Sermon Illustrations on Works — page 2

The Wealthy Partner

A famous journalist abandoned a lucrative position for reasons of conscience. A friend asked, "Can you afford to do this?" "Well," said the journalist, "you see, I have a very wealthy partner." "Who is he?" asked the friend in surprise. "God Almighty," was the reply. A man who is in partnership with God can afford to lose his own independence, to surrender it to the interests of the Kingdom of God, to accept the Divine dictates, because the wisdom and spiritual resources of the heavenly Father are at his disposal.

The Wise Pastor

A man who was greatly troubled came to his pastor because he said in all his good deeds he detected a mixture of selfish motives. "Should I stop doing these things," he asked in perplexity, "since I find some self-gratification in all of them?" The wise pastor assured him while we are in the flesh we shall always suffer the humiliation of knowing that nothing about us is perfect, even our motives. It is a matter of committing ourselves to God to love and serve Him in all that we do; and if the by-product of our actions is joy and satisfaction, there is nothing wrong in that.

No Idler

King Antigonus, when he had not seen Cleanthes, the philosopher, for a long time, said to him, "Do you continue to grind (referring to the occupation by which he supported himself)?" "Yes, sir," replied the philosopher, "I still grind; that I do to gain my living, and not to depart from philosophy."

A Cup of Cold Water

Matthew 10:42

Have you understood what is really involved in the "cup of cold water," as Matthew 10:42 calls it? There is more to it than appears on the surface. In Eastern lands the water is drawn up from a well in the court or fetched from a distance. The housewife brings in a supply in the morning and lets it stand ready for use. As the day goes on the water gets warm. It would be easy for her to give a cup of this water to a thirsty friend or stranger, but a "cup of cold water" implies the kindly thought that would lead her to take the trouble to draw it or fetch it straight from the well, perhaps in the heat of the day. So often we give what amounts to tepid water to save ourselves extra work. But I believe it is the "cup of cold water" that shall in no wise lose its reward. The principle would seem to be that going out of our way, making sacrifices to help the poor, will have a sure reward.

A Higher Honor

When an important building was about to be erected, a certain artist begged to be permitted to make one of the doors. If this could not be permitted, he asked that he might make one little panel of one of the doors. Or if this, too, were denied him, he craved that he might at least be permitted to hold the brushes for the artist to whom the honor of doing work should be awarded. If so small a part in a work of earth were esteemed so high a privilege, it is a far higher honor to have even the least share with Christ in His great work of human redemption.

A Life of Service

A certain family had two sons. The older said he must make a name for his family, so turned his face toward Parliament and fame. The younger decided to give his life to the service of Christ and turned his face toward China and duty. He was Hudson Taylor, the missionary, who died beloved and known on every continent. "But," someone wrote, "when I looked in the encyclopedia to see what the other son had done, I found these words, 'the brother of Hudson Taylor.'" It may be that some were inclined to ridicule him when he went to the mission field, but in the end, he was respected and admired. His mercifulness had not been in vain, even as far as the world was concerned. But the merciful also receive recognition and reward from God Himself. This takes place both in this world and, in its full measure, in the world to come.

A True Servant

Someone asked an elderly Scotswoman what she thought of Robert Murray McCheyne's preaching. She hesitated for a moment, then replied, "He preaches as if he was a-dying to have you saved." Is that our spirit?

Those who watch us will know. How appropriate was Spurgeon's advice to a young minister who complained of the smallness of his congregation:

"It is as large a one as you will want to give account for in the Day of Judgment." The first thing others should discern in us, Paul says, is that we are servants of Christ -- subservient, obedient to Him; that He is Master and we listen to what He says and do what He commands.

A Volunteer's Prayer

I thank Thee, Lord, as a volunteer

For the chance to serve another year.

And to give of myself in some small way,

To those not blessed as I each day.

My thanks for health and mind and soul,

To aid me ever toward my goal.

For eyes to see the good in all,

A hand to extend before a fall.

For legs to go where the need is great,

Learning to love-forgetting to hate.

For ears to hear and heart to care,

When someone's cross is hard to bear.

A smile to show my affection true,

With energy aplenty-the task to do.

And all I ask, dear Lord, if I may,

Is to serve you better day by day.

Being A Servant

Mark 10:45

Jesus was the greatest servant who ever lived. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Christ came to serve and to give, and God desires the same for us.

"And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matthew 20:27-28).

The finest model of serving, except Christ Himself, was the Apostle Paul. Almost without exception he begins every one of his epistles with words to this effect: "Paul, a servant...." or "Paul, a bond slave...." He was indeed an apostle, but he conducted himself as a servant.

Very few of us want to be known exclusively as a servant. We want to be known as a servant and a great preacher, or a famous missionary, or an outstanding elder, or a well-known business man. What we fail to realize is that true servanthood does not have hidden aspirations to be great in the eyes of men.

When we think of our relationship to Christ, can it be said of us that we want only to serve Him?

