The Lure Of The Easy Way

Rev Gideon Lee

Matthew 16:21-28 (NIV)

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

I like the story of the young man, eager to make it to the top, who went to a well-known millionaire businessman and asked him the first reason for his success. The businessman answered without hesitation, "Hard work." After a lengthy pause the young man asked, "What is the SECOND reason?"

We want to deal this morning with the lure of the easy way. Jesus and His disciples were at Caesarea Philippi. Their ministry to this point had been a stunning success. Crowds pressed in on them everywhere they went. People eagerly reached out to touch this attractive young teacher from Nazareth. The disciples themselves were caught up in the excitement of it all. Jesus asked them, "Who do you say I am?" and Simon Peter answered enthusiastically, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" It was one of the most dramatic moments in the disciples' pilgrimage with Jesus.

Then Jesus changed the subject. He began to tell them that the crowds would soon turn against Him; He would be crucified, on the third day he would be raised. The disciples didn't know what to make of all this. Simon Peter took Jesus aside: "Forbid it Lord that these things should happen to you." Jesus' response to Simon Peter is as harsh as any words in the New Testament: "Get behind me Satan! You are not on the side of God but of man."

Perhaps Jesus called Simon Peter Satan' because of Jesus' experience in the wilderness immediately after His baptism by John. In today's parlance, it was there that Satan revealed to Jesus the way to make a million dollars in three easy steps turn stones to bread, leap off the pinnacle of the temple, "Bow down and worship me!" I see Satan not as a red caped figure with a pitchfork but dressed in a $400 suit and offering in a glib and polished tongue instant success, instant glamour, instant gratification. We can see Satan almost anywhere today. Jesus encountered him this time in Simon Peter: "Forbid it Lord that you should have to suffer and die."

If there is any doubt that Jesus is resisting the lure of the easy way, listen to the words that follow: "If any man would be my disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Many of us today are making the mistake of following the easy way. We see it in our family life. Homes are disintegrating because a father or a mother decides one day that enough is enough and simply walks out. To be sure, being a parent is hard work. Bill Cosby says that some people have children as a means of a kind of immortality. He says he just hopes that all five of his are out of the house before he dies.

We see it in our work. True, it is nice to see that the work ethic has regained respectability. Many of us can remember when young people dreaded taking their place in the business world. That attitude was reflected in a Doonesbury cartoon a few year back that had Zonker Harris noticing a despondent student coming out of the library. Zonker asked, "What's the problem?" The student replied, "It's nothing anybody can do anything about. It's just that tomorrow I'm graduating and on Monday I'm assuming a position as a junior vice president of the Chase Manhattan Bank of New York." Zonker is immediately shocked and saddened and says, "Hey, man, I'm sorry. I didn't know." Those were the seventies. But all that has changed. Today many people would sell their soul to be a junior vice president of Chase Manhattan and according to recent news reports MANY OF THEM HAVE. So a national magazine asks on its cover, "Whatever happened to ethics?" We are working harder but we are still seeking the easy way.

We can also see the desire to follow the easy way in the church. One fellow said to another, "Say, I heard that you bought a new car. How did you ever afford it?" The other fellow replied, "I just cancelled my church pledge." The first one said, "Gee, I wish that I could buy a new car for that little."

We are the devotees of the easy way even though everyone in this room knows TWO IMPORTANT TRUTHS.

1) THE FIRST IS THAT THE PATH TO PERSONAL SUCCESS IS THAT OF SELF DENIAL. 

Zig Ziglar tells of visiting the Washington Monument. As he and his party approached the monument, he heard a guide announcing loudly that there would be a two hour wait to ride the elevator to the top of the monument. However, with a smile on his face the guide then said, "There is no waiting to go to the top if you are willing to take the stairs." Successful people know that there is no limit to what a healthy, reasonably intelligent person in this society can accomplish if he or she is willing to "climb the stairs." The opportunity is there for anyone willing to pay the price.

During the Los Angeles Open Golf Tournament a few years ago, Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer, was interviewed while practicing on the putting green. "Arnie," he was asked, "What do you feel was wrong to make you play so poorly this past year?" Without looking up from his putting, Arnold answered in his own direct way, "I wasn't hard enough on myself, that's all." Two hours after this brief interview, the same reporter came back to find Palmer still practicing on the putting green. The reporter concluded, "The greatness of Arnold Palmer is his choice of the hard way."

Success in life requires a willingness to resist the lure of the easy way. A sound body requires that we exercise, eat the right foods, conquer bad habits. A sound mind requires that we read, that we observe, that we continually learn. A sound marriage requires that each partner goes into it with the understanding that marriage is not a 50/50 proposition but a 70/30 one in which both parties give the 70. A sound family means that we will take the time to be sensitive to the needs of our children, that we provide not only for their physical needs but their emotional and spiritual needs as well. Such goals require sacrifice, they require perseverance, they require determination. But everyone of us knows that the path to personal success is the path of self-denial.

2) WE ALSO KNOW THAT SELF DENIAL IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD. 

Here is the missing summons in our day. Our world faces some tremendous challenges. Is there on one who cares enough to act? Some cynic has said, "When the going gets tough, everyone leaves." That happened to Jesus. As the way got harder, the numbers of those who followed dwindled until finally He died alone on Calvary. Yet, if He had been unwilling to lay down His life, the world would never have known the love of the Father. If those early disciples had not picked up Jesus' cross and followed after Him, we still would not know about that love and if you and I do not pick up the cross in our time make those hard choices and assume those difficult responsibilities our children's children will not know the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

You may know the thrilling story of Glen Cunningham, a young man whose legs were so badly burned as a boy that doctors said he would never walk again. However, this determined champion went on to win an Olympic gold medal as a miler. Even more importantly, Glen Cunningham devoted his life to helping troubled young people. Once, his wife asked, "Glen, why do we have to give so much more than others? No one else is doing what we are." Glen answered, "That's the reason, Ruth. No one else is doing it."

