Pastor Joe's Sermons

Living Well . . . The Gift of God (Thanksgiving Sermon)

2010-11-26T08:27:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, November 21, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Living Well . . . The Gift of God

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:11-15
Thanksgiving in the United States was observed on various different dates throughout history. By the mid 20th century, the final Thursday in November had become the customary day of Thanksgiving in most U.S. states. It was not until December 26, 1941 however that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill into law, with congress, making Thanksgiving a national holiday and settling it to the fourth (but not final) Thursday in November.

Although it is nice to have a day set aside to give thanks, Christians don’t really need a holiday or any special occasion for that matter to give thanks to God for our many blessings. Gratitude to God flows easily for the Christian. Scripture contains many instances of God’s people giving thanks. The Psalms call us to “Come before him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 95:2), to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving” (Ps. 100:4), to “forget not all his benefits” (Ps. 103:2), to “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good” (Ps. 106:1), and as Paul writes Christians are those who“give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 6:18), who “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude . . . to God” (Col. 3:16).

Traditionally, thanksgiving has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. Thanksgiving was and still is for us a holiday to express thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God for family and friends, it’s a time to reflect on all of our blessings both spiritual and material.

Our text today helps us to understand how God does bless us and how to properly enjoy God’s good gifts, what me might call the things that make for living well. The proper enjoyment of material blessings comes as a result of keeping them in the proper perspective. That Solomon got this right should not surprise us. After all, his goal in life was to figure the meaning of life out and he did so largely through trial and error. “What does our life mean?” “Why are we here?” “What’s our purpose?” These are the kinds of questions that Solomon wrestled with and I’m glad he left us his notes on what really matters in life and how to enjoy God’s gifts.

So today as we approach the day we set aside for giving thanks, I want us to reflect on what it means to truly live well, to see our lives and what we are and have as God’s gift to us to enjoy and share. Jesus has really come to give us life and life to the full (Jn. 10:10). But what does this full life look like? What does it mean to live well? Solomon describes what this full and meaningful life looks like.

So what does it mean to live well? Living well means . . .
1. Seeing Life from God’s Perspective (v.11a)
Solomon states in verse 11 that God “has made everything beautiful in its time.” We might say “How can this be?” Even though we see great beauty in the world, we don’t have to look very far to see ugliness in the world too. We see bad things happening to good people, we see injustice, poverty, wars and conflicts and all kinds of societal problems not to mention personal heartbreak. We ask “How can we say that everything is “beautiful in its time”?

The Hebrew word translated “Beautiful” (yapheh) was often used in Scripture to speak of outward beauty but it also came to mean that which is appropriate. It means that which is fitting, or proper. In a sense, being appropriate is precisely what makes something beautiful. Think of a place in nature that is particularly beautiful. What makes it beautiful is that everything is right, it’s untouched, pristine, it’s complete just as it is. Everything is appropriate and because of that, it is beautiful. What makes our worship “beautiful” is that the elements of our worship are “appropriate,” they are “fitting” for worship.

Even chaotic events become beautiful when they are seen as essential parts of God’s unfolding plan. Even pain will be made appropriate in His time. What evil and ugly things in your life are you experiencing today that seem like sour notes in God’s symphony? Do you feel as though nothing good can possibly come of these things? Living well means seeing your life from God’s perspective. Then we will read passages like Romans 8:28 with a new perspective, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Seeing life from God’s perspective will allow us to be grateful to God that He indeed is in control of our lives. He will make all things beautiful in its time.

1. Seeing life from God’s perspective.
2. Living Life with Eternity in Focus (v.11b)
“He has also set eternity in the human heart” (v.11). What is implied by the fact that God has “set eternity in the human heart”?
* This means we are not simply physical or material beings.
What separates us from all of God’s creatures? We are made for something more. Solomon came to realize this. He tried to find fulfillment in life through material pursuits alone and came up dissatisfied and empty and longing for more.

To live only by your five senses is to deny the fact that you were made for eternity. To live as if the physical needs of life were the only thing that mattered is to live a life as Paul described of the pleasure-seekers of his day who said, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Cor. 15:32). And yet that philosophy of life can never satisfy and can never produce a sense of gratitude for gifts enjoyed.

* This means we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26).
We are created to relate to our creator, we are spiritual beings, moral beings, social beings, creative beings. To deny these things is to deny your humanity for you were made in the image of God. The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “Now, with God’s help, I shall become myself,” meaning that the Lord brings us to a place where we discover our true humanity. Until Christ makes us complete, makes us fully human, we’re plastic people, store mannequins, shells of what we could be. To be made in God’s image means we are hardwired for eternity and we will never be fully human until we link up with our creator.

* This means we have a thirst to understand how the parts of our existence fit into some coherent whole. This thought is brought out in the last phrase of verse 11, “yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” What makes people different from the rest of God’s creatures? Solomon tells us that we long for answers and meaning in life. We look at the parts of the whole and ask “Why?” “What does it all mean?” This desire, this thirst to know the beginning from the end accounts for all science, philosophy, and human knowledge as well as theology. However much we examine the parts of our existence we are driven to bring these parts into some coherent whole. This is an aspect of our creation in the likeness of God, who alone embraces the whole.

* This means we think about the future.
We are fascinated, even obsessed about the future. What will happen to us? When will it happen? What will it be like? We may drive such thoughts far from us, but just below our consciousness we think about the future. We do that because we are people of the future who have a future. God has “set eternity in the human heart.” Because this is true we will only be satisfied with that which is eternal. We desire more than what we can see and this desire can only be quenched as we acknowledge and worship our creator. Religion hints at this desire for something that is “wholly other,” but it only highlights our longing and cannot satisfy the insatiable thirst for eternity in the heart, only Christ can. As John said, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (Jn. 1:16). We are complete in Christ and we overflow in blessings from Christ.

Sometimes our lives seem chaotic, confused, we feel a sense of alienation and we don’t know why. We feel in the word of John Ortberg, Dis-appointed. In other words were out of place, we’re missing something, mainly the life that we were appointed by God to live. When we know the creator, our lives make sense, our lives become appropriate, beautiful.

Living well means seeing life from God’s perspective, living life with eternity in focus, and living well means . . .
3. Enjoying God’s Good Gifts (vv.12-13)
Only when we see life from God’s perspective and understand that we are made for eternity can we truly enjoy God’s good gifts. And the reason for this is simple. First, we will know the source of our blessings – God Himself, and second, we will enjoy God’s gifts with the right balance. The great gratitude robber is thinking that we are the source of our blessings and that our material blessings alone are what life is all about.

So what good gifts does God give to us to enjoy?
(1) God gives us the ability to be happy, to rejoice and enjoy life itself.
The thought here is that there is nothing inherent in humanity that allows us to enjoy life. If we find any enjoyment or rejoicing in life, it is because God Himself grants it. So give thanks to God for His gift of the enjoyment of life.

(2) God gives us the ability to do good, to contribute to society, to make a difference.
The ability to “do good” is also a gift of God. Truly good works cannot originate from sinful humanity but are themselves a gift of God’s grace. So give thanks to God for His gift of allowing you to do good, to be a blessing to others. Our works of gold and silver will survive the fire test (1 Cor. 3:10-15). And a Christian’s works do follow them for eternity (Rev. 14:13).

(3) God gives us the appetite to eat and to drink, the ability to enjoy these physical blessings.
The ability to have basic needs met through our labor and to enjoy our meals – these are gifts from God, who gives us both an appetite for food as well as the ability to satisfy it. So give thanks to God for the basic pleasures of life that God gives.

(4) God gives us the ability to find satisfaction in our work, to see our labor make a difference.
It’s easy to take these simple and common things for granted. They are things we rarely thank God for. According to James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” What are some of the blessings that you enjoy that you rarely think of and thank God for? Give thanks to him for His gift of living well.

In verse 14, we are reminded that God’s work is permanent and it is complete. Furthermore, God’s blessings to us are to cause us to reverence Him, to know Him, to love Him with all that we are. See Romans 2:4. To “fear him” is to reverence God, it is to know that He is the source of your life and blessings. It is to live a life of gratitude and obedience to God as Lord of your life. Has God’s goodness, His care for you, His blessings led you to reverence Him?

God patiently repeats His works, bringing each activity back again in the stream of history (v.15). God is good to us today as He has been good to us in times past and so will be in the future. The proper response to God’s work, His blessings is awe. And so by God’s grace today we respond to His works in wonder, praising Him and giving Him thanks for the great things He has done
(Ps. 150:2).

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

HBC Happenings Sunday, November 7th

2010-11-01T09:37:00.000-05:00

This Sunday we will be hosting our Worldcrafts Missions Event and Harvest Day Supper. The World Crafts Fair starts at 4:00 p.m. and Harvest Day Supper is at 5:00 p.m. Please bring your favorite side dishes. The church will supply the meat.

The World Crafts Fair is a great opportunity for you to purchase handmade crafts made by artisans from places like China, the West Bank, Thailand, Jordan, Africa, and Kazakstan. All proceeds go to the impoverished artisans to strengthen their hope for a better life.

Sunday morning, our guest speaker will be Kevin Roberts. Kevin is the Childhood Ministry Strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Kevin's work through the LBC is to promote children’s evangelism, Sunday School, Childhood Weekday Education, and discipleship that includes a parent training component. He also plans and directs Vacation Bible School training, Bible Drill, Childhood Education Workshops and an annual preschool and children’s minister’s retreat.

Plan on being at HBC this Sunday for a great day in the Lord. And don't forget to fall back one hour on Saturday night.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Fellowship in the Word of Life (1 John 1:1-4)

2010-11-01T09:22:00.000-05:00

A communion message preached on Sunday, October 31, 2010
at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Message: “Fellowship in the Word of Life”

Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:1-4

Occasion: Lord’s Supper
You can hear the passion that John has for Christ when he tells of his personal experience of knowing Jesus who he calls “the word of life” (v.1). The Jesus that John heard, saw, looked at, and touched was God in human form who brought “eternal life” (v.2). This same Jesus, John now proclaims to others “so that” (v.3) they too may enter into “fellowship” (v.3) with the church and with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ.

The word “Fellowship” translates “communion,” “participation,” and “partnership.” The root meaning of the word is “common” or “shared” as opposed to “one’s own.” In the New Testament it refers to Christians who share a common faith (Philem. 6), who share possessions (Acts 2:44), or who are partners in the Gospel (Phil. 1:5).

Here fellowship is having “the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us” (v.2) in the person of Jesus. One commentator explained that fellowship “is the eternal life that comes from the Father and becomes the life shared individually and corporately by the company of believers. It is what causes the oneness of faith.” How true! What brings us together corporately as “one body” is the fact that each of us individually has shared in the experience of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Because “fellowship” is brought into existence through the preached word, John repeatedly emphasizes his desire to “proclaim” (vv.1, 3) “ the word of life.” This too is why we preach God’s Word. This too is why we tirelessly teach the precious precepts of God’s truth. This too is why we do all that is in our power to distribute the Word of God with the heartfelt biblical conviction that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, we preach, teach, and share God’s Word “So that” others may “have fellowship with us . . .”

John expresses a much-needed truth in our day with the expression “fellowship with us.” The “us” is a reminder that there is no real fellowship apart from the body of Christ founded on the apostolic witness! The Lord’s Supper celebrates true fellowship. It is a celebration of our common faith in Christ and our commitment to His mission. Because of this, (1) It only makes sense to Christians, and (2) It is only meaningful when we our desiring oneness of faith and purpose. This is why Paul states in the strongest terms for the Corinthians to “Examine yourselves” (see 1 Cor. 11:27-ff).

So as we gather at our Lord’s table, let us celebrate “the word of life” that has come to us. Let us celebrate the fact that we have been saved from wrath and reconciled to God. Let us celebrate the grace of God that has brought us forgiveness and freedom. And let us renew our commitment to proclaim Him so that all people may have fellowship with us, with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Amen

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Witnessing (Week #8) Mark 5:19

2010-10-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

A message preached on Sunday, October 24, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Sermon Series: Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
Sermon: “Witnessing”
Date Preached: October 24, 2010

As someone who has experienced God’s saving love, you have much to share. What if you could tell your story of what God has done for you? You can! And that’s what I want to talk about today.

What Is a Witness?
Jesus said, “you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). But what is a witness? A witness is “One who has firsthand knowledge about an event.” The truth is, Every Christian has a personal testimony. Your account of your experience of new life (2 Cor. 5:17) in Christ. Regardless if you were saved when you were 5 years old or 55 years old, all of us share a “common salvation” experience.
See Isaiah 43:10; Acts 5:20.

Our focal verse helps us understand our calling as witnesses.
Focal Verse: “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19
First, notice that there is . . .
1. The Command to Witness – “Go . . . tell”
This is one of the great salvation/deliverance stories in the Bible. This man that Jesus encountered was given up as a lost cause, a hopeless case, yet with Jesus there are no hopeless cases. After Jesus set the man free from his demon-possession, it was natural for the man to want to be with Jesus. However, Jesus told the man to go to his family and tell them what had happened. Just as Jesus told this man to go, so He tells us to go too! It is not a suggestion but a divine imperative.

In the Old Testament God told his watchmen that they were never to be silent and never to rest. To be silent meant withholding a word of either warning or good news. To rest on the job could be disastrous for the welfare of the city. You and I are God’s watchmen, witnessing a word of good news but also a word of warning to those who will not receive the good news. We must not be silent! We must not rest on our watch? Lives are at stake. We must not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord (1 Tim. 1:8).

First, there is the command to witness. Second, there is . . .
2. The Context of Our Witnessing – “home to your family”
Where do you begin? At home, in your Jerusalem (see Acts 1:8). It’s good that we support and do missions globally, but we need to remember that we’re in a mission field. The latest growth statistics for our church field are staggering. Livingston Parish led a five parish growth region known as the I-12, I-10 Corridor with a 47% growth rate. Almost 68% of our residents are now under 44 years of age. The last time we distributed literature in our area there were 19 subdivisions, all of which could be considered relatively recent housing developments. We have a tremendous mission field right here at home.

This reveals the command to witness, the context of our witnessing, and third, . . .
3. The Content of Our Witnessing – “how much the Lord has done for you”
What do we tell people? We tell them what God has done for us. What has He done? Has He saved you from wrath? Has He reconciled you to God? Has He forgiven your sins? Has He given you a new purpose for life? Has He helped you as a father or mother? Has He encouraged you and given you His peace? Tell them what God has done! Tell them about the great deed God did on the cross! See Isaiah 63:7; 1 Pe. 3:15.

The Fruit of Our Witnessing – “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19)
What is the end result of our faithful witnessing? Fruit (John 15:5) – Disciples are made! God is at work in our world and those who are working with Him are seeing the fruit of their witness – disciples. See John 4:35-36. For the principle of sowing and reaping, see 2 Cor. 9:6; Gal. 6:9.

The Power of Your Story
1. Has authority – You were there.
2. Communicates on a level that people can relate to. It is life-oriented. It doesn’t come off like you are preaching.
3. Natural and simple. Doesn’t require learning and memorization.
4. Can be shared anywhere at any time. You can share your story at the mailbox, the break room, the store, or the school. Because it is your personal testimony, your story is portable. Wherever you go, your story goes!

The Elements of Your Story
What do you tell? The best models for ministry are biblical and we have an excellent biblical model for sharing our testimony in the Apostle Paul. Paul often shared his personal testimony which usually consisted of three aspects:
1. My Life Before Receiving Jesus (Acts 22:3-5)
Paul tells some of his Jewish background and the fact that he was zealous for God, even persecuting Christians who he thought were wrong.

2. How I Received Jesus (Acts 22:6-13)
Paul tells of his Damascus Road experience and how he was confronted by the living Jesus. God also used a faithful believer named Ananias in Paul’s conversion.

3. How Jesus Makes My Life Meaningful (Acts 22:14-15)
Paul tells how he was chosen by God to be His witness. Paul’s life took on a new purpose, a purpose designed by God.

Sharing the Basics of the Gospel
Sharing our story is important, but there is a need to go beyond our story to His story. Every Christian needs to know the basics of the Gospel. Here is one plan of salvation that is easy to remember that communicates the basics of the Gospel.
Promise: God loves you (Jn. 3:16)
Reality: We all struggle with sin (Rom 3:23)
Answer: For sin is Jesus (Rom. 5:8)
You: God requires you to confess and believe (Rom. 10:9-10, 13)

Getting Started Let me encourage to . . .
1. Write out your personal testimony.
2. Become familiar with the basics of the Gospel.
3. Be intentional. Have a plan. Write down names of people that you could witness to. Pray for them and ask God to give you opportunities to witness. Don’t underestimate the power of the written word.
(1) Use a Gospel booklet
(2) Write a letter
(3) Utilize whativaluemost.com

All of us want to see people saved. For that to happen, we must witness and sow God’s word. Fields that are sown yield a harvest. How are we going to reach the people of our community? By every Christian witnessing.

The Main Thing Is to Share God’s Word! Rom. 10:17
“He who goes out weeping , carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:6).

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Good Works (Week #7) Ephesians 2:8-10

2010-10-18T10:56:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Sermon Series: Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
Today’s Sermon: Good Works

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 (Focal, vv.8-10)
Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:10, NIV, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 (English Standard Version)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Here is one of the most complete descriptions of the nature of salvation and what salvation produces in our lives. These verses describe what it means to be in Christ. We will examine this great passage in two parts: Salvation as the gift of God, and sanctification, as the work of God in the believer’s life. Both parts are essential for us to understand.

I. Salvation: The Gift of God (2:8-9)
Faith and works are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other. You cannot have faith without good works and good works as the Bible describes are produced by people of faith. To help us understand the relationship between faith and works, I want to use a statement that John Calvin made that expresses the truth of this passage. The two parts of his statement form the two sections of this message. First, Calvin said what all the reformers voiced, “It is faith alone that justifies” (Calvin).

What does this text in Ephesians say to us about salvation – this “faith alone that justifies”?
(1) Salvation is by grace
Paul reminds his readers in verse 8 (as in v.5) that they owe their salvation entirely to the undeserved favor of God, “For by grace.” God’s grace is His unmerited favor that He grants to us who have sinned against Him.

(2) “Been saved” from what? (Rom. 5:9) – Wrath
It is because of God’s grace that Paul can say “you have been saved” (pf. tense). And what are we “saved” from? This is a valid question that is expressed by many people today. Many do not know why they need God’s salvation. Romans 5:9 tells us why we need to be saved. To be “saved” is to be saved from the wrath of God due to us at the final judgement because of sin. The phrase, “you have been saved” is the equivalent of saying “you have been justified.” See Romans 3:23-24.

(3) To be “saved” is to be secure (pf. tense)
This salvation or justification is complete in the sense that no defect or inadequacy mars God’s purpose. To be “saved” means that the believers salvation is completely secured. The action of “saved” involves a present and ongoing state which has resulted from a past action. In Christ the Christian can correctly say “I have been saved, I am saved, and I will be saved!” If salvation was obtained by some human effort on our part, then it would not be complete, but because salvation is “by grace,” and it is wholly of God, we stand justified (“saved”) before God for all time. The wrath of God fell on Jesus at the cross. “By His blood” we are justified (Rom. 5:9).

How does this salvation come to us? How do we enter into this justified “saved” state of being?
(4) Salvation is received “through faith”
Salvation is appropriated “through faith,” (Rom. 5:1) which is confident reliance in Christ Jesus as the only means of our salvation. Faith is only as good as its object. Who then is worthy to place trust in to save us from eternal wrath? There is but one person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the object of our faith. See Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:22, 26. The passages in Romans describe how God can be perfectly just and yet still justify us. God’s justice was satisfied in the cross.

(5) Faith comes from God – “and this”
It’s important for us to see that faith, however, is not a quality, a virtue, or a human faculty that some people are predisposed towards. Saving faith is not something that man can produce. It is simply a trustful response that is itself evoked (or prompted) by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (Jn. 6:44). The word translated “can come” is the word that means “to be able.” Man alone does not have the moral or spiritual ability to come to Christ unless the Father “draws him” and gives him the inclination to come and the ability to place trust in Christ.

The key to this interpretation is found in the phrase “and this.” Does the “not your own doing” point to “faith” or to “saved” or to the entire process? From start to finish the entire process is God’s doing. Grace and even faith are included in this “gift of God,” so that in every aspect salvation is the gift and work of God.

(6) Boast in God alone – “not by works”
So that no one would misinterpret faith as being our contribution to salvation, Paul immediately adds the phrase, “ it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” The “gift of God” is found in various places in the NT. For example, it is the gift that brings justification (Rom. 5:16), the “gift of righteousness” (v.17), the gift of “eternal life” (Rom. 6:23), and the gift of Himself (Jn. 4:10). Because salvation is a gift and “Not a result of works” (i.e., self-effort), there is no grounds for our boasting (Rom. 3:27).

Based on what is revealed in these two verses, let me ask you a very important question, “Have you “been saved” “by grace”? Has there been a point in time where you by faith accepted what God has done for you in Jesus? Have you been declared justified? Do you have the assurance of your salvation? If not, has God given you the inclination to reach out to Him in faith? “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Is the Father drawing you to believe in Jesus? If so, “Believe [faith, trust] in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “Whoever hears my word and believes [faith, trust] him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned” (Jn. 5:24).

II. Sanctification: The Work of God (2:10)
(1) Receiving God’s gift is just the beginning
The entire process of salvation is God’s doing (see 2 Cor. 5:17-18) but our salvation does not end with the reception of God’s gift. Again, Calvin said, “It is faith alone that justifies,” “But faith that justifies can never be alone.” (Calvin). Sanctification is the process of becoming like Jesus, growing in grace. The “good works” produced through us are evidence that God is at work in our lives. See James 2:14-26, esp. vv.22-24. There is no contradiction between faith and works as we will see in Eph. 2:10.

(2) Christians are God’s “workmanship” (Rom. 1:20)
Paul used a word to describe believers that he alone uses in Scripture and does so only twice. It is the word translated here as “workmanship” in the phrase, “For we are His workmanship.” Our English word “poem” is derived from this Greek word. Literally, you might say that Christians are God’s poems, works of art. This is how God describes those who are in Christ. We are His special new creations. God has made all people in His image, but sin has marred, defaced the image of God, not destroyed it. However, in Christ, and only through Christ are we created anew by God.

The only other occurrence of this word is in Romans 1:20 where it says God’s “invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made (“Poiema”).” We see evidence of the creator in His “workmanship” in creation. To see a Christian is to see a new creation that only God could have created. Only God can take sinners and make them saints. Only God can make the unclean clean. Only God can redeem the ruined. Only God can cleanse the soul and make us new!

(3) A miraculous new status – “created in Christ Jesus”
How have we become “God’s workmanship”? The next phrase tells us, “created in Christ Jesus.” The verb “to create” in the OT Hebrew would be “barah” and it is only used of God and denotes the creative energy he alone can exert. Here the verb denotes a past completed action that has abiding results, and the emphasis on the action is that God alone is the one who has done the creating (aorist, passive, participle). It is God who has made us new creations, “God’s workmanship.” The great hope that we have is that God is still making new creations in Christ. And what God can do in a life is nothing short of miraculous. Salvation, the new birth is comparable in quality to the creation of the universe! No natural process can accomplish or explain either miracle.

(4) Our new life’s purpose – “for good works”
What is the purpose of God making us His “workmanship”? In Christ Jesus we are recreated, “for good works,” God’s original intention for us. “Good” means profitable, benefitting others, and carries the idea of beauty or that which is attractive. That which is done to benefit others is beautiful because it is a God-work. It’s been said that “good deeds are God deeds.”

Producing “good works” signifies every kind of activity undertaken for the name of Christ, it is being fruitful for God. It is taking on the character of Christ – His attitude and actions. Good works reflect Christ’s life flowing through us. It is as Christ said, letting “your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

True faith produces good works. Works never produces salvation, but salvation always produces good works. A man is not justified by works, but a justified man works. Works are the consequences, not the causes of salvation. They are the fruit, not the root of salvation. One must be a Christian before he can live as a Christian. He must be good before he can do good.

(5) The path has been “prepared beforehand”
The good and beautiful works that God has for us to do have been “prepared beforehand” by God Himself. Here is an aorist active verb which means that these works that God has prepared have been established by God from a point in the past. The road has already been built. Here is a further reason why the Christian has nothing left to boast about. Even the good that you and I do now has its source in God, who has made it possible. As Paul reminds us, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). If God has prepared beforehand good works for me to do, then I need to first, know God and then let God reveal to me those good works that He wants me to do. And He will!

(6) Where will you “walk”?
Why has God prepared these good works? So “that we should walk in them.” The word “walk” means to live or to conduct yourself. The word is also found at Romans 6:4 where Paul encouraged the Roman Church to “walk properly” and 13:13 where he encouraged them to “walk in newness of life.” The verb is a subjunctive aorist which denotes possibility but the outcome is still as of yet an unknown. Therefore, the best translation is “should walk” (ESV, NASB, NKJV). The point is, the road that God has prepared lies before us but we must chose to travel upon it. Our walking in “good works” is contingent on our obedience.

As we do the “good [beautiful] works” that God has “prepared beforehand,” our life will be a beautiful expression of God’s handiwork. As we walk in “good works” it’s as if we are filling-in the shapes, the colors and the textures to the work of art that we are becoming in Christ.

So how is your painting progressing? How are the lines coming along in the poem of your life? Are you living as “God’s workmanship”?

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: The Church (Psalm 122:1)

2010-10-11T08:14:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church by Pastor Joe Alain.

Sermon Series: Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living

Sermon: The Church

Memory Verse: Psalm 122:1, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

Thinking about the Church
(1) The church is both universal and local. Universal in that it includes all Christians in all places at all times – past, present, and future. It is local in that God’s church includes Christians who come together in local assemblies to carry out His work. HBC is but one local expression of God’s universal church. It’s best to think of the church as a living organism rather than a cold lifeless institution. The church is not buildings or even great programs, it’s people!

(2) The church is made up of redeemed people, people who have come together to love God and to love people.

(3) The church on earth is imperfect because it is made up of imperfect people. But even with all of its imperfections, God loves His church!

(4) The church is of God and loved by God. Jesus said “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [or hell] will not overcome it” (Matt. 16:18). The church is not a man-made institution it is God-created organism and He is the Head, and we are His body! Ephesians 5:25 tells us “Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” God thinks much of His Church. Paul’s instruction to God’s shepherds found in Acts 20:28 is undergirded with the sober reality that “the church of God” has been “bought with his own blood.” God loves the church! And because He loves the Church we ought to love God’s church too.

(5) Finally, the church is God’s plan for advancing His kingdom. God is working in and through His body – the church.

Objections to the Church
Objection #1: Sometimes Christians become cynical and critical of the church. They become dissatisfied with some aspect of the church. They don’t like this or that, or they don’t care for how this is done, etc. But sometimes our criticisms are not motivated by love. Don’t criticize the church for when you do you are tearing down Christ’s body, you are destroying what Christ is building. Does the church need reforming? In some sense yes, the church is constantly in need of reformation, but when you criticize your church you’re really criticizing God’s people and your family. You are standing on the side of the enemies of the church and being used by Satan to come against what God calls the apple of His eye (Zech. 2:8).

Non-constructive criticism disparages what God calls His treasured possessions (Mal. 3:17). One of the passages in today’s Bible study is Ephesians 4:11-16. This passage speaks about growing up in Christ to a place of maturity so that God’s church will be characterized by unity and love all organized and functioning under the Lordship of our Head – Jesus! The last phrase of Eph. 4:16 reminds us of the importance of the church growing “up in love” and this is accomplished “as each part does its work.” So love God’s church and love it enough to do your part in bringing God’s church closer to the biblical ideal.

Objection #2: Some others might say, “I don’t really need the church. I’m a Christian but I don’t need to be involved in what happens at church. I can worship God anywhere, etc.” There are several errors with this kind of thinking: (1) First and foremost, being a part of a local church is God’s will for your life. See Hebrews 10:25. To belong to Jesus and not belong to His church in a meaningful way is like saying “I’m married but I don’t have to live (or talk) to my wife or husband.” People who think like this are living contrary to God’s will for their life and are living contrary to God’s will. God didn’t tell you this, so who did?

(2) The second problem with this idea that you don’t need the church is the faulty thinking that you do not need anyone else in life. But this kind of thinking destroys community. The truth is people need the church more than they realize. And this is true because God created us to be in community with one another. He did not create us to go it alone in life. In fact isolating oneself from others was one of the first evidences of our sinful nature, the sinful nature that we see manifested in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and still is. When sin entered the human race, the first thing that happened was that man became self-centered. Second, he hid himself from God. People that say they don’t need church are really saying that they don’t need God directing their life. The reality is many people who think like this simply hiding from God.

Why then is the church so important to your spiritual well-being? I want to mention five (5) areas, and I want to spend most of the time on the first three, because the last two will be dealt with in the next few weeks.

The church is important because it is . . .
1. Where You Worship God
It brought great joy to the Psalmist when he thought of going to God’s house with others to worship the Lord (Ps. 122:1). For the Christian worship is our joyous privilege. Now I have to admit that before I was saved, I had no desire to worship God. Why? See 1 Cor. 2:14. Worship is a spiritual discipline and only saved peopel really get it. But when God saves you, you want to worship God! You were created to worship, to know God, to love Him. You were planned for God’s pleasure. Worship brings God great pleasure and it brings you great joy (see Ps. 16:11).

See Hebrews 10:25. Believers need to get in the habit of going to church in order to worship God with other Christians. Truthfully, if you do not get in the habit of going to church, you will soon get into the habit of not going to church. A habit is “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely voluntary.” Only when worship becomes a holy habit, will we grow in our love for the Lord and fulfill His purpose for our life.

2. Where You Grow in Godliness
See Matthew 28:18-20. The church, His body, is charged to “make disciples” (v.19). Our focus is to be on “teaching . . . everything” Jesus has commanded. The church helps us grow in godliness, to become like Christ through the church’s preaching, teaching, and serving ministry. Romans 8:29 tells us that God has predestined us to be “conformed to the image of His son.” God wants to make you like Christ. God doesn’t want you to become a god; but He does want you to become godly. He wants you to develop His character, He wants you to think and act the way He thinks and acts. God wants to make you like Himself.

1 Jn. 3:2 is a wonderful promise, “when he appears we shall be like him.” That’s you in a few years, provided you’re a Christian. So why worry about godliness if I’m predestined to be godly and one day I will? Although God will grant Christlikeness to us when Jesus returns, until then He intends for us to grow toward that Christlikeness. Hebrews 12:14 says that we are to “Make every effort . . . to be holy.” Note, we are not supposed to wait around for holiness, Christ-likeness, we are to pursue it! That’s why Paul tells Timothy, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness”
(1 Tim. 4:7).

Ephesians 4:15, Msg. says that “God wants us to grow up . . . like Christ in everything.” God’s will is for you to grow up. How does God do that? He uses the church. The different ministries and leaders of the church are used “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13). As a result of this maturity, we will no longer be tossed about like the waves blown here and there (v.14). As we grow in godliness our lives will be built upon a solid and lasting foundation.

Now, if you need gas for your vehicle, where do you go? You go to a gas station. If you need groceries, where do you go? You go to a grocery store. But if you need growth in godliness, where are you going to go? You go to the place that God has designated as the place to help you grow – His church!

Church is important because it is where you worship God and where you grow in godliness. It’s also important because it is . . .
3. Where You Receive and Give Encouragement
The church is like a family, a community where you are able to receive encouragement but also you can encourage others. Look once again at Hebrews 10, this time verse 24. It says “Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” The word “spur” in the NIV means to prompt someone to positive action. The NLT says, “Think of ways to encourage one another.” Have you been encouraged by someone at church? Look for ways that you can be an encouragement to others.

What actions could you take to be an encouragement and blessing to others? God wants you to “Spur” others toward love and good deeds. How do you do that? The very meaning of the word “encourage” tells us. Part of this word means to come alongside someone. The same word is used to refer to the Holy Spirit. The HS comes alongside and leads us and encourages us and prompts us into action. You encourage people by coming alongside them, understanding them, loving them, helping them. Oftentimes we don’t really know what people are going through, so encouragement first begins with understanding.

Our positive words and actions can be a great encouragement to someone. And isn’t that how w want people to treat us? Two Scriptures drive this home. Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Do your words build up and benefit others? If not, keep silent. Or even better yet, come alongside that person. “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matt. 7:12).

Why is the church important? It’s where you worship God, grow in godliness, receive and give encouragement, and it is . . .
4. Where You Learn to Serve
Church is where you learn to put your faith into action. Look at 1 Peter 4:10, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” Your talents are not for your benefit. Do you want to know why you’re alive? You were put here to serve God and they way you serve God is by serving other people. If you’re called to salvation you’re called to serve. You can learn to serve God through church when you first, make yourself available and second, when you remain faithful.

5. Where You Carry Out God’s Mission
Jesus said, “In the same way that you gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world” (Jn. 17:18, Msg.). God’s mission is to advance His kingdom (His rule) and we participate with God in doing that as we share the Gospel and teach all that He has commanded (Evangelism and Discipleship). Through the use of your time, the discovery and use of your talents, and through using your treasure, you participate in carrying out God’s mission, to advance the Gospel into all the world.

It is the church that provides the opportunities to “go . . . and make disciples.” The church sends out the preachers, the teachers, the missionaries. It is the church that gives a cup of water in Jesus’ name. It is the church that brings people to the saving knowledge of God. It is the church and only the church that has been commissioned to extend God’s kingdom. If you want to be part of what God is doing in His world, see God at work and join Him as He works in and through His church!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: The Grace of Giving (2 Corinthians 9:7)

2010-10-04T08:40:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Sermon Series: Foundations, Lessons on Christian Living
Message: The Grace of Giving

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Background: The collection for the poor at Jerusalem. Interestingly enough, Paul never mentions “money.” He uses terms like “offering,” “blessing,” “service,” and “grace.” And in contrast to the Corinthians who were relatively affluent, free from persecution, and joyless which was evident in their quarrelsomeness, the Macedonian Churches to the north who were suffering greatly were held up by Paul as exemplary for their generous giving (8:1). They practiced and enjoyed the grace of giving. What is the grace of giving that these believers experienced?

Grace Giving Is . . .
1. Generous Giving (8:1-2)
How does Paul encourage the Corinthians to give generously from the heart? He lets them know of the generosity of their neighbors. Although the Macedonians were then facing a severe ordeal involving persecution (see 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14), the Macedonian churches, such as those at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, had contributed generously to the poor at Jerusalem. As Paul expresses it, their “rich generosity” was the overflow of “overflowing joy” and “extreme poverty.” The Macedonians were motivated to give generously because of God’s grace, His unmerited favor and goodness towards them in Christ (8:1).

Why do we give generously? Because “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us . . .” (Eph. 1:7-8a). You do not have to have much to give much, to be a generous person. Just as their suffering and troubles did not rob them of their joy, so their poverty did not hinder their generosity. If people with so little are able to give generously, how much more could we do who are so blessed! Grace giving is generous giving from the heart that has a deep sense of gratitude for what God has done.

Grace giving is generous giving and . . .
2. Joyful Giving (8:2)
The Macedonians experienced “overflowing joy.” They considered it a joy to share in this “service to the saints” (v.4). Our focal verse, 2 Cor. 9:7 reminds us that “God loves a cheerful giver.” God wants us to give but He wants us to give joyfully, “not reluctantly or under compulsion” (9:7). Giving to God doesn’t have to be a painful. It really can be great joy and it is for many of God’s people. Why then is giving to God a great joy. Why have God’s faithful people found giving to be a joyful experience?

People who give joyfully have learned the grace of giving. They know that (1) First, their giving reflects a heart of love and obedience and obedience produces a sense of joy.

(2) Second, they know that Joyful giving is the antidote to covetousness, an unhealthy attachment to stuff. People who are covetous, who are stingy, whose hands are closed are not typically joyful people. But joyful giving frees you from covetousness. Because of our sinful tendencies you and I need to give more than God needs our gifts.

(3) Third, joyful givers know that they are imitating God the God whose nature it is go give. Through their giving they are becoming more like Jesus.

(4) Fourth, joyful givers know that their offerings, their gifts are used by God to bless and build up His kingdom.

Paul quoting Jesus in Acts 20:35 said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Every parent and grandparent knows the joy of giving a special gift to a child. There is incredible joy and satisfaction in the act of giving. And the result of our hands being opened to God are that He is able to continue pouring out His blessings upon us. And so to those Macedonian believers Paul will say in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Grace giving is generous giving, joyful giving, and . . .
3. Sacrificial Giving (8:3a)
These believers gave what they were able but then even went “beyond their ability.” They moved into the area of sacrificial giving. Their giving costs them something. Their desire to give caused them to make some lifestyle changes so that they could give even more. Their example of sacrificial giving reminds us of the poor widow that Jesus spoke of in Mark 12:41-44. While the wealthy gave large impressive gifts, she merely gave her 2 pennies, but it was all that she had. Jesus commended her gift because her motivation was right and because it was a sacrificial gift in proportion to her resources.

Sacrificial giving calls for lifestyle adjustments. Some believers today are questioning the American Dream that is ingrained in us to always want something bigger and better. You see this in books like Radical Discipleship by David Platt which is on the New York Times Best Sellers List and in the writings of Francis Chan. Some of these believers are intentionally downsizing their lifestyles, moving to smaller homes, buying used cars, eating out less and doing so that they can be in a position to give sacrificially.

It’s not the amount of the gift but the heart of the giver and the relationship between the size of the gift and the resources of the giver. Does our giving costs us anything? And what more could we do if we would move into the realm of sacrificial giving?

Grace giving is generous, joyful, sacrificial, and . . .
4. Voluntary Giving (8:3b-4)
If you noticed, Paul is very careful to not say, “You must do this!” He encourages them to give, he shows them examples of believers who are generous and who give sacrificially, but he wants the Corinthians to understand that true grace giving is voluntary. Paul relates that the Macedonian believers gave “entirely on their own” (8:3b). Paul was careful not to compel them to give because they might give under pressure and not motivated from a heart of love and joy. But the Macedonian believers had pleaded with Paul and the others for the privilege of “sharing in this service to the saints” (v.4).

