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

1.      Don’t you love a good parade?

One day in 1943 thousands of soldiers were preparing to leave for Europe. The Army, the Navy, and the Marines were preparing to load on the ships. The General decided to have a huge parade through New York City to seek prayer and honor for the men. Many of these brave men would never return home.

A little old lady was sweeping off her sidewalk, and she heard the commotion of the crowd. She looked up to hear the cadence of the soldiers.

She stood at attention and watched as the men marched by her.

She cried and put her shoulders back as she saw the red, white, and blue flag go by.

After a few minutes the old lady put her broom stick on her shoulder and started marching alongside of the troops.

Someone yelled out of the crowd: OLD LADY! OLD LADY GET OUT OF THE WAY! WHAT CAN YOU DO OLD LADY?

The old lady yelled back with pride: I CAN SHOW ON WHOSE SIDE I AM! She kept on marching!

2.      As Jesus shows his allegiance, he finds himself in the midst of a parade of sorts. He was among the 3 MILLION in Jerusalem that day. (Josephus)

3.      Matthew 21.1-9

a.       Passover occurs on the 14^th Day of the Jews’ First Month (Exodus 12; Leviticus 23)

b.      On the 10^th Day of the First Month, Jews were to select their lambs for Passover Exodus 12:3, 6

c.       The family selected the lamb and took care of it for the 5 days leading up to its sacrifice – imagine how hard it would be for children (and adults) to care for this animal, treat it like a pet and then watch it die and then eat it. Sin is serious; and Costly

4.      On the Christian Calendar, we refer to today as “Palm Sunday and remember what we call, “Jesus’ Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem.  This was actually “Lamb Selection Day” and God was presenting his lamb to the people and they misunderstood.

I.       The Passover Feast of the Jews

A.    Symbolized their deliverance from Egypt – blood of the lamb saved the firstborn

B.     Involved a Special Lamb:

1.       One Year Old Male
2.       No Blemishes
3.       In Jesus’ day the custom developed of taking the lambs from the flocks of Bethlehem

a.       To honor King David

b.      To financially support the Sadducees who owned the flocks

4.      There was to be no leftovers – share with neighbors/burn whatever is left the next day

II.    Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem [Ppt. Jesus on Donkey

A.    He comes the right way

1.       From Bethany – The Messiah was to come from the wilderness – Isaiah 40
2.       Riding a Donkey – .Zechariah 9:9

a.       Like owning a Lexus – “Owners” – Those who were sent went off and found it just as he had told them. Luke 19.32

b.      He and the disciples had walked from Galilee to Bethany (110 miles) to make his entrance on the donkey.

3.      The People understood the symbolism and were excited – “Hosanna” – Lord, save us – Psalm 118

B.     The People Misunderstood Jesus

1.      Brought Palm branches –

a.       Happened at the Feast of Tabernacles – Reminder of wilderness wanderings – 7^th month of their year/Part of their prayer for rain – shook Palm branches to make sound of rain – Had not had rain for 6 months and would die without it – “Save us.”

b.      A symbol of patriotism like the Eagle for us Ppt. of Eagle – Maccabean Revolt in Second Century BC

1)      Syrian domination – Antiochus IV wanted to destroy Judaism and defiled the temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar

2)      Judas Maccabeus and family (priests) overthrew the Syrians; cleansed the Temple; removed and stored the altar stones for the Messiah to clean

3)      Their symbol was the Palm Branch

4)      The year they overthrew the Syrians, the missed the Feast of Tabernacles and held it late. From this they developed Hanukkah to commemorate the victory over the Greeks – waved Palm Branches.

5)      In Jesus’ time, the Pharisee Zealots (from Galilee)were “Freedom Fighters” who tried to rebel against Rome – Their symbol – Palm Branch – thousands died by the Romans and they commemorated their victory with a coin of a grieving woman and palm branch – “In your face.”

2.      People Expected a Maccabean Messiah

a.       “Save us” – Psalm 118:25

b.      He wept over Jerusalem because he saw that their misunderstanding would bring destruction in AD 70.

3.      He was a NON-Political Messiah

a.       He rode the donkey

b.      He cleansed the temple as the Maccabees – through sheep gate (death)? OR Eastern Gate – the Messiah Gate (?)

4.      Jesus served an audience of ONE – tempting to be the political Messiah but he chose to be the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

5.      He set the priority – John 4.34 (My food is to do the will of him who sent me)

William H. Hinson tells us why animal trainers carry a stool when they go into a cage of lions. They have their whips, of course, and their pistols are at their sides. But invariably they also carry a stool. Hinson says it is the most important tool of the trainer. He holds the stool by the back and thrusts the legs toward the face of the wild animal. Those who know maintain that the animal tries to focus on all four legs at once. In the attempt to focus on all four, a kind of paralysis overwhelms the animal, and it becomes tame, weak, and disabled because its attention is fragmented.

1.      Three Feasts occur at the end of Jesus’ life (Exodus 12; Leviticus 23):

a.       Passover – 14^th day of the first month

b.      Unleavened Bread – 15^th day of the first month

c.       First Fruits – the following first day of the week

Jesus died on Passover/was in the tomb on unleavened bread/rose on first fruits

2.      This day – Lamb selection day – God chose his lamb – tells us to choose his lamb and live!

3.      He came in as a Lamb and will return in triumph!

1.      Stance on Sin

The late president Calvin Coolidge returned home from church one Sunday afternoon and found his wife sitting in the chair. Unable to go that day, she was interested in what the preacher had to say. She asked her husband what the preacher spoke about and he said, “Sin.”

Like most women, a one word answer was just not satisfactory, so she pressed him for more details. Finally he responded to her by saying, “Well, I think he was against it.”

