Joshua 4: Miracles: God’s Power To Move Us

[This sermon was preached on 30 October 2011 at Folsom Community Church]

Miracles: God’s Power To Move Us

Joshua 4

Introduction: What Does It Mean? (vs. 20-21)

 [Helen's Valentine’s Day Prayer and Unexpected Answer] This ring is a reminder of the way that God brought Helen and I together. If we sat down and asked each of the couples in this room how God brought them together, I think we would have a lot of stories. Stories of how God could bring together two completely different people, from completely different backgrounds, countries and cultures in marriage. And many times, over the past 20 years, my mind has wandered back to those events, reminding me: Yes, this was God’s plan and this is God’s plan.

But you know, the ring is not the thing. As pretty as it is, as much as it is worth (especially with the price of gold today), I don’t say that this ring holds my affections—I don’t say this ring has my heart. No, instead it is a reminder of my relationship with Helen and how God was miraculously involved.


USMC War Memorial, Photo by Catie Drew, Public Domain

I’ve seen a lot of statues in my time. Big ones, little ones. When I look at the statues of great men, if I spend all my time wondering about how it was made, what materials they used, who the artist was, but I miss the story that the statue is supposed to tell, then I’m missing the point.

Graves at Arlington on Memorial Day, Photo by Remember, Public Domain

I’ve seen a lot of grave markers in my time. Do you spend your time oohing and ahhing over the mausoleums? Or do you remember the life story of the one who it commemorates?

When we come to Joshua, chapter 4, the monument on the bank of the Jordan River was a pile of 12 rocks piled up.  Not very impressive. But let me tell you, the story is amazing, because it is the story of ordinary people, an miracle and the God behind the miracle.

I’m going to spoil it for you by starting at the end of the story and then we’ll work back and fill in the details as we go along. If you have your Bibles, please turn to Joshua, chapter 4, starting in verse 19:

On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan.

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’  For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over.

The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.” – Joshua 4:19-24

Let me recap the big story. Some of you may know the story of how the nation of Israel was in Egypt for 400 years, oppressed by the Pharaohs. God sent Moses down to Egypt, hammers on the people and Pharaoh of Egypt until they let the Israelites go and then, after the Egyptian army chases them to the edge of the Red Sea, opens up a path through the middle of the sea so they can escape safely to the other side. On the other side is the desert.

They grab the 10 commandments from Mt. Sinai and then march through the desert until they arrive at the Jordan River. Now God has told them that, on the other side of the Jordan River, is the land he has promised long ago to Abraham, their ancestor and that it is a land so rich and fertile, they call it the land of “milk and honey”. So far, so good right?

So the Israeli nation sends out twelve spies to take a look at this Promised Land. They bring back a good news-bad news story. The good news is the land is incredibly rich, tons of grapes and olives. The bad news is: the Amorites already found it and moved into the neighborhood. And they are big (I mean really big, Goliath sized), mean, nasty people.

What do the people of Israel do when they hear the bad news? They do what we do. They forget the good news. They forget the promise of God. They whine and compliant and throw a tantrum. So God says, “Fine, you don’t want my promised land. Then don’t have it.” And sends them back into the desert and says that everyone over 20 years old will not see the “promised” land except for two people: Joshua and Caleb.

Fast forward 40 years. Moses just died after giving the longest sermon in the Bible (the book of Deuteronomy) and the people are ready to try again. There parents have all died in the desert. So they line up at the river, which is at flood stage, overflowing its banks. The priests walk to the edge of the river and step into the water. Except, as their feet come down, God does a miracle. He not only stops the water but dries up the ground underneath. The priests stand all day in the middle of what used to be a river while the people cross. Joshua tells 12 men, one from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, to grab a rock from the middle of the river. Then, after everyone is across, the priests come out, the river returns its normal floody self and they pile up the 12 rocks at the place they camp that night.

What Are Miracles For?

Now, let me stop right there and ask you a question: What are miracles for? [repeat] Does God do them for the entertainment value? What did they do before television and iPods? Oh, back then, son, they had miracles. Is that it? So that the Bible wouldn’t be boring?

To show off? Is that what miracles are for? Hey look at what I can do, a two headed albino alligator. 50,000 galaxies. Who does God show off to? That would be pretty pathetic if God was showing off, because there’s no one else whom God admires to show off to. There’s no audience capable of truly appreciating what God can do. I mean, look at his intended audience, the Israelites. Big river, flood stage, dry ground. And how did they applaud God? Great job, God, wanna rock?

God does miracles because he wants to motivate us. And God wants monuments because we tend to forget the miracles. Look at verse 21:

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’….’ - Joshua 4:21

When God does a miracle, it is not a secret. If God does something amazing in your life, don’t keep it to yourself. Don’t let the story die with you. Instead, find opportunities to celebrate the miracles and tell the story. Those rocks next to the Jordan River were designed to be provocative. Those rocks were designed to generate questions. There was no way that you could stroll down the Gilgal promenade and miss these rocks.

If God has radically changed your life, if God has moved in a way that only God can, it should generate some comment—some questions-- from our friends, our families, our associates. Because if it doesn’t, it means that either it wasn’t a radical change or else you are really good at hiding it.

