Proper 26 (A)

November 3, 2002

Leadership 101 from the Master Leader

Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus called His men together and instructed them on leadership and pointed to the Pharisees and scribes as the "how not to lead" leaders. He said, "The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds" (Mat. 23:2b-3). Today we want to take a course in Leadership 101 from the Master Leader, Jesus Christ.

I. Leadership is Building the Community of Believers By Example

True leadership is not afraid to demonstrate the "pull up the sleeve" and work mentality. Often people tell us how to do something but are afraid to get their own hands dirty. The best of leadership gets down and works at the job himself. That kind of leadership does several things for others:

1) The leader example understands the problem that others are facing first hand. It's not just theoretic, but practical, and the problem solving becomes practical.

2) The leader example understands that mentoring others is vital.

3) The leader example understands that he is energizing others to effectively do their best for the kingdom.

4) The leader example understands that he/she is entrusting others with responsibility. There are risks involved, but Jesus saw that he would invest his time with the twelve, but he was entrusting them with responsibility as well.

II. Leadership is Building the Community of Believers By Loving

Bill Hybels, pastor of the Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago, relates that in the early 1970's he had a powerful experience that changed his life. He was a college student taking one of those required New Testament Studies courses to complete his major. He described it as a guaranteed "brain-numbing boring" experience that he was anticipating.

Staking out the back row seat and slouched down in a comfortable position he said, "I had no idea that a spiritual ambush awaited me." His professor, Dr. Gilbert Bilezekian, had lectured for his allotted 45 minutes. Hybel thought he was wrapping it up, and so he was packing his bag and ready to go to the next class. Then something unexpected happened. The professor stepped out from behind the lectern and began baring his soul to a room full of unsuspecting twenty-year-olds.

What Dr. Bilezekian said to those college young people needs to be repeated in the church often.

He stated: "Students, there was once a community of believers that was so totally devoted to God that the believer's lives together were charged with the Spirit's power.

"In that band of Christ-followers, believers loved each other with a radical kind of love. They took off their masks and shred their lives with one another. They laughed and cried and prayed and sang and served together in authentic Christian fellowship. "Acts 2 tells us that this community of believers, this church, offered unbelievers a vision of life that was so beautiful it took their breath away. It was so bold, so creative, so dynamic that they couldn't resist it."1

What couldn't they resist? The disciples newly energized love that came through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Leadership understands that technical methods are important, philosophy of leadership vital, but it will go nowhere unless Pentecostal love is blown into its very core. If a leader doesn't love of what earthly good is he?

III. Leadership is Building the Community of Believers By Service

The idea of serving is giving oneself to others. Service is unlimited in its scope of giving oneself to the community in need. Service is unlimited in its scope of giving to those in need of the gospel. Service is unlimited in its scope of giving to those in need of spiritual equipping. Service is unlimited in its scope of giving to those in poverty materially. Service is unlimited in its scope of giving to those in isolation from the world.

IV. Leadership is Building the Community of Believers By a Humble Walk

Humility is the watchword and song of leadership. Dag Hammarskjold, former United Nations General Secretary, once said, "Be grateful as your deeds become less and less associated with your name, as your feet ever more lightly tread the earth."2 (Derl Keefer)

1Bill Hybel, Courageous Leadership (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 17-18.

2Albert M. Wells, Jr., Inspiring Quotations (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998), 91.

Proper 27 (A)

November 10, 2002

Jesus is Coming Again

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Thessalonians would have been happy to have sung the John Peterson song, "Jesus Is Coming Again." I can just hear them now, "Marvelous message we bring; Glorious carol we sing! Wonderful word of the King: Jesus is coming again! Coming again, coming again! May be morning, may be noon, May be evening and may be soon! Coming again, coming again! O what a wonderful day it will be -- Jesus is coming again!"1

After belting out that beautiful song somebody raised the question about his Uncle Josiah who had died recently. Would Uncle Josiah be left behind since he was already dead and in the ground? What would become of him and in fact what would happen to anyone who had died? This was a legitimate concern for the first generation Christians of that day.

