We have been talking about praying for our nation and community. Prayer is not given as a religious discipline or a metaphysical conduit. This is a Divine means in which the Ruler of the Universe has a conversation with His People. It is more than asking, it is basking. It is to bask in the Presence of the Living God and engage the world with His Heart, His Words, His Feet, and extending His Hands in the earth.
“Prayer is not given to get man’s will done in Heaven. It is given for God’s Will to be done in the Earth.” --John Maxwell We pray with all types of prayer for all types of people. For our family and friends, our co-workers and colleagues, our enemies and our supporters. We pray for the Lost and the Prodigals, the Wounded and the Outcast, the broken and the frightened. Oh my dear friends, we have so much to do and so much to pray that the plans of our Father will be done in our lives. God also commands that we pray for ALL of those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). To pray for “all those in authority” is exactly what the Apostle Paul meant. Through prayer, we are actually involved in the governance and authority structure of our world! Remember, when Paul wrote those words, notorious and despicable Roman Emperors ruled the Land. So Beloved, no matter who is in leadership, we must remember to pray for all those who have authority in our lives, knowing that they answer to the ultimate authority: the LORD God Almighty. Proverbs 21:1 NCV - The LORD can control a king’s mind as he controls a river; he can direct it as he pleases. One of the reasons we are commanded to pray this way, is in order to live PEACEFUL and QUIET LIVES, with PURITY and GRACE…so that the Gospel will be proclaimed by both our WORDS and our DEEDS. Oh Beloved, do not be discouraged. Do not be disheartened. The Lord is not only with us, but He will fulfill HIS GOOD PURPOSES in the Earth, in our nation, in our city, in our neighborhood, and in our lives. Just remember something Dr. Jack Hayford said over forty years ago, that I have kept near my heart for my entire ministry: “Prayer is Invading the Impossible!” Habakkuk 2:14 NIV78 – For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
1 Comment
We have been talking about praying for our nation and community. Prayer is not just one word, one sentence, or one thought. It is more than the bowing of knees or raising of hands or elevation of our voice. Sometimes we behave as though prayer must be offered only ONE way; or even worse, we act as though it is the recitation of some sort of magical language that if said just the right way or with the proper voice inflection, then God will somehow move.
In 1 Timothy 2:1, the Apostle Paul doesn’t just say to, “pray.” Rather, He outlines four different parts, portions, types of praying…a PANORAMA of PRAYER that he expects Timothy and the Early Church to practice. 1 Timothy 2:1 NIV84 - I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- There are several words for prayer in the Scriptures and four of them are used in verse one:
The Word of God not only tells us to pray in a multitude of ways, but also for a multitude of people. In fact, 1 Timothy 2:1 in the NIV says to pray for “everyone,” and another translation says to pray for “all humanity.” This is not just our church and family, friends, and personal needs, but God wants us to be positively involved in the lives of others by praying for them. “ALL HUMANITY” is quite a large group and it will even include those who behave as an Enemy to us and to the Cross; but like Christ at Golgotha, these are probably the ones who are most in need of our prayer. This weekend, I am officiating at wedding of a precious young couple in New Jersey and then preaching at the Gateway Church in New York. I apologize that I will not be with you, but I am very grateful for the prayerful support of the Cathedral Congregation in all of our ministry endeavors. Dr. Hannah Harrington will be bringing a powerful message from the Word of God this morning.
We have been talking about praying for our nation and community. One of the great passages of Scripture regarding the role of God’s people in the spiritual life of a nation and community is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God tells Solomon: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 AMP - If I shut up heaven so no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. The Word of God tells us that we are responsible to pray for our nation and our community. Before there is forgiveness, there must be repentance. Before there is healing, there must be mercy. Before there is revival, there must be PRAYER! We must make prayer a PRIORITY in our lives and ministry. In 1 Timothy 2, The Apostle Paul gave instruction to Timothy concerning prayer. 1 Timothy 2:1 VOICE - So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray… John Wesley once said, "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer." Far too often, prayer is an afterthought…an “oh by the way, I guess I should pray about this.” We make our plans, write our budgets, negotiate our contracts, and preach our sermons…but have we prayed?!
