The Kingdom of God–A Mystery Revealed

This past week, as I was researching passages of scripture for my series on the Kingdom of God, I began to see a pattern or a theme unfolding in scripture that I had not noticed before.  As I looked at each passage, I began to notice that each spoke on a different element of God’s Kingdom.  Some spoke of how it is seen.  Others mentioned how we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  In Matthew, for example, Jesus tells several parables describing what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.  So I decides to group them together and present them here as an outline.  I found it helpful in understanding God’s Kingdom, and though you might find it helpful as well. 

 

I. The Kingdom of God:

· Is Real

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

· Is Seen

By the Spirit

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

By Christ’s Power

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28)

And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1)

· Is Known

By the Spirit

Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (Matthew 13:11)

· Is Possessed

By Grace

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. (Matthew 18:23-27)

By Humility

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3).

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)

But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

By Faith

And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62)

Through Trials

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:10).

· Is Entered

By living the Faith

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matthew 7:21).

By Right Priorities

And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24)

By Holiness

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)

· Is a Present Attitude

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matthew 10:7).

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21)

When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions. (Mark 12:34)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

· Is a Future Place

Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:10–12).

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. (Matthew 25:1-2)

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. (Matthew 25:14)

“So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. (Luke 21:31)

“Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)

Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43)

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:50)

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5)

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11)

· Is Greater for Some

Because of Obedience

“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20).

“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11).

Because of Faith

“Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. (Matthew 21:31)

II. The Kingdom of God:

· Can be Lost

Because of Faithlessness

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. (Matthew 21:43)

“If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, (Mark 9:47)

Because of Rejection

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. “And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. (Matthew 22:2-3)

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13)

III. The Kingdom of Heaven:

· Will be Filled with Grace and Tenderness

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. (Matthew 13:24)

· Will be Revealed in Due Time

He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; (Matthew 13:31)

· Will change a Believer and the World

He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:33)

· Will be a Place where People are Valued

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, (Matthew 13:45)

· Will be Purged of all Evil

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. (Matthew 13:47-48)

· Will Reward our Service

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. (Matthew 20:1)

Thy Kingdom Come - October 28th, 2012 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Every one of us in this place is aging. Some of us are aging in leaps and bounds. Others are aging slowly. But the truth is, we are all heading downhill, so to speak. We are all on a journey from this life to the next. So I thought I would give you a test this morning just to see how you are making out in the meantime; just to help you recognize some of the signs that indicate you’re slowing down a bit.

1. What do you put in a toaster?

2. Say "silk" five times. Now spell "silk." What do cows drink?

3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a greenhouse made from?

4. If the hour hand on a clock moves 1/60 of a degree every minute then how many degrees will the hour hand move in one hour?

5. Without using a calculator - You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales. In London, 17 people get on the bus. In Reading, six people get off the bus and nine people get on. In Swindon, two people get off and four get on. In Cardiff, 11 people get off and 16 people get on. In Swansea, three people get off and five people get on. In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on. You then arrive at Milford Haven. What was the name of the bus driver?

If these simple questions were difficult for you, I regret to tell you this, but, you may not be too far from the Kingdom of God. Really? You said that cows drink milk?

Truthfully, none of us are far from the Kingdom of God. It is much closer than we think. As I pointed out last week, the Kingdom of God (or the Kingdom of Heaven) is not just some distant place that awaits us one day in the future. According to Jesus, the Kingdom of God is among you. And as Jesus talks about the Kingdom of heaven, He describes a place that we can see and possess right here and right now. He describes the Kingdom in ways that not only comfort but challenge us as well.

Take all the passages of scripture that talk about the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God and you will find that it is something we can see right now by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3) and by Christ’s power over Satan (Matthew 12:28). We know the Kingdom is real because of the Spirit within us (Matthew 13:11). We possess the Kingdom by grace (Matthew 18:23-27), by humility (Matthew 5:3, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 19:14), by faith (Luke 9:59-62), and through trials (Matthew 5:10). We enter the Kingdom by living out our faith (Matthew 7:21, Matthew 21:31), by getting our priorities in order (Matthew 19:23-24), and by living a life filled with holiness (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 5:5). The Kingdom of heaven is not just a present attitude (Matthew 10:7, Luke 17:20-21, Mark 12:34, Romans 14:17), but is also a future place (Matthew 8:10-12, Luke 21:31, Mark 14:25). And in the Kingdom of Heaven some will be greater because of their obedience (Matthew 5:20, Matthew 11:11), and others because of their faith (Matthew 21:31). We also learn that the Kingdom of heaven can be lost because of faithlessness (Matthew 21:43), or simply because of rejection (Matthew 22:2-3, Matthew 23:13).

Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven as a place filled with grace and tenderness (Mathew 13:24), a place whose significance will be revealed in due time (Matthew 13:31). He says that the Kingdom of Heaven not only changes a believer, but will also change the world (Matthew 13:33). In the Kingdom of Heaven, people are valued (Mathew 13:44-45). One day, the Kingdom of Heaven will be purged of all evil (Matthew 13:47-48). And our service to the Kingdom will be rewarded, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed (Matthew 20:1).

The Kingdom of God is not just a Spiritual attitude found in Christians, but a place where one day we will be in fellowship with God. Because of our relationship with Jesus, one day we will gather with other believers to worship our Savior face to face. And all that is of this world; the lies, the hurt, the sickness, the pain, the regrets; all things of this world will pass away. And you and I will be pure and blameless at last. We will gather at a great banquet table and enjoy unrestrained fellowship with God. But that day, that part of God’s Kingdom, we will enjoy one day in the future. Until then; until the perishable will put on the imperishable, we must remain faithful and diligent. Until then “my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). We are part of God’s Kingdom today. And it is a Kingdom seen by our faith, by the Spirit; by our attitude, our faithfulness, and our diligence.

We are Citizens of Heaven, my friend. We are the Pearl of Great Price. We have been purchased by the blood of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we have been promised an inheritance. “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5).

As Christians, we look forward to the Physical Kingdom of God. And that day will come. This we have been promised. But in the meantime we live as Children of the Kingdom in this world with our pain and hurts and sadness and suffering. Today we see the Kingdom of God through Spiritual eyes and with hearts of faith. But one day we will see it face to face. As Peter has reminded us, “For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering”. Romans 8:16-17). And our suffering is to be in this world yet not part of this world.

We have been asked to endure living in a world filled with counterfeit Christians (see the Parable of the Tares in Matthew 13:24-30). We have been asked to endure hardships and suffering for the time being. Peter call us, “Temporary residents and foreigners” (1 Peter 2:11). So, because we are citizens of Heaven we find this waiting and enduring difficult. We suffer in the flesh for the time being because we know that this world is not our home. But do not let the current condition of things diminish your hope. Do not be discouraged. Do not be moved. Remain steadfast and immovable. Draw strength from God and from one another. Keep your eyes fixed on the Kingdom and upon Jesus Christ for the journey home.

Oh, I almost forgot the answers! 1 – Bread. 2 – Water. 3 – Glass. 4 – One degree 5 – Your Name!

The Kingdom of Heaven - October 21st, 2012 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

A dying granny tells her granddaughter, "I want to leave you my farm. That includes the villa, the tractor and other equipment, the farmhouse and $22,398,750.78 in cash." The granddaughter, absolutely floored about becoming so rich, says "Oh granny, you are SO generous! I didn't even know you had a farm. Where is it?" And with her last breath, Granny whispered, "Facebook..."

Farm Town and Farm Ville are just a few of the many online games a person can play where they can live an imaginary life. They plant imaginary crops with imaginary seeds which grow into imaginary plants that can be harvested by imaginary tractors and sold at an imaginary market for an imaginary price so they can by imaginary things. And participation in these imaginary words is booming. I find it sad that a person can become so immersed into the affairs of one life that they ignore another life altogether.

It is not just those who play online games who live in another reality. Most people live blind to another reality. Many people live as if this other world doesn’t even exist. You can see it in the way they worry or hear it in their spoken concerns. Many people don’t give this other place a second thought, even though Jesus spoke of quite often. It is the Kingdom of God.

As Jesus taught He would often speak about the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God. He would say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . .”, and then give some sort of a comparison. And as He spoke these things, we get the impression that His listeners knew what he was talking about. But when they heard “Kingdom of Heaven” they thought one thing while Jesus meant something more.

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you” (Luke 17:20-21). The Pharisees were confused because they were expecting only an earthly kingdom. And that part is true. Eventually Jesus will return again, and it is then that His earthly reign as King will take place. But in the meantime He has established a Spiritual reign, something these religious leaders just couldn’t grasp.

Speaking to the Roman governor, Jesus says to Pilate, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God – both terms mean the same thing), He was not just speaking about some future time and some distant place where one day God will establish His Kingdom for all believers. Jesus was trying to get His listeners to understand that God’s Kingdom had come right then. Sure, it was not an earthly kingdom yet. That would come later. But the Kingdom of God is best understood as the reign of God, or the Rule of God. In other words, when Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is upon you, He meant that God had established His rule, and as evidence Jesus pointed to the authority He had over the forces of Satan. But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you (Luke 11:20). Satan and his demons understood this. They knew that Jesus had absolute authority over them. Jesus had come to earth to establish His rule; His reign; His Kingdom. The demons trembled with fear before Jesus. When confronted by Jesus, the demons would scream “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” (Matthew 8:29). Sadly, the forces of darkness understood more about the Kingdom of God than the Jewish religious leaders. Their eyes were fixed upon this world, not the Kingdom of God.

