Your weakness is God's greatest gift to you. Let me tell you why.
A pastor who I listen to a lot says (jokingly) that he prays for his enemies to get really drunk and start confessing all of their sins in public places. Now he doesn't really mean this, but the thought behind it is golden. Can you imagine standing in front of all your family and friends and owning up to your deepest darkest sins? The stuff that no one knows but God? The stuff that you're trying to pretend isn't even there? That's a terrifying thought, and it should be.
Sometimes I feel so guilty about my sin (as I should) and I look around at everyone else and see holy smiles and pious countenances and figure "Man, I must be a pretty vile guy!" But you know what I've learned? First, it's true: I'm a pretty vile guy. But second, the holy smiles and the pious countenances are all fake! Everyone is putting on a show, even those who seem to be the holiest and the most moral. And if I'm honest, I'd admit that I put on a pretty good show too. On the inside, each of us are pretty vile guys/gals. Some of us are just better at hiding it. And hiding your sin and your weaknesses is one of the most dangerous things you can do as a Christian.
As I've grown in grace and learned to be more open and honest about my sins, my struggles, and my weaknesses, I've found out that everyone else around me has the same doubts, fears, sins, and temptations. As a matter of fact, there's not a sin that I've confessed or a weakness I've dealt with that someone else I know hasn't struggled with as well. The same is certainly true for you as well.
Confessing our sins and admitting our shortcomings is good for at least two reasons. First of all, it shows us that we are not alone in our struggles and trials. God has given us churches and the Christian family to encourage us. But realizing that everyone else is like us isn't going far enough. In fact, there is a danger in realizing that everyone else struggles with the stuff we do and then thinking we are off the hook. That's a form of self-justification that runs from the cross. Secondly, confession strips us bare of every attempt to be good on our own. When we confess, we are admitting defeat: not only the defeat of giving into sin, but also the defeat of our own attempts to change ourselves outside of the power of Christ. And when we do that, we are dealing with the fact that our best attempts to save ourselves are insufficient and our own power is stunningly scrawny. And that's when we are forced to run to Jesus and rest in His power. But when we are weak, He is strong. As He himself said, "my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). The funny thing about being at the end of your rope is that's where Jesus shows up.
Confession is the act of dealing with the truth about ourselves. In confession, we look at ourselves through God's eyes and bite the bullet of reality. Here, our pride and our self-sufficiency melt away. And that would be a scary thought if it weren't for the cross. Because of the cross, we can be radically honest about ourselves, to ourselves and to others. Jesus took the shame and bore the wrath for us of every sin we've committed. Seen through God's eyes in Christ, we are perfectly just and vindicated. Because of Jesus, we are perfectly loved. And that's the only reason why we can be radically honest: because we know that God loves us unconditionally! If you know nothing can drive God away from you, then you are free to be radically honest, and that's a very good thing! (Rom. 8:38-9).
The same pastor tells the story of how he once had a summer lifeguarding job. One problem a lifeguard can have is when someone much bigger and stronger than he is starts drowning. You can't go and save them because they will pull you down with them! So what do you do? You wait until the guy has given up and is about to go under, and then you rescue him. Only when he's given up on his own efforts to save himself can the lifeguard go and save the drowning man. That's what Jesus does to us. In fact, those are the only terms He will save us on. We would do well to remember that.
Thanks to Steve Brown and Key Life for the examples!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Love is a Battlefield
Pat Benatar once sang "Love is a Battlefield." That's a truth that anyone with any human relationships can easily relate to. And this is true for all kinds of relationships, from platonic friendships to family ties to romantic relationships. Love is indeed a battlefield, but I don't think we recognize how true those words really are.
Relationships are tough for a variety of reasons, but mostly because of one major reason: Satan is the god of this world, and the world is under his dominion. After the Fall, humanity was under a curse, the curse of sin. And this curse of sin frustrates the way of peace and harmony that the world was meant to function in. For that reason, loving someone is hard. It's a battle, a battle against sin, Satan, sickness, painful circumstances, bad habits, disease, hurt, and wrong done to you.
It's interesting to notice, however, that when we think of the fight of love, we imagine it being against the things "out there." Sure we see love as a battlefield, but we see it as fight against things done to us, circumstances set against our will, and the sin of other people. And that's often true. I think that's what Pat Benatar had in mind in her song. Imagine all the teenage "Romeos and Juliets" out there standing tall against parental pressure or other situations that keep them from being happy together (insert generic RomCom or Taylor Swift song). But what's more certain is that what stands in the way of healthy relationships with other people is the curse found within us. It's the sin, selfishness, and ego inside our own hearts that that provides the most difficulty to loving each other well. And that's the reality that we are far too quick to forget.
What keeps us from loving well are the dark passions and desires of our own heart. More times than you and I can count, if we are honest, we have caused devastation to someone else because of our own selfishness. We want to be vindicated, proven valuable, and have our own pleasures provided for. So we manipulate, maneuver, and control others until we get what we want. In so doing, we put ourselves first, and what's so scary is how easy it is to do and justify. Without noticing, the whole thing has come undone.
Most of us, at some level, recognize this. The question, then, is how do we deal with it? What do we do about it? How do we crucify our selfishness? Well the answer, I think, is twofold, and really just collapses into one Person. The first step is to realize how and why we manipulate relationships to get what we want. In various ways, our selfishness is always seeking to neutralize our insecurities. This, of course, is personality specific. We are each insecure about different things. The guy who doubts his value might seek a dream girl with an impossible checklist to match, while an insecure mother might control her daughter so as to force her love. The second step is to realize that all of these needs are met in Jesus, and we gain access to that by repenting and trusting in Christ. In Jesus, we have been proven valuable by His death on the cross. In Jesus, we have been loved, and loved perfectly and eternally. The call here is to be satisfied in Christ. And when that happens, we begin to seek to control and hurt others less and less, because we satisfied with God's provision and love. This is the only way to find peace in relationships.
Love is a battlefield...and the battle that needs to be fought is against you. The biggest obstacle in your relationships is you. The biggest hindrance is what you want and what you think you need and what you will do to get it. This comes from a mind set on you, rather than a mind focused towards Christ.
But love is a battlefield...and that battle was already fought and won for you. We would do well to remember that.
Relationships are tough for a variety of reasons, but mostly because of one major reason: Satan is the god of this world, and the world is under his dominion. After the Fall, humanity was under a curse, the curse of sin. And this curse of sin frustrates the way of peace and harmony that the world was meant to function in. For that reason, loving someone is hard. It's a battle, a battle against sin, Satan, sickness, painful circumstances, bad habits, disease, hurt, and wrong done to you.
It's interesting to notice, however, that when we think of the fight of love, we imagine it being against the things "out there." Sure we see love as a battlefield, but we see it as fight against things done to us, circumstances set against our will, and the sin of other people. And that's often true. I think that's what Pat Benatar had in mind in her song. Imagine all the teenage "Romeos and Juliets" out there standing tall against parental pressure or other situations that keep them from being happy together (insert generic RomCom or Taylor Swift song). But what's more certain is that what stands in the way of healthy relationships with other people is the curse found within us. It's the sin, selfishness, and ego inside our own hearts that that provides the most difficulty to loving each other well. And that's the reality that we are far too quick to forget.
