"Flying Together"

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Introduction: The church is going through an identity crisis. In a gallop poll, many stated sentiments like this: “I am my own church.” It isn’t just that there are many who don’t believe in Jesus. Even more, there are many who don’t believe in the Church. They don’t understand the identity, purpose, or mission of a church. They don’t think that churches are that important. They believe that all that is important is to believe. “I can do it on my own,” they think.

So I’d like to pose this question: Can you be in God's will and not go to church? I think the answer to this has to be "NO." I say this, because you cannot be partly in God's will. This morning I want to explore 3 reasons why we need to be not only committed to Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, but to His Church as well.

I. Created to be in relationship- (Psalm 122:1)

I believe God has not only created us to be in relationship with Him, but to worship Him, and to serve Him. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He is also to be our Lord. And to be our Lord, we must worship Him. Of course, it is possible to worship God individually, but God has also designed worship to be done together. There is something special and profound when we worship with other believers and interact with other believers, that cannot be reproduced when we are alone.

Example- A number of years ago there was a strong push for men to grow in their faith. This movement was called “Promise Keepers.” Promise Keepers’ mission is to ignite and unite men to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ through the effective communication of seven promises to God. Promise Keepers’ vision is simply put in three words: “Men Transformed Worldwide.” They are currently in their 17^th year of doing men’s conferences. The 7 promises are as follows:

PROMISE 1- A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer and obedience to God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.

PROMISE 2- A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.

PROMISE 3- A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.

PROMISE 4- A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.

PROMISE 5- A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor, and by actively giving his time and resources.

PROMISE 6- A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.

PROMISE 7- A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

You can see that there is a big emphasis on building relationship with God and with others. This push toward men was because men struggle more than anyone to be in relationship. And yet, this is true for all of us. We have grown up thinking that we need to be independent, and this thinking keeps us from connecting to God’s church as well.

I remember going to some of these Promise Keeper conferences. One was held at the Coliseum. There were about 75,000 men gathered together to sing praise to God and to hear God’s word preached! What a powerful experience that was.

Big group worship like this is powerful. But so is a smaller, more intimate worship; whether it be here at our church, with about 75-80 people, or on a Monday night with about 15 people. Worshipping with other believers is important.

In the book of Genesis, we see that whenever Abraham stopped in his travels, (and of course we remember he was traveling because God called him to go to the place God would show him), whenever Abraham would stop to rest for a while, he would build an altar there to give honor to God, but also to have a place where they could worship God together. In the book of Exodus, you see that even when the Hebrews were wandering through the desert, they had a place of worship. It was called the “tent of meeting.” It was a mobile sanctuary. Since the people of God were mobile, they needed a sanctuary, or a temple, that was mobile, so that they would always be able to worship God together.

In Psalm 122:1 we read, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Why is the psalmist rejoicing? Not just because he is going to God’s house to worship God, but because there are others who WANT to go to God’s house and worship as well. There is rejoicing in worshipping together!

II. Created to be connected- (John 16:7; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 14;

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Secondly, going to church helps us to be plugged in. When we accept Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus promised us this in John 16:7, when He said, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." And having been filled with the Holy Spirit, we are given gifts of the Spirit, as told to us in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. ⁷Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

But these gifts are not to be used for ourselves, or for just a few chosen people. Did you notice that the apostle Paul makes it clear that these gifts are given ‘for the common good’? What this means, is that we have been given gifts, talents, abilities, that are to be used to bless others! It is impossible to use them for the common good if you are not plugged into a church. The church is referred to as the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:14 tells us, “Now the body is not made up of one part, but of many.” You cannot be the body of Christ by yourself! The body consists of many members; many members that are designed to work together.
Example- “Flying Geese.” If you have ever seen a flock of geese flying together, you probably have noticed that they fly in a “V” formation. Scientists have discovered that there is a very important reason for this “V” formation. What happens is that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in this “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. On top of that, the lead bird faces the greatest resistance of air. And so after a while, the lead bird will drop back so that it can be shielded some from the wind. By doing this, each bird takes its turn at the front!

As a church, we are Christ’s gathered people who share a common direction and sense of community. When we do this, we will be able to get there better because we are “uplifting” each other towards this common goal. We do this through loving each other, encouraging each other, and strengthening each other. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: ¹⁰ If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

But we also support each other by being connected. Being connected means that we work together. If it is true that we each have important gifts given to us by God for the common good, then we need to bring our gifts to the church. Unfortunately, over the past 30 years, more and more churches have started to rely on “trained” staff. There are many who get paid by the church to do the work of the church. And while it is true that in many ways they might seem more qualified, the truth is, God qualifies each one of us by giving us certain gifts. When we don’t use our gifts, then we are in essence causing the ones who are working, to get overly tired, because they are always the ones out front.

