The Secret Life

Sermon. Carlisle Evangelical Free Church. Shad Baker.

Matthew 6:1-34

gift/grace - given because the receiver is loved
reward - given because of the receiver complete a task
- passage is about rewards

v1-4

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Two types of rewards that we can seek:
1. given by people - honor/recognition/seen by
- includes good deeds done for the wrong reason
- these rewards don't last because people are fickle/limited
2. given by God - honor/recognition/seen by
- everlasting because God is everlasting

- value of the reward is determined by the giver (ex. president or a random guy off the street)

Challenge: Which reward am I working for?

v5-15

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Two ways to pray:
1. Human - lengthy, fancy words
-trying to receive reward from and be noticed by humans
2. God's - short, sincere, length of words don't matter
- the Lord's Prayer would be considered pathetic by standards of TV evangelists (and me if I'm honest)

Reason for the difference:
- our prayers concerned with what others will think or trying to find the right formula to convince God to work on our behalf
- God's prayer is focused on God alone; God already knows what we're going to say before we say it and how he will answer it

Then why pray?
- for our benefit: reminds us of God's power/sovereignty, helps me reflect on person/situation
- must be focused on God, not gaining praise from others

v16-18

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Two ways to fast:
- human: makes big deal out of it and makes it known to everyone; trying to receive human reward
- God: in secret, quiet; seeking God's reward

KEY: The way we choose is based on the rewards we value most. Which do I honestly want more? Am I living to please people and gather the things of this world? Or am I seeking after Christ and the reward he promised?
- we know that we will be rewarded but we don't know what it will be
--we are never told what the reward is so that we would work/live based on trust in God's character and promise and not a desire from our own greed/self-glorification
- salvation isn't a reward; it is a free gift. we are promised something else
- we can be sure that it'll be greater than anything we can think of but we must work in faith/trust

v19-24

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

must pick who I will serve because it is impossible to serve all of them
- can't ride two bikes at the same time.
- am I willing to serve without know the reward but trusting in Christ?
--am I child or teenager?
---child - told to do something and will receive a great reward in return? he will go do it
---teenager - told to do something and will receive a great reward in return? won't do it till the reward is revealed
----afraid of being short-changed; doesn't trust that he will be rewarded fairly
-----am I like this? Do I think God will be unfair with his reward? God has already generously given to me so why should I think he'll be anything else with his reward? must trust in the character revealed throughout scripture and in my life

v25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

"spin" = a lot of movement but no progress, just a lot of wasted energy

- trust in God and the fact that he loves us
--seek first the kingdom of God and we'll be rewarded
--seek earthly things and we'll receive the earthly/fickle praise that is only fleeting and temporary

Where are my motives?
Why do I worry?
When I worry, where is my faith?
Am I worried about what others will think of me?
What rewards do my actions show that I'm working for?

Praying Our Tears

Tim Keller Sermon.

Psalm 39: 12-13

12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
a guest, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart and am no more!”

Psalm 126:1-6

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalms about weeping
-Psalms go deep into emotions
-alternate way to deal with feelings
--secular = feelings/emotions are the ruler of our lives; just express emotion
--religiosity = afraid of feelings; hide emotion
---Psalms = acknowledge/recognize our emotions but don't let the rule us

What do we do with your tears?
1. Expect tears
2. Invest tears
3. Pray tears

1. Expect tears
Psalm 126
- even if God is in our life, we must expect a lot of tears
--there will be pain in our life and we will experience very hard pain even if we're good
---no mention of repentance b/c none was needed despite the hurt
---means that suffering doesn't mean we're wrong
---following Christ may mean even more tears
----conversion metaphor: we are given heart of flesh to replace heart of stone; we become more vulnerable and sensitive
----as we grow in grace, we suffer/cry more

-we must expect tears so we won't be caught off guard
--if we don't we'll weep over the pain but also about weeping; this will break us

2. Invest tears
Psalm 126:5-6
- farmers sow seed, and return with joy because of what seed has become
- in this poetic image, the farmer is sowing tears
--don't avoid tears or let them happen, plant them as an opportunity for fruitfulness and growth to come
--"don't waste your sorrows" - not embrace/avoid sorrows but when they come, use them
- result of these tears/seeds = joy
--note: tears aren't giving way to joy; tears become and produce joy (both are biblical though)
--without tears, the joy wouldn't come
--the kind of joy we need is the kind that comes from tears because it changes us

How do I do this?

