Sermon: Heaven's Coronation Day (1 Corinthians 3:10-15): Pastor Tito Dizon

[This sermon was first preached on March 17, 2013 at Folsom Community Church by Pastor Tito Dizon]

1 Corinthians 3:10-15     HEAVEN'S CORONATION DAY

Intro: Today, I would like for us to take some time to look into the event known in the Bible as the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is an event that is spoken of in several passages of Scripture.

 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body) . 

This passage  speak of the same event. They refer to a time when every child of God will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and give an account of their service to the Lord.

I don't mind telling you that when I think of that event, I do so with a bit of dread. However, I also want you to know that there will be far more for us to look forward to than there will be for us to fear!

For it is on that day that the fruits of the journey are rewarded. It is that day when we may hear the Lord Jesus say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

Heaven's Coronation Day.

I want you to be ready when that day arrives.

This passage reveal three aspects of that great day that we need to notice today

It will be:

I. V. 10-13 A DAY OF INTIMATE DISCOVERIES

II. V. 14 A DAY OF INTENSE DELIGHTS

III. V. 15 A DAY OF IMMENSE DISAPPOINTMENTS

I. V. 10-13 A DAY OF INTIMATE DISCOVERIES

Paul describes the Christian life as a building. He tells us that he laid the foundation, but it is our responsibility and duty to build on that foundation. It is our duty to build correctly!

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

Foundation: The whole idea of this word is this: When the Lord saved your soul, He placed you on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ.  verse 11 makes it clear that this is an event that is for believers only!

 In other words, if you aren't building from your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you will not be at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but you will either be in the Tribulation or you will already be in Hell!

others are building on it. But whoever is building on : We (Pastor, BS Teacher, C’tian friend, Parents,(you )are building on it.must be very careful 

  A. V. 10 Our Methods Will Be Discovered - Paul tells us that "how" we built on the foundation will pass under the microscope of God in that Day. Since the very moment you were saved, you have been building a life. This life can either be a thing of glory to the Lord, or it can be a thing of disgrace before the Lord. When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will answer for how we have built our lives.

12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.

    B. V. 12 Our Materials Will Be Discovered - This verse tells us that there are two possible categories of materials from which we can construct our spiritual house.

        1. There Are Worthy Materials - Gold, Silver and Precious Stones. These refer to things that are precious, valuable, beautiful and hard to come by.These are also things that survive and even thrive in the fire. These picture the kind of works that the Lord will bless in that day, and the kind of works that every believer should have in his/her life as they journey through this world.

        2. There Are Worthless Materials - Wood, Hay and Stubble. These refer to those things that are temporary, ugly, cheap and easy to come by. They would speak of things that are done out of the will of God, or things that are done out of a mean spirit, or things that are done out of selfishness, etc. They differ from the other materials in that each of these is immediately destroyed by flames. These refer to the kinds of motives, decisions & activities that we should avoid as believers.

 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.

 In Paul's day, in every city there was a place called the Bema, or judgment seat. It was from this raised platform, usually in the center of town, that announcements were made, judgments rendered and commendations handed out.

It was at the Bema Seat that rewards were given out to the winners of the Greek games. It was here that their crowns were given to them. All public proclamations came from this Bema seat. So, we mustn't think that it was only a place for fear and trembling. Certainly some were rebuked when they came here, but many others were rewarded and blessed.

Christ's seat of judgment is no different!

There are two issues that will not be addressed at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Those issues are:

1. Salvation - That was forever taken care of at the moment of conversion. Nothing can ever change the state of the believer's soul. If a person is saved, they are saved forever! Ill. No lost person will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ. There will be another Judgment that take care of the lost sinner. If you are here, you are saved!!!
2. Sin - Sin was taken care of forever at Calvary when the Lord Jesus died, John 19:30! When Jesus died, He died for the ALL sin of the world - 2 Cor. 5:21. Now, when a sinner places his faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation, all his sins are forever taken care of! They will not be mentioned when we arrive here! Hallelujah, that is enough to shout about!!!

This judgment will not determine whether or not you get into Heaven. That was decided when you received Jesus as your Savior. This judgment will not take into account your sins. They were paid for at the cross. When we sin in this world, we reap the consequences of those sins, but the sins themselves were completely paid for by the Lord Jesus at Calvary!!!

