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Our Journey with God

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Introduction

“Life’s a journey, not a destination,” Steven Tyler sang in the rock band Aerosmith’s 1993 song, “Amazing.”

Amazing doesn’t quite describe the quirky fact that the very same phrase Aerosmith used in 1993 was used in 1920 by Methodist pastor and theologian Lynn H. Hough in a Sunday school lesson outline on the New Testament letter of 1 Peter: “ life is a journey and not a destination .” However, we may want to hear the rest of the quote to make sense of it:

Life is a journey and not a destination; that the heart must be set upon those matters of character which are eternal and not upon those matters of sensation which pass away.

I think Steven Tyler would have been as shocked as Lynn Hough that their view of life was shared in this instance.

Yet, both of them echo a reality woven throughout the Scripture about our lives as human beings: we are on a journey through our days. Ideally, that journey is with God, but regardless of whether we believe in God or not, “journey” is the way we experience life.

One of the places where this comes clear in Scripture is in a little section of the Old Testament Book of Psalms known as the Psalms of Ascent.

The Psalms of Ascent consist of 15 psalms, from 120 through 134. While there are different ideas about what the “ascent” referenced in this group is all about, the most likely possibility is that these psalms were sung and prayed by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. They were traveling to the temple in celebration of the three main festivals of the Hebrew people: Passover, Pentecost, and Booths (Exodus 23:14-17). No matter where they were, they would ascend toward Jerusalem because it was on the heights, but also because it was symbolically the spiritual high point where God dwelt with human beings.

These pilgrim songs, these road-trip prayers, acted like a soundtrack for the people of God in their travels. They took the Hebrew people back to the nomadic faith journey of Abraham and the liberation journey of the Exodus. It was a reminder that they were a people on the way with God.

These psalms do the same for us today as well. They remind us that our life with God is a journey. It is a journey with God, but also a journey with his people on the way to the eternal kingdom.

The writer to the Hebrews in the New Testament describes God’s people as “foreigners and strangers on earth … looking for a country of their own” (Hebrews 11:13-14). With the Psalms of Ascent we sing and pray a soundtrack for the pilgrimage of our life with God, not just to Jerusalem, but to the eternal country that is our heavenly home in God for eternity.

In these Psalms of Ascent we see what it means to be shaped spiritually by God and his truth more than the surrounding context of our world. In a culture set on instantaneous achievement, instantaneous acquisition, instantaneous food out of a microwave or vending machine, we know life does not really work that way. The Psalms of Ascent slow us down enough so that we can take our time on a journey with God. There are certain things that we need in our lives, in our souls, if we are really going to grow with God over the long haul. These psalms show us what it means to grow over time, not in an instant; what it means to live life on a pilgrimage, where we draw nearer to seeing God in space and time every hour of our lives.

Beginning with the Lord in Our Distress

In the 2010 movie The Way we follow Tom, an American doctor, who receives the shocking news that his estranged adult son has unexpectedly died in a storm while hiking the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James. Dealing with his unresolved grief, Tom decides to honor his son’s desire to complete the Camino by embarking on the historical pilgrimage himself. Unprepared and not physically conditioned for it, Tom’s journey takes him beyond himself. He encounters his need for others, his need for resolution of his grief, and his need for a deeper spiritual meaning in life.

The film is moving to watch and parallels some of the real reasons people walk this historic pilgrimage path today. Some friends of mine run a hostel at the end of the Camino, in the beautiful city of Santiago de Compostela. Time and again they encounter people who are searching for something in their lives. Many are in the midst of distress and the walk along the Camino de Santiago becomes a pilgrimage not only physically but spiritually, as they seek a breakthrough to a deeper, more spiritual reality in life.

For most of us, the journey of our lives involves moments of distress. This is how Psalm 120 begins.

(Read Psalm 120:1-2)

When we think about going on a spiritual journey, this may feel like a strange way to start. However, it shouldn't feel strange because the beginning of our own journey with God involves coming to the end of ourselves. It begins with us saying, “Save me, God.”

Life is all about this. If life is about nothing else, it's about realizing that we are, if I can borrow bit of a language from Alcoholics Anonymous, powerless to change ourselves. We need a higher power. You may know that AA has its roots in Christianity. This acknowledgment that change happens when we come to the end of ourselves and reach out to God is just what we see in Psalm 120:1-2. Of course, that is not just true of alcoholics. It's true of anyone who exists on earth.

If you've been on the journey with God, you know this. So many times in our lives, we come to the end of ourselves because of physical situations in our lives, because of spiritual realities that we're dealing with, because of emotional difficulties in our lives, because of relational things that are happening, or even the broader challenges in the world around us. Sometimes simply reading the news is enough to bring us to the end of ourselves.

The journey with God begins by simply saying, “I do not have it in myself to make it in the abundant life, the best life possible and so, God, would you save me because I actually am in distress in one way or another.” That beginning is marked by honesty with God .

Sometimes when people come to church they think they need to put on a game face. It’s the religious game face with the religious answers and the religious smile that says everything is great. But the reality is different. We come to worship from a lot of different places and some of us are not great now. Don't misunderstand me. God is still great. God is still good. He's still almighty. However, there are moments of distress that come in our lives, when one of the most spiritual things we can do is to admit it before God and everybody else. It doesn't mean we stay in that place forever, but we say, “God, I need you.” Wherever we are coming from in this moment today, it is good to simply express to God, “I need you.”

When we get honest with God in prayer—admit that we have needs, admit that we have distress, admit that we have come to the end of ourselves—something new begins. It says in Scripture that God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). That does not mean we have to walk around heavy-hearted all the time. It does means that when we cannot carry ourselves, God loves to step in and carry us. The meaning of the incarnation of Jesus is that God steps inside of humanity’s broken existence that he might carry us back to himself; that we might be reconciled back to God through Christ. The honest admission of our need to God is the beginning of our journey with God.

Distress can open something up for us when we call to God, when we let him be, as verse two says, our Savior. That's the personal name of God, Yahweh : “Yahweh, please save me from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.” Now, here's the reality about distress. Sometimes there is distress inside of us and at other times there is distress surrounding us. God is the kind of being who, when we say, “I need you, I'm in distress,” he is there and he saves. Whether it's the internal distress or the surrounding distress, God is a Savior big enough for the external and the internal distress in our lives.

Is anybody in distress today? Are you feeling it on the inside? Are you feeling it around you? Do you feel it in the nation? Do you feel it in the world? God is not bound by what's inside of us or what's beyond us. He is the Almighty God and God is also close at hand.

Untangling Falsehood with God’s Truth

Have you ever had somebody tell lies about you? There is nothing you can do about it. I mean, you could try. I’m not encouraging this, but you could punch the person in the face so they couldn't talk. You could try that, but it would not stop the root of the problem. Maybe you wish you had a mute button on other people. Just be careful. They may wish they had a mute button on you, too.

What can lies do to you? Well, lies can do some things to you. They can ruin your reputation. They can make things very difficult for you. They can make circumstances bad. They can make people you love become people you hate. What can lies do to you? A lot of things, but not everything. There is a limit on what lies can do. The real question is: What can God do in the midst of lies?

(Read Psalm 120:3-4)

Sounds extreme, doesn't it? How does God feel about lies? Well, this is what it says in Proverbs 12:22, “Yahweh detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

When lies come against us or when lies come out of our mouth, God is not full of joy. He detests that. Why? Because he is a God of truth and there will come a day, the scriptures tell us, when the truth will be revealed. If I needed a sermon illustration, I could easily just point at the news. Again and again, no matter how hard we try to hide things that are in the darkness, the truth comes out. There will come a day when all the lies that people use to cover over darkness will be brought into the light. Honestly, it will be a scary moment when the lies of our lips are shown to be the lies that they are.

It says here in Psalm 120 that God advocates for truth and he actually stands against those who are liars. This reflects what Jesus says in John 8:44 about the devil. “When he [the devil] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The problem is that sometimes we learn the native language of the devil and we take it inside of ourselves. The apostle Paul says this to the early church: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” (Col. 3:9).

Contrary to lying is loving one another, carrying each other's burdens, and being a person who is trustworthy and true. Scripture offers us a picture of the end of human history, that shows even if there are lies that have been placed out there, God will come and brings the fullness of his kingdom. What is that kingdom like? This is the way it is described in Zephaniah 3:12-13:

I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant … will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.