What keeps us from loving well are the dark passions and desires of our own heart. More times than you and I can count, if we are honest, we have caused devastation to someone else because of our own selfishness. We want to be vindicated, proven valuable, and have our own pleasures provided for. So we manipulate, maneuver, and control others until we get what we want. In so doing, we put ourselves first, and what's so scary is how easy it is to do and justify. Without noticing, the whole thing has come undone.
Most of us, at some level, recognize this. The question, then, is how do we deal with it? What do we do about it? How do we crucify our selfishness? Well the answer, I think, is twofold, and really just collapses into one Person. The first step is to realize how and why we manipulate relationships to get what we want. In various ways, our selfishness is always seeking to neutralize our insecurities. This, of course, is personality specific. We are each insecure about different things. The guy who doubts his value might seek a dream girl with an impossible checklist to match, while an insecure mother might control her daughter so as to force her love. The second step is to realize that all of these needs are met in Jesus, and we gain access to that by repenting and trusting in Christ. In Jesus, we have been proven valuable by His death on the cross. In Jesus, we have been loved, and loved perfectly and eternally. The call here is to be satisfied in Christ. And when that happens, we begin to seek to control and hurt others less and less, because we satisfied with God's provision and love. This is the only way to find peace in relationships.
Love is a battlefield...and the battle that needs to be fought is against you. The biggest obstacle in your relationships is you. The biggest hindrance is what you want and what you think you need and what you will do to get it. This comes from a mind set on you, rather than a mind focused towards Christ.
But love is a battlefield...and that battle was already fought and won for you. We would do well to remember that.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Weakness Leading to Holiness: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
This sermon was delivered on June 26th, 2011
12:1 "I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:1-10, ESV)
1. The Description of Our Weakness
-I don't know very many of you
-but as a person raised in the church, one thing I know is that all of us in here are or
have been or will be beleaguered by weaknesses
-I've seen all types of weakness in the life of the saints
-elderly people struggling with all sorts of diseases
-people going through financial hardships, esp in this time
-someone in this room is going through some type of unemployment
-some of you are struggling in relationships right now, maybe marriage or maybe
friendships
-some of you just don't feel like you have enough
-in fact, weakness and suffering is as certain as death and taxes in the Christian life
-Jesus promised that there would be suffering of many types
-so what does this passages teach us about it?
-first, Paul doesn't tell us what his problem is...that's strange?
-why? well I'm not sure...nobody can really tell what the thorn in v. 7 actually was
-but what does this tell?
1. because it remains anonymous, it remains accplicable to our lives
2. this shows God's richness and wisdom
-second, it's not sin
-God always grants requests to break free from sin
-Paul prayed for that here
-well, what is it?
-in v. 10, Paul defines it for us:
-insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities
-note: insult denotes someone being proud around you and injuring you
but we take this b.c God in Jesus has already taken it for us
-note: calamity here indicates literally the metaphor "between a rock and a hard
place"
-it means you have no where to go
-what do we do when we find ourselves in these kind of situations?
-we fret, we worry, we become restless, offended, etc.
-when we are insulted, we want to strike back (Piper)
-when we are between a rock and a hard place, we want to get out
-but usually there is nothing we can do; the damage has been done
-essentially what we want to do is make the situation right
-literally, we want to justify ourselves
-we want to correct the insult, fix the financial situation, save our marriage,
cure the disease
-and far too often we want to do it on our own..this is the situation we find
ourselves in
2. The Source of Our Weakness-If you've been struck with affliction for very long at all, the first thing you begin to do is
ask the question "why?" and esp. "Why for so long? I understand for a little bit, but why
for so long?"
-Maybe you've been out of work for a significant amount of time now...6 months, a year,
2 years? and you want' to say how long o Lord?
-well that's exactly what Paul said: v.8 three times I pleaded, take it away!
-Paul, stuck with a thorn in the flesh, prayed, not once, not twice, but three times
-if he asked three times, im sure he was wondering how long
-it's natural to want to ask this question
-we live in a world cursed by sin...not supposed to be that way
-but hidden behind the question "how long?" is another more deeper question: "who's
behind this?"
-cool illustration?
-see v. 7-->messenger of Satan
-see v. 7-->was given
-it was given by Satan, under the sovereignty of God
-this is the way in your life too-->Satan is responsible for the evil, but God is not out of
control
-this is not to say that God causes evil...God and testing trials?
-theodicy of the cross (Ferguson)
-apply it to you life
-so how does this comfort you? b/c God is behind it, working it for good
-if your friend is behind it, you know you can rest easy, no matter how hard it is
3. The Reason for Our Weakness-but I still haven't answered why God lets it go on for so long
-well let's look at the passage itself!
-I think far too often when we examine this passage, we think God doesn't give Paul an
answer to the question: why?
-but He does...in fact, He gives three...lets look at them
1)First, and most obviously, Paul says that it is because of his pride that the affliction is
given
-see v.7-->the messenger of Satan was sent to keep Paul from being conceited
-now in this case, the reason is obvious...God had taken Paul and given him a vision far
more magnificent than anyone else had seen
-the natural inclination of the human heart is to boast in the cool things we've done
-have you ever wondered why so often in your life, when you've done something
awesome and great (in work or at home), that soon afterwards you mess up real bad?
-that's not a bad thing...that's a good thing...that's the grace of God
-its b/c Jesus is wanting us to see that we don't trust in the stuff we do but we trust in
Him
-when you are weak, when you are broken, when you are dejected its hard to take
refuge, rest, and boast in the things that you do
-you can't be proud when you are broken
-u see ur need of Jesus when u r broken
-now some of you may be dealing with weaknesses that don't seem to have any
connection to pride problems in your life
-maybe you've lost your job, but you were never excessively boastful or proud about
work
-well, sometimes its just hard to see why God does what He does...must trust Him
-but the point is that in one way or another, God is removing reliance on the things of
this world and replacing them with reliance in Him, in many different ways and means
2). Second, look at v.9
-when Paul asks the Lord to take his affliction away, Jesus simply answers "my grace is
sufficient for you"
-now that's quite a strange answer, until you realize exactly what the Lord is saying
-when Paul pleads "take it away!" Jesus answers "I have given you grace"
-more specifically, Jesus is saying "I came and lived a perfect life and died on the cross
for you so that you could rule and reign with me"
-more specifically than that, Jesus is saying "I love you."
-so when Paul asks why so long, Jesus responds "I love you."
-when you plead to the Lord over the weaknesses and struggles in your life, His answer
is always this: "I love you."
-now that seems strange, and I know what you are thinking..."If He loved me, then He
wouldn't put this burden on me"
3) But on the contrary, and thirdly, let's finish v. 9-->"my power is made perfect in
weakness."
-what does that mean?
-when Jesus says "His power is made perfect" He certainly doesn't mean that His power
is imperfect...that would be ridiculous...Jesus is God!
-so what does it mean?
-the Greek word here translated "perfect" actually means more along the lines of "being
made complete" or "finishing" or "reaching a purpose"
-let's reread the verse now "My power reaches its purpose in weakness"
-now that is really groundbreaking!
-it is through the weakness, suffering, pain, and failure in your life that God's purpose
comes about in your life
-you see, God values your holiness more than He values your comfort or earthly
security
-it is as if God is an artist, and you are the canvas, and he paints a beautiful picture
using suffering, pain, weakness, and calamities
-and what is His purpose?...see 1 Thess 4:3: "this is the will of God for you: your
sanctification"
-now the word 'sanctification' simply means this: making you look and act more and
more like Jesus
-God's will for your life then, is holiness!
