Clear the Path to Christ - December 22, 2019 - Isaiah 40:1-6

The Clear Path to Comfort

1. In John’s task as Forerunner

2. In Jesus’ accomplishment as Savior

Last weekend we talked about time and its inevitable march forward. When it comes to the passage of time, especially when there’s a big build-up, there’s plenty of waiting involved. The thing is when waiting is paired with expectation, it often results in disappointment. We have a way of building things up in our minds to the point of unrealistic expectations.

Think about it, when is the last time you waited for something and were disappointed? It probably happens so often that you tend not to remember it in the long run. Sometimes, we’re disappointed because what we were expecting never happened or didn’t happen the way we thought it would. I remember a few months ago we went out for pizza at a fancier place – submitted our order and paid for it, only to come back an hour later and hear that they had forgotten to start making it. We’d have to wait another 45 minutes because they wouldn’t even put our order ahead of the others. Waiting. Expectation. Disappointment. But that’s only for a mere pizza.

At other times, we’re disappointed because whatever we were expecting just wasn’t what it was made out to be. Ever been hyped for a movie only to fall asleep out of boredom? Our read a book that was recommended by someone and you just couldn’t make it all the way through? Another way this plays out often today is in the latest internet fad. Something becomes an instant sensation out of nowhere and by the time you actually see it or experience it the build-up has been so monumental that your only outcome is to be disappointed.

This happens a lot as we wait for things. It happened as people waiting for Jesus to come also. But many of the disappointments we face are so trivial compared to the birth of the Messiah. We get upset about a pizza order or some trend on social media, whereas faithful OT believers waited generations for their Savior to come.

The question we consider today is why did the same result happen. Why were so many people disappointed in Jesus? Was He all just hype and build-up? Was He not what the people needed? We see our answer today in God’s Word as we study a prophecy about the very one that God would send to prepare the way for His Son. God wanted people to be ready for Jesus – but part of that work would involve shattering their false expectations. That was John the Baptist’s job as the forerunner of the Messiah, and we thank the Lord for it today. We also ask the Holy Spirit to bless us and strengthen our faith through this Word today that we may be prepared to receive Jesus in our hearts. We read from Isaiah 40:1-6: 

Isaiah 40:1-6 "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. 2 "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD's hand Double for all her sins." 3 A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (NASB)

In the first verse of Genesis chapter 4, we’re told that Eve gave birth to the first child of the world – Cain. The verse goes on to tell us what Eve said, “I have gotten a man from the LORD.” Some believe that Eve was indicating that she thought this child was the promised one, that literally she had given birth to the LORD incarnate. That’s possible, but Eve could also have been speaking about the promise that God gave in which she would be the mother of all the living – that the LORD made good on that promise.

Either way, in that moment, at the birth of the first child, the promise of God was clearly on Adam and Eve’s minds. Obviously, Cain wasn’t the Messiah, even if that was Eve’s initial reaction. It would take many more children, and thousands of years, for God to send His Son. And when He did, the promise had died down to a mere smoldering wick.

We have a reading today from one of God’s prophets. They were charged with the solemn task of keeping the peoples’ focus on the coming Messiah. They preached the Word. They called the people to repent of sin. They received and gave special promises about the Savior – what He would do, how He would come, how He would die, even the very town He would be born in. Although the light of gospel grew quite dim in the Old Testament, Isaiah was one who encouraged His people to remember the promise. In chapter 60 he wrote, Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. In chapter 61, he gave the very words that Christ would quote in the synagogue of Nazareth to confirm His Messiahship. All throughout the books of the prophets, these special references to Jesus are sprinkled in. They were meant to keep the people ready – even more ready than Eve was.

But it didn’t seem to work very well. We have one of the more famous prophecies this morning – not exactly about Jesus, but about His coming. This is the foremost prophecy of John the Baptist. In each of the four Gospel accounts, Isaiah 40 is quoted to confirm that John the Baptist was the Forerunner of Jesus. You see, not only did God prepare His people throughout the ages with recorded promises given by His servants, He sent a special prophet whose only task was to get people ready for Christ’s birth. John the Baptist was a Messenger within a group of messengers, and He was the final prophet before Jesus’ birth.

And so, Isaiah tells us what John needed to do. "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Essentially, the obstacles to Jesus needed to be removed. What were those barriers? Well, many spiritual mountains and sin-laden terrain had formed in the nation of Israel. People were more concerned about political power and control and how to wrestle it back from the Romans. Religious purists were more intent on proving themselves worthy through how they keep the commands of God, rather than showing the same mercy and love that God does. The people wanted a Messiah to fill their stomachs with food and their homes with riches, rather than giving them the Bread and Water of life in God’s Word.

John’s job was not to overcome these barriers on his own, indeed he would not. Even up to the point of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, mankind still tried to coerce Him into being the type of Savior they wanted. Truly, in many ways these mountains, valleys, and rough terrain continue to be obstacles today. Look at the list of spiritual blind spots that people had at the time of Christ, and really ask yourself if it’s any different today. How many people focus too much on civil leaders and political powers, either trusting those in office too much or raging against them in disdain? That inner spiritual desire to prove myself worthy before God and more righteous than my neighbor is not going anywhere while this world remains. It is the oldest lie and the single most common source of all sin and wickedness in the history of mankind. And you certainly don’t have to look far around Christmas to see the growing blindness of materialism and earthly attachment in our world and, sadly in our hearts. We are all too eager to pin our fulfillment of joy and purpose in life to something made by human hands or someone offering fleeting and temporary promises for today.

No, the obstacles John faced haven’t really gone anywhere. And yet, at the same time, this prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus. The mountains have been leveled, the valleys filled, and rough terrain smoothed away. But perhaps the way Christ did it wasn’t what you expected. Perhaps many people today don’t believe in Jesus because He’s not the Savior they want.

John was a unique prophet for a unique Messiah. As Isaiah said, John preached in the wilderness. The New Testament tells us that John wore camel’s hair and ate strange things. He seemed like a crazy hermit, not the personal envoy of the King of heaven and earth. And yet, wasn’t that part of the point? John was counter-cultural before it was popular. John faced scorn, punishment, and even death for holding fast to the faithful word. And indeed, in a world racing toward sin, evil, and hell – all who walk John’s path today experience the same. The early believers summarized their life and John’s, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

Those who believe in the true Messiah will seem different and weird to the world. We have an example of that is John’s life as he was imprisoned by King Herod for preaching the 6^th commandment – that even a king should not commit sexual immorality. That single episode was part of the preparing and clearing process for the Messiah – breaking the people out of their self-conformed molds of twisting and manipulating the Word of God. And the purpose was not judgment only, but that they would see more clearly the Savior who was present – for exactly who He is and what He does. But who among us doesn’t try to do the same thing Herod did, cutting corners on commandments as quickly as we can? Lust, unfaithfulness, porn, looking but not touching, encouraging and supporting infidelity and homosexuality. The birth of Jesus is not just about sins against the 6^th commandment. We take that example from something John endured in his life which is parallel to what we experience today. We could talk at length about many other sins against other commandments. The list goes on. We aren’t innocent either. We build up barriers that keep us from really seeing who Jesus is so that we can live more comfortably in sin.