This does not sound like the rulers of the earth, does it? This describes the fulfillment of Psalm 120. God is at work in the midst of the world, and though lying lips may do things to us in our lives, God is our defender standing in the truth, standing against the father of lies and all those who have learned his language, even when it gets inside of us. God stands against that and calls us to be the kind of people who are not only standing in the truth ourselves, but are actually protected by the father of truth. This is the invitation to a becoming a different sort of person, living by a different sort of story, in the midst of a different sort of journey?

Living for Peace in the Midst of Conflict

“Well,” you may say, “that sounds good, Matt, but my life is not like that. You don’t know what my workplace is like and what my neighborhood is like.” I understand that. But listen to what the Psalmist says next.

(Read Psalm 120:5)

Meshek and Kedar may be a bit confusing. Meshek is in present-day Turkey, beyond the northern-most border of the land of Israel, and Kedar is located in present-day Saudi Arabia, south of the land of Israel. These are two foreign peoples located at the extreme opposite ends of Israel.

When the people would go on pilgrimage, they would come from a lot of different places around the land. This writer of Psalm 120 is not saying that he’s necessarily living in these places, but that these two peoples serve as figurative names of the barbarian people that he is in the midst of (Kidner, Psalms 73-150, p. 430). He’s saying, “Oh man, the people I live in and around, they remind me of the heathen barbarians. That's the way that I feel right now. They are these people far off in the furthest reaches and not at all like God’s people.”

We could ask ourselves, who or what is our Meshek and Kedar today? Meshek and Kedar are different things for each of us. They are places we feel like we find ourselves amidst people where God’s truth and way is not upheld. They are the places we find ourselves where a kind of heathen imagination and imagination that's far from God takes us captive. Meshek and Kedar represent what’s happening when we find ourselves trying to live for God, trying to be on pilgrimage, trying to see the celestial city that we're aiming for, trying to hear God's voice, but all we can hear is the rumblings of the chaotic mindset contrary to God around us.

Do you ever experience these sorts of realities? It is almost as if the psalmist feels unable to see beyond the chaos into the destination of the journey. “Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar. Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.”

The prayers in the Psalms of Ascent are songs of a people on the journey with God, even in the midst of people, lands, and times that are at odds with God. As we take this pilgrimage with God, we join in prayer together, singing these songs many times in a land and in the presence of people that seem to be against us. Even when we feel like someone is against us or like the territory or environment is at odds with our faith journey, it is an opportunity.

The journey with God starts right where we are, right in the midst of the chaos of the world around us. We cannot wait to get to another place that is difficulty-free to start the journey. Instead, we start the journey in the midst of opposition, right in the places that are not for peace, right in the places that seem to be dead-set against God's ways, even the places where conflict and lies seem gathered around. In the mist of those places, the people of God can step forward and say, “In this place, I am for God. I am for truth. I am for his ways.” That is where the journey begins.

The prayers of the people on pilgrimage arise from a community joining together on the journey in an alien, or even hostile, place. They sing these song as they journey together, and that, too, is instructive to us. The journey with God is not just something you do on your own. The Psalms of Ascent are a communal journey. Imagine a group of a cluster of people off on the very edges of Israel, maybe past Syria, towards the land of Meshek, and they’re beginning to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. As they traverse the land, they begin to sing Psalm 120. One person starts the song and the hearts that are heavy and the minds that are worn out from living amidst a people opposed to God begin to join in with the song together. Sometimes you just need somebody else to start the song so you can join in and get going on the journey together as well.

This week I received a song like that. Actually, it was a WhatsApp message from one of our friends who serves in another part of the world and is enduring some great hardships and violence. She reached out to a number of us requesting prayer and many of us responded with little messages of encouragement, saying things like, “We’re with you and we're praying for you.” After a while, she responded: “Thank you, Lord, for giving me spiritual family that can never be taken away!”

These prayers and songs of the people on the journey with God are prayed together. They are sung together because we need each other, and it's when we pray and sing together that our hearts are lifted up beyond the circumstances and the environment that’s opposed to God or us. When we reach out to one other and say, “We’re with you. We journey together,” the burden becomes lighter. We carry one another's burdens, lift one another's arms when we cannot go on, and we start to sing the songs of the Lord.

That's the journey of the people of God. It's not just one person but clusters of people. Is there a group of people around you who lifts your arms when you cannot rise? Are there people around you who can start to sing the song when you cannot sing the song yourself? Is there somebody there you can reach out to and say, “Pray for me because I am dwelling in the land of Meshek and Kedar.” We need each other.

(Read Psalm 120:6-7)

When we read this psalm, for some of us it is easiest to relate to the troubles dwelling in Meshek and living in Kedar. But the movement of this psalm is toward peace, not toward sitting in the darkness or giving into the hatred around us.

That word, “peace,” is the well-known Hebrew word shalom . It’s one of the most prominent words in the Hebrew Bible. It does not simply mean inner peace or the absence of conflict. It means that everything is right and good in God’s world as he intends it to be. Biblical peace is not just personal, but is a social and relational peace. It means that the community is truly together, not just living without strife, but actually living with things being right, good, and harmonious, individually and together.

In light of the context of Meshek and Kedar, peace here means God’s people are free from judgment, oppression, and warfare. It means God’s people are living the good life, the way that God intended it to be, regardless of their setting. That is true both personally and in relationship with other people. Shalom .

This is the intention of God, but the world we live in feels so different. It is full of strife. We encounter that every day in some form. We see it in the major cities of our world, and we see it in our own city. We feel it in our families and in our friendships. We experience it in ourselves. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). Then James writes, “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18).

Now, in a world of chaos and division, in a world of hatred and injustice, in a world where people use each other and things, it can look like the world is going to hell in a hand basket. In a world like that, the tendency for us, even as Christians, is sometimes to slide into hopelessness or hatred.

However, Psalm 120, which begins the journey of the Psalms of Ascent declares,

Even though I'm in the midst of an environment that's at odds with God, I choose to be the kind of person who does not slide into hopelessness. Neither do I slide into hatred. I set my eyes on God. I begin the journey with God. I choose to be a person aiming for the good life—the life of true shalom— in myself and for the community of God and for those beyond that sphere, so that people might be blessed through me, even as Abraham was called to be a blessing to every nation of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3).

This is peace-making, this bringing of blessing, is a mark of the journey with God from the very beginning.

Of course, the truth about intending to do something like that is we cannot create it ourselves. But there is One who can. His name is Jesus. He was spoken about by the prophet Isaiah, who described the Messiah as “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). When he spoke with his disciples before the suffering of the Cross, he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can bring his peace into our lives and also bring his peace through us into the world around us.

As we think about the nature of our spiritual journey with the Psalms of Ascent, I would like to suggest four ways we can respond and make this real for us in our own lives.

First, some of us need to simply begin the journey and stop waiting for everything to get better. We should not wait for God to lift us out of the land of Kedar and Meshek, but begin with God right where we are.

Second, some of us in this place need to call out to God with honesty and brokenness. Perhaps you have been afraid to be honest with God in your life. This is the moment that can change. The journey with God is one that is marked by honesty and vulnerability. And so, perhaps the biggest step for some of us is simply to call out to God from the honesty of our lives, saying, “God, I’m in distress. I need your help. I want to begin with you.”

For others of us, God may be telling us that we need community in our lives. Perhaps that means reaching out to somebody else around you and asking, “Would you pray with me that I might be touched by God and his saving work in my life?” Even now, some of us need to reach out to others in our lives and say, “I need a group of people around me who can help me journey on the way.”

The truth is that we're not meant to do it alone. But I really believe there are some of us who have slid into hopelessness and God wants to replace that hopelessness with his peace. Maybe it's the hopelessness of your circumstances. Maybe it's the hopelessness of your health. Maybe it's the apparent hopelessness of the world or the strife in our nation. It really does not matter what form your hopelessness takes. It's time to take the hopelessness and bring it to the Cross of Christ and say, “God, would you be my peace.” It will not help us to crawl into some quiet place inside of ourselves or to hunker down somewhere in society when what we really need to do is crawl into the presence of God and let him be our hope.

Lastly, some of us have slid into the tendency of hatred toward others, and it is time to shed hatred because that is antithetical to the ways of God who wants to be our peace and, through us, shed peace upon others. Though we live in the tents of Kedar and dwell in Meshek, God wants to move us through the place of a hatred, and into the place of peace. Maybe today is the day to say,

God, I choose to let go of hatred toward myself. I choose to let go of hatred toward somebody in my family. I choose to let go of hatred toward some category of people in the world or toward some place in the world. Instead, God, I'm drawing near to you. I want you to be my peace. I want to go on the journey with you.

