Confession of Sin
One time Sheree said to me, “You never admit when you’re wrong.” (It’s true! She actually said that to me). It was then and there that I had to make that necessary confession. I didn’t want to say it, but I had to. I said, “That’s because I’m never wrong.”
It is hard to confess wrong doing isn’t it? Usually we find ourselves making excuses or trying to justify our actions or inactiveness. If we don’t do that, then we may find ourselves magnifying our supposed goodness and down playing our sins. “I may have done this but you did…”
Confession has been a difficulty since the beginning:
· Adam and Eve had to be hunted down, then they both blamed others (Gen 3)
· Cain denied responsibility for his brother Abel rather than confess murder (Gen 4).
· Lamach confessed sin but tried to justify his actions based upon what Cain did (Gen 4:19-24).
Though men have had a problem owning up to what they have done, God requires a confession of wrong doing. It’s an essential practice of Christianity. In fact, you cannot be saved if you don’t confess your sins to God.
When John the Baptist was preaching to prepare the way for Jesus, “all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:5).
1. What is a biblical confession of sin?
A) The word "confession" in the New Testament is taken from the Greek word (homologeo—same word), meaning "to cite", "to name", "to classify in the same manner", "to agree with", "to say the same thing as". We might say that it is a specific naming and claiming of sin.
Biblical confession of sin is more than just a generic confession. Someone may say, “I have sinned.” Well of course you’ve sinned; the Bible says so. Confession needs to be a specific naming and claiming of your sin before God. In this way you’re showing ownership and responsibility for what you’ve done or didn’t do. A specific confession of sin will also cause us to be more reluctant to commit that same sin again. This was the practice of some of the early Christians:
Acts 19:18 - Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.
Some of these confessors were magicians. They practiced the dark arts and were guilty of sorcery and other forbidden practices. When they were converted to the Lord, they publicly confessed their sins and burned their magic books in fire.
To help understand what biblical confession is, it is helpful to see…
B) What biblical confession is NOT:
Informing a human priest in the confession booth. Jesus is our only mediator
1 Tim 2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Giving God information. "God, You won't believe what I've done."
Isaiah 59:12 – for our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us;…
Speculating. "IF...I have sinned..." "I have...."
Plea-bargaining for a lesser charge. "Yes...but...."
1 Samuel 15:24-25 – Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and our words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.. Now therefore, please pardon y sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”
Emotional groveling; mental contortions.
Superficial or flippant incantation. (Sin was reason for Jesus' death).
Tattling: “I confess, he did it!” (Luke 18:9-14)
"Confessionalism" - (Excessive sin-consciousness; wallowing in weakness; Pride of sinfulness; revel in relating sinfulness in testimony; Who was the worst?)
In preparing for this lesson I came across a web site on the Internet designed for confessions. You can log on and confess your sin in complete anonymity (www.dailyconfession.com). The site actually encourages you to “let it go! Tell the whole world what you did (or didn’t do.)” I don’t believe that this would be a biblical method of confession.
C) Biblical Confession is…
Ceasing to deceive ourselves
I John 1:8 – If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Getting rid of our defense mechanisms: denial, avoidance, cover-up.Calling sin "sin."
To recognize, admit, acknowledge, and declare our guilt of sin.
Psalm 51:3-4 – For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when you judge.
Part of repentance. A change of mental attitude leading to changed behavioral action.
Luke 19:8 – Zaccheus and stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.
Inclusive of asking forgiveness for wronging another person.
If you sin against a person, God can forgive you but it’s also good that you seek confess your sin to the person you wronged.
Christian man guilty of stealing from non-Christian employee wanted to confess his sin but didn’t want to lose his Christian influence. Decided to confess sin and try to make restitution. To the man’s surprise the boss was so impressed by his honesty and willingness to come forward and make things right he ended up going to church with him.
Inclusive of restitution:
Numbers 5:5-7 - Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Speak to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the LORD, and that person is guilty, 7then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.
An acknowledgment of sins to God:
Ezra 9:6 – O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
2. Confession of sin takes place between the perpetrator and the involved people.
All sinners must confess their sin to God.
Psalm 32:5 – I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Those who’ve sinned publicly need to confess their sin publicly (Acts 19:18).
Those who’ve sinned against another person need to confess to the person they wronged.
Matthew 5:23-24 – Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave yor offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
3. Reasons to Confess Sin
A) For forgiveness:
Proverbs 28:13 – He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
This is true in regards to both God and man. People don’t sympathize with a person who won’t confess their wrong.
A good illustration of this principle is seen in the life of David after he committed adultery.
1 John 1:9-10 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Not only for cleansing but to avoid lying.
It is a sin to deny that we are sinners.
B) To obey the command of God in regards to healing and forgiveness:
James 5:16 – Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so tat you may be healed.
C) For Physical & Mental reasons (part of the healing):
To “get it off your chest”. Overcoming denial in A.A. meetings.
“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4)
D) To encourage other sinners.
The saying misery loves company is very true in many regards. It’s nice to know that you’re not alone in your temptations and struggles. We can find strength and comfort in teaming together to fight our battles against temptation.
It reminds me of a time in my sophomore year in high school. We’d just finished our warm-up in football practice and were walking to the main practice field for another grueling couple of hours of practice. I overheard two seniors joking about how much they hated practice and wanted to quit. I was comforted to find out that I wasn’t the only one.
E) To remove the charge of hypocrisy.
If you try to give the impression to people that you’re perfect, they’ll nail you to the wall with every sin they can possibly find in you. It’s much better to admit weaknesses.
It’s like the politician who’d made a terrible decision about building bicycle side walks through a certain part of New York City. It was a huge waste of money and more cars drove on the sidewalks than bikes. When he was scheduled to do an interview with several reporters, he was asked immediately about this poor decision and he confessed all. The reporters didn’t have anything left to ask because they’d planned to hammer this politician for an hour on the mistake that he admitted.
Conclusion
Confession of sin alone is not enough to be forgiven: Achan confessed his sin after he was caught and shortly before he was stoned to death. Pharaoh confessed his sin after the plagues but it wasn’t lasting. Judas confessed his sin before he hanged himself. Confession must be followed by change.
True confession also involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We wouldn’t be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should also pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.
Friday, February 13, 2009
CALEB CUNNINGHAM: CONFESSION OF THE FAITH
Confession of the Faith
I’ve heard it said that “Confession is good for the soul.” When it comes to our confession as Christians there are basically two different aspects: confession of sins & confession of faith.
Confession of sin is obviously that act whereby a sinner confesses that he has sinned, as a criminal confesses his crime.
It is a command of God to confess sin:
James 5:16 – confess your sins to one another…
It is a sin to deny having ever sinned when you are guilty:
1 John 1:8 – If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Confession of faith is the act whereby we publicly acknowledge our belief in Jesus as the Son of God. It is an admission; we admit that we believe in Jesus. And it is a declaration because it is not something we do in private, but we publicly acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
When I was a child I learned the “Five Steps of Salvation”: Hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. Believing, repenting, and being baptized, have received much more attention than any of the other steps. Out of the five steps “confession” probably receives the least amount of attention. As I surveyed my library, I couldn’t find a single book on the topic of confession, thus showing that it is about as unpopular as repentance.
But what about the act of confession? Do we give enough time and attention to the “fourth step to salvation,” confession of faith? Probably not, but why not?
It is not included in The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-47)
It is only included once in all the conversion examples of Acts (Acts 8:36-37, eunuch, it wasn’t required of him by Philip but the eunuch confessed faith).
Though confession of faith in Christ doesn’t take a large portion of Scripture or fill up the shelves of our libraries and bookstores today, the fact of Jesus’ identity confessed by Christians is the foundation of Christianity: Matthew 16:13-18
Does it matter who Jesus is? Does our confession matter? What one believes and confesses about Jesus affects everything else. At one point in German history the people of that country believed that the Bible was the Word of God and that Jesus was the Son of God. This is not to say that every person in the country was a Christian but that the mindset and world-view was fixed on those realities at their center. Out of that period of history Germany produced some of the greatest names in the histories of the arts—Bach and Beethoven to mention only two. However that same country later in time failed to believe and to live Christ’s lordship, and they gave the world the second world war. It does matter what you believe and how you acknowledge Christ.
But why do we include confession as one of the steps of salvation?
1. Confession of Faith is a Commandment of God
Ezra, the scribe, commanded the people of God, “Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will” (Ezra 10:11).
Our confession is made in Jesus Christ our Lord:
Hebrews 3:1 - Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
Brother Roy H. Lanier, Jr. wrote of the confession of faith, “It is one of the grandest privileges afforded any person and it is a pivotal point in the allegiance and loyalty of one coming to Christ.” (Spiritual Sword, Vol. 29. No. 2, Confession of Christ)
A. It was practiced in the New Testament:
This is clearly seen in a reference that Paul made to Timothy about a “common confession” (1 Timothy 3:16): “By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness”
Paul again reminds Timothy of his earlier confession of faith in order to motivate him to fight the good fight:
1 Timothy 6:12 – fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
His confession was in the sight of many people.
Paul is telling Timothy: “Be true to what you believe and what you have said publicly.”
B. It is a proof of your faith
Our words carry a lot of weight with both men and God. Jesus said on one occasion: “By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:37). Why is this so? Because with out tongues we can “bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9).
The proof of our faith is revealed by the sounds that come from our mouths, by what we communicate to others:
How do we know if someone has a relationship with the Father?
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15).
On the other hand, “Whoever denies the Song does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23).
1 John 4:1 we are commanded to test the “test the spirits to see whether they are from God”. But how are we to test the spirits? How are we to know if someone is from God? John tells us in the next two verses:
1 John 4:2-3 - By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Ignatius (A.D.) was brought before Trajan, the Roman emperor, for being a follower of Christ, he didn’t shy away from the good confession but boldy said, “There is but one God, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that are in them; and one Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, whose kingdom may I enjoy.” Trajan the pronounced sentence as follows: “We command that Ignatius, who affirms that he carried about with him Him that was crucified, be bound by soldiers, and carried to the great [city] Rome, there to be devoured by the beasts, for the gratification of the people.” (ANF, Vol. 1, The Martyrdom of Ignatius, pg. 129-130).
1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
C. It is a necessary for salvation
After Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the newly built temple of God, he prayed before the people:
1 Kings 8:33-36
Here acknowledgement of the name of God results in forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 10:32-33 - Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
These verses make it abundantly clear that your salvation is conditional on our confession. If a man is loyal to Christ in this life, then Christ will be loyal to him in the life to come.
The New Testament adds a condition to this confession:
Romans 10:9-10 – If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
D. We must keep our confession in Christ
What happens with many of us is that we make the confession of faith, and we mean sincerely mean it, but we don’t continue to confess faith in Christ. Confession of faith is not something we only do once at conversion and then forget about later. We hold on to our confession:
Hebrews 4:14 (written to Christians who were thinking about giving up)- Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
The church at Philadelphia faced immense pressure to turn their backs on Jesus. The situation for was so bad that Jesus that the “synagogue of Satan” was there (Rev. 3:9). But God gave them relief, an open door of escape because they “have not denied My name” (Rev 3:8).
It doesn’t matter what our situation is in life, we must keep our confession if we’re going to be saved. Whether it be persecution, stress, or weariness we must “hold fast the confession of hope without wavering.” (Heb. 10:23)
Isaiah 26:13 – O Lord Our God, other masters beside You have ruled us; But through You alone we confess Your name.
2. Why Do People Not Confess Faith?
2 John 7 – Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
A. Fear
Jesus healing the blind man:
John 9:22-23 – His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
The escalation of the Apostle Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:69-74)
“I do not know what you are talking about”
“I do not know the man”
“Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!’”
Fear is a habit that only gets worse each time we give in to it. If you put off doing something because of fear, it will be twice as hard to do it tomorrow. Don’t let fear keep you from confessing Christ.
When it comes to our confession, we’ve been commanded to “fear not”:
Matt. 10:26-27 - “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.”
Jesus calls us to have a bold faith, an obvious faith. This is a faith that is seen (“speak in the light”) and heard (“proclaim upon the housetops”).
Before Polycarp (70-156 A.D.), an elder at Smyrna, was burned at the stake for being a follower of Christ, the proconsul pressed him to deny Jesus and pledge allegiance to Caesar. Polycarp, in the stadium surrounded by the mob of blood thirsty Romans, responded, “Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of Caesar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian.” (ANF, Vol. 1, pg. 41, The Martyrdom of Polycarp)
B. Shame
Some people are just ashamed to be Christians. The concept of being good and well behaved is scorned by the movie and music industry in general. The heroes in movies drink, cuss, sleep around, aren’t religious. Many of the rappers boast of having women, money, and drugs. As a result, some may be ashamed of their Christian faith, ashamed of their Christ, and ashamed to confess their allegiance to Him.
This shame is similar to the experience of many Christ deniers in the N.T.:
1 Corinthians 1:23 – We preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness.
But the Apostle continues to write, “but to those who are the called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24)
Thus Paul would write to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (1:16)
2 Timothy 1:12 – I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Just as Paul wasn’t ashamed, we too shouldn’t be ashamed:
1 Peter 4:16 – If anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
2 Timothy 1:8 – Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…
God is not ashamed to be our God (Heb. 11:16) and Jesus isn’t ashamed to call us brethren (Heb. 2:11). And he will not be ashamed of us on the Judgment Day if we’ll confess Him here on earth. But to those who are ashamed to confess Jesus as Lord He says:
Mark 8:38 - For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
One man asked a Christian, “What would you be if you weren’t a Christian?” The Christian responded, “I’d be ashamed of myself.” Amen!
C. Desire to be accepted of men
This was the problem during the earthly ministry of Jesus. There were many people who believed in Jesus, and many people who agreed with Jesus and would love to follow Jesus. But because of their desire to be acceptable of men, they rejected Jesus. They were posers, sell outs, caring only about popularity.
John 12:42-43 - Many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
These would be disciples didn’t want to be rejected by their neighbors and friends and family. They didn’t want to be ridiculed and put down. They especially didn’t want to be excluded and cut off from the popular crowd. But that is exactly what it means to be called out (the church). We are in a sense divided and cut off from the world:
Matt. 10:34-39 - Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
3. How Can I Confess My Faith?
A. At conversion
Acts 8:37 – and Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may [be baptized]. And he [the eunuch] answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
B. In the way we live and words we say
Confession is not limited to the lips; it includes the life. Our actions verify the veracity of our vocalizations. Jesus asked:
Luke 6:46 – Why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?
