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1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
Mark 16:1-4 (NIV)

Well today is Easter Sunday. This is the day that has been set aside annually to acknowledge and celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But as we celebrate on THIS Easter Sunday, I want you to know and understand that Easter is not all about the Easter bunny, hippity hopping along and brining chocolate eggs for you to forget about your New Year’s resolution diet. Easter is not about hiding Spring colored eggs over every inch of a yard, field or carpet for little children to lose their minds trying to find them. Easter is not about buying a brand new Easter suit, a new Easter dress, a new Easter hat or some Easter shoes. Easter is not about the “madness” sales at the local department stores. Let the truth be told, Easter is not even about a certain day and a certain time of the year.

On the contrary, Easter, or should I say, Resurrection Day, should be celebrated every day, not just on Easter Sunday morning as designated on our man-made calendar. Easter should be celebrated every morning we open up our eyes and can still see the beauty and glory of the day. Easter should be celebrated every time we see our children running and playing in the house or in the yard. Easter should be celebrated every time you look at your pay check and realize that you’ve been blessed with a job. Easter should be celebrated every time one of our loved ones in the Lord has transitioned from this life to eternal rest.

For Christ died that we might have grace and mercy everlasting. Not a once a year grace. Not a some time grace. But a grace that’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, every single year for the rest of eternity kind of grace.

Yes, friends, we are to celebrate Jesus, because what he did for us, is unlike anything that anyone else will do for us in our lives. Yes, there may come a time when someone may give up their life to save yours. I know that there are some parents who would give up their own lives to save the life of one of their children, but that saving power is just a physical thing. All you can do is save the physical body. And even in that instance of physical saving, there” no guarantee that your child will live beyond the next moment. They are still, at some point, subject to a physical death.

But thank God for His son Jesus, who gave up His life that we might be able to live life and live it more abundantly. He gave up His life - He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquity, the chastisement of peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Yes, we are healed from the sickness of sin. Healed from eternal damnation. Healed from a carnal existence. He gave up His life that we are no longer condemned to die, but grace and mercy has been extended by the Almighty God! What He did for us, no one else will ever be able to do! So there is a greater significance and greater benefits involved when we look at Him giving up His life for ours.

Yet, how much of this is forgotten in this world? How much of the grace and mercy extended by our Father in heaven is being slowly left aside in our society, in our lives?

I recently came across this story, it was told by “Dear Abby” in a response to someone’s question.

A young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school. It was the custom in that affluent neighborhood for the parents to give the graduate an automobile. “Bill” and his father had spent months looking at cars, and the week before graduation, they found the perfect car. On the eve of his graduation, his father handed him a gift wrapped Bible. Bill was so angry that he threw the Bible down and stormed out of the house. He and his father never saw each other again. It was the news of his father’s death that brought Bill home again.

As he sat one night going through his father’s possessions that he was to inherit, he came across the Bible his father had given him. He brushed away the dust and opened it to find a cashier’s check, dated the day of his graduation - in the exact amount of the car they had chosen together.

As I thought about this story, I couldn’t help but wonder how many people in this world have done the same thing to God. Literally tossed aside a wonderful promise, because they didn’t understand it, or they didn’t believe that it was possible - and so it becomes forgotten.

In our world, we are taught that; “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” So many of us have been taken in by “empty promises,” that we are leery of anything or anyone that tells us we can have something for nothing. THE WORLD SIMPLY DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY!

But you know what - God does - God never made a promise that was too good to be true. The truth of the matter is, the world is full of empty promises. We watch TV, and the advertisements tell us that we can be happy, sexy, rich, or famous, if we only purchase a certain product. It doesn’t take long before we have been fooled enough to know that the world’s promises are full of emptiness. But, God is different. Instead of promises full of emptiness, on Easter, he gave us emptiness that is full of promise.

This morning, I would like to remind us about the promises of Easter. There are three of them. Each promise is marked by something empty. An empty cross, an empty tomb and empty burial clothes. It is the very fact that each of these is empty that assures us God’s promises are real. Since they couldn’t hold Jesus, since the cross, the tomb, or even His burial clothes couldn’t contain him, we can be sure of the fullness of God’s promises in our lives.

THE EMPTY CROSS

Let’s begin with the empty cross. Because the cross was empty, we have the promise of forgiven sins. Let’s go back, if we can, to that 1st Easter morning. It is early morning - dawn - but the sun has not risen. A few of Jesus’ followers - women - are on their way to a tomb. It is the tomb where Jesus was buried. They have been walking now for about ½ hour. The conversation is subdued. The task before them is a sad one. They are going to anoint the body of Jesus. As they come to the top of a rise in the path, they all stop. Motionless and quiet, they stare off in the distance. As you look with them, look off to the right, just outside the city stands a gruesome reminder of the events of just a few days ago. Do you see it? Over there, silhouetted by the glow of the pink sky, on top of the Hill the locals call, “The Skull.” 3 Crosses.

Yesterday was the Sabbath, so nobody had yet removed them. So, there they stand, an empty reminder of the horror of Friday.

The one in the middle, that is the one that I want you to see. That’s the one that Jesus hung on. Take a close look at it. Look up at the top - those bloodstains are from the crown of thorns that was crushed into Jesus’ skull. The stains on the ends of the crossbar - they came from the nails that were driven into his hands. The main beam - it was soaked in blood - blood from his back - blood that was bled when the Roman soldiers beat him with a whip. It also has stains from the blood that poured from Him when another roman soldier ran a spear through His side to see if He was dead - HE WAS.

Don’t ever believe anyone who tells you He was just faking it. There was no question - Jesus was dead.

- The soldiers knew it
- The Romans knew it
- The Jews knew it

Together, they made up a lie? - the disciples stole the body. Can you imagine 11 fishermen overpowering a company of Roman soldiers, moving a 2 ton stone and stealing the body of Jesus - just so they could claim he had come back to life - and then willingly dying to protect that lie? You see, Jesus really did die - that is why I want you to see the cross this morning. It is the place where He died - but today, it is empty. Empty of Jesus’ body, but full - full of God’s promise. Full of hope - for you and me.

The promise of the empty cross is that anyone who believes in Jesus stands forgiven. Because it was on that cross that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.

“SIN” - now there is a word that is just not popular anymore. It is a word that isn’t ‘politically correct’. But, the simple fact of the matter is - we have all sinned. Every one of us - you, me, the person sitting next to you, behind you and in front of you. We have “all sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The only person who has ever lived a sinless life is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Everyone else has failed.

So, here is the problem - according to God’s law - ‘the wages of sin is death’. (Romans 6:23) Jesus also taught,

I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.”
John 8:24 (NIV)

Because, we have sinned, we deserve God’s just punishment. We deserve “eternal death” - hell. However, when you look at the empty cross - it is a reminder of God’s promise of forgiveness. On that cross - Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.

God’s word tells us again - “God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US!” (Romans 5:8)

It was on that cross that Jesus Christ offered His perfect, sinless life on behalf of each one of us. No one else - not Moses or Abraham, not David or Isaiah, not Muhammad or Buddha - no one else has ever lived perfectly and then offered His perfect life for our salvation. That is why the Bible tells us that “there is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

When Jesus Christ breathed His last, He cried out; “It is finished.” The penalty was paid. On that cross - that empty cross - It was there, that His blood was spilt for our salvation. Before that fateful Friday, God could open the books and look up each name, and written in black were the words - “guilty of sin” But when Jesus went to the cross, God literally transferred every believer’s accounts to His name. On that day, across every name of every believer - he wrote - in Jesus’ blood - “Forgiven - Forgiven - Forgiven”.

Because of the work that Jesus did on that cross - you and I now stand Forgiven! The first promise of Easter that many have forgotten is demonstrated by the empty cross - full with the promise of forgiven sins.

THE EMPTY TOMB

Let’s get back to our ladies. These ladies began to walk to the tomb, unbeknownst to them how they would be able to remove the stone and anoint the body of Jesus. Remember that this was a large stone. The three of them together would not be able to remove it. It was a burdensome stone. If they were to give it their all, they would still be unable to roll the stone away. It was a difficult stone and yet despite the difficulty that faced them, they began their journey toward the stone.

Friends, it would have been easy for these women to not even begin their journey, knowing that this huge stone was standing in their way, and yet they went on anyhow. Oh can’t you hear them talking as they walked along the way, “Who is going to move the stone out of our way?”

They have good reason to be concerned - the stone that was placed in front of the tomb was a large boulder - probably weighing upwards of two tonnes. Not only that, the Romans had sealed it, so no one was allowed to move it without their permission. However, the ladies continue. Suddenly they feel the earth move! Frightened, they look at each other, not certain what to do. After a few minutes, things seem normal so they continue on their way. As they approach the burial site, they are still wondering about what had happened when they come upon something even more remarkable.

• the soldiers are all unconscious
• the stone has been moved
• An angel - glowing like lightening - is sitting on it. Listen to his words,

“Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here; He has risen!”

Jesus had risen - He was alive - the tomb was empty. And what a tremendous promise that holds.