Let me simply say out loud that we cannot hide in our hatred. It will not protect us. Our hatred actually makes us vulnerable. But in the presence of God, we can draw near and enter the place of peace.

Wherever we are at this morning, let’s join together on the journey with God, letting the Psalms of Ascent be the songs, the prayers, the soundtrack for our journey.

Matt Erickson serves as the Senior Pastor of Eastbrook Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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December 30, 2018

A Journey to Jesus

by Alistair Begg

The star of Bethlehem was more than a cosmic wonder; its presence compelled the magi to undertake a journey of eternal significance. Their destination, though, was not a place but a person. Just as the wise men knelt before the Savior, Alistair Begg reminds us that a genuine encounter with Jesus will result in praise and glory to the Father. God is seeking worshippers from all nations and will use any means, including the created order, to draw us to His Son.

• Christ's Birth
• Jesus Christ
• The Nativity

The Visit of the Wise Men

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men 1 from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose 2 and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg . Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .

Journeys with Jesus – Christ’s Casual Power

by maylan schurch | Mar 30, 2021

Expository Sermon on Matthew 14 by Maylan Schurch Bellevue Seventh-day Adventist Church 3/27/2021 ©2021 by Maylan Schurch

If you’d like to watch the entire worship service, go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCAhnCH2d0I

Please open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 14.

This is another sermon in a series I’ve called “Journeys with Jesus.” It’s based upon some of those Gospel passages where Jesus is actually on a journey as He does His teaching. He and the disciples may be walking along a road, and someone comes up to the “traveling Rabbi” with a question, or maybe someone rushes up begging for help with a servant who is sick.

As I went looking through the gospels for those “journey” events, I decided that there was a lot we can learn from them. The journey we’ll be looking at today isn’t on the road – it’s on the water. It’s a very famous story, and I think we need it badly in the days ahead. And the reason I think we needed is that it reminds us of Christ’s “casual power.” Why do I call it “casual power”? Because this is one of those stories where Jesus is able to do some almost heart-stoppingly amazing things – and to do them in a very matter-of-fact way.

I think we need to be powerfully reminded of this. So let’s take a deep breath and dive right into the story.

Matthew 14:22 [NKJV]: Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

Like I say, we’re diving into the story, and turns out to be the middle of the story. You see that word “immediately”? It shows up here not only in Matthew’s version of the story, but in the version in Mark six. They both say, “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat.” And the word “made” is a word of command or compulsion – it’s almost saying He compelled them to get into the boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

So there’s a certain amount of hustle and hurry right here. But we don’t know why, until we go to John’s version of the story, in John 6. What’s just been happening is the feeding of 5000 men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish. And Matthew and Mark tell that story, but John gives us some inside information about Jesus hustles His disciples away so quickly.

Here’s what John 6:14 – 15 says. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did [feeding multiple thousands of people by a miracle], said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

So now we can piece the puzzle together a bit more clearly. The 5000 are fed, Jesus senses that He is about to be drafted as King over Israel, and He orders His disciples to leave. I would imagine that the reason He wants them out of the way is that there are probably quite a few of them who would cheerfully go along with this make-Jesus-King idea. It would make perfect sense to them – after all, one of their favorite topics of conversation is what role they will have in Jesus’ kingdom.

So back to Matthew 14:

Matthew 14:22 – 23: Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

You see that? Jesus was alone with God. Jesus went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. And now, we’re going to watch Jesus’ “casual power” at work. Actually, it was already at work during the feeding of the thousands of people. Jesus didn’t have a brass band sounding the trumpets as he was about to distribute the loaves and fishes. He just did it quietly, calmly, even casually. But very powerfully.

But watch what happens now.

Verse 24: But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Now if I myself were looking down from a mountainside and noticed that a boat my friends were in was being tossed by the waves in a contrary wind, I would shudder, and say, “Wow. I hope they make it back to shore safe.”

Because there would be nothing else I could do. There was no Coast Guard to send a distress signal to. On board that boat there were experienced fishermen, who had probably been through this kind of thing before.

But is not me looking out over the water, it’s Jesus. What is Jesus going to do? Pretty much every young person who’s been in Sabbath school or Sunday school knows the answer. Maybe there was even a flannelgraph display about this story. And maybe the bottoms of every kid’s feet tingled with chill as the teacher stood the flannel Jesus on the water.

Verse 25: Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

I mean, talk about casual! Can you picture Jesus striding across the sand of the shore, and taking that first Can you imagine Jesus striding across the shore, and then taking that first step onto the low, foamy wave curling up the sand? And then the next step? In the next?

And remember, the further out He goes, the wilder the waves become. The wind is coming straight at Him, pressing His cloak and his garment against Him.

Or maybe not. Maybe He is in some kind of supernatural bubble, walking calmly along, barely affected by the weather. Maybe it’s kind of like the bubble He invited Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into, there in that fiery furnace. They were present in the furnace, but they were not affected by the heat, and when they finally made it out, they didn’t even smell like smoke.

But now it’s time for our first very encouraging sermon point. Here’s what I would call Sermon Point One:

Jesus easily performs the impossible.

When I was a teenager, I started performing magic tricks. They were never large or fancy illusions, like floating ladies or anything like that, just tricks with ropes and coins and that kind of thing.

I would do these tricks at social events on Saturday nights at our little South Dakota Adventist church. And most of the time as people watched me, they would chuckle appreciatively. Once in awhile someone would lean over to the person next to him and whisper that he knew how Maylan did that trick.

But once in awhile a trick of mine would catch people napping, as they failed to keep a sharp eye on what I was doing with one hand while I distracted their attention with the other. Then the full impact of the illusion would hit them, and their eyes would open wide, and they would say, “How did you DO that?”

I’m sure that, in heaven, people are going to line up and ask Jesus how this casual miracle was done. How—on earth—did He simply decide to take the shortest route to that rocking boat, a straight-line stroll across the Galilean deep? How did He know it was going to work?

Whatever answer will be, the truth is that Jesus can easily, casually do the impossible.

And this isn’t the only example. Again and again Jesus did things that, even with 21st-century modern technology, we still can’t do.

When angry crowds surrounded Him to do Him damage, and He knew that his hour had not yet come, Jesus “hid Himself.”

When He saw a man sitting in a synagogue, shyly concealing a withered hand in his cloak, Jesus asked him to show his hand, and Jesus heals it.

When He walked into a village, He eventually walked away from it leaving it bursting with health. When He came near a funeral procession, He immediately changed the mood to joy. And you and I could go on and on, listing all He did.

So – what does this mean to me, today, March 27, 2021?

I believe I can step into this coming week more confidently, knowing that Jesus easily does the impossible. I believe that Jesus’ miracles nowadays are more subtle, more low-key, but just as amazing when you focus on them.

I’ll bet if you and I could settle down and have a chat, you could tell me stories – and I know that I could tell you stories – about miracles have happened in our lives. Real miracles, honest-to-goodness miracles, which could not be coincidence or anything else but the direct intervention of God.

We need to remember that when Jesus arrived, He needed to make very clear that He was the Son of God. And He needed to do this very quickly, because he did not have a lot of earthly time before his crucifixion. So his miracles were dramatic and breathtaking.

Then He sent out His disciples to preach the gospel, and occasionally miracles happened, but most of the book of Acts was filled with stories of Peter or Paul or others preaching about Jesus, telling the story of what He came to do.

So let’s move confidently forward into this coming week. Let’s go back and read the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus talks about how if we are facing needs, our Heavenly Father knows what these needs are, and he will supply them in the way he knows is best.

But we need to hurry back to a dark night on a wild lake, where the wind is pushing back against the disciples’ rowing muscles. And here comes Jesus, thoughtfully strolling along, on the water.

If you’re using a study Bible, such as the Andrews Study Bible, a footnote will most likely tell you the fourth watch was somewhere between 3 and 6 AM. So it’s not like Jesus came walking to and 30 or 11 a clock. All night long these disciples have been battling the waves, trying to keep the boat from capsizing, trying to make some forward progress.

When Mark tells the story, in Mark 6:48, it makes this extremely interesting statement: “ . . . He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.” You know, whenever I’ve read this story, as a teenager on up, this has filled me with even greater confidence. I mean, Jesus not only could walk on water, but He could glance at the boat, decided there was nothing to worry about, and just keep walking.

But of course, somebody spots Him. And we’re about to learn something else about Jesus’ “casual power.”

