Rom 8:1-16 The joy of the gospel!

Rom 8:1-16

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Rom 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

No condemnation. Why? Because we belong to Jesus. Law of Spirit (life) instead of law of sin and death. The law cannot condemn us, just like if you’re dead the police can’t come and arrest you and you can’t be convicted. We have died with Christ and so the law – God’s law – cannot convict us. We are dead to the law and alive to Christ! We are dead to sin because we live for Christ.

This is the message of Romans! No condemnation. We do not have to placate God. We do not have to worry about our “performance”. We do not have to live in fear of disappointing God so much that he throws us out. He is a good, good father. He loves us unconditionally. I don’t know what kind of parents you had. Some of you maybe did grow up in fear. Fear of disappointing them. Fear of upsetting them. But in Christ there is no fear. He has declared us to be in the right with him. He loves us and nothing can separate us from that love.

Nothing can separate us because his love is not based on our performance - we are weak because of sin and so we fail – his love is based on his performance, guaranteed by the cross and resurrection. God has done what the law could not because we are weak. V3 So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

His sacrifice means that we are in perfect relationship with him. With God. A relationship so perfect that we can call God “father”.

Lord grant us today that we will see the glory and the joy of the gospel. Open our eyes to your mercy. Let us feel it! Amen.

Ok. It’s been a while since we’ve been in Romans. And v1 starts off with the word therefore. If you see a therefore ask what the therefore is there for! Two good reasons to do a quick review of Romans so far.

So let me take us through what we have learned so far to bring us up to this most powerful statement: so there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans kicks off with something equally powerful: 1:16, our key verse: I am not ashamed of the gospel for IT is the POWER of God for salvation. The gospel is GOD’S power for salvation for ANYONE who believes.

Why? Why do we need the gospel? Why does the gospel need to be God’s power? Why can’t it be our power? 1:18 gives the answer: Ro 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
The gospel has to be something FROM God TO us (not us reaching out to God) because we are sinners and God is angry with us. How do we know this? Look around at the world. The mess we see around us is proof of God’s judgement. He gives us over, abandons us to our foolishness. He allows us to sin.

And chapter 2 says the way out isn’t being good – because the good person just condemns themselves! Lying is wrong, but we lie.
And being Jewish doesn’t help either. Because the Jew who is supposed to keep the law, doesn’t. So instead of the Law bringing salvation, it brings condemnation.

And so we end up with this sobering conclusion in 3:10 No-one is righteous, not even one. All our excuses are brought to nothing. How often have you done something despite the fact that you knew it was wrong? What about all those things in the moral “grey area”? Our own morals condemn us long before we even get to God. Ro 3:10 “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

And that is why we are not ashamed of the gospel! No we rejoice in the gospel! Because in it a righteousness FROM God is revealed. God’s power for salvation in Jesus Christ. Ro 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
In the gospel God does what we can’t:
we break the law, so Jesus keeps the perfectly law for us. Justified.
We are slaves to sin, in bondage to sin, so Jesus never sins – a perfect sacrifice. He pays the price to set us free. Redeemed.
We face Gods just anger – so Jesus takes our sin upon himself, and satisfies God’s anger with his sacrifice on the cross. Propitiated.
We are justified, redeemed, propitiated.

Ro 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

But it’s not just our future which is secure, it is now. New life starts now. Not just saved FROM sin but saved FOR God. We have new life. Sin brings death, but faith in Jesus brings life.

As Christians we are the new humanity. Jesus is our new Adam. As human beings we are all sinners, because we are all born “of Adam”. His sin DNA is in us and we all confirm that we are sinners almost immediately. Just watch kids! No-one teaches them to sin but they do. This is why God must be sovereign over salvation. If we had any part to play in our salvation, then the unborn, the mentally challenged, and babies and small children all have no way to be saved. Because they are in Adam Ro 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Therefore we are not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of…. GOD for salvation. Not us, praise God. So anyone can be saved. The unborn, the aborted, the mentally challenged, and you and me. The Spirit can wake anyone to life.
Adam’s one act brought death, but Jesus’ one act brought life - big enough and powerful enough to swallow up Adam’s act of death and reverse the curse. Amen!

Therefore, how should we live? Chapter 6 Like we belong to God! Ro 6:20–23 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

But, we say, I don’t FEEL like I’m dead to sin. In fact, sin feels very alive in me! I keep doing what I don’t want to do. Ro 7:23–8:1 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The answer when we are tempted to sin is to remember who we are. We belong to Christ. We have died to sin. Sin has no power over us. We don’t need to sin anymore!
Because what benefit does sin bring? When was the last time you sinned and thought “I’m so glad I did that”. Sin brings judgement and sin leads to eternal death. But now, in Christ, we can be righteous. For the first time we can choose not to sin!

So there are now two of me inside. The old man of sin and death, and the new man of Spirit and life. I am free now! I don’t have to listen to the old man anymore. I don’t have to follow the old way of life. Ro 8:2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

In Christ we are for the first time truly free. Free to see ourselves as we truly are – sinners. Full of selfishness and self-justification, and excuses for our behaviour and the painful awareness of “me” and how are people seeing me and what if they don’t like me. We’re set free from that self-obsession so that we can glorify and enjoy God – what we were made for.
We’re free to choose not to sin, and we have been given the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. His power is sufficient!

