THE PROSPERITY OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY

 

Matthew 5v3

 1.               I have a problem – PRIDE!

 2.               What Spiritual Poverty is not.

• Not DIY Humility
• Not the spiritually blessed poor

 3.               Recognising the Need.

• Admitting the pain
• Willing to change

 4.               What Spiritual Poverty is.

• Nothing to offer God.
• Knowing I’ve nothing to offer.

 5.               Spiritual Poverty & the non-Believer.

• The way out faith alone

by Grace alone                                                       in Christ alone

6.               Spiritual Poverty and the Believer.

• Utter reliance on God’s help in our complete helplessness

 7.               The Benefits of Spiritual Poverty

• The kingdom of Heaven NOW (in part) and future (fully)
• Rich Paupers!

 

 

 

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

 

5 Blessed are the meek,  

for they will inherit the earth.

 

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness,

            for they will be filled.

 

7 Blessed are the merciful,   

for they will be shown mercy.

 

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

 

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

 

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted

because of righteousness,       

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

5 teaching blocks in Matthew’s Gospel.

 

Ch.5-7. Sermon on Mt.

1)        –  7:28  When Jesus had finished saying these things …

 

ch. 8-10. Miracle stories [mainly].

2) –  11:1  After [When] Jesus had finished

instructing his twelve disciples …

 

3)  – 13:53 When Jesus had finished these

parables …

 

4)        – 19:1  When Jesus had finished saying these

things …

 

ch.24-25. End of  the Age.

5)        –  26:1  When Jesus had finished saying all

these things …

 

28:19-20 19 … go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them …, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ….” 

“FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER”

 

Genesis 45:1-7; 50:15-21.

Matthew 18:21-35.

 

INTRODUCTION.

 

ILLUS.: I read a story recently about a husband and wife in Texas, USA, who had a fight over how much the wife spend on sugar. The argument remained unresolved and one day the man got out a chain saw and sawed their timber frame house in half. He boarded up both open sides and moved his half of the house behind some pine trees on the acre plot they lived on. For 40 years they lived out the rest of their lives in separate half-houses and never spoke to each other.

 

It sounds bizarre and extreme and we can laugh at how ridiculous it seems – but it illustrates how important it is to forgive. NOT forgiving always leads to walls being built between people – even if the walls are only figurative.

 

We know that often the walls are physical too – think of Berlin; Nicosia; Belfast.

Think of neighbours who build high walls / fences between them and never speak / of Parents who will never talk to their children / of brothers and sisters who refuse to talk to each other / our society is littered with the broken lives of people who will not forgive.

 

We would be naive to assume such attitude don’t exist in Churches. The history of the church abounds with stories of splits and more splits – and to come closer to home, which of us has not caused offense to others or been offended then harboured feelings of bitterness, anger and revenge. We would not be human if this were not true.

The questions for us all, therefore, is how do we handle these situations? What is my role in the whole area of forgiveness? Must I forgive every offense? What about when I have been hurt / offended? Must I forgive those who don’t ask to be forgiven and who are unrepentant? What if I have been hurt by someone and that are totally unaware that they have offended me? ………

 

We cannot deal with every eventuality in this message ……… but clearly forgiveness is an essential part of the life – esp. for the Christian who have been forgiven by God.

 

Ephesians 4:31-32 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)

 

It would seem from this verse and others, that as Christians whether we are responsible for the offense or the recipients of it, the first move is always ours.

 

 

1. WHEN YOU ARE THE OFFENDED.

 

Let’s be clear – forgiveness is tough. In many ways it is unnatural – it is hard.

“Despite the 100’s of sermons on forgiveness, we don’t forgive easily, nor find ourselves easily forgiven. Forgiveness, we discover, is always harder than the sermons make it out to be. We nurse sores, go to elaborate lengths to rationalize our behaviour, perpetuate family feuds, punish ourselves, punish others – all to avoid this most unnatural act.” – Elizabeth O’Connor.

 

The classic case of forgiveness in the OT is Joseph.

Think of all Joseph endured – the bullying by his brothers – the mistreatment – being sold as a slave – the years of hardship in Egypt as a result. He had every right to feel miffed and angry.

From the time he met his brothers again after all those years, think of all the emotional and spiritual struggle he went through. One moment he acted harshly throwing his brothers into prison – next he was over come with sorrow and went blubbering out of the room – then he played tricks on them by hiding money in their sacks – seizing one as a hostage, accusing another of stealing his silver cup. For months/ maybe years this dragged on until he could restrain himself no longer and he dramatically forgave them.

This is a realistic struggle of a man who is grappling with the natural desire for revenge. He struggled to forgive the ones who had bullied him, schemed to murder him and then sold him into slavery.

He wanted to forgive but the wound hurt so!

