Pure Preaching of the Word

2 Corinthians 11:1-6

Rev. Jerry Hoek

Introduction:

What is “good preaching?”  Now I realize that this is a potentially very risky question for me to ask, but what do you consider to be good preaching?  Some might say energetic and powerful speaking that grips you.  Some might say sermons with lots of stories and illustrations.  Some may say sermons with less stories and illustrations.  Some may say just teach what the text says and leave the applications to us.  Some may say, leave sin out of it and just talk to us of God’s love.  Some may say that good preaching should scare you and force you to face God.  There are many different definitions of what good preaching is and in my 25 years of ministry, I’ve heard all of these and many more definitions of good preaching.

What we need to recognize is that there are many different types of preaching and good preaching is a rather subjective thing, which will vary from person to person as well as pastor to pastor.  However, what we are talking about today is not good preaching but pure preaching of the Word, and that is an important distinction.

Last week we looked at the article in the Belgic Confession that deals with the marks of the true church; the things that identify a church as being a true church of Jesus Christ.  The first mark is “the pure preaching of the gospel.”  The question is:  “What is the pure preaching of the gospel?”  As is the case in all areas, we must turn to Scripture to find the answers.  I believe Paul is talking about pure preaching in 2 Corinthians 11:1-6.  Here Paul is dealing with some false teachers and their teachings and in doing so clarifies who he is and what he is basing his preaching on.  Let’s read 2 Corinthians 11:1-15.

I. The Goal of the Church                  

II. The Danger for the Church

III. The Basis of Paul’s Preaching       

IV. True Preaching Today

I. The Goal of the Church is seen in verses 1-2.

Paul is dealing with some false teachers who had come to the church in Corinth.  They were skilled orators who were very compelling in their speech.  They had caused many to doubt Paul and his teaching.  However, they were carrying with them a distorted view of the gospel.

That is why Paul says he hopes they “put up with a little of my foolishness.”  Paul is willing to become foolish in order to protect this church.  Only his foolishness now is that he is commending himself.

Paul had taught earlier that an apostle shouldn’t need to commend himself.  A true apostle should only need to be commended by God.  Yet, Paul is about to talk about himself and commend himself, thus speaking foolishly, in order to help the Christians at Corinth.

Why?  Paul writes, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.”  He is passionately concerned for them.  It is not a self-serving jealousy, however, but one that is from God.  Why is Paul so jealous about what happens to these believers?

The reason according to Paul is this:  “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”  Paul is their spiritual father and as such Paul is responsible for their spiritual standing.  If they are in danger of losing that, Paul must intervene.

Paul is saying that this bride must be as a pure virgin to Christ.  That is, they must not be tainted with false teachings or beliefs.  Paul is passionate about keeping this church pure so that they may someday join with others with Christ in heaven.  The goal of the church ultimately is to be physically united with Christ so that we can reign with Him forever.

In order for that to happen, the church must be kept pure and Paul now points out that there is a very significant danger lurking among this church.  A recent survey as reported in a recent issue of Focus on the Family Magazine, stated that baby boomers expect 6 things in a church:  good music, social groups, big meeting rooms, a quality kitchen, ample parking, and clean restrooms.  These 6 amenities are the initial attractors.  The problem is that for many churches, this is the extent of the mission of the church and church’s lose sight of what they are called to be doing.

In its day, the Titanic was the world’s largest ship.  It employed a crew of 400, a hotel staff of 518 and could carry 2,433 passengers.  The ship had a complete gymnasium, heated pool, squash court and the first miniature golf course — all below deck. It had opulent dining rooms, orchestra on the promenade deck and gilded Turkish baths.  But at midnight, April 14, 1912, the great Titanic struck an iceberg, ripping a 300 ft hole through 5 of its 16 watertight compartments.  It sank in 2 1/2 hours killing 1,513 people.  Why did so many die?  The crew disregarded the danger, there were not enough lifeboats, and the radio operator of the nearby ship California was off duty.  The ultimate purpose of the ship was to get its passengers safely to land.  Being caught up in the self-centered present, they lost sight of that goal.

The ultimate goal of the church is not to please ourselves, but to be presented to Christ as his bride.  Paul is saying that there is a danger lurking beneath the surface that the believers in Corinth need to be aware of.  We need to be alert to dangers that may harm the church as well.

