Different, But Still the Same!

Irene Poter captured my attention with these words,  "Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed." We often hear about how much things have changed. The cars people drive, the clothes people wear, the ways people communicate, etc.. AS one noted, "Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine." To hear some people tell it, the world never experienced any change until our own generation,. But a little reflection changes that perception or misperception). Edmund Morris wrote a book about Theodore Roosevelt who became the 26th president of the United States after President William McKinley was killed by an assassin's bullet on September 14, 1901, six months into his second term.

Describing conditions and ambitions in the United States and abroad, Morris quoted Francis Bacon - "The imagination must not be given wings but weights." Morris then continued, "Francis Bacon's dogged dictum . . . seemed negated by this new century [the 20th] with its young men impatient of gravity and its young powers - America, Japan, Germany - pushing back the borders of old empires. The only constant now was change . . ." (Theodore Rex, p 370). Those words were written to describe the decade between 1900 and 1910. And if you have seen picture of or photographs of cars, clothing, houses, and telephones from that era, you have to agree with a by-gone Virginia Slims cigarette advertisement that sought to enticed women to smoke their brand with this jingle - "You've come a long way, baby!"

So we have. But before we agree everything has changed, please consider the quote from Irene Poter above - "Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed." Let me tell you something that hasn't changed. Sin hasn't changed. Read Romans 1:18-32 for a catalog of sins that present and popular in the first century Roman / Greek world. God on, read the verses. It turns out some things 21st century Americans frequently hear touted as the "new normal" are not new or normal, at least not in the Biblical sense of the word. The verses contain a  list of things the apostle Paul described as "ungodliness and unrighteousness" (verse 18). There was rampant idolatry (wrong thinking about God) and immorality (dishonorable use of the body wrong attitudes).

Paul singled out a moral wrong our nation's highest court now defines as a legal right, and that millions in our culture now rate as morally admirable - lesbianism among women and homosexual behavior between  males (Romans 1:26-27). But even in Paul's day (2,000 years ago) those behaviors were not a new normal. Check out Genesis 19 and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, two ancient cities whose approval of and open practice of homosexuality led the New Testament writer Jude to say that "having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7). In Romans 1:26-27 Paul calls this sexual behavior "unnatural" (New International Version).

Now friends, I'm not trying to be unkind, and I don't hate homosexuals or heterosexuals or any other kind of sinner! We are all sin-infected and stand in need of God's grace and mercy (Romans 3:23-24). I'm just saying that just because things are different doesn't mean anything has changed.

Making a sin legal does not make it moral, and calling sin by some other name does not sanctify it (see Isaiah 5:20). Sin is always the same, and the gospel that saves us from it is, too (see Hebrews 13:8). Will you think about it?

--Dan Gulley

The Gospel: God's Super Power!

        There are all kinds of power in the world. There is nuclear power, electrical power, financial power, mechanical power, muscle power, and brain-power. We have all heard the term "manpower" - but the following story reminds us there are times when "woman-power" prevails.  There were eleven people hanging on to a rope dangling from a helicopter hovering over a mountainside - ten men and one woman. They all decided that one person should get off because if they didn't, the rope would and everyone would all die. No one could decide who should let go. Finally the woman gave a very touching speech on how she would give up her life to save the others, because women were used to giving up things for their husbands and children and giving in to them. Her words were so powerful that all of the men . . . . started clapping (hint - if you don't get that you may need more brain-power!).

 

        Two thousand years ago the apostle Paul penned the immortal words we find in Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." A few verses earlier (vs 14), he had written, "I am debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, bot to wise and to unwise." Paul is saying, "Everybody needs Jesus." We all need Jesus because, "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no not one' " and because, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 23). Bad enough, but even worse, "your iniquities have separated you from your Go; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). The apostle Paul reiterated the same bad news more than 700 years after Isaiah when he wrote in Romans 6:23a - "The wages of sin is death." That's Bible talk for "hell" - the awful eternal destiny awaiting those who don't believe and obey the gospel of Christ (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

         All this is why all of us need the gospel. The gospel is to our souls what the power grid is to our homes and factories and farms and offices.

