HELLO, EVERYONE. I HOPE YOU'RE DOING AS WELL
AS YOU CAN BE WITH THE NEW RESTRICTIONS THAT
HAVE COME OUT AGAIN.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, TOO,
BECAUSE THE CORONAVIRUS IS NOT JUST IN THE
AIR EVERYWHERE, FLOATING AROUND, WAITING TO
INFECT PEOPLE, BUT IT IS CARRIED BY INFECTED
PEOPLE, AND IT IS SPREAD BY THOSE INFECTED
PEOPLE THAT COME IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THOSE
WHO ARE NOT INFECTED.
AND THEN THEY BECOME INFECTED, AND SO ON AND
SO FORTH.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO IS TO KEEP
A DISTANCE, TO PUT ON SOME FACE COVERINGS.
I KNOW IT SEEMS VERY RESTRICTIVE, AND SOME
PEOPLE ARE PUSHING AGAINST THAT.
BUT LET'S ALL PULL TOGETHER.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY OF US THAT WE'RE ALL TOGETHER.
LET'S LIVE THAT WAY.
LET'S PUT ON THE FACE COVERINGS.
LET'S KEEP THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND LET'S
ERADICATE THE SPREAD SO THAT BUSINESSES CAN
OPEN UP, THE CHURCHES CAN OPEN UP.
OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN SHUTTERED AGAIN FOR ON‑SITE
WORSHIP INSIDE.
WE'LL PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT DOING SOME OUTDOOR
THINGS IF THIS CONTINUES FOR VERY LONG, BUT
FOR NOW, WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER.
AND BELIEVE ME, THE CHURCH IS NOT SHUT DOWN.
AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THE CHURCH IS YOU AND
I.
WHEREVER WE ARE, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS.
SO WE CAN PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL IN AND OUT OF
SEASON TO WHOMEVER WE MEET, WE CAN SHOW THE
LOVE OF CHRIST.
LAST WEEK'S PARABLE WE TALKED ABOUT HOW COME
THERE IS SO MUCH RESISTANCE TO THE WORD OF
GOD.
AND JESUS TOLD THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
HE WENT OUT AND SOWED THE GOOD SEED, THE SEED
OF THE GOSPEL.
SOME FELL ON A PATHWAY THAT BIRDS CAME AND
ATE UP.
OTHERS FELL ON ROCKY SOIL, WHERE THE SOIL
WAS VERY SHALLOW, AND IT GREW UP QUICKLY,
BUT BECAUSE THERE WERE NO ROOTS, THE SUN CAME
OUT AND THEY WITHERED.
AND SOME FELL AMONG THE THORNS.
AND THE THORNS GREW UP AND CHOKED OUT THE
SEED.
BUT YET OTHERS FELL ON GOOD SOIL.
AND IT PRODUCED A CROP OF 100‑, TO 60‑,
TO 30‑FOLD.
SO THE PROMISE IS NOT SO FOCUSING ON THE SOIL,
BUT FOCUS ON THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH WILL PRODUCE
THE HARVEST, THAT GOD GUARANTEES IT.
IN TODAY'S READING, IT IS THE PARABLE OF THE
WEEDS.
WE HEAR JESUS TALK ABOUT WHY THE CHURCH LOOKS
SO MESSY (laughing).
YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS
AND I INVITE THEM TO COME TO CHURCH, THEY
SAY, WHY WOULD I GO TO CHURCH?
THE PEOPLE THERE AREN'T ANY BETTER THAN ANYONE
ELSE.
NO, WE'RE NOT, BUT WE'RE FORGIVEN AND WE'RE
LOVED AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT
IN EXPRESSING THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN
US IN CHRIST, BUT IT ALWAYS DOESN'T GO ON
THAT WAY.
WHY?
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT IN JUST A
MOMENT AS WE LOOK AT THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS.
SO IF YOU'D OPEN YOUR BIBLES WITH ME TO MATTHEW
13, WE'RE GOING TO START AT VERSE 24.
JESUS TOLD THEM ANOTHER PARABLE.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A MAN WHO SOWED
GOOD SEED IN HIS FIELD, BUT WHILE EVERYONE
WAS SLEEPING, HIS ENEMY CAME AND SOWED WEEDS
AMONG THE WHEAT AND WENT AWAY.