II. The Danger for the Church is seen in verses 3-4.

Paul is “afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”  Eve was led astray by Satan in the Garden when he appealed to her desire to have more knowledge.  She felt she could be more important by being like God.  Instead, she ended up disobeying God rather than being closer to God.

The Corinthian Christians are in danger of the same thing.  The false teachers were urging the people to go beyond what Paul had taught them.  They were saying in effect, “That was nice and all, but what you really want and need is what we are teaching you and then you’ll know it all.”

Paul warns them in no uncertain terms that if they follow this seduction, they will endanger their loyalty and devotion to Christ.  What may seem like a good way to grow in their beliefs will actually take them away from God.  Now what was happening here?

The actual false teaching is not clearly spelled out by Paul, but it seems to hinge on four things that Paul mentions in verse 4.  Notice first that Paul says that these teachers came to them.  A true apostle doesn’t come to a church.  The word apostle itself means one who is sent.  Paul says these false teachers were not sent but just came to them.

Moreover, they were “preaching another Jesus.”  Verse 22 indicates that these false teachers were Hebrews who were advocating a return to the religious laws and obligations of Judaism.  These false teachers may have presented Jesus merely as a great teacher or moral leader, or a marvelous miracle worker.  But they didn’t preach Jesus as Christ crucified and risen.  They also came with a different spirit.  When the gospel of Christ is preached, the Holy Spirit is poured out among those who believe, giving freedom and power.  The spirit these false teachers seem to be putting forth is one of human wisdom and pride in human accomplishments.

Finally, they are presenting a different gospel.  If these false teachers were encouraging a renewed commitment to keeping the law as a means of attaining salvation, there is no gospel.  Indeed, there can be no other gospel aside from the gospel of Christ.  Anything other than Jesus crucified and risen only brings slavery and bondage, not the good news of salvation and freedom from sin.

There are many today who preach a different Jesus than what is in the Bible.  Some teach that Jesus is the one who will give you whatever you want!  Just name it and claim it in the name of Jesus.  This is the spirit of self which says, “Give to me what I want.”

Some teach that the way to be a Christian is to work it out yourself.  We earn favor with God by doing good works and almost slavish obedience to a set of laws.  This is a spirit of bondage for they know they will never be good enough.

Some teach that being a Christian means being a good and moral person.  Just be good and God will love you and take you to heaven.  This is a spirit of not really ever knowing for sure if you are saved.

All these false teachings are not the gospel.  They don’t proclaim good news that frees and liberates people.  They are not preparing the church to be the pure bride for Christ.

Katie Wiebe writes:  “Whenever I attend yet another church spectator event, I am reminded of  disdain and despair for “that strange thing–the program,” for “conventional religious chatter,” for our wholesale “pursuit of happiness, rather than holiness,” for our bondage to the conscience of people rather than bondage to God.”

In 1945, George Orwell wrote:  “When men stop worshiping God, they promptly start worshiping man, with disastrous results.” What then is true preaching?

III. Let’s look at The Basis of Paul’s Preaching in verses 5-6.

Paul first says that he is not a super-apostle.  Now the question is:  “Who are these ‘super-apostles.’?”  Some maintain that the super-apostles Paul refers to here are the false teachers themselves.  They feel that because of their superior message that they are so much superior to Paul.

Others believe that the “super-apostles” are actually the real apostles from Jerusalem.  Paul then refers to them in this way because this is the way because the false teachers refer to them this way.

What likely is happening here is that these false teachers came to Corinth, claiming to have the authority of the true apostles.  They said that they came from them, when in fact, they likely weren’t sent by them at all.  But they were name-dropping and claimed that the Apostles were far superior to Paul.  Paul’s point is that he is by no means inferior to the Jerusalem Apostles even though the false teachers indicated that he was.

Paul also admits here that he is not a “trained speaker.”  We know that Paul was able to debate things with very wise and learned men.  I suspect that Paul was no slouch when it came to public speaking.  Yet, compared to the dynamic speaking of the false teachers, he may have appeared to be less than eloquent.

These false teachers may have been schooled in public speaking.  They knew how to give a speech that would be very effective.  They knew how to control people’s emotions through public speaking.

