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35 Years Ago! by Pastor Andy

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1What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.  -James 4:1-10

Despite my looks, I really am old [smile]. 35+ years ago, I attended Cross Points Church (then Full Faith Church of Love) as a kid in Children’s Church. At that time, the Children’s Pastor was a man named Tom Blasco.

Pastor Tom was perfect for the job of Children’s Pastor. He was high energy, creative, a ton of fun and just the right amount of crazy. At the time, the kids ministry was cutting edge. We were doing ministry like very few churches were at the time. Pastor Tom was a large part of that success.

At the time, I didn’t understand cutting edge, but I knew fun and excitement. I still remember specific puppets (Tyrone, Mr. T (temptation), Heart and more), characters and even lessons.

One of the lessons burned into my head is from this passage –

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I must have repeated that phrase a thousand times by the time I left 6th grade. We would say it over and over and over. We would tell the puppets, we would tell the characters, we would tell each other, we would say it for prizes. We knew “resist the devil.”

I don’t remember “humble yourselves”. I’m sure Pastor Tom taught it. I don’t remember it.

Whether you were in Pastor Tom’s children’s church or not, I hope you know it. Humility is the key to this passage. It’s the key to living with Jesus.

Be humble means…

  • Resist pride.
  • Wash yourself.
  • Mourn sin.
  • Purify your heart.

This week we’re focusing on the command of Jesus to repent. Repentance only comes through humility. We have to accept we are sinners, broken without Christ’s redemption.

This week, I encourage you to dig into this command. Don’t discount it as something you already know, or pass it off for someone else.

Own it.

James is writing to believers – those who know the truth, yet for some reason have forgotten. This truth is for you and me.

If you search your heart, you’ll be left with two options –

  1. Humbly bend your knee to Jesus and repent.
  2. Become a friend of the world.

There is no other option.

“So humble yourselves before God.”

Repentance and Humility go hand in hand by Pastor David

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Lion and the Lamb – Bethel Worship

 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We should not too quickly look past this text of Scripture.  It’s a familiar story.  Even for our day and age. Two men go to church.  One enters and begins to justify himself.  He speaks to God boldly, “I’m glad I’m not like those losers- those men who fall so short of being good.  I’m a good guy.  I don’t steal, I’m fair and I don’t sleep around.

If that was not enough the man begins to boast about the things he has given up for the sake of God.  In fact he exclaims, “I’ve done my fair share — I fast, tithe”

If we are not careful we can have the same mindset.  Oh, we may not verbalize exactly like this man but our thoughts betray us,,,,I’m pretty good.  I’ve done good things. I give. I treat people fairly. I do all the things God expects of me. If we are not careful we can begin to think what we do somehow makes us good.  This could not be farther from the truth.

And herein lies the issue.  Nothing you do makes you good–and this is the point Jesus is making.  Your gifts to God, your sacrifices and your attitude will never allow you to be justified in God’s sight.

The other man, KNOWS he is a sinner.  He comes to God with a penitent attitude.  He doesn’t even look up to Heaven, he comes in humility and beats his breast.  He states and confesses, “I am a sinner.”  You can read it between the lines.  “God without you I’m lost. Without you I am doomed.  Have MERCY!

Jesus says this man goes home justified.

The problem is that most of us–if we admit it–all to often act like the first man and rarely act like the second.  We rarely recognize our continual need for God’s grace and forgiveness.  We seldom beat our breast and proclaim, “Be merciful to me God, I’m a sinner!”

This is what Jesus wants to remind us.  We are only good because of God’s mercy.  We are only justified because of His grace.  We experience peace only through His sacrifice.  Repentance is the doorway toward the glories of heaven. You can’t experience heaven touching earth without repentance.  You can’t experience true peace, joy, love, or forgiveness without first walking in repentance.  Repentance is the first word of the Gospel and as we walk in this truth, God will lift us up.

At the end of the day, we too must respond like the sinners we are.  Have mercy on us oh Lord.

Peter’s Other Confession by Pastor Matt

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Song: Brokenness Aside

Artist: All Sons & Daughters

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time,“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time,“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him,“Follow me.”

John 21:15-19

Peter’s Other Confession

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

What did it mean for a grieved Peter to say to Jesus, “You know everything”?

We’ve come through trial, crucifixion and resurrection; and, for Peter, this means we’ve come through denial.

And here, on the other side of Peter’s lowest point, we find Jesus probing uncomfortably: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He asks again. And again.

It’s painful to watch. It must have been devastating to Peter.

Peter.