Verse 26: And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

The Greek word for “ghost” here is phantasma . I have an idea that none of the disciples had ever seen a phantasma before, except maybe in their imaginations. Maybe they’d heard so many ghost stories that they figured that finally they were seeing one.

But Jesus quickly reassures them.

Verse 27: But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

As I was studying this verse this week, I thought, “Wow, there is a sermon right there in that verse. It even has three points, and each one has a separate meaning.

But what’s really interesting is the “It is I” statement. The Greek phrase is ego eimi, and those are the exact same words Jesus used over in John 8:58, when He said, “Before Abraham was, I Am.” The same phrase— ego eimi. So whether or not the disciples picked up on it, Jesus is using the same words he used when he was declaring to some very hostile Jewish religious leaders that He was the “I Am” God of the Old Testament.

Anyway, watch what happens next.

Verse 28: And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

On the one hand, this is a pretty impulsive thing to say. But notice how sensible Peter really is. He could’ve just jumped out into the water and tried to walk by himself. But he had the smarts to get Jesus’ specific permission, His specific command.

That might be something to keep in mind as we move forward into our world which desperately needs Jesus’ friends to dare greatly for him. We can be impulsive, or we can be smart. Even though I – or maybe you – would never have had the idea to try to walk over to Jesus on the water, Peter did. But he made sure the Lord was okay with it.

And Jesus gives him the go-ahead.

Verse 29: So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Here comes what I would call Sermon Point Two.

Not only does Jesus easily perform the impossible, but Jesus can easily help YOU do the impossible.

As you probably know, Jesus most likely won’t make it possible for people today to walk on water. That only happened twice in the New Testament–once for Jesus and once for Peter– and never in the Old Testament.

But a more accurate way to look at this is to say that Jesus is perfectly able to supply what you need, when you need it, in ways He knows is best, and at a time He knows is best. The result can be just as miraculous.

Jesus and His father have a long history of helping human beings do the impossible. Moses stood at the Red Sea, raised his staff, and the waters parted. Moses held up his arms as the nation was fighting a battle, and as long as those arms were raised hi, Israel was winning.

Four priests stood at the edge of the Jordan River carrying the ark of the covenant with poles. The front two priests stepped into the water, and rather than walking on it, the waters parted, and they kept carrying that ark to the opposite shore.

Gideon and his 300 soldiers were laughably outnumbered as they got their torches and trumpets ready. But all they had to do was blow those trumpets, and shout, and the enemy took care of each other.

Elijah called down fire from heaven on the consecrated sacrifice. Elisha healed a Syrian from leprosy, and raised a child to life. We’ve already mentioned Shadrach, me shack, and Abednego literally standing for their faith, both on the plain of Dura and on the coals of an insanely hot furnace.

Jesus can easily help you do the impossible. Whether or not you are a daring kind of person – Peter was, and I am not, and Moses was not, and sometimes Abraham was not – whether or not you are a daring kind of person, Jesus can easily use you to do the impossible.

Remember a little lady by the name of Ellen White? Remember those other Adventist pioneers who study their Bibles and prayed preached? This congregation would not exist without the truths that impelled people to gather and then proclaim them.

So join me in walking forward into this week, confident that Jesus is able to do the impossible, and that if I fully consecrate myself to Him, I can be a part of the miracles he will do.

Let’s go back to our story, and discover a third I found. You might almost call this third truth an “umbrella” truth.

Verses 29 – 23: So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Here comes Sermon Point Three:

Not only does Jesus easily perform the impossible, and not only can Jesus easily help YOU do the impossible, but Jesus easily controls the cosmos.

In other words, our Creator and Redeemer has ultimate control over everything He created. The only thing he refuses to force is our personal choice. The choice is up to us, whether to serve Him or not, whether to accept His gift of salvation, or not.

And there’s one little detail about the walking-on-the-water story which I personally have tended to ignore. I haven’t deliberately ignored it, it’s just that it was a last little detail I had missed. Both Jesus and Peter were safely in the boat, and I missed the most important part of the story.

Verse 33: Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Have you ever worshiped Jesus by telling Him, “Truly You are the Son of God”? I don’t think I have ever personally worship Jesus this way. But I’m going to tell him more often but I know who He is. I’m going to ask him to make clear to me more and more what this means, and how much courage it can give me. I’d like to invite you to do the same.

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Encountering Jesus along Life's Road

• Invite God in. Have you invited the Lord into your life? Cleopas and his companion listened intently to the Voice of truth and invited Him into their home. If you haven’t begun a relationship with God, you will continue to struggle in vain.
• Surrender your expectations. Personalize the following prayer and then offer it to God. My Heavenly Father, I greatly desire   ______________________. While this expectation is mostly honorable and good, it is nonetheless mine and may not be Yours. I am frustrated and disillusioned because all my efforts to accomplish what I believe to be right fail to accomplish anything. Therefore, I must accept that the outcome I desire is not what You desire. Lord, I release my expectation, and I humbly ask You to accomplish Your will in whatever manner You see fit and in whatever time You consider appropriate. Amen.
• Seek God’s perspective. To help the two disciples see their circumstances from God’s perspective, Jesus explained the Scriptures. And we have the same opportunity to share God’s vantage point by reading our only completely reliable source of truth, the sixty-six books of the Bible. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply set aside as little as ten minutes each day and read.
• Trust God’s timing. God, in His perfect discernment, did not allow the two disciples to recognize Jesus until the time was right. He didn’t allow them to suffer in grief a moment longer than was absolutely necessary, yet He didn’t end their discomfort too soon. Spiritual maturity rarely occurs instantaneously. Growth usually requires a journey, and journeys take time. Submit to God’s will and trust His timing. He is faithful.

Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Jesus: The Greatest Life of All (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 245-58. Copyright © 2008 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Also from Insight for Living, Jesus: The Greatest Life of All Bible Companion (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007), 163-73. Copyright © 2007 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

About the author

Insight for Living Ministries

Written by Insight for Living Ministries staff members.

Featured Resources

Journey With Jesus

February 17 – April 4, 2021

Our Lenten series, Journey with Jesus, will take us through spiritual lessons from the physical places in Jesus' story - and will help us identify how we can individually make room for spiritual growth in this season.

The Journey to Jerusalem overturns our expectation that God is found in the glitz and the glory but rather in the meekness of those in the margins.

The Welcoming Prayer

Meditative Holy Saturday Service

The Journey to Gesthemane is an invitation to come to God in complete weakness, frailty, and grief, and to learn to pray in what may feel like our final hour.

The Journey up the Mountain is an invitation to an experience of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill God's call on our lives.

The Journey to Galilee invites us to proclaim the message of the Kingdom and demonstrate God's coming through signs and wonders.

The Journey to the Wilderness helps us understand the reality of temptation and trials, and access the power of the Spirit in our lives.

The Journey to the River takes us to Jesus' baptism, where we learn about the significance of Jesus baptism for us today.

Ash Wednesday leads us into the season of Lent through a time of worship, prayer, and fasting.

Interested in learning more? Check out the additional resources our pastors have curated here:

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7 Steps to a Closer Walk With God

When you think about climbing a mountain, what comes to mind? Do you envision breathtaking vistas from the mountaintop or breathless wheezing along the way? As different as they are, both perspectives capture aspects of the same journey. Reaching the summit requires grit and determination. Spiritual growth is no different. It demands perseverance, but the view from the top is out of this world.

No one has helped us think of the spiritual life as a journey more than a seventeenth-century English repairman named John Bunyan . Drawing only on the Bible and his own spiritual journey, Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress while imprisoned for his non-conformist preaching in 1675. Published in 1678, this allegory of the Christian’s journey to heaven remains one of the most popular religious works among English readers.

In Pilgrim’s Progress , Christian makes his way from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. The story represents a journal of his starts and stops, his ups and downs, his victories and defeats. If you have not read this classic of Christian literature, you must! Not only will you see the Christian life as a journey, but you will discover how to make it a holy and intimate one as well.

Beginning the Journey

Borrowing John Bunyan’s metaphor, let’s consider the Christian life as a walking journey—growing closer to God while journeying toward God. He is both the destination and the way at the same time (John 14:6). There are stepping stones we must use if we are going to have a closer walk with God, steps we must take to enjoy spiritual intimacy with Him. To picture those steps, consider one of America’s most beautiful settings— Grandfather Mountain near Linville, North Carolina . I’ve been privileged to speak at an annual Gospel festival held at the base of Grandfather Mountain, and it is almost as near to heaven-on-earth as one can get. The beauty is heavenly, as is the altitude—over 4,600 feet. While not as high as many mountains, Grandfather towers over the neighboring Blue Ridge peaks in that part of western North Carolina.