WHEN THE WHEAT SPROUTED AND FORMED HEADS,
THEN THE WEEDS ALSO APPEARED.
THE OWNER'S SERVANTS CAME TO HIM AND SAID,
"SIR, DIDN'T YOU SOW GOOD SEED IN YOUR FIELD?
WHERE THEN DID THE WEEDS COME FROM?"
"AN ENEMY DID THIS," HE REPLIED.
THE SERVANTS ASKED HIM, "DO YOU WANT US TO
GO AND PULL THEM UP?"
"NO," HE ANSWERED, "BECAUSE WHILE YOU'RE PULLING
THE WEEDS, YOU MAY ROOT UP THE WHEAT WITH
THEM.
LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER UNTIL THE HARVEST.
AT THAT TIME, I WILL TELL THE HARVESTERS,
FIRST COLLECT THE WEEDS AND TIE THEM IN BUNDLES
TO BE BURNED, AND THEN GATHER THE WHEAT AND
BRING IT INTO THE BARN."
WE'RE GOING TO SKIP A COUPLE OF VERSES TO
VERSE 36, THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED ‑‑
IF I REMEMBER, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE OTHER
TWO PARABLES I SKIPPED OVER.
"THEN HE LEFT THE CROWD AND WENT INTO THE
HOUSE.
HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM AND SAID, "EXPLAIN
TO US THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS IN THE FIELD."
HE ANSWERED, "THE ONE WHO SOWED THE GOOD SEED
IS THE SON OF MAN.
THE FIELD IS THE WORLD, AND THE GOOD SEED
STANDS FOR THE SONS OF THE KINGDOM.
THE WEEDS ARE THE SONS OF THE EVIL ONE.
AND THE ENEMY, WHO SOWS THEM, IS THE DEVIL.
THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE, AND THE
HARVESTERS ARE ANGELS.
AS THE WEEDS ARE PULLED UP AND BURNED IN THE
FIRE, SO IT WILL BE AT THE END OF THE AGE.
THE SON OF MAN WILL SEND HIS ANGELS, THAN
WILL WEED OUT HIS KINGDOM.
EVERYTHING THAT CAUSES SIN, AND ALL WHO DO
EVIL.
THEY WILL THROW THEM INTO THE FIERY FURNACE,
WHERE THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF
TEETH.
THEN THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE LIKE THE SON,
IN THE KINGDOM OF THEIR FATHER.
HE WHO HAS EARS, LET THEM HERE."
THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD.
OUR TEXT THIS MORNING CONFRONTS US WITH THE
QUESTION ABOUT TIMING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THE SERVANTS IN THE PARABLE SEE THE EVIL IN
THE WORLD AND THEY COME BEFORE THE MASTER
AND SAY, "MASTER, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO ROOT
OUT THE EVIL THAT WE SEE HERE?"
THE MASTER'S RESPONSE IS PUZZLING TO US.
CERTAINLY THE MASTER RECOGNIZES THE EVIL OF
THE ENEMY, AND CERTAINLY THE MASTER SYMPATHIZES
WITH THE WORKER WHO DOES NOT VALUE HAVING
WEEDS GROWING IN HIS FIELD.
BUT THE MASTER KNOWS THAT UNTIL THE END OF
THE WORLD, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A MIXTURE
OF GOOD AND EVIL.
ROOTING OUT EVIL MAY DAMAGE SOME OF THE HARVEST
OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE AGE TO COME.
SO HE ASKED THE SERVANTS FOR PATIENCE AND
TRUST.
PATIENCE TO KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS
GOOD AND EVIL SEED IN THE PEWS IN THE CHURCH,
IN THE WORLD ALL AROUND US, THAT THERE WILL
COME A TIME OF HARVEST.
TRUST AT THAT TIME, GOD HIMSELF WILL SEND
HIS ANGELS, WHO WILL CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE
WEEDS FROM THE WHEAT, AND AT THAT TIME HE
WILL REMOVE THE WEEDS, AND THE WHEAT, THE
SONS WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST THROUGH HIS
SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS, WILL BE BROUGHT INTO
THE KINGDOM, WHERE WE WILL SHINE LIKE THE
SON.
