Introduction:

This is my final sermon as your pastor. It has been a wonderful joy to preach and teach the Word of God to you, His people. In Acts 20:17-30 Paul gives his farewell message to the Ephesian church.  In Acts 20:27 Paul shares: For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. The ESV translates this as I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole council of God. I hope and pray this has been true of me with you. I love teaching the Bible and I hope that has been made evident. I hope you have learned more Bible over the last six years. The church does have a pulpit, figuratively, not literally. The pulpit represents the preaching of the Word of God at the local church. Each of us pastors are accountable to God for this responsibility. I have carried this responsibility for just over six years. Pastor Gordon carried this ministry for seventeen years. The responsibility is heavy. It has been compared to a woman having a baby. It is heavy because there are spiritual dimensions, spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-12). It is a 24×7 job. We preach and sit down and then wait for the pressures from Sunday sermon to kick-in. A lot of pastors talk about how hard Mondays are because they are hit from the Sunday morning pressure and reflection. There are articles written to tell pastors how to manage this post pulpit day. I prefer to simply eat chocolate and then I feel better.

God will lead you an interim and then another pastor to handle this pulpit ministry and I pray they also follow God’s instructions to declare the whole council of God. I appreciate and have been greatly honored to serve as your pastor these last six years. It has been a privilege to serve under the Lord in this pulpit ministry. Now, I preach my last sermon to you. Later, we eat chocolate.  

The church needs boys, the church needs men, the church needs dads.

John Fuller of Focus on the Family writes the following:

The United States is the leader in fatherless homes. The impact is breathtaking: 63 percent of youth suicides come from fatherless homes, and 75 percent of all adolescent patients in drug treatment centers come from homes without a dad. In his book It’s Better to Build Boys than Mend Men, Truett Cathy offers these startling statistics:

Children from fatherless homes are:

• 5 times more likely to commit suicide
• 32 times more likely to run away
• 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders
• 14 times more likely to commit rape
• 9 times more likely to drop out of school
• 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances
• 9 times more likely to end up in state-operated institution.
• 20 times more likely to end up in prison[1]

Wow! Those statistics are quite startling. So, obviously fathers are important, we have an important role in the development of children.

But the reality is there are many children without a father. There are many children without a spiritual father. In the Bible Timothy was one of those children. He needed a spiritual father and Paul took care of that job.

Theme: I want us to look at Paul serving as a spiritual father to Timothy. I encourage you to take seriously your role as a spiritual parent. Make disciples of young people.

Let’s read Acts 16:1-3:

Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

1. Let’s talk about Paul and Timothy.
   1. We just read Acts 16:1-3 and in that passage we see that Paul met Timothy and was obviously impressed. From this passage we see that Timothy’s mother was Jewish but his father was Greek. Paul wanted to take him along. From all indications Timothy’s father was not a believer in Jesus. After this Timothy goes with Paul. We see Timothy show up much in Paul’s letters.
   2. In 1 Tim. 1:2 Paul writes To Timothy my true son in the faith… Paul compares Timothy to a spiritual son.
   3. Then in 2 Timothy 1:2 Paul again writes: To Timothy, my dear son… Again, we see Paul and Timothy’s relationship.
      1. They had likely traveled together for 10 years.[2]
      2. They obviously had a special bond. 1 and 2 Timothy are written to Timothy from the Apostle Paul while Timothy was serving as the interim pastor in Ephesus.
   4. Then, one more passage I will show you. In Phil. 2:22: Paul writes: But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
2. Let’s talk about serving as a spiritual parent.
   1. What is this like?
   2. It is not meaning simply going fishing together, though spiritual advise can be passed on during a fishing trip.
   3. It is not meaning simply activities. I am not talking about simply hanging out with someone younger than you.
   4. This is talking about discipleship.
   5. This is about mentoring someone younger than you in the faith and in the ministry. The Gospel is at the center of serving as a spiritual parent. However, understand the Gospel must be at the center of being a parent. Look at Deut. 6:1-9: These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
   6. Serving as a spiritual parent does begin with a relationship with someone younger than you, but it continues as you study the Bible together. As you model what it means to be a man or woman of God. Serving as a spiritual parent continues as you are going fishing or hunting or cooking together, but in doing so you are modeling and teaching how to be a man or woman of God. You are modeling service to the church. You are modeling and teaching evangelism, discipleship, worship, ministry and fellowship. Being a spiritual parent means that the Gospel is everything.
   7. If we do not teach our biological children the Gospel we have taught them nothing worthwhile. If we have relationships with others younger than us but we do not teach them the Gospel we have taught them absolutely nothing worthwhile. They die and it is the end of anything good.
   8. My youth pastor was my spiritual father. He was older than my father and he was living for Jesus and my father was not. He discipled me as he taught me the Bible but he also discipled me as we served the church together, we had lunch together, we worked together. He modeled integrity and Christian values. I remember going with him to pick up an old truck he was restoring. The man was signing the title over and said, “How much do you want me to put down that you bought this for?” This was because you have to pay taxes on every dollar so the seller was willing to just put down a dollar. My youth pastor had him put down the correct price. He modeled integrity. He modeled service. He modeled being a Christian father and grandfather.

• Application: Serve as a paternal influence to others.
  1. Who has God places in your life for you to serve in that paternal influence role?
  2. Right down a name in your bulletin and take it home and pray about it.
  3. This may be your children and grandchildren.
  4. I know of someone who speaks at the men’s fellowship breakfasts. He talked about having a Bible study with his grandsons. He would buy donuts and meet them on Saturday mornings to study the Bible. Could that be what God is calling you to do?

Close:

I read the following:

Truett Cathy is probably best known for his Chick-Fil-A restaurants, and while I like the food he helped make popular, I’m most appreciative of the work he does to help boys who face the prospect of growing up without a father.

Mr. Cathy has been mentoring youngsters for more than sixty years. He runs a camp and a foster- care program designed to help give children of broken homes a second chance at life. It’s an inspiring program. Boys are matched with mentors and father figures, and some are even placed in full-time Christian foster homes. Many are given the opportunity to work side by side with Mr. Cathy on a beautiful farm in the rolling hills of Rome, Georgia.

Truett Cathy is a well-seasoned Southern gentleman. But he’s more than a nice guy with business savvy. He knows how boys think. Most important, he knows what they need: a father or— at the very least— a strong male role model. Mr. Cathy travels the country with a simple but strong message: you can make a difference! It’s better to build boys than to have to mend men.[3]

So, next time you complain about the next generation, pray. Pray that God would send you a young person to serve as a spiritual parent.