So, what kind of Savior is Jesus? What are the proper expectations? We must be careful about allowing ourselves, or the world around us, to turn Jesus into something that He’s not. Because ultimately, it strikes at the truly unique gift He gives. Isaiah declares, "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. 2 "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD's hand Double for all her sins."

That’s truly a Savior who is different – who was proclaimed by a different type of prophet. Jesus does not overlook sin, but removes it. That’s the beauty of faith. Even while the obstacles remain in this world of sin, for the believer they are removed. Their effect and condemnation is null for the one who has Christ. Though all outward sight tells us we deserve damnation, Jesus wants us to be comforted in the hope of forgiveness. The uniqueness of Jesus is built into that word, comfort. Comfort is not something you wear or that can be seen with eyes. Comfort is in the heart. Though the mountains of sin and the thorns of thistles of evil seem to be ever present in our lives and even growing at times, there is always comfort in Jesus because He can keep you safe from those barriers. And that’s why we must be different like John and Jesus – to share and protect the treasure that is our faith.

It is God’s will that you know and believe that you have comfort against sin through Jesus – so much so that He placed a double emphasis on it. It’s akin to what Paul said to the Romans, Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5:20). And also to the Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

A different prophet, for a different Savior, who offers a different blessing. Against every human assumption, even seeming impossible to us, Jesus comforts. Amen.

The Inevitability of Jesus - December 15, 2019 - Malachi 3:1-6

The Inexpressible Inevitability of the Son of God

1. He does not change – therefore you are not consumed

2. His Word is faithful – therefore you can believe it

3. He makes you clean – therefore you are accepted

Well, this past week we reached that point we cross each year around this time. It’s not anything to do with Christmas – nothing having to do with presents, or lights, or trees. No what we did this past week involved another holiday – the throwing out of old Halloween candy. Yep, much to the dismay of Micah and Allie, it was just time.

How quickly things change in life. One day, you’re carving pumpkins, tweaking costumes, and gathering free candy. A month or so later and it’s all gone. The pumpkins are rotted, the costumes donated or stored away, and the candy discarded. It’s the inevitability of time. As soon as a season arrives, it’s gone just as quickly.

No matter how hard we try, or the many ways we numb ourselves to the reality through celebration, excess enjoyment, and misplaced priorities, no one can avoid that which is inevitable. Instead, we should be preparing for the change that we know to be coming. Right now, we’re in the thick of Christmas preparations. We’re busy hustling about town and on the internet to get our gifts and to make our plans. We extend a great deal of energy and effort. We feel pressing guilt and stress if things aren’t the way we want them to be. For what? Christmas will come and go.

As elusive and uncompromising as the change of time is, the Bible tells us exactly what we need to hear. Since sin came into the world, it has always been linked with the passage of time. The inevitability of change also means the inevitability of decay and corruption. Things wear out. New Christmas toys break or fall apart. Christmas feasts expire and are consumed. Happy times with friends and relatives subside back to the daily grind. Scripture tells us that the change we witness is a result of the overall decay of this world we are in. The clock is ticking upon this material universe. The harshest reality of all is that it includes our bodies. We are subject to the most devastating change ever – death. For both of these reasons our hope as Christians is not in this material world, and what a welcome reminder that is especially around this time of year.

God does not avoid this topic in His Word. Hebrews 1:10-12 says, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

Even our cherished hymns express this reality in song.

123:6. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away;

They fly forgotten as a dream

Dies at the opening day.

552:2. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see.

O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!

This morning, we read another section of Scripture on the topic of change, especially as it relates to that Savior, Jesus, who came in our place. We read from Malachi 3:1-6:

Malachi 3:1-6 "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. 2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. 4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years. 5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien-- Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD of hosts. 6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” 

The lead up to the birth of the Savior was very much like life today – constant change. In fact, one of the reasons why so many people were caught off guard when Jesus came is because, in their minds, it took too long. God had given the first gospel promise of a Messiah to Adam and Eve. The impatient human mind thinks that if someone so important and necessary as a Savior must come, it had better be right away. But God had a different plan. God sent His Son in the “fullness of time” as Paul wrote to the Galatians. And many things changed along the way.

The words of God’s messenger, Malachi, about the coming of another messenger, John the Baptist, are filled with thoughts of change. Before we get to all of these inevitabilities of the Messiah’s birth and work on earth, we jump ahead to the last verse of our text, where we see the exact opposite of change. The LORD God almighty says, “For I am the LORD, I do not change, therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”

Amidst all the inevitable change in the world around us – there is one constant – God. He does not change. Hebrews 13:5 says likewise, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” This is the first inexpressible inevitability about the Son of God, and it’s about consistency, not change. This is the most important point to get clear from the onset. God does not change. He is someone you can rely on. He promises you that despite the chaos and uncertainty of life around you, He will always be the same. He is an unending source of stability for your life.

The blessed result is that you are not consumed. How does change consume? Well, consider that this word indicates the completion or expiration of something. It is the result of something having lived out its value. We might say that it’s the impact of change on our lives. We eventually reach a point when we are done. We, too, at least in our physical properties, are just like the earth around us – a garment that will wear out. James expressed this truth by saying, Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:13)

We hate hearing that message. We don’t want to be consumed. We want our lives to continue forever. Sometimes, we want these things for selfish reasons. We want to continue on in order to have more pleasure and happiness of an earthly quality. But we also want to live on because God has created us to value life. Death is a foreign agent. The change and decay of a sinful world is a twisted reality on what life should be, and we know it. But, inevitable time moves on. The first great truth is that God does not change. He does not succumb to the decay of the world. He is above it. And He doesn’t just sit there idle, He helps you. He promises that because He does not change, you will not be consumed. You, too, will triumph over even death itself.

We’ll have more on that in a moment, but for now we move to our second point. Since God does not change, His Word is faithful. The first truth is about who God is – His nature we might call it. This is a good truth and something we need to know, but in reality, God is far from us. He is unapproachable to sinful humans. (John 1:11,5) The Word is how God steps into our world. The Word is God in our lives. It is every bit His nature as He is in reality, but it’s the version of God that we can endure right now. Therefore, the link between God in His nature, and God in His word, is inseparable. He does not change, therefore what He says is faithful.

