September 18, 2016 · 9:09 pm

By Faith: A More Acceptable Sacrifice

Peninsula Community Church 

By Faith: A More Acceptable Sacrifice

September 18, 2016

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

This morning we will begin a journey through the hall of fame of faith where we will stand before each exhibit displayed to see what we can learn about each of these who have been enshrined here. When you visit a museum or an art gallery you will find adjacent to each exhibit a placard. On each placard is a bit of information about the person, place, or thing that is on display. The purpose of the placard is to tell you something about that exhibit and to explain why it is being included. We have this in Hebrews 11. It is noteworthy that the whole history is not on the placard but only a brief synopsis is given to intrigue us enough to study more and to get more information.

Today, we will look at what is actually the second exhibit in the hall of fame of faith. The first exhibit was the creation which we mentioned last week. As we approach the glass and peer into the exhibit, we find a depiction of the story of Cain and Abel. Through the glass we see a series of dioramas or vignettes. The first is of Cain and Abel bringing their offerings to God. The second is an enraged Cain with drawn knife ready to take Abel’s life, which he does. The third vignette is one where we see Abel reaching across the generations of time to communicate a much needed lesson about our worship to God. As you look next to the glass enclosure you will find inscribed these words. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

As we read these words we find a couple of things that are important. First, by faith Abel offered a more acceptable offering to God. In contrast Cain offered an unacceptable offering to God. A second thing we see is that Abel’s offering was commended to him as righteous because God saw the righteousness of his heart. And finally, the passage tells us that Abel continues to speak a truth to us even today. So let’s look at the rest of the story. To do so we must go back in time to Genesis 4. It is here that we find the story of Cain and Abel.

As we read this story we find that Cain and Abel both brought their offering to God. They both were fulfilling their spiritual duty of the day. It was their expression of worship. In the modern vernacular they both attended the same church. They both gave in the offering. They both engaged in worship. They both sang the songs of the day. It is noteworthy that they both had a relationship with God. We see this in the fact that God communicated to Cain specifically and personally. But what made the difference? It is found in the fact that God knew their hearts. God knew the motivation of why they did what they did. We find that the focus of this passage is turned towards Cain whose heart was filled with anger, jealously, and pride. Rather than trying to change his heart he took knife in hand and killed his brother. He was not only mad at Abel but he was also mad at God. He took his anger of God and the current situation out on Abel.

To fully understand this we must understand why God accepted one offering and rejected the other. As you read the story in Genesis 4 Moses, who is the author, rolls back the curtain to reveal why Abel’s offering was acceptable and Cain’s was not. We find it in these words. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions (Genesis 4:3-4).  Notice a couple of things here. Cain in the course of time brought an offering. The idea that is presented in this passage is that God was not a priority. Cain brought the offering to God on his terms, not God’s. He waited to make sure that everything was going to be ok for him before he gave his offering.

Secondly, the passage states that Cain brought “an” offering to the Lord. The implication here is that Cain did not give God his best but he gave something in order to appease God and to let everyone know that he was giving his offering. His actions showed that he did not trust God for His provision but he in essence held back from God just in case. He held back and gave some of his harvest to God because he wanted to be sure he was taken care of first. This also speaks to a heart that did not trust God enough to give Him his best.

Now contrast Cain’s offering to that of Abel. We find that Abel gave the firstborn of his flock and he gave the fattest of the first born. This was a sign of respect and love. Notice that this was not a casual gift where he gave some but he gave his best. He carefully chose what he was going to give. Contrast this to Cain’s gift were he gave some of his harvest. This may not seem very significant to us but it was. In giving this offering Abel showed great faith. Abel’s life and sustenance was in his ability to raise live stock so that they could have clothes to wear and so he could sell his livestock to others around them for his living. By giving his first born there was no guarantee that he would have another birth that year and if he did he did not know how many he would have. That is why God let us into his heart by stating that by faith Abel gave his best. Abel gave what cost him the most. Abel gave his best because he trusted God with his future and he knew God would sustain him.

As we return the passage we read this morning the writer of Hebrews makes an astounding statement. He notes that although Abel is dead, he still speaks to us. He still has something to teach us and we have something to learn. His death serves to give us guidance, hope, and a new perspective. So what do we learn from all of this? Let me give you a couple of things this morning.

First, we must give God our best. We give Him our first fruits which is called a tithe. It is our first fruit of income. We give it first and we do not wait to see what is left over as Cain did. We give our first fruit, our best, because we trust God and do so by faith because we know that God will assist us and help us. He will prosper us and cause His blessing to shine upon us.

In the New Testament, we see into the heart of God on this matter of giving when Jesus tells his disciples the story of the woman with the two small copper coins which was worth about a penny. Listen to the words of Mark 12:41-44. And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

You see it is not the quantity of our gift to God it is the quality. As noted there were some who gave and they gave out of the abundance they had. Jesus said that her she gave all that she had. She exemplified a trust in God that was not seen in the lives of those who gave from their abundance. Now Jesus is not communicating that we should give everything we have to the church but He is communicating that we must consider the motivation of our hearts when we give. Are we giving some or we giving our best to God? And this heart motivation is not relegated to whether we are rich or we are poor. It effects us all.

This idea of giving our best not only relates to our giving of money but also the way we live our life. We must give God our best in everything we do. We must give Him our best on the job. We must give Him our best in our relationships. We must give Him our best in the way we treat others. We must give Him our best in the way we minster and use the gifts that God has given us. God wants our best and not our leftovers. The question here is are we giving God our best in everything we do. What about our time? What about our talents? What about our possessions? Are you giving your best?

Abel would also say that the way we give to God is often a barometer of where our heart is and how we will handle the other areas of our life. Because of Cain’s heart and mindset he gave some of his offering. He thought that he was doing all that he needed to do. The problem however is that he did not give God his best, he gave some. What God saw was a heart already in turmoil. The way he gave his gifts to God was simply an outworking of a heart that was in pain and was not in alignment with God’s will and purpose.

It is my opinion that the issue of the offering was not the first time that anger was raised against Abel. It is my guess that this was a culmination of years of jealously and hurt. His offering was only symbolic of the pain he felt and the spiritual condition of his heart. He gave some rather than his all. He was trying to appease God rather than worship God with a whole heart. Remember what Jesus stated. For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:43-45). Out of Cain’s heart he reacted negatively to God’s acceptance of the gift Abel gave and it ended badly.

Fourth, Abel would say do not refuse God’s grace. Notice in the Genesis 4 account. God gave Cain a chance to come clean and admit that He needed help. God spoke to Cain and told him that sin was crouching at his door. In essence, God was saying to Cain that He saw His heart and was giving him an opportunity to repent and walk in forgiveness. God saw that his heart was motivated by jealously and anger. The sad part is that Cain did not receive God’s grace but instead he refused it. He refused to take the steps necessary to bring change to his heart and his life.

So the question for us today as we stand before the exhibit of Cain and Abel’s life. Which one best exemplifies your life? Do you give your best to God because you recognize that God gave His best to you or do you hold back? Do you give Him your first fruits or you couching your bet and holding on to some just in case? Do you trust God with everything or do you hold tightly to the purse strings fearful that if you give too much to God you will not have enough for yourself?Your answers to these questions will give you an insight into your own heart. It will make a difference between a heart of faith and a heart of doubt and fear.

You see the world needs a lot more Abels and a lot less Cains. Cain was a grumpy, condemning, self-righteous, person while Abel was a faithful, cheerful, giving person. God honors the Abel lifestyle and yet at the same time he offers the Cains of this world an amazing grace and an amazing opportunity for change. It is our choice. Will you live as Cain did or will you take the grace of God and live like Abel? Give Him your best, He deserves it. Make the decision today to live in faith and give Him your best no matter the cost. It is well worth it.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

September 12, 2016 · 11:30 am

What is Faith?

Peninsula Community Church

What is Faith? 

September 8, 2016

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has been called the hall of fame of faith. It has gained this title because of the focus it gives to those who have given themselves to God regardless of the issues they may have faced in life. When you visit a hall of fame there are those who are enshrined there because they have contributed to a certain field of study, a field of science, or they were successful in a particular sport or profession. In the case before us today, we find those enshrined here because of their faithfulness and their trust in the one true God.