What will be dealt with is the manner in which we have lived this earthly life, from the moment of our conversion until the day we died, or were raptured. It will be about how we used the responsibilities, privileges and opportunities we were given by the Lord Jesus as we journeyed through this world. Perhaps it would help us to remember that every born again believer is a "steward". That is, we are the servants of God. He has placed in our hands His ministry to the world.

To accomplish this ministry, the Lord has given each of us certain things.

1. He has given us 24 hours in every day.  Eph. 5:16; ¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
2. He has given us money. 2 Cor. 9:6-7 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” …9 As the Scriptures say,“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
3. He has blessed us with gifts and abilities to use for His glory.  1 Cor. 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
4. He has given us opportunities for service and for ministry. Our Master, the Lord Jesus, has entrusted us with His business and He will require that each of His stewards give an account of their service unto Him when He returns.

The Bible tells us that we are the "stewards" of God as stewards, we are to be found faithful .We will answer for the lives we are living in this world.

    V. 13 Our Ministry Will Be Discovered - Verse 13 lets us know that all of our works will be put to the fire. Somehow, the Lord will apply the fire of His judgment to the things we did in this life and they will be made "manifest". This word means that they will be "Made known publically."

As we travel toward Heaven, there are those among us who have all the appearance of having plenty of good works in their life. However, behind the things they do is a self-serving motive. Their works will burn. There are others who do things and others see them and say they do them to be seen. However, behind their works it love for the Lord. They do what they do to glorify God. Their works will abide! What I am trying to say is that you cannot look around you this morning and tell much about a person's works by what you see. However, on that day, there will be no hiding from the truth! Every motive, every work, every secret thought, every self-serving motive will be revealed for all to see! The fire of Christ's judgment will make the truth known!

I am sure that there are sermons which I have preached that will burn up when I stand before the Lord. Maybe I preached them to "tickle" someone's ears. Maybe I preached them to make folks thing highly of me. I am sure that many of the things I have done in the name of the Lord will burn up before my eyes on that day. I cannot change the yesterdays of my life, but I can do something about the tomorrow's, and so can you!

What is the bottom line? Our cats/works  will all be out of the bag when we stand before Jesus and face Him in Judgment!)

Just how does one determine the difference between works that will burn and works that will endure the flames of judgment? That may be easier to answer by telling you of some areas that are sure to be judged by the Lord.

The greatest Commandment

Luke 10: 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

How Faithful We Are To The Word Of God - 2 Tim. 3: 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

How We Treat Others - Matt. 10:42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

II. V. 14 A DAY OF INTENSE DELIGHTS

For many, the Judgment Seat of Christ will be the moment when all their trials are made worthwhile. It will literally be their crowning moment!)

    A. A Potential Is Mentioned - The first part of this verse tells us that there is the potential that some part of our works will remain after they have been put to the fire. Wouldn't it be a glorious thing to see some of what you did for Jesus actually remain? Many will! What happens to your works all depends on you!

    B. A Promise Is Mentioned - Those things that remain will be the basis for rewards. The Lord Jesus will honor us by giving us rewards for the things we do for Him. That is almost beyond belief, but the Bible tells us five crowns that are available as rewards to the faithful saint of God. Those crowns are:

1. The Incorruptible Crown - Awarded for faithfulness to the Lord - 1 Cor. 9:25  All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.       Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.;
2. The Crown Of Life - For the person who endures and overcomes temptation - James 1:12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
3. The Crown Of Rejoicing - This is the soul winners crown - 1 Thes. 2:19-20 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy. How Many Souls We Witness To And Win To Jesus ?  Dan. 12:3; 3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
4. The Crown Of Righteousness - This will be given to those who anticipate and live in the light of the return of Jesus - 2 Tim. 4:8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
5. The Crown Of Glory -This will be given to the faithful ministers who give themselves to lead and feed the flock of God - How Faithful We Are To The Flock Of God? 1 Pet. 5:2-4 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
6. We need to understand that every deed done in the name of Jesus will be blessed and rewarded over there. Men may not see the value of your service, but rest assured that Jesus takes perfect note and that He will reward you fairly for your sacrifice for Him. Matt. 25:34-40) 

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Why is He going to give us crowns? The answer is found in Revelation 4:9-11.

