Connection Fellowship
4th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Planting of a Cypress Tree
Isaiah 55:6-13
INTRODUCTION
Thanks, Dana, for investing your life and ministry with us today. We are honored you would come today. We are honored that all of you came to share this day with us. This is a very special day. I tend to be a very driven person who likes to get to the next task. But I am learning the importance of remembering what God has done. Near the end of the service, we will see a presentation to help celebrate the past four years.
But before that, I want to share with you something that God has been doing in my heart for the past few months in regard to the church. Not only for this corporate body, but for us individually and for the body of Christ in general. Last week, we finished our series in Psalms by talking about our greatest personal desire…which should be God Himself.
But what is God’s desire for us? We talk about ‘making disciples’ as being God’s call on our lives. We believe that this is captured in our vision of ‘Connecting the World to Christ…on person at a time.” But what impact can it have on a whole community? Our text this morning gives a brief prescription, but then paints a beautiful picture of what that can look like as we join together…as a community of believers…pursuing our greatest desire…God Himself…and making Him known to others.
TEXT
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, And it will be a memorial to the Lord, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”
The prophet, Isaiah, speaks to the Jewish people who have been in captivity for over 50 years. It was not all bad. They had been allowed to obtain property and even own businesses. But now they had to make a choice to either stay in Babylon or go home to Jerusalem and start over. They could stay where they had become comfortable in this land of pagans…or return to God’s promised land as God’s promised people. Many were having trouble with the decision, so Isaiah exhorts them with a spiritual prescription and then paints a picture of what could be.
UNDERSTANDING
First, they were comfortable where they were…in captivity. We can often convince ourselves that we are O.K. being O.K. But Isaiah says [v. 1] to seek God…with great desire… while He may be found. God was near, He would hear, and would come through on His promises to His people. But they were reluctant to call on their heavenly Father.
As a college student, I occasionally needed help. I knew that my Dad could provide it. However, I knew that if I called or went home, I would have to live under my Father’s rules. The Jews were not surprised with the next step of the prescription: Live right…think right! And even if you haven’t been living right or thinking right, God is ready to forgive.
God tells them, through Isaiah, that what He has for them is so much greater than they could ever think or envision. We so often try to put God into the box of our limited ‘thinking’ and our limited ‘methods’. He reminds them He is God and they are not. He is God and we are not!
He goes on to tell them that the Word of God is not like our human effort that often gets wasted on fruitless endeavors. No, God’s Word never fails to accomplish its purpose. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul reminds of the same thing…but goes on to tell us that it is not only effective, but that it is also sufficient for every area of life. I shared with someone this week that as I listened to their circumstance, all I knew to tell them was what God’s Word said. It would work when human advice falls so short. It’s the only thing in life that always works.
In v. 12, Isaiah begins painting a glorious picture of what could happen if the prescription were followed. He says they would experience great joy. Then he begins to speak about nature’s response to their decision to follow God and live by His Word. This was a bit puzzling to me. But then I read it in the context of Genesis when Adam lived in the garden with his wife and all of nature seemed to be working with him. When he turned to his own way, nature started working against him. When we get in line with God plan…we get in line for God’s blessing.
Then look what he says will happen. He says that I CYPRESS will come up instead of thorns. Could we all agree that everywhere we go in culture there is desert and thorns? Our culture is full of dry places with annoying briars that rip us up…no matter how thick our skin is. But when we seek God and follow His prescription, a Cypress tree grows.
As I considered the Cypress tree this week, I found a few things out. First, a Cypress can grow almost anywhere…on a rocky cliff, in a swamp, in a field, or in conjunction with a forest. Second, they almost always have roots exposed above the ground.
As we consider allowing God to plant us as a Cypress tree, we realize that if we followed the prescription, this beautiful tree can grow where God has placed us. And as some of the roots are exposed, we cannot hide that it is the root of Jesus Christ and the Truth of His Word to which we are grounded and through which we receive our nourishment.
When this tree begins to grow and becomes stable in its foundation, it will provide shade to many who will gather beneath it or pass under its branches. And as it continues to expand both upward and downward, the language here says that it will transform the dry desert in which it has been planted…and it will be a banner for the name of God who planted it and caused it to grow where nothing else would.
CONCLUSION
We are left with these questions:
Are we too comfortable in this culture that holds many captive? Or will we allow God to plant us as a Cypress Tree in this community that will transform the desert of our culture and replace the thorns that are tearing up and destroying the lives of people all around us?
And if we desire to be that beautiful Cypress Tree in the desert that becomes a banner and a testimony to the name and grace of God, will we follow the prescription of seeking God diligently, of living and thinking righteously, and by speaking and living by the Word of God that has the ability to change a life…and a community into an oasis of hope?
