Author: Mojo Ministries

As I read this passage, I can’t help but to think of the illustration I shared over a year ago of how a nurse during the Vietnam War had been reprimanded many times, as it seems she had a tendency to drift onto the battlefield and rescue wounded soldiers. On one such occasion, she brought back not only American soldiers that had been wounded, but she also drug in Vietcong soldiers. As her commander was reprimanding her a final time, he said, “Why do you continue disobey direct orders not to go onto the battlefield?” Her response was priceless, she said, “Sir, that’s my job. My job is to go on the battlefield, find the wounded and bring them to the Physicians.” Folks, as a child of God, that’s OUR JOB. We are to go into the highways and the hedges of this world, find the broken, to find the wounded, and bring them to the Great Physician.” Let’s pray and I will share this message OUR PURPOSE: TO BRING THEM TO JESUS.

Most of us are familiar with Simon Peter, and maybe a few of us are familiar with Andrew. Andrew is mentioned 13 times in the New Testament, and in 6 of those references, he is referred to as “Simon Peter’s brother.” In fact, in verse 40 of our text, he is referred to as “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”

So why is it that we know so much about Peter? Will, I submit to you that we know so much about Peter, because he had a brother – Andrew. In fact, had it not been for Andrew, we may never have heard anything about Peter. Andrew was saved first, but he’s really not the one that we know so much about. Andrew was simply saved through the words spoken by John the Baptist in verse 36, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

And as soon as the Living Word of God changed Andrew’s life, he immediately went to work on his brother, to introduce him to the “Lamb of God.” In fact, that would become the theme of Andrew’s life. The three major accounts of Andrew’s life in the Scriptures show him bringing somebody to Jesus. Here he brings his brother, in John chapter 6, he brings a little lad with 2 small fishes and 5 loaves of bread, and in John chapter 12, he brings a group of Gentiles.

So, you may say, Andrew was the tool, the instrument, the vehicle that God used to save Simon Peter’s life, and Peter in turn become the leader of the New Testament Church – and in fact, Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and over 3000 people were saved. But it all began when Andrew challenged his brother to “Come and see.”

One lesson I have learned in my life – there is no telling what God is going to do with or through a person that I, or you, have shared the Word of God with. I would venture to say that none of us have ever heard of a Sunday school teacher by the name Robert Kimball. But Robert Kimball led a young shoe salesman to Christ. That shoe salesman was Dwight L. Moody. D.L. Moody would shape America and England with the power of the Gospel and also began Moody Bible Institute. It is said that over his life and ministry, he probably led more than 1 million people to Christ. The day that Robert Kimball shared the Gospel with Moody, he had no idea what God would do through Moody.

On one of Moody’s trips to England, there was an English preacher by the name of FB Meyer. By his own admission, FB Meyer said that he was skeptical of Moody, as FB Meyer had lost a passion for seeing lived saved by the Gospel. But, He invited Moody to speak in his church and when he did, it transformed his life and ministry.

FB Meyer would travel to Greenville, South Carolina to speak at Furman University. While speaking at Furman, there was a young man in chapel who had decided to give up on the ministry and leave college. But the message FB Meyer shared changed his life forever. That young Man was Dr. R.G. Lee who would go on to preach one of the most well-known sermons ever preached “Pay Day Some Day.” R.G. Lee preached into his 90’s.

God used FB Meyer to ignite a fire in the soul of another preacher, J. Wilbur Chapman. Chapman led a young baseball player to Christ, and carried him around with him so he could share his testimony. That young baseball player was Billy Sunday.

Billy Sunday came to Charlotte, North Carolina and preached a very successful Camp Revival. That revival was so successful, they invited another preacher to join them, that preacher was Mordecai Ham. Mordecai Ham preached one night and gave an invitation, and a young 17 year old boy walked down to the altar and gave his life to Christ. That 17-year-old boy was BILLY GRAHAM.

How did all that happen? Because one little ole Sunday School teacher named Robert Kimball shared the Gospel message with a shoe salesman name DL Moody.