Richard Leaky, the famous archeologist who worked in northern Kenya, discussed in his book People of the Lake what it is that separates man from the great apes. It is not man's intelligence, says Leakey, but his generosity. Only human beings have the ability to share. Only human beings are capable of genuine compassion. Only human beings are capable of laying down their lives for a friend. When it comes to taking up the cross of self denial, however, many of us have not discovered our humanity. If we don't care what happens to this world, who will? If we don't feed the hungry, who will? If we don't shelter the homeless, who will? If we don't tell the world about Christ, who will?

I recall the words of General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army and a friend to the down and out. Three months, before his death he wrote: "While women weep as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight - fight to the very end."

Can you imagine General Booth writing a book entitled Looking Out For Number One? What has happened to us? "If any man or woman would be my disciple," Jesus says to us, "Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." That is the word we desperately need to hear. It is a call, as M. Scott Peck would phrase it to "a road less travelled." In Zig Ziglar's analogy it is the lonely stairs as opposed to the crowded elevator. Or as Jesus himself once said, it is the narrow way that only a committed few will pursue.

How about you? The road to personal success is the road of self denial. Any worthwhile self-help book will tell you that. Self-denial, however, is also essential to the salvation of the world.

The story is told of a worker in an inner-city mission who had given many years to a most discouraging ministry. A friend came to him one day and said, "Why don't you leave this job before you are broken by its inhuman burden? Why don't you run away from it all?" The man replied, "There are times when I would very much like to leave it all. But there is a strange, loving man on a cross who won't let me."

Jesus said, "If anyone would be my disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." That is His call to your life and mine today. Can He count on you? Will you join the company of the committed? Will you take up your cross today? 

Many thanks to Rev Gideon Lee for his sermon notes.

Have Mercy on Me

Rev Dr. Jameson Yeo

I do not know why I am shivering. Do pray for me right now. I have read what I prepared many many times but still I need your prayer. That God will use me to share with you only his words. And you pray for yourself that you will have the insight to understand his words and boldness to do it. If you need to repent, repent!

Luke 18:35-43

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God

This is not a parable but an event that has taken place. The same thing that has happened to the individual must happen to you. Jesus says it must happen to you according to your faith. 

How did he respond when he heard it was Jesus. He cried out: Jesus of Nazareth, have mercy on me. He cried out loud and clear so that everyone can hear. v37, it was mentioned Jesus of Nazareth but in v38, he cried Jesus Son of David. 

The crowd told him to be quiet but he shouted even louder. This will happen to you. The crowd tells you to keep quiet. Did he keep quiet? No, he shouted even louder. And Jesus asked him to come near. 

What did Jesus say to him? What do you want me to do for you?  "Me" refers to Jesus the Son of David. 

What was the mercy the man wanted? He wanted his sight. This man knows his theology. First he called Jesus of Nazareth, then the Son of David and finally Lord. He wanted that mercy to be his sight so that he can see. 

Jesus responded, your faith (what you dare to believe) that is what I have for you. Your faith has made you whole and immediately he received his sight. This is an account that happened maybe 2,000 years ago and more. 

This must happen again. It is continuous tense. Technically yes, it should be was but not here. I'll tell you why. We are not dealing with someone who had died and is buried. History. You and I are serving a living God. Right? Wrong. We are serving "the" Living God. The one and only one. 

That is why we felt his presence when we worshiped him just know. This is the living God that you and I are serving today. So if you act upon that faith or believe, then whatsoever thing you want or need, he can do for you according to your faith. 

You may have walked into this place with plenty of problems. In the church there are also problems. You may say how can? We have enemies who are here to destroy the foundation of the church. Using who? Someone who is not in tune with God. Be careful, he can use you to become the Judas Iscariot. 

What kind of pastor do you want? A pastor who is caring and responsible and takes care of troublesome people, then pray for him. 

This blind man knew Jesus as a carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. He also attributed Jesus as the son of David. A reference, a title and a designation. He is to the devout Jew the long awaited Messiah. Our deliverer. He declared his theology. He also know he is his Messiah, his Lord. 

Many knows Jesus as saviour, but many do not accept him as Lord and Master. Nonsense. When he is your saviour he is also your Lord and Master. 

If you want to enjoy his mercy and grace, then he must be your Saviour, Lord and Master. That is why sometimes we pray so hard and nothing happens, because your theology is wrong. 

When he is your Lord and Master, then he is ready to answer your prayer. Pastor, if your Lord ask you what you want, what will you say? Don't answer me, I will answer for you. The church has smart people and smart people are difficult people. So what will you ask from God? Ask for his wisdom and knowledge. Don't pray for pay raise. 

God gave to Solomon wisdom and knowledge. Not just wisdom. Just wisdom is useless. Knowledge is the know how. Wisdom is the know how to know how. So that you do the right things at the right time. That will be the answer to the problems. 

This man asked for mercy. Mercy here is not pity. It is the combination of love and action which equals compassion. Mercy is understanding the difficulty. And you give yourself to solve the problem. That is compassion. He said remember me now. This mercy is compassion. Take my case and help me now. That is what the word mercy means. Love me with action and do it right now as I cannot bear it any longer. You are desperate and need help right now. And you call him Lord. I depend on you. 

