Laying Down Life
Notes
Transcript
It took less than ten seconds for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt to cover the one hundred meter distance on the Olympic track and win the gold medal in London. Those few seconds cemented his status as the “fastest man alive” and placed him on the winner’s podium once again. But the race was not won in those seconds—it was won by hours and hours of practice, workouts, weightlifting, special diet, and coaching.
The race was not won in the performance but in the preparation. It is our desire for something greater that causes us to sacrifice some things, even some good things, for the sake of things that are better.
Source: Usain Bolt: An Unauthorized Biography, Belmont And Belcourt Biographies
We also make
preparation for
our race.
Race to to heaven
race of character building.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Understanding Love
"By this we know love"
This means -
"this is the definition of love".
So, what is love?
to die for others.
We have been
commanded to love.
told that only those that
love are living in eternal life.
So,
what is the definition
of love?
To die for others...?
Seems a little intense!?!
Is that a metaphor?
Is this literal?
How can I lay down
my life for my brothers?
During an intense firefight in Husaybah, Iraq, Corporal Dunham and his squad were stopping vehicles. When an enemy soldier threw a live hand grenade near Dunham and his fellow Marines, Dunham did not hesitate. Without regard for his own safety, he shouted to his men to look out and immediately threw himself onto the grenade.
Unable to throw it away in time, Dunham covered the explosive with his helmet and his own body, bearing the full brunt of the explosion to shield his comrades. He saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines, though he was mortally wounded himself. Corporal Dunham, aged 22, died eight days later, becoming the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq War.
It is profound
to die for someone.
Sometimes it is hard enough
to just live for someone.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
This is constant.
Homeless.
Poor.
Etc.
What are we supposed to do?
Invite everyone to live with us?
Ex convict lived with us...
Looking back...
wouldn’t do that.
Wife
Kids...
Picking up hitchhikers.
So,
Is it possible to
provide for everyone
less fortunate than ourselves?
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
The simple answer is
No.
It is not possible to
provide for everyone.
But the question remains:
what are we responsible for?
We are responsible
to care and to
act when it is
reasonable and possible.
In placing among us the poor and the suffering, the Lord is testing us to reveal to us what is in our hearts.... The culture of the mind and heart is more easily accomplished when we feel such tender sympathy for others that we bestow our benefits and privileges to relieve their necessities… - In Heavenly Places, 324
We need to poor
and the suffering
so we have someone
to serve...
We need this for
our own character development.
If you think
you are the
poor and suffering.
There is always someone
in worse condition
than yourself.
Go find them,
and serve them.
We need this:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Our final judgment
our eternal life/death
will be connected to
how we served others.
Why?
God designed
our hearts to grow
as we selflessly serve.
That is why John
goes on to say:
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Walking in Love
Talking about love is cheap.
How can our church
carry a message of love
in deeds and truth?
I guess that is why
we want to build a
community center
right?
I have realized.
self serving is
a constant temptation.
We desperately need
nursing home ministry.
deacon/(ess) ministry.
school supplies.
teddy bear ministry.
We need these.
Why?
Because we get
nothing from them.
Except of course
joy of service
and
character development.
Our other ministries
we receive something.
Potluck:
food and fellowship.
Prayer meeting:
fellowship and communion.
Sabbath School:
same.
Pathfinders and Adventurers
Takes effort
Takes work.
But it is not altruistic.
We get something,
social connection
entertainment for kids.
Only two people
serving at Adventurers
that have not kids in it.
The rest of us,
we have some
ulterior motives!
All Pathfinder leaders,
have 0 kids in pathfinders.
Our heart needs
to serve in ways
that we get nothing from it.
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
“We Have the Truth!”
It is common for SDA's
to say, "we have the truth."
According to John,
how do we really know
if we have the truth?
If we live like it!!!!
If we have
love in action!!!
He goes on:
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
Let’s discuss
this concept of
reassurance.
How can we
be sure that
we are in the truth?
Baptist friends:
Soul Security.
How can we be
confident in this?
How can we
reassure our hearts
that we have life?
for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
If our hearts condemn us...
Notice what he says:
if our heart does condemn us
God is greater than our heart.
If our heart does not condemn us
then we can be confident before God.
What is the point that
John is making here?
Is he saying that you
can trust your heart?
or can’t trust your heart?
I think He is
actually saying both...
First he is saying
we must :
Knowing your heart.
Honesty with self.
It is often hard
to be honest with self.
It is hard to
practice introspection...
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
This prayer is
not easy to pray.
Who likes to be told
what is wrong with them?
Been studying Proverbs
with my kids.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Let’s not be stupid
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
We have to be willing
to know when
we are wrong.
If we are honest,
we all struggle
to some degree with
Self justification.
Skip Seciton??
It makes me think of
story of King Saul.
He was not supposed
to do the sacrifice
before going to war.
He was supposed to wait
for the prophet /priest
Samuel to do it.
Philistines gathered
huge army.
Israelites were afraid
began to flee.
Saul saw army dwindling
before his eyes.
They were already
out numbered.
Each day they waited
make improbably
seem impossible.
He decided not to wait
for Samuel any longer.
Do sacrifice himself.
Before others leave.
As soon as he is done
Samuel comes
Asks him why he
did not waite.
Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”
What Saul did
was simply wrong!
But the way he explains it
almost sounds like
the right thing.
Philistines had gathered.
They were ready to fight.
I was afraid - immanent attack.
We were not covered by God.
So I had to do it!
But God read the heart.
God knew the true motive.
It was not
for God to have glory
but to protect himself
from failure and
hide from shame.
End of Skip
The issue is...
the motive of the heart...
Conviction vs. Conversion
Conviction vs. Conversion
My entire life purpose
as a pastor has been:
understand how God
works in person’s life.
Then,
partner with God.
Help them surrender
to God’s leading.
Much of this is
trying to understand
conviction of God
on the heart of person.
Sister Kim
“I’m not convicted on that yet...”
How can we
leave space for
others to grow...
Yet at same time,
Partner with Holy Spirit
to invite others to surrender
when it is appropriate?
How did Abraham
know God’s voice?
How did Peter know
when to pronounce healing?
and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
Ask for Anything!
We know that this
concept can be abused.
Obviously God is not
going to give a Ferrari
because I ask.
The verse clearly
has a CONDITION:
“because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”
We don’t get everything
that we ask
if we are asking for
that which is not
pleasing to Him.
So...
How can we know
if what we are asking for
is pleasing to Him?
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Here is another condition:
according to His will.
Like the prayer of Jesus,
in Garden of Gethsemane,
right before cross.
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Choosing God’s will
was very painful for Jesus.
If we will follow
in His footsteps,
we will make choices
that are hard for us.
Biggest tip,
pray more prayers
that we already know
is God’s will.
75% of prayer should be
focused on this category.
Leave the 25%
to prayers that we
don’t know God’s will.
Then you will see
how many of your prayers
are being answered.
Too Busy To Pray
Too Busy To Pray
I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day!
I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t take time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task.
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered, He answered, “You didn’t ask!”
I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided, “Why, child, you didn’t knock!”
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn’t show me. He answered me, “But you didn’t seek.”
I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish, that I had to take time to pray.
—Author Unknown
Final verse
of our passage:
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
John makes it so simple:
Believe in Jesus.
Love one another.
Have we overcomplicated it?
Health program.
Over complicated.
Appeal
Appeal
Believe in Jesus.
Love one another.
Let’s force ourselves
into uncomfortable service.
Service where we
get nothing from it.
