Dancing With the Scars

“The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.” Lamentations 5:15
“I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.”  2 Corinthians 11:30 

This title is, of course, a play on the wildly popular television program called “Dancing with the Stars.”  I don’t watch it, but, as a consumer of the daily news, I can hardly avoid reading or hearing about it.  Other than the rhyme of scars with stars, there is little that this message has in common with the program.  Except, that is, the idea of dancing—an act of celebration, of rejoicing, an expression of a festive attitude—but, in this case, there seems to be little reason to do so.  Dancing with scars appears strangely out of place, even oxymoronic.  Ordinarily, scars do not suggest joyful dancing.  Rather, scars are ugly, evoking a sense of shame, of hurt, of bitterness, and perhaps of revenge.  Scars represent pain, whether past or present; if not physical pain, then emotional, psychological or spiritual pain. 

But the scripture text I read to you suggests something very different than the ordinary reaction or response to hurt.  Paul had a perspective on his scars that must have baffled his enemies and angered the devil, but inspired the church.  

“I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.”   

He was saying to the world, “Go ahead.  Look at my wounds; look at my losses; look at my defeats in the human realm; you may think they will make me depressed, angry and feeling victimized.  You may expect that I am going to quit or crack up.  But you would be mistaken.  I view them with a sense of glory, of honor, of gratitude that I am counted worthy to suffer for His namesake.”   But let Paul tell his own story. 

¹⁴ But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. ¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. ¹⁷ From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁸ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Galatians 6:14-18 (KJV)

Paul had physical evidence of his devotion to Christ. 

“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. ²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. ²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. ²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? ³⁰ If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” 2 Corinthians 11:22-30

Let me pause here with a message and a note of warning to twenty-first century Christians.  We are living in a age when the very meaning of Christianity is under attack, both outside and inside the church.  We still talk about the cross, but we have lost much of the meaning of the cross.  We want ease, comfort and pleasant surroundings.  Many church-goers today want the temperature just right, the length of service geared to their expected dismissal time, the music not too old-fashioned—but not too contemporary either, the sermon the right mixture of scripture and humor and profound spiritual insight (all within fifteen to eighteen minutes), and coffee and donuts to boot.  We are led to expect comfort, not pain; all joy, no sorrow; roses without thorns; blessings without trials; privileges without responsibilities; and provision without sacrifice. 

I cannot promise any of those things.  I can promise you, however, that even if the temperature is too hot or too cold; the music too far out or too traditional; the service too long or too short; the sermon too shallow or too deep; that you can have grace through it all.  I can promise you that if you have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, look around you.  You will see the Good Shepherd walking right beside you!  

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. ⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

But, what about scar tissue?  Let me tell you something about scar tissue from a medical perspective. 

Scar tissue replaces normal skin tissue after the skin is damaged. Scar tissue is made up of the same substance as undamaged skin, but it looks different because of the way the fibers in the tissue are arranged. Scars form every time the skin is damaged beyond its first layer.  There is no way to remove scars entirely. 

When life hurts you, you cannot avoid some kind of permanent scarring over your wound.  Even after the pain is gone, the scar will always be a reminder of where you suffered your injury.  You can either look at it as an ugly reminder of a devastating blow in your life, or you can see it as evidence of God’s healing power.  

If the injury is more serious and breaks the skin surface, connective tissue, known as fibroblasts spread and fill the wound. These are scar tissue cells, com­prised of fibrils that are tough and very strong.  They lack the characteris­tics of the skin they replace.  They are not as flexible, are less sensitive, and are missing other features such as hair and sweat glands. 

After you have come through a trial, you will be different in some way.  Otherwise, what would be the purpose of the trial?  You’re going to come out of it with some scar tissue.  You won’t be as flexible to move around as you once were.  You will lose some properties of the flesh that you never thought you could live without.  But here is what Jesus said: 

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. ²⁵ For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”  Luke 9:23-25

Remember Jacob?  He wrestled all night long with the Angel of the Lord.  The angel touched Jacob’s thigh and put it out of joint.  Jacob left the wrestling match with a limp that he had for the rest of his life.  Was he bitter about it?  Was he angry with God for hurting him?  Was the scar the most important thing he remembered about that night? 

No!  Ask Jacob about his limp and his eyes would well up with tears of joy.  “Let me tell you about my wound.  That was when I received my greatest blessing from God!” 

“And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. ²⁸ And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. ²⁹ And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. ³⁰ And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32:27-30.

Brother Gary Erickson, our former General Sunday School Director wrote a book several years ago entitled “Thorns and Crowns.”  In one of the chapters, he asks a very intriguing question:  “Did Jesus retain His scars after the resurrection?”  I had never thought about it in those exact terms.  Somehow, I always had the idea that after the resurrection, everything about Jesus was restored to its perfect condition.  But, after thinking about it, I had to answer yes.  Jesus still had His scars. 

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. ²⁷ Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁸ And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” John 20:26-28

After his resurrection, Jesus joined two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They started talking about what had happened in Jerusalem concerning the crucifixion.  Jesus, as though he didn’t know, asked them about it all.  They were in disbelief that he hadn’t heard the news.  They did not recognize Jesus. 

“And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? ¹⁹ And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: ²⁰ And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. Luke 24:18-20

Jesus then began to tell them the background of the scriptures and how they told of himself.  Still, they had no idea who he was.  The day grew long. 