3. Pray your tears
- go to God with your tears
- this changes us and our tears

We must plant our tears...

...in a realization of his grace
- God understands our weeping; it's safe to open up to him
Psalm 39
-ends different than other psalms; "theological incorrectness"
-asks God to leave him so that he may have peace before he dies
-psalm of david - this doesn't make sense!
--we're not supposed to feel/think/talk like this
--this prayer doesn't make sense just like Peter's request for Christ to depart from him
---it shows God's understanding of our hearts and souls that he knows when to press, when to leave, and how to care for our needs
---he knows when we hurt, are in pain, and are desperate. He knows what we say when we're desperate and in pain
----this tells us that it is ok to pray/speak to God like this
----he wants us to be open and vulnerable with him; our deepest anger/tears belong in our prayers (pre-reflective outbursts) to God; we're to speak/feel in his presence because he's safe

...in a vision of the cross
- most important part
- why is God so understanding? he knows pain/sorrows/grief
--garden of Gethsemane: Christ said he is sorrowful to the point of death (saying his sorrows are powerful enough to kill him before the cross)
---God knows what it's like to cry out and feel like no one is listening
- why would God say keep coming even after we say turn away from me?
--because when Christ felt forsaken, God turned his face away
---Christ experienced what we should have; therefore God turns his face to us and will never forsake us
---Christ's tears on the cross produced joy; it produced our welcome to a relationship with God

when we feel pain, we feel guilty
- get rid of it by looking at the cross
--we're not being punished or abandoned because Christ already suffered that for us
--that is when we must plant our tears and let ourselves break open before God

get rid of self-pity
- weeping is ok, but not in self-pity
- self-pity makes us oversensitive, unable to forgive, self focused, touchy
- look at cross and say "you have really suffered for me, therefore I can be patient through this"

impatient tears?
- some people may have lost faith by seeing Jesus on the cross
- we must be patient and wait for God to move and grow our tears into joy
- plants don't grow over night, in the same way, we must be patient and wait

...with assurance of glory
- planting our tears will result in joy - no if's, maybe's, or might's
- all true prayer pursued far enough will result in praise no matter how painful
--may not be quick, may take a lifetime; don't rush it
- why I am afraid to weep: part of me says it may never end, fear
--but if we are assured of the glory that will inevitably result, we can participate in weeping and tears knowing there will be joy/glory in the end
--be quick to cry in repentance; am I happy enough to weep?

Lord of the Wine

So I was going to type up some notes I took from the sermon Lord of the Wine by Tim Keller. However, if reading my notes means you don't listen to the sermon, then you and I are both doing yourself a disservice. Therefore, listen to it yourself and take your own notes.

Blameless and the Law

Galatians 3:24 note

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

So the Bible I use is the Scofield Study Bible, an English Standard Version translation. It's an awesome translation, but the value is enhanced by notes, comments, and explanations about various cultural items and deep Christian doctrines. One of these notes comes because of Galatians 3:24 (see above).

The note is designed to be a summary of the Law of Moses. I am not the most learned person regarding this subject, so I am assuming what is written is true. The second point the authors make regarding the Law of Moses is the one that caught my eye. "The commandments and ordinances were one complete and inseparable whole. When an Israelite sinned, he was held 'blameless' if he brought the required offering."

Now having just reading Exodus 12, this naturally caught my eye. In case you haven't had the amazing opportunity to read that chapter, you need to. But in order to understand it fully, you need to read the previous 11 chapters. That's a tall order...

...so you better get started...

...Regardless, 12 is about how the Israelites are to remember the Passover feast, a celebration of the LORD bringing them out of Egypt by his strong hand. During the very first Passover, every Israelite household was to sacrifice a lamb and spread its blood on the doorway. This would be a sign for the people that their salvation was dependent on God and that their sins could only be covered by the blood of the lamb. Their freedom was solely dependent on God and his provision. It was a lesson in salvation and atonement. Because they were no different than the Egyptians, the only thing that qualified them for salvation was the blood of the lamb. It was the propitiation necessary for their sins. It does not mean those acts were not committed and that they weren't sinful. Instead, it means they are "blameless," not innocent. They're definitely guilty, but they are blameless.

