Author: Mojo Ministries

Before I get into the message this morning, I just want to give you a little head-up of what we have coming down the road to begin 2025 with. I am working on a series of message under the heading of “2025 – A Year to Define Your Purpose.” To think that the God who hung the moon and the stars; the God who set day and night into their proper place, the God who caused a catastrophic event like the Flood of Noah’s Day to move the plate tectonics to form the earth as we now know it, To think that that same God formed man out of the dust of the earth, and breathe into his nostrils the breathe of life, to think that that same God has a specific purpose for our lives individually. So, beginning in January, I am going to challenge every one of us to let 2025 be the Year that each of us define our God-ordained purpose! So, I hope you will plan to be with us.

Now, when you think about the church, what a powerful force the church is. To describe the church, I would use words like compassion, courage, committment, even contagious to describe the church. But I wonder, as we go out into the community, I wonder what words they use to describe the church. In fact, there was a survey conducted a few years ago that asked the question – “Do you have to go to church to be a good Christian?” Astonishingly, 86% of the people that took the survey said – NO. SO, as they look at the church, you might say, to them, the church is outdated, insignificant, unimpactful, and I would venture to say, even unnecessary.

I’ll tell you, man, church can be messy can’t it? I would even say that there are times in our own lives when we feel like going to church is more of a hindrance or a burden than a help or a blessing. Sometimes we just feel like the church is a barrier between us connecting with God. When the volume on the music is too loud, or the person standing next to you is singing at the top of the lungs – and out of key, or the preacher is just preaching to slow and to dry. Or maybe the church is a barrier to God when the coffee isn’t hot enough or the donuts warm enough.

Or maybe the church is a barrier to God when you look around at the people you go to church with and say to yourself, “Those people are hypocrites.” Or maybe you look around you and you realize people are looking at you and saying that “YOU are a hypocrite.” But the truth is, when you look at the church, it is always going to be messy. Why? Because people are involved – and we are messy! I AM MESSY! But that is what the church DOES, not who the church IS.

And what is the church IS, has nothing to do with us flawed, imperfect people, but has everything to do with God. So, before we can understand what the church DOES, we need to understand what the church IS.

The term church comes from the Greek word “Ekklesia.” A “gathering, an Assembly” literally “The called-out ones.” So, the CHURCH is not a PLACE, it is a PEOPLE. So, literally speaking, if you are a follower of Jesus, you do not GO TO CHRUCH, you ARE THE CHURCH. But it is easy to get that wrong to by saying “I am the church.” But that’s not quite the meaning here – remember, it is a gathering, an assembly. So, it is not I AM the church, but WE are the church. It is plural.

And as we go into this Holiday Season, I want to speak this morning on where it all began with a message titled “WHEN THE WORD BECAME FLESH.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” That is three theological statements in one sentence that are going to play themselves out in these few verses as we go forward. “² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness (THAT’S US) comprehended it not.

Now skip down to verse 14:

^“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Now look at verse 18,

“No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

Now, the verse I want to end on, is a little out of order, but let’s look at verse 12:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Let’s pray and ask for God’s blessings and understanding of His Living Word.

John 1is probably one of the most profound passages in the New Testament, and here’s why: It tells us about Jesus Christ. And let me take that a step further, it tells of about Jesus Christ and His eternal existence, and about Him coming in the flesh.

Now here is what I want you to understand about that statement: For Him to be a Redeemer, for Him to be our Savior – He had to be God, yet He also had to be man – “born of flesh.” And John 1 points out that Jesus fits both those criteria.

A lot of folks are turned off in talking about Christmas, but folks, I’m going to tell you, there is no Christmas without Christ.

I read an article a few years ago about the banning Of Christmas. Interestingly, enough, one of the places this ban has had the biggest impact, is in the State of Maryland. And I’ll tell you, that it saddens me when you hear the highest offices in our land say that we are no longer a Christian Nation.

Truth is folks, without Christ – there is no Christmas. I like the way one guy put it: “You can just as well take the heat out of fire, the wet out of water and the notes out of music as to have Christmas without Christ.”

Me personally, I don’t have a problem with lights, and decorations, or even exchanging gifts. But having said that, I will say to you, I don’t want to experience Christmas without emphasizing Christ!

In the message this morning, I want to give you the theological reasons that Christ came. I will not be talking about Kris Kringle, or Santa Klaus, or Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer, but I’m going to talk about “the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” And that is Jesus Christ. So, looking at Christmas from a theological point of view, I really want to show you:

CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN’S POINT OF VIEW

The first thing I want to say to you is “Jesus is heaven’s language.” It’s His idea. It is the idea of God that Jesus Christ be born.

“Well preacher, why is that important?” The bible says, “In the beginning WAS THE WORD.” And it is important to understand that Jesus Christ is THE living Word of God!

So, what is a “word?” A “word is vehicle of communication.” Words are the way we communicate with one another. It’s the way we teach. the way we preach, the way we reach one another. Words are important because they are our vehicle to communicate.

So, when the Bible says “In the beginning was the Word . . .” it is saying that Jesus is a vehicle of God’s communication. He is God’s Living Word.

When Jesus was born, He was God’s vehicle of communication with man! Jesus Christ was the heart and mind of God living among us.

• He was the Alpha and the Omega;
• The first and the last.
• The beginning and the end.

WHERE DID JESUS COME FROM?

When the Bible says, “In the beginning . . .” it is not attributing a beginning to God, as He is from everlasting to everlasting. But it refers to the beginning of His creative and Redemptive Work. So, when John tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God,” he is also stating that the birth of Jesus was not the beginning of Jesus. He was here long before Christmas rolled around.

The prophet Isaiah said, “Unto us a Son is given . . .” Well, it’s pretty hard to give something that doesn’t exist, isn’t it?

“In the Beginning . . .” Jesus predates Himself.

“was the Word . . .” Jesus is the Word.

“And the Word was with God . . .” Jesus was with the Father.

“And the Word was God.” Jesus and the Father are One. Jesus Himself said “I and the Father are One.” He also said, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”

You know there are a lot of things I don’t understand, and even things I can’t explain. But there are some things I simply believe – and I believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – God in Three Persons – Perfect Trinity!

So, where did He come from and what makes Him special? He was WITH God, He came FROM God, and He IS God.

WHAT DID HE COME TO DO?

Verse 14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth.”

I don’t know what it was like when God the Father told God the Son that he was going to send Him down to dwell among the Darkness (us). All I know is, my Bible says, “The Word was made flesh . . .”

He was born of a woman who never knew a man (a miracle). God in His omnipotence, placed the seed inside the virgin woman Mary.

He had to be flesh to die, but He had to be God to live without sin. You see folks, if we could live without sin, we wouldn’t have to worry about this thing called death. But there is nobody in this building this morning that is without sin – no not one!

Jesus, on the other hand, never had a bad thought or did a bad deed. He was the perfect, sinless Son of God. He is the only One capable of being our acceptable sacrifice. He came to die for me and for you. He came to pay a debt that we could not pay.

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, BUT, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 says, “God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

So WHY did Jesus come? Luke 19:10 tells us, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

WHY did Jesus come? Because according to verse 12, “. . . as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

WHY did Jesus come? Because “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).”

There’s an old song called “Born to Die” that I believe sums these verses better than any words I can say:

It must have broken God’s heart

For the future He could see.

Yet He formed the hands

And feet knowing one day

They’d be nailed to a tree.

So all the world could know Him,

A gift came from above.

For God so loved the world

That He gave His only Son.

Jesus, Sweet baby Jesus,

Is that a tear of love in Your eye.

Jesus, sweet baby Jesus,

Because for me You were born to die.

Why did He come? So that you and I, through our faith in Jesus Christ could become the Sons of God – so that we could have life, and have it more abundantly! That’s what He came to do!

I want to read a poem that was sent to me a few weeks ago. Though I haven’t memorized it, YET, the more I read it, the more it has an impact on me. It’s titled

“A Christmas Letter from Jesus.”

When you look for me at Christmas, You want need a special star.

I’m no longer just in Bethlehem – I’m right here where you are.

You may not be aware of me – amid the celebrations.

You’ll have to look beyond the stores, and all the decorations.

But if you take a moment from your list of things to do,

To close your eyes and say a prayer, I’m waiting here for you.

You’re the one I want to be with, the reason that I came.

And you’ll find me in the stillness, where I’ll be whispering your name!

^“19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. ²⁰ Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. ²¹ Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. ²² But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. ²³ There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; ²⁴ Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. ²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Let me ask you this morning, how many of you have been here the whole 6 weeks we have been studying the book of Philemon? Well Praise God, let give Him a handclap today for allowing us together to finish our first Book of the Bible.

As we are looking at the 6^th and final message in this series of messages from the book of Philemon, Paul mentions these people who were near and dear to his heart, the people who labored with him in the ministry. Now interestingly enough, Paul mentions many of these same people in chapter 4 of the Book of Colossians.

But here at the end of this little book, Paul mentions:

Philemon – if you remember with me, he is a man of means, a man who had THE church in his house. Last week, we mentioned how Paul was reaching out to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, and Paul said to Philemon, “Receive him like you receive me. If he has wronged you or owes you anything, put that on my account.” But in verses 19-22, we find that Paul is hoping to be released into house arrest to the home of Philemon. Paul refers to Philemon as a “Beloved Brother.”