-through suffering and weakness, God is testing you and refining you and getting rid of
all of your impurities
-remember James 1:2-4: "count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various
kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing"
-through weakness, God makes us strong in HIm and makes us look more like Him
-and that gives us reason to boast!
4. The Solution to Our Weakness-so we've seen now the definition of our weakness, the source of our weakness, and the
reason for our weakness. Finally, we find the solution to our weakness.
-the way I see it, there's two solutions to our weakness and suffering offered in this
passage, which in the end turn out to really be just one.
1) First, and most obviously, is prayer-see v.8-->"three times I pleaded with the Lord about this"
-Paul prayed to the Lord, and he prayed continually
-now here's what's peculiar-->Paul prayed 3 times, but we don't ever have any record of
God taking this away from him
-I'm sure all of you at one point or another have prayed and prayed and prayed for
something or someone, only for your desire not to be met
-maybe that desire still hasn't been met, and you think your prayer is useless.
-but the reason Paul prayed so much isn't b/c He didn't think God couldn't hear him...He
did! God knows everything
-the reason Paul prayed so much is b/c God wanted Paul to feel his weakness and
inadequacy!
-think about it...if we are honest, I'd bet that none of us in here pray as much as we
should
-as a matter of fact, we usually just pray when we need something or when we've
exhausted all other options
-prayer becomes a last ditch effort and a measure of desperation
-now a lot of us are ashamed when we realize that...I only pray when I'm absolutely
desperate
-the correct response, however, is not simply that I just need to pray more
-the correct response is: I need to be desperate more!
-the problem isn't that we don't pray enough...the problem is that we aren't desperate
enough and that we don't realize our inadequacies enough
-prayer comes naturally from a desperate heart
-remember 1 Thess 5:17-->"pray without ceasing"?
-the only way to do that is to live in a continual state of need and inadequacy before the
Father, realizing how much we simple just cant do
-paulson desperation models the Christian life
2)The second "solution" to our weakness is Christ's all sufficient grace-let's return again to v. 9 "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness"
-what is Jesus saying here? what does it mean?
-three things:
1)Jesus gives us little daily mercies and graces to get through tough and difficult times
-these come in many forms, from a kind word from a friend, to a meal, or to
preaching, baptism, and the Lord's Supper
2)As we have already seen, His grace is working to make us look more and more like
Jesus
-concentrate on "for"
-part of God's gifts and grace is hardships, for that is when He is loving you the
most and changing your life the most
3)Resting in Jesus above all else
-recall that I said in weakness, we try to justify ourselves?
-when we are insulted, we want to quip back
-when we suffer, we desire not to be weak
-when we suffer calamities, we just want to get out of it and find shelter
-the truth of the matter is, however, that in Jesus we already have that shelter
-when you are insulted, know that Christ has spoken for you
-in Jesus we have already been justified!
-when you are sick, know that Christ is healing all sickness and is one day giving you a
new body
-when you are unemployed, know that Christ is bringing you into His riches
-when you are in a bad marriage, know that Christ has provided a marriage with Him
-know, that His grace is sufficient
-the call here is to rest in Him...to find our all and all in Jesus and our identity and
meaning and purpose
-it is to trust in what He's done for us, rather than in our next paycheck or in our own
strength
-it is to let go of the idols of our heart and look to HIm
-and we find this in looking to the cross
-this is where His grace is most gloriously displayed...at the cross
-you are saved, you are not the same as you used to be, and you are heading to
heaven, trust in that! and in all the promises of God...set your heart upon these
things and and lean on that with all your might
-not to say that these troubles here are not real or important
-and it's not to say that you shouldn't fight the bad things in your life like disease
and unemployment
-just to say that Jesus is so much better than that
-and it's to say that your future is so much better in Jesus
-when we do this, we begin to trust less and less in our own power and might, and trust
more and more in desperate love on the promises of God
-and when that happens, then we can boast in weakness
-in closing, John Newton's hymn "Prayer Answered by Crosses"
I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.
’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.
Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.
These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.
We would do well to remember that.
12:1 "I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:1-10, ESV)
1. The Description of Our Weakness
-I don't know very many of you
-but as a person raised in the church, one thing I know is that all of us in here are or
have been or will be beleaguered by weaknesses
-I've seen all types of weakness in the life of the saints
-elderly people struggling with all sorts of diseases
-people going through financial hardships, esp in this time
-someone in this room is going through some type of unemployment
-some of you are struggling in relationships right now, maybe marriage or maybe
friendships
-some of you just don't feel like you have enough
-in fact, weakness and suffering is as certain as death and taxes in the Christian life
-Jesus promised that there would be suffering of many types
-so what does this passages teach us about it?
-first, Paul doesn't tell us what his problem is...that's strange?
-why? well I'm not sure...nobody can really tell what the thorn in v. 7 actually was
-but what does this tell?
1. because it remains anonymous, it remains accplicable to our lives
2. this shows God's richness and wisdom
-second, it's not sin
-God always grants requests to break free from sin
-Paul prayed for that here
-well, what is it?
-in v. 10, Paul defines it for us:
-insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities
-note: insult denotes someone being proud around you and injuring you
but we take this b.c God in Jesus has already taken it for us
-note: calamity here indicates literally the metaphor "between a rock and a hard
place"
-it means you have no where to go
-what do we do when we find ourselves in these kind of situations?
-we fret, we worry, we become restless, offended, etc.
-when we are insulted, we want to strike back (Piper)
-when we are between a rock and a hard place, we want to get out
-but usually there is nothing we can do; the damage has been done
-essentially what we want to do is make the situation right
-literally, we want to justify ourselves
-we want to correct the insult, fix the financial situation, save our marriage,
cure the disease
-and far too often we want to do it on our own..this is the situation we find
ourselves in
2. The Source of Our Weakness-If you've been struck with affliction for very long at all, the first thing you begin to do is
ask the question "why?" and esp. "Why for so long? I understand for a little bit, but why
for so long?"
-Maybe you've been out of work for a significant amount of time now...6 months, a year,
2 years? and you want' to say how long o Lord?
-well that's exactly what Paul said: v.8 three times I pleaded, take it away!
-Paul, stuck with a thorn in the flesh, prayed, not once, not twice, but three times
-if he asked three times, im sure he was wondering how long
-it's natural to want to ask this question
-we live in a world cursed by sin...not supposed to be that way
-but hidden behind the question "how long?" is another more deeper question: "who's
behind this?"
-cool illustration?
-see v. 7-->messenger of Satan
-see v. 7-->was given
-it was given by Satan, under the sovereignty of God
-this is the way in your life too-->Satan is responsible for the evil, but God is not out of
control
-this is not to say that God causes evil...God and testing trials?
-theodicy of the cross (Ferguson)
-apply it to you life
-so how does this comfort you? b/c God is behind it, working it for good
-if your friend is behind it, you know you can rest easy, no matter how hard it is
3. The Reason for Our Weakness-but I still haven't answered why God lets it go on for so long
-well let's look at the passage itself!
-I think far too often when we examine this passage, we think God doesn't give Paul an
answer to the question: why?
