Uncondemned - August 30, 2015 sermon

By Pastor Greg

‎At the end of a revival in Chicago, Dwight Moody noticed a young man still seated in a pew in the back of the church: his face in his hands and obviously deeply troubled.  Being the compassionate man that he was, Moody walked back, placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder, and asked “What’s troubling you son?”  But instead of the expected response of conversion, the young man replied “Sometimes I don’t think I am a Christian.  Sometimes I don’t act like one or even feel like one”.  Moody sat down next to him, opened his Bible to John 5:24.  He asked the young man to read the verse.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life”.  Moody asked the young man if he believed and accepted Jesus as Lord, and the young man said that he did, to which Moody asked “Are you a Christian?”  But the young man replied “Sometimes I think I am, but other times I’m not so sure.”  Moody asked the young man to read the verse again, and then asked the same question: “Are you a Christian?”  But still the young man had doubts.   He began to mention circumstances and trials in his life.  He mentioned his struggle with faith and in living the way a Christian should.  As he began listing all the reasons that caused his doubt, Moody interrupted the young man and said, “See here, whom are you doubting?”

There are appropriate times in our lives to focus on our sin.  Without conviction, there can be no salvation.  But once a person has confessed their sin and believed in the work of Jesus upon the cross, there needs to be separation from that sin; an understanding that it is no longer held against them.  However, from time to time a believer has a tendency to dwell on the sin and forget the salvation.  Too often, we remind ourselves of who we were.  Sometimes others remind us of whom we were as well.  Nevertheless, this is not true of God.  If we have heard the promises of God, believed that in Jesus we have salvation and have confessed Him as Lord and Savior, there is no condemnation.  A person is no longer judged and has moved from death to life. 

I believe what we read in Romans is Paul’s own personal struggle with condemnation.  I believe Paul struggled to put his past behind him and instead embrace the affirmation of God.  I say this because the words of Paul at the end of chapter 8 seem to be very personal - as if Paul was reminding himself of God’s magnificent promise; a reminder to not doubt the promises of God no matter what he did, how he felt, or what others might say about him.  No matter the bumps, no matter the bruises, no matter the scars, still the truth is the Cross has made him flawless.  Maybe this is a lesson you need to learn as well.

³¹ What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? ³³ Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. ³⁴ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. ³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”*) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,* neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39).

Paul is not talking about a prosperity gospel here.  Give us all things in verse 32 is not speaking of possessions, wealth, and prosperity, but grace, love, forgiveness, mercy, and peace.  Even though God would be justified to condemn us when we stumble in our walk or are weak in our battle over the flesh, He chooses instead to see the righteousness of Christ.  When we are weak; when we stumble and fail, God listens to Jesus who is at the Father's right hand pleading on our behalf (My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. ² He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world – 1 John 2:1-2).  Paul suggests that believers should never see trials and hardships as God's punishment for our sins.  Either God permits our trials and sufferings to strengthen and conform us, or He uses what is evil to bring about that which is good (compare the response of Joseph in Genesis 50:20).

Missing from this section is the thought that a Christian will never make mistakes or never fail.  Christians do fail.  Christian do sin.  Nowhere are we taught that Christians live perfect lives.  Oh, we are to strive to live as holy people, but we will slip up and mess up from time to time.  However, even though we may sin while we are believers, that sin will not change God’s promise to us.  God’s declaration about us never changes.  Even though the world may accuse us of being hypocrites when we fail to live as a Christian, and even though we may condemn ourselves when we fail in our Christian walk, God will not summon us to court and accuse us.  That’s because Christ has already paid the penalty.

Doubt of salvation and self-condemnation should not be found in the heart of a believer.  Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should fear no evil.  Why, you may ask?  It’s because God is with us.  It’s because God is for us.  It’s because Christ died for us.  It’s because God has declared us innocent.  It’s because Christ intercedes for us.  It’s because Christ loves us.  And nothing can or will keep God from loving us.  Nothing.  Yet how often do you struggle to believe that God is for you?  How often do you doubt that you are indeed saved; really a Christian?  Do you ever wonder this?  Do you ever look at the situations and struggles’ in your life and think that God must be pretty upset with you right now?  Do you ever feel that God is against you because you’re living a miserable life filled with suffering, are afraid of death, or are under attack from the adversary?  Well, you are not alone.  I struggle with this, and I believe Paul struggled with this as well, which is why he needed this reminder.  If God is for us, who is against us?

