Obstacle or Opportunity

October 27, 2013
Obstacle or Opportunity
Romans 14:1-12                           NOT EDITED

SIS: This particular holiday offers the perfect backdrop to display the Light of Christ’s love to the world!

As dark and sinister as this holiday is with all the references to

witches, goblins, ghosts, and gore, it is actually one of the most holy days of the church.  About 1200 years ago (835 AD) the RCC declared November 1^st to be a holiday to honor all the unnamed saints in the church.  It was called, All Saints Day.  October 31^st, the eve before All Saints Day was called “All Hallow’s (Holies) Eve.”  It was shortened to hallow’s e’en – hence, Halloween.  So, the word itself is associated with something good, not something evil.  So, is it OK for a Christian to participate in Hallween?

Let me begin with a short history of this holiday that is celebrated by

thousands of children all over the world.  There is ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that this holiday was originally part of something evil and satanic – more correctly, pagan.  October 31^st is the last day of the pagan year.  November 1^st is a day set aside by pagans (nature worshippers) in Ireland and Scotland to honor the god, Samhain (sawan).  Samhain was the “god of the dead” (the Grim Reaper).  Druid’s who were the priests in this pagan religion served Samhain as a god.  It was a Druid belief that on the eve of the new year that all manner of evil spirits (ghosts, goblins, feeries, witches and elves) came out to harm people.  People would dress up as these spirits so that the spirits would be tricked into thinking they were one of them and would not harm them.  To appease these spirits you would have to leave food (treats) on the doorstep.  There is absolutely no doubt that this ancient, pre-Christian celebration is evil and celebrates evil.

About 325 AD.  as a matter of policy, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity – he in fact declared all people of the kingdom to be Christians.  This meant that all manner of evil crept into the church as these new “christians” (little “c”) entered the church but kept there pagan practices.  It created a lot of trouble for the church.  Especially, the worship of Samhain and the Druids. 

To counter these pagan practices the church instituted their own holidays to coincide with the pagan holidays.  It was hoped that this would deter Christians from participating in the pagan celebrations.  This is how the church approached three major pagan holidays– Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.  The pagan counterparts for Christmas and Easter were overshadowed by the Christian celebrations and they drifted into the dust of history.  All Saints Day was not as successful and many of the pagan influences of October 31^st remain to this day. 

Halloween is here to stay.  It was brought to our country by Scotch/Irish immigrants and has been celebrated since about the early 1800's.  The Irish sometimes call it I “Pooky Night,” because one of the mischievous spirits making the rounds on this evening was called “pookah.”  So, what is a Christian supposed to do about this day of the year?  Is Halloween and “obstacle to faith,” or an “opportunity for faith.”  I think that the Apostle Paul has some words of wisdom that may be helpful for us today.  Stand with me as we read from Romans 14:1-12:

14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: 

"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me;

every tongue will confess to God.'"  12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

As you decide how you will deal with this holiday there are

three considerations you should keep in mind:

1.  Consider the OBSTACLE Halloween poses (vv 1-7)

Halloween poses serious questions concerning matters of conscience.

14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

In some matters of faith, there are no definitive answers.  I think

this is true in regard to the matter of Halloween.  I read several sermons and articles on this matter in preparation for this sermon.  The majority, I must say, were very much against any participation in the activities of Halloween at all.  One writer said, “To me it makes no more sense for a Christian to participate in Halloween as it would be for a Russia to celebrate the 4^th of July.”  I think it is very clear why someone would say this about Halloween.

It is ABSOLUTELY A PAGAN celebration that predates Christianity.  It is definitely a time of year that is overrun with evil themes.  Horror films will clutter the airways and blood, guts and gore will be a major theme in many costumes. 

Halloween is rooted in pagan, satanic rituals.  Of that there is no doubt. So, it would seem to be a slam-dunk as far as answering the question: “Should a Christian celebrate Halloween?” 

The answer is a resounding: NO, or is it a resounding YES? It is a “matter of conscience” according to Romans 14.  How we regard

this day is up to each individual family.  There is Scriptural support for having nothing at all to do with this day.  There is Scriptural support that justifies “locking the door, turning out the lights and refusing to answer the door-bell.”  This is absolutely a justifiable position in regard to a day so clearly associated with pagan worship.  The Bible says,

“Avoid every kind of evil.”  (1Thess. 5:22).   Eph. 5:11 says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather, expose them.”