I find it very difficult to ever compare myself in any way to the great men and women of our Faith who have gone before us. It is even more disconcerting to begin to claim that one may have even the slightest understanding of the heart expressed by the powerful Apostle Paul. With that said, however, I do feel that I have a small appreciation for what he meant when he said these words to the Philippian Believers…
Philippians 1:3-5 VOICE - Whenever you cross my mind, I thank my God for you and for the gift of knowing you. 4 My spirit is lightened with joy whenever I pray for you (and I do constantly) 5 because you have partnered with me to spread the gospel since the first day I preached to you. As a pastor, I am very grateful for the privilege of serving this congregation; and in this way I am somewhat like the Apostle Paul because I am thankful for you, and my prayers are filled with joy (at least for the most part). :-) In circumstances that have been difficult and filled with despair, to moments of celebration and hope, you have been a source of strength and support. You have demonstrated not only your love for the ministry and the history of this great Work, but you have also given of your time, energy, and resources to bless my family and I. Truly, you have gone above and beyond the notion of a Church Member to that of a Family of Faith. You are a blessing to my life and I am deeply grateful. The birthday celebration last week was amazing: my office was decorated, the barbecue was astounding, the generous gifts were humbling, the fellowship was uplifting, the cake was delicious, the Hawaiian shirts were beautiful, the cards and kind wishes were encouraging, and in everything…I was blessed. Yes, I know a little of what the Apostle Paul meant, “I thank my God for you.” As a nation, July is our birthday month and it is accompanied by much celebration and hopefully, prayer. This is a very momentous and difficult hour for the Body of Christ and for the United States of America. Nevertheless, it is to this hour and to this nation that the Lord chose for you to live and speak. Either by birth or by migration, you are here by the Sovereign Hand of Almighty God. The Apostle Paul said…
Acts 17:26 NIV84 – From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. You are here in this hour, for this season, in this nation to announce the Good News of Jesus and to live your life as citizens of the Kingdom of God! Please consider the words of Pastor Matt Chandler or The Village Church… “The Kingdom of God wasn’t born on the Fourth of July.” --Matt Chandler The Supreme Court decision regarding Same-Sex Marriage will certainly NOT be the cause of any decline within our nation…it is, however, a SYMPTOM of it. The United States is not, and never has been, a Theocratic Nation. At best, we were a culturally Christian nation, but not one truly ruled by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we are no longer even that…but it has been this way for a long time. We have chronicled quite extensively on Sunday Mornings and in SALT, the profound and rapid loss of influence the Church has had in America. We can be assured that the Biblical definition of Marriage is not dependent upon the winds of politics, the deliberations of Justices, or the revisions of suspect modern scholarship that seeks to accommodate the culture rather than the plain text of Scripture. If our Lord Jesus wanted to change the definition of marriage, He certainly could have, but instead He affirmed it: Matthew 19:4-5 NIV84 – “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?” Please make no mistake, I believe in freedom. So much so, that I believe in a God that has granted to Humanity the Right to be Wrong if they so choose. Furthermore my friends, the Gay Lifestyle is certainly not the only brokenness within our culture. Beloved, our entire culture is BROKEN and in need of God! Frankly, in far too many ways the Church is quite broken too. Sin enslaves. Regardless of whether it is homosexual, heterosexual, lying, stealing, murder, gossip, racism, maligning…all sin enslaves. Therefore, when one Human Being is enslaved, all of Humanity suffers; When one Soul is Lost, all of Creation groans. Rather than anger then, our response should be HUMILITY and brokenness. As I said, we are the ones who have lost our influence within the Culture. Matthew 10:7 NIV78 - As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Matthew 10:7 NIV78 - …Preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
As a nation, July is our birthday month and it is accompanied by much celebration and hopefully, prayer. There are many things, both good and bad, that have made the United States unique, and at times contradictorily so. The cry for freedom was central to the founding of this nation, yet many of its people were under the brutal heel of slavery. The Founders claimed at least a respect for the Judeo-Christian God and His Scriptures, and yet behaved in ways both personally and politically that causes one to properly suspect the depth of that commitment. We have often cried out for justice, when in reality our hearts craved vengeance. We speak of equality, but at best we struggle in recognizing the God-given dignity and worth of a Human Soul. Proverbs 14:34 NIV - Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. The child upon the streets or in the womb, the poor living in blight and the aged living in obscurity, the broken and the outcast all of whom are souls for which Jesus has died. Our Nation often forgets these: the most vulnerable of SOULS, and even more dishearteningly, so does the Church that bears the Name of Christ. Furthermore, our Society (both Secular and Religious) has forgotten the sacrifices of our forebears and we are suffering from a curious lack of curiosity and a despairing absence of seriousness. Realizing that I now run the risk of sounding like the “old guy” telling the neighborhood kids to get off of his lawn (although with our drought-imposed restrictions, I no longer worry about my lawn). Nevertheless, indulge me for a moment (especially my children’s generation): :-) Life is not a Bumper Sticker and theology is not limited to 140 characters in a text or a Social Media “post” or “hash-tag.” To celebrate “freedom,” “choice,” “equality,” and “love” is far costlier, profoundly deeper, and significantly more complex than the current national conversation tolerates. The issues we face and what type of nation we shall leave to our children and our grandchildren are very serious and should not be diminished by a personal need to win an argument or to offer a clever thought backed up by a symbol of one’s “team.” It is as though politics has become its own religion and issues are now scored as though we were watching a sporting contest. We decide by whether a person has a “D” or an “R” after their name, if we will listen to them at all; and all the while the public dialogue becomes more coarse and our nation is being cynically divided and Balkanized by those in pursuit of raw power. The Body of Christ MUST resist this assault to divide us, for we have a PRIESTLY RESPONSIBILITY to represent the LORD GOD to HUMANITY, and to PLEAD in SACRIFICIAL INTERCESSION before God on behalf of our families, our church, our community, and yes…our nation! This anointing is either released or hindered by our capacity to love and live in the UNITY of the Spirit within His Body. Psalm 133:1-2 NKJV – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. Yesterday, our nation celebrated 239 years of independence from the British Empire. I am so grateful to live in a city whose citizens take such great personal pride in bringing to life the words of Francis Scott Key: “The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air!” :-)
The cry for freedom was central to the founding of this nation. When one Human Being is enslaved, all of Humanity suffers; When one Soul is Lost, all of Creation groans. All Human Systems of Governance: political or ecclesiastical are flawed; however, they should represent an attempt to recognize and celebrate the Creator in His Creation. The greatness of the United States is not that it has fulfilled its ideals, it has not; and on more than a few occasions, it has failed miserably. Nevertheless, the greatness of the United States is that is HAS ideals…and those ideals presuppose a Creator and are founded upon the Scripture. It is this understanding that has allowed our nation to attempt to right its wrongs; and address its failings. The Abolitionist Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and other Cries for Freedom appealed to our founding ideals and began in the Pulpits of America. But what happens when the nation drifts from those Scriptural moorings? Even worse, what do we do when our Leaders in Business, Education, Government, and Entertainment demonstrate an open disdain for any religious perspective that does not support their worldview? What do we do when the “Tolerant” of the World are the most intolerant of The Scripture and of the Ways of God? Psalm 12:8 NIV78 - The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men. What do we do when our Nation, our Society, and our People begin to drift from the ways of the Lord? What do we do when righteousness is mocked and “what is vile is honored,” and celebrated? What do we do when violence fills our Land and Secularism has become a Religion of its own making? Our nation is truly at a time of crisis, the tipping point of which may have already begun. Indeed, there is much to be done, but it all starts with the People of God getting serious about their God and calling on His Great Name. Revival begins with Repentance, and Repentance begins in Prayer. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 AMP - If I shut up heaven so no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. This is an unusually blessed morning, for we have the privilege to honor the men who represent God much more than they realize. I want to join with everyone is wishing a Happy and Blessed Father’s Day to all of the dad’s that are joining us today. An Unknown Author once observed that…
“A Father is a man who has photographs in his wallet where his money use to be.” -Unknown Unfortunately, I have first-hand experience concerning the veracity of that observation. :-) Nevertheless Brothers, with or without cash, I pray the Lord bless you with strength, rest, and peace today. You are a unique and significant gift, not only to the Body of Christ, but also to a society that desperately needs for the MEN OF GOD to step into the gaping holes within our Cultural and Spiritual fabric. There has been an enormous paradigm shift in the way our nation views Christianity and Christians. The Visible is making a declaration that a War is going on in the Invisible Realm and the times in which we live our increasingly perilous. The Apostle Paul prophesied of this day… 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV - But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. We need men to be MEN. We need you to be fathers and husbands, mentors and leaders, servants and warriors in the House of God and in our Community. We need you to “fan into flame the Gift of God that is within you,” and we when you see a need in your home, your neighborhood, your church, your city, your nation…ACT! If you are older, be a Spiritual Grandfather. If you are a little younger, be a Spiritual Father. If you are younger still, be a Spiritual Brother; and all of us are Sons…Sons of the Most High. Let us act accordingly! 1 Corinthians 15:58 AMP - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord -- that is, always being superior (excelling, doing more than enough) in the service of the Lord, knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile -- never wasted or to no purpose. During our SALT (Serving And Leading Together) services, we have begun a discussion about our neighborhood, the Fruitvale Community, the City of Oakland, and the East Bay. It is time for the Patten Community of Faith to begin laying out the principles that are necessary to both continue and extend our influence beyond our campus.
