Category: Weekly Sermon

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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date April 27, 2025
Text: John 20:19-31; James 1:5-8 (N.I.V.)
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

In March of 2014, there was a news story from Spain, about a 47-story apartment building that only had elevators for 20 stories, and no elevator shafts or elevators to take people to the remaining top floors. There were 269 luxury apartments but only 120 of them were rented because people were probably doubting the structure of the building and they were blaming the architect for not considering elevators for the top part of the building. This was all debunked just a week or two after the story came out as lies, and a reporter rode one of the 12 elevators and posted pictures. Nevertheless, the building hasn’t been able to be fully rented, or condos sold; not because of elevators, but maybe because the price of a one-bedroom apartment was 358,000 Euros. That is $406, 962.00 U.S. dollars. They rented for $4,000 per month. People may still have had trouble with the lies that were told against the Spanish architect.

We all know how doubts can creep into our thinking when we choose to believe a lie.

What if a lie affects our faith?

The story of Thomas is one of the more famous ones in all of the gospels because it speaks to a deep human condition. In the face of confusion, conflicting evidence, and a world that requires empirical evidence before making a decision, DOUBT seems to be the norm for many people. Sometimes that doubt can be useful. But other times, doubt can lead to atrophy and emptiness, especially when it causes us to neglect the hope of faith in the risen Christ.

In verse 19 of our text, we find the other disciples (minus Thomas) cowering in a house “for fear of the Jews”. Tomans is the one who often gets branded as the doubter, but we must remember that the other disciples were equally guilty of doubt after they heard Mary Magdalene’s announcement; “I have seen the Lord!” (verse 18). Otherwise, they wouldn’t have all been huddled together with the doors shut. It’s not until the risen Jesus actually shows up that they believe and understand. Thomas isn’t any different than his colleagues. It’s just that he’s behind in assessing the situation.

Doubt permeates the whole situation after Jesus’ crucifixion and the discovery of the empty tomb. They have heard about the lies that the Roman soldiers were told to spread. They knew that they hadn’t stolen the body, but when people’s opinions are based on lies, it takes longer for the truth to come out, and even then:

WE MUST BE WILLING TO KNOW THE TRUTH AND ACCEPT THE TRUTH

It is doubt that leads the disciples to temporarily not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. When it comes to spiritual belief, it is only human to ask why to God, or to ask Him if something is true. That’s why the gift of spiritual discernment is so important.

BUT WE MUST NEVER REMAIN IN THAT POSITION PERMANENTLY.

It must only be a temporary position. We must allow the reality of a resurrected Christ to live within us. Then and only then can our DOUBT move to FAITH

The text points to three key things that the disciples forgot to include in trying to have faith. If we don’t remember them ourselves it will lead to spiritual bankruptcy and uselessness.

THE FIRST ONE IS:

THE PEACE OF CHRIST.

Four times in the text Jesus says, “Peace be with you.” On one level, this is a conventional greeting—a basic Jewish community greeting. But the repeated mention of it here is a a reminder of something that Jesus had said to his disciples earlier. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” John 14:27. The peace that “the world gives: is a piece that seeks to alleviate fear by relying on the security of wealth, the protection of armies or the isolation of a locked door. But there’s really no peace in these things, at least only temporarily. The peace that Jesus offers however, is an eternal peace made possible by his resurrection from the dead.

Jesus knew that the disciples would be under constant scrutiny and danger—-that there would always be someone lurking on the other side of the door threatening those who follow Jesus and his peace. But the peace of Jesus is grounded in the fact of his resurrection. As the risen Christ stands before them, with his nail-scarred hands, feet, and the wound on his side, he demonstrates to them the fact that death will not have the last word with them. “Because I live, you will also live.” He had told them earlier. (vs. 14-19).

When we forget the peace of Christ, we tend to become gripped by fear and doubt, and our sense of hope seems to be unachievable. We need to remember that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have made a new future possible—a future that’s ready for us to move into right now through faith in him. We don’t have to live in fear because we have a savior who has guaranteed our future through an empty tomb.

THE SECOND KEY ELEMENT WE NEED TO REMEMBER IS:

THE ONGOING

PRESENCE OF CHRIST

Jesus “breathed” on the disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit, the very presence of Christ in their lives (vs 22). When John spoke in this way, he was thinking back to the old story of the creation of man. There the writer, Moses says in Genesis 2:7: “The Lord god formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” This was the same picture Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 37:9, when he saw the valley of dead, dry bones, and when he heard God say to the wind; “come from the four winds, O breadth, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” Then in verse 8 when he did that, we read,”…breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—-a vast army.” When Jesus breathed on them in John 20:21 and said; “receive the Holy Spirit,” this wasn’t just a precursor of Pentecost. It was the moment that the disciples became “BORN AGAIN” by the Spirit of God.

This coming of the Holy Spirit was when they became new creations. It was the wakening of life from the dead. When they obeyed the Lord and entered the upper room 40 days later at Pentecost and waited for the Holy Spirit to come upon them they received POWER TO WITNESS and carry out the task that God gave them, of taking the gospel to the world. It is this great task that is given to us. It is the privilege of the Church to convey the message and the announcement and the fact of god’s forgiveness to men.

The Spirit would also give them the power to do “even greater things” than Jesus had done (14:12) and provide the comfort, advocacy, and peace that enabled them to carry out God’s mission to the world.

When doubt and fear creep into our lives, we must rely on the witness of the Spirit to remind us that our lives matter and have purpose in Christ. It’s the Spirit that enables us to be people who forgive sins, who speak boldly, and who demonstrate the character of Christ (verse 23). The Holy Spirit provides us with the internal check of the presence of Jesus, which reminds us that our lives will never be useless when he is working within them. But also :

THE THIRD ELEMENT THAT DOUBTERS LIKE THOMAS (AND US) NEED TO REMEMBER IS :

OUR FAITH ISN’T JUST AN IDEA, A CONCEPT, OR A PRINCIPLE—

INSTEAD:

OUR FAITH IS IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST.

And our faith isn’t in a dead, Suffering Savior, but a LIVING RESURRECTED ONE

Jesus shows up in person a week later, when Thomas is present, and invites the doubtful disciple to touch his wounds. It’s a touch that’s only possible if Jesus is more than a concept, but a person who was “in the flesh” like us, who suffered as we suffer; who was tempted like we are tempted; who dwelt among us and gave his life for us (1:14) Thomas finally believed because he saw Jesus—not just on that day, but on all the days he had spent following Jesus around Judea. He knew what kind of man Jesus was, that he was worthy of Thomas’ trust and faith, and that he never backed down from a promise even when he was nailed to a cross. Now, with the risen Christ standing in front of him in the flesh, Thomas’ faith went from doubtful hope to a person he would never forget.

Thomas’ confession in the person of Christ, “My Lord and my God” is one that provides a foundation for our own faith (vs. 28). It’s a faith that doesn’t subscribe to the old adage,” Seeing is believing,” but rather Jesus’ brand of faith that reminds us that “believing is SEEING:. He told Thomas

“You have believed because you have seen me, but blessed are those who have not seen me but have believed.”

God has come to us in Jesus Christ, who continues his mission through doubters and misfits like Thomas and us. Faith is a willingness to follow him, even when we’re not sure where it will lead us.

Faith is a willingness to believe and not doubt because we know the One who holds us and the world in his hand.

Our doubt can be fixed by remembering that:

Jesus offers us:

His peace, His presence, and His person.

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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date April 20, 2025
Text: Philippians 3:7-11
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

The world has seen throughout history, many accomplishments because someone has been “committed.” Sometimes it is an individual, sometimes it is a team, or a community, and sometimes a group of believers. This certainly has been true in areas of the world, where the church is being persecuted.

In 1917 when the Russian revolution took place, Lenin, was committed, and Communism became the political system of what was the Soviet Union for 72 years. During that time its effectiveness was because of Lenin’s exaltation of his comrades to total commitment. Total acceptance of the cause; Total dedication to the cause; Total discipline in the cause; and Total action for the cause.

In the 1970s it embraced a third of the world. That’s what total commitment can do. But by the 1980s it began to crumble, and by 1989 communism was pretty well finished as a world-wide influence. Even in China, Cuba and North Korea, where Communism lingers, there have been huge changes, and there is a strong underground church. Only North Korea seems to have a regime that boldly kills Christians wherever they are detected. China does it too, but more secretly. Islamic countries now are the ones that readily kill Christians.

So, commitment brings success to a cause to some degree, or for a certain length of time, but we must be committed to the truth, in order for lasting change. We must be committed to the right things, if they are to last. Jesus said in John 14:6 –“I am the way, the TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” True commitment will mean not only turning to something good, but more importantly JESUS who is TRUTH. — but from something that is destructive,–SIN. Just as Paul commended the Thessalonians in I Thess. 1:9 for turning “TO GOD, from Idols to serve the living and true God.”

For a disciple of Jesus Christ, commitment means turning from serving self to serving others, for Jesus said the one who would be first must be the servant of all. It means turning from pride to humility. When the 70 returned after being sent out by the Lord, when even the demons submitted to them, Jesus told them; “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

We cannot glory in the works that God himself does in us, and through us. We like Paul, must not boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal. 6:14). You might think; yes, we glory only in the cross, so what’s all this about RESURRECTION POWER. Is the resurrection really that important? Some people think that we can be perfectly good Christians without believing in the resurrection. However, if we look at I Corinthians 15:13-26, we see that the resurrection has to be real, or we have no gospel. No Good News. We would be still in our sins, and Jesus would have just been a good man that was unjustly put to death, but he wouldn’t have been able to die for us and bring forgiveness for sin, unless he rose again and had victory over sin, and Satan, and death and the grave.

In I Corinthians 15:54, quoting Isaiah 25:8 we read; “Death has been swallowed up in victory, Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” This is a passage showing what had to be accomplished through Jesus Christ.

We might ask the question, “why should we be committed to Jesus, and believe in the resurrection? Because it is the only way to be reconciled with God. It is through Him that he equips us for present and future suffering. But the main reason is found in our text; Philippians 3:verses 10, 11—where Paul talks about obtaining righteousness through faith in Christ. He goes on to say; “…I want to know Christ and the

POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

The resurrection means; Jesus has the POWER he claimed to have.

Many have a strong Christian heritage. As good as that is, as a blessing from God to come from that background, I have good news for those of you who do not have that kind of heritage. None of that can save us, and we see in verse 8 of Philippians 3, that Paul says all of that religious background is like rubbish, or garbage. It means nothing for our salvation.

We can appreciate any Christian upbringing we have, but we have to personally accept Jesus ourselves. When a person becomes a Christian, God takes away the bad, (by forgiving us our sins) but he also transforms us, reconciles us to God, and gives us Eternal Life.