Although his religious philosophy was questionable, Albert Schweitzer was a man willing to abandon a great career in order to serve his fellow man. In 1913, he sailed for Africa, having turned his back on fame, money and prestige. His first hospital was an old abandoned hen house and his first operating table an old campboard.

On a trip to the United States, a reporter asked, "Dr. Schweitzer, have you found happiness in Africa?"

"I have found a place of service," he replied, "And that is enough for anyone."

This does not represent the feelings of many of us who are members of the church. It is not sufficient to simply have a place of service.

Many of us want a place of recognition and a road to fame.

All of us need to do some serious thinking and praying about this matter of being a servant.

We need to make this prayer ours: "O God, help me to be the master of myself, that I may be a servant of others."

In Partnership with God

A gardener expressed his idea of a co-worker: "As I work in the garden with the flowers and vegetables I feel that I am having a share in creation." And when a mother says to a little child who carries some small item into another room for her, "You are helping me," what stature it gives to that child and what a sense of dignity and place in life's affairs. This ought to take away any sense of the worthlessness of the countless small tasks you perform day by day.

Look beyond the temporal and limited as you work in partnership with God. Your attitude will determine your sense of satisfaction with your task.

The Case of Abraham

Romans 4:1

“What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has [something] to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,” (Romans 4:1-5 NKJV)

The Case Of Abraham

• pertaining…flesh — Matt 3:9, Phil 3:3-6 — properly, this should come after “found”

• found — i.e., gained by his own efforts

• flesh — as distinct from the grace of God. (This another Jewish objection.)

• justified — refers to “found”

• works — refers to “pertaining…flesh”

• hath…glory [boast] — i.e., boast

• not…God — which is the great matter, but only before men, which could not affect his justification

• it…counted — Gen 15:4-6, Jam 2:23 — i.e., his faith; the fact of his believing

• worketh — does all he binds himself, or is bound, to do

• grace — a question of favour

• debt — Rom 11:6 — justly due, claimed by right

• him…not — to win or earn a reward

• believeth…Him — Rom 5:6, 8-10 — confidently trusts in the promise of God concerning the Person and work of Christ

• ungodly — law-breakers, who yet repent and believe

• counted for — reckoned in the place of, as a ground of justification

Justification by faith alone — C. Simeon, M.A.

This is proved from the examples

I. Of Abraham:

1. The question proposed. Answered

(1) By an express declaration of Holy Writ;

(2) By arguments founded upon it

2. Some objections to the Apostle’s arguments:

(1) This statement of Abraham’s being justified by faith is directly contradicted by St. James (Jam 2:21-23);

(2) God justified Abraham for submitting to circumcision;

(3) If Abraham was justified by faith without works, it was a personal favour to him, and must not be drawn into a precedent for us.

II. Of David.

1. In the words themselves, we should not have found any decisive evidence on this subject.

2. Paul, however, has put a sense upon them, which beyond all possibility of doubt decides the question. Learn, concerning this doctrine:-How far it is from being

(1) New,

(2) Unimportant,

(3) Discouraging,

(4) Licentious

A singular bond — I have read of a godly man, says Mr. [Philip?] Brooks, who, living near a philosopher, often strove to persuade him to become a Christian. Oh, but, said the philosopher, I must, or may, lose my all for Christ. To which the good man replied, if you lose anything for Christ, He will repay it a hundred-fold. Ay, but, said the philosopher, Will you be bound for Christ, that if He doth not pay me, you will? Yes, that I will, said the good man! So the philosopher became a Christian, and the good man entered into bond for the performance of covenants. Some time after it happened that the philosopher fell sick. On his deathbed, and holding the bond in his hand, he sent for the party engaged, to whom he gave up the bond, and said, Christ hath paid all, there is nothing for you to pay; take your bond and cancel it; no man shall ever have occasion to say that he has been loser by Christ.

Imputed righteousness — Bishop Asbury being asked his thoughts on imputed righteousness, observed, “Were I disposed to boast, my boasting would be found true. I obtained religion near the age of thirteen. At the age of sixteen I began to preach, and travelled some time in Europe. At twenty-six I left my native land, and bid adieu to my weeping parents, and crossed the boisterous ocean, to spend the balance of my days in a strange land, partly settled by savages. I have travelled through heat and cold for forty-five years. In thirty years I have crossed the Alleghany mountains fifty-eight times. I have often slept in the woods, without necessary food or raiment. In the Southern States I have waded swamps, and led my horse for miles, where I took cold that brought on the diseases which are now preying on my system, and must soon terminate in death. But my mind is still the same, that it is through the merits of CHRIST I am to be saved.”

