Battlefield Flexibility

➟ ➟ ➟ We’re being careful of everything we touch. We’re very conscious of other people and things that could infect us. We don’t want to get sick. We are afraid we could infect those we love that are more vulnerable causing them to get more sick than we would.

➟ ➟ ➟ We’re making work decisions and income decisions that are subject to the fear of infection. These things are on our minds for much of the day, especially if we are out.

All of this is affecting just about every choice we make.

So how do we cope?

➟ ➟ ➟ We began the month of March w/a sermon series called The 21st century battleground.

In it, we’ve been trying to answer how the Christian functions in our post-modern world.

We talked about being in and for the culture. Understanding what it truly means to be in and not of the world.

Remembering our calling - we’ve been given the message of reconciliation - made ambassadors for Christ by the Father Himself.

Understanding what it truly means to be in and not of the world.

Two weeks ago, Cain spoke about what it means to be an amabassador.

He quoted : ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” This passage seems so timely, doesn’t it?

Cain went on to say that our job is to rescue the perishing.

To take up and actually use the spiritual tools God provides.

He challenged us to launch out in confidence.

We embrace the fact that we are light in darkness.

➟ ➟ ➟ So here we are, Christians on the battleground - and now everything has changed. What do our present circumstances teach us about the need for flexibility?

We’ll do this in three ways:

Learning to bend and not break

Examine the process of learning flexibility in .

Discuss what flexibility looks like on our personal battlefield as well as in the church.

P R A Y E R

Bend But Do Not Break

➟ ➟ ➟ This was the motto of the Roman soldier: “You may bend me, but you will never break me.”

In all of life, which encompasses our spiritual life first and foremost, we must develop flexibility.

We bend, but we don’t break.

We adapt, but we don’t compromise.

We flex without falling or shattering.

These principles are found within 7 and especially 1.6-7.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.3-5 - your spiritual reality:

1.3 - you have a living hope.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.4 - you have an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.5a - you are guarded by God’s power.

1.5b - your faith moves you to trust in the salvation to come.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.6 - for now, we experience grievous trials. They only last for a little while.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.7 - what is to be our mindset during the trial? What type of attitude must we possess? What’s the purpose behind the trial? the tested genuineness of your faith.

Note that our faith is tested by fire. It will be unpleasant and difficult. Bad circumstances will arise.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.7b - to what does this lead? praise and glory and honor when our Lord returns.

Just imagine that … these are very personal promises made to us individually.

➟ ➟ ➟ See 1.4 again. All the things in this section are for you.

So when we examine and search for something to take away in our present circumstance, we need to remember the necessity of trial and adversity to develop flexibility.

The Process of Learning Flexibility

contains one of the greatest biblical testimonies of the power of flexibility. What I want you to see is the process of development here:

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.10 - Confident trust in God.

For a lengthy time, the Philippians were prevented from helping Paul’s need. Crippled by famine and poverty.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.10b - now, they had revived their concern for Him. (Revived: “to bloom again.”)

Please don’t pass over 4.10a lightly. See Paul’s confidence in the providence of God.

No panic. No manipulation. No pressure to get out of others what he wanted.

Paul gets himself out of the way and makes himself available for God to act in his life.

He’s not in control. God is.

Paul knew God would order circumstances so his needs would be met. Until we learn how to do this we will never experience the comfort and peace God provides.

➟ ➟ ➟ - Paul’s life must have had a quiet confidence about it.

➟ ➟ ➟ , ➟ ➟ ➟ 12 - God does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.11 - Learn from conditions / circumstances.

Paul is existing on bare minimums. Has deep needs, but doesn’t acknowledge his discomfort.

No whining or complaining with Paul.

In whatever situation he found himself in he was content.

We’d do well to quit allowing culture to dictate what we think we need.

Culture tells us personal satisfaction is priority one.

We have at least two generations of Americans and a third one coming up that literally know nothing about sacrifice.

God works through our difficulties to remind us that we have not been born to acquire things to be comfortable.

Contentment comes from character.