As a Christian, you and I must live each day accepting this and believing this regardless of the circumstances.  And even though others may condemn, or events may give us the impression we are being condemned, we do not stand condemned before the Father.  This He has promised.  Because of Christ, we stand before Him as His child.  This He has promised.  He wraps us in festival robes and pours out His love upon us.  This He has promised.  In all things and through all things, don’t ever forget this promise of God.  If God gave us His best while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), imagine what we will receive from Him now that we are believers!!!

Faith - August 23, 2015 sermon

By Pastor Greg

George grew up in church.  His parents always made him attend even though it was sometimes boring.  One night, during a weeklong revival service, George went forward and was baptized at the age of ten.  He then spent the next 12 years of his life involved with church activities and functions.  He became involved with the Youth Group and was the president of the class for two years. George graduated from High School and even attended a Christian College.

Sam, on the other hand, was never involved in a church.  During his teenage years, he battled addictions, getting his first taste of alcohol long before he should have.  After high school, Sam found a simple job but spent most of his weekends in a bar.  The sad part was that Sam was empty inside and knew it, yet had no idea how to quench the thirst deep within his heart.  He often thought that there must be more to life than this.

George and Sam were as different as night and day, at least from the outside it appeared that way.  At twenty-two, the one was teaching Sunday School while the other spent evenings in a bar.  While one was drinking communion juice, the other was drinking beer.  While the one spent the weekend at an all-night bowling party with friends, the other spent all night chasing women.  The one spent Sunday mornings in church.  The other spent Sunday mornings in bed with a hangover. 

Which of these two men did God love more; the one who did religious things, or the one who did worldly things?  Which of these men had a right relationship with God?  Which one had their sins forgiven? Which one did God declare righteous?

I ask you these question and have told you this story (which is true, by the way) because of what Paul says to the Roman Christians.  He makes a claim that will shock the entire Jewish community.  It is still a controversial claim today.  Even today, there are people who say Salvation is not by Grace through Faith, but also by works.  Turn with me to Romans 4, and take a look at why it is through faith.

Paul says that Abraham was justified (or declared righteous) by God not because of his many religious practices (good deeds), but because he believed what God said.  God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, something outside of human possibility.  He and Sarah were far too old to have children, and Abraham knew this.  Yet he believed that not only could God make it happen, but that He would.  Looking deep into Abraham’s heart, God was pleased with the faith He found there.  So He justified Abraham; He declared him righteous.

Abraham lived 600 years before God would hand down the Ten Commandments, so he never had them to follow.  How could Abraham, who never had the Law, live according to that Law?  It was impossible!  Yet the scriptures say that God counted Abraham as a righteous man.  And it was because of his faith.  God made a promise and Abraham believed.  Actually, if you think about it, Abraham was declared righteous while he was still a Gentile.  You see Abraham was circumcised 14 years after God declared him righteous.  So Abraham’s faith made him righteous in God’s sight, and circumcision was nothing more than a symbol or a sign of the covenant God made with him – to make him the father of many nations.

What Paul is saying here is that if a person truly has faith in God, God declares them righteous.  It is not doing religious things that make us righteous or earning God’s love that grants us salvation.  It is our faith in God’s promises that makes us right with God.  And what has God promised us?  He has promised us eternal life by believing in Jesus.  For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).  So when we believe this, we say “Amen.”  And God, who sees that we have faith enough to believe this promise, even though it seems too good to be true, counts us among the righteous.  He justifies us; He declares us innocent.

Our efforts to become Justified surround what we believe, not what we do, which is a lesson George learned in his encounter with Sam.  You see, George had made the mistake many Christians make.  He associated religious practices with righteousness.  However, although a Christian might honor God and strengthen their faith through religious practices (such as prayer, reading the Bible, tithing, etc.), they are not justified because of them.  And George learned this when he met Sam. 

Shortly before George and Sam met, Sam was introduced to Jesus.  And Sam believed.  Sam was justified by God because of his faith, not because he lived a life filled with Good Deeds.  So one night at a Bible Study, George was deeply impressed with Sam’s enthusiastic love of God; his deep devotion and passion to live according to God’s commands.  When Sam shared his past, George was dumbfounded.  How could a man who had such a wicked past be so on fire for Jesus?  That’s when George realized that “Christian” did not mean keeping a long list of commandments or participating in religious activities.  To be a Christian is to be reborn when a person is ready to admit they are a sinner in need of a Savior; to believe in the promise of God found in Jesus the Son.

