Part 1:The World’s Greatest Hero – Christ Crucified

Preached at Gateway 17th February 2013
Colossians 2.6-15
Battlefield - Victory

Focus verse – ‘And having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Christ] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’, v15.

 Main theme: Jesus conquered so you can have the victory over evil.

Introduction

The death of Jesus is the most famous death in history.  You’re going to discover in this new preaching series why Jesus is ‘The World’s Greatest Hero’ because God’s Word reveals just who Jesus is, why he died, and what his death accomplished for you.  We’re going to do this by looking at different images and metaphors that that Bible, the Word of God, presents.  The Bible is not monochrome. There are many vivid ways to explain this one message of the death of Jesus and his resurrection. 

The truth is this, you will never understand Jesus Christ, until you understand Jesus Christ Crucified.  Not Jesus Christ Superstar – but Jesus Christ Crucified.

Our focus verse today from the Bible is – ‘And having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Christ] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’, Colossians 2.15.  Consider this...Jesus conquered, so that you can have the victory over evil.

Here’s the Big Picture

The risen Jesus said this to his followers, before he returned into heaven, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’ (Matthew 28.18).  In this declaration Jesus claims he is supreme, he is ruler.  He stands above all other rulers of this world, the good, the bad and the ugly...he excels and surpasses all powers and authorities.

If Jesus is this amazing figure – whom nobody can match, how do you know he is without parallel?  If he is King of kings and Lord of lords...how do you know?  You need to know, before you decide to follow him.

In order to know, I want you to travel back in time to a battlefield.  It’s called Calvary, otherwise known as the place of the Skull (Luke 23.33).  It’s possibly a hillside, that’s shaped in the form of a skull, where some crucifixions are taking place.  According to the historical records three crucifixions are taking place, three people have been nailed to their cross to die.  Crucifixion was a Roman invention which was barbaric.

Upon the cross in the middle of the three, was Jesus.  The world’s greatest hero – Christ crucified.  What is happening?  It’s challenging to truly comprehend.  We need an illustration.  One of the best is portrayed in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’...where Aslan willingly goes to the place of sacrifice in order to break the spell, the deep magic.  The wicked Queen of Narnia and her evil forces are unleashed against and upon Aslan.  But what they don’t realise is that the victim became, in sacrificing his life, the victor.  That’s a snapshot of Jesus, ’the Lion of the tribe of Judah...[who] has triumphed’ (Revelation 5.5); willingly going to the battlefield of Calvary, where he knows he is going to be slaughtered...yet he knows it’s there the curse will be broken and the power of Satan will be crushed.  Here’s what the prophet Isaiah foresaw centuries before, ‘He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent’ (Isaiah 53.7).

Yes, Jesus on the battlefield had been rejected by everyone, even his own deserted him, as he died that lonely death with the forces of evil raging against him, and experiencing abandonment by his own heavenly Father.  What was actually happening, contrary to appearances that looked like evil overcoming goodness, was in fact goodness overcoming evil.  Yes, the brutal power of Rome overcame this one solitary figure, but was really happening was that Jesus was crushing Satan, as prophesied at the beginning of the Bible’s history (see Genesis 3.15 ref. to Satan disguised as a serpent, whose head is crushed).  The famous preacher, John Stott, once said, “The victim was the victor, and the cross is still the throne from which [Christ] rules the world” (Stott, The Cross of Christ, p228).

It’s a dramatic cosmic drama that unfolded in the life of Jesus culminating at the cross.  It was by his sacrifice on the battlefield of Calvary that Jesus defeated sin, death and Satan.  That’s the big picture.  Let’s zoom in.

Here’s some of the detail

God created all the world good, but, mysteriously to us, Satan was allowed to tempt Adam and Eve, the figure-heads of the human race.  They choose to listen and obey Satan’s voice instead of God’s voice and consequently the world and humankind has been plagued by evil and wickedness.  Therefore, you too are caught up in this.  For those of you who are fans of the Star Wars movies, you’ll know about the huge space station called the Death Star, which has powerful beam that pulls in enemy ships.  There’s nothing you can do about.  Once you’re in the drag of the beam, there’s no escape.  It’s like that with sin, you are caught in the beam of Satan.  But you are also, at the same time, responsible for your own selfish actions.  You have still personally broken God’s laws – just consider the 10 Commandments, or the greatest 2 that Jesus spoke about concerning loving God and loving your neighbour.  This broken law is what is against us, referred to in Colossians as ‘the written code, with all its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us’, Colossians 2.14.  The idea of the ‘written code’ in the Apostle Paul’s day was that of a document which was hand-written that certified you were in debt.  Indeed, it could well have been a signed confession of being in debt, a debt that was too big for you to repay.  The Apostle Paul applies this to God’s law.  You have broken it, therefore you can never fix it.  It stands against you.

