Monmouth Church Of Christ Sermons

The Year Of The Lord's Favor

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-19)

Leviticus 25 describes the Year of Jubilee: a year of liberation and freedom. After seven Sabbaths of years (49 years), the fiftieth year was to be separated as the Year of Jubilee. Debts were cancelled, servants were released from their masters, the poor were sustained, and all foreigners were to be treated well. The Year of Jubilee was the year of the Lord's favor.

After exile, the conditions in Israel were difficult. There was poverty and an uncertain future lay ahead. Into this situation, Isaiah spoke of the one “anointed by God” to proclaim good news to those who were suffering. It was good news that was not just theoretical, but a time when God would act in his favor upon the people: freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, release for the oppressed, and help for the poor.

As Jesus begins his ministry, Luke 4 records Jesus' reading of Isaiah 61:1-2 wherein Jesus proclaims that the scripture is fulfilled in Him. Jesus is the one who brings good news of the Year of the Lord's Favor to everyone-not just Israel, but all nations. Jesus shows good news by his actions: healing the sick and providing for the poor.

To the world, Jesus brings the good news of the cancellation of the debt of sin-those who are poor in spirit. Those who come to God through Jesus are acquitted of their sin and become righteous by virtue of faith. The true meaning of the Year of Jubilee is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus paid the debt for our sin so that we could go free! Jesus indeed paid it all! Let us rejoice in our salvation.

Jesus: God's Servant - Messiah

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”.
(Matthew 12:18, Isaiah 42:1)

The Gospel of Matthew points to the prophet Isaiah in describing Jesus as God's chosen and beloved servant to proclaim justice to the nations. Jesus comes not as a triumphant worldly-styled leader, but as one who serves and cares for others. As the Son of God, and as God's chosen servant for the task of bringing to gospel to all the world, Jesus has no need to quarrel or cry out in the streets. His mission is not on trial. What God has promised, he will fulfill.

Matthew points out how Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4 by drawing out attention to Jesus' ministry on earth. In Matthew 12:1-15, Jesus shows compassion for the hungry, heals those who are disfigured, and heals those who are sick. Despite the arguments of his detractors and the plots of those who wished to kill him, Jesus demonstrated that he was not the kind of Messiah that the world would expect. Jesus did not come into the world to break the backs of his opponents and conquer them. Jesus came as God's servant to show God's love and bring the justice of God.

Sin must be judged and sinners must be saved. Jesus comes proclaiming the good news for the whole world: the power of God to save everyone who believes (Romans 1:16-17). As we are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace with God.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we carry this message of peace with God through Christ to the world. Like Christ, we will not be renowned worldly-styled leaders, but servants who those live out the gospel in word and deed.

A Thanksgiving That Leads To Peace

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7)

How does one journey from anxiety to peace? The apostle Paul tells us that it is through the act of thanksgiving. As we practice thankfulness to God, our cares and anxieties melt away. We are left with the peace of God that transcends all understanding. Moreover, Paul tells us that this peace then guards our hearts and minds in Christ.

Anxiety, worry, and fretting about our lives occurs when our hearts and minds drift away from putting our trust in God. Worry reflects where our heart is truly centered-on ourselves and our insecurities about life. We are anxious when we focus on all the things that are going wrong in our lives and forget all about what is going right in our lives. Anxiety is rooted in fear-of the unknown, and of what others might do to us.

Thanksgiving is the act of deliberately setting our minds of God. When we give thanks we bring God back into the picture. We refocus on God who is faithful, powerful, forgiving, merciful, just, and God as full of grace to help us in our time of need. Thanksgiving calls to mind how God has blessed us and how God has been present with us.

As we practice the act of thanksgiving to God, our anxiety turns to peace. God's presence and peace fills us. Our emotions are soothed and our minds are protected against the negativism, fear, and worry that would otherwise over take us.
Thanksgiving adjusts our attitude and helps us to focus on all that is going right in our lives instead of what we perceive is going wrong.

Praise God for his goodness towards us.

Growing Wise Through The Word

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

...you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

Salvation is more than just “going to heaven.” Salvation has to do with being delivered from a powerless existence enslaved to this world and sin, and brought into a relationship with Christ where we find meaning in our service to God and others.