What I’m trying to tell you Rally Point is that when you obey Christ and do what He tells you to do, there is no limit to what God can do!

As we consider this thought, “Bring Them to Jesus,” let me show you three things in the life of Andrew. You know, I don’t think God is as concerned about you reach the whole world as He is about you just reaching ONE MORE.

NOTICE FIRST – ANDREW’S PRIORITY (V.41a)

“He FIRST findeth his own brother Simon . . .”

Having just found Jesus himself in verse 36, he sets out to make sure his brother come to know Jesus as well. That word “FIRST” speaks of an attitude of importance. He had to do this before he did anything else.

That word “findeth” indicates he won’t stop until he finds him. It was a priority to Andrew that he get his brother to Jesus.

What does it take to stop us from telling others about Christ? Andrew wanted to share with Peter what he had experienced in Christ, and he wasn’t going to let anything stop him.

I’ll tell you, I’m glad somebody took the time to tell me about Jesus, aren’t you? “He first findeth his own brother Simon.”

SECOND, NOTICE ANDREW’S PROCLAMATION (V.41b)

“We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”

Andrew was sure that he was in the presence of the One that had been promised by the prophets. He was sure that he was in the presence of God in the flesh.

I guess my question for us is, “Are we convinced of Jesus?” “Has He changed our lives the way he changed Andrew’s life?” 

I just think that when you come to know the person of Jesus, I think it changes your life and your priorities.

When we invite people to Rally Point Biker Church, we’re not inviting them to see what our church is doing – but we want you to see what God is doing; or to get one of our T-shirts – though we want you to grab a free t-shirt; or to enjoy the coffee and donuts – although we want you to enjoy the refreshments – those are great things, but we’re inviting them to come here and meet a person – that person is JESUS. The message that we proclaim is that He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. The message that we proclaim is that we know that person!

FINALLY, NOTICE ANDREW’S PASSION (V.42)

“And he brought him to Jesus.”

The passion in Andrew’s life was getting his brother to Jesus. That word brought means “To lead by laying hold of.” That means that Andrew grabbed Peter and drug him to Jesus. Andrew was passionate about getting Peter to Jesus.

You know what Jesus said in Luke 14:23, “Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Andrew “brought him to Jesus.”

Can I close by saying this: If we really believe Jesus is who he says He is, and if He has changed your life, I challenge every one of us to BRING SOMEBODY TO JESUS.” 

As we are looking at the Scriptures, in order to fully grasp the context, we need to look through 3 separate lens:

The Lens of History – Gives us the details, tells us about the conversations, let’s us know what was occurring, and tells us who the people involved are.

The Lens of Literature – This is not just a book of History, but a book of literature, it is literal words written on pages

The Lens of Theology – that is we are going to take, it tells us who God is and What He does, but also tells us how our lives should a line with His Word

The New Testament is actually a “New Covenant,” it is something we sign on for; something God invites us to be a part of, so let’s see what God is inviting us to be apart of in I Corinthians 16, beginning in verse 5:

⁵ Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

I think Paul is implying that come hell or high water, he is going to pass through Macedonia – he has clearly heard that “Macedonian call.”

⁶ And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

Paul wants to spend time with the church in Corinth. This is a Church that Paul established, it was people he loved and cared for, but more than that, the journey that he is on is a journey he wants to take them on with him as co-laborers in the ministry. He wants them to have a part of the ministry, a purpose in the ministry.

⁷ For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

I’m not there with you now, but when I come, I’m gonna stay awhile so have the VENISON ready!

⁸ But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

And in verse 9, he’s going to tell them why.

⁹ For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

This morning, with the LORD’s help, I’m going to speak a little while on the Opened Doors that God presents to us in this life, the opportunities He gives to you and I. You understand with me that God has a great door planned for everyone of us. Someone once said there are two great things in life, and one day we will have to answer for those two things:

What did you do with Jesus? What did you do with God’s SON?