The gospel is the means whereby God provides the "power" that saves our souls! "Christ crucified" is the plant that produces the spiritual power needed to forgive our sins. That power is delivered to lost people via the high-voltage lines of preaching (see 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-24). Americans hear much these days about how powerful we have become. We are often told America is the world's only "super-power." True, but so was ancient Rome when Paul wrote the words of Romans 1:16 quoted above. But there is one thing all the combined powers on earth couldn't do then and still can't do today - that is, they couldn't save a single soul from sin. For that enormous task every human being in every age needs God's super-power - the gospel. It’s that powerful!  Will you think about it.

     by:  Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends upon its acceptance by the parties implicated

“Let the wicked forsake his way; and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isa. 55:7)

As everyone knows, a Presidential term is coming to an end soon and something customary to these occasions is making the news lately.  The “something” of which I’m speaking is “Presidential pardons.”  With your indulgence, I’d like to take this topic and see if we can’t get a spiritual lesson from this temporal example.

I suppose that we should begin with the definition of the word “pardon.”  As in, what exactly is a pardon?  The dictionary tells us that it is “a release, or a forgiveness of an offense.”  The aim of our lesson will be to apply this definition to some truths from God’s Word and, hopefully, see where we stand in relation to our need of a “pardon.”

First off, we need to realize that each and everyone of us are “offenders” with many of us being “repeat offenders.”  Romans 3:23 lets us know this by the use of the words “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  By the fact that all of us are guilty of violating the laws and precepts of God in some form or fashion, that qualifies us to be subjects for a “pardon.”

Another passage that I feel shows us our precarious situation is what we read in Col. 2:13.  Basically, that verse tells us that all of us are “dead in your sins” but then tells us that a “pardon” has already been granted because “Christ has given us life together with Him.”

The second, or next, thing we need to realize is that there is a punishment, or sentence, attached to our “offense.”  In our case, that sentence is “death” because that’s the sentence prescribed for all offenders of God.  I refer you back to Col. 2:13. 

Here’s the simple equation: if one is a convicted offender and is worthy of death (which we all are), then there must be a death.  In other words, a carrying out of the sentence UNLESS the sentence is abrogated, or annulled.  This is where our “pardon” comes into play.

Not only does Paul tells us in Romans that we are all offenders (guilty), he also tells us that the necessary death for our offences has already taken place.   Look at chapter 5, verse 8: “But God commendeth His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Now here’s the most consequential thing about that “death.”  He did not deserve to die.  He was not “worthy” of death because he was not convicted of the commission of any offense.  His “death” was a sacrifice.  He was, as described by Peter, a “lamb without blemish and without spot.”  (1Pet. 1:19) He was the perfect sacrifice and by that sacrifice He purchased our “pardon.”

However, there is something we have to understand about this “pardon” and that is, it’s “conditional.”  What that simply means is, that the “pardon” is there and is applied IF certain conditions are met.  Do you know what the first condition is?  That it has to be accepted by the offender.

That’s almost hard to fathom, isn’t it?  That someone under a sentence of death wouldn’t accept a “pardon?”  And yet, percentage-wise, as predicted by Christ in Matt. 7:13-14, most of mankind will not accept this “pardon.”  The condition that is required of the offender is that they must participate in the death of the One who took our place on the gallows, so to speak.  (Rom. 6:3-7)   When that condition is met, instead of “dying eternally” we’ll be “given a crown of life.”  (Rev. 2:10)

There’s one more thing I’d like you to consider about this topic and that is, God’s “pardon” is OFFERED to us, not forced upon us.  He simply tells us that we’re already under a sentence of death and that someday that sentence will be carried out.  But, as already mentioned, it comes with conditions and 1John 5:3 tells us that these conditions are “not grievous.”  But, I guess the majority of offenders don’t want to be subject to any conditions at all.

Let me close by telling you a true story that I feel puts a cap on our lesson today.  During the 1800's, during the time that Andrew Jackson was President, a man by the name of George Wilson was convicted of robbery and murder.  President Jackson reviewed his case and granted him a pardon.  Apparently this was an ordinary occurrence way back then.

