EPHESIANS 5:22-33: THE CHURCH'S RESPONSE AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

You may have heard it said that marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, and that indeed is fact. Nothing ever overrules the Word of God, including the law of the land so no matter what people may say about marriage, the Bible is clear that marriage is merely a picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church. While this passage, to you as middle school students, may seem like a big brouhaha about marriage, the passage we will look at tonight should be understood by everyone including middle school students because it is so much more than simply a passage on marriage, and while you are not married yet, each Christian is a part of the corporate body of the Bride of Christ. This means that the model we have for our lives is what Christ has done for the Church. Too often, when speaking of the Bride of Christ, we consider only what Christ has done for us, but rarely do we consider the implications of the effects it should have on our own personal lives. The fact that we, collectively, are the Bride of Christ should cause us to live lives that would never belittle God in any way and lives that would honor Him in all decisions no matter what the circumstance. We truly have a response to this amazing reality that Christ has forgiven us, and we are to honor Him as His Bride. Our individual lives should speak volumes of the relationship between God and His Church. Paul speaks of this idea in his letter to the Church at Ephesus, and when reading Ephesians 5:22-33, there are certainly not only ideas but also reasonable and real conclusions on our response to His position as Groom and our position as the Bride. Although this passage is about earthly marriage, it is there because of the real marriage, namely marriage between Christ and His Bride, the Church. If our lives are to honor God, we cannot abandon the fact that we are His Bride. We are called to love Him and be faithful to Him.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. 24 Now as the Church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for Her, 26 that He might sanctify Her, having cleansed Her by the washing of water with the Word, 27 so that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that She might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the Church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22-33 (ESV)

The Church Is The Bride (vv. 22-24)

Our first realization should come in verses 22-24 when Paul clearly describes the Church as the Bride of Christ. He begins this passage by stating how wives are commanded to submit to their husbands. This is because the husband is Biblically an authority over his wife. The reason for this is that Jesus Christ is the authority over His Bride, the Church, and the husband is representative of that. Therefore, as His Bride, we must submit to Him. Many today make attempts to play semantics with the word, submit, knowing that it simply means to obey. When we submit to God, we obey Him. Submission is a call and a command. Therefore, if you do not obey God through abiding by every word in His Word, you are not submitting to the Lord. You are not fulfilling your role as part of the Church. Your role is not to be complacent and simply ok with playing the church game. Your role is to obey Him in every circumstance. One who says that they are a Christian but are not following the Word of God and basing every single decision on the Word of God is either far from God or not a Christian, and the latter is probably the most likely. Obedience is the key to your walk with God. Do you obey God, and if so, why? Do you obey God in the things you watch, the music you listen to, the things you look at on the internet, and even the text messages you send? If I were to take your iPod and look through your entire music library, what would I find? Would the things that you fill your mind with each day show a life of obedience or disobedience? Do you obey Him simply because your parents want you to? Do you obey Him because it is just right? Or do you have a burning desire and passion to obey Him and honor Him because your have been changed by Him, and as His Bride, you want to honor Him? I hope and pray that is the case for all of us. May we seek God and honor Him through obedience?

Paul clarifies this idea in verse 24 by stating, “Now as the Church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (ESV) If marriage is but a picture of the relationship between Christ and His Church, how much more should the reality be that we honor Christ as His Bride? Submission is our call. It is our obligation as God’s chosen people.

When I played baseball in high school, I had a coach who showed me what authority meant when he surprised me with a spanking from a paddle in the locker room one day after a practice in which I had been goofing off rather than taking it seriously. From that moment forward, I submitted to what he wanted. Maybe for you to fully submit to the Lord’s authority through His Word, He must break you. It could be that God will have to discipline you in some way that you do not like to bring you to a point of obedience. If you were to answer this question honestly, do you obey God, or does He need to chisel away some things in your life so that your life is a continuous stream of submission to Him?

I recently watched a video about a guy being chiseled by God that spoke highly of what God desires to do with us. He wants to chisel you, but it may hurt at times. However, it is all for the purpose of glorifying Him and becoming like Him. What does God need to chisel away in your life to make you submit to Him?

Jesus Christ Is Our Authority As The Groom (vv. 25-31)

Paul continues in this passage on marriage by speaking of the groom, but more than that, this passage gives a very apparent picture of Jesus Christ as our authority, as the Groom. Paul speaks of what Christ has done for the Church in verses 25-27. Christ gave Himself up for us so that He might cleanse us and present us to Himself without blemish. This is an astounding idea because of the fact that, as humans, we know nothing but sin unless saved by grace. Our immediate and natural state is sinful. There is no way around sinning for us because of our carnality, and the fact of the matter is that we, even as the Bride of Christ, have turned our backs on Him in so many ways. Consider the seriousness of a spouse who turns away from their husband or wife. It could be that many of you have experienced that with your parents. I do not know why things like that happen except that it is for God’s glory and our good. We must always remember that in trials. If something like that, however, is serious, and marriage is merely a picture of Christ and the Church, how much more serious is it when we turn away from our Lord individually, in our daily lives? Yet Christ has done something unthinkable according to Romans 5. He died for us while we were still sinners. That is amazing news. never be forgiven, but they did it anyway. Think of the amazing release of guilt and the gratitude that you felt. Jesus Christ has done that for us but to a much larger scale, one that is infinite in its circumference. It was while we rejected Him that He loved us and gave Himself for us. Could you sacrifice yourself for someone that despises you and even hates you? That is exactly what God has done for us. We were radical God haters whether we realize it or not. It is not just that we had sin, but we had never known anything but sin. Yet God, rich in mercy, laid down His life for us even while we turned our backs on Him. This is why forgiveness is so crucial among believers. We must forgive because Christ has forgiven us.

What is the purpose of this forgiveness? It is obviously to glorify God, and it is straight from the love of God. However, Paul tells us, in verse 27, that it was to present His Church to Himself in splendor. The Greek word for splendor here is endoxon, which means glorious, gorgeous, or honorable. Without Christ’s death on the Cross, we could not be honorable in any way. Paul continues through verse 31 declaring how Christ has loved us and how He nourishes and cherishes us. This was even while we were still sinners. The fact that something this amazing has happened to us should make us the most celebrative people in the world. We too easily forget the great magnitude of the love of God, most likely because we could never fully understand it anyway. However, we must continually remember God’s love if we are to properly honor Him as His Bride.