What did you do with the life, the opportunities that God has given you?

God has saved us and left us here for one PURPOSE: To bring glory and Honor to God the Father, God the Son, and we do that through the power of God the Holy Spirit that now lives within us. Let’s pray and then we’ll look at Opened Doors.

“Father, I think you for the Doors you have presented me in my life. Some of them were just small doors, but I thank you for them. Sometimes I missed the Doors, the opportunities You presented to me, and those are doors I’ll never get back. And every once and a while, LORD you presented me with GREAT DOORS, and I believe Rally Point Bike Church is one of those Great Doors. Thank you, Father, for this opportunity. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN.”

I want to say from the get-go, that the greatest privilege and honor of my life has been to serve the King of King’s and the Lord of Lord’s – it is not a privilege that I deserve, but a privilege He has given me none the less.

I’m also grateful for the Door’s of Opportunity that God has given me in my life. If we can ever get a hold of the fact that God has our lives already planned out, I think it would make walking through Opened Doors a lot easier – don’t you?

And every once in a while, God presents us with GREAT DOORS of opportunity. And it is my responsibility and your responsibility, as a child of God, when we’re sitting around in our “chair of life,” when God cracks a door open and there’s a little ray of light coming through, we are obligated to get out of that “chair of life” and go investigate that Door.

Sometimes you hear people say, “Well that door was closed for me.” What does that mean? Well, it means they got up out of the chair of life and they went and investigated that Door, that Opportunity.

God doesn’t always let you walk through a door. Now Paul states in verse 8 that he is in Ephesus. According to the Book of Acts, Paul intended to stay in Ephesus for about 3 months. But God shut the door on him leaving, and so Paul ended up staying in Ephesus for about 2 years – and the Bible records that about 2000 people were saved and the word spread throughout all of Asia. Understand with me, Asia was a massive territory.

What that tells me is that sometimes, I think that God has shut a door on me, actually means that God might have had a bigger plan for right where I am than I could ever have imagined. I’ve told the story of how Kim and I were voted on to pastor a church that we felt God calling us to, but He shut that door. We were puzzled and didn’t understand. But had we would have walked through that door that God had shut, we would have missed the GREAT DOOR that God opened for us here.

GOD ALONE OPENS GREAT DOORS

Folks, understand with me, you can open your own doors – I could have easily opened the door that God had shut on me at that other church. And many have opened doors that God had shut, and many made their own ways and made a name for themselves.

But I am not interested in making a name for myself. I want to be where God wants me to be, doing what God wants me to do, a whole lot more than I want to be doing something on my own. Because I’ll tell you, I’ve done things my own way before and usually the outcome is disastrous.

A lot of folks like to boast about what they doing in the ministry, and think they ought to be the one leading, they can do a better job, it’s all about them, but I’m gonna tell you, we are what we are only by the Grace of God. And it is God alone who opens Great Doors. And if it is God who’s opening your Door – it is a GREAT DOOR, no matter how big or small that door is – it is a Great Door. If you are in the will of God, it is a great door.

If I can use my wife for just a second, I know I pick on her a lot, but I’m serious about this one. Every Saturday, regardless of what we have going on, goes out and picks flowers to put in here every Sunday. She picks up the fruit that we serve on Sunday. Early on Sunday mornings, very early, she goes to Krispy Kreme to get donuts – whether in the car or on the bike. Then she comes in here and makes the coffee and sets up the refreshment area. Some of you might think that is nothing and insignificant, but I’m telling you, that is the door that God has opened for her and every Sunday, she joyfully walks through that GREAT DOOR that God has given her.

Every Friday, I send my sermon slide to Richard, who then downloads it to the church computer, then sets out to find the right music to lead us in the right spirit to receive the message. Early Sunday mornings, he goes and puts the flags out so that I don’t have to hurt my knees any further. Again, that may seem like an insignificant thing, but that is a GREAT DOOR that God has opened for Richard to minister.

