What's so happy about it?

What’s So Happy About It?

Pastor Leslie Tipton

 

Ephesians 4:11-13 (New International Version, ©2010)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.


Happy New Year, Church! Happy New Year! How many times do you think you’ve said this in the past three days, or how many times do you think you’ve heard it? “Happy New Year” is a traditional greeting surrounding the marking of the new year, but what does a new year mean, and why are we so happy about it? What’s so happy about a new year? Let’s first take a look at the history of the new year celebration.

In 46 B.C.E. the Roman emperor Julius Caesar first established January 1 as New Year’s day. Janus was the Roman god of doors and gates, and had two faces, one looking forward and one back.  Caesar felt that the month named after this god (“January”) would be the appropriate “door” to the year.  Caesar celebrated the first January 1 New Year by ordering the violent routing of revolutionary Jewish forces in the Galilee.  Eyewitnesses say blood flowed in the streets.  In later years, Roman pagans observed the New Year by engaging in drunken orgies—a ritual they believed constituted a personal re-enacting of the chaotic world that existed before the cosmos was ordered by the gods.

As Christianity spread, pagan holidays were either incorporated into the Christian calendar or abandoned altogether.  By the early medieval period most of Christian Europe regarded Annunciation Day (March 25) as the beginning of the year.  (According to Catholic tradition, Annunciation Day commemorates the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would be impregnated by G-d and conceive a son to be called Jesus.)

If we think about New Year’s Day rationally, it really is just another day, another 24 hours, another 1440 minutes, another 86,400 seconds. The moment the clock strikes midnight, it really is just another one of those seconds that has passed, and entered us into another day. So why is it so happy.

What’s all the hoopla about a new year? Why do we make it a national holiday, a time to go out and celebrate, a day of reflection. Why all the attention for this one day of the year? Is it really all about resolutions? Show of hands here...how many have made new year’s resolutions for 2011. And, if you’re brave, how many have already broken those resolutions?

The new year......what’s so happy about it?

Nothings gonna change. We don’t see the economy taking any positive leaps and bounds, unless you consider people trampling each other to get the most popular toy or gadget on Black Friday change for good. Unless you consider rising gas prices good. Unless you view rising crime rates happy. Unless we take a look at our latest financials a “good sign.” So I ask you again, what’s so happy about it?

Let’s see if we can get some insight into this Happy New Year thing.

T.S. Eliot wrote in “Little Gidding”

"For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.

 

To make an end is to make a beginning. Aha, the definition of a new year’s resolution....making an end to something in order to make a new beginning. And even though we see very little to make us happy in this world, we still have an incredible opportunity TO MAKE A CHANGE IN OUR LIVES AND IN THIS WORLD.

Funny thing about the new year. It gives us the OPPORTUNITY to make a change, and it gives us a timely marker during which to make those changes. Some use it as an excuse to wait for, and some use it as the very first motivation we have ever had to make those changes. Whatever the motivation, it is an opportunity, just as every day is.

Now, I’m gonna give you a heads up right now. I’m not an advocate of New Year’s resolutions full of fluff and promises. Yes, we all want to lose weight, get back in the gym, maintain our youthful appearance and save more money. All of those things are nice, and they make us feel better about ourselves. However, I am going to suggest a few “resolutions” based on Biblical instruction. Instead of a feel good statement about What Would Jesus Do, I’m going to lead us in a discussion about black and white, and I’m not talking about some of our skin colors. Black and White, right here. (hold up the Bible)

Let’s go back for a moment to our Scripture reading today. And I would like for us all to read this together, out loud, as one. You’ll find it on page _______ in the church Bibles. Please, everyone pick up a Bible or read along with another.

Read Ephesians 4:11-13

Ephesians 4:11-13 (New International Version, ©2010)

11 So Christ
Let’s stop there for a moment.

So Christ....the fullness of God, sent by God, foretold by an angel, carried in the womb by Mary, miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit. Christ, God-incarnate, our Savior, Messiah, Jehovah, Redeemer and Friend, Healer, Deliverer, our Lord, our Teacher, The Great Example, Christ. Need we go any further? Need we say another word? Need we give any more bullet points? So Christ.....yes, Christ. No other ever was, ever will be, nor is right now. So Christ!