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit this chapter has been included in the Biblical text to remind us that we can also make it through until the end even when we face great odds and problems beyond our control. Last week, we noted that we have people watching our lives. We have those in our daily lives that we encounter and who see us every day. We also have a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us in death. It is this great cloud of witnesses that the writer of Hebrews is talking about. This is the hall of fame of faith. They are watching us and they are cheering us on in our exploits and our accomplishments for God. They are cheering us on when we fall short and we need special encouragement. How does this occur? It happens because we are challenged by their testimonies and their persistence to follow God whatever the cost.

I propose to you today that the thing that set them apart was their faith in Christ. The faith they possessed sustained and kept them through many different difficulties, adventures, and at time the unknown. You see none of these men were supermen in themselves. Each of them had faults and failures that could have negatively impacted them as a person and as one who was called by God. They were regular human beings who lived regular lives but each one was called with a supernatural calling for a supernatural task. You see they were ordinary men used for the extraordinary by an extraordinary God. The emphasis was on God and not them themselves. Their role was to exhibit faith and obedience to the call of God in their lives. They took the admonishment of Paul in Romans 1:16-17 seriously. “The righteous shall live by faith.”

But the question for us today is to understand why their faith was so important to them. Their faith was critical because it was the sustaining factor in their life. You see to have faith is to have complete trust or confidence in someone or something. As believers, our faith is in the one powerful amazing loving God we serve. You see it is not so much about faith itself as it is the person in or object of our faith. In fact, it is my belief that we can have more faith in faith than we do the one in which our faith is based. We become so concerned about the nuances of faith that we tend to focus on the act of believing itself so much that we forget that our faith is based in and focused on Christ and all that He has done. To understand faith the writer of Hebrews has attempted to clarify the role and purpose of faith in our life.

He begins by focusing us on what faith is. He says, faith is the substance of things hoped for. In other words, our complete trust and confidence in Christ becomes the foundational truth and basis of all that is to come. Faith is both forward looking but it is based in the evidence of what has been done in the past. There is a trust that is built and a security that is fashioned from a truth that the one in whom we place our trust and faith will guide us and keep us. He will not forsake us. Therefore, I can trust Him and have faith for the future.

We must recognize that faith is not about feeling good about ourselves nor is it an ideal that is subjected to our emotions and our erratic ways of thinking. It is based in truth. The fact is Christ died, He rose, and He is sitting at the right hand of the Father. He has promised us that He will be with us and we can take that to the bank. This is the problem with faith too often, however. We can teach faith as if it is some arbitrary concept floating in the heavens. Real faith authentic faith  is based on the reality and the truth that God is alive and that He is in control. Without Him there is no faith for the future. This is the value of trusting Christ.

It is for that reason that Paul made this incredible statement in 1 Corinthians 15:14-19. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Secondly, faith is the evidence of things not seen. How is faith the evidence of things not seen? It is in the relationship of knowing God and His ability to be faithful himself that causes us to trust in what we do not see and what we have been promised. This evidence moves me to do my part and then trust God for the rest. I trust Him, so I honor Him with my time and my faith. Rick Warren has noted the 80/20 rule of faith. If we do the 80% of what is clear he will show us the 20% that is unclear. The problem too often is that we focus on the 20% . We therefore become overly concerned with the 20% and we neglect the 80% we know.

We all have dreams and hopes. We want to see these things fulfilled and come to pass. My dream and vision is that this church will grow and become an influential part of this community. As we look round the room we see many empty seats and people who are missing. What Rick Warren is saying is that I can focus on what I do not see happening to the degree that I am stymied and frozen to do nothing when God is actually doing so much around us. Our faith is not based in what we might see but what we envision as each of us do our part to fulfill the 80% and then let God take care of the 20%.

That is why the writer of Hebrews states that without faith it is impossible to please God. The reality for us today is that we need to understand that our faith only resonates in us when we know God. In knowing God, we know His will and His purposes. Because we trust Him, we can be obedient to Him and thus we can please Him. Do you catch the concept here? To please God we need faith. To have faith we need to know God. Our faith, therefore, is built when we know Him and His ways. So therefore it behoves us to know God.

True faith is more than just a belief in something. It is to know something. Now you might ask how can you say that when we are asked to believe by faith that God created the heavens and the earth. We can do this because we trust God. We know that His word is truth because we have seen it in action. We know that nature itself shows us how all of creation was formed by someone greater than ourselves (Romans 1:19-20). Because the truth of God has been borne out in my life and yours then I can proceed to trust God with the things that I don’t see, feel, touch, or taste. Because of the truth of God is acknowledged, I can then go into the unknown with great faith and hope.

So this begs the question? How is faith built? Faith is built on the word of God (Romans 10:8-11). It is built on our testimonies (Revelations 12:11). It is built on what we have seen God do in us and through us. He has, He is and He will continue to deliver us (1 Corinthians  1:10). It is based on what we know to be true about God. Sometimes we can make faith mystical but it really isn’t at all. It is founded in something and that something is Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

Even in saving faith or the act of faith that leads us to Christ there is still a foundational principle of truth about God. Paul made this statement in Romans 10:8-11. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. We hear the Word which is truth. The Word by way of the Holy Spirit acts upon our life to receive the truth it presents. The Holy Spirit brings us to the place of understanding and then we acknowledge God and His work in us. That becomes the process of salvation and it is the process of faith. Notice the great salvation passage in Romans. Believe in your hearty and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you shall be saved.

So what is faith? To summarize, faith is trust, assurance and confidence in God and in the work of Jesus Christ. Living faith is not just believing that God exists. It is demonstrated by one’s service and obedience to God. God will increase our faith if we fervently ask Him for it and seek to draw closer to Him in prayer and the reading of His Word.

That is why we gather today around the communion table. The Lord’s Table serves to remind us of what Christ did for us. It reminds us of what Christ is doing in us now. But it is also a promise of what is to come. It is what we pin our faith to. It is the hope of a greater day. That is where we focus our faith and where we place our hope. He did and we can. He is and we can be. He is to come and we will be with Him.

As we prepare our hearts would you listen to this song by Jeremy Camp about our faith. I would ask those who will be serving today to come forward at this time. As you receive the elements would you hold them until everyone has been served and then we will take them together after we pray.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , ,

September 4, 2016 · 2:16 pm

Enduring Until the End

Peninsula Community Church

Enduring Until the End

September 4, 2016

Matthew 24:9-14 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

The topic of discussion today will be the idea of “endure” or “endurance.” In the Oxford dictionary the word endure has been defined as “suffer patiently.” How paradoxical  are those two terms. To suffer patiently seems so impossible. To understand this paradox perhaps it would be helpful to understand the concept of enduring. Biblically, the word endure often implies a painful or difficult situation that one must navigate but to succeed spiritually, there must be an enduring faith that keeps one stable and focused not in the moment but in the future. It is noteworthy that in terms of the Greek New Testament the use of the word endurance is almost always also based in a view of what is to come and the future hope for believers. In other words, I can endure the temporary trials and difficulties of life because my heart is set on the eternal hope that is in Christ Jesus. Some have called this an eternal perspective. Additionally, in almost every reference to the concept of endurance in the New Testament, there is the idea of unbreakable and patient endurance in face of evil and injustice in the world. This is one of the true characteristics of believers that separate true believers in Christ from all other religions and all other secular philosophies. We endure because of our focus of what is to come.

I do not know how many of you love the Olympics but they are always filled with amazing stories. During the Olympics we hear of the back stories of the athletes. We hear the stories of what they had to go through to make it to where they are. We also hear of the positive acts performed by some of the athletes. One of the most inspiring moments in this year’s Olympics occurred when track and field star Abbey D’Agostino tripped over New Zealand’s runner Nikki Hamblin. They were running the second semifinal heat of the women’s 5,000-meter race. D’Agostino, a twenty-four year old distance runner from America showed a remarkable case of Olympic spirit when she stopped along the race to help a fallen rival.

It all started when Hamblin took a fall on the track. As she fell, D’Agostino tripped over Hamblin and fell to the ground herself. Rather than get up and plow past D’Agostino, Hamblin did an amazing thing. She stopped to check to see if her Olympic rival could continue and helped her off the ground. The selfless move quickly caught the notice of Olympic broadcasters, who commented on her show of sportsmanship. Continuing on, it was clear the pain of D’Agostino’s leg injury was settling in. Moments later, she collapsed to the ground. It was Hamblin this time who came to her aid, checking to see if she was okay to continue but D’Agostino wouldn’t back down. She got back up on her feet, and completed the rest of her laps at a very slow pace. She knew the goal and was determined to make it all the way. It did not matter if she won, what mattered is that she finished. That is patient endurance.