Do you know Jesus? Luke 9:23

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] John Fuller with Paul Batura. First Time Dad, the Stuff You Really Need to Know. Moody Publishers, Chicago 2011. Page 22

[2] See George W. Murray, “Paul’s Corporate Witness in Philippians,” Bibliotheca Sacra 155:619 (JulySeptember 1998):316-26. Seen in Dr. Constable’s notes on Phil. 2:22: http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/philippians.pdf

[3] John Fuller with Paul Batura. First Time Dad, the Stuff You Really Need to Know. Moody Publishers, Chicago 2011.

Introduction:

There is a new show on Netflix it is called “Anne with an ‘E.'” The show is about “Anne of Green Gables.” It is a wonderful, cute show about an orphan girl who mistakenly ends up at Green Gables. They were expecting a boy. Here an older brother and sister are to take her in. Many of you may know of the book. The first episode is sad. Then she is sent away, back to the orphanage, as they think she stole from them. In reality she did not. When they find the piece of jewelry which they thought she stole they try to track her down. Finally, the brother finds her and tries to persuade her to come back. She ignores him, UNTIL he calls her his daughter. Then she comes back. Later they ask her to take their name. It was so exciting for her.

How special it is to have the rights and privileges of being part of a family?

Today, I plan to encourage you with the truth of God’s love. God loves us so much that He adopted us. We are part of his family.

Sometimes we feel like failures. You are not. This is a lie we believe. The world may make you think you are a failure. You are not. God loves you.

My theme is: You are Not a Failure God does love you no matter what. He loves you so much He calls you His children.

Let’s read: 1 John 3:1: We are only going to read and focus on the beginning of the passage.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 

1. See what great love!
   1. I like the translation.
   2. It begins with “See.” It is as if this is saying, “Take notice”!
   3. Some translation would say, “Behold.” This is a really important statement.
   4. What are we noticing. What is of significance?
   5. We are noticing God’s love. This is God’s “great” love.
   6. Think about how you love people. Do you know people that you will love no matter what?
   7. Do you know people that you will always love?
   8. Do you have a love for people that is hard to modify? It is hard to find the adjective to describe the love. Maybe the love is a verb, it is action, and it is hard to find an adverb to describe the love.
   9. God loves us with a great love. It is hard to find adjectives to describe God’s love for us. It is hard to find adverbs to describe God’s love. God’s love has been portrayed in action. His love has been portrayed in the action of dying for us.
   10. In this case God lavished love on us.
2. God Lavished on Us.
   1. This is important.
   2. This has the idea of a rich gift.
   3. Think about it, who is God?
   4. What belongs to God?
   5. What power does God have?
   6. What rights does God have?
   7. What authority does God have?
   8. Just think about it. If we are to believe in God, which I do, then we have to believe He has all power, all authority, all rights and everything belongs to Him.
   9. And He notices me.
   10. You are not a failure. God loves you no matter what. He lavishes you with His love.

• We are God’s Children.
  1. We are called God’s children. I like what the Archaeological Study Bible says: The underlying word of “sonship” is “adoption.” Adoption was common among the Greeks and Romans, who granted the adopted son all the privileges of a natural son, including inheritance rights (see “Adoption in the Roman World”).
  2. We have the privileges of being a daughter or son of God.
  3. What are these privileges?
     1. This can be quite a theological topic, but to just think of a few. We have eternal life with Him.
     2. We have a constant contact with God.

• God will not give up on us.

1. I remember hearing my dad talk to my barber once and my dad was comparing his love for us to God’s love. My dad said, “I could never stop loving my children.”
2. It is, maybe, easy to give up on some stranger, some employee, some neighbor, but it ought to be that you never give up on your child. You never stop loving your child.
3. God loves us that much.

1. In the Greco-Roman world there was an actual adoption process for your own children. You were considered a slave of your own parents, until at a certain age your parent chooses to adopt you and consider you their own child. Then you have the rights of the family.
2. To some extent this includes rewards in Heaven. It includes authority in Heaven.
3. That is the idea the Bible has in mind. God went through the process of adopting you.
4. The Life Application Study Bible: 3:1   As believers, our self-worth is based on the fact that God loves us and calls us his children. We are his children now, not just sometime in the distant future. Knowing that we are his children should encourage us to live as Jesus did.[1]
5. Graduates:
   1. You will face challenges in your careers, but God loves you and supports you no matter what. God is in your corner. God has your back.
   2. You will face difficulties in college, but God has your back. You are His child. Give Him a call on the prayer line.
   3. You will face family trials, but God includes you part of His family.
   4. God loves you.
   5. God will never stop loving you.
   6. Your parents may stop holding your hand, but God does not (Isa. 41:10 and 13).
6. For everyone, we get holder and our parents go to Heaven, remember that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us.
7. God is there to hold our hand.
8. God cares, He always cares.
9. Regardless of your age, God loves you.
10. Regardless of your mistakes, God loves you.
11. Get rid of the idea that you are a failure, You are not. God is in your corner.

Closing:

See what manner of love the Father has given unto us.

He lavished love on you.

Stop tuning your mind into these ideas that He doesn’t love you.

Stop tuning your mind into these ideas that you are a failure.

God loves you!

Remember the Joel Osteen illustration about the TV of the mind? Sometimes we are thinking about the wrong things. We need to use the remote control of our mind and change the channel. You are God’s child, tune into that channel.

There was a Little House on the Prairie episode about the Ingalls family adopting Albert. He was so happy to be adopted. It means to much.

You are adopted by God.

You are His child.

Do you know Jesus? Luke 9:23

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] Tyndale House Publishers (2011-08-01). Life Application Study Bible NLT (LASB: Full Size) (Kindle Locations 161133-161142). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Introduction:

Memorial Day was established after the Civil War. All these men served in the War Between the States. All these families sacrificed as the husband was gone, the father was gone. Families were torn apart. What was it like for the soldier? What was it like for the leaders? I wander if they ever felt the weight of the war was on them?

What about Lincoln? How did he make it through the war? How did he make it through the day? I am sure he felt like the weight of the war was on him. I am sure he felt like the future of the United States was on him.

What was it like for other soldiers and families in other wars? I listened to a “Backstory” program about the history of World War I. At first America was not going in. Funny as it may sound, at first we even had songs about not going to war. There was a song that had lyrics something like this:

Verse 1

Ten million soldiers to the war have gone,

Who may never return again.

Ten million mother’s hearts must break

For the ones who died in vain.

Head bowed down in sorrow

In her lonely years,

I heard a mother murmur thru’ her tears:

Chorus

I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier,

I brought him up to be my pride and joy.

Who dares to place a musket on his shoulder,

To shoot some other mother’s darling boy?

Let nations arbitrate their future troubles,

It’s time to lay the sword and gun away.

There’d be no war today,

If mothers all would say,

“I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.”