 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever),
10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,    to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,  and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
 

We will cast those crowns at His feet to honor Him!)

15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss.

The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

III. V. 15 A DAY OF IMMENSE DISAPPOINTMENTS

    A. The Pain That Is Mentioned - While some of our works will remain, others will be destroyed before our eyes. This will surely be a painful time for every believer. There will be many tears shed right here!

    B. The Price That Is Mentioned - "he shall suffer loss". This means that the believer will lose the reward he could have earned had his life been what it should be. Some would teach us that even earned rewards will be lost to. However, considering that God is Just, this probably refers to what the believer "could" have earned. Many of us will see rewards earned by others that could have been ours as well, if we had only been faithful too.

(I don't know about you, but I want to be as faithful as possible so that I might win every reward that I can. The reason is not so I can parade around Heaven with my crowns and trophies and show off. The reason is that I may have more to give back to Jesus, thus enhancing His glory! That is what this thing is all about! The Master rewards the servants and the servants in turn use those things to glorify Him! That is what this whole thing boils down to! If I will live my life to glorify the Lord God here; then I will have crowns to lay at His feet there, adding even more glory to the Lord, Rev. 4.)

    C. The Promise That Is Mentioned - Notice again that the believer who may see his works burn will still be saved. I cannot stress it enough that the issue here will not be about salvation! This was settled when you received Jesus. Now, some might take this and say, "Well, I'm saved! I can do as I please and live any way I want to and it doesn't matter." If you are really saved, you won't think like that! If you are really saved, there will be a part of you that will long to please the Lord. If you are saved, you will prove it by living for the Lord, at least some of the time!

    ( I thank God that I am saved forever. I thank Him that nothing can ever change that! However, I want to have something to show for my life when I arrive there. I do not want to see everything burn up. I want some crowns to lay at Jesus' feet. How about you?)

Application”:  Well, if these verses have taught us anything, they have taught us that there are two ways to ruin a good building: A faulty foundation and faulty materials.

Of the utmost of importance today is for every person in this room to determine what foundation they are building on. Only those houses built on the Lord Jesus Christ, His death and His resurrection will stand, Matt. 7:24-27. All other will perish in the waves of God's great wrath. Are you saved? Be sure before you leave this building today!

If you are on the right foundation, what kind of materials are you building with? Are you using gold, silver and precious stones? That is, are you building a life to the glory of God? Are you building with good actions and attitudes? If so, then won't it be a blessing to see those things stand the test and bring honor to the Lord? Maybe you are using wood, hay and stubble. If so, you know that your works are going to burn up before your eyes. You will miss out on some of the glorious things God has for those who are faithful stewards. Wouldn't you like to scrap that shabby house this morning, tear it down in this altar and with God's begin to build a house that will honor Jesus both here and in the hereafter? 

The choice is yours, but the reality remains: Heaven's Coronation Day is coming. How it turns out is all up to you. Works: Purified or Fried?

We need to reminded  that we are one day closer to eternity than we were yesterday! We need to prepare to meet God!

Resource taken from : Alann Carr

Sermon: What Made Jesus Happy? (Luke 10:1-24): Tim Lewis

[This sermon was first preached on March 10, 2013 at Folsom Community Church by Tim Lewis]

What Makes Jesus HappyLuke 10:1-24

Introduction: A Divine Joke (vs. 1-4)

We have been slowly making our way through the third biography Jesus found in the Bible, the one written by Luke, and this week we come across one of God’s jokes. It is found part way through the 10^th chapter:

²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. – Luke 10:21

Sometimes we miss the jokes in the Bible because we always think we have to use these big sounding church words. You know, the kind of words that other people use when they have to pray in front of church or something. We forget how to pray: If we’re by ourself hanging off a cliff we pray: “God help me I’m in trouble. Amen” And start praying like “O Lord God Almighty, king of kings and lord of lords, if though mightst in thine eternal benevolence extend thine hand of mercy to meet me in this my grievous and trying time of tribulation.” That happens to Bible translator to. Let me give you Tim’s translation:

²¹ Just then, Jesus got the joke relayed to him by the Holy Spirit and burst out laughing, “I have to give you credit, Father, you really are the master. That was a good one. You slipped it right past the experts and handed it straight to the newbs. Smooth, Father, really smooth—just like you wanted.”