 

Behind the act of forgiveness lies a wound of betrayal – the pain of being betrayed does not fade easily.

 

We have all been hurt – some more than others –

How does a husband forgive a wife who has had an affair?

How does a wife forgive a husband who walks out leaving her with the kids?

How does a parent forgive a wayward child?

How does a girl forgive a father or uncle who may have abused her?

 

These are not trivial things – and the wounds are deep and real.

When we are criticized or betrayed it hurts – whether by spouse – children – parents – friends – fellow Christians.

 

BUT there is something about forgiveness that seems unjust / unfair. It seems as if we get caught between justice and forgiveness – we have difficulty reconciling them.

 

When I have been wronged I can think of a hundred reasons against forgiving.

• He needs to learn a lesson.
• I don’t want to encourage irresponsible behaviour.
• I’ll let her stew for a while, it will be good for her!
• She needs to learn the actions have consequences.
• I was the wronged party it is not up to me to make the first move.
• How can I forgive if he is not even sorry.

 

Why must I forgive? Forgiveness is necessary for all human relationships if they are going to survive and grow. BUT for the Christian forgiveness is not just a good idea, it is essential – it is required by God.

“For us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us”

Surely Jesus didn’t mean that our forgiveness is in some way dependent on us forgiving others…….

 

We read the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18. He had been forgiven by his master, an incredible debt of millions of pounds YET he was unwilling to forgive his fellow-servant just a few pounds. On hearing this the master called him wicked and had him imprisoned and tortured until he could repay!!

Oh that is just a parable we say – we can’t say that every little detail applies to us.

The parable ends in … Matthew 18:32-34

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow-servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (NIV)

After Jesus has finished telling the parable about forgiving others, he wraps up his instruction with this grim warning… Matthew 18:35

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (NIV)

 

One of the consequences of refusing to forgive is that we end up with tortured inside – harbouring grudges and bitter feelings – we often become restless and miserable.

One writer puts it this way… The word “Torture” is ‘an accurate description of the gnawing resentment and bitterness, the awful gall of hate or envy. It is a terrible feeling. We cannot get away from it. We feel strongly this separation from another and every time we think of them we feel the acid of resentment and hate eating away at our peace and calmness. This is the torturing that our Lord says will take place’

 

When we refuse to forgive it hurts us – we can easily become bitter and twisted and self pitying – Maybe the person we forgive doesn’t care / doesn’t want our forgiveness – sometime the only person to be healed by the forgiveness in the one who does the forgiving. When we genuinely forgive we set a prisoner free, and very often the only prisoner set free is ME!

 

Of course, when someone comes and asks for forgiveness how much more must we be ready to forgive – Matthew 18:21-22

21 …., “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

 

When forgiveness is free and genuine it sets both forgiver and forgiven free!

Sometimes a story from real life help convey truths no amount of explaining can do – this one I read in my preparation this week!

 

ILLUS.: page 104 – “What’s so amazing about Grace?” – Philip Yancey. Story of Rebecca whose husband – a pastor left her for another woman – she forgave and when his new wife suffered as she had she was able to help and lead her to Christ.

 

Often we don’t see a satisfactory outcome even when we do forgive – rarely do we find it completely satisfying. Nagging injustices remain, and the wounds still cause pain. We have to approach God again and again, yielding to him the residue of what I had committed to him long ago. Why must we do this? Because the gospels make clear the connection. “God forgives my debts AS I forgive my debtors.”  — the reverse is also true; only by living in the grace of God will I find the strength to respond to others with grace.

 

Are there times when we should not offer forgiveness? It is difficult to know!

Jesus ask God to forgive the Roman soldier’s because they did not know what they were doing BUT he makes no such request for the Jewish Religious Leaders who handed him over to the Romans. YET we know that some of them became believers and received God’s forgiveness – Nicodemus, probably, and Saul of Tarsus who persecuted him ….

 

2. WHEN YOU ARE THE OFFENDER.

What is our responsibility when we have hurt/offended someone else?

We have it in a nutshell in ……. Matthew 5:23-24

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, [clearly because you have offended him]24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (NIV)

 

The scene is clear – a person has come to worship at the temple bring a sacrifice which was then required – they realise they have offended someone.

STOP! says Jesus don’t ignore that realisation – be sensitive to God’s promptings.

 

• STOP ……………………      24 leave your gift there in                  front of the altar
• GO          ………………………. First go
• RECONCILE ………… be reconciled to your brother
• RETURN         ……………… then come and offer your gift.

 

We are to go, personally if possible, [at least by phone or letter] confess the wrong and our sorrow over the offense and seek the forgiveness of the one we have wounded – THEN we are free to return to God in worship and prayer!

 

WHAT IF THE PERSON WON’T FORGIVE?