Two imperatives have already been discussed: committing to the LOVE of Christ as our CORE COMPETENCY, and making the GLORIFICATION of Christ our HIGHEST PRIORITY! The Word of God tells us that when the Apostle Paul went to Athens, “He reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there (Acts 17:17 NIV84).” As was often his practice, Paul went into the synagogue to reason with those who would have a value for, and understanding of, the Scriptures. First addressing those with a similar culture, familiar values, and a common language to foster communication. Similarly, the modern Church Gathering, whether in a Cathedral, a tent, or a House, is like the ancient synagogues: an Outpost of Light within the Darkness, a Place of Worship, Learning, and Fellowship. The ministry in the “synagogue” is valuable, and it is likely the most productive place to start reaching a city or region. However, the Church was never intended to be an isolated castle hidden behind moats and barriers. The Life of the Church and its Ministry is not simply somewhere we go, but it is something we are to BRING into the marketplace of our lives and community. We must embrace the Ministry within our “synagogue,” or “campus,” our “Faith Community;” but we must also take the NEXT step and as the Apostle Paul demonstrated, we must make it a point to step out of the comfortable surroundings of our “synagogue” and daily enter the marketplace to reach those who would not have had a value in, or reference to, the Messiah of Israel. The Secular Community has deemed Christianity to be irrelevant, and even further it is no longer neutral regarding our Faith, it is openly opposing it. We must intentionally get “back into the marketplace day by day (Acts 17:17 NIV84).” Every day is a new day for us; and each step is one that we have never taken before. Nevertheless, this is an Ancient Walk of Faith. It began long before you and I and it finds it’s completion the Person of our Lord Jesus Himself. Your journey…Your walk…Our walk…did not begin with just us or just you. We are all standing upon the shoulders of others. The Church has been forged with the blood of martyrs, the sacrifices of saints, the faithfulness of the persecuted, the preaching of the missionaries, and the worship of every tribe and language and people and nation. Oh, it is not only YOUR walk, but it is OUR walk! It is not based upon a Doctrine Du Jour, but it is founded in the Ancient of Days Himself. Through the Prophet Jeremiah, the Lord said…
Jeremiah 6:16 VOICE - Stand at the crossing, and consider the ancient path, for it is good and it leads to Me. Walk on this path, and you will find rest for your souls… Likewise, at times the path can be very challenging. There is nothing easy about living a Life of Trust. To walk the path charted by faith, instead of leaning upon our own skills and capacity is counterintuitive to so much of our natural inclinations. In order to do this requires us to intentionally choose the Promise of Scripture and the Presence of His Spirit over the false security of trusting ourselves. The stakes are too high, the suffering too real, and our need for God is too great to leave to an earthly remedy alone. The consequences of Human failure and sin are far-reaching, and they never stay with a single generation. There is nothing easy about helping others, healing the wounded, restoring the broken, or lifting the downcast. Doubts, fears, our Adversary, and even the very system of this Fallen World will always conspire to hinder us along the way. In spite of these difficulties, our Lord Jesus has good news for us. He said… John 16:33 AMP - I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] Amen! Today we will be honoring our graduates. On May 9, Patten University graduated 22 students. This coming Wednesday, PACE will celebrate and honor students who are going from Kindergarten to First Grade; from Middle School to High School; and from High School to College, and then on to Life! Likewise, we have many students who are promoting within the Sunday School and Children’s Ministries as well.