Confession must be backed by actions:
Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
1 John 2:4-5 - The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.
C. In evangelism
The boldest confession you’ll ever make is the one you make when your telling others about you faith in Jesus.
D. In standing up for righteousness.
Life brings us the opportunity to speak some word for Christ, to utter a protest against evil, to take a stand, and to show what side we are one. Again and again on such occasions it is easier to keep silence than to speak. But such a silence is a denial of Jesus Christ. It is probably true that far more people deny Jesus Christ by cowardly silence than by deliberate words.
Mordecai’s concern for Esther remaining silent (Esther 4:14).
E. In abstaining from sinful activities.
We can live in such a way that our life is a continuous denial or confession of the faith we profess.
When asked if he was a Christian, one man responded, “Yes, but not offensively so.” He meant that he did not allow his Christianity to interfere with his social life and the pleasure he loved.
But by not participating in sinful activities, we’re confessing that we are followers of Christ.
Conclusion
Confession of Faith is probably the neglected act of salvation. But it is a commandment from God and our salvation is conditional upon our making the good confession, not just once at conversion, but throughout our lives.
We mustn’t let fear, shame, or pride, hinder us from confessing Christ. Instead we will boldly confess Jesus as Lord in our words and actions. Our behavior will confess Jesus as Lord over our lives. As we stand up for righteousness and abstain from sinful activities it will be another testimony that we are followers of Christ.
And the ultimate act of confession is sharing the good news of eternal life in Jesus with unbelievers.
If you have denied Jesus as Lord, then the Good News is that you can be forgiven. Peter too denied knowing the Lord but he repented and became a great servant of God.
The time is coming when all will make a mandatory confession of Jesus Christ as Lord:
Philippians 2:10-11 – Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
But wouldn’t it be far better to confess Jesus as the Lord and Master of your life now?
Have you confessed Jesus as Lord? If not, begin doing so today.
I’ve heard it said that “Confession is good for the soul.” When it comes to our confession as Christians there are basically two different aspects: confession of sins & confession of faith.
Confession of sin is obviously that act whereby a sinner confesses that he has sinned, as a criminal confesses his crime.
It is a command of God to confess sin:
James 5:16 – confess your sins to one another…
It is a sin to deny having ever sinned when you are guilty:
1 John 1:8 – If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Confession of faith is the act whereby we publicly acknowledge our belief in Jesus as the Son of God. It is an admission; we admit that we believe in Jesus. And it is a declaration because it is not something we do in private, but we publicly acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
When I was a child I learned the “Five Steps of Salvation”: Hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. Believing, repenting, and being baptized, have received much more attention than any of the other steps. Out of the five steps “confession” probably receives the least amount of attention. As I surveyed my library, I couldn’t find a single book on the topic of confession, thus showing that it is about as unpopular as repentance.
But what about the act of confession? Do we give enough time and attention to the “fourth step to salvation,” confession of faith? Probably not, but why not?
It is not included in The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-47)
It is only included once in all the conversion examples of Acts (Acts 8:36-37, eunuch, it wasn’t required of him by Philip but the eunuch confessed faith).
Though confession of faith in Christ doesn’t take a large portion of Scripture or fill up the shelves of our libraries and bookstores today, the fact of Jesus’ identity confessed by Christians is the foundation of Christianity: Matthew 16:13-18
Does it matter who Jesus is? Does our confession matter? What one believes and confesses about Jesus affects everything else. At one point in German history the people of that country believed that the Bible was the Word of God and that Jesus was the Son of God. This is not to say that every person in the country was a Christian but that the mindset and world-view was fixed on those realities at their center. Out of that period of history Germany produced some of the greatest names in the histories of the arts—Bach and Beethoven to mention only two. However that same country later in time failed to believe and to live Christ’s lordship, and they gave the world the second world war. It does matter what you believe and how you acknowledge Christ.
But why do we include confession as one of the steps of salvation?
1. Confession of Faith is a Commandment of God
Ezra, the scribe, commanded the people of God, “Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will” (Ezra 10:11).
Our confession is made in Jesus Christ our Lord:
Hebrews 3:1 - Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
Brother Roy H. Lanier, Jr. wrote of the confession of faith, “It is one of the grandest privileges afforded any person and it is a pivotal point in the allegiance and loyalty of one coming to Christ.” (Spiritual Sword, Vol. 29. No. 2, Confession of Christ)
A. It was practiced in the New Testament:
This is clearly seen in a reference that Paul made to Timothy about a “common confession” (1 Timothy 3:16): “By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness”
Paul again reminds Timothy of his earlier confession of faith in order to motivate him to fight the good fight:
1 Timothy 6:12 – fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
His confession was in the sight of many people.
Paul is telling Timothy: “Be true to what you believe and what you have said publicly.”
B. It is a proof of your faith
Our words carry a lot of weight with both men and God. Jesus said on one occasion: “By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:37). Why is this so? Because with out tongues we can “bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9).
The proof of our faith is revealed by the sounds that come from our mouths, by what we communicate to others:
How do we know if someone has a relationship with the Father?
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15).
On the other hand, “Whoever denies the Song does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23).
1 John 4:1 we are commanded to test the “test the spirits to see whether they are from God”. But how are we to test the spirits? How are we to know if someone is from God? John tells us in the next two verses:
1 John 4:2-3 - By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Ignatius (A.D.) was brought before Trajan, the Roman emperor, for being a follower of Christ, he didn’t shy away from the good confession but boldy said, “There is but one God, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that are in them; and one Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, whose kingdom may I enjoy.” Trajan the pronounced sentence as follows: “We command that Ignatius, who affirms that he carried about with him Him that was crucified, be bound by soldiers, and carried to the great [city] Rome, there to be devoured by the beasts, for the gratification of the people.” (ANF, Vol. 1, The Martyrdom of Ignatius, pg. 129-130).
1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
C. It is a necessary for salvation
After Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the newly built temple of God, he prayed before the people:
1 Kings 8:33-36
Here acknowledgement of the name of God results in forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 10:32-33 - Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
These verses make it abundantly clear that your salvation is conditional on our confession. If a man is loyal to Christ in this life, then Christ will be loyal to him in the life to come.
The New Testament adds a condition to this confession:
Romans 10:9-10 – If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
D. We must keep our confession in Christ
What happens with many of us is that we make the confession of faith, and we mean sincerely mean it, but we don’t continue to confess faith in Christ. Confession of faith is not something we only do once at conversion and then forget about later. We hold on to our confession:
Hebrews 4:14 (written to Christians who were thinking about giving up)- Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
The church at Philadelphia faced immense pressure to turn their backs on Jesus. The situation for was so bad that Jesus that the “synagogue of Satan” was there (Rev. 3:9). But God gave them relief, an open door of escape because they “have not denied My name” (Rev 3:8).
It doesn’t matter what our situation is in life, we must keep our confession if we’re going to be saved. Whether it be persecution, stress, or weariness we must “hold fast the confession of hope without wavering.” (Heb. 10:23)
Isaiah 26:13 – O Lord Our God, other masters beside You have ruled us; But through You alone we confess Your name.
2. Why Do People Not Confess Faith?
2 John 7 – Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
A. Fear
Jesus healing the blind man:
John 9:22-23 – His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
The escalation of the Apostle Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:69-74)
“I do not know what you are talking about”
“I do not know the man”
“Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!’”
Fear is a habit that only gets worse each time we give in to it. If you put off doing something because of fear, it will be twice as hard to do it tomorrow. Don’t let fear keep you from confessing Christ.
When it comes to our confession, we’ve been commanded to “fear not”:
Matt. 10:26-27 - “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.”
Jesus calls us to have a bold faith, an obvious faith. This is a faith that is seen (“speak in the light”) and heard (“proclaim upon the housetops”).
Before Polycarp (70-156 A.D.), an elder at Smyrna, was burned at the stake for being a follower of Christ, the proconsul pressed him to deny Jesus and pledge allegiance to Caesar. Polycarp, in the stadium surrounded by the mob of blood thirsty Romans, responded, “Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of Caesar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian.” (ANF, Vol. 1, pg. 41, The Martyrdom of Polycarp)
B. Shame
Some people are just ashamed to be Christians. The concept of being good and well behaved is scorned by the movie and music industry in general. The heroes in movies drink, cuss, sleep around, aren’t religious. Many of the rappers boast of having women, money, and drugs. As a result, some may be ashamed of their Christian faith, ashamed of their Christ, and ashamed to confess their allegiance to Him.
This shame is similar to the experience of many Christ deniers in the N.T.:
1 Corinthians 1:23 – We preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness.
But the Apostle continues to write, “but to those who are the called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24)
Thus Paul would write to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (1:16)
2 Timothy 1:12 – I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Just as Paul wasn’t ashamed, we too shouldn’t be ashamed:
1 Peter 4:16 – If anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
2 Timothy 1:8 – Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…
God is not ashamed to be our God (Heb. 11:16) and Jesus isn’t ashamed to call us brethren (Heb. 2:11). And he will not be ashamed of us on the Judgment Day if we’ll confess Him here on earth. But to those who are ashamed to confess Jesus as Lord He says:
Mark 8:38 - For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
One man asked a Christian, “What would you be if you weren’t a Christian?” The Christian responded, “I’d be ashamed of myself.” Amen!
C. Desire to be accepted of men
This was the problem during the earthly ministry of Jesus. There were many people who believed in Jesus, and many people who agreed with Jesus and would love to follow Jesus. But because of their desire to be acceptable of men, they rejected Jesus. They were posers, sell outs, caring only about popularity.
John 12:42-43 - Many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
These would be disciples didn’t want to be rejected by their neighbors and friends and family. They didn’t want to be ridiculed and put down. They especially didn’t want to be excluded and cut off from the popular crowd. But that is exactly what it means to be called out (the church). We are in a sense divided and cut off from the world:
Matt. 10:34-39 - Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
3. How Can I Confess My Faith?
A. At conversion
Acts 8:37 – and Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may [be baptized]. And he [the eunuch] answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
B. In the way we live and words we say
Confession is not limited to the lips; it includes the life. Our actions verify the veracity of our vocalizations. Jesus asked:
Luke 6:46 – Why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?
Confession must be backed by actions:
Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
1 John 2:4-5 - The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.
C. In evangelism
The boldest confession you’ll ever make is the one you make when your telling others about you faith in Jesus.
D. In standing up for righteousness.
Life brings us the opportunity to speak some word for Christ, to utter a protest against evil, to take a stand, and to show what side we are one. Again and again on such occasions it is easier to keep silence than to speak. But such a silence is a denial of Jesus Christ. It is probably true that far more people deny Jesus Christ by cowardly silence than by deliberate words.
Mordecai’s concern for Esther remaining silent (Esther 4:14).
E. In abstaining from sinful activities.
We can live in such a way that our life is a continuous denial or confession of the faith we profess.
When asked if he was a Christian, one man responded, “Yes, but not offensively so.” He meant that he did not allow his Christianity to interfere with his social life and the pleasure he loved.
But by not participating in sinful activities, we’re confessing that we are followers of Christ.
Conclusion
Confession of Faith is probably the neglected act of salvation. But it is a commandment from God and our salvation is conditional upon our making the good confession, not just once at conversion, but throughout our lives.
We mustn’t let fear, shame, or pride, hinder us from confessing Christ. Instead we will boldly confess Jesus as Lord in our words and actions. Our behavior will confess Jesus as Lord over our lives. As we stand up for righteousness and abstain from sinful activities it will be another testimony that we are followers of Christ.
And the ultimate act of confession is sharing the good news of eternal life in Jesus with unbelievers.
If you have denied Jesus as Lord, then the Good News is that you can be forgiven. Peter too denied knowing the Lord but he repented and became a great servant of God.
The time is coming when all will make a mandatory confession of Jesus Christ as Lord:
Philippians 2:10-11 – Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
But wouldn’t it be far better to confess Jesus as the Lord and Master of your life now?
Have you confessed Jesus as Lord? If not, begin doing so today.
CALEB CUNNINGHAM: GOD'S EMPOWERING CHARACTERISTICS
God’s Empowering Characteristics
God must really think a lot of young people. The most important decisions of your life will be made between the ages of 15-25! Marriage, Money, Mission, Master. Satan, however, would like to throw you off course. Hence, some of the most destructive temptations are aimed at youth.
Maybe that is why King Solomon, in all his inspired wisdom, wrote long ago, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You see, religion (Christianity and the worship of God) is not something that God requires of adults (mom and dad) alone. God requires that all people, young and old, worship Him. As Psalm 148:12-13 says, “Both young men and virgins; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord…”
The decisions that you make at an early age will affect the course of your life.
Timothy’s decision “from a youth”
2 Timothy 2:14-15 – You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Jehoiakim’s decision (became king at 25 years, did evil in the sight of the Lord, killed Uriah the prophet)
Jeremiah 22:21 - “I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your practice from your youth, that you have not obeyed My voice.
The characteristics that God looks for in a younger person are empowering. God’s characteristics are the ones that equip you for life: too handle pressure and stress, to handle accomplishments and success. God’s way is the good way.
The temptations that the devil dangles before you are destructive in nature. Sins of the youth can set a path of heartache and failure. One sin can destroy much good (Ecclesiastes 9:18). The fact of the matter is that you may do good most of the time, but few bad acts can make your life odorous. “Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
So each of us has a choice to make. If you’re still in your youth, then you have more choices and bigger choices to make. What are you currently choosing?
The empowering characteristics of God will help you have a life of power instead of weakness. Instead of life happening to you, you will happen to life. You will not be passive, weak, and fearful, but proactive, strong, and confident.
Proverbs 28:1 – The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
To know God’s empowering characteristics of youth I want us to consider some example in the Bible. These men are considered heroes of the Bible and are worthy of our consideration.
1. Joseph – Faith
Joseph was a young man of faith. We know that he was just seventeen years of age when he was taken from home in the valley of Hebron (Gen. 37:14) and sold as a slave to the Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:25). The Midianites took Joseph to Egypt, a foreign land, and sold him to Pharaoh’s captain of the body guard, Potiphar (Gen. 37:36).
Things would get worse before they got better for Joseph. He was accused of attempted rape and thrown into an Egyptian prison where he would be forgotten about.
How Joseph able to make it through life’s difficulties? More so, how was Joseph able to not only survive life but be very successful in life? Joseph’s faith in God gave him the strength.