Who did God love more?  Neither.  He loved them both the same.  Both Sam and George needed to learn that to be a Christian is not to fill their life with Good Deeds but to have faith in the promise of God.  Which is really Good News.  George did not need to fear that his bad deeds might outweigh his good deeds, and Sam didn’t need to work to undo all his wicked deeds from his past.  Both Sam and George need only have faith, believing in the promise of God.  Actually, people should not be asking God, “What do you want me to do to be saved”, but instead, “What should I believe to be saved.”  God is looking for faith within our hearts that admits we are sinners in need of a Savior, and who say “Amen” to God’s promise found in Christ the Lord. 

For the person who grew up in church, they need to realize that participating in religious activities does not make them right with God.  And for the individual who did not grow up in church, they need to understand that their absence of religious activities does not keep them separated from God.  Salvation comes by faith; for the life-long church attendee as well as the person who has never attended church.  I might have grown up in church, but this did not mean I was right with God.  My friend did not grow up in church.  That did not mean he was forever separated from God.  Salvation comes by faith in the promises of God.  And as New Testament Christians, our faith rests in the promise God made that if we believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that He paid the penalty for our sins, we will be granted eternal life.

Revealed - August 16, 2015 sermon

By Pastor Greg

At the height of a political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness.  "Isn't it true," he bellowed, "that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?"  The witness stared out the window, as though he hadn't heard the question.  "Isn't it true that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?" the lawyer repeated.  The witness still did not respond. Finally, the judge leaned over and said, "Sir, please answer the question." "Oh," the startled witness said, "I thought he was talking to you."

“I thought he was talking to you”.  Yep, that just about sums up life in general.  We think that everyone else has the problem.  Everyone else is the bad driver.  All my coworkers are jerks.  School would be awesome if it weren’t for all the idiots.  The other political party is led by idiots.  We hear it all the time.  The other person is the one with the problem. We, on the other hand, do not have problems.  We are not jerks.  We do no wrong.  Yeah, right.

You know, this isn’t something new.  This is actually an old, old problem.  In the Bible, a man named Paul takes a moment to remind his readers that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  He helps them see what humanity would look like if God were not part of their life and not part of society in general.  How would someone act if God did not influence their life?  Paul shows us in Romans 1.

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. ¹⁹ They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. ²¹ Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. ²³ And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. ²⁶ That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. ²⁷ And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.  ²⁸ Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. ²⁹ Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. ³⁰ They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. ³¹ They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. ³² They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too” (Romans 1:18-32).

“I thought he was talking to you” is the way most people respond when reading over this list, rather than confess, “He was talking to me”.  Too often we categorize these sins and justify ourselves, satisfied that we are not committing any of the major sins.  But see, these sins are just the symptom of a far greater disease.  We need not exhibit all of these to have the disease.  Any one of them is a clear sign that we (not someone else) has turned our back to God - exchanged (see 1:25) the glorious life of righteousness for a life defined by wickedness.  These symptoms indicate that we are a sinner in need of a savior.  That’s why it’s important we don’t take one of these sinful behaviors and separate it from the rest.  We dare not single out homosexuality from this list, nor should we remove it.  It needs to be included, as does Pride, Gossip, Greed, Murder, or Idol Worship (now there’s a wake-up call for some Christians.  Paul has included the Gossip in the same category as the Murderer or the Homosexual).  We need to examine our own life and confess our own sin, not point out the sins of others.

The purpose behind this section of Romans is to help people see their sinfulness.  Paul is trying to get us to realize that WE are the sinner, not simply everyone else.  Rather than criticize all the sinners around us, Paul is trying to make us look inwardly at ourselves.  He’s not holding up a window through which we can judge the world.  He is holding up a mirror so that we might examine our own heart. 

I know it’s an ugly picture.  This is what humanity looks like when it refuses to be influenced by God and His Holy Standard of behavior.  However, Paul mentions these things so a person might fully realize that they are indeed separated from God especially when they observe any of these behaviors in their life. 