Verse 2

What victory can cheer a mother’s heart,

When she looks at her blighted home?

What victory can bring her back

All she cared to call her own?

Let each mother answer

In the years to be,

Remember that my boy belongs to me![1]

Within a few years we went to war and the songs changed: Over there:

Johnny,^[8] get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.

Take it on the run, on the run, on the run.

Hear them calling you and me,

Every Sons of Liberty.

Hurry right away, no delay, go today.

Make your Daddy glad to have had such a lad.

Tell your sweetheart not to pine,

To be proud her boy’s in line.

Verse 2

Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.

Johnny, show the “Hun“^[9] you’re a son-of-a-gun.

Hoist the flag and let her fly

Yankee Doodle^[10] do or die.

Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit.

Yankee^[11] to the ranks from the towns and the tanks.^[12]

Make your Mother proud of you

And the old red-white-and-blue^[13]

Chorus

Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word over there

That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming

The drums rum-tumming everywhere.

So prepare, say a prayer,

Send the word, send the word to beware –

We’ll be over, we’re coming over,

And we won’t come back till it’s over, over there.[2]

I wonder the burden our soldiers felt?

Do you ever feel burdened? Do you ever feel that the weight of the world is on you?

We can look at this topic two ways. Is our living all about us? Are all the pressures of daily living all on us? We may feel that way? What about salvation? What about our faith in Christ? Is our spiritual condition all on us?

I would say no to both of these.

As we look at these lies we believe some of you may think, “duh, I know that!” But can you justify what you know based off of the Bible. As we talk about the lies we believe it is imperative that we know Biblical truth, not American truth. It is most important that we know Biblical truth, not Ben Franklin quotes. Be schooled by the Bible.

Theme: Your eternity and daily living is on Jesus, not you.

Application: Surrender continually to Jesus. Pray continually.

Let’s read Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

1. Our Salvation is not all on us.
   1. This passage is about salvation, not about daily living. Now, we can make the case that our daily living is not all on us and I’ll come to that in a minute.
   2. The people were burdened with the Jewish law. This law did not all come from Scripture. Jesus was saying that He fulfills the law for them. We can’t keep the law, but Jesus did it for us. Jesus died in our place.
   3. What is a yoke: ESV Study Note: The wooden frame joining two animals (usually oxen) for pulling heavy loads was a metaphor for one person’s subjection to another, and a common metaphor in Judaism for the law. The Pharisaic interpretation of the law, with its extensive list of proscriptions, had become a crushing burden (cf. 23:4) but was believed by the people to be of divine origin. Jesus’ yoke of discipleship, on the other hand, brings rest through simple commitment to him (cf. 1 John 5:3).
   4. It is not about religion, but about Jesus.
   5. It is not about religiously following rules, but following Jesus.
   6. We will follow one or the other. You will either follow Jesus or a list of moral rules. Are you committing to the church because you are supposed to or because you are committed to Jesus and the church is the bride of Christ?
   7. Lean in on Jesus. Christianity is NOT a religion. Christianity is about Jesus. Religion is about earning your way to Heaven, but Christianity is about what Jesus has done to give us eternal life.
2. We have daily help.
   1. John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
   2. We talk about the Holy Spirit a lot, but the point is that you can always place your burden on Jesus. Your eternal life is on Jesus and your life now is on Jesus. It is not all on you.
   3. How do you give it to Jesus. First, surrender your eternal life to Jesus, second keep a constant connection with Jesus.

• The weight of the future is on God, not us.
  1. So, let me go back to the Civil War, or World War I, or World War II each soldier made a difference. Was the weight of the war on one soldier or another? No, all the soldiers came together and made a difference. But more than that each soldier had daily help.
  2. God gives us help through prayer.
  3. More than that, God is in charge. Amen.
  4. God is in charge, right? Do we believe that?
     1. NOW, this is where it gets difficult. Was God on America’s side? I think it was Lincoln who said: “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”[3]
     2. So, we can pray during anything and pray, “Jesus, I hope I am doing the right thing, please help.” We can always ask God for help.

• We can give our burden to God.

1. I really do not wish to get in the politics of war, but I will say that looking at Scripture God would absolutely NOT be happy with slavery. I can say that God absolutely was NOT happy with the concentration camps.
2. I remember talking to John Blaser about our history and he talked about the things we went through as a nation and he said it was like God had to be helping us.
3. I have recently been studying Winston Churchill more. It is almost as if God setup him as a leader for World War II. I am not saying he was a Christian, maybe he was. I am simply saying that God used him. It would have been easy for Churchill to think the weight of Britain was on him. The man was stubborn and strong willed to begin with. I am listening to an audio book about his younger years and I watched a documentary about him during World War I. It was like he was happy with war. He would walk right out into the “no-man’s land” in between the trenches. It was like God used him.

• Here is a strong and true statement. God is in charge. God is available to help us. We can turn our burden over to God. The weight is on God and not us.
• God is in charge. Your eternity and daily living is on Jesus, not you.

1. Pray like a child.
   17. We are taught to pray continually in 1 Thess. 5:17.
   18. Jesus talks about the faith of a child (Matthew 18:3).
   19. How do children talk to their parents?
   20. I have two little ones at home, ages 3 and 5, and you know they don’t think about their vocabulary. They just talk. They beg and will repeatedly ask us questions. They don’t try to formulate their words carefully, they just ask. Many times while they are asking for something they are not making sense, but they ask.
   21. My children will ask for help, there is no hesitancy in a young child asking her parents for help. They just ask.
   22. Abigail does not hesitate to ask for help. She was once trying to get her coat on at child care and she turned around and asked a state inspector, “will you help me?”
   23. I believe we need to talk to God like a child. Keep an ongoing conversation with God going. Talk naturally to God, get rid of the King James English.
   24. I started an Evernote idea in my phone I call text messages to God. What does this mean? I don’t know about you, but sometimes I send a quick message to friends or family. This could be a text or a phone call. Sometimes I will be going somewhere and call to tell Meagan what is going on. So, I applied the same idea to my relationship with God. Many times I pray simple breath prayers, but instead I thought I will text them to myself and save them in Evernote. Evernote is a note taking app which will sync with computers and tablets.
   25. So, I could be going into a meeting and type out: “Jesus, I need your help right now.”
   26. Now, you don’t need to text that, just say it to Him.
   27. You could know that you are going to have a difficult conversation with a family member: “Jesus, I need You, I can’t have this conversation alone.”
   28. Maybe you are making medical decisions for a family member: “Jesus, I need your wisdom.”
   29. Pray specifics to God. You are not alone.