So God the Father and Jesus are having this little private joke and then Jesus realizes that none of his friends—the disciples—got the joke. So he takes them aside and tells them the punch line to the joke. You ready for this? Here it is:

²³ Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen.²⁴ I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

Oh wait. Here’s the Tim translation:

As soon as they got away from the paparazzi, he said: “You are the newbs. But, because you are with me and doing stuff for me, you scored the back stage passes to the kingdom of God that make the pope and president drool with envy.”

So, how to we get in on this? How do we score the back stage passes? How do we get the amazing, inner-workings, behind-the-scenes look into what God is doing? And why does it make Jesus happy? Well, let’s go back to the beginning of the chapter and see if we can pick up some clues:

Our Stuff Isn’t What Makes Jesus Happy (vs. 1-4)

¹ After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

If you remember, this is actually the second time Jesus is sending out people. The first time he sent out just his twelve closest friends—the apostles (in fact, that’s where the got the name ‘apostles’)This time he’s sending out six times as many. The first time, he sent them out alone. This time he sends them out in twos. But one thing remained the same: they weren’t supposed to bring supplies: no clothes, no supplies and this time, they couldn't even try to sponge off the people they might meet on the road.

So whatever it was that made Jesus happy wasn't their stuff.

There are people who come into life situations with all sorts of advantages. Maybe they come from a good family—a mom and dad who stayed together and didn’t fight too much--maybe they had money, maybe they went to good schools, and moved on to good jobs themselves with good connections. It seems like they have all the advantages in the world.

But whatever we think we bring into the situation, that’s not what makes Jesus happy. Jesus, I have a Ph.D. Jesus, I can give a lot of money. Jesus, I’m connected to the right people, let me introduce you. Jesus, I have experience.  Jesus, I can solve that problem. Everything that we would put on our resume, doesn’t make Jesus happy.

That’s why he asked the disciples to leave that stuff behind. Because they would have missed the point. Just like us.

Our Popularity Isn’t What Makes Jesus Happy (vs. 5-12, 16)

So if it isn’t our stuff that makes Jesus happy, what was it? Well, let’s read a little bit more:

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Jesus himself was traveling so he sent out these teams into towns ahead of him to prepare for his ministry. Some people might not like Jesus. Some people might like Jesus. They had to map out which areas were ready to meet with Jesus and then facilitate Jesus’ ministry there.

But, whatever it was that makes Jesus happy, it wasn’t because they were accepted or popular in these towns or successful in persuading them about Jesus.

We are not responsible for making people like Jesus. Instead, we responsible to meet people, figure out if they are ready and, if so, arrange an introduction with Jesus himself. His power and his persuasiveness will ultimately be what they must welcome or not welcome. That’s why Jesus said, in verse 16:

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

That’s why he asked the disciples to go ahead of him and talk to people. Because it wasn’t about whether they liked the disciples—whether they were acceptable—it was about whether they liked Jesus. 

Our Experience Isn’t What Makes Jesus Happy (vs. 13-15)

So Jesus wasn’t happy because of their stuff, or because they were acceptable. So what was it? Keep reading:

¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were part of Israel—Jewish cities-- where Jesus performed big miracles, in previous chapters, where he healed people and fed the 5,000 men with two loaves of bread and five fish (Luke 9:10-17). On the other hand, Tyre and Sidon were both pagan Phoenician cities that Jesus didn’t go into.

So, whatever it was that made Jesus happy, it wasn’t because they received or saw one of his miracles.

God does do miracles. They are like street signs, telling us to pay attention to what God is saying. If we are healed, but forget the healer; if we are provided for, but forget the provider; if we are rescued, but forget the rescuer, then we miss the point.

Missing the point of the miracle makes you miserable.

Jesus wasn’t happy because they got to see his miracles.