You see, Joseph had a dream given to him by God. And in this dream Joseph would become a great man. Joseph believed that dream. He believed that if he was faithful to God, then God would bring it to pass.
Genesis 39:2 – The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man.
Genesis 39:21 – The Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him…
Genesis 39:23 – The Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.
And Joseph knew that every success he had was the result of God:
“It is not in me; god will give…a favorable answer” (Gen. 41:16).
“The matter is determined by God, and god will quickly bring it about” (Gen. 41:32).
Even Pharaoh would ask, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” (Gen. 41:38).
If you want to be empowered by God for life, then be like Joseph and have a strong faith in God.
2. Samuel – Holiness
Samuel had a complete and total life of holiness to God. He was given into service to God while still and child (1 Sam. 1:24).
He was stationed at the house of the Lord in Shiloh (1 Sam. 1:24). The Bible says about him, “’As long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.’” And he worshiped the Lord there.” (1 Sam. 1:28).
“The boy ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.” (1 Sam. 2:12).
“Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men.” (1 Sam. 2:26).
And so the Lord called Samuel. He had lived a holy life unto the Lord. He had kept himself pure from the sins of Israel. Though his counterparts, Hophni and Phinehas were “worthless men” and “did not know the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:12), Samuel had kept himself holy unto the Lord. Though Hophni and Phinehas were cheating and stealing from people (1 Sam. 2:13-17) and committing fornication (1 Sam. 2:22), Samuel did follow their example to do evil, but separated himself in holiness to God.
And when all the people of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, wanted to hear a word from God, then went to Samuel because he “was confirmed as a prophet to the Lord” (1 Sam. 3:20).
What about you? Have you lived a holy life unto God? A pure life that is kept far from sin?
Psalm 119:9 – How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.
2 Timothy 2:22 - Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Sameul was a successful man because he was a holy man. He had more authority, more power, than the kings of Israel. He was a holy man.
3. David – Courage & Strength
With youth comes courage and strength. Our Armed Services in America and throughout the world are made up of younger people because we know the courage and strength of youth.
Proverbs 20:29 – The glory of young men is their strength…
In order to do well in life, you must develop your courage and strength for the right purposes. If your courage is used to throw caution to the wind, to ignore consequences, and for sinful purposes, then it can destroy your life and soul. But if your courage is used appropriately, in the right time and the right place for the right purposes, then you will be empowered by God.
If your youthful strength is used to do evil, to ignore your bodies design for healthy living, then you will pay for it when you get older. The people who follow Satan’s destructive temptations will be weak and fearful most of their lives. This is the natural results of sin. Consider the what God told the Israelites who live sinful lives:
Leviticus 26:36 – I will also bring weakness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. And the sound of a driven leaf will chase them, and even when no one is pursuing they will flee as though from the sword, and they will fall.
But if your strength is used for God, then you will be considered blessed by everyone who knows you.
1 John 2:14 – I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
David was a man who was strong and courageous. He’d killed a bear and a lion in his youth (1 Sam. 17:36). He’s famous for defeating the mighty Philistine giant named Goliath. This David did before he was even old enough to enlist in the Lord’s army. He defeated the Philistines in several military campaigns.
None of David’s enemies were able to kill him: Goliath, Saul, the Philistines, Absolom. Though they all tried, they all failed.
With so many enemies how was David able to remain strong and courageous? Because David trusted and obeyed God:
Before fighting Goliath, David said, “The battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47).
“David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him” (1 Samuel 18:14).
Does that mean that David was never afraid? That he never had moments of stress? Of course not. On one occasion when David and his men had joined up with the Philistine armies, the Amalekites maid a raid on their home in Ziklag and stole their possessions and took their wives and children and servants and they burned their city with fire.
1 Samuel 30:4 – Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.
“David was greatly distressed” and “the people were embittered” (1 Sam. 30:6).
The key to success in difficult times is found in the last sentence of 1 Samuel 30:6, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He chased down those Amalekites, rescued his family, and secured their possessions. And he took all that the Amalekites had stolen from the villages they raided and sent them as gifts to all the cities he stayed in.
It was said of King David and his band of brothers, “They are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field” (2 Sam. 17:8).
Sometimes instead of being mighty and fierce soldiers of God, we can become weak people pleasers who follow the crowds to do evil. Instead of being strong and brave in the face of temptation and peer pressure, we often become weak and fearful.
Like David, let us strengthen ourselves in the Lord. David’s last words to his son Solomon are fitting for all of us today: “As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, ‘I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the Lord you God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn…” (1 Kings 2:1-3).
4. Solomon – Humility, see his prayer for wisdom, not a “know it all”
Sometimes with youth, as with age, there is a temptation to be arrogant. To be a “know-it-all”. There is a tendency to think that mom and dad don’t know what they’re talking about. But Solomon, in his youth showed great humility.
“Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrified and burned incense on the high places” (1 Kings 3:3).
When God told Solomon in a dream to “Ask what you wish me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5), it wasn’t for something selfish that Solomon asked (e.g. wealth, power, possessions). Listen to his reply:
Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people Yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)
Solomon’s humility pleased the Lord so much that he gave his a wise heart, and both riches and honor, and a long life (1 Kings 3:10-14).
As James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
He was not like his arrogant and foolish son Rehoboam, who was given the choice: Listen to the advice of his elders or listen to the advice of his friends? Rehoboam thought his friends knew more than his elders so he listened to his young men (1 Kings 12).
As a result he lost more than half of his kingdom (1 Kings 12:20).
He did evil in the sight of the Lord and worshiped idols (1 Kings 14:22-23).
Male cultic prostitutes became the craze of the land (1 Kings 14:24).
Until finally Rehoboam lost everything to the king of Egypt (1 Kings 14:25-26)
All because he was arrogant and thought his peers knew more than his parents.
Psalm 1:8 – Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching…
Conclusion
As we have seen, there are a lot of life-shaping choices that God has given to you, especially the youth. What you decide today will influence how you live tomorrow. And it will ultimately be a deciding factor in where you spend eternity.
You can choose the destructive lifestyle of sin. Or you can choose the empowering characteristics of God. To me this is a no-brainer. Life on earth is too short and eternity is too long to make the wrong choice. So make the right choice.
God must really think a lot of young people. The most important decisions of your life will be made between the ages of 15-25! Marriage, Money, Mission, Master. Satan, however, would like to throw you off course. Hence, some of the most destructive temptations are aimed at youth.
Maybe that is why King Solomon, in all his inspired wisdom, wrote long ago, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You see, religion (Christianity and the worship of God) is not something that God requires of adults (mom and dad) alone. God requires that all people, young and old, worship Him. As Psalm 148:12-13 says, “Both young men and virgins; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord…”
The decisions that you make at an early age will affect the course of your life.
Timothy’s decision “from a youth”
2 Timothy 2:14-15 – You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Jehoiakim’s decision (became king at 25 years, did evil in the sight of the Lord, killed Uriah the prophet)
Jeremiah 22:21 - “I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your practice from your youth, that you have not obeyed My voice.
The characteristics that God looks for in a younger person are empowering. God’s characteristics are the ones that equip you for life: too handle pressure and stress, to handle accomplishments and success. God’s way is the good way.
The temptations that the devil dangles before you are destructive in nature. Sins of the youth can set a path of heartache and failure. One sin can destroy much good (Ecclesiastes 9:18). The fact of the matter is that you may do good most of the time, but few bad acts can make your life odorous. “Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
So each of us has a choice to make. If you’re still in your youth, then you have more choices and bigger choices to make. What are you currently choosing?
The empowering characteristics of God will help you have a life of power instead of weakness. Instead of life happening to you, you will happen to life. You will not be passive, weak, and fearful, but proactive, strong, and confident.
Proverbs 28:1 – The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
To know God’s empowering characteristics of youth I want us to consider some example in the Bible. These men are considered heroes of the Bible and are worthy of our consideration.
1. Joseph – Faith
Joseph was a young man of faith. We know that he was just seventeen years of age when he was taken from home in the valley of Hebron (Gen. 37:14) and sold as a slave to the Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:25). The Midianites took Joseph to Egypt, a foreign land, and sold him to Pharaoh’s captain of the body guard, Potiphar (Gen. 37:36).
Things would get worse before they got better for Joseph. He was accused of attempted rape and thrown into an Egyptian prison where he would be forgotten about.
How Joseph able to make it through life’s difficulties? More so, how was Joseph able to not only survive life but be very successful in life? Joseph’s faith in God gave him the strength.
You see, Joseph had a dream given to him by God. And in this dream Joseph would become a great man. Joseph believed that dream. He believed that if he was faithful to God, then God would bring it to pass.
Genesis 39:2 – The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man.
Genesis 39:21 – The Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him…
Genesis 39:23 – The Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.
And Joseph knew that every success he had was the result of God:
“It is not in me; god will give…a favorable answer” (Gen. 41:16).
“The matter is determined by God, and god will quickly bring it about” (Gen. 41:32).
Even Pharaoh would ask, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” (Gen. 41:38).
If you want to be empowered by God for life, then be like Joseph and have a strong faith in God.
2. Samuel – Holiness
Samuel had a complete and total life of holiness to God. He was given into service to God while still and child (1 Sam. 1:24).
He was stationed at the house of the Lord in Shiloh (1 Sam. 1:24). The Bible says about him, “’As long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.’” And he worshiped the Lord there.” (1 Sam. 1:28).
“The boy ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.” (1 Sam. 2:12).
“Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men.” (1 Sam. 2:26).
And so the Lord called Samuel. He had lived a holy life unto the Lord. He had kept himself pure from the sins of Israel. Though his counterparts, Hophni and Phinehas were “worthless men” and “did not know the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:12), Samuel had kept himself holy unto the Lord. Though Hophni and Phinehas were cheating and stealing from people (1 Sam. 2:13-17) and committing fornication (1 Sam. 2:22), Samuel did follow their example to do evil, but separated himself in holiness to God.
And when all the people of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, wanted to hear a word from God, then went to Samuel because he “was confirmed as a prophet to the Lord” (1 Sam. 3:20).
What about you? Have you lived a holy life unto God? A pure life that is kept far from sin?
Psalm 119:9 – How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.
2 Timothy 2:22 - Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Sameul was a successful man because he was a holy man. He had more authority, more power, than the kings of Israel. He was a holy man.
3. David – Courage & Strength
With youth comes courage and strength. Our Armed Services in America and throughout the world are made up of younger people because we know the courage and strength of youth.
Proverbs 20:29 – The glory of young men is their strength…
In order to do well in life, you must develop your courage and strength for the right purposes. If your courage is used to throw caution to the wind, to ignore consequences, and for sinful purposes, then it can destroy your life and soul. But if your courage is used appropriately, in the right time and the right place for the right purposes, then you will be empowered by God.
If your youthful strength is used to do evil, to ignore your bodies design for healthy living, then you will pay for it when you get older. The people who follow Satan’s destructive temptations will be weak and fearful most of their lives. This is the natural results of sin. Consider the what God told the Israelites who live sinful lives:
Leviticus 26:36 – I will also bring weakness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. And the sound of a driven leaf will chase them, and even when no one is pursuing they will flee as though from the sword, and they will fall.
But if your strength is used for God, then you will be considered blessed by everyone who knows you.
1 John 2:14 – I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
David was a man who was strong and courageous. He’d killed a bear and a lion in his youth (1 Sam. 17:36). He’s famous for defeating the mighty Philistine giant named Goliath. This David did before he was even old enough to enlist in the Lord’s army. He defeated the Philistines in several military campaigns.
None of David’s enemies were able to kill him: Goliath, Saul, the Philistines, Absolom. Though they all tried, they all failed.
With so many enemies how was David able to remain strong and courageous? Because David trusted and obeyed God:
Before fighting Goliath, David said, “The battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47).
“David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him” (1 Samuel 18:14).
Does that mean that David was never afraid? That he never had moments of stress? Of course not. On one occasion when David and his men had joined up with the Philistine armies, the Amalekites maid a raid on their home in Ziklag and stole their possessions and took their wives and children and servants and they burned their city with fire.
1 Samuel 30:4 – Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.
“David was greatly distressed” and “the people were embittered” (1 Sam. 30:6).
The key to success in difficult times is found in the last sentence of 1 Samuel 30:6, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He chased down those Amalekites, rescued his family, and secured their possessions. And he took all that the Amalekites had stolen from the villages they raided and sent them as gifts to all the cities he stayed in.
It was said of King David and his band of brothers, “They are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field” (2 Sam. 17:8).
Sometimes instead of being mighty and fierce soldiers of God, we can become weak people pleasers who follow the crowds to do evil. Instead of being strong and brave in the face of temptation and peer pressure, we often become weak and fearful.
Like David, let us strengthen ourselves in the Lord. David’s last words to his son Solomon are fitting for all of us today: “As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, ‘I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the Lord you God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn…” (1 Kings 2:1-3).
4. Solomon – Humility, see his prayer for wisdom, not a “know it all”
Sometimes with youth, as with age, there is a temptation to be arrogant. To be a “know-it-all”. There is a tendency to think that mom and dad don’t know what they’re talking about. But Solomon, in his youth showed great humility.
“Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrified and burned incense on the high places” (1 Kings 3:3).
When God told Solomon in a dream to “Ask what you wish me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5), it wasn’t for something selfish that Solomon asked (e.g. wealth, power, possessions). Listen to his reply:
Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people Yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)
Solomon’s humility pleased the Lord so much that he gave his a wise heart, and both riches and honor, and a long life (1 Kings 3:10-14).
As James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
He was not like his arrogant and foolish son Rehoboam, who was given the choice: Listen to the advice of his elders or listen to the advice of his friends? Rehoboam thought his friends knew more than his elders so he listened to his young men (1 Kings 12).
As a result he lost more than half of his kingdom (1 Kings 12:20).
He did evil in the sight of the Lord and worshiped idols (1 Kings 14:22-23).
Male cultic prostitutes became the craze of the land (1 Kings 14:24).
Until finally Rehoboam lost everything to the king of Egypt (1 Kings 14:25-26)
All because he was arrogant and thought his peers knew more than his parents.
Psalm 1:8 – Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching…
Conclusion
As we have seen, there are a lot of life-shaping choices that God has given to you, especially the youth. What you decide today will influence how you live tomorrow. And it will ultimately be a deciding factor in where you spend eternity.
