Press On
1 John 5:11-21
(For the accompanying powerpoint - http://www.hueytownbaptist.com/pastorspage/sermondownloads.html)
> In late 1989 Bill, our student minister in Pensacola, resigned to continue his education and head to the mission field. As he left, he asked me to lead the Christmas snow skiing trip to “Beach Mountain” in North Carolina. You may call it “suffering for Jesus”, but I accepted the challenge. We traveled in 2 – 15 passenger church vans additionally a church member, Bubba Bechtol, drove his personal van and even bought a little 2 wheel trailer for the trip. That Monday morning we met at 2:30am, loaded and left from Southwest Pensacola at about 3am for the 8+ hour drive. We traveled for approximately 35 minutes (this was before cell phone – but during the CB radio connection) when we received a call on the radio that Bubba was having a problem with the trailer. To make a long story short, the bearings in the right tire were red hot and had melted. We now dropped this trailed went back to borrow another trailer from another church member. Arriving back at the location, we joined forces and made the transfer, however, NOW Bubba van needed gasoline, so he retreated 5 miles to fill up. As he was turning into the gas station, his van died. After 2 hours of waiting, a “mechanic” came and put a sensor on the bottom of the distributor. Now we were ready. We loaded back up and took off for about 5 miles. The radio communication said “We’re having trouble again”. So we stopped again. We are not even out of FLORIDA! We pulled over in Century, FL, with an engine which was “screaming”. A nice mechanic (who seemed to be knowledgeable) believed the problem to be a timing problem and felt that our last mechanic didn’t get the it correctly set. He started to use his “timing light” but then said, “I can set this by hand.” So he did so and sent us on our way. Well, the engine was still screaming all the way until the engine blew up in Auburn, AL. I know this will be a surprise to some of our Alabama fans, but no kidding, we found some very nice people in Auburn. So here we are in Auburn, AL, 6 hours behind schedule, on a church trip, and wondering what to do. The kids were expecting the Pastor to say, “you guys need to come home”, instead when I spoke with him on the phone and told him our situation he said, “Sounds like to me you need to rent a van and “Press On”.
> Press ON. It was the encouragement we needed to hear. It is the words many of us need to hear. Perhaps your struggle is you marriage, job, family, or facing a death, you need to hear these two words, Press On.
> Since January we have been working our way through John’s first epistle and have heard his repeated use the word “know”. Remember, John’s initial readers were beaten up & broken down because of their faith. It is my belief that these last verses constitute powerful, yet final words or parting shots to help them move forward. Turn with me to the closing words of First John. (prayer)
> Undoubtedly there people in this building who need this message today. Maybe you’re going through some struggle and need to hear the words, “press on”.
> Perhaps you are trying to figure out “how” we will get this message from this text. John gives us 5 thought:
1) A Clarification to Encourage – Better stated, this might say “a clarification meant to, which can, or even for the pur-pose of encouraging.” The truth is this; few things help encourage us like a good dose of clarity. I can illustrate this with the Watts family. The life of a vocational minis-ter is a life of being prepared to relocate whenever God’s calls. For my wife, the move is never the problem. It is that time frame from first contact until the decision has been reached. Once the decision has been reached & we have determined to “stay or go” all is well. I remember the year 1992 when we contemplating a move. The kids were young and this would be a huge move for us. As we sat on the bed together, holding hands, & praying for leadership, 6-year old Jonathon’s prayer was this; “God please help us make up our minds.” Babe’s mouths.
> So how did John “clarify” in a way that encouraged his readers? In verse 11, he identified the “haves” and the “have nots.” Please notice what it says as well as what it does NOT say. It says, if you “have the Son you have life and if you don’t have the Son, you don’t have life.” Some of us respond, “Okay, I know this. This is elementary, move on to something deeper.” But hear what this does NOT say. It doesn’t say if I have been baptized, if I have church membership, if I’ve been a deacon, if I been faithful in my attendance, or even if I’ve been a good person, it says IF I HAVE THE SON.
> In the strongest possible terms, today I want to commun-icate a lost truth; To have the Son is not just about the proper wording of a prayer, or about being baptized, nor walking the aisle, it is about commitment and obedience to Christ EVERY DAY. If you have the Son, He is with you everyday, He is a part of everything you say & do. Deuteronomy 6 gives the true picture of the true believer.
> The encouragement John was giving his readers was to realize that they were a part of the “haves” and recognize their persecutors were a part of the “have nots”.
2) A Confirmation to Embrace – Verse 13 gives to those believing readers a “confirmation” on to which they can hold and feel secure. Being confirmed is a wonderful thing. If you rent a car, reserve a hotel, schedule a flight, or dozens of other things, standard operating procedure is to be given a confirmation number. This number serves as proof, evidence and or verification that you have made arrangements for the needed service.
> For those who have trusted and followed in the name of the “SON OF GOD”, you have been given a confirmation number for abundance and eternal life. Want to know what the confirmation number is for the believer? It is 10 letters; HOLY SPIRIT. (Read verse 3:24)
> Here’s the question; In the struggles you face much easier it will be to “PRESS ON” when you have a clarity and a personal confirmation from the Lord Himself?
3) A Confidence to Enjoy – Verse 14 gives this endorsement to those who believe. The word confidence is a familiar word, we use it everyday and the majority of translators use a form of this word. Others will use “sure, boldness, or bold and free.” That certainty which feels so good comes to us in this relationship with Christ with respect to our prayers. Once again, it is important to see what this does Not say as well as what it does say. For all who need to hear this, it does not say “ask for a Lexus and get it.” It does say, “ask according to His will.” There are few Biblical principles that have been as crucified as this one, so let’s take just a moment and offer some help.
> In Matthew 7:7 Jesus gives the “ASK” principle, but it is only given after He has taught (6:33) the “Seek First” principle. James 4 teaches us “we have not because we ask not” which seems to indicate “if we ask, we’ll get what we want” but the context as well as the next verse gets to the heart of the matter. The old King James uses the word “amiss” which means wrongly. Additionally the Old Testament tells us this; we will find the Lord (and His will) only when we seek him with all of our heart.
> For John’s initial readers this teaching was a great source of confidence, encouragement, and even brought them joy. To know that the God of the universe & His Son would listen & respond, gave them reason to press on.
4) A Compassion to Employ – All through this epistle (as well as the rest of his writings) John implores the family of God to love one another. Chapter 4:7 gives us the call and some of the reasons for this. Now, he raises the stakes just a bit. Verses 16 & 17 teach us many truths which we attempt to forget or dismiss.
> First, we find the truth that believers (brothers) will sin. Place this in proper perspective. This is the same thought which Paul gives in Galatians 6:1 when he speaks of the believer being overtaken by sin or being tripped up and falling into sin. This is not speaking of a believer who has a lifestyle of sin. The Bible never gives credence to that concept. Today, we seem to have forgotten that we are to live apart from sin. Next, sin is serious. Bro. Terry preached a message last year in which one of the points was “the seriousness of sin.” Sin is still big stuff to God & he calls on “brothers and sisters” to assist one another. “God will give life” to him? How about forgiveness?
5) A Caution to Exercise – There are several cautions for us to consider. First, the world in under the sway (control, power, or in the grip) of the evil one. Next, for the believer, sin is not an option. Next, watch out for false Gods, idols. When we don’t live our lives committed or devoted to Jesus, we become targets for the evil one.
> We are encouraged to exercise caution, just like the yellow flag at a race track. It is that easy to get sidetracked, distracted, and derailed in our spiritual life.
> In Verse 20, John says, “you know Him, so press on.”
* In 1983 I went to Houston Texas for the Church music conference, at this conference I heard Dan Burgess introduce a song entitled “press on “. The words are tremendous:
“When the valley is deep,
When the mountain is steep,
When the body is weary,
When we stumble and fall.
When the choices are hard,
We were battered and scarred,
When we spent our resources,
When we’ve given our all.”
In Jesus’ name we press on,
In Jesus name we pressed on,
Dear lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes,
We find the strength to press on. “
* It matters not what you face today – for some, you may have been hurting for years…you may be stuck…
* In Him, you need to PRESS ON.