This is such a blessed truth, and every bit as important as God Himself being holy. For if God’s Word cannot be trusted, He might as well be an immoral tyrant and a sinner just like us. Without a faithful Word from God, we have nothing. The faithfulness of that Word is highlighted in the trustworthiness of this prophecy from Malachi. Malachi speaks of the special forerunner of the Messiah – John the Baptist. Malachi also prophecies of the direct work of Jesus in cleansing us from sin. The launder’s soap was used to wash wool, in order that it might be white again. A passage like Isaiah 1:18 comes to mind, "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. The fulfilled work of Jesus as our Savior makes this a reality. Our filthy sin is washed away in His blood. Our disgusting acts of corruption and perversion against God’s holy will are wiped away in the tide of mercy. This is the heart of Jesus’ work for us as a Savior from sin. And it’s faithful. The second inexpressible inevitability of the Son of God is that His Word is true, and therefore it is foundation of every believer’s faith.

The last point is really where we get the “inexpressible” part of our theme. It’s not hard to understand that God is unchangeable and that His Word is true. Those are regular themes for the Christian. The truly mysterious truth before us today involves HOW the Son of God made all this possible. HOW He cleansed us from sin. Here’s what makes it tough. This unchangeable God. This holy God. He chose to come down to earth and be born like us. He chose, as contradictory as it sounds, to be changed. Malachi says that He would “come suddenly to His temple.” That meant coming to earth – that was a prophecy of Christ’s incarnation – the technical term for Him becoming human.

God should not have had to do that. God does not change in that way – at least in theory. But Jesus did, for you! He walked on the same legs. He held with the same hands. He thought with the same brain. He felt with the same heart. The same blood flowed through His veins. But God does not change. The truly inexpressible part of all this is that Jesus did all this for us, yet did not violate the immutable nature of God. The most amazing miracle happened – He was both true man and true God at the same time in a most perfect union. Human nature cannot conceive of that ideal or even understand it. It tries to in the religions of the world. All over the place, mankind interacts with the divine but never in this way. Never in the perfect union of the Messiah as fully Man and fully God.

Yet, Jesus is also inevitable – even more than time, and change, and decay, and even death. God should not have changed as He did – we though we don’t know how it was possible. But, what we can say is that Jesus wouldn’t let sin or death have the final word. The simple act of mercifully offering His own life for yours was far more powerful than any evil of this present age.

This is truly inexpressible yet also inevitable. We teach is clearly from Scripture yet it’s a thought, like so many others from the Bible, that far transcends our reason. And yet, even the littlest among us knows who that baby in the manger really is. The result is that we have the hope of a perfect union with God. The ugliness of sin, the inescapable change and decay of the world, everything wicked that we can’t do away with on our own – is covered in Christ. Therefore, we are not consumed.    

Balance by Faith - December 8, 2019 - Luke 1:46-55

Theme: Balance by Faith

Luke 1:46-55: And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. ⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. ⁴⁹ For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. ⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. ⁵² He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, ⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever." 

How do you stay balanced in life? One of the features of maturing into adulthood is having the ability to cope with the ups and downs of life and stay balanced, or keeping an even keel. Even that phrase, “even keel” gives us a picture of what it means to stay balanced. It comes from the picture of a boat staying afloat on the waters. To be “even keel” means that despite the tossing of the waves, the ship remains right side up and functioning.

So how do you successfully stay balanced? Much ink has been spilled by people to answer that question. In order to stay balanced you must first know what puts you out of balance. Some major contributors to an unbalanced life are: stress, anger, negativity, and evil. It’s a difficult, life-long task in keeping these threats at bay. And no matter what one believes, all people know the difficulty in staying balanced.

As believers, it’s entirely appropriate that we look first and foremost to God in helping us stay balanced. But what exactly does God tell us?

First, God’s Word clearly tells why there are so many options out there. The reason is the natural knowledge of God’s Law that all people have in their hearts. The Spirit tells us in Romans 2: For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (Romans 2:14-15 – ESV). In this context the word “Gentiles” means those who do not believe in God and do not have His Word. Even unbelievers have a basic knowledge of right and wrong because God has put that in their heart. Therefore, it’s only natural that people would seek principles and teachings for doing good and keeping that inward law in their hearts. And so, by nature we seek many different ways to satisfy that inner feeling of God’s law. We gravitate toward self-help methods, counseling techniques, and moral philosophies. These are not bad things but they cannot keep up perfectly balanced. Because there’s an ever greater problem that we face than evil, anger, hostility, and stress. It’s our own personal sin and unrighteousness before God. We can’t keep ourselves perfectly balanced because we’re at the core of the problem.

This is precisely the point that we enter with the thoughts of our text for today. We need help from outside of ourselves, and it comes through Jesus – the child born of Mary. As we talk about keeping balance, think of all that was going on in Mary’s life at the point of our text! An angel has recently appeared to her announcing that she would give birth to the Savior of all people. We’re familiar with the happiness and joy of this scenario because we have portray it that way. But this message was highly scandalous to Mary. It meant she would be judged as an adulteress by her culture, even though she wasn’t. It meant that her relationship with Joseph, her husband by all intents and purposes under Jewish law, was now in serious jeopardy. She was confronted with a situation that would cause great pain for her life – both physically and mentally. Talk about losing balance in life; Mary had plenty of reasons to be stressed! Yet in this song of praise the main theme she speaks about is balance and the peace that comes from it.  

The key thought from Mary’s song comes in verse 48: “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” The question that naturally comes forth is what it means that Mary is “blessed,” particularly when it says that all generations will know this and acknowledge it. The phrase “all generations” conveys both chronological aspect of generations and the topical aspect of nations. Mary’s blessedness is known by the entire world and throughout all of history. We certainly can see the fulfillment of this thought today. Mary is highly regarded by all Christians and the Christian faith has indeed spread throughout the entire world. So, given the fact that this statement has come true, how should be understand Mary’s blessedness? We know well that many Christians take this blessedness beyond the rest of Scripture, going so far as to say that Mary has become a greater person than others and that she is even to be worshipped and prayed to. 

But a simple reading of Mary’s song takes those false beliefs away. Not only does Mary categorize herself as “lowly” she also goes above and beyond to emphasize the power of God. Nine times she uses the phrase “God has…” And each of these statements helps explain why the blessedness of Mary was a gift, not something she earned. Mary confesses that:

1) God has regarded her lowly state

2) God has done great things for her.

3) God has shown strength with His arm.

4) God has scattered the proud.

5) God has put down the mighty from their thrones.

6) God has exalted the lowly.

7) God has filled the hungry.

8) God has sent the rich away empty.

9) God has helped Israel by showing His mercy.

There was nothing special in Mary that she should be chosen by the Lord to give birth to Jesus. But equally important, there was nothing she would face or be subjected to that God could not overcome for her. And so, Mary “rejoiced in God, her Savior, the very child who would be born through her. The child that received his flesh and blood from Mary, would use His very body to rescue her, and us, from our sins. And restore balance. How did this awesome miracle take place? Well, the easy response is by God’s power. After all, all things are possible with God, not just those things that we can understand and compartmentalize in our minds.

