The Gospel, The Power Of God
Divine Weapon #2
It was dark, it was cold – he had been in these cramped quarters for quit some time. He wasn’t sure whether it was day or night. Nor was he sure just how long he had been there. Now he had always wanted to come back to this city, but he had hoped it would be under different circumstances.
AND – as Paul struggled to find comfort, while wearing shackles on his hands and feet…occasionally, having to flick off from his body, a crawling creature, whose identity was hidden by the darkness of his prison cell… He thought about his life, where he had been what he had seen, what he had been through.
NOW – Paul knew that before too long the sound of jailers keys and prison bars would break the silence, Paul knew that at any moment the would be coming - to take him to his death. The year was 67 AD, and the apostle Paul after fighting the good fight, after keeping the faith – was in Rome awaiting his death, at the edge of an axe, by the command of Nero. Paul was in prison, and he was about to be executed for one reason and one reason only – preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ…
AND as the torch flickered, Paul wrote his final recorded words. They are found in 2 Timothy. PICTURE – in your mind the great apostle Paul weary, tired, worn out, leaning against the damp walls of a Roman prison…put yourself there… QUESTION - What would your final words be if you were him?
“My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me – crown of being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day – not only to me but to all those who have awaited with love for him to come again….The first time I defended myself, no one helped, everyone left me. May they be forgiven. But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength so I could tell the Good News to all those who are not Jews. So I was saved from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will save me when anyone tries to hurt me, and he will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be the Lord’s. Amen. The Lord be with your spirit, grace be with you.: 2 Tim 4:6-8,16-18
And perhaps, it was when he wrote those final words, “The Lord be with your spirit, grace be with you” that he heard the soldiers walking, that he saw the flickering torches, perhaps it was then that Paul went so confidently to his death – knowing that the Lord would bring him safely into his heavenly kingdom…
QUESTION – Why would a man give up everything, his position, his career, his possessions, his heritage, his comfort – even his own life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ…?
Just this past week in our hang time journal I was reminded of how much Paul went through, in order to share the message of Christ…Our reading for this past Wednesday was 2 Corinthians chapter 4. About 3:30 pm I went to the little red bench on the play ground, trying to get my mind focused and renewed…
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of our constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen our bodies. Yes we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus..”
Paul said that because of the message of Christ he was pressed on every side – perplexed – hunted and knocked down – and that he faced the constant danger of death…BUT he didn’t give up, he didn’t quit – he always got back up again, and kept going…
LATER ON – in this same letter Paul says; (LISTEN – as I read these words picture yourself going through all of this)
“Five times I received from the Jews the 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I’ve been in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea and in danger from false brothers, I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have gone without food; I have been cold and naked, besides everything else, I face the daily pressure of my concern for all the churches..” 2 Cor 11:24-28
I think I have it tough… AND - in other places we find these words of Paul; to the church at Philipi – Paul wrote these words from another prison cell;
“But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, If I am to die for you) I will rejoice.” Php 3:17
AND – as his 3rd missionary journey was about to end, Paul was in Ephesus… And he told the church there that he was planning to go to Jerusalem, even though the Holy Spirit told him that prison and hardship would be waiting for him there. The church at Ephesus didn’t want him to go – BUT Paul said;
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24
WHY – would Paul go through all that…? Why would anyone for that matter… QUESTION – what is there about the Gospel that causes people to do, and endure – some incredible things? AND please UNDERSTAND – that Paul was not the first nor was he the last – to give it all up for Christ… Others have done so as well. In fact tens of thousands have literally died for the gospel… They are called Martyrs… The word martyr is from the Greek word for witness…
QUESTION – what is a martyr?
1) One who chooses to suffer death rather than to deny Jesus Christ or His work.
2) One who bears testimony to the truth of what he has seen or heard or knows, as in a witness in a court of justice.
3) One who sacrifices something very important to further the kingdom of God
4) One who endures severe or constant suffering for their Christian witness
5) A Jesus freak
LISTEN – to the words of these ‘Jesus Freaks’
Stephen (while he was being stoned 40 AD) “Lord do not hold this against them”
Paul (who was beheaded in Rome in 65 AD) “For me to live is Christ to die is gain”
Polycarp (Burned at the stake 168 AD) when they tried to get him to deny Christ - “86 years have I served the Lord Jesus Christ, and has never once wronged me. How can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?” When they tried to nail him to the stake – “leave me as I am, He who gives me strength to endure the fire will enable me to remain still within the fire.”