May each of us individually and corporately be the people (and the church) through whom God will grow a cypress that will transform this dessert of sin, emptiness and thirst into an oasis of righteousness, refreshment, and restoration. But this starts with responding to God’s invitation to come and seek Him while He is near. And He is near…listening for you to call upon Him. Would you do that this morning?
Whatever you need it (for salvation, for God’s intervention in your life, or for Him to prune you into the strong shade tree you need to be) call on Him now.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What is a Barrio?
For the past 4-5 years I have heard this term, but had never even heard a definition. But if you read the definition, as I did this morning, it would still not be as clear as if you visited one like I did last week.
The dictionary definition is: [an urban district or quarter in a Spanish-speaking country]. The urban district or quarter that I visited was called Paradise outside the city of San Benito in the Central American country of Nicaragua...which is definitely a Spanish-speaking country.
Certainly, it was a defined area. There is only one road in and out...dirt. There were over 200 homes, each with a fenced yard. The yards were little squares of cracking lava rock surrounded by make-shift barb-wire fences. The houses were made of sticks, card board, plactic, and tin (if you had money to acquire it). They had dirt floors and were normally about 100 sq. ft. [smaller than your average Marriott hotel room]. The average occupancy was 5 [higher than your average Marriott hotel room].
In another month, the dry season will end and they will see 3-4 inches of rain each day for a month. It will make the dead vegegation come back to life...but will wash away almost everything they own. The parents will sleep at night on top of their children to keep them dry.
Sounds pretty terrible? Physically it is. We had the priviledge to help build 9 block houses (16' x 12') and to provide plastic for 11 more houses to keep them dry. We also were able to provide food for the 1,000 residents that should last them nearly a month. So maybe we were able to help the barrio a bit. But Paradise is not just an 'urban area'...it is a community.
Life Changing Observations:
I watched many people who were not the recipients of a block house or even plastic work for 5 days straight in 95+ degree temperatures for 10 hours each day so that a neighbor could have a better home. I assumed that they were going to be the recipient of one of the homes...but most of them were receiving no immediate assistance. How many of us would see our neighbor out installing sprinklers or building onto their home and just help with no expectation...just because they are a part of our community? I would say few of us.
On day one, I had an 8 year old child persistently asking me for money. Although I wanted to just give him something, I had prepared myself for the begging. But that was only one of about 3 instances of requests for money. What I was not prepared for was the steady stream of little kids who just wanted a drink of clean, cool water. That broke my heart...so much evidently that by the 4th day I watched a few stealing bottles of water [and I could not bring myself to stop them.]
After sharing the gospel message with a young mother in a small 'hut', we asked if there was anything she needed for her family. Although there was no evident food in the house, all she asked for was a notebook, pencils, and a book bag so that her younger daughter could join her older daughter in going to school. When we took back some school supplies and a Spanish Bible the next day, she wept. After asking if she had thought about the story of Jesus that we told her the day before, she said that she knew that she should begin seeking God. After a little more conversation, she prayed and received Christ. Over the next few days we saw the change in her.
A last memory for today is a vivid picture of my 14 year old son and a 13 year old Nicaraguan girl. After handing a man enough plastic to cover his house, my son began sharing his salvation testimony with him. Needing a translator, a 13 year old girl who spoke pretty good English, was introduced to us and offered to help. As I watched, I was so proud of my son. But my thoughts went to the girl and what a great tool she could be for God in reaching this barrio for Christ. As I told the story to one of our teammates that night, Bart shared that he had the privilege of leading that 13 year old girl to faith in Christ the day before. What a neat picture of making disciples. Come to Christ one day...translate a witness to your neighbor the next. What potential!
Some personal thoughts:
(1) We cannot individually rescue an entire community in a week, but we can bring some hope.
(2) We cannot individually save an entire community in a week, but we can reach one at a time.
(3) I figured up an estimate of the cost of this trip, including: [Between $45,000-$50,000]
a. travel, meals, etc.
b. building 9 homes
c. renovating 11 homes - putting them in the dry
d. feeding 1000 people for a month
e. materials for teaching 45+ women a home business
f. Pastor conference / training for 3 days.
g. Helping to keep approximately 10 Nicaraguan believers employed by the ministry.
I would like to see any government program in the U.S. accomplish this for that dollar figure.
Some might say, "Could that money not be spent better by just sending it to Nicaragua?" My answer is, "Possibly." But when you look at the spiritual investment of 27 team members' lives who have been effectively changed by the experience...the investment for the future could be worth it, especially since it was not made in AIG...but rather in God's Kingdom which will not fail.
Oh, please allow me just one more analytical thought. We saw and recorded at least 15 people who's lives were changed by making Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. If none of the physical ministry took place, the spiritual fruit may have been less. But let me compare with a typical southern church with 600 in attendance and a $1,000,000 budget. They would have to lead over 300 people to faith in Christ and grow by 50% in the next year to get the same return on the monetary investment made in this one week.
