July 5, 2015 - Daniel 5:13-30

Theme: WE ALL Can See the Writing on the Wall

1) WE ALL have a great enemy at our doorstep

2) WE ALL have choices for deliverance

3) WE ALL are numbered, weighed, and divided

Daniel 5:13-30: Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah? 14 I've heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16 However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom." 17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal's, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it. 22 "But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life. 24 Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed. 25 "This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27 TEKEL means that you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient. 28 PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed, 31 and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of 62. (HCSB)

1) WE ALL have a great enemy at our doorstep

Yesterday our nation celebrated its birth and independence from the British Empire. Each year on the 4^th of July is a time of great joy and excitement. We are blessed to have the freedoms of our land and it’s worthy to celebrate. But would it be appropriate to celebrate if our nation was on the brink of destruction? If a foreign nation had invaded our land and our nation’s Capitol was surrounded, would anyone be busy celebrating? If this was the case, the fireworks would be real, not fake.

If our nation was under attack, we would certainly have to question the sanity of any leader who chose to waste time celebrating. This seems like common sense, but it’s precisely the situation that the Babylonians found themselves in at the point of our text. Their nation was on the brink of destruction, the Medes and Persians had joined forces and were attacking their Capitol, and the Babylonians were feasting and celebrating at the command of their ruler, Belshazzar. The event described here was also recorded by a number of secular historians. They all record with great detail how on the night that the Babylonians were conquered by the Medes and Persians, they were holding a great feast.

It seems ridiculous to us, but what was the purpose behind this madness? We’re told how Belshazzar called his servants to bring the sacred vessels of the Temple of the LORD so that he could drink from them. His ancestor, Nebuchadnezzar, was the one who brought these items from Israel, when he sacked Jerusalem and carried off the Israelites to captivity. Belshazzar’s goal in all this chaos was simply to get drunk and to desecrate the true God in the process. We’re also told that he brought in a host of idols and carved images, of which the Babylonians had hundreds, to seek their approval. We look at this and say, “How foolish he was.” “What a sorry example of a leader – getting drunk and blaspheming God when enemies were at the door.” It’s true, Belshazzar was foolish, but we should recognize the similarities in our lives.

Wasn’t Belshazzar simply doing what all people do when faced with peril? They look for an immediate escape. They look for some way to hide from the impending destruction, and way to forget about it all. WE ALL have an enemy at our doorstep. Not an army of the world, but “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).” We do not fight against flesh and blood but the demon of darkness, Satan himself. 

2) WE ALL have choices for deliverance

What do we look to for deliverance? It’s easy to criticize Belshazzar, but we so often choose the same things. When Satan depresses us with evil and wickedness, we turn to the bottle so that easily forget. When Satan tempts us with sin, we give in because it feels like we’re finding fulfillment and purpose; it helps us forget about the real problems we face, which only God can conquer. We condemn Belshazzar for worshipping idols and desecrating God’s holy vessels, but don’t we do the same with misplaced priorities and poor time management? We make time for possessions and entertainment; we even change our schedules around for them. But we offer up excuses for church, Bible study, and mission work. We seek more exciting forms of worship, while forgetting the sacred vessels we have in the Means of Grace.

You’re not in the same situation as Belshazzar. You don’t have to worry about an entire nation looking to you for help. But your individual heart is just as precious as an entire nation. And you are faced each day with enemies at the door of your heart that threaten your faith. What will you seek for deliverance? There are plenty of options. There are plenty of escapes in the world to help you forget about the danger that exists. There are plenty of substances that will alter your mind and disposition so that you literally can’t think about what’s going on. There are enough activities in the day that can make life so busy that you don’t have time to think about sin or Satan. If you don’t think about it, then you don’t have to deal with it, at least for a while. At the end of a long and exhausting day it’s always easy to turn on a DVD or Netflix and forget about the world for a while. You can accomplish the same escape by reading a book and taking yourself away to a place outside of this world, where the pain and terror don’t exist. These are innocent activities on their own but they should never take God’s place in our lives. Too often we take leisure and entertainment too far and give them more credit for helping with our problems than they really deserve.    

This is really what Belshazzar did, just a on a bigger stage. He took some things that are good by themselves: wine, wood, stone, gold, the vessels of God’s temple, and he used them in a sinful way to try and get rid of his problems. He looked to them instead of looking to God. And all of the sudden, his actions don’t seem that crazy because we know what it feels like. He was simply looking for deliverance, a way out, and he tried what he thought was best.    

3) WE ALL are numbered, weighed, and divided

But in the end, none of Belshazzar’s attempts worked, because they lacked true salvation. The writing on the wall said it all: he (and his kingdom) would be numbered, weighed, and divided. Despite the temporary escapes that Belshazzar indulged in, he could not escape the Lord’s judgment, and that very night he was defeated.

The writing has the same message for us and for all people too. But we don’t to have to use just the words written long ago on the wall of the Babylonian palace. We have many more words from God. Paul wrote to the Romans and said “Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures (Romans 15:4).” I suppose this verse could apply to writing on the wall; it was written in the past and it was written for our learning. But it doesn’t give much encouragement. We, too, know with great certainty that we will be numbered, weighed, and divided. But where’s the hope?    

God “numbers” you by knowing who you are, even better than you know yourself. He searches your heart, He knows your thoughts, He counts the hairs on your head, and He calls you by name through the Gospel. There’s no escaping God; no matter who you are, whether you love Him or resist Him, He knows you.

God “weighs” you in the light of His Word. Think of God’s law as an old-fashioned scale, the kind you usually see in connection with civil laws. The Words of God’s law, recorded in the Bible, is the scale by which He weighs you. On one side is the standard that God sets and expects – true righteousness; no sin whatsoever. On the other side are your thoughts, words, and actions. Given such a picture, we receive the same sentence Belshazzar did: “you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient.” We are lacking because we suffer from the same ailments as Belshazzar. We must confess as the text states, that we have “exalted ourselves against the God of heaven.” We have “failed to acknowledge the Holy God.”  We have not “glorified the God who holds our life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of our lives.” All of those condemnations against Belshazzar equally fit into our lives too. Every time we weigh ourselves on the scale of God’s law, the result is the same – we are deficient.