The tougher question is how did Mary believe this. Because, her faith was the most fragile aspect of this story. It’s not that the birth of Jesus hung upon Mary’s intuition or spiritual insight. Rather, it was the same way it is with all of God’s promises – did Mary believe it? The same pattern plays out over and over again in our lives. God speaks – we hear – but do we listen and believe? God makes His Word clear as it can possibly be – despite the many arguments to the contrary in our culture. It’s not a problem with the Word, or with God who speaks it, but with our unwillingness to believe it.

To see how great the difference can be, consider another situation that was similar to Mary’s. Another woman in Scripture, confronted by an angel, albeit in a different way to a much different result. It was Eve, when tempted by Satan, who made the decision not to believe what God had said. Instead of heeding God’s warning not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Eve believed the lie and made a piece fruit more important than God. She chose to worship and serve the creature, rather than the Creator because she didn’t believe God’s Words to her.

It might not seem like it, but the same temptation was present for Mary that day when Gabriel called. The power to make the virgin birth possible was not in Mary’s faith – the word of God was already in effect. Faith simply receives God’s power. But Mary had the opportunity to trust more in her thoughts, in her concerns, in her worries, in her power, than God’s. She was at the same crossroads as Eve, the mother of all the living and the first one to allow death into world. And as hard as it was, as unbelievable as it was, as uncertain as it was, Mary believed God. Verse 38 records her reply, And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

Faith is not a complicated thing. It’s a simple as that one passage. Mary believed – and all the power, all the work, all the sacrifice, all the glory – was God’s. Mary’s faith simple received the salvation that Jesus won for her. But the other special part of this story, and the reason why we remember it at Advent, it because Mary’s faith impacted yours as well. When she relied on God even though her life was being tipped upside down, it meant that your Savior and Lord would be born as God had said. It was one more step along God’s fulfilled promises of sending a Redeemer for the whole world.

So, take time to be thankful for Mary and her faith. Appreciate it, learn from it, keep telling the story. As God said, so it is, All generations will call her blessed. But more important, find your balance in life in the same place Mary found it – in Jesus. He is God, your Savior, too. He is able to take whatever you’re going through and turn it into a blessing for you. He can repair any heartache. He can heal any wound. He has covered all sin.

When Jesus calls to your life through His Word, it probably won’t be through an angel, and it definitely won’t be as a serpent in disguise. But when He calls, and He will often, whenever your Bible is opened in fact – listen and believe. Faith is not complicated. It is simple trust in God’s Words and His Words are clear and plain to us. Mary was a humble and lowly teenager who had just been confronted with the greatest biological impossibility that mankind has ever witnessed. Instead of fleeing to lesser idols of human imagination, wisdom, or intellect – the low-hanging fruit – she responded in faith and trust in her Savior – “Let it be done according to Your Word.” That’s what staying balanced looks like and it’s a gift from God’s power and mercy in His Son, Jesus. Amen.   

The Advent of Faith - Revelation 2:20-22

Beware of Attempts to Discredit Christ’s Advent

1. From blatant notions that He isn’t God

2. To subtle threats against His grace

Now may the God of hope fill you with complete joy and peace as you continue to believe, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, EHV)

Revelation 3:20-22 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

This October at the Pacific Coast Pastoral Conference we enjoyed an escape room as part of our R&R activity. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, an escape room is series of rooms in a building that contain various mind games and puzzles. In order to successful “break out” of the room, you have to work with your group to solve the puzzles.

There are several different themes you can choose from as well and we chose a wild west theme. Part of the intrigue is having some unexpected twists and turns along the way. One such twist came immediately at the beginning as two our team members, one being myself, were handcuffed, taken into the “town jail,” and locked behind a barred door. Obviously, my incarcerated partner and I knew right away that our freedom would be subject to our teammates’ ability to solve the puzzle that would unlock the jail.

As it turned out, things didn’t get off to a great start. When the rest of the pastors joined us, they immediately had access to all the other rooms while we stayed locked away. There was a sheriff’s office, a saloon, a billiard room, and even a room with a hangman’s gallows – along with the town jail. Unbeknownst to one of the pastor’s, the key to our jail cell was in plain sight. In fact, he picked it up within the first 30 seconds (it was on bar in the saloon). He assumed that we would find a way to break ourselves out and never thought to see if the key fit the jail door’s lock. It wasn’t until about 15 minutes later, and after several pleas for help, that we tried to key and finally got out.

While we were in jail, there wasn’t much we could do except communicate with the other pastors on the outside. The key was not within our reach. We could not break down the door on our own, and there were no other exits. We had to talk and listen in order to open the door. (summarize this quicker)

As strange as it sounds, that very situation is a good metaphor for faith in Jesus – specifically how a believer comes to faith. The analogy of a door is before us today as we consider the famous scene from Revelation 3. The picture of Jesus at the door knocking is memorialized for many of us in the famous painting by Warner Sallman, which you can find in the bulletin. Sallman’s inspiration for this painting was Revelation 3:20. But what does it mean when Jesus knocks at the door, and more importantly, how do we open it and gain access to Him? The key to those answers is in communication. Much like being locked in a jail cell, we can’t open the door on our own. We need help. But, we do have communication with God – through His Word, which is the very source of our freedom.     

We study this on the first Sunday of Advent because the theme and focus of this season is the arrival of Jesus. There are three important arrivals of Jesus in the Scripture. The first is often the most obvious, His birth on Christmas. This is the primary focus of the Advent season. The second is a theme we have been looking at in the past month – the second coming of Jesus on Judgment Day. The third is one we rarely connect with the official Advent season, but it’s equal in importance to the others – Jesus’s arrival in your heart. As a believer, Jesus lives in you. Faith is the kingdom of God in a person’s heart. Jesus is part of your life. Jesus described this aspect of faith in John 14: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

The difficulty is that we have an inward tendency to discredit the validity of each of these three Advents. There are certainly many things we could study and discuss about all three today, but for our purposes, as we anticipate Christmas, we will focus on the first arrival of Jesus and how it pertains to the direct arrival of Him in our hearts – that is, faith.

You are probably familiar with some of the ways that people discredited Jesus’ first Advent. The most well-known example is King Herod, who in a fit panic over the thought of losing earthly power issued the murderous command to annihilate all the baby boys in the kingdom who were two years old or younger. His folly is best summarized in the famous line from hymn 131: “The star proclaims the King is here; But Herod, why this senseless fear? He takes no realms of earth away, Who gives the realms of heavenly day.”

