Pour out

 

 

     Today we wrap up our three-part series in Philippians 2, where Paul has been teaching us how to live as faithful followers of Jesus in this world. This world is crooked and corrupt, and we are to be true to Jesus as we journey through this life in His grace.

 

     I find it very fitting that we are studying this passage on a weekend where we are looking ahead to Independence Day. Independence Day is a reminder to us of an important paradox. Freedom is not cheap. For a person to be free someone else has to be willing to give up their own freedom. Paul alludes to that very cost in our text.

 

     Philippians 2:17-18(CEB):

 

     But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     An important piece of information to remember as Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians is that he is doing so from a jail cell. The verses we have studied up to this point, Paul has been writing with a hope in Jesus. He hopes to be released or that Jesus would return. But now Paul offers mentions another possibility, his death.

 

     In verse 17, Paul writes, “Even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith.” The Jews practiced a drink offering, given up to God. An animal was sacrificed to God, but wine was poured on the offering. As the offering was consumed by fire, the wine would become a puff of smoke that quickly disappeared. Paul was saying his life was like that puff of smoke, wine poured onto the lives of the Philippians as they lived surrendered to God. His life was lived in glad surrender to God and for the Philippians as they worked out their own salvation with fear and trembling.

 

     Paul’s words make sense. If you are a pastor, your life belongs to God and the people whom you serve. But Paul does not stop his thought in verse 17. Verse 18 says, “You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!” Being a drink offering for the Philippians is not something Paul is doing begrudgingly, he is doing it out of genuine love for them. As Paul goes about the work, he is essentially telling the Philippians, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” And as Paul is joyfully being poured out like a drink offering for the Philippians’ faith, the Philippians should gladly allow their lives to be poured out as drink offerings for Jesus and one another.

 

     And that is what this passage teaches us. As we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, it will always lead us to become disciples of Jesus who make disciples. Believers who GO, LOVE, and DO. We have faith in Jesus, but working out that faith points to being entirely sanctified. Entire sanctification points us to loving God and loving others. Loving others points us to using our freedoms to get other people to freedom in Jesus.

 

     In his letter, the Apostle Peter wrote, “You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) A priest is someone who represents God to the people and represents the people to God. Jesus died and rose again for the forgiveness of our sins, then He ascended to the right hand of God as our eternal high priest. Our faith in Jesus gives us direct access to God. Jesus is not only man, He is also God. So when we go to Jesus, we go to God. And that makes you and me priests who represent God to others and others to God.

 

     How did Jesus get to be our high priest? By emptying Himself of all but love for us. By pouring out His life for the ministry of the Kingdom. By pouring out His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Notice, our Lord, Savior, and High Priest “poured out.” Likewise, the apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit poured themselves out so the message would spread. This is what we must do.

 

     Working out our salvation with fear and trembling is an inward work of God’s grace that transforms so radically our lives become different. We can leave grumbling and arguing with one another and the world because our love for Jesus drives us to love one another and the world. The love moves us to be so busy pouring out our lives in service for God to our neighbor, that we do not have time for anything else.

 

We are going to close today by gathering around the Lord’s table, reflecting on the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:17-18. Paul, writing from his prison cell, speaks of being “poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith.” His life, like a puff of smoke, was a sacrifice for the believers in Philippi and the glory of God. Today, as we partake in communion, we remember the ultimate sacrifice—Jesus Christ, who poured out His life for us.

 

Paul’s joy in being poured out for the faith of others is a reflection of Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus, our High Priest, emptied Himself of all but love for us, pouring out His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. As we prepare our hearts for communion, let us remember His sacrifice and our call to pour out our lives in service and love for others.

 

Let us pray. Gracious God, we thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. As we take this bread and drink this cup, we remember His body broken for us and His blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. May we, like Paul, find joy in being poured out for the sake of others. Help us to live lives of service and love, reflecting Your grace to the world. Amen.

 

[Distribution of the Elements]

 

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Distribute the bread)

 

In the same way, after supper, He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (Distribute the cup)

 

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

 

Let us eat the bread together. (All partake of the bread)

Let us drink the cup together. (All partake of the cup)

 

As we have received these elements, may we go forth to pour out our lives in service to others, loving God and loving our neighbors. Let us live as true followers of Jesus, working out our salvation with fear and trembling, and sharing the freedom we have in Christ with the world.

