Life on the edge

Peninsula Community Church

The Power of Prayer

August 6, 2017

Mark 9:29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

If we were to poll the group gathered here today, I am sure that we would find that everyone one of us have an issue or problem that is exerting its influence upon our life. Too often, these issues are exert their influence which causes us to doubt our connection to God as a believer. It also move us to a place where we fail to recognize the power of God in our life, or at least we question His power. As we consider these issues, today, we will review one of the great principles of Jesus’ ministry. This principle is the power of prayer. It is a principle that can change us from having an ineffective and fruitless life to one where we live in the fulness of what God has done and is doing in us.

To understand this principle, we begin with the premise that there is power through prayer. Throughout Scripture there is a consistent and ongoing reference to the power of prayer. In the Bible there are illustrations of the power of prayer. There are stories of God’s intervention through prayer. There are statements made by Jesus and other writers that encourage us toward a lifestyle of prayer. The passage before us is one such reference. Here we find that Jesus makes a powerful proclamation of truth. He states “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Personally, I am grateful that Mark thought enough of this story to include it in his narrative of Jesus’ life. The result is that we are the benefactors of the truth expressed here. The result is that we come to an understanding that prayer has an impact on our lives.

Let me relate the story to you. The parents of a boy had a son who had a spirit attached to him. In those days many illnesses and diseases were defined as demonic or spiritual attachments. They did not know how to define it any other way. His condition was one that made him mute and at times caused him to be thrown to the ground where he would grind his teeth, foam at the mouth, and become very rigid. The symptoms experienced seem to describe some kind seizure activity. Regardless of the problem, this issue was pressing on the parents and it caused grief to the young boy. The parents had become tired of the activity and they wanted something to change. They wanted to get past this obstacle. They wanted their son to be free and they wanted to be free from the torment they realized as a result of his condition.

Because Jesus was busy teaching and ministering to others, the parents brought the child to the disciples in hopes they could bring some relief. The disciples did what they knew to do but were ineffective. They tried to cast out the spirit but were not able to do so. This was a frustrating moment for the mother, for the child, and for the disciples. What they wanted to do did not happen. They were frustrated that nothing changed. Nothing was different.

The only one in the story not frustrated was Jesus. In His review of the situation He ascertained that the problem lay in the fact that the disciples had tried to exert spiritual power without being connected to the source. For that reason, Jesus stated that the resolution to this kind of problem could only come by prayer. You see they faced a problem that was bigger than they were and it was a problem bigger than they could manage. It was a problem that devastated the family. They needed an answer and prayer was the one tool that was most effective in bringing needed results.

The fact is, in life, we are all confronted with problems that are bigger than us. We feel devastated and we fill powerless to accomplish much or overcome the difficulties we face. Let me bring this closer to home. We all have family members we want to see be better or do better. We all have issues that seem so large that it is almost impossible to overcome them. We all have fears and anxieties that loom large in life. These issues control us and neuter our ability to make progress in life. For example, here in Sussex County, as in many parts of our nation, we are facing a drug epidemic that is effecting everyone in some way. Recently, I met with some folks in regard to the drug epidemic and the overwhelming sense was that there was not much that could be done immediately. In their mind the problem is out of control without a solution. But I am convinced that through prayer even the drug epidemic can be dealt with. There is power through prayer.

Through prayer we can confront the problems we face. No matter what the problem is, there is hope. There is power available to us. We can overcome. One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is the story of David and Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17, we find that the nation of Israel was neutralized in their power and were back on their heels. They were filled with fear and anxiety. Why? They had a giant that stood before them. Day after day Goliath, the giant, mocked them and ridiculed them. He did all of this without throwing a spear or actually attacking them in any way. He simply hurled insults and lies their way.

For forty days, all he did was throw out accusations and demeaning words at them. The children of Israel succumbed to these words which resulted in them standing powerless before the giant. They were intimated and were frozen in their tracks. You see the army of Israel and Saul were to be the protectors of Israel. Instead they stood cowering in the shadow of the giant. He had power over them and they gave him this power. He neutralized their ability to answer his attacks.

While they stood cowering in fear, a young boy shows up. David had no outward sign of being able to take on the giant. He had no armor. He had no professional training as a soldier. But he had something that no one else had. He had a connection with God that was missing in the army’s life and for that matter in the king’s life. This was no ordinary boy. He had a confidence in God’s ability to overcome whatever was thrown his way. He had an experience that far exceeded any training or education the army had.