“Our Apostle confirms in this chapter the doctrine which he delivered in the former, namely, that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but freely, by grace through faith; and this he proves by two reasons especially: 1. From David’s testimony; 2. From Abraham’s example.” — Dean Boys

“One condition required to render an action meritorious is, that there be an equal proportion of value between the action and the reward.” — Dr South

“Justification is the very hinge and pillar of Christianity; and an error about justification is dangerous, like a crack in the foundation, or an error in the first concoction. Justification by Christ is a spring of the water of life; and to have the poison of corrupt doctrine cast into this spring is damnable.” — T. Watson

Faith and Works

James 2:26

”As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” – James 2:26

According to a story in “Bible Friend,” An old Scotsman operated a rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the old man had carved on one oar the word “Faith” and on the other oar the word “Works” and wanted to know the meaning of this.

To explain, the old man dropped one oar and plied the other called Works. Understandably they went around in circles. Then he dropped that oar and began to ply the oar called Faith, and the boat went around in circles in the opposite direction.

Then he picked up both oars Faith and Works and, plying them together, they went on to their destination. Said the old man, “That is the way it is in the Christian life. Works without faith are useless, and ‘faith without works is dead’ also, getting you nowhere. But faith and works pulling together make for safety, progress, and blessing.”

The Holy Club

Ephesians 2:8

"God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." -- Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

THE HOLY CLUB

Charles Wesley and two friends began a small Christian group at Oxford University in 1728. John Wesley, who had already graduated from Oxford, returned the following year as a tutor and assumed its leadership. Oxford students made fun of the group, referring to it as the “Holy Club” or “Methodists.”

The focus of the Holy Club was on religious self-discipline. Exhorting each other to live piously and do good works, they were motivated by the belief that they were working for the salvation of their souls.

George Whitefield was the first Holy Club member to question their practices. His solution, however, was to try to become a new creation through further extremes of self-denial. During Lent in 1735 he only ate a little course bread with tea. By Holy Week he was so weak that he could not study or even walk up a flight of stairs. After hitting bottom, he later wrote, “God was pleased to remove the heavy load, to enable me to lay hold of his dear Son by a living faith...”

On May 5, 1735, Whitefield wrote a letter to John Wesley, attempting to share what had happened to him. It would be three more years before the Wesleys found His gracious arms.

REFLECTION

Have you ever found yourself trying to earn your salvation? Salvation is a gift to be received from God, and there is nothing we can do to earn it. Good works do not lead us to Christ — it is out of our relationship with Christ that good works flow.

________

Adapted from THE ONE YEAR® BOOK OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale, 2003).

*

[Original illustration at this number duplicated material in HolwickID #16682]

Grace and Works

Romans 11:6

“And if by grace, then [it is] no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if [it is] of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.’” (Romans 11:6-8 NKJV)

Grace And Works

• grace — Rom 4:4-5, Lal 5:4, Eph 2:8-9 — unmerited favour

• works — meritorious obedience

• Israel — nation as a whole

• that…for[what] — “ the honour of continuing to be the people of God” (Macknight)

• election…it — Rom 9:6 — by grace of God

• blinded — 2 Cor 4:4 — or hardened (see Romans 9:18), given up to judicial blindness

• written — Isa 29:10, 6:9, Jer 5:21, Ezek 12:2, Matt 13:14, Acts 28:27, 2 Cor 3:14-15 — another fulfilment of Scripture

• spirit…slumber[stupor] — stupefaction of mind

• unto…day — Deut 29:4 — to Apostle’s day, and to ours [originally to Moses’ day]

The Christian doctrine of Divine grace — Dr R. W. Hamilton

I. Man is the object of grace:

1. The atonement is the effect of Divine grace;

2. Christianity is entirely independent of man in its contrivance. Grace is not impaired by any arrangements which had reference to ourselves;

3. The death of the cross is only a means to the most benevolent end;

4. The Gospel, while it upholds the claim of the Divine law, has an exclusive bearing upon us as sinners. Salvation is not a question of justice, but of grace;

5. No blessing of the Gospel is, in any legitimate sense, the subject of purpose. By Christ’s righteousness a free gift of salvation was made unto us.

II. The grace, which is so pre-eminent, cannot be confounded with any inferior or incongruous principle:

1. Grace is free favour. It can be –

(1) Related to no right;

(2) Contained in no law;

2. Work is individual action or conduct;

3. Grace is therefore opposed to work, as it is –

(1) Extrinsic of the person;

(2) Independent of the volition;

(3) A most jealous challenger of that merit which sinless obedience claims, and the Divine code awards.