The picture of weighing our thoughts, words, and actions before God helps us realize the spiritual danger we are in. No one can deny the authority that the law has over our lives. But the same picture also helps us understand our salvation. When you think of scales, don’t dwell only on the law. Think also of atonement through Christ. The idea of atonement provides a real picture of how the scales can be tipped back in our favor. In its literal meaning, atonement means to make “at one.” It’s an easy way to remember what Christ does for us. But when we apply this to the scale of God’s law, we also see a beautiful picture of true deliverance. Sin tips the scale out of balance and reveals our many deficiencies before God. But through Christ’s atonement on the cross, we are brought back on the same level as God; we are literally made “at one.” The scale is balanced again, not by our righteousness or works, but by Christ’s. When God now “weighs” us by faith in Christ, we are not deficient. As the letter to the Colossians states, Christ has “wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).” Yes, the handwriting on the wall speaks to us all, but for those in Christ, the message is one of deliverance and salvation.

This is the greatest and most important truth, because the third word still applies. There will be a day when God “divides” us. Jesus Himself described the details of what will happen on that day; from Matthew 25: “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”

Belshazzar was divided from his kingdom and from his life here on earth the very night the words appeared on the wall. Our division has not yet come, but he serves as a reminder to us. At any point, life here can end, and we will be divided, either to the right or to the left. As with the first two words on the wall, this last one applies to us too. We must be ready. We don’t have to be fearful of this division day because we have salvation. Christ has made atonement for the sins of the entire world – those words of Gospel are clear, easily read and understood by all. Jesus has given us these words that we might have comfort and hope, not so that we may be discouraged and fearful. That’s why He closed His prophecy of the final day by saying that all those who have faith in Christ can “look up and lift up their heads” in these final days, because their “redemption draws near (Luke 21:28).”

WE ALL can read the writing on the wall, whether it be those few words in Belshazzar’s palace, or the words before every day in the Bible.  And WE ALL must take them seriously because they apply to us all. We have a great enemy at the doorstep of our hearts, every day. We have lots of choices for deliverance, but not all are equal. And we are numbered, weighed, and divided.

It all seems very complicated at times, but in reality it’s very simple. We can follow Belshazzar or we can follow Jesus. Both offer some type of deliverance. We can hide our heads in the sand and pretend the writing doesn’t exist. We can numb ourselves to the point where we don’t feel anything at all, and all our problems seem to float away. We can turn to other things to fill our time, to lend us purpose, to become our gods. We can even lash out in anger by blaspheming God and despising His gifts. Those were Belshazzar’s methods of deliverance, and we have access to them too. 

Or we can confront the truth instead of running from it. We can learn from what has been written instead of hiding from it. We can apply the law by confessing our sins. We can have real hope and salvation by believing in Christ’s atonement. We can’t escape from being numbered, weighed, and divided, but we don’t have succumb to it. In Christ alone, we have a path less traveled, but a path of true salvation. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

June 28, 2015 - Luke 17:1-4

Theme: How to deal with Offense – Given or Received

1               Be on your guard

2               Rebuke and Repent

3               Forgive

Jesus said, "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live (John 5:24-25).

To those who are the living fulfillment of this promise, forgiven of your sins by Jesus Christ, dear fellow redeemed:

Martin Luther once used a simple illustration to describe temptation to sin, you may have heard it before. He said, “You cannot stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair.” What Luther meant by these words was that no Christian can keep temptation out of his or her life, but that doesn’t mean they have to give into it.

Certainly, the birds of temptation are alive and well today. You definitely can’t avoid encountering temptation, maybe even more so than in Luther’s day. Our nation that was once highly religious and abundantly Christian has degraded significantly in the last few decades. Life for God-fearing individuals is as spiritually dangerous as it has ever been in the history of the world. Multitudes of once strong defenders of Christ are succumbing to pressures daily. Perhaps you’ve felt some of that pressure too.

But Luther’s words are just as true today as the moment he spoke them. They probably apply to our culture even more than his. No matter how wicked or sinful the world may get, believers always have power over temptation and the devastating effects of sin. The words of our text today, from Luke 17:1-4, show us how:

Jesus said to His disciples, "Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one they come through! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."

The topic of offending others has been firmly entrenched in our culture for some time. You see talk of offenses every day, it’s so prevalent it’s almost impossible to avoid. In that sense, the opening words of Jesus ring true, “Offenses will certainly come!” But we must recognize a great difference between the common use of “offense” in our culture and the specific nature of what Jesus was talking about. In a way, the world has turned the Biblical idea of offending others inside out.

Today, offense means doing or saying anything that someone doesn’t like, regardless of the content and validity of what is said. The charge of offense has become the rallying cry for those who want freedom and license to do whatever they please. Anyone who objects to what is popular, even if they have a legitimate reason, is labeled as an “offender.” This approach is especially used against Christians who humbly desire to put God and His Word first and are willing to defend it. The baseless immorality of the sinful world doesn’t like God’s Word, or those who defend it, because it offends the sinful desires and inclinations of their hearts. In the world’s mind, true freedom is getting whatever you want, even if in reality it leads to slavery under Satan. And so, when the Law of God is used to reveal the futileness of sinful pursuits, people lash out with the cry of being offended.

It shouldn’t surprise us that God’s Law offends the sinful heart because that’s its very purpose. We know this personally because it’s the very why we’re so often reluctant to look inwardly to our hearts and confess our sins. Jesus Himself is even called the “stone of stumbling” and “rock of offense” (Romans 9:33) because His teaching divides believers and unbelievers. You can’t be neutral about who Jesus is. Either He holds you up as your foundation by faith or you stumble over Him in the foolishness of unbelief.   