Fast forward to today. What does this have to do with us in the 21st century? A lot.

This topic actually came up in the Icebox and Matt and I discussed this a bit. Is there a difference between innocent and blameless? We came to the conclusion that yes there is a difference. Innocent means I/we didn't do it. Blameless means I/we did, but are not facing the penalty for those actions. If one was to take the blame, that person is accepting the punishment for the action. Second question: because of Christ's sacrifice, who in I Corinthians 5 is called our Passover Lamb, are we blameless or innocent?

As far as I can tell, we are blameless. The Israelite was deemed blameless if the proper sacrifice was brought. In the same manner, Christ is our sacrifice, a sentiment echoed throughout Scripture. Through the blood of the Lamb, our sins have been atoned for because Christ's sacrifice is sufficient. However, my actions in the past have not changed. It is as if each sin rang a bell. It is then impossible to "un-ring" that bell.

Now if the proper sacrifice was not brought, the Israelite was deemed guilty. From Romans, we know that the wages of sin are death. Therefore, without the proper atonement, God could justly and rightly claim the life of that Israelite, or any person for that matter. The point is that the sacrifice does not change the past. Instead, it takes the place of the offender in regards to the punishment.

This is how we as Christians need to view Christ. We are washed white as snow, sure. But our past is not changed. We are still sinners in need of God's grace. Christ's sacrifice on the cross and separation from God is the punishment we deserve. However, because Christ is our Passover Lamb who took the blame. By taking the blame, he took the punishment. Therefore, we are blameless because we do not have to suffer the punishment.

This is only half the story, though, and praise be to God for that. Not only are we held blameless for our past sinful actions, but we are also given the perfect righteousness of Christ. When we cling to Christ, our past does not change but that doesn't mean we are not justified and in the process of being sanctified right now. Through abiding in Christ, God sees Christ's righteousness; it is attributed to us.

The power and demonstration of the Spirit is in transformed lives. People do not have to forget that I was angry and sinful in my past. I want them to remember that. I also want them to see me as I am now: redeemed and sanctified, a changed man. There is only one reason such a stark contrast can be seen: Christ. When others see me serving God and think of me as a good person, what they really see is the righteousness of Christ. The good that I do is merely fruit of a great and holy God working through me, despite my shortcomings. Therefore, I cannot take any glory for my actions, just as I am no longer suffering the punishment for my sins. Christ is my Passover Lamb and he deserves of the glory--as well as all my life.

Tim Keller and Sermons

On Sunday at church, Shad Baker mentioned a place to download sermons for free on the Internet. So I decided to take a gander and meander over there. The link on the right side of the page takes you to the free sermons on the website. You can get others, but you have to pay for them. I'm fairly excited to start listening to these, especially the Lord of the Wine message. McClain has mentioned this one as being particularly awesome. Therefore, you need to download it too.

And no, this isn't geeky or being a Christian loser. What's more edifying: rocking out to the latest song from Britney Spears--you know you do--or listening to a sermon? 1 Corinthians 9:24, 26 tell us to live our lives purposefully and intentionally with the goal of glorifying God. With that goal in mind, our choice becomes clearer. I'm not saying you need to always be listening to sermons or that music is evil. Instead, we shouldn't be afraid to take advantage of our idle time to know God better.

Ready. Set. Download.

The Importance of Community

Now before all you Messiah College people wander off in a daze because you've heard this buzzword so many times, finish reading this post first. It's legit--or so I hope.

As with many things in my life, I've gone through a number of stages and my perspectives on worship are no different. From a very early age, I knew I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. I was about as good at singing as the Cubs are at winning a World Series--I can't imagine it happening in my lifetime. This led me thinking that worship was nice, but it wasn't necessary for me. I had a personal relationship and I didn't need to embarrass myself in front of a lot of people. Singing just wasn't my gift. God would understand.

Eventually, I realized that communal worship was important and healthy for my spiritual life. It was a continual reminder that I was not perfect. It's hard to be prideful when you sound like a cat is being strangled. However, I came to the realization that I was singing in order to worship God. I was singing for an audience of one basically. It didn't matter what I sounded like, as long as my heart was in it. Therefore, communal worship was important.