There are many other Scripture passages that would justify the position that a Christian should have nothing at all to do with Halloween.  The evil associated with Halloween poses an OBSTACLE that could justifiably prohibit any Christian from participating in any way.  But, is there also Scripture that would suggest ways in which a Christian could participate in this holiday – or perhaps Scriptures that suggest a Christian SHOULD participate in this holiday in some way that is redemptive in nature?  I think this is another CONSIDERATION Christians face in regard to Halloween:

2.  Consider the OPPORTUNITY

We can be light in the darkness.  The theme of this message is simply this: Halloween offers the perfect backdrop against which we as Christians can display the Light of Christ’s love.

Have you ever noticed how a jeweler displays his fine, expensive

wares?  Most often, fine jewelry like diamonds and precious gems, will be displayed on black velvet.  The black backdrop accentuates the shining brilliance of a diamond or fine piece of jewelry.  The darker the backdrop, the brighter the piece of jewelry shines.

I think a Christian can look at Halloween as just such an opportunity.

Against all the blackness of the celebration, the Light or Christ will shine even brighter.  This is something I think we as Christians in the 21^st century must consider.

In fact, this type of “cultural engagement” is exactly what Paul

has in mind.  Look again at verse 1.  Literally it reads:

“But, him that is weak in faith, you receive, but not for the purpose

of settling arguments.”

In modern translations like the NIV, the train of Paul’s thought is

somewhat obscured.  What we call chapter 14, is actually an extension of Paul’s thought in the preceding chapter, verses 11-15.  What has been designated as 14:1 begins with a small, yet important, word.  That is the conjunction, “de,” or in English, “but,” or “therefore.”  Paul is describing in chapter 13:11-15 how we should “engage” the darkness of our culture.  Look at those verses:

11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 

Paul is instructing the Church to be forceful (put on armor) and engage the darkness in the culture around us.  The darkness, though it presents some danger, is the perfect backdrop against which a Christian can and should display the light of Christ.  In Chapter 14, Paul is giving us the freedom to engage the darkness of our culture, rather than seek to escape from it. 

What Paul is teaching, I think, is this: rather than run from the darkness all around us, like Halloween, we should put on the armor of light,and bring the gospel into our communities.  Paul dismisses disputes over the reason for the darkness, but rather dispatches the church into that darkness as “warriors of light wearing the armor of Christ.”   Cursing the darkness is no solution to the darkness–
lighting a candle is.  Keep your finger here in Romans and join me in a few other Scriptures that speak about letting our faith shine in a dark world.

Mt. 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Eph. 5:8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

2 Cor 4:6  For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

The Christians of Paul’s day knew what it meant to live in the midst

of all kinds of pagan darkness.  Rome was well-known for its excesses and its tolerance for almost any religious practice in the world.  The meat sold in most markets in Paul’s day were first used as sacrifices to idols.  Paul’s instructions come against the black backdrop of paganism – not that much different with what we see at Halloween, today.

Halloween is proof positive that our world needs light!  Halloween does not need to be an OBSTACLE to sharing our faith but may be a great OPPORTUNITY for sharing our faith.  This brings me to my third consideration:

3.  Consider the OBJECTIVE of participating in Halloween (7-8)

⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.  ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

We must concentrate on the WAY we participate, not the DAY.

In the matter of Halloween, as in living the Christian life in

general it is all about our OBJECTIVE – that is, our PURPOSE.  We should live our lives in such a way as to demonstrate without question that we are “children of Light;” servants of the Most High God.

Verse 6 talks about some who eat meat and some who don’t. Verse 6 talks about some who regard one day as the right day of worship and some who regard another day.  Paul was probably talking about the various “feast days” that Jews observed, but that Gentiles did not.  Paul’s admonishment to them on these NON-essential matters applies also for us in our day in regard to how we treat Halloween. Paul does not say which group is right.  What Paul emphasizes is not the DAY, but the WAY that a person worships.  Paul talks about PURPOSE.