You can choose the destructive lifestyle of sin. Or you can choose the empowering characteristics of God. To me this is a no-brainer. Life on earth is too short and eternity is too long to make the wrong choice. So make the right choice.
CALEB CUNNINGHAM: WHO AM I TO JUDGE ANOTHER?
Who Am I to Judge Another?
(Matthew 7:1-5)
Tonight’s sermon comes from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. This sermon takes up three full chapters in the book of Matthew (5-7), and it is filled with practical commands for living a life that pleases God. In my opinion the Sermon on the Mount sums up what Christian living is all about. I want us to concentrate our attention to a short section of this sermon that deals with judging others. It is found in Matthew 7:1-5. The words of the Lord are…[READ THE TEXT].
The word “judge” in our text is translated from the Greek word krinete, krinw - condemn; decide, determine; consider, regard, think; prefer
· One can violate this passage without saying a word. You can be judgmental in your thoughts.
The person addressed in our text has a problem with other people. People aren’t living up to what he expects of them. People aren’t living up to his standards of righteousness. His real problem, however, is not with other people; it’s with himself. But he isn’t aware of it. He only sees the faults of others. He’s a faultfinding, mote-hunter. He has the wrong attitude. He is judgmental of others in an improper way, and this isn’t becoming of followers of Christ.
1. First we must see what Jesus is not saying in this text.
But before we examine the words of the Lord Jesus in this passage I want us to note what this passage is not saying. Unfortunately, this is one of the most often misquoted passages in the Bible. Many use it to excuse their sin and to fight off those concerned individuals who are trying to lead them aright. And in the process quoting this Scripture they do as Peter warned in 2 Peter 3:16 and distort the Scriptures to their own destruction.
There are several things that Jesus is not saying:
A) All judgment is wrong. Many judgments are necessary in life: Career judgments, family judgments, products judgments, etc.
Arthur W. Pink correctly wrote, “The capacity of judging, of forming an estimate and opinion, is one of our most valuable faculties and the right use of it one of our most important duties.”
Hebrews 5:14 – Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their sense trained to discern good and evil.
B) You cannot develop an opinion about someone or someone’s actions.
As parents we’re judgmental about who our children hang around with. We’re encouraged to be judgmental about the people that we hang around with:
1 Cor 15:33 – Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.
Prov 13:20 – He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
In order to follow these two verses we have to make judgments about people.
What really hammers the point home is that Jesus encourages us in the same sermon in the same chapter 7:15 to “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
· How will we know if someone is a false prophet?
· Matt 7:16 – You will know them by their fruits.
· Jesus encouraged His audience to discern, to judge, between true prophets and false prophets, by looking at their “fruits” or “behavior”.
Therefore, Jesus is not saying that we cannot develop an opinion about someone.
C) You cannot call evil what it is: evil.
Romans 12:9 – Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
· In order to abhor what is evil, we need to identify evil.
D) You cannot confront someone with his or her sin
Galatians 2:11 – When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned…When I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I…[confronted them]
Galatians 6:1 – If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…
So Jesus is not forbidding all forms of judgment. He is not prohibiting us from judging others in every sense. In fact, Jesus commands us to judge:
· John 7:24 – Judge with righteous judgment.
2. There are several types of Judgment that Jesus is forbidding in this text.
A) Harsh judgment
Sometimes we can judge others pretty harshly. We may be overly critical, too strict, or unforgiving.
Matthew 7:2 – For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
A Buddhist story tells of a man who had lived wickedly and became very ill and near death. In the fever he had a dream, and in this dream he was conducted through the underworld to the hall of justice in which judges sat in curtained alcoves. He faced his judge, and was told to write his misdeeds upon a slate provided for that purpose. Sentence was then passed that he should be thrice struck by lightning for his sins. The curtain was drawn back, and he faced his judge, to find there seated the image of himself, and he realized that he had pronounced the verdict. All of us must face our own consciences, and should take pains to live so in accord with them, as the Bible educates them.
B) Hypocritical judgment
Matthew 7:3-5 – Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
A new law on drunken driving in Louisiana is now one of the toughest in the nation. There is a mandatory prison sentence for anyone convicted of driving while intoxicated. Getting it passed was a major victory for various groups against drunk driving, and they could not have gotten it passed if it wasn’t for the help of one particular state legislator who sponsored the bill. It wasn’t long after the new law took effect that the first person to be arrested for driving under the influence was brought before the judge and found guilty and was sentenced to his prison term. Who was he? The same legislator who sponsored the bill! “For the way you judge, you will be judged, and by your standard of measure it shall be measured to you.”
Matthew 23:3 – Therefore all that they [scribes and Pharisees] tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
Romans 2:1 – You have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
C) Ignorant judgment
Forming opinions about someone before you have all the facts.
Deuteronomy 13:12-14 – If you hear in one of your cities, which the Lord you God is giving you to live in, anyone saying that some worthless men have gone out from among you…then you shall investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly. If it is true and the matter established…
Sometimes people make judgments about things that they don’t the first thing about. We think we know what someone ought to do or ought not to do, when we don’t have a clue about what is going on.
D) Unfair judgment
Leviticus 19:15 – You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
My sins are minor sins, your sins are major sins. “I may be impatient, unconcerned, and unloving, but at least I don’t forsake the assemblies.” The thought itself is ridiculous!
E) Impatient judgment
You can’t expect a new Christian to be as strong in the faith and as knowledgeable of the word as someone who has been a Christian for twenty years. And if you demand too much of a new convert, then you can become a stumbling block to his or her faith.
Romans 14:13 – Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
F) Self-righteous judgment
In self-righteous judgment, one is condemning another and, thus, saying, “I am better than you.” What happens is people highlight their own strong points and other’s weak points.
Luke 18:9 – And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt…
Some people think that they are so good and so righteous that they forget their place. They become self-appointed watchdogs of the brotherhood. And sometimes, whole churches seem to become this way. They’re so worried about writing everybody off in the brotherhood, that they forget their mission of seeking and saving the lost. They’re worried about ants in the church next door, when they have elephants in their own church.
G) Standing in the place of God
Romans 14:4 – Who are you to judge the servant of another?
Romans 14:10 – Why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Brethren, it is not up to me to decide who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. It’s not up to you either. We are simply to preach the word of God and leave the judging up to Him.
With that being said, we can study the Word of God and come to a good conclusion about one’s eternal destiny. Unbelievers are obviously lost according to the Bible. People who continue to live in sin are obviously lost according to the Bible. That’s not me judging, but the word!
3. Instead of being too judgmental, what type of attitudes should be in Christians?
A) Love
Years ago my wife and I recorded many of our family highlights using an 8mm home movie camera. We collected years of precious memories on numerous spools of film, which became antiquated after the invention of video cameras. Some friends living in another state offered to combine all of our films onto one videotape. We gladly accepted their generous offer and sent them our films.
Our friends placed an 8mm home movie camera in their living room to project our movies. They also set up a VHS video camera pointed at the screen and recorded the films while the other camera’s reels turned. They sent the completed videotape to us.
Cindy and I were anxious to watch the tape of our old movies. We brought out the popcorn and inserted the video into our VCR. But that’s where the fun stopped. As we beheld our hold home movie films on videotape, we also listened to our friends’ remarks. They had not realized that when they recorded our films, the video camera also taped their critical comments about us!
When the videotape began, they started making fun of us. As the film continued to roll, their comments turned vicious. With every new scene came a cutting remark or hurtful joke. Daggers entered my heart as I listened to what our friends honestly thought about us. My wife was devastated.
Our friends looked at us through judgmental glasses. Although they were cordial to our faces, the video recorded the truth thought of their hearts.
B) Considerate
Matthew 7:12 – In everything…treat people the same way you want them to treat you.
C) Compassion
We need to have the proper attitude toward the weakness of others!
D) Forgiveness
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
A young employee secretly misappropriated several hundred dollars of his business firm’s money. When this action was discovered the young man was told to report to the office of the senior partner of the firm. As he walked up the stairs toward the administrative office the young employee was heavy-hearted. He knew without a doubt he would lose his position with the firm. He also feared the possibility of legal action taken against him. Seemingly his whole world had collapsed.
Upon his arrival in the office of the senior executive the young man was questioned about the whole affair. He was asked if the allegation were true and he answered in the affirmative. Then the executive surprisingly asked this question: “If I keep you in your present capacity, can I trust you in the future?” The young worker brightened up and said, “Yes, sir, you surely can. I’ve learned my lesson.”
The executive responded, “I’m not going to press charges, and you can continue in your present responsibility.” The employer concluded the conversation with his younger employee by saying, “I think you ought to know, however, that you are the second man in this firm who succumbed to temptation and was shown leniency. I was the first. What you have done, I did. The mercy you are receiving, I received. It is only the grace of God that can keep us both.”
Conclusion
We need a people of discernment. We need to be careful in our judgments. But lets also be loving, merciful, and kind in our judgments of others.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10)
(Matthew 7:1-5)
Tonight’s sermon comes from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. This sermon takes up three full chapters in the book of Matthew (5-7), and it is filled with practical commands for living a life that pleases God. In my opinion the Sermon on the Mount sums up what Christian living is all about. I want us to concentrate our attention to a short section of this sermon that deals with judging others. It is found in Matthew 7:1-5. The words of the Lord are…[READ THE TEXT].
The word “judge” in our text is translated from the Greek word krinete, krinw - condemn; decide, determine; consider, regard, think; prefer
· One can violate this passage without saying a word. You can be judgmental in your thoughts.
The person addressed in our text has a problem with other people. People aren’t living up to what he expects of them. People aren’t living up to his standards of righteousness. His real problem, however, is not with other people; it’s with himself. But he isn’t aware of it. He only sees the faults of others. He’s a faultfinding, mote-hunter. He has the wrong attitude. He is judgmental of others in an improper way, and this isn’t becoming of followers of Christ.
1. First we must see what Jesus is not saying in this text.
But before we examine the words of the Lord Jesus in this passage I want us to note what this passage is not saying. Unfortunately, this is one of the most often misquoted passages in the Bible. Many use it to excuse their sin and to fight off those concerned individuals who are trying to lead them aright. And in the process quoting this Scripture they do as Peter warned in 2 Peter 3:16 and distort the Scriptures to their own destruction.
There are several things that Jesus is not saying:
A) All judgment is wrong. Many judgments are necessary in life: Career judgments, family judgments, products judgments, etc.
Arthur W. Pink correctly wrote, “The capacity of judging, of forming an estimate and opinion, is one of our most valuable faculties and the right use of it one of our most important duties.”
Hebrews 5:14 – Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their sense trained to discern good and evil.
B) You cannot develop an opinion about someone or someone’s actions.
As parents we’re judgmental about who our children hang around with. We’re encouraged to be judgmental about the people that we hang around with:
1 Cor 15:33 – Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.
Prov 13:20 – He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
In order to follow these two verses we have to make judgments about people.
What really hammers the point home is that Jesus encourages us in the same sermon in the same chapter 7:15 to “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
· How will we know if someone is a false prophet?
· Matt 7:16 – You will know them by their fruits.
· Jesus encouraged His audience to discern, to judge, between true prophets and false prophets, by looking at their “fruits” or “behavior”.
Therefore, Jesus is not saying that we cannot develop an opinion about someone.
C) You cannot call evil what it is: evil.
Romans 12:9 – Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
· In order to abhor what is evil, we need to identify evil.
D) You cannot confront someone with his or her sin
Galatians 2:11 – When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned…When I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I…[confronted them]
Galatians 6:1 – If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…
So Jesus is not forbidding all forms of judgment. He is not prohibiting us from judging others in every sense. In fact, Jesus commands us to judge:
· John 7:24 – Judge with righteous judgment.
2. There are several types of Judgment that Jesus is forbidding in this text.
A) Harsh judgment
Sometimes we can judge others pretty harshly. We may be overly critical, too strict, or unforgiving.
Matthew 7:2 – For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
A Buddhist story tells of a man who had lived wickedly and became very ill and near death. In the fever he had a dream, and in this dream he was conducted through the underworld to the hall of justice in which judges sat in curtained alcoves. He faced his judge, and was told to write his misdeeds upon a slate provided for that purpose. Sentence was then passed that he should be thrice struck by lightning for his sins. The curtain was drawn back, and he faced his judge, to find there seated the image of himself, and he realized that he had pronounced the verdict. All of us must face our own consciences, and should take pains to live so in accord with them, as the Bible educates them.
B) Hypocritical judgment
Matthew 7:3-5 – Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
A new law on drunken driving in Louisiana is now one of the toughest in the nation. There is a mandatory prison sentence for anyone convicted of driving while intoxicated. Getting it passed was a major victory for various groups against drunk driving, and they could not have gotten it passed if it wasn’t for the help of one particular state legislator who sponsored the bill. It wasn’t long after the new law took effect that the first person to be arrested for driving under the influence was brought before the judge and found guilty and was sentenced to his prison term. Who was he? The same legislator who sponsored the bill! “For the way you judge, you will be judged, and by your standard of measure it shall be measured to you.”
Matthew 23:3 – Therefore all that they [scribes and Pharisees] tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
Romans 2:1 – You have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
C) Ignorant judgment
Forming opinions about someone before you have all the facts.
Deuteronomy 13:12-14 – If you hear in one of your cities, which the Lord you God is giving you to live in, anyone saying that some worthless men have gone out from among you…then you shall investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly. If it is true and the matter established…
Sometimes people make judgments about things that they don’t the first thing about. We think we know what someone ought to do or ought not to do, when we don’t have a clue about what is going on.
D) Unfair judgment
Leviticus 19:15 – You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
My sins are minor sins, your sins are major sins. “I may be impatient, unconcerned, and unloving, but at least I don’t forsake the assemblies.” The thought itself is ridiculous!
E) Impatient judgment
You can’t expect a new Christian to be as strong in the faith and as knowledgeable of the word as someone who has been a Christian for twenty years. And if you demand too much of a new convert, then you can become a stumbling block to his or her faith.
Romans 14:13 – Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
F) Self-righteous judgment
In self-righteous judgment, one is condemning another and, thus, saying, “I am better than you.” What happens is people highlight their own strong points and other’s weak points.
Luke 18:9 – And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt…
Some people think that they are so good and so righteous that they forget their place. They become self-appointed watchdogs of the brotherhood. And sometimes, whole churches seem to become this way. They’re so worried about writing everybody off in the brotherhood, that they forget their mission of seeking and saving the lost. They’re worried about ants in the church next door, when they have elephants in their own church.