Every Sunday morning, Sharon will come and fill the hand-washing station, and uncover the picnic tables and put out the umbrella’s. That may seem so insignificant to you – but that is a GREAT DOOR God has opened.

Little Caroline, doesn’t know everything there is to know about music, but she is determined to come in here every Sunday and be a part of our praise and worship. She is even broken when she can’t be here. To you, that may seem insignificant, but for Caroline, that is a great door that God has opened for her – and every Sunday, she gladly walks through that door!

Every Sunday morning, about an hour, hour and a half, Dennis Lawson comes in here, and ALWAYS has something encouraging to say to his pastor. To you that may not mean much, but to his pastor – it means everything. And Dennis, I appreciate you being faithful to walk through that door every Sunday morning.

I’ve shared with you how I, when I felt God calling me to walk through a GREAT DOOR, went to my pastor and shared this epiphany with him. He was so glad, because over the course of a year, he had someone to flush toilets, cut grass and clean the church. That I couldn’t see it at the time, God was developing in me a servants heart, willing to walk through any door He has for me.

And because of that, 9 different men have been ordained into the ministry, 8 men have licensed to preach, countless others ordained as deacons and elders and 2 churches have been planted. Not because of me – but because God opened Great Doors.

Folks, if we can’t obey God in the little things, how can we ever expect God to trust us in the big things?

If you and I are going to fulfill our God-ordained Purpose in 2025, we will have to be courageous enough to walk through the Doors God opens for us, no matter how large or small those doors may seem.

Biblical Scholar M.M. Bakhtin said, “The text lives only by coming into contact with another text (with context). Only at the point of this contact between texts does a light flash, illuminating both the posterior and anterior, joining a given text to a dialogue.”

Today I want to join two texts together (with context) and hopefully a light will flash and illuminate the Scriptures and become alive inside of us.

As I’ve been praying, studying and asking God to direct my steps through this series of messages on Finding our Purpose, God kind of illuminated in me some very personal and very painful experiences in my own life. So as best I can, I will not attempt to share a 3-point alliterated message with you this morning, but I’m simply going to share my heart. This is probably going to be one of the toughest messages I think I have ever shared – so bear with me. I’m asking you from the offset to extend a little grace to me this morning, as this is going to be a very difficult and very vulnerable message for me personally.

Job 1:1 says, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”

The truth is, when most of us think about Job, we don’t think of Job as a “perfect and upright man.” Most of us don’t think about Job as a man who “feared God and eschewed evil.”

Most of us, when we think about Job, we think about verse 6, “Now there was a day . . .”

• “There was a day” when Satan went before God and said he was “going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it.”
• “There was a day” When God said “Hast thou considered my servant Job?”
• “There was a day” when Job lost all 10 of Jobs children.
• “There was a day” when Job lost all of his livestock.
• “There was a day” when Job lost his wealth.
• “There was a day” when Job lost his health.
• “There was a day” when Job’s wife said, “Why don’t you just curse God and die.”
• “There was a day” when all of Job’s friends came to him and said that there was some sin in his life that cause God to allow this calamity to come into his life.

When we think about Job, we tend to think about the sufferings of Job. But these bad things that happened to Job were just “a day” in his life – they were not the context of his life.

Let me illustrate this to you: Any football fans here? By a show of hands, how many of you remember Doug Flutie?

• Does anyone know where Doug Flutie is from?
• Does anyone know where he lives now?
• Does anyone know his mother and father’s name?
• Does anyone know his wife’s name?
• Does anyone know his children’s names?
• Does anyone know that in one singular moment, he threw a “hail Mary” pass in a game that was caught in the end zone for a national championship?

Most of us only know Doug Flutie for that one pass, that one day, that one moment in his life – but that “One Moment” is not the context of his life.

So, when we think about Job, in that moment, losing his children, it’s easy to dismiss the fact that he had 10 children – 7 sons and 3 daughters. Now, do you think that happened overnight? I would venture to say that it took years to have 7 sons and 3 daughters. And in fact, at the time he lost them, they were all grown, they all had their own jobs and their own homes. Why do I say that, because verse 4 says, “His sons went and feasted in their houses.”

