NOW MIKE – (on the other hand) had the kind of experience that people write about in books. I MEAN – his marriage was a mess, he had a problem with drugs and alcohol, all he cared about was making money & climbing the corporate ladder. He would do and had already done almost anything to make it; to be successful. One day things really went south for Mike… he got nailed for a D.U.I, was laid off from work and His wife took the kids and went to stay with her parents. MIKE – hit bottom, he was in serious pain…and that pain finally drove him to church.
The first week there, Mike sat in the back row because for some reason, the cross in the front bothered him. But he returned the next Sunday and he brought a bible. Before long Mike started getting up at 4 am to read the bible; and after a few months he surrendered his life to Christ and was baptized. He joined a small group and got involved in the ministry of the church. Mike’s life changed so fast and so abruptly, that his pastor wondered if it would stick. But now - several years latter according to his wife, his children, his friends and Mike himself, he is a new man. I mean– the way he talks, acts, lives, serves, gives and loves is sincerely fresh and new. Mike has completely changed…He is being transformed into the image of Christ…
Question – As I told you about Karl & Mike…did any images pass in your mind? Do these examples ring true to you?
Another question - In your church experience what have you found to be the norm? Who do we find more of in the church…(unchanged) Karls or Christ-like Mikes? I think we all know the answer.
IN – a recent interview George Gallup said that the reason Christianity hasn’t grown as it should is that people don’t see Christians as being any different from the rest of the population. The question we have to ask is why? Why do so few believers experience this transformation and change.
We need to understand that there are really only two things that cause people to change:
1) When the pain or discomfort of certain situation in their life forces them to change. Or, they feel they have no where else to turn…or no other choice. ( Heaven or Hell? )
2) People change when they are given a powerful and compelling vision of a new and better way to live; a vision of a new and better reality of life. A vision for their life; that pumps them up, stokes their fire, and ignites their hope.
I am convinced that this is exactly what Jesus intends the reality of the kingdom of God to do in each of our lives as believers. Jesus wants to give people a vision for a different and better future. That’s why He said things like: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” – or - “the Kingdom of Heaven is like a choice pearl. The merchant, when he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”
LISTEN - part of the reason why we have missed the awesome reality of living in the kingdom of God (now) is because we have preached, taught and embraced an incomplete Gospel. The word gospel comes from the a Greek word that means ‘good news.’ The good news about what?
Well, the primary message of the incomplete gospel is that Jesus came and He died on a cross so that our sins can be forgiven and we can go to heaven when we die…It is finished…end of story.
There is a bumper sticker that gently imposes its little message: “Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven.” Just forgiven? Is that really all there is to being a Christian? Well, it certainly needs to be said that Christians are forgiven; and it needs to be said that forgiveness does not depend on being perfect; but is that really what the slogan communicates? Unfortunately not. What the slogan really conveys is that forgiveness alone is what Christianity is all about. It says that you can have faith in Christ that brings forgiveness, while in every other respect your life is no different from that of others who have no faith in Christ at all. Dallas Willard calls this “bar code faith.” He goes on to say; “Can we seriously believe that God would establish a plan for us in that essentially the Christian faith and salvation covers nothing but death and the hearafter? Can we believe that being saved really has nothing what-so-ever to do with the kind of persons we are now? Or that it somehow leaves our character untouched?
I think Paul expresses what kingdom living is all about in many places, but especially in Ephesians 4:14 through 5:20 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That’s a lot to read, but does all that sound to you like there’s more to the gospel than just getting a ticket to heaven? It sounds to me like God also expects change.
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