SOUNDS LIKE A TRANSFIGURATION TO ME.
LIVING IN PATIENCE AND TRUST IS DIFFICULT.
ON THE ONE HAND, PATIENCE COULD TELL US TO ‑‑
WELL, SINCE WE'RE WAITING ‑‑ SINCE GOD
IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US ALL AT THE END,
WHY DON'T WE JUST IGNORE THE EVIL THAT IS
GOING ON AROUND US?
BUT IF WE DID THAT, WE WOULD SILENCE THE LAW.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE MIGHT SAY, SINCE THERE
IS GOING TO BE A JUDGMENT, WHY DON'T WE JUST
GET A JUMP ON THAT AND ROOT OUT ALL OF THE
EVIL THAT WE SEE AROUND US?
IF WE DO THAT, WE SILENCE THE GOSPEL.
JESUS CALLS US TO FOLLOW A DIFFICULT ROAD,
TO BE SURE.
WE ARE TO BE PATIENT IN THE PRESENCE OF EVIL.
AND TRUST THAT GOD WILL RENDER JUDGMENT IN
THE END.
SO WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?
I WOULD SAY IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT JESUS PREACHED:
REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.
THIS PREACHING DOES NOT CONDONE EVIL, NO.
IT RECOGNIZES EVIL AND CALLS PEOPLE FROM IT.
IF THIS PREACHING DOES NOT CONDONE EVIL, IT
RECOGNIZES EVIL AND CALLS PEOPLE FROM IT.
YET THIS PREACHING DOES NOT ENACT THE FINAL
JUDGMENT OF EVIL.
INSTEAD, IN THE FACE OF SUCH COMING JUDGMENT,
IT CALLS PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE PRESENT
MERCIES OF GOD.
THE CHURCH FORGIVES THOSE WHO REPENT, BAPTIZES
THEM, AND WELCOMES THEM INTO A KINGDOM WHERE
WE FIND FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND NEW LIFE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO WHILE WE'RE IN THE CHURCH?
DO WE JUST SIT AROUND IGNORING THINGS?
NO.
THE TWO PARABLES WE SKIPPED OVER IN OUR READING
FOR TODAY IS THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED.
THE MUSTARD SEED IS THE TINIEST SEED OF THEM
ALL.
AND YET WHEN IT IS PLANTED AND THE SEED GROWS
UP, IT GROWS INTO THIS LARGE BUSH, WHERE BIRDS
OF THE AIR COME AND MAKE THEIR NESTS.
THAT'S THE WORD OF GOD.
THEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE PARABLE OF THE YEAST.
THE YEAST IS JUST A SMALL LITTLE BIT THAT
IS PUT IN WITH A BATCH OF DOUGH, AND IT AFFECTS
THE WHOLE BATCH, SO THAT IT RISES, AND IT
CREATES BREAD.
INSTEAD OF SPENDING ALL OF OUR TIME AND ENERGY
IN TRYING TO ROOT OUT THE EVIL, JESUS, IN
THIS PARABLE, IS TELLING US TO SPEND OUR TIME
AND OUR FOCUS, AND FOCUS ON SPREADING THE
GOSPEL, AND THEN STAND BACK AND LET GOD DO
HIS WORK.
PAUL WROTE IN THE FIFTH CHAPTER OF ROMANS:
"WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED
FOR US."
THERE IS NO ONE PERFECT EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST,
AND HE WAS NAILED TO A CROSS.
WE ALL HAVE FLAWS.
WE ALL HAVE SIN.
WE ALL HAVE GOOD AND BAD INSIDE ALL OF US.
BUT THE CHURCH CALLS US TO REPENTANCE FROM
THAT AND THEN OFFERS NEW LIFE.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LAW AND
THE GOSPEL.
IF YOU JUST STICK TO THE LAW AND TRY TO ROOT
OUT ALL OF THE EVIL, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR
THE GOSPEL.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO
GROW.