What the world does is use their own definition of “offense” to undermine what God says. The world tries to make believers feel bad about speaking the truth as if God is somehow upset by it. They claim that God wouldn’t ever speak against something that makes them happy or gives them pleasure. In the same way, the world distorts other Biblical truths like: love and judgment by deliberating ignoring what God says about those things and how He defines them. What Jesus says here is that every sin against God is an offense, regardless of how much pleasure it gives us.

When Jesus speaks about offending others in our text, He means something very specific. The word He uses means to set a spiritual death trap. Think of the type of trap that is used to lure an animal in, before the string is pulled and it is trapped. Jesus is talking about an action or belief that is harmful to your faith; not something that restricts your personal desire and pleasure. When these traps are present, Jesus wants you to realize that Satan is on the other end and they can only lead to destruction. Here we see how the world turns this inside out. Sinful desires and pleasures are actually the very death trap which Jesus speaks against. And yet, the world cries “offense” when Christians refuse to excuse sin.

What would happen if Jesus came into our culture and said what He did in our text? They would probably say, “You’re offending me, Jesus. Don’t judge me, don’t trample on my rights.” That’s what many say to Christians who use the very words of Jesus. But if God Himself can’t even speak clearly against sin, who can? The sinful flesh will always look for ways to turn God’s Word inside out. As those who know what God says about the offensiveness of sin, we repeat what Luther said. You can’t stop people from fostering and promoting false ideas but you can certainly avoid them in your life. And remember, this applies equally to us Christians as it does to the unbelieving world.

Part 1: Be on your guard

We can’t avoid offenses; they will happen. But Jesus tells us how we can deal with them. The first step is to “Be on your guard.” Like most spiritual truths, we can learn the best by looking first at ourselves. Literally, Jesus says, “Pay attention to yourself.” Again, we see how this differs from the world’s brand of offense. The entire concept of offense to the world, means that you focus on what others have done, instead of thinking about your role in the situation. The world always wants you to point the finger out, instead of in.

There are times when God wants us to reveal offensive actions of others. But one is only equipped for such a task when they are first able to look at their own heart. When you see those who constantly make demands for others, but are unwillingly to do the same for themselves, you should be able to discern where that attitude comes from. It comes from Satan. Satan doesn’t want you to look at yourself. He’s perfectly content to have you shuffle the blame and guilt of your actions onto others, as if it’s always someone else offending you and never the other way around.  

This is a big problem for the Church at large today. Too many Christians are telling the world whatever it wants to hear because they’re worried about offending people. When this happens, the Law of God becomes obsolete, and the Gospel becomes a license to excuse whatever I feel like doing. So many peddle the message that God loves and condones whatever you do or whoever you want to be and before you know it you never take the time to “pay attention to yourself.” Satan hates it when you examine your heart and confess your sins. Because when you do this you lose the philosophy of grandeur that the world exalts. When you look inwardly and stay on your guard you stay grounded on the Word; you stay a down to earth ordinary sinner who is saved alone by Jesus; instead of a someone who doesn’t need that “old fashioned” religion or that “outdated” Book. 

Do you really think that the squirrel, raccoon, bunny, or whatever varmint that falls into the death trap sees it coming and is okay with it? No, they think they’re safe! They don’t see the inherent danger! The greatest danger of spiritual offense that we have is in our own hearts. If we refuse to look inward because the world says we don’t have to, we’ll never see that danger. The world seems to think that the more we try to convince ourselves that something’s okay, the safer it will all of the sudden become. Jesus pronounces “Woe” upon those who do see the danger, and yet indulge anyway. Take a look at verse 2 of our text to see how Jesus feels about that, and to recognize it, you need to be on your guard.

Part 2: Rebuke and Repent

Jesus leads us into the next step of dealing with offenses by telling us what is to be done if the spiritual death trap ensnares us. It’s very simple, rebuke or repent. The only question is which one applies to you. At times, you will be the admonishing brother or sister, who offers a kind word of correction and discipline. In other settings you will be the one who needs the rebuke, and should follow it with repentance. Remember Christ’s opening statement, “Offenses will come,” you can’t avoid them, no matter how hard you try. But the solution is clear.

With these two actions Jesus teaches another easily forgotten truth about offense, another area that the world and your flesh loves to ignore. Offense goes in both directions. What I mean by this is that just as it is wrong to offend someone, that is to lay a spiritual death trap for them, it’s equally wrong to continually take offense to things that you shouldn’t.  

What Jesus shows us by this is that you don’t have to be the guilty one to fall into the trap. Being easily offended when Godly correction is offered and using that against others, is just as wrong as the offense itself. Likewise, purposely looking for ways to be offended, even when you don’t have the right, is wrong too. There’s always a sense of pride and entitlement when someone admits that they offended you. It’s a stroke to the sinful ego that is constantly looking for proof that you’re better than others. And when someone admits that they were wrong and you were right, it’s music to your sinful nature’s ears. And so, we often look for ways to be offended over the little things, because it makes us feel vindicated for our own insecurities.

Jesus reveals something absolutely astounding! Don’t give offense, and don’t take offense either. Be the bigger person. Show your spiritual strength. Paul wrote, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11).” Part of being a Christian is having the spiritual maturity to suck it up and deal with it when other people offend you. Don’t fall into the world’s line of extreme sensitivity. Put the best construction on matters of doubt, especially with your fellow believers. Don’t create grudges or hang on to them. You can do this because of what Jesus lists as the final step in dealing with offense, forgiveness.

