Mission Possible (4)
Notes
Transcript
Your mission… should you choose to accept it....
Your mission… should you choose to accept it....
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.
That’s our mission, Amen?
That is the mission of each and every Christian, in this world,… Would you agree?
If that is the mission… and at least 50% of the Church is engaged in it… then…
Why do people not come to church?
Why do people feel that “The Church” is either “irrelevant” to their lives, or “a place to be avoided”?
Why do so many people call the Church — Christians — “Hypocrits”?
There a lot of answers to those questions, aren’t there?
We get all kinds of responses from Church people when we ask that question, but have we ever stopped to consider their answers?
When asked “Why?”… Two primary answers emerge:
“You don’t ‘look’ any different than me, so why should I come to Church? What can you offer me? Why should I give up my day of rest… my “family” day… my fishing day…for church?
“Why should I believe you — or in your God, when you cannot even agree with each other?”
So… Let me ask you… What is the #1 reason people do not come to Church?
(Hypocrits)
What does that mean? What does that tell us that people see in us — in Christians?
— We cannot agree with our own teaching!
— People hear us saying: “Love God.” “God is Love” “Love Your Neighbor” “Care for the Widow and Orphan”
— But… Is that what they see?
What do they see most often?
Anger… Hate… Disagreement… Division…
It doesn’t take long to see it… Just look at Facebook… Twitter… YouTube… All over social media, we find Christians disagreeing… condemning… dividing… hating… rather than loving…
Seriously… Who would want to be a part of that?! Who would ever desire to follow a God whose people act that way!
Let me tell you — It is not the pastor’s problem! It is the Christians’ problem!
God will use you to speak into someone’s life before He will use me… Why?
It’s expected of me! It is expected that the pastor is going to talk about Jesus… to talk about the Bible… to bring God into every situation…
That’s why you have the better opportunity!
God will use ordinary people to do extraordinary things in ordinary people’s lives!
I want you to remember that…
But, Anger… Hate… division… WILL prevent God from using you…
We see the destructive results of anger and hate all over this world don’t we?
In 2020, Chicago reported 4033 shootings, and 769 Homicides… that’s 1 shooting and/or killing every 90 minutes!!!!
What is the #1 cause of this?
— Anger… offense…
Nearly every violent crime is the result of anger and offense.
Anger and offense are destroyers!
This issue of “offense” is nothing new… It has plagued the Church since Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden!
— Cain & Abel
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.
— John Wycliffe … translated the Vulgate from Latin into English, He was excommunicated by the Church and burned at the stake…
— The Church of England formed because of disagreement and offense towards the Catholic Church...
— John Wesley & John Calvin… both attempted to “reform” the Church of England…
Calvin did so by writing out and then nailing his “95 thesis” to the door of the Church! This led to his excommunication, which led to what became the Baptist Church…
Wesley attempted “reform” by bringing a “method of Bible study” to the Church which involved focused study, cell groups, and evangelistic work within the groups in an effort to help “build up” his fellow Christians... The Church rejected it, and promptly excommunicated Him! This led to the formation of the Methodist Church…
— I knew a pastor in MS. who led two “circuit churches” IN THE SAME TOWN… in fact, they were on the same road, less then a mile away from each other! Neither had more than 10 members, yet they would not merge into one church, because these people didn’t like those people!
How sad is that?!
Church — That is what the world sees!!!
Anger and offense destroy our message!
That is why Jesus tells us to watch for them, and to remove them from our lives!
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’
22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.
Now… I have to confess… I giggled a little when I first read this verse....
You see… every time I have used an analogy comparing one “sin” with another, and placing them on “equal grounds,” I have heard the same thing — “UGH… I just can’t! You didn’t just compare ______ with _______… They are NOT the same!!!!”
But look… that’s what Jesus just did!!!
He just placed “anger” on the same ground as “murder”!
Why is Christ so serious about “anger”?
Why is this so important to Him that He likens it to murder?
It is because “Sin is Sin”… no matter what “form” it comes in, and “all Sin destroys”!
But… that’s not all… It’s also because of what it reveals in us!
— We ALWAYS think we have a REASON to be angry — to be offended…
Has anyone here ever gotten angry and NOT felt JUSTIFIED in it?!
The truth is, in the moment, we ALWAYS do! That’s why we respond poorly…
But look at what Jesus says:
22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.
Anger makes US liable… not them!
The Aramaic word “Raca” — a synonym for the word “fool” here — means “Fool, Idiot, or Brainless”
Raca — “fool, idiot, or brainless”
It does not express anger… it expresses disdain.
You see — That is the problem with Anger…
Anger treats the other person as “less then” — Less then us and far less then a person created in the image of God!
