Heb 12:1-2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
I believe that over the course of the next several months and even weeks
that we are poised to see some of the most miraculous and incredible
events take place in the life of this ministry. I believe that what we
will be experiencing in Christ Jesus will be both revitalizing and
revolutionary in it's scope and impact.
Over the course of the next few weeks I will be preaching in both the
Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services. This is not because I enjoy
hearing myself speak- but because I believe that as the senior pastor of
this church and as the vision bearer of this ministry that God is
directing me to establish the heart and atmosphere regarding this work's
directives for the coming months.
So, I truly encourage you to make it a point to be hear on both Wednesday
and on Sunday alike, because it is imperative that your catch the vision
as to what the Lord Jesus would be having us to do here in Amarillo in
order to see our lives changes and souls saved into the Kingdom of God.
In 1945, right at the end of World War II, our nation was primed for
spiritual renewal. The war had brought the nation together around a common
cause that catapulted our country into the role as the world's economic
and military super power.
The events of World War II, even though they marked the deaths of
thousands of American young men- caused a battle cry to erupt in this
nation of "God and Country."
? People waved flags
? Patriotic songs filled the airwaves of radio stations
? Factories were converted to supply the needs of the war machine
? People made sacrifices as food and gasoline were rationed
The nation was set on fire by a cause that was bigger than any one
individual and demanded that people everywhere ban together, putting aside
their differences and uniting to defeat a common enemy.
This was a nation, that less than a century earlier had been shredded by
an eternal conflict called the civil war.
This civil war had pitted brother against brother and countryman against
countryman- bringing about more casualties than any wars fought before or
since.
But now, a nation was standing together in the face of the evil Empire of
Japan and the blood thirsty tyranny of a Hitler led Germany.
But this war did not start the day Japanese zeroes devastated the American
fleet at Pearl Harbor. The war had already been raging for years and
years. Germany had already advanced into much of Europe and Japan had been
busy conquering the south Pacific.
The slaughter of millions of Jews had already began.
The invasion of the Pacific rim had entered full swing.
But, on the morning of December 7, 1941 over 100 carrier based Japanese
aircraft conducted a devastating surprise attack on American soil at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii that sank 19 U.S. ships, destroyed almost 200 airplanes and
claimed the lives of over 2,000 U.S. servicemen.
Within 24 hours, the United States of America declared war and officially
entered into what we now call World War II.
? Why did we wait until December 8, 1941 to enter the fray?
? Why had we not intervened as the German tanks rolled through Hungary?
? Why did we not see just cause as thousands of South Pacific islanders
where being slaughter by the Japanese?
Answer: Because it had not yet touched home!
History reveals that we had the power
History reveals that we had the weaponry
History reveals that we had the leadership
But history reveals that until, we had something to lose- we were willing
to let others lose all that they had without ever lifting a finger!
It's not our fight!
It's not our battle!
It's not or problem!
But once the conflict hit home, the fight was on.
I believe that the same thing is effectively happening here at Dayspring
and in our city.
I am sure that during the infancy of the war, that our military strategist
had many opinions on how the countries being attacked should have handled
the advancing armies.
I am sure:
? They saw the errors of the eastern European powers and the lack of
strategy on the part of Asian nations of the South Pacific.
? I am sure they thought to themselves, "If that was me..."
But all of their ideas and opinions meant very little in respect to global
peace until the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941.
I believe that the church has made many of the same mistakes.
? We have looked at other churches and ministers with pious
judgementalism.
? We have raised our noses in pride and our eyebrows in ridicule.
? We have subtly reveled in others failures and criticized their
successes.
All the while leaving our rear guard unprotected and vulnerable to the
attack of the enemy.
We have argued over:
eschatology while souls are perishing in the real end times
wether it's a thimble full or a baptistry full while hell has been filling
up
wether or not tongues have ceased, while the devil has not let up his
onslaught
Now don't misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying that the church
should enter into some ecumenical compromise, but rather we should focus
on those things that He will focus on the day of judgement!
Not uniformity, but rather unity.
We may get there on two different paths, but we are headed in the same
direction!
You may......
Dance and I may jump...but we are both rejoicing in Jesus!
Pray with your hands clasped and mine may be in the air....
Sings hymns and I may sing choruses....
Let out at noon and I may let out at 2:00 PM....
But the bottom line is that He would that there be no divisions among us!
Heb 12:1-2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Weight= "ogkos" encumbrance- that which gets in the way or impedes forward
progress.
Sin= "hamartia" to miss the mark or to come up short of the prescribed
goal or standard.
1 Cor 9:24-27 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but
one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And
everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who
beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified."
We have always been strong starters, but very weak finishers!
Children's church...
Visitation...
Prayer...
Back in 1945, in the midst of the war to end all wars a race began. It was
not a race on a track or in a stadium, but rather a race conducted upon
the field of life.
Three young men, set out on a race that was race for the cause of Christ.
These three young men came out of nowhere to be recognized that year as
the preeminent names among nationally known evangelist.
All were in the middle twenties and all were immensely gifted in their own
right.
Chuck Templeton was called the "Babe Ruth of evangelism." Most observers
thought that he would most assuredly rise to the top of the evangelical
latter. He was gifted, talented, a dynamic preacher and many called him
the most gifted preacher in America.
Bron Clifford was another one of these young men. He was a fireball
evangelist. Some called him the most powerful voice to rise up in the
church in centuries. People lined up for hours to hear him preach. He once
preached on the campus of Baylor University and they actually cut the
ropes on the bell tower so that the message would not be interrupted. For
2 ? hours the student body sat on the edges of their seats as he preached
the Word of God. He preached to more people and set more attendance
records than any evangelist before him. He was tall and handsome and
Hollywood actually tried to recruit him for the lead role in the classic
movie, The Robe.
For all their achievements, I would be surprised if a single one of your
have even even heard of Templeton or Clifford.
By 1950, Templeton had left the ministry and was working in radio. He
became an atheist and denied the existence of Jesus Christ.
By 1954, Clifford was an alcoholic, he had left his wife and two
down-syndrome children and died of cirrhosis of the liver in a rundown
motel right here in Amarillo, Texas.
Several area pastor got together a collection in order to bury him.
Who was the third young man? Billy Graham.
Heb 12:1-2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