Conclusion:

I like what the Life Application Study Bible:

11: 30   In what sense was Jesus’ yoke easy? The yoke emphasizes the challenges, work, and difficulties of partnering with Christ in life. Responsibilities weigh us down, even the effort of staying true to God. But Jesus’ yoke remains easy compared to the crushing alternative. Jesus doesn’t offer a life of luxurious ease— the yoke is still an oxen’s tool for working hard. But it’s a shared yoke, with weight falling on bigger shoulders than yours. Someone with more pulling power is up front helping. Suddenly you are participating in life’s responsibilities with a great Partner— and now that frown can turn into a smile, and that gripe into a song.

Theme: Your eternity and daily living is on Jesus, not you.

Application: Surrender continually to Jesus. Pray continually.

Here is an idea for application: this week try to pray about everything, seriously everything. Talk to God as your good and loving Father and pray. At the end of the week record in a prayer journal or this bulletin how you have done. Set a prayer goal, you can do this in the bulletin:

This week I intend to try to pray about all things.

For recording at the end of the week: Write your thoughts on much more you were connected with God this week below:

Do you know Jesus? Luke 9:23

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Didn%27t_Raise_My_Boy_to_Be_a_Soldier

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_There

[3] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/abrahamlin388944.html

Rev. Jane Gibbons preached yesterday, you can find her sermon on the fbcalliance.org website. It is called “Hurry”

Intro:

The following is a list of “I owe you’s” which apply to mothers all over the country, all of which are long overdue. Stop after each one and consider the priceless value of the one who made your life possible – your mother.

“Dear Mom:
As I walk through my museum of memories,
I owe you – for your time. Day and night.
I owe you – for your example. Consistent and dependable.
I owe you – for your support. Stimulating and challenging.
I owe you – for your humor. Sparky and quick.
I owe you – for your counsel. Wise and quiet.
I owe you – for your humility. Genuine and gracious.
I owe you – for your hospitality. Smiling and warm.
I owe you – for your insight. Keen and honest.
I owe you – for your flexibility. Patient and joyful.
I owe you – for your sacrifices. Numerous and quickly forgotten.
I owe you – for your faith. Solid and sure.
I owe you – for your hope. Ceaseless and indestructible.
I owe you – for your love. Devoted and deep.”

-Charles R. Swindoll, Strong Family[1]

Last Sunday I did say that God doesn’t need you, but my purpose was to encourage you not to be overwhelmed. Today, for just a few minutes I wish to impress on you that what you do DOES matter.

In:

Isaiah 49:3-4:

He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”

Hebrews 6:10:

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

1. What you do does matter to the most important ONE.
   1. Sometimes we forget the sacrifices of our mothers. But God never forgets what you do. This means that when you serve your children this will be remembered for all eternity.
   2. I have seen and heard the saddest of stories of the disrespect of children and grandchildren. I know that I for sure had my days being disrespectful to my parents, but I am really talking about neglect.
   3. Realize that the command to honor your father and mother in Exodus 20:12 does not have an agent limit. God never says to stop respecting your mother at age sixteen or eighteen or twenty-one. Yet, many do. But instead of focusing on the negative, let’s remember that your children may not notice what you do for them, but God does.
   4. God remembers you.
   5. God remembers everything you have done and it matters.
   6. You may think those tireless nights don’t really matter, but they do. God remembers. God does not forget.
   7. Mothers care about their children, their grandchildren, their great grandchildren. No one cares like a mother. God remembers. God does not forget, what you do matters.
   8. Let me give an example: I love the story of James and John’s mom coming to Jesus in Matthew 20:20-25. She actually came to Jesus to ask that her two sons could sit on Jesus’ right and left in His Kingdom. The other disciples were indignant. Do you think James and John remembered their mother’s sacrifice? Do you think they were like, “Mother, stay away, you are embarrassing me”? She meant well, Jesus really does not rebuke her. She came with them kneeling down in reverence. Mothers want the best for their children. Certainly, it is important not to be a helicopter parent. There was a major news articles about moms going to job interviews with their children after they had graduated from quality colleges. Well, here in a similar way, James and John’s mom comes to Jesus. It is almost like, the gall of that women. But hold on now. It is possible that she knew Jesus well. Let’s use sanctified imagination here. Maybe they grew up near each other. Maybe they dated in high school, it is possible, not likely, but possible. Maybe, she told James and John she was going to make this request and they said, “Mom, no, you know what the other ten will think?” Maybe she said, “I know Jesus, I’ve known Him since I was a kid, our moms were friends…” Maybe Jesus worked as a carpenter alongside her brother. Either way, she wanted the best for her sons.
   9. Mothers care. God cares. God will not forget.

Conclusion:

Hebrews 6:10:

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Do you ever feel like what you do doesn’t matter? God remembers.

Remember the sleepless nights? God does.

Remember changing diapers? God does.

Remember midnight feedings? God does.

Remember doctor’s appointments? God does.

Remember working hard at home and at work to pay the bills for your children? God does.

Remember rocking him or her to sleep when you just wanted to go to sleep? God does.

Remember the good times and the hard times? God does.

Remember driving them to practice, orchestra, ballet, dance, work, school and still having a dozen other things to do? God does.

Remember crying over poor decisions your teenager was making? God does. He remembers what you do and it matters.

Remember anxiety, your worry, your prayers? God does.

Remember parent teacher conferences? God does.

Remember weighing the decisions about discipline? God does.

Remember buckling them into the car, making meals, washing clothes, choosing preschools? God does.

For some of you remembering going through all of this over again for your grandchildren? God does.

God remembers. What you do matters.

Do you know Jesus? Luke 9:23

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] http://ibchighland.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=261280&articleId=39479

Introduction:

THE ANT, THE PRAYER, AND THE CONTACT LENS

We need to remember these words when we are asked to do something that we feel is too heavy for us to do and or carry. “God, I don’t know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it’s awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will.”

Today I wish to address the subject of our best. We are in a sermon series focusing on lies that come our way and tear us down. These are lies that maybe we believe, but they cause us harm, they hurt us. They make us work harder than we need to. They break down our confidence. They overwhelm us. One of these such lies is that “our best is not good enough.” I am not going to address this lie separate from the Holy Spirit. In a way the lie is a lie regardless of whether or not one is a Christian or not. But is it a big lie for the Christian because the Christian is not alone. The Christian has the Holy Spirit.

2 Cor. 3:17: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Certainly, with the Holy Spirit there is a freedom and we are never alone. But just for a moment realize even a non-believer can only do their best. It has to be good enough. But for the Christian we can really be overwhelmed if we try things on our own.

