Sermons

Who Am I? Whose Am I?

16 Sep , 2016  

Sermon for Maltby Congregational Church

May 28, 2000

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face   (Matthew 6:13-17)

Jesus Asks His Disciples

Jesus asked his disciples “Who am I?” They answered various things, until Peter nailed it, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”

Men and women live their lives with the same question, “Who am I?”

  • “What are you going to be when you grow up, Mary?”
  • “When I graduate from high school, should I work for a while or go on to college?”
  • “I’ve been working in this field for 20 years. Is there enough future here, or should I retrain for another field?’
  • “The children are grown and gone, and I can make some changes in my life. What should I do?”
  • “Now that I’m retired and have more time, what I am I going to do with it?”

While usually phrased in terms of what we do, these questions usually mean, “Who am I?”

The Seattle Phone Book lists about 300 Psychiatrists and about 350 Psychologists. These practitioners have perhaps 25 clients a week—over 16,000 people who are basically asking, “Who am I?”

Whose Are We?

While this is a basic question, I submit it is not foundational. Actually, who we are is based upon WHOSE we are.

photo-1473294312123-83488e2f8e8fWhen I was ordained, one of the ministers in a neighboring church gave me an owl. He said that I was to always listen to the question the owl was asking me, “Whose, whose, whose?” In response I should always question whose I was, whose voice I was listening to and whose demands I followed.

Peter was impetuous. He embraced Jesus as his teacher and became one of the Disciples. His wholehearted commitment placed him at the center of Jesus’ ministry. He tried to argue with Jesus about Jesus death, and was chastised for it. Peter stoutly affirmed his loyalty, but he was the one who publicly denied his Lord. Peter and John raced to the tomb. John beat Peter there, yet it was Peter who had the temerity to be the first one inside. It was Peter whom when he saw his resurrected Messiah on the shore, jumped naked into the water and swam to him.

So when Jesus asked, “Who am I?” Peter blurted out not only the right answer, but the whole answer. He not only stated who Jesus was, “Thou art the Christ…”, but also stated WHOSE Jesus was, “…the Son of the living God.”.

Self vs. Others

The “Who am I?” question is really self-centered. It focuses us in on ourselves, out talents, our feelings, our needs, our goals. The problem with that is that we live in a world of others. Those around us have feelings, needs and goals too. We live in a spiritual world as well—whether we recognize it or not.

The better question, “Whose am I?”, focuses us on the people around us and on God. It allows us to see ourselves in community. We can work out how we fit in. When we include God in this question, we tap into His inexhaustible resources for discovering who we are in this world and in His.

So let’s get beyond the question of who, and investigate WHOSE. To whom do we belong.

While there are myriad possible answers to, “Whose”, I propose three categories. Each of us can belong to self, each of us can belong to other people, or we can belong to God or Satan.

I suppose belonging to self is most appealing to people generally. I also claim that it is ultimately self-destructive. While belonging to other people is in some sense better, it is still very limiting. It is temporal and temporary. We have a sense of wholeness only so long as others live or so long as they are satisfied with us.

We Can Belong to God

Belonging spiritually means we have two choices. Because of the world into which we all have been born, we belong to Satan by default. It is only through God’s action and our choice that we can belong to God.

Jesus’ death on the cross had several purposes. He paid the penalty for our sin. He showed us the way to the Father. And He purchased or redeemed us from Satan. Thus, once we surrender to God and ask Jesus to become our Lord and Saviour, we are cleansed from our sin, justified in God’s eyes, purchased as bond slaves from Satan, adopted into God’s family, and given eternal life.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (Romans 8:14)

Because we are children of God, we belong to Him. We are joint heirs with Christ. We share his inheritance. We can do all that He could do—that is, if we believe Jesus.

He that believes on me the works I do he will also do; and greater works than these will he do. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do for you, so that I will glorify the Father.”   (John 14:12, 13)

We Share in God’s Kingdom

We also share His priesthood. Peter in his first Epistle tells us in 2:9, “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” So we are kings and queens and priests of Almighty God. We hold exalted places in this world and the next.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;    (I Peter 2:9)

I Belong to God

So the best possible answer to the foundational question, “Whose are you?”, is, “I belong to God and he has made me His child. As a result I am a prince or princess of Almighty God.” Because we belong to God we have all the rights and privileges thereto appertaining.