THIS CALL TO PATIENCE AND TRUST IS CRUCIAL
FOR THE CHURCH IN ITS PUBLIC MISSION FOR TODAY.
RIGHT NOW WE LIVE IN A CANCEL CULTURE.
WHEN A PERSON ACTS IN AN OFFENSIVE AND UNJUST
OR UNTOWARD WAY, THIS CULTURE CANCELS THEM.
IT WILL NOT TOLERATE THEIR BEHAVIOR.
OUR CULTURE CALLS THAT PERSON OUT AND THEN
CANCELS HIM OR HER.
SPORTS FIGURES, CELEBRITIES, LAWMAKERS, COOKS,
TRASH COLLECTORS, C.E.O.s, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT.
AND REGARDLESS OF THEIR REPENTANCE, THEY'RE
REMOVED AND THEY JUST DISAPPEAR INTO NOTHING.
IN A CANCEL CULTURE, THE CHURCH HAS A UNIQUE
MISSION.
WE DO NOT CONDONE SINFUL BEHAVIOR.
THE CHURCH HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO CALL SINNERS
TO REPENT.
BUT THE CHURCH DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN
THE CULTURE DOES: THE CHURCH FORGIVES.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE CANCEL CULTURE IS IT
ALLOWS NO CHANCE FOR REPENTANCE, NO CHANCE
FOR CHANGE, NO POSSIBILITY OF GROWTH.
A 30‑YEAR‑OLD SOMETHING SPORTS FIGURE
GETS CALLED OUT BECAUSE OF A SOCIAL MEDIA
POST THEY MADE WHEN THEY WERE 13.
AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE SORRY FOR THAT AND
THEY'VE REPENTED FOR IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
HE IS REMOVED.
HE IS CANCELED.
HE IS TAKEN AWAY FROM EXISTENCE.
HE WAS ONCE EVIL, AND HE IS ALWAYS GOING TO
BE EVIL.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY THE CHURCH RESPONDS.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THE
BOOK OF ACTS, IT TALKS ABOUT HOW THE APOSTLES
WENT ABOUT GROWING THE EARLY CHURCH.
THEY DIDN'T GO AROUND BURNING STATUES, AND
THEY DIDN'T GO AROUND BURNING SYNAGOGUES THAT
PERSECUTED THEM.
NO.
THEY DIDN'T TEAR UP THE MISHNEH, THE TORAH.
INSTEAD THEY WITNESSED CHRIST.
IN FACT, PAUL IS IN GREECE AND HE SEES ALL
OF THESE STATUES TO PAGEN GODS.
AND AMONG THE STATUES, ONE IS TO THE UNKNOWN
GOD.
AND SO INSTEAD OF ANNIHILATING THEM AND BURNING
THOSE OTHERS DOWN AND THROWING THEM INTO THE
BAY OR THE HARBOR, HE SAYS, "I SEE YOU ARE
A VERY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE A STATUE TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
WHAT YOU WORSHIP IS THE UNKNOWN.
LET ME DECLARE TO YOU AS THE ONE TRUE GOD,
WHO OFFERED HIS SON JESUS CHRIST AS A SACRIFICE
FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.
THROUGH FAITH IN HIM, YOU CAN OVERCOME YOUR
SIN.
YOU CAN BE BROUGHT INTO A KINGDOM.
YOU CAN BE GIVEN NEW LIFE, A NEW OPPORTUNITY,
A NEW CHANCE."
BUT THE CHURCH DOES NOT FOLLOW THE CANCEL
CULTURE.
OH, NO, QUITE DIFFERENTLY.
THE CHURCH FORGIVES.
THE CHURCH FOLLOWS CHRIST, WHO ROSE FROM THE
DEAD, AND LEADS US INTO LIFE AFTER CANCELING.
THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT.
CHRIST HIMSELF SUFFERED DEATH FROM A CANCELED
CULTURE.
HE WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN, 70 OF
THE FINEST MINDS OF THE JEWISH FAITH.
AND THEY HAD A KANGAROO COURT IN CAIAPHAS'
COURTYARD, AND THEY CONVICTED HIM.
HE WENT BEFORE HAROD, THE KING OF THE JEWS,
WHO HAD MANY CHANCES PREVIOUSLY TO JUDGE,
AND YET HE REMAINED SILENT.