We must remember that I am responsible for me and you are responsible for you. The important thing for each of us is that with the right motive and the right spirit, we are to humble ourselves and attempt to make things right. God will honour our efforts!

The one offended may need time – occasionally lots of time – first to get over the shock and next, to have God bring about a change in his/her heart. Sometimes they may not accept our apology – that we must leave with God AND do what we know is right!

 

WHAT IF THE SITUATION GETS WORSE?

This can happen. The one you have offended has possibly been thinking bad things about you, how they might get even etc… Suddenly face with you wanting to make things right can cause the internal scales to go out of balance.

David tried to put things right with King Saul and it only seemed to make matters worse. Sometimes we have to wait a while for God to break through – sometimes that person may never accept our apology. That we must leave to them. I must do what is right!

 

WHAT IF I DECIDE TO DEAL WITH IT DIRECTLY WITH GOD AND NOT GO THROUGH THE HASSLE AND EMBARRASSMENT OF TALKING TO THE ONE OFFENDED?

 

Firstly that is a direct contradiction of Jesus instructions of  – STOP – GO – RECONCILE – RETURN!

It can also make matters far worse.

ILLUS.: Next week after Church you reverse you car in Mr Smart’s brand new Mercedes 450 SEL – Crunch! He is standing on the steps with a look of absolute horror on his face!

You get out – survey the damage and then bow in prayer … “Dear Lord, please forgive me for being so preoccupied and clumsy. And please give Mr Smart grace as he sees the extensive damage I have cause out of sheer negligence. And provided his needs as he takes his car to the panelbeaters to have it repaired. Thank you Lord. Amen!”

As you drive away you smile at Mr Smart and yell. It’s all cleared up! I asked God to forgive me. Isn’t grace wonderful!

 

How does that approach appeal to you? Not too well if you are Mr Smart.

In the Jewish law the way to deal with someone you have offended or whose property you had damaged was to go and ask forgiveness, offer to make reparation and undertake to take measure to insure that it did not happen again!

 

WHAT IF IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE RECONCILED BECAUSE THE PERSON IN NOT CONTACTABLE – MAYBE EVEN DEAD?

 

Remember when David committed adultery with Bathseba and murdered her husband Urriah – when David came to the point of confession and needing forgiveness Urriah was long dead – but Nathan the prophet was there to listen to the king pour out his soul – And David sought God’s forgiveness. While we always need God’s forgiveness – sometimes it is only to God that we can go – and we must!

 

Whether we are the OFFENDER or the OFFENDED the first step is always ours! Until one party stops and asks forgiveness the cycle of tension and unforgiveness and blame continues …

ILLUS. W- “I can’t believe you forgot your own mother’s birthday.”

H – “Wait a minute, aren’t you supposed to be in charge of the calendar?”

W – “Don’t try to pass the blame to me she’s your mother”

H – “Yes, but I told you last week to remind me. Why didn’t you?”

W – “You’re crazy – it’s your own mother. Can’t you keep tract of your own mother’s birthday?”

H – “Why should I? – it is your job to remind me.”

Until one partner says, “Stop! I am sorry. Please will you forgive me?”  the cycle goes on …….

 

God calls us to love and forgive. Not just our friends but also our enemies. He never said it would be easy.

ILLUS.: Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran Pastor persecuted by the Nazis -ultimately killed. Commenting on the command to love our enemies he wrote … “Through the medium of prayer we go to our enemy, stand by his side, and plead for him to God. Jesus does not promise that when we bless our enemies and do good to them they will not despitefully use and persecute us. They certainly will. But …. so long as we pray for them we are doing for them what the cannot do for themselves.”

Why did Bonhoeffer say this? He had only one answer – “God loves his enemies – he loved us while we were his enemies – that is the glory of his love – and he forgives us – freely!” Every follower of Jesus knows that!

If God has forgiven my debts – as great as they are – how can I not do the same?

 

As we pray:-

• is there someone who has come to mind as you have listened – someone to whom you need to go and be reconciled, asking forgiveness.
• Is there a letter you need to write or a phone call you need to make.
• are you harbouring bitterness and resentment from old wounds – ask God to help you deal with these – if you need to talk about it please find a Christian friends who can help you.
• THANK God for the forgiveness that is available to you through Jesus – and seek God’s help to be more like Christ in your attitude to those who have hurt you.

Matt. 16:21-28  Readings:

Ex. 3:1-15 – Moses meets God at the burning bush.
Rom. 12:9-21 – Christian characteristics.
Matt. 16:21-28 – Jesus begins to speak of the end, and tells his disciples they must take up their crosses in order to follow him:

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” [23] But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” [24] Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [25] For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? [27] “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. [28] Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

 

Theme

Christian paradoxes – losing your life gives you life

 

 

It was while we were in a calm, relaxed, happy period in our lives, when everything was flowing really smoothly, that one member of our family was hit by serious illness. Instantly everything changed. The relaxed family happiness was replaced by intense anxiety and sleepless nights, and it felt like nothing would ever be the same again.