I’d like to tell you a story of a boy named Philip;

Philip never felt like he belonged. He was pleasant enough but he looked a bit different and sometimes seemed unusual to his eight-year-old classmates.In his Sunday school class several weeks before Easter, Philip’s teacher introduced a special project. He gave every member a plastic “egg” - the kind pantyhose used to come in. He explained that each child was to go outside, find a symbol for new life and put it into the egg. Enthusiastically, the class responded.

Back in the classroom the eggs were opened one at a time with each child explaining the meaning of his symbol.

In the first egg was a pretty flower; in the next a beautiful butterfly, while green grass was in a third. The children “oohed” and “aahed”. In another was a rock, which prompted loud laughter. Finally, the last egg was opened - there was nothing.

“That’s stupid,” said one child. Another grumbled, “Someone didn’t do it right!”

The teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Philip, who said, “That’s mine, and I did do right! It’s empty, ‘cause the tomb was empty.”

There was an unusual, thoughtful silence. And strangely, from that time on, Philip was accepted as part of the group.

Philip continued to struggle with many physical problems. That summer he picked up an infection which most children would have easily shaken off. But Philip’s weak body couldn’t and a few weeks later, he died.

At his funeral nine eight year-olds with their teacher brought their symbol of remembrance and placed it near his coffin. Their unusual gift of love to Phillip wasn’t flower. It was an empty egg - now a symbol to them of new life and hope.

It was Phillip, the “different” child, who had helped his friends see the wonderful hope in the message of Easter (Preaching Today)

For, in the fact of the empty tomb is the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise to every one of us who believe in Jesus that we too will be raised to everlasting life.

To those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, death has lost its sting - it is no longer something to be feared. What fear is there when we have the promise that one day we will live forever with Him in heaven?

A father and son were traveling down a country road one afternoon in the springtime when suddenly a bee flew in the window. Begin deadly allergic to bee stings, the boy began to panic as the bee buzzed all around inside the car. Seeing the horror on his child’s face, the father reached out and caught the bee in his hand. Soon, he opened his hand and the bee began to buzz around once again. Again, the boy began to panic. The father reached over to his son, and opened his hand showing him the stinger still in his palm. “Relax, son,” the father said, “I took the sting, the bee can’t hurt you anymore.”

The empty tomb is God’s way of saying to us; “Relax, my child, I took the sting, death can’t hurt you anymore.”

Why was the tomb empty? Because Jesus was alive. The Angel said; “He is risen.” And the promise to us is that we too can live even if we die. That is the second promise of Easter.

But it doesn’t end there. There is one more promise that I want to remind you about Easter. It is the promise of…

EMPTY BURIAL CLOTHES

Back to our story. After the Angel had spoken to the women, they immediately went back to the Apostles and reported what had happened. With this incredible news, Peter and John immediately raced back to the tomb to see for themselves. When they got there, John stopped just outside the tomb, but Peter ran right in. It didn’t take them long to discover that the tomb was just the women had said it was - empty. But, that’s not all. Inside, Peter found the clothes that Jesus had been buried in. They too were empty. This could only mean one thing - Jesus was alive! If someone had stolen His body, they wouldn’t have removed the burial clothes and folded them up neatly and left them where they lay. Truly, Jesus was resurrected!

It wouldn’t be long, before Jesus, himself, would appear to Mary Magdalene, and to all of the Apostles, and eventually to over 500 people. He would:

• sit down with them
• walk with them
• talk with them
• eat with them

Once again, they would be able to fellowship with their Lord. You see, that is the promise of the empty burial clothes - Jesus is alive, and wants to fellowship with you.

Jesus isn’t some nebulous “force” out in the universe influencing people. He is a living Savior, and He desires to have a personal relationship with each one of us, just as He did with His disciples 2000 years ago.

Think about that - the cross couldn’t hold Him, the tomb couldn’t contain Him, the burial clothes were unnecessary, because Jesus is alive! He has skin and bones and a face and was recognizable. And He talked, and touched and loved and healed. He did it the day of His resurrection, and He does it still today. And - most importantly - He wants to do it with you.

I want to ask you a very important question this morning. Do you know Jesus Christ? I don’t mean; “Do you know about Him?” do you truly know Jesus Christ? You see, we can know about someone, and not truly know them.

• Billy Graham
• Stephen Harper
• Tiger Woods
• Wayne Gretzky

These are people we know something about, but do any of us really know them? You can know Jesus Christ. You can know His love, His care, His healing, and His forgiveness. He says; “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

It has been over 2000 years since Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. That 1st Easter Sunday, as the women went to the grave, they had no idea what was about to happen to them. They were not aware of the wonderful promises of that day.

• Off in the distance stood an empty cross - the promise that their sins were forgiven.
• At the end of their journey was an empty tomb - the promise of their eternal life.
• Inside the tomb were empty burial clothes. The promise that they would once again have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ - their living Saviour.

The promises that they discovered that day, you too can have today;

• You too can know the freedom of forgiven sins
• You too can know the promise of eternal life and heaven
• You too can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

I believe it is John Maxwell who tells a story about a blazer he bought from Nordstrom’s (a department store chain in the US). This is how he relates it:

About a year and a half ago, I bought a new navy blazer at Nordstrom. It was one of those cases you may have gone through where you buy an item of clothing and the more you wear it, the more you realize you don’t like it. My blazer wasn’t the right color, and to make matters worse, it attracted lint like it was going out of style. After wearing it pretty regularly for six months or so, I stuck it in my closet and didn’t wear it for a long time.

Tucked away in the back of my mind all the while was that famous Nordstrom unconditional-return policy. I though, I’ve had this thing for a year and a half. I’ve worn it lots of times, and there’s just no way they’re going to take it back. About two weeks ago I decided I had nothing to lose. I pulled the blazer out, threw a lot of lint on it to make it look bad, and took it down to Nordstrom’s men’s department. I walked in, and immediately I felt nervous. I felt like I was about to pull a scam of some sot, but I played it straight. I walked right up to the first salesman I saw and gave this little prepared speech. I said, “I am about to put your famous unconditional-return policy to its ultimate test. I have here a blazer. I’ve worn it lots. I’ve had it for a year and a half. I don’t like it. It’s the wrong color, and it attracts lint like it’s going out of style. But I want to return this blazer for another blazer that I like.” Then I stood there.

I couldn’t believe it. This guy with a big handlebar mustache just looked at me and shook his head. He said, “For heaven’s sake, what took you so long? Let’s go find you a blazer.” Ten minutes later I walked out with another blazer that was marked seventy-five dollars more than I paid for the one that I brought in. It was perfect for me. Didn’t cost me a penny.

In a small way, the Nordstrom Department Store is a lot like God. They are willing to back up their promises. (Preaching Today)

I think at Easter, more than any other time of the year, we realize that God has made all sorts of outlandish promises. So outlandish, that some of us cannot bring ourselves to believe. Or, can we? This morning, we have heard about three promises that God has made to us; the promise of forgiven sins; the promise of eternal life; and the promise of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My question to you this morning is this; will you take him at his word? If so, listen to this final promise - it is found in Romans 10:13,

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 (NIV)

Don’t wait another day, do it today, and know the joy of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Let’s remember, embrace, and proclaim these promises this Easter folks!

The timeline of Easter is familiar to many of us. Let me review it with you. On Thursday night Christ will celebrate the Passover with His disciples in the upper room of a home in that city of Jerusalem. Later that night He prays in the Garden of Gethsemene as a crowd led by Judas makes its way to arrest him. By Friday morning he would be nailed to a cross.Today, we’re going to look at when Jesus first entered Jerusalem. A day that is commonly celebrated in some churches as “Palm Sunday” (which traditionally is held the Sunday before Easter). When Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last week of his life, he was coming to the finish line. For this 33 year-old man, the last three years of his life had all been about one moment - the moment when he would look upon the many colored faces of the people who inhabit this world, and willingly give his life on the cross to pay the price for their sins. Everything was leading up to this.

Now let’s look a little closer at this historical event…

Here is Luke’s record of how the day began:

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Luke 19:41-44 (NIV)

I find it sobering to learn that Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He knew what was ahead of him in just a few short days. He knew this city would be the site of his death. And he wept because he knew what was in store for this city. “Your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you…they will dash you to the ground.” All this would happen within the next 40 years when the Romans invaded Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

But the last part of verse 44 holds the key to understanding Jesus’ sadness. Why were all these bad things about to take place?

v. 44 - …because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.

The inhabitants of Jerusalem did not recognize God when they saw Him.

God came to them in the person of Jesus, but they failed to recognize him and ended up rejecting him and crucifying him.

“…You did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

That is a bad indictment. So how can we be different?

We can follow the example of some other people in the Palm Sunday story. Because those who did recognize him honored him. They affirmed His identity as God and King through their actions.

TRANSITION: And we can do the same. Like some on Palm Sunday…

WE AFFIRM HIS IDENTITY WHEN WE OBEY HIM

Lets go back to how this day started.

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
Luke 19:28-35 (NIV)

A. The disciples obeyed Jesus instructions.
I have some Palm Sunday reminders here today. To me this first affirmation of obedience can be symbolized by a rope (hold up rope).

Jesus said to two of them, “Go to the village.” They did.
Matthew and John say the colt was a donkey. It was undoubtedly tied to something with a rope.
Jesus said, “Untie the colt.” They did.
He said, “Bring it here.” Again, they did.
How were they to respond if anyone asked?
“The Lord needs it.”