FINALLY HE WAS BROUGHT BEFORE CAESAR, THE
GOVERNOR OF ROME, ROME, WHO IS KNOWN FOR ITS
JUSTICE AND ITS LAW AND ITS ORDER.
AND YET NOT EVEN THE REPRESENTATIVE OF CAESAR,
PONTIUS PILATE, STOOD IN THE WAY OF THE CANCEL
CULTURE HAVING THEIR WAY WITH JESUS CHRIST.
FOR SOME HE WAS TOO BLASPHEMOUS; TO OTHERS,
THEY CONSIDERED HIM DEMONIC.
HE WAS DECLARED UNFIT FOR THE HUMAN COMMUNITY
AND HUNG TO DIE ON THE CROSS.
YET IN CHRIST'S RESURRECTION, GOD REVEALED
THAT HE IS THE AUTHOR OF LIFE.
GOD CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE CONTROLLED BY A
CANCEL CULTURE.
IN CHRIST, GOD PROMISES TO FORGIVE SIN AND
BRING ABOUT NEW LIFE, EVEN AFTER BEING CANCELED.
THE CHURCH IS FILLED WITH STORIES OF NEW LIFE.
PETER ROSE TO PROMINENCE AMONG THE DISCIPLES.
IN MATTHEW 16, JESUS ASKED, "WHO DO PEOPLE
SAY THAT I AM?"
AND SOME PEOPLE SAID JEREMIAH.
SOME SAY YOU'RE JOHN THE BAPTIST COME BACK
TO LIFE.
SOME SAY YOU'RE ELIJAH.
AND THEN JESUS ASKED THE BIG QUESTION: "BUT
WHAT ABOUT YOU, WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"
IF YOU PAUSE RIGHT NOW, MAYBE YOU CAN REFLECT
WHO DO YOU SAY THE CHRIST IS.
WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?
IS HE A GOOD TEACHER?
IS HE A GOOD MORAL EXAMPLE?
OR HE IS THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WE ALL WANT TO SAY HE IS OUR SAVIOR.
WE NEED A SAVIOR.
WE WANT THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN.
BUT FOR THIS LIFE, JESUS NEEDS TO BE THE LORD.
SO PETER SPOKE FOR THE APOSTLES.
HE SAID, "YOU'RE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE
LIVING GOD."
AND JESUS SAID, "BLESSED ARE YOU SIMON, SON
OF JONAH, BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT REVEALED TO
YOU BY MAN, BUT BY MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.
AND I TELL YOU YOU ARE PETER.
AND UPON THIS ROCK, I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH,
AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST
IT."
IT WAS A HIGH POINT IN PETER'S APOSTLESHIP,
AND YET IT DIDN'T LAST LONG.
BECAUSE JESUS WENT ON TO TELL HIM WHAT THE
MESSIAH MUST BE.
HE SAID, "THE SON OF MAN IS GOING TO BE BETRAYED.
HE IS GOING TO BE HANDED OVER TO MEN WHO WILL
CRUCIFY HIM, BUT ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL
BE RAISED AGAIN, BACK TO LIFE."
AND PETER TOOK JESUS ASIDE AND SAID, "LORD,
THIS SHALL NOT BE."
AND JESUS SAID, "GET BEHIND ME, SATAN, FOR
YOU DO NOT HAVE THE THINGS OF GOD IN MAN,
BUT RATHER YOU HAVE THE THINGS OF MAN IN MIND."
JESUS COULD HAVE CANCELED PETER OUT RIGHT
AT THAT TIME, BUT HE DIDN'T.
HE CONTINUED TO RESTORE HIM.
AND THEN THE NIGHT THAT JESUS WAS BETRAYED,
HE HAD THE LAST SUPPER.
THEY CELEBRATED THE PASSOVER FEAST, WHEN JESUS
MADE THE TRANSFER FROM THE SEDER MEAL TO WHAT
WE KNOW NOW IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AS HOLY
COMMUNION, THE EUCHARIST, THE LORD'S SUPPER,
WHEN HE SAID, "TAKE AND EAT, THIS BREAD IS
MY BODY.
