Leading Godly in a Pagan Society

HOOK

In the midst of these twin-crises that we are facing— People need to hear a message of hope

And it begins with us— reaching others. And speaking of reaching others, I went back in the day when I first met the very few who decided to stay here at Agape

In the privacy of myself, I celebrated my 5 years being with our church family— It was back in June 7, 2015 when I have decided to accept the worthy challenge of serving the Lord through Agape

The first time I preached the message of hope as your Pastor was the Sunday after that [June 14, 2015]— SHOW 2015 PHOTO

Since then, year after year we embraced a theme that holds us together— “We are stronger together”

Themes that keeps our focus on the vision that we received from God some 5 years ago

Vision to Glorify God! and to Share His Love!

"To Glorify God by building communities that are spiritually healthy, morally upright, physically fit, mentally alert, emotionally happy and financially stable.

To share His love to the un-churched, un-loved, un-inspired, un-motivated and especially to the believers of Jesus Christ.”

Guided by this vision— in 2016 our theme was “iBuild”. — SHOW 2016 PHOTO

Since the church just survived a major split, we got our acts together and inspired by the Holy Spirit, we started to pick up the pieces and started rebuilding our church— we are so motivated by the story of Ezra and Nehemiah

That after a devastating setback— Jerusalem fell and they were enslaved by the Babylonians [in a little while I will talk to you about [SLAVERY]

After 70 years of slavery, they were allowed to return to Jerusalem and Ezra led the rebuilding of the temple, while Nehemiah led the rebuilding of the wall [remnants of these structures still stands today]

And then the year after that, our theme for 2017 was “iGrow”— We felt the need for individual and corporate growth— SHOW 2017 PHOTO

Spiritual growth that spells exponential growth that includes numerical growth

In 2018 we inspired ourselves with the theme “iServe”— discipled by the words of our Lord who said that he came not to be served, but to serve— various ministries were formed, and our members stepped up on the plate and took over the responsibilities to serve in those ministries— SHOW 2018 PHOTO

Seeing how God had progressed the works of our hands, we saw the need for servant leadership to expand the capacity of our church family— from the very beginning, I’ve been advocating the principle of “shared leadership”

I was never, and will never ever be afraid of seeing disciples of Jesus rose from where they were, to where God predestined them to be— on the other hand, It will be my great joy to see that, except if you’re leading away from the vision of Agape

So last year 2019, our theme was “iLead”— I brought with me some dedicated servants of Christ [that has the potential of becoming leaders] to attend trainings, the major one of which was the yearly PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH Conference [this happens every June, but not this year due to Covid-19]— SHOW 2019 PHOTO

We started this year very strongly with powerful messages from God about our “Purpose” in life— We pondered on the question— “What on Earth Am Here For?”

Discovering the purpose of life should be the ultimate goal of every believer— because if you don’t know your purpose, you’re not living, you’re just “existing”

God has so much for our lives! More than those we see, and even beyond what we can imagine— only if you look NOT through your near sighted vision, but through the way farther vision of God for you

We commonly hear the phrase, “I’m living the dream!”— I’d rather hear believers say, “I’m living my purpose!”

And one of the fundamental purpose of every church of Jesus Christ is to reach out to people [Evangelism]

Even prior to knowing that we are to face this left and right crises, we adopted the theme “iReach” for the year 2020— SHOW 2020 PHOTO

It was very divine— everything that happens to believers’ life is divine!— of the years that had passed in our lives as a church family, this is the year when we need to reach out the most!

And to do that, we started promoting Home Churches!

People are getting sick, people are dying, their loosing their jobs, they’re even loosing their sanity— what are we gonna do about it?

Are we just going to stand and watch?

People are not just facing depression, we are facing frustration— People needed to hear messages of hope— certainly they cannot get that from the mainstream media who are highly politicized!

We Christians, are the Ambassadors of Christ— we are the Carriers of Hope— We have to reach out! We have to reach out NOW & BEYOND!

I’m not saying that we are not doing anything because we are— but what I’m saying is, we needed to do more!

