Life Apps, part 1

This post is the first sermon in our new series called: " Life Apps: there is an app for that".
I spoke this message on Sunday, Feb. 19th. 2012. Enjoy, and I welcome your comments.

            I’m stoked to begin our new sermon series today. It’s called “Life Apps”.

            Just so everyone is all on the same page, an “app” is the shorter version of the word “application.”

An application is a program or a device or tool that makes life slightly less complicated, and a little more fun…

            As you can probably tell, this series is based on a wonderful little device—or a BIG device in this case, called an iPhone.

(Which, by the way, looks AWESOME. Huge thanks to Justin who built it, to Ron for donating the lumber)

ILLUSTRATION- I am an iPhone fan. I’ve had one for years, and it has to be one of the coolest inventions of man has ever come up with.   

            Somehow, a generous bunch of individuals of this church discovered that I wanted an iPad for Christmas.

       I can’t figure out how they knew this, but they did, and it’s one sweet machine.

            I love my iPhone and my iPad. I use them constantly.

       I’m either reading the something, playing a game, or using it to preach from.  The fact is that I love these wonderful little devices.

            When I received my iPad, I wasn’t completely sure how to use it.

        Sure, I had an iPhone, and this is a bigger version of an iPhone, but there is so much more one can do with an iPad, so I needed to figure out the best way to use my iPad.  

       So I went out and purchased this book. (Show)

             This book showed me all the things I could do with my iPad; because having an iPad and not knot knowing how to use an iPad is pointless, it would be better if I didn’t have an iPad.

            But I do know how to use my iPad, so, sorry to disappoint you, we’ll not be giving one away this week…

            I wanted to get the most out of my iPad, so I consulted an owner’s manual because “application makes all the difference.”  

            You know, this statement: “application makes all the difference” is true for most, if not all things, in life.

ILLUSTRATION- Our eldest daughter, Emma, had an ear infection this week.

        The doctor gave us medicine for this ear infection and in order to know how much medicine to give her, I had to read the label.

            It wouldn’t do Emma any good if I gave her as much—or as little—as I wanted.

        In order for Emma to get over her ear infection, I had to give her the right amount of medicine, because “application makes all the difference.”

ILLUSTRATION- When I purchase a new power tool—which hasn’t happened for a long time I might add— but when I purchase a new power tool, I take at least 5 minutes and consult the owner’s manual.

            I want to know how to get the most out of my new tool. I do this, because: “application makes all the difference.”

ILLUSTRATION- When we purchase a new car; most of us will look at the owner’s manual at least once to find out an important detail about our new car.

         We do so, because: “application makes all the difference.”

            If this is true in our physical world—if application makes all the difference—can we assume that God has an application for life? Does God have an app for that?

            The short answer is yes!

·      If you’re struggling with stress- God has an app for that- (Submission to God)

·      If you’re struggling with sin and shame, there’s an app for that (forgiveness)

·      If you’re struggling with a lack of patience, there’s an app for that. (patience)

·      If you’re struggling worry, there’s an app for that (prayer)

            For everything that you face in this life, God has a corresponding application for your life.

            But here’s the kicker: We must apply God’s application to our lives.

        It simply isn’t enough for us to be aware of God’s fix for our problems, we must apply that fix to our lives.

            It isn’t enough just to have an iPad, I need to know how to use the iPad because application is everything. 

            Andy Stanley reminds us that: “doing is what makes the difference—not believing, not hearing, not listening, not note taking, not elbow poking, not, yeah, yeah, yeah, I ought to—doing is what makes all the difference.” (Life apps sermon #1, page 11)

            Most of us in this room are Christ-followers. That being the case, we must look into God’s instruction manual to find the specific application that we need to apply to our lives.

Self-help books may offer some assistance; religious gurus may have a nugget of truth to offer; but we will only find answers to our most pressing needs by looking at—looking in-- God’s Book: the Holy Bible.

            And the New Testament teaches us that application makes all the difference.

            Both Jesus and His brother James, weigh in on this issue. James tells us in chapter 1:22: “…don’t just listen to God’s word.” (1:22a, NLT2)

            James was telling the followers of Jesus, “don’t let the word of God go in one ear and out the other”

ILLUSTRATION- My mother used to say this to me frequently. She would tell me something and I wouldn’t pay attention to what she was saying. I would let her words go in one ear, and they would come out the other ear.