As a boy, I played baseball a lot from the fourth grade on. I had another friend, who was named Jonathan oddly enough, who played catch with me when I went over to his house. One day we were throwing a baseball, and it slipped out of my hand as I threw it and went straight into their beautiful stained glass door and broke it. I knew his mother love this door so I was immediately frightened, but to my surprise, when she came outside to look at it, she was ok. She did not make a big deal about it and even gave me a hug. I was so relieved that she had forgiven me, and to this day, I still remember that situation. We must remember the love and forgiveness that Christ has given.

The Mystery And Relation To Us, The Church (vv. 32-33)

Paul tells husbands and wives what to do in the final verse of this passage, but he does not speak of marriage here simply for no reason. This passage on marriage is about so much more than just marriage. This is to be the model of marriage, taken very seriously, and hopefully it is with your family. However, this is what Paul describes as a profound mystery. That is because, more than earthly marriages, this passage is speaking of Christ and His Church according to verse 32. This passage speaks to all people, married, single, young, or old. We all have a duty, as the Bride of Christ, to love and honor Him. Our response to His love, that we just looked at, should be obedience. Is submission if obedience, we should not take lightly this command to submit, and we must obey this particular command to submit to the authority of Christ. Paul’s final command of this passage, in verse 33, is for the wife to respect her husband. Your respect, honor, and love for God will be seen in your obedience.

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EPHESIANS 4:11-16: DO I HAVE A SPIRITUAL GIFT?

The subject of spiritual gifts is one of the most abused subjects in the Bible. It should be handled with care even with varying opinions on the issue. The fact of the matter is that if a belief regarding spiritual gifts, in any way, contradicts the authority of the Scripture, we must abandon that particular belief. God’s Word speaks clearly of spiritual gifts given to people. I saw a video recently of a young man who thought his spiritual gift was playing dodge ball. Not only is that ridiculous, but it is obviously not Biblical. We must be sure that what we understand about spiritual gifts is Biblical. Music is not a spiritual gift. One can use their spiritual gift through music, but it is not a Biblical spiritual gift. We will answer the question of whether or not you have a spiritual gift, but even beyond that, it is important that you determine what you spiritual gift is and use it for the glory of God.

Ephesians 4:11-16 speaks of the purpose of spiritual gifts, which is an even more important question than what spiritual gift you possess. Paul talks about spiritual gifts and what they are to be used for in this passage.

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)

The Purpose Of Spiritual Gifts (vv. 11-15)

Before answering whether or not you have a spiritual gift, you must realize the purpose of spiritual gifts. There is a lot of confusion about this particular issue, especially among charismatic believers. It is perhaps a simple misunderstanding of the Scripture, but it is crucial that we, as best as possible, understand Scripture and its original intent. Spiritual gifts have a purpose. Despite what some may have heard or think, spiritual gifts are not given to us merely for our individual pleasure or well-being. The purpose of spiritual gifts is much higher than that. According to this scripture, it is four-fold.

To Equip The Saints For The Work Of Ministry (vv. 11-12)

One reason we possess spiritual gifts is to equip the Saints for the work of ministry. Notice, in verse 11, that Paul tells the Ephesians the reason for the existence of church leaders. He mentions various types of church leaders such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors or shepherds. All of these leaders play a significant role in the training of the Church. I would be classified as a pastor or shepherd. My job is to teach and train using my spiritual gift, which, by the way, is teaching. However, local churches must get past the idea that the ministry belongs solely to clergy. That is not the case. As a matter of fact, Paul points out otherwise in verse 12. The job of clergy is to equip the Saints for the work of ministry. In other words, my job is to train you so that you can carry out the ministry of Immanuel using your spiritual gifts. I am a Saint, but you also are the Saints. If you don’t think that sounds odd, try putting your name after Saint. If you are saved by the grace of God, you are a Saint.

The Greek word for ministry here is diakonias, which simply means “servant.” It is where the word, deacon, comes from. In this context, it is speaking of the ministry of the local church. You are an extension of my teaching and ministry, and I am of our pastor’s. That is the reason individuals possess spiritual gifts, to extend ministry to the people around us and get beyond the walls of our building. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you are not called to sit in complacency. You can talk about what your spiritual giftedness is, but it is useless until you get out and use it. I am of the belief that you can possess more than one spiritual gift. Whatever the case, do not get so caught up in determining what your spiritual gift is that you forget its purpose. It is not for you. We cannot be boastful about our spiritual gifts because they are not from us or for us anyway. You are to be equipped for Kingdom work, and the good news is that if you are a Christian, you are. You don’t have to wonder if you have the necessary tools to serve the Lord. You do so there is no excuse for not serving him. The abundance or work is not the issue. It is whether or not you are willing to serve. We need people to serve by running our registration table on Wednesday nights. We need people to help with media on Sundays and Wednesdays. We need people to greet visitors and make sure that they feel welcome each week. These are not insignificant tasks, but they are simple tasks, tasks that you could easily do if you would simply get out of your comfort zone and use the gifts that God has blessed you with. They are to be used for ministry.

To Bring Unity To The Church (v. 13)

Spiritual gifts are also to be used in bringing unity to the Church. Some may remember the message I preached recently on unity in the Church. We are called to unity. Without unity, the purposes God has called us to cannot be accomplished. Paul says, in verse 13, that we are to minister until we attain to the unity of the faith. Paul speaks a lot in his letters of the unity of the Spirit, which is to take place now. However, unity of the faith is something that we strive for but that we will not reach until the day of our Lord, Jesus Christ. One way in which we attain unity is through the use of our spiritual gifts. Notice that Paul links unity to maturity as well. The more we grow and become like Christ, the more unified we will be. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, unity is much more than simply getting along with people who have differing opinions. Unity is about being in line with the Word of God and obeying Him. Do you obey the Lord at all times? Do you obey Him in the difficult circumstances and the good times alike? If so, you are living in the unity of the faith. There are, however, times when we make mistakes, and during those times, we are not in the unity of the faith. God gives spiritual gifts so that His people can better understand who He is and serve Him faithfully. It is for unity.