Our Expertise Aren’t What Makes Jesus Happy (vs. 17-20)

It did matter what stuff they had, it didn’t matter how acceptable they were, it didn’t matter if they’d seen a miracle and, it turns out, it didn’t matter that they had performed a miracle. None of these seemed to be what made Jesus happy. Read along with me:

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

You might remember the last time they tried to cast out demons (Luke 9:37ff), they couldn’t, and Jesus chewed them out for it (vs. 41). This time they went out, and they could. They are stoked. They are happy. Now, it kind of looks like Jesus is being a kill-joy here. But he’s not. He wants them to be happy, he just wants them to anchor their happiness in the right place.

Jesus isn’t happy because they could perform miracles. He says: you will do this and even more because I give you the authority. I was there when Satan was kicked out of heaven and fell to the earth.  Do you know how you did that? Because you were tight with me! When amazing things happen through us in our life, it is tempting to claim credit for it.

But Jesus wasn’t happy because of the miracles we do (because it wasn’t our miracle anyway). Jesus is happy because of our relationship with God. Look what Matthew said in another place in the Bible:

²² Many will say to me on that [judgment] day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! – Matthew 7:22-23

Our Position Isn’t What Makes Jesus Happy (vs. 23-24)

So it’s not our stuff. It’s not our popularity. It’s not our experience. It’s not our expertise. Next we find out it is not our position.

²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

The disciples are confused by Jesus’ joke. They don’t get what makes him happy. So he takes them aside to tell the punch line. That “blessed” can be translated “fortunate” or even “happy” You should be happy because you see what you see. Because people with bigger titles, like “king” and “prophet” wanted to see and hear what you got to see and hear. But God didn’t show it to them.

When I went to work at Insyde, my current job, one of the conditions was that I would get the title of CTO. So they offered me the position of “Chief Technical Officer” I said “No, no, not Technical. It should be Chief Technology Officer” So they gave that to me. I wanted to be the CTO.

So I may be the CTO to the PC industry, but for Jesus  those kind of titles don’t carry any weight. There is only one title that Jesus pays attention to: disciple. A disciple is a student, not just of what a teacher says, but also his way of life. Jesus doesn’t reveal himself to CEOs and Presidents and Popes. He reveals himself to disciples.

Conclusion: What Made Jesus Happy?

Jesus is happy when ordinary people move out because they know an extraordinary God. Ordinary people don’t get their happiness from their stuff, their popularity, their experience, their expertise or their position. They are only happy that they have a relationship with Jesus.

¹¹ And not only that, but now we are also very happy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we are now God’s friends again. – Romans 5:11 (NCV)

We want to hold handfuls of those things up to God and insist, “See what I did? You should love me because…” But that’s not grace. It is anti-grace. Grace is God liking you because he likes you because he likes you. Period. There’s no little asterisk. No fine print. Jesus did everything that was required.

Imagine enrolling in medical school and on the first day of your first term they shake your hand and give you the diploma. You are confused and try to give it back, insisting that you have not completed the course work required. The dean smiles and says it’s all right; the valedictorian fulfilled all of the perquisites for the M.D. program on your behalf and you start at the hospital immediately in the place he specifies. You protest, saying it isn’t fair, that the diploma is worthless, that you don’t like the terms and conditions, that patients will be hurt, that the valedictorian is out of touch with reality, and so you rip up the diploma and decide to start a different program elsewhere. Or you can gratefully accept the diploma, use the amazing resources offered by the hospital and seek to grow into the position you have been given.

Don’t you see the joke? Why Jesus was laughing? Why he was happy? Because God has let a bunch of first year medical students loose in the hospital. And it’s working. As long as they go and pay attention to their teacher, Jesus. 

Sermon: David's Mighty Men: Becoming a "Man of Valor" (2 Samuel 23:13-39): Pastor Tito Dizon

[This sermon was preached on March 3, 2013 at Folsom Community Church by Pastor Tito Dizon]

2 Samuel 23:13-39    David’s Mighty Men: Becoming a “Man of Valor”

       

Introduction

Matthew Henry: Purpose of the passage

1.       To bring honor to David & His men.

2.       To excite emulation.

3.       To show how much genuine faith inspires true courage.

Our text tells us a great deal about the measure of a great man or woman of God.  The Characteristics of  “Men of Valor”.

v.8  Jashobeam. Courageous. Courage, like cowardice, is contagious.