I know we’d rather God talk to someone else, because when He talks to us we feel so ashamed of who we are or what we have done (at least we should feel ashamed).  But rather than leave us wallowing in helplessness, God provided a way for us to be forgiven.  He sent His Son Christ Jesus to die on the cross and take the punishment we deserve for being this kind of person.  “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are”  (Romans 3:22).  And if we will let Him, Jesus will help transform us into a person who reflects His glory and His holiness. 

What happens when we allow God to talk to us?  Yes, we might be convicted, but we might also find something more.  You see, salvation will not happen without a person first feeling convicted about their sin and then recognize that they are indeed living separated from God.  Only then, can a person confess, repent, believe, and be saved. 

Although we see way too much of ourselves in Paul’s list, we can experience God’s grace by accepting Jesus as our Savior.  And then, oh my friend, and then “since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us”  (Romans 5:1).

Sinning Like Adam and Eve

A while back, the US Supreme Court declared it constitutional for same sex couples to marry.  While I am disappointed with this decision, I am not surprised.  Our society has been under tremendous pressure the past several years to accept the homosexual lifestyle as something natural.  

Leading up to this decision, science had conceded years ago that some people are born with a same sex attraction, which led some homosexuals to insist that "God made them this way".  In recent years, even theologians, biblical scholars, pastors and denominations have opened their hearts and minds to this research and have concluded that homosexuality is a lifestyle that is completely acceptable.  Of course, theologians and Bible scholars have had to perform intricate gymnastics with biblical texts that speak against this lifestyle.  Nevertheless, the old understandings of scripture have been replaced with the new enlightened understanding of the 21st century.  These modern understandings of scripture are guiding many Christians today. 

The cultural and theological trend to accept homosexuality as normal has placed pressure on my own denomination (Church of the Brethren) to accept these cultural trends.  However, as I write this, the Denomination has remained steadfast on its statement that the Homosexual lifestyle is indeed a sin.  Most members accept this stance, while a small minority continues to pressure for change.  A few Congregations anticipated the Supreme Court decision and adopted new Bylaws stating they will not perform same-sex unions, regardless of what State Law says and regardless what Denominational policy may say (if it changes).  This is why some congregations are putting measures in place hopefully to protect them if or when our Government insists that every house of worship and every member of the clergy must grant same-sex couples equal rights and equal access.

In my own Denomination, a group of congregations in the south east passed a resolution which, among other things, states:

We therefore affirm that:

1. All are invited and welcomed to come and worship the Lord.
2. Marriage is a God ordained covenant that should be entered into by one man and one woman.
3. The Southeastern District will not accept performance of same-sex covenants or marriages by its licensed or ordained ministers.
4. The Southeastern District will not accept the performance of those ceremonies on any property that is a part of the Southeastern District. 
5. In addition we will not support any materials or anyone promoting the acceptance of the practice of homosexuality as a lifestyle that is approved by God. (source)

Although this is simply a resolution stating boundaries, it didn't take long for some to claim it was hate speech - an accusation that is made against anyone who does not agree that the homosexual lifestyle is perfectly acceptable. One group in my denomination felt it was their responsibility to correct the Southeastern District on their flawed theology, and proceeded to "enlighten" its readers on the proper understanding of scripture (source).

I could spend most of my time tearing apart their interpretation of the Hebrew or Greek text, but instead I would like to raise a few questions of my own.

