Down with the Statues

Why are we Tearing down Statues?

I have been watching the news recently and have seen the riots and protests

People are Angry

They want Change

Some have started tearing down Statues

Some have been attacking the Police

Some have simply been talking with the police about how they feel

The people wish to be heard

They wish to have their issue addressed

They are essentially saying now is the time for change

By tearing down statues they are asking for Change

To be recognised

To be equal

Its amazing what a statue can signify, when it is standing but also when it is brought down.

I remember when the Statue of Sadam Huesean was brought down many years ago

The people of Afghanistan had a massive party

This was because they saw this as a time of Change a time of new a time of Hope

No more were they going to be opressed

This Got me thinking about this weeks Story of Hope.

Story Of Hope

There was a time in the Roman empire when Jews were told to leave.

It was in AD54 that Emporer Claudius asked the Jews to leave Rome, this was because their was upset in the Jewish Community, between Jews and the new Christian Jews.

One thing Romans didnt like in any of their Cities was unrest

These two people groups were arguing quite publicly over a period of time sometimes in the streets, about the Story of Jesus.

Eventually Emporer Claudius had heard enough. He commded that all Jews are to leave Rome Christian or non

This meant that within in the Christian Church the Jews that were christian that were leaders had to give up their position to a people group called the Genitiles

Gentiles now lead the church in Rome for a long period of time

Until Emporer Nero came to power, in his first two years as Emporer of Rome he invited the Jews back into Rome

The Jews came back in their hundreds with their ways and with their statues and their way of life

They marched back into the church pritty much demanding that the church go back to how it was when they were leading it

Yet alot had changed the culture had changed in Rome from this time and the Jews found it hard because they had no power in Rome

From once a people group of Power to now not having power.

This is why Paul now writes on of his Famous Letters to this Roman Church.

He writes and states that the old Jewish ways have gone

Obeying the ten commandments, being a good person, being feaful of God

All that is now gone.

These Statues from the Jewish faith are gone

They have been torn down

I still dont understand why in some churches today, they have the Ten Commandments up

They also have given everybody this Idea that If your a good person you will be okay and will go to heaven.

Its essentially what the Jews believed and its old and its gone.

The Staues were torn down in Pauls Letter why we have decided to resurect them is beyond me.

Paul Tears down these Statues with two words But Now

BUT NOW

But Now are crucial words in the bible

Whenever God says but now it means that everything before it is torn down and now there is something new that will follow

Luke begins his Chapter 24 in the bible with the word But it comes right after the description of Jesus burial in 23 Luke Says But on the first day of the week

Signifying the new thing that was about to come the resurrection and hope of Jesus from the Dead.

Ephesians 2:3–5 NIV

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

In Ephesians it uses the But show Gods great love for us.

Even though because of our ways we were destined for destruction his love for us brings us away from destruction and in eternal life with Jesus.

The importance of the But is this, and here is where the statue begins to fall.

If God is our creator and our Judge then we do not stand a chance on our own works and good deeds.

This is now why the But is important

Because the But now signifies change

It signifies a new thing

It signifies hope

What is it in in your life that you need to say But now to?

Maybe you have been told all your life that you are no good?

Maybe the friends or family you have, talk down to you?

Maybe the partner you have beeen with is just no good to you?

Maybe you have been chasing those Gym Gains but realising that you still feel empty and not right?

Maybe you have been chasing that career but realising that you still feel unfullfilled?

Let me tell you these are Stautes in your life that need pulling down with Two Words

BUT NOW

Because but now gives us new Hope

You see paul goes on to say that

We are are made right before God through Faith in Jesus

The Through Faith is the new now.

Through Faith in Jesus is the change

There is nothing we now have to do apart from have Faith Through Jesus

This is something the Jews did not really come to terms with yet the Gentiles understodd it well, because they didnt have the Jewish background and could preach the good news to all and accept it straight away.

This is when Paul now steps in to help them and to help us all to tear down these statues

Its not that you have kept the commandments

Its not that you have been a good person and followed your concience

Its not that you have been going to the Gym three times a week

Its not that you have made it in your career

Its not that you have turned a new leaf

Now its not any of those things that you do in your own strengh.

Its because of belief in Jesus that brings us hope

Its because of faith in Jesus that brings us salvation

That brings us refuge in these times

That brings us change in these times

It Brings us Justice in these times.

Its being right with God through Jesus that brings us into the best life.

You see when you have a friend you may have ignored or a family member you havent got on with.

One day you come to a point that you want to get right with that person

Normally to obey your concience to make you feel better

So what do you do when you visit this friend?

You sit down and you begin to talk

You go through the past what happened

You eventually come to a climax in the conversation to make things right you have to say Sorry.

Sometimes this happens in our relationships with our partners or spouses

We have a falling out and we eventually have to sit down have the conversation and say sorry.

This is how you get right with God, this is how you come to faith in Jesus

You have to sit down and have that conversation with the father

Yet you do that through Jesus

You simply say Jesus im sorry for hurting your father, for ignorning him and not taking any notice of his ways.

Im sorry for just doing life on my own and trying to live my best life.

This all requires on things though

To have faith Through Jesus, to have faith in Jesus

That one he exists

He is real all this requires this faith before being able to sit down and get right with God.

This Weeks Message of Hope

Is a simple one

Do away with your old statues in Life

Do away with trying to do it in your own strengh

Do away with thinking that the christian lifestyle is about the Ten Commandements and being a good person

That is so far from the truth its unreal

Dont listen to those preachers, or church leaders that tell you otherwise

The Christian Lifestyle is about Faith in Jesus

There is hope for us all because of Jesus

There is hope and change for us all because of Jesus

You see the term Gentiles meant anyone

That means anyone can come to the Cross of Jesus

Anyone can find Hope

Anyone can find love

Anyone can stand in front of God and be right in his eyes

Anyone no matter who you are, race, background what ever

Anyone can come and have faith through Jesus.

So the thing you need to walk away with today is Having Faith in Jesus

If you want to know how to do that or more about that Join our groups come to the 4pm Zoom call on a Sunday

Come and get plugged in to our Community.

Message me at [e-mail]

Lets all have faith in Jesus.