Our priorities instantly changed. Suddenly there was only one thing that mattered, that sick person in our family. Everything else, from financial considerations to relationships and everything inbetween, became utterly unimportant. The whole of our lives, our thoughts, our emotions, our prayers, were concentrated on that one person. And so it remained until he was out of danger and rapidly returning to health.

Strange how often trouble comes out of the blue. One moment life is swimming along very nicely and everyone is feeling warm and content, the next moment life is in pieces. And those coping with it are very often reduced to jelly-like wrecks.

Of course, it isn’t only serious illness that causes the terror in the pit of the stomach. All life-changing events seem to come out of the blue, such as redundancy just before Christmas, or the sudden bewildering breakdown of a marriage, or the abrupt revelation that the children are on drugs, or whatever.

Life for Peter must have been very good on that occasion at Ceasarea Philippi when Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter instantly responded with, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Jesus told Peter that response could only have been revealed to him by God himself. What a spiritual high that would produce within Peter.

Yet with bewildering speed, Peter is reduced to jelly. When Jesus tells his disciples that his life will end very soon in misery and in agony, Peter naturally remonstrates with Jesus. Just as we so often refuse to allow people to voice any negativity, bracing them up with all sorts of cheery and encouraging suggestions, so Peter refused to acknowledge Jesus’ negative point of view, and urges Jesus to be positive. “Never, Lord!” he says, “this shall never happen to you! Come on, don’t talk like that. You don’t know what’s going to happen in future, why think of such a depressing scenario? It may never happen. Think positive.”

But Jesus drops on him like a ton of bricks. The man he has just praised for being the only one to recognise his divinity, he now calls a devil, Satan. “Get behind me, Satan!” he says. “You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

And poor Peter is probably knocked backwards by the force of Jesus’ anger and the unexpected onslaught. What has Peter done to deserve such a humiliating response? Why is Jesus so unkind to him that his unkindness borders on cruelty?

Jesus never spares people’s feelings. He never pretended for the sake of being “nice”. Jesus was always totally himself, with no pretence or facade. His love was a very tough love. It wasn’t sentimental or even particularly polite, but single-minded, unflinching, selfless. And it was a love which rushed headlong to the gallows.

No wonder the Church authorities of the day hated him. He was far too honest for them. He challenged their authority, their spirituality, their learning, their whole way of life.

But he couldn’t stop himself. He was so much in tune with the God within, that nothing else mattered. He had to follow his own integrity. He had to do what he thought was right, no matter what the consequences. No matter that other people might get hurt along the way. No matter that he was certain to die a terrible, agonising, shameful death. No matter that it was such a needless waste of life. No matter that it spelt the end of his mission, of all he had worked for, of all his dreams.

Despite all that, Jesus walked forward into that darkness, that pain, that despair, and there he found himself deserted even by God. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” he cried from the cross. There he was, at the very worst point of his life, utterly alone.

But because he saw it through to the end, because he followed his own integrity wherever it led him, even when it led to the cross, he discovered a glorious and unexpected resurrection.

And he said that we must do the same. We must take up our crosses, whatever they might be, and follow him.

Those crosses, that crucifixion, almost always arises out of the blue. One moment life is sunny and happy and swinging along beautifully, the next moment the clouds have gathered and are hugely dark and threatening, and it often seems like God himself is absent. But these moments of crucifixion are also an opportunity to grow, to hold fast to our own integrity and to hold fast to God. And the result of crucifixion faced with courage and integrity, is a glorious resurrection more fantastic than anything we could have imagined.

To experience that resurrection we must get in touch with the God within, the Holy Spirit. We must take risks in our lives, no matter what the consequences. We must take the risk of following our own instincts, hoping, trusting, but probably never knowing whether or not we’ve got it right, whether or not we are actually doing what God wants us to do. We must take the risk of sometimes failing, of sometimes getting it wrong. We must take the risk of being ourselves, of saying what we really think and feel, of being really honest, no matter what the consequences.

And when that leads straight to the gallows, as it inevitably will in some way, when out of the blue things in our lives are black and painful and we are in despair and God has vanished, and we’re utterly alone, when we’re experiencing crucifixion, we must still follow our own integrity. And if we do, we too will discover a glorious and unexpected resurrection. However bad life is for us at any particular moment, if we see it through, God will redeem it for us. He will bring good out of it, over and above anything we could ever expect.

For Jesus is the way. The way that leads to pain and suffering and crucifixion, but also to resurrection and new, vibrant life. The way that leads to God. For although darkness descends out of the blue, God is in the darkness, and so the end result of that darkness is resurrection – if we allow it to be so.