To get from the meadows to the top of Grandfather Mountain where the ferocious winds howl day and night through the swinging bridge, you can drive or hike a switchback trail. We’re going to hike the trail because it’s such a perfect metaphor for the steps we must take to achieve intimacy with God while journeying toward Bunyan’s Celestial City, our heavenly home.

Step One: Choose a Heavenly Destination

First, we need a DESTINATION . That’s simple—we’re at the bottom of Grandfather Mountain, and we want to reach the top. There’s no easy way to do it. It’s one step at a time over tree roots, fog-slick rocks, and time-worn footholds.

But what about the spiritual journey? John Bunyan had it right: Every person alive is born into the City of Destruction and will stay there unless he changes destinations (Romans 3:23). You can make that change by asking Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and give you the gift of eternal life , which He has promised to do (John 3:16). Intimacy with God, both now and for eternity, can be found in no other way.

Step Two: Follow God’s Map

Once we start up the mountain, we need a MAP to avoid wandering off the trail. Fortunately, on the Grandfather Mountain trail, there aren’t many ways to get lost. Your only concern is to continue climbing up. Just as there is only one way to the peak, there is only one way to heaven. And the Bible is the map that points the way.

The psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105), and Paul said God’s Word would thoroughly equip anyone who would study it diligently (2 Timothy 3:17). God has so many blessings for those who will seek Him, blessings discovered only in His Word. You would be more likely to succeed climbing Grandfather Mountain with blinders on than journeying toward God without studying the Bible.

Step Three: Seek Direction

Because the trail to the top of Grandfather Mountain doesn’t intersect with other trails, DIRECTIONS are rarely necessary. Even so, you’ll have questions: Is there water along the way? How much further is it to the top? Is it worth it? What will we see when we get there? Experienced hikers, and especially those on their way down from the top, can provide the assurance we need.

Unlike the Grandfather Mountain trail, there are many ways to wander off course in your spiritual journey. First, your enemy, the devil, is out to make things as confusing and difficult as possible. He switches the directional signs, tells you lies, and sends you down rabbit trails at every opportunity. In addition, there are things that only your personal journey may entail—and you need guidance. Prayer is God’s ever-present means by which to seek direction and comfort when you find yourself ready to give up (Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6-7) . He knows when you need help and is ready to provide it as soon as you ask.

Step Four: Find Supportive People

On the Grandfather Mountain trail, ASSISTANCE is never far away. On an average day in tourist season, and usually in the off-season as well, the trail is filled with hikers. Should you sprain an ankle or scrape a shin, help will be at hand.

On your journey with God, you’ll find helping hands in the Church (Romans 12:3- 8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Where you are weak or lack knowledge, someone else is strong and able to help. When you find someone slumped in discouragement by the side of the trail, God will empower you to help them. But the assumption is … you’re active in the body! Are you? If you’re not on the trail, you can’t help or be helped.

Step Five: Contemplate Beauty

SCENIC VIEWS . Now that’s what Grandfather Mountain is all about. At regular intervals on the trail, you’ll catch a break in the trees and spot a glimpse of what awaits you at the top—a 360-degree panorama that takes your breath away. The beauty of God’s creation in the mountains never disappoints.

The same is true in the spiritual journey. God’s scenic views come into view when we stop and meditate on who God is and what He has done for us. The psalmist contemplated God throughout the night (Psalm 63:6) and considered often the works of His hands (Psalm 77:12). More than anything, he meditated on the words of God, never tiring of discovering new insights into the ways of God. When was the last time you pulled off the spiritual trail, found a quiet spot, and meditated on God’s Word?

Step Six: Bring Companions

At times, hiking alone has its benefits, but you need good friends and family with you on the Grandfather Mountain trail. There are just too many things to share together: “Look at those vultures floating on the updrafts!” “Can you believe the beauty of those rhododendrons?” “Hurry! Grab the camera and capture that sunset before it’s gone!” COMPANIONSHIP is often a key ingredient in a successful trip.

Are you journeying toward heaven with a special group of friends? I hope your family is journeying with you—your spouse and children. Those are the first people you’ll want to spend eternity with, are they not? But are there others? Is there someone you could invite on the journey? The companionship found in a small group of Christian friends is the most effective way to stay on the road should you ever get bogged down (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Step Seven: Record Your Progress in a Journal

Finally, hiking the Grandfather Mountain trail will result in a million memories and mental snapshots. You need a JOURNAL to make them last—a place to put your thoughts, paste your pictures, and press those wildflowers and leaves you collected. No trip is finished until it has been recorded.

Are you keeping track of what God is revealing to you on your way to heaven? A journal will capture the mountain peaks you cross, the raging rivers you ford, and the dark valleys you tremble through. Your children and grandchildren will thank you someday if you’ll record every step of your travels with God.

I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for visiting one of my favorite parts of the country. But more than that, I hope I’ve encouraged you in your progress toward heaven. Intimacy with God, while journeying toward God, is the trip of a lifetime. Using these stepping stones will set you on the path toward making every moment as fulfilling as God intends it to be (John 10:10).

Application—Preparing for the Journey

Destination:.

Have you secured your destination through faith in Christ? If not, ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and to give you the gift of eternal life, which He has promised to do (John 3:16).

What blessings does God promise to those who will seek Him? What blessings have you discovered in His Word?

Directions:

In what areas of your life do you need to seek direction and comfort? Take time now to ask God for His provision and guidance.

Assistance:

In what areas are you weak or lacking knowledge? Who in the body of Christ could offer assistance? How are you using your spiritual gifts to help others?

Scenic Views:

What new insights about God have you discovered? What will you praise Him for today?

When was the last time you meditated on God’s Word? How will you incorporate that stepping stone into your walk with God?

Companionship:

What special friends are journeying toward heaven with you? Who could you invite on the journey?

How are you keeping track of what God is revealing to you on your way to heaven? Take a moment now to record any new observations God is bringing to light.

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About Dr. David Jeremiah

Dr. David Jeremiah is one of America’s most trusted Bible teachers. For more than 39 years he has helped millions deepen their understanding of the Bible through 4,552 daily Turning Point Radio releases and a daily Turning Point Television program that reaches millions of people globally. More »

Creation Care

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Many countries’ coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an “island” of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed.

Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. Though mankind was given the mandate to “have dominion over” (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. When God’s mandates go unfulfilled on earth, God’s glory is diminished. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body.

When you see opportunities to care for creation—nature or your own body—do so as a way of glorifying the Creator.

The creation is both a monument of God’s power, and a looking-glass in which we may see his wisdom. Thomas Watson

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Paul’s letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. It is true for us today also. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? By devoting time each day to the study of God’s Word.

As we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in God’s truth and character, our lives are changed—we become more like Him. God’s Word is a powerful litmus test for our souls and actions. As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith.

Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead God’s people into the Promised Land because He believed in God’s promise and presence. We serve the same God who said: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

You can place your steadfast trust in Him.

When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. Dwight L. Moody

Ready and Willing

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

A leper approached Jesus and said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus touched the man, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed”—and he was healed (Mark 1:40-42).

That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of God. In fact, there are no instances of Jesus being asked to help or heal and Him answering, “I am not willing.” There is a place where the Bible says God is “not willing,” and that is 2 Peter 3:9. In writing about the timing of the Day of the Lord (the end of the age), Peter says God is waiting for all who will be saved to come to Him. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Said another way, God is willing for any who want to be saved to come to Him (John 6:37; 7:37). The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing.

Have you responded to God’s willing invitation to come to Him?

God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved. J. C. Ryle

I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. Psalm 119:162

Earlier this year, a volunteer for a charity in Arizona was going through books donated for a sale. One was an old copy of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The volunteer decided the dilapidated volume wasn’t worth saving and was about to throw it away when she thumbed through it and found a hidden chamber. Someone had used a knife to cut a hole in the middle of the book. Inside was $4,000!

That’s nothing compared to the treasure you’ll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Perhaps it would help to think of it in those terms. Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. Think of every promise as a precious stone. See the words about Jesus in the Gospels as sparkling like diamonds. Visualize your daily Bible study time like a miser running his hands through a chest of gold.

The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your path—but only if you read it and heed it. Start today!

To get the best use out of [the Bible] for daily life,...Give it the best and freshest, not the most tired and dull, hour of the day. M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World , 1893

Hello Heaven!