You see in Scripture we have been challenged with the fact that we must endure hardship, trouble, and persecution. We do so not for some earthly prize but for a heavenly prize that is eternal and lasts forever. The prize we obtain lasts not just for a few mere moments or is subjected to loss or corrosion. You see we endure the difficulties of life not because of what we have here but what has been promised to us in the future. That is our hope and hope keeps us moving forward. In the second passage we read today Paul relates this idea of enduring to the groaning and the moaning that takes place when a mother is giving birth. It is an imagery that most men cannot fully appreciate. It is one that most men have only experienced from a distance. As a woman who has given birth to a child you know the pain and the agony of giving birth. That is the agony of enduring that Paul is discussing here. Here is saying that the end is near so just keep pushing through and you will be victorious.

A second problem is that too often pastors and teachers communicate a message that everything is going to be wonderful and exciting all of the time, if you are a believer in Christ. If there is a problem then it is your fault because you did not have enough faith or did not do all of the right things. But the reality of life says this is nowhere near the truth. In fact, it is the opposite. Listen to what Paul has to say not only in this verse but in James 1:2-4, James had this insight to suffering. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

A second imagery that Paul uses for endurance is that of a runner. He uses the marathon runner as an example of this because the marathon runner is in it for the long haul. Paul often talks about running the race with patient. He talks about enduring to the end. So how do we endure and survive here in this life? I would suggest the following.

First, we must refuse to be distracted. While we are running this race for Christ too often the issues we face become distractions for us. These distractions force us to take our eyes off of the prize and we begin to focus on the problems we face. The enemy is so good at doing that? How often do we feel distracted and just out of sorts. Rick Warren has suggested when it comes to distractions we can find ourselves experiencing spiritual ADD. We are all over the place and we flit from one spiritual thing to the next. We tend to encounter one problem after another and another. The result is that we are distracted by the problems and not focused on the power of Christ to bring healing and help. The problem is not so much the distraction but how do we get back to where we need to be when we have been distracted? To get back we repent? We start over and we go back to where we lost track.

Second, refuse to dwell. Don’t dwell on the failures and mistakes made. Take steps to change and move beyond the failures of a given day. Marathon runners will tell you that one of the most difficult things they face is move beyond having a bad day of training. It messes with their psyche and they tend to allow the events of one day to effect their training on the next day. But good marathon runners will also tell you that they must put the failures of the previous day behind them and move toward a new day. Doesn’t that sound familiar. It should because Paul made a very similar statement in his teachings. Listen to his words in Philippians 3:12-16. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Third, refuse to be detoured. In Galatians 5:7-8 we find that Paul states You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. You see the purpose of the issues we face in life too often serve to detour us away from the direction we are to take. The result is that we are take pathways and make decisions that God never intended for us to take or make. Detours are interesting. While God can use the detours of our lives, there are detours that serve to get us off the path chosen for us by God. We find that we are at a loss of direction and we are in unfamiliar territory. We can be detoured by our calendars, emergencies, difficult people, and financial problems. We can also be detoured by the words that are spoken to us and about us. All of these can cause us to be detoured away from God’s purpose and plan for our life. That is why the writer of Hebrews 12:2 stated that we are to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. He paved the way so we can stay on track with Him.

Fourth, never forget that others are watching. In Hebrews 12:1 we find this amazing passage. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… Here is the deal and it is an amazing deal. There are people in heaven who have gone before us who are watching us. They are there to cheer us along. How are they cheering us on? It is by looking at their examples and their tenacity to keep the faith. Once again in the Olympics, we watched as people lined the streets to cheer the runners on. They were there to encourage the runners and the athletes.

In contrast, we also have those around us who are watching us and are observing how we deal with problems and the stressors of life. Here is a fact. How you live will effect others. People are watching you even when you don’t think so.  They are observing and watching you to see how you handle the stressors of life. You see people want to see how we run the race. When we fall do we get back up? Do we keep the faith? How do we respond to the difficulties of life? By doing these things we show our dependence on one that is greater and more powerful than any of us. We focus on the author and finisher of our faith. In Him we have nothing to worry about.

So how are you doing this morning? Do you feel distracted? Are you dwelling in the past or are you focused on the future? Do you feel you are in a detour season of your life? Do see that there is a cloud of witnesses that have gone on before us to pave the way and to show us that it is possible to endure until the end? They have shown us that we can do the same thing because of a focused faith and an enduring hope. When we are discouraged, we can remember Moses who was a great leader even though he was not always liked by those who followed him. We can remember Daniel and the three Hebrew children who refused to bow to the outside influences in their life. We can remember the disciples who gave themselves to preach the gospel. Through their testimonies we can be encouraged and blessed.

Finally, we have a great opportunity to show the world what it means to live a life filled with hope and enduring faith. We have the opportunity to show others that we can stand again and that we can be all that God desires. Yes! we will have trials and difficulties but we can also endure because our hope is not in the present but in the future. How awesome is that?

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , ,

August 29, 2016 · 1:52 pm

Walking in the Spirit – What Difference Does It Make?

Peninsula Community Church

August 21, 2016

Walking in the Spirit – What Difference Does It Make?  

Romans 8:1-5 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

I do not intend this to be political but many of you have heard the comments made by one of our leading candidates for president. When questioned about the Benghazi events, Hillary Clinton responded with the words “What difference does it make?”  While the acts of that night in Benghazi made a big difference in the lives of those involved, this same mindset can be applied to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can ignore His work and the command to walk in the spirit or we can follow His word and live a passionate fulfilled Christian life.

I would like to look at this question this morning and the reason I want to do that is because we will focus our attention on what we think is important. Jesus addressed this succinctly in Matthew 6:27 when He stated For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Jesus knew that where we place our passions and the things we give our heart to is the thing we will follow and to which we will commit our life. I had a personal experience that illustrated this to me in a powerful way. A couple of years ago I had the privilege of playing golf with Clayton Bunting, Elmer Towns; co-founder of Liberty University, and golf pro John Ross at the Cascades Golf Course at The Homestead in Virginia. It was a great week and I learned so much about the game of golf while playing that course. One of the things I learned is that I had a tendency to focus on the obstacles in front of me rather than the goal of getting the ball on the green. You see when there was a water hazard I would focus on the water hazard rather than on getting the ball beyond the hazard. And as you might guess I would hit the ball into the hazard more times than I care to mention. It was all because I was placing my focus on the wrong thing.

While Paul is not talking about golf here he is talking about a way of life. In fact, he is talking about something much more important than the game of golf. He is talking about having a meaningful life. He is talking about choosing to focus on the Spirit rather than the works of the flesh. Do you see it in this passage? Paul says to set your mind on the things of the Spirit. Why does he say this? He said it because he understands that what you focus on is what you will do. If we focus on the flesh we tend to act out the things of the flesh. If we focus on what we cannot have and what we cannot do, the desire within us to have those things will rise up and begin to control us. The result is death and pain. So how do we focus on the Spirit and why does it make a difference?

Paul defines focusing on the Spirit in a couple of ways. For one, he calls us to set our minds or to focus our minds. Here is what he says. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The idea that is presented here is that when we focus on either the flesh or the Spirit we generally come under the influence of the work of either of these motivating factors. To understand this we must understand that the flesh represents the five senses. It is what we see, what we hear, what we touch, it is what we taste and so on. It also represents the mind, will, and emotions. You see none of these in themselves are wrong, it is only when they are not focused in the Spirit that the outcomes can become wrong or evil. When the flesh is the starting point of our decisions, then we are in trouble. We must begin with the Spirit.

Secondly, Paul calls us to walk in the spirit. This also speaks of direction and focus. In Scripture one’s walk represented one’s lifestyle and their actions. We see this in Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Notice here that Paul deals with the Romans 7 phenomena of the dichotomy of wanting to do one thing but actually doing something else. It is the war within us that creates this turmoil. But we must choose who or what we will follow. We must determine that the Spirit will control our lives and then must seek to walk in the Spirit.

Paul then continues to detail what the flesh looks like and then what the spirit looks like in Galatians 5:19-23. There is a marked difference between the two. Here is the beauty of all of this. Paul makes it clear that we need to focus on the Spirit and not the flesh by relying on the Holy Spirit within us. While it is a choice, we have the Holy Spirit as a motivating factor for us. So with that said let us look at a couple of things about the Holy Spirit so that we can understand the benefit of following Him, setting our mind on Spiritual things, and the difference it makes!