Our purpose or objective should be to “honor God in all we do.”  As

Paul says, “if we live, we should live to the Lord and if we die we should die to the Lord.”  IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM – NOT US! 

Our whole purpose in life – whether at Halloween or any other day – should be to point out to as many people as we can that there is a judgement coming.  The ghosts, goblins, witches, and gore that seems so innocent at Halloween points to the reality of what awaits someone who dies without accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  We should use Halloween (and every other day) as an opportunity to warn others of the judgement to come.  That is our “objective.”  Look at verse 11:

"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me;

every tongue will confess to God.'"

The Christian’s objective at Halloween should be to help others

prepare for the coming judgment.  Rather than “lock our doors, turn out the lights, and ignore the children ringing our door-bell,” we should seek to use this day as an OPPORTUNITY to be “light in the darkness.”  With that objective in mind let me give you some suggestions on how to BE LIGHT AT HALLOWEEN TIME.

1.  First and foremost, have nothing whatsoever to do with anything that promotes evil or the occult (things involving witchcraft, etc.)

2.  As you put candy in the bags of children, also put in some information about our church.  We have some flyers printed up that you can take with you today and use tomorrow.

3.  Dress your children in Biblical costumes.  Get them to tell their friends why they don’t dress in costumes with “evil” themes.

4.  Play Christian music really loud and decorate your home with       Christian themes

5.  Get a pumpkin and carve a “cross” in it.  The candle can represent      Jesus as Light of the World.

6.  Most importantly: PRAY!  Use this as a time to offer special prayers against the evils of our community: drugs, alcohol, etc. Pray for each home you visit. Be ready to give a witness to your faith.

7.  Be creative and come up with more ideas.

I hope you will take these considerations and do what you feel in your own heart will bring glory to God.  Halloween is not going to go away.  As Christians, we must address the issues.  The evil that is “up front” at Halloween is very real.  The darkness in our world is very real.  We need to share our light.

One of the pagan traditions as I mentioned earlier was to dress up

like one of the evil spirits so that they would not recognize you and harm you.  I see too many church folk that are doing that today.  They are talking like the devil, partying like the devil, and wearing a Christian costume to church once per week thinking that they are going to fool God.

God will not be fooled.  If the Light of Jesus Christ is not burning in

your heart through the Holy Spirit, then you can expect to spend all of eternity celebrating Halloween – only, you will be on the “trick” side, not the “treat” side.  If you die without accepting Jesus Christ, you will not escape judgement – you WILL spend eternity in the abode of demons – the place the Bible calls hell.

You can escape that fate by accepting Jesus Christ today. Don’t spend eternity in a Halloween nightmare. Come to the light – so you can share the Light.

Halloween presents us with either an obstacle,

or and opportunity – faith makes the difference.

<<end>>

Maybe We Should?

October 20, 2013
Maybe We Should?
Mark 16:14-20                              NOT EDITED.

SIS – We should be a bit more daring and bold in our devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Right at the start, let me say I am fully aware that Bible scholars have pointed out that verses 9-20 are not in the manuscripts most scholars consider some of the oldest and best.  This is a hot topic of discussion among scholars, but no definite conclusion can be made except that it probably was not in Mark’s original.  It does appear in the majority of ancient manuscripts and some as old as 100 A.D. which is very old.

Many object to the verses because of abuses arising out of verses 17 and 18 regarding “the signs authenticating the work of the gospel.”  Most notably, and quite justifiably, many object to the idea of “picking up snakes and drinking poison” to prove one’s faith.  These verses do NOT teach we should “tempt God with such nonsense.”  These signs “followed” the apostolic teaching, they did not drive it.  The Book of Acts records many such miracles as are mentioned here in this text, and Christian history records many more. 

So, that brings me to the point I want to make:  “Maybe we should?”  Maybe we should “what?”  Maybe we should take up “snake handling!”  No, absolutely not, but maybe we should be a bit more daring and bold in our devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.  That’s my point.  The snake handlers of the Church of God With Signs Following with followers stretching from Tennessee to Pennsylvania, along with the Appalachian hills of West Virginia are “bold and daring” if they are anything!