²⁸ And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. ²⁹ But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. ³⁰ And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. Luke 24:28-31

When did they recognize Jesus?  When he took the bread and brake it.  It was his hands.  They saw his hands.  They saw the nailprints.  That’s when they recognized him!  You may not know Jesus by his face.  You may not know him by his voice or his words.  But the scars will tell the story.  When he shows you his scars, you will know him. 

Fanny Crosby, author of 8,000 hymns, was blind.  Someone asked her how she would know Jesus if she saw him.  As an answer, she wrote this hymn: 

I shall know him.I shall know him.

And redeemed by his side I shall stand. 

I shall know him.I shall know him.

By  the prints of the nails in his hands. 

I shall never forget this couple in our church, Ron and Diane Vancena.  In 2007, right after they lost their 23 year old son, David, to a freakish heart condition, they came to church on a Sunday morning.  I saw Brother Ron come to the front of the sanctuary.  I expected him to fall over the altar bench, weeping and sobbing, overcome with grief.  I was shocked and amazed at what I saw.  I saw Ron, slowly at first, begin to dance before the Lord.  His wife, Diane, joined him.  Minute after minute passed until this entire church was on its feet worshipping and praising God.  Heavy hearted, crushed, devastated, still they danced on.  You see, if you dance when you’re happy, that’s one thing.  But, when you can dance even though you’re crying so hard you can’t see straight, that’s something else.  

Someone said, “Life is not about learning to survive the storm, but rather learning how to dance in the rain.”  Bart Millard wrote: 

Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Will you dance with your scars?  Will the joy within you rise higher than the pain outside of you?  

¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Altar Builders

Genesis 22:6-9 (NKJV)
⁶ So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. ⁷ But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ⁸ And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. ⁹ Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

They built them from stones, blocks and wood. Sometimes they pile the material together roughly.  Sometimes they measure carefully and lay everything out in precision.  Sometimes they are left in the raw state.  Sometimes they cover them with bronze, silver or even gold.  Twenty-five hundred years ago, they were built out in the open air, in valleys, beside river beds or on mountain tops.  Today, they are elaborate works of art or architecture crafted to be center showpieces in ornate cathedrals. 

I am talking about altars.  Many nominal Christians have a mental image of an altar as a place where mysterious religious rituals take place.  Communion wine and wafers are served there.  Prayers are intoned at the altar.  It seems far above and beyond the reach of the common layperson.  

Others of us know that the altar is the place where our relationship with God achieves its reality.  The altar is where I knelt to find the Lord.  The altar is where I found repentance and forgiveness.  The altar is where I received spiritual blessings.  The altar is where I consecrated myself to God.  The altar is where my heavenly vision was made clear.  The altar is where my soul was galvanized into action.  The altar is where the best things in life happened to me.  

Every Bible patriarch built an altar.  Noah, having been spared along with his wife, his three sons and their wives from the global devastation of the flood, the flood that wiped out all the known civilization of the world, emerged from the ark.  What was the first thing Noah did?  He built an altar.  From that humble construction, he blessed the God wo saved him from the fate of the world.  

Abraham obeyed the call of God to leave Haran and sojourn in a new land.  God’s covenant provided that wherever Abraham went and as far as his eye could see, that land would become his.  Abraham immediately built an altar to honor the Lord.  By the same token, you should note that Abraham’s nephew, Lot, never built an altar.  He chose the well-watered plains of Jordan to dwell in, and simply took his family there with no recognition that God was the provider.  In fact, there was never an altar associated with the name of Lot in the Bible.  

Elijah, the flamboyant prophet who was the scourge of King Ahab, put the power of the Lord on display upon the altar.  After he goaded the false prophets of Baal into calling upon their god, a vast exercise in futility, Elijah commanded the servant to build an altar.  They piled stones, one upon another.  They poured twelve barrels of water on the sacrifice.  At the simple prayer of Elijah, the true God of heaven visited the altar by sending fire upon the sacrifice.  The altar of Elijah became the symbol of God’s power. 

How Do You Build an Altar?

 There is a very revealing passage found in Exodus 20:22-26 (KJV) ²² And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. ²³ Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. ²⁴ An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. ²⁵ And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. ²⁶ Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.” 

The altars of pagan nations were elaborate, ostentatious works of art.  They did not speak of humility, but pride.  They did not bring glory to God; instead, they glorified man.  In fact, tribes, cities and even nations competed with each other to see who could build the most grandiose altar and temple.  Then, many heathen nations had temple prostitutes and they went through ceremonies that exalted the flesh rather than honoring the holiness of God. 

This is not what God wanted.  “Build my altar out of earth.  If you do make it out of stone, don’t carve it, chisel it, or shape it into something beautiful.  And don’t glorify your flesh in worship to me.”  In other words, don’t make your sacrifice to God all about you—make it about HIM!  Don’t make it about the beautiful altar you can build with your hands—make it about the sacrifice you are willing to give to God! 

Today, altars are usually housed in a temple.  I’ve been blessed to see some of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world: Notre Dame in Paris, St. Paul’s basilica and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.  The cathedral in Strasbourg, France is the most elaborate structure I’ve ever seen.  But today, not much worship goes on in most of these temples.  They attract tourists who are interested in Gothic architecture and a storied past.

The bible says that we are the temple of the Holy Ghost.  Do not buy into the popular view that your temple has to reflect the world’s idea of beauty or fashionable.  The bible says to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, not the beauty of Hollywood.  The more you try to make yourself pleasing to the world, the less you make yourself pleasing to God. 