Ephesians 2:10 says that God has prepared good works in advance for us to do. The question is, “How shall we know these works?” How will we gain wisdom to know, discern, and act in accordance with these good works?

I Timothy 3:15-16 tells us that the Scriptures that make us wise for salvation. Through the scripture we don't just know “about” salvation, we grow wise in it-we learn how to live. The passage goes on to say that, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient and equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17).

From the scriptures of the Old Testament to the New Testament, God has provided for us means to grow wise not only to bring us to salvation but to mature us in salvation. We do not know how to live our new life in Christ on our own, we need the power of God's Word working in our lives. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, as we put into practice the scriptures we learn, our lives are transformed.

We are not only to be hearers of the Word, but doers as well (James 1:19-22). As we “hear and do” we grow in wisdom and discernment in the ways God would have us to live.

The Effect Of Our Words On Others

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)

How do we know what is in someone's heart? Jesus said we should listen to what they say. “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34-37). James agrees. The tongue, while a small part of the body, reveals our heart. With our tongue we can both bless people and encourage them, or we can tear them down. James goes so far to say that if we make claims to be religious but we don't watch what we say carefully, our religion is worthless!

Paul would agree as well. Ephesians 4:29 indicates that we should use our speech to benefit others, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” As Christians we are to have a 'reign' on our tongue. We are to keep what we say in check so that when we speak we are conscious of using our language in a beneficial way.

Gossip, slander, innuendo, destructive jabs and sarcastic cuts at others have no place in the kingdom of God. These ungodly ways of using our tongue have very negative impacts on other people. The tongue does hold the power of life and death (see Prov. 12:18; Prov. 17:27; 18:8; Prov. 18:21).

Here are the questions: Are we aware of how we speak to others-our friends, co-workers, family members? Do we understand that what we say has tremendous consequences in the lives of others? Let us consider very carefully the impact our speech. Once words leave our mouths we cannot put them back in! They do their work.

Who Do You Serve?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
(Matthew 6:24)

All of us serve someone or something. Each one of us makes decisions to be involved with activities, jobs, families, neighborhood events, and our hobbies and interests. The question is “Who do we serve?”

We live in a material age. Success is determined by how much “stuff” we have, how much money we have accumulated, and how well we measure up in the eyes of society-how big our house is, what kind of car we drive, etc. The value of our lives and self-respect is often determined on what money can buy.

Jesus teaches that the “eye” is the lamp of the body. In other words, Jesus is asking us to evaluate “what looks good to us.” When we look at our lives, see the world, and perceive others, “what do we see?” Do we see the needs of people? Do we notice the person who is in need of our compassion? Do we take pity on those who are hurting? Are we concerned with those who can't really make it in life without help? Or do we just see what the world has to offer us? Do we just evaluate the world around us from our position of privilege?

How we perceive the world around us, and what we value in our heart determines who and what we serve. To serve God and lay up treasure in heaven is to be concerned about those in need (Matthew 25:31-46). To have the love of God in us is to notice when others have a need (I John 3:16-18). To be followers of Christ is to who love to others, not simply talk about it.

The question: "Who do you serve?"

Holy And Honorable Living

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:00:00 GMT

“It is God's will that you should be holy; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God. (I Thessalonians 4:3-5)

We live in a time when the exercising of civil liberties is of utmost importance. Our political arena is greatly concerned with the individual's rights over his or her body and/or his or her relationships with others. The issues which embody these concerns are abortion (the woman's right to choose), and same-sex marriages and unions.

For Christians, the central question is “Who has the ultimate authority over my body and my relationships.” Is it the government? Is it the individual? Or, is it God? The scripture is clear that, as Christians, we “are not our own,” and “we have been bought with a price.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). Through Christ, we have been brought into the kingdom, empowered by the Spirit, and have been given a mission and an inheritance.

Therefore as Christians, God has the ultimate authority over what we do with our bodies. We should not expect the world to agree with this or understand it. It is God's will for us that we be holy, and that we learn to control our bodies in a way that is holy and honorable. We don't live by unbridled passions-or what we want to do with our bodies, but rather by what God has to say.