2.      God IS against sin

a.       Reason for the DBR

b.      Reason he disciplines his people

c.       Reason for the destruction of some nations Deuteronomy 9:4-5

3.      God sometimes disciplines us by giving us what we want (Quail) Numbers 11:18-20

4.      Consider Romans 1.18-32

5.      Occasions when God gives in to us:

I.       Idolatry in Worship (1.22-25)

A.     God Prohibits Idolatry (Exodus 20.3-6)

1.       We become like what we worship
2.       Reason God is zealous/jealous about us

B.     Yet We Practice It

1.       Ignoring God
2.       Empowering demons – Deuteronomy 32:15-17
3.       Babylon – all the gods you could ever want  Jeremiah 17:1-5
4.       American Idols? $$ — inflation/printing – soon much money and unable to buy

II.    Immorality in Lifestyle (1.26-27)

A.     God Knows the Best Lifestyle for Us – Matthew 19.4ff

1.      Pagans – no morals – Rome was a cesspool of immorality
2.      God gave instructions

B.     We Want to Change God’s Standards

1.       Way past divorce on demand and remarriage
2.       Now – “Alternative Lifestyle”

a.       Tolerance and acceptance

b.      Examples of Curricula in schools – “Normal Relationship”; Preachers arrested for hate speech crimes – Europe/Canada/soon to be USA; San Diego Preacher arrested for leading a bible study in his home; some churches are adding “Bail” to budgets

3.      Aggressive Gays and Lesbians [Nazi Leadership – Gay Lifestyle//trying to ban Bible

4.      Christians have been silent – “PC”; getting what we appeared to want

III. Imagination in High Gear (1.28-32)

A.     Do Your Own Thing

1.       Selfishness
2.       Ingratitude

As an Occupy Wall Street couple strolled down the street, he fellow said to his traveling companion: “I am going over to pick up my unemployment check. Then I’ll drop in at the university to see what’s holding up my check for my federal education grant. After that I’ll pick up our food stamps. Meanwhile, you go over to the free clinic and check your tests, pick up my new glasses at the health center, then go to the Welfare Department and apply for an increase in our eligibility limit. Then I’ll meet you at 5 o’clock at the Federal Building for the mass demonstration against the rotten Establishment.”

B.     Reality – Can’t Make it on our own

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23

1.      Overindulgence

Richard Wumbrand, in Voice of the Martyrs wrote: “The great hindrance to spreading the gospel in communist lands was not the Iron Curtain. We have easily broken through that. The hindrance is the Silk Curtain of easy living.

I saw in Miami an ocean show in which a barefooted man fought with an alligator. He hit him with a stick on his head and drew him by his tail. The alligator snapped occasionally at him but never did him any harm.

I asked the man: ‘You seem healthy. You can make your living in some other manner. One day the alligator will bite you, and you will be gone.’ He answered, ‘Out of the question.’ Marveling about his assurance, I asked him if he had an agreement with the alligator. He said: ‘No, but before every show the alligator is over-fed. An over-fed alligator does not bite.’ This is the situation of many Christians in the free world.”

2.      God can discipline us with the negative in giving us what we want

3.      He can bless in the positive by giving us what we want – if it is the right want Psalm 37:3-4

4.      We have one major decision – God or me?

1.      Our Baby Dedication brings to mind a practical question: Parents, have you considered returning your children to God?

a.       A Frustrated dad says, “I didn’t know that was possible. I thought He had a no return policy.”

b.      Bill Cosby’s routine in which he told his kids – “I brought you into the world and I can take you out.”

c.       I told our daughter that I saved the receipt from the hospital – just in case we needed to make a return.

d.      One man said that when he and his wife married, they had 3 theories about raising children; today they have three children and no theories

e.       One of those children asked his mother what she wanted for her birthday; she replied, “Three well-behaved children.” To which the child replied, “But that would make 6 of us!”

2.      The Real Point – Children are a gift from God and to be received as such but they belong first and ultimately to him – Psalm 127:3

a.       He designed children with purpose –  Jeremiah 1:5

b.      It is up to Parents to show them the way to go – Proverbs 22:6

c.       Parents receive children from God but are to return them to him after a few days

3.      Examples:

a.       Abraham and Isaac (the Akedah) – Genesis 22

1)      Because Abraham gave Isaac back to God HE blessed both of them

2)      Isaac became wealthy/powerful/in the ancestry of Messiah

b.      Joseph and Mary dedicating Yeshua (Jesus) in the temple – Luke 2.22

c.       Hannah and Samuel – 1 Samuel 1.27-28

4.      What does it mean to dedicate/give our children to God?

I.       We Affirm Our Trust in God (1.11)

A.     The Challenge

1.      It is one thing to receive the gift of the child (or any gift) from God

2.      It is another to return that gift to God

B.     The Choice – to Believe (FAITH)

The Bay of Fundy is at the head of the St. John River where the river empties into the bay. It is a spectacle to see the currents of the mighty St. John rushing to meet the tides of the Atlantic Ocean. You would think there could never be anything that could stop the raging flow of the St. John. But every evening at the changing of the tide the flow of the St. John can be seen slowing. The Atlantic tide comes in little by little at 29, 30 and 40 feet until it reaches a height of 70 feet. The tide pushes and pushes until suddenly it reverses the river and flows towards its source. It is at this time that huge ships can enter the St. John River to gain access to the interior of Canada and Maine.

I submit to you that it is time for the spiritual tides of God’s blessings to come in. If you have had faith, whatever Satan does that seems so indomitable, remember God’s power is greater and His tides always come in.

³² And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— ³³ who through faith [OR TRUSTING] conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. ³⁵ Women received their dead by resurrection. Hebrews 11:32-35

1.      Parents can control very little

2.      Trust God

II.    We Affirm Our Love for God

A.     We recognize God’s love for us by his gifts – John 3.16

B.     We Express Love to Him by OUR Gifts!

I heard recently about a 90-year-old lady who one Christmas found buying presents a bit much, so she wrote out checks for all of her family and friends, and decided she would put them in with her Christmas cards. She wrote out her Christmas cards and put “Buy your own present” after her name, then sent them off.

But after the Christmas festivities were over, she found the checks in her desk!  Everyone had got a Christmas card from her with “Buy your own present” written inside but without the checks!

We all like gifts. We like to receive them from those that we love. And we also enjoy giving them. What Jesus said is certainly true: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  (Acts 20:35). I used to think that the greatest joy of giving gifts belonged to children because they get to experience the excitement of opening their presents. But I’ve learned that the real excitement comes in being able to give to those who mean so much to you.

1.      We can give God: Money; Time; Selves; and The most precious gifts he has given to us

2.      God Blesses what we give – And the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. 1 Samuel 2.21

3.      Hannah “Loaned” Samuel to God (Lend is from a root that means to request/ask for)

a.       She asked for a son with a promise to return him (1 Samuel 1.11)

b.      God asked for Samuel back – by granting her request

C.     What Is Most Important to You? Can you return it to God?

III. We Affirm Our Stewardship for God

A.     Parents are Stewards (caretakers) of Children – Psalm 127.3

1.      Short-term Oversight

2.      Raise them according to the standards of the real owner

B.     Stewardship Involves a Commitment

1.      To Godly Parenting in Example –

The father says, “You better get ready. The bus will be here in a minute to pick you up and take you to Sunday School.”

