1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NIV)
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

These days we here a lot of talk about investments. Now when I mention that word I could be referring to a lot of different things. I could be talking about things of a financial or material nature – that is investing in RRSPS, savings, stocks, a house, or mutual funds. When used this way, “investments” often refers to preparing financially for retirement. Then, too, investment can also be used in the context of time or relationships. Wherever it is used however the definition of investment always carries with it the understanding that you’re giving into something in order to gain something down the road. In other words, what I invest in now will eventually pay out dividends in the future. Whether it’s an investment of money, time, or talents – we hope that it will pay off!

Now have you ever wondered what investments God makes? I mean is there some celestial savings plan that allows God to plan for his retirement? No that couldn’t be, after all He owns everything and He can create whatever He needs! What about investments in time? Well, that’s kind of a moot issue as well since God is eternal and time has no effect on Him! That leaves us with one other area, and that is relationships! All through the Bible we find a clear indication that God invests in relationships. He invests in people. But then there is something else we find in the Word of God – He doesn’t just invest in anybody…it is clear that he chooses who He will invest in.

That leaves us with the question, “What kind of people does God invest in?” And the answer brings us to our text this morning. Paul’s words here in this passage might well come as a bit of a shock. They’re shocking because they are contrary to many of the ideas that we’ve all been raised with. Our society values those who have the right looks, wear the right clothes, and flaunt great talents and abilities. That’s the kind of people that the world invests in. And isn’t that right? After all an investment is supposed to pay off, right?

But listen to what Paul says in verse 28,

1 Corinthians 1:28 (NIV)
28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not…

Paul writes that God chooses the seemingly foolish, weak, and insignificant (as the world sees them). They’re the ones He calls. In fact Paul began in verse 26 by elaborating that God calls not many wise, not many mighty or influential, not many noble! It’s not that God doesn’t ever invest in the wise, the mighty, the influential or the noble but rather not many – that doesn’t’ tend to be where He goes first. Now certainly in the view of the world this is a bad investment! It is strange that God would do this…so why would God make these strange investments?

Paul writes in verse 29,
1 Corinthians 1:29 (NIV)
29 so that no one may boast before him.

God is looking to invest in people who, when everything is said and done – and He’s used them, and they’ve been successful – will say, “It was only by Your Grace LORD that we made it. We couldn’t have achieved one bit without You!”

That’s the message of these verses. Isn’t that an encouragement this morning? God reveals His glory through ordinary people like you and me. In spite of this, there are many Christians who are intimidated by their feelings of inadequacy. Of course we all know our own weaknesses and limitations better than anybody else, don’t we? And so we think that because our resources are so small, we could never do anything for God. We’ll say, “Leave it to those talented people; those ‘Super-men and women’ who have it all together!”.

But then, I’ve found out something in reply to that – those so-called ‘super-people’ don’t really exist! If you get close enough to one of those really talented, seemingly ‘all-together’ people, you’ll discover that they’re just human beings like the rest of us, with the same feelings of inadequacy about themselves that we all share to some degree.

Gladys Aylward was a missionary to China more than 50 years ago (her story was made into a film called “The Inn of the 6th Happiness”). She was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded Yangcheng, but she would not abandon the orphans that she had been caring for. With just one assistant, Gladys Aylward led more than 1200 children over the treacherous mountains toward Free China.

Along the harrowing journey she grappled with despair and, at times, a feeling of utter hopelessness. One morning on that journey, after Gladys Aylward had a sleepless night, a 13 year old girl reminded her of Moses and how he had led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. To which Gladys replied: “But I am not Moses”. Then the little girl said, “Of course you aren’t, but JEHOVAH IS STILL GOD!”

(quoted in The Kind of People God Invests In by Phil Morgan)

When Gladys Aylward and those orphan children made it through the mountains to safety, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we may feel, God is still God, and we can depend on Him.

Today I want to take a brief look at three stories from the Old Testament, in which God asks three questions. I believe you’re going to see that God invests in ordinary people, and despite our feelings of inadequacy, if we will just give God what we have (even though it might not seem like much at all), He can take it and work wonders for the glory of His Name.

TRANSITION:
The first of these questions that we are confronted with was asked of Moses , and you’ll find it in Exodus.

You may recall how Moses was rescued from death as a baby – when Pharaoh was having all the Jewish infant boys slaughtered – he was hidden in a basket in the reed banks of the River Nile. And in the providence of God, Moses was found by Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him as her own. And so Moses was raised amongst the royalty of Egypt – given the finest education and every advantage in life at that time.

As a young man he found himself perfectly positioned to be able to help his people – the Israelites. He had the ear of Pharaoh himself. He had been delivered from death, and brought by the hand of God to this incredible place of opportunity. Surely he was born to be a man of destiny.

But then it all went sour! Moses, in one rash moment of anger, seemed to throw it all away. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew – one of his people – and he lashed out and killed the Egyptian, and as a result he wound up having to flee for his life into the wilderness.

Moses spent the next 40 years tending another man’s sheep in the wilderness. The dream was smashed. Destiny lay in ruins. He was a young man when he fled Egypt; 40 years is the best part of a lifetime – seemingly wasted because of one rash act!

But then one day Moses came upon a bush, a bush that was on fire but not burning up and Moses decided to take a closer look at this weird bush.

For 40 years Moses had been living day to day, just maintaining the status quo. And sometimes when we get locked into the status quo, believing that this is our life’s lot and nothing’s ever going to change – God has to step in dramatically and get our attention. And that’s what God did with Moses at the flaming bush. He got Moses’ attention!

Moses encountered God at that bush – after 40 years in the wilderness. And God said the most outrageous thing to Moses: “Go back and bring My people out of bondage in Egypt.”

The answer that Moses gave to God’s call is understandable, don’t you think?! I can sympathize with him. He says, “Lord, it’s too late! Surely! Now if you had asked me 40 years ago it would have been a different story – I was well positioned then – I had youthful energy then – I was well-spoken. Lord, most of my conversation over the past 40 years has been with SHEEP. I don’t conduct myself very well around people any more – and I’ve almost forgotten how to speak Egyptian! How am I going to talk to Pharaoh?! And what about the Israelites – why should they listen to me? Lord, it’s too late. I had my chance and I blew it! I have nothing left to offer. Find someone who has the ability.”

