[and yet another sermon from years ago presented to the Warrens Baptist Church]
January 10th 2003
I try to search out what God would have me speak.
When I ask The Lord what He wants, I honestly and literally ask:
“Lord what would you have me bring before Your church?”
I try to make sure that it’s for everyone of the members of the Warrens Baptist Church. I trust that if the Lord had someone else in mind then He can worry about getting that person through the door.
The Lord is true and faithful.
The message that I bring I believe is for everyone here, so I wrote it that way.
When I was almost done the Lord pointed out that there were some parts of this message that may be hard for some of you to hear.
I guess I would like to make sure that all of you as “individuals” understand that this message is for each of us and for us as a “group”.
What I have to say is intended for each and every one of you, not for just any one singular person.
The only members of this Church that I will be using as an example is all of us as a whole and/or myself in particular.
If you feel that this message is just for you than that is between you and the Lord. I had nothing to do with it.
How’s that for passing the buck?
When was the last time someone said “I want to be just like you”?
When was the last time that someone said “I want to be just like you” and meant it?
When was the last time someone said “I want to be just like you” meant it, and was not related to you?
What makes us want to be just like Jesus?
Do we really want to be “just like Jesus”? Do we really?
Do you really want to set yourself up “like Jesus” to be abused, to be scorned, to be publicly ridiculed; to watch friends and family turn their backs on you and run?
Do you really want to set yourself up by giving everything good and being everything good to someone that you know is going to betray you and worse, loving that person all the while?
Do we really deep down in our hearts want to be like Jesus? We should; but do we really?
We automatically say I want to be “Just like Jesus” and on the surface I believe every true Christian really wants to be “Just like Jesus”
its when you start getting down to the particulars that we start to hesitate.
You will find that there is almost always at least one area -usually many- that we really don’t want to be “Just like Jesus”.
You will also find that those “areas” are different for every one of us.
This is different than “not being perfect”. This refers to “places” in your heart where you don’t “want” to change.
Often we aren’t even aware that we feel that way. Often it starts with simply not understanding. We might say: “I want to be just like Jesus but I see no reason to stand behind a pulpit and preach. Jesus never stood behind no pulpit!” True, but He did stand on a mountain over thousands of people -and their families- and preached.
I am not saying that you actually have to stand behind a pulpit or preach to thousands “to be like Jesus” but it’s the idea that in this one area you might be unwilling to do that if you were called to.
Jesus wasn’t up there on that mountain because He likes to entertain. He was up there because it needed to be done; and it needed to be done because: (are you ready for this?)
God said so. Oh you know there are really many reasons but that’s what it comes down to. These people needed to be fed spiritually and physically and Jesus did whatever it took to feed them.
Look closely first at the life of Jesus, then at your own life. Look for the differences. Then look for any part of Jesus that you don’t want to do or be like.
There can be all kinds of problems with your Christian walk – with your life in fact- because of one small little area where you don’t want to be like Jesus.
When was the last time someone said they wished they could be more like you? Did they really mean it?
Please turn in your Bibles to Galatians chapter five verse16
You have heard many people speak about Galatians chapter five my self included. You’re going to hear it again; sort of.
There are just a couple of points that I want to make and it will be better if you can see it for yourself. There are all kinds of ammo here for making sermons out of, but there is just one point that I want you to concentrate on when everything is said and done.
Ok, Galatians 5:16:
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
One of the best things about standing up here (behind a pulpit) is that I learn so much!
There are a lot of things in the
“no-no” file that we need to make sure that we don’t have in our life and a whole list in the “must have” file that we should be working on getting.
First, -and this is just to the side- but notice that verse 22 ends just before you get to the end of the verse.
Now in case you did not know they added the verse numbers long after the verses were written.
I think it’s interesting to see that verse twenty-three starts with the last two things on the list:
“gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law”.
That almost sums up the whole thing doesn’t it?
Notice that I do say “almost” because to me it doesn’t quite give me the image of “happiness” that I’m looking to convey.
It would be kind of difficult to not be “happy” and have both love and joy; don’t you think?
It is however, possible to have love and not be happy, isn’t it?
Is it possible to have joy and not be happy? Well, that depends on what you define as “happy” doesn’t it.
Most of us have been to the funeral of someone who was a wonderful Christian and meant a great deal to us. There is tremendous Joy in the knowing that they have “gone on” to be with Jesus.
I just don’t think that what we are feeling when we know that we will have to continue on without them, can be called happy can it? No, we are understandably feeling sorry for ourselves.
We are mourning the loss of having them with us close by. Now compare that to the funeral of someone we love but who nonetheless refused salvation. That is a total loss.
Can you see the difference? The whole world should see the difference!
A Christian funeral has Joy as part of the service! A worldly funeral has no place for joy. A Christian life should have Joy as part of the “service”! A worldly life has no place for it.
In Acts chapter 5 (you don’t have to turn there but feel free to read it later for yourselves- )you can read a little story about the apostles –Who have been preaching and generally leading people to Jesus when they get arrested, thrown in jail. An angel releases them, and the next day the apostles are found teaching in the temple. They are rearrested and almost killed but a Pharisee named Gamileal convinces them other wise: Acts 5:40:
40They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
These guys were beaten and suffered shame; - don’t forget the humiliation that went with the beating - and were rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer it! This is not a quiet joy! This is Rejoicing!
When was the last time you “Rejoiced”? Never mind the rejoicing over being worthy enough to be beaten but when was the last time you rejoiced for any reason?
When was the last time someone said I want to be like you?