Giving here is called a “fellowship,” a “koinonia.” Giving is a privilege and connects us together as believers in Christ and in His mission. In other words, when you give you are a participant in the true fellowship of the Body of Christ at HBC. I have some theological disagreements with my Pentecostal friends; however, when it comes to church membership, they may have it right. Members are born again believers who actively participate in the life of the church with their presence and with their financial support. To be a part of the fellowship is to be an active supporter with your time, talents, and treasure.

We (HBC) do not want you to give/tithe because you feel pressured to do so. We want you to give from a heart of obedience, a heart of love, a heart overflowing with joy. “God loves a cheerful giver.” If you give because we compel you to give, you might give reluctantly, or grudgingly, and then you would miss out on the blessing and the grace of giving. Motivation is all-important to God. So why should you give? Because like these Macedonian believers, it is a privilege to share in ministry (“service”) together.

Grace giving is generous, joyful, sacrificial, voluntary, and . . .
5. Whole-Hearted Giving (8:5)
Why were the Macedonian believers such generous, joyful, and sacrificial givers? Because they “gave themselves first to the Lord.” They gave themselves whole-heartedly to God, holding nothing back. As a result of giving themselves to the Lord, “then” they were able to give themselves “to us [i.e., Paul and the work] in keeping with God’s will.” Their giving involved so much more than their offerings. They gave themselves to the work of God in every area of their life!

This message is really not so much about money as it is giving yourself wholly to God. The question today is “Are you giving yourself whole-heartedly to God? When that happens God will have your time, talents and treasure. The giving question is settled when the Lord becomes our consuming passion.

When we give ourselves to God then we will give generously, joyfully, sacrificially, and voluntarily. Why? Because we will love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and we will love what God loves. We will give because we know that this is God’s will and plan for us. It is “in keeping with God’s will.” We will give because it is a privilege to “koinonia” together in God’s work. I hope that you will use this opportunity today in worship and in your small group to evaluate your giving. Does it reflect generosity, joy, and sacrifice? What steps could you begin making so that your giving reflects these qualities?

Invitation and Response
The ultimate example of grace giving is JESUS! See 2 Cor. 8:9. He gave himself generously, joyfully, sacrificially and He did it all for you! Have you given yourself to Him? When you do, everything changes!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Love (John 13:34-35)

2010-09-27T08:05:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Sermon Series: Foundations, Lessons on Christian Living
Message: Love
Focal Passage: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Love’s Flow: “Love comes from God” (1 Jn. 4:7) because “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:16), and “We love because he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).

Love’s Fruit: Jn. 13:35; 1 Cor. 13:1-13

Love flows down from God to us. Only when we know God’s love are we able to “love one another.” The power of love is seen in the fact that “All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” As important as our doctrine is, as important as our ministry is, all of it is nothing apart from love (See 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Preaching and teaching, having great knowledge, even sacrificial works without love will be empty and have little effect.
What the world needs to see in us is a demonstration of God’s love.

The best way to understand love is to see love in action. What does this “love one another” love look like? Today, we will see “love in action” through the life of a man in Scripture named Barnabas. We find his story in the book of Acts.

1. Love Responds to Urgent Needs
Our introduction to Barnabas is in Acts 4:32-36. Here we find the early church gathering together and the Bible says that they “shared everything they had” (v.32). Most of these believers had little in a the way of this world’s goods, yet “There was no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need” (vv.34-35). Here was the first Christian social ministry, believers coming together to help one another in a very tangible way.

One person is given special notice here. Barnabas, his formal name was Joseph and he was a Levite from Cyprus. He sold a field that he owned and brought the money to the apostles to meet needs. His name, Barnabas is fitting because it means “Son of Encouragement.” Barnabas did not have to do this, he was under no order or compulsion to do this. He simply saw the great needs of others and had it in his power to make a difference and he did so. Barnabas demonstrated love in action. He lived out the command of Jesus. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

God’s love in us compels us to put love in action. John said, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:17-18). Where does this inner compelling to meet urgent needs come from? It comes from the love of God within us. “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 Jn. 4:7).

The Holy Spirit within us compels us to love because the God who lives within us is love. This change of heart brought about by God’s love shows that we belong to God. When needs are presented, do we respond? Or hope someone else does? Do we respond to needs as the Good Samaritan? Or as the Priest and the Levite? “All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

1. Love responds to urgent needs.
2. Love Receives Those Whom God Accepts
The next time we see Barnabas he has befriended Saul, a recent convert to Christianity. We know him better as the Apostle Paul. But the believers who reside in Jerusalem are not too sure about Saul’s conversion. As far as they know, he’s still an ardent zealot for the Jewish cause. But Saul has met the Lord and had his theology straightened out, as well as his sins forgiven. Who will befriend Saul? Who will receive the one who tried with every fiber of his being to destroy the church of God? Enter Barnabas (Acts 9:26-27).

When no one would touch Saul with a ten foot pole, Barnabas received him and agreed to introduce him to the other apostles. Barnabas was the mouthpiece of Saul telling the apostles of Paul’s conversion and how he had “preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus” (v.27). Love is compelled to respond to urgent needs and love receives those whom God accepts.

How could Barnabas not receive Saul if God had accepted him? If we are to love a lost world, we first must receive and love one another. Why are we sometimes hesitant to embrace one another? To receive one another? Why do we not love one another? (1) It may be that we have misunderstood the nature of love. Love does not mean that you have to always agree with one another, but we do have to love one another. I don’t have to agree or like everything that some brother or sister in Christ does, but if they are “in Christ,” I do have to receive those whom God accepts.

When God has done so much for me, when He has accepted me, how could I dare not accept people that God accepts? (2) Another reason we don’t love one another is that we doubt the power of God to change people. The church in Jerusalem could not believe that Saul could change. They were so focused on Saul’s past that they could not believe Saul could be different in the present. But love looks beyond the past and sees the beautiful change that God brings to people in the present.

At the very heart of the Gospel is that people can change because of the power of God. People are powerless to change their nature, but what man cannot do, God can do through the new birth. Just look at Saul, he is exhibit A. He once was a rabid extremist, yet God transformed him. There are no impossible cases with God. If we believe that God is all-powerful, then we will have no problem receiving those whom God accepts.

What about you? Will you receive others? What about people right here in this church? People who may not be like you? People who do things differently? People who have different preferences?

Barnabas was able to receive Paul because God had accepted him. Because Barnabas had a servants heart we find him busy ministering in Antioch (Acts 11:19-26). Antioch was Gentile (Non-Jewish) territory. Among these Greeks the growing group of believers found a ready mission field and the Bible says “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (11:21).

Barnabas had been sent by the Jerusalem church to see what was occurring in Antioch. He was a good choice to send since he himself was from Cyprus and some of these believers in Antioch were from Cyprus as well. What he saw in Antioch was “evidence of the grace of God” (v.23). This greatly encouraged Barnabas and he in turn admonished the believers “to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (v.23). Verse 24 is a good summary of the character of Barnabas. (1) He was a good man, (2) Full of the Holy Spirit, (3) Full of faith, and (4) A soul winner.

Seeing the great need for discipleship among the new believers at Antioch, Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Saul who joined him in Antioch and together they “taught great numbers of people” (v.26). One of the great things about Barnabas was that he could share the ministry, there was not a competitive bone in his body. He had no qualms with getting Paul involved in this growing ministry. Just think what could be accomplished in the church today if we did not have to receive the credit and the glory! No wonder Luke tells us that “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (v.26).
Barnabas was able to rejoice in the grace of God that was evident in Antioch. God had accepted them and so Barnabas did too.

1. Love responds to urgent needs
2. Love receives those whom God receives
3. Love Reaches out to the Lost
The ability to receive others opened Barnabas up to a whole new world of ministry. We see the growing ministry and influence of Barnabas in Acts 13:1-3 where he along with Paul was sent on the very first missionary journey to extend the Gospel in non-Jewish places where the Gospel had not been preached before. Why did Barnabas leave a good and growing church, a great church? Because love calls us to leave the comfortable, love calls us to get outside of ourselves, love reaches out to the lost.

Barnabas crossed cultural boundaries, he had a “no limits” God! Where there is love, there is an open door to ministry. The church is always looking for a new program, a new way, but it is love that will grow God’s kingdom. Love is the key to reaching more people. And the more that we love as Jesus loved, the wider our ministry influence will extend. The issue for many of us is, “will we get outside of ourselves?” Will we leave our comfort zone in order to reach out to the lost around us? We will if we love as God loves.

God’s love reaches out to the lost because true love flows from the heart of a God who loves the lost! If you want to know what God thinks about the lost in Denham Springs, simply take a cursory look at your Bible! For example, Jn. 3:16, 17; Lk. 15; 19:10; 2 Pe. 3:9. The entire Bible is God’s love letter, God’s plan to redeem His creation from sin, to restore our relationship with Him, to reconcile us. Are you looking for ways to increase your ministry? To expand your circle of influence? To reach more people in your class? Or are you content with downsizing your ministry, your influence? Sad to say, while the lost population in Livingston Parish is increasing dramatically, the churches are decreasing! Now is not the time to circle the wagons, now is not the time to become complacent and comfortable. Now is the time that we should be advancing the kingdom by extending the grace of God to the lost in our area. So, “What will you personally do about it?” If you love God you will be involved in some tangible way in reaching the lost.

1. Love responds to urgent needs. 2. Love receives those whom God accepts. 3. Love reaches out to the lost.
4. Love Restores the Fallen
After the first missionary journey, a sharp disagreement arose between Barnabas and Paul (15:36-41). Just because we’re Christians does not mean that we will not have disagreements. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark but Paul did not since Mark had left them on the first missionary journey, for reasons we do not know. But Barnabas was willing to give Mark a second chance. He not only reached out to the friendless, like Paul, but he reached out to the fallen, like Mark. Neither man would budge in their position so Barnabas took Mark and went to Cyprus and Paul took Silas and went through Syria visiting the churches.

Love gave Mark a second chance. Love restores the fallen. The church is full of hurting and broken people. Some have been ensnared by sin, some apathy, some were hurt along the way and have rolled off in a dark corner somewhere (Lk. 15). They once were useful and joyful but have now fallen away. Do we care? Will you care? David said, “No one cared for my soul.” Some of these our brothers and sisters in the Lord can be restored. But they will need a Barnabas to step in. Will you be that man? That woman? You will if you love – love restores the fallen. See Galatians 6:1-2 on the process of restoration.

Love responds to urgent needs, love receives those whom God accepts, love reaches out to the lost, and love restores the fallen. “A new commandment I give you [Jesus said]: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (Jn. 13:34-35). Do people know we belong to Jesus? They will if we love as He loves.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations:God's Word (Psalm 119:9, 11)

2010-09-20T08:41:00.000-05:00

A message preached on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
God’s Word (Part I)
September 19, 2010, 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.

Which of the following are not in the Bible?
Cleanliness is next to godliness
God helps those who help themselves
Confession is good for the soul
Money is the root of all evil
Honesty is the best policy
Actually, none of these are in the Bible!

If you did not know this you are apparently not alone. Most people can not name one of the four Gospels, one of the Ten Commandments, and don’t know who gave the sermon on the mount. Statistics from the Barna Group tell us that about half of all adults (54%) claim to make moral choices on the basis of specific principles or standards they believe in. Among this group only 3 out of 10 people named the Bible as the source of those principles. So what are people reading? What are they basing their principles on? The majority of people are guiding by doing what feels right or comfortable (24%). When statistics tell us that only 5% of adults have a biblical world view, it is obvious that the Bible is not being studied and applied seriously by many people including Christians.

And yet, Bible intake is perhaps the most important spiritual discipline for your growth in godliness. Today we are going to explore some ways that we can intake the Word of God so that we can avail ourselves to grow in Christ.

There are five (5) primary ways that we relate to the Word, three of which we will cover this morning, two we will look at tonight. We will begin with the easiest way and proceed to the most challenging.

1. Hearing God’s Word
Hearing God’s Word is the most basic form of Bible intake but it is vitally important to your spiritual growth. Several Scriptures reveal the importance of hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” What is the value of hearing God’s Word? (1) Hearing brings faith. God uses His Word to engender faith in our hearts and lives. The amount of faith that you have is proportionate to the amount of time spent hearing God’s Word.

Another Scripture that is helpful is found in 1 Timothy 4:13 which says, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Why should Pastor Timothy give attention to reading? Because of its importance in building up the body of Christ. (2) Hearing builds up the body. Now we need to understand what hearing means in the biblical sense. Hearing is not a passive listening to the Word. Hearing in the biblical sense is listening with the intent to obey. You can not obey what you do not hear but hearing is not the end of the process. We must put into practice the Word that we hear.

Opportunities to Hear God’s Word
What does this say to us in practical every day ways? Certainly one way that we can hear God’s Word is through faithfully attending (1) Bible study and worship where God’s word is taught and preached. (2) You can also hear God’s Word through radio and television programs, (3) through CDs and podcasts. (4) One thing that can help you as you hear is to get into the habit of taking notes. Obviously, I don’t encourage you to do this driving down the road. However, in worship and Bible study you have the opportunity to engage your mind and spirit in a more meaningful way if you will record your thoughts and insights. Taking notes will help you hear God’s Word. This is why we provide notes in our worship guide. It is one more way to help you hear God’s Word. Hearing God’s Word is a basic discipline for Bible intake.

2. Reading God’s Word
A second way that you can practice Bible intake is by reading God’s Word. The statistics generally are not encouraging when it comes to the number of Christians who actually read their Bibles. Only 11% of Christians say they read the Bible everyday. 23% of Christians say that they never read the Bible. Christians are certainly watching plenty of television and surfing on the internet. Could this be one reason why so many Christians live a lackluster and drab Christian life? Amy Carmichael said, “Never let good books take the place of the Bible. Drink from the Well, not from the streams that flow from the well.”

The Importance of Reading God’s Word
Why is reading the Bible so important for your growth in godliness? Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” For one reason, the Word of God is spiritual nourishment to our soul. (1) The Word Provides Spiritual Food. Without the Word of God we are famished and we will starve.

Amos 8:11 speaks of the famine that God’s people experienced but it was not a famine of bread and water, but it was a famine “of hearing the words of the Lord.” (2) Neglect of brings famine. The truth is that if we neglect the words of the Lord, we cause our lives to be famished. Without food you dehydrate, your body begins to conserve its energy, then your body breaks down, and finally you collapse. When we neglect the Word of God we first get dry. We have no fresh baked bread from the Lord. Then we begin to depend upon yesterdays bread which is dry and stale. Then we slowly deteriorate as we go back continually to feed on yesterday’s food which cannot satisfy. Then ultimately we collapse.

This is why you need daily Bible reading. Just as you can not live on yesterday’s lunch, you cannot live on yesterday’s reading. God wants us to have a daily abiding relationship with Him through His life-giving Word. Instead of a spiritual famine in your life, God wants to bless all who hear and do His word. (3) A Blessing to Readers. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things written in it; for the time is near.”

Let me give you some suggestions for consistent daily Bible reading. You need three things.
(1) A Time – Set time aside.

(2) A Place – Preferably a quiet place.

(3) A Plan – Find a reading plan of which there are many. For example, The Daily Bread devotional book or a plan in your Bible. See also biblegateway.com and oneyearbibleonline.com

3. Studying God’s Word
Studying God’s Word goes one step deeper than reading and marking. In reading you are skimming the surface. In studying you are going deeper into the truths of the Word. Reading the Bible may be likened to water skiing or snorkeling, while Bible study may be compared to
scuba diving.

There are some biblical examples of the importance of Bible study. Ezra 7:10 says, “for Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Note the three key actions of Ezra – seek, do, and teach. First, his desire was to seek the Word of God. His heart was to study the Word of God. Why? So that he could secondly, do or put into practice God’s Word. The end result of seeking and practicing God’s Word was that he would be prepared then to teach the Word to others. This cycle could then be completed in the lives of those who were taught.

Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” This biblical pattern of discipleship is similar to the one Ezra followed. We hear God’s Word which involves studying and practicing the Word. We then are to commit the teachings to others who will also do and practice the Word.

The Value of Studying God’s Word
Why is it important to study the Word of God? (1) To Know the Truth. The Word of God is Truth. That’s what Jesus said in John 17:17. Acts 17:11 says of the Bereans, “These were more fair-minded (“noble”) than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these thing were so.” This is one reason why we should be students of the Bible. We should be developing the ability to line up what we hear with what the Bible teaches. How will you know how to discern false teaching? You will not if you do not study the Bible. God’s Word is truth, Jesus said. Our spiritual discernment grows as we expose ourselves to the truths of God’s Word.

(2) To Explain the Truth. Another reason we need to study the Word of God is so that we will be able to explain the truths of God’s Word to others. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” Sometimes we have a fear of not knowing and we are afraid that someone might ask us something that we are not familiar with. Now, we’re not going to know everything but we shouldn’t be ignorant either, especially when it comes to the basic truths of the Christian life. The cure for not being ashamed is to be a diligent student of the Word. In this way, you will be able to “rightly divide” (“correctly handle” NIV) the Word or present it clearly.

Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” The only way to be able to give a defense (an apologia) for the hope that we have in Christ, is to be a student of the Word of God. Does this mean that we must know everything? No. But it does mean that you will be progressing in your understanding of God’s plan.

Conclusion
How can we intake the Bible? We can hear the Word, we can read the Word, and we can study the Word. God’s Word is rich, eternal, and a treasure trove for us to mine all of our days. We never will get to the point where we understand it all, where we do not need to hear God’s Word, where we can say enough is enough. The sign reads “Rogers City Michigan, Home of the World’s Largest Limestone Quarry.” This quarry sits alongside Lake Huron in northern Michigan. The equivalent of over 10 million truckloads of stone is mined every year from this quarry which has been in operation since 1912. Geologists estimate that this mine could still be in operation for several hundred years to come. It’s almost “inexhaustible.” The riches of God’s Word are never exhausted. That is why we hear, read, and study God’s Word.

Why hear, read, and study God’s Word? A statement on the Scriptures from the BFM2000 sums up why.
“It is the perfect treasure of divine instruction . . . it reveals the principles by which God judges us . . . and [it is] the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.” That is why we hear, read, and study! Furthermore, “All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.” It all points to Him! Let’s hear, read, and study God’s Word so that we might point others to Jesus.

A message preached on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
God’s Word (Part II)
September 19, 2010, 6:00 p.m.

TWO MORE WAYS WE INTAKE THE BIBLE
4. Memorizing God’s Word
Another way to intake the Word of God is through memorization of Scripture. Memorizing Scripture takes you to a new and deeper level of understanding God’s Word. It is also at the point of memorization of Scripture that the Word of God will most effect your daily life. If you have ever memorized Scripture, you probably need little convincing of how effective this can be in your spiritual life. If you never have memorized Scripture, you might need a little persuading and convincing. Why should we memorize God’s Word?

Memorizing Scripture . . .
(1) Supplies Spiritual Power
Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” The Word of God serves to protect us, to guard us, and to empower us in our personal battles against sin. The Word helps us win the battle just as it did for Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11. The Word is described in offensive warfare terms as the “sword of the Spirit.” A soldier would not leave his sword at home. Through memorizing Scripture, the Christian is able to carry his or her sword all through daily life.

(2) Strengthens Your Faith
Memorizing Scripture also strengthens your faith. Proverbs 22:17-19, NASB, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you.” Notice the strength comes to us because we have heard God’s Word and we have kept the Word “within” us. Because the Word dwells within us, we are able to trust in the Lord. Faith comes easier to those who have God’s Word planted “within” their heart.

What area of your faith do you need strengthening? Maybe you need courage and freedom from fear. You can memorize 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Maybe you need God’s comfort in your time of sorrow. You can memorize Psalm 55:2, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Maybe you struggle with the assurance of God’s love and His acceptance of you. You can memorize Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” Maybe you wrestle with a specific sin in your life. You can’t seem to conquer it. You can memorize James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Memorized Scripture is recalled Scripture. When you need it, God’s Word will be there for you.

(3) Provides Guidance
Memorizing Scripture is valuable because the Word in us gives guidance to us. God will use the implanted Word to direct your paths. Psalm 119:24 says, “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” God’s Word is our instruction manual, our operating procedures. God’s Words are our counselors. This is the best book on counseling ever written. As we memorize God’s Word, the HS can take the Word and offer us guidance.

(4) Allows You to Witness and Counsel Others
God’s Word implanted within you will allow you to witness and counsel others effectively. You will be more sensitive to what others are going through, first of all. Why? Because when you get in God’s Word, God’s will gets in you (see Acts 1:8). Second, you will have a Word to share with someone when they need it. In Acts 2:14-40 we discover that Peter had the opportunity to share and to preach concerning Jesus Christ. Because Peter was familiar with Scripture, he was able to use Scripture. Many times when opportunities arrive to share Christ with someone or even to minister and counsel someone, a Bible may not be handy. However, if you have God’s Word in your heart, you will always have a word of good news to share.

Memorizing is one way to receive the Word of God into our life. Another way is by . . .
5. Meditating on God’s Word
The practice of meditation has been given a bad rap. Many people associate meditation with eastern religions and philosophies. However, meditation has always been a part of Christianity. There are however at least two major difference between Christian meditation and the meditation practiced by the eastern religions. First, in eastern religions, the goal of meditation is self-emptying. You goal is to arrive at a state of complete nothingness or nirvana. But in Christian meditation the goal is not to empty yourself, but rather to fill yourself with the things of God. The second difference between Christian meditation and eastern meditation is that Christian meditation is not an end in itself. It is for the purpose of godliness, the practical doing of the Word of God. As we mediate on the Word of God, we are changed, empowered, and motivated to put into practice the Word.

Look how both of these ideas are presented in Scripture in the life of Joshua. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua is committing himself to meditating on the Law day and night. This reveals
(1) The Content of Meditation – The Word
Joshua is not emptying himself; but rather, he is filling himself with God’s law.
This verse also reveals . . .
(2) The Purpose of Meditation – “Do”
Joshua’s purpose was to “do” the law.

The other passage that is instructive on the importance of mediating on God’s Word is
Psalm 1:1-3. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

Two things stand out about this passage. First, the godly person is so because he or she walks to a different beat than the world, namely the path of meditating and walking in the Word of God. This path of meditation and walking with God is a conscious choice to refrain (on the negative side) from the practices of the ungodly and on the positive side pursue after God’s Word day and night. Second, the godly person naturally produces a fruitful harvest. He receives nourishment from the life-giving stream. The fruit that is produced is lasting. It remains.

Through each one of these ways of Bible intake, one principle stands out. For Bible intake to produce godliness in our lives we must apply God’s Word.
THE BIBLE MUST BE APPLIED
James 1:22 reminds us of the necessity of applying the Word of God, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

How do you apply what you hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate upon? One effective way is to ask questions of the Bible passage that you are reading and studying. For instance, What is the main theme of this passage? What does this passage tell me to do? Or What does this passage tell me not to do? Is there a promise to claim? What am I going to do now because of my time with the Word? Jot these thoughts down and ask God how you can apply these into your life.

Conclusion
Memorizing and meditating on the Word of God are important and life-changing ways to intake the Bible. As we intake the Word we must apply the Word to our life. As we do we will see God change us into the person He wants us to be.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: His Strength (Philippians 4:13)

2010-09-13T13:58:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Sermon Series: Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
“His Strength”
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)

Introduction
You probably didn’t know this but September 13, 2010 is “Positive Thinking” Day. Perhaps you remember reading the story to your children, "The Little Engine that Could." The climax of the story is when the little train pulls its oversized load to the top of the hill, finding strength to keep going by repeating the words, "I think I can; I think I can; I think I can." Because it thought positive thoughts, it accomplished the impossible.

Motivational speakers abound reminding us that it’s all in our mind. If you think you can do it, then surely you will. This idea gets imported into Christianity by the use and misuse of our verse today in Philippians 4:13. Why is this verse so popular? Because it has such a positive message, a message very much in line with what we know as the “American Spirit.” For years Norman Vincent Peale preached his “positive thinking” message. His book, “The Power of Positive Thinking” published in 1952 sold almost 20 million copies in 41 languages. And on the West coast, Robert Schuller promoted a similar idea in “possibility thinking.”

Paul’s message in Philippians 4:13 is not so much positive thinking as it is “right thinking.” Positive thinking alone is “humanism,” but when you combine the “I can do” with the “through Christ” or “in Christ,” it is right thinking.

So here is one of the great promises in the Bible, the promise of God’s strength, God’s power, God’s victory in our circumstances.
I want to talk with you today about experiencing God’s strength as expressed in our text today from three aspects: The Sufficiency of His Strength, The Sphere (or operation) of His Strength, and The Source of His Strength.

1. The Sufficiency of His Strength – “I can do”
Here we are talking about what God’s strength can do. Paul is not a victim of his circumstances, he is a victor. He knows that the Lord is in control and he also knows that it is a choice for him to trust in the Lord in all of his circumstances. Paul is choosing to trust God even in the dark. What are the “I can do’s” that Paul is referring to? (1) For one, they are the life experiences that Paul has faced. In these experiences, difficult they may have been, Paul has learned to be content. He has learned to rely on God’s strength.

A casual look at Paul’s difficult experiences, shows us just what he had to endure. For example, in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 Paul tells us that he was in prison (23), flogged (23), repeatedly exposed to death (23), whipped five times (24), beaten with rods three times (25), constantly on the move (26), in constant danger (26), he went prolonged periods without sleep, food, or a place to stay (27), he carried the burden of the churches (28), and he struggled with internal battles of the soul (29).

If that’s not all enough, Paul experienced what he called “a thorn in my flesh” (12:7), and this he called “a messenger of Satan to torment me.” This was probably some type of physical problem that Paul experienced. Three times he “pleaded with the Lord to take it away,” but God did not. Instead though, God did say “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power [strength] is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). Paul came to realize the sufficiency of God’s strength, that when he was weak, he was strong. Paul knew the truth that whatever God led him to, God would lead him through. That’s why he was able to say, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

In your life experiences, good and bad, you have a choice to be content, you have a choice to trust in God and His strength. Many times we feel that we are powerless victims of fate. Our attitude is “I can’t” endure, “I can’t” overcome, “I can’t” make it, but Paul reminds us that in Christ our “I can’t” becomes “I can!” What’s important to see is that this “Can do” spirit is “learned” (v.11), which means to “learn by experience.”

During this eight week emphasis, we are asking you to memorize a Scripture verse each week. The value in committing Scripture to memory is obvious – when you need a word from God, the Lord is able to retrieve it from the hard drive of your soul. We are asking you to commit to memory this great promise of God’s strength found in Phillipians 4:13, yet memorizing this verse alone will not give you His strength, you must learn to rely on God’s strength in your life situations as you exercise your faith muscle your ability to trust Him grows. You learn to rely on God’s power through your life experiences, one choice at a time, and what you find is that your faith grows even greater the next time a difficult situation arises. That’s why Paul’s faith grew as he walked with God. He learned to trust in God’s strength day-by-day. Paul learned that the “joy of the Lord” was his strength (Neh. 8:10).

Think of it like this. No one wakes up one morning and decides that they are going to run a marathon that morning. No, you first discipline yourself by running shorter distances, by getting in shape, so that when it’s time to run the marathon, you are conditioned to do so. In every endeavor that requires conditioning you have to take incremental steps to reach your goal. But over time through discipline you begin to see changes and you become conditioned to reach your goal. That’s what Paul is saying when he says to us that he “learned” the secret of being content. Rely on God’s strength today in your situation. Then when tomorrow gets here, it will be easier for you to trust in His strength by default.

God’s strength is sufficient in our trials and burdens. (2) God’s strength is also sufficient in whatever the Lord calls us to do. God empowered Paul to fulfill his mission, and God will empower you, He will strengthen you to do what He’s called you to do. (3) God’s strength is also sufficient to empower us to face whatever the future holds.

The Sufficiency of His Strength
2. The Sphere of His Strength – “everything” or “all things”
Where does this “can do” spirit operate? Does it operate only when things are going well. No, the “can do” spirit included “everything,” or “all things.” Paul is saying that my circumstances have no bearing on my ability to be in a perfect state of contentment. The actual context for this promise is important to see. Paul is not saying he can do just anything and everything. Paul is not all of sudden superman. The context here has to do primarily with his life and especially his economic status. Paul’s in prison, he’s destitute, he has nothing but God, but God is all he needs. And even thought he has nothing, he has everything, especially the strength of the Lord to deal with his circumstances.

Some people feel that if they are going through a rough patch, then somehow there relationship with God must not be right. We feel that “Christians aren’t supposed to go through this,” or “I’m not supposed to feel this way.” The truth is much different. You can be right where you need to be with God and go through difficult times. Paul is exhibit “A.” But the beauty of the Christian life is that God’s strength comes to us “more so” in difficult times not less. It’s not always the good times that we sense God’s strength, it’s when the bottom falls out that we experience the tender mercy and strength of our Lord. Because in those times we come to know that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea . . . [thought life falls apart we know that] The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps. 46:1-2, 11).

Many people feel that when there economic situation improves, or when their health improves, or if _____ improves, then they will be happy, then they will feel God’s presence and blessing, then they will be strong and content. But this is usually not the case. God gives us His joy and the strength of His presence in “everything,” and even “more so” when things are bad.

The Sufficiency of His Strength, The Sphere of His Strength
3. The Source of His Strength – “through him who gives me strength”
What was the source of Paul’s hopeful outlook even though he was in prison? What was the source of Paul’s strength to endure the unimaginable suffering he endured? Who enabled him to be happy when he was hungry and without food? Who gave him peace when he was persecuted for preaching the Gospel? Who gave him joy when others deprived him of what he had? Who strengthened him to courageously preach God’s Word? It was the living Lord Jesus (called “The sovereign Lord” by Habakkuk 3:19) who strengthened him in every situation he faced. The same sovereign Lord promises to give you His strength too.

The source of strength is in Christ and it is experienced as we grow in our personal relationship with him. Proverbs 24:5 tells us that “a man of knowledge [experiential] increases strength.” This reinforces the truth that God’s strength is enjoyed as we relate to Him daily as living Lord. That is exactly what Jesus meant in John 15:5 when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, [i.e., salvation and sanctification] he will bear much fruit [strength being a fruit]; apart from me you can do nothing.” In our strength alone, all we can produce is “I can’t.” You can do nothing of yourself, but you “can do” “everything through him who gives” you strength.

There is a balance at work in this verse. Some people just emphasize the “I can do.” This alone is pure humanism, positive thinking. Other people just emphasize the “through Christ” as if He does it all and there’s nothing that I need to do. The key to the balance is found in the phrase “through him” or “en Christo,” which literally means “by means of.” So, “I can do all things by means of the strength of Christ in me.” I am the instrument, He is the power!

Warren Wiersbe explains the source of God’s strength in this way: All of nature depends on hidden resources. The great trees send their roots down into the earth to draw up water and minerals. Rivers have their sources in the snow-capped mountains. The most important part of a tree is the part you cannot see, the root system, and the most important part of the Christian’s life is the part that only God sees. Unless we draw on the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life. Paul depended on the power of Christ at work in his life. “I can—through Christ!” was Paul’s motto, and it can be our motto too.

Are you relying on His strength today? Where do you need God’s strength today? In what area of your life do you need to claim the promise of His strength? His grace really is sufficient. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet and all of the books in the world printed in English use those 26 letters. The authors did not have to go outside of the alphabet to assemble this massive collection of knowledge. The alphabet provided for them everything they needed for this one task. Jesus Christ called Himself the Alpha and the Omega, and we do not have to go outside of him for anything that we need. He is God’s “everything” – for all situations. He is sufficient! God’s Word is true: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Putting Christ First (Matthew 6:33; 1 Samuel 15:1-23)

2010-09-05T15:32:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, September 5, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Series: Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
First Sermon: “Putting Christ First”

Introduction to Series
In “Lessons on Christian Living” you will learn about eight principles and promises God has given you as his son or daughter, and the corresponding responsibilities and privileges you have in living a life that pleases God. Our first lesson is “Putting Christ First.” Who will you live your life for? What has first place in your thoughts and plans? Jesus often challenged his disciples to consider their commitment to him and his kingdom. One of those instances is found in Matthew 6:33, our focal verse for the day.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). As you begin to put him, his will, and his work first in your daily life, you will begin to fully experience God’s love and care, for he has promised to provide all of your daily needs.

What does it mean to put Christ first? Putting Christ first means following the Lord with complete obedience. We are going to learn what complete obedience means as we look at an account in the life of King Saul found in 1 Samuel chapter 15. An occasion of disobedience on the part of Saul leads God to declare what it means to put him first.

1. God’s Word Commanded (15:1-3)
Through Samuel the prophet, God brought “The message of the Lord” (v.1) to King Saul. “The Lord Almighty” is going to bring judgement upon the Amalekites (v.2). “Lord Almighty” is literally “Yahweh Sabaoth,” and means “The Lord of Hosts” or “Armies.” This name for God carries the idea of God’s sovereignty. He is the Lord, the Conqueror! According to the word of the Lord of Armies, the Amalekites are to be totally destroyed (v.3). The Hebrew word here for “totally destroyed” is a special word that means “the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.” The people are to be devoted to destruction and the destruction is to be complete.

God is perfectly just in punishing the Amalekites. There is a long history that has come before this command to annihilate them. The Amalekites, in their persistent refusal to fear God (Deut. 25:18), sowed the seeds of their own destruction. God is patient and slow to anger, “abounding in love and faithfulness” (Ex. 34:6); he nevertheless “does not leave the guilty unpunished” (v.7).

1. God’s word commanded
2. God’s Word Compromised (15:4-9)
How did Saul respond to this mission from God? He partially carried out the task (v.7) in that he preserved the life of Agag, king of the Amalekites (v.8-9a) and he spared the best of the sheep and cattle “and everything that was good” (v.9). That which they deemed to be good, “they were unwilling to destroy completely.” They merely destroyed that which they deemed “despised and weak.” The word “unwilling” is used elsewhere in Scripture to indicate the sin of rebellion.

Now this seems perfectly reasonable to you and I. Keep the good stuff and get rid of the bad. But the problem is that this is not what God told Saul and the people to do. And as we will see, partial obedience is not obedience at all.

3. Disobedience Condemned (15:10-21)
What Saul thought was a good thing God said marked a “turning away” from the Lord (v.10). To say that you are following the Lord and not doing what he has commanded you is contradictory. You cannot go forward at the same time you are going backwards. Disobedience is going in the wrong direction. Listen to what God has said. “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left” (Deut. 5:32). And in Joshua 1:7, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Josh. 1:7). Clearly, disobedience is turning away from the Lord. Are you following Jesus? Putting Christ first? Putting Him first means following the Lord with complete obedience.

After agonizing over the situation all night long (v.11), Samuel went looking for Saul. He had the unenviable position of having to address Saul’s disobedience. It’s not always easy being a prophet. Samuel clearly was grieved himself. Saul has been a disappointment, yet He had so much potential. Samuel finds Saul at Gilgal near Carmel where he had gone to erect a monument to celebrate his latest victory (v.12). No doubt this memorial was a great photo opportunity for Saul.

Saul greets Samuel in a pious tone of voice, “Bless the Lord! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions” (v.13). But Samuel says, “If that is so, why do I hear sheep bleating? Why do I hear cattle lowing?” (v. 14). “It seems as if I recall telling you exactly what God told you to do and did not involve keeping any sheep and cattle.” What about us? Are we carrying out the Lord’s commands, his instructions? Are we taking this Gospel message seriously and putting Christ first in our lives? Or like Saul have we become satisfied with partial, incomplete obedience which is not obedience at all?

Saul does what most people do when they are pinned against the spiritual wall, he blames someone else, here the soldiers who are under his leadership. “The soldiers . . .” were easy targets (v.15). Notice how Saul says “They” did this but “we” (meaning himself), “totally destroyed the rest.” Some general Saul is, he has just thrown his soldiers under the bus. Verse 9 makes it clear that Saul too is to blame. It’s easy to play the blame game, but the reality is there’s enough blame to go around. Saul even distances himself from the Lord in all this telling Samuel that God is “the Lord your God” rather than “the Lord our God” (v.21) even though Saul has just invoked the name of the Lord in a personal way and had claimed to have obeyed him (v.13).

You can almost hear Samuel’s disgust with Saul’s lame story about saving the best to sacrifice to God (see v.15) and he shouts to him to “Stop!” (v.16). Samuel has received a word from the Lord to Saul, a word that he probably is not going to like. What does Samuel remind Saul of?
(1) It was the Lord who promoted you (v.17)
“You were a nothing,” Samuel says, “but the Lord raised you up. Once you were small in your own eyes, once you did not concern yourself with building monuments to your glory (v.17). Once you walked in humility before God, but now no longer.”

(2) It was the Lord who anointed you (v.17)
“Saul, the Lord is the one who anointed you king of Israel. God is the king maker.”

(3) It was the Lord who commissioned you (v.18)
“He is the one who has sent you on His mission (v.18).” Saul took God’s clear Word and adapted it here and there. He thought he could improve upon God’s mission, but the reality is, God’s mission is not up for interpretation. It’s not up to us to add or subtract from God’s commands, it’s up to us to obey what He’s commanded.

Saul changed God’s mission because he didn’t like what God told him to do. The reality is, it really doesn’t matter if we think God’s mission is good or not. We are not the ones who decide if God’s plans are wise or not. God didn’t consult us before the foundation of the world to work out his plan.

As his servants, we simply are to say “Yes, Lord, you’re servant awaits.” God is the one who sends us on our mission. You don’t have to like it. It’s irrelevant. Jesus said to love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, who use you. Love one another. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Our obedience does not hinge on whether you agree or like God’s mission or not.

In speaking to Job as he complained about God’s character and how he works, God said “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? . . . Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth? . . . Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you ‘Here we are’?” (Job 38:4, 33; 35). Putting Christ first, we will follow the Lord with complete obedience.

