Rev. Wayne A. Lawson
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church
Ardmore, OK 73402
Pastor@firstbaptist.org
St. Luke 23:50-52. 50. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph,
a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just: 51. (The same had
not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of
Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the
kingdom of God. 52. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body
of Jesus.
St. John 19:38-40 38. And after this Joseph of "Arimathaea, being a
disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought
Pilate that ht might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave
him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39. And
there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by
night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, and about an
hundred pound weight. 40. Then took they the body of Jesus, and
would it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews
is to bury.
TITLE: UNDER COVER CHRISTIANS
I have always been fascinated by the SECRET SERVICE. When I was a
younger man, I had a desire to join a branch of the Secret Service,
although I never pursued that dream. There was always something
mysterous about this group of men and women, in their black suits
and Transmitters. The Secret Service has a long history.
-- Established on July 5, 1865 in Washington, D.C.
-- 1901 Congress informally requested Secret Service provide
Presidential protection following the assassination of PRESIDENT
WILLIAM MCKINLEY
-- 1922 – White House Police Force was created at the request of
President Harding
-- 1930 – White House Police were placed under the supervision of
the Secret Service
-- March of this Year – Department of Homeland Security was
established because of the events of 9/11. The Secret Service was
transferred and reassigned under the Homeland Security Department
The Secret Service has a long history that most Americans are
unaware of. And I think that is what makes it so fascinating! When
the President visits our great State, it is the Secret Service that
arrives before he does. They check everybody out as well as take
the responsibility of securing the area where the President will
visit. Must admit that it is also a Dangerous Job. The Secret
Service must be willing to place themselves in Harms Way to protect
the President. They must be willing to give up their life to save
the life of our Nations Leader.
I want to examine another type of Secret Service this morning. This
Secret Service, I call your attention to is more secretive than the
branch found in Washington. We can find some basic information from
the Secret Service in Washington, D.C. We can fill out the
necessary paperwork in an effort for employment with them. However,
there is another Secret Service that operates all around. They are
so secretive that we ordinarily don’t know that they are even
around. They are very good at what they do. I want to attempt to
expose them this morning. I want to talk to you about Under Cover
Christians.
In the introductory books of the New Testament we are introduced to
two influential men. It is interesting to track their transition
into faith and becoming believers. No different from those we
encounter daily. When we are first introduced to them, they remind
us of many of those that we encounter on a daily basis. But, if we
are Careful to study the Scriptures and track the growth of these
two men we will realize that something significant happened in their
lives. Although they began as Under Cover Christians something
happened in their lives, therefore, their cover had been blown. We
know my brothers and sisters – in any law enforcement agency as well
as the secret service, when your Cover Has Been Blown, you are in
eminent and great danger. Let me introduce you to a man by the name
of NICODEMUS. We encounter this man in the Gospel of John. It is
also noteworthy to mention that he is only mentioned to us in John’s
account.
-- Devout Jew
-- Member of the Sandhedrin
- Therefore he was a Pharisee
-- He was a cross between a member of the Supreme Court and a
Senator in our culture
-- Approached Jesus by night – under the cover of Darkness
-- Hoping for a Secret Meeting
-- Nicodemus left somewhat disappointed because Jesus was not
Impressed with Him and his Credentials
-- Jesus said, Nicodemus your problem is – "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN"
Let me state that Nicodemus exists the scene, he disappears from the
Gospel Narrative until after the Crucifixion. Out of nowhere he re-
enters the Scene and goes very public about his faith. He is one of
two Pharisees who request and take the body of our Savior from that
Old Rugged Cross. Let me regress and revisit this in a few
minutes. Let me introduce you to another man by the name of
JOSEPH. He resides in a town approximately 20 miles North of
Jerusalem. Joseph was also a wealthy man like Nicodemus. He was
powerful as well as influential. We learn though our studies of the
Word of God that interestingly enough Joseph was a colleague of
PONTIUS PILATE, therefore, he moved in different circles. The
Gospel Writer Mark informs us that it was this Joseph of Arimathea
that disagreed with the rest of the Sandhedrin Ruling Council’s
decision when they determined that Jesus was nothing more than a
Great Actor. Although he did not agree with the Councils ruling it
must be noted that he did not agree with Jesus either. It is
interesting to note in our text that has been read, it mentions that
Joseph was WAITING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. That is a very strange
text to read and digest. I believe this let’s us know that his
heart was open, but he elected to do nothing more than wait. Joseph
as Nicodemus, disappears until the death of Jesus. The burial
procedure of Jesus is attributed in all four Gospels to Joseph of
Arimathea. Joseph was probably living in Jerusalem at the time of
the crucifixion. Something happened to this under Christ Christian.
I believe today that there are many who fall into this category of
being classified as Under Cover Christians. Like Nicodemus and
Joseph, we have been introduced to the Gospel, but we allow our
circumstances and our Station in Life to cause us to go Under
Cover. Like Joseph we have elected to do nothing more than Wait. I
want to help us this morning to understand that we need to COME OUT
OF THE CLOSET today. Perhaps you are here this morning and you have
decided that you will not follow Jesus, my prayer is when all is
said and done this morning that you will step into the Marvelous
Light. If you have given up on Jesus today, let me notify you that
He has not given up on you. If you don’t know Jesus today, be
assured that Jesus knows you! For those Under Cover Christians this
morning, I want to give you the tools to Come Out for Jesus. For
those of you that are here this morning that Love the Lord on Sunday
and go Under Cover the rest of the week, I want to present you with
the tools to Come out for Jesus.