Epaphras – who is mentioned both here and in Colossians 4. Paul refers to him as a “fellow prisoner” or “fellow servant.” Epaphras was one that was also imprisoned, not because he had done anything wrong, but for the Gospels sake. Yet Paul is stressing here that though they may be in a Roman Prison, they are not prisoners of Rome, or prisoners of Nero, but they are “Fellow Prisoners” of Jesus Christ. And again, I’d much rather be a prisoner of Jesus Christ than I would to be a prisoner of Rome. One additional point I’ll make here, though we know a lot about the sufferings and imprisonments of the Apostle Paul, they are many others that we do not know much about, but no less faithful in their service to God. It’s easy to come to church and see me preaching each week, or Richard leading the service each week – But we are NOT Rally Point Biker Church, we are just a part. All of you make us the church that we are. Epaphras, my “Fellow Prisoner.”

Marcus – (aka John Mark). As a young missionary, he didn’t impressed Paul very much and this caused Barnabas and Paul to part ways and go on separate missionary journeys. I’m glad the failures of our younger lives don’t hinder us from the work in the present, because “failure is not final until it is fatal.” Paul, we know would later say in his last letter to Timothy, “Bring John Mark with you, for he is profitable for the ministry.” It is this same Marcus that would write the Gospel of Mark. In our text today, Paul refers to him as Marcus, my “Fellow Laborer.”

Aristarchus – A Macedonian who lived in the capital city of Thessalonica and probably converted to Christianity during Paul’s 3rd missionary journey when he answered the “Macedonian Call.” Aristarchus was a close companion to Paul and Paul also refers to him as a “Fellow Laborer.”

Demas – what we know about him is that he forsook the ministry. He turned his back on God. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get at the end of my life and all people can remember me for is turning my back on God. Paul you might say refers to him as “Denying Demas.”

Lucas – He was a doctor who loved the ministry. Paul refers to Lucas as, “my Fellow Laborer.”

Although Luke wrote Luke’s Gospel, he himself is only mentioned 3 times in the Bible, here, again in Colossians 4, and again in II Timothy 4. And in II Timothy 4:11, Paul says, “Only Luke is with me . . .” As Paul is about to face death at the hands of the Roman captors, Paul mentions how only Luke is with him at the end. He has been a “faithful friend.” In Philemon, he refers to him as a “fellow laborer.” But in Colossians 4, Paul says something else about him that I think is important to note. Colossian 4:14, Paul says, “Luke, the beloved physician.” I want to look at that for just a second and then we’ll dive into the message.

The word “Beloved” appears 8 times in the Gospels. And every time it occurs in the Gospels, it always refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe that Jesus ought to be near and dear to our hearts AMEN!

“Beloved” means someone who is greatly loved or dear to the heart. And Luke is dear to the Apostle Paul’s heart. And 3 times in Philemon Paul uses this term “beloved.” In verse 1 he refers to Philemon as “dearly beloved.” In verse 2, “to our beloved Apphia and Archippus . . .” and then in verse 16, “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved . . .”

So, Luke is someone “beloved” by Paul, but he is also a physician. He is a doctor. Now honestly, I can’t say that I have ever preached on medicine, though it is mentioned in the Bible some 50 time. Whether that is medicine, or a balm, or a sauve, or an ointment. The Bible is filled with references to medicine. And there is at least 12 times that you find a Physician in the Bible. In fact, how many of you have hear Jesus referred to as the “Great Physician?” Now, how many of you can find a verse in the Bible that actually says those words in reference to Jesus? You can’t, because it’s not there.

What is there though, in Luke 4:23, Jesus, speaking of himself says these words, “. . . Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.”

So, Jesus is saying, “Y’all are going to say to me, “Physician Heal thyself.” And we know at Calvary, that they did that when they went by the cross mocking Him and saying, “If thou be the Christ, come down and save thyself.” They said of him, “He saved others, but he himself he cannot save.”

We know that Jesus went about healing all kinds of diseases, from leprosy, to paralysis, to the deaf and blind, even raising the dead 3 separate times. So here’s this religious crowd saying, “He saved other, but he can’t even save himself.”

And you know, it’s true – he did save others, but if he’d of saved Himself, He wouldn’t of been able to save us! I’m glad this morning that I serve a Savior who put US ahead of Himself!

Now let’s get back to Philemon. Now, if I were to ask you, “What did the Apostle Paul do for a living?” Most of us would say he’s a preacher of the Gospel, he’s a missionary, a tent-maker preacher, the Apostle to the Gentiles. He is consumed with getting the Gospel message out to everyone. But he says of Luke:

And we know in Colossians 4, Paul refers to Luke as a Physician, but here in Philemon, Paul says of Luke, “He is a fellow laborer.” So that leads me to believe that regardless of what Luke’s occupation is, he has forsaken all to follow Christ.

YOUR OCCUPATION IS NOT AN EXEMPTION FROM LABORING FOR CHRIST

We have people here that are contractors, we have some that are electricians, plumbers, carpenters, A/C installer, Quality Managers, Black Smiths, Truck Drivers, Fire men, Retirees (Praise God), we have educators, college students, high schoolers,

I’m simply saying that no matter what your title is, you are not exempt from laboring in the Gospel.

You know what we can call that, “Moonlighting.” No matter what your job is, you should be moonlighting for Jesus! Moon-lighting means, “A job that you have after hours. It is a second job.”

And most people moonlight because they love what they are doing outside of their day job. It’s not about the money, it’s about doing something they love. Josh, for example, is a blacksmith by trade, but he loves working with wood.

I’m simply saying this, regardless of whether you install electrical lines, or you lead a quality section of a major corporation, or you work at a bank, or you drive a truck – there ought to be something down inside of everyone of us that says, “I LOVE SERVING JESUS CHRIST.”

“Yes, I work 40 hours a week, yes, I punch the clock – but when I get the chance, I love to steal away and be a witness for my Savior.”

All of us work at different places, doing different jobs. Do you know what that means? That means that we each have access to people nobody else in this room has access to.

So, your occupation is not an exemption from laboring for Christ.

REGARDLESS OF WHO YOUR EMPLOYER IS, YOU WORK FOR THE LORD

So when Paul says he’s a fellow laborer, he’s a fellow laborer, not for Paul – but for the Lord.

Ephesian 6:5,6 says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

So, I’m obeying the person I’m working for, but I’m doing it like I’m obeying Christ. Now look at verse 6. “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”

So regardless of who your employer is, you are not working for your employer, you are working for Christ. You know, I hear people say all the time we have to keep religion and keep God out of the workplace. Well, we’ve been doing that in the government and the school systems for over 30 years and how’s that been working out?

Have you ever considered the possibility that God has you right where you are so that you can “Do the will of God from the heart.”

Now Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

So regardless of who your employer is, you ought to be doing the best job that you can, not to impress your boss, but because you are working for Him.

I’ll tell you folks, if you represent the Lord well, He is going to pay you a whole lot more than your place of employment.

Your occupation is not an exemption from laboring for Christ.

Regardless of who your employer is, you work for the Lord,

But finally:

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT TO BE A BLESSING TO CHRIST AND TO OTHERS.

Though as a church, we are to be about our Father’s business, the Church is not a Place of Business – it is a place of worship. The point I want to leave you with is best illustrated through this story:

When General William Booth was seeking ordination, he stood before the ordination counsel and they stated they would only ordain him if he stopped feeding all the homeless. General Booth says this to that ordination council:

“Lord, help me live from day to day In such a self-forgetful way

That even when I kneel to pray My prayer shall be for–Others.”

“Help me in all the work I do To ever be sincere and true

And know that all I’d do for you Must needs be done for–Others.”

“Let ‘Self’ be crucified and slain And buried deep: and all in vain

May efforts be to rise again, Unless to live for–Others.”

“And when my work on earth is done And my new work in heaven’s begun,

May I forget the crown I’ve won, While thinking still of–Others.”

“Others, Lord, yes, others, Let this my motto be,

Help me to live for others, That I may live like Thee.”

I’ll tell you the music has been incredible the past few weeks. I think I can say without question that I am right where I am supposed to be today. If you have your Bible, turn with me to the Book of Philemon, near the end of the New Testament, just after I & II Timothy, and Titus, just before the Book of Hebrews. As we’ve been looking at the book of Philemon, we’ve been introduced to Paul, “a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” We’ve meet Apphia and Archippus, with Archippus being a “fellow soldier” in the ministry. We have also talked about this man Philemon, a man of means, a man who has THE church in his house. Philemon has a servant named Onesimus who has done something that has caused him to run, not only from his master, but to end up in prison, where the Apostle Paul is.

• Paul is in prison because of the Gospel
• Onesimus is in Prison because he did something wrong – probably due to a crime being committed.

As we continue in this study on Reasons to be Thankful, we are going to look at how God has touched the life of this man Onesimus, as I share this message titled “I’m Thankful for the Gospel Message.”

Isn’t it amazing how the Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches all men. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, or how poor you are; how educated you are, or how uneducated you are – the Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches us all. And I can say Thank God that Jesus Christ is a “friend of sinners!” And the story before us is going to reflect that.  Look with at Philemon, beginning in verse 8:

^“8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, ⁹ Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: ¹¹ Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: ¹² Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: ¹³ Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: ¹⁴ But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. ¹⁵ For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; ¹⁶ Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? ¹⁷ If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. ¹⁸ If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;”

Paul says in verse 8, “, though I might be much bold in Christ.” In other words, Paul is saying, “Philemon, I’m about to ask a big thing of you.” Paul is writing to a man who was the owner of Onesimus. Perhaps he purchased him, perhaps Onesimus had done something and was indebted to Philemon. But Onesimus, for what ever reason has run away, and by Roman Law, he could be executed for that.

Whatever he did, whatever he took, has now landed him in jail. We don’t know exactly what he did, all we know is that Paul said of him : “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought; put that on my account.”