He acknowledge his weakness. He acknowledges that he cannot do anything. He just needs God's mercy. You can then present anything to him and he says according to your faith. 

Your faith based on who he is and what he claims to be. And he is the living God. 

Very strange. When I read this passage. You will noticed it says you do not ask. That he may do for you. That is what you ask and that is what you get. Ask specifically. According to what you ask. When you ask be serious. Our prayer is the privilege, is the power and is the authority that God has given you. 

How did this man use his faith? He used that faith where he is. Right now. Though he has little faith he did what he had and of what he can. All he can do is shout. 

Start from where you are, use what you have and do what you can and you will stop Jesus where he is. It is not just for physical healing, but for everything. 

He was blind and he needed others for help. Now he can see, he can work. God answered not just his present need but also into the future. So that you can glorify and honour God. 

Rev Gideon praying for new parents Darren and Esther at baby Gabrilyn's dedication.

Rev Jameson praying for those that responded to his altar call.

Great Is Your Faith

Rev Gideon Lee

Matthew 15:21-28 (NIV)

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

What would you think if I told you that on your tombstone would be inscribed a four-word epitaph? Well, you might respond, it would depend on who would write this epitaph an enemy or a loved one. It might also depend, you might say, on how well this person knew and understood you. If a newspaper critic wrote of a concert pianist the four words: "He was a failure," you could always say: That was his opinion. But if one of the world's great musicians wrote, "He was a genius," then you are apt to take the remark more seriously.

There was a character in the Gospel who Jesus once described with four immortal words: Great is your faith. She was a Canaanite woman who came from the country to the north of Palestine, a country hostile to the Jews. She was presumably married, she had at least one child; but that’s all we know about her. We don't know whether she was a good woman or a bad woman. We don’t know her name. All we know of her is that in this single encounter with Jesus he spoke to her this four-word epitaph: Great is your faith.

Only four words but they are enough to make her immortal. We can trust these words as being true because the expert on faith spoke them. Jesus searched for faith, as a gem collector would fine jewels. He did not always find it in his disciples. On no occasion that we know did he ever say of Peter, James, and John: Great is your faith. More often the words he spoke to them: You of little faith. On only one other occasion did Jesus praise a person for their faith. Interestingly, that was a Roman soldier stationed in Capernaum.

We regard this Canaanite woman with more than just an academic interest. She awakens in us a feeling of admiration, perhaps even envy, because she stands where most of us would like to stand. What faithful Christian would not like it said of him or her: Great is your faith. Think of what it would mean if an aspiring young artist had Picasso place his hand on his shoulder and say: You have a great talent. How wonderful it would be then to a believer in God, if Jesus would place his hand on our shoulder and say: You have a remarkable talent for faith. But how does one qualify for this praise? What does one have to do? To answer these questions let us take a closer look at her story.

I. Crossing Barriers

First, we can say of this Canaanite woman that she was willing to cross barriers. Her faith consisted mainly in the fact that she turned to Jesus for help. That was quite remarkable, however, when you remember that she was a Gentile, a Canaanite, and therefore a traditional enemy of the Jews. They had been despised for centuries. It was as real and deep an enmity as exists today between the Arabs and the Jews.

On another note, one might wonder what indeed Jesus was doing in this foreign land. On no other occasion did he venture out of Palestine. Why now? The common explanation is that he knew that he was coming to the end of his earthly ministry and he needed privacy to further train his disciples to carry on after his death. He couldn't find this privacy in Palestine, so he went into Gentile territory where people didn't know him, or at least would pay no attention to him. It was quite unlikely that a Canaanite would approach much less consult a Jewish rabbi. The prejudices went too deep. This Canaanite woman was well aware of this great gulf between the Jews and her people. Yet, here was a woman who had a desperate need; her daughter was deathly ill. She was therefore willing to cross over and turn to Jesus for help. That was her faith.

Faith still consists of turning to Christ for help and barriers today still must be crossed. There is the barrier of time, 2000 years to be precise, which, barring the sudden invention of a time machine is a wide gulf. Jesus lived then and we live now. We think: It’s such a different ball game today. How can he possibly help me? There is the barrier of culture. A generation that travels faster than the speed of sound may well wonder, how it can get help from a Palestine Jew who traveled on a donkey? Can Jesus even understand our problems? There is the barrier of pride. Am I willing to get beyond myself and admit that I cannot handle every situation that comes up in life? Are we able to cross the barrier that says: I don't need you Jesus. I am doing quite well by myself.

It seems clear that when this lady turned to Christ for help she knew little of him. She first addressed him by simply saying, Sir. Then, unsure if she had given the proper title, she added, Son of David. Undoubtedly she had heard of the great powers of Jesus and she was willing to put down her pride and cry out for help: "Have pity on me." But, that was her faith and the extent of her understanding of who Jesus was and it was enough. There was no great exercise of intellect involved. She didn’t know any dogmas or creed. Her faith simply existed in the fact that she came to Jesus for help in a situation where she had exhausted all of her own resources.

II. Refusing to Be Put Off

Secondly, we can say of her that she refused to be put off. There were at least three intimidating factors that could have made her give up. First there was the silence of Jesus. The scriptures tell us that to her cry of help and outstretched hand Jesus replied not a word: how unlike him. How uncharacteristic. There is no reaction harder to bear than silence. A flat “No” at east acknowledges your presence and tells you where you stand. But when there is silence you don't know what the person is thinking or even if they have acknowledged you.