In addition we have duties and responsibilities as children of God.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.   (2 Peter 1:5-8)

Live diligently—really working at it, instead of drifting with the tide.

Be diligent in faith—seeking actively to increase your faith; to believe God is greater than you think He is. Expect more of God. Understand you are His child and a joint heir with Jesus. Trust He will do more with you and through you.

Be diligent in virtue—stay honest before God asking Him to guide you into living righteously. Ask Him to cleanse your life of anything that displeases Him.

Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.   (Psalm 139:23, 24)

Be diligent in knowledge—learn more about God. Study the Bible daily. Test the things you read by trying to live them.

Be diligent in temperance—learn where you tend to stray from God’s way. Control you temper, your diet, your tongue,

Be diligent in patience—become aware that, since you belong to God, He is in charge of your time. You don’t have to fret.

They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.  (Isaiah 40:31)

Be diligent in godliness—learn to emulate God in kindness and undeserved love and loving generosity.

Be diligent in brotherly kindness—look for opportunities to do good deeds for one another, grant unmerited gifts.

Be diligent in love—love is not a “special way of feeling. Love is a choice. Love is the most difficult of God’s virtues, because there may be no reward. The majority of the world does not love Him and does not respond. Yet loving the unworthy is the way of victory and the way to God’s own heart. We can begin to understand why love is at the end of this chain of growth.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.   (John 3:16)

Doctrine of Christ

As the Letter to the Hebrews tells us in Chapter 6 there are foundational principles of the doctrine of Christ.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting,we will do so.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.   (Hebrews 6:1-12)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.   (Hebrews 6:13-20)

Understanding these, incorporating them into our lives and growing beyond them toward perfection is the mark of belonging to God.

These foundational principles are:

  • Repentance from Dead Works—stop believing that we can do something to earn God’s love.  Instead live godly lives, doing good works in thanksgiving for all that God has done for us and to bless those around us.
  • Doctrine of Baptisms—know what baptism means and knowing about the two baptisms God provides.
  • Laying on of Hands—knowing that God acts through us when in faith we place our hands on another and pray for various blessings.
  • Resurrection of the Dead—knowing that all who die in Christ will be raised together at the last day.
  • Eternal Judgment—Knowing that all will be called before God to answer for their lives and what choice they made about Jesus.  Understanding that ALL who do not live perfect lives or have embraced Jesus as Lord and Savior are to be eternally separated from God – eternally separated from love and blessing.

Children of God

As children of God we are called to grow in Christ.  Never be satisfied with milk and pabulum, but earnestly seek to understand meaty issues of Christian doctrine and Christian life.

We demonstrate to the world WHOSE we are by our lives. Living in a way that blends into society communicates that we belong to society. Living in a way that satisfies our own needs and desires communicates that we belong to ourselves. However, living godly lives in opposition to society and in opposition to ourselves communicators that we are not only bond slaves to Christ, but also children of God and heirs to Christ’s Kingdom. It is likely we won’t fit in. It is likely the world will hate us. But this is a small price to pay for an eternity of blessedness.

When you look into the mirror at the end of the day, look into your own eyes and ask, “Whose were you today?”

Let Us Pray

We are here, Jesus, because we know you are God. We we need you. Show each one of us when we are living as if we belong to you. Show us when we are living as if we belonged to another.

Holy Spirit, guide us into the way of righteousness. Make our lives reflect Jesus so much that people will come to us and say, “Please show me the way to Jesus.”

Now the God of Grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Amen

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Sermons

Live with Faith in Jesus

18 Aug , 2016  

Jesus IS the Messiah

  Matthew 16:13-28

But he turned, and said to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art and offence to me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”   Matthew 16:23

“Hey, Jesus! Cut him some slack.” Peter understands. He gets it–Jesus IS the Messiah, and more. He is born of God, the Son of God. Jesus has been calling himself the “Son of man”, but that’s just to identify himself with other men. Peter has discovered that a man or woman must see beyond his manhood, to fully know Jesus.