Sometimes you’ve got to pull the Ferrari out of the garage. You know, God has done amazing miracles around your life. He has changed you and is changing you. But you only bring the Ferrari out on Sundays and then you only show it to your Ferrari club friends. Then you tuck it back into the garage and the rest of the week you drive your lemon to work and school.

Jesus said:

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. – Matthew 5:14-15

God’s miracles are meant to be shared. They are meant to be remembered. They are meant to move us and motivate us, in four specific ways mentioned in the next few verses.

Miracles Are God’s Power In Our Lives (vs. 22-23a)

First, miracles are God’s power in our lives. Look at verses 22 and the first part of verse 23:

“Tell them, ‘Israel cross the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over.” – Joshua 4:22-23a

A miracle is God’s power for God’s plan with God’s people. God does things for his reasons and he involves us. So you don’t try the impossible because you like doing impossible things. In fact, Satan tempted Jesus “to try the impossible”, telling him to jump off the top of the temple and he would be rescued. And Jesus said, “No!” But, on the other hand, when God has a plan and you are involved in the plan, many times you will see miracles happen because God will use his power to make it happen.

Miracles require God-sized power. Miracles require God-accurate timing. Miracles require God-focus attention to details.  

Let’s look at God-sized power. If you go back one chapter, to chapter 3, verses 15-16 it says:

Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests carried the priests … reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away ... [and] was completely cut off. – Joshua 3:15, 16a

I have seen the Sacramento River overflowing into the Yolo Causeway over here on Highway 50. I have seen the Cagayan River, the longest river in the Philippines, at flood stage. If you have seen something like this, you know the tremendous amount of water involved. Now God just took his hand and stopped up the flow of the river, no leaks, and piled up the water, higher and higher. It took 5 years to build the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, but it took God 5 seconds.

Then, notice the God-accurate timing. It says that when the feet of the priest touched the water’s edge, the water started piling up in Adam—18 miles away—at the same instance.

Finally, notice the God-focused details. There were as many as 2 million people who had to cross. With flood-stage rivers, it’s not just the water but the mud. But it says, in verse 17 it says that by the time the priests got to the middle of the now-empty river:

The priests … stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. – Joshua 3:17

When God does a miracle, it is something so incredible, so audacious, so big that the only rational explanation is God. He doesn’t want anyone else getting credit. He doesn’t want anyone coming up with a scientific explanation for what happened. He doesn’t want us to wonder whether we imagine it. Instead he wants to confirm his power for us in an unmistakable way. And he gets to choose the miracle, not you.

A miracle is God’s power for God’s purpose with God’s people. A miracle, it is God’s motivation for you to move. A miracle is telling you God’s direction to move. A miracle is telling you who to move with.

First, miracles are God’s power in our lives.

Miracles Are God’s Power in Our Lifetime (vs. 23b)

Second, we move because God is active now. Look at what it says in the second part of verse 23:

The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had cross over. – Joshua 4:23b

What is he talking about? Well, if you remember, this isn’t the first time that Israel has cross over a big body of water on dry ground. Back when Moses led them out of Egypt, they came to the edge of the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army charging behind them, and God opened up a passage and the people escaped. Now, Joshua is leading them out of the desert, they come to the edge of the Jordan, and now God opens up a passage and the people enter the promised land. Why a second time?  Was God running out of ideas, like a bad miracle sequel?

No. It was important that the people know that God was with them, in the same way, with the same power, with the same commitment, as he had been when they left Egypt. None of them had been adults and many were not even born back in the big plague-and-miracle days. So they didn’t know personally the power of God.

We all need to personally experience the power of God. It isn’t enough that our parents saw the power of God. It isn’t enough that our friends had their lives turned upside-down by God giving them a new life. We need to experience that power first hand.

This was especially true of Joshua. You see Moses, his predecessor had been leading Israel for nearly 40 years. But just before they got to the Jordan River, Moses dies. People wondered, “Does he have what it takes to be the leader?” “Does he have what it takes for the job?” People wondered. Joshua wondered. Back in Joshua 1, God has to tell him several times, “Be strong and courageous.” “Be strong and courageous.” Why did God have to say that? Because Joshua was shaking in his boots. But by crossing in the same way as Moses it gave everyone confidence that God was with Joshua just like he was with Moses. In fact, that’s what it says in chapter 4, verse 14:

“That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.” – Joshua 4:14

Does God still do amazing, out-of-the-box, off-the-hook sort of stuff? Or is that only in the Bible? Do people get healed, lives get changed, additions overcome, cities repent and rivers open up? Or is that like Cinderella-a fairy tale?

The prophet Habakkuk asked the same question:

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; - Habakkuk 3:2

I am convinced that God is still in the business of working miracles in this generation. The miracles of God are not just the miracles of the Bible—they are the miracles also of this time and this place.  Folsom is not forgotten. Sacramento did not slip his mind. Natomas is not an afterthought. God has not finished demonstrating his power right here.

But, when he moves, will you move? First, miracles are God’s power in our lives. Second, Miracles are God’s power in our lifetime, in our generation.

Miracles Are God’s Power for His Plans (vs. 24a)

Third, miracles are God’s power for His plans (not ours!). God has big plans and wants us to join him. Every wonder what’s on God’s day planner—on his calendar? “7:02am, cause the sun to rise. 11:00am, go to the dentist” No, God’s calendar is full of a much bigger plan.