So Paul is writing to Philemon, and Paul says to him, “Philemon, I won’t you to take this brother back in.”

• “I don’t won’t you to take him in as a servant”
• “I won’t you to take him back in as a brother.”
• “And not just as a brother, but take him in as my own son.”
• “And not only as my son, but receive him like you’d receive me.”

Church, I am glad this morning that I am accepted in the Beloved, not on account of anything that I have done, but on the basis of Jesus Christ has done.

• Not my worth
• Not who I am
• Not what I’ve done
• Not what I have to offer God

I am just like Onesimus, he didn’t have anything to offer Philemon. I’m glad I serve a God who accepts people on the basis of His Son.

Paul says, “Though I might be much bold in Christ, to enjoin thee that which is convenient.” That word “enjoin” it’s not quite the word command, and not quite the word authority, but it’s like laying something on somebody, putting the ball in their court so to speak.

“To enjoin thee that which is convenient. Yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech thee.” Paul does a lot of beseeching on behalf of other people. He risks things for others.

And what Paul is saying here is that he is doing this – on the basis of love. Paul says, “I’m asking you for a big favor. I’m asking you to take Onesimus back in, on the basis of love.” Paul is not asking him to do this on the basis of duty, he is asking him to do it on the basis of love. Remember back in verse 5 he said, “Hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus Christ, and toward all saints.”

The Bible says, “For God so loved the world . . .” THAT WAS HIS CHOICE. And so Paul is appealing to Philemon and he is saying, “Philemon, do it for loves sake.”

Paul is saying, “Philemon, God loved you when you didn’t love Him, and you ought to show God’s love to somebody else in the same manner.” So Paul is appealing to do it for the sake of love.

But then he goes a little further, and he says, “Being such an one as Paul the aged.” “Philemon, do it because I’m getting old.” How many of you resemble that remark?

Paul’s been around awhile, he’s been down the road a little further. He’s getting old now, his time is running out.

“Philemon, if you can’t do it because of love, and if you can’t do it because I’m old, then do it because I am “now a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”  “Philemon, it’s come at a great cost to me to be in ministry.

Now look at verse 10 and Paul is going to repeat these words,  “I Beseech thee (I’m begging you) for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds.”

Paul is referring to Onesimus as his own son. Now, how many of you parents appreciate it when someone is kind to their children?

You know one of the greatest things about being born into the family of God? It doesn’t matter if you were born in Georgia, or California, or New Jersey, or North Carolina or South Carolina, WHEN YOU BECOME “BORN AGAIN,” you are now born into the family of God – you are my family.

Then Paul goes on and says in verses 13-14, “Philemon, I would love to keep him with me, because he has been a tremendous encouragement to me in my bonds, but there is no sense in us both sitting here in prison, so I am sending him to you. So don’t receive him like you doing it to fulfill a debt, but do it with joy in your heart, do it willingly.

Now paraphrasing Verse 15, “I know he left you for a season, but I’m telling you he’s coming home a new man. He isn’t the same guy that he was when he left you. I promise you he’ll never leave you again and he will be a friend to the end.”

Now let me summarize the final verses this way:

I don’t know about you, but I can say that for Joe Moore, I still stumble and fall at times.  And every time I do, I can see the devil going to God the Father saying, “Look at ole Joe fall AGAIN.  He doesn’t deserve Your love, and he doesn’t deserve Your grace.  He doesn’t deserve Your mercy.”

And I’ll tell you folks, if I had to stand on my own merit, I’d be in a world of trouble.  But thank God this morning that I have and Advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ the Righteous.  And every time I stumble, and every time I fall, and every time I come up short, Jesus steps in and says, “Dad, I took care of that!”

• Every time I go to Him and say, “Lord, I failed you again.”  He says, “I Know.”
• “Lord, will you forgive me?”  He says, “I did.”

“Philemon, I’m sending Onesimus to you.  But Philemon, when you receive him, I want you to receive him as if you were receiving me.  If you’re my co-laborer, receive him like you would me.  Give him the respect you’ve given me.  Don’t be mad at him, and if he owes you anything – put that on my account!”

Now, let’s bring that over into the spiritual realm.  And I can see Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for Joe, and I imagine Him saying something like this:

“Father – DAD – I know he ain’t much.  I know he’s done you wrong.  But when he comes to You, I ask you to receive him as if you were receiving Me.  Dad, I paid for his sins.  If he owes you anything – put that on my account!

As we study through the Book of Philemon and continue this series of messages on Reasons to be Thankful, if you were here last week, you will recognize that the verses I will share today are the same verses we shared last week.

^“1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, ² And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: ³ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, ⁵ Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; ⁶ That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”

As we look at this small book of Philemon, you will notice a plethora of names.

Onesimus – a man that has obviously done something wrong and is now imprisoned.

Paul – a man who wrote 13 books of the New Testament, to include this book. A man who once persecuted Christians but was glorious saved on the road to Damascus. Now Paul himself is in prison with a divine purpose.

Timothy – who is Paul’s son in the faith.

Apphia – who some believe is the wife of this man Philemon.

Archipphus – who some believe is the son of Apphia and Philemon.  Whether or not that is true, we simply do not know. However, what we do know is that he was a “fellow soldier” of Paul’s.

Philemon – a man of means. A man who opened his home up to have THE church in his house.

Epaphras – who is mentioned both here and in Colossians 4. Paul refers to him  as a “fellow prisoner” a “fellow servant.”

Marcus – who early on in Paul’s ministry turned his back on Paul.  That caused a split between Paul and Barnabas who went their separate ways in the ministry, with Mark going with Barnabas. This is the same Mark that would write Mark’s Gospel. A man Paul would later speak of someone that was profitable for the ministry.

Aristarchus – A Macedonian who lived in the capital city of Thessalonica and probably converted to Christianity during Paul’s 3^rd missionary journey when he answered the “Macedonian Call.” Aristarchus was a close companion to Paul.

Demas – who we know would forsake Paul in the ministry. When the going got tough – Demas got going!

And finally Lucas – This is the author of Luke’s Gospel. A learned man, in fact he was a doctor.

And so, Paul addresses this group assembled together, possibly in Colosse, in the home of Philemon, and he is about to give them a Gift Basket. Listen to what he says in verse 3:

“Grace to you.” Now there is a lot I could say about that, but what I am going to say is this, – if it wasn’t for GRACE, none of us would be here this morning.

Paul begins this message by saying “Grace to you” and in verse 25 he is going to end this letter by saying “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

“Grace to you AND Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” I’m glad this morning I can have peace that only comes from a relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

• I know a peace that doesn’t come from the bottom of a bottle.
• I know a peace that can’t come from using drugs.
• I know a peace that you can’t find in people.

But I’m telling you, there is a peace that only God can give. I’m glad I serve the God of peace!

When I was 17 years old, I walked into an Army recruiter’s office and told them I wanted to do the toughest job in the Army. That recruiter, seeing my scorny butt said, “Son, no you don’t.” But I was adamant that I was going to transform the world and I was convinced the Army was the way to do it. From that point on, for the next 14 years, I would rise to become a Platoon Sergeant in one of the most renowned units in the Army. You see, I really wanted to transform the world.

I had some goals when I joined:

• First, I want structure in my life.
• Second, I wanted to challenge myself to see if I really had what it took.

When the going got tough, I wanted to know if I was tough enough – if I was good enough. I wanted to know how I was going to react in life-or-death situations.

In December of 1989, my unit was sent to Panama in advance of an Airborne Assault to take place on December 20^th in invade Panama and kill or capture Manuel Noriega for crimes against his people and ours. My platoons’ particular mission was to seize a main supply point for the Panamanian Defense Force.  

Just hours before Operation Just Cause began, my unit commander, Col (Ret.). Chuck Dyer, got our company together, and I will never forget the words he said to us.

He said, “Men, in 4 hours, we will begin Operation Just Cause. This one is for real. So look to your left and your right and remember the faces of your battle buddies, some of them may not be with us this time tomorrow.”

• I remember leaving that meeting and thinking to myself:
• I wonder if there is anything I left undone?
• I wonder if there is anything I’ve left unsaid?
• I wonder if my kids, who were just kids at the time, I wonder if they know how much I love them?

For the next few hours, as everyone was preparing for the mission, it was a very quiet time. Everyone seemed to be in their own space, dealing with their own thoughts and emotions.

One guy, Alan Spencer, was silently walking around snapping photos of people – as his way of recording the moment. This next slide happens to be a photo he took of me reading a book, keeping to myself.

As H-Hour approached, we all grabbed our gear and silently moved to the airfield at Fort Sherman, Panama to load Assault Helicopters to begin the combat operations, at midnight on December 20^th, 1989.

On the helicopter, while flying to our objective, we could see fire-fights happening all over the place. We began taking small arms fire from the ground and, like time had temporarily stood still, I remember looking at everyone on my aircraft and I could visibly see the fear on people’s faces. As we approached our hot LZ, which means we were under heavy enemy fire, that fear intensified in them, and in me. I remember saying to myself internally, “Joe, these guys need to know that you have what it takes to lead them into combat. Because at this point, NOT leading is NOT an option.”

I began to pray, and I said, “God, I’m pretty sure, me or some of my men will die here tonight.” And of all the times, I began to think about Jesus when He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and he Prayed “Father, if there is anyway this cup can pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done.” And from that point, Jesus got up off His knees and willing gave himself over to the enemy to be crucified so that your sin and my sin could be dealt with once and for all. It is the gift of God.