The disciples were just carrying out instructions. They did what Jesus asked. They affirmed his identity as Lord by obeying Him.

So this rope symbolizes their obedience. “Untie the colt.”

Jesus asked them to do something and they did it.

So here is a question to ponder:

B. If Jesus asked you to do something, would you do it?
Those of us who love Jesus might be quick to say, “Sure I would! I’d climb the highest mountain. I’d swim the widest ocean. I’d walk 500 miles. Whatever you say, Jesus. I’ll do it!”

Jesus might say, “Really? You are ready to do whatever I ask? Then look at my instructions in the Bible.”

In John 14:23 Jesus says,

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 14:23 (NIV)

In other words, “Anyone who affirms my identity as Lord and God will recognize my authority and do the things I ask.”

So now we may wonder,

C. What sort of things is Jesus asking of us?
Are these just pointless requests?

ILLUS - I read a story once from Readers Digest about a mother who would listen with her young children to an instructional program on the radio each morning. She particularly enjoyed the exercise class.
One day she tuned in late, only to hear an energetic instructor already urging pupils along at a fast pace: “Up…down…circle round…up…down…circle round…up…down…circle round.” She quickly joined in, only to find that the instructor would continue the pace for quite some time. Finally, when she was just about exhausted, she heard the voice say, “Okay, you can stop now, and everybody put your paintbrushes back in the water jar.” (Reader’s Digest, date unknown)

Fortunately Jesus doesn’t ask us to do pointless things. He gives us direction for the most fulfilling way of life. Because He loves us.

One time in Luke 6:46 Jesus asked a crowd around him,

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Luke 6:46 (NIV)

“Why are you trying to affirm my identity without obedience?”

Again a similar question for us to consider:
If Jesus asked you to do something would you do it?

Let’s think about some of the things Jesus asks us to do throughout the pages of the Bible:

• “Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12) - Have you been giving your parents the honor they deserve?
• “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2) - Have you been monitoring what goes into your mind through your eyes and ears?
• “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:13) - Have you been withholding forgiveness?
• “Keep the marriage bed pure” (Hebrews 13:4) - Maybe you’re living with your boyfriend or girlfriend or fiancée - are you keeping that future marriage bed pure?
• “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” (Col. 3:9) - Is there an area of life where you are less than honest?
• “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” (Malachi 3:10) - Have you been obedient with your generosity to the Lord’s work?
• “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.” (Eph. 4:29) - Do you use foul or abusive language?
• “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) - How about this? Is there someone you have been failing to love fully?

These are all issues of obedience. Jesus has asked us to do something. He is Lord. He is God. Will we affirm our belief that He is Lord and God by doing what He says?

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22 (NIV)

If we want to affirm Jesus’ identity to our friends, our neighbors our family and our co-workers - one of the best ways is to obey Him and to do what He says. Is there an area this morning where you could start right now to obey Him more fully? Why not make that area part of some focused prayer and give it some attention this week?

TRANSITION: We give recognition to who He is through our attention to His instructions. Second…

WE AFFIRM HIS IDENTITY WHEN WE SACRIFICE FOR HIM

Let’s look again at Luke 19. Verse 36 says,

As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
Luke 19:36 (NIV)

A. Those in the crowd actually spread their cloaks on the road.
When I look for other Palm Sunday reminders, this issue of sacrifice could be symbolized by a coat. (Hold up coat). That’s what cloaks were - pretty much like a coat.

The people of Jerusalem were from all walks of life, much like people today. These people enthusiastically lined the streets with their possessions to celebrate the coming of the Passover lamb. These people threw what they had into the street to honor this important moment. They prepared for Jesus a carpet made of coats.

Would you be willing to take a similar risk?

Close your eyes and imagine something. I want you to imagine your street - the street on which you live. Picture in your mind what that street looks like - where you live - where the trees are - where the other houses or apartments are - where people park their cars - the general amount of traffic that is typically on your street. Imagine yourself standing outside next to your street very close to where you live. Got that picture?

Now I want you to imagine that coming down your street you spot a crowd of people. And in the middle of that crowd of people is a man riding on a donkey. You recognize the man as Jesus. People are laying things down. Some of your neighbors are rushing to the curb to lay things down too.

Jesus approaches where you are standing, riding closer, as he passes by what do you lay down?

B. If Jesus came riding down your street, what would you lay down before Him?
Go ahead and open your eyes.
How would you choose to honor Jesus?

I love one of the worship songs we sing called “The Heart of Worship.” A line from it says…
“King of endless worth - no one could express how much you deserve. Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is yours. Every single breath.”

That is a Palm Sunday attitude. Jesus is worth more than anything we have. He’s worth more than our combined assets, more than the net worth of our future aspirations, and certainly more than any one object we possess. Like a coat.

C. Jesus has come riding down the street of your life.
Just by being here today you have the opportunity to encounter him.

You can affirm His identity by laying down your life before Him. Saying, “My life is yours, Jesus. Do as you will.” That’s surrender, and followers of Jesus do that daily.

When Jesus has our lives, we’re also willing to sacrifice what we have to share with others in His name. Many of you are still in a season of sacrifice as you live out your pledge to be faithful- now and forever. Others of you sacrifice regularly to share with those in other places of the world who have less than you do.

When we recognize Jesus, we’ll be happy to give stuff away. Because He is worth far more.

TRANSITION: We can show everyone around us who we believe Jesus to be through the way we sacrifice for Him. One last thing…

WE AFFIRM HIS IDENTITY WHEN WE PRAISE HIM

A. Those who saw Jesus pass by shouted praise.

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:37-40 (NIV)

A good Palm Sunday reminder of this issue of praise would be a raised hand. (Raise hands).

The book of John says the crowd waved palm branches in the air. That’s why the Sunday before Easter is traditionally called Palm Sunday.

According to scripture they praised him for all the miracles they had seen…
What miracles you seen in your life?

Here is yet another question to ponder:

B. If you saw Jesus, what would you shout?

If on your way to your car in the parking lot, you saw Jesus walking across - and you knew it was Him - I mean, He just appeared there - but He’s a ways in the distance. Would you maybe shout to someone else, “Hey, it’s Jesus! Look!” My guess is maybe you would. Because when Jesus shows up, it makes you want to shout.

It was Palm Sunday, and the mother’s 3-year old son had to stay home from church because of strep throat.

When the rest of the family returned home carrying palm branches, the little boy asked what they were for. His mother explained, “People held them over Jesus’ head as he walked by.”

“Wouldn’t you know it,” the boy fumed. “The one Sunday I don’t go, and Jesus shows up.” (Found at PreachingPlus.com)

What that little boy didn’t realize is that Jesus shows up every Sunday. In fact, He shows up every day of our lives. The question is, do we recognize Him when He shows up?

C. We have been allowed to see Jesus in a number of ways.
In the pages of the Bible
In the lives of others
Through the ministry and worship of the church
Through his work in our lives

Do we praise Him? I mean really and truly praise Him. Do we?

Did you praise Him this morning as we sang and give it all you had?
Did you mention his name last night when you were out with friends, and say something good about Him?
Did you praise Jesus in the privacy of your home or your car this past week when it was just you and Him?

Some of us may look at exuberant praise of others during our times of worship and get a little uncomfortable with such emotional outbursts. Maybe our worship has never shown that much fervor. But when we truly recognize Jesus and affirm His identity, we will want to praise Him.

That’s how the crowd on Palm Sunday felt too. They saw the King of Kings - and their natural impulse was to shout out some praise.

When Jesus shows up, it’s time to praise!

Would you all stand up for a second? On the count of three we’re going to try something. Listen closely, I want to make sure you’re ready. On the count of three I’d like us to all shout out the name of Jesus! Will you do this?

1… 2… 3…. “JESUS!!!!!!!” (if it isn’t very loud then say, “Oh come on, people shout louder for their favorite athlete than that! What about the one who has given you eternal life?)

Now, didn’t that feel good?
You can have a seat.

Maybe today was the first time you’ve ever voiced Jesus’ name so strongly.

But when we really recognize who He is, we’ll want to be praising Him all the time.

TRANSITION: Because just like when we obey and when we sacrifice for Him, when we praise, we affirm His identity.

CONCLUSION

There is a legend about an ancient village in Spain. The villagers learned that the king would pay a visit! In a thousand years, a king had never come to that village. Excitement grew! “We must throw a big celebration,” The villagers all agreed. But, it was a poor village, and there weren’t many resources. Someone came up with a classic idea. Since many of the villagers made their own wines, the idea was for everyone in the village to bring a large cup of their choice wine to the town square, “We’ll pour it into a large vat and offer it to the king for his pleasure! When the king draws wine to drink, it will be the very best he’s ever tasted!”

The day before the king’s arrival, hundreds of people lined up to make their offering to the honored guest. They climbed a small stairway, and poured their gift through a small opening at the top. Finally, the vat was full! The King arrived, was escorted to the square, given a silver cup and was told to draw some wine, which represented the best the villagers had.