Back in verse 24, we find out that the pile of rocks next to the Jordan was God’s announcement that He has big plans.

He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful… - Joshua 4:24

Did you know that a miracle is not just for you? God is not just giving you a private showing; he is starting a world tour. Through the power he is displaying, his target audience is the world. The gospel is the message. The miracles are the marketing plan. The world is his target audience.

Crossing the Jordan River with a miracle was not just about keeping your feet dry. It was not just about taking the Promised Land. Those rocks were a reminder to the people of God: You are a part ofhte process, but you are not the end of the process.

Sometimes people of God get comfortable, they get satisfied, even smug. They found the answer, now we can rest. They get so concerned about God’s people inside the holy huddle that they ignore the future team members. But the goal of the gospel is not a group hug. The goal of the gpsel is global domination. 

Miracles are not about you. They are about God. Do you remember the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer? Do you remember what you were asking?

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10

When we pray the Lord ’s Prayer, we are really praying that God will take over Folsom, California, starting with me.  God’s kingdom expands, not by geographical or political or economic or ethnic boundaries, but in the hearts of men and women whose hearts are fully devoted to him.

[Folsom Lake College, 9K students, Folsom, 60K people, Sacramento Area, 2.5M[1], California, 30M people, the World: 7B]

What would it look like if God did a miracle right here? Marriages restored, the desperate given hope, the poor being fed, relationships restored, addictions cast off, lives transformed. Starting a church in Folsom is not starting a Rotary club. Starting a church in Folsom is starting a revolution. You are not residents, you are revolutionaries.

Does God dream small? No God dreams big. He loves the people here enough to spend the life of his son, Jesus.  He loves the people here enough to send us. He will back up his dream with miracles that you and I cannot even imagine. These miracles are the signs that point towards the day when every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  We can’t sit still. We can’t leave the world in the way it is. We have to move because God has big plans.

First, miracles are God’s power in our lives. Second, miracles are God’s power in our lifetime. Third, miracles are God’s power for His plans.

Miracles Are God’s Power to Change Our Heart (vs. 24b)

And finally, when God performs a miracle, one of the reasons he does that miracle is to change our hearts to that we focus on God, not ourselves.

Look at the second part of verse 24:

He did this ... so that you might always fear the Lord your God. – Joshua 4:24b

Sometimes we see that phrase, “fear the Lord” in the Bible, we can get confused. Why should I be afraid of God? Think about it in terms of your family. Did you ever do something, and you knew that if your father ever found out about it, you would be in big trouble. That is a part of the “fear of the Lord.” How about this, did you ever work really hard on something, because you knew that your parents would approve? That is a part of the “fear of the Lord” Did you ever do something that was a little bit risky, it required courage, but you knew that your parents would like that. That is part of the “fear of the Lord.”

There is only one opinion that matters. There are lots of people willing to tell you their opinion. Every piece of junk mail; every ad on TV; every billboard-they all try to get my attention so that they can tell me their opinion.  My boss, my kids, my in-laws, my friends, they all have an opinion for me. Buy this. Do this. Achieve this. Live like this. They all have something to tell me. Twenty some-odd years after I left home, my Mom lives three-hundred miles away, but I can still hear her voice in my head. But whose voice overrides all the other voices: God's.

When God pulls out the miracles and lets us see it, he has wants to change our opinion about Him. Is He the VIP in our life, or do we try to maintain ourselves as the most-important person In our world, we think we are the center of the universe.  So one of the reasons God does miracles is to take our focus off of us and put the spotlight on God. 

What God is doing is the most important activity. What God thinks about something is the most important opinion. What God cares about should break our hearts. That’s what it means to fear the Lord. That’s what it means to “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.”

If God is going to change the world, he must first move you by changing your focus.

First, miracles are God’s power in our lives. Second, miracles are God’s power in our lifetime. Third, miracles are God’s power for His plans. Fourth, miracles are God’s power to change your heart.

Conclusion

Bertelsen Park, El Dorado Hill, Photo by Helen Lewis

Is that what life is about?

Go back to the River Jordan. It was just a pile of rocks. There was nothing special about the rocks themselves. If we saw one of those rocks today, we would not notice anything extraordinary about them. Their shape is normal. Their chemical composition is normal. Their flaws and coloration is normal. But their significance, their importance is amazing, because of what God did with them. They were ordinary, now they are extraordinary, not because of the “rock-ness” but because of God’s favor. They were just river rubble, but now they are the symbol of a miracle.

We are like those rocks. We are ordinary people.  We are look like ordinary people, we smell like ordinary people, we are flawed like ordinary people. But our significance is amazing because of what God did with us. He takes ordinary people and shapes us and forms us until, one day, we will be completely transformed into the person he has always wanted us to be.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. – Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

We have substituted cheap dreams for the dreams of God. What do I want at the end of my life? A baseball field named after me. Are my passions so trivial that I am content with green grass and a baseball diamond?

My dream is that when people look back at my life, they will not see the pile of rocks, but will see the power and glory of God shining through because of his miracles. My dream is that each life I come into contact with will be transformed by the power of God. My dream is that Folsom Community Church is the start of a life-giving, life-changing movement of churches in the Sacramento area. My dream is that my heart breaks for what breaks his heart and that my heart celebrates when his heart rejoices.