Leave out

 

     We are headed into our second week looking at this passage in Philippians 2. We need to pay attention to what Paul is writing here because he is instructing how to live as a Christian in a world corrupted by sin. Christ calls us to be true to God living in a crooked place.

 

     In verse 12, Paul stated the Philippians were to “work out their salvation with fear and trembling. This was not a call for them, or us, to earn our salvation. That would be impossible. Rather, it was a call for us to work on understanding and growing in our faith. How do we do that? Read our Bible, gather with the body of believers, pray, do good works, and share the message of Jesus with others.

 

     In the opening of this section, Paul gives us practical advice on what we should be doing. It is not a coincidence that Paul immediately follows those words with what we as Christians should not be doing. Paul tells us what we should leave out.

 

     Philippians 2:14-16(CEB):

 

     Do everything without grumbling and arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world because because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing.

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     It is important to remember that these verses immediately follow verses 12 and 13 which say, “Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes.” Verses 14 through 16 continue the same thought. We are working out our salvation, and God’s grace in us will be evident in what we leave out of our lives.

 

     Paul does not dance around what the Philippians are to leave out, in verse 14 he writes, “Do everything without grumbling and arguing.” So in everything that is done to work out their salvation, they are to do it without grumbling and arguing. Grumbling is an attitude of inner dissatisfaction while arguing is the progression of grumbling to the outside. It impacts relationships between people and God. It was grumbling in the wilderness, then open rebellion with Moses that brought God’s judgment against the Israelites. Dissatisfaction with God and His ways will always lead to rebellion.

 

     Verse 15 is incredible if you dig below the surface. It reads, “so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world.” Paul is referencing a Greek god that was well known to the Philippians, but completely missed by us. This particular Greek god, called Momus [Moe mos], was known for finding fault with everyone and everything. The essential meaning of Paul’s words is, “Walk so righteously that Momus himself may have no occasion to find fault with you.”

 

     “Be blameless and pure.” The word translated “pure” is commonly used to describe wine that is not mixed with water or gold jewelry that is free of any alloy. Paul was telling the Philippians to live holy lives “surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt.” The word “crooked” is another interesting one, this Greek word is where we get our English word “scoliosis,” the medical condition for curvature of the spine. Paul’s thought is that the Philippians should live holy lives that look counter-cultural to those whose hearts are bent toward sin and not even looking for the pathway.

 

     The Philippians are to do this so that “Among these people you shine like stars in the world.” This refers not only to the stars but also to the sun and the moon. These luminaries are so bright, they contrast with darkness, with the sun providing enough light to completely block it out. But this analogy goes further than that because the sun, moon, and stars do more than stand out against the darkness. They shine in the darkness, giving light to those who would be in darkness otherwise. God is not calling the Philippians or any Christian to live away from the crooked place, but to work out their salvation by living in the crooked place.

 

     In verse 16, Paul completes the thought started in verses 14 and 15. He writes, “because you hold on to the word of life.” This certainly does imply that the Philippians are to hold the world of God dearly, but “the word of life” should be capitalized as a title for Jesus. As important and powerful as the Bible is, it is not what saves us. It points us to Jesus who saves us. Clinging to Jesus and applying God’s word to their lives will cause the Philippians to shine like lighthouses into the darkness of their crooked place, inviting people to Jesus.

 

     What does this have to teach us? Paul is telling the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. By working out their salvation, they will leave out grumbling and complaining so that their lives will shine in the darkness. This is true for us too.

 

     When we get saved and sanctified, we are filled with the Holy Spirit so we can live a holy life. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means we are possessed by the Spirit of the Living God, the Light of the World. God is so bright in His being that Moses was only allowed to look at God as He passed by.  The more we grow in grace from working out our salvation, the more we shine with His presence.

 

     Paul tells us to leave out grumbling and arguing because that is what those living in darkness do. This is not a call to blind agreement or abandonment of our minds. It is about respect for God, that He is working in your life and my life. Then collectively we are working out what that means together. Our goal is not to make more Nazarenes but to get more people to Jesus. Grumbling about other pastors or churches does nothing to help me, it only runs down the work of God. Arguing over doctrine does little for the Kingdom, and pushes people away from Jesus.

 

     The reason this happens is because that is the way the crooked and corrupt world operates. Winning arguments and being the strongest gets you ahead, even if that means destroying relationships in the process. We are to be lighthouses in the darkness by leaving out the ways of the world.