And as I prayed on that helicopter, “Father not my will but thine.” I can’t explain to you what happened, but from the moment that I was convinced me or some of my men may die that night, God dealt with that fear, and for the next 72 hours, as we went from one intense mission to another, I had no worries about what we would face because I realized my life was in His hands and all I had to do was trust Him with it.

What I realized in that moment, was that if I survived this mission, I was going to go home and be with my family, with my wife and kids back in Fayetteville, North Carolina. But if I didn’t, before my body could hit the ground in the jungles of Panama, my soul would be in the presence of Almighty God. Whether I go home to my family in Fayetteville or I go home to my Father in Heaven, either way, I cannot lose because of what my Lord and Savior did on Calvary’s Cross.

One month after our mission began in Panama, we were at the airfield in Panama City waiting for flight home. Some of the toughest men in our nation were sitting there, some with tears in their eyes. A few of them came up to me and asked me what would happen to some of our men that didn’t make it home.  They asked me what would happen to them if they wouldn’t make it home? These men said that in the thickest of battle, when the bullets were flying, they could see something different about me. And they wanted to know what it was. And all I could say to them then, and all I can say to you now, “Not I, but Christ that liveth in me.”

And it was at that very moment in my life that I knew God had something different instore for my life other than kicking in doors and slinging lead with the enemies of our country.

And for the better part of the past 30 years, I have been pastoring churches and trying to lead people to Christ. You see, when I joined the Army, I thought I could transform the world through military strength. But I realized in the Jungles of Panama in 1989 that there is only one force great enough to transform the world, and it is the Holy Spirit of God living through His chosen people.

So, I am thankful for the gift basket of “Grace and Peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I realize this morning that everyone of us here came from different backgrounds and different upbringings, and we all have different goals and aspirations, but by God’s divine province, we are here together in this little tin building in the woods of Pauline. And my only challenge to you this morning, is that when you leave this building today, don’t leave here ORDINARY. My challenge is that you leave here with a real, personal relationship with the God who loved you so much that He gave His only Son to die for you. My challenge is that you live your life in such a way that people see there is something different about your life. My challenge to us as a church is that we “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Folks, I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future and I’m going to put my future in His hands!

Philemon is a tremendous book tucked away near the end of the Bible, just before the Book of Hebrews. There is only 1 chapter in Philemon which consists of 25 verses. What we know about Philemon himself:

• He is part of the church.
• He had THE church in his house.
• He is a man of means.
• He is a man that has, or at least had, servants.

Now let’s look at Philemon, beginning in verse 1, “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, ² And to our beloved Apphia (some believer this is his wife), and Archippus (some believe this is his son) our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: ³ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, ⁵ Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; ⁶ That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”

I grew up using a Schofield Bible and used it for many years. And in fact, I have a Schofield Bible tucked away in the drawer right here that I keep as a back-up in the event I forget my Bible. It you use a Schofield Bible, just above verse 4, it says the words “character.” Whether you want to title this as “Christian Character,” or “Philemon’s Character,” it really doesn’t matter.  What does matter is what this word implies. It implies or references something that is INSIDE of Philemon, rather than what is INSIDE of Philemon’s home.  

Now Philemon is a man of means, because the church meets in his house. He has to have a large enough house for the church to meet inside of it. We also know that he had servants, one of them by the name of Onesimus. This passage indicates that he has given and helped other people. So, Philemon, it is safe to say, was a man of means.

• He’s opened-up his wallet.
• He’s opened-up his resources.
• He’s helped people on their way.
• He was kind to believers.

But that is not what the Scriptures are emphasizing for us. What the Scriptures are emphasizing is what is INSIDE of this man Philemon – his character.  The Bible is more concerned about what is on the INSIDE than what is on the OUTSIDE.

If you were to ask someone to describe character:

• Some might say “honesty.” Thank God for that Amen! I’m glad I serve a God that cannot lie.
• Some might say “faithfulness.” I’m glad we have a faithful God!
• Some might say “selflessness” or “death to self.” Aren’t you glad we serve a Savior that left heaven to come down and pay the price for our sins?

Now, I believe all of those are great, but they are not what is highlighted in the passages. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said, “You can borrow brains, but you can’t borrow character.”

Character is what you are when nobody else is around.

Look at verse 5 with me, “⁵ Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints.”

If you want to have a 2-point sermon outline, there it is LOVE and FAITH.  Paul said, “HEARING of thy love and faith” do you realize, often, we hear about peoples love and faith before we ever actually see it.

I know for a fact, Dennis and Roy, and David, they go out and tell people to come visit our church but be ready to be loved on. Now, before anyone comes here, all they know about us is what they’ve heard.

That brings up the question, “Where did Paul HEAR about the love and faith of Philemon?” If you ask me, I will say he probably heard about it from Onesimus, a man that is on the run from his master. A man that got in trouble is now in jail with Paul. But Onesimus got Saved, and when he got saved, he began to look at his old boss Philemon a little differently.

Can I say to you, when you turn your life over to Christ, you do a lot of things differently, you begin to look at people differently. Before I got saved, there were a lot of things I enjoyed doing. But now, I’d rather be sitting in church with a Bible in my hand telling others about Jesus.

I just feel like, when you get your heart right, you begin to look at people differently. I believe that’s what happened to Onesimus.

Now look at that verse again, “Hearing of thy LOVE and FAITH, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus . . .” Let me just say right here, I have no problem understanding that whatsoever, but He didn’t stop there, look what it says next “. . . and toward ALL saints.” Now this is where most us struggle if we are honest with ourselves.

SO, Point number 1, if we are going to have Christian Character:

WE OUGHT TO LOVE JESUS

And we ought to love Jesus because He first loved us.

• He loved us when we didn’t love Him.
• He loved us even when we cursed Him and rejected Him.
• He loved us when we didn’t live for Him.
• He loved us enough to go to Calvary’s Cross and pay a debt that you and I owed. 

WHY? Because: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

And “God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

• God loved you when you were in your sin
• God loved you when you didn’t care for the Bible.
• God loved you before you ever thought about coming to church.
• And He loved you even before you were born.

I have to admit there was a time in my life when I didn’t love Him – but there’s never been a time in my life that He didn’t love me.

There was a time in my life when He wasn’t on my mind – but there has never been a time that I wasn’t on His mind.

There was a time in my life when He wasn’t in my heart – but there has never been a time that I wasn’t in His heart.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave His Son to be a propitiation for our sins.” 

Our love for Him is simply a reaction to His love for us!

So, we ought to love Him this morning, “Because He first loved us.”

But not only should we love Jesus:

WE OUGHT TO LOVE EACH OTHER

I John 4:21 says, “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God loveth his brother also.”

Jesus said, “If you can’t love your brother who you have seen, how can you love me whom you have not seen?”

Listen folks, our love for each other should simply be an overflow of our love for Him.

My level of love for you should be a result of God’s love living inside of me.

And if you and I want to be the followers of Christ that we ought to be, and if Rally Point Biker Church is going to be the Hospital of Hope to our community that we ought to be, we will have to learn to Love God and Love Each other!

You know, I was thinking this week – and I know, it surprises some you that I actually do think – but I was thinking about y’all and praying for each of you, and God kind of laid this thought on my mind:

Most of you, I haven’t known for very long.

• I’ve known Roy now for maybe 5-6 years.
• Some of you I’ve known for about a 1 ½ years now.
• Some of you I’ve only known for about 6 months.
• And some of you for only a few months.

But though I haven’t know you for a long time, I’ve grown to love each of you like you are my own family. What is it that causes us to feel that way?

I think it’s the love of God living in us that is causing us to be a conduit, the overflow, or project, that love toward each other. LOVE GOD/LOVE EACH OTHER

“Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints.” I just believe that is good Christian character!

If we are going to have Christian Character, not only should we love Jesus and each other,

WE OUGHT TO HAVE FAITH

That simply means that we can put our confidence in Him. Hear me now, you can turn on any news cancel you want to, I can almost guarantee you what you will hear on most National News channels is going to be garbage – and I don’t care which channel it is.

But you can be confident that when you open this Book, you are going to get the truth.

• It’s not what the preacher has to say.
• Or what TikTok has to say.
• Or what Facebook has to say.
• Or what Twitter has to say.

But it is what God has to say that matters, and you can take His word to the Bank!

But honestly, my problem is not in being confident in Him, having Faith in Him that causes me the issues – my problem is “having Faith . . . toward all Saints.”

People let you down, don’t they? But God laid something on me in studying this passage, that to me is profound. Listen carefully to what this verse says:

“Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints.”

This verse isn’t telling me to put my faith in you – It’s telling me to put my faith TOWARD you.

What that means is when I stand here to preach, I ought to preach like I believe what the Book says and I should project that message of faith in God’s word TOWARD you.

When we go out and tell people about Jesus, we should project that message TOWARD them.

What that really means is that if people can’t see that it has changed you, you’re never going to convince them that it can change their lives!

Verse 6 says, “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

If we are going to have Christian Character, we ought to Love Jesus, love each other, and put our faith Toward each other:

WE OUGHT TO BE A FRESH BREATH TO ONE ANOTHER

Verse 7 says, “For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”

In II Timothy 1:16-18, Paul mentions Oneshiporus, a man who “oft refreshed” him while he was in prison.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in my life is that sometimes, all a person needs you to do for them is to show up in their time of need, and that blesses them more than any words you could ever say.

I’m glad this morning that I can say I have some friends in my life that it just blesses me to be around them – and they don’t have to say anything.  They are just a blessing in my life.

I just think there ought to be something about the child of God when he shows up, they ought to leave a scent of “a sweet-smelling savor” – AMEN.