III. Grace and work are often violently tortured into an unnatural alliance. No system can reconcile itself to grace, which –

1. Proceeds upon the merits of human conduct;

2. Rests human acceptance on a foreknowledge of good qualities of character;

3. Reckons on the will’s self-determining power;

4. Accounts the Gospel as a simple facility to man to save himself;

5. Varies the Gospel’s freeness by moral differences in man;

6. Founds our duty upon a bestowment of grace.

IV. The effects of these opposing principles. How differently they –

1. Explain Christianity;

2. Christ’s mission;

3. Influence the human mind.

Salvation by grace — Some are all their days laying the foundation, and are never able to build upon it to any comfort to themselves or usefulness to others. And the reason is, because they will be mixing with the foundation stones that are only fit for the building. They will be bringing their obedience, duties, mortification of sin, and the like, unto the foundation. These are precious stones to build with, but unmeet to be first laid to bear upon them the whole weight of the building. The foundation is to be laid in mere grace, mercy, pardon in the blood of Christ; this the soul is to accept of and to rest in merely as it is grace, without the consideration of anything in itself, but that it is sinful and obnoxious to ruin. This it finds a difficulty in, and would gladly have something of its own to mix with it; it cannot tell how to fix these foundation-stones without some cement of its own endeavours and duty: and because these things will not mix, they spend fruitless efforts about it all their days. But if the foundation be of grace, it is not at all of works ; otherwise grace is no more grace. If anything of our own be mixed with grace in this matter, it utterly destroys the nature of grace, which if it be not alone, it is not at all. — Dr Owen

“Grace is a free gift; it is such a gift as can neither be deserved beforehand, nor be requited after it is received.” — Bp Lake

“God’s grace bath no dependence out of God’s self, but solely and wholly relieth on God’s pleasure. For how shall the effect father his own cause? All grace in man doth issue from grace in God; which, therefore, cannot rise from aught in man.” — Dr Clerke

“It is reported of Sextus, that, every night before he slept, he asked of his own heart, ‘What evil hast thou this day amended? what vice hast thou shunned? what good hast thou done? in what part art thou bettered?’ Such review is always profitable.”

Suffering and Merit?

R. C. Sproul wrote:

Perhaps the most difficult task for us to perform is to rely on God's grace and God's grace alone for our salvation. It is difficult for our pride to rest on grace. Grace is for other people -- for beggars. We don't want to live by a heavenly welfare system. We want to earn our own way and atone for our own sins. We like to think that we will go to heaven because we deserve to be there.

________

"Suffering and Merit?", Tabletalk Magazine, vol 13, no. 1.

Trying To Earn Salvation

The supreme force in salvation is God’s grace. Not our works. Not our talents. Not our feelings. Not our strength.

Salvation is God’s sudden, calming presence during the stormy seas of our lives. We hear his voice; we take the step.

We, like Paul are aware of two things: We are great sinners and we need a great savior.

We, like Peter, are aware of two facts: We are going down and God is standing up. So we scramble out. We leave behind the Titanic of self-righteousness and stand on the solid path of God’s grace.

And, surprisingly, we are able to walk on water. Death is disarmed. Failures are forgivable. Life has real purpose. And God is not only within sight, he is within reach.

Father, we stand upon your promises. It doesn’t make sense that we should be able to. We aren’t worthy of your incredible gift. Yet you make it possible. You reach out your hand and save us.

Grace Giving Effectual Power

Acts 5:42

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42 AV)

Those early Christians believed, most profoundly, that salvation was all of grace; that it was God's work from beginning to end. They needed no instruction in respect to that matter: they were aware of it; they were men and women who had learned the secret of prayer; they prayed much, and prayed prevailingly. They were people who depended upon the power of the Holy Spirit and they had experience of His power. Peter and John, and all the others of that early day knew well that the work of God was accomplished by divine power, but their knowledge of these things did not make them indolent. It did not lead them to fold their arms and do nothing; their faith issued in good works, and they were most active in the propagation of the gospel. How did they do it? Read the Acts. – T. T. Shields (former Pastor of Jarvis Street Baptist Church, Toronto)

Thy Saviour worked for thee

With often weary brow;

His willing, constant worker be,

For Him to labour now.

Moral Adaptability

A Moravian missionary once went to the West Indies, to preach to the slaves. He found it impossible for him to carry out his design so long as he bore to them the relation of a mere missionary. They were driven into the field very early in the morning, and returned late at night with scarcely strength enough to roll themselves into their cabins, and in no condition to be profited by instruction. They were savage toward all of the race and rank of their masters. He determined to reach the slaves by becoming himself a slave. He was sold, that he might have the privilege of working by their sides, and preaching to them as he worked with them. Do you suppose the master or the pastor could have touched the hearts of those miserable slaves as did that man who placed himself in their condition, and went among them, and lived as they lived, suffered as they suffered, toiled as they toiled, that he might carry the gospel to them? This missionary was but following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, who took on Him the nature of men, came among them, and lived as they lived, that He might save them from their sins.

-H. W. Beecher

This Man Cared

Psalms 142:4

"I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul" (Psalms 142:4).

It is to be feared that some Christians are idle because they have no concern for the needs of folk around them.

Over half a century ago there was a young surgeon beginning his practice in the city of London. He soon became interested in a rescue mission down in the slums, and went there after evening office hours. One night after the meeting was over, he discovered a ragged little boy lying asleep on one of the benches near the fire. The doctor gently woke him and told him it was time to go home. But the lad replied he had no home. Therefore the doctor took the lad to his own home and after they had eaten he asked: "Are there any other boys in London like yourself?"

"Lots of them," said the boy.

"Will you show me some?" asked the doctor.