When Peter confessed his understanding and proclaimed this truth, Jesus blessed him. “Peter you have stopped looking with your eyes. You have stopped operating out of the motivation of your soul. You have listened to the voice of God. You are seeing with spiritual eyes, and are being motivated by the Holy Spirit.”

All Who Confess Jesus

Then He further honored Peter. Jesus stated that the revelation Peter proclaimed, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God!”, will be the foundation of Christ’s Church. All who confess this, all who submit to Jesus as God will be members of Christ’s church. Without this proclamation, there is no foundation and no Church.

Jesus bestowed two gifts on the Disciples. He gave them entry into heaven and the method to allow others to enter.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:13)

Then, Jesus gave them and all disciples authority on earth and in heaven.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven  (Matthew 16:19)

The holder of keys has the right to lock and unlock doors. He has the authority to allow or disallow entry. Jesus has entrusted that high honor to the Disciples and to all disciples who follow.

Jesus Died for Us

Next, the Messiah offered something even more precious. He shared with them His mind and the intention of Almighty God. Jesus began to reveal to the Disciples the mystery, the hidden truth, that Jesus must die for the Sin of mankind; that He will be in the grave for three days; and that God will raise Him up (v. 21).

Peter was stunned! Here he was basking in the glow of Jesus blessing and praise. Likely, Peter was only half listening as Jesus continued speaking. Maybe he was caught up in a vision of Christ’s Church. Maybe Peter saw himself, as one of Christ’s inner circle, bestowing grace upon thousands. Perhaps his heart was overflowing with love for this wonderful, special Man.

Suddenly he returned to the present. “What did he Say!? He’s going to be murdered – And by the chief priests!? That can’t be! He just said He’s going to found a new Church. The chief priests had been grumbling against Jesus, but murder Him? NEVER! Not on my watch!” Jesus wasn’t making sense.

Shadow of Death

Peter was yanked from the glow of a mountain top experience and plunged into the valley of the shadow of death. Peter’s extravagant love for Jesus, his absolute loyalty to the mission as Peter saw it, made him forget his position. He was a disciple at the feet of the Teacher. His heart overcame his head. Peter’s protective impulse, while noble in the abstract was inappropriate due to his ignorance. Peter leapt out to shield his Master from folly. Where immediately before, Peter had responded to the Holy Spirit; now he was controlled by fleshly emotions. Peter would die before he allowed anyone to harm Jesus – even Jesus Himself!

Blind to everything, but his fear of the danger Jesus was intentionally walking into, Peter rebuked Jesus, “Don’t be a fool! If the priests will endanger you, don’t go to Jerusalem. Have you lost your mind! I won’t let you! I’ll save You from Yourself”

Get Thee Behind Me, Satan!

Just when Peter thought there could be nothing lower than this valley he had plunged into, His beloved Master turned on him. “Get thee behind me, Satan!” “He called me Satan!” Peter must have been crushed. Here he was, just trying to save Jesus, and Jesus calls Peter a tool of the devil. Confused, humiliated, dejected, Peter felt lower than a whale’s belly, scratching on the seabed.

Jesus said Peter was hindering Him, obstructing His mission, interfering with Jesus plans, undermining his purpose. Jesus was saying, “You are living limited and unthinking, controlled by your emotions. Whereas just before you were listening to the voice of God, now your emotions have blinded you to the mind of God. Now you are allowing your emotions to crowd Him out.”

You see, Peter couldn’t yet get beyond death as finality. His emotions, while noble – love for Jesus and desire to protect Him – and ignoble – fear of death, fear of the loss of a dream – overcame his understanding that Jesus is God! Peter lost track of the fact that God knows everything, that He can raise the dead (He’d seen it several times), and that Jesus is not limited to man’s resources.

