Sunday Service

Elsa. you've seen about zooming with pastor Jerry, we have started a study of the book of Romans Now that book is we called in the book, the writer called it a letter. He was writing a letter to the Romans that Rider is, of course, the Apostle Paul. As we've been, as I've been reflecting and studying. And I thought about Paul, The apostle. and, I thought about how he might define success. so this morning I want to share and take some time and look at, what does the Lord Consider success. We Americans are our sucker sucker for the underdog. We love it when the underdog wins. We are to appreciate a story about Samuel Logan brengle. Brengle gave up the opportunity to Pastor one of the largest churches in the Midwest. In order to join the ranks of the New Movement, call the Salvation Army. When that organization was just beginning to be established in the United States. Well, established in England. One of his early assignments was in, Danbury Connecticut. Where ringles entire congregation often.

This morning. But doesn't people? Determined to reach. Danbury with the gospel each evening brengle would March up and down the street singing preaching and praising God. No, I'm not going to

He?

One night while he was marching with only two of his church members. That is side. One of a large lame black man. And the other a physically-challenged little girl. Brengle brengle and his entire congregation. That evening were bravely singing a song ironically entitled with the army that she'll conquer.

Suds monkey, the small group came. Abreast of a large imposing church at athis.

As so bringle. Looked at that impressive. Building. A voice seemed to say to him, you fool. You might have had our been the pastor. Have a great church like this one. But here you are, instead the pastor of the lame, man, and a little girl.

For a moment. His voice faltered. His step.

Got a little wobbly.

His thoughts. Turned. To the many ways God had been dealing with him? And with a new sense of determination, he swung his arms vigorously and begin singing with his tiny band once again, where the Army that's going to shut show conquer. I wonder. If Apostle Paul. Didn't sometimes. Felis as foolish as Samuel Logan brengle did in those early days. He too had been much respected among his own people, an educated man, a student of the great Rabbi Camellia. He was a native of Tarsus a city famous for its Scholars and its philosophers.

That It produced. He was a Pharisee. Who threw his Zeal had acquired some Authority, among his fellow Jews. He was a brilliant writer though, he could not know. At this point in his life, that one day, he would perhaps be known as the most influential literider who's ever lived.

And he was a Roman citizen. A matter of no small importance. Chances are he would have survived so long under any other circumstances? He was a Cosmopolitan man, a man of the city.

A man who felt at home, whether he was in the company of monarchs or slaves. Yep, here we was. One of the leaders of the despised new sect. A Ragtime tag group of, who claimed that one Jesus of Nazareth. I've been raised from the dead. Because Paul had become an enthusiastic part of this sect, he been in prison. Beaten. Nearly killed with stones shipwreck three times. And had become a controversial Outcast, even among his own people. To make matters, worse. He even encouraged insults are encountered insults from his fellow Christians. At first, of course, because they were suspicious of his motives. He after all, had once persecuted, the tiny band and put many of them in jail, Later. It was because he, he took the gospels to the nation's, he took the gospel to the Gentiles. Many of the early Christians would have restricted the gospel to Jews only if they could have. Even later that would be false teachers who would put Paul on the defenses as to his credentials. Was he really an apostle And to his Fitness to speak for the body of Christ, it must have been something awfully futile. Frustrating to the Apostle Paul to carry on.

And to make matters worse. He tells us that he had what he called Thorn In the Flesh.

Was it malaria could have been some Scholars think. So others suggested it, maybe it was epilepsy. Because in those days, many, many people had epilepsy, He said, I pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me. There was no medication for either one of those two control. Either one of those back then. Some of the greatest people have suffered from epilepsy.

If that was, that was it. But it was uncomfortable Affliction socially as well as medically. What can this little man going? Was it pride? Oh no he discarded any vestiges of pride a long time ago. Was it a desire for profit know? He's a preacher.

He made his living as a tentmaker. Any bring any priest without cost to remove the nation? What was it, then? The answer is found in Galatians. 2:20 Paul says, I have been crucified, Andrew. No, give me my area, go. I have been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, and the faith. I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The first clue to success is your will be done.