Julius Palmer (burned at the stake England 1556) “We shall not end our lives in the fire, but make a change for a better life”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (hang by Nazi SS 1945) “This is for me…the beginning of life”
Jim Elliot - (killed by headhunters in Ecuador 1956) “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
LISTEN – for 2,000 years people like Paul have given it ALL up for Christ and His Gospel – Why? That’s what a want us to try to answer today – in a message about divine weapon #2 (why was divine #1 – your mind… take thoughts captive – renew mind – change your exposure – increase bible input – adopt soaking practices, soak, meditate on the word) – our message today is called, The Gospel – the power of God.
Prayer….
Why do people give it all up for the gospel? I think Romans chapter one does a pretty good job of answering that…
“First, I thank my God through Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the GOSPEL of his son is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at least by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you…I am OBLIGATED both to Greeks and non-Greeks, to wise and the foolish. That is why I am so EAGER to preach the GOSPEL also to you who are in Rome. I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL, because it is the POWER OF GOD for the SALVATION of everyone who believes; first for the Jew then for the Gentile. For in the GOSPEL a righteousness from God is revealed a righteousness that is by faith…” Rm 1:8-10, 14-17
Because Of What The Gospel IS
The Gospel is good news…
NOW - the word Gospel is an interesting term, it comes from the Greek word ‘euangelion’ and it means, ‘Good News.’ This word was used by the Greeks for the proclamation of 4 great events;
First; It was used to describe the good news of victory on the battle field. This good news would come by way of ship, horse or even a swift runner who would proclaim the message of victory to the anxiously awaiting city.
Second; It was used to tell the good news of a wedding.
Third; It was the word the was used to tell of the birth of a son.
Fourth; it was used to tell the good news of the death of an enemy.
WHY – do people give it all up for the Gospel – because the gospel is good news – and because…
The Gospel is the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus
“For what I received I passed on to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE: that Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to Scriptures.” 1 Cor 15:3,4
CIRCLE; “Christ died, he was buried, he was raised…” That’s the gospel – God the Son coming to earth to redeem, to save, mankind from their sins…
TODAY IS ‘SUPERBOWL’ SUNDAY... AND THOSE WHO LOVE THE GAME OF FOOTBALL (LIKE ME) ESPECIALLY THE NFL, THIS IS THE BIG DANCE. NOW WE ARE NOT SURE OF WHAT KIND OF GAME WE WILL HAVE - WHETEHR IT WILL BE A GAME OR A BLOW OUT...
I HOPE IT IS A GREAT GAME – DOWN TO THE WIRE…
AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING KIND OF FOOTBALL GAME IS WHEN YOUR TEAM COMES FROM BEHIND AND WINS. I LOVE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS. A COME FROM BEHIND VICTORY IS THE BEST.
THAT IS WHAT THE GOSPEL IS – YOU SEE, WHAT HAPPENED THAT PASSOVER WEEKEND WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE GREATEST 4TH QUARTER COME BACK IN ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY... I MEAN UP UNTIL SUNDAY IT WAS NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD FOR THE HOME TEAM...
LET ME EXPLAIN...
WHEN THE DARK CLOUD HOVERED OVER THE GARDEN, WHEN JESUS WAS PRAYING IN SUCH DEEP SORROW, WHEN THE DISCIPLES FELL ASLEEP JUST A FEW FEET AWAY UNABLE TO BE TO SUPPORT JESUS, WHEN JUDAS COMES AND GIVES JESUS THAT KISS OF BETRAYAL -- WHEN THE SOLDIERS COME AND BIND JESUS, TAKING HIM AWAY -- THE DISCIPLES FLEEING INTO THE JUDEAN NIGHT.... WHEN OF THIS HAPPENED -- IT LOOKED LIKE ANYTHING BUT VICTORY, THE DARK FORCES OF THIS WORLD THOUGHT THE VICTORY WAS SOON TO BE THEIRS
-- BUT IT WAS ONLY FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WAS COMING...
WHEN PETER WAS WARMING IN HANDS IN THE FIRE -- PETER THE ONE WHO HAD SPOKEN SUCH WORDS OF CONFIDENCE... WHEN THE ROOSTER CROWED AND PETER DENIED EVER EVEN KNOWING JESUS -- WHEN ONE OF JESUS STRONGEST FOLLOWERS DENIED HIM IT DID NOT LOOKED LIKE VICTORY...
-- BUT THAT WAS FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WAS COMING....
THEN CAME THE MOCKINGS, THE BEATINGS -- THE TEMPLE GUARDS PUTTING A BLIND FOLD ON JESUS -- THEN EACH TAKING TURNS BEATING JESUS WITH THEIR FISTS, THE BLOOD POURING FROM HIS NOSE AND MOUTH.... AND AS THEY HIT JESUS THEY MOCKED HIM "COME JESUS IF YOU ARE REALLY A PROPHET TELL US (SMACK) WHO IS HITTING YOU..."
-- THAT WAS FRIDAY, BUT SUNDAY WAS COMING...
LATER, THEY WOULD TIE JESUS TO A ROMAN SCOURGING POST -- STRETCHING THE SKIN ON HIS BACK TIGHT. AND THEN 39 TIMES A SCOURGE -- IT’S 9 STRANDS EMBEDDED WITH GLASS -- LEAD AND BROKEN PIECES OF POTTERY RIPPED ACROSS THE BACK OF JESUS -- TEARING OUT CHUNKS OF SKIN, FLESH AND MUSCLE... AND UNDERSTAND – THAT THE ROMAN SOLDIER DOING THIS CRUEL JOB WAS VERY PROFICIENT AT BRINGING A MAN INTENSE PAIN AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING HIM "THIS CLOSE" TO DEATH… WHY? SO HIS VICTIM WOULD SUFFER LONGER.
LISTEN - AS JESUS HUNG THERE HANDS BOND, BLOOD POURING FROM HIS BODY -- WINCING IN PAIN... AT THIS MOMENT THE ROMANS AND THE JEWISH LEADERS -- MAY HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD WON, THAT THEY FINALLY HAD JESUS WALKING DOWN THE ROAD THEY WANTED...
-- BUT THAT WAS FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WAS COMING...
AND WHEN THE CROWD WHO LESS THAN A WEEK AGO SHOUTED HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD -- WHEN JESUS RODE INTO JERUSALEM TRIUMPHANTLY ... WHEN THOSE SAME PEOPLE WHO WHEN PILATE ASKED THEM, "WHAT SHALL I DO THEN WITH THE ONE YOU CALL KING OF THE JEWS?" WHEN THEY RESOUNDED WITH "CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY JESUS!! -- IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE VICTORY,
-- BUT THAT WAS FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WAS COMING!
AND AS THEY LED JESUS CARRYING HIS CROSS THROUGH THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM.... UP AND DOWN THOSE WINDING DIRT ROADS.... THE SOLDIERS PURPOSELY TAKING THE LONGEST ROUTE -- SO ALL COULD SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO ANYONE WHO DARES TO DEFY ROME... THE STREETS ARE LINED WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, REMEMBER THIS HAPPENED DURING THE PASSOVER FEAST AT TIME WHEN JERUSALEM SWELLED TO THE MILLIONS AS PILGRIMS MADE THEIR WAY TO THE CITY OF DAVID... AND ALSO LET’S REMEMBER THE ROMAN LAW THAT SAID IF THAT ON THE WAY TO THE CRUCIFIXION AS THE MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS IF ANYONE WOULD JUMP OUT AND SAY -- THIS MAN IS INNOCENT THE WHOLE PROCEEDINGS WOULD STOP....
WHEN JESUS WALKED BY THOSE WHO HE HAD HEALED AND THEY EACH IN TURN LOOKED AWAY/DENYING JESUS.... IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE VICTORY....
-- BUT THAT WAS FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WAS COMING....
AND WHEN JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, GOD IN THE FLESH -- WHEN JESUS WAS STRIPPED NAKED AND NAILED TO THE CROSS.... WITH EVERY BREATHE PUSHING UP ON THOSE SPIKES IN HIS FEET -- PULLING UP ON THOSE SPIKES IN HIS WRIST... SCRAPPING HIS EXPOSED BACK AND ORGANS AGAINST THAT RUGGED CROSS OF WOOD, AS HUNDREDS AROUND HIM ARE LAUGHING AT HIM, MOCKING HIM, RIDICULING HIM -- INSULTING HIM, AS JESUS HUNG SUSPEND BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, BLOOD POURING FROM HIS WOUNDS, BLOOD STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE AND CHEEKS -- AS JESUS CRIED OUT, "MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME..."
WHEN JESUS RAISED UP AND BREATHED FOR THE LAST TIME AND SAID "IT IS FINISHED".... HUNG HIS HEAD AND DIED.... AS THE SKY TURNED BLACK -- AS THE DARK CLOUDS SWALLOWED JERUSALEM -- IT LOOKED LIKE ANYTHING BUT VICTORY; AND I AM SURE THAT ON THAT DARK FRIDAY NIGHT PARTIES WERE BEING THROWN THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS THE PHARISEES, TEACHERS OF THE LAW, THE SADDUCEES AND CORRUPTED PRIESTHOOD CELEBRATED THE DEATH OF JESUS.... AND SATAN AND HIS DEMONS WERE NO DOUBT THROWING A PARTY THEMSELVES....
-- BUT MY FRIENDS IT WAS ONLY FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WAS COMING....
UNDERSTAND - IT MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE DEFEAT, BUT THE FOG WAS LIFTING AND VICTORY WAS ON IT’S WAY.... JESUS CHRIST WITH GREAT POWER WAS ABOUT TO BURST FORTH FROM THE GRAVE -- SUNDAY WAS COMING...
And – Sunday came – death could not hold our King… Jesus Christ with great power burst forth from the grave AND when he did, He won our freedom – He paid our debt…
QUESTION - why did Paul, why have so many others giving up everything (even their lives) for the Gospel BECAUSE of what the Gospel is…. It is good news - ‘euangelion’ ! The gospel is just the good news we needed…
LISTEN…
A victory has been won – Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection has;
defeated, slammed dunked, crushed, smashed, creamed, routed, bested, beat, destroyed, demolished, conquered, routed, vanquished, blasted, trampled, overcame, overpowered, overthrown, overturned,
extinguished, annihilated, eradicated, exterminated and obliterated,
satan, sin, death and the grave…
A Son has been born – Jesus, God the Son, put on human flesh and walked among us…
A wedding is being prepared – The church is the bride of Christ and she looks forward to the return of Christ her bridegroom and that eternal wedding day.
And oppressor is dying – satan – the serpent has been crushed – he is already defeated and all that is left is for him and his demons to be tossed in the flames of hell at the last trumpet sound. Listen for those who are in Christ satan our once mighty oppressor no longer holds any power over us… Because greater is he that is in us – then he that is in the world…
BECAUSE of what the gospel is, people through the centuries have given it all up in order to share it… AND they also give it all up -
Because Of What The Gospel DOES
LISTEN – when the gospel – when the good news of Jesus Christ really gets a hold of someone it does some pretty awesome things, things that cause men & women to give it all up for him & his message…
It Creates An Obligation
Paul says in Romans 1:14; “I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and foolish..”
CIRCLE – ‘obligation’
LISTEN – when the gospel really gets a hold of you – you will feel a sense of obligation growing inside of you – moving you to action, compelling you give it all up for the gospel…
QUESTION – an obligation to who?
WELL – first of all an obligation to Christ. UNDERSTAND - He paid your debt. LISTEN -the pain, the blood, the nails, the beatings – all of His suffering was for you. Checkout what Isaiah says in his 53rd chapter; (let’s personalize it);
It was my weakness Jesus carried,
it was my sorrows that weighed Him down…
Jesus was wounded and crushed for my sin
He was beaten that I might have peace
Jesus was whipped and I was healed..”
LET – me ask you – do you feel a sense of obligation to Jesus?
Do you feel any obligation to Him – for what he has done for you?
Do you feel obligated to spread the news of what he did on the cross?
Do you feel obligated – to fulfill the task your Lord & Savior has given you (Matt 28:18-20)?
Paul like us, felt an obligation to Jesus….
BUT LISTEN – Paul didn’t just feel a sense of obligation to Jesus – he also felt an obligation to people… In Romans 1:14 he says, “I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, to the wise and foolish…”
UNDERSTAND what Paul is saying is ‘I am obligated to all people…to young and old, to rich and poor, men and women, slave and free, peasant and king, to the down & out and the up and out.”
QUESTION – who do you feel obligated to?
DO YOU feel obligated to the lost people – you work with, go to school with, live next to, do you feel obligated to the lost who are even in your own family?
WHY HAVE SO MNAY – given it all up for Jesus, why have so many become Jesus Freaks, BECAUSE of what the gospel does to us – it creates an obligation… and it also;
Produces An Eagerness
“…I am so eager to preach the GOSPEL also to you who are in Rome.”
CIRCLE; “I am so eager” In others I can’t wait… I got to tell somebody and I got to tell them now…
QUESTION – have you ever been eager to share good news. “I passed the class, I got an A, I got my license, I’m pregnant, It’s a boy, I got a promotion, I got a raise…”
THIS past Monday (about 1:00 pm) – I had some good news to share, and I couldn’t wait, I was eager to tell people about it… Dan Lapwing
QUESTION – why should the gospel produce in us, an eagerness to share it?
BECAUSE – man has a problem… he has a terminal disease – he is lost in sin. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God… the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God forever)… AND UNDERSTAND – sin, this terminal disease not separates you from God for eternity – it separates you from God NOW… LISTEN – the reason so many lives are messed up is because they are living in rebellion against God…
MAN has a serious problem…
AND we should be eager to share the gospel - BECAUSE the gospel is the answer…
Through Christ you be forgiven, you can be right with God, your sins can be washed away…
QUESTION – if you knew someone who had terminal cancer and you discovered the cure.. would you be eager to share?
It Instills Pride
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”
CIRCEL – “I am not ashamed”
UNDERSTAND – to many in the Roman world the gospel would not seem that impressive…
It came from Jerusalem (one of those small cities Rome had conquered)
It’s leader was a Jew, just a carpenter, and he was crucified because of his own people…
And the Christian in that day were not wealthy most were slaves and lower class people.
YES – to the Romans – the gospel did not seem very impressive – it seemed insignificant a religion of weak minded men… BUT UNDERSTAND – Paul was not only not ashamed of the gospel – but he is here making a deliberate understatement to emphasize the opposite – Paul was Pride of the gospel…
Paul says with great boldness – “I am not ashamed of the Gospel..”
YOU KNOW – I think some believers are ashamed. This past January at the NYLC in Missouri, one of the speakers (Mark Driscoll) said the following;
Here is the bottomline of everything. I believe that biggest problem is that you and I are ashamed of the Gospel. We are ashamed in this day and age to stand up and say;
This is true – this is false
This is God – this idolatry
This is biblical – this is the wisdom of men
This is the truth of scripture – this is the tradition of people
And we are ashamed to look people in the eye and say you are an enemy of God…
You’re not just hurting
You’re not just needy
You’re not just confused
You are dead in your the trespasses & sins, The reason your life is in disarray in because you do not know God…
UNDERSTAND – that is not how Paul felt and that is not how we feel at Central – We are not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God, for the salvation of everyone who believes…
LISTEN – the gospel is the power of God… not was it is the power of God… It was the power of God in the first century and it is the power of God in the 21st century… AND it is the power of God with one purpose – to save people… to show them how to get right with God…
The focus – the center of all we do at Central is the Gospel… Listen we people come in this building they are going to here about Jesus… who is what did – and who we are and what we should do because of Him… I know that many so called church growth experts say that nice little 18 minute - feel good pop psychology messages are the way to go – but I reject that I will teach the gospel and the word of God for 30-40 minutes..
In about a year we will be in a new building – it will be awesome.. a great sound system and lighting, I mean our music will be even better then it is now – and hopefully we will be able to do some drama and other stuff – BUT KNOW this the only purpose for all that stuff is to load the bases for the ultimate cleanup hitter – the Gospel….
UNDERSTAND – our soul reason for existing as a church and individually as Christian, is to get people saved… AND it would be self-defeating and stupid to not tap into he power of God…which is found in the gospel… (baptism)
More Gospel then ever…
My ministry is nothing more than a reflection of my faith in the gospel…”
It Brings True Life
“If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.” Mk 8:35 (NLT)
QUESTION – who or what are you living for?
LET ME TELL YOU – Paul and those other people I mentioned earlier (Stephen, Polycarp, Julius Palmer, Dietrich Bonhofer, Jim Elliot) they new what true life really is…
Do you?
“if you give up your life for my sake and the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.”
It Turns The World Upside Down
“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Acts 17:6 (NKJV)
“Therefore if anyone is IN Christ he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Cor 5:17
Changes people – homes, marriages, churches