 

 

A prayer

God of the whole of life,

It’s difficult to be grateful for bad times. Mostly I want to rage and rail against them. But I’ve discovered you’re with me in the bad times, even though I often can’t feel your presence at the time.

God of the whole of life, enable me to offer the bad times to you, so that you can redeem them for me and bring good out of evil. Help me to maintain my own integrity and to hold onto you, so that you can use those dark times to help me grow. May I remember that life is a pattern of highs and lows, and that you use the whole of life for my benefit.

Through the one who suffered it all with integrity and love, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

When the Bottom Drops Out Matthew 14:22-32

When the Bottom Drops Out

Matthew 14: 22-32

DID YOU EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE DAYS when everything seemed to fall apart? For example, you got up and discovered the alarm didn’t go off and your head was pounding as a result of a bad cold. Then you cut yourself shaving, stumbled over your child’s toy on the way to the kitchen and broke one of your toes. The coffee-maker was on the fritz, so you started off to the coffee shop only to discover that your car wouldn’t start because the battery was dead. So you got it jumped only to realize that the heater didn’t work. When you finally got to work an hour late, you remembered it was a holiday and the place was closed!

Did you every have one of those kind of days when nothing seemed to go right? A seven-year-old boy by the name of Steven had one of those days. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with it in his hair. When he got out of bed he tripped over his skateboard and cut his lip. Then he dropped his new sweater in the sink while the water was running. In school it was gym day. He hated gym. They chose up sides for a game and he was the last one picked. When he got home for dinner, his mother had cooked lima beans, which he hated. There was lots of kissing on TV and he hated kissing. His bath was too hot. He got soap in his eyes. His favorite marble went down the drain and to add insult to injury, his mom made him wear the pajamas with the little birds on them. He laid in bed and said to himself, “I think I’ll move to Australia.”

In our Scripture passage, the disciples were having one of those kind of days. It had been a long, tiring day of ministry and miracles. Tired, they had set out for the other side of the lake. Suddenly, a storm came up and their lives began falling apart.

What do we do when life deals us tough situations and it seems as if we are coming unraveled? I see five assurances to help us when the bottom drops out.

1. THE LORD BROUGHT THEM THERE

Look at verse 22: “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.”

Jesus knew that the storm was about to strike and He deliberately directed His disciples into it! However, they were safer in the storm within the will of God than on dry ground with the crowd out of His will. But why would Jesus lead them into a storm? The Bible indicates that there are three primary kinds of storms that come to us from our God:

(1) Storms of correction—to awaken, to discipline, to get our attention.
(2) Storms of perfection—to build character in us, to deepen our faith and make us more sensitive to the suffering of others.
(3) Storms of reproduction—to cause others to imitate our response to suffering or to choose our Christ.

Illustration: “Lesson from Golf Balls”

When they first manufactured golf balls, they made the covers smooth. Then they discovered that after a ball had been roughed up one could get more distance out of it. So they started manufacturing them with dimpled covers. So it is with life; it takes some rough spots to make us go the farthest.

There is no oil without squeezing,
No wine without pressing the grapes,
No fragrance without crushing the flowers
And no real joy without sorrow.

So if you’re going through a storm and if the bottom seems to be dropping out, consider that the storm may be in God’s will for you.

2. JESUS PRAYED FOR HIS FOLLOWERS

Verse 23: “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” Sometimes when things are going bad we are tempted to think that God has deserted us. Where is God when we’re rowing against the wind? Why, He’s praying for us. He has never lost touch with our situation. What a comfort that is. What a comfort indeed!

Jesus knows what it is to suffer. The human side of Him experienced more pain than we’ll ever understand. The writer to Hebrews captured the essence of this truth: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin.”

On the basis of Luke 22:31,32 we can safely assume that His prayer consists of at least the following: (1) that our faith won’t fail, (2) that we won’t give up, (3) that we won’t turn back. This is love on its Knees. The thought that Jesus cares enough to give Himself to prayer on our behalf is humbling, say nothing of inspiring. We dare not stop; we cannot quit!

3. THE LORD CAME TO HIS OWN

Verses 24-27 tell us much about the presence of God: “But the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the winds were against it. During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’”

You have to admire these disciples. They could have turned around and headed back to shore. They had been out there for nine hours. They were tired, wet, and cold—just trying to hang on.

Its midnight and still no Jesus. Suddenly they see Him—walking, instead of riding. At first they don’t recognize Him. Why not? Perhaps they are too busy complaining or fighting the storm in their own strength. Could it be that they are just not looking for Him? This gives rise to a most important truth: THE LORD ALWAYS COMES TO US IN OUR DARKEST HOUR. For example, someone knocks on our door with a meal; an encouraging note or card comes in the mail at just the right time; a friend telephones us saying that he’s praying for us; while in a worship service, something in the message or in a song touches us and we feel strengthened. In each case, it is Jesus coming to us.