Let’s continue reading:


So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Whew! You wanna make a resolution, let’s make it at least partly based on this piece of Scripture. “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

That may seem like a tall order for any of us, but it can be done. And how do we do that? Ask any addict how they live their lives. One day at a time. One day at a time making the choice to work toward unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God. Let’s take a couple of minutes to break this down.

What exactly is “unity in the faith?” One word at a time. Unity - we think and act and believe alike. Faith - our beliefs that God is love, God loves us, Christ is our savior, He came to restore our relationship with God, and that we strive to become like him day by day. Unity in the faith - until we all hold the same truths, and have the same confidence in the Son of God. Can it happen? Sure it can? Will it happen. I’ve got news for you....it’s happening here NOW! How is it happening? Weekly corporate worship, where the saints (that’s you guys) come together to give God the worship He is due, in unity and love. It’s happening in weekly Bible studies. It’s happening in one on one counseling, in discipleship meetings, in classes, in fellowship.

It’s happening! Are you a part of it? I sure hope so. Do you know how to be a part of it? I sure hope so. Unity of the faith is happening every day here at COHSS.

The second part - knowledge of the Son of God - comes right alongside unity in the faith. We can’t be unified with each other unless we are doing that by learning about the Son of God, who is Christ Jesus.

In fact, our focus within unity in the faith IS knowledge of Christ. How do we attain knowledge of the Son of God, that is Christ? I’ve got a few suggestions for you.

1. Daily devotional and Bible reading
Now before you turn off on me, let me just say, I’ve got some practical examples.

Daily Bread - Not only do we give them out here on the literature table, you can also read it online (see our FB page for the daily Scripture reading), read it on your smart phone (yes, there’s an app for that).

I venture to say it has never been easier for us to read our daily devotions.

Bible reading plan - sign on to Blue Letter Bible.com, and download a reading plan. You can even read Scripture online, and mark that you’ve read the passages. Hear what I’m telling you. The website keeps track of what you’ve read.

2. Daily prayer and meditation

Goes without saying. You can’t get to know someone without spending time with them. Pick someone for illustration

What are we really talking about here? We’re talking about growing roots, and not just any roots...spiritual roots. Why are roots important?

Illustration:
Ficus trees in hurricanes, fall over almost every time
Why....their roots grow shallow, not deep

Roots not only stabilize us, they nourish us.

Jeremiah 17:7 says “Blessed is the man whose trust is in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the stream that sends out its roots by the stream.

 

Small faith, big results

http://www.examiner.com/christian-living-in-fort-lauderdale/small-faith-big-results

What's on Your Mind?

“What’s on Your Mind?”

Pastor Tom Millner

Luke 12:22-34; Romans 12:1-2

January 9, 2011

 

You’ve heard the quote from Henry Ford who said, “If you believe you can or believe you can’t, you are right.” How we think emerges from our beliefs. We are in the beginning weeks of the year 2011. Do you believe you can live through this year victoriously? What supports your belief that you will be intact at year end, 2011? Do you really believe or do you just hang on to wishful thinking?  Do you believe that God loves you as you are for where you are or do you believe you are unlovable by God (or even self and others) until you change a few things? Do you believe that all things are possible with God; or do you believe some things are possible with God, but not for you?  What you think, what you believe, what you hold as your “attitude” determines the way you will act. Your actions determine your direction and your direction will determine where you wind up. To quote the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland: “If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.”

This is neither a so called health and wealth sermon, nor a name it and claim it sermon. This is a sermon about trusting the One who is the author and finisher of our faith, the Creator of this universe, the all-powerful God! Trusting Him to be who He is and going about the business of who we are in, through, and because of Him! What do we need to live out His creation intent in our lives? The answer lies in what we do with what His WORD tells us is to be in our minds, hearts, and actions.