To Grow Into Christ (vv. 14-15)

Yet another purpose of spiritual gifts is to grow into Christ. John said, in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Our spiritual gifts are to be used for the glory of God alone, and therefore, when we use them people must see Him and not us. Too often that is not the case, however. Many Christians selfishly attempt to use their gifts to show “their” abilities. Remember that your spiritual gifts do not come from you. They come from God. Just as we do not work to receive any birthday or Christmas gifts, we do not work to receive a spiritual gift either. I once saw a bulletin add announcing a class for learning to speak in tongues. There are so many issues with that, but the main one is that a gift cannot be taught. You can learn about a gift and its purpose, but you cannot learn how to possess a gift that you already do or don’t have. If you use your spiritual gifts to glorify yourself, you are not fulfilling its purpose. It is so that people can see the glories and riches of Christ. He must become greater, and we must become less. The more we use our gifts for Him the more people see Him and the less they see us. Are you growing into the likeness of Christ? Does your life reflect His glory rather than your own?

Paul tells the Ephesians, in verses 14 and 15, that as they become like Christ they will no longer be deceived by other doctrines but rather hold firm to the teachings of God, namely in His Word. That is the result of growing in Christ, and growth happens as we use the spiritual gifts God ahs given us. My job is to help you not only understand your spiritual gift but use it and grow in the Lord. Do you want to become like Christ? Exercise your spiritual gifts, and use them solely for the purpose of glorifying God and becoming like Him.

Have you ever been able to watch a baby grow up? Usually as the baby gets older they look more and more like their mother or father. Ad they mature, their bone structures become more like one of their parents. Their eyes, their nose, their mouth, and even their personality become like one of the parents. In the same way, as we grow as Christians, we are to look more and more like Christ. If you look less like Christ or even the same as you did when you became a Christian, you are not living a Godly life, and you are definitely not using your spiritual gift correctly. God has called us to look like Him so I ask you, “Do you look like Him?”

To Build Up The Church (v. 16)

The final purpose of spiritual gifts that we will look at is that of building up the Church. This is the main purpose of our spiritual gifts. Paul even says, in verse 16, that when we are all functioning properly as the Church, the Body of Christ builds itself up in love. Just as our human body builds itself up when it is working properly, the Church builds itself up as well. Have you ever seen a genuine body builder, someone who takes care of themselves and works out consistently? It is amazing that simply working the body’s muscles hard can build the body. In the same way, when we exercise our spiritual gifts properly and use them for the glory of God, the Church is built up in love.

Spiritual gifts must be handled with care because if it does not edify but rather tears down and destroys, it is not a spiritual gift. Do you encourage other believers? Do you help build up the Church? If not, you are not using your spiritual gift, or even worse. You may not be a Christian. The most basic answer to the question, “Do I have a spiritual gift,” is this. Are you are Christian? If you are, then you indeed have a spiritual gift. If not, then it is not possible for you to have a spiritual gift. It is determining what it is that is the difficult part for you. We will help you determine what your spiritual gift is over the next couple of weeks, but despite the fact every Christian has a spiritual gift, very few Christians use their gifts the way they should. What about you? Are you being used effectively by God through your giftedness?

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2 KINGS 5:1-14: WASHING IN YOUR JORDAN

Faith is crucial in a believer’s life. We do everything by faith. Literally every part of our lives is lived through faith. We are told that with the faith the size of a mustard seed, we can literally move mountains. If it takes only that much faith to move a mountain, how much do we need to do the smaller things? The true tests of faith come in difficult times such as financial difficulties, family struggles, relationship issues, loss of loved ones, etc. These are the acid tests of our faith. It would be easy to trust God in our finances if we were millionaires, but it is when we are barely surviving that the evidence of our faith is shown. What could you do with an extreme faith? Could you pray over a dead person and see them breathe again? Has it ever been done? Of course. We must always remember that our faith does not limit God. He cannot be limited, but it limits us. It limits what we can do. When God calls us to something, our obedience represents our faith. Even when it does not make sense, our obedience represents our faith. 2 Kings 5:1-15 gives us examples of four different people and their responses in faith or lack of faith to the power of God.

1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

2 Kings 5:1-14 (ESV)

The Girl (vv. 1-6)

This passage begins with a servant girl in verses 1 – 6. This girl had been captured by the Syrians and taken from Israel. She was a slave of Naaman’s wife. Naaman, as we see here, was the commander of the Syrian army who had defeated Israel. There were tensions between Israel and Syria obviously. Naaman had leprosy. Leprosy is now known as Hansen’s Disease, and it can be treated. It could not in Biblical days, however. Leprosy was a disease that ate away at the flesh and caused flesh to rot, and many times entire body parts would literally fall off such as fingers or toes. It was very contagious too. People could contract the disease just by being within a few feet of another leper. If a leper was in public, they had to cry out loud, “Unclean! Unclean!” Lepers were so contagious that they could not even live within the city walls of their home city. They had to live in leper colonies outside of the city walls, and people would lower food in baskets over the walls for them to eat. It was not a pleasant lifestyle. Naaman was living a life of misery.

This servant girl is from Israel so obviously she knows more about what happens there than these Syrians so she tells Naaman about a prophet in Samaria who could cure Naaman of his leprosy. The prophet she was talking about was Elisha. Elisha was known throughout the land. This girl responds to the power of God through Elisha. She believed and was confident that Elisha could heal Naaman. She needed no visual evidence or signed papers. She was positive about the power of God through Elisha. Are you confident of the power of God? In the midst of a many struggles in your life, are you confident that God can and will bring you through? We put our trust so often in places other than the true helper. We place our trust in jobs, money, government, etc. The power of God is limitless, and if he so desires, he can and will deliver you from your troubles. Where does it begin though? It begins with faith. This girl had faith in the power of God.

The King Of Israel (v. 7)

Verse 7 shows us clearly the response of the King of Israel. We see once he receives a letter from the King of Syria, he tore his clothes. That seems a little odd to us because you typically don’t see someone just tearing their clothes every day. I was watching the NCAA tournament a few years ago, and the University of Texas was in the final four. In their final game, they were playing Oklahoma State University and lost. It was a close game, and I was on edge the entire time. When the final buzzer went off, I was so mad that I ripped my shirt off. I had some guys at my apartment who were scared of me from that moment forward. Tearing of clothes in Biblical days was a sign of distress. Why was the king distressed? He felt that the King of Syria was making a mockery of him. Notice that he asks, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” (ESV) Remember that things are very tense between Israel and Syria. Obviously the King of Israel took anger as his response. The opportunity for this king to help someone out had come, and his response was bitterness because of a tense past and history. How often are opportunities missed because we cannot let go of the past? How often do we miss out on great faith because we are bitter at someone? This king was going to miss out on God’s blessings because of his bitterness. What are you missing out on because of bitterness? You have a response to what God calls you to do in faith. Will you allow bitterness to get in the way?