My theme today: Our best is good enough because it is couple’s with God’s strength

My application: Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

1. Let’s talk about the overwhelming weight the Christian faces and the overwhelming answer.
   1. I like what Pastor J.D. Greear writes as he talks about being overwhelmed:

And as I said, I used to be one of them myself. No matter what I gave, there was always more that was needed. One more child to free from the sex trade . . . one more unreached people group to target . . . one more person to tell about Jesus! How could I take my wife out to dinner with needs like that weighing on me? Or go on a vacation? In fact, how could I keep any money for my own enjoyment or pleasure when so many in the world die with nothing? If the price of a cup of coffee could really feed an Indian orphan for a week, was it right for me ever to have a cup of coffee? And why did I need a hot shower? Should I take only cold showers and free up another $ 20 a month in energy costs to house another refugee? John Wesley famously took down the pictures off of his wall, saying they were the “blood of the poor,” unnecessary indulgences while people starve. Was my indulgence of hot showers depriving some poor person of their next meal? My wife and I own a fairly modest house, but couldn’t we have a smaller one? After all, my next door neighbors in Indonesia lived in a 400-square-foot, non-non-air-conditioned, aluminum-roofed hovel, and they were a family of ten. I don’t know anyone in America who lives that way, but my Indonesian neighbors survived . . . so wouldn’t truly “radical” living require that I live that way, too, and give the excess money to missions? Was my insistence on living like a first-world American, with a nice home (even if modest), condemning many to starvation and hell?

If every person I see is headed either to heaven or to hell, then shouldn’t I spend every minute of every day interrupting them to make sure they know how to get to God? Don’t they all need to know, right now? If it depends on me, shouldn’t I interrupt them, immediately?

But, J.D. continues to share that God does not need us. If He needed us all that would be true but:

Thankfully, the weight of the mission sits upon the shoulders of a God who has no needs.

• He creates universes with words.
• He takes five loaves and two fish and feeds more people in five minutes than twelve men working full-time jobs could supply in eight months.
• He finds tax payments in a fish’s mouth.
• He knocks down mighty giants with creek pebbles.
• He summons rich, pagan, enemy kings to pay for his building programs.[1]

1. We serve a big God and we walk with the Lord. Our best is good enough because everything God calls us to do is about Him and not us.
2. Think about the beginning of the book of Acts 1:4 Jesus is risen and He is with the disciples and He tells them not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes upon them. I find this funny. It is as if Jesus knew without the Holy Spirit their best is not good enough. With the Holy Spirit everything will work out. The book of Acts is all about the Holy Spirit.
3. Peter was afraid and denied Jesus (John 18:25-27) but when the Holy Spirit comes upon them He preaches and people are saved, 3000 were saved.
4. The Holy Spirit simply told Philip to witness to the Ethioppian and the man was saved (Acts 8:25ff).
5. The Holy Spirit radically transforms our best.

1. Jesus addresses this giving us the answer, simply seek God.
   1. Let’s read Matthew 7:25-33: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
   2. Our assignment is not to worry about our best.
   3. Our assignment is to work hard and let God supply the rest.
   4. Our assignment is to seek the Lord and follow what He calls us to do.
   5. Our assignment is to remember that He is in charge.
   6. Our assignment is to let God be God.
   7. God will multiple your hard work and make it better than you can imagine.
   8. God will multiple your integrity and make things work out His way.
   9. God will give you favor when you seek Him, when you let the Holy Spirit work in you.
   10. I am not only talking about church ministries. God will give you favor at work for seeking the Lord and telling the truth. Own up to mistakes and have integrity.
   11. God will give you favor when you don’t gossip on Facebook.
   12. God will give you favor in your family when you can be trusted not to spread rumors.
   13. Sometimes seeking the Lord is tough, but God will give you favor when you seek the Lord even when it means obeying the law and there is a cost. There is a cost to obeying the legal law and God’s way. Sometimes we think our giving does not make a difference, it is just pennies, but God will take care of you when you give what you can and stretch yourself a little but more.
   14. God will give you favor when you seek Him by restoring a relationship. Sometimes we are overwhelmed thinking a relationship can never be healed, but remember that God can do all things. It is not your best healing the relationship, but it is God doing that.
   15. Sometimes we think, I could never finish college or some training, but remember you have God’s strength within you. Sometimes we think, I cannot face another day at my work! But remember you don’t go there by yourself.
   16. Don’t worry, give it to God. Say, God I am overwhelmed and I just don’t know that I am making a difference. I need the Spirit to lead me. I am seeking you. I am giving this to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
   17. Write out your worries on paper and give them to God.
   18. Write out that you think you are doing your best and missing out, give them to God.

Close:

It is God who multiplies our work. Our job is to obey. Think about Joseph, he goes to Egypt as a slave and he maintained integrity and God multiplied that giving him a position second to the Pharaoh and saved all of the Israelites through Him (Genesis 37-50). All he did is what was right.

I met with the Vice-President of a Company. He told me that he started out as an accountant and did not want to be with the company that long. That was 17 years ago. He had previously served as a missionary, youth pastor and worship leader. He was from Mexico and then was transferred to Illinois as the President of the Company, the company merged and now he is the VP. But he never wanted to stay there. He wanted to be a missionary again. I thought of Joseph, God gave this man favor just like Joseph. God promoted him. Now he has had prayer meetings and Bible studies in that office. He has shared the Gospel in that office. He was seeking the Lord and the Lord used him. He did his best and the Lord used him. Praise God. It happens by the Holy Spirit within us.

Our job, seek the Lord and trust Him with the results.

Do you know Jesus? Luke 9:23

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] Greear, J.D.; Greear, J.D. (2014-11-04). Jesus, Continued…: Why the Spirit Inside You is Better than Jesus Beside You (p. 77). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Introduction:

Think about the human body. On one hand we are designed quite intricately. On the other hand we are quite delicate and cheap.

I read the following:

While working on a reprint project of the Mayo brothers and other prominent early physicians at Mayo Clinic, we came across an interesting, if not whimsical, interview of Dr. Charles H. Mayo that appeared in the Northwestern Health Journal (Dec. 1924, 9:9-10).  Dr. Charlie had only recently been elected president of the American Medical Association at the time of the interview; and the article was titled, “Our Bodies’ Worth Only 84 Cents – Dr. Mayo.”  After browsing through this light-hearted piece, it begged the question — what is the human body worth today?

The interview format provided an opportunity to “experience” the voice of Dr. Charlie and to enjoy some of his humor.  In those 84 cents he said “there is enough sulfur to keep the fleas off a dog and enough iron for an eight-penny nail.”  His good-natured personality glowed throughout.  One of his “pet” topics was what people eat.  He compared what people eat to the value of the human body.  He stated that the food we consumed on a daily basis was worth much more than our entire body.  Over the decades the question of what is a body worth has recurred.  An authoritative source for the chemical composition of the body dates back to the U.S. Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, now part of the United States Department of Agriculture.  Theirs was a highly scientific approach to the chemical composition of the human body.