Chapter 8 continues to remind us of the incredible truths of the gospel as Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes these words in v3, summing up what we’ve been learning from the previous chapters:

3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.

That’s what we just celebrated at Christmas. That God was born a man. Now that is astounding enough – that he became one of us to reveal himself to us. But that’s not all. V3 continues: And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Wow! The law was fully satisfied in Jesus. That’s why there’s now no condemnation. The law was fully satisfied. Why? Because Jesus perfectly kept the law - AND he then took the punishment that law-breakers like us deserve: Death. He died. His death freed us from the condemnation of the law. The fine has been paid, the prison sentence served, the death for the death penalty died, the firing squad has shot a guilty person. Our sins were transferred to Jesus on the cross – he became guilty for us and so our guilt and shame and sin is all gone. We are free! We are reborn!

We now follow a new law in ourselves. No longer a law of sin and death, but a law of the Spirit. A law of life.

That is something that comes from within. You cannot pretend to be a Christian. You must have the Spirit. Because the Spirit changes you from the inside out.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

You know, I have discovered that that is true. When I sin it leads to problems! Many problems. When I obey God it leads to life and peace. Maybe not instantly, sometimes it means going through difficulties – saying sorry, confessing a lie or a mistake – but it sets the relationship back on track. So many people live with homes full of strife – fighting and arguing and nastiness. Because they’re trying to protect themselves, and so no-one says sorry, no-one says I love you – because that would show I’m vulnerable. As Christians that is not how our homes should be. We should be quick to say sorry because we know we’re sinners. We should say “I love you” and risk being hurt because we’re already perfectly loved by God. And it’s amazing the change you will see. Ask those in the church who’ve become Christians about the change in their home life!

My Dad’s friend when he became a Christian said “I can’t sin properly anymore!” It’s true! There is a new nature within you.

7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

If you find it easy to sin, you are untroubled by sinning, or you find yourself dismissing or ignoring God’s commands – maybe you’re not a Christian. Maybe you don’t have God’s spirit in you and you’re trying to impress God with your own efforts. That is the law of sin and death and you will fail. In fact, as v7 says you are hostile to God.

Please, take the opportunity now to ask God to show you the truth and to repent.
If you’re worried about not belonging to Christ, if you’re worried that “oh no I keep sinning – do I belong to Christ” - the fact that you’re worried about it means you do belong! That desire in you to obey, to stop sinning. That crushing disappointment when you sin. That cry of despair in confession. That resolve to fight sin. All signs that you belong to Christ. For we are in bodies full of sin, but we are in our spirit righteous before God.

10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Isn’t that amazing? We don’t deserve that. But God takes our sinful rotten, dead selves, and makes us alive.
You know, if we saw ourselves in glory we would fall at our own feet in worship for we would be so glorious and amazing. That is what God I doing in us and will complete. He will turn us into a trophy of grace to the praise of his eternal glory.

Remember that. Remember his power works in you. The same power that raised Christ from the dead – is in you. You can resist sin!

There is deep eternal joy awaiting us. Let’s keep our eyes fixed ahead, for the glory and joy to come.

Debby and I were talking yesterday and I said to her that I wished I knew that she was in my future when I was younger. It would have been so much easier to keep myself from certain temptations and sins knowing that she was waiting for me. Why mess around with junk when gold is ahead?
And it struck me that that is exactly where we are. We know what is coming in our future! We have a glorious, joyful eternity ahead of us. Why mess around with “pleasures” that promise much but deliver only heartache. Fill your mind with him, with your future, and you will find the temptations of this world become quite dull.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

Now I could end there. Choose life. Praise God and all that. But I want to end with a little encore. A little extra that will blow your mind. And it’s in the last few verses of today’s reading. When the Spirit opened your eyes and you believed in Jesus this is what happened: you became a child of God. Jesus our brother. God our Father. A new Spirit in us.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

We do not need to be afraid. We are not fearful slaves. We are beloved children. I don’t know how good or bad you parents were, but God is perfectly good. To be his child is amazing. We are adopted as his children and we can call him “Abba, father”.
Abba is a word in Aramaic meaning “Daddy” or “Dad”. It is an intimate and personal word. “Father” sounds quite formal – Abba is personal. And we can call him Abba.

But why does the Holy Spirit here use the phrase “Abba , father”? To show us something amazing! There are only three places in the Bible this phrase “Abba, father” is used. Once here, once in Galatians, making the same point as here – but it’s first used in Mark 14:36. Turn back there and read it and be amazed. “Abba” is the intimate word Jesus used to talk to his father. In deep distress the night before his crucifixion he calls out to God saying “Abba, father”. “You are my father, my Dad”, he says.

And this is what is mind-blowing: we can say the same thing. We have the same access to God as father, the same intimacy, the same rights as a son as Jesus. That is what he has given to us. Amazing grace indeed!

If you are in Christ, then you are a child of God. And God is your father. Isn’t that just astounding. Praise God. Praise him with great praise. What a gospel we have.

Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. No longer under law, free from sin, we have the Spirit and we are called sons and daughters of God.

O Lord fill us with joy and wonder at your mercy. Fill us with awe at what you have done. Capture our vision so that we are not tempted by the lesser distractions of this world, sin which drags us down – but let us look forward to the glorious future you have prepared for us in your mercy. And let us remember who we are. Child of God. A child of God. Daddy! We cry. Dad! My Dad in Heaven, I praise your name. our Dad in heaven, we love you.