But I can’t do that. My habits, my attitudes, my heart is too self-centered. I am too worried about my reputation and what people think about me. I am too comfortable with the way things are right now. I need a miracle. Am I the only one who needs a miracle? 

Maybe you’re here this morning, and you aren’t too sure about this whole God thing, or miracles. Maybe it sounds crazy to you. I agree, it certainly sounds a little bit weird. But what if it was true? What if God is real and still in the business of changing peoples’ lives? Work with me here. If God was real and good and powerful, what would it take for you to trust him? Maybe you need to offer up a prayer like this:

God, I am not sure whether you are real or not. And I’m not sure that if you are real, whether I would really like you. But I want to find out the truth, and if find out that you are real and good, I will follow you as best as I can. I will know if you are real and good if xxxx.

That’s a dangerous prayer. Don’t pray it if you aren’t serious, because it’s a dangerous thing to play with God.

Maybe God has spoken to you. You are convinced he is real. But you don’t know what to do next. Here’s a miracle: God sent Jesus, condemned him for what you did wrong, bought your life with his, and wants to re-launch your life. The Bible calls this being “made new” It is a miracle, like the miracle of creating the world. It is a miracle like Jesus coming back to life.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead … - Ephesians 1:19-20a

It is a miracle that is offered to each one, if we are willing to follow Jesus with all of our heart. We can ignore God, we can dismiss God, we can claim we don’t need God, OR we can say, “God I don’t deserve it, but I need your miracle to change me.  Thank you for sending Jesus to pay for all of my faults and flaws, so I can have this new life. Today I want to follow you, as much as I know how. Amen.”

Many of you already know what I’m talking about. God has already re-launched your life spiritually. But you wish, just wish to see God move in a miraculous way during our life. My brothers and sisters, how I long to see God move like that. Like he did in the Bible. Like he did in the book of Acts. God doesn’t owe me or you a miracle. But I know the best place to find one: with the people of God, in his church. What does God do with rocks?

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. - 1 Peter 2:5

He builds them into a holy place, a monument to his glory.

We are the miracle that God is using to change our world.

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[1] “Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Estimated”, July 1, 2009, U.S. Censur Bureau, http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2009/CBSA-EST2009-01.csv, Retrieved October 26, 2011

Psalm 73: God In Uncertain Times

This sermon was preached at Folsom Community Church on 25 September 2011. Some of the illustrations are not fully spelled out, since I expanded them as I spoke.

Where Is God In Uncertain Times?

Psalm 73

Introduction

During my visit down to Irvine, dropping off my daughter Shannon at her college, I hurt my shoulder. I couldn’t swing it around, I had trouble lifting it above my header, and I had trouble reaching back to get my wallet. Now this is a real problem when you have a child going to college, because the role of a college parent is to remove wallet, invert, shake out contents and repeat as often as necessary. And here I was, on the day of my daughter moving in and I could not reach my wallet.

[wallet illustration. each person is asked to take out their wallet and give it to the person in one row ahead of them or back. I learned this from a John Ortberg book.]

Feeling a little nervous? Now we’re going to have an offering…

Feeling a little curious? What have you got in your wallet? [curious about another person/status]

[give wallets back]

Your wallet is important. Each of the little cards inside prove who you are, who you know and what you can do. [examples]

But these are uncertain times. It is the age of giving and receiving layoffs. My company laid off several people last week. My neighbor closed her two Massage Envy franchises, her house is for sale and she is moving back in with her mother. Teachers are receiving pink slips and only some get new jobs. House values are sinking, cars are breaking down, family is at the doctor’s office, bills keep piling up on the kitchen table. What do we do? We ask ourselves, “Is there something wrong with me?” [pause]

And it is good to ask these kinds of questions. When life seems to be going against us, we should check our hearts and our lives to see what kind of adjustments we need to make. Is God trying to teach me something? Has God been speaking to me, trying to get my attention, first with a whisper, but as I continue to ignore his voice, he keeps turning up the volume until now, with what is happening in my life, maybe, I will finally listen to him.

1.    In Uncertain Times, Practice Contentment

In uncertain times, we need to practice contentment. But, envy will poison contentment. When our life is hard, our credit card bills are large, our paychecks are small, it is overwhelming. But when we look around at other people, they don’t seem to be suffering. They have enough paycheck at the end of th month. What is their secret?

In Psalm 73, the author starts looking around.

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  – Psalm 73:1-3

The author of the psalm has a theory. It’s a very simple theory. It’s a theory I’ve heard from a lot of people. It goes like this:

1. God is good.
2. God wants us to be “pure”, good people.
3. God is generous.
4. God will reward the pure people—the good people—and, punish the bad people.

If we examined each of those statements, they seem self-evidently true. God is good. God wants us to be good people. God is generous. God will judge and reward. But when we look around the world today and we look at who has all the bennys; who has all the cheddar; who has all the dinero; who has the cars; the houses; the good looks or the money for good looks—it really doesn’t seem like the good people are at the front of the line. In fact, the opposite is true. Who gets the promotion at work? The smart, hard-working, helpful guy *or* the kiss-up, back-biting, political guy? Who gets elected in politics? The self-less and humble and truthful? Or the self-promoting lying and proud? TV stars? Rock stars? Seriously. What is the ratio between rip-off artist CEOs and honest business owners? Even lottery tickets. Please Lord, can’t I just buy one lottery ticket? If I win, I won’t waste it, Lord, like those other losers. I promise, I’ll tithe.  

 

So, what do we conclude? Is the Bible unrealistic? Or, is there another answer? [pause]

 

We’ll come back to this question later. But first I want to look at one of the great enemies of happiness in the Christian life: envy. Verse 2 says “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold, for I envied the arrogant…” When I start to look around and compare, I lose my happiness. Because all of a sudden, my kids, my wife, my job, my house, my car, my position—they aren’t good enough. Suddenly, I won’t be happy unless I have this thing. I won’t be happy until I have this experience. I won’t be happy until I have this respect, or position. God has given you everything you need to live the life he wants you to have, right now. If you really need something more, you ask and God will give it. 

 

The author says, "my feet had almost slipped." How many times have we compared, and rather than turning away from envy, we plunged in? How many times have we stood at the edge of that decision, and fallen over, because our minds were preoccupied with what they possess or have accomplished, and we have not. When you start to compare, you are on dangerous, slippery ground.

 

The Bible says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” – 1 Timothy 6:6. Did you catch that? You are rich when you are content with what you do have, accompanied by the right attitude. Stop comparing! Stop looking at what you don’t have and look at what God has already given you. Practice contentment.

2.    In Uncertain Times, Choose God’s Plan A
In uncertain times, choose God’s plan A for your life.

 

In the next verses, we see the world’s picture of a “good life”. But, it is a lie. It is a lie because the world’s picture of success says it is possible to have a “good life” without becoming a “good person”

 

Look at the list in the next part of Psalm 73, from verses 4-12.

Verse	False Definitions of Success
Verse 4: They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.	They just glide through life, never having to struggle, always healthy.
Verse 5: They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.	They never suffer all of the same problems as I do.
Verse 6-7: Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.  From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.	They can do whatever they want, and never have to worry about the consequences.
Verse 8-9: They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.	They can say whatever they want and get away with it.
Verse 10: Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.	They have all sorts of friends who always want to be around them.
Verse 11: They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”	They don’t have to worry about the rules; they don’t have to worry about what God thinks.
Verse 12: This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth.	They never worry about anything and always have extra money.

These versions paint a picture of what wonderful life “they” have. But does anyone actually have a life like that? No! I have a friend who works for the FBI. He has worked on numerous investigations, dealing with extremely wealthy people who try to have the “good life” without being “good people” And his conclusion, after seeing their lives, is that they are extremely unhappy. We envy the movie stars, the sports stars, the CEOs when they their lives are such a train wreck? [Will Smith]

 

The devil uses this lie over and over. And we fall for it, because when life is painful, we will do almost anything to stop the pain. When life is tough, and we see others who seem to have no problems, we envy them and will do almost anything to have what they have. 

 

Early in Jesus’ ministry, the devil took Jesus to the top of a high mountain, showed him everything in the world and said: Jesus, this could all be yours—all of it. No pain, no cross, everybody loves you, all the world is yours—the only little thing you need to do is just worship me. The same lie: you can have the “good life” Jesus without having to being a good person. But Jesus said, “No!”

 

So, in uncertain times, choose God’s Plan A, avoid the devil’s Plan B. There is no “good life” without being a “good person”

3.    In Uncertain Times, Don’t Try To Manipulate God
In uncertain times, don’t try to manipulate God. Listen to what it says in verses 13-16.

 

 

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me. – Psalm 73:13-16.

Do you hear the whine in his voice? What is he saying? God, I’ve been a good boy. I went to church; I didn’t kill anybody; I gave money; I kept my promises. And look at my life! God, I’ve been so good that you owe me a good life. My good actions have put God in my debt! We try to control God.

 

Does God owe me anything? Does he owe you anything? No. Anything good that we have in our lives is because God decided to give it, not because we deserve it. That’s grace. God’s grace is his smile upon your life, not because you pleased him, but because he chose to love you.

 

And God will do whatever it takes to make you into a good person. Whatever. It. Takes. He already sent Jesus to save you. He sends the Holy Spirit to change you. Your character is more important to him than your comfort. A good person can have a good life in any situation.

 

There is another point here: Do we only want God to get the stuff? Is God the giant vending machine in the sky? Put in your prayer, or your tithe, or your good deed, push the button and out comes a blessing? Or do we want God for who he is. Imagine if our kids said to us: Daddy, look what a good girl I’ve been, now give me a candy bar. Mommy, I love you, now can I have a new car? Love God, not the stuff that he gives us. In uncertain times, don’t try to manipulate God.

4.    In Uncertain Times, Stay Close To God

In fact, in uncertain times, stay close to God. Verse 17 marks a turning point in the psalm.

till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. – Psalm 73:17

‘Till I entered the sanctuary of God’ Trying to figure out why sometimes the bad people get the good stuff and the good people get the bad stuff made him crazy. Till he entered the sanctuary of God. What was in the ‘sanctuary of God’? God was. Many times when we are in doubt or we are confused or we don’t understand, the answer is to come close to God, to go to church, to be with God’s people and listen to God’s word. Not because he always explains the answer, but so that we can at least trust the one who has the answer: God. That’s why the Bible says

 

 

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

If you delight yourself in the Lord, what do you want most? You want God! Then it says God will give you the desire of your heart. That’s God. The good life is the God life.

