Born to Die

The following is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on December 20, 2009.

Let me set a scene for you briefly. It is early evening. The room is dark, yet the outlines of streamers are noticed drooping from the corners of the room. A common silhouette is provided by the funny, pointed hats that sit on each person’s head. Many also have a protruding tube gripped between their teeth producing a funny, yet annoying noise. Suddenly, the room erupts in a common song and a cake is placed in the center of the table with candles aglow glistening in the darkness.
This is a common scene. In fact, it is something many of us have experienced many times more than we would like to confess.
While we each celebrate birthdays with our various traditions year after year, they are all just that- a celebration. But let me ask you this morning, what is it that we celebrate?
You see, we don’t merely celebrate the date of a loved one’s birth, but we acknowledge and celebrate the life that has come since that time.
As we celebrate Jesus’ birthday this coming week, we must also realize that the celebration only begins with His birth. In addition to His birth, we also celebrate the life that followed.
In this season each year, we must remember the meaning of the holiday season. We always come back and start with the story of our Savior’s birth. We make a concerted effort to once again gather around that manger in a lonely stable.
The story has become so common that many of you could quote the King James rendering of this story beginning with the “And it came to pass in those days…”
However, even in spite of our familiarity with the story, in spite of the commonality of investigating it at this time of year, we must be diligent to always return to the birth.

Read text. (Luke 2:1-19)

As we begin our story- as we look at the life and promise of this little baby, we must start at His earthly beginnings, at…

1.) The Birth (Luke 2:1-19).

I believe that the circumstances preceding and following the birth should communicate the importance and uniqueness of this baby. Obviously, there was something very special about this little child. Yet, in spite of the identity of this precious baby boy, He was not received. Rather, He was delivered in a stable and placed in a feel trough.
We know the details of the story. We know the progression. However, there is one particular verse that I want to dwell on for just a few moments this morning.
Luke 2:19 gives us a brief glimpse at Mary. It gives us a little insight into the mother of this precious baby. We are told that the shepherds shared about everything that they had seen and heard. As they shared, those around them wondered and marveled at what they heard. Yet, as we turn to Mary, we see something a little different.
Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
Rather than a mother caught in complete marvel, we find the presence of a loving mother that was carefully calculating everything that was said about her precious baby. She was considering the future of her child.
Can you picture her? I wonder if she was similar to most first time parents.
When Sarah Beth was born, I was first in shock, but then completely amazed at the miracle of life. As the nurses cleaned her up and laid her under the warmer, I can remember looking over that precious little baby girl wondering about her future.
When she was only a few hours old, I was already convinced that my daughter was brilliant and destined for greatness. I delayed holding her for awhile, mostly out of fear that I didn’t know what I was doing. Yet, as I looked into those squinting eyes, I can remember the flood of thoughts that came over me. I was already preparing for the first time I will have to greet a young boy at the door that thinks he is going to take my daughter on a date. I was already practicing my speech about the pains of the heart after her first breakup. I could already picture her donned in graduation dress delivering the valedictorian speech.
At that moment, when that little girl was in my arms, life was so full of possibilities. The world seemed completely open to every amazing possibility. I pondered in my heart what life would hold for her.
As Mary experienced that time, I imagine that moment was something a little different. While she was promised that her Son would be one whose kingdom would never end, I truly wonder if a Jewish mother made the connections of Old Testament prophecy. I wonder if she already began to consider her Son’s place as the atoning sacrifice for mankind.
I believe that Mary was already pondering the fact that her Son, this precious baby, was born to die. The story began with the birth.
Thankfully, the story did not end at the threat of King Herod or in that stable. And while we tend to forget this fact around Christmas time, Jesus did not remain a baby. Rather, we find a progression. From His birth, He became…

2.) The Blessing (Mark 10:13-16)

I believe as Mary considered the future of her Son, as she pondered what life held for Him, I believe that she would have expected Him to be a blessing. I believe that she was like most parents in her time that regarded children as an incredible blessing from God.
We could have chosen any number of passages to illustrate this fact. However, I don’t know if there is an image that I love more than the one presented in Mark 10.
“And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them; and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.”
Jesus was not merely a good boy and man. He was not just someone special. Rather, He became the greatest blessing the world has ever known. He sought to be a blessing.
This encounter in Mark 10 just gives a little insight into the heart of Christ. You probably recall this occasion. Jesus has been teaching the masses that are constantly chasing after Him. In fact, He was dealing with the popular topic of divorce.
After some time of teaching, some parents began to bring their children to Jesus. While the disciples evidenced much of the attitude that was prevalent in their day, while they obviously didn’t regard children as equals or important, Jesus sought to bless even them. He welcomed them with open arms.
Many of the accounts of Christ that the writers of the gospels leave us with are times when Jesus was offering a blessing, or literally being a blessing to those around Him. We are told of the times when He evidenced His love for humanity by seeking to serve and encourage those around Him.
As we return to Mary’s pondering, I believe that she would have expected this. And let’s face it, most parents act as if their children are perfect little angels that are incredible blessings to everyone they are around.
Mom, Dad, if you have not already discovered it, let me go ahead and help you out with a valuable life lesson. Your son or daughter is not perfect. That sweet little baby that captivated you in the hospital room is going to have times when they let you down. They are probably going to have times when they offend and hurt you. I guarantee you that they are going to have times when they act like anything but a blessing.
As Mary pondered what awaited her Son, I believe that she knew that her Son was going to be an incredible blessing to the world. However, that probably made the ultimate outcome even more difficult.
As she pondered the birth of her Son and the blessing He was going to become, I believe she also foresaw…

3.) The Bloodshed (Luke 23:32-38)
“And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. An when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And they parted His raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God.’ And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying, ‘If thou be the King of the Jews, saved thyself.’ And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’”
As I mentioned earlier, the only problem with our typical approach to Christmas is the fact that we leave Jesus a baby in a manger. However, that was not the totality of His purpose.
I believe that Mary understood much of this from the very beginning. If she did, can you imagine the excitement and pain mingled together when looking into the eyes of that baby boy?
The fact is that Jesus was laid in a manger, He grew up, performed a few miracles and sought to be a blessing, and then He was crucified as our substitute. He took our punishment.
Can you imagine what this must have been like for Mary? What emotions flooded over her through this time of pondering? I believe that it was in some ways similar to what every parent feels.
There was that excitement of a baby, of a child, yet there was the dread of the inevitable times of pain that come in life. For Mary, it was a little more extreme. I believe that we can begin to understand some of what she felt.
To the parents in the room, it is difficult enough to think about the pain and heartache that your precious baby will eventually endure. I already dread the first time that my daughter comes in the house with tears streaming down her cheeks because some boy broke her heart. I don’t look forward to the times when reality in life may fall a little short of her dreams.
However, I understand the reality of life. I understand that things don’t always seem completely fair.
But what would it do to your heart to know that your child is a perfect, sinless gift from God that always blessed and served, that he or she never wronged anyone or even told half-truths, and then you discover that they have been sentenced to death for a list of heinous crimes that they did not commit? How would it feel to know that they were enduring hardship and punishment because they loved so deeply that they willing assumed that place for someone else?
As Mary pondered in her heart, I wonder if her muscles already tensed, and she already dreaded the fact that her precious baby would unfairly, yet willingly, endure the full weight of God’s wrath on every sin of mankind.
Regardless of what Mary saw in the eyes of her baby boy that day, it did not change the fact that Jesus willingly shed His blood on Calvary for you and me. He endured the agony of the nails willingly, because of His love for you and me.
Rather than simply envisioning a peaceful baby boy snuggled in warm clothes in a comfortable bed, we must remember that this baby whose birthday we celebrate this week is the same one that spread His arms wide to show the world just how much love He has for you and me.
The birth was followed by His life as a blessing. His life of blessing was followed by an event of bloodshed.
While we often abbreviate the story and leave Christ in the manger, it seems that if we are faithful to carry through to His sacrifice and resurrection we are prone to stopping there. However, that still is not the complete story. Where we celebrate the birth, His life as a blessing, and even His bloodshed, they story still continues. The fact is that Jesus continues to live on, and the next chapter of His story is dependent on…

4.) The Believer

Too many times we stop the story before it ever requires something of us. We like to recite the facts and tell the tale. However, we must realize that the life of Christ bids us to make a decision. It demands something from you and me.
When we see the picture of the baby in the manger, the benevolent Savior showing His grace and goodness to the children, or that child as the grown King that sacrificed His own life as a ransom for many, it demands that we make a decision about who we believe this Jesus to be.
We must each understand that we are part of this story. Whether you realize it or not, as that precious baby found Himself laying in swaddling cloths in a manger, His very presence on this earth was because of you. He left His throne in heaven and took on the form of flesh because of you.
Because of that fact, He demands a verdict.
The life of Jesus, the life and events that Mary pondered in her heart have transcended time and continue on through you. The life of Christ comes to an intersection with you this morning.
Jesus was not simply a child with a difficult life. He was not just a victim of unfortunate circumstances. Rather, the hardship He endured was done willingly for us. And when we consider that fact, we must make one of two decisions: we can simply regard this baby in a manger as a holiday icon and a cute story, we can leave Jesus in the manger or we will recognize His sacrifice and love, and will surrender our hearts and lives to Him.
This morning, that cute little baby that was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger is looking for a willing heart to call home. He is looking to be Lord and Savior of your life.
This morning, what will you do will the baby in the manger? Will you leave him there, or will you give Him the throne of your life?