Many have withered hands from repeated bites from copperheads, water moccasins, and rattle snakes.  Many have missing fingers that decayed as a result of snake bites. More than a few died expressing their faith by handling snakes.  They are bold and daring in their faith—we have to give them that.

I think the Church of God—and God’s church here on this hill—could benefit greatly from devotion that is a little bit more bold and daring.

Far from being willing to discard this text, I feel this is one of the most important passages in the New Testament.  Far from being bizarre, it describes the power that comes from living in the Presence of Almighty God and the Risen Lord through the Holy Spirit.  It talks about the miraculous promise that the Hand of God will powerfully evident in the lives of those who walk in His presence and serve in His Kingdom.

Let’s read the passage together.  Mark 16:14-20

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.  15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."  19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Wow!  That is a powerful passage!  The promise of the Resurrected

Savior, Himself, that even though He was about to depart in the flesh, He was about to return in the Spirit, accompanied by “signs and wonders.”  This is exactly what happened when the Spirit feel in a few days at Pentecost and is attested to throughout the Book of Acts – and throughout church history. I think it outlines what God is waiting to do for any believer, or group of believers, that decides to practice a more “daring and bold” devotion to God.

1.  We should practice a more bold and daring WORSHIP

Follow me for a moment as I switch the channel to a parallel passage

in the Gospel of Matthew.  Matthew adds something about the last meeting the disciples have with Jesus Christ before He ascended to heaven and now sits at the right hand of God.  Matthew 28:16-17

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain

where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him,

they worshiped him; but some doubted.

“Worship and doubt,” – two opposite responses to the Risen Savior.

Why are so many Christians weak and so many churches insignificant to their communities?  It is because of a lack of bold and daring worship.  Why do so many people doubt the miraculous power of God to intervene in their lives?  It is because of “doubt.”  Notice here in this passage that the opposite of “doubting is not believing.”  The opposite of doubting is WORSHIPPING.  Many Christians live ineffectual, inconsequential lives because they neglect worship.  When a person worships God regularly and allows the Risen Christ to rise up in one’s  soul, that person is changed.  The Bible teaches throughout that “God inhabits the praise of His people.”  God says in the Gospel of Matthew, “Where ever two or three gather in my name, I am in the midst of them.” 

The same Lord that broke bread with Peter, James, John and the

other disciples, wants to break bread with you.  The same Lord we worship today is the same Lord that the disciples worshipped with two thousand years ago.  How is it possible to doubt that Jesus Christ is alive if you worship in His presence on a regular basis!?  That is simply not possible.  Almighty God and the Risen Lord through the Holy Spirit is present with us when we truly fall on our faces or raise or hands in worship. 

Having said that, let me say this: if someone professes to be a Christian and does not desire to be in regular worship – morning and night – on God’s day, I think they are sadly deceived as to where they are going to spend eternity.  And, I will add this: In 27 years of ministry I’ve never seen a person amount to anything for Christ who was only a Sunday-morning Christian.  Now, if that makes you mad and you want to fire me, so be it.  But, the truth is the truth and a lie with by you a front row seat in hell!

The Bible teaches that God visits His people in a mighty way

when we gather to worship Him.  Do you want to feel the presence of

Almighty God and the Risen Lord through the Holy Spirit?

You can.  Just raise your hearts to worship Him!

2.  We should practice a more daring and bold SERVICE  (15,20)

Let’s go back to Mark 16.  Verse 15 says,  "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Then, Verse 20 says: [I like theKJVon this] 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

The proof of surrendered service to Jesus is “signs following.”

We can experience the power and presence of Almighty God and the Risen Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit WHEN WE ARE SERVING.