 

If God is your delight—if God is your “good life”—it is permanent. But if you try to get the “good life” by a shortcut, listen to what the Bible says in Psalm 73:18-20:

Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. – Psalm 73:18-20

Let me show what happens to the “good life” without being a good person. [bubbles illustration. blow bubbles and notice how beautiful and large they are. Then track the progress of a few long-lasting bubbles, express dismay that they pop. Then try again. The fate of the bubbles is like the fate of the proud, 100%]

 

Here are five benefits of staying close to God in uncertain times:

1. God comforts in the pain, struggles and heartache. Verse 21 says “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant… Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right hand.” – vs. 21-23
2. God gives you guidance through uncertain times. The first part of verse 24 says “You guided me with your counsel…”
3. God guarantees your future past uncertain times. The rest of verse 24 says, “…and afterward you will take me into glory.”
4. God gives you strength to get through uncertain times. Verse 26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
5. God protects you from uncertain times. Verse 28 says, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge.”
 
Conclusion

The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was hit by a car. The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be in a coma for a couple of days before he finally regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes, his loving wife was there beside his bed holding his hand.

 

He said, "You know, Judy, you’ve always been right by my side. When I was a struggling college student, I failed again and again. But you were always there with me, encouraging me to go on trying."

 

He said, "And when I got out of school and went for all of my interviews and failed to get any of the jobs, you stayed right there with me, cutting out more classifieds for me to check on..."

 

“Then I started work at this little firm and finally got the chance to handle a big contract. But I blew it because of one little mistake, and yet you were there beside me all the way. Then I finally got another job after being laid off for sometime. But I never seemed to be promoted and my hard work was never recognized. And so, I remained in the same position from the day I joined the company until now... And, through it all, you were right there by my side."

 

Her eyes are starting to fill with tears as she listens. He says, "And now I’ve been in this accident and when I woke up, you’re the first person I see. There’s something I’ll really like to say to you...."

 

He said, "Judy, I think you’re just plain bad luck!" – ChurchLeaders.com, Jonathan Goats, retrieved 09/24/11

 

When life is bad and you can’t find a way out and all of your mistakes seem to come back and hurt you, we can look at God in one of two ways: either we can thank God for being there with us through all of it, or we can blame him, like that husband with Judy.

 

Some of us have read in the Bible where it says: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” But we don’t always remember why God had to say that:  

 

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

How can I be content? Here are three things you can practice right now:

1. Gratitude. Stop right now and write down 9 things that you are thankful for; 9 blessings in your life. Names of people, recent events, unexpected good things, small or big. 30 seconds to write down 9 things. Are you blessed? Now, say it with me: God, you blessed me. God, you blessed me.
2. Give. Find some way to give what you have: time, money, resources, encouragement to someone else each day this week. When you give, you are showing that you are not poor; because you have enough to give away. You already listed 9 blessings you received from God. Turn around and give blessings away. If you hold blessings tightly, they become rotten. But when you give your blessings away, you make more room for God to bless you again.
3. Gather. Gather together with God’s people. The Psalmist said ‘Till I entered the sanctuary of God.’ Sometimes we lost track of what is really important in life. But God’s people can help you remember. Sitting around the table, sharing a meal, sharing your problems and listening for God speaking through other brothers and sisters, and through the Bible helps give us perspective.

The Bible says: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). What do you really need? Or have we confused ‘wants’ with ‘needs’. Food? Water? Clothing? Shelter? Sure. Car? Job? 401k? Flat screen television? Sounds like my Christmas list when I was a child. God says: If you need those things in order to do what I want you to do, you will surely have them. But what do you really need?

 

Did you know, you can survive up to 8 weeks without food. You can survive about 11 days without sleep. You can survive up to 3-5 days without water. You can survive 4 minutes without oxygen. But for all of us, the day is coming when no amount of food or sleep or water or oxygen can save us. Then we discover that the one thing we need is: Jesus. Death comes for us all, now or five minutes from now, or five years or fifty years, but it comes. And when it comes, you cannot survive death without Jesus. Jesus is the one thing you really need. Death came after Jesus by the cross, the grave swallowed him up, but on the third day, it could not keep him, it had indigestion and he came back to life.

 

Maybe you have come today and you realize that you have trying to have the “good life” without being a “good person”. The Bible says there is no good person—none righteous, not even one—unless you surrender to God and let God make you a new person inside. Maybe you know that you need God more than anything else. The Bible says, “He who has the son, has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life.” – 1 John 5:12

 

If that is you, you can pray to God and tell him: “God, I cannot be a good person. But I know Jesus died and came back to life so that he can change me into that good person. I want to do things your way from now on and live your lifestyle so that when death comes for me, you will give me life forever. Amen” If you prayed that prayer now, or you pray it later by yourself, make sure you tell somebody.

 

 

Be content. Envy is poison. Don’t control God, but stay close to God.

2 Timothy 2:1-7: Legacy Impact

This sermon was first preached in Medellin Colombia and then again (in a modified form) at Folsom Community Church on 8/21/11.

Legacy Impact

Introduction: When You Leave, What Will They Say? (vs. 2-3)

In a famous scene in the Mark Twain novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, everyone thinks that Tom is dead, including his family, his teacher and even the girl that he likes from school. But Tom is not dead and at his own funeral, has a chance to secretly listen to what people said. The girl is sorry she was so cold towards Tom. The citizens of the town wonder how they overlooked such a good boy. The pastor gives a beautiful sermon. Everyone cries for Tom. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Tom appears in the church and what can everyone do but love him, now that they’ve said all those nice things about him.