Elisha (vv. 8-10)

In verses 8 – 10, we see Elisha’s response in faith. Elisha shows great faith because he believes in the power of God. He was a prophet, and he desires to confirm that there is a prophet in Israel. Elisha confronted the King of Israel and then told Naaman to come to him. Elisha is acting in faith and knows and believes that the leper will be healed. That is great faith. I have never felt God leading me to pray over a sick person and believe that they would be healed. If he did, I hope that I would have the faith to be effective in it. We know that God works in mysterious ways, and this passage proves just that. Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman in verse 10 and said, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” (ESV) This is not your typical touch and heal situation. Naaman is told to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed, which leads us to Naaman’s own response.

Naaman (vv. 11-15)

Naaman’s first response to the girl was one of belief back in verse 4. He obviously had the King of Syria write a letter to the King of Israel asking for healing, which proves that he at least believed it could happen. Even though there were tensions between the two kingdoms, hew lowered himself to doing that. He was at the end of his road. He had no pride left and came to his last resort. Sometimes God will take us to the bottom of the pit to accomplish his tasks. God uses a humble heart, and many times God allows circumstances to bring humility to us. Are you at the end of your road, or have you been there so that God could work in you. Naaman believed at first, but we see the rest of Naaman’s response in verses 11-15.

If I put myself in the Naaman’s place, it would be very easy to lack faith in the power of God through Elisha. I might even think he was joking with me. The first time I ever had stitches, I was twelve years old. I was at a birthday party, and I and four other friends of mine decided to ride a four-wheeler so we all got on the four-wheeler. It is not a smart idea to have five people on a four-wheeler. I was driving. I don’t know what happened, but I pushed the gas instead of the break, which caused the four-wheeler to fly off of a cliff into a shallow pond. The four-wheeler was on top of me, and I got off and was breathing so I figured I was fine. An adult looked at my head later though and determined that I needed stitches. I laughed at him thinking he was joking, but he assured me that he was not joking so I went to the hospital and had twenty stitches. There is a scar on my head today from that incident, which I am very proud of. They are battle scars. I thought he was joking about the stitches though, and I was dreading getting them. Something that would only help me did not seem necessary to me at the time. I didn’t want stitches, and I thought I could do without them. Naaman thought that washing in the Jordan seven times was a little ridiculous so we see in verse 11 that he was angry and went away saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God (notice it is not personal…his God), and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.” (ESV) In other words, Naaman was saying, “I didn’t think anything would be required of us in order to be healed.” For God’s power to be revealed, we are required to sacrifice. We are required to act. Actions reflect our faith. What actions you take in following Christ will reflect your faith. What do your actions reveal?

Naaman’s servants then spoke some sense into him. They assured him that what Elisha had spoken was a good word. Sometimes we need people in our lives to help us. People can comfort us, confront us, pray for us, and help us in so many ways. That is why God has given us each other. We are not meant to live this life alone. We are meant to help each other, and our faith is strengthened through the help of others. Naaman then went to wash in the Jordan seven times, and just as Elisha said, he was healed.

Washing In Your Jordan

Naaman’s healing came down to obedience, but it began with faith. The evidence of faith is obedience. We all come to Jordans in our lives, and even though we may think other options are better such a Naaman thought, God’s way is always the only way. He will have his way no matter what we do, and there are times when we are taken to the end of our road and become lepers in order for God to work in us. What is the disease in your life? You may be struggling with the disease of lust, alcohol, greed, or pride. There is a Jordan waiting for you to wash in, but it requires action on your part. Do your actions reflect a strong faith? Plunge into the Jordan, and allow Him to wash you and heal you.

PSALM 34:1-8: TO TASTE THE LORD'S GOODNESS

The psalmist tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good. It is common for people to talk about the goodness of God, but it is another completely different thing to literally experience his goodness. However, every single person who is a Christian has experienced the goodness of God whether they realize it or not. There is no greater goodness, and yet we, so often, live our lives as if we have not experienced that goodness. God is a good God. The Bible even says that he is good to all. Therefore, someone could go to Hell, and God would still be loving because that is what we deserve. However, he has richly poured out his goodness, and some will be saved though we do not deserve it in any way. God is good.

Maybe you live life in such a way that does not exude the goodness of God though. Maybe you feel like you have not experienced his goodness. If that is the case, could it be that the Lord has not blessed you because you have not blessed him? There is a requirement on our part. God exists for his glory, and we must continually remember that. He does not exist or even do anything for our glory. Everything done since the beginning of time has been for the glory of God alone so why would it change simply because we enter the world? If his glory is not at the forefront of your heart and life, you cannot rightly bless him. In order to taste the Lord’s goodness, the psalmist gives us a picture of how the cycle works, and it does not begin with God blessing us. As a matter of fact, it begins with our blessings given to him.

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:1-8 (ESV)

To taste or experience God’s goodness, we must first bless him. Life is not at all about our personal blessings though God has richly blessed us beyond what we deserve anyway. It, however, is completely about God’s blessings. He is God, and therefore, he is blessed continuously. Our obligation as Christians is to play a part in blessing him, and yes it is an obligation. We have many obligations as Christians, but the acid test of whether or not you are changed by the Lord is how you view those obligations. Do you find joy in serving God, or is it a burden? We must bless God to taste his goodness, and the psalmist presents two important reasons to bless him.

We Bless The Lord For Who He Is (vv. 1-3)

God is God, and we are not. For that he is worthy to be blessed. We bless him for who he is. Even if God had not done anything for us, he would still deserve to be blessed. The psalmist begins, in verse 1, by stating that he will bless the Lord at all times. That is a very broad spectrum of circumstances. All times includes times when we do not feel like blessing God or might even possibly be angry with God, which, by the way, is not a right emotion toward God. It is amazing that we do not bless God in spite of the goodness he has poured out on us already, but at the first sign of trouble, most people have no problem cursing his name. One example of this is the fact that thousands of airplanes take off and land each day with no problem, but no one gives God any glory for keeping them safe. However, when a plane crashes because of a malfunction or terrorist attack, the first one blamed is God. We take his blessings for granted, but the truth is that even when we are not being blessed, he should be blessed. Do you bless God at all times? Is it obvious to the people around you that you bless God at all times?