 

1.       Believe that Christ is WHO the scripture says He is! This is the central theme of the Gospel message God calls us at COHSS to share with this community in 2011 and beyond. John 3:14-21 goes to great length to help us understand the centrality of belief in Jesus Christ being the way to new life eternally with God. God’s action through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of divine love that has no condemnation, but rather radical liberation from the bondage that is self-will and dogged determination to have it our way. In these verses we read that not believing is indeed a conscious condemnation of self to an eternity without God’s presence. This belief that Jesus is the way requires radical change in thinking and behaving; resulting in radical change in believing that delivers a radical peace that defies previous logic. Instead of focusing on needing to be at the front of the line, or comfortably hidden somewhere in the back of the line, or forming a new line altogether, the focus is on magnifying the love of Christ as the bottom line! God doesn’t revoke His love and grace because we engage self-determination; He calls us to understanding that His determination to love us has trumped the need for glorified self-determination. Grace and mercy are free to us, but they are not cheap. It cost God His greatest; He calls us to discipleship and that my friends is indeed costly. We don’t like to hear that we have to do anything except receive, but what we do determines ultimately whose we are. Are we ours or are we His? His WORD is clear on the consequences (results) of doing things our way, yet we choose to go about our merry way and wish it weren’t so.

2.      Keeping our minds on Him takes commitment! God calls us to relationship with Him. Relationship cannot exist where there is only one who is committed. “That’s alright, Honey – you do all the work and I’ll just hang around as long as there’s fun.” When there’s no longer the fun, we run to find the fun somewhere else. This translates to commitment to seeking fun, not relationship! Ask anyone who has been in relationship for any period of time beyond a few weeks or months and they can attest to the commitment of time, intent, presence, and patience that is required for relationship to flourish. Unfortunately, so many times we can’t see past the “me” to embrace the “we” whether in human relationship or the one with Him. To have that intimacy with Him for which He created us, we have to actively seek His presence through all the static, sound bites, noise, distraction, fatigue, and stinking thinking that comes our way. Prayer time and time in His Word are foundational to every day. God’s not going to turn you into a green eyed monster if you don’t make that commitment, but He can’t nourish your soul if you’re not feeding on the bread of life! COHSS is committed to keeping our thinking, preaching, acting, and virtual being on Him. Mother Teresa who worked with and on behalf of the world’s poor and downtrodden is credited with saying that “God does not expect us to be successful, just faithful.

3.      Let your consequence be love! All action has a result (consequence). If I choose to walk across five points in the middle of ongoing traffic, the consequence will not be good for me and probably several drivers. If I see a child about to step off a cliff and rush to scoop that child into my arms of safety, the consequence of my action will be a life saved. Only history will reveal how many lives will be enhanced as a consequence of that young life being saved. When confronted by the Pharisees about the greatest of the commandments, Jesus responded; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39. The greatest sign of emotional and spiritual maturity is to take ownership for your own actions. “The devil made me do it” or you made me angry, or you called me that name first doesn’t cut it in the world of maturity. Every action we take has a consequence. You got here this morning as a consequence of the actions you took to get here. What you leave here with today is the consequence of the action you are taking now to either listen to seek to apply understanding, or to be occupied with some other form of distraction that will yield a different consequence. If the consequence we seek is love for God and love for others equal to self, then our thoughts, emotions and actions must be directed away from self. Do you have any idea how impossible that task is? On our own efforts, it will never happen. In Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 19, Jesus was telling the Disciples how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples in essence stated that we all must then be doomed. Jesus’ response was “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Our call to Christian discipleship costs us something; “self” as we have known us for the “self” that He has created new in us. As His, we are no longer our own. The consequence of Christ’s decision to follow His Father’s will and surrender to what should have been our fate, was life eternal for us with Him, and a peace that passes all understanding in the presence of Him in our lives. The consequence of our surrender is a love for God that engages our heart, mind, and soul in a way that renders us love-able toward others.

The epistle of James, chapter 3 reads; “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom….But the wisdom that comes down from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” What wisdom are you engaging in 2011? It’s your choice. There are consequences no matter what action you take. Which consequence do you seek; love or less than?

So, what’s on your mind? The Apostle Paul said to the church in Philippi: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phil 4:8