TAKE AND DRINK, THIS WINE IS MY BLOOD."
AND HE PREDICTED AT THAT TIME THAT ONE OF
YOU DINING HERE WITH ME WILL BETRAY ME.
AND ONE OF YOU WILL DENY ME.
PETER SAID, "LORD, WHO IS IT?"
AND JESUS SAID, "PETER, YOU WILL DENY ME THREE
TIMES THIS VERY EVENING, BEFORE THE ROOSTER
CROWS."
AND PETER SAID, "NOT ME, LORD, NEVER.
EVEN IF I HAVE TO DIE, I WILL NEVER DENY YOU."
AND YET WHEN JESUS WAS ARRESTED, THE APOSTLES
SCATTERED.
THEY FOLLOWED AT A DISTANCE AND SAW THAT JESUS
WAS BROUGHT TO THE COURT OF CAIAPHAS, WHERE
THEY BROUGHT THESE FALSE WITNESSES AGAINST
HIM, AND EVEN THEN THEY COULD NOT AGREE ON
IT, BUT YET THEY WERE A ONE‑TRACK MIND:
THEY WERE GOING TO LEAD JESUS TO BE CRUCIFIED.
WHILE THEY WERE IN THE COURTYARD, SOMEONE
SAID TO PETER, "YOU'RE ONE OF THEM, AREN'T
YOU?"
AND PETER SAID, "NO, I AM NOT."
HE SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE, I SAW YOU THERE,
SURELY YOU ARE ONE OF THEM."
AND PETER SAID, "I TELL YOU I WAS NOT WITH
HIM."
AND THEN ANOTHER PERSON SAID, "YET YOUR ACCENT
IS GALILEAN, SURELY YOU ARE ONE OF THEM."
AND PETER CALLED DOWN CURSES FROM HEAVEN AND
SAID, "MAN, I HAVE NOT BEEN WITH HIM."
THE BOOK OF LUKE SAID AT THAT VERY MOMENT
JESUS LOOKED ACROSS THE COURTYARD AND MET
PETER'S EYE.
JUST AT THAT TIME, THE ROOSTER CROWED, AND
PETER REMEMBERED JESUS' PREDICTION.
AND HE WENT OUTSIDE THE COURTYARD AND HE WEPT
BITTERLY.
HE REPENTED.
SO DID JESUS LEAVE HIM OUT?
NO.
IN THE LAST CHAPTER OF JOHN WE ARE TOLD THAT
JESUS RESTORES PETER THREE TIMES, ONE FOR
EACH TIME HE DENIED HIM.
HE SAID TO PETER, "PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE
THAN THESE?"
AND PETER SAID, "YES, LORD, YOU KNOW I LOVE
YOU."
AND JESUS SAID, "PETER, FEED MY SHEEP."
"PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?" AND PETER SAID, "YES,
LORD, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU."
"TAKE CARE OF MY LAMBS."
AND THEN THE THIRD TIME, JESUS SAID TO HIM,
"PETER DO YOU LOVE ME?"
AND PETER SAID, "YES, LORD, YOU KNOW ALL THINGS,
YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU."
AND JESUS SAID, "FEED MY SHEEP."
JESUS RESTORES.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE STORY OF PAUL.
PAUL, KNOWN AS SAUL OF TARSUS, WAS THIS FIRE
AND BRIMSTONE, HARD‑CORE PHARISEE, THAT
BELIEVED WITH ALL OF HIS HEART THAT THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH WAS STEALING PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE TRUE
JEWISH FAITH, AND HE PERSECUTED THE CHRISTIANS.
HE ARRESTED THEM.
HE BROUGHT THEM IN TO BE KILLED.
HE SEPARATED FAMILIES.
HE DID ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND JESUS MET
SAUL ON HIS WAY TO DAMASCUS, WHILE HE WAS
GOING TO ARREST YET EVEN MORE CHRISTIANS AND
A LITTLE GROUP THAT THEY HAD STARTED OUT THERE.
AND JESUS REVEALED HIMSELF TO PAUL.
AND PAUL WAS A CHANGED MAN.
HE WAS RESTORED.