We’ve just been accepted by a Bank to acquire a Mortgage for the first time, Mary Sue and myself.  I know we’ll have a massive debt that will take us over 20 years to pay off.  Thankfully it’s manageable.  But still it’s a written document that stands against me, until the debt is paid.  But the debt of sin, you breaking God’s laws, cannot be paid off by you – not now, not ever.  That is Colossians 2.14.

But at the battlefield, on the cross, Jesus took this certificate, the written code – metaphorically speaking – and he nailed it.  ‘He took it away, nailing it to the cross’, Colossians 2.14.  When a person was crucified, about them was a sign nailed stating the crime of the person.  What’s the Apostle Paul is declaring here is that your certificate, your crime of breaking God’s laws – the unpayable debt, the impossible I.O.U. - is nailed to Jesus’ cross.  In essence, you should be nailed, but Jesus stands in your place.  He pays your debt, he cancels the ‘written code, with its regulations’.  It’s wiped out.  In fact, he has destroyed it – nailing it to his cross of crucifixion.  That is why you can be forgiven for breaking God’s law, but what about Satan and his forces?  Are they still in power, can they still drag you back under their evil hold and power?  No.  Not only has Jesus, at the battlefield, destroyed your ‘written code’, he has conquered the evil powers by his death, his sacrifice on the cross.  No wonder the cross is used as the symbol of the Christian faith.

There was a story a few years ago, recorded in The Times Newspaper, about a mother, Patricia Gearing, who was informed by her local authority to remove a simple cross that marked the grave of her daughter who had died of Battens disease.  This was in Mablethorpe, with the local authority stating, ‘Crosses are discouraged, as excessive use of the supreme Christian symbol is undesirable’.  Instead, the family was given permission to erect a headstone featuring Micky Mouse (The Times 6th Sept 1998),

Let’s never diminish the power of the cross.  Look at Col.2.15, in this one verse we have two graphic images or metaphors to illustrate the victory of the cross...

Here’s the focus - The Victorious Crucified Christ

1) ‘Disarmed the powers and authorities’

Christ Crucified has ‘disarmed the powers and authorities’, he has destroyed the drag beam of Satan.  If you lived in Colosse during the 1^st century, you would have lived amongst farmers of crops and sheep, and dyers of wool.  They were very superstitious, believing strongly in having to ward off evil spirits and appease supernatural forces that either brought prosperity or misfortune to their fragile agricultural world.  Imagine their surprise upon hearing the good news of Jesus as it’s described here, this letter originally written to a new church at Colosse.  These evil forces were moving in close, as Christ reached the peak of the battle.  It looked like it was all over, Satan and his demonic beings had triumphed.  But he ‘disarmed’ them.  ‘Disarmed’ or ‘stripped’ is the word used for stripping the weapons from a defeated enemy and his armour too.  What this means is this, as the evil forces began to cling to Jesus, he ‘discarded’ them, as if like disgusting, foul clothing, God in Christ stripped them from himself.  God in Christ ‘disarmed’ them of their evil power.  The Crucified Christ broke their power once and for all. 

2) A public spectacle

The second image is this, ‘he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’, Colossians 2.15.  What the Apostle Paul has in mind here is that of a Roman general who has won a famous victory and is marching with his victorious army through the streets of Rome.  Behind him are the foes, held captive, conquered and defeated, paraded around as the powerless powers. Think of the Light Dragoons and the Yorkshire Regiment when they paraded though Barnsley town centre in recent years with their tanks and armoured vehicles, with thousands turning out to cheer them on.  It’s a kind of victory parade, at least a homecoming celebration.  This is the picture of Jesus, victorious ‘triumphing over them by the cross’, Colossians 2.15.  This was victory and Jesus leads the procession of captives.  But do get confused, because usually you will think of political forces and military powers that conquer enemies, but God does it through utter weakness, the Crucified Christ.  ‘God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong’ (1 Corinthians 1.27). 

So the battlefield of Calvary is a cosmic battle where the powers of darkness surrounded Christ on the cross and attacked him.  If this is unseen, a battle in the spiritual realm, how was it a ‘public spectacle’?  Remember, this victory was prophesied many times, and then began to take hold during the public ministry of Jesus, and was decisively won at the cross.  But how was it a public spectacle?  Jesus rose from the dead.  The resurrection confirmed and declared the victory, the conquest.  The apostle Peter said in the first ever message preached, “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2.24).  Furthermore, this triumph is extended to the church down through the ages and across the world today.  So this local church called Gateway has an explosive message, preaching ‘Christ Crucified’ and calling people to turn from wrong and turn to Jesus Christ, to believe in him.  So when somebody becomes a Christian, a true believer, they turn from ‘darkness to light’ (Acts 26.18), from ‘the power of Satan to God’ (Acts 26.18), and from ‘idols to serve the living and true God’ (1 Thessalonians 1.9).  Every time a person crosses over from unbelief to faith in Christ, the supreme power of Christ is demonstrated because Satan, who up to that point has a hold on the individual life, has to let go.