We are Like Peter

Truth be told, we are much like Peter. You and I, too often, operate in the realm of emotions, rather then the realm of the Holy Spirit. If a loved one or a dear friend becomes gravely ill, so that we fear for his life, we become desperate. The movie, John Q, explores this. The hero’s child needed an immediate organ transplant to save his life. Insurance wouldn’t pay for it. John Q and his family didn’t have the resources to pay for it. In desperation, his wife railed at him to do something. So, our hero took hostages and threatened the lives of many people to force the hospital to perform the transplant for his child. He is shown to be operating out of the best of motives–love for his child and willingness to make any personal sacrifice, even prison, to save his child.

Isn’t this is noble? Can’t we all identify this as moral high ground? The end of saving this child’s life justifies John Q’s desperate and life-threatening behavior.

Or does it?

God is Always Here

Let’s speculate on God’s view of this situation. He is left out of the movie in any real way, but in real situations He is always here. God is well aware of the suffering that sickness and death puts people through. He suffers, too. He knows the heartbreak of losing a child to death. God experienced both sides of it–as Himself and as the Son. We are not dealing with an esoteric, unfeeling God. In the Gospels, we see that Jesus hates death. The Rev. Canon Dennis Bennett said, “Jesus broke up every funeral He attended.” When He arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus’ spirit was deeply grieved. He groaned under the burden of mourning. He wept (John 11:33-35) in sorrow along with Mary and Martha and the Jews. Even though Jesus knew He would be raising Lazarus from the dead, He wept. He hates death. That’s why God took on death nose to nose, toe to toe–and defeated it!!

Jesus Victory over Death

Jesus’ victory has transformed death from an irretrievable dead end to but a threshold to enlarged life. We can’t conceive of all that means. Perhaps, that is why the Bible gives such a sketchy view of life beyond the grave. Jesus knows that death, even in the most dire and hopeless and despairing situations, is not certain. God has the power to intervene. God can deliver from the jaws of death; He can stay the progress of disease; He can even turn death to life. If you and I will look to Him with our whole hearts, He will replace fear with trust, grief with joy – in the midst of loss.

Trust in God’s Help

Thus, to John Q, to Peter, and to us, God says, “Trust in me, follow me, submit to me, and your life will be full. Trust me to bring your circumstances out of the valley into the light. Follow me through the darkness of confusion and sorrow and I will lead you into assurance of life everlasting. Submit to my command to love me and love others. Don’t limit your life to your own understanding. You will be given the victory over dire situations. I will uphold you by my Almighty Hand. And I will fill you with abundant joy.”

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.   (Deuteronomy 33:27)

Peter’s emotions conquered his trust in Jesus, conquered his obedience to his Master, and conquered his will to follow Jesus anywhere Jesus would lead. As a result, Peter became the tool of Satan. Peter had not grown enough in the spirit to require his emotions to submit. The Disciple tempted the Master to turn aside from the God-ordained path.

Do You Trust Jesus?

Do you identify with John Q? Do you feel he was justified in the extreme measures he took to save his child?

  • Many are saying after “9/11”, our lives have changed and will never be the same.
    • NOT SO! The world is the same fallen world as it was before. Our God is just as much God as He was before. As Christians, we have the authority of Jesus in the same measure as before. In Christ’s name, we can change the world.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  (Colossians 11:17)

  • Many live in fear of burglars breaking in, being attacked in the street, losing jobs or homes or family, of getting sick, or becoming destitute. Fear is natural, so it is acceptable for Christians to live in fear.
    • NOT SO! God is our fortress and high tower, a certain bulwark in time of trouble. God is our provider of food, clothing, shelter – yes, but so much more! He provides love, eternal life, new life fresh every morning, and God’s acceptance that completely overwhelms all shame.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me.

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me: the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. (2 Samuel 22:2-7)

  • Many are infirm, disabled, sick, and suffering. This is the natural progress of life. This is the cross we must bear.
    • NOT SO! “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus tells us. This means He has won the victory and presented us with a fete accompli, an accomplished fact. He has won the victory over sickness, addiction, infirmity, disability, poverty, and death. And more wonderful still, Jesus has given that victory to His adopted brothers and sisters – you and I who love Christ and long for his appearing.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Hope in Time of Trouble

When you feel you are walking in Peter’s footsteps,

  • “Jesus you can’t do that!”
  • “Lord I can’t bear it any more!”
  • “The Lord’s not doing anything, I’ll have to do something myself.”
  • “After what has happened between us, I can’t love that person any more.”
  • “I’ll never get out of the hole I’m in”

That’s the flesh talking, and it’s precisely the time to tune your spiritual ears to the Savior. Embrace and learn from His rebuke, “You are an offense to me, because you are clinging to the habits of men and forsaking your inheritance with God; an inheritance I bought for you with my blood!