-but He does...in fact, He gives three...lets look at them
1)First, and most obviously, Paul says that it is because of his pride that the affliction is
given
-see v.7-->the messenger of Satan was sent to keep Paul from being conceited
-now in this case, the reason is obvious...God had taken Paul and given him a vision far
more magnificent than anyone else had seen
-the natural inclination of the human heart is to boast in the cool things we've done
-have you ever wondered why so often in your life, when you've done something
awesome and great (in work or at home), that soon afterwards you mess up real bad?
-that's not a bad thing...that's a good thing...that's the grace of God
-its b/c Jesus is wanting us to see that we don't trust in the stuff we do but we trust in
Him
-when you are weak, when you are broken, when you are dejected its hard to take
refuge, rest, and boast in the things that you do
-you can't be proud when you are broken
-u see ur need of Jesus when u r broken
-now some of you may be dealing with weaknesses that don't seem to have any
connection to pride problems in your life
-maybe you've lost your job, but you were never excessively boastful or proud about
work
-well, sometimes its just hard to see why God does what He does...must trust Him
-but the point is that in one way or another, God is removing reliance on the things of
this world and replacing them with reliance in Him, in many different ways and means
2). Second, look at v.9
-when Paul asks the Lord to take his affliction away, Jesus simply answers "my grace is
sufficient for you"
-now that's quite a strange answer, until you realize exactly what the Lord is saying
-when Paul pleads "take it away!" Jesus answers "I have given you grace"
-more specifically, Jesus is saying "I came and lived a perfect life and died on the cross
for you so that you could rule and reign with me"
-more specifically than that, Jesus is saying "I love you."
-so when Paul asks why so long, Jesus responds "I love you."
-when you plead to the Lord over the weaknesses and struggles in your life, His answer
is always this: "I love you."
-now that seems strange, and I know what you are thinking..."If He loved me, then He
wouldn't put this burden on me"
3) But on the contrary, and thirdly, let's finish v. 9-->"my power is made perfect in
weakness."
-what does that mean?
-when Jesus says "His power is made perfect" He certainly doesn't mean that His power
is imperfect...that would be ridiculous...Jesus is God!
-so what does it mean?
-the Greek word here translated "perfect" actually means more along the lines of "being
made complete" or "finishing" or "reaching a purpose"
-let's reread the verse now "My power reaches its purpose in weakness"
-now that is really groundbreaking!
-it is through the weakness, suffering, pain, and failure in your life that God's purpose
comes about in your life
-you see, God values your holiness more than He values your comfort or earthly
security
-it is as if God is an artist, and you are the canvas, and he paints a beautiful picture
using suffering, pain, weakness, and calamities
-and what is His purpose?...see 1 Thess 4:3: "this is the will of God for you: your
sanctification"
-now the word 'sanctification' simply means this: making you look and act more and
more like Jesus
-God's will for your life then, is holiness!
-through suffering and weakness, God is testing you and refining you and getting rid of
all of your impurities
-remember James 1:2-4: "count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various
kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing"
-through weakness, God makes us strong in HIm and makes us look more like Him
-and that gives us reason to boast!
4. The Solution to Our Weakness-so we've seen now the definition of our weakness, the source of our weakness, and the
reason for our weakness. Finally, we find the solution to our weakness.
-the way I see it, there's two solutions to our weakness and suffering offered in this
passage, which in the end turn out to really be just one.
1) First, and most obviously, is prayer-see v.8-->"three times I pleaded with the Lord about this"
-Paul prayed to the Lord, and he prayed continually
-now here's what's peculiar-->Paul prayed 3 times, but we don't ever have any record of
God taking this away from him
-I'm sure all of you at one point or another have prayed and prayed and prayed for
something or someone, only for your desire not to be met
-maybe that desire still hasn't been met, and you think your prayer is useless.
-but the reason Paul prayed so much isn't b/c He didn't think God couldn't hear him...He
did! God knows everything
-the reason Paul prayed so much is b/c God wanted Paul to feel his weakness and
inadequacy!
-think about it...if we are honest, I'd bet that none of us in here pray as much as we
should
-as a matter of fact, we usually just pray when we need something or when we've
exhausted all other options
-prayer becomes a last ditch effort and a measure of desperation
-now a lot of us are ashamed when we realize that...I only pray when I'm absolutely
desperate
-the correct response, however, is not simply that I just need to pray more
-the correct response is: I need to be desperate more!
-the problem isn't that we don't pray enough...the problem is that we aren't desperate
enough and that we don't realize our inadequacies enough
-prayer comes naturally from a desperate heart
-remember 1 Thess 5:17-->"pray without ceasing"?
-the only way to do that is to live in a continual state of need and inadequacy before the
Father, realizing how much we simple just cant do
-paulson desperation models the Christian life
2)The second "solution" to our weakness is Christ's all sufficient grace-let's return again to v. 9 "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness"
-what is Jesus saying here? what does it mean?
-three things:
1)Jesus gives us little daily mercies and graces to get through tough and difficult times
-these come in many forms, from a kind word from a friend, to a meal, or to
preaching, baptism, and the Lord's Supper
2)As we have already seen, His grace is working to make us look more and more like
Jesus
-concentrate on "for"
-part of God's gifts and grace is hardships, for that is when He is loving you the
most and changing your life the most
3)Resting in Jesus above all else
-recall that I said in weakness, we try to justify ourselves?
-when we are insulted, we want to quip back
-when we suffer, we desire not to be weak
-when we suffer calamities, we just want to get out of it and find shelter
-the truth of the matter is, however, that in Jesus we already have that shelter
-when you are insulted, know that Christ has spoken for you
-in Jesus we have already been justified!
-when you are sick, know that Christ is healing all sickness and is one day giving you a
new body
-when you are unemployed, know that Christ is bringing you into His riches
-when you are in a bad marriage, know that Christ has provided a marriage with Him
-know, that His grace is sufficient
-the call here is to rest in Him...to find our all and all in Jesus and our identity and
meaning and purpose
-it is to trust in what He's done for us, rather than in our next paycheck or in our own
strength
-it is to let go of the idols of our heart and look to HIm
-and we find this in looking to the cross
-this is where His grace is most gloriously displayed...at the cross
-you are saved, you are not the same as you used to be, and you are heading to
heaven, trust in that! and in all the promises of God...set your heart upon these
things and and lean on that with all your might
-not to say that these troubles here are not real or important
-and it's not to say that you shouldn't fight the bad things in your life like disease
and unemployment
-just to say that Jesus is so much better than that
-and it's to say that your future is so much better in Jesus
-when we do this, we begin to trust less and less in our own power and might, and trust
more and more in desperate love on the promises of God
-and when that happens, then we can boast in weakness
-in closing, John Newton's hymn "Prayer Answered by Crosses"
I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.
’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.
Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.
These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.
We would do well to remember that.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Finding Your Identity in Christ: Colossians 3:1-11
This is the full text of a sermon I preached on June 12, 2011:
Please turn in your copy of God's Word to Colossians chapter 3, v. 1-10. Before we begin tonight, I want to take just a few seconds to thank this congregation for everything it's done for me over the past 8 years that I've been a member here. I first of all want to thank you for the opportunity to work with your youth for the past two summers. It has been a great ministry experience, and I thank you for your generosity. Second, I want to thank you for the love and support and wisdom that you've given me over the past 8 years. The love of God's people is always essential to spiritual growth (that's why coming to church is so important!) What you see tonight is really just a product of this church's efforts, prayers, and love. I am forever indebted.
The Apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes:
3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your [1] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: [2] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. [3] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self [4] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, [5] free; but Christ is all, and in all." (ESV)
Let's pray.
"Gracious God and Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to worship you tonight. We pray for blessing upon your Word. Forgive the one who teaches, for his sins are many. Help us to see Jesus and Him only. In his name we pray, Amen."
Introduction
Ever since I've graduated college, I've started to notice the strangest thing about myself. Maybe at some point you've noticed it about yourself as well. I am, without a doubt, becoming more and more like my father. I look like more and more like him every day. To this point I've even noticed that I've started dressing like him. I watch the same movies, appreciate the same things, listen to the same music, tell the same jokes, and I even sound like him. Relatives can't tell us apart on the phone.
Now this might seem strange for a 22 year old to have the qualities of a man over twice his age. But, if you're honest, most of you out there can attest to the same thing. As a matter of fact, this process is natural, all too natural. Perhaps you've noticed that every now and then you'll catch a little of your mother or father in you too. The thing is, I don't try to be like my dad. It's not like I get up every morning and say to myself, "Self, be like dad." No! It's simply just natural. And if you're in Christ, the process happens in much the same way. And that's what I think Paul is trying to tell us here in Colossians 3: that discovering your true identity changes you.
To that effect I have three points that I want to make tonight, all concerning the Christian's identity and how that changes us.
1. What our identity is not:
Did you know that you are suffering from an identity crisis right now? Most, if not all of you, don't actually know who you really are! And if that's true (and it is) then you are most likely often deeply frustrated with the daily dealings of life, whether that be family, school, or work. Why is that? It's because we are attempting to define ourselves and satisfy our deepest desires outside of Christ.
Think about it. What does it mean to define ourselves? How can we tell our true identity? What makes Brian "Brian," and what makes you "you"? Many people go on all kinds of self help and spiritual journeys trying to "find themselves." We see it all the time on daytime talk shows. But what is our identity? Who are we?
Basically, our identity is found in the thing that makes us feel good about ourselves. It is the thing that we use to justify ourselves to the rest of the world. It is the thing which, when we are examined, we point to to say that my life was worth living.
That means that its different things for different people. For some, it is work or job (doing well at work gives you a reason to live). For others, its school (getting an A makes you feel important). For others, its their athletic ability (preforming well on the football field makes shows that their life is valuable). For some, its romance (living for a husband, wife, or significant other gives us meaning).
Essentially, our identity is what we love the most. It gives meaning to the story of our lives. Notice what Paul says in v. 5: "put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" Here Paul is listing a set of sins. Notice, however, that they are not "things" or actions that you do. Sexual immorality is not an "action;" it is the condition of the heart that causes one to break God's law. Impurity is not action, it is a mindset that causes you to sin. Passion and evil desire are the root of sin, not the angry words we said to our spouse this morning or the actual lie we spoke. And the root of all of this, says Paul, is covetousness, which is idolatry itself! So what does this mean? It means that the problem with sin is not so much what we do as it is what we love. By nature, we love our false identities, whatever they may be, and then those things come to define us. They r the things we latch onto to find meaning and significance.
That's why it often feels like death when we lose our idols, and in part, it's because it is like death! If we've made an idol out of our spouse, when they don't serve us properly, then we get angry and furious. If we've made an idol out of our work, we feel absolutely terrible when we screw up or fail. And when we make an idol out of our athletic abilities, we break down when we drop the pass or miss the kick. Oftentimes we'll just cover it up with lies or facades. How many times have we seen a professional athlete or actor go delusional when their world falls apart? That's why Paul sneaks in admonitions against anger and lies, which seem kind of out of place here. See v. 8: "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." When our identities are shattered, we get angry, furiously angry. See v. 9: "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices." When our false identities are shattered, we lie to cover it up and maintain just a little sense of worth.
Now don't hear what I'm not saying. I'm not saying that there isn't God ordained joy to be found in work or marriage or sports or school. There is. Enjoy it, for it is good. What I am saying, however, is that we must not make these things ultimate. They must not become fake identities.
2. What our identity is (in Christ):
So how do we fight this? Where do we get real meaning and identity from? Well what is a Christian's identity? There are three things to look at quickly here, but I wish I had more time.
A. You have died
Look at verse 3: "for you have died." It is a well known fact to you that as a Christian, the old self has been killed with Christ on the cross. You have died in Christ. That's what we symbolize every time we baptize a new believer. When they go under the water, they die to their old sinful selves. That's why we talk about being born again. Jesus, talking to Nicodemus in John Ch.3, spoke about the necessity of new birth. You've got to be born again.
So what does this mean for you? It means a lot of things. It means that you are free from the power of sin (more on that later). It means that you are not the same person that you used to be. It means that you will be with Christ in heaven. But here, for Paul in this passage, it means this: that you are dead to your old identities. No more are you to associate yourself and gain your meaning out of "earthy things." No more are you to seek significance out of spouses or jobs or whatever else you might find. Why? Because that stuff is dead. It leads to death, it has no good road. And you are dead to it. You are cut off from it, and it doesn't have to define you anymore. Your old life and your old identity is gone. You don't have it anymore.
B. You have risen
So where do you get your new identity from? Where do you find your meaning in life? Quite simply, in Christ. See v. 1: "if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Now this is a marvelous truth! We all know that we are dead to sin. In sin we have died and are deserving of the punishments of hell. Without Christ, we would be condemned to eternal torture and separation from God, no matter what way we chose. But in Christ, we are risen. We are free from the powers of sin, and we are free to be children of God and bask in His love. So what does this mean for you? It means this: that your identity is found only in that you are risen and in Christ! You are not primarily mother or father, you are risen in Christ! You are not daughter or son, you are risen in Christ! You are not a teacher or a student, but you are risen in Christ! You are not a welder or a mechanic or a banker or a doctor or husband or wife. you are risen in Christ.
That's why Paul says in v. 11: "there is not Greek and Jew, circumscied and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free." He says this because in the presence of Christ, we are no longer defined by nationalities or things that we do. Who we are is defined by this simple fact: that we are risen in Christ.
C. Your life is Christ's
Paul continues to confirm this fact in a grand crescendo in v. 3-4. Here he says three incredible things. First, in v. 3, your life is hidden in Christ. What does it mean to hide something? If I hide my Bible in this pulpit, what do you see? Not a Bible. All you see is a pulpit. In fact, you don't even see a Bible there at all. All you see is a pulpit. It's the same with our life in Christ. We are now one with Christ, sharing all of His benefits and enjoying His salvation. When God looks at you, he sees only Christ. Your life, identity, and meaning is so wrapped up in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross that it begins to define who you are. I am no longer just Brian the youth pastor and seminary student. I am Brian, the redeemed and saved in Christ, child of the living God.
That's why Paul can say in v. 4 that our life is Christ. In fact, he says it just like that: "When Christ, who is your life..." Because we have died, we have no life. There is no life in our false identities. There is no life in the sins and sinful desires we pursue. There is no ultimate life in putting all our eggs in the basket of our jobs or our relationships or money. But there is life in Christ. There is meaning in Christ. There is purpose in Christ. In fact, in Him is the only meaning and truth. Finding our meaning in Christ is the only pathway to any future.
