Proper 17
September 2, 2001
Save my Seat!
Luke 14:7-11
Pride -- is there a more dangerous and subtle sin? It's a sin that we often overlook in our self-righteousness. In our eyes it pales in comparison to the more "detestable" sins -- drunkenness, drug addiction, fornication, adultery, murder. Yet pride is the root of all sin.
Some may respond to this by saying: "At least I'm not a thief," yet they steal the joy of those around them with there legalistic standards. Others may say "At least I'm not a murder," yet they destroy the lives of their loved ones, cutting them with words in order to feel better about themselves. Still others may say "At least I'm not an adulterer," yet they play the harlot, seeking satisfaction from there possessions and achievements.
To them the apostle James shares some words: "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? ... Submit therefore to God .... Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."
I once heard it said that "Our job is to humble ourselves, and God's job is to exalt us. If we start doing His job, He'll start doing ours." Jesus said it like this: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (v. 11).
God can see beyond our exteriors. He sees when we're attempting to puff ourselves up instead of finding significance and satisfaction in Him. Pride says to God and man: "I know better than you, because I am better than you." And it's reflected in our self-inflating pursuits, just as it was in the actions of the guests that Jesus spoke to in our text today.
I. Musical chairs (v. 7)
When I was a child we often played musical chairs. To play this game a number of chairs -- one less than the participants -- are placed in a circle racing outward. Everyone begins walking around the chairs while music is played. The object of the game is to find yourself a chair as soon as the music stops because the one left standing is out of the game. It's everyone for himself in this game which usually ends up becoming a full-contact sport.
When I read this verse, I can almost imagine the guests playing musical chairs. Except this time the object of the game is to find the best seat before the feast begins. Because in their eyes, the one not sitting in a place of prominence is out! So as soon as they get there, they scramble to the head table to sit next to the host. In this culture the closer the invited guests were to the host, the more prominent their position.
Jesus noticed this disturbing behavior and began sharing with the guests.
II. Don't think too highly of yourselves (vv. 8-9)
Often after a first read through a text like this, I step back and think to myself, how could they be so foolish? But it's usually not long before the Spirit brings to mind instances in my life that are very similar to those I read about. So it was with these verses.
I can't count the number of times I've attempted to inflate my position before God and men. Even in ministry it's easy to tell ourselves that we're a great asset to God, and it would definitely be to His advantage to place us in the lime light.
Oh how the words of Jesus cut to the heart. It's better that we listen when we read than to learn when we're disciplined for our disobedience. In His parable, Jesus reminds the guests that they might not be as important as they think, and they ought not be quick to puff themselves up. Because if they do, the host may have to put them back in their places. We, too, shouldn't think more highly of ourselves than God does, for "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).
III. God does the exalting -- not us (vv. 10-11)
Jesus goes on telling the guests "But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place" (v. 10).
"The last place! What do you mean, the last place?" That's what I imagine the response to be of many listening to Jesus then and now.
Do you ever hear compliments to others subtly interrupted by another listening in who thinks he or she didn't get due credit? "Yeah, Joe did a great job didn't he? He asked me what I thought he should do and we came up with this together." How we despise the thought of others getting recognition we think we deserve.
Why is that? It's because our significance isn't found in God. Instead we look to success or other people to tell us how fantastic we are. But God's ways are so much higher than ours. And He can lift us higher than anyone or anything! Our job is to humble ourselves because humility reveals to us who we really are. Humility brings to our attention our desperate need for God to live in and through us.
When we humble ourselves God becomes very big in our eyes. He then becomes very big in our prayers and in our faith. God exalts us because He loves to bless His children, and because we can handle and enjoy the exaltation as He intended. In turn, our lives exalt the Exalter. (Jonathan Kever)
Proper 18
September 9, 2001
The Choice Is Up To You
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Have you ever noticed a word can lose its meaning due to overuse? For instance, the word awesome. For a while it seemed that anything remotely pleasant was "awesome." "This pizza's awesome!" or "That car's awesome!" or "This is an awesome movie!" Perhaps a word with such intense meaning ought to be reserved for a more fitting subject. Yes, a word loses meaning when in almost the same breath we can say pizza is awesome and sing that God is awesome.