To taste the Lord’s goodness, we must not only bless God at all times, but we must also live in humility. Verse 2 reads, “My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.” God hates pride. The reason many people have not tasted God’s goodness is because of their pride. It is because their desires are more important than God’s. The Bible says that God opposes the proud but embraces the humble. No one opposed by God can experience his goodness. At the root of every sin is pride so if we want to cut sin out of our lives and live a life that glorifies God no matter what the circumstance is, we must first cut out pride. If pride is not cut out of your life, God may cut it out himself by humbling you through circumstances that are less than ideal. God is worthy to be blessed. If we want to experience his goodness and taste and see his goodness, we must rid pride from our lives. Then and only then can we honestly bless the Lord.

Have you ever known someone that was very difficult to get along with, but you decided to show kindness to them anyway? Then you discovered that person was not so bad. However, you had to take the initiative to show kindness to them first. God is obviously not difficult to get along with, but to truly taste and experience his goodness, we must first bless him for who he is.

We Bless Him For His Works (vv. 4-8)

Not only must we bless him for who he is, but we must also bless him for his works: past, present, and future. Notice that this comes after the psalmist blesses God for who he is, not before. We must first bless him for who he is and then his works. Verses 4-8 reveal the psalmist blessing God for his mighty works. We must never forget the works of the Lord, particularly in our personal lives. The psalmist speaks of God’s works in these few verses in three different ways: what God has done, what he is doing, and what he will do.

What He Has Done (vv. 4, 6)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with remembering the things that God has already done as long as the past is not our focus. That is why Paul tells us to let go of what is behind and press on to what is ahead. However, if we forget the Lord’s past works, our grateful attitudes can easily slip away. The psalmist, in verses 4 and 6, remembers the Lord’s works. He remembers how the Lord answered his prayer, how the Lord heard his cries, and how the Lord saved him from despair. God has blessed us beyond what we deserve and in ways that should cause us not only to be grateful but also to be humble. How often do you stop and remember what God has done? How often do you reflect on the things he has given you, the assurance of salvation that you have, or the family he has placed you with? We must bless him and thank him for what he has done.

What He Is Doing (v. 5, 7)

We must also realize that God is currently at work in not only our lives but the lives of others as well and bless him for what he is doing. Whether we realize it or not, there is a battle taking place every moment of every day, and it is the battle between good and evil. We know who has won and who is going to win, namely Jesus Christ. It is because of that battle that God is working now. He is not a god who has done everything he will ever do already but is not working now. He is alive, and he is in control even now and has the power to win amazing victories. It could be that he is working in your own life right now. He may be speaking to you about something that needs to change in your life when you go back to school. He may be calling you to witness to one of your friends who you know is lost. He is at work, which should give us comfort.

The fact that God is still working should assure us that we can be bold about our faith. If God is for us, who can be against us? No one. How is God working in your life right now?

What He Will Do (vv. 8)

We must also bless God for what he will indeed do. God’s word is full of promises of what he will do. We do not have to be afraid of the future. We don’t even have to worry about what will happen because the important facts are in his word. He is returning. Rest assured of that. The question is not if or when but rather what you are doing with the name of Jesus.

I love the Back To The Future movies. There have been times in my life when I wished that I could travel into the future to know what is coming. I saw a video recently about a guy jumping off of a building. At least that is what I thought it was about until a scary face jumped out on the screen and scared me. If I could have seen that coming, I would not have been scared. We know what is coming according to the Bible, and we also know that God blesses his people in the end.
God wants to bless you every single day though. That does not necessarily mean that you will be rich and healthy. However, his blessings are better than riches and health. If you want to taste the Lord’s goodness, you must bless him. You must pour your life out as an offering because he is not pleased in mere songs. He desires a life completely sold out to him. Do you bless the Lord with your life? That is the requirement for tasting his goodness.

If you would like to download a recording and/or the sermon notes to this message, go to www.mediafire.com/jonathanmichaeljones, and flick the "Portico" folder.

EPHESIANS 4:1-16: GOD'S PLAN OF UNITY IN THE CHURCH

The Church is one organism. It is not many different organisms that form a group. Nor is it a building or many buildings. It is one organism formed of God’s people. We form a body, the Body of Christ, which means, just as with a human body, that we all have an important part in the life of the Church. No one job in the Church of God should be taken lightly, whether it is making cookies for Vacation Bible School or preaching weekly messages to thousands of people as our pastor does each week. Each person is crucial. God would not have elected you if He did not have a plan for using you in his kingdom’s work. Many in the Church have not found their place of service though it is necessary that each Christian discovers where God has called them to serve. This is not something that requires a lot of thinking. Simply serve where you are passionate. If your passion is music, then play or sing in the local church. If your passion is sports, then help out with our Upward programs, or play on a team. God has a place of service for every Christian so if you are not serving, you are not fulfilling your role as a child of God, and that, my friend, is sin. Service is the evidence of godliness.

In Ephesians 4, Paul talks about the Church, but he talks about the importance of having unity in the Body of Christ. So often there is disunity in the Church, and this should not be. God’s plan is for unity among his bride, and it is only when the Church functions properly and biblically that there is unity. In verses 1-16, unity is the topic, but how does the Church accomplish it? Paul gives us three basic principles in this passage: the manner in which the Church is to live, a command to the Church, and the Church’s result in following that command.

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:1-16 (ESV)

The Church’s Manner: The Church Is To Live In A Worthy Manner (vv. 1-2)

Paul clearly states, in verse 1, that we are to live our lives in a way that is worthy of the calling which we have received. To realize the vitality of this statement, we must remember that, in no way, did we ever deserve to be saved by grace. In no way, did we do anything to deserve salvation. As a matter of fact, if it were not for God’s justice combined with his mercy through his son, Jesus, on the Cross, the wrath of God would be poured out on us. God, however, gave of himself and made a way for salvation. We did not deserve it. In other words, we did not live a life worthy of God’s calling. He indeed called though, and because of that, we must now live our lives worthy of his calling. We must not belittle his calling. Yet that is what happens every time we sin, big or small. Is your life worthy of salvation even after the fact?