The question to Saul is “Why did you not obey me?” (v.19). The seriousness of this act of disobedience is seen in the fact that it is called “evil.” Saul is in denial and he has deceived himself. “But I did obey the Lord” (v.20). You would never think anything is wrong according to Saul. Everything’s great! Listen to Saul as he describes to Samuel how he has carried out God’s command. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me” (v.20). And “I completely destroyed the Amalekites” (v.20) which was only partially true.

Disobedience is condemned, but . . .
4. Obedience Commended (15:22-23)
(1) A question (v.22a). What brings delight to God? Burnt offerings and sacrifices? Or “obeying the voice of the Lord”? It’s not that worship was bad or wrong, but when worship and ritual become a substitute for true religion, for obedience then we’ve missed God. We could ask the same question. Has our religion become a substitute for obedience to God?

(2) A precept (v.22b). The precept is stated twice for emphasis. “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Another way of saying it is “To heed is better than the fat of rams.” Putting Christ first means following the Lord with complete obedience. The “better” thing is obedience.

(3) A warning (v.23a). Disobedience is serious in God’s eyes because at the heart of disobedience is “rebellion.” Furthermore, the Bible says that “Rebellion is like the sin of divination” (Literally witchcraft). In what way is rebellion like witchcraft? In the Bible God condemns witchcraft because witchcraft is an attempt to know how to live in the present and see the future without God. When you and I go our own way, we are saying that we know best, we know how to guide our life without God. Disobedience is like witchcraft and at the heart of disobedience is a heart of “arrogance.”

Saul is not worthy to be king because he has “rejected the word of the Lord” (v.23b). To reject the word of the Lord is to place yourself outside the blessings and protection of God. Reject God’s Word and He will reject you. If only Saul had completely obeyed God, then he could have experienced the blessings of God “all these things would have been added to him,” but he did not put the Lord first. And from this point on, Saul was finished as leader of God’s people. It was just a matter of time but his downfall was sealed. He would continue to make poor choices and God would raise up a man after His heart in David to be king of Israel.

God is looking for people who will follow Him with complete obedience. Are you putting Christ first in your life? First in your heart? In your family? In your time, talents, and treasure? In your business? In your relationships? When the Lord is first, life falls into place, when He’s not, life falls apart. Jesus’ challenge to you is to “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

The Unfinished Task (Mark 16:1-8)

2010-08-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 16:1-8
Occasion: Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

The Sabbath had ended (our Saturday evening) and some of the women who were followers of Jesus gathered up the spices and materials necessary, “so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body” (v.1). Because of the Sabbath, Jesus had received a hasty burial. The women were coming to properly anoint him in a last act of love and devotion.

After gathering what they needed, the next morning “just after sunrise” (v.2) they began their journey to the tomb. The women came that first morning with no other expectation than to see the body of Jesus. They as well as all the other disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead. Their preoccupation that morning had to do with the details of how they were going to get into the tomb. “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” they asked among themselves (v.3). Tombs were enclosed with large circular-like stones that had to be rolled aside. The women knew that they themselves would not be capable
of this.

But their prayers were answered “when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away” (v.4). Matthew’s account fills in the details (28:2, 4). “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. . . The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.” The angel did not roll away the stone to let Jesus out of the tomb, he rolled away the stone so that we might look in.

As the women entered the tomb, “they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed” (v.5). Knowing the women were frightened the angel spoke, “Don’t be alarmed” (v.6). Some of the most encouraging words spoken in the Bible are “Fear not,” “Don’t be alarmed.” God speaks to us in our fears, our worries, our anxieties, a little word that has a powerful effect, “Fear not.” The angel made it clear that the one they were looking for is “Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified” (v.6). Mark wants us to know that the one who was crucified is a real historical person, “Jesus the Nazarene.” However, He is crucified no longer, “He is risen!” “He is not here,” the grave is empty!

The angel has a three-fold message for the women, all imperatives: (1) “See” (v.6b) the place where Jesus was laid. See for yourselves that Jesus is not here, the tomb has been vacated. The empty tomb is a powerful symbol that death has been emptied of its power by the risen Christ. In Christ, you and I have the blessed assurance that death has been defeated, it has been stripped of its power of us. Listen to Hebrews 2:14, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil.” See also, 2 Timothy 2:10.

(2) “Go” (v.7a) from the grave. If the body of Jesus had remained in the grave, the grave would be a place to linger, a place to mourn, to grieve, but since it’s empty, it no longer is a cemetery, a place to grieve, it has now become a place of hope and renewed joy. (3) “Tell” (v.7a) “his disciples and Peter.” Don’t forget to tell Peter because he needs to know that his failure was not final. God is going to restore him. Because Christ is alive, our failures are not final! The content of the message is two-fold: (1) Jesus “is going ahead of you into Galilee” (v.7b), a fulfillment of 14:28 and (2) “You will see him, just as he told you” (v.7b). The reality for us is that Christ always goes before us into our Galilee. As we meet him in our daily lives, we too see Him by faith.

“Bewildered, the women went out and fled the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid” (v.8). Most biblical scholars today hold to the view that Mark’s Gospel ends after verse 8 which is indicated in the NIV. Verses 9-20 are printed after a break and a note. Without overwhelming you with all the reasons why most believe this, let me briefly mention the two main reasons.

The first has to do with The External Evidence: The two earliest and most reliable Greek MSS do not have verses 9-20. Furthermore, the testimony of some of the early church leaders, Eusebius (d. A.D. 39) and Jerome (d. A.D. 420) also seems to support this conclusion. Verses 9-20 (actually written three different ways in the Greek MSS) seem to have been added later to make Mark’s Gospel more complete. Medieval writers picked this up and so later English versions which are based on these texts included verses 9-20. The other reason had to do with The Internal Evidence: Language (vocabulary, grammar, style) of both the long and short endings is definitely not Mark. What is said doesn’t seem to fit with the context of Mark. It appears that whoever wrote verses 9-20 did so by pasting parts from the other Gospels, Matthew and Luke.

If Mark’s Gospel ends at verse 8, then it seems strange to us because there are no resurrection appearances, the story is unfinished, the women have yet to see Him, they are still a little confused as to what they have seen and heard. They are in amazement and they are still trying to make sense of it all. To know the rest of the story, we have to look in the other Gospels. The question is then, why would Mark end his gospel in this way? Mark, under the inspiration of God leaves the story open-ended on purpose. Mark apparently wanted an open ending to indicate that the story was not complete but was continuing beyond the time he wrote. He wanted his readers/hearers to continue the story in their own lives. Remember, one of Mark’s purposes for writing is to encourage discipleship.

Mark’s Purpose, The Why: (1) By stating that the women told no one, Mark challenged his readers/hearers to assume the responsibility of telling the good news to everyone. So you and I are to do what Mark says the women did not do, we are to “Go, tell.” (2) Mark also showed that ultimately Christian faith does not rest upon signs and miracles, even appearances of the risen Lord. After all, only five or six hundred persons (see 1 Cor. 15:5-8) ever saw Jesus after his resurrection, and it is unlikely that any of Mark’s original readers/hearers were among these. So here is an encouragement to walk by faith, to believe even though you do not see. By his ending, Mark challenged the disciples of his day, and he continues to challenge the disciples of today, to “see” by faith, to live and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) Mark is reminding us that always Jesus goes before us; always he calls us forward to a new appearance in the Galilee of the nations, in the Galilee of our daily lives. The stance of the believer’s life is expectancy. The risen Christ meets us in our
daily lives.

Reflections on our text with our observance of the Lord’s Supper
1. The Jesus you remember in the Supper is the same “Jesus the Nazarene” who lived, who was crucified, and who rose again. The Supper is a living memorial and it so because the one you remember is still alive! Don’t forget that we worship the living God. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

2. In calling you to remember Him, Jesus calls you to follow Him in His mission. The Gospel story in Mark is yet to be proclaimed. It is unfinished. The unfinished task of preaching the crucified and risen Christ falls to you! We are the ones who are to take up the message of the angel and “Go, tell.” See Romans 10:13-15. Mark 16:15 may have been added later, but what it demands of us is true, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” The truth is, God does not need us to accomplish His plan, but he chooses to use us because he loves us.

3. Because Jesus is alive, you are reminded that He always goes before you and He always is calling you forward to a new appearance of Him in your daily life. Where could you “see” Jesus today in your Galilee? God is always going before you and he calls you to see him in the everyday events of your life.

Do you know this “Jesus the Nazarene” who was crucified and who has risen? Do you know Him who is Lord and Savior? And if so, are you following Him? Are you allowing Him to use you to “go and tell”? How can we know Him as Lord and not proclaim Him!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

The Day Christ Died (Mark 15:33-41)

2010-08-23T08:44:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

The Day Christ Died

Scripture Reading: Mark 15:33-41
The crucial event to which Mark’s Gospel has been pointing to all along is a mere 21 verses and the crucifixion itself is reported in just 4 words (in Greek 3), “and they crucified him” (v.24a). Nevertheless, the crucifixion of Jesus is the most significant act of all history, the day Christ died for the sins of the world. What happened the day Christ died? And how does his death speak to us today?

As we consider the day Christ died, we will look at this event from three perspectives: the cross when it was midnight at midday, the curtain, beyond the veil, and the confession, faith in Jesus.

I. The Cross: Midnight at Midday (vv.33-36)
Mark tells us that “darkness came over the whole land” as Jesus was being crucified (v.33). This occurred at the 6th hour (12:00 noon) until the 9th hour (3:00 p.m.). It was midnight at midday. More than just a physical occurrence, although it was very real, darkness in the Bible is a picture of sin or evil or that which is incomplete and in need of God’s light. For example, darkness is pictured as unformed chaos prior to God’s Spirit moving over the deep of His creation (Gen. 1:2-3). Darkness was a picture of judgement in the plague that fell across the land of Egypt (Ex. 10:22). Solomon writes that “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness” (Prov. 4:19). In the Gospel story, Jesus came for people who were living in darkness (Matt. 4:16). People also refused to follow Jesus because they loved living in their darkness more than living in the light (Jn. 3:19).

Why was the darkness present at the crucifixion of Jesus? Sin – your sin, my sin – was being judged in Jesus. He was taking in His body all of our darkness! He was taking in Himself every evil deed, every sinful thought. God was making Jesus “sin who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The only way for us to become righteous is to have a righteousness given to us and that’s what God provides in Jesus.

The ultimate picture of darkness is seen in the fact that on the cross, Jesus was forsaken. Verse 34 records Jesus’ cry of desolation. Jesus was abandoned so that you and I could be adopted. He was forsaken so that you and I could be forgiven. When Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (v.34), he was quoting the first verse of Psalm 22. The Psalmist in his pain and suffering felt abandoned by God. And in a very real way, Jesus Himself was abandoned on the cross for our sins. Why was Jesus forsaken? Because God is absolutely holy, without sin, perfect in every way and cannot even look upon sin. Yet on the cross, Jesus became sin for us.

Why did Jesus have to die? Why become sin? Why was he forsaken? Because God is holy and yet we are sinful, we are born with a sin nature and we knowingly go our own way like sheep without a shepherd. Our human condition apart from Christ is described by Paul in Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks after God.” Furthermore, we are helpless to change or help ourselves become right with God. “No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Rom. 3:20). Fortunately, there is a righteousness that is given to us by faith, and Paul says “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Rom. 3:22).

On the cross, Jesus became our perfect substitute, the once-for-all sacrifice for sins. On the cross grace and mercy flowed down. Isaiah describes what God’s Messiah would one day do for mankind. He “poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). He was truly forsaken so that we would never have to be. Listen to Peter’s explanation of the cross, quoting also from Isaiah 53: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed”
(1 Pe. 2:24).

So what does this all mean? Through the cross, Jesus has turned our darkness into light. Paul describes our new state in Christ by stating that “you once were darkness, but now you are light” (Eph. 5:18). Jesus told the people of his day that He was the Light of the World (Jn. 8:12). But on the cross it looked as if Christ’s enemies had won, it looked as if the light was snuffed out. When darkness enveloped the cross, Satan and the enemies of Jesus laughed with delight. But they could not extinguish the light of life. And because of the cross and resurrection, Jesus’s light was not extinguished but it only burned brighter. Every person who believes in Jesus who has their eyes opened to the truth of God is a testimony that God’s light has not been extinguished.

Because we are now in the light, we are to live in the light. Paul asks, “What fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14). The obvious answer is “none!” It was Paul who also said in Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” And then in verse 11 he says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” As we “Let our light shine” in the darkness, sinful actions will be exposed and people will see the truth of God in your life.

The question is, “Have you accepted what God has done for you?” Are you trusting in God’s righteousness by faith? What God has done in Christ in the atonement is universal in its provision, but it is limited in its application. What that means is that Jesus really did die for the sins of the world, but his death for sins only makes a difference in your life when you accept by faith the “good news.” You can believe that Jesus lived, you can believe that it’s probably true, you can go to church all your life, you can be a good person, but until you appropriate Christ’s sacrifice in your life, this message, this truth, this reality will not make any difference in your life. You personally must call on the name of the Lord and be saved (Rom. 10:13). Has this happened in your life? It is the only way for you to be reconciled to a holy God.

II. The Curtain: Beyond the Veil (vv.37-38)
When Jesus breathed his last breath, several events immediately took place. But perhaps the most significant event for us that took place was that the “curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (v.38). The curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Ex. 26:33). This curtain measuring perhaps as large as 60' wide and 30' high was torn form the top which signified that this was not act of man, this was an act of God. It symbolized the new reality that the way into God’s presence was now open to all who would come. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, the way to the Father has been opened.

Hebrews 10:19-20 tells us that we can now go to God with confidence because we have “a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.” In Jesus the obstacles have been removed between us and God and the way has been opened through himself. Jesus is now the curtain, he is the door, he is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father unless he or she comes through him (Jn. 14:6).

The curtain torn speaks to the fact that we now have access to God. Jesus said “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (Jn. 10:9-10). Paul tells us that through Jesus Christ “we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2). What a blessing it is to know that we have continuous access to the Father through Jesus!

The cross, the curtain, now we see . . .
III. The Confession: Faith in Jesus (v.39)
This Roman Centurion had been there all along. He heard the first cry from the cross when they were dividing his clothes among themselves at the foot of the cross and Jesus replied, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” This centurion had witnessed many crucifixions but it is doubtful that anyone every forgave him while hanging on the cross. This centurion was there when the one thief asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. This centurion saw the love of the women who watched from a distance. This centurion heard the voice of God from the cross and saw the events that took place. He “heard” and he “saw” and he was moved. “Surely this man was the Son
of God!”

Some people have said that the centurion was moved by the way Jesus died with dignity and this was more of a confession that this was a great man, “a son of God.” We do not know how much this centurion understood at the time, but I tend to think he was moved by God in a way similar to that of Saul of Tarsus. Saul was moved by the way that Stephen died. This had a powerful effect on Saul. This centurion heard and saw how Jesus died and his hardened heart was softened by God’s Spirit to confess faith in Jesus as “the Son of God.”

Regardless of what he knew, you and I know much more! We have the full story, the full revelation of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. The Gospel is not merely a story of good news, it is that, but by its very nature the Gospel demands a response. What is your response to what happened the day Christ died? Many of you have made a confession of faith similar to the centurion’s, you have believed in Jesus as the Son of God and your Lord and savior. But some maybe have watched from afar. You’re in the number of the undecided. The reality is, there are no undecideds. The Gospel demands a response. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (Jn. 3:18). What is your response to Jesus? Are you in the number of the “not condemned” or the “condemned already”?

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Before the Rooster Crows (Mark 14:27-42, 66-72)

2010-08-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, August 15, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Before the Rooster Crows

Scripture Reading: Mark 14:27-42; 66-72
It was called the “The Tarmac Tirade,” “The Flight Attendant Tantrum,” when Steve Slater opened the emergency exit of a Jet Blue flight at Kennedy International Airport this past Monday. Steve had reached his breaking point when he had an altercation with a passenger. People that know him said that he has been under quite a bit of pressure lately. His father recently died, his mother is ill, and he has battled alcohol and drug addiction in his past. After a very public profanity-laced tirade against the passenger, he grabbed two beers and slid down the emergency exit. Some people under pressure are one step away from opening the emergency exit. Pressure sometimes bring out the worst in people.

In the arrest, trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and the denial of Peter in the courtyard of the High Priest, we have a paradigm for behavior under pressure. Jesus shows what we should do and Peter what we should avoid. Jesus exemplifies courage, Peter cowardice. Jesus, while losing his life through steadfast witness, ultimately saves it; Peter, trying to save himself, in fact condemns himself. We are called to follow Jesus but like Peter we often deny him. The good news is that our salvation depends not on our performance, but on the faithfulness of God. The question is “How can we stand under pressure? To live faithful to our Lord?”

I. Falling Away and Restoration (vv.27-28)
This passage begins with Jesus foretelling the falling away and restoration of the disciples. The Scripture in Zechariah 13:7-9 will soon be fulfilled. The shepherd will be struck down and the sheep will be scattered. But Jesus also knows that on the other side of death lies resurrection. He speaks of this in a matter-of-fact way, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (v.28). Here is the picture of the shepherd once again leading his sheep.

II. Boasting Allegiance to Jesus (vv. 29-31)
Upon hearing Jesus’ prophetic words, Peter and the other disciples boast of their allegiance to Jesus. Peter holds out the possibility that some or even all of the disciples might fall away but not him (v.29). He emphatically states, “I will not.” Tragically though, before the rooster crows twice Peter will deny the Lord not once but three times (v.30), even stating that he does not even know Jesus! Peter can’t leave well enough alone and continues to argue that he will not deny Jesus even if it means death (v.31). The other disciples that were there that day “said the same” (v.31).

III. Watching and Praying at Gethsemane (vv.32-42)
In Verses 32-42 we see Jesus and the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. This olive orchard on the slope of the Mount of Olives was a favorite place of prayer and quiet for Jesus. Jesus knew what lie ahead. The “cup” was a symbol for the wrath or judgement of God. The wrath of God against unrighteousness was about to be poured out on God’s Son and our Savior. Our substitute: Isa. 53:5; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pe. 3:18. Our Sin Bearer: Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pe. 2:24. Stricken by God: Ps. 22; Isa. 53:4; Rom. 5:8-9 (saved from God’s wrath because of Jesus). In His humanity, Jesus was “deeply distressed and troubled . . . overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (vv., 33-34). Because of the great suffering and sense of abandonment, Jesus truly desired the companionship and prayers of his disciples.

But in Jesus’ most desperate hour of need, the disciples let Him down miserably. Not once but three times the disciples fell asleep (vv.37, 40, 41). They could not even stay awake and watch and pray for one hour (v.37). The disciples who just moments ago were boasting about how they would never let Jesus down can’t even stay awake and pray for Him in His hour of greatest need. Maybe if they had “watched and prayed” a little more often they would not have been so weak. Jesus did say that “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (v.38).

Jesus though found strength in the Garden. While the disciples slept, Jesus poured out his heart and soul to God. Few Scriptures reveal the humanity of Jesus as this one. You see the deep struggle going on in Jesus’ soul in verse 35. He falls to the ground and prays “that if possible the hour might pass from him.” The hour and the cup are symbols that point to the final agony of crucifixion. Jesus prays that the cup be removed from him, “yet not what I will, but what you will” (v.36). Jesus refuses to abandon the will of God. His resolve gives him the strength to face his “betrayer” (v.42) and what lies ahead on the cross. There is a contrast between the disciples and Jesus. The disciples quickly dismiss the idea that they might somehow fail. They are so confident, so boastful, and yet so prayerless. Jesus on the other hand knows that the battle is real, he doesn’t enter into the arena lightly. He deals with this experience seriously, soberly, and prayerfully.

In Jesus we see how to deal with the tests, those times of crushing, suffering, while in Peter and the others we see what to avoid. But how things could have been different for them if they only had truly followed Jesus!
The Paradigm of Prayer
❶ Look again at what Jesus told them to do, beginning in verse 32, “Sit here.”

❷ Then, in verse 34, “Stay here.”

❸ And in verse 38, “Watch and

❹ pray.” To “sit” is to take some time apart. It is to be still and know that the Lord is God. To “stay” is to not get in a hurry, to linger long. To “watch” is to wait on God for He moves in His time and in His way. And to “pray” is to commune with the Lord, to draw strength from. Just think how different the outcome might have been had the disciples sat, stayed, watched and prayed. Maybe then they would have been ready as Jesus was to “Rise! . . . go” (v.42). This pattern still holds true for us today. How’s your sitting? Your staying? Your watching? And your praying?

IV. Denying Jesus (vv.66-72)
In verses 43-65 Jesus is arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court. What’s significant for us to see is that Mark footnotes the arrest by stating that at that time “everyone deserted him and fled” (v.50). While Jesus was being brought to the Sanhedrin, Mark also tells us that “Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest” (v.54). It was there that Peter mingled in with the crowd of guards who were warming their hands by the fire. The irony of this scene is that Peter is warming his hands with some of the same guards who will soon participate in the beating of Jesus (v.65).

In a mockery of justice, the high priest and the others condemned Jesus “as worthy of death” (v.64). One of the servant girls of the high priest took notice of Peter by the fire. She recognized that he was a follower of Jesus “that Nazarene” (v.67). Peter of course denied that he even knew what she was talking about (v.68).

1. Denying Knowledge – “I don’t know or understand” (v.68)
In his first denial, Peter pretends ignorance.

2. Denying Membership – “Is one of them . . . he denied it” (vv.69-70)
But the servant girl persisted in her identification that Peter was one of Jesus’ followers (v.69) but Peter a second time denied his involvement with Jesus (v.70), this time disclaiming membership in the Christian community all together (see v.69, “one of them”). “I don’t know what you’re talking about and I’m not one of these Christians you accuse me of.”

3. Denying Relationship – “I don’t know this man” (v.71)
Others who are near Peter recognized that Peter was one of Jesus’ followers because he was a Galilean (v.70). At this, Peter denied Jesus a third time and he “began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about’” (v.71). Now, he denies any relationship to Jesus whatsoever. If we see Jesus’ humanity in the Garden, we certainly see Peter’s humanity in the three denials. Peter is doing everything he can to distance himself from Jesus. Why? Probably because he was simply scared that he was going to be next.

How far Peter has fallen. The higher you set yourself up, the farther you have to fall. Not too long ago Peter was on top of the world. Jesus had sang his praise. Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. He was the leader among leaders, head apostle. Now he’s looking a lot more like Judas the betrayer than “Peter” the rock. The crowing of the rooster woke Peter up from his nightmare, but it wasn’t a dream – it was real (v.72). And when the rooster crowed, “Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him.” It’s funny how things remind us of a word that we have heard from Jesus. Here the rooster crowing reminded Peter of all of his foolish boasting, “If only I had not been so foolish and arrogant and prideful. If only I had listened to Jesus and watched and prayed, then maybe I wouldn’t have been so weak” If only Peter had not grown apathetic before the rooster crowed. Maybe then things would be different. Don’t wait till the rooster crows to get the message. Things can be different for you right now before the rooster crows.

Peter’s meltdown began long before he ever found himself warming by the fires in Caiaphas’ courtyard. Peter’s downfall began with his brash self-confidence that he was not going to be like everyone else, that he was special, that he would never fall. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Peter’s troubles began in his heart. In a real sense the Garden was a test, a mid-term examination in discipleship. Gethsemane after all means “olive press.” “Could the disciples handle the pressure that was to come? Would they pass a simple test of watchfulness and prayer?”

The disciples flunked the final exam because they couldn’t pass the mid-term. Peter and the others slept through the test. They did not “Watch and pray” and because of that, they did “fall into temptation.” No qaulity time spent in the Garden in prayer meant no power to stand in the face of adversity. If you are going to stand strong in the world with all that you face, you will have to spend time in the Garden of prayer. Otherwise, you might just hear the rooster crowing.

What was the temptation that Peter faced? I propose to you that it’s not really all that different from what you and I face. Only the circumstances change. In fact, I believe that it is “The Temptation” that we face – it is the age-old and persistent temptation to not trust God in your circumstance. It is the temptation to take matters into your own hands. To trust in your self. Everything else Peter does is a symptom of the lack of trust problem in his life. Following from a distance, the denials, the desire to save himself at any cost, are merely symptoms of his inability to trust God. So what circumstance do you face today? You will be tempted, just like Peter, (if you haven’t already) to trust in your resources, to lean on your wisdom, and to not trust God.

The problem with trusting in ourselves, which is form of denying Jesus is what follows – it comes with guilt, condemnation, and it does not bring peace to our situation. Trusting in ourselves while denying Jesus never works. And this is why Peter “broke down and wept” (v.72).

Before the Rooster Crows
Peter’s denial is instructive for us on many levels, primarily though in the area of what to avoid. There were some problems in Peter’s life that precipitated his downfall. They are common problems that all of us face, but they surface even more so in times of adversity, when we’re under pressure. If we can identify these problem areas, just maybe we can see the iceberg before we ram straight into it. More importantly though, if we can see how Jesus modeled endurance in adversity, we can begin to take on His character. Because everything we need to deal with life is not so much achieved through human effort, but it occurs as we follow Jesus and take on His character. He does the work in and through us.

So what characteristics does Christ want to work into our lives now before the rooster crows, before we get into a place of compromise, self-preservation and denial as Peter did? There are at least three characteristics that mark the man or woman of God who will be able to stand in times of adversity. These three characteristics were modeled by Jesus.

1. A Life Marked by Humility
Humility is not so much an achievement as it is having the right perspective as to who you are in Christ. It is knowing yourself. Jesus displayed perfect humility. He knew who He was and he walked in humility before the Father, always submitting to the Father’s will. While the disciples were thinking about how great they were, Jesus was praying “not what I will, but what you will.” Humility before God is living without pretense. You are real with God because you know Him and He knows you and you know that He knows you. See Romans 12:3. The humble person makes no boastful claims to spiritual superiority. They recognize that apart from the grace of God they are nothing. And when they do fall, they still know that it’s God’s grace that enables them to stand once more.

2. A Life Marked by Purpose
Jesus lived a life of purpose, a focused life, a prayerful life, an obedient life. That’s what living a disciplined life is. It is living your life in tune with the Father. It is living a life of dependence upon God. You want to follow God’s will. You want Him to guide you. But for that to happen, we must follow the basic spiritual disciplines of sitting, staying, watching and praying. You get the impression that the disciples were not too disciplined at this point. Their boastful speech, apathy, Christ-denying speech reveals undisciplined hearts. When you live a disciplined life, God changes your attitude, he changes your actions, and he changes your speech. God uses the spiritual disciplines to shape us into His image, to make us like Himself.

3. A Life Marked by Trust
We might call this dependence upon the Father which Jesus modeled in his earthly life. If you don’t stay close to Jesus by following him everyday, you might just end up warming your hands around the enemies fire. The fact that Peter followed Jesus from a distance sums up why Peter fell as he did. He was trying to live on the fringes. He was going it alone. Peter tried to live as an anonymous Christian, living in the dim light of the world’s fires, facing life in his own power and in his own strength.

People on the fringes the people most susceptible to fall. It’s really impossible to follow Jesus from a distance. Some of you may be trying but it’s not working very well. When we are humble before God, when we live a disciplined life, when we stay close to Jesus, then it becomes easier to stand strong in the Lord because it is the risen Christ living in and through us.

Humility, discipline, trust – these qualities God wants to build in our lives and He will if we allow Him to. These qualities come through a personal relationship with Christ. Peter is going to need the Jesus he just denied, we too need Christ if we are going to hold up under pressure.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

The Beginning of Days (Mark 13:1-23)

2010-08-09T08:50:00.000-05:00

A Few Words about Eschatology – The Study of Last Things

For those who are interested or who might wonder what perspective I am approaching the Scriptures concerning end time events, my view falls somewhere between Historic Pre-millennialism and amillennialism. I say somewhere between because both views are very similar and I’m not altogether persuaded either way. For example, both views see the growing presence of both good and evil in the world until the coming of Christ, at which time God will consummate this age and begin the new age. Both views hold that Israel is identified mostly as the church (spiritual Israel) in the New Testament. Both views understand that end time language is figurative and highly symbolic. Both views state that the second coming of Christ will follow the period known as the “Great Tribulation.” Both views interpret the Scriptures through the words of Jesus, meaning that the Old Testament prophets and Peter, Paul and John in the New Testament are interpreted through Christ and His words mostly recorded in the “Olivet Discourse.” Jesus is the interpretive key for determining end time events.

The major difference between the two views has to do with the concept of the millennium. Will it be a real literal period prior to the beginning of the eternal state or is the millennium to be understood as symbolic? Historic Pre-millennialism holds to a literal millennial period that precedes the final consummation or new heavens and new earth. I’m not fully convinced that a separate millennial period is biblically necessary. The millennial period may actually be the eternal state, although a very real new heavens and new earth where the lion will lay down with the lamb, a renewed earth – paradise once more! To me this idea of heaven comports well with the idea that the new heavens and new earth are “new” in quality rather than “new” in origin. Rather than heaven being some ethereal place, I hold to a very real new and pristine earth where sin has been removed and where righteousness covers the earth as the waters cover the seas. While I agree with many ideas present in Amillennialism, I do not find agreeable the idea that the present age is the millennial period. Of course, this is a very brief and over-simplistic presentation of these views. For an excellent treatment of the various millennial views and all the nuances within each view, see Robert G. Clouse, The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views.

The Beginning of Days

Scripture Reading: Mark 13:1-23
Introduction
Economic downturns, ecological disasters, division among families, cultural and moral conflicts, threats of terrorism, secularism, the shaking of our cherished institutions – political, economic, and religious – all these problems seem to be persistent and even growing. To casually read Jesus’ words in Mark chapter thirteen, you might conclude that there’s only more to come and even worse! But a closer look at Jesus’ words reveals the truth of the old adage with a twist, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better – but it will be much much better!”

Mark chapter 13 is called “The Olivet Discourse” or “The Little Apocalypse” and contains two major sections describing present and future events: (1) Tribulation – 13:5-23, and (2) The Second Coming of Jesus – 13:24-37.

Although Jesus foretold times of great distress, the signs of our time point to the coming of Christ when God’s creation will be renewed. See 1 Pe. 3:1-13; Rev. 21:1-5. Followers of Jesus are to hope for the coming of the “Son of Man” (v.26). That hope will sustain Christians undergoing persecution and strengthen them to “endure to the end” (v.13).

All questions and debates were now over. Jesus and his disciples are leaving the temple area.
The Destruction of the Temple and the End of the Age
* The comment made by the disciples about the temple, “What magnificent buildings!” (v.1). Why did the disciples call Jesus’ attention to the temple complex buildings? I can’t say for sure, but it sounds as if the disciples may be attempting to convince themselves that living in the “not so kingdom-like” world is a valid option for them. Maybe they are even attempting to gain Jesus’ approval for the idea of settling for less.

* Jesus’ response (v.2) and the disciple’s question (v.4). Jesus is saying to the disciples, “Do not put too much stock in what you can see because this world is passing. The beautiful buildings that you see will soon come crumbling down.” The Lord would speak to us today from this text, to a people who are so quick to place all their trust in this passing world.

* Some of what Jesus foretold happened in 66-70 A.D. when Titus and the Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Other events are still in the future.

* The destruction of the temple foreshadows the coming end of the age and renewal of the world by God.

About Signs and “The Sign”
Jesus mentions many signs that will accompany the end of this present age. False Christ’s, wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution for the sake of Jesus, division in families, desecration of that which is holy, and the preaching of the Gospel to all nations. What can we say about these various signs?

The signs are . . .
1. Already present in our world, “the end is not yet” (v.7). To some extent we see evidence of all these signs in our world.

2. Not an exhaustive list or to be a source of speculation. All of the signs either show how temporal the world is or how hostile the world is to Christ and his followers.

3. Will intensify as the coming of Christ nears (v.19). The parable of the wheat and the tares illustrates the growing intensification of both good and evil. Believers undergoing great tribulation need to hear Jesus’ words, “they may kill the body but they cannot kill the soul” (Matt. 10:28).

4. Described as “birth pains” (v.8) pointing to God’s new world. These signs do not necessarily point to the end, they point to the beginning of days!

5. Invoke joyful anticipation of God’s sovereignty. The birth of a child is a joyful time just as the intensification of the birth pains points to the birth, the renewal of God’s creation – certainly a joyful time for the “elect” (vv.20, 27). Because a new world awaits, the Christian must be an optimist! How could we be anything else knowing our God is sovereign!

6. Motivation to watchfulness and faithfulness in sharing the Gospel (v.10, 20, 22, 27).
People must hear the Gospel so that they will have an opportunity to respond to Christ. All those who are “in Christ” are the elected.

There is actually one sign above all others. The pervasive existence of evil in the world in all its forms is the one sign that highlights our present need for redemption (2 Pe. 1:4; 2:20) – the ultimate salvation that God will consummate when Jesus returns (see Mk. 13: 27; Rev. 21:27; 22:3).

How Then Shall We Live?
1. Affirm your relationship with Christ (2 Pe. 1:10; 2 Cor. 13:5).
Peter encourages us to make our calling and election sure. Peter is saying “be sure that you know Jesus, be sure that you have believed on him, be sure that you have accepted his provision for your sins, be sure you are saved.”

2. Attach yourself to the eternal (Matt. 7:24-25).
If this world is passing, where do I have my life-attachments? Am I attaching myself to that which is eternal? That which is built on the foundation that will never be destroyed?

3. Anticipate with joy the coming of the Lord.
God is sovereign, we need not fear, we need not join the forces of pessimism and hate in our world.

4. Advance God’s work on earth.
Instead of watching for signs, we should be working to alleviate the birth pains. There are signs all around that point to a broken world in need of God’s redemption. If we know these things, then we should be active in ministering God’s grace and sharing the Gospel. How can we watch a world crumbling and do otherwise?

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

The First and Last Question (Mark 12:28-34)

2010-08-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on August 1, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 12:28-34
If you lived during biblical times and had an opportunity to talk to Jesus, you might ask Him any number of questions. But if you were sincerely seeking to know God, you might ask Him the kind of question that the scribe did in our text today.

An Important Question (12:28): “What really matters to God?”
A teacher of the law (a scribe, or lawyer) had overheard Jesus’ conversation with the Sadducees. The scribes job was to know and apply the oral law. He was impressed with Jesus’ “good answer.” Now, this man asked Jesus a question. “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Which is the first or foremost commandment in the Bible? He’s asking “What really matters to God?” This was a pretty important question considering he had quite a list of commandments that he was trying to keep up with.

How the Law Was Viewed
In Jesus’ day the teachers of the law had taken the Ten Commandments and turned them into 613! Sammlai, a Jewish Rabbi taught that Moses received 613 precepts on Mount Sinai, 365 according to the days of the sun year, and 248 according to the generations of men. They even divided them further into “heavy” and “light,” i.e., more important and less important. Jesus was about to whittle all of them down to just one.

The question that the scribe is asking is a pretty important question, what really matters to God? He is to be commended for that – he is asking the right question. People today are asking questions but are they asking the ones that matter? The questions that are important as they relate to God?

A recent demographics study of people living within a 1.5 mile radius of our church shows a considerable number of people who consider themselves spiritual. Now this is good news but it also presents a challenge. Good news because what we will find as we try to reach out to people in our community is that there is already present a built-in receptivity to spiritual matters. The challenge though is that some of our neighbors may not be asking the right questions, questions like the one this man asked, “what really matters to God?” Our challenge will be to direct the spiritual impulse of people to the questions that matter.

This is no easy task because much spirituality today is human-centered. It’s about what God can do for me, how He can help me become (Fill-in-the-Blank). And here’s where this great text speaks so clearly. Life, fulfillment, occurs when we become God-centered in our thinking. And that’s what Jesus is calling us to do. It is A Challenge to Become God-Centered in Our Thinking and in Our Living.

So what did Jesus say was the most important commandment? “The most important one . . . is this”
I. Love the Lord Your God (12:29-30; Deut. 6:4-5)
Answering the scribe, Jesus quoted a passage of Scripture from the book of the law, Deuteronomy 6:4-6, “Here, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.” That single sentence is the real creed of Judaism. It is called the Shema, so called from the first word in the sentence, a verb “to hear.” It was the sentence with which the service of the Synagogue always began and still begins. The full Shema is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21; Numbers 15:37-41.

The three passages of the Shema were contained in Phylacteries (see Matt. 23:5), little leather boxes which the devout Jew wore on his forehead and on his wrist when he was at prayer. The Shema was also contained in a little cylindrical box called the Mezuzah which was and still is affixed to the door of Jewish homes and the doors within their homes. This is to remind the Jew of God in his going out and coming in.

Only Mark’s account has Jesus quote the opening words of the Shema. Why here?
1. An affirmation of the oneness of God (v.29) (monotheism)
Jesus affirms the oneness of God which would have been important because the Jews saw followers of Jesus as being polytheistic. This was especially true later on in the growing Christian community. Implications of this monotheistic confession can be seen throughout the NT (e.g., Rom. 3:29-30; Eph. 4:5-6; 1 Tim. 2:5).

2. A call to love God with your whole being (v.30)
What is the greatest or the most important commandment? Jesus says it is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (v.30). The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” To glorify or to honor God is to know Him and to love Him, to be devoted to Him. And this we are to do with all that we our, no halfhearted commitments here but pure devotion. These expressions are piled up as a way of saying love God “with your whole being.”

This is the starting point for all of our thinking about God and us. “With all your mind” suggests that there is a need to reflect on our service to God with our mind. We love God with our minds too. Students, as you return to school, you have an opportunity to be good stewards of your minds. Using your mind well is an aspect of your worship and love for God.