What wasn’t ordinary about it, and what caused much confusion to the judicial system was - George Wilson REFUSED the pardon.  It was simply unimaginable.  That someone facing the gallows would refuse a Presidential pardon.  Since this was the first time this had ever occurred there was no case law to refer to. 

So, it was finally settled by the Supreme Court and this was the ruling of Chief Justice John Marshall:  “A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends upon its acceptance by the parties implicated.  It is hardly to be supposed that one under sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon.  But if it is refused, IT IS NO PARDON.  George Wilson must hang.”

In closing, let’s take note of some thoughts from Justice Marshall’s ruling.  Of particular interest to me is where he said that the “value” of a pardon “depends on its acceptance by the parties implicated.”  That, brethren, is where the “rubber meets the road.”  The “bottom line” as we say today.  How much “value” do you place on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?  If we refuse the “pardon” then it’s pretty obvious that we don’t place much value on it, do we?

And let me give you one more “truth” from God - there will not be another “pardon” offered.  In Heb. 10:26 we read that if we refuse this one “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”  Like Justice Marshall said, “it’s hardly to be supposed that one under a sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon.”  But, if or when they do, they will remain “dead in their sins” and the sentence of death will be carried out.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

Sermon ideas for the new year

Where Are You & Where Are You Going?

I.   Introduction

     A. Do you know what the first question God ever asked was?

          1) “Where are you?” SLIDE

          2) Asked by God Himself to Adam in the garden of Eden.

          3) Genesis 3 – Adam & Eve had eaten of the forbidden tree and were hiding themselves from the shame of their newly realized nakedness.

          4) But to say the least, I find it to be interesting that the very first question in the Bible is “Where are you”.

          5) Hold on to that for a minute.

     B.  Today we are assembled for the first Lord’s day of 20**.

          1) The last few days have been filled with celebration of passing year and the coming of the new one.

          2) As such, it is a natural time of reflection for most people.

          3) A time when we tend to evaluate various aspects of our lives…

               a)  That may be health, career, finances, family goals.

               b) But most of all, I hope we find ourselves evaluating the spiritual facets of our lives…our walk with God.

          4) Part of that introspection, particularly, involves us asking for ourselves the very same question that God asked of Adam in the garden…”Where are you?”

               a)  What is your relationship like with God as you sit here this very moment?

     C.  But I’ll add a partner question to go along with it…Not just, ‘”Where are you,” but “Where are you going?” SLIDE

          1) And the reason why you pair them together is because one inevitably leads to the other.

          2) You can’t figure out where you’re going unless you first know where you currently are.

          3) But where you are is often relative to where you’re headed or where you need to be headed.

     D. And so if you put the two questions together you have a foundation for making necessary & significant changes in this upcoming year.

     E.  So today, this is exactly what I want us to ask one another… “Where are you & Where are you going?”

     F.  But in so doing we also understand that each person’s response is unique in its own right.

          1) Even within individual households, no two members are going to be in the exact same place in their walk with God.

     G. And so, given that fact, what I want to do with our time this morning is take all of our possible responses and try to summarize them into 3 broad categories.

          1) Categories that represent various places we all have been or will be at some point in our lives. 

     H. The goal is to help us all be able to open our eyes to the reality of life and see our walk for what it really is…and if necessary begin doing something about it.

     I.   To find these possible analyses about our spiritual standing, turn with me to Acts 22 as we look at the life of none other than Paul the apostle.

          1) Paul’s is a life that took about as many turns as one possibly could.

          2) It was full of highs/lows & redirections.

          3) And I think his story is one that embodies for us each of the potential ways that we all could respond at one point or another when asked the questions, “Where are you” & “Where are you going?”

         

II.  In the Wrong Place, Going the Wrong Way  SLIDE

     A. Acts 22:3-5 – Paul’s early days of his spiritual walk.

3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

     A. One thing is for sure, there was never a time when Paul was without spiritual influence.

          1) And yet, as “good” of a man as Paul had been.