Paul feels their genuine concern and answers them in this section of the letter. He tells all of the Thessalonians (and all Christians) not to worry, for when Jesus comes again, everyone -- dead or alive -- will be gloriously taken to be with their loving Jesus! The Lord led the way to the resurrected life, and for those who have accepted Him and live for Him, nothing can take away eternity with Him.

I. Christ's Return Offers Courage to the Christian

We need not be afraid of death for it is the entrance into heaven. The early church understood death and constantly lived under the threat of martyrdom. Glenn Hinson comments that as costly and painful as the age of the martyrs was it "laid the foundations for Christian spirituality. Living under threat forced the faithful to strengthen and deepen their commitments to God."2 Courage to live and courage to die is what Jesus gave them.

Charles Colson relates a story of a little know monk named Telemachus. While tending his garden one-day he felt God's call to go to the city of Rome. He laid down his hoe and began the long trek to the distant city. Finally arriving after many days on his journey he was immediately swept away by a surge of the crowd on their way to the great Colosseum to enjoy a day of festivity. The little monk stopped at the very top row of the Colosseum as the other people filed into their seats. The sounds and sights were incredible for this quiet man. Suddenly trumpets sounded and he watched as armed men entered through the gates and stood before the emperor and in unison shouted, "We who are about to die salute you."

Telemachus realized that these men were going to fight to the death just to entertain the motley crowd gathered to cheer and jeer. As they began their fight to the death he began to cry from the top of the Colosseum, "In the name of Christ, stop!" The noise of the crowd drowned out his pleas.

As the ritual of death began between the gladiators the monk became more agitated and began to shout louder. He pushed his way through the crowds to the front of the stadium and shouted, "In the name of Christ, stop." Finding that he was being ignored he literally climbed over the wall and dropped down to the arena's floor. The gladiators pushed his cries aside and kept on killing one another. At first the crowd thought Telemachus was part of the act, but then discovered he was not, and their laughter turned to anger.

Frustrated, the monk, decided the only way to stop this madness was to jump between the burly men who were determined to kill each other. As he jumped in between two gladiators he once again begged them, "In the name of Christ, stop." One of the men plunged his sword into Telemachus' body, and he fell to the floor bleeding and dying. His last words were, "In the name of Christ, stop!"

Colson writes, "Then a strange thing happened. The gladiators stood looking at the tiny figure lying there. A hush fell over the Colosseum. Way up in the upper rows, a man stood and made his way to the exit. Others began to follow. In dead silence everyone left the Colosseum.3

The year was A.D. 391, and because of the death of this courageous monk the Colosseum never again would witness men killing each other for the sake of entertaining a crowd. It was the last battle to the death between gladiators in the Roman Colosseum. One small voice that could hardly be heard above the crowd stopped the slaughter. One voice that defied death. Talk about courage n the face of death!

II. Christ's Return Offers Love for the Christian

John 3:16 and other verses are constant reminders to us of how much God loves and cares for us. The return of Jesus is just the proverbial icing on the cake for Christians who have discovered His love throughout their lives.

III. Christ's Return Offers Eternity for the Christian

The Thessalonians, like those of us today, probably could not grasp eternity very well. It staggers our minds, but they knew that it was a long, long, long time, and it would be with Jesus and their friends. The troubles that they faced here were but only momentary troubles in the light of eternity. Christ's return offered them those eternal moments. Are you ready for Christ's return? (Derl Keefer)

1Sing to the Lord Hymnal (Kansas City, Lillenas Publishing Company, 1993) 281.

2E. Glenn Hinson, The Early Church (Nashville: Abingdon, 1996) 158.

3Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), 43.