If you don’t know him, get to know him now. If you need to make right with him, do that now during communion. Lord, move in mercy I pray. Amen.

Vision 2018: A declaration of dependence.

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I’ve been reading the Westminster Catechism. And the first question it starts with is this: what is the chief and highest end of man?

That is: why are we here? Why do we exist?

As we look forward to a new year, that is where we will start. Why are we here? What is our purpose?

And then we will think about the church: what is church and what is its purpose?

And finally our vision for 2018. Where are we going this year together as a church, under God. What is our purpose as a church?

1. Why are we here and what is our purpose?

What is the chief and highest end of man?

The answer the Westminster Catechism gives is this: The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

I love that. We exist to bring glory to God. We were created in the image of God to reflect God’s glory back to him. Like the moon reflects the light of the sun, and lights up the night sky, so we should reflect the glory of God.

Ro 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

1 Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

But I love that that is not all. It’s not just glorify God but also to enjoy him forever. We were created to enjoy Him. We were created for his pleasure to find our fulfilment and joy in him. He completes us.

Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. 27 Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. 28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Jn 17:21–23 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

The chief and highest end of man – our main goal, our reason for being, the highest meaning in our lives is this: to glorify God and to fully enjoy God forever. Have you ever thought about that?

Do you enjoy God? Do you want to glorify Him? Is your life his? Or is it drudgery and oh must I go to church and must I read the Bible, and must I obey. Yes, to follow Christ is to die to self. Sometimes it is very painful. It is a fight, a battle to the death. But it is also a great joy! We should love coming here. We should love being with each other. I do! I love seeing all of you. I love that God has created a church where there was no church. I love that God has brought each one of you into our lives and into each others lives. I love that here we hear the living Word of God. We get to come and hear the Bible read, and we try to stick to what the Bible says, so we’re not going away empty and shallow and confused – maybe challenged and offended, but spiritually full. Sustained. What joy!

As many of you know, I never had any desire to be a pastor. I am an introvert by nature. It drains me to be with people. I have limited capacity. When I was growing up people always asked me “are you going to be a preacher like your Dad?” and my answer was always “no, I’m going to be an accountant”. Well, I am an accountant, but I also ended up planting a church, and here we are 5 years later. Has it been hard? Oh yes! A lot of work? Oh yes! But has it been a joy? Oh YES! It’s having a front row seat into what God is doing amongst his people. It is thrilling to see the Spirit at work in you guys and to be a fellow-worker with God.

It’s like when my kids were small and baked a cake with Debby. Now Debby was clearly the brains behind everything – she baked a cake. They made a mess and dropped the flour and got butter in their hair. But when the cake was made they could say “I made the cake Dad!”. Because they did. They were part of it.

That’s what serving in the church is like. And all you who serve, from making tea to preaching to teaching in children’s church to giving to babysitting kids to fixing things to driving people around – however we have served we are part of the church of God and can say I did this with my Father. It’s thrilling.

Serving is hard, yes, but it is so rewarding. And you grow. If you don’t know where you can help come and ask me. We’d be happy to put you to work!

It is a joy to work with the Lord. But not just in the church. In every area of life. 1 Co 10:31 whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I had to work as an auditor for a number of years. And I hated that job. It is mind-numbingly boring! Do you know what got me through? Remembering that I worked for the Lord. That he had given me that job, and whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I worked for the glory of God. I represented Him. He was with me. So I drew strength from that, gritted my teeth, and got on with the job, and did the best I could do. I wasn’t exactly happy, but I could do it in His strength. His joy flowed through me, and enabled me to glorify him.

Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

It has been said that we all have a God-shaped hole inside of us. We need him.

Do you desire him, thirst for him? Remember the famous Psalm 42 As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you?

Is that where you are? If not, ask the Lord to rekindle that flame for him.
Here’s two reasons why (thanks to John Piper)

Dt 28:47–48 If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, 48 you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. Joy is a requirement!

Devil has had more theologically accurate thoughts about God. Satan’s problem is not doctrine, but delight. We need to rejoice in God! Not just think right thoughts.

Our purpose, the reason we are here, is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. That is what we will spend all eternity doing. In glorifying him and in JOY! And we can experience that now.

2. What is church and what is its purpose?

To glorify God and to enjoy him – together! The church, this church, exists for the glory of God. It is not first a self-help club. It is not primarily about us. It is about Him. We gather together to behold our God. We gather together to glorify him. To listen to him. To pray to him. To love and adore him.

I want us to grasp how amazing church is, this gathering of people saved by the grace of God, so let’s turn to Ephesians 1 in our Bibles. I’m going to read from v3-10, and then 21-23.

Eph 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth…21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

We are saved by the grace of God, chosen before the foundation of the world – there is nothing in us that is better than those not saved. We cannot say “I am superior, therefore God chose me”. No, it is by grace! And all things are placed under the authority of Christ, the head of the church. Jesus is in control. This is his church. We are his body to his praise and glory.

But what is church? Church is the gathering of God’s people around God’s word. Church without the Bible is not church. Church where they ignore God’s word is not a church. Because Jesus is the head, we are not free to ignore what he says. If we do, we are no longer a church.

