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, April 30, 2018

When Grace Abounds - April 29, 2018 sermon

   By Pastor Greg...

Sister Grace at the convent opened a letter from home and found a $100 bill from her parents.  She smiled at the gesture.  As she read the letter by the window, she noticed a shabbily dressed stranger leaning against the lamp post below. Quickly, she wrote, "Don't despair. Sister Grace" on a piece of paper, wrapped the $100 bill in it and tossed it out the window. The stranger picked it up and read the note. He tipped his hat to Sister Grace and hurried away.
The next day, Sister Grace was told that a man was asking to see her.  She went down and found the stranger waiting.  Without a word, he handed her a huge wad of $100 bills. "What's this?" she asked. "That's your $8,000, Sister," he replied. "'Don't Despair' paid 80-to-1."
If you read the headlines, it seems the moral and ethical fiber of our nation continues to spiral out of control.  We are entering a period in our country where Christian morals and values are being marginalized; you and I are rapidly becoming the minority.  It can be quite discouraging.  How will the Church survive in a nation no longer receptive to our beliefs?  What does the future hold for Christians or for humanity?  Christ warned us that in the last days, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold[1] (Matthew 24:12).  Should the Church continue to fight against evil or should it quietly and peacefully roll over and die?  Has Christianity lost its ability to influence this world?  Is there any hope for a revival? 
Don’t despair.  Revelation chapter 15 informs us that all is not lost.  Even up to the very end, some people will still turn to God. 
 (Revelation 15:1-8) Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.[2]
It will be a dark and wicked time in the days when the world is ruled by the Antichrist; evil and treachery will fill the land.  Yet, gathered on this glassy sea are those who refused to bow down to Satan and his demonic influence.  And despite all the disasters and hardships caused by the 7 seals and the 7 trumpets, they continued to worship the Lord God.  In those dark days, the righteous will shine, and the darkness will not be able to extinguish their light.
The words of Paul ring true; “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more[3] (Romans 5:20).
I am encouraged by this.  Not every person will cave under pressure.  The Antichrist and the False Prophet will not subdue all of humanity; they will not wrestle everyone into submission.  In some of the darkest times on earth, many people remain steadfast in their faith.  Isn’t that amazing?  It gives me hope for today.
If people can be victorious over the world in that day, shouldn’t we be even more victorious today?  Today is a day of salvation.  Today the Holy Spirit is present among us.  Today, the hand of God is restraining evil and the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:6).  If those under severe persecution can shine brightly in the dark days to come, certainly you and I should be able to persevere today.
But how do we accomplish this?  How do we thrive in today’s culture?  If the Man of Lawlessness is being restrained, how can we continue to impact this world for Jesus?  The Lord has pointed out that, “the one who endures to the end will be saved[4] (Matthew 24:13).  So, how do we endure?
The Apostle Paul, a first-century evangelist, shares some instructions on how to live as lights in this dark world.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ [5] (Ephesians 5:1-20)
In the dark days ahead, not everyone will be lost.  Some will resist the Antichrist and the false prophet.  And I am encouraged by this.  If men and women can resist evil in those days, surely we can resist in these days… these days while the Spirit is still working among us.  In fact, John the Apostle says it is the presence of God’s Spirit within us that enables us to overcome the sins of this world.  You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world[6] (I John 4:4).  Kind of makes you want to sing, doesn’t it?
If there is one thing that has remained consistent over time it is the human heart; the spirit and the soul of men and women are the same today as it was yesterday.  Throughout history, some people worshiped the darkness, but in those dark days, there were some who went searching for the light.  It is the same today.  In a land that is amoral, we will find people here and there who are searching for love and meaning; people who know deep in their heart that there must be something more to life.  As long as people thirst for Truth, the message of Jesus will remain.  Regardless of what happens in the world, the Church will always find a way to reach the lost with God’s offer of grace.


[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 24:12). Carol Stream, IL.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Re 15:1–8). Carol Stream, IL.
[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ro 5:20). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 24:13). Carol Stream, IL.
[5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Eph 5:1–20). Carol Stream, IL.
[6] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (1 Jn 4:4). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

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