Part 3: Forgive

Jesus talks about repentance with forgiveness because He’s addressing how we interact with others. We don’t want to give the impression that people can do whatever they please without consequence or remorse and take solace in the Lord’s forgiveness. We wouldn’t want to promote this anymore than withholding forgiveness when someone repents. But, you who have been enlightened by Christ, don’t have to wait for your fellow offender to repent before you forgive them. You can “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).” Christ didn’t wait around for you to repent before He forgave you. It’s true that if you refuse to repent you will forfeit His forgiveness, just as if brother or sister is unrepentant they forfeit your forgiveness. But Christ forgave you first. He took the first step. You can too. Paul says in Romans 5:6 At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Jesus didn’t wait for you to be worthy before He the first step to the cross and died for your sins. Treat your fellow brethren, even those who offend you, the same way. Show them the same love that Christ showed you.

Christ didn’t mope around feeling sorry for Himself because so many people mistreated Him. Christ didn’t hide in the shadows waiting to pounce on those who sinned. He’s not the one who sets spiritual death traps. That’s the work of Satan. Christ also didn’t ignore the problems that He encountered. He didn’t make excuses for sins. Those who follow Him will do the same. It’s not loving to ignore the spiritual death trap when you see it. Jesus is not some ultra-relaxed, easy going, hip deity who just wants you to relax and be cool in life. He’s the almighty God of heaven and earth. He is your Lord and Master. And He doesn’t want you to ignore true spiritual offenses of sin when you see them, either in your own heart or others. Again, if you want to know what Christ thinks about the seriousness of sin, offenses big or small, read verse 2.

Christ was the only One who perfectly used God’s Law and Gospel. Without Him, you wouldn’t know about rebuking, repenting, or forgiving because He first showed you. The key is, He also now allows you to do the same for others. You don’t have fall into the many traps that the world sets. You don’t have to sit idly by and watch others fall into the traps. Don’t be brainwashed by society’s definition of offense. You’re stronger than that. You’re mature in the Word of God. You have a steady foundation. You can’t stop offenses from happening, but you can do something about them; and you can keep them from finding a place in your heart. Why? Simply put, you’re forgiven by Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

June 21, 2014 - 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Giving Spiritual Gifts is All About Receiving

1) What: Faith in Christ

2) How: By the work of “the same Spirit”

In the name of the One whom we receive, dear fellow redeemed:

Do you ever have a hard time giving gifts? I’m not talking about a reluctance to give something, I’m talking about having a hard time finding a gift. Some people are tough to shop for. What makes this even harder at times is that gifts often mean more than what they are. The amount of time and thought put into a gift is a reflection of how important that person is to you. You may want to spend more time and money on some people and less on others. That’s what makes giving difficult. How can you find the right gift for someone who means a lot to you?

What about giving gifts to God? He deserves them more than anyone else. He should be at the top of our giving lists. And He should receive the best and most thought out gift. Talk about someone who’s difficult to shop for! Where do we even begin? What store or shop offers a pleasing gift to the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth? What can we possibly return to the One who has given us so much? In our sermon text for today, the Apostle Paul seeks to offer some advice. The fledgling and immature Corinthian congregation was having a difficult time with this too. They didn’t know how to properly give gifts in service and honor to God’s name. They were getting caught up in the sinful activity of using their time and talents for themselves, not for God. But through Paul’s pen, God Himself spoke to these young Christians and told them exactly what He found pleasing. What Paul told them is like many of the truths of God, what we learn is often different than what we expect. The Lord tells us that giving spiritual gifts is all about receiving. And the answer lies in what we receive: faith in Christ, and how we receive it: through the work of the Holy Spirit. We ask that God would come to us again as we read this portion of Scripture from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ² You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The beginning of chapter 12 marks a sharp transition point. Paul makes is clear that he is moving to a new discussion. But as he begins talking about spiritual gifts, he seems to deviate for a few verses. Instead of jumping right into the topic of gifts, he speaks briefly about idol worship and confessing Jesus as Lord. To the casual observer, verses 2 and 3 seem misplaced, as if they don’t really fit the context. But to the believer, these verses make complete sense, in fact, they must  be included in this context if one hopes to learn how to give spiritual gifts.   

What a punch Paul packs into these first three verses! Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ² You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. The Corinthian congregation would have been composed mainly of Gentiles who were more familiar with Roman culture rather than Jewish culture. Whereas the Jews stressed belief in one, universal God, the Romans were polytheists, meaning that they worshipped a variety of gods. At the time of the early church, the flavor of day for Roman gods was emperor worship. This is why persecution was so rampant among the early church. For those living in Roman provinces, which composed much of the Christian world at that time, Christians were not just disobeying the religious customs of Roman culture, they were openly defying the Roman emperor, who had ignorantly exalted himself as a deity.

Paul did not want this congregation to stay in this ignorance, and so he reviews for them what it means to be a Christian and how they got to where they’re at now.  When Paul applies idol worship to the reader’s life, it’s a strong indicator that many of the Corinthians had once practiced idol worship, a tradition that Paul does not want them to fall back into. The first thing that Paul seeks to remind them about their conversion is what they received: faith in Christ. That’s essentially what it means to call Jesus “Lord.” No unbeliever is going to genuinely give Him such a title. Only by faith can someone make this confession. But the opposite holds true as well. Those who reject Jesus as Lord choose to call Him something else: “accursed.” (Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord! ' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.)

This word “accursed” dates all the way back to the Hebrew language in the Old Testament. What it originally meant was an offering that was delivered up for divine wrath. The accursed one or thing was viewed as receiving God’s punishment for sin. Those who gave the offering gave it with the intent that it would be destroyed. This was a spiritual gift that was pleasing in God’s eyes because it took sin away, but who among us can make such a sacrifice today? What we see here in this verse is quite amazing, and it ties together this entire section. Today we certainly would not want to call Jesus “accursed” just as Paul exhorts the Corinthians. But the ironic twist is that Jesus once became this very thing. He was cursed on the tree of destruction as an offering before His Father. He became the greatest of all gifts, the most worthy of all spiritual sacrifices, in our place for our sins, just as Paul once wrote to the Galatians: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14). 

As Christians, there is a part of us that takes great pride in calling Jesus our “accursed one.” But after His victory, after His resurrection, He is glorified alone, He is no longer cursed. Those who reject what He did continue to call Him this, because they ignore His victory, but they are wrong.