As God has the ultimate authority over our bodies, it is his will that we be holy. It is God's will that we avoid sexual immorality: sexual activity outside of marriage (between one man and one woman) that often leads to the problem of abortion and same-sex marriages. God does not will that we participate in these, but avoid them.

Let us think about what it means to control our bodies in a way that is holy and honorable.

Participating In The Divine Nature

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4)

Given the reality of corruption in the world caused by evil desires, how do we escape? How do we act responsibly in this world? How do we keep from being drawn into the world and its ways? How do we act so that the Spirit can produce the fruit in us? Peter talks about two things. First, he speaks about the calling and promises we have received in Christ. Second, he speaks about what we are to do.

We combat corruption in the world by first realizing we have been called out of corruption by Christ's work on the cross. We have been cleansed from our past sins and brought into a new spiritual reality-one of victory over death, and an glorious inheritance that awaits us. It is crucial to Peter's instruction that we realize that we have been cleansed from sin. Why would we want to return to indulge in that corruption once again?

Yet, based on our new spiritual reality in Christ, there are practical steps we must take so that we are not unfruitful. We are to act by faith to grow in specific areas. First we are to grow in “virtue” which can be understood as moral excellence and living a way that is honorable. Next we must grow in knowledge-here Peter has wisdom in view that leads to self-control, perseverance and godliness. In addition, our faith is Christ is to produce brotherly kindness and love. These are choices of behavior. When confronted with the desires of the flesh that would cause us to treat each other unkindly, we must resist those impulses, remember whose we are, and act accordingly.

As Peter says, we must make 'every effort' to grow in our knowledge of Christ.

By Their Fruit, You Will Know Them

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
(Matthew 7:18)

The scripture is explicit in several places that the LORD hates a lying tongue and someone who bears false witness (Proverbs 6:16-19, Exodus 20:16, for example). There are also false prophets who appear as those in “sheep's clothing” but who are inwardly “ravenous wolves.” Paul mentions that even Satan disguises himself as an “angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Lies and falsehoods are misrepresentations of reality. Whether it is in words, attitudes, or actions, there is a disconnect between what is presented on the outside and inner reality. How do we deal with this in ourselves and in others? Jesus instructs us to “look at the fruit.” The principle is straightforward, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” No matter how one tries to dress up a bad tree, the fruit reveals the nature of the tree.

As Jesus says, not everyone who says “LORD, LORD” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). Putting into practice the teachings of Christ will bear good fruit in time. Likewise, the work of the enemy will also become known in time. The truth of something or someone will eventually become known just as the fruit of a tree will show itself with time.

We are called to make judgments and choices about things, events, and individuals. Let us take the longer look and assess the fruit. What is the fruit of our choices? What does the fruit of our lives look like thus far? Have we grown closer to Christ, or wandered further away?

Reality In Christ

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:15)

Satan is a defeated enemy. Even I Peter 5:8 says that the devil, our enemy, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, the devil does so in a defeated way. Through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus disarmed the powers of Satan. In Christ, we now participate in that victory over the work of the enemy. We are now alive in Christ, not dead in sin and transgressions.

In our new life in Christ, we want to be going forwards, not backwards. As Paul mentions to the Colossians, because we have been made alive in Christ, we do not want to return to worldly principles that seek to define our relationship to God: various legalisms that have to do obsessing of the keeping of laws or religious celebrations and festivals. Nor do we want to be given over to various phenomena such as undue fascination with angels, spirits, or visions that disconnect us from the reality we share with Christ. Our world is fascinated with "new age" spirituality that explores all kinds of options for being "spiritual, but not religious." Such efforts may eschew old religious legalisms, but they do not connect us to the reality of Christ.

In Christ, we put off the old self and its nature and we put on the new nature. The old nature is characterized by bodily passions that become expressed in rage, immorality, malice, unforgiveness, and alienation from one another. Our new nature is being renewed in the image of Christ: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Let us encourages one another to put on these characteristics as we live as one body in Christ. Christ is all, and is in all, so let us live in the reality of Christ. As we do, the peace of Christ will rule in our hearts and in our church community.