| CALLED TO EXCELLENCE | | Sep 17,2007 | | | | CALLED TO EXCELLENCE
Text: 1Sa 3:2-21, “One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.” The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.”
Theme: God calls us to the highest standard but He also equips us to uphold that standard.
Simplify your message.
See the person. Include all four in every message also answer
Show the truth. Why is this important to me? Why now?
Seek a response. Who is/will be impacted? How do I do it?
Introduction: If you owned your own business would your furnish your employees with the tools needed to do their job, or would you expect them to do the job correctly without the tools?
Maybe you have the right tools but you have an employee that does not know how to use these tools, or maybe they are not aware of where the tools are located. Would you train this person on the proper use and location of the tools?
How else would your company achieve excellence?
The tools in God’s workshop are listed in His Word along with the instructions on proper use. God always trains us to perform at our best, if we are willing and listening.
Transition Sentence: Let’s look a little closer at our opening text with the thought of listening.
Main Headings:
I. Listening For God
What is listening? Webster’s Dictionary says this: 1. To pay attention to sound. 2. To hear something with thoughtful attention: give consideration. 3. To be alert to catch an expected sound.
A) Willingness to hear - God communicates with those who are willing to listen
B) Expectation - One would naturally expect an audible message from God to be given to the priest Eli and not to the child Samuel. Eli was older and more experienced, and held the proper position. But God’s chain of command is based on faith, not age or position. In finding faithful followers, God may use unexpected channels. Be prepared for the Lord to work at any place, at any time, and through any one he chooses.
C) Today’s Methods - Today God speaks to us through His Word, through others, and through circumstance, but one must still be willing to listen.
Our culture has lost the art of listening, unless of course you are talking about listening to music. We have so many people that are classified as attention deficit and they suffer from a short attention span. Why do you suppose we have an entire culture that way where before this was the exception and now it is the rule? Could it be something we are or are not teaching? Could it merely be the differences in practices and habits?
I have not experienced much of this in my lifetime but I have spoken with my elders and learned their was a time when folks enjoyed their neighbors coming over for a visit and they spoke about their daily lives and challenges and sometimes they even prayed together. Imagine some of these mega-churches think they started the small group worship in people’s homes – I don’t think so. According to what I have learned from these elderly folks, even the children would sit around and listen, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. You see there were no T.V. programs they couldn’t wait to see and felt as if they had the ultimate right to see no matter who or what else was going on at their home. There were no video games for their personal entertainment that allowed them to go in their room and block out the rest of the world and kill off some bad or perhaps good guys just for fun. There were no computers, cell phones, and on the list goes.
However, there were chores that were expected for the children and the adults to do and if they were not completed an explanation was expected. If the explanation was not sufficient then punishment was delivered so this behavior did not become habit forming. That part of this conversation I have had some personal experience with. Oh and one more thing, when the children were called, they came running to see what they were being called for rather than becoming angry for being interrupted during their playtime and waited until their parents came to them and then let their parents have it with both barrels.
Is it possible that some of the problems we are facing today have something to do with the culture we have created? Do we hear what God is saying to us? Do we know that God has called us to excellence?
II. Called to Excellence
What is excellence? Webster’s defines it as: 1. The quality of being excellent. 2. An excellent or valuable quality: virtue.
Looking at the second meaning I have to ask, what is value? Again Webster’s says: 1. A fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged. 2. The monetary worth of something: marketable value. 3. Relative worth, utility, or importance…
This tells me a couple of things, one, we have a value or worth to God because he exchanged places with us on the cross, and two, that he expects something from us. You may ask, what would God ask of me? I have a short list of eight things I could think of quickly. Let’s look at them together:
A) He expects us to give up sin. Mk 2:17, “On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
B) He expects us to obey. Lk 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
C) He expects us to be peaceful. 1Co 7:15, “But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.”
D) He expects us to be holy. 1Th 4:7, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
E) He expects us to study his word and handle it correctly. 2Ti 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
F) He expects us to love one another. Jn 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
G) He expects us to evangelize. Mk 16:15, “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
H) He expects us to represent him on earth as ambassadors. 2Co 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
If you are doing all these things already, good, but be careful of our attitude. Look with me at Luke 17:7-10. “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”
Now that we have looked at some of the expectations that we are striving to achieve in our lives as Christians, now let us look at the reasons God calls us.
III. Reasons For God Call
There are four main calls for the Christian.
1st the call to salvation.
2nd called to obey.
3rd called to service.
4th called home.
The first three go together rather naturally. We are called to salvation by faith and baptism, into his marvelous grace. Then when we obey there is much service to be done.
