence. We need the bold confidence of a new believer and God promises that to us here.
If anything characterizes our day it is fear. Fear of terrorism; financial collapse, job loss, or making our income match our commitments to name a few. But God says, “My Spirit is with you; fear not.” It does no good to lie awake at night fearful of making it in 2009 (see Heb. 13:5-6).
I start teaching a preaching class in our Southern Baptist seminary in Denver tomorrow night. I will confess I am a little concerned about it having never taught preaching before. To make matters worse, there are four from our church in that class. I can imagine one of them raising his hand after I teach them how to preach saying, “I’m a little confused because that’s not how you do that when you preach in your church!” My father was a professor in one of our Baptist colleges. I miss him especially in times like this when I need his advice on teaching or testing my students, as he is no longer here having passed away in 2005. This week while preparing to teach with a little fear, my father’s voice came to me in my spirit, “Fear not, I am with you.” And there is a very real sense in which this is true not in some mystical, ghostly way but in reality as I am a chip off the old block as I have his nature running through my veins.
When we make commitments to follow the Lord, we are filled with fear and doubts concerning our ability to fulfill them. And then the still small voice comes to us from our Father, the Lord God Almighty, a much greater one than my earthly one and says, “My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear.” May I remind you that you are a chip off the old block spiritually as God’s nature flows through your veins. You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves us.
We must be aware of the obstacles, but we must also be made aware of the presence of a greater One who promised to be with us to overcome them. God says, “I am with you to help you to overcome external opposition. My Spirit abides in you. Do not fear. I am with you to help you to overcome internal discouragement.” The greater the objective; the greater the opposition will be, but if God be for us who can be against us?
III. TO EXPERIENCE RENEWAL GOD SAYS, "I OWN IT ALL; GIVE" (VV. 6-8).
God says to His people of old, soon there is going to be a shaking up. Soon the Persian Empire will begin to shake and topple, and you will have all the resources you need to build your temple. You will have resources you know not of to accomplish this work. Ultimately, as Jesus came into the world the wise men represented the wealth of all nations, coming to Jesus with gifts. This shaking of the nations began in Haggai's time and continued until the time of Christ and still continues till every power which rises against Almighty God and His Son is broken.
God says He owns it all (v.8). The silver is His, the gold is His. All of it is His. "The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it” (Ps. 24:1). He owns the cattle on a thousand hillsides. But in order for God to put His resources to work to accomplish His purpose, He must shake things loose. We are called stewards because He has given us the responsibility over the stuff He allows us to have in this life. How are you handling God’s stuff? A good rule of thumb is to save 10%; give at least 10% away and spend the rest.
Many of you probably grew up in homes similar to mine. When we grew up there was not all this concern about spanking and child abuse and what not. Now I knew I was really in trouble when either one of my parents would sit me down, put both hands firmly on my shoulders and say, "Robert Lee Bender, what's gotten in to you?" And they would take me by the shoulders and just shake me. Now I know what you are thinking, “So that’s the reason he is like that—he’s suffering from shaken head syndrome.” But no; my parents were disciplined in their disciplined. They shook me up to get my attention. Perhaps that is what God is doing in your life; I don’t know.
When Jesus shows up, He shakes things up. When Jesus showed up in the temple He shook things up by turning over the money changing tables (Mk. 11:15-17). John the Baptist said that when Jesus came that He would come with a winnowing sword in His hand to shake things up (Matthew 3:12). When Jesus was on the cross, He shook things up with the tearing of the temple curtain and shaking the earth. There is going to be a final shaking up (Heb. 12:25-29). Soon this earth shall pass and only what is done for Christ will last.
Is God trying to shake things up in your life? Is God trying to get your attention? Is God calling you by your full name, shaking your life? Perhaps God is trying to shake things up in your life to shake loose your close-fisted attachment to the things of this world. He is saying, "Give me at least a tithe that I might be glorified in your church. Give so that my Kingdom may be built up.” God says, "I own it all. Could you not give me at least 10% back of all that I have given to you?" You have heard it said that God doesn’t need our money. While technically that is true as God has need of nothing. we do need to give in order to cooperate with Him in the building of His Kingdom. I like what Charles Stanley says better, “God can do without your money, He can just do a lot more with it.”
IV. TO EXPERIENCE RENEWAL GOD SAYS, "I WILL DO A GREATER WORK; BELIEVE" (V. 9)
The poverty and smaller size of this new building set before their eyes and the sorry spiritual condition of the people gave rise to a question as to whether God was even with them, and whether this second temple would have any glory in it at all. How can God bless us? These questions and doubts and fears are met with a divine promise of the latter glory of this house being greater than the former glory of Solomon's temple.
Now Solomon's temple had some glory, as the Shekinah glory of God filled that temple. But the glory of this temple was to be greater even than that one, because the glorious Lord Jesus was to enter this temple personally. The Lord Jesus is the latter glory of this temple. God wants to be glorified in His house and in His work. Ephesians 3:21 says, "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
God is saying in verse 9, “You ain't seen nothin' yet." God is at work bringing a greater glory. God wants to do things in this church in 2009 He has never done before. God wants to do things in your life in 2009 He has never done before. He doesn't want to do it in this church because I'm the pastor or because you're the parishioner. He wants to do it that He might receive greater glory.
Do you see it? Do you see God doing a greater work? Folks, if we can't see it, it's not going to happen. Where there is no vision the people perish. Someone once spoke to Helen Keller, who, of course, was blind and said, "It must be a terrible thing to be blind." Helen Keller responded, "Yes, but I suppose a far worse thing is for one who has sight but has no vision." When Billy Graham spoke at the inauguration of then the new president of Southern Baptist Seminary, Al Mohler, who was just in his thirties saying, "The Bible says young men shall see visions and old men shall dream dreams. Older men's dreams should be to see that the young men's visions become a reality." Would we together--young and old--see a vision of God's new work in our church. God says, "I'm going do a greater work. All I'm asking you to do is believe it." “According to your faith be it done unto you” (Mt. 9:29).
God's greater work includes a greater glory. God's greater work includes a greater peace. Oh how God wants to continue to bring peace here in this place. How He desires peace in His church. How He desires peace in your life. Will you let Him? You will not have personal peace until you have the perfect peace of the Prince of Peace. God wants to do a new work, a good work. He wants this church to end well. Who knows when Jesus may come back?
God says it's time to rebuild, and God says, "Let’s do this together. You need Me to be the brains and heart and I need you to be the hands and voice." We are in it together. What kind of building will we have? A man inherited an ancient castle in Londonderry, Ireland. It was old and unattended to for some time. It had been looted many times, and the looting continued. So the new owner hired a stone mason to build a wall around the castle to keep people from looting it. The owner left for several months and came back, returning to check and see if the wall had been built. Sure enough, a great wall had been erected surrounding the castle, keeping looters out. But as the owner came to where the castle stood, there was no castle. He inquired of the wall builder as to what had happened. The wall builder said, "Why should I bring in stone to build the wall, when the finest is right here in the castle?"
Let’s join hearts and hands and resources to join God in rebuilding His work in this place. In the rebuilding of it we must be very careful not to be so concerned about building a wall representing lesser things, that the castle--the greater work of God--is destroyed. Partners--join God in rebuilding His work today by being encouraged; by working; by giving; by believing. Specifically I am asking you to consider making commitments that become the spiritual brick and mortar in the building of God’s work in this place.
NOW IS THE TIME TO RETURN
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 25, 2009 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“NOW IS THE TIME TO RETURN” FROM HAGGAI 2:10-19
Perhaps this prayer reflects your spiritual condition today: “Dear Lord, So far today, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, selfish, over-indulgent, coveted my neighbor’s spouse, or taken your name in vain. I’m very thankful for that. But, in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed. And then I, along with everyone I encounter, will need a lot of help from You. Amen.” The Christian life wouldn’t be very hard if we could stay in bed all day. It’s all that stuff that happens after we get up that gives us problems. How can we stay close to the Lord after we wake up? That’s what we are going to find out today.
The theme of the OT prophets is simple: “Return to God so that He may return to you” (Zech 1:3). This is the message of Haggai, the prophet of encouragement as well. God’s people had physically returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity, but they had yet to return spiritually. They were honoring Him with their lips, yet their lives were far from him. They were working with their hands in the rebuilding of the temple, yet they disregarded the temple of their own hearts that were in disrepair. Hear the lament of Solomon, “Thou hast made me the keeper of the vineyards, yet my own vineyard I have not kept” (SOS 1:6). We have been through a time to reflect as God wakes us up in chapter 1:1-12; a time to renew as God stirs us up in 1:12-15; a time to rebuild as God shakes us up in 2:1-9; and today a time to return as God cleans us up in 2:10-19. How can we return to Him? We return to him by embracing this idea from Haggai’s fourth message in 2:10-19:
We return to God by remembering that disobedience brings discipline but obedience brings blessing.” Haggai begins with two penetrating questions to get across something the people needed reminding of:
I. REMINDER: SIN BRINGS A CURSE (VV. 10-14)
Sin has always resulted in a curse. The first thing God did after He created man was to bless him (
Gen 1:22). The next thing that happened after they sinned was that everything they touched would be cursed—multiplied pain in childbearing and sweat to make the earth produce its fruit (
Gen. 3:16-19). Sin brings nothing with it but pain and tragedy and where I come from that is a curse, not a blessing. That’s why
Galatians 3:13-14 says, “Christ became a curse for us in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles.”
Obviously, God wants to bless us, but our sins get in the way and God never blesses sin. Those of us who are in Christ will never come under the eternal curse of hell as we are His children—always in relationship with Him. However, there is reality of broken fellowship with Him when we disobey. If we think we can sin and get away with it, we are only fooling ourselves. Our disobedience has a way of polluting everything it touches, which is exactly the point Haggai is trying to make with two questions that were seen as object lessons.
<Read verses 11-12>. God had made a separation between holy things and unholy things—a separation we need to be reminded of today. And so He asks a question through His prophet: If that which is holy touches that which is unholy, does the unholy thing become holy? The answer is no; holiness is then not transferable.
<Read verse 13>. God has a second question for his people. If that which is unclean touches that which is clean, will the clean become unclean? The answer is yes; wickedness is then transferable. If you have the measles and come in contact with someone who doesn’t have them, do your measles go away or does the other person become contaminated? If your child comes in with dirty shoes and walks on the clean carpet, does the clean carpet clean the bottom of their shoes or do their shoes dirty the carpet? If you are a virgin and have sex with someone with an STD, does your purity cleanse them or does their disease infect you? In Africa there is the myth that if a person who has AIDS and has sex with a virgin, they are cured of AIDS! (Illustration: water in one pitcher and tea/coffee in the other and mix the two). God is saying in these two questions that if the holy touches the unholy, the unholy remains unholy and that if the unholy touches the holy, the holy becomes unholy.
And now the punch line <read verse 14>. Notice God did not say that some of their work is unclean, but every work of their hands and what they offer is unclean. If your heart is not right, all is wrong. Jesus says to us, “If your eye is bad, then your whole body is full of darkness and how great is that darkness! (Mt. 6:23). God is more concerned about this temple (pointing to my body) than this temple (pointing to the church building). God doesn’t want His house filled with empty hearts. God is not impressed with your religious ritual. You can have your hands full of three Bibles and if your heart is empty, you are dishonoring God. I Samuel 15:22 says, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” Spiritual work is no substitute for spiritual worship and service is no substitute for sanctification.
We are all like magnets that attract sin that soon become maggots because sin putrefies everything it touches. No matter how long we have known Jesus; what position we have in the church; or how much God is blessing, there is the defilement of sin that leads to death. The unnamed woman of I Timothy 5:6 was dead while she lived. The prodigal son was dead while he lived. In Revelation 3:1 the church at Sardis that had a reputation of being a live church was dead because of those church members who had soiled their garments.
Sin brings a curse upon you—just ask Simon Peter. Sin brings a curse upon those you love—just ask David’s family. It brings a curse upon God’s people—just ask Achan and the people of God who were defeated at Ai because of his sin in the camp. Make sure there is no sin in our camp today, or the blessings of God upon us will cease.
Are you touching what is dead--that television program, video, computer site, magazine, book, an inappropriate relationship, cheating on your income tax statement, repeating dirty stories or gossiping? By touching that which is unholy you are polluting your whole life. Psalm 24 says, “Who can ascend to the hill of the Lord and who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, He shall receive a blessing from the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 6-7 says, “Come out from their midst and be separate and do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you . . . let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Why? Because sin brings a curse. Paul challenges the carnal Galatians and us today, “Where is that sense of blessing you once knew?’ (Gal 4:15). “Where is the blessedness I knew/When first I saw the Lord?/Where is that soul-refreshing view of Jesus and His love?/Return, oh Heavenly Dove, return, Sweet Messenger of rest. I hate the sins that made Thee mourn/And drove Thee from my breast.”
How will you respond to this first principle of life? If you do not respond appropriately, then you will experience more bad news with Haggai’s second principle:
II. REFUSING TO OBEY GOD BRINGS DISCIPLINE (VV. 15-17)
Haggai now goes from preaching to meddling. They were wondering why they had been working for 3 months on the temple at God’s command and yet nothing had changed regarding the fruit of their labor. They had been told that God had blown away their profits because they had neglected the building of the temple (1:9). Now that they had gotten to work they thought God would come through for them in their labors away from the temple. Is it worth it to obey God? If not, we might as well live for the devil!
God now connects the dots between the principle of obedience and their own experiences <read vv. 15-16>. God is saying, “From this day onward (since the day you began working on the temple), set your heart on why things are as they are in your life. You are expecting a crop of 20 measures of grain and you only have 10. You expect your wine vat to be full up to fifty measures and it only full up to 20.” Today you would expect a pay check of $1000 and it is only $800. You expect your investment to earn 5% and it is only earning 2%.
God then asks, “Do you want to know why?” <read v. 17a>. “I smote you and every work of your hands.” He reminds them that the reason why their work was fruitless is because their hearts were not right and God cannot bless sin. God told them that their disobedience in their hearts had brought a curse upon the crops of their hands. God had to put His hand of discipline upon His people to get their attention and more importantly their hearts. How did they respond? Did they get the message? <read v. 17b>. Tragically, they did not return to Him.
A couple had two boys, ages 8 and 10, who were pretty bad and always getting into trouble. The boys’ mother heard that their new pastor was successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The pastor agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old in that morning with the older boy to see him in the afternoon. The pastor, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, “Billy, where is God?” The shocked boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response. So the pastor repeated the question in an even sterner tone, “Billy, where is GOD!?” Again the boy made no attempt to answer, so the pastor raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, “BILLY, WHERE IS GOD!!?” The boy screamed and bolted from the pastor’s office, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him there, he asked, “What happened?” The younger brother gasping for breath replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing and they think WE did it!”
I am making two assumptions today with you: (1) All of us want to do the right thing and obey; that’s why we are here today and (2) None of us obeys God completely and that’s a second reason why we are here today. So here’s the deal: If you uncover your sin, God will cover it; but if you cover your sin, God will uncover it.
Consider your life. Perhaps the reason why God is not blessing you is because of sin that demands His discipline. If God is missing in your life, guess who did it? You! However, it is never too late to return to God and there is no better time than today. “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Now is the time to return. The bad news is that refusing to obey God brings His discipline but the good news is:
III. RETURNING TO GOD BRINGS A BLESSING (VV. 18-19)
Notice verse 18 where God commands His people to again consider their state of affairs “from this day”—from what day? From the day this message was delivered (v. 10). He says to consider from this day onward, “Set your heart on this: now that you have returned to Me, has the harvest come in?” The answer is No; it hadn’t.
The people had returned to God with their hearts in addition to their hands; they had obeyed this message of Haggai and yet the blessings of God as defined by a fruitful harvest had not yet been realized. God assures them that that will be the case as in verse 19. He makes the commitment to them that “from this day on I will bless you.” God is telling His people that the harvest will come eventually. You don’t plant today and harvest tomorrow; there is a lag time between. The people knew this, but were impatient regarding God’s promised blessings.
Aren’t you glad we are not like those people? These final verses of Haggai’s message deal with a universal issue that all of us encounter from time to time. If I am obeying God and have returned to God with my whole heart, why doesn’t He bless me in ways that are evident right now? The answer is this: God promises that He will bless us if we are obedient, but He doesn’t tell us the nature or the timing of that blessing. Remember this principle of life that is always true: We reap what we sow. We reap later than we sow; we reap the same nature of what we sow; we reap more than we sow. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”
Now while I believe every word of Galatians 6:9 and it has proven true in my life and I believe every word of this principle of life on the screen, there is another biblical truth that comes to bear here. And that is Luke 17:10 where Jesus says, “So you, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves, we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” I tire of Christians who stomp their feet like spoiled brats throwing a temper tantrum saying, “I sacrificed for Jesus with . . . and He didn’t fulfill His end of the bargain, so I have given up. I might as well live for the devil.” This “What’s in it for me?” mentality has to end. Along with the blessings of serving Jesus, He also promised us some hard times as well. I’m sorry, but Jesus didn’t die to make us healthy and wealthy. As we take verse 19 at face value, we need to consider what a blessing is.
A gambler at the race track noticed a priest blessing a horse before the first race and he won. He noticed the same scenario again at the second race and he also won. The last race, the priest went up to Gray Monday--a 30 to 1 shot and did a similar routine. The better immediately went to the betting window and bet $1000 on him. But Gray Monday came in dead last. The better found the priest and told him he had noticed his actions on all three horses and asked demandingly what happened to Gray Monday. The priest said, “That’s the problem with you Protestants; you don’t know the difference between a blessing and last rites!”