If you would, will you please turn in your Bibles to Acts 16:22. Acts chapter 16 verse 22.
This is part of the story of Paul and Silas who as they were traveling picked up a “groupie”. Well in way.
What they had was a slave girl who basically had a demon that would allow the girl to act as a fortune teller.
The masters of the slave girl were in fact making a “fortune” off of her too…..until Paul came by.
The girl sort of short-circuits.
She starts following them around crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”(repeat and get loud and theatrical and you will get the idea).
Well anyway… Paul finally gets annoyed turns around and casts out the demon, which in turn annoys the slave girl’s owners to say the least, and they then arrest Paul and Silas:
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
22The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
So here is the scene: Paul and Silas have been beaten with sticks, thrown into prison, secured in chains, and left in the dark with all the other prisoners. Naturally they break out in to song.
That’s what you and I would do isn’t it?
We would be so pleased with God that he has allowed all this to happen that praises to His name would just burst forth from our lips!
Our Joy at having so suffered while just trying to do what He asked; our Joy from being able to suffer so unfairly at the hands of the very people we were just trying to heal; and give the love and salvation of Jesus too; that all our praises to God would just naturally come out in song right?
I know exactly how I would have reacted before today, and probably today too for that matter:
“God ! How could you let this happen? What did we do wrong? Why are you letting us suffer so? Oh Please Lord save us!”
That’s what all my fellow prisoners would have heard. Notice please that what I would have done sounds an awful lot like despair.
When I sound like I am in despair, how many people are going to say to me “I want to be just like you”?
Understand that there certainly is a time and a place for it. When that is honestly how you are feeling and you need mercy, guidance and understanding we should certainly go to the One who loves us most. How much better is it though when we are comfortable enough to just trust Him?
You can read letters from Paul that starts out with Joy and greetings goes on to impart wisdom and teaching and then ends with an invitation to come and see him because he’s under arrest and every one has left him, alone.
What happens to Paul when it seems that none of the people that he has been sharing his life with will stick around now that he really needs them? Does he give up? Does he quit? Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t recall any letters that say no one seems to care so I give up.
No letters that say "What’s the point?"
Does he feel any of this? I think so. When I read the letters from Paul I do kind of get the feeling that there are times when he feels depressed and disappointed. Paul just doesn’t let it control him.
Paul keeps going, keeps doing what needs to be done, what the Lord has for him to do. Here it is: Paul doesn’t let despair or anger or any of the things on the “no-no” list take away his faith in Jesus. Paul doesn’t let it take away his Obedience or his trust in God. Paul doesn’t let the world take away his Joy.
I wouldn’t mind being more like Paul.
My goal is to be more like Jesus but I think Paul would be a good halfway point for me.
When was the last time someone said to you “I want to be more like you.”?
I, at this time, gauge how good my Christian walk with Jesus is by my work.
What I mean is: While I look for the kind of fruit that the bible says should be evident in a Christian, I am also looking through the eyes of my co-workers at my place of employment.
After almost ten years working at the same place, there is no doubt in my mind that I have completely confused my fellow co-workers. I have “messed up” so bad and so many times over the last ten years that if some of them may wonder if I really am a true Christian, they have good reason too.
I will often be reminded of some really un-Christian like behavior that I have committed and the shame will renew itself until I remind myself that I have already been forgiven.
As I look back at the last ten years or even the last week I can tell by how I handled the situations that have come up, just how my walk with Jesus was at that time and how good a witness I was at that time.
I can see the many times where it would be no wonder that no one there would want to be like me. I can see the other times though, when I rejected the flesh and lived by the Spirit. I can see the times when I was able to show to my small part of this world why life with Jesus is much better than life without.
When someone gives his or her life to Jesus, when someone gives that prayer that says "Jesus I am a sinner and I beg for your forgiveness. I will give to you my life and try to live it how you want me to. You can do with it what You want to.” When they confess that to the world no one can mistake it. Everyone will notice that something is different.
What is it that they notice? Jesus? Yes but let’s be more specific. The song says they will know we are Christians by our love. That is true but what will really make them notice, will really show them that life with Jesus is better, is our Joy.
I was very young when I noticed it in my parents and asked for what they had. I was so young, that I don’t completely remember that first initial joy. I do know though, the Joy of walking with the Lord compared with trying to walk your own way.
It’s the love that will show the world we are Christians but Joy will make them want to be like you.
Who doesn’t want to have love and Joy? Paul and Silas had no idea that their joy and their walking with Jesus was going to do all the bad it did or all the good either. Not specifically. Paul and Silas and you and I do know that as Christians there will be persecutions and there will be miracles. There can be love, Joy and all of the fruits and gifts of the Spirit throughout.
I don’t know about you but I would rather be able to praise God during the hard times of my life; during the lonely times of my life, during all of my life; than not.
Do you still have the Joy you had at your conversion? If not, where did it go? Is there somewhere in your life that you don’t want to be like Jesus? Is there something that you don’t want to do? It will be the first thing to take it. Or do you just feel that you are entitled to be without Joy?
Once again I’m not saying that you have to be dancing and singing all the time. I’m talking about the Joy of being a Christian. The Joy that Says I have a true and real friend with the Son of the Most High God. He cares for me and takes care of me. Because of Him; I am called a fellow heir of heaven itself! No matter what happens to me I will rejoice in the Lord for He has made me glad!
John 15:10 reads:
10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Where is your Joy that -like the song- says “No matter what! It is well with my soul!”?
When is the last time someone marveled at your Joy in a tough situation and said “I want to be like you”?
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