And awesome isn't the only word that has fallen prey to popularity. I can think of another word that's probably even more overused and wrongly used. The word is love. In fact, you could replace the word awesome with the word love in the phrases I spoke of earlier, and it would be generally understood and socially acceptable: "I love Pizza!" "I love that car!" "I love that movie!" And in almost the same breath we say "I love you" to our God, spouses, children and close friends.
A word that defines our response to the greatest command of scripture is a word that shouldn't be allowed to lose its meaning so easily. Our text today speaks of love. Not a love that is characterized by warm fuzzy feelings or a moment of infatuation. Not a word that is spoken nonchalantly, but love as God intended it.
I. Love God, choose life (vv. 15-16)
Moses brings a challenge to the people of Israel in this passage, a challenge to live according to the covenant God established with His elect. He commands the people to "love the Lord ... to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgements" (v. 16).
This isn't the kind of love we're used to hearing about on TV. It isn't simply an emotion that God desires from His people; it's an action, a decision. It's a choice to walk in His ways and obey Him.
We live in a day where feeling is a necessity for lasting relationships, at least according to the world. If I don't feel the warm fuzzies than I'll just pack my bags and try to regain that feeling elsewhere. If I don't feel God's presence, then what's the use of wasting my mornings spending time in His word and in prayer?
Moses reminded Israel that there is a cost involved in loving God; really it's more of an investment. Because as the people listened and chose love they were promised that they would live and multiply and that the Lord would bless them.
Do you want an abundant life, a life filled with blessing? Then choose love!
II. Love gods, choose death (vv. 17-18)
Following his challenge, Moses gives the people of Israel a warning. If their hearts turn away to other gods, he says they "shall surely perish" (v. 18). At the heart of covenant faith is the worship of God alone. Moses made the consequences clear and the choice simple, but that didn't make it easy.
There is real sacrifice involved in commitment to God. When we worship Him alone, we're saying "no" to everyone and everything in this world that might take His place. Not that we aren't to enjoy relationships with people and things that we possess, but we're to be careful never to let those things take the place of God. For then it is no longer simply enjoying the blessings but committing idolatry.
As God's elect we, too, must face consequences when we choose other people and things in place of God. The author of Hebrews reminds us that God disciplines those He loves, and that discipline doesn't feel good. But we ought to learn from it, allowing it to yield the fruit of righteousness in our lives.
III. Heaven and earth as my witness (vv. 19-20)
Moses uses legal terms to sum up this passage. He calls heaven and earth as his witness. Eugene H. Merrill explains why in his commentary on these verses: "In similar ancient Near Eastern legal transactions the witnesses usually were gods of the respective litigants, but the monotheism of Israel's faith dictated that such appeal be to creation, to heaven and earth, for only it would endure into future ages."1
Moses pleads with the people: "choose life in order that you may live, you and your decedents" (v. 19). God is pleading with us today to choose life abundant, to love Him by "obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him" (v. 20). The choice is up to you. (Jonathan Kever)
1Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, in The New American Commentary, Vol. 4. (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 393.
Proper 19
September 16, 2001
Every Christian Has A Testimony
1 Timothy 1:12-17
My wife Monica grew up as a very religious person. She grew up a very strict catholic in Guatemala City. She didn't drink, smoke or curse. She went to mass on a regular basis, and she was faithful to pray as the Church had taught her. She had one problem though -- she was lost. She was on her way to hell even though she lived a good moral and religious life.
She came to the United States as an exchange student, and about one year later she recognized her need for a Savior. She was gloriously saved at age nineteen, and here life has not been the same since. The change was so obvious that it could only be explained by her new life in Jesus.
I have just briefly told you about the testimony of my wife and how Jesus Christ has changed her life. I want you to understand one thing today: Every Christian has a testimony!