And it’s then that God asked Moses this wonderful question – a question that He may also be asking YOU tonight…

Exodus 4:2 (NIV)
2 Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” …

“What have you got in your hand?”

Some people are always dwelling on the failures, the mistakes, the wrong decisions of the past. “If only I’d done this; if only I hadn’t done that!”

But God says: “You want to ask forgiveness for the past? Good. Fine. But then forget it! You can’t do anything about it, except learn from it. You can’t change it. It’s done! But what have you got in your hand NOW – today?!”

“Moses, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT IN YOUR HAND?”

Moses looked down, and what was in his hand? A rod. A simple shepherds staff. A walking stick, and a tool for scuffing sheep. That’s all he has in his hand. The legacy of what seemed like 40 wasted years! And God says: “That’ll do just fine – we can use that!”

“What are going to do Lord? Hit every Egyptian over the head with a stick?”

God said: “Throw it on the ground Moses. You’re in the presence of God – now cast it before ME!” Moses threw it down, and immediately it turned into a snake, right before his eyes. God said: “Pick it up again”. Moses took it and it became a rod again in his hand.

And God said: “Come on, let’s go to Egypt and set my people free!”

Can God use a simple shepherd’s rod? Of course He can. With Moses it was a rod; with David it was a slingshot; with Samson it was the jawbone of an ass. It doesn’t matter what it is – why? Because,

2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

and

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

It was that ordinary, plain old rod of Moses that God used to baffle the magicians of Pharaoh’s court; it was that same old rod that God used in Moses’ hand to unleash ten plagues over the land of Egypt; it was that same old rod that Moses extended over the Red Sea to part the waters; it was that same old rod that Moses used to strike the rock in the wilderness and provide water for the Israelites.

“What have you got in your hand?” It’s not too late. God will not give up on you if you don’t give up on Him. “What have you got in your hand?” You may not feel like you have very much at all, but God wants to take what you have and show HIS strength.

TRANSITION:
Then there’s a second question that God asks. It’s found in 2 Kings 4:2. It’s a question that the prophet Elisha asked of a needy widow woman.

2 Kings 4:1-2a (NIV)
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“What have you got in your house?”

This story shows us how God wants to take our need and give us His supply.

This widow is in trouble. Her husband, the family provider, is dead. She can’t afford to pay the bills, and the creditors are at the door, about to take away her two sons to sell into slavery in order to redeem the debt. What is she going to do? She calls for the man of God. And he asks her this question: “What have you got in your house?”

Not very much at all she replies. Just one jar of oil left, that’s all.

2 Kings 4:3 (NIV)
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.

2 Kings 4:6 (NIV)
6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

[Tell story of miracle with the oil - note the significance of the oil stopped flowing when all the empty jars were filled. The oil stopped flowing when there was no where left to put it]

The fullness of God’s blessing was experienced in the emptiness of the woman’s need! The completeness of God’s provision was found in the insufficiency of the woman’s poverty! The oil stopped flowing when there was no where left to pour it…

“What have you got in your house?”

There is a principle here that I hope you’ve caught, the more empty we are in our needs the more God is able to invest of Himself in us! The problem is for many of us that our jars are full. Either we hoard the blessings God pours into our lives or we try to fill the “jars” of lives with our own solutions and remedies rather than seeking the guidance of the “oil” of God.

A little boy was brought to Jesus one day, and that little boy was prepared to put his lunch at God’s disposal. It didn’t seem like very much at all – especially when you consider the crowd that Jesus needed to feed. But Jesus took that little lunch – just five barley loaves and two small fish – and He fed a multitude of 5000 men, plus women and children!

TRANSITION:
The third and final question that God asks is found in 2 Kings 6:17.

The King of Syria was attempting to make war with Israel, but the problem was that every time they went to set a trap for the Israeli armies, the Israelites moved in another direction. It soon became clear that the Israelite generals knew the King of Syria’s plans in advance. So the King called a security meeting, and he said, “There must be a spy in the camp! We’ve got to find out who it is.” But one of his servants said, “No, there’s no spy. The problem is the Israelite prophet Elisha. God shows him everything. He knows every order you give – he even knows what you say in your bedroom – and he’s telling the King of Israel.”

So, the King of Syria sent a great army, with chariots and horses, to the city of Dothan to capture Elisha.

Now Elisha was in Dothan with his young servant. It was early morning, and the servant went out of the place where they were staying to begin the days work. But he looked up into the hills, and he froze. There surrounding Dothan was this great Syrian army.

He rushed back into the house to Elisha, and reported what he’d seen. He said, “Alas master! What shall we do?”

And then Elisha said the most peculiar thing to him. He said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them”.

The servant was baffled! He looked up into the hills and took a rough estimate of the thousands of Syrian solders, and then he looked back at himself and Elisha, and he counted: “1….2…, what on earth are you talking about, Elisha?”

But then, the gracious, wise man of God prayed for his servant, and he simply said,

2 Kings 6:17a (NIV)
… “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” …

Now, son,…

“What have you got in your eye?”

That’s the question God asks. “What have you got in your eye?” “What do you see”

So the boy looked, and what did he see now? Forget the Syrians, the mountains around Dothan were filled with horses and chariots of fire – standing guard around the man of God (not around the city – around Elisha.) It was the Host of the Lord – the angelic armies of God.

You see, the Lord’s armies had been there all the time. Elisha knew it. But the boy needed to get spiritual sight.

When you’re feeling inadequate – like the situation has you beaten – you feel outnumbered and overwhelmed – God asks, “What have you got in your eye?”

You need to get God’s perspective on things. You need to get the Romans 8:28 perspective

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

A little boy was on summer holidays, and there was a circus in town. Every day he would hear the music of the parade coming down the street on which he lived, and he would race over to a knothole in the front fence and look out. He was so excited to see the colors of circus performers, and the little glimpses he’d catch of the animals. He could only imagine how wonderful it all must look in the street.