AND PAUL BECAME A GREAT WITNESS TO JESUS.
ALL THOSE THINGS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IN THIS CANCEL CULTURE.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY GOD OPERATES.
THE CHURCH ‑‑ THE CHURCH IS FULL OF THOSE
STORIES, YOUR STORY AND MY STORY.
WE KNOW WHO WE WERE, AND WE KNOW WHO WE ARE.
AND YET GOD CONTINUES TO FORGIVE US.
GOD CONTINUES TO INVITE US INTO A NEW LIFE
EXPERIENCE THAT HE GIVES US AS WE PUT TO DEATH
THE SINFUL FLESH AND LET THE SPIRIT OF GOD
RISE TO NEW LIFE IN US.
WE ARE TRANSFORMED INWARDLY
BY THE RENEWAL OF OUR MINDS.
WE DON'T CANCEL PEOPLE OUT. WE NO LONGER CONFORM
TO THE PATTERNS OF THE WORLD.
WE DON'T CANCEL PEOPLE OUT. WE DON'T GO AROUND
PULLING OUT WEEDS; WE DON'T ROOT OUT ALL OF
THAT.
WE SPREAD THE GOSPEL AND SIT BACK AND WAIT
FOR GOD'S FINAL JUDGMENT.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THAT, WE DON'T
WANT TO ROOT OUT ANYONE THAT COULD BE COMING
TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
BECAUSE OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH DOES NOT CANCEL
PEOPLE.
IT CALLS THEM WITH THE LAW THAT BRINGS ABOUT
REPENTANCE, AND THEN IT SPEAKS TO THEM THE
GOSPEL THAT BRINGS ABOUT THE NEW LIFE THAT
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
THROUGH THIS MESSAGE, GOD GOVERNS HIS KINGDOM
AT THIS TIME.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE EVIL AND GOOD ARE
MIXED.
THE WEEDS AND THE WHEAT ARE SITTING TOGETHER.
THEY'RE GROWING UP TOGETHER.
THIS EXPERIENCE IS FRUSTRATING.
AND AT TIMES IT TRIES OUR PATIENCE.
BUT CANCELING SOME ‑‑ NOW HEAR THIS ‑‑
CANCELING SOME WILL NOT SAVE OTHERS.
NO.
PROCLAIMING SALVATION IS THE WAY THAT GOD
WORKS IN THIS WORLD, GOVERNING IT BY REPENTANCE
AND GRACE UNTIL THE DAY WHERE EVIL WILL ULTIMATELY
AND FINALLY BE DESTROYED.
IN A CANCEL CULTURE, CHRISTIANS LIVE BY A
MUCH LARGER PICTURE.
BECAUSE OF CHRIST, EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED
AND ARE REPENTANT, ARE NOT CANCELED.
THEY ARE SPOKEN TO WITH WORDS OF GRACE THAT
BRINGS NEW LIFE.
AND IT'S THOSE WORDS OF GRACE THAT I BRING
TO YOU TODAY.
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO FAITH BY THE GOSPEL.
YOU'VE BEEN CALLED TO REPENT FROM OUR SINFUL
WAYS, THAT GOD MAY BESTOW UPON US THE NEW
LIGHT.
WE'RE CALLED TO BE PATIENT.
AND NOT TRY TO ROOT OUT ALL THE EVIL AROUND
US, BUT INSTEAD CHANGE THE WORLD THROUGH LOVE,
THROUGH THE GOSPEL.
DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL
WITH GOOD.
SPEND OUR TIME IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL BECAUSE
IT IS THROUGH THE GOSPEL THAT BRINGS NEW LIFE.
THE LAW HAS NO POWER FOR THAT.
ONLY THE GOSPEL DOES.
YOU'VE BEEN CALLED TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
SPEND SOME TIME THINKING ABOUT WHO YOU CAN
SHARE THIS GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST.
BECAUSE IN THIS CANCEL CULTURE THAT WE LIVE
IN TODAY, IT'S NEVER, EVER BEEN MORE NEEDED.
AMEN.
AND MAY THE PEACE OF GOD THAT SURPASSES ALL
HUMAN UNDERSTANDING GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND
MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