The first “church” we meet in the Bible is in Exodus as the Israelites are gathered around Mount Sinai/Horeb after being rescued from Egypt, and God brings his word to them, the Law. That’s when they become the people of God.
God’s people gathered around God’s word. That’s a church. Sunday meetings and Bible study are churching. When we’re socialising we are the church but we’re not churching.

So that’s what is the church: God’s people gathered around God’s word.

But who is the church? That is every believer. Everyone chosen by God by his grace is part of the universal church. There is only one church in heaven. And on earth each local congregation is (or should be) an expression of that heavenly gathering.
Who is the church? We who belong to Christ are the church. The church is all of God’s people. We are local outpost.

What is the church for? It is a means of God’s grace to us. It is one of the ways he blesses us. It is where we are spiritually fed, it is our armoury for our spiritual battle, it is our refuge, safe place, our family, the body of Christ, and our primary tool for evangelism.

The church’s primary role is to teach. Jesus command to Peter was to “feed my sheep”. The church is where we get spiritually fed. Feed my sheep. That’s why church without bible is not church.

Jn 21:15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

Three times. This is important. And so when we come to Acts what do we see the apostles doing? Teaching and preaching. In fact, when there’s an argument about food distribution – something which could have split the church – they say Ac 6:2–4 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

So if you are upset that you haven’t been visited or got some one-on-one time with the leaders of this church – it’s because our FIRST responsibility before God is to make sure we teach his word. And that takes a lot of time. Because we’re sinners. And it’s a big battle to make sure that what we teach is God’s thoughts, not our own. Please pray for us!

This is where we get spiritual food. There is good supplements to be found on the internet and with guest preachers – but that’s not God’s design for our primary spiritual nourishment. He has given the church local pastors and teachers, men who you know and who know you who can bring the Word of God to bear at the right time and in the right way, in a prophetic way, in the power of the Spirit. Don’t despise the local church. This is where we are nourished in the faith.

This is also the armoury. This is where we get saddled up for the week to come. Strap on that armour and get ready for the fight! Fight sin and put it to death, resist the devil, love the Lord and enjoy him. This is where we gather to be encouraged and to get what we need for the week to come.

Church is also a refuge, a safe place. If any of you don’t feel safe here please come and talk to me. And if I’m the problem, talk to Debby or to Christian. They’ll put me right. This should be a safe place for you, where you are loved. Because this is your family: in Christ we are brothers and sisters. And if you’re not a believer this place is also safe for you.

Because church is also for non-Christians. This is where we share the gospel. As someone put it “The church is the only institution which exists for the benefits of its non-members.” There’s great truth in that. We could just be whisked off to heaven when we believe. But we remain here to give glory to God and part of that is to share the gospel. We’re still here for the sake of the lost. So if you’re not a Christian yet – welcome. You are a welcome guest in our home. Stay as long as you need, and by God’s grace maybe you’ll be adopted into his family!

Ro 10:13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”… 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Church is God’s people gathered to hear God’s word. We exist to give glory to God and to enjoy him. And so we first listen to him. The church’s primary role, it’s first task, is to teach the Word, the Bible. And so spiritually fed and armoured up, out we go!

3. Our vision for 2018

Ps 127:1 Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.

I have no big grand plan for this year. I have no idea what this year will bring. There is so much that can happen. So many people just on the outside on the brink. So many of you ready to take the next step on your journey of faith, to grow. I pray that will happen this year., I pray we would grow in maturity. I pray that many would be saved. I hope and pray that we can grow to 100, 200 people. Wouldn’t that be amazing. But I can’t do anything. We might shrink to 20! I have no power. So our vision for this year is to declare our dependence on God. To say Almighty God we are here at you good pleasure to glorify you. Whatever you want us to do we will do. You are good, good father and we entrust ourselves to you. People lie. People abuse. People hurt. People are evil. We are evil. But you do what is good. And you start to change our lying lips to truth, our self-centred hearts to loving hearts, our desire to hurt others to compassion and help. We want to shine like stars in the heavens for you.

In the Bible study on Wednesday we read these words: Phil 2:12 Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

So that’s the first part of the vision for 2018: that we may mature in Christ, working out our salvation for God is working in us. Work out what God has worked in.

And the second part is this:

Matt 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, [Jesus] had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Lord, let us be those workers. Let us see more this year turn from death to life. Lord Jesus you warned us strongly of the horrors of hell, the pain of an eternity separated from you. We wish that on no-one, but many are choosing that for themselves, imagining that being without you is freedom. It is not freedom but slavery. Slavery to sin, to the terrible pain of ego always thinking about yourself, to being unable to bow the knee to God. Forever cut off from the source of life and light. It is an horrific thing! We plead with you now for those we know.

Let’s pray for those we know who are heading for Hell.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayers.

We are very small and weak. But look at our leadership structure. Who’s church is this? Not yours. Not mine. But Jesus’. He is the head of this church. And each of us has a job to do. This church will not grow if I run around doing everything. This church will grow, people will be saved if YOU work out your salvation, growing in maturity, and sharing the gospel You’ll be amazed at what God will do through little old unimportant you. We are small and weak, but our God is a great big God.