The Lord led me to close this month’s series on a high note! — Today I will talk to you about SLAVERY, LEADERSHIP & FREEDOM

We started the series, “Living Godly in a Pagan Society” based from the letter of Peter 2:11-21 where we learned the following principles:

I MUST ABSTAIN FROM SINFUL DESIRES

I WILL LIVE A GOOD LIFE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

I SHALL SUBMIT TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY

I WILL NOT EXERCISE MY FREEDOM TO COVER UP FOR EVIL

I WILL RESPECT EVERYONE, LOVE MY CHURCH AND HONOR GOD

On point #3— I shall submit to Government Authority based on Romans 13— submission by participation

I WILL PARTICIPATE BY REGISTERING TO VOTE

I WILL PARTICIPATE BASED ON ISSUES AND NOT ON PARTY OR PERSONALITY

I WILL PARTICIPATE BY CASTING MY VOTE CONSCIENTIOUSLY

On point #2— I will participate based on issues— the left are giving us a preview of what kind of a country we’ll gonna live in if they are able to take the White House— while the conservative right remains firm to upholding law and order

Our participation is not politics of personality, but politics of policies, politics of performance— we exercise our right to suffrage based on issues & ideologies

Christians tends to lean towards the conservatives because many if not most of their ideologies agrees with our biblical doctrines

The most contentious of all the issues is the matter of abortion and sexuality— and the left hated us so much because of these— they are calling us names! Bigots!

We are taught not to fight back— in fact we are taught to love our enemies, turn to the other cheek, bless those who persecute you

Surely we can do something within the bounds of what the Bible teaches

We love the sinners, though we cannot compromise our beliefs, that’s why they are hell bent to destroy Christian America by any means possible

They took away the Bibles away from our schools

They disallowed our children from saying their prayers before opening their lunch boxes

Just recently, they banned a blind woman from a public park simply because she was sharing Jesus— not just that!

They declared churches as “non-essentials” delaying our reopening— Casinos are allowed to open but churches are not! Street protests are allowed but prayer rallies are not!

We celebrated Father’s Day last Sunday with a great challenge to Christian Dads

I showed you some numbers that if we don’t “reach out”, Christianity will be minority in the year 2035— It will be a repetition of that generation after Joshua where:

They knew neither the Lord nor what he had done

They did evil in the eyes of the Lord

They forsook the Lord

They followed and worshiped various gods

These are happening now, and they will continue to happen if good men do nothing

We must not let the left steal our children— teach your children, otherwise someone else will!

We must not let the complexity and magnitude of the situation paralyze us inside our Christian bubble

We must think nationally, but act within our family

My Father’s Day gift to all the Daddy’s last Sunday was a challenge— a challenge to:

I WILL TRULY LOVE THEIR MOTHER

I WILL GIVE TIME TO MY CHILDREN

I WILL TEACH MY FAMILY WELL

I WILL TALK TO THEM MORE OFTEN

This is what I call, thinking nationally while acting within the family

To make America united again, we need to participate

Fathering godly in a pagan society is thinking nationally while acting within the family

Like what I said, today I will be a voice to God’s Word about SLAVERY, LEADERSHIP & FREEDOM

I will take you to what the Bible says about Slavery, and how important is Leadership to achieve Freedom— 4th of July this coming Saturday

Leading Godly in a Pagan Society

This civil unrest that we are witnessing across the country is rooted in the scars left by slavery

I’ll pick it up from where we left off on the letter of Peter— in 1 PETER 2, beginning in verse 18 to 21

BOOK

1 Peter 2:18–21 NIV

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Did the Bible condoned Slavery?

Why Didn’t Jesus Christ condemned Slavery?

Why did Peter recognized “slavery” in his letter?

Why did the Old Testament even provide policies and procedures concerning slavery?

In fact, just in the previous century, the Bible was used by both the slave owners and the slaves to justify their opposing views

How Can I Trust the Bible When It Was Used to Justify Slavery?

Let me unpack for you some of the most common verses used to justify one of the most deplorable institution— American slavery

Let the Word exegete itself rather than someone’s eisegesis of the scriptures which very often leads to conflicting interpretation of the Bible

Let me begin with the question: Was the Bible Silent on Slavery?— Answer is NO

It is not because Jesus and his Apostles was passive about it, would mean that they were submissive to it— No!

To understand this, carefully you you have to be aware of the setting when the scriptures was first written— you have to factor in the historical background, the cultural background, the traditional background and also the political background at that time

Historical, cultural, traditional and political backgrounds do change, but the biblical principles do not— they are timeless and universal!

Keep in mind that around a hundred years before the Lord, there was a slave who was able to escape, and led a revolution in southern France that scored a few victories but was defeated by Roman General Marcus Crassus

His name was Spartacus— he died in a battle, and some 6,000 of his comrades were crucified along the Appian way— A similar fate would have awaited any Christian slave uprising.