Job didn’t accumulate his wealth, or his possessions overnight, he worked hard his whole life. So, when God refers to Job as a “perfect and upright man, one who feared God and eschewed evil,” that was not a reputation Job earned in a day – but over the course of his life.

Now here is where I’m going to get personal. While I was pastoring a church in the metropolis of Scranton, South Carolina, at 6 pm, August 16^th, 1997, my little brother Sonny was tragically killed in a single car accident. What I discovered over the course of the next few days was that there were multiple beer cans all over the floor of my brother’s car. The sheriff told me there was no reason to add that in the report as there was no reason to add anymore heartache to the grief we were already experiencing.

But that didn’t change the fact, to the first responders on the scene, my brother was just another drunk driver tragically killed while drinking and driving. To them, his life was defined in that single moment. But to me, his big brother, that was just a moment in his life, and that didn’t even begin to define my brother’s life.

• To me, my brother’s life is defined by the moment, as a 5-year-old, when he took his big brothers hand, and together we walked down the aisle of 4^th Street Baptist Church, and together we knelt and ask Jesus to come into our little hearts.
• To me, his life was being defined by us being baptized together.
• To me, his life was being defined when I travelled all over the world for long periods of time and he would constantly travel for hours at a time to ensure my wife and kids were OK while I was gone.
• When I pastored a church that was in the oldest building in South Carolina, folks would talk about how the floors needed to be redone – but did nothing about it. So, me and brother, alone, carried every pew out that church, and on our hands and knees we sanded and refinished the entire church building.
• To me, his life was being defined just the weekend prior to his death, when our church bus broke down at camp, 3 hours away, when none of the deacons had time to come get us, but my brother did.
• And his life was being defined by the conversation he and I had that day.
• My brother’s life was being defined two days prior his death, on his 33^rd birthday when he came to our house, and we walked over to the church and practiced singing a song together we planned to do that Sunday. Ironically, the title of that song was “The Last Mile of the Way.”

To me, my brother’s life was not defined by that single moment in his life, but by the life that he lived. Was he perfect – no. But that final moment was not his defining moment.

Remember at the beginning of the message I stated I wanted to join two text together to give us context? In Galatians 2:20, Paul, a man who at one point in his life persecuted Christians; a man, who after his conversion, was beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, abandoned, imprisoned, yet when it came time to define his life, Paul says these words, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Paul is saying, “My life is not defined by what I did in the past, but my life is being defined by “The life that I now live . . .”

Satan has convinced some of you that a certain moment in your life prevents you from God’s love and saving grace. Satan has convinced some of you that God has no use for you anymore.

Let me ask you, are you allowing the moment that you are in, maybe you are in a great moment, maybe you are in a sorrowful moment, maybe you’re in a regretful moment – are you allowing that moment to define your life’s purpose?

Last Sunday, we began this series of messages titled 2025: A Year to Find Your Purpose. Last week I spoke on focusing on one area of your life that is keeping you from your God-ordained purpose and then encouraged each of us to ask God to renew in us the right spirit and give us a vision for that purpose.

Today, I ask you to turn with me to the Gospel of John, the 20^th chapter. Let me say that we all know there is only One Gospel, but 4 Gospel messengers. Matthew, Mark and Luke are what are known as Synoptic Gospels, because they are similar in style, and then John is completely different than the other three. John explains to us Jesus as the Son of God, and then proceeds to explain John 1:1 through the remainder of the Book. And he paints for us various portraits of Jesus in our minds and hearts as the Living Word of God.

John finishes the Book with these words, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (John 21:25). What John was saying is, “I’ve tried the very best I could to explain John 1:1 to you, but if I had 50 more years, I couldn’t begin to exhaust all there is to say about Jesus.

But in John 20, John tells us why he writes what he writes. In John 20:31, now this isn’t our text verse for the day, but it will get us to where we are going, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” So, John is saying very plainly that the reason he is writing is simply so that you and I will believe.