Paul says that his preaching, his ministry is based on knowledge.  This knowledge is the content of Paul’s letters and preaching.  It is found in his sermons in the book of Acts and in the letters he wrote to churches.  It is not splashy or based on an emotional appeal.

Paul’s knowledge is the basic content of the gospel.  We are lost in sin, but Jesus came to earth to die and take on himself the sins of the world.  Those who were chosen to believe will receive eternal life.  Those who receive this gift of grace are then to live their lives as an expression of gratitude to God.

That is not splashy, but it is liberating!  It is essential to true preaching and without it what the church proclaims is nothing and will effect nothing.

A Spanish artist was employed to paint the Last Supper.  It was his object to throw all the fine efforts of his art into the figure and face of Jesus; but he put on the table in the foreground some beautiful ornamental cups. When his friends came to see the picture, every one said, “What beautiful cups!”  He said, “I have made a mistake.  Those cups divert the eyes of the spectator from the Lord, to whom I wished to direct all attention.”  So he took his brush, and painted them from the canvas so that the figure of Christ might be the chief object of attraction.  Preaching as well must never detract from the central core of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

IV. So what is Pure Preaching Today?

Again, there are many forms of bad preaching.  There are churches who are preaching a man-based way of salvation.  Some preach that the way to heaven is to through doing good works.  Some preach a rigid obedience to the laws of God and laws of other men but with little emphasis on grace.  Some churches urge their listeners to be good moral citizens.  There are churches who preach a health and wealth gospel.

These are all based on what we want or what we think is good.  A well-known charismatic speaker once wrote about the futility of both preaching and listening to sermons that go beyond mere entertainment.  His conclusion?  People don’t remember what you say anyway, so most preaching is a waste of time.  He wrote, “I’m going to try to do better next year.  That means wasting less time listening to long sermons and spending much more time preparing short ones. People will forgive even poor theology as long as they get out before noon.”  However, as Bill Hybels once said, “You don’t get a well-fed church from serving fast food.”

Pure preaching today focuses on what God has done and is doing today.  Pure preaching tells people about their sinfulness and their desperate need for God’s grace.  Pure preaching teaches that without Christ, we are dead.

Pure preaching tells people good news that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Pure preaching tells people that all they need to do is accept this gift from God by faith.  They don’t earn it nor deserve it, but just need to accept it.

Pure preaching then tells people that they are to now to live every part of their lives as an expression of gratitude to God for what He has done for us.  Pure preaching then encourages us to be obedient to our Lord.  Pure preaching comforts us when we fail by saying that God forgives and our salvation doesn’t rely on what we do, but what God has done.

The pure preaching of the word is vital today.  If you are going to be in the position at some point of looking for a church, pure preaching is very important; look for it.  If you have found pure preaching here, tell others because the gospel is good news and there are many who need to hear it.

END

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, DOORS OPEN 6PM

Faith Church Coffeehouse welcomes

ODESSA SETTLES

and THE SETTLES CONNECTION

An evening of amazing artistry and community benefiting Reformed Churches of East Africa.

Free Event
FAITH CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL

ALL INVITED!

We love music, art and food and what better way to do something nice for our community? Now in our 4th season, Faith Church Coffeehouse is a free quarterly event given as a service to our community. Some have said that you’d be hard pressed to find a better free music event in Nashville.

Don’t worry; this is a music event much like what you’d experience at the Bluebird. (However, you can always visit us on a Sunday for some great teaching from Pastor Jerry!) We just hope you’ll to come out and have a wonderful time with great music, great food and great people. It’s our way of saying ‘hello’ to the neighborhood and benefiting a worthy cause, Reformed Churches of East Africa.

