Gratitude is the Gateway to God

GRATITUDE IS THE GATEWAY TO GOD (Psalm 50:1-15)

 Introduction: Back in 1988, a Polish railway worker named Jan Grzebski was hit by a train. He lived but only barely. For the next 19 years (until the year 2007), Grzebski was in a coma.

He awoke in 2007 to a whole new world. He credited his survival to his wife, Gertruda Grzebska, who cared and prayed for him. Grzebski was a father of four at the time of the accident. While disabled, he gained eleven grandchildren.

            Grzebski noted Nineteen years earlier, “Poland was a communist state. When I went into a coma there was only tea and vinegar in the shops, meat was rationed, and huge petrol queues were everywhere. Now I see people on the streets with cell phones, and there are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin. What amazes me is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and never stop moaning. I've got nothing to complain about."

            These people had freedom, and food and wealth greater than Poland had had for decades, and yet Grzebski woke from his coma to find that ALL they seemed to want to do was grumble! If you don’t get into the habit of thanking God for what you DO have, you’ll soon become ungrateful because of what you DON’T have.”
            What Grzebski saw then is so true of so many people, especially in America, a nation supposed to be the greatest nation in the world. Having an attitude of thankfulness is very important in the life of a follower of Christ. Though we have a lot of things, are we going around grumbling and complaining about the things that we don’t have?

            How are we expressing our gratitude for the most important and precious things in life? What are the benefits of thanksgiving? How can we cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude? By the end of our time together, I hope we will find some answers to these questions. I title this message, “GRATITUDE IS THE GATEWAY TO GOD” Psalm 50-1-15.

I. THE ORIGINS OF THANKSGIVING

            Though thanksgiving is uniquely an American holiday tradition, its actual roots go back to ancient Israel in the book of Leviticus, where God instituted different sacrifices such as the burnt offering, the grain offering, Fellowship offering (also translated as a Peace offering), Sin-offering, and Guilt Offering. Two basic ideas are included in the fellowship offering:

            Peace and Fellowship. This offering perhaps symbolized peace between God and man, as well as the inward peace that resulted. It was an act of worship, thanksgiving, and fellowship, which concluded in a communal meal. When God instituted the First Thanksgiving, he intended that people would observe it as a command rather than a voluntary action.

            After instructing the Israelites all that God had commanded him to deliver, this is what Moses says, “You must present these offerings to the Lord at your annual festivals. These are in addition to the sacrifices and offerings you present in connection with vows, or as voluntary offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, liquid offerings, or peace offerings.” Numbers 29:39

            In the OT, thank offerings were given in gratitude for deliverance from sickness, or death, or a blessing. “I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” Psalm 116:17-18.

            The Psalmist recognizes that all his blessings, of healing and deliverance, come from God; in return, he thanks Him in the Temple. In Psalm 107, the Psalmist recalls all the beautiful things God has done for his people and all the times he rescued them from danger and provided their needs. Psalm 107:1-2 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.”  The Old Testament People were not shy when it comes to giving thanks to God.

In our passage, we will see what truly matters to God, is it what we bring to him or our hearts?

I. GOD’S TERRIFYING APPEARANCE (Vs. 1-6)

            When we think of God, we often like to imagine Him as a loving and gracious heavenly father who is always waiting to shower his children with good gifts. That is one side of God, and the other hand, which we may not want to know, is his terrifying appearance. The Psalmist opens up this Psalm with two sharp and frightening images of God to bring some fear into us.

            The first one is God as the Mighty one, a terrifying warrior as he had appeared on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19-24 when he spoke the words of the covenant through Moses to His people the Israelites. God’s appearance was often surrounded by thunder, lightning, clouds, or bright sunshine. The point of this appearance is that whenever God calls his people to bring forth judgment upon them, His authority to do so is backed up by His impressive presence.

            The second image was that of a Judge or a Ruler. In verses 5- 6, we see as if God is sitting on a throne and summoning His people to remind them of a covenant they made with God and to pass a judgment upon their failure to keep up their part of the covenant. In Exodus 24:1-8, we will read about the way, the terms and conditions of God’s covenant with His people.

            When Moses related all the instructions given by God to the Israelites, they all said, “we will do everything God has commanded.” Exodus 24:7, “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again, they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded, we will obey.” They failed to keep their promises, hence the charges against them.

