DANGEROUS BUT GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THE POWER OF MEEKNESS

Transcription

1 DANGEROUS BUT GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THE POWER OF MEEKNESS His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8) I. INTRODUCTION A. There was a time just a few weeks ago when my hope was that I would stand here before you with a testimony of the Lord s miraculous and 100% complete healing of my back when everyone was telling me I had to have surgery. That s NOT my testimony today. And I m glad it s not. B. My Personal Identity Crisis Do we have any idea who we are? Mike Bickle, Seven Longings of the Human Heart (Longing for Greatness) On my back, almost completely incapacitated for weeks, I started remembering my passions, longings, desires, who I was and who I wanted to be A soldier A trained instrument of warfare 4 miles in under 28 min Jumping out of airplanes I got scared Scared I wouldn't get to teach and do all the things I love with my kids Scared they d never see for themselves the man I used to be Scared I d never get to tell those kinds of stories I started thinking about Greece, and Russell, and Kim And a funny thing happened. In an Kim sent describing the work that they were doing and the volatile conditions in the camp, he recited one of his favorite quotes that he and I used to talk about years ago Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion."

2 2 "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion. That you will, dearie, and no mistake said Mrs. Beaver; if there s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they re either braver than most or else just silly. Then he isn t safe? said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you. C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe I Want to be Dangerous but Good Dangerous But Good Coffee I ve since set myself on this expedition into my own heart to rediscover who I really am What God says about me and what I believe about myself. I ve since been drawn to and spending most of my spare time in the company of heroes: John Lovell Kris Tanto Paronto Admiral William McKraven (Make Your Bed) Jocko Willink (Warrior Kid) Marcus Lutrell Lt. Michael Murphy (Murph The Protector) The Flash, The Green Arrow Supergirl, Wonder Woman II. DANGEROUS BUT GOOD A. What did C.S. Lewis mean when he wrote of Aslan, Course He s not safe. But He s good. What does it mean to be Dangerous but Good? 1. Dangerous Able to cause injury, pain, or harm. a. Not Dangerous and Foolish like Maverick Iceman: I don t like you because you re dangerous Iceman: The enemy is dangerous, but right now you re worse than the enemy. You re dangerous and foolish. b. Flash vs. Arrow: Dr. Wells: I like to surround my team with known quantities. That is because I find the unknown to be toxic, dangerous. The Arrow is unknown. Felicity Smoke: I can assure you, Dr. Wells, he s not dangerous to us. 2. Good Sound, Whole, Complete

3 DANGEROUS BUT GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THE POWER OF MEEKNESS 3 B. The Lion and The Lamb Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! 11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Submit to God s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him! (Psalm 2:10-12) His anger not seething like The Flash under Prism s influence, but harnessed aggression like a good Special Operator. How do we in this way become more like Jesus without entering into foolishness or pride. How do we become Dangerous but Good as He is Dangerous but Good? III. KNOW YOURSELF Do we have any idea who we are? Mike Bickle, Seven Longings of the Human Heart (Longing for Greatness) You have to be a man first before you can be a gentleman. John Wayne Know Yourself, and the strengths and weaknesses in your character, knowledge, and skills. Seek continual self-improvement, that is, develop your strengths and work to overcome your weaknesses. Ranger Handbook, Leadership, 1-1 A. Supergirl vs. Wonder Woman Supergirl didn t walk in the fullness of her power because she didn t understand who she was or why she was here. But don t knock her too hard B. Who does God say you are? 1. Gideon 2. Jesus Greetings, Mighty Man of Valor! Miss Florence And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22) C. Who do you believe you are? Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM. (John 8:58) IV. DEFINE THE MISSION