When it comes to offering spiritual gifts to one another and to God, this point is so vital. The key to offering a proper gift is found alone in receiving the merits of Christ by faith. No one can please God and call Jesus “accursed” at the same time. Denying Christ’s victory over the grave is paramount to denying one’s own faith. The two cannot exist together. Hear how Paul explains this to the same readers of our text, just three chapters later: Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:12-17)

Every deviation from the work of Christ is a denial of what He came to do. Therefore as Paul says, worshipping idols is no different in essence than openly cursing Jesus. The two lead to the same path, to hell and destruction. Certainly on such a path there is no way to offer acceptable gifts before God.

We would do well to examine the various idols that we face in our lives. Ask yourselves what things in life have come before God? We all have weaknesses where we are tempted to serve our own wants above all else, even when they are in direct contention to God’s will. With our wealthy and comfortable lives comes the desire to be lazy in our work for the Lord’s kingdom. Add into this the busyness of our society and we scarcely find time to include God on day to day activities. An idol doesn’t have to be a little statue carved out of wood or stone, nor does it have to be an ignorant emperor who exalts himself above all else. The idols we often come into contact with are not the same as those. An idol is anything that we submit time and energy to in such a way that it blocks out God. An idol is anything that sucks up our time so much that there’s no time for God’s Word. In our day, idol worship is not so much about intentions, but about time management and priorities. You can have the greatest intentions and still be an idol worshipper. As Jesus said, Not everyone who calls Him “Lord” (has the right intention) does His will (has the right priority and belief).  

                                                                                                   

With this short reminder about sin and grace, the Holy Spirit refocuses us on sin and grace. Because grace is fundamental to following up God’s forgiveness with the proper gifts. He tells us that we need to get in the right frame of mind before we can attempt to serve God. In other words, we needed to receive before we could give. Receive what? Faith in Christ, by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Later in the service we will have the opportunity to share in the Lord’s Supper. Thanks to the faithful preaching and study of Martin Luther, we have the benefit of a Godly understanding of this teaching. In one famous debate, Luther fought for the truth against a man named Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli contended that the Lord’s Supper was merely symbolic and held no power to forgive sins. It was not a sacrament for him. After much vigorous debate, both Luther and Zwingli realized that they were simply going to have to disagree. In the end, Luther famously told Zwingli, “you are simply of a different spirit than I am.” Zwingli was of the spirit that needed to bring God’s Word into captivity to human reason. He believed that God would not command him to do something that he could not understand. Luther, on the other hand, brought every thought into captivity to the Word of God. He believed that God expected him to trust by faith even when he could not understand how. This is not to say that Zwingli was not a Christian, or that he did not have the faith. Luther was simply saying that he was allowing a human spirit to motivate him in this matter.

This is the same danger you encounter when you’re tempted to rely on yourself when it comes to spiritual gifts. Focusing too much on your own human spirit can lead to and result in a denial of the one Holy Spirit. This is precisely what the sacraments are all about. Many look at Baptism and Communion as actions that we perform to return thanks and praise to God. In other words, as gifts to God. This is true, but it’s not the primary emphasis that God intended. The Sacraments are primarily about what we receive from God, namely the forgiveness of sins and promise of eternal life. What you give back to God in thanks, praise, and service through gifts of the Holy Spirit is a result of this mighty work of God. You see how you can only properly give by receiving. And the blessing that we receive is worked by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of God that Paul emphasizes in this text is not the selfish and prideful human spirit. It is the Spirit that comes to you through the calm of God’s Word, the third member of the Trinity, the Spirit who is God Himself. The term Paul uses is “the same Spirit.” This simple clause, used 5 times in our section, illustrates the God-head of the Trinity. Just as there are not a variety of gods in the world so there are not a variety of spirits in the world. The only true Spirit who can lead us is the Holy Spirit who is God. This is the Spirit who offers varieties of gifts to the Church. Notice how Paul goes on to write: There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. This same Spirit is connected to these similar phrases: the same God and the same Lord, the One who works all things. This is speaking of the one and only Holy Spirit, the creator and author of faith, the one who establishes what we receive that allows us to offer spiritual gifts.      

When it comes to giving gifts to God, the procedure is not what we would often expect. You must first receive before you can give. Your faith is a receiving faith. Your faith is often weak at times and not strong enough to reach out and grasp salvation for yourself. Instead you simply receive what the Holy Spirit seeks to offer to you again and again through the Word of God. Even though we often try to get in the way of God’s powerful Word, the same Spirit, the one who is God and Lord, patiently works on our hearts. Because of the persistence of God’s Spirit, your faith has received the merits of your Savior.

May we, like the Corinthians, not go beyond what God has written for our learning. We already have everything we need, everything we want. We have become rich in the name of Jesus. What God wants us to give to Him is only found first in what He has given to us and how He has given it. That greatest of all gifts is faith in His Son, the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-encompassing Savior of the world. But God’s gift also extends into how we receive it. The Holy Spirit takes care of doing the work, of securing the treasure of eternal life on our behalf, without our help. These acts are sure, certain, and complete. And with them in place and with their assurance in our heart by faith, we can offer acceptable gifts to God. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen. 

June 14, 2015 - Mark 3:31-35

Theme: A Blessing from a Greater Blood

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, our Lord, washed and cleansed in His precious blood.

Many of you saw the graphic I posted on our church Facebook page this past week, showing a survey on happiness. A young member of our church body, who attends a secular university, explained how in a political science class, the students were asked to answer two questions about happiness. The first question asked “What do you think is most important to a person’s happiness?” The second question asked “What do you think is least important to a person’s happiness.” Of the 51 students who responded, only one, the member of our church body, said that religion was most important for happiness. On the flipside, religion was the number one answer, 37% of the replies, to what least important for happiness.