Receive Comfort

Recognize your emotions for what they are. Recognize that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Face your emotions. Don’t hide from them or deny them. Just don’t allow them to dominate your spirit and dictate your actions.

You are a princess of the Almighty King.

You are a prince of the Lord God.

Do not be led astray by emotion. Instead, lead your emotions into the light of Christ and let the Refiner’s Fire purify them.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Matthew 16:25-26)

I hear you thinking, “Easy for you to say.” On the contrary, no change in life habit comes easily. They are hardly won. Change begins with a step.

The most dangerous step is out the door. You never know where it will lead.  (Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien)

Because change is hard and dangerous, most choose to sit by the fire. That causes us to turn our backs on the offerings of Christ. It leads to ignoring the call of the Holy Spirit. It results in rebellion against God.

Here is how it works

  1. Confess to God each time your emotions take charge
  2. Admit your own powerlessness
  3. Ask Jesus to apply His wisdom and strength to each situation
  4. Submit to what He tells you
  5. Thank Him for delivering you from the tyranny of your emotions
  • Now start praising God. Praise of God in the midst of difficulty and crisis is an act of faith, a sacrifice of praise (Jeremiah 33:11; Hebrews 13:15). God is always worthy of praise.
  • Build yourself up in the knowledge of the Word. Jesus resisted the tempter in the wilderness by quoting scripture. We can hold on to our trust in God through any situation bolstered by the Word of God.
  • Pray without ceasing. Paul adjures us (Romans 12:12), “…continuing instant in prayer:” This is the life of prayer to which God calls us.

Start New Each Day

A photo by dan carlson. unsplash.com/photos/oTQVwECws8oBegin fresh each day, and if necessary, each minute. The more we actively seek to live in the victory of Christ, the more we have the mind of Christ. The more we have the mind of Christ, the less we will be subject to the domination of the flesh. The less we are subject to the domination of the flesh, the freer we are in the spirit and the more the joy of the Lord will permeate our lives.

For Christ is the Victory!

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Glad Tidings

GT—VOLUME 13 ISSUE 4

14 Apr , 2016  

Will You Or Won’t You?

Army Sergeant in authority

Authority comes with responsibility.

My brother was in 1st grade when I was in 8th grade. It was the only year we were in school together. One lunch recess, I had checked out a basketball and was shooting baskets alone. My first grade brother and a friend asked if they could shoot with me. We began to play together. I taught them how to dribble and shoot. One of them shot and the ball bounced off the rim of the basket. Being bigger, I jumped up and snagged the ball.

Before I could do anything else, a teacher, who at that moment happened on the scene, misunderstood. He called me over and took the ball away. He thought I was bullying the younger boys. He would not listen to my explanation and sent me to my classroom.

I obeyed his authority, but was furious at the misuse, knowing he had punished me unjustly.

There were two phrases that I learned about authority as I was growing up: “Because I said so!” and “Don’t do as I do! Do as I say!”

My parents taught me to respect certain people, i.e. all my elders and all those in positions of authority. The previous incident and others revealed to me that authority was not always right.

This was reinforced when, at the end of the year, the 8th Grade was about to graduate into high school. The Lion’s Club awarded a certificate and a cash award to the boy and girl who were the tops in their grade school performance. I was academically superior to the other boys in my class. I knew I was going on to college, but none of the others cared. I had been Lieutenant for the first two years of School Boy Patrol and Captain the last year. Despite my credentials, they awarded the certificate and the cash to the son of the County Sheriff.

Flower Child at a protest

Question Authority–Flower Child

One of the many mantras of the youth of the Vietnam era was “Question Authority”. They swung the pendulum the other way. “The Man”, i.e. those in power, were in power because of influence peddling . Because they held their authority unjustly, they were obviously wrong. You could never trust anyone in authority.

So we are faced with the dilemma. Will we respect authority, or will we rebel against it? Generally, the bulk of the people in those years submitted to authority. The few “Flower Children” established anti-authority life styles. They rejected all morality handed down by the previous generation. “Never trust anyone over 30”, was another cry of the period. So they broke the previous taboos and established a “New Morality” (which is not new at all but the old, old immorality warmed over). Some of the results are seen in the damage that society has experienced, some of which are:

  • No fault divorce—making a lie of marriage “’til death do us part”.
  • Recreational sex
  • Spread of Sexually Transmitted Disease
  • Approaching 60,000,000 babies killed in the womb
  • The rejection of frugality and thrift in all levels leading our national leaders to be uncaring about the increasing debt load on our economy
  • The breakdown of the basic unit of society—the family
  • Court findings that go exorbitantly beyond restitution for true injury
  • The spread of blatant homosexuality
  • The lack of trustworthiness in too many people leading to a general suspicion of strangers

Many factors have contributed to these and other societal ills; however, lack of respect for authority is common to all of them.     dove-vector-clipart

What Is Good Authority?

Good authority looks out for the people’s welfare. There are numerous needs and wants in any group of people. Our society is a complexity of individual concerns. Therefore, if one is to be a leader in America, one has the difficult task of making decisions that will do the most good and harm individuals the least.

Authority comes with responsibility. To be competent in any position of authority requires a wide horizon. One must look both broadly and deeply.

Leaders must perceive what is the scope of their authority. Each must determine what he can do, what he must do and what he must not do. Many of the alternatives presented to a leader will enhance the lives of the people. A leader must consider them broadly as a whole.

A leader must look deeply. She or he must consider the desires of the majority in contrast with what is lawful, what is best for the future and what effect it will have on the minority. He or she must have vision to look ahead, evaluate future consequences of his decisions and actions.

There is a difference between a politician and a statesman. A politician finds personal gratification in the wielding his legitimate authority. He begins focusing on keeping his seat of power, rather than making decisions that are best for their constituents. He begins to feather his nests by coddling up to the big money interests, promoting the latter’s issues in opposition to those of people in general.

Quote by Michael Josephson

Integrity is precious. You cannot afford to lose it.

A Statesman, however, is a person of integrity. He or she ever looks out for the welfare of the people and the nation; has the integrity to stand for what is right against what is popular. She or he is willingly sacrifice the position for the general good of all. Since he is not married to power, he cannot be bought.

A statesman has integrity of a moral foundation. He recognizes the reality of a “public trust” handed him. He has been placed in office not to gratify his desires, but to represent the interests of the public. The people elect office holders on the basis of citizens’ approval of their platforms. They have believed that he or she will follow through on the policy stances declared in election publications and speeches. If the needs of the moment dictate a change, a statesman publically acknowledges his change and his reason for the change.

Those who are appointed to their positions, while not directly accountable to the citizens, essentially have two bosses: the one who appointed them and the public good. In all cases faithfulness to the greater good will dictate that when the directions of their immediate superior are counter to the public good, she will openly declare for the public good at the risk of losing her position. He will never allow superior authority to stifle moral irresponsibility.    dove-vector-clipart

The Vagaries of Human Nature

Unhappily, human nature is not reliable. People do say one thing and intend another. Statesmen, whether elected or appointed, are few and far between. In fact, people desire to be in positions of authority and have the power that such a position gives. That desire makes them eager to garner support and to keep it. Their personal goals influence their thoughts and words. “Political Promises” are notoriously short lived and broken as soon as victory is declared.

Such people pander to deep pockets, seeking to please donors and encourage their money for the next election. Politicians’ offices are open to all comers, except they are especially open to people of money or influence, because these can move politicians up in their desires for more authority.