You might also remember that the crowds of people wanted to make Jesus their own earthly king after He performed the miracle of feeding 5,000 people. They figured that their lives would be pretty good if Jesus could do this for them on a regular basis. Another group that discredited Christ’s first Advent was the religious leaders – the Pharisees and Sadducees. They wanted Jesus to be more critical of the Roman occupation of Israel, rather than the religious legalism they endorsed. And they absolutely hated that Jesus continually claimed to be God. Even Jesus’ own disciples had a difficult time understanding and trusting that His work was focused on heavenly rewards, and not earthly. Each of the misconceptions about Jesus’ first Advent ultimately stemmed from an unwillingness to believe that He was the Son of God. It was an attack on the divinity of Jesus as God, which was essential to His work of salvation.

But as Jesus gives us this picture of standing at the door and knocking, indicating His arrival – His status as God is undeniable. For one thing, Jesus likens His arrival to that of a feast, where He will enter and dine with the individual. Then in the very next verse that unity is portrayed as sharing in the authority of God in heaven – that the believer sits with Jesus on His throne, just as Jesus sits with the Father on His throne.

The fact that Jesus has the right to extend this blessing, and the fact that the very blessing itself is to share in power with God – proves without a doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. If He was not, He couldn’t offer such a gift. But this is the conclusion of our faith – unity with God in heaven.

What we also see here is Jesus at the center of God’s work. Undoubtedly, you’ve heard the argument from someone at some time that the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, and therefore, is not a true depiction of God. Again, those waging such arguments are the ones who deny that Jesus is God and therefore attempt to discredit His first Advent. But instead of looking for the word Trinity, look for the teaching. You will see it here. In these verses we see a reference to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and how they operate as one true God. The fact that Jesus claims to be part of the true Godhead, and that the center of God’s work is on what He has accomplished, shows that He is God.     

And if you look close enough, you’ll see that throughout Scripture all over the place. Jesus weaves His work in and throughout the overall work of the Trinity. This is one such section. Those who hear Jesus’ voice, as it is given by the Holy Spirit, have the right to reign in victory with the Father. Christ’s first Advent, as humble as it was, does not discredit His status as God, rather it helps us understand His divinity even more. One of the greatest proofs for the power of God is the mercy He is willing to show sinners. That was at the heart of Jesus’ decision to come and be born here on earth.

Similarly, to the way that Jesus came to be born on earth, many today attempt to discredit the way he comes to a person’s heart today. This arrival of Jesus is so crucial because it’s the way our faith is established, which gives us the blessings that Jesus won for us. We need to be correct and accurate in what we believe and teach about how a person comes to faith – essentially, how that is opened.

This is where the familiar image of the text comes into your life and becomes part of your faith. When you think about Jesus knocking on the door to your heart, the logical response is that you open it. That would indeed work for a perfect person, but we’re trapped in that jail cell of sin. We can’t free ourselves, and we can’t open the door for Jesus, but we can listen to His voice. As Christians, we’re not liberated by what makes sense in our heads, but instead from what we receive from the Word of God. The first truth that communication with Jesus tells us is that we don’t have the key on our own. Romans 8:7 says, For the mind-set of the sinful flesh is hostile to God, since it does not submit to God’s law, and in fact, it cannot. Romans 3:20 likewise reiterates: For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The effect of a flesh and mind that is hostile to God is not just that I can’t reach my way to heaven with my hands. My heart and mind are corrupted too. It’s equally futile for me to build my trust around mentally uncloaking my heart to Jesus, by choosing Him or deciding that He is my Savior. I can’t do this because I’m limited: intellectually, morally, and physically. In fact, the very premise of salvation dictates that we need to be saved. Someone who can come to God on their own, or even with a bit of their own strength mixed with His, doesn’t really need to be saved. There is absolutely no point to believing in Jesus as the Savior from sin, if we can reach Him by our own efforts.

And yet, at the very same time – the door to your heart does need to open and Jesus is calling you to believe. At some point, a Christian does intellectually accept what Jesus has done and who He, and they are renewed morally to be righteous as Jesus is. So, from one perspective, these details discredit the Advent of faith, and from another perspective they are the very products of faith.

The difference between each side is God’s grace. Anytime you take control, in any phase of faith – whether it be conversion, renewal, or sanctification – you are denying God’s grace in Jesus. Grace is underserved and unconditional. Grace in Christ makes no greater or lesser impact in your life based on your efforts, or your will. And you should thank God every day for that because it means that everything Jesus has done for you, the very merits of achieving life in heaven, are completely outside of what you can or cannot do on your own. It all depends on Jesus.

It's there in our text. Before Jesus even mentions opening the door, He says, “If anyone hears My voice…” Likewise, Jesus concludes, “If anyone has ears to hear, let Him hear what the Spirit says.” The power to open the door to your heart– to believe, to trust, to accept, to be born again – however you want to describe it, is found in Christ’s Word alone. And why is that? Because the Word proclaims in a clear and unmistakable way – God’s grace in Christ. So also, Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” 2 Timothy 3:15 reads, “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Even Isaiah in the OT wrote, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” And Jesus Himself said to His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.”

So, yes, the door is opened for the believer. Jesus enters and He makes His home in the heart. He is accepted. He is believed. His Word is taught and understood and proclaimed and rejoiced in. The sinner is forgiven – born again. But it did not happen by your hand turning the knob, your mind making the choice, or your righteousness providing the opportunity. The only difference is your Savior’s tender and persistent call by the gospel, in His unshakable promises delivered by the Spirit, in His wounded body and pierced hands, in His holy and divine blood shed on your behalf. In short, His Grace for you.

That’s what it looks like, when Grace is kept in an equal setting with Faith. And that’s what it took for the door of your heart to be opened and to stay open. God keeps us from discrediting this arrival of our Savior by faith – this Advent. (bring it back to intro) – How easily we can go from blatant attack against Jesus to subtle discrediting of His grace. Both are connected with in the spectrum of doubting the Word.

Advent is a season of rejoicing upon the arrival of our Savior. There is no greater way to do that than by remembering and honoring His grace as that which opened your heart and that which keeps Jesus there. Amen.

Thankfulness is Great Gain - 1 Timothy 2:1-6

Thanksgiving Day service 2019

Theme: Being Thankful is “Great Gain”
1. When it is present in all circumstances
2. When it is directed at all people
3. When it serves Jesus

Dear friends in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior,

1 Timothy 6:6 reads, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. This single verse is really the entire thrust of the sermon today. This is the central point. If you come away from today’s service with a better understanding of “godliness with contentment” then the goal of this sermon will have been met.