Over a third of the young students in that class believed that religion was essentially useless for their lives. Not only useless, but actually detrimental, as if it provided a false sense of security. Why is that? If you go back 20 or 30 years, I’m sure religion would hold a much greater priority for young people. We could certainly spend all day talking about the influence of a secular education which denies God and the Bible. The current state public universities and popular culture definitely plays a substantial role in shaping how our young people think about religion.

We could also talk about the general decline of religion itself in America. So many churches and other religious institutions have strayed so far from the truth of God’s Word that even unbelievers can recognize the hypocrisy and inconsistency. When we as Christians no longer defend God’s Word and no longer take our role of being the “salt” and “light” of the world seriously, we simply blend into the rest of society and ultimately lose what makes us unique and different as Christians.

But I believe there’s a greater misunderstanding present, across all beliefs, all ages, and all cultures. And this misunderstanding has contributed most significantly to the decline of religion, especially our Christian religion, in the modern world. This misunderstanding is about happiness; both how we define happiness and how we achieve it. What’s happening in America is the same thing that has happened throughout the history of the world. People take happiness and distort it. They turn it into pleasure, into a self-interest. It’s not a surprise that people see this shallow happiness in many religions because only Christianity has a happiness that lasts forever and that isn’t rooted in self-pleasure. Everyone in the world follows some type of religious belief, even if that’s not how they label it. Everyone is using these beliefs to find some type of happiness. But nothing in the world can compare to the Gospel of Christ. No greater happiness can be found.

But what’s happening is that even Christianity itself, at least as far it is practiced and promoted, is losing this unique quality; the quality that sets it apart from everything else. Instead of standing out to the world, too many Christians are conforming and trying to blend in. When this happens, we exchange the eternal happiness found in the forgiveness of Christ for the fleeting version of the world and of all the false religions in it. How do you keep this from happening in your life, because it hits home for every one of us?  Well, it helps to have a good family. And I don’t just mean your biological family; I’m talking about your spiritual family, just as Jesus did in the words of our text, from Mark 3:31-35:       

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." 33 And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (ESV)

You’ve all heard the familiar saying, “Blood is thicker than water.” This phrase means that your family members are the closest connections you have in life, at least they should be. Family obligations are often the number one priority for people. Sometimes family even takes the place of God for people. It’s what they bring every thought, word, and action in subjection to. Going back to that poll question, the number one response for what brings happiness was family, coming in at just under 40% of the responses.

Family bonds are certainly strong. Family members are those who love you and care about you. They are the first ones you go to for help and when you’re in want or need. That’s actually the way God designed it. He created the family in Genesis so that Adam would have companionship and help. It easy to see how ignoring what God says about family can have devastating effects on life. Kids that come from broken homes or no home at all have a much harder time in life, precisely because they don’t have help, they don’t have anyone to rely on.

But the family bond is also strong because family members watch out for us. Family members are not afraid to tell you how it is when you need to hear it. Ask anyone to describe what makes the important relationships in their lives special and honesty will always be near the top of the list. Think about your closest friends and relatives. I am willing to bet that each relationship that comes to mind involves someone that is not afraid to be honest with you. It’s the people that just tell you what you want to hear that are the fake ones. It’s not always easy to receive some flak every now and then from family members but it is important. Honesty can actually be one of the highest forms on love that you ever have in a relationship.

And that’s what Jesus spoke about when He called His disciples His brothers and sisters and mother. The key phrase that makes that relationship strong is “whoever does the will of God.” If honesty and forthrightness is such a blessing to make a family relationship strong, should we consider it any differently in our spiritual family? It’s true that blood is thicker than water. But there is a blood that creates the strongest bond ever – the blood of Jesus Christ. This is not the blood of the family tree. It’s the blood that comes from the will of God and the blood that unites those who follow the will of God.

Scripture tells you about this blood, shed on the cross for your sins. It is the blood that “cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7).” The blood that redeems you by taking away your sins (Ephesians 1:7). This blood shows you what true love is (Revelation 1:5). This blood gives lasting peace (Colossians 1:20). It is the most valuable currency in the entire world but at the same time a free gift of God’s love. And the blood of Jesus unites the spiritual family of God’s Church.

What does this have to do with happiness? It shows us the true source. Happiness is found in Christ and experienced when one believes in Christ. And the same family that is united by the blood of Christ has the mission to share this happiness. We lose sight of this goal when we exchange the happiness of faith in Christ with the happiness of the world. This happens when we fail to say what we need to say; when we stop being honest with our fellow Christians and with the world. What value is there in a relationship where someone just tells you what you want to hear? You can’t trust someone like that. How can they really care about you when they allow you believe things that aren’t true? We would never stand for such a relationship in our lives. Family doesn’t do that.

Why do we settle for this in our spiritual lives? Why do we put such a high value on what we want to hear and such a low value on the truth of God’s Word? This is the trend in Christianity today. Don’t judge, don’t talk about sin, don’t reveal decay in thoughts and actions. Just promote love, ignore differences, tolerate other’s beliefs. When we allow this to happen to our faith we lose what makes it significant and special; what sets it apart from other religions.

It’s easy to sit back and say, “Well, that’s not my problem, I believe the right things about God’s Word, that hasn’t happened to me.” But what you don’t realize is when you refuse to say anything about it, when you fail to let your light shine, to be bold in your confession of faith, when you shy away from sharing your happiness with others, you’re contributing to the problem just as much as anyone else. We who still have the truth cannot sit idly by and let the world fall apart, and let Christianity in America derail just because we don’t suffer from the same problems. You may not be able to fix it. The problem with America may be too far along for a few confessing Christians to make much of a difference. But let God take care of that. You know what you need to do.