-- Everybody else has Come Out of the Closet, You may as well Come
On Out Too
-- Homosexuals have come out - Gay Pride Week
-- Cross Dressers have Come
-- Even KKK has come out – no more hoods, they want us to know who
they are
First thing you have to do is GET CLOSER. ST. MATTHEW 27:55 "AND
MANY WOMEN WERE THERE BEHOLDING AFAR OFF, WHICH FOLLOWED JESUS FROM
GALILEE…" All too often we stay Under Cover Christians because we
stand too far from where things are really happening. You keep your
distance from where the real Power of Christ is Located. You need
to get a little Closer than the Sunday Morning Worship Experience.
You are afraid if you get to Close you might blow your cover.
Someone might find out that you are one of those Christians. The
closer you come to Jesus, the more you will understand and enjoy His
teachings and apply them to your everyday living.
Next thing we need to do is GET HELP. One way to get Closer to the
Lord is to seek out someone you can talk to about your Faith.
Consider ST. JOHN 19:39 "AND THERE CAME ALSO (WITH JOSEPH)
NICODEMUS…" Joseph was accompanied by Nicodemus, yes the same one
that encountered Jesus by night. When these two UCC came together
they were able to help each other to go PUBLIC with their Belief in
Christ. The Key thing we must do is AVOID THE PHARISEE’s. They
will only give you the wrong advice and encourage you to stay Under
Cover. Stay around those that don’t mind sharing their Faith, not
only on Sunday but every day of the week. Hook up with some
AUTHENTIC Christians.
Next thing you need to do is GET REAL. Look again at Vs. 38 "AND
AFTER THIS JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA, BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS, BUT
SECRETLY FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS, BESOUGHT PILATE THAT HE MIGHT TAKE
AWAY THE BODY OF JESUS: AND PILATE GAVE HIM LEAVE. HE CAME
THEREFORE, AND TOOK THE BODY OF JESUS." Joseph had allowed his fear
of disapproval to keep his feelings for Jesus a Secret. Many of us
are like this today. Afraid you will not be able to Run the Circle
you are in, if you act like a Christian. Joseph had to move
according to his convictions. Will come to a point in your life
when you will have to stand on your Convictions. He came out of the
closet. The best way to make your Faith work is to be Very Public
About It. Ending denial is the first step to recovery. You have to
see yourself as you really are, stop fooling yourself. Some of you
think this sermon does not apply to you – stop fooling yourself
because you are an Under Cover Christian. At ALCHOL ANONOMOUS (AA)
Meetings – those in Recovery Stand and introduce themselves by
saying – "MY NAME IS _______ AND I’M AN ALCOHOLIC." The program
will not work until the Alcoholic recognizes the problem. When
someone opens up dark hidden secrets to the light of public
knowledge there is great healing. Remember what Jesus said: "IF WE
CONFES OUR SINS – HE WILL FORGIVE THEM." Our sins remain
unforgiven until we Confess.
The final thing I want to share with you is to GET RIGHT. We
considered ST. LUKE 23:50 "AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN NAME JOSEPH,
A COUNSELLER; AND HE WAS A GOOD MAN, AND A JUST MAN." Joseph was on
his way to coming out of the Closet. He was a good man, and he was
a just man. Speaks about his Character. Your Character is who you
are when no one is watching – who you are when the lights go out.
It would not take him long to do the right thing. When you Get
Right, it will not take you long to Step Out. Joseph was waiting
for Righteousness. He longed for God’s coming Kingdom. He soon
realized that what he was waiting for was already in him.
-- It is time to step out Today
-- Don’t be an Under Cover Christian
-- The Bible Says if you CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH
-- Need to learn how to stand boldly and tell a dying world that
YES, God is Real
-- Can’t be Ashamed of the Gospel
-- Get Closer - Get Help - Get Real - Get Right
-- Like Nicodemus and Joseph you will be an Under Cover Christian
until you encounter Calvary’s Cross
-- There is something about experiencing the Cross of Calvary
-- No longer able to be Silent - No longer willing to be Under
Cover
-- Songwriter wrote about his Calvary Cross Experience
ON A HILL FAR AWAY STOOD AN OLD RUGGED CROSS, THE EMBLEM OF
SUFFERING AND SHAME.
AND I LOVE THAT OLD CROSS WHERE THE DEAREST AND BEST FOR A WORLD OF
LOST SINNERS WAS SLAIN
SO I’LL CHERISH THE OLD RUGGED CROSS, TILL MY TROPHIES AT LAST I LAY
DOWN; I WILL CLING TO THE OLD RUGGED CROSS, AND EXCHANGE IT SOME DAY
FOR A CROWN
-- When you have a first hand Encounter with the Cross of Christ,
it will empower you (Close)