A performing artist from Nashville Tennessee, ODESSA SETTLES grew up, the only female of eight in a singing family and has been on the stage most of her life. Her father, the late Walter J. Settles, was a former lead singer with The Fairfield Four. Odessa has performed nationally and internationally in Germany, Russia, Sweden and France. She is one of the founding members of The Princely Players, a music & drama troupe who traces African-American history through A Cappella singing, dramatic presentations and interactive workshops with youth. The Princely Players’ current show On the Road to Glory and special appearances have been seen and heard by millions, on radio, TV and in venues from New York City to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. to Cal Tech in Pasadena CA, to the Ryman Auditorium, and Station Inn in Nashville, TN. The Princely Players have collaborated with many artists such as Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Phylicia Rashad and Oscar Brown, Jr. to name a few. The group recorded on the Wade in the Water Series produced by Bernice Johnson Reagan, the Smithsonian and National Public Radio, the Civil War Music Special Edition by Time-Warner, Dale Cockrell and Butch Baldassari’s Happy Land: Musical Tribute to Laura Ingalls Wilder and more. The group’s unique sounds can be heard on the documentaries: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow produced by Thirteen WNET NY and This Far by Faith produced by Blackside Productions, Boston, MA. The Princely Players have received the Southern Artistry Seal of Approval. Odessa, a former president of The Nashville Symphony Chorus, is the Personnel Manager and Choral Coordinator for the Nashville Symphony Celebration Chorus and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra Gospel Choir which come together annually to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Thanksgiving season respectively.

THE SETTLES CONNECTION

Settles Connection is a recording, singing and songwriting family-based group founded by Odessa Settles. Settles Connection’s purposes are to help preserve folk music and performance through collaborative efforts and to fulfill a personal desire to honor their father the late Walter J. Settles’ (former member of the Fairfield Four) contributions to America’s traditional performance art culture. Members include Odessa Settles, Calvin Settles (Organist, Pianist, Music Director), Shirley Settles, Todd Suttles, Wayne Settles (Pianist) and Sara Settles. The group has worked with artists such as Tim O’Brien (CD nominated for 2006 IBMA), T-Bone Burnett – Oh Brother Where Art Thou, and Ralph Stanley, Martina McBride, Darrell Scott, Shooter Jennings, Mindy Smith, Tony Joe White, Randy Travis (song recipient of Dove award) Joni Bishop, Dan Pennington & Bobby Purify, Danny O’Keefe, Kathy Mattea, David Harvey (CD nominated 2005 IBMA), Dave Powelson, Stella Parton and many more. Settles Connection was named a 2005 IBMA Nominee for their work on the Moody Bluegrass: Nashville’s Tribute to the Moody Blues project. Members of Settles Connection have performed live with Tim O’Brien, Kathy Mattea (Live with Larry King), Marty Stuart, The Moody Blues, John Cowan, The Nashville Chamber Orchestra, The Nashville Symphony Orchestra, John Coates, Maura O’Connell, American Idol, Mandisa and many more. Odessa is currently working with Roy “Futureman” Wooten on the Black Mozart Project, which chronicles the life of Joseph Boulogne, Le Chevalier de St. George, a black composer and Renaissance man born during the 18^th Century to a slave woman and a European man of nobility. Odessa is the voice of Joseph’s mother Nanon.

Past coffeehouse artists have included Grammy-winning songwriter Gordon Kennedy, writer of Eric Clapton’s smash hit, “Change the World”, harmonica virtuoso Buddy Greene, Grammy-winning songwriter Tricia Walker, Legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy, Grammy-winning vocalist Ashley Cleveland and Americana singer-songwriter Kenny Meeks, among others.

Here’s a little taste of our event and some of the awesome artists we’ve been happy have!