What made the difference? Day after day David communed with God. He prayed to God. He worshipped God. He had a connection with God like no other in his day. How do we know this? We find that David had overtaken a bear. He had destroyed a lion that had gone after his flock. We see this through the Psalms that David penned. He proclaimed the greatness of God. He proclaimed the need to have a connection with God. The Psalms give insight into the heart of David. David was a worshipper of God and he was a man of prayer.

We should know that the army of Saul were not bad people. They were good at what they did. The disciples were not bad people either. The problem is that they missed a critical part of the mission to which they had been called. They needed to communicate to the one who was truly in charge and who had the power to bring the victory they needed.

The difference was found in their ability to pray and focus on God. Through prayer David lived in a reality that caused him to focus on a source bigger than himself and his problem. It allowed him to recognize the character of God. When we focus on a source bigger than ourselves, it allows us to see God for who He is. We will see Him as the one who is able to destroy every giant we face. Whether we face a spirit that demoralizes us or a giant that intimidates us, through prayer these issues are neutralized.

Listen to the words of David. “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:45-47). Powerful words from a man who had encountered a powerful God.

Through prayer we invite the presence of God into our lives. We can have Him in our heart but not allow Him to direct our life. Too often we try to live without God and then wonder why things are so messed up. The fact is we need God to be intricately involved in every aspect of our lives. Through prayer we are focused on inviting Him to do that in our lives. By having His presence in our lives, we are conditioned to hear the voice of truth rather than the lies the enemy tries to promote.

So what are your giants today? Is it anxiety? Is it fear? Is it intimidation? Is it family issues? You name it, we all have giants that want to intimidate us and destroy us if at all possible. We all have giants in our life that desire to minimize our impact for God. What is your giant? I can tell you that if you will focus on God in prayer that your giant will be diminished.

As we close take a moment and listen to a song by Casting Crowns entitled the “Voice of Truth.” Listen to words and recognize today that the giants in your life can and will fall when we hear the voice of truth and commit ourselves to focusing on God’s will and plan for our  life.

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Peninsula Community Church

The Cure for Pride

July 16, 2017

Galatians 6:1-5 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Last week, we dealt with the issue of pride and how pride causes us to push God out of our lives and brings us to believe we do not need God. Today, we will explore the cure for pride. First, restoring others to a right standing in Christ helps one deal with pride. In this passage Paul uses an example of someone who has fallen into sin and that sin has been openly revealed. There is no discussion of the specifics. The sin could have been an act of adultery. It could have been an act of stealing. It could have been one caught in a lie. While we may not know the specific sin or even the specific person, we do know that Paul encourages believers in Christ to respond in a way that is different from what we might be inclined to do. He encourages the spiritually mature to restore the sinner to their right place in Christ with gentleness.

I do not know about you but this can run so counter to what I really want to do. When someone is caught in a sin my human flesh wants them to get what is coming to them. My flesh wants to judge, criticize, and condemn their actions. My flesh wants to reject them and push them away so that I am not tainted by their sin or influenced to commit a similar sin or worse yet a greater sin in terms of its consequences.

But notice something in this passage. Paul suggests that it is those who are spiritual that should restore the sinner with a sprit of gentleness. Too often, we love gotcha moments. We love to hear when others get caught in sin because it makes us feel better. That was not God’s plan or purpose in this thing called Christian community and life. This passage reminds me of the opportunity Jesus had to model this for us. He encountered a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. As we read in John 8:1-11, the religious leaders of the day had brought an adulterous woman into the city square. She had been caught in the act of adultery and the religious law of the day required that she be stoned to death.

Think about this picture. The religious leaders had gathered around her with stones in hand. They were ready to punish her for her sin and exact the penal code upon her. From a legal standpoint they had every right to do that. But in the midst of this, Jesus showed up. He assessed the scene and in so doing He found that those who were gathered around this woman were just as guilty of sin as she was. In that moment, Jesus made a profound statement. He stated that those who where without sin should cast the first stone. He stood nose to nose with her accusers and challenged them with their own spiritual condition. If there was anyone without sin, they had His permission to throw the first stone. Sadly, all of these leaders silently slid into the crowd and disappeared under the weight of their own guilt.

Now lest we think that Jesus did not deal with her sin and that He was somehow soft on sin, look at what Jesus did. He approached her to ask where her accusers were and if there was anyone left to condemn her. Of course, no one was left as they had sin which they needed to be deal with. In that moment, Jesus modeled for us what we need to do. He ministered gentleness and He gave her grace. Rather than get on the band wagon of judgment and guilt, He set her free. He lovingly cared for her. He never condemned her but He never justified her sin either. He walked in truth and grace.