The Boy asked, “Did you go to Sunday School when you were a boy?” The father replied, “Yes I did.”

The boy said as he was getting dressed, “It probably won’t do me any good either!”

¹⁸ “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ¹⁹ And you shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ²⁰ And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates, ²¹ that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11.18-21

²⁶ “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: ²⁷ the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, ²⁸ and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods which you have not known.  11.26-28

2.      To Teaching and Training – Ephesians 6.4 (nurture and admonition of the LORD)

ACU researchers, Dr. David Lewis and Dr. Carley Dodd have recently concluded a cross-generational study (six different tests) to measure fathers’ positive and negative influences upon teens’ spirituality.

They found that “every time” dad’s role “as teacher came out be the most important predictor.” Among other top predictors of adolescent spiritual maturity, as related to dad, were his: commitment to Christ, spiritual well-being, prayer life, boldness in discussing issues of faith, genuineness and emotional closeness.

Of those teens whose fathers expressed their love well, 84% had a high spiritual maturity, but among teens whose fathers had difficulty doing so, only 39% had a high spiritual maturity.

Lewis said, “If a father will take his child on his lap and look her in the eye and say ’I love you,’ he will double her chances of being spiritually mature.”

3.      Love and Affirmation

4.      Prayer

5.      Home as a Holy Place (Jews call it their “Little Temple”)

1.      Hannah was blessed with the gift of Samuel – cared for him briefly – 1 Samuel 1:22-28

2.      She and Elkanah made offerings to God – on behalf of the child and of the child

3.      Samuel became a GREAT prophet in Israel4.      What can happen if we dedicate our children to God? More Samuels? More Hannahs? More Jeremiahs? More Marys?

a.       Anointed Kings

b.      Confronted Saul

c.       Taught young prophets

d.      Judged the people

5.      What can happen if we dedicate OURSELVES to God? This is the beginning place –

•          There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
•          I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
•          I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, Ephesians 4:1

1.      Improvements

•          A young wife said to her husband, “Don’t forget to bring home another mousetrap.” Her husband said, “What’s the matter with the one I bought yesterday?” She said, “IT’S FULL.”
•          A woman walked into her bathroom at home. As she did, she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, sucking in his stomach. The woman thought to herself, “He thinks that he will weigh less by sucking in his stomach.” So, the woman rather sarcastically said to her husband, “That’s not going to help.” Her husband said, “Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers.”

2.      Periodically we want to improve ourselves – Health, Home, etc.

3.      To improve we must – Think (about what we need to improve) – Plan (how to improve) – ACT

4.      There is a similar activity involving our relationship with God – Romans 13.11-14

I.       Wake Up! (11-12a)

Have you ever sleepwalked? It could be a problem. One day 77-year-old James Currens of Palm Harbor, FL sleepwalked out of his house, stumbled down an embankment and didn’t wake up until he was stuck in an alligator-infested pond. A neighbor heard him calling for help and called the police around 5 a.m.

Mr. Currens was found fighting off those alligators with his cane in his hand. There were 8 to 10 gators. AND IF HE HADN’T WOKE UP HE’D BEEN GATOR BREAKFAST!

Sleepwalking and sleep-living will get us into trouble!

A.     Spiritual Alertness

1.      Begins with knowing Yeshua (Jesus)

When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. ² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2.1-2

2.      Continues with focused effort – Acts 2.42

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5.8

3.      Easy to be lulled to sleep – [Boiling a Frog]

B.     Salvation Awareness

1.      There is a DAY coming – Judgment?

2.      A Day of Salvation for those of Yeshua (Jesus)

a.       Tenses of salvation – Were/Are Being/Will Be

b.      A process

3.      Time Management is Essential

[Young woman went for counseling; the counselor asked: “Do you feel that the roles of wife and mother are beneath you?” – “No, BEYOND me!”

a.       Constantly juggling our time – what matters most in the long run? Make necessary adjustments

b.      Begin ASAP – Ecclesiastes 12.1; Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6.2

II.    Dress Up! (12b-14)

A.     Cast Off Darkness

1.       No Coddling the “little sins”
2.       Let the HS influence our Live

B.     Put On Light

1.      Seen in Yeshua (Jesus) – I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61.10 [Salvation =  form of Yeshua]

a.      Put Christ on (v. 14)

b.      He is the Light of the world (John 8.12)

2.      Seen in the Armor of Light (12b)

a.       Warfare – Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6.11

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as a mantle. Isaiah 59.17

b.      Victory – For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  1 Thessalonians 5.9

3.      Seen in the Activities of Light (Matthew 5.16)

[A woman would wait in long lines at the Post Office to purchase stamps. One of the clerks told her that she could buy the stamps in the machine in the lobby quicker. She said, “I know, but the machine dose not ask me about my arthritis.”

[Alexander MacLaren – “Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it.” – Maybe the reason we are to love one another (John 13.35)

Conclusion

1.      The Chandelier

During a business meeting in a small mountain church, one of the deacon said, “Pastor, I think we need a chandelier for our church.”

“No way,” replied another deacon. “I’m against it.”

“Why don’t you think we need a chandelier, brother deacon?” asked the pastor.

He replied, “Well, in the first place, nobody in the church can spell it. Secondly, nobody in the church can play it. And thirdly, WHAT THIS CHURCH NEEDS ABOVE ALL ELSE IS MORE LIGHT!”

2.      Let us Wake Up to the Light of God

3.      Let us Dress Up with the Light of God

4.      Both involve our relationship to Yeshua (Jesus)

1.      I’m Fine

I’m afraid that we tend to be like the fellow in the old story who showed up for a court hearing concerning an accident in which he had been involved. His arm was in a cast, there were bandages all over him, & the exposed parts of his body were clearly bruised, scratched & cut. He was a real mess.

Looking rather surprised, the judge asked about his injuries. He replied, “Judge, I’m in a terrible condition. I have cuts & stitches all over me, & I’m feeling awful.”

The judge said, “I don’t understand this. The accident report filed by the Officer says that at the time of the accident you told him you were just fine.”