➟ ➟ ➟ - in what is character made? Endurance by way of suffering.

➟ ➟ ➟ - For when I am weak, then I am strong. Contentment is a byproduct of distress.

Conditions and circumstances will very well lead us outside our comfort zone.

We’re going to have to stretch ourselves.

We’re going to have to let go of some of our habits and traditions.

We’re going to be forced to so some things that may not be optimal … but are absolutely vital.

We must see our circumstances as the optimum opportunity for moving away from stagnation and accelerating personal and spiritual growth!

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.12 - Understanding flexibility is acquired by having to make adjustments. Here, we see contentment produces adaptability.

See the extremes here: Paul moved back and forth between:

poverty and prosperity

hunger and having plenty

necessity and abundance.

➟ ➟ ➟ He says he knows how to abound in any and every circumstance.

Paul is no longer threatened or intimidated by change. The issue is no longer about what he has, but who he is.

Does this describe you?

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Flexibility leads to ability. Flexibility actually empowers us.

Paul can draw confidence off his previous experiences where God came into play.

So can we. We endure … because we understand the priority of our life is not about anything here … we understand the priority resides in Jesus alone.

No matter how difficult life becomes, we have a spiritual undergirding.

Jesus will infuse His strength into us. When we have no more human strength, we will be given divine strength.

➟ ➟ ➟ , ➟ ➟ ➟ 31 - in the most difficult times - we have the promise of comfort and peace.

So what have we learned so far? God’s ability is channelled through our availability:

➟ ➟ ➟ Availability leads to

➟ ➟ ➟ Teachability which leads to

➟ ➟ ➟ Adaptability which formulates

➟ ➟ ➟ Stability which results in

➟ ➟ ➟ Invincibility

How will you approach your own need for flexibility?

What This Looks Like

➟ ➟ ➟ Personally:

➟ ➟ ➟ Have you used your newfound gift of time as a spiritual opportunity? Are you learning how to adapt and be flexible? Are you committed to an optimistic attitude governed by trust in God?

➟ ➟ ➟ Will you make more quality time with God in prayer, study, and meditation?

➟ ➟ ➟ Are you more conscious of those in your spiritual family who are lonely and in need?

Kettering has a number of doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists who are on the front lines facing this battle every day. How can you serve them? Encourage them? Please add them to your prayer list.

➟ ➟ ➟ Have you developed a deeper appreciation for being at home? Eating meals together with your family? Playing together? Getting to know each other more and appreciate your family more?

➟ ➟ ➟ Have you embraced the idea of not being so busy?

Listen, … there are some things we should never want to go back to when this is over:

the constant weariness and exhaustion we bring upon ourselves by our refusal to say “no.”

The typical superficiality that enveloped the relationships with those we love the most.

Too much trust and dependence on things that don’t matter.

We’ve learned we can do life differently. Now, make the commitment to make these adaptations permanent.

➟ ➟ ➟ As a local church:

On Friday, one of our former members, Jon Burnett, shared with me what happened to the church in N. Africa during the 20 year outbreak of a plague that began in 250 AD

The following was written by Dionysius of Alexandria and is quoted by Eusebius here:

➟ ➟ ➟ “Now indeed everything is lament, all are mourning, and wailings resound throughout the city on account of the number who have died and are dying daily. … To us Christians it was … no less than other things a means of training and testing. … Very many, indeed, of our brothers and sisters through their exceeding love and merciful kindness did not spare themselves but kept close to one another and cared for the sick without taking thought for themselves.