The resurrection confirms what the death of Jesus achieved.  The resurrection assures you that in Jesus you can have victory.  No wonder, the Apostle Paul who presents death in the image of a scorpion whose sting has been drawn, shouts defiantly like a military conqueror, “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  Silence.  So the Apostle Paul shouts again in triumph, not mockery, “Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15.55-57).

Conclusion

What about you?  Do you sometimes feel oppressed as if evil is clinging to you?  Do you realise that your lifestyle, your ways, your desires – if lived without Jesus Christ in charge – positions you on the losing side?  What about death, Satan’s final charge?  Do you fear death and what happens afterwards?  You need not fear death.  ‘The last enemy to be destroyed is death’ (1 Corinthians 15.26).  ‘Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel’ (2 Timothy 1.10).  The cross announces that the blood of Jesus has power to ward off evil destruction.  If you read about the original Passover meal in Exodus, the angel of death passed over every household that had the blood of a sacrificed lamb daubed on its doorframe.  What the Israelites experienced, you too can experience.  You too need to be covered by the blood, the blood of Jesus Christ – ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1.29).  In other words, you need to put your faith in Christ alone.  Go to the battlefield of Calvary, where the battle has already been won – at the cross of Jesus.  Lay down your weapons of pride and selfishness and the rest, and put your trust in the triumphant Christ Crucified. 

Gateway church, you need to pick up the atmosphere of the New Testament, which is one of joyful confidence.  There is no way, any Christian or local church should be defeatist.  Christians in New Testament times spoke about victory.  See Romans 8.37, ‘No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us’.

Why is ‘Christ Crucified’ the world’s greatest hero?  Because he is Christ the Conqueror, who ‘disarmed the powers and authorities’.  God has come into your world to rescue you, to give you the victory over evil.  You don’t need a telescope or a microscope or a horoscope to reach him, it’s Christ Crucified.  In him, God comes to your aid and gives you all you need.  Have you experienced the victory of Christ Crucified in your life?

‘And having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Christ] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’

Prayer of faith:

Lord Jesus, I have done a lot of things wrong in my life.  I am sorry for going my own way instead of your way.  I am sorry for the life I have led without you.  Thank you for dying on the cross to forgive my sin and give me the victory over sin, death and Satan.  Please come and take first place in my life and make me the person you want me to be, filling my life with your victorious power and sacrificial love.  Amen.

Gateway Growth Groups - An Introduction

Gateway Growth Groups – An introduction

Why:

Why are Growth Groups needed in a local church?  It’s simple - to ‘Grow in faith’ (as a Christian), OR ‘Grow into faith’ (as a not-yet-Christian).

Where and When:

Where and when does the group meet?  Ideally, as it’s a small group, from as few as 3 up to 12 (then Growth Groups can divide and multiply), which meets in someone’s home or if suitable at the church building – usually one evening during the week (Mon-Thurs) or possibly daytime.  But it can be anytime, anyplace.  Gateway Church have had small groups that even met in a pub and a nightclub!

What:

What goes on in a group?  The focus is usually to look at some part of the Bible (Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth!) or to consider a topical theme with reference to the Bible.  What is the Bible?  At Gateway we believe it is God’s Word, with many different human authors, but with a supreme divine author – the living God.  Therefore, everything in the Bible is intended to be there by God.  In other words, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16).  This can be aided by a booklet or a DVD or just a straightforward presentation by the leader.  Currently, Gateway Growth Groups are together using Just10, which is a series on the 10 commandments, with a DVD presentation and booklets.  The idea is to allow some kind of Bible teaching to take place that addresses, challenges, educates, impacts, informs, motivates, and speaks into the lives of the participants.  The focus is both vertical and horizontal, i.e. the teaching is connected with the person’s relationship with God and their relationship with people (family, friends, work, enemies, plus guidance on relevant 21^st century issues and help with personal problems).

Who:

Who are the ‘key players’?  A Growth Group needs a co-ordinator/s to ensure the group meets and knows where and when.  Organising a Growth Group can be hard work sometimes!  The most efficient way, as far as possible, is via texting.  Set up a Growth Group list and communicate with a text that’s sent to each participant.  A Growth Group needs a host/s who opens up their home and provides hospitality (a cuppa and biscuits or something more adventurous).  Finally, a Growth group needs a leader/s for each meeting or a rotation each week.  This person ensures the group is led – a leader/s is vital to the success of the group.  S/he may facilitate the group in discussion with use of a resource material from a booklet or DVD or to actually lead the teaching – seeking to clearly explain the Bible with an accurate and helpful application.  This also includes ensuring there is a balance of discussion from the participants, eg nobody dominates (the loud one) and nobody is left out (the quiet one).  They need to be sensitive to any who can’t read or write, and have a simple strategy in place to deal with this or at least seek advice.  Furthermore the leader needs to ensure a balance is struck between encouraging people’s questions, even strange beliefs/views being aired, and true Christian teaching being the benchmark.  Last of all, the leader needs to finish at the agreed time!