The name Jesus himself had given him. “Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter)” (John 1:42). Peter. Jesus had rechristened him, made him something more. He’d called his God-given mission out of him. Peter – “rock.” Jesus had made him new.

But now? We’re back to ‘Simon, son of John.’

Peter had denied Jesus – and failed his new name. He’s back to his old self. Back to what he knows. Even back to fishing. What else is he supposed to do? He’s failed as a disciple. Jesus has risen – but Peter has fallen.

And so he says, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” It’s both a confession of Christ – and a confession of self. Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of God, who knows everything. And this means you know everything…about me. You know the best and worst in me. Jesus, you know that I love you. And you know that my love for you, though undeniably real, is also weak. Imperfect and frail. You are the Christ – I am a failure.

In response to this moment of painful honesty and vulnerability? Jesus says those grace-filled words that breathe new life into this failure: “Follow me.”

It’s as if Jesus says, “Your love for me is one thing – but My love for you…” My love for you makes you something more – even when you fail.

Perhaps, today, you need to follow Peter’s example. Maybe you need to make a confession of your own. What would it mean for you, today, to say, “Lord, you know everything”?

But, please, whatever you do, don’t stop there. Hear Jesus’ life-giving words (in response to your love…and your failures): Follow me.

 

Sharing Christ – Pastor Chris Horsley

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Matthew 28:16-20–

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Great Commission, the last statement Jesus made in the book of Matthew.  If you have been in church for any length of time at all you have heard these verses and know that as followers of Christ it is important for us to share the love of Christ with others.

This command seems to be one of the most difficult for us to “do”.

What stops us?  It seems like it’s one major obstacle:

Fear?  We are afraid of what others will think of us?  We are afraid of rejection? We are afraid of awkward situations? These fears choke out our desire to share Christ with others?   We allow fear to rule the day, even though we know that we know that people NEED Jesus.

Really, it’s not fear, but pride.  We are worried more about us than them.  We are worried more about our self preservation than where this person will spend eternity.

Proverbs tells us that fear of man proves to be snare, and fearing what others think keeps us from obeying a command from God. This “snare” doesn’t just affect you but the person you could be sharing Christ with.

We know that Jesus commanded us to do this, but we often forget that He also empowered us to do it!

Acts 1:8; Hebrews 13:20-21

Remember, He is always with us!

The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become. — Henry Martyn

Maybe our relationship with God isn’t where it should be. Are we allowing pride to stifle our obedience to this command?  We know that His heart is for people to be in relationship with Him.  What are we doing to “make it happen”?

Let’s not over think evangelism. We get this notion it can only be done on a street corner, or in another country.

The missionary Jim Elliot says it this way:

“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”  

Be aware of where you are.  We get so busy with our own lives not even thinking about those around us that we miss opportunities to share the love of Christ in word or deed with others when we live “with our head down.”

It can be as simple as inviting someone to church; helping a harried mom at the grocery store; a conversation at a coffee shop.  Let’s allow others to see Christ in us, and be forced to make a decision.

As you go today, look for opportunities to share the love of Christ and affect the life of someone else.

Let’s be the ministers of the Gospel that God wants us to be!!!

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Song: Good to Me

Artist: Audrey Assad

On the Road and In the Dark

Like Thomas’ story yesterday, today’s reading from Luke records an encounter between the resurrected Jesus and a couple of his disciples. I’d encourage you to take a moment and read the whole story (Luke 24:13-35), but here’s a little excerpt.

15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

Luke 24:15-21

It’s a story that taps into something Pastor David mentioned on Sunday: expectations.

You see it right there at the end: But we had hoped…(v 21).

They’d expected redemption for Israel – a Messiah who would set them free. Instead, they’d lived through a criminal conviction, a crucifixion, and an apparent grave robbery. The arc of their lives with Jesus is trending in the wrong direction. They’re confused and crushed. They don’t know what’s going on.

They’re on the road and in the dark.

But in this moment, Jesus shows up, walks with them, points to Scripture and says, essentially, “Trust me.” Trust my plans and purposes. I know that what you’re experiencing now doesn’t match your expectations, but trust me. Read the Scriptures. Lean in to what you know about me and my character…and trust me.

On the road and in the dark. That bit of road between the expectation of redemption and the promise of resurrection. That stretch of highway that takes us by cross and grave. And it’s in that space that Jesus says to us: trust me.

Perhaps you find yourself on that very stretch of road today. Reality just doesn’t match expectation. May the resurrection of Jesus – the promise that God’s purposes will win the day – fill you with hope and inspire you to trust Him.

Where is Jesus inviting you to trust Him today?