First of all, we need to understand that if you are a believer in Christ you already have the Holy Spirit in you. He is in you and He is acting on your behalf. He is present with you because He is the third part of the Trinity. We sometimes forget this. We forget that He is at work in our lives. For some, we attempt to avoid His work because we have seen the abuses and the false teaching that have come out of some circles as it relates to the Holy Spirit. You see the problem is that I think with get caught up in the debate on tongues and miraculous signs to the point that these things are the focus of our discussion and we forget that He is at work in us. As I noted last week, I grew up in an old time pentecostal church. It was a chandelier swinging, pew hopping, dancing, tongue talking church. Through the years I have seen the good and the bad in churches both Pentecostal and non Pentecostal. I have seen that which was real and powerful and I have witnessed the fake and that which was a manipulation of truth.

As a result, it would be so easy for me to avoid any discussion of the Holy Spirit because of my history but that would force me to miss so much of what the Scripture says about His work. The fact is He is a real person and needs to be recognized for His role in our life. In fact, as Paul states we need to set our minds on the Spirit and not reject His work. In John 15:26 Jesus said that when He left the earth there would be another who would come to walk with us and to guide our lives. That is the Holy Spirit. Here is what Jesus stated But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. And then in John 17:7 he stated Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Jesus reminded us in his message to the disciples in John chapters 15-17 that the Holy Spirit leads us to truth. Here is just one of His statements in this regard. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come (John 16:13). Just as much as Jesus is truth so is the Holy Spirit. Think about this. He was present when the worlds were formed. He was the co-author of the Scriptures. He was present at the baptism of Christ. He is a real person with the real task of leading us to real truth. And how much do we need truth and integrity in us today?

Thirdly, He leads us to an understanding of the truth. The Holy Spirit does not only lead us to truth but He leads us to an understanding of what is truth. Have you ever taken a class in school where you received truth about a certain subject but understanding the subject was another issue altogether? You see we can know a certain truth but not understand how that truth applies. That is the role of the Holy Spirit. He leads us to truth but He also leads us to make application of the truth into our lives. You see the Holy Spirit is more about transformation than He is about information. God’s desire has been and always will be our transformation. He desires that we change for the good. That is the benefit of walking in the Spirit. Does it matter? Yes it does!

Fourthly, the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf when we don’t know what to pray or even how to pray. The Holy Spirit directs us. Paul made this observation. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). Here is an amazing thing. There are times where we are battling great issues in our life. There are times where we do not know how to pray or what to pray. It is in that moment that Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf. Sometimes it is with groans and utterances we might not understand but the Holy Spirit does pray for us and that is all that matters.

So what difference does it make? It makes all of the difference in the world. He is with us and if we focus our attention on Him and His work we will find that living life will become much easier. Note that I did not say easy, I simply said easier. Remember Pauls words. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

So what do you focus on? Do you focus on joy and peace or do you focus on anger and fear? Do you focus on the promises of God or the condemnation of the enemy of our souls? Do you focus on the work of the Holy Spirit in you that teaches truth, transforms your life, and assists in our prayers or do you focus on what you can do alone? Does it make a difference? By all means it does! It is your choice. It is your decision on how you will live and what the outcomes of your life will be. So let us choose wisely. Choose today to follow after the Spirit and to follow His leading so that we can become effective, passionate followers of Christ.

The Scripture is clear. If we walk in the Spirit you will not walk in condemnation according to Romans 8 and you will be able to master the flesh or sin that controls your life. Remember we said it would not be easy because the great tempter is always biting at our heals but be faithful and you will see the fruit. Next week we will continue to look at the work of the Holy Spirit in our life to see how we can be more effective in the Kingdom of God.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

August 22, 2016 · 9:09 am

No Longer Condemned

Peninsula Community Church

August 21, 2016

No Longer Condemned

Romans 8:1-5 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

I love Romans 8. I love it because it is regarded by many Christian scholars as the greatest chapter of all the Bible. In fact, in reading many of the commentaries on Romans, Chapter 8 has been described as “the mountain peak” of Scripture and “the chapter of chapters for the Christian believer.” Many commentators quote a German author by the name of Spencer who many years ago said “If Holy Scripture was a ring, and the Epistle to the Romans a precious stone, Chapter 8 would be the sparkling point of the jewel.”

For me personally, Romans 8 and in particular Romans 8:1 is one of those passages that have been used in my life to stake a claim to Christ’s promise of hope and the abundant life here on earth, as well as the life to come. You see, for such a long time I felt condemned on several levels. For one, I believed that if I just followed all of the rules everything was going to be ok. Boy was I wrong. I followed the rules, did what was right, and yet things continued to fall apart in my life. The result was a sense of failure and a sense that God could not do what He said.

Not only was I being condemned by my actions but I was also being condemned and judged by those around me. Although it was not always a reality, I felt that people would discourage and judge me rather than build up and encourage me. I allowed the voices of others to determine what I would do and be, rather than being obedient to Christ’s plan for my life. The downside is that I became more concerned about what people thought about me than being obedient to God. When I failed to live up to what people thought I should be, I began to sense a huge level of condemnation and judgement being imposed upon my life.

When I came to Christ I felt a bit betrayed and lied to as the pastor implied that everything would be great if I just followed the rules. The rules were different but the emphasis was on keeping the rules and not on a relationship with Christ. As a believer, I turned to Scripture but because of my religious background and the teaching I received, I was once again condemned because I never felt I could live up to the all of the rules and the requirements that were laid out. I was being counseled that I needed to follow all of the rules and be obedient. That all sounded good and it sounded right so I began to attempt to follow the rules and be the obedient person I needed to be. The problem however is that I would read the Scripture to see what the rules were rather than to determine who God was. The result was that my life sounded much like the words of Romans 7. The things I wanted to do I didn’t do and the things I didn’t want to do I did (Romans 7:13-20). It was a battle royal for my mind and my heart.

The battle continued to rage within me until I grew in the Lord and in my understanding of the Gospel. I came to a couple of conclusions that began to change my life. I would like to share these with you. First of all, I discovered that the law/the rules were weak and were powerless to accomplish what I needed (Romans 7:5-6; Romans 8:3-4). My study and my understanding led me to see that the law was a good school master (Galatians 3:24 ASV). It was a good teacher but it was powerless to make a difference in my life.

I love the commercials from Life Lock Security company. You may have seen them. In particular I love the one where there is a bank robbery in progress. Those in the bank look to the guard on duty to help them. His response is that he is not a security guard he is only a security monitor. Because he was only a monitor he was powerless do anything about the robbery. I love what happens. During the robbery, he leans over to those on the floor and says “oh yeah, there’s a robbery.” The law in itself was a good monitor for sin and was good at pointing to sin in our life but it continued to be powerless to do anything about the sin. The work of the law was critical in that it served to detail the boundaries of our life. We need boundaries and we need guidelines but those guidelines do little to change our heart or our mind. We need something different. We need Christ.

That brings me to second thing I learned. To live a life without condemnation is a choice. The choice is centered and focused on how we live. Paul offers us two choices. We can live by the spirit or we can live by the law (Romans 8:4-8). You see the law according to Paul brings sin to life. We must understand that the law did not create sin because sin was was a part of man’s life long before the law was given to Moses by God. In fact we see sin full blown in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).

In our final moments here I would like to look at this phrase. But I would like to look at this phrase in reverse in order to build a case for God’s grace and the freedom that comes as a result of His work on the cross. Paul stated“Therefore there is now no condemnation.”

We begin with the term condemnation which is defined as (1) the expression of very strong disapproval or (2) the action of condemning someone to a punishment. It is to be condemned or judged. Condemnation is a legal term in that you are given sentence equal to your crime. Paul has already declared the penalty for sin was death. Remember his words. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). But through Christ there is eternal life thus the penalty of sin of has been paid. It is for that reason there is no condemnation for us. No sin a believer can commit; past, present, or future – can be held against him if that sin has been forgiven, since the penalty was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer. And no sin will ever reverse this divine legal decision.