We understand from our text that Paul was not always a Christian. In verse 13 he states, "although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
This reminds me of a recent event in my life. On August 5th of this year, I boarded a plane from Atlanta to Amsterdam. I was leading a group of men from our church on a mission trip to the Ukraine. As I boarded the plane, I sat in my preassigned window seat that I had requested. There was one empty seat next to me, and I was wondering whom would sit there.
Eventually a man from Atlanta came and sat down by me. He seemed very pleasant, and in my mind I was relieved. After he found out that I was a minister, he began to tell me about himself. He told me how he was a man of great faith and how nothing in this life controlled him. He also told me that he followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, but he believed all paths lead to heaven including Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. He told me one statement that will stick in my life for as long as I live. He said, "I have so much faith, I dare Satan to try and tempt me." I thought to myself as he made this statement, "He's already got you."
Like Paul, this man was in need of a Savior. Before we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, we are all lost in our sins no matter how bad or how good we may appear in the eyes of the world.
Again let me say, every Christian has a testimony. As Christians we should all be able to look back and see how our life was before we met Christ. Also as Christians, we should all be able to look back and point to the time when we came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. In 1 Timothy 1:14-15 notice how Paul tells us about his salvation experience. He writes, "and the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Paul was on his way to persecute Christians when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Even though he was a persecutor of the church, Jesus reached out to him with forgiveness and saved him.
I can vividly remember the day that Christ saved me. I was nineteen years old, and my best friend called me on the telephone to tell me about Christ. He had lived a life of sin, but Jesus had turned his life around. As he shared about the transformation that had occurred in his life, I became thoroughly convicted of the sin in my life. I got on my knees and prayed for God to forgive me of my sins and save me. You know what? He is faithful, and He saved me that very moment.
Verse twelve of the text shows us how God changed Paul after salvation. He went from persecuting the church to leading the church. I would call that a transformation. It was evident to all those around him that he had changed after he met Jesus.
I had two friends in high school named Mike and Chad. They were brothers, and they were anything but Christian examples. They were both saved about two years ago, and their lives have been completely transformed. If you're around them for any length of time, it'll be evident that Jesus is the priority of their lives.
I went on a mission trip to Peru with Mike, and I went on a mission trip to South Africa with Chad. Looking back at all of us in high school, none of us ever would have dreamed that we would be going on a mission trip together. Though I should not be, I am still surprised at how God changes lives. It's easy for us to think that a certain person will never change, but Jesus Christ is in the life-changing business. When people meet Him, they change.
If you are a Christian, you have a testimony about how Jesus Christ saved you from your sins and changed your life forever.
Do you remember your life before you came to know Him as Savior? Do you remember a time when you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and save you? Can you look back and see a dramatic change in your life since salvation? I hope you can answer all of these questions with a yes. If you can't, you may realize at this moment that you have just been living a life of empty religion. You may see that you're just a sinner in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ will welcome you with open arms and give you a brand new life. He'll take you just as you are and give you a new life in Him. You can leave here with a clear testimony about how Jesus saved you. (Scot Farris)
Proper 20
September 23, 2001
Calloused Knees Change the World
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Have you been to a bookstore lately? It never ceases to amaze me how many books are printed on any given subject. If you were to enter a bookstore of any size, you would find a section titled "Religion." In this area you will find Bibles in just about every shape, color, size and style imaginable. Next to it you might find the Koran. And on the shelves below or next to these two books one might find literally hundreds of books on prayer.
Some are written from the Christian perspective, but others are written from other religious perspectives. I would even venture to say that each of us could look on our bookshelves and find several books dealing with the topic of prayer. With this in mind it simply amazes me that Paul deals with the topic of prayer in just seven verses in 1 Timothy chapter two.
In these verses Paul instructs Timothy concerning the church's role in the ministry of prayer. In these seven verses Paul answers four basic questions that books on prayer attempt to answer. The first questions is, "Who should we pray for?"
Beginning in verse one Paul says, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men."
Paul begins by saying "pray for everyone!" This includes the bum on the street, your neighbor, the abortion doctor, and even the grumpy person in your church that is against everything. This is probably one of the more difficult instructions offered in the New Testament. It becomes increasingly more difficult with the next phrase in verse two, which instructs us to pray especially for our leaders.