I'd say that the trip was worth it! This BARRIO changed my life and the lives of my two sons. We are already talking about going back and where else in the world God might want us to invest in His Kingdom work of connecting the world with Christ...one person at a time.
The dictionary definition is: [an urban district or quarter in a Spanish-speaking country]. The urban district or quarter that I visited was called Paradise outside the city of San Benito in the Central American country of Nicaragua...which is definitely a Spanish-speaking country.
Certainly, it was a defined area. There is only one road in and out...dirt. There were over 200 homes, each with a fenced yard. The yards were little squares of cracking lava rock surrounded by make-shift barb-wire fences. The houses were made of sticks, card board, plactic, and tin (if you had money to acquire it). They had dirt floors and were normally about 100 sq. ft. [smaller than your average Marriott hotel room]. The average occupancy was 5 [higher than your average Marriott hotel room].
In another month, the dry season will end and they will see 3-4 inches of rain each day for a month. It will make the dead vegegation come back to life...but will wash away almost everything they own. The parents will sleep at night on top of their children to keep them dry.
Sounds pretty terrible? Physically it is. We had the priviledge to help build 9 block houses (16' x 12') and to provide plastic for 11 more houses to keep them dry. We also were able to provide food for the 1,000 residents that should last them nearly a month. So maybe we were able to help the barrio a bit. But Paradise is not just an 'urban area'...it is a community.
Life Changing Observations:
I watched many people who were not the recipients of a block house or even plastic work for 5 days straight in 95+ degree temperatures for 10 hours each day so that a neighbor could have a better home. I assumed that they were going to be the recipient of one of the homes...but most of them were receiving no immediate assistance. How many of us would see our neighbor out installing sprinklers or building onto their home and just help with no expectation...just because they are a part of our community? I would say few of us.
On day one, I had an 8 year old child persistently asking me for money. Although I wanted to just give him something, I had prepared myself for the begging. But that was only one of about 3 instances of requests for money. What I was not prepared for was the steady stream of little kids who just wanted a drink of clean, cool water. That broke my heart...so much evidently that by the 4th day I watched a few stealing bottles of water [and I could not bring myself to stop them.]
After sharing the gospel message with a young mother in a small 'hut', we asked if there was anything she needed for her family. Although there was no evident food in the house, all she asked for was a notebook, pencils, and a book bag so that her younger daughter could join her older daughter in going to school. When we took back some school supplies and a Spanish Bible the next day, she wept. After asking if she had thought about the story of Jesus that we told her the day before, she said that she knew that she should begin seeking God. After a little more conversation, she prayed and received Christ. Over the next few days we saw the change in her.
A last memory for today is a vivid picture of my 14 year old son and a 13 year old Nicaraguan girl. After handing a man enough plastic to cover his house, my son began sharing his salvation testimony with him. Needing a translator, a 13 year old girl who spoke pretty good English, was introduced to us and offered to help. As I watched, I was so proud of my son. But my thoughts went to the girl and what a great tool she could be for God in reaching this barrio for Christ. As I told the story to one of our teammates that night, Bart shared that he had the privilege of leading that 13 year old girl to faith in Christ the day before. What a neat picture of making disciples. Come to Christ one day...translate a witness to your neighbor the next. What potential!
Some personal thoughts:
(1) We cannot individually rescue an entire community in a week, but we can bring some hope.
(2) We cannot individually save an entire community in a week, but we can reach one at a time.
(3) I figured up an estimate of the cost of this trip, including: [Between $45,000-$50,000]
a. travel, meals, etc.
b. building 9 homes
c. renovating 11 homes - putting them in the dry
d. feeding 1000 people for a month
e. materials for teaching 45+ women a home business
f. Pastor conference / training for 3 days.
g. Helping to keep approximately 10 Nicaraguan believers employed by the ministry.
I would like to see any government program in the U.S. accomplish this for that dollar figure.
Some might say, "Could that money not be spent better by just sending it to Nicaragua?" My answer is, "Possibly." But when you look at the spiritual investment of 27 team members' lives who have been effectively changed by the experience...the investment for the future could be worth it, especially since it was not made in AIG...but rather in God's Kingdom which will not fail.
Oh, please allow me just one more analytical thought. We saw and recorded at least 15 people who's lives were changed by making Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. If none of the physical ministry took place, the spiritual fruit may have been less. But let me compare with a typical southern church with 600 in attendance and a $1,000,000 budget. They would have to lead over 300 people to faith in Christ and grow by 50% in the next year to get the same return on the monetary investment made in this one week.