There is no sterner test of faith than the silence of God. It was that way to Job. He could have stood all of his endless suffering if only the Almighty had not seemingly gone into hiding and cut off all communication.

Again and again he shook his fist at heaven and challenged God to come out. Its like talking to someone on a telephone and suddenly suspecting that the person is no longer there. They haven't hung up the receiver; they are just silent.

That's how this Canaanite woman must have felt. She told Jesus that her daughter was sick and needed help and what she got in reply was silence. Surprisingly, this did not intimidate her. She perceived what very few people have the faith to perceive that the silence of God does not mean the indifference of God. This woman did not lose heart in the face of silence.

Another intimidating factor was that this woman received no help from the disciples. Indeed, they regarded her pleas for help as merely a nuisance. They urged Jesus: “Send her away; see how she comes shouting after us." They said the same thing when they saw 5000 hungry people at the Sea of Galilee. They said the same thing when a poor crippled beggar cried out for help at the Pool of Bethesda. Even when the children tried to see Jesus, they tried to send them away. Too often this has been the church's response to human suffering. Send them away to prisons, to welfare agencies, to ghettos. The disciples, like the church today, had become fatigued under the constant pressure of the demands made upon them. Part of this woman's faith, however, was that she would not be put off by the indifference of people.

Yet, the disciples did not seem to be the only ones putting this woman off. When Jesus finally did break his silence he said to her, “I have been sent to the House of Israel and to them alone." Was Jesus testing her? We don't know. But it sounds very much as if he is saying, “sorry, you are not a religious woman.” But even then she refused to be put off. In spite of what Jesus said she fell at his feet and cried out: Sir, help me. That was the essence of her faith. She may not have belonged to the synagogue; she may not have known the Torah, but she had a need and that was enough.

III. Going in Faith and Humility

Which brings us to the third point of her faith: She realized that she had no claim on Jesus for the request that she was making.

To this woman's plea for help Jesus makes another statement that we have difficulty in understanding. It does not sound like something that he would say. He said to her: It is not right to take children's bread and throw it to the dogs." That sounds like a contemptuous insult. Even today the term dog is used for something particularly despicable. It has been pointed out that the actual word that Jesus used was not dog but puppy. He was referring to a household pet and not the kind of wild dogs that roamed the streets at that time. Some say that he was not insulting her but teasing her and that he probably had a smile on his face when he spoke these words. I don’t think so. I think he is drawing the lines here. His ministry is not to the Gentiles. We certainly could understand it, then, if at this point the poor woman burst into tears and simply ran away.

But she didn’t cry and she didn't walk away. She answered Jesus by saying: “It is true sir. I admit that I am a dog. I realize that I have no claim upon you.” That was her faith and that is still faith today. It is faith to go to God for help and at the same time admit that we have no claim upon him. Having nothing that we have done to merit his mercy, in no position to make demands, we go to God in faith.

The woman said to Jesus: Sir, even the dogs eat the scraps from the master's table. She was saying in effect: Sir, I admit that I have no claim upon you, but there must be some extra grace that you have that I would be deserving of. Jesus replied to her: Woman, what great faith you have. Be it as you wish. From that moment her daughter was restored to health.

The greatness of this woman's faith consists in: 1. Her willingness to cross the barrier of racism. 2. Her refusal to be put off or ignored because of her position in life. And 3. Her humility in admitting that she did not deserve the Master’s attention and time.

Many thanks to Pastor Gideon for sharing his sermon notes here.

Learning from a Pharisee

Kenny Song

All of us are familiar with the Pharisees during Jesus’ ministry. Jesus had very little good things to say about them. He called them brood of vipers, blind guides, fools, whitewashed tombs, dead men’s bones, hypocrites! And the feelings were mutual, they hated Jesus. They hated Jesus not because He called them names, but because He threatened their security, prestige and income. The Pharisees had brokered a rather uneasy peace between the powers of Rome, and their own people. They were comfortable with the arrangement. His popularity, His talk of the kingdom, His affirmation that He was in fact the Messiah, this threatened the uneasy peace they have with the Romans.

So the question this morning is this. Is there anything good we can learn from a Pharisee? We learnt from many biblical heroes, but a Pharisee? Someone our Lord have called snakes and hypocrites?

When I was a young Christian, I didn’t quite immediately believe everything. This is because I am naturally a very logical person who likes to reason things. I ask questions. I am quite an inquisitive person. I guess maybe that’s why I am in the creative industry. I struggled with creation, theory of evolution, and even the authority of the bible. 

But God is faithful and he sent Christians who helped me addressed these questions. I began to realise this, God cannot be found or discovered using only the human intellect. Jesus said we are blind to the truth. It is the Holy Spirit in us that will teach us and guide us to all truth. Things of God must be spiritually discerned and truth as revealed by God. 

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

That is the reason why I can relate to this Pharisee. He had an inquisitive mind and a searching heart. He wanted to know more. Do you know who this Pharisee is?

Nicodemus. We are going to take a walk back into history some 2,000 years ago. I want each of us to imagine standing as an observer what went on in the life of Nicodemus. Right there in Jerusalem.

Who is this Nicodemus? He was Jerusalem's most outstanding Bible teacher and a member of the Jewish Ruling Council, or a member of the Sanhedrin. Only the High Priest gained more recognition in the capital city than Nicodemus. Yet, despite all his learning and privileges, he did not know God. He knew about God, but he did not know him. And as we listen to Jesus engage this man in conversation the darkness in his soul quickly becomes apparent. 