•        I wonder what people think about us when they leave?

•        I wonder what people say about us when they leave?

•        I wonder what kind of scent we leave behind.

I remember my grandma Moore.  One of the Godliest people I’ve ever known.  When I think of my grandma, I don’t think about the Fried Chicken she used to make for me – though nobody made Fried Chicken like my grandma.

And I don’t think about Grandma’s Banana Pudding. What I think about the most, are the times I was going through hard times of my life, and I remember her being there – not saying a word – just holding my hand and silently praying for me!  Her Presence – her just being there is what I remember the most.

I remember many years ago, when I was pastoring a church here.  Clay and Hope were a big part of that ministry at the time.  Many times, I went to their home and though I did not mean to, I would often fall asleep in their chair.  They didn’t say anything – but they were present – they were just there for me.

Sometimes, people just need you to show up!  You don’t have to do something great – just show up!  Refresh Somebody with your Presence!  You’ll be surprised at what your presence means in somebody’s life.

Tomorrow is a day that we recognize as Veterans Day. It is day that we honor those who signed a blank check with their lives to protect the freedoms we share as a country. To my fellow veterans, I thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made for my freedom. And as a church you thank you.

The great philosopher BOB DYLAN, said:

“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”

Peter Marshall said:

“May we think of freedom, not as a right to do as we please, but as an opportunity to do what is right!”

Jennifer Granholm said:

“Caring for veterans should not be a partisan issue, it should be an American issue.”

Someone once say, “We may not know them all, but we owe them all.”

Another unknown writer said, “If you want to thank a soldier, be the type of American worth fighting for.”

Finally, someone else said, “America without her soldiers is like God without His angels.”

Veterans are men and women,

who fight because they care.

They give their lives to serve our country,

by land, by sea, or by air.

They serve because they love us.

They serve because

they want a better future for their country,

a better future for their world.

Serving comes with consequences,

that they know and are willing to dare.

You can’t find a braver person,

here or anywhere.

They fight for their rights.

They fight for our lives,

and we owe them all a thank you

for all that they’ve sacrificed.

As we continue this series of message on Reasons to be Thankful from the book of Philemon, I feel it appropriate on this day that we honor our veterans to share this message from Paul that in the two verses we will look at take a snapshot of this man names Archippus, who Paul considers to be his “fellow soldier.”

Philemon 2 says “¹ Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, ² And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: ³ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Now look with me at Colossians 4:17, “And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.”

This morning, I want to share this simple thought, “I’m Thankful for my Fellow Soldiers.”

The letter Paul is writing here to Philemon was part of what is known as “The Prison Epistles,” meaning that they were written while Paul was in prisoned in Rome between 61-63 A.D.

Some believe that Apphia was Philemon’s wife, and that could very well be true as the name is a female name. Some also believe that Archippus is the son of Philemon and Apphia.

The truth is, I can’t prove that to be true.  But in the same sense, I can’t disprove it either.

Now, if he is in fact the son of Philemon and Apphia, we can make some assumptions:

• We can assume that he raised in a Christian home.
• We can assume that he himself is a Christian.
• And we can assume that he surrendered his life to be a soldier of faith.

What we can be assured of in these two short verses, is that Archippus was a “fellow Soldier” in the ministry with the Apostle Paul. He was on “Active Duty” in Spiritual Warfare for the Lord. And as a soldier, he was expected to:

1. Fulfill his duty (Col. 4:17)
2. He was expected to be faithful to his commander.
3. He was expected to endure hardship as a good soldier.
4. And he was expected to “fight a good faith.”

I look around this church today and I see a group of people who have joined us to “fellow Soldiers” in this ministry.  And as good soldiers, we are expected to:

1. Fulfill our duty
2. To be faithful to our commander
3. To endure hardship as a good soldier.
4. And to “fight a good fight of faith.”

Here is a very short 3-point message about Archippus based on Colossians 4:17:

ARCHIPPUS WAS CALLED – “And say to Archippus . . .”

This term “called” is often misused and misrepresented. You hear people say, “I “feel” God is calling me to something . . .” The truth is folks, our “feelings” change, God’s mission for our lives does not.

Without exception, the theological use of this word “called” always represents God’s power of forgiveness and redemption on our lives when we are “called to salvation.”

Archippus was “called” BY NAME.

ARCHIPPUS WAS COMMISSIONED – “Take heed to the ministry which thou received in the Lord”

God had a particular ministry for Archippus to do. Whether he was the pastor of the church in Colosse, or to be an assistant pastor, I am not certain.  What I am certain of is that whatever it was, it was God appointed.

ARCHIPPUS WAS CHALLENGED – “That thou fulfil it.”

Paul is challenging Archippus to finish what he started and to be a good soldier of the faith.

In order for me to really understand a message, I try to put myself in the text.  I try to bring it alive in my life. So, let me share with you how I picture this message from Paul.

I imagine in those days, as Paul was sending out these letters from prison, whoever was delivering the messages, probably came at a time with the church was gathering together, whether that be the church in Rome, or the Church in Corinth, or the church in Galatia, or Ephesus, or Philippi, or Colosse or the church in Philemon’s house. And the deliverer would bring the letter, either he, or the head of the church would read the letter to the gathered audience.

I picture this being the setting when this letter was delivered to Colosse, to the church in Philemon’s house. As the deliver begins to read, Paul mentions that he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ, he then recognizes his fellow laborer and son in the faith Timothy. Then he recognizes Philemon, and Apphia, and then his fellow soldier Archippus.

Can you see Archippus sitting there when his name is called? I’m sure his ears perked up when he heard these words from Paul:

“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it”

“Archippus, God has chosen you for a purpose. He has given you something that only you can do. So Archippus, be a good soldier of the faith and finish what you’ve started.”

“You see Archippus, faithfulness calls for both focus and fulfillment”

“Remember Archippus, he which hath begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ.”

• So, If I were to leave a letter to you, I would hope to say to you:
• Be a good soldier of Faith,
• Be faithful to the work that God has for you.
• It won’t always be easy but endure hardship as a good soldier.
• Finish what you started.

I encourage you all to be anything but aimless! Serve God purposefully. Serve Him with FOCUS and Serve Him with FAITH.  Be a good soldier of Jesus Christ!

“Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, ² And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: ³ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Let me draw your attention back to the very first part of the first verse that says “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”  Notice, Paul doesn’t say that he’s a prisoner of Nero, or a prisoner of Roman. And though Paul technically was a prisoner, he only recognizes that he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ.  Now how many of you would rather be a prisoner of Jesus Christ rather than Nero?

Now, if you hold your place right there and go back with me to II Timothy, chapter 2, and I’m going to show you somebody else you could be a prisoner to. In verse 25 Paul says, “²⁵ In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶ And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” That is a description of someone that is a prisoner of Satan.

I’m glad that I am saved to the uttermost this morning and I am no longer a captive to Satan. AMEN? Folks, I’m just saying that I am not a prisoner of Satan and I have no desire to be held captive to Satan. Now there’s a lot of people I wouldn’t want to be a prisoner of:

• I wouldn’t want to be a prisoner to the Russian Army
• I wouldn’t want to be a prisoner of the Chinese Army
• I wouldn’t want to be a prisoner of ISIS or the Taliban

But more importantly than all those, I would not want to be a prisoner to Satan at all. And the Bible is clear that people can be taken into Satan’s snare at any time – not at their will, but at his will.

But thank God, like Paul, you and I can be prisoners of the LORD Jesus Christ. Now, by way of introduction, Paul, in II Corinthians 11 said that “he was in prisons often,” frequently. You might say Paul was a jailbird! This is something Paul knew something about. For the most part, but being in prison is not a good thing.  But in this passage, Paul’s mention of being a prisoner to Jesus Christ doesn’t seem like a bad thing at all. In Fact, I would even say that he was happy about it.  He’s not bitter about it, he’s happy!

• Joseph in the Old Testament – he spent time in prison.
• The prophet Jeremiah – he spent some time in prison.
• All 12 of the disciples were in prison.
• Paul spent time in prison.
• Silas spent time in prison.
• Aristarchus and Marcus spent time in prison.
• Jesus Christ Himself was a prisoner.

How many of you in here this morning are glad that you never had to spend a day in prison for Jesus Christ? That you’ve never had to suffer in prison for being a Christian – cause folks, there’s a lot of people who have.

So, Paul makes it very clear that he is not a prisoner of Nero, or Ceasar, or Roman, but he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians 3:1, “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,”

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

So, Paul is claiming to be a prisoner – not of Nero, not of Roman, But of Jesus Christ. So, from the very offset of this letter Paul pens to Philemon, he starts by saying, “Philemon, I want you to know I am a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Geneva Convention of 1909 states that a prisoner must be given food, clothing, correspondence and quarters.” But now that was about the limit of it.  Outside of those things, prisoners of war, for the most part were dealt with very harshly.

PAUL HAD A HUMBLE MINDSET

I remember very vividly back when I was a little boy and down the road from our house was the “chain-gang.” We’d often see those prisoners working in the fields, chained together, they had quarters in a big old open bay old WWII barracks building, they had food, they had clothes, and I’m sure they had correspondence.  In fact, every Sunday afternoon, they had family visitation at the Chain gang.  But I think I can say without reservation there was not one person that was happy to be a part of that chain gang. Of course, our society got rid of the chain gangs because they didn’t want to embarrass the convicts – all I will say to that is that if you didn’t want to be embarrass – don’t commit the crime!