1. Why did God feel it was necessary to give Israel Laws that govern their sexuality? I can understand the Laws that speak about honesty, integrity, fairness, and love (Leviticus 19), but if God has created us as the sexual creatures we are, free to express ourselves according to our desires, why place restrictions and boundaries on how those desires can be expressed (Leviticus 18)? Why did God point to the behavior of the world and tell Israel she should not behave this way? More importantly, do those same standards apply today? Did Christ's ministry of love change everything? Did God's standard of holiness change? Did sin go away when Christ died on the cross? If it did, then why do we need to confess our sin in order to be saved? We only need to repent IF God's standard of holiness still applies today. And if it does, then sin still exists - including the sexual sins God mentioned long ago. The only way we can dismiss homosexuality as a sin is to throw out the whole lot, which includes such things as lying, stealing, and deceit. 
2. Do you think God was completely unaware that some individuals might have a natural same-sex attraction? Do you think the Almighty Creator had no idea some people would be "born" this way? That's what some are suggesting. Some suggest that the Bible does not expressly speak against homosexual behavior, but against violent sexual acts. But if God intended to accept homosexual behavior, why didn't He just say so? Why didn't God, the Author of Creation, say, "violent homosexual behavior is wrong, but not the loving behavior of those born that way". I mean, don't you think God knew that one day this issue would be facing the Church, and provide some clarity for the Church on such an important issue? Why did He not provide some wiggle room? Why did the Sovereign Lord remain mute on this? Is it possible that God actually meant what He said and did not want us performing circus tricks like some are doing? One group says, "There are several ways to approach Leviticus 18:22 in a way that affirms same-sex relations" (source). This is something I just can't get past. If it is our sin that has separated us from God, and God desires to remove that sin and reunite with us, why would He be so vague about sin? Why would someone have to work so hard in order to discover what is sin and what is not? You would think God would be forthright and open so a person might examine their life and recognize sinful behavior. A person should not have to perform literary gymnastics just to discover the truth. 
3. Is God the author of the Bible, or is it merely the collected writings of individuals down through the ages? If the sexual laws found in Leviticus 18 were simply written by Moses, then I can understand why we would question them. He didn't know what science has been able to prove in our day. However, if God is the author of the Bible, then what He says must be taken seriously. This, I believe is the source of the whole problem. Our society, especially those who call themselves "enlightened", completely disregard the Bible as God's Word. In other words, some Christians today believe the Bible is under their scrutiny, rather than they being beneath the Bible's authority. 

Yes, I believe the Bible must be studied with context and culture in view, but every now and then you read something that transcends culture and time. Every now and then God pulls apart the curtain and shouts to humanity a Truth that cannot be ignored. "Everyone has sinned, and here is a list of behaviors that prove you are a sinner. However, because of My love for you, I will send My Son to die and pay the penalty for your sin. So if you are brave enough to admit you are a sinner and accept the death of Jesus, your sin will be forgiven". That's the main message in the Bible. However, a secondary message, which some today are ignoring, is the call to live a holy life - to be transformed. IF we are indeed saved, then our lives should no longer resemble the World. We are called to be Salt and Light. We are to bear fruit. We are told to let our behavior be excellent before everyone so that they might give glory to God as they see us living in this world but not part of this world. If a Savior leaves you where you are and who you are, from what has He saved you?

If the Bible is simply the thoughts of a person here and there, then we are all lost in hopelessness.  If I can't trust the writings of Moses or Paul as being the Word of God, then how can I trust the writings of John the Apostle, especially when he writes of Christ's words in John 3:16 or John 14:6?  The Bible either IS God's word or it is not.  To select what we want to believe or to make the Bible say what we want is the same sin committed by Adam and Eve.  They disregarded the Words of God and instead decided for themselves what was right and wrong.  And we all know what happened to them.  Why would God do any different for those today who do the same?

A Prayer for Deliverance - August 9, 2015 sermon

By Pastor Greg

A woman brought a very limp parrot into a veterinary clinic.  As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest.  After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said, "I'm so sorry, Polly has passed away."  The distressed owner wailed, "Are you sure?  I mean, you haven't done any testing on him or anything.  He might just be in a coma or something."  The vet rolled his eyes, shrugged, turned and left the room, returning a few moments later with a beautiful black Labrador.   As the bird's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the dead parrot from top to bottom.  He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.  The vet took the dog out but returned a few moments later with a cat. The cat jumped up and sniffed delicately at the bird as well.  The cat sat back, shook its head, meowed and ran out of the room.   The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but like I said, your parrot is most definitely, 100% certifiably dead."  He then turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.   The parrot's owner, still in shock, took the bill.  "$150?" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my bird is dead?!!!"  The vet shrugged.  "If you'd taken my word for it, the bill would only have been $20, but what with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan..."

If only this woman could have accepted what the vet had said earlier.  If only she could have accepted his “no”.  However, like many of us, we just don’t like being told “no.” 

A man in the Bible named Paul had to deal with God’s “no”.  The Lord sent him to preach throughout the Roman Empire.  Paul had great success leading many Jews to the Lord, but his greatest success was in helping countless non-Jews find eternal life in Jesus.  He, and the other members of his missionary team, traveled around the Mediterranean Sea ministering in many cities.  They preached the Gospel of Jesus from Lebanon to Syria, Turkey, the island of Cypress, Greece, and eventually Rome.  Yet throughout all his travels, Paul had something that continually worked against him.  He called it a “Thorn in the Flesh”.