What the church needs today is a company of “mighty men and women of valor,” through whom God will do great things, and through whom God will inspire others as well.

Heroes are not just known by “body count.” It is true that in our text one of the measures of greatness is in terms of how many people the person killed. Today, we are engaged in a “spiritual warfare,” which does not require us to kill our opponents. There are many other measures.

vv.9-10 Eleazar. Are not frightened by the odds which appear stacked against them. Heroes are willing to live dangerously and to trust God by assuming certain risks. David’s mighty men were not as impressed with statistic.

Are willing to die, if need be. Emerge when others fear and fail.

The mighty man of David (and of God) stood firm at the very time that others fled in fear.

vv.11-12  Shammah.  Rise up in times of crisis. The men who are honored in our text were not looking for fame; they simply refused to give in when things got tough.

Take their duties and responsibilities seriously.

As soldiers, these men were required to stand their ground and fight, and fight they did. Even when others fled, they stood fast. There is a strong sense of commitment to duty. 

 vv 13-17 Go above and beyond the call of duty, out of faith, loyalty, and love. True heroes seek to do that which pleases those in authority over them; they are not only compelled by their duty, but also by their desire to please the one they serve.

David’s Thirty Mighty Men

vv18-19 Abishai. Emerge where heroism is modeled, valued, and rewarded.

Why does our author tell us about the “Three” and the “Thirty”? I believe it is partly because heroism was esteemed and these men were thought worthy of praise and commendation.

David modeled courage in his own personal life, he valued and rewarded it in those around him.

Knows the principle of plurality.

What God has done through David, He also accomplished through others.

vv 20-23 Benaiah. Have been prepared and predisposed to their heroism by their way of life. Those who stand fast in times of crisis are those who have learned to trust and obey in the normal times of life.

vv 24-39  Other members of the Thirty : A Long List of Heroes

They work and train very hard, but in the end they look to God for the victory. It was not just because of their skill or courage that the battle was won. The victories these men won were humanly impossible.

The author makes it very clear that in the final analysis, it is God who gave the victory.

They have the courage to identify themselves with God’s anointed.

These are men who stood with David and for David, not just when the going was easy and when it was the popular thing to do, but when the going got tough, and standing with David put one in harm’s way.

In the Book of Hebrews, it seems to me that one of the ways saints showed themselves to be heroes was to identify with Christ and with His church when it was dangerous to do so.

There will come the time when every Christian will stand before the throne of God, and all our thoughts and deeds will be judged. What a joy and privilege it would be to have Him say,

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Sermon: When the Brook Dries Out: Can God Really Meet My Needs (1 Kings 17:1-24):Pastor Tito Dizon

[This sermon was preached on February 24, 2013 at Folsom Community Church by Pastor Tito Dizon]

When the brook dries out:  Can God Really Meet My Need?   I Kings 17:1-24

There is one thing that every person in this room has in common: we all have needs!

What are we to do when needs arise? The natural reaction is for us to worry, but we know from the Bible that this is not God's will for our lives. Should we try to meet our own needs? The simply answer is "Yes!"

There  are times when we have reached the end of the line. We have done everything we know to do to meet our own need. We have exhausted every resource.  What do we do then?

When our needs arise, so do our doubts! The enemy whispers to our hearts, "Can God really meet your needs?" If we aren't careful, we might find ourselves wondering the same thing! "Can God Really Meet My Need?"

The answer is "Yes, God can!" Let's look at our text today.

1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

Elijah had brought the Word of the Lord to Ahab in v1. No rain nor dew for as judgment against their wickedness.  Cf 1Kings 16:29-34 (The Drought in Israel)

2 Then the Lord said to Elijah,

3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.

He was  to wait on the east side of the Jordan river by the brook called Cherith. There are two reasons for this departure: 1^st , it was to fulfill the prophecy of God in the lives of the king and the people of Israel. 2^nd , God sent his prophet to the "school of the desert" not only to save his life from the sword of Ahab and Jezebel, but also to strengthen his faith in God who is able to provide all his needs in time of drought.