Just a few weeks ago, Kim and I saw a car pulled over, there were about 5 police cars around that car.  They had the driver out facing the car and they were putting handcuffs on the person.  Now folks, this was in the middle of the day on John B White BLVD.  How embarrassing that must of been for that person to be in bonds in front of everyone.

So, I think that for Paul to refer to himself as a prisoner, tells us that he didn’t think more highly of himself than he should have, but he humbled himself before the Lord Jesus Christ.  “I’m not the statesman.  I’m not the head of the Church. He was simply a prisoner to the one Who is the head of the church!

Can I say this morning, it will be a good day when you and I learn to develop a humble heart and give Jesus the Glory and Honor that He and He alone deserves.

Paul says, “I’m just a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” And I think that plays well for him in the book of Philemon.

PAUL HAD A SERVANTS HEART (Eph. 3:1)

Paul wasn’t a prisoner to be served, but to serve.  I have known a few people that spent time in maximum security prisons.  What I learned from them is that while they were there, they didn’t just sit around in a cell, but they were assigned different trades.  Some worked as mechanics, some worked in metal shops, some were taught how to make leather products.  They were taught a trade, they were taught to serve!

So, as a good prisoner, Paul is saying here that he is here not only as a prisoner OF Jesus Christ, but he is also a prisoner FOR you – the gentiles.

And folks, I’ll tell you right now, a church that is here – not to get what they can – but to give what they can – THAT’S THE CHURCH YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF!

The idea that “I am not here to gain for myself, but I am here to give to others,” that’s what being a servant is.

Paul said, “I’m a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and I am here to serve you – I am on work detail.”

I read a story years ago about D.L. Moody, the founder of Moody Bible Institute. He was having a revival at the college and had several preachers coming in.  D.L. Moody asked one of the students if he would shine the shoes of all the preachers that were speaking.  That student replied, “I’m not going to shine the shoes of those preachers.  I didn’t come here to shine shoes, I came here to learn how to preach.” So DL Moody stayed up all night and personally shined the shoes of all those preachers and then placed them at their doors for them. 

You asked, “Well what happened to that student?”  I don’t know.  I don’t anything about him or what happened to him.  BUT IT KNOW WHO D.L. Moody is!”

I can tell you right now that the thing that sets Rally Point Biker Church apart from every other church around here is that we have a group of people that come here every Sunday with the attitude of service, not an attitude to be served.

PAUL WAS TOTALLY DEPENDENT UPON WHAT JESUS CHRIST DETERMINES FOR HIS LIFE

I remember when I was getting ready to finish High School, and my dad refused to pay for me to go to college, because I wasn’t acting like I wanted to go to college.  So, I decided I was going to join the Army let them pay for my college.  I wasn’t going to let my daddy tell me what to do anymore – and instead, I joined the Army so about 400 other people could tell me what to do! Let me tell you what I learned when I got to Basic Infantry Training:

• I learned that somebody was going to tell me what I had to wear
• Somebody was going to tell me what I could eat and how long I had to eat it;
• Somebody was going to tell me how to keep my hair.
• Somebody was going to tell me when I could take a shower.
• Somebody was going to tell me when I had to go to bed and when I had to get up.
• Somebody was going to tell me when to exercise and how long I was going to exercise.
• If I went somewhere, somebody was telling me how I was going to get there, the route I would take and how long I had to get there.

EVERY FACET OF MY LIFE WAS DIRECTED BY SOMEBODY ELSE! I WAS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON MY LEADERSHIP.

I think that is the message Paul was conveying here In Philemon 1, “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2 and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I think Paul was saying “Lord, thank you for waking me up today.  I know every area of my life is directed by You.  LORD, I am completely dependent on you. LORD, direct my path.”

We have all probably heard a phrase similar to this, maybe as you are trying to describe a co-worker to someone and you say “You know that guy.” And your co-worker replies, “Oh, you mean THAT guy?” And maybe you’re having a conversation about a church, and somebody says, “Oh, – THAT church.” I like this one that we throw out there:

• “You know that church?”
• “Which church?”
• “You know, the one with the crazy signs.”
• “Ohhhh, THAT church.”

How many of know one of “those” churches that has those crazy signs out there? Here are some of my favorites:

• “The best vitamin for a Christian is B-ONE”
• “Tithe if you love Jesus – anyone can honk” (yeah that’s pretty desperate)
• “Don’t give up, Moses is the one who was a basket case”
• “Prevent Truth Decay – Brush up on your Bible.” Absolutely – floss with wisdom right?
• Here’s my favorite: “When you won’t to reach God – use Kneemail” That’s when you won’t to take it to a whole new level in your prayer life.

Listen we all know “THAT CHURCH” don’t we? But listen to me, the truth is, any church that stands on the Word of God, if you stand for what is right, at some point – you are going to be labeled “That Church.” Somebody asked you “What church do you go to?” and you tell them “I go to Rally Point Biker Church.”  And you get the response “Oh, you go to “That Church.”

I want you to look at your Bible with me real quick, now the verse I am about to share is not the passage for my message, but it’s a good launching pad into the message.  Matthew 16:18, and the Lord is talking about His Church, and Jesus, flipping through the first part of the verse, is mentioning some things about Peter, and then Jesus says this:

“. . . I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Let’s say that together out loud:

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

So let me just go ahead and announce to you this morning “We are THAT CHURCH.”

• No matter the political leanings in our country or our world,
• No matter whether the sun rises or not;
• No matter how many storms come our way;

WE ARE THAT CHURCH!, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us!

You and I are not here today because we wanted to be a part of some social experiment – we are here today because we are a part this local body of believers, WE ARE THAT CHURCH. And it is through the local church that God’s plan for reaching the world is in full effect. WE ARE THAT CHURCH.

And I believe that when OUR churches Purpose aligns with God’s Passion, then “Nothing will not prevail against it.” Not even the gates of Hell.

So, the question becomes “What is it, as THAT Church, we are to be doing?”

Let’s look at Ephesians 4:11-16, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

So what is it about our church that is going to make us THAT CHURCH. Well, I believe:

IT BEGINS WHEN WE ENLIST PEOPLE

If you look around our church, the very first thing you are going to notice is that we are all different. There is not a single person in this church this morning that is a clone of someone else (or at least I hope not).

You are You, and YOU are uniquely crafted by the hand of God. You are special, You are individually identifiable. You have a unique DNA.

Although the positions mentioned here are similar, “Some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,” but they are each unique.

God has blessed our church with a great ministry team, some of us are preachers, some are leading ministries, some are leading music, some are teaching kids, some are serving as our Elders. Though every one of us has a ministry, we are each unique in our calling.

Can I say, everyone in this church has a ministry in this church: You may clean, you may take the trash, to may make coffee or set up donuts; You may be a smiling face that greets someone when they come in.

But understand with me – there is NO ONE SINGLE ministry in this church that is anymore important than any other.

Do you know the one thing everyone of us here has in common? POTENTIAL. And the PURPOSE of my life and your life should be to fulfill our God given POTENTIAL.

God’s desire for my life and for your life is that we reach the peak of the potential He has planned for our lives. As members of the body of Christ, as THAT CHURCH, He wants us performing to our peak potential.

And I believe the problem in the church today is that we are spending more time suppressing people’s potential than we are supporting their potential.

SO the question comes to us as THAT CHURCH, “Are we helping people fulfill their God given potential, or are we suppressing them?”

We are all the body of Christ, and we will never be as good as we should be until every member is hitting their peak potential.

The last part of verse 12 says, “for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The ministry is not about me, and it’s not about you – it is about Christ. So, as the Body of Christ, we have to embrace the One who ministry is all about – it is about Jesus!

Now, notice verses 13-15:

¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Not only are we to Enlist people:

WE ARE TO GROW PEOPLE

Do you know what Jesus wants in the life of His church – THAT CHURCH? He wants us to GROW UP IN HIM! In everything we do, He wants us:

• To be a reflection of Him.
• To be Perfected in Him.
• To be Representatives of the fulness of God.
• He wants us to know the Truth and to be bearers of the Truth.
• He wants us to stop being babies and GROW UP IN HIM!

And how do we do that, how do we become like Him? Pauls tells us in Romans 12:1, 2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

That word “Beseech,” literally mean to ‘Beg.” So, what is it that God is begging us to do here? He is begging us to somehow learn daily, to become less like the world, and become more like Jesus.  That is the greatest need that I have, and that is probably the greatest need that you have.

This is what God is begging us to do – to somehow, not to be conformed, or made like the world, but to become less like the world and be transformed by the renewing of our minds, to be transformed into the image of Christ. 

You see folks, this is a process.  When Christ saved us, He cleansed us, He made us whole, and now we are going through the process of sanctification, being perfected – and it is a day-in and day-out process.  This is us EVERYDAY, deciding to be less like the world and more like Christ.

God’s desire for my life and for your life is that when He looks down at us, He wants a see a reflection of His Son in every aspect of our lives.

John says in I John 3:1,2, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: . . .”). 

Verse 2 goes on to say, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Let me translate that into Joeology, “Now that I’m a child of God, I don’t know exactly what I look like at the moment (I don’t look like I used to look, but I don’t quite look like Him yet), because I am in the process of being perfected, transformed.  What I do know, is that through this process, if I continue to take the next steps in my life, I will look less like ME every day, and more like Him every day, so that when He returns, He will have no problem identifying me, because I’m going to look like Him.”

We are to Enlist People, we are to Grow People, not look at verse 16:

¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

WE ARE TO LOVE PEOPLE

I believe that the one thing the church needs more (and lacks more) – is love!

“Well preacher, I’m tired of hearing all this love talk.” Better go somewhere else then cause that’s all we got!