In his second letter to the church in Corinth (which was located in Greece), Paul tells them that before he started these missionary trips, he had a supernatural encounter with God.  In paradise, God spoke to Paul revealing things that he just could not put into words.  This encounter with God could have become the central thrust of his work.  Paul could have boasted about this over and over again, but he doesn’t.  Paul writes, ^6 “If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, ⁷ even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.  ⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” ^[1] (2 Corinthians 12:6-10).

Whatever the thorn might have been, it was not the issue.  The main point is that three times Paul asked the Lord to take it away.  Yet God says, “No.”  Paul is told that God’s grace is all he needed.  He is reminded that the power of God is best revealed through a person’s weaknesses.  The message Paul preached seemed genuine BECAUSE of his weakness; his “Thorn in the Flesh”.  Paul’s acceptance of God’s “no” is an indication that he had indeed allowed God to become Lord of his life, that he had prayed, “Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory”. 

God’s “no” must be understood in terms of His character.  Here we see Paul wanting God to remove this thorn, yet God’s “no” was wrapped in His love and divine wisdom.  GHod informs Paul that if the thorn was removed, he may battle pride issues (become arrogant and self-righteous) which would destroy his ability to minister.  God didn’t say “no” because He was angry or disappointed with Paul, but because the Father knew what the outcome would be.  God answered Paul asking him to simply rest in His grace.  “My grace is sufficient for you” – meaning that Paul was to trust in the love of God. 

Have you ever heard God tell you “no”?  It’s not an easy word to hear.  I have found that this is one of the most difficult aspects of our relationship with God and with Jesus.  It is one thing to call them Lord.  It is far more difficult to permit them to be Lord of our life, especially when they say “no.” 

Maybe you expected God to say “Yes” to your prayer.  Maybe you demanded He say “Yes,” threatening to walk away if things didn’t go your way.  Of all the lessons I’ve learned about prayer, from courage, to faith, to boldness, I think this one is the most difficult.  It’s the point where Jesus teaches me to say, “For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”  It’s the lesson where I say, “As You wish.”  It’s when I can accept God’s “no” because I have come to understand God’s grace.

There are no magic prayers or secret formulas that will cause God to answer “yes” to all our prayers.  Those books that tell you God is just waiting to give you all that you desire simply are not true.  The people who wrote these books have forgotten that God is our Father.  He is Lord.  He is the potter; we are the clay.  They disregard what God said through the Prophet Jeremiah.  “So I went down to the potter’s house and found him working at his wheel. ^18:4 Now and then there would be something wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay with his hands. So he would rework the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit.   ^18:5 Then the Lord said to me, ^18:6 “I, the Lord, say: ‘O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter’s hand” ^[2] (Jeremiah 18:3-5).  If God is our Lord and Master, then we must learn to accept His “no”.  Yet as Christians, we have been promised God’s grace.  His grace is what helps us accept His “no”.  Like Paul, we receive the grace we need to accept God’s “no”, and that Grace comes through a relationship with His Son, Christ Jesus.

God is not a Grandfather who spoils us and gives us ice cream and hour before bedtime.  He is our Father, and our Father knows what is best for us.  However, what’s best for us is not always what makes us happy.  And the sooner we realize this, the sooner we will be able to pray, “Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen”.

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^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (2 Co 12:6–10). Carol Stream, IL

^[2] Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Je 18:3–6).

A Prayer for Courage - August 2, 2015 sermon

By Pastor Greg

During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, his troops were battling in the middle of a small town when he was accidentally separated from his men. A group of Russian soldiers spotted him and began chasing him through the streets. Napoleon ran for his life and ducked into a little furrier's shop on a side alley. As he entered the shop, he saw the furrier and cried, "Save me, save me! Where can I hide?" So the furrier hid Napoleon under a big pile of furs in the corner.  When the Russian soldiers burst in the door looking for Napoleon, they searched everywhere, even poking the pile of furs with their swords, but could not find him.  Eventually they left.