As someone said to me recently “I thought I was a big and tough, but now I realise I’m just a scared rabbit”. We may be scared rabbits – but we stand with a lion. Jesus, the Lion of Judah. Do not be afraid. Serve the lord with joy. Glorify him in all you do, in utter dependence on Him. That is our vision for 2018. May the Lord in his mercy hear our prayer. Amen.

15 mind-blowing verses about the Servant of God that you won’t believe!

When I got to verse 6 I was stunned!

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Read from Isaiah 52:7-53:12

 

66 chapters. 1292 verses. 22 sermons – this is number 23. And so far 8 months. That is this magnificent book of prophecy: Isaiah. And today, today we come to the most significant, the most important, the central prophecy of the whole book. It is today that out of the backdrop of sin and judgement and misery the mysterious “Servant of God” emerges. The one who is like a king but isn’t, the one who is loved by God but will suffer, the one who is powerful beyond belief but so weak, the one who will rescue his people but will die – today is the day when he steps out of the shadows and we see him for who he really is.

Jesus.

Jesus, promised so many times in so many places, but here in Isaiah promised so clearly that many Jews today refuse to read this chapter because it shouts so loudly “Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah (the Rescuer)”.

This is what I’ve been looking forward to preaching for 8 months! Because here we see the heart of God. Here we see hope. Here we see our sin dealt with. He took our punishment upon himself.

You see we have a problem. We all know there is something wrong with the world. Look around us and what do we see? Turn on the news. Injustice, war, famine, lying, cheating, hurting, ignoring people, abandoning people. Look around in our own lives – how much we have been hurt by others – and to our eternal shame how much we have hurt other people.

There is something wrong. And the Bible says it is because we were made to know God – but we have turned our back on him and rejected.
That is what the Bible calls sin. Our relationship is broken. And when that central relationship is gone, like the foundation of a building, the rest comes tumbling after. Because of sin, we sin. Because we are broken within, we act like broken people.

Oh, we’re not all bad! Much of the divine image is still in us. People do great things! Wonderful things. But we also do terrible things. And that’s why Jesus came. To restore us. To make us whole. To deal with our sin and make us right with God so that we can know him and love him like we were made to.
Joy and happiness! That is why he came.

So we echo v7 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!

There is news of restoration and it’s for us too: as we read we see it is more than just for Israel, more than just for Jerusalem in 538BC – it is for you, it is for me, for all people everywhere. As we read a few weeks ago, It is too small a thing for God’s servant to just rescue Israel. He will be a light to all nations.
How beautiful this message. Peace and salvation, the news that God, the only God, reigns.

In Christ Jesus our status is changed. We are moved from sinners under God’s anger – God’s enemies - to beloved children of God. Yes we may sin, but it is something that doesn’t belong to us anymore. As someone put it “I can’t sin properly anymore.”

WE are loved perfectly. Relationship with God, our Heavenly Father, satisfies at the very deepest level. Our longings for eternity are met in him. Our longing to be known intimately, perfectly and loved are met in Him.

We are beloved children of God.

But how? Why?
Because of the work of the Servant of God. Because of the work of the King of Kings. Because of the work of Jesus.

So far in Isaiah we’ve read three of these “servant songs” as they are called: prophecies about this coming servant, made 700 years before Jesus was born. Today we look at the fourth, final, and greatest Servant Song. 15 mind-blowing verses. Shall we begin.

13 See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. 14 But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.

Nothing we read about this servant makes any sense. He will prosper – but he will suffer. He will be highly exalted – but he is disfigured, scarcely looks human, because of the piercings and beatings and whippings he endures in v5. That doesn’t sound to me like being exalted!

Hey, come here, let me exalt you, lift you up (great!) by beating you until you’re unrecognisable. Ha-ha, no thanks.

It goes on: 15 And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about. Is 53 Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?

In other words, there is something so strange, so remarkable, so amazing that no-one will believe it.

If Isaiah were writing this today he’d probably call it “15 mind-blowing things you wouldn’t believe about the Servant”. With the little tag-line “I was stunned when I got to v6”.

But unlike the mildly amusing distractions that people call “mind-blowing” these days (oh, a baby pulling a face, oh, a cat falling off a curtain, wow) – this really is mind-blowing. Kings will shut their mouths, utterly speechless.
Whole nations will be startled. What? Can this be true?

The message is simply unbelievable. Remember that God has promised in earlier chapters that he is going to show the world who he is by doing something new, something different, something only he knows about. A unique thing that no-one could ever guess. “Ask your idols, your false gods, your fortune tellers, to tell you what I will do” God has challenged again and again. And here is the revelation of God’s powerful arm of rescue, his amazing message of rescue. And it’s just unbelievable.

What is it? What is God going to do?!

By this stage those crowded around Isaiah would be shouting that. “What’s going to happen? How will God rescue us?”
They had been listening to the terrible news that Babylon, a nation they’d only just met, would very soon come sweeping in and carry them all off into captivity, and leave Jerusalem, the beloved city, in ruins. And all this because of their sin!
And you can imagine those living in Babylon, about 150 years later, listening as Isaiah’s prophecy was being read. Oh, they knew that the first parts had come true. Look around, we’re in the enemy city. Jerusalem is in ruins. And, yes, it was because of our sin. So imagine the excitement in hearing these words read out. God’s unbelievable rescue plan!

Is 53 Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?

