"When the Music stops!"
Opening remarks:
This weekend was a great success. People where blessed and touched from every age bracket. You could say we experienced one of those mountain top experiences. So I ask the question today, “What do we do now that the music stopped?”
This is a very good question? In essence we ask ourselves what NOW? I believe we need to remember the great mountain top experience of the Gospel Fest but we also need to see that God gives us the mountain top experiences in life to drive us into the valley of service for Him.
I see an all to common occurrence in Christian circles today where people want to stay on the mountain top experiences but never go down into the valley of service. These individuals would be like someone who would still be sitting down at the tent site waiting for next year to come. They just sit there relishing in the fest over and over remembering it, relishing in it but never applying it to life and service. So my challenge to you today is you had a great experience what are you going to do with it?
Will you let it propel you into service for the Lord?
Will you let it ignite a fire in you for serving Jesus for the year?
Will you get fired up about sharing how Jesus met you and then share that experience with others so they too can experience Jesus in a similar way?
Will you allow the spirit of the One Nation Youth Choir to affect the way you live?
Will you decide to be the solution to the problems of society and not the problem itself?
Will you begin to tackle some of the problems of society in our area?
Will you make a commitment to be an impacter for the Kingdom of Love?
Will you embrace those who need love and care?
Will you take what you received and then give it away to others?
Will you leave the mountain to go into the valley of service?
Thesis: The Mountain is the place we always meet with God and never want to leave. But, God desires us to go home and share our experience with others.
Illustration:
"Welcome to San Diego. Now go home.", is a bumper stick you will find in San Diego. Another is "Enjoy San Diego. Then go home." People who have been there say that San Diego, California is a friendly city. It is also a city bursting with promise.
San Diego, however, is now the 7th largest city in the United States. Many residents believe that it is big enough. So they put bumper stickers on their cars, "Welcome to San Diego, Now Go Home." And to be sure you take the hint, they have put their airport right in the middle of the city.
Introduction:
This not-so-subtle hint by residents of San Diego is a reminder of the subtle messages of the Gospel. "Enjoy the Mountain, Now go home." There are two dimensions to the Christian life. The mountain of exultation and the valley of service.
The mountain -- where we encounter God -- where we feel our souls refreshed -- where we find a new motivation for the living of our lives.
And the valley -- where we maintain our responsibilities -- where we reach out to those who are hurting -- where we seek to be the body of Christ at work today. Where we fulfill the charge of Christ found in Matthew 28:16-20:
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in£ the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (MESSAGE)
There are two different dimensions in this life -- and we live in both! There are the close encounters with God and His presence and that close encounter of a God kind should drive us into the valley of service. It’s the valley of service where our lives make a difference. It’s where we lead others to the presence of the Lord on the mountain.
T.S.- Lets explore these two areas of our lives!
I. THE MOUNTAIN OF EXULTATION IS WHERE WE ENCOUNTER THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN AN AWESOME WAY (PSALM 84).
84:1 “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. {[6] Or blessings} 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah 9 Look upon our shield, {[9] Or sovereign}O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you” (NIV).
Psalm 84 – From the Message
What a beautiful home, GOD of the Angel Armies!
I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,
Always dreamed of a room in your house,
where I could sing for joy to God-alive!
Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
singing their songs in the place where we worship.
GOD of the Angel Armies! King! God!
How blessed they are to live and sing there!
And how blessed all those in whom you live,
whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!
God of the Angel Armies, listen:
O God of Jacob, open your ears—I’m praying!
Look at our shields, glistening in the sun,
our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.
One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,
beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God
than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.
All sunshine and sovereign is GOD,
generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.
It’s smooth sailing all the way with GOD of the Angel Armies.
A. The Mountain top experience is where most of us desire to live our lives. It’s the place where we experience the Lord’s presence in an intimate, encouraging, awe inspiring way.
1. David explains the beauty of dwelling with the Lord in this Psalm. He desires to put into words what these mountain top experiences where like and are like with God.
a. His desire sings out on how he wants to live with God in His dwelling - it means so much to him that his soul yearns to be with the Lord. (vs. 2)
1.) Yearns - defined to be filled with longing or desire, to be deeply moved with tenderness or love.
2.) It’s a passion to be with someone so much that it hurts to be apart from them.
3.) You have all seen the different movies that are out there where the soldier goes off to war and the love of his life just yearns for him to come home safe.
a. This is that type of yearning- longing and really describes a heart of love.
b. He even faints for the courts of the Lord.
1.) The word faint here means like when a teenager sees an idol.
2.) Have you ever seen this happen?
2. David also shares how his heart and his flesh cry out for the living God.
a. When your heart and flesh cry out to God you know that you have truly met with God.
b. Does your heart and flesh cry out to be with the living God?
c. Some of you have never had that mountain top experience with God because it’s a chore just to come to the house of worship once a week. To spend a little time with the Lord. To honor the Sabbath!
3. In verse 6 we discover a place called the Valley of Baca - Valley of weeping or sorrow when the righteous enter the valley of suffering, they turn it into a time of refreshment.
a. This is the place where we all have to go. It’s the place of where we are called to serve for the one we love. It’s a place full of pain and suffering - it’s this world - this life in the fallen world.
b. This valley is a valley of weeping. But it’s in this valley where we lead others out of it onto the mountain of the Lord.
c. But we are told that in this valley those that have encountered God will find refreshment.
4. There is hunger within changed hearts to live on the mountain top. Who can blame Simon Peter (Luke 9:28-36, Mark 9:2-13, Matt. 17:1-12) for suggesting that they build 3 booths, one for the Master, one for Moses and one for Elijah, do they could stay there on the mountain forever?
Matt. 17: 1-12
17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don’t be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." 10 The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."
Luke 9:28-36
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 36 When the voice had spoken, they chosen; listen to him." 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
* Peter wanted to capture that magical moment of being closer to God than he had ever been before.
* He did not want to leave a place where they heard God’s voice and saw His glory, where supernatural things where taking place.
B. God desires us to visit His mountain often.
1. God wants us at the mountain on a regular basis. He desires us to know Him personally to experience Him intimately.
a. The problem arises today when
no one ever visits his mountain.
b. God wants us to spend time with Him in these intimate encounters.
2. To ascend the mountain of exultation is to be aware of both creation and the Creator. It is to be aware of the grandeur and the majesty of life.
The mountain top is where you meet with God and enter His presence.
a. It’s a place of refuge and refreshment.
b. It’s a place where you see the cross and Jesus’ glory and splendor.
c. It’s where the fear of death is defeated.
d. It’s a place of awesome beauty.
e. It’s a place where Jesus’ light gives new meaning to past, present and future events.
f. It’s a place where you find comfort.
C. I pity a person who has not had this type of experience and found hope in a hopeless world.
1. But all they have to do is climb the mountain with Jesus and see the glory.
2. What’s even more pitiful is the person who once climbed the mountain but is too lazy to climb it anymore.
a. There is a story about a baby who loved to clap her hands. She clapped for everything, whether it be her lunch, her toys, playing with her parents or sitting watching waves roll in at the beach. Her parents said about this, "We only worry that someday she’ll stop."
3. Some people have a mountain top experience and they claim, "This is it". And they think they have captured the essence of the Christian faith in a bottle. That they can slip it into their pocket and take it back home with them.
a. Later, they open the bottle on Easter or Christmas and find it empty. The experience has not lasted. It is now but a pleasant, though distant, memory. But because they have been on the mountain even for a moment, they think they possess the real thing. They think they know what it means to follow Jesus, but they do not know.
b. The truth is when you have really meet with the Lord on the mountain you will want to serve in the valley.
4. They never put into practice their intimate encounter with the Lord. In essence it was just a one night stand with God!
T.S .It’s a pity for those who never sense the glory and presence of God. Or even worse, they stop praising God and stop seeking His desires. Pity even more the person who yearns for the mountain of exultation, but refuses the Valley of service
II. THE OTHER AREA WE NEED LIVE IN AND SERVE IN IS THE VALLEY OF SERVICE.
A. God desires service as a result of the mountain top experience. (Exodus 24: 12, 15-18)
12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction." 15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
1.) Moses - received his commission on the mountain and then he came down off the mountain to lead God’s people.
2.) Christ had the mountain top experiences always in preparation for ministry and service.
a. There is a classic story about Dr. Albert Einstein. Einstein received many requests for help. The most unusual came from a distraught mother.
She wrote:
Dear Einstein:
My son thinks he is Jesus. I write to ask if you will talk to him. For no one else will he come down from the mountain and he has been there for three weeks. Will you do this for a broken-hearted mother?
Einstein talked with the son, and he came down from the mountain. Einstein later explained to some friends, "I didn’t argue with his delusions. Rather I reminded him that Jesus came down from the mountain to become a fisher among men.”
B. Jesus did come down from the mountain and become a servant in the valley.
** I would like to make this point clear by saying, that the only kind of mountain top experience worth having is one that leads us down from the mountain of exultation into the valley of service.
1. The proof of an authentic encounter with God is always a changed life. This changed life shows a desire to serve God in the valley of service.
2. This is why we have a bunch of people being baptized today out at Apple River- at Polk County Park at 1pm.
3. Their encounter with the Lord has changed their lives and they will each get the opportunity to share what Jesus has done for them.
4. Anfuso states, “Water Baptism is far more than a ritual or religious exercise. It is intended to be an essential part of the spiritual foundation of all new Christians. At the time of a believer’s baptism in water he/she outwardly affirms the inward commitment he/she has made to Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life.
5. These individuals have had an encounter with the Lord that now drives them to be water baptized to show to the world their commitment to Jesus Christ was and is real.
6. A mountain top experience should propel you to become involved in serving in the Kingdom of God. Look at the bulletin we need servers!
* We need people to give financially!
* We need people to faithfully serve in the sound booth.
* We need people to help with the Kids Crusade.
* We need people to serve in the nursery.
* We need people to faithfully serve on the worship teams.
* We need people to serve in the tape ministry.
* We need people to help prepare communion elements.
* We need people to work with Son-light Kid’s ministry next September.
* We need people to do overheads for services.
* We need people to head up the Café ministry.
* We need people to head up Martha’s Ministry which helps those in need.
C. My job here at New Life Community Church is to get you to become involved in doing ministry. I need, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to challenge you to move from being spectators of ministry to becoming participants in doing ministry.
1. Bill Hull states, “The more we ask people to come and sit and listen to us talk, the greater the disservice we do to them and to Christ’s commands” (90)
2. Ephesians 4:11-13:
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
3. My job is to prepare you to do the work of ministry – to be the one’s who fulfill the Great Commission.
4. But for you to do this you have to leave the mountain and go into the Valley!
5. Are you willing?
Summary:
A mountain top experience ought to do something like that for us. It ought to get the glare out of our eyes, so we can see the world as God sees it. He sees it as a world of need. And he calls us to leave the mountain top where we have gathered in praise and joy to go to the valley of service. God says, “Welcome to the mountain but now it’s time to go home and serve others!” It’s time to be my witnesses in the Valley of weeping – in a world full of pain and suffering caused by sin.”
The Lord says to us, “It’s now time to leave the mountain top experience with me and go into the world and lead people from there to eternity with me. You will do this by serving others in love. By teaching the truth of my word. By demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit. By being my witnesses and standing up as a Christian – one who has the attributes of me. You will be rejected by some but embraced by others. But in the end it will all be worth while because you will spend eternity with me.”
The Lord adds, “So go into the world and preach the Good News and remember to come back to the mountain to visit me often but you cannot live on the mountain yet, but soon and for eternity you can stay in my presence forever. ”
Altar Call:
I hope you have received a blessing from our worship service. I hope the music and the prayers and the fellowship have brought you closer to God than you have ever been before. I pray that the Gospel Fest has touched your life. I pray that the One Nation Youth Choir inspired you. That’s was all great and meaningful.
But there are people outside these walls, however, who need your love and your faithful witness and God desires your service for Him. Will you give away what God has blessed you with. Will you leave the mountain to go into the valley of service so that you can lead others out and onto the mountain?
Closing Words:
I send you into the valley of service in the Spirit of Christ.
Remember: "Welcome to the mountain. Now go home and lead others from here to eternity!"
