Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way into a small cave. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for himwould quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you.” After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, “Well, I guess the Lord isn’t going to help me out of this one.”

Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. “Hah,” he thought, “What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor.” As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while.

“Lord, forgive me,” prayed the young man. “I had forgotten that in you a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.” We all face times of great challenge.

In times of difficulty or danger, we turn to God eagerly.

9.11.01

Origin of the USA

“In God we trust” on our money

Too often we turn away and go back to “business as usual.”

Psalm 20.7-9

Consider Two Lessons for Us:

I.                   A Lesson on Priorities

A.     God First

1.      Sacrifices to God before Battle (Psalm 20.1-6)

Pagans sacrificed to their gods

Faithful Hebrews sacrificed to YHWH and then went to battle

2.       [Polycarp — The bishop of Smyrna was brought before the Roman authorities and told to curse Christ and he would be released. He replied, “Eighty-six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong: how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me?” The Roman officer replied, “Unless you change your mind, I will have you burnt.” But Polycarp said, “You threaten a fire that burns for an hour, and after a while is quenched; for you are ignorant of the judgment to come and of everlasting punishment reserved for the ungodly. Do what you wish.”

3. Paul – ¹¹ I was chosen to tell that Good News and to be an apostle and a teacher.¹² I am suffering now because I tell the Good News, but I am not ashamed, because I know Jesus, the One in whom I have believed. And I am sure he is able to protect what he has trusted me with until that day. 2 Timothy 1.11-12

4. Us? – Matthew 6:33; 22:37-39; Deuteronomy 6; Leviticus 19; Ecclesiastes 12:13

B.     People (Psalm 20.9)

1. Our King came for PEOPLE – John 3:16; Luke 19:10

2. He Created us in his likeness (Genesis 1:26)

II.                A Lesson on Purpose

A.     The King was to be God’s Representative to the People and the People’s Representative to God (Anointed)

a.      Jesus does that today – Messiah/King

b.      Does Battle for Us

B.     We Are to Be Light in the Dark Places  — God’s Representatives

1. Light of the World (Matthew 5:14-16)

2. Even in the darkness

[Idols – Asia 9′ idol with 38 arms to bring blessings from heavens to the worshipers;

[Animal and human sacrifices among the pagans – even today – jungles of Africa; deserts of Australia (when elderly die, youngest child is sacrificed)

[US has our own darkness – Fed Official – kill a child up to 2 years of age

[Individual areas of darkness

C.     Prodigal Son in Luke 15

1. Went to the Far Country (Decapolis/area with the Gerasenes or Gadarenes)

2. He went with a bad attitude and alone

3. God sent his son to the Far Country, too

a. Heaven to Earth

b. Galilee to Gadarenes (the demon named, “Legion”)

c. He came with the right attitude and accompanied with servants of God – angels at his birth and the 12

4. He came to do the will of God in saving the lost (Luke 19:10) and trusting God (Luke 22:42 – let this cup pas. . . “)

Victory comes for the people of God! Psalm 20:5; 9

On February 19, 1945, Marines landed on the beaches of Iwo Jima, fighting by inches to secure a beachhead. After four days of knock-down-drag-out battle, they finally cleared the southern end of the island, climbed Mount Suribachi, and planted a US flag. The commander wanted a larger presence on Suribachi to encourage the Marines still fighting at the northern end of the island, so he ordered a larger flag raised. It was the raising of that larger flag that Joe Rosenthal caught in a famous photograph honoring the good soldiers who were fighting for victory in the Pacific.

 Does it offend you that our government has put our descendants into trillions of dollars worth of debt? Does it seem even a little tyrannical that they have forced on them “taxation without representation”? Why are we surprised? Is that not the way of the world? Isn’t it all about what “I” can get and hang what may come to the innocent?

The American Founders believed that each generation should pay its own debts. What a novel idea! “Pay as you go” and “live within your means.” It is unethical and sinful to saddle someone else with our debts.  Their attitude reflected a Christian understanding of scripture and a respect for the Creator.

One of the major differences between Christianity and our political world is the willingness to sacrifice for others.  It is the “Greater love” of which Jesus spoke. Christians would rather suffer now so their children won’t have to suffer later. The ungodly prefer letting the next generation suffer so long as they don’t have to. Their motto is “No Pain, No Pain.”

The thing that those living away from God miss is that “payday” will come. Somebody is going to pay someday. It is just a matter of when (see Ecclesiastes 8:11).

The justice of God demanded payment for sin. Payday came at the cross. Jesus stepped up and made the payment for us. He suffered then so we would not have to suffer later.