What’s going to happen? Massive heavenly armies. The earth opens up and fire rains down from the sky as the thunder rolls and GOD RESCUES HIS PEOPLE?

No. v2 My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground.

What? A man? Just one man? Well, maybe there’s something amazing about him. Like Samson – the strength of hundreds, or the Hulk or something.

No, v2 continues There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. 3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

What? God’s great plan is… this? Some rejected dude?

Yes. This is the unbelievable plan. God will send a man, a man born in poverty. A man born to an ordinary nothing family. Born to be rejected. To be hated by his own people.

Why?

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

God is sending someone to be a substitute for us. You know in football, when someone’s tired or playing badly they substitute him. They swap him out with someone else. Someone else takes his place.

That’s what this servant will do for us. He will take our place.
He, Jesus, swaps places with us. He takes our place, we get his place. It’s like we’re crossing the road and we don’t see the truck hurtling towards us. Jesus is the guy who rushes over and pushes us out of the way into safety, while the truck slams into him. He was in safety, but he took our place in danger, to get us to safety.

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.

This my friends is the very heart of the gospel: Jesus, our substitute. The one who took our place. The one who took our punishment. The one who gave his live so that we could live. And Jesus was his name.

Jesus of Nazareth. Born to a nothing family in a nothing place. When people heard Jesus was from Nazareth they said “Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46).

Who was this carpenter’s bastard son? This nobody who claims to be a King? It seemed like a joke. Oh, he had powers, amazing powers. And he could teach! But it was just too unbelievable. This… nothing – the Messiah, the Christ, the promised Rescuer?

And so his own people rejected him, just as v 3 predicted.

Jn 1:10–13 [Jesus] came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn.

How? Because he was a man of sorrows as v4 says.
Not because he was filled with sorrow, but because he took our sorrows upon himself. As we saw last week, remember Jesus drinking the cup of judgement himself instead of us. Remember his words in the garden: Matt 26:37b [Jesus] became anguished and distressed. 38 He told [his closest disciples], “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Willingly he went to die. Father, your will be done. And after praying Jesus stands up and says to his disciples “Get up, the time has come. My betrayer is here.”

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away.

After Jesus’ arrest he was brought before the leading priests and the high council. Mt 26:62–63 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.

A few hours later the council brings Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor Mt 27:11–14 “Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate, the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.” 12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13 “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away.

Unjustly condemned. Pilate’s wife says about him “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” (Matt27:19)

Judas, his betrayer, realises he’s made a terrible mistake: Matt 27:3 When Judas…realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

Pilate declares him innocent. Even the King of Israel at that time, Herod, examined Jesus and said he is innocent.
He was an innocent man, found guilty simply for claiming to be who he was and is: the Messiah, the King of God’s people.

So they lead Jesus away, and whipped him with a lead-tipped whip. Beat an innocent man until he was almost dead. Then they dragged him outside the city of Jerusalem and there his hands and feet were pierced as they hammered nails into him in one of the cruellest deaths ever imagined by humans – and we’re very good at imagining cruel deaths.

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.

Jesus, on the Cross, for you and me. His life was cut short because of our rebellion. Because of your rebellion. Because of my rebellion.

It was my hand that hammered the nails in. It was my voice that called out in the crowd “Crucify Him”.
And it was yours.

Imagine this Bible contains a list of all my sins – things I’ve done, said, thought, left undone, and the sins I will do in the future. If it really did it would be bigger, much bigger. Now this is me. My sin blocks my access to God. I cannot reach him. I cannot know him. I cannot break through. What Christ did on the Cross is this. He took my sin upon himself, and gave me His perfect access to the Father.

All that I have done and ever will do that would cut me off from God is dealt with once and for all by Jesus on the Cross. He takes my place. And I get His.

10 …it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. (that’s you and me. Everyone who trusts in Him.)
He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands. 11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honours of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Brothers, this is what Jesus accomplished, just as predicted 700 YEARS before it happened. Christ Jesus was counted as a rebel, a criminal. Though he was innocent he went to the Cross for you. And he went to the Cross for me.

He, the righteous servant, has made it possible for me, the unrighteous, to be counted righteous, for he has borne my sin.

Father, thank you for this incredible vision you gave Isaiah of the work of your son, our Lord Jesus, 700 years before it happened. Thank you for this unbelievable message, so startling, so amazing that we stand speechless. No-one could make this up. That God himself would come down and suffer. That the great king of heaven would give his own life – for me. It’s ridiculous. It is unbelievable. Thank you Father, that it is true. Thank you that you are so full of mercy that anyone who turns to you, no matter what we’ve done, can receive it forgiveness. Thank you Jesus that through your suffering, death and resurrection, that we can be declared righteous, and be called children of God.
You might be here this morning and wanting to experience this forgiveness. If that is you now, while every eye is closed, raise your hands to say yes I want to be made right with God.

1 Timothy 6:1-10 The secret of contentment

1 Timothy 6:1-10

Who or what masters you?
What dominates your thinking?
What determines how you run your life?

Could it be money?

Do you find yourself running after money and what it promises? Holidays, nice house, big car, boat, cabin? Is that what drives you?
Because money is a cruel master, promising what it cannot deliver – satisfaction, contentment – and delivering headaches, stress, and an ever-moving target.
Repairs, worry I might lose it, and Oh, you’ve got a new car… well you should have got THIS one, it’s even better, and just kr60 000 more. And you sit and look at your new car which you were so excited about.. and now it doesn’t seem so great.