Anger and Offense place people in a position of “unlovable”… rather than treating them as people who are loved by God.
That’s why anger reveals something in us.
— It reveals BITTERNESS…
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled.
Bitterness leads to Sin…
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication;
4 that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor,
5 not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
Anger causes us to “misuse” our bodies… and our words…
Which reveals a… Lack of Love for God!
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
Anger is a serious issue in our lives… Anger can lead to hate… and hate leads to murder…
15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.
This is why Christ said:
22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.
Now… Go ahead — ask it — “But Pastor… What about ‘righteous anger’? I mean Jesus got angry in the Temple…”
Christ is not talking about “righteous anger”, or “Holy anger” against sin… As was the case when Jesus drove out the “money changers and merchants from the Temple”…
He is talking about anger that destroys…
26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Anger, held on to… it hurts us! It is not “justified”! It is not “vindication!” Anger destroys… It destroys us, and it destroys others, because… It separates us and others from God!
“Anger is such a foolish thing. It makes us destroyers instead of builders. It robs us of freedom and makes us prisoners.” — Warren Weirsbe
Here’s the worst thing about anger…
Sinful anger robs us of fellowship… It robs us of fellowship with others… And it robs us of fellowship with God!
Can I tell you this — Our relationship with others is more important then our being “right.”
23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
Worship is meaningless as long as we have broken relationships with others. (repeat)
We have a responsibility in this!
23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
That is a strong demand!
Who must “make it right”?
— Both Believers!
Who is responsible?
— You Are!
We are each individually responsible for our actions! It is not the other persons responsibility to seek you out… to seek to reconcile with you… to appease your anger and make you feel good… it is your responsibility!
It is each of our responsibility to go… to extend forgiveness… to reconcile… to protect and restore the relationship with the person who offended us!
The idea is that you will each “meet on the way!”
That is what the world should see!
When people look at Christians… when they look at the Church… that is what they should see!
Let me give you a suggestion… the next time you feel offended, or find yourself angry about something… ask yourself these three questions:
Would it be better to let this go, rather than digging it up?
Is this a “make it or break it” issue?
Is it possible for you to “let it go” and “let it die”?
“Right relationships are more important than defending ourselves!” (Weirsbe)
What good is it to “win” an argument, but “lose” a relationship?
25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
Let me tell you — We do not “win” in court… in anger… in arguments.
Think about it — When have you ever seen anyone win a court case and remain “friends” with the person they sued? When have you seen a married couple battle it out in court over a divorce and custody of children, and remain “friends”?
It just doesn’t happen… When we go to court, we lose!
7 In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and believers at that.
If you have to fight… You already lost!
Why?
— Because anger… dispute… unforgiveness…PREVENT worship!
— sinful anger robs us of relationship… with God… and with our brothers and sisters — both known and unknown!
Sinful anger… offense… will rob you of the opportunity to experience new things with God and from building relationships with what might just be some of the most amazing people you will ever meet!
Forgiveness is Key!
— Now understand… that does not mean “conditional” forgiveness — it means “unconditional” forgiveness…
“Forgiveness” with “conditions” is not forgiveness at all.
Let me tell you — If you are waiting for the other person to “do the right thing”… to “say the right words”… to “act a certain way”… or to “prove themselves to you”… before you can forgive them… You will NEVER be able to!
Forgiveness is not about them… it is about us!
We cannot be right with God with unforgiveness and anger in our hearts!
We must “Get Right” with our brothers and sisters…
We must “Get Right” with God…
Then we can fulfill the mission God has given us.
If we “give in” to anger… to the “need” for vengeance and vindication… If we “NEED” to “BE RIGHT”, then we have already lost!
The Church has suffered enough from this… but there is a greater loss… and that is the damage to individuals… to relationships.
How much damage have we done to our testimony through anger and unforgiveness?
How many people have lost the chance to “find” Jesus because of our “offenses”?
What relationships do we need to “fix”?
Today, we are going to receive Communion together… But we need to examine ourselves first.
28 Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.
Paul is not speaking about whether or not you have “accepted” Christ… Paul is speaking about the condition of your heart.
We cannot come to the Lord’s Table and receive of Him… while harboring anger… offense… and unforgiveness in our hearts.
23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
Forgiveness begins at the altar… So, this morning, before we receive communion… I invite you to join with me… in searching our hearts… in looking for that person (or those people) whom we are offended with… and let’s bring them to the altar… let’s seek God’s strength in the situation…
We cannot receive forgiveness if we do not extend forgiveness… so… the altars are open… let’s come to the altar… let’s take a moment in prayer… to prepare our hearts to receive Communion with our Lord.
When you are ready… come and receive the elements… please hold them until everyone has received them, then we will partake together.