You see the religious leaders were more about the law than they were grace. They wanted to punish others while ignoring their own sinful hearts. This is the highest mark of pride possible. Remember that Jesus reminded us to get the log out of our eye before we try to remove the speck in someone else’s eye (Matthew 7:3-5). That was the problem with the religious leaders that day and that was Paul’s point here.

In our passage, Paul uses the word “restore.” The word means to make things right. It was used in Jesus’ day of repairing one’s fishing nets. The idea was when the fishing nets had holes in them, much of the catch would get away. This would negatively impact their life as fishermen. To repair another’s nets meant they were looking to help make others as effective as possible. Sin is a breakdown in the machinery of life. It has to be repaired. In other words, if you find someone that is broken down do what you need to do to help restore that person back to a good working order. Ultimately it is Christ’s responsibility to forgive and restore but we can be a tool to assist in pointing the person in the right direction. Yes we are to admonish, rebuke, and warn each other about attitudes and plans which are wrong but we do so with grace and love. Then we point them to the one who is able to restore and renew them. Helping others keeps us humble.

The second cure for pride is bearing one another’s burdens. The truth is we all deal with issues in life. Sometimes it is easy to bear another’s burdens when they are sick, have financial issues, or have relational issues. But it becomes more impossible to bear one’s burdens when it comes to sin. Rather than bearing one’s burdens, we tend to load up the sinner with guilt and regret. We cast stones rather than gently restoring and or helping to heal the heart of the sinner. Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 11:46. “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. And then Paul had this to say in Acts 16:10-11. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

In our passage today notice that in bearing the burdens of one another we are in fact fulfilling the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? Remember when Jesus was asked what law was most important? He gave an answer that befuddled the Christian leaders who posed the question in the first place. He stated in essence that no one law is greater than another but that the law could be summed up by two commandments: love God, love others. That is the law of Christ. If we love God with all of our hearts and we love others as we love ourselves, we cannot go wrong.

In essence, the law of Moses was powerless to change our hearts so we could freely obey God’s law. When Christ summons us to obey the law of love, He offers us Himself to slay the dragon of pride, change our hearts, empower us by His spirit, and to fulfill His law in us. The law was powerless but through Christ we can do anything, including bearing the burdens of others so that they are restored in Christ and they are healed of their sin.

Thirdly, to remove pride we must have a proper perspective of who we are. Paul recognized that we are susceptible to pride and we can begin to believe that we are more than we are. We can puff ourselves us with a spiritual slap on the back when we are just as guilty of sin as the one we are encountering. The Bible is replete with warnings about pride and warnings about the potential to fall into the same sin that we judge in others. For that reason Jesus warns us not to judge others because we will be judged by the same judgement we exact on others (Matthew 7:1-2). Jesus knew that the enemy of our souls loves for prideful judgement to be the hallmark of our life. In contrast, Jesus showed us that we are to respond to others with a spirit of grace and love. For that reason, Paul issues this warning, those who are spiritual must guard themselves from the legalism of law and ignoring their own sin.

This idea of restoring another who had been caught in a sin was brought home to me when Michelle and I attended a conference at Gateway church in Dallas Texas. At the conference was Mark Driscoll. Mark had been a pastor for several years. His church had grown to several thousand and he had touched many lives. That all came crashing down when he revealed that he had been guilty of plagiarism, bullying his staff and coworkers, and fits of anger. While he had not been guilty of moral failure per se he acknowledged that his actions were as much a sin as anything else. There were two responses to his resignation.

One part of the body of Christ wrote excoriating letters. His family faced death threats and people confronted his children on the streets. It was a difficult time for him and his family. His children lived in fear and they were forced to move to a new state to start over. But there was also a second response. At the conference, Pastor Robert Morris brought Mark up before the 1500 plus pastors and leaders attending the conference. It was here that Mark admitted the error of his ways and expressed his desire for healing and restoration. Rather than being excoriated the body stood and prayed for him. They did not ignore the accusations but there were more concerned about the person than casting stones. The result was the beginning of healing in his heart and in the heart of his family. Because of the ministry of gentleness and healing, he has been restored and his family has been healed.

Pride causes us to condemn. Pride causes us to ignore other’s needs. But when we follow Paul’s advice healing comes and people are restored. Remember, we are in the restoration business. We are more of a hospital as a church where we restore the wounded and less a day care where we simply maintain. When we restore others in gentleness we change lives. That is God’s plan.