II GOD’S CHARGES AGAINST HIS PEOPLE

            After revealing Himself as the mighty God and the supreme Judge, God levels two charges against his professing people. One was their Ritualism (7-15), and the second charge was their Rebellion (16-21) and then offers them a solution. (21-23). First, the two charges. A) Ritualism: The Israelites were following all the ritualistic acts meticulously.

            They were offering their burnt offerings and animal sacrifices always. God did not rebuke them for their sacrifices but the people’s attitudes in sacrificing. God has still been concerned more about heart attitude than the actual physical sacrifice.  For example, I Samuel 15:22, “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and Submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

            Hosea 6:6, “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.” Isaiah 29:13, “And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.” Jesus quotes the same in Mark 7:7.

            B) Rebellion: Whereas the first charge dealt with a vertical relationship, our Holy worship of God is to be not so much through mere words and ritualistic acts but by worship offered through a broken and contrite spirit. From Vs. 16-20, we read about the horizontal violations of the covenant (rebellion against God in the context of man-to-fellow-man offenses).

            God observed in silence these two offenses committed by Israelites against Him and their fellow Israelites.  He tolerated them for a long time, but now he was calling them to account and repentance. Then he shows them a way that would lead straight into His Holy presence. What applies to the Israelites applies to us also. How is our worship of God? Are we merely going through the motions, singing, and praying the right prayers? How are our hearts this morning?

III GRATITUDE IS THE GATEWAY TO GOD.

            After leveling accusations, God offers them a gateway to his presence. We read about it in Vs. 14-15 and 23, “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” These verses are God’s gracious gift to the Israelites and us.

            No, doubt the Israelites were dutiful and ritualistic, but what they were lacking was a heart filled with gratitude. Even today, God is looking for hearts that are filled with thanksgiving. God is not impressed by how well we sing, play music, or how well we pray or work hard for Him, but He is pleased when he sees his people are having an attitude of gratitude. 

            We teach and expect our children to be grateful and say, “Thank You,” don’t’ we? Similarly, God teaches us to be grateful and expects thankfulness in return. In the passage, we see several benefits of thanksgiving. When we are thankful to God, he will hear us when we call on Him and rescue us from our troubles. As we remain on that path of thanksgiving, we will grow closer to God, and in the end, we will experience the ultimate salvation of our Souls.

            If you want to honor God, nothing pleases and honors Him more than thanksgiving. That is why we read in scripture over and over God urging His people to be full of thanks. There are so many other benefits of gratitude.  In her blog “6 Reasons Why to Teach Kids to Be Grateful,” Ann Voskamp notes the benefits of gratitude based on scientific research.

            The kids who were raised with gratitude fared better in many ways. They displayed better attitudes, achieved personal goals, had close relationships and greater happiness, better grades, had higher energy, attentiveness, enthusiasm, and sensitiveness. “Gratitude is good for the giver and good for the receiver, and if We Don’t Practice Gratitude?

            The research shows that youth who are ungrateful are “less satisfied with their lives and are more apt to be aggressive and engage in risk-taking behaviors, such as early or frequent promiscuous activities, substance use, poor eating habits, physical inactivity, and poor academic performance.” Gratitude is the Gateway to God.  I want to close by teaching us a small chorus based on I Thes 5:16-18, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Amen!

Living By the Spirit's Power

LIVING BY THE SPIRIT’S POWER Galatians 5:16-26

Introduction: John D. Rockefeller, Sr., was strong and husky when he was a youth. He was early determined to earn money and drove himself to the limit. At age 33, he received his first million dollars. At age 43, he controlled the biggest company in the world. At age 53, he was the richest man on earth and the world’s only billionaire.

            Then he developed a sickness called "alopecia," where the hair of his head dropped off, his eyelashes and eyebrows disappeared, and he was shrunken like a mummy. His weekly income was one million dollars, but he digested only milk and crackers. He was so hated in Pennsylvania that he had to have body guards day and night. He could not sleep, stopped smiling long since, and enjoyed nothing in life.

            The doctors predicted he would not live past another year. The newspaper had gleefully written his obituary in advance—for convenience in sudden use. Those sleepless nights set him thinking. He realized with a new light that he "could not take one dime into the next world." Money was not everything. God was displeased with his sinful life. Then and there, he surrendered his life to Christ, repenting of his sins and pleading for God to change his heart.