            James was telling the followers of Jesus to do more than just hear the Word of God. It’s not enough just to hear it. Something more has to be done.  

James was telling the followers of Jesus to: “Do what it says.” (James 1:22b, NIV)

It’s not good enough for us to just hear the Word; it’s not good enough for us to just come to church and hear from some guy with a cool belt buckle say some interesting words.

It’s not good enough for us to hear that we need to change our life, something more has got to be done.

Don't just hear the Word, Do the word.

            Just so we don’t miss what James was trying to tell us, he goes on to say:

            “Those who hear God's teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror.

²⁴ They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like.” (James 1:23-24, NCV)

Who is it that looks at themselves in a mirror and then once they walk away from that mirror forget what they look like? The person who doesn’t practice the word of God.

As we apply God’s word to our lives, we will discover that God has an app for that, and James reminds us that application makes all the difference:

“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:25, NIV ‘11)

As we apply God’s truth to our lives, we will live in bondage… oh, right, freedom.

Living God’s way always leads to freedom.

it might not feel this way at the present time, but living God's way always leads to freedom.

You see, Application makes all the difference.

Some of us have heard God’s word for a length of time now. You could probably recite what you can do and what you can’t do.

You may have heard God’s word but are you applying God’s word?

You see, it isn’t enough just to hear what you ought to do; it isn’t enough just to acknowledge that you’ve got some things to change.

Knowing about God’s word and applying God’s Word are two different things. Application makes all the difference.

Don’t just hear about Jesus; apply Him to your life. He makes all the difference.

Speaking of Jesus, let’s hear what He had to say about this issue:

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” (Matthew 7:24-25, NLT2)

Jesus said that if you hear and apply His word to your life, when your whole world comes crashing down, you can stand tall, because application makes all the difference.

“But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.

²⁷ When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:26-27, NLT2)

It’s not enough to hear the Word of God; we must apply the word of God to our lives, because application makes all the difference.

            Someone once said: “Unapplied truth is like unapplied paint. It doesn’t do anybody any good. The value is in the application.” (Lane Jones, life apps, sermon#1, Andy Stanley) 

            Simply hearing about Jesus won’t change your life. Receiving Jesus will not only alter your afterlife, but He will change your present life too.

            Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (Jn. 10:10, NIV)

            Jesus is saying that we can have our best life… right now. We don’t have to wait until we’re dead, we can live life to its fullest, right now.

            But we’ve got to do more than just hear the word of God; we’ve got to apply the word of God.

You see, Application makes all the difference.

            Some of you have been coming to the Ridge for a length of time. You have heard about Jesus, but you have yet to respond to Jesus.

            In order to receive all that God has for you, you must apply His truth to your life.

            Remember, following Jesus isn’t only a decision you make, it’s a lifestyle you chose, so if you want all that God has for you, you must start by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

            You must apply His blood to your life, and receive His forgiveness for your sins.

            Jesus invites you to build your house on a solid foundation, because application makes all the difference.  

            If you would like to receive Jesus this morning and all that He has for you, I encourage you to come to the front of the church and receive God’s forgiveness.

            For those of us who have received Jesus, don’t think that you are out of the woods just yet.

            God has a specific truth from His word that He wants you to apply to your life as well.

            Over the next few weeks, we’re going to look at specific applications and see why, and how, applying them to our life will make all the difference.

            If you would like to receive Jesus, or if you would like to pray about something that God has spoken to you about, you come as we sing a new twist on an old song.

  

Happy Valentine's Day!

The following is my message from Sunday, Feb. 12.

ILLUSTRATION- My wife and I have been together for almost 14 years.

            We, like any couple who has been together for any length of time, have seen our fair share of up’s and downs.

            When I think back over our relationship, I recall the good times: our wedding, the birth of our children, our trips together, our first and second ministry assignments.

            But, as I think back over our relationship, I also remember the hard times.

        The middle-of-the-night-arguments that found one of us sleeping on the couch.

         I also think about that time that I asked Beth to get out of the car as I was driving it. 

            Through it all, my wife has stood by my side through thick and thin.

            It has taken effort from me and effort from her to keep our marriage together.

It hasn’t been one of us giving 70% and the other one giving 30%, its been both of us giving our all to make our marriage last.

            According to an on-line news article published in September 2011, a survey of divorce lawyers in the UK, “found that growing apart from one’s partner overcame cheating as the #1 reason why people ended their marriages.”