Truth is, I don’t believe there is a worse sin than the sin of unbelief. And the easiest way to limit God’s potential in your life to simply to not believe. The title for the message today is this, “Don’t Miss Your God Ordained Purpose.” And listen, the only reason you will miss it is simply because you don’t believe.

John 20:24 says, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.” DON’T MISS YOUR GOD-ORDAINED PURPOSE. Because if you miss it, it may not come this way again. But more importantly, don’t miss Him, because if you miss Him, you will miss everything you need.

Let me preface my message this morning by making a plug for why you should go to church. Look at verse 19 of John 20, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”

Let me read that again.  Can somebody tell me what the first day of the week is?  SUNDAY.

So, the first day of the week, Jesus shows up. Now listen, I know that God can show up anywhere that He wants to, any time that He wants to. 

• He showed up with me in my truck.
• He showed up with me while riding my motorcycle.
• He has shown up with me in a hospital room.
• He shows up with me in the grocery store.

But it doesn’t happen every day.  It doesn’t happen every time I get in my truck, it doesn’t happen every time I ride my motorcycle, it doesn’t happen every time I visit the hospital or walk through the grocery store.  BUT IT DOESN’T HAPPEN EVERYTIME.

But there is one place I can guarantee you that He shows up EVERY SINGLE TIME – whether we see Him or not.  And that place is “On the first day of the week,” where the Bible says, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

They were assembling on the first day of the week – then came Jesus!  Sounds a lot like church to me. 

So, why do we need Church on Sunday?  1. Because we don’t know it all, but more importantly, 2. That’s where He is going to be! And listen, I don’t won’t to miss that.

Do you know who missed it? Thomas missed it. Verse 24 says Thomas was not with them “when Jesus Came.” And folks, I don’t won’t to miss when Jesus comes.

We could give a lot of reasons why Thomas didn’t come. We could say he had family over; we could say the weather was too bad, We could say he was on vacation, But the truth is, we don’t know why he didn’t come, all we know is that Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus came.

Now let me give you the setting for this text. Jesus has risen from the dead. He has shown Himself to some people. We know that according to verse 19 that on the first day of the week at evening – or in modern English – “On Sunday Evening.” His closest followers are locked up in a room somewhere. They aren’t having a Watch Night Service; they aren’t having coffee and donuts; they aren’t watching the Super Bowl – they are running for their lives. Because in their minds, if they killed our leader, they would surely kill us.

So, here they are in a room, and out of nowhere, at their darkest hour – Jesus shows up! But there were only 10. We know that Judas has already betrayed Christ and taken his own life. And according to our text, Thomas wasn’t there.

Though the Scriptures never refer to Thomas as “doubting Thomas,” but we’ll put that in there as a reason he wasn’t there, because we know he surely doubted – just like we all do at times. Maybe he wasn’t there because he said, “You know what, he told us he was going to rise again, but I haven’t seen Him, so I’m just going to stay home – I don’t have anything better to do.”

Truth is, there is no reason to debate WHY he wasn’t there, the fact of the matter is HE WASN’T THERE – HE MISSED IT. And what did Thomas miss?

THE FIRST THING HE MISSED WAS PEACE (v.19)

When he wasn’t there where his friends were assembled, when Jesus came – HE MISSED PEACE. Will preacher, how do you get that? Look what Jesus said in verse 19, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”

Folks, there is no greater joy than laying your head down at night knowing that you have peace with God, peace with each other and peace with yourself. I’m telling you, I don’t won’t to miss that.

Listen to me, when you miss coming to church, not because you are sick or have something you simply can’t avoid, but you miss because you are too lazy or unconcerned about your life, then you miss the peace God intended for your life.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss the peace God has for my life. Thomas missed his opportunity to have peace.

Not only did Thomas miss Peace,

THOMAS ALSO MISS PROOF (v.20a)

“And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side . . .”