Long before Jesus was born, Daniel was introduced to One who looked like a Son of Man. And in his vision he was shown that to this One a Kingdom would be given that will never end. “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Jesus is the One whose kingdom will not pass away. His is an everlasting kingdom. And that Kingdom is no longer hidden. His Kingdom has come. His will is being done on earth as it is in Heaven. His reign began the day all power and authority and majesty were given to Him by the Father. Jesus isn’t waiting patiently in the corner of heaven for the day when He can finally reign as King. He’s ruling as King right now. And no force of darkness, no power on earth, no nation, or no ruler on earth will ever be able to replace Jesus as King and as Lord. “Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority” (1 Peter 3:22). Since all of this is true, shouldn’t we recognize His authority as well? Shouldn’t we have our eyes fixed on His reign? Shouldn’t we be thinking about His Kingdom and not the kingdoms of this earth? I believe we should. But unfortunately it seems that we don’t.

The presidential election will soon be upon us, and this year there seems to be a great deal of upheaval, even among Christians. Even Christians seem to be divided over which man is best suited to lead this nation. I can understand that a person of this world can become stressed and filled with worry. Their eyes are fixed on an earthly kingdom. But this attitude should not be found among believers. A Christian is a citizen of Heaven; a Child of the Kingdom. There is nothing wrong with voting wisely and making intelligent decisions. And we should be electing individuals with a strong morality. But our hope should not rest in the policies of a man or the promises of an administration. These men and women who are seeking your vote will come and go. Earthly kingdoms will rise and fall. So our hope and security and future should not be placed into the hands of men, but into the hands of Christ. As believers we are no longer a part of this world. Jesus has called us into His Kingdom (John 15:19). So as we approach this election season, may I remind you what Jesus said to those who were worried and anxious about tomorrow (Read Matthew 6:25-34).

As Christians we must stop fixing our eyes on the temporary things of this life and instead fix our eyes on the Kingdom of Heaven; the Kingdom of God. Jesus is in control. Jesus is the only One whose policies never change. Jesus is the only One who keeps His promises. Jesus is the only One who’s Kingdom will never end. Regardless of who is in the Whitehouse, Jesus will still be on His Throne. We are Christians, and it’s time we start living like Jesus is our King.

Christian Conduct 101 - October 7th, 2012 Sermon

By Pastor Greg
Coming home from work, a woman stopped at the corner deli to buy a chicken for supper. The butcher reached into a barrel, grabbed the last chicken he had, flung it on the scales behind the counter, and told the woman its weight. She thought for a moment. "I really need a bit more chicken than that," she said. "Do you have any larger ones?" Without a word, the butcher put the chicken back into the barrel, groped around as though finding another, pulled the same chicken out, and placed it on the scales. "This chicken weighs one pound more," he announced. The woman pondered her options and then said, "Okay. I'll take them both."
Apart from the fact that today each chicken would be individually wrapped and labeled, there is still a tremendous lesson to be learned here. Eventually our conduct will either condemn us or confirm us. Our conduct toward others will testify what sort of person we really are. Jesus touched on this when he said, “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:20).
Many places in the New Testament call believers to act in ways far different than the world. Not only did Jesus expect His disciples to change the way they acted toward God, but He also expected them to change the way they acted toward one another. As He spoke to the crowd from the mountain side, He called His followers to reconcile broken relationships before giving an offering to God (Matthew 5:24). He called His disciples to turn the other cheek when wronged, to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:39-44). He said, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Later on Jesus taught His disciples to go to the person who has hurt them or wronged them. Speak to them face-to-face about what they have done or how they have hurt their feelings. Instead of gossiping and complaining to everyone else, Jesus says, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back” (Matthew 18:15). When two of His apostles were trying to gain positions of power, Jesus reminded them, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave” (Matthew 20:25-27). I could go on, filling several pages with statements like “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). But the point is that Jesus expected that those called by His name (Christian) should conduct themselves in this world in ways that are not of this world.
As Christians, we no longer have the freedom to act anyway we please. We no longer represent ourselves; we are Christ’s ambassadors, and we are expected to behave in this world with Christian conduct; to turn aside from the ways of the world and walk according to Christ. Now, when I say this; when I point out that we are to turn aside from the ways of the world, most think about turning aside from smoking or drinking or sex. Many will think about increasing church attendance or reading the Bible. But what Christ expects is far deeper than that. He expects that our minds be completely renewed. Consider what Paul says in Ephesians 4:17-32.
So much of what Paul says here deals with our Christian conduct toward other people, not just our personal vices. Much of what Paul mentions addresses our interactions with other people, and the way in which we act toward others gives significant testimony to what sort of person we really are.
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:3-4), says Paul. He also calls believers to, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6). The truth is Christ expected His followers to be different from the world. Not just different in their beliefs about Him, but also different in their conduct toward others. He expects the same from you and me.
Christian conduct demands that we consider our behavior toward God AND toward others. That’s the real shocker for many people. Many people feel that to be Christian only means that we consider our conduct toward God. But scripture says that our conduct toward one another is just as condemning. As Christians we MUST remember that not only is murder a sin, but so is character assassination, better known as gossip and slander (where we speak poorly about someone behind their back). Look at Paul’s words in Galatians 5. In verse 19-21 he says, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God”  (Galatians 5:19-21).
As we spoke recently about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, Paul says that He (the Spirit) will transform us into Christians filled with “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22). And Christians who conduct themselves in the world in this way do not condemn themselves but confirm themselves as believers. These are the behaviors and the attitudes that set the Christian apart from the rest of the world.
“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith”  (Galatians 6:10), says Paul. And if our conduct is controlled by the Holy Spirit; if the Fruit of the Spirit is found within us, our conduct will convince the world that we are indeed followers of Christ. But, woe to the person whose conduct condemns them. Woe to the “Christian” who continues to act just like the people of this world, for, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter”  (Matthew 7:21).

