Prisoner of Christ

Blaise Pascal:

Blaise “Blaze” Pascal was born in June of 1623 and is know for his work as mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and theologian.

Pascal was a child prodigy who wrote a major treatise on the subject of projective geometry at the age of 16.

In his earliest work he corresponded with another influential mathematician on probability theory and helped make significant contributions that influenced the development of modern economics and social sciences.

While he was still a teenager, he is credited with being one of the first two people to invent mechanical calculator.

He made important contributions to science regarding the study of fluids, and clarifying the concepts of pressure and vacuum.

On November 23, 1654 Pascal had an spiritual encounter that would forever change his life. In fact, this event was so significant that he wrote down his insights from this experience and sewed them into the inside of his coat. These insights were carried with him everywhere and transferred from one coat to another and as each coat wore out.

Roughly two years after his spiritual experience, he began writing notes to develop what he hoped would become a “full-scale” apologetic of the Christian Faith. He wanted to use the brilliant mathematical mind that God had given him to defend the Christian faith.

His notes today fill up several hundred pages and the scale of what he intended must have been enormous, because he said it would take 10 years of good health to bring this work to competition.

In the third year of pursuing this project Pascal developed a serious illness. In fact, he never recovered from this illness.

It was during his illness he wrote a prayer titled

“To Ask of God the Proper Use of Sickness.”

Opening Prayer Quote: (Updated English)

Lord, whose spirit is so good and so gentle in all things, and who is so merciful that not only the prosperity but the very disgrace that happens to your elect is the effect of your mercy, grant me the favor not to act towards me as towards a heathen in the condition to which your justice has reduced me: that like a true Christian I may recognize you as my Father and my God, in whatever condition I may find myself, since the change of my condition brings none to yours; as are are always the same, however subject I may be to change, and as you are none the less God when you afflict and punish, than when you comfort and show indulgence.

Pascal was on a familiar journey - to find meaning in suffering.

When suffering happens - it is easy to not seek after God to find meaning in our pain, but instead to question God or perhaps his very existence because of our pain.

While I’m not here today to discuss “If God is good, why is there suffering?” That is a worthy topic and something we should study.

Today, I want to focus on a sentence that Paul writes in Ephesians 3.

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

For this reason:

The mystery of God revealed

The truth of Christ in us

The truth that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit

The truth that the worlds system no longer has power over those in Christ

The truth that racism and the “dividing wall of hostility” has been torn down.

The truth that there is now one new humanity and together we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching with Jesus as our cornerstone.

The truth that the Church is to display the Glory of Christ reflecting the message of the Gospel of peace.

The prayer of Paul that we would fully experience our the wonders of faith in Christ on this side of Heaven.

It was for this reason, it was for these truths, that Paul considered himself a prisoner of Christ.

At this time, Paul is literally in prison. Luke records for us in the book of Acts that Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and you can read the full story starting in Acts 22

As Paul was writing he may have reflecting on this encounter.

Acts 22:21–22 ESV

And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”

Paul’s God given mission to take the Gospel to the Gentiles was so offensive to the people of Israel they considered his life worthless.

Often times, what the world considers worthless / God considers to be of infinite value.

Paul’s obedience to God was more important that his

social standing

being in the right crowd

being validated by the worlds system

receiving praise or acclamation from men

Paul’s calling was so clear that he considered his physical safety of less importance that following the command of Christ.

The world said Paul did not deserve to live!

Paul had already died to himself so that he no longer lives, but Christ lives in Him.

Suffering enters into our circumstance and with it questions.

God, why are you letting this happen to me.

God, why are you letting “evil” win in my life.

See, as a prisoner of Christ, we are literally bound to God’s will.

Remember Christ and his prayer in the garden of Gethsemane?

Matthew 26:39 ESV

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Being a prisoner of Christ is to have this same prayer in your heart at all times.

Paul was an earthy prisoner of Nero, because of his appeal to Caesar, but he considered his imprisonment as divinely orchestrated for the plans and purposes of Christ.

Paul could have said, “God, I have given up everything to serve you, and this is how you treat me?”

Pascal, died at the age of 39, and suffered terribly with his illness in his final years. Autopsies show that he likely had, tuberculosis, stomach cancer, and lesions on his brain.

So debilitating was his disease, that he did not have the mental capacity to finish the work he was passionate about.

What is amazing, is the work he desired to do, he was unable too… but instead of withdrawing because he wasn’t able to follow his agenda.

He gave what he still had to the service of God passing out blankets to the poor and serving meals to those without.

When we suffer we tend to put the spotlight on ourselves.

Gary Thomas, in his book “Thirsting For God” wrote these words about Pascal

“He placed everything on the alter, and expressed no bitterness at all when God decided to keep it. Pascal just kept serving Him.”

That sentience sticks with me…

I have prayed at times, “God, have all of me. Do what you will in my life, where you go I’ll go what you want me to do I’ll do.”

But, as I send that prayer up, if I’m honest with you, I already had a picture of what that might look like.

Even in prayers of surrender, pride and selfishness can creep in...