The Spirit and Season of Giving

The following is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM Worship service on December 13, 2009.

Read text. (Acts 20:35)

Specifically this morning, we want to emphasize Paul’s relation of Christ’s teaching that it is better to give than to receive. We hear it often. In fact, it has become somewhat cliché to many people. However, we may need to investigate a little further.
In the latter part of the 17th century, German preacher August H. Francke founded an orphanage to care for the homeless children of Halle. One day when Francke desperately needed funds to carry on his work, a destitute Christian widow came to his door begging for a ducat--a gold coin. Because of his financial situation, he politely but regretfully told her he couldn't help her. Disheartened, the woman began to weep. Moved by her tears, Francke asked her to wait while he went to his room to pray. After seeking God's guidance, he felt that the Holy Spirit wanted him to change his mind. So, trusting the Lord to meet his own needs, he gave her the money. Two mornings later, he received a letter of thanks from the widow. She explained that because of his generosity she had asked the Lord to shower the orphanage with gifts. That same day Francke received 12 ducats from a wealthy lady and 2 more from a friend in Sweden. He thought he had been amply rewarded for helping the widow, but he was soon informed that the orphanage was to receive 500 gold pieces from the estate of Prince Lodewyk Van Wurtenburg. When he heard this, Francke wept in gratitude. In sacrificially providing for that needy widow, he had been enriched, not impoverished.
Please don’t misinterpret this story to mean that God is going to return what you give more than five-hundred fold. However, we must be faithful take God’s Word as truth. We must follow the instruction it contains and rest on the promises it presents.
In this season, we have the temptation to be consumed by the gifts we will receive. We can enjoy the temporary joy that comes from receiving, or we can seek to foster the spirit and enjoy the season of giving.
If we want to be a giving people that find the true joy of Christmas- those that truly understand that it is better to give than receive, we have three things that we must be found faithful in this December. First, we must…

1.) Recognize the Example (John 3:16)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Paul relayed Christ’s teaching of the blessedness of giving. However, in our current society, talk is cheap. For much of current society, truth is not established by proclamation, but by example.
Thankfully, Christ knew the attitudes of men and provided us with the instruction and accompanying examples necessary for men to accept the truth.
We can find the example of God’s giving in what is typically considered the best known verse of Scripture in the Bible. Just look at John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son…”
God set the standard for giving and generosity. He gave the very best gift the world has ever received. He gave His perfect, sinless, only begotten Son to walk among us and serve as the propitiation for our sins. He gave the thing that He loved the most, His only Son, to an undeserving and unthankful world.
That is what we celebrate this season. We don’t celebrate Santa Claus and his elves. We don’t celebrate Frosty the snowman or Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. We celebrate the fact that the greatest gift we could ever receive was wrapped, not in Christmas paper under a tree, but in swaddling clothes and laid to rest in a manger.
You see, God did not give out of His abundance, but He gave the very thing closest to His heart. And through this gift, He gave the example that we are called to follow.
God personally serves as our example in understanding the spirit and season of giving. However, there are other examples of Godly men and women through the years that set a fitting example for this season as well.
One such example would be the woman whose name accompanies the special offering emphasis for foreign missions each December.
I’m sure that many of you know the story of Charlotte Digges “Lottie” Moon.
This woman grew up in an affluent family in Virginia. She was well-educated, spoke Latin, Greek, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, and eventually Chinese, and even received one of the first Masters degrees ever awarded a woman in the South.
Despite rejecting her Christian upbringing during her teenage years, she became consumed by the cause of Christ through a series of revivals in college. At the age of 33, she followed in her younger sister’s footsteps and entered the Chinese mission field.
Her contributions to foreign missions, ladies’ roles in the gospel ministry, and the evangelism of Chinese women are well noted. However, the legacy of Lottie Moon is firmly established in what she gave for the Chinese people.
This lady endured civil war, violent uprisings, and every other type of social unrest during her service. Upon returning from a stateside furlough, she found those people that she loved literally starving to death. When the Foreign Mission Board was found to be ill-equipped to deal with the situation, Lottie Moon determined to contribute what she could.
She used her food provisions and salary to purchase food for those starving around her. In fact, she donated so much that she starved to death herself. Upon her death, Lottie Moon weighed only 50 pounds. And when returning her body to her family, it was accompanied with a chest that contained every earthly belonging she owned. The estimated value of every item in the chest totaled less than $250. She literally gave away everything she owned, including her life.
Because of her faithful imitation of the example of Christ, the IMB sought to honor her generosity and service by naming the annual foreign missions offering after her.
As a Christian people, we have some wonderful examples of the generous heart that is expected of the Christian person. We have examples that prove it is more blessed to give than to receive.
We must recognize the examples, and then…

2.) Recall the Expectation (Matthew 6:3)
“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by me. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…”
Jesus made clear His expectation for charitable giving. It was to be done without flamboyance and drama. It was to be done as quietly and humbly as possible. Giving is done as a generous gift from the heart, not as a means of public recognition and show.
In fact, we are told to give in such a way that we don’t even puff up ourselves with how good and spiritual we believe we are. Forget public praise, we cannot even entertain the acclaim that we tend to offer ourselves. Our giving to those in need must be done without calculation and tabulation. If we have a running receipt of how benevolent we’ve been, we are missing the entire purpose, blessing, and expectation of Christ.
I have two examples of such giving that I want to share with you this morning. The first involves the famed 19th century Baptist preacher, CH Spurgeon.
According to a chaplain magazine, Charles Spurgeon, “the prince of preachers,” and his wife would sell, but refuse to give away the eggs that their chickens laid. As a result, some people labeled the Spurgeons as greedy and grasping.
Yet, they accepted the criticisms without defending themselves, and only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the full story revealed. All the profits from the sale of the eggs went to support two elderly widows. Because the Spurgeons were unwilling to let their left hand know what they right hand was doing, they endured the attacks in silence.
This family endured criticism from their friends, family, and church members because they were unwilling to flaunt the good things that they were doing. Ultimately, their legacy was a fitting challenge to those very people that crucified them publicly for their “greed.”
While history now tells the story of benevolence of the Spurgeons, I have recently learned of a story of kindness and charity within my own family that occurred more than twenty years ago.
My Dandy, my biological grandfather, died of lung cancer in 1987. While his health was consistently deteriorating, one of our deacons at church, a successful business owner learned of my grandfather’s unfulfilled dream. You see, Dandy always wanted to attend an Atlanta Braves baseball game. However, his life was drawing to a close and his illness had impacted his finances as well.
One day, without announcement, this deacon pulled up in front of the house in his Mercedes, gave my grandfather the keys and his credit card, and told him all the expenses were on him. The instructions were simply to “Go and have fun.” I’m sure you can only imagine the excitement this caused.
It took more than twenty years for this story to leak and it did not come from the lips of that individual. To this day, I don’t know if that gentleman realizes I know the story.
We must seek to follow Christ’s instruction. We must fulfill His expectation. Our giving must be without selfish motives. We must give without even allowing ourselves to dwell on our “goodness.”
The examples of these men and the instruction of this passage challenged me last year. You may recall the Overflow last year. Does anyone remember seeing a television camera or a reporter? What about a picture in the Baptist Record? I had several people tell me that this was one of those things that we should celebrate. Yet, I believe that our private celebration and excitement is more in line with the Biblical model.
We need to recognize our example, recall the expectation, and finally…

