1. Anthony Campolo wrote:
“One year, my best friend and I devised what we thought was a brilliant and creative plan for mischief. We decided to break into the basement of the local five-and-dime store. We did not plan to rob the place (Sunday school boys would never do that sort of thing); instead, we planned to do something that, as far as the store owner was concerned, would have been far worse. We planned to get into that five-and-dime store and change the price tags on things. We imagined what it would be like the next morning when people came into the store and discovered that radios were selling for a quarter and bobby pins were priced at five dollars each. With diabolical glee, we wondered what it would be like in that store when nobody could figure out what the prices of things really should be.”
Satan has broken into our lives and changed the price tags on our principles. We treat what deserves to be treated with loving care as though it were of little worth. On the other hand, we find ourselves tempted to make great sacrifices for that which, in the long run of life has no lasting value and delivers very little gratification.
2. Our encounter with Christ resets our values and dedication.
a. Former demoniac – Mark 5:18-20
b. Tempted to hold back as the RYR (Mark 10:17-22)
3. Solomon extravagantly built and dedicated the temple to the LORD as a symbol for us.
a. First, Solomon questioned the value of a temple. 5 And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6 But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him? (2 Chronicles 2:5-6, NKJV) – Who are we to contain God?
CS Lewis pointed out: “Once in our world a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.”
b. Then he built and dedicated the edifice with sacrifices, a mini-sermon, and prayer. 2 Chronicles 6:12-13, NKJV. 12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands 13 … knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven); Importance of Leaders setting the example –
c. Praise flows in our dedication.
4. Dedications in the Bible:
I. Reflections on Dedication to Christ and His Cross
A. Jesus Attended the “Feast of Dedication” (AKA, “Feast of Lights” or “Hanukkah” with giant menorahs in temple courts) – John 10:22-23 (NKJV) 22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
1. NOT Solomon’s temple; celebrates the rededication of the temple via Maccabees’ defeat of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and the Syrian-Greeks (Seleucids)—a miracle of the eight days of the Menorah burning.
2. Jesus: John 8:12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
3. Us – Matthew 5:14-16 (You are the light of the world … Let your light so shine before men)
B. Dedication and Rededication of our Temples to the HS (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20)
1. Individual and collective dedication reestablishes our values – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2. The Cross keeps us on a mission to honor and serve God – 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV) 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:2 – 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3. The Church is not about building crowds; it is about building fully devoted Disciples of Christ.
4. [GNA – “Reconnect God and America by telling His story in our history.” (Re)Dedicate
II. Renewal Through Dedication to Christ and His Cross
A. The Recurrence of “8.” [Crazy 8s/Gematria “18” = life; “14” = David; 8 = renewal, etc.
1. God began creation on the 1st day, rested on the 7th and resumed on the 8th.
2. 8 people saved on the ark
3. Circumcise a baby boy on the 8th Day (Vitamin K + symbolism in covenant)
4. Sukkoth and Hanukkah – 8 Days long
5. 8 days between the triumphal entry and the resurrection
B. New Beginnings –
1. Christ is the Source – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2. Committed dedication – The oath to join the military is clear. It is to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against enemies foreign and domestic, bearing true faith and allegiance to the same; obeying orders of the President and also the orders of officers that are appointed over those who take this oath according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
a. Similar to confessing Christ (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10)
b. No time limit on the oath
1. [God Makes Changes Possible.
Harold Miller wrote of the amazing changes God brought to the natives in the Peruvian Amazon:
“Just one generation ago, these were fearful, aggressive, and animistic people; all their contacts with outsiders were marked by violence. But now they’ve been transformed. One missionary writes that since embracing faith in Christ, the men of those tribes are more tender with their wives and children. The native believers have problems like Christians anywhere else, but they, more than most, can appreciate the difference between “before” and “after” Christ.
“An anthropologist recently visited a Bora tribe and started criticizing the missionaries. He said, ‘Christianity is for the white man. You people should return to your old religion and ways.’ One of the tribal church leaders looked at the anthropologist for a moment. ‘Yes, and if we did, you’d be the first one in the pot.’” The glorious encounter with Christ does amazing things.
2. As we enter the new year, let’s dedicate and rededicate ourselves to HIM.
3. Let’s focus on HIS sacrifice and trust Him to make the necessary changes.