Jesus then goes on to say that this love for God has a practical expression.
II. Love Your Neighbor As Yourself (12:31; Lev. 19:8)
1. Love for God is expressed by loving others (1 Jn. 3:18)
Jesus quotes from Leviticus 19:18. The scribe would have interpreted this in the narrow sense of loving other Jewish people. Loving God and loving others are like two sides of one coin. Loving others flows from our relationship with God. When the vertical relationship is intact, the horizontal relationship will be too. The love of God and others is to be like that of Jesus, “not in word or speech but in deed and in truth”(1 Jn. 3:18). Love for God is expressed by loving others.

2. Keeping the right order in perspective
There is however, a priority or an order that is apparent here. Loving others follows loving God. There are several extremes to be avoided as unbiblical views.

Loving God alone – Extreme separatism
Evangelicals, Bible-believing people like ourselves may be guilty of emphasizing the personal nature of salvation to the exclusion of any humanitarian or social efforts. As a result we can become separated from the people that we are to reach with the Gospel. Clearly though, the evidence that we have believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ means that we now demonstrate love where we may not have before.

Loving others alone – Extreme secularism
The other danger is to think that our humanitarian efforts are a substitute salvation. We need to be very clear on this. It is not our efforts, our goodness, our humanitarian efforts that secure salvation. And we do not want to lead people to think that being good is what is required. This would be a works salvation. Salvation is not through human effort, regardless of how praiseworthy that human effort might be. Many people today are seeking approval from God through their human efforts. And yet our human efforts can never make us righteous before God. Instead, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Tit. 3:5).

You can be a great humanitarian and be a committed atheist. But you cannot be a committed Christian and not be a humanitarian in the sense that you are for people. The cure for both an anti-God stance and an anti-human one is found in practicing the balance that Jesus presents here. Notice also how these two sides of the one commandment fulfill the intent of the 10 commandments. To love God is to fulfill the 1-4 commandments. To love others is to fulfill commandments 5-10.

3. Loving “as yourself”
What do we make of this idea of loving self? There is a real sense that you are not able to love others until you love yourself and you cannot love yourself rightly until you allow God’s love to come in to your life. On the other side, as John Calvin and others have stated, “self-love can never be right or good, but must be reversed and turned into love of God and neighbor. He argued that “we are too much devoted to ourselves.” When you view Western culture today, it’s easy to agree with Calvin. In many instances, religion has become subjective and personalized. One biblical scholar suggested that today “We use the Bible and God to achieve desired psychological states or attain moral ends which, on a variety of grounds, we perceive to be good.” But is that what Christianity has become? Is God and the Bible only something we use for our benefit?

So what does self-love means? The text commands that we love others in the same way that we love ourselves. “That is, we are to be tolerant of, have time for, be interested in, make excuses for, deeply desire the welfare of our neighbor in the same way that we have these attitudes toward ourselves.” (Interpretation)

Love God, love others – Jesus presents a vision of life that we cannot attain, an understanding of God’s demands that we can not achieve. The commandment alone to love God and love others does not help me do these things, it only makes me feel more guilty because I do not do these things as I should. What then is the solution? How does this passage bring good news to me? It is only as we see the cross of Jesus as the gift of His life “a ransom for many” that can we bear to hear his word about the great commandment. The power of the cross enables us be loved and to love. Christians have a new life, a resurrected life. As we allow Christ to live His life in and through us, we will be empowered to love God and love others (See Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4).

Commendations and a Call to Commitment (12:32-34)
The scribe commended Jesus and Jesus commended him. The scribe realized it wasn’t ritual that made him righteous, but loving God and loving others fulfilled all the commandments of God. No wonder Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” By saying this Jesus encouraged him to go the remainder of the way by wholeheartedly following Jesus. Go the distance! Act upon the truth you now know – follow Jesus! Do that, and you too will be in the kingdom.

What about you? Are you not far from the kingdom? Why not go the distance! Act upon the truth that you now know. Follow Jesus with your whole being!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Truth or Consequences (Mark 12:18-27)

2010-07-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached Sunday, July 25, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 12:18-27

Two times Jesus told the Sadducees that they were in error (vv.24, 27). Not everything that is taught or believed is true. We live in a world where everyone is free to believe what they want, but that does not mean that every belief is correct or that every belief system is on equal footing. We also live in a day and time where we fear saying some doctrine (teaching) is wrong, but Jesus didn’t have a problem calling out error.

The Sadducees were upstanding people, they were leaders in the community, they were respected and religious but Jesus said that they were flat out wrong! Because of their misinterpretation of Scripture they denied the very doctrine that is essential to our salvation – the doctrine of the resurrection. For the importance of the resurrection, see 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:25; 10:9; 1 Pe. 1:3. Without the resurrection there is no Gospel and without the Gospel there is no salvation. When there is ignorance of the word of God and a denial of His power, there is error. Truth comes to us when we rightly interpret Scripture and we trust in the power of the living God.

Why does it matter what I believe? It matters because you were placed here to bring glory to God and to know what that means, you have to know what he desires and requires of you. It matters not only to the kind of life you’re living on earth now, but it matters because eternity is too long to be wrong. So my desire is to encourage you from this message to be a diligent student of Scripture, because it does matter. The truth about God and us is revealed in the Scriptures and only discovered when we correctly interpret God’s Word and trust in His power.

18 – “Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.” Here we are introduced to the Sadducees, a sect of Judaism. The Sadducees were the aristocratic class of priestly families from whom the high priest was chosen. There are two things we need to know about the Sadducees to understand this passage. First, The Sadducees only held as authoritative the written law contained in the first five books in the Old Testament. They did not hold as authoritative the Prophets or the Writings, essentially the rest of the OT. They also rejected the authority of the Oral Law.

The other important characteristic, evident from the text, is that they denied the doctrine of the resurrection which the Pharisees and others affirmed (See Acts 23:8). This denial of the resurrection naturally grew out of their denial of the authority of much of the OT Scripture because none of the few references to the resurrection in the OT are in the Pentateuch, the first five books.

This question of the Sadducees was another test, the third such one by Jesus’ adversaries. Jesus answers their test question by correctly interpreting the Scripture that they do believe (Deut. 25:5-6) in light of what God says in another text in the Pentateuch or the Torah, Exodus 3:6. So by comparing Scriptures and looking at the context of a passage, Jesus is practicing good interpretation. The type of question that the Sadducees asked is called in Jewish tradition a “vulgarity,” a question that is contemptuous of the person addressed. So actually the Sadducees are mocking Jesus and the entire doctrine of the resurrection.

The Question: 19-23 – [19] “‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. [20] Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. [21] The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. [22] In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. [23] At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?’”

What’s interesting about this question is that they do not even believe in the resurrection, yet the question is really about the resurrection (see v.24). In this passage, we understand a little about how the Sadducees viewed life. They believed that life exists only human personality. What do we mean? The word for “have children” in verse 19 literally means “to raise up” and is a form of the word resurrection.

The Mosaic law of Levirate marriage presupposes that the only persistence of personality after death is in and through the lives of one’s offspring. This is why it was so important that children be conceived. Everything was carried on through your offspring. The question, “whose wife will she be?” is absurd. The entire encounter is designed to place Jesus in a ridiculous spot and to make the doctrine of the resurrection look ridiculous.

24 – “Jesus replied, ‘Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.’” This seems to be the key verse or key thesis which Jesus then fills in the details in what follows.

Jesus tells the Sadducees that their entire question and thinking is in error for two reasons:
(1) They “do not know the Scriptures”
Not that they have not completely familiarized themselves with the Scriptures or that they cannot recall the Scriptures. But they have used the Scriptures as prooftexts for their beliefs. They can cite Scripture but they do not interpret it accurately as God intends. Is this not a problem today? People may be able to cite Scripture, they’ve grown up with Scripture, yet they do not correctly interpret Scripture nor do they apply it to their lives. Not knowing the Scriptures they are in error.

(2) They do not know “the power of God”
The Sadducees did not believe in the supernatural power of God. If God is able to heal, to restore sight, to cleanse the lepers, it’s not hard to also believe that God is able to resurrect the dead. This passage reveals how small their concept of God is. They only see God as the God of their dead ancestors, but Jesus tells them that God is not the God of the dead, he is the God of the living (v.27). See Romans 11:33 as Paul describes the mystery of knowing God.

Ignorance of God’s Word
25 – “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” Notice how Jesus assumes the dead are going to rise. Jesus says two things about the resurrected state of believers.

(1) At the resurrection, the dead will not be concerned about marrying or being given in marriage. Augustine, “Marriages are on account of children; children on account of succession; succession on account of death. But in heaven, as there is no death, neither is there any marriage.”

(2) The resurrected dead will be “Like the angels in heaven.” What do we know about the angels? We won’t have any wings as far as I can tell. We won’t sit around and play our harps for eternity. That would not be heaven for many of us! It’s important to see that Jesus’ use of this language is figurative language. We will be “like the angels” in the sense that angels apparently are immortal. The Sadducees took literally the language about resurrection, made the understanding of it look absurd, and so dismissed resurrection as untrue. To think only literally about the resurrection is to be like the Sadducees; quite mistaken, for like them, it is to limit the power of God to conditions such as we know them on earth. In other words, when it comes to the afterlife, don’t limit what God is going to do! Speculation about the age of the resurrected or the conditions of life after death is only speculation. Instead of information about the afterlife, the Lord offers a promise, more life with God.

Ignorant of God’s Power
26-27 – “Now about the dead rising – have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken.’” Jesus calls them to examine their own Scripture in Exodus 3:6, a passage they would have held as authoritative. This text teaches us that God is the God of the living not the dead. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob obviously died; yet, by the power and word of God they are still alive (“I am” present tense). So all who belong to God, though they die, will live by the power of the word, the power of God the “I am.” John 12:25-26 speaks to this truth. “Jesus said to her [Martha], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”

On one level this story speaks to the importance of how we interpret God’s Word.
I. Misinterpretation of Scripture: The Way which Leads to Error
(1) A lack of belief will cause us to misinterpret the Word of God. They lacked the reverence and respect for the source of the Scriptures: that is, God Himself. They seem to doubt that God will bring every act to judgement or that there are eternal consequences for disobeying Him. A personal commitment to God is essential for understanding Scripture. This was the problem that the Sadducees had.
(2) There was familiarity with God’s word but they lacked depth of understanding. Superficial understanding leads to superficial living.
(3) When we use the Bible to support our own human ideas and opinions. As long as we look at the text of Scripture from a human standpoint, we will constantly judge God’s word by our standards rather than placing ourselves underneath the text. The Sadducees are viewing the Bible from their human standpoint, through hearts of depravity and doubt. The Sadducees used Scripture as a prooftext to what they already believed. As long as you view Scripture in this way, you are always going to end up at the wrong destination.

II. Correct Interpretation of Scripture: The Way which Lead to Truth
Why is this important? Because there are consequences to misinterpreting God’s Word. To do so might mean we miss out on God and what He desires and requires of us. How do you determine what is right and what is wrong? Truth from error? We know from correctly interpreting the Scriptures.
(1) We need to know God, the author of the Bible. There must be a personal commitment to the Lord.
(2) We need to understand a passage of Scripture in light of all of God’s revelation.
(3) We need to approach the Scripture as God’s inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16).
(4) We need to submit our understanding of Scripture to God’s authority.
(5) We need to approach Scripture from the standpoint of obeying what we hear.

Summary
Jesus’ response affirms the reality of the resurrection in the face of skepticism and doubt. Even though we do not know all of the details of the resurrection, we know that it will be eternal life with God. A lack of knowledge concerning God’s Word leads to secularism, skepticism and a loss of hope. When the Word loses its position of priority in our lives and the life of the church, we lose that which anchors us in the Lord and we ultimately lose hope.

The thought expressed in verse 24 comes to us as a question today. “How does the Bible function in the church and in our lives?” The community of faith and each member of it ought to know the Scriptures. This is especially true in light of the widespread biblical illiteracy in our time. Furthermore, we must move to a place of maturity in our understanding and application of Scripture. We must stop using the Bible to prove our points and promote our programs, as the Sadducees did.

Jesus’ response serves to challenge us to a vision beyond our own. He opens the possibility of solutions quite other than we had dreamed. What looks improbable and even impossible with us is possible with God!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

An Overview of Calvinism

2010-07-19T22:50:00.000-05:00

A presentation delivered July 18, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church,
Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

READ THIS FIRST – IMPORTANT!!!
What follows is most of the text from my presentation last Sunday evening. I plan to pick up our discussion where we left off on Sunday, August 1st at 6:00 p.m. Let me just preface my thoughts and our discussions with a few statements.

1. Keep in mind that there are many fine Christians including Baptists on both sides of the issues. Furthermore, at Hebron you will discover people that have strong views leaning toward Calvinism and equally people with strong views that might be characterized as leaning toward Arminianism. Our differences do not have to divide us. Many times we will find ourselves in the middle of the discussion. After all, who can fully comprehend the mystery of the sovereignty of God and man’s freewill? Remember, believers have been discussing these issues for thousands of years and we are not likely to have the last word on the subject.

2. I would not call myself a Calvinist; however, it’s not because I don’t find myself in agreement with many Calvinistic teachings, I just do not prefer to be placed in one theological camp. I find myself stuck in the middle of the mystery of God’s sovereignty and our freewill. Maybe I’m a “Calminian.” I think that most Baptists today will find themselves agreeing with Calvinism at points and probably disagreeing with Calvinists at other points. Again, this need not be a cause for division among believers. Our theological tent at Hebron is big enough for all of us.

3. In dealing with the entire subject we need to keep an open mind and exercise humility toward one another. My prayer and hope is that our discussions will be instructive, edifying and will help us clarify what we do believe concerning our “great salvation” (Heb. 2:3).

Introduction
There has been a lively debate over the last few years concerning the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Many sincere students of Scripture find themselves on opposing sides. Just what is Calvinism? Calvinism grew out of the Reformation of the 16th Century and its emphasis on the great solas: Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, for the glory of God alone. John Calvin (1509-64) was a pastor and an outstanding theologian and biblical scholar who placed a great emphasis on the teachings of Paul and the writings of Augustine (354-430). Calvin emphasized the sovereignty of God, the sinfulness of man, and the necessity of grace for salvation.

Later in the 17th century, followers of Calvin would systematize his theology and go beyond what Calvin himself taught. This system would ultimately come down to us through the now famous acrostic TULIP. Throughout Baptist history, some have embraced many of these five points of doctrine while others have rejected most of them. Southern Baptists have always been diverse; however, most Southern Baptists would fall somewhere in between the extremes. The issue of Calvinism itself is not addressed in the Baptist Faith and Message, yet you can no doubt see similarities at some points with Calvinism. This is not surprising as Baptists have always been people of the Book and the Bible definitely does address issues like divine sovereignty and
human sinfulness.

A Closer Look at the TULIP
Total Depravity
Total depravity means that man is born with a sin nature and an inclination toward sin. Every aspect of his being is infected with sin and he cannot do anything to save himself. Furthermore, he cannot even move toward God unless God first draws him to do so. God’s enabling grace allows us to move towards Him. Most Baptists would agree at least in part that man is depraved. We draw on Scriptures such as Romans 3:9-20 and Ephesians 2:1-3 for support of our view.

Where many Southern Baptists might part company with the Calvinists is that some Calvinists believe that a person is so dead in their sins and depraved that they have to be born again or regenerated before they can respond to God. The thinking here is that if you can repent and have faith, then you are in effect contributing to your salvation. Most believe that people cannot save themselves; however, most Southern Baptist do not interpret the texts that deal with depravity to mean that people cannot repent and have faith in Christ. Repentance and faith do not contribute to salvation; they are the way one who is enslaved by sin receives the salvation from sin that God has provided.

Baptist Faith & Message: “By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin.” (10)

Unconditional Election
God in His grace and mercy has chosen certain persons for salvation. This decision is not based on anything in the person, any human merit, but is based in the goodness and providence of God’s own will and purposes. The question arises, “Does this destroy the possibility of man exercising his free will and responsibility?” Some would say no but there is an admitted tension present here.

Most Baptist believe that God chooses to save those who chose to put their faith in Christ. The elect are those who are “in Christ.” Most Baptists have rejected a strong Calvinistic view of election because of the following cherished beliefs:
1. The belief that God loves everyone in the world.
2. The belief that God wants everyone to be saved.
3. The believe that every person who hears the Gospel can put his or her trust in the Lord and be saved.
4. The belief that Christians make it possible for people to be saved by preaching the Gospel to them.

Baptist Faith & Message: “Election . . . is consistent with the free agency of man.” (12)

Limited Atonement
Many Calvinists prefer the term “Particular Redemption” instead. The idea here is that the atoning work of Christ applies only to those who are the elected. So, the work of Jesus in His atonement would be limited to the elect. The other view is that of a “General Atonement.” It seems that there is biblical support for both. 1 Corinthians 15:3 says “Christ died for our sins” which can be understood in a limited sense. John wrote that Christ “is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2) which supports general atonement. Limited atonement fits nicely with the Calvinistic understanding of election because there seems to be no point in Christ dying for people who are predestined for judgement.

All Bible believers limit the atonement in some respects. To not do so would lead to universalism, the view that eventually all people will be saved. Most Baptists would say that the atonement is limited in its application, but not in its provision. In other words, in his death on the cross Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world (Jn. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; 4:10; 2 Pe. 2:1; 1 Jn. 2:1-2; 4:9-10) making universal provision. However, the application is limited to those who receive the free gift of salvation offered to them by their personal faith in Christ.

Irresistible Grace
Many Calvinists prefer the term “effectual calling” instead. This teaching says that those who are predestined to be saved are called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) effectually or effectively. They are not forced to come but are set free to come and the do so willingly.

While most Southern Baptists would affirm the fact that God calls and draws us to salvation, most would allow for a person to resist God and not be saved. They would still believe that God is sovereign; however, he has given us the free will to respond to him or not respond to him. He respects our human decision. This is the way that he created us and how He relates to us.

Baptist Faith & Message: “He [i.e., the Holy Spirit] calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration.” (9)

Perseverance of the Saints
Those God saves, He protects and preserves in their salvation. Baptists have often used the terminology of “eternal security” or “once saved, always saved.” This may be the one point in Calvinism that all Baptists affirm. This doesn’t mean that people are free to live any kind of way that they chose. Instead, because of God’s grace, we are grieved by sin and we want to pursue the God who keeps us secure in His hands (Jn. 10:27-29). Scriptures abound that teach the eternal security of the believer. This teaching is biblical, theological, and logical.

Baptist Faith & Message: “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.”

Conclusion
All of these five doctrines, sometimes referred to “The Doctrines of Grace,” relate to our understanding about salvation. Because of the way that Calvinism is able to logically systematize Christianity, Calvinism is an attractive theological system to many. Some opponents cite that Calvinism is anti-missionary which is only true in extreme instances – “hyper Calvinism.” There have been many Calvinists in our past who were mission’s-minded and evangelistic Baptists including men like William Carey, Andrew Fuller, Luther Rice, Adoniram Judson, and Charles Spurgeon. Several of our current seminary presidents hold to Calvinistic views including Al Mohler and Danny Akin.

Although not Baptists, George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards were strong Calvinists who led in the First Great Awakening. Other popular preachers and pastors (non-Baptists) today are John Piper, John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul.

My next article will include some thoughts that I hope will strike a biblical balance on the subject, some things that I believe we can all agree on. Finally, I will share what I believe are the positive contributions of Calvinism today and some areas of caution in embracing any one theological system.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

On the Road to Greatness (Mark 10:32-45)

2010-07-19T21:46:00.000-05:00

A Sermon Preached Sunday, July 18, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:32-45

As a boy growing up in Northern Virginia, Steve Royster was confronted with a small but persistent mystery – a mystery that presented itself every time he used the phone. “Everyone always knew when I was calling just by the sound of my voice,” Royster says, “while I had no earthly idea who was on the phone when they called.” Royster has phonagnosia – or voice blindness – a rare and very strange disorder. Like everyone else, phonagnosics can tell from the sound of your voice if you’re male or female, young or old, upset or happy. They just have no idea of who you are. Apparently, the part of the brain that makes sense of whether or not the voice they are hearing has “personal relevance” is damaged.

1. The Desire for Greatness (10:35-41)
Based on the request that the disciples made of Jesus, it’s obvious that the disciples were hearing Jesus’ voice, but not recognizing the “personal relevance” of what He was really saying. There are some things that stand out about the disciples from this passage. We will look at three of them.
(1) The Disciples Were Dull of Hearing
It wasn’t that they did not know who Jesus was or that Jesus was not being clear, He was (see vv.32-34). This is the third time He has told them with great detail what He was about to experience. But this request reveals that the disciples were still looking for glory, for power, for positions in an earthly kingdom. The dullness of the disciple’s hearing amazes us. How could they be so dull of hearing? How could they make such a request when Jesus is so plainly telling them that . . .
The Cross Comes before the Crown (10:32-34)

We too often only hear what we want to hear, don’t we? Parents only know this too well. We say “don’t forget to take out the garbage,” and when it’s not done we say “did you not hear me?” Of course, they heard us but they practiced selective hearing. On the other hand, mention something that appeals to some desire that they have and their all ears. Maybe spiritual “phonagnosia” is more common than we might think.

James and John aren’t the only disciples thinking thoughts of power and glory, not the only disciples who are dull of hearing. “When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John” (v.41). Their probably a little upset that they had not come to Jesus first. So they try to come off sounding morally superior.

(2) The Disciples Were Ambitious. Ambition is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s good. Ambition just needs to be channeled properly. Sometimes we speak of the old Puritan work ethic – the idea that because all of life is to be lived under God and for God, we are to give God our best is founded in Scripture. There’s no special reward for lack of ambition, for slothfulness. Ambition is good it just needs to be holy ambition. Holy ambition will motivate a man or woman to be a man or woman of God, to be a loyal husband or wife, to be an honest employee or employer. Ambition is not the problem, it is how we go about pursuing our ambitions. Success is achieved when our motives our pure and when we have a heart of service.

(3) The Disciples Were Committed Followers of Jesus. They misunderstood Jesus’ mission, but you cannot doubt their commitment to the person of Jesus. They were willing to follow Jesus even if it meant sacrifice and suffering which it did. No one could accuse the disciples of being apathetic or complacent. They were willing to follow Jesus wherever He led them.

2. The Description of Greatness (10:42-45)
Jesus uses the rivalry playing out among the disciples as a teaching moment (vv.42-45). The disciples have forgotten that they are citizens of a new kingdom now, a kingdom where things are done differently. They are not of the world anymore, yet they are still acting as if they are. How do people rule in the world? The world has its CEO’s, executives, bosses, supervisors, and superiors. Leadership is from the top down. People with power rule over those who are lower on the ladder than they are. There is a pecking order that is followed in the world. The boss calls the shots. It’s mostly a top down model of leadership that easily can be corrupted and manipulated into a kind of Lordship over others. The disciples kind of like that model. They have given up their jobs, their families, everything to follow Jesus and they feel as if they deserve to be recognized and to be held as prominent. “We want what we have worked for, we want what we deserve.”

Jesus pulls out the rug from underneath them and deflates their plans of glory with the phrase found in verse 43, “Not so with you.” This should not be taken to mean that God cannot use business principles that are commonly found in the world. There are business and leadership principles that the world uses that are good, they are sound, they do not run contrary to biblical principles. People like John Maxwell have made a good living tapping into these business principles that are biblically sound. It’s not the principles, it’s the application of the principles that gets us into trouble. People are not numbers, not commodities, not only objects to improve our bottom line. The disciples are in love with the idea of recognition, self-promotion, with their own sense of importance and greatness and Jesus sees right through it.

Jesus proposes an alternate model of leadership (vv.43-45) – Servant leadership! Remember the Old Testament story of Rheboam, King Solomon’s son? When Solomon died Rheboam was in line to inherit the kingdom of Israel. However, because Rheboam did not follow the wisdom of his father’s elders, the kingdom split in two. The elders had simply advised Rheboam to lead the people by being a servant. Public service – what a concept! The only problem with this advice is that Rheboam had bought into the idea of the divine right of kings, which pretty much rules out the serving aspect of leadership. What Jesus proposed then and now is servant leadership. This is the model that is to prevail in the church of God. Service leads to success.

Challenges to Disciples Today
There are some challenges to disciples today that come out of this exchange between the disciples and Jesus.
1. Change How You Measure Success
How does God measure success? Whose standard are you following? Is success measured in how many people you are over? Or how many people you are impacting for God, for something positive? Is success measured by how much you have in the way of material things? Or the depth of your personal relationships? The problem for many of us is that we measure success based on what someone else has or does. Then, when we do not acquire what we feel we should or do what we think we should, we become frustrated and unfulfilled.

But just what is the measure of success? The measure of success for you is to look at what God has given to you in the way of talents, time, treasure. Then, ask yourself, “Am I being faithful to use what God has given to me?” (See Matthew 25:14-25). If God is going to measure my success based on what He has given to me and what He has asked me to do, then I better start considering my life in light of this reality.

2. Channel Your Ambitions toward Worthy Goals
Channel your ambitions into that which God has called you to do. In other words, you’ve got to answer the first question before you can know how to channel your ambitions. So find out what God has given to you and what He wants you to do. Then, begin to channel your ambitions toward fulfilling God’s good goals for your life. (See 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:14).

3. Chose to Follow Jesus Wherever He Leads
Being a follower of Jesus does not mean that we will always feel happy or be in a safe friendly environment. Following Jesus is not always safe and sterile. In fact, following Jesus will most likely disrupt your life. It might mean taking care of an aging parent when you would like to do something else. It might mean taking care of a sick child. It might mean that you have to put your dreams on hold to commit to some act of service that you know God wants you to do, so you serve God and you find joy in knowing that you are a committed follower of Jesus Christ.

This is what it means to be on the road to greatness. Let’s be sure we hear the voice of Jesus, follow His example and do what He says to do.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Erosion: Its Evidence and Eradication (I Kings 11:41-12:24; 14:21-31)

2010-07-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on July 4, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Louisiana has lost 1,900 square miles of land since the 1930's due to coastal erosion. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita alone transformed 217 square miles of marsh into open water in coastal Louisiana. Erosion of our coastal wetlands occurs naturally but it can also be accelerated by how we manage our wetlands. Between 1990 and 2000, wetland loss was approximately 24 square miles per year – that is the staggering equivalent of approximately one football field lost every 38 minutes.

Spiritual erosion occurs naturally but it too can be accelerated. Rehoboam, king of Judah and the nation were experiencing accelerated erosion. In this story, we discover the tragedy of an eroding life and nation. The great preacher F. B. Myer said “No man suddenly becomes base [corrupt, worthless, immoral].” It’s a gradual process of spiritual erosion. Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a tree in his neighborhood that had stood as a landmark for many years. He thought that the tree would be there forever, but one day without notice the tree fell. Upon closer examination, it was discovered that inside the tree it was pithy and diseased. It rotted from within. It never looked diseased on the outside but once it fell it was obvious to all that it was sick. The process of erosion had taken its toll and was now on display for all to see.

Webster defines erosion as “The process of where something is diminished or destroyed by degrees. To eat into, or to eat away by slow destruction of substance, to deteriorate.” Erosion is slow, silent, and secret but after the collapse you can see plainly. Today, we will examine a life that has long since fallen, and in doing so, we can also see how to avoid spiritual erosion in our lives.

Rehoboam’s Roots
(1) Rehoboam enjoyed an enviable heritage. He was the son of Solomon who followed his father’s reign as king of Judah (1 Ki. 11:41-43). Rehoboam was 41 years of age when he began his rule (1 Ki. 14:21) and he ruled for 17 years.

(2) Rehoboam grew up surrounded by wealth and privilege (see 1 Ki. 10:14-27). Solomon says about his own pursuit of pleasure, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure” (Ecc. 2:10).

(3) Rehoboam lived in a dysfunctional family. He was a neglected child. Solomon was too busy for his family. How could Solomon spend time with Rehoboam when Solomon “loved many foreign women” 700 to be exact (1 Ki. 11:3). Along with them came their gods and their children. Rehoboam was one of them, a son of an Ammonite woman named Naamah (1 Ki. 14:21). Rehoboam grew up in an a-moral culture.

What were the causes for this national and spiritual erosion? And what can be done to stem erosion in our spiritual lives and in our nation?
1. He Listened to Unwise Counsel (1 Ki. 12:1-15)
The people (v.4) said, “Lighten our load and we will serve you.” Rehoboam consulted with the elders (vv.6-7) who concurred with the request of the people. However, he rejected the counsel of the elders in favor of the counsel that his young advisers offered (vv.8-15). Rehoboam like Solomon before him got into trouble because he believed in the divine right of kings which caused him to arrogantly throw his power around. Whose advice are you listening too? Listening to unwise counsel leads to erosion.

2. He Followed His Parents’ Weak Example at Home Rather than the Truths of Scripture (1 Ki. 14:21-24)
Rehoboam did evil and participated in idolatry (v.23). Judah became immoral as the other nations (v.24). It is true, you become like the god that you worship. Where did Rehoboam learn to live like this? He was influenced by his mother, an Ammonite (v.21) and Solomon his father (1 Ki. 11:1-8). Rehoboam could not filter out the good from the bad influences. Parents, what kind of example are you setting for your children?

3. He Substituted the Authentic with the Synthetic (14:25-28)
Shishak, King of Egypt attacked Jerusalem (v.25) and the temple was plundered (v.26). Rehoboam had bronze shields made to replace the gold (v.27). These inferior shields were kept in the “guardroom” not the temple. Bronze shields are easier to make but they require continual shining. Instead of admitting that he’s wrong, admitting that the nation is under God’s judgement, admitting that their broke Rehoboam covers up, fakes it. Keep the shields shining, don’t let anyone know anything different. You do that when spiritual erosion sets in.

You haven’t started doing that have you? Do you remember when life was pure, authentic, real, fresh? When Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they did was try to cover up, pretend nothing’s wrong, we do the same.

4. Rehoboam Refused to Seek the Lord (2 Chron. 12:14)
He was unwilling to seek the Lord with his whole heart. He dabbled just enough in religion to be dangerously content and smug feeling that he was ok. The result of all of this was that Rehoboam and the nation experienced continuous wars during his reign (14:21, 30). He lived in chaos, turmoil, and there was no peace. There is no peace for the wicked.

Your life does not have to erode. Our nation does not have to go the way of Rome. America is great because of its people. And if we will continue to be great, it will also be because of her people!
So how do we eradicate spiritual erosion?

The Eradication of Erosion
First, we must recognize that . . .
1. Any life can erode
How can you tell? There are signs of erosion. What are they? Here are some signs that spiritual erosion is evident in your life.
(1) A diminished interest in studying or reading the Bible.
(2) Rationalizing sin.
(3) An unhealthy attachment to material things.
(4) Not consulting God on major decisions.
(5) Accepting the influence of others who couldn’t care less about God.
Are any of these signs of erosion present in your life?

2. Surround yourself with godly counselors
Prov. 11:14; 12:15; 13:20; 15:22

3. Emulate godly examples
Pattern your life after godly examples, aspire to greatness.

4.Guard your heart (Prov. 4:23)
From the heart flows everything else; therefore, guard your heart. Along our coast embankments are being built to keep the oil out of our fragile marshes. It is imperative that the oil be kept away. And so it is with our lives. It is imperative that we keep sin away from our heart. We need to establish a spiritual embankment that will allow no ungodly thought or action to find a place in our heart.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Lessons from the Bread (Mark 6:30-44)

2010-06-01T09:04:00.000-05:00

Excerpts from a sermon preached on May 30, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs by Pastor Joe Alain.

Occasion: Memorial Day, Observing the Lord’s Supper
Sermon: Lessons from the Bread (Original Title: “Full Measure of Devotion”)
Scripture Reading: Mark 6:30-44 (Focal verse, 37)
Jesus was teaching the disciples a valuable lesson about compassion, sacrifice and devotion, qualities that Jesus Himself exhibited in his earthly life. However, the disciples were not quick to learn these lessons as verse 37 reveals. The disciples did not want to be bothered with the great needs of the people. Their involvement was too costly, too inconvenient, it required too much effort.

There are some powerful lessons from the bread that serve as motivations for living sacrificially.
1. Lesson #1: Little with God Is Much
“What do you have?” Jesus asked (v.38). Five loaves of bread plus two fish does not look like much but with God it equals unlimited potential. God does not ask us to give what we do not have, but He does ask to give what we do have. Fully devoted believers share what they have with others. Sometimes having too much is a hindrance to God working. God often does His best work when we give Him our little. And our little with God is much.

2. Lesson #2: That which Is Given to God Is Never Lost
Sacrifice involves loss but actually you never lose what is given to God. We give only what God has already given. We fear being fully devoted to God because we fear losing something, yet just the opposite is true. By giving our life away we gain it. Instead of loss, there were leftovers.

3. Lesson #3: You Don’t Know what You Have until You Use It
The miracle, the potential is unseen until the disciples use what they have. Faith is seen in the act of giving to God our little. Only then does God work with what we have given to Him. What areas or our lives does God want to do something extraordinary? He’s waiting for us to give Him our little. Where do you desire God to work in your life? That is the area that you need to give to God. It’s amazing how God works in response to our giving to Him. When we give Him priority in our finances, He turns our financial situation around. When we give Him priority with our time, it’s amazing how God relieves us of the stress we carry about our time. When we give Him our talents, God takes our little and blesses others in ways that we could never imagine.

When the disciples gave their little to Jesus, He multiplied the loaves and the fish and all were satisfied. Your devotion, your sacrifice makes a difference in the lives of people. May the sacrifice that Jesus made for us motivate us to give to God our “full measure of devotion.”

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Success and Significance (Mark 6:14-29)

2010-05-17T11:46:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Sunday, May 16, 2010 by Pastor Joe Alain.

What's the difference between success and significance? Do we desire to be successful or significant? What comes to your mind when you think of success? Having a family, accomplishing goals that we have set, working at what we enjoy doing in life, having the comforts of life, a home, a nice car, the ability to take vacations, being safe and secure. In short, success for us is probably living the American Dream. However, much of how we define success probably revolves around the acquisition of material things. Success by its definition is based on outcomes or results, which are not always accurate indicators when it comes to spiritual matters.

Living successfully in the eyes of the world does not necessarily mean that we will live a life of significance. On the other hand, you can live a life of great significance (i.e., meaning, purpose, influence) in the eyes of the Lord and not appear successful at all as the world defines success. Case in point – John the Baptist.

In the story of the death of John the Baptist, we find a man who lived courageously and who desired to be significant in the eyes of God. Mark 6:14-29 provides a stark contrast between John the Baptist and Herod and his wife Herodias. While Herod and those who surrounded him prided themselves on being successful, it was John, the one who risks and loses his life that lives a life of significance.

Of course there is a price to living a life of significance. John was the good guy but he didn’t win. John was a man who followed the call of God, who was fully submitted to doing God’s will, and he ended up dead! But what really matters? That we are successful as people view us? Or that we live a life that is significant for our generation and for generations to come? Are we willing to the few who pursue this life of significance? Or will we be content to be among the masses of people who are pursuing success apart from a life significance? And if we are willing, are we willing to pay the price?

Story Summary
The fame of Jesus is spreading (v.14) and people were wondering who Jesus really was. Some were saying that he was John the Baptist raised from the dead, others Elijah, and others one of the prophets of old. Herod is worried (v.16) and for good reason.
In this passage Mark recounts the story of John’s imprisonment and execution (vv.17-20).

Apparently, John had been exposing the open scandal that was taking place in Herod’s home. Herod Anitipas lived a complicated life from a relationship standpoint. His father, Herod the Great, the Herod of Jesus’ time married many wives and had sons and daughters. So insanely suspicious was Herod the Great in his later life, that it was said, “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.” What was the present scandal? Herodias was the daughter of Herod’s half-brother, Aristobulus, and therefore Herod’s niece. Herodias was also the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip, and therefore his sister-in-law.

What was spoken of only in secret among polite society, John used as his main sermon content on more than one occasion (v.18, “had been saying”)! Herod had broken Jewish law (Lev. 18:16; 20:21) and all the laws of common decency and John had continually reminded them of that.

Of course, this kind of preaching can get you in serious trouble! So Herod has John arrested at Herodias’s insistence. But Herod meant John no harm. In fact he feared John and even had him protected (v.20). He may not have liked what John said, but he knew John was right and a righteous man, he knew he was a man of God and he respected him. He even enjoyed listening to John preach (v.20) although what John said puzzled him.

Unlike Herod who struggles with his conscious, you get the picture of Herodias as a cold, calculating and cruel woman. She almost makes Herod look good. She has nursed a grudge against John (v.19). She’s not willing to forgive and forget. She determines to get even. The series of events that transpire at Herod’s birthday banquet are no doubt carefully engineered by Herodias herself.
Her opportunity came at Herod’s birthday celebration. Here’s a guy who throws his own party (v.21). Salome, the daughter of Herodias by Philip, the man she just left dances for the party guests (v.22). Herodias had no qualms about using her daughter in this way to fulfill her evil plan. Salome’s dance pleased Herod and his guests and he makes a foolish and rash vow (v.23) that Herodias takes full advantage of (vv.24-25).

Herod had a decision to make and the Bible tells us that he was “greatly distressed” (v.26). He could renounce his vow which although was not the kingly thing to do (admit that he was foolish), it would have been the right thing to do, or he could go along with his foolish vow, which he did. This kind of dilemma faces us on a daily basis. Will I chose to do what is right even if it’s not popular and is costly? Will I do what’s right even if it makes me look imperfect or human? Or will I follow the crowd? Will I do what is expedient? Herod did not want to look indecisive or appear humble in front of his dinner guests, so he consented to that which he knew was wrong. Herod chose success over significance. Fear of man drove his choice.

People who live a life of significance are people who make choices based on principle not popularity. They sometimes have to say “I made a mistake” but that’s ok, because they want to do what is right and godly. I think probably all of us would like to see ourselves like John, courageous people of conviction who do the right thing even if it’s very costly. The truth is less exciting, because we may often look like Herod. And it may be because we prize the world’s favor and success over God’s favor and significance.