The second word is this passage is the word “no”. In Christ, there is NO condemnation. In the New Testament when writers wanted to emphasize a particular word, they would put it at the beginning of the sentence. That was their way of saying, “This is important.” In the Greek the first word is not “therefore.” The first word in the Greek is the word “no.” The fifth word in our translation is first in the original because Paul wants to emphasize in the strongest possible way that there is no condemnation. That’s why he took the word “no” and moved it to the front. There is therefore, no condemnation. You might translate it this way: “There is no condemnation—none whatsoever—for the believer in Christ Jesus. Secondly, Paul uses the strongest word possible for the word no in the Greek language.

Do you know what that means? We may stumble, we may fall, we may trip, we may make a thousand mistakes, we may sin and we do, we may get off the path, we may go astray, we may have a thousand problems, but for the believer in Jesus Christ, there is, therefore now, no condemnation because God has said it is so. You can struggle, but you’re not condemned. You can fall, but you’re not condemned. You can trip, but you’re not condemned. You can stray off the path, but you are not condemned because God has said He will not condemn those who are in Christ Jesus.

The third word in this passage is the word “now”. The gift of no condemnation comes to us as a gift but a gift that must be received. Now speaks of a future hope but a present reality. The word now “distinguishes two conditions of a man, namely, his condition under the law, and his condition under grace,—that is, his natural and his supernatural conditions. For by nature we are children of wrath, but now God has rendered us accepted in the Beloved. This benefit was effected the moment you accepted Christ as your Savior. The “now” contrasts the believer’s new state with the old, which had passed away. Hallelujah!

And finally there is the word “therefore.” The word therefore is a powerful word that must not be taken lightly. It is a word that directs our attention to something that comes before. In this case the word points us back to what Christ has done for us. I love the way Romans is laid out. He begins in Romans 1 & 2 by defining the life without God. H continues to show us why we need Christ and He shows us the way of escape And the power of change that comes to us.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , ,

August 15, 2016 · 7:33 am

Are You a Victim or a Victor?

Peninsula Community Church

Are You a Victim or a Victor?

August 14, 2016

Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The passage before us today is a powerful passage of grace and comfort. As we look at this passage the question I ask of you is  this, Are you a victim or are you a victor? How do you live your life? I ask this because how you live your life will determine if you live as a victim or as a victor. The fact is we all feel sorry for ourselves at times. We all get down in the dumps but the difference is that we should not stay down. A problem arises when we get beaten up by the world and the circumstances we face over and over. Too often the result is that we begin to experience a victim mentality.

A victim mentality is realized when one blames others for their problems or they make excuses for the issues they face. Victims focus on the past. You know one is a victim when they are always looking back to what was rather than what is. They are looking back at what people have done to them. Victims focus on the hurts and the wounds they have experienced. The world around them is not fair and they feel they are always getting the raw end of the deal. Victims tend to never be happy or content. They would rather blame others and their circumstances than take responsibility for themselves and their actions. The result is they believe they are helpless and they feel they have no control over anything. Victims are also great manipulators as they use their victim mentality to control others and get what they want. How sad? How defeating that is?

When we look at our society we see a world that is filled with people who exhibit a victim mentality. They look back and blame others for their problems. By blaming others they do not take responsibility for their own actions and too often they justify their bad actions by what has happened to them. We see this act in the race issues of our day. We see this in the lives of so many who have committed the heinous act of mass murder. Too often because they were picked on by others they took their anger out on others. So many believe they are victims and then use that belief as an excuse to sin and do wrong. They justify their sin because they are “victims.”

But that is not the story of true Christianity. That is not the story of a passionate follower of Christ. Why? It is because of passages like this that give us hope and give us the power to move from living under the thumb of victimization to become a victor over the issues of life. It was never God’s intent for us to live as victims but it was His desire for us to live as victors and overcome whatever the world throws at us. The fact is life is not fair but being defeated by the circumstances of life has never been a part of God’s plan. If so, Christ would have never come to earth as a human to suffer the shame He did. He would not have proclaimed that “It is Finished” on the cross. He would have never proclaimed “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Paul would have never stated that “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.”

So what does this passage offer us. First, we find that God is for us. What an amazing thought. The God of all creation; the God that formed the heavens and the earth is for me. He is on my side. He cares for me. Here is the larger message that is presented. Because God is for us I do not have to live a life of rejection which causes me to feel victimized. I can be free and live a liberated life without the entanglements of past sin or actions done to me. I can walk in Christ’s forgiveness and His loving touch on my life. Paul said “If God is for me who can be against me.”

That is why David, the little runt of the family, was able to confront the giant, Goliath. He had  confidence in the fact that God was with him. David made this proclamation. “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Then David said to the Philistine, “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” (1 Samuel 17:37, 45-46). Why did He have this confidence and subsequent success. It is because He knew God was with him. So today whatever giant you are facing know that God is with you. He is for you and He is fighting on your behalf.

Secondly, we cannot be charged with any sin that has already been forgiven. In our legal system there is legal defense called double jeopardy. Double jeopardy is a procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same (or similar) charges in the same case following a legitimate acquittal or conviction. In the spiritual realm, we have been forgiven and the debt of sin has been removed and yet the enemy of our soul loves to accuse us and fight us on the basis of past sin that has already been removed by way of forgiveness. This act of the enemy comes by way of intimidation. You see one with a victim mentality is easily intimidated and offended. They are filled will the guilt of past wrongs and hurts. But that is not the life of the victor.

Thirdly, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Think about that for a moment. There is not one thing on earth or in heaven that can remove us from His love. This means that we do not have to live in fear. Victims are controlled by fear. Fear causes them to reject faith and reject the hope that is in Christ. One of the greatest fears we have is to believe we are  unloved and unwanted. But here Paul assures us that there is nothing that can separate us from His love. You see His gift of love is not contingent on our actions or the actions of others in our life. It is not contingent on our circumstances. His love for us is based in the one giving the love and God loved us before we knew Him or had ever received Him through the Holy Spirit.

Paul asks Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” Tribulation equates to the everyday problems of life. This is interpreted as pressure and represents the pressures of life. The second word is distress which means the constriction we feel when we are under pressure. The word persecution is just that. It is the idea of being persecuted for the bad we do and for that matter for the good. Paul continues to define the kinds of issues that cause us to become unsettled. They are famine, nakedness, danger, and the sword. Paul is saying that none of these things will cause God to stop loving us because His love never fails.   

Notice too that in this passage Paul assures us of the love of God two different times. One of the principles of understanding Scripture is that when something is stated more than once it is important and we should take notice of the subject presented. Notice how God showed us His love. He loved us so much that He willingly chose to send His son as a gift to remove sin from our lives. He sacrificed Himself for us. Paul then poses this thought. If God is willing to give us His son is there anything that He is not willing to give us. You see this gift is the very essence of His love. Remember John 3:16. “For god so loved the world that He gave His only son.” God loves us and has sealed that love through the gift of His son.

Fourthly, Paul states that we are more than conquerors. Think about this for a moment, we do not have to live as a victim but we are victors. But notice the wording here. Paul states that we are more than conquerors. Think about it. Do you get it? We don’t just survive. We don’t just get by. We go beyond just conquering and we live victoriously. You see this means that we don’t simply exist. We don’t just do the minimum and expect success. We move beyond the status quo and the issue of being controlled by others and our circumstances to now live as conquerors. Listen to the words of Jesus on our behalf. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We are victorious because of the work of Christ in us and when we receive Him and live out His will and His word we will be victors in a victim’s world.

As believers we are only as good as the one we serve and follow. In this case, we are only as good as the god we serve. We can serve the gods of intimidation, fear, and victimization or we can choose to serve the God of love and dependability. Joshua of the Old Testament said it best. Choose you this day who you will serve. If you are going to serve Baal or the gods of this world then serve Baal. But if you serve God then serve Him with all of your heart, your mind, and your soul. Move from being victimized and enter a world of freedom and power that exists only as one follows whole heartedly after God.

Are you with me? Are you ready to live a life full of victory and power? I am and I commit myself today to do just that.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , ,

July 25, 2016 · 12:19 pm

The Spirit of the Lord Brings Freedom

Peninsula Community Church

The Spirit of The Lord Brings Freedom 

July 24, 2016

Good morning! To be honest with you I did not anticipate that I would be sharing this message this morning as I had thought I would be in Richmond welcoming our new little prince into the family. But, as He often does, God had a different plan. With that said turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 and let’s read together.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

As we look at this passage this morning let me ask you a question. How many times have you found that people reject the truth? Have you ever tried to share undeniable truth with someone and they defiantly reject the truth that you are offering? For us, who know truth, the truth seems so believable and right and yet, there are those around us who resist the truth and the path of righteousness. We find that such blindness to truth comes from two sources. First, the god of this world blinds us so that the truth is not revealed. Secondly, truth is rejected when there is a desire to believe a lie more than to accept the truth.