          2) As zealous as he was for God and His law.

          3) The reality was that in the early years of his life, Paul was in a bad place walking in the wrong direction.

               a)  What he thought was pleasing and fulfilling to the Lord was actually a painful attack against God and his own countrymen. SLIDE

     B.  It may be that a level of introspection would find you in the same position as we start this new year.

          1) Perhaps you think you’re on the right path and in good standing with God, but you’re really not. SLIDE

          2) Under the guise of serving the Lord, a closer look would show that your decisions (or maybe even a lack thereof) are actually doing damage to you and Go’s people instead of helping them.

     C.  Now, I’ll throw out this bone…it may not be intentional. SLIDE

          1) Paul will say in Acts 23:1 – “I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."

          2) You may be operating with a clean conscience & good intentions.

          3) But if there is a lack of understanding, then your good intentions may not be yielding the good results you think they are.

     D. Or maybe you’re in a bad place because you purposefully have chosen to be there. SLIDE

          1) Outright rebellion is the name of the game that you’re playing.

               a)  Not necessarily in every aspect of life, but in something.

          2) And if that’s the case, I really hope this year finds you realizing the need to stop playing that game.

               a)  Because it’s one that you’ll never be able to win.

          3) I would extend to you the words of Jesus as He spoke to the church at Sardis in Revelations 3 - "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”

     E.  Where are you? Where are you going?

          1) Perhaps you’re in the wrong place and going the wrong direction.

SLIDE

III. You Don’t Know Where You’re Going

     A. Continuing with Paul’s account of his life in Acts 22:6-11 –

6 "As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? ' 8 And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord? ' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting. ' 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord? ' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do. ' 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

     B.  Quite literally in the blink of an eye, Paul’s whole foundation had been rocked to its core.

          1) Acts 9 records that Paul remained in this debilitated state for 3 days, in which he neither ate nor drank, presumably because of the emotional stress that he was under.

          2) No doubt, it was the lowest point of his life (at least to that point in time).

          3) And perhaps for the first time ever, he had NO IDEA where he was or where he was going.

     C.  Life is a wonderful journey, and it’s the best when things are going our way. SLIDE

          1) But Helen Keller once stated, “The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.”

          2) And it is in those dark valleys that we have a tendency to lose our sense of direction. SLIDE

     D. It may be that this New Year finds you in one of life’s low points.

          1) Loss of loved ones or a close relationship.

          2) Weakened health or unexpected career changes.

          3) Turbulent times, whatever they may be, can knock us down to our knees.

          4) Confusion then sets in, and, at best we stall out in our spiritual growth, losing interest in those things which once gave us joy and life.

          5) At worst, we may find ourselves spiraling out of control, moving further and further out of our grasp.

          6) Indeed, life is filled with its share of hard times…some short-term, some long-term. SLIDE

          7) But I promise you that a silver lining does exist if you find yourself not knowing where you are or where you’re going.

               a)  That silver lining is found in the fact that if you’re lost, then most likely you’re LOOKING for direction.

          8) And it is in those times that God is most able to point you in the right direction.

     E.  Which brings us to our last category.

          1) When asked “Where are you and where are you going” you may find yourself…

SLIDE

IV. Going the Right Way

     A. Acts 22:12-16 - 12 "And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight. ' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. '

     B.  Out of the depths of his despair, Paul heard the message from God that finally put him on the path of righteousness.      

          1) From this moment on Paul’s life was never without perfect direction.

          2) Oh sure, there were some low times…

               a)  Imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks, stoning, continuous adversaries.

          3) But the point is that even at the low points, with the Lord’s hand piloting the way, Paul always knew where he was and where he was going.

     C.  And for you it may be the same. SLIDE

          1) You know the one in whom you have believed and you continue to do that every single day.  SLIDE

          2) Yes, there are hard times that you encounter, but with the strength of your faith you are able to endure them to the end.

          3) You either are, or have already, moved beyond the elementary principles of faith and are regularly feasting on the meatier matters of the word of God. SLIDE

          4) Your walk with Christ is your life…not just a part of it.