What then is a blessing? It is best defined by its use in Matthew 14 when Jesus fed the 5000. Verse 19 tells us that He first blessed the food (5 loaves and 2 fish) and then distributed it and it fed all with some left over. In this context we see a blessing as “Blessing: A sovereign act of God by which He causes anyone or anything committed to Him to supernaturally produce more than is possible resulting in your growth, others’ good and God's glory.” This promise applies to our time, talents, treasures, and testimony. In order to receive a blessing, we need to further apply Matthew 14 to our lives. Like the people who Jesus fed, we need to get in the right position of receive a blessing. That position is one of humble obedience (sit down), cooperation (in groups of 50 (Mark’s record), and anticipation (don’t you know they were expecting something cool to happen).
It is decision time for all of us. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 says, “I have set before you a blessing and a curse; the blessing if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God and the curse if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord.” I Peter 3:9 says, “You were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” God wants to bless your socks off in 2009! Will you allow God to do so in your life in 2009? Will you allow God to take your time, talents, treasures and testimony and multiply them for your growth, others’ good and the glory of God? And by the way, His promise to you is that you will receive your share of blessings along the way. Now it is the time to return with your whole heart.
NOW IS THE TIME TO REJOICE
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON FEBRUARY1, 2009 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“NOW IS THE TIME TO REJOICE” FROM HAGGAI 2:20-23
Today is Super Bowl Sunday when the two best pro football teams will fight it out on the field. I have no idea who is going to win today. However, Haggai 2:20-23 is a record of “God’s Super Bowl” where we are reminded who will win in that conflict. All God’s enemies will fall in defeat before Him. It’s a set up; it’s a fixed fight. Today’s message is simple: God wins.
And so today we are to rejoice. Are you ready to rejoice? If not, by the end of this message, you will be rejoicing. Why? Because of Haggai’s last message to his hearers and to us in our life commitment series on “Now is the Time” is that now is the time to rejoice. We have been building in recent weeks toward today throughout this short book. We have considered…
A Time To Reflect as God Wakes Us Up in 1:1-12
A Time To Renew as God Stirs Us Up in 1:12-15
A Time To Rebuild as God Shakes Us Up in 2:1-9
A Time To Return as God Cleans Us Up in 2:10-19
A Time To Rejoice as God Sets Us Up in 2:20-23
This last passage in Haggai has a note of victory and rejoicing about it. Now is the time to rejoice—why? Now is the time to rejoice because victory is ours in Christ.
Haggai begins his final message in this book to the people of God where he left off at the last one. He had spoken to the crowd earlier in the day and now he is re-engaging them again with a second message (I guess they had Sunday night church). His first message ended with a promised blessing (v. 19). His second message describes what that blessing is—God’s victory. In it he gives us three reasons to rejoice . . .
I. NOW IS THE TIME TO REJOICE BECAUSE GOD WINS OVER NATURE (V. 21).
The Lord says, “I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.” There is going to be a mighty convulsion—a shaking up of the natural order. The phrase, the heavens and the earth, refers to the whole of God’s creation. This phrase shows up on the first page of the Bible in Genesis. 1:1—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This phrase shows up again on the last page in Revelation 21:1—“and I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” We live in the middle in a creation that is not always friendly to us. We contend with droughts, disease and disaster. “For we know that the whole creation groans” until “the creation also will be set free” (Rom. 8:23, 21). When was this shaking up going to occur—in the days of Zerubbabel? No. There is no indication that this prediction occurred in his life time. Then when is it to occur?
Please turn with me to 2 Peter 3:10 <read vv. 10-13>. Also consider Hebrews 12:26-29 <read>. In light of these verses, we rejoice because God is going to shake things loose and establish the permanent in its place to return this world back to its original design. Natural disasters in this age are a result of sin in the world. However, even in the midst of the sin, sorrow and suffering of this life where Jesus does not rule, He overrules in the affairs of men for our ultimate good and His glory. God wins.
We need to be sure that our worship and witness, service and sacrifice reflect this eternal perspective investing in that which is eternal not temporal. Make sure your foundation is sure. What good is it to gain the world that is passing and lose your own soul which is eternal? “While we look not at the temporal things which are seen, but the eternal things which are not seen; for our outward man perishes but the inner man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
II. NOW IS THE TIME TO REJOICE BECAUSE GOD WINS OVER NATIONS (V. 22)
At this time in 520 B.C. all was peaceful on the world stage as the Persian Empire ruled over 2 million square miles and over half of Europe. Immediately surrounding the Jews, however, there were some enemies who were opposing the building of the temple. The Jews had known of powerful political enemies (“thrones of kingdoms”) and powerful military enemies (“chariots, horses and riders”) throughout their history. There has always been opposition to their existence until this day that will extend until the end of time. God’s great “shaking up” is going to extend from nature to nations. These words, “overthrown and destroy” reminded the people of God that God had already overthrown Sodom and Gomorrah and had used Gideon’s 300 to destroy the Midianites who killed themselves by their own swords. Many nations will try to come against Israel in the last days without success and also against the Lord with similar results. God wins.
When was this shaking going to occur--during Zerubbabel’s lifetime? No; it was to occur sometime in the future—in the coming of Jesus.
Notice this picture of these mountains (show first picture). They look close together don’t they? But as a good Coloradan knows, the closer you get to mountains the further away they are in reality (show second picture). Here’s the deal: In the mind of the OT prophets, the first and second comings of Jesus were seen as one event as is the case here. This coming of Christ into the world as one event from afar and two up close is revealed also in Luke 4:18-19 where Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-2a but stops short of quoting the Isaiah 61:2 which says “the day of vengeance of our God,” which refers to Christ’s second coming when He will fulfill that verse.
Mary says of Jesus still in her womb, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones” (Lu. 1:52). God’s kingdom on earth that began with Jesus’ birth was going to supersede all other kingdoms in importance and bring them down to size. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” and that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 18:2 and 11:15).
What God is going to do in the end at Christ’s second coming He has already begun at His first coming. This doctrine is called “realized eschatology” or the principle of “already, but not yet.” Our God reigns. He has yet to totally reign over the affairs of men and yet He does so now in a way that encourages us to look to the future for its ultimate fulfillment.
Using this picture as an illustration of history, we now live in the valley between the first and second comings of Jesus. We have the benefit of looking back and seeing some of the prophecies fulfilled in Christ’s first coming and yet look we look forward to the near future when all will be fulfilled at His second coming. God is shaking up the nations in order to prepare us for the kingdom of God to reign on planet earth. Our allegiance to human governments which come and go must never exceeded our allegiance to the kingdom of God which stands forever. I have a friend who invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in his political party only to see its futility. He has decided instead to invest it in his church—an extension of an eternal kingdom.
I have seen the shaking up of many nations in my life and God is behind it all. Daniel 2:21, “And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings.” He establishes nations’ boundaries and raises up one leader and puts down another (Acts 17:26; Ps. 75:6-7). God controls and permits all governmental changes including our own.
And there is coming a day when the great reordering of all things will be here when all of the Hitlers, Idi Amins, Stalins, Blagojeviches and Ahmadinejads (whew!) will fulfill Philippians 2:10-11, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of god the Father” which brings us to the next reason to rejoice . . .
III. NOW IS THE TIME TO REJOICE BECAUSE GOD WINS THROUGH THE NAME OF HIS SON (V. 23)
Now where in the world are we getting that idea from this verse? I don’t see the name of Jesus anywhere; do you? Stay tuned and I will show you where we garner this principle from this verse. All the other messages from the Lord through His servant Haggai were addressed to several people—most notably Joshua, the high priest, along with Zerubbabel, the governor. This last message is addressed to Zerubbabel alone—why?
Understanding that every word in God’s word is there for a reason as well as every word that is omitted, there has to be a reason why Joshua’s name was left out of this last message. To find out that reason, turn to Matthew 1 and notice verses 11-12. In this genealogical listing of the kingly lineage of David, we see Jeconiah and Shealtiel and then Zerubbabel in the middle that runs from King David to King Jesus. Here’s the deal: not only did the OT prophets see the two comings of Christ as one from afar, they also made predictions or promises to individuals whose fulfillment came through their descendents and not through them personally. Obviously as we have seen, Jesus was a descendant of Zerubbabel and it was in Christ that this verse was ultimately fulfilled.
Notice in verse 23 key phrases that reveal who is referred to in this prophesy. “On that day”—what day? A specific day in the future is referred to here probably to “the day of the Lord” (Joel 2:11) referring to the arrival of Jesus. Remember one day is as a thousand years to the Lord. Indeed that day did not arrive until over 500 years later.
“My servant”—this is a special phrase that refers to the coming Jesus as the Servant of the Most High—referred to as the suffering servant in Isaiah and the servant in Mark’s gospel.
“I will make you like a signet ring”—what is a signet ring? A signet ring was worn on the right hand of those in a position of authority—mostly kings. They were used primarily to authenticate messages sent by mail as they would seal the letter with wax and stamp the ring on it to certify it as in reality from the one in authority. To lose this ring in antiquity was a calamity as it was virtually non-replaceable. In short it was a seal that meant authority, ownership and authenticity. Interestingly, archeologists have uncovered a signet ring with Haggai’s name on it. Christ is obviously God’s signet ring and carries the Father’s authority, ownership and authenticity. John refers to Christ in John 6:27, “for on Him (Jesus) the Father has set His seal.”
This promise had special significance for Zerubbabel as God has used this same phrase--signet ring--with his grandfather—Jehoiachin or Coniah as stated in Jeremiah 22:24. God had had it up to here with Coniah and had torn away the ring or taken away his position of authority. Now God was reversing the curse with his grandson Zerubbabel and placing it back on his hand.
Here’s the deal: God is saying, “Zerubbabel, you have committed to build a house (the temple) for me (the message of Haggai); well I will build a house for you!” This promise is consistent with the one God made to David in 2 Samuel 7 where David decides to build a house for God in verse 2 and God says in verse 11, “The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.” Obviously David’s and Zerubbabel’s “house” was the first and second temple; whereas God’s house is an eternal kingdom made not with human hands but the reign of Jesus in His kingdom which has begun her and now.
“For I have chosen you”—This word not only refers to being predestined as Christ was, but specifically selected and trained for His destined position—set up if you will. Obviously some of these things came true in Zerubbabel’s life otherwise these words would be meaningless to him, but these words also point to being ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. This principle is called double intended prophecy—once fulfilled in the immediate and again fulfilled in the ultimate.
Now for an amazing application that is going to rock your world. Turn with me to Romans 8:17 where we are called “joint heirs with Christ.” Now a joint heir inherits exactly the same thing as another. I want you to see yourself in verse 23 as God’s signet ring. Song of Songs 8:6 says, “Put me as a signet over your heart like a seal on your arm for love is as strong as death.” You are chose by God. You are special to God. In Isaiah 49:16 God says to you and me, “Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” You are loved by God uniquely and passionately and so are the walls of His house here. He is committed to building our house—“And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also are living stones being built up as a spiritual house” (I Pt. 2:4-5). God is setting you up for a great present and glorious future as His signet ring. Isn’t that a great reason to rejoice in these uncertain times? The shaking up of our time is but a precursor to the shaking up God is about to do in Christ’s second coming. God is setting you up for a great inheritance as a joint heir and that is a reason to rejoice.
Also in Romans 8:37 that we are called “more than conquers.” The difference between a conqueror and a more than conqueror can be seen in the following story of my senior year in high school in Lawton, Ok. In only our fourth year as a school, Eisenhower HS had been beaten badly every year in football by our cross-town rivalry Lawton High. But on a cold November night in 1966, that was all going to change as we defeated LHS for the first time in our history 22-21. As the clock expired, we all ran onto the field shouting “We won; we won.” Well “we” didn’t have a thing to do with it, but the victory was ours as our representatives on the field had won the victory for us. In this same way, Jesus has won the victory for us on the field and we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. The difference between a conqueror and a more than conqueror is that a more than a conqueror rests in the achievements of the conqueror—in this case Jesus, our Lord. God is setting you up as a more than conqueror for a great victory and that is a reason to rejoice. Because He wins, we win.
Imagine how Zerubbabel felt after he was told he was made like a signet ring—authenticated from the Lord. Imagine also how he felt when he was told he was chosen. Now I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t the greatest athlete in junior high and when they chose teams I just cringed because I was always either the last or next to last chosen—a real bummer. But this is not so on Jesus’ team. You are chosen because you are specially equipped for the task. I guess we should be like Sally Fields when she won the Oscar award in 1985, “You like me; you really do like me!” For some of us today, we need to be reminded we are really liked by God.
He is setting you up for a great reward as you cooperate with Him. You see, Zerubbabel had to cooperate in choosing to go to Jerusalem and embrace its challenges rather than staying in the comfortable lifestyle of Babylon. He was persuaded this move was from God and said, “Here am I send me.” Would that be your response today to God’s call upon your life for salvation, for a closer walk, for church membership, for obedience in baptism, for missions or ministry? What has God chosen you for specifically as to how to live out your calling in a responsible way? If you will respond in building up God’s house, God says I will build up yours so that you will have a lasting legacy to leave to those family members and others who come behind you. God wants to set you up, but you’ve got to cooperate through obedience.
We worship. We work. We win. The season may be long; the opponents may be strong and all seems now to be wrong, but God wins and in Christ we win. And where I come from that is a great reason to rejoice.
Yes, Lord Series
YES LORD
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 6, 2007
“YES LORD” FROM ISAIAH 26:8 AND PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
I can think of no better way to begin 2008 than with the first two words from Isaiah 26:8--“Yes Lord.” “Yes Lord” is certainly better than beginning this year with “No Lord”—which is a classic oxymoron or contradiction. Could I encourage you to never use these two words in the same sentence? Peter said “No Lord” once when Jesus told His disciples that He was going to the cross; He responded to Peter saying, “Get behind me Satan” (Mt. 16:22-23). “Yes Lord” is certainly better than “Later Lord.” When Jesus was calling for followers, one said “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father”—a lame excuse for not following Jesus. Jesus said, “You follow Me and let the dead bury their dead” (Mt. 8:21-22). “Yes Lord” is certainly better than “Me Lord”—the gospel of this age. Jesus had just fed the 5000 in John 6 and they demanded another sign to prove He was from God! He told them that unless you are willing to be connected to Him--and ground down like wheat and crushed like grapes into the body of Jesus, that they could not be His followers. “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (Jo. 6:66). “Yes Lord” is certainly better than “Sometimes Lord.” “Now when great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, ‘If anyone refuses to hate his own family and life, does not carry his own cross, and give up all his own possessions, then he cannot be My disciple” (Lu. 14:25-35). Jesus does not need any more part-time help. “Yes Lord” is certainly better than “Maybe Lord.” The rich young ruler tried that routine and went away sorrowful. As a junior in high school, my football coach walked up and asked, “Bobby, are you going to come out for football again next year?” I said, “Coach, I haven’t made up my mind yet (thinking about i’’d like to think about it; I might just do basketball only next year.” Coach Phillips then said, “Well son, let me make up your mind for you; you’re not.” Are our Lord’s demands for an all out commitment any less than a football coach’s? “Yes Lord’ is certainly better than “What about him/her Lord?” Peter tried this one in John 21—“Lord, and what about this man (referring to John)?” Jesus said that’s none of your business, “You follow Me!” Martha tried this one in Luke 10—“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?” Jesus told Martha that she was worried and bothered by so many things because she had not chosen the best—sitting at Jesus’ feet. Be like Isaiah in chapter 6 and say, “Here am I Lord, send me.” We would all agree that Yes—“Yes Lord” is best. “Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” “Yes Lord” is an affirmation of Jesus’ Lordship. The apostle Paul at his conversion responded to Jesus call upon his life with, “What is it You want me to do Lord?” (Acts 22:10). With Paul, we are to say “‘Yes Lord’ and now You tell me what it is you want me to do.” I don’t know about you but when Saturday’s chores rolled around at our house when we had three teen-aged children, they were nowhere to be found! What if one Saturday they came up to me and said, “Dad, we just want you to know that today, we say ‘Yes.’” Wow—how that would thrill my heart! What about the heart of God when we say, “Yes, Lord.’” “Yes Lord” says “Jesus Christ is Lord.”
The New Testament counterpart to Isaiah 26:8 is Philippians 2:5-11. The word "Lord" (meaning boss) is mentioned 433 times in the New Testament. Lordship is important. Let's consider Christ's Lordship--the theme of our text and the theme of this January’s Life Commitment Emphasis.
I. “YES LORD”—YOU ARE LORD IN YOUR INCARNATION (VV. 6-7).
Incarnation means that Jesus was God in human flesh—the real meaning of Christmas. Notice the glory of His deity (v. 6). His form was an outward expression of His inward nature. Jesus Christ is the essence of the nature of God. Jesus Christ is coeternal and coequal with God. The word for equality is "isos"--the word from which we get "isosceles" (a triangle with two equal sides). Jesus Christ is the outshining of His Father's glory. "He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature" (Heb. 1:3). Imagine the glory Jesus possessed with the Father from eternity passed. Three disciples saw a glimpse of it at Jesus' transfiguration.
Notice the humility of His humanity (vv. 6b-7). This wonderful environment of glory was not a thing to be jealously clung to or clutched to by Jesus (v. 6). Instead, He voluntarily laid aside the manifestation of His deity and glory. He emptied Himself of that expression of deity and glory (not the possession of it), and took on a new form or expression. The word form is "morphe"--the word from which we get our word, "metamorphosis" (a change in form). God became man and dwelt among us taking our sins upon Himself
He laid aside the full and constant use of His glorious powers and became a man. If He had been in His full glory all the days on the earth as His three disciples saw Him on the Mount of Transfiguration, then His obedience, suffering, and death would have been impossible. He did not cling to this self-glorification as a prize to be displayed, but as a position to be denied for a time.