As we look around our world, we do not have to look too far to see the results of this around us. Notice how Paul starts this passage. Paul stated that there were problems but there is also hope. That hope is found in Christ. Paul also makes an interesting observation. He notes that Moses had to place a veil over his face because the people of Israel were not ready to receive the truth and thus they missed the hope that was available to them. In essence, Paul is saying that this was the way things were but that was not the way things had to be.

You see the reason Moses would place a veil over his face is that the Children of Israel could not see what God had done in Him. The reason was simple. The children of Israel had hardened their hearts and they were not ready to receive what God had done. They saw, but they refused to allow the work of God to make a difference in their life. They closed God out and they kept God at a distance. We see this evidenced in the way they lived. One moment they would be praising God and they would deny and reject Him in the next moment. Why was this? It was because the truth had not found its way into their heart. They were rejecting the truth and the ways of God.

Paul also addresses this when he makes the following statement in 2 Corinthians 4:3-11. He says and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Though different, Paul is presenting the same message. The god of this world had blinded the mind of the Corinthians so they could not see the light of the gospel. Their minds had been blinded so that the word of God cannot penetrate their heart. You see when we share faith with others we must understand that many have had their minds darkened and their minds cut off from the light of truth. But that is not the end of things.

Rather than give up we can stand strong as God promises us that the light can shine into darkness. You see no matter how dark one’s life might be the light of the gospel can penetrate the darkness. Notice what Paul says in our text this morning when one turns to God and the veil is removed, truth is revealed and life comes rushing in. Then Paul makes a powerful statement that should be held close to our hearts. He states that the Lord is a spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Because the Spirit of the Lord brings freedom we realize three things that come from the spirit of freedom.

First, the Spirit of the Lord brings freedom. By way of the spirit of the Lord there is freedom to receive the grace of God. By way of the spirit of the Lord there is freedom to change. By way of the spirit of the Lord there is freedom to live in truth and not in darkness that leads to a hardened heart.

I love one of the first messages that Christ spoke. It was the initiation of His ministry. We find it in Luke 4:18-19 that Jesus proclaims “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” The Spirit of the Lord is upon Christ and He has been anointed to proclaim the good news, to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. The ministry of Christ is to bring liberty and that liberty is available to those who turn to Christ.

Elmer Townes had this to say about revivals and the experience of witnessing the move of God in one’s life. He says that we are to seek intimacy with God rather than the hand of God. In other words while God moves in us He calls us to seek His intimacy. He wants a relationship. In his book “The Worlds Ten Greatest Revivals,” in regards to the great revival of 1904, Townes states The changed lives of converts resulted in reductions in crime, drunkenness, and gambling, along with increases in honesty, truthfulness and chastity throughout Great Britain. In America throughout the nation, political reform was effected as corrupt district attorneys, mayors, governors, senators and assemblymen were replaced with those perceived as honest. Why was this happening? It is because the Spirt of the Lord came and things began to change. The Spirit of the Lord brought freedom and change. How many would like that kind of change?

Second, the Spirit of the Lord shines His light in and the darkness goes. Now that is a powerful statement. You see He is the light of the world. In Him there is no darkness. In Him there is no shadow of darkness. He is the light. And where He is there is light as well. So yes, one’s heart and mind might be darkened by the god of this world but that does not mean that is where they have to stay.  It is for that reason that I love this year’s VBS theme. It is Following Jesus The Light of the World. He is the light. He brings hope and He brings us freedom. Jesus is the Word and it is the Word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light on our path.

Third, the spirit of the Lord comes to transform us into the image of Christ. You see, not only does the Spirit of the Lord change sinners but it changes us as well. First of all because Christ is in us, we find that we do not have to wear a veil. We have an open invitation into the presence of God. We can behold the glory of God. What is the glory of God? It is the character of God being revealed in us and through us.

Often I am asked what a mature Christian looks like. I would say to you today that a mature believer is one that looks like Christ. Are you being transformed into the image of Christ? Are you being changed? If the spirit of the Lord in us we will find that we are being transformed. Once again the idea of transformation is to be totally changed. We are not what we were and we are not going to be what we are now We are changing and we are being changed for His glory and for His honor.

We must understand that our model is not anyone person here on earth. We have some good role models but they are still human and humans will fail and will fall short of the glory of God. That is why Christ must be the model of our transformation. The spirit of the Lord transforms us into His image. How much do you look like Christ? That is the measure of your success and maturity as a believer.

Will you stand today in recognition of your need for the freedom that comes from Christ? Will stand and receive the truth that we need a revival in our hearts? Will you acknowledge that the revival must begin in us?

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as ,

July 18, 2016 · 7:04 am

Living Faithful in a Messed Up World

Peninsula Community Church

Living Faithful in a Messed Up World

July 17, 2016 

Luke 18:1-8 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Good morning! I would like to begin this message with a question. How many find that in light of the news and problems in our country, our community, and the personal issues you might face that there are times where you struggle to keep the faith and to live victoriously. As we listen to the news it seems that all we hear is negative. We struggle to know who to believe and who we can trust. We are also faced with so much corruption in government and around us that it baffles the mind. And then we get news that a loved has died and or they have received a serious medical diagnosis. Then flashed across the screen is the killing of more than 80 people celebrating the French Independence. The result is that we walk in fear, doubt, and insecurity rather than in faith.

 

As we look at the passage before us we find that Jesus, as He does so often, uses a story or parable to teach a spiritual truth. This time He speaks about a persistent widow who comes to an ungodly and unloving judge to present her case to him. She had been abused and had been treated unjustly by someone in her life. She was not a “happy camper” as life had cast a cruel blow on her. Her problem was that she had an adversary against her. How many of you feel you have an adversary or adversaries in your life? Bad news, health problems, lost trust have assaulted us until we feel helpless and all we can do is cry out for help. We have a tendency to search for help and do anything for help even it is the wrong thing.

In this case the only one she could call on was this judge who was ungodly and did not respect men. When she approached the judge she was persistent in her request for help. As a result, the judge finally gave in and honored her request to give her justice. The purpose of this story is that Jesus is making a comparison between the ungodly and non compassionate judge and a loving, compassionate God. His point was to show us that if an ungodly man can show that much grace and compassion to one that is persistent how much more will God love us and show us compassion. A second lesson being taught is that Jesus is encouraging us to be persistent. Don’t give up so easily. Don’t lose your faith as it is the basis of all we do.

It is noteworthy that at the end of the parable Jesus proposed a critical question. He questions whether or not He will find anyone faithful when He returns. Sadly, faithful people who really trust God and live for Christ day in and day out are hard to find these days. Jesus is questioning is whether or not His children will be found committed and dedicated to the cause of Christ? This is not just a rhetorical question but is one based on His discussion with the disciples in Luke 17. In Luke 17, Jesus details the mindset of the end times generation. Jesus compares the coming of the Lord to the time of Noah’s day. They were eating, drinking, and enjoying life for all of the wrong reasons with all of the wrong motives. They did not care about God and they did not care about the future. They were living hedonistic lives where it did not matter what they did as long as the flesh was being satisfied. There was no faith in God. Just as in the day of Noah, the greatest question of our time, is not conservatism versus liberalism or Democrat versus republican. It is whether men can live without God and that question, it now appears, will be answered in our own time.

Just this week I received word that a pastor I respected was ask to step down from the ministry he led. He had been the founding pastor and had seen the church grow to several thousand. In his farewell address, he noted that he had come to the place in his journey that he had begun to trust alcohol as a source of strength more than he trusted God. He had in essence become an alcoholic. I am not saying that alcohol itself is wrong but it can begin to control one’s life and make one numb to life and faith, if we do not keep it in the proper perspective. Why would Jesus be so concerned about our faith? You see what we put our faith in is what we begin to focus on. What we begin to focus on begins control us. You see this pastor began to trust the alcohol more than he trusted God. Rather than trusting God we begin to trust others, new philosophies, and things to help us.