Proper 28 (A)

November 17, 2002

Staying Alert

I Thessalonians 5:1-11

People on the Titanic were enjoying their carefree evening when they felt a bump in the night. Thousands of pages have been written about that fateful night, and several movies have been made depicting the events and people on board. Many lives were lost, but it could have been avoided. Another vessel lay within a few miles capable of steaming to her rescue, but their radio officer decided to turn off his receiver and go to bed. Because he was not alert fathers and mothers lost their children, and children lost one or both parents, and husbands and wives were parted for life.

It is so important that we be alert. Paul writes to his friends that the day of the Lord, His return, will come like a thief in the night, and they need to always be on the alert.

I. Being Alert is Avoiding Extremes

There are those who constantly talk about the second coming. They produce maps, charts, and documents pointing to a time that Jesus will return. Speculation may be great for discussion and study, but it must not occupy all of our time and energy while the world dashes to the borders of hell. There are also those who pay no attention or don't believe in the second coming of Jesus. His return is just a figment of our imagination, and talk concerning it should be avoided.

Both of these are extremes and should be avoided. Jesus is coming again according to the scriptures to take His followers to heaven, but we must not become so preoccupied that we miss opportunities to share Jesus in this life. The scriptures are very clear that Christ will literally come to take His people home to heaven, and to avoid conversation about it to others damages the opportunities to share Him with others for the afterlife.

II. Being Alert is Living Life to its Fullest

God has called Christians to be the salt of the earth. That means we give zest, flavor, and seasoning to a dull world.

Living life to its fullest includes living to please God. Jesus said to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Mat. 6:33). That ushers in prioritized living! The priority of living life to its fullest is following Jesus. The prerequisites for determining priorities are: a. Honesty before God; b. Sensitivity to circumstances; c. A willingness to pay whatever the price to fulfill God's purposes; and d. Dependence upon the Holy Spirit to reveal the precedence of the priority.

Living life to its fullest includes a clean heart. The great Calvinist Augustus Toplady wrote these words in 1776, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed. Be a sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure."1 It was Charles Wesley who penned: "He breaks the power of cancelled sin -- Blessed be the name of the Lord! His blood can make the foulest clean -- Blessed be the name of the Lord!"2

Is your life clean before a holy God? Life can only be cleansed by God's infilling Spirit. Oh, the joy of feeling right with God, it's marvelous!

III. Being Alert is Living Life with a Heart

Evangelism is the heartbeat of the Christian. Sharing the wonderful news -- the good news that Jesus will save anyone who asks should be the thrill of anyone who knows Christ as Savior.

Jim Cymbala points out that, "A lack of motivation to sacrifice for others is what holds back many ministries and churches from being greatly used of the Lord. Biblical truth is memorized by the mind, emotions are occasionally stirred by the things of God, but it all doesn't go deep enough to transform our motive for living. Only the Holy spirit's power can save us from the terrible plight of a self-centered, comfort-zone lifestyle while we sing hymns about the Christ who gave his life on Calvary ... the acid test of spiritual growth is love, and love always means living for others."3

Evangelism propels us into the arena of living for others, because it really sends the message that we care for eternity! (Derl Keefer)

1Sing to the Lord Hymnal (Kansas City: Lillenas Publishing Co., 1993) 445

2Ibid., 116.

3Jim Cymbala, The Church God Blesses (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002) 121-122.

Proper 29a

November 24, 2002

The Risk of Investment

Matthew 25:14-30

The movie, "Tin Cup," is set in the world of golf. Kevin Costner's character, for all his talent, is introduced to us as a failure on the circuit because he has not learned the ability to "lay up" on the safe side of the traps. Perhaps there is no stronger urge in me than to "play it safe." It is not difficult to defend such a proclivity.

I grew up in a family where being a fiscal conservative took on the aura of a cardinal virtue. My parents had begun their marriage in the height of the Great Depression. So holding on to what you had and not taking a risk of losing it became a way of life. To this day, I think there is good spiritual wisdom in holding fast to what we have been given. The truth of this goes far beyond the economic realm, as we approach a national day of Thanksgiving. Beyond all our material blessings, Christians are reminded of the greatest cause for gratitude -- the gospel with which we have been entrusted.