As well as refreshments, and general conversations about life and lives, prayer should be encouraged, especially a corporate prayer time.  There are different creative formats and ways to help people become familiar to praying either quietly or audibly.  The main thing is not to turn people off that they don’t return again!  Remember that a person’s spiritual growth can take many weeks, months, even years.  It doesn’t usually happen over just a matter of weeks, but rather “with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4.2).

It might be possible, if there is a shortage, that the co-ordinator, host and leader is one and the same person!  However, sharing the responsibility is wise and strengthens people in those particular ministries and lightens the responsibility.

However, no group can exist without participants.  The whole church needs to encourage one another to be part of a small group, and not leave it just to the Pastor or Growth Group leader to ‘chase’ people into a group.  In Growth Groups, it’s a great opportunity for ‘dialogue’.  The Sunday meeting where the whole church gathers is more conducive to ‘monologue’ i.e. preaching (although Gateway on a Sunday does provide a short time for Q & A immediately after the preaching).  Small groups, usually in the homely surroundings of sofas & settees is more suited to sharing and discussing.  People can open up more to share personal and private news which can receive prayer and support.  If it’s confidential to the group – keep it confidential to the group! 

The Sunday preaching and Growth Groups are BOTH very important to a healthy growing church.  Both are needed – see Acts 2.46 where we are given a snapshot of the early Christians, “Every day they continued to meet in the temple courts [formal preaching].  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts [informal midweek Growth Group]”.

“The real secret of fruitful and effective mission in the world is the quality of our community” (Tim Keller).

Starting A New Church (church planting) in Barnsley, UK

Preface:
Exactly two years on this day, which was a Sunday, a vision was shared with the Gateway Core team (although we had no name then) about starting a new church.  This is the written version - as it was then.  Amazing how God has brought this vision to fruition during the last two years.  "For nothing is impossible with God" (Matthew chapter 1.37, Bible).

 

New Church – possibilities!!!

 Meeting of Core Team on 16 January 2011

Theology – where do we start – there’s loads in the Bible!

See Isaiah 49.6 cf Acts 1.8. Matthew 13.33, 16.18, 28.16-20, Luke 13.18-19, John 20.21, Acts 2.42-47 cf 5.12-14 – as starting points

Complaint:

·         We’re not winning enough people for Jesus. 

·         We are shackled by a church institution that originally was a movement – we need freedom and flexibility as a local church body under the control of its head, Jesus Christ. 

·         We have been hindered by division, gossip, and heresy – we need to be united in Jesus and His gospel.

·         We have lost touch with our roots - the original movement of the Methodist church.  ‘In the providence of God Methodism was raised up to spread scriptural holiness through the land by the proclamation of the evangelical faith’ (Deed of Union).  We need to be missional not ecclesial (churchy).

Avoid:

·         Package mentality.  We cannot pretend to be another church from elsewhere, and clone/copy them (although there are good models around).  Be OURSELVES in CHRIST, LEARNING from others.  Be natural in accordance with gifts of members, and relevant.  Be unique.  Develop our own style

·         Hazy vision.  We must articulate the vision from the start so it is clear to all

·         Preoccupation with buildings.  The church is always the people and relationships.  A building is important but must not consume the church.  Be flexible, in case we have to move to another place

Priorities:

Bring glory to God:

·         Exalt supremacy of Jesus – especially his death & resurrection

·         Centrality of Bible - proclaim & explain.  Obey its divine revelation

·         Prayer - Jesus prayed before launching out

·         A passion for Barnsley people to convert to the Lord Jesus

·         Congregation living as missionaries in a godless society

·         The new church, one & all, living out a gospel-orientated & godly life – which attracts!

·         Taking risks for God – faith!

·         Effective & strong leadership – the micro influences the macro

·         Effective & strong lay-ministry – everyone using their God-given gifts and developing expertise.  We’re all ordained to do something!  Who is gifted for what?

·         Respect the Methodist Church, the Barnsley Circuit, and other Barnsley churches

Strategy:

·         Regular Sunday meeting.  Strong on Bible exposition (beginning with short talks) along with Q & A, lively praise, prayer and testimony.  Separate group/s for 0-11’s.  Food/meal.  Keep it simple.

·         Regular midweek growth groups (G.G.).  Strong on application from Bible (e.g. discuss talk from previous Sun).  Pastoral support for each other.  Focused prayer on new people e.g. inviting them to events. G.G. unite monthly for prayer mtg.  Provide food on Sun (rota).