➟ ➟ ➟ They ministered to them earnestly, treating them in Christ, and they most gladly departed from this life along with them. Filledius up with the suffering by others and drawing upon themselves the disease from their neighbors, they willingly accepted their pains. And many who had tended the sick and restored them to health died themselves, having transferred to themselves the death that lay upon others. …

“Now indeed everything is lament, all are mourning, and wailings resound throughout the city on account of the number who have died and are dying daily. … To us Christians it was … no less than other things a means of training and testing. … Very many, indeed, of our brothers and sisters through their exceeding love and merciful kindness did not spare themselves but kept close to one another and cared for the sick without taking thought for themselves. They ministered to them earnestly, treating them in Christ, and they most gladly departed from this life along with them. Filled up with the suffering by others and drawing upon themselves the disease from their neighbors, they willingly accepted their pains. And many who had tended the sick and restored them to health died themselves, having transferred to themselves the death that lay upon others. … The very best of the brothers and sisters among us departed life in this manner—elders, deacons, and some of the people. They are exceedingly worthy of praise, since this kind of death, occurring because of great piety and a strong faith, seems in no way to be inferior to martyrdom. …

➟ ➟ ➟ The very best of the brothers and sisters among us departed life in this manner—elders, deacons, and some of the people. They are exceedingly worthy of praise, since this kind of death, occurring because of great piety and a strong faith, seems in no way to be inferior to martyrdom. …

“The pagans acted the very opposite. They thrust away from themselves those in the beginning stages of the disease and fled from those dearest to them. They would even throw in the roads the half-dead, and they treated unburied corpses as vile refuse, as they attempted to turn aside the spread and contagion of death, something which for all their efforts it was not easy to avoid.” (Dionysius of Alexandria, quoted by Eusebius in Church History 7.22.2, 6, 7, 10; which I’ve adapted from Everett Ferguson, Early Christians Speak Vol. 2, pp. 127f).

➟ ➟ ➟ “The pagans acted the very opposite. They thrust away from themselves those in the beginning stages of the disease and fled from those dearest to them. They would even throw in the roads the half-dead, and they treated unburied corpses as vile refuse, as they attempted to turn aside the spread and contagion of death, something which for all their efforts it was not easy to avoid.”

(Dionysius of Alexandria, quoted by Eusebius in Church History 7.22.2, 6, 7, 10; which I’ve adapted from Everett Ferguson, Early Christians Speak Vol. 2, pp. 127f).

➟ ➟ ➟ May we learn that “church” is not just about what happens on Sunday in a building.

May we learn that “church” is not just about what happens on Sunday in a building.

May we come to a greater understanding that the church carries on - even if we can’t walk inside the door.

➟ ➟ ➟ May we come to a greater appreciation of the difficult and emotional decisions our pastors are having to make.

They are looking out for the spiritual, as well as the physical and emotional well being of those entrusted to their care.

Some of the decisions they’re making are happening in less than optimal conditions … but necessary nonetheless.

No one likes not being together in this building today.

I want you to think about how in many ways the Kettering church may be at its best right now.

➟ ➟ ➟ Members are serving / loving / connecting via telephone, email. social media, & video apps.

Needs are being met.

People are being checked on.

Matt Dabbs, in a blog post last week, asked these questions that are worthy of our consideration:

What changes when we return to assembling together?

Do we go back to the way it was?

Will we remain as committed to deepening our relationships?

Will our emphasis remain the same?

Are there priorities that need to be shifted?

Are there things we were doing before that don’t need to be done anymore?

➟ ➟ ➟ Are we even willing to consider these things? Or, are there things inside our own local church culture that will, like gravity, pull us back into our traditions, so that a better approach won’t be pursued?

Conclusion

I want to close today with three quick bullet-points:

➟ ➟ ➟ In , the church in struggle became a bold church.

In , a scattered church turned into a church spreading the gospel.

In , a tested faith results in glory.

In these ways, we must never go back as if all of this had never happened.

➟ ➟ ➟ Battlefield flexibility.

We bend, but we don’t break.

We adapt, but we don’t compromise.

We flex without falling or shattering.

Does this describe who you are?

Can we help you?

If you need prayer for strength. If you need prayer for peace and contentment. If you need spiritual direction, we are here for you.

When we conclude the service today, I want you to turn to those in your small group and let them know of your need. Someone will pray for you. You will be surrounded with care and love.

If you are not a Christian, can we help you?

If you need Jesus, please reach out to us here at the building and we’ll make arrangements for you to be baptized into Christ.