3.) Relinquish with Excitement (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
While we must not make giving into a spectacle or glory in the greatness of our goodness and generosity, we must give cheerfully and with excitement.
We must offer things with a smile on our face and joy in our hearts.
Now, I am not going to pretend that any of this is easy. It is part of human nature to desire acclaim and recognition. It is also part of our nature to want to hoard things and be miserly. However, we must still seek to give cheerfully.
Maybe you can relate to a story of a mother and her little girl I ran across this last week.
This mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. So she gave the little girl a quarter and a dollar for church. She instructed the young girl, “Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for yourself.” When they were coming out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she had given. “Well,” said the little girl, “I was going to give the dollar, but just before the collection plate was passed, the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I’d be a lot more cheerful if I just gave the quarter, so I did.”
I believe that we would all confess, if honest, that it is much easier to be cheerful about donating a dollar than it is to donate ten thousand dollars. However, whatever we are led to give, we must give it cheerfully.
Whether it is giving to the church, to the homeless, or to any charitable organization, our giving should be done with excitement.
Now, we tell people that they should be cheerful givers, but what happens when we are not? How are we to become cheerful givers?
I believe that there are scores of Christians that understand the call to benevolence. However, many of those that understand the duty do not see the joy in giving.
I believe that the majority of the hesitancy in giving, and sacrificial giving at that, comes from an attitude of entitlement. We believe that we earned what we have. We deserve what we have because it was purchased by the sweat of our brow. Back pain and sweat-stained shirts show how much we are entitled to keep what we’ve earned.
However, when we begin to hoard and refuse those in need, we must begin to question our entitlement. To those that would say, “I don’t owe anyone because I’ve earned what I have,” maybe you need to consider the source of your strength. Who is it that gives you breath in your lungs? Who gave you the physical health to crawl out of that bed this morning? Whose grace is evidenced by the fact that you have a job in this economy?
We can be cheerful in our giving when we begin to realize how much our blessings do not belong to us. They are given for a season with the intention that they will benefit others as well.
Maybe you still battle with entitlement. Maybe you need to be reminded of times that God went above and beyond. Perhaps you need to remember when you were the beneficiary of someone’s generosity.
Those times when I begin to grasp tightly onto every penny and think, “I just can’t spare anything,” I am reminded of my first month here.
Before Emily, the kids, and I moved next door, we spent approximately one month driving back and forth from Enterprise. One Sunday morning, Emily and I were down to our last twenty dollars. The cabinets were bare but so was the gas tank. On the way to church that morning, we discussed our options: Would we spend the last twenty dollars on gas so that we could come back for the evening service? Or would we use it to buy us and the kids something to eat?
Something happened that morning. At the conclusion of the service, while we were shaking hands with everyone at the back door, one gentleman shook my hand with something tucked in his palm. He whispered in my ear that he and his wife just wanted us to know that they loved us- and wanted to look after us. I tucked it into the inside pocket of my jacket without paying any attention to it.
When we belted the kids in, and climbed in the front seat, I pulled that piece of paper from my pocket to inquire what it said. In my hand was a hundred dollar bill. In that parking lot, I remember holding the steering wheel sobbing like a baby. In my hour of need, God provided both the gas and food we needed.
We could go on and on telling stories of times when God provided. We must remember those times. When we determine to be stingy and greedy, we need to recall our desperation and the joy that came when Godly people answered His call.
In this season, when encountering those in need around us, we must remember that it is more blessed to give than receive. The key to joy this season for the Christian is not found in what we receive, but in giving away those blessings that we never deserved.

You're Gonna Do What?!

The following comes from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on December 6, 2009.

I probably should not admit this, but I like the movie Top Gun. For years, I was convinced that I was going to be a fighter pilot, and I would imagine myself in the cockpit of a state of the art fighter jet.
I’m sure many of you, my age or older recall that movie. It stars Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Michael Ironside, Meg Ryan and many other notable movie stars.
During the movie, you may recall, that Maverick (Tom Cruise) endures a tragedy during a training mission. He flew through the jet wash of another plane, and because of a mishap in the ejection, Goose, his partner dies.
Previously in the movie, it was apparent that Maverick and Goose were in sync. They understood what the other person was thinking. And even when Goose didn’t necessarily agree, he seemed to be supportive of his pilot.
Following the death of Goose at the climax of the movie, Maverick is assigned a new co-pilot with the call sign “Merlin.”
Previously in dogfighting situations, Maverick would use rather extreme methods to reach an end. However, his new co-pilot was not accustomed to his practices as was Goose.
Perhaps one of my favorite quotes in the movie comes during a final hostile encounter with some enemy MIGs. During the dogfight, an enemy plane gets behind Maverick’s F-14 and the ensuing exchange between Merlin and Maverick goes: “Merlin: what are you doing? You’re slowing down, you’re slowing down!” “Maverick: I’m bringing him in closer Merlin.” “Merlin: You’re gonna do what?”
The idea of allowing the enemy pilot any closer seemed like a completely foreign idea. And the question burst forth: “You’re gonna do what?”
When we begin to consider the story of Christ’s birth, when we look specifically at our text this morning of the annunciation, I wonder at times if Mary battled the urge to inquire, “You’re gonna do what?”
When the angel came to deliver this amazing message that she had been chosen to deliver the coming Messiah, was she struck with disbelief? What the message so unexpected that it caused her to do a double-take?
I would ask you to join with me this morning as we read from Luke 1.

Read text. (Luke 1:26-38)

Now before we go any farther into the conversation between Mary and Gabriel, let me take a moment to properly introduce this young woman Mary. Luke does so at this point. This passage that we are reading is actually our first introduction to Mary. Some of our information that we can gather about her comes from this scripture. However, much of our information comes from a little more digging.
Mary’s age was never given in scripture. It had been assumed for a period of time that Joseph was well along in years. However, that has been rescinded and most tend to believe that Joseph was between 16 and 18. Mary was believed to be between 14 and 17. These ages are assumed because of the typical marital age for Jewish couples during this time.
Mary’s father’s name was Heli. If you continue to trace her ancestry, you will eventually find that it traces to Nathan, King David’s son. Mary was of the lineage of David. Scripture tells us plainly here that Joseph was of such lineage. However, we also find that she is of royal blood as well. We also find that she is cousin to John the Baptist’s mother.
We do not know a great deal about what her daily activities consisted of or her hobbies. Rather, most of the information that we gather from her comes from the typical norm for a Jewish woman. However, through scripture we have come to find that she was a model in the areas of tenderness, patience, faith, devotion, love, and humility. Mary was the hand-picked of God to carry the Savior of the world in her womb. Obviously, there was something special about this girl.
Scripture tells us that she was espoused to a man named Joseph. This would be comparable to saying that she was engaged. However, Jewish custom held that the engagement was as binding as actual marriage. By this point, Joseph’s representatives would have already met with Mary’s father and reached an agreement. Dowry money would have already changed hands. For all practical purposes, the wedding was a formal presentation of the agreement. However, even at this point, Joseph would not have been permitted to lay with her.
What we can gather about Mary’s identity is that she was a special girl, yet she was still ordinary. She was found faithful, but she was not supernatural.
Following our introduction to Mary, we note three things in this passage. First, we see…

1.) The Angel’s Proclamation of God’s Plan
“And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you…Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.” – v. 28, 30-31
The angel identifies Mary and calls her “highly favored” and “blessed among women.” For Mary, this would have been a terrifying thought. She was being singled out for whatever reason for this great honor. Now, we gather that Mary is humble. Her humility would have cowered in the face of such an honor. She was having difficulty reasoning her selection.
Mary was just as human as you and I. Although some have sought to exalt her to a place of worship, Mary was flesh and blood as we are. She dealt with the realities of life. She felt emotions. Mary is one of us standing in the presence of one of God’s glorious messengers. What a humbling and terrifying experience that would be!
I am certain that given her understanding of her humanity, there were questions running through her mind. I believe that given the audience she was given, there was a certain twinge of fear about the message that would be delivered. She probably questioned much like we would whether the message would be favorable, or a warning.
Finally, the actual announcement is made. Mary is enlightened as to what her future holds. She was told that she would bring forth a son whose name was Jesus. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua. His name would mean Jehovah is salvation. Mary is informed that her son will be the Son of God. Her son will be the son of all sons.
Most parents tend to believe that the sun rises and sets on their children. Mary is told that her son will control those things.
Additionally, she is also assured that her son will be royalty. His kingdom will never end. Mary is probably considering that her son will be the first to ever hold the throne for eternity.
Mary is found as the recipient of God’s amazing plan.
As we look on the story and try to find its application for you and me, we must realize immediately that none of us are ever going to hear this precise message. Jesus has already been born. Prophesy has already been fulfilled. And God does not need a virgin for his Son to enter the world by any longer.
While we will never hear this exact proclamation from Gabriel, the reality of the Christian life is that there are times when God grants incredible disclosures to His people. There are times when God’s plan requires a great deal of faith and promises difficulty and trial in the process.
Just consider the ministries of God’s people through the years. For many of the prophets, they were instructed to serve as God’s mouthpiece despite the fact that they were assured the nations were not going to heed their warnings.
Look at Paul. Surely Paul understood that his return to Rome would ensure his arrest and persecution. Yet, his love for the people demanded that he return to minister to them. And because of his obedience, we have the prison epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon). Furthermore, Paul’s life was the price tag of this season of ministry.
God has a tendency to deliver messages to His people that encourages the statement, “You’re gonna do what?!”
Following the angel’s proclamation of God’s plan, Mary is given…