It is noteworthy that Jesus deals with the proposed question he asked before He ever asks the question. I have been told that a good lawyer will never ask a question he does not already know the answer. Jesus was a master at teaching us. While he asked the question about faithfulness, at the end of the passage He ultimately gives the answer on how to live faithful in the first verse. Jesus begins the passage with this. “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Two things will help us remain faithful. Prayer and keeping one’s heart focused on God.

First, let us realize that to avoid faithlessness we must always pray. We must have a committed prayer life. Just as the woman who was persistent with the ungodly judge and unloving judge we should be persistent with God. This does not mean that God answers prayer just because we bug Him to death but He answers because He loves us and knows what is best for us. This is the very point that Jesus is making. If an ungodly and unloving person can do the right thing how much more can a good gracious God do.

Throughout scripture we are encouraged to pray without ceasing. In Romans 12:12 Paul tells us to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. In Ephesians 6:16-20 he tells us that in all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Then again in Colossians 4:2 Paul challenges us to Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. How do we overcome in a faithless world? We do so by continuing to pray. You see by praying we turn our focus on God and His ability to answer our prayers to see us through every situation.

Secondly, Jesus encourages us not to lose heart. I loved Ronald Reagan as president. He was a master at the one liners that spoke volumes. One such line was “Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.” You see the enemy’s desire is to intimidate and cause us to walk in fear. By walking in fear our effectiveness is diminished and our faith is shaken. The idea of losing heart is not a new topic. 2 Corinthians 4:1 says therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 states that we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. To lose heart is to lose faith so to avoid losing faith we should not lose heart. That may sound circular but it is true.

So how do we avoid losing heart. Look at these three things in these passages. My ministry is from God, so I don’t have to be discouraged when I feel fruitless and ineffective. Secondly, even though my physical man is dying, my heart is growing in faith and so I do not have to be discouraged no matter what comes. And finally no matter what I am called to, I am challenged to not grow weary but to stay focused on God’s calling in my life.

As we close, let me suggest a few things we can do to remain faithful. First, find some good news. While it may seem that there is nothing but bad news, that is rarely the case. Look for positive stories to lift your spirits. Sometimes we have to turn off the negative chatter. Let me ask how much time do you spend watching the news or reading negative stories about things going on in our world. Let me be clear here, I am not suggesting that we isolate or stick our head in the sand, I am saying however that we sometimes are discouraged by the overdose of negative news. Instead, I would suggest that we fill ourselves with that which is positive and good.

Second, read the Good News. Our faith is a story of hope even in the midst of dark times. Spend some time reading Bible passages about hope and resurrection. Or read through one of the gospels to be reminded of how Jesus brings hope in our struggles. The Bible is replete with stories of the impossible. These stories are great faith builders.

Third, give thanks for what you have. In the midst of difficult times, there are still things for which we can be thankful. Take a few minutes to consider all the wonderful ways God has blessed you. No matter what is going on in your life there is much to be grateful for and celebrate.

Fourth, serve someone. While we may not be able to do much about world issues like disease or terrorism, there are problems in your community where you can be part of a solution. Find places in your community to serve people in need. Seek and you will find. You will find those who need help and you can be the difference.

Fifth, don’t forget that God is still in control. He is still the king and He is still Lord. Regardless of what is going on around us He is still in control.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , ,

July 11, 2016 · 10:00 am

Jesus is the Door

Peninsula Community Church

Jesus is the Door

July 10, 2016

John 10:7-18 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.

Today, we will look at the last of our doors. In doing so we find that Jesus Himself is the door to faith and salvation. The one truth that must be realized more than any other is that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. That is not very politically correct in today’s environment, but it is true. One of the great lies that is being propagated in this society is that all roads lead to heaven. Others believe that if they only have more things in the plus column than they do in the negative column, they will make it to heaven. Still others simply deny that Christ exists and that there is no God. But each of these beliefs are false and are predicated on a lie whose goal is to diminish the grace and power of God. The result is a life lived without hope and no vision for a greater day.

As believers, we must know that accepting Christ is the only way to receive eternal life and freedom from past sins committed by us. Here is a fact that needs to be made. If, and that is a huge if, we never committed a sin in our life, we would still need to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. Through the Scriptures we find that Christ paid the ultimate price and He is the only one that can bring us life, hope, and security. When we consider this, it is noteworthy that many religions have leaders who have made great philosophical statements, but only Christ has died and has risen to bring us eternal abundant life. You see there is a huge difference between a great, encouraging philosophical statement and the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind. Jesus did not just die, He rose again to provide us the power to overcome sin.

As we understand these truths we are empowered to live for Christ in a new dimension. First, we find that Jesus is the door. He is not a door. He is the door. He is the one and only entrance way into salvation. If you have been a student of the word or have read through the New Testament you will know that Jesus often used the common place to illustrate Biblical truth. To fully understand the illustration before us we must understand the role and work of the shepherd in Biblical days. You see, sheep pens or folds were common fixtures along the country side around Jerusalem. Sheep pens were usually ruggedly built to hold the sheep. While most were different sizes, different shapes, and were built from different kinds of material; there was one thing that was common to all sheep pens. There was no door. The shepherd was in fact the door. It was his job to protect the sheep. He protected them from what might enter the fold and he kept the sheep from escaping or wandering off as they were so prone to do. It is for that reason that Jesus made the statement that no one could come into the fold without crossing through him. To come into the pen another way would make one a thief. There would be no other reason to come into the pen in any other way unless they wanted to rob the shepherd or steal the sheep.

Jesus communicated through this passage that there have been leaders who have tried to bring people in a different way but in so doing Jesus classified them as robbers and thieves. They have tried to circumvent the purpose of God and have tried to do things there own way. Too often there is desire by some to add to or take away from the Scripture to make it palpable but that causes one to rob and steal the truth of the gospel from others. They rob followers of Christ and those who need eternal life of the very existence of life and hope. They deceive through lies and half-truths.

It is my belief and I believe that it is borne out through Scripture that many of the issues we face today is a direct result of trying to reach God by a means that was never intended. We have tried to do things our own way and thus we have left God out of the equation. We give Him an honorable mention but He is not the center and the focus of our lives. People have been robbed of the truth. We have been left empty and have been robbed of the truth that we need to do what is right. That is why an angry black man can shoot and kill five policemen and wound another seven in Dallas, Texas. That is why a lone gunman can go into a gay bar and kill fifty people including himself. Because we have diminished Christ and have denied His existence, we are living with the morality that is birthed by such thinking which says there is no God and there is no moral high ground.

The second concept presented through this passage is that we are apart of the sheep fold. Know this, if you are a believer then you are in the fold with Christ. Through this passage we have an assurance that we have eternal life. While the thief comes to rob and destroy, Christ came to give us life. He came to give us abundant life. We do not just get by but we live with all of the life we have been given. One work of the thief is marginalize us and make us struggle with our position as a Christian. For that reason many struggle to know whether are they are in or if they are out. They walk with guilt, fear, doubt, and disbelief rather than with wholeness and freedom. The result is that they have become marginalized and weakened. The tendency therefore is that so much energy is exerted and too much time is spent trying to get what we already have.

A secondary result of this thinking is that we spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on our getting in and making sure that we are in and less time on getting others into the fold. Let me let you in on a secret that I hope changes your life and your focus. If you have accepted Christ, you are in. You don’t have to worry about being in or out. You are secure in Christ as you have been bought with a price. We do not need to settle for less than what God has given us. We have been given the riches of heaven and not the squalor and we have been commissioned to share that wealth with those around us.

You are secure in Christ. Listen to the words of Jesus and look at the chain of security we have in Christ. Those whom the Father chose for Himself, He gave to the Son. For those who belong to the Son, He also laid down His life. Those for whom He laid down His life, He also called to Himself. Those whom He called, heard His voice and followed Him. To those who followed Him, He gave eternal life. Those to whom He gave eternal life cannot be taken from His hand. That is the hope and promise of our life within the fold. So don’t worry and begin living as a passionate follower of Christ.

There is a third concept presented through this passage. Jesus makes an incredible statement: there are more sheep who are to be brought into the fold. They are not there yet but they will be coming because He has already chosen them and has ordained that they should be in Christ. Specifically, Jesus is referring to the Gentiles who have not accepted the call to enter through the door. But this can be applied to those within our sphere of influence and with those we encounter on a daily basis. Jesus had a vision of a larger sheep pen with a whole lot more sheep.