This time of year will often remind us that our lives are characterized as journeys. Theologian Alister McGrath states, “The image of journey reminds us that we are going somewhere…[and] traveling does more than lead us to the goal of our journeying. A journey is itself a process that enables us to grow and develop as we press on to our goal.” The imagery is powerful because it instills within us an understanding that we are traveling both “FROM…and TO.” We are leaving some things, some places, and even some people; and moving forward toward somewhere new, and in this process, we ourselves are changing, learning, growing, and progressing. Graduation is a marker for many of our young people on that journey. It is the celebration of accomplishment. It is the appreciation that others have invested their “todays” for their children’s “tomorrows.” Further, it is a point of embarkation as they leave the safety of the familiar to embrace the uncertainty of the adventure. Christianity itself is a journey from SELF to CHRIST; from Self-Interest to Christ-Interest. The Joy of Heaven is the full apprehension of God, whereas the Joy of Earth is the full pursuit of Him! It is in this journey that we begin to find fulfillment and meaning for our lives; not in the self-absorption for which our society so callously panders, but rather in pursuing the purpose and mission for which we were created. One of the beautiful aspects of our journey is that although we walk an individual path, we are not alone. Throughout our lives, the Lord is with us and He uses the willing gifts of Parents, Grandparents, Family, Friends, Teachers, Administrators, Pastors, Sunday School workers, Mentors, and many others who are unseen and unknown, who invest in our life. Who believe in us and what we can become. Others have loved us. Others have deemed us valuable and important. Others have said, “Your life counts to me.” Others have invested a part of themselves and their future in us. What the Lord wants from each of us is to go and do likewise! Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV84 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NLT - For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus... In the first half of his letter to the Ephesian Church, the Apostle Paul outlines his Theology of Redemption, and the mysterious role the church has taken in the course of human history. In the last half of the letter, he demonstrates the practical application of his theological position. True Christianity is always right theology (what we believe) expressed through a worshipful lifestyle (how we live) that represents the activity of God in the Earth.
Grace is not simply the kindness of God to overlook and forget our sinfulness and transgressions. Grace is the capacity of God to transform the Sinner, and make him or her the very righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, Christianity is not simply a philosophy, doctrinal adherence, or creedal understanding. Christianity is a personal encounter with the Living God that changes a person’s life for now and eternity. This is why The Word of God tells us that we are “God’s Workmanship;” that we are His “Masterpiece;” His “Work of Art.” We are NOT a Cosmic Accident or a Biological Mishap, but we are a marvelous and intentional creation by a loving and personal God. Psalm 139:13-14 NIV78 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. This makes us unique, special, and even, wonderful…because someone took the time, care, and energy that were necessary to form, and transform, our lives. Therefore, we are created “to do good works” in order demonstrate the beauty and glory of the Artist who created us, that our lives will show forth the splendor of our Creator and Redeemer. The following is a brief story from Syndicated Columnist Erma Bombeck. Although she passed away in 1996, some of you may remember her. She was a witty and gifted writer. The following was her Mother’s Day column for May 12, 1974. Now, this little story is not necessarily “Theologically Correct,” but its message is… :-)
When God Created Mothers When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into his sixth day of “overtime” when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.” And the Lord said, “Have you read the specs on this order?
“Lord,” said the angel, touching His sleeve gently, “Go to bed. Tomorrow...” “I can’t,” said the Lord, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick... can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger... and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower.” The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed. “But she’s tough!” said the Lord excitedly. “You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure.” “Can it think?” “Not only can it think, but she can reason and compromise,” said the Creator. Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.” “It’s not a leak,” said the Lord. “It’s a tear.” “What’s it for?” “It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride.” “You are a genius,” said the angel. The Lord looked somber. “I didn’t put it there,” He said. It is that unique tear, that unique toughness, that unique grace, and that unique mercy for which all of us are so grateful. Thank you, Ladies for being a wonderful and sacred expression of our tender and mighty God. Hebrews 13:15 NIV - …Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…
