Sermon Tone Analysis

Third to Last Sunday ~/ Stewardship Sunday

November 12, 2006

Revelation 3:7-13

Seven Deadening Sins, Part 6

*“Now is Our Time”*

Introduction: In his sermon "Praying Is a Dangerous Business"[i], Peter Marshall tells the story of a friend who was offered a job.

His friend decided to go on the interview.

However, he was not sure whether or not this was from God, so he asked God for an open door.

He was offered the job, but he wanted to think about it.

Soon, the same company offered him even more in salary to accept the job.

Marshall's friend hesitated.

Soon a telegram arrived, raising the offer even more.

In spite of the clear open door, his friend turned down the offer.

He ended up taking a different job at half the salary.

And his new boss had quite a temper.

Marshall commented, "Now he sees his mistake."

How many Christians find themselves in similar situations?

Similarly, how many churches are missing opportunities for witness and service?

Individually and collectively as the church, we often pass up doors that God has opened, only to realize our mistake much later.

That is the deadening sin of wasted opportunities.

When we waste opportunities for mission and service, it can be disastrous.

On the other hand, when we walk by faith through doors God has opened through the cross, God blesses us in ways we cannot begin to imagine.

*I Have Placed before You an Open Door*

            Our Lord makes an interesting assessment of the church at Philadelphia.

He calls it a church of "little strength."

Yet it is clear that "little strength" does not necessarily imply weakness.

Jesus commends them for not denying his name and for keeping his Word.

So what is meant by "little strength"?

Philadelphia was a relatively small town in comparison to Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum.

Furthermore, Philadelphia was rocked by frequent earthquakes.

The church at Philadelphia would not have been a mega church; rather, it was a small church.

In comparison with other churches in the region, the church at Philadelphia was one that had "little strength."

Yet to this small church in Asia Minor, Jesus said, "See, I have placed before you an open door."

"Open door" in the New Testament meant an opportunity for mission and service to our Lord.

Luke describes Paul's first missionary journey: "They gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27).

This was no ordinary open door placed before the congregation at Philadelphia.

Jesus promised, "I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars-I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you" (v 9).

This church had a unique opportunity to witness to Jews who did not believe in Jesus.

It would not be easy.

The Jews hated Christians and had no inclination of worshiping with them.

But it would not be impossible.

The church would not bear witness through its own strength, but through Jesus' strength.

Far too often, however, God's people and his church ignore an open door of mission and service.

What door is Christ opening for this church?

We often think of ourselves as a little church by the river.

We may even consider what we do to be insignificant compared to the big churches within our synod.

Sometimes we try to remain content with just being faithful to God’s Word and our Lord Jesus Christ without considering the great impact that our Lord would have us make as He opens doors before us.

If we stop and think about it, our Lord has opened the doors of the world to us so that we may faithfully preach the good news of the Kingdom of God that has come to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now us our time!

It may not always be the case.

Even for the apostle Paul, the Lord shut the doors to the proclamation of the gospel.

But then He always opened another door.

As Paul said, “But I will stay in Ephesus…, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Now is our time.

We should not wait for another time.

Like when a person is young, they dream dreams of what they will do with their life.

Then life goes by, one day after another.

Then in the end, he understands that life and opportunity has passed him by.

The Latin phrase is Carpe Diem, that is Cease the day.

Now is the day and now is the time.

Unbelief and idolatry are all around us.

The threat of Islam in the world should not be underestimated.

The ultimate goal is to silence the voice of the church.

We are under attach from the secular world that continues to try to isolate the voice of Christ’s church.

Certainly morality is under attack.

But the church doesn’t preach morality as the way to heaven.

We preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We preach that Jesus Christ came to seek and save that which was lost through the forgiveness of sins accomplished by Jesus Christ and His death on the cross.

Christ’s church alone has the message of eternal life.

Now is our time.

How is it that we can be faithful and walk through the doors the Lord has opened for us?

Certainly is by our confession of faith.

But this confession leads us to live Christian lives.

Part of, perhaps all of Christian life is a life of Stewardship.

We are stewards of this great gift of God’s grace given to us in Jesus Christ.

How is it then that we live?

What are we to do? Can you imagine a football team that receives no money or support?

Imagine, no helmets, no pads, no uniforms and no place to play, after all theses things all cost money.

Imagine a football team that never practices, plans, naked they wonder out onto the playing field with no training, no care and no effort after all they haven’t taken the time.

Imagine a football team that is made up of ping pong players.

This is the talent that they have developed.

But talent for football that has not been developed, no thought or effort has been given to such things.

No imagine this football team, no money, no time and no talent…how do you think they would do.

Not so well I think.

Now, consider the church.

It is not a magic institution.

It is made up of flesh and blood and it is born in the material world.

For it to proclaim the gospel God has given it’s people the gifts of their time to be dedicated, talents to be developed and used and yes, money…to pay the bills, it’s employees, to preach the gospel here, throughout our country and to the world.

There are no rules about giving, only that we should consider all that we have been given in our Lord Jesus and respond according to the grace of God with our time, talents and treasures.

The amounts given are not what matter.

Even the smallest gift, given to God, is well received by Him.

Remember how Jesus said of the widow that gave to small coins, that she indeed had given more than the richest person that gave gift that day.

God judges the heart.

God uses the little and the grat gift to accomplish His mission here on earth.

*What He Opens, No One Can Shut*

            Thanks and praise to God, that while we may fail our Lord, HE does not fail us.

Jesus did not fail in his mission and service to his Father.

He took on flesh and blood and lived the perfect life that we could not.

He came to "seek and to save what was lost" (Lk 19: 10).

His mission of salvation was first to "the lost sheep of Israel" (Mt 10:6)-the very people for whom he opened the door of mission and service in Philadelphia.