Dear Brothers & Sisters of the Missions Committee,
>
> A quick report to update you on our trip so far. I had tried once earlier
> in the week but the internet connection failed before I could send it.
> We’re very well in every sense and enjoying a wonderful visit.
>
> We arrived Saturday without problems, only a bit tired, and sailed through
> customs without a hitch, thanks to your prayers. We were met by a member
> of the hospital staff with his family and enjoyed the 2 hour road trip up
> into the mountains to get to the hospital, getting to know Boris and his
> family as well as something of Honduras along the way. We were welcomed
> into the home of our host, a spritely, dear 81 year young Honduran
> surgeon, Dr. Nasralla. Saturday evening we were introduced to the members
> of the Board of Directors of the hospital who were meeting in their annual
> retreat, and discussing their 5 year strategic plan.
>
> Sunday we enjoyed worshiping and fellowship in the church of the
> gastroenterologist I’m assisting (Dr. Enrique Martinez), and afterwards
> spent the afternoon getting to know him and Dr. Nasralla better. As Dr.
> Martinez is not only the sole gastroenterologist for hours, but also the
> director of the hospital, he’s a very busy man and so eager for the help.
>
> Monday we had a tour of the very impressive Hospital Evangelico, then
> jumped immediately into the work of the day. After a time of seeing how
> things are done here, Dr. Martinez has turned over the reins of the
> endoscopy unit, freeing him up to attend to other administrative matters.
> Tina has been happily laboring at my side, assisting with the procedures
> and equipment and attending to patients. After 3 days in the endoscopy
> lab, we’ve done a lot of cases and feel like we’re getting into the swing
> of things.
>
> In the mornings, before starting with a busy endoscopy schedule, we’ve
> been excited to be able to make pediatric ward and nursery rounds with
> Dra. Dina, a delightful young pediatrician who is probably one of the
> hardest working docs here, as she’s the only pediatrician on staff. I’ve
> had the chance to do a couple of inpatient pediatric GI consults which is
> great.
>
> This week before starting the work of the day, the chaplain staff of the
> hospital has organized a series of prayer meetings at 7 a.m. for all the
> hospital staff to attend to refocus on the mission and the heart of the
> work here and to bathe it in prayer. This morning we got to see a
> presentation of the mobile clinic outreach to poorer surrounding villages
> which the hospital operates on a daily basis, and which paying patients at
> the main hospital subsidize.
>
> By far the most significant impression of our time here is of the
> tremendous devotion and absolute commitment to the Lord of the hospital
> staff we’re privileged to work alongside. Everyone we’ve had contact
> with, from nurses to support personnel to administrators and chaplains are
> keenly aware that they are here to make Christ known through high quality
> and compassionate health care. There’s a great sense of calling and
> mission, and it’s a humbling thing to behold.
>
> We’ll have many more stories to tell on our return, but the most important
> one is this: our global Lord is at work here in Siguatepeque, healing and
> reconciling a lost and suffering world and building his Church through the
> faithful service of many of our Honduran brothers and sisters who are
> joyfulling making Him known. Thank you all so very much for continuing to
> uphold us in prayer, and please thank the rest of the Faith family for us,
> as well.
>
> Until the next opportunity,
> en Cristo,
> Brian & Tina

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Belgic Confession 25-26

Rev. Jerry Hoek
 
Introduction:
 
Today in our study of the Belgic Confession we look at Christ’s role as intercessor.  In Hebrews 4:14-16, we read that Christ as intercessor provides help in our time of need.  Twenty two years ago I was in need of some timely help.  It was a dark and cold night in January in Iowa.  I was returning home after spending the day in another city at a counseling seminar.  As I was driving along the interstate, I heard the sound of a flat tire.  Not wanting to get nailed by a passing truck in the dark, I slowly eased to the next exit to change the tire.
 
That exit ramp was the most deserted ramp in 200 miles.  The only thing I could see were the faint glow of a farmhouse a few miles down the road.  I also found I had no light since I had just put my flashlight into our other car.  So I had to work with just the flashing light of the emergency flashers of the car.  To compound the problem, this was the first time I had to use the jack and the spare.  I finally figured out how to use the jack by reading the instructions in the flashing red light.  Then I discovered that in the final stages in the car making process they employ gorillas to tighten the wing-nut that holds the jack and spare in place.  I couldn’t see how else that thing could have been so tight.  So there I was in the dark, with a spare I couldn’t get at, working with a jack that I had never used before.
 
I remember wishing very hard that someone would stop to help me.  No one did stop, but I did manage to fix it and be on my way some time later.  But it was a time that I was in need of timely help from someone else.
 
Now is this the kind of help the author of Hebrews has in mind when we say that Christ is our intercessor?  Is Christ a kind of magic genie that comes to help when we call for help in our time of need?  Sometimes God does act very powerfully and miraculously.  However, we need to see that Christ as our intercessor goes much deeper than that.  Let’s read Hebrews 4:14-5:10
 
I. The Victorious Son of God             
II. Jesus Like His Brothers                                   
III. Our Bold Approach
IV. Our Timely Help
 
 
I. The first thing we see in verse 14 is that Jesus is The Victorious Son of God
 
Jesus is the exalted Lord in heaven and is the great High Priest.  The High Priest in Judaism was the most important person in the religious community.  Jesus is not only the High Priest, He is the great High Priest.  Jesus fulfills this role from the Old Testament, which is what the Belgic Confession teaches.
 