Today there are two types of people who will receive this message. You are either the condemned or the condemner. In being condemned we fall short of Gd’s plan. We are burdened by the guilt of sin and feel that there is no hope. We have had those around us who have and continue to throw stones at us rather than lovingly restore us. On the other side of the there are those who stand with stones in their hands ready to condemn and destroy. The good news is there is grace for both. God sent His son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). May we receive His grace and love today.

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Peninsula Community Church

Keep In Step With The Spirit

July 9, 2017

Galatians 5:16; 25, 26 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

We closed the message last week with the thought that we are to receive the freedom that is ours. We must personalize it and make it a part of who we are. This works for us as a nation but it also works for us as individuals who follow after Christ. We must receive and accept the work of the Holy Spirit into our lives. As we read last week, The Lord is a spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). We walk in the Spirit and He gives us freedom. Through Him, we are liberated from the bondage of sin and the bondage of misplaced emotions. Rather than freedom, too often we are constrained by fear, regret, worry, and unconfessed sin. That was never God’s plan for us. With that in mind, I would like to explore this idea of freedom some more.

I will begin with a personal illustration. When my children were younger we loved to go hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains and in the Catskill Mountains. While hiking, I would instruct our kids to follow directly behind me. My job as a father and the leader of our little band of hikers was to make sure that I was choosing a safe path and a good experience for them. When we encountered tough terrain I would make sure that we navigated the terrain as safely as possible.

On the journey through the mountains there were many distractions. There were beautiful vistas, wildlife, flora, and other people on the trail. All of these served to distract and cause us to veer off course at times. With the amazing beauty all around us, there were unseen dangers that could cause us to lose focus and could possibly cause us harm. Loose rocks, exposed tree roots could easily cause us to stumble and fall. Many times we would get off the trail to explore. Sometimes we would take detours in order to explore things not seen on the regular trail. Even when we were off of the trail, I would always be in the lead. I knew that I had a role to play and that was to get my family safely to the end of the journey but I also needed them to enjoy the journey.

As we look at the passage before us, we find a truth that will save us from many of the pitfalls and difficulties we face in life. Paul encouraged the believers in Galatia not to wander aimlessly through life but to “keep in step with the Spirit.” Keeping in step with the Spirit, helps us to avoid many of the dangers lurking around every corner in this journey called life. When we recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we can feel much like the experience I had with my kids. The Holy Spirit helps us navigate the path of life and if we will follow Him, we will navigate life more successfully.

As we review this passage, we also find a couple of issues that prevent us from keeping in step with the Spirit. Paul understood that becoming conceited is one way we can get out of step with the Spirit. Conceit has been defined as vanity, narcissism, conceitedness, egotism, self-admiration, self-regard, pride, arrogance, hubris, smugness, and big-headedness. Pride has been and continues to be one of the biggest problem we have on our journey. Pride certainly effects how we stay in step with the Holy Spirit and it prevents us from accomplishing much that God has for us. Solomon, one of the writers of the books of wisdom, had much to say about pride. Just two of these remind us of the power of pride. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

You see when we walk in pride we tend to depend on God’s spirit to save us but fail to depend on Him to sustain us. Max Lucado shares the following story that illustrates this. A Welsh woman who lived many years ago in a remote valley felt it was worth the cost and trouble to have electricity installed in her home. Several weeks after the installation, the power company noticed she had barely used any electricity. A meter reader went to see her. “Is there a problem?” he asked. “Oh no,” she responded. “We’re quite satisfied. Every night we turn on the electric lights so we can light our oil lamps.” She had the power but continued live in the old ways.

We can do the same! We have the power of God in us but only turn to Him when we need Him. We turn to Him to help us get started on the journey as a believer but after that we try to continue in our own strength. It is for that reason Paul urges us to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). We can not coast in pride but must stay in step and stay connected to the Holy Spirit who wants to not just save us but wants to sustain us in everything we do.

Pride also leads us to believe we do not need God. What a sad commentary but it is the commentary of so many today. Society as a whole has rejected their need for God. They are self sufficient and so smart they no longer need God’s help. This same pride has entered the church as well because too many live disconnected from God. Many claim to be believers but live without God. Many believe they do not need faith because they have been blessed in so many ways. Many believe they do not need His word because they are busy reading Facebook and Twitter. They are so busy, they do not have time to read His Word which is His instruction manual for our lives. They would rather read about man’s opinion about God than read His words directly. In so doing, they have missed being in step with God. In so doing, they have pushed God to the margins because they do not need Him.