Now, we can summarize our message in this passage but we’re not going to leave it there. We read also from 1 Timothy 2:1-7 in order to better explore the depth of being thankful through faith in Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:1-7 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Today we come to learn from God’s Word that Being Thankful is “Great Gain”
1. When it is present in all circumstances
2. When it is directed at all people
3. When it serves Jesus

Has thankfulness gone out of style? Based on the traffic at the airport yesterday or the crowds flocking to the grocery stores, I would say “no.” Thanksgiving is as big a holiday as it’s ever been. Ah, but that’s not the question. It’s easy for us to associate the virtue of thankfulness with the holiday. But just because someone celebrates Thanksgiving Day does not mean they’re thankful. Indeed, much of the holiday of Thanksgiving has little to say of a person’s attitude. Thanksgiving for many represents time with family, eating lots of food, watching football, and more recently, going shopping for Christmas gifts. While we can be thankful for each of those things, simply celebrating the holiday doesn’t guarantee that.

So, has thankfulness gone out of style? Well, as the Bible describes it, in many ways it has. From our text today, we see three primary, meaning essential, elements to being thankful as a Christian – in a way that 1 Timothy 6:6 says is “great gain.” In chapter 2 God is described what “godliness with contentment” looks like in real time. The first of those essential elements is being thankful in all circumstances. Now, this is where we lean a but more on 1 Timothy 6:6 in order to help us better understand our text. In that verse, Paul mentions the key to being thankful in our actions, and its something that starts in the heart – contentment. Paul says that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Contentment is not something you can measure or quantify. You can’t see into a person’s heart or attitude to tell how much contentment they have. But, contentment is displayed through thankfulness. And the Bible makes the case that we can be content and therefore, thankful in all circumstances. In another of Paul’s writings he says,

Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

So often we think that the situation we’re in warrants the reaction we display in our lives. But Paul says that’s not the case for the Christian. We can be content and thankful in any situation – good or bad – not because of the situation itself but because of what God does for us. That’s where we pair “godliness” with contentment and get great gain.

Too often, people settle for a false, cheap thankfulness in their life because they’re not really content. For example, consider the Pharisee who said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector (Luke 18:11).” Here he gives thanks but it’s not true thankfulness because it has neither godliness nor contentment. Choosing for yourself when to be thankful to God and when to be angry, vengeful, and discontent with your surroundings is not thankfulness.

As we might expect, being thankful in all circumstances naturally flows into being thankful toward all people. Here’s where we jump back into our text. The emphasis on God’s care and compassion for all people certainly has implications on being thankful in all circumstances. You’ll notice, God clearly wants us to be thankful toward all people – especially as it relates to our prayer life. The topic of thankfulness is another type of prayer that Paul mentions, in addition to supplications, intercessions, and just plain general prayers. The key thought to remember is that all our prayers, when focused on others, is to be directed at their well-being.

Paul also looked specifically at those in authority. He especially singles out leaders in society and tells Timothy to pray for them. It’s not easy to pray for those in authority, especially secular leaders. We understand this well. We live in freedom and like to be in control. We often cringe or balk at the notion of obeying others, even more so if we disagree with their leadership.

Perhaps politicians come to mind, but our lives are full of other authority figures as well. Parents. Law enforcement personnel. Pastors and teachers. Managers and bosses. God explains throughout His Word that He expects us to obey these individuals and submit to them. There are obviously exceptions but in most circumstances this expectation stands as it’s written.

But how easily our contentment, thankfulness, and prayers dry up when we’re dealing with authority figures. Instead of respecting government officials, we stop at nothing to discredit their policy and even their personhood. We feel justified in not submitting to them if we think that they are wrong – even though they often provide a host of other blessings that we blind ourselves to. Think of the culture Paul and Timothy were in. Do we feel like we have bad leaders today? Their government outlawed the Christian faith and sanctioned imprisonment, mistreatment and death to Christians. Yet God said to them – be thankful and pray for those in authority.

The same is true of parents. Is it healthy for children to only listen and respect mom and dad when they agree with their rules? How would that look in our families? What about church leaders? Is the pastor only worth praying for his sermons are inspiring? Shall we shut down and ignore him if he teaches something we don’t like?

There are no perfect leaders – in society, in the church, or in home. If you’re waiting for that in order to be thankful it will obviously never happen. If you only pray for your leaders when they do what you want, how is that attitude flowing from free grace you’ve received from God? And just because someone is in the public eye doesn’t mean that their good name and reputation is fair game to be torn to shreds.

The point is well understood in our text. Christians are to pray for all people – with thanksgiving. God knows how difficult this is to do toward those in authority, especially when we disagree with them and if we feel unfairly treated by them. But that situation doesn’t change what God has said, in fact, it emphasizes the need for prayer even more. The importance of this is given in God’s reasoning for it, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. Respecting, obeying, and praying for those in authority helps keep our lives stable in peace and dignity, and in this kind of setting the good news of Jesus our Savior thrives.

We’re also told that when we pray for others it serves Jesus. The text continues by saying, This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. The way we think of others and treat them stems from how much God loves them. It’s God’s desire that all would be saved and come to know Jesus as their one Mediator. That message – the gospel – is clear when we display our Savior’s love toward others – especially among those with whom we have a disagreement.

The “great gain” of thankfulness and prayer is produced by salvation in Jesus Christ. To be clear – no one is saved by your own godliness or excellence of faith. The point is that the pathway to Jesus is open when you are thankful, when you are content, when you love your enemies, and when you care for all people – even wicked leaders. When you lack thankfulness. When your contentment is overcome with petty jealousy and gossip – the pipeline to the gospel through your confession becomes constricted. And it doesn’t only affect others who might have the opportunity to hear about Jesus through you, it affects your faith too.

We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In these words, we’re expressing the “great gain” of what Christ has accomplished for us. We have been forgiven. Yes, you, today, who did not deserve Christ’s love because of your wickedness and evil – you are forgiven. That’s great gain indeed. But now, you can forgive others in like kind. There’s where the thankfulness manifests itself. Not the thankfulness of the Pharisee, who only expressed it in word because he compared himself to his neighbor. That’s common, ordinary, and worldly.

Godliness with contentment is much different. It can be present at all times. It can be directed at all people. Those who are special qualities. But most important, it serves Jesus because reflects back the love He gave to you. Jesus didn’t wait for you to show your holiness before He loved you and His gave His life for you. The Bible says, Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Indeed, what great gain this has been for us and we want others to have that same gift. Amen.

Thankfulness and prayer, when put together at all times and toward all people, are powerful tools to keep the gospel living and active in your life. May God continue to strengthen you through the love of Jesus, and may that gift remain active in you through godliness and contentment. Amen.

Christ the King - Psalm 121

Theme: There is no one like your King

1. When you need help

2. When you need protection

3. When you consider eternity

We’ll read the text as we move along in the sermon.

Where do you turn to for help? Do you call upon a close friend or family member? Do you look inward to build your strength and resolve? Do you seek out a professional – perhaps a counselor or a mentor? Do you rely on what you were taught from early on – those memorable sayings from mom, dad, or a grandparent? There are many things in life that can offer us help and where we turn probably depends a lot on the circumstance we are in. But as you think about your options, don’t forget about God.

