The Great Adventure Series
Sermon 3
Title: Still Called Today
Based on the Lyrics by Steve Curtis Chapman
1. Introduction
We continue today with a sermon series based on Steve Curtis Chapman’s musical CD called “The Great Adventure”.
The seventh song that we are going to be looking at is the song which is called “Still called today”. (I know, we are jumping ahead)
The lyrics go as follows:
There is a hole the size of a cruel word
In a wounded heart somewhere that’s learning to hide the pain
There’s a thorn stuck in the conscience of someone who spoke a word in anger
And they can’t wash away the stain
Sorry’s such a hard word to say
CHORUS
But while it’s still called today, won’t somebody make it right
Before the day slips into night and the moments waste away
While it is still called today, we’ve got to say the words
That is longing to be heard
Cause tomorrow may be too late
Go on and say what you need to say while it is still called today
There is a girl waiting day after day
To hear her father say “I love you”
Now the days have turned to years
There’s a wall that silence has turned to stone
Between a man and a woman, she’s holding back the tears
And he’s holding on to his fears
BRIDGE
Cause there’s a time when the sun goes down, and the flowers are laid on the grave. Will the tears that fall to the ground, be the tears of regret for the words someone didn’t say
Steve Curtis Chapman
2. Anger and bitterness
Chapman’s lyrics drive’s home one of the saddest realities of today – there is so much anger and bitterness that people allow to control them which results in un-resolved strife and bitterness to occupy their lives. Chapman refers to:
- girl who is waiting day after day to hear her daddy say “I love you”
- there is a hole the size of a cruel word in the wounded heart of someone who is learning to hide the pain
- sorry is such a hard word to say
The world is becoming filled with more and more angry people. So many people today function with a short fuse.
Proverbs 19: 11 says “sensible people control their temper, they earn respect by overlooking wrongs”
3. Don’t let the sun go down
Anger is an emotion that we will experience many times in life. But Jesus said not to let the sun go down on our anger. The longer we keep anger, the more opportunity it has to take toot in our lives and drain the life out of us.
Our text verse comes from Ephesians 4: 26 – “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil”(NLT)
William Barclay in his commentary on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells how Ephesians 4: 26 says that a Christian must never let the sun set upon his anger. Plutarch tells us that the disciples of Pythagoras had a rule of their society that if, during the day, anger had made them speak insultingly to each other, before the sun set they shook hands and kissed each other and were reconciled. There was a Jewish Rabbi whose prayer it was that he might never go to sleep with any bitter thought against a brother man within his mind.
Paul’s advice is sound, because the longer we postpone amending a quarrel the less likely we are ever to mend it. If trouble exists between us and anyone else, the only way to deal with it is at once. The longer it is left to flourish, the more bitter it will grow. If we have been in the wrong, we must ask God to give us the grace to admit it, and even if we were right, we must ask God to give us the graciousness which will enable us to take the first steps to put matters right.
Joel Osteen goes on to say that “bitterness is an extremely destructive force. It seeps into the depths of our hearts when we choose not to forgive someone. When we harbour unforgiveness, it closes the door to Gods working in our lives”.
We fail to resolve trouble before the sun goes down because we fail to forgive. Thank the Lord that he has given us the power to forgive and release anger and bitterness. If we would just choose to forgive and resolve all trouble while it is still called today we can experience the great adventure of life which brings great peace and joy that flows from our Lord Jesus.
4. Forgiveness
At the heart of my message I want to focus on forgiveness.
Forgiveness is one of the great principles of the Christian life modelled by Jesus when he hung on the cross and prayed for the very people who had put him there.
Luke 23:34 – “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing” (NLT)
These words were so authoritative and startling that they resulted in the conversion of one of the thieves hanging on the cross next to him. Because we have been forgiven we need to forgive others. Not tomorrow, next month or next year – today.
The Word gives us several important points that we need to note (Sourced from commentary from the Silver Ring Thing Study Bible):
a. Forgiveness first comes from God
Mark 11: 25 – “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (NLT)
This verse implies that unforgiveness can hinder or prevent our prayer life. Verse 25 is not saying that God’s forgiveness is dependent upon our forgiveness of others. God’s accepts us because of what Jesus did on the cross. What it refers to is - if we are forgiven we should in turn forgive. If we don’t forgive one would wonder if we know anything of the forgiveness that comes from God first. We must not allow unforgiveness to rob us of our joy. Forgive as Christ forgave us.
We often find it difficult to be forgiving, because we have a natural inclination to retaliate. We may find it difficult to forgive because we have this mindset that say, “Forgiveness encourages continued mistreatment and behaviour”, or we believe a person must first be worthy before we can give the gift of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is and will always be an underserved gift. If we wait until a person is deserving of our forgiveness, we will harbour feelings of anger and resentment towards that person for a long time.
b. Forgiveness knows no limits
Matthew 18: 21-35 – “Story of the Unforgiving Debtor” (NLT)
In Matthew, Jesus shocks Peter by telling him that he needs to forgive seventy times seven which equals 490. Do we stop forgiving after the 490th offence? No. Jesus’ teaching is that our forgiveness must be unlimited. Jesus goes on to tell the parable of the “unforgiving debtor”. A dramatic story of a man who was forgiven of so much. But in turn never forgave the person who owed him.
This is the heart of Jesus’ message - we have been forgiven much therefore we ought to forgive those who have hurt us, no matter how badly or how often. People owe us so little in comparison to what we had owed to God.
All of us can admit that we have been mistreated and that we have found it difficult to forgive.
- Some have suffered abuse and mistreatment by their parents or people in positions in authority
- Many suffer mistreatment in marriage
- Parents experience painful injury through the selfish conduct of their children
- Many feel pain through the stupidity and selfishness of a brother or a sister
- Mandy people experience mistreatment on the job
Responding with anger, hostility, bitterness and retaliation is the Devils way of destroying you, your home, your family and the many other relationships that you may have.
c. Forgiveness is not selective
Matthew 5: 43-48 – You have heard that the Law of Moses says, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy”. But I say love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends how are you different from anyone else. Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Someone once said, “To return evil for good is devilish; to return good for good is human. To return good for evil is divine” Source unknown.
We may not be divine, but as believers we cannot choose who we will forgive and who we will not.
It is not easy to forgive those who hurt us, but the Holy Spirit will enable us to do so.
We cannot forgive without the Holy Spirit. We must prayer everyday for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to help us love, pray, forgive and do good to those who hate and hurt us.
d. Forgiveness breaks down walls
Colossians 3: 12-15 – Since God chose you to be holy people whom he loves; you must clothe yourself with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
When we choose to forgive, we can experience true freedom. God’s forgiveness to each of us is free, complete and forever. If you have been holding a grudge against someone, you can give yourself a clean and clear conscience if you just forgive.
Forgiveness stops the person for hurting you over and over. As long as we hold that grudge, as long as we remain bitter and anger, the offence will continue to hurt over and over. As we forgive, we release ourselves from that offence and hurt.
According to Joyce Meyers, “anger and bitterness doesn’t hurt those who have hurt you, but it does hurt you. And person who cannot control the emotion of anger is like a broken down city without walls to protect it from its enemies”. Forgiveness is the key to total well-being in life.
Joan Lunden once said, “Holding unto anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life”
5. Conclusion
On the 28th August 2010, my brother Geoffrey passed away from a drug overdose after a five year battle with a drug addiction. The last time I spoke with him was on the 31 July 2010 which ended in anger. No communication between, because I was angry, disappointed and bitter because of what he was doing to himself and his family after a return to drugs after a fifth (and final) discharge from a drug rehab centre.
I would give anything to go back and tell him how much I love him, that everything will be okay, that I am there for him, I understand the nightmare that he was living in. Death is so final and so permanent that we cannot go back. When a person is gone, they are gone. I won’t get the opportunity to tell him that I am sorry and that I forgive him. I won’t get the opportunity to ask for forgiveness. A month of unresolved anger for someone I loved and who loved me. With each new day comes the pain, the sadness, the regret and the guilt that fills and floods my heart. The tears I shed in solitude cannot make amends for my failure to put my anger aside and forgive while it was still called today.
Don’t wait until it is too late to make amends with someone. Do it today. Don’t make the same mistake that I have made. Remember, we cannot change people, only God can. Don’t let anger control your life. Make a decision right now not to waste any more time being angry. Forgive, make amends and open the door for God’s blessings to flow into your life in a new way.
In accordance with Chapman’s lyrics:
“Cause there’s a time when the sun goes down, and the flowers are laid on the grave. Will the tears that fall to the ground, be the tears of regret for the words someone didn’t say”
Make that call, get in the car and make that visit!
Salvation prayer
I truly believe that life will only become a great adventure when we begin to settle all strife while it is still called today. Before we can even begin to free ourselves for anger and bitterness, and begin to forgive, we need to have a living and loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe you are one of those people who think that God is not paying attention. Maybe you are one of those people who think God cannot help. You are wrong. God’s love and provision is available right here and right now. The word says that we have a choice between life and death. Gods wants us to have life, and life in its fullness.
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, I would encourage you to make that decision today. While all eyes are closed, if you want me to include you in my prayer this morning, please just raise your hand.
Prayer after me:
Dear god, I am sorry for my sin. I turn from it right now. I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and life right now. Be my Lord and my Saviour and friend. Help me to follow you all the days of my life as your disciple. Thank you for forgiving and receiving me right now. In Jesus name. Amen
May God Bless you.
This message is dedicated to my late brother Geoffrey Allen Davidson – you are forever loved and never forgotten. In the words of my favourite song by the acclaimed South African band, Prime Circle, “Here’s to the good times the bad times, the times that could have been, the wrong times the right times, I know we will meet again, until then….”
Hylton Davidson
14 January 2011
Acknowledgements, thanks and resources:
1. Thanks to the Holy Spirit for His inspiration and guidance.
2. Steve Curtis Chapman – The Great Adventure CD.
3. Hope for Today Study Bible – NLT – Commentary by Joel Osteen.
4. Silver Ring Thing Study Bible- NLT – Commentary by various.
5. Commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians – William Barclay
6. Pastors Annual 2005 – Zondervan – Howard S. Kolb
7. I dare you – Joyce Meyers