Oxygen  65%
Carbon  18%
Hydrogen  10%
Nitrogen  3%
Calcium  1.5%
Phosphorous   1%
Potassium  0.35%
Sulfur  0.25%
Sodium  0.15%
Chlorine  0.15%
Magnesium  0.05%
Iron   0.0004%
Iodine   0.00004%

Surprisingly the actual values of the chemicals have varied little over time depending on the market value of the elements.  A Google search illustrates much evidence of renewed interest in this medical parlor game.  Contemporary entries go beyond the individual “elements” and focus on “other” global markets; e.g., bone marrow, ($23 million) and DNA ($9.7 million).

The current monetary worth placed of the basic “elements” in an individual human body is $4.50:  $3.50 for the skin and the remainder of the worth assigned in the aggregate to the major elements — $1.00.  Almost 100 years have passed and the difference is only 16 cents from Dr. Charlie’s long ago calculation!  We can’t say that we have increased in value markedly, but at least we aren’t worth any less.  For most of us the value of the human body is priceless; but we do well to remember a quote attributed to Thomas Edison, “From his neck down a man is worth a couple of dollars a day, from his neck up he is worth anything that his brain can produce.”

Dottie Hawthorne
Outreach Librarian, Mayo Clinic Libraries[1]

We don’t need a lot of money; however, we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

But what about our own self-worth? What gives us value?

The world may tell us we have worth based off of education, we have worth based off of looks, we have worth based off of our job, we have worth based off of our number of friends, we have worth based off of the number of likes we receive on a social media post, we have worth based off of our family, we have worth based off of our house, we have worth based off of our technology, we have worth based off of our car, we have worth based off of our body, we have worth based off of our talent, or you fill in the blank.

NO, NO, NO, YOU HAVE WORTH BECAUSE GOD CREATED YOU. No one has a right to mess with your worth because they did not create you.

I am in a new sermon series in which I will contrast the lies we believe about ourselves verses the Biblical Truths about ourselves.

Today we are going to talk specifically about your work and your worth.

My Theme: Your worth does NOT come from your work. Your worth comes from your creator. Work is merely a significant part of our life. It is not your life.

Turn to Genesis 1:26-27:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

1. God did not create you only to work, so don’t let work determine your value.
   1. God created you, He gives you value, not your occupation.
   2. I understand, many of you have worked for 70 or more years and now you are retired, what do you do. We can talk about what to do with your time, but what is clear is that you are still priceless. God created you and that is where your worth comes from.
   3. If I create a book shelf, it has value to me because I built it. It is not for someone else to mess it up, I built it. It is mine. You are God’s, He created you.
   4. Why did God create you?
2. God created us for His glory.
   1. Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 1:11-12
   2. Isaiah 43:7: everyone who is called by my name,
      whom I created for my glory,
      whom I formed and made.”
   3. Ephesians 1:11-12: In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
   4. You know that you give God glory by existing and fulfilling your purpose. As you live your purpose changes. Think of the purpose of a baby, versus a toddler, verses a teenager, verses a young adults, middle aged adult. Your value comes from God. He gives you value.

• God loves you and delights in you and is perfectly happy with you delighting in Him and enjoying life.
  1. Ephesians 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 
  2. Ephesians 1:7-10: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
  3. John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
  4. Psalm 16:11: You make known to me the path of life;
     you will fill me with joy in your presence,
     with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
  5. Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the Lord,
     and he will give you the desires of your heart.
     1. God wants us to have fun.
     2. Fun is a good things.

• God wants us to laugh regardless of our age.

1. God does not want us to be bogged down with oppressive thinking of our value. Don’t get me wrong, these depressing thoughts come. It is normal to have short period of negative thinking.
2. However, if you are dealing with continual oppressive thinking, reach out. I would love to talk with you and see if I can help. Many time just talking with someone can help. I would also love to refer you to a professional counselor.
   1. Many times we don’t need a professional counselor, though there is nothing wrong with seeing someone.
   2. We can get help talking with a friend.
   3. Write out your thoughts, journal.
   4. Look at the Bible passages that talk about your value and just think them through, journal as you look at them. Write out your thinking to God.
   5. There are other Scriptures to look at such as Psalm 139.
   6. Remember Philippians 4:6-9, think about your thinking. Thinking on good things.
   7. God created you! Think of all the amazing, positive, awesome, joyful, ramifications of being created in the image of God.

Close:

A car that won’t drive has no purpose. It was created to drive.

A person that cannot work still has purpose. We were created for much more than work. If God needed us to work then we would receive our value based off of how good we performed in doing a certain task. We do; however, receive value in work. Work is a good thing. But notice that God created everything without us. God desires to use you, but don’t feel burdened as He does not need you. What I am about to share I share not to make you feel bad but to make you feel God. God created us not because He needs us, but to bring glory to Him.

• God created time without us (Genesis 1:1).
• He created space without us (Genesis 1:1).
• He created matter without us (Genesis 1:1).
• God created light with out us (Genesis 1:3).
• God created dry land and water without us (Genesis 1:9-10; day 3)
• God created vegetation without us (Genesis 1:11-13; day 3).
• God created the sun, moon, stars, seasons without us (Genesis 1:14-19; day 4).
• God created the fish and all the sea creatures as well as the bird without us (Genesis 1:20-23; day 5).
• God created the animal life without us (Genesis 1:24-25; day 6).
• God created humans without us (Genesis 1:26-27; day 6).

But God chooses to use us. God loves us regardless of what our capabilities are. God loves us regardless of what we are willing to do.

God created you and He loves you.

Luke 9:23

Let’s pray.

• God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)
• Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)
• Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)
• Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)
• Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)
• Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

[1] https://liblog.mayo.edu/2010/01/14/whats-the-body-worth/

Introduction:

John 20:1-10:

The Empty Tomb

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Theme: In the next few minutes I want to explain the resurrection and the significance of the resurrection. 