But then on one of the days he woke up with a bad headcold, and his mother confined him upstairs to bed and said he was not allowed outside to play. He was bitterly disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to look out his knothole to see the parade again. Later in the day he heard the music as the circus began to come down his street again. All of a sudden a thought occurred to him. If he climbed up on his desk, he might be able to see the parade from his bedroom window. Sure enough, when he climbed up he was startled by what he saw! Now he had a birds-eye view and he could take in the whole parade in full! All that time he’d been straining through a knothole in the fence to see just a little bit, when he could have been seeing it all from a higher perspective. (quoted in The Kind of People God Invests In by Phil Morgan)

So often we question God because we don’t understand our lives. Circumstances don’t make sense to us. We’re looking out through the little knothole of our human viewpoint, and we don’t see very well. But God sees perfectly. We need to trust Him, and wait on Him to get His sight.

“What Have you got in your eye?”

CONCLUSION

Let’s look once again at 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NIV)
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

You don’t have to be an altogether, perfect person in order for God to use you. God usually takes the most unlikely candidates to use for His glory. God does make use of ability he’s given you, but what’s more important to God, what he looks for, is humble availability!!

He simply asks three questions:

• What have you got in your hand? (He wants to take your experiences, talents, abilities and show His strength)
• What have you got in your house? (He wants to take your need and pour in His supply)
• What have you got in your eye? (He wants to take your limited view and give you His sight).

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The church is not a religious institution, it is not a service provider, and it is not a retail outlet: it is a community of faith. The word for church in the Bible is “ecclesia” from which we get the word “ecclesiastical.” It comes from two other Greek words “eke” for out, and “kleisis” for a calling. When the Bible calls us the ecclesia, it is calling us “The called-out community. That is why verse 9 says “he has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. The “Ecclesia” is not an organization or an institution; it literally means a gathering of the people – a gathering of God’s people! Church is not a place – it is a people.

YOU ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE. Think of the significance of that statement! When you become a part of the Church of Jesus Christ you are joining the ranks of a chosen people. God chose you! You belong to Him! You are the child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are royalty! There is an incredible joy that comes from understanding the full significance of that statement. However I want to talk further today on the important responsibility that comes with this understanding and it begins with the observation that…

1. Eternity Matters Most.

Matthew 25:19-21 (NIV)
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

- We will have to settle the account.
- He is not looking for faithful attendees.
- You have a talent that needs to be used and multiplied.

Notice that Peter writes, “…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood….that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” For every person who is a part of the family of God has an incredible God-given purpose for their life. That purpose is always an eternal minded one. What you do with your God-given purpose has implications for eternity…

Illustration:

Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the emperor of China although he could not play a note. Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play but not making a sound. He received a modest salary an enjoyed a comfortable living. Then one day the emperor requested a solo from each musician. The flutist got nervous. There wasn’t enough time to learn the instrument. He pretended to be sick, but the royal physician wasn’t fooled. On the day of his solo performance, the impostor took poison and killed himself. The explanation of his suicide led to a phrase that found its way into the English language: “He refused to face the music.” (Just Like Jesus; Max Lucado)

Today you can pretend to be a part of God’s orchestra by just blending in with the crowd and going through the motions. No one may notice, because you say the right things, go to the right places, and hang out with the right people. And you can enjoy the comfort of being accepted by the crowd of your choice. But there will come a day when you must face the music, one day you will be separated from everything. On that day you will stand alone before God and give an account for your life, your decisions, and whether or not you were tapped into the living water.

Romans 14:11-12 (NIV)
11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NIV)
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

- Think about the way you spend your time.
- Are you ready to give an account?
- Are you a participant or a spectator in the Body of Christ?
- Have you slipped into neutrality?

Why do we lose our eternal focus and slip into lukewarmness, apathy, and neutrality?

a.) Time passes and we lose heart.
b.) Satan.
c.) Friends.
d.) Family.

Many Christians think they need to hear more in order to grow when really they need to obey the teaching they have already received! They need to do the Word!! This brings me to the next point…

2. Christianity is about doing, not hearing and watching.

The most influential and effective times in my life have not been sitting in a pew listening to a message but in doing the message I heard. One of the reasons God has given each one of us a purpose is so that in the pursuit of the fulfillment of that purpose we grow and influence others for Christ. This was probably one of the biggest lessons that was reinforced for me with my recent trip to Zimbabwe…

How many times do you think about what you’re going to get out of a ministry in the church? I rarely think about what I am going to get out of a Sunday service, I focus on bringing what God wants me to give.

What about you?

1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV)
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

- These must be done or the Church will not be strengthened.

That explains the weak state of affairs in the North American Church. I believe Jesus has a strong message to the consumer church and the consumer Christian…

Matthew 25:31-40 (NIV)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

An older sister was sitting next to her younger brother in Church one Sunday morning unsuccessfully trying to keep him still and quiet. Finally she said, “I wish you would calm down.” “I can’t”, he said, “it’s just so boring.” With that his sister turned and said, “It’s supposed to be boring.”

Is this really true? Is church supposed to be boring? I want to tell you something folks – if you’re involved in church, it won’t be boring – and there are many ways of being involved… (list some ministries)

James 1: 22-25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.

A German soldier was wounded. He was ordered to go to the military hospital for treatment. When he arrived at the large and imposing building, he saw two doors, one marked, “For the slightly wounded,” and the other, “For the seriously wounded.”
He entered through the first door and found himself going down a long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked, “For officer” and the other, “For non-officers.” He entered through the latter and found himself going down another long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked, “For party members” and the other, “For non-party members.” He took the second door, and when he opened it he found himself out on the street.
When the soldier returned home, his mother asked him, “How did you get along at the hospital?”
“Well, Mother,” he replied, “to tell the truth, the people there didn’t do anything for me, but you ought to see the tremendous organization they have!”

The soldier’s comment describes many churches in our day: really organized, but accomplishing little.