As a pastor, I am expected, and paid, to do many things. But the truth is, I don’t have all the gifts. There are things I do in areas where I am not particularly gifted. I do them because it is an extension of my job. But there are some of you who are gifted in these areas where I am not. By your giving of yourself in these areas, the body of Christ, and specifically myself and this church, would be blessed.

III. Created to give- (Malachi 3:8-10; Mark 10:21; Acts 20:35;

1 Corinthians 6:20; Philippians 2:4-5)

A third important factor about being connected to a church, also relates to giving. Not only are we called to give of our gifts to the work of the body of Christ, but we are called to give of our money. In the Old Testament, Malachi 3:8-10, the prophet Malachi challenges us with these words: ⁸ "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." We are called to give a tithe; which is a tenth of what we make. When we don't give back to God a tenth of what God gives to us, then we are in essence robbing God.

Now you might think that these are pretty strong words. Can we really rob God? We question this, because we have a misunderstanding. The misunderstanding is this: WE BELIEVE THAT THE MONEY WE EARN IS OUR MONEY. Especially when you focus on that word EARN; this word gives the indication that since we work for it, it belongs to us.

Let’s think about this for a minute: First of all, when we think in this way, we believe that we have ownership of the things that we possess. But, this goes against the very foundation of creation; God created us in His image, as His people. God gave to us everything, not to own, but to manage and to care for.

Second, Jesus talked about giving often. He talked about giving to the poor. He talked about giving as a means to overcome its ability to possess us: EX. The rich man who came to Jesus asking how he could get to heaven: Mark 10:21- “Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” And in Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

And the New Testament also reminds us that our life is not our own: 1 Corinthians 6:20- “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” How are we to honor God? As the apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4-5, “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had.” And as we have just come out of Holy Week and Easter, we know that Christ came to give Himself fully for us. Christ expects that of us as well!

We need to be giving our money to God's work through the church. In this way we fly together by fulfilling the will of God. At the end of February, we were $10,000 in the hole for the year. This figure should cause us to pray about how we can help toward erasing that deficit. Am I giving all that God is calling me to give? But it should also cause us to pray that God would provide others who can come alongside this body and fulfill God’s will.
I have never met anyone who was a giver, and who didn’t love life. But I have met many people who struggle to give, and who don’t love life. I believe God knows what He is talking about when He challenges us to give of our money. It is indeed a blessed thing to give in ways that you know makes a difference. And I don’t think there is any better giving than giving to the church, because it makes an eternal difference!

Conclusion: God has given us this church. It is God’s church. But by God’s grace, it is also our church. As our church, we have the opportunity to worship God with other believers. We have the opportunity to put the gifts that God has given us to use. We have the opportunity to give our money in a way that helps God to fulfill His purposes through you, and me, and this church! As you think about yourself and others, what might be keeping people from going to church regularly? How can we help them to overcome their misconceptions so that they will want to come to church?… How can you give of yourself the way God desires if you are not connected to the work of the church? In what ways might you be able to give of your talents? I praise God for the understanding that I am not in this alone, but have been joined to the body of Christ. I, like the psalmist, rejoice at the thought of worshipping God with God’s people, and giving of my time, talents, and money. Let us seek to fly together in this way, this day and always. Amen.

"God Does Not Show Favoritism"

Acts 10:34-43

Easter Sunday; 3/23/08

Introduction: I want to share with you some answers from children on questions about science: Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink. A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists. Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? A: Keep it in the cow. Q: What causes the tides in the oceans? A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight. Q: What happens to your body as you age? A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (e.g., abdomen.) A: The body is consisted into three parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U.

Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes. A: Premature death.

I’m sure that many look at Jesus dying at only age 33 as a premature death. People are supposed to live a long life; right? There was so much more that Jesus could have accomplished with His life; right? But Jesus did what He was called to do, and one of those things was to give His life for you and me.

This morning I want us to talk about how Jesus’ death, and His being raised from the dead, is about His having power over death.