There were five “Mission Aviation Fellowship” (M.A.F) missionaries, who lost their lives, taking the gospel to an Indian tribe in Ecuador, which was known at the time (1956) as the Auca Indians. This word in the Quechua language means, “naked savage.” The correct name of the tribe, and how it is known today is the Waodani. At the time the missionaries were killed, they were an isolated tribe known for their violence. That’s why no one wanted to take the gospel to them. One of the missionaries, Jim Elliot knew that this “lost” tribe needed to hear the gospel. He once said; “He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

This is Paul’s experience: He lost his “religion” and his reputation, but he gained far more than he lost. When he became a Christian, it was not the end for him, but the beginning. His experience when he committed himself to the resurrected Christ was personal and powerful.

This power enables believers to live a new life. Through this power, he is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! This is Paul’s estimate of the Resurrection POWER OF CHRIST and what it can do in your life and mine.

This POWER NEEDS TO BE UNVAILED. There is sort of a FOG over it and many don’t see it.

It’s kind of like what happened after the battle of Waterloo in 1815 when the news came to England. You remember the story. Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, fought the last battle against Napoleon in Belgium. There were no telegrams in those days, but everyone knew that “Wellington” was facing Napoleon in a great battle, which the outcome would declare the future of England. A sailing ship “semaphored” (signaled with flags) news to the signalman on top of Winchester Cathedral. As the message was being received, the words were: WELLINTON DEFEATED—– Just at that instant a fog settled in, making it impossible for anyone to see any more signals from the tower. The news went across England and there was great discouragement and gloom all over the countryside. No more hope, no more liberty, no more England. After two or three hours the fog lifted, and the signal came again, “WELLINGTON DEFEATED THE ENEMY” Then all England of course rejoiced.

There was that day, when in the eyes of the world they put the body of the Lord Jesus Christ in the tomb. The disciples, along with a lot of people said, ”everything is ended, all is lost,–there is no justice, sin and Satan has conquered”—(Satan himself thought he had won). But then three days later—“the fog lifted” Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The truth has come down ever since and Jesus defeated the enemy! He defeated sin, Satan, death and the grave

We now have the HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE because of the RESURRECTION.

We now have the POWER that began with the RESSURRECTION. Because of the HOLY SPIRIT that He promised would come upon the disciples, they would receive POWER and they would be WITNESSES to what Jesus did, and the Gospel would be preached in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and all over the world.

There is power in the resurrection. Our future is secure;

We have eternal life because our sins are forgiven.

We can have the power to overcome our problems,

and we can be free from the bondage of sin.

Don’t be up and down in your spiritual walk—

obtain the victory that is yours through the power of the resurrection.

Paul gave up everything— his position of authority in Judaism, family, friendship and freedom—in order to know this power obtainable because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We too, have access to this knowledge and power. But we may have to make sacrifices to experience and enjoy it fully. What are you willing to give up in order to know Christ better? We too often want to “hang onto stuff” that we think we need. Things that may or may not be keeping us from the Lord or time spent with him. A crowded schedule, or plans of our own, that take up our time. Not that there is anything wrong with what we are doing, and the time it takes to do it, but if we don’t compensate for that by giving equal time to the Lord, then we must rethink, and recommit to our service for him.

When we become one with Christ by trusting in him, we experience the POWER that raised him from the dead

. Along with this power we have AUTHORITY

. We have power and authority over the attacks of the enemy.

We have power and authority over sickness and ill health. As our will becomes aligned with God’s will, and we obey him, then our faith increases, and we begin to understand just how much power we have because of Jesus who lives within us.

If you are not sure he lives within you, what are you waiting for? Before you can walk in newness of life, you must ask him to forgive your sins and “die” to your sins, since he took all of your sin upon himself on the cross.
Turn your life around (that’s what repent means), and put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone to save you.

Just as the Resurrection gives us Christ’s power to live for him, his Crucifixion marks the death of our old sinful self-nature. We can’t know the victory of the Resurrection without personally applying the Crucifixion. You may believe he died for the sins of the world, but you must also believe he died for just you. Receive him into your life this morning. Experience his power in your life so that you can walk in victory, and be assured of Eternal life, when he finally calls you home.

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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date April 20, 2025

Easter Sunrise Service
Text Luke 24: 1-16
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

Many skeptics will find it appropriate to put the resurrection into the category of the many ‘hoaxes” that we find on the internet. Fake news, if you will. Well, the reason the doubters keep trying to disprove the resurrection is, that if they acknowledge that Jesus not only died for our sins but rose again, they are forced to recognize the truth that we must either accept or reject Jesus Christ as Savior. They find it troubling that so many people still believe in the resurrection.

A lot of different people in Jerusalem were troubled by the resurrection of Jesus. The Roman government was troubled because the events of the last few days were very unusual and they didn’t know what was going to happen

Matthew 27:51-52 tells us that the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The earth shook and the rocks split.

The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of their tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people.

The Jews were troubled because they were still under the domination of Rome.

The ones who thought Jesus was going to lead a revolution were troubled because yet another so-called Messiah had failed them.

The ones who followed him, like His disciples, were troubled because they were left without His teaching, and they didn’t seem to remember what he said about his death and resurrection. They didn’t believe Mary when she told them he was alive. The Jewish leaders were troubled when the guards go back to their superiors and when they exclaimed what happened, they were paid money and were told –In Matt. 28:13-15 that they were to say, his disciples came during the night and stole him away while were asleep. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day, more than 2,000 years later. The two disciples (who were not of the 11 disciples), didn’t even know for sure that he had risen from the dead, until “their eyes were opened and they admitted that “their hearts burned within them” when he opened the scriptures to them.

We’re here today to celebrate what some would say — incorrectly — is the greatest hoax of all. From the very beginning, the authorities tried to dismiss the resurrection story as nothing more than a fabrication, but it’s a story that wouldn’t go away..

Our faith is founded on one specific historical event. Not a myth or a legend, but a specific event that took place in the first century that changed forever the meaning of everything that matters.

We believe that on this day almost 2000 years ago, an itinerant backwoods preacher named Jesus rose from the dead. Three days before he had died a violent death on a Roman cross. His lifeless body was placed in a tomb, sealed with a stone, guarded by a Roman centurion.

And then, on Sunday morning, the Spirit of God entered the sepulcher where he lay, and breathed life into his nostrils, and his heart began to pound and his blood began to flow and his eyes opened wide and he stood to his feet, fully alive. This was not a symbolic resurrection, as in: “As long as we remember him, isn’t he, in a sense, always with us?”

Neither was it a spiritual resurrection, as in: “After death all souls move to a higher plane of existence and that’s where Jesus is today.”

No, it was a physical, bodily resurrection. He had been as dead as dead can be, and now he was — is — alive forevermore, with the life of God flowing through him. And when news of his resurrection spread throughout Jerusalem and the surrounding towns and villages, the political authorities and religious leaders had only one thing to say about it.

Fake News. April Fools. A giant hoax. It never happened.

But in the days following, hundreds of people saw him in the flesh, fully alive, and they knew it was true.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE DISCIPLES

There are many compelling reasons to believe in the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They have been detailed in books like Who Moved the Stone, The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel “More than a Carpenter, and Evidence That Demands a Verdict.

The most compelling reason to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ can be seen in the disciples themselves.

When Jesus was arrested, they all scattered — all but John. They all feared they might be next in line, that their fate might be the same as his. The Apostle Peter denied that he ever knew him — not once, but three times.

Their response after his arrest was as cowardly as it could have been — but considering the circumstances, you really can’t blame them.

Jesus’ disciples ran in fear after his arrest, and after his death they remained in hiding. I’m sure they were trying to figure out: What next? What can we do? Will this thing blow over? Will we ever be safe? Can we go back to Galilee? Can we assume new identities? I’m sure they considered all the options. And then they began to hear the news, first from Mary, and then from some of the others. Jesus is alive. Could it really be? This is too good to be true! Dare we believe it?

Peter wanted to see for himself, so he got up and ran to the tomb. When he arrived he saw the strips of linen — the burial shroud — lying empty on the stone slab. And the Bible tells us that he walked away wondering to himself what had happened. [Luke 24:12] He really wanted to believe; it was just too good to be true.

But in the coming days they saw Jesus face-to-face. They talked to him. Walked with him. Ate with him. Thomas touched him, because he wanted to be sure that his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him.

In the coming weeks Jesus appeared to his followers again and again, to as many as 500 people, proving to them that he is who he claimed to be: The Son of God, God in the flesh, the chosen Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Lord and Lords. And he alone has power over death and the grave.

What happened next is that these disciples experienced a radical transformation. They went from being a pack of scaredy-cats to being a tribe of roaring lions. They went from hiding under the cover of darkness in a secret room to boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus in the public square.

What could possibly have triggered such a transformation? A one-on-one real life encounter with the risen Christ.

They had seen him beaten beyond recognition. And they watched — from a distance — as he died. They knew he was dead. And then they saw him alive again. And it gave them a boldness that they had never had before.

The authorities said that it was a hoax. Fake news. That his disciples had stolen his body and hidden it in order to perpetuate this fantastic lie.

That might have been a plausible theory — had his disciples been able to leverage the resurrection myth into fame and fortune for themselves. But that’s not what happened. They didn’t achieve fame and fortune at all. In fact, almost all of them paid the ultimate price for the message they proclaimed: they paid with their lives.

• Andrew was crucified in Western Greece in 69 A.D.
• James was killed with a sword by Herod Agrippa.
• Philip was imprisoned in Egypt, then crucified in 54 A.D.
• Bartholomew was skinned alive and beheaded in India.
• The one known as James the Less was, at the age of 94, beaten to death with a club.
• Simon the Zealot was crucified in England in 74 A.D.
• Simon Peter — the denier — died in Rome during the reign of Nero. Tradition says that he requested to be crucified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same manner as his master.

Why were these men who had once been completely paralyzed by fear suddenly willing to pay the ultimate price?

It wasn’t for a lie that they made up, you can be sure. It wasn’t for a hoax.

It was because they had experienced a one-on-one real-life encounter with the risen Christ. They saw it with their own eyes: a man who had been dead was alive again.

Very few people would be foolish enough to give their lives in exchange for a lie. But when you have encountered a resurrection up close and personal — as the disciples did — it changes you.

Charles Colson, head of a wonderful Prison Ministry today, and who once was involved in the Nixon Watergate scandal, says that when he is asked about the resurrection, he simply points out the number of people that were eyewitnesses to it. But when he is asked, “How do you know they were telling the truth? He answers to that from an unlikely source: WATERGATE. John Dean turned state evidence after only two weeks. That’s all the longer the cover-up could last. The lie could be held together only two weeks! Then everybody else around the president “jumped ship” in order to save themselves. All they were facing was embarrassment, and maybe prison. Nobody’s life was at stake.

But the disciples were facing not just embarrassment or political disgrace, but beatings, stoning, and execution. Every single one of the disciples insisted, to their dying breaths, that they had physically seen Jesus bodily raised form the dead Don’t you think that one of those apostles would have cracked before being beheaded stoned, or crucified? That one of them would have made a deal with the authorities? None did. Men will give their lives for something they believe to be true; they will never give their lives for something they know to be false or a lie. This is still going on today in so many countries, where Christians are persecuted and imprisoned for their faith, or killed. This is the reality of what the Rison Christ does to change and impower a person. He brings deliverance, strength and power to face anything. Because they KNOW that they have ETERNAL LIFE.