Our Needs Will Arise.   Elijah's need arose from His obedience to the will of God. Elijah was just doing what he was told and then his need came. There are times when you seem to be doing everything just like you are supposed to be doing it. You are paying your tithes, you are going to church, you are living right and still there are troubles and problems that plague your life.

 So, even when we are doing what we are supposed to do…needs will arise.

4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

God's Past Preparations to meet our needs :

Thousands of years before Elijah needed a drink of cool, clear water, the finger of God traced out the path of this little brook. God knew that His servant would need this provision and God made away for Elijah long before the need ever arose. Isn't it good to know that God provided a way to meet Elijah's need before he ever got thirsty?

Let's follow this thought and bring it up to our day. God knows all about my troubles before they come. God has already taken all the steps necessary to meet my need before it ever arises. He will manifest that supply in His own way and in His own time. Our responsibility is to be patient and faithful to the Lord.

He will have no problem taking care of our needs today! He will take care of us!

5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.

6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.

7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.

At this point in his life as well as ours we naturally want to say to God "Well, how are you going to do that? or "I bet God will provide for me in this way or that, through this brother or sister , or that church, etc." But as someone once said, "The one characteristic of God is that He is unpredictable." Can’t put Him in a box, He’s infinite. In the midst of the drought the Lord led Elijah to a small stream in the rough hills of  Jordan.

This was God's special place for Elijah, Cherith.

A. What was at Cherith? Here God supplies water- when no one else has it. Here God supplies food - when food is scarce. Here God supplies bread - when it also is scarce.

B. Everything is wonderful for Elijah. He has worked hard and now is enjoying the fruit of his labor and faithfulness. Everyone else is having a hard time because of the drought, but not Elijah.

C. BUT ONE DAY THE BROOK DRIED UP: The ravens didn't show. Elijah went to get a drink, and the brook was dry. Everything that Elijah had relied upon was gone! The only One left was God.

Some provisions don’t last for a purpose. One day the brook will dry up. Perhaps your Cherith is a special friend or a bank account or a job that provides security. All of Elijahs security vanished in a days time.

What would have happened if Elijah stayed there and cried in self-pity? He surely would have died. Others would have suffered. ver 8-16

The very next place God brings Elijah is to the widow of Zarephath. They were about to die! They desperately needed Elijah at the very time that God sent him there. Hmmmm. What a coincidence!

Baal worshipped would have flourished if Elijah had stayed there. In chapter 18 we read of how Elijah took on 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answer- ed him not a word.” (1 Ki. 18:21) The people needed Elijah's ministry and strong challenge to choose to serve God.

 WHEN YOUR BROOK DRIES UP. (ALL SECURITY GONE)

A. Think. DON'T CRY TOO LONG. Remember that the same God who has provided in the past can do so in the future. He will take care of us

B. THANK GOD FOR THE WONDERFUL TIMES YOU HAD BY THE BROOK. So often we forget the blessings of God when we are faced with some trial.

C. Transfer…FOLLOW WHERE GOD POINTS YOU. We must allow God to direct in our lives. Trusting His guidance as we follow. He will take us places we have never imagined and He has more provisions/blessings in store for us as we follow in obedience.

Where are we at tonight? Are we sitting comfortably along side the brook enjoying the blessings of God? Enjoy this time and praise the Lord for what He is doing in our lives. But we must realize that there will come a time when God will cause our brooks to dry up. We will be faced with an uncertain future.

This God will do, not to punish us or be mean to us, but to strengthen us and use us to fulfill His purpose for our lives. We can choose to obey Him and be blessed or we can choose to complain and dry up along with the brook.

8 Then the Lord said to Elijah,

9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon.

 I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

 Faith In The Ways Of God

Imagine how Elijah felt when his brook dried up and the ravens quit bringing food and God comes along and sends him to a widow so she can keep him up. Widows were poor, they weren't known for having a great deal of material things. Sometimes, We we certainly can't understand how He will choose to work in our lives.We must have faith that God knows what He is doing and we must learn to trust God's ways.

