The Apostle Paul calls us Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). As followers of Jesus we must allow the Word of God to fill us with it's message of Truth and Grace. In this way, we become a "vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).

Monday, January 30, 2017

The Walking Wounded - January 29, 2017 sermon


By Pastor Greg


A rich millionaire throws a massive party for his 50th birthday. During this party, he announces to his guests that down in his swimming pool are two great white sharks.  "I will give anything of mine to the person who swims across that pool."  So, the party continues.  SUDDENLY there's a great splash, and all the guests run to the pool.  In the water is a man swimming as hard as he can.  Fins break the surface and jaws are snapping, and this guy just keeps swimming.  The sharks are gaining on him, but finally, he reaches the end and gets out, tired and shaken.  The millionaire says, "I am a man of my word. Anything of mine I will give: my Ferraris, my house, absolutely anything, for you are the bravest man I have ever seen. Sir, what will it be?"  Breathless, the guy says, "Why don't we start with the name of the jerk who pushed me in!"

Far too many people in this world are swimming with sharks.  Many have been bitten by life and are deeply wounded.  These are the people who walk around every day bleeding from the wounds inflicted by life; affected by the harshness of this world.  Their day to day life is one of frenzied panic, trying to stay ahead of the things they fear, not knowing that they could be rescued and healed in a moment.
There is no sunshine in the lives of many.  People need joy; oh, so desperately do the children of this earth need joy.  These are angry and vengeful times where many are filled with hate; spiteful to a wrong and unforgiving to an offense.
This world needs peace.  This land needs love to spill over into wounds that have been cut deeply.  But where will they find these things?  Surely, they will not be healed by the World; it is the World which has wounded them; secular values, worldly passions, and human greed.  Where can the wounded find healing?  Jesus insists that the people of this world can find joy, peace, and love through those who pass along the Words of Jesus.  To share Jesus is to pass along healing.
Praying to the Father, Jesus says, 13 Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:13-21).
The words Jesus spoke to His apostles brought them joy (verse 13).  The Words of Jesus helped the disciples become Holy (verse 17), set apart from the world; different from the world in the way they lived, the way they dealt with tragedy and sadness.  Through the Words of Jesus, these apostles would find joy, peace, hope, healing, and love.  Because of this, those who follow Jesus would no longer be part of this word.  They would be in the world, but would not be overcome by the world.  In other words, they would experience life just like everyone else, but when life would bite, these followers of Jesus would be able to stand firm in their faith, love, and joy.
Yes, these followers of Jesus would act in ways contrary to the world.  In a pool with dangerous sharks, these Christians remained steadfast.  When the apostles were arrested, and beaten for teaching about Jesus, their response is incredible.  There they stood, facing the “sharks” who would wound them.  Yet, in Acts 5:41-42 we read, “41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
What kind of person rejoices when they suffer disgrace?  The person who has been made Holy by God’s truth; God’s Word.
As I said earlier, the people of this world need joy.  There is no sunshine in the lives of many.  Most of the people of this world have been bitten by life; life with all its selfishness and vain conceit.  Worldly values, passions, and greed have wounded many, and they walk among us every day.  This is why Jesus asked God to send these believers out into the world.  He prayed, “Don’t take them out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil one” (verse 15).  He also said, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (Verse 20).
Don’t miss this significance.  Jesus prayed for you and me.  He prayed that while we are in the world, we would be safe from the evil one.  He is also sending us into the world into the “shark-infested waters.”  Why is He doing this?  Well, Jesus kept the apostles in the world so they could teach and preach the message of Jesus.  He keeps us in the world for the same reason.  Through us, the walking wounded can find the same hope, peace, love, and joy we experienced through a relationship with Jesus.  Our neighbors, friends, and classmates have no idea where to turn when they are threatened by life.  You and I have found hope and strength in Jesus.  And He is the hope this world needs.
For this to work, you and I, as Christians, will need to become Holy -set apart and different than the world.  Isn’t this what Jesus is saying here?  Christians are to be made holy by God’s truth – God’s Word – and become separate from this world.  I mean, the wounded people in this world don’t need more of the world from the Church; they don’t need Christians reflecting the attitudes and behaviors of the world.  It is the World that has wounded them; a world filled with selfishness, anger, conceit, greed, and reckless living.  The wounded have lived each day of their life in a world that has turned its back on God; a world filled with drug abuse, alcohol, and no sexual restraint.  These are the things which have wounded many in this world, so why would the church tell them God approves of this stuff?  The walking wounded needs the Church to reflect Jesus and God’s Holy Word, and for their sake, the Church must continue to be separate from the world.

How will the wounded believe they can find healing in Jesus if we act just like them?

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