However, that reasoning was still terribly self-focused. I didn't realize this till today during my reading time. I was reading through a commentary by Ryken about Exodus 12 when he came to verse 47:

All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

This makes sense to me. All of Israel was saved so all of Israel needs celebrate Passover. However, Ryken made a connection I didn't.

We talk a lot about having a personal relationship with God, and rightly so. We need to have a personal relationship with Christ. We need to fully depend on his righteousness and his sacrifice for our sins in order to truly have life. However, his sacrifice wasn't just for me. It was for the entire world. When we celebrate communion, Christ's redirecting of the Passover meal, we are partaking of Christ's body and blood. The key word is we. Everyone who participates is claiming to be a part of the same body.

Indeed, in 1 Corinthians, we are told to be of one body and one mind. In Acts 4, we see the early church was of one mind and body. This does not mean they were clones of each other. Instead, they were united in Christ's body. This verse in 1 Corinthians 10 explains it well:

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Ryken points out how many times the Bible refers to salvation as a community experience because we are now united in Christ. He writes "when the New Testament explains the great doctrines of salvation, it almost always speaks in the plural. To give one example, consider Paul's words to Titus: '4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.' Regeneration, justification, sanctification, glorification--together we share every aspect of salvation" (359). We share this things because we share a Savior.

When the Israelites were given directions for celebrating the Passover meal, they were to celebrate it together, not individually. It is together when our faith stories and testimonies as to God's power in our own lives in delivering us from sin can be shared.

Clearly, communal worship is a vital part of our salvation here and now. I always knew it was important and that's why I began to sing. However, I never understood why to the depths that I do now. Salvation was never meant to simply be a relationship between God and us. It starts there, but if we are truly changed, we will naturally be in community with others. In those times, we will encourage and be encouraged. This is why it is crucial to arrive in time for corporate worship during our church service. A sermon can be discussed but only after the fact and is mainly individual. But worship needs to be seen as just as important because that's when God can use the whole body to lift each other up, as was his plan.

A Place With So Much Grace

Sermon. Carlisle Evangelical Free Church. Shad Baker.

Acts 4:32-37

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

-generous community
3 pitfalls to passage:
1. "all believers were one in heart and mind" does not mean they were all clones
- they were individuals, all with the mind of Christ
2. not a commune/marxist community
- gave to those in need out of what they were given
3. no needy does not mean no poor

What made this community great?
- they believed
- they received God's grace (v32)
-- much grace (how do I see God's grace in my life?)
-- changed by grace

Effects of grace
1. one in heart and mind (v32)
- Christ's
2. it's not mine, so I share it (v32)
- it all came from God (part of God's much grace)
3. great power to testify (v33)
- about the resurrection of Christ (more proof of God's much grace)
4. no needy (v34)
- gave to those in need
5. because they are generous (v36)
- if I'm not, then have I been changed by God's much grace?
- people will be attracted to this generosity
--they won't come if they don't see a reason
- generosity = intentional, not random/casual
--great generosity does not need to people to ask for it, it gives regardless
- generosity = sacrifice
--amount doesn't matter; heart does
- God is generous, gives much grace
--covers all my sins

Application:
Individuals
- receive God's grace to fill my needs; then I can give
- must admit need and learn!
Church
- great grace
- seeing need (must be constantly vigilant)
-- caring for need around us once we see it

The Reward of the Steward

Sermon. Carlisle Evangelical Free Church. JC Hicks.

Taking care of God's interests will lead to satisfying our own true needs

Luke 12:41-48

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

v13 - man asking Christ to deal with inheritance issue
-man focused on himself
- Christ responds to materialism
--1. life is more than riches
--2. life is more than just survival
--3. life is about serving the Master

v41
who is this question directed at?

v42-44
God wants to reward the steward
- must put God's interests first
--there is great reward in putting God's interests first
---we will be give more responsibilities
----1 Corinthians 6:2-3
----2 Tim 2:12
----Matthew 5:5

v45-48 accountability
we don't earn our salvation but we are held accountable for what we are given
- we are given a responsibility
- Am I focused on a great God or myself?
--which is being accountable to God?

What to do:
- inventory our blessings
--recognize God's graciousness
--recognize our responsibilities to use our gifts
- pray for how to use those blessings
--accept lordship of Christ
--read Acts 4:32-37
--participate in ministry of church and its growth
---seek the kingdom first