One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see;
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows,
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee

When Jesus comes the tempter’s power is broken;
When Jesus comes the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

4. JESUS HELPS US GROW THROUGH TRIALS

In verses 29 and 30 we read, “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” This is a picture of divine love and power meeting human need. Anyone can sit in a boat and watch, but it takes a person of real faith to leave the boat and walk on water.

Here are four principles for water-walkers:
(1) Don’t listen to the people in the boat (nay-sayers)
(2) Don’t look at the waves (circumstances)
(3) Don’t look down at your feet (self)
(4) Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Illustration: “Smoke Signal”
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small uninhabited island. He cried out to God to save him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a rough hut and put his few possessions in it. But then one day, after hunting for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; he was stung with grief.Early the next day, though, a ship drew near the island and rescued him. “How did you know I was here?” he asked the crew. We saw your smoke signal,” they replied. Though it may not seem so now, your present difficulty may be instrumental to your future happiness.

John Yates, Falls Church, Virginia, quoted in Leadership, Winter Quarter, 1992, p. 57

5. JESUS WILL EVENTUALLY BRING PEACE

Verses 31-33: “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said. Why did you doubt? And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.”

Notice the progression of events here:
 Jesus caught the sinking Peter
 They walked to the boat together
 Jesus climbed into their boat and with Him came the calm they were looking for
 Little wonder that they worshipped Him

AN ARMY OFFICER WAS SENT TO TIBET on a dangerous mission. He carried two things along with him that gave him courage: (1) the knowledge that he had not undertaken the journey on his own but had been sent by a power for a sound reason, (2) if he got into a tight place, his government would use all its resources to see him through safely. These re the same assurances that God gives to all of us. He has placed us here for a good reason and promises to use all of His resources to help us our of any “tight spots” that may arise.

My job is gone, my shoes are worn; I live on beans and rice.
The government won’t help me, I’ve asked them more than twice.
My state is going broke; my boy has been arrested;
they caught him sniffing coke.
My wife has up and left me, my son resides in jail
The bank in which I own some stock will be the next to fail.
My pants are getting shabby and bagging at the knees,
I can’t afford a bar of soap to wash my BVD’s.
My daughter says she’s pregnant, but doesn’t know the guy.
My cotton’s full of weevils and my cow is going dry.
My hens have all stopped laying—I can’t afford their mash,
My checks are quickly bouncing, and the stores insist on cash.
I asked the priest to help me, while making my confession,
He blamed it on the Protestants for causing this recession.
And so I turn to you, my friend, before I go to ruin;
My only source of good advice is Abail Van Buren.

The above, of course is a tongue-in-cheek letter written to the columnist, but it does point out the apparent weakness of failing to recognize the true Source of strength in the time of difficulty. Jesus brings peace to the heart that fully trusts in Him, regardless of the situation.

CONCLUSION

The next time you have on of those days, or weeks, or months, or years when the bottom seems to be dropping out, just remember to turn to this passage in Matthew 14 and it will hold you steady as you see there again these five amazing truths:

 The Lord brought me here
 He is praying for me
 He will come to me
 He will help me to grow through this
 He will see me through

 

CHRISTMAS DAY 1993.

“Immanuel” – God with us

 

MATTHEW 1:23

 

INTRODUCTION

 

ILLUST: Five years ago no one here at Binscombe knew who I was. Imagine if ,one day, I had written you a letter. You received and read the letter. Would you know me? NO You would know a little bit about me but you wouldn’t know me.

            After a number of letters I sent you a photograph of myself. Would you know me then? NO, you would now know what I looked like but you still wouldn”t know me.

            If after that a very close friend of mine came to live in Godaliming and he told you more about me. All the naughty things I did when I was  boy etc… Would you know me then? NO, you still would not know me.

            BUT you do know me, WHY? Because I came to Godalming myself with my wife and children and now you know me and I know you.

 

You know me because I came to live amongst you. That in a small way illustrates what God did. There was a time in the OT when God, through the Propets, told people about himself and they knew something about God and what he was like.

But then one day God came himself. That day was Christmas 2000 years ago. Jesus came to live where we live. He came to be a human like you and me.

“And Christ became a human being

and lived here on earth among us

and was full of grace and truth”

John 1v14.

 

“Long ago God spoke in many different ways

to our fathers through the prophets, ..

But now … he has spoken to us through his Son”

Hebrews 1v1-2.

 

Jesus came to live where we live and to be like us in every way. The only difference between him and us, and it is a big difference, there was no sin in Jesus. We, however, are born sinners and it was for that very reason that Jesus came. To save us, to rescue us from our sin.