It is imperative that the church be a nation of “doers”. But our actions should always be accomplished and directed by our Lord and Saviour…

3. Jesus is our “True North” guide (conclusion)

True north is a constant and refers to the geographic North Pole. Magnetic north tends to shift and refers to the pole of the Earth’s magnetic field. In mid 2002, true north and magnetic north were approximately 590 miles apart.

… Maps are aligned along true north, so hikers have to make adjustments when navigating by compass (taken from http://ask.yahoo.com/20030826.html)

There are times when we may be going along a path that seems like the right direction but it is always important to check the direction we go against the one who always guides correctly!

Recall that Peter said, remember…

1 Peter 2:10 (NIV)
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The Apostle Paul writes about the one who enabled this mercy to his protégé Timothy…

2 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

a.) Remember Jesus.
When we get discouraged and feel like quitting as Timothy does at this time it is because we have lost sight of something. We have become focused on ourselves instead of Jesus.
Remember the incredible victory He won over sin and death and the struggle to quit.

b.) Remember His humanity.
Remember that He did not win as God but as a man like you and me.

c.) Remember His resurrection.
Remember how He made a show of the forces of the enemy openly. Like a Roman Caesar returning in victory He ascended to the thrown and announced, “I am still King!”

d.) Remember the gospel message.
If you don’t remain true for any other reason then remain true for the sake of those who are watching and judging the Gospel message based on your witness.

Often times there is a wide gap between what we think are possible resolutions we should make for ourselves and what others think?

There was a couple who were sitting with a marriage counselor for their first session and the good doctor asked them to identify what seemed to be the root of their problems. The wife responded, ?It all started when we thought it would be cute to think up each other?s New Year?s resolutions? (Houston Post, 12/31/91, quoted in Autoillustrator.com, NEW YEAR?S RESOLUTIONS/FAULT FINDING.)

And there is even the wider gap between the resolutions we make and the ones that we actually follow through on.

I was thinking about this whole concept of New Year?s Resolutions and it struck me that a lot of our resolutions are centered on bettering ourselves. Think about it. Most of the resolutions we make are more about the all important me ? and improving, or trying to improve, the quality of life for ourselves. And yes, these goals we set are often good goals ? goals that would be admirable and often lead to a better quality of life not only for ourselves but for those around us as well.

But then, as the year rolls around isn?t it funny how when those resolutions become empty shells we often shift the blame to someone or something else for it?s unfulfillment! And then it?s so easy to say, ?Next year will be different!?

As I pondered all this, a question kept popping up in my mind, ?What about God? What is His resolution for my life?? Indeed, as I thought about it, I realized that no matter what resolution I made for the New Year ? if it wasn?t centered in his desire and plan for my life then it would amount to nothing. Yet, if my resolutions are founded on the instruction of the Holy Spirit then I can find strength and resolve in the Lord?s completing those resolutions through me in the New Year!

Then I started to think further about what God?s resolution is for my life. I quickly found that this is a question that isn?t easily answerable. I mean, it?s not like God was spelling out a list for me that took me from A-B outlining what his specific desires were for me in the next year. Certainly a good place to begin looking would be in God?s word ? but then it?s easy to be overwhelmed with the number of commands and instructions found within. ?be holy?, ?do not lie?, ?give generously?, ?be pure?, ?be righteous? ? how can I be all these things? And then I think to myself, ?okay, if this is what God wants then I resolve that this year I will?? But then we?re right back to the cycle of making the resolution and then breaking it. In fact looking back upon previous year?s you often find this cycle repeated over and over again. Sometimes it seems better to resolve nothing in order to gain something.

Then I realized something that really caught my heart, my mind, and my attention. Sometimes what is on the surface is not always revealing of the whole picture. All these ?commands? and ?instructions? found within the Bible are not the ?resolutions? God wants us to make but the fruits of the resolution God Himself has made found in the lives of those who have discovered and embraced it. What is this resolution God has made? It is a resolution that runs all through the Bible, surfacing clearly and distinctly in only a few places ? yet it permeates every theme, every character, every story, and every truth found within.

One of the places where this resolution surfaces is found at the end of our text today from Ephesians 1:3-10 (which was read this morning). I would like to repeat verse 9 and 10 to you.

Ephesians 1:9-10 (NIV)
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment–to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

PRAY

God?s resolution is that all things in heaven and earth will be brought together under one head, Jesus Christ. This resolution had also surfaced in a conversation between a man, named Abraham, and God in Genesis 17:7-8,

Genesis 17:7-8 (KJV)
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

God made an invitation to Abraham in Genesis that He has also extended to us today. God said that He would be Abraham?s God. Abraham did not first choose God. God first chose Abraham and offered to be his God.

Later, the descendants of Abraham, the children of Israel, multiplied and were living in Egypt. In Egypt they forgot about their God and worshipped the gods of the Egyptians. As a result the children of Israel became slaves in the land of Egypt. When they finally woke up and cried unto God, God extended to them the same invitation He had made to Abraham: to be their God.

Exodus 6:7 (NIV)
7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

The children of Israel left Egypt to worship the Lord God in the wilderness and move into the promised land of Canaan where once again they would worship the one true God. However, they had become so accustomed to worshipping other gods that they kept asking Moses to take them back into bondage. God in His great love continued to extend His invitation to be their God and remind them of the things He had done and would do for them if they would only take Him at His word and let Him be their God.

Leviticus 22:32-33 (NIV)
32 Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy 33 and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”

Leviticus 25:38 (NIV)
38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

Leviticus 26:12 (NIV)
12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.

Numbers 15:41 (NIV)
41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.’”

God emphasized over and over to the children of Israel that He wanted them to be His people and that He wanted to be their God. What a wonderful invitation. But God had already determined that Israel would not be the only recipients of this invitation.

Genesis 12:3 (NIV)
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

And so the nations have been and are being blessed by the ?seed? of Abraham ? for as we follow the lineage traced in the book of Matthew we find Jesus listed as the seed of Abraham. DISCOVER this morning the invitation that God has placed not only before Abraham but also to every person on this planet through Jesus Christ ? ?I will be YOUR God?!

