Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP061006
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00:29 Holy Father, in a world where good and evil are at war.
00:33 And where the good die young and the evil live on. 00:38 And where the evil occasionally come to justice and die, 00:41 but we are not sure whether to celebrate or mourn. 00:45 Oh, God, in such a world as this, 00:48 there is still worship 00:50 and people still come seeking solace in Your company 00:54 and peace in Your presence. 00:56 We too have come 00:59 because though evil may rule and the good may languish, 01:02 Jesus still reigns. 01:04 The throne of God is still secure. 01:07 Goodness will yet triumph 01:09 and we shall yet overcome with Him. 01:12 And so with gratitude, 01:14 we worship You through Christ Jesus 01:17 who shall reign forever and ever, amen. 01:59 Jesus shall reign where're the sun 02:07 Does its successive journeys run 02:14 His kingdom stretch from shore to shore 02:21 Till moons shall wax 02:24 And wane no more 02:31 People and realms of every tongue 02:38 Dwell on His love with sweetest song 02:45 And infant voices shall proclaim 02:53 Their earthly blessings 02:57 On His name 03:04 Blessing abound where're He reigns 03:11 The prisoners leap to lose their chains 03:18 The weary find eternal rest 03:26 And all who suffer want are blest 03:51 Let every creature rise and bring 03:59 Honors peculiar to our King 04:07 Angels descend with songs again 04:14 And earth repeat 04:18 The loud amen. 04:29 Okay, so here is a story. 04:30 Wait a minute, I need to tell you 04:32 before I tell you the story, what the story is about. 04:34 I want to describe the animal to you 04:36 and you tell me what animal it is. 04:38 It has a little head. 04:41 We have them in Berrien Springs by the way, 04:43 has a little head, 04:45 a body that's so kind of average, 04:48 little feet with a long tail on it 04:53 and the tail is fuzzy and furry. 04:57 What animal is that? Rabbit. 04:59 Squirrel, you're absolutely right. 05:01 Rabbit was close 05:02 but the rabbit has a small tail. 05:04 So there's a long tail. 05:06 Somebody came up to me after-- 05:07 Can you picture a squirrel in your mind? 05:09 Can you see the squirrel? 05:10 Because I don't have a picture, I have another picture 05:12 I'm gonna show you in just a minute, 05:13 but I don't have a picture of a squirrel. 05:15 Can you picture it? Can you see the squirrel? 05:17 They go, did they go up the trees? 05:19 Did they come back down? Did they run across the lawn? 05:22 Yeah, you've seen squirrels. 05:23 Somebody came up to me after first church they say, 05:25 "You know what a squirrel is. 05:27 It's a rat with hair on it." 05:28 And I had never thought about that before, 05:30 but apparently it really is, 05:32 it's just a rat with hair on its tail. 05:34 So anyway squirrels, 05:36 and as this happened just last Sunday 05:38 down in Memphis, Tennessee. 05:41 Anybody know where Memphis is? Tennessee? 05:43 Have you heard of Tennessee? 05:44 Yeah, that's to the south of us. 05:47 Last Sunday, 05:49 when Anthony Hawks, awakened he said, 05:52 "Oh, this is the perfect day for what I love to do." 05:59 You see Anthony Hawks. 06:00 Oh, he just was looking forward to having today, 06:05 a squirrel hunt. 06:08 You know what that means? You hunt squirrels. 06:11 I'm sure he just caught them and then kept them alive. 06:14 That's the way we would like to leave it 06:15 for the story sake, all right. 06:17 So he just caught the squirrels 06:18 and just added them to his collection. 06:19 Some people collect squirrels. 06:21 So he said, "Today is the day I'm going squirrel hunting." 06:28 Oh, I want to catch some squirrel. 06:30 Have you ever tried to catch a squirrel? 06:31 No. We can't. 06:33 Oh, is it easy to catch the squirrel? 06:35 No. No, it is not easy. 06:37 So it's going to be a tough day for Anthony Hawks, 06:40 50 years old. 06:42 You may think that's ancient but it really isn't, 06:45 Anthony Hawks is saying, "I can do this." 06:48 And so he went out, he went out. 06:51 He's in the-- 06:53 He's in the woods. 06:54 Ah! Wait, wait, shh! Shh! Up. 06:56 There's one up in the tree, boo, I got him. 07:00 He went a little farther into the woods. 07:03 What's he looking for? Squirrels. 07:05 I'm hunting squirrels, 07:06 he went little further into the woods. 07:09 Oh, there's one, boo, I got him. 07:12 I got him. 07:13 So he was hunting squirrels all Sunday, 07:16 and then a little squirrel got away from him. 07:19 The squirrel ran down toward the Loosahatchie River, 07:23 which is outside of Memphis. 07:25 The squirrel ran down towards the Loosahatchie River, 07:28 and here went Anthony Hawks, 07:30 "I'm going to catch that squirrel. 07:32 Yes, I am." 07:33 But when he got down to the riverbank, 07:36 all of a sudden he stopped, what? 07:40 Why is he stopping? 07:42 You're supposed to get the squirrel 07:45 but he stopped, that is funny isn't it? 07:49 But he stopped, and he couldn't move. 07:54 He said, "What's going on here, 07:59 let me see. 08:01 What, what? I can't get that foot out. 08:04 Let me try this one." 08:08 He was stuck in mud, mud. 08:13 You know what mud looks like, don't you? 08:14 You love playing in it, but this wasn't the same kind. 08:17 This was, and when he tried to-- 08:21 Have you ever seen them pour cement, 08:24 pour to make a road, 08:25 and can you imagine what it would be 08:27 like to step into that cement 08:28 and then it gets hard around you. 08:30 That's what happened to Anthony Hawks, 08:32 he couldn't and every time he tried to move his foot, 08:36 his foot went deeper. 08:40 This isn't quicksand, it's just mud. 08:42 And it-- 08:45 and he went and now it's up to his shins. 08:47 Now it's up to his knees. 08:49 Would you be getting worried right about now? 08:52 And what do you think he did? 08:54 Pray. Pray. 08:55 Well, he didn't think about praying, 08:56 he should have, maybe did, good for you. 09:00 You know, maybe that's what he did, 09:02 but you know what else he did? 09:04 Help! 09:08 And he yelled and he yelled and nobody heard him. 09:11 That was Sunday afternoon. 