10-02-22 “My memory is what it used to be!”

Scripture      1 Corinthians 11:23-26

 

          You have heard it said, “My memory isn’t what it used to be!” but I say unto you, “My memory is what it used to be!” BAD! Why do I preach? Not to tell you something new. Rather, to REMIND you of what you already know but have forgotten. Think carefully, how many of you sinned during this past week? Everyone. Apparently you forgot what I preached two weeks ago or what Aaron Osterbrock preached last week or you would not have sinned, but because you (And I) don’t remember very well, I will preach again this week, and next and next.

          Those who say I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian (true statement but biblically and theologically an incorrect way to live), are the people who have forgotten that they need to be reminded. Not going to church to worship and hear the word of God preached is like having an alarm clock and forgetting to set it to wake you up on time.
          In our relationship with Jesus and His word, we are all forgetful, not one of us has a good memory, we have all fallen short of what we knew before.
          It is not only being reminded but being reminded in a new, different, innovative and fresh way. What you knew before means something different at age 72 than it did at 22 or means something different when you were married than it does when you are widowed or divorced. The word you knew before has not changed, but you have and you need reminded of that word and will receive it in a whole new light.
          In every church people (including myself sometimes) want to do things the way we used too. By that, we really don’t mean just do that activity or say that prayer or sing that song, because any of us can do those things on our own if they are that important to us. What we mean is I want the experience of what it was like 30 years ago. The problem is, we are now 30 years older and not only perceive things differently, we experience them differently.  How many of you used to go to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wed night, as well as other times through the week? How many still do that today? One of the big things we used to do to experience church and fellowship were potlucks – we had them several times a year and most of us went to all of them. How many just came to the picnic potluck this past Sunday? If we don’t do all the same things the same way, it will never be the same, and even if we did the same things the same way (which would be tragic to not grow and develop new practices at all) it won’t be the same because we are no longer the same. Instead we have to be reminded of God’s goodness, faithfulness and love and have that reinterpreted for the life situation in which we now live.  The vital part is to allow ourselves to be reminded, that even though we have changed, even though the church has changed, that according to Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

          Is this just a preacher doing promotion to get people to come to worship and hear preaching more regularly? NO!!!  God calling us to remember is throughout the OT and the NT.

REMEMBER THE LAW
Genesis 3:8-11
          Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" In other words, I just told you not to eat of that tree or you will die. Do you not remember?
 
REMEMBER THE SABBATH
Exodus 20:8-11
          Through Moses, in the 10 commandments, God said; Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Remember the Law & the Sabbath.
REMEMBER THE EXODUS
Deuteronomy16:2-3
          Sacrifice as the Passover to the Lord your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for his Name. Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste — so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt. Remember the Law & the Sabbath & the Exodus.
REMEMBER THE BREAD
Matthew 16:8-10
          Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Remember the Law & the Sabbath & the Exodus & the Bread.
REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID
Luke 24:5-8
          "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"  8 Then they remembered his words. Remember the Law & the Sabbath & the Exodus & the Bread & what Jesus said.
 
REMEMBER WHAT JESUS DID & WHO HE IS
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
          For I (emphasis of Paul over the Corinthians) received (reinterpreted [new] tradition) from the Lord what I also passed (tradition unbroken from the last supper to now) on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed (the betrayal is still going on), took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my (Emphasis ‘Jesus’ body) body, which is for you (was given on your behalf and continues to be given); do this in remembrance (to call back again into memory a vivid experience) of me."  In the same way, after supper he took the cup (the final cup – the cup of blessing which was held up), saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood (Blood indicated a life given up in death which was the penalty for breaking the covenant with God); do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim (make a sincere announcement) the Lord's death until he comes (the second coming). Remember the Law & the Sabbath & the Exodus & the Bread & what Jesus said, what Jesus did & who Jesus is.
 