2.) The Angel’s Promise of God’s Power
“The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.’” – v. 35-36
Mary’s response of confusion is something that I would expect here. Mary is proclaiming her virginity. Her understanding is based on human knowledge. I would have to believe that we would have the same disbelief if we were presented with a similar message. Mary is stating her purity. It has already been identified, but Mary is making it solidified by her admission.
Mary is in a moment of confusion not understanding how this can be.
Yet the angel is attempting to put Mary at ease about her concerns. I believe that the reason that the angel gives details of what will happen is for both Mary’s instruction and comfort.
Mary is told that the power of the Spirit will come over her, and she will conceive. Unfortunately, the verse talking about the power of the Spirit coming upon her has been greatly misinterpreted by some denominations. There are groups that believe that Mary’s conception was the product of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. Let me tell you, that didn’t happen. Throughout the Bible there has been miracle upon miracle. Yet for some reason, when it comes to the Son of God there are those that refuse to believe in things beyond our own power. There has been far less debate about Jesus’ healings as there has been about his virgin birth. The true power of God and the fate of those that believe are held in the truth behind the virgin birth. Satan has recognized that undermining the virgin birth will cause the rest of the story to falter. Compromising the very foundations of something will cause it to crumble.
Furthermore, the angel tells Mary of her cousin Elisabeth. Mary would have known the history very well. She would have known of her age and the fact that she was barren. It was considered a curse in these times to be found unable to have children. However, I believe that the angel was simply trying to give illustration to the power of God. Gabriel is stating that if it is God’s plan, he has the power to make it happen. I also believe that the angel told her of this because it was a similar illustration as to how God has power over our bodies. The laws of nature do not apply to God.
I love this next verse. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” It is amazing how his message always speaks to our need. In the time of Mary’s weakness and vulnerability, Gabriel gives the assurance of God’s providence. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Mary’s pregnancy is not impossible. Elisabeth’s pregnancy is not impossible. Mary’s son being the Savior of the world is not impossible. Mary’s mission and call to be him mother is not impossible.
When Mary was presented with the plan of God, she was promised the power of God as well.
We must realize that while God makes similar demands of His people even today, He is still faithful to provide His power in those times. When God demands that we take incredible leaps of faith, He is ever present to give us the strength to make the jump.
When He has a plan, He opens the doors. We there is a need, He makes the provisions. God continues to reassure us that with Him all things are possible.
Mary is given insight into God’s plan. It is tempered by a promise of God’s power. And lastly, we find…

3.) The Appointed’s Pledge of Performance
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
Contrary to the nature of an angel, we see a humbled heart. When we see the proclamation of an angel, I think that some of us envision a weak young man who speaks softly. However, angels are anything but weak. They may be messengers, but they bring a message of authority like none have ever heard. An angel brings message straight from the lips of the Father. There is no fluctuation or stuttering. This is a sure message that must be delivered with certainty and power.
We’ve heard the message. Now we catch a glimpse of this young woman that God has chosen. Her humble acceptance amazes me. After a message such as this it would have been foreseeable for her to be scared or proud. However, she answers with certainty and without hesitation. She answers softly referring to herself as a handmaid. She exalts herself to the level of a mere servant. It is not arrogance that is pouring out of her, but softness. She does not desire the glory but rather to see the working out of her God’s plan.
We may look at this and think of what a humble person she must be but we still have not dealt with the whole picture.
We see Mary’s humility in the face of certain danger. We all know the fact that she was a virgin. However, many of us fail to recognize the fact that unfaithfulness was punishable by death. If Mary was found to be with child before she was married or by someone other than her husband, she would be stoned. Mary was banking her very life on the power and provision of her Lord. In such a time, we do not see a girl who is confused or upset. Rather, we see a woman certain of what she must do and whom she serves.
I believe that Mary also understood the social ramifications of this decision as well. She would have known that prophesy said he would be called a Nazarene. Mary would have to live in her hometown and face those she knew. There is little more terrifying that having to face your own people when they have preconceived notions about your inappropriate behavior. Mary probably understood that there would be some that looked on her with disgust and loathing. She knew that her life would be scrutinized by those that she called neighbors. However, even with this understanding, she did not hesitate.
Like the example of Mary, when we are presented with the plan of God for our lives, we must make a decision that declares our unconditional obedience. Regardless of the danger we may face, we must answer His call with willingness and obedience.
I wish that I could abbreviate the process and simply tell each of you God’s plan for your life and service. However, I simply cannot. Yet, with that being said, I do want to encourage you not to underestimate God’s ability to use you. While you may believe that God will never demand anything extraordinary from you, I am confident that He longs to do more than you imagine.
So what are you willing to do? If God sent a messenger to you today to seek your surrender to his will, what would your answer be? Would you be found willing? Would your willingness be marked by its humility?
The fact is that our Savior has already lived his life on earth and paid our debt. Jesus will not be born of anyone of us in this building. However, his plan is still working. We still have opportunities on a daily basis to surrender to his plan. Are we? Are you?
This morning God may be calling you to something great. This may be the first time that you’ve heard him calling. He may be seeking to be Lord of your life. Regardless of your situation, God has a plan for your life, and he longs for your surrender. Will you humbly follow him today?

Looking Jesus in the Eye

The following is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on November 29, 2009.

Perhaps one of the most famous betrayal stories in history came during the height of the Roman republic. It has been retold in various forms and fashions, and even lives on through the writings of William Shakespeare.
On the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 BC, a conspiracy to assassinate Roman dictator Julius Caesar came to fruition.
Many of you are probably familiar with that particular story. On the eve of that day, Mark Antony learned vaguely of the plot to kill Caesar. And in hopes to divert the attack, he attempted to head off the dictator at the steps of the forum.
However, a group of senators intercepted Julius Caesar before he ever made it that far and diverted him into a room adjoining the east portico.
At that time, Caesar was presented with a petition to recall his exiled brother. The group of men crowded around him to offer their support and cheer on the decision, but Caesar waved them off.
After refusing the request, one of the men pulled down Caesars tunic and another drew a dagger and swiped at his neck. During the tussle, others joined the attack and Caesar found himself on the floor surrounded by an angry mob.
Yet, Caesar attempted to defend himself against this onslaught. While there is some debate and discussion about Caesar’s last words, there is a general consensus by most to accept one of the following phrases: “Kai su teknon” in the Greek which means “You too, son?” or “Et tu, Brute” in the Latin which means, “And you, Brutus?”
The story is told that Caesar attempted to defend himself until he saw that Brutus was among those that were attacking him. Brutus, a distant cousin of Caesar’s, was actually loved and regarded as Caesar’s own son.
Legend has it that upon seeing the identity of this particular conspirator, that Caesar pulled his toga over his head and surrendered to the attack. He simply asked, “You too, son?” and surrendered his life.
Now, this day has been studied throughout history. Historians have argued over the details of the occasion. However, there is one aspect of the story that tends to be ignored. What must it have felt like to be in Brutus’ position? How would you feel if you were found betraying someone that loved you like their own child- and had to look them in the eye and hear them call your name?
This morning, we are going to look at an occasion when one of God’s beloved people had to look, not Caesar, but the Son of God in the eye after his betrayal- when he too, had to face the reality that the person that loved him more dearly than any other recognized his place in the plot.
We are going to examine what it must have been like to look Jesus in the eye.