            “The lack of emotional chemistry, or ‘falling out of love’ with their partner was the reason people split 27% of the time, while cheating, which came in at #2, accounted for 25% of divorces.”(taken from the net, my flies)

            Over one quarter of marriages have ended because couples “drifted apart.” I don’t know how that statistic resonates with you, but it scares me to death!

            It scares me to think that one in four people will end their marriage because they’ve drifted apart.

            I don’t want to be in that category. I don’t want you to be in that category.   

       So, here’s the main thought from my message today: Jesus can Redeem and Restore any Relationship.

            My God is a God who heals and restores. My God is a God who performs miracles.   

        My God is a God who created love, and my God is a God who can heal the broken relationship no matter how bad we may think it is.

            Jesus can redeem and restore any relationship. Not only do I believe this to be true; I have experienced His restoration in my relationship with my wife.

ILLUSTRATION-We have been through some pretty intense moments of unfaithfulness, and I stand here today as a married man, because Jesus has redeemed and restored our relationship.

            So, if you have a Bible, I invite you to turn to the Book of Revelation to see how Jesus can redeem and restore your relationship.

            When you think about fixing a relationship, your first thought might not be to look into the book of Revelation, but in the Master’s word to the Church in Ephesus is a formula for fixing a broken relationship.

            In His address to this church, Jesus starts off by commending the church for taking a stand:

            “I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.

³ You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.” (Rev. 2:2-3, NLYT2)

Jesus commends the church for taking a stand, but He also mentiones an area of concern.

  look at verse 4:“…You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Rev. 4b-5a, NIV)

            Apparently, the church had allowed their love of God—for God-- to diminish.

He no longer occupied the number one spot in their lives. They had allowed their relationship with God to drift.

            Jesus reminded this church that He could redeem and restore the relationship they if Remembered, Repented and did the things they did when they had first fallen in love with Him.

            If this was the formula that the Church in Ephesus had to follow in order for God to occupy top spot in their lives once again;

            If God’s Word has insight for every aspect of our lives;

            If God’s Word “...corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Tim. 4:16, NLT2);

            Then we should be able to apply this formula to our earthly relationships and have Jesus redeem and restore them.

            If we want to avoid becoming one of the 27%; if we want Jesus to Redeem and restore our relationship, we will take Him at His word and Remember.

ILLUSTRATION- How many of you remember the first time you laid eyes on your future spouse?

            I do. Beth was sitting in the student lounge of Kingswood University with her boyfriend at the time.

       When I walked in, I sat down beside her, put my arm around her and said: “I’m going to marry you someday.”

            As you can imagine, her response was immediate. “Drop dead” she told me.

            The chase was on. I did everything I could to win her heart. But it was to no avail.

            When I finally stopped chasing her, a strange thing happened. She began chasing me!

            Naturally, I played the “I’m not interested” card, but, ultimately, I surrendered to the power of love, and well, the rest as they say, is history.

            In order to allow Jesus to redeem and restore your relationship, it would be good for you to remember why you first fell in love.

            It wasn’t because they drove you insane. (For some of you, it might have been, but for most of us that wasn’t the case.)

            It was because you felt something deep inside your heart; something unexplainable, something called love.

            To keep from drifting away from your spouse, remember what it was like when you first fell in love. And remember: the good things almost always outweigh the bad things.

            In order for Jesus to redeem and restore your relationship you should remember what it was like when you first fell in love.

            But Jesus also mentions that we need to Repent.

ILLUSTRATION- I don’t know how many times I have had to do this. I’ve had to eat crow almost every day of my life.

       I might have done something wrong, said something wrong, or neglected to do something that had Beth asked me to do.

            Genuine repentance has saved my marriage. When I’ve done wrong, I’ve admitted it, and asked my wife to forgive me.

If we’re going to avoid drifting apart; if we’re going to allow Jesus to redeem and restore our relationships, we must repent of:

·      The wrong’s we have committed;

·      The comparisons- (you’re cooking isn’t like my mother’s)

·      The “if only’s” (If only you had done….)

For Jesus to redeem and restore our relationship we must repent.

One day Peter came to Jesus and asked Him a question: “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

²² “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:21-22, NLT2)

There is to be no limit on forgiveness. This doesn’t mean we can take advantage of our spouse, but it does mean that we can repent when we’ve done wrong and receive the forgiveness that we truly need.