An old Negro play tells it like this: God is in heaven and some angels come running in exclaiming, "Your creatures Adam and Eve have fallen and sinned; what are you going to do?" God said, "Well, I will send them my law so they will know how to live." And so He did. Later the angels come running in saying, "God, the law you gave them has been broken and the people are in rebellion against You." God said, "Then I will send them my prophets so they will know how to obey Me." And so He did. Later the angels come running again saying, "God; they have stoned Your prophets; what are you going to do now?" God walks over and looks over heaven's threshold to earth with tears in His eyes saying, "Well, I guess I'll have to go down there and take care of it Myself." And so He did in His only Son, Jesus.
Will you today say, “Yes Lord” to His incarnation by allowing Him to continue His public ministry in and through you by the power and presence of His Spirit. It must begin with you inviting the Babe of Bethlehem who became the Christ of Calvary into your heart today receiving the free gift of eternal life.
II. “YES LORD”—YOU ARE LORD IN YOUR HUMILIATION (V. 8).
God said, "I will reveal myself to mankind by becoming one of them." But what kind of man? Would He send His Son as a king? A philosopher? A warrior? Would He send His Son into a family of influence and wealth? No. He would send His Son as a baby to a poor family. He would be a humble servant.
Notice the steps downward in verses 6-8. He was in the form of God; He emptied Himself; He then took on the form of a servant; He further humbled Himself by being obedient to death; and He then died the most despicable, agonizing and shameful kind of death--on the cross.
His death was voluntary (Rev. 5:1-7.) Jesus Christ came from glory to Golgotha. He came from sovereignty to servanthood. He came from life to death. He came from heaven to earth. He came from deity to humanity. He came from sinlessness to be sin for us. Why? He did so voluntarily to reveal God's love and to redeem man. "Down from His glory, never-ending story, my blessed Savior came and Jesus was His name."
His death was necessary. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22). At a religious festival in Brazil, a missionary went from booth to booth. At one booth he saw a sign that said, "Cheap Crosses." Jesus Christ's cross was not cheap. Why should ours be?
Jesus Christ is Lord in His incarnation--the Word become flesh. He is Lord even in His humiliation--His death on the cross. He did not face the cross as a martyr to His death but as a victor to His crowning. Hebrews 12:2 speaks of the joy of His impending exaltation set before Him on the cross. He is Lord even in His humiliation. He cannot be your Lord unless you humble yourself before Him (Is. 66:1-2). You cannot at the same time proclaim your own greatness and the greatness of our Lord.
Christ is our example in humility. We seek a reputation; He made Himself of no reputation. We step up, step over, step on; He stooped down. We strive to be as God; He laid aside His full expression of deity to become as man. We expect others to serve us; He served others. We are full of pride and selfishness; He emptied and humbled Himself. Humility is the greatest characteristic of the spiritual life. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility is a by-product of a life focused on Jesus.
We must humbly serve, for the way up is first the way down. The way to the throne is the way to the tomb (death). The way to a crown is the way of the cross. The way to glory is the way of Golgotha. The way to exaltation is the way of humiliation. The way to liberty is the way of Lordship. Would you today say “Yes Lord” to Jesus as your example of humility?
III. “YES LORD”—YOU ARE LORD IN YOUR EXALTATION (VV. 9-11).
Take off our shoes; we are on holy ground! God has highly exalted Jesus (v. 9). Because of His voluntary act of humility, He is exalted to the highest degree and rank as sovereign. Now what does this mean? Obviously, it means that Jesus has been given position, honor, glory that was His prior to becoming a man (John 17:5). He is exalted even in a greater way than before. Because He was willing to go to the depths, God raised Him to the heights. Notice God exalted Christ; Christ did not exalt Himself. Ancient Russian Czars would crown themselves upon ascending to the throne. Jesus did not crown Himself, but humbly allowed the Father to crown Him.
Charles Spurgeon says it much better than I could ever: "See Christ exalted at God's right hand. Behold His transcendent glory! He is brighter than the sun; more glorious than the majesty of kings and presidents; more awesome than thousands of armies. The sun is eclipsed in the light of His brightness; the majesty of kings and presidents are engulfed in His glory. The awesomeness of great armies are nothing in His presence. His Kingdom knows no bounds; His glory no end. Above Him all is His; surrounding Him all angels adore Him; beneath Him the earth is His footstool."
Do you see Him? "The head that once was crowned with thorns/ Is crowned with glory now;/ A royal diadem adorns/ That mighty victor's brow./ No more the bloody crown,/ The cross and nails no more;/ For hell itself shakes at his crown,/ And all the heavens adore" (Anon).
How has God exalted His Son Jesus? He has been given a name that is above every name (v. 9b). The highest, purest name in heaven and earth is Jesus. We have salvation in the name of Jesus. We have forgiveness in the name of Jesus. We have prayer power in the name of Jesus. We have healing in the name of Jesus. We have victory in the name of Jesus. We have peace in the name of Jesus. We have love and joy in the name of Jesus. We serve and worship in His name. We have unity in the name of Jesus. Would you on the count of three say your name (cacophony as each says their name). Now would you say the name that is above every name (“Jesus”)? Now I can hear you! No wonder the songwriter wrote, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, There's just something about that name! Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain; Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Let all heaven and earth proclaim; Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that name!" "Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the light of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child. At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turn to love and forgiveness, and arguments cease. I've heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious from fever, and I've watched that little body racked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength to whisper earth's sweetest name--Jesus, Jesus. Emperors have tried to destroy it; philosophies have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet still it stands. And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound--every voice of Adam's race shall raise in one great mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus--for in that day ‘every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!!!’" (from the musical, "Alleluia"). Why do we make so much of the name of Jesus? Because God does. We say “Yes Lord” to the name above every name.
Every knee shall bow at the name of Jesus (v. 10). Every knee in heaven will bow at the name of Jesus. All the angels of Heaven bow to Jesus (Rev. 5:11-12). Every knee on earth shall bow down. Today knees bow down to religious leaders, but there is coming a day when all knees bow to Jesus--the only righteous one. Today knees bow down to kings and presidents, but there is coming a day when all knees shall bow down to Jesus Christ the King of Kings. Today we cower to intellectuals, but there is coming a day when every knee shall bow to Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God. Today is a day of pride and selfishness, but there is coming a day when every knee will bow to Jesus Christ, the humble selfless Son of God. Your knee will bow; my knee will bow down to Jesus, our wonderful Lord. Now we have a choice, but then many will be forced to bow down before being removed from His presence forever. Every knee under the earth shall bow down. This includes the demons of hell. This includes Satan himself who desires all to bow to him. We say “Yes Lord” as we bow the knee to the name of Jesus. Let us do so even now as we kneel.
Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (v. 11). Only a small percent of mankind reveres that wonderful name; but oh, the day is coming when every creature will be subject to Christ's Lordship. All nations, peoples, tribes and tongues will confess, "Jesus is Lord." For us it will be a holy hour. It will be our highest hour. Today we confess "Jesus Christ is Lord," but not fully. But then we shall, with every fiber of our being crown and claim Jesus Christ as Lord.
For those who do not know Him, it will be a terrible hour. They will be forced to confess Him as Lord. Those who said "No" to God's Spirit will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." The blasphemers of the lovely name of Jesus will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." Religious people trusting in themselves rather than Jesus will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." The president of the World Council of Churches once said, "I'll never go to heaven on the back of another man." Folks, the only way you and I can get to heaven is on the back of another man--the Lord Jesus Christ who alone can save. Every other religious leader will confess “Jesus Christ is Lord”—Mohamed, Buddha, Confucius, and Joseph Smith. All religious followers will confess “Jesus Christ is Lord”—every Bahia, Jew, Christian Scientist, Scientologist, Animist, Cabalist, Mormon, Moslem. Every denomination will confess “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Pornographer distributors, sexual perverts, child molesters, lesbians, and homosexuals will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." Drunkards and killers of the innocent on our highways will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." Murderers of unborn and born will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." Atheists and agnostics will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." Pseudo-intellectuals and intellectuals without Jesus, the wisdom of God in their hearts, will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." Persecutors of Christians will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." Nero was once the emperor who looked upon the apostle Paul as a dog. Now we name dogs "Nero" and venerate the apostle Paul. Warmongers of history--Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Insane, Osama bin Laden, and other radical Islamists will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord." All unbelievers will confess "Jesus Christ is Lord" to the glory of God the Father! Would you say “Yes Lord” to Jesus, the exalted One of history and eternity?
IV. “YES LORD”—YOU ARE LORD IN OUR APPLICATION (V. 5).
The lordship of Jesus Christ is worthless unless we apply it to our lives. “Let this attitude be in you which was in Christ Jesus.” Verse 5 can characterize your life if Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. How can He be Lord? Let me share these principles of Lordship by way of application.
Everyone serves somebody or something (Rom. 6:16). Who/what are you serving—pleasure, pride, possessions, persons? “The Bible says it; I believe it; that settles it?” No. “The Bible says it; that settles it whether you believe it or not!”
Jesus Christ is Lord whether we admit it or not (Rom. 14:9). Jesus is Lord. Why? Because He is.
Just because we call Him ‘Lord,’ doesn't mean that He is (Luke 6:46). Purchase gives title, but only delivery gives possession (i.e. car/house). Many a Christian knows Jesus Christ as Savior, but few know Him as Lord.
It takes more than just a decision to make Jesus Lord (Luke 9:23). 80% of New Year’s resolutions will be broken within 30 days. To say, “Yes Lord” takes submission (obedience) and sacrifice (forsaking sin). Decision is 5% of Lordship; follow through is 95%. Lordship takes desire, determination; then discipline.
Life is a series of relationships and possessions; Jesus must be Lord of them all (Matt. 6:33). Would you say “Yes Lord” in your home, at work, at school, in your leisure time, in your heart of hearts? Would you say “Yes Lord” in your thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions? One day when we gather round the throne, we will crown Him Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Why not do so now?
Let us take seriously the words of Mary, who said to the servants at the wedding at Cana and to us, “Whatever He (Jesus) says to you, do it” (Jo. 2:5). What is Jesus saying to you today? At the very least, join me in responding to His call by simply saying, “Yes Lord.” And then wait expectantly for Him to tell you what commitment He wants you to make in 2008 to glorify our Lord and to bring good to you.
How are you going to begin this year—“No Lord?” “Later Lord?” “Me Lord?”? “Sometimes Lord?” “Maybe Lord?” “What about him/her, Lord?” or “Yes, Lord?” Join me in making this confession as we begin this year . . . “Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”
WALKING IN YOUR LAWS
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF BY BOB BENDER ON JANUARY 13, 2008
“WALKING IN YOUR LAWS” FROM ISAIAH 26:8 & PHILIPPIANS 4
January is Life Commitment Month at FBCBF. Last week, we said, “Yes Lord.” This week we put feet to our words. Commitment is 5%, follow through is 95%. And what is it that we are saying “Yes” to? We say yes to walking in the way of Your laws from our theme verse--Isaiah 26:8.
The word “yes” is an answer of assent or full agreement even before we know what the question is (Jo. 7:17; 2:5). How many of you this past week for at least one day took my challenge to say “Yes, Lord” at the outset of the day even before you knew of the question? I wish we had time to share testimonies of how that played out in our lives.
The word “way” here means a well trodden road or a caravan. Many have gone down this road before us and you are not alone as you travel with our caravan known as the First Baptist Church Black Forest.
His “laws” are divine decrees that are as certain as the laws of nature. There are physical laws that are certain (i.e. of gravity). There are moral laws that are certain (i.e. you break a moral law and it will wind up breaking you). There are spiritual laws that are certain (i.e. sowing and reaping; prayers and answers; giving and receiving). These are principles of successful living that serve us well when we apply them.
“Lord” refers to Jehovah—the covenant-keeping God (or our promise-keeping God with reference to His spiritual laws). We are going to investigate one of those laws today and see how He is faithful to keep His promise to those who walk in the way of His laws.
Last week we looked at Philippians for a New Testament example of “Yes, Lord,” and we will do the same thing today as an example of walking the way of God’s laws. In Philippians 4:13-19, Paul shares what the Philippian church is known for—joy because of their generosity. The assembly at Philippi was the apple of Paul’s eye because of its good reputation. How does a church develop a reputation? It does so on the strengths or weaknesses of the people in that church. By the way, you don’t have to be a wealthy church to be a church known for its generosity. The Philippian church was not wealthy; in fact Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8 that the Philippians “gave out of their poverty.”
This passage deals with one of the laws of God—the law of giving and receiving. In this passage we find financial terms like “your account,” “investment,” “debit,” “credit,” “received in full” and “interest compounded.” We move from a spiritual principle of verse 13 to the practical outworking of that spiritual principle in verses 14ff. Paul says that Jesus was his provider (v. 13), but then he says that Jesus used the Philippian Christians as His instruments when they cooperated with God in this endeavor. Here’s the principle: Life is a divine dance . . . and God leads. This is one of the “ways of God” referred to in Isaiah 26:8. We see this divine dance in the Bible—a divine/human book; in Jesus—a divine/human person; in the church—a divine/human institution; and in our Christian walk—a divine/human endeavor (Ph. 2:12-13).
“Dancing With the Stars” is my favorite television program. I just wept when Marie Osmond lost--NOT! This show tracks the progress of an experienced--even professional--dancer with a novice and rewards the best pair. This reminds me of our Christian lives. Jesus is the professional dancer and we are the novices. Though we may be terrible at it, with hours of practice letting Jesus lead, we are then prepared to dance with Jesus on the divine stage. And who is the audience but God Himself! If we will just let Jesus lead, we will be rewarded. If I was to write a book, the title of it would be “Dance with me Jesus.” Not “Dance with me Jesus and I’ll lead;” not “Dance for me Jesus;” not “Watch me dance for others Jesus;” nor even “I dance for You Jesus;” but “Dance with me Jesus and I’ll let you lead in this divine dance.”
Life is a beautiful combo plate of divine activity and human cooperation. Are you cooperating with God so that He is accomplishing His will in your life? It is only as you walk in the way of His laws that His will is done. I ran across a very interesting verse this week praying through Jeremiah (4:2). It says that if you walk in truth, justice and righteousness, “then the nations (or individuals) will bless themselves in Him and in Him they will glory.” You can bless yourself in God as you dance the divine dance with Jesus leading.
We have just concluded a series on the Beatitudes. Question—how many beatitudes are there? Most say the eight of Matthew 5. However there is a ninth—Acts 20:35—“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” To the eight beatitudes of Matthew 5, Paul adds a ninth and last—“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This beatitude is called “the forgotten beatitude” as folks would rather just put this one on the back burner. This is not just some abstract idea or glittering generality; but rather a concrete principle of life. “He who is generous will be blessed” (Pr. 22:9). “He who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully” (2 Co. 9:6). Do you want some joy in your life this year? Commit to be a giving person and God promises you joy. Do you know the joy of generosity and the blessing of bountiful giving? God wants to bless you; will you let Him by walking in His way today?
Folks, I say unapologetically that giving is the heart of the gospel and in the heart of God (Jo. 3:16; Mt. 10:8). We all have experienced the greater joy of giving as compared to that of receiving. Remember last Christmas morning as you sat and watch your loved ones open your presents to them? How wonderful you felt when you saw the joy on their faces as they opened your gift. Now didn’t that feeling exceed your own joy of opening your own gifts?
When I was a college freshman (back in 1968—you do the math to see how old I am), we were asked what our personal goals were: 83% of us wanted to develop a meaningful philosophy of life and 41% of us wanted to make a lot of money (obviously you could make more than one choice). The same survey was given in 1997: 41% wanted to develop a meaningful philosophy of life and 75% said their goal was to be very well off financially. This assessment is even more striking with one poll showing that 60% of contemporary American students feel that they live in a state of “inner emptiness—a void within themselves.” Could there be a relationship between the two—an inner emptiness and a drive to be very well of financially? In this material world we worship the material. As someone said, “Society tells us the only thing that matters is matter—the only things that count are the things that can be counted.” But I am seeing a shift taking place as this younger generation reflects Bono’s (of the band U2 and not to be confused with Sunny Bono) desire for a genuine spirituality and a greater engaging of the world’s needs through generosity.
First Corinthians 4:7 says, “What do you have that you did not receive (from God)?” Let’s name some things we have received from God that we should pass on to others . . .grace, mercy, righteousness, time love talents and money to name a few. God wants His stuff in circulation. The soil bears fruit, the well produces water, light shines; and life is shared. This is the way of God—giving and receiving. We see this principle of life in nature as water is received and giving through the atmosphere; animal and plant life are in a divine dance of giving and receiving; in marriage and all around us. I am referring to one of the laws we are to walk in--the law of giving and receiving. My desire and prayer for you this year is that you would practice the law of giving and receiving and experience the joy of being a generous person. Now I do not say that primarily because we need your money here; although we will take every penny you give and use it for God’s glory. I say that because I truly want you to be a blessed person. I say that because I wish that our church would continue to have the reputation of being a generous church as an example and challenge to other assemblies in our sphere of influence.
Now is this how this law goes? We give to receive (now that is the error many Christians make, but the law of giving and receiving does not stop here.) The law of giving and receiving goes like this: We give to receive to give to receive to give . . . (and the beat goes on). Notice how the law of giving and receiving is developed by Paul in Philippians 4:13-20. I was reminded as I read Jeremiah 5:13 Friday—“My prophets are as wind and the word is not in them” that we need to let the Word of God speak today. Here Paul congratulates the Philippian church for their generosity as a church and as individuals within that assembly.
Verse 13—“I can do all things through Christ alone.” Paul reminds them and that God was his supplier. He told them that when he had a need and it was amply supplied, God took care of him. God is your ultimate source of supply. Look to Him. Cry out to Him. Ask Him to prove Himself strong on your behalf.