There is a lot of convincing proof that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. If you have doubts about it, a sermon like this probably isn’t enough; I encourage you, then, to dig a little deeper and discover for yourself the consensus among scholars.

For me, the most convincing proof has always been the radical transformation of the disciples that took place in the days following the resurrection and continues to change lives today. The results are:

A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN CHRIST, PEACE WITH GOD, ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE, A BRAND NEW START EVERY DAY, YOU WILL NEVER BE LEFT ALONE, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH TO FACE ANYTHING.

Scroll down past Sermon for more info

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date April 13, 2025
Text Text: John 12:9-19; Luke 19:26-44
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

Palm Sunday

An illustration of what took place on that day when Jesus entered Jerusalem, was when the Allied forces marched down the Champs Elise Boulevard in Paris, after World War II, and the surrender of the Nazi German Army. The French people were very enthusiastic in celebrating what the English and U.S.A. soldiers had accomplished. However, just as Woodrow Wilson’s popularity waned after World War I, which lasted only about a year after the war, the French soon forgot the help they received. In recent years there is definitely a love-hate relationship with the U.S. They love our music and films, but don’t like our assurance which they mistake for arrogance. One reason for this is the obnoxious behavior of some Americans who are very rude to French people when they don’t speak English.

Also after the Coalition forces marched into Bagdad, the people celebrated and praised the American troops, but it didn’t take long for outside terrorist forces, mostly from Syria and Iran to turn many people against the U.S.

Jesus’ followers were happy believers. They wholeheartedly accepted Him as their king. They demonstrated their enthusiasm by crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel! They waved palm branches and put their coats down in the road. They were probably called “fanatics” by curious onlookers.

The fact of the matter is, God wants enthusiasm. He has always favored people who enthusiastically praise Him. There are many examples of this in

the Bible. The Psalms are full of exclamation marks.

Psalm 47 shows this enthusiasm. “Clap your hands…shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High!”

There is a Praise chorus which says; “Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing. Power and majesty, praise to the King. Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar—At the sound of your name. I sing for joy at the work of your hands Forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

The prophets were enthusiastic. Isaiah says in chapter 40 verses 6-10; “A voice says, ‘Cry out…go up on a high mountain…lift up your voice with a SHOUT, lift it up, do not be afraid–see, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him.

Jeremiah is enthusiastic, even when he is warning against the judgment of God. Then in chapter 31 he gives the assurance that; “the Lord…will build you up again, and you will be rebuilt, O virgin Israel. Again, you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Again, you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria, the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit. There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God. This is what the Lord says; Sing with joy for Jacob; SHOUT for the foremost of the nations, make your praises heard, and say; ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’”

In Acts 2:43-47, the early church was; “filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. The beggar at the temple gate after he was healed, (Acts 3:8); “went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

In II Cor. 5:13, Paul says; “If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God, if we are in our right mind it is for you.” (verse 14). “Christ’s love compels us.”

God is actually critical of those who have lost their enthusiasm. In Rev. 3:15-16 he says; “I know your works (deeds); that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. God prefers that we are “hot” or “enthusiastic”. His second choice because it is honest, is (antagonistic). It isn’t an option to be in the middle of these two extremes when it come to our attitude towards Christ, and ministry for the Lord.

The Christian has many reasons to be enthusiastic.

He can be enthusiastic about the past. What was evil is forgiven and what was good is not lost. We can be enthusiastic about the present. We are members of the world’s greatest team and involved in the world’s greatest cause. We are strengthened by the world’s greatest power, and led by the world’s greatest leader. Our Lord Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings.

We can be enthusiastic about the future too.

We have the promise of eternal life. The final chapters of Revelation are the most enthusiastic words ever written. (Rev. 19:1). After this (the prediction of the fall of Babylon), I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. In chapter 22:12-13 the Lord says; “Behold I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Verse 17; “the Spirit and the bride say come. Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

It is important to keep our enthusiasm for Christ alive. Some who shouted “Hosanna” may have shouted “crucify him!” five days later. Some today may not Join in with the crowd shouting crucify him, but they have lost their enthusiasm for Christ, because a vocal minority, like the Pharisees, are putting Him down.

Most who make a profession of faith do so enthusiastically. Years ago when Billy Graham held his first Crusade in England, they had a lot of “Bobbies” (as they called their policemen) surrounding the soccer field where he preached. When Billy gave the invitation people from all over the stadium began to move down towards the field where the platform was set up. The police began to club people with their “Billy clubs,” because they thought they were starting to riot. So, don’t let anyone tell you that Billy Graham made it easy to accept Christ.

But people frequently are very enthusiastic when they first make a commitment to Christ. They want to know more about the Bible. They are anxious to tell other people about the Lord. Christians who have been Christians for a long time, sometimes get upset with all the enthusiasm they show. The new Christians look around and see how others are—with their dead pan looks, and lack of enthusiasm for the Lord, and sometimes get intimidated. One time a so-called mature Christian said about a new Christian; “don’t worry—give him a few months and he’ll get normal” –How sad.

However, there are others who have kept and increased their enthusiasm. They are still faithful, active, bubbling over with enthusiasm for their new- found faith because they are encouraged by, rather than discouraged by their fellow Christians. They attract others to the faith by their spirit, and they light up a room when they walk into it, because of their sweet spirit. Many have conquered discouragements and crises and have come out very strong in their faith.

So, we see that God wants enthusiasm, but the question is; how to keep enthusiasm for Christ alive.

Begin with a genuine conversion experience. “You must be born again.”

Some who joined in shouting “Hosanna!” may have had no real commitment; they were only caught up in the excitement of the day. Some religious experiences today are superficial. Some people have experienced peer pressure or parental pressure to be a Christian and also a pastor may have wanted the young person to follow a catechism or confirmation class. Or perhaps just the emotional excitement of an evangelistic meeting. There are those who rebound from a bad experience with a cult, or they have been addicted to drugs or alcohol and have come to the end of themselves, but their hearts haven’t been changed.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE MUST DO TO ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN FAITHFUL?

We must be determined to keep enthusiasm alive. Much of our attitude is within our control. Enthusiasm takes genuine effort and self-discipline.

We must keep close contact with Christ. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. I am the vine, you are the branches, Jesus said. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Prayer, Bible study, and worship are valuable points of contact.

We must open our lives to the Holy Spirit. Enthusiasm comes from two Greek words; –en (meaning “full of” and, theos, (meaning “full of God.”) The Holy Spirit is God as He lives within us. Every Christian believer has the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:38 we read, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the Forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Each of us has great potential for enthusiasm. We are to give the Spirit full freedom in our lives. He wants to “control” us. This is where a lot of Christians fall short. They don’t want to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. They Eph. 5:18; “Do not get drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit. “Now why would fear that will make them too “religious.” The apostle Paul tells us in he use that as an illustration? I can’t speak from experience, but, it is my understanding that when a person is drunk, you are out of control and the alcohol- the wine takes over. What Paul is saying, don’t give this control over to wine, (or in our case today any alcoholic drink), but give it over to the Holy Spirit. Let Him control you. Open every aspect of your life to His presence, His power, and His control.

We must also channel enthusiasm into an avenue of service.

“Emotionalism” seeks to be and end in itself. True emotion seeks to express itself in some concrete way and leads to action.

Today we join the crowds in Jerusalem, SHOUTING “Hosanna!” A month from now, a year from now, a decade from now, and eternity from now may you still have that enthusiasm for Christ the King.

― C.S. Lewis said in Mere Christianity

“I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the 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. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date April 6, 2025
Text Romans 12:3-8 Corinthians 12:1-11
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

Last week we looked at verses 1 and 2 of Chapter 12 of Romans. We saw that not merely ritual activity but the involvement of heart, mind, and will is the worship that the Lord wants. It is obedient service. Paul goes on to say basically that in order to worship this way there must be a radical change. He says we must not be conformed to the world. Being conformed to this age results in an “unfit mind.”

Wise Christians decide that much worldly behavior and customs are off limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must go even deeper than just behavior and customs; it must be firmly planted in our minds. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way we think. This world says; “Look out for number one (#1) ourselves” but

II Corinthians 5:15 says; “that we are to no longer live for ourselves,    but we are to live for the one who died for us and rose again.”

This world, with all its evil and corruption, plays on our minds and has formed us, whether we want it to or not. We must be transformed from that kind of thinking, thoughts, and will, as it relates to morality. Then after this spiritual transformation has taken place, we are able to do God’s will here and now, and every day. The Christian finds out the will of God not to contemplate it, but to do it.

When Christ comes into our lives, we are new people. Then he is at the center of our being and we are different and the driving power of our life is different, our way of thinking, our mind, is different because the mind of Christ is in us. II Corinthians 5;17 says; “the old is gone, the new has come.”

When Christ is at the center of our life, then we can offer him real worship, which is the offering of every moment and every action of life to God.

Romans chapter 12 and verses 3-8 is the emphasis of my message this morning. ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE

In the days before the French Revolution, you remember, there was an elite group of swordsmen called Musketeers who had this as their motto in French; “un pour tous et tous pour un.” Meaning that they “had each other’s back,” so to speak. They would have understood what Paul is talking about here in verses 3-6.

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

When we have this attitude towards our fellow Christians, we recognize that this measure of faith comes from God alone, and is given to each believer to fulfill various ministries in the church. Since the power comes from God, there can be no basis for a superior attitude or self-righteousness. An honest assessment of one’s own capabilities, without conceit and without false modesty, is one of the first essentials of the Christian life.

We also are urged in the first part of this passage, to accept ourselves and the gifts that God has given us. Now– you may look at this list in Corinthians 12, that Carol read today and say; “ I don’t believe I have any of these gifts mentioned.” Well you may be surprised at what God has for you, even though you haven’t discovered your spiritual gift yet. The other important thing to realize is; that these lists are not exhaustive. In Romans, we have many practical gifts, and in I Corinthians we have revelatory gifts, and practical spiritual gifts that are different from our talents and abilities. You see we may have a talent or ability that God has given to us—that we were born with, but never use it to glorify god. He wants us though, to use all of our talents and abilities to serve him, worship him, and glorify him. For instance, if you are able to sing well. If God has blessed you with a good singing voice, but you never use it to glorify him, he is not pleased with that. But if you use your talent to sing for him, he may also give you a spiritual gift such as prophecy—where you declare the Word of the Lord with power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit when you sing. Or maybe the gift of exhortation, where your singing just lifts people up and they are blessed. I believe our daughter Karen is blessed with an extraordinary talent. I may seem biased, but others too believe she has an exceptional singing voice. She could have chosen to study in Italy, as one of her voice teachers in New York wanted her to do. Or she could have sung on Broadway with the help of another voice teacher whose husband and son were in “Guys and Dolls” during the time she taught Karen. It is possible that she could have done either one of these professional things and God would have used her. But she also received spiritual gifts of prophecy, exhortation and service that is better-used within the Church, which she did by singing on worship teams and leading worship since she was 16 years old. I believe she and her son Zachariah (now known as Zauntee), who is a gifted songwriter will be able to use their talents which are anointed by the Holy Spirt, who has given them the spiritual gifts to touch people in ways that someone who is just talented but haven’t yielded their talent to the Lord would be able to do Now with the church, we are part of a body, and we shouldn’t be envious of someone else’s gift. We are not to complain and regret that some other gift has not been given to us. We are to accept ourselves as we are and to use that gift that we have.