Some of you need to go to your spouses and ask them to forgive you. Some of you have been taking advantage of your spouse’s far too long.

For Jesus to redeem and restore your relationship you are going to have to remember what you’ve done wrong and repent of that wrongdoing. 

 But we must also do the things you did at first.

ILLUSTRATION- When Beth and I finally began our dating relationship I couldn’t wait to take her out.

            I tried to make the most of our time together. I wanted to be with her as much as I could. (I still do!) Because I love her, I want to be with her.

            If I want Jesus to redeem and restore my relationship, I’m going to have to take my wife out on a date.

            If you want Jesus to redeem and restore your relationship try doing the things you did to win your spouse’s heart. It will take time and effort, but it will be worth it.

            I realize that there’s a danger in preaching a message like this.

·      Some of your marriages are hanging on by a thread;

·      Some of your marriages have ended;

·      Some of you don’t have your significant other anymore.

·      Still others of you are not married.

            No matter what stage of life you may find yourself in today, the Word of God has an application for you.

            If your marriage is hanging on by a thread, I want to encourage you to take the words of Jesus and apply them to your marriage.

Remember what it was first like; repent of things you’ve done wrong, and do whatever it takes to win your spouse’s heart back.

Nothing should be off the table. If she likes to go skiing, you should at the very least make an effort to take her skiing. If he likes to watch Rocky, buy him the 6 part DVD set.

It will take work to keep your marriage alive. But know that Jesus stands ready and willing to redeem and restore your marriage, and His Holy Spirit will give you the strength to fight for your marriage.

If you are divorced: you can take these words of Jesus into your next relationship. You can apply these principles and watch Jesus redeem and restore your broken heart.  

If your significant other is no longer with you, or if you are not married, can I encourage you to pray for those of us who are married?

Can I ask you to take one couple from this church and pray for them by name?

Pray that we wouldn’t be amongst those who “drift apart”; pray that Jesus would redeem and restore the relationships of this Church.

If you take nothing else from this message today, grab hold of this simple truth: Jesus can redeem and restore any relationship.

He doesn’t want you to be one of the 27% of couples who have drifted away. You can—He can-- fix what’s broken.

For some of you, this fix might mean getting married.

For others this might mean stop doing that thing that drives your spouse crazy and repent of your wrong doing;

For others it’s remembering and doing what you did at first.

For all of us, it begins by asking Jesus to restore and redeem our relationships.

             

The Lord's Supper

This past Sunday-- Feb 5-2012- we celebrated the Lord's Supper. Have you ever wondered why?
Well, read on!

            In just a few moments we are going to pause and receive communion together.

Before we do so, I want to answer an important question: Why do we observe the Lord’s Supper?

ILLUSTRATION- A little girl asked her mother one Sunday morning as she was preparing lunch: “Mommy why do you cut off the ends of the ham before you cook it?”

            The girl’s mother turned and looked at her and said: “Oh, sweetie, I’m not really sure why, but I suppose you cut the ends off the meat so that it can absorb the juices and the spices and make it more tender.”

“Maybe you’d better ask your grandmother, since she was the one I learned it from. She always did it that way.”

            The little girl called her grandmother later in the day and asked her the same question.

            The little girl’s grandmother responded: “Oh, I’m not really sure. I think it is so the juices will be absorbed better. Call your Nana. She is who I learned it from.”

            The little girl began to get a little frustrated with the whole idea, but decided to call her great-grandmother anyway.

            “Nana”, she said, “mom was preparing lunch the other day, and she cut the ends off of the ham before she cooked it.

“I asked her why, and she said that she did it because the juices would absorb better, making it tender. She told me to ask Grandma to make sure, since she learned it from her.”

            “Well I called Grandma and she said the same thing about the juices and all, but that she learned it from you and said I should ask you.”

            “Nana: why do you cut the ends off the ham before you cook it?”

            There was a long pause in the conversation and then the little girl heard what sounded like laughter coming from the other end of the phone.

            “What’s so funny Nana” the little girl inquired.

            “Oh, dear, I cut the ends off the ham before I cooked it because my pan was too small.” (from my files) 

            Do we observe communion just because we’ve always done it?

Why do we eat the small pieces of bread, and drink the small cup of grape juice… what is the significance?