Not only does Paul tell us who to pray for, but he also instructs us on why we pray for those people. Look with me in the second part of verse two and going on into verse three, "so that we may led a tranquil life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior."
What is the American dream? Is it not to have 2.5 kids, a nice home with a 2-car garage and everything going our way? I don't think this is exactly what Paul had in mind, but it certainly is a good starting point. Paul instructs us on the importance of things being in order and under control.
Why are we so amazed at the direction our society is headed when our leaders are not bridled by morality This is why Paul says pray for everyone, and pray especially for your leaders.
Paul tells us who to pray for, why to pray for them, and then in verse 4 he tells us what to pray for: "(God) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
We must be praying for the lost people of this world and even for those who are saved, that they might come to a more complete understanding of the truth! Why is it that even in our churches today people subscribe to ideas such as universalism and moral relativism? It's simply because they do not understand the truth!
Paul deals with yet another commonly raised question concerning prayer. In verses five and six he tells us how to pray for them: "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time."
I went to high school with a girl who was quite active in her church's youth ministry. After graduation we lost contact for a couple of years. Then one day we ran into each other. She was passing out religious literature from her newfound faith. Basically, this group believed that truth exists in all religions. Mary Beth was deluded and didn't understand that there is but one way to God: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
It's quite sad that many people today are disillusioned concerning God. The simplest of all decisions is that of salvation, yet so many are blind to the certainty and truth of Jesus' identity.
Are we going to change the world through prayer? I hope so! God's word is faithful and true and it promises us that we have the ability and opportunity to do just that. What greater example than that of Christ who uttered the precious words of prayer to the Father leading to our salvation, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." (Frankie Bowling)
Proper 21
September 30, 2001
Money Matters And the Man of God
1 Timothy 6:6-19
1 Timothy is a letter from the apostle Paul to his spiritual son, the younger pastor, Timothy. The letter is stocked full of instructions and advice for a pastor on how to minister and how to do church. It also contains several warnings and admonitions for the.
In our text for today Paul instructs Timothy on the dangers of loving money and how to avoid the temptations and traps that the love of money can bring. Paul teaches that the man of God finds genuine contentment in the things of God, not money. This is an area that every man and woman of God needs to pay close attention to. For you know as well as I do that Satan wants to bring you down, to hold you down and to keep you down!
Paul gives us three things to help us deal with the temptations of loving money and to help us find genuine contentment. We must know what to run from, what to run after and what to stand and fight for.
I. We must know what to run from
In the first part of verse eleven Paul tells us to "flee these things." What things? Traps and temptations that the love of money can cause us to fall into. We are to run from these things like a fugitive that doesn't want to be caught!
As you know, it isn't money that is the root of all evil, it's the love of money. When you love something you pursue it, but there are some things that will hurt and harm you if you run after them. You can chase a skunk, but you will come out stinking. The same thing will happen if you chase after money.
You see, we live in a world that says "the richer you are, the happier you are." We live in a world where values are distorted by sin. Have you ever heard of "The Great Chicago Fire?"1 On the night of October 8, 1871, Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked a burning lantern and started a fire that spread through Chicago and killed 250 people. This fire has gone down in our nation's history as one of the great disasters.
On the same night, though, there was a fire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin that killed nearly 1200 people -- almost five times as many people died in Peshtigo than in Chicago. The fire in Chicago received more attention because it was a boom town! "It had become an important rail and financial center."2 When we elevate the loss of money greater than the loss of life, something is wrong.
II. We must know what to run after
Righteousness. We have already been made right by the righteousness of Christ. So this word is not referring to our standing in Christ. It's referring to our doing what is right in this life. We are faced with choices daily that tempt us to do the wrong thing.
Godliness. The best definition that I have heard for Godliness is "godliness is being oriented to and by the things of God."4 We are to run from the riches of the world to the riches of God.