“Well Judge,” the man replied, “let me explain. I was driving my pickup & pulling a trailer. In the back of the pickup was my old dog Shep, & my mule was in the trailer. All of a sudden an 18 wheeler sideswiped me, knocking me off the road.”

“My pickup & trailer rolled over & over, & we ended up at the bottom of a big embankment. The next thing I remember, a police officer was picking his way through the wreckage. I saw him stop & examine my mule, then he pulled out his pistol & shot the mule between the eyes.”

“Next, he got to where Shep was lying, & after examining him, he shot old Shep, too. Then he walked over to me & asked, “How are you?” And I said, “I’m doing fine.”

2.      So, how are you doing? – Our tendency is to say, “Fine,” even though the world is falling apart.

3.      [If your phone rang at 3 AM and you found out there was an emergency with your family three states away; and you had to get there immediately; then you find out your car needs repair – who would you call?

a.       Some have a group of friends they could lean on in a situation like this

b.      Many of us do not have a Group in times of need

c.       Part of the issue is the time factor – come home from work; close the draw bridge; cocoon;

d.      Then when there is an issue we have a struggle because we don’t know where to turn

4.      The Solution – John 13.31-38

5.      Concern for others

I.       Jesus Displayed Concern for Others

A.     His Concern for the Father

1.       Glory to Father – DBR
2.       Do his will – John 4.3

B.     His Concern for the Disciples

1.       He called; led; and taught them
2.       Washing feet – even of Peter and Judas
3.       Love is an action word, not an emotion – can practice love for someone without “liking” them

A comic strip showed a young man was declaring his undying love for his girlfriend: “I love you with all my heart,” he said, “I love you more than life itself; my love would move mountains and change the course of mighty rivers for you,” he says fervently.

To all this, in the second frame, his girlfriend replies, “Can you come over Saturday and help me clean the junk out of my garage?”

In the final frame the guy looks up and says, “I hate people who take advantage.”

4.      Lay down life — ¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15.12-14II.    Jesus Desires Our Concern for Others (John 13.34-35)

a.       Peter said he would – but didn’t (at first) – John 13.36-38

b.      Yeshua (Jesus) said he would – and he did

There was once a Christian celebration on the west coast of Africa, when converted natives brought of their meager possessions to show their devotion to Christ, a young girl only recently saved from paganism brought a silver coin worth about eighty-five cents, and handed this to the missionary as her gift to the Savior. The good man was astounded at the size of the offering, and hesitated to accept it, supposing it must have been obtained dishonestly; but when he delicately asked for an explanation of this lavish gift, the convert told him that she had gone to a neighboring planter and bound herself out to him as a slave for the rest of her life for this coin.

Thus, she brought the whole monetary equivalent of her life and placed it as a single gift at the feet of her Lord. In essence, by serving another, she served God.

A.     The Exhibition of Discipleship – “One Anothering”

1.       First and Second Commands
2.       One Another Commands:

⁹ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰ love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12.9-11

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Romans 12.15-17

¹³ Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. Romans 12.13

⁷ Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15.7

¹¹ Finally, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13.11

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5.13-14

³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, ³² and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4.31-32

¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3.16-17

¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4.18

B.     The Excellence of Discipleship – as Yeshua (Jesus)

1.       In Hebrew – New can be translated as RENEW – a Renewed Commandment with a twist
2.       Standard Yeshua (Jesus) set – as I have loved you
3.       The Standard is not the individual – it is God

We see the need for one another. So What?

A wife remarked to her husband after the church service: “Did you see the hat Mrs. Jones was wearing?” “No,” said her husband, “I didn’t.” “Did you see the new dress Mrs. Smith had on?” she asked. “I’m afraid I didn’t,” said her husband. To this his wife replied: “Well a lot of good it does YOU to go to church!”

1.      Too often we are content on “showing up” to church to do the minimum

a.       What is the least I have to do to get the most gain?

b.      5 steps and 5 acts

c.       Question – Is that what the bible teaches?

d.      Is there more to our walk with God?

2.      Too often we find ourselves in need and nowhere to turn

[Rick Warren notes 5 Questions that Potential Church Members ask:

•          Will I be accepted at this church?
•          Will I find friends at this church?
•          Will I make a difference at this church?
•          Will I benefit from joining this church?
•          Will there be expectations of me at this church?

(http://pastors.com/5-questions-every-perspective-member-wants-answered/)

3.      A solution – make church more than a meeting place for worship – make it a community

a.       Yeshua’s (Jesus’) declaration to Peter – “I will build my church” – two possible meanings:

1)      Ekklesia – the called out assembly

2)      Edah – witnessing community – all of the one another passages are a witness to the community we live in of who Yeshua (Jesus) is

b.      Synagogue (origin of the church) – a community – worship center; study center; school; activities of the community

c.       Get involved in Groups within the congregation – HOME Groups; Ministry Groups; interest groups; friendship groups

d.      Remember our few Shepherds and Staff cannot care for the entire congregation adequately – it has to happen in smaller settings – help them shepherd by finding a Group to belong to

e.       Can’t find a Group? Start one – we’ll help

4.      Let’s grow past making everything about “ME”

a.       None of us is in charge of the church – it belongs to Yeshua (Jesus)

b.      The church exists for the benefit of others

c.       Real joy is found when we serve more than are served

5.      Let’s Love as God Loves – Any Way

1.      Fatigue

Back in the 90’s there was a President of Harvard University named Neil Rudenstine. Now, one of the major roles of college president is to raise money for the institution so they can pay the salaries and other financial responsibilities of the organization. And Neil Rudenstine was very good at meeting that need. For three years – since he became the school’s president – he methodically raised a $1 million a day for Harvard..

The reason he was so successful was that he was passionate about every facet of his job. He focused on both the big and small things in the college. Besides spending twelve hours a day on a demanding job, he fretted banquet menus, argued about his $10-15 medical co-pay and, wrote notes to the football coach, the editors school newspaper, the various staff as well as the dorm house masters.

But one morning in November, he overslept and just couldn’t manage to make himself go to work. When he went to the doctor, he was diagnosed with “severe fatigue and exhaustion.” The directors insisted he took an indefinite leave of absence to recover.

So he did.

And he didn’t return for the next seven days.

In fact, he didn’t return for the next seven weeks.