He placed the cup under the spigot, turned the handle, and then drank the wine, but it was nothing more than water. You see every villager reasoned, “I’ll withhold my best wine and substitute water, what with so many cups of wine in the vat, the king will never know the difference!” The problem was, everyone thought the same thing, and the king was greatly dishonored

Palm Sunday is all about a day when the King of Kings was greatly honored. Because people gave the very best they had - gifts of obedience (hold rope), praise (hold palm branch) and sacrifice (hold coat).

The question is, won’t you give him your best too?

INTRODUCTION

For the past two weeks I’ve been talking to you about truth. As I’ve discovered truth is something that is very prominent in the writings of John the apostle. It is a subject that he places much emphasis on and for good reason. John wrote in 2 John 4 that he gains great joy in seeing others walking in the truth - a joy that could be found in all of us if we desired it.Truth is something that can’t be argued with. If you’ve been at HPC these last few weeks you would have heard me expound on the fact that God is truth, Jesus Christ is truth, the Holy Spirit is truth. Any discussion and knowledge and understanding on truth begins and ends with that foundation. God determines truth, sets in place, and models it. From the beginning of time, the biggest conflict in the cosmos has been clash between truth and lie, where truth is good and lie is evil. Of course, this is not a conflict of equals. For when truth is revealed and a lie exposed - the lie is always destroyed. The consequences of that lie may still exist but the power of the lie is gone.

This cosmic conflict takes place not only on the grand scale of the universe and planet we live in but also in the hearts and minds of every single individual. Every decision, every thought, every feeling is either based on truth or lie. There is no middle ground. If there is anything that you would hear more clearly in these messages I hope it would be that there are two choices faced when confronted with truth. You are either choose it or reject it. In choosing absolute truth over perceived or relative truth (which is really a lie) you can experience the joy of truth found in the freedom it brings and it’s operation in your life. If you reject truth you ultimately be destroyed along with the lie when the lie is exposed in your last days.

Truth does bring freedom, and it does bring joy to those who walk in the truth (that is walk in love, and walk in Christ for those who weren’t here last week). But there is also the inescapable fact that for many truth is initially very painful, and very ugly. The reason for this is because truth exposes and confronts the lies that may be in a person’s life. When you really think about it, all of us at one point or another in our lives have had something we would never want revealed or exposed. Were the truth to come out it would be a very painful experience. And so it is for this reason that many people either ignore or run away from the truth. It is just painful and just too ugly to face. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You see, yes truth is painful and ugly from the perspective of the lie you try to hide or the façade you live in - but when truth is embraced in spite of that and exposes and confronts the lie - then the perspective changes and the beauty and pain-free joy of truth sets in as the lie loses its power in your life. It’s a very simple thing to understand folks, that truth is only dangerous (if I could use that word!) to those who are not in it!

So, I hope that summarizes in a brief way some of the important things I’ve already talked about in our look at truth. We’ve talked about how truth brings freedom, the operation of truth - how it works in people’s lives and how you know when you are in the truth. But today, I’d like to conclude this series with the very important words found in 2 John 1:7-13…

7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.
2 John 1:7-13 (NIV)

It is very clear from these verses that John is giving a warning to his readers to watch out - for those who deceive, and who are not of the truth. There is another important aspect of truth that is unveiled in his words here and elsewhere in his writings and that is, Truth yields discernment. When your life is open to the truth and is truth is operating in your life then the truth will be observable in your life and you will be able to discern truth from lie.

But there is a key thing to understand here. Remaining in the truth is not a passive activity. Truth does not operate in your life passively. It is an active activity. It is daily decision and determination in a person’s life to remain in the truth. Truth is something that is actively sought out, not passively found. Did you hear me? Will you repeat that with me just so I know you’ve heard me correctly. Truth is something that is actively sought out, not passively found out. If someone isn’t searching for or doesn’t want to know the truth they won’t find it.

A story is told of a man resisting to pay the cost of oats he fed his mule. He decided to gradually substitute sawdust in the feed. Everything went fine for a while, but by the time the mule was satisfied with sawdust, he died.

The same is true spiritually in this discourse on truth. The changeover from truth to error is sometimes a slow process, and people don’t always know the difference. It happens when truth isn’t an active pursuit in a person’s life! Gradually, their hearts and minds are clouded and blinded to the sinister and seductive introduction of sawdust into their life. And before you know it, a person is dead spiritually from eating the sawdust of error. This is what can happen to someone who already knows and is experiencing the truth in their life! That is why, John was urgent and included his explicit warning in his letters to watch out for those who decieve. He’s saying watch out that you don’t eat sawdust.

Now this an important message to the believer but it is also important to the unbeliever or one who does not yet know the truth in their lives. If you’ve have never believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and your need for forgiveness of sins then my friend you are feasting on a wonderful meal of Grade A - lumber chips and dust. There is something better.

John clearly points out in his writings that truth yields discernment. He is effectively saying that those who are in the truth are wary of those who deceive, what is believed, and what is received.

wary of those who deceive

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
2 John 1:7 (NIV)

In writing this John is echoing something that has already been said by Christ,

…and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matthew 24:11 (NIV)

A deceiver is described in the dictionary as “someone who leads you to believe something that is not true”. A deceiver is someone who is an imposter, who misleads, or a seducer. Here are some other characteristics about deceivers that are described in the scriptures:

deceivers tear apart the those who are passively in the truth

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Matthew 7:15 (NIV)

Matthew 7:15 (Living)
15 “Beware of false teachers who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are wolves and will tear you apart.

Deceiver’s will never have an impact on people who are active participants in the truth. But beware if truth is just a part of your life. They will make you doubt the truth, they will make you confused, they will lead you down the path of anger, or bitterness, or pride.

deceivers draw away from the truth

29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
Acts 20:29-30 (NIV)

One characteristic among deceivers and those who distort the truth is that they seek to create a following centered on themselves. Instead of pointing to Christ as the way to the Father, they’ll point to themselves (or their teaching) as the way to Christ. Did you hear me? If you are in the truth and the truth is in you, you will recognize this and stand on the promise of scriptures that any man, women, or child, rich or poor, weak or strong, good or bad can come to Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness - you don’t need someone to point you the right way, you don’t need someone to be your mediator, you don’t need someone’s “special teaching” to direct you. All that is required is your simple belief and faith in the Word of God, as you call out to Jesus from your heart.

deceivers lie & teach pretend truth

1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NIV)

deceivers deny to derail and destroy the truth

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)

These are only a few of the characteristics of the deceiver. Such a person is very dangerous. Their danger lies in the fact that they distort the truth and cover the truth so that lies may gain footholds in others lives. The sad thing is that the deceiver is often being deceived themselves! They will think and believe that what they are saying is the truth but in reality they are simply promoting the lies of Satan. How do they get deceived? Because they started eating a little sawdust…

John states that the basic premise of the deception of a deceiver is to deny Jesus Christ came in the flesh. In essence, denying His humanity. This is a very dangerous deception because if you say that Jesus did not come in the flesh then…

• you deny that Jesus was God in the flesh
• you deny that Jesus revealed the glory of God.
• you deny that Jesus modeled a life of obedience
• you deny that Jesus had to die for man’s sin.
• you deny that Jesus is the way of salvation.

One of the crucial tenets of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is God taking on flesh so that man may know Him.

A person who is in the truth and who is actively pursuing the truth in their life will be wary of the deceiver. Sadly, John identifies the deceivers as coming from within the church. Deceivers can come from the same chairs we sit in, they can come from the same Sunday school classes, they may have sung and worshipped beside us. Maybe their writings are found in the Christian bookstore we go to. Maybe their views are heard on the Christian station we listen to. John is very clear that we must “watch out” for them and be wary.

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
1 John 4:1-6 (NIV)

If you are in the truth you are…

wary of what you believe

8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:8-9 (NIV)

This is part of what it means to be actively seeking the truth - it is the constant watchfulness within our own lives to make sure we are in the truth. John says, “Watch out”.

John goes on to say, “that you do not lose what you have worked for…” what does he mean? The clue to answering this is found in the answer to what it is that is worked for. Since John has been spending so much talking about the truth it is obvious that he is not departing from that here. What John is saying is, “Watch out that you do not lose the truth”. The truth is what is worked for. In his gospel account John recorded the words of Jesus in response to a question posed by the people he had been ministering to…

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:28-29 (NIV)

That is “believe the truth”. That is the work of God to believe, to embrace, to have faith in. When John is talking about the potential for losing what you worked for, he is talking about the potential for losing the truth - what you believe, what you have faith in, which is Jesus Christ. He goes on further in verse 9 of his letter about the importance to continue in the teaching of Christ. And what is this teaching? Primarily that he is truth!! What he says, what he has done, is doing, and will do is truth!!

In this verse, John also points out two things to be wary of when examining what we believe.

1. The danger of going back….subtracting from the truth.
2. The danger of going ahead…adding to the truth.

Truth is truth. It cannot be added to and it cannot be subtracted from. So be wary of what you believe, evaluate your beliefs (or what you read or hear) against the authority of the scriptures and the conviction of the Spirit and stay in the truth lest you yourself be deceived or even worse become a deceiver.

If you are in the truth you are…

Wary of what you receive

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
2 John 1:10-11 (NIV)

The common practice of John’s day was to open the home to visitors. Traveling pastors and teachers needed homes to stay in and believers were asked to show hospitality to them.