Work out

 

     Over the next few weeks, we will be camping in Philippians 2:12-18. I believe these verses give us an important insight for us as Christians. That insight is: how to live in God’s truth in a crooked place.

 

Most of you know, one of my hobbies is running. After years of walking across dealership lots, my body is still accustomed to working in an office. Running is my way of dealing with limbs that grow restless.

 

     As a high school student, my fastest one-mile run was 5:15. When I was in the military, I had to do a two-mile run in a certain amount of time. My fastest time for that was 13:00. In 2020, it was many years removed from any of that. My ego had to accept that I had spent years eating Big Macs, ice cream, and other things without so much as the thought of exercise. But I had to start somewhere.

 

     Just as physical exercise is important for our bodies, we are to exercise our faith. This is not to say we will be starting church aerobics or incorporating exercises while holding up a hymnal during our services. Having to work out our faith may have never occurred to us, and the task seems daunting. But we must start somewhere.

 

     Before we can start though, it is important to know what we are working out and how we are to go about it. As a runner, I have a route in mind, likewise, we are to spiritually work with a plan in mind. Paul gives us those answers in our passage today.

 

     Philippians 2:12-13(CEB):

 

     Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good pleasures.

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     The section we are studying is very much in line with Paul’s purpose in writing the whole letter. Paul is writing while in prison, why he says in verse 12, “My loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present, but now even more while I am away.” The apostle’s goal is to encourage the Philippians in their faith, while also letting them know he was still confident in his own.

 

     Verse 12 goes on to say, “Carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The phrase “carry out” in other translations is “work out.” The idea is applying effort to bring something to completion. Paul is not telling the Philippians to earn their salvation by working, he is telling them to seek to understand God’s ways and be obedient in living them out. This will give evidence of their faith.

 

     Paul ends verse 12 with “fear and trembling.” Again, this is not about dreading God or His presence. God wants a relationship with us, and no healthy relationship is based on fear. Rather the idea is to keep in mind the consequences of failing to be obedient. The consequence of sin is death, Jesus already paid that debt, and failure to be obedient on our part is to make a mockery of Christ’s sacrifice. Grace is available to live in obedience to God, just as much as it is to provide for our salvation.

 

     While we should certainly look at this from a personal standpoint, it also applies collectively to the church. The integrity of the church depends upon us to individually work out our salvation in our own lives so we can collectively work it out together. In our everyday lives, we are to work out our salvation so that when we come together we can do so together. When I am running, my leg muscles are not the only ones being put to use. My abdominal muscles and upper body are also working. Breathing is critical to the whole operation, but I must train my lungs to work in tandem with the rhythm of the rest of my body in movement. As members of Christ’s body, this is what we must do.

 

     Verse 13 says, “God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes.” Paul is highlighting who is responsible for the work of salvation. It is not us by our doing, but God in His graciousness to us through our faith. God is doing this work in our hearts and minds, aligning our ways with His ways. This begins with repentance, leads to entire sanctification, and continues until the Lord calls us home. His work is more than enough to transform us and at the same time draw us together under His banner and in His Holy Spirit. We are not passive in allowing this to happen, but active in surrender and obedience. And this should encourage us because it is not our work, but God’s work. He allows will finish what He starts.

 

     Paul has clearly outlined to us what we are working out and how we are to do so. We are each working out our salvation so we can work it out collectively, allowing God’s power to work in us and through us. Our salvation is worked out by us being obedient to God’s ways in an outward demonstration of His inward work in us.

 

     But what does this obedience look like? How do we live it out? The first way is very plain and the key to the whole thing. We must have faith in Jesus. Second, that faith in Jesus will lead us to a community of believers so we can join in worship with them. Not because they are perfect and have it all put together. They worship and we worship with them because God is doing a work in each of us with our lives becoming a symphony of His grace. Each of us comes in marching to our tune, but God takes us and makes a note in His glorious and harmonious song.

 

     Faith that is worked out only in a church service is not sufficient. It is like coming to the dinner table after going a week with nothing. Individual time spent reading God’s word throughout the week is critical to working out our salvation. Yet, according to a 2021 Barna report, only 34 percent of adult Christians read their Bible at least once a week. The reason so many believers leave church feeling underfed is not the result of the church, it is the result of only eating one time per week. Our souls were designed to crave more. Devotionals are great and can help us, but the greater way is to read the Bible itself for ourselves.