Herod is struggling internally with his choice, but he makes it nonetheless (v.27). There is no internal moral struggle going on with Herodias. She’s quite happy with her little evil plan. William Barclay says of Herodias short-sighted and wicked plan that “She murdered John that she might live in peace. She forgot that while she need no longer meet John, she still had to meet God.”

The story doesn’t end on a happy note. John, the good guy, the one who followed God’s will is dead, while the successful people, the ones who will stop at nothing to maintain the status quo go on with their lives. Which brings me to this question, “What are you pursuing in life? Success? Or significance?” What’s wrong with simply pursuing success as the world defines it? Pursuing success apart from significance leads to some pitfalls. These pitfalls can be seen in Herod’s character. I mention three of them as warnings to the person who would place success above significance.

Pitfalls of pursuing success
1. The pitfall of pleasing men rather than God. Herod was more concerned about pleasing men than God. He bases his decisions on how he will be received by his wife and guests. Their approval is sought above God’s. Every move he makes is dictated by the approval of others. He feared what men might say. You cannot be a man pleaser and follow God with your whole heart. Success at any price will tempt you to please men instead of God.

2. The pitfall of ignoring your conscience. Herod followed his desires rather than listening to his conscious. He knows his lifestyle is not right and he knows killing John is wrong. But he has ignored his conscience and it has become hardened. Herod must make moral compromises and go along to get along. Success at any price will tempt you to ignore your conscience.

3. The pitfall of not taking God’s Word seriously. This explains why his conscience is hardened. Herod does not take God’s Word seriously. He is surrounded by biblical culture, yet he will not personally commit to God’s truth. Herod is in a dangerous position, a position many are in today. He enjoys listening to God’s Word, but he has no real commitment to do what it says. Success at any price will tempt you to be half-hearted in your commitment to God’s Word.

These are the dangerous pitfalls of the person who pursues success at any price, who values the world’s success over living a life of significance.

So what then characterizes the man or woman of significance?
1. Conviction born out of a whole-hearted commitment to God’s Word. John was a man of deep conviction because he was a man committed to God’s truth in His word. His moral foundation was rock solid because it was built on the truth of God’s Word. This is why all of us must be growing disciples. We must know God!

2. Courage born out of a passionate understanding of God’s heart.
John knew the heart of God, he knew that God desired to raise up a holy people. John could not help but speak up and out against the things which were robbing God’s people. Knowing God’s heart empowers us to live with courage.

3. Contentment born out of an understanding of God’s sovereign plan. John spent time in prison and time alone but he knew that God had a plan and that He was fulfilling His plan. Knowing God intimately empowers us to serve in obscurity, to serve when no one else is, to serve when we are not seeing results. We know that God has a plan and we chose to pursue an eternal life of significance over the temporary pursuit of earthly fame and fortune.

There’s a paradox in pursuing a life of significance. That is, you must first see yourself as insignificant so that your significance will be in the Lord. R.C. Sproul says, “Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.”

So what kind of life are you pursuing? Success at any price? Success that is temporal? Or a life of significance? A life of impact in your generation for God and for generations yet to come?

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Dry Bones Can Live Again! (Ezekiel 37:1-10)

2010-04-18T17:55:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on April 18, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Time for a Fresh Encounter
Dry Bones Can Live Again!
Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-10
It’s called “dry lightning” and it’s responsible for 80% of all wildfires in wildland areas. Dry lightning occurs during thunderstorms when the humidity is so low (the air is so dry) that rain evaporates before it reaches the ground. Even though the rain does not reach the ground, the lightning does and when it hits dry grass the results can be devastating. What occurs in nature with sometimes deadly results, is something that we need from a spiritual standpoint. When God sparks a dry and hopeless heart, new life occurs! God wants to spark the dying embers of our lives. He wants to renew our passion and love for Him and for others. As the hymn states, God wants to sweep “across the broken strings” and stir “the slumbering chords again” (Hymn, “He Keeps Me Singing”). He wants to bring dry bones back to life again!

In every age and with every people revival, a fresh encounter with God, is needed if the church is going to impact its culture with the Gospel of Christ. As we think about our upcoming series of special revival services that begin next Sunday, I want to share with you four critical conditions to be met for true spiritual renewal to occur. These four conditions constitute God’s plan for spiritual renewal and they are illustrated in Ezekiel 37:1-10.

In Ezekiel chapter 37 we find that the spiritual life of the kingdom of Judah had been depleted through years of captivity. The once blessed and prosperous nation is walking blindly through a dust storm and can’t seem to find their way out. They are in a place of dryness, despair, even hopelesness and they can’t seem to escape.

The spiritual condition of the people is portrayed with an unusual and vivid picture of dry bones. Ezekiel is commanded to preach to the bones and something extraordinary occurs. A miracle of new life sprouts, God’s people are revived, and standing before Ezekiel is a great army! It was a revival in a bone yard. In our day, we too need an outpouring of God’s Spirit to flood the dry valleys that dominate our lives. We need the inrush of living water to replenish the dusty deserts of our lives. We need dry bones to live again!

When will dry bones live again? When will we experience a fresh encounter with God? When will we see new life spring forth from death? Even though revival is a work of the “Sovereign Lord,” there are some conditions for experiencing a fresh encounter with God. Life Application: When God’s people meet God’s conditions, true spiritual renewal will occur.

Notice the first condition, there must be . . .
1. A Divine Confrontation (37:1-3)
God had Ezekiel do some unusual things in his ministry. He told him to eat a scroll (3:1-3); he had him make a model of Jerusalem and play war games to reenact its soon coming destruction (4:1-3); and he had him shave his head and beard (even burning his hair) as signs of judgement (5:1-3) just to name a few. Ezekiel was a prophet given to extraordinary visions and strange acts. In this unusual vision in chapter 37 Ezekiel is seized by the Lord (“carried away” NLT) and given a tour, led by the holy spirit, of a graveyard. The Spirit of God set him down in the middle of a valley full of bones (v.1). As he was led all through the valley he noticed that the bones were “very dry” (v.2).

In the immediate context this was a prophetic vision of the nation of Israel. In oppressive and unrelenting captivity, the people were like scattered and unburied skeletons. The people were drying up and dying and they saw no end to their judgement. They said “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off!” (37:11). The people saw no hope of ever being resurrected as a nation but God says to them, their Dry Bones would Live again!

The reviving of the dry bones signified the restoration of the nation. The vision showed that Israel’s new life depended on the “Sovereign Lord’s” power (vv.5-6, “I will”), not outward circumstances. It would be the Lord who would open their graves and bring them into the land once again (37:12). So this actually was a vision of great hope and encouragement! Dry Bones Can and Will Live Again!

When you are in captivity for a long period of time you begin to lose hope. When you go through a dry spell, a time of extreme testing and difficulty, a time when it seems as if God is nowhere to be found, you wonder has God forgotten about me? Can God still do it? That’s how Israel felt, but if they would see their condition and what God was about to do, their lives would be full of hope. We too need our hope revived.

The first condition for being brought back to life is to realize that you are in a dry zone and need God’s spiritual life. We need a divine confrontation. Ezekiel needed to make an honest assessment of present realities and that is what happens in the presence of God, we come face to face with reality but also to the supernatural power of God.

A divine confrontation. Second, there must be . . .
2. A Faith Declaration (37:3)
In 37:3 God asks Ezekiel a question. “Can these bones live?” Why did God ask such a question? This was not a question seeking information. God wanted Ezekiel to put his faith to work and to see the possibilities before him. God knows that dry bones can live again, but He wants Ezekiel to believe that. All of God’s people had lost that hope. They didn’t believe it was possible. And God wants them to start believing not only that it is possible but that it is coming! He wants them to believe that dry bones can and will live again!

Ezekiel gazes out upon the scene of death and says “Lord, you alone know.” “From where I am standing it doesn’t look too promising but only you know.” Ezekiel’s response was somewhat guarded. It was not that he was doubting God. He was just simply saying “God, only you know.” “And only You can do it.” He is saying that from a strictly human standpoint it looks impossible. We can understand Ezekiel’s guarded response. After all he’s been preaching to a bunch of dry bones for a long time now and he hasn’t seen much sign of life.

Anyone who has ever preached or taught consistently to the same folks can identify with brother Ezekiel. Many times I have wondered as I gaze out upon the congregation, “can these bones live?” But God wants me to keep preaching and keep believing and keep trusting that dry bones can and will live again! What is the answer to the question? Of course man can not make them live but God can! God did not respond to Ezekiel but he did give him some instructions on how to raise the dead. A few years ago a book came out with the title 30 Minutes to Raise the Dead and that’s about what we try to do every week.

Dry Bones Can Live Again when we have a divine confrontation, and when there is a faith declaration - God will do it! A third condition, there must be . . .
3. A Biblical Proclamation (37:4-8)
In 37:4-6 Ezekiel is told to preach to the bones – to preach to the dead! What do you preach to dead people? “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” (37:4). Dead people need life and life is in the word! “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom.10:17). What was the word Ezekiel was to bring to the people? It is found in verse 5. Dry bones can live again! “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live.” Here was a message of hope. A message of joy. A message of good news!

Here is our glorious mission! “To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.” The Word of God brings life (John 1:1; Phil.2:16)! It is the unchanging Word of God that will bring change to the world. The Word is life and there can be no revival without the Bible! Ezekiel obeyed the Lord and went to preaching to his congregation of dead folks (37:7). Notice what happened. When the dead came into a confrontation with God’s Word the dead folks started to make a little “noise.”

Now Ezekiel I’m quite sure was happy to hear a little noise or anything for that matter. One of our problems today is there isn’t enough holy noise in church. Now there’s a lot of noise in the church today but it’s not “holy noise!” The church is noisy with programs, with gimmicks, and with people making spectacles of themselves. New Testament churches are truly noisy churches. Noisy with life. Noisy with spiritual questions form new converts. Noisy with hurting people. Noisy with spiritual kingdom activity.

A miracle occurred as he preached. The dry bones began to come together bone to bone. Then flesh appeared and skin covered the flesh. Right before his eyes new life was coming in response to the preached word. This miracle happens in preaching. Dry Bones Can Live Again When There Is A Biblical Proclamation.

Fourth, there must be, . . .
4. Spiritual Inspiration (37:9-10)
The word is essential but there is no life without the Spirit of God! Verse 8 tells us that “there was no breath in them.” The word translated “breath” is the Hebrew word “ruach” and can be translated as wind, spirit and breath. It speaks of God’s divine activity. They were bodies with substance but still lifeless. They lacked the breath of God, the divine activity of God’s Spirit. So Ezekiel was now commanded to “prophesy to the breath . . . say . . . breathe on these slain, that they may live” (37:9).

What was God saying to Ezekiel? You recognize that it is my Spirit that gives life, Ezekiel. Ezekiel, you let Me fill you with my Spirit. Let Me empower you because only I can do it. “All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy one comes down; Brethren pray and holy manna will be showered all around.” Dry bones can live when we as God’s servants seek the Lord’s face in prayer and ask Him to anoint our lips, to empower our teaching, to open the hearts of the people we minister to.

When the Bible and the Spirit are in union there is birth and rebirth. Revival occurs! In verse 10 the breath of God came, life returned to the dead, and there was now standing “an exceedingly great army.” When we the church are revived that is what we will be - a mighty army of servants fulfilling God’s mission. When God’s people meet God’s conditions, true spiritual renewal occurs. Dry bones can live again!

Are you ready for a fresh encounter? For God to do what He alone can do? Are you ready for renewed joy, peace, a sense of purpose, hope? Dry bones can live again!

Prayer
Father, some of us are in that dry valley of bones today and in need of renewal, a fresh encounter with You, the Holy One. Others of us need to take a spiritual tour through the bone yard of this world so that we can see clearly the needs all around us. Father, today would you take us to the valley of dry bones if needed so that we can see our true condition? Father, use Your word and Spirit today to spark the fires of revival, visit us from on high so that we may have a fresh encounter with You, O Sovereign Lord. Now, grant us the faith to believe you – to expect great things from you and then attempt great things for you. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to preach and to teach and to share Your Word that changes lives and changes communities. May we be found faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

No Limits! (Mark 6:1-6)

2010-04-13T18:08:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on April 11, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

No Limits

Scripture Reading: Mark 6:1-6

God is not limited in what He is able to do or what He will do, but God works accordingly in conjunction with our response to Him. Because of unbelief, Jesus’ mighty works were limited in Nazareth. He still did some works, but the response of unbelief hindered Him from doing a “mighty work” there. Because of the response of the people of Nazareth, one writer has called this account an “un-miracle” story.

Life Application: Responding to God in faith opens our lives to the amazing and unlimited power of God.

Varying Responses to Jesus
The parable of the soils in Mark chapter four is a story about how people respond to the Gospel. Some people respond positively, and in that sense, they are the good soil. The good soil is often found in unlikely places. A graveyard where a demon-possessed man found deliverance, a crowded street where a woman touched Jesus, a child’s room where Jesus healed a child of a synagogue ruler, a toll collectors booth where a weary outcast named Matthew found hope. Good soil pops up in some unlikely places.

However, other people responded negatively to Jesus. The hard, the rocky and thorny soil represents the hardened and unresponsive hearts of the people that rejected Jesus. Religious leaders who said he was demon-possessed, family members who wrote him off as crazy, and here in our text where his home town reception is anything but positive and characterized by faith. It’s said that you can never really go back home and this was certainly true for Jesus. Where there should have been good soil, positive responses – faith, there was unbelief. Jesus certainly wasn’t given the key to the city and there was no sign at the outskirts of town proclaiming “Welcome to Nazareth, home of Jesus the Christ.”

1. Home Coming (6:1-2a)
“To his hometown . . . he began to teach” “Hometown” is a reference to Nazareth (NLT). At this time, Jesus had become well-known as a teacher and He seems to be coming back in more of an official capacity as a Rabbi with disciples. We might say, “it’s home coming and Jesus is the guest preacher.” But this was no home coming celebration! The people were “amazed” or “astonished” (ESV) but the word here has a negative connotation. Amazed but unfazed!

2. Familiarity and Contempt (6:2b-3)
“Isn’t this the carpenter?” The response of the people? They were offended and would not believe in Him. Why were the people offended?
(1) Jesus did not have the proper credentials “Where did this man get these things?”
What the people are saying here is, “how could he have such wisdom and power seeing that he does not have the proper credentials?” Jesus did not study under their Rabbis. He had not been to their schools. He was not qualified! Do not ever feel that you are not qualified. Some Christians desire to be used by God but because someone has discouraged them, they are inactive. Remember, it is God that qualifies us (see Col. 1:12).

(2) Was a working man, a carpenter “Isn’t this
the carpenter?”
The people were ashamed of Jesus. “Carpenter” is “tekton,” which can be observed in the last half of the English word “architect,” although in that day it did not carry such a positive connotation. In biblical times it could refer to any kind of craftsman: mason, smith, shipbuilder, sculptor, and even physician. It is not certain that Jesus was a carpenter in the sense that we think of a carpenter; however, this was the understanding of the early church. About A.D. 155 Justin, Dialogue with Trypho 88, states that Jesus made yokes and ploughs. The point here in this account is that in their opinion, Jesus is just an ordinary craftsman perhaps like themselves. The NLT says, “They scoffed, ‘He’s just a carpenter.” The people of Nazareth despised Jesus because he was a working-man, “just a carpenter.” “Who does he think that he is? He’s no different than us.” Their physical knowledge of Jesus prevented them from having a spiritual knowledge of him.

(3) Jesus had a suspect background “Isn’t this Mary’s son?”
Because this was not the common way to refer to someone, some scholars believe that this was added later by scribes who changed it in order to lend support to the belief in the virgin birth. A simpler explanation is that this expresses the fact that Joseph had already died or an even better, that this expression reflects rumors that he was illegitimate and may have been a deliberate slur by the townspeople. It’s good to know that you don’t have to have a perfect pedigree to be used by God! He’s not concerned with your past and because of grace your past does not have to hinder your present.

(4) Familiarity with his family “Isn’t this . . . the brother of James, Joseph . . .?” The brothers and sisters of Jesus mentioned here were not cousins (Jerome’s view) or Joseph’s children by a previous marriage. The children mentioned here were more probably children born to Mary and Joseph subsequent to the virgin birth of Jesus. James is prominent in that he later became the leader of the Jerusalem church and the author of the book of James. Judas is probably the same person mentioned in Jude 1. In Greek the names are the same. We know nothing of Joseph and Simon.

Because the people judged him by his lack of credentials, because they were ashamed of him, because they thought that they knew him, the people “were deeply offended and refused to believe in him” (v.3, NLT). The word translated “took offense” (NIV, ESV) is “skandalizō.” In the NT the word was often translated as “stumbling block” and by Mark’s time was used to describe the Jewish response to Jesus’ crucifixion (1 Cor. 1:23; Gal. 5:11). From this word we translate the English word “scandal.”

Sometimes when familiarity should breed a growing respect it breeds an increasing and easy-going familiarity. The reason his own people did not believe in Jesus was that they thought they knew him so well. It was inconceivable to them that God could be at work in the commonplace, in the ordinary. Sometimes we are too near people to see their greatness.

3. Limiting God (6:4-6)
The words “relatives” and “house” (v.4) indicate that Jesus’ family joined with their neighbors in rejecting his claims (see, 3:20-21, 31-35). The unbelief of the people had a limiting effect on Jesus’ work in their midst. One of the great emphases of Mark’s Gospel is that Jesus performs his miracles in response to faith. Here there was little faith. It is not that God cannot work, he has chosen to limit his working in accordance with human response. This is not to say that we can somehow manipulate God; however, our responsiveness to God is a key to receiving from Him. And if I will not respond to him in faith, I will not receive from him either. It is still true that no man can be healed if he refuses to be healed.

Why do we reject those we are familiar with? And why do we not respond to God in faith? (1) We judge by past experiences and limited knowledge. We think we have people figured out. We size people up, we judge them and we think we really know them. We think we know all there is to know about a person. Because we think we know God, we’re not open to seeing him work in different ways, even ordinary ways.

(2) The human nature part of us disdains those who stand aside as different. Why? People who excel blow the cover off of mediocrity. Or we think to ourselves, “why can’t they just be like everyone else?” “Why do they feel that they are special?” Remember how Joseph’s brothers felt about him and treated him? They despised Joseph because he was a dreamer. So they tried to kill the dreamer. Jesus is the dreamer and the elder brothers are trying to silence his dreams.

A message to the church for we too can limit God. (Barclay) “There can be no preaching in the wrong atmosphere. Our churches would be different places if congregations would only remember that they preach far more than half the sermon. In an atmosphere of expectancy the poorest effort can catch fire. In an atmosphere of critical coldness or bland indifference, the most Spirit-packed utterance can fall lifeless to the earth.”

The clear indication in this text is that if they had believed in him, he could have done a great deal more. The spiritual climate of a congregation, its sense of expectancy, its openness to the power of God at work through Jesus Christ, will in fact have a great deal to do with how much God’s power can accomplish in that particular community.

Jesus is not discouraged by the response that he receives in Nazareth. He continues his ministry of teaching and healing. “And he went about among the villages teaching” (v.6, ESV).

No Limits Living
1. Keep intimacy with God at a high level. Intimacy with God (growing in Christ) destroys preconceived and inadequate notions of God.

2. Keep your heart responsive to God. Faith grows as we respond to him and as our faith grows, we see God’s “might work” in our lives.

3. Don’t allow others to limit what you can be or do in life. You’re not limited by your background, life circumstances, or what people think about you.

4. Don’t ever get discouraged when people do not respond to your ministry, others will.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Easter Before And After (Mark 5:1-20)

2010-04-06T08:43:00.000-05:00

A sermon preached on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Easter Before and After
Consider life before Easter. Peter, ashamed of Jesus denied his Lord three times. Thomas could not believe that Jesus was alive. After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples were huddled in fear that they might be next. And the woman, devoted followers of Jesus came to the tomb that first Easter morning not knowing it would be the first Easter. Their thoughts were centered on how they would move the great stone that secured the corpse of Jesus. The last thing on their mind was seeing Jesus alive. But after Easter things were different. Peter renewed by the resurrected Jesus and full of fresh courage proclaimed the crucified risen Christ and thousands were converted. Thomas confessed Jesus as Lord, disciples once huddled in fear were dispersed to love others, and the women who went to the tomb that day left filled with God’s presence and great joy.

Easter changes everything! In Mark 5:1-20 we have the story of Jesus healing a man of his demon possession and giving him a new direction in life. It’s a great before and after story. It illustrated life before and after Easter. Jesus transformed this man with just a word. The same Lord who walked the Galilean seashore is still the living Lord who is in the life changing business!

No Case Too Hard
In this passage we see that No Case Is too Hard. The Psalmist declared, “What God is great like our God? You art the God who works wonders” (Psalm 77:13b-14a). Truly with God all things are possible. Nothing is too hard for our God. Here before us is a man who is possessed by negative, destructive, demonic, and anti-life forces. He had been driven away form his family, friends, community, and society itself. All normal contacts with other human beings had ceased. Here before us is a man engulfed in tragic loneliness being driven by demonic forces to the brink of insanity. Here before us is a man who has been written off as a lost cause, a hard case, no a hopeless case! But with Jesus there is no case too hopeless, too far gone, too hard! No one is hopeless who hopes in God!

Dead Man Walking
Mark tells us four things about “Legion,” the Demon-possessed man. Here is why we need Easter!
1. Spiritually Dead (vv.2-3)
First, He made his home in the graveyard - 5:2-3. Luke 8:27 tells us that “He lived not in a house but among the tombs.” He is a man who is the living among the dead. But although he was alive physically he was dead already spiritually. In fact this is the spiritual condition of humanity apart from God (see Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:1-15). Apart from Christ we are all dead men walking. This man was so wild and anti-social that he could not live among the living. Legion needed to be raised from the death of sin and demonic possession.

2. Without Hope (vv.3-4)
Second, Legion could not be bound - 5:3-4. His own people did not know what to do with him. Their only cure was to lock him up but that didn’t work. The world could not help this man. He who was possessed by supernatural powers would require supernatural intervention. The world still has no cure for what truly ails us. “What can wash away my sin,” the hymn writer wrote. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus,” was the reply. There are some things in life that only God can do. Only God can heal our deepest hurts. Only God can forgive our burdensome guilt. Only God can restore our broken relationships. Only God can mend our broken hearts. Only God can bring hope to the hopeless.

3. Self-Destructive (v.5)
Third, Legion cried out and cut himself with stones - 5:5. He had a reputation for frightening others and hurting himself with his self-destructive behaviors. His condition drove off anyone who might pass his way. Satan had him completely isolated and in self-destruct mode. No one could stand to be near him and he could not even stand himself. That is how many people are. Their sin has caused them to repel those who would help them. Their sin has caused them to loathe even their own life. This is a vivid picture of sin’s effects. Sin leads us into isolation. Sin leads us away from life and into death. Sin causes a person to be in bondage to self-destructive behaviors.

4. No Real Life (v.15)
Fourth, Legion wore no clothes - 5:15. Luke 8:27 explicitly tells us “for a long time he had worn no clothes.” He had no sense of shame about his nakedness. This reveals how far gone he was. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit they became aware of their nakedness (Genesis 3:7). A human being covering his or her nakedness has become a universal symbol of civilization. Evidently, this man was so out of touch with reality, and with civilization, that he was unaware of his nakedness.

Sin has a way of blinding a person so that they are not in touch with truth or reality. The freedom to sin and do as I please philosophy today that is put forth under the guise of the new enlightenment is really only old darkness. Sin will not build a new civilization it will only destroy the present one. Sin doesn’t bring people into the light it keeps them in darkness. Sin doesn’t free people it enslaves them. Sin doesn’t make people happy it only robs them of true peace and joy. When human beings stoop to the level of fulfilling their every desire then they revert back to barbarians and animals.

5. Bound by Fears
The man’s multi personalities are driving him to the brink of insanity. He’s bound up by fears and his life is characterized by chaos.

Jesus The Tomb Raider
Here before us is a man who is most certainly a hard case. And yet here is a picture of where many of our fellow citizens are. For many people life is running out of control. Many are filled and dominated by fears, guilt, lust, greed, sorrow, and despair. Many are possessed of destructive habits and attitudes that enslave. Many are abusing themselves like Legion. Many are enslaved by alien powers driving them even to the point of insanity. Yet no case is too hard for Jesus! No one is so much a slave to Satan that Jesus Christ of Nazareth cannot make him or her a son or daughter of God.

Because of Easter, because the tomb is empty countless lives have been changed. Jesus is the great tomb raider and tomb shaker! He has come to bring freedom to the prisoners and to release the oppressed (Lk. 4:18). He can set us free from any bondage for He is the bondage breaker! As He Himself said, “if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:31).

Can you imagine your life different? Free from sin? From purposelessness? From fear? Jesus made the difference in this man’s life and what God did for him He will do for you. Only Christ can cure you. Only He can break the cycle of bondage that is enslaving you right now. It might be drugs, alcohol, lust, or greed. It also might be destructive attitudes like bitterness, a poor self image, or confusion. Will you let Jesus break the bondage in your life that is enslaving you? Jesus is ready to cast down and to cast out the demons and sin tormenting you and robbing you of God’s best for your life. You can be free and if Jesus sets you free, you will be free indeed! Are you ready to experience Easter? “Turn your eyes upon the cross – He’s all you need.”

Pastor Joe

Seeing Faith (Mark 2:1-12)

2010-02-22T11:03:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on February 21, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 2:1-12
Focal Verse: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5).

Capernaum was a coastal village on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, about two and a half miles from the mouth of the Jordan River. This was the center of Jesus’ great Galilean ministry. Our text tells us that Jesus was coming back into Capernaum (v.1). He had previously been in the surrounding wilderness areas (1:35). When in Capernaum, Jesus resided in the house of Simon Peter (Mk. 1:29). It is to this house that Mark says that Jesus “had come home” (v.1). This lets us know that Jesus is probably now living
in Capernaum.

“He Preached the Word to Them” (2:1-2)
If Jesus came back to rest, it didn’t work. “So many gathered that there was no room left” (v.2). At the most, the house held no more than around 50 people. The rest of the people would have to listen at the door. What did Jesus do when this crowd assembled? He could have turned them away. He could have left the house. Instead, “he preached the word to them” (v.2). What word did he preach? What was Jesus’ message? The heart of Jesus’ message was the kingdom (or rule) of God and that one comes under God’s rule through repentance (turning to God) and faith. We might say that Jesus brought to people an alternative kingdom, a kingdom of love, joy, peace, forgiveness, a kingdom contrary to what people in the world would have known.

Jesus seized the opportunity that was presented and preached the word. What opportunities present themselves to you to share God’s word? You and I are able to offer others another kingdom, God’s kingdom, another way, the way. God’s kingdom is a kingdom of joy and peace and love, a kingdom where life is lived with purpose, where people have the opportunity to live a full and meaningful life. This is our message! In this setting where a healing occurred, the most important healing that took place was the acceptance of the word that was shared by Jesus. People have many needs today and God call us to be active in meeting those needs, but the greatest need is for people to hear and respond to God’s good news.

When the Healthy Hinder the Sick (2:3-4a)
Mark tells us that some other folks tried to get in to the revival meeting (vv.3-4a) but they we’re too late and they didn’t have a gymnasium next door with a “jumbo tron” to watch Jesus. Now you have to believe that some of the good folks of Capernaum saw this man being carried to the house. Why didn’t somebody get up and let these folks in? They didn’t for the same reason people don’t today. Their focus on themselves blinded them to this man who had a need. He was the invisible man to them. This crowd was in the way, keeping this man from meeting Jesus. Self-seeking keeps us disengaged and destroys love. That’s why the Bible encourages us to develop the aspect of love that is “not self-seeking” (1 Cor. 13:5).

What hinders people from coming to Jesus? And how are you helping people to see and know Jesus? Don’t ever think that what you do does not matter or is not significant. It doesn’t take much to impact someone for Christ. It was just a little gesture from a fellow snow boarder that got Kelly Clark to thinking about God. Kelly, a 2002 Olympic gold medal winner and member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic snowboarding team in Vancouver, discovered that success does not bring lasting fulfillment. During a competition in 2004 she overheard a fellow competitor encouraging a person who failed to qualify say, “Hey, it’s all right. God still loves you.” In her hotel room, Kelly began to read the Bible but was not sure what she was reading. That’s when she walked down the hall and knocked on the girls door who had spoken earlier. Kelly introduced herself and said, “I think you might be a Christian, and I think you need to tell me about God.” Kelly Clark became a Christian. Your words and actions have the ability to speak hope into the lives of people.

Love Will Find a Way (2:4b)
They could not get in the door, but they knew that could get through the roof, so now it’s plan B! Their love for their friend motivated these four friends to not quit. Love will find a way and don’t you know that the one friend was so glad that his friends did not give up on him! Josef Guzy, a 76 year old Polish man was also glad that Darius Wysluchato did not give up on him. You see, Josef died on January 26, 2010, well so everyone thought. He had collapsed at his barn and when he was found, he was not breathing, there was no heartbeat and the body had cooled, all the characteristics of death. Josef Guzy was pronounced dead. Darius, a funeral director opened Josef’ coffin to retrieve a necklace for the man’s wife only to discover that Josef had a pulse! He was rushed to the hospital and released several weeks later.

These four friends would not give up because as long as there is a pulse of hope, love will find a way. We too should never become discouraged in our efforts to share with our family and friends. As long as there’s a pulse, there’s hope. And if we witness to our friends and things don’t work out as we would like, go to plan B. That what these four friends did. They went into the roofing business. They “made an opening in the roof” (v.4), literally, they dug through. The roof would have been flat. It was made out of a kind of plaster, mixed in with dirt, rock and laid over with branches for support. They didn’t have to bring a ladder because there would have been a stairwell that went up to the roof. The roof area was kind of like a screened porch without the screen.

For these friends to go to all this trouble tells us some things: (1) For one thing, they are concerned about their friend and they want more than anything for him to get healed. Where does love for others like that come from? It comes from the heart of God. “We love because he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). When we grasp how much God loves us and what he’s done for us, we want others to know Him too. What would motivate you to go out of your way to bring someone to Jesus? God’s love for you! (2) These friends were concerned but we can also say that these four friends believed with all their heart that Jesus could heal their friend. Concern for others and a strong conviction that Jesus can help them leads us to act and love will find a way.

When that kind of compassion (love for people) meets that kind of conviction (that Christ is the answer) there’s going to be a move of God. They were going to do whatever it took to get their friend to Jesus. No matter the cost (roofs are expensive), no matter the ridicule (roof top evangelism is a little unorthodox), they did whatever it took. Love will find a way.

This was radical “roof raising” evangelism. I wonder, when is the last time you and I were accused of doing something radical, bold, daring for the Lord? The New Testament church lived on the cutting edge while the contemporary church today lives in the middle of the road. Am I willing to do whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus? What extra effort could you (I) make to bring a friend to Jesus? These friends cooperated together to bring their friend to Jesus. We too can do much more together than we can by ourselves.

“Your Sins Are Forgiven” (2:5)
In Mark 2:5, Jesus says that He “saw their [plural] faith.” What does it mean to see faith? How do you see someone’s faith? Jesus saw that these four friends had gone to great lengths to bring their friend to Jesus. He “saw their faith” through their actions. Faith always sees what it hopes for. The friends and the paralytic envisioned Jesus bringing His healing and they were not disappointed. Jesus saw their faith and when He did, “he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven” (v.5). This was a double miracle, a miracle of physical healing and even more importantly, a miracle of salvation. How tragic it would have been to only heal him temporarily! Jesus recognized that the greatest need that the man had was to be forgiven. The need to be forgiven is still the essential need that we have today, a need that only God can meet.

In verse 6 we are introduced to the fault-finding committee. They don’t appear to be too happy. This week research was published by Columbia University that suggests that happier people were less likely to have heart problems. So if you want to live longer, be happy. They also suggest that even if your grumpy by nature, just try acting like a cheerful person. Happiness (even if your pretending) may decrease heart attack risk. These critics were probably the same people who wouldn’t dare give up their pew to help somebody get to Jesus. How typical that these fault-finders “sitting . . . thinking to themselves” (v.6) as if there only job description is to make sure nothing spiritual happens and to find fault with every spiritual thing that does.

They were thinking in their hearts but what is in your heart is shouted in heaven. They accused Jesus of blasphemy (v.7). By forgiving sins Jesus is doing only what God could do and of course they do not believe for a moment that Jesus is God. Jesus posed a question to these men (v.9). Of course, the answer is obvious. It is one thing to say, “you’re sins are forgiven.” Anyone can do that, because forgiveness is invisible. You don’t need any proof to say, “your sins are forgiven.” So Jesus says, “I’ll show you that I am not just speaking words, this man who is a paralytic will walk.” Only God could physically heal the man which is the point. Since Jesus can do the visible miracle (heal the paralytic), this is evidence that he also has the power to do the invisible miracle (forgive sins). “Son of Man” is Jesus’ favorite way of referring to Himself in Mark’s gospel and highlights both His human and divine nature (see also Dan. 7:13-14; Mark 2:28; 8:38; 14:62).

The man who was paralyzed “got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all” (v.12). The paralyzed man who was dropped through the ceiling is now walking away forgiven! This is why we preach, this is why we care, this is why we bring our friends to Jesus, because only God can provide what we need – forgiveness! What was the response of the people to this miracle (v.12)? They were (1) “all amazed,” in awe, and (2) they “glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!” (ESV)

Jesus preached the healing word to the people. In spite of hindrances, the four men brought their friend to Jesus – love found a way. Their faith secured God’s forgiveness. They heard the words, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus could say that because He is God. He has the divine authority to forgive us and we receive His forgiveness by faith, simple trust. Jesus still forgives sin. Have you been forgiven by faith? If not, Jesus is willing.

If so, will you empowered by God share Jesus with others? The people said, “We never saw anything like this!” There are many people today in DS who really have never seen anything like what God can do in bringing them forgiveness. But they will when they see your faith!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Solitude (Mark 1:35-45)

2010-02-08T14:04:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on February 7, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:35-45
Clint Eastwood epitomizes our idea of the solitary man. In the “Dollars” movie trilogy of the 60's, he was the iconic “Man with No Name.” As that character, he is portrayed as silent, distant, a loner. Jesus was a solitary man, but he was not a loner, he was not distant, he was not silent. Jesus was altogether different.

We often think of solitude in the sense of being lonely, but it is not the same. Paul Tillich notes, “Our language has wisely sensed the two sides of man’s being alone. It has created the word ‘loneliness’ to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word ‘solitude’ to express the glory of being alone.”

There is a glory to solitude. This glory is seen in the life of Jesus. Following is a description of solitude that captures the meaning and glory of the practice of solitude. “Solitude is the state of being alone without being lonely. Solitude suggests peacefulness stemming from a state of inner richness. It is a means of enjoying the quiet and whatever it brings that is satisfying and from which we draw sustenance. It is something we cultivate. Solitude is refreshing; an opportunity to renew ourselves. In other words, it replenishes us.” (Hara Estroff Marano)

We need what solitude brings – replenishing, a fresh touch from God – and we learn to cultivate solitude from following Jesus’ practice.

Solitude and Prayer (v.35)
Prior to this time of prayer, Jesus faced a very busy day (1:32-34). With the words, “all” and “whole town” you get the picture that Jesus was overwhelmed with needy people. As a result of a busy day of ministering, Jesus needed replenishing, fellowship with the Father. There are two things about this experience of prayer:
(1) It took place “Early in morning” (2) Jesus went to “A solitary place.” The biblical word (eremos) often translates as “desert,” or “wilderness.” The ESV, “desolate;” the NLT, “isolated;” and the
Msg., “secluded spot.”

Because of prayer, Jesus was always in the Father’s will (See Jn. 5:17, 19; 8:28-29). Of course, if Jesus prayed, how much more should I!

Several principles come out of this prayer experience that reveal the secret of effective prayer: (1) For prayer to be effective, you must pray! (Matt. 7:7-11; Jas. 4:2; 1 Th. 5:17).
(2) For prayer to be effective, you must make time to pray and have a place of prayer.

Solitude and Our Search for Spiritual Significance (v.37)
Jesus could not stay hidden for long (vv.36-37). Verse 36 reveals the statement of the ages, “Everyone is looking for you!” The truth is, everyone is looking for Jesus. Everyone is on a spiritual quest for meaning in life. We were created with eternity in our hearts.

Jesus was different, in large part because of the way he lived his solitary life. His life fully revealed the glory and grace of God which powerfully attracted people. “Solitary” is related to “solitaire,” “a diamond or other gem set by itself in a ring.” A solitaire needs nothing else. It is brilliant and precious by itself. The glory of God was fully revealed in and through Jesus (Jn. 1:14, 16-18; Heb. 1:3). Our search for spiritual significance is complete in Him! And the good news to those searching is that Jesus may indeed be found!

Solitude in Society (v.38)
Jesus modeled the perfect balance between solitude and society. Eight miles off coast of Ireland is a steep-cliffed island, a rocky sea-crag called Skellig Michael. At the top of this jagged isle are the ruins of an ancient Celtic monastery. Christian monasticism has its roots in the belief that union with God is best obtained by withdrawal from civilization into harsh and desolate regions.

For Jesus, true solitude led one to be a true participant in society. The brilliance of the solitaire cannot be hidden. From solitude came the inner flow to (1) “preach” (v.38, kerusso, herald the good news). (2) From solitude came the inner flow to drive out evil (v.39). (3) And from solitude came the inner flow to touch and heal humanity (vv.40-42). When you and I spend time with our Father, we too will find that inner richness that is a source of mission motivation.

Jesus was willing to bring healing to the man, our we? Jesus was filled with compassion for the hurting, our we? Solitude is not isolation but immersion, touching people at their point of need. Touching our world needs to become intentional because of the fact that we live in an increasingly “touchless” society.