Do you know what God loves?  He loves the simple, spontaneous free-flowing worship that comes out of our hearts.  He is not looking for pomp and ceremony; he is looking for genuine commitment to Him.  I was at Senior High camp down at Buckeye Lake this week.  The tabernacle is a converted skating rink built a hundred years ago.  No one would ever mistake it for a cathedral.  People don’t come here to see architecture.  It’s not about the building—it’s about what happens inside the building!  I saw three hundred young people shouting, running, jumping praising God and giving Him glory!  I saw young people speaking in tongues, worshipping, consecrating their lives to God! 

The Purpose of an Altar

An altar is built as a memorial.  The builder can go back and offer another sacrifice at the altar, and thereby relive the great event that it was built to commemorate.  When the priests of Israel built the altar in honor of their crossing miraculously over into Canaan, they were telling generations present and future, something great happened here.  Never, ever forget what happened to us as a people and a nation in this place.  Never ever forget that it was the hand of God that brought it about. 

An altar means that something with great personal meaning to the life of an individual happened at a certain place.  Jacob had a powerful dream about a ladder ascending up from earth to heaven as he was on the road to flee from his brother, Esau.  On this ladder, he saw angels going up and down.  He awakened and built an altar to the Lord, saying, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not.”  He built the altar out of one stone, the same one he used as a pillow when he saw his dream.  

An altar is built as a symbol of a place of sacrifice.  I hope that word registers on your heart today.  Sacrifice.  My salvation cost me something.  This does not mean that I am saved by works, but it does mean that I must forsake my own inventions, my own will, my own preferences to embrace the Gospel.  In 2 Samuel, 24:24, King David had been offered, free of charge, a place to sacrifice to the Lord.  “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”  No one will be greatly used of God until they have built an altar.  If you want the approval and blessing of God in your life, you must sacrifice those things that have great meaning to your flesh, your ego, your pleasure, your power in this world.  The altar is where you establish an entirely new set of priorities for life.

This church is looking toward the future.  We anticipate a great move of God at the tent revival next month.  We are expecting great things from God.  But God is not interested in blessing anything that brings glory to us.  Before we receive anything from Him, we have to build an altar.  The altar we build must not be the usual handclapping, standing, raising hands and saying memorized words to God.  God is looking for some meaningful sacrifices.  Bring your goals, your dreams, your desires to the altar.  Remember, God never demands something from you without giving something back to you of greater value!  Give Him your life and He will give you back a life much better.  Give Him your dreams and He will replace it with a dream that far exceeds your own imagination!  Give Him your desires, and He will create in you a new heart—a heart that desires righteousness, holiness and peace.

An altar is where we continually make an offering unto the Lord.  This was seen in the Bible as a symbolic sense as well.  In the Old Testament, the priests sent up sweet incense to the Lord from the altars.  In the New Testament, this corresponds to our praise and worship that we express to God, and the good things we do for people.  “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:14-15 (KJV).  Praise must flow heavenward from our hearts. 

The altar is where I worship the Lord.  Church attendance, maintaining a holy lifestyle, a commitment to truth.  The altar represents the way I worship the Lord.  Jesus told us emphatically, that “…the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 (KJV)  Today, we build an altar to the Lord by becoming a living, walking, talking memorial of Him.  By sacrificing ourselves for Him, by turning our lives into a continual offering to Him.

Something happens when you build your altar.  When you take the elements of your life, your body, your soul and spirit, your mind and strength and build an altar to God, you testify to all who see you.  This is what the Apostle Paul did.  Paul said, “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 (KJV)  Not only that, but you, yourself, your body, mind and soul becomes a witness to the world of the power of God.  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (KJV) 

Let me take you back to the altar of Elijah.  He placed the sacrifice on the altar.  He poured water on the sacrifice.  He prayed.  That was the extent of his human ability and power.  It was up to God to send the fire.  That ought to sound familiar to Pentecostals!  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)

Something else happens at the altar.  This is where you honor and glorify God.  I worship by my tongue.  I worship by physical motions.  I worship through my tithes and offerings.  I worship by my commitments to God.  I worship by living a holy, consecrated life for God.  All these things are not incidentals.  They are not meaningless, liturgical rituals.  They are real-life components of my sincere worship to my God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Lasts, it is at the altar that God makes his comenants.  He made a covenant with Noah.  He preserved Isaac for Abraham.  He blessed Jacob and revived him at the altar.  He sent fie on Elijah’s altar.  He required the families of Israel to meet Him at the altar with sin offereings, and when they did, He kept his covenant to forgive their sins.  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

God will do the same for you if you build an altar.  It must be an altar of sacrifice, of worship, of thanksgiving.  Do not demand great things from God unless you are prepared to sacrifice great things for God.  The fire does not fall on a barren altar, a selfish life, the pursuit of personal pleasure or a monument built to our own greatness.  The fire falls on the sacrifice. 

There is one more fact about the altar of Elijah that I want to share with you today.  His altar was not a new altar.  It had been there before, but the false prophets of Baal, along with the neglect of the people of Israel had broken it down.

1 Kings 18:29-30 (KJV) ²⁹ And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. ³⁰ And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

If you have never built an altar for God in your life, you need to build it now.  If you once had an altar, but you allowed it to be broken down, now is the time for you to repair it.  If all you have are the remnants of a past consecrated life, if you are trying to survive on past memories of your experience with God, you need to repair your altar. He’s not asking for you to do anything elaborate.  Just bring yourself, your earth and stones, and start to rebuild that which you once had.  It will be good to feel the fire once again.