Faith. Faith simply means believing and trusting God for everything. Too often we rely upon the world's resources for God's work. Men of God are to be men of faith.
Love. The kind of love that we are to pursue is agape love. It is loving as God loves, unconditionally. It's loving when it isn't deserved. The only way we can love like this is by letting God love through us.
Patience. The next thing that we are to run after is patience or endurance. Patience is a word that is often used in conjunction with persecution or tribulation (cf. 2 Thes. 1:4). We face trials, temptations, peer pressure, problems and troubles, and we must remain faithful to God through all of these.
Meekness. The final item that Paul names in the things that we are to run after is meekness. Meekness means to be gentle, tender, kind and humble. It doesn't mean that we have to be weak and timid.
With these qualities in our lives we can have contentment! However, Paul goes on to tell us that there is one more thing that we must know.
III. We must know what to stand and fight for
There is a time to flee, and there is a time to pursue. There is also a time to stand and fight for what we believe in! In verse 12 we are told to get a grip on what really matters, which is eternal life, and we're to fight for the things of the faith. The word fight means to agonize. So we're to literally agonize over the things of the faith.
Do you have genuine and Godly contentment, or do you think that you would be more content if you had the riches of the world?
Proper 22
October 7, 2001
There is No Fear For Those in Christ
2 Timothy 1:1-14
The Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy, his young protege, to encourage him in the midst of trial. Paul, a man who had given up his life as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reminds Timothy that God has given power, love and sound mind to believers and not a spirit of fear. The message that Paul writes speaks to us today by proclaiming three very important promises that God has given to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.
First, there is no fear for those in Christ because of our divine calling. Verse nine tells us that not only has God saved us, but "called us with a holy calling." This calling is not our calling, but comes from a much higher place. Isaiah 43:1 says "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are Mine." A holy, pure God has called us personally by name and nothing can come against that calling.
Several years ago, there were a couple of teenage boys that had been attending our church, but they would not get involved outside of the Sunday morning service. I decided that I was going to do whatever was necessary to reach out to these boys. They were different from most of the kids within our church because they always wore black and their hair would change colors every week.
One Sunday after church I asked if they would like to go to lunch sometime. They looked at me as if I was joking and just walked on out of the doors. This continued every Sunday for about a month, and just when I was ready to throw in the towel, one Sunday Tim hands me a note and says, "10 o'clock, Friday night, wear black!" Well, I was not sure what I was about to get into, but I decided to go anyway.
The address on the note led me to the construction site of a new building, and just as I arrived, about a dozen fifteen-year-old boys arrived on bikes. One of them handed me a backpack and told me to jump the fence. Fearing what was in the bag, I quickly unzipped it to find about twenty tennis balls. We were about to play tennis ball war. I was older than these boys and even intimidated by their appearance, but I didn't let a whole life of baseball go for nothing. I wore those kids out! I was pounding them left and right with tennis balls.
That summer, we were preparing to take a mission trip to Mexico with our youth. Brent and Tim approached me and said they would like to attend. I just knew that these boys couldn't go. There look just wouldn't be appropriate I thought; besides, what parent would want their kid to go with those guys? So I told them the trip was very expensive. Tim explained that his uncle was a Christian and would take care of the expense for both of the boys.
I then preceded to tell them the only room we had left was for interpreters, thinking I had them then. With that, they started to speak to each other fluently in Spanish. I was stuck! I had no legitimate reason why these boys could not attend, so off we went.
After nights of endless worrying, God revealed His plan to me. While we were in Mexico I assigned Brent to be my interpreter so I could keep a close eye on him. I was sharing the Gospel to a lady and Brent was translating and He turned to me and said, "I want to do that! I want to ask Jesus in my heart!" Right there, He accepted Christ and went back to the hotel and led Tim to Christ also! I thought I knew who was worthy of God. I was trying to make armchair assessments for eternal rewards. It didn't matter what I thought because those boys had a divine calling, and nothing I could do would keep the ordained appointment from occurring.