Many of us would like to know what Tom discovered: what do people really think about me? What really is the permanent result of my life? Will I be forgotten? Will I just be one more grave marker in the cemetery?  [Arlington] This is what the Bible says:

For,  “All people are like grass,  and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,” – 1 Peter 4:24

Life is short. This thought was clearly in the thoughts of the Apostle Paul as he was writing his 2^nd letter to Timothy, as he was sitting in the prison because of his role in starting new churches and telling people about Jesus Christ.

for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. – 2 Timothy 2:9

Many of his friends have abandoned him.

for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me… – 2 Timothy 4:10

Others have publicly ridiculed his teaching and his career. When he went to his trial, there was no one in the trial to support him.  Listen to what he said:

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. – 2 Timothy 4:16

He is not sure he will ever be released. His physical health is fading.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. – 2 Timothy 4:6

So with all of this, Paul might be thinking “Was it worth it? Did I really need to do all this? Couldn’t I have just sat in my chair, with my drink in my hand and watched soccer with my friends? Why did I have to do all of this God stuff? Why did I work so hard for so many years?”

Is that what Paul was thinking? No! He is thinking about the job that God had given him. He tells his close friend Timothy-a friend so close he calls him his “son”-to speak the same important message:

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.  - 2 Timothy 2:1-2

They say that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” That is, if they copy you, it is really because what you said and did was important. Paul tells Timothy, “I lived my life in front of many witnesses. I gave my message in front of many witnesses. Now, you, my friend, live your life, give your message.” The impact of your life will be measured by changes in their life. Not by how many Starbuck’s mugs you have in your collection, nor trophies on your shelf, nor best sales awards, cruises taken or diplomas earned, but by the changes in lives. God has placed you.

Who are the witnesses of your life?

What message are you giving?

Your Impact Comes From Your Focus On God (vs. 4)

Paul was very aware that the way that we live our lives can either improve or destroy the message. So, in the following verses, he uses three word pictures; three illustrations to show how God’s message is hidden or blocked by the way in which we live our lives and the choices that we make. The first picture comes from verses 3-4:

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. – 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Notice that Paul says: “good soldier” We all know that there can be many types of ‘bad’ soldiers, for many reasons. But the “good soldier” described by the Apostle Paul is focused on one thing: Jesus Christ. He is not distracted by other duties. He is not worried about the opinions of other people. He watches his commanding officer closely, and when the order comes, he says “Yes, sir!” and carries it out with all of his strength.

Now imagine a different kind of soldier—a bad soldier.  He is set to guard something. But then a pretty girls walks by. But then he starts talking with his friends. Then he starts texting on his phone. He starts thinking about what the doctor said. And while he is doing these—none of which is really bad—the situation is the same as if there was no guard. He has lost his focus.

Sometimes we get caught in the ritual of daily life. The ritual of eat/work/sleep. The ritual of fútbol. Even the ritual of church.  We forget that these are not the goal of our life. These are not the goal. They are the journey. If having a beautiful family and a good job and an exciting game and a fun church are the goal, then they become so large in our life that they block out God.

God has given us a message. The gospel of Jesus. We are his messengers. We are his ambassadors. We are his soldiers, charged to carry the message. We carry the message to our families. To our place of work. To our schools. Even to our vacations. [France]

There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the baseball team, the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you're holding the bat wrong. You're supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn't say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit a home run into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn't come up here to read."[1]

 Keep your focus on Jesus. Keep your focus on the message he gave to you. Don’t get distracted.

Your Impact Comes When You Keep The Rules (vs. 5)

The second picture comes from verse 5:

Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. – 2 Timothy 2:5

It is the picture of an athlete.

Have you ever thought about it: Why do we have referees and umpires? Sometimes it seems they just exist to create controversy. But the real reason is that we are tempted to win by skipping the rules. We like those rules that tell us when we win, but those which tell us when we are ‘out of bounds’ those we don’t like. Our lifestyle is oriented around the mantra that ‘as long as no one catches me’ it is ok. We are tempted to take the easy road instead of the right/straight road. We want the prize, but we don’t want the pain.

[Illustration from the life of Tyler Hamilton, who, after found violating the Olympic doping regulations had to give back his 2004 Olympics gold medal]

1. God created us with a purpose. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
2. God will not ask you to do anything that requires going outside the rules. “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” – James 1:13
3. God always provides an alternative solution. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

[Illustration concerning Arnold Schwarzenegger, successful body-builder, movie star, politician, husband who lost it all when he decided to pursue happiness outside the bounds of marriage.]

 

Your Impact Is Strengthened By Your Hope (vs. 6)

The first picture was the soldier. The second picture was the athlete. The third picture is found in verse 6:

The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. – 2 Timothy 2:6

It is the picture of a farmer. There is a lot of faith involved in being a farmer. There is the hard work and the investment up front, with little or no immediate reward and then waiting through the uncertainty of weather and soil and disease. A few years ago, we went to visit my wife’s professor near Toronto, Canada, who now farms thousands of acres of potatoes under contract from Lay’s chip company. Potatoes are the most frustrating of crops, because the part you can see is the part you don’t really care about: the leaves and stems. The part you really care about is down under the soil, hopefully soaking in the nutrients, but they could be rotting away and you wouldn’t know whether your efforts are wasted.