In fact, he spent the next seven months recovering from his fatigue. (Courtesy of Victor Yap Sermoncentral.com based on stories from Newsweek 3/6/95, U.S. News & World Report 12/12/94)

 2.      Leadership is a difficult task – especially in church circles

a.       Best size of a group to lead – 12

b.      Our elders each try to work with more than 125 people

3.      In signing the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin quipped, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” Maybe we should adapt this to: “We must all pull together, or we shall assuredly pull apart.”

4.      Ephesians 4.11-13

I.       Leadership Roles Within the Church

A.     Core Leadership

1.       Apostles – Missionaries
2.       Prophets – Preachers
3.       Evangelists – Outreach
4.       Pastor-Teachers – Elders/Shepherds

B.     Special Leadership – Deacons – Acts 6

Justin Martyr (early 2C) – early community of God’s actions when they came together:

On day called “Sun Day” believers gathered in one place [day of Helios – Greek Sun god]; writings of apostles or prophets are read; then when reader has ceased, the President instructs to imitation of these good things; prays; bread and wine and water brought; President in like manner gives prayers and thanksgiving; people say amen and distribution to each; to those absent a portion is sent by deacons; give according to what they see fit; President gives to those in need – widows, orphans, sick, in bonds, strangers, etc.; but Sun Day is when we hold common assembly because it is the day when God changed darkness to create world; Yeshua rose from dead Yeshua crucified before day of Saturn and appeared to disciples on day of Sun (Justin Martyr); [3 days and nights – any part of day = whole day]

C.     Synagogue Basis

•          Nasi – President of the Assembly — Administrator
•          Shlechim – from word which means to send – sent out from congregation as public announcers – “apostles”
•          TSkanim – from world which means “old” and we translate it into English as Elders; not necessarily the older men but the more experienced in spiritual maturity;
• ·        Gabahai Tzedekah – in Hebrew; in Greek = diakonos; English = deacon/Minister; Gabah = Tax Collector – people of synagogue are/were taxed according to income = donation, payment to be part of congregation; funds collected and distributed to those in need
•          Bat Lanim – 10 in each synagogue to be a functioning synagogue; literally a man of leisure who had financial means to dedicate 100% of his time to the study of God’s word;
•           Magid – from Hebrew word for Tell/Relate – Evangelists – gave message/sermon; gifted orator
•          CHazzan – Superintendent/Cantor – Chants; had been the one to mete out stripes by court of Jews;
•          Shamash – “Caretaker” or “Custodian” of physical structure
•          Rabbi – functions as the wandering prophet of OT; 1-2 C, BC and CE did not have position in synagogue as today

II.    Leadership Purpose Within the Church

A.     The Purpose Is NOT:

1.       Dictatorial Demands; Aloof Directors
2.       Our Doormats

B.     The Purpose IS – To Bring the church to Maturity – Ephesians 4.13; Acts 2.42-47

1.       Leaders make decisions that lead us to green pastures and still waters
2.       Leaders are involved in teaching

a.       Classroom and more – OJT as the Rabbis

[Field Trips – Sermon on the Mount (behold the lilies of the field); Caesarea Philippi; Parables (Sower); Missionary Journeys

b.      Bible Knowledge is Essential – we are not just to be busy doing “stuff” we are to be doing Spirit things

1)      The Bible is the Instruction Manual

2)      We Need help in practical application

III. Leadership Selection Within the Church

A.     Leadership Selection is Not Clear

1.       Lots to replace Judas
2.       Congregation selected Deacons – Acts 6
3.       Preacher selection of elders – Titus 1.

B.     Principles to Remember:

1.      Experience – Elder = Older with experience in:

a.       Family

b.      World/work issues

c.       Community involvement

d.      Dealing successfully with temptation

e.       Ability to maintain Integrity and Character – Blameless

2.      Proven

And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons. 1 Timothy 3.10

a.       Not about choosing friends; giving favors; Taking turns [Robert Dole was the GOP candidate a few years ago because it was “his turn”

b.      Is about observation – true for all leaders

3.      Influential

a.       Definition of Leadership is Influence

b.      Selected Hellenistic men to serve Hellenistic widows – more influence than Hebraic men (Acts 6)

c.       Influential because they were influenced (filled) with the Holy Spirit (Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. Acts 6.3)

Conclusion

1.      Pulling together:

I once read the story is told of a horse pulling contest in Canada.  The winning horse in the contest pulled 9000 pounds The runner up pulled 8000. Together you’d expect them to pull 17,000 lbs. but not so! When teamed together, they pulled 30,000 lbs. – nearly twice as much.

2.      When Leaders Pull Together, a Congregation Pulls Together; We accomplish what God sets before us

3.      Select gifted men for the work of Shepherds and Special Servants

4.      Goal-Focused –

•          ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Matthew 28.18-20;
•          ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1.27;
•          until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; Ephesians 4.13

1.       Communication (strange sport sayings—selected)

•          “You guys line up alphabetically by height.” said by Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach.
•          When Shaquille O’Neal was asked whether he had visited the Parthenon during his visit to Greece, he replied, “I can’t really remember the names of the clubs that we went to.”
•          “I’m going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes,” was said by a senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh.
•          “Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” This was said by ESPN football commentator and former player Joe Theismann.
•         And finally, another statement by Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach, “You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle.”

2.       We may not always SAY what we mean but we can SHOW what we mean

3.       There is an excitement in this congregation that has come from the recent visit by Patrick Mead that is resulting in a deep desire to serve the people of our community and demonstrate the love of God

a.       The first commandment is to love God – often associated with worship

b.       The second is to love our neighbors – often associated with service

c.       Both are actually related – Matthew 28.16-20

4.       [Chris Leck’s presentation

I.       Connecting with Yeshua (Jesus) produces Outflow

A.     Things we know by connecting to Yeshua (Jesus)

1.      God Wants All Persons Saved -1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9

2.      All Persons Are Lost and Need Saving -Isaiah 64: 6; Romans 3:23; 6:23

3.      God Is Able To Save -Isaiah 59:1; 2 Corinthians 9:8

4.      Salvation Is Good News To All People -Luke 2:10,11; Titus 2:11

5.      He Is The Savior Of All -1 Timothy 4:10; Acts 4:12

6.      Jesus Came To Seek and Save The Lost -Luke 19:10

B.     Knowing these things compels us to participate in Ministry to others

1.       As Paul — ¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5.14-15

2.       Examples of the Sea of Galilee vs. Dead Sea

II.                Approaches to Outreach:

•          Proclamation Approach – Paul/Peter
• ·        Testimonial Approach – What has God done for you? – Blind man in John 9; be my witnesses – Luke 24.44
•          Invitational Approach – Invite others to classes/Groups/Services – Andrew invited Peter; Samaritan woman invited Sychar—John 4
• ·        Service Approach – DorcasNow there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. Acts 9.36
• ·        Relational Approach – Bringing friends and family to Yeshua (Jesus) – Matthew’s party: ²⁹ And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. ³⁰ And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ³¹ And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5.29-32