ILLUSTRATION OF JESUS AT THE CENTER OF COMMUNION
It was a cold Christmas Eve a few years ago.  Will Willimon, Dean of the Chapel at Duke University, was rushing his family to get in the car.  They were running late for the communion service.  "Where are the sermon notes?  Where is the pulpit robe?  Don't forget to turn off the lights.  Everybody get in the car and be quiet!"
On the way to the church… rushing through the traffic, their 5-year-old- daughter, Harriet, got sick to her stomach and she up-chucked all over the car.  "Great!"  Will Willimon thought, "If people only knew what preachers go through."  He wheeled into the church parking lot and jumped out of the car, leaving his wife, Patsy, to clean up the car and get the kids into the church… and he thought, "If people only knew what preachers' spouses go through."
His wife, Patsy, led a still unsteady and pale Harriet into the church.  They sat on the back pew in the darkness…just in case Harriet got sick again.  Their son, William, age seven, ran down to the front of the church to sit with his grandparents.  Will Willimon threw on his robe, took a deep breath, and joined the choir for the processional.  He made it through the first part of the service… and the sermon.  Then came Holy Communion.  Will Willimon's wife, Patsy, came down to the altar to receive the sacrament, but she left 5 year old Harriet on the back pew.  Harriet was still so pale and so weak and so sick.  But then something beautiful happened.  Seven-year-old William got up and came back to the communion rail.  "What on earth is he doing?" wondered his parents.  "He's already received communion once.  What is he up to?"  They watched him race to the back of the church and scoot down the pew toward his sister.  He opened his hands… revealing a small piece of bread.  "Harriet," he said, "This is the body of Christ given for you."  Without hesitation, little Harriet picked the bread out of her brother's hands and plopped it into her mouth and said, "Amen."  And in that moment Holy Communion had never been more holy.  Then 7-year-old William patted his 5-year-old sister Harriet on the head.  He smiled.  She smiled.  And then he turned and ran back down to the front of the church to re-join his grandparents.  (The Christian Ministry, July-August 1989, p. 47)
Think of that. Her 7-year-old brother William thought to include her.  Either because she wasn't being included or he thought it might help her feel better he reached out to his sister with what really mattered—the body of Christ in the form of communion.  There's a name for that…it's called LOVE!  What a beautiful thing it is when our children rise to the occasion and teach us once again the power of love, the wonder of love, the miracle of love.
          My grandson, Gideon did the very same thing for his mom, my daughter Gretchen, when she wasn’t feeing well, he went and got communion elements and served them to his mother. It shows that children understand something that we sometimes forget – Jesus is at the center of this table. He invites us all to come to the table – the rich, the poor, the successful, those who often fail, the victor and the victim, the educated and uneducated, the old and young, the male and female. All are invited to his table and today – World Communion Sunday Jesus is at the center of the longest table in the world. (PIB boasts the longest bar in the world) Our God boasts of the longest table which is reaching around the entire world today and Jesus Jesus Jesus is at the center and we are invited to bring our sin, our struggles, our hopes and dreams to the table where we find forgiveness, restitution, renewal, and above all, love.

Receive World Commuion

09-25-22 ABC Global Servants Aaron and Valarie Osterbrock

 Aaron and Valerie Osterbroack along with their 5 children share their mission work in Malaysia.

After worship, they did a Q & A with the Sunday School class.

Following that, Pastor Jeff took them and some staff to B-Dubs for lunch.

09-18-22 Combined Worship with Northwood Church of God

Pastor Jeff Cooper and Brent Smalley shared their testimonies and their life verse.
Pastor Jeff was "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
Pastor Brent's was "Be still and know that I am God."

“Knowing Jesus…there is nothing more important!””

Scripture                                              John 8:32,

That whole conversation started off because Jesus said Everyone who sins is a slave to sin, the slave is not part of the family – a son is part of the family.

Last half of John 8 are Jewish people arguing with Jesus about who their father is.

They say their father is Abraham then they say their father is God – Jesus says their father is the devil – a liar and the father of lies.

It ends with Jesus saying, “Before Abraham was born, I am.” They picked up stones to kill him.

This is not even halfway through John, how did Jesus get here already where people are arguing with him and then trying to kill him?

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Back up to the beginning of John 8.

Retell the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. (About sin and forgiveness for everyone and everything)

 (The stones picked up to throw at her may be the same stones they pick up to throw at Jesus.)

After the woman leaves it says Jesus spoke to the crowds again – that is where the “who is my father?” conversation starts.

Right in the middle of that conversation is my life verse.

Jesus turns the conversation by saying “When you see the son of man lifted up, then you will know that I am what I claim to be.”