For us personally, we must come to terms with the inward focus that can haunt the local church. The church as a whole has developed a self-centered and inward focused life. As I have noted before we tend to spend a lot of time trying to secure our place in the sheep fold when we are already a member. The result is that we have become ingrown and indifferent to the world. We in essence don’t have a desire to see others come to Christ. Even if we do have the desire, we don’t act on it and we fail to bear witness to the greatness of God. Or, we believe that it is someone else’s job. But the truth is God has always given us new life and has awakened us from the slumbers of ingrown, self-satisfied, this fold-and-no-more attitudes.

I would like to issue a challenge to you. What if we turned our attention to the those around us for the next three months? What if we sought to share Christ with someone every day? What if we make the choice to bring others into the sheep fold? What if we took as much time trying to get others into the kingdom as we do trying to secure a place we already have? What a difference this would make. The sheep fold would be expanded and the kingdom of God would rejoice for those coming to Christ.

As we close today I would suggest that there are some who are struggling to understand their position in christ. They are continuing to struggle with knowing they are in or if they are out. Be assured, if you have accepted Christ you are in. Secondly, I would like to throw the gauntlet down. How many will focus their attention over the next few months on sharing Christ with others and leading others to the Door of faith? You will be amazed at what God will do.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

July 5, 2016 · 4:36 pm

Door of Opportunity

Peninsula Community Church

Door of Opportunity

July 3, 2016

Colossians 4:1-6 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Over the last few weeks we have looked at three different doors found in Scripture. We have examined the door of hope, the door of faith, and the door of invitation. Each of these doors teach us something about the grandeur of God’s grace and His love for His people. By examining the door of hope we found that our sorrows, our disappointments, and our troubles can all be turned into a door of hope. We also found that God uses our difficult experiences and the victory that comes from Christ as a means to reach others with a message of hope and comfort. Secondly, we looked at the door of faith and found that true faith is based on truth and reality and is not a rejection of either. And then last week we looked at the door of invitation and that Christ is at the door of our heart seeking an entrance way into our hearts because He wants to live with us and not just visit.

Today, I would like to look at a third door and that is the door of opportunity. As we look over the landscape of our current society and the condition of our world, we could be discouraged and we could sense that things are hopeless. If that is your reaction to where our society has fallen, your feelings might be justified because when we look at our world we find that sin and immorality is running amok. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Look at the issues that confront us today: Isis, mass shootings, extreme liberalism, financial crisis, broken homes, an ever growing drug culture, the destruction of the moral fiber of our nation, the acceptance of all kinds of sexual perversion, and so on. As we deal with these issues, we need to know that the problem is not guns. The problem is not gay and lesbians. The problem is not drugs. We have lost our moral footing and it seems we are on a slippery slope headed to destruction.

But, while things may seem bleak and hopeless let me remind you that the Valley of Achor; the valley of sorrow, disappointment, and trouble can be turned into a door of hope. God wants to transform us and He wants to use us to transform our society. The fact of the matter is that God is providing ample opportunity for us to share the message of grace and hope to a world that is hurting, fearful, and discouraged. There is also a door of faith that allows us to step into the unknown and the dark places of our lives. We are also reminded that Christ is standing at the door of our heart and is seeking access into our inner most being. Do we have a long way to go? Yes! But there is hope!

Why do I believe there is hope? First of all we find that Jesus is the Word made flesh. A couple of weeks ago Clayton and I had a conversation about how the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us. While this is a passage that can be easily quoted, it is harder to grasp the concept in its fullest sense. The Word, the King, the God of all creation became flesh and dwelt among us. He did not come to dwell outside of our lives as some disconnected energy or force but He came to dwell in us. Here is the point. As believers we know that the Word became flesh and therefore we know that He lives in us and has the power to bring change. And because Christ is in us we become Christ in the flesh to those we encounter. In other words, Christ is wrapped up in our personalities. He is manifested through our lives. The Word became flesh, He dwelled among and now He lives in us so that we can touch the world.

Just a couple of days ago my sister-in-law made bacon wrapped corn on the grilled. She wrapped the corn with bacon and then replaced the husk and then grilled it. When we ate the corn we found that the corn had the flavor of bacon. We carry with us the flavor of Christ with us wherever we go. We exude His odor and flavor as we live out life.

The second Scripture reminds us that if He is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself (John 12:32). Notice that it is He who is lifted up. It is not our church. It is not our doctrine. It is not our personality. Jesus said that if He were lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself. So here is the question? Where do you see Christ being lifted up in your life? Where is He being manifested as the Lord of your life? Where is He living through you? If these things are evident in you God will provide a door of opportunity for you to share love with others. He will draw people to you because He is being lifted up. By lifting up Christ you will find that Jesus will draw all men to Himself. Remember what Jesus said. He stated that we are the light of the world and that light can not be hidden (Matthew 5:14). We are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). We can effect society for good or bad. Paul also reminded us that we are ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are His representatives in this world. We have been called to go into all of the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15-18). Note that we do not make ourselves salt, or light, or ambassadors. We are already salt and light, and we are ambassadors because of Christ living is us.

Imagine if we grasped these two primary doctrinal ideas. If He has come into the world and has invaded our hearts and our lives and if He is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself. What else could we ask for. Our job is made easier as it takes the pressure off of us. We manifest His presence in our life and we lift Him up and He does the rest.

How is this accomplished? I would submit to you that Paul gives us an outline of how this is done. First, it begins and ends with prayer. Paul prayed that God would open a door of opportunity to share Christ with others. His prayer was for himself but it was others focused in that He wanted be an effective minister of the Gospel. Let me ask you a question. How often do you ask God to open a door of opportunity to share your faith with others? How often do you ask God to lead you to those who need God? I can tell you from personal experience that if you seek God and ask God to open doors, He will.

Let me share with you a personal illustration on how this works. It is not some story of grandeur but it is one that illustrates the power of prayer. Almost every morning I pray that God would open a door of opportunity for me to share my faith with others. I did that on Wednesday morning. When I woke up I found that the sump pump in the basement had a leak. I examined the problem and went up to Ace to get the part. I quickly grabbed the part that I thought I needed and made my way to the cashier. In doing so, I passed one of the employees that I knew. I greeted him but his answer was less than a joyous one. He seemed to be discouraged. He was with a customer so I could not talk with him. When I arrived home, I found that I had picked up the wrong part and had to go back to Ace to return it. When I went to the cashier I found that the cashier was none other than the person I had encountered easier and sensed that something was up. So I asked him again, “how are you?” I noted that he did not sound very good before. He turned to me and thanked me for asking and noted that his wife had a lump on her neck that has raised some concern because she has battled cancer before. I told him that we would be praying for him and asked if there was anything I could do for him. I noted that we believed in the power of prayer and the fact that God is able to do an amazing work. I also noted that we would mention his request to our congregation. He thanked me and stated that he felt better already. You see I lifted Christ and invited Christ to do His work in this young man.

Secondly, we need to walk in wisdom toward those that are outsiders. The point here is that we must meet people where they are and we must focus on answering the questions they are asking. Too often we try to answer questions that people are not asking. We have done a disservice to God and His kingdom by showing a lack of wisdom toward those who do not know Christ. We must also understand that those we encounter are not the enemy to be destroyed or hated but they are a creation of God who needs Christ. You see, sometimes, we expect others to live as believers when they have not accepted Christ. And then, we also try and slam the Bible down their throats rather than building relationships.

Thirdly, we make the best use of our time by watching for opportunities to share the love of Christ. Paul is saying is that we should not waste the opportunities that are presented to us. I love one of the themes of the VBS. The kids participating in VBS are encouraged to look for ways they see God blessing. I would encourage you to watch for God opportunities to share Christ with others and then step through those doors as they are opened to you. If you are sensitive to the work of God in your life, He will open doors. When we are faithful to obedience in this regard, He is faithful to open doors.

Fourth, let your speech be gracious. Notice two things here. Our speech is to be seasoned with salt. Salt is a preservative but it also adds to the taste of food. But too much salt turns one off. If we read Scripture we know that we do not need to become salt, we are already salt. I had a friend that when he would sit to eat, he would automatically reach for the salt and add it to his food. He would never check the saltiness of the food he would simply add the salt and then he would readily admit that he had added too much. Why do we need to have the right seasoning? It is so that we know how to answer those with whom we encounter.

In the final analysis, if we ask God for open doors, He will do so. When that happens we must go through the doors with grace, wisdom and through obedience. And then we will find that God will do a great work in and through us.

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

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,