This is one of Paul’s favorite thoughts, to think of the Christian Church as a body. This is how he describes it in I Cor. 12:12-27—The members of the body neither argue with each other or envy each other or dispute about their relative importance. Each part of the body carries out its own function, however prominent or however humbly unseen that function may be. To grasp this truth fully will mean that there will be less friction, less quarreling and fewer question marks with regard to the way God is using some of his servants. And yet, there are Christians who do not believe that any Christian doing something different than they are doing is in the will of God.

This line of thinking seems to be found in almost every part of Christian service. There used to be some missionaries who couldn’t imagine that anyone could be in the will of God—- unless he or she was —–

an overseas missionary. There are some evangelists who think that anyone in the will of God must be an evangelist. The key is obeying God and doing what we are called to do. Every Christian is called to witness for Christ, and as they are going about their everyday tasks they are to make disciples. It is essential then, that we think of the Body of Jesus Christ as composed of those with different gifts. In fact, this is exactly what the Apostle Paul indicates in Romans 12:6, where he says; “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then “prophesy in accordance with your faith.” Prophecy is only one of many gifts and, of course, is to be used for the purpose intended by God. Foretelling is not its main purpose. It is more particularly forth-telling, which is the presentation of God’s truth to people. Some people have the God-given ability to dig into God’s Word and present it in such a way that God’s people are helped by it. This is a special gift from God, and anyone who has it is to use it to the glory of God.

Verse 7 of Romans 12 says; “If your gift is serving—-then serve. This gift of practical service is simply doing whatever needs to be done around the church, and doing it with a joyful attitude. This is ministry. It may be that you are able to administer some type of Christian enterprise. You may never have the opportunity to prophesy with anointing and preach a message, but high on Paul’s list is serving in other ways. There is no one who cannot every day in life show the love of Christ in deeds or service to others, both inside the body of Christ, and also to our neighbors and all those outside the church. The next gift mentioned is teaching. Exposition of the Word I possibly the thought here, and those who have the gift should cultivate it and use it to the utmost. It may be that someone who feels called to teach in a school, and is a certified teacher, doesn’t have the spiritual gift of teaching the Word of God. There is a difference. It is a wonderful blessing to see someone who has the ability and training to teach, and who also has the spiritual gift of teaching. They make the Word come alive and understood as the Spirit of God anoints them for the task. It is a requirement for deacons and elders in the church. We read that they should be “able to teach.” (I Tim. 3:2) along with a number of other requirements. Following that, in verse 8, we have the word exhortation (RSV) or to give encouragement (NIV). The one who exhorts, or who has the gift of exhortation or encouragement, is to concentrate on that particular

Gift. This, of course, must be done on the basis of the Word. The truth we find in the Word becomes the foundation for the appeals we make to God’s people to follow him. It must be, however, what the Word says, and not our own thoughts or desires.

The subject of giving is next presented, and it is to be done with simplicity (KJV) or, let him give generously (NIV) or contribute liberally (RSV). Giving for the sheer joy of giving. Giving in a single-mindedness or simple manner. Not all can be administrators in God’s work or expositors or preachers of the Word, or pastors, evangelists, or even exhorters, but God may have given someone the gift of making money.

R.G. LaTourneau, who early on in the 20th century established himself as the inventor and manufacturer of huge earth moving equipment, and founded an Engineering University. He became a multi-millionaire who gave 90% of his income to the Lord, and he used 10%. Stanley Tam, who founded a Plastics Corp. and other businesses. He wrote the book “God Owns My Business.” His business was so successful that he gave over one million dollars to missions, and 50% of his business was formally and legally owned by God (Even though at first his lawyer said it couldn’t be done.). Walt Meloon, who invented and manufactured “Correct Craft ski boats. He supplied the boats for Cypress Gardens before they sold out to Lego. Early on in his business during World War 2 he contracted with the military to manufacture troop boats. He was asked to do so many that he had shifts 24/7 to meet the contract. Then when the war ended they said they didn’t need them and he was stuck with the bill. He had to go bankrupt but he told all of his creditors that he would pay them back every cent he owed them, which he did. Because of his integrity and faithfulness in giving his tithe and offerings to the Lord, God blessed his business. There are many others who have made money and given to the Lord and had the right motives. When God’s people make a lot of money, this is not for themselves, but for his purposes. God gifts some of his servants to earn much more in order that they might distribute it with no ulterior motive of securing influence and advantage for themselves, a vice too frequently indulged by the affluent in their donations to the church, but rather with a sincere motive of glorifying Christ and his work. Then if your gift is to lead, do it diligently (NIV); He who gives aid do it with zeal. (RSV). There are fewer and fewer people who have a sense of service and of responsibility. This gift is closely linked with serving. It may involve leadership, but it may involve giving aid wherever it is needed. Paul says to do it with zeal—do it enthusiastically. We can combine this with the one last thing Paul mentions; If your gift is to show mercy, or kindness to others, do it cheerfully. Now the one who rules or leads must do it with diligence. The one who leads must do so with sensitivity and kindness. Showing mercy to those who are hurting. The Lord expects us to do his work harmoniously. The one who leads or rules should not dictate over others like a tyrant, but to inspire others with the enthusiasm which God has put in his or her soul for the work. There are some who have the ability to bring sympathy to those who are in sorrow.[PL1] [PL2] If that is your gift, then bring that sympathy, “with God’s sunlight in your face”, as one translator says. Encourage those in sorrow and in trouble.do not be guilty of pouring your own troubles into their already troubled hearts. God to them with the “sunlight of the Son of God in your face.” Leading people to understand forgiveness is a way of also showing mercy, but real forgiveness is always based on love and never on superiority. The Love of God is what people need to see, as each one of us, uses our practical spiritual gifts.

There is a hypothetical scene that I have mentioned before, illustrating some of these gifts. Suppose someone at a house party is carrying a tray of drinks across the room. They trip and fall over a footstool; the glasses fall and break and the person is lying on the floor. The one with the gift of prophecy might say; “If you would have been more careful and watched where you were going, that wouldn’t have happened.” The person with the gift of mercy would say right away; “Are you all right? –and would knell down to make sure they weren’t cut, and help them up. The person with the gift of serving would immediately go get a rag, a broom and a dustpan to clean up the mess. The person with a leadership gift might begin to tell that person where to find what they need, and if the person really is hurt would call 911. The one with a gift of encouragement would begin to comfort and encourage the one who fell saying; “I’m glad you’re all right. It could have happened to anyone. The footstool was out way too far. -You’ll be okay—or something along those lines. You get the idea. All of these reactions are needed, and——-

In the body of Christ, all of our spiritual gifts are needed, and we need to work together in the church.

When we are totally surrendered to Jesus Christ and are walking in the Holy Spirit, the enemy of our souls cannot disrupt the church, or stop the outreach and ministry of The Church. When Christ is fully in control of our lives we can walk in VICTORY, because there is victory in JESUS.

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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date March 30, 2025
Text James 1:26-27; John 4:7-39; Romans 12, 1-2;
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

In the first chapter of the book of James, he has brought us into dynamic touch with our Heavenly Father at two points. In verse 5 we see that He is ready to give us wisdom, and in verse 18 he shared his nature with us when he brought us both as his children. So then we may ask, what will life be like if it is controlled by the Father’s wisdom? What will it be like if it is the outworking of our new nature? It works out in three points. There are three truths about our Heavenly Father that He shows us in verse 18.

His spontaneous care for the helpless.

His Word of truth, and His purpose of holiness.

Then in verses 26 and 27, one of our texts for today we see three marks of the child of God. A controlled tongue, A caring ministry, and a holy life.

James says that unless we keep a tight reign on our tongue we deceive ourselves and our religion is worthless.

The word that is translated religion, captures well the meaning of the Greek threskeia and the rare adjective threskos. It is used in Acts 26:5 where Paul speaks about the religion of the Jews, the strictest sect– the Pharisees, that he was a part of. Outside the Bible, the words have a general reference to the “outward forms of religion. “It signifies religion in its external aspect. The term is not specifically Christian and is used widely in Greek religion to denote the reverencing and worshipping of a god (or gods). It often means outward acts of worship. The true test of any religious profession, James suggests, is not the outward ritual of worship, which many go through unthinkingly and with little heart commitment.

THE REAL LITMUS TEST OF RELIGION IS OBEDIENCE

Without it James is saying, religion is vain, empty, useless, and profitless. The person who hears the truth but does not put it into practice is self-deceived. This person is the one whose religious acts do not make a difference in the way he lives. Religion, that is; THERESKEIA is used to set in contrast that which is unreal and deceptive, and the “pure religion” which consists in not just making a social call, but more accurately looking after orphans and widows in their affliction or distress. This is the main part of godliness or the love of God. This is what God accepts as pure and faultless religion.

We talk about false religions too. My definition of Religion gives an accurate way of understanding what is meant by religion today. It is a set of man-made rules and regulations that constitute a system of beliefs and practices.” It is man (us) reaching out to God and trying to do a lot of things to hopefully satisfy Him. Think about this in relation to your religious or church background. It doesn’t matter if you were Catholic, Protestant, (one of the mainline denominations) or Evangelical, Pentecostal or Charismatic. Too often what we have been taught, or at least what we have learned is often what we have been taught, is”

There are certain things that we have to believe. ( And that is true there are.)

There are certain things that we have to do, and other things that we don’t do. (also true)

There are expectations like being baptized and taking communion (These too are normal expectations for a Christian.)

However, too often all of these become part of a ritual and this is exactly why so many people, who come from Christian families, eventually quit going to church, but not only turn their back on the Church, but upon Jesus Christ, because they have never really come to know Him as their Personal Savior, but only as an object of what the Church teaches about, and not very thoroughly either. Instead of an object or subject to center a ritual around, or reason to not do certain things, Jesus should be a person, who is received into your life. He has promised to give abundant life, or life in all of its fulness when we receive the New Birth, that He provides. It is not the liturgy that changes us. It is not ritual or church attendance that can change us..It is JESUS WHO WANTS TO, AND WHO WILL CHANGE US.

What James is saying is; the finest ritual and the finest liturgy you can offer to God is not those things, but a SERVICE of the poor and personal purity. Paul says in Romans 12:1 and 2 that we are to : Present or offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Some translations have it: this is your reasonable service. The New Living Translation says; “is this too much to ask, when you think of what He has done for you? He died for you and offers you the free gift of salvation.

What do you purchase as a gift for the person who has everything? Perhaps you have faced that dilemma and walked with frustration through stores hoping to find a special gift that communicates your love and meets a need in the life of the one receiving the gift.

Apply this situation to our attempts to offer God a gift he desires. God knows all things and possesses all the treasures of heaven and earth. He does not need anything. But, there is one commodity that God longs to receive from His followers. God desires for His children to freely, boldly, and passionately worship Him in spirit and truth.

In John 4 we see this revealed.

ALMIGHTY GOD POSSESSES AN INCREASING DESIRE FOR TRUE WORSHIPPERS

As this insightful conversation develops between Jesus and an immoral Samaritan woman, we learn about strongholds or obstacles that often prevent individuals and churches from experiencing true worship. She struggles with the penetrating issues raised by Jesus by hiding behind the barriers of places and programs.

Many Christians have settled for cheap imitations of true worship. Some relegate worship to a particular event or building. Often, worship is considered to be the music in a corporate service that is followed by preaching. An entire style of music has been labeled “Praise and Worship” in an attempt to distinguish contemporary music from traditional hymns. I understand the reasoning behind this because it is often explained that in our traditional hymns, we sing about God, and declare good doctrine, but rarely do we sing praise to Him. When we sing traditional testimonial gospel songs, we declare what He has done for us. A good example is in our hymnal, and what we sang about this morning. We sang declarative things about God: Amazing Grace and His Divine Love. Our Praise song invited us to bow down and worship him. Only songs like: Take My Life and let it Be Consecrated Lord to Thee, do we actually sing to Him, and ask him to take our lives and let them be consecrated to Him. The others declared something about Him. If we look carefully at the words of our hymns, each Sunday we try to have both included in some way. We don’t always succeed as we are limited by what is in the hymnal. It is good to sing praise to God and not just sing about him, however, the downside to singing only praises all of the time, is that what is included in most of our hymns are doctrinal truths that are important. Many young people today who only know contemporary choruses, don’t know any doctrine about God, and both are important.

While music is an integral part of worshiping, we should note that Jesus does not mention singing. When the apostle Paul spoke of Christ-honoring worship in Romans 12:1, he challenged believers to become living sacrifices. True worship rejects the strongholds that prevent followers of Christ from responding to God with heart, soul, mind, and strength in loving recognition of God’s glory and love.

After Jesus exposes the false assumptions of worship in verses 20-23, he guides the Samaritan woman into an amazing recognition of His glory and His mission to save people from their sins. True worship erupts in the soul of one who understands that Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away sin. He is the living water that cleanses and quenches the deepest thirst of one’s soul. Using water as the metaphor for eternal life, Jesus opens her eyes to see Him as the promised Messiah and Savior. The time is here Jesus says when we don’t worship in Jerusalem or on this mountain in Samaria, but we must worship God in spirit and in truth. To this she responds with some knowledge, by admitting that someday “Messiah is coming and then he will explain everything to us.” Jesus then, drops a bomb shell, by declaring to her; “ I, the one speaking to you— am he.”

Another principle of true worship surfaces in Jesus’ instruction for the woman to “Go tell your husband” (verse 17). The Lord knew, with a gift or word of knowledge, that she wasn’t married to the man she was now living with, and in fact before that she had had five husbands. When he tells her this, she declares that he is a prophet. She recognizes Jesus’ holiness. Our sinfulness becomes grossly obvious upon the recognition of Christ’s holiness. Once the woman recognized Jesus, she humbly acknowledges her sinful past. The prophet Isaiah had a similar experience. When he saw the Lord high and lifted up, he fell down in confession of personal and national sin. (Isaiah 6:5).

True worship also includes calling upon the Lord to meet our needs. In verse 10, Jesus challenges the woman and all future worshipers with the words “you should have asked.” The Bible says in James 4:2 that we often miss God’s blessing because we fail to ask for God’s help. Revelation 5:8 describes the prayers of the saints as a sweet smelling sacrifice. Christ-honoring worship must provide an opportunity to call upon the Lord though prayer.

Our testimony in relaying the story of meeting Jesus to others is also worship. (verse 39)

Prayer leads to the final principle of true worship revealed. This woman left her water pot and returned to the village to tell others how to receive eternal life. Verse 39 reveals that many believed because of her testimony. The Christian community has debated whether worship or evangelism is the greater priority for a church.

We see a beautiful balance in this woman’s worship of Jesus Christ. True worship brings lost people to Jesus! The apostle Paul described an accurate picture of true worship in Romans 15:15-16 where he identified his preaching the gospel to win Gentiles as an acceptable offering to the Lord. We must be careful not to separate or debate the significant interdependence of worship and evangelism for true worship. The fact is, both is what he has called us to do. Worship Him with all of our heart, and obey Him, by telling others what He has done for us, and make disciples.

When the disciples came back from getting food in the town, they urged him to eat some of the food. He responded in verse 32; “ I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Now of course this was confusing to them. Did someone else bring him some food. Who would have done that? Then Jesus clarifies this to them; in verses 34-38; “ My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘ it’s still four months until harvest? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Now if the disciples had been appointed to form a committee to study the readiness of the Samaritans to receive the gospel, I know (as a former missionary), what their response would have been; Samaria unquestionably needs our Master’s message, but it is not ready for it. There first must be ploughing, (and preparing the soil), then sowing and then waiting. It is needy, but it is not ready for harvest.

That is why Jesus used the harvest metaphor to let them know that the normal ways of sowing and reaping is not applicable here. Now is the time. You don’t need to wait. The fields are now white and ready for harvest.

Today we might speak of some fields that are difficult. They used to think they were off limits so to speak. Now we go into limited access countries with any kind of visa we can get, and Muslims are coming to Christ, Hindus and Buddhists, are coming to Christ. Maybe we think that this area in and around Nobleton are too difficult, if not impossible for people to come to Christ. Jesus is saying to us to this field too is white and ready for harvest, we just need the workers because they are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers. Then of course he might just send you.

When Jesus speaks to us about living water and true worship, He invites us to explore the depths of His love through worship. May we never limit the Lord Jesus to a set time, place, or activity. The great hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” captures the essence of true worship with the words, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” God is seeking true worshipers. He longs for you to worship Him in spirit and truth. Would you present your gift of worship to Him today by submitting yourself completely to him, with a willingness to do whatever he asks you to do?

Scroll down past Sermon for more info

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date March 23, 2025
Text James 1:19-25
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

Listening is something that none of us do very well. It seems that the majority of people like to talk, and those who don’t get so tired of hearing other people talk that they “tune people out.”

Some memorable advice was given to a daughter by her mother, while she was preparing for a date. “Try to get him to do all the talking dear. Most men can’t resist a girl who asks leading questions and pays rapt attention to their answers.”

The feminine asking role goes all the way back, to the time of the Queen of Sheba and her dazzling conquest of King Solomon In II Chronicles 9:1-2we have the account, “when she and Solomon met, she asked him all the questions that she could think of and he answered them all.”

This advice pertains to women, but the point is, most of us don’t listen enough. Sometimes it is the women who also do not listen. Listening is not only good for trapping a husband and later in the marriage relationship, but for communication in general and also for those in leadership.

It is important to listen to people to develop relationships, but it’s even more important to LISTEN TO GOD.

Tim Hansel in his book: “When I Relax I Feel Guilty” writes. “A Native American from the Cherokee tribe was in downtown New York, walking with his friend who lived in New York City. Suddenly he said, “I hear a cricket. I’m sure of it.” “Are you crazy” his friend replied. “No, I hear a cricket. I’m sure of it.” Are you kidding, it’s noon, and there are people bustling all around, cars honking, taxis squealing, and noises from the city. I’m sure you can’t hear a cricket I’m sure I do he said, He listened attentively and then walked to the corner across the street, and looked all around. Finally, on the corner, he found a shrub in a large cement planter. He dug beneath the leaves and found a cricket. His friend was astounded. But the Cherokee said, “No my ears are no different from yours. It simply depends on what you are listening to. Here, let me show you. “He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change—–a few quarters, some dimes, and nickels, and dropped them on the concrete. Every head within a few feet heard it and stopped. Turned and looked. “You see what I mean? –he said as he began picking up his coins. “It all depends on what you are listening for.”

Not only must Christians have “ears to hear: like Jesus said in Matt 13:9, but they must learn what to listen for. In verse 19 of James, we see three things about listening and doing that are important in our relationship with God. Our text shows that we must,

BE QUICK TO LISTEN

This really means that we need to pay attention and hear what is being said!

In the Kikongo language that Jeannene and I learned, they have an expression that says: “Weti wa”—-Are you Hearing? There is another word for listening. Dimba. “Weti dimba? —means are you listening? But they don’t say this because they know that you might be listening to what is being said, but the question is; are you really hearing what is being said—are you understanding what is being said?

We might wonder why the ever-practical James does not proceed to outline schemes of daily Bible reading or ways to do our devotions, or quiet time with the Lord because this would be a good way to offer a willing ear to hearing, the voice of God. But he doesn’t help us in this way. Rather he goes deeper, for there is little point in schemes or schedules and times of reading the bible if we don’t have an attentive spirit. Many Christians read the Bible through, in a year, some, have read the bible 30 or 40 times through in their lifetime. Some are very proud of this achievement.

Back when “The Merv Griffin Show: was still on the air, the guest was a body builder. During the interview, Merv asked, “Why do you develop those particular muscles? The bodybuilder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The audience applauded. What do you use all those muscles for? Merv asked. Again, the muscular specimen flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive proportions. “But what do you use those muscles for? Merv persisted. The bodybuilder was bewildered. He didn’t have an answer, other than to display his well-developed body.

Our spiritual exercises—Bible reading, and even Bible study, prayer and reading Christian books, listening to Christian radio or CDs or watching Christian TV pastors, are all for a purpose. They are meant to strengthen

our spiritual life, and to also strengthen our ability to build God’s kingdom, not simply to improve our “pose” before and admiring audience.

But unfortunately, sometimes the people who do those things, are often not as far along spiritually as someone who has not done this, but have read the bible with an open and attentive spirit to hear what God wants to say to them. Now this isn’t an excuse for not reading the bible clear through, or to not pay any attention to other things to help us grow spiritually, but we do need to make sure that we are listening to what the Lord is saying to us, by really hearing what He is saying. If we can develop an attentive spirit, this will spur us to create those conditions, which the spirit will find itself satisfied in hearing the Word of God.

In what he actually says in the last part of verse 19 and in 20 James seems to mix together the two ideas of getting along with people, and also getting along with God.

WE SHOULD BE QUICK TO LISTEN, BUT ALSO

WE SHOULD BE SLOW TO SPEAK.

We all are guilty to some degree of talking too much at the wrong time, but have you ever tried to talk to someone who if they do pause long enough for you to talk, give you the feeling that they are not listening to you, but thinking what they are going to say next and if they are hearing you they are not really concentrating on what you were trying to communicate, but rather what they will say in rebuttal.

In general, women talk more than men. This is not always true, but many times it is. Years ago astronaut Michael Collins, speaking at a banquet quoted the estimate that probably some of you have heard, that the average man speaks 25,000 words a day and the average woman 30,000 words. Then he added, “unfortunately when I come home each day I’ve already spoken my 25,000, but my wife hasn’t started her 30,000 yet.

People like to hear themselves talk, except for those shy personalities that keep it all inside. But even then we tend to, when we do speak, say things we shouldn’t say and offend people or we say things that we don’t really mean, or that we shouldn’t be saying because it is rumor or worse, slander or gossip, but in a given moment we just blurt it out!

You may have heard about the young man who was looking for a wife, and finally he found just the girl. He said, honey, you must marry me, I love you so much!. And she responded to him, but I don’t love you, you must find someone else, some beautiful girl. Then he stuck his foot in his mouth by blurting out, “but I don’t wasn’t some beautiful girl, I want you!”

We need to be slow to speak. Be sure that what we say communicates what is on our heart. Proverbs 17:28 says; “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, an discerning if he holds his tongue.”

One of the early classical writers, named “Zeno” says; “We have tow ears, but only one mouth, that we may hear more and speak less.”

Take note of this, the reception of the Word demands a readiness “to listen.” Reluctance at this point will block the acceptance of truth. It also demands restrained speech. A continual talker cannot hear what anyone else is saying and by the same token will not hear when God speaks. Arent we all guilty in a sense of talking too much to God. (Not that we can ever pray enough), but we are always asking Him for things. Not giving Him enough time for His Spirit to speak to our hearts, or show us in His Word what he wants to communicate to our hearts.

SO WE MUST BE QUICK TO LISTEN,

SLOW TO SPEAK AND THEN,

FINALLY WE MUST BE SLOW TO ANGER.

Our anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires for us.

The word righteous here has the same concentrate meaning as in Matthew 3:15 when Jesus was going to be baptized by John, and John said, “Oh no, it is I that should be baptized by you!” Then Jesus responded, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Up until that time no Jew had ever been baptized. Only proselytes who wanted to follow God—those gentile “sinners.” But now, Jesus who never sinned, identified with all men, and their search for God, and he identified with all mankind and the purpose that He was to fulfill. It means all that God in his righteousness proposes done. The growth of the new nature from infancy to adult, that is, spiritual maturity is the righteous purpose of God for us; this is what will happen if we go on with the task of hearing the word of truth—-and then obeying it.

This is how James develops the idea of going on with God. But the prohibition against anger must have to do with getting along with people, and surely this is also the context of the command to be slow to speak. It is a prohibition to allow anger to lead us into sin.

What does it take to motivate someone to betray deep seated loyalties? Unresolved anger and resentment, for one thing. Consider the story some years ago, of Earl Pitts, and FBI agent turned Soviet spy.

According to Evan Thomas in Newsweek, Pitts was raised on a farm in Missouri and was recognized as a “Future Farmer of America” (FFA). About all rural area high schools used to have an FFA chapter. Believe it or not, there is a high school in Tampa that has an FFA. Anyway, his parents said they disciplined him firmly but fairly. He was a captain in the army who regarded himself as a patriot. Even after he was caught, his wife described him as a “good man.” So what happened? After getting his law degree and serving as a military policeman (an M.P.), for 6 years, in 1983 Pitts realized a lifelong ambition by going to work for the FBI. He was assigned to the New Yoork office, and there his troubles began. He did not see how he could afford to live in the “Big Apple” on his $25,000 a year salary. Thomas writes, “morale in the office was poor, and petty cheating on expense accounts was rampant.” Burdened with debt from student loans, Pitts had to ask his father for a loan. He felt humiliated. Pitts later told a psychiatrist that he was “overwhelmed by a sense of rage at the FBI. One morning he came up with the idea of spying for the KGB. That way he could kill two birds with one stone. He later told the psychiatrist, “I was shoved by the bureaucracy, and I shoved back.” For 7 years Pitts worked as a Soviet spy and for his services received $224,000. When he was finally caught and convicted, the judge sentenced him to 27 years in prison. At his sentencing

the judge asked him, why he had become a traitor. Earl Pitts replied;

“I GAVE IN TO AN UNREASONABLE ANGER” He began his sentence in 1998 and was released on Dec. 20, 2019. He died in 2022.

Never allow anger to fester. Deal with anger as God prescribes. In Psalm 4:4 we read; “In anger do not sin, when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” Paul quotes this Psalm in Ephesians 4:28, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD.

This is important in all of our relationships. Between husbands and wives—parents and children—friends and fellow believers in the body of Christ—and our neighbors, or people you are holding a grudge against. When this happens, bitterness has set in, the blunt fact is that our life with God is not something segregated, to be restricted to “quiet times” and insulated from our life with people. If we do not have an attentive ear in the ordinary circumstances of life, we do not become different people when we shut the door and open the Bible. We must cultivate over the whole area of those virtues and practices that will pay dividends when we turn our minds to God and His Word. We must use the circumstances of life as a training ground for a readiness to HEAR

a place to control our SPEECH and a cautious hatred of ANGER. The restraint of anger is demanded, for anger closes the mind to God’s truth. A fiercely argumentative attitude is not conducive to the humble reception of truth. Our ears become closed and we don’t want to listen, let alone hear and understand when we are angry.

Let’s learn to listen carefully and really hear what people have to say so that we are ready to hear what God has to say to us. Let’s not be quick to speak, so that we don’t respond to people in anger. But then let’s be DOERS OF THE WORD AND NOT HEARERS ONLY

Scroll down past Sermon for more info

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date March 16, 2025
TEXT: I Peter 1:1-13-2:3
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

A LIFE OF REVERANCE, LOVE AND GROWTH

We are told in verse 17 to: “Live our lives as strangers here in fear. A fugitive is one who is running from home. A vagabond is one who has no home. A stranger is one away from home. A pilgrim is on his way home. The picture is of a person living in a “foreign land,” alongside people who are not like him. Here it refers to children of God living far from their heavenly home, in foreign territory, on a planet that has Satan as reigning monarch, the people of which are his subjects. We sing the hymn: “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. They’re all expecting me, on that great peaceful shore, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”—-The problem is; too many Christians feel very much at home in this world, and they don’t have a clear cut testimony that they will have eternal life in heaven with the Lord someday. The Christian should always live in consciousness of the fact that he or she is being watched by the unsaved. Our responsibility is to: Bear a clear testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, by the way we live and what we say.

Peter says, we are to do this in “fear,” that is, with REVERENT RESPECT which is spoken of in opposition to high-minded men—“be not high-minded” (that is, proud), but fear the Lord.” This means that because we respect Him, we don’t just say or do anything we want in his presence, (which is all the time.) It is being careful because we might fall, it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the power of inward corruption. It is the caution which shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and this Savior. The British commentator William Barclay says, “The life of reverence is the attitude of mind of the man who is always aware that he is in the presence of God.” Hebrews 12:28 says, “since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship or serve God acceptably with reverence and awe.: The combination stresses the greatness of God and the lowly place his people should take in relation to him. We are to have this reverent fear (in view of the fact or) since we call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially. Outward appearance, wealth, culture, social position, family background, education, beauty, intellect, all things that more or less sway the opinions of people, do not count with God when it comes to judging a person. “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart” we read in I Sam. 16:7. (When God was instructing Samuel to anoint David as King. ) Even though at times these words are comforting it also should create in us respect for God to realize he is critical, and he is fair, but we can’t fool him. No pretense is possible before God. His impartiality is an honest appraisal of things, and in this verse, it means to put to the test in order to approve the good one finds in the person. God expects to find the life of good works produced by the Holy Spirit, depending on the degree we are subjected to His control. There was a man blinded in World War II. He married his nurse. At a party years later he overheard someone remark. “It’s a good thing he’s blind, because he would have never married her since she is so homely looking.” The man replied, “I’m glad I’m blind if seeing would have kept me from seeing the inner beauty and nobility of character in my wife.” This is how God sees us. Not what is obvious to people, but remember God looks on the heart.

THEN THIS LIFE IS ALSO A LIFE OF LOVE AND GROWTH.

The Christian way of life must reflect God’s love in us, it is added to the command to be holy and to obey and have reverence for God. This means that we receive his LOVE, and that love is shown to others.

The Christian life is lived out of knowledge of the redemption that Christ has accomplished. What do Christians know? Peter reminds us that the cost of redemption by the blood of Christ, and the value of redemption is by the righteousness of Christ himself. This word redeem goes back to the institution of slavery in ancient Rome. Any first century church would have three kinds of members; slaves, freemen, and freed men, People became slaves in various ways. Through war, bankruptcy, or sale of themselves to pay debts. Sometimes the sale was by parents, or by birth.

Slaves normally could look forward to freedom after a certain period of service and often after the payment of a price. Money to buy his freedom could be earned by the stave I his spare time or by doing more than his owner required. Often the price could be paid by someone else. By the payment of a price, a person could be set free from the bondage of servitude. A freed man or woman was a person who formerly had been a slave, but was now redeemed. The redemption of Christians is from the “empty” lifestyle of their ancestors (who lived in sin and was part of a pagan lifestyle.) The New Testament stresses this emptiness rather than being saved from the misunderstandings of Judaism. Paul addresses what the pagans were like, when he wrote in Romans 1:21; “For although they knew God from creation, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Then in Eph. 4:17; “You must no longer live as the Gentiles (Pagans) do, in the futility (or uselessness) of their thinking.”

Verse 19 of I Peter 1, stresses the value of the purchase price (without blemish) perfect. This was the sacrificial Lamb of God. Not just a “plan B,” since the children of God were disobedient and didn’t follow him, not even since Adam sinned, God didn’t say, “uh oh—–I have to figure out a way to get my creation back. No– verse 20 says before creation, Christ was chosen, but then was revealed in these last times. It was for our sake, so that we can believe (and have faith) in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

We see the reason for this life of LOVE; it is that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth; by obeying the gospel. In Acts 15:9 we read; “he made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” But Paul tells us in Romans 10:16 that not all the Israelites accepted the good news. Then in II Thess. 1:8; “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

The Good News carries with it a command to repent and believe. Being purified from sin enables Christians to show genuine family love for God’s children.

Verse 22 “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brother—-love one another deeply from the heart.” THERE IS THE COMMAND TO LOVE.

The recipients of this letter had purified their souls with the result that they came to love their Christian brethren with a sincere love—not a fake love, that wasn’t sincere. The word used here is the same one from which we get our word “hypocrite,” with the letter (a) prefixed, which makes it mean NOT A HYPOCRITE. This word hypocrite was used of an actor on the stage who played the part of another. Literally it means “to judge under” used of someone giving off his judgment from behind a screen or mask. Some of these to whom Peter was writing had put a mask of insincere love over their facial expressions, when associating with other people in the church.

Does this sound familiar? We wouldn’t do that, would we?

Charles Spurgen was emphasizing to his class one time the importance of making the facial expressions harmonize with what the preacher was preaching. “When you speak of heaven he said, “let your face light up, let it be radiant with a heavenly glow, and let your eyes shine with reflected glory. But when you speak of hell–well, then your ordinary face will do” Some of us never get beyond our ordinary faces. Others pretend!

You may recall the story from the Depression, when this fellow couldn’t find a job, but one day he saw a notice posted from a Zoo, that their gorilla had died, and they need someone to put on a costume and impersonate a gorilla. When he tried to act like a gorilla and swing on a bar, after eating a banana, he flew into the next cage. He yelled “help help, get me out of here” Then the lion said; “Shut up buddy—or we’ll both get fired. Now that’s pretending. —it is actually hypocrisy—There were two conditions in the early church which were responsible for the hypocrisy of pretending to be someone you are not. Some Christians were tempted to go back to their old associates, preferring their company to that of their Christian brethren. This is mentioned in chapter 4, verse 3; “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” That’s quite a list! Peter suggests that they had plenty of time before salvation, to run around with sin in the world. Those Christians who went back to their former worldly associates and preferred their company to that of believers, would naturally assume an attitude of love towards them.

Then there was the other condition in which different grades of society were represented in the early church, slaves, freemen, rich and poor, educated and illiterate. The privileged were slow to take the underprivileged to themselves in a Christian brotherly way. This is hinted at in chapter 2 verse 1 in the words; “hypocrisy” and “slander” of every kind.”—which means simply the act of putting a person down by what you say about them. Watch out for that. We are all guilty of this at some time or another. Just because we aren’t sued for what we say, doesn’t mean that we aren’t slandering people.

The particular Greek word Philo for love, used here means “a love called out of one’s heart by the pleasure one takes in the person loved.” That is, what you can get out of the relationship! That’s what a lot of marriages have been or are like, as well as relationships among others.. That isn’t a Biblical love. It is a love of “liking” maybe. One likes another person because that person is like him or her in the sense that that person reflects our own personality, the same characteristics, and the same likes and dislikes that we have. It is an affection or fondness, a purely human attachment for another, and perfectly legitimate. For the believer, this should be changed, however, we know we are supposed to love other believers, but we find it difficult to even tolerate them, let alone love them, or like them in this sense.

I believe we can identify with that. Sometimes we do not really sincerely love one another. Or we may tolerate one another, but not love one another, and sometimes we are totally intolerant of one another. Let’s not just pretend to love each other.

The context for any attachment we have for a fellow believer, is concerned with one’s attitude toward one’s fellow Christian as contrasted to one’s former worldly associates. This attitude should be changed at the time of salvation (Paul says in II Cor. 5:17—we are new creations in Christ—the old has gone, the new has come. The necessity for this change comes because of the change in a person’s character from a sinner separated from God to a child of God. The saying goes, “birds of a feather, flock together”—the species has an attachment for itself, based upon similarity of character. So an affection or fondness for another based upon the likeness of that other to one’s self is in the mind of Peter here.

The thing that caused some of these Christians to resort to their former worldly associates was failure to obey the Word of God. Consequently their heart-life became sinful. Therefore, they preferred their former sinful companions to their fellow Christians. But when they started to obey the Word again, their souls were purified, and they came to have that fondness and affection for their Christian brethren which is the normal condition among saints who are living lives of obedience to God’s Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to control their lives instead of their fleshly desires.

The love which they showed toward other believers came from the heart. Then again, obedience to the Word, would cause the upper classes of society to have a fondness and affection for the lower classes, —Christianity levels off all classes.

God gives the exhortation; “LOVE ONE ANOTHER DEEPLY FROM THE HEART.” What kind of love is this? It is another Greek word that you have heard before; Agape—This word speaks of a love which in its classical usage refers to a love called out of one’s heart by the preciousness of the person loved. In the New Testament it is used in certain contexts like John 3:16 where the idea of self-sacrifice for the benefit of the person loved is added to its classical meaning. Here it is God’s love for us. We are told to love other Christians because people are precious to God, and we are to love them with a love that is willing to sacrifice one’s own interests for the benefit of the brother or sister in Christ. That’s why Paul exhorts us to consider others better than ourselves, and not to think “more highly of ourselves than we should.” It is a love that treats others kindly, and doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. (I Cor. 13:5) It is a love that so causes one to rejoice in the welfare of another that there is no room for envy or jealousy in the heart. This kind of love is only produced when one is subjected to the control of the Holy Spirit. The Christian who manifests the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Gal. 5:22, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Paul goes on to say after this list; “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit, let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Are you growing in the Lord? If not it is no wonder that we don’t understand HOLINESS AND OBEDIENCE. It is no wonder that we are not REVERENT TOWARDS GOD. No wonder we don’t

LOVE OTHER BELIEVERS LIKE WE SHOULD.

If we don’t desire to know the Bible, it is no wonder that we aren’t growing like we should. But when we want to know God’s word and read it and ask him to help us understand what he wants to say to us through it, then we may GROW UP IN OUR SALVATION, but the beginning is when we finally recognize that we are sinners, and need a savior, when we realize that the only way we can be saved is by the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The only way to be wholly sanctified is to surrender our lives completely to Jesus Christ and the indwelling power and control of the Holy Spirit.

Scroll down past Sermon for more info

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date March 9, 2025
Text: I Thessalonians 5:23-24; Galatians 5:19-24
Pastor Paul Lehmann

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In Galatians 5:22-23, we see the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, forbearance (or patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Some of these obviously overlap in how they play out in our lives. They are all things that should be seen in a Christian’s life, as opposed to the characteristics mentioned for those outside of Christ. They should be evident in a person who is walking in the Spirit. Does this mean that if we don’t always see these things, that a person isn’t saved? No, not at all. Does it mean that they aren’t walking in the Spirit? Well at the time that we don’t see the manifestation of this fruit, we can say that we are not walking in the Spirit if we manifest the works of the flesh mentioned in verses 19-20 of Gal. 5. “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery: idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” Then Paul says something very harsh: “ I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” You don’t have to act on every one of these to not be a part of the Kingdom of God. What he is saying is; that if your lifestyle, is to walk in the flesh, and not in the Spirit, —– basically your lifestyle is one of living in sin

What we want to talk about this morning is this idea of:

:Being sanctified through and through or wholly, or entirely as some translations have it.

So what is sanctification?

The generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is “sanctified” when used to write. Eyeglasses are “sanctified” when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God’s design and purpose.

The Greek word translated “sanctification” (hagiasmos [aJgiasmov”]) means “holiness.” To sanctify, therefore, means “to make holy.” In one sense only God is holy ( Isa. 6:3 ). God is separate, distinct, wholly other. No human being or thing shares the holiness of God’s essential nature. There is one God. Yet Scripture speaks about holy things. Moreover, God calls human beings to be holy as holy as he is holy ( Lev. 11:44 ; Matt. 5:48 ; 1 Peter 1:15-16 ). Another word for a holy person is “saint” (hagios [agio”]), meaning a sanctified one. The opposite of sanctified is “profane” ( Lev. 10:10

Basically, sanctification t is how God makes us holy. Paul didn’t leave his readers without a solution to the problem of what seems to be impossibly high standards. After describing what the holy life looks like. Paul told us how ordinary Christians like us can live in the kind of holiness described in the verses that we read. Sanctification means “set apart” and “made holy.” In sanctification, ordinary things became hallowed. In the Old Testament, the temple and altar, timbers and stones, places and days, the priests became holy. But in the New Testament, the apostles, the Word of God, and us become holy. We become holy because we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, when He comes to dwell within us. God’s sanctification changes things. Ordinary items were changed so that they became something new—the ordinary becomes sacred and holy. (II Cor. 5:17)

Look at our text: (v. 23-24) “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless…The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

In this passage, Paul is calling for the sanctification of people. Transformation of ordinary Christians into a holy people, so they can live like he just described. He was not talking to unbelievers, but Christians in Thessalonica. This actually gives us a good understanding that when we receive Christ into our lives, and he becomes our Savior, that we can’t just live anyway we want to and still expect to be included in the Kingdom of God and receive Eternal Life. If you want to say the person who lives like that was never saved in the first place, okay. But only God knows if that is true. Because we can’t just make these kinds of statements, just to fit our theology.

The important thing is that as professing Christians we become completely set apart for God and live by the Spirit and not according to our fleshly desires.

When we experience the invisible work of God transforming ordinary people into the sort of persons who live extraordinary lives by God’s power, we can also live, abstaining from every form of evil.

Does that mean that once we are sanctified, that we will never sin? No, a thousand times no.

James says, that “if we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us, and we are liars.“ What it does mean is, we are more apt to pursue righteousness and what the Lord wants us to do, rather than be drawn towards wanting to sin. Is it still possible to yield to temptation? Absolutely, but the Holy Spirit will convict the saved person, and also the sanctified person, as to the sin in his or her life that must be confessed (I John 1:9).

When we yield our will completely over to the control of the Holy Spirit, and don’t do things that are sinful, or put ourselves in a position to sin, or go places where sin abounds, then the Holy Spirit will give us victory.

In order to maintain spiritual health, we must remember where our spiritual strength lies. You cannot do this on your own. You cannot make yourself holy by your own strength. The only way to develop and maintain spiritual strength is to depend entirely on the power of God’s spirit at work in your life.

Paul says the work of sanctification is God’s responsibility. He emphasizes in verse 24…(v. 24) The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Exercising discipline, though, is our job; we must make the effort to give up sin. Practicing discernment is our job; we must make the effort to do it. However, making us holy is God’s job, and he will do it. We will fail from time to time in exercising discipline or practicing discernment, but the good news is that God will not fail in his commitment to make us holy, if we ask Him to do it. But It is crucial for us to remember that we do not depend on ourselves, but on God, for our goodness.

What does it mean to depend on God? Well, this can be seen in your attitude towards sin. The fact is, we all miss the mark; we all fail. When it happens, what is your response? Is it, “Oh no, God could never love me now. I’m not perfect.”? If that is your response, you are depending on your own goodness, not on God.

When you sin, your attitude should be, “Lord, I have broken your law. It is wrong. By your mercy, through the blood of Christ, please forgive me. And by your strength, help me not to do it again.” Once again as I mentioned, John says in :1 John 1:9;..” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify (or cleanse) us from all unrighteousness”.

It is up to us to confess; –he forgives,– he cleanses and he purifies.

Paul had big expectations of God’s sanctifying work. When God sanctifies a person “through and through,” he sanctifies that person completely, wholly, entirely. But that does not mean they have no room for growth.

Just in case we missed how complete this sanctification can be, Paul explained the outcomes;

Then our spirit, soul, and body will be preserved blameless. There isn’t much left if your entire spirit, soul, and body have been sanctified.

In our society today, we are a ‘do it” people, especially in North America. We are a practical people who tend to take every instruction for holy living as something we can do by trying harder or doing better and better until some day we finally reach our goal. But that is not what this verse says. It does not say. “Try harder to live this way until you finally achieve your goal.” Instead Paul simply said, “May the God of peace sanctify you.”

It is true that some people seem to be able to help themselves a bit, and some even a lot, but nobody on earth can sanctify themselves through and through. Only God can do this.