The Altar (Ray Boltz)

The service is nearing an end
The choir is singing “Just As I Am”
And now as the old song is played
People at the altar
Are kneeling down to pray
Some are finding mercy
Forgiveness for their sin
Some are fighting battles
And they’re struggling to win
The time has come
To give them to the Lord
That’s what the altar is for

That’s what this altar is for
You don’t have to carry
Those burdens anymore
There’s a light in the darkness
There’s a love that’s true
And Jesus is waiting
He is waiting here for you
Go quickly now
Before they close the door
That’s what the altar is for

A father is praying with his son
A mother kneels beside them
Thanking God they’ve come
An old man
Is standing there in tears
Giving up a part of him
That he’s held back for years
Hearts are being broken
Lives are being changed
And those who call upon Him
Will never be the same
The time has come
To give in to the Lord
That’s what this altar is for

Go quickly now
Before they close the door
And you can give your burdens
To the Lord
That’s what this altar is for

I Was Free Born

On Wednesday of this week, July 4^th, we celebrate Independence Day.  On that day in 1776, fifty-six men signed the document we know as the Declaration of Independence.  Although the focus of their protest was King George of England, there was a deeper, far more basic sentiment they were expressing than the political issues of their day.  They yearned for freedom; freedom to be, freedom to act, freedom to live according to the dictates of their own conscience.

Acts 22:22-28 (NIV)
²² The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” ²³ As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. ²⁵ As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” ²⁶ When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” ²⁷ The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. ²⁸ Then the commander said, “I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

(KJV) ²⁷ Then the chief captain came , and said unto him , Tell me , art thou a Roman ? He said , Yea . ²⁸ And the chief captain answered , With a great sum obtained I this freedom . And Paul said , But I was free born.

Wanting Freedom

The stories are vastly different in one sense, but all the same in another.  They are stories of the struggle for the most precious commodity known to man—freedom.  Those who have sought freedom have risked the loss of every possession they had, including their lives.  They have suffered excruciating pain, endured unimaginable hardship and paid unbelievable prices for freedom.  They have been stowaways, swum icy rivers, run miles over rough terrain, walked on callused and bleeding feet, been herded into railroad cars, and hidden for days until the coast was clear.  Captured, chained and jailed, they escaped and ran again. 

Henry “Box” Brown was born enslaved in Louisa County, Virginia in 1815. When he was 15, he was sent to Richmond to work in a tobacco factory. His life was filled with unrewarded drudgery, although he had it better than most of his enslaved peers. The loss of freedom prevented him from living with his wife, Nancy, who was owned by a slave master on an adjacent plantation. She was pregnant with their fourth child when, in 1848, he heard the tragic news: Nancy and his children were to be sold to a plantation in North Carolina. He stood with tears in his eyes on the side of the street as he watched 350 slaves in chains walk by him, including his wife with their unborn child and three young children. He could only wish them a tearful last farewell— he was helpless to save them.

After months of mourning his loss, Henry resolved to escape from slavery. He was a man of faith and a member of the First African Baptist Church where he sang in the choir. He acknowledged that, through his faith in God, he was given the inspiration and courage to put together a creative plan of escape.

Helped by friends, Henry was shipped Adams Express Company on March 23, 1849, in a box 3 feet long by 2 feet 8 inches deep by 2 feet wide, and sent the box as “dry goods.” Henry Brown traveled in the box lined with baize, a coarse woollen cloth, carrying with him only one bottle of water and a few biscuits. There was a hole cut in the box for air, and it was nailed and tied with straps; in large words, “This side up” was written on the box. Brown traveled by a variety of wagons, railroads, steamboats, ferries, and finally, for added safety, a delivery wagon that brought the box to the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society before daybreak.

During the 27- hour journey, the box was turned upside down on several occasions and handled roughly. Henry wrote that he “was resolved to conquer or die, I felt my eyes swelling as if they would burst from their sockets; and the veins on my temples were dreadfully distended with pressure of blood upon my head.” At one point, Henry thought that he might die, but fortunately two men needed a place to sit down and, “so perceiving my box, standing on end, one of the men threw it down and the two sat upon it. I was thus relieved from a state of agony which may be more imagined than described.” The box with Brown inside was received by William Still, James Miller McKim, Professor C.D. Cleveland, and Lewis Thompson. Upon the box being opened, Brown said, “How do you do, Gentlemen?” then recited a psalm: “I waited patiently on the Lord and He heard my prayer.” He then began to sing the psalm to the delight of the four men present, and was christened Henry “Box” Brown.

But slavery is not the only condition from which people want freedom.  You heard the stories of people living under the heavy hand of dictators, tyrants, oppression and persecution.  We talk of the four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear.  We can’t imagine not having these freedoms.  But millions of people in this world cannot say whatever they want, have to hide their religion, cannot provide for themselves and live in fear for their lives.  These are people who want freedom as much as any Israelite or American pre-Civil War slave, oppressed citizen of The People’s Republic of China or North Korea.

Who are these people?  They live among us.  We pass them every day on the streets.  They might be members of your family.  They want freedom from the cruel master of alcoholism.  They want freedom from crack cocaine, heroin, crystal meth and even prescription drugs.  They want freedom from abusive spouses, sexual addictions and perversions, gambling, destructive emotional relationships and satanic oppression.  They want freedom from doubt, anger, fear, depression, unbearable mental stress and toxic personalities.

In short, they want freedom from sin.  ¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:15-16 (NIV)

If you want freedom today, I have a message of hope for you.  You’ve come to the right place.  The Bible says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 (KJV).  We preach Christ and Him crucified.  Bartimaeus discovered that Jesus could set him free from darkness.  Jesus set Mary Magdalene free from prostitution.  He set Zacheus free from greed.  He set the woman with the issue of blood free from disease.  He set the demoniac from Gadara free from demon possession. 