As I was preparing for this I realized something. The difference between the words trial and trail is where the “i” is positioned. This is a simple illustration and may be a slight stretch but I hope you see what I am talking about. Notice that in the word trail the “i” is after the “a.” To me the “a” represents almighty God. In the word trial notice the “a” comes after the “i.” Heres the deal when we put “I” before God we will face greater trials and tribulations. When we walk in pride we can miss what God is doing. This does not mean that we will not face trouble when we follow God, it just means that God takes our trials and turns them to opportunities to show Himself strong.

What a sad commentary to think that we have reached a point where we believe that we do not need God. We isolate and push God out of the equation. No wonder we live with anxiousness, fear, and depleted lives. No wonder sin abounds and the absolutes of truth have been cast off. Sadly, we are seeing a great attempt to remove God from the fabric of our nation. But in the end it all falls apart without God. When we remove God, we remove His power and His spirit from directing our lives. Remove God and we remove His favor and His grace. Maintain a God focused life and we experience His favor and grace in deeper ways.

Thirdly pride leads us to compare ourselves with others. We become so concerned about what others think we end up compromising our walk by pleasing others. You see God never called us to be like someone else but we are called to be like Christ. We are originals created by God with a plan and purpose. Here is the problem however. When we compare ourselves to others we can feel we do not measure up because we are using the wrong measure. God is and must be the measure of our success and accomplishments. When we keep in step with the Spirit we will be less likely to compare ourselves to others.

The problem with comparing ourselves with others is that we can begin to seek the applause of man rather than the heart of God. John Piper stated that we do not seek the applause of men or the glory of man but to know that we are pleasing and honoring God in all we do. The great problem in contemporary Christian living is not learning the right things to do but how to do the right thing. The problem is not to discover what love looks like but how to love by the Spirit. For Paul it is absolutely crucial that, if we come to life by the free and sovereign work of the Spirit, then we must learn to walk by the free and sovereign work of the Spirit as well.

Finally, the answer to the issue of pride is to recognize that the Holy Spirit’s primary role is to point us to Christ and transform us into Christ’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18). By His spirit, we can be transformed from having a spirit of pride to one of humility. After all, Jesus modeled forgiveness for us by going to the cross. Jesus humbled Himself and offered Himself as an obedient sacrifice for our sin and our sins. Accepting the work of the Spirit into our hearts transforms us. It changes us. Too many say they follow Christ but there is no change. There is no transformation.

Our transformation into the image of Christ is more important than our ministry. It is more important than our spiritual experience. It is more important than our spiritual gifts or even the knowledge we may have. If we are not being transformed and changed by the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Gospel, we are not living up to the desire God has for us.

So today, we are being called to keep in step with the Spirit. In so doing, we live in victory and the freedom given to us by Christ. Give up pride and we will find that it is easier to keep in step with the Spirit. We will be sustained through every difficulty. We will be transformed. We will be free and victorious.

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Peninsula Community Church 

Let Your Light Shine

June 18, 2017

Luke 11:33-36 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

In our passage today, although Jesus is not speaking directly to dads, He is speaking to believers and those who desire to be passionate followers of Christ. In this passage, Jesus does what He does so often. He uses a word picture to teach a spiritual truth. In this particular case, He is using the word picture of light. This is an important discussion as light refers to the work of Christ in our heart and the influence of that light shining through us.

Jesus begins the passage with an important statement. No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. This may seem to be a absurd picture but it speaks to the reality of our hearts. No one with any wisdom would take a light and hide it under a basket or put it in the basement. You see the purpose of light is to illuminate. Notice he says that we should put the light on a stand so that those who enter may see the light. Thus, the purpose of light is to light the way of those entering one’s home or one’s world. For us today this is a reference to our sphere of influence. Does our life illuminate the way of Christ?

As fathers and passionate followers of Christ we are called to influence those around us by letting our light shine. We are called to be a light to our families, our friends, our neighbors, and coworkers. Whether you realize it or not, you are influencing those around you in many ways. Our influence is never neutral. It is an active process in which we are engaged. To influence means we have “the power to change or affect something or someone.” It also means “the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen.” Know today you are an influencer.

The light represents our influence but it also represents our involvement because we are called to be involved with those around us. That is why we do not put our light under a bushel or in the basement. The point here is that we are to be people of the light. We are to be people through which the light of the gospel shines bright. Too often those who want to go to the cellar or the basement want to hide. But to hide is to conceal the light and that is never good. Christ’s desire is that our life is a light and a beacon of hope to others. So, do not hide your light but let it shine.

A good friend told the story of how he would encourage his kids to get MAD. He stated that MAD meant Make a Difference. His desire was that they would make a difference in the environment they were heading into whatever the environment. Of course his kids were not as excited when Jack would yell from the front porch… “Get MAD today!” His point was that he wanted them to be engaged with their culture and their environment so their light would shine.