There were several Jews who put their trust in Jesus and believed that he was who he said he was. He told them to hold to his teachings and they would become his disciples. And then the most awesome verse of promise ever – John 8:32 “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

          I put my trust in Jesus, that he is who he claimed to be on Nov 4, 1974 my Damascus Rd. experience. Later that same month, Thanksgiving weekend; I was at my first BYF convention and the same music group and preacher were there that I had gone to hear the night I was saved. Bob Laurent preached on John 8:32 and I had my Ananias opening Paul’s eyes moment. That single verse made everything come into focus related to what I had believed and experience earlier that month.

          All of a sudden I realized I was no longer a slave to sin (it didn’t mean I would never commit another sin) it meant I was no longer held in chains by sin. I was free to experience abundant life because of what Jesus did on the cross for me. Like the Jews who believed in Jesus, it didn’t matter if Abraham was my father because now God was my father. It didn’t matter that I was as sinful as the woman caught in the act of adultery, I was now set free from that pain and agony to live life in and through Jesus Christ.

You will know the truth = JESUS   /   And the truth will set you free = from sin.

I said this at Ashland last week – People can play make believe and create God in their own image, but that does not make it true. There is only one true God and his name is Jesus!

ORDER:

Pastor Jeff share faith journey – how Jesus became real to me

Pastor Brent share faith journey – how Jesus became real to me

Pastor Jeff share life verse and why it is important.

Pastor Brent share life verse and why it is important.

Tie it together if needed.

The worship was followed by both churches sharing in a potluck picnic.

09-11-22 “Can the church still reach a secular world?”

Scripture                                              2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9

2 Peter 3:3-4

          First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. (empaigmouh = scoffing, making fun of through mockery. empaikths =  the person who makes fun through mockery / literally mockers will come mocking – a strong Hebraic phrase. Qualified with their own evil = (lustful, passionate, strong) desires.) 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
          Mark Cornell – “How can Jesus be both the son of God and the son of David?” Others in HS “Cooper – Hey Jesus! Praise the Lord!”
Have you ever head someone say: “Christianity is just a crutch.”
Mahatma Gandhi “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Aleister Crowley “One would go mad if one took the Bible seriously; but to take it seriously one must be already mad.”
Frank Turek  “If Christians continue to rely on emotion and ignore evidence, they will continue to lose their children to secularism. As Ravi Zacharias points out, a tepid Christianity cannot withstand a rabid secularism. And make no mistake-secularism is rabid. The world isn't neutral out there. Today's culture is becoming increasingly anti-Christian.”
Thomas Paine “It would be more consistent that we call [the Bible] the work of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind.”
Steven Weinberg  “With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion” (ie. crusades, 9-11, Nazi Germany).
          AGAIN – vs 4 The mockers will come mocking, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
          What is the coming they are referring too? Mark 13:32-37  "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"
 
2 Peter 3:8-9
          But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
          Who is the everyone? All those living outside a relationship with Jesus – who live a secular, rather than a sacred life with Christ. What does the secular world look like?
The secular world looks different in different places.
1       The European continent has “Utter Secularity” with an open clash of doctrines involving an unrelenting attack of gods and churches and a striving to replace them. In such an environment, many people have lost their faith.
2       Great Britain has “Mere Secularity” = God and the churches are not attacked; they are ignored by people preoccupied with this world and their daily routines.  Many people have lost their faith in this atmosphere as well.
3       United States has “Controlled Secularity” = The dominant religion in the US is a civil form or Christianity with the meaning changed for many of its symbols and no longer influencing the culture.  People in this kind of secularity have drifted away from the faith.

Some observations about this kind of secularity:

1       Other religions and world views are also losing numbers and influence. Japanese Shinto has become very secularized since WWII.
2       From 1900 to the 1990’s the percentage of the world’s atheistic and non-religious people have grown from 0.2% to over 21%. Those in this category now form the second largest group of people, second only to Christianity.
3       A secular culture especially challenges religions like Christianity whose core truths are claimed as non-negotiable.
 
What are our non-negotiable truths?
Salvation through Christ alone.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”      Acts 4:1 “Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
The most inclusive & exclusive faith there is. You are either ALL IN or ALL OUT but all are WELCOME.
 
Authority of Scripture
2 Peter 1:20-21   Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16-17   All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
          There is no other written authority for the Christian than the Bible – 66 books – it is 100% authoritative for the Christian life.
 
Incarnation
John 1:14   The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Col 1:15, 19   He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
 
Trinity
1 Peter 1:2   From Peter to those who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.
 