 

     Just as critical as reading the Bible is to working out our salvation, so is prayer. Pray is us communicating with God, allowing Him to open our eyes to the things unseen. By lifting our needs and the needs of others, we are inviting God to intervene. At our last prayer and worship night, I challenged those present to pray for our church every night at 7:50 pm. Why that time? The Church of the Nazarene officially recognized the organization of our church on August 14, 1950. 1950 in military time is 7:50 pm. And I can tell you since we have started, I can already see God moving! Many of the ways I cannot tell you.

 

     Working out our salvation goes beyond reading the Bible and prayer, but spills over to us doing the work of ministry. Whether that is stepping into a role at the church, which we have many, or finding ways to serve as we are going about life. All these are us working out our salvation in obedience to God and bringing Him glory.

 

     [Invite the worship team]

 

     Where are you at? Have you put your faith in Jesus? There is no better time than right now. Have you wandered away from the faith? There is no better time to return than right now. Are you working out your salvation? There is no better time to start than today.

 

     On the altars, I have placed a “gym membership card.” This card is not a physical gym for a physical workout. There is no fee, but a fantastic rewards system. It is a card of committing ourselves to working out our salvation. If you are committed to this, I want you to come forward and take one. Put in your Bible, in your wallet, on your car dashboard, or on your bathroom mirror. Place it somewhere to remind you that God is doing a work in your life, and He invites you to work out what that means in your life.

The purpose of preaching

 

There is a story of a preacher who never prepared for his sermon during the week. Every Sunday, as the music played and the congregation would sing, the preacher would pray, “Lord, give me a message.” One Sunday while praying, the preacher received a word from God, a message specifically for him. God said, “Here is your message: you are lazy.”

 

     Since I was sixteen, God has placed the burden to preach on me. My first sermon, I will admit, was written in large part with help from my mom. But since then, I have learned that the burden is too great and important to be taken lightly. Hours of study, prayer, and writing are required. But those are meaningless without the Holy Spirit, whose presence, power, and assurance only grow during the process.

 

     But have you ever wondered, “What is the purpose of preaching?” My record, according to the podcast, is 53 minutes for one sermon. God bless those people for enduring. However, why do we as God’s people gather to sit and hear His Word shared by a crazy person like me if we can read it for ourselves? Paul gives us some insight.

 

     1 Thessalonians 2:1-16(CEB):

 

     As you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, our visit with you wasn’t a waste of time. On the contrary, we had the courage through God to speak God’s good news in spite of a lot of opposition, although we had already suffered and were publicly insulted in Philippi, as you know. Our appeal isn’t based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception. Rather, we have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that’s exactly how we speak. We aren’t trying to please people, but we are trying to please God, who continues to examine our hearts. As you know, we never used flattery, and God is our witness that we didn’t have greedy motives. We didn’t ask for special treatment from people—not from you or from others—although we could have thrown our weight around as Christ’s apostles. Instead, we were gentle with you like a nursing mother caring for her own children. We were glad to share not only God’s good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much. You remember, brothers and sisters, our efforts and hard work. We preached God’s news to you, while we worked night and day so we wouldn’t be a burden to any of you. You and God are witnesses of how holy, just, and blameless we were toward you believers. Likewise, you know how we treated each of you like a father treats his own children. We appealed to you, encouraged you, and pleaded with you to live lives worthy of the God who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory.

 

     We also thank God constantly for this: when you accepted God’s word that you heard from us, you welcomed it for what it truly is. Instead of accepting it as a human message, you accepted it as God’s message, and it continues to work in you who are believers. Brothers and sisters, you became imitators of the churches of God in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus. This was because you also suffered the same things from your own people as they did from the Jews. They killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out. They don’t please God, and they are hostile to the entire human race when they try to stop us from speaking to the Gentiles so they can be saved. Their sins are constantly pushing the limit. God’s wrath has caught up with them in the end.

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     In 1 Thessalonians, Paul is defending his work as an apostle. He was a messenger for Jesus who worked to share the gospel and establish a community of faith. Based on a report he had received, Paul’s work was being challenged. As Paul addresses these falsities being spread, it is not in an attempt to uphold his name but the name of Jesus. But as Paul does so, he reveals to us the purpose of preaching.