But how do we do this? First, we must make a choice to let our light shine. The question is how do you want to affect people? What legacy do you want to leave? How do you want to be remembered? Do you want to be remembered for the light you allowed to shine or do you want to be remembered for the darkness you share? It is your choice.

Secondly, remember that Jesus is in us and He is the light. When we walk in the light of Jesus then He will be revealed in us. The worldview of the day is that we are not suppose to let our light shine. This worldview says to us, be a good person but don’t let your light shine. Keep your religion to yourself is the mantra of the day by liberal thinkers. In other words hide your light or keep in the basement so no one wiles sees it. But the reality is those around us really desire to hear your thoughts and heart on Jesus. They are not as interested in your political position or spiritual arguments but they are interested in seeking answers to life problems. They need real answers for real problems. They need an everlasting hope and they need Jesus. So, let you light shine wherever you go and in whatever you do. Do not conceal the light but rather let your light shine brightly.

Thirdly, to know Jesus, the light, we must know the word of God. Jesus is the Word and we are challenged as believers to read the Word of God and allow the Word to be the guide of our life. As we hide the word in our heart, we become a lighthouse of grace where Jesus is revealed. By allowing the word of Jesus to affect us, we are changed and we begin to affect those around us. So let your light shine.

A third idea here is that we must be an inspiration. We are to be an influence, we are to be involved, and we are to be an inspiration. By letting our light shine we become an inspiration to those around us. Light dispels darkness. Light conquers darkness. As we let our light shine for Jesus, we find that the darkness in others is impacted. Sometimes they are convicted. Sometimes they refuse to listen. Sometimes they become more entrenched in what they are doing. But many will seek out the light for themselves. Our responsibility is to simply let our light shine. We are not responsible for the affect of the light on others. The light will take care of itself.

It is noteworthy that in this passage there is only one imperative noted. Jesus says “be careful lest the light in you be darkness.” This is a strange statement because how can light be darkness. The fact is there is much in the world that can be presented as a false light. There is much that seeks to negatively impact our influence, our involvement, and our inspiration.

I recently had to get my car inspected and I noticed that my headlights were not as bright as they had been. The problem was that road film had built upon the lens. The light was not able to penetrate the dirt and film build up. The light inside was the same. In fact, the bulbs were brand new. The problem was not the light it was the lens had been darkened and the light could not penetrate the dirt and grime on the lens. The solution was to clean the lens so that the light could shine brightly again.

You see there are things around us that try to mask the light and attempt to be the light. The enemy of our souls often disguises himself as a light. But when we go after that light the way ends in more hurt and more pain. Listen to Paul’s writings in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15. And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Notice here that satan, the enemy of our souls, disguises himself as a light. He is not the light but he presents himself as a light. It is for this reason that Jesus wants us to refuse to let our light be darkness. Cleanse your lens which are your eyes. They are the entry way into the mind and the heart. Purify your eyes and your heart and your light will shine even brighter.

So in the final analysis, we are called to let our light shine. By letting our light shine, we impact others. We become influencers for the all of the right reasons. By letting our light shine we make a big difference in others. That is our goal. That is our purpose. That is God’s plan for you and me.

Today, we need to get MAD. Today, we can make a difference. Let your light shine. Let your life mean something. It is in many ways easier than you think. Follow Him! Obey His word! Do not let the darkness overcome you and you will be empowered to make a difference. Your influence will be felt in your family, your job, your children, your community, and your sphere of influence. So as our friend Jack Crabtree use to say, “Go get MAD today.”

Let’s pray!

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Peninsula Community Church

June 11, 2017

Radical Grace, Radical Forgiveness

Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, Holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.

This week I read a story about a farmer who was plowing his fields. He was sweating and yanking on his mule to get him to turn and go the way he wanted him to go. This was all done without saying a word to the mule. His hands were bloodied from yanking the reigns so hard. He had exhausted himself and he was behind where he needed to be in planting his fields.

A fellow farmer stopped by and saw how strange it was that he never said a word to the mule. After all this was the customary way of controlling one’s horse or mule. He talked with the farmer and asked him if he thought it would be easier to give verbal commands like “gee” and “haw” to get the mule to turn. The old farmer said “yeah it would but that mule stepped on my foot a year ago and we have not talked since.” Now this is a crazy story and it is somewhat absurd I suppose, but it relates well to the topic of forgiveness.

Why is that? You see the farmer chose to hold onto the pain of the past. He refused to allow himself to walk in forgiveness. The farmer was hurting himself more than he was hurting the mule by his refusal to forgive. He also made his job much harder than it needed to be. He refused to forgive and he suffered the consequences of his actions or his inaction for that matter.