            The next morning, he awoke a new man. He began to help churches with his amassed wealth; the poor and needy were not overlooked. He established the Rockefeller Foundation, whose funding of medical researchers led to the discovery of penicillin and other wonder drugs.         John D. began to sleep well, eat and enjoy life. You could say he began to live life to the fullest! The doctors had predicted he would not live over age 54. He lived to be 98 years old. That is what the scriptures call a transformed life. When you surrender your life to Jesus Christ you will become a new creation and experience his grace to live out to the fullest. For the past few weeks we have been journeying through our core values.

            Today we will look at another value, we are Transformationally-Focused: “Following the example of Jesus and the New Testament model, we offer ongoing discipleship at Hope Church. We recognize that transformation is the work of God’s Spirit from the inside out. The goal of change is to be imitators of Jesus in life and conduct.”

            You might be wondering when does this transformation occur? Is it a one-time thing or a tedious process? The answer is Yes and No. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Yes, there will be a thorough or dramatic change that happens when Christ comes into our lives

            Transformation also means Metamorphosis; “A change into something new, or the process of maturing, like an insect or amphibian developing into adult form.” So, spiritual transformation involves spiritual maturity. The Apostle Peter compares this new life to “spiritual infancy,” where one needs to grow up in all parts of life and become a spiritually matured adult.           In our passage, the Apostle Paul explains the contrast between our old sinful nature and a newly spirit-filled nature. And shows us how to “LIVE BY THE SPIRIT’S POWER.” Galatians 5:16-26. Let’s look at the two opposing forces and their drastic outcomes in the life of a believer.

I THE CRAVINGS OF SINFUL NATURE.

            Have you ever been in a situation where you know what is the right thing to do, but instead, you end up doing something wrong? Whether you recognize it or not, there is a constant war going on between the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature in the lives of believers. Gal 5: 17-18,       “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.

And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law.”

            When we follow the desires of our sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” Here is a warning from someone who knew the struggle with sin.

            I Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” What is the Soul?  Dallas Willard explains human soul this way. The soul is “the combination of our Will, Mind, and Body.” The human will is the capacity to choose; the mind is both a person’s thoughts and feelings. The body is our little kingdom. That’s the one place in all the universe where our tiny will has a chance to be in charge.” All these three combinedly called “The Human Soul.”

            Your soul is what integrates your will (your intentions), your mind, (your thoughts and feelings, your values and conscience), and your body (your face, body language, and actions) into single life.”[1] It is interesting to observe this integration.

            When our will, mind, and body are well integrated, there is harmony in our lives. When that integration is not there then we have disharmony. What disrupts this harmony is Sin. Just think of all that the above-listed cravings of the sinful nature can do to us? When we let our sinful nature control us, it will destroy our lives and the lives of our loved ones. At the end, like the Apostle, Paul noted, we will be disqualified from inheriting the Kingdom of God.” 

            There is no such thing as a little sin. John Ortberg notes, “Unlike our legal system, sins are not weighted by their seriousness. There are no misdemeanors in the realm of sin. Sin is sin, and it is serious because of what it does to the soul.”[2] Is it worth following the cravings of your sinful nature? At what cost do you want to dabble in the fleeting pleasures of Sin?

            Are we cherishing the pleasures of sin without paying attention to its devastating consequences?  If we do, let us cry out like the Apostle Paul, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death”? The Holy Spirit says, I will!

II.THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

            After explaining the dilapidating effects of the sinful nature and its consequences, Paul introduces a hopeful contrast saying, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” God’s people bearing fruit goes back to Isaiah where God promised the fruitful future of the nation of Israel. Isaiah 27:6.

            The Holy Spirit is sent into the world to produce fruit in all those who become the followers of Christ. In the Bible, we see the fruit often is used figuratively. Fruit merely reflects the real character of the tree (Mt 7:17-18). Since people of the Spirit have a new life, it is natural for them to reflect the character of the Spirit.

            For all the acts of the sinful nature the antidote can be found in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. For example, Lust and sexual immorality can be overcome by Love. Idolatry, which amounts to greed, envy, and Jealousy can be replaced by Generosity though it is not listed here.             Elsewhere Paul encourages Corinthian believers to excel in this gift of generosity. “Since you excel in so many ways in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love for us I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving” 2 Cor 8:7.