09:12 Nobody heard and he kept going just a little deeper 09:15 and every time he moved, I better, I better quit moving, 09:18 further down, help. 09:22 The sunset, help. 09:24 The moon came out, help. The moon went down help. 09:30 The sun came up, help. 09:33 He couldn't even say it anymore. 09:36 Nobody came. 09:38 And then all of a sudden down the Loosahatchie River-- 09:45 here came a little fishing. 09:50 And the fisherman would throw his hook out. 09:54 And all of a sudden, he heard the bank talking, 09:58 the riverbank is talking. 10:00 He looked through the early morning light. 10:03 There is a man inside that mud and he is going down. 10:10 He raced to the shore, he got up to a telephone 10:13 and what number do you think he called? 10:14 911. 911. 10:17 He said, "We got a man in the river." 10:21 And they came and the ambulances 10:23 and the big old emergency rescuers came in, 10:27 the firemen came in 10:28 and now they're in the mud and they're trying hard. 10:31 And I'm going to show you his picture 10:33 right on the screen. 10:34 Take a look at that. 10:36 He is the man right here in the middle 10:37 with the bald head. 10:39 He is in the mud all night 10:43 and all over a day in the mud. 10:48 Oh, I bet his mom was mad 10:50 when he came home and showed her his clothes. 10:53 Oh, my! 10:55 Can you imagine that? Stuck in the mud. 10:57 Could he get himself out? Quiz time. 11:00 Could he get himself out? No. 11:01 Could he help himself? No. 11:03 What did he need? Help. 11:05 He needed somebody to come and help him. 11:07 Oh, it's just like us 11:08 when we're stuck in the mud of sin. 11:10 Can we get ourselves out? No. No. 11:12 Can we-- 11:14 Can we save ourselves? No. 11:15 Who do we need? Who do we need? 11:18 Call his name out? Who do we need? 11:20 Oh, we need Jesus. Oh, yeah. 11:23 He's the only one that can save us from the mud of sin. 11:25 But wait, one more picture. 11:26 One more time at this picture, not just us sinners, 11:30 but there are people who live around us, 11:33 who are stuck not for any fault of their own, 11:37 sometimes they're just stuck and they can't get out, 11:40 they need somebody to come along and help them. 11:46 Final quiz before we pray. Question number one. 11:49 How many are thankful, Jesus came into the mud 11:52 to get us unstuck from our sins? 11:54 Hold your hand up if you're thankful for Jesus. 11:56 Okay, quiz question number two. 11:58 How many want to help Jesus 12:00 get other people unstuck who need help? 12:04 Hold both hands up, will you? 12:06 Oh, I know you put both up, let's pray. 12:08 Oh, dear Jesus, we want to help You, 12:11 help others get unstuck, 12:13 people who need help all around us. 12:15 We've raised both hands. 12:17 Thank you for helping us through us, 12:20 help others we pray in your name, amen. 12:25 As you go quietly and reverently 12:27 back to your seats. 12:28 I want you to remember Anthony Hawks and you say, 12:30 "Oh, Jesus, thank you for getting me unstuck. 12:34 May I help you help others?" 12:56 This little light of mine 13:02 I'm going to let it shine 13:07 This little light of mine 13:12 I'm going to let it shine 13:17 This little light of mine 13:23 I'm going to let it shine 13:27 Let it shine, let it shine 13:32 Let it shine 13:47 Everywhere I go 13:52 I'm going to let it shine 13:58 Everywhere I go 14:03 I'm going to let it shine 14:09 Everywhere I go 14:15 I'm going to let it shine 14:19 Let it shine, let it shine 14:26 Let it shine 14:33 Let it shine till Jesus comes 14:39 I'm going to let it shine 14:44 Let it shine till Jesus comes 14:50 I'm going to let it shine 14:56 Let it shine till Jesus comes 15:02 I'm going to let it shine 15:07 Let it shine 15:13 Let it shine 15:18 Let it shine 15:27 Let it shine. 16:01 I am Amante Gonzalez, 16:03 I'm in the seventh grade in East Maddock, 16:05 and this is my dad Alvin Gonzales. 16:07 And we are going to be reading the word. 16:11 Please turn in your bulletins 16:13 to responsive scripture reading. 16:18 Please read responsively. 16:21 "Peter fairly exploded with the good news: 16:24 it's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: 16:27 God plays no favorites! 16:29 It makes no difference 16:30 who you are or where you're from, 16:32 if you want God 16:33 and you are ready to do as he says, 16:35 the door is open. 16:36 The message he sent the children of Israel 16:40 through Jesus Christ everything is put together again. 16:45 Well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone. 16:50 You know the story of what happened in Judea. 16:52 It began in Galilee 16:54 after John preached a total life change. 16:57 Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, 17:00 anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, 17:04 ready for action. 17:06 He went through the country 17:07 helping people and healing everyone 17:10 who was beaten down by the Devil. 17:14 He was able to do all this because God was with him." 17:56 When the church of Jesus 18:01 Shuts its outer door 18:05 Lest the roar of traffic 18:10 Drown the voice of prayer 18:15 May our prayers, Lord, 18:17 Make us ten times more aware 18:24 That the world we banish 18:28 Is our Christian care 18:36 If our hearts are lifted 18:41 Where devotion soars 18:45 High above this hungry 18:49 Suffering world of ours 18:54 Lest our hymns should drug us 18:59 To forget its needs 19:03 Forge our Christian worship 19:07 Into Christian deeds 19:15 Lest the gifts we offer 19:19 Money, talents, time 19:24 Serve to salve our conscience 19:29 To our secret shame 19:33 Lord, reprove, inspire us 19:38 By the way You give 19:43 Teach us, dying Savior 19:47 How true Christians live. 19:58 Holy Father, that's quite a prayer 20:00 we sing to You. 20:03 Teach us, how true Christians live, 20:06 lest our hymns drug us when we shut the outer door. 20:11 Oh, God, let the teaching 20:12 that Holy Scripture brings to us today. 20:16 Let it not only enter into our minds 20:19 but please 20:21 through this teaching change our lives, 20:23 change the way we live 20:25 for the glory and honor of Jesus. 20:27 We pray in His name, amen. 20:33 Is there anything worse in life 20:36 than having to go through the day 20:38 with everything out of focus, 20:42 like that screen that you're looking at right now? 20:46 I mean, that would not just drive you crazy. 