I'd say that the trip was worth it! This BARRIO changed my life and the lives of my two sons. We are already talking about going back and where else in the world God might want us to invest in His Kingdom work of connecting the world with Christ...one person at a time.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
My Desire
Sermon Preached at Connection Fellowship
Sunday, March 22, 2009
My Desire and Blessing
Psalm 37:1-5
INTRODUCTION
Today we come to the last message in our series, “Hope for the Journey”. We started in Psalm 1 with Pastor Steve helping us to get lined up for encouragement. Then we found hope in knowing that God was our Shield and Sustainer in difficult times; He is our Pathmaker as we search for the right direction; and in Him we find our eternal Identity. He is our Sovereign who is always in control; and because of this, He is the Rock upon which we can build our lives.
He is our Deliverer in times of trouble, our Shepherd to guide and feed us every step of our journey, and our King who knows us personally. He is the Forgiveness that we can not only know, but personally own. And, as John David told us last week, God is our Provision that can be tasted…and found most satisfying.
With this in mind, we should certainly be able to find hope in this journey called real life. But as we approach chapter 37, we are left with a piercing question: “What else could you want?” But we are a society and a people who always seem to want more…and more. The Psalmist knew this and writes in the first 5 verses of chapter 37 these words:
TEXT
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. 2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Let’s look at these verses in the context of what we have learned:
UNDERSTANDING
First, he says, “don’t fret about others that could hurt you.” Fretting is the opposite of faith. Remember, God is our Shield. He says, “don’t envy those who seem well off by doing things the wrong way.”
Envy is when we begin to focus on what others have with a strong desire, even jealousy, to have it also. It is not wrong to strongly desire some things…but not that which has been obtained by wrongdoing.
Not only is envy unhealthy, but it is not wise. You see, verse 2 tells us that whatever is obtained through wrongdoing will only last for a short while. We should focus on desiring the things that are of lasting value.
We are in the middle of March Madness and I really like basketball. As a kid, I used to watch the Kentucky Wildcats. At half-time, in the middle a January snow, I would go outside and shovel the court off so I could practice the moves I had seen. But I really like the commercials that the NCAA is running now about the fact that so few college athletes will actually ever make a living playing their sport. I wish I had spent a bit more time when growing up on things that did not just last a short while.
In verse 3, we are encouraged to trust in the Lord. This is the opposite of fretting and envy. And the Bible says that truth faith is always acted upon in obedience to God. God’s promises have always been based on obedience that is in direct response to faith. When we do this, we are promised to dwell in peace and to be fed by the Shepherd’s faithfulness.
There is a great promise here in verse 4 that struck me years ago as I was praying about vocational ministry. I grabbed on to the idea that God wants to and will give you the desires of our heart. However, it was not until later that I began to grasp that it comes with the condition of ‘delighting’ in God. But what does that mean?
[Warren Wiersbe] explains: “…delight comes from a root that means ‘to be brought up in luxury, to be pampered.” This speaks of enjoying the Lord Himself, not just what He gives to us.
“This is not a promise for people who want things, but for those who want more of God in their lives.”
When that becomes our reality, God’s desires for us become our desires for ourselves…which are best, and much better than what we could envy from someone else.
I always thought verse 5 was some set direction that we were to follow or some set of actions that we were to do in order to show that we were delighting in God. However, as I have studied this text, I have found that the verb here [commit] actually means to ‘roll off your burden’ to God.
So what does this have to do with ‘committing our way to God’? Everything. Because as long as we worry, we carry a weight that distracts us from following Him. His way is the way of faith. Do you see how the verse ends? TRUST in Him and He will accomplish that desire.
We have to escape or relinquish this mentality of self-dependence. Let me summarize what God’s Word is saying:
* Faith is the opposite of fretting or worrying.
* Envy is caused by a lack of confidence that God has and will provide all that we really need. That lack of faith is also rooted in the idea that this life is all that there is…and what others have will last.
* Our obedience is our display of faith. Our faith is evidenced by our feeding on what God provides and not trying to fill it with what others have…or what Satan offers.
* Faith is when we express to God that we know that He is all that we need and all that we desire.
* Rolling our burdens onto Him and trusting that His path is best…and making it known that He is all we desire…He will deliver.
CONCLUSION
So we are left with one question:
What is your greatest desire?
If the answer is ‘God Himself’, upon the promise of the Word of God…you will receive it!
You and I will find our greatest hope for this journey of life when God Himself becomes our greatest desire.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
My Desire and Blessing
Psalm 37:1-5
INTRODUCTION
Today we come to the last message in our series, “Hope for the Journey”. We started in Psalm 1 with Pastor Steve helping us to get lined up for encouragement. Then we found hope in knowing that God was our Shield and Sustainer in difficult times; He is our Pathmaker as we search for the right direction; and in Him we find our eternal Identity. He is our Sovereign who is always in control; and because of this, He is the Rock upon which we can build our lives.