Jesus was saying, “Just in case you need proof that I am who I say I am, look at my hands and my side.”

Thomas doubted it, and because he did, he missed the opportunity to see the proof of the Risen Savior.

I said at the beginning that I have felt God’s presence in my car, on my motorcycle, in the grocery store. Some of you have mentioned feeling God’s presence in a deer stand – listen God can show-up anywhere at anytime of His choosing, though He doesn’t always, HE CAN. But the one place He is definitely going to be is at the Church house, and I don’t want to miss the opportunity to see God show up and prove Himself to our folks.

Well how Is God going to prove Himself here? You’re the proof.

• You’re the proof that God is a healer.
• You’re the proof that God is a God of peace.
• You’re the proof God is in the life saving and life changing business.

You are the proof. Man, I don’t want to miss when God proves Himself in somebodies’ life.

Thomas missed the peace; he missed the proof.

THOMAS ALSO MISSED PRAISE (v.20b)

“. . . then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.”

The word glad in the Greek language means to “rejoice exceedingly.” I just have a feeling that when Jesus showed up in that locked room with His disciples, I just don’t think they said in a monotone voice “Well glory to God, Praise Jesus.”

No friend, the Bible said they rejoiced exceedingly because Jesus said, “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” And folks, the least that we can do for the God that has shown up in our lives time and time again is to rejoice in Him exceedingly. I have often said, “If God doesn’t do another thing for me in this life, He has already done more than I deserve.” I like what the old Preacher Maze Jackson once said, “I don’t shout every time I go to church – BUT I’M LIABLE TOO!”

Thomas missed the Praise, and he missed the Peace and the Proof.

BUT THOMAS ALSO MISSED HIS PURPOSE (v.21)

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

Jesus gave the 10 a PURPOSE. Thomas wasn’t there to receive that purpose, but Jesus gave it to the 10 that showed up.

I think we all, as the children of God really want to know the will of God for our lives, to know God’s purpose for our lives. Wouldn’t you agree with that? Yet, it seems to me that we’d much rather being doing anything other than going to the House of God.

I can’t help but to think, “If God can’t trust you in the little things, what makes you think He’s going to trust you in the big things?” If He can’t get us to “Thrust out into the shallows waters,” He’s never going to “launch us into the deep waters.”

Seems to me there are way too many people trying to find the will of God for their lives based off of the feelings, or their pride, or on what somebody else has told them to do rather than relying on the Spirit of God to guide their steps.

“Preacher why is that so important?” Because sometimes, and I’m speaking for me, when I’m riding down the road, and I feel like a total failure, when I feel like the message I delivered the worst message I could possibly deliver and I feel like quitting and giving up, the Holy Spirit of God seems to show up and say “Preach the Word, Be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.” Joe – “Do all things without murmurings and disputing’s that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke in the mist of a crooked and perverse nations, among whom you are to shine as lights. Holding forth the word of God, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ. That I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”

Folks, what I’m saying is that nothing will carry you through the difficult times of your life quite like knowing God’s purpose for your life. And I don’t want to miss God’s purpose for my life!

Thomas missed his Purpose, he missed the Praise and he missed the Peace and he missed the Proof,

FINALLY, HE MISSED THE POWER (v.22)

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

Why was that important? It was important because it was the breath of God, the infilling of the Holy Spirit of God, they were going to need to turn their world upside down for the cause of Christ.

And Thomas wasn’t there.

Folks, if we are going to turn our world upside down for the cause of Christ, we are going to need God to breathe on us, we are going to need the Holy Spirit of God living in us. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss it!

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. ² Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. ³ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; ⁴ What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? ⁵ For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. ⁶ Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: ⁷ All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; ⁸ The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. ⁹ O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

As I think about Psalm 8 and consider the vastness of the glory God has set above the heavens, when I consider the works of His fingers, the moon and the stars that He has ordained, and looking at the splendor of His Creation, it is hard to figure out where to even begin.