Today, we consider Jesus as our King, and as such He holds all power and authority. He is the best resource for all our needs in life, and yet He often is not the first one we turn to. In our text today, we are reminded that there is no one like our King. And that is especially true when we are in need.

Our psalm begins today with these words, I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

For the people of Israel, the mountains were a place of protection and a realm where one could reach God. For us who live in the proximity of beautiful mountain ranges, it’s not hard to understand this notion. In the Bible, hills and mountains were the locations of several significant events.

·       Isaac was offered on Mount Moriah

·       Moses saw the LORD in the burning bush on Mount Horeb (Sinai)

·       Moses received the Law on the same mountain

·       Elijah heard the still small voice of the LORD on Mount Horeb

·       The altars of worship in the OT were called the “high places” – though they weren’t always dedicated to the true God.

·       The Temple was built on Mount Moriah.

·       The city of Jerusalem was built on Mount Zion. This was a universal picture for God’s kingdom, the dwelling place of God with His people.

·       Jesus presented His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gave His Olivet discourse on the Mount of Olives.

The hills and mountains were sanctuaries in the sense of protection, but also in the spiritual sense of being a place to approach God. The mountains were a visual representation of something that the people could turn to in times of need. They represented the options that the people of Israel had, just like we have.  

And so, it’s eye opening that as the psalmist asks this question, he immediately considers the mountains, since they were the logical choice in his culture, but his focus goes directly to God instead. The point is clear. God is able to help us more than the mountains. God has this quality in part because of what the psalmist expresses. God is the Maker of heaven and earth. The lesson given here is why go to the mountains for help when you have access to the one who made the mountains.

We don’t run to the literal hills today in times of need, but we do seek out metaphorical mountains of aid. Many of the things we mentioned – good blessings that help our lives – can quickly overshadow the Maker of all things. Inward courage and resolve, trusted advocates like counselors and mentors, pastors and teachers, fellow Christians are all blessings God gives to help us in our lives. But they are not to become more important, or trusted more, than God Himself. This applies even to the place we probably turn to the most – family. Jesus Himself said, Matthew 10:37 "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. That’s a hard saying – but absolutely true and something we need to hear regularly. Take it one step further an insert whatever you’d like into the passage.

“Anyone who loves…” money, wisdom or science, their own heart, their Christian piety, etc.

Don’t put God on the back burner. Don’t see Him as a secondary option. When you need help, look to your Maker first.

There is also no one else like our King because He protects us. The word that consistently is given throughout this psalm to emphasize God’s protection is “watch.” The middle of the psalm reads, He who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Yes, he who watches over Israel will not slumber. He will not sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you. The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will watch to keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life.  

It’s an interesting coincidence that this is the very word that was the focus of our sermon last weekend. To us, Jesus says to “watch” for the final day of His return – pay attention. As it concerns Himself, however, Jesus is watching in a different way. The watchfulness of our King is one of protection and care. Synonyms for this word are keep, guard, and treasure. Jesus does all these things in your life. Jesus treasures you and will do everything in His power to protect you.  

This watchfulness of Jesus is really the expressed action of the LORD’s blessing. We close each service with the belief that God looks down upon us with favor – that His face shines upon us. This is how God fulfills that promise. Jesus is ever watchful in your life. He knows what you face long before you even know. He promises moments of deliverance from temptation. Just as in our watching, the concern is pictured as falling asleep. God never sleeps. God does not allow your footing to lose support. In His will there is always a purpose to every heartache and stumbling block you experience. This doesn’t mean you should seek out difficulties just to experience your Savior’s work. But no matter what you go through, even the sin of your own devising, Jesus is always watchful to protect.

These blessings are special not just for what they do in our lives now, but because they direct us to the greatest hope of eternal life in heaven. We look beyond the hills and mountains in our lives because we desire a better help and protection that they can’t offer. There is no one like our King because He leads us to His kingdom, where there is no more sorrow, tears, or pain. The psalmist tells us this in verse 8, the final aspect of the LORD’s protection, 8 The LORD will watch over your going and your coming from now to eternity.

Life is often portrayed as a series of seasons. Times come and go. Infancy turns to childhood, childhood to adolescence, adolescence to adulthood. Sorrow and joy surround these moments. Good and bad shift from day to day. When times are bad, we remember that it is only for a season. Likewise, when things are good, we prepare for the time when it will change. This is the reality – life is unstable.

In terms of our text, the psalmist expresses it as going and coming. The point is that whatever season you are in – coming or going, good or bad – the LORD is with you, the LORD supplies your needs, and the LORD protects you. And the LORD is not just with you for life – but for eternity. This is where we see the difference. Whereas life is unstable and constantly changing – eternity is secure and stable. Part of the joy of heaven will be the consistency of being with God. That overwhelming feeling of instability that comes along with life will be done away with. You will feel the way God created you to feel when you are home in heaven.

And certainly, there is much more to eternity. You will be free from sin and all of its disastrous effects. You won’t have to pray, because you’ll be in God’s presence. You won’t have to struggle internally with questions and doubts – or accusations from Satan, because you will have knowledge of God. You won’t feel the sinking loss of death because it will no more.

When you face trouble and need in life – look beyond the hills to your King. Sometimes we allow ourselves to become unnecessarily trapped in the world. We seek out our help based on what we want or how we choose to live our lives – or what others have to say about prosperity or success. But by faith, the goal is to look past all things of this world – good and bad – to trust more fully in that which God accomplished through Christ alone – an absolutely heavenly gift. The world may care little for it. It may seek the latest therapy, or cure, or study paper; or the end that gives me the most control today, or emphasizes human achievement the best. Those are the world’s mountains of deliverance. Your King is able to do far more than that. He has died for your sins and risen again to give you a future past death. Surely, whatever you face – God can and will help. Look for it and hasten after it by faith in Jesus Christ. Look beyond the mountains to your King. Amen.

Watching for Jesus with Wisdom - Matthew 25:1-13

Three Areas to be a Wise Watcher

1. In Preparation

2. In Qualification

3. In Anticipation

Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 "And at midnight a cry was heard:`Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 "And the foolish said to the wise,`Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 "But the wise answered, saying,`No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,`Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 "But he answered and said,`Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

A few years ago, Microsoft released the results of a study about attention span. In it, they concluded that since 2000, the average human attention span shortened by about 4 seconds. The memorable line from this study is that the human attention span is now shorter than that of a goldfish. In addition to this, humans are now more forgetful. In an ironic twist, this study concluded that the increase of technology was in large part to blame for this change.