He is our Deliverer in times of trouble, our Shepherd to guide and feed us every step of our journey, and our King who knows us personally. He is the Forgiveness that we can not only know, but personally own. And, as John David told us last week, God is our Provision that can be tasted…and found most satisfying.
With this in mind, we should certainly be able to find hope in this journey called real life. But as we approach chapter 37, we are left with a piercing question: “What else could you want?” But we are a society and a people who always seem to want more…and more. The Psalmist knew this and writes in the first 5 verses of chapter 37 these words:
TEXT
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. 2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Let’s look at these verses in the context of what we have learned:
UNDERSTANDING
First, he says, “don’t fret about others that could hurt you.” Fretting is the opposite of faith. Remember, God is our Shield. He says, “don’t envy those who seem well off by doing things the wrong way.”
Envy is when we begin to focus on what others have with a strong desire, even jealousy, to have it also. It is not wrong to strongly desire some things…but not that which has been obtained by wrongdoing.
Not only is envy unhealthy, but it is not wise. You see, verse 2 tells us that whatever is obtained through wrongdoing will only last for a short while. We should focus on desiring the things that are of lasting value.
We are in the middle of March Madness and I really like basketball. As a kid, I used to watch the Kentucky Wildcats. At half-time, in the middle a January snow, I would go outside and shovel the court off so I could practice the moves I had seen. But I really like the commercials that the NCAA is running now about the fact that so few college athletes will actually ever make a living playing their sport. I wish I had spent a bit more time when growing up on things that did not just last a short while.
In verse 3, we are encouraged to trust in the Lord. This is the opposite of fretting and envy. And the Bible says that truth faith is always acted upon in obedience to God. God’s promises have always been based on obedience that is in direct response to faith. When we do this, we are promised to dwell in peace and to be fed by the Shepherd’s faithfulness.
There is a great promise here in verse 4 that struck me years ago as I was praying about vocational ministry. I grabbed on to the idea that God wants to and will give you the desires of our heart. However, it was not until later that I began to grasp that it comes with the condition of ‘delighting’ in God. But what does that mean?
[Warren Wiersbe] explains: “…delight comes from a root that means ‘to be brought up in luxury, to be pampered.” This speaks of enjoying the Lord Himself, not just what He gives to us.
“This is not a promise for people who want things, but for those who want more of God in their lives.”
When that becomes our reality, God’s desires for us become our desires for ourselves…which are best, and much better than what we could envy from someone else.
I always thought verse 5 was some set direction that we were to follow or some set of actions that we were to do in order to show that we were delighting in God. However, as I have studied this text, I have found that the verb here [commit] actually means to ‘roll off your burden’ to God.
So what does this have to do with ‘committing our way to God’? Everything. Because as long as we worry, we carry a weight that distracts us from following Him. His way is the way of faith. Do you see how the verse ends? TRUST in Him and He will accomplish that desire.
We have to escape or relinquish this mentality of self-dependence. Let me summarize what God’s Word is saying:
* Faith is the opposite of fretting or worrying.
* Envy is caused by a lack of confidence that God has and will provide all that we really need. That lack of faith is also rooted in the idea that this life is all that there is…and what others have will last.
* Our obedience is our display of faith. Our faith is evidenced by our feeding on what God provides and not trying to fill it with what others have…or what Satan offers.
* Faith is when we express to God that we know that He is all that we need and all that we desire.
* Rolling our burdens onto Him and trusting that His path is best…and making it known that He is all we desire…He will deliver.
CONCLUSION
So we are left with one question:
What is your greatest desire?
If the answer is ‘God Himself’, upon the promise of the Word of God…you will receive it!
You and I will find our greatest hope for this journey of life when God Himself becomes our greatest desire.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Real Kingdom Partnership
Real Kingdom Partnerships are filled with willing disciples (followers of Christ) who listen to God, communicate with each other (without fear or selfishness), and share in the celebration (of what only God could do).
Today, I got a call from another church planter / pastor to celebrate a chain of events that began a little over two weeks ago. Here is the chain:
* A family moves to our area a few years ago.
* A father dies suddenly leaving behind a beautiful family.
* One of the daughters calls their financial planner in another part of the state.
* The financial planner calls his pastor to see if he knows a pastor in my area who might help.
* The church planter / pastor refers him to me...so he calls me.
* He has the daughter call me.
* I have the privilege to work with the family and do the funeral...15 miles away...just down the road from another church plant that is pastored by a friend of mine.
* On the day of the funeral, that church planter calls me about something else and I tell him about the family I am working with in his area.
* He tells me that he believes that his son knows one of the daughters.
* His son and youth pastor visit the funeral home that night.