"Let's go," said the child. Soon after midnight they started treading their way through the streets and alleys and byways till they came to a wretched coal shed. "There's some of 'em in there," said the lad. The doctor entered and lit a match. Not a lad was to be seen. He thought he had been misled, but his boy-guide was not at all abashed. "Cops have been after 'em. They are up on the roof."

So they climbed up the rickety shed to the top. There lay thirteen little homeless boys, cuddled close together on the tin roof in a vain attempt to keep warm. There in the darkness looking down at those sleeping waifs, the young doctor saw the vision of one of the greatest lives of service ever lived in this generation.

That young man was Dr. Bernardo, the founder of those homes for "nobody's children" which at one time stretched like a line of lighthouses across the British Empire. It is said that some ten thousand British fighting men in World War I came from these homes.

Surely this is a demonstration that there is service for all who have nurtured a concern for the souls of those perishing around them.

He Doeth the Works

John 14:10

"...but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works" (John 14:10).

A famous organist came to the intermission of his recital. It was in the days of organs requiring a hand pumper. So in joy the organ-pumper remarked, "We are giving them a fine recital today."

The organist looked up in disgust saying with a stinging retort, "Please, sir, I am giving this recital!"

The organ-pumper was chagrined. The second half of the contest began when suddenly the organ was without a sound. The audience wondered what had happened. The organist knew. He went back stage and humbly apologized to the old pumper.

"You are right, sir, it is we, and not I." Then the exquisite concert proceeded. The "we" could do what the "I" cannot. The Father must work in us; and we must recognize our work as a joint effort with our blessed Lord.

The apostle Paul expressed it in these words, "We are laborers together with God..." (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Double Service

"You are always working," I exclaimed, as I entered the office of a business friend. "How many hours do you work each day?" "Twenty-four," he replied with a smile. Then more seriously, "I became interested in missions and determined to go to China, but my father died and his business was in such a state that no outsider could carry it on. My mother, sisters, and younger brother were dependent upon the profits of the house, so I was obliged to remain here. I then took the support of a native preacher in China as my substitute. In that way I work twenty-four hours a day, for my representative there is working while I sleep."

This man is like the angels in heaven, "serving day and night."

Personal Work

A deacon in a certain Congregational church in Boston, many years ago said to himself, "I cannot speak in prayer meeting. I cannot do many other things in Christian service, but I can put two extra plates on my dinner table every Sunday and invite two young men who are away from home to break bread with me." He went along doing that for more than thirty years. He became acquainted with a great company of young men who were attending that church, and many of them became Christians through his personal influence. When he died he was buried in Andover, thirty miles from Boston, and because he was a well-known merchant, a special train was chartered to convey the funeral party. It was made known that any of his friends among the young men who had become Christians through his influence would be welcomed in a special car set aside for them. And a hundred and fifty of them came and packed that car from end to end in honor of the memory of the man who had preached to them the gospel of the extra dinner plate.

Service in Little Things

A story is told in some annals of the Roundtable of a knight who set forth to find the Holy Grail. Forth from the castle rode the knight filled with his lofty purpose, having no eyes nor care for the common things about him and giving no heed to the gray-beard beggar that lay asking alms close to his door. Forth he went and began to do many wonderful works. His sword wrought prodigies of valor, in gloomy woods by robbers' strongholds, in wild mountains.

But he never saw the holy vision, the reward of God's true knight. Then, spirit-broken, he gave up the quest as hopeless and rode homeward wearily. He came with head hung down and eyes that looked upon the ground. "Not for me, not for me," he muttered, "is the holy vision," Then, as he came through the gates he caught sight of the beggar. "Ah, now shalt thou be helped, old man," cried the knight, "for I must content myself with such small acts of pity." He sprang from his horse; he laid aside spear and crested shield and bent over the beggar tending his wounds. He bade his servants bring him bread and wine and himself saw that all his wants were supplied. And lo! as he turned there floated before him the wondrous vision-he saw the Holy Grail.

Work and Pray

A squall caught a party of tourists on a lake in Scotland and threatened to capsize their boat. When it seemed that the crisis had really come, the largest and strongest man in the party, in a state of intense fear, said, "Let us pray." "No, no, my man!" shouted the bluff old boatman; "let the little man pray. You take the oar."

Use the Abilities that God Has Given You

Matthew 25

On the subject of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, J. R. Miller writes:

"It would not do for all to be great-to be five-talented. If all the soldiers were fit for generals, who would make up the rank and file? If all church members were eloquent preachers, who would do the countless little, quiet services that need to be done? If all men and women were great poets, who would write the prose? There is need for far more common people than great brilliant ones. One Niagara is enough for a continent, but there is need for thousands of little springs and rivulets. A few great men are enough for a generation, but there is work for millions of common folks. So this diversity of gifts is part of the divine plan. The world needs more people of average ability than it needs of the extraordinary sort, and so we are always sure of being in good company. Lincoln said "God must love the common people, for He made so many of them. People who are very great must feel lonesome, for there are so very few of them."