G) Standing in the place of God
Romans 14:4 – Who are you to judge the servant of another?
Romans 14:10 – Why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Brethren, it is not up to me to decide who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. It’s not up to you either. We are simply to preach the word of God and leave the judging up to Him.
With that being said, we can study the Word of God and come to a good conclusion about one’s eternal destiny. Unbelievers are obviously lost according to the Bible. People who continue to live in sin are obviously lost according to the Bible. That’s not me judging, but the word!
3. Instead of being too judgmental, what type of attitudes should be in Christians?
A) Love
Years ago my wife and I recorded many of our family highlights using an 8mm home movie camera. We collected years of precious memories on numerous spools of film, which became antiquated after the invention of video cameras. Some friends living in another state offered to combine all of our films onto one videotape. We gladly accepted their generous offer and sent them our films.
Our friends placed an 8mm home movie camera in their living room to project our movies. They also set up a VHS video camera pointed at the screen and recorded the films while the other camera’s reels turned. They sent the completed videotape to us.
Cindy and I were anxious to watch the tape of our old movies. We brought out the popcorn and inserted the video into our VCR. But that’s where the fun stopped. As we beheld our hold home movie films on videotape, we also listened to our friends’ remarks. They had not realized that when they recorded our films, the video camera also taped their critical comments about us!
When the videotape began, they started making fun of us. As the film continued to roll, their comments turned vicious. With every new scene came a cutting remark or hurtful joke. Daggers entered my heart as I listened to what our friends honestly thought about us. My wife was devastated.
Our friends looked at us through judgmental glasses. Although they were cordial to our faces, the video recorded the truth thought of their hearts.
B) Considerate
Matthew 7:12 – In everything…treat people the same way you want them to treat you.
C) Compassion
We need to have the proper attitude toward the weakness of others!
D) Forgiveness
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
A young employee secretly misappropriated several hundred dollars of his business firm’s money. When this action was discovered the young man was told to report to the office of the senior partner of the firm. As he walked up the stairs toward the administrative office the young employee was heavy-hearted. He knew without a doubt he would lose his position with the firm. He also feared the possibility of legal action taken against him. Seemingly his whole world had collapsed.
Upon his arrival in the office of the senior executive the young man was questioned about the whole affair. He was asked if the allegation were true and he answered in the affirmative. Then the executive surprisingly asked this question: “If I keep you in your present capacity, can I trust you in the future?” The young worker brightened up and said, “Yes, sir, you surely can. I’ve learned my lesson.”
The executive responded, “I’m not going to press charges, and you can continue in your present responsibility.” The employer concluded the conversation with his younger employee by saying, “I think you ought to know, however, that you are the second man in this firm who succumbed to temptation and was shown leniency. I was the first. What you have done, I did. The mercy you are receiving, I received. It is only the grace of God that can keep us both.”
Conclusion
We need a people of discernment. We need to be careful in our judgments. But lets also be loving, merciful, and kind in our judgments of others.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10)
CALEB CUNNINGHAM: THE INSIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS' BIRTH
The Insignificance of Jesus’ Birth
Luke 2:1-20
If you look back in the first two chapters of Luke at the situation, time, and place of the Birth of Jesus you’ll find everything needed for a great story:
· Political intrigue
o The census decreed by Caesar Augustus while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
o Herod’s curiosity and unwillingness to acquiesce his throne to God
· Conflict
o Mary, an unmarried, but engaged, woman who has become pregnant.
§ In the modern U.S., where a million teenage boys and girls conceive children outside of wedlock, Mary’s predicament has undoubtedly lost some of its force, but in a closely knit Jewish community in the first century, the news an angel brought could not have been entirely welcome. The law regarded a betrothed woman who became pregnant as an adulteress, subject to death by stoning.
o Travel about 75 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for the census.
· Anticipation
o Nine months of anxiously waiting for the Miracle Child.
o Difficulty in finding shelter in Bethlehem to stay the night.
· The drama of a delivery room – Mary in labor pains and Joseph pacing nearby.
· Fear – Many women died from childbirth in those days. Would Mary?
· Doxology (hymn of praise) – Rejoicing new parents and the multitude of the heavenly host.
· Amazement –
o At a helpless, fragile, new life.
o The message from the shepherds who had received word from the angel of the Lord.
But one thing that impresses about the birth of Jesus is how simple and unadorned it really is. In fact the events and circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus seem embarrassing. As Phillip Yancey wrote in The Jesus I Never Knew, “It seems that God arranged the most humiliating circumstances possible for his entrance, as if to avoid any charge of favoritism” (p 32). What captures me in the story of Christ’s birth is the “insignificant” element.
Some might object by saying, “Insignificant?” How could the birth of the virgin-born Son of God be insignificant? Indeed for God to become human (John. 1:14) is no small thing. But watch how Luke, the only Gentile (outsider) to write about the life of Christ, shows in the birth of Jesus how God fills the seeming insignificant with His presence and makes what might have been mundane into profound mystery.
I. Insignificant Places.
The “happening” places of the world were Rome, Athens, and Syria. People who ruled others lived there, and that mattered. No one cared much about Palestine, tucked away in a small pocket of the Mediterranean Sea—no one cared except God.
But our story sets its focus on little places:
Like Bethlehem (house of bread)—granted, the City of David, but really not all that important in terms of size and clout.
Micah 5:2 – But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah…
Like Nazareth (in Aramaic means, “watchtower”)
This town was of minor importance.It was “secluded and isolated from traffic” (Nelson’s New Illustrated Dictionary). In fact, it is never even mentioned in the Old Testament.
Nazareth was so small and insignificant that historians and archaeologists doubted its existence until recently…
It had a bad reputation in morals and religion and a certain crudeness in its dialect, which caused Nathanael to ask, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
Like a manger—a common cow trough but mentioned three times in our text.
Like fields—where shepherds watch flocks. The first Christmas took place “down on the farm.”
When God comes near all the little places become big!
Although Bethlehem was “too little to be among the clans of Judah” (Micah 5:2), God would say of it, “From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel” concerning the Messiah. The “Bread of Life” would come from the ”House of Bread” (Bethlehem).
Although Nazareth was not an important town before the New Testament era, it became immortal as the hometown of Jesus the Messiah. And according to Matthew 2:23, the prophets had predicted that Jesus would be called a “Nazarene”.
II. Insignificant People.
The important people of the world were mentioned in v. 1 & 2: Caesar Augustus and Quirinius. They were the movers and shakers. When they spoke people listened. They could call for taxes and the word was, “So let it be done.” Their faces would be on money. Their figures would be made into statues…
But our story looks to different key players:
Like a young poor couple from Nazareth—Mary and Joseph.
Yancey wrote, “God emerged in Palestine as a baby who could not speak or eat solid food or control his bladder, who depended on a teenager for shelter, food, and love.”
Joseph’s job as a carpenter in Israel during the first century wouldn’t have given him any prominence. In fact, in our chapter we find out that Joseph could even find a place at a crowded Inn for his pregnant wife.
Like shepherds—Biblically shepherds had important roles, but socially they were outcasts. They stayed out in the night with their sheep. The smelled like sheep.
When God comes near all the little people suddenly seem to matter!
Mary would forever be respected amongst the people of the world and the angels in heaven:
Gabriel called her “favored one” (lit. “woman richly blessed”) (Luke 1:28).
Elizabeth, who was filled with the Holy Spirit according to Luke 1:41, said to Mary, “Blessed are you among women…”
And Mary could rightly say in Luke 1:48, “From this time on all generations will count me blessed.”
And then there’s Joseph…We don’t know much about Joseph after the birth of Jesus. We do know that…
Matthew 1:19 calls him “a righteous man.”
We know that he “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matt 1:24).
He protected the baby Jesus from wicked king Herod by fleeing with his family to Egypt.
Out of all the men in the world who ever existed, God trusted Joseph, a carpenter from Nazareth, to be an earthly father to His Son Jesus.
III. Insignificant Event.
The events that would make news were war and taxes—it still does. But the birth of Jesus would go unnoticed to the busy world. Babies are born everyday. The papers are filled with new birth announcements that go unread by the vast majority of people in a town. But our story gives attention to the birth of a baby. When God comes near, all little events take on spiritual power.
The angelic assembly in heaven would say to the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger…Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:10-14).
The ancient prophecies were being fulfilled, the star had appeared, and the virgin conceived and gave birth to our Savior.
But think: God started to save the world with the birth of a baby. Therein is the wisdom of God:
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – For consider you calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the thing that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
God uses the simple things in life. He uses the weak and inferior things. God uses the still, small, voices. He uses the little people in little places doing little things for His great power. You see…
IV. The Significant Life
When God comes near, all the little places become big.
As Ralph W. Sockman said of Bethlehem, “The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.”
Maybe you don’t come from a “big” place. Your hometown might not be that special. Your home and family life might be broken up and untraditional. But God is famous for taking people from small places and insignificant homes to accomplish great things. And no matter what your home situation is, God can and will use you if you’ll let Him.
When God comes near, all the little people suddenly seem to matter!
It’s easy to get lost in a sea of faces. A feeling of insignificance can cause you to feel depressed, alone, and unhappy. What’s worse is when we feel as though we don’t have the right talents or looks, the right amount of money job or education. But God takes WILLING people no matter how small they are in their own sight or in the sight of others and uses them for great purposes. No matter who you are and what you’ve done, God can and will use you if you’ll let Him.
When God comes near all little events take on spiritual power!
There was a series on television based on interviews with survivors from World War 2. The soldiers recalled how they spent a particular day. One sat in a foxhole all day; once or twice, a German tank drove by and he shot at it. Others played cards and frittered away the time. A few got involved in furious firefights. Mostly, the day passed like any other day for an infantryman on the front. Later, they learned they had just participated in one of the largest, most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge. It did not feel decisive to any of them at the time, because none had the big picture of what was happening elsewhere.
Likewise, as Joseph and Mary engaged to be married, as they went to Bethlehem to register for the census, as they returned to Nazareth to raise a family, they probably didn’t realize that they were, in fact, fulfilling prophecies made concerning the salvation of the world.
As you continue to do those little acts of righteousness and as you continue to plant those small, seemingly insignificant, seeds of faith, you may not be aware of the overall picture that God has painted you in. No how matter what you daily routine is in life, if it is a routine done righteously, God can and will bring spiritual significance to your daily life.
Conclusion
For the Gospel written for the outsider this was very good news. The birth of Jesus subtly announces that all places, all people, and all events matter to God.
Maybe you haven’t realized you importance to God. Maybe you’ve been letting where you live, who you are, and what you do, keep you from His love. If so, I hope I have convinced you that you are just the person that God can use. Don’t remain in insignificance any longer, but come to Jesus now, give Him your broken life and allow Him to rebuild according to His image and His glory. Don’t make the Lord’s trip to earth in vain for you…
Luke 2:1-20
If you look back in the first two chapters of Luke at the situation, time, and place of the Birth of Jesus you’ll find everything needed for a great story:
· Political intrigue
o The census decreed by Caesar Augustus while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
o Herod’s curiosity and unwillingness to acquiesce his throne to God
· Conflict
o Mary, an unmarried, but engaged, woman who has become pregnant.
§ In the modern U.S., where a million teenage boys and girls conceive children outside of wedlock, Mary’s predicament has undoubtedly lost some of its force, but in a closely knit Jewish community in the first century, the news an angel brought could not have been entirely welcome. The law regarded a betrothed woman who became pregnant as an adulteress, subject to death by stoning.
o Travel about 75 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for the census.
· Anticipation
o Nine months of anxiously waiting for the Miracle Child.
o Difficulty in finding shelter in Bethlehem to stay the night.
· The drama of a delivery room – Mary in labor pains and Joseph pacing nearby.
· Fear – Many women died from childbirth in those days. Would Mary?
· Doxology (hymn of praise) – Rejoicing new parents and the multitude of the heavenly host.
· Amazement –
o At a helpless, fragile, new life.
o The message from the shepherds who had received word from the angel of the Lord.
But one thing that impresses about the birth of Jesus is how simple and unadorned it really is. In fact the events and circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus seem embarrassing. As Phillip Yancey wrote in The Jesus I Never Knew, “It seems that God arranged the most humiliating circumstances possible for his entrance, as if to avoid any charge of favoritism” (p 32). What captures me in the story of Christ’s birth is the “insignificant” element.
Some might object by saying, “Insignificant?” How could the birth of the virgin-born Son of God be insignificant? Indeed for God to become human (John. 1:14) is no small thing. But watch how Luke, the only Gentile (outsider) to write about the life of Christ, shows in the birth of Jesus how God fills the seeming insignificant with His presence and makes what might have been mundane into profound mystery.
I. Insignificant Places.
The “happening” places of the world were Rome, Athens, and Syria. People who ruled others lived there, and that mattered. No one cared much about Palestine, tucked away in a small pocket of the Mediterranean Sea—no one cared except God.
But our story sets its focus on little places:
Like Bethlehem (house of bread)—granted, the City of David, but really not all that important in terms of size and clout.
Micah 5:2 – But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah…
Like Nazareth (in Aramaic means, “watchtower”)
This town was of minor importance.It was “secluded and isolated from traffic” (Nelson’s New Illustrated Dictionary). In fact, it is never even mentioned in the Old Testament.
Nazareth was so small and insignificant that historians and archaeologists doubted its existence until recently…
It had a bad reputation in morals and religion and a certain crudeness in its dialect, which caused Nathanael to ask, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
Like a manger—a common cow trough but mentioned three times in our text.
Like fields—where shepherds watch flocks. The first Christmas took place “down on the farm.”
When God comes near all the little places become big!
Although Bethlehem was “too little to be among the clans of Judah” (Micah 5:2), God would say of it, “From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel” concerning the Messiah. The “Bread of Life” would come from the ”House of Bread” (Bethlehem).
Although Nazareth was not an important town before the New Testament era, it became immortal as the hometown of Jesus the Messiah. And according to Matthew 2:23, the prophets had predicted that Jesus would be called a “Nazarene”.
II. Insignificant People.
The important people of the world were mentioned in v. 1 & 2: Caesar Augustus and Quirinius. They were the movers and shakers. When they spoke people listened. They could call for taxes and the word was, “So let it be done.” Their faces would be on money. Their figures would be made into statues…
But our story looks to different key players:
Like a young poor couple from Nazareth—Mary and Joseph.