The widow was a woman of faith.  God was able to communicate with her. V.9 He had commanded her to sustain Elijah. V9 She had been expecting Elijah,

  

10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?”

11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

Elijah arrived thirsty and hungry

12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug.

She explained her situation to Elijah. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” The Widow Thought She Was Going to Die.  She and her sons were almost out of food.  She sees only death ahead.

The Widow's Need. These verses reveal a widow woman who was suffering need because of the wrongdoing of  others. Because of the sin of the nation of Israel, God sent a drought that affected the area where this widow lived.  She was just caught up in an unfortunate situation. There are times like that for you and me.

Through no fault of our own, we find ourselves caught up in unpleasant situations that bring trouble into our lives. Sometimes we make our own trouble, other times it seems to be able to find us on its own.

Other People’s needs: Bad things happen to good people? We live in a world of sin, and WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE EFFECTS OF SIN.

  

13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.

Needs Effect:"Fear " (v. 13)     Fear is common to all. So many kinds of fears may beset us. Fears about our families. Fears about health. Fears about money. Fears about the future.

Elijah's advice to the worried widow: She was to make that cake: do the routine things, But first, she was to make a cake for him. Here is the principle: put God first in our lives. In giving God priority, we can overcome our fears.

14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

15a So she did as Elijah said….

God's Promise For Tomorrow v14-Faith In The Word Of God

1. This widow woman entered this valley of testing with the greatest promise. Don't miss this!  Elijah tells her not to worry, because the Lord will give her what she needs out into the future!

 The future is always uncertain and we never know what kinds of needs may arise as soon as tomorrow, but we have the precious promises of the Lord.

(Heb 13:5b) for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

I may not know what will come in the morning, nut He knows what will happen and He has already made preparations. No matter where the road of life leads, no matter what problems arise,

 God is always ready with the necessary means to meet the need of His children.

Faith In The Work Of God

 Let's put ourselves in this widow's place. It must have been a real trial of faith for this woman to make that great a sacrifice, but she placed her faith in the Work of God. Notice  v 15 tells us that "she went and did..." This is key, but is often missed when we face a trial in life. If we have submitted our life to the Lord and are faithfully engaged in carrying out His will in the world, we are His responsibility, and He will take care of us. Too often we forget to Whom we belong

God changed this widow's negatives into positives He brought her from anxiety to assurance

15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.

16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

1.The Barrel of Meal was not used up" (vv. 15- 16) Things turned out better than the widow expected. Plenty of meal and oil. Guaranteed until the drought was over. What God promises we can count on.

2. We have all feared things that didn't happen

3.The widow put God's will first and He provided for her. We are to believe God's promises regardless of the circumstances. v12 Ae we trusting His promises today? Don't focus on the have not's God's promises are intended to remove fear from our lives. v13 Are we full of fear? Why? Are fears robbing us of the joy of living? He promises to provide and take care of us every step of the way.   Believing God's promises may seem to involve some personal risk. v15

v16.  When we live by faith in His promises, God will always supply. 

17 Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.

18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”

The Mother's Need. v17-18

- In these verses, we find a woman who has given much to the Lord and she has received much from the Lord, yet she is thrown into a time of grief over the untimely death of her only son.

- Her world, which seemed to be on track, derailed and filled her with sorrow and pain.

 Ever been there?

 The Lord has been blessing and you have been enjoying the best that God has to give and then the bottom falls out and all of your hopes and dreams come crashing down around you.

-our troubles have a way of overtaking us when we aren't expecting them.

    They leave us dazed, hurting and confused.

     Even in the midst of trouble, God is still in control!

Another interesting thought here is the widow became aware more of her sin & God.

Our Needs have its own way of drawing us closer to God or…for some…farther away from Him.

19 But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.

20 Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”

21 And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.”

22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!

23 Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”

24 Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”

 Faith In The Wonder Of God v17-24

Faith looks beyond the present pain and sees a God who can and will.

Summarize major points: All have needs- Israel & King Ahab, Elijah, Widow, widow’s son….us.

They were meant to drive us closer to God, not far away from Him.

The greater the need, the more glory to God  just like what this widow said to Elijah.

Can God meet my needs? Yes, He can and He will!

Resource Taken from: Alan Carr & Don Robinson