If you want freedom, you can have it!  Don’t give up hope!  Right here in this congregation this morning are people set free from alcohol, drugs, nicotine, perversions, addictions, oppression and depression.  There are people here who have been locked up for crimes, but Jesus set them free.  You don’t have to resign yourself to the bondage and chains of sin forever.  Let me introduce you to the power of the blood, the Name and the Spirit of Jesus. 

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil the victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain:
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Getting Freedom

²⁸ And the chief captain answered , With a great sum obtained I this freedom.

In the ancient Roman empire, the government had a mechanism whereby a person who was not born as a citizen could become naturalized with all the rights and privileges given to those born in the empire.  This procedure was available, but expensive.  The chief captain paid a lot of money for his freedom.  But the reason many people are not free is because they refuse to pay the high price that freedom demands.  It has always been expensive.

More than 25,000 American Revolutionaries died during active military service. About 8,000 of these deaths were in battle; the other 17,000 recorded deaths were from disease, including about 8,000–12,000 who died of starvation or disease brought on by deplorable conditions while prisoners of war, most in rotting British prison ships in New York. This tally of deaths from disease is undoubtedly too low, however; 2,500 Americans died while encamped at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777–78 alone. The number of Revolutionaries seriously wounded or disabled by the war has been estimated from 8,500 to 25,000. The total American military casualty figure was probably as high as 50,000.

But that was minor compared to the casualties of the Civil War.  Estimates are that 622,000 men died from war injuries and disease.   Some of the battles were bloody beyond belief:  The Wilderness, May 5-7: 17,666; Spotsylvania, May 10 and 12: 10,920; Cold Harbor, June 1-3: 12,000; and Petersburg, June 15-30, 16,569.  The price of freeing 4 million slaves in fifteen states was a huge but necessary and righteous expense.  The higher the stakes for freedom, the greater the expense to pay for it.

What is it going to cost you to get your freedom from sin?  This is the beautiful part.  Jesus said,  ²⁸ Come unto me , all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest . ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you , and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls . ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light . Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

The reason Jesus could make the cost free for you is because He paid the full price for your redemption.  Let’s break it down:

• Mockery of a trial:  He paid for your freedom by the loss of his human rights.
• Purple robe:  He paid for your freedom by public humiliation.
• Crown of thorns:  He paid for your freedom by the attack on his authority and his mind.
• Lacerated back:  He paid for your freedom by receiving stripes on his back for your healing.
• Smitten face:  He paid for your freedom by allowing disfigurement and insult.
• Pierced hands:  He paid for your freedom by sacrificing his hands of power and authority.
• Nails in feet:  He paid for your freedom by the surrender of the triumph of His feet.
• Spear thrust in side:  He paid for your freedom by the blood and water that gushed from his side.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions , he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed . ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have turned every one to his own way ; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed , and he was afflicted , yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter , and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb , so he openeth not his mouth . Isaiah 53:5-7 (KJV)

This is what Paul wrote about the Adam, the sinner, and the Second Adam, the savior:

Romans 5:17-21 (KJV)
¹⁷ For if by one man’s offence (Adam) death reigned by one ; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation ; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus)  the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience (Adam) many were made sinners , so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous.  ²⁰ Moreover the law entered , that the offence might abound . But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death (Adam), even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ has inserted the key into the lock on the door of your prison today.  He has swung the door open wide.  All you need to do is get up, walk out and never look back! 

Keeping Freedom

Now we come to the message for the church; the message for the free.  Wanting freedom is natural.  Getting freedom is a triumph.  Keeping freedom is an unending struggle.  If we cannot keep our freedom, then getting it was an exercise in futility.  We end up wanting something we used to have without the energy or conviction to go out and get it again.

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” — John Stuart Mill

“Forewarned, forearmed, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” — Frederick Douglass, “The Nation’s Problem,” 1890.

My message to you today is that you cannot leave your freedom lying around unguarded, unprotected and unappreciated.  Why?  Because, there are enemies out to steal them away.  I call them former slave owners.  They don’t like it that they don’t have control over you anymore.   I am the watchman on the wall, telling you to guard your possessions.

¹⁶ And it came to pass at the end of seven days , that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying , ¹⁷ Son of man , I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my mouth , and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 3:16-17 (KJV)

There are enemies who are envious of your freedom.  They don’t like the fortress you’re in.  They don’t like your security, your provision, your privileges.  They are enemies who have disguised themselves as friends.  They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

First, there are enemies that want to capture you in personal traps.

Be careful of the enemy of loving the wrong person.

¹⁸ And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart , she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines , saying , Come up this once , for he hath shewed me all his heart . Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand . ¹⁹ And she made him sleep upon her knees ; and she called for a man , and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head ; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. Judges 16:18-19 (KJV)

Be careful of the enemy of craving wealth.

⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare , and into many foolish and hurtful lusts , which drown men in destruction and perdition . ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil : which while some coveted after , they have erred from the faith , and pierced themselves through with many sorrows . 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (KJV)

Be careful of the enemy of sexual enticement.

Be careful of the enemy of television. 

Be careful of the enemy of the Internet. 

Be careful of the enemy of popularity. 

Be careful of the enemy of fashion and style.

Be careful of the enemy of education. 

Be careful of the enemy of sports. 

Be careful of the enemy of friendships. 

Be careful of the enemy of leisure time.

Be careful of the enemy of creature comforts.

Be careful of the enemy of apathy and complacency.