Jesus is just like us but with no sin in him. He is also like someone else.

 

ILLUST: There was a Nativity play at a school one evening. There was Mary and Joseph and the Shepherds and the angels…. Then came the wise men and as they each knelt to give their gifts one of them forgot his lines. The teacher urged him to say something, to say anything. Eventually he blurted out, “Eeh, He’s just like his Dad, isn’t he?” [From tract “The Nativity Play” -Topical Christian Tracts, Horsforth ,Leeds]

 

The little boy was right, Jesus is just like his Dad. His father is God himself. Jesus is just like God; in fact Jesus is God. His “name is called Immanuel – God with us” Here was the Creator of the universe himself become a creature.

 

Listen to the words of one of Charles Wesley’s hymns;

“.. Our God contracted to a span,

In comprehensibly made man.

…….

He deigns in flesh to appear,

Widest extremes to join;

[God and man joined together in one]

To bring our vileness near,

 and make us all divine:

And we the life of God shall know,

For God is manifest below.

 

Jesus who was like God became like us so that we could become like God. Doesn’t this boggle your mind. God wants us to be like him. Not that we can be God that is blasphemous but that we can reflect his image and be what He made us to be before sin entered the world.

But it is precisely because sin entered the world that Jesus came. By coming to earth and going to the cross and dying Jesus took upon his shoulders all the sin of all the people in all the world for all time.

He paid the price so that we could be forgiven and be given new life.

 

But in order to receive this new life we need to respond to him.

 

ILLUST: [From tract “The Nativity Play” -Topical Christian Tracts, Horsforth ,Leeds]

“In another nativity play a boy whose nickname was ‘Wally’ was chosen to be the inn-keeper The crowd was enthralled by watching the childern act. Eventually Joseph and Mary knocked at the inn door, “Sorry  … we have no room .. go away!” 

            Joseph asked again,”Are you sure? We have travelled a long way and Mary is due to have a aby at any time.”  It seemed ages before Wally replied, “Sorry but there is no room.”

Joseph and Mary slowly turn to go their way. Wally watched. Then he shouted, “Joseph, come back you can use my bedroom!”

 

Another navivity play ruined! But a truth Told.

Is there room in Your life for Christ? Or are you saying to Him, “Go away there is no room for you.”  Jesus’ coming to Earth and dying for us on the cross to take away the sin of the world remains meaningless until we respond to his offer of salvation. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. If we could have saved ourselves there would have been no need for Christ to come and die.

But it is precisely because we cannot save ourselves that he did come and he died for YOU and for ME. If we have responded to his offer of salvation then he has become our Immanuel – God lives in us and we in Him. If you haven’t responded to Him yet, then he remains distant and you remain cut off from God. Why not respond to his this Christmas and really come to know him as “Immanuel – God with us”?

“JESUS” – GOD IS SALVATION

 

Matthew 1v21 “…give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

 

INTRODUCTION.

 

ILLUST: Something that many new parents have difficulty deciding is what name to give to their new baby. Names are important because the name you are given as a baby you have to live with for the rest of your life. Maybe you don’t like your name.

            My name is different! Usually a surname not a first name. I often have to explain that it is not Ray, Graham or Gary.

            We generally give our children names because we simply like the name or because it was  our parents or Grand parents name. Does not usually mean anything to us, it is just a label.. Even if the name actually has a meaning.

 

Do you know what your name means? Andrew – manly; Jane, Janet, Jeannette means God is Gracious

ILLUST: Lindewe – name of daughter of friends of ours. They waited for a long time to have a baby and the name means “The long awaited one”

            Another friend with a big beard. given a Zulu name meaning – “The one who speaks from the forest.

 

When Jesus was born 2000 years ago name were very important. They told you something about the person.

Joseph and Mary didn’t have any difficulty deciding what to call their new baby. The angel had told he was to be called “Jesus”.

 

He was given the name Jesus because it described who he was and what he was going to do.

His name means “‘Yahweh’ God is Salvation”. [v21…because he will save his people from their sins.”

 

We have to ask the question, “Save from what?” Well from sin that is what v21 tells us. Society doesn’t like to talk about sin anymore. People do evil thing because they are socially deprived or had bad parents etc….  Now these things may be contributing factors but they are not the root cause.

By nature all men and women, boys and girls have a bent/bias towards sin.

ILLUST: Any one ever told a lie or stolen something [sweets from brother or sister; ever cheated at school by copying someone else’s work].

 

Who told you that you should do that? Did your Mum or Dad ever sit you down in a chair and say, “Now listen Johnny this is how you are to tell a lie.”  NO! we just do it. It seems to just come from inside us. That is because of sin.

 

Death is because of sin. People don’t like to talk about death but it happens every day and it will happen to every one of us. When we are young and healthy death seems far away but in less than 100 years no one in the room will be alive on this earth.