One of the most significant missionaries in the modern age was a Scotsman by the name of David Livingstone.  More than any other individual, Livingstone, a self-taught medical doctor,  opened up the continent of Africa.  He brought the message of Light and Hope in the gospel to what had previously been called the Dark Continent.  His discoveries, such as Victoria Falls, made him a national hero to England.  His love of the African people made him a treasure to God.  So beloved was he by Africans that came to know him, that when he died his heart was removed and buried in Africa.  So beloved and treasured was he by England, his body is buried in the famous Westminster Abbey.  Missionary work literally killed Livingstone, but being a man of resolute character it took some years.  By the end of his life he was frail from16 difficult years of service in the swamps and jungles of Africa.  He suffered disease, starvation, and attacks from vicious animals in his service to God on the Dark Continent.  After having been in Africa for over a decade, Livingstone who was home in England for a brief furlough was asked to address the students at Glasgow University.  His body was weak from having fought off jungle fever over 27 times.  His left arm hung uselessly at his side as a result of a lion attack that nearly took his life.  Remember, he would still spend years yet  in Africa even in this condition.  As he stood before the students, many contemplating missionary service themselves, he said, “I will tell you what sustained me amidst the toil, the hardship, and the loneliness of my exile.  It wasChrist’s promise, ‘lo, I am with you always, even unto the end’ .” 

God’s presence is indeed promised to those who engage in the

Great Commission.  To those who set out into the dark world to spread the light of the gospel, Jesus promises His very presence and power.  In our passage the promise could not be more spectacular.  For those who engage in spreading the gospel our text promises that the presence of Christ will bring: “signs and wonders!”

Friends, we must recapture a belief in the supernatural power of the

presence of God Almighty in our lives as we serve Him.  I’m not saying that we should go out and play with poisonous snakes or drink poisonous brew to “test” God.  I am simply saying that the God Who authenticated His work by “signs and wonders” two thousand years ago, is the same God we serve today.

How sad that the early disciples could raise the dead and most churches cannot even raise their budgets!

When Paul in the course of his service to God was marooned by shipwreck on the island of Malta, the very truth of this passage was revealed in an event that took place one cold night (Acts 28:1-6).  Paul was tending a fire to keep warm and a poisonous viper bit him.  The non-believers on the island (and any believers traveling with Paul) waited for Paul to die.   They had no doubt that Paul would in fact die.  But, Paul was on a mission for God and one lousy little reptile is no match for the powerful presence of Almighty God.  Paul did NOT die.  Paul instead preached and gave glory to God for his miraculous Providence.  Ironically, this passage in the HCSB is titled, “Malta’s Hospitality.”  Well, the people loved Paul, at least!

I believe God’s people need the miracle-working power of

an Ever-Present, Risen Lord to manifest itself in “signs and wonders” the likes of which the world has yet seen.  I’m not talking about going back to the days of the Apostles.  I’m talking about becoming the apostles of God and trusting God to honor our service with His miracle-working power – today!  The same Jesus with the disciples 2000 years ago is the same Jesus with us today – plus we have the complete and certain Word of Testimony called the Bible.  The Bible says God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and I find nothing in the Bible that event remotely hints at the fact that God is not able or willing to authenticate the work of His servants by signs and wonders.  If that is the case, then we might as well throw away the Book of Acts because it is absolutely useless to us if have its message without its miracles!

3.  We need a more daring and bold attitude of SACRIFICE. (20)

“They went OUT!”

Suffering is a universal experience that happens on a highly

individual basis.  Everybody’s experience with suffering is different.  The only similarity is that everyone experiences suffering. 

The difference with a “bold and daring” disciple is that such a disciple willing takes upon himself additional suffering and sacrifice for the purpose of extending the Kingdom of God.

That phrase is in verse 20: “The disciples WENT OUT!” says a lot about the early disciples.  They were not “campers for Jesus,” but they were “adventurous explorers.”  They had no desire to confine their worship and service to the safety of the sanctuary—be it the Temple or the synagogue.  No, they “broke out” of their comfort zones and moved into the danger zone of the world.  They were not interesting in “being safe,” but wanted to be “effective.”

The natural tendency of our human flesh is to seek comfort and protection. Think of birth.  If it were not for the fact that our mothers pushed us out with contractions that would cause and anaconda to give applause, we would never have left the womb.  Why would we go “out from a nice, warm, secure environment where all our needs our met” and we enter “the world” where—back in the day—our first greeting was a smack on the bottom! This should have been our first clue that life was going to be difficult.  From that day on life is increasingly more difficult and uncertain.  We never have it so good as we did in our first nine months.  So, we have an inbred drive to seek places of comfort and protection.

Plato looked at the world with all its suffering and determined

that God could not possibly have anything to do with creating or sustaining it.  This idea that the world is evil prevailed in Greek thought.  Though I do not agree with Plato’s assessment, I certainly agree with his observations – the world is a place where suffering abounds.

Do I need to belabor the point that life will be full of suffering

I think not.  And, to add to the suffering that all humans face, the Word calls us to an even greater sacrifice for the Kingdom of God.

But, does the prospect of knowing life will involve suffering of necessity mean that life will be bitter and blessingless? The answer is: not if we realize the presence and power of Almighty God and the Risen Christ through the Holy Spirit is with us in our time of suffering.

Someone once said, and I believe it is so true: “Suffering is easier when someone who loves you is near – and Jesus is always near!”

Suffering?  Yes!  Abandonment?  No.  God said very clearly and succinctly: “I will never leave you norforsake you.”  Matthew reminds us of the very last words of Jesus before His ascension: “and lo, I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth.”(28:20)

The movie, The Passion of the Christ accomplishes something very significant.  It demonstrates, in a very graphic way, how much Jesus suffered on our behalf.  A person cannot watch that movie and then say, “God does not know how I feel in my suffering.”  There has been no more daring and bold sacrifice than that which Jesus—God, the Son—demonstrated by dying on the cross.

Knowing that the One Who suffered most is with me in my suffering

is my only hope for peace in this godless, cold, cruel world.  However bold and daring my sacrifice in life might be—it is NOTHING with a capital EVERYTHING, compared to what Jesus sacrificed!

Today, the church for the most part is not experiencing the power and presence of Almighty God and the Risen Savior through the Holy Spirit.  By and large, churches in the U.S. are not experiencing the miraculous signs and wonders that the Bible says will follow those who believe.  It is not that we are not experiencing some blessing, we are just not experiencing the blessing of God as He promised we would and should.

As a church we have become content with being ignored by

the community.   90 percent or more of all so-called Bible–believing churches baptize less than 10 people each year.  There are large churches that brag about the size of their congregations, but they have no statistical impact on the sin in their communities.  By and large Christians families are statistically no different from non-Christian in most surveys in regard to  such things as divorce, the use of pornography, or the lack of Bible reading to name just a few areas.  Friend, this is not what God desires for His people!

Friends, we need some snake handlers! Not handling the slithering, scaly kind, but a “snake handler” type of faith that is “bold and daring.” Whatever snakes come, they will, cannot, harm us when we are on mission with God!

 If you decide to  serve the Lord and live in His presence you will encounter “snakes.”  The snakes can come in any variety of sizes, shapes or situations.  The snakes can be evil people or desperate problems.   In this life you WILL have tribulation – you will encounter snakes – and you must know how to handle them.  The only way you will know how to handle the snakes that slither into your life is live in the presence of Almighty God and the Risen Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.  Sin is everywhere ready to strike at any time.

 Sin lies coiled in the grass of every circumstance

and situation in your life.  If you do not recognize that sin is ever-present, and you do not protect yourself by living in the presence and power of Almighty God through repentance, you are in grave danger.  The very sin you handle, will strike and kill your soul.  But, we have the promise of the presence and power of Almighty God and the Risen Lord through the Holy Spirit!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not an End – it was a beginning.

Today, this very day, you can experience the power and presence of Almighty God and the Risen Lord through the Holy Spirit.  If you are not yet a believer, you can be filled with the Holy Spirit of God right now.  If you do this, God will put all the power and authority of Heaven at your disposal.  God not only will conquer the destructive venom of sin, but God will continue to manifest His Holy power in your life as you worship and serve Him.  And, in your times of suffering, and you will surely suffer in this life, you will have the presence and peace of Almighty God.  All you have to do is ask.

But, if we do decide to become more bold and daring in our devotion to Jesus Christ,  we can put the bite back into our faith (bad pun warning!).  We can make a difference in the world around us.  But, we cannot do it with “dead doctrine.”  People need the Living Lord. People need to see a “with signs following” kind of faith.  

Join me today in making a decision to become more “bold and daring” in your faith—I mean it—don’t’ just leave here this morning with same old, “comfortable” faith! Decide right now—I’m going to be more “bold and daring.”  Now, pass me a rattle snake.

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