Napoleon crept out from under the furs, unharmed, just as his personal guards came in the door. The furrier asked Napoleon, "What was it like to be under those furs, knowing that the next moment might be your last?" Insulted, Napoleon bellowed, "How could you ask me such a question? Guards, take this man out, blindfold him and execute him."

The guards grabbed the furrier, dragged him outside, stood him against a wall and blindfolded him. The furrier could see nothing, but he could hear the guards shuffle into line and prepare their rifles. Then he heard Napoleon clear his throat and call out, "Ready! Aim!" In that moment, a feeling he could not describe welled up within him; tears poured down his cheeks. But the blindfold was stripped from his eyes and Napoleon said, "Now you know."

Until we experience something for ourselves, we will not know what it is like to go through a trial.  However, we can learn a lot from their stories, and especially their prayers.  Those who endure great persecution teach us a valuable lesson on how to pray when facing a storm of our own.

This is one of the difficult realities of life.  We all will face trials and problems.  Everyone will face something scary.  Yet, that is when we need to learn how to pray.  Praying as the Lord has taught us (deliver us from evil), teaches us to ask the Father for what we need in those moments when evil shouts “Ready, Aim . . .”  The best example of this kind of prayer can be found in Acts chapter 4.

Peter and John were arrested by the Religious Authorities because they healed a lame beggar and preached that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead (Acts 4:2).  Threatened by the religious council to stop speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus, Peter and John return to their fellow believers.  This council of Religious Authorities is the same group of men who conspired to have Jesus crucified.  They had that kind of power in Jerusalem.  If Peter, John, and the rest of the church continued to talk about Jesus, they could face severe punishment, even death (which did happen, by the way.  Peter and John will eventually be flogged.  Steven will be stoned to death).  This is what these first Christians were facing.  The local government threatened them and demanded that they stop talking about Jesus.

In a way, I can almost identify with what they were facing.  Not quite, but almost.  You see, more and more people wish that the Church would just go away.  There are an increasing number of people in our land that feel life would be better without Christians and their teachings about morality and sin.  An increasing number of people simply don’t want to hear about the Lord.  Even our own Government seems to hold a bias against the Church.  It has increasingly restricted certain Christian liberties.  Oh, they don’t care too much that we talk about Jesus in our buildings, but even the Supreme Court prefers that we stop practicing our religion.[1]  How then should we respond?  As Christians face an uncertain future here in America, how should we pray?  This is where we can learn a lesson from the Early Church.  Listen to how they prayed.

²³ As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. ²⁴ When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—²⁵ you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,  ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?  ²⁶ The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ ²⁷ “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. ²⁸ But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. ²⁹ And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness ^[2] (Acts 4:23-31).

Boldness.  They prayed for boldness.  They asked the Lord to work through them so that even though Evil had raised its ugly hand against them, the world might be able to see and hear, then testify that the message of Jesus is indeed true.  The Church didn’t ask God to remove those wicked people in office.  They didn’t whine about how the administration was opposing them.  They didn’t complain that their civil rights had been restricted.  They prayed for boldness.  And God heard their prayer.  God answered their prayer.  Ordinary people like you and me were given special gifts by the Holy Spirit so that they might remain steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that their toil in the Lord’s name is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

I think it would be appropriate for us to say the same prayer.  The persecutions have not started, yet.  But it seems that our land just doesn’t want to hear the Truth.  Paul warned Timothy about this.  He said, ³ “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”  However, Paul instructed this young Pastor to; ⁵ “keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you” ^[3] (2 Timothy 4:3-5).

At Annual Conference, I had a chance to talk with some of the Christians in Nigeria who have been facing horrendous evils from Muslim Extremists.  They talked of terrorism, kidnappings, torture, and murder while their government seems to do nothing.  I simply do not know what it must be like to face persecution.  The Church in America might be inconvenienced, but it is certainly not persecuted.  Even so, I felt I could learn something from these bold Christians.

How should the Church respond to the storm of anger, worry, and fear within us?  Don’t be mean.  Don’t criticize.  Don’t throw rocks.  Instead, Pray.  Pray for boldness.  Pray that the Lord might work through us in ways that convince the world that the Gospel Message is indeed true.

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[1] http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/june/supreme-court-states-cant-ban-same-sex-marriage.html

^[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Ac 4:23–31). Carol Stream, IL.

^[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (2 Ti 4:3–5). Carol Stream, IL