1. Let me start by explaining the Easter Rush.
   1. For the last 20 years or so the Christmas rush has been a bigger and bigger deal. Stores were opening earlier and earlier the day after Thanksgiving. Now, they are even opening Thanksgiving Day. I realized this when I served as a shift manager at a McDonald’s in a commercial area. We were working the day after Thanksgiving and it was a new store. We did not know how busy we would be. The rush began at about 6:30 am and did not end until after 11 am. But before the Christmas rush there was an Easter rush. Let me tell you about the Easter rush.
   2. Jesus has been crucified, the disciples are in mourning. But they do not realize that Jesus cannot be kept down.
   3. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb to see Jesus.
   4. She was the first to the tomb and she sees the stone rolled away.
   5. Mary did the logical thing, she goes to Peter and John. This is likely John, usually when we read, “The disciple whom Jesus loved” we believe it is John. She runs to Peter and John. She was in a hurry.
   6. Do you think Peter and John would have believed her? I would hope so, but Jesus casts 7 demons out of her in Luke 8:2. She could easily say, “I saw the tomb empty and they may say, “You saw something…” “Come on Mary…”
   7. Peter and John run to the tomb, but John ran faster. Funny thing about running, we don’t need to run fast, just faster than the one we are running with. It is like when I have been running with others and a dog comes after us. I don’t need to outrun the dog, I just need to outrun the other people. This is the Easter rush.
   8. They get to the tomb and see the tomb empty.
   9. John saw and believed.
   10. Verse 9: They had not understood the Scriptures that He must rise from the dead.
   11. Notice that Mary was the first to the tomb and the last to leave (verse 11). She was very devoted and faithful, we can learn from Mary.
   12. This Easter rush preceded any Christmas rush. The Easter rush was a big deal because our Savior Lives! No one can keep Jesus down! He had been resurrected!
2. The disciples learned the same thing we learn– Our Savior Lives
   1. What is the significance of the resurrection? As I make each of these statements I would like you to respond with Our Savior Lives! East statement has a Scripture with it.
   2. We can have a relationship with Jesus because He lives. If He was not resurrected we would not have a relationship with Him. Our Savior Lives!
   3. Christ is our Savior who cannot die again. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again (Romans 6:9).[1] Our Savior Lives!
   4. Because of the resurrection we have new birth: According to his great mercy, [God the Father] has caused us to be born again to a living hopethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).[2] Our Savior Lives!
   5. We have forgiveness of sins because of the resurrection. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).[3] Our Savior Lives!
   6. Because Jesus is raised we have no condemnation. Who is to condemn?Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us (Romans 8:34).[4] Our Savior Lives!
   7. Because of the resurrection we have the Lord’s personal fellowship and protection.[5] “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) Our Savior Lives!
   8. Because of the resurrection of Jesus we know that we will also be raised from the dead: [We know] that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesusand bring us with you into his presence. (2 Corinthians 4:14; also Romans 6:4; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:20)[6] Our Savior Lives!
   9. If Jesus was not resurrected there would never be a Christianity. Our Savior Lives!
   10. The Romans would have shown the grave and it would be over. Our Savior Lives!
   11. Jesus’ resurrection shows the grave could not contain Him. Our Savior Lives!
   12. Jesus’ resurrection shows that He is the victor. Our Savior Lives!
   13. Jesus’ resurrection shows again, the miracles are true. Jesus has the power and authority over all nature. It’s not hard to figure out: He can break out because he wasn’t forced in. He letshimself be harassed and black-balled and scorned and shoved around and killed.[7] Our Savior Lives!
   14. No one can keep him down because no one ever knocked him down. He lay down when he was ready.[8] Our Savior Lives!
   15. And all God’s people responded with Amen—AMEN!

I am going to read the words to Because He Lives as Marty starts to play it and then we will sing this wonderful hymn. First I want to pray. 

Because He Lives

Think about it:

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict’ry,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Let’s sing it!

[1] http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/can-t-keep-jesus-down

[2] ibid.

[3] ibid.

[4] ibid.

[5] ibid.

[6] ibid.

[7] ibid.

[8] ibid.

So, Christ is the One who saves us, sanctifies us, heals us and He is a our King. He is worthy of all praise and worship. Let’s read Mark 11:1-11

Mark 11:1-11:

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.  Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Theme:

Christ is our King and He is coming back.

Application:

Surrender, unadulterated surrender and worship is what we must do.

1. Jesus enters Jerusalem, the people are ready for a King
   1. The people have been waiting for a king. They have been waiting for a king like David in the Old Testament. They have been waiting for a Savior.
   2. This is the beginning of what we now call Holy Week.
   3. Jesus is entering Jerusalem after a busy ministry schedule. He has a busy week ahead.
   4. They treat Jesus as a king right now, don’t they?
   5. Verse 8 begins to show this. They put their coats on the ground and many spread leafy palm branches.
   6. They shout Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest! (Verses 9-10)
   7. Hosanna means “save us!”
   8. The people wanted a savior, they saw Jesus as that Savior. The people wanted a king, they saw Jesus as that king.
   9. They were so loud that if you read other Gospel accounts, such as Luke 19:39ff the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples. But Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out.”
   10. Jesus was hailed as a king then, but later in the week he was crucified. Some will say the same crowd who worshipped Him will later cry out, “crucify Him.”
   11. But on Palm Sunday they had the right idea. They welcomed Him as King. Jesus will come back as King. Jesus will come back as King and as judge.
2. Jesus will come again as King
   1. Jesus is our coming King.
   2. Jesus, welcomed as King on that Sunday, later crucified, ascended into Heaven some forty days after the resurrection. Following the ascension we read in Acts 1:11:
   3. Acts 1:11: “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
   4. Jesus is King and will return as King. Jesus will return in the clouds and He will return in His time.
   5. Jesus will return in the clouds: Rev. 1:7: “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him…
   6. Often we wonder why He hasn’t returned yet. 2 Peter 3:8-10: But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

1. Further the Bible teachers more about Christ’s return: Jesus Christ will be vindicated in the eyes of those who crucified Him ( 1:7); the whole of creation will be liberated from the curse imposed upon it after the sin of Adam in the garden (Romans 8:20–21); the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isa. 11:9); God’s righteous reign will be established upon the earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1–6); and, ultimately, the final destruction of Satan will be accomplished (Rev. 20:7–10). [1]
2. One writes: Over the last four decades I have read a great many books about the Second Coming of Christ. Unfortunately, most were devoted to predicting when this cataclysmic event will occur (something the Bible explicitly tells us NOT to do), to debating the order of events connected to His return or to splitting the eschatological “hairs” that separate one group of evangelical believers from another. All of this speculation entirely misses the point of what the Bible says about the matter. The whole focus of the New Testament’s teaching about the return of Christ can be summarized in two simple propositions: first, because Christ is coming, we need to be ready—living lives that are pure, steadfast, prayerful, holy and reverent; and, second, because Christ is coming, we need to finish the task He has given us—the preaching of the gospel.[2]
3. Jesus is the rightful King. They worshipped Him for this reason on Palm Sunday. He will return as the rightful King. Are you ready?

Close:

Theme:

Christ is our King and He is coming back.

Application:

Surrender, unadulterated surrender and worship is what we must do.

As we go through this week, take a few moments and pray about surrender. If Jesus came back right now, what is something that He would ask about, some thought or action? Repent and surrender. Or, what is something you haven’t done that you know He wants you to do? This week take some time and reflect on your spiritual life. Grab your Bible, a pen and paper and take some time and ask God to show you some things to work on. Read Psalm 42 and pray that you desire God like the Psalmist.