Try Not To Be Seen

There is a picture which shows a hand holding up a cross. The person is not seen-only the hand. It is good to be a hand that holds up the cross. It is good to be a voice that proclaims the Christ. We would all do well to keep ourselves out of sight and get people to look upon Christ. Too many of us want people to see us, and so project our own personality that we hide the vision of the Christ that we ought to exalt and honor. We want people to see us, to hear and admire what we say, to love us and honor us. But what can we do for them? What can the teacher do for her scholars in their sinfulness and need? What can the preacher do for those who are in penitence and sorrow? We would better hide ourselves away and get people to see Christ. It is enough for us to seek to be only a voice, speaking out clearly to tell men of Christ, while we ourselves remain unseen and unknown. It is enough for us to speak our word or sing our song and pass out of sight, while the word we speak and the song we sing live to bless the world.

Ashamed to Die

"Are you afraid to die?" asked a visitor of a man who lay on his deathbed, one who had lived a prodigal's life, returning to Christ only in time to die. The man was now grieving, and his friend said to him, "Why, you are not afraid to die are you?" "No," said the dying man, "I am not afraid to die; but I am ashamed to die. God has done so much for me, and I have done nothing at all for Him."

Not of Works

Ephesians 2:9

Not of works, lest any man should boast. — Ephesians 2:9.

If we could save ourselves by our own good works, it would not have been necessary for Christ to have died, and we would have reason to boast of what we had done. But God will not permit flesh to glory in His presence. The praise of those in heaven is not of man but of the Lamb that was slain and who has redeemed them by His blood. — G. M. Landis.

Worthy the Lamb enthroned on high,

To be exalted thus!

Worthy the Lamb who died, we cry,

For He was slain for us.

Jesus is worthy to receive

Honor and power divine:

And blessings more than we can give,

Be, Lord, for ever Thine.

Works and Faith

James 2

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled. — James 2: 22, 23.

The famous Siamese twins were grown together in a vital part, so that the life of one was necessary to the life of the other. Thus they lived together till old age, but no surgeon dared to cut them apart. English surgeons were appealed to, to attempt the operation but refused to under-take it; and finally, when one of the twins died, the other lived only two hours. So faith and works may live and grow and bear fruit when united; but no spiritual surgeon has been able to separate them so skilfully but that both have died in the operation; and whenever one has died the other died immediately after.

So let our faith and works express

The holy gospel we profess;

So let our deeds and virtues shine,

To prove the doctrine all divine.

Thus shall we best proclaim abroad

The honors of our Saviour God,

When His salvation reigns within,

And grace subdues the power of sin.

The Ticket

John 2

There was a certain man who had worked all his life and was ready for a vacation. He wanted to go to a far away place he had never been before. He thought to himself; you are a good person, you’ve helped the poor and took care of the needy. So you deserve this trip. He went to the airport and got in line to get on the plane. In his mind, he felt no need to buy a ticket because of all the great things he has done for people in his lifetime. He thought he had earned this trip. As the line got closer and closer to board the plane, he grew more and more anxious to start enjoying himself on his journey.

It came his turn to pass his ticket in and to the amazement of the ticket collector, he told her he didn’t have a ticket because he deserved a free trip.

He went on to explain what a good person he was, and how he never hurt anyone or caused anyone any sort of pain, but the ticket collector told him, “you still need a ticket sir”

He told her “I have never stolen from anyone, nor cheated anyone in all my life”, but still she stood firm and insisted he could not board the plane unless a ticket was given to her.

He said “I have given money to the poor and fed the needy”, but still not being moved the ticket collector said if you want to get on this plane you have to have a ticket. No exceptions.

The man was shocked. He walked away with his head held down low and thought to himself, “I figured if I was a good person, who never hurt anyone and took care of other people, surely I would be able to get a free ride on the plane, but I guess I was wrong”.

That is what some people think of Heaven. They think if they are good people, who never hurt anyone and take care of others, they will get a free ride into Heaven. But the Bible declares in Ephesians 2: 8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Salvation is a free gift through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. No man can buy his way into Heaven, but Jesus came down to Earth in His own free will to give us Eternal Life. All we have to do is trust Him by Faith and accept Him into your heart as your Personal Lord and Savior. He has bought our ticket on the cross, but it is up to you to claim it.

Here is how you can receive Christ if you haven’t already:

1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).

2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).

3. Believe that Jesus died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

Just pray a pray similar to this one:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I

believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now

invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow

You as my Lord and Savior. I know now that I have a ticket to get into

Heaven. In Jesus name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, the Bible declares in Romans 10:13 “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Your sins are forgiven as it declares in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” You are a new creature in Christ Jesus as it declares in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed way; behold, all things have become new.”

This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:

1. Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better. Start with the Gospel of John.

2. Talk to God in prayer every day. Bring all your troubles and worries to the Lord.

3. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.