Secondly, there is no fear because we are equipped for that which we are called. We have a divine calling. In verse 6, Paul reminds Timothy to "stir up the gift of God." He did not tell him to make his skills better or to use his own power, but to have faith in the gift that God had given him. See, the equipping is void unless accompanied by faith, for without faith in Him who called and equipped you, you will rely on your own power and fail every time.
Finally, Paul tells us that there is no fear because our inheritance is indestructible. Verse 12 states, "... I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I've committed to Him until that Day." This world can throw many things our way and sometimes we may feel like we will never rise out of the valley that we find ourselves in, but the Christian's hope is found in the promised inheritance. There is no fear because no matter what happens in life, if your faith is laid upon the Rock of Ages, your reward is coming.
Paul knew Timothy would be facing adversity, and he sounds it from the mountain top that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has divinely called us, equipped us for the call and given us an inheritance out of this world. Now what is there to fear when you know that? (Steven L. Kyle)
Proper 23
October 14, 2001
Prepared to Suffer
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
I know a man named Angel Colmenares who lives in Sullana, Peru. If you saw this man somewhere, it's not likely that he would grab your attention. He's a short, somewhat large, bald men. Yet this man has been pastoring and planting churches in northern Peru for over 35 years. Over the course of those 35 years, he and those who have worked with him have planted over 600 churches and have seen thousands of people come to know Christ. I have heard him share miraculous testimony after testimony of people being saved. I've also heard him share testimonies about how he and those who work with him have been threatened, beaten, stoned, mocked and ridiculed.
I believe that we can learn a very powerful lesson from Brother Colmenares. For the gospel to be preached, we must be prepared to suffer. Paul speaks to this same issue in 2 Timothy 2:8-15. In this passage, we see the suffering of three people or groups of people for the sake of the gospel.
In verse 8, we observe that Christ had to suffer to make the gospel a reality. In his admonition to Timothy to suffer for the gospel, Paul begins by exhorting him to remember Christ, who did not seek to avoid the pain, humiliation, suffering and death that He would have to suffer for the gospel. Rather, Christ embraced the suffering because He recognized that it was only through His suffering that the gospel would become a reality and that he would obtain greater joy (cf. Heb. 12:1-3). As John Stott puts it in his commentary on 2nd Timothy, he recognized that "suffering is the path to glory," and that "death is the gateway to life."1
Next, in verses 9-10, Paul points to his own experience as testimony to the fact that one must suffer for the preaching of the gospel. In verse 9 we understand that Paul is imprisoned for the preaching of the gospel. We also see a connection between his suffering and the going forth of the Word of God. It is through his suffering that God's Word has been preached effectively.
In verse 10, we see that the Apostle is willing to suffer all of this because he understands that it is necessary in order for the gospel to be preached. He understands that people are being saved through his suffering, and that through his suffering they are receiving "eternal glory." This is not to say that Paul's sufferings have any redemptive value either for himself or for those who have heard him preach. Rather, they are saved through the preaching of the Word of God (cf. Rom. 10:17) and in order for them to hear the Word of God, Paul has had to suffer.
Finally in verses 11-15, we understand that every Christian, including us, must suffer for the gospel. Verses 11-13 were probably a Christian hymn. In verse 11 we see the idea that the Christian must suffer and die to self in order to find true life. As Christians we must die to our selfish desires, and we must recognize that this principle of suffering for the gospel is true for us as well. We must also recognize the importance of preaching the gospel.
In verse 15, we see Paul's admonition to Timothy to present himself to God as one who is approved, who handles accurately the word of truth. I think that we see here one way in which we must suffer for the sake of the gospel. Here we see that for those of us who are preachers, our greatest task is the preaching and teaching of God's Word accurately and truthfully. This will cost us. We will have to sacrifice time and perhaps other activities. It may cost us friendships, reputation, monetary gain, comfort, even our lives.
It is true that in the United States there are not many people in danger of losing their lives for the sake of the gospel. But it certainly is happening in other parts of the world. Christians are suffering all over the world. Are we ready to suffer with them? Are you willing to sacrifice time, comfort and monetary gain for the gospel? Are you willing to give up any and everything for the sake of the gospel and the Glory of God?