 

     Verses 1 and 2 begin by sharing the high cost involved for Paul in sharing the message. If we read through the book of Acts, there are many stories of the suffering Paul endured in sharing the message of Jesus. His body was covered in scars, and Paul’s mind retained the memories behind each one. Paul persisted through these sufferings because of his confidence in God and the power of God’s message to transform sinners into saints. And the Thessalonians were the result of God’s power and Paul’s confidence in His power.

 

     Verse 3 says, “Our appeal isn’t based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception.” Paul did not share God’s message to gain popularity, otherwise he would have spoken words that led to less pain for him. Instead, Paul shared the truth. According to Paul, the purpose of preaching is to share God’s truth, which is the truth.

 

     Paul continues in verse 4 with, “We have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that’s exactly how we speak. We aren’t trying to please people, but we are trying to please God, who continually examines our hearts.” When God’s truth is shared it will reveal how the hearer’s life falls short. To fall short of God’s standard is to sin. So, according to Paul, the purpose of preaching is to share God’s truth in warning that a change is necessary and to guide people into how that change is possible.

 

     While the other verses we have examined have shared what the purpose of preaching is, verses 5 and 6 reveal what the purpose of preaching is not. It is not a means for the preacher to get rich, gain influence, or receive special treatment. As a preacher, Paul’s role was to serve God by serving the people who hear God’s message. He had a right to get paid as a preacher, but that was not as important as sharing the message. Preaching ruined Paul’s right to be anonymous, but any influence he gained was not for himself, it was to be used for Jesus. And Paul could not expect to be treated any better for his efforts than the treatment Jesus had received.

 

     Looking at verses 7 through 11 highlight how the preacher is to live out the message. Paul did not live his life separated from the Thessalonians but in direct contact with them. He was thrilled to be there with them and genuinely loved them. His compassion for them was like a mother who gives her life to care for her children. It was like a father who lovingly guided his children to truth and in truth. This demonstrates the risk involved for Paul in sharing God’s truth because it jeopardized the relationship between him and the people. If they rejected God’s message, they would also reject him. The purpose of preaching is to share God’s truth in warning that change is necessary and to guide people into how that change is possible, this is out of a heart that genuinely loves God and the people.

 

     Moving on to verse 12, it says, “We appealed to you, encouraged you, and pleaded with you to live lives worthy of the God who is calling you into His own kingdom and glory.” Paul’s desire was for the people to hear and accept God’s message, and then live out their faith in demonstration of the new life they now possessed. Therefore, the purpose of preaching is to share God’s truth in warning that change is necessary and to guide people into how that change is possible, and then encourage people to live out the glory of God’s kingdom, out of a heart that genuinely loves God and the people.

 

     What does this have to do with us? It would seem I have already given the purpose of preaching, according to Paul. The purpose of preaching is to share God’s truth in warning that change is necessary and to guide people into how that change is possible, and then encourage people to live out the glory of God’s kingdom, out of a heart that genuinely loves God and the people. All that is great, but it is missing the main point. And it is the most dangerous point for the preacher and hearer.

 

     Did you notice I did not share any details on verses 13 through 16 of our passage? These hold the key to the purpose of preaching. Verse 13 says, “We also thank God constantly for this: when you accepted God’s word that you heard from us, you welcomed it for what it truly is. Instead of a human message, you accepted it as God’s message.” The purpose of preaching I shared with you means nothing without this last thing, the response of those who hear.

 

     It is dangerous because of how the hearers respond. Paul shares in verses 14 through 16 what happens when God’s message is rejected. Verse 13 shares what happens when it is accepted. Every time the Word of God is preached it challenges something in us and demands a response from us.

 

     Out of my love for you, my life laid down for God’s message, and serving you so you can hear it, I am plainly asking you today will you accept God’s message or reject it? Jesus had to die on the Cross for your sins, and this was not so you could continue in your life of sin. The sinful life will lead you to destruction. But that is not necessary. By faith today, do you accept Jesus as the sacrifice on your behalf? Will you leave behind your life of sin and walk as a follower of Jesus?

 

     I am not asking this of you for my ego. This is not to keep some statistics on a stat sheet. I ask because I genuinely love you, see value in you, believe in you, and have faith in my God’s power to do a work in your life. And I know asking this is dangerous. But the danger of me to not ask you is greater. Will you follow Jesus?

What if...?

 

     When I was serving as a youth pastor, I had the privilege of not only seeing teens get saved and sanctified but watching them grow into leaders in the church. But as you can imagine, there were moments when they had to be nudged to take on that role or given instruction on how to perform in a role.