The most common Hebrew word used for “call” is “qara,” “to call”. The root “qara” is used 689 times in the Old Testament. It suggests utterance of a specific sound or message. When “qara” involves a message, a response is expected. When we receive the Gospel message, a response is expected. God never speaks without a purpose He always expects a response. A proper response is recorded in Is. 6:8. Let us look at this response together.
“Here I am Lord send me.” This response displays submission.
Maybe we are afraid to make this commitment to God, but fear can be conquered. Courage is fear that has been conquered by love. So any fear we have, with love as our motivation, can be turned into courage.
I was afraid to become a minister. I was afraid to speak before a group of people. I was afraid to make the commitment to be responsible for properly teaching God’s word. I was afraid I would be rejected because of my past. But God has loved me through these fears and I stand here before you today. With God there is a way.
For years I was one of those pew warmers. I came to church when I felt like it, and I sat and listened. I heard the preacher say the kingdom needs more laborers. I heard the church leaders say we need help with this project or that. I heard the many pleas to come to the business meetings, but I never responded to any of these requests. I just sat there and took it all in. This reminds me of a little saying I read:
It is called Fat, Faint, or Fit. If you take in and you don’t give out, you will become fat. If you give out and you don’t take in, you will become faint. If you give out and take in, you will become fit.
You see there is a balance, we need every one of you to do what you can, and you need this also. We never receive the next message from God until we have responded to the current one.
Some may say, “But, I’m not a minister what can I do?” Well, remember the Good Samaritan? (Luke 10:30-35) I realize the story of the Good Samaritan is dealing with another subject, however, I want you to see that the Samaritan was not a priest or Levite, yet he was able to do something that made a difference. What can you do? You can show the love of God to others, and then they will want to come to worship services and learn more. That is just as important as what the minister does. We also show the love of God to others; however, we do not have the same opportunities you have.
Have you ever been in a field full of green beans, tomatoes, or some other crop and for as far as you could see there was a crop to be harvested? Did you throw your hands up in despair and say I can not do this, or did you start at the place nearest to you and work outward from there until the field was harvested? Well my fellow laborers, we are standing in the middle of God’s field, for as far as we can see in any direction there are people that need the Lord. Are we going to throw our hands up in despair, and quit, or are we going to start with those closest to us and work our way outward from there, and reach as many as we can? Will we be rejected? Yes, but if for every one thousand rejections, we receive one that can be brought into the Master’s barn, we have honored the Master.
Now let’s review as we close this message.
Conclusion: First we must be listening for God’s call in order to hear Him and then remember that we are called to excellence. Excellence is what is expected of those who serve His Excellency. Then we are reminded of the four main reasons God calls us: Salvation, Obedience, Service, and then finally Home. However, we are still here so we are still in the call to Obedience and Service.
There is much work to be done, and how wonderful it would be to hear Jesus say about us, what he said about Mary in Mark 14:8. “She has done what she could.”
Let’s look into our lives, and our hearts and answer this question of ourselves, is Jesus saying about me in Heaven, I have done what I could?
I want to challenge us, as a church, to work at soul winning for Jesus. If needed, to have classes that teaches us how to approach people, and how to address their issues, and let’s bring them to worship with us.
We have been called by God, the highest calling there is, He has given us a job to do, the tools to do it with, and now it is up to us. Are we going to show His excellence to others?
It begins with hearing Him call, do you hear Him?
Created by Mitchell S Hutchins Created on 4/28/2007 10:00 AM
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| | THE POWER OF THE CROSS | | Aug 30,2007 | | | | THE POWER OF THE CROSS
Introduction: Today when we think of power it is much different than what power meant 50 or 100 years ago. Today we have the power to split atoms, to dissect the human cell, to replace body parts even from other persons or animals, and many other such things. Of course we still have the thoughts of prestige, money, corruption, and the more traditional thoughts of power as well, but how often do you think of love when someone mentions the word power?
I submit to you that love is the most powerful force known to man and in this message I will address the power of love present at the cross that touches the soul of every human heart whether for salvation or condemnation.
Jn 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
At the cross we clearly see the love of God displayed in three areas I want us to look at together:
1) The Holiness of God is Revealed
2) The Sinful Estate of Man is Revealed
3) The Grace of God is Demonstrated
I. The Holiness of God is Revealed
Jn 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Phil 2:5-8 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
One of the attributes of God is that He is Holy. This attribute manifests itself in relation to his free-will creatures and the basic idea of holiness is to be separated or set apart from other things. God is ontologically holy, i.e. set apart from or distinct from all created essence because He is the Creator. Now we are focusing on his ethical holiness, his separation from everything sinful or morally evil.