God use me as you will:

But don’t ask me to be a missionary

But don’t ask me to sacrifice financially

But don’t ask to me to love the unlovable

Don’t ask me to serve in a place I don’t want too

But don’t ask me to release everything to you, trusting you know what it best.

This Christian life isn’t about us bending God to our will, instead we are to turn our attention to uniting our will with his.

Adrian Rogers says “prayer is reporting for duty.”

Our God is not a Genie… You can’t rub the bible just right and squeeze out the blessing you desire.

Like Paul the prisoner of Jesus

Like Pascal seeking to be used even in suffering

Like Jesus in the garden

This life is about dying to yourself and accepting God’s will for your life.

1 Peter 4:19 ESV

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Dr. Tony Evans said, “No one looks forward to suffering. We want to reign with Christ, not suffer with him. But to reign with Christ in glory, we must suffer with him now. If you suffer because of your decision to follow Jesus, you are blessed.

We must learn how to suffer well

AND

We must learn how to surrender in our suffering.

Gary Thomas writes, “I am slowly learning that the real test of true faith is not how successful I am, but how surrendered I am.”

Surrender puts aside what I think should happen, and finds rest and contentment in serving God.

In God’s economy we are not defined by our sufferings or successes, but in our surrender.

A life surrendered find sufficiency in serving God regardless of the ask.

In my life, when I’ve sought the spotlight, we I sought to find a way to increase my status or my standing… It always left me empty looking for the next big thing that I can do or conquer.

But, When I realized that all I am here to do is God’s will:

I found contentment in cleaning toilets

Having my sacrifice going unnoticed

One of the most impactful experiences I had serving in ministry came from an attitude of “where do you need me?”

My BIG job was to open doors and welcome people to church.

I’ll never forget, there was a man walking up to the building alone, and I could tell this was his first time. What courage that man had.

Since my job was to welcome people, I called out to him. “Hi! Welcome to our church!”

There was a sense of relief that he connected with someone. I gave him a quick orientation about our church and where things were. We had two places you could sit and I offered to escort him to either venue.

He paused and said, “You know, I haven’t been in a church in quite some time.”

I told this man, “I am so glad you are here!”

He said, “I haven’t been to church since my daughter died.”

Of course, I responded as empathetic as possible my sorrow for his loss.

He then looked at me and said, “The pastor of my last church said my daughter passed because I didn’t have enough faith.”

Oh man, how do you respond to that?

I looked at this broken man and said, “Sir, that is not the God we serve. The God we serve is compassionate in your loss and understands your pain. I am sorry that someone miss-represented who God is.”

I don’t know what came over me, but I just asked if I could give him a hug. I put my arms around this guy and he just broke down.

If I had been too proud, too concerned with my own agenda, my own preference for where I think I should be… I would have missed that moment.

I just said, “Where can I serve?” I am a prisoner of the Lord, I am bound to him and I am not above my master.”

Jesus humiliated himself for the sake of others. He embraced the sick and the poor, and his life was focused on doing the will of the Father, no matter the cost.

As we serve God it’s never going to be about the measurements of men. We live in a culture where celebrity seems to be the goal. Pastors worry about saying something that can be tweeted. We have several recent examples of how fame or success gets in the way of surrender.

We shouldn’t assume that serving God will lead to worldly possession, earthly blessings. Yes, there are principles that I live by. There are benefits of doing life God’s way, but listen.... What if God’s will for your life was not fame, or popularity, or even success? What if God’s will was for you to have a common life, simple, quiet?

When God is our focus, the task becomes irrelevant. Any spotlight we have is irrelevant... for fear that I would try and claim credit for God’s glory.

I was at a conference and one of the speakers was Christine Cane. She was talking about preaching and how people want a ministry with the same impact. I loved what she said, “The light that is in you has to be greater than the light shining on you.”

You know, all these amazing things that Paul has recalled for us up to this point is going to experienced when you view yourself as a prisoner, bound to the will of God for your life. That God would help us to never waist a trial, but to learn and surrender in it.

I love this quote, “We want to baptize our old nature rather than trade it in. We’re not told to wash the old nature, however, but to kill it. True Christianity includes an utter, absolute, and complete surrender to God.”

I want to leave you with this final thought, lyrics from Natalie Grants song, “The King of the World”

I try to fit You in the walls inside my mind I try to keep You safely in-between the lines I try to put You in the box that I've designed I try to pull You down so we are eye-to-eye

When did I forget that You've always been the King of the World? I try to take life back, right out of the hands of the King of the World How could I make You so small When You're the One who holds it all? When did I forget that You've always been the King of the World?

Prayer:

God, even in our suffering, when life seems frustratingly small. Help us Lord to realize the riches we have been given in Christ. God of Heaven and Earth, we are so easily pulled by the things of the world, yet you love us still. For those listening today who feel far off, who have a sense of meaninglessness in their soul, God meet them in that place. Show them your love and your grace. Remind us Lord that we find our peace in you, our purpose in you, our contentment in you, our provision in you. Amen.

I want to bless you today, Go in peace and may God bless you and make his face to shine upon you. And never forget You Are Loved.