Notice verse 14—“Nevertheless,” Paul says, “God has used you to meet my needs” or “I looked to God and He sent you.” Paul uses the word share (koinonia) which means the Philippians were partners together Paul in meeting his needs. Who are you partnering with to meet a need? First and foremost, I would encourage you to partner with Jesus in the divine dance of giving and receiving and let Him lead you in how to partner with others—those in whose lives and ministries God is at work. Could I encourage you start at your home church? Galatians 6:6-7 says, “And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches; for what a man sows, that will he reap.” Beverly and I have always given ten percent to our church’s budgeted ministries unless the Holy Spirit leads us to do otherwise which is on very rare occasions.
Notice verse 15—“You shared with me in giving and receiving.” Here Paul shares the law of giving and receiving. Jesus said in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Giving is governed by receiving, but receiving is governed by giving. “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and test Me now in this if I will not open for you the window of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows’ says the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 3:10). “Give and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Lu. 6:38). Now either Jesus meant what He said or He didn’t. We shy away from Jesus’ promise here because of obvious abuses, but I am not going to let a few people who abuse the promise of Jesus make it ineffective for me! I for one have taking Him at His word and would testify that it is true. The terms “giving and receiving” are business terms referring the to the credit and debit sides of the ledger. Only the Philippian church gave; only the Philippian church received.
Notice verse 16—“You are persistent in your giving.” Paul says that you were not like the shallow soil responding emotionally with a one time gift but you gave consistently and persistently. Even when I was in wealthy Thessalonica, you didn’t wait for them to take the lead, you did. Would this year we prove the law of giving and receiving to be true more than once. “Lord, find us faithful more than once.”
Notice verse 17—“Your account will show profits.” I can truly say that this is my desire for you. God pays interest. Do you want to know how much? Matthew 19:29 tells us—one hundred fold or 10,000%! Now that beats any cd that I know of! The Philippians had made a deposit; now they were enjoying the interest. Their account was growing. God is an accurate accountant and he is keeping your books for you. Give your boat to Jesus and it will return filled with fish. Give your upper room to Jesus and it will be filled with His humble presence. Give Him a few loaves and fished and watch Him satisfy a hungry world. Give Him your expensive perfume and the whole house will be filled with its fragrant aroma. Give Him your tomb and it will be returned back to you empty and filled with a miracle of the resurrection. Give Him your fishing business and He will use it to catch men. Give Him your position of leadership and let Him lead the dance as the bridegroom and you the best man and He will call you “the greatest person who ever lived.” Give up your brother to death and you will see him raised up again. Give up your empty water pot and watch Him fill you to overflowing with water so you will never thirst again—using your testimony to reach a city. Give Him your burden and take His easy and light yoke upon you dancing with Jesus in His field. Give up the safety of your boat to walk on the water and receive the joy of walking by faith on the stormy waters of life. Like Zacheus,
give Him your home and your heart and receive Him gladly. Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna, give of your private means and receive the joy of knowing that Jesus’ ministry continues well funded.
Verse 18—“Your gift is an acceptable sacrifice.” They sacrificed for God and He received it as such—a sweet smelling sacrifice. The joy of giving is sweet, even though the means seem bitter for a time. “And the whole house was filled with the fragrance.” Our house or church has been filled with the fragrance of acceptable sacrifices last year—a successful missions offering; benevolence offerings exceeding $25,000; time spent on mission for God in FAITH evangelism and mission trips; and caring ministries from our ministers and deacons and through our LIFE groups—all “well pleasing to God.” We give out of God’s abundance and it rises to Him a well-pleasing sacrifice. “I counted all my dollars while God counted crosses; I counted gains while he counted losses; I counted my worth by the things gained in store, But he sized me up by the sacrifices that I bore.”
Verse 19—“God will supply your needs.” We glibly quote this verse out of context. Paul says, “Because God is my ultimate supplier and He has used you to meet my needs out of your riches (vv. 13-14), God is going to come through for you in similar fashion, meeting your needs out of His riches in glory in Christ Jesus—a limitless source of supply. That’s cool! Sounds like a 10,000% return to me.
Verse 20—“Now to our God be the glory.” Folks, it’s always about glorifying God. Is He glorified in your living? Is He glorified in your giving? If so, He will be glorified in your receiving as you have a testimony to others of the blessing of walking in His ways. Specifically, I am asking you to consider being a more generous person in 2008. Ask the Lord what He would have you do with your time, talents and treasures. Give and it shall be given to you”--so you have more to give and receive and give again—all for God’s glory.
“Whatever makes You walk with me; I’ll do. Whatever makes You talk with me; I’ll do. Whatever makes You dance with me; I’ll do. I only want to dance with You; dance with You; dance with You—down the aisle, all the while, ‘til the last mile. I only want to dance with You Jesus.” “I only want to love You Lord. I only want to serve You Lord. I only want to obey You Lord. May all that I am and all and all I do, say ‘Yes’ to You. So in my own way, ‘til my dying day, I’ll say ‘Yes’ to you, Jesus.” (anon). “Yes Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for You. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”
We Wait for You
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 20, 2008 BY BOB BENDER
“MAKING THE MOST OF GOD’S WAITING ROOM” FROM ISAIAH 26:8
How many of you have been in a hospital waiting room? Most of us have. As your pastor and friend, I have been in emergency or surgery waiting rooms with many of you. It is a very uncomfortable place. I rarely see people partying in the waiting room. It is also a place of delay sometimes for extended periods of time. What do you do in the waiting room besides the obvious--wait? Sometimes we worry because we can’t see what’s going on and we can’t control what’s going on. Sometimes we visit with others to get our minds off of what is going on behind closed doors with our loved one. Sometimes we are hoping for better days ahead.
God also has a waiting room, doesn’t He? We spend time there waiting for God to do something for us or others financially, physically, relationally, vocationally or even spiritually. How many of you have been or right now are in God’s waiting room?
God’s word for you in the waiting room is in the third phrase of this year’s Life Commitment Emphasis verse,
Isaiah 26:8—“we wait for You.”
“Yes, Lord” speaks to our desire to experience the lordship of Jesus Christ resulting in a committed life.
“Walking in the way of your laws” (i.e. the law of giving and receiving) speaks to our desire to practice His laws or life principles resulting in a successful life. This third phrase,
“we wait for You,” speaks to our desire to become more intimate with our Lord resulting in a victorious life.
In addition to this word in
Isaiah 26:8, we have a further word from Isaiah on this point in 40:31 where the same word for wait is used.
Isaiah 26:8 uses the past tense for wait—“we
have waited for You;”
Isaiah 40:31 uses the noun form—“those who
are waiters for the Lord.”
How does waiting gain us new strength to fly like an eagle or run and not become weary? I can’t imagine how sitting and waiting gives me new strength. To experience such wonderful results in God’s waiting room, we must understand the meaning of the word, wait, for the word Isaiah uses is an unusual one.
It means
to twist. Now for us who were teenagers in the late sixties, this word elicits some unusual imagery. But this word twist means to twist as a vine wraps itself around a larger branch. You as the vine are to wrap yourself around the branch of the Lord Jesus as you wait. Jesus said in
John 15 (the vine and branch talk), “Without Me, you can do nothing.” Perhaps that is why the Lord allows us to get into situations that demand we wait--in order to force us to wrap ourselves around Him in a closer way resulting in a newfound strength. Jeremiah’s counterpart to
Isaiah 26:8 is
Jeremiah 13:11, where we are encouraged to cling to him like a belt to the body. Remember those “Chinese handcuffs” we used to play with as kids? That’s the idea with Jesus.
Now back to our waiting room analogy. What else do we do when we are in God’s waiting room? We pray—the big idea of our life message today. But what do we pray? How do we pray?
The disciples saw Jesus doing many things, but the only thing they asked Him to teach them to do was to pray (Luke 11)—not teach, preach, heal, do miracles--
because they knew power with God was the key to doing the rest. This model prayer was in response to the disciples’ request for Him to teach them to pray. I am glad the disciples asked our Lord Jesus to teach them to pray. Are you His disciple? Would you allow Him to teach you to pray today? Turn to
Matthew 6:9-13 for his record of the Lord’s model prayer.
Jesus said to "pray in this way" (v. 9) meaning "along these lines" or "in the following manner." Now we know He didn’t mean for us to recite the Lord’s Prayer in a rote manner, because He just said do not use meaningless repetition (v. 7). So what did He mean? He means for us to use this prayer as a model or skeleton for our praying and for us to fill in the blanks or add the flesh so to speak. Either Jesus meant what he said here or He didn’t, so let’s take Jesus seriously and use this prayer as a model for our praying. We need to use the Lord's model prayer in some way or we disobey our Lord.
Jesus' model prayer is simple and direct. A hurricane had struck and folks were huddled together. An old preacher was praying with great oratory in the midst of this violent storm, "O Lord, send us the spirit of the children of Israel, the children of Moses and the children of the promised land." At this, another old man with less oratory but more directness prayed, "Lord, don't send nobody. Come yourself; this ain't no time for children."
Jesus' model prayer covers every desire of the praying heart. His model provides a definition for prayer: affirming God's sovereignty, confirming His work in the world, and conforming our desires to His will. The Lord's model prayer focuses initially on God's glory in verses 9-10--His name, kingdom and will. Then in verses 11-13, it focuses on man's need for bread, forgiveness and deliverance from sin. Finally, it comes full circle as it closes with praise again. See your bulletin insert for an outline of this prayer for our use including all of the essential elements of prayer: Adoration (v. 9); Intercession (v. 10); Petition (v. 11); Confession (v. 12); Supplication (v. 13).
Today we will focus on one aspect of this prayer—intercession or praying for others. The word means to meet with in behalf of another as you cannot intercede for yourself, just others. Intercession appears before petition in this prayer. We must be concerned about God's kingdom first then our own needs. We intercede because we care. We intercede because we want to see change in one’s life or church. We intercede to be Christlike, for that is what He is doing now.
Remember the town square scene in the movie “Back to the Future?” Here Doc Brown was trying to complete the circuit and power Delorian car so the “flux capacitor” could kick in sending Michael Fox into another dimension. That’s what intercessory prayer is—completing the circuit of power sending folks and situations into the divine dimension.
Ezekiel 22:30 says, "And I sought for a man to stand in the gap (of prayer) for the land that I should not destroy it, but I found none." If our church is going to accomplish what our Father desires, it is going to take intercessory prayer. If you are going to be who the Father desires you to be, it is going to take intercessory prayer.
We must become kingdom intercessors.
I. TO INTERCEDE IS TO PRAY "THY KINGDOM COME" (V. 10A).
The kingdom of God is the reign and rule of God in our hearts and lives through Christ. The kingdom of God was Jesus' constant theme. The Jewish Talmud states, "That prayer in which the kingdom of God is not named is no prayer." We are to pray first of all, Thy kingdom come.
To pray "Thy kingdom come" extends God's kingdom rule into the lives of unbelievers. The kingdom of God implies another kingdom--the kingdom of Satan. Satan is the god of this world; the spirit who works in the children of disobedience. Everyone is a member of a kingdom--either God's or Satan's. Everyone has spiritual experiences--either with the Holy Spirit or with the unholy spirit. Everyone encounters God--either the God of our Lord Jesus or the god of this world. One of my favorite Christian t-shirts says, "Eternity--smoking or non-smoking?"
The day after Christmas, we were shocked to hear of a lion loose in the San Francisco zoo killing and maiming teens. There is a lion loose on the streets of Colorado Springs, in our homes, and in our churches. His name is the devil. He must be captured and bound up before spiritual progress can be made. He is bound by intercessory prayer. What the devil stole in the garden was returned to us in Jesus. We need to be storm troopers storming the gates of hell in Jesus' name. Are we as a church winning or losing the battle with the evil one?
First Corinthians 3:9 says that we are laborers together with God. This is no truer than in intercessory prayer. “Dance with me Jesus” is no truer than in intercessory prayer. We stand with God, working with Him in the great task of saving others. Specifically what do we pray for to extend God's kingdom to unbelievers? We pray for those who have yet to follow Christ--that they would understand the gospel; that their hearts would be softened; and that they would be saved. We pray for Christian workers to be obedient in sharing their faith. We pray that Lord would convict them and draw them to Himself through His Spirit. We pray against Satan (who has them bound and blinded to the gospel) that his influence over them would diminish.
We also pray for missionaries on foreign fields sharing the gospel. A letter arrived to a missionary from a little girl in a Sunday school class. Evidently the class teacher had told them not to expect an answer from the missionaries who were very busy, for the letter read, "Dear Rev. Smith, We are praying for you; we are not expecting an answer." The Moravians of Saxony in 1727, began a round the clock prayer watch that lasted a long time--a week? a month? a year? a decade? No. 100 years! By 1792, this small community had sent out 300 missionaries! I believe the reason so many of our number are called into the ministry is because of our prayer ministry. Would you begin today to pray that God's kingdom would be extended saving those without Christ?
To pray "Thy kingdom come" is to establish God's kingdom rule in the lives of believers. We also pray for Christ-followers to truly become kingdom persons (Mt. 6:33). A kingdom person says with the poet, "King of my life I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be." We remember that the church was supernatural in origin, but we forget that it is to be supernatural in operation. We remember that we were born supernaturally into God's kingdom, but we forget that our growth is supernatural as well. In order for God's kingdom to be established, we pray for new Christians, for loved ones, and for hurting Christians. We intercede for them that God's kingdom—His rule and reign--would be established in their hearts.
J. O. Fraser was a missionary to Southwest China. He ministered primarily in the city while praying faithfully for the Lesu tribe in the mountains to which he visited as often as he could. After some years on the field, he noticed a strange thing. He would visit the Lesu people and discover that they were healthy, active, dedicated and growing much more so than the church in the city where he lived. Why was that so? He discovered that he prayed far more for the people who were miles away than for those with whom he fellowshipped regularly. Avery T. Willis says, "Trace the movements of God in history and you will find that they were born in prayer, bathed in prayer, and grew by prayer." Pray for other Christians that they would seek first the kingdom of God.
To pray "Thy kingdom come" is to expect God's kingdom rule to come on earth. Every child of God longs for God's kingdom to come in its completeness upon the earth. Jesus is King--yes, but not over all. He is reigning--yes, but not completely. All on earth is not well. There is death, disease, sin, sorrow, and pain, but one day God will change all of that. The whole message of the Bible is that His day is coming. Kingdom praying just whets our appetites for His coming and implies we work to see it come. "Thy kingdom come” equals “Yes Lord; I enlist!"
II. TO INTERCEDE IS TO PRAY "THY WILL BE DONE" (V. 10B).
To pray "Thy will be done" we must understand God's will. Jesus asks us to pray, "Thy will be done" because it is not always done or inevitable. Prayer is the means by which much of God's will is accomplished; lack of prayer inhibits God's will from being done. There are certain things we know to be God's will—people’s salvation, the health and revival of churches, the commitment of Christians, and united church members to name a few. Prayer changes things. Prayer doesn't change God's will as much as it permits and enforces God's will to be done on earth.
To pray "Thy will be done" we must yield to God's will. Jesus becomes our example in this regard, as He prayed in the garden. The last time Beverly and I were in the Holy Land, we prayed together there in the garden, "Not our will, but Thine be done." I cannot say that I always live on that level, but that is God's desire for all of us. Pray as Jesus prayed, "Not My will, but Thine be done." Then you are in a position to pray with power with no will of your own, but with a desire to have the will of God done. There is nothing unspiritual or unspecific to pray, "Thy will be done."
To pray "Thy will be done" we must mirror God's will on earth as it is in heaven. We pray heaven down. We see what is in heaven and pray it on earth—peace, healing, unity, revival, salvations—to name a few. God wants heaven mirrored on earth. The devil called all his demons to a meeting and said, “Keep those Christians doing anything except praying and sharing their faith, because if they do, all heaven will break loose!”
Could I encourage you to pray continually? Dick Eastman reminds us that the power of intercession is more like the power of a raindrop than the power of a sledgehammer. A sledgehammer breaks the rock with one fell swoop. One drop of rain does little, but multiplied raindrops can make a desert bloom. The world is a desert filled with people needing the water of continual intercessory prayer even when the answer does not come immediately.
Could I encourage you to pray with authority? What authority do we have in intercessory prayer? We have the keys to the kingdom and with them the power to bind and loose (Mt. 12:25-29; 16:18-19; 18:18-20). A. J. Gordon writes, "We have authority to take from the enemy everything he is holding back. The chief way of taking is by prayer and do whatever action prayer leads us to. The cry that should be ringing out today is the great cry, 'Take, in Jesus' great Name!'" Could I encourage you to pray specifically? Intercessory praying is like sending an ICBM missile from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world. During Desert Storm, Saddam Hussein would fire a scud missile and then turn on CNN to see where it hit. Whereas we used "smart bombs" that were so effective, they would hit within three feet of their targets.
It was March 9, 1945, with the U.S. Army's 35th Infantry Division, 137th Infantry Co. outside of Ossenburg, Germany. Spencer January was a member of that company. Their objective was to cross a 200 yard stretch of open field to capture the fortified German position on the other side. Every previous attack from other companies had failed. The field was strewn with bodies of dead Americans. Just before the order was given to cross the field, Spencer prayed, "God, do something!" Suddenly a cloud settled over the field providing cover for the soldiers to cross unharmed. When the last one was over, the cloud lifted. The soldiers' previous position was blown up by German artillery as they thought the Americans were still there. Two weeks later a letter from Spencer's mother arrived. In it she inquired about the events of March 9 because a sister church member called her sensing the need to pray for Spencer. They prayed together, 'Lord, just cover him with a cloud!'" Since then Spencer January knows of the power of specific intercessory prayer and this Dallasite rises regularly interceding for others. If you have a “holy hunch”—the Lord impresses you to pray for someone--I would encourage you to act on it.
"Intercession" says Joy Dawson, "is the most neglected, costly, unpopular, effective, rewarding and exciting experience of the Christian." We are enlisting 100 intercessors to pray for our church this year one hour a week—either in one sitting or ten minutes a day each week. I challenge all of us to become intercessors--to make prayer the first thing we do when we awaken and the last thing we do when we go to sleep. The challenge from Samuel is clear, "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you" (I Sam. 12:23). Imagine what kind of church we would have if we all prayed at least an hour a week for our church? Be one of one hundred this year storming the gates of hell with intercessory praying. “Yes Lord, walking in the ways of Thy laws, we wait for You (in intercessory prayer clinging to You). Your name and renown are the desires of our hearts.”