To appreciate the whole picture lets read from John 2:23 right through to John 3:2.

Now while he [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

Why did Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night? We can only speculate about the reason  - maybe out of fear of being seen, or simply to get enough time alone with Jesus to ask all the questions on his heart. Jesus however had no difficulty in discerning Nicodemus’ motive - for Jesus knew all men. Jesus, fully aware of the motives of Nicodemus’ heart, gave him the new truth relevant to his need. A truth that would transform Nicodemus life (and ours) forever.

There are 3 separate account of Nicodemus in the book of John and we are going to see how Nicodemus was progressively different with each passing passage. 

New Truth

John 3:3-73 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Nicodemus was not just a Pharisee but also a member of the Jewish ruling council. The Pharisees were no friends of Jesus (John 7:31-32, 46-48; John 8:1-4; John 9:12-14). His teachings and lifestyle did not make them look good.

When we live our life the right we will make friends as well as enemies. Not everyone will appreciate your godliness but all will observe it. Some will be challenged and take positive steps to modify their way of living, others will be offended at the challenge your life poses to them. Witnessing is a way of life not merely a way with words. Your good conduct always leaves an impact on the people you encounter.

It is interesting to note how Nicodemus addressed Jesus "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

Who were the “we” that Nicodemus was referring to?

Well, looking at it in context the “we” were the Pharisees - members and probably some of the rulers of the council who secretly acknowledged the authority of Jesus. People too proud to accept that they were wrong.

You can imagine Nicodemus’ heart burning within him as he had been listening to Jesus in the past. He was probably standing in the crowd of the Pharisees as they argued with Jesus. Yet deep within him he knew that Jesus was speaking the truth. Nicodemus was probably the one who brought up the conversation about Jesus among the Pharisees when they were in private. Together they discussed the things they had heard and the miracles they had witnessed. A few of them privately admitted that God was with this man. How else could he have performed the miracles they had seen?

Yet hearing and seeing the truth from a intellect point of view does not bring salvation. Nicodemus knew that something was missing. He had to see Jesus in person to sort things out.

There are some things you will never receive from Jesus in the crowd. You have to pay him a private visit. In public we can all listen to the truth, but it is in the privacy of our heart that the real changes happen. Change comes when you have a personal encounter with God, not a public experience in the church. Someone said, "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a mechanic." 

Millions today are familiar with the phrase “you must be born again”, thanks to the private discussion Nicodemus had with Jesus. Nicodemus came to Jesus thinking that he knew who Jesus was. He went away with new truth. Nicodemus had an encounter with the truth. The next time we come across Nicodemus we notice the new character. Education, culture and science may change us but only grace can transform us.

If we are to grow, like Nicodemus, we need to admit we need help, and seek Jesus for the grace to make the change.

The “we” mindset of Nicodemus may provide a hedge to hide behind but it will not shield us from the truth. Nicodemus came to Jesus with a worldview dictated by those around him. “We know you are a teacher who has come from God” were Nicodemus first words to Jesus. The “we” represented the combined views and considerations of those Pharisees who secretly acknowledged Jesus as “a teacher who has come from God”. Yet this view, despite the truth it contained, was woefully inadequate, for Jesus was much more than a teacher.

Nicodemus view of Jesus was developed by his deliberations and reasoning with his colleagues. The views of those around him had dictated his understanding of God - for Jesus is God.

Who dictates the views that you hold about life and God? Is it common sense or just the most popular opinion? Have we made a serious study of what the word of God says about things like - salvation, tithing, authority in the home and church, ethics, accountability, money, sacrificial living, worship of God and such like. Or are we just holding unto the “we” view.

Notice that Jesus did not hesitate in taking Nicodemus further down the narrow road of truth - “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”, was Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus’ supposed compliment. Knowing Jesus as a teacher was good, yet far from enough.

Nicodemus learnt a truth that transformed him. He learnt it in the privacy of his heart. Nicodemus might have come by dark but he found the light.

New Character

The next time we see Nicodemus it is during the day. The temple guards had been sent to arrest Jesus but returned empty handed to the religious rulers of the people. Among the rulers was Nicodemus. He was still a discreet disciple. We read the account in John 7:45-52

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" 

"No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.

"You mean he has deceived you also?" the Pharisees retorted. "Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law - there is a curse on them."

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"

They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.

Notice the irony here. The Pharisees accuse the temple guards of being stupid and mislead. Verses 47 to 49 provide the climax of this episode - the Pharisees confidently declare that none of the Pharisees, the supposed learned ones, have believed in Jesus, hence the ignorant Jews on the street should not either. Sitting in their midst is Nicodemus, a believer in Jesus who has still not found the courage to openly expose his faith.

In verse 50 he finally plucks up the courage to clear his throat and speak up - "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" Nicodemus declares, rather gingerly. The reply of his colleagues show the disdain they have for Jesus. No wonder Nicodemus is keeping his faith to himself.

Yet, in the midst of all this we see a changed character. The Nicodemus who went to Jesus by night is now confident enough to speak up for Jesus in public. The truth has given him a new boldness and confidence. Here is not a man we should sneer at but learn from. Has the truth of the gospel changed your worldview?

Nicodemus was no longer part of the “we” team. The opinions of his colleagues no longer defined his own. He was taking a different stand from them. The refining of our character begins in our thinking. Nicodemus was on the right direction. Romans 12:2 was working for him.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The truth of the gospel should change the way we think. Thinking right will dictate the way we live and act. Notice how Nicodemus acts differently. If you do not allow the word of God to change the way you think, you will never change the way you live.