That’s what Paul is saying here: sometimes the godly life, the life of a hard-working follower of Jesus, is an uncertain one; whether the time and energy that you put into peoples’ lives, is worth it. Some people are just such losers, such leeches, such a waste of time, such money pits, such black holes for emotional energy. Whenever I start thinking that, God prompts me and says: That person is just like you on a different day. That person is just like you except for grace. Why do you think your name is “Lewis” (big L on forehead for ‘loser’)? No person has more need of God’s grace than you. No person has less need of God’s grace than you.  

You see the farmer knows that the result his hard work is ultimately not in his hands, it is in God’s. And here, Paul is reassuring Timothy: no exertion for God is wasted; no tear is forgotten; no encouraging word mis-spent; no blood spilled pointless because it is God who guarantees the harvest.  And, we who work the fields, will share in the joy. Here is what Paul wrote about this:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. – Galatians 6:9-10

Conclusion

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. – 2 Timothy 2:7

Paul says, “Think!” Why does God want me alive? Why am I still breathing air? Why am I still using up food?

Paul is feeling his age in this letter. He is not confident about the outcome of his trial. And in reflecting on his life, here is what he concluded:

I have fought the good fight [soldier], I have finished the race [athlete], I have kept the faith [farmer]. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:7-8

God has made you a leader. A leader in your family; a leader in your office; a leader in your school; a leader in your church or community. You are leading. But where? Did you expand heaven’s reach into the world where you live? Or is it more like a 1-legged duck, swimming in circles.

Maybe you’ve come to this Sunday with the conclusion that you have nothing left to give, because of what you have done; because of your age or your health or whatever. Paul could have said that. He could have coasted into eternity. But he knew that you fulfill God’s purpose and then  you die. If you’re still breathing, God has more for you to do.  That’s why Paul told Timothy:

Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.  When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. – 2 Timothy 4:11-13

Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, did get to hear what people thought about him. Twice during his lifetime, there was an incorrect report of his death and he read his own death notice (obituary) in the newspaper. [2] Not satisfied with the results, he even wrote a humorous article asked for the privilege of editing his own obituary.

I will correct them - not the Facts, but the Verdicts - striking out such clauses as could have a deleterious influence on the Other Side, and replacing them with clauses of a more judicious character.

Then he was able to read the many letters of sympathy, and the articles written about his legacy; his impact.  But you know, that wasn’t enough. He wanted to insure he would be remembered. He wanted to live forever through his books. So he piled up manuscripts and, in his will, he required that his autobiography not be published until 100 years after his death, so that people would still remember what one of the most brilliant authors and speakers in American history would be remembered.

Jesus Christ wrote no books. But there were 4 separate records of his words. His lasting impact was in the lives of his followers.

Maybe you’ve realized this morning that, if you disappeared, there would be no impact other than 6 foot deep crater your body will occupy when you die. Maybe you realized that the influence that you have, you have been using to lead people in the wrong direction or in no direction at all.  Jesus died so that we can move from the aimless life; the insignificant life; the forgotten life; into eternal life; As it says in the Bible, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” (Heb. 12:2a)  Have you ever said to Jesus: “Jesus, I am wrong. I am lost. Thank you for dying on the cross; your life for mine; your strength for my weakness; your righteousness for my sin. I want to follow your direction for my life.”

What is your impact? Where are you leading?

---

[1] Nehemiah, Learning To Lead, J.M. Boice, Revell, 1990, p. 38 as retrieved from www.sermonillustrations.com on 6/15/2011

[2] "Amended Obituaries" first published in Harper's Weekly, November 15, 1902, cited on http://www.twainquotes.com/Obituaries.html, accessed on 8/21/11.

Ephesians 2:8-10: Make The Most Of My Rescued Life

The Wall Street Journal reported how the town of Rikuzentakata, Japan is recovering from the devastating tsunami by pushing through with their annual "fighting star" festival. Each year, for over 900 years, on the 7th of August, floats sponsorted by each of the town's four hamlets would come together and joust. Each float carries decorations made of bamboo branches and notes bearing the wishes of the townspeople.

But this year was different. The tsunami wiped out three of the four floats. The traditional route for the floats is lined with rubble. There are more wishes. One banner read, "We will not be defeated." Another note read, "I want Rukuzentakata to return to the way it was; a town overflowing with smiles."

The message that caught my attention, though, was the one that said: "I will strive to make the most of my rescued life."[1]

What will I do with my rescued life? I've been rescued by God. Rescued-a synonym for saved. Rescued from a wasted, self-focused, death-bound life. I was saved for a purpose--not on accident, but with gracious intent.

You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. - Ephesians 2:8b-10 (NCV)

God has granted me today for a reason. I don't know what it is yet. But there is a reason. How about you?

Pray: "God, you have rescued me for today. Help me make the most of it. Show me and strengthen me for that purpose today. Amen" What will God do? Here are some further places in the Bible that talk about it: Rom. 11:13, 2 Cor. 2:12, Gal. 6:10, Col. 4:5.

[1] The Wall Street Journal, 8/8/11, pg. 7