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside. 2 Peter 1:13-14, NIV

Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. He wasn’t discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. He spoke of “looking forward to these things.” and “[looking] for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13-14).

Life is full of hardships and heaviness. We have the promises of God to help us in difficult days, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. We have a purpose for being here—to refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. But we’ll soon put aside the tent of our earthly body, and what a relief! Goodbye hardship and heaviness. Goodbye trials and troubles. Hello Jesus! Hello heaven! Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem!

During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. If you’re prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there. Harriet Buell, in her hymn “A Child of the King”

Overcoming Temptation

Temptation. Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. The moment we resolve to stand strong and walk away is when temptation grows most intense. That is why Scripture is of paramount importance. God's Word contains the answer to resisting temptation before it's too late. Consider these verses:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death (James 1:13–15).

Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian's life. The apostle Paul addressed that question in 1 Corinthians 10:11—"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition." To what things was Paul referring? He listed them in verses 7–10. They are idolatry, immorality, infidelity, and disloyalty.

Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is.

With that background, Paul exhorted believers not to make the same choices the Israelites made—not to provoke God's discipline by willfully sinning. None of us is above God's discipline if we engage in sin. We must look for and take "the way of escape" God provides in every situation where temptation is found (verse 13). To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man" (verse 13). There are no "new" temptations in life.

The apostle James argued that if temptation becomes serious, it is because we have allowed it to do so. Our own "desires" entice us away from God and desire "gives birth to sin" (James 1:13–15). God doesn't tempt us, but He may allow temptation to enter our lives in order to give us opportunities to make obedient and mature choices.

Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and He took the same means of escape that is available to us—obedience to God's Word (Matthew 4:1–11; Hebrews 5:8). Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is. There is always a righteous choice to be made if we are willing to seek it.

Victory in Him

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city. Citizens lined the streets applauding while the aroma of celebratory incense filled the air. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).

The Christian’s victory is through Christ. The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb. He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We have victory now and for eternity only because of the victory Christ won for us. Therefore, if we are to experience victory in this life, it will come only as we depend on Him. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him.

If you need a victory in your life, begin every day by renewing your faith in Christ in whom all our victories are to be realized.

The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world. Francis Schaeffer

Faithful Fathers: Abraham

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:23

We can imagine a child writing an appreciative and sentimental memoir about her “perfect father,” understanding that “perfect” was not intended to be taken literally. But how about a book titled  The Righteous Father ? The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham.

Righteous doesn’t mean sinless, of course. We know that Abraham wasn’t perfect. But he did manifest some qualities that every father should emulate. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him (Hebrews 11:8-12). And when he believed God, “[God] accounted it to [Abraham] for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Again, not perfect or sinless, but in a right standing with God. Second, as a result of Abraham’s trust in God, he became a “friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8). Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Living in right standing with God? That means communing with Him, walking with Him, living for Him, and above all, trusting Him and His promises.

Follow Abraham’s example as a faithful father by deepening your friendship with God.

Friendship is the marriage of affections. Thomas Watson

Modern Idolatry

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:1 tells us to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.” In verse 5 we’re told to put to death the passions that come from below—"fornication, uncleanness, passion, and evil desire.” Then the Lord added the sin of greed or covetousness to the list, calling it idolatry.

That verse changes our view of idolatry. It’s not just bowing down to a small carved statue or a pagan worshiper offering incense at a shrine to Buddha. It’s the act of becoming too attached to the material things of the world—falling more in love with the things on earth than on things in heaven.

This has nothing to do with how much money you do or don’t have—a poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. It has everything to do with what’s at the center of our affections. Is it Christ? Is it things above? Or is it things below?

Make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else!

You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them…. Whatever you love more than God is your idol. D. L. Moody

New Beginnings: Ezekiel

In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. Ezekiel 1:1, NIV

We often need fresh starts after enduring bitter disappointments. As a young man, Ezekiel had dedicated himself to be a priest. He was from a priestly family, and he undoubtedly looked forward to serving God in Jerusalem’s temple. Priests began their temple duty at the age of thirty. But when he was about twenty-five, Ezekiel was seized and taken to Babylon, and he never saw the temple again. When his thirtieth birthday came, he must have struggled with questions of “why” and “if only.”

That’s just when God appeared to him as he was among the exiles by the Kebar River. Ezekiel looked up and saw remarkable visions of God—the throne of God surrounded by angelic beings. Amid the strange and apocalyptic vision described in Ezekiel 1, God called the thirty-year-old exile to be a powerful prophet.

Oh, to see the glory of the Lord while in the midst of the disappointments in life. When we think life has collapsed around us, the God of glory appears above us. God always has a plan, and our false starts become His fresh starts.

Ezekiel is the prophet of the glory of the Lord…. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of Christ to the glory that should follow. J. Vernon McGee

The Conspicuous Hand

The Lord your God cares. Deuteronomy 11:12

In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how God’s hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and… has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

In the middle of life’s battles, we’re tempted to question God’s ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of God’s Providence. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will.

Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

That’s the way He cares for us too—every day, all year long, always.

[The Lord] loves, and cares, and sympathizes, and understands, and seeks, and saves, and forgives, and helps, and encourages, and walks by our side… taking care of us in life when we can’t take care of ourselves. W. A. Criswell

God of Second Chances

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” Jonah 3:1-2

It was not uncommon in the Old Testament for “the word of the Lord” to come to God’s prophets again and again. It happened to Samuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and others. And it also happened to Jonah: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the first time (Jonah 1:1) and then the second time (Jonah 3:1). With the other prophets, the “second time” meant additional prophetic utterances they were to deliver. But with Jonah, the “second time” was because Jonah had failed to speak God’s word the first time. Jonah was a disobedient prophet.

God commissioned Jonah to go east to Assyria, to the capital of Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. But Jonah fled west toward Spain because he feared the Assyrians. You know the story—Jonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. Jonah repented and called on the Lord and was delivered. God gave him a second chance.

Don’t let your past keep you from trusting God for a second (or third, or fourth) chance. The God of grace loves to forgive.

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins. G. Campbell Morgan

All You Need Is Love: Forgiveness

When Jesus saw [the friends’] faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Mark 2:5

The hardest part of forgiving another person is  acting like the offense never occurred . But that is what forgiving someone means—restoring relationships to the status they enjoyed before the offense took place. It’s one thing to say, “I forgive you,” but it’s another to act like all the effects of an offense are completely erased. After all, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, love is known by its actions more than its words.

Jesus faced this dilemma when He healed a paralytic man. When He told the man that his sins were forgiven (and by extension, he was healed), He was criticized. He was accused of blaspheming by saying He had the authority to forgive sins—something only God can do. So, Jesus proved He had the authority to say, “I forgive you,” by doing something harder. He healed the man’s paralysis. After all, as Jesus explained, actions speak louder than words (Mark 2:8-11).

We cannot go through life without being hurt by others, so we should learn to forgive. Even more, we should practice demonstrating our forgiveness by our acts of lovingkindness. Look for opportunities to do both.

A Whole Person

In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. Titus 2:7

In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while ½, ¼, and 2.5 are fractions. Integers , from a Latin root meaning “whole” or “entire.” The word integrity comes from the same root; a person with integrity cannot be divided in beliefs or morality based on varying circumstances.

When the apostle Paul wrote to his young pastoral protégé, Timothy, he told him to show “integrity” in doctrine, to be incorruptible in belief and in actions. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. A person of integrity obeys the whole counsel of God every day, in every circumstance. Daniel’s three friends in Babylon demonstrated integrity when they were threatened with being burned alive (Daniel 3:16-18). They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises. That is integrity.

Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word.

Integrity of heart is indispensable. John Calvin

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Revelation 21:1

A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere “up there” in the heavens. But the Bible says our eternal destiny is earthly, not heavenly. As Peter wrote, we look for a “new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

In his vision of the future, the apostle John saw that “new heaven and a new earth,” our new domain being pictured as the New Jerusalem “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:1-2). Somehow, at the end of the age, when Christ has returned to reign and inaugurate the eternal state, this earth will be renovated and a new earth will be the result—a new earth full of righteousness in which pain and sorrow will be absent. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout.

Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you if you belong to Him (John 14:1-4). The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place.

Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death. William Gurnall

The Need for Prayer

Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. The first, the First Council of Nicaea, met to agree on the nature of Jesus of Nazareth as both Son of God and Son of Man, as both fully divine and fully human.

The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus’ humanity was His prayer life. We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:19), and prayer was His means.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we (Psalm 32:6)?

Prayer and a holy life are one. E. M. Bounds

What Is Humility?

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5, NIV

What is humility? Is it the opposite of pride? If pride expands one’s importance, does humility deflate one’s importance? That’s the view given by most English dictionaries—a deemphasis on one’s own importance. But what is the biblical view of humility

If someone compliments you on a job well done, do you refuse to take credit or receive their compliment? Or do you graciously say, “Thank you,” in a spirit of genuine appreciation and humility? In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves “soberly”—that is, realistically or accurately. Paul’s topic is the grace given by God to each Christian to serve in the Body of Christ. We should neither overestimate the gift of God’s grace or underestimate it. Rather, we should think of it soberly and realistically—humbly—and minister accordingly. To think less of God’s gift would be to devalue it; to think realistically about it allows one to serve humbly.

How do you view yourself? With pride? With false humility? Or soberly and realistically according to the grace of God in your life?

A really humble man…will not be thinking about humility, he will not be thinking about himself at all. C. S. Lewis

The Power of Confession

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Psalm 32:4

California is a dry state that needs water to be transported over many miles to population and agricultural centers. Snowfall in the winter and melting snow in the spring are critical factors in replenishing shrinking reservoirs. In periods of modern droughts, aerial photographs document the receding water levels in reservoirs around the state—shorelines growing wider and drier as water levels fall.

Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32—a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. When he failed to confess his sin to God, his “bones grew old” and he groaned “all the day long” (verse 3). It was like his soul was being evaporated by the heat of his own guilt and shame. But then the rains of grace came and David confessed his sin and God forgave him (verse 5). And he encouraged his readers not to make the same mistake he had made (verses 9-10).

Confession and repentance reveal the access to restoration. Hiding sin does not remove it from God’s sight; but when we seek God’s forgiveness, the refreshing living water from the Father is poured out on us and we are restored—that is the power of confession.

The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession. Richard Sibbes

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Our Journey With Jesus (8) — Remembering

• July 2, 2017

This morning, the last discipline that we’re going to look at is “remembering”. Well, that’s not quite accurate. We’re actually going to be looking at a couple of other disciplines that will help us to remember. But first, I want to talk a bit about the importance of remembering because I’m not sure that we really appreciate…

Our Journey With Jesus (7) — Listening

• June 25, 2017

This morning, we want to want to talk about the discipline of listening. Someone has said that in the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year of marriage, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year of marriage, they both speak and the neighbors listen…

Our Journey With Jesus (6) — Forgiving

• June 11, 2017

If there is a discipline which is more difficult than confessing, it would have to be the discipline that we’re talking about this morning. You could say that it’s the flip side of confessing. When we do wrong to others, we need to confess. But when others do wrong to us, we need to forgive…

Our Journey With Jesus (5) — Confessing

• June 4, 2017

This morning, I’ll be talking about what I think is perhaps the most difficult of all the disciplines in this series – confessing. More specifically, confessing sin. We’re familiar with what John wrote in I John 1:8-9, where he said, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…

Our Journey With Jesus (4) — Resting

• May 28, 2017

This morning, get your pillows out. We’re going to be talking about the spiritual discipline of “resting”. And some of you are saying to yourself, “Finally! A discipline that I can get excited about!” Before we get started, though, I need to confess to you that I’m tired…

Our Journey With Jesus (3) — Friending

• May 21, 2017

Darryl Tippens said that a young minister once told his father about an exciting new mentoring program that was being introduced in his congregation. After listening to this young man’s enthusiastic description of this new program, Darryl’s father said, “We used to have a program like that in my church when I was growing up…

Our Journey With Jesus (2) — Welcoming

• May 7, 2017

I love the story I heard many years ago about the new preacher who loaded up his car with his large family and drove out to visit an old deacon on the farm. After everyone in the family had introduced themselves, there was an awkward pause as the unexpected guests looked for chairs to sit on…

Our Journey With Jesus (1) — Letting Go

• April 30, 2017

Last week, we began a new sermon series that I entitled, “Our Journey with Jesus”. And I chose that title because, first of all, our Christian life is a journey. It’s a process as we try to get from one point in our lives to another, as we try to get from where we are…

Our Journey With Jesus (Intro)

• April 23, 2017

This morning, I want to begin a new sermon series and I want to do something I don’t normally do. I want to share with you some of my thought process that led me to this series. I’m reminded of the story of the little boy whose father was a preacher. And, in amazement, the…

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

June 9, 2024

Adrian Rogers

Sermon Overview

Scripture Reference: Luke 15

Adrian Rogers says, “A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”

In Luke 15, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ criticism with three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. In these three stories, we see how much God loves us, and why Jesus is a friend of sinners.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4).

Sheep are dumb and defenseless; they are completely dependent on shepherds to protect them from predators. They can't find their way home. In spiritual terms, we are very much like sheep.

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8).

A coin is meant to be spent or treasured, but one that is lost is worthless and unprofitable. This coin was lost in darkness, dirt, and disgrace. Likewise, we were created to know, love, and serve God; when we are lost, we are worthless.

“...A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood…” (Luke 15:11-12).

In this final parable, Jesus begins the story of the lost son. After he received his inheritance and squandered it, there was a deep depression in the land. As a result, the son was broke; he was degraded to feed pigs in a foreign country, which brought great dissatisfaction.

Like this lost son, we’ve gone astray and find ourselves desperate and spiritually starving.

These parables not only explain the sinful nature of Man, but they also reveal the saving nature of God. Jesus Christ is the shepherd who rescues the lost sheep. The woman searching for her lost coin represents the Holy Spirit. God our Father is the father running to receive his prodigal son.

God loves us; He is the Good Shepherd seeking us. He is the Holy Spirit shining light upon us. And He is the Father with arms open wide, welcoming us home.

Apply it to your life

Have you been rescued, revealed, and received by God? Worship God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit today. Let Him begin a good work in your heart.

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Unlock The Power of Holiness in Your Life 29:11 Church

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Join Pastor Zion Rempel at 29:11 Church as he delves into the profound concept of holiness in this stirring sermon, "Unpacking Holiness." Explore the critical role of imagination and faith in perceiving and embracing the divine dimensions of a holy life. Pastor Zion skillfully intertwines biblical teachings with personal anecdotes, drawing from Ephesians 1 to emphasize the 'eyes of our heart'—a metaphor for spiritual discernment and deeper understanding. This message challenges believers to reflect on their spiritual journey and uncover the timeless truths about God's sanctity and the pursuit of holiness. Through engaging storytelling and scriptural insights, Pastor Zion discusses the transformative power of seeing beyond the physical and recognizing the spiritual workings around us. If you're seeking to deepen your understanding of holiness and how it shapes our daily lives and faith, this sermon offers a compelling exploration. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring messages from 29:11 Church. Join us on this journey to uncover the unique plan God has for your life through the teachings of Jesus. #Church #Jesus #Sermon #Faith #Holiness #SpiritualGrowth #2911church CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Welcome to Sermon 3:29 - Tale of Three Kings Analysis 4:44 - Isaiah 6 Explained 15:35 - Striving for Holiness Discussion 21:36 - Dangers of Ignoring Holiness 23:53 - Redirecting Life through Faith 27:24 - Overcoming Spiritual Apathy 33:15 - Understanding the Name of God 37:25 - Consequences of Neglecting Holiness 49:00 - Decision to Accept Jesus 51:30 - Jesus Healing Brokenness ---------- Follow 2911 Church on Social Media: FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/2911church INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/2911church WEBSITE: https://www.2911church.com/ GIVING: https://2911church.churchcenter.com/giving ---------- Subscribe to 2911 Church's Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SiLmBl5TcTGD63CTNwU4f?si=98186b325cf94ee6 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/29-11-church/id1456498714

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Jesus Lives Pastor Phil Fischer Delivers Powerful Sermon to hundreds of Muslims on Palestine Jordanian border

Phil Fischer with a film crew in an undisclosed location of Palestine,  near the Jordan border. 

In a remarkable display of faith, Phil Fischer , an evangelist with Jesus Lives in Bellevue, Washington delivered a stirring sermon in the heart of the Muslim-dominated Jordan Valley. 

Facing a crowd of Muslims and Palistinians overlooking the ancient city of Jericho and the serene Dead Sea, Fischer's impassioned words echo against the historic backdrop of Mount Nebo, where tradition holds that Moses found his final resting place. His message, shared through a video on YouTube, has resonated with over 50,000 viewers since its upload on August 19th, 2023.

After the powerful sermon, hundreds of muslims were led to Christ and many more were interested in knowing about Jesus. 

Answering the Call to Spread the Word

Embracing his newfound calling, Fischer embarked on a mission to share the message of Christ across the globe. From the bustling streets of Seattle to the ancient lands of Pakistan, Jerusalem, Jericho, and Jordan, Fischer's tireless efforts have touched the lives of thousands. Through Jesus Lives, he seeks to ignite a spiritual revival, believing fervently in the imminent return of Christ and the need for humanity to embrace salvation.

Standing atop Mount Nebo, where the prophet Moses once stood and is now buried, Fischer expounds upon the concept of the fivefold giftings outlined in the Bible. Drawing from scripture, he emphasizes the importance of each individual discovering and utilizing their unique gifts to fulfill God's purpose. According to Fischer, these giftings, which include apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, pastoral care, and teaching, are essential for guiding believers on their journey towards spiritual fulfillment.

From Worldly Success to Spiritual Calling

Phil Fischer's journey to becoming a fervent evangelist is a testament to the transformative power of faith. Born and raised amidst the rugged landscapes of Alaska, and Canada's Yukon territories, Fischer's early years were far from religious. Instead, he pursued worldly pursuits, finding success as both a musician and an internet entrepreneur. Yet, despite his achievements, Fischer felt a void that material wealth couldn't fill. 

“I found out that the people I met when I was sleeping under a bridge in Seattle are more trustworthy than most of the CEO’s I now meet with regularly”. Fischer said by phone. “The higher you climb in the world, the more you understand that it’s all a lie and just like Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, it’s all dust in the wind”. 

It wasn't until he encountered his future wife, Jamael Fischer, in Seattle in November 2001 that Fischer's life took a profound turn. Introduced to Christianity through Jamael's unwavering devotion, Fischer experienced a spiritual awakening that set him on a new path. Starting with a small bible study in their home, Fischer founded Jesus Lives, a nonprofit evangelical mission organization based in Bellevue, Washington, dedicated to spreading the gospel in regions often overlooked by mainstream Christian outreach efforts.

A Message of Hope City by City

In his poignant address to the people of Jordan, Fischer issues a call to action, urging them to embrace their giftings and embark on a journey of spiritual discovery. With unwavering conviction, he reassures them that no matter their past or present circumstances, God's love and grace are boundless. Fischer's message resonates with hope and promise, offering a pathway to redemption and fulfillment for all who heed his call.

As Fischer concludes his sermon, his words linger in the crisp mountain air, carrying a message of faith, resilience, and unwavering devotion. In a region fraught with tension and division, his presence serves as a beacon of hope, reminding believers of the transformative power of Christ's love. 

“Lately I’ve been getting dreams and visions of messages for a particular city. I know it sounds strange, but it's true and I need to follow that. This message was for these people that live here in this valley.” Fischer continues, “God gave me a word for Juarez, Mexico so we are planning to visit there in summer of 2024.. My hope is to do one city a month. I don’t know why, but there is a sense of urgency. 

Through Jesus Lives ministry, Fischer continues to shine a light in the darkest corners of the world, spreading the eternal message of salvation to all who will listen.

You can hear Phil Fischer at Jesuslives.com or every Thursday night at 7:30PM at Jesus Lives in Bellevue,  washington. 

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Lectionary Essay for the May 9th, 2020 RCL

Readings: Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17

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Title: It’s All About Love

For Sunday May 9, 2021

Lectionary Readings ( Revised Common Lectionary , Year B)

Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17

When my children were younger, I would use our drive home from church each week to ask what, if anything, they’d gleaned from Sunday worship.  They’d rattle off a favorite hymn, or ask about a baffling scripture reading, or tell me about the gentleman who snored his way through the service in a nearby pew.  If I asked them what the sermon was about, however, they’d give me the same answer every time: “Love.  The sermon was about love.”

If I asked them to elaborate, they’d shrug.  The sermon was about love.  What else was there to say?

To this day, I’m not sure if they gave me that answer because they knew it would get me off their backs, or because they recognized that the Gospel in its entirety is about love.  I hope it’s the latter.  Because the latter is the truth.

Jesus makes this abundantly clear when he gives his disciples a commandment in our Gospel reading for this sixth Sunday of Easter: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

On the face of it, this is a weird commandment.  Can we be ordered to love?  Does love obey decrees?  Most of us would say no.  Shaped as we are by Hollywood films and romance novels, we usually think of love as spontaneous and free-flowing.  We fall in love.  Love is blind, it happens at first sight, it breaks our hearts, and its course never runs smooth.

Even if we put our cultural clichés aside, we know that authentic love can’t be manipulated, simulated, or rushed.  Those of us who have kids understand full well that commanding them to love each other never works. The most we can do is insist that our children behave as if they love: “Share your toys.” “Say sorry.”  “Don’t hit.”  “Use kind words.”  But these actions — often performed with gritted teeth and rolling eyes — aren’t the same as what Jesus is talking about in John’s Gospel.  He doesn’t give his disciples (or us) the easy “out” of doing nice things with clenched, resentful  hearts.  Nor would I want him to; nothing feels as hollow as a “loving” act performed lovelessly.  Moreover, I doubt that the people who flocked to Jesus would have done so if they sensed that his compassion was brittle or forced.

No, when Jesus says, “Love as I have loved you,” he means it.  As in, for real.  As in, the whole bona fide package.  Authentic feeling, honest engagement, generous action.  Doesn’t it sound as if he’s asking for the impossible?  Imagine what would happen to us if we took this commandment seriously.  How would we have to change? What could Christendom look like if we obeyed orders and cultivated an “impossible” love?

I ask these questions with trepidation, because I don’t know how to answer them, even for myself. Many of us, after this long, brutal year of pandemic, are exhausted.  We’ve seen and experienced so much loss.  We’ve known the helplessness of empathizing in situations both local and global where we’re unable to intervene.  We’ve been denied many of our go-to ways of expressing love — inviting people into our homes, giving each other hugs, worshipping together in person.  In the face of so much pain, isolation, and death, what can love do?  It’s easy to get lost in this question — or worse, give up on the question altogether, and retreat into numbness, anger, and apathy.

But if, as my kids intuited from Sunday sermons years ago, the way of Jesus is all about love, then we need to find ways to press in.  At the very least, we need to keep asking questions, and pursuing answers: How shall we love as Jesus loved? How shall we sustain such depths of compassion and remain healthy?  Do we have it in us to experience a hunger for justice so fierce and so urgent that we’ll rearrange our lives in order to pursue it?  Do we want to?

Much of the time — I’ll be honest — I don’t.  I want to be safe.  I want to keep my circle small and manageable.  I want to choose the people I love based on my own affinities and preferences — not on Jesus’s all-inclusive commandment.  Charitable actions are easy.  But cultivating my heart?  Preparing and pruning it to love?  Becoming vulnerable in authentic ways to the world’s pain?  Those things are hard.  Hard and costly.

So what can I do?  Where must I begin?  Jesus offers a single, straightforward answer: “Abide in my love.”   Following on the heels of  last week’s Gospel, Jesus extends the metaphor of the vine and branches and calls us once again to abide.  To rest, to cling, to make ourselves at home.  Not simply in him, but in his love.

My problem is that I often treat Jesus as a role model, and then despair when I can’t live up to his high standards.  But abiding in something is not the same as emulating it.  In the vine-and-branches metaphor, Jesus’s love is not our example; it’s our source.  It’s where our love originates and deepens.  Where it replenishes itself.  In other words, if we don’t abide, we can’t love.  Jesus’s commandment to us is not that we wear ourselves out, trying to conjure love from our own easily depleted resources. Rather, it’s that we abide in the holy place where divine love becomes possible.  That we make our home in Jesus’s love — the most abundant and inexhaustible love in existence.

As is so often the case in our lives as Christians, Jesus’s commandment leads us straight to paradox: we are called to action via rest.  Called to become love as we abide in love.  In other words, we will become what we attend to; we will give away what we take in.  The commandment — or better yet, the invitation — is to drink our fill of the Source, which is Christ, spill over to bless the world, and then return to the Source for a fresh in-filling.  This is our movement, our rhythm, our dance.  Over and over again.  This is where we begin and end and begin again.  “Love one another as I have loved you.” “Abide in my love.”

These are finally not two separate actions.  They are one and the same.  One “impossible” commandment to save the world.  It’s all about love.

Debie Thomas:  [email protected]

Image credits: (1)  Fine Art America ; (2)  Worthpoint ; and (3)  magnet: encouraging enabling equipping .

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