I. Jesus raises the dead- (Luke 7:11-16a, 8:40-56; John 11:38-44)

Story: (“Bonny’s Bunny,” Hot Illustrations, p. 46) There is a story of a

woman whose cat dragged in a dead animal. As the woman looked closer at the animal, she realized that it was the bunny that belonged to Bonny, the little girl who lived next door. Her cat had killed Bonny’s bunny! So her friend had to think quick about what to do. She took the bunny over to the sink and cleaned it up with warm water and shampoo. She then took her blow dryer and dried and fluffed up the bunny the best she could. Finally, she took the bunny back to her neighbor’s house, and placed it in the cage hoping that the family would think that the bunny died in the cage. The next morning she noticed her neighbors gathered around the rabbit’s cage. Everyone seemed to be talking and pointing. So she went over to see what was going on, trying to be as natural as she could be. When she got there, Bonny’s mother looked at her and said: “YOU WON’T BELIEVE what has happened! It’s a miracle. Bonny’s bunny passed away a few days ago, and we buried the bunny right over there….” J

For something or someone to seem to come alive, after they are dead, is a miracle indeed. We might forget that Jesus raised the dead several times.

a. Widow’s son- The first is the widow’s son. We read of this in the

gospel of Luke, 7:11-16a: “Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹²As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." ¹⁴Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

¹⁶They were all filled with awe and praised God…”

In this passage we see that Jesus shows compassion for the widow. Having lost her husband and now her only son she had no one to care for her. Jesus showed compassion by raising her son from the dead. But Jesus also showed that He is the Lord of hope, and the Lord of life.

b. Jairus’ daughter- Second, we see Jesus raise Jairus’ daughter.

This is found a little later in the book of Luke, 8:40-56. “Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ⁴¹Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house ⁴²because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying… While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. ‘Your daughter is dead’ he said. ‘Don't bother the teacher any more.’ ⁵⁰Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.’ ⁵¹When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. ⁵²Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. ‘Stop wailing,’ Jesus said. ‘She is not dead but asleep.’ ⁵³They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’ ⁵⁵Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up…”

c. Lazarus- And of course, we have the most famous one, which is the

raising of Lazarus. Lazarus dies, and Jesus waits 3 days before he goes to the tomb where Lazarus is buried. We pick up there: “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹’Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’ ⁴⁰Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ ⁴¹So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ ⁴³When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”

When Jesus performed a miracle, even raising the dead, it was to display the glory of God, and to show that He was indeed God in the flesh. Jesus wanted the people to know the power He possessed, not to Lord it over them, but to distinguish Himself as the Messiah, the One come to save the people. While it was nice He was raising the dead, this was just a prelude of what was to be!

II. Jesus was raised from the dead- (Acts 10:34-43; John 3:16; Gen. 3:15)

On Easter Sunday, we come knowing that we will be talking about Jesus being raised from the dead. But there are a couple of points that I want us to understand about this:

a. For all- First, what Jesus did on the cross was for ALL. As Peter says in

his sermon in Acts 10:34- “…God shows no partiality.” Or like we have been talking about throughout the Lenten season, from John 3:16, “For God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His One and only Son, that WHOEVER believes, should not perish, but have eternal life.” Eternal life is for all who believe.

In the comic strip Peanuts, I don’t know if you know that Charles Schultz, the creator of Peanuts, invented the character Snoopy to represent the “hound of heaven;” the little Christ who afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted. In many of the comic strips, we see Snoopy comeing to save his friends. IN ONE PARTICULAR STRIP, Linus has lost his blanket. He is so panicked that he is digging holes in the back yard, trying to find it. Along comes Snoopy with the blanket in his mouth. Seeing this, Linus hugs Snoopy and yells out: “Oh Snoopy! You found it!! You found it! You found it! You found it!” At the end of the strip you see snoopy lying on his dog house and thinking: “Every now and then I feel that my existence is justified!”

Jesus Christ came to give Himself over to service for others. But His life was more than just what He was to accomplish on the earth. For you and me, we are given many years to live, and hopefully serve God. We have a purpose in our life. Our death, unlike Christ’s, doesn’t have any great significance. More than coming to give His life to others, more than the accomplishments He made here on this earth, Jesus came to give His life away. And His death is for all who believe.

b. Lord of all- Second, by dying, and being raised to life, Jesus showed that

He has conquered death, and is Lord of the living and the dead. When Jesus died, it was thought by Satan that he had victory. The savior was dead. But when Jesus was raised to life, the victory for God was sealed. As God had predicted in Genesis 3:15, the death AND resurrection of Christ paid the penalty for our sin, and won salvation for all. By this, Christ crushed the head of Satan. Death would not be a punishment for God’s people, because in Christ, they had victory.

And we see also in our scripture reading from Acts 10, that once Christ was raised from the dead, He appeared to others so that they could know that He was not left for dead. WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN AND WORSHIP A DEAD LORD, BUT ONE IS WHO ALIVE, AND SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD MEDIATING ON OUR BEHALF!