·         Regular outreach events.  A blend of Social (Christians mixing with unbelievers – we’re not weird!), Topical (discuss relevant issues), & Evangelistic (e.g. Christianity Explored) events.

21^st century Barnsley expression of church:

·         Maximise use of technology.  Website, Facebook, Podcasts etc as ways of evangelising new people and discipleship of one another

·         Focus on specific people groups.  The new church must consider reaching children/youth, single parents & third agers. 

·         Supporting the needy e.g. work of Street Pastors, refugees, financially stricken & ministries abroad

·         Apologetics.  Arguing, debating and promoting the gospel in creative ways.  People’s minds need to be won - that Christianity is true and life-changing!

·         The work place.  The new church to help equip Christians as effective witnesses in their workplace, e.g. simply asking people to share in a Sun.mtg slot & church prays for them

Other emphases:

·         Open at the edges, committed at the core

·         Giving of money - must be gospel-orientated ie not into a black hole somewhere

·         Think about the next church plant asap – to win Barnsley for Jesus

·         Less ‘business meetings’ the better!  Minimal central structure serving needs of the new Church

·         Be a church that loves to be together - all ages/family (meals, celebrate birthdays, loads of photos, laughter, muck in together)

Challenges:

·         Location – where do we meet?  What time do we meet?

·         Name of new church? (securing charitable status)

·         Forming of a Leadership team.  Leaders must lead by example, faithfulness and love.  The main attribute is ‘character’ – see 1 Tim.3.1-13 & Titus 1.6-9

·         How do we attract new people?  Friendships, invites to outreach events, good publicity

·         Securing finances

·         Commissioning of church, publicity and LIFT OFF (you only get one chance to launch a new church)

Conclusion:

Start small (mustard seed analogy), keep it simple, have faith in a great God

Mark Reasbeck 16.01.2011

 

Is your calling to be a 'rope-holder'?

Every church evangelist, pastor, pioneer, minister, vicar (whatever the title) needs a right-hand man/woman!

Is your calling to be the 'second-fiddle'?  Every church, para-church organisation needs one, as well as the usual close team and the wider circle of committed believers.

Barnsley is famous for many things, including the birthplace of one extraordinary Christian pioneer, James Hudson Taylor (JHT).  I have at least 8 biographies of JHT on my bookshelf and how his mission work reached the millions in China.  I have one biography on Benjamin Broomhall (B.B.) 'A Flame of Sacred Love' by Norman Cliffe, published by OM & OMF. 

Who is B.B?  He was JHT's right-hand man back in England.

Apart from the supernatural partnership that JHT had with the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, humanely speaking B.B. was the man behind the man (JHT).  B.B. and his wife Amelia (sister to JHT) had found "their destiny" (p40) in ensuring the 'China Inland Mission' base back in the UK developed, and endured with a fruitful ministry that indeed counted for eternity, providing the support and infrastructure for the mission work in China.  It was "undoubtedly a case of the right person being in the right place at the right time" (p46). 

One principle he followed, based on his business background was to "only sell success" p53 which in reference to the magazine 'China's millions' meant "omitting any references to set backs and dismissals".  Hmmm...debatable point for honest and transparent Christianity, but I can see his point.  He was, after all, building an organisation from the other side of the world to JHT and his growing band of pioneers who were bravely and courageously venturing into unknown areas of China with the good news of Jesus.  This was in the days communication was a bit different from the instant communication of 2012.

To quote William Carey, the original modern pioneer missionary, would say of his right-hand man, "I'll go down the mine if you will hold the rope".  There is no doubt that B.B, (and JHT had another right-hand man previously - William Berger), was a rope-holder.  "The very nature of rope-holding is remaining in the background when important work is done" (p124).  But the work cannot be done with the rope-holder.

Is God calling you to be a right-hand man/woman for the spread of the gospel?  Benjamin Broomhall and his wife Amelia are unsung heroes, but without them, perhaps the church in China today would not be growing as fast.  At the last estimated count 8% of the 1.3 billion population are Christian - that's over 100 millions followers of Jesus Christ.

Are you called to be the 'rope-holder'?

The Ninth Commandment of God

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour” –

Exodus 20.16

Preached at Gateway on 11^th November 2012.

Last week, the top boss at the BBC resigned, because of allegations made on a ‘Newsnight’ report about a named politician being linked with abuse in Care Homes in north Wales back in the 70’s.  This has proved to be untrue about the politician, with significant consequences hitting the BBC.  Journalistic standards have declined.

It’s easy to judge others and not examine our own hearts and lives.  Sometimes we are very economical with the truth, or we manipulate or we lie – in order to get our way or protect our reputation.  A Gallup morality poll discovered that 10% lie to the Taxman and 30% lie to their Spouse!