According to Jesus, the greatest Commandments in the Bible are connected to love.  Jesus said, “Love God with all your heart, all your mind, body, spirit and soul.  And the second is like unto it, that you love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

The Apostle Paul tells us that Love is the greatest gift: “Now abideth faith, hope and Charity (Love), and the greatest of these is Love.”  There is a day that our faith and hope will be a reality, but our love will live throughout all eternity. 

And the greatest evidence of love is displayed in the Bible when we love one another.  “By this, may all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

GOD IS LOVE – that’s what He is and that’s what He does!

Remember, Jesus said, “Love God, and love your neighbor like you love yourself.” But then he comes later and changes it a little and says this: “I’m going to give you a NEW Commandment, “Love one another, even as I have loved you.”

The old was “love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

The new is the “Love one another, even as I have loved love.”

Now as I thought about this, If I love you like I love myself, I’ve got to be honest with you, there are days I don’t like ME very much.  There are days I am not happy with myself.  I don’t even like to look at pictures of me, because camera’s LIE about me.  Folks, there are days I just don’t like being me.  And if I loved you like I loved myself, there’d be days I wouldn’t love you very much.

BUT, If I loved you the way that HE loves me, Oh firend, I’m glad there is never a time that He doesn’t love me.

• There is nothing I can do to cause God to love me more;
• There is nothing I can do to cause God to love me less;
• He loves me when I don’t love me;
• And He loves me even when I don’t love Him.

Friends, I change:  I am IN, I am Out, I am Up; I am Down.  But I’m glad HE never changes:

• He loves me when I’m in;
• He loves me when I’m out;
• He loves me when I’m up;
• He loves me when I’m down;
• He loves me when I’m right;
• AND He loves me when I’m wrong.  JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW!

In Matthew 22, and I love this, one the disciples asked Jesus, “LORD, what is the greatest Commandment?”  Jesus said, “The Greatest Commandment is that you love God with all your heart mind, body and soul.  And the second greatest Commandment is that you love one another as you love yourself.” Jesus was saying, “Upon these two Commandments HANG ALL the Law and the Prophets.”

What Jesus was saying here, is, that if you get these two things right, everything else will take care of themselves.

• NUMBER 1 – LOVE GOD
• NUMBER 2 – LOVE EACH OTHER

Folks, that’s not hard to understand – LOVE GOD; LOVE EACH OTHER.  Say that with me – LOVE GOD, LOVE EACH OTHER.  The Christian life is not any more complicated that; it ain’t difficult.  What makes it difficult is our little understanding of His love for us.

LOVE GOD; LOVE EACH OTHER – It’s that simple! 

• There is not a problem in any church that can’t be fixed if we LOVE GOD and LOVE EACH OTHER;
• there is no problem in your home that can’t be fixed if you LOVE GOD AND LOVE EACH OTHER;

As a church, if we are going to live up to our full potential, we will have to Enlist People, then we will have to Grow those People, but most importantly, all through the process, we are going to have to Love the people God has given us to minister to. My prayer for you and for me is that Rally Point Biker Church will be THAT CHURCH!

Matthew 26, beginning in verse 6, “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. ⁸ But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? ⁹ For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. ¹⁰ When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. ¹¹ For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. ¹² For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. ¹³ Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

And here we are over 2000 years later, and we’re talking about this woman. Why? Because she made a decision that it would start in her. She made a choice.  And I want us to look at that choice this morning. Let’s read verse 13 together and then we will pray: “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

This passage is taking place in the historical life of Jesus here on this earth, and it is taking place during a period that we know as “The Passion Week.” This is the week where the physical life of Christ is coming to a climatic end here on Earth.  We are just a few days away from Calvary. In fact, verses 1 and 2 says:

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, ² Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.”

So once again, we have come to that place where Jesus is telling His disciples that He is on the verge of “becoming sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God.”

The greatest act of love that has ever been demonstrated on this earth is when the Sinless Son of God, was born to a virgin in a manager, then died a substitutionary death on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from our sins, to rescue us from a death to hell, so we can spend eternity with Him in Heaven. There has never been a greater demonstration of love than that!

But in light of that act, there is recorded for us, THIS ACT.

This woman comes to the place where Jesus is, and she takes this very precious ointment, and anoints the body of Jesus for His burial. And after she did it, the Lord said, “Wherever the Gospel is preached, this will be told as a memorial of her.”

That word “Memorial” means, “A permanent monument.”

And though she didn’t do it for the media, and she didn’t have a youtube channel or a tictok account, or a Instagram or twitter account . . . she did this in front of just a few people, but Jesus said, “This story will be told everywhere.”

And here we are 2000 plus years later talking about this story. The reality this morning is that everyone of us is going to be remembered. The question is this: “How will YOU be remembered?”

Let me show this story to you in three sections:

FIRST, NOTICE THE DEMONSTRATION

V6, says that Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper. Jesus was often found in Bethany. It was a place not far outside the city of Jerusalem itself. We know Bethany mainly because of three people that were precious in the life of Jesus: Mary, and Martha and Lazarus.

But we don’t find Jesus here in their home, we find Him in the home of Simon the Leper.  Now, let me tell you what that means – it means that Simon was no longer a Leper! If he were still a leper, he would have been banished from the city and from his family.

• Some people suppose Simon to be the husband of Martha, as she will be found in the kitchen;
• Some have supposed him to be the father Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
• But I am thinking he is the one of the 10 who turned back to thank Jesus for healing! Though the other 9 did not, this one did.

Folks, I believe this morning that if you are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, every once and a while we ought to just say to God – THANK YOU!

Thank You Lord, For Saving my soul.

Thank you Lord, for making me whole.

Thank you Lord for giving to me,

Thy great salvation, so rich and free!

John chapter 12 is a parallel passage to Matthew 26. In Verse 1, John tells us, “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. ² There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. ³ Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”

So notice with me that Mary comes in, they are all sitting around having dinner, and she breaks open this box of oinment and begins anointing Jesus with it.  What is Mary doing?

I think what Mary is saying is, “Jesus, you are more precious to me than anything!” That oinment is called “spikenard,” which was very costly according to John chapter 12, and Matthew says it was very precious. In fact, one of the disciples says in John 12:5, “Why wasn’t this oinment sold for 300 pence?” 300 pence was equivalent to an entire years wages!

She took what had taken her an entire year to buy and gave it freely in DEMONSTRATION of her love for Jesus.

Interestingly enough, spikenard was used in those days to anoint the bodies of the dead.

Now I believe Mary had probably bought this spikenard for her own burial. In fact, she didn’t even use it in the preceding chapter where her own brother Lazarus had died, and they proclaimed to Jesus, “He stinketh.”

She didn’t break it out for her brother, she didn’t even save it for herself, but when she understand that the Son of God was going to die on the Cross, she broke the box and anointed the body of Jesus while he was alive!

• What an act of love.
• What an act of sacrifice.
• What an act of adoration.

That she would give to God’s Son that which was very precious to her. Folks, do you know how we demonstrate our love for Jesus?

• It’s not by talking the talk. but walking the walk.
• It’s by DOING and not SAYING.
• It’s by taking what’s precious to you, your future, your plans, and breaking the box and saying, “Here’s the best that I have Lord, and I give it to You.”

When I joined the Army, I did everything I could to make the best career I could.  I attended the right schools and did the right things. I was dead-set on doing 20 years and retiring. After 14 years, I had to make a decision to either follow Christ or go my own way. At first I made the wrong decision. I reenlisted to take me to my retirement date. That was a costly decision for me that nearly cost me my life. But even after my body being broken, I still didn’t make the right choice. The Army was holding a position for me back in the Ranger Regiment, a position I wanted since I was a private, and they were giving me one year to rehab my body. About a week after that, I nearly bleed to death internally. I remember laying in my bed and the doctor saying, “We can operate now under controlled condition, or take your chances of not having surgery.” I remember saying to God, “Lord, I really got this one wrong. Lord, if you make a way, I will go.” Within minutes, blood work came back that prevented me from having to have surgery. A week later, God made a way for me to leave the military. Folks, that was my “Alabaster Box.” Can I say this morning, I have no regrets about that decision to follow Christ 30 years ago. And now, all these many years later, this church is a benefactor of that decision to break open the alabaster box!

Let me ask you, What’s your alabaster box? The DEMONSTRATION.

SECONDLY, NOTICE THE DISCOURAGEMENT

Look at Matthew 26 verse 8, now this isn’t talking about the Pharisees or the Sadducees, if it had, I could kinda understand it.  But it says, “But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?”

Of all the people to discourage Mary, it was the disciples. Folks, listen to me, sometimes the discouragement in your life to do something for Christ isn’t going to come from the source you think it’s going to come from. “WHEN THE DISCIPLES SAW IT, THEY HAD INDIGNATION.” They were very displeased; they were very angry. And they voiced it, “To what purpose is this waste.”

So here is Mary, demonstrating that she loves Jesus more than anyone or anything – and here are the disciples being indignant, being hateful.

Listen, I can’t understand for the life of me why anyone that claims to be a part of the family of God would ever do anything to discourage someone else from giving their best to the Lord. And honestly, I think you need to examine the heart of someone like that! And as a church, we shouldn’t have any tolerance for it. I can’t tell you the number of people that have left church, not because they didn’t love Jesus, not because they didn’t want to give Him their best – but because “church folk” doing everything they can to DISCOURAGING them from giving their all to Jesus.

So, here’s Mary, Demonstrating her love for Christ, giving her all for Christ, You think she couldn’t hear those indignant disciples snorting their venom?

Many of you have heard it before to, haven’t you? In fact, I’d go as far as to say that’s why many of you are here in this little church.