“We believe that the ceremonies and symbols of the law have ended with the coming of Christ, and that all fore-shadowings have come to an end, so that the use of them ought to be abolished among Christians. Yet the truth and substance of these things remain for us in Jesus Christ, in whom they have been fulfilled.  Nevertheless, we continue to use the witnesses drawn from the law and prophets to confirm us in the gospel and to regulate our lives with full integrity for the glory of God, according to his will.” 
 
Article 25
 
Moreover, Jesus is the one who has gone through the heavens.   Jesus ascended into heaven after his resurrection from the dead and there rules and reigns over all.  Jesus is the victorious Son of God now ruling in heaven with the Father.
And it is where Jesus is that reflects our need for an intercessor.  God is holy, almighty God; we, on the other hand, are mere humans.  It is not so much that God is in heaven, and we are on earth.  God is God, so different from us, so far removed from being human.  Moreover, we were separated completely from God because of our sin.
 
No adequate analogies can explain the difference between God and us.  We can talk about the difference between us and the President of the United States, but both the President and we are human beings.  The leaders of the free world make mistakes in their lives.  Moreover, we could possibly become president.  But God is totally different from us.  It is like the difference between a worm and a human being; there is such a big difference between us and God.
 
It is because of that great difference that we need Christ as intercessor.  Sometimes we think of Christ as intercessor as being one who sits down between God and us and helps us to hammer out the differences between us.  It is like marriage counseling in which two people who can’t get along go to a counselor and have him try to bring them together.  There are two equal parties who are alienated.  They need a third party to intercede so that they can be reconciled.  But there is something far deeper than that.
 
Jesus brings us into the very presence of God almighty, the King!  We have no business being there –  no right to be there – but Jesus brings us there anyway.  How does He do this?
 
II. Jesus became Like His Brothers.
 
Verse 15 and other places in Scripture say that Jesus became completely like us.  Jesus came and took on our flesh and blood; He was a real human being with a real physical body.  He became like us emotionally as well.  He had times of great joy, satisfaction and happiness.  He also had times of sorrow, sadness and frustration.
 
The point verse 15 is also making is that He faced the same temptations that we face.  Maybe it doesn’t seem real that Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted.  You think of some of the temptations that we have.  Could Jesus have been tempted to sexual sin, to lie, to steal or be rude to others?
 
And there were some ways that Jesus was not specifically tempted.  He never faced the temptations that married people face.  He never faced the temptations associated with old age or poor health.
 
However, at the root of all temptations are the same basic temptations that we all struggle with.  We struggle with the temptation to please ourselves and do what we want instead of what God wants.  The same basic temptations that we all struggle with are the ones that Jesus struggled with as well.
 
The difference between Jesus and us of course was that he was without sin.  He faced the temptation but always was able to not give in to it.
 
All this means that we have a representative in heaven who is really one of us.  God is almighty God who is completely different and transcendent from us.  We have no right to be there in His presence.  But because of Jesus, we now can be with God in heaven right now.  We have a representative in heaven at all times who understands us and is pleading for us.
 
Think in terms of a lobbying group.  There are many lobbying groups that are in Washington D.C. and at the state government level.  There are some groups who are continually looking out for Biblical justice issues and interests of the family.  There are groups that are continually looking out for their particular business interest.
 
Well, in a certain sense, we have a lobbyist in heaven in Christ.  He is bringing our interests to God and pleading our cause.  We have ongoing access to the Father because of Jesus.
 
III. That means we can have a very bold approach.
 
We can approach the throne of grace with confidence.  The throne of grace is likely a picture taken from the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant which was in the Holy of Holies.  It was the place where the people found God’s mercy.  For us, it is the place where God’s children can find and experience God’s mercy because of Jesus.  Jesus is standing at the throne of grace.  We have direct access to God through prayer in Jesus’ name.
 
Because of this, prayer is something that we should do regularly.  In fact, it is something that is vital to us, like breathing.  And like breathing, we need to pray constantly in order to live.  One hymn says that prayer is the Christian’s vital breath.
 