“You shall not give false testimony”.  This is a positive command of God expressed in a negative form – it’s God’s way of catching your attention.  These 10 Commandments show us the real God and they reveal the true you and me.  We read elsewhere in the Bible,

“God is not a man, that he should lie”, Numbers 23.19

“the Glory of Israel does not lie”, 1 Samuel 15.29

“God, who does not lie”, Titus 1.2

“it is impossible for God to lie”, Hebrews 6.18

The fact that the ninth commandment says, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour”, reveals more of God’s standard.  God is a person of Truth.  There is nothing false about God.  He has complete integrity.  He does not manipulate, he does not spin a tale, he does not stretch the truth, he does not try to pull the wool over your eyes.  He’s not devious or conniving.  He does twist the truth, or cover up.  He does not exaggerate.

God says what he means and he means what he says.  He has told us so in a book – the Bible – God’s Word.  Why do you think every working day across the nation, and across the world, people in courts of law, who are giving testimony, place their hand on the Bible and promise to tell the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

But because we have broken fellowship with God, falsehood and lying is an everyday occurrence.  Rather than being in league with the living God, so many people are in league with the Devil.  This is how Jesus described a bunch of religious people, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.  He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth. For there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8.44).

So when you lie, you speak the devil’s native language.  J.John once said, “Honesty is: everything we say is true, but not everything true must be said”.  Discretion and wisdom is needed to know what to say in every situation.

The apostle Paul writing a devastating critique, described humankind in Romans 1.25 like this, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie”.  This ninth Commandment is there to pull us back from committing falsehood.  Telling lies ruins relationships, it causes chaos, it sparks conflicts.  Whereas truth builds trust, a stable society is established upon the foundations of integrity.

Remember the original context of God’s commandments.  God had miraculously brought the Israelites out of captivity, the horrors of slavery in Egypt.  He had set them free, they were his chosen people.  Here they are in the book of Exodus on their way from Egypt to the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  But God knowing the reality of human nature delivers these 10 commandments and many more laws for his people, because he wants to protect them.  It’s like, if we never teach our kids about crossing the road safely, they are more likely to be hurt.  My own children know my commandment of crossing the road safely, looking and listening and not running.  It is for their well-being and because they are loved.  So likewise, on a much bigger scale, God’s 10 Commandments.  They are there for your protection and well-being, because you are loved.

God actually and factually wrote these 10 Commandments – just 10 – in stone.  They were set in two tablets of stone, inscribed by the finger of God, which Moses took down from the top of Mount Sinai.  These 10 are absolute, not obsolete, and they were to be lived out by the people of God – the Israelites.

We are the church today – the people of God - and these 10 should shape our lives.  The church of God in Barnsley, this local church Gateway need to have a distinctive character.  If a report was carried out on the people of Gateway – it should hopefully read, they are content with what they have, not coveting, rather are generous in their giving (reference to the tenth Commandment).  They are a people who speak the truth, who stand up for truth, who can be trusted to the max, who ooze integrity out of every pore, who shun and form of deviation from the truth (reference to the ninth Commandment).  That’s what we’re to aim for.

But the thing is this...let’s get this straight...as we move to preparing for the baptisms taking place today.  You are not a Christian because you keep the tenth Commandment, "You shall not Covet".  You are a not a Christian because you keep the ninth Commandment, "You shall not give false testimony".

Keeping the 10 Commandments do NOT make you a Christian.  Yes, they are very admirable achievements if you seek to hold to them, they may make you religious, but they do not make you a Christian.  Remember the true way to read the Bible – it’s not a case that there are good people and there are bad people – rather it’s the case of there are bad people and there is Jesus, One who was and is perfectly good.

The sobering truth is you have broken the ninth Commandment in some form or way at different points in your life.  In fact a lot more times than you are ready to admit or recall.  There are different kinds of false testimony – gossip, flattery and slander, not forgetting the silent lie.  James reminds us, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2.10).

The 10 Commandments show us our need of Jesus.  Because of God’s amazing love, He comes himself into our world in our image – as one of us.  Jesus Christ – the Son of God.  If you want to know what God is like, look to the person of Jesus in the gospels.  He kept the 10 Commandments perfectly, and though he experienced temptation, he was without sin.  What God the Son accomplished for you and I, was he died on the cross in your place, for your sin.  He took the blame instead of you.  On this Remembrance Sunday, Jesus puts it so well, “Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15.13-14).  The judgement of the Father fell on the Son, and if you put your trust in Jesus, the judgement of God will be lift from YOU.  Like the Israelites, you’ll be free, not from literal slavery, but the slavery of sin.  God, by his Holy Spirit will come into your life.  He will give you new desires.  What makes you a Christian is putting your life into the hands of Jesus who was good enough.  You will be clothed in his righteousness.  So when God looks upon you, he’s see you as holy and pure, not because of your record, but because of the spotless record of Jesus that is transferred to you.

