Run To The Throne, Not The Phone

Rev. Wayne A. Lawson

Senior Pastor

First Baptist Church

Ardmore, OK 73402

Pastor@firstbaptist.org

St. Luke 23:50-52. 50. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph,

a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just: 51. (The same had

not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of

Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the

kingdom of God. 52. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body

of Jesus.

St. John 19:38-40 38. And after this Joseph of "Arimathaea, being a

disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought

Pilate that ht might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave

him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39. And

there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by

night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, and about an

hundred pound weight. 40. Then took they the body of Jesus, and

would it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews

is to bury.

TITLE: UNDER COVER CHRISTIANS

I have always been fascinated by the SECRET SERVICE. When I was a

younger man, I had a desire to join a branch of the Secret Service,

although I never pursued that dream. There was always something

mysterous about this group of men and women, in their black suits

and Transmitters. The Secret Service has a long history.

-- Established on July 5, 1865 in Washington, D.C.

-- 1901 Congress informally requested Secret Service provide

Presidential protection following the assassination of PRESIDENT

WILLIAM MCKINLEY

-- 1922 – White House Police Force was created at the request of

President Harding

-- 1930 – White House Police were placed under the supervision of

the Secret Service

-- March of this Year – Department of Homeland Security was

established because of the events of 9/11. The Secret Service was

transferred and reassigned under the Homeland Security Department

The Secret Service has a long history that most Americans are

unaware of. And I think that is what makes it so fascinating! When

the President visits our great State, it is the Secret Service that

arrives before he does. They check everybody out as well as take

the responsibility of securing the area where the President will

visit. Must admit that it is also a Dangerous Job. The Secret

Service must be willing to place themselves in Harms Way to protect

the President. They must be willing to give up their life to save

the life of our Nations Leader.

I want to examine another type of Secret Service this morning. This

Secret Service, I call your attention to is more secretive than the

branch found in Washington. We can find some basic information from

the Secret Service in Washington, D.C. We can fill out the

necessary paperwork in an effort for employment with them. However,

there is another Secret Service that operates all around. They are

so secretive that we ordinarily don’t know that they are even

around. They are very good at what they do. I want to attempt to

expose them this morning. I want to talk to you about Under Cover

Christians.

In the introductory books of the New Testament we are introduced to

two influential men. It is interesting to track their transition

into faith and becoming believers. No different from those we

encounter daily. When we are first introduced to them, they remind

us of many of those that we encounter on a daily basis. But, if we

are Careful to study the Scriptures and track the growth of these

two men we will realize that something significant happened in their

lives. Although they began as Under Cover Christians something

happened in their lives, therefore, their cover had been blown. We

know my brothers and sisters – in any law enforcement agency as well

as the secret service, when your Cover Has Been Blown, you are in

eminent and great danger. Let me introduce you to a man by the name

of NICODEMUS. We encounter this man in the Gospel of John. It is

also noteworthy to mention that he is only mentioned to us in John’s

account.

-- Devout Jew

-- Member of the Sandhedrin

- Therefore he was a Pharisee

-- He was a cross between a member of the Supreme Court and a

Senator in our culture

-- Approached Jesus by night – under the cover of Darkness

-- Hoping for a Secret Meeting

-- Nicodemus left somewhat disappointed because Jesus was not

Impressed with Him and his Credentials

-- Jesus said, Nicodemus your problem is – "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN"

Let me state that Nicodemus exists the scene, he disappears from the

Gospel Narrative until after the Crucifixion. Out of nowhere he re-