John drives home the importance of housing only those who spoke of and agreed with the truth. This could be measured by their belief in his deity and humanity. John is making it very clear that to welcome such a person would to be condoning and joining in their wicked work. Again there is the line in the sand. You are either on the side of truth and righteousness or you are on the side of falsehood and wickedness - there is no middle ground.

How do we apply John’s words today? Especially in the light of the fact that we do not have such pastors and teachers who travel around and ask to stay with us?

I believe that while we may not entertain guests in the similar way as what was done in John’s day there are still things that we do have the potential for entertaining in our homes in our day. Things like books, television, magazines, teachings etc. that hinder the work of truth. I believe that John would speak in a similar manner to us, “If anything comes to you and does not bring the teaching of Christ, do not receive it into your house or welcome it. Anyone who welcomes these things share in their wicked work.”

Those are pretty strong words aren’t they? But here’s the thing…we must be wary of not only the obvious things but also the not-so-obvious things. What supposedly Christian material do we devour so readily without subjecting to the truth test? Do you have a favorite author that you read and like what you read, or a favorite preacher/teacher that you listen to and like what you hear? Have you taken care to check into their beliefs and what they or their organization promotes…does it follow the teaching of scripture? If you are in doubt are you willing to go to trusted spiritual leaders and ask them for their opinion so you can see if there is something you may have missed? The sad thing is, there is a whole slew of people in today’s Christian churches who are so passive in their commitment to truth that they will willingly embrace anything that “sounds good” or “feels good” without taking the effort to truly discover if it is good - if it is TRUE!

Sadly, there are far too many “spiritual giants” in today’s Christendom that are anything but. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing….

It’s not just the books we or our kids read, but what about the movies we watch…the music we listen to? Do they openly support or reject Jesus Christ and everything he stands for? Do they openly support or reject the truth? Friends there is no middle ground you are either on the side of truth or you are not!!

John is clear that there should be,

• no acceptance for the untruth…don’t even give the impression.
• No association with the untruth…or you’ll get infected.
• No ammunition for the untruth…don’t give the intention.

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God–I say this to your shame.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV)

Friends, this is not a warning to stay away from people who don’t know Christ and disassociate yourself from the world - for the Bible is clear that we are to be light and salt to the world and we can’t be either if we aren’t in the world. But what I am saying is don’t be of the world - be wary of what you receive!

Think about this for a moment. If you were to invite someone into your home (believer or non-believer) would they look at the books, magazines, movies, etc. and be led to Jesus or away from Him? If someone was to walk around with you in a typical week of your life, would the things that they observe and see you doing point them to Christ or away from Him?

Examine your life, and be wary of what you are receiving. When you are active in the truth you are able to discern the things in your home in your life that you need to refuse rather than accept. Those who are in the truth are marked by truth in their homes, in their daily activities whether it be work or school, at the grocery store, at the movie theatre, in their life.

CONCLUSION

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.
2 John 1:12-13 (NIV)

In John’s conclusion to his letter there is a phrase that I’d like to focus on in concluding this message and this series. John expresses the desire to meet “face to face” with his readers. Truth is something that is lived “in your face”. It something that is found when you seek the face of Christ. That is when you seek HIS truth in your life. When you come face to face, as it were, with the need for truth in your life and the awareness of the deception that is already there.

I believe that there is a lot of deception not only in the world but sadly in the church today. There are people being deceived and who are deceivers themselves because truth is not important to them - because truth is not found in God but in the individual deciding what is true and what is not. I am firm believer that true revival or renewal comes when the church of Christ and people in the world are confronted and come face to face with the truth! However painful, however ugly, as the truth roots out and reveals deception and when repentance is cried out by those confronted then the Spirit of God - the spirit of truth moves in and works an incredible miracle of changed lives and destroyed lies.

Do you know the joy of truth in your life? Is it something you are afraid of seeking? Friends, if this church is going to grow, if this church is going to have an impact in this world - if you are going to grow, if you are going to have impact in this world then truth must be your banner. You must decide, either you are on the side of truth or you are not.

Pray.

INTRODUCTION:

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
2 John 1:4-6 (NIV)

The more I think about it the more I realize that we all desire to know the truth. That is, we desire to know what is real, what is genuine, what is right, what is trustworthy. Don’t we? I mean isn’t that why manufacturers and advertisers spend millions of dollars on prominent labels and speeches declaring their product as the “real” thing and that it is something we just can’t get along without in our lives? They are trying to convince consumers that what they are telling you is the truth!

It is very hard these days to know who to believe. Everyone is trying to lead us to their version of truth. A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair by showing how conditioned we have become to alarmists spreading their fear of everything in our environment through junk science. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical “Dihydrogen monoxide” because:

1. It can cause excessive sweating and vomiting.
2. It is a major component in acid rain.
3. It can cause severe burns in its gaseous state.
4. Accidental inhalation can kill you.
5. It contributes to erosion.
6. It decreases the effectiveness of automobile brakes
7. It has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients.

He asked 50 people if they support a ban.

43 said yes
Six were undecided
And only one knew that the chemical is….water. (Phil Proctor, “Planet Proctor,” Funny Times, December 1997, p.5.)

And yet even in our desire for truth isn’t it interesting what we will believe? For instance…

If you tell a man that there are 300 billion stars in the universe, he’ll believe you. But if you tell him a bench has just been painted, he has to touch it to be sure. (Autoillustrator.com, “TRUTH”)

Last week we began a new series entitled the Joy of Truth. I introduced one of the most prevalent themes in the writings of the apostle John. If you were with us last week you would have heard me speak on the clear teaching of scripture that truth brings freedom. Freedom from the lie propagated by Satan since the creation of the earth that man can determine his own truth apart from God. The lie that says truth is relative.

I hope you understood what I was trying to declare last week. Truth is NOT relative! Truth is absolute and is determined, is set in place, and is exemplified in God. This is where truth gets its liberating power. As I said last week, a lie has no power in the face of truth. Just as darkness disappears in the presence of light.

When Jesus said I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life, he emphasized firstly that He is the only way to the Father. But that’s not the only thing Jesus is declaring with that statement. Jesus also describes himself as the TRUTH. The real McCoy. 100% pure. Absolutely genuine. Jesus was effectively saying, “there is no truth apart from me.” What He says is true, what He does is true, Who He is - is true. Now this presents an interesting dilemma for those who have not decided yet in this matter of faith. Either Jesus is right and He is truth or He is a great liar. Jesus leaves no room for a middle ground. You are either on the side of truth or you are not. Jesus then goes on to say that He is the life and that is really the test of what He already said. If Jesus is the way, if He is the truth, then He must also be life. For we know that from the very beginning of creation God has established and it has born witness throughout the centuries that a lie harbors death. Death emotionally, death spiritually, and death physically.

But Jesus, said I am the way, the truth and when He rose victorious from the grave on that glorious Easter morning He effectively proved it by the awesome display of power in majesty in making the statement that “I am life”. And He has proved that statement in every single person who has believed in Him.

So what’s the point of everything I’ve just said? The point is that as I speak to you about the joy of truth I am not speaking from a subjective point of view. I am not speaking from the standpoint that what I have to say is right or that what I tell you is truth. I am speaking objectively - I am speaking on what God says is right, on what Christ has proved is truth. An effective discourse on truth begins and is sustained by the measure in which we judge right from wrong, truth from fiction, life from death. And that measure folks is found in God Himself. For He IS truth.

Now already, I’ve clearly demarcated the line between two camps, those who know and believe truth and those who don’t. If you are here this morning and you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you aren’t even sure of your need for Him then you are confronted right away with a decision to make. You can either decide that you desire to discover the truth and know it in your own life or you can decide to reject everything I’m saying and continue to live as you are now. But those are the only two decisions you have and my prayer is that you make the right one.

The point that John makes in this passage this morning is that truth is not a vague idea or even an ideology, scripturally TRUTH is the personification and life of Christ. Truth is something that is walked or lived out - it is not something that we merely experience in life but rather is a way of life. In order for truth to bring freedom and for a person to experience the “joy of truth”, truth must be operating in a person’s life. The question that comes out of that statement then is, how does truth “operate” in a person’s life?

When truth is in operation it…

encompasses your life (2 John 4)

One of the key phrases in this passage is found in verse four, “It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth”. Walking. You’ll find this phrase used in a similar context in John’s 3rd letter,

3 John 1:3-4 (NIV)
3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

John was joyously commending his readers for “walking” in the truth. I believe what he’s observed is that truth has encompassed their lives. They are living by the truth. Truth is the foundation of everything they think, say, and do. After all, John wrote in his first letter,

1 John 1:5-9 (NIV)
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

In this message being put forth by John he is using the word “walk” to refer to something that is lived out.

The important observation here is that when truth is in operation in a person’s life it encompasses your whole life. You can’t say you are “walking in the truth” in only certain areas of your life - if you walk in the truth then truth defines who you are, what you say, and what you do. John was so filled with joy because he saw sold out committed believers like Him who had made Christ their life! Not just a part of their life and not just playing a role in their life - but all of their life! The psalmist accurately portrayed the mindset of a person who walks in the truth when he wrote,

Psalms 86:11 (NIV)
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

When truth is in operation it encompasses all of your life. The idea of falsehood repulses you. If you do lie you feel sick and haunted. But in the light of truth you feel free and full of joy.

Warren Wiersbe made an interesting observation when he said,

It is much easier to study the truth, or even argue about the truth, than it is to practice it!

How true that is! But nevertheless truth is to encompass all our life if it is to operate in our life.

George Barna in an article titled, “Practical Outcomes Replace Biblical Principles As the Moral Standard” states…

Religious institutions have failed to present a compelling case for a biblical basis for moral truth. Families, who hold a major responsibility for shaping the moral values and attitudes of children, are ill-equipped to do that job in relation of a Christian worldview or on the basis of a comprehensive and coherent notion of faith-based truth. The result is that busy people, regardless of their faith affiliation, wing it when it comes to moral decisions.

Are you winging it in the big decisions of your life? Or do your decisions flow out of the all-encompassing truth in your life?

Which brings me to my next point, when truth is in operation it…

ensues from obedience

A woman and her husband were invited to her rich aunt’s home for dinner. The wife instructed her husband to be sure and be nice to her aunt as she was getting up in years and appreciated the attention. After dinner had been served and the dessert came, her aunt explained that she had baked the cake herself, from an original recipe. The niece’s husband ate a huge piece of it and said, “I must say this is the best cake I have ever tasted.” On the way home from the party, his wife said, “Why did you say that was the best cake you had ever tasted? It was awful. I bake better cakes than that all the time.” The husband replied, “I know you do, but you told me to be nice to her and I told the truth when I said, I must say this is the best cake I ever tasted. (Autoillustrator.com, TRUTH)

Sometimes truth isn’t so easy to live and we’ll try to find loopholes to make it easier! But are these loopholes always justified?

As we continue to read this letter we find that John continues by saying, “…your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.” (2 John 4b). What is clearly stated here by John is that walking in the truth is a command of the Father. When truth is in operation it ensues from obedience - it begins with obedience - it flows out of obedience - to the commands of the Father.

So what are the commands of the Father? Well it’s obvious from what I’ve already observed that walking in the truth is a command of the Father but then John goes on to write something that at first seems to confuse the issue.

2 John 1:5-6 (NIV)
5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

First John makes it clear that this command is not a new one but one that has been around for a long time. In other words it’s not a new revelation, it’s not something John was freshly given but something that God had already laid down in the beginning, at the time of creation.

Second, John emphasizes another command, “that we love one another”

Third, John then describes that what he means by love is walking (there’s that word again!) in obedience to the commandments of God.

Fourth, John then reemphasizes the command of God to walk in love. Notice the progression here from walk in truth to walk in love. And if I understand it correctly, walking in love is obeying God’s commands. Therefore, walking in truth is equivalent to walking in love and all of this is possible when obedience to the commands of God is present.

John perhaps put it a little bit more clearly in his first letter when he wrote:

1 John 3:11 (NIV)
11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:16-24 (NIV)
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

This second observation then is an action statement. Just as John wrote in verse 18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in the truth”. And it is in obedience to the commands of the Father that we know truth is in operation in our lives (see verse 19).

When truth is in operation it…

exemplifies the life of Christ

This last point is really present in the previous two but I just wanted to make sure you understood it’s presence. I stated at the beginning of this message that truth is the personification and life of Christ. It only follows then that when truth is in operation in your life then the characteristics of Christ will be present in your life. The predominant one which John mentions in 2 John 5-6 is that of love.

I’d like to just draw your attention for a moment to something John wrote in his first letter:

1 John 2:5-6 (NIV)
5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

There is that word again! “Walk”. Only here John is telling his readers that you know you are in Christ, in God when you walk as Jesus did. There is only one way - you can’t know any other way - and there is no other way to have the truth in operation in your life. In order to walk in truth, you must walk in love, which is really walking as Jesus did. (repeat sentence)

Stanley Jones tells of a missionary who got lost in an African jungle - nothing around him but bush and a few cleared places. He found a native hut and asked the native if he could get him out. The native said he could. “All right,” said the missionary, “show me the way.” The native said, “Walk,” so they walked and hacked their way through unmarked jungle for more than an hour. The missionary got worried. “Are you quite sure this is the way? Where is the path?” The native said, “Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path.” (Autoillustrator.com, TRUTH)

Truth is narrow. If we were hiking and came to a wide river, and we learned that there was one bridge, down the river a mile or two, we wouldn’t stomp in disgust and moan about how that was such a narrow way to think and that the bridge should be right there, where we were. Instead, thankful that there was a bridge, we would go to it and cross over. Or consider the following. When we go to the doctor, we want a prescription for exactly what we will need to get well. We would be quite startled if the doctor said, “These pills ought to cure you if you’re sincere. After all, we believe in health, don’t we?” Or would you trust yourself to a surgeon who had received no specialized training but was simply a really good person who meant well? Of course not! You know that truth is narrow. And you will trust your life only to someone who knows exactly what he or she is doing! (Autoillustrator.com, TRUTH)

CONCLUSION

There is an old story about the theologian, Karl Barth [pronounced “Bart” with a soft “t”], who was on a speaking tour of the United States. On college campuses all across the country, he was drawing huge crowds to hear his very complex answers to the questions of life.

When he was speaking at Princeton University, the great hall was packed with faculty, students, and visitors who came to hear Karl Barth speak. During the question and answer period, one student asked, “Dr. Barth, may I ask you a personal question?”

Dr. Barth smiled and said, “yes, you may ask anything.”

The student then asked, “Dr. Barth, you are a very educated man. What is the greatest truth you have ever learned.?”

Dr. Barth bowed his head, thinking for a moment about how he would respond. Then, he raised his head and looked out at the student who asked the question and he said, “The greatest truth I ever learned was at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’” (Autoillustrator.com, “TRUTH”)

The secret of joyful living is to discover the truth in Jesus Christ. When we focus on him, we have discovered that truth is a caring love, truth is the Word becoming flesh. Truth is experiencing his life-giving power. Truth is discovering his love with arms outstretched to embrace us. When truth encompasses your life, when truth ensues from obedience, and when you exemplify the life of Christ (Walk in Truth, Walk in Love, Walk in Christ) then truth is in operation in your life, it will bring you freedom, and you have discovered the Joy of Truth!!

Cost is $5.00 (pancakes, sausages, coffee, juice)

We’ll be tapping the trees to get ready to gather the maple syrup which is sold as a fundraiser for Zimbabwe 2008. See Ed Giles if you plan to attend. Dress warm and bring snowshoes if possible.

INTRODUCTION

Read 2 John 1:1-13

1 The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth–and not I only, but also all who know the truth– 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.
2 John 1:1-13 (NIV)

This series is based on the words of John as recorded in verse 4 of 2 John:

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
2 John 1:4 (NIV)

• Question posed: “What is it that gives John great joy?”
• Draw attention to the number of times John refers to “truth” not only in this letter, but in all his letters and in the gospel accounts.
• Answer to question: It is truth!!
• “So for the next few weeks we’re going to look at the theme of truth - and uncover the “joy” of truth.

ILLUSTRATION AND TRANSITION:
Truth doesn’t always carry joy with it - or does it - what’s the alternative? (for instance when wife asks how good her meal tastes, or how good she looks etc.)

- Watching an episode of “Andy Griffith” Aunt Bee has stolen from her an expensive broach. Andy turns the theft into the insurance with Aunt Bee collecting and spending the insurance money. Sometime later she is going to help Opie paint and goes to get her apron cover from the kitchen closet. AS she reaches into the pocket her finger is cut on a sharp object. Upon pulling out the object she discovers her “stolen” broach. In telling a friend her dilemma, the friend suggests, “Well Bee all you need to do is tell the truth.” To that Aunt Bee states, “I’m afraid I am going to need a little more than that.”

- Doesn’t that seem to be the thinking today? That we need a little more than the truth to get us by.

INTRODUCE MESSAGE “TRUTH BRINGS FREEDOM”
• Focus on verses 1-3 and the idea that truth brings freedom - to John truth brought the freedom to love.
• TRANSITION: “But before we get into this message I think there are some questions that need to be answered…

1. Why is truth so important?

There are two models of truth in our world today. Since Adam and Eve these two models have been present. One Is true and the other is false.
The first model is that truth is defined by GOD for everyone, it is objective and absolute. In other words, what God said and commands is true for all people, for all times and for all places. So, when God says thou shall not commit adultery thousands of years ago, he means it today. Jesus goes on to say that we are not even to entertain the thought of adultery in our minds. That is an unalterable absolute truth!
Some scriptures talking about the truth found in God:

Psalms 31:5 (NIV)
…, O LORD, the God of truth.

Isaiah 45:19 (NIV)
… I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

Isaiah 65:16 (NIV)
16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth….

John 1:17 (NIV)
…; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 3:21 (NIV)
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

John 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 16:13 (NIV)
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. …

John 17:17 (NIV)
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

2 Corinthians 11:10 (NIV)
10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, ….

Ephesians 4:21 (NIV)
21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

The second model (and the one we are seeing more and more in our world today) is truth defined by the individual, it is subjective and relative. In other words what is true for you may not be true for me.