4 4 When you know who you are, your mission becomes clear 1. Jesus mission was clear and well defined to Him. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, [j] To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. [k] 20 Then He closed the book, and gave itback to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 4:16-21; cp. Isaiah 61) 2. Jesus only said what His Father was saying. He only did what His Father was doing. And the high priest arose and said to Him, Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You? 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God! 64 Jesus said to him, It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:62-64) Lions don t lose sleep over the opinions of sheep. If you want to be like Jesus, if you want to be Dangerous but Good, know who we are and know why you re here. V. EMBRACE THE SUCK AND TOUGHEN UP A. Affliction is testing, and testing humbles, toughens, matures and perfects us. Embrace the suck and toughen up. My brethren, count it all joy [embrace the suck] when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing [good]. (James 1:2-4) I m no philosopher, but if I had to drill down to my core beliefs, one of them is: you have no idea what you re capable of until you are tested. You have to allow yourself to be tested. If the circumstances of your life aren t already doing it for you, you have to push yourself and let others push you. That means you are sometimes going to be challenged, afraid, bone tired, and at your

5 DANGEROUS BUT GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THE POWER OF MEEKNESS 5 wits end. You re going to want to give up if you re doing it right. But if you don t quit, you will prime yourself to want more, to become stronger, faster, smarter, better. Other people will respond to your best self and your willingness to be challenged. And you will know the satisfaction, the gratitude, and the inner peace that come from giving life your best shot. Kris Tanto Paronto, The Ranger Way: Living the Code On and Off the Battlefield 1. Jesus was tested in the wilderness (He knew who He was) 2. Jesus was tested at Gethsemane (His mission was clearly defined) 3. It was only after much affliction, hardship, and privation, only after much suck and testing that Paul could say with confidence I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 4. Even Maverick toughened up and matured through affliction and suffering. B. Get Tough 1. Mentally Toughness is mental The guys who make it through Ranger training are not necessarily the biggest, strongest, or fastest ones... But every last one of them is strong enough to endure fear and pain and demonstrate the mental toughness required to stick with the hard training The point is that if you know you have done your very best, you can take the knowledge of your current limits, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as the quality of mental toughness, into your recon as you figure out your next move. If you can take that attitude in the face of disappointment or failure, you are getting tough like a Ranger. Kris Paronto, The Ranger Way, Ch.6 (Think Gethsemane) 2. Emotionally Lions don t lose sleep over the opinions of sheep. 3. Physically Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:26b-27) train yourself to be godly. 8 Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7b-8) Pain is weakness leaving the body. C. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. 1. Sugar Cookies and Navy SEALs

6 6 Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23) 2. The Fasted Lifestyle Voluntary discomfort makes way for God s power to be revealed (Read the Sermon on the Mount) D. Jesus embraced the suck and overcame it. Lt. Michael Murphy was a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan during Operation Red Wings in the summer of The following is a clip of an interview with his father taken from the documentary film that honored his life. Murph: The Protector 26:15 31:11 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering [and much suck], but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy and embrace the suck]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (John 16:33 AMP) Because He did it, we can do it. If you want to be like Jesus, if you want to be Dangerous but Good, look to His example, hold fast to His victory embrace the suck and get tough. VI. TAKE RISKS Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T. S. Eliot A. God Requires Risk When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Parable of Talents Oh, how much is wasted when we do not risk for the cause of God! John Piper, Don t Waste Your Life B. What does risk look like? 1. Air Force Pararescue (PJs): That Others May Live Their mission: To rescue, recover, and return American or Allied forces in times of danger or extreme duress. Whether shot down or isolated behind enemy lines; surrounded, engaged, wounded, or captured by the enemy; PJs will do whatever required to deny the enemy a victory and bring our warriors home to fight another day. Their creed:

7 DANGEROUS BUT GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THE POWER OF MEEKNESS 7 It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save lives and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, that others may live. 2. Lt. Michael Murphy (SEAL) C. Jesus risked it all. Despite the intensity of the firefight and suffering grave gunshot wounds himself, Murphy is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates. Murphy, intent on making contact with headquarters, but realizing this would be impossible in the extreme terrain where they were fighting, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own life moved into the open, where he could gain a better position to transmit a call to get help for his men. Moving away from the protective mountain rocks, he knowingly exposed himself to increased enemy gunfire. This deliberate and heroic act deprived him of cover and made him a target for the enemy. While continuing to be fired upon, Murphy made contact with the SOF Quick Reaction Force at Bagram Air Base and requested assistance. He calmly provided his unit s location and the size of the enemy force while requesting immediate support for his team. At one point he was shot in the back causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was closing in. Severely wounded, Lt. Murphy returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle. Summary of Action In his final act of bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom. Medal of Honor Official Citation Mikey died in the summer of 2005, fighting shoulder to shoulder with me in the high country of northeast Afghanistan. He was the best officer I ever knew, an iron-souled warrior of colossal, almost unbelievable courage in the face of the enemy. Two who would believe it were my other buddies who also fought and died up there. That s Danny and Axe: two American heroes, two towering figures in a fighting force where valor is a common virtue. Their lives stand as a testimony to the central paragraph of the philosophy of the U.S. Navy SEALs: I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight. Marcus Luttrell, Lone Survivor Mom, it s me. I m home safe and sound. Similar to Murph s father, He risked infinitely more for us than we ever could for Him....risk reflects God s value, not our valor. John Piper, Don t Waste Your Life

8 8 He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. 9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man s grave. 10 But it was the Lord s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord s good plan will prosper in his hands. 11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. (Isaiah 53:3-12 NLT)

9 DANGEROUS BUT GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THE POWER OF MEEKNESS 9 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8) What does it look like to make every effort? (Ranger Slide) If you want to be like Jesus, if you want to be Dangerous but Good, risk it all for the cause of God. VII. THE POWER OF MEEKNESS But what does any of this have to do with meekness? Let s see if I can bring it all together for you the way the Lord brought it together for me Meekness can be defined as faithfully cultivating a servant s heart in order to benefit others above ourselves in regard to honor, privilege, and position Meekness is always the fastest track to promotion in God s kingdom. Billy Humphrey, The Culture of the Kingdom A. God is right now in your identity crisis, in your suck training you in meekness to be great in His kingdom. Jesus taught His disciples to wash feet, to lead as servants, to rule in meekness, that the greatest in His kingdom will be a servant of all. But there s more to it than that The word meek literally describes one who is humbled by means of affliction. The word picture is one of an individual who has a malady of some kind, which perhaps has left him physically disfigured... Generally, someone who is suffering physically will walk with his head a little lower and speak a little more softly than others. Billy Humphrey, The Culture of the Kingdom Now I had a problem when I read that. I had heard that meekness was power under control; power restrained. I couldn t square that with what I had just read. And then I realized something. I was the man carrying the malady. I was the man who was physically disfigured. I was the man whose head was a little lower and whose voice was a little softer. But rather than continuing to feel sorry for myself, rather than wallowing in that broken state, everything that I ve been drawn to, all that I ve been reading and hearing and watching and feeling all of that was producing in me not a whimper, but a roar! B. Meekness is not the sunken posture or demeanor of a broken, lowly man. It is rather the dangerous goodness, confident posture, and godly disposition of the Overcomers of the ones whose afflictions and obstacles and temptations and suck have pushed them to tap into and draw from the greatest power in the universe of the ones who never, ever quit because they know who they are, they know what they re made of, and they know what their mission is.

10 10 C. There are a number of promises in scripture to He who overcomes But note the significance of these to our perspective this morning: You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. (2 Timothy 2:3-4,12a NKJV) And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations (Revelation 2:26) To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne. (Revelation 3:21) He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Revelation 21:7) Blessed are the meek [Dangerous but Good], for they shall inherit the earth. You re not here to SURVIVE this. You re here to TAKE CHARGE OF IT. Do you see what this means all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we d better get on with it. Strip down, start running and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed that exhilarating finish in and with God he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! 4-11 In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through all that bloodshed! So don t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don t shrug off God s discipline, but don t be crushed by it either. It s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that s why you must never drop out. He s treating you as dear children. This trouble you re in isn t punishment; it s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God s holy best. At the time, discipline isn t much fun. It always feels like it s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. (Hebrews 12:1-11 MSG)