The Best Defense

I don’t like writing sermons last minute. It drives me absolutely insane to do so. Every time I have to do so, I feel rushed and I never feel that I’ve had the chance to let the Holy Spirit do His job. That said, I’ve had the Lord tell me to totally erase a sermon and write a new one. I once deleted 9 pages of manuscript I had been working 2 months on, and wrote a 12 page one in a couple of hours because God said to do it. Even as I wrote these words, I could tell that God wanted me to say something to you all today, something very specific. Thus, it is Friday evening and God has given me a message to pass on. Well, that’s not exactly right; God doesn’t really do new messages today, at least in my experience. He usually likes to send memos and reminders. He’s efficient that way.

This congregation has been through a lot in the last two years, haven’t we? Just over two years ago, we were rocked by heartache and scandle to learn that two of our number was doing an immeasurable amound of harm to their children. Can you believe that it’s been two years?! I know…either it feels like it happened forever ago or it happened a few months ago, no real inbetween. And it’s been a whirlwind. We had all been deceived, taken in, and taken for a ride, and by people we sat in these very pews with.

Then last week. Thursday evening I get a text from David Else, who tells me about Doyle. I was out with the kids. Immediately we packed up and I took them home so that I could head to the hospital. I couldn’t believe it. And then, Pauline tells me that, not only was Doyle shot (twice!), but that the shooter was also one of our own, Manny Gomez. For those who haven’t ever met Manny, prior to all of this, you would have likely loved the guy. He was still a work in progress, as we all were. He came from a rough background, but man alive did he love Jesus! I’m sure everyone knew that he had serious health issues, causing him to be stuck in his home for days and days on end, only really leaving for doctor’s appointments. He became more and more isolated. Take it from me that it doesn’t help ones’ psyche to become that isolated. Some of us tried to be of help, tried to provide some companionship and comfort. We even brought him food after fellowship.

I’m not sure if we’ll ever know what, exactly, was really going on with Manny that afternoon. There’s a lot of speculation going around about just this thing. But it is my belief that, after so long in isolation and dealing with a great amount of depression and anxiety, he had a mental break. I don’t believe that the person who did those things was truly in his right mind. I believe this because I knew Manny.

In similar fashion to when the revelation of the characters of Patricia and Brian were lain bare for the world to actually see, and the extent of the harm they had been causing to children caused us to feel disgust, anger, betrayal, and possibly even resentment, also caused us to question ourselves: could we have done something more, could we have acted sooner, etc…We find ourselves doing the same with this incident with Manny, I know I do. If I tried just a little harder, was just a little more persistent in visiting him. If, if, if, should, should, should, could, could, could. It goes on and on.

Manny, although responsible, is not to blame. Let me repeat that: MANUEL GOMEZ is responsible for what happened, but HE is not the one to blame. Let blame fall where it should.

Today, church family, I am going to show you in Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy who is to blame and what we are to do about it: faithfulness, hopefulness, and lovingkindness.

Faith

Open your Bibles to -

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

The church in Smyrna, a large city some 35 miles north of Ephesus, was a much smaller congregation. Being in an area concentrated with Jews and idol-worshipping Gentiles, this congregation was always being persecuted. These poor folks didn’t have much in the way of money, let alone influence. Notice Jesus’ words to this church: “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)...” He goes on to say that the devil is about to have some of them thrown into prison, that they may be tested for ten days (that means a short amount of time), but that they should be faithful until death, so as to be given the crown of life.

In the face of this kind of adversity, this tribulation that our small congregation is and has been facing, we are to remain faithful, even unto death! I don’t mean just a physical death, folks! I mean a death to self, death to harmful habits that don’t bring us closer to God or that are detrimental to our well-being. A death to choosing our own way and ignoring God’s Will for our lives. That faithfulness even unto death, is our calling in the face of this tribulation.

Hope

Hope is an interesting concept, isn’t it? There are two primary definitions of hope, the first of which many of you, I am sure, are familiar with: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Turn with me now to -

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

I wish, family and friends, that I could unpack everything in these passages for you today, but I don’t want to keep you here all day long, because that’s how long it would take me just to scratch the surface. Let it suffice to get the general gist of what God is telling us through Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians.

See how Paul tells them that they have a “treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” Paul is talking about the apostolic calling, one that we all share. For those of you unaware, all believers are to be apostles, that is, “sent ones” to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We, church family, are the jars of clay: imperfect vessels used to proclaim a beautiful and glorious message of hope. But in doing so, we put a target on our backs, don’t we? He says we are “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” We are constantly putting ourselves into a place where our calling costs us something. It wouldn’t be worthwhile if it didn’t cost us something. But what is the point? Well, the Gospel is Hope! Look at verse 16: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look NOT to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Folks, Paul is telling them that, despite their circumstances, which are fleeting, we are to cling desperately if need be, to the hope that the Gospel we proclaim gives! None of what happens in this world to us truly matters. What matters is what we do with what we are given. Are we to give up? Are we to lay down and just curse God and die? Of course not! Remember how I said there were two definitions of hope? Did you know what the second one is,? Although it is considered an “archaic” useage, it means “a feeling of trust.” Guess what, folks, I have hope in Jesus Christ!

Love

Isaiah is a rather interesting book. In chapter 54, God is talking about His love for His people. Open your Bibles to -

10 For the mountains may depart

and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,

behold, I will set your stones in antimony,

and lay your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will make your pinnacles of agate,

your gates of carbuncles,

and all your wall of precious stones.

13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord,

and great shall be the peace of your children.

14 In righteousness you shall be established;

you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;

and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

15 If anyone stirs up strife,

it is not from me;

whoever stirs up strife with you

shall fall because of you.

Notice Isaiah’s words: Even though the mountains may fall and the hills turn to dust, the STEADFAST LOVE of the LORD will NOT depart from you, and His covenant of peace will not be removed! God knows the hardships we are encountering right now, and He weeps with us. He goes on to call us “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted.” That pretty well describes our Holdrege Church family right now, huh? But God says that HIS LOVE will provide us that peace! He tells us that His love for us will result in rewards beyond measure, and that our kids will be taught by the LORD, and they will have peace! Even moreso, He says that we will be established in righteousness and be far from opression and that we will not fear, and be far from terror, because it won’t even be within eyesight! He even promises that strife will be struck down because of His love for us!

And speaking of love, and I say this with the most difficulty, knowing that it may be very difficult for everyone here: remember to have love for Manny. He is lost, he is hurting, and he needs our prayers.

Who’s to Blame?

I promised to give your two things today: what we need to do with what has happened to us, and who is to blame. I’ve told you what we are to do with what we’ve endured. Now on to who is to blame:

I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of Lucifer. He is called the great dragon, that ancient serpent, also called the devil and Satan. He is known as the accuser of the brethren. He is known by many names and wears many faces, but in the end, he is the same: evil. He is the one to blame for the hardship we have endured. And you know what? I am glad. I am glad he’s attacking us, because that means that we are doing something right! You heard me, and you can quote me on it: I’m glad Satan is attacking us, because that means we are doing something right. Satan doesn’t bother people that follow him! He goes after those that face him head on and are covered by God’s loving grace. So, let him come. Let him throw everything he has at us. Because we’ll be ready for him, won’t we?

I would like to close with -

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.