What implications do you see for us?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

A guide at Yorktown (this was the pivotal battle of the Revolution where we essentially won the war) said, “We won the battle for three reasons:

• Militarily: The Brilliance of General Washington and the help he got from the French;
• Division in British Army (bickering), and
• Luck -”

Cornwallis chose Yorktown because it was good ground for battle and it was the only place where the James River was narrow enough that if he needed to retreat he could cross.  When he learned that Washington and his troops were coming up from the South, he sent for reinforcements from New York but they were late in coming.

When the battle began, Cornwallis was hammered and knew he needed to retreat.  He thought that during the night he would evacuate his troops across the James River.  The first wave got across then a fierce storm came up and the wind blew so hard that the boats could not get back across the river to rescue any more British troops.

Cornwallis had no recourse but to surrender.  The guide called it ‘Luck’ but George Washington a few days later called it the ‘providence of God.’

¹⁰The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
   he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
¹¹ The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
   the plans of his heart to all generations. Psalm 33.10-11

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 On August 27, 1776 British General Howe had trapped Washington and his troops on Long Island.  He intended to advance on them the next morning and crush them, ending the war.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Washington gathered every available vessel, including row boats and began to row his 8000 troops to the mainland.  When morning came, however, there were still large numbers of troops dangerously exposed to the British.

Major Ben Talmage, Washington’s Chief of Intelligence wrote, “At the dawn of the next day, those of us who remained in the trenches became very anxious for our own safety.  At this time, a very dense fog began to rise out of the river and it seemed it seemed to settle in a peculiar manner over both encampments.  I recollect this peculiar providential occurrence perfectly well.  So dense was the atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at 6 yards’ distance.”

The fog was so dense that the British could not attack and General Washington was able to evacuate all of his troops.  Never again did the British have such a rare chance to destroy the Continental Army. What a “coincidence!”

I received this information about President Harry Truman via e-mail today. I don’t know the source but I wanted to share it with you in light of modern politicians.

Harry Truman probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation’s history as any of the other 42 Presidents.  However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

Historians have written that the only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence, Missouri.   On top of that, his wife inherited  the house from her Mother.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a  year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an ‘allowance’ and later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

After President  Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by  themselves.  There were no Secret Service agents following  them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, ‘You don’t want me.  You want the office of the President, and that doesn’t belong to me.  It belongs to the American people and it’s not for sale.’

Even later, on May 6, 1971,  when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th  birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, ‘I don’t consider that I  have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.’

He never owned his own home and as  President he paid for all of his own travel expenses and  food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today,  many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale.

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, ‘My choices early in life were either to
be a piano player in a whore  house or a politician.  And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference.’

 Recently I heard about a preacher in Europe who spoke out against homosexuality. After his sermon, he was imprisoned. The charge was “hate speech.”

I was not there. I do not know the content of his message. I am guessing that he used the Bible to show that homosexuality is a sin (1 Corinthians 6:9). That now constitutes “hate” in the minds of many homosexuals or sympathizers. It has become “politically incorrect” to oppose homosexuality in any form.

Wait a minute! Saying something is a sin does not mean hate. In fact, it means quite the opposite. God so loved the word that he sent his one and only son – to save it (John 3:16-17). In his ministry, Jesus did not hesitate to point out sin. He told the woman caught in adultery to “sin no more” (John 8:11). Did he hate her? No, he loved her. In fact, he loved her so much he told her to stop doing wrong.

Wait another minute! Do you find it interesting that no one speaks out for the adulterers? Who is standing up for the idolaters? Isn’t speaking out against those actions hateful, too? Most Christians would say the actions of Governor Mark Sanford (or President Bill Clinton) were sinful. That is politically correct, especially for his opponents so that one slides by.

I wonder what “hate speech” would look like in other eras. What would have been “politically incorrect” in the Colonies before the Revolution? One probably could not quote 1 Timothy 2.1-7 where Paul urges respect for the King. How about during the Civil War in the North? Ephesians 6:5-9 tells slaves to obey their masters – what would the Abolitionists have done to those preachers? In the South Romans 13:1-2 and submission to ruling powers would not have been popular. In World War II the Nazis would not like to have admitted that Christians are grafted into the same tree as Jews (Romans 11:11-24). Americans may have found it difficult to “love their enemies and pray for them” (Matthew 5:43-48). On and on we can go.

There is a dangerous trend brewing in America. While we certainly do not advocate hate, we need to be very tolerant with our privilege of Free Speech. We need to be very careful to allow people freedom to practice their religious beliefs. Speaking out against sin is far different than condemning a sinner. That is not our right or place (Matthew 7:1). We may recognize sin – and sinners (we only have to look in the mirror) but our mission is to teach, to love, to encourage, to help; not to condemn. You don’t hate me if you warn me about the dangers that lie ahead if I don’t change my course.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

I was doing some research for a class and ran across this article in Joe Beam’s, Seeing the Unseen (see page 186). It is quite thought-provoking. I abbreviated it a little but it still has the impact. What applications can you make?