Yancey wrote, “God emerged in Palestine as a baby who could not speak or eat solid food or control his bladder, who depended on a teenager for shelter, food, and love.”
Joseph’s job as a carpenter in Israel during the first century wouldn’t have given him any prominence. In fact, in our chapter we find out that Joseph could even find a place at a crowded Inn for his pregnant wife.
Like shepherds—Biblically shepherds had important roles, but socially they were outcasts. They stayed out in the night with their sheep. The smelled like sheep.
When God comes near all the little people suddenly seem to matter!
Mary would forever be respected amongst the people of the world and the angels in heaven:
Gabriel called her “favored one” (lit. “woman richly blessed”) (Luke 1:28).
Elizabeth, who was filled with the Holy Spirit according to Luke 1:41, said to Mary, “Blessed are you among women…”
And Mary could rightly say in Luke 1:48, “From this time on all generations will count me blessed.”
And then there’s Joseph…We don’t know much about Joseph after the birth of Jesus. We do know that…
Matthew 1:19 calls him “a righteous man.”
We know that he “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matt 1:24).
He protected the baby Jesus from wicked king Herod by fleeing with his family to Egypt.
Out of all the men in the world who ever existed, God trusted Joseph, a carpenter from Nazareth, to be an earthly father to His Son Jesus.
III. Insignificant Event.
The events that would make news were war and taxes—it still does. But the birth of Jesus would go unnoticed to the busy world. Babies are born everyday. The papers are filled with new birth announcements that go unread by the vast majority of people in a town. But our story gives attention to the birth of a baby. When God comes near, all little events take on spiritual power.
The angelic assembly in heaven would say to the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger…Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:10-14).
The ancient prophecies were being fulfilled, the star had appeared, and the virgin conceived and gave birth to our Savior.
But think: God started to save the world with the birth of a baby. Therein is the wisdom of God:
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – For consider you calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the thing that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
God uses the simple things in life. He uses the weak and inferior things. God uses the still, small, voices. He uses the little people in little places doing little things for His great power. You see…
IV. The Significant Life
When God comes near, all the little places become big.
As Ralph W. Sockman said of Bethlehem, “The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.”
Maybe you don’t come from a “big” place. Your hometown might not be that special. Your home and family life might be broken up and untraditional. But God is famous for taking people from small places and insignificant homes to accomplish great things. And no matter what your home situation is, God can and will use you if you’ll let Him.
When God comes near, all the little people suddenly seem to matter!
It’s easy to get lost in a sea of faces. A feeling of insignificance can cause you to feel depressed, alone, and unhappy. What’s worse is when we feel as though we don’t have the right talents or looks, the right amount of money job or education. But God takes WILLING people no matter how small they are in their own sight or in the sight of others and uses them for great purposes. No matter who you are and what you’ve done, God can and will use you if you’ll let Him.
When God comes near all little events take on spiritual power!
There was a series on television based on interviews with survivors from World War 2. The soldiers recalled how they spent a particular day. One sat in a foxhole all day; once or twice, a German tank drove by and he shot at it. Others played cards and frittered away the time. A few got involved in furious firefights. Mostly, the day passed like any other day for an infantryman on the front. Later, they learned they had just participated in one of the largest, most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge. It did not feel decisive to any of them at the time, because none had the big picture of what was happening elsewhere.
Likewise, as Joseph and Mary engaged to be married, as they went to Bethlehem to register for the census, as they returned to Nazareth to raise a family, they probably didn’t realize that they were, in fact, fulfilling prophecies made concerning the salvation of the world.
As you continue to do those little acts of righteousness and as you continue to plant those small, seemingly insignificant, seeds of faith, you may not be aware of the overall picture that God has painted you in. No how matter what you daily routine is in life, if it is a routine done righteously, God can and will bring spiritual significance to your daily life.
Conclusion
For the Gospel written for the outsider this was very good news. The birth of Jesus subtly announces that all places, all people, and all events matter to God.
Maybe you haven’t realized you importance to God. Maybe you’ve been letting where you live, who you are, and what you do, keep you from His love. If so, I hope I have convinced you that you are just the person that God can use. Don’t remain in insignificance any longer, but come to Jesus now, give Him your broken life and allow Him to rebuild according to His image and His glory. Don’t make the Lord’s trip to earth in vain for you…
CALEB CUNNINGHAM: WAKING UP MILES AWAY
Waking Up Miles Away from Where You Want to Be
One of the most familiar parables of Jesus is called The Prodigal Son (Wasteful Son). The story is found in Luke 15 and was told in the presence of tax collectors and sinners in response to the grumbling criticisms of the Pharisees and scribes (Luke 15:1-2).
You can teach this parable from many different angles: the love of the father, the anger of the older brother, the wasteful living of the younger son, etc. Many doctrines are found as well in this parable: grace, love of God and your brother, forgiveness, repentance, and consequences of sin.
I want us to approach this parable focusing on half of a sentence in Luke 15:17:
“But when he came to his senses” (NASB).
“But when he came to himself” (NKJV).
“When he realized what he was doing” (NCV)
Have you ever found yourself in the prodigal’s situation? Miles away from where you thought you would be?
The prodigal had big dreams of what he wanted for his life. So he set on his journey into the distant country with dreams in his head, youth in his heart, and money in his hand, but we know The Rest of the Story. He ended up impoverished, a hired servant, lusting after pig feed, and dying of hunger…Miles away from where he thought he would be. But how did he get to this point?
Maybe your situation isn’t as drastic as the prodigal’s. You’re not starving, you’re still better off than swine, and you’re not impoverished. But as you examine your life you’re not living the way you had originally planned, the “distant country” hasn’t worked out quite like you imagined. The question is: How did you get to this point?
We ask this question a lot of times in regards to ourselves and in regards to others:
A 700 lb. man is confined to his bed because he is now too heavy for his muscles to move his body. How does a man get to this point?
A young woman who makes $20,000 a years has over $30,000 of credit card debt. How does a woman get to this point?
A church going person finds himself stealing strangers, friends, and family, to support his drug habit and wonders, how did I ever get to this point?
A husband and wife meet up with each other one sunny day, not for a picnic, but with their lawyers to sign the divorce papers and they wonder, how did it ever get to this point?
Parents drive to the police station to pick up their teenage son who has wrecked the car and been arrested for DWI and they wonder, how did it ever get to this point?
The stories could go on and on of people who have found themselves miles away from where they though they’d be.
John Trent writes in his book Heart Shift, “In a way, people every day, perhaps even you, wake up to find that in a critically important area of life everything has changed. In the blink of an eye, you’re miles from where you ever though you’d be.” (pg. 3).
1. Why do people end up miles from where they want to be? Because they take a gradual “turn for the worse”.
Hebrews 2:1 – We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
Imagine a ship leaving England for New York. If that ship is just a couple of degrees off course for the entire journey, it will land in Boston instead of the Big Apple. This is where most people are today—a couple of degrees off course. We’re doing the things Jesus told us to do. Great things are happening in many areas of the world. But we need a few gentle course corrections to bring men back. Only then will we reach the goal Christ laid out for us. But here is the serious danger: The longer we wait, the more drastic the corrections will need to be.
NASA understands this concept thoroughly for space travel. Suppose NASA was two degrees off on their blast off and flight plan to the moon. The moon is 217,614 miles from the earth (depending on the time of year and the moon and earth’s orbit). If you’re calculations are two degrees off, then you’ll miss the moon by 11,121 miles. Add in enough time and distance, and be just two degrees off and you’ll miss your target by miles.
This is why two people who are madly in love with each other on their wedding day can end up at a point where they hate each other and divorce years later; many two degree turns in the wrong direction and landed them miles apart.
C.S. Lewis writes a fictional book called The Screwtape Letters about an older devil instructing a younger, inexperienced, devil on how to tempt humans. He writes this book to show the weaknesses that we have to temptations and the devils tactics. On one occasion he writes:
“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempers, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy.
It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick.
Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
The church of Ephesus felled prey to just such a subtle attack when they woke up one day to find themselves far from their first love. Slowly, gradually, unremarkably, they had left or drifted further and further away from Christ until his wake-up call opened their eyes to both their problem and their need for change.
Initially the Ephesian Christians were called the “faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). Paul had written of them in the Ephesian Letter, “Having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16). But somewhere along the way they lost their focus and edged off the narrow path. I don’t know if it was the constant barrage of false teachers, pressure to conform to the community around them, or if the newness of the gospel had began to wear off, but they had left their first love (Revelation 2:4) and needed to make a change in their directions (Revelation 2:5).
· Revelation 2:4-5 – But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen…
In Revelation 3 he addresses the church at Sardis, a church that had a great reputation for being alive and vibrant. But Jesus looked beyond the outer appearance and into the core of their being and saw that the Sardis Christians were dead (Revelation 3:1). But notice in Revelation 3:2 that Jesus doesn’t tell them to give up, he tells them to wake up!
2. How can I get back to the path toward my goals? By deliberately making small, positive, changes in the right direction.
A). Deliberate Steps
John Trent writes, “It’s not enough to put good ‘actions’ on autopilot and just assume we’ll end up where we want to go” (Heart Shift, pg. 10).
Our most important personal changes won’t happen by waiting for a huge wild-card event to change our life situation. Relying on that one big break that will somehow transport us from A to Z is a great way to stay broken.
Most people don’t become wise, wealthy, or healthy by accident. Accidents are better associated with destruction. That is why Christians, husbands & wives, parents and grandparents, students and workers, must stay awake behind the wheel making constant adjustments.
Many have drifted toward a place they never wanted to be—even in the midst of making sincere efforts. It is time we turned back to a vital faith, toward our families, or toward better health,
B). Small Steps
A lot of times I find myself thinking that the solutions to my problems are in big things. A magical pill, a million dollars, a big break: those are the things we connect with great changes.
An example of this mentality is seen in a leper in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was a soldier who had earned a place of great power, prestige, and influence.
· 2 Kings 5:1 – Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but…
In a cruel twist of fate, he would now lose it all. “He was a leper” was a way of saying, “Dead man walking”. On whatever day Naaman first noticed the sign on his skin that he carried the ancient world’s most deadly disease, a terrible countdown clock began ticking. With each passing hour his wealth, power, and privilege was being eaten way. Literally. Mighty warriors had failed to kill Naaman on the battlefield. Now a tiny microbe would bring down Aram’s best.
I’m sure Naaman had been to the physicians and magicians, he’d tried the home remedies and alternative medicines, and even turned to the King himself to look for a cure. But what the King of Aram was unable to do for Naaman, a slave girl from Israel knew of a prophet in Israel.
But rather than go to the directly to Elisha’s house, Naaman and his band, with letters from the king of Aram go to the king of Israel with a letter saying, “I have sent Naaman my servant ot you, that you may cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:6). It is obvious that he never even considers the idea of Naaman going before some small-potatoes, back woods prophet. They’re looking for big cures, trying to buy it with big money!
When Naaman arrives with his horses and his chariots at the doorway of the house of Elisha, the prophet doesn’t invite him in; he doesn’t even go out to greet this mighty man. Elisha’s not impressed with what impresses men. Elisha sends out a messenger with a small, simple, cure: “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” (2 Kings 5:10).
This is not what Naaman is looking for! Naaman was looking for a big King in Israel with a fanciful cure to all his problems. “Naaman was furious and went away and said, ‘Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me ad stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:11-12).
Imagine, the nerve of someone telling you that your life could change by making tiny changes. Or the nerve of someone saying that a marriage in deep trouble could be resurrected with small acts of kindness. Or the audacity of thinking that something as simple as faith could start to restore someone’s spiritual life. Or that washing seven times in a filthy river could really bring any change.
Dipping himself in the river was such a small step that initially that fact alone held Naaman back from entering the river. He almost missed his chance for change by demanding, expecting, waiting or “some great thing” to effect change and demonstrate God’s of Israel’s power.
Often times it is just a two degree turn that makes all the difference! Most of us define our lives by the special occasions and big events within them: graduation, job, marriage, children, conversion. And most of our history books are filled with the Revolutions, the Political upheavals, the wars and big battles. Yet most of history is filled with normal, unrecorded events and dates. It is the accumulation of the little things that makes the difference!
Just as an accumulation of two degree turns in the wrong direction can lead to major problems, an accumulation of two degree turns in the right direction can lead to major victories.
C.S. Lewis points out in his book Mere Christianity: “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.” (pg. 132)
A seemingly small indulgence today may set you up for failure tomorrow.
A small good act today makes for a strategic point you may be able to go on to victories through tomorrow.
Mike Shanahan, head coach of the Denver Broncos and two time Super Bowl Winner, write in his book Think Like A Champion, “If you solve the little problems on a daily basis, very seldom do you encounter the big problems. Big problems typically come from not addressing the little problems first” (pg. 56).
Conclusion
I want you to use your imagination with me for the next few seconds. Imagine you’re in your car going for a drive. This drive represents your life. You keep your foot on the pedal but you’re so distracted with everything around you that you take your hands of the wheel. You’re car is finely tuned so you can do this for brief moments and everything will be okay. But the more you do this the more comfortable you become not adjusting the wheel. How long do you think it will be before your car, your life is out of control? How long will it be until you crash?
According to John Trent, “A Heart Shift is the conviction that we’re on the wrong road and in need of making a turn back to a deeper faith, stronger relationships with family and friends, and a better life.” “A two degree change is taking the smallest of positive steps, actions, or corrections to being, sustain, or move us toward a needed change” (pg. 48).
The Prodigal Son experienced this. “He came to his senses” and realized he was miles away from where he thought he would be. It would be a sad story if Jesus ended the parable at that point, but He didn’t. The Prodigal turned around and began taking the small steps necessary that led him back to his father, back to his family, and back to life.
Maybe you’re in need of such a change today. Some will need to do a 180 degree turn, but most it can be done in small two degree turns. But these corrections, adjustments, and improvements that we make everyday will lead us to an abundant life.
Today is the day we need to wake up and begin the journey back toward God’s best and what’s best for our family, our friendships, and our fellowship with God.
· “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews. 3:7-8).
“This is your life. Are you who you want to be?” By Switchfoot.
One of the most familiar parables of Jesus is called The Prodigal Son (Wasteful Son). The story is found in Luke 15 and was told in the presence of tax collectors and sinners in response to the grumbling criticisms of the Pharisees and scribes (Luke 15:1-2).