          5) You are able to echo Paul’s words from Philippians 4:7-11…

          7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

     D. With that as the focus of your life, your location and direction will never be in question.

          1) You will always know where you’re going. SLIDE

     E.  But that doesn’t mean we sit back and stop as though we have figured everything out and there’s nothing else to learn.

          1) The truth of the matter is that even when walking the right path, there’s is always progress which can be made to make the walk better. SLIDE

     F.  And so for the last couple of minutes we have, I want to offer a few quick practical suggestions that are applicable to all of us, no matter where we are at the onset of this New Year.

          1) Suggestions that, hopefully, will aid us in either continuing to see good things this year, or help redirect us so that the end of 2015 can be brighter than it looks now if we’re not on the right track.

SLIDE

V. How to Correct or Maintain

     A. Listen to Those Who are Wise and Who Care

Proverbs 19:20 -Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

          1) There are people who care for you and your soul right here in this room.

          2) There are people in your household who want to see you succeed spiritually.

          3) If they have insights to help you on your walk, take the time to listen to them, evaluate what they say as objectively as possible, and act upon it when necessary.

     B.  Determine to Be Engaged With the Lord’s Body  SLIDE

          1) One of the easiest ways to not feel a part of something is to remove yourself from it.

          2) I can sincerely tell you that more times than not, a person who feels as though they are not a part of the church is the person who rarely engages in the work of the church.

          3) Constantly sitting on the fringe will not help you be in the thick of things.

          4) Now, there is a need for those of us who are busy to reach out and help those on the fringes to be included.

          5) But there has to be a conscious decision on the part of everyone to actually be engaged with the body if you want to be a part of the body.

     C.  Challenge Yourself SLIDE

          1) Step outside of your comfort zone in 2015 by doing something that you’ve never done before.

          2) Or if it’s a work that you’ve been a part of, step out in faith to move that work to the next level.

          3) Potential is never reached if we don’t grow

          4) Growth does not occur if we never push ourselves beyond what we’re comfortable doing.

          5) Yes it takes courage and guts…but if you will challenge yourself this year, you will experience great spiritual benefits that otherwise you wouldn’t.

     D. Be In the Word Daily SLIDE

          1) One of the best ways to grow spiritually is to be in God’s word daily.

          2) We’ve issued the challenge to read the Bible through in 2015 and I hope you will accept that.

          3) The value is immeasurable. It is one of those habits that you will never regret developing.

     E.  Stop Making Excuses SLIDE

          1) You can always find a reason to not do something.

          2) Truth is, most of us are experts at doing that very thing, especially when we’re being asked to do something outside the norm.

          3) Life changes are not always easy to make.

          4) Depending on what situation you’re in, they may be incredibly difficult to make.

          5) And it’s very easy to excuse ourselves from doing the things that we know would make our spiritual walk more pleasing, fulfilling and profitable.

          6) So I challenge each of us, including myself here, to stop making excuses for ourselves this year.

          7) Let’s all step up and do what we can to make the most of this year as individuals, as families, and as a congregation.

SLIDE

VI. Conclusion

     A. Where are you? Where are you going?

     B.  Two very important questions that we all need to ask ourselves as we look ahead to this new year.

     C.  Because our answers will help lay a foundation for us to make the most of this year that God has blessed us with by opening our eyes as to what we need to do.

     D. Maybe you’re in a good place and walking in the right way with God.

          1) Keep it up and do those things which will continue to strengthen that walk.

     E.  Perhaps you don’t know where you are because the valleys of life.

          1) In that case, lift your eyes to the one who gives direction.

          2) Set your burdens in His hands and let God lift you out onto the path which leads to heaven.

     F.  And if you’re on the wrong path and you know it, turn off of it and get back in step with God.

          1) If you need to renew that relationship with Him by repenting of sin in your life and dedicating yourself to that faith you can do that this morning.

          2) Or if you need to become a Christian by putting on Christ in baptism…I can’t think of a better way to begin 2015 on the right foot.

     G. Won't you come while we stand and sing. 

--Cory Waddell