Stuck in the Mud
Scripture: Ephesians 2: 1-10
Purpose: Share that Jesus meets us where we are in order to bring us to where we need to be.
Introduction:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
It had rained for almost a week but I had a brilliant idea! I was going to be super dad for the day and take my boys out shooting. I had fond memories of my father taking my brother and myself out to shoot guns. I thought that is would be a great time in which me and my boys could do some bonding, make those life long memories that seems to bring a smile to our faces no matter how much older we get.
We headed down Steve Boenher’s dirt road drive headed toward the creek and trees. Boy I was so excited about going that I kinda ignored all the mud flying by as we plowed forward toward those happy memories.
I soon began to realize that the dirt road was more like a mud road and our car was not driving like a truck. We were spinning tires but we were at a dead stop.
I reluctantly grabbed the boys and told them that I mad a mistake and we had to walk a few miles to get help. “Boys, no shooting today." You know we had a fantastic time walking and talking. I spent some much needed time with my boys and I found out that they are in much better shape than I am. We ended up making those life long memories after all
Today are sermon title is Stuck in the Mud. At one time or another all of us have been stuck in the mud. It is a difficult place to be!
Paul knew what it was like to be “stuck in the mud!” From our text from Ephesians 2 he reminds us of how we were once dead in our trespasses and sins – stuck in the mud but the good news is we do not have to stay there.
I. Mud happens – it’s the ruts though that hold us back.
- The trials, difficulties and hardships of life – its sin and failures are a given. God never gave us a promise of escape from these – only a way through them.
A. The key is to keep moving!
1. Don’t stop, don’t give yourself time to sink in – keep moving. Our difficulty is we oftentimes want an explanation for what is going on in our life, thus we want to stop and ask for answers that many times can not be found.
2. Whether in the sunshine or in the rain, God’s love and care for us is always at work. He never stops, is never detoured or distracted. That is why Paul says in verse 5, that “even when we were dead in our transgressions, God made us alive together with Christ.”
3. Even when we were stuck in the mud of life and did not know it, God was at work in Jesus Christ to rescue us!
4. In fact, The Christian life begins with us in the mud. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
5. Every field – every life has mud holes. That is why Jesus came – to deliver us from the mud of life; for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
6. Keep moving in the right direction even if the ruts of the world try to keep you penned in.
B. But sometimes you have to hit bottom before you can move forward.
1. Each one of us when faced with the possibility of being stuck in the mud will instinctively try to get out. When I got the car stuck I tried to rock it back and forth from, hoping that it was going to pop up an out.
2. But sometimes you can get stuck so deep in the mud that there is nothing you can do to get out, but call for help!
3. It is difficult for us to ask for help. We want to be able to do it our self - be in control.
4. But let’s face it, if your life is dragging bottom- is high centered, there is nothing you can do but ask for help. In fact, if it were not for dragging the bottom you might never seek the help you need.
5. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (verses 8&9)
6. You can get stuck any where. Some of us are stuck in church too, but not with our vehicle, in our spirit. We can get stuck at home, or at work, or in our sports, etc.
II. But have you noticed too that the longer you leave mud, the harder it is to clean?
A. Mud can be fun to play in but not live in. Paul acknowledges in verses 2 and 3 the things that the Ephesians used to play in; the lusts of the flesh, the desires of the flesh and of the mind, etc.
1. One of the properties of mud is that it clings or sticks to you. As we walked for help on the day we were stuck, my boots gathered mud with each step I took.
2. By the time I got to the hard top my boots were so caked with mud I could hardly walk. Each step was like lifting weights.
3. You don’t have to go looking for mud, for trouble – it comes looking for you and cleaning it off can take work!
4. We scrape it, rub it, wash it, pick it, wipe it, - you name it and whatever way we can find to remove mud we have done it, because mud does not come off easily.
5. We were not made for the mud. Pigs were but not people. God made us with a desire to be clean. If you are wallowing in the mud this morning, you need to get out and allow Jesus to clean you up.
6. But have you noticed how important it is to wash off all of the mud, because if you don’t it just keeps “showing” up. The tennis shoes I wear while working outside are grooved on the bottom.
7. I have never seen a greater mud magnet. I can wipe the mud off of me and three days later walk across the kitchen floor and dirt- dried mud is forever falling off of the bottom of my shoes.
B. Because mud gets hard. It does not stay soft and pliable. It has the ability to change its property.
1. It is possible to live in the mud of life so long that one can become hardened to things of God that it would take a sledge hammer to break that person’s heart free.
2. In fact, I have met many people in my life time, who were so hardened by the pains and troubles of life – caked in the mud of this world that they refuse to make any movement toward God what-so-ever.
3. They have become callused and hardened to the things of God. They stayed in the mud of this world too long and it got hard on them and now they cannot move towards God.
III. But you know I have noticed another very important truth – Mud is a nuisance but it is necessary.
A. Triumphs are not realized without trials.
1. How many times in our life have we prayed for rain when the land was so parched and dry? But that same prayer also means that the mud will return.
2. You can’t have much needed rain without mud. The victories of our lives can not be fully appreciated without the trials of life either.
3. The rain falls on the just and the unjust! The trials of life are necessary because they help move us forward.
- One spring a small girl had been promised the privilege of climbing to a nearby hilltop where her brother enjoyed playing. But when she came within sight of the steep, rough path, she drew back in dismay. "Why, there isn’t a smooth spot anywhere. It’s all bumpy, stony and muddy from the spring rain!" she exclaimed.
"Yes," said her more experienced older brother, "but how else would we ever climb to the top if it wasn’t? The stones and bumps are what we step on to get there. And the mud helps us to appreciate the stones and bumps.”
4. Who has not learned a lesson from having been stuck in the mud? I learned a big lesson a couple of weeks ago. It doesn’t matter how big a vehicle you drive. If the ground is muddy enough.
5. But by going through my ordeal in the mud I was truly blessed. The time we spent walking in the mud for help is a moment in time that I will cherish. I thank God for that trial because of the blessing that came from it.
Conclusion:
At one time or another almost all of us have been stuck in the mud and had to be helped out. The Christian life begins in the mud.
It did for the Ephesians but God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions; make us alive together with Christ.”
It’s not a question this morning of are you muddy. All of us have been in the mud; some of us are in the mud now.
Mud happens but Jesus can get us out of the ruts of our life and clean us up as many times as it may take.