Read text. (Matthew 26:20-29)

This morning, as we prepare ourselves to partake of the Lord’s Supper, we too must be willing to look Jesus in the eye. We must be willing to deal with the truth that Jesus sees in us.
And as we come to an understanding of where we stand as we look Jesus in the eye, I want to investigate what this day must have been like for Judas. I’m afraid that if we are honest, we might see part of ourselves in his story.
As we look at the passage, the first thing that we find is…

1.) The Betrayal
“When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.’”
During the course of the evening, as the disciples were sitting around the table with Jesus, it is prophesied that one of the disciples will betray Jesus.
Most believers would likely pair the betrayal with the kiss on the cheek in Gethsemane when Jesus was physically handed over to the authorities. It seems that Jesus is even alluding to the coming events.
However, I would suggest that Jesus has already been betrayed. It is not a future event, but rather a past one. Just look at what happened earlier in this chapter. Verses 14 and 15 say, “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.” It was at this point that Judas agreed to sell out Jesus. Through his agreement in this scheme, he actually started the process of Jesus’ betrayal.
Judas is by far the most infamous person in the Bible. He is hated and despised by believers. I, too, can hardly hear his name and not squirm. His act of betrayal is one never forgotten by those who call Jesus, “Lord.”
However, my goal today, is not that we would have a Judas-bashing evening. Rather, I want us to evaluate what we may have in common with him.
Let me ask, “Have you betrayed Jesus?”
Now pause a little before you get angry because I’ve suggested that we are like Judas. We may not have identified Jesus to the Jewish leaders, but I would bet that there have been times when we accepted 30 pieces of silver in Jesus’ place. In fact, we’ve probably done it at times for far less.
Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave. Additionally, a modern jeweler has tried to translate the worth of the metals into a modern price tag. He suggests that thirty pieces of silver is probably worth about $190.
I’m sure that there are things that cost far less that cause us to turn our backs on our Savior.
We betray Jesus every time we deny Jesus sole lordship of our lives. When we withhold something from him, we are in turn saying that it means more to us than he. We choose pleasure, comfort, and convenience over Jesus.
This encounter began with betrayal. But that was not all. Rather, when there is betrayal, there is something that inevitably follows…

2.) The Cover-up.
“Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’”
Judas was actively looking for an opportunity to deliver Jesus to the chief priests. He was seeking the chance to fulfill his end of the transaction.
Yet, when he found himself in the company of the early church- the disciples, he pretended that he was innocent. His betrayal was followed by a cover-up.
I’ve always wondered why Judas would bother to attempt to hide the truth from the man that claimed to be “the Way, the Truth, and the Life?” Did he really think that Jesus wouldn’t notice?
I can see Judas reclining at the table. Only he doesn’t resemble a confident money keeper. I see him as anything but comfortable. Shifting his weight from side to side. Heart beating out of his chest. Sweat beads rolling down his forehead. A lump in his throat and his gut. Reddened eyes darting around waiting to be caught with a condemning glance. I believe that Judas was terrified in this time.
Do we find ourselves in the same state? Have there been times when you white-knuckled the pew- refusing to relinquish the grasp on your life?
Are there invitations when your sin comes clearly to the front of your mind, and you hope that God doesn’t notice?
We are all guilty at some point of hiding our sin. We hide it from God. Or so we think. We try to hide our shame behind our good deeds and our dressy clothes. We put on our Sunday smile and pretend that we are faultless around other believers.
We, too, Sunday after Sunday during the invitation ask the same question as Judas, “Rabbi, is it I?” We know the ways that we’ve disappointed and betrayed our Lord. We know our attitudes and sins. Yet, we ask the question with the idea that we can cover up our failures.
Betrayal is typically followed by cover-up. Yet, there is still more. We find through Judas’ story that cover-up eventually produces…

3.) A Confrontation.
“…He said to him, ‘You have said it.’”
Judas is trying to play innocent. Yet his nightmare comes true. Jesus knows. Judas looks deep into his eyes- and he sees the truth. He sees past the façade and lies and sees the truth of the situation.
This is a frightening event- the time when the realization hits that Jesus knows.
There comes a time in our lives also, when Jesus will no longer allow our sin to continue without confrontation. Judas had to gaze into the eyes of the Almighty Son of God. He had to put aside his denial and answer the pointed finger of Jesus. The fate of the sin in our lives is the same.
What will we see when we look into Jesus’ eyes? Will we find the beaming eyes of a proud Heavenly Father? Or will we find tears rolling down the cheeks of God’s only begotten son? Will we have to look upon the Holy Lamb of God and cringe at the thought of what we let take his throne in our lives?
When the confrontation comes, there is no debating our guilt. We will not be able to tell Jesus that he is mistaken. We will not be able to say, “Surely not I, Lord.” We can continue to play innocent, but it does not change was Jesus sees in our lives.
I’m afraid that there are times when our sin seems to go unpunished. There are sins that we can try to hide. And there are times when they are completely hidden from everyone but the eye of God.
Yet, we must realize that sin- of any shape or size will not go unnoticed, nor will it be without confrontation. There will come a day when the sin in your life will demand an answer.
There will come a time when God will no longer allow you to continue in an errant lifestyle. There will come a time when the Spirit demands that you surrender your sin.
Betrayal typically produces a cover-up. Cover-ups will eventually lead to confrontation. Once the confrontation comes, we must come to…

4.) A Conclusion.
“Immediately, he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.” –Matthew 26:49, “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.” –Matthew 27:5
Thank God, because of his Son’s sacrifice, there are options when he points out our sin. When we are brought to the place of confrontation between Jesus and our betrayal, we must make a decision.
Judas came to his conclusion. Rather than falling at Jesus’ feet and begging forgiveness, he leaves. Unfortunately for Judas, his conclusion did not equal restoration with God. There is obviously conviction, but never a plea for forgiveness.
Judas made his decision to continue in his betrayal. He chose his silver over his Jesus.
When we look into the eyes of Jesus, we too must make a decision. We must choose whether we will bow a knee and beg for forgiveness, or we deem the price of his betrayal to be reasonable.
When Jesus puts his finger on our lives, we make decisions in all forms and fashions:
We repent, we justify, we argue, we pretend not to notice his beckoning.
When brought to a place of confrontation with Christ, we are forced to come to a point of decision. A refusal to make a decision is a decision in itself.
So what is in your bag? Has Jesus been put aside for money? Maybe for power or favor? Perhaps a lifestyle?
Whether it be for money or because of selfish pride, the price at which we exchange Jesus is never adequate.
So what is his price in your life? Have you accepted a pitiful replacement for the precious Son of God? Have you betrayed Jesus? Are you continuing to do so?
I hope this morning that the Spirit brings you to a point of confrontation. I believe that we must make our decision and reach our conclusion about the place that Christ will be given in our lives.
If you were in Judas’ place, what would you see in Christ’s eyes? Would you see pleasure that Christ is taking in you? Or would you see the disappointment and pain that betrayal brings?

Gladness and Thanksgiving

The following is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on November 22, 2009.

Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Warren Wiersby illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever said, “Thank you.”
Our current culture does not value the contributions of others. It does not typically seek to offer a word of recognition or appreciation. In short, it seems that people as a whole have forgotten the two little words, “Thank you.”
This morning I want to look for a few moments at our Biblical call to gladness and thanksgiving. I want us to consider the instruction we are given in God’s Word about an attitude of gratitude. I want us to rediscover our thankfulness to God.
But before we dig into our Biblical investigation this morning, many of you are probably wondering why you’ve been given a few sticky notes. I want to invite you this morning, as we are looking into God’s Word to think about some things that have happened in this sanctuary that you are thankful for. What are some reasons that you have to come into his courts with thanksgiving?
Perhaps there was a difficult time that you were going through and someone offered you a timely word of encouragement- if that is the case, write it down. Maybe it was on this altar that you surrendered your heart and life to Christ, and you discovered the fullness of life that comes through Him- write that down. Maybe you are thankful that God would allow you to identify with Him through baptism- and you were baptized in this baptistery. If that is the case, write it down. Maybe there’s something God spoke to you through a former pastor behind this pulpit that changed your life- write that down.
For many of you, you have decades of memories in this church building. You have a plethora of reasons to be thankful that God gave you in this very room. I believe that it is time that we rediscover those.
I would invite you to look with me at our call to gladness and thanksgiving.

Read text. (Psalm 100:1-5)

It seems to be apparent that this short passage was actually a call to worship. It was a beckoning of the Jewish people at the temple to enter into the courts with joy and thanksgiving in their hearts. It was literally an exhortation for people to arrive for worship and thanksgiving.
While this psalm is very short in comparison to the majority of the rest in that book, it carries a heavy message. It will challenge us, and teach us about the effects of a truly thankful heart.
As we look at this call to worship, the first thing that we note is…

1.) The Disposition
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.”
As we come into God’s presence, we are called to come with the proper disposition. We must possess the proper attitude.
Look at how we are instructed to come before our God to worship Him. We are told to “Shout for joy.” Now, I know that as conservative Baptists, you would probably get a few surprised glances if anyone actually shouted during a worship service. But we are called to come with such excitement and overwhelming joy that a shout is all we can muster.
I know that we’ve adopted this idea that joyful shouting is irreverent and inappropriate. But, just think about the way we approach football. We yell and cheer when our team scores a touchdown. We celebrate when the clock runs out and our team has secured the victory. Why is it that we don’t come through the doors with a shout of joy for what God has done for us? Why is it that we may muster a begrudging “amen” or a “that’s right” during a sermon, but we don’t shout for joy at what God has done?
We are called to shout for joy to the Lord, but then look at what comes next. We are told to worship the Lord with gladness.
Well, that might hit the root of our problem right there. We are called to worship the Lord with gladness. Listen, if we don’t muster a little gladness in our worship, we will never shout for joy to Him.
This passage tells us about the expected disposition of a thankful worshipper. We must be worshipful and happy that we have that opportunity.
We must be glad that we can worship Him. Yet, let me ask you to be honest with yourself. What kind of attitude do you have by the time that the service begins? Are you glad? Are you happy and excited? Or are you just ready to survive another Sunday so that we can have some fried chicken and watch some football?
Do you truly worship with gladness and excitement?
We must shout for joy, worship with gladness, and even come before our God with joyful songs.
Do we sing joyful songs? I believe that we do. I believe that there are plenty of times when we come into this place and offer joyful songs to our Lord. We have songs like Serve Him with Gladness, Heavenly Sunlight, When We All Get to Heaven, and Victory in Jesus.
Do you know what the problem is in the average church though? The words in the songs don’t match up to the attitudes in our hearts.
Let me explain. I’m a people watcher. I love watching people in public. And where I sit in this place, I have a good vantage point to see everyone during the worship service. But do you know what the average face looks like when we sing these “joyful” songs?
I’ve seen children look happier at the Health Department waiting on a shot than we often look when singing joyful songs of praise. We don’t look joyful- we look sour.
We must understand and possess the right disposition. We should be joyous and happy. But then we must understand why we should possess that disposition. We should be joyful and glad because of…