Paul then gives a description, in verse 2, of what a life worthy of God’s call looks like. There are two basic attributes that should be seen in every Christian according to this scripture.

Humility

Humility and gentleness are linked together because they go hand in hand. One does not exist without the other. One who is humble will also be gentle, and one who is gentle will also be humble. Gentleness is the result of humility. Humility is so crucial for a Christian yet so difficult. Our culture does not teach humility. As a matter of fact, the opposite is taught. Humility is viewed by many as weakness. Notice, however, that humility is not low self-esteem. God hates the opposite of humility, pride, and even says that he will oppose the proud. The Greek word for “humility” in this passage is tapeinophrosynes. It is a word that literally means humiliation of mind or modesty. It is not a realistic humiliation, but it is living life as if others are better than you. Humility was so evident in Christ during his ministry on Earth. If we want to live a life that upholds our call as Christians, we must begin with humility.

Patience

Another attribute that is necessary for God’s Church is patience. This is yet another incredibly difficult task for us. Paul even adds that we are to bear with one another in love. The word, “bear,” is typically used when referring to a struggle or a trial. We bear circumstances when they are especially difficult. Could it be that life with other Christians is tough? We are all different, and with our differences come varying views, tastes, likes and dislikes, theological opinions, and more. As long as our differences do not contradict the irrefutable arguments of the Bible, we can and must bear with one another. Consider the Lord’s bearing with us though we have failed Him countless times.

Recently I was in rush hour traffic on Interstate 10 when a man cut me off in traffic. The common American is very impatient when it comes to traffic, and I am no different. The man cut me off so I sped up to get even with his far. As I approached, I noticed him being friendly and waving at me with one finger (notice the sarcasm) so I took a deep breath, prayed, and allowed him to move ahead of me. As he moved ahead, however, I noticed the outline of an ichthus on the back of his car as well as a local church’s bumper sticker. I will not say the name of the church. Now I am a Christian, but I am also human so I realize that people make mistakes. That man simply made a mistake, but had I not been a Christian, what he did would have ruined his witness for the Lord. He was not showing patience and was, therefore, not living a life worthy of his calling if he was indeed a Christian. I ask you again, “Is your life worthy of your calling?” Are you humble? Are you patient?

The Church’s Command: The Church Is To Be Unified (vv. 3-6)

We are given one command in this entire passage, namely to be unified and to keep the unity of the Spirit. The phrase, “of the Spirit,” from verse 3, is so crucial because when God’s people walk by the Spirit, we cannot help but be unified. Paul explains why in verse 4, which reads, “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.” (ESV) Since there is one Spirit, the Spirit of God, it is when we walk by that Spirit, as we are commanded to do in Galatians 5:16, that unity occurs. It is not possible to walk by many spirits. There is only one, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and the God that we serve is in control. He is not shaken. We must never forget that. In a time when our nation seems to have forgotten God’s sovereignty, we must remember that He is over all. When Christians are worried about the state of their circumstances and when God’s people bicker and complain about worthless things, disunity is seen by the world. We are to be unified and not unified by turning away from Scripture but by turning to it. A local church that accepts homosexuality in the name of “unity” is not unified with the Body of Christ at all because it is completely against what the Lord has commanded. To be unified means to honor God. Disunity dishonors God. We want to be a people of unity, people who honor God. Does your life align with Scripture? Does your life bring unity to the Body of Christ?

During Middle School Conference, I observed some rec teams that were unified, but I also observed some that were not unified. It was many individuals doing a lot of different things, and without unity, the teams were failing at their tasks. Just as unity is important for a team, unity is vital to the health of the Church.

The Church’s Result: When The Church Functions Properly, The Result Is Unity (vv. 7-16)

When the Church lives as God has commanded and functions in a biblical manner, the result is unity. If we were to live our lives as we have been called to live them, disunity would not be possible. After stating that there is one Spirit to live by, Paul turns the focus around in verse 7 with the word, “but,” and as Voodie Baucham says, this is one big but. Although there is one Spirit and one God, grace was given to each of his children according to the measure of Christ’s gift. God has given each Christian a gift or gifts to use for the edification of the Church. If you do not know what your spiritual gift is, I can help you determine that. We will talk about spiritual gifts beginning in September. Whatever our gifts are, we are to be used in building up the Church, to help the Body of Christ become strong and mature. We do not build the Church. Jesus made it clear that he would build his Church, but he does so through his people. According to verse 15, the final point of maturity is complete Christ-likeness. We are obviously not there yet so we must use our gifts to build up the Church.

The human body is amazing because it is an organism that can build itself up to become stronger. When a bodybuilder works out, the body becomes stronger, and it is because of the work that the body is already doing. When we use our gifts for the purpose of edifying the Church, the Church, in essence, becomes stronger and better by becoming more like Christ.

We are people called to unity. Without unity, the tasks that God sets for us cannot be accomplished. This passage, however, is more than just being in agreement with one another. It is a call to holiness. It is a call to accept and adopt the call of Christ on our lives and live in a way that is not only unified with other believers but also unified with the Word of God. Does your life measure up to the standard of God’s Word? Live in unity, and live the Gospel.

To download a recording and/or the sermon notes to this message, go to www.mediafire.com/jonathanmichaeljones, and click the "Portico" folder.

1 SAMUEL 16:1-13: PREPARED FOR SERVICE

The following is a revised version of an old message. The revised version was preached during Portico on June 24, 2009.

In the American workplace, it is fairly common for someone to go through a training process before officially beginning their job. Training varies from job to job. For some jobs, someone might train for a day. For other jobs, a person might travel a very long distance in order to receive extensive training for that particular job. Many people go to school for long periods of time in order to train for their job such as teachers and doctors. Most people will train for something in their lives. Athletes prepare for competition. We all prepare for what we do. In the same way, God has prepared us as His children for living a life worthy of our calling. We are called to live holy lives, and God has anointed us. His anointed are His children, but we must realize that we have everything we need for life and for Godliness and have been anointed for a specific task by our Lord. 1 Samuel 16:1-13 gives us a wonderful picture of the process of God’s anointing and preparation in someone’s life, a young man named David.