United States Constitution Preamble

United States Constitution Preamble

Knowing the vagaries of human nature, the Framers of our Constitution, who were Statesmen, sought to build into our Constitution safeguards to thwart attempts to garner too much authority in the Government. They were convinced that the will of the people could counter the individual lust for power inherent in authority. Thus, they attempted to frame the government to be subservient to the people. They split the authority of the Government into three bodies to check the increasing lust for power of any one branch.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had strong ideas on how to use the Federal Government to combat The Great Depression. When he tried to put several in place, the Supreme Court declared them an unconstitutional breech of the authority of the Executive. Frustrated, the President proposed “The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937”, giving him the authority to appoint up to six additional Justices. It was labeled an attempt to “pack the Court” with Justices favorable to the President’s programs. The Framers’ checks and balances worked in the Senate, which held the proposal without a vote until it died.    dove-vector-clipart

Authority From Bottom Up

Our U.S. Constitution begins with “We the People”, and after enumerating the functions of the Federal Government, the preamble states “do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States.” This puts the delegation of authority in the hands of the People. It is the citizens of our nation that grant authority to the President to function, to the Congress to deliberate and the Supreme Court to adjudicate.

I fear the burgeoning of the Federal Government. The truth that no one owes individuals a living has obscured this truth. Uncounted federal programs have swamped it. They have communicated, and a growing number of people believe, that the Federal Government owes them a living.

The more we expect the Government to provide for us the greater the degree of authority we surrender to those in power. People begin to fear that if they do not elect politicians who will grant them more of the Federal dole, no one will take care of them.

In order to secure votes to remain in office, politicians vote for extending and expanding the social benefits to more people. They no longer have concern for the financial well-being of the nation. They have taken on the mentality of a century ago: “The resources of the United States are unlimited.” Back then, the forests went on forever! We could never fish out the New England Grand Banks! In the last half century, we have discovered that both are limited resources. Our current crop of politicians chooses not to recognize that the financial resources of the nation are in fact limited. They misuse their authority for short term advantage. They keep using their authority to “kick the can down the road”. As long as the day of reckoning does not come during their political career, they consider themselves immune to the consequences.    dove-vector-clipart

God’s View Of Authority

Jesus Pic

“And without controversy, great is the Mystery of Godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed in the world, received up into glory.” I Timothy 3:16

Almighty and Omnipotent God makes it clear to all who will hear:

“And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18)

All is all-inclusive. Heaven and earth encompass all spheres of influence. All authority includes every sentient being in existence.

Jesus, the eternal God, received from the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (essentially Himself) all authority. He on earth was the repository of the authority of Almighty God. He exercised authority to some extent in ministry—healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, and in minor physical miracles, changing water into wine, multiplying loaves and fish and walking on the water.

However great the manifestation of his authority was, Jesus gave it away; initially to His Disciples.

“And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” (Luke 9:1).

His disciples used it greatly to heal and to cast out demons. They were amazed at the power Jesus’ authority gave them.

Yet his gift of authority was not limited to the “Elite Disciples”. Jesus was profligate with His gift of Authority.

“I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee: for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.” (John 17:6-8)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask [anything in my name, that will I do. ” (John 14:12-14)

Jesus has passed the mantle of His authority onto believers. He desires that we act with integrity, properly representing Him to the world. He desires for us to manifest Him through our acts to benefit others. We benefit others by:

  • Declaring His Truth
  • Proclaiming salvation in Christ alone
  • Interceding in prayer for our nation
  • Claiming freedom from sickness and unease
  • Recognizing the works of the enemy and taking authority over them to thwart his evil devices.

Too many of God’s people do not know the authority He has given. Others do not understand the scope of Christ’s authority in them. Still others do not believe they can exercise His power. They believe the Scriptures, but they do not apply them to their own lives.

“Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18-19)

Child of God

I am a Child of God. Luke 18:17

The authority to bind and loose is the power of God to make things happen and to prevent things from happening. Jesus could bind or quiet the storm. He could loose the Gadarene Demoniac from his demonic bondage. That power every believer CAN exercise. What is my authority to affirm this?

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.” (Romans 8:14-17)

My authority is that we are privileged. We are called to be the sons and daughters of God. Since we are His children we have His authority to do whatever He will approve of our doing.