III. Raised with Christ- (2 Corinthians 5:17; Eph. 2:1-2; Romans 6:4-11)

And so there is great significance for you and me in regards to Jesus’

resurrection. This significance affects our life here on earth, and the life we will live after we die.

a. Raised to new life- 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us: “Therefore, if

anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

To understand what kind of new creation we are, we first have to understand our old condition, and that is being lost in our sin. As Ephesians 2:1-2 says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Without Christ in our lives, we get lost in our disobedient ways. With Christ in our lives, we are raised to a new life with Christ. We have power over the temptation and sin that comes into our life.

How does this happen? Romans 6:4, 11-12 tells us, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” It is the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead that allows Christ to pass on this power for us to live the life we have been created to live; this new life in Christ. SO, Jesus’ resurrection gives significance to our life here on this earth, from the moment we believe in Christ.

b. United with Christ- But Christ’s resurrection has eternal

significance as well. Going back to Romans 6, verses 8-10, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”

Since Christ died, He cannot die again. We will die only once as well. Paul tells us that we will live with Him. Where is Christ living? In heaven. When we die, we will be raised to life with Christ, and live forever with God in heaven. God wanted to make sure that we understood this promise. Praise God for the Easter celebration, where we can be reminded of this truth.

In the Gospel of John 20:7, we are told that the linens that were covering Jesus were rolled up (or folded) in a place by itself. They were not thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the linens were neatly folded, and was placed where Jesus’ head had lay. Why is this important? It is important and significant, because in Hebrew tradition, the folded linens had to do with the Master and Servant relationship. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wad up the napkin, and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. The wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

Another reminder of the eternal significance of Jesus’ resurrection is in the fact that Christ will come again. So, even if we don’t die, when Jesus comes back, we will be taken to heaven with Christ, and will enjoy this “resurrection of life.”

Conclusion: All of us hearing this sermon today can know that God gives us the opportunity to have the greatest life we could imagine. A life that is alive. A life that is worthwhile. A life that is purposeful and meaningful. A life that has power over the sin that exists in the world. All of this is found in Jesus Christ, the One who was crucified, the One who was buried in a tomb, the One who was RAISED FROM THE DEAD. God does not show favoritism. “For God so loved the world that He GAVE His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life.” Let us believe this today. Let us live in a way that shows we understand this truth. Let us give thanks to God with our lives. Amen.

"When Jesus Entered"

Matthew 21:1-11

Palm Sunday; 3/16/08

Introduction: Illus. Amusing Grace, p. 381, #1341. There is a story of a 1^st grade teacher who was overseeing her class as they were working on their computers. One young boy was staring at the screen, unsure how to get his computer going. The teacher walked over to the boy, and in her most assuring voice said: ‘The computer wants to know your name.’ She moved on to the next student expecting the boy to type in his name. Instead, she saw the boy lean toward the screen, and whisper: ‘My name is David.’

Our name is important. It identifies who we are. My name is Christopher Scott Logan. It is a name given to me by my parents. But I am more than my name. I am a son, a husband, a father, and a minister. What we do, and how we act, identifies us just as much as our name. In our scripture this morning, we see Jesus coming into Jerusalem. He is known by some, and not known by others. He is known by His name, and by His actions. And those who don’t know Him will come to know Him as He makes this grand entrance.

I. Jesus was a Prophet- (Matthew 21:1-5, 11; Deuteronomy 18:18)

First, we see that Jesus was a Prophet. Now, a prophet of God was one who

received inspired words from God. Prophets were able to speak God’s truth both in the present, and in the future. They were able to speak of what was to happen, and why it was happening. To be a prophet of God, you had to be able to be 100% correct on your prophecies. A prophet never guessed, because they knew that what they were speaking were words from God Himself and that they would come to be.

As the Son of God, God in the flesh, Jesus played the role of prophet many times, because He knew the mind of God, and therefore new God’s truth. Jesus was able to know that Judas was going to betray Him. And Jesus knew that He was going to go to the cross.

In our scripture this morning, Jesus knows that He is to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, so that He might be seen in a kingly status. But it wasn’t just any donkey. Jesus says His disciples in verses 2-5: “saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’ ⁴This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ⁵"Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'”

Jesus knows that there is a particular donkey that has been set-aside for this purpose. Jesus quotes from the prophet Isaiah, and is speaking this word of truth to His disciples that He is the answer to this prophecy; He is the one who is come to ride this donkey and come into Jerusalem upon her.

Jesus is also seen as a prophet by the people. The Jewish people know that the Messiah will come as a prophet. This is spoken many times in the Old Testament. One place is in Deuteronomy 18:18, which says- “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.” These words are spoken about Jesus as the promised Messiah. And so when they speak these words in Matthew 21:11, “The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee,’” they believed Jesus to be this prophet who would be the Messiah.