As I mentioned earlier, Jesus modeled the perfect balance between a life of solitude and a life of service. As one writer has mentioned, “If we look at Jesus’ life as depicted in the Gospels, we see that it echoes the flowing in and receding back of the ocean’s tides. Jesus would repeatedly flow out into society to teach, spread the Gospel, and share fellowship with his neighbors, only to recede back into lonely places to pray.”

Great writers and thinkers have written on the importance of solitude as it relates to our ability to problem-solve, to be creative, to be passionate. John Milton said, “Solitude sometimes is best society. And short retirement urges [compels] sweet return.” Think of Milton’s words as it relates to being a kingdom citizen. The best kind of kingdom citizen is the believer who practices the discipline of solitude, for from solitude flows a life of worship, service.

Likewise, Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “Solitude is naught and society is naught. Alternate them [flow in and out] and the good of each is seen.”

As I close, there is a message both to the seeker and to the believer.
To the Seeker: (1) First, Jesus may be found (v.36), and (2) Jesus will meet you at your point of need (v.41). To the Christian: Cultivate the discipline of solitude (vv.35, 45) so that your life may diffuse the fragrance of Christ in society (2 Cor. 2:14).

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

When Jesus Comes to Church (Mark 1:21-28)

2010-01-25T10:50:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on January 24, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:21-28 (29-34)
Rismond Exantus is one of the lucky ones. He works as a cashier in a grocery hotel in Port Au Prince. Yesterday, he was rescued from the rubble of that hotel eleven days after a 7.0 earthquake devastated the island nation. We have been moved by the incredible devastation but also by the inspiring stories of miraculous rescues like Rismond’s. Many of the Haitians although devastated have even been gathering in groups to pray, to sing, and to praise God. Prayer, songs of praise, hope in the midst of tragedy, how could that be? Jesus changes everything.

In our text today, Jesus came to the synagogue in Capernaum. It was there that he confronted evil head-on. He took authority over the demonic spirit and the man who was once possessed, was made well. When Jesus comes everything changes.

I. Introduction (v.21) The Setting
* “To Capernaum” (the village of Nahum or Consolation) the center or headquarters of Jesus’ ministry. Located on the N.W. shore of the Sea (a lake) of Galilee. It is fitting that Jesus’ ministry of consolation would he head-quartered in the “Village of Consolation.”

* This event occurred on the Sabbath, the Jewish holy day.

* The Synagogue was the local gathering place for the Jewish people. Wherever there were ten families, there was a synagogue.
About the Synagogue:
1. A teaching institution. The temple was for worship and sacrifice, the synagogue was for teaching and instruction.
2. The synagogue provided an opportunity to deliver a message.

There were three offices in the Jewish synagogue.
– The ruler of the synagogue – In charge of administration, arrangements.
– The distributors of alms to the poor, the widows and those
in need.
– The minister – He handled scrolls and educated the community.
There was no permanent preacher. Instead, competent persons would share.

II. Jesus’ Ministry Priorities (vv.22-26)
From the outset, we see what Jesus’ ministry priorities were.
1. Jesus taught with authority in contrast to the teachers of the law, scribes (vv.21-22).
About the Scribes:
– To the scribes, the most sacred thing in the world was the Torah, the law. Because it is divine, it must first be studied carefully. Second, it must be expressed to the people for guidance in all of life.
– The scribes were the experts in the law. Ezra was the first scribe (Ez. 7:6, 11, 12, 21). The scribes duties were three-fold:
(1) They extracted rules and regulations for every possible situation in life. This led to an infinity of legalistic laws.

(2) They taught the law. Their interpretations and applications became the oral law which became more binding than the written.

(3) They gave judgements in individual cases. However, no scribe would ever give a decision on their own. They would cite numerous sources.

Amazement characterized the response to Jesus’ teaching. It wasn’t so much a new teaching as in the sense of brand new, never before seen. It was new (kainos) in the sense of quality. It was previously unknown, unprecedented. In Jesus’ day the people had lost a sense of the direct authority and the dynamic power of God. That is why they taught with no authority, no power. But Jesus came teaching with authority. He declared that God was alive and active and still working. He stated and applied God’s Word.

2. Jesus demonstrated authority over evil spirits.
Jesus’ first healing encounter involved the removal of
evil (vv.23-26).
* This miracle is obviously a sign of the advent of the kingdom (see John 12:31; 1 John 3:8). You and I are living in the aftershocks of what took place on Calvary on the cross (see Matt. 27:50-53). The fact that Jesus has power over demons is proof that the king of the kingdom is here!
* I’m intrigued by the fact that the demon recognized him before anyone else. A demon is sometimes referred to as an “unclean spirit (ritual impurity), evil spirit, or demon (satanic power).” They are used interchangeably. All references refer to an invisible spiritual being that is alienated from and hostile to God. It’s also significant that Jesus first confronted and defeated the powers of evil in the place of worship.

Evil knows when it is in the presence of that which is pure and holy. Here we have Jesus who is pure light coming into the synagogue that day. The darkness that is there in the presence of this evil spirit cannot take the light. Light always reveals darkness, but more importantly, light destroys the darkness! Christ in us is able to destroy the darkness in our lives. The light in us is able to shine and change a world that is too often structured upon patterns of darkness.

Even in his disturbed state, the man was obviously reaching out to Jesus. He was possessed and troubled. Reverend Samuel Candler calls people like this man, “The Crazies.” Jesus first attracted crazy people and He still does today. Of course, there’s a little bit of crazy in all of us. We may not be possessed by demons but we may be possessed by loneliness, bitterness and anger, addictions, attitudes and sinful habits. All of us come to Jesus with needs because we believe that Jesus is the one who can change us. We confess that Jesus changes everything and that is our hope.

* The question that the demon asked was never verbally answered by Jesus, but it was answered by Jesus commanding the demon spirit to leave the man. The truth is, Jesus did come to destroy the demonic evil in this man and in the world (v.24). Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. His work is to conquer evil in us and in our world.

* Jesus commanded the spirit to “Come out of him!” (v.25). When Jesus comes in, evil has to go. When Jesus comes into a life, He casts out, He drives out, He deals with evil and sin in our lives. When Jesus comes to church, we begin to deal with the corporate sins that grieve God and keep us in the darkness. When Jesus comes to society, He confronts injustice, greed, sin. Wherever Jesus comes there is change, change from darkness to light.

* Jesus commanded that the demon be quiet (v.25). Notice what characterizes the demon possessed man? He’s confrontational, calls attention to himself, he’s disruptive and controlling, he’s stirred up. He’s crazy! But when Jesus deals with him, calm is restored. When Jesus deals with the stuff in our lives, He brings His peace, His calm. He casts out the confusion, the craziness in our lives.

* This process of Jesus bringing His healing of evil in us and tranquility to our lives is sometimes messy. The demon possessed man was shaken violently (v.26). Evil does not give up without a fight. Some of you are fighting addictions, sins that have plagued you for years. They are deep rooted in you. In the healing of evil, there is often a shaking as there was here. Evil does not go quietly in us or in society, but it has to go and it will when Jesus comes in. The demon spoke, shook, and he shrieked. But he came out!

III. Conclusion (vv.27-28)
The people were amazed and news of Jesus obviously spread. Mark summarizes the account in verses 32-34 where he tells us that the people “kept on bringing” others to Jesus. Len Grengel is on a mission. His daughter Britany is still unaccounted for. She was staying at the Hotel Montana in Port Au Prince when the earthquake hit. She was there on a humanitarian mission from Lynn University in South Florida. Len has made it his mission to not give up finding his daughter. He is insisting that the United States Government account for every lost person. The search for those lost must continue, says Grengel.

Jesus Himself came to this world on a search and rescue mission. And if you were the only one under the rubble of sin, Jesus would not cease searching until He found you. Call out to Jesus from the midst of your life in the rubble, Jesus cares and He hears and He will rescue you!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Following Jesus: How We Discover Our Life's Purpose (Mark 1:14-20)

2010-01-17T10:06:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana on January 17, 2010 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:14-20
Jesus came “proclaiming the good news of God” (v.14). And that good news is that God’s kingdom is here in Jesus! “‘The time has come,’ he said, ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (v.15). The question is, “What kind of kingdom did Jesus say was near?” When we think of a kingdom, we think of a place on a map, an area that is controlled by a king, after all a kingdom must have a king. And we also think of the fact that a kingdom must have subjects. But we don’t like that picture because often a king takes advantage of his subjects. The subjects of the king are the “grunt workers,” the “have nots” of the kingdom, forever destined to be at the bottom of the food chain. Or perhaps we envision a kingdom with ourselves at the head table. In that case, we are the ones who are ruling, who are calling the shots over other poor unfortunate subjects.

Ideas about the Kingdom
When Jesus spoke of a kingdom, the people of his day
thought of . . .
– An Earthly Kingdom
Jesus’ audience imagined a kingdom where Israel was in charge, where Jerusalem would be the capital, and God’s Messiah (the anointed one by God) would extract complete revenge over Israel’s enemies. It would be a kingdom patterned after the kingdoms of David and Solomon only far greater, more spectacular. But that was not the kind of kingdom that Jesus said was “near.”

Another kingdom and hope that the people had in their minds then and now was . . .
– An Otherworldly Future Kingdom
There is a great amount of fascination in our day about the otherworldly future kingdom. Countless best selling books have been published that seek to understand or lay out this future kingdom for us. Amazon retrieves 47,156 hits alone for “The Book of Revelation” and 12,294 for “Bible Prophecy.” There are already 118 books related to the “Mayan Prophecies for 2012,” of which we have all heard about. That number is certain to rise. The “Left Behind” series sold millions. John Hagee has his end times charts. Tim Lahaye, Joel Rosenberg, Hank Hanegraaff are all best-selling authors and end times is their bread and butter.

With a few exceptions (Mark 14:25; 15:43), for Jesus the kingdom of God was . . .
– A Present Spiritual Kingdom, the Reign of God
We could translate the “kingdom of God” as the “kingly rule of God.” The kingdom is internal rather than external, over the hearts of people rather than the military powers of the day. This reign of God has begun in the person of Jesus. Jesus said that this kingdom “is near” (NIV, v.15) or “at hand” (NKJV, ESV). Mark intentionally does not say that it “has come” (Msg.) for the reason that he wants to emphasize both that the kingdom of God is present (now) and still future (then). The kingdom is now for those who accept the rule of the king (Jesus), but the kingdom will not be fully realized or manifested or revealed until the king Jesus returns again. So in a unique way, the kingdom is both present and yet to come.

What we are able to experience as believers now is a glimpse of what is to come. As the hymn states, “Oh what a foretaste of glory divine” (Blessed Assurance). We are able to experience God’s presence now, but then we will be face to face. We are able to have joy and peace now, but then we will have paradise restored. We are able to experience God’s abundant life now, but then we will enjoy life forever with God. We live in the now and the then.

What am I to do with this knowledge about the kingdom? Jesus not only preached that the kingdom of God was near, but He calls us to “Repent and believe the good news!” (v.15). Jesus calls us to enter the kingdom, to allow God’s rule over my life and . . .
– We Enter the Kingdom through Repentance
and Belief
If this sounds familiar it is because John the Baptist preached a similar message. But here’s the difference. Jesus said we are to turn away from our sins (that’s repentance) but we are also called to “believe the good news.” Only Mark highlights this truth which is not surprising because belief or trust is a major theme in Jesus’ message and in Mark’s Gospel. In Mark, faith is commanded, commended, and unbelief is rebuked.

We are commanded to believe, but what do we believe? The good news that God’s kingdom is here in Jesus Christ. Where Jesus Christ is, there the rule, power, and kingdom of God is actively at work. But for people hearing this then and now, this truth about Jesus is not self-evident. To be seen, it must be believed. And when you simply believe, your eyes will be opened to the reality of who Jesus is. However, believing in Jesus is not the end, it’s just the beginning of our new life.

– We Live a Life of Purpose through Following Jesus
This is the first time that we are introduced to the disciples in Mark, but many think that there was an earlier experience where they first believed in Jesus (see Jn. 1:35-42). But here the emphasis is on the call to continuous discipleship. It is one thing to believe in Jesus and receive forgiveness for sins, it is another to fully commit to a life of following Jesus and yet that is exactly what the disciples did and God calls us to a similar lifestyle.

Think of the subtle but important distinction between the call to salvation and the call to discipleship like this. Perhaps you’re invited to join a company. You examine and accept the offer. A little later on the owner calls you aside and says, “I am going to make you my partner. As my partner, you are going to follow me and learn everything there is about this company and how it operates. You will do this so that you can succeed and be prosperous in this company.” You accept this offer to go further in the company. You feel a great sense of joy and purpose because you are invested in the company. Literally, discipleship is partnering with Jesus, following Him and as we do, we discover purpose in life.

Some may ask, “Can you be saved and not be a disciple?” But I would say, “Why would you want to be?” You discover purpose in life only as you follow Jesus. You will never be satisfied on the sideline because God didn’t create you to do that. You were created for so much more. The disciples were created for more than fishing and repairing nets and so are you.

“What if I don’t have that holy ambition? That passion to follow Jesus? After all, it’s pretty comfortable down here where I am.” If that’s you, just begin where you are, tell God how you feel, get close to Him, ask Him to give you a holy ambition, a desire to follow Him. Then before long, you’ll be saying, “put me in coach, I’m ready to play.”

So what is involved in this call to discipleship that Jesus extended to the first disciples and that He is extending to us this morning? What does Jesus mean when He says, “Follow me . . . and I will make you fishers of men” (v.17)? Following Jesus is a major theme in Mark and it is expressed in several different ways, but when you put all the biblical language together you have a fuller picture of what it means to follow Jesus.

Following Jesus involves . . .
1. Response to His Call
Here, the word “Follow” is not a suggestion, it is an imperative, a command and it comes to us in a personal way. Jesus is calling you to salvation and to discipleship. Have you personally responded? I find Jesus’ choice of His first disciples interesting. The first disciples were twelve ordinary men. They were common people, working people, fisherman. Why fisherman? To show us that He wants to do something with us. God chooses ordinary people, common people. It was Lincoln who said, “God must love the common people – He made so many of them.”

It’s also significant that Jesus called these men at work. Their fishing and repairing their equipment. Their in the shop and in the field. The call of God does not have to always come in a stained glass sanctuary, it comes to a man or woman at work or in the home. In the shop, in the field, in the home, in the school, in the store, God wants men and women everywhere to follow Him.

We need to rediscover the truth that we find in the New Testament. That is, there is no sacred and secular as if there are two worlds in which we live. We think that being a committed disciple means enduring many Bible studies at church or holding some kind of position at church. But being a disciple is following Jesus in every area of your life – at home, at work, at the park, wherever and whenever. Think of it like this. Your occupation (i.e., what you do, what occupies your time) may be a school teacher, bank teller, engineer, plant worker, etc., but your vocation (i.e., what you are, what drives you) is to follow Jesus.

2. Attachment to His Person
We follow a person – Jesus! Discipleship is following a person, not a program or institution, or other man. We attach ourselves to Jesus. We encounter problems when we attach ourselves to people or institutions. Eventually our wife, husband, job, church, etc, will disappoint us, we will become disillusioned, burned out. If you try to find your life’s fulfillment in a person or some other thing, you will be unfulfilled and empty. But if you will attach yourself to Jesus, He will never fail, He will never disappoint!

3. Acceptance of His Authority
Following Jesus means that we accept His authority over our lives. Jesus becomes your guide, your mentor, your way, your teacher, your leader. God is not looking for perfect people, he’s not looking for people with leadership abilities, He’s looking for people with the ability to follow. God is not looking for leaders, He has one – Jesus. We don’t need more leaders, we need more followers. The world is looking for leaders, God is looking for followers of Him. The world is looking for better methods, God is looking for better men.

4. Imitation of His Example
We tend to imitate the people that influence us. To follow Jesus is to naturally lead us to imitate His example. What did Jesus say? “Follow me, follow me by responding to me, by attaching yourself to me, by accepting my authority in your life, then I will make you fishers of men.” If we are following Jesus, then we also will be imitating Him by fishing for men. Our heart and actions will be focused on reaching men and women who are lost. Our passion will be to imitate Jesus by extending His grace to our world. Our holy ambition will be to see others enter the kingdom of God. Our efforts will be focused on doing what Jesus did.

To be honest, many of our efforts are not focused on what really matters – bringing people to Jesus and teaching them. What are we doing that is leading others to Jesus? Who are we imitating? Who are we trying to please? God? Or men? If we’re not fishing for men, are we really following Jesus? We need to ask ourselves that question.

5. Continuation and Pursuing His Goal
This means that we’re in it for the long haul. We keep on following Jesus, we keep attaching ourselves to Him (which means if we fall away, we get back at it), we keep on accepting His authority in our lives, we keep on pursuing the goal – His goal which is to become like Him. We keep at our fishing so that others will hear and believe. In following Jesus, we are offered a life long task. The early disciples were not program directors or leaders, they were followers on a mission with a task to be fishers of men. As they followed Jesus, He would make them fishers of men. They would find a life filled with purpose.

The first disciples responded with a sense of urgency. “At once they left their nets and followed him” (v.18). “Without delay . . . they left their father . . . and followed him” (v.20). Why does a man leave something? He does so only if he thinks there is something of greater value and purpose. Men pursue things in life from various motivations. Some pursue things out of a sense of adventure. Some for money. Some for glory and honor. The kingdom of God is of such great value and purpose that all else pales in comparison. Jesus is calling men and women today. He’s calling people to a great work, a work that He will empower you to do, a work that will change history, a work that begins with a decision of the heart and will, a decision to follow Jesus.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

The Journey Begins (Mark 1:1-13)

2010-01-11T10:40:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, January 10, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-13
Today, we’re going to begin looking at the Gospel of Mark. In your bulletin there is a brief overview of Mark’s Gospel (see related article online). The opening verse sets forth the theme of the book. For Mark, the “gospel” (Literally, “Good News”) is all about a person, described in verse one with the three-fold title, “Jesus” (“the Lord Saves”), “Christ” (“Anointed One” by God) and “the Son of God” (i.e., Jesus is divine). Mark is the Gospel of action and he presents the historical facts about Jesus in a brief way. He give us the facts so that we will commit ourselves to following Jesus without reservation. Mark’s Gospel also has a discipleship focus, to follow Him.

What evidence is there that Jesus is the Son of God and that this truth is able to change my life?
I. Evidence that Jesus Is the Son of God
In the opening verses, Mark presents various testimony to show that Jesus is the “Son of God.” There is the testimony of . . .
1. John the Baptist (v.8)
John was called by God to prepare people for the coming Messiah. He preached that “people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to Gd to be forgiven” (v.4, NLT). But John was a man who knew what his mission was and what it was not. John always deflected praise and attention away from himself to the only one who could save, God’s Messiah who he would clearly identify as Jesus (see v.8).

2. The Old Testament
Because John is writing to a non-Jewish audience, He does not go to great lengths to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament; however, he does give us some evidence that what is taking place is in line with what was expected long ago in the OT.
About John (See Is. 40:3; Mal. 3:1). The OT predicts John’s ministry prior to the coming of the Messiah.
About the Holy Spirit (See Is. 59:20-21; Ezek. 36:26-27; Joel 2:28-32). What does the entrance of the Holy Spirit mean? Why is this significant?
– The Holy Spirit here means that God is with us in a more intimate way than He was before. God is personal.
– The coming of the Holy Spirit means that the kingdom is now here, the kingdom looked for in the Old Testament.
– The coming of the Holy Spirit means that there is a new power for living that is available to us. The Holy Spirit will enable us to be changed on the inside so that we are able to follow God.
The Holy Spirit’s coming is now a reality with the coming of Jesus. This is why John would say what he does in verse 8.

Further evidence is found from . . .
3. God the Father Himself (1:11; 9:7)
The heaven “torn open” points to the reality that a new revelation is being given by God in Jesus. Furthermore, access to God is now open through Jesus.

Here the Father puts His stamp of approval on Jesus. The language here is reminiscent of Psalm 2, a coronation psalm. The baptism of Jesus is the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, it is His coronation. The Father is saying, “He’s the One!” The baptism of Jesus signifies the beginning of His public ministry, it shows that He is identifying with those He came to save, and it serves as a model for us His disciples to follow. In baptism we are openly declaring that Jesus is the “Son of God.” We are pledging our allegiance to Him.

4. Demons and Angels (See 1:12-13; 3:11; 5:7)
Satan and the demons certainly believed that Jesus was the Messiah and they came against Him because they knew who He was. The Jews came to believe that the desert was the haunt of demons. We have here pictured an epic battle going on in the desert between the forces of good and the forces of evil. The Bible says that the angels were there and they ministered to Him.

5. Believers (1:1; 15:39)
By addressing Jesus as the “Son of God,” Mark is making a statement that only came to be fully understood later on – that Jesus was fully God. So Mark is making a statement that came to be believed and a confessed by the early church. This was also the confession of the Centurion who was at the crucifixion of Jesus (15:39). He too came to realize that Jesus was the “Son of God.” The changed lives of believers then and now who have confessed Jesus as the “Son of God” stands as powerful evidence that Jesus is the “Son of God.”

II. Evidence that Demands a Verdict
If what Mark says is true in these opening verses and in his Gospel, what should be my response? What is the purpose of me knowing this information? How does this information change me? With this overwhelming testimony that Jesus is the “Son of God,” . . .
1. I Should Turn to God and Receive His Forgiveness and His Spirit
If forgiveness is available, if access to God is now opened through my turning to God, then I should do so immediately and without reservation. His Spirit is able to bring incredible change in my life that only He can do. However, having only information without application will not change my life. You have the information, now will you make the application?

2. I Should Openly Confess Jesus As My Lord
The practice of the early church was that those who followed Jesus openly confessed their allegiance, their participation with Him. Baptism is the way that we openly confess Jesus as our Lord. We should not be ashamed to do that, it’s a simple act of obedience. Baptism shows that we have turned to God, it shows that we are identifying with Jesus, that we belong to Him. We should not fear that, but openly declare that Jesus is my Lord.

3. As a Disciple, I Should Endure Testing with Joy
In this chapter you get the sense that following Jesus involves spending some time in the desert, meaning withdraw but also testing. Mark was in part written to encourage disciples who were beginning to experience persecution. We are able to endure testing times with inner joy knowing that Christ Himself faced times of testing and He walks with us through our testing as well.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Beginning Again in 2010 -- New Year's Sermon January 3, 2010

2010-01-03T09:48:00.000-06:00

A Sermon Preached on January 3, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

“Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:11

You have an opportunity to begin again in 2010. Today, you can make choices that will ensure that these are the best days of your life. With a new year comes new possibilities, new adventures, new opportunities to live up to your God-given potential. Sometimes it’s our past that keeps us from moving forward. We spend too much time focusing on our imperfections, our failures, our sins. Because of that, we feel that we don’t measure up, that God cannot use us, that a full and meaningful life is for someone else, not me.

At the outset of a new year, we need to remind ourselves that God is not looking for perfect people. He’s only looking for people who are willing, who are moldable in His hands, He’s looking for the broken and scarred and He wants to do something amazing in your life. As Natalie Grant sings,
“There’s no such thing as perfect people
There’s no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Life up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God.”

If you feel that you’re not good enough or have made too many mistakes in life, you need only to look at the Bible to see the kind of people God used and uses. John Mark, or simply Mark as we know him, was one of those imperfect people who God used in a great way. Mark, the believer who defected had an opportunity to begin again. The one who ran away was restored. You too can begin again in 2010. That new beginning can begin right here, right now.

As we look at Mark’s story, we see how we too can begin again. Mark’s beginning might best be described as one of . . .
I. Faithfulness: A Promising Start
The first mention of Mark in the Bible is in Acts 12:12.
– It was a time of intensifying persecution. Herod had James the brother of John executed (12:2). This was probably around A.D. 44, 14 years after the death of Jesus.
– Peter was imprisoned (12:3).
– The church was praying for Peter’s release (12:5).
– Miraculously, Peter was set free. Afterwards, he went to the home of “Mary the mother of John, also called Mark” (12:12).
– Paul and Barnabas were also in Jerusalem on a relief mission from Antioch. Their mission completed, they returned to Antioch and they took with them “John, also called Mark” (12:25).
– From these early references, we can imply several things about Mark: (1) Mark grew up among the early Christians, he had a godly environment. (2) Early on we see him associated with Peter. This will play out more importantly later one. (3) He’s obviously helpful in ministry. He’s not an apostle, or evangelist, or pastor, he’s simply a faithful believer in Jerusalem. God uses people like Mark, like us, people who desire to be used by the Lord and are moldable in His hands.
– Faithfulness characterized Mark’s early life because when Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the church in Antioch to go on their first missionary journey, they chose Mark to with them “as their helper” (13:5).
– Why take Mark to Antioch? Why on the 1st missionary journey? We do know that Mark was a cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10). So Barnabas knew Mark, he trusted him, he knew something about his gifts and usefulness in ministry. It’s also possible that Mark had a connection with the priesthood. Barnabas was a Levite and it’s possible that Mark was too. He might have even served in the Temple. Regardless, Mark had the heart of a servant, a helper. He was faithful and in that sense, Mark had a promising start.
But something happened to Mark. Because Mark fell away from the faith for a time. He went through a period of decline.
II. Falling Away: A Period of Decline
– That 1st missionary journey was difficult from the very beginning as they faced opposition from “Elymas the sorcerer” (13:8) and other difficulties as well.
– 13:13 tells us that “From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.” 15:38 is more specific when it says that Mark had “deserted them.”
– This is a sad moment. Mark deserted the missionary party and returned to Jerusalem. But why did Mark fall away and literally disappear from the NT for a few years? Was the work too hard? Was it too costly? Too much sacrifice required? Did the cross become too heavy to bear? Did he become disillusioned? Did he feel as if he wasn’t making a difference? Did he get discouraged? Burnt out? Was the persecution too much? Was the appeal of the world too much? Did Mark lose his faith along the way? Was he homesick? Did the separation from his family get to him? We don’t really know why Mark left but we know that he did and did so for apparently some years.

Fortunately, Mark’s story does not end at Acts 13:13. Mark, the man who had such a promising start and who had such a public falling away, finished well!
III. Finishing Well: A Profitable Restoration
– The next time we see Mark is in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabas are discussing a 2nd journey to strengthen the disciples in the areas that they had previously gone to (15:36).
– 15:37 tells us that “Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark with them.”
– But Paul has not forgotten Mark’s defection, his cowardice, his weakness (15:38).
– There was such a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas that they parted company. On the 2nd journey, Paul took Silas while Barnabas chose Mark (15:39-40). This obviously says a lot about Barnabas who was willing to give Mark another chance. You may be exactly where God wants you to be, but you might know a Mark or two. I believe there are many Mark’s in the body of Christ, people who once walked fervently with God but who have now defected. Maybe this year you could be a Barnabas to a Mark, you could come alongside someone who has fallen away and restore them to usefulness in the kingdom.
– We don’t hear anything about Mark until 10 years later where he shows up in Colossians 4:10 and in Philemon 23. Paul is in Rome as a prisoner. This is Paul’s first imprisonment. It is there that he writes three letters: Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.
– 10 years later Paul is a prisoner in Rome and who is his companion? The deserter Mark! Something dramatic has happened. He’s back in the good graces of Paul.

– How long did this restored relationship last? Paul wrote 2 Timothy from his second imprisonment. It is his last letter written around A.D. 66-67. It has been 22-23 years since the incident when Peter was released from prison. Paul knows that his death (his departure) is soon. It’s the end for Paul. Who does Paul desire to see? Paul tells Timothy to “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11). From the time of his 1st imprisonment, he had Mark at his side. A few years later in his 2nd imprisonment facing death, he wants Mark by his side. What a testimony of a man who has been restored, who is finishing well.
– We should not be surprised at this. The Lord uses imperfect broken people all the time. God uses recovering sinners, deserters, recovered defectors.
– Mark finished well. Not only did Mark have this special relationship with the apostle Paul, but he also was very close to the apostle Peter. Peter calls Mark “my son” (1 Pet. 5:13). And most scholars believe that the Gospel of Mark accurately records the apostle Peter’s words. It is the memoirs of Peter.

Mark finished well because he began again. He did not let his failure be final. He did not let his past define his future. What about you? How will you finish? Perhaps you had a good start, a good home, a good environment. But somewhere along the way you defected, you dropped out. Maybe you didn’t cease doing the things you’ve always done, but you’re heart is not in it. You’re just going through the motions, you’ve lost your passion. You can begin again! It’s a choice that you have to make to get back in the race, to get back on the path. Where do I start? How do I begin?

1. Come to terms with your desertion.
Maybe you’re angry with God. Or someone has hurt you. Maybe it’s fear that has sidelined you. Maybe the appeal of the world has ensnared you. Maybe it’s a sinful action or attitude that is continually bringing you down. Whatever it is, it’s keeping you from finishing well. You need to see it as the barrier that is keeping you from experiencing God’s best. You don’t have to wander for years in the desert. You don’t have to waste your life. You were meant for better things. Somewhere along Mark’s journey, he came to terms with his defection. He didn’t want to stay a deserter forever. We too must come to terms with our desertion and desire God’s better life.

2. Start rebuilding your relationship with God.
Desertion is a heart issue, a relationship issue. Ask God to forgive you, He will! Forgive yourself and stop believing the lie that you cannot change, you cannot start over. Don’t listen to the unspiritual people in your life who only bring you down, who have no hope, who only bring condemnation. Begin daily walking with the Lord. Talk to Him, read His love letter to you, follow what He tells you to do. Worship Him regularly for worship feeds our soul. Connect with other believers in a small group where you can grow deeper in your walk with God. Develop your relationship with God. It’s that simple.

To begin again implies that there has first been a beginning. For some today, you need to have a beginning. Maybe I’ve described you today. Empty, lost, in search of something but you’re not sure what. If you’re willing, you can begin a personal relationship with the Lord your creator today. Will you give Jesus your sins, your life, and trust Him to save you today?

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

An Uncluttered Christmas, Luke 3:1-6 (7-14)

2009-12-21T09:23:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6 (7-14)
Background Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5

John the Baptist’s ministry was one of removing the clutter so that people could prepare for the coming of the Lord and in that respect his message has a lot to say to us about how we can experience an uncluttered Christmas.

John the Baptist certainly is one of the most colorful and unlikely characters in the story of Jesus. Apart from sermons that deal with Zechariah and Elizabeth, we don’t usually invite the adult John to our Christmas celebrations. He seems too serious, too rugged, to harsh, to forceful with his message of repentance. John was a man who wore a camel hair coat before camel hair coats were cool and he lived on a lean diet of locusts and wild honey (how’s that for your new year’s resolution diet!). John never took a class on how to win friends and influence people and his marketing techniques would be considered all wrong today, but the power of God was upon John and the Word of God was in him. And even though he went into the wilderness of obscurity, he attracted great crowds.

I. CLUTTER
Our lives and hearts are often cluttered.
We can learn a lot from John’s ministry of uncluttering the message of Christmas because the Christmas season is often a very cluttered time. Our calendars are jam packed, the stores are crowded, the traffic is worse than usual, we’re busy gathering up gifts to give and receiving gifts that often end up in our garages or closets. On top of all that, it sure is hard to be good with all of the holiday foods and goodies around. The waistline gets a little cluttered around this time of the year. The truth is, our lives are cluttered but so are our hearts. The heart clutter threatens to crowd Jesus out. What we need in these few days leading up to Christmas day is to see beyond the clutter of living to the hope that was born many years ago in Bethlehem.

The challenge in John’s word in the wilderness came from the prophet Isaiah spoken at the time Israel was in exile in Babylon. Separating God’s people from their home was a wilderness, a barrier that seemed impossible for them to overcome. In their mind, the path back home was just too cluttered, cluttered with broken promises and broken idols. The way back seemed so rough, so insurmountable. The people of God had lost all hope of scaling the spiritual mountains to come back to God. We too sense that hopelessness at times. We look across the spiritual wasteland of broken relationships, broken promises, unfulfilled dreams, and we wonder, “is there any way back? Is there hope for my marriage? Can the clutter be removed so that we can restore what we once had? Can my relationship with my child be restored?” It seems that there is just too much clutter in our hearts, it’s too hard, it’s a barrier that seems impassable.

The promise in Isaiah 40:3-5, where we find the words John quotes, is that comfort will come to God’s people, that in the wilderness a way will be prepared for the Lord, much like the way was prepared for ancient kings to visit the remote parts of their kingdoms. A king would send out a party to go before him. They would prepare the way, even repairing roads if necessary, for the king’s arrival. John is saying that the way to the King of Kings (the Messiah) is being cleared! The ditches are being filled in, the clutter is being removed, the crooked paths are being straightened, and the potholes are being patched. So John’s messages was a message of incredible hope. God would make a way where there seemed to be no way. That way, John came to announce not only to Israel, but to us too. We too who feel hopeless and who have lost courage, who cannot get beyond the brokenness, we too can find the way home.

As we begin to look at this passage, the context is seen in 3:1-2a.
II. CONTEXT (3:1-2a)
Luke, being a careful historian gives us a wealth of information in his Gospel that helps us set forth the historical setting and accuracy of the New Testament. Here, the information dates John’s ministry and gives us information about the time in which he ministered.

Luke first gives us the political situation of the day.
1. Political Context (3:1)
John’s ministry occurred during “The reign of Tiberius Caesar.” Tiberias was the successor of Augustus and the second of the Roman Emperors. As early as A.D. 11 or 12 Augustus had made him his colleague in the imperial power but he did not become sole emperor until A.D. 14. The fifteenth year of his reign would therefore be around A.D. 28-29.

The next three people mentioned along with dates are connected with the political organization of Palestine. The title tetrarch literally means governor of a fourth part, but later on came to mean governor of any part. When Herod the Great who ruled Palestine from 37-4 B.C. (1:5; see Matt. 2) died, his kingdom was divided between three of his sons. Herod was the ruler during the time of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the birth of John.

Luke dates John’s ministry during the time of “Herod tetrarch of Galilee.” Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great) ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. Jesus’ life was lived in Herod’s reign and mostly in the areas that he controlled.

“His brother Philip” (another son of Herod the Great) was “tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis.” He ruled from 4 B.C. to A.D. 33. Philip built Caesarea Philippi which was named after him.

Luke also dates John’s ministry during the time of “Pontius Pilate . . . governor of Judea.” Herod Archelaus (another son of Herod the Great) ruled over Judea, Samaria, and Edom from 4 B.C. to A.D. 6 but he was such a bad king that the citizens petitioned Rome for his removal. Rome impatient with all of the trouble that was in the area installed Pontius Pilate who ruled from A.D. 25-37.
“Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene.” He ruled in the region northwest of Damascus. We know practically nothing about him.

2. The Religious Context (3:2a)
Next Luke provides the religious context. “During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.” Annas was the high priest from A.D. 7-14. The office had been hereditary and for life. When Rome came to power the office became political. From 37 B.C. to A.D. 26 there were no fewer than 28 high priests. Four sons succeeded Annas and Caiaphas (18-36 A.D.) was his son-in-law. Annas though was the power behind the throne (See John 18:13). For all practical purposes, the High Priest was the ruling power in Jerusalem. Along with the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Council, they controlled the daily life of the Jewish people.

Why does Luke spend so much time giving us these historical details? All of Luke’s careful historical analysis points out that The story of Jesus is firmly rooted in history. When some knew theory arises that challenges the historical accuracy of the story of Jesus, and they will continue to do so, always know that you have a reliable text in the Bible that you have. Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:16, NIV, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” See also vv.20-21.

Paul warns believers to not be caught up in what he calls “myths” that “promote controversies rather than God’s work – which is by faith” (1 Tim. 1:4). Instead of following “godless myths,” “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim. 4:7). There’s another new year resolution. Train yourself to be godly.

III. COMFORT (3:2b)
It is in this context that the Word of God comes to John.
1. The Person: “to John the son of Zechariah”
Luke tells us that the “word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.” John lived an uncluttered life – a life of focus. Luke seems to contrast the powerful political and religious rulers over against the humble man who is the “son of Zechariah.” The word of God comes not to the worldly and powerful, but to the lowly and humble, like John.

2. The Place: “in the desert”
John has been in the wilderness for many years. The last time you see John is in Luke 1:80. Several reasons have been suggested why John was in the desert. (1) Some of suggested that John’s parents, being old, died while he was young. It’s possible the Essenes, a Jewish group living by the Dead Sea, may have taken him in. (2) As a son of a priest, he would have taken up training for the priesthood. Perhaps he left to prepare for His priestly work. It’s obvious that John’s desert experiences are tied with his training. He was there to prepare for his mission. A great work is always preceded by grave (serious) preparation. The desert is symbolic of testing and preparation. All great men and women have been to the school of the desert. God has been preparing John for his ministry.
Before God can use you, He wants to know if you’re willing to serve in obscurity.

3. The Proclamation: “the word of God”
The word used here for “word” is not the “logos” but it is the “Rhema.” This word denotes a particular word or message that is spoken or proclaimed. This speaks to the fact that John’s message was sharply focused, clear, uncluttered. John had a focused message. Point 1 – Repent! Point 2 – Repent! Point 3 – Repent! Each of us seeks meaning in life. Each of us want direction, focus, a word from God for the particular situations that we face in life. That word of God that speaks to the particulars of our lives is what we receive from Him, when we listen and hear. The Word of God speaks to the particulars of our lives.

The word “came to John.” The force of the (language) preposition is that of pressure from above. It came upon John. It inspired him, burdened him, spoke clearly to him, effected him. The “rhema” will do the same for us.

There is much that John has to say concerning how we can experience an uncluttered life and an uncluttered Christmas. So what does it mean to have an uncluttered heart?
The Uncluttered Heart . . .
1. Hears God’s Word
John was able to hear God’s Word. God’s word comes to the uncluttered heart. Is our life cluttered? Do we try to focus on too many things? Do we make wise choices so we are able to focus? Clutter in our lives and hearts keeps us from hearing God’s Word. Determine that in the new year you are going to make a conscious effort to spend some quiet time with God so that you can hear His Word and His voice.