4. Tell others about Christ. Sharing the good news of the Lord is needed now more than ever in this world full of trouble.

5. Be Baptized. Baptism is an outward expression of what the Lord has done on the inside. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Colossians 2:10-13) (Acts 2:38)

May the Lord bless you in your life with Him.

Getting Up the Stairs

Searching for an easily understandable way of teaching his children about salvation, Jim decided to call his children to the bottom of the staircase.

Standing at the top of the stairs he said, “I’m Jesus in heaven and I want you here with me, but you cannot climb up the stairs or use the handrail.”

After initial puzzlement his 12-year-old said, “Okay, Dad, I’ll play. Come down here.”

Jim came down. The boy asked him to turn around, climbed on his back, and asked his father to carry him up the stairs.

After each of the four children had been carried up the stairs, their father discussed with them the indelible lesson – how salvation comes not from self-effort, but from what Christ does for us.

The Treadmill

John 10:10

In the mid 1800’s, Sarah Pardee married William Winchester, heir to the Winchester Rifle fortune. After his death, Sarah became convinced that she was being haunted by the ghosts of men and women killed by Winchester weapons. A spiritualist told Sarah that she could escape the curse only by building a house for the spirits. And, she was told, if construction ever stopped, Sarah would die.

Sarah believed the prophecy. She bought an 8-room house and began construction. Over the years, she poured much of her $20 million fortune into the project. The house ballooned to 25 rooms, then 50, then 100. In 1923, Sarah died at age 81, while construction continued. The final tally: 160 rooms, 10,000 windows, 40 staircases, and 6 kitchens. Seven stories tall, the house covers six acres and is today a popular tourist attraction.

Greek mythology tells of a man sentenced to spend eternity pushing a huge stone to the top of a hill, only to have it roll back down each time, forcing him to start over. The New Testament describes men called Pharisees who taught that unless you kept each and every one of the commands they had devised, you could never be worthy of God’s love. Jesus criticized these men more harshly than anyone else he met in his ministry.

If you’re finding Christianity to be a burden, perhaps you need to ask yourself why. If your hope depends on all that you do, I can promise that you will never be able to do enough. If your assurance rests in the false belief that you have everything figured out, I can guarantee you either a lifetime of arrogant ignorance, or endless nights of worry over whether you are really right or not. Only when your hope rests in the all-sufficient work of Christ will you truly find peace. Only when you admit that He alone can save you will you be able to step off the treadmill and begin enjoying life.

Jesus said “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full,” (John 10:10).

The only treadmill you should have to walk is the one at the gym.

Jimmy Stewart's Ungrateful Prayer [2 versions]

My favorite movie character who preaches this philosophy is the father in the Civil War movie Shenandoah played by Jimmy Stewart. His wife has died and, before her death, he promises to give their children a proper Christian upbringing. He tries but you can tell that his heart's not really in it.

His prayer at the dinner table is illustrative. "God, we have plenty of food on this table. We plowed the fields, we planted the grain, we took out the weeds, we harvested the grain, and now we have prepared the food. We have done all the work but we thank you for this food anyway. Amen."

=============================

Version by Rev. Brett Blair:

In the movie SHENANDOAH, James Stewart plays a Virginia farmer during the Civil War years. He begins every meal with the same prayer: “Lord, I planted the seeds, I plowed the ground, I gathered in the harvest. If I hadn’t of put the food on the table it wouldn’t be here. But we thank you anyway.”

We had all better understand the role of grace and mystery in life or we too might fall pray to the sin of thinking too highly of ourselves.

Jimmy Stewart's Ungrateful Prayer [2 versions]

My favorite movie character who preaches this philosophy is the father in the Civil War movie Shenandoah played by Jimmy Stewart. His wife has died and, before her death, he promises to give their children a proper Christian upbringing. He tries but you can tell that his heart's not really in it.

His prayer at the dinner table is illustrative. "God, we have plenty of food on this table. We plowed the fields, we planted the grain, we took out the weeds, we harvested the grain, and now we have prepared the food. We have done all the work but we thank you for this food anyway. Amen."

=============================

Version by Rev. Brett Blair:

In the movie SHENANDOAH, James Stewart plays a Virginia farmer during the Civil War years. He begins every meal with the same prayer: “Lord, I planted the seeds, I plowed the ground, I gathered in the harvest. If I hadn’t of put the food on the table it wouldn’t be here. But we thank you anyway.”

We had all better understand the role of grace and mystery in life or we too might fall pray to the sin of thinking too highly of ourselves.

Is Trusting Christ Enough?

Luke 9:23

Confusion over whether “trusting Christ” is enough for salvation, or whether your life has to change as well. Our experience in Christ is not always as complete as our position in Christ.

Salvation is by faith alone. Every area of life is not under the lordship of Christ because they are still a babe. Discipleship is different than salvation. It takes time to develop.

She Tried To Smuggle Herself In

Luke 13:23

In January 1985, a large suitcase, unmarked and unclaimed, was discovered at the customs office at Los Angeles International Airport. When U.S. Customs agents opened the suitcase, they found the curled-up body of an unidentified young woman.

She had been dead for a few days, according to the county coroner. As the investigation continued, it was learned that the woman was the wife of a young Iranian living in the U.S. Unable to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. and join her husband, she took matters into her own hands and attempted to smuggle herself into America via an airplane’s cargo bay. While her plan seemed to her simple though risky, officials were hard pressed to understand how such an attempt could ever succeed. Even if she survived the journey in the cargo bay, she would remain an illegal alien, having entered though improper channels.

Some people believe they’ll enter the kingdom of God on their own since they’ve been reasonably good citizens or church attenders. But entry plans of our own design prove not only foolish but fatal.

====================

Sermon version:

In January 1985, a large suitcase, unmarked and unclaimed, was discovered at the customs office at Los Angeles International Airport. When U.S. Customs agents opened the suitcase, they found the curled-up body of an unidentified young woman.

She had been dead for a few days, according to the county coroner. As the investigation continued, it was learned that the woman was the wife of a young Iranian living in the U.S. She was unable to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. and join her husband. So she took matters into her own hands and attempted to smuggle herself into America via an airplane’s cargo bay. While her plan seemed to her simple though risky, officials were hard pressed to understand how such an attempt could ever succeed. Even if she survived the journey in the cargo bay, she would remain an illegal alien, having entered though improper channels.

Some people believe they’ll enter the kingdom of God on their own since they’ve been reasonably good citizens or church attenders. But entry plans of our own design prove not only foolish but fatal.

So Skeptical A Salvation

One Christmas season a pastor pointed to a Christmas poinsettia. "Whoever wants it can have it," he said. "All you have to do is take it." The congregation simply stared. The pastor waited. And waited. Finally a mother timidly raised her hand and said, "I'll take it." "Great! It's yours." But to the pastor's astonishment she nudged her son, "Go get it for me." "No," said the pastor. "Whoever wants this gift must come and get it personally. You can't send a substitute." She shook her head not willing to risk embarrassment. The pastor waited again. It was a gorgeous flower, unusually large, wrapped in red cellophane with a gold satin ribbon. It was set in front of the pulpit. Several people had mentioned how beautiful the plant was. Now it was free for the taking.

Someone snickered, "What's the catch?" "No catch," said the pastor. "It's free." No one moved. A college student asked, "Is it glued down?" Everyone laughed. "It is not glued down. Nor are there any strings attached. It's yours for the taking."

"Well," asked a pretty teenager, "can I take it after the service?" The pastor shook his head. Again he waited.

Then a woman stood up at the back. Quickly, as if she were afraid she'd change her mind, she strode up to the front and picked up the plant. "I'll take it," she said. At that the pastor preached with enthusiasm on the free gift of eternal life.

When the service had ended and most of the people had gone home, the woman who claimed the poinsettia grabbed the pastor. "Here!" She held out her hand. "This flower is too pretty to take home for free. I couldn't do that with a clear conscience." The pastor looked down at the crumpled paper she stuffed into his hand. It was a ten dollar bill!

One Solution

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. —Titus 3:5 — Read: Titus 3:3-8

It’s the bad news about sin and its consequences that makes the gospel of Jesus such good news. Because it is a message for sinners only, who, then, are the sinners?

The Ticket: There was a certain man who had worked all his life and was ready for a vacation. He wanted to go to a far away place he had never been before. He thought to himself; you are a good person, you’ve helped the poor and took care of the needy. So you deserve this trip.

He went to the airport and got in line to get on the plane. In his mind, he felt no need to buy a ticket because of all the great things he has done for people in his lifetime. He thought he had earned this trip. As the line got closer and closer to board the plane, he grew more and more anxious to start enjoying himself on his journey.

It came his turn to pass his ticket in and to the amazement of the ticket collector, he told her he didn’t have a ticket because he deserved a free trip.

He went on to explain what a good person he was and how he never hurt anyone or caused anyone any sort of pain, but the ticket collector told him, “you still need a ticket sir”

He told her “I have never stolen from anyone, nor cheated anyone in all my life”, but still she stood firm and insisted he could not board the plane unless a ticket was given to her.

He said “I have given money to the poor and fed the needy”, but still not being moved the ticket collector said if you want to get on this plane you have to have a ticket. No exceptions.

The man was shocked. He walked away with his head held down low and thought to himself, “I figured if I was a good person, who never hurt anyone and took care of other people, surely I would be able to get a free ride on the plane, but I guess I was wrong”.

That is what some people think of Heaven. They think if they are good people, who never hurt anyone and take care of others, they will get a free ride into Heaven. But the bible clearly says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9. Salvation is a free gift through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. No man can buy his way into Heaven, but Jesus came down to Earth in his own free will to give us Eternal Life. All we have to do is trust him by Faith and accept him into your heart as your Personal Lord and Savior. He has bought our ticket on the cross, but it is up to you to claim it.