III. The Goal is to Make Disciples (Balance)

A.     More than convincing arguments for Baptism

1.       Fully Devoted followers

2.       As a rabbi with his disciples

3.       More than “student” (as one auditing a class)

B.     Involves

1.        Time for preparation – study
2.        Time for participating – mentoring
3.        Time for processing – maturity

So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander. ² Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; ³ for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 2 Peter 2.1-3

1.      [Shackleton

Years ago the following ad appeared in a London Newspaper: “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”

Would you believe there were thousands of men who responded to this? The reason for such a turnout was the noted Artic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, placed the ad.

It causes me to wonder what kind of ad Jesus would give to us today. “Men and women wanted for the task of building my kingdom. Those working with you will often misunderstand you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come until all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your family, your friends, even your life.”

2.       Church is not always easy and convenient but is rewarding

3.       Questions:

a.       Who are our Samaritans?

b.       Where do people of our community gather?

c.       How can we serve them with the love of Yeshua (Jesus)?

1.      On the birthday of a 100 year old man in Maine a reporter interviewed the man and said, “100 years! Wow, you have seen a lot of changes.” The man replied, “Yes, and I have been agin’ every one of ‘em!”

2.      Changes Come, Ready or Not

•          90%t of all the items in the supermarket today did not exist just ten years ago.
•          It is estimated that 73% of college graduates are going into jobs which did not exist when they were born – 22 short years ago.
•          George Washington traveled from Virginia to Washington D.C. by horseback. It could take him ten days traveling at a speed of twenty-five miles per day.
• When astronauts come back to earth, they travel at over 25,000 miles per hour. At that speed you could fly from New York to San Francisco in just a couple of minutes.
•  “My great-grandfather rode a horse, but was afraid of the train. My grandfather rode on a train, but was afraid of a car. My father rode in a car, but was afraid of an airplane. I ride in an airplane, but I’m afraid of a horse.”

3.      Change is the cure for complacency

Wheaties began making cereal back in the late 1940’s. It was good, but it wasn’t particularly popular. So, in the early 1950’s they took a big financial risk and did something nobody else had ever done. They paid big bucks to have a popular athlete grace the front of the box, and their new slogan was, “Breakfast of Champions.” The athlete was an Olympic gold medalist in the pole-vaulting competition. His was a preacher, and his name was Bob Richards.

It worked. Wheaties became an overnight success and has been near the top selling cereals ever since. But they had to do something else, too. They had to keep finding new athletes that people knew. See, as the years go by, people forget names and accomplishments. A few years after  Richards appeared on the box, people forgot who he was.

So, throughout the years, to be able to introduce the cereal to new people, they changed the outside of the box to be more relevant to the society of that day. But you have to notice something very important. Not once during all this time, did they ever change the cereal inside the box! It has remained unchanged in all these years.

• We have an Unchanging Gospel – to be seen AS IS – a GREAT RESTORATION Principle

• Baptism has been a great emphasis [Naaman]
• Repentance is tougher

4.      The church today needs some serious repentance – we are failing to carry out the mission Jesus has given to us and we don’t really care.

5.      Needed today is a strong reliance on God

6.      Isaiah 43.14-19

I.       The Impressed Oppressed

A.     Israel’s Context – Oppression by Egypt; Assyria; Babylon

1.       They knew their history
2.       They believed God’s promises – good and bad
3.       God made impressions on his chosen peopl

B.     Our Adversary’s Oppressions

1.      Remember that Satan HATES you

a.       You bear the image of God

b.      You follow Yeshua (Jesus)

2.      He Oppresses Us with:

a.       Sin – Isaiah 59.1-2

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; ² but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear.

[Addictions – Drugs, alcohol, food, pornography – Jesus is the answer

b.      Idolatry – Exodus 20.3-4

[People; Entertainment; Sports 

c.       Superstitions – So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areop′agus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. Acts 17.22

[#13 and Bungee jumper that died because the 13^th floor was not included in the building directory – the floors went from 12 to 14 – his cord was too long by one floor

d.      Traditions [Victories – HOME Groups; Children’s Bible Hour; Gene’s Little Friends; Home Before Dark; PPT; Video (our language); Eastern European Missions]

1)      Nothing wrong with Tradition, per se – if there is meaning – “vain repetitions”

Jews were taught to build a fence around the Torah (Pirkei Avot 1.1)

2)      Problem – exchanging ritual for relationship with God

a.       Jews did it with circumcision; Sabbath; Kosher foods

b.      We can become captives to: worship times (11 AM); Order of worship; Invitation and song; WED PM (Thursday in Auburn, AL) – at all?

C.     Our God’s Opportunity

1.      To be greater than the Adversary and his oppressions – Sin (DBR); Idols (Living God); Superstition; Tradition

2.      With his Supernatural element – Holy Spirit – But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14.26

a.       HS inspired scripture – 2 Timothy 3.16-17

b.      HS instructs us in his word

II.    The Delight of the Delivered

A.     There is a Universal response to Deliverance by God – JOY (Acts 8, etc.)

B.     Israel’s Deliverance

1.      Egypt –

a.       Blood of the Lamb

b.      Baptism in Red Sea – I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same supernatural [spiritual] food 1 Corinthians 10.1-3

1)      Baptism unto Moshe (Moses)

2)      Involves uniting with his leadership; vision; and goals

c.       Moses and Miriam danced and sang after the crossing of the Sea

d.      Receiving Instruction at Sinai – Exodus 19.8 (we will do and we will hear)

1)      We worship/serve Someone/Something – ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Romans 6.16-18

2)      Some wanted to go back to Egypt – looking back to the “good old days”

C.     Our Deliverance

1.      From Sin and Idolatry – Romans 6.23; Ephesians 2.8-10

a.       Blood of the Lamb of God

b.      Baptism – into Yeshua (Jesus) – Romans 6.1-4; unite with him in his character; goals; vision; leadership

c.       To follow his teachings – John 14.15

2.      From Superstition and Tradition

a.       Look past the outward to the heart

b.      God’s intention has always been to include the internal as well as the external – Deuteronomy 6.4ff

1)      Love is action

2)      Involves heart/mind; Life; resources – all we have

1.      You Will Forget

An elderly couple was having problems remembering things, so they decided to go to their doctor to get checked out to make sure nothing was wrong with them. When they arrived at the doctor’s, they explained to the doctor about the problems they were having with their memory.