His holiness has a twofold meaning, it is both positive and negative, it is positive in that it tells us of God’s purity and Excellency, however, it is negative in that it requires Him to not only be separated from, but also to hate that which is evil. Once sin enters the picture, the holiness and love of God are in a state of tension and opposition. Because God is love, he desires to bestow mercy, grace, and forgiveness upon sinners. But because he is holy, he must pour out his wrath upon them in retributive punishment. Both love and holiness are his nature, and God’s righteousness requires him to be true to all aspects of his nature. Thus both grace and wrath are requirements of his nature. But how can God fulfill the requirements of both love and holiness toward sinners at the same time? God’s solution to this dilemma is the incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus, which are central pillars of the Christian faith. Yet we cannot help but to consider what caused the need for a Savoir.
II. The Sinful Estate of Man is Revealed
Seeing Christ hanging on the cruel cross has an impact on everyone who cares to see it. For the believer we recall Scriptures that speak about this event and about our sin that brought about this event. What about those who do not believe? What thoughts pass through their minds? The first is, “Why? “ I believe we have answered this partly in the first point of discussion. If Christ had not died there would be no hope for any of us, for we would all die in our sins. Even though Christ died many still die in their sins because they refuse to accept what Christ has done for them on the cross.
Most anyone that I have spoken with that did not want to accept Jesus as Lord it has almost always been because they have judged him by mans standards. If we look around us in this world I guarantee that you will see nothing, not even a church that will convince you that you should change your lifestyle to be like theirs and that will be all you need to do to go to Heaven. The church will give you guidance and comfort but please do not judge God and His Son by his representatives here on earth. Granted we should be more Christ-like, however, there is only one sinless Perfect Christ and that is precisely why He is Lord. That is also why He alone was worthy to die for your sins and mine on the cross and atoned for our sins by taking the required wrath of God the Father upon himself.
2Co 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Any one who has seen a passion play and especially anyone who has seen Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ” movie, you know that you can not watch the brutality that Jesus, the Savior of the world suffered, and not consider your sinfulness knowing that is why Jesus suffered so.
This can only bring us to consider the grace that God has demonstrated.
III. The Grace of God is Demonstrated
Ro 5:7-11 “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
I have answered the mechanics of why Jesus died on the cross, to satisfy the wrath of God and pay the price or fulfill the punishment required for our sin, but now I ask why? Why did God send his Son to die for our sin? Why did Jesus go to the cross like a sheep to the slaughter?
Jn 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jn 15:13 Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends.
Grace is said to be unmerited favor and I believe that to be a good definition. I also believe that describes what Jesus has done on the cross. He has shown favor to those of us who do not in any way deserve it and we have no way of earning it.
Isa 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
It has been said that I was on his mind while he was on the cross and that is a true saying for we were all on his mind as he hung, dieing on the cross. It was for you and me that he was dieing, that we may be reconciled to the Father by having our sins forgiven, cleansed by the Blood of Christ. Remember what we said earlier: Ro 5:9 “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
This was not the end of our Lord and Savior, no on the third day he rose from the dead, resurrected he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
If you need forgiveness you must go the source that makes forgiveness possible because He alone could and did satisfy the wrath of God the Father for the sinful nature of all men. That means all sin. There is only one sin that is unpardonable and that is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, in essence you are rejecting the only hope you have, therefore, you can not have salvation from God because you are rejecting the means by which He offers it. I am sure this does not describe anyone here this morning. If I ask you to choose between Heaven and all it’s glorious wonders that the Bible tells us our minds can not comprehend and Hell which the Scripture says has enlarged herself, where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, where the fire is never quenched and the worm does not die, which would you choose? I have yet to hear anyone say hell is their choice and yet many choose hell by not repenting of their sins, accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, and being baptized into his name.
How about you loved one?
2Co 6:2 “For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
Mitchell S. Hutchins, 8/30/2007 | |
| | A Moment in the Life | | Jul 06,2007 | | | | A Moment in the Life
Text: Isaiah 54
Theme: There are many trials, tribulations, and persecutions, with pain and suffering we will go through in this life, but with faith in Christ we will overcome them all.
Introduction: In our text we find ourselves. I believe that each one of us can identify with the children of Israel in this passage of scripture. We find them in a time of much confusion, pain, and suffering, a time when they are just coming out of exile. This is a time when they can scream at the top of their lungs “Free at last!,” and then wonder in the same moment, “What will we do now?”
I think it is appropriate to ask just what led to this great people of God being brought to captivity. Prior to the captivity was a time when the leadership, both religious and administrative, of this great nation of God’s had been less than honorable. In fact this leadership had become so corrupt God said there was no righteousness or fairness among them. However, were only the leaders corrupt? No, along with the leaders, many of the people, after a period of time, had also become greedy, lustful, and oppressive. Together all the people, leaders and all, had forgotten about God and this led to their captivity.
