Staying Right Side Up When The World Is Upside Down
1 John 2:24-29 (NLT)
Intro: The synagogue was in conflict. A Rabbi was at odds with his congregation. Nothing was going right and there was chaos and turmoil every day. The president of the synagogue went to the rabbi and said that they had to have a conference of the twelve leaders of the synagogue to discuss the issue that was causing the entire problem and get it corrected once and for all. Little did the rabbi know that everybody else had already talked and his viewpoint had no chance of success. The charade was carried out though with a lot of discussion on the subject. The president of the conference stood and announced that it was time to vote. He proposed that the majority would rule in this matter and all agreed. Everyone recorded their vote on a piece of paper and when the votes were counted, the president told the rabbi that he had been outvoted eleven to one. The majority has spoken.
The rabbi rose to his feet, "So you think you are right and I am wrong because of a vote. Well, think again, for I will call on the Holy One of Israel to give us a sign that I am right and you are wrong." Immediately, a deafening clap of thunder sounded, accompanied by a brilliant flash. The mahogany table they were gathered around was cracked in two. The room was filled with smoke and the president and the elders were thrown to the floor, but the rabbi remained standing -- untouched and triumphant.
The president synagogue slowly rose from underneath the table. His hair was singed, his glasses where hanging from one ear and his clothes were in great disarray. Finally, after some time, he responded saying, "Alright, alright, so it is eleven to two. But we still have the majority!"
. Sometimes, we have trouble figuring out what to do in the midst of chaos and turmoil.
.Do we have any scuba divers here this morning?
. Pam and I took scuba lessons about ten years ago. We went through the classes and passed all our tests and went down to Florida and had our “checkout dive” as they call it. We have not been diving since.
. One of the things they teach you is that you can become disoriented at times under water. You may not know which way is up or down. I have heard interviews with people who somehow get trapped under water and they said that for a time, they didn’t know which way to go,
. The experts teach us to expel some air and watch the air bubbles, they will always show you which way is the right way to swim.
. As I was studying our scripture this morning, it is apparent that John is telling his readers which way to go when you get confused or disoriented in life.
. He had just been telling his readers that the world systems and corruption that is brought about by anti-Christ’s or people who are against Christ can confuse you. Do not let them lead you astray.
. Their world had been turned upside down.
. If they were Jewish, they had went from waiting for their Messiah to accepting that Jesus was their Messiah and had died and they again were waiting for his return.
. If they were Gentiles, they would have had a myriad of God’s that they had given up to follow Jesus.
. Their world had been turned upside down and then they had to deal with all these anti- Christ’s. They needed something to keep their world right side up in their rapidly changing world.
. Our world is much like the people John was writing to.
. We are changing so rapidly that we can’t possibly keep up.
. Many no longer leave their home to shop. When we purchase a computer, it is obsolete within a year.
. Our society is changing rapidly.
. We applaud pictures of homosexuality while chastising displays of genuine faith.
. ESPN highlighted the selection of the first openly gay football player and made it a point to show the kissing and affection that went on between them to the whole world.
. When Tim Tebow bows in worship, he is chastised unmercifully.
. We are cloning sheep and will someday I am sure attempt to clone a person. Someone may have already attempted this. We just don’t know about it.
. Our world, to me, is being turned upside down. How do we stay right side up in this world? John tells us in our scripture today.
1 John 2: 24-29
24So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.
25And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
26I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.
27But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
28And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
29Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.
.There are four ways to help us stay right side up in this upside down world in this scripture.
. The first is that we must: Remain Faithful
. Look at verse 24 again:
. 24So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.
. You must remain faithful to what you have been taught.
. There are many in this world who will tell you that what you believe, what you know to be true is not really correct.
.That’s what the world is teaching. There are many religions and many ways to believe and what you believe, no matter what it is, it is correct.
. This is the same thing that John’s readers were facing with these anti-Christ’s.
. John tells them and us to stay the course.
. Remember what you were taught and remain faithful.
. Martin Luther, The father of the protestant movement wrote 35 hymns in his lifetime.
. The most famous was written during a time of persecution from the Catholic church. His life was turning upside down and all he had was his faith. He wrote this song to help himself and others in keeping their faith on the right path.
. It is in every Baptist hymnal that I have ever seen. The name of the song is “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
. Look at part of the third verse.
. “And tho this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thru us”
.God is a mighty fortress where we can take refuge and rest assured that our world will not be turned upside down.
. John writes to his readers and us. Encouraging us to remain faithful to what we know to be true. What we have been taught about God.
. Not only are we to remain faithful, we are also to:
. Remain In Fellowship with God
. Look at verses 24&28:
.24So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.
. 28And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
. We are to remain in fellowship with God.
. Fellowship is defined as: Participation, a joint sharing
.Fellowship with God would then require participation with God.
. To participate in God’s agenda would then be a fair definition of fellowship with God, wouldn’t it.
. Sadly, many professed, Christians just exist and they don’t participate.
. Many Christians for practical purposes are alive, but they are dead spiritually.
. That’s how their world gets turned upside down.
. They fail to participate in their faith and they allow the winds of change and new ideas sweep them along with them.
. If we are to continue in fellowship with God, we must participate in what He wants us to do.
. We must talk with him. (prayer)
. We must allow him to talk with us. (Bible)
. We must participate in what He commands us to do. (worship and love him), (tell others about him)
. John writes that this fellowship will help you in your struggle with anti-Christ’s.
. Fellowship with God will help you stay right side up in this upside down world of ours.
. John wrote that there is another dividend to staying in fellowship with God.
. Look at verse 28 again:
28And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
. When we stay in fellowship with God, we can boldly go before God when Jesus returns.
. We can stand before Jesus and not be ashamed of the life that we have lived here on Earth.
. Being and staying in fellowship with God will help us in our struggle to stay right side up in this upside down world.
. Next, John writes that we are to : Remember our Filling.
. Look at verse 27 again.
. 27But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
. Remember that when you gave your life to Christ, you were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit lives within you.
. In the very first sermon that was preached after Jesus returned to Heaven, Peter told the people this:
. 8Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
. Think about it, the Spirit of God, God himself resides within you.
. Our problem is that many times we ignore what God himself is telling us.
. A Sunday school teacher had taught her class to recite the Apostles Creed by giving each child one phrase to learn.
At the Sunday school presentation the class was asked to give their recitation. They began beautifully.
"I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth," said Sarah.
"I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord," chimed in Rachael.
Everything went perfect .... one after the other and then there was a long pause.
Finally a little girl spoke up and said, "Uh, the little boy who believes in the Holy Spirit is absent today!" (Pause)
. John writes that the Holy Spirit should not be absent in your lives.
. The Spirit is there for a purpose.
. The Spirit will help you stay right side up in this upside down world.
. Finally, John writes that we should:
. Look To The Future.
.Look at verse 28 again:
. 28And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
. John reassures them that Jesus is coming back again.
. There is a future for a Christian.
. A future with Jesus Christ.
. There is also a future for a non Christian.
. A Future without Christ, separated from God for an eternity.
. Separated to a place where no love exists. A place that is eternally turned upside down.
. What do you look for in your future this morning?
. Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources: The Holy Bible, NLT
Illustrations from sermon central