As good (and safe) a theme as that is, God's Word often comes as a disturber of our peace. When we read or hear the parable in Matthew 25:1-30, our hope of playing it safe begins to fade. C. H. Dodd must have had such a parable in mind when he said, "It leaves the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought." At first we are comforted by the familiar ground of a master who entrusts us with talents. God is the giver of every good gift.

The "talent" of Jesus' day was a measure of weight that had become a way of designating the monetary value of gold or silver. What is significant here it that the investment in each of the three servants is sizable and gracious.

Whether you take the talents to be amounts of money or capabilities, all such blessings or investments come from God. Everyone here today has been given a significant amount of material and spiritual talents. To deny this through "poor talk" or envious (and short sighted) comparison with others keeps us from the joy of thanksgiving and faithful stewardship of God's blessings. We are so loved that God not only gave His only Son for our redemption, but talents for the building of God's rule and reign.

All is of God, yet we are entrusted with the high privilege of building to God's glory. In the economy of God, even the so called "one talent" person has abundant capability. George Buttrick says one has ability to draw the plans for the cathedral, another to compose music for its organ, some carve the stone, some build the road to the door and no one is without gifts essential to the building.

The first two servants in the story trust the master who entrusted them with the talents. This is seen in the land lord's leaving and expecting a profit, and the servants taking a risk in employing means at their disposal to allow the talents to grow. The expected outcome of the story is to find that even the one talent is parlayed into glorious growth. But this is just the point where our mind "is teased into active thought." For the third servant goes against the flow of the expected teaching.

We expected this trusted servant to also trust the master. Instead he plays it safe, buries the substance of the owner. The next surprise is that we see ourselves in just such an action. We are more afraid of failure than we are able to trust the Master. Even a little faith in response to the great love that God has entrusted to us will yield much in the Kingdom. We have seen it over and over again: a child's meager lunch feeds a multitude, a black woman's refusal to go to the back of the bus spawns a civil right's revolution.

Yet, we are afraid. The third servant in the story says it is the harshness of the master that triggers his fear and the need to bury the talent. We recognize it as the fear of failure. In the end of the movie, "Tin Cup," the less than perfect hero refuses to play it safe. No, he does not win the rich, televised golf tournament. Yes, he does keep faith with his better self and the gifts he has been given, because of the risk he takes. In golf, there may be times to lay up, to play it safe, but in the service of the gospel, taking the risk is the only way we show trust in the Master who did not play it safe, "but gave Himself for us." (Gary D. Stratman)

First Sunday of Advent (B)

December 1, 2002

Stay Awake

Mark 13:24-37

Nobody has to shake children into watchfulness, as they are already fidgeting toward Christmas. But for many adults it is difficult to remember what we are awaiting! The pressure of being happy, the unexpected setbacks, the short tempers take their toll. Given this inevitable entropy we need most of all to hear the energizing word of Advent "Stay Awake!"

Such alertness is seen in the fabled Methodist minister whose vision of Christ coming to visit his church was so convincing that a call was hastily put in to the Bishop. "He's coming today, what should I do?" the immediate reply was, "Look busy."

There must be more to being expectant than being caught up in an endless round of activity. Today's liberating message is that God chooses to come to us even in our worn down apathy or our strung out frenzy. God comes in history at Bethlehem, and God comes at the end of time. Because our lives are found between those events, we are to regard every moment as the moment of the Lord. God comes continually to us.

The Advent of Bethlehem was the living reminder that in the fullness of times, when the age is pregnant with despair and hope, God comes in history. It was the worst of times. Darkness draped the land. The land was ruled by Rome; the Voice of God seemed quiet; factionalism reigned. Yet less obviously it was the best of times. As Dr. James Stewart has pointed out, the earth was being prepared for good news that would change the world: the Pax Romana, the Roman Roads, etc. made it possible for the Good News to ring out in ways that would have been impossible a few years before.