A couple of months ago, we visited the By Faith House and one of the women there was telling of a problem she was having.  She said that she told Ann Vinsen of this and Ann told her, “You’ve got to hit your knees!”  He emphasized it with slapping her knees as she said it.  All the others chimed in recounting Ann saying the same thing to them at various points.  We’ve got to be hitting our knees!
 
Moreover, because of Jesus, we can bring everything to God in prayer.  There is nothing too big or too small to bring directly to God.  At any time, we can simply pray, “Father,” bring our needs to Him, and confidently know that He will hear and answer in Jesus’ name.
 
That is the teaching of article 26 in the Belgic Confession.  “We believe that we have no access to God except through the one and only Mediator and Intercessor: Jesus Christ the Righteous.  He therefore was made man, uniting together the divine and human natures, so that we human beings might have access to the divine Majesty.  Otherwise we would have no access.”
 
But this article takes aim at something from that time that we should look at briefly as well; that is the role of saints in the middle ages.  People then had a far different view of God than most people do today.  Today many people think of God as a buddy, a nice “grandfather.”  In the 1500′s, God was viewed as being One who struck fear and terror in the hearts of the people.  He was the judge who would lash out and punish people for sin and so was greatly feared.
 
That same attitude was also found toward Jesus.  Jesus was now with God in heaven as the exalted Lord and King of all.  He is so great and powerful that one cannot simply pray to Jesus.
So people started praying to saints rather than to God.  They thought that maybe Aunt Matilda, that godly woman who died last year, could talk to Jesus since she was there already.  Such a person could understand and relate to them and could intercede between them and Jesus.
We are beyond this, right?  Sometimes I’m not so sure.  A few years ago, Christian Century magazine reported a new product which provides a “direct communication line to heaven” for only $14.95.
 
Called the “God Box,” the product was introduced to the gift and religious stores nationwide several years ago.  The box – a small wooden “elegantly gold-stamped” container – “is designed to relay the owner’s prayers directly to God’s care.  You simply write your problems or desires on a preprinted prayer sheet, drop the prayer in the box, and let God take over.
 
The first to use the device was Geri Nielson of San Diego, the founder of the company.  As Nielson’s prayers were answered by God, she removed each problem or request from the box. Appearing inside the God Box’s cover is a copyrighted prayer.  It includes this sentence: “Should I decide I can resolve this problem better than You, I will take it back.”
 
What the Bible teaches in this passage and what is also taught in this section of the Belgic Confession is that we need only Christ.  Jesus is the only, great high priest and mediator.  No one else is needed or better in order to come before God.
 
Moreover, Jesus is really just like us and so we don’t have to be afraid as the Belgic Confession states.  But this Mediator, whom the Father has appointed between himself and us, ought not terrify us by his greatness, so that we have to look for another one, according to our fancy.  For neither in heaven nor among the creatures on earth is there anyone who loves us more than Jesus Christ does.  Although he was ‘in the form of God,’ ‘he nevertheless ‘emptied himself,’ taking the form of ‘a man’ and ‘a servant’ for us; and he made himself ‘completely like his brothers.’”  Article 26  We can and should approach the throne of grace boldly, confidently, and often because Jesus is there, loving us and caring for us.
 
IV. As a result, We should pray for Our Timely Help.
 
Verse 16 also describes the benefits of approaching the throne of grace boldly.  It is at the throne of grace that we will find mercy.  Jesus’ giving His life for us is the first act of His mercy.  Now He is always there to continue to forgive us in mercy.
 
And it is also the place where we find God’s grace.  Grace reminds us that we deserve nothing that God gives.  Nevertheless, God still richly gives us His blessings and mercy.
And these blessings will be there in our time of need, or literally “timely need.”  What are our timely needs?  Certainly the most basic need is our need for forgiveness.  However, whatever need we may have, we can have the boldness to go to God in Christ and know that He will hear and answer our needs.
 
What does that mean practically for us?  Should we approach God more boldly?  Some approach God much too boldly already.  Some expect God to give them exactly what they want and think they deserve.
 
Paul Cho, pastor of a huge Korean church has written a book on prayer.  During the Vietnam War, his church prayed that their sons would be safe.  He wrote: “I testify to the praise and glory of God that during the war in Vietnam, not one of our church boys died.  The bullets may have been flying, but our sons were protected by the Holy Spirit.  If you need $10,000, ask for that amount specifically.  If you need $589.60 don’t ask for around $600, ask for the exact amount you need!  God has always responded to direct and specific prayers.”
 