Original sin
Rom 5:12   Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
 
Christ’s death/blood alone brings forgiveness
Hebrews 9:22   The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.    2 Corinthians 5:21   God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
 
Christ rose from the dead
1 Cor 15:12, 16, 17, 20-22    But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
 
Christ is coming again
The second coming is one of the most important doctrines in Scripture. It is mentioned more than 300 times in the N.T. In Titus 2:13, Paul called it the believers’ “blessed hope”. In Philippians 3:2 , Paul said this: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?
“Can the church, with its non-negotiables, still reach a secular world?”
 
Acts 1:1   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

1 Tim 1:15-17   Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

09-04-22 “Can you recommend a good carpenter?”

Scripture                                                Colossians 3:23-24
HISTORY OF LABOR DAY
          Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19^th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.

HONOR THE CARPENTER
          On this labor day, I particularly want to honor the occupation of carpenter.
          When my extended family decided to tear down our 60 year old 3 bedroom vacation cottage on Put in Bay, and build a much larger, much nicer year round home, they wanted to make sure we hired the best carpenters available. Therefore, we hired some Amish builders – they are the best. They aren’t just carpenters, they are artisans and craftsmen. There is a quality to their work. They build it like they are building it for themselves.
          There is so much pleasure watching this new home go up on the same property that has been in my family for my entire life, but there is some pain letting go of the house that has always been there. That sounds like the Christian life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! And in Ephesians 4:22-24 we read, You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
          I guess we could say God is a carpenter. After all, He created, or ‘built’ the world. He built Adam from the dust of the ground and built Eve from Adam’s ribs. That takes an artisan and a craftsman. In Christ, he demolishes our old life and builds a much larger, much better new one. It would have been interesting if Jesus’ earthly occupation had been that of carpenter!?!...Oh – it was. Mark 6:2-3 "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?"

          On this labor day, where we honor workers. We recognize that every occupation can be God honoring. Is that true? Yes. That is not dependent on the type of work. Let me ask, which is a more sacred job, being a pastor or being a farmer? If you don’t eat food from the farmer’s field, then I am serving spiritual food to a bunch of dead people. Which is a more sacred job, a farmer or a truck driver? If the food is grown but can’t get to you, it doesn’t matter. Which is more sacred, a delivery truck driver or a garbage truck driver? If, the waste we create isn’t taken away, we will all die from unsanitary conditions.
          We could do that with nearly every job that exists. Every job, including pastor is not inherently sacred (God honoring) it depends on the individual worker. A job is just a job until the worker works at it as though he or she is working for the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
 
BUILDING ROOMS IN HEAVEN
John 14:1-14
          "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
          5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
          6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
          8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
          9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
 
 
George Lucas First Hired Harrison Ford as a Carpenter
Star Wars creator George Lucas hired Harrison Ford, then a carpenter, to build a door in the casting offices. But the director wasn’t just impressed by the star’s woodwork skills. Despite hundreds of people competing for the role, Lucas decided Harrison was actually the best person for the part.
Legendary producer Fred Roos said, “Harrison had done a lot of carpentry for me. He needed money, he had kids, he wasn't a big movie star yet. The day he was doing it, George happened to be there. It was serendipitous."
It was this serendipity that launched one of the greatest movie careers in history. Without it, Star Wars may not have been as big of a hit; we'd also have a different Indiana Jones, and quite possibly no Blade Runner.
Possible Preaching Angle:
Perhaps we can learn from Ford. Are we willing to work at whatever comes to hand? The Hands that flung stars into space also washed some pretty dirty feet at a memorable meal with the disciples. Sometimes we miss opportunities for service because we are waiting for the big important roles.  (Amazing how many people want to be stars – guy who wanted to be a preacher like me – without the 12 years of college and years of experience.

 

BUILDING HIS CHURCH
Matthew 16:13-19
          When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

 

BUILDING HIS PEOPLE
SHINE LIKE STARS
          People want to be stars – you can be but only if the one who put the stars in place is the one you have building your life:
Philippians 2:14-16
          Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

BUILDING HUMORE:

08-28-22 “Life, like theater, is a battle between good and evil”

Scripture                                                Romans 7:14 – 8:4

Two natures dwell within my breast; The one is foul, the other blest.

The new I love; the old I hate. The one I feed will dominate.