            Does the Bible give us any indication as to why we are to observe this Meal? If so, what does it have to say?

            Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11 as we seek to answer some of these questions.

            In the 2^nd half of this chapter, Paul was addressing an issue that had arisen out of the Communion service that the Corinthian church was observing.

            “When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper.

²¹ For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.

²² What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor?” (1 Cor. 11:20-22a, NLT2)

It seemed that the church of the day was having a hard time with what communion was truly about.

Some of the people were getting drunk on the wine; other people were gorging themselves with food; still others had nothing to eat or drink.

So, Paul was reminding the church the real reason they were to observe the Lord’s Supper.

He told them that it was more than a meal; it was: #1 a time to remember.

Look at verses 23-25:

^“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread ²⁴ and gave thanks to God for it.

Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

²⁵ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” (1 Cor. 11:23-25, NLT2)

While Paul wasn’t present on the night the Lord Jesus shared this meal with His disciples, Paul had received a message of what had taken place.

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus sat down with His disciples and shared the Passover Meal with them.

This was a meal that God’s people were required to observe every year.

But in Jesus, this very old meal, was about to take on a very real—and new—meaning.

Exodus chapter 12 tells us that a Lamb was to be sacrificed. John chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is: “…the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NIV)

Exodus 12 reminds us that the Passover meal was to include bread baked without yeast.

John chapter 6 reminds us that Jesus is: “the bread of life” (John 6:35, NIV)

Jesus was interpreting the old meal, while instituting a new meal.

He reminded His disciples how He was the fulfilment of the Old Testament Festival.

He was the Passover Lamb. Every aspect of the Passover feast/celebration was confirmed in the life of Jesus.

He was the One who would be sacrificed; His blood would be shed; so we might have our sins covered.

We observe the Lord’s Supper to remember what Jesus endured to purchase our freedom.

We observe the Lord’s Supper, not only to remember, but #2 to rejoice. 

1 Corinthians 11:26 says: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” (NIV)

To “proclaim” means: “to announce, to declare, to make known, to publish, to declare publically, to give outward indication of, to praise or glorify openly or publically.”

When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we declare, make known publically, announce the death of Jesus.

We proclaim that: “…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:4, NIV)

When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim His death, but we also rejoice that He is our soon coming King!

            “…every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” (1 Cor. 11:26, NLT2)

            Do you believe that Jesus is coming again? We should!

The Bible teaches that Jesus is coming; no one knows when He will return, but the fact of the matter is; He is our soon coming King.

            Of course, this speaks very clearly to His resurrection. A person can’t return if they are dead!   Of course, a person can return from the dead, which Jesus has done, becasue Jesus isn’t dead.

        He is very much alive, and He is returning very soon.

            We observe the Lord’s Supper to remember and rejoice.

        But we also observe the Lord’s Supper to Repent.

            Verses 27-29 say: “a person who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is not worthy of it will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.

²⁸ Look into your own hearts before you eat the bread and drink the cup, ²⁹ because all who eat the bread and drink the cup without recognizing the body eat and drink judgment against themselves.” (NCV)

When we share in the communal meal, we are commanded to take some time to look within. We are to pray, as David did:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NLT2) 

We should, before partaking of the Lord’s Supper, take a few moments and ask God to search our hearts, to forgive us of our wrongdoing.

But we should also ask God to reveal to us any wrongdoing that we may have against our family, and our friends.

The Lord’s Supper is a time for us to repent of our sin, and receive God’s forgiveness.

Jesus is God’s answer for our sin problem. He came into this world to break the power of Sin.

The Bible says: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:21, NLT2)

In observing the Lord’s Supper:

·      We remember the punishment that Jesus endured to pay the price for sin;

·      We rejoice because death could not hold Jesus and that He is coming again;

·      We repent of our sin and receive His forgiveness. A forgiveness that enables us to be free from guilt, shame, condemnation, sin and death…..

We don’t observe communion just because we’ve always done. We observe communion because Jesus instructed us to.

I want to let you know that it’s all right for you to not partake of the Lord’s Supper.

This meal is for those who have surrendered their life to Jesus. If you haven’t done so, or if you and God aren’t exactly on the same page, it’s ok to let the elements pass you by.

You can take this time to talk to God and ask Him to speak to your heart; ask Him to cleanse you; to mold you; to hold you… whatever you need from God, you tell Him now, as we take a moment or two for silent reflection.