But God does not just grant us what we want just because we want it.  God is not a genie in the sky that we can ask for things of as long as we just believe.  In that regard, we have lost the sense of God’s holiness.  God has become an ordinary fact of life for us.  It is easy for us to become very assuming.  We need to develop a more holy attitude toward God and see Him as the great God and King He is.
 
Still, we could become more bold in the things we pray for.  There are many areas that we could be praying for that we don’t pray for.  Above all, we should pray that we submit more to God even though we are not sure of what that may lead to.  God can do all things, and we need to pray to Him knowing that He can do all things.
 
And of course, we do simply need to pray more; prayer is our vital breath.  Not praying means that we believe in God but can do without him, it is practical atheism at its worst.  It makes us careless about our past sins as well as presumptuous about our immediate needs.
 
Hans Kung is a very good Roman Catholic theologian who wrote a book, “On Being A Christian,” outlining what it means to be a Christian; however, this book did not have a chapter in it on prayer.  When asked about this, he apologized and admitted it was a serious oversight.  But at the time of writing he was so harassed by the Vatican and busy trying to meet his publisher’s deadline that he simply forgot.  And that is the point exactly:  Prayer is always the first thing to go when we get caught up in the world’s pace.
 
If we neglect prayer we rob ourselves of immense and timely resources.  Jesus has ushered us to the throne of grace where we can get the help we so desperately need.  Are we following Him to that throne of grace?

Snapshots from Kenya – Marich Pass Centre

After visiting the children in the school in Cheparerea, we continued north on the international highway to Cairo, bouncing along through the beautiful mountains of western Kenya. We learned that a “rest stop” along the road in Kenya is a place on the road where you can pull off to the side. You need to watch out for snakes and other things as you pick your favorite bush as a comfort station.

That evening just as it was getting dark, we arrived at the Marich Pass Centre. This is a school started by a woman from Eritrea and her English husband. It has a small school for some of the children in the immediate area as well as a center where other students from around the world can come and learn about Kenyan nature, culture and history.

While we were just sitting down for dinner outside, a young Kenyan man walked through the compound carrying a bow and arrow. Rev. Murupus explained that the man had been out hunting and then asked if he could see the bow and arrow. He posed with it demonstrating how he used to stalk game as a young warrior.

Earlier Rev. Murupus had shared his story of how he became a Christian. He grew up in a very typical and traditional Pokot village in western Kenya. He learned as a boy how to hunt with a spear and bow and arrow. He explained that you would start with small game with a bow and arrow and then eventually you would prove your manhood by hunting a water buffalo with a spear. If you can bring down a water buffalo with a spear, you are truly a man!

We received a glimpse of his hunting background on our first Sunday there when we visited an animal orphanage in Nairobi. I noticed that there were some Guinea Pea Fowl and commented that we had those in the United States as well and his comment was: “Sweet meat!” He made the same comment when we saw gazelles and other smaller animals at the orphanage.

Rev. Murupus started going to a nearby school, which was something that a young man would never do. Young men were to learn how to be leaders in their village and to hunt and provide. An education was something that was not only not needed but frowned upon as frivolous in a traditional Kenyan culture. Rev. Murupus explained that one day he went to school and his father followed him, dragged him out of the school and beat him in front of the other students to punish him for going to school. Yet he did persevere and it was at this point he learned about Jesus and Christianity and became a Christian.

I can’t help but compare Rev. Murupus’ path and my own. I grew up in a Christian home with Christian parents. My parents made sure that I not only went to school, but went to a Christian day school as well. I was bathed in Christian teaching from an infant and knew about Jesus as soon as I could begin to comprehend things. While my dad was a farmer, we moved from the farm to a large city when I was only 7 years-old. I’ve never had to learn how to hunt or provide food for my family except to work and go to the grocery store.

The point is that God takes each of us and our life settings and circumstances and uses them for the good and building up of His kingdom. There are times when I long for the simplicity of the life we experienced in Kenya, but I am called to serve God and His kingdom in this culture. No matter where we are, God calls us to be faithful to Him and serve Him.