You’ll find as a new Christian, you will want to obey the 10 Commandments, you’ll have God’s power available to resist falling into sin.  “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour” (Ephesians 4.25).

Today we rejoice that four people, there may be more, wish to publically declare that they have put their trust, not in their own righteousness which is never good enough, but in the righteousness of Jesus.  By baptism, they are identifying their lives with the living God in Jesus, who died and rose again.  So they too, by baptism will die to sin and rise to new life.

In Jesus, trusting him, trusting God, their sins, their shortcomings, past, present and future are washed away by the death of Jesus, symbolised by the waters of baptism.  They are also declaring commitment to serving the risen Jesus in their local church - Gateway Church.  As I finish, God is Truth, we have lied, Jesus saves us from our sinfulness and the father of lies, the devil, by us being baptised into his perfect death and resurrection, transformed to live like him our Lord and Saviour.

As I finish, on this note of Baptism, with the ninth Commandment ringing in our ears, ‘You shall not give false testimony’, which you can further explore in your mid-week Growth Groups with plenty of application – let me say this:

We are the church, and because we are clothed with Christ, as Colossians 3.9-10 puts it, ‘Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator’.

Jesus - the Risen King

Gospel of John 20.19-23 : The Risen King
Part of a message preached at Gateway on 23 September 2012

Introduction

At Gateway we like to preach the Bible...why?  God speaks.  In God’s Word we discover God’s dealings with humankind through history – how not to live (there’s so much that should make us wince) as well as how to live a correct life, pleasing to God.  But above all the Bible is about a Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God to the rescue – the King himself – who saves you from the most serious of human predicaments: sin, death and eternal separation from God himself.  No matter how correct a life you live, it’s never good enough, that’s why you need a Saviour.  The Bible in a rich and extraordinary way tells you about the one and only Saviour who can meet your need – Jesus Christ.  It’s all about Jesus Christ.

Today we conclude a mini-series from John’s Gospel – which has kicked off our time at Mottram Hall.  It’s a series called, ‘It’s all about Jesus Christ’.

Read John 20.30-31

Week 1 we looked at John 12.20-33 thinking about 3 things at our first meeting at Mottram Hall:

1)   Expect people different from you to turn up at Gateway

2)   Expect to be challenged about your commitment to Gateway

3)   Expect the death and resurrection of Jesus to be central in Gateway

With that third point in mind we looked last week at the death of Jesus, a snapshot of the cross John 19.16-22 which revealed truths about King Jesus:

1)   A crucified King

2)   A universal King

3)   The King of Kings

Today, we’re thinking about the Risen King in the passage John 20.19-23.  Again it’s just a snapshot, one of many that we could consider about this fact – Jesus resurrected from the dead.  Let me repeat that – Jesus resurrected from the dead.

Yes, some people have been resuscitated or even miraculously raised from the dead.  We only have to consider Lazarus in John 11 – whom Jesus raised from the tomb after 4 days of burial.  But the problem is the Lazarus’ of this world eventually died...again.

Jesus was resurrected – different – never to die again.  It’s factual.  It happened.  The evidence for the resurrection is overwhelming.  Of course people choose to ignore or simply bury their heads in the sand, or dismiss such an event.  It doesn’t happen.  Of course it doesn’t happen, that’s why the resurrection of Jesus is so mind-blowing – because it really did happen.  From a neutral point of view, if it’s true, it changes everything in your life, because then everything else is true about the Christian faith.  If it’s false, everything else about Christianity collapses lack a pack of cards.

FEAR

Verse 19 tells us everything about the nature of sin and death summed in one word – FEAR.  The disciples, these followers of Jesus, had been everywhere with Jesus during the last 3 years.  They had witnessed his astounding miracles and heard his amazing teaching.  Jesus had even given them the chance to minister to others in his name.  Numerous times Jesus had told them clearly, ‘I am going to be killed, and I shall rise again’.  There are 2 parts here...death and resurrection.  Part 1 - The disciples have seen Jesus die, they witnessed his crucifixion.  They were there at the foot of the cross.  They saw him taken down, they saw where he was buried, indeed by two of Jesus’ own supporters.  But they don’t get part 2 – they have no anticipation about part 2 – they just don’t see it coming.

That’s human nature – part 1 – death.  We all expect that.  But part 2 – resurrection – no it's off our radar screen!

So here they are terrified.  The eleven specifically commissioned by Jesus, hand-picked to be on his mission team – are huddled together somewhere, most likely the same room where they shared the Last Supper with Jesus 3 days previous.  They have locked the doors.  They have hit rock bottom.  They are confused.  They have heard rumours from the women followers and two on their way to Emmaus that Jesus has come back to life.  They are terrified of the religious authorities...if the authorities crucified Jesus what will they do to his followers, hence they take precautions to lock the doors.  They can’t make sense of what is going on.