This whole sermon series is about TRUSTING.

Today’s scripture calls us to trust God to sanctify us through and through—completely, wholly, entirely. God might sanctify you slowly and gradually over many years, or do it in spurts with interspersed rest stops. He might do it instantly, or in a few weeks, and you will be a completely different kind of Christian in only a short time. However God does it, he will do it. God is in the business of transforming ordinary Christians into extraordinary saints. He might do it slowly, or He might do it quickly, but be encouraged!

You are going to be a holy person! If you want to be. If you are willing to be.

What about you?

Have you seen God at work already in your life? Is He already changing and sanctifying you since you were saved? Have these changes God’s already made been good for you? Don’t you think God wants to release even more power in your life?

God is going to sanctify you fully!

Our role is to wait, hunger, thirst for righteousness, ask in prayer, and knock until God does his work of sanctifying us through and through. But I must warn you, when you yield everything to Him, and allow Him to do anything He wants with your life, He may ask you to do some things that shock you. Things that you may think you can’t possibly do.

The biggest thing holding back God’s sanctifying work is us. Our unwillingness to yield to Him control of our lives.

God seldom sanctifies what has not been surrendered. Is there anything you have that you have not surrendered to Christ? Anything you are holding back? Some secret sin you feel guilty about, but still delight in it? God will sanctify whatever we fully surrender to him. Is there something you have not fully surrendered to Christ?

What we yield to God, he will cleanse, empower, and sanctify. If we yield things to him one by one, he will sanctify them one by one. What is it you need to yield to Jesus today? Are you ready to yield everything? Are you ready to say, “I surrender all” to Jesus?

We can’t become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ by “trying harder.” We should instead rely on the One who can actually make us holy—the Spirit of God Himself.

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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date March 2, 2025
Text: Matthew 24:1-14 Revelation2:3-6
Pastor Paul Lehmann

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Valentine’s Day was this past month. Hopefully this is not the only time of the year that we tell our loved ones that we love them. We mustn’t be like the man who was criticized by his wife. She said to him, “you never tell me you love me! He responded. “I told you I loved you when I asked you to marry me. If I change my mind, I’ll let you know!” That doesn’t cut it does It ladies? With our wives, husbands, children, grandchildren and anyone whom we care about, we need to let them know that we love them. When Jeannene and I end a phone conversation with each other we end it with—”I love you.” And it is the same with our children and grandchildren when we talk to them on the phone or say goodbye to them.
I want to ask you a question this morning; “Is your love growing and becoming softer, brighter, more daring, and more visible? Or is it becoming more discriminating, more calculating, less vulnerable, and less available? This is a very important issue, for your Christianity is only as real as your love is. A measurable decrease in the ability to love is evidence that:
A STONGHOLD OF COLD LOVE IS DEVELOPING WITHIN YOU.
In our text from Matthew, we see that Jesus was talking about the end times. He said that “because lawlessness is increased, Most people’s love will grow cold.” Especially in the last few years, with so much lawlessness in so many of our large cities. Crime and Murder rates have increased tremendously since these cities want to defund the police, and many police officers are retiring earlier, and others are just quitting. All of this increase in lawlessness since we have had an open border for the last 4 years. .But then there are cities like Chicago which have experienced lawlessness for years, and more recently Portland Oregon, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City.
Back in the late 60s almost all of you will remember that we saw a lot of lawlessness. College students especially rebelled against the police, and many other joined in against all government authority and University officials. We saw demonstrations of all kinds especially against the war in Viet Nam. However today, it seems that the lawlessness is against individuals. The news is full of people disappearing, or missing, and murders abound, and the recent protests are against the President’s executive orders. But we often see it within households, among relatives too. Law enforcement frequently tells us that most of the disputes they are called to settle, are domestic.
There is certainly a stronghold of “COLD LOVE” that is prevalent, just like Jesus said there would be. A major area of spiritual warfare that has come against the church is in the sphere of church relationships. Satan knows that a church divided against itself cannot stand. We may enjoy temporary blessings and seasonal breakthroughs, but to win a citywide, or in our case maybe a county wide war, Jesus is raising up a united church. An earmark of this corporate, overcoming church will be its commitment to LOVE. Yet, because of the increasing iniquity at the end of this age, true Christian love will be severely assaulted.
There can be no spiritual unity and hence no lasting victory without love. Love is a passion for oneness. Bitterness on the other hand is characterized by a noticeable lack of love! This cold love is a demonic stronghold. In our generation cold love is becoming increasingly more common. It shuts down the power of prayer and disables the flow of healing and outreach. In fact, where there is persistent and hardened unforgiveness in a person or church, (like the account of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23-35) the demonic world has unhindered access.
We see that Jesus is teaching that if we don’t forgive others here on earth, he won’t forgive us either. That’s a pretty hard concept to hear.
Not only does this cold love cause a lack of forgiveness, but the Scriptures warn that even a little root of bitterness in a person’s life can spring up and defile us (Hebrews 12:15 says; “See to it that no one misses the grace of God, and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many”
Bitterness is unfulfilled revenge. Another person’s thoughtlessness, lack of love, or even cruelty may have wounded us deeply. It is inevitable that in a world of increasing harshness and cruelty you will at some time be hurt. But if you retain in your spirit the debt the offender owes you, that often will rob your heart of its capacity to love, imperceptibly, like the “frog in the kettle” you will become a member of the majority of end time Christians whose love is “growing cold”
Bitterness is a classic symptom of the STRONGHOLD OF LOVE.
To deal with this, you must repent of this attitude and forgive the one who hurt you. Now I know you might be thinking. Pastor Paul, you just don’t understand—-you don’t know what I have had to go through in the past. It is too much to ask to forgive someone who was offensive to me, and caused me heartache even today. You’re right, I don’t know what you went through, or are going through now. But I do know that this painful experience was allowed by God to teach you how to love your enemies and to forgive them. Millions of souls are swept off into eternal judgment every day without any hope of escaping from embitterment, but you have been given God’s answer for your pain. God gives you a way out. LOVE and forgiveness, as you forgive those who have sinned against you.
The Scottish preacher Stephan Olford tells of a Baptist preacher, Peter Miller, during the American Revolution. He was from Pennsylvania and was a friend of George Washington. A man named Michael Witman was an evil-minded person who did all he could to oppose and humiliate Pastor Miller. One day Witman was arrested for Treason. Pastor Miller traveled 70 miles to Philadelphia to plead for his life. No Peter, Gen. Washington said. “I cannot give you the life of your friend.” “My friend!” Miller exclaimed, “He is the bitterest enemy I have!” What! You’ve walked 70 miles to save the life of an enemy? That put this matter in a different light. I’ll grant your pardon!” And he did. Peter Miller took Michael Witman back home——no longer an enemy but a friend. That’s THE POWER OF GODLY LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.
Verses 9-12 in our text tells us THE OPPOSITE OF THIS LOVE— that this coldness of love results in persecution and hatred of Jesus Christ. Because of this, many will turn away from the faith and even betray and hate each other. Many false prophets and teachers will deceive many people. There will be an increase of wickedness and THE LOVE OF MOST WILL GROW COLD. Because of all this, we must be on our guard. Jesus is warning us of what will be the signs of the end times. But he tells us “he who stands firm until the end will be saved.
The shocking thing is that we see an increase of all of this in every generation. It does seem that this prophetic teaching fits today’s society very well. May we be determined to keep our “first love,” and not lose it like the church in Ephesus did. We read in Rev. 2:3-4 where Jesus in all of his resurrected and heavenly brilliance is revealing certain things to John on the island of Patmos. He says, “you have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you that you have forsaken your first love.” What’s going on with you anyway? Do you have any idea how far you have fallen? Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I’m well on my way to removing your light.” But then he says, “you do have this to your credit. You hate the business of the immoral Nicolaitans. I hate it too.” Now the Nicolaitans were so called believers, who compromised their faith in order to enjoy some of the sinful practices in the society of the Ephesians. Their attitude was similar to a lot of Christians today when they want to do something that they know in their heart, God doesn’t approve of. Their attitude is, “It really isn’t so bad, and it won’t affect my faith.”
Another thing we should guard against is being sucked into the thinking of the world. We read in Romans 12:1-2; {Don’t be conformed to this world, or paraphrased; “Don’t let the world push you into its mold.”
As you embrace God’s love and begin to walk in forgiveness, you are actually pulling down the stronghold of bitterness and its manifestation of COLD LOVE in your life. Because of this experience, you will eventually have more love than you ever did. You truly do need to thank God.
I want to make it perfectly clear; there is no such thing as love without commitment. This is true in the marriage relationship or lack of marriage relationship. Just because a couple lives together, doesn’t mean they are committed. A marriage is more than just a piece of paper, which a lot of young people think today. A marriage is a commitment, first to God, and then to each other, declared before a body of witnesses, which should be the Body of Christ—believers in Jesus Christ. People sometimes say, “I loved once but I was hurt.: That seems to be their reason for never committing again.
When it comes to the church, the same reasoning prevails. “I was committed to Christ and serving Him, once, but those in the church used me.” This becomes the reason that some never want to be a part of another church congregation again. People withdraw from being committed, never realizing that their love is growing cold!. It may not seem like they have become cold—because some of these same people, might still go to the church, maybe even read their Bible sometimes, tithe, sing, and look like Christians, but inside they have become distant and aloof from other people. They have withdrawn from the LOVE OF GOD, and are really distant from him and others too.
Jesus said…”It is inevitable that temptations or ‘stumbling blocks’ come.” (Matthew 18:7) In your life there will be times when even good people have bad days. As long as you live on earth, there will never be a time when obstacles will cease to be on your[PL1] path—-in your way. We don’t stumble over boulders, but over stones,—usually little things. To stumble is to stop walking and fall. Have you stumbled over someone’s weakness or sin lately? Did you get back up and continue loving as you did before, or did that fall cause you to withdraw from walking after love? To preserve the quality of love in your heart, you must forgive those who cause you to stumble. Otherwise your heart will harden towards them. We must not form a negative opinion of someone (even though they may deserve it), but when we allow these feelings to crystallize we develop a hateful attitude. When this happens, your heart will “cool” towards God.
Rather than allow that to happen, we have the option of allowing an underground river of love to spring into action. By “love” I mean a compassion that is empowered by faith and prayer to see God’s best come forth in the one I need to love. When I have love, I have predetermined that I am going to stand with him or her, regardless of what they are going through , or what they are doing.
We each need people who are committed to us as individuals—people who know we are not perfect but love us anyway. The manifestation of God’s kingdom will not come without people being committed to each other to reach God’s fullness. We sometimes sing the chorus; “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love!” That’s the difference we should make in the world, as the Church endeavors to demonstrate THE LOVE OF GOD in us. This “Gospel of the Kingdom” (verse 14) must be preached to all nations, and then, Christ will come back again. When He becomes so “new” in our lives, that we become people who overcome the obstacles of each other’s faults; then we will become what God has called us to be, the living body of Jesus Christ—with warm hearts, —-not cold.