I would like to close with a quote from my mentor, Paul Washer, who is a missionary to Peru.
"The world is such a large place and there are so many people that have yet to be reached with the Gospel. There is so much to be done and so much that can be accomplished. Will the church take advantage of her opportunity to see God's glory among the nations? Will you hear the call to lay aside your life and become part of something much bigger than yourself? What will you do? Can you think of any greater thing to which you could possibly give your life than the preaching of the gospel to those who have yet to hear? It is not a time to think about careers, but about a Kingdom. Why would we want fame, when God promises us glory? Why would we be seeking the wealth of the world when the wealth of heaven is ours? Why would we run for a crown that will perish with time, when we are called to win a crown that is imperishable? My dear friend let us run to the battle so that we might stand with Him on that Great Day of Victory!"2 (Brad White)
1John Stott, The Message of 2 Timothy, (Downer's Grove: IVP, 1973), 62.
2Paul Washer, HeartCry Missionary Society Magazine (Metropolis, 11: HeartCry Missionary Society, 1999), 5.
Proper 24
October 21, 2001
Timeless Truths for Days of Darkness and Deception
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
(Hold up $20 bill) Can you tell me whether this $20 bill is counterfeit or the real thing? A recent news article in the Commercial Appeal stated that it's getting harder and harder to identify counterfeit from the real thing due to the advanced computers and printers.
In this passage Paul is warning Timothy about the seducers, the liars and deceivers of the gospel who bring deception and false doctrine into the church. He is warning Timothy of the cults and false teachers who will cause things to go from bad to worse in these last days when millions of people will not recognize the difference in the counterfeit and the real thing. What did Paul command Timothy to do in these last days? What are we to do in these last days of deception, desertion and darkness?
I. Persist in the timeless truths (vv.14-17)
Timothy is urged to "keep on keeping on" in the scriptures which he had been taught from his childhood. The Word of God had been instilled in his heart by his mother and grandmother.
Today, this world is filled with so much anti-family and anti-God. Our young people are taught to deny the authority of their parents, as well as the Word of God.
So often, I hear parents say, "I don't know what went wrong with my son or my daughter." "I don't understand why they are so rebellious." Yet they will say they do not want to force moral values or the truths of God's Word on them. Parents, you had better start teaching your children moral values at an early age, or somebody else will capture their minds and hearts before you even realize what happened.
Paul is telling Timothy, "Remember what you have learned." Timothy was to remain firmly rooted in the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Spirit would give him the confidence and trust needed in the coming days. We must abide in the truth as the moral character of our daily lives. We must walk in the truth as the moral conduct of our daily lives.
These timeless truths will give us faith and hope, even when the storms of life come, bringing the winds of adversity. But thanks be to God who gives victory through the Lord Jesus. Therefore, we stand upon the solid rock of Zion which is Jesus who never moves and always gives us the power to withstand the tests of time. And we must faithfully build on this firm foundation which is Christ Jesus with every truth as a guard or reinforcement.
II. Proclaim the Savior (vv. 4:1-5)
As a Christian, you will stand in the presence of the Jesus as the Divine Judge. Are you looking forward to that day when Jesus will come again, when we will fall at His feet and worship Him as Savior and Lord? Will He be able to say to you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant?" and not, "Depart from Me I never knew you?" When you stand before Jesus, will He be your Savior or your judge?
There are some of you sitting in this room who have heard and know the truth about how Jesus died for you sins, and He is calling you to turn from your sins and come to Him. But you have refused to listen and with itching ears have chosen to turn from the truth and believe a lie. It is heartbreaking to see those who know the truth and have chose to believe a lie.
It is not always going to be easy to speak for Jesus. We must be willing to endure the afflictions and hardships which may come our way, as we spread the good news of the gospel and bring others to Christ. We must have the burning desire to speak the truth that others may be delivered from the cunning craftiness of men who are lying ready to deceive. As we do, we will demonstrate the ministry which God has called you to do with honor and glory to His name. (James G. Moore)
Proper 25
October 28, 2001
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14
Have you ever noticed someone who is constantly bringing attention to himself? No matter what story he is telling it always ends with him being the hero. And if you're telling the story, he always seem to have one better or more important to tell.