You can teach this parable from many different angles: the love of the father, the anger of the older brother, the wasteful living of the younger son, etc. Many doctrines are found as well in this parable: grace, love of God and your brother, forgiveness, repentance, and consequences of sin.
I want us to approach this parable focusing on half of a sentence in Luke 15:17:
“But when he came to his senses” (NASB).
“But when he came to himself” (NKJV).
“When he realized what he was doing” (NCV)
Have you ever found yourself in the prodigal’s situation? Miles away from where you thought you would be?
The prodigal had big dreams of what he wanted for his life. So he set on his journey into the distant country with dreams in his head, youth in his heart, and money in his hand, but we know The Rest of the Story. He ended up impoverished, a hired servant, lusting after pig feed, and dying of hunger…Miles away from where he thought he would be. But how did he get to this point?
Maybe your situation isn’t as drastic as the prodigal’s. You’re not starving, you’re still better off than swine, and you’re not impoverished. But as you examine your life you’re not living the way you had originally planned, the “distant country” hasn’t worked out quite like you imagined. The question is: How did you get to this point?
We ask this question a lot of times in regards to ourselves and in regards to others:
A 700 lb. man is confined to his bed because he is now too heavy for his muscles to move his body. How does a man get to this point?
A young woman who makes $20,000 a years has over $30,000 of credit card debt. How does a woman get to this point?
A church going person finds himself stealing strangers, friends, and family, to support his drug habit and wonders, how did I ever get to this point?
A husband and wife meet up with each other one sunny day, not for a picnic, but with their lawyers to sign the divorce papers and they wonder, how did it ever get to this point?
Parents drive to the police station to pick up their teenage son who has wrecked the car and been arrested for DWI and they wonder, how did it ever get to this point?
The stories could go on and on of people who have found themselves miles away from where they though they’d be.
John Trent writes in his book Heart Shift, “In a way, people every day, perhaps even you, wake up to find that in a critically important area of life everything has changed. In the blink of an eye, you’re miles from where you ever though you’d be.” (pg. 3).
1. Why do people end up miles from where they want to be? Because they take a gradual “turn for the worse”.
Hebrews 2:1 – We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
Imagine a ship leaving England for New York. If that ship is just a couple of degrees off course for the entire journey, it will land in Boston instead of the Big Apple. This is where most people are today—a couple of degrees off course. We’re doing the things Jesus told us to do. Great things are happening in many areas of the world. But we need a few gentle course corrections to bring men back. Only then will we reach the goal Christ laid out for us. But here is the serious danger: The longer we wait, the more drastic the corrections will need to be.
NASA understands this concept thoroughly for space travel. Suppose NASA was two degrees off on their blast off and flight plan to the moon. The moon is 217,614 miles from the earth (depending on the time of year and the moon and earth’s orbit). If you’re calculations are two degrees off, then you’ll miss the moon by 11,121 miles. Add in enough time and distance, and be just two degrees off and you’ll miss your target by miles.
This is why two people who are madly in love with each other on their wedding day can end up at a point where they hate each other and divorce years later; many two degree turns in the wrong direction and landed them miles apart.
C.S. Lewis writes a fictional book called The Screwtape Letters about an older devil instructing a younger, inexperienced, devil on how to tempt humans. He writes this book to show the weaknesses that we have to temptations and the devils tactics. On one occasion he writes:
“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempers, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy.
It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick.
Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
The church of Ephesus felled prey to just such a subtle attack when they woke up one day to find themselves far from their first love. Slowly, gradually, unremarkably, they had left or drifted further and further away from Christ until his wake-up call opened their eyes to both their problem and their need for change.
Initially the Ephesian Christians were called the “faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). Paul had written of them in the Ephesian Letter, “Having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16). But somewhere along the way they lost their focus and edged off the narrow path. I don’t know if it was the constant barrage of false teachers, pressure to conform to the community around them, or if the newness of the gospel had began to wear off, but they had left their first love (Revelation 2:4) and needed to make a change in their directions (Revelation 2:5).
· Revelation 2:4-5 – But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen…
In Revelation 3 he addresses the church at Sardis, a church that had a great reputation for being alive and vibrant. But Jesus looked beyond the outer appearance and into the core of their being and saw that the Sardis Christians were dead (Revelation 3:1). But notice in Revelation 3:2 that Jesus doesn’t tell them to give up, he tells them to wake up!
2. How can I get back to the path toward my goals? By deliberately making small, positive, changes in the right direction.
A). Deliberate Steps
John Trent writes, “It’s not enough to put good ‘actions’ on autopilot and just assume we’ll end up where we want to go” (Heart Shift, pg. 10).
Our most important personal changes won’t happen by waiting for a huge wild-card event to change our life situation. Relying on that one big break that will somehow transport us from A to Z is a great way to stay broken.
Most people don’t become wise, wealthy, or healthy by accident. Accidents are better associated with destruction. That is why Christians, husbands & wives, parents and grandparents, students and workers, must stay awake behind the wheel making constant adjustments.
Many have drifted toward a place they never wanted to be—even in the midst of making sincere efforts. It is time we turned back to a vital faith, toward our families, or toward better health,
B). Small Steps
A lot of times I find myself thinking that the solutions to my problems are in big things. A magical pill, a million dollars, a big break: those are the things we connect with great changes.
An example of this mentality is seen in a leper in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was a soldier who had earned a place of great power, prestige, and influence.
· 2 Kings 5:1 – Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but…
In a cruel twist of fate, he would now lose it all. “He was a leper” was a way of saying, “Dead man walking”. On whatever day Naaman first noticed the sign on his skin that he carried the ancient world’s most deadly disease, a terrible countdown clock began ticking. With each passing hour his wealth, power, and privilege was being eaten way. Literally. Mighty warriors had failed to kill Naaman on the battlefield. Now a tiny microbe would bring down Aram’s best.
I’m sure Naaman had been to the physicians and magicians, he’d tried the home remedies and alternative medicines, and even turned to the King himself to look for a cure. But what the King of Aram was unable to do for Naaman, a slave girl from Israel knew of a prophet in Israel.
But rather than go to the directly to Elisha’s house, Naaman and his band, with letters from the king of Aram go to the king of Israel with a letter saying, “I have sent Naaman my servant ot you, that you may cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:6). It is obvious that he never even considers the idea of Naaman going before some small-potatoes, back woods prophet. They’re looking for big cures, trying to buy it with big money!
When Naaman arrives with his horses and his chariots at the doorway of the house of Elisha, the prophet doesn’t invite him in; he doesn’t even go out to greet this mighty man. Elisha’s not impressed with what impresses men. Elisha sends out a messenger with a small, simple, cure: “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” (2 Kings 5:10).
This is not what Naaman is looking for! Naaman was looking for a big King in Israel with a fanciful cure to all his problems. “Naaman was furious and went away and said, ‘Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me ad stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:11-12).
Imagine, the nerve of someone telling you that your life could change by making tiny changes. Or the nerve of someone saying that a marriage in deep trouble could be resurrected with small acts of kindness. Or the audacity of thinking that something as simple as faith could start to restore someone’s spiritual life. Or that washing seven times in a filthy river could really bring any change.
Dipping himself in the river was such a small step that initially that fact alone held Naaman back from entering the river. He almost missed his chance for change by demanding, expecting, waiting or “some great thing” to effect change and demonstrate God’s of Israel’s power.
Often times it is just a two degree turn that makes all the difference! Most of us define our lives by the special occasions and big events within them: graduation, job, marriage, children, conversion. And most of our history books are filled with the Revolutions, the Political upheavals, the wars and big battles. Yet most of history is filled with normal, unrecorded events and dates. It is the accumulation of the little things that makes the difference!
Just as an accumulation of two degree turns in the wrong direction can lead to major problems, an accumulation of two degree turns in the right direction can lead to major victories.
C.S. Lewis points out in his book Mere Christianity: “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.” (pg. 132)
A seemingly small indulgence today may set you up for failure tomorrow.
A small good act today makes for a strategic point you may be able to go on to victories through tomorrow.
Mike Shanahan, head coach of the Denver Broncos and two time Super Bowl Winner, write in his book Think Like A Champion, “If you solve the little problems on a daily basis, very seldom do you encounter the big problems. Big problems typically come from not addressing the little problems first” (pg. 56).
Conclusion
I want you to use your imagination with me for the next few seconds. Imagine you’re in your car going for a drive. This drive represents your life. You keep your foot on the pedal but you’re so distracted with everything around you that you take your hands of the wheel. You’re car is finely tuned so you can do this for brief moments and everything will be okay. But the more you do this the more comfortable you become not adjusting the wheel. How long do you think it will be before your car, your life is out of control? How long will it be until you crash?
According to John Trent, “A Heart Shift is the conviction that we’re on the wrong road and in need of making a turn back to a deeper faith, stronger relationships with family and friends, and a better life.” “A two degree change is taking the smallest of positive steps, actions, or corrections to being, sustain, or move us toward a needed change” (pg. 48).
The Prodigal Son experienced this. “He came to his senses” and realized he was miles away from where he thought he would be. It would be a sad story if Jesus ended the parable at that point, but He didn’t. The Prodigal turned around and began taking the small steps necessary that led him back to his father, back to his family, and back to life.
Maybe you’re in need of such a change today. Some will need to do a 180 degree turn, but most it can be done in small two degree turns. But these corrections, adjustments, and improvements that we make everyday will lead us to an abundant life.
Today is the day we need to wake up and begin the journey back toward God’s best and what’s best for our family, our friendships, and our fellowship with God.
· “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews. 3:7-8).
“This is your life. Are you who you want to be?” By Switchfoot.
CALEB CUNNINGHAM: BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS
Be Strong and Very Courageous
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 – Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous…The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
1. Israel’s Fear
This was a message that Joshua and Israel really needed to hear. They had known fear. This nation knew what it was like to be enslaved by the Egyptians, beaten by cruel task masters (Ex. 2:11). They must have been paralyzed with fear when Pharaoh ordered that the Egyptians murder the male Hebrew babies (Ex. 1:16). Though they had prayed to God for deliverance, the mere thought of leaving Egypt with a high hand made them recoil (Ex. 5:21).
Moses knew that it was hard for the humble slave of Egypt to become a brave warrior for God. When he led the Israelites out of Egypt, “God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, ‘the people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” (Ex. 13:14). Can you just imagine that kind of fear? That kind of fear is seen in an animal that has been caged its whole life; and when its captors finally try to release it in the wild, the animal won’t come out of the cage. I recently watched on the Animal Planet a full grown leopard sit in an open cage for almost an hour because it was afraid to leave captivity. Finally, one of the park rangers unadvisedly began to poke it with a stick from the back of the cage (later that day he got many stitches in his face). Israel had the fear of a captive animal afraid of freedom, afraid of taking a risk for a better life, afraid of failure.
When Israel came to the Red Sea in front of them, the mountains on each side, and the Egyptians armies behind them, “they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord.” (Ex. 14:10). But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord…” (Ex. 14:13).
But old habits die hard. After the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the defeat of the Amalekites, the manna from heaven and water from Horeb, Israel still couldn’t get rid of the thoughts that lead to the feeling of fear. The trip of the spies into the Promised Land only confirmed the trepidation of the Israelites as they saw their enemies as giants and themselves as grasshoppers (grasshopper complex). So because of Israel’s fear, they were doomed to a life of mediocrity; no home, no milk and honey.
So when Joshua becomes the top ranking leader in Israel, it’s no wonder that he was given the repeated message:
“Be strong and courageous…” (1:6).
“Only be strong and very courageous…” (1:7).
“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (1:9).
This is a message Joshua would need as he would lead this band of slaves turned nomads into the land of the Canaanites.
2. The World’s Fear
And the message to be strong and courageous, to not tremble or be dismayed, is needed by Christians today. It is easy to look back on the situation of the Israelites and accuse them of cowardice from the safety of our church buildings. But until you are in a life and death situation, then you don’t really know for sure what you will do.
During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were one of Stalin's colleagues. Why didn't you stop him?" "Who said that?" roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why." Today in the Word, July 13, 1993. Fear is a tricky thing to tame. Courage comes and goes. Look at Peter, for example. One moment he is cutting of the ear of the temple police to defend Jesus, the next hour he is denying even knowing Jesus before a door maid. Fear can grips us quickly and hold tightly.
Ann Landers receives an average of ten thousand letters each month-nearly all of them from people with problems. She was asked if there was one predominant theme in the letters she receives. She said, "The one problem above all others seems to be fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself."
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 6.3 million American adults, ages 18 to 54, have some type of specific phobia. Any object or situation can become the focus of a phobia (Greek—phobos, for fear). Hydrophobia is fear of water. Nyctophobia is the fear of darkness. Acrophobia is fear of high places. Xenophobia is fear of strangers. Claustrophobia is fear of confined places. Agoraphobia is fear of open spaces. Ailurophobia—cats; cynophobia--dogs. Anthophobia—flowers. Anthropophobia—people. The lists of phobias are practically endless because the fears are endless.
One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can't dear. I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"
News media plays off of our fears and tries to create new ones. This results in more viewers, more readers of their papers. I’ve noticed that some people seem to almost enjoy some bad news to worry about. It is almost as if they get a high. And every year we have a new summer story to worry about:
Shark attacks in the Gulf (2000), Terrorist attacks in America (2001), West Nile Virus and SARS (2003), War in Iraq (2004), Global Warming (2005), Nuclear program in Iran and North Korea (2006), Illegal Immigration (2007), Another Great Depression? (2008). What will be the summer story to scare us in 2009? Any predictions? Medical malpractice?
Advertisements cash in on old fears and invest in new fears:
Insurance: health, home, car, life, flood, fire, pet, renters, etc.
Buy gold b/c dollar is losing value!
TV producers will often use fear to attract viewers.
3. What is fear and Where does it come from?
A. Fear Defined.
In the English language we have at least ten words that express the thought and feeling of fear: dread, horror, fright, panic, alarm, trepidation, apprehension, afraid, worry.
But the word fear means, “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, whether the threat is real or imagined.” (Webster’s American Family Dictionary)
B. Fear comes to us in many ways:
(1) Fear comes from doubt. Fear may even be the opposite of faith.
