Dakota Community Church
January 13, 2013
2013 - Aim Low
True North: Charting the Direction for 2004
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?
Make Your Move 2005
When it comes to having things happen in our lives most of us would really like it if God would just hurry up and do something. We want Him to light the fire, to send the power, to cause revival. Sometimes however the problem is not that God is not moving – the problem is that we are not moving.
A Fresh Start 2007
I want to begin today by asking you two questions.
Question 1: To what degree are you the person you believe God created you to be?
Question 2: Have you given up on reaching, or on attaining that ideal?
It is another New Year and with it comes that never ending question about resolutions. Did you make any this year? Have you tried and failed at something so many times that you have just quit? Even if making New Years resolutions is not your thing, you know what I mean. Have you been worn down to the point of resignation, to being less than you were created for?
This morning I want to reawaken that desire within you to fulfill Gods dream for your life.
I think you get the idea. It’s January, the first sermon I am preaching in 2013 and if not for a revolutionary reawakening to the gospel, I would be trying to get you to stake stock of your progress. I would be asking you about God’s dream for you, your “special” purpose, your destiny! I would be trying to wind you up, to launch you into another year of “DO MORE” and “TRY HARDER”.
I am not going to do that this morning, as you may have guessed from the title of this sermon.
Instead of pumping your tires about how special you are - I want to do the opposite.
I want to encourage you to abandon entirely the idea that you are special.
I want to encourage you today, at the start of this new year, to totally abandon yourself to nothingness. With John the Baptist I want to encourage you to say “Christ must increase, I must decrease.”
I know you have heard me say it what must seem like thousands of times by now, but; IT”S NOT ABOUT US! This story we have been invited into is about Jesus!
The english word “fulfilled” appears 31 times in the New Testament, 22 of those are references to ways in which Jesus fulfilled the word of God in the Old Testament. A few examples:
In His birth:
Matthew 2:14-15
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
During his ministry:
Matthew 13:34-35
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
Before the cross:
Luke 22:34-36
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered.
36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”
On the Cross:
John 19:28-30
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
After the resurrection:
Luke 24:37-47
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
On the road to Emmaus:
Luke 24:25-32
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Let’s look at the Apostle Paul noticing how he encourages us to imitate his example:
1 Corinthians 4:15-16
Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you... we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
What example exactly is Paul talking about? Certainly he is referring to his conduct, the way he lives in light of the gospel he has received; but I want you to also notice a stark difference between Paul’s over all attitude about his own importance as compared to our modern view as seen in my earlier sermon references.
The writings of the apostle Paul are typically divided into three groups:
His early writings, while on the three missionary journeys (48-57 AD)
During this phase he wrote six major epistles: Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans.
The captivity letters written during his first imprisonment (57-61 AD)
Paul wrote Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians in this phase.
The pastoral letters written to Timothy and Titus after release from initial Roman imprisonment and shortly before his martyrdom at the hands of emperor Nero (62-64 AD).
At the end of his ministry and during his second Roman imprisonment, Paul writes Titus and 1 and 2 Timothy.
Now notice how Paul’s view of himself changes as He matures in Christ.
1. The least of the Apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:3-11
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Early in his ministry, Paul does not put himself on par with the other apostles, as if he were equal to them. Rather, he calls himself “the least of the apostles.”
Even at this early stage of his ministry Paul exhibits a healthy dose of humility that is worth noticing.
2. Less than the Least of all God’s people.
Ephesians 3:6-8
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ
Paul has grown from “least of the apostles” to “least of all the saints.” What’s happening here?
Paul doesn’t seem to be grasping how special he is.
His self esteem is definitely headed in a southerly direction.
Chief of sinners.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Now Paul sounds like a complete spiritual failure, rather than down playing his past, rather than refusing to confess what and who he was Paul is using that sinful history as an example of God’s grace.
Our current theology of positive confession does not square with this at all!
Can you see what is happening here?
Do you see the downward spiral Paul takes as he matures in faith?
This is what happens when you boast in Christ alone. Your weakness becomes more evident. You can’t help but make much of Christ and little of self.
At first I justify myself by the size of my ministry contribution. “How many attend?”
Then I justify myself in the knowledge that I don’t have to justify myself by church size.
Finally - eventually I hope - I am justified in Christ alone - I don’t matter only He matters.
Maturity according to Paul is boasting in nothing but Christ’s grace and our own weakness.
Did you notice that each of the three statements is surrounded by references to the cross?
Spiritual maturation is realizing our total dependance upon the gospel, not arriving at some point where we need grace and mercy less.
I want you to rejoice in Christ, take all you need for life from Him and enjoy an ordinary life.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
1 Timothy 5:8
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
As you think about the coming year, all that 2013 may have in store; please join me in this one important Pauline goal:
Aim Low
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
Follow Dan on twitter: @DanCormie