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. (ESV)

The Call Of God’s People (vv. 1-3)

What has happened prior to this passage is that Saul has rejected the word of the Lord (15:23, 26, 28, 29, 35), and therefore, God has rejected him as king. The very first verse of chapter 16 reveals to us that the prophet, Samuel, is grieving over Saul. He is not grieving on behalf of Saul but on behalf of the Lord. Samuel is grieving in holiness because someone has turned from the ways of God. This is the mark of a Godly person. We must be grieved over the sin in our world. How often do our actions show apathy regarding sin in the name of “being Christ-like?” If we are apathetic toward sin, nothing in us is Christ-like at that point. Samuel was grieving because of Saul’s rebellious heart. Many of us know from experience that apathy leads to misery. We must have a renewed heart, and it is necessary for us to go against the grain of the world’s apathy.

God tells Samuel to stop grieving over Saul, fill his horn with oil, and go anoint a king from out of the sons of Jesse. In other words, if we want to see change, we are to take action. We must be tired of the complaints about sin and about ungodliness and take action against it. When are we going to stop watching ungodly entertainment, stop listening to music that has even the slightest hint of ungodliness, stop supporting politicians who obviously do not take a stand for what is Biblically right, and start taking action? There is a time to grieve over sin, and we must constantly have a troubled spirit toward sin, but we must never give up on changing it. We have lived in apathy too long, and it is time that God’s people take an obvious stand for what is right and true and stop apologizing for doing it.

In every presidential election, I vote for the man that I believe holds the closest stance to Biblical truths, which, in many cases, can be difficult to determine who that is. However, there have been past elections where it was obvious so that is who I voted for. In those particular elections, however, I was amazed at the number of Christians who voted for a presidential candidate based on their financial situation or based on who looked better or even in order to relate to people who are not Christians. We should not be people of apology. God has called us to be set apart. It is time that we become set apart and stop apologizing for our Godly stance. That is our call.

Obedience By God’s People (vv. 4-5)

God gave Samuel a call in the first three verses, and Samuel obeyed in verses 4 and 5. When we obey God, His power is with us, and we see that in verse 4. The elders came to him trembling and asked him if he came peaceably. No reason is given for the elders’ trembling, but it most likely had to do with Samuel’s prophetic function as an instrument of God’s judgment. Too often we are afraid of the world’s reaction to our stance against their actions. When we go in confidence toward God’s call and obey His leading, His power will be so great that we will not be the ones who are afraid. As children of God, who have died to self and live in Christ, we now have the same authority that Christ did. These city leaders or elders were important people to the nation of Israel. They were well-respected and prominent people. Yet they were afraid of Samuel. Samuel was a prophet of the Lord, and at that time, it was typical for a prophet to proclaim and many times execute the judgment of God. There was no apologizing for living a Godly life. There was no second guessing whether or not following God was the right thing to do. When God’s people begin living unapologetic Godly lives, His power will return to this land. It begins with obedience though. Samuel obeyed God by calling together elders and consecrating them for an action. It is time that we are consecrated for action through obedience.

The Choice Of God’s People (vv. 6-10)

Verses 6-10 remind us of our choice. When God calls us, we must obey, but we have a choice in that. Our choices are made so often by judging from the world’s perspective. Even Samuel was going to choose the king based on looks as we see in verse 6. However, verse 7 clearly reminds us that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.

I once went to IHOP for some pancakes. I love IHOP. Sometimes they have a never-ending pancake special, and they lose money each time they have it because I eat so many pancakes. On this particular occasion, however, I wanted something else to eat besides pancakes so I began to search through the menu for something that looked especially good. I came across a picture of the Country Omelet. It looked so good. That’s when I learned that looks can be deceiving. I am not a big fan of eating onions on my food. I enjoy onions separated but not in my food. I took one bite out of this omelet and nearly puked because of the onion taste. I had no idea from the picture that there were any onions. I couldn’t see the inside of the omelet.

God does not care about our outward appearance. He looks at the inside, not our vital organs but rather our spiritual inside. God sees what our spiritual condition is. Someone could be the best looking person in the world and still not know Christ. Samuel went through seven sons of Jesse, all of whom were not chosen to be the king. God was not interested in their outward appearance or in what they could do physically. He wanted someone willing to serve Him. The choice was set before Samuel, and even though everything seemed to support choosing one of those seven sons, it was not God’s plan. We have choices once God has called us, and many times there are distractions that come between us and the right choice such as did with Samuel. We have been given a choice.

The Anointing Of God’s People (vv. 11-13)

Samuel then asks Jesse in verse 11 if he has anymore sons so Jesse brings him the youngest or smallest in Hebrew, David. What happens here precedes a life of blessing for David because in the very next chapter is when David slew Goliath. Thus began the process of David becoming king. Samuel saw David, and God told him to anoint David as king. God had a preordained plan for David to become king. God is sovereign, and we cannot debate that from what the Bible says. He is completely in control of everything, but our obedience is part of His ordained plan. As children of God, we are anointed. We are anointed by the Holy Spirit and set apart for service to God alone. God has anointed our lives and called us to live above reproach so why is it that people who refer to themselves as Christians apologize for the stance of the Church? Many times someone who claims to be a Christian will apologize to the world on behalf of someone else who is taking a stand for what is right, and the righteous are referred to as radical or closed-minded. I do not believe for one moment that I am a closed-minded individual, but I am someone who is open only to the truth of Christ. God has anointed us for His service. It is time that we stop being apathetic and begin being obedient to His calling.

We Are Prepared

When I first began playing the piano publicly, I was randomly asked to play “Victory In Jesus” by my dad one Sunday morning. I did not feel that I was good enough yet to just sit down and play something on the spot, but I made an attempt anyway. To my surprise, however, I played the hymn just fine. Not only did I make it through the entire hymn without making a mistake, but I felt confident when I was playing. The many lessons I had taken and many hours of practicing had paid off. I was prepared whether I realized it or not. We must realize, as called children of God, that we are prepared for service to God. We are anointed. The oil has been poured from the horn onto us for service only to God. The Church must stop worrying about pleasing everyone but God and begin taking clear stands for the righteous truth. You are anointed. Live like it.