2.) His Designation
“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”
Why should we have a joyous disposition? Why should we be thankful? Because of His designation. We should be joyous and grateful because He is God.
We should be joyful because He is supreme. He has shown us grace and mercy. He is the one that has offered salvation full and free. He is the one that loves us. We worship and come before Him with joy and thanksgiving because of who He is.
I think if we are honest, we have truly lost sight of who it is that we are worshipping and serving. Life has become about appointments and things to do. It has morphed into a complex compilation of responsibilities and obligations. Even church and the worship service have fallen prey to this mindset.
I want everyone to stop for just a second. In the quietness of the next few seconds, I want you to think about who is really here this morning.
We are not gathered to perform a program. We are not here to see what the preacher managed to write for the sermon. We are not even here just to fill our pew.
We should be here because our desire is to come together as a people and community into the presence of God. We are here- and so is the God of creation.
If we ever truly recover the purpose for our gathering, if we ever really stop and grasp the magnificence of the One that has granted us His company we will rediscover our excitement and appreciation.
We should be joyful, excited and appreciative because God has given us the opportunity to spend the day with Him.
Let’s stop and do a little comparison.
Now I know that our current president is not very popular. In fact, I think I’ve been pretty open about my displeasure with his performance and priorities. But I’m sure that there has been at least one in your lifetime that you have liked. Think back on the president that you admired the most. Does everyone have a name and picture in the back of your mind?
What would you have done if you could rewind the hands of time and if that president called you on the phone and invited you to be his guest of honor for the day? What would you do if you were given the opportunity to fly on Air Force One, to sit in the President’s desk, and to eat at his table?
Who would you call? How excited would you be?
Yet, week after week, we come to God’s house without any excitement or anticipation. We come to the house of our president’s superior- and we don’t bother to be joyous about it.
We must possess the proper disposition because of His designation- because He is God.
If we possess the proper disposition, if we realize His designation, it will eventually bring us to…

3.) The Destination
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
We mentioned just a moment ago that this psalm was probably a call to worship for those waiting outside of the Jewish temple. It was a bid for people to come into the courts of the temple for worship.
When we apply that to more modern times, we find that a proper attitude and a true recognition of the person of God will influence you toward a particular destination. Rather than us being called to the Jewish temple, I believe that the proper attitude and a true recognition of the person of God will encourage us to gather for worship in the church. It should bring us together for the sake of collaborative worship.
This last week, I have really struggled with a question. If one of the primary purposes of our gathering at this destination is to excitedly worship our God, why is it that so many times we gather together while frustrated and ill?
Why do we come to the destination without considering our demeanor and the person that we are gathered to worship?
As we return to the passage, as we look again at the destination, there is reiteration of the way that we are to approach our God. We’ve talked about the proper disposition, and we are reminded again of the attitude that we should have.
It says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” The very thing that should characterize our arrival, our entrance, is an attitude of thanksgiving. Think about that for just a moment. As we part through the doors of the sanctuary, our thoughts should be centered around our appreciation of God’s goodness.
Now, let’s have a little confession here. I know that there are plenty of weeks when I enter through that door without appreciation. Instead, I am thinking about the class I am supposed to teach. I’m thinking about the business that needs to be taken care of. I’m recalling the message that I plan to preach. So many times, I am guilty of coming into the house of God not with appreciation, but with a misguided concentration on the mechanics of the services.
Am I alone here? Or do many of us come through those doors not thinking about the greatness and goodness of God? Do we come through thinking about the conversation we just ended? Do we arrive wondering just how long the preacher is going to ramble today? Or do we come with an appreciation of God’s blessing through the past week?
As a people, I believe that there are times when we need to regain our bearings. We need to truly consider our motivations and thoughts.
As we look at our call to worship in Psalm 100, we actually find an exhortation to gladness and thanksgiving.
We find a reminder of the way that we ought to approach our worship.
We must come to the proper destination in a right disposition because of God’s designation.
Our attitude must be one of gratitude. We must come into God’s presence with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts. We must rediscover the right heart.
This morning as we come to our time of invitation, things are going to be a little different. Rather than the congregation singing the hymn of invitation, I am going to ask you to do this: as the instrumentalists play, I would invite you to relive those reasons for thanksgiving that you have written down. As you look through those descriptions, I would ask you to place that sticky note in the place of your experience.
I want us to have to take action- to physically move to those places where God has done something for which we are thankful. And rather than taking another opportunity at that moment to ask for those things that we want- stop and pray and simply tell the Lord “thank you” for what He did there.
If it was on this altar that you found grace- or rededicated, or received the help you needed through a difficult time, I would ask you to place one there. If it was in the choir, place it there. If it came from the pulpit, place it there. Maybe it was right there in your pew- if so, place one there.
This is our opportunity to not only show our God how thankful we are, but to visibly remind ourselves of our reasons for gladness and thanksgiving.
As the instrumentalists play, show God a few places that you are thankful for.



Something amazing happened during the invitation that morning. Just look at the response!

Pressing Toward Perfection

The following is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on November 15, 2009.

The closest I have ever come to perfection probably occurred when I was fourteen years old.
I am certain by now that you all now how passionately I love the game of baseball. In fact, it is one thing that I miss dearly. I miss practice. I miss the sweat. I miss the muffled sounds through the ear-holes of a helmet. I miss the feeling of a ball hitting the sweet spot of the bat. And most of all, I miss standing on a mound staring down a batter.
Now, I’ve never claimed to be perfect, but one evening in 1996, I came close. That particular evening we were playing the Falcons. It had been more than seventy-two hours since our previous game, so I was OK to pitch.
For some reason that evening, my fastball had a little extra pep. My curveball had a little extra break. And my change up actually slowed down. Through the first four innings, I recorded ten strikeouts and two putouts. There had not been a ball hit past the pitcher’s mound.
Through the fifth, things continued on the same path- and by the time the sixth inning rolled around, I was sitting alone at the end of a dugout. (It's baseball superstition)
Finally, the game had progressed to the point if we held the other team off for one more inning, the game would be called an inning early on account of the ten-run rule.
During the last inning, with one out, my hope of perfection ended. A ground ball rolled through the legs of our third baseman. It was not hit that hard- it just was not fielded.
All of that work went for not- and the record would not show perfection.
As I was working on this morning’s message last week, I began to think about that day and about our quest as Christian people to become perfect. We are called to work toward the fullness of the image of Christ. We are to continually strive toward eliminating any imperfection. Unfortunately, there are times when we hit a pebble- or a bump in the road and our best attempt at perfection fails.
And then there are times when I am reminded that even if I am perfect for one day, even if I succeed for this time- the game of life never ends.
We are a people that must constantly press on toward righteousness and maturity until we reach the fullness of the stature of Christ- until we become as He is, perfect.
I do not say this in judgment or condemnation, but I am certain that there is not one person in this building that has reached the pinnacle of perfection in life. I know that I cannot claim that. And so, we have work to do. We are left with further growth and maturity to attain.
I believe that Paul gives us a great understanding as to how to strive toward our calling.