It is very very important for us to note that our Lord Jesus Christ is a revolutionist [anti-establishment]— but it is also equally important for us to understand that his ways of going against the establishment is not through bloody revolution— after all, He is the Prince of Peace

And one of His great disciples wrote this

Romans 12:18 NIV

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Was Jesus afraid to die? Was he a coward that the revolution he led was peaceful rather than bloody confrontation?

Absolutely NOT! The Lord willingly died for us, remember?— Jesus knew that war is not won through violent means, Jesus wants us to understand that He is fighting the battles for us— and our struggles is not against flesh and blood

He won the battle— He is victorious! His revolution that started 2020 years ago won a third of the world population— other religion that came way later was not even close!

But! Houston, we have a problem!— Christianity could be in the brink of loosing the majority— last week I showed you some numbers, and if the trend continues— we will be minority in the year 2035!

Many opponents of Christianity say that the Bible condones slavery— one particular letter in the Bible that they pick on is the letter of Paul to Philemon

The letter to Philemon was abused by Christian slave owners of the recent generation— they use it to justify slavery

If there are good cops, there are bad cops— in the same token, if there are good Christians, there are also bad Christians

When Paul sent back Onesimus [a slave] back to Philemon he has these to say..

Philemon 15–16 NIV

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

This letter was abused, misused and overused to justify slavery until the civil war effectively ended slavery with the adoption of the 13th amendment—

On January 1, 1863 President Lincoln formally issued the Emancipation Proclamation calling on the Union army to liberate all slaves

Others say the fact that none of the inspired writers (indeed, not even Christ himself in the Gospel accounts) condemn slavery outright shows an implicit acceptance of it.

On the contrary, the Bible said so many things to address slavery and here are some of them

LOOK

ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

Genesis 1:27 NIV

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Regardless of our color of skin, social status or ethnicity— we are one humanity

I already told you why our generation end up having different skin colors

GOD RESCUED HIS PEOPLE OUT OF SLAVERY IN EGYPT

Exodus 3:7 NIV

7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.

He called upon the leadership of Moses to carry out the task of leading His people out of slavery— [in a moment I will talk to you about LEADERSHIP]

If you read the story you will remember that God redeemed his people out of the shackles of slavery in Egypt not through bloody confrontation— but by peaceful means

He sent ten plagues and every single one of them are meaningful and purposeful— God was in control all along— he hardened the Pharaoh’s heart to accomplish his plans

This set of events established the fertile ground that would blossom into Israel’s ethical treatment of slaves or servants

They were given instruction by God how to properly treat their servants not as slaves

ISRAEL’S SLAVERY IN EGYPT IS A REMINDER OF HOW IT SHOULD TREAT OTHERS

Leviticus 25:53–55 NIV

53 They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly. 54 “ ‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, 55 for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

What we find here are the building blocks for universal human rights.

We are no longer slaves to any human masters, but servants of God

WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN CHRIST JESUS

Galatians 3:28 NIV

28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In Christ we are one and the same

Now let me talk to you about Leadership— the catapult from slavery to freedom is leadership— In a few days from today we are to celebrate the 244th year of our independence [our freedom]

God called on Moses to lead his people out of their slavery in Egypt

What are the leadership qualities that we can learn from Moses?

Before we proceed to answering that question, it is worthy to note that Moses was flawed just like you and I— he was not perfect

He had his failures and weaknesses— he had his excuses

Though he did not reach the land promised by God— he displayed leadership qualities that we can emulate

TOOK

QUALITIES THE WE NEED IN “Leading Godly in a Pagan Society”

First of all was HIS SENSE OF JUSTICE, which he practiced no matter what the consequence

Exodus 18:13 NIV

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.

Secondly, was HIS WILLINGNESS TO SHARE THE LEADERSHIP

Exodus 18:24–26 NIV

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

Thirdly, was HIS ABILITY TO SEE THE NEEDS OF OTHERS and his willingness to set aside his own needs for theirs

Exodus 2:11–12 NIV

11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

And Fourthly [there are a lot more but Ill focus on these 3 for today], was HIS ABILITY TO LEAD EVEN UNDER ADVERSE CONDITION, and also positively, as a shepherd who leads a flock

Numbers 11:1–3 NIV

1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.

CHALLENGE

Now let me close with this challenge

Acts 13:36 NIV

36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.

We are a chosen generation

Let us live our purpose in our own generation

Let us keep “Leading Godly in a Pagan Society”