Now the only leadership they trust is God and His prophet. They are weary of trusting the priest again but in this scripture we read that God promises to keep His covenant with them, if they will obey His word.
Transition Sentence: Let’s look at some ways God is telling the children of Israel to expand their borders and grow.
Main Headings:
I. Lengthen Your Cords (Isa 54:2)
Isa 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
The cords on a tent are for the purpose of stabilizing and creating more room. Here God is telling them to make more room because there is going to be so much growth they will need more room, if they obey. But what does this mean for us today?
A) We must accept people – all people.
B) We must trust people until they give reason not to and then we must forgive.
C) We must move forward at all times not backward. If we have accepted and/or forgiven someone then it is finished and we go on to someone else together with all those accepted and forgiven not separately. We are one; we serve One who holds us all together.
Remember that Jesus ate with the Pharisees and was persecuted for doing so, but some of the Pharisees were saved as a result.
We must lengthen our cords to make room for growth both personally and geographically, but we must also strengthen our stakes.
II. Strengthen Your Stakes (Isa. 54:2)
Isa 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
The cords which, when tightened properly, create more room within the tent, must be tethered or firmly fasted down by the stakes. Therefore if the stakes are not firmly planted, the cords cannot hold and the tent will collapse. Here is some advice:
A) If you have a large tent, then you will need large, strong stakes. – Since this speaks of supporting the foundation of a tent, here are a couple of things to keep in mind for personal growth that also applies to the growth of the church.
i. We must grow by the reading and studying of the Word of God. We must be a people of the Word to be a people of God.
ii. We must exercise what we read and study within God’s Word. James says it this way: “Do what it says.”
Illustration: If I want to build a boat I should read about how to build a boat. I should study different concepts of boat building and different designs for building boats. However, if I read and reread books of boat building until I have them memorized, what good will that do if I never build a boat?
We can see that it is necessary to lengthen our cords to make room from growth and we must strengthen our stakes to have a firm foundation, but we must also not hold back.
III. Do Not Hold Back (Isa. 54:2)
Isa 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
In the opening of this message I mentioned how Israel’s leaders had been corrupt and how now that freedom from oppression had been delivered the people are asking themselves, “Now what do we do”or“What next?” Along with this mixed feeling of freedom and anticipation is a wall of mistrust. This is mistrust of corrupt leadership. Mistrust of those in a different financial status. Mistrust of those in a different racial or religious status because of all that has recently transpired in their lives. Their own leaders in recent times past would have sided against the righteous, for the bribe. Their landlords would have thrown them out into the streets without regard for their welfare because of greed and finally their neighboring countries of different religious views have come and exiled them from their land as captives but God says, do not hold back.
What does God mean do not hold back. Does he mean for us to take out our frustration that has been caused by all of this? I don’t think so! In fact since we know that in context here He is speaking to us about enlarging our boarders, we know God does not mean for us to take out our frustration. So what does He mean by these four words?
Has anyone ever said to you that anything worth doing is worth doing correctly? My mother used to tell me that all the time and for that reason I did not do a lot of things, but when I do something I do not just put my back into it, I put my whole being into it! That is exactly what God means by these four words in this passage of scripture.
A) It is worth doing! It is for God not for man!
B) The Church must walk by faith and not by sight.
In light of the fact that God, the Creator of all that exists, our Creator and Sustainer, has provided all that is necessary for the salvation of mankind, I ask you, what is too much for us to do for Him? How much is too much for God?
Jesus Christ gave all he had to give on Calvary, when he purchased our souls with his very life’s blood. What will you give for him?
Jesus has made it possible for every sin of yours and mine to be forgiven by God so I ask is it impossible for us to forgive one another so we can trust one another to do His work here on Earth?
What is the conclusion of this message on a moment in the life? Is this a moment in your life?
Conclusion: We can clearly see by God’s very word that we must lengthen our cords to create room for God, for His Word, and for all of God’s children whoever they may be and wherever they may come from. We must forgive one another in Christian love. We must also strengthen our stakes. If you do not have a solid foundation for which to build on the building will fall, therefore, study the Word of God, pray without ceasing, and put into practice that which we have studied from God’s Word. Finally we must not hold back on forgiving, on loving, on putting into practicing all of God’s Word in our lives and sharing with all those around us. We must tear down the walls of defense we have built up and learn to trust again and overcome Satan’s plan to destroy from within with distrust.
The theme of this message as stated earlier is that in this life there will be trials, tribulations, and persecutions, with pain and suffering in this life, but all these will be overcome in Christ Jesus. The question is, are you in Christ? If not now is the time, today is the day of salvation. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, confess you are a sinner, repent of those sins by turning from a sinful lifestyle to a life of serving the Lord, and are baptized into Christ, and then you will be added to the body of Christ. If you are here and you have not accepted Christ in this way you are invited to come and do so as we sing in just a moment.
If you are a baptized believer then I ask you to take God’s word to heart and this message and I ask you, where are you in this message and what will you do now? Are you ready to make a commitment to lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes, and not to hold back? If you are already doing so great, if not and you need to rededicate yourself or find direction for your life the alter is open for you also.
Created by Mitchell S Hutchins Created on 7/4/2007 11:13 AM
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| | Relatively Absolute | | Jun 02,2007 | | | | RELATIVELY ABSOLUTE
Text: 2Ti 2:14-15, “Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Theme: Absolute truth, God’s Word, overcomes Relativism.
Introduction: An interesting title isn’t it, “Relatively Absolute?” This is an oxymoron is it not? What in the world is an oxymoron? Some would call me an oxymoron because I am large like an ox and because I’m not very bright like well you get the picture. An oxymoron is a contradiction in terms such as girly-boy, this is a contradictory term yet today we see many that fit this description. Another oxymoron is devilish – Christian again a contradiction in terms and yet we see this too. If I had said that it was absolutely relative that would have been a more positive statement but to say that it is relatively absolute is indeed an oxymoron because to be relative means it is not absolute.
This brings us to the next question, “What is relativism?” According to “Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary” relativism is defined as: 1 a: a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing. b: a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them.
In other words I may view it one way you may view it another relatively speaking we would both be correct for example if I held up a piece of paper that was orange and I said it was yellow but you said it was red, we would both be correct. The truth is neither of us would be correct but relatively speaking we would both be correct. The ideas and application of relativism is growing in America today. In fact it is becoming a real problem even in our government and judicial systems. Whoever wins the heart of the audience, regardless of truth, wins the case.
The opposite of relativism is absolutism and there is nothing that represents absolutism more than God. Let’s look together for just a moment at how God is absolute.
When God was speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai did he give Ten Commandments or ten suggestions? Although God’s Word is referred to by us often as a guide for our life, are not his words commands for us to follow and if we do not follow them are there not consequences? Does this not suggest that God’s Word and that God himself is absolute? And also what do the scriptures say?
Mal 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”
Jas 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Heb 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Do these scriptures not sound like God intends to be absolute?
Transition Sentence: Remembering that God and His Word are absolute and with the thought of relativism and that it is ever growing in today’s society, I want us to look at three different thoughts this morning and the first is:
Main Headings:
I. Relativism Removes the Absolute
A) Relativism is always opinion based.
My opinion is as valid as yours right? Have you heard anyone say this lately? At first this sounds like a reasonable statement, but it actually is a selfish statement, one that demands my rights. It’s a statement that is reeking with me and my.
B) Opinion does not change the Truth.
First of all when we are looking at something, depending upon what it is, opinion has little to do with anything. For example if we are looking at the scriptures there is a set of rules called hermeneutics which are to be used to accurately interpret the scriptures. When these rules are applied properly it removes subjectivism or opinions and our study becomes objective and we learn the truth because we have interpreted the scriptures correctly not just the way we wanted to. Please remember that subjectivism and relativism go hand in hand these are the things that cults are made of - my opinion, my thoughts, my ideas, my, me... etc.
C) The Bible speaks about opinions.
Let’s look at what the Bible says about opinions. Ro 3:4” Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” That is by standing on the absolute truth of God’s Word.
Now I want to share something with you that may seem a little odd and even though it is fictional writing it is very true. It will seem odd because it is written from a different point of view than you may be used to; it is written by a demon theoretically. It is written from one demon that is in charge of another demon and is telling him how to destroy a person’s life and how to keep that person from becoming a Christian. Remember they hate us and they hate God. Listen carefully to what this says; “Only a few generations ago the sludgebags (humans) had a moral consensus. In some respects, it was dangerously close to the Enemy’s (God’s) own, with some notable-and welcome-deviations.
Not all of them lived by this standard, but nearly all of them recognized it. If the vermin know a foot is 12in., that consensus allows them to make measurements. But what we’ve done is to break the ruler in pieces. Now they’re saying, “a foot is only 5 or six inches to me, and 3in. to him, and 7in. to you.”
They’ve lost their moral consensus.
The forbidden book says when there’s no authority “every man does what is right in his own eyes.” This is moral relativism. It’s our crowning achievement-bask in it, Squaltaint. There’s no evil we can’t use it to justify, no good we can’t use it to condemn.
If there’s no God, there are no absolutes. Men become gods, for gods are the makers of right and wrong. The vermin make it up as they go, determining for themselves what is and isn’t moral. They base their ethics on their changing whims.”
* Taken from “Lord Foulgrin’s Letters” by Randy Alcorn *
If men become gods and make their own rules then everyone will go to heaven in the end, right? Let’s look to the scriptures for an answer.
Pr 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
And according to New Testament teaching it would appear that there are a lot headed on that path.
Mt 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
By these Scriptures we can see that God definitely has left us with absolutes and when everyone follows the same path there is peace, harmony, and unity. However, relativism, a tool of Satan, brings disunity and destroys harmony even among those who believe.
II. Relativism Promotes Disunity
A) Can’t we agree to disagree?
If we disagree on an issue can we really agree to disagree? That depends on the issue and what its ultimate outcome is. Do you truly believe that water baptism is essential to salvation? If so, then how do you agree to disagree with those who teach faith only? This teaching of faith only is not scriptural and therefore is a false doctrine. The Scripture teaches we must repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and anyone who does not follow this scriptural truth; their salvation is not complete, if in fact, water baptism is essential to salvation.
B) Unity comes through agreement on absolute truth, not relativism.
If we agree to disagree on matters of theological significance it may appear that this is unity, however, this is a pact with the devil when it comes to salvation and removing water baptism. True unity comes through the Holy Spirit and complete obedience to God’s Word.
Eph 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
There is but one baptism, one faith, one Lord, and one Spirit anyone outside of this baptism is outside of this faith and this Lord and Spirit therefore, there is no unity. Proper hermeneutical interpretation of Acts 2: 38 with teaching throughout the New Testament will show that water baptism is essential to salvation. The scripture says,
Ac 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
However relativism says believe only to be saved and then be baptized as an outward symbol of what has already taken place inwardly. The Bible clearly teaches the action takes place at baptism.
It is easy to see that relativism divides because it removes the single solid ground of an absolute to agree upon and rather leaves interpretation to each individual’s opinion. This brings about doubt and insecurity, which brings us to the final point of our message.
III. Relativism Creates Doubt and Insecurity
A) Doubting the Scripture.
Have you ever heard anyone say, “The Bible has been interpreted by men and therefore there’s room for error right?” First of all let’s establish what the scripture says.
2Ti 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2Pe 1:20-21, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The reason people come to the conclusion there are errors in the interpretation of the scripture is because of their own doubts and wanderings. The word of God is revealed to us as we apply it in our daily lives. When you tell someone you doubt the Bible’s accuracy you may as well be admitting that you have not read, studied, and applied the teaching (doing what it says) of the scripture.
B) Relativism and doubts.
Actually it makes sense that relativism will eventually cause doubts if it’s OK for me to believe that orange is actually yellow, for you to believe that it is red, and for someone else to believe its another color. Eventually someone is bound to doubt. When it comes to morals pride will cause us to claim to be correct up to the bitter end, unless some life changing event happens that causes us to think differently. If you think that everything is fine in your relationship with Christ what do you base that on? Is it your opinion, a feeling, or are you basing it on scriptural promises?
C) Relativism in the Church.
Relativism is a real problem in our churches and in our world today. Remember if there are no absolutes there are no sins, no ultimate consequences, no afterlife, no accountability, and therefore no real hope. If there is no hope crime rates increase, abortion and other death rates increase, drug abuse and overdose increase, there is very low value of life and of self worth. People want to get their share now because there is nothing more to come.
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So what can we conclude from this message on relativism?
Conclusion: Relativism is real and it is very much a problem in today’s society and in today’s church. Within God’s church we can see the result of relativism and it breaks our hearts as we see the removal of God’s absolutes, His very Word of Truth is being ignored and changed. These changes are bringing disunity where God through the Truth of His Word intends for all of His children to be united. It is also evident throughout our society there is much doubt and insecurity within and without God’s church. When God’s people have disunity and cannot agree among themselves over what is correct then how are the lost to be expected to have any hope of finding the pathway to Truth that leads to Christ?
Here are some simple things to do to make sure you overcome relativism as it approaches you.
- Read, study, and apply the Scriptures prayerfully.
- Develop a hermeneutic Bible study class here at the church where each Christian has the opportunity to learn what proper hermeneutics are. This is a fulfillment of Scripture, our text, which speaks of correctly handling the Word of truth.
- Think of God’s Word before we give an answer to anyone about any subject and decide to let God answer for Himself as much as possible. It is okay for us to illustrate for explanation purposes but it is not okay when we are giving our opinion where God has spoken clearly for Himself.
- Remember we are accountable for every idle word we speak.
In closing I will simply ask where are you in your relationship with Christ and what do you base it on? The scripture says, 1Jn 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
You do not have to wonder or guess you can know that you have eternal life based on the teachings of the Bible and your obedience to those teachings.
Created by Mitchell S Hutchins Created on 5/27/2007 1:27 PM
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| | Life´s Purpose | | May 13,2007 | | | | WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?
Intro:
Have you ever noticed how fast time seems to go by? Have you ever found yourself thinking on a Saturday afternoon, wow where has this week gone?
A little curious math for you. Did you know that there is 168 hours in a week, 8736 hours in a year? If you work 8 hours a day that accounts for only 40 hours a week or 2080 hours a year. If you sleep 8 hours a day that accounts for another 2080 hours per year. Then if you spend 3 hours per Sunday this accounts for 156 hours and 1.5 hours on Wednesday at church this accounts for another 78 hours. These figures add up to a total of 4394 hours leaving us with 4342 hours not accounted for here.
I realize that we sometimes work overtime and have various other things that take a few hours off of this free time, however, have you ever stopped to think about what you did with that time?
Society today is much different than it was only fifty years ago. Did you know that television was not patented until January 7, 1927, and it did not have its first public demonstration until 1935? It was the late forties or early fifties before T V became affordable and popular. That was only fifty years ago, today there is at least two televisions in the average home. One for watching shows and movies, the other for playing video games.
There have also been many other inventions since the T V, and all just as amazing. We now have computers, computer games, Internet, not to mention the hoards of appliances and modern conveniences of all kinds, and the average person in America knows the price range of each of these items.
This reminds me of a quote a read somewhere: “It is possible to know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
All these things being advertised on T V and fabulously, causing us to think our lives would not be the same if we do not own this item. There is a natural tendency in humans to be tempted by this sort of advertisement. If this desire to posses gets out of hand we spend many hours of hard earned money to satisfy these lusts. Is this how the Lord intended us to spend our time? Being slaves to our desires? When this happens there usually is not enough time to enjoy the things we have purchased, because we are working to pay for them.
This seems to be what life in America has been reduced to, however this is not the purpose of life! The Bible gives us a very clear picture of our purpose, if we are looking for it. Look with me if you will to the scripture. Philippians 1:21.
In this scripture we see very clearly what the purpose of life is, Christ. We also know thin because the people without Christ have no purpose in their life. They are lost wondering aimlessly from one thing to another, from on place to another. Why? They are trying to fulfill the lust of the flesh, hoping the feeling of emptiness will go away. Christians, however, are very different.
Paul’s life is an example of how we, as Christians, should live. Paul even stated to imitate his life as he imitated the life of Christ. (Phil 4:17) In other words he is saying look at me.
We can look to Paul’s writing for insight into his life.
I. Life’s Purpose
A) Having Christ as the purpose of his life caused Paul to have three noticeable characteristics about his life.
1. Rest in God’s security (Phil. 1:1-12) we can see this security in:
A] his greetings to the Saints, Deacons, and Elders. He was in prison, yet he was not in despair.
B] his thanks giving for the saints at Philippi (Phil 1:3)
C] his confidence in the Savior of these saints (Phil 1:6)
D] his prayer concerning these saints (Phil 1:9-10)
2. Rejoicing in great suffering (Phil 1:12-20)
Paul praised God for his prison experience, even this helped to spread the Gospel. This was accomplished by four things:
A] the confinement of his fetters (Phil 1:13 ; 4:22) you may ask how this came about? (Guards)- This reminds us that every circumstance of life is a platform on which the transforming grace of God can be manifested in the life on the Lord’s own.
B] the courage of his friends (Phil 1:14) -possible encourage by the conversion of Roman soldiers.
C] the carnality of his foes (Phil 1:14-16) (Ps 76:10) -“ Whether in pretense of in truth, Christ is preached, and therein I do rejoice”
D] the confidence of his future (1;19-20)
3. Remain in glad service (Phil 1;21-30) -in this service Paul was assured of two things:
A] A desire to leave and be with the Lord (Phil 1:21,23)
B] His decision was to remain and to minister to the saints (Phil 1:24)
This was Paul’s priority to serve Christ.
Recap: By Paul’s life we see that having Christ as the purpose of life should cause us to:
1) Rest in God’s security
2) Rejoice in great suffering
3) Remain in glad service
So for a Christian what should the most important thing be? Matt. 6:33 says “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be added unto you.”
But look around us, is this what we see in our world? In our church? Or even in our own life? So do we really have more time for T V and many other worldly things than we do for our Lord?
I will close with a poem someone sent me in an E-mail.
Mitchell S Hutchins
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| | Be Transformed | | Apr 07,2007 |  | | | | Be Transformed
Text: Ro 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Ro 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Theme: As Christians we must live transformed lives.
Introduction: As Christians we have a right and responsibility to live righteous and holy lives for God. We should live in such a way that no one will ever need to ask if we are a Christian. Our actions are evidence of what we think and believe. What do your actions reveal about your faith? In this message I want to address how to live a life of submission to God’s will.