The second reality that proves that we can exercise Christ’s authority is that we are “Joint Heirs” with the Son of God. Everyone named in a deceased one’s will has a declared share in the estate. A joint heir has an equal share with all others. Therefore, our authority is equal to the authority of Christ.

“I can do all things  through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

Hezekiah prayed and the attack of Sennacherib king of Assyria was thwarted (2 Kings 19:15-37) I do not believe it is a reach to state that The Jerusalem Christians prayed about and for Saul the Persecutor. Christ transformed Him from the foremost persecutor of believers into the foremost promoter of Christ.

It is Time to Pray

It is time in America’s history that Believers exercise their authority in Christ to call for a Nationwide conversion to faith in Christ. God founded our nation to proclaim God’s truth to the nations. We, because of our riches, have lost sight of that mission. Only an outpouring of the holy Spirit as in the Great Awakening of the 1740’s and the Second Great Awakening of the 1850’s will restore America.

You and I, brothers and sisters, are a part of the next restoration under the authority of Christ. Consecrate yourself to petition Our Almighty Father to turn our nation from destruction back to His righteous path and to pour out again His torrential blessings on our nation.       dove-vector-clipart

Questions Demanding Answers

This is a recurring feature. I pose a question in one issue. You have the opportunity to send me answers. I publish the best ones in the next issue. Please cite Biblical authority, and keep you answer within 250 words.

QUESTION: There are lots of miracles in the Old and New Testaments. Why don’t we see them today?

ANSWER: God has not changed. He still has the power to manifest miracles in the world today. His promise to believers is that they will do even greater works than Jesus did when He was in the flesh.

What is different is the faith of believers. At the beginning of the Church, people saw the Apostles exercising the Authority of Christ, working miracles. Their lives required much greater dependence upon God for food and for healing.

Over the centuries, Christians lost the fervor of our first love. They depended more on Scripture, and then on the church, and then upon science, and then upon our prosperity, than they did on Christ Jesus.

Today in our culture, we  feel we do not need Jesus. We are self-sufficient and so we bypass the grace of God. “I tried everything, but nothing worked, so I had to pray.” “Oh, dear, you are in desperate straits!” In more needy cultures, the miracles occur far more frequently. This is because finding the power of Christ they exercise it to meet their need. They depend upon their Father far more than American believers do.

For us to receive the inheritance of the saints we must recognize our need and seek the provision of our God before we call upon our resources. Can we trust God enough to place our lives and well-being in His hands, instead of those of a doctor? Can we trust God to provide for our family if we lose our jobs? Can we trust God enough to pray consistently and continually until we experience God’s answer?

QUESTION: How can we have a great revival?

The Holy of Holies

Join me in bowing before our God in gratitude that we can speak directly and personally to Him. He is our loving Father, so we can embrace Him boldly, but respectfully.

Father, the most majestic phenomenon in our sight are the stars, and yet they seem so insignificant. They are just points of light. Science tells us that in reality they are even greater than our sun. There are so many stars in our view, but they are a minute fraction of the numbers of stars You have created.

This teaches us, if we will pay attention to You and learn, that there is vastly more to creation than we can know. Further, because you created the stars by finger play, they testify to the magnitude of Your Omnipotence. They testify to Your love of beauty and variety. They speak of Your love of creating.

My God, You are magnificent beyond our imagining. All we have comes from you. What a fantastic contrast it is between Your magnificence and Your providing all we need. You, the King of Creation, stoop to mankind, and not only to the whole of us, but to me alone to offer Your marvelous gifts.

Creator of the universe, You have not only become my Savior, but my Master. Not only my Master, but my Friend. Not only My Friend, but my Father.

You have opened my life from temporal striving after wind unto an endless delight in Your presence in my life. You, the Omnipotent Creator of all, have entered into my life and given me the promise of Your Presence for eternity. You are maturing me from glory to glory, filling me with your fantastic gifts. You, the Lord of the Universe, trust to me the message of salvation for all mankind. Though I handle it crudely and make a fool of myself, still You do not lose Your pleasure in me.

What a joy to know You, My loving, beautiful Father. I acknowledge You as my Sovereign.

Glory, all glory Majesty, dominion Honor and praise to You Lord God Almighty

Amen

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