New Action

The third and final appearance of Nicodemus was in John 19:38-42. This time he has found a friend who is also cautious about revealing his stand as a Christian.

This was after Jesus was crucified. Except for John, all those that followed Jesus fled. One betrayed him. One denied him. Mark 14.50 "they all forsook him and fled".

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night.

Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Nicodemus is a changed person. Joseph of Arimathea we know little about - we know he was rich; a secret disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27:57); and also a member of the council (Luke 23:50; Mark 15:43,46). Dwight L. Moody, a preacher used mightily by God, who lived between 1837-1899, wrote this of Joseph of Arimathea, and the same can be said of Nicodemus also.

I consider this was one of the sublimest [inspiring], grandest acts that any man ever did. In that darkness and gloom - His disciples having all forsaken Him; Judas having sold Him for thirty pieces of silver; the chief apostle Peter having denied him with a curse, swearing that he never knew Him; the chief priests having found Him guilty of blasphemy; the council having condemned Him to death; and when there was a hiss going up to heaven over all Jerusalem - Joseph went right against the current, right against the influence of all his friends, and begged the body of Jesus." ("Bible Characters" by Dwight L. Moody, p. 116)

Nicodemus and Joseph had lived as secret disciples while Jesus was alive, but there was nothing secret about what they were doing now. Risking the ridicule of the Romans and persecution from the Jewish religious council, they came to collect and bury the body of Jesus at their own expense. Here we witness the word Nicodemus received from Jesus in private bearing public fruit.

The measure of fruitfulness is seen in how our lives are changed by the word of God. Sacrifice for Jesus is a product of spiritual growth. Nicodemus was not after fame or fortune. In truth he was risking all by fulfilling this duty. The word of Jesus has the power to transform and release us from every hold of selfishness, cowardice, criticism and worldly mindsets. If only we would give it the access to our hearts via our minds.

Jesus probably knew that the man who came to see him timidly at night was the same man who was to play a vital role in his life (or should we say death) and ministry. Jesus never gives up on us. He has the ability of his word to change us, and in this case even a Pharisee.

Nicodemus came to Jesus in private because he was seeking for truth. Are some of you here seeking for the truth? Maybe you have heard about Jesus and even heard sermons on him but have never encountered him in private. You too can discover new truth that will set your life free.

Nicodemus’ character was transformed after he learnt the truth. Most of us are probably experiencing this work in our life. The bible calls it sanctification. We are being changed to become more like Jesus, in character and attitude. Are you struggling with this transformation? The bible tells us that he is the potter, we are the clay. The clay needs to be broken then formed for it to become something useful in the potter’s hands.

Nicodemus’ transformation brought about visible new actions. This is the fruit of our spiritual encounter with Jesus. Change on the inside will always bear fruit on the outside. Have you been a Christian but have remained dormant? Dormant volcanoes can either become active or extinct. We do not want to be extinct Christians. Like Nicodemus, let us wake up and serve God.

If you are a seeker and wants to know this Jesus that Nicodemus encountered, we can pray for you. 

If you are struggling as God do that transformation work in your life, know that you are on the right track and we can stand with you in prayer. Or if you are wanting to serve God in a greater measure, we will be happy to pray along with you as you seek his will in your life.

We should learn from Nicodemus and pursue Jesus wherever we are in our walk with God.

With Daniel Tan my young and capable interpreter.

To Become One

Rev Graeme Lauridsen

Thank for the opportunity to share.

Background:

Family, NZ - pastor and leader with AG 25 years.

2010 - after 15 years

Acts 13:46 (NIV)

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you

first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn

to the Gentiles.

Resign and step out in faith…

Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his

inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Began the journey - what would it mean to turn to the gentiles?

Began to dream. To fulfil the great commission in our lifetime.

What would a church dedicated to reaching lost people look like?

What a journey the past four years have been!

• Made a shift to Melbourne, Australia.
• Began to work with a number of large churches in Melbourne and Adelaide exploring new initiatives in reaching unchurched people.
• Established a number of what we call "redemptive communities" amongst people groups like asylum seekers, refugees, single parent families, the elderly, and university students.
• Seeing some remarkable stories of salvation.
• We have begin the development of an online training programme for the unchurched

We are living in some of the most exciting days in the history of the church.

But this morning, I want to share with you a surprising direction God took us in our journey

of turning to the gentiles.

In a sense, when God spoke to us to resign from leading a local church and turn to the

gentiles, I had lots of ideas on what that might look like.

But then I had a phone call - Danny Guglielmucci - need your help to lead and bring health

to a church in Melbourne. So we became campus pastors for Danny and began the process of bringing health and unity to the congregation.

After 18 months - another phone call - large church - senior pastor in serious burnout -

could we come for six months. Six months became twelve, then eighteen, then two years.

This church was a church of factions. One group met on Sunday, another on a Wednesday

- with completely different views on what the church should be like. Some people were

followers of this leader, another of that leader.

If I made a decision of any kind, one group would love me, and another would loathe me.

I was faced with the task of bringing unity and reconciliation. Many stayed, some left, many other new people came. The church came into unity and health.

But I was left wondering - what has this to do with turning to the gentiles?

God called me to leave a church - to turn to the gentiles, only to then ask me to turn to the

church.

Such a contradiction - until one morning I was reading through John 17.

In this passage Jesus is praying for the disciples before His arrest in the garden of

Gethsemane….

John 17:20-23 (NIV)

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their

message,21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May

they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.221 have given them

the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—231 in them and you in

me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent

me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

I think one of the most powerful words in the Bible is the word "then”.

Jesus is praying that the church might be "one".....that they may he brought to complete

unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have

loved me.

God had called me to turn to the gentiles. He had called me to champion the cause of the great commission

Having done so - I needed to understand one important truth - for the local church to reach

fulfil the great commission, they must first be ONE.

.....that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me

and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus prayer was that His followers might be ONE - in complete unity - and only then would

the world know that the father sent the son.

This morning - I hope to bring you a greater understanding around the call of God for the

church to be one - in complete unity - as the foundation upon which the great commission

will be fulfilled - and I believe, in our lifetime!

Come with me to the book of Ephesians.

1 want to take you on a quick journey through this letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in

Ephesus, and I would like to demonstrate to you the power of being one as a church.

Ephesians 3:2-6 (NIV)

Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 

Paul is talking about a mystery that had been hidden for all of history - which was now being revealed. Paul is unlocking the great purpose of the gospel. He is revealing the great hidden mystery of God's plan. That there is no longer Jew and Gentile. No longer Jew and Palestinian.

But through Christ - there is now one body of believers. You will find here a key word - "together".

Heirs together, members together, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

The theme of the letter to the Ephesians is the word Together. Together with Christ and together

with one another.

Go back a chapter.....

Ephesians 2:12-15 (NIV)

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.   But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

Can you see the mystery of the gospel here?

In Christ, God was creating in Himself one new humanity. No longer a dividing wall of hostility.

Isn't it interesting that this is the very battle going on in the Middle East. A wall of hostility between two peoples, Jesus came to bring down that wall of hostility so that there might be one new humanity in Himself!

One people - TOGETHER.

In Christ, God is creating a new community - a new nation - a new humanity - a new people.

This is the great mystery of the gospel.

That’s why Peter writes this in…..

1 Peter 2:10 (NIV)

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

You are now the people of God.

So - the mystery of the gospel is that God was creating in himself a new people in Christ.

Let's move to Eph 2…..

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household,   built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Now - stay with me here this morning…

This whole letter to the Ephesian Church is unfolding a mystery that has been hidden until this time.

That in Christ a dividing wall is being brought down. That there would no longer be two people groups on the earth - Jew and gentile - but one new humanity.

This new nation - this new body of believers would...no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household. This is why Jesus could say - that when you and I become one - we are fulfilling the mystery of the gospel - so that the whole world may know that the father sent the son and loves them.

Now - notice this - 

this whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him

you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit

I mean - how many get this?

In Christ, God is making one new people - one new community -one new humanity - and GOD is

going to build this new body of believers together - to become a dwelling in which God lives by his

Spirit

Somebody say WOW!

We are being built together to be God's dwelling place.

NOT just individually - but TOGETHER.

TOGETHER - a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit

Church - this is the great mystery. You and I together - united - in community - and in that place - we become God's dwelling place on the earth. That is such a wow statement right there! If we were to read together of the day of Pentecost - notice three things

1. The people were TOGETHER in ONE ACCORD
2. They were FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT - becoming the dwelling place of God by His Spirit
3. 3000 people from every nation were added to their number.

We were born again to be one - that the world may know...

So - Paul then says this to the Ephesians church….

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Why?

Because the mystery of the Gospel is that God is making one new people that will fulfil the great

commission - therefore it's important that we keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

THROUGH THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, WE ARE A COMMUNITY, INVITING OTHERS INTO COMMUNITY!

TOGETHER - we are a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit - and we invite outsiders to become

part of that dwelling place.

Paul goes on….

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Paul is passionate about this new people - this new humanity - this new together - build one another up, get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander-be kind, compassionate, forgiving…. Then he challenges not to .... grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

It's like he makes the point - God is so passionate about this new humanity - this new citizenship -

that when we slander one another, are angry and unforgiving - the Holy Spirit is grieved.

We were born again for community.

TOGETHER - we are a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit

We have to keep that together.

Paul continues on this theme…..

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

1 Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Walk in the way of love.

Let me make this very simple - when we reach beyond our walls - we are inviting others into

community. So Paul is passionately calling the Ephesian church to be the kind of GOD community into which we can invite others.

Keeping the unity of the Spirit.

Now - It is in this context that we reach this great crescendo in Paul's letter to the Ephesians…

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

So, what can we take from this?

This passage almost looks out of place - just spiritual warfare - but what if we keep it in the context

of "together”?

The context is the mystery of the gospel - one new humanity - built together as the dwelling place

of God on the earth-

So this is where the enemy will always attack. To divide what God has united. What God loves, the devil hates. So the devil will attempt to sow division within you.

So, when our relationships come under attack -be aware of this:

...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against

the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Listen to me - often times when we think it is about flesh and blood - different opinions, offenses

and arguments - It is not just flesh and blood. It is a spiritual war to destroy your unity!

So - Paul's advice is this:

Ephesians 6:13-18 (NIV)

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

This morning - take this passage around the armour of God - and share a process whereby we can

keep the unity of the spirit. A process through which we can reconcile with others. A process of how to resolve offences.

This process has two outworking's - first one on one - then if you are unsuccessful, with a mediator.

Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)

"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

So - how do we reconcile our differences and maintain the unity - the oneness - the together - we

have in the spirit?

Step one…

1. Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.

The beginning of reconciliation is always to talk about the truth. If you have been hurt - just talk to the person. It may just be a misunderstanding. The truth might be that you misunderstood their motive? And carry your own truth. What is my role in this? Did I lose my temper? Did I have a part to play?

Sometimes when embracing the truth - you don't even need to approach the other person.

Sometimes the truth is, I am being over sensitive. There is now real issue here. I need to get over myself - and let this go. This is only an issue with me. But whether we approach the person, or decide this issue is only me - we need to embrace the truth about what is going on. must.

I have an older brother who 25 years ago came to the conclusion that anyone who believed in the

baptism in the Holy Spirit is of the devil, and that any Pentecostal church is a cult. Of course, by that definition I am therefore a cult leader. Any Christmas cards are sent back, as I believe in a different Jesus to the one he believes in.

Of course, in the earlier days we tried to discuss this, but there was simply no movement in his

decision. The thing is - for me to move on, I needed to put on the belt of truth. This was costing me an important relationship - but the truth would give me a foundation to build a healthy future.

I remember another situation - I was in a board meeting type situation (not here) - something had

happened that made me really angry - and I snapped. Wasn't a big deal - no brawling - but I knew

someone was hurt. I had to begin with the truth. "I was out of line”. I have to tell you - the number of times I had to go down the hallway to apologise to my kids when growing up - to embrace and own the truth. Sorry I over-reacted.

Marriage - how hard it is to say - I was wrong! Keeping the unity of the spirit begins with embracing the truth!

Interesting - Roman Soldier - It was the belt that held the scabbard, without which there would be no place to put a sword - The Matthew Henry Commentary says the belt "girds on [secures] all the other pieces of our armour. All the other armour hangs on truth.

To take a stand for healthy relationships - to experience true reconciliation - always look for an

opportunity to begin with the truth. When it is a broken relationship, to sit down and listen to each other. Only with the belt of truth securely fixed can we move to the next step. Truth on its own will not complete reconciliation!

2. The breastplate of righteousness in place.

The breastplate of righteousness covers the heart.

Once we have aired the truth - forgiveness is paramount.

Jesus said this….

Matthew 6:15 (NIV)

But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Whatever the outcome of step one - you cover your heart with righteousness by forgiving. Sometimes step one is a disaster - but you have tried. You have acknowledged truth. We need to forgive in order to move on. No bitterness. No resolution - but the breastplate of righteousness demands that I forgive.

My Dad is in prison in NZ. Unfortunately I became aware of his offending and was required to testify for the prosecution at his court case. Of course, that was a very difficult thing to do - but sometimes we need to both honour our parents while at the same time take a stand for the victims of their actions. It was a nightmare season. There was a lot of hurt in every direction. The breastplate of righteousness demanded that at the end of the season, I forgive. That I continue to pray for and reach out to my Dad.

Truth and forgiveness are bedfellows in reconciliation. Then to step three….

3. Your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Another way this phrase could be translated - is to be ready to walk the path of peace. We have shared our truth by talking things through - we have offered forgiveness - now walk in. Let’s not cross the street when we see each other coming. Speaking of my brother - after ten years of silence - drove up his drive. Ten daughters - one son.

Next we get to step four…

4. Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Because I have acknowledged the truth. Because we have the breast place of righteousness through forgiveness. Because we are now committed to walking in peace. We can now take up the shield of faith.

Shared last week - interesting thing about shields in Paul's day.

Roman army - shields were made to stand together and make up a shield wall. The shield is not just to cover ourselves, but to cover each other. In fact - in a shield wall, you shield covers the person on your left!

Can I ask you this - have you been hurt along the way? Have you been treated unjustly? Falsely accused? When that person who hurt you comes up in gossip - can you defend them?

Jesus called us in Matt 5 - to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Joseph - sold as a slave, falsely accused of rape - imprisoned. When his fortunes turned - marred - first son - Ephraim - make me forget. So while we are still in reconciliation - we make a commitment to be each other's shield of faith. May be a tough call. 

Then we go to step five….

5. Take the helmet of salvation.

The helmet of salvation covers the mind. It is a commitment to stop rehearsing this offence in my mind. I'm not going to go over it again, and again, and again. Sometimes you don't get a satisfactory response from the person who hurt you.

They are not sorry. They don't even get it.

Remember one time - older brother shouting at me - I needed to repent. I was going to hell.

Nothing I could say could change his mind. I would rehearse the conversation. How could he? Not fair. Wouldn't listen. - Put on the helmet of salvation and move on. Time to let it go.

2 Corinthians 10:5.... and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Sometimes it is yourself you need to forgive. Yes - you blew it in the past - God has forgiven you - stop rehearsing it in your mind.

Then we come to step 6….

6. and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

So far everything has been dealing with the past. We have dealt with the issue.

Truth - righteousness - walking in peace - shield of faith - Helmet of salvation over my mind......

Here is what I think….

Until we are prepared to resolve our differences, we are unable to fully embrace the future. Until we can let go of the past, the past becomes the enemy of our future.

1 Timothy 1:18 (NKJV)

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

Reconciling with offence positions us to take God's word into the future. By embracing the Word which is the Sword of the Spirit, we are saying, we are not going to go back here.

7. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

First - pray with or for the person you are reconciling with. Praying for my dad. Resolving offence does wonders for your prayer life.

Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)

'Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Then finally….

8. Be alert (watchful) and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

Let's be watchful. Let’s be alert - on guard. Why? Because you and I together are God's dwelling place by His Spirit.

The mystery of the gospel is that we become one - a new humanity, and then the world will know…!

Many thanks Rev Graeme Lauridsen for sharing his sermon notes with us.