There are many people, who in the absence of Jesus in their lives, experience fear.  Perhaps you today feel at rock-bottom, or you are confused in life – not sure which way to turn.  Perhaps you have turned inwards – not able to face the world – you’re feeling depressed.  Anxious, worried, fearful.

PEACE

It was into this situation the Risen King Jesus entered.  Though the doors are locked, Jesus stands among them.  There is no barrier that locks Jesus out.  There is nothing going on in your life that Jesus cannot break through.  He is the Risen King.  He can lift you up, he can bring order, he can bring healing, he can bring peace into your life.

V19 ‘Peace be with you’ said Jesus to the terrified disciples.  The Bible frequently speaks about God’s peace (Nu.6.26, Ps.85.8, Mal.2.5, Lk.2.14, 24.36, Jn 16.33, Phil.4.7, Col.3.15).  The Hebrew word used for Peace in the Bible is Shalom.  Jesus greeted these followers with the familiar ‘Shalom’.  Now we tend to understand the word peace as a bit of quiet and the absence of a bit of stress e.g. 9pm once the kids are in bed and the house is quiet.  But Shalom has a much richer meaning – it’s about ‘well-being’ in its fullest sense.  It’s all the blessings of God’s Kingdom, true happiness - gathered up in the word ‘Shalom’.  It’s life at its best under the loving hand of God.  Into the FEAR Jesus speaks Shalom, PEACE.

When Jesus uses it on the first Easter Sunday evening – it’s the first truly authentic ‘Shalom’ in the history of the world – because for the first time death has been conquered and life has been restored in the person of Jesus Christ.  How perfect that Jesus’ first word to these disciples after his death and resurrection should be ‘Shalom’ – because truly Jesus has accomplished reconciliation between believers and God and life everlasting.

This is what the Risen King Jesus offers – and when you know God’s peace – he turns things around – he turns fear into joy (v20).  Jesus had even predicted this joy just a few days earlier – Jn 16.19-20, 22.

So there in that room – King Jesus, yes the crucified King, is the Risen King.  But his crucifixion, his death is not forgotten.  He shows them his hands and side.  Indeed, our hurting and needy generation need to recognise Jesus by his scars.  He is not aloof from suffering. 

So in the presence of the Risen King fear evaporates – because Jesus brings purpose (we’re made to live for him), he offers hope, he is life - because death has been defeated.  He turns these depressed, frightened, inward-looking cowards into world-beaters.  These 11 become transmitters to the world in the face of the most severe persecution.  They are commissioned to go from that locked room into all the world.  The church was born and continues to shake and shape history, e.g. you cannot understand truly British history without understanding the influence of Christianity upon the people and British society.

Here’s the thing - these 11 disciples, and the other followers of Jesus – could never have held out under the pressure, even becoming martyrs, if the resurrection was NOT true.  Let me say this, before I conclude.  It usually takes many years for a major mind-shift to take hold in society about some area of discussion or trend.  Take smoking for example.  Everyone knows it harms health, but it took several generations for a mind-shift to occur and something significant to be done – i.e. banned smoking in all public places incl pubs.  It took years, decades for this mind-shift to occur in society, and impossible to happen overnight.

The resurrection – nobody at the time of Jesus believed resurrection could take place in history (except Jesus).  No matter what religions or beliefs were around at the time – and there were many – resurrection of the dead was categorically not included.  That was the mind-set of everyone.

Yet within weeks, the disciples have only one message which dominates their lives, Jesus is Risen.  How come this dramatic mind-shift took place virtually overnight?  How come this belief about resurrection that no-one held too throughout the ancient world, whatever religion, suddenly becomes the driving force in the lives of these ordinary followers?  Because it happened!  Because the crucified King became the Risen King.  Because he truly rose from the dead and therefore he truly brings peace into lives where there is fear.

Conclusion

Although there is you could say an official commissioning 40 days later by Jesus on the mountain in Galilee to these disciples, and although there is a day soon afterwards when Jesus poured out the promised Holy Spirit to anoint, empower and equip the disciples in their mission, here in this room Jesus gives them a foretaste of what’s to come.  You could say, as John Calvin puts it, here is a ‘sprinkling’ of the Holy Spirit, but a ‘saturation’ of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost 50 days later.

V21-23...It’s a picture of the Trinity sending the disciples out with this wonderful message of forgiveness of sins in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God sends His Son into the world, initially through the person of Jesus, but subsequently through His Church.  The love of God reaches people, phase one through Jesus whilst he was here on earth and then phase two, through his Church – you and I.  You are called to carry on Jesus’ work, not to start a new one, living for the Risen King who has brought about Shalom - Peace instead of Fear.