Read text. (Philippians 3:12-16)

As we look at Paul’s epistle to the church at Philippi, we find Paul’s progress and approach to Christian growth. We find four steps that we must take in our pursuit of Christ’s perfection.
First, we must…

1.) Grasp Our Condition
“Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature…”
Before we can move any farther than mere infancy in our Christian faith, we must truly grasp our current condition. We must see ourselves as we really our- and that is Christians that have not yet reached perfection.
Just consider the author of this letter. Consider what this should say to you and me.
Paul, the man that authored the majority of the New Testament said that he had not already reached the goal. He was not fully mature.
We can even look at his list of accolades earlier in the chapter. He was circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, and a Pharisee. It has even been suggested that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin council. Paul- in terms of Jewish customs and law was faultless. This was a man that sat at the feet of Gamaliel. He was as close to perfect as humanity could get. However, he insists that he still has not reached the fullness of maturity in Christ.
Now, if Paul insists that he had not arrived, why do act as if we have?
None of us have completely digested the fullness of the knowledge of God. We still do not understand every facet of Scripture. And even if we did, there are none of us that are perfect in our adherence and obedience of that instruction.
As Christian believers, there is a time to look at ourselves in comparison to the lost world around us and feel accomplished. There is the temptation to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.
However, we must rediscover our need. We must rediscover humility.
Now, I realize that most of us- if not all of us would not hesitate to admit that we are in need of growth and maturity. However, I still believe that there is a struggle at times with truly grasping our condition. There is still a temptation, even in a small fashion, to pretend that we are farther along than we are.
Before we can grow any further, we must grasp our condition.
In addition to seeing ourselves as we really are, we must take the next step and…

2.) Grow Our Captivation
“…but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.”
Paul realized the he was not perfect. In spite of the nearly perfect life he lived under legalism, in spite of his best efforts, he still was not fully perfect and mature.
And in recognition of that fact, Paul said that he makes every effort to take hold of that maturity because he has been taken hold of by Jesus.
I believe this is a beautiful image. When I see this in my mind’s eye, I see a picture of Christ hand in hand with one of his children. And because He is holding on to His child’s hand, because He is walking with Him, He is drawing him closer to fullness of maturity in Him.
Paul is saying, “Because Jesus has hold of me, because He is walking with me, I am going to take every opportunity to draw closer to Him.”
I believe that it is interesting that Paul used the term “taken hold of” here. It also tends to communicate the picture of captivity. Yet it is consistent with Paul’s presentation of himself throughout the epistles. Paul almost always calls himself a bondservant, servant, or slave of the gospel.
Paul speaks about being taken hold of, yet it is not a restrictive, demeaning captivity that we would think of. Rather, it is the idea that Paul is completely captured by the love of Christ. He is captivated.
Now, I know that y’all are probably tired of hearing about me and Emily. However, when I see this phrase speaking about being taken hold of, it makes me think about the love that I share with Em.
When we started dating, even until now, there is something about that love that has me captivated. It keeps my attention. It deserves my affection. Because of that love, there is nothing that I would let stand between me and her.
I believe that is exactly the picture that Paul is presenting here. Because he is captivated by Christ’s love, he is doing everything in his power to remove all obstacles to their relationship.
We should be challenged by Paul. We too need to grow our captivation.
Let me simply ask: Where has our wonder gone? What has happened to our utter amazement with Christ’s love? We must be captivated by it so that we are actively pursuing our relationship with Christ.
Let me mention briefly, the easiest way to grow your captivation with Jesus is not some séance or attempt to manipulate your emotions. The easiest way to restore your captivation is to spend time with Him. Study His word. Pray and speak with Him. Serve Him. The more you are with Him, the more you will desire to be with Him.
If we want to grow in our maturity, if we want to pursue perfection in Jesus, we must grasp our condition. We must grow our captivation. Then we must be careful to…

3.) Guard Our Concentration
“Brothers, I do not consider myself to taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead…”
We must understand where we really stand in God’s eyes. We must seek to grow in our love for Him. We must be captivated by Him. And then we must be careful to guard our concentration.
Paul says that he forgets what is behind and reaches forward to what is ahead.
Now, there is the tendency to use this at New Years when talking about the opportunities God grants for new beginnings. In fact, I have even used this passage for that purpose here.
However, I don’t believe that is all that it is communicating. We look at it and talk about moving on from past failures. And I believe that you can use it in that context and still be maintaining Scriptural integrity.
Certainly our sinful pasts can be cause for crippling our service of Christ. There are plenty of people within the church that believe that they are unable to serve God- or even come to Him because of something that they did in their past.
We must be willing to quit looking back to those disappointments and failures. We must move beyond those shortcomings and allow our past to be the past and not our future.
Paul was a man that would certainly want to forget parts of his past. Paul had a Damascus road experience where God Himself questioned Paul as to why he was persecuting Him.
Paul was convinced that He was doing God’s work and will until then. I am certain that Paul would love to forget about those that he persecuted and imprisoned. I am certain that he would love to move beyond the fact that we were introduced to him in God's Word as he held coats and cheered on those that stoned Stephen.
Yet, I believe Paul was communicating more. When we look back at the beginning of Philippians 3, we find that section that we quoted earlier. We find that place where Paul gives us a list of his accolades and qualifications.
Paul was a man that would have a great deal to boast about. He would have reason, more than any of us, to feel as if he had reached a higher plane in his Christian experience.
However, I believe that Paul was actually saying, “I forget what is behind and move forward- not because the past is all horrible and sinful, but because I cannot allow myself to boast in my accomplishments and forget I still have work to do.”
As Christians, many of you have served God faithfully for decades. You have taught classes and served the church. You have grown in your faith. However, we cannot look back on our pasts and pretend that they are enough. Rather, we still have more climbing to do. We still have further to go before we reach full maturity and perfection.
As God’s people, we must be careful to guard our concentration. We cannot get so caught up in the past- and our successes and experiences that we fail to move forward now.
We must grasp our condition, grow our captivation, guard our concentration, and lastly…

4.) Groan in Our Call
“I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”
Paul understood where he stood with the Father. He understood his condition. And because of that fact, he was actively pursuing God’s call on his life. He was groaning in his call.
When Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi, I believe that it contained not just instruction, but imagery.
When Paul said that he pursues as his goal the prize of God’s call in Christ Jesus, I don’t see a man that decides to begrudgingly attend a worship service. I don’t see a man that reluctantly pulls out His Scriptures to fulfill his duty. I don’t see a man that shows any hesitancy.
Rather, he is pursuing his goal. He is running after Jesus with everything that is in him. He is praying faithfully. In fact, he can’t speak to the Father enough. He is studying God’s Word. He just can’t get enough. He wishes there was even more to it. He loves teaching and just being able to say the name Jesus.
This is a man that is excited about doing whatever God gives him the opportunity and privilege to do. He is going full-tilt toward his finish line.
And do you realize where Paul is in his race at this point?
Paul is in prison when he wrote this letter. He was in chains because of this gospel. Yet, he is still saying- whatever of my course I have left to run- I don’t care what the Romans do to me, I am going to pursue it with passion. I am going to give it my all- and I am going to love what I’m doing.
Paul is essentially the runner that has kept his eye on the finish line- and he is groaning- he is putting every ounce of energy he has into his pursuit of the call of Christ.
You know, when I read these words, its makes me ashamed. Here I am, a free man in a country that celebrates the greatest liberties of any nation, I am called to preach the gospel- I am given the opportunity of a relationship with Christ, and where is my passion? Where is the fervor in my life?
Ladies and gentlemen, we must groan in our call. We must pursue our Christian life with such energy and fervor that we have to depend on God for our strength.
I wonder what would happen if we approached our Christian calls with the same energy that we do sports- or family gatherings- or whatever our particular hobbies may be. What would life be like- what could God do if we passionately pursued Him the way we do other things?
I want to remind us this morning: We are not perfect. We have not yet arrived. There is still work to be done.
We must grow our captivation. We must be passionately in love with Jesus. We must keep our focus, not on our past victories or failures, but on what God has in store for us in the future. And we must groan in our call. We must run the race with everything we have.

Seek While He May Be Found

The following is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on November 8, 2009.

As we come to our time together this morning, I am going to begin a little differently. Rather than telling a story or opening with some other illustration, I want to ask you a couple of questions.
Please don’t answer these aloud, but truly consider them. Be honest with yourself. Your life depends on your honesty here.
Do you recall the time when you surrendered your heart and life to Jesus Christ? Do you remember the conviction of the Spirit, and your decision to yield? Do you recall your obedience through baptism? Is your life producing fruit that evidences your conversion?
Are you certain of God’s salvation in your life, or are you playing the church game? Are you keeping up appearances so that others will think you’re a good person? Do you wear a mask that only lasts until the end of service? Do you ever wonder what is missing in life?
What camp are you in?
If you have never experienced new life that comes in Christ, if you have never allowed Jesus to reign on the throne of your heart, I would invite you to note Isaiah’s words with me.

Read text. (Isaiah 55:6-7)

I am going to spare you a typical outline. We are not going to employ alliteration or try to create an acrostic. Rather, I believe that God’s Word is sufficient- and in this case, is best served by being preached without manipulation.
I’m afraid that the greatest act of disservice of any pastor toward the church body that he is called to serve is found in an assumptive attitude. It is too common that we approach the pulpit having made the assumption that everyone in the congregation has already made a decision to follow Christ. However, I do not believe that we can still make that assumption any longer. I am not trying to speak in a judgmental, condemning manner. I am not calling into question the authenticity of any person’s decision for Christ. However, I do believe that at times we are guilty of insisting that church members and attendees are saved because they are familiar faces and have been active in the body for so long. But we must reconsider.
There is a recent study out by renowned researcher George Barna. In this survey, Barna discovered that at least fifty percent of church-goers across America are probably lost. Approximately half of the current church could not recall a personal decision to follow Christ. Rather, they equated salvation with doing good works and following the Ten Commandments.
I believe that we would be well served to look at God’s invitation through His prophet Isaiah. I believe that we must honestly consider whether the day has ever come when we surrendered our lives to Christ.
If you are here this morning, and you have no idea what I am talking about- stick with me. If there is a void, something missing, in your life, this is for you. If you cannot remember a time when you gave your heart and life to Christ, listen to Isaiah’s words. We begin with…

6) “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him when He is near.”

The first thing that we need to understand this morning is the urgency of salvation. We are exhorted to seek God while He may be found. We must call out to Him while He is close by.
When I read this, I immediately thought about my limited experience in the garden behind the church. As you’ve heard before, Mr. RB planted a garden out back this past year. He grew a little of everything possible. And because of his work, my family enjoyed the fruits of his labor. We ate peas and potatoes, squash and tomatoes. We had watermelon and corn. There was a plethora of options that kept finding themselves on our back porch.
And while I still understand relatively little about growing a garden, I did learn this: There are times when you can find and enjoy certain vegetables, and then there are times when they simply are not there. For example, if I went seeking a watermelon on the vine, it would not be found right now.
While God is not a vegetable, there are times when He is available, and then a day will come when He is not. There will come a day when people will look for God, but He will not be found.
Presently, God’s availability for decision in our lives is limited by the breath in our bodies. God is close by. He is near so long as breath has not left our lungs. As long as there is life in our bodies, He is ready and waiting for you.
Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” We only have one life to live. We only have one chance to make a decision for Christ. And following our earthly lives, we will stand before God and His judgment.
We will determine who we live for, and we will answer for it one day. The only problem in that statement for the unrepentant unbeliever is that phrase “one day.” Our reality is that we simply don’t know when that day will come.
Just think about the atrocity this past week at Fort Hood in Texas. The victims of that day ranged from 62 years of age to just 19. A twenty-one-year-old PFC was three months pregnant at the time of the shooting. It is apparent that she was anticipating a family. I am certain that all of these intended to live long meaningful lives. However, their opportunity- their time for God to be near came to an early end.
We are told to call out to God when He is near. We must call while we still have opportunity.
While we are given that instruction, I want to make certain that you understand He is near this morning. We are told in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
We must call out while God is near. The time is pressing, but then Isaiah also explains the process.

7) “Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord…”

In addition to understanding the urgency of a decision, we must understand the mechanics of that decision as well. We must grasp the process.
Salvation is not equivalent to us merely understanding our need. It is not an elaborate personal attempt at behavior change. Rather, it is repentance.
It is a combination of the recognition of the true depravity of our sin with a willful determination to seek God’s help in changing our sinful lifestyles.
Before we can forsake our way, we must recognize that it is errant. Over and over again, I have heard the excuse, “Well, my life is not that bad. It isn’t as bad as other people around me.” Yet, Scripture teaches us differently. Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And then Romans 6:23 warns us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
When we examine our lifestyles, as bad as they may not seem to us, our actions demand the death penalty- and not just physical death, but eternal spiritual death.
That hatred that you have is equated to murder in God’s eyes. Lust is the same as adultery. Every lie, wayward word, evil action demands the full wrath of God.
Yet, we have the opportunity to escape that judgment. We must understand the truth of our sinful lives, and then we must repent.
Let me resort to a question in the FAITH outline. If we were driving down the road together and I asked you to turn, what would I be asking you to do?
(I would be asking you to change direction)
In Scripture, that is exactly what repentance is. It is changing direction. It is determining that the direction of your life is leading to a place that you don’t want to experience. It is making the decision to abandon your way and to go God’s direction.
Now, I realize that this is a scary process. To be quite honest, there are things that we find in our lives that are not going to be pleasant to try and rid ourselves of. In fact, it may prove painful and difficult. It may take more than what your physical power can muster. But that is where the beauty of this exhortation lies.
Isaiah begins by encouraging the people to seek God while He may be found and to call Him while He is near. And what we find is, when we are faithful to call out to seek God’s face and to call out to Him in need, He provides the strength we need, and He encourages and provides the transformation He desires.
The change in our physical actions will prove difficult, but then we may question: can we really change our thoughts?
Once again, it is possible because God is the provider and deliverer.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Who do you think renews your mind? Who allows your thought processes to change? It is God that produces the changes in our lives when we call out.
We note the pressing time frame. We understand the process. And when we are faithful to call out, to repent, to seek God’s face, then we find pardon.

7b) “And He will have mercy on Him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

When we are faithful to seek the face of God, when we are willing to acknowledge our sinfulness and we come in humility and repentance, we find the promise of great mercy. We find that His grace is great enough to pardon our pasts.
Over and over again, I have talked with people that have insisted that God could not forgive their pasts. They have claimed that their sins were too big, their actions too evil and heinous for God to excuse.
However, we find in God’s Word, a promise that if we will call out to Him and turn from our evil actions and thoughts, He will abundantly pardon us.
He will settle the debt that we owe. He will restore us- and give us a fresh start.
Even with that promise apparent in Scripture, I know that there are those that would still be hesitant. But if you have difficulty trusting words in black and white, look at the examples we find through Scripture and life.
Paul, the man that authored the majority of the New Testament, was initially introduced to us as he held the coats of those that were stoning Stephen, God’s faithful witness. He was the one that was arresting and imprisoning Christian people, yet God changed His life and made Him the apostle to the Gentiles.
Simon was a zealot. He supported the idea of aggressive, violent overthrow of the Roman government. Yet God called him to serve, and he became part of the group closest to Jesus Christ.
I even have a distant relative that will remain nameless here. But, years ago, he was convicted of a crime that most would consider one of the worst things possible. He was found guilty of murder. He stabbed a man to death. And while society as a whole may have written him off, God didn’t. When he called out to God, God abundantly pardoned him. Now, he is not a murderer in a jail cell. Rather, he is an adopted child of God and the pastor of a growing church in our state.
There is nothing in this world bigger than God’s pardon and forgiveness. When we call out in need, God is faithful to hear our cry. He meets our confession with forgiveness and regeneration.
Perhaps this morning, you have been avoiding this confrontation between God’s desire to grant you new life and the necessary change that He demands. Maybe you have been running, believing that you could eventually avoid the topic long enough that God would simply cease to care.
If that is you this morning, then you need to hear this story.
In 1981, a Minnesota radio station reported a story about a stolen car in California. Police were staging an intense search for the vehicle and the driver, even to the point of placing announcements on local radio stations to contact the thief. On the front seat of the stolen car sat a box of crackers that, unknown to the thief, were laced with poison. The car owner intended to use the crackers as rat bait. Now the police and the owner of the VW Bug were more interested in apprehending the thief to save his life than to recover the car. So often, when we run from God, we believe that we are doing so to escape punishment- like this thief. But what we are actually doing is eluding His rescue.
If you are running, if you have never surrendered your heart and life to Christ and you keep claiming that you have plenty of time to make that decision, you are not escaping the penalty of your actions. You are merely dodging the hope of rescue.
Perhaps this morning, you are tired of running. Maybe you are ready to finally surrender. Perhaps you are seeking a rescue from life’s disappointments. All you have to do is call out to Him, repent, and receive His pardon.
Years ago, George Miller was convicted of robbing the US Mail Service. He was sentenced to be hanged for his crime. President Andrew Jackson issued him a presidential pardon, but Miller refused to accept it. This created a problem that required the input of the Supreme Court. After considering the case, the court ruled that a pardon was an opportunity, a slip of paper, but it was meaningless unless it was received.
Jesus has issued your pardon, but it is of no consequence if you refuse to accept His mercy.
As we come to our time of invitation, if you have never surrendered your heart and life to Christ, now is that time. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, the debt of your sin has been paid. Your pardon has been issued. However, it must be claimed. It must be received.
I would invite you. If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, I would love to pray and talk with you. Perhaps you claimed God’s pardon years ago, but you have failed to continue to seek Him and to serve Him, let me encourage a fresh commitment.
Maybe you have surrendered your heart and life and you are looking for a place to serve, if that is the case, we would love to have you. Whatever the decision you need to make, now is the time.