Matthew 28:29-31 - Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said* to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Notice that Jesus didn’t ask Peter, “Why were you afraid?” He equated Peter’s fear with doubt, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
(2) Fear comes from a lack of knowledge (fear of the unknown):
Isaiah 51:12-13 – I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies and of the son of man who is made like grass, that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, as he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
(3) Fear comes from the love of this present world and the desire to please man:
As seen in the previous passage, the Israelites were more afraid of their oppressors (Assyria), then they were God. Any time we fear anything or anyone more than we fear God, then that is a form of idolatry. Some people love this present world so much that they are in constant fear of death. Or if they’re not constantly living in fear of death, they paranoid about their health. And if they’re not paranoid about their health, they’re afraid they will lose their security or all their possessions.
Jesus said, “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; you, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5). Do not give man the glory and honor that belongs to God.
Have you ever thought about where fear comes from? I’ll tell you where fear does not come from. Fear does not come from God. Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Notice, God did not give us fear. Hence, fear comes to us as a result of sin. In fact, the first time we read of fear it was after Adam and Eve committed the first sin and hid themselves from God (Gen. 3:10).
4. Why not be afraid?
A. Fear is prohibited by God.
The words “do not fear” are found 57 times in the Bible; and “do not be afraid” is found 46 times (NASB).
Jesus said to the church as Smyrna in Revelation 2:10, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested…” Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.
B. Fear ruins productivity.
Example: Saul’s soldiers wouldn’t face the giant (1 Sam. 17:11).
Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his first Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, being afraid can so immobilize you that you can’t move to solve the very problems that are causing your fear.”
We find a biblical example of what FDR was speaking of in the one talent man buried his talent (Matt. 25:25).
C. Fear is contagious.
Hence, God does not use a fearful person:
Deuteronomy 20 contains God’s laws of warfare for the children of Israel. The chapter begins, “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.” (20:1). He continues 20:3, “Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for your against your enemies, to save you.” After giving these commands, God gives several reasons why a man may be discharged from serving in a battle: built new house, planted new vineyard, or engaged to a woman. But notice the last exemption from war that God gives, “Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’” (20:8). Of course, this would be a dishonorable discharge.
Yet Israel witnessed this contagious fear first hand when the ten of the twelve spies sent to Canaan’s land came back with a grasshopper complex (Numbers 13-14).
The Midianites had made Israel’s life miserable for seven years. But God raised up a judge named Gideon to defeat the Midianites and deliver the people of God. As Gideon collected his army in Israel he said, “Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead. So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.” (Judges 7:3).
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “Keep your fears to yourself; share your courage with others.”
D. Satan uses our fears against us.
Job’s fear may have been his downfall. Satan asked the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan had a good point, for when Job lost everything he had, he cries out, “For what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.” (Job 3:25).
E. Fear is slavery
Hebrews 2:14-15 – Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Fear is slavery because it keeps us from doing what we wish we had the courage to do. How many times in your life has fear held you back? Has fear of man kept you from doing something? Fear of failure? Fear of rejection? Fear is the chain that keeps people enslaved.
F. Fear closes the doors to salvation
Revelation 21:8 – But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
5. How can we overcome fear?
Of course, Courage does not mean the absence of fear: During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, "Sir, I am not a brave man. . . The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands." Years later, when Patton's autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: "I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears."
A. Learn of God.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).
Deuteronomy 17:19 - It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes.
B. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
If you believe that there is a God who is all powerful and all knowing, and if you believe he is a good God that loves you and has your best interest in mind, then you have nothing in the world to be afraid of:
Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4). The rod/staff of the shepherd had many purposes. Most of the time it simply served as a walking stick, but it also served as a weapon. The shepherd would use his rod to protect his sheep from wild animals so that the rod of the shepherd was an instrument of safety for the sheep.
“Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence…” (Proverbs 3:25-26).
C. Realize that God didn’t give you a spirit of fear, but the Spirit of the Lord.
The false prophets in Israel were crying “peace” as long as they had something to bite with their teeth (Micah 3:5). They were afraid to speak the truth because it might result in poverty for them. The prophet, Micah, however, wasn’t afraid of facing any circumstance or any person. He wrote of himself in contrast to the false prophets, “I am filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord—and with justice and courage.” (Micah 3:8).
D. Live Righteously.
The prophet Isaiah lived in tumultuous times in Israel. The Northern Kingdom was a lost cause and the Southern Kingdom wasn’t much better. Assyria was about to conquer Israel and make Judah’s life miserable as well. But the prophet gave a message of courage to the faithful remnant of God:
Isaiah 54:14 – In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you.
E. Love God.
According to 1 John 4, if you love God, then you will love one another (11), God will abide in us (12), His Spirit will be given to us (13), and we will have confidence toward the Day of Judgment (17).
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
Conclusion
There are many things that cause us to be afraid, but the Lord comforts our every fear and tells to fear not. “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2).
The only fear that is acceptable, rather, commanded, is the fear of God:
Paul admonished believers to work out their salvation “with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).
The early church grew in number as they lived “in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).
Fearing God and keeping His commandents are the two parts which make up “the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 – Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous…The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
1. Israel’s Fear
This was a message that Joshua and Israel really needed to hear. They had known fear. This nation knew what it was like to be enslaved by the Egyptians, beaten by cruel task masters (Ex. 2:11). They must have been paralyzed with fear when Pharaoh ordered that the Egyptians murder the male Hebrew babies (Ex. 1:16). Though they had prayed to God for deliverance, the mere thought of leaving Egypt with a high hand made them recoil (Ex. 5:21).
Moses knew that it was hard for the humble slave of Egypt to become a brave warrior for God. When he led the Israelites out of Egypt, “God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, ‘the people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” (Ex. 13:14). Can you just imagine that kind of fear? That kind of fear is seen in an animal that has been caged its whole life; and when its captors finally try to release it in the wild, the animal won’t come out of the cage. I recently watched on the Animal Planet a full grown leopard sit in an open cage for almost an hour because it was afraid to leave captivity. Finally, one of the park rangers unadvisedly began to poke it with a stick from the back of the cage (later that day he got many stitches in his face). Israel had the fear of a captive animal afraid of freedom, afraid of taking a risk for a better life, afraid of failure.
When Israel came to the Red Sea in front of them, the mountains on each side, and the Egyptians armies behind them, “they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord.” (Ex. 14:10). But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord…” (Ex. 14:13).
But old habits die hard. After the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the defeat of the Amalekites, the manna from heaven and water from Horeb, Israel still couldn’t get rid of the thoughts that lead to the feeling of fear. The trip of the spies into the Promised Land only confirmed the trepidation of the Israelites as they saw their enemies as giants and themselves as grasshoppers (grasshopper complex). So because of Israel’s fear, they were doomed to a life of mediocrity; no home, no milk and honey.
So when Joshua becomes the top ranking leader in Israel, it’s no wonder that he was given the repeated message:
“Be strong and courageous…” (1:6).
“Only be strong and very courageous…” (1:7).
“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (1:9).
This is a message Joshua would need as he would lead this band of slaves turned nomads into the land of the Canaanites.
2. The World’s Fear
And the message to be strong and courageous, to not tremble or be dismayed, is needed by Christians today. It is easy to look back on the situation of the Israelites and accuse them of cowardice from the safety of our church buildings. But until you are in a life and death situation, then you don’t really know for sure what you will do.
During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were one of Stalin's colleagues. Why didn't you stop him?" "Who said that?" roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why." Today in the Word, July 13, 1993. Fear is a tricky thing to tame. Courage comes and goes. Look at Peter, for example. One moment he is cutting of the ear of the temple police to defend Jesus, the next hour he is denying even knowing Jesus before a door maid. Fear can grips us quickly and hold tightly.
Ann Landers receives an average of ten thousand letters each month-nearly all of them from people with problems. She was asked if there was one predominant theme in the letters she receives. She said, "The one problem above all others seems to be fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself."
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 6.3 million American adults, ages 18 to 54, have some type of specific phobia. Any object or situation can become the focus of a phobia (Greek—phobos, for fear). Hydrophobia is fear of water. Nyctophobia is the fear of darkness. Acrophobia is fear of high places. Xenophobia is fear of strangers. Claustrophobia is fear of confined places. Agoraphobia is fear of open spaces. Ailurophobia—cats; cynophobia--dogs. Anthophobia—flowers. Anthropophobia—people. The lists of phobias are practically endless because the fears are endless.
One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can't dear. I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"
News media plays off of our fears and tries to create new ones. This results in more viewers, more readers of their papers. I’ve noticed that some people seem to almost enjoy some bad news to worry about. It is almost as if they get a high. And every year we have a new summer story to worry about:
Shark attacks in the Gulf (2000), Terrorist attacks in America (2001), West Nile Virus and SARS (2003), War in Iraq (2004), Global Warming (2005), Nuclear program in Iran and North Korea (2006), Illegal Immigration (2007), Another Great Depression? (2008). What will be the summer story to scare us in 2009? Any predictions? Medical malpractice?
Advertisements cash in on old fears and invest in new fears:
Insurance: health, home, car, life, flood, fire, pet, renters, etc.
Buy gold b/c dollar is losing value!
TV producers will often use fear to attract viewers.
3. What is fear and Where does it come from?
A. Fear Defined.
In the English language we have at least ten words that express the thought and feeling of fear: dread, horror, fright, panic, alarm, trepidation, apprehension, afraid, worry.
But the word fear means, “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, whether the threat is real or imagined.” (Webster’s American Family Dictionary)
B. Fear comes to us in many ways:
(1) Fear comes from doubt. Fear may even be the opposite of faith.
Matthew 28:29-31 - Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said* to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Notice that Jesus didn’t ask Peter, “Why were you afraid?” He equated Peter’s fear with doubt, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
(2) Fear comes from a lack of knowledge (fear of the unknown):
Isaiah 51:12-13 – I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies and of the son of man who is made like grass, that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, as he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
(3) Fear comes from the love of this present world and the desire to please man:
As seen in the previous passage, the Israelites were more afraid of their oppressors (Assyria), then they were God. Any time we fear anything or anyone more than we fear God, then that is a form of idolatry. Some people love this present world so much that they are in constant fear of death. Or if they’re not constantly living in fear of death, they paranoid about their health. And if they’re not paranoid about their health, they’re afraid they will lose their security or all their possessions.
Jesus said, “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; you, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5). Do not give man the glory and honor that belongs to God.
Have you ever thought about where fear comes from? I’ll tell you where fear does not come from. Fear does not come from God. Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Notice, God did not give us fear. Hence, fear comes to us as a result of sin. In fact, the first time we read of fear it was after Adam and Eve committed the first sin and hid themselves from God (Gen. 3:10).
4. Why not be afraid?
A. Fear is prohibited by God.
The words “do not fear” are found 57 times in the Bible; and “do not be afraid” is found 46 times (NASB).
Jesus said to the church as Smyrna in Revelation 2:10, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested…” Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.
B. Fear ruins productivity.
Example: Saul’s soldiers wouldn’t face the giant (1 Sam. 17:11).
Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his first Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, being afraid can so immobilize you that you can’t move to solve the very problems that are causing your fear.”
We find a biblical example of what FDR was speaking of in the one talent man buried his talent (Matt. 25:25).
C. Fear is contagious.
Hence, God does not use a fearful person:
Deuteronomy 20 contains God’s laws of warfare for the children of Israel. The chapter begins, “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.” (20:1). He continues 20:3, “Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for your against your enemies, to save you.” After giving these commands, God gives several reasons why a man may be discharged from serving in a battle: built new house, planted new vineyard, or engaged to a woman. But notice the last exemption from war that God gives, “Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’” (20:8). Of course, this would be a dishonorable discharge.
Yet Israel witnessed this contagious fear first hand when the ten of the twelve spies sent to Canaan’s land came back with a grasshopper complex (Numbers 13-14).
The Midianites had made Israel’s life miserable for seven years. But God raised up a judge named Gideon to defeat the Midianites and deliver the people of God. As Gideon collected his army in Israel he said, “Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead. So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.” (Judges 7:3).
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “Keep your fears to yourself; share your courage with others.”
D. Satan uses our fears against us.
Job’s fear may have been his downfall. Satan asked the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan had a good point, for when Job lost everything he had, he cries out, “For what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.” (Job 3:25).
E. Fear is slavery
Hebrews 2:14-15 – Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Fear is slavery because it keeps us from doing what we wish we had the courage to do. How many times in your life has fear held you back? Has fear of man kept you from doing something? Fear of failure? Fear of rejection? Fear is the chain that keeps people enslaved.
F. Fear closes the doors to salvation
Revelation 21:8 – But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
5. How can we overcome fear?
Of course, Courage does not mean the absence of fear: During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, "Sir, I am not a brave man. . . The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands." Years later, when Patton's autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: "I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears."
A. Learn of God.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).
Deuteronomy 17:19 - It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes.
B. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
If you believe that there is a God who is all powerful and all knowing, and if you believe he is a good God that loves you and has your best interest in mind, then you have nothing in the world to be afraid of:
Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4). The rod/staff of the shepherd had many purposes. Most of the time it simply served as a walking stick, but it also served as a weapon. The shepherd would use his rod to protect his sheep from wild animals so that the rod of the shepherd was an instrument of safety for the sheep.
“Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence…” (Proverbs 3:25-26).
C. Realize that God didn’t give you a spirit of fear, but the Spirit of the Lord.
The false prophets in Israel were crying “peace” as long as they had something to bite with their teeth (Micah 3:5). They were afraid to speak the truth because it might result in poverty for them. The prophet, Micah, however, wasn’t afraid of facing any circumstance or any person. He wrote of himself in contrast to the false prophets, “I am filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord—and with justice and courage.” (Micah 3:8).
D. Live Righteously.
The prophet Isaiah lived in tumultuous times in Israel. The Northern Kingdom was a lost cause and the Southern Kingdom wasn’t much better. Assyria was about to conquer Israel and make Judah’s life miserable as well. But the prophet gave a message of courage to the faithful remnant of God:
Isaiah 54:14 – In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you.
E. Love God.
According to 1 John 4, if you love God, then you will love one another (11), God will abide in us (12), His Spirit will be given to us (13), and we will have confidence toward the Day of Judgment (17).
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
Conclusion
There are many things that cause us to be afraid, but the Lord comforts our every fear and tells to fear not. “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2).
The only fear that is acceptable, rather, commanded, is the fear of God:
Paul admonished believers to work out their salvation “with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).
The early church grew in number as they lived “in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).
Fearing God and keeping His commandents are the two parts which make up “the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).
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