Sometimes the task seems so great that you don’t know where to start. Take advice from Jesus, start where He does in our text, with your family – both at home and in church. Ask yourself if you’re living right now with as great of a love and concern for your spiritual family as you’re earthly? Do you watch out for your father, mother, son, or daughter in their faith life as much as you do in their physical life? Are you ready and willing to tell them how it is? Do you love them enough to have the difficult conversations with them? Will you talk to them about sin? Will you bring the message of God’s law when they need to hear it? Will you talk to them about why they haven’t been in church; or why they aren’t confessing Christ as they should? It’s tough to talk about these things but that’s what family does, especially the church family. But God not only guides and leads you, He not only provides everything you need in His Word, He gives you a message of happiness. Whatever you’re talking about, even if it’s the difficult topics of sin, indifference, complacency, laziness; you can always follow up with true happiness – the good news of forgiveness, life, salvation. Does it get any better than that?

But if we Christians are unwilling to tell it how it us; if we shy away because the world pressures us, because we’re afraid of the reactions, if we aren’t prepared, we’re no better than any other hardened sinner. If we can’t be honest with God and with others about the truth of the Bible, we have no reason to boast of our faith, for that faith loses its special character when the truth is sacrificed. And the effect of this hollow faith is what we see in polls like the one taken in that political science class. Why believe in Christ if He’s no different than any other religious figure? Why follow Christianity if it returns voids on the tough questions of life like all the other religions. Why be a Christian if there’s nothing different about being a Christian? The world sees this and it makes an impression for them, but not in the right direction. It confirms for them what they’ve wanted for ages, to claim that Jesus and His followers are no different than anyone else.  

This infectious philosophy pervades Christianity today, especially in America, and you and I are not immune. You know, at first glance we might think that the Bible doesn’t say much about happiness, but it does. The Bible speaks of happiness all over the place; what it doesn’t talk about, at least in a good light, is the world’s brand of happiness. What the world has done is taken happiness and hollowed it out. They’ve replaced the true meaning of happiness with pleasures, self-interests, lusts, desires and temptations – basically whatever I, the individual, want. And when the trials of life come this happiness caves in because it has no substance and in its hollow shell springs up depression, anxiety, fear, and anger. That’s the world’s brand of happiness and the fuel that fires it is sin.

The Bible’s version of happiness is much different. You might know it as blessedness. We use a different word because we don’t want people to think of the world’s brand, but blessedness is happiness – there is no difference as God defines it. To be blessed by God is to share in His happiness. The happiness that doesn’t include sin, that isn’t hollow, that stands the tests and trials of time. The happiness that is freely given to you from the washing and cleansing of Christ’s holy blood. It’s a Blessing, A happiness, from a Greater Blood. Not the blood of family, but the blood of Christ, who has accomplished God’s will for you.              

Christ has forgiven you of everything and that changes you. It means you are different, that you’re no longer like the world. We call that sanctification. Covered by Christ’s righteousness you are now holy and without blemish. You are God’s own because He has adopted you into His family. What greater bond built on blood could there be? So, now that you’re changed, be different. Not different from God, but different from the world. Turn from sin, repent of your mistakes, stand out from the rest of chaos and confusion; because you are blessed, you are happy in Christ.

You can’t describe it better than the words of Psalm 1. Listen to God, your Father, tell you about true happiness:

How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin (HCSB).

See the difference? Do you see how you can and how you should stand out? Do you see where true happiness comes from? God is honest and upfront with you in His Word. You can see it clearly. He is not afraid to tell you how it is, because He loves you and He has the strongest bond possible with you in your faith. And because of this, you are happy, you are blessed.

Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen.

June 7, 2015 - Exodus 14:13-14

Theme: God, please give me _____________.

What is your request?

Let us focus our meditation with words from Psalm 89: “O LORD God of hosts, who it mighty like You? The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours. The north and the south You have created them. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.”

If you could have anything, what would you ask for? If you could play “genie” with God, what would you request? God opens up His entire power to you and says, “What would you like? Ask anything at all, and it’s yours.” What a dilemma, huh? There are so many things that would be nice to have, things that would make life easier. Probably the first thing that comes to mind is money. Think of how many problems would go away with an endless supply of money. But, think of how many new problems would come your way.

How about fame? Wouldn’t it be great to command and captivate people’s attention? Wouldn’t it be awesome to have influence and to be someone that people admire? Not even money can buy that. But, after a while the attention might get annoying. Sometimes being ordinary is a good thing. What about being attractive or wise, two attributes that are highly sought after in the world? Certainly, those gifts would be worth it right? For a time, maybe, but even beauty and knowledge pass away.

What a blessing it would be to receive anything from the Lord, even if it’s hard to choose just one thing. Go back to our theme, “God, please give me ____________. “ What is the first thing that popped into your head? Although there are endless options, your answer ultimately fits into one of three categories. 1) Something for  yourself 2) Something of the world or 3) Something about your salvation.

None of these categories is wrong in and of itself. But, they’re not all equal either. What first comes to your mind when you think about the inexhaustible riches of God reveals where your heart and head are at. It’s not wrong to desire things for yourself or things of the world, but they don’t compare to matters of your salvation. So, what is your focus? Which category did you fall into? It’s something worth thinking about. Now as you think about your own life, compare it to the children of Israel at the time of this account from the Word of our God:

Exodus 14:13-14: And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

The words of our text come as the children of Israel are on the banks of the Red Sea. On one side is a vast body of water, no bridge, no boats. On the other side is Pharaoh’s army with all the chariots of Egypt. Pharaoh is obviously set on disaster. He wants the children of Israel back as his slaves and he’s beyond upset after 10 plagues from God, including the death of his first-born son.

If you’re among the 2 million men, women, and children in the camp of Israel, what are you thinking at this point? You have no weapons, you’re not an army, you’re encumbered with children and the elderly. You are stuck. If you’re Moses, what are thinking? You’ve patiently borne the word of the Lord before Pharaoh. Finally, you are allowed to take the people and leave and now you’re cornered. Certainly, in this situation, we would feel like everything was about to end. How could any of us say that we’d respond differently than the Israelites did? They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness (Exodus 14:11-12)."