This, then, is God?s Resolution ? to be Your God. However we can?t stop there. For you see although His resolution ? His decision is to be your God ? His desire is for you to embrace Him as Your God. And God?s resolution will come to pass ? Ephesians 1:9-10 emphasizes that all things in heaven and on earth will be brought together under one head, Jesus Christ ? however, only those who have embraced God?s Resolution will receive the benefits of His desire being fulfilled in their lives.

There is another place in Scripture which talks about God?s Resolution that brings more understanding to this statement. The book of Revelation is a book about the last days and the ?times of fulfillment? that Paul writes about in Ephesians. Without going into any great detail in today?s message about the contents of this book let me summarize it by saying this. There is a day, a time period, a point at which this planet will go through something it has never experienced before and no one will want to be a part of. There will be many catastrophes during this time. It will be a time of great tribulation ? and great suffering and anguish. There is an event that I would like to pick up on in Revelation that has great significance:

Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I can confidently say that in the future for every single one of us will be a day where we stand before God and He will either be Our God or not be our God. And for those who do not know Him as their God their destination is grim. But now I?d like to read a few verses found after this time of judgement:

Revelation 21:1-8 (NIV)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

This passage in Revelations is what Paul is writing about in Ephesians 1:9-10. Paul is writing about the fulfillment of God?s Resolution ? that He would be Your God. A resolution that only comes to pass in your life as you embrace it.
And this folks is where God?s Resolution is echoed forth in his calling. For He is calling out to each one of you.

Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Do you know that God has and is calling each one of you? This calling is found in the first part of the scripture read this morning:

holy and blameless (vs 4)

Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Notice the similarity between God?s call here and that found?

Genesis 17:1 (NIV)
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.

Deuteronomy 18:13 (NIV)
13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Leviticus 11:44-45 (NIV)
44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy? 45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Here, in this passage we find the first inkling as to why God emphasizes the need for holiness and blameless ? it is because God is holy and blameless ? let?s read further ?

Psalm 15:1-2 (NIV)
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? 2 He whose walk is blameless ?

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

The truth of the matter is that it is only those who are holy and blameless who can approach a holy and blameless God. We find these two words used again in 2 Peter 3:10-14 when Peter refers to the Day of the Lord which we have already talked about.

2 Peter 3:10-14 (NIV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

So God?s call to those who would embrace His resolution to be their God is to be Holy and Blameless before Him. The next question is How? And this is answered in verses 5-6.

adopted as sons

Ephesians 1:5-6 (NIV)
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

You become holy and blameless by becoming sons of God plain and simple. Isn?t this awesome ? God calls us to be Holy and Blameless in his sight by adopting us as His children! With this adoption comes a wonderful promise as found in Galatians 3:26-29?

Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV)
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Notice the last verse ? heirs according to the promise. What is the biggest promise God gave to Abraham? ?I will be Your God and you will be mine!?

But this can still leave us hanging a bit ? God?s call to those who would embrace his resolution is to be holy and blameless and this occurs when we are adopted as His sons but then the question is ?How are we adopted as His sons?? The answer is in verse 7-8.

redemption/forgiveness (vs 7)

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

In who? Verse 5 tells us who ? In Christ, we have redemption through his blood?

God?s resolution is that He would be Our God. It would have been impossible if He had left it at that. When He made that statement to Abraham He followed up on it by telling Abraham what to do in order to make that possible (see Genesis 17:9). God established his covenant with Abraham and the Israelites by giving them the law that they could follow to show that they embraced His resolution. Through Moses, God set up a sacrificial system which necessitated the shedding of the blood of ?clean? animals to bring the forgiveness of sins for those who offered the sacrifices. Because sin demanded death it was only through the smoke of the sacrifices that the Israelites could know God?s favor by having their sins covered by the blood of the sacrifices. This would give them the appearance of being holy and blameless before God. It was their faith in the sacrifice that made this possible.

But this system of the law was set up merely to show how impossible it is for man to measure up to God?s standards of holiness and blamelessness. Truly, it is only by God?s grace that forgiveness of sins can be obtained and thus the fulfillment of God?s Resolution realized. And it is into this arena that the well known verse John 3:16 comes to mind.

John 3:16 (NIV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

It was through the blood of Christ shed on the cross that the grace of God is released to all who will receive it. His sacrifice, ?once and for all? made possible not only for the forgiveness of sins, but also our adoption as sons and thus us not only appearing but being holy and blameless before God. Do you know what that means? It means that for those who embrace God?s resolution for their lives you ARE HOLY AND BLAMELESS before God. He doesn?t look at you and say, ?O look at that wretched creature?, He looks at you and says, ?Come here, my child?!

CONCLUSION
Many of us begin the new year with different resolutions that often by year end leave us feeling defeated and hopeless. But this year I invite you to discover or rediscover the Resolution God has made. The language Paul uses in this passage found in his letter to the Ephesians emphasizes that God chose us first. He called us to HIS OWN purpose and grace. It is his resolution to be our God AND our Father! BUT it is a resolution that will only be fulfilled when we embrace it.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.

PRAY
To those who don?t believe in God:
- whether you believe in God or not is moot ? the fact is, God believes in you and wants to be your God and wants you to know His love in your life. There will be a day that all of us will face where your unbelief will be brought up short as you realize that He exists. This moment will be the most fearful moment of all eternity as you are confronted with the realization that He is not your God and He doesn?t recognize you as one of His. To you I say right now, there is nothing to lose by believing in Him and embracing His resolution and receiving the gift of His son Jesus Christ. But you have everything to lose if you fail..

To those who aren?t sure what to believe:
- many faiths and many different positions have probably floated around your heart and your mind. But you?ve probably discovered that there seems to be no faith that is more demanding than this one. It seems there is no other faith that claims to be the ?only way to salvation?, or contains such a seemingly narrow and rigid view of God and Heaven. And then, you?re probably not even sure you?d like to believe in a loving God sending someone to hell. To you I shout the wake up call. Hell is not a creation of our loving God but a necessity for a sinful Evil. God does not choose hell for anyone ? He chooses that all would be with Him in eternal life ? that?s why He went to such GREAT lengths and sacrifice to make this possible. It is our OWN choice or LACK of choice that condemns us to hell. Why does a loving parent tell their child not to play on a busy road? Or why is their the concept of Law and Order in a Free society? The point is that with the entrance of sin into the world there needed to be a plan for the dealing and healing of sin ? and sin can only be dealt with by destroying it so that the healing of it?s effects may take place. This view may seem narrow and may appear rigid ? and it is so ? but that doesn?t mean it isn?t right. On the day of judgment the only words that will ensure you life are, ?I am one of Yours Lord, I am your son through Jesus Christ? Don?t waste another moment, study the word of God ? not books about the Bible ? not what others say about it ? but study it yourself. Everyone who enters into a serious study of the Bible in an attempt to discover God find Him and find Christ. Don?t wait ? embrace God?s resolution for your life.

To those who nervous or scared or afraid of what this next step will bring:
- Don?t be nervous, don?t be scared, don?t be afraid. Be reassured ? God loves you! No matter what problems you bring ? no matter what past you bring ? not matter what you bring ? come to God and let Him be Your God. Know that for those who embrace His resolution for their life Paul writes,

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To those who are Christians who feel distant from God:
- Don?t let your feelings get in the way of the truth of your status in God?s eyes. You are his child! And just as children go astray sometimes, we too are apt to do this. But the fact remains that in a loving way God will bring us back to Him and even now He is doing that. Don?t run away from the discipline of God but embrace it ? for He is your Father and He is Your God!

To those who have embraced God?s Resolution for their life and are Christians in name and belief and are serving Him wholeheartedly and with joy:
- Let this message be a challenge and a reminder to keep in your heart of the fact that God has made you his own. Let it be an encouragement that it is through His work of grace and mercy that we are His children (not by anything we can do). And let it be a motivation to express God?s resolution to all we come in contact with so that they too can come into a wonderful relationship with Jesus Christ.

Psalms 77:10-14 (NIV)

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13 Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

INTRODUCTION

Well here we are at the beginning of a brand new year. The first day and the first SUNDAY of the new year is today and it?s great that we can start the year together in the same place! I thank you for coming today!

For the message to you this morning I thought it would be good to revisit what Hanover Pentecostal Church is all about. To ask the question, “What are we in this for?”. With the passing of time and the increasing exponential change that happens all around us we can sometimes forget or at least get sidetracked about why we are a part of this local body of believers and what we?re all about. Whether you?ve been a member of HPC for over 10 years or just started attending recently it?s important to revisit our purpose and be motivated once again ? and what a better time to do that then at the beginning of a new year!

As I share this message I want you to ask yourself, “What am I in this for?”. I think it?s an important question to ask, and frankly we ask this question a lot in other areas of our lives. A business owner asks that when planning for his success in the future. Parents often visit this question in the midst of a chaotic household with kids writing on walls and having food fights at dinner time. Teachers face this question when finding that the level of respect they receive from students seems to keep degrading rather than improving with time. A patient lying on the surgery bed waiting to be operated on is probably rehashing the question he or she has been asking over and over again ever since the date was marked in the calendar. A couple falling in love probably have this question on their minds. Oh, and I?d really like to know the politician?s answer to this question! Not everyone asks this question when thinking about their lives but for those who do they discover it helps make sense of what you do and why you do it. Eventually, if it?s not asked, circumstances and events will bring you to the place where you are in fact forced to face it. So, frankly, it?s better to ask it right at the beginning!

Jesus wanted to make sure His followers asked this question! Listen to his words as recorded by Luke in chapter 14 of the his gospel,

(Read Luke 14:25-33)

A large crowd was following Jesus and He turned to them and basically asked, “What are you in this for?” I guess in a way Jesus was really saying, “Do you really know what your getting into?”. Jesus stressed the importance of counting the cost before following Him. Indeed there is life in following Christ and there is death in not ? even though salvation is a free gift of God it doesn?t mean it?s cheap. Jesus gave His life for us that we may live ? but to live as Christ lived in a world that?s basically against Him isn?t easy! Is it worth it? Of course! But that?s what counting the cost is all about. If you look at the cost of following Christ in consideration of the rewards of following Him ? there really is motivation for casting your lot in with Him!

But here?s what really intrigues me about Jesus? words is what he says at the end of this passage,

Luke 14:34-35 (NIV)

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

It seems that those who have not asked, “What am I in this for?”, those who have not “counted the cost” are really impotent and ineffective people. I mean think about it ? those who really make a difference for what they follow are those who are willing to give up everything for what they believe! Their mission and purpose is clear and they are willing to see it through at any cost! Why? Because they consider it worth it.

Matthew recorded Jesus saying the same thing in Matthew 5:

Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

And then he goes on to say,

Matthew 5:14-15 (NIV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Anybody recognize that verse? You should! It?s the scripture that is the backbone of the vision God has given HPC to be a City on a Hill. I want you to note however that Jesus again associates these words with “counting the cost”. Jesus had been teaching a large crowd the Beattitudes?

Blessed are those who are poor (vs3)

Blessed are those who mourn (vs4)

Blessed are those who are humble (vs5)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (vs6)

Blessed are the merciful (vs7)

Blessed are the pure in heart (vs8)

Blessed are the peacemakers (vs9)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness (or doing what is right) (vs10)

Blessed are those who are insulted, persecuted and falsely accused of wrong because of their love for Christ (vs11)

Jesus is pointing out the cost of following Him! Why? Again because failure to do so will lead to fruitless lives and lackluster impact.

So, let?s ask this question today then ? “What are we in this for?” It?s both a question for each one of us individually and also as a church body.

The first answer to that question is carried and sustained by the most important statement we could make?

IT?S ALL ABOUT GOD! (WORSHIP)

It?s all about HIM! While there are certainly ancillary benefits for us and for the church in following Christ we must always keep in mind that the main reason we are in this is because of God.

Hebrews 2:10 (NIV)

10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

The purpose of your life is far greater than your happiness. It?s far greater than your personal fulfillment. It is far greater than your success. It?s far greater than your dreams or ambitions. You were made by God and for God and until you understand that, life doesn?t make sense. You were made for God. And the Bible says that God made us for His forever family.

Colossians 1:16 (NIV)

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Now, this is the most basic truth we have to understand about life; that life is not about you (or me), it is about God. You were made for God, and you were made to live with God forever in eternity; and you exist for God, not vice versa.

This is the personal application of this statement but it also applies to us together as a church. You know, I sometimes hear people make statements like this about the church. They?ll say that the church is “the hope of the world”. The intent behind that statement is to highlight that the church of Christ is the greatest organization or group of people that the world has ever seen and has the greatest potential to influence and impact our world for good. While I will not dispute the value of the church of Jesus Christ I take issue with this statement because the church isn?t the hope of the world. Jesus is. You see it?s not all about the church ? it?s all about Christ. Our Lord and Savior is the hope of the world and His church is His body. The church is simply to be the hands and feet of Christ at work in our world and as we share Him as the hope and model Him in everything we do and as He works through His church then the impact on our world is limitless.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

And so because it?s all about God and not about me, because it?s all about Christ not the church the first thing we need to be reminded about as we ask the question?”What are we in this for?” is to WORSHIP. Worship is simply recognizing and giving authority and priority to the triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in everything we do. WE are in this for HIS pleasure ? and that?s been His plan all along.

TO BELONG (FELLOWSHIP)

Ephesians 1:5 (NIV)

5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–

1 Peter 2:17b (NIV)

17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

1 John 4:21 (NIV)

21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

We are in this to belong to each other. The word for that is fellowship. Friends Hanover Pentecostal Church is not this building, it will not be the building we are setting out to build. HPC is family we belong to the family of God and hence belong to each other. It is not an institution, it is not an organization, it is not a club. It is family!. A lot of people say, “Well, I?m going to go to church,” as if church is a place you go to. That?s not correct. Church is not a place you go to. Church is a family you belong to. Big difference.

Fellowship is loving God?s family.

That?s what fellowship is all about. We weren?t meant to be here on earth alone, to go through life on our own. We need each other and that?s where fellowship comes in. What are we in this for? To belong to God?s family.

TO GROW (DISCIPLESHIP)

Romans 8:29 (NIV)

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God?s plan has always been to make you more like Christ. His plan from the very beginning has been to make human beings like Himself. Now, don?t get me wrong, let me be clear, He?s not saying you?re going to be a god. You?ll never be a god. I mean your wife may think you?re a god, but you?ll never be a god. In fact, I?m sure she doesn?t think you?re a god. Maybe in your own mind you think you?re a god, but you?re not. But God doesn?t want you to become a god; He wants you to become godly. He wants you to develop His character, the way He thinks, the way He acts, the way He feels, His values, His moral character. God wants to make you like Himself!

Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Now, this is a process. This doesn?t happen overnight. It?s not like one day all of a sudden ? ZAP ? you?re just like Jesus. It?s a process, and this process is called “discipleship,” and it takes an entire lifetime

So, how does God do it? How does God help us grow spiritually?

Through the Bible.

Through fellowship!

Through trouble (teach us trust)

Through temptation (teach us to obey)

Through trespasses (teach us to forgive)

Now God will take each one us through this individually but He will also do this with the church as a body to. As a church family we are also going through this process of becoming more like Christ and being a City on a Hill. Here?s an important insight to remember. As we become more like Christ individually ? we will see the fruit of that in the life and impact of HPC. So, what are we in this for? To grow!

TO SERVE (MINISTRY)

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Ephesians 2:10;

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I like this because it tells us three important things. First, we are God?s workmanship. We were created by God. His hands shape us and mold us. We are products of His creative power. Second, we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. We were made to make a contribution, not just to consume. God made you to make a difference. And what matters is not how long you live, but how you live. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of your life. On this planet nobody gets a free ride. We?re all meant to give something back. We?re all meant to make a contribution. The Bible says we?re created to serve, we?re saved to serve, we?re gifted to serve, we?re shaped to serve. We?re commanded to serve! Third, God prepared these good works in advance for us to do! In other words God has created you for a unique work for you to do! He?s prepared a practice for you to have, opportunities for you to seize. He has equipped you for the task He wants you to serve in.

God has given each one of us a unique SHAPE – Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These five things make you, and God uniquely shapes you, different from anybody else in the world, for a purpose. And that purpose is to serve Him.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

So what are we in this for? To serve God by serving others? The word for this is ministry. Every single one of us is called to ministry. Every Christian is a minister. Any time you use your talent to help somebody else, you are ministering. You are serving. All women are ministers. All men are ministers. All little kids, all old people, if we?re believers, we?re all called to serve Jesus Christ as His ministers.

TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS (evangelism)

This is the fifth answer to the question, “What are we in this for?” Listen what Jesus said in John 17:18,

John 17:18 (NIV)

18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

The common mission that everyone of us shares as a part of HPC is to tell people the good news about God?s grace. God wants us to share everything about Christ with whoever He brings our way. The word for this is evangelism. Evangelism is just the Greek word for “good news.” That?s all it means. And so the Bible says that once I know the Good News, that God loves me, has a purpose and plan for my life and all the things I?ve been talking about, that God wants me to pass it on, sharing the Good News with others.

Now where are we supposed to share?

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Start at home (Jersusalem)

Then the people nearby, but who are different then you (Judea and Samaria)

To the ends of the Earth (everybody else).

Now it?s important that we recognize that Jesus doesn?t say, “You will be my defense attorney.” He doesn?t? say, “You will be my prosecutor.” He didn?t say, “You will be my salesman.” You don?t? have to defend God. You don?t? have to be a salesman for God. All God wants you to do is He wants you to be a witness. What is a witness? A witness is somebody who just tells what they have seen. I saw this, and then I saw this; and this is what happened.

You are the expert on what has happened in your life. Nobody can be a better witness of your life than you. Nobody can be a better witness of what God has done in your life than you, because you are the authority on your life, not some pastor, not some priest, not anybody else. So God says, “I just want you to tell other people what?s happened to you, what?s happened in your life.” And he says, ” I want you to go all over; the people close to you, the people who are near, but different, and then to everybody else.

Now, what we must do as a church is facilitate what each one of us should be doing individually as we carry out our missions at home. But, we also enable the carrying our of our mission to our community and to the ends of the earth. That?s why we have bridge-building events such as Family Day, and ministries like our Small Groups and Time out Tuesday. It?s also why missions is such an integral function of our church body?..because we are in this to share the good news.

Romans 10:13-14 (Living)

13 Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

CONCLUSION

This then is the answer to the question “What are we in this for?” when we think about our involvement with the family of Hanover Pentecostal Church?

We are in this to worship

We are in this to belong

We are in this to grow

We are in this to serve

We are in this to share the good news.

Now, I want to ask you this, have you counted the cost? Have you considered what it means to belong to the family of God ? what it means to belong to this local body of believers? I don?t know about you but I?m excited to belong here! I?m excited about the incredible things that God has planned for this church family and how He wants to impact the world through us individually and corporately! As we enter into 2006 I look forward to the ways in which God will continue to grow us and work through us. But here?s the tough thing. If we consider the cost and commit to what God has called us to then we will continue to be salty and shine like a light for Christ. But if we don?t then we?ll be “thrown out” and “trampled by men”. I don?t know about you but I don?t want to see that happen.

So, what are you in this for?

Can you declare with me this morning?

I am in this to worship God! I realize that it?s all about Jesus ? it?s not about me. It?s not even about this church. It?s all about Him. Everything I do, I do for His glory and for His purpose. It is all my active worship to Him.

I am in this to belong. I realize that God created me for family and has brought me to Hanover Pentecostal Church to belong to this body of believers. I belong to them and they belong to me. We are family. We?re in this together. I am willing to love God?s family.

I am in this to grow. I am thankful that God wants me to become more like Him. I will seize the opportunities given to me to help me grow in Christ and take on the character and qualities He wants to develop in me. I will also make myself available in my church family to help others grow in areas that God has matured me. I also am looking forward to contributing to the growth of HPC as each one of us becomes more like Christ and enhance the impact of our community of believers.

I am in this to serve. I welcome opportunities to discover my SHAPE and be a minister in the area of God?s calling in my life. I am eager to serve wherever and whenever God would have me serve. I realize that every believer is a minister of Jesus Christ and welcome the Holy Spirit?s leading in my life to the places He would have me serve.

I am in this to share the good news. I realize that God has done incredible things in my life and I wont? be silent about the testimony God has given me. I may not be eloquent, and I may not have all my scripture down pat but I can share from my own experiences and be available for any opportunity God gives me to share. I am also committed to supporting the work of my church family in sharing the good news with our community and the world. I realize that missions is what we do and that sharing about Jesus is our mission!

PRAY

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Can you imagine what life would be like without “light?” I have a good idea it would be pretty dark! Often the power of light is described in “candlepower.” Tonight I?m going to talk about the identity, intentionality, and intensity of our candlepower as Christians. On the eve of the New Year I think it is good for us to be reminded of the vision God has given us. As we enter into the New Year we have the opportunity to let Christ?s light burn in us and through us for the advancement of His kingdom.

1. The Light Identifies ? “You are the light”

Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Our identity in Christ Jesus is not a hidden identity but one that is to been seen by all.

?

1a. Identifies the Source

All light is able to be traced to a source.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

1b. Identifies the Children

John 12:36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

1c. Identifies the Problem

John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

It’s tough to be in the dark and not let the dark get in you. The unending struggle for the Christian is to walk in the light and at the same time keep moving into the shadows. — Tim Goble

Matthew 6:23 “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

John 11:10 “But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2. The Light Intentions ? “It gives light to all”

?

Matthew 5:15 (NIV)

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

2a Intentions of Seeing

Religious instruction, however sound, is not enough by itself. It brings light, but it cannot impart sight. The assumption that light and sight are synonymous has brought spiritual tragedy to millions. The Pharisees looked straight at the Light of the World for three years, but not one ray of light reached their inner beings. Light is not enough. The inward operation of the Holy Spirit is necessary to saving faith. The gospel is light but only the Spirit can give sight. — A.W. Tozer

Acts 26:18 ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

2b. Intentions of Leading

The greatest use of the light in us is to lead others to the light of Christ.

Romans 2:19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

3. The Light Intensifies ? “Let your light so shine”

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

How intense (bright) is your light shining for Jesus? If the light of Jesus identifies and shows us our intention as light . . . it will intensify.

3a. Intensity of Manifesting

There is no life so humble that, if it be true and genuinely human and obedient to God, it cannot reflect his light. — Phillip Brooks

Ephesians 5:13-14

But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

3b. Intensity of Fellowship

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

3c. Intensity of Love

1 John 2:9-11 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Conclusion

We need to understand ? the problem is not with the darkness. The darkness is being and doing exactly what it is suppose to do. The problem is with the light.

Luke 11:34-36 “The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 “If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

Is the candle power of letting our lights shine for Jesus is growing dim? (TURN OFF LIGHTS AT THIS TIME) If it is then its time to let the Holy Spirit kindle it once more (LIGHT MY CANDLE). His light burning in you has the power to push the darkness away.

But sometimes it still seems as though the darkness is overwhelming, that the task is endless, that you are all alone. This is why Christ birthed the church ? (LIGHT SOMEONE ELSES CANDLE AND HAVE THEM LIGHT SOMEONE ELSES UNTIL ALL CANDLES ARE LIT) Because when we let His light shine in us together ? unified we dispel more darkness and the light of Christ goes further than it would have in one person. Church we need to let this image burn in our mind – may we be a church in which no one stands alone and where we are unified and together in letting Christ?s light shine in the world.

PRAY