Since that study was released, many others have argued against it. The general consensus of that camp is that human attention span is not decreasing, it’s just getting more selective. However, what each side agrees on is that the substantial increase of options available today to capture our attention has led the whatever types of changes we’re experiencing. Whether the change is good or not could be argued. However, what’s consistent is that there is more to distract us nowadays than at any other point in human history.

Paying attention has always been a necessary part of the Christian faith

·       Pay attention to the correct teaching

·       Watch out for Satan and false teachers.

·       Take heed to your own conduct and attitude.

And in this parable today, Jesus tells us to pay attention to His final return. There is an inherent question to this – what distracts us from paying attention. Much like the previously mentioned study, we recognize a change in the way people focus on God. Some argue that this is a bad change, others say it’s good. Regardless, there is a change when we don’t pay attention in matters of our faith – and there is a cost.

As it is with any parable, we try to connect the illustrative parts of the story to a real-life application. The overall process in this account is not too difficult to follow. Jesus speaks of a wedding party on the way to a wedding celebration. The event of a wedding is a common metaphor in the Bible to apply to the end of the world. Jesus depicts the consummation of the Christian faith as a celebration in heaven, where the Bride (the Church) is forever united with the Groom (Christ).  

However, what’s even more important in a parable is understanding the overall point of the lesson. Although there can be many things gained from a parable, there is always one main point. In today’s parable that one main point is watching – paying attention. And so, in a day and age where distraction is abundant, we ask God to lead us in being wise watchers. Given the state of the world around us, the overall impact of the Word of God in these last days, and the tendency we have for being spiritually distracted, this is an extremely necessary reminder from God’s Word today. Let us then touch on three areas of watchfulness, beginning with Preparation.    

Christian preparation is always tied to urgency. God calls for us to prepare daily because there’s an urgency to our faith. We see how that is expressed in the parable. The ten virgins are divided into five wise and five foolish. Part of that distinction is made because of the way each group prepared. To be prepared in that context was to bring extra oil for one’s lamp. Again, this was tied to urgency. The extra oil was necessary because the arrival of the bridegroom was unknown. We might conclude, better safe than sorry. Those who were wise prepared for what was out of their control by accumulating more of what they needed.

What exactly does the oil of the lamps correspond to in our lives? Many Christians have likened it to faith. More specifically it is that which builds and sustains faith – what we might call the Means of Grace. Regardless, we know that whatever the oil represents, it’s something that all believers need. Without, our lamps die out, and Christ does not recognize us on the Last Day. 

A wise watcher prepares. That means using what God has given us to build our faith. This includes opportunities to study the Word, whether that be privately at home or publicly in church. It involves making regular use of the Lord’s Supper, which strengthens us with God’s assurance that we are forgiven in the “given” body and “shed” blood of Jesus. Preparing means resisting temptation and those things that would lead us away from Christ. We do this because of the urgency of our situation. This world has an expiration date. We don’t want to be an apathetic of indifferent Christian. We don’t want to be someone who waits till the fun of life is over before we find God or religion. These are not the attitudes expressed by true faith. Faith inherently contains urgency from the very beginning of a person’s life.

This is why Paul taught, Acts 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

The second area where we seek to be a wise watcher is in qualification. When the foolish virgins recognize that the Bridegroom has arrived, and that they are lacking in oil, they make a plea to the wise to share with them. The wise respond by saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. This was not selfishness or rudeness on the part of the wise, it was the simple reality of the situation. The oil could not be shared from one person to another. Doing so would have disqualified everyone.

Likewise, a wise watcher understands what qualifies them to enter heaven. While we share many blessings within our faith, that faith itself cannot be shared from person to person. Each individual is responsible before God. I cannot believe in Jesus for you, nor can you for anyone else. Within that truth we recognize that there is a great deal of influence that we can have on what another person believes. But we cannot believe for them. So, the wise urged the foolish to quickly get some oil, but they were too late.

Your qualification for heaven is dependent on Jesus alone – not on what anyone else says or believes about your faith or about God – good or bad. You also are not saved by association. It’s not about the people you know or about being in church as if it’s some sort of club. Similarly, faith is not about storing up credits before God that you can cash in on the final day. Either you’re qualified or you’re not – and that determination is based on whether you believe in Jesus or if you’re trusting in some other means to be saved. A wise watcher understands what makes them qualified. If you are wise, you will trust in Jesus alone. You will believe in your heart that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and you will confess it by your words and actions. But as a wise watcher, you will also make this a priority today. It is not wise to wait until the end of life to find God or to find religion. It is foolish to live by the ways of the world and your flesh just because you’re young and carefree. Since you are qualified now – this very day – through Jesus Christ – the time to believe is also right now. Don’t be reckless with the blessings of forgiveness and eternal life – if you are, you may reach a point where it’s too late to get what you need. You are qualified today – now spend time protecting that inheritance of faith.

And the final area to be a wise watcher is anticipation. It’s in this final point that we come full circle back to the overall theme of this parable. The Lord wants us to watch – to pay attention to the final day. For the believer, we add a note of anticipation to that task. Our preparation is not obligatory or burdensome. We do not take a “ho-hum” attitude toward Christ’s return, nor do we have to fear it. Rather, we anticipate it with great joy.

A wise watcher takes this approach toward the day of Judgment. There is certainly always an element of trepidation when we consider something as monumental as the end of this current world. It’s not sinful to feel a bit of uneasiness or to have butterflies in your stomach as you think about it. Those things show how important this day is. But, ultimately, we anticipate our Lord’s return with great joy in our hearts.

The believers’ anticipatory joy is a theme throughout the Bible:

Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.

Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.  

Part of the wise virgins’ preparation was there desire to be in the wedding celebraton. They were looking forward to it, so they were ready! To be in the presence of the bridegroom was their source of joy. You have these same privileges by faith. The Lord Jesus says to you, “Come, for all things are now ready.” The wedding feast is prepared. Nothing is lacking. God is merciful and longsuffering that all would come to repentance and believe in Jesus. You are qualified. God has given you what you need to prepare – the elements that build your faith. Therefore, you can watch with joy, also.

Today people talk about “living your best life.” That usually means making the most of your day or seeking out activities and goals that make you feel fulfilled. However, the Christian mindset is “living for eternal life.” Rather than seeking to get the most out of life, seek to live a wise life. The wisdom of faith in Christ beckons you to consider these three areas, preparation, qualification, and anticipation. If Christ is at the center of your faith, you will be ready in each domain.

Who’s to say if our attention spans are decreasing or simply growing in a different direction? When it comes to eternity, a better question is – Does it really matter? What we do know is that there are plenty of distractions before us. There is no shortage of reasons to minimize time with the Lord at home, church, or privately. Remember, a wise watcher pays attention. We prepare by using what the Lord has given us today to sustain our faith. We believe that our qualification rests in Christ’s merits, not our own and not anyone else’s. And finally, we joyfully wait, with eager expectation, for the return of our Savior. Amen.