God's coming was not only in history, but through humanity. If God wills to complete history and redeem humanity, the reclamation process cannot be done by One who disdains the limits of time and flesh. Rather God fully enters into them so that they may be made new. Accordingly, Jesus came in flesh, blood, shape, size, weight; moreover temptation, loneliness, disappointment, pain, hope -- He was human.

Those who were awake responded not only to One who came in the ebb and flow of history and the flesh of humanity but in the hiddenness which demands faith. When the Sovereign God comes to us it is not on our timetable; it is not in the way that "makes sense" to us. Even though it was the fullness of time, those who were to expect a Messiah were caught off guard.

Mark does not give us nativity scenes, angelic choruses, and light shows. He does give us the word that applies to God's re-creative invasion into human history -- "Suddenly." Mark uses the word over and over again to show the birth, life, and death of Jesus, catching us off guard.

But it's more than timing. It is the Incarnation, God dwelling with us, that proves God's ways are not our ways. It is Kierkegaard's "scandal of particularity" come to life: not a conquering hero with portfolio and entourage, but a bawling red-faced baby! God will come like that, watch out -- you never know how and when that God will appear unannounced, uninvited.

The message of Advent is not only the way in which God came, but the way God will come. For here in Mark 13 the accent on Staying Awake is on the end. This misunderstood emphasis on the end of time has been maligned as unimportant, impractical, and highly implausible. It is none of these. It is crucial to our understanding of life as purposeful and not random, headed toward culmination and not meaningless extinction.

A cartoon shows a man carrying a placard with the familiar warning "the end is nigh." The man says, "The horrible thing is that people don't laugh at me any more." We don't laugh at the idea of the end of the world. Our text tells us that we are to be awake during the four watches of the night. Look for the coming of the Christ in the darkest watch of history, but not as a victim of the world's insanity but as the Lord of History and the Prince of Peace. We are not given a blueprint of that coming, but we know the Lord of history will be the same one who came to us in the human Jesus.

The God who comes to us at the End is again hidden from our charts, graphs, and timetables. Three times in this passage Jesus says that no one will know the hour of culmination. The title "Son" (of God) as used here connotes obedience and faithfulness. Jesus acts out the way we are to respond to the final consummation: faith and obedience, not a secret understanding of when and how it will arrive.

Perhaps we can now begin to understand why the command to Stay Awake is so important. For if God can break into history at any unguarded moment at Bethlehem, if God can intervene in human history bringing it to an end at any moment, then no moment is unimportant. Every moment is potentially the moment of the Lord. But the power to live this moment, to give ourselves to the needs of others is possible because our moment is framed by the first and second advent. Thanks be to God. (Gary Stratman)

Second Sunday of Advent (B)

December 8, 2002

Your Warfare Has Ended

Isaiah 40:1-11

Veteran CBS newsman Howard K. Smith, in his book "Last Train From Berlin", tells on the opening page of a remark attributed to Winston Churchill on the day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Bear in mind that from the fall of France in the Spring of 1940 until December 7, 1941 -- the "day that will live in infamy" -- Britain stood alone against Hitler and the Nazi onslaught.

President Roosevelt tried to do all he could to assist Britain, but his hands were tied constitutionally, and the sentiment of most Americans was to stay out of "another of Europe's wars." When the embattled Churchill heard of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, he knew this meant the USA would be entering the war as Britain's ally. He is said to have uttered, "So, we have won."

Years of fighting still lay before the Allies, fighting which would cost the lives of millions of people. But the day America entered the war, Churchill knew it was just a matter of time before the enemy was defeated.

In the 8th century B.C., God gave the prophet Isaiah wonderful messages and insights into the coming of the Messiah and the salvation which He would bring. Here in the 61st chapter, God is recorded as saying, "Speak kindly to my people. Tell Jerusalem that her warfare has ended."