20:49 Now those of us who wear glasses 20:52 and contact lenses 20:53 know the craziness of a world out of focus. 20:57 And by the way Mr. Cameraman, please take it, 20:59 please put us back in focus as we continue this teaching. 21:02 Bless you, thank you. 21:03 One of the toughest lessons for the church 21:05 in the Old Testament to learn 21:08 was the danger of myopia. 21:12 Do you know what that pathological condition 21:14 is myopia? 21:16 You know what that is? 21:17 Look, I'm not an ophthalmologist, 21:20 and you can be thankful. 21:21 But let me just for a moment pretend that I'm an eye doctor 21:24 and let me give you a lesson about eyes. 21:25 Let me put something on the screen for you here. 21:28 You see two eyeballs there. 21:29 Let's look at the eyeball at the top, 21:31 that's a normal eyeball. 21:32 It sees an object in front of it, 21:33 the light passes through, 21:35 the eyeball receives that image of light, 21:38 the lens turns it upside down 21:40 just like a camera does by the way. 21:42 And then focuses that image on the back wall of the eyeball 21:46 that is called the retina. 21:49 The eyeball beneath it however is suffering 21:52 from that pathological condition called myopia. 21:55 And what happens in myopia, you look at that. 21:58 It's a visual defect in which images are focused 22:00 not on the retina but in front of it. 22:03 You see that, it comes to focus too early. 22:07 That's why for people with myopia, 22:09 if the objects are seen clearly only when up close to the eyes 22:13 which is why they have coined the synonym for myopia 22:17 nearsightedness, nearsighted. 22:23 The church in the Old Testament was suffering 22:25 from the pathological condition of nearsightedness. 22:31 And oh, boy, I tell you what? 22:32 You want something that arouses the indignation of God, 22:35 we have found it here. 22:36 Tell us God how You really feel and He does. 22:39 I want you to open your Bible, take a look at this. 22:41 Go back to that ancient prophet Isaiah. 22:45 Open your Bible please to Isaiah, 22:46 two classic textbook depictions, 22:49 textbook definitions of myopia, 22:51 spiritual nearsightedness, ecclesiastical myopia. 22:55 Hold on now. 22:57 Find Isaiah and I hope we can do 22:58 a little bit of multitasking right here. 23:00 Now, you know what multitasking is. 23:01 Our college kids are gone for the summer 23:03 but you know what they can do. 23:04 They can do three things simultaneously, 23:06 they can watch TV and listen to the stereo 23:07 and do their research and study at the same time. 23:10 Let's do some multitasking. 23:12 While you're finding Isaiah, 23:14 would you also pull out of your worship bulletin please 23:16 the study guide for today? 23:18 You have a brand new study guide today. 23:20 I want to jot these definitions down for myopia 23:22 before we get into these textbook depictions, 23:27 so pull the study guide. 23:29 Thank you ushers. Thank you ushers. 23:30 Hold your hand up if you don't have a study guide. 23:32 I want to make sure that everyone here 23:33 who would like a study guide receives one. 23:36 And those of you who are watching on television, 23:38 let me give you our website, 23:39 it's put on the screen right now. 23:41 There it is www.pmchurch.tv. 23:44 If you go to our website, 23:46 this particular teaching is called, 23:48 "The Externally Focused Church: Prescription for Myopia." 23:52 When you see that, click on where it says study guide, 23:55 you'll have the identical study guide 23:58 and you can fill it out with us. 23:59 I want to get this definition down 24:01 before we go to the textbook depictions of myopia, 24:04 so jot it down. 24:05 Myopia, a visual defects, grab a pen, a visual defect 24:10 in which images are focused not on the retina 24:13 but in front of it, 24:14 so that objects are seen clearly. 24:16 Write that in. 24:17 Objects are seen clearly only when close to the eye. 24:22 All right. Synonym for myopia. 24:24 What's a synonym for myopia? 24:26 Nearsightedness, scribble that in please. 24:28 Nearsightedness, so that keep writing, 24:30 "People with myopia can see objects that are near clearly, 24:34 but objects that are far out of focus." 24:38 All right, hang on to those definitions myopia. 24:41 Two classic textbook depictions, Isaiah, 24:44 here I'm doing all the talking and haven't found Isaiah 1 yet. 24:47 Oh, I didn't even tell you Isaiah 1, did I? 24:48 I'm sorry, Isaiah 1. 24:50 Let's go to Isaiah 1, the first chapter of Isaiah. 24:54 Isaiah 1, I'll be in the New International Version. 24:57 You may follow along whatever translation you have. 24:59 If you didn't bring a Bible, 25:00 please check it out for yourself. 25:02 There's a pew Bible right in front of you. 25:03 It's the New King James 25:05 and the page number there is page 460. 25:09 Oh boy, God tell us how you really feel. 25:11 Here he goes, this is Isaiah 1. 25:13 Let's begin in verse 11. 25:14 God is speaking to the ancient prophet. 25:17 "The multitude of your sacrifices 25:20 what are they to me?' 25:22 says the Lord. 25:23 'I have more than enough of burnt offerings, 25:26 of rams and the fat of fattened animals, 25:28 I have no pleasure 25:29 in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats." 25:31 Look at verse 12. 25:32 "When you come to appear before me--" 25:33 That's a Hebrew code, phrase, meaning 25:35 when you come for these high days in the temple. 25:38 "Who asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?" 25:41 Verse 13, "Stop bringing meaningless offerings! 25:44 Your incense is detestable to me. 25:47 New Moons and Sabbaths and convocations 25:49 I cannot bear your evil assemblies." 25:52 Verse 14, "Your New Moon festivals 25:54 and your appointed feast my soul hates. 25:57 They become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. 26:01 Verse 15, "When you spread your hands out in prayer, 26:04 I will hide my eyes from you, even if you offer many prayers, 26:08 I will not listen." 26:11 Oh mercy, tell us how you really feel God 26:14 and He does. 26:16 In fact, it's not just here, 26:17 I need you to see a parallel passage 26:19 same book Chapter 58. 