10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

What masters us?
1. Are we a slave to slavery, or a slave to God?
2. If we’re a slave to God, do we obey him and so experience a godly life, or not?
3. Is money our master?

1. Am I a slave to slavery, or a slave to God?

All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2 If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved.

Slavery is brutal. But it was (and still is) a fact of life. In the first century up to half the population worked as slaves. In many places in the world today, people live and work as slaves. We might joke that we are “slaves” to our bosses, or we “slave away” at home. But the reality is that we are extremely free!

Slavery was handing yourself over to total control by someone else. They could decide what you wore, what you ate, when you slept, who you slept with, even whether your family would live with you or if they would be sent off or sold off to someone else. Every detail of your life was subject to your masters whim. A slave had no rights.

So you were very dependent on your master. A good master would look after you. A bad master would abuse you.

So, as Christians, how should slaves of their earthly masters now act? They are free men and women in Christ – and if their master is a Christian, then brothers and sisters! Party!!

No. We are to respect our masters, says the Lord through Paul. What? And If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved!

Why? So that v1 they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. What message would it send about Christianity if the slaves who became Christians became lazy, avoiding work, complaining about everything, and mouthing off to their master? Would that make people sit up and say “Oh, I’d like to become a Christian”. No!

Like Jesus, our focus is on the good of others, and on the life to come. What joy to serve, even suffer, in this life if through our suffering we can win one to Christ. How brief this life is – gone in an instant – compared to all eternity with our Lord!

And if your master is a Christian – well, then you should be motivated to work harder, not less! This is your brother in Christ. You should long to please him, to serve him with joy. It is a loving submission – I know we are equal, but I choose to serve you. It is the same joyful submission with which the wife submits to the husband – we are equal but I submit to you; the husband joyfully serves the wife – I will lay myself aside to do what is best for you; and how the Son of God submits to the Father – though equal, He chooses to obey.

See, who is the slave actually a slave of? Is he just a slave of his master? Or is he a slave of Christ, joyfully choosing to love God in the way that he serves his earthly master.
Are we ruled by circumstances – what is happening around us – or do we choose to serve Christ, to allow him to be our master in this situation?
To be a first century slave was not a great situation to be in. But instead of moaning and complaining about your work, your life, you could choose to serve Christ in the way you work, in the way you view your master. No longer is he your master, but a person who needs the gospel of Christ – or if already a Christian, a brother in Christ.

It is something that changes within us. I will not serve that thing, that circumstance. But I will serve Christ in this difficult time, at this job, with this thing. Maybe your child is sick – how can I glorify God in my suffering? Maybe your children have been taken away by Barnevernet? How can I cling to God? What difference does it make that I belong to Christ?
It is an attitude of the mind. I choose to see this through the eyes of Christ, not through my eyes. And as we turn to him, as we obey him, that produces godliness – we experience the wonder of the Spirit at work in us in that situation.
You know, when I became a Christian it was like the sun rose in my life. I woke up the next day, and everything was bright and full of life. Nothing had changed – except me. Gone was the shadow, the moaning, the complaining – because, no matter what happened, the Lord was with me – and nothing could change that. I belonged to Him, and that is a deep joy that has never left me.

We are not slaves to the world, but slaves to Christ.

2. As slaves to Christ, let us obey him: Obedience produces godliness

Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.

Teach these things Timothy, for these teachings promote a godly life. What things? The gospel. Everything we’ve been learning in 1 Timothy! It’s hard to give yourself over fully to someone. Can I really trust God? That old selifishness and pride rise up within us. I don’t want to obey God.

So we need the gospel. What have we learned so far in Timothy. Let’s remind ourselves of that, and be encouraged to follow our loving master – the only master who will not lead us on the path to death. For every other master will.

Chapter 1 we saw the power of the gospel to transform sinners – even the greatest of sinners like Paul. Following the law does not work – keeping rules, being good. You can’t be good enough, it doesn’t work! The law is like a thermometer which measures if we have a fever. It diagnoses the problem. The law reveals our unrighteousness, our sin. But the thermometer is not the cure. Imagine if the doctor said, oh yes, you have a fever – now go home and every day take your temperature with the thermometer. You’d think what an idiot! That can’t help me. I need medicine! The gospel is the medicine. The gospel, that Jesus has swapped places with us, that he takes our sin, and he gives us his perfection… that’s the medicine. In Christ, we are declared righteous, perfect. So, let’s live like what we are.

Remember the key verses in 1 Timothy? Turn back to 3:14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

How we behave matters! We need to know the truth – hear it preached, get to Bible study, read the Bible, know the real truth, so false teachers cannot turn your head. You need to see the truth lived out in the lives of your church members. So often we see how someone deals with a situation and we think “ah, that’s how it’s done”. We see how they deal with sickness, or tragedy, or how they use their money or their possessions. We see how they parent. How they use their time. See the truth. And we ourselves need to live the truth. Chapter 2 showed how we as men and women should behave in church – learning quietly and in joyful, willing submission. Chapter 3 our leaders, who we are to submit to. Those following the Lord, obeying Christ, and who can teach the Bible – they should lead. Men need to take responsibility in leading the church as in leading the family. As chapter 4 says train yourself to be godly. We work hard at obeying Christ. Not to earn salvation – that would be trying to use the law – the thermometer – as our salvation. No, we work hard at obeying Christ because we are already saved. We are children of God. Chapter 5 went through how we deal with each other and particularly the problem the church at Ephesus had with the widows, and, indeed, church leaders.
Basically what Paul is writing to Timothy and his churches, inspired by the Holy Spirit is this: in Christ live like Christ.
We are not our own. We belong to Him. He is our new master, and we follow him.