 

     There was an extremely talented young lady. She had an incredible singing voice and could play the piano. Her gifts would lead her to be part of the Sunday morning worship team. This young lady was also a high school cheerleader and regularly dressed like many teen girls during the week. One Sunday as she was leading worship, she wore some short jean shorts. They were very short. After the service, the senior pastor and I debated on whose responsibility it was to have a conversation with her about them. Before we could end our discussion, the young lady came up to us and said, “I will never wear shorts like these again up there.” For whatever reason, she came to desire to change on her own.

 

     I am always amazed looking back on that event. And I am very proud of that young lady, not only for that moment but for who she has become now. Also, I marvel at how God worked without the need for my intervention. What would have happened if I opened my mouth?

 

     Our passage today is a lot like that. Jesus has a remarkable conversation with a Samaritan woman. Then the disciples enter the scene with questions in their minds, but they never voice them to Jesus. But what if they had asked those questions?

 

     John 4:27-30(CEB):

 

     Just then, Jesus’ disciples arrived and were shocked that he was talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman put down her water jar and went into the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I’ve done! Could this man be the Christ?” They left the city and were on their way to see Jesus.

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     We are jumping in at the tail end of a powerful conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. The disciples had left Jesus at a well to go into town for food, not knowing this was the spot for divine interaction. He proceeds to tell this less-than-virtuous woman her entire life story, including all of her five failed marriages and current relationship. But then Jesus offers her living water and shares with her that He is the Messiah.

 

     Verse 27 records that the conversation is brought to a halt by the return of the disciples. The text says, “They were shocked that he was talking with a woman.” Notice it has little to do with her being a Samaritan woman, but that she was a woman. This was scandalous in this period. Rabbis taught that a man should not talk to any woman in public, even their wives. Thus the questions the disciples think, but do not ask. “Why are you talking to her?” And “What do you want?”, which comes from the assumption the Samaritan woman initiated the conversation.

 

     But while the disciples think about such questions, they do not ask them. The situation was very unusual, but they knew Jesus and trusted Him. So in a custom very much unlike the disciples, none of them say anything.

 

     Verses 28-30 share the change of the Samaritan woman. She leaves to go share about Jesus in her town, but she leaves behind her water jar. The very reason she came to the well was forgotten because of the gift of living water Jesus had offered her. The Samaritan woman returns to town with a simple message, sharing it with the same people she tried to avoid just hours earlier. And the people listened to her! As one commentator points out, the disciples returned with food but the Samaritan woman would return with people.

 

     What does this have to do with us? Again, this goes to the question of “what if”? The disciples return to see Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman. It was such a scandalous sight that questions immediately formulated in their minds. A miracle happens, just like God shut the mouths of the lions for Daniel, He shut the mouths of the disciples. But what if the disciples did say something?

 

     The Samaritan woman was so excited to leave and share about Jesus that she forgot her water jar. But if the disciples had asked, “What are you doing talking to her?” that might have caused the woman to pause and leave discouraged rather than encouraged. The disciples would have responded understandably given the tradition of the time, but it would have risked the gains Jesus had made in the woman’s life. Jesus had spoken to her as someone valued by God, and the disciples’ question would have undermined the value.

 

     Glory be to God, that is not what happened. The disciples give us a lesson on making disciples, sometimes it is better to be quiet and trust Jesus. On the other side, the Samaritan woman also teaches us something. When she shares Jesus with those in her town, she says, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I’ve done! Could this man be the Christ?” Notice she does not say, “This is the Christ,” even if that is what she believed. Instead, she presented it as a question so the other people would investigate for themselves and have the freedom to answer that question on their own. The decision to follow Jesus is the right of every person on their own. And it cannot be made for someone anyway.

 

     Both the disciples and the Samaritan woman shared something in common. They trusted Jesus. The disciples took one look at an unorthodox situation, but rather than speak they trusted that Jesus knew what He was doing. The Samaritan woman, after one encounter and conversation, trusted Jesus to leave behind her water jar and go share about Him with her whole town. And that is the lesson for us.

 

     We think the work of making disciples, evangelism, is about our talents, words, and adherence to manmade traditions. But what it is really about is you and me trusting Jesus. Something may look out of place to us but at some point for true disciple-making to take place, there has to be a collision between the holy and the common. That collision takes place whenever Jesus is shared with someone outside the faith, and impacts the heart. Sometimes it will require us to speak, and other times it will require us to not give into our knee-jerk reactions. It may require us to stay quiet or it may require us to speak.

 

     How do we know the difference? By trusting in Jesus. Trusting in Jesus allows His Holy Spirit to guide us in our conversations and reactions. And the Holy Spirit will never lead us outside the will of God. Can we trust Jesus?

Full effort of the fullness of God

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is without error in all matters of salvation. We do well as the people of God to make studying the Bible a habit in our lives. Not only do we find the meaning of salvation in Scripture, but we also find how to live out our salvation.

 

     While the whole Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit, there is one verse that sticks out the most. It is the most popular verse in the whole of Scripture. And I think it is with good reason because it seems to tie all of the Bible together in God’s work of salvation. Today we will look at this verse, along with the surrounding context to see why it is so important.

 

     John 3:14-17(CEB):

 

     “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up so everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     These verses come on the tail end of a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a well-respected teacher among the Jews. He had come to Jesus under the cover of darkness with questions. Jesus instructs Nicodemus on what it means to be saved. To be saved, one had to be born again from above. Now Jesus concludes with the way to be born again.

 

     In verses 14 and 15, Jesus references an Old Testament passage that Nicodemus would have known well. The Israelites had been journeying to the Promised Land, and along the way, they sinned against God. God punishes them by sending poisonous serpents that bite and kill the Israelites. When they cry out from the distress caused by their sin, God gives Moses specific instructions. Moses is told to craft a bronze serpent, place it on a pole, and lift it up so the Israelites could see it. If anyone was bitten by a snake, all they had to do was look and live.

 

     Jesus shares that He, the Son of Man, must be lifted up like the bronze serpent. In His case, Jesus is being lifted up to deal with the issue of human sin. Everyone is bitten and plagued with sin, but anyone who looks at Jesus and believes will gain eternal life. This eternal life is not simply life after death, but the promise of God’s presence now with no expiration date. The life that sustains life.

 

     Now this brings us to the most well-known verse in the Bible. Verse 16 begins with “God so loved.” This is not a philosophical argument for God’s love but a verse describing God’s love in action. God’s love is completely selfless, not toward the righteous, but toward all rebellious humanity.

 

     The whole verse reads “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.” Everyone means everyone. It does not matter a person’s nationality, race, or starting disposition toward God. Faith in Jesus saves anyone and everyone from the penalty of sin, which is death. In place of death, they are given eternal life beginning at the moment they believe.

 

     Verse 17 gives a clear view of God’s purpose by sending Jesus. It reads, “God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus coming does bring sin and the world into judgment, but that was not God’s goal. If someone does not believe, then they choose Hell. However, God’s goal was that everyone would be saved. His holiness punished sin, but Jesus took on that punishment so no one else would have to endure it. Christ took our sins on Himself so we could choose salvation.

 

     What is this saying to us? Hopefully, we can see why John 3:16 is the most well-known Bible verse. It clearly establishes God’s will for us to be saved. There can be no doubt that God is love and His love is both grace and truth, essential to His character.

 

     But I do not know if we realize how deeply God’s love is demonstrated in these verses. We read this and see it as God the Almighty demonstrating His love, and Jesus the man willfully submitting to this plan. While that is true, I think we miss out when we separate the deity of Jesus from His person.

 

     Our God is triune in nature. Meaning, there is only one God who reveals Himself to us through three distinct persons. All of them collectively are the one God, and individually they are fully God. In these verses, we see that God the Father has lovingly planned to send Jesus for our salvation. Jesus, God the Son, willfully takes on our sins. But while the Holy Spirit is not directly mentioned in these verses, being born again means to be born again from above. Faith in Jesus enables the Holy Spirit to regenerate us from children of the devil into children of God.

 

     What this means for us is that our salvation is the result of the full effort of the fullness of God. The entire Trinity participates in bringing us to salvation. When it says God loves us, it is all of God that loves us. It is all of God that wills for us to be saved. It is all of God at work in the world and in your life trying to rescue everyone from the flames of Hell.

 

     If all of God is at work for us to be saved, that tells you and me two things. First, if all of God is working toward the salvation of everyone, you and I as His followers should be as zealous for the same thing. Second, God really loves you. It is not because you are righteous and worthy of rescue, but because God loves you. He knows our sins, both inward and outward, but still thinks you are worth dying to redeem. What are you waiting for? Eternal life can begin now.

 

     Do you believe in Jesus and that He died for your sins? That is all that is required to accept God’s gift. It is not received based on works, but grace through faith. Believers, can we let this be the issue that matters most to us? We were not saved through our church attendance, Bible reading, or man-made laws. God redeemed us. Can we become known for this message of God’s amazing grace?

The Comforter has come

 

     During our services, we sing songs with words like, “Come, Holy Spirit, I need You,” and “Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.” There are others with similar words, but all of them are inviting the Holy Spirit into our presence with the hope that hearts are stirred.

 

     But who is the Holy Spirit? Make no mistake, there is a definite response in a room when the Holy Spirit is present. However, does that mean there are times when the Holy Spirit is not around? Is the Holy Spirit some type of mystical force that only comes at our invitation? Our text for today reveals the identity, nature, and purpose of the Holy Spirit through the words of Jesus. Do the words of Jesus match our understanding?

 

     John 16:7-10(CEB):

 

     “I assure you that is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. He will show the world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me. He will show the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore.”

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     These words of Jesus are shared as He is sitting around the table for the last time with His disciples. He has finished telling them that He has to go away, a statement they do not like. So the words Jesus shares with them are meant to be encouraging for the disciples.

 

     Jesus makes His intentions about these statements clear in verse 7 when He says, “It is better for you if I go away.” Humanity comes at a cost. In becoming human like us, Jesus was limited to being a specific being, in a specific place, and facing a certain enemy. It was limited. Losing Jesus meant the disciples would lose their teacher, but more importantly their friend. As sad as this loss would be, Jesus is saying it is necessary for the greatness of God’s plan.

 

     He continues in verse 7 saying, “If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” The word “Companion” could also be translated as “Advocate” or “Comforter.” Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit, who has always existed. The Holy Spirit is God as much as God the Son and God the Father. There were instances in the Old Testament and even in the gospels where the Holy Spirit empowered folks for a specific moment, but what Jesus is referencing is something more. A continual inward presence.

 

     While the disciples had the opportunity to physically be in the presence of Jesus, Jesus had to go. This is not the result of some internal conflict between the godhead, but to fulfill the work of God. Jesus had to die for our atonement and ascend to intercede on our behalf. But the disciples would not be left without God’s presence, they would be given the Holy Spirit in their hearts. No longer would God be an external presence, but an internal one through the Holy Spirit.

 

     Remembering that these verses are spoken as encouragement, Jesus says in 8 and 9, “When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. He will show the world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me.” The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) is sent to convict and convince the world of sin. Conviction is a legal term, meaning “declare someone guilty of a crime.” But the Holy Spirit does not do this to condemn someone, the goal is to point them to their need for Jesus. Unbelief in Jesus is the biggest obstacle for anyone to overcome, and it is failure to do so that leads to hell. Without faith in Jesus, a person cannot be pardoned of sin.

 

     In verse 10, Jesus says, “The Comforter will show the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore.” The world’s definition of righteousness was crucifying Jesus. Why? Their accusation was blasphemy, but in reality, Jesus lived a sinless life in every action, thought, word, and intention. The Holy Spirit's coming would prove the world wrong because His arrival proves the world wrong by keeping Jesus’s words. Jesus was not some blasphemer, but the Son of God, Savior of the world. And not only that, it demonstrated that living a righteous life was possible.

 

     What does this have to say to us? Well, I have already answered our question, “Who is the Holy Spirit?” The Holy Spirit is God who can dwell in the hearts of believers. This truth was evidenced by the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles, then others who would come to the faith throughout the book of Acts.

 

     And that is what this passage has to do with us. We believe in the same Jesus as the apostles! The same Holy Spirit that descended upon them can descend upon us. Without the Holy Spirit convicting us, we would not have recognized our need for Jesus. Our sinful nature was content with living in rebellion before God, but the Holy Spirit convinced us that we were wrong. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit helps us to be transformed into living according to God’s will.

 

     But remember, Jesus shares these words as an encouragement to his disciples. How is that so? Other than the obvious, living in step with God, it also implies that is all we need to do. If we live surrendered to the Holy Spirit, He will work in us and through us. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts and convinces the world of sin, not us! But how? Through us living surrendered lives. The whole thing is not dependent upon you and me but on Jesus! Then Jesus works through you and me.