During the first Gulf War, a member of the US Naval Intelligence told of going behind the Iraqi lines with British Commandos. They had the responsibility of destroying Iraqi communications so that our troops would have a better chance of success in the attack. One of the Commandos fell before enemy fire. The other Commandos did not stop to rescue him. As they ran by, they dropped him their extra ammunition.

Stopping to rescue the wounded man would have resulted in the probability that the team would not have accomplished their mission. If they had not accomplished their mission many Allied soldiers would have been killed, wounded or captured. Their lives depended on the Commandos doing their job. By giving the wounded man extra ammunition, they made it possible for him to fend off the enemy longer and ensure the success of the mission. He died fulfilling his duty.

We cannot (or should not) abandon every believer who is wounded in battle. We often have time to help and heal. BUT, the soldier is not more important than the battle. God may sacrifice any of us for the good of his army and those he seeks to save. We are soldiers, not civilians. We are at war in the most important battle of all.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 Charlie Brown used to receive a “rock” each time he went “trick or treating” at Halloween. We, like he, do not generally consider snakes and stones as positives. Typically, however, God does not use them for rewards (see Matthew 7:7-12).

In the model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus reminds us to pray for our daily needs. “Give us THIS DAY our DAILY bread,” he said. Just as the Hebrews in the wilderness received manna on a daily basis, God will provide for us as he did for them. He is not going to “trick” us with false promises and put a “rock” in our sack when we make our requests. He will give us what we need, when we need it.

While we think of our personal needs on a given day, we should also consider others. It may well be that someone with whom we have contact is praying for their daily needs. It may also be that God uses us to meet those needs. Maybe we can provide food, or comfort, or relief. Maybe we become the answer to their prayer. When Jesus sent the twelve out, he gave them power to help those in need. He said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). We have the same opportunity.

God promises to give us what we need. He promises not to deceive or mock us in his gifts. He treats us as he would be treated. He expects the same from us. Therefore, ask, receive, and do.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 Our Founding Fathers attributed the successes of our Continental Army and various leaders to Divine intervention.  The story of George Washington at Monongahela used to be in our history books until it was not “politically correct.”

During the French and Indian war at the Battle of the Monongahela, young Colonel Washington was engaged in a fierce skirmish with the Indians.  An easy target in his bold red coat, he crisscrossed the battlefield as a courier, carrying General Braddock’s orders to the troops.  The Indian warriors later acknowledged that they were targeting all officers–and particularly Washington–in the bright garb.  Yet Washington survived.   There were eighty-six British and American officers involved in the battle; sixty-three of them died.  Colonel Washington was the only officer on horseback who was not killed, and later, the Indians testified that they repeatedly shot at him, and were surprised that he never fell.  They believed he was protected by an invisible power and that no bullet, bayonet, arrow or tomahawk could harm him. 

Years later, the Indian chief sought Washington out in order to tell him what had happened in the battle.  The Chief said, “I am a chief and ruler over my tribes.  I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle.  [On that day] I called to my men and said, ‘Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies.’  Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss–’twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded you. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can never die in battle.”  

Washington himself later wrote to his brother John, “By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!”

 I fancy myself as an American Patriot. I am probably more of a “wannabe” but my appreciation for America runs deep. As a result, I do as thousands of Americans. On national holidays I fly “Old Glory.” I get up early, check the weather and as dawn’s early light breaks, I raise the American flag, take a step back and think about the millions of true Patriots who have worn the uniforms of our nation and willingly put themselves in harm’s way for our freedom.

While I fly the flag on those special days, I consider myself an American Patriot every day. I honor America every chance I get. I am politically active; I pledge allegiance; I pray for a swift return of our country to our foundational principles. I am willing to take up arms to defend our borders and our Constitution. I am an “everyday American,” not just a “holiday American.”

It occurs to me that as a Christian the “everyday” principle also holds true. Sundays are our “Flag Days.” We put on our best selves and raise the Glory of God in worship. While Sundays are special we do not stop being Christians when our worship service ends.

We seek every opportunity to honor our God daily. We pledge our ultimate allegiance to Him every day. We pray for His Name to be honored above every name. We contend for the faith which was delivered once for all (Jude 3). We are “everyday Christians” not just on Sunday.

Isn’t that what it means to be a “disciple” of Jesus? Isn’t being like him every step of the day? Isn’t it being a person of God, not merely looking like one? It is the “everyday principle” of Christianity.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene