Sermon: Renew 2021 – Re-thinking and Re-phrasing!
Video: Transition a Needy World from sermoncentral.com
Everywhere you go there is a need. In our cities, our nation, and our world. People are struggling, addicted, broken and lost. If Jesus is the hope of the world, then His church should act as His hands and feet. It’s time for the church to act on the hope we have. To meet people wherever they are and share the love of Jesus. It’s time to meet the need. To meet the need means we need to re-think and re-phrase how we deal with others in need and in life. We need to renew our minds see people as Jesus see’s them and speak words of life to them – not words of death!
Deuteronomy 15:11, James 1:17, James 2:14-17, Matthew 5:42
Illustration:
JIM CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY
Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in Brooklyn New York called Brooklyn Tabernacle in a rough area. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service with many people coming forward. The counselors were talking with these people.
As I was sitting there I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, disheveled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, “Could I talk to you?”
We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, “What a way to end a Sunday. I’ve had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here’s a fellow probably wanting some money for more wine.”
He walked up. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell like I’d never smelled in my life. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I’d talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn’t inhale facing him. I asked him, “What’s your name?”
“David.”
“How long have you been on the street?”
“Six years.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-two.” He looked fifty--hair matted; front teeth missing; wino; eyes slightly glazed.
“Where did you sleep last night, David?”
“Abandoned truck.”
I keep in my back pocket a money clip that also holds some credit cards. I fumbled to pick one out thinking; I’ll give him some money. I won’t even get a volunteer. They are all busy talking with others. Usually we don’t give money to people. We take them to get something to eat.
I took the money out. David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, “I don’t want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I’m not going to make it. I’m going to die on the street.”
I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels.
But oh, did that change! David just stood there. He didn’t know what was happening. I pleaded with God, “God, forgive me! Forgive me! Please forgive me. I am so sorry to represent You this way. I’m so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and You send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!”
Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don’t love this smell, I can’t use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell.
Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in 6 days. He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, “This is for you.” It was a little white hanky. It was the only thing he could afford.
A year later David got up and talked about his conversion to Christ. The minute he took the mic and began to speak, I said, “The man is a preacher.” This past Easter we ordained David. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to saying, “Here, take this; I’m a busy preacher.”
We can get so full of ourselves if we don’t continue to seek after renewal – re-thinking and re-phrasing.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Colossians 1:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-10, Exodus 18:15, John 13:34-35, Luke 23:32-34, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalms 40:1-3
Series: Renew 2021
Summary of our Series Renew 2021:
Thesis: We need to be renewed by connecting or re-connecting with the Lord this year in 2021. To do this requires a renewed mind, a renewed soul and a renewed passion for Jesus.
Key theme Scripture Verse:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2
Our theme for 2021 is Re-new - we accomplish this by:
1. Renewing the mind
2. Refreshing the soul
3. Reigniting a passion for Jesus
When we decide to go after these (RE’s) another (RE) occurs – the word is revival – what is a revival? – it’s an extraordinary event moved by the power of the Holy Spirit to get people to repent and come to the Lord. It takes place within the church, within individuals lives, family lives and within the community. Revival is a great spiritual awakening and will change people, families, churches and communities – it’s a divine move of God.
Key point: The “Re’s” we have been exploring are all key ingredients to revival and renewal – these “Re’s” are to be looked on as beacons of light and hope for us to be renewed in 2021. We have to decide to put them into action to get a prayer for revival and renewal.
Easter Week Theme – Redemption!
• What does this (Re) word mean?
• Redemption is a noun!
a. The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
b. "God has plans for the redemption of this world"
• Similar meaning: saving – saving and freeing from sin – vindication - absolution
2. the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for a payment, or clearing a debt.
• Similar: retrieval – recovery – reclamation – repossession
Sermon: Renewal and Revival key 2: “Re-think and Re-phrase”
Thesis: We need to pursue renewal by re-thinking and re-phrasing our mindset and words. The tongue unchecked has done more destruction to our society than terrorist’s attacks. It has been one of the most powerful forces stopping renewal/revival from happening in the church, in this nation and it has hindered renewal around the world for 1,000 of years. So therefore, we need to learn to renew our mindsets by re-thinking and then re-phrase how we interact verbally with others. We need to tame the tongue if we want revival!
Scripture Texts:
James 3:1-10
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Proverbs 12:18
18Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
James 1:26
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
As we explore the power of the tongue to birth revival and crush revival on this Palm Sunday! I want to remind you of some of the events of Easter Week (See handout):
• Palm Sunday: Jesus enters Jerusalem to a large crowd waving palm branches, laying their coats on the path in from of him as he enters riding on a donkey – the people are shouting “Hosana to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosana in the highest!” It says the whole city was stirred at His jubilant entry into the city! It was a victorious entry!
o Hosana means to 'save, rescue, savior'. So, as we celebrate this great moment in history today let me remind you of the crowd’s words, “They are saying Jesus save us, rescue us Jesus because you are our Savior!”
o They are thinking He is the promised deliver, He has come to over through the Romans – and throw out the corrupt Jewish leaders – He is going to establish his throne in Jerusalem as King Why because He does miracles – He raises the dead – He heals – He does miracles - He is a prophet of God – so in their self-centered distorted thinking comes their hollow praises to Jesus!
o He knew they did not understand what He was doing for them – but it’s amazing by the time we get to Friday (Good Friday) their thinking is more deceived and they are now shouting “Crucify Him – Crucify Him.” I find it amazing how quickly the crowds thinking and speech change in just 6 days! From praise to cursing!
Questions: I want us to ask ourselves this Palm Sunday morning as we enter the kick off of Easter week – Passion Week?
1. Would you have gone from praising Jesus to condemning Jesus in less than week because He did not do what you thought He should do?
2. Is your tongue filled with praise, encouragement, and good thoughts or is it filled with cursing’s, condemning and bad thoughts?
3. Have you ever insulted someone before? What happened?
a. Did it resolve the problem?
4. Have you ever been insulted? How did it make you feel?
a. Read: I Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
b. The myth – Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me! Not true!
i.
5. Why is it so hard to speak only encouraging words? How does encouragement affect other people?
6. What are some practical ways you can learn restraint when you are tempted to say rude or mean things?
7. What will you have to do to change your put-downs into words of encouragement?
8. What do you have to do to renew your mind and rethink, so you rephrase your words and thoughts about others in a positive light?
The tongue has created mass deceit, devastation and destruction! We have seen it birth World Wars, Middle East Wars, Terrorism like the World Trade Centers, Civil Wars in countries even in our own country, family splits, church splits, political strife and even denominational splits. I could go on, but I come back to my premise of this message the tongue – yours and mine are the most destructive force in the world.
Would you agree with me?
The tongue makes known the intent of the evil heart that dominates it and controls it. The tongue makes claims to what will happen and therefore spills curse’s out - cutting words flow from our mouths. The tongue is the force that puts the whole deadly process of pain and suffering into motion. The tongue recruit’s others to their deadly plan by devising lies and planting seeds of hate into others. The tongue’s purpose for many is to bring devastation and destruction to innocent people.
Yet this same force is at work within the church and it has caused as much or even more devastation as the terrorists/shooting attacks of this last week.
Quote from leading pastor of a great revival: He said revival will come to the church when the people of God get the revelation of the tongue. He stated, “When people begin to curve their tongue and the curses stop against their church, their ministers, their choir, their leadership, and other people’s families and homes then God will unleash the revival of the revelation of blessings.” But I add not before we receive the revelation of the tongue and repent and change.
This force has destroyed more marriages and families than the bombings did in New York. It is a deadly force and each of us needs to understand how lethal our tongues can be when they are out of control.
I. The tongue is as destructive as terrorism it has the ability to destroy with lethal force a church, a relationship, a family, a marriage, a country and yes even a life.
a. Words that flow from your tongue cut deeper than a knife into people’s hearts and minds.
i. I have counseled more people who have been devastated by the words of another person. It has affected them spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally and relationally. I have seen people give up because of people’s harsh words.
1. Proverbs 18:21 states, “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
2. Some of you do not believe that you can speak life or death to others.
a. But you can and you have.
b. I pray right now that God would bring back to your memory the times when you have done this so you can repent and change.
i. Question – Are you willing to pay the cost for Revival and a renewal movement?
ii. I have watched and observed the tongue literally destroy people’s lives.
1. With statements like these:
a. “You are worthless!’
b. “You are stupid!”
c. “Your lack of faith has made you sick!”
d. “Your lack of faith has made you poor!”
e. “You must be perfect or God does not love you!’
f. “You are a loser!”
g. “You cannot do anything right!”
h. “It’s all your fault!”
i. “I wish you were never born!”
j. “I hate you!”
k. “It’s their fault that I am angry!”
l. “Our marriage takes so much work. We must not be right for each other.”
m. “You are the one responsible for all our problems!’
n. “You will never change!”
o. “You should never have been born!”
p. “You don’t need to go to church!’
q. “You don’t have to tithe!”
r. “You don’t have to obey the ten commandments!”
s. “You can’t do anything right!”
i. Proverbs 12:18 “…reckless words pierce like a sword.”
iii. I have heard and read stories of people committing suicide because of the tongues of others.
1. I have watched others use their tongues to lead people away from Jesus and his word. All the time saying, “I speak for God!”
2. I have observed people misquote Scripture and deceive people and eventually I have seen them lead others to their destruction.
3. I have watched and observed people misuse the name of the Lord with their evil tongues way to often in the church.
a. All the time breaking one of the 10 Commandments.
i. “Thou shalt not use the name of the Lord thy God in vain!”
iv. Don’t underestimate the power of your tongue. It’s usually quick to destroy and slow to build others up. The Bible states that this should not be.
b. Friends we need to take a reality check and check our tongues and evaluate if they are building others up or tearing others down.
i. I believe most people would say that they want to live a blessed life.
ii. They want revival in their church and community.
iii. But the problem is their tongue is into sin and it opposes revival – it undermines revival.
iv. I have had people try to justify to me that their sinful tongue is just who they are and they cannot change the way they are.
v. Some have even said “God made me this way?”
1. Let me speak to everyone who tries to justify sin with this lie, “No he did not-He is a holy God and he does not make people sinful – people chose to be sinful.”
a. James 1:13-18 13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
2. Friends the untamed tongue is sin in action.
a. For many this sin has developed in your life because you accept the lie that says, “You cannot change because God made you this way!”
b. Let me say it again, “Go did not make you to sin you choose to sin!”
i. Backus notes, “Many people believe that we just sin and that’s all there is to it. You may shrug and say, “I’m just a sinner and I can’t help myself.” But you can help yourself. There is psychological dynamic underlying sinful behavior. By changing your thinking (an act of will), you can change your behavior. Sometimes you may want to close the door on solutions that require some hard work on your part. You may prefer to sit back and wait for God to push some miraculous “holy” button within you, then, presto, all your troubles will be over. This will never happen. Every morning when you wake up, you with the same behaviors, good or bad, that you exhibited the day before. Unless you’ve done something about them” (24).
3. So, are you sincere about dealing with your tongue of fire? Your tongue of destruction?
T.S.- Many of us recognize that we fit the bill of having a sinful tongue in our lives, but we do not know how to deal with it. Let me assume what some of you have thought, “Yes I want delivered, but how do I change?” Glad you asked, Here are seven things to do to start the process of taming your tongue.
II. Seven Steps to controlling our tongues.
a. We need to stop – walk - pray – and mediate before we respond to other people’s tongues or to a given situation.
i. Have you ever had, “Hot headed responses of the tongue?”
1. Emotions take over! Anger speaks through our tongues cutting, ripping, tearing, apart another person’s life or predicament.
2. Our words ignite a mouth-grenade onto another and then we are left to pick up the pieces and to put them back together.
3. Or have we found ourselves after hurling our mouth - grenade been responded to with mouth-grenades being thrown right back at us. Explosions are blowing everything apart!
ii. Have they ever resolved the problem? Or have they made everything worse?
1. 9 times out of 10 it’s worse.
iii. Psalm 39:1-11 David talks about this dilemma of how to handle out tongues.
1I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2But when I was silent and still,
not even saying anything good,
my anguish increased.
3My heart grew hot within me,
and as I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
5You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man’s life is but a breath.
Selah
6Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
7“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
8Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
9I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
10Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11You rebuke and discipline men for their sin;
you consume their wealth like a moth—
each man is but a breath.
Selah
1. Just remember who we are answerable too. The Lord – God on the throne of Heaven!
2. Just remember one day we will see Him face to face! Yes, God the Father on the throne!
3. In the comparison of time, it’s not worth blowing our relationship with the Lord over a fleeting second in time. Our relationship with Him is the most important relationship to maintain.
4. So -STOP- meditate, pray, think calmly and respond appropriately as the Lord directs.
a. Never be directed by your sinful nature. This is called SELF:
i. S = Sinner
ii. E = Elevating
iii. L = Life
iv. F = Foolishly
b. Also called the EGO:
i. E = Edging
ii. G = God
iii. O = Out
1. We must nail our EGO to the cross and let it be crucified.
iv. Remember we need to manage the tongue by learning to solve the problem by Stopping, Walking, Praying and Thinking calmly through the situation.
1. It is always wise to delay “Hotheaded responses!”
2. We must learn to use “Coolheaded responses!”
a. A tongue cooled off by cool refreshing living water of Jesus!
b. The second step in this process is to ask the question, “Why are they speaking to me like this or doing what they are doing?”
i. Get the facts do the research before you speak.
1. Roman 7:15: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
2. Job 42:3-6: “You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.4“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’5My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.6Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
* Get understanding from the Lord. Learn to walk in another’s shoes. See what they see. Let God reveal it to you!
3. Proverbs 3:5–8: 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
4. Proverbs 15:21: ”Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.”
5. Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.”
ii. Ask the Lord for wisdom to understand what motivated them to say what they said.
iii. Make sure it’s not a misunderstanding on your part.
iv. Learn to look at the situation with empathy rather than vindication.
v. All to often people often make judgments or take actions without really knowing enough about the situation.
c. The third step is ask yourself, “What do I want to achieve from making this remark with my tongue?”
i. Search your heart – rethink before you speak then rephrase what you are going to say!
1. I Corinthian 11:28 “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”
2. II Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
ii. What’s you motive- Pride-Ego-vindication-revenge-to inflict pain on another? To get even? To put someone down so you feel better?
d. The fourth step is look at the consequences and weigh the value of the relationship in light of God’s eternal plan for people’s lives.
i. What could happen to this person and to your relationship.
e. The fifth step is let the Lord reveal to you a Godly solution to the problem or situation.
i. This takes patience and discipline.
1. Bienvenn tell us, “When it comes to instruction on how we should speak to one another there is one verse in the Bible that says it all: ‘Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it give grace to those who hear’ (Eph 4:29) (47).”
ii. Sometimes if we have nothing good to say then we should say nothing!
iii. The idea here is not words of evil, no words of destruction, no words of torture, nothing that is birthed in hell.
1. You know 4 letter words!
2. You know name calling!
3. You know threats!
4. You know teasing!
5. You know put downs!
6. You know slander remarks!
f. The sixth step is to choose what to do and do it with the Lord’s direction.
i. Follow the Matthew 18 Principle
g. The seventh step is to evaluate the results.
i. After the encounter – learn from it.
1. Learn from the mistakes you made.
2. Remember what you did right and keep doing it right.
3. If the results are bad – Bring others in to help correct and to restore the relationship.
Conclusion for Renewals 2nd key to revival is “Re-think and Re-phrase”:
Philippians 4:4-9
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: We need to renew our minds and Re-think and Re-phrase our words to other’s so they are encouraged, uplifted and create life – we are not to use words which curse others, that tear others down and cause death.
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: Changing our thinking from stinking thinking will help us rephrase our words and help birth revival!
What do we need to do?
Answer: The choice to change the lies within us. We must choose to renew the mind with the Word of the Lord. We must choose to tame the tongue. We must choose blessings over cursing. We must choose life over death. We must choose revival over decay. We must choose edification over destruction. We must choose to allow the Word of the Lord to renew our mind so as to rethink and rephrase our speech and words. Doing this helps to birth revival!
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: Because unholy thinking and words filled with hate and cursing’s will never bring revival to our lives! It will only bring death and destruction.