Everyone knows someone like this, if you don't, you may want to take a closer look at yourself. We have an example of someone like this in the Bible. Jesus tells us a story of a Pharisee who even in his prayer is continually exalting himself.
In the first few verses we see the example of the Pharisee and his self-righteous prayer. He seems to be giving more of a self-eulogy than a prayer. In his prayer there are a few things that we need to make sure we pay attention to. Notice that there is no thanks to God, but rather there is a long list of personal achievements. We can see this in the text by noticing all of the "I's." The Pharisee had no sense of being a servant.
It seems as though he didn't go to pray at all. The text says he prayed "to himself." A true prayer is offered to God and to God alone. He was really giving himself a testimony before God. He wanted everyone within an earshot's distance to know how good he was.
The Pharisee actually believed he had done more than God required. He had kept the law perfectly and had also fasted twice a week, and he even tithed on all he purchased, not just what he earned. His attitude was easy to see. It was one that was common in Pharisaism. The Pharisee's attitude was clear, and it represented the attitude of the people. He knew nothing of God's perfection and holiness, or of his sinfulness.
In contrast to this we have a great example of a humble, selfless prayer. Everything in this prayer demonstrates the tax collector's attitude. His stance in verse 13 shows how he felt unworthy, so unworthy he could not even stand near the sanctuary. He could not look up to heaven, illustrating again the shame he felt for his sins. He beat his breast, as a sign of his grief for sin. His prayer sought God's mercy and forgiveness like David in Psalm 51:1: "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions."
From these two prayers we learn three things. The first one is that no man who is proud can pray. One must first humble himself before coming to God in prayer. The second is that in prayer we do not lift ourselves above our fellow man. The third is that we are to set ourselves beside the life of God. We need to remember that no matter how good we are, the question does not change. The question is not, "Am I as good as my fellow man?" The question is, "Am I as good as God?"
When I was getting married I learned a few things about diamonds. I learned that when your looking at diamonds you don't just compare what your looking at to the one's around it, you also compare it to the test set. When I picked out the diamond I wanted to buy I thought it was great. Then the salesman pulled out the test set to show me the flaws in my diamond. The set helped me see the discoloration in the diamond I picked out. It also helped me see that I wanted to get a different diamond.
The first one looked great beside the others, but dingy compared to the test set. If we compare ourselves to those around us we may shine brighter than all the others, but when compared to the test set, God, we are as dingy as all the rest. We need to make sure we are asking the right questions.
Jesus doesn't say the tax collector is a good person. He's a sinner. His realistic assessment of his own wretchedness, his acknowledgement of his shortcomings and his need for forgiveness is something we ought to learn from.
In the final verse of this passage we see Jesus responding to the two prayers. He responds saying that the tax collector will be justified. This means more than just being forgiven of his sins; it involves the gift of a new standing before God.
This justification is due to God's mercy alone. There is no room for boasting. Justification comes only when the humble repent and believe. He also responds saying the self-righteous will be humbled, but the humble will be exalted.
There's a story about a girl in college who was invited to the home of Beethoven. When she entered she noticed a rope around Beethoven's piano, so she slipped under and began playing. She said to the one in charge, "I suppose every musician who comes here wants to play this piano." He explained to her that recently the great Paderewski was visiting there and someone asked him to play that piano. He replied, "No, I do not feel worthy to play the great master's piano." We need to understand like Paderewski and like the tax collector that we are not worthy, but God wants us anyway. He wants us to humble ourselves and come to Him. (Cory Cain)
Sermon briefs in this issue are provided by: Jonathan Kever, Preaching; Scot Farris, Cherokee, AL; Frankie Bowling, Adamsville, TN; Benny W. Taylor, Savannah, TN; Steven L. Kyle, Corinth, MS; Brad White, Jackson, TN; James G. Moore, Lake Cormorant, MS.