MAKING HIS NAME GLORIOUS
LIFE MESSAGE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 27, 2008 BY BOB BENDER
“MAKING HIS NAME GLORIOUS” FROM ISAIAH 26:8 AND MARK 5
We come to the last phrase of our life commitment theme verse—“Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Is it your desire to honor the authoritative name of Jesus? Is it your desire to make the name of Jesus a sweet memory in people’s lives? Is it your every breath to see the name of Jesus exalted over the earth as the waters cover the seas? Jeremiah’s sister verse to Isaiah 26:8 (Jer. 13:11) records the Lord’s desire for His people, “that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise, and for glory.” Regrettably it records their response, “but they did not listen.” Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts=making His name glorious.
How can we make His name glorious over the earth? We do so by starting with our little part of the earth that we are responsible for—our sphere of influence in our families, workplace, neighborhood and church field. Let’s take a look at one person in Mark 5 who was used of the Lord to make His name glorious in his sphere of influence by simply telling his story. Did you know that you have a story to tell? Are you telling it?
What began as just another day walking with Jesus ended in a very unusual way, but the disciples were used to the unexpected being with Jesus. They made their way across the Sea of Galilee where Jesus had stilled the storm and the disciples were amazed at His power. They have now landed on the other side near Gadara. It is late evening, and the shadows are falling behind the mountain surrounding the Sea of Galilee. All of a sudden a demon possessed man comes running toward them. This man had come from the local cemetery which was a set of caves formed out of the hillside where this man made his home. Beverly and I have been to this spot and I have a picture of Christian humorist Dennis Swanberg coming out this cave, and if you know Dennis, he is as crazy as this poor man in our story. This man was so violent that he would stop anyone from passing by on the road that ran along side the cemetery. On several occasions some of the men of the city had gone out and wrestled him to the ground and put chains around him, but because of his strength he would simply break the chains and continue to threaten the lives of all in that district. He was a wild man unable to be controlled. People could hear his shrieks and screams constantly. Children were warned never to go near; youth seldom took the dare to go there; adults stayed a safe distance away. This man had scars all over his body where he had been cutting himself with stones. He was like a lion in the jungle roaming at will. He lived among the dead—unclean and alone. He was firmly bent on self-destruction. If they gave out a "Least Likely To Get Saved Award," he would have won it! This Gadarene demoniac probably was the most impossible case Jesus ever met, but Jesus specializes in the impossible.
But when he sees Jesus, things begin to change. This wild, screaming, unclothed maniac had seen Jesus from a distance and comes running toward Jesus and the twelve. The disciples don't know quite what to think. Is this man going to attack us or what? But as he nears them, he falls down and worships Jesus who immediately begins to call to the spirit within this man, "Come out of the man you unclean spirit." The man cries out with a loud voice in response, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!" Even the demons of hell know who Jesus is and the power that He has over them.
Jesus asks the spirit within the man, "What is your name?" And the spirit says to him, "My name is Legion, for we are many." Now a Roman legion is comprised of 6,000 soldiers. The demons begin to ask Jesus not to send them back to hell where they would be imprisoned forever. Once they are imprisoned in hell, they no longer are able to do their evil work on earth. They ask to be sent out of the man and into a herd of pigs nearby. Jesus gives them permission. They come out of the man and enter the pigs. The herd of 2000 pigs rushes down the steep bank into the sea to their death. There are some who would miss the point of the story by being overly concerned about these pigs. Jesus' purpose is to show the far greater value of man over pigs. Also, the death of a herd of pigs was a demonstration of the death that would have eventually come to this man if Jesus had not healed him. Even though the demons asked not to be sent back to hell, I suspect that once the pigs were drowned, to hell they went anyway.
When the townspeople observe the man who was demon-possessed now clothed and in his right mind, they become frightened (v. 15). Instead of being drawn to Jesus, they are afraid of Him. Instead of rejoicing with Christ and the poor man, they reject Christ. They are blind to His mercy and fearing only His power. Perfect love casts out fear, but they are not interested in Jesus' love. After they hear the whole story including the pigs, they ask Him to leave.
As Jesus gets into the boat to leave, the man who was demon possessed wants to be with Jesus. Anyone who meets Jesus wants to be with Him. A desire to follow Christ is the first result of coming to faith in Jesus. However, Jesus had other plans for this man. This is one of the rare occasions where a person wanted to follow Jesus for the right reasons, and Jesus would not let him. He said, "No, I've got better plans for you. I want you to go home to your people and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you." So off went this former demoniac clothed instead of naked, filled with the Spirit of God instead of filled with demons, sane instead of insane, proclaiming in his home town what great things Jesus had done for him. The result was that everyone marveled as he made the name of Jesus glorious in Decapolis—his sphere of influence. Here’s the big idea for today: those who know Jesus make His name glorious through telling their story of meeting Christ.
I. MAKE HIS NAME GLORIOUS BY TELLING YOUR STORY BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT CHRIST AND CAN BE DANGEROUS (VV. 1-14).
This demoniac was lost without Christ and without hope of a normal life. Several things characterize this man: He was on a downward slide. He was not always as we meet him today. Verse three says, "And no one was able to bind him anymore." In other words he was getting stronger and stronger. Little by little he began his downward slide until he was totally uncontrollable. That's the nature of sin. The result of sin is always more sin. He was always lost, but now he is becoming more and more dangerous. Mark my words; he did not wake up one day and decide, "I think I will become a Gadarene demoniac. I think I will go live in the tombs and cut myself with rocks and be indwelt with 6,000 demons and walk around naked and screaming and live out these self-destructive patterns." His downward slide began incrementally, little by little, till now he found himself in this grave situation described for us in the Mark 5.
He was dissatisfied. Does anyone here think he was enjoying the lifestyle he was living alone in the caves, cold, cutting himself with rocks, an outcast by the people, with his only friends the internal demons who tormented him and perhaps an occasional demoniac visiting him from another cave? You just don't hear him saying, "Let me tell you what the dear old devil means to me."
He was desperate. I am sure in his own power he had tried many times to rid himself of the demons that tormented him. But every time he tried, he was unsuccessful. He could not reach out to others, because everyone had ostracized him. His demoniac friends were certainly of no help, because they were in the same condition as he was. Why do you think he came running up to Jesus? People are lost without Christ, and lost people can be dangerous.
He was dangerous. He was dangerous to himself. He was dangerous to others. Notice the things that occupied his life--the occult, death, violence, nudity. Sound familiar? Sounds like a contemporary rock song to me. The more things change, the more they remain the same as these same characteristics dominate our culture--the occult, death, violence, nudity. Jesus introduced us to another form of danger: the Pharisees’ external and do-it-yourself style of religion.
There is even another more subtle form of danger—the danger of a godless legacy. For instance, Max Jukes was an atheist who lived a godless life. He married a girl who shared his values and from that union, a study was done on 540 of their descendants: 310 died destitute, 150 were criminals, 7 were murderers, 100 were alcoholics, and more than half of the women from this union were prostitutes. These 540 persons cost the United States 1 ¼ million dollars.
Our own city has been touched with the danger of a young man who was troubled and hated Christians. The rural churches recently burned to the ground in Alabama were torched by dangerous Satanists. Our world would be a less dangerous place if more Islamic terrorists would come to faith in Jesus. Who will tell them? People like you and me who have experienced the healing touch of Jesus.
II. MAKE HIS NAME GLORIOUS BY TELLING YOUR STORY BECAUSE PEOPLE WITHOUT CHRIST CAN BE SAVED (VV. 15-17).
This man, though he was on a downward spiral, was dissatisfied, dangerous and hopeless, he desired a change. As soon as this man saw Jesus from a distance, he began to run toward Him (v. 6). It was the part of this man who wanted to be made whole. He wanted to be saved from his destructive lifestyle. He comes to Jesus for healing, casting himself at Jesus' feet knowing Jesus is his only hope.
Notice what happens after this man encounters Christ. Now we have a new man (v. 15). He is sitting; he is clothed; he is in his right mind--the same word that Paul uses in writing to Timothy that the Lord does not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. It means the Lord gives us self-control, a sober mind and an ability to see things in proper perspective and to conduct our affairs accordingly. Of course, this man had an element of insanity. Jesus corrected that. We must remember that there is an element of insanity in all sin. The person who sins is never acting in his own best interest; he is acting in a way that is destructive. Sin is always stupid.
This man now saved wants to be with Jesus. Verse 18 reveals this man's heart, and how he wants to accompany Jesus--be His disciple, to follow Him wherever He goes, and learn more about Him. If you have met Jesus you are going to be a new person. If you have met Jesus you are going to want to be with Jesus. If your life has not changed, and you have no desire to be with Christ, then you better check whether or not you are saved.
This man is a picture of us in our lost state before we met Christ. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us of the status of people without Christ. Before we became born again, we were all among those who were born dead and became the living dead. In that condition Satan was free to roam about the graveyard of the living dead and freely select willing humans to give him their souls in exchange for power, possessions, position or pleasure on earth. In return, the victim then became an instrument of death, destruction and deception.
Think with me now concerning our state before we met Jesus Christ. You really only have three options: people without Christ are dead, sick or well. We are either dead and there is nothing we can do to save ourselves; or we are sick and there is something we can do to save ourselves; or we are well and have no need of salvation.
There are many people today who see themselves as well. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to heal the well, but only those who needed a physician. Some make the following assumption: "I am well in that I have no sin, or that the sins I do have are no worse than someone else’s, and therefore I am in good shape. Because I am well, I have everything I need and have no need of a savior. I am self-sufficient" (Rev. 3:17-18).
The second category of folks is those who think they are sick. They recognize that there is a problem in their lives, but it's not a sick unto death problem; it's just a sickness that they can take care of. "I am going to need a little help from Jesus in order to be well. I'm going to need His moral example; I am going to need to follow His teachings. I'm not dead; I'm just sick. Jesus and I can handle this." Notice the great part in this person's “salvation” that they themselves play (pride) (Is. 64:6; Mt. 5:20).
Thirdly, we can consider ourselves as the Bible considers us--dead in our sins. A dead person can do nothing to help himself. In order to be made alive, all of the resources that impact his life are going to have to come from the outside. That's exactly how we are without Christ. We certainly are not well. We definitely are not only sick; we are sick unto death. We are dead in our trespasses and sins. There is nothing we can do to help God out or to help Jesus out for our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, and that is a gift of God not of ourselves, lest we should boast. Even God's grace in drawing us to Himself and enabling us to make a decision to follow Christ comes from Him. That, too, is a gift. It is all of God and not of ourselves, because we are dead and only an outside life can resurrect us, and that is the life of Jesus Christ. It is very important that we understand where we are as human beings and what category we fall in. We are dead and we can only be saved through the life of Jesus. No one is hopeless.
III. MAKE HIS NAME GLORIOUS BY TELLING YOUR STORY BECAUSE SAVED PEOPLE INFLUENCE OTHERS (VV. 18-20).
This newly saved man now wants to be with Jesus. Which is more difficult--to get in the boat with Jesus and travel with Him or to go home and tell his family, friends, associates, and neighbors that he had gotten saved? I think you know the answer to that. It would have been easier for him to follow Jesus in the boat than to go back home. But this man had a greater opportunity to follow Christ by going back home than by following Jesus physically. He was closer to Jesus in obedience spiritually than he could have been following Jesus physically. This man had a greater opportunity for ministry right where he lived than traveling around the country with Jesus.
What about you? Which is easier--to be with Jesus or to go and tell? Our lives are so full of meetings that we hardly have time to go home and tell. We would rather go to this study or that meeting than get in the battle! We need balance in our lives--spiritual exercise in addition to spiritual food lest we become spiritually fat. I am asking you to seriously consider getting out of the boat with Jesus and go where you are needed more. “But I need to know more and grow more before I do.” This demoniac knew nothing other than that Jesus had changed his life. He obeyed the call of Jesus by leaving the comfort of being with Jesus in the boat and going where others needed him more. I can only imagine the story he told of how Jesus changed his life.
We each have an influence for Christ where we live. We are to bear witness to Christ where we are first. Each one of us is to go home and tell. We are to go home and tell because people are lost and lost people can be dangerous. We are to go home and tell, because lost people can get saved. We are to go and tell because saved people influence others.
Remember the story of Max Jukes? Well, praise the Lord because it works both ways! Jonathan Edwards lived at the same time as Max Jukes, but he married a godly girl. A study of the 1394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards reveals the following: 13 became college presidents; 5 college professors, 3 US senators, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 authors of prominence, one vice-president of the US, 80 public officials in other capacities, and 295 college graduates among whom were governors of states and ministers to foreign countries. His descendants did not cost the United States a single penny, but instead left a godly legacy. Why because saved people influence others.
Daniel 12:3 says, “Those who lead many to righteousness shine like the stars forever and ever.” We lost Lindsay Brown, one of our own last December 21, and had her memorial service here last Friday. Lindsay was one of those stars. Her picture is even on a star at the top of our Christmas tree in the college house. She used her influence to bring others to Christ and she will shine like the stars forever. Each time we look at the night sky and see a star, especially a shooting, star may it remind us of Lindsay. She was more like a comet who came and went quickly but left a trail of influence in her wake. May her legacy continue through us as we too, make His name glorious.
Years ago in England, lived a fine preacher named John Holden. One late afternoon in the village where he lived, everyone began to run to the seashore to man rowboats to go out into the sea where a vessel had capsized. Little boat after little boat would go out and bring to shore those who had been thrown into the icy waters. When the last rowboat was coming in, John called to the rowboat, "Did you get the last one?" Came the reply from the boat, "I think there's one more, but I can't find him." John began immediately to prepare to go out in his own boat. His mother grabbed him and said, "Oh, son, it's so dark and foggy--don't go. You may never come back." John said, "Mother, I love you, but I've got to go out there." After what seemed to be an long time, John's little rowboat could be seen through the night and fog. Someone on shore shouted, "Did you get him? Was there one more out there?" "Yes, I got him and tell my mother, it's my brother."
I am asking you to make His name glorious by making yourself available to Him. Get out of the comfort of your boat and sign up for FAITH evangelism. You have a story to tell—a story when told makes His name glorious. “Yes, Lord walking in your ways, we wait for You. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Keep telling your story of how you met Christ until the name of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the seas.
YES, LORD! GLORIFYING GOD IN MY CHURCH
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON FEBRUARY 3, 2008 BY DR. BOB BENDER, PASTOR
"YES, LORD! GLORIFYING GOD IN MY CHURCH” FROM ISAIAH 26:8 & EPH. 3:21
I was notified between services last Sunday that my pastor in my formative years—Newman N. Antonson, under whom I was saved, taught to walk with God, and called to preach had passed away suddenly. This incident made me consider my own life and especially my spiritual heritage. What has God used to make me what little that I am spiritually? Obviously he has used people in my life, as He has in yours.
On a larger scale, God has used His church to make me what I am. Everything I have and am has come from God through His church—my salvation, my call to preach, my spiritual formation, my 10 years of formal theological education, my family as I met my wife at the altar when she joined the church where I was on staff as a college student, my career (or better put my ministry), and my future as I plan to retire as your pastor God willing. I am committed to the local church. I tell people that I have the greatest job in the world pastoring a local assembly of believers. I say unequivocally that I love the local church. I love the local church because it is God’s plan to reach the world. I love the local church because I love the people of God. I love the local church because it has been such a source of blessing in my life. I love the local church because God loves His church. I love the local church because Jesus died for the church, is praying for the church, and one day will come back for His church. One day he who restrains (the Holy Spirit through the church) will be withdrawn from this world and all hell will break loose. The local church’s influence is what is keeping this world glued together.
I have no patience with people who devalue God’s church for it’s message and influence is the hope of the world. I love Israel and stand behind her, but God is no bigamist and His bride is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can say or do most anything to me and I can handle it, but if you say or do anything against my bride, Beverly, we are going to have a “come to Jesus meeting” no matter how big you are! I am sure that God feels the same way about His bride. God values His church and has a wonderful plan for it—especially ours—FBCBF. I eat, breathe, and sleep FBCBF. I react when people bad mouth the church, or claim they don’t need it, or just show up whenever they feel like it. One day they will need the church, even if it is to have the pastor bury them. I love the church in spite of its warts, for I have more than my share. Today's churches remind me of Noah when he was interviewed, "Wasn't the ark messy?" He answered, "Yes; but it was the best ship afloat!" Anything of lasting value in kingdom work is linked to a local church. That's why para-church organizations not only appeal to church members for financial resources, but they also link up with churches in fulfilling the great commission. These organizations know that if it's going last, it will be linked to the local church.
God needs a church on purpose. Over the doorway of a Minnesota town’s volunteer fire department building is the slogan, "We will know where we are going when we get there." How often that lack of specific direction characterizes the contemporary church. Where are we headed? What is our objective? I am reminded of a military quote, "Now that we have lost sight of our objective, let's redouble our efforts" and of a book entitled, When I get where I am going, where will I be?
The most important thing about anything is its primary purpose. What is God’s desire for His church which should also be our objective as a church? So many of us are like the children of Israel--each one doing what is right in our own eyes. One pastor told me, “My problem is not that our church does not have a vision; my problem is that every person has his/her own different vision of what church should be.” Needed: an objective and a plan of reaching it that everyone can buy into. Historian-philosopher Arnold Toynbee has written, "Two things change apathy into enthusiasm: a goal that takes the imagination by storm and a practical plan to put that goal into action." Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, wrote, "Everyone who's ever taken a shower has an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference."