“Broken” - September 30th, 2012 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Two hunters hired a pilot to fly them into the far north for elk hunting. They were quite successful, bagging six big bucks. When the pilot returned, he objected and said, "The plane can only carry four of your elk. Those other two will weigh the plane down too much. You'll have to leave two of them behind."
The hunters were insistent. They said, "Last year, we shot six elk and the pilot let us put them all on a plane that was the exact same model." Reluctantly, the pilot finally agreed. Rolling down the grassy runway, the plane was not able to take off, crashing into the wilderness.
Climbing out of the wreckage, one hunter said to the other, "Do you know where we are?" "I think so," replied the other hunter. "I think this is about thirty feet from where we crashed last year!"

Only a self-sufficient, self-reliant, stubborn individual would continue to live a self-destructive life; never willing to admit that they’ve reached the end of their rope; never admitting that their life is broken. So, why don’t more people admit they are weak? Why don’t more people admit they have failed? I honestly don’t know the answer, but I do know that if a person will humble themselves before God, He will lift them up. He will restore them. He will transform them, but only if they are ready to be broken. And sometimes that brokenness comes when our life hits rock bottom; when we crash and burn. But God is able to rebuild our life in ways we couldn’t begin to imagine, especially when personal situations or the pressures of the world or even our own poor choices tear us down. But even then God cannot accomplish His work in us unless we are ready to submit our lives to Him; until we become broken.

Brokenness. God uses broken things. It is the broken alabaster jar that gives forth perfume. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken grain to give bread, and broken bread to give strength. It is the broken Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever. It is the bent and broken person who God rebuilds when they finally turn to Him pleading, “If You are real then help me. I’ve no where else to turn.” But brokenness is a word many of us refuse to embrace; a word that stumbles awkwardly from our tongue. But my friend only when we are broken can we be rebuilt.

In one of the clearest contrasts of a person broken and a person who was not is found in Luke 7. Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:36-39. A woman, who more than likely had been a prostitute, kneels broken at the feet of Jesus. And in her brokenness she pours out the tools of her trade at the feet of Jesus. The conduct of Simon, on the other hand, stands in stark contrast to this woman’s attitude. One was broken at the feet of Jesus; the other stood firmly and confidently face to face with the Savior.

In another example, Jesus tells of two men who were in the temple praying. “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’  “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’  “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14. Again, one comes to God with a broken attitude; the other stands face to face with his God.

The necessity for our brokenness occurred to me at one of the most powerful conferences I have ever attended. 1500 pastor’s filled an auditorium in anticipation of being strengthened and revived. I was thirsty for new strength and a deeper focus on what God had called me to do. But I never expected what I received. Unlike any other business convention you will ever attend, at this gathering of pastors, we were called to be broken; to admit that we could not do this on our own. As the leader that day continued to teach, just about every pastor in that place was in tears. Why? Because brokenness was what we needed, but brokenness was so hard to be given.

Are you bent and broken before your Lord? Or are you still clinging to the false hope that the next time things will turn out better? Are you bent and broken before your Lord? Or do you still refuse to admit your weakness? Restoration cannot begin unless you are broken; torn down before the Savior who promises that if we will let Him, He will build us up into something new and different and stronger than we could ever accomplish on our own. Will you continue to stand face to face with your Savior in your pride and stubbornness and self sufficiency? Or will you fall broken at His feet and allow His grace and His glory to build you back up into the person He knows you can be. What will it be?