ILLUSTRATION: The Men’s Thesaurus (men don’t always say what they mean - excerpts)

When a man says: “IT’S A GUY THING”
He means: “There is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical”

When a man says: “CAN I HELP WITH DINNER”
He means: “Why isn’t it already on the table?”

When a man says: “UH HUH, SURE HONEY,” or “YES, DEAR”
He means: Absolutely nothing - it’s a conditioned response.

When a man says “IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN”
He means: “I have no ideaa how it works”

When a man says: “TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU ARE WORKING TOO HARD”
He means: “I can’t hear the television over the vacuum cleaner”

When a man says: “THAT’S INTERESTING DEAR.”
He means: “Are you still talking?”

When a man says: “OH, DON’T FUSS, I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT’S NO BIG DEAL”
He means: “I have actually severed a limb, but I will bleed to death before I admit I’m hurt”

When a man says: “I CAN’T FIND IT”
He means: “It didn’t fall into my outstretched hand, so I’m completely clueless”

When a man says: “I HEARD YOU.”
He means: “I haven’t the foggiest clue what you just said and I am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you’ll not spend the next 3 days yelling at me.”

When a man says: “YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE”
He means: “I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse.”

When a man says: “YOU LOOK TERRIFIC!”
He means: “Oh please don’t try on one more outfit, I’m starving.”

When a man says: “I’M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.”
He means: “No one will ever see us alive again.”

That is a little bit of a lighter look at relative truth, however it is important that you understand the serious danger of this model of truth. You see this model of truth is based on a great lie. A lie that was perpetrated in the Garden of Eden by the “father of lies” Satan…

John 8:44 (NIV)
…When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Genesis 2:15-17 (NIV)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

Read Genesis 3:1-6

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Genesis 3:1-6 (NIV)

This lie says that there is no such thing as absolute truth. It is this model that has led to such things as:
- Wars, Nazi, Euthenism, Abortion, Gambling, Acceptance of Adultery, degradation of the family etc.

Truth is so important because the Bible is very clear it is the line between heaven and hell - life or death - you are either on the side of truth or you are not…

Psalms 96:13 (NIV)
… He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.

Romans 1:18 (NIV)
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Romans 2:2 (NIV)
2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

Romans 2:8 (NIV)
8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-13 (NIV)
10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

Truth is so important because if the line between truth and lie is blurred then the line between good and evil can also be blurred! And friends the scary thing is that we’re seeing more and more of that “blurring” taking place in our world today. Even more scary it is not only taking place in the world but also in the church which is supposed to be according to 1 Timothy 3:15 the pillar and foundation of truth.

ILLUSTRATION: Chuck Colson writes, “During the greatest resurgence of evangelicalism in this century, belief in the Bible has declined and religious influence has been so thoroughly scrubbed from public life that any honest observer would have to regard this as a post-Christian culture. Gallup reports the most bewildering paradox: religion up, morality down. Why have evangelicals not more effectively influenced the world? We have, I fear, substituted therapy for truth, trivialized worship, and tolerated, yes encouraged a dangerously low view of the church” Colson goes on to say… “We’ve protected our enterprises but in the process lost the culture. How can we expect others to take what we profess to believe more seriously than we ourselves apparently do?

2. So the next question I have for you then is, “Does truth matter to you?”

It is God’s desire that we know the truth

who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 (NIV)

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Psalms 51:6 (NIV)

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalms 145:18 (NIV)

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24 (NIV)

If truth doesn’t matter to you then…
• It is easy to be decieved:
- Psychic hotlines: if the world was convinced psychics held all the answers in the palms of their hands why would they put “for entertainment purposes only” at the bottom of the screen during their commercials.
- Dabbling in the occult
- Humanism
- New Age
- False religions.
- Evolution as fact
- All these things are powerfully deceiving people every day.

• Decision making becomes selfish and destructive.
- When there is no standard of absolute truth we begin living our lives selfishly. We want what we want! A “what’s in it for me” mentality. I want immediate gratification and I won’t stop until I get it. When people do not submit to absolute truth chaos abounds! We see the implications of this everyday. School shootings, suicide, sexual immorality, insurmountable debts. I’m not saying that every person who does not believe in absolute truth ends up shooting someone but I can say that their destructive, unhealthy, wrong choices will always outweigh their right choices! And the end results are staggering.

• In short, when truth doesn’t matter to a person then their life will be bound by lies. Because they are still living under the most pervasive lie ever uttered - the one spoken in the Garden of Eden.

TRANSITION: Read John 8:31-32

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32 (NIV)

The joy of truth is found in the fact that Truth liberates people from the bondage of this lie! When absolute truth is your standard when you hold to the truth and live by the truth then lies have no power over you.
***A lie loses it’s power/existence in the presence of truth. A lie is merely the distortion or suppression of truth.

Acts 20:30 (NIV)
30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

Romans 1:18 (NIV)
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Romans 1:25 (NIV)
25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this a lie often weaves its most destructive power in the presence of “perceived truth” or in terms that we’ve already discussed “relevant truth” (refer to the Garden of Eden).

When John penned his second letter it is clear that he writing with a passion for the truth and he encourages the “elect or “chosen” lady and her children (the church and believers) to encourage and exhort them to keep living and walking in the truth because he knows the incredible freedom truth brings.

Freedom from…
Insecurity and uncertainty
• Lies lead to insecurity - truth brings security
• Lies breed doubts - truth births certainty
• With lies there is the “fear of being caught” - with truth there is the “relief of nothing to hide”
• Lies bring distrust - truth encourages trust
• Lies foster contempt - truth fertilizes love

Blindness
• Lies blind you to what is really happening - truth brings understanding to circumstances
• Lies blind you to consequences - truth awakens to effects.

ILLUSTRATION:
A traveler, between flights at an airport, went to a lounge and bought a small package of cookies. Then she sat down and began reading a newspaper. Gradually, she became aware of a rustling noise. From behind her paper, she was flabbergasted to see a neatly dressed man helping himself to her cookies. Not wanting to make a scene, she leaned over and took a cookie herself.

A minute or two passed, and then came more rustling. He was helping himself to another cookie! By this time, they had come to the end of the package, but she was so angry she didn’t dare allow herself to say anything.

Then, as if to add insult to injury, the man broke the remaining cookie in two, pushed half across to her, ate the other half, and left.

Still fuming some time later when her flight was announced, the woman opened her handbag to get her ticket. To her shock and embarrassment, there she found her pack of unopened cookies!

Powerlessness
• Lies weaken and cripple - truth strengthens and heals
• Lies are a mark of the faithless - truth is the target of the faithful

Death
• Ultimately, truth brings freedom from the shackle of death a lie puts on a person.

CONCLUSION

And so I come back to the question I asked earlier this morning. Does truth matter to you? If it matters then you already know the freedom that truth brings in your life. But if it doesn’t matter then friend I’m sorry to say that you are shackled to a lie this morning. God wants you to know the truth and now is the opportunity to find it!

Saturday February 23rd @ 8:30am-10am

Hey ladies! Come on out for a continental breakfast and enjoy a morning of fun and fellowship. Our guest speaker will be Jenny Vigliotti.

INTRODUCTION

Well today is week number five of the series I’ve been preaching on called, “Miracles”. Since the start of the year we’ve been diving into several of the miracles that Jesus performed as recorded in the gospels and learning some pretty incredible things from these miracles. At least I have anyway.If you have your Bibles, would you turn to John 9. We’re looking at John 9 this morning. Our story begins with a guy who was born blind, and interestingly, he was born into a culture that blamed him and his sin for his blindness.

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
John 9:1-2 (NIV)

I want you to do something for me - I’ve had so many great comments about how some of you folks love the interactive nature of these messages lately that I’m going to add some more interactive stuff today. So follow along okay? Here’s what I want you to do: I want you to close your eyes. Now, imagine yourself going about your daily activities every day this way. The alarm goes off, but your sudden blindness does not prevent you from being able to smack the snooze button. You’ve been doing that in the dark for as long as you can remember! However, things change when you roll out of bed. You go to the dresser or the closet to pick out your clothes for the day, but since you can’t see, you can’t tell the colour of the clothes you picked out. For all you know, you may be wearing two different socks or an orange scarf with a red blouse. Unfortunately, those of you who know me well have probably seen me wearing clothes that look like I can’t see when I’m getting dressed.

As you vacuum later that day, you hear a screech and a “thwoop”, and you start to wonder, “Did I just vacuum up the family gerbil?” You start preparing your sandwich for lunch that day and then you wonder if you grabbed the can of tuna or the can of cat food…

Now imagine yourself trying to do your job without being able to see - let alone getting to the place you work!

Okay, now open your eyes. Some of you may need to punch your neighbour in the shoulder to wake them up. You have my permission to do so.

Now, in doing this exercise I was in no way intending to poke fun at people who are blind. But, I wanted you, for just a minute, to imagine what your life would be like if you had never been able to see…

The interesting thing in this story is that there are really two kinds of blindness that are shown. There is the physical blindness that is obvious in the blind man’s life and then there is another blindness that is just as devastating. It is a blindness that is caused by not having the right perspective. See, God looks at things a little differently than we do.