Each January we are reminded what church is all about and our part in its influence in our world. This year, we have said “Yes Lord” to His lordship (“Yes Lord”); we have said “Yes Lord” in our giving (“walking in the way of your laws—the law of giving and receiving”); we have said “Yes Lord” in our praying (“we wait for You”); we have said “Yes Lord” in our sharing (“Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts”); today we say “Yes Lord” to the glory of God in His church. God is creating a people for His glory called the church. Our primary purpose in life is to glorify God; Our goal is God's glory. God has formed a people for Himself that we might make a name for His memory, His glory, His fame, as He will not share His glory with another (Is. 26:8; 42:8; 43:7, 11, 21).
Ephesians 3:21 caught my imagination this week: "glory in the church." God's primary desire for His church is to reflect His glory. Why does Paul single out the church as the reservoir and channel of God's glory? Because the church is under special obligation and has a unique opportunity to do so. In the doxology of Paul's Ephesian prayer, we are told that God is glorified in the church--made up of the redeemed people of God like you and me. I speak this morning to God's glory in the church. God is to be glorified in the church as He is to be glorified in Christ. It is interesting that Paul puts the phrase, "in the church," before "in Christ Jesus." His concern (as ours) is that God's glory fill the church. To what degree does God’s glory fill the church? I am assuming all of us desire that God be glorified in the church, but how desperately do we desire it? Where is the glory of God in the church? There is glory of pastors, talent, ministries, programs, denominations, spiritual gifts, and buildings; but where is the glory of God in the church?
The supremacy of God and God alone is a truth that hits most people like a truck full of unknown fruit. If you survive the impact, you discover the most luscious fruit on the planet. By the glory of God I refer to God's manifest presence--full of splendor, majesty, power, and beauty. To glorify God then means to magnify God's presence on earth. We can't and don't add anything to God's glory when we glorify Him, but we allow Him to be visible to the world through the church.
How is God most glorified? "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" (John Piper). This results in our giving an accurate assessment and reflection of who God is. Have you experienced God's glory? Salvation is a recovery of God's glory. Sanctification is a reflection of God's glory. Submission is the revival of God's glory--an experience God desires for you to have today.
God’s glory or manifest presence made it repository first in Adam and Eve but they lost it; then in the Ark of the Covenant, then in the OT temple; then in Jesus Christ in whom all the glory of the Godhead dwelt. Finally, in this age, His glory has rested upon His church. Why--so we can sit around and enjoy it as a people of privilege like the OT children of Israel who didn’t have a clue? No; we are possessors of it that we might be proclaimers of it (I Pe. 2:9).
What is our plan to glorify God here? “Our desire is to bring glory to God by being a ministering church through our worship, our witness and walk with Christ.” We are to glorify God in our worship—our ministry to the Lord; our witness—our ministry to the lost; and in our walk—our ministry to the laity or one another. Only as we focus on glorifying God, can we experience God in all His fullness.
Paul uses three analogies for church in Ephesians: body (Eph. 4:12); bride (Eph. 5:25-27); and building (Eph. 2:21; I Pe. 2:5). The glory of the body is in its care and unity. The glory of a bride is in her beauty and purity. “How beautiful the body of Christ.” The glory of a building is that it houses and honors God’s life-giving Spirit. I want to share my pulpit time with Harriett Tomlinson who has a testimony of how the body of Christ works and will come now and share her story. I also received a call this week from another church member from another city thanking us for praying for her as her tumor was benign.
When you go to church—say you are looking for a new one—what are you looking for? I think most of us would agree that we want a church where we feel welcomed. No one wants to go to a church where you are not wanted, feel welcomed and valued. Let’s take this principle and apply it to God, for He is looking for a place to manifest His glorious presence. He will show up where He is wanted, welcomed and valued (Jer. 29:11-14). There is a record where all three of the values of the NT metaphors of church--unity of the body, purity of the bride, and the fullness of God in the building converge—2 Chronicles 5. It is no surprise that God showed up in all His glory here. When can we expect God’s glory to fill the church—our church?
We can expect God's glory to fill our house when the leadership is sanctified as the bride (vv. 11-12.) Notice the spiritual leaders (priests) readied and prepared themselves to experience God in all of His glory. Isaiah 52:11 says that those who carry the utensils of the Lord are to purify themselves. We, as a leadership team take this verse very seriously, for God will not bless a church with sin in the camp. I am one of the most fortunate pastors in the world to have around me a group of spiritual leaders in our ministerial staff. We desire more than anything else for God's presence to be felt, and we spend time on our knees weekly for you and our church. We are also blessed with a spiritually-minded group of deacons who seek God's glory and this church's good. Our LIfE Group leaders also desire only what's best for the Lord and His church. All of us are not what we ought to be, but our desire is for God's glory. It is imperative that our leadership be sanctified morally, spiritually, attitudinally, maritally, financially, parentally, and relationally for God to fully bless us and show up in all His glory. We need to stay spiritually power washed by the blood of Jesus and the cleansing of the Holy Spirit.
We can expect God's glory to fill the house when the congregation is unified as the body (v.13a). It was only when the worshipers gathered together
as one that the glory of God fell. We must continue to strive to protect the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and gather around the common purpose--God's glory in order to stay united. God refuses to show up in power and manifest presence when His children don't get along. Our home in Ada was blessed with the presence of a gray turtle dove occasionally that walked around in our yard. A missionary couple was ministering in the Holy Land where a dove came to live in the eaves of their porch. One day the family got into a fight and a family member slammed the door. The dove flew off never to return. God's manifested presence is experienced only where his children get along. Are you properly related to everyone here? The devil loves to sow discord among the church and the Lord will not show up where there is lack of unity God hates the person who sows discord among His church (
Pr. 6:19). God desires not only that there be unity, but a unity of focus:
We can expect God's glory to fill the house as a building when the Lord is glorified (v. 13). I know that sounds redundant, but for us in this age it refers to lifting up and glorifying the Lord Jesus. Jesus said that when He is lifted up, He draws all to Himself (
Jo. 12:32). God is waiting for a church to truly honor and lift up His Son. God says, “I think I will show up at the church that honors My Son the most.”
God is saying that if we honor His Son, He will honor us with His presence. The result is that the glory of God filled the house like a cloud (vv. 13c-14). I would say that God showed up for church that day. When the praises go up, the glory comes down.
We will worship something. If we do not worship God, we will replace it with something else. Instead of the praise of God, we substitute it with the praise of man. Instead of seeking God, the Blesser and Giver, we seek God's blessing and gift; instead of God's presence and power, we replace it with programs; and instead of delight in God, we replace it with duty.
If I were to visit you in the hospital and you thanked me for coming, and I said something like this, "Don't mention it; it's my duty as your pastor." What is wrong with that response? Well, technically it is my duty as a pastor to visit you in the hospital just as it is my duty to preach this morning. However, duty honors only duty, but delight confers
honor. If I were to say after you thanked me for coming, "O, it's my delight to be here. The blessing is all mine." This reflects delight in the patient rather than duty to a job.
Now in this illustration you are the pastor, and God is the patient. God delights in our being in His presence rather than us being there dutifully (
Psa. 16:11). Again, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him and seek Him. Where feelings for God and experiences with God are dead, worship is dead. True worship must reflect the worth of God's glory, otherwise the word hypocrite would have no meaning whatsoever. Jesus said in
Matthew 15:8, "These people honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are far from Me."
Specifically, what am I asking you to do this morning? I am asking you to affirm our church's objective and "buy into it" as being from God. I am asking you to commit yourself to glorifying God this year. I am asking you to involve yourself in the life of your church and be a participator, rather than spectator in what God is doing. I am asking you to respond appropriately on the life commitment response card in our bulletin if you didn’t last week so that more glory and honor can go to our Lord Jesus Christ and in so doing fulfilling our purpose as a church. Would you respond with "Yes, Lord! I will glorify You in my church." Churches that experience God’s glory do what churches that don’t experience His glory refuse to do—pray, give, work, tell, seek.
One of these days the whole earth is going to be filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas when our Lord Jesus fulfills His promise in Revelation 22:20--"Yes, I am coming quickly." When we think of our bringing glory to God and experiencing the glory of God in our midst, Jesus has a question for us in Matthew 9:28: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Would we respond as the two blind men did by saying, "Yes, Lord." "Yes, Lord, Your name (glory) and renown (memory) are the desire of our hearts" (Is. 26:8). We are reminded that “For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our amen to the glory of God through us” (2 Co. 1:20). Our future is as bright as the promises of God as long as we continue to lift up our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ in His church in 2008—the year of glorifying God in the church. I love my church; don’t you?
God is creating a people for His glory called the church—the bride; the body; the building. What part will you play in it? Would you contribute to the purity of the bride by keeping yourself pure? Would you contribute to the unity of the body by preserving the peace? Would you contribute to the fullness of God’s presence of the building by praying until His glory fills the house of God? Whatever He says to you, would you do it now.
Road to Financial Freedom Series
ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM EXIT 101
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF BY BOB BENDER ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2007
“ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM EXIT 101--MASTER OR MANAGER?”
Last Sunday we made preparation for our journey as a church on the road to financial freedom. Most of us made a commitment to transfer the ownership of our lives over to Jesus Christ. Decision is 10% and follow through is 90%. It takes more than a decision to make Jesus Lord. Simon Peter is an example of that (Mt. 26:33-35; 69-75). Just because we call Him Lord doesn’t mean that He necessarily is (Lu. 6:46). That is why we are addressing this issue the Sunday after we transferred the control of our lives over to Jesus Christ as we continue the journey of financial freedom by following through. Title gives ownership but possession gives occupancy. I can have the title deed to a house, but if there are occupants in it who refuse to pay rent, guess who has the power to live there at least for awhile? Last week we transferred the ownership of our lives over to Jesus Christ, this week we are going to let Him takes possession.
As we continue down the journey of financial freedom, we come to our first exit. Pretend you are on an interstate driving down the highway. You are in the passing lane on a six lane highway. You exit is coming up. What must you do to take it? Get in the right lane by fighting against the traffic that is going one way and go another. Oftentimes it is difficult to find a kind person who will let you in. The world is full of selfish people who are in it for themselves.
This is a parable of life. We are traveling down the highway just going along with the flow of this world. We must fight against the flow to take the first exit to arrive at our destination of financial freedom. Now that you are off the wide road that leads to financial destruction and are now on the narrow road to financial freedom, it is vital that you follow the instructions you are given in order for you to arrive at your intended destination. Let’s take exit 101—master or manager--and see where it leads us. We have to cross stop lights and make three turns along the way.
STOP #1—PERSPECTIVES BLVD. (ROMANS 6:16).
It is important to be sure and “turn right” on this blvd. To turn the wrong way down this road is to lead to disaster. Perspective has to do with how you see life. How we view life determines how we live life. Perspective dictates practice. If I were an atheist or agnostic, I certainly wouldn’t believe there was a hell and more than likely would live like there wasn’t one either. If we view ourselves as masters--“the master of our fate and the captain of our souls”--we will live for ourselves as if we control our lives. If we view ourselves as managers, we will live for another. How do you see yourself as you traverse through life—master or manager? The word Lord appears over 400 times in the NT and occurs more times than the word Savior. He is Lord, King and Master. We must move from a position of master of our lives to a position of manager of what our Master, the Lord God Almighty has allowed us to have.
A master wields total control of his or her life. No one tells him what to do; he holds the key. A master is fooled into thinking that he has done it all by himself and builds bigger homes and barns and does not know that God is saying, “You fool; tonight your soul will be required from you.” A master feels he holds the key to his life.
A manager realizes that he is a steward (manager) of all of life. Birth is a gift from God. Life is a gift from God. Being born in America is a gift from God. Being able to take your next breath is a gift from God. Having your job is a gift from God. In fact, a good perspective of life is this—all that I am and have I owe to God and others. A Christian realizes that Someone else holds the key (
Rev. 1:18). As stewards or managers of our lives, Jesus has entrusted to us the keys to the kingdom (Mt. 16:19). Are we using them to build up His kingdom, ignore His kingdom, or God forbid, tear it down? He has given us the key to determine how we are going to use it
(Open this week’s gift—a key). Are we going to live life separated from Him as a master of our own lives as many do in this world, or are we going to see this key as a reminder that He holds the key? Whatever power He has given to me is to be used to expand and extend the kingdom of God through the giving of my time, talents and treasures.
Romans 6:16 is clear: everybody serves somebody or something. To whomever or whatever we yield, we are slaves of that master. It could be today that someone is a slave to material possessions, an inappropriate relationship, your intellect or other achievements, or yourself as your authority—running your own life independent of anyone’s help, human or divine—master not manager. Yes, in the words of that great theologian Bob Dylan—“You gotta serve somebody.” Who do you serve?
(PLAY VIDEO HERE). How do you see yourself--as master or manager? Which turn are you going to make? Having made the right turn here, we now come to our second stop light.
STOP #2—POSSESSIONS AVE. (MATTHEW 6:24).
Life is filled with monopolizers. I mean, have you ever thought of the fact that only one game company makes the game
monopoly? Whatever we give ourselves to monopolizes and controls us—pride, sex, money, work, drugs and alcohol to name a few. You will never hear a testimony along these lines—“Let me tell you what the dear old devil means to me.” There is only one benign monopolizer or harmless dictator—God. He desires to take control of our lives for our own good and His glory.
Matthew 6:24 is clear: you cannot serve God and possessions. Now the next question becomes—how do we relate to all God has so graciously given us? Have you ever been stuffed? Every one of us in this room right now is stuffed. Now I do not mean stuffed with food; I mean stuffed with stuff. We sing and see bumper stickers—“God Bless America.” God is up in heaven thinking, “I have already blessed you; how many more blessings can you stand?” We are the richest country on the planet. The problem is that these blessings so easily become curses as they tend to control us.
Imagine that you had an important package that you wanted to send to someone special overnight. Who would you call (Show UPS slide)? UPS! The brown truck pulls up and the driver gets out looking fantastic in his brown shorts and picks up the package. What would happen if your package never arrived? You would call UPS and finally track down the driver. What would you do if to your astonishment, he says, “Oh, I took that package home and kept it for myself!” Why would you do that? “Well, you gave it to me. I thought it was mine!” That would never happen. Why? Because the driver does not own the package. He may have temporary control and custody of it, but it is not his. The driver’s job is to make sure the package gets to its destination. We are all God’s delivery drivers. God entrusts us with His stuff, and expects us to deliver his stuff to his destinations. All of our possessions are just God’s UPS packages. They may be in our “truck,” but all of them have God’s address on them. Everything we have—our job, our money, our home, our car, our children, even our lives, are all God’s packages, ready to be used for the good of others and the glory of God.
One of my best friends in Austin was an UPS driver. He told me that there are very strict rules for the drivers to abide by. If he received a traffic ticket; he was in big trouble and if he was involved in an avoidable accident; he would lose his job. They take their jobs very seriously. We are UPS drivers of God’s stuff. There are driver rules for us as well. We must be more committed with God’s stuff than an UPS driver is with yours.
Driver rule #1: My packages do not belong to me. God owns it all (
Ps. 24:1); we are just His delivery drivers. Say this out loud with me:
“It’s not my stuff.” God owns everything and everything belongs to God. We live today with a myth of ownership. We think that because I paid for it, it is mine. We are driving around this planet in our big brown trucks filled with OUR packages. But it’s not my stuff. It all belongs to God. Your car is just a UPS package. Your house is just a UPS package. All of the shoes in your closet are just UPS packages. Your kids are UPS packages. We hear all the time, “It’s my body, my choice.” No, the bible says that even your own body does not belong to you; it was bought with a price and is God’s UPS package as well (I Co. 6:20). If this stuff is mine, then I can tell God it is none of His business what I do with it. But if all of my stuff is simply God’s UPS packages, then what I do with His stuff is His business. Some of you have a pretty empty truck. Some of you are driving UPS trucks filled with more stuff than you could ever deliver in your life. The world says you fill up your truck from good investments or hard work, but the Bible says riches come from God. This really helps my envy of other people’s stuff. Why does someone have so much more than I do? Because God decided they would. Really, having more stuff means you have more responsibility to deliver God’s stuff.
Driver Rule #2: I have been entrusted with temporary control over my packages.
First Peter 1:1 says that we are resident aliens. Our life here is temporary. Our life is not in our truck. One day we will park this old truck and get out and spend the rest of our lives at home with God. But we think that our life is in the truck; that this earth is our home. So we store up our treasures in our trucks. In fact, we have so much stuff that it will not fit in our truck, so we go out and rent more space so we can store the stuff we don’t have enough room for in our truck. We actually pay people to store our stuff because we have so much of it and can’t use it all. Meanwhile 1/3 of the world would be thrilled to have the rental space we rent as their entire house! But if we begin to see heaven as our home and earth as our temporary truck, we store up treasures in heaven. The real question facing us is, “Where is your home--this truck called earth, or Heaven?
And while we are on this earth, God has entrusted us with his packages. A biblical word for this is the word stewardship. Let me give you a definition of stewardship from Andy Stanley and changed to reflect our focus today: Stewardship is protecting and delivering the Owner’s packages with fierce intensity. We have fierce intensity about the first half of that definition--the protecting part. Many of us drive our brown trucks around town with the thought, “How can I keep all this stuff on my truck?” But do we have a fierce intensity about giving our stuff for the good of others and the glory of God—about delivering them?
Driver rule #3: I will be evaluated on how I deliver my packages. God does not need our stuff. Everything we give Him comes out of His own hand. It is like when you dads out there give your kids 10 bucks to buy you a Father’s Day present! What God really wants from us is faithfulness--the kind of life that has been transformed by God’s grace. It is this kind of life that results in being able to freely offer all our things for the good of others and the glory of God.
God uses our stuff to test our hearts, to see if we have truly been transformed. Let’s don’t make the mistake of Gehazi in
2 Kings 5:20-27 and go running after other people’s stuff no matter the justification we give for pursuing it. What are you chasing today?
Some people feel like church isn’t the place to talk about stuff; in fact, some of you today may be uncomfortable with this subject. A pastor preached on the subject of stuff and got what all pastors love to get—an anonymous letter. The letter read: “I was never so disappointed in a service as I was Sunday. I have an unbelieving friend that I got to come with me, and what were you preaching about? Money! I can assure you she was not impressed! And why money, when there are so many beautiful things to say? You’d better reconsider such messages in the future. Leave money to God and he will handle everything, believe me. Signed: A Christian who loves to go to church to hear the Word.” (Taken from Randy Alcorn, Money Possessions and Eternity, p. 408). This Christian must not love to hear much of the Word, because the subject of money or possessions appears 2350 times in Scripture—one of its most dominant themes! I suppose he just cuts those verses out of his Bible like King Jehudi in Jeremiah because he didn’t like what he hears. Jesus spoke more about money than He did faith or prayer.
We are evaluated each day in time for how we deliver our packages; we will be evaluated in eternity for how we deliver our packages. We all long to hear the words from our Lord Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Look up the context of this statement from Jesus in
Matthew 25 and you will see that it is made in the context of being a steward of God’s possessions. And one of the gauges God will look at to determine our rewards and responsibilities will be how we delivered the packages He entrusted to us. “
If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Lu. 16:11). “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (I Co. 4:2). It will be the faithful drivers who will be given more routes to drive for the glory of God. We may not be there when many of the packages we deliver will be opened. But God will be, and one day we will rejoice to look back and see the impact of a route well driven.
STOP #3—PERSONAL ST. (JOSHUA 24:14,23).
Now we go from preaching to meddling. Jesus is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. Managers submit to Christ’s lordship. Masters are lords unto themselves.
Life is made up of relationships and possessions, Jesus must be Lord of all of them. What else is there to life besides relationships and possessions? Nothing—this is the whole of life. A master holds possessions with a clenched fist, because he feels they are his own; a manager holds these possessions (and relationships) with an open hand, for he knows they are entrusted to him by God. A master relates to possessions as a right; a manager relates to possessions as a responsibility. A master works to become rich; a manager works to serve Christ. A master gives to get; a manager gives because he loves God. A master spends carefreely and selfishly; a manager spends prayerfully and responsibly.
We are almost home. But first we must deal with a personal issue. What are you going to do with today’s theme? It’s really a matter of the heart isn’t it? We are to choose this day whom we will serve (
Jo. 24:14, 15). We are to incline our hearts to the Lord (
Jo. 24:23). To get home” in our journey today, we must decide who we are going to serve.
Joshua 24:15 is clear: we must make a choice to be a master or manager of “our” (God’s) stuff. Do you really see your stuff as your stuff or God’s stuff? Are you a master or a manager? Can you honestly say, “It’s not my stuff?” In a moment, I want to lead us in a prayer of repentance, that God would forgive us for acting like owners, not delivery drivers; masters not managers. As we pray, see ourselves getting closer to home—financially free.
ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM EXIT 102
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON SEPTEMBER 23 BY BOB BENDER
“ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM EXIT 102: BOUND OR BLESSED?”
FROM PROVERBS 22:7 AND ROMANS 13:8
Welcome to the road to financial freedom--a journey not about getting something from you but about giving something to you—resources to set you free financially.
In preparing for the journey two weeks ago, we were asked the penetrating question of who’s the boss—God or money? Last week exit 101 dealt with the question of how you see yourself—a master or manager? We take exit 102 today dealing with the question--bound or blessed? Do you find yourself bound by financial debt or blessed with financial freedom?
Proverbs 22:7 speaks of financial bondage or excessive debt: "The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender." Romans 13:8 speaks of the blessing of financial freedom: "Owe no man anything except to love one another." Are you bound or blessed? Do you desire to be blessed with financial freedom? Then God has a word for you today.
Do you remember the children’s game—red light; green light? You stop on red and go on green. The first intersection we come to after taking exit 102—bound or blessed—is a red stop light. As we sit here for a moment, we are going to consider some very important matters as we wait for the light to turn green.
I. EXIT 102’S FIRST INTERSECTION IS A RED LIGHT: DEBT STOP
Money—it seems the farther we get ahead, the farther we get behind. A fellow bumped his head and went into a 20 year coma awakening in the year 2027. The first thing he did was call his broker to see how his investments were doing. The broker reported that his investments were now worth $21 million. “I’m rich; I’m rich!” he said. At which point the telephone operator came on the line and said, “Your 3 minutes are up, sir. Please deposit a million dollars.”
Now what do I mean by financial bondage? Financial bondage is indebtedness over depreciating items, preoccupation with money and possessions, a desire to get rich quick; and financial worries. Debt is defined as liable, answerable for, in embarrassed circumstances; in difficulties, up against it; in the red, fast tied up; insolvent; out of pocket; unpaid; owing; in arrears; outstanding; and in hock. Doesn't sound like a very pleasant situation to be in, does it?
We need to stop, look and listen; pause, consider and hear what God is saying to us. National statistics are very telling. There are 640 million credit cards in circulation in the US—two for every man woman and child. The US consumer credit debt is $2.4 trillion--an 80% increase since 2000. In 1997 banks financed an average of 89% for auto loans; by 2006 it had risen to an average of 101%. Personal savings in 2006 was minus 1%--the lowest in 73 years. Our average debt to income ratio is 126%--the amount consumers spend more than they earn. 51 million US households have credit card debt of $12,000 or more with an average credit card debt per household at $8500. Recently, a pastor friend of mine had a church member come up to him after he preached on this subject and said, “Pastor, I need help. My credit card debt is $56,000 and my car payment is $850 a month.” Many of us can relate to the following scenario: (PLAY “DEBT UP TO MY EYEBALLS” VIDEO HERE).
Let me tell you why speakers get push back when they address the subject of money which Jesus addressed often: we live in a nation that worships the god of materialism. Americans own almost half of the world’s wealth while only comprising 5% of the world’s population. The average American’s wealth is 100 times higher than the average Indian or Indonesian. Americans spend more money on dog food than we do on charitable giving. To whom much is given, much is required. Materialism is not possessing things; it is when those things possess us.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL quotes a wit who defines money as “an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider for everything except happiness.” Brad Pitt said, “Once you’ve got everything, then you’re just left with yourself. . . It doesn’t help you sleep any better, and you don’t wake up any better because of it.”
The first question to ask at debt stop is: why am I in financial trouble? The Bible gives us 10 reasons why we are in poverty due to irresponsible actions (other reasons may include voluntary poverty or poverty of testing—ref. Job): (10) Laziness--"A little sleep, a little slumber and your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man" (Pr. 6:10-11); (9) Selfishness--There is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want" (Pr. 11:24); (8) Rebellion--"Poverty will come to him who neglects discipline" (Pr. 13:18); (7) Drunkenness and other addictions--"For the heavy drinker will come to poverty" (Pr. 23:21); “He who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty" (Pr. 28:19); (6) Greed or covetousness --"A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth, and does not know that want will come upon him" (Pr. 28:22); we break the 10th commandment daily—“Thou shalt not covet.” (5) Over commitment at work--"It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep" (Ps. 127:2-3); (4) Withholding God's money--"You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat but there is not enough to be satisfied; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes. 'Why' declares the Lord of hosts, 'Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house'" (Hag. 1:6, 9); (3)Irresponsible spending—“ If you do not obey the Lord your God, these curses shall come upon you and overtake you; the alien among you shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail” (Deut. 28:15, 44); (2) Discontentment—I Timothy 6:6-10; discontentment is "people buying things they don't need with money they don't have to impress people they don't even like!" Some of us are living on the ragged edge of financial irresponsibility because of this public enemy #1. Bill Gothard defines contentment as "realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present circumstances." The key to contentment is placing value on what you have versus what you don't have. Want what you have instead of having to have what you want; (1) Presumption--“Do not say I will do such and such tomorrow, for you do not know what tomorrow brings” (James 4:13-14). What makes you think that “tomorrow’s Bob” will pay for it, when “today’s Bob” cannot? Did you hear about the motorist who hit and killed a calf that was crossing a Texas road? The driver went to the owner and explained what had happened and asked what the animal was worth. “Oh, about $200 today but about $900 in six years; so I am out $900.” The motorist wrote out a check and said, “Here is the check for $900. It’s postdated six years from now.” It is important to determine what God is saying to you as to why you are short of money so you can respond appropriately;
The three main culprits of irresponsible debt are credit cards, mortgage payments, and that new car. Some of us have credit card bills stacked up so high we are afraid to total them. Some of us have outstanding payments due in stores all over our city. Some of us have fallen for the "$100 a month" routine without realizing the amount of interest we are paying. Some of us are just one month away from financial disaster because of our indebtedness unless something changes. We have probably all been there if we are not there now. Bill Moyers once interviewed financial analyst Sam Keene who said, "The purpose of credit cards is to stimulate the economy by tempting the consumer to purchase items with money they don't have." There it is; plain and simple. Credit card holders spend a whopping 250% more than non-credit card holders. What per cent do you think most credit card holders are being assessed—2.9%; 13.9% or 21.9%? Would you believe it is 96%?! The reason is this: 80% of Americans only send in the minimum monthly required. When you send in only your minimum required monthly payment, you are paying compounded interest on the remainder that amounts to 96% annually. Beverly and I have one credit card and we pay it in full monthly. The credit card companies call us “dead beats.”
Now on to home mortgage payments—a hot button right now as our whole nation is suffering from irresponsible home lending and borrowing practices. Some of us are house poor and others of us have fallen into unwise adjustable home mortgages. Your total house expenses should not exceed 30-40% of your income depending on where you are in life and what your other commitments are. Consider refinancing or selling out and purchasing one within your means.
That new car is another culprit. Cars have become a status symbol rather than what they were originally designed to do: transport humans from point A to point B. Before you buy that new car, realize that as soon as you drive it off of the lot you have just lost app. 15% of its value. If you pay cash for it, that’s one thing; but when we borrow for one, that’s completely another. To me, nothing looks prettier than an old car that has been kept up. In fact, if you keep one past the twenty year mark, they begin to increase in value! My 1997 Explorer gets me where I am going and doesn’t look bad either. You can't win in transportation; just find the less expensive approach for you. The best time to purchase a car is when one is 4 years old--at that point most of it has depreciated and you still have 10 years left on its life.
Financial freedom is the emotional, intellectual, and life-changing recognition that God owns everything I have; I just manage it for God. Now let me ask you a question: how many of you with the raising of your hands own a GM automobile? Now wait a minute! Let’s review our definition of financial freedom again: God owns everything; I just manage it for God. Now how many of you with the raising of the hands “owns” a Ford product. Now that is just to show you that Ford product owners are more spiritual than GM product owners!
Romans 13:8 says, "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another." Does this mean that I cannot borrow money for a house, a car; or a church cannot borrow money to build a building? The Bible’s position on debt is this: indebtedness is allowed in Scripture because there are too many regulations concerning debt for it to be disallowed altogether, but we must be aware of its dangers. We must be careful not to borrow above its resell value. If you were to resell that house, car or appliance, could you get what you are paying for it by going into debt? The world’s greatest humorist was the man who called “installments” “easy payments.” Remember that it is ten times easier to buy something than it is to sell that same something. Yes, it is needful for us to stop at exit 102’s debt intersection to try to get our bearings. To run this red light is to do so at your own peril.
II. EXIT 102’S SECOND INTERSECTION IS A GREEN LIGHT: FREEDOM WAY
Financial Freedom is the emotional, intellectual, and life changing recognition that God owns everything I have; I just manage it for God. Financial freedom is not how much money a person makes, but wise management of the money a person has. Financial freedom is freedom from irresponsible indebtedness, worries over money, and the freedom to give as God leads.
How can I get through the intersection of “Debt Stop” and onto “Freedom Way?” Here are some suggestions. Get on the same page with your spouse. There are various degrees of “being unequally yoked” (2 Co. 6:14); not being on the same page financially is one of them. My experience has been that women nickel and dime you to death while men come home with the big ticket items or toys (the wife’s hair and the husband’s hobbies). A man will spend $200 for a $100 item he needs; a woman will spend $30 on a $50 item she doesn’t need. A wife asked her husband, “Can you give me a little money?” He responded, “How little?” A man realized that his wife’s credit card was stolen, but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife! In every marriage, there is a spender and a saver. The spender needs to submit to the saver.
Budget your money (Pr. 24:3-4). Do you know where your money is going? A family budget is vital to Freedom Way. The word, budget, comes to us from the French language meaning purse. Do you remember the old “jar” routine? Years ago, folks would take their money and put into jars marked “food,”
or “groceries,” etc. In other words, they had set categories to where their money went. The same principle is used in a ledger book with different tabs marked with how we need to spend our money. We enter our paychecks in the book divided into certain headings like "giving, auto, insurance, general, grocery, taxes, etc." Each check is written against that appropriate heading. A current balance is kept by subtracting that check from the amount allotted to that heading.
Some of you need to cut up those credit cards and spend on a cash only basis. You don't have enough discipline to use them; you are just too proud to admit it. You have too many possessions and not enough money to pay for them. The cure is plastic surgery—cut up those credit cards. Then buy on a cash-only basis. Quit borrowing on depreciating items. Some of us borrow to buy stuff and by the time we get home with it, we couldn't resell it for half its price. Learn to develop sales resistance. Why do you think so much money is spent on TV commercials and catalogues sent to your house? “It doesn’t hurt to look.” Sure it does; you are just feeding your discontentment and covetousness. Pay off debts in order of priority ahead of schedule so that you have that payment to pay off the next one and so on. Live on less money by deleting non-essentials such as expensive lunches, club dues, or cable television. Have a garage sale selling what you don’t need. Men, get a second job if it does not negatively impact family life. Call upon the Lord to supply your needs trusting Him to do so (Je. 33:3; Ph. 4:19).
Save. Proverbs 21:20 says, "The wise man saves for the future." A good financial goal is: save 10%; give at least 10% away; and spend the rest responsibly. Pay yourself second (God first) by putting some away each month. Begin by putting $1000 in your savings, then work up to three months salary then go from there.
Mostof you know how much I love to ski. When I grew up in Germany, we had a ski slope right beside our house. It was a new one without a lift. They used an old army truck to take us skiers back up the mountain. If you wanted to ski to the very bottom of the slope, you had to walk back up that portion of the mountain to the truck which parked right in front of our house. Skiing down the mountain was an exhilarating experience. But then sooner or later you had to stop, turn around and make that difficult journey up the mountain on skis. Now going into debt is like skiing. It is fun and exhilarating to spend on plastic--like skiing down the mountain. But a triple financial reversal is needed to get out of debt. First, you must first stop spending more than you make (stop skiing); secondly, you must repay the debt (turn around); then thirdly you have to pay the interest (climb back up the mountain). And if you have ever had to climb up a mountain on skis, you know how difficult that is.
I was standing at the gasoline pump this week and noticed the amount I had spent on my credit card--$60.00. I wondered how much differently I would have looked at that purchase if I had to pull out three 20s to pay for it. Do you know what our problem is? We have quit attaching monetary value to our purchases. If we carried around money like we used to instead of credit/debit cards, we would be much more responsible in our spending.
Check this out: (PLAY VISA CREDIT CARD COMMERCIAL HERE.) Isn’t it interesting how the world is trying to squeeze us into its mold? Yes; we do need to stop and consider where we are and what the Father is saying to us to move us from Debt Stop to Freedom Way. To that end, take out your gift of the week and place this stop sticker on your credit card(s). Each purchase you make, stop and think through that purchase and the amount you just spent rather than whipping out your credit or debit card without thinking.
What changes in your lifestyle does the Lord desire for you to be financially free—blessed not bound? Jesus said that He came to "proclaim freedom to the captives" (Lu. 4:18). Jesus wants you to move from “Debt Stop” and onto “Freedom Way.”
ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM EXIT 103
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 BY BOB BENDER
“EXIT 103--GREEDY OR GENEROUS?” FROM MATTHEW 6:19-21
Welcome to the road to financial freedom--a journey not about getting something from you but about giving something to you—resources to set you free financially. In preparing for the journey three weeks ago, we asked the penetrating question of who’s the boss—God or money (card handout)? Exit 101 dealt with the question of how you see yourself—a master or manager (key handout)? Last week we took exit 102 dealing with the question--bound or blessed (stop sticker handout)? Today we take exit 103 to get us further down the road to our destination of financial freedom—greedy or generous?
The goal of our journey together is financial freedom. Financial Freedom is the emotional, intellectual, and life changing recognition that God owns everything I have; I just manage it for God. Financial freedom is not how much money a person makes, but wise management of the money a person has. Financial freedom is freedom from irresponsible indebtedness, worries over money, and the freedom to give as God leads.
Our passage of the day addresses both greed and generosity. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus has a mini-sermon on the amount. He commands us--“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” What’s the big idea? Our big idea today is this: The grace of giving is greater than the grip of greed. Greed says, “It is mine;’ generosity says, “It is God’s.” Greed says, “Me;” generosity says, “We.” Greed says, “Receive;” generosity says, “Return.” Greed says, “Keep it;” generosity says “Share it.” Greed says “Take it;” generosity says, “Give it.” Greed says, “How can I get more for myself?” Generosity says, “How can I give more away to God and others?”
I. THERE IS THE REALITY OF THE GRIP OF GREED (V. 19).
One of the greatest plagues of our time is not AIDS, SARS, or influenza, but affluenza. Affluenza is the modern plague of materialism. A PBS special defined it as this: “1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream.” What is the American dream? Money magazine has declared that money is now the #1 obsession of Americans. Newsweek reports that we have achieved a new plane of consciousness called “transcendental acquisition.” The average credit cardholder has $8,500 in card debt. The American dream has become a nightmare.