It would be hundreds of years before the Savior arrived. When He finally appeared, it would be to die on a Roman cross and receive burial in a borrowed tomb. Yet, from the eternal perspective of God in Heaven, it was all a done deal. The Almighty looked down the centuries and said, "The war is over. We have won."

I. What war?

Man's eternal battle against the devil, man's constant warfare with other people, man's unending conflicts within himself, and most of all, man's rebellion against God. Man was born the rebel. But in Jesus Christ, the war is over and the good guys have won.

II. How did it end?

1) "Her iniquity has been removed" (v. 2). God went to the root of the problem, the sinful nature of man, and changed him here. We are washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Years ago, Ralph McGill, prize-winning editor of the Atlanta Constitution, noted that the Baptists of that state, in their annual meeting in Macon, had passed a resolution to the effect that the problems facing Georgia were not prejudice or racism or crime or poverty, but sin. McGill then waxed poetic on "those narrow-minded Baptists" who see sin as the cause of every problem. What the editor missed was the difference in cause and effect.

Sin is the problem and the effects are seen in the cruel ways man treats his neighbor. In order for God to "save" mankind, He has to go to the root of the problem.

2) "The glory of the Lord will be revealed" (v. 5). Hundreds of years earlier, Moses had cried, "Lord, show me Your glory" (Ex. 33:18). The time was not right, however, and Moses saw only a tiny portion of the Almighty. However, Jesus Christ is the incarnate glory of God. "We beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Whether He was lying as a newborn in a Bethlehem stable, or walking a dusty Galilean road, or bleeding from a cross outside Jerusalem, or radiant with the Shekinah glory in the clouds above the Mount of Olives, God's glory was on display in Jesus. When God sent us a Savior, it was nothing less than God Himself coming for us.

3) "His arm (is) ruling for Him" (v. 10). Jesus came in the power of God with full authority. God did not send Jesus out to win a war without the necessary equipment. Only One with the "fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9) could take on the forces of darkness and defeat them (Isaiah 53:1 "the Arm of the Lord" is another title for the Messiah.).

4) "He shall tend His flock like a Shepherd" (v. 11). When the Savior came as Heaven's champion to do battle with the enemy and liberate His people, He took back those who are His and watches over them as a shepherd does His flock -- tending the flock, carrying the lambs and gently leading the nursing ewes. He keeps all those whom He saves. He is the consummate Savior.

On the day before Jesus went to the cross, He said, "My hour has come. What shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify thy name." He then added, "Now judgment is upon this world. Now the ruler of this world shall be cast out. When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself." His last recorded words from the cross were, "It is finished." The warfare was over.

There are still skirmishes to be fought. But the foe has been defeated, and we have entered into the victory which Jesus won by His death, burial, and resurrection. (Joe McKeever)

First Sunday of Advent (B)

December 15, 2002

Good News of Big Plans

Isaiah 61:1-11

God has a problem: how to tell people of limited understanding about the Savior and salvation. This must be like explaining nuclear physics to a colony of ants, or astronomy to barnyard animals. Yet, He persists in trying to get across to humanity all the mysteries of Jesus' deity and the glories He has in store for those who put their trust in Him.

To accomplish this, God ransacks human language and exhausts earthly vocabularies. Every metaphor imaginable is employed in God's effort to tell us who Jesus is and what He can do when people turn to Him in faith and trust Him. Throughout the Old Testament, God inspired prophets to write of the distant day when the Messiah would arrive from Heaven to win our salvation.

The book of Isaiah is saturated with these prophecies which thrill us to this day. Isaiah 61 is one such revelation from God. We know for many reasons that it applies to the Lord Jesus, but chiefly because Jesus said so Himself. Luke describes how Jesus read this passage in the synagogue in Nazareth and applied it to Himself (Luke 4). See how God describes the coming salvation to His people of limited understanding...