After examining the couple, the doctor tells them that they were physically okay but might want to start writing things down and make notes to help them remember things. The couple thanked the doctor and left.

Later that night while watching TV, the old man got up from his chair and his wife asks, “Where are you going?”

He replies, “To the kitchen.”

She asks, “Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?”

He replies, “Sure.”

She then asks him, “Don’t you think you should write it down so you can remember it?”

He says, “No, I can remember that.”

She then says, “Well, I also would like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down cause I know you’ll forget that.”

He says, “I can remember that, you want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.”

She replies, “Well, I also would like whip cream on top. I know you will forget that so you better write it down.”

With irritation in his voice, he says, “I don’t need to write that down, I can remember that.” He then fumes into the kitchen.

After about 20 minutes he returns from the kitchen and hands her a plate of bacon and eggs.

She stares at the plate for a moment and says, “I knew you should write it down, you forgot my toast.”

2.      Sometimes we look back –

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6.16

3.      Sometimes we do not –

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Isaiah 43.18

4.      We learn from the past and develop faith for the future – or we are destined to repeat the past

5.      Do not dwell in the past

a.       Discouraging things

b.      Prideful things

c.       “When we have more memories than dreams, our life is over.”

Maybe the value of Joel 2.28:

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

1.      The beginning of a New Year is a time to reflect on where we have been and where we want to go with our lives – we make plans to change – weight; jobs; education; etc.

2.      2012 Average Plastic Surgery Costs For a new you:

3.      What is the one thing you would change about yourself?

4.      Philippians 3.14-16

I.       Remove the Misplaced Priority (4-7)

Jeff Ferrera of Waukegan, Illinois, was reconciling his checkbook and called First National Bank of Chicago to get his current balance. The electronic voice droned, “Your primary checking account currently has a balance of $924,844,204.32.” Ferrera was one of 826 customers who were almost billionaires for a day because of the biggest error in the history of US banking. The mistake amounted to almost $764 billion, more than six times the assets of First National Bank. “It had a lot of people saying in jest to transfer it to the Cayman Islands and run for it,” Ferrera said. But, like most others, he simply reported the error to bank Officials, who could only say that it was a computer programming error.

How ridiculous it would have been for Ferrera to place any confidence in his new found wealth. He recognized the temporary nature of his millionaire checking account. It would have been utter stupidity for him to make plans and arrange his life around something so uncertain and fleeting.

Yet, that’s exactly the way that most of us operate. We’re given these brief life-spans and rather than focus on the things that really matter, we squander our time, thoughts and talents on the trivial. God tells us to reach for the eternal but we settle for the temporary.

A.     The Temporary

1.      Nothing wrong with the Physical – “Good and Very Good”

2.      Problem of Near-sightedness

3.      Externals do not last [Movie Stars and Aging

B.     Categories within the Temporary

1.      Heritage – Genealogies today

2.      Ability

a.       Hebrew of Hebrews = Language

b.      Pharisee of Pharisees – study and knowledge of scripture; Gamliel and Hillel connection

3.      Actions

a.       Misplaced Zeal – persecution of the church

b.      Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. ³ For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Romans 10.1-3

4.      Personal Righteousness

II.    Resolve to Focus on Yeshua (Jesus) (7-11)

A.     Emphasis on Yeshua (Jesus)

1.      Note the number of times he mentions “Jesus”

2.      Note how he wants to know him – intimately

3.      Problem – treating him as a silent Pal rather than an outspoken LORD!

B.     The Emphasis of Yeshua (Jesus) – Matthew 6.33

1.      God gives physical needs NOW, not just things in the World to Come

2.      We tend to turn the priority upside down – we want to seek our necessities first (including entertainment) – THEN if there is time we expect spirituals to be added to us

3.      What would happen if we committed to making Yeshua (Jesus) the LORD?

a.       If we make the LORD’S Day HIS Day?

b.      We make God the centerpiece of our discussion

c.       We give him first fruits of our labors?

[Remember first love? Could not get enough of the person; thought of them all day; couldn’t wait to be with the person; but then time passes

⁴ But I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. ⁵ Therefore, remember where you were before you fell, turn from this sin, and do what you used to do before. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your menorah from its place — if you don’t turn from your sin! Revelation 2.4-5 (CJB)

A.W. Tozer said, “We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.”

4.      It is a LOVE Issue

5.      What happens when other things take precedence? – “No other gods” (Exodus 20.3)

III. Renew the Right Plan (12-14)

A.     Be Responsive of Our Present

1.      We have not “arrived”

2.      The closer you get to God the further away you may feel

3.      Remember that God does not grade on a curve

a.       If I got a 66% on a test I would feel bad unless I found out that most of the class made less

Bonhoeffer writes, “If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all.”

b.      Then I would look for the curve – This is actually a lowering of standards

c.       One of my grad school teachers said, “I don’t give grace, I give grades.”

d.      God does not lower his standards, he wants us to stretch

B.     Be Reasonable About Our Past

1.      Forget the behind – past sins; past successes

2.      Lifestyle – not a works salvation

C.     Be Reconciled to Our Future

1.      ONE thing

2.      Get energy from a goal – take down bowling pins or the basketball basket – stop playing

3.      No energy for God? No goal!

1.      Paul wrote this book while in prison

2.      Every chapter speaks of Joy

3.      This year will be a good year – not because of external conditions but because of spiritual ones

4.      The difference is a NEW YOU – any year will do

5.      Have you heard about the man who moved into a retirement community to spend the rest of his life there? It wasn’t long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents.

There was one lady he was especially attracted to, & she was attracted to him, also. So they spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he proposed, asking her to marry him.

The next morning he woke up remembering his proposal, but he couldn’t remember her answer. So he went to her & said, “I’m really embarrassed. I proposed to you last night but I can’t remember if you said `Yes’ or `No.”’