26:20 So just turn a few pages into Isaiah to Chapter 58, 26:24 that'd be page 499, if you have our pew Bible. 26:28 Isaiah 58. 26:30 Same God, 26:32 same passionate response to myopia. 26:34 Take a look at this. 26:36 Chapter 58:1 26:37 God speaking, Shout it aloud, he is steamed. 26:43 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. 26:47 Raise your voice like a trumpet. 26:49 Declare to my people their rebellion 26:50 and to the house are Jacob their sins. 26:52 For day after day they seek me out, 26:54 they seem eager to know my ways, 26:56 as if they were a nation that does what is right 26:57 and has not forsaken the commands of its God. 27:01 They ask me for just decisions 27:03 and seem eager for God to come near them." 27:04 Now look at his verse 3 and hear the people talking, 27:07 "Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? 27:10 Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?" 27:13 What's a problem with you God, Drop down to verse 5, 27:15 God responds, wait a minute, verse 5, 27:18 "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, 27:21 only a day for a man to humble himself? 27:23 Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed 27:26 for lying on sackcloth and ashes? 27:28 Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?" 27:32 Give me a break. 27:34 God cries out, why are you so consumed 27:38 with your nearsightedness? 27:40 And you know how we respond. 27:41 We say, God what is-- 27:43 Time-out. What is your problem God? 27:49 I mean what-- 27:50 Do you think it's wrong 27:51 somehow coming to church, write this down. 27:53 Somehow coming to church week after week, 27:55 what's so nearsighted about that. 27:59 And what your problem here in Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 58. 28:02 "What's so myopic 28:03 about bringing to You our tithes and our offerings 28:05 week after week?" 28:06 You ought to be thankful. 28:08 I mean, what's so nearsighted about praying to you. 28:10 You say, "Stop praying," what's the problem. 28:14 What's so nearsighted about fasting now and then 28:16 proving that we're really serious 28:18 about wanting revival and reformation in the church? 28:22 I can't believe you God, such a tempest in a teapot. 28:29 And obviously God feels passionately 28:31 because he fires back through Isaiah. 28:35 I'm not making, 28:37 I'm not making a mountain out of molehill. 28:38 You're as blind as a mole. 28:40 You're digging the grave of your own demise. 28:41 Shout it aloud as he put it in verse 1, 28:43 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. 28:45 Raise your voice like a trumpet. 28:46 Declare to my people their rebellion 28:48 and to the house of Jacob their sins." 28:50 My Lord, whatever this is, you are steamed, why? 29:00 You want to know what God so passionate about? 29:02 I tell you what. 29:04 It doesn't take, it doesn't take a brain surgeon 29:06 to read the mind of God on this one. 29:08 All you have to do is read the verses we left out. 29:12 We left some verses out. 29:13 I want you to go back. 29:15 We'll be right back to 58, 29:16 but go back to chapter 1 just for a moment, 29:18 would you please. 29:19 Look at the verses we left out. 29:22 We'll pick it up where the last verse we read 29:24 when we were in Chapter 1, that would be verse 15. 29:27 Go back to Isaiah 1 please. 29:31 Let's pick it up in verse 15, God said, hey look it, 29:33 "When you spread out your hands in prayer, 29:35 I will hide my eyes from you, 29:36 even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. 29:39 Your hands are full of blood." 29:40 Look at verse 16, "Wash and make yourselves clean. 29:42 Take your evil deeds out of my sight! 29:44 Stop doing wrong, learn to do right." 29:46 But God what are you talking about? 29:48 What do you mean do right? 29:49 And then he explains himself, "Seek justice, 29:53 encourage the oppressed. 29:55 Defend the cause of the fatherless, 29:57 plead the case of the widows." 29:59 i.e., embrace, jot this down please, 30:01 "Embrace a life devoted to helping the helpless 30:05 and befriending the friendless, in other words those in need." 30:10 Do something for me please. 30:14 By the way did you know 30:16 that they're almost, jot this down. 30:18 "There are almost 400 passages in the scripture 30:22 that depict God's passionate concern 30:26 for orphans, for widows, for prisoners, for aliens, 30:30 by the way legal or illegal aliens, 30:32 he doesn't make a distinction for the homeless, 30:36 for the poor, the hungry, the sick and the disabled? 30:39 God is passionate. 30:40 By the way, it's the identical point 30:43 in Chapter 58. 30:45 Now, will end up there at 58. Go back to 58 please. 30:49 Same point, we'll pick up the last verse we read 30:52 when we were reading the opening salvo, 30:54 go back to Isaiah 58, let's pick it up in verse 5. 30:57 God speaking, verse 5, God would say, come on guys. 31:03 "Is this a kind of fasting I have chosen, 31:07 only a day for a man to humble himself? 31:09 Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed 31:11 and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? 31:13 Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?" 31:16 I want to tell you what? 31:18 You want to have passion like me, 31:19 you want to get into it to the max. 31:21 Let me show you what lights my fire verse 6, 31:24 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 31:28 to loose the chains of injustice 31:31 and untie the cords of the yoke, 31:33 to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 31:36 Verse 7, "Is it not to share your food with the hungry 31:39 and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter, 31:42 when you see the naked, to clothe her, 31:44 and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" 31:48 God is crying out, write this down, 31:50 "My people have become so myopic, 31:51 so spiritually nearsighted 31:54 and ecclesiastically self-focused, 31:57 that they have become blind to the world 31:59 outside the church." 32:03 The compelling teaching, ladies and gentlemen, 32:05 of Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 58 cannot be missed. 