* I speak at the funeral...share the Gospel...and then talk to the financial planner the next day.
* The financial planner says he is going to take bibles for the girls on his visit the next day.
* The church planter's son keeps in contact with the daughter who attends his school by email.
* The girl returned to school.
* The church planter's son invites her to his small group last night.
* The youth pastor shares the Bible story which leads naturally to the Gospel message.
* The daughter of the deceased father decides to follow Christ as Lord and Savior.
* The church planter calls me today to share and celebrate.
* I called the church planter / pastor in the other part of the state who referred the financial planner to me to share and celebrate.
* The church planter / pastor then calls the financial planner to share and celebrate.
* The youth pastor and the other church plant people follow-up in loving her and disciple-making.
* Real Kingdom partnership builds momentum because we are all amazed at what God did. No one can take credit...so all of the glory goes to God. And we are all incredibly humbled and grateful that we just got to see it and be a part of it.
Today, I got a call from another church planter / pastor to celebrate a chain of events that began a little over two weeks ago. Here is the chain:
* A family moves to our area a few years ago.
* A father dies suddenly leaving behind a beautiful family.
* One of the daughters calls their financial planner in another part of the state.
* The financial planner calls his pastor to see if he knows a pastor in my area who might help.
* The church planter / pastor refers him to me...so he calls me.
* He has the daughter call me.
* I have the privilege to work with the family and do the funeral...15 miles away...just down the road from another church plant that is pastored by a friend of mine.
* On the day of the funeral, that church planter calls me about something else and I tell him about the family I am working with in his area.
* He tells me that he believes that his son knows one of the daughters.
* His son and youth pastor visit the funeral home that night.
* I speak at the funeral...share the Gospel...and then talk to the financial planner the next day.
* The financial planner says he is going to take bibles for the girls on his visit the next day.
* The church planter's son keeps in contact with the daughter who attends his school by email.
* The girl returned to school.
* The church planter's son invites her to his small group last night.
* The youth pastor shares the Bible story which leads naturally to the Gospel message.
* The daughter of the deceased father decides to follow Christ as Lord and Savior.
* The church planter calls me today to share and celebrate.
* I called the church planter / pastor in the other part of the state who referred the financial planner to me to share and celebrate.
* The church planter / pastor then calls the financial planner to share and celebrate.
* The youth pastor and the other church plant people follow-up in loving her and disciple-making.
* Real Kingdom partnership builds momentum because we are all amazed at what God did. No one can take credit...so all of the glory goes to God. And we are all incredibly humbled and grateful that we just got to see it and be a part of it.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
My Forgiveness
A few people have asked me to print my sermons. I'm not sure why, but I thought I would give it a try.
Connection Fellowship
Hope for the Journey
Sunday, March 8, 2009
My Forgiveness
Psalm 32:1-11
INTRODUCTION
Last week as I continued studying through the Psalms, and realizing that we are in week 10 of our 12-week series, I changed the message that I had originally planned for today. If we were to spend a week in each of the Psalms, it would take us 3 years to complete. So for the purpose of this series, I want to focus today on Psalm 32 and on a topic that is certainly a key to finding Hope for the Journey.
Forgiveness has been defined in many ways. It is the noun, or the substance, of being forgiven. Being forgiven is to be the object of ‘to forgive’. And to forgive is defined as giving up the right to feel resentment, to relieve of a debt, and to pardon. While some of us struggle to forgive, I believe that one of the greatest obstacles to finding hope in our journey is realizing forgiveness for our own lives.
A common question people ask is, “Can I be forgiven?” The Bible teaches that the answer is certainly, “YES!” Most followers of Christ do not struggle to believe this in principle. But we often struggle with OWNING this Truth so that it becomes ‘MY Forgiveness.”
King David surely experienced both great personal sin and forgiveness. He writes this Psalm in response to a commitment that he made in Psalm 51:13 to share what he had learned during the painful journey of personal sin, confrontation about that sin, and the period of confession and restoration that followed. Let’s hear the Word of God.
TEXT
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin
is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 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. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, loving-kindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
I was confronted this week with the reality of a pervading thought in culture today resulting from observing those who claim to be followers of Christ. Here it is: “The good news of the Gospel doesn’t seem to be that good.” Non-believers do not see that the forgiveness that we receive from God makes that big of a difference in our lives. But listen to David as he writes about his experience in owning forgiveness.
UNDERSTANDING
I. Owning God’s Forgiveness Makes Us Happy (vv.1-2)
Happy is the person whose transgression, who’s willful crossing of the line in rebellion to God, has been pardoned; and who’s filthy personal attempts at pleasing God have been permanently covered by the blood of Christ. How happy is the person who’s twisted, selfish way of thinking is not credited to the ledger sheet of life; and who’s heart has been transformed at its core from deceitfulness to righteousness.