I. Those Who Will Welcome the Savior the Most Are Downtrodden and Neady

The self-sufficient and well-satisfied heard of Jesus' ministry but had no time and no room and felt no need for a Savior. With the hurting and the hungry, it was a different story. When Jesus was reproached for spending too much time with sinners, He replied that those who are well do not need a doctor, that He had come to call sinners, not the righteous.

Many sophisticates in the first century and our world today have no time and no room for the Lord Jesus. Yet, we read "the common people heard Him gladly" (Mark 12:37). Paul looked at the membership of the Corinth church and remarked, "Not many mighty. Not many noble. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise" (1 Cor. 1:26-27).

II. Jesus Has Good News for Those Who Will Admit Their Need

The coming of the Savior was good news for the afflicted and healing for the broken-hearted; liberty for the captives and freedom for the prisoners; comfort for the mourners and garlands in place of ashes; a mantle of praise to replace the spirit of fainting; a double portion instead of shame, and a shout of joy in place of humiliation. There is no limit to all Jesus can do when people open themselves up to Him in trust.

We think of His question to the lame man by Bethesda's pool, "Do you want to be well?" Not everyone does (John 5:6). We think of Jesus' question to blind Bartimaeus, the beggar of Jericho who had upset the local officials by his constant calling for Jesus' attention and begging for His mercy. Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Luke 18:41). We might say the man's needs were obvious to Jesus as they were to everyone, but that's not the point. The question is whether the man himself saw his true situation and would confess his need. "Lord, I want to receive my sight," Bartimaeus said, and did.

III. Jesus Has Big Plans for All Who Receive His Good News

His people will be called oaks of righteousness (v. 3). These massive tree; stand strong and tall through the decades, giving beauty and shade to all who come near. The "tree planted by the waters" of Psalm 1 comes to mind -- faithful, beautiful, and fruitful.

His people will be called priests of the Lord. (v. 6) A priest stands before God in prayer on behalf of the people, then goes to the people in witness on behalf of God. 1 Peter 2:9 calls the people of God "a chosen race, a royal priesthood."

His people will be called ministers of God (v. 6). A minister or servant carries out the will of the Master. Jesus said, "I do always do the things that are pleasing to the Father" (John 8:29). That's the standard. "What will you have me do?" were the opening words of Paul's discipleship (Acts 22:10) and are to be ours every day of our lives. His people will be called offspring whom God has blessed. The very fact that we are the children of God is the greatest blessing of all (1 John 3:1). Without the constant inner witness of God's Spirit that we are the children of the Almighty (Rom. 8:16), we could think ourselves presumptuous to make such a claim. Yet, this is what being a child of God means.

As oaks, standing tall and strong in a world where unfaithfulness is the rule; as priests, interceding with God for man and bearing witness to man for God; as servants, working that the will of God be done on earth; as children, bearing His name and inviting others into the family. No wonder people were so glad to see Jesus. He took the broken of society and turned them into giants and champions. He still does this today whenever we look to Him in faith. (Joe McKeever)

Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)

December 22, 2002

Glory Forever

Romans 16:25-27

As the day of Christmas approaches, and we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus, I can think of no better response than that of Paul in Romans 16:25-27 -- an overflow of praise. Though our hearts may be heavy with concerns, we can look to this season with great hope and encouragement. The Lord has come, and those who trust in Him have great security. For our God is able.

The apostle comes to the end of this great epistle to the Romans. He has made clear from the beginning that we were a desperate people apart from Christ. We were in debt with no possible escape by our own merit. But those who trust in Christ for salvation have that debt erased, for Christ satisfied the necessary payment with His life and death. And through Christ we have peace with God having been justified (Rom. 5:1). Because Christ came to this world and lived in perfect righteousness, those who trust Him escape the wrath of God and, instead, are adopted in His family and become recipients of His blessings.

This is reason to rejoice indeed. Our God has come to save us. To Him be glory forever!

