THE IMMEDIACY OF “NOW”
#466a THE IMMEDIACY OF “NOW”
Scripture John 9:4, II Corinthians 5 Orig. 2/25/1968
Rewr. 9/1969
Passage: As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Purpose: To speak to my people about commitment that does not measure up to God’s expectations.
Keywords: Commitment Discernment Resolution
Timeline/Series: Before Easter Covenant
Introduction
Three days ago we celebrated the birthday of George Washington. At least we acknowledge that it was a different day in many respects.
Around our town and every other one large enough to own a calendar the birthday was observed with Hatchet Sales, Cherry Tree Specials, and George Washington’s Day Spectaculars. I suppose that the reason behind this type of commercialization is to inspire trust.
In the Halls of Congress on that day every year, Washington’s Farewell Address is read. In recent years we are told that only a handful of our nation’s spokesmen have aspired to be present for the occasion,
The second portion of the Church Covenant speaks directly to the urgency of Christian service. It is pointed toward the immediacy of now For Washington, the secure establishment of a nation depended upon his dedicated leadership. Only the future can tell what awaits your dedication and mine.
CHURCH COVENANT We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and spread of the gospel through all nations.
The key words are verbs and the reason for John 9:4.
I. Now is the Time for Unity. The love of Christ constrains us (2 Corinthians 5:14) to walk together in Christian love. It decries judgment attitude toward others.
How often we hear Christians criticize other churches. “You hear about so-and-so’s church? I know that wouldn’t work.” Bro. Plauché told of his conversion without berating the Catholic religion. Jess Moody tells about the man who, when he talks about other people’s sins, his talk is nine part true!
Proverbs 26:20 “Where no wood is there, the fire goeth out; where there is no tale bearer, the strife ceases.” An Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt mind thine own business and no one else’s.” Nine and Ten mention neighbor—Thou shalt neither lie nor covet.
II. Now is the Time for Discernment, to strive for advancement in knowledge, holiness, comfort.
2 Corinthians 5:15 “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Be susceptible to changing society.
Advancement in knowledge. In this day of heart transplants and space probes, who would doubt the validity of the Kingdom of Heaven? Our children are learning in 2nd and 3rd grade what we learned in 6th and 7th. Some we are not happy about. We know less and less about the Bible.
Advancement in holiness. Not a holiness that makes pretenses about itself ((Pharisees (1)shoulder; (2)wait-a-little; (3)bruised)) but a holiness that acknowledges personal unworthiness and God’s charitableness. (ref. G30p191).
Advancement in comfort. We need no covenant to appreciate material and physical comfort. But there remains the comfort of forgiven sins and dislodged guilt.
III. Now is the Time for Candidness, to promote prosperity and spirituality—II Corinthians 5:17, “old things are passed away”—determining what is spiritually profitable.
Being ourselves: One of the most appealing characteristics of Candid Camera was its honesty. Quiz shows [were] rigged—We felt duped. Even so, pretense in religious belief leaves people with a bad taste. I was in school with young men more interested in mimicking Billy Graham than discerning their own potential. If there seems to be an experience beyond yours then search in prayer and scripture but don’t pretend.
Speaking an understandable word to the age in which we live: John 16:25, “The time cometh when I will use parables no more, but I will speak to you in plain words about the Father.” Corinthians is classic Bible teaching on tongues: words easy to be understood, [yet] how shall it be known what is spoken? To the Pentecostal—the unknown tongue; to the Baptist—lofty phrases without meaning.
Promoting the spiritually profitable: I Corinthians 14:12, “Since you are eager to have the gifts of the spirit, above everything else, you must try to make greater use of those which will build up the church.”
IV. Now is the Time for Resolution, to sustain worship, ordinances, discipline. II Corinthians 5:18 “All things are of God.”
These things are sustained through personal involvement. Israel’s greatest danger: Deuteronomy 6:10ff “cities you did not build, houses full which you did not fill, cisterns hewn out which you did not hew, vineyards and olive trees you did not plant; when you eat and are full take heed lest you forget the Lord.”
Someone has wisely noted that in the faith of Jesus there are no grandchildren. In the Hebrews’ faith great store was laid in children, grandchildren, and their children. They were Hebrews regardless. But in Christ there must be a personal experience for each believer.
The things we sustain:
- Worship—a periodic, communal encounter with God and others
- Ordinances—a continuation of basic expressions of Christ’s death for sin and our death to sin
- Discipline—a standard to hold men to the claims of the gospel
- Doctrine—a statement of belief
- Covenant—a statement of policy
V. Now is the Time for Scrutiny, to contribute cheerfully and regularly—ministry, church, poor, gospel. II Corinthians 5: 19 “…he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” To search carefully for a program of outreach for a church.
The support of the ministry. This is a sore spot for some people but usually they are the ones looking for justification not to give as they should. People should be growing in giving potential. A good message. You can be sure that this preacher has earned what he has been paid. Two things of which you can be sure:
- Busy about church matters
- I am available to you
By the way, I am one of the golfing preachers.
The expenses of the church. We have learned how important it is to have a budget, and to live within it.
- Utilities—100 years ago wood-burning stoves and kerosene lanterns
- Literature—an aid and incentive to learn
- Insurance—sawmill donate lumber
- Building—not to exceed ¼ of budget.
The relief of the poor. Our government has taken over. But there are still needs. Help them to sense that the church is an ally. Help them to help themselves. There are others who desperately need Peace Corps, US-2 Missions, Agricultural and Industrial Missions.
The spread of the Gospel was evangelical, now educational and medical, soon technical.
Conclusion
Why so much stress on now? The answer is simple.
On the corner of the January issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, the clock was set at 12 minutes to midnight. Now it is 7 minutes.
We don’t need the Bulletin to verify this. The Bible warns of a greater doom in God’s judgment on sin. Now the church must move.