And what is that future? Look at v. 4: "when Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Quickly, let's note two things. First, our final future destination is being with Christ. If that is the future to which we are heading, we might as well now begin to center our lives on the reality of that truth. If Christ is our life in the future, He should be our life now. Second, so many of us spend our lives trying to get some type of glory. It could be as grand as winning the NBA championship, or it could be as silly as having a nicer car than the neighbor. But either way, when we seek glory, what we are really seeking is meaning and significance. But Paul says you don't do it that way...you do it God's way. We will finally receive glory when Christ comes again and makes all things new again. And then we will find our meaning in Christ.
3. How This Changes Us
So whats the beef with all of this? How does this change us? Remember my opening illustration, about growing to look like my dad by simply being my dad's son? It's the same way with us and Jesus! You are God's child. You are his beloved. You have been showered with wonders of love and grace. Your best friend came to earth, shed His glory, and died on a cross to set you free. You have received a new life, a new calling, and a new identity in Him. And you've received a new future in Him as well. He has your identity.
So how does this change us? By calling us to simply look to Him. Meditate on God's love for you. Ask Him to reveal more and more of it. Marvel at the fact that your life is now hidden in Christ's, who is sitting beside God the Father! Thats what this whole passage is saying: set your hearts and minds on Christ, Who is above, and Who has done so much for you. Rest in him, and stop running or working or calling or trying or thinking or worrying and simply rest, just rest! Stop trying to define yourself with everything else, and define yourself in Christ! Don't seek the things that are below..they are of no value to you! You are in Christ, and your life is hidden in Christ, not what you do! Rejoice in the reality of God's goodness to you in Christ. Find your meaning and identity in Him, and stop trying to find it in the things of this world. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light His goodness and grace. We would do well to remember that. Let's pray.
Please turn in your copy of God's Word to Colossians chapter 3, v. 1-10. Before we begin tonight, I want to take just a few seconds to thank this congregation for everything it's done for me over the past 8 years that I've been a member here. I first of all want to thank you for the opportunity to work with your youth for the past two summers. It has been a great ministry experience, and I thank you for your generosity. Second, I want to thank you for the love and support and wisdom that you've given me over the past 8 years. The love of God's people is always essential to spiritual growth (that's why coming to church is so important!) What you see tonight is really just a product of this church's efforts, prayers, and love. I am forever indebted.
The Apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes:
3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your [1] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: [2] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. [3] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self [4] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, [5] free; but Christ is all, and in all." (ESV)
Let's pray.
"Gracious God and Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to worship you tonight. We pray for blessing upon your Word. Forgive the one who teaches, for his sins are many. Help us to see Jesus and Him only. In his name we pray, Amen."
Introduction
Ever since I've graduated college, I've started to notice the strangest thing about myself. Maybe at some point you've noticed it about yourself as well. I am, without a doubt, becoming more and more like my father. I look like more and more like him every day. To this point I've even noticed that I've started dressing like him. I watch the same movies, appreciate the same things, listen to the same music, tell the same jokes, and I even sound like him. Relatives can't tell us apart on the phone.
Now this might seem strange for a 22 year old to have the qualities of a man over twice his age. But, if you're honest, most of you out there can attest to the same thing. As a matter of fact, this process is natural, all too natural. Perhaps you've noticed that every now and then you'll catch a little of your mother or father in you too. The thing is, I don't try to be like my dad. It's not like I get up every morning and say to myself, "Self, be like dad." No! It's simply just natural. And if you're in Christ, the process happens in much the same way. And that's what I think Paul is trying to tell us here in Colossians 3: that discovering your true identity changes you.
To that effect I have three points that I want to make tonight, all concerning the Christian's identity and how that changes us.
1. What our identity is not:
Did you know that you are suffering from an identity crisis right now? Most, if not all of you, don't actually know who you really are! And if that's true (and it is) then you are most likely often deeply frustrated with the daily dealings of life, whether that be family, school, or work. Why is that? It's because we are attempting to define ourselves and satisfy our deepest desires outside of Christ.
Think about it. What does it mean to define ourselves? How can we tell our true identity? What makes Brian "Brian," and what makes you "you"? Many people go on all kinds of self help and spiritual journeys trying to "find themselves." We see it all the time on daytime talk shows. But what is our identity? Who are we?
Basically, our identity is found in the thing that makes us feel good about ourselves. It is the thing that we use to justify ourselves to the rest of the world. It is the thing which, when we are examined, we point to to say that my life was worth living.
That means that its different things for different people. For some, it is work or job (doing well at work gives you a reason to live). For others, its school (getting an A makes you feel important). For others, its their athletic ability (preforming well on the football field makes shows that their life is valuable). For some, its romance (living for a husband, wife, or significant other gives us meaning).
Essentially, our identity is what we love the most. It gives meaning to the story of our lives. Notice what Paul says in v. 5: "put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" Here Paul is listing a set of sins. Notice, however, that they are not "things" or actions that you do. Sexual immorality is not an "action;" it is the condition of the heart that causes one to break God's law. Impurity is not action, it is a mindset that causes you to sin. Passion and evil desire are the root of sin, not the angry words we said to our spouse this morning or the actual lie we spoke. And the root of all of this, says Paul, is covetousness, which is idolatry itself! So what does this mean? It means that the problem with sin is not so much what we do as it is what we love. By nature, we love our false identities, whatever they may be, and then those things come to define us. They r the things we latch onto to find meaning and significance.
That's why it often feels like death when we lose our idols, and in part, it's because it is like death! If we've made an idol out of our spouse, when they don't serve us properly, then we get angry and furious. If we've made an idol out of our work, we feel absolutely terrible when we screw up or fail. And when we make an idol out of our athletic abilities, we break down when we drop the pass or miss the kick. Oftentimes we'll just cover it up with lies or facades. How many times have we seen a professional athlete or actor go delusional when their world falls apart? That's why Paul sneaks in admonitions against anger and lies, which seem kind of out of place here. See v. 8: "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." When our identities are shattered, we get angry, furiously angry. See v. 9: "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices." When our false identities are shattered, we lie to cover it up and maintain just a little sense of worth.
Now don't hear what I'm not saying. I'm not saying that there isn't God ordained joy to be found in work or marriage or sports or school. There is. Enjoy it, for it is good. What I am saying, however, is that we must not make these things ultimate. They must not become fake identities.
2. What our identity is (in Christ):
So how do we fight this? Where do we get real meaning and identity from? Well what is a Christian's identity? There are three things to look at quickly here, but I wish I had more time.
A. You have died
Look at verse 3: "for you have died." It is a well known fact to you that as a Christian, the old self has been killed with Christ on the cross. You have died in Christ. That's what we symbolize every time we baptize a new believer. When they go under the water, they die to their old sinful selves. That's why we talk about being born again. Jesus, talking to Nicodemus in John Ch.3, spoke about the necessity of new birth. You've got to be born again.
So what does this mean for you? It means a lot of things. It means that you are free from the power of sin (more on that later). It means that you are not the same person that you used to be. It means that you will be with Christ in heaven. But here, for Paul in this passage, it means this: that you are dead to your old identities. No more are you to associate yourself and gain your meaning out of "earthy things." No more are you to seek significance out of spouses or jobs or whatever else you might find. Why? Because that stuff is dead. It leads to death, it has no good road. And you are dead to it. You are cut off from it, and it doesn't have to define you anymore. Your old life and your old identity is gone. You don't have it anymore.
B. You have risen
So where do you get your new identity from? Where do you find your meaning in life? Quite simply, in Christ. See v. 1: "if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Now this is a marvelous truth! We all know that we are dead to sin. In sin we have died and are deserving of the punishments of hell. Without Christ, we would be condemned to eternal torture and separation from God, no matter what way we chose. But in Christ, we are risen. We are free from the powers of sin, and we are free to be children of God and bask in His love. So what does this mean for you? It means this: that your identity is found only in that you are risen and in Christ! You are not primarily mother or father, you are risen in Christ! You are not daughter or son, you are risen in Christ! You are not a teacher or a student, but you are risen in Christ! You are not a welder or a mechanic or a banker or a doctor or husband or wife. you are risen in Christ.
That's why Paul says in v. 11: "there is not Greek and Jew, circumscied and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free." He says this because in the presence of Christ, we are no longer defined by nationalities or things that we do. Who we are is defined by this simple fact: that we are risen in Christ.
C. Your life is Christ's
Paul continues to confirm this fact in a grand crescendo in v. 3-4. Here he says three incredible things. First, in v. 3, your life is hidden in Christ. What does it mean to hide something? If I hide my Bible in this pulpit, what do you see? Not a Bible. All you see is a pulpit. In fact, you don't even see a Bible there at all. All you see is a pulpit. It's the same with our life in Christ. We are now one with Christ, sharing all of His benefits and enjoying His salvation. When God looks at you, he sees only Christ. Your life, identity, and meaning is so wrapped up in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross that it begins to define who you are. I am no longer just Brian the youth pastor and seminary student. I am Brian, the redeemed and saved in Christ, child of the living God.
That's why Paul can say in v. 4 that our life is Christ. In fact, he says it just like that: "When Christ, who is your life..." Because we have died, we have no life. There is no life in our false identities. There is no life in the sins and sinful desires we pursue. There is no ultimate life in putting all our eggs in the basket of our jobs or our relationships or money. But there is life in Christ. There is meaning in Christ. There is purpose in Christ. In fact, in Him is the only meaning and truth. Finding our meaning in Christ is the only pathway to any future.
And what is that future? Look at v. 4: "when Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Quickly, let's note two things. First, our final future destination is being with Christ. If that is the future to which we are heading, we might as well now begin to center our lives on the reality of that truth. If Christ is our life in the future, He should be our life now. Second, so many of us spend our lives trying to get some type of glory. It could be as grand as winning the NBA championship, or it could be as silly as having a nicer car than the neighbor. But either way, when we seek glory, what we are really seeking is meaning and significance. But Paul says you don't do it that way...you do it God's way. We will finally receive glory when Christ comes again and makes all things new again. And then we will find our meaning in Christ.
3. How This Changes Us
So whats the beef with all of this? How does this change us? Remember my opening illustration, about growing to look like my dad by simply being my dad's son? It's the same way with us and Jesus! You are God's child. You are his beloved. You have been showered with wonders of love and grace. Your best friend came to earth, shed His glory, and died on a cross to set you free. You have received a new life, a new calling, and a new identity in Him. And you've received a new future in Him as well. He has your identity.
So how does this change us? By calling us to simply look to Him. Meditate on God's love for you. Ask Him to reveal more and more of it. Marvel at the fact that your life is now hidden in Christ's, who is sitting beside God the Father! Thats what this whole passage is saying: set your hearts and minds on Christ, Who is above, and Who has done so much for you. Rest in him, and stop running or working or calling or trying or thinking or worrying and simply rest, just rest! Stop trying to define yourself with everything else, and define yourself in Christ! Don't seek the things that are below..they are of no value to you! You are in Christ, and your life is hidden in Christ, not what you do! Rejoice in the reality of God's goodness to you in Christ. Find your meaning and identity in Him, and stop trying to find it in the things of this world. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light His goodness and grace. We would do well to remember that. Let's pray.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Am I a Preist, Levite, or Good Samaritan? The Answer May Surprise You...
Yesterday at church our congregation watched a 12 minute modern day interpretation of the parable of the Good Samaritan. In it, a deacon and a youth worker pass by a beaten and bloodied elderly gentleman on the streets of a non-descript American city and do nothing to save him while a (presumably) Arab taxi driver cleans the man's wounds, drives him to the hospital, and nurses him back to health.
Seeing it portrayed in a modern context catches some of the grittier details of the story that we are wont to forget. Recall that in v. 29 of Luke 10 that the lawyer questioning Jesus is really just attempting to "justify himself" against the requirements of the law. Jesus had just told him that the law was to love God with everything and love your neighbor as yourself. Obviously, if the lawyer had any sense (and he did), he quickly recognized that he hadn't lived up to that standard, so he attempted to narrow the group of people which he was responsible to love, in the hopes of maintaining his self-righteousness.
Yes, this story is about helping others in need. Yes, this story is about loving God and loving people. Yes, this story is racial equality and reaching out to those who may be foreigners in our country. But it's also about something else. Watching the film, I realized what a pain it would have been for the Samaritan to stop and help the man on the road to Jericho. In the film, the taxi driver had to halt his shift (which meant losing a considerable sum of money). He had to go help an unknown old man (which was awkward and uncomfortable). He had to clean the man's wounds (which was gross, bloody, unsanitary, and dangerous). He had to drive the man to the hospital (which incurred more financial cost). Then he had to wait overnight in the hospital (which put everything else on hold). In the original parable, the Samaritan paid for the man's healthcare costs (imagine doing that today!). Overall, it was a tall order to fill.
The final impression to be taken away, however, is that I would never end up doing what the Samaritan did. Most of us would just have called 911 and left it at that. Maybe we would have cleaned his wounds, but we probably would have looked for someone else to take responsibility. Maybe we would have even taken him to the hospital, but we wouldn't have stayed overnight, and we certainly wouldn't have put him on our insurance!
The answer to the Jesus's question "who was the neighbor" is so obvious (even the lawyer knew it) that we usually just assume that, given the situation, we'd do exactly what the Samaritan did. But if we assume that, we are telling ourselves lies and missing the point. Remember that the lawyer was trying to justify himself. He thought he had been loving to his neighbors. But then the Lord told the story of the Samaritan, which deflated the lawyer's pride and self-righteousness. In a sense, the story is ridiculous. What normal person would go to such heights of love? Yet this is what is required of us! When we realize that, we also begin to realize that there's no way that we can ever fulfill the law! In reality, we should identify with the priest and the Levite, and not the Samaritan. Once we see that Christ has done so much to secure our salvation despite our own failings, we begin to love God and love people more. And then and only then do we find the power to become little Samaritans in our own world. We would do well to remember that.
Seeing it portrayed in a modern context catches some of the grittier details of the story that we are wont to forget. Recall that in v. 29 of Luke 10 that the lawyer questioning Jesus is really just attempting to "justify himself" against the requirements of the law. Jesus had just told him that the law was to love God with everything and love your neighbor as yourself. Obviously, if the lawyer had any sense (and he did), he quickly recognized that he hadn't lived up to that standard, so he attempted to narrow the group of people which he was responsible to love, in the hopes of maintaining his self-righteousness.
Yes, this story is about helping others in need. Yes, this story is about loving God and loving people. Yes, this story is racial equality and reaching out to those who may be foreigners in our country. But it's also about something else. Watching the film, I realized what a pain it would have been for the Samaritan to stop and help the man on the road to Jericho. In the film, the taxi driver had to halt his shift (which meant losing a considerable sum of money). He had to go help an unknown old man (which was awkward and uncomfortable). He had to clean the man's wounds (which was gross, bloody, unsanitary, and dangerous). He had to drive the man to the hospital (which incurred more financial cost). Then he had to wait overnight in the hospital (which put everything else on hold). In the original parable, the Samaritan paid for the man's healthcare costs (imagine doing that today!). Overall, it was a tall order to fill.
The final impression to be taken away, however, is that I would never end up doing what the Samaritan did. Most of us would just have called 911 and left it at that. Maybe we would have cleaned his wounds, but we probably would have looked for someone else to take responsibility. Maybe we would have even taken him to the hospital, but we wouldn't have stayed overnight, and we certainly wouldn't have put him on our insurance!
The answer to the Jesus's question "who was the neighbor" is so obvious (even the lawyer knew it) that we usually just assume that, given the situation, we'd do exactly what the Samaritan did. But if we assume that, we are telling ourselves lies and missing the point. Remember that the lawyer was trying to justify himself. He thought he had been loving to his neighbors. But then the Lord told the story of the Samaritan, which deflated the lawyer's pride and self-righteousness. In a sense, the story is ridiculous. What normal person would go to such heights of love? Yet this is what is required of us! When we realize that, we also begin to realize that there's no way that we can ever fulfill the law! In reality, we should identify with the priest and the Levite, and not the Samaritan. Once we see that Christ has done so much to secure our salvation despite our own failings, we begin to love God and love people more. And then and only then do we find the power to become little Samaritans in our own world. We would do well to remember that.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Post-Memorial Day Reflections
This weekend was Memorial Day weekend, and maybe your church reminded you of that with patriotic decorations, songs, and themes this Sunday. The point of this post is not really to comment on that one way or another. Suffice it to say that there’s been a lot of ink (real and virtual) spilled on that issue. Rather, I just want to delve into the motivations behind why we so often find ourselves singing “God Bless America” in our churches and “Amazing Grace” at our political rallies.
1) The church (especially in the West) has almost always been tied to a political entity
For most of the church’s existence (with notable and large exceptions), it has been tied to geo-political entities. This has been both a good thing and a bad thing. During the Old Testament, the church (Israel) was a definite political entity. It was one nation. After Constantine, the church became an official and crucial part of the Roman Empire. It remained so for the duration of the middle ages and well into modernity, even today. Many European states, including the United Kingdom, continue to maintain a state church.
2) At certain points, the church was meant to be tied to a political entity
The title of point two might seem a little deceptive, but it is true. Israel (God’s Old Testament people) was its own distinct nation. As such, the people of God were defined by certain ethnic and political features (including their election). From its very inception, Israel was meant to be a theocracy run by God.
3) The church longs for political realization
Why do we struggle so much with the church foraying too far into the political arena? This is a problem not only for conservative churches but liberal ones as well, maybe even more so. One obvious reason is that some seek worldly power and glory. But another complementary reason is that part of the ever-present longing of the church is to see the promises of Revelations 21 and 22 fulfilled. The power needed to accomplish such a task, however, is both spiritual power applied to the political realm. Part of the promise of Revelations 21 and 22 is indeed political. The church, however, presently lacks this capacity, so it often (wrongly) turns to the current political realms.
4) What this means for the church today
I think that this means that while at times the church has been a part of the political order and will one day soon be ruled politically by Christ, we must not now seek identification with the current political powers that be. Certainly we should work for the betterment and welfare of nation we find ourselves in and win their lost. Furthermore, we should oftentimes support the policies and direction of our nation. But we should not seek union with them or incorporate the myths of civil religion into the gospel. The powers and principalities of the world cannot save us. Only Christ can. We would do well to remember that.
1) The church (especially in the West) has almost always been tied to a political entity
For most of the church’s existence (with notable and large exceptions), it has been tied to geo-political entities. This has been both a good thing and a bad thing. During the Old Testament, the church (Israel) was a definite political entity. It was one nation. After Constantine, the church became an official and crucial part of the Roman Empire. It remained so for the duration of the middle ages and well into modernity, even today. Many European states, including the United Kingdom, continue to maintain a state church.
2) At certain points, the church was meant to be tied to a political entity
The title of point two might seem a little deceptive, but it is true. Israel (God’s Old Testament people) was its own distinct nation. As such, the people of God were defined by certain ethnic and political features (including their election). From its very inception, Israel was meant to be a theocracy run by God.
3) The church longs for political realization
Why do we struggle so much with the church foraying too far into the political arena? This is a problem not only for conservative churches but liberal ones as well, maybe even more so. One obvious reason is that some seek worldly power and glory. But another complementary reason is that part of the ever-present longing of the church is to see the promises of Revelations 21 and 22 fulfilled. The power needed to accomplish such a task, however, is both spiritual power applied to the political realm. Part of the promise of Revelations 21 and 22 is indeed political. The church, however, presently lacks this capacity, so it often (wrongly) turns to the current political realms.
4) What this means for the church today
I think that this means that while at times the church has been a part of the political order and will one day soon be ruled politically by Christ, we must not now seek identification with the current political powers that be. Certainly we should work for the betterment and welfare of nation we find ourselves in and win their lost. Furthermore, we should oftentimes support the policies and direction of our nation. But we should not seek union with them or incorporate the myths of civil religion into the gospel. The powers and principalities of the world cannot save us. Only Christ can. We would do well to remember that.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Why We Can Dance
"In His presence there's a joy, there's a sweet release
Where grown men become boys with a brand new lease
On this life that is a gift from a Father to His son
An inheritance of love where all that's ever said and done
Is in His presence where guilt and shame have no place
Where the children are forgiven and they finally see His face
And all that they can do is sing to Him -- sing and play and dance in His presence" -Buddy Greene
If we’re His, we can dance. Let me tell you why. If we belong to the King, then that’s the ultimate thing that needs to be said about our identity. Maybe we are a father, or a daughter, or a postman or engineer. Maybe we are single, maybe we are married or engaged. Maybe we are rich, or maybe we are poor. Maybe we are smart or not so bright. But none of this compares to being found in Christ. As a matter of fact, the deeper we grow into the reality of His saving grace, the less and less we care about trying to define ourselves in terms of anything other than our identity in Christ.
Why is this? Because our identity in Christ is such good news. In Christ, we are heirs with Christ (Romans 8). What does this mean? Quite simply, it means that we inherit all good things. If you have been saved from sins, promised eternal life in a perfect world, have fellowship with God, communion with the saints, and eternal joy, what else could you want? How does your 401k or net income measure with that?
Even more, living in the reality of the Kingdom and Christ’s finished work for our sins, we can therefore risk. It becomes easier to admit when we are wrong, because Jesus’ blood has covered that. It becomes easier to cope with failure, because Jesus’ blood covered that too. It becomes easier to repent, because we know we are already covered and there’s nothing that can drive us away from His love. It becomes easier to live in relationships, because our selfishness is crucified and we gladly forfeit whatever “rights” we have here in favor of coming future grace. It becomes easier to make decisions, because we know that being sanctified has a higher priorty for God than making the “right” decision. Living as a citizen of the Kingdom allows us to live freely for the King.
In short, we can dance. We can sing, and sing loudly. We can play and be creative in a world where if we fall, we know God will catch us in His grace provided by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. So dance, and dance for the King and be creative in His world and bring glory to Him. We would do well to remember that.
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