Be careful of the enemy of laziness.

Second, there are enemies who want to destroy your character.

Beware of the enemy of dishonesty.

Beware of the enemy of doubt.

Beware of the enemy of rebellion.

Beware of the enemy of hatred and resentment.

Beware of the enemy of bitterness.

Beware of the enemy of compromise.

Beware of the enemy of no accountability.

Last, there are enemies who want to corrupt your doctrine.

The oneness of God matters.

Baptism in Jesus’ name is truth.

The Holy Ghost speaking in tongues is a scriptural doctrine.

The Bible is the Word of God.

Colossians 2:4-12 (KJV) ⁴ And this I say , lest any man should beguile you with enticing words . ⁵ For though I be absent in the flesh , yet am I with you in the spirit , joying and beholding your order , and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ . ⁶ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord , so walk ye in him : ⁷ Rooted and built up in him , and stablished in the faith , as ye have been taught , abounding therein with thanksgiving . ⁸ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit , after the tradition of men , after the rudiments of the world , and not after Christ . ⁹ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily . ¹⁰ And ye are complete in him , which is the head of all principality and power : ¹¹ In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands , in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ : ¹² Buried with him in baptism , wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God , who hath raised him from the dead .

Holiness is a major truth taught in the Scriptures.

Jesus is coming again.

You need a pastor and the church to be saved.

Eternal vigilance.  My freedom was given to me by the grace of God, but my continuing in freedom will only be as I make it a priority in my life.  I was free born, but my freedom will be challenged every single day that I live. 

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV) ⁷ I have fought a good fight , I have finished my course , I have kept the faith : ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness , which the Lord , the righteous judge , shall give me at that day : and not to me only , but unto all them also that love his appearing .

Crucified for Life

Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

The central, symbolic image of Christianity is the cross; the singular act that lies at the heart of the gospel is the crucifixion.  The cross is the instrument of death; the crucifixion is the means by which that death is executed.  The cross stands for the ultimate power of the legal system; the crucifixion stands for the final point to which the law can touch a human life.  

Jesus Christ submitted to crucifixion on the cross as God’s divine statement against sin.  Sin could do no more to Him, sin could demand no more from Him, sin could take Him no farther than to crucify Him on the cross.  On the cross and by the crucifixion, God’s anger was spent; sin’s penalty was satisfied; and Satan’s power was cashed in.  

The cross served as the absorption of the wrath of God against sin, even as an electrical ground system has an appropriate current-carrying capability to serve as an adequate zero-voltage reference level. In an electronic circuit, a “ground” is as an infinite source or sink for charge, and can absorb an unlimited amount of current without changing its potential. God’s anger was not lessened by the cross because it was his own flesh; it struck the form of the mangled Son of God with full force. 

Isaiah 53:3-4 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

By whom was Jesus stricken, smitten and afflicted?  By God Himself!  That’s why we must regard sin with such hatred.  God did not soften the blow against sin.  It was not the decree of Pilate, the betrayal of Judas, the malice of the priests or the brutality of the Roman soldiers that drove Jesus to capital punishment.  It was God who orchestrated the entire scenario.  And why did He do it?

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 Subtract the cross from Christianity and you render it null and void.  Eliminate the crucifixion from the cross and you reduce Christianity to an impotent religion, no better than any other pagan faith.  

Ultimately, the cross and the crucifixion were about the holiness of God.  It was the only way that our pathway to God could be realized and our position or relationship to God could be restored.  Something happened at the cross that had repercussions in heaven, in hell, and in our lives on earth. 

Col 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (KJV) 

Col 2:13-15 (NIV) When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.  (NIV) 

Col 2:13-15  (TLB)  You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.  In this way God took away Satan’s power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ’s triumph at the cross where your sins were all taken away.  (TLB) 

In the text I read to you, the scripture refers to three crucifixions:  The cross of Christ, the crucifixion of the world and our own, personal crucifixion.  

I.  First, I want to show you why the cross of Christ is so important. 

            Because life is so daily, because our time is occupied by staying in the race, and because we are constantly bombarded by the attacks of the enemy, we often overlook the tremendous power and value of the cross of Christ. 

            The power of the cross is evident from the very start.  The first trophy was the poor, penitant fellow-sufferer on the tree.  The next trophy was the centurion who was compelled to confess, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”

            The death of Christ was the greatest achievement that was ever accomplished in this world.  Its influence and results are as far reaching as the uttermost parts of heaven, earth and hell.  As the climax of man’s sin and failure is seen at the Cross in the crucifying of the Lord of Glory, so Christ’s greatest triumph has come by His Cross. 

1.         Victory over the law.

Colossians 2:16-17 (KJV) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Romans 3:20 (KJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Galatians 2:16 (KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

There is no benefit, as pertains to salvation, to the observance of the Mosaic law. 

2.         Victory over sin. 

Hebrews 9:26 (KJV) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (KJV) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

The cross destroyed sin in principle.  The cross showed the path to destroy sin in its practical aspect.  The victory is there if we will avail ourselves of it. 

3.         Victory over death. 

Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  

2 Timothy 1:10 (KJV) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 

What should the Christian philosophy toward death be?  If we are to take God at his word, there is nothing to fear, nothing to cause sorrow when a believer departs this life.  It is a time of rejoicing because the saint who leaves this life enters into the joys of the Lord. 

4.         Victory over the devil’s works. 

1 John 3:8 (KJV) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  

What is the work of the devil?  1.  Deception.  2.  Accusation.  3.  Fiery darts.  (Trials, temptations, irritations) 

5.         Victory over Satan himself. 

Genesis 3:15 (KJV) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.  