These teachings produce a godly life – that is, a life in line with God. What a joy!
You want to grow as a Christian? Listen. Listen to the Word of God. And then obey it (or at least try to!) Jesus says the same thing over and over again in Luke. Listen. Be careful how you listen. Those who hear my words and put them into practice are the wise. Luke 8:18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Lk 8:21 (NLT) Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”

Pay attention indeed. Because if you listen to the wrong people, to false teachers…what is the result? 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.

A church not full of loving submission, joyful service, looking out for the interests of others and pointing each other to Christ – but arguments, jealousy.

Is it going too far to suggest that the reason many of our churches are marked by arguments, jealousy, division and so on is because they have stopped teaching the gospel? That they have stopped proclaiming the sinfulness of man and the glory of forgiveness in Christ. So that it becomes a competition in piety – who can follow the rules the best and get one up over everyone else.

Listening to the gospel produces godliness. Listening to lies produces ungodliness.

What you listen to, matters. Who you listen to, matters.

Hear the truth and obey it.

3. Is money our master? Beware the siren song of greed

5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. 6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Why would these teachers become false? Why would they, as 1:19 say “deliberately violate their conscience”? Why are they 1:4 wasting their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. And v4 stir up arguments. Why would you do that?

v5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

Day after day we read or hear stories of corruption, nepotism, favouritism – people using their power, their leadership positions, not for the good of the people but for their own selfish gain, and their family members. And the church is not immune! We are a club for sinners, not a holy huddle.... J

In the old days of seafaring, sailors used to talk of the sirens. Those were mythical creatures who sang such beautiful bewitching songs that the sailors would steer the ship towards them – and then be smashed to bits on the rocks, and die either from starvation or from the sirens feasting upon them, depending on which myths you read! In Greek mythology there were only two who avoided the sirens: one was Odysseus, who stopped his ears (and the whole crew) with wax so that he could not hear the siren song.
The other who avoided the sirens was Jason (Jason and the Argonauts) who hired Orpheus to play a more beautiful song and drown out the siren song.

Brothers and sisters, let us cling to Christ. Be so filled with the gospel that these lies do not lead you astray. Only by knowing the genuine, the real, can we be kept safe from the false. There’s an old song which goes “Keep your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; and the things of the earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”

Our society shouts at us: happiness is through buying things. Accumulate things. Have this experience, that experience – there is true happiness, true contentment. But what does God say? And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

How many do we know who have done this? How many of us are in danger of this? And as for Christian ministers.... just turn on a “Christian” TV channel and all too often you’ll find false teacher peddling their wares – send me money and I’ll send you blessing. It is a wicked corruption of the gospel.

Who you listen to, matters. Beware of the wealthy or those who are always going on about money. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

Beware of “Christian” ministers who have become exceedingly wealthy through the ministry. Be especially wary of those who tumpet their wealth as a sign that they are blessed by God. Because I think 1 Timothy 6 would see it as a sign that they are false teachers? And what about the constant theme in Luke of care for the poor, of selling your possessions, of not serving two masters God and Money?

Many Christians have shipwrecked their faith on the rock s of greed. It’s easy for us to be lured in by greed because our society is immensely greedy. You may find that siren song in your heart as you are dissatisfied with what you have now. Always looking to buy the next new thing. Never content.
Do you thank God for your daily bread – the food you have, the job you have, the home you have – or do you think “of course, that’s what I deserve” or “but I work for this” not realising everything we have is a gift from our Heavenly Father? In the next Bible study we’re going to look at the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11, where we ask God for his daily provision. It comes from him!
Do you find it difficult to be generous, gripping on to what you have, unwilling to share, to give?

The antidote to this poison of money-love is found in v17-18 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

Giving money to gospel work kills the greed in our heart. We show ourselves that we trust God to provide for us. We don’t have to store up wealth – trust God. We show that we serve Him, not Money, not the World.
Hospitality (having people in your home, for meals, etc) is another great way to counteract that call of greed. Sharing what you have – food, cars, tools, whatever.

Thanksgiving and praise for all that we have is essential. If we do not recognise that all we have comes from the Lord’s generosity, we will be angry and disobedient when He asks us to share it! So go through what you have and thank God for it. Thank him for his many blessings. And then be generous and bless others as you have been blessed. And, since we all live in Norway, we have all been MASSIVELY blessed! And the result of all this. Ironically, as we share, as we give away, as we set our sights not on things, but on Christ, we will finally be content with what we have. V6

Take a moment now to ask the Lord to examine your heart for that call of greed. And let us fix our eyes on Jesus, and be filled with him instead of filled with greed. Let us give ourselves to him as willing slaves, joyfully submitting, and let us see the fruits of godliness he will produce in our lives!