We live in a world that is a bit blurry at times. A blurriness brought on by not really seeing as God sees. For me it’s stuff like this: Having a father die suddenly of a rare disease that came at Him out the blue and not really getting the chance to say goodbye the way I would have liked to. That was tough. Things were kind of blurry for me during that time. I remember a while back getting the call to go to the hospital because I was the chaplain on call and a young girl had been in a serious accident linked to someone who was driving drunk. I arrived at the hospital and saw her on the operating table, blood everywhere and being hooked up to the machines that would hopefully keep her a live long enough for the transport to London. Life was kind of blurry when went into the room to be a “pastor” to the parents of this girl - people I didn’t know. Add to that list all of your stuff, all of the things you are struggling through, the things you don’t understand, and we live in a world where there are often more questions than there are answers. Where we want to know why? Why does this happen?

As we look at this story this morning, I’m praying that the power of God will help us to see what He wants us to see during those times? When we don’t understand why this is happening - what is His perspective - what does He want us to see?

If you are taking notes, I want you to write this first thought down. When life gets blurry, God wants us to see through our obstacle illusions.

God wants us to see through the “obstacle” illusions.

The disciples when they came across this blind guy, they saw the obstacle. He was blind. But notice, they didn’t say, “Jesus is there anything that we can do for him? Is there any hope? Jesus could You heal him?” They didn’t say any of that! All they said was, “Who could we blame?”

You are blinded by an obstacle illusion when the obstacle leads you to the place of hopelessness. When there’s nothing else to do but find someone or something to blame. But Jesus, He saw through the obstacle. He saw to the other side, and He responds,

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened …
John 9:3 (NIV)

Say it with me, this happened so what?

…so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
John 9:3 (NIV)

Jesus saw through the blindness. He saw purpose in it.

An obstacle illusion is a lot like an optical illusion. [SHOW PICTURE OF RAILROAD TRACKS ON POWERPOINT SLIDE]. Take for example, these railroad tracks. Let’s say we are going to stand right in the middle of these tracks and look at the horizon as far as our eyes can see. What do our eyes tell us these rails are doing? They are telling us that they are getting…what?…closer together right? Now, if we were to actually walk down these railroad tracks, would we find any point at which they actually come together? No. But if you do, it’s time to get off the train, for sure. But no, we wouldn’t. It’s an optical illusion. An optical illusion is when what you perceive or see doesn’t equally what actually is.

Let’s say you get a doctor’s report and you are reading it, and you think to yourself, “Life, as I know it, is over.” Is it really over? Or, could there be a purpose? Maybe you are single and you have been praying, and praying, and praying, and praying for God’s best, that person to become your spouse, and no one comes along. Or the few that do, turn out to be duds. Duds, and you find yourself in a place of hopelessness. Or maybe you’ve got this vision for something you really believe God wants you to do and you share it with others and start working on this dream and no one shares the excitement you have and the difficulties just seem to big to surmount.

Let me make it clear. I’m not saying, in any way, that the obstacles we face in life are not real. They are very real. I’m also not saying that the pain associated with these struggles in life is not real. It’s very real. However, the moment you find yourself in a place of hopelessness, if there’s nothing to do but find blame, you’ve got to get a different perspective. You’ve got to see through it.

Why are you facing what you are facing? Maybe, so that the work of God might be displayed in your life! How many of you today would honestly say, “You know what? There is a mountain, an obstacle in my life that I am facing that I wish I wasn’t.” Come on, be honest? Say, “Yeah, that’s me.”

Let’s think of it this way for a moment. Have you ever been driving along enroute to something pretty important and ahead you see that there’s construction being done on the road your traveling? What’s the first thing you think? “Oh great, now it’s going to take me longer to get there…” Right? It will take longer because usually when there’s construction they have these signs up that point you to a what? A detour right? The thing about detours is that they aren’t the route you planned to take but they end up still getting you where you want to go. Did you hear me?

What if, when life throws us a curveball, when we face those obstacles, and man - we face a lot of them. What if, it’s not a dead end? What if that’s not a stop sign? What if it’s NOT the end of the line? What if it’s, perhaps, a detour? Listen closely - God will get you exactly where He desires for you to go, but you may not take the route you thought you’d be traveling in the process. When things get fuzzy and life throws you an obstacle, see through the illusion of hopelessness. There is always hope.

Time for the second observation. If you are taking notes, write this down too. When life gets blurry, God wants us to see His response to our obedience.

God wants us to see His response to our obedience.

If you’ve been paying attention during this series you may be thinking to yourself, “Man this is the fifth week in this series. It seems like I’ve heard that specific point in the last four messages!” You think? Maybe there’s a trend here. Maybe, just maybe, that breakthrough we’ve been asking God for is in standby mode. Why? Because we are not obeying something He has asked us to do.

Listen, God wants us to see His response to our obedience, so this is the part of the story that becomes very interesting. You’ve got this blind guy, and he overhears the disciples discussing who’s fault it is that He’s blind. Is it sin? Is it his parent’s sin? It’s an argument that the blind guy has heard before. And then, Jesus walks up to him and doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t say, “Hey, I’m the Son of God. You’re blind. I can fix you.” He didn’t say any of that. Instead the blind man hears this, [make a spitting sound]. “What was that? Was that…did somebody spit next to me?”

Now, I don’t know how much saliva it takes to make mud out of dirt, but I’m going to guess it’s probably more than just one spit (which is altogether gross by the way). So Jesus, knowing more than I know, spits in the dirt, mixes saliva and dirt together, makes mud, smears it on the guy’s face and over his eyes.

“All right, dudes are talking about how it’s my fault that I’m blind, and now some stranger just put mud all over my face.” I’m the blind guy. I’m thinking, “My life bites.” Doesn’t it? I mean this is not a good day for him right? Then, Jesus speaks, and what does He say? Look at verse 7 - come on what does Jesus say, “Go”!

“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). …John 9:7 (NIV)

What is crazy is that the man went, just like that. Instantly obeyed. Scripture tells us he went and came home seeing.

I think it’s interesting, from my perspective, that when Jesus said go and wash, you notice the guy didn’t say, “Yeah, I’m going to have to pray about that for a while, but I’ll get back to you.” Or he didn’t say, “You know, that really sounds kind of Old Testament to me, so I don’t think that applies to me.” He simply, immediately obeyed, and as a result - he who could never, ever, see now understood what blue was, and understood what a tree looked like, because he instantly obeyed even though he probably didn’t fully know why. Take another look at this passage. Is there anywhere where Jesus told the blind man that if He did this he’d be able to see?

What has God told you to do that doesn’t make sense? Maybe 6 weeks ago, when we looked a the miracle of Jesus calming the storm and I first talked about obedience, there was something that connected and you said, “I know God is asking me to do this…” and yet, here we sit today and you still haven’t done it. Listen, I’m telling you this in love, delayed obedience is disobedience. We ask God why? We say, “Why can’t You give me a breakthrough?” And I ask you, have you obeyed? Have you done what He’s asked you to do, even it, and especially if, it doesn’t make sense? God wants us to see His response to our obedience. Life gets a lot less fuzzy if we will just do what He asks us to do in our relationships, in our walk with Him, He wants us to see His response to obedience.

Number three, the third observation I want to make. Please write this down. God wants us to see our blind spots.

God wants us to see our blind spots.

There was a group of religious folk, called the Pharisees, and they knew this guy. They knew that he was blind from birth. They passed by him every single day begging for money in the temple courts, and when they heard that his eyes were opened and he could now see, they flipped out. So the man was brought before the Pharisees and they began this inquisition of questions. “Who did it? When did they do it? How did they do it?” And the guy is just standing there, “Are you guys for real?” And he responds to them. Now, check this out - I love this. In verse 30,

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
John 9:30-33 (NIV)

Essentially saying, “Are you guys kidding me? Yesterday, I was blind. Today, I stand before you and I can see. I can see your faces, I can see! And you are asking me who, what, when, where, and how?” These Pharisees had a blind spot. They were so focused on the law and the fact that this was done on the Sabbath, they couldn’t see that the Son of the living God just healed the guys eyes.

It reminds me of a story I heard once with the famous characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson…

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine, they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. “Watson, look up and tell me what you see.” Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.” “What does that tell you?” Watson pondered for a minute.

“Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Why, what does it tell you?” Holmes said, “Watson, you idiot, someone has stolen our tent!” (quoted in the message “Blind Spots” by Ernest Flores)

Sometimes we are blind to what is going on right in our midst. What is your blind spot? What have you become so focused on in your priorities that you can’t even see what is right in front of you? Where are you so fixated that you’ve lost sight of the things around your life that are absolutely the most important? So many times things don’t go the way we want or the way that we think they should go that we miss out on what is actually happening around us. God wants us to see our blind-spots.

When life gets blurry, God wants us to see through the hopelessness of our obstacles. He wants us to see His response when we obey Him - when we just do what He says. He wants us to see our blind spots, and it is at this place in this story that Jesus once again appears back on the scene.

So, the guy doesn’t give the Pharisees the answer they are looking for and they get pretty upset with him. They kick him out of the temple.