Most people are really miserable. They are miserable because of guilt and emptiness…because of frustration and a lack of purpose. And the thing no one wants to talk about that makes us that way is SIN!
Owning God’s forgiveness makes us happy because we dealt with it.
II. Owning God’s Forgiveness Makes Us Healthy (vv. 3-4)
When David got a real grasp on God’s forgiveness, it caused him to see how miserable he was as he held on to his sin. He just kept it all inside. And honestly, in [2 Samuel 11-12] we see that he thought he was going to get away with sin. “But God does not allow His children to be successful in sin.” David says that God’s hand was heavy and his mental, emotional, and spiritual strength was gone. He was miserable!
But when he was confronted with his sin, (by the prophet, Nathan), he says that he confessed it and the weight was gone. There was immediate relief. However, we have to get real about a few things:
(1) God is much quicker to forgive us than other people are.
(2) God is much quicker to forgive than we normally are ourselves.
(3) These are Satan’s tools to keep us from owning God’s forgiveness.
Owning God’s forgiveness makes us healthy because the guilt is gone.
III. Owning God’s Forgiveness Makes Us Witness. (vv. 6-11)
When we read about David’s forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with God, it seems like a pretty incredible story. Personally, I’m not sure how most of us would respond to betrayal, adultery, and murder. I talk to people who say, “I know they said they were sorry and that they have asked God to forgive them, but that doesn’t make everything all right.”
I can imagine some of the people around David who read this Psalm saying, “Who is David to lecture us?” Sure, David says that when we sin we should confess it…quickly. He tells us not to be stubborn and defensive…not to justify our sin; but to humble ourselves before God.
But David did not just tell the people they needed to own God’s forgiveness. And he did not just tell them how to get God’s forgiveness. No, David became a witness as he began to live as a witness of it! In the days following his experience of God’s forgiveness, David exhibited forgiveness for (1) the rape of his daughter, (2) the murder of his son,
(3) high treason, and (4) the cursing he took from one of his enemies.
Owning God’s forgiveness makes us a witness because we forgive!
CONCLUSION
The ‘good news’ of the Gospel truly is incredible news. We can really experience God’s forgiveness from our sin. [YOU can experience God’s forgiveness.] Confess your sin to God…or agree with Him about your sin. He already knows about it. And ask Him to make YOU right!
Then own His forgiveness. The pardon is issued…the stain is covered…the debt account is clean…the messed up heart is fixed…and God takes the weight of guilt away. Believe it and own it! Don’t let Satan play a guilt trip on you. The Bible says that he is the great ‘accuser’, but there is no truth in him. Don’t believe him. Believe God!
And finally, be a witness of God’s forgiveness. Tell people about the forgiveness you have found and that they can find in Christ. But look, let’s not try to act so spiritual. This is all so hard to do! Confessing our sin goes against all that is normally in us. Not living under the guilt of our failures nor listening to the accusations of Satan is abnormal. Certainly, forgiving others is not easy. Pride, guilt and the pain are very real.
You may be here today and be thinking, “Sure, this may be all true. But you don’t know me. And I am surely not King David.” But notice that David does not give us some personal prescription for how to work our way into the reality of God’s forgiveness. Not at all. Instead, here’s what he says (the Message, v. 6) Every one of us needs to pray; pray to God while He is working in your heart and life.
Owning God’s forgiveness is a supernatural process that occurs as you allow God free access to all of your pride, guilt, and pain.
RESPONSE
Will you give God the access to your heart and life so that you can experience…own…and be a witness of His forgiveness today? Then you can experience what David expresses in verse 11,
11 Celebrate GOD. Sing together—everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof! [The Message]
Connection Fellowship
Hope for the Journey
Sunday, March 8, 2009
My Forgiveness
Psalm 32:1-11
INTRODUCTION
Last week as I continued studying through the Psalms, and realizing that we are in week 10 of our 12-week series, I changed the message that I had originally planned for today. If we were to spend a week in each of the Psalms, it would take us 3 years to complete. So for the purpose of this series, I want to focus today on Psalm 32 and on a topic that is certainly a key to finding Hope for the Journey.
Forgiveness has been defined in many ways. It is the noun, or the substance, of being forgiven. Being forgiven is to be the object of ‘to forgive’. And to forgive is defined as giving up the right to feel resentment, to relieve of a debt, and to pardon. While some of us struggle to forgive, I believe that one of the greatest obstacles to finding hope in our journey is realizing forgiveness for our own lives.
A common question people ask is, “Can I be forgiven?” The Bible teaches that the answer is certainly, “YES!” Most followers of Christ do not struggle to believe this in principle. But we often struggle with OWNING this Truth so that it becomes ‘MY Forgiveness.”