2. Receives God’s Forgiveness
After the Word of God pressed upon John, he went to the area surrounding the Jordan and he preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The NKJV has “remission” which means “forgiveness.” The NLT says it best when it reads that John preached “that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.” John was saying, “get ready, and to show that you are ready, change the direction of your life. Show that you’re making a break with your past and you are going in God’s direction.” John made it clear that the day of obstacles was over. No more excuses could be made. Every obstacle had been demolished between sinful man and a holy God. The highway to heaven had been cleared, John says – get ready!

Forgiveness by its nature is the divine action that unclutters our lives and opens the way for a new kind of life. Forgiveness opens the way to God. Forgiveness is the act of removing the sin, taking it away never to return. Forgiveness is a new start. Repentance, turning to God, prepares our heart for the Lord to come and bring his forgiveness. Daily, we need the clutter removed from our lives.
The uncluttered heart hears God’s word, receives God’s forgiveness, and . . .
3. Embraces God’s Mission
John’s life was changed by the Word of God and in response to that change and in obedience to the Lord, he embraced his task of sharing the “Good News.” Repentance means that we now have a new purpose and a new power to break down the barriers that keep others from coming to the Lord. We too are able to help others see God’s salvation. But to embrace God’s mission is costly for it requires that we be . . .
– Undivided in our loyalty to Christ. John’s loyalty was undivided – it was uncluttered. What about my loyalty to Jesus? If we are to embrace God’s mission, we must live uncluttered lives before God, we must be loyal to Him.

– To embrace God’s mission is costly because it requires that we be undivided in our commitment to breaking down every barrier, every hindrance to the Gospel. Embracing God’s mission means living a changed life. Every response that John gave to the people he shared with who wanted to know, “how shall we live?” was centered on living a new ethical life (see vv.7-14). John was saying, “live a life that shows you have turned to God.” And so as I embrace God’s mission, I commit to embrace a new kind of life. My pride, my prejudices, my unforgiveness, my unloving and hurtful words, all of the clutter must be removed from my heart and life. We must seek to live uncluttered lives so that we can unclutter the pathway for others to journey on. We must in the language of the Msg paraphrase spiritually,
“Make the road smooth and straight!
Every ditch will be filled in,
Every bump smoothed out,
The detours straightened out,
All the ruts paved over.”
Why do all this? We must prepare the way of the Lord. The king is coming, He’s on His way. Are you ready? The clutter has been removed – it’s time to trust Him and for us to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sharing Christmas Joy, Luke 1:18-25, 57-66

2009-12-14T08:26:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on December 13, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:18-25, 57-66

The birth of a child brings great joy, it is a joyful event that you want to share with others. But imagine not being able to share your joy? Imagine having been blessed with such good news but you were unable to share your great joy.

Because of unbelief, Zechariah was unable to share his joy in the news that his wife was going to have a son, he would become a father! Zechariah’s privilege of sharing his joy was postponed. Unbelief, fear, doubt, robbed him of the blessing of accepting God’s plan and sharing his good news. Unbelief causes us to miss out on what God is doing in our lives and the blessings of joy that He has for us. On the other hand, trust in Christ and in God’s Word enables us to participate in God’s plans for our life and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world. Faith in Jesus frees us to live a life of purpose, gratitude, and praise.

Jesus and John – Comparison and Contrast
When you look at how Luke unfolds the story of Jesus in these opening chapters, he obviously wants his readers to compare and contrast Jesus and John the Baptist. When you compare the two, we see that both children are announced in advance by the angel Gabriel (1:11, 28). Both births are unnatural or miraculous (Elizabeth is past child-bearing age and Mary is a virgin). And in both cases the angel tells what the name of the child should be (1:13, 31).

But there are also contrasts made between John and Jesus. John was born to an aged woman who was barren, Jesus was born to a young virgin. John was given a name which means “God is gracious,” Jesus was given a name which means “Savior.” John was to prepare the way of the Lord, Jesus was the Lord!

God broke 400 years of silence when the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and promised that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son (v.13). Zechariah, although a devout believer (v.6) doubted that God would bring this promise to pass. You see his skepticism in verse 18 when he says, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man.” Zechariah is looking at things from the human viewpoint. Zechariah is saying, “from where I am standing, this is impossible, things like this don’t happen.” But from God’s viewpoint, “nothing is impossible” (1:37). And of course, if you noticed Zechariah being a gentleman referred to his wife as “well advanced in years” not an old woman! In that respect, he obviously was a very wise man.

Zechariah and Mary – Evidence Vs Explanation
John Piper reminds us that there is one more contrast, between the announcement of John and Jesus’ birth that is worth noting; that is, how each of them responded to the angel’s message. How did Mary respond to the angel when she first heard the news? Mary said, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” (v.34). Do you see the contrast? Zechariah says, How can I know this – Mary says, How can this be? Zechariah is essentially asking for more evidence, Mary is asking for an explanation. Zechariah says “I cannot be sure;” Mary says “I cannot understand.” There’s a difference between the two responses. God does honor the humble and sincere plea for understanding. It’s not wrong to want evidence for our faith, but Jesus tells us that there is an evil in demanding signs beyond what sincere hearts would require (see Luke 11:29).

It was not that Zechariah “could not” believe, he “would not” believe the good news that Gabriel had brought, although he should have believed considering the fact that Gabriel came straight from God Himself! “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God” (1:19). It’s almost as if Gabriel cannot believe that Zechariah cannot believe. You can almost hear Gabriel saying, “Did you not pray for a child? Your answer is hear.”

Zechariah is experiencing a crisis of faith. Would he believe God or not? He and Elizabeth had prayed for a child, now would he completely trust God to bring it to pass, even if it did not happen as he might have thought it would. When you pray, it is not always the “asking” that takes faith, it is the “receiving.” Why is this? Because God gives us the answer often in a different form than what we would have come up with. They prayed for a child and figured that God would answer them in the usual manner. But God often answers our prayers in a way that stretches and tests our faith. His answers to our prayers come in unlikely ways.

Why does God do that? Why surprise us? For one thing, I think God has a better sense of humor that we do. Zechariah and Elizabeth had to wonder, “you’re kidding, right?” Why surprise us? It’s more than the fact that God does indeed have a sense of humor, who do you think created humor? He does things like give senior saints a baby because he is more interested in making us like Himself for eternity rather than simply satisfying our immediate needs. Remember, his answered prayers are always related to His kingdom purposes. He answers prayer in a way that is always consistent with His purposes and not necessarily ours. God often asks us to simply believe, to trust Him to do the humanly impossible. He wants us to learn to trust Him and live by faith (Heb. 11:1). And the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth reminds us that you never outgrow the need to learn the lessons of living by faith.

From Faithless to Speechless
Because of his unbelief, his stalling for more evidence (v.20), Zechariah would be struck “speechless,” silent, unable to speak, unable to share a word of testimony concerning what God was doing. Think about it. The 400 years of prophetic silence were broken with this revelation to Zechariah (see Mal. 4:4-6), but the good news that the silence was broken would have to wait 9 more months.

Zechariah’s judgement corresponded to his sin. God’s plan and promise was one of great joy (v.14) – you’re going to have a son! But now, because of unbelief, he is unable to share the one thing that means the most to him right now – the incredible news that he is going to have a son, he’s going to be a dad. I think that part of his judgement is that he must watch while others do the rejoicing. Who is doing the praising, the sharing, the rejoicing? It is the neighbors, not Zechariah. He’s missing out on being able to share his joyful good news.

There is a warning to us in this passage, a warning to not demand too much evidence before we will believe God’s promises, because if we do, we might just miss out on God’s blessings. We too need to remember that “With God nothing is impossible” (1:37). God wants us to completely trust Him.

From Speechless to Ceaseless
The judgement would not remain on Zechariah forever. Nine months later, true to God’s promise, Elizabeth brought forth a son (v.57). In Palestine the birth of a boy was an occasion of great joy. When the time of the birth was near at hand, friends and local musicians gathered near the house (v.58). It was customary to name the son after the father (v.59), so the neighbors were amazed when both Elizabeth and Zechariah said that his name will be John (v.61-62). On the supplied writing tablet, Zechariah confirmed Elizabeth’s words when he said, “His name is John” (v.63), which means “Jehovah’s Gift” or “God is gracious.”

Immediately, Zechariah was able to speak, and what did he say? Praise was the first thing that came out of his mouth. His joy that had been bottled up now explodes into praise to God (v.64). Unbelief had kept Zechariah bound up and silent, faith had freed him to praise God. When we believe God’s Word for our lives, we are able to participate fully in God’s plans and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world.

The people were in awe of the events that were taking place (v.65). “What will this child turn out to be?” the neighbors wondered (v.66). The people knew that this miraculous birth was the work of the sovereign God, and that God was up to something special.

Trust in Christ and in God’s Word really does enable us to participate in God’s plans for our life and to share the “Good News” that He’s at work in our world. Do we have preconceived ideas that hinder us from receiving God’s good news? Do we live thinking “this could never happen to me?” Our we open to God’s surprises? Will we believe God for the humanly impossible to occur in our lives? Our family? Our church? Our country? Our world? Faith in Jesus frees us to live a life of purpose, gratitude, and praise. I think you and I have some extraordinary Christmas joy to share this season!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Serving in the Silence Luke 1:5-17

2009-12-06T09:52:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached on December 6, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-17

Focal Verse: “...But they had no child...” Luke 1:7

Background Passage: Malachi 4:4-6

The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is one of great faith and hope. We find their account recorded in Luke chapter one. Verse 5 provides the setting for the story. The reference to “the days of Herod” reminds us that this was a dark time in the world. Herod had been appointed as King of the Jews by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C. Herod the Great was an evil man (see Matthew 2) and a paranoid tyrant who held on to his throne at all costs, even executing family members he felt were a threat to his power. His paranoia led him to kill one of his ten wives and three of his children! This is the same Herod who had the children two years and younger in Bethlehem put to death.

Lights In The Darkness
In contrast to such a wicked person was a “priest named Zechariah...and his wife...Elizabeth.” They were two shining lights in a dark and crooked world. Zechariah was one of many priests in the days of Christ. From the time of David, in the Old Testament, the priests were divided into 24 courses or divisions, approximately 20,000 priests. All of the priests served during the three great Hebrew festivals: Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles, and Passover. The remainder of each year each division served two periods of one week each. Zechariah was only one of many in “the division of Abijah.” Abijah was one of the heads of the priestly families (see Neh. 12:17 and 1 Chron. 24:10). Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, was also of priestly lineage. Luke 1:6 provides two glimpses into the character of Zechariah and Elizabeth which allowed them to shine in the darkness.

1. Righteous (On how a person is made righteous, see Gal. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:21)
First, “they were both righteous before God.” To be righteous means to be just, to be in a right relationship with God. God declared them righteous by faith.

2. Obedient
Second, they walked in “all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” They “remembered” God’s law (see Mal. 4:4). The word walk in Scripture has to do with a person’s life, especially their conduct. Zechariah and Elizabeth conducted their life according to God’s Word. They patterned their lives after the divine standard. Biblical righteousness is an inward quality that manifests itself in obedience to God’s word

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in their character, they were obedient to God’s word in their conduct, and they were steadfast in their confession of faith. They were committed to living out (expressing) their faith. What a testimony of faithfulness! Do we stand righteous before God? Right with God and right in our character? Are we patterning our lives after God’s standard? Do we give consistent and visible expression to our faith?

"But They Had No Child"
3. Childless
Verse 7 provides the first hint of tension in the story, but with it’s revelation we have a theological bombshell dropped which shatters the otherwise perfect world of Zechariah and Elizabeth. “But they had no child.” For a Jewish couple to be childless was thought to be a sign of God’s displeasure. At the very least, it resulted in shame and reproach (Lk. 1:25). To be barren was considered to be a tragedy, personally and socially. Why did they have no child? Elizabeth was barren (lit. sterile) and they were both beyond the age to have children, humanly speaking.

We can be sure they tried to have children for many years. It was probably always on their minds. It was a desire of their hearts. It was their constant prayer request. They tried, they longed for, and they prayed, but all they heard was SILENCE.

Some of you have known that kind of heartbreak. Longing for a child. Praying. Waiting. But only hearing SILENCE. What do you do when God is silent? How do you respond to God’s silence? Zechariah and Elizabeth could have reacted in anger and bitterness. Certainly all their friends had little ones running around. They watched their neighbors kids grow up while they grew old. While their friends counted their kids birthdays, Zechariah and Elizabeth counted wrinkles and saw their dreams of a family fade into time.

What do you do when your dream dies? What do you do when Tragedy strikes? What do you do when you stand on God’s word and nothing happens? Did not God say that he would give us the desires of our heart? What do you do when He does not? You can get angry, bitter, and jealous. You can even give up on God.

“But they had no child.” Insert your situation here. “But he had cancer.” “But they had a divorce.” “But they had big dreams that didn’t come to pass.” Do you know what Zechariah and Elizabeth did? They continued serving God even in the SILENCE.

Nothing had changed except the passage of time. Zechariah and Elizabeth still were steadfast in their devotion to God. Why? They did not let their personal tragedy keep them from loving and serving God. Nothing had changed. They were still right before God. They were still patterning their life after God’s Word. They were still worshipping God! They refused to let God’s SILENCE become a stumbling block.

"But If Not" Faith
Sometimes we inwardly long for a faith that will move mountains. Perhaps we should long for a faith that will keep praying when we can’t see the answer? How about a faith to be content when you have been dealt a hardship? Or a faith to be satisfied when all around you people are getting the things you desire? How about a faith that will hold to God’s word even when years go by? Or a faith to keep serving in the SILENCE? That is faith!

1. Daniel’s Three Friends (Dan. 3:18)
“But if not faith.” That is what three young Hebrew men had. You remember their story from the book of Daniel? Daniel’s three friends were about to be thrown in the fiery furnace. They were given a chance to recant their confession, but this was not an option for these young men of God. They told the king “our God is able to deliver us, but if not, we will still praise God anyway!” That is “but if not faith.”

2. Job (Job 13:15)
Job had that kind of faith. Here was a man who lost his home, his family, and his health. He lost it all. His friends forsook him. Even his wife! After all that he could say, “though He slay me ,yet I will trust in Him!” That is “but if not faith.”
There is a certain “Rose-Colored-Glass” theology today that has left many people disillusioned. The godly do suffer. Christians are not immune from life’s difficulties and heartbreaks. We serve Him in the tragedies and disappointments of life. We serve Him in our suffering, our sickness, and in the SILENCE. Why? Because he is our God! We are inseparably joined to God in Christ! There is a purpose in the silence and the silence won’t last forever.

3. The Heroes of the Faith (Heb. 11:39-40a)
Hebrews 11 is overflowing with people who served in the SILENCE. We often forget that it says about them that they never received their full reward. They died in faith. “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better” (11:39-40a). Some of them died with their prayers unanswered. They served in the SILENCE.

Does it require more faith to trust God and be delivered from the fire then to trust God and go through the fire? All around and in every church there are living flesh and blood epistles that bear the engravings of deeds of great faith and perseverance. The pages of their lives may be tattered but their bindings have been sewn with God’s enabling grace. Some of you have experienced great personal tragedy. You have had every human excuse to give up on God a long time ago but you haven’t. You still keep serving in the SILENCE. Zechariah and Elizabeth were people of great faith. They stuck to it. They learned to serve God in the SILENCE.

Silence Doesn’t Last Forever
Faith knows the SILENCE doesn’t last forever. “While he was serving” (verse 8). Don’t miss what is happening. Zechariah is getting ready to hear from God. What if he had quit? What if he had given up? What if he had said, “God, there is nothing happening.” It was while he was serving that God spoke to him. God broke the SILENCE.

Perhaps our dullness of hearing is due to the fact that we are not in a position where we can hear from God? God speaks in the suffering and the serving. How often do we miss out on hearing God because in our trial we cease serving and worshipping God? It is difficult to steer a car when the engine is not running. Keep your ears open to heaven. The latter rains are coming! Trials are not the time to drop out. They are times to press in even closer to Christ.

One of the highest honors for a priest was to offer incense (Lk. 1: 9). This was done twice a day, when morning and evening sacrifices were made. This represented the prayers of the people. The priest who was to offer the incense was chosen by lot. Since there were probably around 1,000 priests in each division, being chosen to burn incense on this day was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Being selected for this honor would be about as likely as winning the power ball this week! However, when God wants to speak and act he opens doors that no man can shut. Zechariah means “God remembers” and Elizabeth means “God’s oath.” On this day, God was not only remembering Zechariah and Elizabeth, He was remembering His eternal covenant of redemption.

While Zechariah was worshipping and serving, the angel of the Lord (Gabriel, Lk. 1: 19) appeared. Zechariah was understandably afraid. Gabriel announced that they would have a son. Their SILENCE would be broken.

Luke 1: 14-17 emphasizes John the Baptist’s role in God’s redemptive plan. However, there was even a larger purpose at work. God was breaking into the SILENCE of the world and John would be the forerunner who would announce the coming Messiah - Jesus! The fullness of the time had arrived (Gal. 4:4-6).

It is encouraging in our trials to remember that the Lord is working out His eternal purposes. His answered prayers for us are ultimately for His kingdom purposes. The story is always bigger than us. God broke the SILENCE of Zechariah and Elizabeth. But more than this, God broke 400 years of SILENCE. He was about to fulfill the longing of the people for the Messiah!

Zechariah and Elizabeth were willing to be used by God, they learned that God’s “No” is not forever, and they were faithful to the Lord in spite of their circumstance. What about us? Will we continue to serve God no matter what? Will we serve Him in our suffering and in our sickness? Will we serve Him when things are not going the way we thought? Will we serve Him in the SILENCE? That is faith! That is the kind of faith needed today. The kind of faith that will serve in the SILENCE, knowing that the SILENCE will not last forever. What breakthrough could be just ahead to end your SILENCE and bring glory to God? You may never know until you learn to serve in the SILENCE.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

"Don't Miss the Party!" Luke 15:25-32

2009-11-29T10:02:00.000-06:00

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, LA on Sunday, November 29, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him” (Luke 15:28)

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:25-32
The older brother. On the outside he was everything a father could want in a son. But on the inside he was sour and hollow. Overcome by jealousy. Consumed by anger. Blinded by bitterness. He is the real prodigal son. And yet who would ever have known it? He looked so right. He played by the rules and paid all his dues. He kept his room straight. He kept his nose clean, he was the loyal and dutiful son. While his brother was sowing his wild oats, he stayed home and sowed the crops.

The younger son had broken his father’s heart. He had squandered his inheritance in prodigal (wasteful) living. But he came to his senses (v.17) and he came back home where his father welcomed him with open arms. The father threw a thanksgiving feast, one to remember (v.23).

But the older brother was not all too happy that his little brother was welcomed back by dad with open arms and given a homecoming party, a thanksgiving feast. The older brother meticulously followed his father’s rules. He never ran away from home. He never blatantly asked his father for his share of the future inheritance. He never squandered the family farm on sinful living. By all appearances he was the model son. However, appearances can be deceivingly deadly. The older son never left his father’s house but his heart had.

Remember, the Pharisees (religious rulers) are hearing Jesus tell this story (Lk. 15:1). The older brother, like the religious rulers, is religious but lost, meticulously observant but joyless, outwardly churchgoing but inwardly a hypocrite. The religious people of Jesus’ day, like today, thought that they could make themselves righteous before God. They majored on the external matters of religion but their hearts were cold and indifferent. Jesus said about the Pharisees and Scribes that they “honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matt. 15:8). What a shock it was to them when Jesus said that tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the kingdom (being saved) while they were shutting themselves out (Matt. 21:31).

The real prodigal of the story is the older brother. There is more hope for a prodigal son or daughter who knows that they have sinned and need God’s forgiveness than there is for the self-righteous religious person who has never sensed their sin, guilt, and helpless estate before God (Lk. 15:7; Mk. 2:17; Matt. 9:10-13). You have to know that you’re lost before you can be found – saved! The younger son knew that he was lost, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you” (v.18). Because he repented of his sin, he was restored by the father – he was found. However, his older brother never saw how his heart was filled with anger, bitterness, self-righteousness, pride, and a loveless and legalistic spirit.

Let’s be honest, from a human standpoint, it’s not to difficult for us to understand why the older brother was angry (v.28). We can easily identify with him. “So this is how a son gets recognition in this family! Get drunk and squander all of the family money and you get a party!” The older brother is furious and refuses to participate in the homecoming thanksgiving feast, so he sits outside and pouts and misses the party.

We are told that the day the younger son came home, the older brother had been working out in the fields. When he came home that evening “he heard music and dancing” (v.25). It was obvious that a party was going on and he didn’t know anything about it. He had to ask one of the servants “what was going on” (v.26). This story intimates the distance between the older son and his father. The older son was in the father’s house, but he didn’t know the longing of his father. He didn’t have the father’s heart. The older son was a son but a son from a distance.

You can be a Christian like that. In the Father’s house, having access to Him and all that He has, and yet knowing Him from an impersonal distance. Not really knowing Him, not knowing His longings – His will. Not really knowing His heart. How can this be? Because like the older son our relationship with our Father can be superficial at best or non-existent at worst. In the Father’s house, but not knowing the Father. Serving the Father out of duty rather than delight. Obedient but not joyful. Proper but not pure. Religious but having no relationship.

The younger brother did not deserve the Father’s love. He did not merit a party! What he deserved was punishment for his waywardness. What he deserved was a stern rebuke from his father. He deserved naked shame not a robe; he deserved a whip not a ring; he deserved bread and water not a fatted calf; he deserved probation not restoration.

The younger son did not get one thing that he deserved! And of course that’s the whole point of grace. You do not get what you deserve, but you do get what you need! It appears that both sons spent some time in the hog pen. One in the pen of rebellion – the other in the pen of self-pity. The younger brother has come home, the older brother is still in the far country. He’s bitter and he’s pouting and he’s shouting inside “It’s not fair!”

How inviting are the self-made dungeons of bitterness. The call from the dark caves beckon us daily to enter. The truth is, we have all had enough hurt to be bitter. We have all had enough trials to turn us away from God. We have all had enough disappointments to detour us from walking with God. We have all had enough people to hurt us to become angry and bitter. Bitterness often comes from the various trials that we all experience simply because of our humanity. “Why me Lord?” “Why did my loved one have to die?” “Why my child, Lord?” “What went wrong in my family?” “God, why do you not answer me?” “Lord, do you even care?” “Lord, will things ever be normal again?”

Bitterness often sets in because of our imperfect human relationships. Others let us down, betray our trust. People do not always meet our expectations, we become hurt.

The older son is a prisoner, a prisoner of his mind. Bitterness and broken dreams hold him captive. He has the key but he’s not free. His father pleaded with him to come out of his dungeon and to join the party – but bitterness keeps you from enjoying God’s party of grace. Bitterness says “I have a right to be mad. I am going to just sit here and sulk. I’ll throw my own party – a pity party and the guest list will be me, my and I.”

What is the cure for this curse of bitterness? It has everything to do with what we are celebrating today. In the Lord’s Supper we are celebrating the sweetness of God’s grace demonstrated to us in the cross of Jesus Christ. This is what we celebrate today in the Lord’s Supper. The cross of Christ makes the bitter sweet again! The cross of Christ has the power to redeem us from our self-imposed prisons of sin and bitterness and make us free.

There is an interesting account in Exodus 15:23-25. The people of God have been freed from Egypt but they are not yet in the promised land. They have traveled for three days without finding water (v.22). They eventually came to some water but they could not drink it because it was bitter, this is why the place was called Marah which means bitter (v.23). God gave Moses some unusual instructions, to place a tree branch into the bitter waters. When he did the water became sweet and pleasant (v.25). The cross of Jesus Christ plunged into the pool of sinful humanity makes the bitter sweet.

God’s grace is able to wash away a life of bitterness (“many years,” v.29). The tragedy of bitterness is that bitter people forget what they have. Instead they focus on what they do not have or what they lost. The father reminded the older son that he had everything he’d always wanted. He had his job, his place, his name, his inheritance – he had it all. Bitterness makes you remember things you should forget and forget the things you should remember.

Today, God says remember what you should remember and forget that which you should forget. Today is a day of celebration of God’s grace. It’s a time to remember what God has done in Christ and rejoice. And God says to you, “Don’t Miss the Party! You are invited.” God invites you to bring Him your hurts, your anger, your bitterness, your sins. When you do that, the cross of Christ sweetens the bitter soul. Why continue to drink the waters of bitterness when you can be refreshed today by God’s sweet grace?

God invites you to join the celebration, to experience His grace in a meaningful way today. As you take of the bread and of the cup, remember the cross of Christ, remember the price that was paid, remember God’s amazing grace in your life. If you’ve never experienced God’s saving grace, God invites you to the cross, the cross which transforms our bitter lives into works of amazing grace.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Coming Home Again: A Thanksgiving to Remember Luke 15:11-22

2009-11-23T09:07:00.000-06:00

“‘Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’” (Lk. 15:23b-24)

A Thanksgiving sermon preached November 22, 2009 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs by Pastor, Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-24
Thanksgiving is a time of celebration and family and creating special memories. Sometimes those memories involve Thanksgiving disasters. Maybe it was your first Thanksgiving turkey and you left the giblets and the neck in the turkey, or maybe it was the time that you almost burned down the house when you drop kicked your bird in the deep fryer, or you may have had an experience like Sharlene’s daughter who decided to host thanksgiving at her house with all her relatives.

Sharlene writes we were just about to start the day with preparing the turkey. My daughter placed the turkey in the oven and accidentally pushed the self clean button, where the oven locks itself while it cleans the oven at blistering temperatures. No one noticed until we checked on the turkey a few hours later. When we did, we found that we could not get the oven open, nothing seemed to work. The men began to bring out their screw drivers and drills in an attempt to salvage the bird. But in the end when we finally did get it out, the oven was destroyed but we had a very clean turkey!

Thanksgiving is a time to make some memories, hopefully not tragic ones. Thanksgiving is a time to remember and a time to come home again, even if for some of us we can only do that in our minds eye. Coming home again is the theme of the parable of the prodigal son (Lk. 15:11-24). But the story might be more appropriately called the parable of the loving father. Here is a deeply moving story of tragedy and triumph, of guilt and God’s wonderful grace, of heartbreak and homecoming, and of brokenness and thankfulness. It’s a story that tells us of a God with open arms, a God who welcomes us back home into His house.

In the story we are told of a man who had two sons (Lk. 15:11). The youngest hit his dad up for the future college savings fund. It wasn’t long before the money was burning a hole in his pocket and he moved off to the big city (Lk. 15:12). You can sense the ingratitude of this young man when he says to his father, “give me” as if he is owed something. It was in the far country that the son wasted his inheritance with “prodigal (wasteful) living.” He was restless. He had no good reason to go. He had a good family, a loving father, and a faith, but he was ready to cast all that aside. Young and impatient, he had to have it now! The father gave him what he wanted but when he got it, it was not what he wanted. Why did the father give this ungrateful son the inheritance and just let him go?

The father knew he could not make an ungrateful and rebellious son stay home when his heart was already gone. The young man’s restless heart led him down a rebellious path. It is true that where your heart is your body will soon follow. He wanted out of his father’s house – no more rules, no more 10:00 p.m. curfews, no more chores, no more responsibilities. Young, arrogant, loaded with cash, but naive, he was confident that he was not going to stumble and fall. Maybe others would falter but he wouldn’t, so he thought. In the far country the beer was flowing, the dice were rolling, and the people in the far country were pretty friendly, they were the kind of friends that attach themselves like leeches to the inexperienced, the naive, the wealthy. I can imagine that they hung on his every word. He was a star in the far country. But it wasn’t long before the wine, women, and songs were all gone. Before he knew it, he had squandered his inheritance. He blew his 401K in a pleasure – crazed blink of an eye in the Vegas of his day.

Where were his friends now? When the money was gone, they deserted him like he had the plague. They didn’t return his phone calls. He had become “Unfriended.” If you did not already know this little tid bit of useless information, New Oxford American’s Dictionary word of the year for 2009 is “Unfriend.” The verb “unfriend” refers to the act of deleting someone from one’s list of acquaintances on Facebook. In his moral and economic collapse this man was unfriended, deleted out of existence. “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. [Solomon tells us] But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecc. 4:10).

On top of his financial collapse and moral failure there was a severe famine in the land (Lk. 15: 14). When it rains it pours. The progression downward had run its full course. What began with a restless heart led to rebellion which brought the young man into ruin. There’s always a price to pay when you go into the far country. He was destitute (Lk. 15:14); Without money, without food, without a home, without any friends. In an act of desperation he joined himself to a citizen of the far country and he found himself in of all unlikely and unJewish places, the pigpen. Trudging along in a hogpen is a vivid picture of sin’s degrading effects (Lk. 15:16). This child of God who is destined for the kingdom is floundering in hog slop.

Proverbs 14:14 reminds us of the awful effects of sin’s sowing: “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways . . .” When we live independently from God, we get what we can do. It has been said that “sin will take you farther than you want to go. It will keep you longer than you want to stay. It will cost you more than you want to pay.” This young man never planned on ending up in the hogpen – no one ever does. Sin cost him everything! He lost his family. He lost his inheritance. He lost his friends. And he lost his own dignity. But then something wonderful happened – it was “Amazing Grace!”

There is nothing quite comparable to the beautiful words that were expressed by the son when the Bible says “he came to himself” (v.17) “He came to his senses” (NIV). How wonderful are these words for these are none other than the words of a man who is coming to terms with life as it can only be lived, in humility and in relationship with the creator God. This young man is right where he needs to be because “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18). These are the words of a man who knows experientially both the brokenness of sin and the healing that comes through repentance. Perhaps the younger son’s greatest flaw was that he was stubborn and hard-headed. Like a horse that is useless until broken, so the rebellious son was recklessly out of control until broken by God.

What did it mean for the son to come to himself? For one thing it meant that he knew he had blown it – he had sinned, “I have sinned.” He knew that he was an ungrateful rebel. He took personal responsibility for his actions. He came to the place that we must all come to – the end of ourselves so that we can come to our selves. A once popular Christian song says “at the end of broken dreams He’s the open door.” Blessing comes to us in our brokenness. Brokeness is fertile soil for the fruit of repentance. There is a powerful warning in this simple story of ruin and redemption. It’s a warning associated with our free will. Because we are truly free, God will let us go into the far country. He will let you squander your days, weeks, and even years in prodigal living. He will let you go to the hogpen. Why? Because God is punishing you? Because He hates you? No, Because God really does love you.

God the Father knows that He cannot make a rebellious son or daughter stay when his or her heart is already gone. God wants us in His kingdom because of love. He wants us to freely love Him with all our heart, mind, and strength. He’s not assembling subjects to populate a celestial prison, He’s establishing a new kind of world, a world populated by those who have been redeemed by love.

It was tough love that the father demonstrated when he released his son. It would take the far country to cure the son of his basic sinful condition – ingratitude. In the far country, far away from the Father and the comforts of home, he realized for the very first time what he had lost. In the depths of brokenness he realized that his father loved him and that life was pretty good after all. Sometimes loss can jog us out of our discontent, our ingratitude. And if it takes the crushing of the far country to cure us of our ingratitude, then the experience of the far country will do us well. The far country changed the son. We know that because when he came home again he came back not as an ungrateful rebel but as a grateful true son. That is true repentance. In his brokenness he experienced redemption and he discovered the incredible gratitude that comes when one is lost and found.

On his way back to the father’s house he rehearsed his acceptance speech, a speech he would never deliver (Lk. 15:18-20). When the son was still a speck on the distant horizon his father saw him. How many sunrises and sunsets played out while the father still looked for his boy to come home? The father never stopped waiting for his son to return. Every day was “maybe today” day. When he finally saw his boy come home he had compassion and ran and hugged his son. No speech here, just tears of joy – “my son was dead and is alive” (Lk. 15:24). What do you do when the lost son returns home? The son didn’t need a lecture, the Holy Spirit had already done a fine job of that. It’s amazing how God’s voice can be heard so clearly far from the Father’s home, in the mire of a hogpen. What he needed to know and what he discovered was that his father still loved him and would welcome him back.

Did the young son deserve to come back? No. It was the grace and mercy of the father that restored the son. The truth is, none of us deserves salvation. None of us deserves the attention that God gives us. What we deserve is punishment for our foolish trips to the far country – judgement – but what we receive is mercy – forgiveness and a fresh new start. God’s grace (unmerited favor) makes it possible for prodigals to come home. Maybe you need that assurance today, the assurance that God loves you just as you are. He does love you just as you are, but He loves you too much to leave you the way that you are. You belong back in the Father’s house.

If it is difficult for people to come to God and be saved it is only difficult because people cannot comprehend and receive God’s love. The difficulty certainly does not lie with God. He is more than willing to save. There are no impossible cases for God. “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him [Jesus Christ], since He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). As more than one preacher has put it, “Jesus can save from the uttermost to the guttermost.”

When the prodigal son came back home it was “A Thanksgiving to Remember!” There is “joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” (Lk. 15:7). When prodigals come home heaven throws a party. The son who came home was fully restored by his father. He was given a robe, a ring, a new pair of shoes, and a party (Lk. 15:22-23). When you come to Christ God begins to remove the stain of the hogpen. When you come home to God just as you are He won’t leave you just as you came – He cleans you up and gives you a brand new start. God is the God of the second chance. Jesus Christ restores us, He redeems us, He makes us sons and daughters of the kingdom (Jn. 1:12; Gal. 3:26-29). The prodigal son repented (turned away from) his sin; he was redeemed by the father; and as a result there was great rejoicing.

If you have repented of your sin and been redeemed, every day is a cause for rejoicing. Every day is a day of thanksgiving.

“Grattitude . . . goes beyond the “mine” and “thine” and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.”

– Henri J. M. Nouwen

Every day is a gift from God and an opportunity to live out your life in gratitude to God. Christian service flows from a heart that has been touched by God’s amazing grace. Our life, our service is showing gratitude to the God who loves us and who has saved us.

But perhaps some of you today are like this prodigal son, you are still in the “far country.” Your life is a mess! You made some bad decisions along the way and now the path you have traveled has led you to the hogpen. Maybe you’ve lost your family. You’ve lost your job. You’ve lost your friends. You’ve squandered and you’re mired in debt. You’ve even lost your own dignity. You’re not too far gone. You can come home again! You can come back to the God who welcomes the prodigals back into the father’s house. Your Father waits for you with open arms. You can come home again. Back in the Father’s house there is a feast of salvation awaiting you and “A Thanksgiving To Remember.”

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

THE DEACON: A CALL TO SERVE 1 Timothy 3:8-13

2009-10-25T09:46:00.002-05:00

A message preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana on October 25, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Passages: Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Introduction
The story that surrounds the choosing of the first deacons illustrates how the early church handled two things: (1) growth (Acts 6:1), and (2) conflict (6:1). Acts 6 is the church at her best doing the one thing that seems to be the hardest for us to do – change, adapt, be flexible. The ability to resolve conflict in a healthy way is an important characteristic of a healthy church. The early church recognized that as needs arise, new ministries would need to be raised up to meet the needs. Baptists as well as many other Christians have recognized the continuing need of deacons.

As we begin the process of selecting men to serve at Hebron on our “Deacon Ministry Committee,” it would be good to look at just what the ministry of the deacon actually is. In this way, you and I will be able to prayerfully select men for this important ministry of
the church.

I. THE MINISTRY OF THE DEACON
The word Deacon literally renders the word “servant” from the Greek word, “diakonos.” A deacon is one who renders service to another – he is a minister.

His ministry is one of . . .
1. Serving God’s People
The ministry of a deacon is not so much a position of power and privilege as it is a trust, a responsibility. Above all else, the deacon is to be a minister, a servant. As a servant, the deacon performs many of the same functions as the ministerial staff. The deacons serve alongside the ministerial staff of the church and they are ultimately responsible to the church. Deacons are truly biblical deacons when they serve God’s people.

His ministry is one of . . .
2. Meeting Practical Needs
The first deacons served the widows and others in the church who had needs. Their ministry was both spiritual and administrative as they handled the benevolent needs in the church. This meeting of practical needs extended to taking care of matters that would have taken the apostles away from their main task, that of ministering the word and prayer (6:2, 4). They were to be a help to the apostles. The overwhelming needs in ministry, then and now, make a practical deacon ministry all the more needed.

His ministry is one of . . .
3. Protecting the Unity of the Church
Because godly and wise men were first selected to serve the church body, the early church prospered in unity. The potential rift between the Hebrew-speaking and the Greek-speaking Jews was avoided. Aside from providing for the needy, protecting church harmony is one of the chief duties of a deacon. As a deacon serves in a godly manner, he preserves and promotes unity.

His ministry is one of . . .
4. Reaching Out with the Gospel
The early deacons (e.g., Stephen and Philip) had a heart to see the Gospel extended beyond the bounds of the church into all the world. Deacons who are truly deacons are men who desire to see God’s kingdom grow and flourish. They are missionary-minded men who desire to see others reconciled to God.

I. THE MINISTRY OF THE DEACON
II. THE MAN WHO WOULD BE A DEACON
What kind of men are needed?
1. He Should Be Called
Believers are to “Walk worthy of the calling” (Eph. 4:1). A man who serves as a deacon should sense the call to serve as a deacon. He should have a true desire for the ministry. Men are called to serve as deacons just as men are called to serve as pastors and ministers of music and youth pastors. My suggestion to you as you nominate men is to pray about people that God places on your heart and then approach those people. Ask them to pray about this matter, ask them to consider what God might be doing with them.

2. He Should Be Committed
Faithfulness in service cannot be overstated. A man does not become a deacon in order to become a committed Christian, he is already a committed Christian. He’s faithful in attending worship, Bible study, and involved in the ministries of the church. The men who were selected in the early church were men who immediately rose to the top as outstanding men because they were already serving faithfully.

3. He Should Be Qualified
Aside from the qualifications mentioned in Acts 6:3, the specific qualifications of a deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
What are the qualifications of a deacon?
(1) Good Reputation (3:8)
The word “reverent” means worthy of respect. He’s respected because he is godly, committed, mature, and wise.