In our passage today, Paul reminds us that relationships matter and that forgiveness is the cornerstone of those relationships. Because relationships matter, forgiveness is a necessary action that must be taken by each of us. Without forgiveness, our relationships can be damaged but when we walk in forgiveness our relationships are healed and restored.

Paul made the statements in this passage because he knew that forgiveness has the power to liberate us from the suffering of the past and that it inspires us to be present in the here and now. There is a problem that occurs when we do not forgive others. When we fail to forgive others we tend to live in the past. We are locked in the past because of the words that have been spoken. We live in the past because of what someone has done to wound or injure us. However, when we live in the past it is hard to be effective in the present. When we live in the past it is hard to have a future vision of what could be in our life.

In addition to living in the past, when we live without forgiving others we allow ourselves to be under the control of the one who has hurt us or who has wounded us. The result is that our growth is stunted and we treat others differently. We become afraid of what people may say or do because of our hurt. We are afraid to deal with the realities of our life when we refuse to forgive others. It has been said that when we do not forgive others, it is like drinking poison and then hoping the other person will die.

To refuse to forgive is to allow others to have power over us. They become tied to us in our spirits and we begin to carry them wherever we go. They begin to effect everything we do. And the funny thing is that the other person is usually oblivious there is a problem. But when we walk in forgiveness we can take back the ground we have given to others. We can begin to walk in the freedom given to us through Christ.

A second thought about radical forgiveness is that it is undeserved by the one receiving it. It also means that radical forgiveness extends radical grace. It is noteworthy that a key part of the word “forgive” is the word give. Therefore we “give” forgiveness as a gift. It is a gift given especially when the person we are forgiving does not deserve it. That is radical forgiveness and radical grace. We give to others what they do not deserve. You might say that radical forgiveness is a bit selfish in the sense that by radically forgiving the other person and extending radical grace we are healed in the process.

Paul reminds us that we are to forgive just as Jesus has forgiven us. We do not deserve His forgiveness. We do not deserve His grace but He gave it any way. He gave it because the gift was from the one who was forgiving and not the one who was receiving the gift. Verbalizing the words “I forgive” can be easy but giving forgiveness is another struggle altogether. True forgiveness requires releasing the other person from the effects of their actions and their words upon our life.

A third thought here is that radical forgiveness is an act of obedience. The fact is radical forgiveness is not easy. Radical forgiveness must be a decision that is made on an ongoing basis. The truth is that our natural inclinations do not push us to forgive others. True forgiveness is outside our natural ability to forgive. Forgiveness seems impossible because we believe our feelings and hurts are justified. We feel justified for not forgiving a friend, a loved one, or a coworker because of what they have done to us. The problem however is is that too often we ask of others what we are not willing to do ourselves. That is where radical forgiveness comes into play in our life and that is where an act of obedience is required.

When we choose to act on forgiveness we are released from the power of guilt, judgement, and criticism. Have you ever found it is much easier to criticize, judge, and place guilt on others than it is to extend grace and forgiveness? It is not easy to offer grace and forgiveness as our natural inclination is to hold others at a place we ourselves are not willing to go. It is for that reason that we must act in obedience to God’s purpose and will as to forgiveness. We must forgive others because it is the right thing to do.

And finally, Jesus illustrated radical forgiveness on the cross. He hung on the cross and yet He was innocent of His crimes. He had been brutally beaten and abused emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Can you imagine the restraint, the calm, and the power He exerted on the cross? In the midst of one of the most horrific days of His life He uttered some of the most powerful words that still reverberate down through history. “Forgive them because they do not know what they do.” When reading these words we might shout “Wait a minute Jesus!” Don’t you realize what these people have done to you? Don’t you see the pain and the anxiety imposed upon you? How can you utter such words? Why don’t you just call 10000 angels and get this over with? After all you are the Son of God!”

The reality is that Jesus could have done any of these things. He had the power. He had the means. After all He was literally the most powerful man in the world. But there was a greater purpose in mind for Jesus’ death. His death was not just any death, it was a death that would change the world and empower us to be receivers and givers of this divine forgiveness.

It is noteworthy here that while He could have taken things into His own hands, He chose to exhibit the restraint necessary to control His actions and His responses. He acted not out of the reality of the moment but a heart that was filled with forgiveness and righteousness. Some would say that is weakness but the reality is that is strength under control. What radical grace! What radical forgiveness! He looked His accusers right in the eye and asked the Heavenly Father to forgive them. He extended grace and forgiveness to those who deserved it least. That is the power of radical, amazing forgiveness.