 

Many people spend their whole life looking for ways to make life secure. Influential positions, insurance policies, health insurance. Ultimately however life ends and all these things come to an end. Many spend great amounts of money and energy pursuing happiness and pleasure but the more it is pursued the more illusive it seems to become.

 

Why?  — why do things go wrong? Because the world is not perfect and it is not perfect because of sin. Sin polluted the world and came under the judgement of God.

 

ILLUST: Society is becoming very GREEN in trying to deal with water, air and others kinds of pollution. And that is good as we are responsible before God to care for the environment.

 

But what is the point of having a GREEN world when people’s hearts are black with sin pollution.

 

I thought Christmas was supposed to be a happy time. This is all a bit gloomy, isn’t it?

Yes Christmas is mean to be a time of rejoicing but only if  we see it in its right perspective.

 

Let me read to you what Christmas means to most people in the Western World.

 

 

READ: “Joy to the Mall” An alternative version of Luke 2v1-20 [Baptist Times Nov.26,1992]

 

 

JOY TO THE MALL!

An Alternative Version of Luke 2:1-20

 

 

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that all Britain should go shopping. 2. [And this decree was first made when leading economic indicators dipped to their lowest point]. 3. And all went out to shop, each to his own mall. 4. And a Christian also went up from his suburban home to the city with all its shopping malls because he wanted to prove that he was from the household of prosperity. 5. And with him was his wife, who was great with economic worry. 6. And so it was that while they were there, they found many expensive presents, pudgy-faced dolls, trucks that turn into robots, and a various assortment of video games. 7. And the woman wrote cheques for those they could afford and charged the rest to many different kinds of plastic cards; she wrapped the presents in bright paper and laid them in the garage because there was no room for them in the bedroom. 8. And there were in the same country children keeping watch over their stocking by night. 9. And, lo, Father Christmas came upon them; and the were sore afraid [expecting to see the special effects they had seen in the movies], 10. And he said to them, “Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people who can afford this Christmas break.

11. “For unto you will be given this day, in your suburban home, great feasts of turkey, stuffing and Christmas pudding – and many presents. 12. “And this will be a sign to you: you shall find the presents, wrapped in bright paper, lying beneath an artificial tree adorned with tinsel, coloured balls and lights.” 13. And suddenly there was with Father Christmas a multitude of relatives and friends, praising one another and saying, 14. “Glory to you for getting me this gift; it was just what I wanted”. 15. And it came to pass as the friends and relatives were gone away into their own homes, the parents said to one another, 16. “I’m glad that’s over. What a mess! I’m too tired to clear up now let’s go to bed and clear up tomorrow.” 17. And when they had said this, they remembered the statement that had been told them by the shopkeepers: “Christmas comes but once a year” 18. And they that heard it wondered at those things told to them by the shopkeepers, 19. But the children treasured their things in their hearts, hoarding their toys from each another. 20. And the parents, after a drink, went to bed, glorifying and praising each other for all the bargains they had found in the shops.

 

[“Baptist Times” November 26, 1992. Adapted from an original script by Chris Dolan, Pastor of Shreveport Bible Church, Shreveport, Louisianna, U.S.A. which appeared in “Christianity Today”]

 

 

 

If this is what your Christmas means then it is a false Christmas and a spurious happiness.

 

We can only know the true meaning of Christmas when we see why Jesus came and respond to Him. The Banner with the manager in the shadow of the cross is a true picture of what Christmas means.

 

With the coming of sin into the world through Adam in the Garden of Eden there came guilt, bondage to sin, alienation from God and the punishment of God. It was for this that Jesus came, to rescue us.

Mild he lays his glory by.

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

 

Jesus came to save us from our sin. But there is no point in being saved from one mess and landing in another mess. He doesn’t only save us from something he also saves us for something.

 

Sin put a wall between us and God. Jesus breaks that down and restores the relationship.

Sin holds in bondage from which we can not escape. Jesus can free us from that.

Peace is something that every one talks about and longs for but who has it. Political peace is freedom from trouble and war. God’s peace is peace in spite of and even in the midst of trouble and war.

Sin brought death. Physical death but ultimately spiritual death and eternal seperation from God. Jesus destroyed death and sin and hell by his death on the cross and can thus offer us eternal life. Not just life that continues for ever but a new quality of life. Life that is live by the power of God.

 

Without the baby and the manger Jesus wouldn’t have come and there would be no Christmas but Christmas has no meaning if there is no cross.  But Christmas remains meaningless for us as individuals unless and until we respond to what Jesus has done for us. That means tat we must repent of our sin and respond to Christ’s offer of salvation.

 

“.. you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from there sins.”

 

May we all know and thus be able to rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas!