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6-1-1999 Preacher's Magazine Volume 74 Number 04 Neil B. Wiseman (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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MAGAZINE

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 1999

V o lu m e 7 4 • Num ber 4

A tribute: Randal E. Denny’s ministry is a model for us today. Neil B. Wiseman

Words have the capacity to bless or to blast. Randal E. Denny

39 en Mini Instead of shooting our wounded, we need to restore people. Randal E. Denny

Interim Editor: Neil B. Wiseman Assistant Editor: Cindy Osso Highpoint Editor: David J. Felter

Consulting Editors: Bill M. Sullivan, Director of the Division of Church Growth, Church of the Nazarene»W\\bm W. Brannon, Di­ rector of Pastoral Ministries, Church o f the Nazarene* Norman G. Wilson, General Editor, The Wesleyan Church

Contributing Editors: General Superintendents, Church o f the Nazarene: John A. Knight, William J. Prince, James H. Diehl, Paul G. Cunningham, Jerry D. Porter, Jim L. Bond • General Superintendents, The Wesleyan Church: Earle L. Wilson, Lee Haines, Thomas E. Armiger • Superintendents, Evangelical Friends Church: Stanley Perisho, Maurice Roberts, John P. Williams Jr., Howard E. Harmon • General Superintendent, Churches o f Christ in Christian Union: Dan Tipton • General Conference Secretary, Brethren in Christ Church: R. Donald Shafer

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International VersionM The New Testament in Modern English (phillips), Revised Student Edition, by J. B. Phillips, translator. (niiv®). Copyright © 1973,1978,1 984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Copyright 1 958 ,1960,1 972 by J. B. Phillips. Reprinted with permission of the Macmillan Publishing Publishing House. All rights reserved. Company.

Quotations from the following versions are used by permission: The Living Bible ( t l b ), © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 The Contemporary English Version ( c e v ) . Copyright © by American Bible Society, 1991,1992. All rights reserved.

The Jerusalem Bible ( j b ), copyright © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd., and Doubleday, a division of The Message ( t m ). Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Williams New Testament, The New Testament in the Language of the People (william s), by Charles B. The New Revised Standard Version ( n r s v ) of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Chrsitian Educa­ Williams. © Copyright 1 937 ,1966,1 986 by Holman Bible Publishers. All rights reserved. tion of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. King James Version ( k j v ). CONTENTS

EDITORIAL Making the Church a Family ...... 38

T h a n k s , B r o t h e r , f o r S h a p i n g O u r M i n i s t r y ...... 2 R e s t o r i n g G e n t l y t h e F a l l e n M i n i s t e r ...... 39 Neil B. Wiseman L o v e T h a t S t o o p s ...... 40

FEATURE Celebrating Our Heritage: A Church with

W h a t P e o p l e R e m e m b e r A b o u t Y o u r M i n i s t r y ...... 4 a M is s io n ...... 44 Neil B. Wiseman E n jo y in g Y o u r R o a d t o Em m aus ...... 49

COLLECTION OF S e r v e in L o v e ...... 50 RANDAL E. DENNY WRITINGS C o u r a g e f o r M i n i s t r y ...... 51

Is Y o u r P a s s p o r t R e a d y ? ...... 5 M inistry— a Passion, N ot a Profession ...... 52

T h e M o s t N e g l e c t e d M in i s t r y in t h e C h u r c h ...... 9 TRIBUTE POETRY W e P r e a c h C h r i s t C r u c if ie d ...... 11 A W ord of Encouragement ...... 10 A t Y o u r S e r v ic e , L o r d ! ...... 1 2 Neil M. Robertson

Pa s t o r a l M i n i s t r y : A F r o n t S e a t in H u m a n Randy Denny, Servant of God ...... 53 E x p e r ie n c e ...... 1 6 Marvin J. Pace

S u n d a y S c h o o l I s M o r e I m p o r t a n t t h a n W e STEWARDSHIP T h in k ...... 1 7 Smart Investing: Allocating Your Assets to T h e o l o g y o f t h e C h u r c h —W e A r e Fa m i l y ...... 1 8 Prepare for M arket Changes ...... 43 Pensions and Benefits USA, Church o f the Nazarene T h e S e c r e t o f V ic t o r io u s L iv i n g ...... 1 9

J u s t a P a r i s h P r i e s t ...... 2 3 PASTOR, BE ENCOURAGED

P r e c io u s M o m e n t s o f W o r s h ip ...... 2 4 God Wants Our Attention ...... 48 C. Neil Strait W h a t I L e a r n e d f r o m R e c e iv in g P a s t o r a l C a r e ...... 2 5 WORSHIP AND PREACHING HELPS T o B e U s e d o f G o d ...... 2 6 W orship and Preaching Helps ...... 54 W h a t I s S u c c e s s in M i n i s t r y ? ...... 3 0 Randal K. Hartman

S erendipities o f W o r k a n d W it n e s s ...... 3 1 HIGHPOINT V ic t o r y T h r o u g h S u r r e n d e r ...... 3 2 H ig h p o in t ...... 81 W a r m h e a r t e d U p l i f t f o r t h e D o w n h e a r t e d ...... 3 6 David J. Felter

Cover Photo by Michael Lewis The cover photo is Randal E. Denny preaching at Los Angeles First Church on the occasion o f the congregation’s centennial celebration. First Church at Los Angeles is the church founded by Dr. Phineas F. Bresee. The text of Denny’s sermon fo r that historic milestone, “Celebrating Our Heritage: A Church with a Mission” is published on page 44.

The Preacher's Magazine is published quarterly by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2923 Troost Authors should address all articles and correspondence to Editor, The Preacher's Magazine, Ave., Kansas City, MO 64109, Address all correspondence concerning subscriptions to your de­ 10814 E. Broadway, Spokane, WA 99206. Self-addressed, stamped envelopes should accom­ nominational publishing house. Copyright 1999 by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City. Canadian pany all manuscripts. GST No. R129017471.

The Preacher’s Magazine • June, July, August 1999 EDITORIAL

who loved ministry. His satisfac­ tions showed in his editorials and his selection o f articles and themes. Preaching held a high priority for him; conscientious, lifelong sermon preparation made him an interesting biblical preacher. His sermon files are models of resources, thought, and innovation. Denny loved people, and they knew it. Wor­ ship from his perspective was supposed to glisten with encour­ agement, hope, and the power of the gospel. Since his home-go­ ditor Randal Earl Denny’s ter more than 16 years o f service ing, I was privileged to attend a home-going at age 61 on as beloved pastor of Spokane worship service at Valley Church September 9, 1998, shocked Valley Church and after 9 years that had his fingerprints and Preacher’s Magazine readers as effective editor of the Preach­ commitments all over it— espe­ around the world. He was er’s Magazine. His impressive cially in the variety and quality Eby human standards much too earlier pastoral service has been o f the music. young to die. And his heavenly outlined elsewhere. In this issue, Randy and I used to serve summons came so suddenly, however, we especially wish to neighboring Nazarene pastorates readers and colleagues had no underscore Randy’s impact on in Denver. Though nomadic opportunity to offer support or ministers through the pages of church members sometimes say good-bye. the Preacher’s Magazine and transferred between our church­ All of us were inspired, how­ through his books. Though that es, their frivolous spats never af­ ever, to learn that Randy was in­ impact is huge and eternal, it is fected our friendship. We worked volved in the thick o f ministry to difficult to fully comprehend and together in youth camps, where I the last minute. On Thursday, he measure. But we know that for learned firsthand what a formi­ told Ruth he had finished his the Preacher’s Magazine, it in­ dable competitor he could be. Sunday sermon, “Is Your Pass­ volved producing 36 issues, de­ When we were younger and port Ready?”— a sermon he also veloping approximately 3,200 trimmer, we went to the YMCA planned to use as the final chap­ printed pages of material, writ­ together. Once we drove to ter o f his next book. He looked ing 36 editorials, reading and Bethany Nazarene College, now forward to officiating at a wed­ processing more than 2,700 SNU, to recruit Christian teachers ding scheduled for Saturday. manuscripts, making hundreds for our communities. On the Col­ Then, on Friday evening, at the of phone calls, originating un­ orado District, we worked on the precise moment of his heart at­ numbered memos with the Naza- same district committees, shared tack, he was giving pastoral care rene Publishing House team, and workdays at the Lakewood Dis­ by phone to a grieving widow. responding to extensive corre­ trict Center, tested our district su­ Randy never regained con­ spondence with readers. perintendent’s patience with our sciousness, though he lived until I have known and appreciated questions and our eagerness to Wednesday. And as a heavyheart- Randal Denny for many years make everything more up-to- ed church gathered for worship along this ministerial journey. date. I cherish those memories. on Sunday morning, their pain Thus you will understand my joy While serving as academic was lessened when a staff mem­ when Dr. Brannon asked me to dean at Nazarene Bible College, I ber read his last sermon, “Is Your express our combined thanks to nominated Pastor Denny as a BY NEIL B. WISEMAN Passport Ready?” even as their Randy’s family. Gratitude to his professor o f preaching— an as­ Interim Editor pastor was losing his fight for his wife, Ruth, and their daugh­ signment he would have graced. Colorado Springs earthly life in a Spokane, Wash­ ters— to Shannon and her hus­ I helped edit his fine book on the ington, hospital. band, Guillermo Berghusen; and Lord’s Prayer, The Kingdom, the We regret the fact that ad­ to Shelley and her husband, Rich Power, the Glory. As preparation vanced publishing deadlines kept Pedersen, and their three-year- for this issue of the Preacher’s us from producing a tribute issue old son, Kaston, whom Randy af­ Magazine, I recently had copies o f the Preacher’s Magazine earli­ fectionately called “the little of all his books in my hands— er. Randy understood such pub­ guy.” quite a body o f literature for one lishing realities, as w e hope you Crafting this issue reminded minister to create. will. me again and again that Randal Though our paths did not Randal Denny’s death came af­ Denny was a competent pastor cross often enough in recent

T he P re ac h er’s M agazine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 2 BENNER LIBRAF EDITORIAL Olivet Nazarene Univ KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS years, we always picked up our tion authenticates ministry our Brother Randy did, energized friendship where we had left o ff Pastor Jeff Jeffries, Denny’s by this incredible sentence from [he last time. lifelong friend and colaborer, Paul: “It’s resurrection, resurrec­ Randal Denny understood connected the joy and sorrow o f tion, always resurrection, that ministry and did it well. His bal­ our human loss and the heavenly undergirds what I do and say, the anced concepts o f ministry show homecoming when he wrote in a way I live” (1 Cor. 15:32, tm ). in the articles reprinted in this tribute: Concerning the future o f the tribute issue. As I combed Randy Denny was one o f the Preacher’s Magazine, I have been through back issues o f the best men I’ve known. He’s now asked to serve as interim editor. I preacher’s Magazine, recurring where he toiled for a lifetime am pleased to be a pinch hitter. ideas were frequently addressed. to be . . . sharing thoughts Old-timers may remember I was Let me share several: with the Wesley brothers . . . editor once before— years ago— • Preaching is primary. When Martin Niemoller . . . Spur­ before many of our present read­ preaching is done right, geon . . . Paul.. . probably ers were bom. Randal Denny’s God miraculously trans­ getting permission to conduct inspiring imprint, however, will forms the preacher’s word a men’s choir ... and most continue. My task will not be too into His message to congre­ likely helping Peter update his difficult because Randy had al­ gants. filing system. But most of all, I ready completed much work on • Pastoral care informs know he wants to spend time several upcoming issues. preaching, produces eager with Jesus, whom he loved If you have suggestions for the hearers for preaching, and with all his heart and served future design or format o f the keeps a pastor in touch with faithfully all his life. Preacher’s Magazine, write or fax what is really important in To the Head Shepherd of the Dr. Wilbur Brannon at Nazarene church, community, and Church, the Preacher’s Magazine Headquarters. He is a genuine culture. staff and readers offer thanks for friend o f ministers. He is also our • Pastoral ministry creates ex­ Randy Denny’s friendship and devoted advocate, effective lis­ traordinary satisfaction, service. We are grateful and bet­ tener, and a trend-setting leader. provides a fulfillment o f ter for his ministry, life, friend­ Dr. Brannon is eager to make the calling, and makes us part­ ship, and editorial talents. Since Preacher’s Magazine an effective ners with God in human re­ resurrection is central to the resource for contemporary min­ demption. gospel we preach, we expect to isters and w ill welcome your • Leading worship as a parish meet again— maybe soon. There­ concerns and comments. priest is among the noblest fore, let’s live and do ministry as Every blessing. p m privileges a mere mortal can ever experience. Real worship, our amazing wel­ come into God’s exalted presence, must never be trivialized by divisive atti­ tudes about style, form, or musical preferences. • Fallen ministerial col­ leagues need gentle care from us. • Our Holiness heritage is well worth understanding, cherishing, and proclaim­ ing. • The love of a congregation is among life’s most delight­ ful possessions. • Disappointments and hin­ drances are almost always temporary. • Creativity, imagination, and high standards are pivotal components of effective ministry. • Allowing people to see your heart and share your affec- !

T he P re ach er ’s M ag azine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 3 FEATURE

ministry in the following ways: 1. God’s incredible love. “Ht; taught us, There’s nothing you can do to make God love you more; there’s nothing you can do to make God love you less.’ Though each Sunday would bring a new and cap­ tivating sermon, the always clear and unchanging heart of each mes­ sage would remain the same: No matter what, God loves you just as you are.” 2. Help for everyone in every sermon. ‘As Pastor Denny would preach, his caring yet con­ ditorial note: In this Ran­ and letters to his flock, never miss­ vincing voice would give each soul dal Denny tribute issue, the ing an anniversary or birthday. enough inspiration to make it focus is his modeling of min­ While his desk was being cleaned, through the upcoming week, no istry rather than a sentimen- sue cards were found already ad­ matter what lay in store. Although M. I tal memoriaL That’s the way dressed and waiting to be mailed to some sermons were intended to Randy would want it. I have tried to people in the church.” reach a certain crowd specifically, underscore important lessons from his our pastor always made sure to put pastoral ministry that demonstrate FAMILY NIGHTS AT THE something in each sermon for every­ competence, balance, and anointing. PARSONAGE one.” What follows are remembrances of “Shannon and Shelley (Randal’s 3. Listening was a key skill. Denny’s ministry from colleagues and daughters) reminisced that there “Throughout my life, Pastor Denny church members that other pastors was lots of laughter in their family has been a prominent mentor and a might wish to emulate. The question while growing up. The family usual­ figure of morality. Even during his “What will people remember about ly spent Monday evening together as own tough times, he would put his me?" calls every minister to great family night. They would get into problems aside to lend a listening commitment. —NeilB. Wiseman their pajamas, pop popcorn, play ear.” games, and watch home movies.” 4. Pastoral care is remem­ A HEALER OF HURTS bered forever. “When I was six “This big man remembers walking EXTENSIVE AND CREATIVE years old, an overwhelming tragedy into the Valley Church years ago car­ SERMON FILES struck my family. A plaguing disease rying too much baggage from past “Randy had a well-developed file ripped through my home, hurting experiences. There I was met warm­ system, which he gladly shared with one, yet capturing us all. Though I ly by another big man, a man I his staff. Debbie Weisen, the chil­ could not fully comprehend our en­ would later call ‘Pastor,’ and still lat­ dren’s pastor, said, ‘I have gone into counter with this brutal disease, I er, ‘Friend.’ The pastor allowed time his files to find just what I needed was forced to watch my mom help­ for gende healing and encouraged for my children’s work and material lessly endure a tremendous amount this big man. The big pastor had for helping parents. It is a gold mine of pain as the cancer slowly took its quick humor and a hardy laugh that to draw from.”’ course. And though my mom was a reflected a big soul. The big pastor strong woman, with time, the cancer knew from a past ministry hurt how STAFF SELECTION defeated her strength, leaving her to be healed by a loving God. It’s not “The pastor had assembled a with only medications and God’s hard to walk in step with a pastor unique staff. None was a clone of mercy to rely on. Amid all our suf­ who walks in step with the Master.” the pastor but, rather, was encour­ fering, pain, and strife, Pastor Denny aged to be an individual who shared was always there with a soothing MINISTRY TO HIS FAMILY BY NEIL B. WISEMAN a common passion for Christ and for message of faith and hope.” “Randy considered it a great hon­ biblical principles. And it worked.” 5. Worship energizes ac­ or that he was able to baptize both tion. “Pastor Denny showed me of his daughters, take them both in­ REFLECTIONS OF A TEENAGER what worshiping God is truly about. to church membership, perform Chrissy Murphy, the first baby He taught me that in order to fully both their marriage ceremonies, and bom in the Valley Church after the believe in God, I must be willing to perform the dedication of his grand­ Dennys arrived, is now in high stand up for my beliefs no matter son, Kaston.” school. Thus Pastor Denny is the what is at stake. Therefore, I must only pastor she has ever known. In be accountable and stand firm. After KEEP-IN-TOUCH MAIL MINISTRY a high school English essay, she all, if you don’t stand for something, “Randy consistently wrote cards wrote about her memories of his you will fall for anything.” PM

T he P reacher’s M agazine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). It is disobedience to Jesus for us to set dates and construct timeta­ bles for God to follow. Many sin­ cere but immature Christians have been duped by purveyors of false prophecy. I have a cartoon of a scraggly fellow holding a sign that says, “The World Is About to End.” Onlookers hear him as he looks at his wristwatch, saying, “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six .. Friends, don’t trust anyone And what will be the sign that who insists, “I know when Jesus 1 Thess. 5:1-1 1 they are about to take place?” is coming.” Nobody but God verything was planned and ' (Luke 21:7). Obviously Chris­ knows! Self-styled prophets preparedr and paid for. Frank tians in Thessalonica expected “think they are the center o f the Scheibe, our Work and W it­ an immediate return of Jesus. universe and God’s purpose is to ness team coordinator, So, when will He come? serve and bless them. As these handed out our tickets with Curiosity seems to provoke one-dimensional people get old­ writtenE instructions concerning people to construct timetables er and haven’t long to live, they our baggage and information on instead of getting their passports become convinced the end is what we would need. Then he ready. Every era since Jesus’ as­ near. ‘If I’m gone, what’s the pur­ remarked, “Don’t forget your cension has experienced events pose of keeping the world passports— or the airplane will by which sincere people predict­ around? The last days must be leave without you.” ed Jesus’ return. Studies of the coming.’”1 I went home, got out my pass­ end times are referred to as “es- Since Jesus is coming and since port, rechecked the expiration chatology,” from the Greek word we don’t know when, how are we date, glanced painfully at my eschaton, meaning “last things.” to live as Christians? We must be passport photograph— and re­ Apparently Timothy’s report prepared to meet Jesus at any membered that if you look like brought back to Paul carried a time. Is your passport ready? your passport photo, you desper­ request from the Christians, ately need the trip! “What are the times and dates of To Have Yowr Passport Ready, Getting in line for our flight Jesus’ return?” And, “What is go­ Be Alert (vv. 1 -7) and, later, passing through cus­ ing to be happening?” Jesus warned His disciples, toms in Guatemala, we were in­ Perhaps rephrasing their ques­ “Be on guard! Be alert! You do structed, “Have your passports tion, Paul wrote, “Now, brothers, not know when that time will ready!” In other words, our rela­ about times and dates we do not come” (Mark 13:33). In light of tionship with the United States need to write to you” (v. 1). He Jesus’ warning, Paul tells us government had to be kept up- had explained Jesus’ position on three things. to-date and officially certified on that subject already. With a tinge First, Jesus will come for the pages of our passports. of impatience, he wondered, us in suddenness and sur­ Paul has just written about the “How many times do I have to prise: “The day o f the Lord will believers who died “in Christ” tell you?” come like a thief in the night. (4:16). He explained that they He adds, “For you know very While people are saying, ‘Peace will be resurrected to meet Jesus well that the day o f the Lord will and safety,’ destruction will come when He returns. Now Paul come like a thief in the night” (v. on them suddenly, as labor pains seems to prod the believers in 2). In other words, “You know on a pregnant woman, and they Thessalonica to have their pass­ precisely that we cannot know will not escape” (w . 2-3). ports ready when Jesus returns. precisely!” Moments before as­ A preacher said to some Their relationship to God must cending into heaven, Jesus said friends, “Do you think Jesus will be kept up-to-date and have “his emphatically, “It is not for you to come tonight?” seal of ownership on us, and . . . know the times or dates the Fa­ One after another responded his Spirit in our hearts as a de­ ther has set by his own authori­ with the idea, “I don’t think so.” posit, guaranteeing what is to ty” (Acts 1:7). In the clearest Then he quoted, “The Son of come” (2 Cor. 1:22). Like Jesus’ possible language, Jesus said, Man will come at an hour when disciples, they too wondered, BY RANDAL E. “No one knows about that day or you do not expect him” (Luke “When will these things happen? DENNY hour, not even the angels in 12:40).

T he P re ach er’s M agazine • Ju ne, July, A ugust 1999 5 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

Public opinion echoes secular Puget Sound area. The walls day. When the time comes, they skepticism, crooning, “Peace and shook and the seats trembled. are ready. Jesus says, “What I say safety.” However, public opinion That mother cried out, “Oh no! to you, I say to everyone: makes a poor substitute for Not yet!” ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:37). Paul truth. Through the preaching o f Are you ready? Be alert! urges those Christians at Thessa- Noah, God warned the world of Second, Jesus will find lonica to keep on watching and the coming Flood. Yet the truth some people unprepared waiting for the day o f the Lord’s o f it never reached beyond eight and unaware: “Let us not be return. They should avoid the ar­ persons— until the rain got out like others, who are asleep, but rogance of setting times and of hand. God warned Sodom, let us be alert.. . . For those who dates as though they know but they wouldn’t listen either— sleep, sleep at night, and those something no one but God until the brimstone and fire who get drunk, get drunk at knows. And they should avoid spilled out o f the sky with de­ night” (w . 6-7). Paul’s word for living without the readiness to struction. Now Paul writes, “De­ “sleep” suggests people who are meet Jesus whenever God choos­ struction will come on them sud­ insensitive and out of touch with es to send Him for us. Be alert! denly, as labor pains on a reality. Unprepared to meet the pregnant woman.” Their final Lord, they procrastinate— “some To Have Your Passport Ready, separation from God will occur other time”! He characterizes Be Armed (vv. 8-10) in an instant. The Greek gram­ them as “drunk”— having lost Following the imagery of a mar indicates that the destruc­ control of making good decisions military camp on alert, Paul por­ tion not only “will come” but al­ and proper responses. trays the soldiers as equipped for so is in the process on its way A man went to get his friend the demands facing them. now. The wheels are in motion. out o f a motel. The friend was First, enjoy your perfect Jesus referred to the process as “You know coming out from a drunken stu­ protection in Christ: “Since “the beginning o f birth pains” por. Breaking the silence, the we belong to the day, let us be (Matt. 24:8). drunk said, “My problem is not self-controlled, putting on faith Paul warns, “The day o f the precisely whiskey. I use whiskey to run and love as a breastplate, and Lord will come like a thief in the away. My trouble is the nothing­ the hope of salvation as a hel­ night.” Under the cover of dark­ ness I find when I take a serious met” (v. 8). In this first letter of ness, Jesus will unexpectedly that we look.” Grabbing his friend’s arm, Paul, he makes use o f the virtues come— one awesome surprise. the drunk added, “I have lost of faith, hope, and love. He will In his first letter sent back cannot God! Where can I find Him?” develop the thought more fully home from Swaziland, Jan Jesus said, “As it was in the in his later letters. We remember Weisen told o f a conversation at days o f Noah, so it will be at the his eloquent “Hymn of Love” in a missionary’s home. It centered know coming of the Son of Man. For in which he concludes, “Now these on the topic o f a recent break-in the days before the flood, people three remain: faith, hope and by thieves— even while the mis­ were eating and drinking, marry­ love. But the greatest o f these is sionaries slept. Jan commented, precisely!” ing and giving in marriage, up to love” (1 Cor. 13:13). “In Swaziland, it is no longer ‘if the day Noah entered the ark” Still later, Paul will develop the thieves break in,’ but “when (Matt. 24:37-38). Don’t get the imagery o f the soldier’s pro­ the thieves break in.’” caught unprepared and un­ tective armor in Eph. 6. But Paul’s warning is not “if Jesus aware. Be alert! here, early in his ministry of comes again” but “when He Third, Jesus will receive writing, Paul portrays “faith” and comes again.” In Revelation Je­ the ones watching and wait­ “love” as protective armor for sus said, “I will come like a thief, ing: “But you, brothers, are not the Christian’s spirit and emo­ and you will not know at what in darkness so that this day tions— his heart. Until Jesus re­ time I will come to you” (3:3). Is should surprise you like a thief. turns, “hope” is the helmet that your passport ready? You are all sons of the light and protects the Christian’s mind and During the Easter season of sons o f the day. We do not be­ thoughts as he faces tough cir­ 1949, a woman took her son to long to the night or to the dark­ cumstances. Because o f Jesus the movie theater in Tacoma, ness. So then, let us not be like and in Jesus, we have it made. Washington, to see Cecil B. De- others, who are asleep, but let us He equips us for the difficult Mille’s film The King of Kings. be alert and self-controlled” (w. times of these last days. We are The Crucifixion scene dramati­ 4-6). perfectly protected in Christ. Be cally showed the sky getting The children of “the light” armed! dark, the earth shaking, and have offered their lamps to Je­ Second, enjoy your abun­ rocks falling. She whispered to sus, the Light o f the World. The dant provision through her boy, “That is the way it will Lord has given the flame. The Christ: “For God did not ap­ be when Jesus comes back.” At camp flickers with prepared sol­ point us to suffer wrath but to that moment, a quake jolted the diers waiting for the break of receive salvation through our

T he P re ac h e r ’s M agazine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 9). This him, graciously give us all later instructed Timothy, “Preach program of serving Jesus until things?” (Rom. 8:32). Drawing the Word; be prepared in season the Lord returns is not an “iffy” on the resources of God through and out o f season; correct, re­ plan— if you can hold out, if you Christ, you can go home and buke and encourage— with great can endure enough suffering so “sleep w ell when the wind patience and careful instruction” God will like you, if you can blows” ! Be armed! (2 Tim. 4:2). We enjoy assurance build up enough points to win Third, enjoy your continu­ the more w e are brought to un­ God’s favor. J. B. Phillips trans- ing presence with Christ: derstand God’s perspective. ' lates, “For God did not choose us “He died for us so that, whether I have counseled and prayed to condemn us, but that we we are awake or asleep, we may with people struggling over the might secure his salvation live together with him” (v. 10). idea that God demands perfect through Jesus Christ our Lord” William Barclay noted, “The man performance as a condition of (v. 9). God has proposed and who has lived all his life with His continuing love. That atti­ planned and provided for your Christ is never unprepared to en­ tude promotes discourage­ ultimate salvation. Meanwhile ter the nearer presence of ment— for who can give perfect God equips you, not only for sur­ Christ.”2 Many people in the performance? I can do nothing vival but for winning! church as w ell as outside the to make God love me more; I Toward the end of his life, ex­ church need to learn that vital can do nothing to make God love perience had taught Paul a valu­ Christianity is neither a creed me less. When that biblical truth able lesson: “My God will supply nor a ceremony, but a life con­ revamps my perception of God, I all that you need from his glori­ nected with Jesus: “We may live find great encouragement. Do ous resources in Christ Jesus” together with Him.” you know why I love Shannon (Phil. 4:19, p h i l l i p s ) . Therefore, Dr. Paul Orjala’s daughter, and Shelley? I love them, not for you can give your best service Public Jeannie, was a small child when what they do, but for what they and best efforts for Jesus and she asked, “Does Jesus have to are. They are my children! We trust patiently that God will see stoop down to get into our Christians need to keep remind­ you through until Jesus comes. opinion hearts?” ing each other o f who w e are— An old ranch hand applied for Moved by the profound God’s children. He loves us, not a job. His oral resume simply thought, Paul replied, “Yes, Jean­ for what we do, but for what we stated, “I sleep w ell when the makes a nie. Jesus does have to stoop are! wind blows.” The rancher was down to get into our hearts.”3 Encourage one another. The puzzled by his words but needed poor That’s the Good News— Jesus Bible says, “Each helps the other help badly, so he hired him. does stoop all the way down to and says to his brother, ‘Be A few nights later, high winds the level of our deepest needs— strong!”’ (Isa. 41:6). We all need swept across the prairie. The substitute and sets up camp there. With His encouragement. , rancher got up quickly and went inner energizing presence, we Bart Starr, the great quarter­ out to check. The windmill was are armed and equipped to con­ back o f the Green Bay Packers properly adjusted to ride out the for trutli. tinue until He returns in person! football team, made a deal with 1 storm. The gate was tied with an The royal chaplain thought he his son to encourage good extra rope. A canvas tarp was should read verses to Queen grades. For every A that Bart Jr. tied securely over the haystack Mary of Orange as she was dy­ brought home, Dad would give and anchored down firmly with ing. She responded, “I have not him 10 cents— that was back in pegs. Everything remained in left this matter till this hour.” the 1960s. fine shape. At the bunkhouse he And we can have our spiritual One Sunday the Packers had a found the old ranch hand sound passport ready for that parting terrible game. Bart Starr didn’t asleep. Then he understood hour. Be armed! do well. It was a long plane ride those words, “I sleep w ell when home. As he arrived home, he the wind blows.” To Have Your Passport Ready, found a handwritten note from Paul is not calling us to a ner­ Be Assured (v. 11) Bart Jr.: “Dear Dad. I thought vous, twitchy, fearful watch until Paul concludes, “Therefore en­ you played a great game. Love, Jesus comes— hoping somehow courage one another and build Bart Jr.” Taped to the note were by might and by perseverance to each other up, just as in fact you two dimes! , put up with everything. No, our are doing” (v. 11). There are times when we all readiness comes by depending First, inspire assurance by need a little encouragement. Be on our ongoing, personal, up-to- encouraging one another. assured! date relationship with Jesus. God Encouragement is a tremendous Second, inspire assurance does not expect us to just get by: ministry! We do that best by by building up each other. ! “He who did not spare his own pointing one another to God’s This became one o f Paul’s fa­ Son, but gave him up for us all— Word: “Encourage others by vorite expressions for inspiring how will he not also, along with sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9). Paul spiritual growth and maturity.

The P r e a c h e r ’s M agazin e • June, July, A u gu st 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

The Greek word for “build up” is words one of us can give another sounded so good and exciting made of two words put togeth­ the greatest happiness or bring that Buster Moore wanted to go er— “house” (oikos) and “build” about utter despair.” Nearly also. Buster ran into a problem. (demo). It portrays the building 3,000 years earlier, the Bible He did not have a passport. And up o f a house, a row of blocks at said, “Some people like to make he did not have a birth certifi­ a time. Isaiah talked about the cutting remarks, but the words cate upon which a passport is “word of the L o r d ” as being “pre­ of the wise soothe and heal” founded. Strangely enough, cept upon precept, precept upon (Prov. 12:18, t l b ) . Buster Moore wrote to Texas for precept; line upon line, line up­ Enduring persecution and dif­ a birth certificate— and Texas on line” (28:13, k j v ) . By adding ficulty, but anticipating the day has no record of him being born. God’s Word truth upon truth and of Jesus’ return, Paul would have Since Buster Moore has not been words of encouragement upon us be filled with assurance: “So officially born, he could not get a words of encouragement, we go on cheering and strengthen­ passport to join us in the sky, fly­ learn to build up one another. ing each other” (v. 11, phillips). ing to Guatemala. One believer linked to another Is your passport ready? Be And I wonder how many peo­ believer and to another believer alert! Be armed! Be assured! ple yearn with expectancy to join builds up the unity we share in In 1979 my passport had ex­ the excitement when Jesus Christ: “You also, like living pired. It was no longer valid and meets us in the air— but who stones, are being built into a up-to-date. Unexpectedly I got a will miss it all because they have spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5). surprise phone call from the Los never been born again! Nicode- Words have the capacity to Angeles District office. I was of­ mus had been a fine person, bless or to blast. In a country fered a free trip to go on a Work schooled in religion and selected church of a small village in Croa­ and Witness project in South to the governing board o f his re­ tia, near the beginning of the America. I was thrilled until I got ligious community; but Jesus 20th century, an altar boy assist­ Words have out my passport and discovered said to him, “No one can see the ing the priest at Mass accidental­ it was inadequate, and time had kingdom of God unless he is ly dropped the glass of wine. The run out. I missed a wonderful born again” (John 3:3). village priest struck the altar boy tie opportunity of service and fel­ The Bible tells us that Jesus and gruffly shouted, “Leave the lowship and experience— all be­ will come to take His people to altar and don’t come back.” cause I had been careless and heaven: “Nothing impure will He never did come back to capacity to neglected keeping up-to-date. I ever enter it, nor will anyone church. He became Tito, the said, “Never again will I be who does what is shameful or atheistic Communist leader o f caught without my passport up- deceitful, but only those whose Yugoslavia after World War II. Mess or to to-date.” But I have become names are written in the Lamb’s At about the same era, an altar careless once again— and I don’t book o f life” (Rev. 21:27). Is boy served Mass in St. Mary’s have my passport ready today. your name written down? Have Cathedral, Peoria, Illinois. He, blast. Neglect is a sad thing! you come to Jesus to admit that too, dropped the wine glass. He I wonder how many people you are a sinner? Have you be­ wrote later, “There is no . . . ex­ have grown cold and careless to­ lieved on Jesus as your Savior? plosion that can equal in intensi­ ward the Lord. Jesus condemned Have you confessed your sins to ty o f decibels. . . the sound o f a the church in Ephesus: “You have Him? What must you do to be wine [glass] falling on the mar­ forsaken your first love. Remem­ saved? The Bible says, “Believe ble floor o f a cathedral in the ber the height from which you in the Lord Jesus, and you will presence of a bishop.”4 have fallen! Repent and do the be saved” (Acts 16:31). The bishop that morning, John things you did at first. If you do In the last chapter o f the Bible, Spalding, with a twinkle in his not repent, I will come to you Jesus announces twice, “Behold, eye, whispered gently, “Someday and remove your lampstand I am coming soon!” (Rev. 22:7, you will be just what I am.” from its place” (Rev. 2:4-5). 12). Is your passport ready? PM That boy grew up to become Is your passport to heaven up- 1. Bruce Larson, Luke, vol. NT3 of The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, one to-date and ready to go? Don’t Communicator’s Commentary, ed. Lloyd J. of the most eloquent spokesmen let anything hinder or stand be­ Ogilvie (Waco, Tex.: Word Books, Publisher, for Jesus Christ. I remember see­ tween you and Jesus. Peter 1983), 249. ing his program on television writes, “Therefore, my brothers, 2. William Barclay, The Letters o f Philippi- ans, Colossians, and Thessalonians, in The during the 1950s, Life Is Worth be all the more eager to make Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia: West­ Living. your calling and election sure” minster Press, 1959), 238-39. What a difference the words of (2 Pet. 1:10). 3. Paul R. Orjala, Get Ready to Grow: A Strategy fo r Local Church Growth (Kansas City: those two celebrants made in the While making plans for our Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1978), 46. lives of those boys! Work and Witness team to go to 4. Treasure in Clay (Garden City, N.Y.: Sigmund Freud said, “By Guatemala in 1991, everything Doubleday, 1980), 10-12.

T he P r e ac h er ’s M agazine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 hat is the most neglected and appreciation and open the far more than they have re­ ministry in the church? door for former pastors to come ceived. Seek them out for your Ministering to ministers. freely anytime. Following Wayne church family. Out of deep gratitude, Hagemeier became a special joy. We need to minister to the Paul spoke of “Onesipho- For 14/2 years he served as pas­ wounded pastor. Remember Wrus, because he often refreshed tor. He stepped aside to retire. I again: “Onesiphorus . . . me and was not ashamed of my knew what he didn’t know: after searched hard for me until he chains. On the contrary, when he being out for a few months, he found me,” Paul rejoices. Often a was in Rome, he searched hard would feel isolated. So I invited wounded pastor pulls away from for me until he found me” (2 him to stay in our congregation pastors and people— but I urge Tim. 1:16-17). and be part o f our family. We cel­ you to pursue him or her. That During a very disappointing ebrated his birthdays and an­ pastor is worth salvaging to the time during my early ministry, niversaries with gifts of apprecia­ church. Befriend him or her. two pastoral friends took me to tion. His close friends became Three neighboring pastors and ilunch, Maurice Palmquist and our close friends. Pastor Hage­ two neighboring youth pastors Neil Wiseman. They taught me meier was one of my best sup­ have found encouragement and that day that we need each other porters. I love him! emotional healing and a lot of in the ministry. Too often w e get We need to minister to the love from my congregational fso busy that we neglect building unassigned pastor. The unas­ family. Some eventually moved networks among our peers. Un- signed pastor feels like “neither on to successful ministries, and : fortunately, when a pastor is fish nor fowl”— he often feels ill others have joined the ministry hurting, we either don’t know it, at ease among pastors and cer­ o f my church. Reach out to your ;0r we avoid getting involved. Ei­ tainly does not feel like a lay­ wounded pastoral friends. ther way the deep loneliness man. One pastoral family visited A ministerial friend got a fatal : feels like neglect and rejection. our church, having been voted case o f “staff infection.” We were Many years ago I resigned my out o f a church in a distant city. able to reach across the miles by jchurch with no place to go. Fellows from our church got a telephone to join hands in prayer When I attended the district as­ truck and moved the family to and encouragement. The Lord sembly, I was shocked that I had our community. They are among has brought him through the suddenly become invisible our most faithful families, having desert time and given him a among my colleagues. No longer contributed much to the ministry beautiful place in which to serve did I fit in. I felt very much of our congregation. The unas­ as pastor once again. And I know .alone. However, I learned to ap- signed pastoral families in my he would be there for me also. fpreciate the much-needed min­ church are some o f my closest A retired pastor of long-stand­ istry o f Onesiphorus— and have friends and best supporters. ing friendship wrote a letter tried to join his clerical order. We need to minister to the re­ about a pastor who had left his We need to minister to the for­ tired pastors. Never have they church under some kind of pres­ mer pastor. He has invested a been threats to me or my church­ sure. He had been a fellow pas­ part o f his life in the place we es. But I have met many who tor and friend long ago. Again, now serve. He knows the rules of feel pushed aside, unsure of by telephone, we shared and the game: stay away and don’t where they should fit in. Many prayed. He told me, “You are the interfere. However, as a succes­ BY RANDAL E. have found meaningful service only person who has called me.” sor, I have tried to express love DENNY on church staffs and have given Wounded pastors need some-

T he P reacher’ s M ag azine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

one to help them through the but give them time and space pray with the wounded pastor devastating experiences. I be­ needed for healing. and his family— and pray for lieve, also, that wounded pastors Fifth, open your church family them! Jesus is the Master of new need time for emotional and to them. Encourage the wound­ beginnings. spiritual healing to take place ed pastoral family to find and es­ Last spring during the riots in before they take their next as­ tablish friendships within your the Los Angeles area there were signment. That healing can be healthy congregation. many tragedies, but one o f the assisted by careful, loving, sensi­ Sixth, teach your congregation bright spots was a young Black tive friends who can join with to minister without reservation man named Greg Williams. When the hurting colleague in seeking to ministerial families. asked why he risked his life to the touch o f the Healer o f bro­ Seventh, help them to feel save a Hispanic man from a group ken hearts. Would you join me in loved and welcomed in your per­ of Black rioters, he said simply: “It the Order o f Onesiphorus? sonal and ministerial life. wasn’t a racial thing . . . it was just What can we do? Eighth, use your influence to a matter of human dignity.” First, we must take time to introduce them to district leaders. Mr. Williams went on to ex­ genuinely care. Many district superintendents plain, “That Hispanic man was Second, we must listen with­ are overloaded with letters of ap­ ‘me.’ I could identify with him out a censorious spirit. plication. Most o f them would because I, too, know what it is Third, we must keep utter con­ welcome your recommendation like to be treated unjustly. If I am fidentiality. and personal word of introduc­ not there for him in his need, Fourth, we must let them re­ tion. I have found district leaders who will be there for me in my turn to service at their own pace. to be eager to help if possible. need?” (Editors, Clergy Talk, Oc­ Do not push them into ministry, Ninth, and most important, tober 1992,4). PM

To Rudy 's M y

To be a fount o f blessing now Faith while the mighty billows love that will vanish fears; was Randal’s chief desire, roll, Love for the lost and lonely, To love the Lord and preach His faith shouting, “All is w ell!” love full o f pure intent, Word Love, perfect love like Christ and childlike trust inspire, Hope that abides forevermore, above, To lead saints to the cleansing hope that is fixed and free, His sweet encouragement. stream Hope for a crown o f glory soon, that flows from Christ above, hope for eternity; Soon Christ will bring Randy to He met this call, inspiring all, Hope that is sure and steadfast meet you, with faith and hope and love. now, transformed beyond compare, hope that will never fail, With his passport stamped and Faith that is free from worldly Hope in the Rock o f Ages here, ready care, anchored within the veil. for that meeting in the air. faith that brings tranquil rest. Ruth, Shannon, and Shelley, take Faith that will share our sister’s Love for the widows and or­ courage, care, phans, the victory bell now rings; faith that will meet the test; BY NEIL M. love that will dry their tears, The Sun of Righteousness will Faith in the fiery furnace there, ROBERTSON Love that brings calm and cour­ rise faith in the prison cell, Sunriver, Oregon age, with healing in His wings. PM

T he P r e a c h e r ’ s M a g a z in e • J u n e , July, A ug ust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

and failure— a loss of dignity. So, to this day, people are attempting to defy God and deify man. How­ ever, people are discovering that we do not have the moral re­ sources within us to live out our ideals. Only persons who come to Jesus, the Christ of the Cross, find moral and spiritual ability. We must preach the relia­ bility of the Cross. Paul writes: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of he birth of Jesus brought God clared, “For I resolved to know God. . . . God was pleased to us, but it took the cross of nothing while I was with you ex­ through the foolishness of what Jesus to bring us to God. The cept Jesus Christ and him cruci­ was preached to save those who telling o f Jesus’ crucifixion fied” (1 Cor. 2:2). believe” (1 Cor. 1:18, 21). sounds gruesome and gory, Too many preachers and Paul didn’t raise doubts and but in those terrible hours God churches have let the mighty questions. He didn’t peddle prob­ opened the way for you and me cross of Jesus drift into symbol­ abilities. He delivered the mes­ to come to Him. You may wonder, ism without relevance. People sage of the Cross revealed from Why not emphasize Jesus’ life in­ admire the simple life of Jesus, God himself. Naturally it doesn’t stead of His death? Paul would but they avoid the death of Je­ fit the preconceived ideas of the say, “You don’t know what you’re sus. They nod assent to the ex­ non-Christian. Therefore, he de­ asking. That would tear the heart ample of Jesus but deny the de­ spises the message at first. He *out of the gospel. ‘May I never mands o f Jesus. They do not would rather try to save himself boast except in the cross o f our object to the cradle o f Jesus, but than to let Jesus save him. Lord Jesus Christ’” (Gal. 6:14). they vigorously oppose the cross Pastor Dave Wilson was asked Samuel Rutherford said, “There o f Jesus. Why? “The cross means by a bride who wished to be 'are some who would have Christ death to human effort.”1 married in his sanctuary, “Would cheap; they would have Him We must preach the supe­ you put a drape or a veil over ♦without the Cross. But the price riority of the Cross. Paul the cross in your sanctuary? The will not come down.” The Cross wrote: “For the foolishness of young man that I am marrying •shows us how terrible sin is to God is wiser than man’s wisdom, comes from a family to whom God and how powerful Jesus’ vi­ and the weakness o f God is the Cross is offensive.” carious suffering is in liberating us stronger than man’s strength” (1 His mind flooded with scriptures from sin. Paul insists that “God Cor. 1:25). and hymns of the Cross. Finally he twas reconciling the world to him­ The message o f the Cross takes explained, “No, I can’t cover the self in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:19). you beyond the limits of intellec­ oak cross in the sanctuary. It stands , We must preach the pri­ tual evidence and impeccable for the Calvary cross.” Pastor Wil­ ority of the Cross. Paul logic. The message of the Cross son prayed, “O God, let nothing in wrote, “For Christ did not send came as a revelation from God’s my life and . . . church hide Your me to baptize, but to preach the wisdom, while philosophy is an cross— not attitudes, not ambi­ gospel— not with words o f hu­ invention of human wisdom. tions, not programs, not plans. To man wisdom, lest the cross of The message of the Cross has the cross let me be true.”2 Christ be emptied o f its power” never fit with the American Whoever believes our an­ f(l Cor. 1:17). dream. The theology o f the Cross nouncement o f the Cross will be We live in an era that views doesn’t sell well in an ascending saved! God takes great pleasure "Jesus as bad or mad. Surprising economy. However, since our in saving whoever believes. Peo­ numbers of people see Jesus and culture is in dark travail, we can ple may think the message of the the message of the Cross as the offer hope through the cross of Cross is crazy, but God says it is enemy— someone to despise and Christ. It reaches beyond human His power at work. PM ‘ridicule. Others pronounce Jesus wisdom. j as irrelevant— a crazy man with People who expected God to 1. Roy L. Laurin, First Corinthians: Where illusions of grandeur and with­ prove himself and enhance His cre­ Life Matures (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publica­ tions, 1987), 30. out meaning today. We must pro- dentials with visible power felt dis­ 2. Dave Wilson, “Would You Cover Up BY RANDAL E. t claim that Jesus is the unique, appointed with the Cross. To them Your Cross?” Wesleyan Advocate, July 17, eternal Son of God. Paul de­ DENNY the Cross demonstrated weakness 1989, 7.

The Preacher’s Magazine • June, July, August 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

nelius marks a new era. For the first time, a Gentile is publicly and officially welcomed into the Christian family without being required to conform to Jewish law. It has the echo of prophecy it Your Servi«, from Peter’s sermon at Pentecost: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17). While Peter stayed in Joppa, God was dealing with a Gentile Roman centurion named Cor­ lord! nelius more than 30 miles north in Caesarea. Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, pastor met a little boy casses, his trade was considered Caesarea was the official capital and asked, “Who made “unclean.” His house must be lo­ o f the Roman governor over the you?” cated no less than 75 yards outside province of Judea. Under the the city limits. In fact, a girl en­ governors Pilate, Felix, and Fes- gaged to a tanner without knowl­ tus, Caesarea was the headquar­ The lad replied, “To tell edge of his business, upon discov­ ters for the Roman occupation A the truth, sir, I ain’t done ery could obtain an annulment. army. yet!” He was still growing. The Residing in a tanner’s house, The Roman army was orga­ longer he would live, the more Peter gives evidence that preju­ nized by legions (6,000 men), opportunity life would give for dices were being broken down cohorts (600 men— 10 cohorts to growth. gradually. In Joppa a good Chris­ a legion), and centuries (100 At the end of Acts 9, Peter isn’t tian man traditionally considered men— 6 centuries to a cohort). A done yet— he is still being made an outcast was kind enough to centurion was a noncommis­ over by God’s grace. He is in a entertain Peter. That was unset­ sioned officer over 100 men. strange place for a Jew—staying tling to Peter’s preconceived Centurions were called “the in Joppa with “a tanner named ideas. His Jewish exclusiveness backbone of the Roman army.” Simon” (v. 43). was melting away. New Testament writers looked Peter is a follower of Jesus, Amazingly, God was preparing upon them with favor and re­ filled with the Holy Spirit, but Peter for the next important step spect. eight years after Pentecost still a o f the Church of Jesus Christ. Cornelius, centurion of the victim of prejudice against Gen­ The following episode (Acts Italian regiment, became a man tiles. All changes do not happen 10:23-48) finds Peter going to who disdained pagan deities suddenly and automatically when the home of a Gentile Roman of­ prevalent in his culture. Luke a person is filled with the Spirit. ficer and welcoming him into says, “He and all his family were For example, prejudice experi­ God’s family. That had never devout and God-fearing; he gave ences a slow, lingering death. It is been done before! generously to those in need and deeply embedded into one’s mind In writing the Book o f Acts, prayed to God regularly” (v. 2). during formative years. Preju­ Luke treats this coming event as One day an angel appeared and dices keep people separate from one of the great crises in Early explained, “Your prayers and those they fear or do not know. Church history. Luke described gifts to the poor have come up as Peter lived in a world o f preju­ Cornelius’s vision four times and a memorial offering before God. dice. Deep emotional barriers ex­ Peter’s vision twice. Not only is Now send men to Joppa to bring isted between Jew and Gentile, Acts 10 devoted to this major de­ back a man named Simon who is between men and women, be­ velopment, but also Acts 11:5-18 called Peter. He is staying with tween Roman and non-Roman contains a summary of the whole Simon the tanner, whose house (the conquerors and the con­ encounter, and Acts 15 setdes is by the sea” (w. 4-6). The an­ quered), between Greek and the issue. It is difficult to overes­ gel gave Cornelius directions non-Greek (the cultured and timate the importance of this and, by mentioning that Peter those considered barbarians), event. The break between Ju­ was staying with a tanner, gave a between freeman and slave, be­ daism and Christianity is sig­ clue that Peter wasn’t all tied up tween the ignorant man and the naled. Judaism was the religion with usual Jewish rigidity. wise man. Everywhere in the an­ of a nation. Christianity is a reli- God was setting the stage for a. cient world barriers labeled peo­ ------gjon for “whosoever will.” The remarkably new era in the ple “common” or “unclean.” break had to come! Church. He wasn’t through mak­ For a Jew, entering a tanner’s The meeting of Peter and Cor­ ing Peter yet. The Lord was home marked defilement. Since a

tanner handled dead skins and car­ T he P r ea ch er ’s M agazine • J une, July, A ugust 1 99 9 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

preparing him for an important Not everyone appreciates the being mixed together, all were new lesson. God was going to silences. In the monastery where then considered “unclean.” use Peter in ways he did not sus­ Leonardo da Vinci was painting The Lord gave Peter this visual pect. God was working in His his Last Supper masterpiece, object lesson to illustrate that tnan and through His man! monks grew impatient because the animals, symbolic o f the The Master isn’t done with us he stood in silence by the hour Church, had originated in heav­ -yet. He still desires to prepare staring at his painting without en. After the vision, “immediate­ each of us for a more effective using his brush. They expected ly the sheet was taken back to ' ministry and wider influence him to work feverishly to com­ heaven” (v. 16). The destiny of than we can see at the present plete his work in the shortest the Church is also heaven. God’s moment. God is at work, making possible time. Seeing him stand Church is broader than Jewish some things happen, preventing in silence for so long seemed un­ legal limits, beyond traditions some things from happening, productive to them. At their and cultures and confines of any and allowing some things to take complaint, da Vinci replied, “It is nation or race or institution. splace. when I pause the longest that I Those men and women re­ How can we be more effective make the most telling strokes claimed by God’s grace cannot .for God? By learning to be sensi­ with my brush.” be discounted or excluded! tive to His guidance and by re­ To learn God’s lessons well, we God had to change Peter’s sponding to His leadership. God must take time to meet with the thinking before He could change will not guide us where His Lord in our silent times and Peter’s behavior. Previous to his sgrace cannot keep us. We can places. vision, Peter would never have learn from Peter’s experience. God gave Peter a clear picture traveled with three Gentiles to of His truth. Thomas A. Carruth visit another Gentile’s house. ' We Must Be Responsive to commented, “Often the most im­ God was still at work remaking God's Lessons portant thing that happens in Peter. The Lord’s instructions God gave Peter these impor­ prayer takes place when you are were: “Get up, Peter. Kill and tant lessons during his prayer not talking at all. The insight, eat” (v. 13). time. “About noon the following the sense o f guidance may come With all his acquired back­ day... Peter went up on the during a time of quiet listening. ground and prejudice, Peter ar­ roof to pray” (v. 9). The flat What God has to say to us is al­ gued, “Surely not, Lord! ... I roofs o f Oriental houses were of­ ways more important than any­ have never eaten anything im­ ten used as places o f meditation thing w e have to say to Him.”1 pure or unclean” (v. 14). In the and prayer, quiet places away “ [Peter] became hungry and King James Version, Peter’s from the noise of crowded hous­ when a wanted something to eat, and words are: “Not so, Lord.” Ray es. God met Peter at his place of while the meal was being pre­ Stedman pointed out: “Obviously f prayer. pared, he fell into a trance” (v. you cannot be consistent and The Lord unfolds His lessons #erson is 10). During this wide-awake vi­ say, ‘Not so, Lord.’ If you say to those who pray. Prayer is our sion, God gave Peter an object ‘Lord’ then you must not say, communication with God by lesson: “He saw heaven opened ‘Not so.’ And if you say ‘Not so’ ,which we report our victories and something like a large sheet then He is not Lord!”2 and failures, as w ell as receive being let down to earth by its Sometimes there is inner con­ . our marching orders. Prayer four corners” (v. 11). The “sheet” flict between God’s guidance and must not become “using God” the Spirit. described is a nautical term for a one’s cultural backgrounds. But r but rather should involve report­ “sail.” Perhaps Peter had been Christianity will burst the wine­ ing for duty! To learn the lessons watching the large sails of fish­ skins of offending culture and God is trying to teach us, we will ing fleets from his seaside prejudice! If we take the Lord­ need moments for our appointed rooftop, and it became sugges­ ship of Jesus seriously, there will times and places to meet with tive to his vision. be profound conflicts with our :the Lord. “It contained all kinds of four- cultural value systems. God The great clock o f St. Paul’s footed animals, as w ell as rep­ changes our hearts in an instant 'Cathedral cannot be heard more tiles o f the earth and birds o f the o f conversion. But the Lord than a block or two above the air. Then a voice told him, ‘Get works at changing our thinking ^oar of London’s traffic as the up, Peter. Kill and eat’” (w . 12- in order to change our behavior. hour is struck. But in the silence 13). Jewish law had declared Many o f our thought patterns ‘ of night, the clock can be heard ceremonially “clean” those ani­ and responses have to be striking over a great area. And mals that chew their cud and brought under subjection to the iwe need times of silence, listen- have cloven hoofs. In Peter’s vi­ Holy Spirit. A perfect heart be­ : ing times, to hear the Voice so sion, animals considered “un­ fore the Lord is not equated with t often disregarded in the busy clean” were mixed in— not per­ perfect judgment or insight. God Walks of life. missible for a Jew to eat. And, helps us change the thought life

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so deeply embedded in our o f human weakness and slowness them together for the benefit of learned responses. to leam. both! “The voice spoke to [Peter] a The Bible says, “The steps of a second time, ‘Do not call any­ We Must Rest in God's Timings good man are ordered by the thing impure that God has made Peter didn’t have to wait long. Lord” (Ps. 37:23, kjv). The Spirit clean’” (v. 15). God was teaching God’s timing was perfect: “While guides those who listen. When Peter that His love and mercy ex­ Peter was wondering about the we are near enough to God to tend beyond all barriers. The meaning of the vision, the men hear His voice, the Lord’s direc­ voice spoke with rebuke to quit sent by Cornelius found out tions are always clear enough to calling “no good” what God has where Simon’s house was and follow! redeemed. We must not treat stopped at the gate. They called The eight-year-old son of a with disrespect or disregard any­ out, asking if Simon who was New York pastor made an ap­ one for whom Christ died! known as Peter was staying pointment to see his father. It And sometimes we treat our­ there” (w . 17-18). embarrassed his father to think selves as unclean or worthless. God is at work behind the his son had to make an appoint­ “Every pastor has heard good scenes. The Lord was making all ment to see him— that’s being people say, ‘I just can’t forgive the arrangements in order to ac­ too busy! myself. The things I’ve done are complish His purposes. God gave At the appointed hour, the boy | so bad that even though I know the vision and instructions to Cor­ arrived, marched into his father’s God has forgiven me, I can’t ac­ nelius in Caesarea at precisely the office, and sat down in the big cept myself.’ It often helps if we right time for the men to travel chair. After a pause, he said, can see that by this attitude we more than 30 miles, look up the “Dad, tell me: Just what do you are calling God a liar. We are address o f Simon the tanner, and know about God?” calling unclean what God has locate Simon Peter— as He had It was a testing moment. Fi­ called clean.”3 instructed. And they arrived at nally the father answered, “Not At a distinguished civic dinner, precisely the right moment! much, Son; but enough!” an elderly man was disconcerted Prayer must People speak of “chance” and That answer is hard to improve to find himself seated next to a “coincidence,” but I believe in on. If we’re talking about the infi­ quiet Chinese fellow. Wanting to God’s timings. The psalmist ex­ nite Creator of the universe, “not be courteous, however, he involve presses that confidence: “O Lord, much.” But through Jesus Christ leaned toward the visitor and you have examined my heart and we know enough to rest in God’s asked, “Likee soupee?” know everything about me. You care and His perfect timing. The Chinese looked at him, know when I sit or stand.. . . You William Cowper ordered a car­ nodded, but said nothing. Later, chart the path ahead o f me, and riage to take him to the Thames during the dinner, the Chinese tell me where to stop and rest. River; he was so despondent he was called upon to speak. He for duty! Every moment, you know where intended to commit suicide by rose, bowed, and made a 15- I a m .. .. You both precede and leaping from the bridge. Howev­ minute speech in impeccable En­ follow me, and place your hand er, the London fog was so dense glish about the sociological sig­ of blessing on my head. This is the driver got lost. Finally, after nificance o f the European too glorious, too wonderful to an hour o f tramping through the Common Market. Amid polite believe! I can never be lost to cold, swirling fog, Cowper de­ applause he sat down, turned to your Spirit!” (1 3 9 :1 -3 , 5-7, t l b ) . manded to be let out. As the his embarrassed Anglo neighbor, God has His times and places lines emerged out o f the thick and asked quietly, “Likee and people and purposes. The night fog, he discovered that he speechee?” Lord brings together those He was standing right at his front Let us never be condescending has been preparing separately; door! Moved by the caring provi­ to anyone in the great human fam­ He does this by the leadings of dence of God, he went in and ily. It is such an important lesson the Holy Spirit. The man in Cae­ wrote these words: to Peter and to us that the whole sarea is the product of God’s drama was repeated three times, a light given to Gentiles apart from God moves in a mysterious way threefold witness fulfilling the Mo­ Judaism. The man in Joppa is His wonders to perform; saic Law: ‘A matter must be estab­ the product o f Judaism and his He plants His footsteps in the sea, lished by the testimony of two or living encounter with Jesus. Pe­ And rides upon the storm. three witnesses” (Deut. 19:15). ter had the background o f insti­ The threefold reminder may have tutional religion but needed to Ye fearful saints, fresh courage jogged Peter's memory of Jesus’ be set free from its confinement. take. threefold command to him: “Feed Cornelius had the background of The clouds ye so much dread my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The Gentile freedom but needed dis­ Are big with mercy, and shall repeated vision illustrated God’s cipline and direction. God was break loving patience with the infirmities beautifully preparing to bring In blessings on your head.

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Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, through opportunities to serve: “In Love’s service only the But trust Him fo r His grace; “Peter went down and said to the wounded soldiers can serve.” Behind a frowning providence men, ‘I’m the one you’re looking Edwin Markham trusted a He hides a smiling face. for. Why have you come?’ banker with the settlement of an God can be trusted with the “The men replied, ‘We have estate. As a result, the banker be­ timetable of our lives! come from Cornelius the centuri­ trayed him and left him penni­ on.... A holy angel told him to less. Markham became bitter and We Must Respond lo have you come to his house so ceased being productive as a po­ God's Opportunities that he could hear what you et. God provides opportunities to have to say”’ (w . 21-22). One day, thinking and doo­ minister and serve. “While Peter The Lord put flesh on the les­ dling with his pen, Markham was still thinking about the vi­ son outline. Peter could unmis­ found himself drawing circles. sion, the Spirit said to him, ‘Si­ takably see that the Lord was in Making a large circle, he thought mon, three men are looking for it all. To love God is to serve about how God’s great circle of you. So get up and go down­ Him. How often God places be­ love takes us in— though unde­ stairs. Do not hesitate to go with fore us opportunities to practice serving! As his mind tried to them, for I have sent them’” (w . Sometimes real Chrisdikeness! How often He grasp God’s great love, inspira­ 19-20). makes our lessons spring to life. tion hit him once again— after In Oriental custom, the three A church building in Europe several years of deep resentment men stood outside and called for there is was bombed during World War and bitterness. He began to write Simon called Peter. God provided II. In the explosion, a statue of these familiar words: Peter an immediate opportunity inner Jesus was damaged— the hands He drew a circle that shut me out— to put this amazing object lesson were blown off. The statue has Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. into action! not been restored but remains But Love and I had the wit to win: Any learning program or les­ with missing hands. Beneath the We drew a circle that took him in. son must find application in the statue o f Jesus these words are Love reached across the gulf of arena o f real life. Biblical con­ now engraved: “Christ has no hatred; forgiveness showered cepts are given to make a differ­ hands but yours!” that banker. The joy o f the Lord ence in how we live. The Bible is God awaits a response to op­ flowed through Markham, and not an ivory-tower tourist guide, portunities He gives. “Then Peter once again he was able to write. but a manufacturer’s handbook invited the men into the house to Some of his greatest works fol­ on how to operate in real life. be his guests” (v. 23). These men lowed. The Lord provided homework for had walked more than 30 miles. God would have His people Peter in Lesson No. 1 immediate­ guidance Peter invited these Gentiles to be reach out to love across barriers, ly. When opportunity knocks at his special guests— a big first forgiving, helping, encouraging, some folks’ door, they are in the step, coming from his back­ lifting. He promises to give op­ backyard looking for a lucky and one’s ground. Legalism would protest, portunities for unlimited love. four-leaf clover! “I have never done this before!” An old physician told a friend, God helps His people to recog­ The language o f liberty in Christ “I’ve been practicing medicine nize opportunities when they cultural rejoices, “I have never done this for 30 years, and I have pre­ come. He sensitizes each disciple before!” scribed many things. But I have to opportunities for service. What a fantastic picture! In­ learned that for most o f what Many fail to recognize opportu­ side the house o f an outcast tan­ ails people, the best medicine is nity because it often comes dis­ ner, the apostle o f Jesus hosts love.” guised as hard work! grounds. two Gentile servants and a Ro­ The friend asked skeptically, A cartoon shows a pastor sit­ man soldier— all residing togeth­ “But what if it doesn’t work?” ting on his associate pastor’s er in fellowship. The Spirit o f He replied, “Double the dose!” desk. The poor associate is God was bringing them together, PM stretched out wearily. The pastor breaking down barriers, sweep­ says, “As my associate, the first ing out prejudices, and opening 1. Thomas A. Carruth, Total Prayer fo r To­ thing to learn is that vexations doors to a whole new era in the tal Living (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publish­ and frustrations are always Church o f Jesus Christ. ing House, 1962), 29. called ‘challenges’ and ‘opportu­ The Spirit of love draws be­ 2. Ray C. Stedman, Birth of the Body (Santa Ana, Calif.: Vision House Publishers, nities’!” lievers together. The angel in one 1974), 171. God interprets His lessons of Thornton Wilder’s plays says, 3. Ibid.

T he P reacher’s Magazine • J une, J uly, August 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

-« j brought me into the arena o f hu­ man experience— from birth to death. Do you know what power­ ful thought struck me as I drove home at midnight? I’ll tell you! I felt honored to be selected by God himself to tell the best news my people will ever hear. The good news of Jesus brightens the whole arena of human experi­ ence, from birth to death— and beyond! I don’t have enough Sundays left to answer questions nobody is asking. The Bible says, There is a time for every­ | \ iding home alone at mid- sion in life. Inwardly I rejoiced in thing, and a season for every f: night, I reflected on the day. the powerful symbolism as bride activity under heaven: a time < The morning hours were and groom lit the unity candle to be born and a time to die, I .spent working on a sermon together— an enactment recall­ . . . a time to weep and a time I liin the Psalms— one o f six ing God’s intent for marriage: to laugh, a time to mourn and favorites selected by my congre­ “For this reason a man w ill leave a time to dance,. . . a time to gation. By noon I sat with good his father and mother and be be silent and a time to speak friends who proudly showed me united to his wife, and they will (Eccles. 3:1-2, 4, 7). their new baby— born at home. become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). My involvement in the arena They rejoiced with broad grins After completing the legal mar­ of human experience gives over the arrival of a girl to com­ riage documents and obtaining meaning to God’s call to preach plement their three sons. A beau­ all the proper signatures, I ex­ the good news of Jesus. Seeing tiful family sharing with me a cused myself from the wedding the faces of my people in need beautiful event. reception and got in my car. helps me prepare the message By two o’clock I sat with a re­ I arrived at another home by from God’s Word. I am not inter­ tired couple in their front room. 9:45 p.m. Unexpected death had ested in “making the Scriptures She had fallen down a flight of stolen away a mother. She had relevant,” but in helping my peo­ stairs— at the church. The bruises been found dead, alone. Official ple see the tremendous rele­ and bumps and cuts proved the estimates placed her death as vance o f the Scriptures in the harshness of her tumble. This having occurred three days earli­ arena of human experience. couple have been faithful sup­ er. The son and daughter, both During my days at seminary, Dr. porters of the church and of me, married, had gathered with their V H. Lewis spoke in chapel. A line their pastor. If the doors of the families awaiting my arrival. he quoted from Milton has stuck church swing open, they are There is often that mixture of with me for all these years: “The some of the first to arrive. Do you emotions— sorrow over bereave­ hungry sheep look up, and are not need a Sunday School teacher? ment and delight in reminiscing fed.” With God’s help, I have tried She’s tremendous! Do you need a over a life that had influenced the with diligence to feed my “hungry room painted? He’s a profession­ family in special ways. I listened. sheep” on the nourishing Word of al— the fastest I’ve ever seen. We Death is reality. People hurt. But, God. Richard Baxter lectured at prayed for her soon recovery. once again, the human experi­ Yale University long ago with this At eight o’clock I stood on the ence of death and bereavement admonition: “Boys, preach to bro­ platform of the sanctuary with a has given me opportunity to build ken hearts and you will always be groom and his best friends as we bonds of love with my people. I’m up-to-date!”* watched the bride and her father not so good with answers; but Perhaps you’ll join with me in march with delight down the having experienced loss myself, I the prayer Harry Emerson Fos- aisle. The couple were upper- am comfortable just being with dick said before getting up to class students at Northwest Naz- them. Probably I never feel more preach: “Somewhere in this con­ arene College. It seems God is like an agent of God, His personal gregation is one person who des­ directing them toward urban representative, than when enter­ perately needs what I am going ministry. Eight years ago when I ing into the dark night of grief to to say; O God, help me to get at came to my church, she was a stand beside the people I love. him.” PM giddy, talkative, energetic junior In a sense, that was not a typi­ high girl. I’ve had the privilege of cal day. I’ve been a pastor long *Robert Schuller, Your Church Has Real watching her grow into Christian BV RANDAL E. enough to learn that there are no Possibilities (Glendale, Calif.: Regal Books, womanhood with a sense of mis­ DENNY typical days. Yet that one day had 1974), 131.

T he P re ac h er’s M agazine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

7J n \j fi !f\im

few decades ago, a na­ the kingdom of Christ. We had family ties. The people enjoy tional magazine referred worked side by side since I was a lively debate and discussion over to the Sunday School as boy, building our little church the lessons, but those classes “The Most Wasted Hour with our own hands. I can’t re­ form the basic framework of our of the Week.” That title member a single lesson from his local church family. The Sunday Awas wrong then, and it’s wrong quarterly, but his fond memory School class serves as the point today. Sunday School is more graces the walls of my inner of contact and personal support important than quarterlies and sanctum. Later, he and his wife that people need in an imperson­ promotional gimmicks. The in­ showered friendship on me and al society. I do not feel we have fluence of committed, godly men my young bride. completed the process of inte­ and women builds a powerful I can’t remember a single les­ grating a new family until we network in which to nurture son taught by John Hall and his have helped them find the fel­ Christians—new and experi­ wife, Evelyn, in our Upper Room lowship safety net of a Sunday enced, young and old. for high school students. But my School class. Even down in our church’s fur­ spirit was nourished toward Some experts see the Sunday nace room, my Sunday School spiritual maturity. They loved School as a powerful outreach teacher influenced me toward me— even when it might have tool. In my context, I see the Jesus. Our pastor’s wife, Mrs. been difficult. I kept busy punc­ Sunday School as a vitally neces­ Lyle Potter, was a classy lady tuating life with pranks. Howev­ sary family that conserves the with a twinkle of joy in her hap­ er, their home opened wide converts and builds a circle of py eyes. I still remember her in enough to accept me and my caring and sharing ministry. The that dimly lit furnace room, with rambunctious friends. We influences for godly living re­ her pupils gathered around her, learned and laughed together. vealed in the Sunday School as a model of Christian woman­ Sunday School was not a single, shine brightly in a world shad­ hood. I can’t remember a single isolated event, but the beginning owed by impure peer pressures. lesson, but my whole life has of another adventurous week to­ The distinct facial features of a been influenced by a gracious, gether. Out of love for Jesus, thoroughly prepared lesson may caring lady with an infectious lilt John and Evelyn adopted us as fade someday, but the glow of of laughter who pointed to Je­ their family. Though separated Jesus through sincere Christian sus. by many miles and distant years, men and women will linger until During the Friday night of our my affection and gratitude to He comes. citywide crusade, Dad and I sat them remain as bonds of love. Your Sunday School is more in the balcony of the church. My Sunday School teacher’s important than you think! It may While people sang a beckoning home modeled all that is good be avant-garde to diminish the invitation song, Dad asked me if and wholesome and Christlike— place of Sunday School, but I I wanted to accept Jesus as Sav­ far beyond the eloquence of his suspect you have yet to find ior. We walked together down words. something better. Marion the stairs and down the aisle to The church where I serve as Lawrence said, “First I learned to the altar of prayer. The first per­ pastor has been in double ses­ love my teacher, then I learned son kneeling beside me was Per­ sions for eight years, thus pre­ to love my teacher’s Bible, then I ry Dunn, my junior high Sunday venting me from going to Sun­ learned to love my teacher’s Sav­ School teacher. That white- BY RANDAL E. day School. However, our classes ior.” Your Sunday School is more haired gentleman loved me into DENNY are building a network of strong important than you think! PM

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o f the church is never in steeples or buildings or preachers or mu­ (\ sicians or programs. It is in the reflected glory of Jesus, who said, “Love one another.. . . All ul_ J__ men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one anoth­ er” (John 13:34-35). Even church families have problems in an atmosphere of love. Dr. Walt Lanman, our dis­ trict superintendent, read the following lines at a preachers’ meeting: Live churches have parking nscribed on the porch of a 3. That we indeed love one problems; dead churches don’t. parish church outside London another as Jesus models for us. Live churches change meth­ are these words: 4. That we accept everyone as ods; dead churches don’t. To all who are weary and significant because Jesus died for Live churches have lots of seek rest; each one. noisy youth; dead churches To all who mourn and long for 5. That we encourage one an­ don’t. comfort; other in spiritual growth by a bal­ Live churches evangelize; dead To all who struggle and desire anced participation in celebration, churches don’t. victory; class, and cell— public worship, Live churches are deficient on To all who sin and need a Savior; Sunday School classes, and small- workers; dead churches have To all who are idle and look for group discipleship units. surplus. service; 6. That we be true to our mis­ Live churches move out on To all who are strangers and sion: “To make disciples of Jesus faith; dead churches operate to­ want fellowship; in the power o f the Holy Spirit tally on sight. To all who hunger and thirst af­ and to exercise God-given spiri­ Live churches’ expenses ex­ ter righteousness; tual gifts for building up the ceed their income; dead church­ And to whomsoever will come: Body o f Christ.” es take in more than they spend. This church has opened wide her How do we accomplish our Live churches are filled with doors and, in the name of the Lord mission? tithers; dead churches with tip­ Jesus Christ, says to all of you, 1. We must encourage one an­ pers. Welcome! other to make conversation with Live churches grow so fast you That inscription belongs over God a way o f life. forget people’s names; in dead the door o f my church as well. 2. We must practice the churches everyone knows every­ Today I am finishing my pastor’s prayer o f intercession. body’s name— for years. report to the congregation and to 3. We must train our people Live churches support missions the district assembly. I have been in how to lead someone to Jesus enthusiastically; dead churches reflecting on the church— that Christ. care only for themselves. volunteer, redeemed family of 4. We must be sensitive to I’m glad for problems— even God. Born as an only, lonely and dependent upon the power within the church family! child, I have inherited a wonder­ o f the Holy Spirit. An appropriate prayer for any ful family— the church. The 5. We must give our people church comes from the doorway church has wrapped itself around opportunity to serve others and of the old rectory at Crowhurst, me in love and support and en­ make full use of their spiritual Sussex, England: “O God, make couragement like a big family. gifts. the door of this house wide My people give me a sense of be­ 6. We must be Christ-centered enough to receive all who need longing. My goal is that no one by learning to obey and teach human love and fellowship, nar­ will feel out o f place among us as “everything I have commanded row enough to shut out all envy, we gather at the feet o f Jesus. you,” as Jesus said (Matt. pride, and strife. Make its thresh­ I have a dream for my church 28:20). old smooth enough to be no stum­ family: I cut out an advertisement for bling block, but rugged and strong 1. That we glorify God in church steeples from a religious enough to turn back the tempter’s praise and obedience. magazine. The advertisement power. God, make the door to this 2. That we have an eager had emblazoned in big letters: house the gateway to Thine eter­ hunger to know the Bible as BY RANDAL E. “THE CROWNING GLORY OF nal kingdom, through Jesus God’s Love Letter to our world. DENNY YOUR CHURCH.” But the glory Christ, our Lord. Amen.” M*

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of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue (Acts 18:24-26a). Apollos had gone through formal training in Alexandria about Jesus and the Scriptures. He may have studied some of the Christian writ­ ings that had begun to circulate. Apollos was an eloquent speaker. “When Priscilla and Aquila ions Livin heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him young man said to his wrong side of fellowship, on the way of God more adequately” pastor, “Religion for my the right side of pardon but on (v. 26b). Apollos knew about the grandfather was an expe­ the wrong side o f power. life and teachings of Jesus, about rience, for my father it To use an Old Testament alle­ His death and resurrection; but was a tradition, and for gory, they are “out of Egypt” but he had either not known or not ne it is a nuisance!” not yet in the “land of full salva­ experienced the dynamic power Somewhere between the first tion.” Many have wandered in of the Holy Spirit. He had not yet md second generation, the joy­ the wilderness— and in the car­ encountered a personal Pente­ ful note o f victory was lost. The nality of Romans 7 instead of in cost. That’s the secret to victori­ victorious life faded into the tra- the conquest of Romans 8.1 ous living! From that moment iitions of keeping the church go­ Missionary Paul found the same on, Apollos’s ministry was never ng. The dynamic Spirit of God situation when he began his min­ the same. Encouraged by the ms lost in the shuffle. istry in the city of Ephesus. The brethren and empowered by the Dr. Alan Redpath, British pas­ busy seaport and western terminal Holy Spirit, Apollos went on to tor and Bible teacher, spent 10 of the trade route to the Euphrates Corinth to preach. years in the United States as pas­ had about 250,000 people. “While Apollos was at Corinth, tor of Moody Memorial Church Ranked with Antioch in Syria and Paul took the road through the in­ in Chicago. He traveled widely Alexandria in Egypt as one of the terior and arrived at Ephesus” as a popular speaker at Bible three great eastern Mediterranean (19:1). Paul stayed in Ephesus conferences from coast to coast. cities, Ephesus eventually disap­ from autumn of a .d . 52 until When he returned to Scotland, peared when the river silted up. spring of 55. He remained in Eph­ he shared his impressions of The harbor became a marsh, and esus longer than at any other American Christianity. While im­ the people relocated to escape place during his active ministry. pressed favorably with evangelis­ malaria. In Paul’s time, Ephesus As a result, Paul used Ephesus as tic outreach and missionary giv­ contained one of the Seven Won­ the center of his third missionary ing, Dr. Redpath noted: ders of the World— the temple of tour. The Roman province of Asia I must have observed a very Artemis, or Diana. The glory of pa­ was so thoroughly Christianized real hunger of heart among a gan Ephesus is but a dim memory by Paul and his team that for cen­ great number of Christians in with only a few fragments of bro­ turies the churches there were this land for the fullness of the ken marble left in the dirt. among the most influential in the blessing that God has for them After leaving Corinth, Paul vis­ world. In fact, their churches sur­ in Jesus Christ. Many Christians ited Ephesus on his way to Anti­ vived Turkish conquest until the are highly dissatisfied with their och, concluding his second mis­ Greek-Turkish war in 1923, when lives; are conscious of defeat sionary tour. Paul left his friends populations were exchanged. and frustration and long to en­ Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus During Paul’s stay, he wrote at ter into a deeper experience of and promised to return. He was least four important letters to what union with Christ. . . real­ gone about a year. During that Corinth from Ephesus, two of ly means in terms of practical year something happened in which exist in our New Testa­ daily conduct. Ephesus— the coming of Apollos: ment. Paul founded a great [He added,] Far too many Meanwhile a Jew named church to which Timothy later Christians have lived exceed­ Apollos, a native of Alexandria, was appointed as pastor. Accord­ ingly long on the right side of came to Ephesus. He was a ing to tradition, the apostle John Easter but on the wrong side learned man, with a thorough brought Mary, mother of Jesus, to of Pentecost, on the right side BY RANDAL E. knowledge of the Scriptures. He spend her last days in Ephesus. of forgiveness but on the DENNY had been instructed in the way As far as Luke’s record goes,

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Ephesus was Paul’s last work as a “How can I receive the power of secret of victorious living. I have free man. Shortly after leaving the Holy Spirit?” three important questions. Ephesus, w e’ll find Paul impris­ Paul didn’t ask about their stand­ oned or under guard to the end ing in the community. He didn’t For Victorious Living, Have You of the Book o f Acts. ask if they liked their preacher or Received the Holy Spirit? What did Paul find when he had adequate buildings. He never Those 12 Ephesian disciples arrived in Ephesus? asked about their records or finan­ had repented of their sins: There he found some disci­ cial stability or membership list. ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of ples and asked them, “Did you Paul didn’t even ask if there were repentance” (19:4). Apollos and receive the Holy Spirit when [or any spiritual ‘Achans” in the camp the 12 men had been baptized ‘after,’ margin] you believed?” or if they were straight theological­ unto repentance. They might They answered, “No, we ly. Uppermost in Paul’s mind was have been baptized by John the have not even heard that there the question, “Did you receive the Baptist, and if so, it had been 26 is a Holy Spirit.” Holy Spirit [after; since, k j v ] you years earlier. However, it may So Paul asked, “Then what “Far too believed?” mean they were baptized into baptism did you receive?” Dr. William Greathouse noted, John’s emphasis on repentance. ‘John’s baptism,” they replied. This question underscores According to Ray Stedman, Paul said, ‘John’s baptism many the theme of the Acts.. . . For John declared three great was a baptism of repentance. this reason Acts has been . . . truths: First,.. . forgiveness of He told the people to believe in called by some the Acts of the sins is possible before God only the one coming after him, that Holy Spirit. Within the few on the basis o f repentance....' is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, pages of this earliest church his­ [Second] John had the peo­ they were baptized into the tory we are confronted by no ple express their repentance in name of the Lord Jesus. When have lived less than fifty-seven references baptism . . . a symbolic act of Paul placed his hands on them, to the Spirit; the entire book is cleansing. . .. the Holy Spirit came on them, a commentary on the person Third, John announced that and they spoke in [“other lan­ and work of the Holy Spirit.2 One was coming who would guages,” margin] and prophe­ Maybe you have wondered, complete the work he had be­ sied. There were about twelve “Why has my religion not made a gun. Repentance is just a be­ men in all (19:1-7). long on the more vital difference to me? Why ginning with God.4 Probably these 12 disciples were don’t I ever see any results o f be­ John’s ministry brought people the imperfect results of Apollos’s right side ing a Christian?” God’s Word asks to “repentance and remission of incomplete preaching. Like Apol­ you today, “Did you receive the sins” (Luke 24:47, k j v ) . Baptism los, they had not received the Holy Holy Spirit [since] you believed?” is the outward symbol that our Spirit: “No, we have not even Perhaps you are saying, “But I’ve sins have been washed away. heard that there is a Holy Spirit” tried and tried to be a good Chris­ Apollos and the 12 men were (19:2). These 12 good men were tian. Something’s missing!” Person­ eager to learn about Jesus. They saved. If Abraham was justified by but on the al striving, “trying harder,” is not believed in the Christ John faith hundreds of years before Je­ the answer. Apollos and others be­ preached. They held no resis­ sus came (Rom. 4), those who re­ fore him had left those good men tance to learning more about Je­ pented of sin and believed on the wrong side in Ephesus straining and striving, sus. But they had not yet been coming of Messiah, as John the an achieving type of sub-Christiani- baptized with the Holy Spirit. Baptist had preached, would be ty! That’s not the full gospel of George Mueller said that the saved. Luke calls them “disciples,” of grace through Jesus Christ. night God’s Spirit filled him, he a common term for Christians. James S. Stewart said, “Wasn’t learned more in four hours about Christians today resemble the it too bad of those who taught the Scriptures than he’d learned 12 disciples in Ephesus more than them the rudiments o f the Chris­ in the preceding four years since they do the 12 disciples in Jerusa­ tian faith— to leave those poor becoming a Christian. lem after Pentecost. We know the innocents in their little boat with Apollos and the 12 men were facts, the history, the Bible, and nothing but oars! Not telling living for Jesus. They possessed the traditions. We have a grateful them that they might step a mast Christ but were not possessed by sense of forgiveness— but where’s and let loose a sail, for there was Christ. Imitating the life o f Jesus is the power? Where’s the dynamic always a favoring breath on the not adequate. It isn’t enough to Spirit of God? Where’s the added face of those waters!”3 know something about Jesus and dimension o f the Holy Spirit in­ To you straining on the oars, to try to follow Him. That’s why stead of the “falling down” believ­ trying to be “Christian,” the most the Sermon on the Mount seems er? It’s sad that powerless Chris­ important question the Bible rais­ to many people to be impossible! tianity sits around debating es for the disciple of Jesus is this: The Holy Spirit is not optional whether or not one can lose his “Did you receive the Holy Spirit equipment. He is the Secret to or her salvation instead of asking, [since] you believed?” That’s the victorious living. Apart from the

T he P r e ac h er ’s M agazine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

Holy Spirit, these disciples were be translated either ‘since you Pentecost, they had no idea He simply enthusiastic advocates of believed’ or “when you believed.’ was available for them. Jesus. They could speak with Translators therefore tend to fol­ They were like many people to­ feeling about the Carpenter from low their theological bias.”5 day for whom Christianity is simi­ Nazareth, the great Teacher, the It’s interesting that theological lar to courtship. It is always trying best Man who ever lived. They debates rage over whether Paul to put its best foot forward; it is ’knew all about Jesus’ life, death, said “since you believed” or “when striving toward some desired fu­ and resurrection; but they had no you believed.” As Dr. J. B. Chap­ ture goal. That’s the stage in comprehension o f the indwelling man pointed out, “In either case which we awaken to our own in­ Christ at Pentecost. These men their answer was No.... They adequacies. The more we try to had walked in all the light they knew nothing of the infilling and do better, the more we invariably had received, had repented and indwelling of the divine Comforter. fail because we’re attempting vic­ believed, had separated them­ . . . The gift of the Spirit is the lost torious living in our own strength. selves from the world, and may note in modem Christianity.”6 Courtship is an inner struggle. have suffered persecution. The 12 Ephesian disciples, as However, God intends Chris­ However, they had not received Apollos, did not know that God tian experience to be similar to the fullness o f the Holy Spirit. Un­ had given the promised Holy marriage. We are the Bride of til you have your personal Pente­ Spirit: “No, we have not even Christ, resting in a relationship cost, you can only partially under­ heard that there is a Holy Spirit” already attained. No more timid­ stand what God has done through (19:2). John Henry Jowett said, ity and tension and uncertainty; the coming of the Holy Spirit. The “How imperfect their equipment! we belong to Him. There’s the Ephesian disciples had only an in­ How inadequate their resources! joy of exploration and develop­ adequate and incomplete grasp of . . . The day o f Pentecost had ment in the secure commitment God’s grace. Perhaps Paul noted A personal come; the marvelous promises of marriage. That’s the stage j the inadequacy and incompetency had been fulfilled; the wonder when we discover that our con­ ’in their assignment in pagan Eph­ ministry had begun; but these demnation is taken away. We are esus. They had obviously made no disciples were still in the pre- enabled to do in the power of significant impact for Christ. Pentecostal days; they were be­ the Holy Spirit what we could How tragic to stand in the pulpit hind the spiritual times.” It’s im­ never do or be in ourselves. like that Sunday after Sunday, year is the possible to imagine the Early That’s victorious living! in and year out, with nothing vital Church without Pentecost! The Holy Spirit is available to all to say; to teach a Sunday School secret to Christian proclamation is no disciples of Jesus. We can partake dass without firsthand experience longer “only the Messiahship of of His Spirit and nature, which to draw upon; to head up a young Jesus, but the indwelling power makes holiness of heart possible. people’s organization, yet live a vi of the Lord. The Christian life We love and appreciate the Jesus morally defeated life; to be the fa­ [is] not just living for Jesus, but of history but need to experience ther of a family and a leader in the Christ living in the believer.”7 “the glorious riches of this mystery, church, but behave at home so that living! Those Ephesian believers did not which is Christ in you, the hope of his children mock religion! know of any divine enablement. glory” (Col. 1:27). Churches abound. Religious While John baptized with water, he The Holy Spirit is as available to activity goes on. Never has the pointed to the day when Christ us as He was to the disciples in Je­ church had better facilities and would baptize with the Holy Spirit rusalem and to the disciples in more people. But our great need and with fire. The first baptism Ephesus. When the Ephesian Chris­ is the power o f the Holy Spirit— was the washing away of a sinful tians heard about the Holy Spirit, the living, energizing, revolution­ past; the second baptism was God’s they were eager to receive Him. izing power that moved so gift of power to lead a pure life. mightily in the disciples after That’s why divine enablement is For Victorious Living, W ill You Be Pentecost! “Did you receive the necessary. The Christian needs the Filled with the Holy Spirit? Holy Spirit [since] you believed?” internal presence of God to experi­ Paul took the disciples of Apol- Millions of Christians are good, ence victorious living. los’s incomplete ministry and un­ but empty! How about you? A gospel based on human folded the full dimension of God’s striving rather than divine en­ plan in the Cross, the Resurrection, For Victorious Living, abling devastates the child of and Pentecost. “On hearing this, Did You Know That the God. We must have Him who is they were baptized into the name Holy Spirit Is Available? God’s great Gift! of the Lord Jesus. When Paul “Did you receive the Holy The Ephesian disciples did not placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit [since] you believed?” One know that the Holy Spirit was Spirit came on them” (19:5-6). Writer noted, “The grammatical available. If they had heard of Suddenly those 12 disciples ex­ construction o f this question (in the Holy Spirit coming upon the perienced an Ephesian Pentecost. the original Greek) permits it to apostles many years earlier at And a new outpouring of the Holy

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Spirit will come to any people Augustine said, “I don’t know the New Testament since the Day who ask and seek for Him. It’s one whether I have lost my will, or of Pentecost. A three months’ re­ thing to believe in the Holy Spirit, whether at last my will is so vival shook the synagogue (19:8- but quite another thing to receive much like God’s will that I can­ 9). “God did extraordinary mira­ the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit is not tell which is my will and cles through Paul” (v. 11). Paul available to you today. Jesus made which is God’s will. But I know opened a holiness school for two it clear: “If you then, though you that I will do God’s will.” years (v. 10). “Many of those who are evil, know how to give good That’s surrender. That’s submis­ believed now came and openly gifts to your children, how much sion at its best. That’s complete confessed their evil deeds. A num­ more will your Father in heaven consecration. That kind of total ber who had practiced sorcery give the Holy Spirit to those who surrender to God’s will brings His brought their scrolls together and ask him!” (Luke 11:13). response in cleansing power. burned them publicly” (w. 18- Will you be filled with the Third, to be filled with the 19). God’s Word began spreading Holy Spirit? If you are a Chris­ Holy Spirit, you must accept Him and gaining power in their part of tian, you are eligible to receive by faith. Jesus said, “Receive the the world (v. 20). Christians took the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). Trust Ephesus so completely for Christ First, to be filled with the Holy Him to keep His promise! Jesus that the idol makers supplying the Spirit, you must desire Him. The said, “I will ask the Father, and tourist trade coming to visit the Ephesian disciples obviously he will give you another Coun­ temple of Diana suffered a lack of wanted Him. selor to be with you forever— the business. The silversmiths held a Harold Ivan Smith told of a Spirit o f truth” (John 14:16-17). protest rally (w. 23-41)! What a friend who had custody of his two You need nothing more than the revival it must have been! Eph­ sons after an unpleasant divorce. promise of Christ. Take Him by esus became the outstanding New The boys spent a weekend before faith! Testament church of that era. Christmas with their mother and Fourth, to be filled with the Paul wrote back to them later, her family. They were showered Holy Spirit, you must be recep­ “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. with gifts. When the boys returned tive to Him. The Holy Spirit nev­ 5:18). The Greek text does not home, they noticed a barren er forces himself into your life. simply mean, “Be filled with the Christmas tree. They asked, “Dad, He awaits your response. You ei­ Spirit once for all, and that’s the what are you going to give us?” ther accept Him or reject Him. end of it.” It suggests, “Remain The father, with his boys in the The Ephesian disciples eagerly continuously filled.” Keep on liv­ middle of their lavish gifts, had received Him, and “the Holy ing the Spirit-filled life! That’s to search for the right words. It Spirit came on them” (19:6). the secret o f victorious living. Let was an awkward moment. “Boys, Catherine Marshall described this prayer fill your heart: the only thing I have to give you her need of the Holy Spirit and Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit, is myself. That’s not much, but it her response to Him: “My heart Bathe my trembling heart and is all I have to give. I promise I’ll needs to be cleansed and set in brow; never leave you. I’ll always try to order for such a royal Guest. I Fill me with Thy hallowed presence, be here when you need me, in give You permission now to pre­ Come, O come and fill me now. July as w ell as at Christmas.” pare my inner being. And, Lord, After a moment o f thoughtful help me to be open and recep­ Thou canst fill me, gracious Spirit, silence, both boys climbed over tive!” That must be your attitude Though I cannot tell Thee how; the gifts and hugged their father: toward the Holy Spirit. But I need Thee, greatly need Thee; “We love you, Daddy. You’re all Open your heart to the light of Come, O come and fill me now. we want!”8 God’s Spirit. Let Him show you — Elwood H. Stokes PM Do you want the Holy Spirit’s what He will. Flowers don’t open gift of himself? He’ll never leave because they try hard. It’s the nat­ 1. An unidentified periodical source. 2. William M. Greathouse, The Fullness of you nor forsake you. He’ll be there ural result when exposed to sun­ the Spirit (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of all the time— “for richer— for shine and rain. The life o f holi­ Kansas City, n.d.), 28-29. poorer, in sickness and in health.” ness is not by straining and 3. James S. Stewart, Heralds o f God (New Second, to be filled with the struggling, but by openness to York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1956), 129. 4. Ray C. Stedman, Growth o f the Body Holy Spirit, you must surrender to God’s Word and being receptive (Santa Ana, Calif.: Vision House Publishers, Him. Churches today are filled to the Holy Spirit. “Did you re­ 1976), 145-46. with people who know the gospel ceive the Holy Spirit [since] you 5. Arnold E. Airhart, Acts, vol. 5 in Beacon Bible Expositions (Kansas City: Beacon Hill of Jesus and who try to live good, believed?” Today, the most impor­ Press of Kansas City, 1977), 218. moral, Christian lives; but they tant question remains, “Will you 6. Greathouse, Fullness of the Spirit, 34. have never given up directing their be filled with the Holy Spirit?” 7. Lloyd John Ogilvie, Drumbeat of Love own lives. They are saved but not When the Ephesian disciples (Waco, Tex.: Word Books, Publishers, 1976), 235. surrendered. That stifles God’s were given opportunity, they had 8. Harold Ivan Smith, “Time for Advent,” Spirit working through His people. the greatest revival recorded in Herald o f Holiness, n.d.

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grow long. Emotions dip and soar. Bodies grow weary. There’s an oc­ casional “payday” when a sinner is converted or a weak saint bears a resemblance to Jesus. And there is an occasional “glimpse of glory” ! I’m just a parish priest, but I agree with Joseph Parker: “Sunday is my festival day. I love Sunday All the days of the week lead up to it, and I hold high festival with my God and my people every Sabbath!” Arthur John Gossip served as pastor o f St. Matthew’s Church in Glasgow. One week was filled hen asked what I do, I told me o f two equal and op­ with parish emergencies. He had usually reply, “I’m just a posite errors a preacher can spent hours in hospitals with sick parish priest.” In the five fall into. One was to neglect parishioners. He had stood by months between my last his study for his people. The the bed o f the dying. He had im­ two churches, I came to other was to neglect his peo­ mersed himself in the suffering appreciate what a wonderful ple for study. Both errors are and heartbreak o f his people. thing that really is: “Just a parish tragic. People and study are in The pressure of many things had priest!” It speaks o f a precious constant tension and competi­ made it difficult to prepare his relationship, not just a job. tion with each other but both sermon as thoroughly as he Something special happens when must be attended to.2 should. William Barclay heard you look out over that crowd Parish priest, you must learn Dr. Gossip say, and relish the fact, “These are about the world of the Bible. It “You know the stairs up to my people. And I belong to points to Jesus. the pulpit in St. Matthews? You them!” Parish priest, you must also know the bend on the stair? Je­ As a man serves faithfully as a learn about the world of your sus Christ met me there. I saw parish priest, he notices his con­ people. That is also an unending Him clearly as I see you. He gregation changing from an au­ task. looked at the sermon in my dience into real, live persons. As I believe with John Stott that hand. ‘Gossip,’ He said to me, he enters into the stream o f their to “expound the Scripture is to ‘is this the best you could do hopes and hurts, he finds himself open up the inspired text with for Me this week?’ Thinking changing from only a preacher such faithfulness and sensitivity back over the business o f that to a pastor of his people. Some­ that God’s voice is heard and His week, I could honestly say, Yes, one once said, “To love to preach people obey Him.” The pastor’s Lord, it is my best.’ is one thing. To love those to heart of Joseph Parker ex­ ‘Jesus Christ took that poor whom we preach is quite anoth­ claimed, “Preach to the suffer­ thing that Sunday morning, er.” Jerry Vines noted, “The ing, and you will never lack a and in His hands it became a preacher may say nearly any­ congregation. There is a broken trumpet.”3 thing he wants to say to the peo­ heart in every pew.” “Not that we are competent in ple if they are convinced he loves In a recent interview, William ourselves to claim anything for them, is interested in them, and L. Self said, ourselves, but our competence wants to help them.”1 Preaching is worth the effort. comes from God. He has made The parish priest often feels It is the greatest thing in the us competent as ministers o f a tom between his hours o f prepa­ world if you are called to do it. new covenant. . . . For we do not ration and his hours o f parish Furthermore, the Church is preach ourselves, but Jesus care. I confess that I have never worth it— it really is. Don’t de­ Christ as Lord, and ourselves as learned either to totally dismiss spair over the Church or give your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 the pressing problems o f my peo­ up on it. Every preacher is Cor. 3:5-6; 4:5). PM ple clamoring for immediate at­ tempted to do that at one time tention during my time for or another. But the Church is 1. Jerry Vines, A Guide to Effective Sermon Delivery (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 76- prayer and preparation, or to to­ where the action is. If God is 77. tally dismiss my obvious need for going to do anything in this 2. James D. Berkley, ed., Preaching to Con­ prayer and preparation while I world, He is going to do it vince (Carol Stream, 111.: Christianity Today, am tending to the people of my through His Church. 1986), 155. 3. William Barclay, A Spiritual Autobiogra­ BY RANDAL E. parish. A. C. Craig wrote, The work of the parish priest phy (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub­ A very wise old pastor once DENNY marches on unendingly. The hours lishing Co., 1975), 13.

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R Carnegie Simpson visited Oberammergau to see the fa­ mous Passion Play. The daughter o f Burgomaster Lang, Anna, per­ formed the part o f Jesus’ mother. As a guest in the Lang home, Dr. Simpson asked many questions o f the world-renowned drama. In a word of appreciation, he used the word play; and immedi­ ately Anna exclaimed gently, “That is not a play, sir. It is an act of worship.” Each person must enter into worship. Worship has a sense o f intima­ y earliest memories of need to come expecting God to cy. While a church service may worship bring up images do a great work in our lives. contain elements that emphasize of warmth and beauty. Worship has a sense o f aes­ the community o f believers, for thetics. Coming out o f the hum­ me the special moment comes drum and mundane routines of when I sense God’s nearness in Nestled against my father, M life, the beauty of worship de­ my own spirit. He comes to I watched the sunlight fil­ mands that we give our highest touch me in the quiet solitude of tering through the amber-col­ and best. Since beauty is in the worship. Intimacy with God ush­ ored windows o f the little Glas- eye of the beholder, the aesthet­ ers me into “a place of quiet sel Park Church in Los Angeles. I ics of worship vary. As pastor o f rest,” the hushed reverence of a remember a sense o f sacredness Los Angeles First Church, I re­ cathedral that inspires me to as Mother played the hymns and member that variety under one look up, and the simple beauty offertory and as Father held my roof— the irrepressible joy o f the of a flower garden glistening little hand. From the beginning, Spanish-speaking congregation with the dews of God’s bright, worship evoked a strong emo­ singing with delight to the ac­ new day that inspires me to look tion of security. companiment of guitars; the dig­ around. Dr. Albert Schweitzer Later, growing up in Fresno, I nity o f the Korean choir singing said, “God has a place for every remember vividly that worship with perfection the time-honored man; and every man has a place was also a time o f gathering to­ classical anthems; the Anglo con­ for God.” gether with the church family. gregation basking in the after­ Worship has a sense o f inspira­ With enthusiasm we sang and glow o f the pipe organ playing tion. Inspiration is God’s gift to played instruments. We prayed gently with chimes ‘Just As I us— to take home with us, to together in earnest plea. Our Am.” We need to come to wor­ equip us for the adventure of a good pastors opened our hori­ ship more as poets than scien­ new week, to pull back the cur­ zons on life and on the majesty tists. English poet William Blake tains of doubt, to let us see the o f God. In worship, we felt a and a London merchant watched horizons o f God’s great grace. sense of belonging. the sun rise above the sea. The Pastor Charles Higgins sat at the Karl Barth declared, “Christian yellow disk splashed the scene keyboard and sang to the glory worship is the most momentous, with spectacular colors. The poet of God— and God used him as a the most urgent, the most glori­ asked, “What do you see?” resonating instrument o f love to ous action that takes place in The merchant responded, inspire in me great thoughts, human life.” Indeed, times of “Gold. The sun looks like a great new hope, and a strong desire to worship have been precious mo­ gold piece. And what do you follow Jesus. Richard Clarke ments— moments that bring life see?” Cabot suggested, “Worship re­ into fine focus. William Blake replied, “I see news the spirit as sleep renews Worship has a sense o f ex­ the glory o f God, and I hear a the body.” We need God’s inspi­ pectancy When Pastor Orville multitude o f the heavenly host ration. John Henry Jowett wrote, Jenkins walked onto the plat­ crying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the “Out of the church must go forth form o f our sanctuary, his face L o r d God Almighty; the whole vigorous, healthy men and had a glow. We knew he had earth is full of His glory.’” women who went in maimed been with God— and anything Worship has a sense o f in­ and paralyzed. Broken things could happen now. Someone de­ volvement. Worship definitely is that no one could mend have fined worship: “The creation of not a spectator sport. Dr. been made whole again.” PM an atmosphere in which a spiri- BY Randal e

tual miracle can take place.” We d e n n y

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^ff^KAKEE III l\ir\0rS,^ erec^ encouragement and sup- 1 ’ nnrtport hvby nhonephone and in nerson.person. Ti In our lonely time of transition, fel­ low pastor Jack Eyestone spent time with us and encouraged us in the Lord. Forrest Stone turned his pulpit over to me for a month—I suspect more for my benefit than anyone else’s. We felt the safety net of pastoral care, the refreshing spirit of en­ couragement. As the black clouds of death gathered around my parents’ home in Fresno, John Payton Jnlike some professions, pas­ My first memory of pastoral and Doug Samples moved be­ tors remain on call 24 hours care focuses on Orville Jenkins, yond friendship and ministered a day. Most of us have been our minister. Though I was only to my family and me. In those jarred awake in the middle a second grader, my pastor stood days of bereavement, I received J of the night to face emer­ beside my bed as I recovered from them words of our hope in gencies with our parishioners. from an emergency surgery. Christ, words of confidence in We wouldn’t want it any other From then on, I always felt he God’s heaven, and words of way. The Lord we serve has loved me. strength to face life’s changes. grace to fit every crisis. He has Early in my ministry, on the From the receiving end of pas­ commissioned us with the privi­ day I received bad news of my toral care, I have realized what a lege of standing in for Him when father’s stroke, my district super­ profound difference it makes. people suffer distress, illness, intendent, E. L. Cornelison, came One no longer feels so alone in and bereavement. to my home. After sharing my crisis. Reminders of truths one Summoned into some situa­ sorrow and uncertainties, he already knows help to keep a tions, I have felt unsure about prayed for me and my family. Be­ balanced view of life and be­ what to say, or what to do, or ing there when I needed him, he yond. The Bible reassures, “For what to expect. However, in the refreshed my spirit. our light and momentary trou­ worst of those times, God en­ During my tenure as senior bles are achieving for us an eter­ abled me to bring encourage­ pastor at Los Angeles First nal glory that far outweighs ment and hope. The Lord set me Church of the Nazarene, I ended them all. So we fix our eyes not free when He taught me the in­ up in the hospital. My own asso­ on what is seen, but on what is valuable lesson that just being ciate, Victor Peters, ministered to unseen. For what is seen is tem­ there and caring for people was me faithfully He told me that my porary, but what is unseen is a ministry He could use. presence at church was missed eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18). Pastoral care, with all of its and that he loved me. He read a I am a better pastor today for facets, calls for a general practi­ few reassuring verses of Scrip­ having received the touch o f lov­ tioner with a person-to-person ture and prayed for my recov­ ing hands. I know better how to ministry In an age of specializa­ ery—and left in less than five listen and reflect the emotions of tion, people still need pastors with minutes. Dr. Peters was a master hurting people. I know much a compassionate common touch. at refreshing my spirit. more eloquently the supporting Writing to the Corinthian Passing through a career crisis role of just being there when church, Paul referred to three 10 years ago, my wife and I had needed. I am far more sensitive persons of whom he exclaimed, nowhere to go. After my resigna­ to the high privilege of repre­ “They refreshed my spirit” (1 tion, we faced an uncertain fu­ senting Jesus. Where human Cor. 16:17-18). In his last letter, ture. However, our spirits were words fall short, I am more con­ Paul expressed gratitude to One- refreshed by ministerial friends fident in sharing the Word of siphorus “because he often re­ who cared about us. Bill Draper, God— it’s always the right word freshed me” (2 Tim. 1:16). the late president of Point Loma at the right time. From my pas­ The “refreshing spirit of en­ Nazarene College, gave us a safe toral friends who were there couragement” shines more retreat and his personal atten­ when I needed them, I have brightly from the receiving end. tion. Respected pastor Maurice learned to be more lavish in ex­ In fact, having been refreshed by Hall prayed with us over the pressing my love. the pastoral care from others has phone long-distance. General Su­ It is my prayer that our parish­ served to make me more effec­ BY RANDAL E. perintendents William Great­ ioners could say of you and me, tive as a pastor. DENNY house and Jerald Johnson of- “He often refreshed me.” PM

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from our coworkers and helpers. One writer commented, Spiritual growth occurs best in a caring community. There are spiritual truths I will never grasp and Christian standards I will never attain except as I share in community with othei believers— and this is God’s plan. The Holy Spirit ministers to us, in large measure, through each other. This is what Paul is talking about when he says, “We w ill in all things grow up into him who he w ay many Christians way, the Lord began providing is the Head, that is, Christ. I equip themselves for serving new helpers. God knows how From him the whole body, : God reminds me of the small much we really do need each joined and held together by s boy saying to his father, “To­ other. Augustine once said, “One every supporting ligament, morrow I am going fishing loving heart on fire!” grows and builds itself up in with Bill.” The appointment of fellow love, as each part does its Pointing to a compost pile in workers in the church remains work” [Eph. 4:15-16] the yard, his father asked, under God’s authority. He can Sometimes one o f us will be “Would you like some bait, bring the right ones together to able to see spiritual truths and Son?” do a great work for His kingdom. directions for Christian living The lad replied, “No, thanks, Silas became Paul’s number one when someone else cannot. Dad. We don’t use bait. Where assistant. He possessed a good Thank God, the Lord enables us we’re going, there aren’t any reputation, important ties with to serve together— helping, en­ fish.” the apostles in Jerusalem, Ro­ couraging, praying, caring! God called His people to be man citizenship, and the mark of At this point, Luke slips in his fishers o f men, but amazingly we God’s calling upon his life. fourth progress report of the don’t go where the people are, As Paul and Silas toured Gala­ Church: “So the churches were nor do we know how to use our tia, a second helper joined their strengthened in the faith and bait! group— Timothy. In Acts 14, dur­ grew daily in numbers” (v. 5). Though called to a life o f ser­ ing the first missionary journey, vice, many Christians pray, “Use Paul had been dragged out of God Gives Guidance me, Lord— especially in an advi­ Lystra, stoned, and left for dead. As we seek to serve God, He sory capacity!” While w e would One of the witnesses that day was has promised to guide us. If we prefer to dictate the time and a young boy, 14 or 15 years old, are divinely guided, we shall be place for our service to God, we named Timothy. His mother and divinely guarded. should ask with Paul, “Lord, grandmother became Christians Paul and his companions what wilt thou have me to do?” then. The impact of Christ was traveled throughout the region (Acts 9:6, k j v ) . written indelibly on Timothy’s of Phrygia and Galatia, having After dissolving partnership heart. Now, years later, he joined been kept by the Holy Spirit with Barnabas, Paul took Silas Paul and was loved as a son. One from preaching the word in and toured the young churches day this trusted helper would re­ the province of Asia. When in Syria, Cilicia, and the Galatian ceive two of Paul’s most personal they came to the border o f area. “He came to Derbe and letters— immortalized in the New Mysia, they tried to enter then to Lystra” (v. 1). Though Testament for all to read. Bithynia, but the Spirit of Je­ Luke gives more space to pio­ Paul, Silas, and Timothy ended sus would not allow them to. neering churches than to the de­ up in Troas— the ancient city of So they passed by Mysia and velopment of churches, Acts Troy. There, the group is joined went down to Troas (w . 6-8). 16:1-15 portrays how God pro­ by the author o f Acts— Luke the God can effectively close vides a place o f service. physician. He became the only doors. They wanted to go into Gentile writer o f the New Testa­ the southwestern part of modern God Gives Helpers ment. As Paul’s helper, this histo­ Turkey known then as Asia, but The Lord knew the large va­ rian and scholar was a bright ad­ God stopped them. They wished cancy Barnabas would leave in dition. to enter Bithynia, one of the Paul’s life. As Paul stubbornly, BY R a n d a l e. God knows w e gain insight richest provinces, but God would but sadly, walked his separate d e n n y and strength and encouragement not let them. Paul had planned

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on Bithynia but ended up in accidentally, he tried painting choice, it has a way o f being Troas! It was not his first choice. and became famous. God reveals most fulfilling and exciting. Knowing how persistent Paul His area of service to us in many God knows where and how we could be, I’m sure he tried hard different ways. can serve best. William Carey to get into Bithynia. He never A customs officer in Mexico planned to go to the South Sea did anything halfway. But his was converted. When the mis­ Islands, but the Holy Spirit sent way was blocked! His plan was sionary had to leave, he left the him to India. Barnardo felt di­ broken! The Bible says, “The man a Bible and told him to let rected to China, but God kept Spirit o f Jesus would not allow the Holy Spirit guide. Thirteen him in England. Judson aimed at them”— a vivid description of months later the missionary re­ India, but God directed his steps God’s closed doors in life. Paul turned. The young Christian was to Burma. may have arrived at Troas dis­ doing fine but was puzzled. He At Troas, God began unfolding couraged or confused: “I wanted pointed to 13 attractively bound the open door o f Paul’s service. to go to Bithynia, and here I am religious books he had bought Out o f Paul’s frustrations, a in Troas. What’s going on?” from a salesman. He said, “I dream was born! God directs our We don’t know how God closed started to read, but something in lives that way. Isaiah wrote, the doors— whether health or here [pointing to his heart] said “Whether you turn to the right wealth or bureaucratic red tape or to me, ‘Don’t read those books!”’ or to the left, your ears will hear hostile people or a deep inner They were Jehovah’s Witnesses a voice behind you,” usually a compulsion to halt. To Paul’s cred­ The books. Though he had never sense of peace, a quiet inner con­ it, he was sensitive enough to rec­ heard of the cult, the Holy Spirit firmation (30:21). ognize the Spirit’s restraint. appoint protected him. God guides us in at least five In later years, Paul would be God can effectively close doors ways. First, God sometimes allowed to go into those forbid­ for our own good! guides by a strong conviction or den areas— but not now. God has men! When we live in the realm o f deep certainty o f some specific His timing. At times He seems the Spirit, God’s no becomes part assignment. Second, God some­ very slow, but we must pay at­ of His ultimate yes! Learn to be times guides by closing doors, by tention to the Spirit’s restraints. of fellow grateful that God says no when unexpected developments that Learn to wait for God’s timing. it’s for our good. hinder your immediate goal— There is a certain tide o f the God can explicitly open doors. progress suddenly blocked. Spirit. Don’t miss it! God works workers in An old Italian proverb says, Third, God sometimes guides by to accurate timetables. Don’t “When God shuts a door, He opening doors, providing oppor­ push ahead when the Spirit tries opens a window!” Many barriers tunities. Fourth, God sometimes to check you. The Bible says, tie church in life have led to broader fields guides by His inner voice, a dis­ “Rest in the L o r d , and wait pa­ o f service. Paul’s great scheme to tinct impression or communica­ tiently for him” (Ps. 37:7, k j v ) . evangelize Bithynia fell in ruins. tion in the inner man. Fifth, God The stops— as w ell as the remains Paul and his companions came often guides by His voice in the steps— “of a good man are or­ to Troas unemployed, frustrated, Bible, His revealed Word of dered by the L o r d ” ( v . 23, k j v ) ! and puzzled by the closed doors promise and direction. Missionary Adoniram Judson under God's all around them. Trusting God to guide rests on faced closed doors in Burma. He Wanting Bithynia and getting the fact that He has a wonderful suffered humiliation and disap­ authority. Troas! What a common experi­ plan for your life and that He pointment. Could Judson see ence! But Paul takes Troas— his will guide you to it. Theology God’s leadership? Of course not; second choice— and it became calls that “providence.” God’s he was human. Do you think as the door to greater opportunity. providence is'neither fatalism he lay in the emperor’s prison he Though his dreams were shaken, nor accidentalism. Fatalism says could always sense God’s pur­ Paul still believed God had a pur­ everything has been arranged pose? Of course not; he was hu­ pose for his life. Paul’s attitude beforehand. Accidentalism says man. But God eventually revealed was, “If God has led me here, nothing is arranged beforehand. His direction for Judson’s ministry. there is something here worth­ But God’s providence follows His The famous artist Whistler while to do!” God never leads a great strategy in which there’s started out as a soldier at West person into any place where all room for personal freedom and Point Military Academy. Unfortu­ the doors are shut. response. God’s providence is nately, he felt, he flunked out be­ God can exalt second choices. flexible enough to include free cause he could not pass the His plan is always better. God’s moral choice and forceful chemistry course. He noted, “If will for your field of service is enough to overrule the possibili­ silicon had been a gas, I should the best plan and the most effec­ ty of ultimate failure. have been a major general.” tive use of your abilities, talents, God’s purposes do not always Having failed, he halfheartedly and spiritual gifts. Though God’s make themselves plain each day. attempted engineering. Almost plan appears to be second Things often happen that seem to

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make no sense at all— to add noth­ to Troas with God than any­ zons. You’ll catch a glimpse of ing to God’s ultimate plan and pur­ where else without Him.” His holy purposes. pose. But keep in mind: there’s Let human need inspire you. So more to come! The story isn’t over God Gives Inspiration often when we get to our Troas, yet! There is another chapter! “So they passed by Mysia and we pity ourselves. Wallowing in The cross of Jesus made no went down to Troas. During the disappointment, we miss the vi­ sense on that terrifying Friday. It night Paul had a vision of a man sion of that man from Macedonia took a Resurrection to make o f Macedonia standing and beg­ crying, “Come over and help us!” sense out o f it. If we are ging him, ‘Come over to Macedo­ Dr. Karl Menninger was asked For Phillips Brooks, his Bithynia nia and help us’” (w . 8-9). what to do if one felt a nervous was a career as a college profes­ There’s the inspiration of the Di­ breakdown coming on. The fa­ sor. Plunging into his chosen pro­ divinely vine Presence. Paul knew he had mous psychiatrist replied, “If you fession, Brooks failed miserably. been given a vision by God. In his feel a nervous breakdown com­ He wrote about his students in a time of perplexity, God was near. ing on, lock up your house, go letter: “They are the most dis­ I, we God would enthuse him— meaning across the railroad tracks, find agreeable set of creatures without “God in you.” That’s genuine inspi­ someone in need, and do some­ exception that I have ever met. ration. One has said, “The visions thing for him.” . . . I really am ashamed o f it, but of God are only seen through the A young woman in New York I am tired, cross, and almost lens of a pure heart.”2 God inspires gave up a prized position in a dead, so good night!” a person beyond himself. school attended by children of After Brooks failed and divinely On August 22, 1741, George wealthy homes. She took an as­ dropped out of his teaching pro­ Frideric Handel shut himself into signment in a squalid district on fession, he wrote, “I don’t know his room. Working at his desk, the East Side. She explained, what will become o f me, and I he labored for three weeks like a “These East Side kids have so lit­ don’t care much.” He wanted man divinely possessed. He tle. School is the one bright spot Bithynia and got Troas. Fortu­ rarely ate or slept. When he did in their lives. The children in my nately he found God’s area of eat, he worked with one hand other school had everything. service for his life. Phillips and ate with the other. Though They even rode to school with Brooks became one of America’s he had no commission and might nurses and chauffeurs. There greatest pulpiteers. As pastor of never hear his composition per­ was no ‘kick’ in it for me.” one of Boston’s historic churches, formed, he heard a higher voice Life’s richest rewards, Jesus he got this cherished letter: than the public. He was compos­ taught, are the joys from helping Dear Mr. Brooks: The stops ing the oratorio The Messiah. others. I am a tailor in a little shop One day a servant found him Macartney said it eloquently: near your church. Whenever I weeping at his desk. Handel The man from Macedonia... have the opportunity I always — as well turned to him, his face shining wears every kind of clothing___ go to hear you preach. Each through his tears: “I did think I Sometimes this man of Macedo­ time I hear you preach I seem as the steps did see all heaven before me, nia is a Greek, sometimes a Ro­ to forget all about you, for you and the great God himself!” He man or a Jew or a Frenchman, a make me think o f God. had just completed the “Hallelu­ German or an Englishman, Had Phillips Brooks gotten — “of a jah Chorus.” Handel had the in­ sometimes an African . . . an In­ Bithynia, he would have gotten spiration of the Divine Presence. dian . . . a Korean, a Japanese, a buried in academia, but through In our areas of service, even in Chinese (even an American)___ Troas came God’s open door to good man mundane tasks, God’s presence This man from Macedonia service throughout the English- is the glory of our day. He is our speaks every language under the speaking world. inspiration— God in you! sun. But wherever and whoever Many years ago a lad longed are ordered There’s the inspiration of holy he is, whatever his color and for his Bithynia as a concert mu­ purpose. Suddenly Paul knew whatever his speech, there is sician. However, he couldn’t play God’s direction for him. As an old one thing about him . . . always or sing very well. A friend named by the Quaker once said, “God can teach the same— he . . . needs help; he Amati, a skilled violin maker, told thee more by one flash o f His needs Christ.. . . Wherever you him, ‘There are many ways of light than thou canst learn in a find him, the sentence is the making music. What matters is Lord!" lifetime without it!” It was in same: “Come over. . . and help the song in the heart.” Troas that Paul caught a vision of us” (v. 9).3 Arriving at his own Troas, the an open door only 60 miles across song of his heart was expressed. the water— Macedonia. God’s vi­ God Gives Ministry Antonio Stradivari became one of sion to Paul leaped across the God can use the person with the world’s greatest violin makers. straits into Greece, on to Europe, instant obedience. G. Campbell Morgan summed and from there around the world. After Paul had seen the vi­ it up brilliantly: “It is better to go Let God’s vision lift your hori­ sion, we got ready at once to

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leave for Macedonia, concluding the European continent. Philippi cyclopedia to see what the elder that God had called us to preach stood on the site of the battle be­ son had accomplished. He found the gospel to them. From Troas tween Antony and Octavius only these words: “The brother we put out to sea and sailed against Brutus and Cassius. It o f Hudson Taylor.” straight for Samothrace, and the had been founded by Philip of Service for Jesus makes life next day on to Neapolis. From Macedon, father o f Alexander the worth living. there we traveled to Philippi, a Great. They were right where the God can use the person with Roman colony and the leading action is— and that continued to immediate availability “One of city of that district of Macedonia be Paul’s philosophy of missions. those listening was a woman (w. 10-12). God can use the person with in­ named Lydia, a dealer in purple The vision was neither wasted tentional service. Paul went there cloth from the city of Thyatira, nor debated. The vision that on purpose: “On the Sabbath we who was a worshiper of God. The leads to no action is not a vi­ went outside the city gate to the Lord opened her heart to respond sion— only a daydream. river, where we expected to find a to Paul’s message. When she and The dean o f the agricultural place of prayer. We sat down and the members of her household school asked the freshman, “Why began to speak to the women who were baptized, she invited us to have you chosen this career?” had gathered there” (v. 13). her home” (w. 14-15). Amazingly, The freshman replied, “I Since there were no syna­ when Paul made himself available dream of making a million dol­ gogues in Philippi, when the to God, the Holy Spirit led him lars in farming like my father.” Sabbath day came, they went right to those whose hearts were The dean was impressed. down near the river. Jews often ripe and ready. God introduced ‘Your father made a million dol­ held prayer meetings near water him to strategic converts. lars in farming?” in absence of a synagogue, since Lydia was the first Christian “No,” said the student, “but he It took a many Jewish ceremonies include convert in Europe. Years later, always dreamed o f it!” rituals of washing. Paul sought Paul wrote to the church at Paul’s vision moved him to ac­ out opportunities to talk about Philippi from a Roman prison, “I tion: “Immediately we endeav­ Resurrec Jesus. When do you? thank my God every time I re­ oured to go into Macedonia” (v. Too many Christians are like member you. In all my prayers 10, k j v ) . As soon as daylight the fellow o f whom it was said, for all o f you, I always pray with came, they checked passage for tion to “He served the Lord off and on joy because of your partnership the first available ship to Greece. for 40 years.” in the gospel from the first day God didn’t need to call twice. make sense However, Paul the tentmaker until now” (Phil. 1:3-5). What They were ready to obey. was like William Carey, of whom was the first day? The day Lydia A member o f my church said a friend said, ‘You are running opened her heart to Jesus Christ. to me, “I promised the Lord I out of tie around preaching, witnessing to What a joyful occasion that was! would do the first thing I was people, and you are neglecting The Philippian church became asked to do!” He did— and God your shoe repair business. Don’t the healthiest, happiest church used him. God uses people who Cross. you think you should give more to whom Paul wrote. It was al­ are ready to serve. time and attention to your busi­ ways his special crowning joy. “From Troas we put out to sea ness?” God w ill give each o f us a min­ and sailed straight” (v. 11). The Carey replied, “My business is istry o f joy. As we determine to Greek sailing term for “sailed extending God’s kingdom. Shoe serve Him, to respond with in­ straight” means “running with the repairing just pays the expenses!” stant obedience, and to make wind.” With one stop, the voyage Dr. Albert Schweitzer personi­ ourselves available to Him, God only took two days. Later, upon fied service: “I don’t know what will use us greatly! their return, it took five days to your destiny will be, but one A visitor who came into the sail upwind. Sometimes when we thing I know: the only ones sanctuary late whispered to the go on the King’s business, the among you who will be really person in the pew beside him, wind is with us— things go easy happy are those who will have “When does the service begin?” But sometimes it’s against us— sought and found how to serve!” The reply was, “Sir, the service and in sailing, going upwind is O f the two boys in the Taylor begins as soon as the meeting more invigorating! God’s timings family, the eldest determined to ends.” PM are just right— He overcomes any make a name for his family. He circumstances that hinder. became a member o f the British 1. Howard A. Snyder, The Community of the King (Downers Grove, 111.: InterVarsity Parliament in his quest for fame. Paul’s missionary band arrived Press, 1978), 75. and went right to the capital city, The younger brother followed 2. John D. Drysdale, The Price o f Revival Philippi. Twenty years after the Christ to China. Hudson Taylor, (Liverpool, England: C. Tinling and Co., 1946), 19. birth of the Church at Pentecost the missionary, died beloved and 3. Clarence Edward Macartney, Macart­ in Jerusalem, Paul took the good known on every continent. A stu­ ney’s Illustrations (N ew York: Abingdon- news of Jesus to a capital city on dent o f history looked in the en­ Cokesbury Press, 1949), 236.

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ter 11, Flynn gives five sugges- i tions on “How a Pastor Helps Build a Supportive Congrega­ tion.” Though each is elaborated one senses the heart of a faithful loving, successful pastor: “Regard Your People as Friends, Not as Enemies.” “Treat Everyone Alike.” “Make Few Demands on Your Congregation.” “Encourage Members to Have Concern for Each Other.” “Never Nurse Resentment.” In his last chapter, Flynn re­ n a conversation at a recent hanced by a book I was asked to minds us: “A pastor should be staff meeting, I asked my review: Leslie B. Flynn, How to the first to recognize that any friends, “Do you know what I Survive in the Ministry, by Kregel seeming success comes from the would like to have on my Publications. Leslie Flynn retired Lord. When all goes well— in­ tombstone?” I replied in jest, after 40 years in one church. He creasing crowds, growing bud­ “HeI isn’t here yet!” said, “Forty years is a long time! gets, building programs, souls One staff member asked on a Forty years without fireworks, won and edified— a mature more serious note, “What would though not without flare-ups!” leader knows where the credit you really like your tombstone to (p. 7). The book is full o f person­ should go.... Samuel Chadwick say?” al experiences and reflections by summed it up well, ‘If successful, Though I didn’t answer then, a good and godly man who don’t crow; if defeated, don’t many thoughtful moments later I loved his people and served God croak’” (p. 144). decided on what I hoped would faithfully. He felt the rapture of This week I celebrate 10 years fit with spectators’ memories: rising tides of attendance and as pastor of my church. Most of “He loved much and faithfully enthusiasm. He held steady my contemporary peers have pointed to Jesus.” when the disappointing down­ been “promoted” from pastoral In June of 1990, the Consulta­ turns inevitably came. Flynn’s ministry. It seemed over the past tion on Clergy Preparation met in book echoed the thoughts of a several weeks that I, too, might beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. well-balanced minister who con­ have a career-changing “promo­ During our discussion times the tinually worked at improving his tion.” The final phone call never same question kept reappearing: ministerial skills and insights. came. However, the process ex­ “What is success in ministry?” Reflecting on his lengthy tended long enough for me to Church administrators, profes­ tenure in one church, Leslie Flynn reevaluate God’s call to preach sors, and pastors sincerely avoid­ concludes: “When a church blos­ and to appreciate deeply my ed giving glib answers tom from soms, the credit may not totally placement by Him as a long­ the success catalog of worldly belong to the pastor, for there term pastor among an eager, kingdoms. We seek the model of may be other contributing factors. warmhearted congregation. If servant leadership revealed in Je­ Contrariwise, when a church the Lord tarries and He allows sus. In God’s kingdom, success in fades, the blame likely does not me to continue serving in my ministry builds on the consistent rest fully on the pastor either, for present assignment, I seek to character of Christ being revealed other factors probably enter in. please Him and to love my peo­ in the servant leader. Success is What we call success is relative, ple. being faithful to God and serving but if one has been called to the Perhaps someone someday His people...... -.... ministry, faithfulness is what the would review my ministry and My understanding of success by r a n d a l e. Lord requires” (p. 29). conclude, “He loved much and in ministry was recently en- denny In a five-page section o f chap­ faithfully pointed to Jesus.” PM

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they have the time for something good to happen— and they are excited about it! You experience enlightened re­ spect. For example, I have known missionaries Harold and Emily Ray o f Guatemala longer than they want me to tell. Through the many years since our school days, we have had them in our churches to tell their story. Their selfless ministry has always provoked love and re­ spect from me. But seeing them in action among their people and rom childhood I wanted to gregation are presently out of hearing the vivid experiences on be a missionary. God never work, pastor and people shared the spot, I have profound respect gave a clear call or opened with us a delicious feast. A spon­ for their contribution to the missionary doors. With great taneous evening service began— kingdom of God. In conveying to joy I took teenagers to work and I was spontaneously notified my family my deep, enlightened on the Navajo reservation. Later that I would preach! The people respect for the Rays, I was so F hugged the whole team, knelt moved to tears that I could not my wife and I were excited to work for a few weeks in Hon­ behind us at the altar, and finish my explanation. duras with pioneer missionaries prayed for us with fervent spirit. Watching Regional Director Stanley and Norma Storey. We who intended to be givers re­ Jerry Porter provide instant inter­ Since then I have traveled ceived much from them. pretation during a meeting o f Dr. with my church on two Work You experienced family fellow­ Robert Scott, World Mission di­ and Witness projects. A recent ship. Though you would expect rector, and the district superin­ project in Guatemala centered to be strangers, there is almost tendents of Guatemala, I was on construction o f the Mexico instant bonding with fellow dumbfounded. Seeing our mis­ and Central America regional of- Christians. Language barriers sionaries, national leaders of the i fice building. We did the things and cultural differences and eco­ church, and dedicated pastors you expect to do— work, preach nomic strata all seem to fall be­ and wives, I am reminded of the through interpreters, sightsee, fore the common bond o f follow­ parenthetical phrase in Heb. 11: and some shopped. After the ing Jesus. In Christ, we have an “the world was not worthy of dust has settled now, certain instant extended family. You them” (v. 38). As a pastor with serendipities stand out to me. could see it in their eyes. You exposure to Work and Witness CSerendipity: an apparent apti­ could hear it in their singing. projects, I can never be the same! tude for making fortunate dis­ You could feel it in their prayers. But neither can my church be coveries accidentally.) Even though I can only “baby- the same. Some pastors wonder, You experience genuine appre­ talk” in Spanish, I rejoice in Je­ “W ill Work and Witness take ciation. One weekend our team sus’ family— new friends that money away from our local of 22 visited the city o f Quezalte- touched my heart without suc­ church?” Here’s another nango, where we had built a cessful conversation. serendipity! A few days after re­ church building a few years ear­ You experience refreshing en­ turning from our Work and W it­ lier. The people of that church thusiasm. Anglo worship services ness project, our church voted to expressed deep and genuine ap­ in North America are tame in build an addition to provide preciation in many ways. They comparison to the lively, joyful room for more growth. Two lavished their gratitude on us for expressions of worship in mis­ weeks after raising building being a part of a great church sions areas. You readily sense pledges, our church surpassed its that brought them the good that their Christian walk has goal for faith promise for world missions. It won’t be easy, but it news o f Jesus. touched all of life— not just the You experience gracious gen­ reserved sections for religious will be inspiring! erosity. A church in Puerto Bar­ duties. We pastors who are tired A word of caution: one fellow rios heard that our Work and of coaxing testimonies out o f re­ who went on our first Work and Witness team was coming luctant saints bask in the enthu­ Witness team to Quezaltenango through their town. They insist­ siasm of a holy love caught on four years ago has just gone to ed on providing us a welcome. BY RANDAL E. fire! Since Latin culture is not Swaziland as a missionary. Well, Even though many o f the con­ DENNY tied so tightly to time schedules, you can’t win all the time! p m

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gregation: “And now I lead you by a path that I almost fear to tread.” When an old church building in Richmond, Virginia, was tom down, workmen found a stained- glass picture o f Jesus praying in Gethsemane. An earlier genera­ tion had covered the window with organ pipes, and the brick wall of a neighboring structure obscured it on the outside. Nearly everyone had forgotten it was there. But for the students of the Bi­ ble, Jesus praying in Gethsema­ prayed the third time, saying the Matt. 26:36-46 ne remains holy ground. There is same thing. mystery about it. An awesome cf. Mark 14:33-42; Then he returned to the disci­ Luke 22:39-46 atmosphere makes us catch our ples and said to them, “Are you breath lest we disturb the sancti­ hen Jesus went with his still sleeping and resting? Look, ty o f that moment! We feel that disciples to a place called the hour is near, and the Son of more has gone on than meets Gethsemane, and he said Man is betrayed into the hands of the eye. Jesus utters the most to them, “Sit here while I sinners. Rise, let us go! Here important prayer we can offer: go over there and pray. ” comes my betrayer!” (Matt. “Not my will, but yours be done” He took Peter and the two sons of 26:40-46). (Luke 22:42). It is not the cry of Zebedee along with him, and he defeat, but the declaration of to­ began to be sorrowful and trou­ In transoceanic flight there is a tal submission: victory through bled. Then he said to them, “My point pilots refer to as the point surrender! /soul is overwhelmed with sorrow of no return. When this particu­ Dr. E. Stanley Jones observed, to the point o f death. Stay here lar spot is crossed, it is closer to “Everybody surrenders— surren­ and keep watch with me. ” continue on ahead than to turn ders to something, someone or Going a little farther, he fell back. At that moment there is [the Savior]Jesus at prayer in with his face to the ground and nothing left to do but go for­ Gethsemane wrestled over the is­ prayed, “My Father, if it is possi­ ward. sue: would He bypass the Cross, ble, may this cup be taken from For Jesus that moment came or would He willingly take up His me. Yet not as I will, but as you in the Garden of Gethsemane. cross? Would He shun the shame w ill" (Matt. 26:36-39). That hour of decision would of bearing the world’s sin, or give An angel from heaven appeared mark the destiny o f His life. He himself sacrificially in love? At to him and strengthened him. And had reached His point of no re­ Gethsemane, the Master kneels being in anguish, he prayed more turn! at the crossroads of eternity! earnestly, and his sweat was like Preaching on this Gethsemane One preacher said: drops o f blood falling to the experience, Dr. When we think of the praying ground (Luke 22:43-44). John Henry Christ, many of us hold in our Then he returned to his disci­ Jowett com­ minds a most familiar picture, a ples and found them sleeping. mented to .. picture of Jesus praying in “Could you men not keep watch his con­ the Garden of Gethsemane, with me fo r one hour?” he asked seen in many churches. I Peter. “Watch and pray so that would not wish to de­ you will not fall into temptation. stroy any inspiration a The spirit is willing, but the body person may have re­ is weak.” ceived from it, but He went away a second time the next time you and prayed, “My Father, if it is not see it, notice possible fo r this cup to be taken something. A away unless I drink it, may your halo is about Je­ will be done. ” sus’ head. Light streams When he came back, he again in from above. He looks found them sleeping, because their up serene and calm. The eyes were heavy. So he left them BY RANDAL E. picture looks very holy, but it is and went away once more and DENNY not very real.

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The halo makes Jesus differ­ situation. To express our hesitan­ turnips three times a day if you ent from us! So does the light. cy, to verbalize our fears, and to serve me!” We have no halos. We are or­ struggle over our limited under­ No— not at all. You know what dinary people. We have no standing underlines our depen­ I would do: because I’m their fa­ light streaming at us from dence upon a great and powerful ther, I would put my arms above, not in that way. Prayer God. around them and love them. I for us is effort, exertion, strug­ Like Jesus, we must realistical­ would do my best to demon­ gle. Was it not that for Jesus? ly face whatever God calls us to. strate my love. I would guide What actually happened in There’s no reason to pretend that them into the best possible, most Gethsemane when He sweat, genuine discipleship is light­ fruitful life. And I’m only a man as it were, great drops of hearted and easy. The high cost with limitations and poor judg­ blood—was that not struggle? of discipleship is exceeded only ment. I can’t even express my Effort? He had no halo! The by the high cost of low living! love as adequately and com­ moment Jesus receives a halo My friend C. S. Cowles said, pletely as God does. and light, He is no longer the ‘Jesus faced the cup. He did not Our God reaches down with human Jesus of the Gospels. try to pretend that its bitter con­ His infinite compassion, helps us We destroy the whole gospel tents did not exist. Nor did He in our deepest needs, and story. We deny that Jesus is seek mystic flights o f spiritual es­ demonstrates in a thousand man, actually man, so com­ cape. The cup had come to Him, ways that He loves us. We have pletely man that He needs to not by His choice or decision, nothing to fear by opening our­ pray!2 but in the course o f faithfully do­ selves to Him: “Not my will, but The Bible says, “During the ing the Father’s will. He shrank thine, be done” (Luke 22:42, days o f Jesus’ life on earth, he from its implications.”3 k j v ) ! offered up prayers and petitions is the As He struggled with God’s We must learn to be open to with loud cries and tears to the will, Jesus got up three times God’s will. God is not controlled one who could save him from and went back to look at His by His power. He exercises His death, and he was heard because place of sleeping disciples, so weak and power, but He is guided by His of his reverent submission” weary. It gave Him a perspective wisdom. If we remain open to (Heb. 5:7). on God’s purposes: He must ac­ God, we allow His wisdom to Gethsemane is the place of cept God’s will for their sakes. work in our lives. We are en­ openness, brokenness, and yield- Even though sleeping, they be­ riched by the wisdom of our Fa­ edness! lieved on Him, trusted Him, and ther. put their fortunes on Him. Jesus As w e pray, “Not my will, but The Place of Openness knew He must drink the cup of yours be done,” we are saying, Leaving the comforting pres­ and death in order for His men to “Lord, I am available!” ence of His special friends, Jesus drink the cup of life! The Place a# Brokenness opened himself to God. On the Jesus based His openness to eve of crisis, Jesus prayed alone, yielded God on a trusting relationship. Even the name, “Gethsemane,” “My Father, if it is possible, may He prayed, “My Father.” Even in is a clue to what happens there. I this cup be taken from me” the face of suffering, Jesus knew The Hebrew word “Gethsemane” ' (Matt. 26:39). Jesus was as hu- ness! that God was no distant, hostile means “olive mill” or “olive I man as you and I. The tragedy of God— but His intimate, caring press.” Not only was it the I suffering and dying loomed Father. Our view o f God makes a Mount of Olives where olives ! ahead. Jesus spoke honestly with great difference in how we face grew in silver-green orchards be­ God: “What are You saying, Fa­ tough places in life. neath sunlit skies, but also it was ther? I don’t like it— but I am lis­ I love my two girls. Suppose there ripe olives were broken tening!” that when I came home when and crushed. Out of the experi­ Sometimes God’s direction for they were small, they said to me, ence of brokenness flowed pre­ I us demands high cost. Persecu­ “Daddy, we missed you. We’ve cious olive oil for food and tion has taken many forms. It decided to do anything you de­ health, for lamplight, and as an * hurts to suffer over one’s own sire. You tell us, and w e’ll do it.” ointment for healing. mistakes and sins, but it is agony If I had answered the way In this place o f brokenness, Je­ to suffer for the mistakes and many people view God’s reaction sus passed through crushing sins o f others! Through it all, we to our consecration, I would agony. “It pleased the L o r d to ! must keep open to God. We must have grabbed them, shaken them bruise him” (Isa. 53:10, k j v ) and not shut Him out or drown out hard, and shouted, “I’ve been crush Him so that the fresh oil of i His voice with our objections. waiting for this chance! I’ll make the Holy Spirit might soon flow It is not sin against God to you regret this decision as long to all who believe on Him. His question Him, to lament misfor­ as you live. I’m going to take all oil of blessing nourishes our spir­ tune, to doubt the rightness of a the fun out o f your life. You’ll eat its, gives light to those in dark-

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ness, and brings healing to the o f the world! Already it was cause there’s no place quite like heartaches o f humanity. crushing Him. Jesus bore my the bottom. You can’t go down Gethsemane, the place of bro­ sins— every one of them. He was any farther. That’s it. That’s the kenness, brings to mind the taking on yours too. The Master stopping place. Good, firm, sub­ words of the Lord to Isaiah: “I cried out to His intimate com­ stantial bottom— and you’re have trodden the winepress panions, “My soul is over­ right smack on it! Congratula­ alone; from the nations no one whelmed with sorrow to the tions, because the only direction was with me.... I looked, but To express point o f death. Stay here and ahead o f you— up! So, thank there was no one to help, I was keep watch with me” (v. 38). God you’ve hit bottom, and appalled that no one gave sup­ In that Eastern culture, the you’re not going any farther port” (63:3, 5). our usual position for prayer was down!” Jesus left eight men near the standing, but Jesus, broken be­ The startled man asked, “But gateway to the Garden of Geth­ fore God, fell to His knees! It what about not having any more semane. He took three men up hesitancy, was not the religious curtsy per­ strength? I can’t handle my life the hill a little farther: Peter, formed so mechanically, but anymore.” James, and John. Why did He se­ rather the violence o f His per­ The friend added, “That’s sim­ lect them? Had not all three re­ to verbalize sonal struggle. Jesus agonized ply wonderful too. It means cently boasted of their willing­ over our sins. How can w e be so you’re at the place where you’re ness to suffer or serve for the our fears, nonchalant about them? ready to put your life in the Master? If Jesus had asked them God can’t fully use us until our hands o f One who can take to perform some great heroic du­ proud self is broken. The un­ charge o f it— Jesus Christ.” ty, they would have done it. Yet and to yielding, unteachable self justi­ In his desperation and broken­ they got drowsy when Jesus only fies itself. It demands its own ness before God, that man was asked them to “watch with me way, stands up for its rights, and introduced to a Heavenly Father for one hour” (Matt. 26:40). I seeks its own glory. That self who began to help him put life think Jesus yearned to have within must be broken before back together. them near for comfort and sup­ the Lord. We must die to self- If you will be open and honest port in His lonely hour o f spiritu­ over our will. Brokenness is our humble with God, He will show you your al battle. response to God’s conviction in real self. When we admit that Earlier, Jesus had taken these our hearts. Jesus, having enjoyed God is right about us, we find same three fellows up the Mount limited un heaven’s splendor, gave it all up ourselves at a place o f broken­ of Transfiguration. They wit­ to come down among us, being ness! Then, and only then, nessed His glory on the moun- “obedient to death— even death comes His healing touch. taintop. And now Jesus knows ling on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8). He was When we pray, “Not my will, they must prepare to share in willing to be broken for us. Paul but yours be done,” w e are say­ His suffering. If you and I expect admonishes, “Your attitude ing, “Lord, I am dependent.” to reign with Him, we should not should be the same as that of be surprised to suffer with Him Christ Jesus” (v. 5). The Place of Yieldedness (2 Tim. 2:12, k j v ) . A man said to his Christian Jesus prayed, “Nevertheless our friend, “I’ve absolutely hit bot­ not my will, but thine, be done” Must Jesus bear the cross alone, tom. All my strength is gone!” k j v ) . And all the world go free? (Luke 22:42, His was a For nearly 30 minutes he told of No, there’s a cross fo r ev’ryone, prayer o f surrender, of relin­ all the things that had knocked quishment to God. And there’s a cross fo r me. him down. Then he added, “I’ve — Thomas Shepherd and others Jesus’ prayer o f yieldedness upon a hit bottom. I can’t go any farther contains a special note hidden in The apostle Paul exclaimed, “I down. I have to admit I can’t translation. The grammatical want to know Christ and the handle my life any longer.” construction o f the verb “be power o f his resurrection and the His Christian friend asked, “Is done” means literally, “Thy will fellowship o f sharing in his suf­ that it? Have you really hit bot­ keep on being done.” In other ferings, becoming like him in his tom?” words, this prayer o f surrender death” (Phil. 3:10). He will give powerful ‘Yes,” the discouraged man wasn’t just for that moment— the us grace and glory! replied. “Isn’t that awful?” present crisis— but it is a yield­ Jesus demonstrated that there “Awful?” his companion re­ edness as a way o f life. When I is a place o f brokenness before sponded. “Not on your life! pray it as Jesus said it, I mean, “I God. Matthew described it: “And That’s wonderful. I congratulate surrender or yield it all now and he began to be sorrowful and you!” will keep it surrendered and troubled” (26:37). A spirit o f “What do you mean? I just yielded day in and day out.” A heaviness pressed on Him like a told you I’ve hit bottom. Why do person doesn’t say, “Not my will, lead weight. He would be broken you congratulate me?” but yours be done” only in the by the weight o f bearing the sins The Christian explained, “Be­ great Gethsemanes o f life but

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Lust learn to pray it through all mans had no choice but to ad­ der is complete. We shall experi­ lof life’s trials and decisions. vance— and conquer! ence inner peace and rest and I The attitude in which you say Our Gethsemane experiences the sweet presence of the Holy f'Your will be done” makes a dif- demand that kind o f yieldedness Spirit strengthening within. Our jference. You might say in an atti­ and submission to God’s purpos­ struggle with surrender is tem­ tude o f helpless submission, es. I like the spirit of the gospel pered by Jesus’ victory. His victo­ [caught in the jaws of fate, “Thy song that says: ry was our gain! Charles Allen LiU be done.” Or you might say noted, “The prayer o f our Lord, Thou didst hear my plea so kindly; it as one whipped into line as an ‘Nevertheless not my will, but Thou didst grant me so much admission of total defeat! Or you thine, be done’ (Luke 22:42 grace. might say “Thy will be done” in [ k j v ] ) is not insurance against Ev’ry bridge is burned behind me; utter frustration that your dream some Calvary, but it is a guaran­ I will ne’er my steps retrace. will never come true, that all tee of an Easter. That prayer is — Johnson Oatman Jr. hope is gone, that you are left no protection against struggle with only bleak regret. Perhaps The place of surrender is never and pain, but it is assurance of with bitterness in surrender, you easy. We must face the fact of the final triumph.”5 feel you can’t do anything else. Cross in our lives. It demands M y friend Maurice Hall, former However, you can say “Thy sacrifice. However, the victory of missionary to Africa, wrote in his will be done” with the joyful as­ Jesus’ cross was won in prayer Bible many years ago: “Dear sent o f perfect trust and obedi­ Jesus during His Gethsemane experi­ God: Anything, anywhere, any­ ence. That’s how Jesus said it— ence. His actions on the morrow, time, somehow!” And Maurice as one talking to His Father, agonized facing trial, disgrace, and cruci­ signed his name. This was his whose “everlasting arms . . . un­ fixion, merely carried out His de­ vivid reminder o f total submis­ derneath” held Him steady cision made in Gethsemane: “My sion to God for life and eternity. (Deut. 33:27). Jesus yielded to a over our Father, if it is not possible for this E. Stanley Jones concluded, love that would never let Him cup to be taken away unless I “Whether it is a once-for-all sur­ go! God will mend your broken drink it, may your will be done” render in a life crisis or a day-by- heart if you will give Him all the sins. How (Matt. 26:42; cf. Luke 22:42). day surrender o f the problems of pieces! Did God answer His prayer? life as they come up, the way out Jesus’ prayer did not express a True, God did not remove the is— victory through surrender.”6 passive submission to His Father. can we cup o f suffering and death. But As we pray, “Not my will, but He prayed with determination to God did hear Him and answered yours be done,” w e are saying, allow God’s will to take prece­ His prayer: “An angel from “Lord, I am Yours!” dence. Jesus yielded in order to be so heaven appeared to him and Will you make this your sin­ follow God’s purposes for His strengthened him” (Luke 22:43). cere prayer? life— and ours. God enabled Jesus not to be Not my will, but Thine; not my When Julius Caesar sailed overwhelmed with discourage­ will, but Thine; across the English Channel with ment nor to fail. From this point N ot my will, but Thy will be his Roman legions, they were on until His death, you can sense done, Lord, in me. turned back at first by the Sax­ about that Jesus was strengthened and May Thy Spirit divine fill this be­ ons. They made a second at­ calmed. He is obviously in con­ ing o f mine. tempt to conquer the British trol. Jesus had the regal bearing them? N ot my will, but Thy will be Isles, but the Saxons, looking o f a king— even in death! done, Lord, in me. * down from the cliffs, drove them A musician commented on — Hugh C. Benner away. The third time, however, Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp once the Roman soldiers arrived Minor: “In this piece all is sorrow *© 1951. Renewed 1979 by Lillenas Pub­ lishing Co. All rights reserved. Used by per­ on shore with all their equip­ and trouble. Oh, such sorrow mission. ment, Caesar ordered every one and trouble! Until [Chopin] be­ of their ships burned behind gins to speak to God, to pray; 1. E. Stanley Jones, Victory Through Sur­ them. The men watched their then it is all right!” render (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1966), 124. So it was with Jesus. He own ships burn to the waterline 2. H. S. Vigeveno, Jesus the Revolutionary and sink. walked into Gethsemane in the (Glendale, Calif.: Regal Books, 1966), 101-2. With the last hope of retreat dark. He came out in the light— 3. C. S. Cowles, “The Pastor Deals with Failure,” Preacher’s Magazine, January 1976, gone, the soldiers, though greatly because He talked with God. “He 7. outnumbered, marched straight went into Gethsemane in . . . 4. William Barclay, The Gospel o f Luke, in ahead into the fury of the Sax­ agony; He came out with the vic­ The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia: ons. The Saxons ran away. Total tory won, and with peace in His Westminster Press, 1956), 283. 5. Charles L. Allen, Healing Words (West­ soul— because He had talked commitment— yieldedness with­ wood, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1961), out retreat— left them with great with God.”4 101. determination to win. The Ro­ We can know that our surren­ 6. Jones, Victory Through Surrender, 128.

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trict] administrative responsi­ bilities have increased so much that such pastoral care is [now] impossible, and that leaves large cracks for parson­ age families to fall through. Retired District Superinten­ dent Raymond C. Kratzer sug­ gested, “It would be good if they could take a leave of absence from pastoring, join some alive and caring church, while he works in the secular arena tem­ porarily. His ministry could be continued through activity in the he complete letter was print­ local church.” Love Was Expressed in ed in the Preacher’s Maga­ Some reactions reached with Their Reactions zine, December— February empathy to the lady’s pastor-hus- 1990-91. Here are some ex­ David Edwards of Culver, Ore­ band. Edwards said, cerpts: gon, said, “Your letter could have Your husband probably feels TDear Editor: been written by me— and I’m the the same way you do. He’s . . . It’s gotten so that I hate pastor.” Bruce Knorpp o f King- tired. He knows his sermons are Sundays and dread going to wood, West Virginia, noted, “I shallow, but without time to my church. I usually cry be­ am concerned about pastors’ prepare, what else can he do? fore, during, or after the ser­ wives because I am married to He must balance work, min­ vice— or all three. one. What an awesome responsi­ istry, and family. He probably You see, my church is bility it is to be my w ife’s pastor.” doesn’t get much visitation dead. . . . There’s only a From Oskaloosa, Iowa, E. L. done. As a result, his self-es­ handful of members. Most of Wisehart wrote, “I would tell this teem is in the pits.. . . Your hus­ them are senior citizens. . . . weary traveler that my heart band is frustrated with compla­ And I am the only young breaks for her.” cent saints, the lack of young mother. An anonymous writer suggest­ families and children, and the . . . Often I’m too tired or ed, tremendous burden of ministry discouraged to take [my girls] I feel as if each active pastor he must place upon you. on Sunday and Wednesday has a “story” that he can tell o f Johnnie Childress, pastor’s nights, but I feel guilty when extreme frustration concerning wife in Meridian, Mississippi, we stay home. unavoidable circumstances of empathized, “My heart went out The pastor is very nice, but ministry. I remember a visit to to you as I read your story. But his sermons are rather shallow. the Arlington National Ceme­ also my heart went out to your . . . Our small church can’t pay tery, where I watched the pastor-husband.” him much, so he must work at changing o f the guard at the two other jobs. Tomb o f the Unknown Soldier. Love Was Expressed in I long for deep preaching Perhaps there will someday be Their Recommendations . . . and spiritual fellowship. I a memorial to the “Unknown Knorpp asserted, have some friends who go to Pastor” and “Unknown Pastor’s When your church doors are the Baptist church. . .. Wife.” open for services, you must be ... I have considered look­ Daniel Alger o f Denair, Califor­ there regardless of the ing for another church, but nia, remarked, “Obviously this church’s condition and regard­ that is not feasible, you see. pastor’s wife feels that she and less of being tired or discour­ I’m married to the pastor. her husband are at a dead end, aged. Why? Your husband The letter came anonymously. and no one knows or cares.” To needs your supportive spirit, Its message broke my heart. I counteract that feeling, Alger and you need to practice a dis­ could not sleep that night. The added, ciplined life.... You need an heartache expressed haunted Bernie Hertel told of a dis­ exceptionally strong personal me. I knew she was not alone in trict superintendent who regu­ devotional life. Dig into the her plight. Readers o f the Preach­ larly met his pastors and wives Scriptures. Listen to tapes of er’s Magazine wrote, giving in their homes for a time o f en­ good sound gospel music and warmhearted uplift for the couragement and prayer. sound preaching. Borrow all downhearted lady of the parson­ BY RANDAL E. Bernie said that he “always felt the tapes you can. age. DENNY 10 feet tall afterward.” [Dis­ Childress reminded, “God

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promises to supply all of our visit each senior citizen. . . . their people. Would that par­ need and give us strength. Read Have the children crayon pic­ sonage family become your phil. 4:13, 19.” Knorpp also sug­ tures for these older friends, friends in ministry? . . . gested visiting the revival meet­ giving them as presents. [8] You long for “deep ings of neighboring churches, es­ [2] You yourself give a short preaching.” When you come pecially churches with a Holiness three-to-four-minute sermon- upon an excellent illustration orientation. ette twice each month during from magazines or book, clip The ministry of intercessory the Sunday morning worship. it for your husband. Point out prayer is a powerful resource for Use your children as “props.” to him real-life illustrations spiritual changes. Begin praying Have a child sing or recite a from your family, newspaper, that God will open doors so that Scripture verse or poem. Tell a and community that he could ‘your husband won’t have to work story from family life involving use in sermons.. . . You can those two other jobs and be able the children. Some senior citi­ aid him in broadening the to have time to study and pray zens have not been around scope of his sermon contents. and preach to feed his flock,” households with children for a [9] See God standing in the urged Childress. Intercessory long time; they delight in center o f your sanctuary. He is prayer reaps dividends: “Compla­ hearing what is going on with indeed there. .. . Instead of cent laymen need to be rekindled, youngsters. scanning empty pews, lift your a tired and discouraged pastor [3] Offer an encouraging eyes to Jesus’ face. Then He needs a fresh anointing from God, prayer for the older folk once will show you the good in the and a parsonage first lady needs a a month in the evening wor­ hearts of people around you— glorious new touch of fire on her ship. Could you share with particularly the good in the soul. Prayer can change things at them a homemade muffin af­ man behind the pulpit. your house and at your church,” ter service tied up pleasantly wrote Knorpp. in a Baggie? Do you remember Love Was Expressed in Wisehart suggested two their birthdays with a poem Their Responses things. “Find a mentor. What is a remembrance in worship? Wisehart commented, “I do mentor? A faithful counselor. [4] Plan a monthly Sunday not mean to suggest that your Find a Bible study in your area. evening service so that your situation is simple or easily han­ Ask God to help you locate a husband will not have to pre­ dled. But I do believe that find­ mentor— probably a lady older ly. Its pare a sermon. You may ac­ ing a mentor and ministry will than you, a mature Christian in cent testimonies, prayer make a positive difference. PS. whom you can confide. . . . You around the altar, sharing Why do I suggest this to you? want someone who knows and Scripture promises, inviting an Because it has worked— for me.” talks Jesus— someone in whom Evangelical friend from anoth­ Pastor Knorpp addressed the you can be accountable.” His er church to share music or lady o f the manse who is down­ second point is a strong biblical broke my life stories. Cap it with light cast: “I am adding you and your principle: “Find a ministry. Find refreshments. Keep the husband to my personal prayer someone with whom you can evening simple, warm, and list.” Another pastor expressed build a friendship, someone you heart. friendly. the same caring response: could win to Christ. When she [5] Ask God for His special “Please assure this unknown pas­ knows Jesus, you become her graces in dealing with the tor’s wife that she will remain in mentor. You disciple her.” W. struggling church. Keep your our prayers.” Russell York o f Greens Fork, Indi­ thoughts faith-filled. Take note I have heard people accuse the ana, agreed: “Maybe she should of anything positive.. .. church of being the only army get acquainted with some young [6] Become a pen pal with a that shoots its own wounded. mothers her age and try to pastor’s wife in another small The response of readers to this change her situation.” Childress church. Keep your letters free wonderful woman’s plea has added, “You could start a ladies’ from complaining. Be an en­ been an uplifting, warmhearted, ministry, Bible study, craft class, couragement to one another caring attempt to express love, or a fellowship to visit nursing by lifting up Scripture’s practi­ to give support, and to let her homes or hospitals with some of cal promises that you have know that she is not alone. your elderly people. They would seen fulfilled in your life. If “May our Lord Jesus Christ love this.” such a pastor’s wife lives near­ himself and God our Father, who One pastor visualized the by, ask the Lord if you can be­ loved us and by his grace gave lonely lady with her children. come her friend. . . . us eternal encouragement and What could they do to make a [7] Keep in touch with the good hope, encourage your difference? He gave creative rec­ Baptist church in town. Go to hearts and strengthen you in ommendations: their socials and special week- every good deed and word” (2 [1] Take your children to night events, and get to know Thess. 2:16-17). p m

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Anyone can carry a Bible. Near­ ly anyone can sing a religious song. Anyone can attend religious services. So how do we know if a person is a real Christian? Jesus said we shall have the evidence needed: “All men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). What an important teaching from the triune Godhead! We pastors must learn how to show our people to follow God’s teach­ ing. We are family! If we love one another, we uring the late 1970s, the Worship then becomes more are expressing God’s nature. Pittsburgh Pirates won the meaningful when we are family. The Bible teaches us, “God is love” National League baseball If we love one another, we (1 John 4:8,16). God puts His na­ penant. Veteran player are fulfilling God’s law. Paul ture into us, His children: “Now Willie Stargell served as the wrote: “Let no debt remain out­ that you have purified yourselves captain and leader. Stargell ral­ standing, except the continuing by obeying the truth so that you lied his team with the slogan debt to love one another, for he have sincere love for your broth­ “We are family!” who loves his fellowman has ful­ ers, love one another deeply, from After all the accolades, Willie filled the law” (Rom. 13:8). the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22). StargellD still insisted that the dif­ In Old Testament times, God When I was three years old, ference was the attitude “We are gave laws to govern the land— my father did something that family!” They had learned to they guided relationships to prop­ shows his heart. Dad bought a laugh together, to cry together, erty and neighbors and worship. used furniture store in Wasco, to work together, supporting, In the New Testament, loving one California— a building, furniture, feeling, and living together as another naturally covers all the and a Model T Ford truck for de­ family. important bases o f God’s law. livery. Poor people came into the I see the church in similar When you love your neigh­ little storefront during the light: “We are family!” In our bor, you do not break up his Grapes of Wrath era. They had mobile, changing, lonely culture, home, you do not violate his prop­ migrated from Arkansas, Texas, having a family is extremely at­ erty, you do not defame his repu­ and Oklahoma. The poor folk ar­ tractive. Often rootless people tation. John wrote, “And this is rived with nothing, having no today have nothing left but the love: that we walk in obedience to money. I remember Dad helping church. Let’s teach our people his commands” (2 John 6). Love them load furniture into the old how to be a family. does not substitute for the law, truck. In four months, Dad had If we love one another, we but love fulfills the law. If we love given it all away. He had nothing are obeying God’s com­ each other as family, we shall left but the Model T truck, which mand. Jesus repeated His or­ meet the law’s requirements. he promptly drove over the ders: “This is my command: Love If we love one another, we mountains to Pasadena College each other” (John 15:17). Chris­ are following God’s teaching. and traded for tuition. It was my tian love is not a manufactured Paul wrote, “May the Lord make greatest inheritance. feeling. Christian love is learning your love increase and overflow I see the same giving, loving, to treat each other the same way for each other and for everyone caring qualities in my daughters. God treats us. It remains a mat­ else, just as ours does for you” (1 I never know what or who they’ll ter of the will, not of emotions. Thess. 3:12). Paul added in the drag home. They are quick to Jesus insisted, “Love each other same letter, “For you yourselves give to people in need. Being as I have loved you” (v. 12). have been taught by God to love born into my father’s family, they How does Jesus love us? He for­ each other” (4:9). God the Father share in the same nature. gives us; He’s kind to us. taught us to love one another by While no one can see God, We choose to love. By a con­ giving His Son. Jesus taught us to they can see God’s family. People scious act of our will, each must love one another by giving His are hungering to be loved today. determine, “I will put her first. I life. The Holy Spirit also teaches If God’s family loves one another, will be kind to him. I will be pa­ us to love one another: “God has then the world will know how tient.” The more we deliberately poured out his love into our wonderful it is to know God. He will to love one another, the more hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom will be recognized through us if our emotions begin to change. he has given us” (Rom. 5:5). we are family! PM

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Third, we should carry one an­ other’s burdens with genuine hu­ mility. Paul said, ‘You who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one o f you who is in the wrong” (v. 1, tlb ). The Greek word for “humility” or “meekness” ( k j v ) is not a sissy, weak word. It describes “power under control.” A doctor setting a broken bone re­ stores gently. He doesn’t use a crowbar or a pipe wrench. He us­ es power under control. In restor­ he church has been accused member. He grabs that sore thumb ing a brother, if we lack humili­ of shooting its own wounded. and sticks it in his mouth. Other ty— power under control— we However, I witnessed the op­ fingers curl around that injured may hurt him even more. posite today. A group o f or­ member to help ease the pain. His Jesus emphasized, “Treat oth­ dained elders to which I be­ feet head for an ice pack or cold ers as you want them to treat long has brought a brother water. His tongue and lips form you. This is what the Law and through the process of restora­ sympathetic sounds! When one the Prophets are all about” tion. Appropriate disciplines guid­ member hurts, it should bring no (Matt. 7:12, c e v ) . ed him back to a place o f whole­ joy to the other members. “I could have sinned, too; it ness. He willingly submitted to Let the church family resist the could have been me who fell or T stumbled.” If you can admit that, his peers. His passage progressed urge to reveal the hurting one through stages of repentance, who has stumbled. When Noah you will restore the person who loneliness, submissiveness, emo­ got drunk and stretched out has stumbled— with humility tional and spiritual healing, and naked on the ground, his son and gentleness. loving guidance by a superior of­ Ham laughed at his father’s er­ “That could never happen to ficer and the gentle, caring touch ror. But the other two sons took me! I would never do such a of a loving pastor. As the elders a garment, backed into his tent, thing!” If you think like that, you prayed with words o f encourage- and covered Noah. will probably hurt the one who Iment, I felt the delight o f seeing Let the church family resist re­ needs to be restored gently. You [restoration made complete. My sponding with rejection. Instead, will never be able to restore a j brother in the Lord hugged me, Paul says, “Restore him gently.” fallen brother until you gain a letting me sense the intimacy of The Greek word for “restore” de­ deep sense of your own unwor­ his deep joy in that embrace. scribes a doctor setting a broken thiness to be called a child of Restoration is beautiful— a pro­ bone. When a brother stumbles God. Paul wrote, “At one time we found celebration o f God’s grace. and falls, it’s like having a bone too were foolish, disobedient, de­ Paul wrote, “You obey the law broken. It needs to be reset ten­ ceived and enslaved by all kinds of Christ when you offer each derly. Fishermen used the word of passions and pleasures.. . . But other a helping hand” (Gal. 6:2, to describe “mending their nets” when the kindness and love of c e v ). He said that in the context (Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19, k j v ) . If God our Savior appeared, he of restoring a Christian brother nets aren’t mended, you can’t saved us, not because of righ­ who has been tempted and use them successfully. You will teous things we had done, but be­ failed. Paul urges the Christian lose a lot through the broken cause o f his mercy” (Titus 3:3-5). family to assume responsibility to places. I wonder how many we A little child strayed away. A help him bear that heavy burden. let slip through the cracks be­ search was organized, but after Three principles guide us in car­ cause we failed to restore those two days, the child was not found. rying the burden with someone who stumbled and fell! Finally searchers joined hands who has stumbled and fallen. Second, we should carry one and walked carefully through the First, we should carry one an­ another’s burdens out of love. open fields so that no area would other’s burdens in order to restore. Paul said, “Carry each other’s bur­ be overlooked. They came upon Paul instructed, “Brothers, if some­ dens, and in this way you will ful­ the dead body of the child. When one is caught in a sin, you who are fill the law of Christ” (v. 2). What the mother received her dead ba­ spiritual should restore him gent­ is the law of Christ? Jesus said, “A by, she cried out, “Why didn’t you ly” (v. 1). A carpenter who has hit new command I give you: Love join hands sooner?” his thumb with a hammer gets BY RANDAL E. one another” (John 13:34). We are family. Couldn’t we join very protective o f that injured DENNY Restoration is a family matter. hands to help a fallen brother? PM

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murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his broth­ er’s were righteous” (v. 12). As this incident vividly illustrates, ; the schism between the two brothers— Cain and Abel— cen­ tered in religious differences. In Gen. 4, Cain is not an atheist, but a worshiper bringing sacri- j fice to God. The real test is not a religious ceremony, but love for one’s brother. Cain resented his brother’s righteousness before God— the same kind of envy that drove the Jewish priests to de­ T ove is a Christian virtue— Reformer John Knox said, mand Jesus’ death on the Cross. the “fruit o f the Spirit” (Gal. “The [early] Christian communi­ No wonder John wrote, “Do 5:22). ty was not a memorial society not be surprised, my brothers, if I J The comic strip caveman, with its eyes fastened on a de­ the world hates you” (v. 13). The IJb.C., opens a box. A letter in parted master; it was a dynamic more Christlike you become, the the box says, “Congratulations! community created around a liv­ more the world around you will You have just purchased the ing and present Lord.” God never hate and hiss at you! Our world world’s finest fire-starting kit!” intended for His people to build resents righteousness and would The next picture shows him a shrine around love. Thus John destroy those who expose its un­ reading on: “The flint is of the wrote, “This is the message you righteousness. A good man’s life finest stone imported from the heard from the beginning: We rebukes the way of an evil per­ Orient. Your striker has been should love one another” (v. 11). son. carefully selected by screened Someone gave me a handwrit­ Socrates embodied goodness. lumberjacks. Your kit was pack­ ten note: “Love that goes up­ One of his peers— brilliant, errat­ aged and inspected by little old ward, from the heart of man to ic, debauched, wild, and reck­ grannies working in a dust-free God, is adoration. Love that goes less— said to him, “Socrates, I environment, and your fire kit outward, from one heart to an­ hate you, because every time I dealer has sworn an oath of de­ other, is affection. But love that meet you, you show me what votion to customers.” stoops is grace.” That’s the kind I am.” In the next picture, B.C. is rub­ of love that John describes in 1 As people persecute Christians bing two sticks together. A cave John 3:11-18— “Love that by various degrees, they attempt woman asks, “What’s with the stoops.” to conceal their antagonism for sticks? Where is your new fire- Jesus. The individual Christian starting kit?” I. Love That Stoops Proves merely becomes the target for He looks up, smiles, and says, New Life in Christ people’s animosity toward good­ “I built a shrine around it.” John wrote to combat the ness. As Paul witnessed, “We are Has the Church taken all the gnostics, who believed that life hard pressed on every side, but wonderful equipment God has in the Spirit was obtained by se­ not crushed; perplexed, but not given to us and made it into a cret knowledge. The Greek word in despair; persecuted, but not shrine? Have w e built shrines gnosis, “to know,” gave the gnos­ abandoned; struck down, but around God’s kind of love? tics their name. Knowledge was not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9). I cut out an advertisement for their key word. John did not re­ Continuing his contrast be­ church steeples from a religious ject knowledge; he used the tween hatred and love, John magazine. The advertisement word “know” 36 times in 1 John. wrote, “Anyone who hates his had emblazoned in big letters: But his dominant theme was the brother is a murderer, and you “THE CROWNING GLORY OF word “love”; he used it 43 times. know that no murderer has eter­ YOUR CHURCH.” The glory of To know was good, but to love nal life in him” (v. 15). Hatred is the church is never in steeples or was best! sin. The question is not, “What buildings or preachers or musi­ John contrasts love with ha­ did I do?” but “What did I want cians or programs. It is in the re­ tred: “Do not be like Cain, who to do? What would I have done flected glory o f Jesus, who said, belonged to the evil one and if I were free to do as I please?” “Love one another. . . . All men murdered his brother [literally, That’s why Jesus equates atti­ will know that you are my disci­ ‘cut his brother’s throat’ (jb ) or tude with the deed. Your attitude ples, if you love one another” BY RANDAL E. ‘butchered his brother’ portrays what you really are if (John 13:34-35). DENNY (william s)]. And why did he uninhibited and unrestrained by

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fear o f consequences. Hatred is wrote, “Stop doing wrong, learn feelings!” Nonsense! God so murder in embryo form. to do right!” (1:16-17). J. B. loved the world that He gave— a John’s point is that hatred is Phillips paraphrased 1 Cor. 13:4, volitional commitment that incompatible with the Christian “This love of which I speak . . . stands firm when emotions fade. life. God does not dwell in the looks for a way o f being con­ Did you know that the Bible heart filled with hatred. New life structive.” Our love for God is has two John 3:16s? Most Chris­ in Christ is proved by a love that measured by our love for the tians memorize John 3:16— “For stoops to human need: “We brother we least like! God so loved the world, that he know that we have passed from In an old, yellowed Hutchings gave his only begotten Son, that death to life, because w e love California Magazine printed in whosoever believeth in him our brothers. Anyone who does 1860 was a story o f two brothers should not perish, but have ever­ not love remains in death” (v. traveling in Lapland. On a bitter, lasting life” ( k j v ) . Those power­ 14). Love for our brothers is the freezing day they were traveling ful words are important words. indispensable sign o f our conver­ in a sled, wrapped in furs from We cherish them. But how many sion to Jesus Christ. When I see head to foot— yet nearly frozen. Christians memorize 1 John a bird that looks like a duck, Along the way, they found a lone 3:16? “This is how we know quacks like a duck, has webbed traveler numb and dying in the what love is: Jesus Christ laid feet like a duck, paddles in the snow. One o f the brothers said, down his life for us. And we water like a duck, and prefers “Let’s stop and help. We must ought to lay down our lives for the company o f ducks, I can’t re­ Church save his life.” our brothers.” That comes as sist the conclusion that it must The other brother argued, quite a shock. That last part is be a duck. “Birds o f a feather “We’ll lose our own lives if we not so popular. We would rather flock together.” We gravitate to stop. No one but a fool would emphasize what God is doing what lures us most. We eventual­ think o f stopping on a day like than get involved— in what we ly show up where we belong. the this. I wouldn’t give my cloak to should be doing. “We know that w e have passed save a hundred travelers!” In the Book o f Acts, early from death to life, because we Said the first brother, “I can’t Christians practiced two kinds of love our brothers.” If we don’t see this stranger die. I must go breaking of bread: the love feast, love the brethren, we belong to help him,” With great effort he or breaking of common bread in the other crowd. Christians wrapped the stranger in one of daily fellowship; and the Lord’s “have passed from death to equipment his furs and struggled, carrying Supper, or breaking of Commu­ life”— it sounds something like him on his back. Nearly exhaust­ nion bread. In the Book o f Acts, resurrection! No one grows into ed, he caught up with the sled. the breaking o f common bread becoming a Christian. It takes a He called out, “Brother, look! I in fellowship was the most divine, spiritual re-creation. God have saved this man’s life— and I prominent one. As the years plants spiritual life into a person think my own. I’m almost hot passed by, the bread of Holy who has been spiritually dead. given to us with exhaustion.” Communion gradually took the Love proves that new life has in­ But his brother did not answer. place of prominence. Why? deed been given. Without love, He was sitting in his furs on the Breaking the bread o f Holy we are “nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2). and made it sled, frozen to death. “Anyone Communion commemorated Spiritual life does not come by who does not love remains in what Jesus did in laying down loving our brothers, but love for into a death.” His life for us. Breaking of com­ our brothers gives evidence of mon bread in daily fellowship spiritual life. Jesus said, “I tell II. Love That Stoops Patterns emphasized our responsibility to you the truth, whoever hears my shrine? After Jesus love and share with our brothers word and believes him who sent The English word “love” has in Christ. Gradually the idea of me has eternal life and will not been so abused, debased, and di­ what we should do for others be condemned; he has crossed luted that nearly everyone claims was dropped, and Christians pre­ over from death to life” (John to love by his or her own defini­ ferred to celebrate only what Je­ 5:24). Love for one’s brothers tion. John defines his idea of sus did for us. People prefer to proves the possession o f eternal love: “This is how we know what turn religion into rites and cere­ life. That’s why it seems so love is: Jesus Christ laid down monies instead o f acts o f service. strange to see people or groups his life for us” (v. 16). His word We prefer to build a shrine who profess Christianity fighting for “love” is the Greek word around “love.” and fussing between themselves. agape. It is a love that stoops, To understand a love that A person out o f sorts with fellow that goes to work— with or with­ stoops, let’s hear again what Je­ Christians is out of sorts with out emotions. Most people de­ sus did: ‘Jesus Christ laid down God and himself. fine love in emotional terms: his life for us.” Only John’s writ­ We prove our love by doing “For God so loved the world that ings use the words “laid down good to our brothers. Isaiah He sat in heaven and had warm his life.” It comes from a Greek

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word that means “to place” or save ourselves, and keep our­ Hill of Los Angeles said, “When “to put aside.” It implies “laying selves and hold ourselves back God blesses you materially, He aside something— laying aside as though the highest goal in seldom has you in mind. God one’s clothes, divesting oneself life would be to look good in gives it to you so that He can get of something.” In John 13:4 ( c e v , our caskets. It’s no special it through you. If He can’t get it j b ) it describes Jesus laying aside blessing to come to the end of through you, He’ll stop giving it His “outer garment” to stoop life with love unshared, selves to you!” down and wash His disciples’ ungiven, activities unactivat­ Second, we must care enough feet. In what became an early ed, deeds undone, emotions to know our brother’s need exists. Christian hymn, Paul describes unextended.. . . I have the John moved from loving “our Jesus: feeling that when a person is brothers” in the plural to loving Who, being in very nature middle-aged, he ought to be “his brother” in the singular. It’s God, did not consider equality about half used up.... What a lot easier to get excited about with God something to be am I saving myself for?1 “humanity” than to love that per­ grasped, but made himself Our local newspaper had an son you know who’s so uninter­ nothing, taking the very na­ article titled “Birmingham esting, exasperating, or irritat­ ture o f a servant, being made Samaritan Found Dead.” Willie ing. C. S. Lewis noted, “Loving in human likeness. And being Perry had been known around everybody in general may be an found in appearance as a man, Birmingham, Alabama, for driv­ excuse for loving nobody in par­ he humbled himself and be­ ing his “Rescue Ship,” a 1971 ticular.” came obedient to death— even Thunderbird equipped with That’s the point o f Jesus’ para­ death on a cross! (Phil. 2:6-8). flashing yellow and red lights. ble of the Good Samaritan. The That’s love that stoops all the He always stopped to help lawyer came to Jesus wanting to way to our deepest need! stranded motorists. debate an abstract idea: “Who is Here’s the unpopular part: He was found dead in his my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). “And we ought to lay down our garage from accidental carbon But Jesus focused on one man lives for our brothers.” The monoxide poisoning. The mayor in desperate need: To whom can Greek grammar suggests a pres­ said, “Perry was a very special I be a neighbor? ent, ongoing, continuous laying blessing to the city of Birming­ Many people refuse to do any­ down of our lives for one anoth­ ham. He was one of the few peo­ thing since they can’t do every­ er. We are seldom called upon to ple who disregarded himself thing. Because they can’t set the die for another, but we need to completely in the name o f oth­ world on fire, they won’t light a learn how to live for one another. ers.” candle. Because they can’t save Love that stoops voluntarily sur­ That’s a good definition of the world, they refuse to save a renders its rights in order to love that stoops. brother in need. minister to another person. This Third, we must love enough to love stoops to do anything for III. Love That Stoops Calls share with our brother. Notice another’s benefit. What are you to Action how practical the Bible gets: prepared to “lay down”? John lets us down with a “Suppose a brother or sister is John Henry Jowett wrote, thump in his next sentence: “If without clothes and daily food. If “There is much spurious love anyone has material possessions one of you says to him, ‘Go, I about. It lays nothing down; it and sees his brother in need but wish you well; keep warm and only takes things up! It is self- has no pity on him, how can the well fed,’ but does nothing about seeking, using the speech and ac­ love of God be in him?” (v. 17). his physical needs, what good is cents o f love. It is a “work o f the We readily consent to the high it?” (James 2:15-16). flesh’ which has stolen the label ideal of laying down one’s life— John has an interesting of a ‘fruit o f the Spirit.’ Love may that is a remote possibility, so we phrase, “but has no pity on him” always be known by its expendi­ can get enthused about it. We (v. 17). The Greek idea suggests tures.” would be content to wait for that “close up [our] insides against The first law o f physical life is unlikely moment that calls for him.” If we try to protect our­ self-preservation. The Bible martyrdom and live our present selves from feeling our brother’s teaches us that self-sacrifice is comfortable life undisturbed. But need inside, “how can the love of the first law o f spiritual life. John brings us to reality: “If any­ God be in” us? God opened His Reuben Welch said o f 1 John one has material possessions and great heart o f love and compas­ 3:16: sees his brother in need.” sion for us. How can we settle I think I know a little bit If we are going to help our for closing our hearts against our about what it means to hold brother, we must meet three con­ brother? [life] back. . . . Sometimes I ditions. “Dear children, let us not love wonder what we are saving First, we must have enough to ourselves fo r.. . . We want to meet our brother’s need. Dr. E. V Continued on page 53

T he P reacher’s M agazine • June, July, A ugust 1999 42 s every investor knows, work with in nearly every kind ple of asset allocation and com­ markets don’t go up forever. of market scenario. While one in­ mitted only 50 percent of her Inevitably, there w ill be pe­ vestment is performing poorly, $100,000 in assets to the Stocks riods of decline when in­ another may be doing well. group, with the remainder split vestor assets shrink along The value o f asset allocation is among bonds, real estate, and with the market. The question is, its ability to decrease your expo­ Money Market Investments. Ahow can we protect our assets sure to significant losses in any Much to the surprise o f both, against these declines? One solu­ single market. The level o f risk the stock market plummeted by tion is to sell o ff all our invest­ reduction you can achieve is de­ 30 percent. The result? Investor ments and go to a 100 percent pendent on how you allocate As assets shrunk in value by a cash position until the market re­ your portfolio and how the vari­ full 30 percent to $70,000. In­ sumes its upward path. This as­ ous markets perform. A conserv­ vestor B suffered a paper loss as sumes, o f course, that we know ative portfolio would be weight­ well— but her loss was just 15 when to sell and when to buy ed most heavily toward Fixed percent of her total portfolio, or back into the market. Income and Money Market In­ $15,000, since only half of her An alternative (and more real­ vestments. A more aggressive ap­ assets were affected by the stock istic) approach is to utilize the proach would focus on Stocks market tumble. In addition, her strategy of asset allocation (also and Tangible Assets. bonds and Money Market In­ called portfolio allocation). Under Further refinement of the vestments performed positively, the concept of asset allocation, in­ process is achieved by diversify­ helping her to offset the 15 per­ vestors diversify their investment ing among conservative and ag­ cent loss in the stock market. portfolio among the four major gressive investments within each How you allocate your person­ groups o f investment assets: investment group. For example, al portfolio is determined by Stocks, Fixed Income Investments you could invest in both blue- your individual investment pro­ (bonds), Tangible Assets (real es­ chip and small-company stocks file— your goals, your risk tem­ tate and other hard assets such as in the Stocks category. Or, you perament, and your time hori­ precious metals), and Money could split your Fixed Income In­ zon. Current market conditions Market Investments (cash). vestments between lower-rated also play a role. No matter how Through this diversification of and higher-quality bonds. you initially allocate your portfo­ investment assets, you mix both Even if you pursue a rather ag­ lio, chances are it will change conservative and aggressive in­ gressive strategy, the use o f asset over time as your personal situa­ vestments and arrive at a blend­ allocation will put you at less tion and the market change. It’s ed portfolio that is not as risky as risk than the investor who loads a good idea to review your port­ it would be if you were to put all up in one investment area. An folio at least once a year, reallo­ your money into aggressive in­ example will illustrate: cating if necessary. PM vestments. On the other hand, it Investor A believed he could SUBMITTED BY gives you more upside potential turn a quick profit in the stock The information in this article is o f a gener­ PENSIONS AND than if you were to go totally market and invested his entire al nature, offered fo r educational purposes on­ ly. It is not offered as specific investment ad­ conservative. This blended port­ BENEFITS USA, fortune of $100,000 in common vice. Personal investment decisions should be CHURCH OF THE folio also has the advantage of stocks. Investor B liked stocks, made in consultation with professional invest­ giving you something positive to NAZARENE too, but she practiced the princi­ ment advisers.

T he Preacher’s M agazine • June, July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

ceived shocking news. He had shadow o f influence from the Editorial Note: been abruptly dismissed from Church of the Nazarene stretches Randal Denny was privileged to the Peniel City Mission. into 111 nations of the world. give this address at the centennial So, Dr. J. R Widney, a physi­ Los Angeles First Church of celebration o f Los Angeles First cian and president of the Univer­ the Nazarene and Pastor Ron Church of the Nazarene, the con­ sity of Southern California, and Benefiel have kept the vision of gregation founded by Dr. Phineas Dr. Bresee gathered with a group our founder. Dr. Bresee said: F. Bresee. The founding o f First of Spirit-filled believers. On We seek the simplicity and Church of the Nazarene was a sig­ October 6, 1895, Dr. Phineas F. the Pentecostal power o f the nificant event in the history o f the Bresee and Dr. J. R Widney primitive New Testament Holiness Movement. Denny was preached at a new mission in a Church. The field o f labor to served as pastor o f this historical hall at 317 South Main Street. which w e feel especially called church. The Los Angeles Times told of it is in the neglected quarters of t was October of 1895. Grover under the news heading: “New the cities and wherever also Cleveland was serving his Denomination. Drs. Bresee may be found waste places second, separate term o f office and Widney Will Found a and souls seeking pardon and as president of the United New Church.” cleansing from sin. This work States— all 44 states. The By October 20, the new group we aim to do through the countryI faced a terrible national organized a church. The charter agency o f city missions, evan­ depression. Millions of people remained open until October 30, gelistic services, house-to- were out of work. Two years earli­ 1895. After a night o f prayer, Dr. house visitation, caring for the er Henry Ford had tested his Widney felt led by the Holy Spirit poor, comforting the dying. To “horseless buggy” in Detroit. Eight to offer the name “Church o f the this end w e strive to personal­ years later Orville and Wilbur Nazarene.” In the New Testament ly walk with God and to incite Wright would keep their flying when people wanted to identify others so to do.3 machine aloft for 59 seconds at Jesus with the poor nobodies o f We praise God for people who Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. the world, they used the derisive have refused to be distracted Dr. Phineas F. Bresee had been tag ‘Jesus of Nazareth.” Dr. Wid­ from the mission of our heritage. a pastor and presiding elder in ney said: “The name ‘Nazarene’ Yet, the central figure today must the Methodist Church. He found links Jesus to the great toiling, be Jesus the Nazarene. It is His himself frozen out of the confer­ struggling, sorrowing heart o f the mission Dr. Bresee followed 100 ence by a bishop who opposed world. It is Jesus, Jesus of years ago. It is His mission that the preaching of holiness. Dr. Nazareth, to Whom the world in we must follow on the threshold Bresee served his last Methodist its misery turns, that it may have o f this new century. We pause to church in Boyle Heights o f Los hope.” 1 On that organizational look back and express our grati­ Angeles, the neighborhood Sunday, Dr. Widney preached tude, but we must look ahead where I was born. Dr. Bresee felt from Jesus’ words: “Follow me” and consecrate ourselves to carry an urgency to bring the gospel to (Matt. 4:19).2 out Jesus’ mission in our day. the poor o f lower Los Angeles. Today we celebrate the cen­ Jesus returned to His home­ Soon he joined with Rev. and tennial of First Church o f the town, Nazareth. On the Sabbath Mrs. T. R Ferguson as a coworker Nazarene— 100 years o f service day, He made His w ay to the syn­ in the Peniel City Mission among for Jesus in the city o f Los Ange­ agogue, according to His habit. the poor and homeless. While les. By evangelistic fervor and by That day, the keeper o f the preaching at a camp meeting in BV RANDAL E. mergers with like-minded Holi­ scrolls handed the scroll of Isa­ Bennett, Nebraska, Dr. Bresee re­ DENNY ness groups across the land, the iah to Jesus for the Scripture

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reading. Jesus stood to read the denomination: “We pass resolu­ sion, “to heal the brokenheart­ day’s lesson: tions about the poor, but we do ed.” The Spirit o f the Lord is up­ not invite them into our church­ Our fields are littered with on me; he has appointed me to es. We give bread, but we do not broken people, broken homes, preach Good News to the poor; break bread with them.”4 broken dreams, broken relation­ he has sent me to heal the bro­ Dr. Bresee said, “It has been ships. Everywhere w e find peo­ kenhearted and to announce my long cherished desire to have ple seeking something to ease that captives shall be released a place in the heart of the city, the inner hurt. Though they look and the blind shall see, that which could be made a center o f in so many directions for the an­ the downtrodden shall be holy fire, and where the gospel swer, we offer wholeness found freed from their oppressors, In the le w could be preached to the poor.”5 only in Jesus the Nazarene. He and that God is ready to give Los Angeles First Church has brings hope and wholeness: blessings to all who come to not forgotten its mission to serve “Blessed are those who mourn, him (Luke 4:18-19, t l b ) . people without hope. The church for they will be comforted” Jesus sat down in the custom­ responded to immigrants coming (Matt. 5:4). ary position of Hebrew oratory. from distant lands and different For example, “In America, Everyone leaned forward in antic­ when cultures. Around 45 years ago, 40% o f all adults are single— un­ ipation o f what He had to say. Dr. Kimber Moulton led the married, divorced, or widowed. Then He added, “These Scriptures church to sponsor a Chinese con­ . . . Singles in the city often lead came true today!” (v. 21, tlb ). gregation. lives of quiet desperation.”6 That day Jesus o f Nazareth re­ Thirty-six years ago Rev. Bruce A demographic study showed vealed God’s mission for Him and Webb, associate pastor, joined 35,000 single young adults living His people. Will we, the Church Rev. Don Hughes of Bresee Av­ within a mile of Los Angeles First of the Nazarene, continue to enue Church to take teens to the Church. So, 20 years ago I as­ follow Jesus the Nazarene? identify Navajo Mission in Ramah, New signed Dr. Ron Benefiel to the Methodist bishop Richard B. Mexico. They wrote to Head­ singles ministry— that proved to Wilke wrote a book analyzing his quarters in Kansas City for per­ be divine providence! With his own denomination, titled And Are Jesus with mission, waited as long as youth “fellowship houses” as a base of We Yet Alive? Church o f the Naza­ pastors can wait, went ahead operations, Ron began a ministry rene, if we keep Jesus central, we successfully with the mission, of wholeness to lonely, hurting will enjoy His anointing upon our the poor no and returned before receiving people. beloved church! However, Jesus the denial of their request. Now How does a church offer warns us, “Apart from me you can everybody is doing it! It’s called wholeness in Christ? One impor­ do nothing” (John 15:5). Work and Witness! tant aspect is being family to one Surveying the past 100 years During Dr. L. Guy Nees’s and another. I remember my first and standing on the threshold of Rev. Wendell Wellman’s tenure, Sunday night as pastor o f Los the next century, let’s look at our other ministries developed as Ed Angeles First Church. In my for­ high and holy calling. Switzer and a corps o f workers mer pastorate, I had to hurry to conducted a branch Sunday the sanctuary doors in order to they used School in East Los Angeles hous­ greet people rushing away to If We Continue to Follow the ing projects. their cars. On that Sunday night, Nazarene, We Must Preach Good More than 22 years ago Rev. I slipped out the side door o f Wi­ News to People Without Hope the derisive James Ingalls opened the doors ley Chapel, rushed around to the Jesus shares with us His mis­ to Rev. Soogoon Hearn, organiz­ exit o f the chapel— and stood sion, “to preach Good News to tag “Jesus ing a Korean congregation, and there alone. No one was coming the poor.” to an Armenian congregation. out. I waited for several minutes. Jesus focused His ministry on During my pastoral tenure, a Finally I went into the chapel to and for the poor. The poor in­ of Spanish-speaking Sunday School see if something had happened. clude people with nothing, peo­ class was expanded into a w or­ It had— people were loving one ple with very little economic shiping community led by Rev. another as family friends. Rush­ help, and people who have dis­ Oziel Flores. Rev. Clarence Crites ing home wasn’t a top priority. I covered that even with material began Bible studies among peo­ believe that has been a major at­ things, they are still destitute ple from Belize and with new tribute o f First Church from the and without hope. Jesus gives converts from our community. beginning! them hope: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the king­ II ill dom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). The If We Continue to Follow the If We Continue to Follow the people without hope seem more Nazarene, We Must Bring Nazarene, We Must Offer ready to hear Jesus. Wholeness to Wounded People Freedom to People in Bondage Bishop Wilke observed in his Jesus shares with us His mis­ Jesus shares with us His mis-

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sion, “to announce that captives On Easter Sunday, 1978, we pre­ thing clearly” (v. 25). You will shall be released.” sented Dr. Mellert’s favorite Eas­ see your neighbor and recognize Jesus read the text from He­ ter cantata. Hugh Salsbury sang his needs as opportunities for brew but spoke His words in the same solo he had sung for you and God’s great grace. Jesus’ Aramaic, the language o f the many decades— but this time he touch helps us see people, not Babylonian Captivity. The words was sick unto death. This would just problems! were recorded for us in Greek, be Hugh’s last solo. It was a dra­ In Los Angeles First Church, the commercial language o f the matic moment I will never for­ more than most Nazarene Mediterranean world at that get, as he sang the words of churches, the singing o f anthems time. The word for “captives” lit­ faith: “Where, O death, is your and strong hymns was a pre­ erally meant “captured at the victory? Where, O death, is your ferred musical diet. The music of point o f a spear.” These prisoners sting? . . . Thanks be to God! He the church had a great mix of so­ of war alluded to the Babylonian gives us the victory through our phistication and joyful enthusi­ Captivity, but the term applies to Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55, asm with Dick Willis at the pipe all who are captive to sin and Sa­ 57). organ. Yet one Sunday I sched­ tan. We live in a society teased Let’s keep on shouting the uled Ron Salsbury to sing a so­ by sin, but soon in bondage by message of release to people in lo— with his long, golden hair moral and spiritual failure. Peo­ bondage! and beard, a member o f the JC ple without Jesus become en­ Power Outlet. With gifted talent, slaved to passions, to pleasures, IV Ron strummed his guitar and to habits o f dissipation and im­ If We Continue to Follow the sang a song he had written; his purity. Yet we have the Good Nazarene, We Must Shine the tempo and text moved beyond News— Jesus sets people free Light o f God's Truth to People the usual bounds. Afterward, from the spearpoints o f Satan Who Cannot See Beyond Harold Bell commented to me, and his crowd. Themselves “Pastor, I don’t always care for This church has had some Jesus shares with us His mis­ that kind of music, but I really great men o f God as pastors, tie sion, “to announce . . . the blind do love Ron Salsbury!” men who have boldly announced shall see.” That attitude and spirit take us “Victory in Jesus.” Don’t let the Jesus refers to physical healing beyond ourselves to see others as fires of evangelism go out! We o f the blind, as w ell documented valuable in God’s eyes. That is must keep on sounding the mes­ in the four Gospel accounts. Yet love that accepts diversity. God, sage o f holiness. By the power o f continue to the people whom Jesus regarded help us to see beyond ourselves! the Holy Spirit, Christian men as most blind were those who and women can live beyond the could not see beyond them­ spearpoints o f sin. They can have follow selves. If We Continue to Follow the hearts made pure and kept clean After Jesus healed a blind Nazarene, We Must Reach Out by the Holy Spirit. Holiness is man, His critics asked, “Are we to Lift Up Downtrodden People the beauty of Jesus’ life reflected Jesus the blind too?” (John 9:40). Jesus shares with us His mis­ in us. Holiness is for Christlike Jesus said, “If you were blind, sion, “the downtrodden shall be behavior. you would not be guilty o f sin; freed from their oppressors.” Thirty-six years ago, Rev. but now that you claim you can Jesus’ word for “oppressed” Bruce Webb started a ministry see, your guilt remains” (v. 41). meant “break in pieces.” It de­ with the Diamond Street Gang. They did not recognize God’s scribes broken pottery that has Dr. Michael Mata reignited simi­ truth. Jesus came to open their been smashed or stepped on. lar efforts to reach street kids in eyes to God’s majesty and God’s Multitudes feel stepped on by the 1980s. People need opportu­ nearness. heavy-handed justice or smashed nity to see the difference Jesus One blind man touched by Je­ by unfeeling competitors scram­ makes in our lives. For people in sus was asked, “Do you see any­ bling their way to the top. bondage, Jesus brings release— thing?” (Mark 8:23). Downtrodden people need our even from death’s tyranny. He responded, “I see people; hands to lift them up in Jesus’ Dr. Roy Mellert died in late they look like trees walking name. If we pick them up, Jesus November o f 1977. Hugh Sals- around” (v. 24). Many persons can mend them and set them bury and I were in Hong Kong are like that— people just look free. when we got the news. Hugh like objects, part o f the land­ The recent racial riots came had already received his own scape, pieces o f flesh along the right up to the doorstep of Los death sentence from the doctor. roadside, something to manipu­ Angeles First Church. Neighbor­ Upon return, our sanctuary choir late for selfish reasons. But when ing stores were looted. But the sang Dr. Mellert’s favorite an­ Jesus does His complete work in church chose not to react with thems, honoring his many years your heart, your sight will be re­ fear and flight, but to seek how as music director o f First Church. stored, and you will see “every­ to help. This church looked be-

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yond the anger and saw people nounce God’s availability sus in their own languages. in great need. The church be­ through Jesus Christ. Evangelists I wept openly for joy, wonder­ came a channel of help and and preachers have crisscrossed ing if Jesus had known that His restoration to this part of the our land with this news burning words would go from that hill­ city. Pastor Benefiel’s approval in their hearts. Laymen from all side, wrap around the earth, and and signature opened the purse walks of life have joyfully wit­ come back again in the babel o f strings o f humanitarian organi­ nessed for Jesus in their spheres languages from the nations of zations, bringing relief in the of influence in every village and the world. midst o f pain. city. Let’s keep on inviting every­ In this sanctuary we held a For 100 years this great church one: “Now is the time o f God’s Faith Promise Convention for has reached out to lift up the suf­ favor, now is the day of salva­ missions but did not invite a mis­ fering, downcast people o f the tion” (2 Cor. 6:2). sionary speaker. Our own mem­ city. Names like Ada Bresee and In 1985 I took 30 people on a bers o f First Church who had Esther Bresee bring back memo­ tour o f the Holy Land. We been won to Jesus around the ries of aid to mission fields. Each stopped by the shore of Galilee world gave their testimonies. pastor and layman has a long list at a sacred spot that commemo­ Can you imagine the impact as of stories o f restoration that only rates Jesus giving the Beatitudes. we listened to world missions go eternity will have time to record. keep on Buses crowded the parking lot. out, wrap the message of Jesus But it is all to the glory o f God! Groups o f pilgrims from all over around the earth, and come the world surrounded the eight­ home to this great old church? VI sounding sided chapel. I read the Beati­ The song says, “I stand If We Continue to Follow the tudes to my people and asked amazed in the presence of Jesus Nazarene, We Must Invite All them to spend time alone, medi­ the Nazarene” (Charles H. People to Come Now and Enjoy the tating on Jesus’ words. Slipping Gabriel). I used to wonder if out­ the Grace of God! inside the chapel, I listened as a siders thought we believed Jesus Jesus shares with us His mis­ priest spoke to his people in Ital­ belonged to our group. Now I sion, “to proclaim the acceptable ian. Upon dismissal, I walked sing it with delight that we be­ year o f the Lord” ( t l b , margin). around the porch and heard a long to His group! Today we cel­ That means, “God is ready to man reading in French to anoth­ ebrate our heritage, standing on give blessings to all who come to holiness. er group o f travelers. On the the threshold of the future. Jesus Him.” ground below me, a large gath­ the Nazarene has given us our Jesus alludes to announcing ering o f Japanese people listened mission and says to us, “Follow the Year of Jubilee. From Old intently to a Bible reading in me.” PM Testament times, every 50th year their own language. Just beyond

was Jubilee, a time o f release them I heard Portuguese and 1. Paul T. Culbertson, “What’s in a from debts and obligations. German. Going to the other side Name?” Herald of Holiness, March 1, 1984, Slaves were set free. Family in­ of the chapel, I watched Black 7. 2. Donald P Brickley, Man o f the Morning heritance o f land was restored. people from London singing (Kansas City: Nazarene Publishing House, Jubilee celebrates the season of from their hearts. The joy o f the 1960), 135. 1 people’s acceptability with God. Lord was carving great, beautiful 3. Ibid., 133. 4. Richard B. Wilke, And Are We Yet Alive? God accepts whoever turns to smiles on their faces. All around (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1986), 40. Him in repentance and obedi­ me people gathered to hear once 5. Brickley, Man o f the Morning, 153. ence. We live in that season of again the wonderful words o f Je­ 6. Wilke, And Are We Yet Alive? 72. rejoicing. God listens to all who call on Him. He says: “Call to me and I will answer you” (Jer. 33:3). Jesus invites, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I w ill give you Pontius' Puddle rest” (Matt. 11:28). For people under the terrible debt of sin, Je­ WITH THIS

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but much time is spent explaining to Moses what God can do. Later, Lucado observes: “The strength of Moses is never consid­ ered. . . . But many words are used to reveal God. This strength of Moses is not the issue: the strength of God is” ([Nashville: Word Pub­ lishing, 1998], 3). When God has our attention, we can observe His love and His care. We can see what Dr. Earl Lee describes as the “tracks of God.” Only when we take our focus off the problems— and there will always be problems— will we im Cymbala, in his book, Preaching in the Spirit [Wilmore, see the hand of God weaving His Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Ky.: Francis Asbury Press, 1985], purpose in our lives. When and quotes a devotional writer 15). If there is that much truth where we see it, it will be an eter­ who said, “The main thing in the Word, then there is cer­ nal point of reference for our jour­ God asks for is our attention” tainly something in it to meet ney. It will build our confidence in J(Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub­ our individual needs. the care of God, and it will make lishing House, 1997, 57). If we We, as pastors, need the Word every problem seem a bit smaller. have any history with God, we for our circumstances. We need It will be by the “tracks of God” know that when He wants our its instruction and inspiration. that we are encouraged and re­ attention, He has something We must bring ourselves to the sourced to deal with the ministry. good for us. So, pastor, be en­ Word with full attention to its What all this boils down to is couraged— God wants your at­ feast potential. Before we are this— God wants our attention so tention, and He has something ready to help our people, we He can unfold His will in our min­ good for you. must let the Word help us. istries! He does not want us to get One, God wants our attention Two, God wants our attention so absorbed with the problems and to His Word. Any pastor will con­ to His care, His grace, and His en­ events of ministry that we miss His fess that he or she has too often couragement. Pastor, be encour­ Word and His care. Sometimes it is gone to the Word seeking some­ aged— God is on your side. He is a fine line to walk; but, as pastors, thing for the next sermon or a doing more than we realize, for we need to see the things of God— coming devotional. On occasion, too often we are focused on the His love, His care, His purpose— if we are real honest, we would problem and not on the power. before we are adequate to minister have to admit we were seeking a God wants our attention, for He and to be shepherds. word for another person— a word wants to show His love for us; He Eugene H. Peterson, in his book to set them straight or to convince wants us to observe His care and Subversive Spirituality, makes this them we were right. God wants feel His presence. When we focus observation: our hearts and minds to bring at­ on our hurts and anxieties, we can I want to simplify your lives. tention to His Word. Where we easily miss His care and healing. When others are telling you to bring such focus, there the Word Max Lucado has a good lesson read more, I want to tell you to speaks and spreads its message to for us in his book Let the Journey read less; when others are telling our hearts. We are graced by His Begin. He captions one chapter you to do more, I want to tell BY C. NEIL STRAIT Word when He has our attention. with these instructions: “Occupy you to do less. The world does District We must go to the Word in all yourself with the nature o f God, not need more of you; it needs superintendent, our circumstances. The Word is a not the size of your biceps.” He more of God. Your friends do not Church o f the gold mine o f resources, waiting goes on to describe God’s meeting need more of you; they need Nazarene to comfort, inspire, and instruct with Moses on the back side of more of God. And you don’t Vicksburg, Michigan us. God wants our attention the desert— “Take o ff your san­ need more of you; you need when we read the Word because dals, for the place where you are more of God (“Classic and Con­ He knows what life needs and standing is holy ground” (Exod. temporary Excerpts,” Christianity knows the Word can resource 3:5). With these 14 words, Moses Today, April 27,1998, 93). our needs. Dr. Otto Piper said, is enrolled in a class on God. Im­ So, pastor, be encouraged. “There is enough undiscovered mediately the roles are defined. God wants our attention so we truth in the Scriptures to pro­ God is holy. Approaching Him on can have more of Him— for more duce a Reformation and an evan­ even a quarter inch of leather is o f Him is what our ministries gelical awakening in every gen­ too pompous. No time is spent need, and more of what our peo­ eration.” (Dennis F. Kinlaw, convincing Moses what he can do, ple need. PM

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and the day is far spent” (v. 29, k j v ) . His hand clutched a poem in his writing: Abide with me! Fast falls the even­ tide. The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and com­ forts flee, Help o f the helpless, O abide with me! Jesus seeks unhurried, intimate fellowship with you and me. Our risen Lord reveals himself (w . 30-35). Perhaps f I could keep only one page sus] explained to them what was the way He broke bread or His o f my Bible for personal devo­ said in all the Scriptures con­ intimate way of saying grace trig­ tion, it would be Luke 24. The cerning himself” (v. 27). Jesus gered their memories of Jesus. meaning of the resurrection began an exposition of Scripture Suddenly “their eyes were o f Jesus and our passion for from each individual prophetic opened and they recognized him, ministry is embodied for me in book, giving the first correct les­ and he disappeared from their Luke’sI description of the en­ son on messianic teachings of sight” (v. 31). Jesus dramatized counter with Jesus on the Em- the Old Testament. He showed that communion with Him now niaus road. That intimate, per­ them the golden thread of grace must be by faith, not by sight. In sonal glimpse of our living Lord running through the whole fab­ the breaking o f bread at an ordi­ walking the dusty, common road ric of Scripture. It could not be nary meal in an ordinary home with His disheartened disciples separated from the scarlet thread Jesus revealed himself. With Je­ makes Jesus our Contemporary. of atonement. sus, life’s most common moments He cares. He touches people. He What a sermon that must have become sacred and special. walks and talks with them. been! Jesus opened the Scrip­ The enlightened travelers ex­ The longer I live, the more I tures— developed, illustrated, claimed, “Were not our hearts have come to view the Christian and applied in himself. How I burning within us while he talked faith as a journey, a pilgrimage wish that lesson from the lips of with us on the road and opened in which Jesus increasingly re­ Jesus had been preserved. Some­ the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32). veals himself— and w e’re really day, in heaven, I hope Jesus will Those burning hearts now rejoiced, headed toward a more complete preach that sermon once again! “The Lord has risen” (v. 34). fellowship with Him. Someone Our risen Lord enters in­ On the slow bus ride to Em­ declared, “The darkest road with to fellowship (w . 28-30). Ar­ maus, I soaked in the quiet Christ is better than the brightest riving at Emmaus at dusk, Jesus sights. For me it was a holy mo­ road without Him.” courteously “acted as if he were ment to retrace their steps and to Our risen Lord draws going farther” (v. 28). He does remember their experience. But near (w . 13-16). Jesus’ en­ not force himself on us. He the Emmaus road is more than a counter with the two discour­ awaits an invitation. geographical location. It’s your aged travelers ranks as one of With the compulsion of cour­ road— and my road. Though we the immortal short stories o f the tesy and kind words of hospitali­ don’t always recognize Him, Je­ world. Their conversation had ty, the travelers compelled Jesus sus is here— walking and talking locked in on the tragedy o f the to remain with them: “Stay with with us along the way. Cross. They traced over the cir­ us, for it is nearly evening; the Hanging on the wall of my of­ cumstances and events in a mor­ day is almost over” (v. 29). fice is a gift from my wife— a bid circle of self-pity. Despair fed In 1847 Henry Francis Lyte painting of three figures walking despair. While they returned to preached his farewell sermon to along a pastoral lane. It reminds their village, ‘Jesus himself drew his congregation. His fond flock me to look for Jesus today. He is near” (v . 15, k j v ) . Even in our sent him to the French Riviera always there. C. Austin Miles ex­ desperation and confusion, Jesus for rest and recuperation. Henry claimed: draws near— whether or not we Lyte did not come to breakfast And He walks with me, and He recognize Him. after the first night at sea. His talks with me, Our risen Lord opens the body was found on his bunk, his And He tells me I am His own; Scriptures (v. 27). Luke Bible open to Luke 24. He had And the joy we share as we tarry wrote, “And beginning with BY RANDAL E. underlined the words: “Abide there, Moses and all the Prophets, [Je­ DENNY with us: for it is toward evening, None other has ever known, p m

T he P reacher’s M agazine • June, July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

the famine. Observing the sad scene, he closed his letter: “In the midst o f so much pain, your volunteers seem like the face of God.” He had seen volunteers— servants of Jesus, serving the Serve i i Im most unfortunate out of love for the Lord. “Serve one another in love.” Pastors, if we have a servant’s heart, our people w ill catch on and minister way beyond our own reach. One of our ladies serves away from public view by giving free haircuts. Another la­ remember seeing in some ministerial conversations and dy serves a family enfeebled by recent magazine a piece on visited many parsonage families. the cruel tricks o f aging. Yet an­ volunteerism in America. Most pastors seek to serve their other knitted caps for the cold Happily, I recall one statis- church, but a few seek to have homeless o f our city. One man I tic: “O f places Americans the church serve them. and his w ife give away thou­ volunteer to work, rank o f the The spirit o f legalism drives sands of Bibles around the church: Number One.” some— the “oughts” and world. One man paints houses of That doesn’t surprise me, how­ “shoulds.” Any service rendered people who need help. Another ever, because serving one anoth­ is given out of duty or expecta­ has spent many hours caring for er springs from the heart of the tion, maybe even according to our church buildings. Still anoth­ Christian faith. In fact, the Bible “job descriptions.” er teaches a class o f eager, lively says, “Serve one another in love” The spirit o f license affects pupils. One lady sends cards of (Gal. 5:13). some— independent o f their peo­ encouragement to the sick and Dealing with the intruding ple, chafing under the pastoral shut-in. On and on the list goes telephone calls o f a parsonage, I role, feeling trapped by some and grows— seen and unseen, vacillated from delight to de­ “system.” Any service is given but all known to Jesus! spair, perhaps in some propor­ grudgingly, tinged with rebel­ Marian was born and raised in tion to frequency. While I was lion. European aristocracy. Her mar­ trying to learn how to adjust to Yet, most pastors and their riages took her to Vienna, Holly­ that disturbing demand, I hap­ precious families are driven by wood, Germany, and Paris as a pened to visit in the study o f my love— eager to serve one anoth­ socialite. Through meeting Dr. friend, Rev. Maurice Palmquist. er, wishing somehow to be more Albert Schweitzer, she ended up He had taped to his telephone effective, to reach farther to in Lambarene, in the heart of this simple reminder: “This is touch more people, to be more Africa, as a servant o f Jesus. an opportunity for cheerful like Jesus in giving encourage­ Born to luxury, Marion changed Christian service.” That jolt­ ment and help. Any service is bandages, bathed babies, fed ed me back to reality— we who given as to Jesus himself from a lepers— and found herself in were called, prepared, and or­ heart of surrendered love. When Christ. Nothing had satisfied her dained into ministry have been you love someone enough to until she met Jesus and gave set apart especially to “serve one serve him or her, you don’t want everything to Him in service. another in love.” to hurt or disappoint, to exploit When Marian died in 1979, If we follow Jesus at all, He or backbite, to devour or com­ the New York Times carried her will lead us into “opportunit[ies] pete. The Holy Spirit works obituary, which included her for cheerful Christian service.” through us, enabling us to “serve statement: “Albert Schweitzer That’s who we are, and that’s one another in love.” said there are two classes o f peo­ what we do. The Lord has During a horrible famine in In­ ple in this world— the helpers equipped us to serve one anoth­ dia, a young Swedish visitor and the nonhelpers. I’m a er. “But the fruit of the Spirit is wrote a letter from India. The helper.” love, joy, peace, patience, kind­ closing words described the for­ What a great obituary! We ness, goodness, faithfulness, gen­ lorn situation from his perspec­ find ourselves by losing our­ tleness and self-control” (Gal. tive: “It is so awful that it is a de­ selves in service for the King of 5:22-23). nial of God.” Kings. Why shouldn’t we serve I have been a pastor for nearly BY RANDAL E. Another letter was sent from a one another? After all, we are 37 years. I have listened to many DENNY traveler visiting the same area of family! PM

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and “to receive praise and admira­ tion because of all he has done for his people, his saints” (v. 10, tlb). Third, when you pass through tough times, de­ pend on prayer. Paul added, “With this in mind, we constant­ ly pray for you” (v. 11). Pray that God will make you the person He desires. Our spiritual ad­ vancements come through prayer. That’s why the devil never bothers to say, “Don’t pray.” He merely suggests, “Don’t pray now!” hristians in the young church by the Nazis, said in a letter: We pastors should pray that at Thessalonica felt the awful “Once I asked to be freed, but God may count us worthy o f His sting of persecution. Paul the Lord said, ‘My grace is suffi­ calling— not out of duty, but out wrote back to encourage them cient for you.’ I am continuously o f gratitude that exclaims, with a profound sense of secu­ looking at Him and trying not to “Thank You, Father, for loving rity: “To: The church of Thessaloni­ be impatient. I won’t be here one me!” Only as God is at work in ca—C kept safe in God our Father minute longer than God deems us can He deem us worthy: “It is and in the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 necessary. Pray for me that I can God who works in you to will Thess. 1:1, t l b ) . Let Paul’s words wait for His timing.”1 and to act according to his good bolster your sagging spirits. First, Second, when you pass purpose” (Phil. 2:13). when you pass through the through tough times, let Pray that God will be glorified tough times, hold steady in God use your sufferings. in you: “We pray this so that the the Lord. Keep two facts in mind. name o f our Lord Jesus may be Keep faith growing: “We . .. Remember that God is right: ‘All glorified in you, and you in him, thank God for you . .. because this is evidence that God’s judg­ according to the grace of our your faith is growing more and ment is right, and as a result you God and the Lord Jesus Christ” more” (v. 3). Faith is more than a will be counted worthy of the (v. 12). Pray that you don’t have passive reception of God’s grace. kingdom of God, for which you to wait until you get to heaven Faith acts on the basis of com­ are suffering.. . . He w ill. . . give to glorify the Lord. Ask Him to mitment to God. This “growing” relief to you who are troubled” transform you until your life faith increases with each passing (w. 5-7). God will not waste your brings glory to Him in this episode and experience. In Heb. suffering. Ultimately our trials world. Like it or not, people 11 stands a mighty list of great work for us, not against us. Often judge Jesus by how we live. men and women of faith. Every out of your greatest suffering will A. J. Gossip preached in a ser­ one o f them faced obstacles that come your greatest ministry! God mon to his congregation in Glas­ required a growing faith. promises relief. Paul’s word for “re­ gow: “When the saints go march­ Keep love increasing: “because lief” means “not under pres­ ing in, the angels will look at one . . . the love every one o f you has sure”— the opposite of his word another and exclaim, ‘How very for each other is increasing” (v. 3). for “trials.” It describes the slack­ like Jesus these people are!’”2 The tough times drew them more ening of tension of a taut bow­ Paul affirmed, “Our present suf­ closely together. This “increasing” string, a loosening of the strain ferings are not worth comparing love spread like a prairie fire. from persecutions and trials. Paul with the glory that will be re­ Nothing is more attractive to the declared, “Therefore we do not vealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). good news of Jesus than Christian lose heart.. . . For our light and When you pass through the love that reaches out to include momentary troubles are achieving tough times, you are “kept safe” more and more people. for us an eternal glory that far out­ in the Lord. “God is our refuge Keep patience enduring: “We weighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:16-17). and strength, an ever-present boast about your perseverance Remember God is just: “He will help in trouble. Therefore we and faith in all the persecutions pay back trouble to those who will not fear” (Ps. 46:1-2). pm and trials you are enduring” (v. trouble you” (v. 6). God holds 1. Corrie ten Boom, Corrie ten Boom’s 4). “Persecutions” are those suf­ everyone accountable for his or Prison Letters (Carmel, N.Y.: Guideposts ed., ferings we endure because we her actions. The fact of divine ret­ Fleming H. Revell Co., 197S), 18-19. are Christians; “trials” are those ribution and reward says that life 2. Sydney Martin, 1, 2, 3 John, Jude, Reve­ sufferings w e endure because we is significant. Our actions have lation, vol. 10 of Beacon Bible Expositions, ed. William M. Greathouse and Willard H. Tay­ BY RANDAL E. live in a hostile world. lasting consequences. Jesus is lor (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press o f Kansas Corrie ten Boom, imprisoned DENNY coming back to settle the accounts City, 1977), 74.

T he Preacher’s M agazine • June, July, A ugust 1999 RANDAL DENNY’S WRITINGS

amuel Chadwick declared, ever give himself with any Church in Chicago, Erwin Lutzer, “Preaching must never be a wholehearted devotion and defines a call: “God’s call is an in­ profession: it must be a pas­ abiding wonder to this stew­ ner conviction given by the Holy sion.” Many of us have con­ ardship o f the Gospel. Spirit and confirmed by the Word cluded that the Christian John Henry Jowett exclaimed, o f God and the Body o f Christ.” Sministry must be the worst pro­ “The call of the Eternal must ring An anonymous writer an­ fession but the highest calling. through the rooms of his soul as swered the question, “What Does One minister insisted, “A minis­ clearly as the sound of the morn­ a Pastor Do?” ter is a prophet o f God. He is un­ ing bell rings through the valleys The pastor teaches, though der orders. If no agonizing, terri­ of Switzerland, calling the peas­ he must solicit his own classes. fying convictions impelled him ants to early prayer and praise.” He heals, though without pills to enter this holy office, he had The powerful pastor G. Campbell or knife. He is sometimes a better never touch it.” Morgan spoke from broad expe­ lawyer, often a social worker, Bishop Simpson explained in rience: something o f an editor, a bit of his Lectures on Preaching: No man can go unless the a philosopher, an entertainer, a Even in its faintest form Spirit calls him. . . . Unless he salesman, a decorative piece there is this distinction be­ hears that call sounding in his for public functions, and he is tween a call to the ministry soul, ringing like a trumpet supposed to be a scholar. He and a choice o f other profes­ night and day, giving him no visits the sick, marries people, sions; a young man may wish rest until he is compelled to buries the dead, labors to con­ to be a physician; he may de­ say: “Woe is me, if I preach sole those who sorrow, and to sire to enter the navy; he not,” then, in God’s name, let admonish those who sin, and would like to be a farmer; but him stay where he is, in tries to stay sweet when he feels he ought to be a min­ his present calling. But, if chided for not doing his du­ ister. It is this feeling of ought, he hears the ty He plans pro­ or obligation, which in its fee­ call, then let grams, appoints blest form indicates the Divine him remember committees when call. It is not in the aptitude, that it is his he can get them; taste, or desire, but in the con­ business to go spends consider­ science, that its root is found. forward within able time in keep­ It is the voice of God to the the fellowship ing people out of human conscience saying, and under the each other’s hair; “You ought to preach.” guidance of between time he With deep conviction, Paul the church. prepares a ser­ Scherer wrote: The present mon and preach­ We should . . . clear out of pastor o f the fa­ es it on Sunday the road all the nonsense we mous Moody to those have picked up . . . in the mat­ Memo­ who ter of the call o f the Christian rial don’t ministry. There is such a call; and when it comes, it comes straight from God. I believe with all my heart that a man must hear it and feel its impe­ BY RANDAL E. rious constraint before he can DENNY

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happen to have any other en­ Love T h at Stoops continued, from page 42 gagement. Then on Monday he smiles when some jovial with words or tongue but with chap roars, “What a job— one actions and in truth” (v. 18). day a week!” Let’s resist the temptation to be The Christian ministry is a spe­ superficial in love. Let’s do more cial calliing of God to serve as than talk about a need; let’s love shepherds. If a shepherd is aller­ “in deed”— let’s do something! gic to the sheep, it must be a ter­ Barclay noted, “Fine words will rible task. But if he loves the never take the place of fine sheep, w hat could be a higher deeds; and not all the talk of calling? To love them is to open Christian love in the world will himself to the possibility of being take the place of a kindly action hurt by them. Paul Rees said, to a man in need, made at the “Prophe:ts are offered no immu­ expense o f some self-denial and nity froim misfortune. Sooner or some self-sacrifice, for in that ac­ later most of them seem to get tion the principle of the Cross is hurt. A (call to the ministry is operative again.”2 An act of love more thian a call to service; it is a opens people’s hearts to hear our call to hiigh courage.” The only words of love. preache:r to serve as president of People are just like us. People the Unitted States, James A. hurt in the same ways w e hurt. Garfieldl, admitted he had to step We can be God’s answer to one down to become president. another within the fellowship of of Since coming to Spokane Val­ His family: “Love . . . with ac­ ley Chuirch, I have read 24 o f tions and in truth.” “Love” is not E. Stanlcey Jones’s 28 books in simply a word to write on a wall chronological order. The disci­ plaque. “Love” is what we do to pline rejjuvenated my ministry. In people who irritate us, when we more thian one book, Dr. Jones are upset and angry and feel like related: striking back. “Little children, let I have a sense o f being sent. us stop just saying we love peo­ BY MARVIN J. PACE This werse was given me in my ple; let us really love them, and early ministry: “Ye have not show it by our actions” (v. 18, He walked as a prince chosem me, but I have chosen t l b , italics in original). among men you, aand ordained you, that ye As brothers and sisters, we “in paths of righteous­ shoulcd go and bring forth love one another at first sight be­ ness fruit,; and that your fruit cause we are Christians; and for his name’s sake.” shoulid remain: that whatsoev­ then we move toward getting ac­ er ye ; shall ask o f the Father quainted. Out in the world, peo­ He devoted his life to fami­ . . . hee may give it you” (John ple first get acquainted and then ly 15:163, k j v ) . Before I speak I move cautiously into love— and to his church. ask thie audience to bow their sometimes. Even the skeptical heads; in silent prayer with me. philosopher Bertrand Russell He persevered until his fi­ I reallly do not pray; I repeat said, “O f all forms of caution, nal days. this vferse to God, to remind caution in love is perhaps the And then, like Enoch of old, Him tthat I am not here by my most fatal to human happiness.” he “walked with God: choicee, but by His. It gives me As a result, most people have and he was not; for God a sensse of mission and com- many acquaintances and only a took him.” missicon, with divine backing, few friends— but they are dying not orn my own resources, but from a lack o f love. Randy Denny . . . on Hiis resources. So preaching Would you begin to love one Servant o f the Most High is a jo)y. another with a love that stoops God! And seo I say to you, fellow and lifts in Jesus’ name? PM pastors,, what Paul said to Pastor In loving memory to Ruth

Timothyy: “Keep your head in all 1. Reuben Welch, We Really Do Need Each and family. PM situatiorns, endure hardship, do Other (Nashville: Impact Books, a division of the worlk of an evangelist, dis­ John T. Benson Publishing Co., n.d.), 70-72. 2. William Barclay, The Letters of John and charge aall the duties o f your Jude, in the Daily Study Bible Series (Philadel­ ministry/’ (2 Tim. 4:5). PM phia: Westminster Press, 1960), 100.

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example, the worship format for June is built around the family f\ o f God, July is built around the Word of God, and August focuses on the theme of worship itself. Naturally the same elements of worship are found in all formats. When it comes to the music, you know your congregation best. For the special singing you may have access to a children’s choir, while others may need to rely upon a solo from a child bribed to sing with the promise o f ice cream! Feel free to use or discard what works best for your crowd. The Creative Worship Ideas are blank when I announced the text exactly that: only ideas. Perhaps, INTRODUCTION with the words, “2 Chronicles.” 2 as you read them, you will sud­ he months o f June, July, and Chronicles has proven to be a denly think o f a better idea. If August present special chal­ fascinating quarry from which to the ideas only serve to generate lenges for the thoughtful mine sermons. It is filled with your own ideas, they have preacher. Many o f the con­ great battles, murder, suspense, served their purpose. gregational members find and intrigue. The congregation May God bless you as you themselvesT pulled to family re­ enjoyed the guided tour through faithfully preach the Word! pm unions and vacations. Such a sit­ the book, since much o f it was uation makes the preaching of a unfamiliar to them. tight-knit series ill-advised. The As you read these sermons, hearer returning from vacation you will discover a certain phi­ will feel lost as you tie your mes­ losophy of mine regarding sage into the one preached the preaching. My primary goal is Sunday he or she was absent. not to educate or entertain. The One solution to this problem is goal o f serious preaching must to preach from one book o f the be to change lives. If someone Bible. This provides unity in your June learns something and is enter­ preaching because you are draw­ tained in the process, that is an ing from one book. At the same extra bonus. But if preaching time it provides flexibility, since J » l , fails to focus on changing lives, you are dealing with various top­ it has failed. Since the goal is to ic matters dictated by the text it­ change lives, you will notice that self. most o f the following sermons While I was preaching the se­ are geared for an altar call. Cer­ ries o f sermons that follow, my tainly people can pray in their congregation eagerly looked for­ pews or at home, but there is ward to another draught from something special about finding the historical river found in 2 help at the altar. Early in my Chronicles. To start each sermon, ministry I feared the altar call.

I typically invite the congrega­ PREPARED BY Now, I view it as the crowning tion to “turn with me to... RANDALL K. moment where w e can visibly and then announce the text. One see God at work. During the al­ HARTMAN Sunday about midway through tar call I have learned to fully ex­ the series, I announced the text pect people to respond. Rarely as I usually do. Amazingly, my am I disappointed! O f course the congregation filled in the blank, response is not a reflection of saying, “2 Chronicles,” while preaching ability but rather of waiting for me to finish by di­ God’s faithfulness to prick the recting them to the right chapter hearts o f thoughtful listeners. and verse. From that Sunday to The suggested orders of wor­ the end of the series they took ship have been arranged to fol­ great delight in filling in the low a theme for each month. For

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head. Not at all. He has your best interests at heart. The Scripture tells us there is a blank check in your hand. He invites you to take a pen and fill out the blank and indi­ cate to Him the desires o f your heart. C. Naturally, w e ought to qualify our understanding re­ garding His desire to give you good gifts. There will be times when His judgment will fall upon the wicked. He is not the kind o f God w ho will look at sin and shrug His shoulders and say, “Oh, it doesn’t really matter.” Having said that, there are still those times when God comes and by Randall K. Hartman hands you the blank check and asks, “What do you want 2 Chron. 1:6-12 from Me?”

INTRO II. SECOND, WE LEARN GOD WANTS YOU TO ANSWER THE ILLUS. About 35 years ago, my favorite television show QUESTION CAREFULLY (W . 1 1-12A) was titled The Millionaire. It was about a rich man who A. God finds pleasure in Solomon’s answer. Solomon weekly wrote a check for $1 million to someone he had wants “wisdom and knowledge” to “lead this people” (v. never met. He would send out his employee to make con­ 10). What might you have expected Solomon to ask of tact with this unsuspecting recipient. It was great fun to God? Verse 11 records God’s view o f what Solomon could see the reaction on his or her face when handed the check. have asked for. He could have asked for the death o f his Today I am going to do something even more astound­ enemies. Also, w e would not be surprised to see that Sol­ ing than handing you a check for $1 million. Today’s omon would ask God for a long life. It is surprising, how­ truth is worth much more than a mere $1 million. The ever, as we read the text to discover Solomon lays aside Lord God of the Universe is handing you a blank check all of the natural things you might expect him to ask for and asking you to fill in what it is that you want. as he fills in his blank check. He simply asks for wisdom In the text God does something astonishing. He hands and knowledge. Solomon a blank check, asking him to fill it out according B. The beginning o f verse 12 reveals how important it to what he wants. What astonishing words are found in is to ask for the right thing. Those words indicate that if verse 7: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” It is Solomon had asked for the wrong thing, he might have a blank check. As incredible as it sounds, God also comes received nothing. It is exactly because he asked for noble to you, saying, “Here is your blank check. Ask fo r whatev­ things, not selfish things, that God smiled and cashed the er you want me to give you.” check that Solomon had filled out. Let’s look at this passage carefully and see what we can Do you see that what he asked for is a reflection of the learn about the blank check God gives to each of us. condition o f his heart? If he was selfish, he would have asked for riches. If he was power hungry, he would I. FIRST, WE LEARN GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE have asked for power. If he was self-serving, he would DESIRE OF YOUR HEART (V. 7) have asked for long life. But when he asked for wisdom A. Too many people think God really does not want to and knowledge to lead his people, a window to his heart give us the desires of our heart. They have come to un­ opens. As the w indow cracks open, we see goodness, derstand that He has a certain agenda of things to give kindness, and a love for others. us. He w ill give us grace, mercy, and patience. C. It is safe to say that a wrong request usually nullifies In the view o f many people God gives to us as the army the blank check. As you hold the blank check in your gives to new recruits. When you join the army, you do not hand, you may be tempted in the same manner as Solo­ go and tell them that you would like a three-piece suit mon. You may be tempted to ask for selfish things. You and a color TV for your room. Rather, when you arrive, may want to w rite in the blank a certain sum of money they tell you exactly what they are going to give you. So You may want to have God give you the power. Pause and many people think that when you join God’s family, you think carefully h ow you use this wonderful opportunity. wait in line, and God comes to you and says, “Here is the Why would God stamp “Void” across the check if you list o f standard things that all recruits get.” O f course ask for the w rong thing? It is simply because God wants there are some things that God does give to all who be­ to give you what is best for you. If you ask for something come part o f His family. But it doesn’t stop there. He that is not good for you, God usually will not allow you comes to you and asks a great question: “What is the de­ to receive your request. For example, if you ask for mon­ sire of your heart?” ey, and it is not in your best interest for God to grant that B. Are you surprised by that question? If so, then it in­ request, the request goes unanswered. dicates you do not yet know God very well. He is One Think carefully. What is the best request you could who wants to give us good things. Matt. 7:11 reminds us make of God? W ould He have you ask for wisdom and that God wants to give good gifts to His children. He knowledge? Would He have you ask Him to reveal His wants the best for you. Remember, He has already given will to you? Would He want you to ask Him to help you us His best: His Son. He is not the mean old man who to influence someone else for Christ? Fill in the blanks of waits for you to step out of line so He can club you in the the check carefully.

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C. As you prepare to fill in the blanks on your check, be III. THIRD, WE LEARN GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU EVEN confident that by asking for what is right and noble, God MORE THAN YOU ASK FOR (W . 11-12) will give you far more than you ever dreamed. Dare to A. Here is my favorite part of the story. God gave Solo­ ask for what is best for you. Dare to make your request mon much more than he requested. Solomon asked the pleasing to God instead o f to self. right things when he asked for wisdom and knowledge. But then God came along and said, “Guess what I will do CONCLUSION for you? I w ill give you even more than you asked for.” At Now the blank check is before you. God has given you that point God promised that Solomon would become the this opportunity. What words will you write in the blank? wealthiest man the world had ever known. Scripture Perhaps you need to ask God to come and forgive you of bears out the fact that God kept His promise. Even at the sin. Perhaps you need to ask Him to come and take full end of this very chapter we see that Solomon had accu­ control of your life. Maybe it is time to ask God to take mulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He made sil­ control of a situation in your life. Maybe you need to ask ver and gold as common as stones. He built the Temple in Him to bring revival to your heart. rich splendor. It was as though everything he touched Take the pen and fill out the check carefully and turned to gold. He was the Midas man of the Holy Land. prayerfully. As you do, watch Him give to you more than All of that happened, not because Solomon asked for it, you could have ever dreamed! but because he was first concerned about asking for true and noble things. B. This principle is also found in the New Testament in SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER these words: “But seek first his kingdom and his righ­ GATHERING THE FAMILY teousness, and all these things will be given to you as Announcements well” (Matt. 6:33). Call to Worship ILLUS. A king said to a treasured friend, “Ask what Chorus ...... “The Family of God” you will, and I will give it to you.” The friend thought to Responsive Reading ...... “Let His People Praise” himself, “If I ask to be made a general, I will easily be a Pss. 149:lb-2, 4, 6a; 67:4-5 general. If I ask for a certain sum of money, I will receive THE FAMILY SINGS only the money. I’ll ask something to which all these Hymns ...... “To God Be the Glory” things will be added.” He then said, “Give me your “How Great Thou Art” daughter to be my wife.” Do you see his wisdom? He did THE FAMILY PRAYS this, knowing that all of the kingdom would be added to Pastoral Prayer/Open Altar this gift. THE FAMILY RESPONDS Seek first the kingdom of God, and everything else will Offering be added to you. It isn’t that we seek the kingdom of God THE FAMILY HEARS just so all else will be added. We are not out to do the im­ Special S on g...... “All Because of God’s Amazing Grace” possible by trying to trick God. We are not to fill out our Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 1:6-12 checks, asking for one thing, but hoping for another. Message ...... “A STARTLING PROPOSITION” Rather, we are to be truly interested in asking for what is THE FAMILY REACTS best for us and what would please God. We do so, know­ Open Altar ing that God will then come and give us more than we Song ...... “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” had ever dreamed. THE FAMILY DEPARTS ILLUS. Years ago, I struggled to know God’s will for Chorus...... “Yes, Lord, Yes” my life. I got to the point that all I wanted from God was to show me His will. It was then that I filled out the blank check as God came, asking the desire of my heart. I filled CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS it out with these words: “To know Your will for my life.” The answer was both surprising and frightening because C a ll to W orship Invite the congregation to worship by promising them that it was then that He called me to preach. But out o f that, God has a startling proposition to share with them. He added “all these [other] things.” You are my friends. Have someone in the congregation write and present a My work is challenging and fulfilling. I am far happier brief skit on the responses people would have to receiving a following God than I would have been following myself. check for $1 million. God gave me far more than I ever dreamed.

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selves before Him, then w e can begin to worry about the needs of others during revival. Naturally we want many new souls won to the Kingdom during a revival meeting. How to Start o But the text says, “If my people . . . humble themselves.” ILLUS. The story is told o f a prominent minister who was driving in southern California. It was in the days when that area had fewer people than it has today. As he approached the town of Vista, he saw a sign that read: Revival Population 17500. He decided that some trickster had added a zero to the sign. Mentally he whittled the village by Randall K. Hartman down to the “correct” size of 1,750. After arriving at the 2 Chron. 7:14 church where he was scheduled to preach, he met with the board to pray the Lord’s blessing on the service. The INTRO first to lead in prayer said, “Lord, we thank You for our ILLUS. At a young age, my brother and I learned how guest speaker and for his reputation; but let us remember to start a fire without matches. There were several key el­ that no matter how big men are, they still need You.” The ements that allowed success. We needed to have the right preacher’s mind flashed back to the sign he had seen ear­ ingredients, such as leaves and small twigs. Also, we lier. He said to himself, “This man is rubbing out any ze­ needed the ingredients to be very dry. Last of all we need­ ros of pride I’ve added to my life.” ed a sunny day so we could focus our magnifying glass As you think about revival, you may need to knock a upon the energy o f the sun. When those three elements few zeros off your life and realize revival is for you. Gen­ are working, we could start a fire in no time. uine revival comes as we humble ourselves before God. Starting a revival is similar to starting a fire. We need to have the right elements. This is not to say that we can II. IN ORDER TO HAVE A GENUINE REVIVAL, YOU NEED start a revival without God. As in starting a fire, the sun THE ELEMENT OF PRAYING AND SEEKING GOD'S FACE is needed; we need to focus on God to start a revival. We A. One of the key thoughts in our verse is to “pray and cannot do it alone. We can, however, do our best to put seek” God. Prayer for revival is nothing new. But notice together all the necessary elements of revival. Once we the text does not simply say we should “pray.” To have have done that, it is up to God to ignite our efforts. Verse genuine revival, we dare not pray the routine prayers of 14 shows all the elements needed for a genuine revival. “Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub.” To have revival, we do not pray on autopilot. I. IN ORDER TO HAVE A GENUINE REVIVAL, YOU NEED That is not how we are to pray for revival. What does THE ELEMENT OF HUMBLING YOURSELF the text say? It says w e should pray and seek His face. In A. Perhaps the number one cause for failing to have re­ the original language the phrase “seek [His] face” means vival is a proud and haughty spirit. It is an attitude that that we desire and require His presence. It is acknowledg­ thinks that revival is for someone else. It is the attitude ing that we cannot do it on our own. We acknowledge that thinks that revival is for my mean old neighbor down that in order for revival to happen, we must have His the street. It is the attitude that keeps us so busy looking presence. at everyone else that we have no time to look at ourselves. ILLUS. On a gloomy day in 1857 a man in New York ILLUS. The famous evangelist Gypsy Smith was once City by the name of Jeremiah Lanphier read the morning asked how to start a revival. He answered: “Go home, newspaper. He was distressed to read that the depression lock yourself in your room, kneel down in the middle of gripping the nation was causing fear and panic. Factories your floor. Draw a chalk mark all around yourself, and were stopping production, and thousands were unem­ ask God to start the revival inside that chalk mark. When ployed. Although Lanphier was only a clerk, he was a He has answered your prayer, the revival will be on.” man who had great faith in God! Concerned with the Why is it that a spirit o f pride can keep revival from troubling economic situation, he sent a note to all his coming to your heart and even to the heart o f a church? business friends. The note invited them to a daily prayer When you have such an attitude, you do not need God. meeting to be held at noon in his office. With high hopes You are counting on yourself instead o f counting on Him. he arranged 20 chairs in a circle, but the first day no one Why, even if you did need revival, you can do it on your came. All alone he prayed that God would bring about a own if you pray a little harder. That’s revival without change in him and in the troubling economic condition. God, and revival without God is not revival. It is simply The second day he was encouraged when a few friends an act of pride. joined him. Before too long all 20 chairs were occupied. B. It is only when we humble ourselves before God that Several weeks later a similar gathering was started on we can have revival. The word “humble” means to be Wall Street, another on Williams Street, and finally a brought down or to be brought into subjection. When we fourth on Roadway Street. Then like wildfire the move­ allow God to do that, we can have the beginnings o f re­ ment spread to all parts of the country. The entire nation vival. As w e come to understand that it is not my brother felt the impact. There was a great upsurge in the spiritual or my sister but me that needs prayer, then God can come life o f the people. It all happened because one man dared and start a revival in our heart. Once w e humble our­ to not just pray but to seek God’s face.

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B. You just might be having revival if you find yourself can we hear the news from God that it may be we have praying and seeking the face of God. The coming revival unconfessed sin in our lives. Only when we have hum­ might be the one that will change you, your family, and bled ourselves, and gotten on our knees before Him, are this church. If we would dare to pray and seek His face, we ready to face the reality o f sin in our lives. Once we, perhaps the entire community would feel the impact o f the people of God, are ready to do that, then we might be revival! in the midst o f an old-fashioned Holy Ghost revival. This means praying diligently for revival. It means praying with all o f your heart, mind, soul, and strength. CONCLUSION You just might have revival if you pray like that! Every Christian heart and church needs to experience a genuine revival. We do not need to settle for substitutes. III. IN ORDER TO HAVE A GENUINE REVIVAL, YOU NEED Only the real thing will do. God will gladly bring such a THE ELEMENT OF TURNING FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS revival if you follow the words of 2 Chron. 7:14. Humble A. A preliminary glance at this verse may convince you yourself. Seek His face. Confess your sin. When you have that the idea of turning from your wicked ways applies to those elements firmly in order, stand back and watch God those sinners who need to come to Jesus. Again, however, send the one spark that is needed to ignite a revival. let me pull you back to the context. The verse begins, “If my people . . . ” There is no way to analyze or dissect this scripture and come up with any conclusion other than SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER this turning from our wicked ways refers to the people of GATHERING THE FAMILY God. It referred to the chosen people o f God, the Church. Announcements Some church folk will be indignant that this verse implies Call to Worship there might be sin in their life. If that is the case, it takes Chorus ...... “The Family of God” us right back to the first part o f this verse: “humble” Responsive Reading ...... “Revival and Renewal” yourself. You need to humbly admit that there may be sin THE FAMILY SINGS in your life. Pastor, if there is a wicked w ay in you, turn Hymns...... “Sweeping This Way” from it. Board member, if there is a wicked w ay in you, “Revive Us Again” turn from it. Sunday School teacher, if there is a wicked THE FAMILY PRAYS way in you, turn from it. Longtime benchwarmer, if there Pastoral Prayer is a wicked w ay in you, turn from it. Visitor, if there is a THE FAMILY RESPONDS wicked w ay in you, turn from it. Offering B. Revival will not come to a church where there are THE FAMILY HEARS church people who are hanging on to sin in their lives. It Special...... “Thou, Whose Purpose Is to Kindle” will not come to those who sweep it under the carpet and Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 7:14 hide it from themselves and others. Revival w ill not come Message...... “HOW TO START A REVIVAL’ if there is sin in your life that you have decided to call THE FAMILY REACTS everything else but sin. We need a spirit o f openness in Open Altar ...... “Change My Heart, O God” our lives that will allow us to bring that sin to the Lord. THE FAMILY DEPARTS Only then can revival take place. Prayer ILLUS. Earlier in his life Augustine prayed, “Lord, save me from my sins, but not quite yet.” Later he prayed, “Lord, save me from all my sins— except one.” Finally he CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS prayed, “Lord, save me from all my sins, and save me P r io r to th e Service now!” Find several in the congregation who have personally expe­ The last prayer of Augustine’s is the kind o f prayer that rienced times of great revival in the church. Give them a few ought to be on the lips of everyone who seeks real re­ moments in the service to share their memories. vival. It is, in fact, one o f the key elements for revival. The Family Reacts C. Did you notice there is progression here in the text? Open the altar for those who would like to pray for God to We must first humble ourselves and get to the place start a revival in their own heart. where w e want revival and God’s presence more than we B e n e d ic tio n want to protect our saintly image. Then we must get on As the congregation prepares to leave, have them sing our knees and earnestly seek God’s face. We require and “Send a Great Revival,” followed by a brief prayer. desire His presence. And then, and perhaps only then,

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now; any who are determined to stay and die in defense o f the Alamo w ill cross the line.” One by one they crossed the line to certain death. Lieutenant Colonel Travis sent the fateful message: “We refuse to surrender.” The Mexi­ cans attacked on March 6, 1836. The Americans fought indall K. Hartman with determination, but inevitably all lay dead. When 2 Chron. 13:1-18 news of their bravery arrived at the American forces, the defenders were inspired to advance. Gen. Sam Houston INTRO gave the battle cry: “Victory is certain! Remember the ILLUS. In my last pastorate I had the joy o f helping Alamo.” members of the congregation reroof the church. We B. In order to defeat the enemy, you must have sworn worked hard all week long. Those of us who were not ac­ complete allegiance to God. It is possible, like the men of customed to such labor ended up with smashed fingers, the Alamo, that you will lose a few battles along the way. bleeding blisters, and aching backs. On Sunday morning But if you will cling to God, you will ultimately find alle­ it was almost amusing to see all of the bandages and giance to be a powerful weapon to help give you victory. limps as the people filed into church. It reminded me that With allegiance you will never become sidetracked by the church is a hospital. During the week the enemy at­ temptation. With allegiance you can remain focused on tacks, sometimes causing damage. At the end of the week God. With allegiance to God you will ultimately experi­ the walking wounded come to the church for comfort and ence victory. aid against the enemy. Our scripture for today shows us how we can defeat II. TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY OF YOUR SOUL, YOU MUST the enemy. It does not guarantee immunity from the ene­ USE THE WEAPON OF OBEDIENCE (VV. 10-11) my. He will still attack, sometimes causing us harm. But 2 A. These two verses are loaded with examples of obedi­ Chron. 13 does show us how to assure defeat o f the soul’s ence to God. The people o f Judah have been instructed enemy. by God to follow certain rules concerning their worship. King Abijah of Judah and his army goes out to face the They have followed God’s command to use only legiti­ army of the rebellious northern nation of Israel. He faces mate priests in their worship. They obediently present overwhelming odds. His forces are outnumbered two to sacrifices to God. All of their implements of worship have one. Yet, he wins a decisive victory! How does he defeat been carefully cleaned for use according to God’s instruc­ the enemy in face of such odds? How can we, too, face tions. Every evening the lamps in the Temple are lit as and defeat the enemy o f our soul? To defeat Satan, you God had required them. They have taken the commands must make sure that you possess and use certain key o f God seriously. As a result, they are using the weapon of weapons in your defense. Let’s take a look at these obedience. weapons, which will assure you of victory. ILLUS. Major General Montgomery came into com­ mand in North Africa to rescue the Allied forces from a I. TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY OF YOUR SOUL, YOU MUST terrible situation. Major General Montgomery expected USE THE WEAPON OF ALLEGIANCE (V. 10) his commands to be carried out. Years later he comment­ A. As the armies prepare to do battle, Abijah an­ ed on his expectations: “Orders no longer formed the ba­ nounces to the enemies that they o f Judah have not for­ sis for discussion, but for action... . Previously orders saken the Lord. Their allegiance is to the one true God. had generally been queried by subordinates right down They have faced temptations along the way to abandon the line. I was determined to stop this state of affairs at their allegiance to God. They have had a history of for­ once.” saking Him. But at least at this point in their history they Major General Montgomery knew that obedience was are firmly allied with Him. The fact that they have re­ the way to victory. Without obedience the forces would mained true to God gives them a weapon to use against flounder in disunity. A lack of obedience would have the enemy. meant chaos on the battlefield. He knew that obedience The same cannot be said o f the enemy army, which was a tremendous weapon. Abijah addresses. This is the army o f the Northern King­ B. As you face the enemy of your soul, our Commander dom of Israel. They have abandoned God. Verse 8 even in Chief expects full obedience. If the order is given to at­ notes that they are carrying into battle with them the tack, then we must attack. If He says to retreat, then we gods of the golden calves. As a result, they are fighting a must retreat for the moment. Even if the order seems in­ battle they would never win. consequential, we must obey. ILLUS. Lt. Col. William Travis addressed the weary de­ It ought to be easy to be obedient to such a great fenders o f the Alamo. “Men, the Mexican dictator, Gener­ Leader. He sees the complete battlefield. He knows the al Santa Anna, has demanded our surrender. But this fort mind of the enemy. He is aware o f our weaknesses and is essential to the defense of Texas. My orders are to hold knows the strengths of the enemy. What else could we it. There is no help coming to reinforce us. The Mexicans want in a leader? are about 5,000 strong.” As the 232 American soldiers A pastor friend told me that the people of his congrega­ watched, Colonel Travis drew a line on the dirt floor with tion had so much confidence in him that they would his sword. “Any man who wants to escape is free to go charge hell with a squirt gun if he asked them to do it. If

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we are so eager to follow frail human leadership into bat­ CONCLUSION tle, why wouldn’t we follow God with the same enthusi­ You do not need to live a life o f defeat. Victory can be asm? Obedience is a key weapon in defeating the enemy. yours if you use the right weapons. It is true that when III. TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY OF YOUR SOUL, YOU MUST we face Satan, we are overmatched. In our own strength USE THE WEAPON OF RELIANCE (V. 18) we will fail. But we have a great Commander in Chief who wants to bring us victory. Use these weapons and de­ A. When the smoke and dust cleared, the enemy had feat the enemy. They may not seem like enough to cause suffered 500,000 casualties. How had an army o f 400,000 done this? Was it clever human leadership? Was the enemy to fall, but that’s what they said about David’s slingshot. it due to a secret weapon? The text gives us the surpris­ Face the enemy o f your soul with confidence. The ene­ ing answer. Victory came because they had relied upon my has no power over you. Bring the struggle to the God. place o f prayer. Ask God to help bring the victory to your You might expect a much different answer than the one heart that you so desperately need. found in the text. Our human minds cry for some tangi­ ble reason for victory. We would love to think that it was something that the warriors had done to bring about vic­ SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER tory. But that is not the case. They simply relied upon God. Reliance upon God was a major reason for defeating GATHERING THE FAMILY Announcements the enemy. ILLUS. Sir John Franklin lived a life o f adventure in Call to Worship Chorus ...... “The Family of God” the British navy, which took him to many parts o f the world. He was a devout Christian and found great Responsive Reading...... Ps. 121 strength in reading the Bible. His crew said they would THE FAMILY SINGS Hymns...... “Arise, My Soul, Arise” rather have him hold a service than most ministers. In “Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary” 1845 he was put in command o f two ships to look for a way across the polar seas. The last communication from THE FAMILY PRAYS them came through their contact with a whaling ship. Pastoral Prayer Many expeditions were made in the next 10 years to THE FAMILY RESPONDS learn the fate o f Sir John Franklin and his crew. Finally Offering wreckage from the ships was found on a beach, suggest­ THE FAMILY HEARS ing a shipwreck in the icy seas. Sir John Franklin’s Bible Special...... “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” was one of the books recovered. They found the follow­ Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 13:1-18 ing verses underlined: “If I take the wings of the morn­ Message ...... “DEFEATING THE ENEMY’ ing, and dwell in the uttermost parts o f the sea; even THE FAMILY REACTS Music...... “Only Trust Him” there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall THE FAMILY DEPARTS hold me” (Ps. 139:9-10, k j v ) . Sir Franklin was relying up­ on God for help and strength. Apparently, he lost the bat­ M usic...... “God Will Make a Way” tle for life but won the most important batde of eternal life. CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS B. You can never go wrong relying upon God. In the dark night o f the soul, He will see you through. It may Call to Worship not turn out exactly as w e had planned, but victory is as­ As you approach the moment of worship, acknowledge to sured when w e rely upon Him! the congregation that there may be some present who are Too often w e rely upon ourselves for victory. We use weary and wounded from spiritual battle. Assure them that our own resources when we could rely upon God’s. today they will find a plan for defeating the enemy. Strangely, we flex our own muscles instead of allowing T h e Family R eacts God to use His strength. How odd that we often rely on Invite those who need spiritual victory to pray at the altar.

our own ingenuity instead of God’s! Such mistaken re­ The Family Departs liance earmarks us for defeat. Learning to rely upon God As the congregation prepares to leave, have them sing “God is another powerful weapon in your arsenal against the Will Make a Way,” followed by a brief prayer. enemy.

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will show you the right thing to do. In short, you will be­ come a godly influence on others when you seek God and A Godly Influence allow Him to show you how to live your life. II. TO BE A PERSON OF GODLY INFLUENCE,

by Randall K. Hartman YOU MUST LEARN TO FOLLOW GOD AND NOT THE WORLD 2 Chron. 17:1-13 (2 CHRON. 1 7 :4 B) A. The words o f verse 4 refer to a story with which the INTRO people in 2 Chronicles were familiar. During this time, Did you know you have unseen power over other peo­ King Jehu of the Northern Kingdom of Israel had gotten ple? Such power is called influence. Our influence ex­ rid of Baal worship. Unfortunately, he did nothing about tends in ever-widening circles as ripples of water formed another sinful influence: the worship of the golden calf. by dropping a stone in a pond. Christians must recognize All he did was get rid of one sin and settled for another. and cherish their influence. So he followed the world and not God. As a result, the Bi­ God needs people who do their best to have a godly in­ ble tells us that Jehu and his kingdom shrank. He did not fluence wherever they find themselves. It is impossible to prosper as a king. overstate the importance of such an influence. B. If you are to have a godly influence on your world, Verses 5-12 show us the power o f influence. We see in you must learn to follow God and not the world. Do not verse 5 that all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. Again consider taking the road that the world would have you in verse 5 we see he had great wealth and honor. Verse take. Do not follow the world as it tries to give you in­ 10 reveals that the kingdoms did not make war on Judah sight on how to live your life. The world teaches us you anymore. In verse 11 the Philistines and the Arabs, sworn can do whatever you want without regard to the impact enemies o f the Jews, brought lavish gifts to Jehoshaphat. upon others. Many follow the wisdom o f this world. As a Verse 12 goes on to show us that he became more and result they experience heartache. more powerful. C. But when you follow God, He will always lead you How could this happen? Much of it happened due to to the place where you w ill be a godly influence on oth­ Jehoshaphat’s godly influence upon those around him. ers. He does not want to lead you into a situation where Oh, for influence upon others that has that kind of im­ you have a negative influence on others. He wants you to pact! succeed in this area o f a godly influence. You can count By looking closely at this story, we can learn from Je­ on Him to lead you to say and do the right thing in every hoshaphat’s example how we, too, can live lives of godly situation. influence. Follow God if you want to have a godly influence.

I. TO BE A PERSON OF GODLY INFLUENCE, III. TO BE A PERSON OF GODLY INFLUENCE, YOU MUST LEARN TO CONSULT GOD AND NOT THE WORLD YOU MUST LEARN TO BE DEVOTED TO GOD AND NOT (2 CHRON. 17:3-4) THE WORLD (2 CHRON. I 7:6A) A. The reference to the “Baals” represents the worldly A. Jehoshaphat learned that to be a godly influence, influence of the day in which Jehoshaphat lived. The you must devote yourself to God and not the world. The Baals were the common god of the pagan culture that word translated as “devoted” means “to lift up.” Jehosha­ had to do with fertility. As you can imagine, most o f the phat lifts up his heart to the holy influence of God. Living pagan people around Jehoshaphat felt the influence of close to God impacts and improves our influence. Baal. In fact, the Jews felt the influence o f Baal, and in ILLUS. Try turning your stove burner on high; see how many cases they allowed this false god to impact their much influence it has upon your hand when it is four feet lives. away. How much more influence does the hot burner Jehoshaphat, however, was a shining exception. That’s have at one foot? But consider the influence at three why the end of verse 3 is quick to say, “He did not consult inches! The closer to the burner, the greater its impact. the Baals but sought the God of his father” (inc. v. 4a). Jehoshaphat raises his heart to God through devotion. Consequently, as he learned to seek God, he became a He does this because he knows that the closer he gets to tremendous influence on others. God, the greater God’s influence upon him. As a result he B. How sad it is to realize that many Christians have will have a greater godly influence upon others. such a poor influence because they consult the gods of ILLUS. The United States President Woodrow Wilson the world instead of the Lord God. They consult the horo­ describes his only contact with the famous preacher D. L. scope to make their everyday decisions. They consult the Moody like this: wisdom of their friends. They embrace popular ways of I was in a barbershop when I became conscious that worldly thinking. Sadly some Christians rarely consult someone unusual had entered the room. A man had God as to what He wants them to do and how He wants come in quietly and took a seat in the chair next to them to act. mine. Every word he uttered showed a vital interest in C. This example from the life o f Jehoshaphat shows the one who was serving him. Purposely I lingered un­ that when you consult God concerning decisions, you til after he left and noted the effect his visit had upon have a godly influence on others. As you consult Him, He the barbers in that shop. Though they did not know his

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name, his presence had greatly influenced them. I left CONCLUSION there feeling as though I had been to a place o f wor­ What a difference w e make when w e are an influence ship. for God. However, such an influence does not come auto­ Why did Moody have such a godly influence on those matically. You must work at it. Consult God, follow Him, barbers and the man who later became president of the be devoted to Him, and refuse to let sin undermine your United States? It was because he was a man dedicated to influence. Others are counting on you to be a light in the God. You can have a similar influence as you live close to darkness. God forbid that we should fail them. Him. B. Having a godly influence on others requires living close to God. As you get close to Him and allow Him to SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER influence your life, you w ill then be able to strengthen GATHERING THE FAMILY your influence on others. Announcements IV. TO BE A PERSON OF GODLY INFLUENCE, YOU MUST Call to Worship LEARN TO RID YOUR LIFE OF SIN AS GOD DIRECTS AND NOT Chorus ...... “The Family of God” ACCEPT SIN AS THE WORLD DOES (2 CHRON. 1 7:6 B) Responsive Reading...... “The Mission of the Church” (Matt. 28:18; Mark 16:15; Acts 17:24a, 26a, 27a; A. Jehoshaphat knew that to keep a godly influence, he Rom. 10:13-15; Ps. 96:1b, 2b-3; John 3:16) had to deal with recurring sin. We have seen his commit­ THE FAMILY SINGS ment to God and how he followed Him. But now he gets Hymns ...... “Sound the Batde Cry” word there are still some involved in sin in his kingdom. “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” They have built platforms on top of the mountains sur­ THE FAMILY PRAYS rounding Jerusalem on which they worship false gods. As a result, Jehoshaphat goes to work. He makes sure of Pastoral Prayer their removal. What is the big deal? A godly influence THE FAMILY RESPONDS Offering and sin simply do not go together. THE FAMILY HEARS B. Sometimes, even as Christians we forget this truth. Special ...... “Living for Jesus” We take care of sin in our lives and make commitments to Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 7:1-13 God. But if sin reenters our lives in some form or another, Message...... “A GODLY INFLUENCE” we often ignore it and refuse to deal with it. When we refuse to deal with our sin, we wonder why we have little THE FAMILY REACTS Song ...... “Lord, Lay Some Soul upon My Heart” influence on those around us. THE FAMILY DEPARTS ILLUS. A strange dog came to a preacher’s house, and his three sons quickly became fond of it. It so happened Prayer that there were three distinct white hairs in the dog’s tail. One day an advertisement appeared in the newspaper CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS about a lost dog that fit that description perfectly. “In the

presence o f my three boys,” said the minister, “we care­ P r io r t o th e Service fully removed those white hairs.” Prepare a covenant card to be distributed before the service. The dog’s real owner discovered where his pet had Explain to them that they are to write on the card the name of found a home and came to claim him. Quickly the minis­ the person they want to see saved. Design the card in such a way that those who carry the card will be challenged to posi­ ter spoke up, “Didn’t you say the dog would be known by tively impact the life of the one for whom they are praying. three white hairs in its tail?” The owner, unable to find the three hairs on his tail, could only leave. The minister Call to Worship said later, “We kept the dog, but I lost my three boys for Invite the congregation to share in worshiping a God who Christ.” desires us to be the best possible influence to others. C. When you commit a sin, you must confess it to God, T h e Family R ea cts or it will ruin your godly influence. Do not waste time Open the altar for members of the congregation to come wondering how others know; others can usually tell if forward to pray for the lost.

there is something between you and God. When you The Family Departs commit sin, you can forget about being a godly influence Before a brief concluding prayer, challenge the congrega­ to others. Do not allow one sin to remain unconfessed in tion to pray every day this week that they will be the godly your heart. Give it to God; and when forgiveness comes, influence they ought to be. you w ill be a tremendous influence for others.

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rumbles as they march along the desert sands. Second, the position o f the army is on the western side o f the Dead Sea. This position puts them within two days’ strik­ The Valley of ing distance o f Jerusalem. B. Verse 3 tells us the king finds the news alarming. He calls the entire nation to a fast. Representatives of every town arrive in Jerusalem to seek God’s help and direc­ tion. They all gather in front of the Temple, and King Je­ Blessing hoshaphat prays the prayer found in verses 6-12. In verses 14-17, God answers. All they need to do is by Randall K. Hartman show up at the battle scene, and He will fight the battle 2 Chron. 20:1-26 for them. Sure enough, when they arrive at the place of battle, they are stunned. The entire thundering army is INTRO lying dead. Some of my favorite religious songs deal with the con­ Verses 22-23 reveal what happened. The alliance o f the cept of blessing. But often we feel anything but blessed as three nations broke down. The enemy had destroyed it­ we sing those songs. The money does not stretch far self. All that was needed was for the king’s army to go enough, or there are problems at home or work, or our down into the valley o f blessing and pick up the plunder. soul has felt stagnant or empty for a mighty long time. So There was so much blessing that it took the entire army many o f us trudge along in our Christian life and forget three days to gather it. that God wants to bless His people including us. He C. It ought to be clear that if the Israelites had re­ wants the Christian life to be thrilling and victorious. mained where they were, God would never have blessed Here is the truth: there is something missing in your them. If they had stayed cowering in Jerusalem, things spiritual health if there is no joy in serving God. What if would have been much different. there is no joy or victory? There are steps you can take to For the situation to turn around, they had to travel to put yourself in a position where God w ill bless you. You the valley o f blessing. There God went before them and can travel to the valley o f blessing and wait there for Him brought them victory. There they received the plunder of to inspire you. the enemy. There they praised God for His blessing. In ILLUS. Scholars tell us that in the time o f the Old Tes­ verse 26 we read: “This is why it is called the Valley of tament patriarchs there was a strange custom behind the Beracah to this day.” Beracah means “blessing” ( k j v mar­ biblical phrase, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” gin). (Ps. 81:10). The king would ask the honored guest to Some of us desperately need to travel to the valley of open his mouth. The king would then fill his guest’s blessing. Discouragement and fear can do you in as sure­ mouth with candied fruit. Occasionally the king would ly as a huge thundering army could have done in the Is­ honor the guest by placing jewels in his mouth! When raelites. was the last time God filled your life with blessing? We cannot force God to bless us. We can, however, go II. LET ME NO W GUIDE YOU TO THIS VALLEY OF BLESSING to the valley o f blessing. As you tarry there, hidden joys A. To travel to the valley o f blessing, you must first will emerge. Today it is my goal to go with you to the val­ move past personal fear and discouragement. You must ley o f blessing. Let’s look at the story and then highlight do this even in the face o f overwhelming odds. But how? how you can make the journey. You start by remembering that the battle belongs to God (v. 15). I. HERE'S THE STORY God will not likely bless you while you are having a A. King Jehoshaphat had just turned out the lights for pity party. It is difficult for Him to work in your life when the night when an urgent knocking started at his cham­ problems trouble your mind and dull your faith. As long ber door. He went to the door and discovered it was his as you are mumbling and grumbling, how can you expect secretary o f war and some o f his generals. They were God to bless you? looking very grim. The king started to tell the men at his Why would people rather complain instead of trying to door that tomorrow would be better. Quickly they dared do something to correct it? Recently the phone rang in to interrupt the king. Collectively they shook their head my office— a call from a distant friend who grumbled no and told the king that they immediately needed to about his situation. It is not surprising that God had not have a meeting o f the war council. Word had been re­ blessed his soul lately! God w ill not flood your heart with ceived o f a massive three-nation army forming to the joy as long as you are grumbling and complaining. To get south. Their intelligence information revealed that this to the valley o f blessing, you must learn to look beyond army was going to march on them. They needed to pre­ the troubling circumstances to the faithfulness o f God. pare for the attack. The way to get to the valley of blessing is to move past The text tells us two things about this approaching fear and discouragement that drags you down and keeps army. In verse 2 the King James Version calls it a “great you discouraged. multitude.” In Hebrew those two words have to do with B. Next, to get to the valley o f blessing, you must take sound and size— this army is so huge that the ground the exit marked Do Something for God (v. 17a).

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The Israelites had to leave their pity party and go to still spiritually alive. Such a blessing will not happen until work. They had to do something positive for God. It we stop grumbling, until we do something positive for would have been easy for the soldiers to sit around and Him, until we have faith in Him, and until w e start prais­ complain about their leaders. Many of us can identify ing Him. with the soldiers who just grumbled to each other about Perhaps He will bless you in these closing moments. Or their situation. But they will never get to the valley of maybe He w ill bless you at work as you praise Him. May­ blessing as long as they do nothing constructive about the be the blessing will come as you are driving home in your situation. Here they received instructions to take up their car. Whether it is today or tomorrow, I want to meet you positions and stand firm. in the valley o f blessing. A Chinese proverb sums it up well: “Dig a well before you are thirsty.” Do something positive for God while you still can. Purposely take the exit ramp o ff the highway of SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER fear, pity, and discouragement. God can bless you when APPROACHING THE WORD you start to do something for Him. Announcements C. Next, you must then refuel your faith (v. 20b). Call to Worship Remember the Israelites were on a journey to face the Opening Prayer enemy. They would likely be outmanned. They are uncer­ Chorus ...... “Great Is the Lord” tain about the future. Consequently, as they set out for Responsive Reading ...... “The Lord Almighty Is with Us” the valley o f blessing, they must refuel their thoughts (Ps. 46:7-8a, 10-11) with faith. They had to remind themselves that God had SINGING THE WORD never let them down. They are to be thinking about how Hymns ...... “There Shall Be Showers of Blessing” He has promised to take care of the battle. “Count Your Blessings” In the midst o f your present situation, remind yourself SEEKING THE WORD that God has never failed you. It was Rev. Stan Toler who Pastoral Prayer made the comment that God had never failed him but He ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORD sure did scare him a few times. If you are ever to make it Offering to the valley o f spiritual blessing, you need to stuff your­ HEARING THE WORD self with faith. Review the promises of His Word. Remind Special M usic...... “My Tribute” yourself He keeps His promises. Go forth toward the val­ Scripture R ead in g...... 2 Chron. 20:1-26 ley, knowing that He has never let you down. S erm on ...... “THE VALLEY OF BLESSING” D. Last o f all, if you are to reach the valley o f blessing, RESPONDING TO THE WORD you must start to praise Him even before you arrive at Music ...... “Spirit of the Living God” the valley (w . 21-22). TAKING THE WORD Remind yourself that they had little idea of what they Benediction were going to see when they arrived at the valley. Yes, they were sure God was going to fight the battle for them; but how would it be done, and what part would CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS they play in the divine plan? B efore the Service During this time o f uncertainty the king appointed the Have someone with an artistic flair design an attractive people to praise God, and that’s exactly what they did. As bulletin insert titled “This Way to the Valley of Blessing.” Use they praised Him, the enemy fell to defeat. The passage the directions given in the sermon to fill out the insert. The clearly indicates that it was as they began to praise God congregation could be encouraged to take this road map that He brought their victory. home. Let them know that next week you will ask people to Before you get to the valley o f blessing, God wants to share if the map was helpful.

hear your praise. He wants you to tell Him that He is the Call to Worship Lord God Almighty. He wants to hear from your lips that Inform the congregation that during the worship hour they there is none other like Him. As you journey down the will be focusing on the blessings of God. Assure them that road, it is praise that brings the blessings to you. this will be an hour o f true blessing for them.

As you turn from your own problems and cares, and Re s po n d in g t o the W o rd see His majesty, your heart begins to warm and eventual­ Sing the chorus and invite people to come to the altar who ly will catch on fire. need the touch of God to turn their lives into valleys of bless­ ing. CONCLUSION B en e d ic tio n This message has not been an attempt to artificially fan As the congregation prepares to leave, sing the chorus “We the flame of emotion. There does come, however, a time Are So Blessed,” followed by a brief prayer. in our lives when w e need to rejoice just to know we are

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was a warning, it is at least a statement o f fact intended to get Jehoram’s attention. Warning or not, the passage shows how much God loathes sin. Sin brings God’s disap­ An Alliance with Sin proval and finally His judgment because of what it does to the sinner and to others. I hope Jehoram had time to by Randall K. Hartman rethink his actions between verses 15 and 16. And 2 Chron. 21:12-20 though he could not undo his sins or their consequences, he could have confessed and sought the forgiveness of INTRO God. ILLUS. In Colorado, several people begged a trucker to Sadly, the record does not show that Jehoram ever con­ free the CB channel so they could put through an emer­ sidered his sin to be a serious offense against God. That gency call. They wanted to direct a doctor to the scene of view is prevalent in many periods of human history, in­ a serious automobile accident involving a woman. He re­ cluding our own time. fused. As a result, help could not be immediately sum­ C. This passage may be troubling to your concept o f moned. Finally the trucker came upon the scene o f the God. You may find it almost unthinkable that He would accident himself. To his utter dismay, he discovered that actually raise up an enemy army to come into the Holy the seriously injured person, now dead, was his wife. Land, causing affliction and hardship to His people. But When a doctor finally arrived, he said that the woman’s he did. chances for survival would have increased if he had been A couple of points need to be made regarding our view notified 10 minutes earlier. Here was the trucker who suf­ of God. First, it again underscores the seriousness of sin. fered the consequences o f his actions. God does not take sin lightly. It is such a serious issue Today we are going to explore the consequences of that He may allow a disease to come to you. It is so seri­ choosing to go our own sinful ways. Yes, God is certainly ous that He may send an army to your door to help you a God of love, but He cannot tolerate sin. That is what is wake up and return to Him. Second, if a disease or an happening in 2 Chron. 21. King Jehoshaphat has died, army causes you to turn from sin, then God has done you and his son Jehoram has taken over. From verse 6 we a wonderful favor. Having God send you a warning is not quickly see that he has chosen to live a life of sin. He an evil thing, as some might think. We tend to look at the started doing sinful things like evil King Ahab of the small picture, while God looks at the big picture. The north. He even married the daughter o f Ahab. small picture wonders how God could be so unfair. The O f all the things on the list, the marriage to the daugh­ big picture says it was a small inconvenience to know the ter o f Ahab must have been what angered God the most. joy of sins forgiven. She was an ungodly influence on him his entire life. She D. What warning must God send to get you to come to led him down the wrong paths. When he married her, it your senses? I would not wait for God to send me some was as though he made an alliance with sin. He and sin sort of warning. I would plan at the end o f this service to became partners. kneel at the altar and ask God to forgive me of my sins, A consequence of sin in our lives is that God always re­ even before the warning comes. sponds negatively to it. He cannot tolerate it. It sickens Him. He would not be a holy God if He did not respond II. SIN BRINGS GOD'S JUDGMENT (VV. 1 5-20) in such a manner to sin. Let’s look at these verses that A. God is not a God of empty threats. He w ill do what show us how God responds when we join ourselves with He says. He has promised to bring judgment upon those sin. who sin. You can be sure that He will keep His promises. It really is a heart-wrenching matter to see what God I. SIN BRINGS GOD'S DISAPPROVAL (W . 1 2-2 0 ) does to Jehoram. He stirs up the neighboring enemies to A. It is clear from the passage God intended to send come and make war. The enemy attacks and is successful. judgment to Jehoram. God was angry because of the king’s They loot the king’s palace. They even kidnap his wives alliance with sin and his own sinful acts. To show His livid and sons. God took from him everything he held dear. displeasure before the judgment took place, God inspired The story goes on to reveal that God afflicted him with the prophet Elijah to write a stem letter to the king. the disease that He had promised would come. The dis­ Elijah lists God’s charges against Jehoram, You have ease is incurable and eventually takes his life. It was de­ not walked in the ways of your fathers, you have led the structive and painful. Everything God has said would people to prostitute themselves, and you have murdered happen came to pass. your brothers. What a repulsive list of sins. But like all B. It is sobering to think that a loving God might send sins, Jehoram’s rebellious attitudes and acts apparently that kind of judgment if we do not repent. So often we took him further down a destructive path than he first in­ think o f judgment as being something we will face in the tended. Sin always takes sinners farther away from God next life. Of course it is true that we w ill face judgment and satisfying living than they mean to go. That’s why after death. But here we see that there is also judgment facing sin and seeking forgiveness must be done as soon that can take place while w e are still living. He may take as possible. To continue in sin is to multifply the sin and away from us the precious things in our lives if we fail to increase the consequences. follow Him. This is dangerous ground, and we must exer­ B. While the passage does not say the prophet’s letter cise caution.

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ILLUS. I remember as a young boy being over at my friend’s house for supper. He had a wonderful Christian SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER family with godly parents. During that evening meal my friend demonstrated a bad attitude toward his mother. APPROACHING THE WORD He said some things that he shouldn’t have said in a sour Announcements tone o f voice. It just so happened that his father was sit­ Call to Worship ting to his right. His father gently reached over and gave Opening Prayer the boy’s mouth a little spank. Dad never said a word. He Chorus...... “Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome” just kept on eating, but the message was abundantly Responsive Reading...... “Repentance” clear. The point was driven home: you had better stop (Ps. 51:1-2, 7, 10-12, 17; Ezek. 18:30b; Acts 2:38-39a) and stop right now. Anger was not the motive. It was SINGING THE WORD done out of loving concern. Hymns ...... “He Is Able to Deliver Thee” God sometimes does that to us. We are doing things we “Victory in Jesus” should not do. We seem intent on not changing our SEEKING THE WORD minds. So God spanks us. He does not do it out o f anger Pastoral Prayer or hatred, but out of love. He tries to get our attention. ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORD C. Did you learn as a child it was better if you paid at­ Offering tention before your parents gave you the “This is going to HEARING THE WORD hurt me a lot more than it is going to hurt you” routine? Special Music ...... “He Touched Me” What must God do to get your attention? How far down Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 21:12-20 must you go before you start to look up? Sermon ...... “AN ALLIANCE WITH SIN” RESPONDING TO THE WORD CONCLUSION Music ...... “Just as I Am” The end of the story is, frankly, a pitiful footnote. In TAKING THE WORD verse 19 w e see that the people whom he had ruled over Benediction did not make the traditional fire that honored the other kings who had passed away. In verse 20 we see that “he CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS passed away, to no one’s regret.” Can you imagine that? The king has died, and it is as though no one cared. Verse Consider using a new Christian to testify to the congrega­ 20 reveals that his people thought so little o f him that tion about the grip of sin. Encourage the one who testifies not to share particular details but to focus on sin’s unseemly pow­ they refused to bury him with the other kings who had er. gone before. It was the ultimate form of rejection. This is not a happy ending for someone who had such promise. C a ll to W orship It ended sadly because he refused to heed the warning Welcome the congregation to the house of the Lord. Let that came to him from God. them know that as we go through the worship process, God not only wants to bless us but also wants to change us. Hopefully, if God is dealing with your heart, you will not ignore His warning. Come to Him now, and repent o f B en e d ic tio n your sin. It is the only reasonable thing to do. As the congregation prepares to leave, sing the chorus “The Happy Side of Life,” followed by a brief prayer.

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you are going to do the right thing. Like Jehoiada, you need to do the right thing no matter the consequences. There may even come a time when doing the right thing Victorious Living in a will cost you your life. Some may think this is radical preaching and a radical way to live. You are right on both counts. The life of Jesus shows us that Christians are to live radically. As He prayed in the Garden, He wrestled with doing the right thing, Dirtv World knowing He would die. O f course, He did the right thing. Here, right now, make the decision you will do the right by Randall K. Hartman thing regardless of the consequences. When backed into a 2 Chron. 22:10-12; 23:16; 24:14 corner, decide you will do the right thing. When peer pres­ sure threatens to break you, decide you will do what is INTRO right. Always do right. If you make that decision, you will ILLUS. One day a young minister toured a coal mine. be on the road to lifelong victory even in a dirty world. At the entrance o f a dim passageway, he saw a beautiful white flower growing out of the black earth. “How can II. TO BE VICTORIOUS IN THIS SINFUL WORLD, this flower blossom with such beauty in this dirty mine?” YOU MUST DECIDE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE the preacher asked. “Throw some coal dust on it, and see IN YOUR WORLD (2 CHRON. 24:14Q what happens,” his guide replied. As he did, he was sur­ A. What a testimony these words of verse 14c are to a prised that the sooty particles slid right o ff the white life well lived. Jehoiada made a difference in his world. petals, leaving the plant just as radiant as before. The Do not think it was just a coincidence that burnt offerings surface o f the flower was so smooth that the grime could arose at the Temple during his lifetime. It was his job to not cling to it. see that the burnt offerings continued. Also remember It is a daily challenge for the Christian to live a pure that before he came on the scene, the people worshiped life in this sinful world. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be false gods. After he died, verse 18 tells us the first thing like that radiant white flower, which remained clean even the people did was to return to their idol worship. It is in the middle o f a dirty environment? easy to see that it was Jehoiada who made a difference in Here is the tremendous challenge: how do we live vic­ his world. It was his influence that kept others doing the toriously for Christ, over the long haul, in such a dirty right thing. He decided he would be different from some world? The life of Jehoiada emphatically answers that of the corrupt priests the nation had seen. In turn he question for us. In his life there emerges a key to victori­ would impact his world. ous living in a dirty world. We find the key in the choices B. If you would live victoriously, you must make a con­ he made. scious decision that you are going to make a difference in The life o f Jehoiada the priest shows us what decisions your world. Forget about others who turn their backs on we must make if we are going to live victoriously in this God. Focus on doing something for God. Here is the se­ sinful world. cret. When you focus on making a difference in your world for God, you won’t have time to get defeated. I. TO BE VICTORIOUS IN THIS SINFUL WORLD, It reminds me of the writer to the Hebrews, who talked YOU MUST DECIDE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT ( W . 1 0 -1 2 ) about keeping your eyes on Jesus (12:2). When you have A. The situation in these verses is very tense. Second your eyes on Him, that’s all you can see. When you keep Chron. 22:9 tells us that, due to foul play, a political vac­ your focus on changing your world for Christ, you will uum exists. There is no one strong enough to be king, so enjoy personal victory too. the question o f who was to be ruler was wide open. In C. Sadly, too many Christians try to coast through their verse 10, we see that royal family member Athaliah be­ spiritual life. They have no desire to make an impact. comes politically ambitious. She begins to kill o ff all re­ They do not feel as if they are on a mission from God. Fill maining members o f the royal family so only she sur­ up your life with a determination to make a difference for vives. When you read that verse closely, you w ill make a Christ in your world. Focus on that goal, and you will startling discovery. She is even willing to kill her own find that you will live victoriously even in a sinful world. grandson to secure the throne for herself. According to verse 11, Jehosheba and her husband-priest Jehoiada III. TO BE VICTORIOUS IN THIS SINFUL WORLD, conceal royal family member Joash in the. Temple for six YOU MUST DECIDE TO MAKE A COVENANT years from the ruthless ambition of Athaliah. TO BE GOD'S PERSON (2 CHRON. 23:16) B. How easy and simple it would have been for Jehoia­ A. Jehoiada decided to make a covenant to God. A da to do the wrong thing. Very likely, if Athaliah had covenant is nothing more than a fancy word for a binding found out, she would have had him killed. He took an agreement. Here Jehoiada is agreeing to God that they amazing risk to do what was right. It becomes apparent will be the Lord’s people. It was a pledge to total commit­ that he lived a life of victory because he chose to do the ment to God. The pledge was that there would be no oth­ right thing. er gods in their lives. The pledge meant that nothing else C. To be victorious in this sinful world, decide now that would matter more than God.

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When you make a decision like that, you can be sure it ups and downs. It is very likely that the sinful world will requires serious thought. Would they be like the people of pull you down to its own level. Victory, even over the other nations and worship other gods, or would they long haul, can be yours. You have a decision to make. De­ pledge themselves only to the true God? Jehoiada helped cide to do the right things in your life. Decide to make a the people make the right decision. difference in your world. Decide to make a full commit­ B. Here is where so many well-meaning Christians miss ment to God. Now is the time to put those decisions into genuine victory. They want to get to heaven, but they do action. not want to make a full commitment to God. Instead of doing God’s thing, they want to do their own thing. They have their own plans and agendas. They plan to get to SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER heaven, but they never make a decision to make a full APPROACHING THE WORD commitment to God. In fact, they often decide to do just Announcements the opposite. They decide not to make a full commitment Call to Worship to God. Opening Prayer ILLUS. The natives of Africa discovered a unique way Chorus ...... “All Hail King Jesus” o f catching monkeys. They would cut a small hole in a Responsive Reading...... “The Church Victorious” gourd just large enough for the hand of a monkey to fit (Rev. 14:1-5; 3:11, 5; 2:7b) inside. Then they would place nuts inside the gourd. The SINGING THE WORD monkey would reach inside and grab the nuts, making its Hymns...... “Victory in Jesus” hand too large to pull out. The monkey would refuse to “Faith Is the Victory” let go of the nuts and allow the hand to be removed. SEEKING THE WORD Since the gourd was tied to a tree, the monkey was soon Pastoral Prayer caught. The monkey foolishly committed to the wrong ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORD thing. Offering C. Jehoiada has shown us that if we are to live victori­ HEARING THE WORD ously, we must make a commitment to God. Dare to go Special Music ...... “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” all out for God. Dare to see what He can do with your life Scripture Reading ...... 2 Chron. 22:10-12; 23:16; 24:14 when you give it to Him. Sermon ...... “VICTORIOUS LIVING IN A DIRTY WORLD” Let me make a suggestion. Do two things if you have RESPONDING TO THE WORD not made a covenant o f commitment to Him. First, come Music ...... “The Savior Is Waiting” to the altar at the close of this service, and make the full TAKING THE WORD surrender. Just decide that finally you are going to do it. Benediction Second, when you go home from this service, write up a covenant, an agreement, between you and God. Actually put it in writing. Tell Him how serious you are about liv­ CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS ing a committed life to Him. Put that covenant, that Prepare the pastoral prayer with victory in mind. Thank agreement, in a prominent spot in your home to remind God for the victories recorded in the Bible and other past vic­ you o f your commitment to Him. tories. Thank Him for present victory. Of course, you will Victorious living means making a full commitment to want to thank Him for the victories that you will experience at the end of the service. Him, a commitment to be His man or His woman for as long as you live. Call to Worship Let the congregation know that during the worship hour CONCLUSION they will be focusing on victorious living. Urge them to start What is the option to all of this? It is simple. Without the service by claiming the victories that are to come. deciding to make a full surrender to God, you will contin­ ue to struggle spiritually. Your spiritual life will be one of

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what’s wrong if you don’t give? You see, cultural Chris­ tians do the things they do because they mistakenly think religion is acceptance. They approach religion the same The Profile of a way King Amaziah did: “not wholeheartedly.” C. Are you halfheartedly going through the motions with God? Could it be you have been a part o f this church a long time but are not wholeheartedly committed to God? Cultural Christian Imagine placing big round gauges on each of our fore­ heads to measure our wholeheartedness. What would it by Randall K. Hartman reveal? 2 Chron. 25 Whatever you do, do not settle for being a cultural Christian. INTRO Have you thought about the impact our culture has on II. FROM THE LIFE OF AM AZIAH WE DISCOVER THAT A us? Depending upon your culture, you might be wearing CULTURAL CHRISTIAN DOES NOT RELY UPON GOD a business suit with a tie or no shirt at all. Your culture (2 CHRON. 25:5-8) even impacts the way you become married. Culture im­ A. In these verses King Amaziah readies for war. He pacts every area o f our life, including our spiritual lives. does what every good king would do as he prepares his Here in 2 Chron. 25, King Amaziah is an example of men for battle. Amaziah organizes the people into an culture’s impact upon a life. Amaziah, the king o f Judah, army. He institutes a draft, calling out all the men over 20 comes from a long line o f kings. From his earliest memo­ years of age. The final count reveals 300,000 men ready ries, his father the king had groomed him to become the to go into battle. Even by today’s standard, that’s a lot of next king. His early memories also contained stories warriors. What an impressive army. about the God of Israel. Expectations abounded that he It was not, however, enough for the king. Verse 6 tells would grow up as a worshiper o f this same God. Conse­ us he hired 100,000 additional men from the Northern quently, Amaziah seemed to accept the expectations laid Kingdom to fight for him. Why does he do this? Verses 7- on him. He became a king and a follower o f God. Unfor­ 8 give us the disappointing answer. He hires these addi­ tunately, as you read this chapter in his life, you will see tional soldiers in case God doesn’t come through. his relationship with God was based primarily on his cul­ It all boils down to trust. He doesn’t really rely upon ture. He followed God because his parents and the people God but himself to bring the victory. o f the kingdom expected it of him. B. Why wouldn’t a man like this rely upon God? After Perhaps some o f you are only cultural believers like all, he has thousands of years of testimony concerning the Amaziah. You come to church because your parents or faithfulness of God. So why doesn’t he trust God to come friends expect you to do so. You attend out of habit but through for him? The answer is simple. As a cultural be­ have little intention o f getting serious with God. Motiva­ liever, his relationship with God is basically flawed. He tion comes from your culture. How dangerous to be a cul­ feels he has no right to ask God for help. He feels that God tural Christian. isn’t really on his side. He apparently thinks, “Why would As we look at the life of Amaziah, we make some im­ God help me when I am just going through the motions?” portant discoveries about the dangers of cultural Chris­ Besides, any culture will tell you that you need to fend tianity. for yourself. That’s exactly what this cultural king does. Failing to rely upon God, he looks to his own ingenuity I. FROM THE LIFE OF AM AZIAH WE DISCOVER THAT A and strength to meet the need of the hour. CULTURAL CHRISTIAN IS HALFHEARTED ABOUT HIS OR HER C. Relying upon self is characteristic of cultural believ­ RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (2 CHRON. 25:2) ers. They have not learned to rely on God to meet their A. The words of verse 2 drip with condemnation. John needs. They look inside of themselves to meet the need of Wesley said this of Amaziah: “He was not an enemy to re­ the moment. From their perspective their reaction makes ligion, but a cool and indifferent friend.” He went through sense. Why should they trust God to meet their needs the motions of having a meaningful relationship with God, when they really do not know Him very well? but his heart was empty. As he played his role, the people Do you trust God to meet your needs, or do you de­ thought they had a king with a solid relationship with pend on your own cleverness and strength? If you find God. They may never have suspected that he was a cultur­ that you are not trusting God, it could mean that you are al believer. It may never have crossed their mind that a cultural Christian. when it came to religion, he was like an empty shell. B. Does the label o f a cultural believer apply to you? III. FROM THE LIFE OF AMAZIAH WE DISCOVER THAT A Let’s ask the tough question: Why do you attend church? CULTURAL CHRISTIAN DOES NOT HAVE HIS OR HER Is it because others expect you to be here? Is it because PRIORITIES IN ORDER (2 CHRON. 25:9) most of your friends are here? Here is another difficult A. Here is a part o f the story that makes you shake question: Why do you drop something in the offering your head in amazement. Amaziah has done wrong. He plate? Is it because the person next to you w ill wonder has hired soldiers from the Northern Kingdom because of

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his lack o f trust in God. At that point a prophet of God its occupants were sliding into the lake of fire. The title of tells him he should not go through with the plan because the tract said something like this: “going to hell riding on the Northern Kingdom is evil. Amaziah thinks about this a church pew.” message from the prophet. Remember, he wants to do I have come to realize that the people sitting on the pew what is right. He is playing the role of a cultural believer. were cultural Christians. God forbid any here would ride As he thinks about doing what is right, he wonders what the pews of this church into hell. If you are a cultural will happen to the money he has paid to the soldiers of Christian, you are invited to come forward to this altar. Ask the Northern Kingdom. Do you see how his actions signal God to transform you into a genuine born-again believer. to us misplaced priorities? He ought to be falling to his knees thanking God for protection from making a huge mistake. Instead he wonders, “What about my money?” SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER B. A cultural Christian does not have his or her priori­ APPROACHING THE WORD ties straight. A cultural Christian places greater priority Announcements on watching television than attending church. A cultural Call to Worship Christian puts a higher priority on his or her own interest Opening Prayer instead of God’s interests. Money is more important than C h o ru s...... “Let the Redeemed” God. Responsive Reading...... “Christian Conduct” ILLUS. During the Revolutionary War, Colonel Rahl, (Col. 3:1-3, 5a, 9-10, Ub-17) the Hessian commander at Trenton, New Jersey, was SINGING THE W O R D playing cards when a courier brought a message stating Hymns ...... “Dwelling in Beulah Land” that Gen. George Washington was crossing the Delaware “I Would Be True” River. The colonel put the letter in his pocket and didn’t SEEKING THE WORD bother to read it until the game was completed. When he Pastoral Prayer finally read the note, he realized the seriousness of the ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORD situation. He hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the Offering coming attack. He and many of his men died in battle. HEARING THE WORD The remainder of the regiment was captured. Misplaced Special Music priorities were his undoing. Children’s C h o ir...... “Dare to Be a Daniel” A cultural Christian may get messages from God but Scripture R e ad in g...... 2 Chron. 25:1-9 puts them in his or her back pocket. Such a person is too Sermon ...... “THE PROFILE OF A CULTURAL CHRISTIAN” busy to hear God. RESPONDING TO THE WORD C. Do you see that when you are a cultural Christian, it M u s ic ...... “Cleanse M e” messes up your priorities? Since you are culturally reli­ TAKING THE WORD gious, you really don’t understand what God wants. What Benediction matters to you is what you want. How dangerous to be a cultural Christian. CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS

CONCLUSION Two weeks prior to the service ask members of a teen Sun­ The conclusion of the life of Amaziah is typical of a cul­ day School class to submit their drawings of what a cultural tural Christian. He became angry when God tried to Christian might look like. This provides the teacher the op­ speak to him (v. 16). Pleasing himself was his goal. In the portunity to explain to them the subject and prepares them for the sermon. Then select one of the pictures that has the end, some of Jerusalem’s treasures fell into the hands of most meaning, and publish it in the Sunday bulletin. You may the enemy, and Amaziah died a failure. want to refer to it during the sermon. Being a cultural Christian is risky and frightening. A sinner usually understands his or her predicament, but a Call to Worship cultural Christian has just enough religion to make him Invite the congregation to be prepared to examine their own spiritual lives to see if culture has had a negative impact or her feel comfortable. This one may even be a good upon it. person who does good things. But he or she faces the prospects o f judgment and separation from God, howev­ B e n e d ic tio n er, because of just going through the motions. As the congregation prepares to leave, challenge them to ILLUS. Many years ago I saw a gospel tract that, at the be alert for any signs that their culture has had a negative im­ pact on their walk with God. time, offended me. It pictured a group of church people sitting on a pew. One end of the pew was tilted up, and

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L o r d , God [will give] [insert name] success.” Seek the Lord, and be the person God wants you to be. Here is what we learn from the good in Uzziah’s life: if King teiali: the you live a godly life, God will make your life fulfilling and satisfying. ILLUS. My grandfather was a Nazarene pastor. He started in the ministry later in life than most o f his col­ leagues. He had no college degrees. His ministerial edu­ Good, the Bad, and cation consisted o f graduating from the home course of study. Yet, in spite of these drawbacks, he was a man who mirrored the good in the life of Uzziah. He sought God, learned about God, and revered God. Consequently, he had a tremendous ministry. He touched lives and built churches. God gave him a wonderful life.

II. VERSE 16 A REVEALS THE BAD IN THE LIFE OF KING UZZIAH Pride acted like a toxic poison spreading through his INTRO entire life. A popular Clint Eastwood film immortalized the words A. Pride resulted in unfaithfulness to the Lord. You can The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. This brief description ap­ see how that might happen to the king. After all, many plies to the life o f King Uzziah found here in 2 Chron. 26. wonderful accomplishments resulted from his reign. Few He had many good things going for him. Unfortunately, kings had so much success. People began to talk o f his poor choices resulted in a good life turned bad. From greatness. Soon he began believing his own press. He be­ there his life went to downright ugly. Uzziah took the lieved that all o f what had happened was because of prize for being the original one known as “the good, the what he had done, not because of what God had done. bad, and the ugly.” Verse 16 records his unfaithfulness to God by going in­ Looking at the good, the bad, and the ugly in his life to the Temple and burning incense. This task belonged reveals help for us in our walk with God. only to the priests. He is so full of pride that he decided the rules no longer applied to him. I. VERSES 4 -5 REVEAL THE GOOD IN HIS LIFE How we need to be careful. Guard your heart so you A. He sought God. What a great thing to be able to say may never say, “I am above this rule of Christian living. It about anyone. In Hebrew that word “sought” means to is just for other Christians.” frequent a place. Here is a king who frequented the place B. His pride resulted in irreverence (v. 18). His entering o f prayer. He knew how to get alone with God and pour into the Temple to burn incense shows a complete lack of out his heart in prayer. reverence for God. It seems his degree in Bachelor of Rev­ B. He learned about God. Verse 5 reveals he was in­ erence does him no good. structed in the things o f God. Zechariah, the priest, gave Spiritual pride can take us to the point that we only re­ him special lessons about God. You can be certain a king vere ourselves. Pride can set us up as our own god, which takes lessons about God only because of an eagerness to we worship and adore. Pride causes us to kneel at the al­ learn. You must admire a king who is humble enough to tar o f self. go to a private Sunday School class. C. Pride also produced anger. Pride causes you to be C. He revered God. At least, he was taking special angry at others when you ought to be angry at yourself. training on how to show reverence to God. Maybe it was When the priests told Uzziah to get out of the Temple, his major while he went to school under Zechariah. How the king flew into a rage. Ironically it was the priests who wonderful for a powerful king to be interested in having should have been angry. Pride does that. It fills you up reverence before God. with yourself to the point that no one, including God, can D. Verse 5 sums up the good in the life of Uzziah. As he be right. learns and grows spiritually, he discovers that God just Clearly you see the danger. Pride makes us angry when keeps on blessing him. God gives him success after suc­ even God tells us to do something. We begin to believe cess. In the verses following verse 5 we see he overthrew we know more than God. We know better what we ought Philistine cities, built towns in enemy territory, and de­ to do than God. How dangerous. feated the Amorites and the Meunites. He “built towers in ILLUS. The story is told o f a farm where two ducks Jerusalem” and fortified the walls. He was a rancher, and a frog were friends. As the hot summer days came, farmer, and great military leader all rolled into one. the pond began to dry up. Soon there was so little water E. When you go God’s way, you are going to have a that they all realized that they would have to move. The wonderful life. You may not become rich or famous, but ducks could easily fly to another place, but what about you will have a wonderful life. When you follow God, their friend the frog? Finally they decided to put a stick in you can take verse 5 and put your own name into it and the bill of each duck. Then the frog would hang on to the claim it as yours. “As long as [insert name] sought the stick with his mouth, and they would fly him to another

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pond. As they were flying, a farmer out in his field looked Pride brings out the ugly in every person it touches. up and saw them. The frog heard him remark, “Well, isn’t that a clever idea! I wonder who thought of it!” The frog CONCLUSION said, “I did. . . . ” Pride was his undoing. There are lessons for everyone in the life of King Uzzi­ ah. There is the good to admire and to try to imitate. Try III. VERSES 1 9 8 -2 0 REVEAL THE UGLY IN U ZZIAH 'S LIFE to be like him and seek God. Frequent the place of prayer. A. God responds by giving him leprosy. Few diseases Learn about God and revere Him. Unfortunately, in his are more disfiguring than leprosy. Now stop and think life there is also the bad to avoid. Make sure there is no about it: if you are a proud person, what might draw you spiritual pride in your life. Also, by all means do not al­ back to earth? One sure w ay is to have a disease that dis­ low pride to go unchecked. It will turn your life into figures. Nothing else would humble a proud person something ugly. The most horrible thing in the world quicker than to have leprosy break out on your face. would be to end up isolated from God because you w or­ There is something about leprosy from that ancient cul­ shiped yourself. ture that we need to remember: when you had it, you be­ came a social outcast. When you walked the streets, the Law mandated that you issue a cry of warning. The SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER words “unclean, unclean” signaled your approach. The WE APPROACH THE TIME OF WORSHIP people, hearing you shout those words, would walk on Prelude ...... “Majesty” the opposite side o f the street to avoid you. In short, you Announcements were avoided like the plague. WE BEGIN OUR WORSHIP Leprosy was more than just a health concern. It guar­ Call to Worship anteed you would be a social outcast for the rest o f your Responsive Reading ...... “Worship the Lord” (Ps. 100) life. Suddenly, this popular and powerful king becomes Opening Prayer an outcast for the remainder o f his days. WE CELEBRATE OUR WORSHIP B. Why would God do such a terrible thing? It was a Hymns...... “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” matter of God giving Uzziah what he wanted. No, he didn’t “Come, Thou Almighty King” want leprosy. What did he want? He was so full o f pride WE TALK TO GOD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP that he only wanted himself. In a strange twist of fate, God Pastoral Prayer gave him his desires. Leprosy gave him a kingdom o f one: WE RESPOND TO WORSHIP himself. In that outcast kingdom o f one, he ruled supreme­ Offering ly. In his kingdom he was the most important person. God, Special Song ...... “The Wonder of It All” in effect, was giving King Uzziah exactly what he wanted: WE FOCUS OUR WORSHIP a kingdom where he could be the greatest person in the Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 26:1-20 kingdom. As he sat in his room, an outcast, he was master Sermon ...... “KING UZZIAH: THE GOOD, THE BAD, o f all he surveyed. His life had turned ugly. AND THE UGLY’ ILLUS. According to a news story, 18 “uglies” picketed WE REFLECT UPON OUR WORSHIP an American Airlines ticket office. They were protesting Chorus ...... “Spirit of the Living God” alleged discrimination in hiring when they advertise for Prayer at the Altar good-looking people. “We just want to be accepted for WE CONCLUDE OUR WORSHIP who w e are instead of what we look like,” said Danny Benediction McCoy, who is the president o f Ugly Unlimited. He says up to 10 percent o f the American public are widely con­ sidered to be ugly. Unfortunately the complaint goes on. CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS This is because, according to lawyers, there is no stan­ Pa s to r a l P rayer dard definition o f what constitutes ugly. Direct members of the congregation to pray for others. Do C. Unchecked spiritual pride eventually cuts you off this by encouraging them to take a moment and pray for the from God. That’s when you can easily define the word ug­ person on their left, right, behind them, and in front of them. ly. Pride makes you seem bigger and better than reality. This actively involves the congregation in prayer and at the As you get more important in your own eyes, it doesn’t same time makes sure every person receives prayer.

matter what anyone else says or thinks. As time goes by, Call to Worship you erect an altar to yourself. When you do that, you “We are privileged to be here today to worship God have crossed the line into idol worship, causing separa­ Almighty. It is important to remind ourselves that as a congre­ tion from God. gation we are not spectators, and the platform people are not Here is the frightening thing: God often gives you what performers. Rather, God is the Spectator, and all who worship you want. If all you care about is yourself, then God will today are performers.”

somehow arrange it so that you will get yourself and only B e n e d ic tio n yourself. “Leave this place determined that you will leave behind the Hell is going to be a place of separation from God. It ‘bad and the ugly and cultivate the ‘good’ in your life that will be a place where you are stuck with yourself forever was begun by God!” and forever.

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that his life ladder was leaning against the wrong build­ ing.

II. HE FAILED IN HIS PRIM ARY DUTY OF INFLUENCING PEOPLE FOR GOD ill K. Hartman A. The last part of verse 2 tells us that the people con­ 2 Chron. 27 tinued in their sin. King Jotham did many things right but failed to influence his people for God. He failed in his INTRO God-given task o f influencing others. ILLUS. Years ago, evangelist Gypsy Smith spoke to the Admittedly, verse 2 does not tell us much. In 2 Kings local Rotary Club. At the conclusion of his message he 15:35, a parallel account, part o f the mystery is revealed. raised his Bible and asked, “How many o f you men can This verse reveals that sacrifices to pagan gods still recall a saintly mother and a godly father who loved this played a role in their worship. They had fallen back into Book, read it, lived it, and seeped it into you?” Almost all the kind o f sin that stirred God to anger. who were present raised their hands as tears threatened Did you notice that the same verse talks about the sins to burst onto their cheeks. Then Gypsy followed with an­ of the people and the rebuilding efforts o f Jotham? He other question, “With all your influence today, how many was making a difference but not where it counted. of you are so living that your children will remember you B. By all outward accounts, history would have given for your faithfulness to this same Book?” God has called him high marks on his reign as king of the Southern King­ us to make a difference in our world. dom. He seems to have done all of the right things: he Here is the question of the hour: “Why don’t we make built, he conquered, and he became powerful. Undoubt­ a difference in our world as we know God wants us to?” edly the opinion polls of his day were very high. But he In this chapter we meet King Jotham. He was a terrific failed miserably where it counted most. king. Yet, verse 2 tells us that “the people . . . continued It is a study in contrasts. He conquered the Ammonites their corrupt practices.” Jotham failed to be a change and brought peace between their countries, but the peo­ agent. From his life, we can learn why we fail to make ple were at war with God. He built great buildings, but the impact upon others that we ought to be making. the spiritual condition of his people lay in ruin. He be­ came powerful, but his people suffered from spiritual I. HIS REIGN MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS WORLD poverty. As God looked at the bottom line of Jotham’s A. He made a difference by building (w. 3-4). One of life, He was disappointed that Jotham failed in the area the things any ruler wanted to accomplish during his that mattered most: he failed to impact his people for reign was to build structures that would outlive him. In God. the years to come, people would ask, “Now, who was it C. This hits close to home. We get so busy climbing the that built that building?” So Jotham went on a building ladder that we fail to stop and see what building it is campaign and found success. History, to this day, records leaning against. We pour our lives into building our ca­ him as making a difference when it came to the area of reer, saving money, getting our children through college. building. All of those things are good, but in the end what really He also made a difference because he conquered (v. 5). matters is whether or not we have influenced others for Another way that a ruler could make a difference in his Christ. world was to become known as a mighty man o f war. The If we aren’t careful, we will get down to the end of our Scripture says little about his military life, but clearly he life and see that our ladder was leaning against the is a man of war not to be trifled with because he con­ wrong building. We w ill discover it was leaning against quered the Ammonites. Jotham makes his mark in history the same building that King Jotham’s ladder was leaning: as one who knew how to win a war. In the area of mili­ the building marked outward success. What a difference tary prowess, Jotham made a difference in his world. if we had made sure our ladder was leaning against the The text reveals he also made a difference in his world building marked “influencing others for Christ.” because he became powerful (v. 6). He grew to be power­ ful as a king of the chosen people. Remember, he comes III. W HY DID JOTHAM FAIL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? from a long line o f kings, and not every king of Judah be­ A. He failed to make a difference because he really did came powerful. But this king became powerful because not care about the spiritual condition of others. He was he “walked steadfastly before the L o r d . ” aware of the sin in which his people were involved. We B. There is something that resonates within all of us cannot excuse the king on the grounds of ignorance. You with a desire to make a difference in our world. We do can almost imagine the priests coming to him and telling not want to pass from this life without leaving our foot­ him that the people are worshiping the pagan gods of prints. We are like King Jotham. We build, conquer, and their neighbors. Since he apparently does nothing about become powerful. We struggle to leave our mark and in­ it, it seems logical to conclude that he doesn’t care fluence upon our world. enough about their spiritual welfare. Someone once said that before we climb a ladder, we We say we care about the sin of our neighbors and better first make sure what building it is leaning against. family members, but what do we do about it? Yes, we As we look back over the life of King Jotham, we discover pray and that’s good. We talk about being concerned. But

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if we cared enough, wouldn’t we become consumed We need to keep on doing good things for God, but we about finding ways to impact their lives for Christ? had better not get caught up only in doing good. We need B. He failed to make a difference because he failed to to get involved in doing best things. We dare not fail in exert his authority. He was the king and leader. He could our God-given task to make a difference in our world. have used his influence to impact his people in their spiri­ This week find someone you can influence for Christ, and tual lives, but he failed to exert his God-given authority. then go to it. We may not be kings, but we have a certain amount of authority, power, and influence. There are people over whom you exert a certain amount o f influence. Use some SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER o f that authority and power to influence them for Christ. WE APPROACH THE TIME OF WORSHIP You might respond by saying, “But that’s taking advan­ Prelude ...... “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” tage of our friendship!” O f course. Use your advantage to Announcements impact others for Christ. WE BEGIN OUR WORSHIP C. He failed to make a difference because he focused Call to Worship exclusively on good things instead of the best things. Responsive Reading ...... “A Charge to the Church” There was not one thing wrong with the things that he (Matt. 9:35-38; John 4:35-36a; Matt. 28:19-20) did. In fact, what he did was good. Certainly he ruled Opening Prayer well. He lived a good life. But he never went on to do WE CELEBRATE OUR WORSHIP what was best. The best was to influence others for God. Hymns ...... “Anywhere with Jesus” He allowed the sin to continue. He did not do what he “Give of Your Best to the Master” could to help his people get rid of the sin in their life. WE TALK TO GOD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP How easy for us to spend our life doing good things. Pastoral Prayer However, we need to plunge ahead and do “best things.” WE RESPOND TO WORSHIP This means you w ill intentionally influence others for Offering Christ. Special Song ...... ‘Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” WE FOCUS OUR WORSHIP CONCLUSION Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 27:1-5 ILLUS. I heard a story on the radio about a man who Sermon ...... “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” stopped by the house, trying to sell an old pair o f drapes. WE REFLECT UPON OUR WORSHIP The man o f the house tried to get rid of him. God pricked Hymn ...... “Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated” his heart. He decided to go looking for the man and dis­ Prayer at the Altar covered that he had sold the drapes. He followed him in­ WE CONCLUDE OUR WORSHIP to the grocery to see if he was going to waste his money. Benediction Surprisingly, he only bought the necessities o f life. He talked to him and discovered that there was a genuine fi­ nancial need. God impressed upon him to give the fellow CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS $10, which he promptly did. The man in financial need Several weeks prior to this service announce the subject of offered to do odd jobs. He came over to the house and the message. Invite members of the congregation to submit in cleaned the basement. They worked together in the base­ writing one special person who has made a difference in their ment and talked about spiritual things. The kindly man spiritual lives. Publish those brief stories as an insert to the service bulletin. shared with the man in need how you could never out- give the Lord. Days later the man knocked on his door Call to Worship and shared that he had decided to pay tithe on his mow­ “Today as we worship the Lord, we will be challenged to ing jobs. Still later the man knocked on his door and make a difference in our world. May we have an open heart shared with him that a wealthy man had contacted him as we receive this challenge.”

and hired him to do $400 worth of lawn work. He could B e n e d ic tio n hardly wait to tithe on that money to see what the Lord “May your prayer be to make a difference this week in your would do next. All of this happened because one man comer of the world!” cared.

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altar? They took all of those defiled items and laid them before the altar because they knew they could only do so much. They bring them into the presence o f the holy God Give Me Forty Acres because they know that in the final analysis it is only God who can change those things from defiled to holy. It was by Randall K. Hartman their way of saying, “Here we go, God; we’ve done all we 2 Chron. 29 can do, now You transform them by Your power!” By get­ ting their place of worship in order, they were beginning INTRO to turn their country around. For many years my father was a truck driver. Once in a B. If you really want to turn your life around, you must while I would ride with him. On those trips I got a small get yourself into the presence of God. Some will want to glimpse into the life of a trucker. One of the things that do it the Old Testament way. You will think it necessary many truckers will do is to sing songs as they drive down to clean up your life first. You will want to get rid of some the road. I remember hearing my dad sing one line in a habits in your life. But here is a key point: you can only song over and over: “Give me 40 acres, and I’ll turn this do so much on your own. You will be able to change a rig around.” That line was saying that if the trucker had certain amount in your life. Through an act o f the will just 40 acres to farm, he’d slam on the brakes, turn the you can clean up your life, but it will not be enough. You rig around, and get out o f the trucking business. must bring yourself into the very presence o f God. There Of course, turning the semi rig around is harder than it are certain things about your life that only He can looks. It means finding a wide place in the road. It means change. You can do some sprucing up in your life, but on­ waiting for the traffic to clear. It means going back home ly God can transform your life. and trying to explain to your boss why you would give up ILLUS. In my freshman year at Olivet Nazarene Uni­ the exciting life of a trucker for the exciting life o f a versity I met a student who had a hot new 1972 Suzuki farmer! 380, three-cylinder motorcycle. Immediately I went out Turning the rig around and changing your life is harder and bought one just like it. Although it was the same than it looks. There are many people who would like to model, it never seemed to have the pep of my friend’s turn the rig around in their life. They’re tired o f going Suzuki. Nonetheless, I drove it on a 3,500-mile cycle trip. down the same road. They find life to be boring and want I washed it and waxed it and cared for it the best I knew something better. Jesus offers them a mansion just over how. Shortly after my trip it started making a horrible the hilltop instead o f 40 acres of dirt. He offers them the noise. I took it into the dealer for servicing, who discov­ joy o f sins forgiven. They look at the Christian life and ered that one o f the pistons had never fired. I took care of would like to get right with God, but how do they turn the bike the best I could, but it took a trained specialist to the rig around and get right with God? fix a major problem like a piston. The people in 2 Chron. 29 are struggling with trying to If you are not a Christian, you have a major problem. It turn their lives around. For the past 16 years they have will take more than willpower to transform your life. It lived a life of sin. They had followed their diabolical will take the transforming power o f God. That’s why you leader, Ahaz. He is a king who actually sacrificed his own must come into His presence. sons as a burnt offering to pagan gods. After the reign of C. That is exactly why we have an altar in our church. Ahaz, his son Hezekiah became king. At 25 years o f age Yes, you can find God in nature. I can see Him in the he had decided that he was going to turn the rig around wonder o f the starry sky and the fiery sunsets. But you and lead his country in a different direction. The big are much more likely to feel and experience the power o f question was, “How do you turn things around?” God here in a church service. Yes, you can find God just Before even looking into the text, we need to realize about anywhere you look; but there is nothing like com­ that the place to begin in changing your life is to recog­ ing into His sanctuary and moving forward to the altar, nize you are going down the wrong path. No sermon can knowing God will meet you there. If you are going to help you unless there is dissatisfaction in your life. There turn your life around, plan on coming to this altar before is no help for you until you are sick and tired of being you leave. sick and tired. When you are ready to change your life’s direction, 2 Chron. 29 w ill show you how. II. TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE BLOOD APPLIED (VV. 20-24, 32-35) I. TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND, YOU MUST FIRST BRING A. When you look at these verses, you will see blood YOURSELF INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD (V. 19) just about everywhere you look. Part o f turning the na­ A. Hezekiah has commissioned the priests to make the tion around was the idea of bringing blood sacrifices to Temple defiled by his father fit for worship. They follow the altar. The Old Testament sacrificial system of worship the strict ceremonial procedures to make it clean. They demanded blood sacrifices for the atoning of their sins. round up all of the defiled Temple articles and take them This act showed God, and themselves, how serious they through the purification ritual. They cleanse them the were about this matter o f getting their lives turned best they know how. After completing the cleansing, they around. bring all of the worship items before the altar o f the Lord. In verses 20-24 the city officials went up to the Temple. Why did they take all of that stuff and lay it before the There they sacrificed 7 bulls, 7 rams, 7 lambs, and 7

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goats. Now look at verse 33, where all of the people gath­ through the service. When he came out, he said, “Pastor, er at the Temple. This time they kill 600 bulls and 3,000 who was that striking man sitting next to me who lis­ sheep and goats. Imagine the blood. It must have flowed tened so carefully?” The pastor replied, “That was King like a river down from the altar. It must have cascaded Lewanika, the ‘human tiger.’” The explorer answered down the steps of the Temple Mount and on down the back, “Then if that is what Christ can do, I mean to be hillside into the Kidron Valley. What’s going on? They His.” were showing God how serious they were about turning Are you satisfied with the direction your life is going, things around. They were showing Him that there was no or do you need to turn your life around? If you would sacrifice too great for them to make if He would only take like to turn your life around, you need to come to the al­ them back. tar and ask God to help you. B. That was how they did it in the Old Testament, but we obviously live in the New Testament. The blood still needs to be applied if you are going to turn your life SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER around, but there are some changes that have gone into WE APPROACH THE TIME OF WORSHIP effect since those days o f 2 Chronicles. Since Mount Cal­ Prelude ...... “Come, Every One Who Is Thirsty” vary, things have changed. Instead o f the blood of ani­ Announcements mals it is the blood of Jesus that needs to be applied to WE BEGIN OUR WORSHIP your heart. The blood o f animals just didn’t do the trick. Call to Worship God knew He needed something more powerful than Responsive Reading ...... “The New Birth” that, so He sent Jesus to die on the Cross for our sins. In­ (John 3:1-5, 7-8, 16; 2 Cor. 5:17) stead o f us showing how serious w e are by bringing sacri­ Opening Prayer fices, God shows us how serious He is by making the ulti­ WE CELEBRATE OUR WORSHIP mate sacrifice: His Son. It is not that we bring sacrifices Hymns ...... “He Is Able to Deliver Thee” to Him. He has already made the sacrifice for us. Now we “He’s a Wonderful Savior to Me” see how serious the matter is because He allowed His one WE TALK TO GOD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP and only Son to become the Sacrifice. If you want to turn Pastoral Prayer your life around, you need to have the blood of Jesus ap­ WE RESPOND TO WORSHIP plied to your heart. Offering ILLUS. There is a legend that while Martin Luther was Special Song ...... “The Crystal Fountain” very ill, Satan entered his bedroom. Satan, looking at him WE FOCUS OUR WORSHIP with a triumphant smile, unrolled a big scroll that he car­ Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 29:19-35 ried under his arm. He threw one end o f it on the floor, Sermon...... “GIVE ME 40 ACRES” and it unwound by itself. Luther read the long list o f his WE REFLECT UPON OUR WORSHIP condemning sins. Fear struck his troubled heart. Sudden­ Hym n...... “Are You Washed in the Blood?” ly it flashed into his mind that there was really nothing Prayer at the Altar written on the scroll. Luther cried out, “One thing you WE CONCLUDE OUR WORSHIP have forgotten. The rest is all true, but one thing you Benediction have forgotten: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin’” (1 John 1 :9 , kjv). A s he said this, Satan and his scroll disappeared. CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS Let me encourage you to turn your life around by al­ Call to Worship lowing the blood o f Jesus to wash you whiter than snow. “As we come into His presence today, may we remember It is the only way. God made the ultimate sacrifice for that those who truly meet with Him will leave this place you. Jesus died for you so that your life could be trans­ changed.” formed through the power of His blood. A ltar Call Some seekers fear coming to the altar for prayer because CONCLUSION well-intentioned people will crowd around them as they pray. ILLUS. An explorer was crossing Africa and came into As you invite people to come forward, designate one side of the region of the Barotsi people. He heard stories about the altar for seekers who want prayer support and the other the native king Lewanika. This king was inhumanely cru­ side for those who prefer to pray about their needs by them­ el. It was his great delight to discover and use new means selves. of torture on his enemies. He was known by the nick­ Be n e d ic tio n name “human tiger.” The explorer came to a station “Rejoice as you leave here today in the knowledge that God where Pastor Coillard was in charge. On Sunday the ex­ has done more than meet with us. He has changed us!” plorer, as a matter o f politeness, went to church and sat

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to God and turned things around. The worship of pagan gods ceased, and the glory o f the Temple was restored. It happened through his obedience to God. As a result of The Secrets of this a whole kingdom was saved from destruction and turned to God. ILLUS. In the North Pacific lies the little island of Iwo Jima. The dry surface of the island is volcanic ash. Those who have been there say it reminds them of a landscape Success on the moon. It was this tiny island that the United States captured in World War II from Japan at the price of by Randall K. Hartman 21,000 casualties. The men who took it did not find the 2 Chron. 31:20-21 island to be admirable. They could have found a hundred other reasons seemingly more worthwhile to face gunfire INTRO than trying to secure that ugly island. They simply took it ILLUS. His name was Cleo, and he was a legend. This in obedience to a command. Once the island was secure, legendary status could be found in the minds of at least the war was closer to being over. two people: his own mind and the mind of my father. Obedience to God brings success simply because when When I was growing up, he was my dad’s fishing buddy. we obey Him, we are following the best available course If no one else caught a fish, Cleo was sure to get one. He o f action. He is the General who knows the big picture. It would always get the biggest and the best. My father would be plain stupid to disobey one who has all of the once shared with me one o f Cleo’s top fishing secrets. He power and knowledge in the universe. When we are obe­ would stand up in the boat, take o ff his straw hat, and dient to Him, we are one step closer to being spiritually wave it at the fish. You can laugh or think I’m crazy, but successful. when it came to fishing, Cleo was the man— a legend. There are people who go fishing, and then there are II. SECRET NO. 2 REVOLVES AROUND SEEKING GOD people who go fishing. Both groups of people probably A. The text reveals another secret to the success of know enough to go where the fish are located. Both may Hezekiah: “sought his God.” The word “sought” literally use the right bait. Both know how to set the hook. But means to “frequent a place.” Are there places you fre­ there are people who always seem to catch more fish quent? Many o f you frequent a place called “work.” Oth­ than anyone else. How do they do it? ers frequent places called restaurants. To frequent a place I am convinced that there are some secrets that suc­ means to hang out in a particular place. It is a familiar cessful people are reluctant to share with each other. Se­ place where you feel comfortable. For Hezekiah, his place crets that, if you or I would know them, would enable us to hang out was the presence of God. It was the place to be successful. In fact, these secrets o f success are uni­ where he felt comfortable. It was a place with which he versal laws that operate in many areas of our lives. Our was familiar. concern today is to discover these secrets so w e can be­ B. When we think of the idea of “frequenting a place” come the Christian we always dreamed of becoming. and directing that idea toward God, we realize we are Hezekiah reveals to us how to be a successful Christian. talking about prayer. Hezekiah hung out with God, and Verse 21 opens with the words, “In everything that he that meant he was a man of prayer. As he hung out with undertook,” and closes with these words, “he prospered.” God, God gave him direction on how to rule his kingdom. In other words, packed into that one verse we are shown It was God that gave him directions that made him such a the secrets o f prospering at whatever we do. Let’s look at great king. The people wondered where his good ideas these top secrets for success. came from. They wondered why he was able to rule so differently than the other kings. It all happened because I. SECRET NO. 1 REVOLVES AROUND BEING he had a secret: he hung out with God in prayer. OBEDIENT TO GOD C. If you want spiritual success, then you must “fre­ A. In all of Scripture, obedience is held up as the key to quent the place” of prayer. If you wanted to become the success and blessing. The Egyptian Pharaoh disobeyed best possible fisherman, you would jump at the chance to God, and he was burned. The three men in the fiery fur­ hang out with a fisherman who tours the country fishing nace obeyed God, and they were not burned. The Is­ in tournaments. Think o f the tips he could give you. raelites disobeyed God and were not allowed to enter in­ Imagine all you could learn from him about fishing. As to the Promised Land. Years later, their descendants you hang out with God, think of what you could learn obeyed God and were allowed entrance into the very from Him. Think o f how much greater are your chances same land. It was through obedience that the walls of o f success. Jericho came down and the multitudes were fed. ILLUS. History tells us that George Washington found B. Here in the text we see obedience being modeled for solace in prayer during the trying times he and his sol­ us by Hezekiah. In chapter 29 Hezekiah becomes king of diers experienced at Valley Forge. One day a farmer ap­ a sinful kingdom. The people of the kingdom have started proaching the camp heard an earnest voice. As he drew worshiping other gods and defiled the sacred Temple of nearer, he saw George Washington on his knees praying God. But when Hezekiah became king, he was obedient to God, his cheeks w et with tears. The farmer rushed

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home and said to his wife, “George Washington will suc­ CONCLUSION ceed. We w ill secure our independence.” “What makes you think so?” asked his wife. The farmer replied, “I There are fishermen, and then there are fishermen; heard him praying out in the woods today. The Lord will which will you be? There are people who just survive, and then there are those who thrive. Will you be content surely hear his prayer.” to just get by, or will you take these secrets to heart and Prayer is one of the secrets o f impacting your world. It be the best you can be? May God help us all to do our is a simple but profound secret: hang out with God, and best this week as we put these secrets into action: be obe­ you will find success. dient, hang out with God in prayer, and give it your best. III. SECRET NO. 3 REVOLVES AROUND GIVING IT YOUR ALL When we have done that, the closing words of verse 21 A. King Hezekiah knew this secret well. The text tells will be applied us: “And so [they] prospered.” us that he worked wholeheartedly. He learned that suc­ cess does not come easily. It would have been easy for SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER Hezekiah, the king, to not give it his all. He could have sat on his throne and demanded to be entertained while WE APPROACH THE TIME OF WORSHIP others did all the work. After all, he was the king. Who Prelude ...... “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” would have argued with him if he had taken the easy Announcements way out? How refreshing to see one in such a high place WE BEGIN OUR WORSHIP of privilege giving it his all. The best at any vocation or Call to Worship avocation are those who give it their all. Responsive Reading...... “Rejoicing in Him” ILLUS. An observation was made by the son of Arturo (Pss. 9:1-2, 7-11; 66:6) Toscanini, the famous musician. On the occasion of the Opening Prayer famous musician’s 80th birthday, the younger man was WE CELEBRATE OUR WORSHIP asked what he considered to be his father’s greatest Hymns...... “Lead On, O King Eternal” achievement. He replied, “From him there can be no such “Be Thou My Vision” thing. Whatever he happens to be doing at any moment WE TALK TO GOD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP is the biggest undertaking of his life.” There is a man who Pastoral Prayer gives it all he’s got. WE RESPOND TO WORSHIP ILLUS. Dwight L. Moody was one who learned to give Offering it his all. Shortly after his conversion he wanted to teach Special S on g...... “Something Beautiful” Sunday School but was told he would have to form a WE FOCUS OUR WORSHIP class of his own. After praying for guidance, he went into Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 31:20-21 the streets of Chicago, winning the hearts o f boys and Sermon ...... “THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS” girls by giving them candy and showing them kindness. WE REFLECT UPON OUR WORSHIP He also excited their imagination by promoting contests, Hym n...... “Lord, Be Glorified” and soon he organized many groups of youngsters Prayer at the Altar throughout the city. Someone described him as “a huge, WE CONCLUDE OUR WORSHIP bearded pied piper” because the children followed him to Benediction Sunday School. Again and again you will see that those who really make a difference are those who give it their CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS all. To add impact to the sermon, arrange to have a successful B. This is not big news to you. We know that hard work Christian businessperson share a brief testimony on what it pays off. Unfortunately, however, our world teaches us means to be successful. that we should try to get by doing as little as possible. That truth is evident when you say farewell to someone Call to Worship with the words “Don’t work too hard,” or “Take it easy.” “Welcome to a place called ‘sanctuary.’ This place is a sanc­ tuary because here we find ourselves in the presence of God. Go to work at some union factories, and you w ill soon Let us worship Him today, knowing that we are in the sanctu­ learn that there is such a thing as working too fast. It is ary of His love!” not at all unusual to be told to slow down at work. Peo­ ple with such attitudes rarely find success. B e n e d ic tio n If you are in the category o f just trying to get by, then “As you prepare to leave this sanctuary, take with you these secrets of success. Determine to use them in such a way as to be successful in your spiritual life you need to learn will bring glory to the One from whom they came!” the secret o f giving it all you got. You need to crank up the volume.

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ries high. She was protected by the latest, most ingenious safety devices. She was considered unsinkable. On April 10, 1912, she sailed out o f Southampton, England, on her When Things Are maiden voyage to New York. Unfortunately, during the voyage, the crew let down their guard. When the sixth message, “Look out for icebergs,” came in, the Titanic’s operator wired back: “Shut up, I’m busy.” Exacdy 35 min­ utes later the great ship, whose captain had said, “God doing Well himself couldn’t sink this ship,” was sinking. In all, 1,515 passengers and crew were drowned. by Randall K. Hartman Refuse to set your spiritual autopilot on cruise. When 2 Chron. 32 things are going well, you need to remember there is still an enemy at work. INTRO Have you ever gone through a period in your life when II. WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL, YOU NEED TO things seemed to be going along especially well? BE PROACTIVE ( W . 2 -5 ) ILLUS. Soon after my marriage things were going es­ A. Yes, the enemy was threatening, but things were still pecially well. Marriage agreed with me. Soon I would re­ going well for the people of God inside the city. They ceive my college degree. My part-time job paid well. But could have chosen to do nothing. After all, why not wait at three o’clock in the morning on the first Sunday night and see what the enemy will do? Perhaps the enemy just o f April 1976, the phone rang, waking me out o f a deep wanted to dialogue. Perhaps if they ignored them, they sleep. I staggered to the phone and heard my older broth­ would just go away. But they didn’t respond in that fash­ er’s voice. He told me that our younger brother had just ion. As you look at verses 2-5, do you see what they did? been killed in a traffic accident. Suddenly, in the midst of They became proactive. “Proactive” simply means that a wonderful life, all came crashing down. Have you ever they are going to do something to get ready for the ene­ had your life crumble unexpectedly at your feet? my before it is too late. They could wait until the enemy When you read the context of this chapter, you will dis­ stormed the walls of the city and then respond by shoot­ cover that things are going better for them than they ing arrows at them. Instead, they are proactive. They con­ have for many years. But suddenly, out o f nowhere come structively respond before the situation becomes desper­ the words o f verse 1. The kingdom is about to be invad­ ate. In verse 3 Hezekiah held a council o f war to discuss ed. Look out. Here it comes. The rain is beginning to fall what needed to be done. They made a crucial decision re­ on the parade. garding their water supply, repaired crumbling sections of From this story in 2 Chron. 32 w e can learn how to be the wall, and made weapons. When things were going prepared when the storms come. well, they knew they had better be proactive. B. Stephen Covey has a book out called First Things I. WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL, YOU NEED TO First. Covey says we spend too much o f our life dealing REMEMBER THAT THE ENEMY IS STILL AT WORK (V. 1) with things that are urgent but unimportant. “Urgent A. Jerusalem has long had a history o f being at the cen­ junk mail” would fall into this category. People who ter o f the battle. Archaeology tells us that Jerusalem has thrive on the unimportant urgent are the people who been conquered 23 times throughout history. Enemies spend their life putting out fires. According to Covey, it is knew that if they could capture Jerusalem, all of the sur­ far better to spend time working in the area of the impor­ rounding country would be theirs. In spite of this well- tant but not urgent matters of life. This is simply another known fact, with things going well, King Hezekiah could way to say that we ought to be proactive. As we spend have easily let down his guard and reduced the number of time with the not urgent but important matters, we are guards on the city walls. Fortunately, there is no indication spending time on what is really important. We spend that Hezekiah had allowed Jerusalem to be an easy target time feeding our soul. We spend time deepening our spir­ for the enemy. He did not fall into the trap of forgetting itual roots. As we learn to live in the “not urgent,” we will that even in good times the enemy is still at work. find that there are fewer times of “urgency.” That is the B. We, too, need to remember that when things are go­ essence o f being proactive. When things are going well, ing well, the enemy is still at work. It would be easy to w e need to be proactive and refuse to sit by idly until our get caught up in the blessings. As the blessings from God soul is under attack. unfold, it would be easy to drop our guard against our ILLUS. There’s a device called Drive Alert designed to enemy. We might ease up in our prayers. How easy it keep you awake at the wheel of your car. It is a small, would be to turn on the spiritual cruise control. After all, one-ounce device aid that fits over the ear like a hearing things are going so well, we might as w ell kick back and aid. When your head nods, a buzzer sounds, jolting you relax. wide awake from your sleep. People who have trouble We dare not, however, forget that the enemy is still at staying awake as they drive at night ought to rush out work in our lives and church. Satan will try to rain on the and buy such a gadget. That is being proactive. Failure to parade. We dare not let down our guard. do so could result in death or injury. For the time to pur­ ILLUS. The Titanic was 4 city blocks long and 11 sto­ chase the Drive Alert is before you need it.

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When things are going well, refuse to sit back and do the ground, saying, “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. I nothing because the enemy is far from your door. Now, never fall.” while it is not urgent, is the time to work on some o f your When things are going well for us, we must not be­ spiritual weaknesses. Be proactive while things are going come careless and rely upon ourselves. God makes the well, and shore up the walls o f your heart. Now, during difference. the spiritual calm, take away any foothold that Satan may have to get inside o f your heart. While things are go­ CONCLUSION ing well, learn to be proactive. Someday the rain will fall on your parade. Do not be surprised when the storm comes. Instead, be prepared. III. WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL, YOU NEED TO Remember that the enemy is still at work. Be proactive. CONTINUE TO RELY UPON GOD (W . 7-8) Continue to rely upon God. Keep these truths close by for A. Think for a moment about what is going on here in the rainy day that will undoubtedly come. If you do, you this passage. Things are at high tide for the Israelites. will more than survive. You w ill thrive. They have had a revival. They have prospered. God has blessed. But now the rain is starting to fall. Consequently, they gather together and start to be proactive. They plan SUGGESTED WORSHIP ORDER ahead for what might happen. How easy it would be at WE APPROACH THE TIME OF WORSHIP this point to begin to rely on themselves. When things are Prelude...... “Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us” going well, for some reason or another, we start to rely Announcements upon ourselves. We tend to shove God out of the picture. WE BEGIN OUR WORSHIP We rejoice in what has happened; but we have a tenden­ Call to Worship cy to forget that it came from the hand of God. Responsive Reading...... “Courage” This, however, did not happen to the Israelites. King (2 Tim. 1:7-9a; 2:1, 3-4, 11-13, 15) Hezekiah calls them together and reminds them that Opening Prayer whatever is going to happen, they can be strong and WE CELEBRATE OUR WORSHIP courageous because it is God who is with them. It is God Hymns...... “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” upon whom they are relying. They are not relying on “Surely Goodness and Mercy” their plans, although plans are important. They are not WE TALK TO GOD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP depending upon the weapons they have made, although Pastoral Prayer they will need them. Even though they have all o f that WE RESPOND TO WORSHIP going for them, they are still depending upon God. Offering B. Even though things are going well for you, you must Special Song ...... “Haven of Rest” cling to your dependence upon Him. Cling to Him while WE FOCUS OUR WORSHIP your health is still good. Depend upon Him while the Scripture Reading...... 2 Chron. 32:1-8 money from the job allows you to increase your bank ac­ Sermon...... “WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL’ count. While your family relationships are strong, rely WE REFLECT UPON OUR WORSHIP upon Him. Hold on to God even if you are on the moun­ H ym n...... “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” tain o f blessing. Prayer at the Altar When things are going well, we will be tempted to de­ WE CONCLUDE OUR WORSHIP pend upon ourselves and forget that things are going well Benediction because we have trusted God. It is like some athletes who win the Olympic gold medal through years of hard work and training. Once they have the gold medal around their CREATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS neck, they are tempted to relax. No longer do they train Consider having the teens in the church present a brief skit as hard as they once did. showing how quickly disaster can strike in the midst of things Failure to rely upon Him when things are going well going well. If you have few teens, challenge the senior adults can be a fatal spiritual flaw. with this project. ILLUS. A young Frenchman captured the world’s at­ Call to Worship tention by walking a tightrope between the towers of “We have gathered here today from all across our commu­ New York’s World Trade Center. Imagine. There was only nity. Our purpose is to praise the name of our high and holy a thin wire and 1,350 feet of air between himself and cer­ God. Let us begin this joyous task!”

tain death. He performed the feat with nerves o f steel. He B e n e d ic tio n was at the top o f his performance level. A few months lat­ “Rejoice when God blesses you this week and things go er, however, he was practicing on a relatively low wire in well in your life. But when things turn sour, remember the St. Petersburg, Florida. He fell 30 feet and was injured. truths found here in 2 Chron. 32, and you will make it!” As he lay waiting for help, he reportedly beat his fist on

T he P r e a c h e r ’ s M a g a z i n e • J u n e , J u l y , A u g u s t 1999 HIGHPOINT

Sunday Niglit Preaching Resources

here never was a better time than now, never a better place than here. ” With that, Evangelist Norman Moore opened the altar on Sunday night during a revival crusade. I looked around the nearly full sanctuary, observing the impact o f the preacher’s words and the Spirit’s promptings. The aisles were nearly choked with people streaming forward to meet God’s saving, sanctifying grace. “Never. . . a better time . . . never a better place.” Those words rang in my heart and mind, and I thought, “How true!” Indeed, Sunday evenings at your church can be in that same spiritual time zone. Just imagine what God wants to do in terms of spiritual tune-up, restora­ tion, and renewal across your congregation. Now that I no longer stand in the pulpit as a parish pastor, I often look around on Sunday nights at the church I at­ tend. Do you know what I often observe? I frequently see people visibly gripped with the challenge o f decision making. I can almost see the spiritual dialogue go­ ing on within. “Never. . . a better time . . . never a better place. ” Sunday nights offer you special opportunities for delivering God’s message to those whom He has entrusted in your spiritual care. If you believe there never was a better time . . . never a better place, use the sacred task o f proclamation to press for spiritual decision making. Even those messages or sermons that focus on equipping believers often ring with the timbre o f a call to spiritual improve­ ment. May the summer months here in North America prove to be positive months of spiritual improvement for those in your faith communtiy. Central to this possi­ bility, however, is the firm conviction, “There never was a better time than now, never a better place than here. ”

T he P r e a c h e r ’ s M a g a z in e • Ju n e , July, A ug ust 1999 81 ot summer Sunday nights, jective. Look closely and you will long hours of daylight, note numerous verbs, invitations weekends screaming for all to critical thinking, and opportu­ kinds of recreational activi­ nities to extrapolate from scrip­ ty— these are just a few of tural story to everyday life. Hthe challenges of sermon prepa­ Nurturing the people of God is ration for Sunday evening ser­ essential. Those long, warm vices during the summer evenings of summer Sundays can months. For this quarter, June, provide opportunities to enrich July, and August, a 13-week se­ June the spiritual journeys o f the ries on vision seems appropriate. faithful. This is a series that can The people of God who factor help you get ready for autumn regular Sunday night church at­ July ministry emphasis. Each sermon tendance into their weekly lists a biblical background for schedules always deserve our additional reading. Examine it best, but especially so during the carefully; you may find even summer months. With this in more grist for the mill o f prepa­ mind, here is a sermon series on ration. PM vision. You will find this series follows a different format from the usu­ al. Each sermon has three com­ ponents. First comes an intro­ duction that provides background, sidelights, and even suggestions for working with the story or context. A purpose sec­ tion follows, which unpacks the scriptural story in ways that en­ courage the preacher to person­ alize each sermon. Every preach­ DAVID J. FELTER er approaches the biblical story Highpoint Editor differently. Each sermon in this K ansas C ity series allows you to note ele­ ments that deserve attention. They offer opportunity for your personalization. Each sermon ends with an ac­ tion section. Because I have been seriously damaged by multiple higher educational systems, I tend to cast the action section along the lines o f a learning ob­

T he P reacher’s M agazine • Ju n e , July, A ugust 1999 82 HIGHPOINT

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1 1 avid Felter is an ordained nizations. As a former parish I elder in the Church of the pastor, he understands the criti­ / Nazarene. He has served as cal mix of calling, discovery, and | a parish pastor for over 20 fulfillment essential to mission / years. For the last 13 years, fulfillment, and the special chal­ felter has been assigned to the lenge this presents to local itemational Headquarters of churches, clergy, and lay leaders. ie Church of the Nazarene. He As a student of culture, Felter of­ fcesently serves as Adult Min­ ten addresses issues impacting nies director and Continuing the local church inherent in the ay Training/Lay Ministry coor- transition between traditional, Inator within Sunday School modern, and postmodern per­ (inistries Division. spectives. Felter also serves as editor o f Felter is married to Sandy, 1isource magazine and executive with whom he lives in Overland ditor o f SSM Division. As a Park, Kansas, and is a member o f lember o f the WordAction lead- for College Church of the Nazarene rship group, he serves on the in Olathe, Kansas. The Felters dult Sunday School curriculum have two married sons and four itorial team as well as training granddaughters. He enjoys mo­ firector for WordAction Publish- torcycling and ham radio. PM «• As a writer, Felter contributes jularly to the Preacher’s Maga- te as the editor of the High- t int Sunday Evening Preaching sources. He is actively in­ volved in script writing, educa­ ttional consulting, and leadership Jaining. He is the author o f In !'arch of Eden: Understanding e w Age Thought, published by Jacon Hill Press o f Kansas City. Felter holds a B.A. from artlesville Wesleyan College, an DAVID J. FELTER I A. from Southern Nazarene hiversity, and an M.S. from In- iana University in Bloomington, fhile at Indiana, he completed 1! course work for the Ph.D. in dult education. . David has made numerous Fesentations on the skills essen- fcl to recruiting, training, and pe ople in volun teer org a-pcing ]people in volunteer orga-pcing

T he Preacher’s M agazine • June, July, A ugust 1999 83 W eek 1 • Examine personal vision, checking its focus to see if it embodies more than personal agenda. • Inspect your spiritual horizon. Is there evidence of the relief outlines o f God’s call and vision for your life? • Determine your own progress in fulfilling the vision God has given you.

Theme: Origins o f Vision Scripture: Gen. 13:1-15 Text: Gen. 13:14-15 Introduction: a. Most congregations think in terms o f mission state­ ments that describe purpose and objective. b. Vision statements frequently provide tangible ele­ ments that give feedback for ascertaining levels of progress toward missional achievement. c. Vision translates the complexity of goals and objec­ tives into the everyday language of ordinary people. d. Prov. 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people per­ ish” ( kjv). The NRSV translates the verse this way: “Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off re­ straint.” The prophetic word is the vision statement that provides clear-cut directions that the people can take on their corporate journey toward formation as the people of God. Purpose: To examine the needs that give rise to vision, using the story o f Abram and Lot. 1. The journey toward a vision requires worshipful obe­ dience. V 4 2. Even the best vision often requires modification. V 6 3. No vision ever comes with its authority unchallenged. V 7 4. The vision is malleable; one may “cho[o]se for him­ self.” V 11 5. The vision God calls us to see is not always discernible at first glance. Vv. 14-15 6. The divine vision requires response. Vv. 17-18 Action: • Respond in dedication and consecration as preparation for obedience. • Surrender every vision to the necessary modifications. • Submit every vision to God’s authority. W eek 2 • What steps can be taken to explore and tap divine sources needed for response to fresh vision?

Theme: Impact o f Vision Scripture: Dan. 10:1-20 Text: Dan. 10:7 Introduction: a. One o f the finest features o f community is its capacity to blend individual interests and needs into a mosaic that blesses every member. In other words, when the tide comes in, all the boats float. b. We believe our vision and mission must be shared vi­ sion and shared mission. c. Who initiates the vision process? Does the vision begin with one person who then articulates its dimensions, scope, and sequence? d. What does a person do with a vision? Purpose: To examine the personal impact of vision. 1. Vision is often preceded by spiritual preparation. Vv. 2-3 2. Vision is not always readily or immediately perceived by those around us. V 7 3. Vision may represent a significant change, even to the point of unsettling the status quo. Vv. 8-9 4. Vision may require new understandings and insights that can be gained only through in-depth devotion and encounter with the wisdom o f God. Vv. 11-12 5. Vision may bring intensifying awareness of one’s own inner spiritual need. Vv. 15-17 (cf. Isa. 6:1-7) 6. Vision brings potential for added capacity through in­ creased dependence on God. Vv. 18-19 Action: • Is fresh vision needed? • What spiritual preparations need to be taken? • What needs to be done to facilitate broader acceptance and embracing of vision? • What elements of the status quo are challenged by fresh vision? W eek 3 first initialized, whether it is a modem in the computer or a local network. Are you enjoying a level of person­ al spiritual experience that will empower your efforts to initialize your vision? Perhaps your vision has been challenged. What have you learned from those challenges that might help as you restart your vision?

Theme: Opening to Vision Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-23 Text: 2 Kings 6:17 Introduction: a. What do w e see? b. Sometimes w e see what we don’t believe; other times we believe but can’t see. c. Two stories in this chapter help us see how important it is to be open to new, fresh vision. d. The first story is about seeing what seems impossible. The second is about believing what cannot be seen. e. In both stories, vision occurs because God intervenes through the actions of His prophet. Purpose: To discover ways we can open up to fresh vi­ sion. 1. Without an action response, a vision remains a dream. V 1 2. Response to the inherent potential o f a vision requires organization and mobilization. V 2 3. Initializing vision fulfillment often requires the pres­ ence o f those who possessed the initial vision as well as those whose personal spirituality can empower the required response. V 3 4. No vision is ever achieved without apparent setback. Every vision is challenged. V 5 5. Every challenge to vision is but an opportunity for God to intervene with His majesty, splendor, and pow­ er. Vv. 6-7 Action: • List potential actions that need to be taken in order to make your vision more than a dream or wish list. • Identify the steps necessary to give your vision the or­ ganization it deserves in order to mobilize it for your life. • In order to access the Internet, a connection must be W eek 4 6. Any vision that does not lead toward encounter with God w ill in the end prove less than satisfactory. Action: • Review your personal vision for accuracy and confor­ mity to biblical principles. • Review your personal spirituality, testing for complete­ ness o f surrender and consecration. Theme: Resolving the Challenge Through Vision • List any so-called conflict with God you might have had, and see whether there is the remnant of confu­ Scripture: Job 42:1-5 sion or disagreement over His response or unfolding Text: Job 42:5 will for your life. Introduction: • Test your personal vision to see whether it is flexible a. Job had a dispute with God. It was one that is not un­ and dynamic enough for exposure to the sovereign will known today. How do w e explain what appear to be o f God. If your vision has been rigid and unbending, contradictions to biblical promises made to faithful be­ what will you do if your encounter with God reveals a lievers? course of action for which He offers no immediate ex­ b. What do w e do when we realize that our vision has planation? been flawed by assumptions that do not bear up under • In what ways is your personal vision preparing you for the scrutiny and testing o f tough realities? encounter with God? c. To whom do we turn when every facet o f our personal spirituality is called into question? d. Are there safeguards that we can employ to keep us from investing personal vision with inappropriate ex­ pectations? Purpose: To learn how to cast personal vision from bib­ lically sound perspectives. 1. Personal vision must be created from biblically sound ingredients. It must conform to biblical understand­ ings o f God, His will, and our relationship to the di­ vine purpose. 2. Personal vision must subordinate personal rights to di­ vine rights. God has a prior claim upon us. 3. Personal vision must consider the immutable right o f God to do whatever He desires to do, not because we understand or comprehend, but because He alone is Sovereign. 4. Personal vision must be considered in light of our lim­ ited understanding o f God’s overarching purpose and, therefore, must be dynamic in order to accommodate any progressive revelation o f that purpose and plan. 5. Personal spiritual experience can bring one to an en­ counter with God. Such encounter transcends mere theo­ ries about God by allowing one to be addressed by Him. W eek 5 through God’s eyes; with God’s voice he had spoken of both judgment and hope. Now a whole nation of Joels is envisaged. Every sector o f its society, young and old, male and female, slave and free, would share a proph­ et’s understanding of God.”2 Action: • The King James Version translates Prov. 29:18, “Where Theme: The Holy Spirit and Vision there is no vision, the people perish.” Since vision is a by-product o f the Spirit’s presence in one’s life, gauge Scripture: Joel 2:25-29 the intensity of the Spirit’s presence in your own life by Text: Joel 2:28 the fervor o f your vision. Introduction: • Is the primary element of inspiration in your life wor­ a. Living by the dimensions of personal vision should thy o f being called vision? Does it qualify to be called prompt the believer to ensure the quality o f his or her vision? relationship with God. • Vision can be rendered inoperative at worst and dys­ b. The perspective of the prophet here is one of “perfect functional at best if it misunderstands the linkage be­ relationship between God and his people.”1 tween truth and speculation. Biblical vision does not c. Vision is really about perspective transformation, and stumble at God’s promises, nor does it neglect the les­ without perfect relation to God, any vision will have sons learned from the past. Is your vision personal its aim too low. speculation, bound together with a few proof texts, d. The gift o f the Holy Spirit is God’s provision for our lacking roots into the length and breadth o f God’s rev­ cleansing, equipping, and empowering. elatory witness? e. Even though personal vision often incorporates indi­ • Does your vision increase the level o f connectivity be­ vidual idiosyncrasies, two facts remain clear. First, all tween you and your faith community? vision proceeds from the Spirit. Second, no vision ever isolates the believer from the faith community. 1. G. J. Wenham, J. A. Motyer, D. A. Carson, and R. T. France, New Bible Commentary (Leicester, England: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 789. Purpose: To understand personal vision as the gift of 2. Ibid. the Spirit. 1. Vision comes as the by-product o f the Spirit’s presence in our lives. 2. The element of inspiration in one’s life rises to the lev­ el of vision only as it is engendered, animated, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 3. Vision is both reflective as well as anticipatory. In other words, both the past as well as the future intersect with the present. 4. Vision is never severed from factual reality, nor is it linked to fanciful speculation. Rather, vision is rooted in truth that engages both history as well as promise. (Read all of chapter 2 in order to gain insight into this important truth.) 5. Vision is for the whole faith community. “Only one person, the prophet Joel, had seen the situation W eek 6 tered down by immersion into streams of popular cul­ ture. 4. In a postmodern culture, there is always the danger that we w ill be tempted to deconstruct the gospel. While some may lay claim to “Black theology,” or “feminist theology,” or whatever group-specific label may be attached, there is only one Word, the Lord Je­ sus Christ. Theme: Christ-centered Vision in a Postmodern Era 5. In a postmodern culture, there is always the danger Scripture: Acts 7:54— 8:1 that we will reduce the gospel to emotionalism and fa­ Text: Acts 7:55 naticism. Bill Crouse argues, “Experience and feeling Introduction: are important, but the postmodern emphasis is to a. This passage is more clearly understood from the com­ abandon truth and doctrine” (from a public address). mentators’ notes: “Stephen was granted a vision 6. Leith Anderson writes, “We have a generation that is which, like the opening of heaven and voice o f God at less interested in cerebral arguments, linear thinking, Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration, was not only theological systems, and more interested in encounter­ meant to give him courage for the task ahead, but was ing the supernatural. Consequently, churchgoers oper­ also God’s endorsement of the crucial change that was ate with a different paradigm of spirituality. The old taking place.”* paradigm taught that if you have the right teaching, b. Central to our perspective on biblical vision is the un­ you will experience God. The new paradigm says that derstanding that God gives us fresh vision so that we if you experience God, you will have the right teach­ can envision the change He wants to effect. ing” (A Church fo r the Twenty-first Century, 20-21). c. A vision of humankind’s relating to God in any way Action: other than the sacrificial system was totally foreign to • Are we learning how to communicate the Christian the people o f Israel o f Stephen’s day. Yet this vision o f faith in a postmodern world? Identify ways in which God’s glory in heaven and Jesus standing at God’s you can bear witness “in deed and in truth” (1 John right hand clearly signaled change. To this radical 3:18, k j v ). change, God was sending His endorsement via the vi­ • One’s personal vision of Jesus may not include all the sion He gave dying Stephen. so-called supernatural bells and whistles, but it should d. While Stephen was the first Christian martyr, he is al­ be clear enough that the truth upon which your life is so the first layperson to confirm the apostolic message built is rooted in Him. that God has initiated a radical change, and that from • While postmoderns prefer story and narrative to prepo­ now on, humankind can come to God only through sitional, logically linear statements of faith, you can His Son, Jesus Christ. share the story o f Jesus in your life and trust the Holy Purpose: Spirit to communicate the truth to their hearts. 1. We are in what many are calling the postmodern era. * New Bible Commentary (Downers Grove, 111.: InterVarsity Press, 1994), To say that crucial changes are taking place may be an 1078. understatement. But not all these changes are good. 2. The centrality o f Christ in our proclamation and w it­ ness must never be abandoned, even though many postmoderns reject the claims o f Christianity simply because we claim they are true. 3. The vision of the church must never be diluted or wa­ W eek 7 The nearest shelter that could be found happened to • For Peter, his tradition, built on Scrip­ be under the Cherokee. Now the good news in the sto­ ture, had become a symbolic order o f ry is that the hunters got their hole in the ice! which he was a part. It functioned simi­ e. This story represents a postmodern methodology quite larly to ritual. Cornelius and Peter were nicely. Notice how the story does not automatically separated by a gulf that Peter could not identify a core theme; rather, it explores every facet see. and nuance, not linearly, but circuitously. • In what ways could you link your per­ f. Postmodern thinkers prefer to tell a story rather than sonal story to God’s story (Scripture) in Theme: Replacing Old Visions seek for logical precision. Using their own methodolo­ order to communicate tmth to a post­ Scripture: Acts 10:1-17, 34-43 gy, let’s look again at our biblical story. modern seeker? Text: Acts 10:3, 11, 17 and 34 Purpose: • How do you use your story to communi­ Introduction: 1. Cornelius may represent the postmodern in that, with­ cate tmth about God and Christ to your a. Just for fun, let’s suppose that Cornelius represents a out too much of a stretch (remember, w e’re just hav­ world? postmodern seeker. He is disillusioned with the cultur­ ing fun!) the following elements, which might be gen­ • What are some o f the traditions that al messages he’s been hearing. He has turned to em­ eralized from reflecting on his story, are present in our God has shattered along the way that brace a quest for spirituality, but lacks clear-cut infor­ culture today: make it possible for you to agree with mation that can reliably lead him to truth. a. The focus is on the existential moment. Peter’s assessment of God’s working in b. Let’s suppose that Peter represents the Church at­ b. If there is an acknowledgment o f history, it is rela- His world? tempting to discover its way in a changing environ­ tivistic. Perspective is more important than fact, ment. It simultaneously clings to the truth it has dis­ and context is more important than interpretation. covered in the past, yet it yearns to effectively bridge c. There is a hunger for community because humans are the gap between it and the people it is attempting to an extension of culture. They are socially determined. attract. 2. Peter represents the Church, which has its roots in c. Just for fun, let’s use the stories in this passage to lead premodem constructs. us to insight that might help us in our attempts to at­ a. Tmth is revealed, and it is not only true for the tract our generation. Community but also true for all people, in all d. If this seems an unusual method, consider the story of places, in all time. the duck hunters: b. There is a universe, and we are part of that uni­ Two would-be duck hunters headed o ff in a new verse. Individualism, even its stories that carry Cherokee four-wheel drive with a dog, a gun, and a claims of authenticity, cannot be trusted unless it stick o f dynamite. The idea was to blow a hole in the conforms to the tmth, which can be known and ice with the dynamite, wait for the ducks to land on tested. the water, and then shoot them. So, after the Chero­ c. While the spiritual journeys of others may be ap­ kee was parked on the solid ice, the ignited dynamite preciated, diversity is a sign of God’s endless pow­ was tossed some 50 feet away. As soon as this hap­ er, not the need for many perspectives. pened, the hunting dog’s true nature became evident. Action: Something thrown was something to be retrieved. It • Spiritual hunger is a characteristic of our age. While it dashed o ff after the dynamite. Now the first thing that may sound like preaching to the choir, the Church a dog with a catch does is return to its owners. So, dy­ must always resist the temptation to make its message namite in jaws, it headed back to its owners. Seeing politically correct by indulging prevailing trends ac­ disaster about to unfold, the dog’s owner took out his companying postmodernism. shotgun and started firing at the dog, which thought • On the other hand, the Church must recognize the ne­ its owner had lost his mind. The dog, observing that it cessity to be willing to let God shatter some of its pre­ has assumed the status of a duck, heads for shelter. vailing assumptions, just as He did to the apostle Peter. W eek 8 God often embeds the details with special revelations of His purpose, power, and provision. Action: • What are the compelling forces in your life? List the primary elements of your life that truly motivate you to action. • The level of commitment we endow our vision is in di­ Theme: When Vision Is Accompanied by Trouble rect relationship to how compelling the vision is upon our everyday life. Scripture: Acts 16 • If your vision is not as compelling as it once might Text: Acts 16:9 have been, review it, checking for changes that might Introduction: have occurred over time that have diminished it. a. The Bible background for this sermon reflects a period • Review the passage again. Look for ways to identify of relative tranquillity during which the emerging God’s purpose, power, and provision in your life as you Christian Church experienced stabilization, growth, review your own response to the vision He gave you. and a time o f spiritual deepening. b. While there is opposition, it primarily focuses on the leaders. They sense the restrictive direction o f the Holy Spirit, guiding them in their preaching mission travels. c. This awareness culminates in a mission-oriented vi­ sion, appealing for the apostolic team to travel into Macedonia to preach the gospel there. d. Paul, being the spiritually sensitive man that he was, immediately endeavors to respond. What transpires is rich in illustrative and inspirational metaphors. e. One central theme that plays out in the stories of chapter 16 is this: Pursuing a vision often entails a va­ riety o f challenges. Unless the vision is pursued, how­ ever, both challenge and blessing will be missed. Purpose: 1. Pursuing a vision requires considerable commitment. One must believe in the legitimacy of the vision, or it will never become a compelling force producing the potential results inherent in the original vision. 2. God’s call must be met with willing obedience, even if He subsequently does not remove the obstacles that may impede our progress. 3. When there is commitment to action, God arranges the contingencies of life in such a way as to provide for our needs, comfort, and security. 4. While we tend to focus on the accomplishment of the vision, enduring the details as only means to an end, W eek 9 b. Is that which I have heard with my spiritual ears profound enough to sustain my commitment and in­ volvement? c. Is the response I am being challenged to give cre­ ative enough to sustain my interest and activity? d. Is the action I am prepared to take larger than my own capacity? e. Is the mission described by this vision important Theme: Implementing and Aligning Vision enough to demand my sacrifice? Scripture: Acts 26:12-23 Aligning vision is another crucial element. Paul under­ Text: Acts 26:19 stood this and elaborates both his faithful commitment Introduction: to the achievement of his vision-rich mission and the a. The conversion story o f Paul is remarkable. It is the faithfulness o f God in sustaining and supporting him in watershed story of the New Testament having to do his response. (See w . 19, 22.) with our conviction that conversion can be instanta­ neous, transforming, and dramatic. b. As a substantiating statement to the theme of this se­ ries of sermons, it also reminds us of the practical ele­ ments of vision. c. Examination of Paul’s life and ministry reveals a sys­ tematic and intentional response that involved him at every level of his being. Purpose: 1. Saul did not anticipate his vision of Jesus while he was on the road to Damascus. He was in the pursuit of his mission to persecute and block the continued proclamation of Jesus as Messiah when the vision oc­ curred. 2. It may seem obvious: vision involves seeing something or someone. V 13 3. Vision involves listening. V 14 4. Vision involves response. V 15 5. Vision involves action. V 16 6. Vision focuses on mission. V 16b 7. Vision commands faithfulness. V 19 Action: • There are two critical elements to effective vision: Im­ plementation and Alignment. • Implementing vision consists of the elements listed above. a. Is that which is in the field of my spiritual eyesight a compelling force for change, new direction, and so on? W eek 10 c. Passion is revived. As the fire boils water and kin­ dles brushwood, so the fire of God ignites the dy­ ing ashes of passion. 5. Without revival, our vision is in danger o f being set aside, neglected, even replaced. The compelling at­ traction of our vision fades, no longer evoking our sac­ rifice and obedience.

Theme: When Vision Fades Action: • The remedy for fading vision is illustrated by the Scripture: Isa. 64 writer’s use o f the potter metaphor. Text: Isa. 64:6b a. Our vision is not the product o f our own genius. It Introduction: is born o f God, animated, energized, and empow­ a. As always, Isaiah offers fertile ground for exploring ered by the Holy Spirit. the sacred concepts of vision, obedience, and devo­ b. Like the pottery created by the potter, it remains the tion. product and possession o f the potter. He is free to b. But even the most devout commitment to vision is of­ reshape its design, to alter its purpose. ten tempered by times of doubt, difficulty, or even fail­ c. Our vision must be maintained by our dependence ure. upon God. c. What do w e do when it seems as if God has left us to • The vision must never become an idol. our own devices? What do we do when, in the secret a. There is an illustration from the world of postmod­ chambers of our hearts, we grieve over God’s seeming ern literature that provides interesting insight into indifference to our problems and troubles? this problem. d. Worse yet, what do we do when our failures threaten b. The French thinker Jean Luc Marion points out the to extinguish the flame o f vision, replacing it with cold difference between an idol and an icon: “The idol ashes, reminding us of what might have been? consigns the divine to the measure o f a human gaze. The icon appears only when it is overlooked. Purpose: It is like seeing in the dark. Looking directly at the 1. A failure to recognize the awesome sovereignty of God object one is trying to comprehend is much less may reduce our perception o f His being to that of a useful than looking beyond it. In the dark we see cosmic servant. better with peripheral vision.” 2. God’s love and compassion are enduring and stead­ c. It is often in the darkness that we see better. It is fast. His integrity cannot be challenged, however, nor then that we learn not to trust the vision but God, can His purpose be redirected according to the who informs and infuses our vision with His grace. achievement o f personal aims. 3. God may seem indifferent, even absent from our lives, but it is not because He is capricious or changeable. 4. Devotion will be tested. Sometimes the only remedy for flagging devotion or creeping discouragement is revival. What is revival? Note the description given in the first four verses o f chapter 64: a. Heaven opens and humankind encounters the awe­ some God! b. The mountains quake. What seems impenetrable, im­ possible, immovable, suddenly appears insignificant. W eek 11 wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual” (v. 13, n r s v ) . 4. In the realm o f the educator, metacognition is recog­ nized as the level at which executive functioning oc­ curs. Living from vision introduces something far more powerful than our typical human response of thinking and behaving. Paul states it this way: “Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they them­ Theme: Living from Vision selves are subject to no one else’s scrutiny” (v. 15, Scripture: 1 Cor. 2:6-16 n r s v ) . Text: 1 Cor. 2:14 Action: Introduction: • We live by four very important elements: facts, con­ a. Paul provides a fascinating discussion regarding the cepts, principles, and procedures. Even our inner perspective from which one lives. He speaks of the vision cannot escape these. But the way we orient our­ “wisdom of this age” and the “rulers of this age,” both selves to these elements characterizes us as living ac­ of whom, he says, are “doomed to perish” (v. 6, n r s v ) . cording to either the natural realm or the realm o f the b. Vision is a revelation, perceived in the mind as well as Holy Spirit. the heart, and mediated by the living Spirit of God. a. Review the facts by which you live. Are these facts c. In this discussion, Paul references the “human spirit” derived from or enriched by God’s revelation of (v . 11, n r s v ) as w ell as the “Holy Spirit” ( w . 13-14, himself as mediated through Scripture, worship, t l b ) . The contrast between these cannot be missed. He prayer, and fellowship? states, “For what human being knows what is truly hu­ b. Review the concepts that undergird your life. Liv­ man except the human spirit that is within? So also no ing from vision may disrupt concepts that are based one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit on definitions or systems that exclude God or give o f God” (v . 11, n r s v ) . Him only token acknowledgment. d. Clearly vision is something that any person can experi­ c. Review the principles that govern your values. ence. The issue at hand, however, concerns both the Principles are frequently rules that guide action or origin as w ell as the source of animation of that vi­ explain change. The presence of related rules often sion. combines to form rule systems. Living from vision Purpose: means accepting the rule of the Spirit as the source 1. Terry O’Connor o f Indiana State University suggests, and basis for one’s principles for living. “People rely on personally constructed filters to orient d. Review the procedures that automate your life. A their relationships toward the world.”1 procedure may be loosely defined as knowing how 2. Paul speaks of orienting oneself to the world through to proceed in specific situations. Living from vision a different filter than those usually associated with means allowing the Spirit to shape your behavior. this phenomenon. The typical filters are age, experi­ This means storing the knowledge and wisdom of ence, internal psychodynamics, maturity, cognition, the Spirit in your life by accessing all the means of physiology, biochemistry, and so forth. O’Connor goes grace whenever possible. on to state the summary o f conventional wisdom: “In 1. Terry O’Connor, “Using Learning Styles to Adapt Technology for Higher a very real sense, we create our own personal point o f Education” (paper posted on the web site: view.”2 < http://web.indstate.edu/ctl/styles/leaming.html> ). 3. Living from vision is described by Paul this way: “We 2. Ibid. speak o f these things in words not taught by human tice. * Without this enhancement, his vision may never have achieved all that it did. Action: • When we buy software for our computers, we realize that eventually an upgrade will come along, and we will have to purchase it in order to enhance our capa­ bility. We frequently upgrade memory, hard drive size, Theme: Enhancing Vision and speed of the CPU. • Every vision can be enhanced. Bill Hybels has popular­ Scripture: 1 Kings 3:3-9 ized the concept o f servanthood through his under­ Text: 1 Kings 3:9 standing that the way up is often down. Vision en­ Introduction: hancement is never for selfish reasons, but to extend a. Solomon knew that if he were to succeed as king o f Is­ capacity and capability, all for the glory o f God. rael, it would take more than shrewdness to accom­ • Why would judgment and justice be two elements that plish his task or to reach his goals. would enhance Solomon’s vision? b. Solomon’s vision was far-reaching in its scope and re­ • Judgment speaks of knowledge, discernment, and un­ sponsibility. Neighboring kings might rely on shrewd­ derstanding. In what ways would you like God to in­ ness and cunning, but he must be better equipped crease your knowledge, discernment, or understand­ than this for his assignment. ing? c. Great vision has often been lost or forfeited because • Justice speaks of fairness. It goes without saying that its holder trusted in personal skills, charisma, and wis­ fairness is important. How would the issue o f fairness dom rather than seeking God’s endowment. intersect your personal vision? d. Nowhere in Scripture is there any indication that Solo­ mon lacked self-confidence. Indeed, he is to be com­ *Wenham et al., New Bible Commentary, 342. mended for recognizing that even one graced with such skill and blessing as he, could benefit from the additional dimension that only God could give to his leadership. Purpose: 1. God is prepared to enhance one’s personal vision through the gifts and graces He adds in response to our prayer and petition. 2. Solomon knew that he was God’s servant assigned to lead God’s people. He understood his role as that of steward. Great personal vision always leads its holder to recognize this important concept. 3. Great vision implies significant responsibility. By seek­ ing in humility and submission the beneficence of God, the vision holder may receive those extraordi­ nary blessings that give vision the extra dimension so essential to achieving one’s calling or mission. 4. For Solomon, there were two added elements that if present, would enhance his vision: judgment and jus­ U l VjJ W E E K 1 3 3. As mentioned above, these elements need to be seen as an unholy and inextricably linked trinity. Skepti­ cism leads to resistance. Resistance is fueled by pride and spiritual arrogance. Resistance begins when hu­ mility is exchanged for unreasonable self-reliance. Re­ sistance is bom when the cold winds of skepticism tar­ get the flame of faith. 4. Open opposition follows resistance. Jesus understood Theme: Lost Vision the tragedy that was about to befall His people, but Scripture: Matt. 16:1-4 they were clueless. He likened them to people who Text: Matt. 16:3 could forecast the weather by watching the signs in Introduction: the skies, but were ignorant of the signs of the times. a. According to some Bible scholars, the passage forming 5. Opposition to God never begins without first being our text may have not appeared in the original docu­ triggered by skepticism. It is always followed by resis­ ment. Rather, it may have been added later, taken tance and then unfolds in open opposition. from Luke 12:54-56.1 prefer to believe it is reliable. Action: b. There are three threads running through both Luke • Losing the vision is a terrible thing. No, it is worse— it and Matthew’s account of this confrontation. is a tragedy! W hy are so many believers living in spiri­ c. The first is skepticism. That the Pharisees and Sad- tual blindness? Are they not aware of their blindness, ducees would jointly come to Jesus to put Him to the or is it the result of slow, systematic loss of vision, until test is remarkable. In the U.S.A., one might describe now they are blind but unable to do anything about it? this as a bipartisan effort to discredit Jesus by provid­ • Reality checks are always good for the soul. Check to ing a litmus test designed to fail the Master. see if there is any area of skepticism that you have per­ d. The second thread is resistance. Sincere skepticism mitted in your life. Test your faith to see if there is any might be forgiven. Even Scripture admonishes, “Test area of your spiritual experience where the tmst and everything” (1 Thess. 5:21). Resisting goes one step certainty you once held has been replaced by “soft” beyond a sincere desire to know the truth by investi­ skepticism. gating and corroborating the evidence. • Resistance is good in the face of oppression. But in the e. The third thread is opposition. The response of the case of Christian experience, no resistance to God’s crowds was enthusiastic. W hy would the religious will, plan, or purpose can be tolerated in the life of the leaders succumb to an attitude of opposition? believer. Check for any area of resistance in your life. Purpose: • What more can be said about opposition to God? It 1. In this narrative, by examining the words of Jesus and may be underground today; tomorrow it will come the description provided by the writer, we are able to out. Beware of the associations it may seek to forge. It extrapolate from the attitude and behaviors of Jesus’ may surprise you! skeptics to a very real and potential danger for us to­ day. 2. Vision may be lost by indulging a spirit of skepticism. Doubt is our worst enemy. Many have been entrusted with great vision. They have been motivated by its scope. Over time, however, the vision has faded and is in danger of being lost because the first element of this tril­ ogy was permitted to gain a foothold in their thinking. Defining Light T he Search for C larity Begins w ith C hrist

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