We have been discussing the one remaining sacrifice that we are to offer the Lord: the Sacrifice of Praise. Christ has fulfilled every other sacrifice of Scripture so that we could stand in His Righteousness before the Father. At the end of our service this morning, we will go to His Table to be reminded that His Body was broken and His Blood was shed, so that there is now a New Covenant between Heaven and Earth. Over the years of pastoral ministry, I have had people ask me, “Why did Jesus need to die for our sins? Why the cross? Couldn’t The Father simply have wiped them away, forgiven and forgotten, as though our sins did not take place? Could He not have just ‘forgiven’ the debt without the brutality of the Cross? It seems so harsh.” Part of the error with this line of reasoning, is that the horror of sin has been redefined by our modern culture. We prefer to use terminology that is not so severe or “insensitive.” Sin is now seen as an error, a mistake, a vulnerability, a propensity to failure, and not as an Evil Task Master enslaving people. The horrible violations against women, abuses of children, exploitation of the poor, bigotries, the taking of life, extortion, jealousy, envy, greed are all far more than just mistakes, it is the activity of Sin. Every transgression takes something from the life of someone, and collectively it diminishes all of us as a society. All sin creates a debt. It is not done in a vacuum. We can apologize, but we cannot pay the staggering liability that has created the gaping hole within our hearts and drained the very soul of our civilization. To wave one’s hand and offer a forgiveness without sacrifice as though this horrible iniquity, transgression, and corruption are somehow cosmically okay, is to never have understood the tragedy of Sin. It is to not appreciate the cost of forgiveness; and it is to misappropriate the loving compassion of Almighty God. “Forgiveness means bearing the cost. God has a just passion to defeat evil and a loving desire to forgive.” --Timothy Keller Therefore, “Real Love” is Sacrificial because true forgiveness is costly. It exacts a toll on the one who has been hurt, offended, robbed, or violated. God is a God who is Just. To pretend that sin is okay, is not Justice and it is not Grace. Instead, it is profoundly unjust and delusional. What Christ did was pay the cost. The great debt of Humanity (corporately and individually) was laid upon Him and He freely bore the UNTOLD COST, and SACRIFICED the PURITY of His LIFE so that JUSTICE would be met, so Evil would be DEFEATED, and so FORGIVENESS could be received! 1 John 4:10 CEV - Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Hebrews 13:15 AMP - Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
Prophecy is not simply a revelation of the future; Prophecy is to speak forth “the Heart and Mind of the Eternal God” into this Veil of Time and Space. It is the “deep” of God’s Heart penetrating the “deep” of our Vessel of Clay, and being declared back to the Throne of God, piercing the Darkness and DECLARING the Honor of Christ in this Age of Rebellion and Fear. It is to hear of the Eternal, declaring those words into the Temporal, and impacting the Spiritual. In this sense, the Sacrifice of Praise is a uniquely Prophetic Utterance and Declaration! The Sacrifice of Praise is a PROPHETIC, and POWERFUL flow of worship that is beyond the limits or range of thought, of categories, or even of experiences. It is when the Spirit reveals to us the great love and mercy of God in a way that transcends our circumstances in such a way that simply causes our own Hearts to cry out: Psalm 57:11 NIV – Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. BE EXALTED O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS! LET YOUR GLORY BE OVER ALL THE EARTH! This is transcendent and transformational worship, but it is also very COSTLY. Yes, Jesus paid everything for our redemption, but this is a Fallen World and the Sacrifice of Praise is when we find ourselves at the intersection of Eternity and Calamity, of Glory and Suffering, when Life is Bitter and not Sweet, in that moment, the Spirit of God comes near and asks: “Will You Worship, will you believe, do you love me?” These are not the Grand questions of Philosophical Theology or the beautiful Angelic strands of music sung by a Choir, nor are these the glorious declarations of a Congregation in Triumphant Song on Easter Sunday. Oh no, Beloved, this is the heart-felt, gut wrenching, moments of Sacrifice…AND IT IS PERSONAL. No one can offer this sacrifice for you. No one can sing this song for you. No Choir member can sing your part. No orchestra can drown out your tears. This is YOUR SACRIFICE… YOUR GIFT… The Fruit of YOUR Lips. It is uniquely Yours, uniquely transformational, and it is profoundly PERSONAL. Matthew 28:19 NIV78 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
This morning we have the privilege of witnessing the wonderful expression of the great Love of Christ that is seen in Water Baptism. As Believers, we are Children of God and citizens of His Kingdom, living our lives as visible representatives of His invisible Grace in this Arena of Conflict. Today, we are blessed to share with those who are walking in the power of the Love of Christ that is witnessed when a precious human soul enters the waters of baptism. Water Baptism is one of the most common practices in the whole tradition of Christianity. It is not merely a religious ritual, but rather a powerful identification of the Believer with the Grace of God expressed through our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only did our Lord Jesus command us to baptize those who repent and come to Him for salvation…but He Himself was also baptized (Luke 3:21-22). This ceremony is a practice of the Church that applies to every member of the Body of Christ. In the same way, that every Believer is invited to the Table of the Lord, so too, every Believer is commanded to follow the Lord in Water Baptism. It is so important that we consider it an Ordinance of the Church, signifying simply "that which is ordered or commanded." In Christian usage, it refers to a divinely instituted rite, which conveys truth through its symbolism. Essentially, there are three distinguishing marks that characterize a New Testament ordinance: • Instituted by Christ. • Taught by the apostles. • Practiced by the early church. Therefore, we understand an Ordinance of the Church to be a command to be obeyed, and to serve as a representation of the Work, Favor, and Grace of the Lord Almighty manifested in Christ Jesus. An ordinance is a visible enactment of the Gospel message and the mighty work of Christ within His Body, both collectively and as individuals. For example, you and I individually take the elements of Communion, but we are all together at the Lord’s Table. Individuals will be baptized in water today, but most of us have followed the Lord in baptism, and we will all witness it this morning…collectively sharing in this Grace. Hebrews 13:8 & 15 NIV - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever… 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…
The Writer of the Book of Hebrews points to Jesus as the Ultimate One. He is greater than Abraham and the Patriarchs, greater than Moses the Lawgiver, greater than Joshua the Warrior, or David the King, or Solomon the Wise, or one of the prophets. Christ is greater than the Priesthood of Aaron; He is greater than the most righteous of the saints, and greater than the most powerful of angels. He is the Great mediatorial HIGH PRIEST and the SACRIFICE. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, who not only mediates the New Covenant, but also secured it with the shedding of His own blood. He sacrificed his life for us in order to draw Humanity near to the Father. Therefore, since Jesus offered all of the Sacrifices Himself: Sin, Atonement, Consecration, Sanctification, Devotion, Fellowship…everything, there remains only ONE Sacrifice left for us to offer: THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. The Sacrifice of Praise is a PROPHETIC, and POWERFUL flow of worship that is beyond the limits or range of thought, of categories, or even of experiences. It is when the Spirit reveals to us the great love and mercy of God in a way that transcends our circumstances and causes our own Hearts to cry out: Psalm 57:11 NIV – Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. “BE EXALTED O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS!” This is true worship: transcendent and transformational! The Sacrifice of Praise is catalytic because it is only offered through Jesus. Therefore, it is the same creative, sustaining, and powerful flow of the Word of God that is alive, vibrant, and active in the earth right now. Even when your Life is barren, broken, and marred…even when you feel bound and imprisoned, you can still DECLARE the POWERFUL Word of the Lord within the Sacrifice of Praise! This is Paul and Silas “singing hymns” in a Philippian Jail cell. This is Job having lost everything, and yet boldly declaring: “I know that My Redeemer Lives!” Beloved, there IS power in the Name of Jesus, but it is not given as a “tag line” for our prayers or some sort of Religious “Branding.” The name of Jesus is Given that we may Personally Know and Prophetically Release in worship THE WORD of God in the fullness of His POWER, for the Glory of the Father! Every day is the Lord’s Day. Every Sunday is a day that we celebrate that our Lord is risen from the Grave. Yet on one specific day, one exclusive Sunday, today, we give particular attention to the wonderful Good News: Jesus lived; Jesus died; and yes, Jesus lives!
Have you ever noticed that the LORD is an Early Riser? Throughout the Scriptures, Jesus did things early in the morning. He prayed early, he walked on the water in the “last watch,” just before Dawn. Even after his resurrection, He made breakfast for his disciples early in the morning. Maybe there is something to this? Maybe there is a reason that the Bible speaks of the importance of Dawn, both metaphorically and literally? Consider that Humanity has always been somewhat afraid of the Dark and especially the NIGHT; and for good reason. In the time before sidewalks, streetlights, the ambient glow of the city, security lights, night-lights, and flashlights…it was dark, truly dark. In the darkness sometimes lurked predatory animals, venomous snakes, men intent on malice, and even the most paralyzing of fears: the unknown. Darkness limits our sight, makes us more vulnerable to Danger, and exacerbates the uncertainties that we already have about life. Now, try to imagine just how dark it must have been for the Followers of Jesus in those days and nights between Gethsemane, Golgotha, and that Sunday Morning. There were dangers lurking in the night: Soldiers who would arrest them or worse. Vigilantes and the mob, who would stamp out this small group of troublemakers, and the internal disappointment, doubt, and despair that the One in whom they had placed their hopes was ruthlessly and brutally killed and his body was now in a cold, dark tomb. What about you, Beloved, have you experienced the Darkness of the Night…the Terror of the Unknown…the cruelty of The Predator? Everyone does, THE NIGHT comes to all; and if you haven’t walked through it yet, then you haven’t really lived life. Because this is not Hell, the Place of Utter Darkness and it is not Heaven, the Place without Night…this is a Fallen World and we have both DAY AND NIGHT. Life Happens to Everyone, thus we all must walk through The Night. Why didn’t Jesus rise from the Grave at Noon or Two in the afternoon? Why didn’t He rise just before dinner? Why was it “in the morning”? Because it had to be…He had to END the NIGHT: not just Saturday night, not just the agony of the Disciples, not just the terrors of that horrible weekend. But He arose to END YOUR Nights and Mine, to end all the Darkness and allow the Dawn to break forth. On that first Easter Sunday, it was THE DAY that changed everything: the World, Hell, and yes, even Heaven! Everything that happened before was NIGHT, but now the DAY was DAWNING…Because Jesus arose! Therefore, it had to be in the morning! Matthew 28:1 NLT - Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning… Hebrews 12:2 NIV84 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week: the Week of our Lord’s Passion. The importance of the events of that first Sacred Week 2000 years ago is impossible to overstate. Christ entered Jerusalem amid the shouts of “Hosanna!” What must it have been like for the Savior that day? As he listened to the shouts of celebration from those who would in a matter of days scream for his life to be taken, when the crowd became a mob; did he question the value of dying for such a people as this? When the cynics challenged him and the religious leaders tried to trap him by misusing the very Scriptures that He had breathed into existence, did he wonder if such arrogant ignorance should have the opportunity to be redeemed? As the week unfolded and he washed the feet of the man who would betray him with a kiss, did he regret the investment of loving grace that he had expended on Judas? Or when everyone abandoned him but John, and Peter cursed forth his bitter denial, did the Lord feel that somehow the ministry of the Kingdom imparted to these Twelve was all for not, with only one disciple and a few women left to follow him to Golgotha’s Hill? The Great Advocate stood in silence as the Sanhedrin railed against him. He refused to defend himself in Pilate’s Court, nor would he entertain Herod’s curiosity; but as a Lamb before his shearers, he was silent. He was silent when one word in his own defense would have triumphed over all his accusers and set himself free. Did he consider an open rebuke of the mockers, the destruction of the rebellious, or a quick escape from the trial? No Beloved, for even as the overwhelming enormity of the task cascaded down upon Him, crushing the Man Christ Jesus in the agony of the Garden, he yielded to the purpose and the strength of His Father declaring, “your will be done!” For you see my precious brothers and sisters, this task belonged to Jesus, and He alone! No other one…no man…no woman…no angel…no one in Heaven or on Earth…NO ONE could take away the sins of the world. The was Jesus’ task ALONE! For a brief moment in history, once and for all time, EVERY SIN EVER COMMITTED OR TO BE COMMITTED WAS LAID UPON JESUS, and the weight of it was staggering. No wonder on that first Palm Sunday, when all the people were celebrating, our Lord Jesus wept. Acts 4:12 NIV84 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible places a great deal of importance upon relationships of all kinds: Family, Friends, Neighbors, Colleagues, and of course, Humanity and God. The emphasis is so strong that while our salvation is personal, the Word of God compels us to recognize that we are part of a larger family: the Family of God…the Body of Christ…the Community of Faith.
Today, we recognize not only our participation within the Global community of the Christian Faith, but we also celebrate this unique, Local Community of Faith here on Coolidge Avenue: Christian Cathedral, the Patten Academy of Christian Education, and the Patten Educational Foundation. For over seventy years, it has been the privilege of the Patten Community of Faith to share in the ministry of the Lord Jesus in the heart of this city. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a “Community” is “a unified body of individuals.” As you probably are aware, the word is a merging of the words “common” and “unity.” It is the unifying of individuals within a common framework, body, or fellowship. More than just principles and values (as important as they are), we are unified by a common Savior. We have met Jesus, and He is the unifying Principle, the cherished Value, and the Lead Person we follow. In our Lord's Prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus prayed that The Father would bring us “…to complete unity.” Obviously, we can conclude that this is a deep desire of our Savior if the statement ended there, but it does not. Jesus had still another motivation for our unity. He continued His prayer by stating that our unity would “…let the world know that you [The Father] sent me [Jesus] and have loved them even as you have loved me.” The influence of the Church within the World is directly correlated to our willingness to walk in the Unity of the Spirit. Loving someone who is lovable or liking someone who gets along with us is not a major accomplishment. Likewise, this is not something that is a testimony to the World, because even the Lost can do that. To love, however, the unlovable, the obnoxious, and the disagreeable is to love as Jesus loved and this is a testimony to the lost. This is the type of unconditional Love that marks a disciple of Jesus Christ. John 13:34-35 NIV84 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” |
Details
AuthorDr. Tobey Montgomery CategoriesArchives
May 2020
|