“Oh, thank goodness!” she replied. “I remembered saying `Yes’ but I couldn’t remember who asked me.”

Sometimes I feel that way about New Year’s resolutions. I tell myself, “This year I’m going to turn over a new leaf. I’m going to exercise regularly & lose weight. I’m going to do all kinds of things to improve myself physically & spiritually.” But then somehow I forget. Maybe you have that problem, too.

1.      Famous Firsts

•          Virginia Dare 1587 1st child born in the American colonies, on August 18th, on what is now Roanoke Island, NC
•          André-Jacques Garnerin 1797 — 1st parachute jump. Dropped from about 6,500 ft. over Monceau Park in Paris in a 23-ft.-diameter parachute made of white canvas with a basket attached (Oct. 22).
•          Charles Blondin (Jean Francois Gravelet)  1859 — 1st person to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope
•       Jesse James 1873 — Committed the world’s first train robbery on July 21. (Adair, Iowa)
•          Herbert Hoover 1874 — 1st US President born west of the Mississippi (West Branch, IA)
•          Annie Moore — 1892 1st immigrant to pass through Ellis Island. She was 15 years old and from County Cork, Ireland
•          Alexander Winton 1903 Set the 1st land speed record in car racing. Set at Daytona Beach, his speed was 68.18 mph.
•          Arthur R. Eldred 1912 — 1st boy to reach the rank of Eagle Scout — the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America program. He was of Oceanside, NY.
•          Dolly, the lamb — 1996 1st cloned mammal.
• And Mary the mother of Jesus was the First to carry the Gospel

2.      A Special First – Virgin to bear the Son of God

a.      Fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14

b.      Many Unusual Births  Isaac – Samson – Samuel – John

c.       Yeshua (Jesus – born to a virgin

1)      Seems Impossible

2)      Bumper Sticker – The Difficult we will do Today; the Impossible will Take a Little Longer

3)      C.S. Lewis has said with penetrating insight, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”

3.      God’s perfect timing –Galatians 4:4-6

4.      Imagine the surprise and confusion of Mary as the angel appeared to her with striking news – Luke 1:26-38

I.          God Makes the Ordinary – Extraordinary

A.     Common Names

1.      Many boys named Joseph

2.      Many girls named Miriam (Mary)

a.       Relates to the sister of Moshe (Moses)

b.      Some families had an Elder Mary and a Younger Mary

B.     Common Status

1.      Joseph was a Builder (had he been a rabbi???)

2.      Mary was to be a homemaker

3.      Both were Torah Observant Psalm 119:1-3

C.     Common Process of Marriage

1.      I read that Marriage Contracts were often made up on Wednesday

2.      And that the marriage would take place by the end of the year in which the Ketubah had been signed

3.      The wedding in Cana (John 2.1) occurred on the “third day” – custom because on the third day of creation God said, “It is good” twice – the only day with a double blessing

II.       God Makes the Impossible – Possible

“If God is going to do something wonderful, he starts with a problem;

If God is going to do something spectacular, he starts with impossibility!”

A.     Things of God Go Beyond Explanation

Back in 1961, Redbook Magazine hired a top pollster to survey a cross section of students from seminaries across the nation. Questions ranged from their attitude toward Scripture, to whether or not they believed in life after death. Of those seminary students who were surveyed, 56 percent rejected the idea of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

1.      “Greeks study to understand; Hebrews study to revere.”

2.      WE want to understand and explain

3.      Sometimes we want to explain AWAY the things of God

•          10 plagues were natural coincidences
•          Red Sea – actually Reed Sea – was not all that deep and a wind separated the waters for the Hebrews at just the right time – miracle that Egyptians died in ankle deep water
•          From NEMJ a few years ago: David killed Goliath because the giant had a rare growth disorder that causes tumors to grow in the endocrine glands which help regulate the body’s growth and functions; a cyst on the giant’s forehead may have made him vulnerable to David’s slingshot; such a cyst would be a softer spot and allow the rock to enter the brain of Goliath, killing him instantly

[A Preacher tried to explain “miracle” to a children’s SS class:

Suppose I am on the roof of a 10 story building and I fall off; on the way down a strong whirlwind catches me and sets me gently down on the street – what would you call it?

One boy – “Luck!”

No, let me try again – he repeats the story – what would you call it?

A little girl – “An accident!”

No (frustrated) – he repeats the story again – what would you call it?

This time the whole class has their hand in the air – and the preacher calls on one boy – “Practice!”

It is amazing how far we go to NOT say the word, “miracle”

4.      There comes a point that we can no longer explain or understand, only revere – as Job

B.     Things of God Go Beyond Expectation (Isaiah 55:8-9)

1.      Amazing Assignments in the Bible:

God is always using to the wrong people

•          Fatherless Abraham to be the Father of a Nation
•          Stammering Moses to be the Leader of a Nation
•          Undisciplined Samson to be the Judge of a Nation (was also judged)
•          Little David to be King – family did not think it could have been him – Man looks out, God IN
•          Unholy Isaiah to be a Prophet of a Nation
•          Uncouth John the Baptist to be the PR Man for Jesus
•          IRS Agent Matthew to be a Disciple of Jesus
•          Crooked Zacchaeus to be the Host for Jesus
•          Unstable Peter to be the Rock of the Church

2.      He continually points us to himself – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

III.    God Makes the Fearful — Unafraid

A.     Mary’s Risks:

1.      Loss of her family (stigma – would you believe her explanation?)

2.      Loss of Public Approval (Prodigal Son)

3.      Loss of Fiancé and future securities of a home and finances – often led to prostitution

4.      Loss of Life – Burning/Stoning/Strangulation

B.     Mary’s Response – Let it Be

1.      God had chosen Mary – Amazing (BTW, he chooses us, too!)

2.      Mary had a choice, too – she chose to obey! Amazing (We?)

Conclusion

1.      Generally, near the beginning of the Sabbath, a Jewish woman lights the Sabbath candles for her family. It is an appropriate action when we consider that woman would bring the light of the world to us.

2.      Everyone in this account took risks – Shepherds; Magi; Joseph; Mary – to bring Son of God into world with eyewitness evidence

3.      God did impossible things in the lives of Joseph and Mary – wants to do so in our lives

4.      Stop trying to rely on self; understand all of the logistics – simply let him into your life with wonder and awe. Revelation 3:20

5.      The importance of Child-like Faith

Mary was just a child – With GREAT faith