Take yourself to that moment. Put yourself in that situation. What would you ask of God? What would your one request be? God, please give me ____________. Priorities shift a little bit when it comes to matters of life and death. I can talk all we want about the self-interests of my sinful heart. I can drool over all the treasures of the world. But in that moment, nothing is more important than salvation. And that’s exactly why God brought the children of Israel to that point. He wanted them to remember this significant event. He wanted something to happen that they would never forget, that they would tell their children for generations to come. What He showed them in that moment of desperation, was that even after everything in this life passed away, when they literally had nothing, not even hope, they still had salvation.

What more could they ask of God? He gave them the one thing they needed – Salvation from their enemies. And therefore Moses said, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Ahh, there we have it. When it comes to the most important treasure in the entire world, salvation itself, we need only stand still. Literally, the text reads to “be silent.” It’s almost so foolish that it seems ridiculous. You’re caught in a perilous situation of life and death so you do what? Stand still? Be silent? What a logical contradiction, at least according to our thinking. Take anything else in life, except salvation, and this process makes no sense. You want a good education, a high-paying job, a nice house? You can’t stand still and do nothing. You need to get out in life and earn it. You want a nice family, a comfortable lifestyle, a high-standard of living? You can’t sit back and do nothing, you have to earn it. We’re programmed to think this way about everything in life, because life works like that; except, when it comes to salvation.

Maybe that’s why we would choose so many self-interest things and treasures of the world if God gave us a free gift, because we’re so used to having to earn them. But when you’re caught between an impassible body of water and a fierce army, what do you really want? One thing and one thing only, salvation from the LORD, because as Moses said, “The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

What a display the LORD put on too. We’re told how he sheltered His people by blocking Pharaoh’s army as a pillar of cloud at day and a pillar of fire at night. Waking or sleeping, the LORD had their back. He was the buffer they needed for protection so that nothing could harm them. They only needed to be still. But they couldn’t stay there forever could they? When it was time to go, the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground (Exodus 14:15-16).”

That’s the part of the story we remember isn’t it? The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. We don’t often remember how the Israelites complained, or how the LORD provided a shield while the approximately 2 million member mob made their way slowly across. We like to forget what Israel asked for in that moment. They were the people of Jehovah, the true God! They had all His power at their request. There was nothing He couldn’t accomplish for them. And what did they ask for? To be sent back to Egypt as slaves. They would rather doubt God and forsake the Messianic heritage of their forefathers in order to preserve what little semblance of life they had left. They were self-preservationists to the greatest extent, thinking only of how to keep on living and breathing for the day. What narrow-minded cowards they were. They had anything at their request, and they chose something so worthless.

We probably like to forget that part of the story because we do the same thing, day by day. Ever stop to think about why God allows hard times to come upon you? Could it be for the same purpose as Moses and the Israelites, to show His power and to lead to you to trust Him? We certainly don’t like to apply the same lesson to our lives. Calling yourself out on your cowardliness, rebellion, narrow-mindedness and sin doesn’t come naturally. But Jesus beckons you and me with the same free gift, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you find, knock and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).” “Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you (John 16:23).” We have at our fingertips, “grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).” There is nothing too great for our God, to Him belongs all glory and power in heaven and earth.

If that’s true why do we short-change Him so much? Why is our focus so worldly and self-centered? Why is it such a struggle to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)?” Well, what are you focused on, the body of water in front of you? The enemy behind you? Or are you captivated by the Lord’s power? Are you thinking about preserving your own skin, or do you think of your neighbor first ? Do you have your sights on the things of this world, or are you mindful of the Lord’s spiritual perspective? When you think of all that your Savior offers you, what is that comes to mind first? What is your priority and your focus?

Hear the words of King David, who like you, had many enemies, but none greater than his own sin:

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4 One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:1-5).

The sons of Korah also wrote,

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress (Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11).

Instead of thinking about what God could give you, think about what you would like Him to take away. You can do that with our text by replacing the word “Egyptians” with whatever it is you want gone. What would you like to have erased from the earth forever? Poverty? Depression? Hunger? Pollution? Mosquitoes? ISIS? Whatever it is God, can take it away. But these things are all symptoms of much greater problem, just like earthly goals and pleasures are symptoms of much greater gift. The LORD rescued the Israelites from Egypt that day on the banks of the Red Sea, but that wasn’t their salvation.

The real hope is that the LORD doesn’t just take away the symptoms, but the problem itself. The real hope is that the LORD doesn’t just give blessings, but the one thing needed. That’s why there’s no greater gift from God than salvation, because salvation takes away sin. God’s purpose and plan was not that the Israelites could live to see another day, or month, or year; but that they could live for eternity. And that you and I could live for eternity.

If Israel had been destroyed that day, or subjected to captivity for the rest of time, there would no Messiah. No child born in the town Bethlehem to a young virgin woman and her betrothed husband. There would have been no temple and no adolescent within it to be about His Father’s business. There would have been no Prophet that ignited the hearts of the people as He spoke with authority and power. There would have been no blessings for little children nor would they have heard the soft voice saying, “Let them come to Me…” There would have been no revelation to the Samaritan woman of the long-awaited Chosen One of God who “told her everything she ever did.” There would have been no fishermen turned apostles, no inquisitive Zacchaeus, no perplexed Nicodemus. And if the LORD had not saved Israel that day, there would have been no sweat like blood, no crown of thorns, no lonely walk to Golgotha, no cross, no pierced side, and no broken tomb. And you and I would still be dead in our trespasses and sins.    

But on that day, in that moment, despite what they asked for; Israel saw the salvation of their God, the true God, Jehovah. We, too, in our lives, despite what we ask for; have that salvation at our fingertips every day. The greatest, most powerful gift, better than any self-interest or worldly pleasure. We have the salvation of Jesus that is greater than anything. And to have it, you need only be still. You need only be silent, and listen to your God. Hear His Word, and see His salvation. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.