David McKenna wrote an article describing Affluenza: “Affluenza is a strange malady that affects the children of well-to-do parents. Though having everything money can buy, the children show all the symptoms of abject poverty—depression, anxiety, loss of meaning, and despair for the future. Affluenza accounts for an escape into alcohol, drugs, shoplifting, and suicide among children of the wealthy. It is most found where parents are absent from the home and try to buy their children’s love” (Financing the Great Commission, CT 15 May 1987, p. 28).
Ken Gire uses this imagery to describe our dilemma: “We live in a constant tension between those two parts, the lofty side of our nature and the lowly side. Like a tree, we are torn between two worlds, a part of us rooted in the soil; another part reaching for the sky. But because our roots can grasp soil more securely than our leaves can grasp the sky, the soil seems more real. It is something we can see and hold in our hand. But heaven, heaven escapes our grasp. We can’t hold it any more than a leaf can hold sky.”
Affluenza is the relentless pursuit of meaning outside of God. It is storing up stuff in the hopes that we will find happiness, security, or power outside of God. There is a difference between affluence and affluenza. You can have wealth, and not have affluenza. Also, you can live in poverty, and be consumed with affluenza. The key is: are you looking for stuff to add meaning to your life?
Jesus knew that we would struggle with finding meaning in our material possessions. That is why he devoted 15 percent of everything he said to this topic–more than his teachings on heaven and hell combined. Jesus deals with money matters because money matters. In Matthew 6, Jesus gives us this instruction: 19"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
The text here is actually, “do not treasure up treasures.” The idea is someone stacking up coins and hoarding them. This person is storing up their wealth instead of putting it to use for the kingdom. The problem, says Jesus, is that physical treasure will never satisfy us. “The soul is a spiritual thing; riches are of an earthly extract, and how can these fill a spiritual substance? How man does thirst after the world, but it falls short of his expectation. It cannot fill the longing of his soul.” Thomas Watson
If we have stored up our treasures here on earth, then every day we live we are closer to death and losing our treasure. If we have stored up our treasures in heaven, then every day we live we are closer to death and gaining our treasure. "The malaise that currently grips our country comes not from the fact that we don't have enough wealth, but from a terrifying knowledge that has begun to enter our consciousness that we have based our entire lives, our entire culture and way of being on the wrong premise," –Jessie O'Neill.
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Healthy eyes fill a body with light, and bad eyes fill a body with darkness. Healthy eyes are eyes that treasure God more than stuff. Bad eyes are eyes that treasure stuff more than God. Bad eyes focus my attention down here, when God is constantly calling me to look up. If we are looking to earthly treasure to give us meaning, then our eyes are bad and our whole lives will fill with darkness. Proverbs 23:26 states this same principle positively,“Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”
24"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Money is supposed to serve us. But the more we depend on our servant the more it becomes our master. Jesus says that only one thing will be our master, and often it is materialism or affluenza. A.W. Tozer says: “There is within the human heart a tough, fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always possess. It covets things with a deep and fierce passion.” Without a cure, affluenza will cause our heart to spiral more and more towards stuff on earth. So how do we cure this? What is strong enough to break the root of affluenza?
II. THERE IS THE RETURN ON THE GRACE OF GIVING (VV. 20-21).
Jesus tells us the cure is found in these verses: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. I would have expected Jesus to say, “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be.” Right? I mean, if we really have a heart for something, we will put our stuff towards that. If I have a heart for a new car, I will give treasure to it. If I have a heart for fine food, I will eat out at fancy restaurants. My treasure will follow my heart, but that is not what Jesus is saying. He is saying the opposite. Instead of saying that your treasure will follow your heart, Jesus says your heart will follow your treasure.
Have you played fetch with a dog? You throw the stick and the dog tears off after it. Where the stick is thrown, the dog will follow. The same is true of our hearts. Our hearts and minds will run after wherever we throw our treasure. In Randy Alcorn’s book, The Treasure Principle, he says this (p. 42): “Suppose you buy shares of General Motors. What happens? You suddenly develop interest in GM. You check the financial pages. You see a magazine article about GM and read every word, even though a month ago you would have passed right over it. Suppose you're giving to help African children with AIDS. When you see an article on the subject, you're hooked. If you're sending money to plant churches in India and an earthquake hits India, you watch the news and fervently pray. As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure. Money leads; hearts follow. I've heard people say, ‘I want more of a heart for missions.’ I always respond, ‘Jesus tells you exactly how to get it. Put your money in missions--and in your church and the poor--and your heart will follow.’”
Someone has said, “Heavenly treasures can only be laid up when earthly treasures are laid down.” How do we store up heavenly treasure? Alcorn goes on to quote A.W. Tozer: “As base a thing as money often is, it yet can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor; it can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”
Martha Stewart has become famous for her decorating and cooking tips. She is one of the wealthiest and most well known people in America. However, last year we learned that Martha didn’t just know how to bake a cake; she also knows how to cook the books. She had stock in a company called ImClone. ImClone was investing heavily in a new colon cancer drug. The founder of the company learned a few days before the public did that this new drug was about to be rejected by the FDA. Obviously, once the news of the rejected drug hits the public, ImClone's stock would drop. In fact, it dropped 18% in one day. He began selling his stock, and tips his friend Martha Stewart off about the rejected drug. Martha acted on that insider information to sell her stock and secure her own future. This is called insider trading, and it is illegal. It is like having the answers to the test before the test while others had to study. It is a form of cheating and a jury found Martha Stewart guilty of all charges against her. She was laying up for herself treasures on earth through intentional investments. Jesus said that the children of darkness are shrewder than the children of light. We are to use the same intentionality in laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven.
Wouldn’t you love to have a million dollars? I would. You may think you will never see a million dollars, but do you realize that almost everyone in this room will handle a million dollars in their lifetime? If you make 25K a year from 25-65, you will have a million dollars pass through your hands in your life. Where will you invest your million?
How is your investment portfolio? What a tragedy to get to retirement age and find out that our investments were insufficient to bless us by sustaining our lifestyle. What a tragedy to get to the end of our lives and find out that our eternal investments were insufficient to bless us and others. I would have also thought Jesus would have said, “Lay up for God and others treasures in heaven.” But He did not. He said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (v. 20). I don’t know all that that means, but it does mean that there is a return on our investments. There is a return on the grace of giving. May I make some suggestions concerning investments to strengthen your investment portfolio:
INVESTMENT FUND #1: The Treasury Fund. The treasury fund isgiving the first part of your income regularly to God and the local church. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce” (Pr. 3:9); “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that my house may be full (Mal. 3:10). Tithing (giving 10%) is biblical practical equitable, and commendable by Jesus in Matthew 23:23. I would ask you to invest in your local church ministries. Do you have a regular plan for giving to your church—specifically its budgeted ministries?
INVESTMENT FUND #2: The Global Fund. Invest my money in spreading the gospel around the world through our missions offering and other worthwhile global outreach efforts (no shortage of opportunities here in CS!). “They will glorify God because of the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others” (2 Co. 9:13).
INVESTMENT FUND #3: The Building For The Future Fund. I can invest my money in a building that is used to impact this and future generations by providing a place where the gospel is preached and Christians are discipled to go to the nations. “And moreover, in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God over and above all that I have already provided for the holy temple. . .(I Chr. 29:3).
INVESTMENT FUND #4: The Service Equity Fund. This fund shares with those in need. “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed” (Pr. 19:17). Every time we serve the Lord’s Supper, we can invest in this fund.
INVESTMENT FUND #5: The Growth Fund. Use my money to grow my relationship with Christ. “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (Pr. 23:23). How can you buy wisdom? Seminars, tapes, books, marriage retreats. Don’t know how to share your faith? Join FAITH evangelism. Invest in our Crown Financial Ministries Small Group Ministry by purchasing the materials and attending a small group. It will be one of the greatest investments you will ever make. Which fund is the Father leading you to invest in? “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
Here’s the deal--we all live somewhere along this continuum:
CONSUMER CONTRIBUTOR
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“How much do I keep?” “How much do I give away?”
Take out the dollar we are giving you for your gift of the week. Put it in opposite hand from your watch. You have a little bit of time and a little bit of money. One day, your time will run out. And one day, your money will run out. What will you do with them today? Which investment fund do you feel the Father is leading you to invest in by next Sunday? Here is your chance to be a twofold, tenfold, hundredfold or even thousand-fold giver. Here is your opportunity to strengthen your eternal investment portfolio by investing in one or more of our investment funds here or elsewhere. Seek the Father’s will and come back next Sunday with your investment for eternity. “Wait a minute!” you say, “I thought this road to financial freedom was not about getting something from me but giving something to me.” First of all, I have given something to you without any expectation of return—only what the Father tells you to do. Secondly, if I am used of the Lord to instill in you a generous spirit; trust me--that’s the most important gift I could give to you.
G. Campbell Morgan says, “You are to remember with the passion burning within you that you are not the child of today. You are not of the earth, you are more than dust; you are the child of tomorrow, you are of the eternities, you are the offspring of Deity. . .You belong to the infinite. If you make your fortune on the earth—poor, sorry, silly soul—you have made a fortune, and stored it in a place where you cannot hold it. Make your fortune, but store it where it will greet you in the dawning of the new morning” (The Gospel According to Matthew, [New York: Revell, 1929], pp. 64-65).
There is a story I am sure is apocryphal about a man who was washed ashore on island inhabited by natives. Now on this island each year they made a man king for a year. Because this man was washed ashore, they thought him to be some kind of god, so they made him king for a year. He wondered what happened to the king at the end of the year and he was told that at that time, he would be banished to a nearby smaller deserted island to die. So this shrewd “king” made preparations by sending stuff on ahead to that island—building materials, fishing and cooking gear and so on. So that when the time of his banishment came, he was sent off to die only he was able to survive because he sent it on ahead. Good word—send it on ahead so that our next life will be as bless if not more so than this one.
ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM EXIT 104
SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON OCTOBER 7, 2007 BY BOB BENDER
“EXIT 104--WORK: MISERABLE OR MOTIVATED?” FROM ECCLESIASTES 5:16-20
“ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM” SERIES LIFE MESSAGE #4
Welcome to the road to financial freedom--a journey not about getting something from you but about giving something to you—resources to set you free financially. Finances is certainly a hot button these days. I read an article this week that says, “Compulsive spending or over-spending is the drug of choice in this country. Spending addiction is probably the fastest-growing addiction we’re treating, along with maybe addiction (to narcotics) for chronic pain,” (Rick Zehr, vice president of addiction and behavioral services at the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital). Daniel Wishnatsky, a certified financial planner in Phoenix states it this way: “What is so challenging here is that a compulsive spender is like a compulsive gambler who is forced to spend 12 hours every day in a casino and not gamble.”
The goal of our journey together is financial freedom. Financial Freedom is the emotional, intellectual, and life changing recognition that God owns everything I have; I just manage it for God. Financial freedom is not how much money a person makes but wise management of the money a person has. It is freedom from irresponsible indebtedness, worries over money, and to be able to give as God leads.
Our last stop on the road to financial freedom is EXIT 104 or the workplace—are you miserable or motivated at work? You see, this trip was really a commute to work all along—a journey most of us make daily. Financial freedom cannot be attained without addressing the number one source of income—our jobs. You will spend about 150,000 hours of your life on earth at work—40-60 percent of your waking hours. And how do we Americans feel about our work? A new report from the Conference Board, New York City, found that only fifty percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs, down from 60 percent in 1995. Only 14 percent of this contented 50 percent say that they are "very satisfied." Twenty-five percent of employees say that they are "just showing up to collect a paycheck.” The average American will change jobs 7 times in his lifetime.
A man said that he had no real reason to live. His wife said, “What do you mean? The house isn’t paid for. The car isn’t paid for. The furniture isn’t paid for. You’ve got plenty of reasons to live; get to work.” “I owe; I owe. It’s off to work I go.” When you wake up in the morning and are off to work is it “Good Morning, Lord,” or “Good Lord; it’s morning?”
What’s today’s big idea? Today’s big idea is this: Motivated workers see the worth of their work; miserable workers whine about their work. Which are you? Do you whine about your work or do you see the worth of your work? I have the greatest job in the world pastoring the greatest church on the planet. I am paid to study, preach and teach the Bible, care for people, and win and disciple people for Jesus. However, years ago while meeting with my mentor, I was concerned and complaining about the non-responsiveness of those under my charge as a youth minister. I expected to get some sympathy, but instead he said, “Quit whining and get back to work.” That might be God’s word for you today.
The Bible addresses both whining at work and the worth of our work in Ecclesiastes 5:16-20. How can we avoid whining at work--“toiling for the wind” and “great vexation” (vv. 16-17), and instead see the worth of our work--“enjoying oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils” (vv. 18-20)? How can we get to the place in this post-industrial age to delight in our toil midst boring, grubby, dead-end jobs with little satisfaction working with backstabbing toxic people who are arrogant, uncaring and in it for number one (and that wouldn’t be you)? Some of you have had your paycheck cut so many times, you feel like endorsing it in mercurochrome. Added to that some of you are underpaid, exploited, overworked and unappreciated. Perhaps you have a menial thankless job with little compensation. May I remind you that a third of the world would love to have a menial thankless job with a little compensation. Once I shared with a friend that I was tired from work. He asked, “Are you tired of the work or tired in the work?” I was happy to tell him that I was tired in the work. What about you? How can we move from being miserable in our work to being motivated in our work?
I. WE ARE MOTIVATED AT WORK WHEN WE SEE IT AS A MIRROR OF GOD’S NATURE AND PLAN.
Think of the first words of the Bible--“In the beginning.” What is the first verb in the Bible? "In the beginning, God CREATED. . . . the heavens and the earth.” The Bible doesn't say that "In the beginning, God sat majestically in the heavens" or "In the beginning, God was filled with love and beauty." The Bible says, "In the beginning, God created," and in chapter 2:2 this creative activity is called “His work”—the same Hebrew word used in the 10 commandments referring to man’s work. So work is a great thing because if God is doing something, then it has to be good. And even before the fall of humanity, God told our first parents to tend the garden--to work in the garden and make it fruitful. So, you see, work is a God-given thing. One of the first and greatest principles of life from God’s word is that we are all made in God’s image. We possess eternity in our hearts and are a reflection of God—a mirror of His nature if you will. Have you ever thought of God as a worker? This is how He first reveals Himself in Scripture. God is obviously still at work upholding His creation, meeting His creatures’ needs having accomplished His greatest work on the cross. God is a worker telling us that work is significant.
Since God is a worker and we are made in His image, we must be workers also. We are to rule over the earth and subdue it. God planted the garden; man cultivated it. Here we see the first partnership—God and man working together. We need to see labor is a gift from God (Eccl. 5:19). We need to see ourselves as “laborers together with God” (I Co. 3:9). We are a mirror of God’s nature—a worker; we are a mirror of God’s plan—working in this world. We do something very spiritual and Godlike when we work. All legitimate work is an extension of God’s work of ruling over the earth, subduing it and contributing to the structure of our society. That is one reason why laziness, anarchy and terrorism are of Satan.
Sometimes it is not immediately clear how some work contributes to God’s work and the structure of God’s world. Every morning I usually drink some orange juice, a cup of coffee, and eat some cereal for breakfast. In thinking through this event, it is evident that God does not drop this food out of the sky. It takes fruit growers, dairy farmers, truck drivers, coffee growers and roasters, food processors, grocery store workers, refinery workers to make the gasoline, scientists to check the food for purity, bankers to arrange financing, builders of the equipment to process the food and haul it and those who make the highways. In this similar way, God is using your work to meet people’s needs. I thank God for what you are doing!
Private ownership and public service is God’s plan to meet ours and other’s needs. It beats Communism. Like one Communist worker said to the other, “They pretend to pay; we pretend to work.” Obviously our work is the way we provide for ourselves and our families. Paul uses strong language: “but if anyone does not provide for his own, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (I Tim. 5:8). Not to do so directly opposes God’s command to work and negates the truth that we are made in His image.
There is another aspect to this principle: As God planted Adam in the garden so He “plants” us in the “garden” of His choosing (Mt. 13:37-38. Jesus as the sower sows the good seed or the children of the kingdom whithersoever He chooses. Do you know what He uses to sow you wherever He chooses in this world? He uses your company. You are not here by accident at this time in your pilgrimage. He has sown you here through your company to build up the kingdom of God in this place. Not only is He at work sowing us where He wants us to be, He is also at work promoting us and enlarging our territories at His pleasure. Psalm 75:7 says “God is the judge; He puts down one and promotes another.” We work hard; try our best to get along with people and trust God to promote/relocate us according to His gracious will and pleasure. Would you see God at work in your work as you mirror His nature and plan?
II. WE ARE MOTIVATED AT WORK WHEN WE SEE IT AS GOD’S METHOD OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
Let me share with you some of the jobs that just didn't quite work out for me. My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned because I couldn't concentrate. Then I worked in the woods as a lumber jack. I couldn't hack it so they gave me the ax. At one point, I tried to be a tailor, but I wasn't suited for it. Besides, it was just a "so-so" job. And then there was the muffler factory. I couldn't stand it because it was extremely exhausting. I tried to be a professional fisherman, but I discovered that I couldn't live on my net income. And then I worked for a pool maintenance company, but it was too draining. My last job was at Starbuck's, but I quit that because it was always the same old grind. Do you remember your first job and what a challenge that was? Perhaps in your cases as in mine; it was a great character-developer. My first “job” was a cotton-picker. As an older child, I wanted to pick cotton that they let me do so with a pillow case instead of one of those long canvas bags. Yes, I was a red-headed cotton-picker! I graduated to hauling hay and then worked as a furniture store delivery boy. These were days of character development as God used those in authority over me to mold my character. What God began, He continues. He continues to use people and circumstances to mold my character, and I will bet He is doing the same thing in your life as well. Our loving Heavenly Father will allow those in the work