Andrew, keep up. Okay. Paul first of all, had submitted himself once and for all to the will of God

Before Christ went to the cross. Voicemail in a garden and pray, father. If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless.

Your will be done. And not mine. In his own mind and heart, Paul had made that Journey with Christ. He was there. Later. But in the same attitude, yielding To the cup. That was his there's a there's a new book out on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer that's entitled, The Shame and the sacrifice an apt description of bonhoeffer's life now Bonhoeffer was A German pastor. Serving in Germany. In the 1930s. Now, if you don't know what that means that means he was opposing Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler. Hated him so much.

That when he realized when Hitler realize he was losing the war. He said hang that man. Now

Bonhoeffer was a man who always to love preaching on January 21st. 1934 Bonhoeffer. Preached to a German congregation in London. Quote from him, thousands of church members and pastors are today in our country, Germany in danger of Oppression and persecution for their witness to the truth.

They have not sought this way out of Pride or stubbornness they chose it because God is too strong for them. One of bonhoeffer's students described in like this quote never did I discover in him anything low or undisciplined or me. Edward Robinson ends his book with the words of a camp doctor. Who did not really comprehend what Bonhoeffer stood for. But he said, I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling on the floor.

Praying fever from Italy to God. I was most deeply moved by the way. This lovable man prayed so devout. So certain that God heard his prayer And they almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor. I have hardly ever seen a man die. So entirely submissive to the will of God close, quote, the camp doctor could easily have been describing Paul. I have been crucified with Christ. Said, Paul was totally submissive to the will of God.

Next success, = total dedication. This meant that he was totally dedicated to the work of God that work that God had prepared for him. We have encountered so few truly, dedicated people. Early. Sunday morning on October 30th 1983. Mercedes truck Laden with two thousand pounds of dynamite Roll past the security barricades and crashed into the lobby of the headquarters of the 8th Marine Battalion in Beirut Lebanon.

Seconds later.

The terrorist driver, ignited, the explosive and the building collapsed. I still remember it. 229 marines died in that. Instant And 81. Others were wounded. During a press conference that followed an investigation of the tragic incident. A reporter asked a general from the Pentagon. How one man to get past such tight security And cause so much damage. The general replied quote in spite of our defensive weapons, it's virtually impossible to stop those who are willing to die for what they believe. Oh, that's so true. It is virtually impossible to stop those who are willing to pay the price. For that, which they believe. Paul was such a man. He feared nothing, why? Because he'd already been crucified with Christ. The fear of death was no longer debilitating hindrance to him at any time. Especially as it had once been. Neither was the fear of humiliation or pain or rejection. He turned the world upside down because he was totally committed to the ministry to which God called him to go to the world and tell them that Jesus had died for them.

we have a A crisis of commitment in it in our churches today. Many people view the the church like a filling station. They come once a week, get some spiritual fuel to make it through the week until the next Sunday and then they do it all again. But as far as feeling any responsibility for Christ's body, reaching out in service and witnessing the world. We almost grown cold and unconcerned. The concept of being crucified with Christ, always foreign to a large segment of those who call themselves Christian. We want coordination. Not crucifixion.

Around the time of World War II, there was a girl. For the lovely, boys, who couldn't afford vocal training. But you kept right on singing anyway. They gave us much joy to the members of her little Philadelphia Church. That she couldn't, they raised $126. Remember 30 ID $3,826 in pennies, nickels and dimes and called it the fun for Marian Anderson's future. So, Marian Anderson started taking lessons when she was 18. Her High School teachers arranged for an addition with a famous singing instructor. Again, the church folks raise the money for the lessons. The future looks bright. Success. And yet, she failed. A group who believed in her sponsor, the concert in New York City's, famed Town Hall. But Marian was not yet, ready for Town Hall, either in experience or personal maturity. And the critics later. she felt she could not take it, she felt she had let down all those who believed enter and for over a year, she wallowed in self-pity and would not go near her teachers. Then one day her mother said to her Marion Grace. Must come before greatness.