Romans 7:14-25
          We know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
          21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!
          So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
 
THE MESSAGE SAYS IT BETTER
Romans 7:14-25
          I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself — after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. 15 What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. 16 So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
          17 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! 18 I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. 19 I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. 20 My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
          21 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 22 I truly delight in God's commands, 23 but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
          24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
          25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
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          Why I love the theater = conflict between good and evil acted out as a reflection of the world in which we live and of the world which lives in us.

Going to Hamilton tonight.

Hamilton and Aaron Burr, Their impassioned conflict throughout the play hinges on choosing “how” critical changes should be made. Hamilton is a tireless revolutionary, constantly advocating for bold change based on his strict, unwavering principles. His adversary, Burr, is patient and methodical, advocating instead for incremental change with constant concern for public opinion.
Hamilton and Burr come into conflict with each other or other characters because of their opposing motivations. Burr wonders why his career is stalling while Hamilton rises;  it’s because Burr is missing the key ingredient–something to fight for beyond himself. In the end, Hamilton dies for his beliefs while Burr survives.

          Burr shoots Hamilton in a duel which ultimately causes his death. That was an obvious physical – external battle. The internal battle had to do with the conflicts between these two over many years and Burr’s disdain over some things Hamilton had said about him.
 
          It is interesting to note that this dual battleground – the external and internal shows itself in theater in another way.

          Classical (external) Acting vs Method (internal) Acting (HOW TO CRY)
 
          As I considered the fact that we are all involved in two wars simultaneously our entire lives – the wars that rage on in the world around us and the war that rages on within us, I grabbed the first Bible I marked up a lot when I was a new Christian and purposely chose to open to any page and read whatever was underlined. God chose the page I would turn to.
          John 16:8-11
 "And when he has come he will convince the world of its sin, and of the availability of God's goodness, and of deliverance from judgment. The world's sin is unbelief in me; there is righteousness available because I go to the Father and you shall see me no more; there is deliverance from judgment because the prince of this world has already been judged.
          John 16:31-33
"Do you finally believe this?" Jesus asked. "But the time is coming-in fact, it is here-when you will be scattered, each one returning to his own home, leaving me alone. Yet I will not be alone, for the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world."
          John 17:3-4
And this is the way to have eternal life-by knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth!
 
          Let’s consider the very first battle we know something about. It was taking place externally as well as internally at the same time. It was a battle fought in a real place, in real-time, with real people while simultaneously, the battle raged on internally among those who were fighting.
          It took place in the garden of Eden under the shade of a fruit tree and the battle was between a serpent and the first two humans, Adam and Eve. The internal battle was being fought within Adam and Eve. In fact, a wonderful musical has dramatized the biblical story to show the conflict between parents and children (ie between God and Adam and Eve, then God and Noah and his children, hence between God and all humanity). It takes a twist on the biblical story when Eve keeps asking why she can’t eat from the apple tree until she finally does it and then tries getting Adam to eat of it by offering various dishes made from apples. He chooses not to eat because the Father told them not to.
          Eve is banished from the garden – life as they have known it where the Father has been with them since the beginning. Adam now has a battle within – he can stay in this paradise home or choose to eat the apple and also be banished but be able to live with the other love of his life – Eve – he chooses the latter.
          Act 2 ends with Noah’s children longing to get back home to paradise where they can be with the Father.
 
          And it is that same Holy Spirit that allows us to get up from our fallen state.
ILLUSTRATION
Growing up in New England I played ice hockey until I went off to college.  As a 12 year old, I played ice hockey for the first time with my father was my coach.  During one particular game I was skating up ice with the hockey puck when one of my opponents cracked his stick over the top of my head.  I was knocked down to the ice dazed and disoriented.  Some of my team mates gathered around me, while my father hurried over to where I was laying. It was his words at that moment that have stayed with me all these years. He did not ask me if I was alright. Instead, as my father knelt over me, he said, "They'll clap if you get up."  
APPLICATION
So remember, no matter what life throws at you, no matter how many times you stumble and fall, "they will clap if you get up."  Remember, there will be joy in Heaven every time you get back up from a fall. Heaven rejoices more over someone getting up than over those who never stumble.  What we need to remember is that we do not have to stay under the power of sin.  By the grace of God we can rise. And when we do, heaven is there cheering for us!
Luke 15:7     I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
 
          The Skin of our teeth is theater that shows the battle between good and evil more than any other.

 

Romans 8:1-4
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.