I. To Him who is able to establish You (vv. 25-26)

In verses 17-20 Paul gives his audience a final warning. There are those who will cause dissensions and hindrances. Watch out for them; don't listen to their foolish self-centered pursuits. What they have to say is contrary to God's word. He is rejoicing over their obedience and exhorting them to be innocent of evil. And in his final Words he overflows with praise to the One who is able to establish them.

Paul knew that the source of the Gospel's power rests in the sovereignty of God. He is able to establish you according to His Gospel. It is he who causes His word to not return void and changes the hearts of men through preaching. It is He who worked out history according to the counsel of His will commanding that the mystery of Christ's salvation be revealed in the present age. And now, as he closes his letter, Paul lifts his eyes towards heaven and praises Him who is able to establish You.

II. To the only wise God (v. 27)

"To the only wise God" -- we've heard Paul break out in praise over this already in Romans. In chapter 11 Paul writes: "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

It was evident to Paul as he looked back over God's sovereign plan that He contained a wisdom beyond comprehension and beyond comparison. It is to this God, the sovereign and wise savior, that Paul praises.

As we approach Christmas day, let us not forget our God in the midst of preparations and gift giving. For it is He who established you, the only wise God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Jonathan Kever)

First Sunday after Christmas (B)

December 29, 2002

No Longer Slaves But Sons

Galatians 4:4-7

Some friend of mine recently flew to Russia. They didn't cross an ocean to vacation but to meet two orphans, a brother and sister, and do what was necessary to legally adopt them. They traveled a great distance to a foreign land at their own expense to remove these children from a desperate situation and give them a secure home with a loving family.

They chose to embark on this journey, not because they owed anyone in Russia a great debt, not because they were obligated to do so -- they adopted these two children out of the overflow of their hearts. It was grace and love that motivated them, and the prospect of an opportunity to change the lives of two young children, to nurture and care for them, and love them with the love of God.

There were months of preparation involved, and uncertainty followed them even as they stepped off the plane onto Russian soil. They traveled this distance not knowing for sure if the court would grant them their request. But they went trusting the Lord. And He provided the necessary means for the adoption to go through.

We too have a Father who went to great lengths to adopt us. He owed us nothing, for we rejected Him in our sin. But out of the overflow of His love towards us, He sent His Son into this world that we might be removed from our desperate situation, redeemed out of the marketplace of sin, and adopted into His family. We're no longer slaves, but sons.

I. We Are Redeemed in Christ (vv. 4-5a)

The text says that God chose the time when His Son would come into this world. God, in His perfect wisdom and foreknowledge, planned the exact moment when Christ would enter this world. Paul also points out that Christ was born of a woman stressing His humanity and stressing the fact that He was born under the law. He did so in order that we might be redeemed.

What an amazing God! Everything was in perfect order -- the right time, the right place, under the right circumstances. Our God has redeemed us; He purchased us out of the marketplace of sin and broke the bonds of our slavery with the blood of His Son. Christ lived righteously on our behalf. He who knew no sin became sin. In Him we are no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18).

II. We Are Sons and Heirs (vv. 5b-7)

And we are also Sons. The text says that God sent the Spirit into our hearts crying out "Abba! Father!". "Abba" is a name small children would use to refer to their fathers. It's much like our word "Daddy." It implies intimacy in our relationship with God and trust and security. We, the undeserving, by grace through faith in Christ, have intimacy with God and security in Him.

We also carry full rights as sons. Verse 7 says we're sons "and if a son, then an heir through God." We've been rescued, declared righteous, and adopted into the family of the God of the universe. This is cause for great joy! For we are no longer slaves, but sons. (Jonathan Kever)

Sermon Briefs in this issue are provided by: Derl Keefer, Adult Ministries Coordinator, International Church of the Nazarene, Kansas City, MO; Joe McKeever, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Kenner, LA; Gary D. Stratman, Pastor, First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, Springfield, MO; Jonathan Kever, Preaching.