The Church at Ellerslie SUNDAY SERMON NOTES

Transcription

1 The Church at Ellerslie SUNDAY SERMON NOTES Eric Ludy Sunday, February 14, 2016

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3 Bewildering Love A Study in the Attitude of the Persecuted Church... love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you... Matthew 5:44 The Model of Richard Wurmbrand I m here in this prison to share the love of Jesus. This prison guard torturing me, mocking me, and kicking me is the great aim of God in and through my life. Love is always the best of ways. The Model of Betsy ten Boom I m here in Ravensbruck Concentration Camp to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ. This Nazi soldier currently beating me is the great aim of God in and through my life. I choose to love them! There is a smile that CANNOT be wiped away. Rejoice always... 1 Thessalonians 5:16 The Audacious March Down Brickbat Lane The East End of London in the mid-to-late 1800s was a place of darkness. Jack the Ripper roamed the streets of Whitechapel while poverty strode alongside him as if it were 3

4 his lackey. Death, despair, drunkenness, and disease were more common than a cold, and it seemed hope was yesteryear s fancy. But, as is true in every season of darkness, God raises up a band of heavenly fools to shine the ancient Light of Truth. And so He did in East London. God commissioned the hallelujah-singing Salvation Army to start marching in the midst of this destitution. This audacious band of soul-winners was not received with the august acclamation you would think that those despairing and in desperate need of hope would supply to their rescuers. Instead of acclaim, applause, and gratitude, they were met with grave hostility. Almost always a mob numbering in the thousands stood to block the way of the Salvation Army. And such was the case one day as the Army marched toward Sheffield, England. The shouts of Kill em! rang in the streets, a savage mob hooted, spat, screamed, cursed, hurled filth, refuse, and brickbats, and charged headlong at the humble band of Christian men and women with malevolent intent. The motley band of marching saints was led by William Booth, who sat upon a carriage with an open top, fully exposed to the hurling debris. His wife, Catherine, was seated beside him. It wasn t the first time he had received this kind of reception. It wasn t the first time he had arrived at his destination bloodied and bruised. And it certainly would not be the last. Throughout history, the bold return of the dunces has never been received with applause or acceptance. But amazingly, even amid the flying filth and the venomous insults, Booth and his followers seemed to have faces of angels. Looking closely, one might event detect the presence of genuine smiles playing on their lips. Booth charged his followers onward, through the opposition. He commissioned them to not retaliate, but simply march on, beating their drums, playing their horns, and embracing the mockery. So they marched, singing at the top of their lungs, declaring to anyone who would listen that the Son of God had conquered sin and death on their behalf. They finally arrived at their destination in the same way that all Christ s fools arrive bruised, but blessed. Clothes torn, but hearts overflowing with love. Insulted, but shouting Hallelujah! Bloodied, but invigorated and ready to go right back out and do it all again. This scene clearly enunciates our vision for Ellerslie. We want to build up men and women ready to march down Brickbat Lane, straight through the venomous mob, shouting Hallelujah at every malevolent attempt against their lives and dignity, unashamedly declaring the victory of Jesus Christ to all who will listen. This is the Bold Return of the Dunces. 4

5 To be a fool is not something I would advise to anyone. But to become a fool for Christ is truly a noble pursuit. It is for this purpose that Ellerslie was founded. We are a school that exists to raise up fools for Christ. excerpted from - The Bold Return of the Dunces The Salvation Army the beginnings One memorable day in July 1865, after exploring the streets in an East End district where he was to conduct a mission, the terrible poverty, vice and degradation of these needy people struck home to his heart. He arrived at his Hammersmith home just before midnight and greeted his waiting Catherine with these words: Darling, I have found my destiny! She understood him. Together they had ministered God s grace to God s poor in many places. Now they were to spend their lives bringing deliverance to Satan s captives in the evil jungle of London s slums. Charles Clarke Pioneers of Revival Audacious Fatherhood One day William took Bramwell, his son, into an East End pub which was crammed full of dirty, intoxicated creatures. Seeing the appalled look on his son s face, he said gently, Bramwell, these are our people the people I want you to live for. Charles Clarke Pioneers of Revival Hey Hudson, Come Join Daddy! The cluster of ISIS soldiers The gathering of radical LGBT activists The inner-city gang The circle of brash, godless, blaspheming youth One day Eric took Hudson, his son, into the center of a circle of smoking, tattooed, blaspheming, intoxicated, stoned youth gathered outside the Windsor McDonalds. Seeing 5

6 the appalled look on his son s face, he said gently, Hudson, these are our people the people I want you to live for. The Early Love Bearers They gave up everything to follow They built their entire life around prayer, the study of the Word, and the sharing of the Good News They expected to be hated, despised, persecuted, and even killed when they were told to stop preaching about Jesus, they kept preaching They tirelessly labored to reach every nation They were not just hearers, but doers They changed the world in which they lived And they did, in the end, die as martyrs What Has Happened to Us? We are waiting for the lost and the dying to come to us We are hoping that the enemies of the Gospel will just give up The Closet the proper use and the misuse The Place of Prayer which infuses the Preacher to go into all the world and Preach The Place of Hiding from danger, threat, difficulty, obstacle, and challenge Adopting the East End There is always a West End and an East End The West End of London - Affluent, wealthy The East End of London - Impoverished, dying These are Our People Bramwell, these are our people the people I want you to live for. William Booth 6

7 The Principle of Living Water He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:38 Living Water Flows to the Lowest Place It flows to the East End. For this is where Christ is. Humility like water, it is always drawn to the lowest place Taking the East End With the Force of Love and Humility Let s Gain this Territory With the Force of Love and Humility With the Force of Self-Interest and Self-preservation This dying world will die without hope Jesus Didn t Leave us Hapless and Ill-Equipped His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue... 2 Peter 1:3 7

8 Introducing the Christian Christian Four Principles of the Christian Christian #1 - The Principle of Especially Them The brand of love that God has shed abroad in our hearts has been made available to us especially for such as these. These men and women are empty, hurting, lost, and dying. Christ s blood was shed for them, would we be willing to shed our blood for them as well? #2 - The Principle of the Most Infamous Sinner When you come into a town, find the most infamous sinner in that community and go after him. His transformation will preach the Gospel to the people of that town with greater force and clarity than a thousand sermons. William Booth (paraphrase) #3 - The Principle of Boldness in the Face of Threat Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. Philippians 1:27-28 The righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 8

9 Remember Little Mary Slessor and the Jungle Warrior #4 - The Principle of the Fearless Next Step God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalm 46:1-2 David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:48 Bewildering Love... love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you... Matthew 5:44 9