Revelation 12:10-11 (KJV)  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

6.         Victory over all enemies. 

John 12:30-33 (KJV) Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  This he said, signifying what death he should die.

All men are drawn to him either for grace or judgment.  Christ’s death, burial and resurrection qualifies him to judge.  Acts 17:31 

Isaiah 63:1-6 (KJV)  Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.  Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.   For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.  And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.  And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

The victory of the cross will not be complete until the Great Tribulation is over and the Battle of Armageddon has been fought and won.  The shadow of the cross stretches from the beginning of creation to the end of time.  With that much victory, surely there is enough victory for you today!           

II.  Second, not only was Christ crucified on the cross, the World is crucified to us. 

I submit to you that the only way we can survive in this world is if we consider the world crucified to us.  

Daniel 1:3-8 (KJV)  And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The test. 

Daniel 3:15-27 (KJV)  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.  Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

III.  Third, not only was the world crucified to us, we are crucified to the world. 

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV)  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We crucify ourselves by saying no to the flesh.

We crucify ourselves by submitting our egos to the will of God.

We crucify ourselves by imposing spiritual discipline on ourselves.

We crucify ourselves by a continually repenting heart.

We crucify ourselves by not charging God with abuse when we are attacked. 

Why crucify ourselves? 

A human being can execute himself in many ways.  A gun, a rope, a knife, a jump, a needle, an overdose of pills, etc.  But did you ever wonder why Christ used none of these methods in order to end His own life?  He chose crucifixion, an act that must be carried out by at least one other person.  A person cannot crucify himself.  Once he has nailed one hand to his cross, he has no means to nail the other.  

You cannot crucify yourself without also feeling like you have been victimized by someone else.  You will always be tempted to assign blame to someone else for your pain and suffering.  And, in one sense of the word, you will always be correct.  It does take someone else. 

So, the real issue always comes back to you and the intents and purposes of your heart.  Crucifixion must be an act of submission, not the result of assault and battery against your will. 

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

But, I want to proclaim to you that crucifixion is not about death:  it is about life! 

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  

A Cause Bigger Than Yourself

1 Samuel 17: 23-31  Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. ²⁴ And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. ²⁵ So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”

²⁶ Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”  ²⁷ And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”²⁸ Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”²⁹ And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” ³⁰ Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.³¹ Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. ³² Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

It is estimated that David was seventeen years old when he went down to see his brothers and the battle in which they were engaged.  He looked around to take in the sights and sounds of the battlefield.  He saw the Israelite army huddling cowardly behind their makeshift fortresses.  He saw the brazen armies of the Philistines, brandishing their swords on the distant hills.  He saw and heard the blaspheming voice of the giant Goliath as he taunted Israel.  But, almost instantaneously, even in his youthful mind, he recognized something far greater than his brothers, the fellow soldiers or even King Saul understood. 

This was not a contest between two armies.  This was not a showdown between a nine foot hero and King Saul.  David knew that this was about the honor of Jehovah held up for ridicule.  For this reason, he asked a profound question, a question that made him brush aside the insult of Eliab, a question that struck at the heart of the matter:  Is there not a cause?

Suddenly, the whole picture is brought into perspective.  If there is not a cause, then all of this is an exercise in futility.  If there is not a cause, why are thousands of soldiers lingering around in their trenches, polishing their swords and grooming their horses?  If there is not a cause, why the pomp and ceremony of the coronation of King Saul?  If there is not a cause, why the tabernacle and the priests, the prophets and the patriarchs, the tables of stone and the brazen altar?    If there is not a cause, why not just surrender lock, stock and barrel to the Philistines? 

Yes, there was a cause! 

There is a God in Heaven. This God in Heaven is the Lord Jehovah. 

⁶  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.  ⁷  And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.  ⁸  Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it ? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any .  Isaiah 44:6-8 

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.

¹  LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.  ²  Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  ³  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  Psalm 3:1-3

There was a cause that swallowed up David.  Life was not about him.  The great meaning of life was that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was to reign supreme and his glory was to fill all the earth.  David understood that he had to lose himself in the cause if the cause was to triumph.  He knew that out there somewhere was a call, a meaning, a supreme reality of life itself that dwarfed his own life. 

When he went out to meet Goliath, he understood that David was not confronting the giant, but the cause was put on display for the world to see.  He was only one, small teenage boy, who, despite the lion and the bear, was not in a position to deliver victory into the hands of Israel.  David was only the representative of a much larger cause.  It was the cause that had to win, whether or not David ever did. 

I believe David went out to face the giant as symbolic gesture more than anything else.  He could not be sure that he would return in one piece.  He was absolutely confident, however, that what he was about to do would resonate within the heart and soul of Israel’s fighting forces.  Even if he did not win, Israel would be spurred on to victory.  The cause overshadowed the lone figure of a shepherd boy that day.

God is still looking for someone who sees something bigger than themselves to which they can give their all.  He is looking for a man, a woman, a boy or a girl who will say “I want to attach my life to something bigger than myself.  I want to lose myself in a cause so great that my life won’t matter as long as the cause succeeds.

In the spring of 2004, Austin Gutwein, as a nine year old boy, watched a video that showed children who had lost their parents to AIDS. After watching the video, he realized these kids weren’t any different from him except they were suffering. Austin felt God calling him to do something to help them. He decided to shoot free throws and on World AIDS Day, 2004, he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Friends and family sponsored Austin and he was able to raise almost $3,000. That year, the money was used by World Vision to provide hope to 8 orphan children.