(2) Man of His Word (3:8)
Not “double-tongued” (3:8). He can be trusted, he can keep a matter in confidence. He doesn’t say one thing at church and another outside church. This is crucial to the deacon’s ministry especially since he is often counseling people and dealing with sensitive personal matters.

(3) Does Not Cause Others to Stumble (3:8)
Not “given to much wine” (3:8). “Addicted” NASB. In general his life will not cause others to stumble.

(4) Generous Giver (3:8)
“Not greedy for money” (3:8). He handles his finances in a biblical way. He will be a tither and a supporter of the church.

(5) Solid in God’s Word (3:10)
He must have a good grip on God’s word . “Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.” This means he has a clear understanding of basic biblical teachings. For example, teachings such as salvation by grace through faith, who Jesus is, teachings about the church, and many others. He is sound in the faith and he knows the faith.

Think of how important this is to preserving godliness and harmony in the church. Many problems have occurred in the church because of spiritual immaturity. Godly people handle their business in a godly way. It’s just that simple. The worse thing a church can do is put a spiritual infant in a place of leadership. The fellowship of many good churches has been destroyed by unspiritual men.

(6) Proven (3:10)
“Tested.” That is, he will be a proven man, a man that shows evidence in his life that he not only knows God but He is walking with God as well. No man should be elected to serve as a deacon if he has established a pattern of unfaithfulness in areas such as church attendance, tithing, sharing his faith, prayer, and Bible study. Instead, he should be proven in these areas.

(7) Blameless (3:10)
“Blameless.” Not perfect but above reproach. To be blameless means that there are no valid accusations being circulated that might indicate or point to problems with his character or conduct.

(8) Faithful and Pure (3:12)
“Husbands of one wife” (3:12). He is faithful to his wife, not a flirt, an adulterer. He is a “one woman” kind of man. His moral integrity is unquestioned.

(9) A Good Father and Spiritual Leader (3:12)
He manages his home well (3:12). He’s a good husband and a good father. He loves his family and desires to set the spiritual example for them. He is a spiritual leader in the home.

(10) The Deacon’s Wife (3:11)
When a man is called to a ministry, his wife is too! Just as a pastor’s wife is in ministry, so a deacon’s wife is as well. A deacon’s wife is to be worthy of respect, she is not to participate in malicious talk (gossip), she is to be temperate and trustworthy.

Conclusion
This is the ministry of the deacon and a picture of what the men who will serve as deacons will look like. The charge to you as the church is the charge found in Acts 6:3, “Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select . . . men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business” (Acts 6:3, NLT).

As you prayerfully seek out men to serve as deacons, keep in mind these four things about our deacon selection process:
1. It is not a popularity contest.
2. It is not wise to nominate someone that you know nothing about.
3. You do not have to vote for a certain number and you don’t have to even vote.
4. Vote prayerfully and deliberately. Please turn in your nominations no later than November 1st.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

CAPTIVATED BY THE CALL 1 Timothy 6:12

2009-10-12T10:48:00.001-05:00

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana, Sunday, October 11, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Focal Verse:1 Timothy 6:12
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses”

Review of Our Building Project
I want to take a few moments to give a report of our last business meeting where we discussed our building project. The following comes from my thoughts published in our monthly newsletter, The Vision.

After providing a brief historical overview of our building campaign, Jerry Harris reported that (1) A topographical survey has been completed, (2) Soil boring tests have been performed, (3) Building plans are being finalized, and (4) The committee has met with Livingston Parish officials.

It was reported that “Estimate of Giving” cards have been received totaling – $736,000. Our Building Fund now stands at $248,101.42. The Steering Committee has met with a financial institution representative, and based on our current estimates of giving, we could borrow in the area of two (2) million dollars, approximately two (2) million dollars less than is needed to build our original project. The committee has met with Allen Construction to develop several cost-reducing options, one option came in at 3.5 million and the other at 2.5 million. Conceptual drawings of the two options were shown to the congregation at the recent business meeting.

After much discussion about the various options, their was unanimous support for continuing with our original plans, even if it might take a little longer to see them fulfilled. Several key areas came out of the comments presented at our meeting that we will be pursuing.

1. A renewed emphasis on securing “Estimate of Giving” cards.
Many people were not aware how important the “Estimate of Giving” cards are in securing funds from a financial institution. Because this is essential to our borrowing funds, more information about this needs to be shared with the church. Some people are giving to the building program but have not completed an “Estimate of Giving” card. We will be sending out a letter to the church explaining the importance of the “Estimate of Giving” cards to our campaign and asking for people to prayerfully considering completing one if they have not.

2. Increased communication of the work the project.
I will be asking the Steering Committee to make a brief report (3-5 min.) and offer a prayer for God’s blessing and direction once per month on a Sunday morning. In this way, the project will be kept before the congregation not only as a matter of information but also for prayer. Continued efforts will be made at publishing building program updates in the newsletter, bulletin, and online.

3. Using visuals to communicate our giving status and goals.
We will work on creating some type of visual that will easily communicate to the church each Sunday where we stand in reaching our various financial goals.

Based on where we are now, where do we go from here? What needs to be done? I believe our focus needs to be on our calling as God’s people. We must be Captivated by the Calling that God has placed on our lives! In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul is reminding young Timothy of who he is. Timothy has been saved and called by God and he has confessed that faith and calling before others. Paul encouraged Timothy to not grow weary, to keep fighting the good fight of faith, to “take hold of the eternal life” to which he was called. God is giving us the same message. Be patient, endure, stay focused, fight the good fight of faith, stay on track, be Captivated By the Call because lives hang in the balance of how we live out our calling.

At this time in the life of the church, there are two things that we need. First, we need . . .
1. Patience
It is easy to become impatient in a project like the one that we are undertaking. One of Satan’s tactics to keep us from seeing our dreams fulfilled is that he gets us to doubt the dreams. One of his greatest allies is our impatience, along with fear, worry, anxiety, second-guessing, and frustration that usually accompany it. Remember, God’s timing usually differs from our expectations. Delay of a dream does not necessarily mean denial, it just means we keep working and waiting on God.

Even though we have been working in earnest for about two years, let me assure you that this really is not that long of a period of time, neither is this uncommon in a project of this scope. When I was in Port Allen it took probably a total of six years to go from dream to fulfillment. I’m not suggesting it will take anywhere near that time; however, I do not want you to get discouraged if we hit a few speed bumps along the way. After all, if it was easy, every church in Livingston Parish would be building new facilities! When you look at the big picture, we are progressing very well. Building plans are almost complete, survey work has been completed, and we have almost a third of our pledged amount in the bank.

Don’t grow weary, trust in the Lord! Patiently waiting has always been the standard operating procedure of God’s people. Abraham and Sarah waited and prayed for years before Isaac, the promised son was born. Hebrews 6:15 says, “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” Delayed blessings are a test of our faith. Will we stand firm, will we endure. Our timing is not always God’s timing. He works according to His divine schedule, according to His sovereign will.

Not only is patience needed, but . . .
2. Unity of Purpose which Brings Unity among Believers in the Church. If we take care of building up God’s kingdom by building up the lives of people, God will take care of building up the facilities. Psalm 37:-4-5, 7, says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this . . . Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” The main thing must be the main thing, our delight is to be in the Lord. What is the main thing? What is our purpose? Our purpose is to . . .
(1) Help people encounter the living God! We call that Worship – Providing the opportunity and atmosphere for meaningful worship.
(2) Share Christ!!! We call that Evangelism – Proclaiming the love of Christ so the world might know him as Savior.
(3) Help people to grow so that they can experience God’s best! We call that Discipleship – Teaching, equipping and nurturing persons for spiritual growth.
(4) Give a cup of cold water in His name. We call that Ministry – Meeting the needs of our church, our community, and our world in the name of Jesus.

This is our purpose! When worship, evangelism, discipleship, and ministry forms the main content of our conversation, when this becomes our passion, there will be a spirit of unity in the church because there will be unity of purpose. “When we are Captivated By the Call of God, we will walk in patience and unity of purpose.” So how do I know when I am Captivated By the Call of God? There are at least four (4) indicators in the life of a believer that is Captivated By the Call.

The first indicator of being Captivated By the Call is . . .
1. Desperate Praying
Jacob was desperate when he cried out, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Gen. 32:26). The Psalmist expressed a heart that was desperate for God when he said, “My soul thirsts for the living God . . . my tears have been my food day and night” (Ps. 42:2-3). Desperate praying is praying that says, “Your will be done above all else.” Desperate praying is offering prayers of repentance for unkind words and actions. Prayers of repentance for erecting barriers to the love of God. Prayers of forgiveness for our unloving and backbiting attitudes. Prayers that say “God, do whatever you have to do, but move!” Prayers that go beyond praying for sickness, but prayers that ask God to heal the sin sickness in our lives and in our land. The spiritual problem for most of us is that we are just not desperate enough. Believers who are Captivated By the Call our believers who pray desperate prayers, urgent prayers, heartfelt prayers.

The second indicator of being Captivated By the Call is . . .
2. Greater Faith
Faith is believing and acting upon God’s Word. How do you have greater faith? We need three things: (1) A bigger concept of who God is. We don’t really know God! And because we really do not know God fully, we live in fear and confinement to a small vision. We live as if God is not going to come through. But we have a God that is bigger than any of us could ever even imagine. Scientists estimate that there are 125 billion galaxies in the visible universe! Don’t settle for a small concept of God, He is the King of the Universe!

(2) We need to ask God to increase our faith (Lk. 17:5). (3) We need to act on what God tells us. We need faithfulness to live out the life we already know. Faith grows in proportion to your exercise of faithfulness. Jesus said that if you are faithful in the few things, God will make you ruler over many things (Matt. 25:21). Are you doing what God has told you to do? He’s not going to give you a greater task until you are faithful with the task He’s already given to you.

The third indicator of being Captivated By the Call is . . .
3. Abounding Love
Spoken to a church that was self-seeking and divided, Paul said the greatest virtue is love (1 Cor. 13:13). Jesus said that people will know us by our love for one another (Jn. 13:35). Do we really love one another, or do we just tolerate one another? We can only love others because He first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19). It’s not our beliefs, not our sermons, not our music, not our buildings, not our programs, but our love! And this love is to grow and abound like an overflowing river in our lives (1 Thess. 3:12).

So how do we know if we are abounding in our love? Here are some questions to use as a spiritual evaluation.
1. Do you acknowledge others in your presence? Do others feel acceptance by you? Sometimes the most powerful way to love someone is to make them feel welcomed, like they belong.
2. Do you greet and speak to others?
3. Would others consider you friendly?
4. Are you considerate of others? Do you think about what you say and how you say it?
5. What practical things have you done lately that would show someone that you cared about them? Have you told someone that you loved them? That you appreciate them? Have you made someone feel special?
6. What’s your attitude toward those outside your circle of friends? Do you love the strangers, the foreigners (Deut. 10:19)? Others as yourself (Matt. 22:39)? What about loving the people that God sends to us each week and throughout the year? Do they feel welcomed? Loved? Accepted? A part of us? When we love the strangers among us, we are loving Jesus (See Matt. 25:35-45). We are showing that we are indeed Captivated By the Call!

The fourth indicator of being Captivated By the Call is . . .
4. Dying to Self
John the Baptist said, “He [Jesus] must increase, I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). Is that happening with me? In the church? To keep your life is to lose it, to lose it is to gain it (Lk. 17:33). Do I really believe that? The seed must die in order to bring forth fruit (Jn. 12:24). Am I daily dying to self so that my life can be fruitful and filled with purpose?

We are to be living sacrifices, totally consumed, on fire with God’s passion (Rom. 12:1-2). Paul said “I am crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). This means we really believe the words, “It’s not about me.” To die to my self means that my will is His will. My purpose is His purpose. My time is His time. My finances are His finances. My life is His life. I cannot get my feelings hurt because I’m dead. I am not going to be dominated by my sinful nature anymore, I’m dead. I do not have any selfish agendas, crucified people do not have agendas. I do not need the praise of men, I’m dead. I do not live to get my needs met, I’m crucified and dead men have no needs. When I die to my self, I show that I am Captivated By the Call! Then I’m ready to “Fight the good fight of faith . . .”

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

KNOWING GOD'S WILL, Proverbs 3:5-6

2009-10-05T08:14:00.001-05:00

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, LA on October 4, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Series: “Foundations: Lessons On Assurance”

Focal Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

It’s a question that is never too far from our thoughts, “What is God’s will for my life?” “What does He want me to do?” And “how can I know God’s will?” “Am I going in the right direction?” “Am I making the right decision?” “Does God’s Word have something to say to me?” God has a path for each of us to walk. Likewise, He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He promises to guide us in the right paths of life. That is the promise we are reflecting upon today in Proverbs 3:5-6.

We can have the assurance of God’s guidance in our life when we put our Scripture passage into practice.
1. A Principle (3:5a, 6a) – Trust in the Lord
Taken together, the opening phrases of verse 5 and 6, highlight the absolute necessity of trusting in the Lord. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart . . . In all your ways acknowledge Him.” What does it mean to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and to acknowledge Him in all of our ways?

The word “trust” in the biblical language means “to confide, to place hope and confidence in any one,” the person here being the Lord. Trust is an ongoing action of faith on our part. (This word is an imperfect which means the action is not completed) We are to “trust” in the Lord with “all” our “heart.” The Hebrews thought of the heart in terms of “the seat of intellect; hence, (1) mind, purpose, intention; (2) understanding, knowledge, insight; (3) courage, spirit.” To trust in the Lord with all your heart is to allow God to have confidence in God when it comes to your thoughts and actions, even your passions, but especially as it relates to the way that you make decisions. To trust God with all our heart is to have faith, confidence in His ability to guide us.

God wants us to trust in Him in “All” my “ways,” literally paths. In every way or path of life, God wants me to trust in Him to guide me. For God to guide me I must “acknowledge him” in all of the ways of my life. God restricts His guidance of my life to the areas (the paths) that I am willing to surrender to His guidance.

Are you acknowledging the Lord in “all your ways”? Are you trusting Him with the decisions that you make related to your family? With the way you handle your finances? With your work? Your schooling? Your dating relationships? Your friendships? Your social life? To trust in the Lord with all your heart is to have the mind of Christ who said, “not My will, but Your will be done” (Matt. 26:42). When we acknowledge him in all our ways, we can have the assurance that the Lord will guide us.

1. A Principle – Trust in the Lord. We also have . . ..
2. A Prohibition (3:5b) – Do Not Trust in Yourself
Verse 5 says, “And lean not on your own understanding.” This is the negative side of the instruction that God gives us. Every negative that God gives to us is really a positive if we look at it right. When your parents told you “don’t play in the street” it was a negative that was positive. If the light is red at a busy intersection, stopping (a negative if you’re in a hurry) may save your life, so that’s a positive. So God gives us here a negative. What is it? Do not trust in yourself. Do not lean upon your own understanding. Do not follow your inner compass when it tells you to do something contrary to what God has said for you to do, even if it doesn’t make sense, which it will not sometimes.

Have you ever been lost? At the worst it can be kind of a scary experience, and at best it is frustrating. One time I was lost. Well, not really one time. After driving around awhile, leaning on my own understanding, I finally stopped and asked for directions. After giving me directions, the nice lady said “I couldn’t miss it!” Well, I did. Maybe I didn’t hear her right or maybe she didn’t know either. After driving around some more, I stopped again for directions. This time I finally arrived at my destination. Living is very much like driving through a strange city. We spend a great deal of time wandering around. People are often quick to give you directions. Sometimes they are well-meaning but the directions they give are bad. People might say, “It’s ok to lie and cheat, just don’t get caught. It’s ok to do what you want. Take care of yourself and Forget about God.” But these directions in life won’t help us. They will cause us to continue wandering around – lost!

When we feel that our way is best rather than God’s way, we are leaning on our own understanding. We are trusting too much in ourselves. And when we do that we just end up staying lost in life. Just like me driving around and around thinking “The place I’m looking for is right around the corner,” when I was not even close. So following my understanding apart from God keeps me wandering.

What’s wrong with trusting in our understanding? Why can we not trust fully in ourselves?
(1) For one our heart (even the Christians) is not completely reliable. Jeremiah 17:9, NLT said, “The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Our heart (the seat of our decision making) is not completely objective. We are still subject to those human passions that want to go against what God wants me to do (see Prov. 14:12). God says “do this by faith,” and our heart tells us it can’t be done, so we go with what we know rather than who we know. Jesus says, take the narrow path of trust in Him, but our heart tells us, “go down the broad path. Everyone else is traveling that way so it must be right. The broad road looks smooth, there is no cross along that road.” If we lean only on our own understanding, we are going to miss out on God’s plan for our lives.

(2) Our Understanding Is Limited.
Proverbs 14:12, NIV says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” We should not place too much faith in ourselves because we don’t always have the whole story. How many times have we thought certain things and acted upon information that was later proved to be only partly true or altogether false? Things are not always what they seem.

1. A Promise, 2. A Prohibition The passage concludes with . . .
3. A Promise (3:6b)
What is the promise that God gives to us when we follow the principle and the prohibition? “and he will make your paths straight” (NIV) or the NKJV, “And He shall direct your paths.” The word “direct” means to make smooth. If we will trust Him, He will guide us in the right path and He will remove the obstacles in the path so that the road will be smooth. The CEV says, “And he will clear the road for you to follow.” The Msg says that “he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

When we try to make something happen the road is rocky and hard. When we trust in Him, He will do the directing, the guiding, and the path will be much smoother. God may lead us down some narrow paths, but they will be far smoother with Him than if we went down a broad path without Him.

Practical Application How does God guide us?
1. Through His Word
Jn. 17:7. God’s guidance is right in front of us, but we too often miss it. In teaching, I always give a review before a test. I will tell them what to expect, but you would be surprised at how many students would miss a question and ask me about it. They had the answer all the time, they just didn’t bother looking it up. We do the same thing with God’s Word. And yet, think of the guidance that is available to us through His Word? God’s word counsels us (Ps. 119:24), and provides light for our path (Ps. 119:105, 130). For God to provide us guidance, we must seek His guidance through His Word.

2. Through His Spirit
God’s Spirit, His very presence lives within every believer (Eph. 1:13-14). God-given desires are one way that the HS works in our life to guide us (Ps. 37:4). What God-given desires do you have? If you are delighting yourself in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart because they will be God-given desires. Philippians 2:13 reminds us of the powerful truth that God is at work in every believer “to will and to act according to His good purpose.” God speaks to us through His Spirit, are we listening?

3. Through Other People
God places people in your life. There is wisdom in godly counsel. See Proverbs 11:14; 12:15; 15:22; 24:6. This is the “fourth and one principle.” In football if it is the fourth down with one yard to go for the first down, sometimes the quarterback will call a time out to get some advice from the coach. When it comes to direction, don’t rush into something without seeking and receiving Godly counsel. God has placed people in your life to help guide you. Godly parents, grandparents, teachers, leaders in church and in the community can greatly help you. God speaks to us through others.

4. Through Our Circumstances
Sometimes God opens doors (Acts 16:6-ff.), sometimes He closes them. I have to admit, this is the area of how God guides me that I do not fully understand or always appreciate, but I know that He guides me through circumstances, things that happen, doors that open and door that close.

As a follower of Jesus, you have a powerful promise that God is going to guide you every step of the way. If you’re a believer, keep on following Him, keep on trusting, He will direct your paths, he will make your path clear, He will keep you on track. If you’ve never established a personal relationship of trust with the Lord, God has made it possible for you to do that today. He is the “way” the truth and the life!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Can God Really Forgive My Sin? 1 John 1:9

2009-09-27T09:40:00.002-05:00

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs on Sunday, September 27, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Series: Foundations: Lessons On Assurance

This Week's Assurance: Assurance of Forgiveness

Scripture Verse: 1 John 1:9, NIV

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Christians aren’t perfect just forgiven. Because salvation does not mean that we are perfect, we do sin and we must ask God for forgiveness. But we sometimes have a two-fold problem when it comes to seeking forgiveness. Sometimes we don’t feel as if we have any sin and do not need forgiveness. John speaking to believers in 1 John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” We have a difficult time admitting that we need to be forgiven. The other problem is that we wonder if God can really forgive our sin? We sin and we feel bad because we’ve already talked to God about it, and here we are again.

The truth of our Scripture today is that you and I can have the assurance of forgiveness. Because of what God has done for us in Christ (i.e., His work on the cross), forgiveness for the believer is assured. Let’s read that promise of assurance together. Read 1 Jn 1:9.

Before we look specifically at what this verse says, I want us to examine the need of forgiveness in our lives. Why if God has saved us, forgiven us, do we need forgiveness? Jesus illustrated the need of daily cleansing in our lives when He washed Peter’s feet in the Upper Room. Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet. When he finally allowed Jesus to wash his feet, He told Jesus, “not just my feet but hands and head as well!” (Jn. 14:9). Jesus in turn said, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean” (Jn. 14:10). What was Jesus trying to say? If you are saved, you have been spiritually bathed, you have been washed. But as you walk in this world, you’re feet are going to get dirty. You don’t need another bath; that is, you don’t get saved every time you sin, but you do need to wash your feet; that is, you need daily cleansing from sin. The reason being that sin by its very nature is an obstacle to our fellowship with God and our experiencing God’s abundant life. Remember, sin doesn’t cause you to lose your relationship with God, but it does hinder your fellowship with God.

You and I can do one of three things with our sin. (1) We can cast if off as unimportant, treat it lightly. Redefine it, which is what the world has done with sin. Several years ago a book came out that was a best seller with the title, Whatever Happened to Sin? That’s a good question. What God calls an abomination, today people call an alternative lifestyle. What God calls iniquity, people call an illness. What God calls wickedness, people call weakness.

Sin has been redefined today. If you are lazy you are “Motivationally Dispossessed.” Dishonest – “Ethically Disoriented.” Serial killer – “Socially Misaligned.” Shoplifter – engaged in “Non-Traditional Shopping.” These would be funny if they were not so serious. While seeming to be caring and compassionate ways of describing people’s behavior, these descriptions make the mistake of failing to confront people with their sin.

(2) A second way of dealing with sin is that we can evade our responsibility, blame someone else for our actions. Or (3) We can confess our sin which is the only way to receive God’s forgiveness.

Let’s look together at God’s wonderful promise of forgiveness.
I. The Condition of Forgiveness (1:9a)
“If we confess our sins” “If” (third class conditional clause) tells us confession is a choice; a decision. Forgiveness is conditioned upon something, that something being we must “confess our sins.” What does it mean to “confess our sins”? To confess is to literally say the same thing as God says. It is naming your sin whether it be a thought or action before God. You agree with Him that it is sin. Confession is owning up to our sin.

Jim Meek citing various contemporary illustrations writes that apologies just aren’t what they used to be. Apologies are deployed as a celebrity bailout, a media strategy, and a legal tactic. People want the results of forgiveness without the confession, the clean slate without any action or true remorse on their part. We want clemency without confession. Three days before Edwin Edwards left office, he pardoned 56 people, a good number were convicted murderers. No confession was required. He pardoned 599 persons from 1992-1996. Clemency in this life may be given without confession; however, God’s divine pardon is experienced when (and only when) we “confess our sins,” when we come clean.

See Psalm 32:1-5. When David acknowledged his sin, God forgave Him and removed his guilt. Confession is uncovering our sins, rather than sweeping the dirt of our lives under the carpet. Truth to know: When we uncover (confess) our sins, God covers them. But when we try to cover our sins, God will uncover them (see Prov. 28:13).

This uncovering, confession of sin is to be an ongoing experience. It is a daily cleansing. “Confess” is a present tense verb and means “to keep on confessing.” You’re feet are going to get dirty in this life and God has made a way for you and I to be cleansed. Confession is a way of life for the believer. As soon as we become aware of a thought or action that is not pleasing to God, there is to be instantaneous confession on our part and instantaneous cleansing on God’s part.

I. The Condition of Forgiveness (1:9a)
II. The Confidence of Forgiveness (1:9b)
“He is faithful and just” Just like every promise we have in Scripture, our assurance of forgiveness is based on the faithfulness of God. We are confident that God will forgive our sins when we confess because we have complete confidence in the faithfulness of God. When we confess our sins we need to claim with confidence that God is faithful and has forgiven us. One man was consulting with his pastor because he was being tormented by guilt over a past sin. The pastor asked him if he had confessed his sin to God. The man said, “yes, I’ve confessed it a hundred times.” The wise pastor said, “that’s 99 times too many. You should have confessed it once and thanked God 99 times for forgiving you.”

God is not only faithful but He is “just.” Wouldn’t God’s justice demand that He not forgive us? If God is just can He really forgive my sin? How can God forgive me, a sinner, and still be just? Because God’s demand for perfect justice has been perfectly met in Jesus. If God forgave people apart from the cross of Jesus, He would be unjust. He would be treating sin lightly. But God does not treat sin lightly. Sin must be punished. It must be paid for if God is to forgive and the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that your sin and mine has been paid for in Jesus Christ.

God does not extend pardons without justice. God maintains His perfect justice because my sins – past, present, and future – have already been judged in Jesus. Have you ever noticed how fire fighters will start burns so that the approaching fire will not go any further? The believer stands on a burned patch of ground called mount calvary. Jesus took our sins. He stood in the path of the fire so that we would not have to be burned. That is why God is able to forgive me and He still be completely just. But apart from Christ there is no forgiveness.

If we meet the conditions, “confess our sins,” we can claim with confidence God’s forgiveness. We too will be able to say as David did. “A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17, NLT).

I. The Condition of Forgiveness (1:9a)
II. The Confidence of Forgiveness (1:9b)
III. The Confirmation of Forgiveness (1:9c)
“to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
When we meet the condition, God fulfills His promise. And what does He do? The two words used here for forgiveness illustrate what happens when God forgives us.

(1) Removal – “Forgive”
Aorist, active, subjunctive, 3, sing. Literally, it means to carry away (See Mic. 7:19). To forgive is to remove the obstacle, the roadblock that stands in the way between you and God.

(2) Renewal – “Purify”
The word means to cleanse and is the act of making the sinner holy so that he or she is able to enjoy fellowship with God once again. God makes us holy by the process of cleansing or washing. Forgiveness is a washing of renewal, of refreshing. We are brought back to life again so that we can enjoy God’s presence and enjoy life.

Testimony: There’s incredible freedom and power in the act of receiving and extending forgiveness. Gail Hall is going to share a testimony about the power and freedom that forgiveness brings in our lives. Forgiveness is life-changing and it allows us to move forward with God.

If you are going to move forward with God, not only must you be forgiven but you must practice forgiveness. Forgiveness does free us to move forward! If you are a believer today, is there a roadblock in your relationship with God? Is there something that you’re holding on to that God wants you to release to Him? What’s in your pathway that only God can clear? Why don’t you confess that sin to God and receive His forgiveness that will restore your fellowship and joy with Him. God really can forgive you and you can move forward.

You might be here today and you’ve never had that once-for-all experience of forgiveness. You don’t know what it’s like to stand with confidence on that burned patch of ground. You’re not sure you have been forgiven, that you are in Christ. Has there been a once-for-all experience of surrender to God? If not, what’s holding you back? You don’t have to wait till you get your life in order. Jesus came because we couldn’t get our lives together. He came for messed up people and He paid it all by the sacrifice of Himself on the cross for your sins. Will you trust in Him today? Will you give your life to Him and be saved? If you will, you too will experience God’s presence and true joy for life. That’s God’s promise!

For His Glory!

Pastor Joe

YOU CAN ENDURE! 1 Corinthians 10:13

2009-09-21T08:07:00.002-05:00

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Sunday, September 20, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Series: Foundations: Lessons On Assurance

Week #3: Assurance of Victory

Focal Verses: 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Tempt – “to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure
or gain” (Webster’s)

Temptation is one of the realities that we have to deal with as Christians. Being a Christian does not mean that we will not face temptations. In fact, we may face even greater temptations. The problem of temptation is real and the struggle sometime is overwhelming. Temptation often plays out like this: We are tempted, enticed, then we fall and give in to the temptation, then we feel the guilt that comes after the fall. We start listening to the enemy who says, “I thought you were a Christian. Christians don’t do that.” Because we listen to the enemy of our soul, we sometimes find ourselves caught up in a cycle of defeat. We wonder will it ever end. Can I endure? The truth of our Scripture this week is that You Can Endure! There is a way of escape. There is assurance of victory!

Our assurance of victory is in three things.
I. THE COMMONNESS OF TEMPTATION
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.” There are no new temptations and all of us experience temptation. As Solomon stated, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc. 1:9). Whatever temptation you have faced, are facing, and will face, others have faced and endured. One of the challenges of facing temptation is that you often feel as if you are the only one struggling with your particular temptation. You look around and begin to think, “Why am I the only one struggling with this? What’s wrong with me?” The reality is that there’s nothing wrong with you. You are facing what is common to us all. We will see why we face temptation in just a moment, but you would be surprised how many people (in the past and present) are dealing with the same temptation that you are facing right now. This is one reason small groups and biblical fellowship in the church is so valuable. When you interact with other believers you begin to see that we all share similar struggles. As a result, we are able to encourage one another.

Everyone is capable of not only being tempted but falling to temptation as well. The entire passage of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 stands as a warning of the temptations that we face (see, vv. 6, 11). Right before our focal verse, Paul warns his readers against carelessness and pride. “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12). Galatians 6:1 has some timely advice for us. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” The context of our verse on assurance is that special privilege is no guarantee that you will not face temptation and trials.

In this passage, the Bible mentions four areas of common temptations that we all are prone to face.

Four Common Temptations
1. Temptation to Idolatry (10:7)
In this passage Paul relates how the events of the Old Testament serve as examples, not to follow but to avoid. And what are we to avoid? Idolatry! Idolatry is allowing someone or something to come before you and your relationship with God. As your English teacher would remind us, a noun is a person, place, or thing. Well, an idol can be a person, place, or anything that comes first in your life before God. If something causes you to not obey God fully, it could an idol in your life. If something in your life cause your love toward God and the things of God to grow cold, it could be an idol in your life. The temptation to idolatry is not usually presented to us in bold terms. Usually, the temptation comes to you under the guise that this action will fulfill some need that you have. In the Bible, Idolatry was always a sign of relationship trouble. When God’s people fell into idolatry, it was because they ceased getting their ultimate needs met by God.

2. Temptation to Immorality (10:8)
The temptation of sexual immorality is not a new temptation. And yes, the godly struggle with issues of purity. It may even be a greater temptation today because of our sex-crazed culture. Some believers may think that they are not prone to temptations of sexual immorality, but “Be careful” God says (1 Cor. 10:12). As long as you’re in your earthly body, you are capable of not only being tempted to immorality, but falling as well. A godly friend of mine that is approaching 80 years old told me that he still struggles with lust! Is there something wrong with him? No, we should expect to be tempted to immorality. It “is common to man.” If idolatry says, “this will fulfill you,” immorality speaks to us, “this will make you feel good.”

3. Temptation to Test God (10:9)
The people in Moses’ day presumed upon God. They didn’t live very long either. The people acted as if it did not matter how they lived or what they did. They thought that God would simply overlook their sin and disobedience. Now, the truth is, God will always be there for you, but that is not a license to test God. The temptation to test God is the temptation that says, “you have to look out for yourself, you cannot trust God.”

4. Temptation to Grumble (10:10)
Some of you have a problem with grumbling. How do I know that? Have I been listening in on your conversations? No, I know that you have a problem with grumbling because it “is common to man,” and I’m included that number. There is the constant temptation for us to grumble, to be discontent about our situation in life. We grumble about our home life, our jobs, our country, even our church. However, when we grumble we are really saying, “God, you messed up!” If we really believe that God works all things for our good and according to His purposes, then grumbling is telling a sovereign God, He doesn’t know what He’s doing.

If temptation is common to all of us, why do we face temptation? There is an unholy trinity at work in your life and in mine. Here is the source of temptation. Here is why every one of us faces temptations.

Three Sources of Temptation
1. Internal Enemy – The Flesh
No, not the physical body, but your nature, the five-sense part of you that is easily dominated by desire. Now desire is not a bad thing. If God did not give us the desire for hunger, we would eventually shrivel up and die. But our fallen human nature says, “Don’t be content with eating to live, live to eat.” And so, we are tempted to over indulge. Some people say, “You should just follow what comes normal.” Now, if we were not fallen creatures, that philosophy of life would work.

But here’s the problem. Because we are fallen human beings, our nature is out of sorts and our desires unchecked by God’s moral law are going to lead to unhealthy and ungodly behavior. How do we suppress the inner nature that wants to do its own thing? We suppress our sinful desires by filling our lives with Christ. We let God’s Spirit control us, so that we do not fulfill the desires of our flesh (See Gal. 5:16-ff.).

2. External Enemy – The World
We’re not talking about the physical creation because creation is good, God says. What we are talking about here is the philosophy or system of thought in the world that leaves God out. It is anti-Christ. The world says hate your enemies, not love your enemies. The world says look out for yourself, don’t place others before you and your needs. The world says let’s settle our differences with war, not peace. The world says take what you want out of life, not wait in patience. The world says acquire, accumulate, for a man’s possessions and achievements are the evaluation of a successful life, not giving to others and serving in some obscure place giving your life away to others. The world appeals to our sense of pride, lust for power, and desire for pleasure.

How do we resist our external enemy? Let me illustrate. I’ve noticed that when Rhonda and I go grocery shopping, if we eat before we go, we spend less money and we make better purchasing choices. Why is that? Because all the goodies and junk doesn’t look nearly as good on a full stomach. But if you go the grocery store hungry, your buggy will be filled up with all kinds of stuff you would not normally buy. When it comes to spiritual matters, we have to change our appetite. If we are full of Christ and His Word, our appetite for the world will be lessened. If we are not full of Christ, we will be empty and prone to being tempted by the attitudes and things of this world.

3. Infernal Enemy – The Devil
Among his many names, our enemy is called the “Devil” (Matt. 4:1), the “Tempter” (1 Th. 3:5), the “Father of Lies” (Jn. 8:44), and the “Deceiver” (Rev. 20:10). He hurls his “fiery darts” (Eph. 6:16) at us tempting us to disobey God, to grumble, to do that which is wrong. I don’t want to give the Devil too much credit but I don’t want to neglect him either. I don’t want you to think that you can fall back and say, “The Devil made me do it.” He can’t make you do anything against your will. But you can give him place in your life, but you have to do that of your own free will. The Devil doesn’t make you do it, but he does make sin attractive. He whispers to you, “You have right to be angry and bitter. You deserve this, you need this because you’re special and no one appreciates you, even God Himself. This will solve all your problems. This will make you feel better.” The Devil whispers and sometimes he shouts, “go ahead” when God says “stop!” He tells us we have a green light when the light is really red.

II. THE CONSTANCY OF GOD
“And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” When we are tempted we need to remember that God is not the one who tempts us. “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (Jas. 1:13-14).

We do know that God allows temptation. He’s God and I suppose He could stop all temptation from entering my mind, but He does not. There is a purpose to temptation even though we don’t always understand it at the time. We do know that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. He knows our limits (see Job). And God will use our times of testing for His glory and our good. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God makes everything beautiful or appropriate in its time. God takes even the dark times, the chaotic times, the times that don’t make sense, and He will work those for our good and His glory (see Rom. 8:28).

God does all of this because He has a plan for your life and for mine. And God has determined that the work that He started He is going to finish (Phil. 1:6). That’s the constancy of God at work. No matter what I am going through, “God is faithful.”

III. THE CERTAINTY OF ESCAPE
“But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” With every temptation God provides a way of escape, a way out, an exit, so that we can stand.

There are three words to summarize our escape strategy when facing temptations.

1. Faith
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4). We overcome temptation by trusting (that’s what faith is) in our faithful God who gives us the victory. This is why in times of temptation we need to stay close to God. In your difficulties and temptations don’t run from God, run to Him! Let this be a time in your life when your faith grows even stronger. See Hebrews 4:14-16.

2. Flee
“Flee idolatry” Paul said (1 Cor. 10:14). “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18). For an example of fleeing temptation, see Joseph in the Old Testament as he dealt with Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was not cowardly in fleeing, but wise (Gen. 39:12). Fleeing means putting up boundaries for your protection. What area of temptation do you face? Those are the areas that you need to put up some healthy boundaries. I knew a man who traveled quite a bit. He disconnected his TV in his motel room to avoid the temptations he might face after a long day and night. If the internet tempts you, move your computer into the living room. If you spending too much is a temptation for you, take someone with you when you go to the mall. Do whatever is necessary for you to flee temptation.

3. Fight
Paul said I have fought the good fight of faith. Being a real Christian is not lightweight stuff. It’s serious business and it requires that you stay spiritually fit and in the battle. Don’t give in and don’t give up! Resist the Devil and he will flee from you (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pe. 5:9). We overcome Him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11). We overcome Him the way Jesus did, through the word (Matt. 4). Jesus fought temptation with the sword of the Word of God! You and I have a powerful weapon for defeating temptation at our disposal. Are we using it? Are we going into spiritual battle without our offensive equipment? If we are, we’re losing! We win with the Word!

I am glad that we have the assurance of victory. You Can Endure! Remember, temptation is common to us all. You’re not alone. Remember, God is faithful, He’s not forgotten you, He’s right there with you. And remember, you have the assurance that God will provide a way of escape for you. Avail yourself to God’s escape plan.

Prayer: Lord, we don’t always understand why we have to face temptations in our lives. But we confess that you are going to do take all things in our lives and work them for our good and for Your glory. We also confess that you are faithful and you are not going to allow us to experience more temptation than we can endure. Thank you for providing a way out and a way up. Thank you in advance for the power that you are going to give us to have great faith in you, to flee temptation, and to fight the spiritual warfare of temptation that we encounter. Father, we praise you that our victory is in Jesus, Your Son and our Savior, and it is in His name that we pray. Amen.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe