“When the Fire Dies Down”
Matthew 9:35-38; 11:28-30 10/5/14
The headlines said, “One hundred forty four homes destroyed in the Boles fire!”
The fires are out. The smoke has cleared. Most of the emergency personnel have gone home. Things are quickly becoming normal. We’ve gone back to our caffeine and TV's and desserts. The football games are on and the snacks are in the bowls! But everything has changed. You can never be the same when you go through what we have gone through. Trauma changes you. The destruction of what you or someone you care about changes you. The Spirit changes you. And all of us are a little more tender toward the Holy Spirit - or we are a little more hardened. Some of us are determined to continue seeking God and growing spiritually and living closer to Him.
Some are resolved that things are okay and there is no need to rock the boat. Things will continue on as they were. We survived and it’s back to the status quo. And that is unfortunate. That’s dangerous spiritually. But some of us recognize that we are among that group of people Jesus was talking about. We realize that we are harassed and helpless. We realize we are weary and burdened. And maybe we didn’t get all of our expectations fulfilled or the hopes that we started the adventure with realized. But we are a little closer. We are a little nearer to the Lord than when we began. And I’m happy about that. I’m pleased that the fire brought many of us a little closer to the Lord.
But the battle isn’t ended, is it? It still rages. The fire no longer rages – but spiritual battles for many still rage. Some in our community already got knocked back a peg or two. Some have already gone back to their pot or their alcohol or that adulterous relationship - for comfort and to be medicated from the harassment of life. That saddens me. I feel so badly for those of you that have experienced that. I wish there were three things I could get across to people in the wake of this experience.
First of all, I wish you would understand that Jesus really loves you. He really values you. The Scripture says that when Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them. Do you understand what compassion is? Sometimes we see a hurting child and have compassion on them. In our church we have a program called “Compassionate Ministries”. It’s where we bring food and clothing and supplies to hurting people; to starving people; to needy people.
We saw a lot of compassion from people working for the Red Cross and the Salvation Army and Great Northern. The police and the fireman showed compassion as they served the community. Our church was compassionate as we got involved. Nazarene Churches sent money, emergency care kits, and offered to come and help any way they could. Our denomination is a loving group. Compassionate Ministries is just one way we show we care. It’s a very wonderful program. And most years our church receives an award for being a compassion church, because we support this ministry. But compassion is kind of like the old English word “Charity”. The Greek word is “Agape’”. And it means love - but not just love. There is a giving to it. It is selfless and considerate. It isn’t just words – it is deeds, as well.
So when you have compassion on someone you not only feel tenderness, and kindness toward them. You are moved to do something about their situation. James said,
“What good is it, my brother, if a man claims to haith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothers or daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about is physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action – is dead.”
James 2:14-17
Jesus often had compassion on people and He expressed it by feeding them or healing them or forgiving their sins. Jesus had compassion on the people of His day and He has compassion on you. He sees you. Late at night when the sleep won’t come and you are filled with fears and anxiety - Jesus is there. You reach for that bottle of pills or that joint or that can of beer, but Jesus wishes you would reach out to Him instead. He longs to help. He longs to bring peace. He really wants you to experience joy and love and security.
People often try to excuse their crutches and their self-medication by saying a little alcohol is good for you. Some say marijuana is good when it is taken properly. But they miss the point. The point is that when we reach for a joint instead of Jesus, our faith is in that weed and not in the Savior. When we are full of anxiety and fear, and sleep evades us because of our stress and burdens - and we reach for a can of beer instead of the Christ on the throne - our faith is in what that drug can do for us. And we witness to our belief that Jesus won’t supply our need. We express the fact that we really don’t believe Jesus.
I have found that the easiest way to get some sleep is to go to Jesus. When the world and the flesh and the devil torment you- maybe God allows it so that you will fall on your knees, wide awake - and pray. I’m not saying sleeping aids aren’t useful occasionally, I take an antihistamine to help me breath and sleep once in a while. You will find, though, as you give your problems to God and Jesus wraps His arms of love around you, the devil will flee - because his attacks are just pushing you closer to Jesus - not further away. And He will leave you alone. James said,
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. “ James 4:7-8 (KJV)
But the point I wish I could get across to you is that Jesus loves you. He sees you and has compassion on you. He sees your need for love. He created us with this need. After He created Adam, He said,
“...It is not good that the man should be alone...“ Gen 2:18 (KJV)
He sees your loneliness. He sees your desperate desire to be loved; to be accepted; to have a soul mate. It doesn’t surprise Him. He created you that way. But in spite of that - He gave certain instruction for our relationships. Adulterous relationships sabotage our desires. They sabotage us spiritually. They promise much pleasure - but bring pain instead. So God warns us - why? Because He is compassionate and doesn’t want harm to come to us. When we fall into those inviting and willing arms of a lover instead of Jesus, it proves our lack of faith in Him to supply this need. It is better to be lonely in this life, than lost in the next. One day all our needs; all yearnings, and all our desires will be fulfilled - completely! Trust Jesus. Believe He will make is so. He loves you. He has compassion on you.
The second thing we need to understand is that we are harassed and helpless. We are like sheep without a shepherd - vulnerable, aimless, weary, afraid, and lost. Sometimes we are like that kid talking to himself in the dark, “I’m not afraid! I’m not afraid! I’m not afraid of anything! OH! WHAT WAS THAT!”
A few years ago there was a program on MTV where they would place young adults in haunted houses and spooky places and film them as they had to walk through certain places and do certain things in a time limit - for money, of course. That was the only way to get them to do it. Although I only saw a couple of programs, I felt badly for some of these people. Grown adults would cry in fear. They would be reduced to blubbering babies. It was sad.
But the truth be known, we are all helpless, fearful children - deep inside. We realize our inadequacies and our frailty. We may put on a brave front to the world - but we know - don’t we?
We are harassed and helpless. We are weary and burdened. And Jesus knows that. We need to realize that and be afraid to leave His protecting arms. I sure am. I don’t believe in ghost or aliens - but I believe in demons and Satan. I believe there are frightening things out there we don’t have any idea about. But I’m not afraid. Brave? Not in myself. But like Job, I believe I have a hedge of protection around me. I am enveloped in a kind of spiritual bulletproof bubble that Satan can’t get past. I have an umbrella of protection over me - and as long as I stand under it - I am safe. Like Elisha, I believe I am surrounded by mighty angel warriors in chariots of fire that protect me. They are all around me and protecting me. Read about it in 2 Kings 6:17 sometime.
The point is that, by myself, in my OWN strength, I am helpless. The burdens pile up so high on me. I am so weak and frail. But when I realize my weakness, then I become strong. Paul said,
“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves; but our adequacy is from God.” 2 Cor 3:5 (NET)
Paul shared,
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.“ 2 Cor 12:9 (KJV)
When you realize you are weak; when you realize you are helpless - then Jesus can come to your aid. Don’t go to a substitute Christ. That’s what alcohol and pot and books and TV and all these other things are. Some of you are so afraid to be alone, so afraid to face the world alone, that you will give in morally, just to have someone, ANYONE, there - to help you make it through the night. They are a substitute Christ. Go to Jesus instead.
Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.“ Matt 11:28 (KJV)
I wish we would understand better that Jesus wants to help us. That’s the action side of compassion. He sees our needs. He sees our fears. He sees our weakness. And with eyes full of compassionate tears He says, “Come to me. All you who are so sick and tired of life. You who are so weighted down with burdens and problems and anxieties, Come to me.” He says, “I will give you rest. I will meet your needs. I will give you the strength you lack. Just trust me - and come to me.”
He saw YOU in the crowd. As Jesus looked over that crowd so long ago, your face was there, too. He saw you - and felt moved to compassion. And to His disciples He said, “Pray for them. Pray that there will be workers to meet the need.”
We need to pray for workers. Evangelist’s, Sunday school teachers, Children Workers, Bible Study leaders. The need is so great - and the workers are so few. There are so few that will respond to the Master’s voice. So few that answer the call - ”Here am I! Send ME!”
Jesus wants to help you. But did you notice that He didn’t go running after the crowds? He didn’t say, “Stop! I’ll help you!” He didn’t force His help on anyone. He just told his followers to pray and to do His work for Him - and He merely invited us, who are harassed and helpless, to come. He said, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
The love is there. The desire is there. The help is there. But unless we come to Him - we will live in our fear and weakness. Jesus said,
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in ...” Rev 3:20 (KJV)
Are you willing to give up your false God’s and substitute Christ's‘? Are you willing to surrender your idols that you trust in instead of Jesus? Are you willing to put your trust in Jesus? Are you willing to put your faith in Jesus instead of the worlds solutions?
You don’t have to. But the invitation is there. If you will admit your need and come to Jesus - you will find rest. A prayer of repentance sounds like this.
Dear Jesus,
I know I have been living without you. I have been doing my own thing and going my own way. It hasn’t worked out so well. Forgive me for my stubbornness and rebellion. Forgive me for falling again and again. Give me the grace to be strong. Make me an overcomer. Thank you for loving me in spite of my weakness. Thank you for Your compassion when I am so helpless. May I love others in that way.