“During World War I, a British commander was preparing to lead his soldiers back to battle. They’d been on furlough, and it was a cold, rainy, muddy day. Their shoulders sagged because they knew what lay ahead of them: mud, blood, possible death. Nobody talked, nobody sang. It was a heavy time. “As they marched along, the commander looked into a bombed-out church. Back in the church he saw the figure of Christ on the cross. At that moment, something happened to the commander. He remembered the One who suffered, died, and rose again. There was victory, and there was triumph. “As the troops marched along, he shouted out, ‘Eyes right, march!’ Every eye turned to the right, and as the soldiers marched by, they saw Christ on the cross. Something happened to that company of men. Suddenly they saw triumph after suffering, and they took courage. With shoulders straightened, they began to smile as they went. You see, anything worthwhile in life will be a risk that demands courage.” [–Gordon Johnson, “Finding Significance in Obscurity,” Preaching Today, Tape 82.]

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Do you know Jesus?

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] https://www.cmalliance.org/about/beliefs/coming-king

[2] ibid.

You know what is encouraging, living for Christ is not about me, but about Him.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I honestly struggle to pursue Christ. I don’t know about you but sometimes I struggle to really live for Christ. I mean, really live for Christ. I mean seriously live for Christ. Let me say that it is easy to fake it. It is easy to look good on the outside, that is what the Pharisees did. They looked good on the outside. But what about those thoughts that come inside your head? What about what you are NOT doing? What about spiritual disciplines. Jesus calls us, and really offers us, a “relationship” with Him.

The Apostle Paul had the same problem turn with me to Romans 7:14-25:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Notice the end of the passage, who delivers him, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Sanctification means to set apart. If you are a Christian you are positionally set apart for holiness in God’s eyes.

1 Cor. 6:11 is positional sanctification: And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

God has set us apart for His glory and purposes. God has made you righteous. This happens at the moment of salvation. But, on the other hand, we still struggle with sin. God wants us to be sanctified in this life and this is something only God can do. I want to re-title “sanctification” as “living for Christ.”

My theme today:

Sanctification, let’s call it “Living For Christ,” is not about us but about HIM.

Application:

Let Christ be Lord. Be encouraged that you are sanctified in His eyes.  

Sanctification:

 I received these steps in sanctification from the Christian and Missionary Alliance website:

https://www.cmalliance.org/about/beliefs/sanctifier

1. You cannot make yourself holy any more than you can make yourself saved! (Rom. 6:11; Rom. 12:1-2)
   1. Remember sanctification is about Him and not about you. Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you,brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
   2. Romans 6:11: In the same way, count yourselves dead to sinbut alive to God in Christ Jesus.
   3. You can try all you want but you really cannot live the Christian life on your own strength.
   4. You can try and you may look pretty good, but it is simply “sin-management.” I think some can do pretty good on “sin-management” without Christ. “Sin-management” is recognizing that certain things are harmful so we quit doing them. It is about taking things out. “Sin-management” is like dieting.
      1. We take out sweets because they are harmful and so maybe we take out bad words.
      2. We take out fatty food because they are harmful so maybe we take out lies.

• We take out soda because it is not good so we take out pornography.

1. We take out potatoes because they are not good for you and so we take out lust.
2. We take out, we take out.
3. Sometimes we add things such as vegetables and in the Christian life maybe you add going to church.

1. This still is not surrender and this still makes YOU in charge. But we need to let Christ be in charge. Surrender to Jesus and let Him take care of you.
2. There comes a point in the Christian life when we realize we cannot do this in our own strength. No matter what I take out, I am burdened. No matter what I take out, I still desire sin.
3. The Christian going through sanctification, meaning living for Christ, still will sin, but they desire to live for Christ, not sin. The more sanctified you are, the more living for Christ you are, the more you don’t desire sin and the more you desire to live for Christ. You desire the fruit of the Spirit: love joy, pace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
4. The surrendered Christian, striving to live for Christ is convicted of that sin because it hurts Jesus. They ask Jesus to convict them.
5. Sanctification, let’s call it “Living For Christ,” is not about us but about HIM.

1. Christ is your Sanctifier in the same way that He is your Savior! (Col. 2:6; Gal. 2:20)
   1. Accept that we need Jesus, we cannot do this on our own.
   2. 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
   3. It is about dying to self and letting Jesus live through you.
   4. Don’t just take stuff out, put Jesus in. Add the light.
   5. 2:6: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,continue to live your lives in him…
   6. Sanctification, let’s call it “Living For Christ,” is not about us but about HIM.

• Maintain a continuous relationship with Jesus through obedience to his Word. (John 15:1-11)
  1. In John 15:1-11 Jesus gives His abide in me illustration. We have to be branches connected to Him. He is the vine and we are the branches. Every branch that does not bear fruit is cut off and thrown in the fire, but if we bear fruit He makes it so we can bear more fruit.
  2. Jesus says in John 15:4: Remain in me, as I also remain in you.No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
  3. That is sanctification, remaining in Christ, living in His strength.
  4. Sanctification, let’s call it “Living For Christ,” is not about us but about HIM.
  5. I could easily say it is about the Spiritual Disciplines and it is, but it is more than that. It is a mindset that you really desire Jesus to be Your Lord. You desire to serve Him and not sin. You don’t desire to sin in your thought life but serve Jesus. You don’t desire to sin in your actions but serve Christ. You desire to be connected to Him. You desire to be connected to the Vine.

Close:

Many times I have a lot of sticks and tree branches in my yard, a storm will come and dead branches fall out of the trees. Sometimes live branches are cut off. In this case the tree branch has green leaves on it. I drag it over to the wood pile. Within a few days that tree branch is dry, the leaves are dry and they fall off. It totally changes. That is us without Christ. Without Christ the life is not in us. With Christ we are growing, green and ripe and we bear fruit.

That is sanctification, living for Christ, it is being connected to Him. Can a tree branch grow apart from the trunk? Can a tree branch bear fruit apart from the trunk? We need Jesus. The Christian life is about Jesus. Christ is our sanctifier.

Let Christ be Lord. Be encouraged that you are sanctified in His eyes.  

I am encouraged that I am made righteous in God’s sight. But I am also encouraged that I don’t have, and cannot, live the Christian life in my own strength, only in His.

The Bible teaches three tenses of salvation:

• I have been saved: Justification
• I am being saved: Sanctification
• I will be saved: Glorification[1]

Do you know Him? Are you wholly surrendered? Or, are you living the Christian life on your own strength?

Luke 9:23

Let’s pray.

• God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)
• Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)
• Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)
• Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)
• Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)
• Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

[1] https://www.cmalliance.org/about/beliefs/sanctifier