32:10 Jot this down. 32:11 "It is the passion of God 32:13 to embrace a life externally focused, 32:16 and not internally obsessed." 32:22 You see the church in the Old Testament, 32:23 you know what they did? 32:25 They reduce religion 32:26 to what happens in between these four walls. 32:28 That's what religion is, for what we do here. 32:33 And in that fatal reduction 32:39 they call down upon themselves red hot invictus from God, 32:42 I mean you read the language of God 32:44 and we tempered it, didn't we? 32:48 And God had finally by the way said, 32:50 "Okay, I'm going to have to come 32:52 and I'll show you myself." 32:54 And let me ask you this. 32:55 If you could write your own obituary now. 32:59 If you could write your own obituary now. 33:01 I was in a graduate class, 33:03 I can't remember what the class was 33:04 but the professor said, "All right, guys 33:05 take out the couple pieces of paper 33:07 and a pen and start writing. 33:08 I want you to write your obituary." 33:13 If you could write your obituary-- 33:14 By the way, you know what, if we would all write up 33:15 our obituaries before we die, they wouldn't be as long 33:19 as they end up being at our funerals. 33:22 If you could write your obituary, 33:24 how would you sum up your life? 33:26 Would it take even two pages? 33:28 I don't think there's a person here 33:29 who would not covet to have this one line 33:32 if I could have my obituary written 33:34 would it please have this one line. 33:36 I want to show that one line with you. 33:37 Now it's not exactly the obituary of Jesus, 33:40 but Peter is describing, summarizing the life of Christ 33:43 here in Acts Chapter 10, and I want you to, 33:45 this will be our last passage to look up. 33:47 Acts 10 is our scripture reading that Amante 33:49 and his father read just a moment ago. 33:51 I want you to go to Acts 10. 33:53 Peter is in conversation with a gentile, 33:55 a Roman centurion named Cornelius. 33:58 He's kind of, He's summarizing the life 34:00 of this Jesus of Nazareth, and I love this. 34:03 One line if you could covet one line for your own obituary, 34:07 let it be this one, Acts Chapter 10. 34:09 Let's just pick up 34:10 in the middle of the conversation verse 38. 34:12 See he is telling, he is telling Cornelius 34:15 about Jesus of Nazareth and how. 34:17 Here we go verse 38 and, 34:19 "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth 34:21 with the Holy Spirit and with power, 34:23 and how he went around doing good." 34:27 Would you scribble that in your study guide right now? 34:29 "He went about, he went around doing good." 34:36 What a one liner obituary to covet. 34:39 I mean, divine ophthalmologist 34:40 comes down so, so intensely passionate 34:44 over the nearsightedness of his community of faith 34:46 in Isaiah 1 and 58, 34:47 He comes down Himself and when you summarize His life 34:50 says, "He went about doing good." 34:51 I love how the message we read just a moment ago, 34:53 he went through the country 34:55 helping people externally focused. 34:59 He went to the country helping people. 35:01 What is an externally focused life look like? 35:03 It looks just like Jesus, she goes about. 35:06 Wherever that woman goes, 35:07 I'm telling you somebody gets helped. 35:10 He went about doing good. 35:12 Tell you one day when they write the obituary of pioneer 35:14 and one day they will if time last long, 35:16 and if you gonna have to write the obituary of the church 35:17 because the world will end. 35:19 But when the obituary of this congregation gets written up, 35:21 I hope to God 35:23 that somewhere in that little summation 35:25 there will be this line. 35:26 They went about-- 35:27 They went about doing good. 35:30 I tell you why I'm so, so stirred up by this. 35:35 Our senior leadership team here at the church 35:37 has spent this entire year from January until last week 35:41 reading a book 35:42 every Monday for our staff meetings 35:44 we've come back to this book as we worship. 35:46 I'm gonna put the book on the cover 35:48 rather put the cover of the book 35:49 on the screen for you, 35:51 it would be a wonderful book if you ever come across it. 35:53 It's in your study guide, the information you need, 35:55 "The Externally Focused Church," 35:56 written by two authors Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson. 36:01 And it's been this book, ladies and gentlemen, 36:04 that has focused us to answer to, to answer this question. 36:07 Is the Pioneer Memorial Church 36:09 on the campus of Andrews University all right? 36:10 Hallelujah. 36:12 This is where God has put us all. 36:13 Is the Pioneer Memorial Church an externally focused church? 36:17 Are we? 36:19 Oh, you say, but of course, 36:20 I mean we planted a church in Benton Harbor, hallelujah. 36:23 We have a street ministry where students go up 36:25 every weekend of the year 36:27 and walk the streets of that inner city, praise God. 36:30 Yep, we have a global and radio and web television ministry 36:33 and we praise 36:35 and we're big believers in public evangelism. 36:37 And that's why we're bringing Doug Batchelor in by the way 36:39 in September, you're not going to want to miss that. 36:41 We have a great campus with a worldwide university 36:44 and a reach as far but here's the question. 36:48 Are we truly when you think 36:49 about this little congregation here, 36:52 are we truly an externally focused church 36:56 right here in Berrien Springs. 36:59 Let me share with you their two definitions 37:01 before we answer that question. 37:02 Definition number one, internally focused. 37:04 Do you have this in your study guide? 37:05 It's there, you have to fill in a word. 37:07 These are two definitions 37:09 and internally first and then externally. 37:11 "Internally focused churches 37:13 concentrate on getting people into the church 37:16 and generating activity there. 37:19 These churches may create powerful worship experiences." 37:23 Hallelujah. 37:24 Isn't that what we want to hear Sabbath after Sabbath 37:26 and by the way were you blessed by this music or what. 37:30 I mean that's what internally focused churches want, 37:32 get everybody into this building, 37:34 powerful worship. 37:37 What else, "They excel in teaching." 37:39 Well, we want to, don't we? 37:41 They offer thriving youth programs, 37:42 they have vibrant small groups. 37:44 But here's the catch. 37:45 But at the end of the day, I tell it's mine. 37:48 What is measured is the number of people 37:50 and activities within the church. 37:54 These are good churches filled with good people, 37:57 the quotation goes on. 37:58 "And what they do is vital 37:59 but not sufficient for a healthy church." 38:03 Okay, that's internally focused. 38:04 Now let's flip the coin. 38:05 Let's look at their definition 38:07 of the externally focused church. 38:08 "Externally focused churches, I'm quoting now, 38:10 are internally strong 38:12 but they're oriented externally. 38:15 These churches look for ways 38:16 to be useful to their communities, 38:18 to be a part of their hopes and dreams. 38:21 They build bridges to their communities 38:23 instead of walls around themselves. 38:25 They don't shout, I like this, 38:26 they don't shout at the dirty stream, 38:29 they get in the water and begin cleaning it up." 38:34 Now you're here, that tell us again 38:37 we added these, "Externally focused churches 38:39 measure not only what we can be counted 38:43 but also what matters most, the impact they are having 38:47 outside the walls of the church." 38:51 So ladies and gentlemen, are we an internally 38:53 or an extremely focused church? 38:55 Some of you are from other congregations. 38:56 Let me ask you, you're watching on television right now. 38:58 Is your congregation internally focused 39:01 or are you extremely focused? 39:04 I tell you what? 39:05 This is the question that nailed me to the wall, 39:08 and I think it affected our entire leadership team, 39:11 when we came across this question, 39:12 and the question is right there 39:14 in your study guide, fill it in. 39:15 If this church, all right, if your home church, 39:18 if Pioneer Memorial Church 39:20 disappeared off the face of the map, 39:22 would this community miss this congregation? 39:26 Write in the word miss. 39:28 Would this community miss this church? 39:32 Would this church be missed? 39:34 Now please, please do not misunderstand me, 39:40 I praise God for this, Pioneer is filled 39:41 with many of you community minded people 39:43 who would truly be missed 39:45 or you just simply pack up and leave, 39:48 but would Pioneer be missed? 39:50 Would our home, 39:52 would this congregation were it to vanish. 39:54 Would the people of Berrien Springs, say, 39:55 "You know what, I really miss having Pioneer around." 39:59 Would they even know we were gone? 40:04 You know we can go up the road. Hallelujah. 40:06 We can serve an inner city 12 miles up the road, 40:07 we can go all over the world through satellite. 40:09 Praise God, 40:10 but what are we doing right here at home? 40:14 If we disappeared, would we be missed? 40:17 When they asked that question, I mean it was like... 40:28 Because that question had that effect on me 40:32 and our senior leadership team. 40:34 We begin today a new summer series 40:38 that our leadership team of pastors 40:39 will be preaching in June, July, and August, 40:41 pondering and praying 40:43 over how we might better be a church 40:45 that demonstrates its love 40:46 for the community in which it lives. 40:49 In fact, the whole series, 40:51 I've taken liberty on behalf of the staff 40:52 to summarize the whole series in one sentence 40:55 over in the preaching we call it The Big Idea. 40:58 Here's the big idea for the whole series. 41:00 You've got to keep coming 41:01 because there will be all kinds of other pictures to share, 41:03 but would you jot this one down please. 41:05 Here it is, "The cure for nearsightedness 41:10 is "outsidedness" i.e. outside the church." 41:17 You want to cure myopia? 41:19 You want to cure a nearsighted church? 41:21 The cure is to go outside. 41:23 An externally focused church goes outside of its four walls 41:28 and there it becomes passionate 41:30 for doing the ministry of Christ 41:32 to go about doing good. 41:34 The cure for nearsightedness is outsidedness. 41:38 We have to get out. 41:40 Some of us think just like the church 41:41 in the Old Testament. 41:43 This is religion. 41:44 What I do here on the seventh day of the week 41:45 and at least I'm clear 41:47 about which day of the week is the Sabbath. 41:48 What I do here on the seventh day of the week 41:50 is all that counts and God is saying, 41:52 "What's the matter with you? 41:55 You are blind. You're focusing only here. 42:00 There's a whole world that you've lost the focus to." 42:04 Whoa, a century ago these words were written. 42:10 Write it down please. 42:12 You have to fill it in, "Christ's method alone, 42:14 I love this, Christ's method alone 42:16 will give true success in reaching the people. 42:19 The Savior mingled, that's the key word, 42:22 the Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good." 42:27 Do you know what that word mingle means? 42:32 I love potato salad. 42:33 How many here love potato salad? 42:35 Be bold and brave and raise your hand 42:36 if you love potato salad. 42:37 Oh, my, this is summertime. 42:39 This is a season for potato salad. 42:40 For me it's all four seasons, 42:42 it's always the right season for potato salad. 42:45 And by the way if I'm coming to your house 42:47 and we're having a little potluck. 42:49 Please you can't have a potluck without potato salad. 42:52 Didn't anybody tell you? Okay, so I love potato salad. 42:56 You got that point. But you know what? 42:57 It would be awful to come to your house 42:59 and I come to your house and you say, "Oh Pastor, 43:01 we're so glad to have you and we heard, 43:03 we heard you love potato salad 43:04 and we also know you love onions." 43:06 And you do love onions, don't you? 43:07 Oh, I love onions in my potato salad, 43:09 it's not potato salad without onions. 43:11 But if you came, if I came to your house 43:13 and you put this big bowl of potato salad out 43:14 and then in a little tiny ball off by itself you said, 43:17 "Here are some chopped up onions. 43:18 You may sprinkle these in as you need them." 43:21 Do you know what? 43:22 That will destroy that bowl of potato salad. 43:27 I mean when you come. 43:28 Can you imagine you have to 43:30 every now and then reach over here, 43:31 get a few onions, drib it in. 43:34 Some of us think that in fact, that's what God has put us 43:38 as the world's onion off in a little corner by ourselves 43:40 and by the way 43:41 that's because we're always hanging around ourselves 43:43 as onion that people cry 43:44 whenever they come in our presence. 43:46 That's the reason right there. 43:47 We think we're onions, 43:48 we're supposed to be kept off to the side. 43:50 Come on, the word mingled is the key word 43:51 in that definition that we just read. 43:53 You spread and mix the onions all through that potato salad, 43:58 it's no good. 44:00 If you have to add it on your own, 44:03 it's mingled, not for special occasions, 44:06 it's always in potato salad. 44:10 That's Jesus, what did we just read here, 44:12 "The Savior mingle with people as one who desired their good." 44:16 Hey, we're having a barbecue in this. 44:18 Are we having a barbecue in this neighborhood? 44:20 I'm there. 44:22 You need volunteers down at the public school? 44:24 You need people to help? I'm there. 44:27 Are you having a big cleanup day 44:28 out at the park in Berrien Springs, 44:30 I am there, 44:31 wherever Jesus sensed there was need, 44:35 He just went about helping. 44:37 He didn't go about preaching. 44:38 He went about helping, "I'm there." 44:41 Oh, we're going to a little block party. 44:43 I know some families when they have a block party. 44:46 "I don't know what they're going to serve 44:47 at that block party, 44:49 we better say that we can't come." 44:50 Are you crazy? "I'm there," Jesus says. 44:55 You're having a graduation party. 44:57 "I'm there." Wherever there are people. 45:01 I'm showing up the Savior, 45:07 "Christ method alone will give true success 45:09 in reaching the people. 45:10 The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. 45:13 He showed His sympathy for them. 45:14 He ministered to their needs. Write that in. 45:17 See, needs, needs, needs, 45:18 and then he won their confidence and then-- 45:21 Now, here's the key word then, then he bade them, 45:25 "Follow me." 45:26 Because ladies and gentlemen, 45:28 there is no point in asking people to follow you 45:30 until you spend time with the people loving them. 45:34 If somebody came along to me and said, "Hey, boy, 45:36 I want you to come and join us. 45:38 Who wants to follow or join someone 45:40 who doesn't really care for me? 45:41 If that guy doesn't care for me, 45:43 I don't want to join whatever he is a part of. 45:46 I mean, who wants to be a part of an organization 45:48 that insists I come to them before they will come to me. 45:51 I don't want to be a part of any organization like that. 45:54 You want me, you come to me. 45:56 Postmodern secularists today 45:58 want to belong before they believe. 46:01 They don't want to believe first, 46:03 they said, "Let me belong." 46:04 You get alongside of me. 46:06 You walked away with me, 46:08 then I'll get to know you. 46:11 I'll determine then in fact 46:13 you're a real guy, you're genuine, 46:16 then you can say something about follow us 46:19 and I'll weigh it. 46:21 But you've got to mingle, you've got to mingle. 46:26 We're here to help. 46:28 What can I do? 46:31 Jesus went about doing good 46:32 the Bible says, "He went about doing good." 46:35 And that's the whole point of Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 58. 46:38 "I am sick and tired of your being 46:41 and internally obsessed and focused community." 46:45 Get out of here, get a life 46:49 and get out of these four walls, 46:51 get out there for me and love that world to me, 46:55 let my outsidedness cure your nearsightedness. 46:59 And by the way that some of you are getting 47:00 really rancid right now, 47:02 because you're saying, 47:04 "What are we supposed to do pastor? 47:06 I have to choose between worship and prayer 47:07 and fasting and revival 47:09 and did not herein mixing it up in the mud 47:12 with people who are stuck." 47:15 No, it's not an either or choice. 47:17 God isn't asking for an either 47:18 or he's not making an either or proposition he's saying, 47:20 "You've got to do both 47:22 but you are so stuck on yourselves. 47:24 I got to get you out of that nearsightedness 47:27 into outsidedness for me." 47:31 You got to do both. 47:33 Let me close by sharing with you 47:41 that after spending a couple of days 47:43 with Doug Batchelor in Sacramento 47:45 this last week taping a television program. 47:48 I drove over to San Francisco to spend some time 47:51 with my brother Greg and his new wife. 47:56 This is the first time, 47:57 I've been with Greg since his remarriage 48:01 and we needed to have that time together, all right. 48:07 Because the fact of the matter is, 48:09 ladies and gentlemen, 48:10 there comes a time when in order to get 48:12 your external focused correct, 48:15 you've got to change your internal focus. 48:21 Jesus went about doing good to all people 48:25 but especially those He was close to. 48:32 And so life goes on, 48:34 that's a big lesson in life by the way. 48:37 Read my lips. 48:39 Life goes on. 48:42 You can be stuck in the mud trying to solve something 48:46 that is beyond you to ever solve 48:48 or you can get on with it. 48:50 Jesus gets on with life, because He loves people. 48:54 You and I need that internal correction, 48:57 focus correction sometimes, don't we? 49:00 So anyway, I went over to San Francisco, 49:02 spent some time with Greg and Shasta 49:04 who are planting a church in the city by the bay. 49:09 They took me to their church. They have a core group. 49:12 They have more that come but they have a core group 49:14 now of 20 people, brand new church, 49:16 only been meeting since November. 49:18 There're 20 people, 49:20 an inner core group of Adventists 49:22 who are providing the leadership 49:23 but then an extended core of atheists and seculars 49:27 and the people that are out there, 49:30 and I must tell you what? 49:32 I'm proud of them. 49:34 I'm talking about my brother and his wife. 49:36 I'm proud of them for that external focus, 49:38 because sometimes you can have everything else down to a tee, 49:43 but when you can't see a dying world around you, 49:46 it makes God sick as we just found out. 49:52 So anyway, 49:54 this why I wanted to tell you this story, 49:55 Greg had... 49:56 have some laser surgery in his eye the other day. 50:00 So here's the ophthalmologist comes in, does a radical thing. 50:02 Listen to this. 50:03 The ophthalmologist comes walking into Greg 50:05 in the examining room, he says, 50:06 "Hey, you know what I'm going to do? 50:08 I'm going to take those glasses away from you, 50:09 you'll never have to wear glasses again, 50:10 but I'm only going to do laser on one eye. 50:15 You've got an eye that can see up close 50:19 but I'm gonna fix the other eye so that it can see far away. 50:24 Don't you worry, don't you worry, 50:25 the brain will begin to get both of those signals 50:28 and for a while the brain will wonder 50:29 what in the world is going on, 50:31 but eventually the brain will train itself that in fact, 50:32 both up close and far away are in focus. 50:37 Because you know what? 50:38 It takes both up close and far away 50:44 which must be why the divine ophthalmologist himself 50:46 came down and died on that tree we call Calvary. 50:49 So then in the light that streams from the cross 50:51 you and I see a glory that helps us to see up close 50:54 and how desperately I am a sinner too. 50:58 And I need that grace. 51:00 I need that cleansing. 51:02 I need that forgiveness, 51:04 but the light is not only to help me see up close. 51:06 The glory that streams from the cross 51:08 also opens up my eyes now to see a world 51:11 that is loved passionately by God. 51:14 It's that world that I need to see clearly. 51:17 And Jesus went about doing good. 51:19 The Pioneer Memorial Church 51:21 and Andrews University can follow Jesus. 51:23 Oh, yes, we can. 51:24 We can get that focus straight. 51:27 We can have him give us his heart and his eyes, 51:32 so that we might see and serve 51:35 just like Jesus. 51:40 Amen and amen. Let's pray. 51:43 Oh, God, amen to that. 51:46 There isn't a one of us here 51:48 who wouldn't want our obituary to include that little phrase 51:52 she went about doing good, he went about doing good, 51:56 we all want it. 51:57 We don't want to just for our private lives, 51:59 we want it for our corporate life as well, 52:02 our community of faith life. 52:04 If we disappeared today, would we even be missed? 52:09 It's not about people missing us, Father, 52:11 but that does remind us that we're here 52:13 to reach the world immediately outside these four walls. 52:18 And so I join with my brothers and sisters in Christ 52:20 and earnestly pray, 52:23 that the Savior might not only give us His heart 52:25 but that He might also give us His eyes, 52:27 divine ophthalmologist take away our myopia, 52:32 grant us eyes that can focus up close and far away 52:37 that we might reach this world 52:39 in this generation and love this world to You, 52:43 we pray in Christ's name, amen. 53:12 There's a Spirit in the air 53:17 Telling Christians everywhere 53:22 'Praise the love that Christ revealed 53:27 Living, working in our world' 53:32 Living, working in our world' 53:39 Lose your shyness, find your tongue 53:45 Tell the world what God has done 53:50 God in Christ has come to stay 53:55 We can see His power today 54:00 We can see His power today 54:08 When believers break the bread 54:13 When a hungry child is fed 54:19 Praise the love that Christ revealed 54:24 Living, working in our world 54:30 Living, working in our world 54:37 Still His spirit leads the fight 54:42 Seeing wrong and setting right 54:47 God in Christ has come to stay 54:52 We can see His power today 54:57 We can see His power today 55:05 When a stranger's not alone 55:10 Where the homeless find a home 55:15 Praise the love that Christ revealed 55:20 Living, working in our world 55:26 Living, working in our world 55:34 May His Spirit fill our praise 55:39 Guide our thoughts and change our ways 55:44 God in Christ has come to stay 55:49 We can see His power today 55:55 We can see His power today 56:04 There's a Spirit in the air 56:08 Calling people everywhere 56:13 Praise the love that Christ revealed 56:19 Living, working in our world 56:24 Living, working in our world 56:34 And now to Him who is able to do 56:36 immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. 56:40 According to his power that is at work within us, 56:43 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 56:47 throughout all generations 56:49 forever and ever, amen. 56:54 I wanted to take an extra moment 56:56 and let you know how grateful I am, 56:57 you joined us in worship today. 56:58 I hear from viewers like you across the nation 57:00 and literally from around the world and I'm thankful. 57:03 If you'd like to explore further 57:05 what we've just shared, 57:07 I hope you will visit us at our website. 57:08 It's an easy one to remember, let me put it on the screen, 57:09 www.pmchurch. 57:12 We are the Pioneer Memorial Church 57:14 here on the campus of Andrews University. 57:16 www.pmchurch.tv. 57:18 Click on to that website. 57:20 You will be able to listen to a podcast of this material, 57:22 or download my presentation for you mp3 player 57:25 or simply print off the study guide 57:26 for further reflection. 57:28 You may have a special prayer need that 57:29 you wish to share with our prayer partners. 57:31 You have an observation 57:33 you wish to simply share with me 57:34 or you may want to partner with us financially 57:36 in our mission to reach this generation 57:38 with the everlasting gospel. 57:41 Anyway you wish, let me hear from you. 57:43 You can write to me at www.pmchurch.tv. 57:47 Or if you rather talk with someone, 57:49 call one of our friendly operators at 877, 57:51 two words HIS-WILL. 57:53 You can use your credit card at that time 57:55 to make that donation. 57:56 In the meantime 57:58 May the grace and the peace of Jesus 57:59 be yours every step of the way. 58:02 Thank you. |
Revised 2016-06-23