Faith Fowler
Midland SDA Church
August 1, 2015
John 1:11-12
Let’s turn in our Bibles to our scripture…John 1:and starting in verse 10…
“ He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. BUT, as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”
A month or so ago a lady came into my shop and we were talking about the way the world is getting…We talked about how much we need Jesus in our lives…that He is the only hope we have. I encouraged her to read the Bible…and she sadly admitted she doesn’t read it nearly enough. She said she did not really understand it…and she couldn’t figure out why there were so many stories of killing and violence found in parts of the Old Testament. I tried to explain to her that it is all one very big, very amazing, and very TRUE story. I told her that in the beginning the world was created by God, and His Son by speaking it into existence. The world was perfect…and in six days, everything was finished…and then God made man…and woman…and gave them the earth to inhabit and enjoy. Imagine what it must have been like on that first Sabbath together! So beautiful and perfect and happy! Not a care in the world, literally!
But, there was this one problem…
The enemy of God was lurking, waiting for the chance to take over this beautiful new world. This enemy had at one time been very close to God and in fact had been the most beautiful angel in Heaven…but, pride and the desire for power began to build in his heart, and eventually he was cast out of heaven with a third of all the angels who had believed his lies and doubted God’s love. Now this enemy was just waiting for the opportunity to deceive this perfect pair, Adam and Eve.
As you probably know, he succeeded in tricking Eve into tasting the fruit that God had forbidden them to eat. And, in a moment of weakness, Adam also ate the forbidden fruit, and felt the immediate effects of disobedience to God in a lack of trust and peace. It was not long until the first quarrel between a husband and wife, became the beginning of a long history of accusation, lies, pain, suffering and death. But, if you read the Bible, you will know that at the END, the earth will be made new…All the evil and sin and reminders of the painful past will be removed…and the plan for eternal peace, and joy will finally be a reality!
So…the whole Bible…from the beginning to the end…is just showing all the ways the enemy has been trying to destroy Gods’ children…and all the ways God has been trying to save them.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, the most amazing thing happened. The Son of God became a man and lived on this old planet among the poor and suffering…the proud and boastful…the kind and loving…and the cruel and hateful….and after a short 33 years of life, showing us how to live and share Gods’ love with all who would accept it, He did the unthinkable…He gave His life for the very ones who were killing Him. And He prayed for God to forgive them even as He was hanging there between Heaven and earth. The very ones who scourged Him, spit on Him, placed the crown of thorns on His head, cursed Him, even nailed Him to the cross…these, He loved.
We as humans have a hard time understanding that. We tend to treat others the way they treat us…and even worse, unfortunately.
On that one terrible day, with the devil and his evil angels watching, Jesus was nailed to the cross. As Jesus hung there dying, the true character of satan became crystal clear. In that one moment of time, the whole universe stopped and witnessed once and for all what was in the mind and heart of the enemy of God…all the evil…all the hate…all the pain and suffering inflicted on mankind, and now, on the beloved Son Of God, Jesus Christ…all of this was because the devil was totally consumed by a LOVE OF POWER.
I am so thankful though, that at that same moment, God’s true motives were also seen in perfect clarity, in the life of His Son, the very picture of the POWER OF LOVE.
From the beginning of time, every man, woman and child on this planet has been the object of satans’ desire to steal the hearts and minds that rightfully belong to God, and cause them to worship him.
Let’s open our Bibles and read 2nd Timothy 3 starting with verse 1…
”This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good. Traitors, heady, high-minded, but denying the power thereof ; from such, turn away….and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness verse 7; “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of truth”.
Prisons are full of such sad people. Broken homes, corrupt politicians, rulers, dictators, and men and women of high rank and position seem to crave power. Those less fortunate yearn for a way to gain control over those who oppress them…and the sickness goes on and on and on. We have a society that shows what happens when the love of power controls us. It is part of our fallen nature to desire adoration and praise. That is a symptom of living on this planet with 6000 years of sinful tendencies and traits. That is what happens when we allow the enemy to fill our minds with his thoughts and ideas.
The battle has raged on throughout history…and the whole universe is watching to see who wins. We get to decide for ourselves who we will serve. Will we be consumed with the LOVE OF POWER? Or will we, through Jesus Christ, be changed by the POWER OF LOVE?
I guess we all know that things are not getting better in our world today. But, thinking about the evil does not make us better people. As the Bible tells us in Philippians 4: 8…
”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
So what is there for us to do? Surrounded by the sin and sadness of this world…what CAN we cling to?
There is HOPE! We can trust that God will help us, if we will turn to Him…ask Him to work in us…And be willing to surrender our will to HIM… And Philippians 1:6 tells us that we can be “confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”! That is SUCH GOOD NEWS!!!
And 1st John 3:1-2 tells us,
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but, we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like HIM, for we shall see Him as He is!”
We can CHOOSE to be His children…adopted into HIS loving family. We can be LIKE Him! Like Soo Ling, when we begin to know His love for us, we will want everyone we meet to know about the wonderful promises God has given to us, His children
If we draw near to Jesus, we can trust that soon He will come to take us home…Revelation 21 tells us a little bit of what is to come!
Verse 1:“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea…verse 4…And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away! “
And the Bible goes on to describe that beautiful city…and in the next chapter, 22, we read in verse 1, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the LAMB.”
I think that river represents the love of God…that flows freely to all who will receive it. But….the key is that it is always flowing.
Have you ever seen a stagnant pond? When I was a kid, we once lived on a farm that had a pond out back. The water was stagnant. Not very lovely as far as swimming holes go, but, when kids are hot and dusty, it is nearly impossible to keep them out of water. And so, one time we persuaded our parents to let us swim in it. I don’t recall that we ever went twice. Because, that evening…and for some time after, we were miserable with swimmers itch! The unmoving water was a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and who knows what else, a perfect petri dish of stuff that was not pleasant! Well…that old pond reminds me of what happens in us when we don’t let the love of God flow into AND out of our lives. We become a stagnant, lifeless pool of misery. In order to be real and true, love must be shared. And Gods love is poured out on all who are willing to receive….AND pass it on…and the amazing thing is, it never runs out! There is an endless supply! And if we are faithful…if we receive it…if we share it with others…we will be among those in the new earth that sit at the feet of Jesus…eat from the tree of life…drink of the pure river…and share all that He has planned for His sons and daughters forever! I really want to be there! How about you???
Pastor Ken Gaub was traveling across the country with his family one day…and as they zipped along the interstate, his mind was filled with discouragement. He wondered if God even knew where he was. It seemed like he was not really sure about his purpose…or whether God really cared about HIM. Well, these discouraging thoughts were interrupted by the cries of his kids to stop for something to eat…and so, he pulled off the freeway and into a spot surrounded by fast food restaurants. As his family climbed out of the motorhome, he told his wife to take the kids and go get something to eat…he just wanted to stretch his legs and clear his head.
So, he starting walking for a bit, and seeing a place to get a soft drink, he got one, and then walked along another minute or two with his thoughts still churning. And then he noticed a sound that got his attention. A phone ringing! He looked around to see where the sound was coming from, and saw a phone booth on a corner near a gas station. Nobody was nearby, and the phone just kept ringing, so, out of curiosity, he stepped into the phone booth and picked up the receiver. “Hello?” he said…and the operator in a nasal voice said hello…I have a long distance call for Ken Gaub”….The pastor gulped and stammered…and laughed…he thought it must be a joke! Then he looked around to see if there was someone from Candid Camera watching him…but, nobody was paying any attention. Once again, the operator said, “I have a long distance call for Ken Gaub…is he there?” And he could hear a lady on the line say, “Yes! That’s him! I recognize his voice! Thank you, operator!” Pastor Ken was really confused now. He listened as the lady on the phone tried to control her weeping long enough to tell him why she had called. “I’m about to commit suicide. I just finished writing a note, and while writing it, I began to pray. I told God I really didn’t want to do this. While I was writing the note, I suddenly remembered seeing you on television in Harrisburg. I thought if I could just talk to you, you could help me. I knew that was impossible because I didn’t know how to reach you and I didn’t know anyone who could help me find you. While I was writing, numbers began to come to my mind and I wrote them down. (while still listening, Pastor Ken was silently praying for wisdom to help her)…She continued, “I looked at the numbers and thought, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God and He has given me Ken’s phone number?” I decided to try calling it, I figured it was worth a chance! It really was! I can’t believe I am really talking to you! Are you in your office?”
Pastor Ken told the lady his office is in Yakima, Washington…and you won’t believe this, but I am in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!
Now we all know that this encounter could ONLY have been arranged by God. As Pastor Ken counseled with the lady, and led her to accept Jesus as her Saviour…and into a new life in Christ…his heart was filled with joy…knowing that in all the wide world…with all the telephones…and all the numbers.…God had known exactly where He was…and used him to bless someone else in need.
The love of God…it pours out in the heart of one…and flows on to bless others…it just can NOT be kept inside.
Brothers and Sisters…God knows where YOU are. He loves you more than you can even imagine. He wants to fill you up…so that you can share that love with others who desperately need to know His love, too.
But, you and I have a choice. God is a gentleman. He never forces obedience. True love always seeks to please Him. It is our choice…to be filled with the love of self…the love of pleasure…the love of sin, the love of power.
OR…we can choose to let His love change us into the unselfish, gracious, obedient, humble, loving children of God. And it all starts with the power of LOVE. HIS love. I want that. How about you?