King David surely experienced both great personal sin and forgiveness. He writes this Psalm in response to a commitment that he made in Psalm 51:13 to share what he had learned during the painful journey of personal sin, confrontation about that sin, and the period of confession and restoration that followed. Let’s hear the Word of God.
TEXT
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin
is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 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. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, loving-kindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
I was confronted this week with the reality of a pervading thought in culture today resulting from observing those who claim to be followers of Christ. Here it is: “The good news of the Gospel doesn’t seem to be that good.” Non-believers do not see that the forgiveness that we receive from God makes that big of a difference in our lives. But listen to David as he writes about his experience in owning forgiveness.
UNDERSTANDING
I. Owning God’s Forgiveness Makes Us Happy (vv.1-2)
Happy is the person whose transgression, who’s willful crossing of the line in rebellion to God, has been pardoned; and who’s filthy personal attempts at pleasing God have been permanently covered by the blood of Christ. How happy is the person who’s twisted, selfish way of thinking is not credited to the ledger sheet of life; and who’s heart has been transformed at its core from deceitfulness to righteousness.
Most people are really miserable. They are miserable because of guilt and emptiness…because of frustration and a lack of purpose. And the thing no one wants to talk about that makes us that way is SIN!
Owning God’s forgiveness makes us happy because we dealt with it.
II. Owning God’s Forgiveness Makes Us Healthy (vv. 3-4)
When David got a real grasp on God’s forgiveness, it caused him to see how miserable he was as he held on to his sin. He just kept it all inside. And honestly, in [2 Samuel 11-12] we see that he thought he was going to get away with sin. “But God does not allow His children to be successful in sin.” David says that God’s hand was heavy and his mental, emotional, and spiritual strength was gone. He was miserable!
But when he was confronted with his sin, (by the prophet, Nathan), he says that he confessed it and the weight was gone. There was immediate relief. However, we have to get real about a few things:
(1) God is much quicker to forgive us than other people are.
(2) God is much quicker to forgive than we normally are ourselves.
(3) These are Satan’s tools to keep us from owning God’s forgiveness.
Owning God’s forgiveness makes us healthy because the guilt is gone.
III. Owning God’s Forgiveness Makes Us Witness. (vv. 6-11)
When we read about David’s forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with God, it seems like a pretty incredible story. Personally, I’m not sure how most of us would respond to betrayal, adultery, and murder. I talk to people who say, “I know they said they were sorry and that they have asked God to forgive them, but that doesn’t make everything all right.”
I can imagine some of the people around David who read this Psalm saying, “Who is David to lecture us?” Sure, David says that when we sin we should confess it…quickly. He tells us not to be stubborn and defensive…not to justify our sin; but to humble ourselves before God.
But David did not just tell the people they needed to own God’s forgiveness. And he did not just tell them how to get God’s forgiveness. No, David became a witness as he began to live as a witness of it! In the days following his experience of God’s forgiveness, David exhibited forgiveness for (1) the rape of his daughter, (2) the murder of his son,
(3) high treason, and (4) the cursing he took from one of his enemies.
Owning God’s forgiveness makes us a witness because we forgive!
CONCLUSION
The ‘good news’ of the Gospel truly is incredible news. We can really experience God’s forgiveness from our sin. [YOU can experience God’s forgiveness.] Confess your sin to God…or agree with Him about your sin. He already knows about it. And ask Him to make YOU right!
Then own His forgiveness. The pardon is issued…the stain is covered…the debt account is clean…the messed up heart is fixed…and God takes the weight of guilt away. Believe it and own it! Don’t let Satan play a guilt trip on you. The Bible says that he is the great ‘accuser’, but there is no truth in him. Don’t believe him. Believe God!
And finally, be a witness of God’s forgiveness. Tell people about the forgiveness you have found and that they can find in Christ. But look, let’s not try to act so spiritual. This is all so hard to do! Confessing our sin goes against all that is normally in us. Not living under the guilt of our failures nor listening to the accusations of Satan is abnormal. Certainly, forgiving others is not easy. Pride, guilt and the pain are very real.
You may be here today and be thinking, “Sure, this may be all true. But you don’t know me. And I am surely not King David.” But notice that David does not give us some personal prescription for how to work our way into the reality of God’s forgiveness. Not at all. Instead, here’s what he says (the Message, v. 6) Every one of us needs to pray; pray to God while He is working in your heart and life.
Owning God’s forgiveness is a supernatural process that occurs as you allow God free access to all of your pride, guilt, and pain.
RESPONSE
Will you give God the access to your heart and life so that you can experience…own…and be a witness of His forgiveness today? Then you can experience what David expresses in verse 11,
11 Celebrate GOD. Sing together—everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof! [The Message]
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