Kim and I, when we were in Iraq together, the nights were so dark and the stars so bright, we spent many nights sitting outside gazing at the stars. To figure out where to begin looking was almost impossible. In fact, astronomers say there are over 100 billion stars in the sky. So, there is so much to see it’s hard to know where to start.

Truth is, many times, our lives are just like that. Some of the choices we have to make, and the opportunities that are presented to us, seem just as impossibly varied, and at the same time, just as equally interesting as all the stars in the sky.

So how do we focus in God’s purpose for our lives when there is so much to choose from? If we were astronomers, the tool we would use is the telescope. These telescopes help to focus in on one star, or one planet, or even one galaxy. So, what a telescope does is keep you from looking at everything at once, and helps you to focus on a single object, and when you focus in on that single object, that single object becomes clearer, and it becomes closer to see.

As I began work on this message, one of the things I realized I needed in my own life, was see a little clearer, to get a better picture. I, like all of us, need a vision, a clear purpose for my life. My personal intent this year is to find an area of my life that I need work on, that I need to focus on, and make the purpose and focus of 2025 to be to focus on that area I need work in and ask God to help me transform that area of my life. So my goal this year is to be single-mindedly focus on the area of my life that I feel needs to be transformed, the area of my life that I feel is keeping me from reaching the full potential God has for my life.

Just recently, I watched a Message that Dr. Billy Graham delivered to the graduating class of Liberty University some 10 years ago. Something he said in that message really starting burn within my soul. Billy Graham said this, “I remember nearly 50 years ago, I was visiting Dr. Jerry Falwell, and we were up on Liberty Mountain. There was no Liberty University here at the time. In fact, Dr. Falwell had just begun Thomas Road Baptist Church. And he started that church in a 30×50 tin building with busted out windows. He took me up on top of the mountain and looked down on the present location of Liberty University Campus, and Dr. Falwell began pointing out where every building would be build to start and grow Liberty University.”

Dr. Graham said that when he looked down in that valley, all he saw was the woods and some open fields. But when Dr. Falwell looked down in that valley, He saw the home of Thomas Road Baptist Church and the home of soon coming Liberty University.

I heard that message from Billy Graham and God began to stir my heart and God reminded me of Proverbs 29:18, “That where there is no vision, the people will perish.” I thought about our church in this little tin building in the woods here in Pauline and I began to see a “bigger picture, and bigger potential and a bigger purpose.” And I knelt down and I ask God to search me and try me. I asked God to renew in me a right spirit. I asked God to transform my mind. I asked God not to allow me to hinder our church with a punny vision, but to allow me to think big, to see big, to seek big, and to pray big prayers.

I heard it said that “the secret to concentration is elimination.” That means getting rid of anything that causes you to lose focus on the Big Thing – Your God Given Purpose.

Something I realize as I’m getting older (notice I didn’t say “old,” I said older). But something I realize is that I don’t have time to live my life the way everybody thinks I ought to live my life. So rather than wasting what time I do have trying to focus on everything everyone thinks I ought to be, I’m simply going to focus on God renewing the right spirit within me so that I can live up to the purpose He has for my life.  

As the New Year rolls around, it brings with it fresh excitement, fresh possibilities, new resolutions. My challenge to us, Rally Point Biker Church, and to each person here, let’s make 2025 be the year that we stop letting resolutions pass us by, let’s stop trying to focus on everything, but start focusing on the one thing in your life that will change everything – Your God Given Purpose.

So this morning, rather than preach a big sermon, I’m going to ask each of you to do several things.

First, I going to ask you to ask God to transform your mind and heart to a single focus.

Second, I’m going to ask you to pray that God will give you a vision.

Third, I want you to look at your life and ask this question, “If every member of this church was just like me, what kind of church would my church be?”

And finally, if you are not happy with the answer to that question, I want to ask you to pray that God will renew in you the right spirit.

Folks, let’s not allow 2025 to be yet another year that we allow unfulfilled resolutions to pass us by, but let this be a year of transformation and concentration.  

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.