            The remedy for drunkenness, wild parties, and all other entertainments is the Joy of the Holy Spirit. By Goodness and Kindness, we may overcome discord and division.         Hostility, all quarreling, and outbursts of anger can be calmed down by Gentleness and Self Control. Not to forget Patience and Faithfulness are the two essential virtues for Christian maturity and growth.

            Though this passage does not give us antidotes for all possible sins, by desiring the fruit of the Holy Spirit we can learn to overcome sin. It may not happen all at once, but as we yield to the Holy Spirit, he will help us to be transformed into Christ’s likeness.  

III. LIVING BY THE SPIRIT’S POWER

            After laying out the contrast and the consequences of the sinful nature and spirit led lives, Paul exhorts believers to live by the Spirit’s Power. Since we belong to Christ Jesus and are living by the Spirit, we are to follow Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. What does a Spirit-filled life look like? A Spirit-filled person is not narcissistic.

            He esteems others. He is not easily angered. He is not Jealous. He recognizes that his sinful nature has been nailed to the cross. A Spirit-filled person will make all efforts to live by the example of Christ. At Hope Church in order to encourage believers to follow Christ we offer ongoing discipleship.      We recognize that transformation is the work of God’s Spirit from the inside out. The goal of transformation is that we will be imitators of Christ in life and conduct.

            In closing! “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 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. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”  Romans 8:12-14.

            As we leave today, remember we don’t have to live by our sinful nature any longer. We got to cut it out! Instead, intentionally choose to surrender our lives to do what is right and pleasing to the Lord. We want to fill or minds with the things of God. We will seek to do good to others. We will not hold any grudges, but be quick to forgive others and live in harmony with others as much as possible. That is what the transformation focused all about. We are letting the Holy spirit Control our lives. May God help us to live by the Spirit’s Power. Amen!

---

[1] John Ortberg, Soul Keeping, Pages 40-43

[2] Ibd; page 72

The Church Is A Family

THE CHURCH IS A FAMILY

(Ephesians 2:17-22)

Introduction:  What is your view of Church?  Is it an organization, an institution with specific rules and policies? Or a social club of which I can become a member? In his book, The Family of God, Batsell Barrett Baxter says the following: "There are some who think of the church as an organization like other organizations. The church is indeed an organization, but it is not primarily an organization. Instead, it is a new way of life.

            Those who have the view that being a part of the church is like being a member of a lodge, a luncheon club, a political party, or even a business is gravely mistaken. Such people feel that they should give to the church the same kind of support and loyalty which they give to these other organizations. It becomes my church, as it is 'my club, or lodge, or party, or team.'             The Christian’s loyalty to Church, however, should be unique, for, in reality, it is a loyalty to Christ and His way of life. The church is like no other institution on earth, and a person’s membership in the church is like no other membership, which he may sustain. The church is more like a vibrant, living organism than it is like a cold, structured organization.

            Some make the mistake of thinking that the church exists for the entertainment and enjoyment of its members. On the contrary, the church exists so that its members may have an intimate relationship with Christ and God, as well as a close relationship with others."[1]

            During the new membership class, I emphasized the fact that the Church is not like a family, but it is the family, the family of God. All those who believed in Christ, to them, Christ gave the power to become God’s children. Only through Jesus Christ, an Intimate relationship with God is possible. I title this message, “The Church is a Family.” Ephesians 2:17-22

            The fourth core value that we like to live by at Hope Church is that we are Relationship-Oriented. “We believe that God has created people and churches to dwell in communities of mutual love and commitment with one another. Our church community is intentional about relationship investment and commitment, knowing that spiritual growth and healing happens best in a relational context of love, care, trust, and transparency.

            We realize that everyone is on a different point in their journey of faith, so we accept people as they are. It is OK not to be OK. Each person is essential, unique, and created by and for God.” I like this part that says, “It is OK not to be Ok.” That means, none of us are perfect, none of us got it all together. We all are a work in progress.  God is working in all of us.

            The basis for this core value comes from the passage in Ephesians 2:17-22; the emphasis is on verse 19. This passage is conveying four vital truths 1. We belong in the family of God 2. We are God’s House. 3. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. 4. We are being built together.

I. WE BELONG IN GOD’S FAMILY

            Vs. 19, “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens, along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” In the Bible, several metaphors were used to describing the Church, such as the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, God’s house, the temple, and the family of God.