I’ve heard it before:

• Why in the world would you leave the Army after 14 years and go to that Bible College?
• Why would you try to pastor again after being broken in the ministry? After being a failure?

Some of you young preachers have heard it to haven’t you? What makes you think you can be a preacher – you didn’t go to Seminary?

The Discouragement from others. But let me show you one final point:

NOTICE THE DEFENSE

Let at verse 10, “When Jesus understood it . . .” Now this doesn’t mean that it just all of a sudden dawned on Him what they were saying, he already knew that. But what He is saying here is “When SHE had heard enough.”

Listen to me, sometimes you and I don’t have the same timetable that God does, but I can assure you that God has a timetable. And when Jesus understood that they had said all that needed to be said, He said:

“WHY TROUBLE YE THE WOMAN?”

That word trouble there means that their words had been so harsh and cruel that they have brought Mary to the point of tears.

“Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath brought a GOOD WORK upon me.”

Did you notice the contrast? What the disciples considered a waste, Jesus considered a good work!

What Jesus was saying was this: “Mary, what you have done was wonderful, it was beautiful, it was exceptional.”

Folks, what the world may call a waste, God may call wonderful, beautiful, exceptional.

“She hath brought a GOOD WORK upon me.”

Jesus said, “. . . she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.” Do you know what Jesus was saying here:

“Mary is doing what she can, where she can, while she can, with the best she has to offer.”

Folks, can I say, the opportunity to serve God, to praise God, to give God your best, to give your heart to Christ – it may not come not come back for a repeat performance!

I’m not trying to scare anyone into doing anything. I’m simply telling you this, if you look in the obituary section of the Spartanburg paper on any given day, I almost guarantee, you will find somebody YOUR age, regardless what age you are.

The Bible says, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

Mary seized her opportunity, and because she did, we are speaking of her in this service over 2000 years later. She is forever recorded in the Book as a memorial.

This story of David facing the giant Goliath is not a new story, in fact, I’d say it’s a story we have heard since we were children. It’s a story we are familiar with. I would even go as far as to say we are so familiar with this story that the story has simply just become a story!

You often hear this story referred to when we are facing the Giants in our own lives and how there is nothing we can’t overcome with the help of the Lord! Would you agree with that? Yet, though this story is familiar, it is still relevant today:

• We still need to be reminded that we will face obstacles
• We still need to be reminded that we will face battles in this life.
• We still need to be reminded that we will face trials in this life.
• We still need to be reminded that we will face some giants in this life.

And just because we have conquered a giant today doesn’t mean we won’t face another tomorrow! But I will tell you upfront that you and I will slay our giants the same David slew his giant – David said, “I come to thee in the name of the LORD!”

Now here is my challenge with this message: there is a reason that Goliath is mentioned here in this passage, and there is a reason David is mentioned in this passage.  Now David was the first king to be anointed by God, though He was the second King of Israel, he was God’s first “anointed” king of Israel. Now God chose David, but the people chose Saul.

But here is the trouble I have.  It seems to me, that we, as God’s people often speak very negatively about the trials and the giants that show up in our lives. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Why wouldn’t we speak negatively when these trials show up in our lives?” What I’m trying to tell you is sometimes, there’s a reason giants show up in our lives.  And I will even go as far as to say that had this giant not shown up in David’s life, David’s life would have turned out much differently – we would be reading a different story.

One certainty that I have learned in this journey of life is that we are going to have trials, we are going to face giants. Sometimes the giants we face are giants we’ve brought upon ourselves, but sometimes those giants were brought into our lives to teach us something. And with that thought in mind, I want to show you a few things in this passage that I believe show us the Beauty of Facing Giants:

GIANTS REVEAL YOUR FAITH

II Samuel 17:26, 36 and 45, every time the giant is mentioned, the children of Israel are ALWAYS scared of him. But every time David mentions Goliath, it sparks his faith. Israel is in fear of the giant while David is energized by his faith in God.

• So I’m going to ask you right up front, when you face a trial, are you afraid, or does it ignite your faith?
• When you face a giant, are you afraid of what the outcomes are going to be? Or does it ignite your faith in God?

Folks, sometimes you don’t know what’s inside a person until Goliath shows up. Up to this point, we only see David as a lowly and meek shepherd boy on the back side of a mountain tending to the flocks. But when this giant shows up, David’s faith in God shows out! But we would have never known of David’s faith had he not faced this giant in his life!

Some of you will never know the faith that is in you until you face the giants in your life!

I mentioned to some of you Wednesday night about my lunch with Jenni. Now Jenni (and Josh) were both brought up in a pastor’s home. Though I know they are both saved at an early age, and though I have seen Jenni do some incredible things for God in her life, our conversation on Wednesday went to a whole different level. Jenni has been battling cancer now for 5 years, and I mean a long, difficult 5 years. Now that she has Stage 4 HER2 Negative, every time she goes for a check-up, we don’t know what to expect. Just last month we heard that she was in deep remission, and now this week we get word that there is a spot on her lungs they are concerned about.

So, at an appointment on Wednesday at the Cancer Center at Prism, Jenni ran into some old friends of hers and she learned that an old friend of hers has Stage 4 Cancer has only been given 1-5 years to live. As he and his wife were very distraught, Jenni said them, “Don’t lose your hope, medicine can make a lot of advances in 1-5 years.” She told me this story, and asked for our church to pray for them. But then Jenni said this, “Dad, 5 years ago, had I been diagnosed with HER2 Negative instead of Breast Cancer, I probably wouldn’t be here, as they did not have the treatment plan then that they have now.”

So here is my little girl, facing a giant in her life, realizing how God has worked through her situation, and while facing yet another Giant, encouraging others not to give up! Why? Because she’s already seen what God can do!

Folks, I’m just saying that there are times in your life you will not know that faith that is in you until you face some giants!

Do you realize, though Goliath was a giant of a man, and he was covered with armor, and had a big weapon, he never used them. The only weapon he used was his mouth.  He intimidated the nation of Israel with his mouth. David said, “All I see is an uncircumcised Philistine.”

David was able to say that because there was something planted inside of him while he was on the back side of the mountain tending to the flocks that he couldn’t see until he faced his giant!

Giants Reveal Your Faith

GIANTS ALSO REVEAL YOUR FIGHT

Verses 38 – 41, Saul tries to equip David with armor. So, here comes David from the backside of the mountain and he’s bringing everyone a grilled cheese sandwich (now that I planted that seed, some of you are going to go home this afternoon with a grilled cheese sandwich on your brain). But here’s David, bringing out lunch and he hears this Philistine cursing his God. So David responds, “Who is this Philistine that he would defy the armies of the Living God?”

And when David had convinced Saul let him go fight this giant, notice verse 38, “And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.”  Let me show you something interesting about this verse. 

In verse 5, speaking about Goliath, the Bible says, “And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail;”

You notice any similarities here? Saul tried to arm David with the enemies weapons! He wanted David to use the weapons of the enemy to fight the enemy!

Now listen to what David said . . . now remember, Giants will reveal your faith, but they will also reveal your fight.  David said, “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.”

David was saying, “I’m not going to fight this giant with his weapons.  They haven’t proved anything. All I hear is this giant’s big mouth! But what I will do is stick with what I already know has worked for me.”

So David, “took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”

“I’ll stick with my staff, and I’ll stick with my sling, because they worked for me on the backside of the mountain against a lion and a bear, so I’m going to stick with what I know!”

David was saying, “My strength is not in my staff, or in my sling. You come at me with your sword and your spear and your armor, but I’m coming at you in the name of the LORD!”

You know why we are having such a hard time defeating the world? Because we are trying to use the world’s weapons and the world’s methods – and they are just not working.

What we as the church need to do is stick with what’s already worked.  If it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it or change it. We need to fight our giants with the Spirit and the Power of God!

David was saying, “Every battle that is behind me has prepared me for the battle in front of me!”

And just like David, you and I need to take the battles from our past and used them to defeat the Goliath in front of us!

Not only did the Giant Reveal His Faith and His Fight:

THE GIANT REVEALED HIS FUTURE

All that David had was a staff, a sling, and 5 smooth stones. That staff was a shepherd’s staff and it was a sign of authority that he had over the sheep. And by Goliath showing up, it just revealed what had been happening inside David the whole time he was on the back side of that mountain.  

While David was in the field tending the herd, God was preparing David.  I Samuel 16:12, we find out how God feels about David when He anointed him. But in chapter 17, we find out how David feels about God!

Though David had been anointed, he went right back to the pasture to tend the herd until the time when he would face Goliath. Have you ever asked yourself what was God doing with David then? When David was all alone on the back side of the mountain, when David was sitting alone with his harp and singing psalms to God, when he was alone facing the lion and the bear – what was God doing with David?

Well, I believe that what man was neglecting, God was perfecting! God was preparing David to face his Goliath! God was preparing David for his future.  Look at chapter 18 and verse 2, “And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.”

Let me give you the setting here.  David has slew the giant, he takes the head of that to King Saul, because David always knew how to “Get A Head.” So David brings this victory to King Saul, and understand, this was a victory for the entire nation of Israel. And from this day forward, David would never return home again.  He would never tend to the herd again. From this point forward, David would begin his path to become the anointed King of Israel. 

But the only way he got there was by facing his giant! This was not the only victory David would win in his life, but it was this victory over Goliath that would propel David as God’s anointed to the place God wanted him to be.

God has a perfect plan and a perfect design for each of our lives, but sometimes it will take facing a Goliath to get us there. That is The Beauty in Facing Giants.