From that year forward, thousands of people have joined Austin in a basketball shoot-a-thon called Hoops of Hope. By doing something as simple as shooting free throws, Hoops of Hope participants have raised over $2.5 million. The children left behind by AIDS now have access to food, clothing, shelter, a new school, four dormitories, a computer lab, teacher houses, and two medical testing facilities which he was told would save an entire generation. A second school is now under construction in India and right now, more than 550 children are being fed each day in Malawi.

Austin believes anyone, no matter what their age or skills, can make a difference.  In 2008, during one of the intermissions in broadcasting the Final Four NCAA Basketball Tournament and Championship, CBS announcer, Greg Gumbel, aired Austin’s story to millions of basketball fans around the world.  It is probably one of the biggest success stories to date of any humanitarian cause, certainly one started by a nine year old boy.

One summer morning as Ray Blankenship was preparing his breakfast, he gazed out the window, and saw a small girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio, home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with a roar underneath a road and then emptied into the main culvert. Ray dashed out the door and raced along the ditch, trying to get ahead of the foundering child. Then he hurled himself into the deep, churning water. Blankenship surfaced and was able to grab the child’s arm. They tumbled end over end. Within about three feet of the culvert, Ray’s free hand felt something protruding from the bank. He clung desperately, but the tremendous force of the water tried to tear him and the child away. “If I can just hang on until help comes,” he thought. He did better than that. By the time fire-department rescuers arrived, Blankenship had pulled the girl to safety. Both were treated for shock. On April 12, 1989, Ray Blankenship was awarded the Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal. The award is fitting, for this selfless person was at even greater risk to himself than most people knew: Ray Blankenship can’t swim.  Paul Harvey

The Apostolic Mission

Last week I preached about Jesus Christ the Same, yesterday, today and forever.  I emphasized to you the importance of the Apostolic experience and the Apostolic doctrine.  We call ourselves Apostolic because we adhere to both of these scriptural truths.

But, in order for me to be absolutely honest, I have to tell you about the rest of the story.  You see, after the great miracle of the lame man’s healing at the Gate Beautiful, the religious hierarchy was stirred up against Peter and John.  They threw them in prison overnight, and the next day ordered them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus.  Here’s the response of the Apostles:

²³  And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.  ²⁴  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:  Acts 4:23-24 

²⁹  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  ³⁰  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  ³¹  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31

In order for us to be truly Apostolic, it is not enough for us to feel something and to know something.  We must also DO something!  We must embrace the Apostolic mission! 

You are not truly Apostolic until you have put your hand to the plow and begin to labor in the Kingdom of God.  First, the cause must change our lives. That’s Pentecost. Then, we must know what the cause is all about. That’s Apostolic doctrine. Last, we must live the cause.  That’s Apostolic mission. 

The missionary call.

⁴⁵  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  ⁴⁶  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  ⁴⁷  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  Luke 24:45-47

³⁵And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ³⁶But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.  Matthew 9:35-38.

The missionary mandate.

¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:18-20

Let me pause here to consider these two truths, the call and the mandate.  I can hear someone saying, “But, I’m not a preacher.  These scriptures don’t apply to me.  I’m just an innocent bystander.”  I remind you that Jesus spoke these words to the same people who later made their way to the upper room and were filled with the Holy Ghost.  That was 120 people.  Not all of them were preachers, but they were all filled with the Holy Ghost! 

Why were they filled with the Holy Ghost?  It was power from heaven to activate their mission on earth.  “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

Jerusalem is home; Judaea is the surrounding communities; Samaria is Home Missions; the uttermost part of the earth is Global Missions. 

There is a level of missionary work that fits every one of us. 

Why, then, is it so difficult, so intimidating, so awkward for many people to pick up their call and own their mandate?  I believe that it is because we think it is beyond us.  It is too big for us. 

That’s the point today.  Yes, we serve a big God.  We have a big message.  We have a big cause.  This is a big world.  In fact, it is so big that you cannot do it by yourself.  You were not designed to do it by yourself.  God is not asking you put the world on your shoulders.  He is only asking you to attach yourself to His cause. 

 You will never be as big as you can be until you attach yourself to a cause bigger than yourself.

When you reject the cause, you forfeit the opportunity for growth, and the vision withers and dies on the vine.  I’m convinced that either you grow larger than life so you can affect the lives of others, or you shrink to the size you are now, and have no impact on the world.

The missionary commitment. 

 ²²  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:  ²³  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.  ²⁴  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.  ²⁵  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.  ²⁶  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men .  ²⁷  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  ²⁸ Acts 20:22-28. 

What kind of commitment are you willing to make today?  Will you climb the cross of your commitment and die to yourself?

Are you saying, “Pastor, I have a dream for my life.  First, I’m going to get my degree.  Then, I’m going to move as far away from here as I can.  Then, I’m going to get a great, high-paying job and really succeed in life.” 

As long as your dream extends only as far as your own skin, you will never achieve the kind of fulfillment and happiness that God intended for your life.  There is something bigger.

Come and join yourself to a cause that will life you higher and take you farther than you could possibly go by yourself.

Alas! and did my Savior bleed?

And did my Sov’reign die?

Would He devote that sacred head

For such a worm as I?

At the cross, at the cross,

Where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away -

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day.

Was it for crimes that I have done

He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkenss hide

And shut its glories in,

When Christ, the mighty Maker, died

For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face

While His dear cross appears;

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,

And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay

The debt of love I owe:

Here, Lord, I give myself away -

‘Tis all that I can do!