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2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-13: A MINISTER'S PLEA

At one point, in the past few months, I preached a message during Portico entitled “Every Believer A Minister.” The point of the message was that each individual Christian has an obligation to minister to people, primarily by carrying out the Gospel to a dying world. It is our responsibility to preach and God’s responsibility to save because He has commanded us to do so. No Christian is exempt from this command. During high school and even in some college courses, if we had a high enough grade in the class, we were exempt from the final exams. This is not the case with God’s command to preach the Gospel. Though most Christians will not ever preach the Gospel from a pulpit or pastor a local church, every Christian is called to preach not only through their actions but also through their words. Every believer, although not a called vocational minister of the Gospel, is still a minister of the Gospel in the general sense that each Christian is called to preach the Word and witness. Therefore, we should all have a God-given plea to the lost.

Paul wrote some letters to the Church at Corinth and speaks of this minister’s plea, the plea that we must all have, in 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. It is through this passage that we discover not only what our plea should be but also what our response should be to those who reject Christ.

1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (ESV)

Now Is The Day Of Salvation (vv. 1-2)

Our plea must be for those who are lost not to delay coming to the Lord. Paul clearly says, in verses 1 and 2, that now is the day of salvation. For those who are lost, it was obviously not yesterday. Otherwise, they would be saved, but it is not tomorrow either. There may not be a tomorrow. Therefore, we must proclaim that today is the day of salvation. There must be a sense of urgency within us. The sad fact, however, is that, so often, it is not urgent. We do not see a lost and dying world as urgent. We typically see having the latest ipod as urgent. We see watching the best movie or having a boyfriend or girlfriend as urgent when the truth is that people are dying and going to Hell, a very real place.

Paul appeals, in verse 1, for the Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain. What was happening was that some in the Corinthian Church were turning back from Christ, and it showed that their initial, apparent reception of God’s grace was not real but was in vain. The evidence of being saved is the change that takes place afterwards. If you simply said a prayer and were dunked in some water but there is no change, chances are that you are not saved, and if you died today, you would go to Hell. The sad reality is that many Americans actually believe they will go to Heaven because they believe in God and maybe even genuinely believe that they serve and honor God. Someone who believes in God, goes to church each week, lives a good life with little sin, and saves themselves for marriage may look good on the outside and fool many into thinking that they are saved, but all of that does not save anyone. If you are content with staying where you are spiritually and do not want to grow, you are lacking what every Christian should have, and that is zeal for Godliness. God’s grace is not given in vain, and we should not receive it in vain. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happens when someone claims to be a Christian but lives a life totally contradictory to what Christ has commanded. Obedience is what marks someone truly saved and someone who is not. Do you obey the Lord? Do you desire to know what He has commanded in His Word? Obedience begins with baptism, which many of you have not even taken part in yet, and it continues with following the commands of God in His Word. What is your next step of obedience? Do you need to be baptized? Do you need to share your faith with someone? Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day to obey the Lord.

Our Work Is For The Glory Of God, Namely In The Salvation Of The Lost (vv. 3-10)

In presenting the Gospel, we must always remember that we do not work for our own glory. We do not work for our church’s glory. We work only for the glory of God in the salvation of those who are lost. The lost must realize that as well, and the way they realize it is by knowing how much we care about them. I once heard someone say, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” We can preach the Word of God to someone all day, but until they know that we care about them and want to see them saved by God, they will not listen. That is why it is so vital for Christians to walk in humility and the attitude of Christ. The lost world does not see that in most Christians though, which begs to ask the question, “If someone does not act like Christ, are they really a Christian?” This is a difficult concept to grasp because it makes us examine our own lives.

We work, minister, and preach solely for the glory of God. Paul makes this quite clear in verses 3-10. He even begins by reminding the Corinthians that they, speaking of himself and Timothy, put no stumbling block in anyone’s way. In other words, they lived the life that God called them to live. They did not live contrary to God’s commands like many of the Corinthians were doing. He then lists, beginning in verse 4, the various ways they commended themselves. The list is long, and it includes some very difficult circumstances such as afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonment, riots, labors, sleepless nights, and hunger. These are things that the common human being would find reason to leave the faith in. Paul and Timothy did not because they realized that it was all for the glory of God and for the salvation of sinners. This is the faith that our own lives must reflect. We cannot be content with living a mediocre life for God. A mediocre life is not a life for God at all. Are you ok with mediocrity? Are you ok with just playing the church game and not surrendering your complete life to the will and guidance of God through the Holy Spirit? If so, you are no different than the Corinthians who left the faith. Our lives must be for the glory of God, and His work in our lives must be apparent.

We Do Not Constrain The Lost But Rather Encourage Them In Salvation (vv. 11-13)

The final part of our plea, as presented in this particular passage, is that our lives do not and should not, in any way, prevent the lost from knowing God. We are commanded, in Ephesians 4:1, to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. It is when we neglect this command that our lives may indeed prevent the lost from knowing God. Without undermining His sovereignty, we must realize man’s responsibility in the process of the Gospel proclamation and salvation. God is one-hundred percent responsible as well as man. Is your life a hindrance or a conduit to the Gospel?

Have you ever seen a very bad presentation by a salesperson, a presentation that actually did the direct opposite of making to want to buy that product? Maybe you have seen a magic trick that did not quite work, and because of it you were not impressed. I recently watched a video of a man who tried to perform a magic trick, but it went terribly wrong. He was also hurt in the process so not only was I not impressed, but the man was in a lot of pain. Just as I was not impressed by the magic trick, when we sin, our lives do constrain the lost from knowing God rather than encouraging them.

In verse 11, Paul stated, “We have spoken freely to you.” (ESV) The Greek literally reads, “Our mouth is open to you.” Paul and Timothy were so led by the Spirit of God that proclaiming the Gospel was the only option for them.

How important is the proclamation or preaching of the Gospel to you? Is it so important that you live a life that in no way constrains the lost from knowing God but rather encourages them? That is our call. That is indeed our plea. Our words and our actions must present a plea to the lost as ministers of the Gospel, as people called by God out of sin and into righteousness.

To download a recording of this message, go to http://www.supload.com/sound_confirm.php?get=1110241569.m4a, and to download the sermon notes, go to http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=3d3ca352dfa7b517bda4076e811714c8dfe722619d86793c5621d66e282a0ee8.