Do you hear that? Grace must come before greatness? Andrew next flight. Why don't you marry his mother said Grace must come before greatness. Why don't you think about this failure? A little and pray a lot about it.

Marian Anderson is perhaps the finest soprano. Who has ever lived in the United States. She thought about it and prayed.

and later after some success, Marion helped, many other young singer survive, this kind of Despair that she had tasted And that first, bitter defeat. She says, whatever is my voice faith has put it there faith, and my mother's words, Grace comes before greatness. Grace does come before greatness. Crucifixion becomes before coronation. Paul had such great influence in the world because he was totally submitted a, totally submitted himself to the will of God, and was totally committed to the ministry to which God had called him.

God's use. Bring success.

Sorry.

Even more importantly, Saint Paul.

Open himself to God. The dog could use him.

That God could use him as an almost perfect instrument.

Soren Kierkegaard, the great Theologian from the last century once told a parable about a rich men, Hood bought that a team of excellent faultless horse horses. His own Coachman was somewhat inept and undisciplined, but the rich man had hope that the quality of the horses. I'll send it. After a few months, it was impossible to recognize those once-great proud horses. They were dull and drowsy, and their Pace was inconsistent, their stamina gone. They develop some really strange quirks and bad habits. So the Richmond call the Kings Coachman, who knew Horses The Horse Whisperer of the day. After he drove the horses for a month, they were familiar with his voice. They held their heads High, Their Eyes Were bright and their Pace was beautiful. The capacities of possibilities were there all the time, it just depending on whose voice they heard directing their lives. So, who are you listening to? No wonder that Paul not only persevered. But also became one of the most influential men who have ever lived. His circumstances couldn't defeated his Thorn. In the Flesh. Could not defeat him, powerful enemies could not defeat him even time could not defeat him. Think about it. Two thousand years after his death. Millions, if not billions read his writings and have life-changing experience. Because he was totally committed. He had because he had totally submitted his life to God because he was totally committed to the ministry to which God had called him. Finally, he opened himself to the leading of God, so that God could use him in any way. God chose to use him. Oh, what an example for us.

And he was not so special that we could not. Live as he did. Has your life. Seems somewhat ineffective lately. Oops, you're not living the life. God has called you to live. Perhaps, if it's Thai, it's time for you to kneel at the Garden with Jesus and pray. Not my will be done, but yours. Maybe it's time you were you made a new commitment? Of your life. To a Ministry of service. And love. Perhaps, you need to open your Life Anew and let God direct you to more effective way of living.

So,

the Lord has challenged us this morning. From his word. This is challenging for me as it was. I hope for you. You sure the Lord wants every one of his followers to be just like Paul.

Totally submitted to God, totally committed to the ministry to which he has called us. Opening ourselves to Allowing God to use this. However, he deemed he wants to

If we followers of Jesus Christ's face more and more a world, like the Apostle Paul lived in where Christianity was unwelcome. We need to follow his example. Are you ready to be totally submitted? Committed committed to the Lord's, will totally committed to service and Ministry. And totally allowing the Lord to use you. Anyway, he desires

is it time? To recommit yourself.

The Lord Jesus Christ. Now right now would be a great time would be the correct time to do it. Locked, I will be done with work. Not my will be done Lord but yours.

so,

let's take a moment.

Quiet reflection. Bow your head, if you want. but I've you've heard from the Lord's word this morning, he says his word will never go out and come back void. So reflect is it time? For renewed commitment to be totally submitted to God. Tubi. Totally committed to the ministry. He's given you.

And totally opening ourselves yourselves to God.

Father, thank you for this challenge. That you've given to us this day from your word. May we take hold of it. Bloody change our lives. Let it help us to be like the Apostle Paul. and face our world as he faced his

living for you. And you alone. In Jesus name, amen. when you take the Lord's Supper this morning, As you to reflect, on what it means, reflect on the fact that Jesus died gave his life. shed his blood for you, so that you could Be totally committed to Jesus Christ and follow him. Thank you. He is.

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