            When God created Adam and Eve, he intended that they would live in a family. Similarly, since the beginning, “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.”  Ephesians 1:5 During Jesus’ ministry on earth, there was a great divide between the Jews and Gentiles. They both hated each other. But God loved them and wanted them to live in peace in one family of God. That became possible through Jesus’s death on the cross.

            Verse nineteen tells us that both Jews and Gentiles who have put their faith in Christ belong to God’s family. They become citizens, along with all of God’s holy people worldwide. This bond with fellow believers is stronger and often lasts longer than natural family ties. It is true for Wilma and myself as we both do not have of our parents anymore, and none of our siblings live here in the USA. But we have spiritual parents, wonderful brothers and sisters in the Lord in several parts of the world, including here in Hope Church, which we call our Family.

            As we are aware, some families are sick, weak, and dysfunctional. The same applies to church families; nevertheless, God wants us to be part of His spiritual family. Without exception, when we accept Christ as our savior, we became part of His worldwide family. But that is not enough; He wants us also to belong to a local church family, here is the reason why?

            A Christian without a church family is like a person who says, "I want to play NFL football, but I don't want to be a part of any team" Do you think that will work? Similarly, you cannot say I want to belong to the worldwide Church but don’t want to be a team player in a local church. If you're going to be an active player in your Christian faith, you need a church.

            So, if you don’t have a church, you can call home, and you are looking for one where you feel accepted and belong? Consider Hope Church.  In our Church we say, it is okay not to be okay. We are not the perfect church in town, but we seek to love God and love others.

II. WE ARE GOD’S HOUSE (Temple)

            Vs. 20, “Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.”  Here is another metaphor for the church, which is God’s House or Temple. In the OT, God’s physical manifestation was felt and seen in physical structures such as The Tabernacle, the tent, and the Temple. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they saw God’s glory descending upon the Tabernacle.           Exodus 40:34, “Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.”

            Again, after many years, they saw the same dark cloud the glory of God descending and filling the temple built by Solomon. I Chron 5: 13-14, “At that moment, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.”

             In the New Testament, Jesus became the living tabernacle displaying the glory of God among people. John 1:14, “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” After he has ascended to heaven, now who will display God’s glory on the earth?

            It is the Church, the house of God, or the temple of God, not a structural building, but the spirit-filled believers will. Remember, together; we are the temple of the Holy Spirit; we are not our own; we were bought at a price.  What does this mean practically? It means offering ourselves as living sacrifices. To take good care of ourselves, spiritually, physically, and mentally. It means staying away from sins that contaminate our body and soul. It means to the best of our ability, to live in peace with God, with ourselves, and with one another.

III. JESUS CHRIST THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

            In our worship, we sing, “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.” It is a wonderful feeling to know that our lives are not built on shaky and shallow philosophies or the empty promises of this world, but Jesus Christ himself as the Chief Cornerstone.

            When Jesus Christ becomes our sure foundation, our lives can thrive, flourish, and bring forth glory to God in this evil world. On what foundation are you building your lives? Is Christ your sure foundation? If not, you can start building your lives on the Chief Cornerstone today.

IV. WE ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER (21-22)

            Vs. 21-22, “In him, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him, you too, are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” These verses emphasize the need for us to be a part of a local church family because that is where we grow together to become the dwelling place of God.

             At Hope Church, as our core value suggests, we recognize that we cannot grow spiritually, independent of each other. We need other brothers and sisters in the family to challenge our faith, encourage us when we are down, support, and pray for us when we are sick and in need of help. As far as possible, we live in love and commitment with one another.

             Let me recapture the main points once again. We become members of God’s family by committing our lives to Christ. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone, and we are being built together. By becoming a member of Hope Church, we are saying, this is going to be my church home where I am going to serve and be served, where I will give and be given, love, and be loved so that together we can become God’s household.   

            However, our focus is not just us becoming the members of God’s family, or together to be built up and to become a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. As we are intentional to become all that and more, let’s not forget that there is a broken world out there that desperately need to experience God’s love. As we have found a home by coming to Jesus, now let’s go after God’s estranged children, his prodigal sons and daughters, and bring them back home, where they too will become part of God’s family and experience their heavenly father’s love. Amen!

---

[1] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/74739/church-purpose-of-by-sermoncentral?ref=TextIllustrationSerps