The Answer Is Yes Introduction: Over the past few weeks we ve been talking about the subject of Lordship; of what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, looking at Jesus own words on the subject. I have one more message that I d like to speak on the subject. Kay Arthur said this: If you do not plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't begin, for this is what Christianity is all about. It is a change of citizenship, a change of governments, a change of allegiance. If you have no intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; it is not for you. This is another one of those hard statements that take people by surprise. It s not seeker-friendly, that s for sure. But it is consistent with the way that Jesus approached people. It runs counter to the way that a lot of people think today. One of the criticisms that I hear from a lot of people is that Christianity can be so black and white; right or wrong. What Jesus would likely say is that that s the way the world works. He spoke of the straight and narrow way to life. He stated that no-one could come to God except through Him. There s no question that it is narrow, it was intended to be, it s a truth statement. The question is: is it true? As C.S. Lewis said, A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said wouldn't be a great moral teacher, he would either be a lunatic - on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was and is the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse but don't let's come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He hasn't left that open to us. He didn't intend to. So Christianity doesn t just present a nice way to live our lives so that our children are better behaved by obeying the Golden Rule. Biblical Christianity claims to present the truth according to God; each of us must decide for ourselves whether or not Jesus was right. Richard Neuhaus said If what Christians say about Good Friday is true, then it is, quite simply, the truth about everything. If Jesus was, in fact, the Son of God and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, he cannot must not - be ignored. 1
If he did, and I firmly believe he did, then we owe him our allegiance. We owe him everything. If he did, then ultimate meaning is defined by him. Jesus said some things that seem very hard to understand. One of those statements comes in the form of a paradox, found in Matthew 16:25: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." Hidden in this statement, I believe, is the key to fulfillment in our lives. In order to understand this verse, or any other, we need to look at it in context. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Never, Lord! he said. This shall never happen to you! Jesus turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matthew 16:21-26) Jesus was preparing to go to the cross. More than that, he was preparing his disciples for the events that would shortly take place. He said that he would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders; he shared that he would ultimately die. The Apostle Peter, always thinking with his mouth, was again the first to speak, and he said what everyone else was likely thinking. He said, "Never Lord, this shall never happen to you." Jesus' response was shocking. He declared that Peter was a stumbling block to him and was actually being used as a tool by Satan. This was a remarkable scene with deep meaning. The truths represented here in the verses that followed I believe hold the key to truly understanding the Christian life. Jesus understood his purpose: "to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28) Any other plan, while obviously less painful, would have the devastating consequence of leaving the world without a Saviour. Jesus went to the cross, recognizing it was necessary for God's will to be accomplished, and knowing that, in the end, he would be raised up. He was 2
willing to endure whatever cost for the sake of humanity. He chose to lose his life to find it. Lordship demands obedience to God. He challenges us to do the same. This is that part of Christianity that many (most?) do not understand. It's not about religion, about empty tradition and ritual; it's about following Jesus Christ and joining him in bringing about God's kingdom on earth. It's not about blindly following some ancient symbol of heroic sacrifice either; it's following a living Saviour, who actually indwells his people by the Holy Spirit. It's not about receiving Jesus so that we can get rich and have all of our problems solved; it's about recognizing that God can use everything in our lives - the good and the bad - to bring about ultimate good in our lives. How is this lived out? How is it possible to live in 2011 in obedience to God? I think there are a few keys that we can see from these verses we ve just read. The first is found in the example of Jesus: Lordship demands that we lay down our own agendas. Many have wrestled with this. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus because he couldn t serve God on his own terms. He thought he knew better. Many people ask this question: can t I just serve God, living my life the way that I want? Not according to Jesus. He got angry with Peter because Peter was tempting him to take the easy way out which is what Satan always does. He said to him: you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. There are some very hard statements here. How many of us would have the same things said of us? Is it really necessary to give God every area of my life? Isn t it enough that I go to church and volunteer? Why does God need for me to be willing to give him everything? It s not for his sake, but for ours. God doesn t need me or you. Do you think that God can t get by without you, without your time, your money, your talent? God will accomplish all that he has purposed in his mind to do. The question is: will you be a part of what God is doing in this world? If you are unwilling, he will find another. To find your place in His plan, Jesus says that we first need to lay down our own agendas. As he said in Matthew 16:26: What good will it be for 3
someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Lordship demands that God s priorities become our own. So here's what he's saying: Jesus is telling us that God's priorities must be our priorities. That's why his prayer to his father in the garden of Gethsemane was "Not my will, but yours be done." He was willing to submit his will to his Father's will. He invites each of us, in our own setting, to willingly lay down our priorities and submit them to God's higher purpose. And here's where the guys in the cheap seats start screaming. How is it that God would ask (expect!) us to lay down selfish pursuits for a higher purpose? Doesn't he know that it's all about us? Haven't we all been told (especially in North America) that we deserve to be waited on hand and foot? Here's a news flash - true Christianity is counter-cultural and also counter-intuitive. Jesus Christ came to be a servant and his followers are called to serve as well. The reasons he can ask this of us are many: he created us, he knows us intimately - our individual gifts, talents and abilities. He also knows the purpose for which he created us; how we can fulfill that purpose, and he has the power to bring that to pass. With all of that, yes! he calls us to lay down our lives in order that we may live. Here's the kicker, we really can't grasp this truth without simply surrendering to it, and that is so hard for we who live in this Me-first culture. So what we've tried to do is remake Jesus in our own image: a safe, nice guy, who had tremendous insight into human nature and wants us to behave ourselves. Jesus did not come to make bad people good: he came to make dead people live! (See John 10:10) If you call yourself a Christ-follower, follow. While the sea of humanity muddles around in the valley, he's carrying his own cross up a hill, giving his life for others. Conclusion: We are here today, living in a world that is facing staggering challenges. There are natural disasters that cry out for compassionate ministries. There are poverty, hunger and disease issues that demand holistic solutions. There are environmental concerns that call out for the best of creative thinking and solid stewardship. There are societal issues that are tearing at the fabric of our families and need the application of God s truth. There are spiritual issues that require God s people to live out God s truth in God s world. God 4
is not waiting for you, but he is inviting you to roll up your sleeves and join him. That begins with a commitment. Commitment Declaration, by Rick Warren Today I am stepping across the line. I m tired of waffling and I m finished with wavering; I ve made my choice, the verdict is in and my decision is irrevocable. I m going God s way. There s no turning back now! I will live the rest of my life serving God s purposes with God s people on God s planet for God s glory. I will use my life to celebrate His presence, cultivate His character, participate in His family, demonstrate His love, and communicate His word. Since my past has been forgiven and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead, I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of His family. Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, we over me, character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I ll give it all I ve got. I ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today. I won t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation or intimidated by the devil. I ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won t back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I ll just keep moving forward by God s grace. I m Spirit-led, purpose-driven and missionfocused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race. I m a trophy of God s amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me. 5
To my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I ll hear you say, Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin! 6