Jesus said, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” He repeatedly demonstrated surrender of his own will to fulfill that of the Father’s and even gave us an object lesson by washing the feet of his own disciples.
Transition Sentence: Let us look together at how these things show us how we should live our lives for God. We will begin with Give God Your Body.
Main Headings:
I. Give God Your Body (Vs. 1)
In our text, Paul urges us by God’s mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. What does this mean? Should I do like some of the Gnostics, who believe the flesh is evil and therefore Christ could not have been a man, so they cut their flesh to keep their minds pure? No, this is absolutely not what Paul is telling us about and we know this because the Bible clearly refutes Gnosticism.
So then what am I to do, am I do die? No, because we are to present or offer our bodies as living sacrifices. So then what is left for me to do with my body that can be considered a sacrifice?
First, we must understand what this language meant to the original audience who were accustomed to bringing a sacrificial offering to the priest for the forgiveness of sins. This would mean we present ourselves to God once for all. In other words I lay down my will and desires that I want to use this body for to do God’s will. Whatever, you command Lord; I will use this body to do for your glory. We know it is this because it is our bodies being asked for as a living sacrifice rather than the traditional dead animal sacrifice. A dead body can do no service for God, but a living soul can do the good works of God and bring glory to His Name.
If we have believed in Christ as our personal Savior, repented of our sins, and followed in Christian baptism, then by our obedient offering of our bodies to God will be holy and acceptable. The sacrificial animal in order to be acceptable had to be without spot or blemish and for us this is only possible by the precious blood of Christ. When we have been cleansed from our sins by the blood of Christ we are spotless and without blemish.
So next we have to also Give God Our Mind.
II. Give God Your Mind (Vs. 2)
Not only does Paul tell us to offer our bodies but also our minds. He speaks of a transformation that takes place by the renewing of our minds. The original Greek word for transform is “metamorphoo” from which we get our English word metamorphosis. This describes or implies a change from within.
This transformation or change from within is in contrast to conformity to the ways of the world. This is an external change that takes place by following or mimicking what others do. When I was in the Navy it was expected that I be conformed to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and if I did not, then I was disciplined. We are expected to conform to or abide by the laws of the land unless they are contrary to God’s commands.
One way to evaluate ourselves is to remember that if the world controls our thinking, we are a conformer, but if God controls our thinking, we are a transformer.
Listen to another passage of Scripture that illuminates this teaching.
Eph 4:17-24, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
And to add to this teaching we will also read this Scripture:
Col 3:1-11, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
As you can see we must submit our minds to be used by God for God’s purposes. Our actions are evidence of what we think and believe. If we believe it is okay to take human life by abortion then we may act on that belief by supporting someone in their decision to have an abortion. However, if our minds are filled with God’s word and we are surrendered to Him, we will do His will.
Finally we will speak about Giving God Our Will.
III. Give God Your Will (Vs. 2)
Along with offering our bodies and minds as a sacrifice, Paul also tells us we are to offer our will to God. Are there times when you would rather not read your Bible, pray, or even attend church services, but you do anyway? Why do you do it anyway? The usual answer is, “Because it is the right thing to do.” How about because we are offering our will as a sacrifice to God? That is exactly what we are doing when we say no to selfish lust to fulfill God’s will.
I have an illustration called “Swimming Against the Stream” that I want to share with you.
“Many years ago I saw a magnificent tapestry in a home for recovering alcoholics in Germany. It was a picture of a stream with a shoal of fish heading one way and a solitary fish swimming in the opposite direction. Underneath were the words: ‘Any dead fish can float downstream-it takes a live one to swim against it.’” (1001 More Humorous Illustrations, Pg 48, #96).
It takes willpower and won’t power to overcome all that Satan sends your way. If you want to be a live fish instead of a dead one you will not be going in the same direction as everyone else in the world while calling yourself a Christian.
I would like for you to take this message of action to heart and be transformed. Not for me, but for yourselves so you can receive the joy that only comes from service to the Lord.
So what is the conclusion to this message on being transformed?
Conclusion: There was an alternative outline for this sermon that comes from John C. Maxwell’s Leadership Bible. I want to quickly share with you as a wrap up to the teaching for this lesson a quote from Maxwell’s work. “Paul pleads with his friends, based on God’s mercy, to lovingly surrender themselves to the Lord. He urges them to respond in four ways:
1. Presentation: We are to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices (Vs. 1).
2. Separation: We are to avoid conforming to the world’s ways (Vs.2).
3. Transformation: We are to renew our minds and thus change our lives (Vs. 2).
4. Demonstration: We are to prove we belong to God by doing His will (Vs. 2).
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