This concept of Jesus as prophet has significance. The verse from Deuteronomy 18 was spoken by Moses. Moses was the most powerful figure in the history of the Hebrew people. Many factors constitute this claim. A few samples include: (1) the infancy stories which compare with Jesus, (2) the drama (of Moses’ life), and (3) the miracles (performed by Moses). This same Moses predicted that a special prophet was predestined to arise in the future. The first of two prophecies states: ‘The Lord your God will raise up unto you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brethren, like unto me; unto him shall you hear’ (Dt 18:15). The second text is from Deuteronomy 18:18 which I have just read to you. The NT provides a clear correlation between "the prophet" predicted by Moses, and Jesus. Probably the most critical text showing that Jesus fulfilled the role of this prophet is the transfiguration episode (Mt 17:1-9). This extraordinary event portrays Jesus in the context of his real power and glory. Meanwhile, the supernatural voice from heaven declared: ‘This is my Son, the beloved, in Him I am well pleased; listen to him.’

The prophet's job was greater than either the king or priest alone. The prophet's office was the closest to God. Consequently, the prophet was God's messenger to the king and to the priest. But the prophets were often mocked and not listened to. Therefore, Prophets had a rough life. We see this to be true for Jesus as well. To do his work a prophet took his own life into his hands. (from “Jesus the Prophet, by Gary Arvidson: found on internet).

So, up to this point in Jesus’ life, much of what He had been doing was that of a Prophet. He had spoken God’s truth to the people in regards to people’s sin, to the way they were misguided in their living, and to the fact that He was the only way to heaven. Jesus spoke the truth of God, so much so, that they often referred to Jesus as one who spoke “with authority.” AS JESUS COMES INTO JERUSALEM, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT the people saw Jesus in this role.

II. Jesus was Messiah- (Matthew 21:6-10; Zechariah 9:9)

Illus. Amusing Grace, p. 406, #1434- “A girl went to school one day and handed her teacher a note. The teacher looked at the note from the girl’s mother and it read: ‘Anne did not do her home work that was due today because I couldn’t understand it.’”

There were many here in Jerusalem, who saw Jesus riding in, who weren’t sure who Jesus was. That is why we read in verse 10, “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’” People suspected that Jesus was someone special, since He was riding on a donkey, and people were shouting out at Him, and they were waving palm branches. But who exactly was He.

You see, they didn’t understand that Jesus was the Messiah. This is the second role that Jesus played. Even those who knew who Jesus was, didn’t fully understand this concept. They weren’t sure how Jesus as Messiah really helped them.

The key is in acknowledging that we need help.

Illus. “The Thief,” Amusing Grace, p. 434, #1621- There is a story of a thief who was robbing a market. An employee, named Curtis Wyatt was in the back. As he came out of the back room he could see that the thief was holding a BB gun. So Curtis tackled the man. The thief then ran to his car with Curtis in pursuit. The thief jumped into his car, and so did Curtis. They were struggling in the speeding car for the next two blocks until the car fell over an embankment and rolled over, with Wyatt falling on top of the thief. At this point, the thief looked at him and said: “Thanks, I was hoping I would get caught.” It seems that the thief had been hooked on drugs, and had been wanting to quit. This was his desperate attempt for help!

This thief realized he needed help. The word Messiah means ‘anointed.’ It is one who is set apart. But it is also in reference to the ONE who would come to ‘redeem,’ or buy back God’s people. To be redeemed means to be purchased from slavery; the slavery of our sin. Once purchased, you are free from your slavery. The help we receive from Christ, is that our freedom from slavery is won by Jesus Christ has done for us. As we know that Jesus gives His life for us, we can understand His fulfillment of this role as Messiah.

Zechariah 9:9 says: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”/ While this verse refers to Jesus as a King, which we will talk about in a moment, it also gives reference to Jesus as Messiah. This reference comes in the phrase “having salvation.” One of the significant aspects of Jesus riding a donkey, was that He was the One sent to redeem the people from their sinfulness which leads to death.

And yet so many of the people didn’t understand this. They were just caught up in the event. They were shouting out “Hosanna,” not even sure why they were doing it. And once the excitement died down some, they then asked: “Who is He?”

This is not uncommon. People can get caught up in coming to church, and hearing about Jesus, but not really knowing who Jesus is. If people don’t really commit themselves to Jesus, and start to change the way they believe, and the way they live, then they will in essence be asking: “Who is He?”

In the book You Gotta Keep Dancin’, author Tim Hansel talks of an elderly man he had a conversation with, who had this to say about his life: “As I get older, I seem to place less importance on material things.” He then paused, thought for a moment, and continued, “Come to think of it, I place less importance on importance.” What should be important in our life, is Jesus, and the fact that as Messiah, Jesus saves us from our sin. Nothing else is really important compared to this.

III. Jesus was a King- (Matthew 21:9; John 19:21, 33-36; Isaiah 9:6-7)

A third role that Jesus played was that of King. We see in verse 9 that people are shouting out to Jesus and waving palm branches. They give reference to Jesus as “the Son of David.” Of course, they are referring to King David. And as “the son of David,” Jesus would be a king as well. And as king, he would be the king of the Jews, the commander-in-chief of the army, the supreme judge, and the master of all. He was also God’s anointed, which all kings were anointed in the name of God before they became king. He was to carry out God’s will for His people.

For the people, for Jesus to be king, was to be a conqueror. They wanted a king who could free them from the tyranny that they were experiencing from the Romans. They believed that Jesus could be the king who would lead them out of this oppression and into their own national status.

But this was all misunderstood. Jesus was not a conqueror; he came in peace. A king who was riding on a donkey was a sign that he was coming in peace. When

Jesus was put on trial, we see how this whole idea of Him being king was misunderstood. In John 19:21, the chief priests were accusing Him of being the “King of the Jews,” so that Pilate would find him worthy of death. They were using His own words of being a king, and his own actions of appearing as a king against him. We then read in John 19:33-36, “Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" ³⁴"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" ³⁵"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" ³⁶Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” Jesus was not about being a conqueror. Jesus was king in that He was God; God in the flesh. God come to lead His people out of their sin, into heaven.

For Jesus, being a king wasn’t about conquering all nations by force. For Jesus, it was about leading them in love, and in truth, and in peace. Jesus was there to be Lord of all, but in the spiritual sense, not the earthly, physical sense.

We see this stated in Isaiah 9:6-7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” We see that these ideas of being king, and reigning in peace are referenced many times here, with the phrases: Prince of Peace; increase of his government; there will be no end to peace; reign on David’s throne; over his kingdom./ Jesus is a king, but Jesus is a king of peace. Jesus is a king, but Jesus is king in the heavenly realm. And because of this, Jesus is a king like no other. He is not a king who tries to gain power and control, but a king who passes on love and peace. He is not a king for his own selfish purposes, but a king who selflessly gives Himself up for others. THIS IS THE KING WHO IS RIDING INTO JERUSALEM ON A DONKEY. THIS IS THE KING TO WHOM THE PEOPLE ARE GIVING UP SHOUTS OF “HOSANNA.”

Poem: “Jesus.” He is more than a keepsake to be hidden away. He is the Keeper of my life, keeping me each day. He is more than an heirloom, that’s handed down to me. He has made me an heir to His royal family. He is more than a companion, who walks by my side. He is the light leading before me; He is my guide. He is more than a servant, fulfilling all my whims. He is my Lord and my master, with me serving Him. He is more than a man who lived and walked the earth. He is King of the universe from a holy birth. He is more than a stranger who comes to eat and rest. He’s the Host of a heavenly banquet—I’m His guest. He’s the reason for living: I in Him—He in me. Jesus is my all in all throughout eternity.

Conclusion: The author I spoke of earlier, Tim Hansel, had a bad mountain climbing accident, which left him in considerable, continual pain. But the marvelous aspect of Tim Hansel, is that he believes that he can still experience joy in his life. He doesn’t use the constant pain that he experiences as an excuse to not find joy. And so he says these words: “I don’t know how much string is left on my ball of twine. There are no guarantees as to how long any of us will live, but I know that I would rather make my days count than count my days.”

Even though Jesus is a Prophet, who speaks the truth of God, and the Messiah who redeems us, and a King who leads us into peace, He is also the answer to life’s greatest questions. And yet, you may find yourself in situations when you feel it isn’t making a difference. But if this is true, then it is because you are not understanding who Jesus really is.

I hope that this sermon this morning has helped you to understand that Jesus can be all things to you at all times. I hope that you can picture Jesus riding into Jerusalem as One who can claim to be the Lord of your life, who can give you God’s truth, and can free you from all burdens. ON THIS PALM SUNDAY, shout out “Hosanna,” to the one who is our “all in all.” Amen.

"I Will Bring You Back"

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Fifth Sunday of Lent; 3/9/08

Introduction: There is a quote from Dwight Eisenhower that says: “A people that values its privileges, above its principles, soon loses both.” In our society, there are so many who feel that they are privileged. But not just privileged for what they have available to them, but they feel they deserve this privilege. Consequently, many have taken the privileges they have for granted. And in doing so, they have put themselves in a dangerous place. What often ends up happening is that when we get spoiled we forget to live as we are called to live by God.

This is what happened to the Israelites in Ezekiel’s time. They had received some great benefits from God, the greatest being that they were considered God’s people. But they became blind to the principles by which God was calling them to live, and thus they strayed away from God. Consequently, God no longer called them “His people,” and God turned away from them.

I. Can These Bones Live?- (Ezekiel 37:1-6; Genesis 2:7)

a. Lifelessness- As God takes Ezekiel out into the middle of a valley,

God shows him a land scattered with bones. I’m sure this picture shocked Ezekiel. I’m sure this was difficult for Ezekiel to see. And God meant it to be shocking. God wanted to wake Ezekiel up to what was going on around him.

So God asks Ezekiel a question: “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel doesn’t know if this is a trick question. He knew that God was capable of doing anything. So Ezekiel answers: “O Lord God, only you know.”/ This was Ezekiel’s attempt at answering a question in a way that wasn’t really an answer. But God lets him get away with this answer, because God responds to Ezekiel in verses 4-6: “Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'”

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones: “Hear the word of the Lord.” The power of God’s word is being spoken to these bones. The purpose of this is to make the bones come to life. It is the same idea as what happened in the beginning of time. The earth was formless and void, and God spoke. And with God’s spoken word, the world came into being. And when it was time to create man, we are told in Genesis 2:7, “The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” The Hebrew word for “breathed” here is the word “ruach.” It is the word that is also used to describe the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit of life is breathed into man, and he comes to life.

Why is God talking to Ezekiel about this? Because God sees His people as being lifeless. The Israelites are like dry bones. They have no significant life to them. God has created them to worship Him, and to do the works He created them to do, but they have gone their own way. They have left the purposes for which they were created. They no longer have any interest in seeking God, and knowing God, and serving God. They are wanting to only serve their own interests.

In this way, God sees them as good as dead; lifeless, like bones on the ground.

b. Bringing them to life- This same word, “ruach,” is used in Ezekiel

37:5. God is going to create tendons and flesh, and skin onto these bones, and breathe His breath of life to create a new people for Himself. The God who can create from nothing, can create new life from dry bones.

What God is trying to help Ezekiel see, is that if God can’t have His people follow Him, and serve Him, and worship Him, then He will create others who will. It is not new for God to be angry at His people for their disobedience. And God is trying to help Ezekiel see the extent to which He will go, to have a people that will follow Him. The Israelites will be left out of the equation.

Illustration: “Catching Pigs.” I don’t know if you know how to catch wild pigs, but this is the formula: You find a suitable place in the woods and put corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down on one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and then you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat that free corn again. You then slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn.

This is what really has gone on with the Israelites. They have been slowly led into the captivity of being like the world around them. They have lost the sense of the importance of cultivating their relationship with God. They look at what the world offers to them as “free corn,” and choose it over the freedom of being a people of God. They have been drawn away from the lifestyle that was given to them.

In John 6:33, we are told by Jesus: “The words I speak to you are words of Spirit and of life.” God’s words are to bring life to our minds, our bodies, our spirits. But at this time, God’s word is doing nothing in the lives of the Israelites.

II. Commanded to Prophesy- (Ezekiel 37:7-10; 1 Cor. 1:25; Isaiah 55:8)

a. Ezekiel Prophesies- Ezekiel is obedient to God, and prophesies as

he is told. And to his surprise, he hears a sound; the sound of bones rattling. Now, I don’t know about you, but I bet Ezekiel was a little scared when he saw something actually happening. Ezekiel saw that the bones were coming together, and sinews were on them, and flesh began to cover them, but there was no breath yet. So Ezekiel is no longer looking at dead bones, he is looking at dead bodies.

I bet if you were to really analyze people’s expectations, there are a lot of people who pray without any expectation of something happening. They pray with doubt, not expecting that God will answer. Especially when it comes to prayers of great miracles. A lot of people pray, wanting an answer, but not really believing that God is capable of doing what they ask, or not interested in answering them. I know that there are a lot of times that people ask me to pray, in essence instead of them, because they believe my prayers will be heard by God more than their prayers!! And if God does answer, then they are a little surprised. Wow, God really heard me. Wow, God really answered.

Story: There is a wonderful story about a man who asked God for a flower and a butterfly. But instead, God gave him a cactus and a caterpillar. The man was sad at God for not answering his prayer, and thought that God just had too many other people to care for. After some time, the man came across this caterpillar on the cactus. To his surprise from the thorny and ugly cactus a beautiful flower had grown. A little more time went by, and when he visited the cactus again, he saw that the unsightly caterpillar had become a beautiful butterfly!

As Ezekiel watched what was going on, I’m sure he was questioning God. This was not making sense to Ezekiel. Why would God be doing something so bizarre? Why was God going to this extreme? Why was God giving up on His people?

God doesn’t always do things the way we expect. God doesn’t always do things in a way that makes sense to us. As we are told in 1 Corinthians 1:25, “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” Or Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.”

b. The Breath- But God continues in verse 9: “Then he said to me,

"Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'”/ Now you need to understand that the word ‘ruach’ also means wind. And so the breath of God is being called upon from the wind. And the wind comes, and blows over the dead bodies, and THEY COME TO LIFE! And when they stood, Ezekiel saw a “vast multitude of people.”

I wonder if God did it this way so that Ezekiel could feel the presence of the wind. And as he felt the presence, he experienced the power of God in a very present form. It was no longer just words. It was God utilizing another part of His creation to create life. And now Ezekiel is staring at living people. Ezekiel has witnessed dry bones coming alive. I’m sure Ezekiel’s mind went back to God’s initial question: “Mortal, can these bones live?” Ezekiel was definitely experiencing being a mortal.

And this is often the problem, we forget that God is God, and we are mortals. We forget that God is the creator, and we are the creation. We forget that God has a call and a purpose on our life, and we are to follow this calling. We get to that place where we think we are in control of our own lives, and that God is no longer needed. I think we start to get mixed up about the story; kind of like this explanation from a child. Maybe you have heard it before, but if you have, you will appreciate it again.

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one,' but I think

He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve.
Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors

hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check. Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then He gave them His top ten commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's bottom (the Bible uses a bad word for bottom that I'm not supposed to say). Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother. One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua, who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me….After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.') During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead. Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven, but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution. There! Now you understand it.

The problem is, all too often, that is how people understand it. They lose track of what life is about, and who God is. They lose focus on what is the truth!

III. Hope Lost/Hope Restored- (Ezekiel 37:11-14; Romans 5:8)

a. Hope lost- Now, one thing that is easy to lose when you are reading

this passage, is that this is a vision of Ezekiel’s. This isn’t really happening. And in verse 11, the Lord starts to explain the vision to Ezekiel: “Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.'” Ezekiel sees now that these bones represent the “whole house of Israel.” If they were to be cut off from God, they would lose all hope.

And that is what God wants them to understand. God wants them to understand that they need to stay connected with God. They cannot continue to wander away from God, living however they want to live, and still expect to feel alive and fruitful. Without God, they will lose all hope.

So, the next step is to step out of their deadness, and again seek the Lord. It is only in the Lord that there is hope.

DEMOCRACY: About the time our original 13 states adopted a new constitution,

Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of

Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some

2,000 years prior: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up

until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous

gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always

votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public

treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due

to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

It usually happens with the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith; 2. From spiritual faith to great courage;

3. From courage to liberty; 4. From liberty to abundance; 5. From abundance to complacency; 6. From complacency to apathy;

7. From apathy to dependence; 8. From dependence back into bondage. "

b. Hope restored- The Israelites were at the place of apathy. They

had lost the fire in their relationship with God. They needed to get that fire back. This vision was meant to jump start their emotion. So God tells Ezekiel, in verses 11-14, “Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.'”

Ezekiel is to go to his people, and prophesy to them. And the message he is to prophesy are words of truth; that God wants to restore them into a right relationship with God. God wants them to know that there is hope for restoration. Part of this restoration is that they will get to go back to their own land. This is a promise of God, and how they will know that God has spoken all of this. It is a way that they can ultimately test the prophesy of Ezekiel.

In this prophesy, we also see that God is a merciful God, in that He comes to Israel in the midst of their unfaithfulness, and is faithful to them. As Romans 5:8 tells us: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We see this to be true in the Old Testament as well. God helps Ezekiel and Israel to see that there is always hope, because God will never leave them or forsake them. God is a God of faithfulness, and is always true to His word; true to His people.

Conclusion: How often do we find ourselves in this place; apathetic about life, and not walking with God like we should? In these times, we ourselves lose hope. Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” It is in knowing that God is always with us, that gives us the courage to continue on; the courage to continue to trust. God wants to breathe His Spirit into us, so that we might live the life He has for us. Don’t settle for the ordinary; let God give you extraordinary. Don’t let yourself become dry and brittle; let God keep your heart soft and warm. Part of this process is discovering God’s promises for us. If we listen, He will tell us. Maybe through a dream; maybe through a circumstance; maybe through a prophesy of someone in our church. Let us be ever mindful of God in our midst. Let us continually be a faithful people of God, both as individuals, and as a church. Amen.