Today it may seem an impossible task for you to forgive that one who has hurt you. It may seem you cannot do that but I am convinced that if you will call upon the name of Christ and ask Him to help you then you will receive the power and grace you need to act upon your need.

Let us pray!

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Peninsula Community Church
The seed, the sower, and the soil.
June 4, 2017

Matthew 13:1-9 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

As we look at this passage, we find that Jesus uses a powerful communication tool to define a very important issue for us. Jesus was a master at using word pictures and that is what He does here. The people listening to His message that day were very familiar with the concept of farming and sowing seed. For that reason Jesus used the familiar word picture of the farmer sowing seed to illustrate a powerful point about the Word of God and man’s heart.

This particular parable is broken into two parts. The first part is found in Matthew 13:1-9 and the second is found in Matthew 13:18-24. In the first section, Jesus shares the parable and then in the second He explains what the parable means. In this parable we find three key components. There is the seed, the sower, and the soil. The sower is Jesus Himself. The seed is the word of God. Then we have the soil which represents four conditions of the heart. Upon review, we find that all of these conditions can be evident in our heart in various ways.

The first heart condition noted is the hardened heart as represented by the hard ground. Jesus stated When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path (Matthew 13:19). Notice that the seed never had a chance to take root because the evil one snatched it away. The emphasis by Jesus in this passage is on the understanding of the word of God. The enemy loves to confuse us and create doubt so that our understanding of God’s word is diminished. The result is that the seed of the Gospel does not take root.

The second kind of heart condition is seen in the rocky soil. This seed takes root but it does not last because the sun bears down on the new growth and it is destroyed before it has time to take root. Jesus stated As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away (Matthew 13:20-21).

In our hearts, we can receive God’s word but tribulation and persecution can cause us to lose sight of the purpose of the Gospel. Our spiritual growth can be stunted when we focus more on the problems of life than the God who is able to keep us through every situation. The word is received with joy but the problem is not the receptivity to the word. The problem comes after the word is received. There is an excitement that comes from having the word planted in us but as soon as some one says something or we come against a problem we begin to doubt and we lose the joy we once had. Thus we are negatively impacted by persecution and tribulation which steals the seed from our heart.

The third condition of the heart is represented by the soil that is infested with thorns. There is growth but it is quickly smothered by the vines. In this case, the cares of the world smother the seed that is planted in our heart. This heart is negatively effected by the cares of life and there is little or no fruit produced. Jesus had this to say about the thorns. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful (Matthew 13:22).

The thorn infested heart is looking for external things to satisfy the longings of the heart. Too often this heart is looking for riches to provide the assurance they need, but as we know riches can be deceitful. John Piper says the one thing that brings us the greatest joy is our satisfaction in Christ. When we are satisfied in Him, we will be less effected by the cares of the world.

At our home in New York we had a beautiful vine in our back yard. It was called Wisteria. It was a deceptive plant in that the flowers in the spring were so beautiful. They looked like clusters of grapes. However, the vine overtook other vegetation and killed it off. We had to take down a tree in our back yard that had been overrun by the vine. So it is with the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches. They can overcome us and destroy the Word in our heart.

The fourth kind of Heart is the one that is open to God’s word and His purpose in our life. An open heart is a soft heart. The Bible teaches us that God’s plan all along was to give us a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). A good heart is one that has been cultivated by the Holy Spirit. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23). A good heart is a fruitful heart. It is one that bears much fruit.

While we have looked at four kinds of hearts we must also consider the change necessary to create a heart that is fertile ground for the Word. The first step is to prepare the soil of our heart by breaking up the fallow or hardened ground. Hosea said it best. Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you (Hosea 10:12).

We must allow the Holy Spirit to operate on us. In the Old Testament, scripture reminds us that God will take our stoney or hardened heart and He will give us a heart of flesh. This is something that requires an outside influence. We need the influence of the Holy Spirit in us to soften our hearts to receive the word of God.

Secondly, we must remove the issues that cause the seed of God’s word not to take root in our heart. We must keep our focus on Jesus who will guide us and keep us focused on what He desires. We must renew our confidence in who He is and what He can accomplish when we allow Him to work.

Finally, we must welcome the word of God into our heart. We must have a desire for the Word of God. We must want God’s activity to be evident in us. We must hunger and thirst after righteousness. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus states that blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. This is not a passive reaction but one that requires us to take action to receive God’s word and then allow His word to impact our hearts positively.

So how is your heart? Let us pray!

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom